Retaining Healthcare Professionals with Education Benefits

Retaining Healthcare Professionals with Education BenefitsRetaining Healthcare Professionals with Education BenefitsRetaining Healthcare Professionals with Education Benefits DezubeHR professionals recently caught a break in their efforts to retain health care professionals as the economic downturn drove hundreds of thousands of RNs back to work, while new nursing graduates entered the workforce. Yet those same HR professionals could soon find themselves scrambling to find qualified nurses as the economy recovers.This time around, the nursing shortage could be especially acute for hospitals seeking magnet status and improved patient safety. These requirements will drive the need for more baccalaureate-degreed registered nurses (BSNs).Retaining Health Care ProfessionalsThis comes at a time of rising demand for RNs overall as Baby Boomers age and healthcare reform expands coverage to millions Americans.Those changes are happening in a hiring market where the demand for bachelors of sci ence nurses already outstrips supply. Healthcare Job Conditions Report 2011shows 52% of nurse employers ask for a BSN in their registered nurse job description, while only 35% of job candidates possess that credential 42% of recruiters surveyed say they plan to increase RN hiring.Grow-Your-Own BSNsHiring your way out of a BSN shortage may not be an vorkaufsrecht only a thirdof new nurses are BSNs capacity for increased school enrollment is limited due to shortages in clinical sites and faculty.HR professionals considering grow-your-own BSN strategies have a limited window in which to get started. There is emerging data that a massive exodus of employees will start in three years, says Liana Orsolini-Hain, PHD, RN, a nursing instructor at City College of San Francisco, and a member of the Future of Nursing Committee at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Bethesda, Md.In her study, Mixed Messages Hospital Practices that Serve as Disincentives for Associate Degree-prepared Nurses to Retur n to School,Orsolini-Hain uncovered how workplace policies and company culture can influence RNs decisions to return to school.Her recipe for growing-your-own BSNs? Assess current employee attitudes, revamp company culture, develop expanded career pathways and offer financial support and learning accessfor BSN-seeking employees.Assessing Current AttitudesEvery healthcare organization has unique talent development challenges that must be addressed in order to increase BSNs. To do so, Orsolini-Hain recommends organizing focus groups to identify the impact of work environmentand any personal and workplace-related issues that hinder your AD-educated nurses from returning to school.Be sure to include the HR department in your review and pay close attention to your healthcare recruiting and hiringprocesses. For example, if your job postings say BSN preferred or Masters preferred and your reference-checking methods focus only on ADNs, candidates might assume that your company doesnt value BSNs and higher degrees.Tapping yourdata analyticswill also help differentiate those benefits programs that can effectively create and retain BSNs, says Michael Bleich, PhD, dean of the School of Nursing at Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, and an IOM Future of Nursing committee member.For example, Bleich says that you may find new nursing hireswork best to complete a degree within a given time period, while mid-career nurses will be motivated by more autonomous career paths that link degrees to specific jobs.Encouraging Learning at WorkUniversity partners that are willing to designate nursing school seats for your employees are another way to cultivate BSNs. You can help enrolled employees by forming at-work study groups. It will keep your RNs in the program and give them camaraderie, Orsolini-Hain says. If possible, match students with mentors who have already completed their degrees.Physical changes in the workplace can also help support your BSN students. Is there space for on-site classrooms with video-streaming for virtual seminars? If your workplace is in a rural location, can you add computer stations for online classes that eliminate a long commute to school?Work life balance issues are also big for RNs. If budgets allow, consider offering a once-a-week sabbatical or stipends that support time-off while in school. If budgets are tight, consider providing flexible hours and time off during finals.Rewarding your BSNsCan your nurses reach the highest rung on the clinical ladder without a degree? Do you only require a degree if theyre promoted to management? If so, your workplace culture will continue to trump efforts to build a BSN base.Money can be a powerful motivator. According to a study in Nursing Economics, a net benefit of more than 6.8% earnings will quadruple educational enrollment of AD-prepared nurses theyre three times as likely to pursue advanced education if the net benefit ranges from 3% to 6.8% and twice as likely if the ben efit is less than 3%.Up-front tuition costs can be a barrier for single-parent (single paycheck) employees, even when reimbursed by the employer. A tuition reimbursement policy that helps employees pay for schooling at the beginning of the semester removes that hurdle, says Orsolini-Hain.Finally, posting a calculator widget on your company website demonstratesthe value of increased pay over time with an advanced degree.Recognize AchievementPrograms that support nurses who return to school dont have to be expensive. Including degrees and certifications on employee name tags allows the staff tobetter assess differences in performance between ADNs and BSNs. You can also give recognition to graduates with lunches, parties or by posting an honor roll.Nurses Want to Go Back SchoolADNs want to return to school 80 percent of the RNs Orsolini-Hain surveyed said they wished to obtain a BSN or higher degree. By working to improve your company culture, career opportunities and financial aid, H R professionals can help RNs fulfill that goal.

Using Servant Leadership to Improve Corporate Culture

Using Servant Leadership to Improve Corporate CultureUsing Servant Leadership to Improve Corporate CultureThe servant is definitely below in the hierarchy of any organization, right? The servant serves the bosses and has little status in the organization. But, servant leadership turns this concept on its head. Servant leadership, done right, can improve your corporate culture. What Is Servant Leadership? Servant leadership comes from an essay written by Robert Greenleaf in 1970, The Servant Leader. In this essay, Greenleafs theory was that you need to flip the pyramid. Instead of the leader commanding people, like in top-down leadership, with servant leadership, the leader supports the other employees. This means that the leader exists to provide guidance and direction, but the employees are empowered to make decisions on their own. The leader looks for opportunities to help others instead of having others help him. This schrift of servant leadership can create a great company cu lture. The Cultural Benefits of Servant Leadership When you have a culture that consists of top-down leadership, all of the decisions come from the corner office. The CEO may know a lot, but as a company grows beyond a handful of people, the CEO isnt the one who is meeting face to face with customers, designing marketing campaigns, or interviewing candidates. When all direction comes from the senior managers, the decisions often dont reflect reality. With servant leadership, the CEO (or department head) says to the staff, essentially, I hired you to do your job, and Im going to trust you to do it. What can I do to help you? This type of leadership allows employees to share their ideas. They are allowed to do the jobs they were hired to do. They are able to use their expertise where it makes sense. When they need help, they have senior leaders with more experience who can help them. Examples of the kind of help needed include ideas, resources, or cutting through the bureaucracy t hat all companies seem to develop. A good servant leader understands that the business will thrive when people are trusted to do their jobs. Does This Mean That Servant Leadership Is a Do-Nothing Role? If the employees are making the decisions and carrying out the work, does the boss just sit in the back with a cool drink? Every manager wishes this were the case, but its far from reality. Just as a servant in the royal household is always busy, the servant leader is as well. In order to provide leadership, she needs to know what is going on. She has to stay in contact with her staff. She has to stay on top of the industry information sothat the organization remains competitive. When a staff member needs help, a senior leader who hasmore experience and a broader perspective on the industry and company can help them. A marketing manager is focused on marketing, while the production manager is focused on producing a product. A servant leader CEO needs to know about both of these fu nctions so that she can help both succeed. And sometimes, she fills that gap between the two functions to create cohesion and cooperation. Servant Leadership Is More Difficult Than Top-Down Management, but Its Better In a top-down management organization, the leader just says do this and the task is done. But servant leadership requires thoughtfulness, care, and proactive planning. A servant leader needs expertise in hiring her team so that she hires people who are capable of doing their jobs. Servant leaders coach and train and provide feedback. A servant leader needs humility to accept that she doesnt always have the answer, and she needs the expertise to know when she does and when she needs to step in. A servant leader sometimes has to do the grunt work in order to accomplish the job. Its hard. You can, however, achieve incredible results through servant leadership. Look at Wegmans, a company that always makes Fortunes Top 100 Companies to Work For list. They empower their c ashiers to make decisions, and their corporate employees all have to work in the stores to understand how they can best provide support. The result is a booming business and employees who are happy with their jobs. Thats what you can achieve with true servant leadership. How Do You Make the Change to a Culture of Servant Leadership? First, you dont have to wait for the CEO to make the decision to become a servant leader. If you manage employees, you can switch your own management style. Start by asking your direct reports what would make their lives easier. Ask them what tasks or policies they would eliminate. Ask them what works and what does not. Now, of course, you have to exercise judgment. Your direct reports may say, I hate the affirmative action plan reporting. It doesnt help much. Lets end it. You have to say no because thats required by law, but you can ask the employee what would make the reportingeasier and what would make the report more useful. If youve been a stric t top-down manager, your employees may find your change strange but, you need to persist. You may also have to change the type of employees you hire to increase the likelihood that your new hires can perform in an empowered work setting. But eventually, switching to servant leadership will pay off for you in a happier, more productive, empowered workplace culture. - Suzanne Lucas is a freelance writer who spent 10 years in corporate human resources, where she hired, fired, managed the numbers, and double-checked with the lawyers.

Waste House an Example of Sustainable Building

Waste House an Example of Sustainable Building Waste House an Example of Sustainable Building Waste House an Example of Sustainable BuildingThere are quite a few people in Brighton, England, who will tell you, There is no such thing as welcheste, just stuff in the wrong place. Duncan Baker-Brown, a senior lecturer and architect at the University of Brightons Faculty of Arts, has set out to test that idea.The test bed is the Brighton Waste House, which officially opened on June 10, 2014. It is the first permanent building in the U.K. to be constructed from waste, surplus material, and discarded plastic. In a sense, the Waste House is the descendant of an earlier sustainable building project carried out for Britains Channel 4 in 2008. Baker-Brown, who is also senior architect at BBM Sustainable Design, an architecture firm located in Cooksbridge, England, designed a prefabricated house out of organic materials such as timber, straw, grasses, hemp, and paper.Construction was filmed ove r six days, and at the end of each day Channel 4 broadcast a one-hour recap. The project was a special version of a regular program hosted by Kevin McCloud called Grand Designs, and so Baker-Browns design became known as the House that Kevin Built.The house stood for a few days on the site where it was built in East London. Baker-Brown had planned to rebuild the house at the University of Brighton, where he teaches. He saw it as a project to give his students practical experience, but the plan didnt work out. He decided instead to build an experimental building using materials that other people throw away.Building the Brighton Waste House. Image BBM Sustainable DesignBefore it was over, the project involved more than 275 students, most of them from the nearby City College Brighton and Hove, where the curriculum includes instruction in construction trades. Volunteers from Freegle UK, an online exchange for unwanted items, managed to source 20,000 plastic single-use toothbrushes from a sustainable cabin service company at Gatwick Airport. DVD cases were being discarded by a chain of movie rental shops, and the group was able to obtain about 10,000 of them.About half of them went into the Waste House. Wood came from various sources, including damaged new stock from a retailer and residents sheds. Many of the collected waste materials, including the toothbrushes and denim from cut-off jeans, went into specially designed spaces in the walls, where they will be monitored for their insulative properties.The 2,000 carpet tiles that cover the outside of the house, including colorful ones laminated with plastic bags, are what Baker Brown calls a rain screen auftragschweien system. They serve to keep the weather off the material behind them.According to Brown, All unusual materials in external walls are being monitored with electrical sensors measuring levels of condensation, temperature, etc. Data is sent to a Ph.D. students computer, which is collecting data daily.If a wall begins to fail we will whip out the offending material and try something else, Brown says. It is a real live research project that University of Brighton academics and students and other interested parties will be able to research and develop ideas from. View the current and past issues of Mechanical Engineering. For Further Discussion If a wall begins to fail we will whip out the offending material and try something else.Duncan Baker-Brown, BBM Sustainable Design

Thank-You Letter Quiz

Thank-You Letter QuizThank-You Letter QuizTest your thank-you letter to determine whether it would pass muster with our panel of hiring professionals.A well-crafted thank-you note following a successful job interview could be the tipping point that pushes you into the job candidate finalist category.The thank-you note remains one of the most overlooked marketing tools of the job search, said Stephanie Daniel, vice president and group program manager at Keystone Associates, a career-management and transition services consultancy.A poorly crafted thank you can do the opposite, pushing your candidacy, following a strong interview, from potential candidate to a final landing in the trash can.We gathered input from hiring managers and professional resume writers to craft this quiz. Before sending a thank-you letter, andrang it through this ringer to make sure its working for you and not against you.Q How Is Your Thank-You Letter Addressed?A. Dear Mr./Ms. Lastname, or Dear Firstname, only if the interviewer has invited you to address him/her as such.B. Dear Firstname,C. Dear Misspelled Firstname,Job candidates sometimes misread social cues, said Anne Howard, a recruiter with executive recruiting firm Lynn Hazan Associates. One candidate addressed her thank-you note to a CEOs first name. The CEO was at least 25 years her senior, and the company was very traditional, Howard said. Use someones first name only if you were invited to do so.Thats not as badeanstalt as misspelling a name, however. Hatti L. Hamlin, an independent PR practitioner and consultant, has an unusual name that is most often spelled with an e. She doesnt spell it that way and notes that it irritates me no end when people to whom Ive given my business card dont pay attention to how my name is spelled.Q What Does Your Thank-You Letter Include?A. Refers to something the interviewer said that you found interesting and informative.B. The standard Thank you for meeting with me today. I appreciate your tim e and look forward to working with you in the future.C. Typos or bad grammar.Answer A will make the interviewer feel like I didnt waste my valuable time meeting with you, Hamlin said.If you cant muster up anything more specific to say about the interview or the job than a cut-and-paste Thank you like answer B, you demonstrate that Youre not that interested in it, Howard said.The worst is bad usage, such as to when too is correct, or verbs and subjects that dont agree. If typos, misspelled words and poor grammar are the best she can do, she certainly wont get my help or recommendation, Hamlin said.Q Format/Timing?A. Promptly sent via e-mail.B. Promptly sent on good card stock.C. Sent when you eventually remembered, on some awesome green stationery thats sure to get their attention.Thank-you letters should be sent as soon as possible after the interview. E-mail is widely approved of. Some hiring pros say they are actually a bit creeped out by paper cards, while some prefer them over e -mail. Generally speaking, older, more traditional workplaces are likely to look more favorably on paper, so use your own discretion.Q The LetterA. is a sincere thanks for the time the interviewer spent with you.B. unsubtly reiterates why the interviewer should hire you.C. gives the interviewer a deadline to respond, implying that youre in high demand.Gregory Lay, a trainer with Heartily Working Adult Education, reviewed one letter from a gentleman who wrote, Ive got several offers Im weighing for my services, so for you to be in the game, Ill need to have a firm offer no later than next Friday. Lay stapled the letter to the candidates application and immediately moved it to the ?Dont bother to respond pile, he said.Q The LetterA. explains why youre interested in proceeding to a second meeting.B. uses terminology that doesnt fit your persona and/or uses text copied from the web.C. outlines medical concerns and/or gets overly personal.Drew Stevens, a training and talent management ex pert, worked with one person who received a thank you she swore shed seen before. Sure enough, she found the entire thank you was taken from an Internet template, Stevens said.One handwritten note Lay received came from a woman who showed up for the interview wearing blue jeans with large rips. She wrote, I noticed that you apreciated (sic) my legs. Im quite proud of them, and if you hire me, youll get to see them every day.Neither her legs nor anything attached were offered a job.SCORINGGive yourself two points for all As, one point for Bs and zero points for Cs.10 Congratulations - youre reading social cues correctly and customizing your thank-you letters to reflect what transpired in the interview.510 Your thank-you letters are a bit rote. Try to make sure they dont sound like form letters.05 Try to do better. Your thank-you letters, along with your applications, are likely spending a good deal of time together in circular files.

These 6 unhealthy habits are the biggest productivity killers

These 6 unhealthy habits are the biggest productivity killersThese 6 unhealthy habits are the biggest productivity killersThe best workdays (other than the ones that are short) are typically those where you feel both energized and accomplished. And while there are definitely somegood work habitsto have thatll help you get more of those types of daysdid you know that there are alsobadeanstalt habitsthat have been scientifically proven to sabotage your productivity?Here are 6 unhealthy, productivity-killing habits to avoid if you want to actually get sh*t done (mostly backed by science)Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more1. Consuming too much sugarIts been proven through research, published in Harvard Business Review, that the consumption of sugar is directly related to not only decline in health but also decline in productivity at work due to spikes and drops in blood sugar. By skipp ing the donuts and simply choosing black coffee instead of a frappuccino or water instead of soda, you can maximize your output and long-term focus at work.2. Skipping your breaksTheres a reason employers offer paid and unpaid breaks throughout your work day your productivity is highest when you have the opportunity to step away, take your eyes off of your work, and get a little fresh air and fresh perspective. Take 15 minutes every couple of hours to step away from your work and make every effort to think about something else during that time. Your body and brain benefit from the break.3. Sitting all daySitting or standing in the same distribution policy for long periods of time without movement leads all of the bodys systems to slow down, including the brain, causing brain fog and making it difficult to innovate, much less produce at the level expected of you. Take time to move and stretch throughout your day, even if you just step away from your computer to do some arm circles an d touch your toes because according to the American College of Sports Medicine, your quality of work, mental performance and time management will typically be better on days when you exercise.4. Eating a heavy lunchOvereating wreaks havoc on your body, according to research published by MD Anderson Cancer Center, putting pressure on your vital organs, causing discomfort, and forcing your body to expend more energy digesting your food, thus stealing energy that could be put into your work. Instead, choose to eat several smaller, colorful, protein rich meals and snacks that fuel your brain and body and make it easy to do what you love.5. Staying up too lateLack of sleep does more than make you tired and sluggish the next day it also increases your risk of errors and accidents at work, says the National Sleep Foundation. Establishing an evening routine that includes a consistent bed time (early enough to ensure you get the sleep your body needs) can help you do your best work.6. Keepin g your phone too closeLeaving your phone within eyeshot and earshot at all times can lead to endless distraction. Every Snapchat, Facebook and Insta notification can pull you away from what youre doing, leading you to lose focus on your project and lose progress when you have to take the time to find your place again. Instead, keep your phone in your drawer or bag, and check it at designated times throughout the day perhaps once an hour or every other hour if its just a quick glance.This article originally appeared on Kununu.

The Low Down on Mock Resume Exposed

The Low Down on Mock Resume Exposed While you dont need to appear conceited, employers should know that youre likely to boost their profits or decrease their expenditures. Possessing a very clear and professional resume is important in the medical field. The health care industry can be quite competitive. Your work may take you across a variety of industries. Mock Resume - What Is It? Below youll discover a sample reference list. Whenever you do a resume example search, you can also find cover letter examples also. You just need to opt for the one which you must use and then use your resume example in order to produce the ideal letter for your resume. Free Resume examples are like samples of resumes with the right format, the correct structure and the suitable content details. The True Meaning of Mock Resume Its possible to create separate section entitled technical skills where you might incorporate the exposure to several tools and computer programs. Resumes are usuall y categorized by the fashion in which the info is presented. Then you will move on to other resume examples that tell you just how to present your educational info and any special skills youve got. Notice how the example resumes are extremely specific when it has to do with technical skills. Up in Arms About Mock Resume? Set goals of the number of applications you need to send in per week and the number of phone calls you need to make per day. When it is possible to communicate all the crucial information in under a moment, you know that youre doing something right A 5 minute telephone interview may be a substantial time saver. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously offer you an advantage. Job seekers deserve to come across decent content quickly. Use the search kasten to locate what you need before your work interview. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. If youre searching to land a part in the high-energy, high-turnover fo od and beverage business, then youre going to need a resume that touts your previous experience and drives home your customer service abilities. Whether youre searching for jobs as a surgeon or anyplace else in the usa, there are a few crucial steps which you may take to make the procedure go more smoothly and end more successfully. The absolute most important expectation of a shipping job person is delivering the right product to the client within a designated time frame. Its incredible how much material its possible to find on his life at Dunder Mifflin (and then some), as long as you just look in the proper places. Every trade position has a particular tischset of skills which are needed at work and its crucial that you highlight your technical training in your resume. If youre writing your resume as an expert janitor, you could possibly be hoping to earn more cash, transfer jobs, or attain a managerial function. Each time you submit an application for a new job, check your resume to guarantee that it isnt only targeted, but in addition current. If youre attempting to acquire work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. Tailoring your resume to suit a possible employer is not any different. If youre asking for work, youre often requested to send a motivation letter with a resume. As soon as its not a true interview regarding a real employer sitting across from you, its real in terms of an individual sitting across from you. Resume Help It is a great instance of a timeless CV that may work whatever position youre applying for. The Appeal of Mock Resume A CV plays a critical part in gaining and winning a superb job. Ensure that the skills are related to the job that you desire. The following resume examples are thoroughly professional and theyre most likely to maximize your odds of being selected for the interview. However much or what kind of work experience youve got, theres a resume format that is likely to make your qualif ications shine. Well, regardless of what stage youre in your career, youre likely to should understand how to make a resume for a job interview and we are likely to demonstrate how Immediately following any interview is the best time to take action to enhance your future interviews. If you havent yet experienced a mock interview, you most likely dont realize the ability of practicing in a lower-stress atmosphere. An interview could also be needed to land the job, but a resume is critical to begin the procedure. The Meaning of Mock Resume Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that could aid you with your work search. Writing a strong application is a challenging procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Include your complete name, contact number, email and personal branding website if youve got one. Resume examples and templates are very helpful, especially when youre writing one of your initial resumes.

There Is No Automatic Way to Stay Employed Today

There Is No Automatic Way to Stay Employed Today Everyone wants the job of the future and a recession-proof career. Unfortunately, the robots are coming for us or are they? A study from the McKinsey Global Institute that measured the automatability of more than 800 jobs found that some jobs may becompletely automatable, but many more are only partially replaceable. Jobs that require high emotional intelligence, creativity, and physical dexterity are much harder to automate.Itis not just automation that threatens the 9-5 pack. The rise of the gig economy, which emphasizes outcomes and eliminates the middleman, has made it fashionable and fiscally strategic for employers to move toward consultants and freelancers and away from full-time workers.Given these developments, itsno wonder that traditional jobs are being replaced by online delivery platforms and/or consolidated into multifunctional roles. The career advice of the future is to be theautomater rather than the automated. No longer is being an expert in one role good enough tomorrows irreplaceable employee will be useful in many ways.What will the (near) future of employment be? Lets take a look at some examplesHealth ExpertsPhysicians are relatively safe, but the physician/MBA, physician/pharmacologist, physician/JD, or physician/engineer will be in very high demand moving forward. Possessing the unique ability to strategically address industry changes and trends, these specialists in medicine, pharmacy, medical devices, and theircorresponding weltumspannend legal issues have the talents and wherewithal needed to navigate the medical needs of the future.At the other end of the spectrum will be certified nursing assistants (CNAs), the lower-cost alternative to the almost non-existent licensed practical nurse (LPN). A dearth of nurse educators means fewer LPNs are produced in favor of turning out the more highly trained r egistered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners.Personal FinanceFiduciary financial planners look out for their clients financial health and well-being. They evaluate lifestyles and life stages and make recommendations to help customers strategically plan for mortgages, college expenses, retirements, and any potential rainy day that may arrive. As if that werent enough,fiduciary financial planners also utilize the same software, algorithms, and high-volume discounts asother financial advisors, which will likely force traditional stock traders to look fornew jobs to replace their extraordinary salaries.LogisticsMoving things from point A to point B with military precision will be critical as the practice of just in time delivery continues to spread. Transport vehicles will include drones, trucks, driverless cars, trains, and 18-wheelers. People in logistics will help companies win business, and theyll be on the front lines of the war for talent.Do logistics benefit from automation? Cl early. However, it is people who will plan for automation, design the machines, and manage the exceptions.Conversely, a little automation can be good for the overall growth of an industry. When was the last time you took a taxi or traditional car service? Cant remember? Thats notsurprising, given the meteoric rise of app-based ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft. Car service fleets have been relegated to special occasions like weddings, proms, and company outings. Look for further industry revolution as driverless vehicles become the norm.The Reinvention EconomyHumans and computers can live in symbiotic harmony as long as we understand where each fits in the employment ecosystem.Manufacturing jobs of the Rust Beltwill never return. Sprawling malls anchored by department stores have becomeghost towns.Automation succeeds when it replaces routine, repeatable, and error-prone tasks technology makes humans faster at their jobs. Reinvention is the central theme for workers in todays e conomy. Preparing for future employment in an ever-expanding knowledge economy requires flexibility, creativity, and critical thinking. Skilled trades that require manual dexterity will always be in demand. High-touch professions like education, medicine, and law enforcement will never be fully automated.How do you reinvent yourself for the future? You dont. You reinvent yourself for the here and now. AsRichard Riley, the former secretary of education, put itWe are currently preparing students for jobs that dont yet exist using technologies that havent been invented in order to solve problems we dont even know are problems yet.Elaine Varelas is Keystone Partners managing partner.

How to Increase Your Ghostwriting Business

How to Increase Your Ghostwriting BusinessHow to Increase Your Ghostwriting BusinessGhostwriting can be a lucrative business if you know how and where to look for work. According to Marcia Layton Turner, founder and executive director of the Association of Ghostwriters, there are plenty of opportunities for ghostwriting work, and she has some advice for how to find it. ApproachAcquisitions Editors or Literary Agents An authors book editor or literary agent often finds and suggests a ghostwriter. This happens when the author has a solid platform or a great idea for a book, but he doesnt have the time or the skill to write it. Many seasoned ghostwriters tend to rely on editors and agents as sources of new business. Look to the Source Many potential ghostwriting clients are going the self-publishing route today rather than sign with major publishers. For example, entrepreneurs who want to self-publish a book to market their businesses typically look for ghostwriters. Connect you rself with self-publishing services and gurus who might be in a position to recommend your services directly to authors. Hobnob with Fellow Ghostwriters Only inexperienced writers see colleagues as competition. The truth is that theres plenty of work to go around, and fellow ghostwriters can be an excellent source of work.Get to know them, pay attention to their specialties, and tell them about yours. Then send projects their way of they arent right for you. The mora work you refer elsewhere, the more likely you are to be on the receiving end of referrals that are more in line with your interests and expertise. In other words, your competition will return the favor. You can find other ghostwriters through organizations and conferences. Become Affiliated With an Agency You might affiliate yourself with an agency if youre an established author with good credentials. An agency takes a commission for not only connecting ghostwriters with authors, but for managing the author-ghos twriter relationship. Shell establish contractual parameters, and negotiate and manage the payments. Agencies tend to vet their ghostwriters fairly strictly. For example, Gotham Ghostwriters in New York City generally works with high-profile clients, and they screen their writers accordingly. Expand Your Market Writing books and book proposals account for a large portion of ghostwriting projects, but theyre not the only works that use ghostwriting services. Theyre not the only available source of ghostwriting income. Ghostwriters are also hired to write blogs, craft tweets and Facebook posts, and otherwise manage social media accounts. They write white papers, articles, and speeches- even memos and correspondence. Anything that someone else might be asked to write can be ghostwritten. Reach out to marketing firms or public relations agencies for non-book projects. Leverage Your Previous Experience This is especially true if youre an established writer breaking into ghostwrit ing. Without actual ghostwriting experience, you can show you might be right for a ghostwriting job because of your writing skill plus your in-depth knowledge of a market or your extensive social media expertise- even without ghostwriting experience. Make Yourself Visible Dont forget to use good old-fashioned word of mouth, as well as your online and offline social networks.Make sure everyone knows youre a ghostwriter. That casual acquaintance from the PTA or the executive in line next to you in the deli might just be in need of someone to author her book or another project. Marcia Layton Turner has authored, co-authored, or ghosted nearly 30 non-fiction booksand articles like this one. She currently earns the bulk of her income from ghostwriting books for entrepreneurs and senior executives and is the founder and executive director of the Association of Ghostwriters.

Finding a Job in Sales

Finding a Job in SalesFinding a Job in Sales

George Saunders What I regret most ... are failures of kindness

George Saunders What I regret most ... are failures of kindnessGeorge Saunders What I regret most ... are failures of kindnessIts graduation season, and we here at Ladders have decided to take a look back and showcase some past commencement addresses that stand the test of time. Below is the full transcript of George Saunderscommencement address to Syracuses Class of 2013 Down through the ages, a traditional form has evolved for this type of speech, which is Some old fart, his best years behind him, who, over the curse of his life, has made a series of dreadful mistakes (that would be me), gives heartfelt advice to a group of shining, energetic young people, with all of their best years ahead of them (that would be you).And I intend to respect that tradition.Now, one useful thing you can do with an old person, in addition to borrowing money from them, or asking them to do one of their old-time dances, so you can watch, while laughing, is ask Looking back, what do you regret? And the yll tell you. Sometimes, as you know, theyll tell you even if you havent asked. Sometimes, even when youve specifically requested they not tell you, theyll tell you.So What do I regret? Being poor from time to time? Not really. Working terrible jobs, like knuckle-puller in a slaughterhouse? (And dont even ASK what that entails.) No. I dont regret that. Skinny-dipping in a river in Sumatra, a little buzzed, and looking up and seeing like 300 monkeys sitting on a pipeline, pooping down into the river, the river in which I was swimming, with my mouth open, naked? And getting deathly ill afterwards, and staying sick for the next seven months? Not so much. Do I regret the occasional humiliation? Like once, playing hockey in front of a big crowd, including this girl I really liked, I somehow managed, while falling and emitting this weird whooping noise, to score on my own goalie, while also sending my stick flying into the crowd, nearly hitting that girl? No. I dont even regret that.But h eres something I do regretItscommencement seasonFollow Ladders Commencement Addresses magazine on Flipboard to watch and read all of the most inspiring speeches from this year and years past.In seventh grade, this new kid joined our class. In the interest of confidentiality, her Convocation Speech name will be ELLEN. ELLEN was small, shy. She wore these blue cats-eye glasses that, at the time, only old ladies wore. When nervous, which was pretty much always, she had a habit of taking a strand of hair into her mouth and chewing on it.So she came to our school and our neighborhood, and was mostly ignored, occasionally teased (Your hair taste good? - that sort of thing). I could see this hurt her. I still remember the way shed look after such an insult eyes cast down, a little gut-kicked, as if, having just been reminded of her place in things, she was trying, as much as possible, to disappear. After awhile shed drift away, hair-strand still in her mouth. At home, I imagined, after sc hool, her mother would say, you know How was your day, sweetie? and shed say, Oh, fine. And her mother would say, Making any friends? and shed go, Sure, lots.Sometimes Id see her hanging around alone in her front yard, as if afraid to leave it.And then - they moved. That was it. No tragedy, no big final hazing.One day she was there, next day she wasnt.End of story.Now, why do I regret that? Why, forty-two years later, am I still thinking about it? Relative to most of the other kids, I was actually pretty nice to her. I never said an unkind ja genau to her. In fact, I sometimes even (mildly) defended her.But still. It bothers me.So heres something I know to be true, although its a little corny, and I dont quite know what to do with itWhat I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.Or, to look at it from the other end of the telescope Who, in your li fe, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth?Those who were kindest to you, I bet.Its a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but Id say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than Try to be kinder.Now, the million-dollar question Whats our problem? Why arent we kinder?Heres what I thinkEach of us is born with a series of built-in confusions that are probably somehow Darwinian. These are (1) were central to the universe (that is, our personal story is the main and most interesting story, the only story, really) (2) were separate from the universe (theres US and then, out there, all that other junk dogs and swing-sets, and the State of Nebraska and low-hanging clouds and, you know, other people), and (3) were permanent (death is real, o.k., sure for you, but not for me).Now, we dont really believe these things intellectually we know better but we believe them viscerally, and live by them, and they cause us to prioritize our own nee ds over the needs of others, even though what we really want, in our hearts, is to be less selfish, more aware of whats actually happening in the present moment, more open, and more loving.So, the second million-dollar question How might we DO this? How might we become more loving, more open, less selfish, more present, less delusional, etc., etc?Well, yes, good question.Unfortunately, I only have three minutes left.So let me just say this. There are ways. You already know that because, in your life, there have been High Kindness periods and Low Kindness periods, and you know what inclined you toward the former and away from the latter. Education is good immersing ourselves in a work of art good prayer is good meditations good a frank talk with a dear friend establishing ourselves in some kind of spiritual tradition - recognizing that there have been countless really smart people before us who have asked these same questions and left behind answers for us.Because kindness, it turns out, is hard - it starts out all rainbows and puppy dogs, and expands to include . . . well, everything.One thing in our favor some of this becoming kinder happens naturally, with age. It might be a simple matter of attrition as we get older, we come to see how useless it is to be selfish - how illogical, really. We come to love other people and are thereby counter-instructed in our own centrality. We get our butts kicked by real life, and people come to our defense, and help us, and we learn that were not separate, and dont want to be. We see people near and dear to us dropping away, and are gradually convinced that maybe we too will drop away (someday, a long time from now). fruchtwein people, as they age, become less selfish and more loving. I think this is true. The great Syracuse poet, Hayden Carruth, said, in a poem written near the end of his life, that he was mostly Love, now.And so, a prediction, and my heartfelt wish for you as you get older, your self will diminish and you will grow in love. YOU will gradually be replaced by LOVE. If you have kids, that will be a huge moment in your process of self-diminishment. You really wont care what happens to YOU, as long as they benefit. Thats one reason your parents are so proud and happy today. One of their fondest dreams has come true you have accomplished something difficult and tangible that has enlarged you as a person and will make your life better, from here on in, forever.Congratulations, by the way.When young, were anxious - understandably - to find out if weve got what it takes. Can we succeed? Can we build a viable life for ourselves? But you - in particular you, of this generation - may have noticed a certain cyclical quality to ambition. You do well in high-school, in hopes of getting into a good college, so you can do well in the good college, in the hopes of getting a good job, so you can do well in the good job so you can . . .And this is actually O.K. If were going to become kinder, t hat process has to include taking ourselves seriously - as doers, as accomplishers, as dreamers. We have to do that, to be our best selves.Still, accomplishment is unreliable. Succeeding, whatever that might mean to you, is hard, and the need to do so constantly renews itself (success is like a mountain that keeps growing ahead of you as you hike it), and theres the very real danger that succeeding will take up your whole life, while the big questions go untended.So, quick, end-of-speech advice Since, according to me, your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving Hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now. Theres a confusion in each of us, a sickness, really selfishness. But theres also a cure. So be a good and proactive and even somewhat desperate patient on your own behalf - seek out the most efficacious anti-selfishness medicines, energetically, for the rest of your life.Do all the other things, the ambitious things - travel, get rich, get famous , innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim naked in wild jungle rivers (after first having it tested for monkey poop) but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness. Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality - your soul, if you will - is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Shakespeares, bright as Gandhis, bright as Mother Teresas. Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly.And someday, in 80 years, when youre 100, and Im 134, and were both so kind and loving were nearly unbearable, drop me a line, let me know how your life has been. I hope you will say It has been so wonderful.Congratulations, Class of 2013.I wish you great happiness, all the luck in the wor ld, and a beautiful summer.