Legal Actions Against Privacy Violations

Legal Actions Against Privacy ViolationsLegal Actions Against Privacy ViolationsDeception. Your employer asked you to submit to a routine medical examination, for example, but mentioned nothing about a drug test. However, the urine sample that you gave to the examining physician welches analyzed for drug traces, and because drugs were found in your urine, you were fired.Violation of confidentiality. Your employer asked you to fill in a health questionnaire and assured you that the information would be held in confidence for the companys use only. But you later found out that the health information was divulged to a prospective employer that inquired about you. Secret, intrusive monitoring. Installing visible video cameras above a supermarkets cash registers would usually be considered a legitimate method of ensuring that employees are not stealing from the company. But installing hidden video cameras above the stalls in an employee restroom would probably qualify as an invasion of pr ivacy in all but the highest security jobs.Intrusion on your private life. Your employer hired a private detective, for example, to monitor where you go in the evening when youre not at work. When the company discovered that you are active in a gay rights organization, you were told to resign from that group or risk losing your job.

14 Companies Offering Sabbaticals Hiring Now

14 Companies Offering Sabbaticals Hiring Now14 Companies Offering Sabbaticals Hiring Now Few things are as good a reward for ones hard work. Whether youve put in years of service or gone above and beyond for a company, sabbaticals are often the light at the end of the tunnel. If youre goal-oriented or if you anticipate wanting a reprieve a few years into your career, consider a company with an attractive sabbatical program . Travel, try something new or simply hang out on the beach.Whatever you choose to do with your sabbatical, these companies are here to support you.Charles Schwab Sabbatical Details According to their employee benefits guide , After five years, eligible employees can apply for a 28-day paid sabbatical, which can be used for relaxing and pursuing personal or professional development, such as community service, education, or reflecting on their career and life. Where Hiring Austin, Westlake and El Paso, TX Chicago, IL Richfield, OH Lone Tree, C O Indianapolis, IN Orlando, FL Phoenix, AZ San Francisco, CA & more. What Employees Say Excellent benefits and pay, and a wonderful culture. Management is committed to ensuring you have the support you need in order to be successful. A sabbatical is provided every 5 years of service. - Current EmployeeAdobe Sabbatical Details Planning your dream vacation? Ready to finally write that novel? Adobe offers a sabbatical program to give you extended time to relax, recharge and reenergize, reads Adobes benefits site. Whos eligible? Regular U.S. employees who have completed at least five years of continuous employment and are scheduled to work at least 24 hours a week. Where Hiring San Jose, CA Seattle, WA Lehi, UT Chicago, IL Boston, MA Santa Monica, CA Austin, TX & more. What Employees Say Good benefits, great cafeteria with lots of options, basketball court and other amenities.- Current EmployeeIntel Sabbatical Details After seven years of full-time service, U.S. and Canadia n employees** are eligible to take eight weeks off. Paid, reads Intels blog. I find that Intel employees really value the sabbatical benefit. Employees have count-downs to their first sabbatical on their office walls and long-tenured employees smile with a knowing jealousy. Sometimes, when employees return from sabbatical, there are parteies or good-natured pranks played on them. Sabbatical is a tradition that sort of draws employees together. Where Hiring Santa Clara, CA Albuquerque, NM Folsom, CA Boulder, CO Boise, ID Hillsboro, OR Hudson, MA & more. What Employees Say Good Salary and excellent benefits. Bonding leave and sabbatical are awesome - Current EmployeeEpic Sabbatical Details As an Epic employee, every five years you are eligible for four weeks of paid time off. If you choose to spend your sabbatical in a country youve never been to before, we will help fund the trip for you and a guest. To date, Epic staff have taken more than 3,000 trips on their sabbatical t o over 100 different countries. Where Hiring Madison, WI What Employees Say Ive been at Epic over 10 years. What gets me to work each day is that I have a lot of variety and autonomy. My career has changed enough that Ive never been bored theres always been a new challenge. I get lots of feedback and validation and feel valued by my manager, coworkers and company. - Current EmployeePayPal Sabbatical Details In addition to our Time Off program, we offer four weeks of paid sabbatical for every five years of service, a unique benefit that few tech companies can match. Where Hiring Omaha, NE Chicago, IL Chandler, AZ San Jose, CA Timonium, MD & more. What Employees Say Wonderful benefit. I wish all companies had this reward after 4 or 5 years of service. - Former EmployeeDeloitte Sabbatical Details Deloitte offers two sabbatical programs an unpaid one-month sabbatical that can be taken for any reason and a three- to six-month sabbatical that can be taken to pursue perso nal or professional growth opportunities in the areas of career development or volunteerism. While on a three- to six-month sabbatical, professionals continue to receive 40% of their pre-sabbatical base salary. Where Hiring New York, NY Atlanta, GA Washington, DC Phoenix, AZ Milwaukee, WI Harrisburg, PA & more. What Employees Say Great benefit for a company of this size. - Current EmployeeAutodesk Sabbatical Details According to their benefits guide , Eligible employees receive a six-week paid sabbatical every four continuous years of full-time U.S. Autodesk employment. This is an opportunity to travel or spend quality time with your family and friends while getting well-deserved rest and relaxation. Where Hiring Denver, CO Boston, MA Portland, OR San Francisco, CA San Rafael, CA Novi, MI & more. What Employees Say Good work life balance, excellent benefits, great employees that take great ownership in the quality of their work, company seems to truly care about their em ployees, flexibility to work remote.- Current EmployeeBiogen Sabbatical Details Biogen offers a highly competitive benefits package, says a current employee. The health, dental, and vision coverage are among the best in the industry, and the 401(k) matching is excellent. Additionally, after six years of employment you can take a one-month paid sabbatical. Some roles offer work-from-home capability, but that can be a double-edged sword because it can conflict with maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The PTO policy is generous, but some roles find it more difficult than others to get actually get the time off that is requested. Where Hiring Cambridge, MA Research Triangle Park, NC San Francisco, CA & more.Genentech Sabbatical Details If youve been with Genentech full-time for six years, youre eligible to take six continuous weeks off with full pay and benefits. Its a good time to recharge. Where Hiring South San Francisco, CA Little Falls, NJ Hillsboro, OR & more. W hat Employees Say Very unusual to have such a rich sabbatical program- Current EmployeeAARP Sabbatical Details AARPs Renewal Program offers eligible employees a dedicated period of paid time away from work - four weeks - to disconnect from the demands and responsibilities of the workplace. Renewal is a one-time opportunity for eligible employees. Renewal leave must be taken in a four-week block. With manager approval, employees may add accrued vacation time. Renewal may be taken starting June 1 of the year in which the invitation is extended. To be eligible employees must be in good standing, have completed at least seven consecutive years as a full-time employee, and meet other requirements listed in detail on InfoNet. Where Hiring Washington, DC Honolulu, HI Chicago, Il Philadelphia, PA & more. What Employees Say Great pay, excellent benefits, smart and committed colleagues. Top management will listen to employees and make some positive changes based on employee surveys. - Former EmployeeAlta Planning + Design Sabbatical Details After 5 years of employment, employees are eligible to receive a stipend toward an excursion to Copenhagen, Amsterdam, or another city/region where biking is a way of life. Where Hiring Portland, OR Durham, NC San Diego, CA Chesterfield, MO & more. What Employees Say The company culture promotes appreciation and gratitude for your labor and time and upper management is accesible and respectful. - Current EmployeeBain & Company Sabbatical Details Take Two Extended breaks that allow eligible Bainies to take two months off to rejuvenate and/or fulfill personal goals. Bain also offers longer sabbaticals and leaves of absence for when life pulls you in different directions. Where Hiring Chicago, IL Boston, MA San Francisco, CA Dallas, TX Washington, DC & more. What Employees Say Supportive culture and amazing people to work with. - Current EmployeeChicago Public Schools Sabbatical Details The Chief Executive Officer or his/her designee may grant paid leaves of absence to tenured teachers, who have completed six (6) continuous years of satisfactory service, for the purposes of resident study, travel or other purposes, for a period of at least five (5) months but no more than ten (10) school months (equivalent to one continuous semester or one continuous school year respectively), if the Chief Executive Officer or designee determines that the leave will improve the service of the teacher or contract principal to the public schools. Eligibility for and the terms and conditions of sabbatical leaves will be established by the Chief Executive Officer or designee. Where Hiring Chicago, IL What Employees Say Working with the kids is the best part of the job.. - Current EmployeeOne Medical Sabbatical Details Job descriptions for One Medical detail top-notch dental, vision, health insurance as well as sabbaticals at 5 and 10 years. Where Hiring Saint Petersburg, FL San Francisco, CA & more. What Employees Say The benefits are the best part of working at One Medical. A lot is expected of the administrative assistant but the pay is limited for the first few years. - Current Employee

5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This Year

5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This Year5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This Year5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This YearOver the past few weeks, weve received questions from job seekers whove spent time in prison, been convicted for driving under the influence, or been fired because of a wrongful behavior on the job. How, each wondered, can I overcome the bad deeds of my past and convince an employer to hire me? The harsh truth is It probably wont be easy. Most employers today already have a surplus of good candidates for each job opening, so the odds are not in your favor. But if youre willing to do what needs to be done, here are some tips to give yourself a better chance of success1) Own your mistakes.Whatever the issue was, accept that your own actions caused it. Dont try to convince employers that it was someone elses fault. No one wants to hire a whiner or a blamer. They might, however, take a chance on an honest person who screwed up b ut sincerely wants to get back on track.2) Be willing to pay your duesagain.No matter how much experience you have, youre a less desirable job candidate (on paper) than someone with similar credentials whose record is clean. If youre willing to step back down the ladder, it might give the employer an incentive to take a chance on you. Offer to take a pay cut, accept the worst shifts, or do whatever it takes to earn back your reputation as a good worker. The employer gets an experienced worker at a bargain price, and you get a foot in the door.3) Lean on people who know and trust you.People who already know you, especially those whove worked with you, are your best bet for employment. Theyre the ones who know that the good things about you outweigh the bad. According to an Urban Institute study on ex-offenders who found employment after prisonMost respondents who found work did so by speaking with friends and family however, the most successful strategy for long-term employment was r eturning to a previous employer. 4) Ask employers directly (but not for a job).If you dont have any family or friends who can help you find work, informational interviews can be very helpful. Blogger J.T. ODonnell of JT Dale Talk Jobs had a question from a man whod recently been fired for disobeying a company policy. J.T.s advice was to contact the HR department of a company in his fieldShare what happened to you and your regrets about it, then explain that you are now looking for the best way to prove to an employer that you would be a good hire. Youll learn to discuss what occurred in a way that will leave employers sympathetic to your situation.I think its a brilliant idea to ask actual employers what would make them willing to take a chance on you. They might give you some great insights to use when you land an interview.The bottom line is that you need to get employers to see you as a real person who (as we all do sometimes) made a bad mistake, but who nonetheless has the expe rience and desire to do a great job and be a valuable employee now. It may require a series of small steps, but once youre back in the workforce, each positive action and accomplishment will make your past digressions less and less important.

Career Skills and Training

Career Skills and TrainingCareer Skills and Training

How to Build a LinkedIn Profile That Turns Heads

How to Build a LinkedIn Profile That Turns Heads How to Build a LinkedIn Profile That Turns Heads According to an article from U.S. News World Report, 94 percent of recruiters are searching for candidates on LinkedIn. Ifthey happen to stumble across your profile, will they chuckle and keep moving, orwill theywant to speak with you about their next job opening?I think you know the answer.So, Ive put together a few quick tips that you can implement right away to help yougrab recruitersattentions and create more career opportunities for yourself.1. Do Not Use Your Last Job Title as Your HeadlineThis screams B-O-R-I-N-G and does absolutely nothing for your brand. Instead, use the keywords you want to be most associated withand talk about the value you bring. Here are a few examplesThis is for a ausverkauf professional in the food commodities industry Sales Director ? Specialty Food Expert ? Account Manager diversifying product lines to open new revenue streamsHeres one for a project manager Project, Process and Change Management Guru Out of the box leadership that drives teams to successAnd heres mine Do you hate your job? Lets regain control of your career Resume Expert ? LinkedIn Strategist ? Branding ConsultantAll the examples uses keywords, but they also clearly articulate the value being offered to recruiters.Another point about the headline dont positionyourself as seeking new opportunities or open to new positions. This comes off a bit desperate, and it wastes valuable LinkedIn real estate.Bonus tip Add a few icons here and there to give your profile some pizzazz and break up the words.2. Do Not Copy and Paste Your Resume in the Summary SectionLinkedIn is a professional site, yes however, it is notjust a billboard for your resume. Its a chance to show some more personality and say things you really wouldnt address in yourresume. Take this opportunity to again use keywords, articulate your value, and show off your personality.Listen, people hire peop le. Theres no need to be so formal on LinkedIn Talk about yourself in the first person, tell a story about your career path, talk about why you do what you do (your passions, your inspiration), highlight some professional achievements that youre proud of you get my drift?3. Upload a PictureYour profile is seven times more likely to be viewed if you have a profile picture. I know for me, when I get connection requests from folks with no picture, Im wary about who they are and wonder if they are real.Get over your self-consciousness, people Get dressed, smile, and pose. A good profile pic is a simple headshot with professional clothes and a warm smile. Also, make sure you are looking directly at the camera you come off more trustworthy that way.Dont use a picture of you and your wife or kid. Again, this is a professional site. Although family is important, its not really a point of interest on LinkedIn save that for Facebook.4. Make Sure Your Profile Is Complete or, according to L inkedIn, at All-Star status. They dont tell you this, but here are the requirements for an All-Star profile (you didnt hear this from me)Your industry and locationCurrent position (with a description)Two past positionsYour educationYour skills (minimum of 3)A profile photoAt least 50 connectionsGet to work building the kind of profile that will finally get you noticed on LinkedInBy the way, I do LinkedIn webinars periodically. Just hop onto my online community email list for upcoming dates

What Is So Fascinating About Fashion Stylist Resume?

What Is So Fascinating About Fashion Stylist Resume? There are many types of resume templates readily available online and you are able to pick the one that is suitable for your need. There are a number of examples of resumes for documentalist careers on the net, likewise covering almost the complete accounting segment. My resume will supply you with further info on my background within this regard. Specifically, resume writing is among the most searched topics on the web. What Fashion Stylist Resume Is - and What it Is Not Finding the correct career doesnt mean settling for the very first job opportunity that arises. Youre a skilled and you want the recruiter to comprehend that. Resumes are important to folks who want to build their careers. Then list your prior jobs. What About Fashion Stylist Resume? Working part-time is extremely popular among them, and they generally decide to work in retail or hospitality. The great majority of job openings for fashion jobs require that you have a specific amount of education. Entry-level jobs may also help you network and make contacts in the style industry. List all clients you have worked with and forms of projects youve been a component of. As an intern, youre going to be dealing with people at several levels in the business, and outside designers and vendors. The fashion business is an extremely competitive field, and to develop into successful, you should have the talent, creativity, skills, and ability it requires to do the job. A cosmetology license is necessary for expert hair stylists, so make aya to first and foremost let your hiring manager know that youre certified. As a style student or someone working in the business, you might have accumulated an extensive portfolio. New Ideas Into Fashion Stylist Resume Never Before Revealed Think strategies to show about your abilities and experience that youre perfect for the position. If youre called for an interview dependent on the qualifications on your resume, thats when you would like to go into mora detail about your experience and abilities. Apart from a list of important abilities, several other matters you should include in your resume are as follows. Thus, youll want to condense your abilities and experiences to those which are related to the position for which youre applying. The New Fuss About Fashion Stylist Resume Furthermore, it helps companies save time since they may quickly sieve throughout the portfolio for the information that they are searching for. Stylists might also be paid a flat fee for the duration of an undertaking, usually referred to as a buy out. Some stylists can be placed on a month-to-month retainer, in which theyre paid a set fee for a time period and are on call for the full time frame. My role for a fashion stylist is to direct you in making decisions about your current wardrobe. Crafting a strong fashion designer resume isnt only important, its fundamental Fashion stylists might be asked to travel interstate or overseas to research the newest fashion trends. Very good fashion stylists understand how to accentuate the positive attributes of the folks they dress. As a newly trained fashion stylist, youll have an opportunity to get to the skies provided that you are aware of what your work is about. Completing an apprenticeship by working under a style stylist or with a style designer are also approaches to acquire needed experience. See our list of the best free internet fashion design courses. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Fashion Stylist Resume Is Wrong The functional resume format is an effective approach to lower the quantity of webpages an employer will want to read and can offer your application more effect. Right kind of format will certainly help enter the most appropriate organization. Since you may see the best resume format is the one which works for you. Each resume format was created to boost your odds to discover the job in 2 018. Fashion Stylist Resume Help The template isnt challenging to alter. It will help to be aware of the factors that are incredibly crucial to be filled in the continue to secure a particular kind of job. It is easily customised to your liking and involves all vital files for an easy set-up. You might find a work application template for an entry-level situation, and youll discover a template to receive practically any kind of job or maybe profession youre interested in. Key Pieces of Fashion Stylist Resume Leave out the ones which you know at a simple level to prevent the snares of the so-called presenters paradox. Youre now 1 step closer to landing a position for a hair stylist. The IFSA indicates you could work as a wardrobe stylist, not only for celebrities, but in addition for everyday individuals that are getting ready to begin a new job or who want an original look. To acquire the interest of the latest salons in your region, you will need a hair stylist resume tha ts properly shampooed and blow-dried.

Meet The Engineering Team At Smartsheet

Meet The Engineering Team At Smartsheet Heres how Jenna Schimek, Technical Project Manager, describes Smartsheets Engineering TeamThe people that work on the Smartsheet Engineering Team are pretty great - they are authentic, caring, genuine, very intelligent, and very driven.Are you interested in joining their impressive team?If yes, then click here to see all available opportunities at Smartsheet and dont forget to press Follow to receive custom job matches, event invitations and more One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects p lans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 1000000 construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel neuschpfung/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conduct ed by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bur eau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrument ierung technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

How speaking up changed my financial future

How speaking up changed my financial futureHow speaking up changed my financial futureYou talk. You talk to friends about the drab. To partners about the day-to-day. You call your mama with the big UH OH and your sages about the dream of dreams. It doesnt matter if its vulnerable and it rarely matters if its mundane talking is your way through the process and onto the plan.The ones that love you they always offer honest feedback.The ones who trust you theyre going to open up about their experiences too.The ones who support you theyll give you the space to talk about any and all of it.But are you talking about the things that matter? Are you opening up about the topic thats the fruchtweinsignificant source of stressfor the majority of Americans?Are you talking to anyone about money?I welchesnt.My journey around the money conversation was one that literallyneveroccurred to me until coming across an incredibly human, honesty-driven aktion by Umpqua Bank calledMade to Grow which is a call to talk more about money and the consequences if we dont(read crazy stress).That hadsobeen me. As a young woman building my career in one of the most expensive cities in the US, I thought I was so alone alone in spending most of what I made. alone in my frustration with student loans. alone in the judgement I held for myself in having no retirement plan (yet). alone in having meager emergency savings. alone in feeling like I should most definitely be making more but was scared pantless to ask.So I bottled up every financial concern I had. I kept it in and kept the lid tight. For someone who would sharemostthings if they came up bathroom floor moments, passport agency meltdowns, heartbreak and screw ups I feltwildlyuncomfortable and even embarrassed to talk about money. Partially because at this time in my life I prided myself on having it all together and partially because I didnt know how to talk about it or who to talk about it with. As much as I love my parents and theyr e both killer at talking these things through with, I was too scared to even do that.I had created a self-imposed gag order that was keeping my pride in check. Thats about it.That order lifted, almost instantly, when I heard a small factoid that one of the biggest factors contributing to my ability to negotiate for a higher salary was whether or not I was speaking about it with my friends.Lightbulb.With even my best of friends, I wasnt talking about how much I made, how much their raises were, how their reviews went, or what they negotiated for. That day, though, I began talking about it with my best friends and roommates. Then, I started talking about it with other friends sharing my salary and asking if they were comfortable to share theirs. I remember those firsts vividly, it was like a massive gate moving aside opening the way to so much shared knowledge and support amongst my tribe.Heres what happened after those conversations about salary they turned into broader conversation s about money. We talked about student debt, we talked about our biggest financial mistakes, we supported each other in making our girls night dinner at home instead of the hottest new SF restaurant. We gut checked geschftsleben plans and saving plans. And most of all we learned through our own stories and through our belief in each other about how to shift our relationship with money.I havent been the same since. Speaking up about money with those closest to me pointed a spotlight on my fears. It made them manageable, and it gave me the confidence to shift from a place of fear into a place of prosperity. I started investing in resources that could help my financial future. I made goals for my money. I pushed, sometimes uncomfortably, to be making what I deserved.A little over three years after lifting my own gag order around the topic of finances I found myself in a better place one where I was financially supported enough to take a giant leap of faith to begin my own business and passionately pursue my own dreams. While its an amazing (and scary) step, it presents its own set of financial challenges and fears. But this time around I have the confidence to talk about it and the support system to learn from.People cannot be there for you unless youre first willing to open the conversation and share your worries, your struggles, and your dreams.Speaking up about money changed my future. Its time you let it change yours.This article originally appeared on MaxieMcCoy.com.

Tips for women heading to the executive suite

Tips for women heading to the executive suiteTips for women heading to the executive suiteMy special focus when coaching female leaders is to improve their influence and impact skills - in short, their leadership presence.You might be surprised to find that leadership presence is bedrngnis an attribute automatically assigned to you because of your business results. Nor is it necessarily reflective of your true qualities and potential. Instead, it depends almost entirely on how others perceive you. And that, in turn, depends primarily on how favorably you impress people and how convincingly you deliver your messages, both verbally and non-verbally.To gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to step into a senior executive position, I interviewed the following leadersKathryn Raethel, president and CEO of Adventist Health CastleSuzy Monford, president of quality food center at Kroger CEO and founder of Food Sport InternationalDana Simberkoff, chief risk, security and information Of ficer at AvePointNJ Goldston, editor-in-chief of fashion and lifestyle site The Blonde and The Brunette leading female venture capitalist in numerous businessesNat Sutton, partner and head of non-profit- practice at Buffkin/Baker, an executive recruiting agency that specializes in placing C-suite level executivesHere are five tips they came up with to help you navigate your way to the top1. Assess the current reality.Nat SuttonThere are no easy answers for women who aspire to the highest levels - because the culture of business has been very slow to fully embrace female executives. According to research from Catalyst (an organization that studies women in leadership), at SP 500 organizations, 45% of employees are women, but just 37% of mid-level managers and 27% of senior managers are women.Research also shows that while female executives are much less likely than male executives to become the ultimate boss, they are mora likely than men to do so if they stay on the management path for many years. Currently, however, women are pushed out or leave at every stage along the way.Staying with a company, while building your reputation and skills is an important key to the executive suite today. Listen, learn and be continually curious about what goes on not just in your area, but in operations outside your department and/or division. Cultivate a mentor relationship in the management level directly above you and learn all you can about everything you can. If you cant find a mentor, analyze how the most successful leaders within the organization operate - not only their business skills, but also how they negotiate the organizations culture. Apply what you learn from them to become a more effective leader.Actively investigate possibilities for advancement or change to other disciplines that appeal to you. Then, when you are ready, apply to move to the next level or, perhaps, to a different area of the company.2. Take more risks.Kathryn RaethelWomen have a tendency to be self-limiting - we think we cant do something because we fail to appreciate our abilities. Because of that, were sometimes less willing to take risks, step outside of the box, and pursue an opportunity that presents itself.Whenever a door opens, walk through it if you can - take the risk, dont grow too comfortable where you are. When you have a can-do attitude, people seek you out.I also think the first step to the C-suite is (surprisingly) not aspiring to become an executive. People often aspire to the title, rather than to the journey. Ive found it is more valuable to ask yourself, What job am I going to progress to next? In what ways will I excel? 3. Speak up.NJ GoldstonWomen can fall into the trap of waiting their turn or holding back at meetings. They dont speak up and own their place at the table.Not only should you speak up, but be direct in your speech. Dont add qualifiers that make you seem insecure or powerless Im not sure if youll agree, Im sorry, or Im not sure wha t youll think. Dont apologize. Period. Youre there for a good reason. Own that. Most importantly, be brief and get right to the point. No one wants to listen to long-winded explanations.Suzy MonfordMy greatest leadership skill is my ability to communicate, to tailor and craft messages that resonate with audiences, whether Im in the backroom talking with truck drivers or in a meeting with the executive board. And, by the way, the boardroom is where you need to be the most courageous and forthright- and always speak truth to power.4. Be your best authentic self.Kathryn RaethelI have come to really value the word authentic - people need to see the real you. I believe that when people know you, like you and respect you, they will come with you on the journey.Suzy MonfordTake a deep breath, trust your instincts, and dont over think it. When you trust your instincts, your true self bubbles up in the most authentic way.5. Increase your visibility.Dana SimberkoffIf you want to be evaluated positively for top leadership positions, being a legend in your own mind is not enough. You need to increase your visibility Find ways to ensure that executives in your company are aware of your work and accomplishments (and do so in a way that is not seen as boasting, but as informative and helpful). Promote yourself by volunteering for projects, giving speeches, writing blogs, and taking an active part in professional organizations. Network within and outside your industry. Find mentors and sponsors who will guide and help promote you.NJ GoldstonWho you know within your industry and area of expertise can be a major advantage in moving your agenda forward, and some of the best connections are made outside the office. Use informal gatherings and industry events to make connections that may prove invaluable to projects and your career. By having strong and varied contacts you bring new resources to your company, gain credibility, and build a powerful professional network.6. Defeat t he double-bind paradox.My contribution As males rise in rank and status at work, they retain (and often increase) their perceived likability - so they can be both powerful and likable. The Double-Bind Paradox states that while women must project authority in order to advance in the business world, the more powerful they appear, the less they are liked. Catalyst calls this the damned if you do, doomed if dont dilemma. Their research shows that women in power can be seen as capable or likable - but rarely both.Blame it on the stereotypes of women as nurturing, sensitive, and collaborative, When their behavior is congruent with these traits, women are liked, although not seen as especially powerful. When their behavior runs counter to the stereotype, they are perceived more negatively. A frequently cited Stanford University Graduate School of Business study, the Heidi/Howard case, shows that when the same highly assertive and successful leader is described to grad students (of both g enders), that person is seen as far more appealing when given a male name instead of a female one.Does that mean you are indeed dammed or doomed as Catalyst suggested? Well, maybe not.One encouraging possibility that addresses this bias comes from another study at Stanford that found businesswomen who are assertive and confident, but who can turn these traits on and off depending on the social circumstances, get more promotions than either men or other women.The most successful women leaders have developed a strategic ability to read a situation and verehrtester their behavior accordingly. Like them, you can take this potent combination of softness and toughness all the way to the C-suite.Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., is an international keynote speaker and leadership presence coach. Shes the author of The Silent Language of Leaders How Body Language Can Help or Hurt How You Lead and creator of LinkedInLearnings video series Body Language for Leaders. For more information, visithttps/ /CarolKinseyGoman.com.

Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input

Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data InputSay youre at a movie and you get a text from the babysitter asking where to find the stuffed animal your child cant sleep without. Or maybe youre a teenager at the tableno phones allowedbut you simply have got to share a piece of gossip with a friend. At the moment, theres no way to input text into a phone, or any other device, without drawing attention to the activity with thumbs on screen or words whispered into a mouthpiece.But Cheng Zhang, a researcher at Georgia Techs Ubicomp Lab, has a new way for teenagers, parents, and anyone else to enter words on the sly. Its a thumb ring, and its sensitive to both sound and movement. We chose the thumb because it feels natural, Zhang says. But, more importantly, if you drag your thumb across your prankeglieds, it has tactile feedback.When you drag your thumb across a finger its a very unique sound, very differe nt from the thumb touching other objects. Cheng Zhang, researcher, Georgia Tech FingerSound uses wearable ring technology to detect numbers and letters drawn on fingers. Image Georgia TechThere have been other attempts at creating one-handed input devices, but theyre far more obtrusive than a simple ring. And they have a steep learning curve, with users usually required to learn different key combinationsor chordsfor a single letter.Zhang thinks that these devices havent taken off because no one wants to memorize new gestures or movements The QWERTY keyboard, as an example, continues to be the dominant way to type, despite the fact that it was designed deliberately to slow users down, and can, these days, be easily swapped for faster configurations on any computer. He wanted to stick to knowledge already in your head, so he turned to Unistroke, invented 27 years ago for handwriting recognition. With the thumb ring on, users need only make the shape of the letter they want to enter and a gyroscope on the ring recognizes the pattern. Advanced users, with a greater tolerance for learning, could conceivably teach the ring to recognize more efficient gestures in future iterations of the technology.Just for You More stories on design and manufacturing from ASME.orgNeedless to say, the average thumb does not go immobile when finished inputting text. Zhang needed a way to let his ring know when a thumb started a gesture and when it finished. So he included a contact microphone. The type of mic, its proximity to all digits, and the distinctness of thumb on finger vibrations allow the ring to avoid false positives and negatives from ambient sound. When you drag your thumb across a finger its a very unique sound, very different from the thumb touching other objects.The uniqueness of that sound could, theoretically, allow the ring to operate without the gyroscope. With a large enough data set, a brush to different parts of different fingers could indicate a different letter. In fact, Zhangs first experiments used only a microphone and no gyroscope. But sound can be different from person to person. It depends on what kind of skin you have. And when your hand is wet it sounds different. Then you have to provide more training, Zhang says. In real life, no one wants to do that.Of course, the device has applications beyond the surreptitious communications of teens and moviegoers. It could provide a safer way to input information while driving and it could allow people with disabilities to easily communicate. It will also work with any electronic device, allowing the gadget-swamped consumer to ditch TV remotes and other input devices. But first it has to shrink.In the future it will get small and comfy, says Zhang. And it will look cool.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Related stories from ASME.org12 Skills You Need to Advance an Engineering CareerBuilding a Better Warmer for Newborns3D Printing Better Root Canals For Further Discus sion