Communication with a Difficult Boss

Communication with a Difficult Boss Communication with a Difficult Boss A difficult boss almost always has a favorite subordinate, and invariably it is not you or me. If you met me, youd know why it isnt me, but you are totenstill wondering why it isnt you. The favorite is often a useful intermediary. Someone in that role can work for you, without his or his bosss knowledge. Consider this scenario The bosss pet informs you that he and the boss plan to shuffle some responsibilities. They will give part of your work responsibilities to a more senior coworker and assign you a less desirable task. This messenger, mind you, is not your supervisor, but is even with you in the corporate hierarchy. That means your boss had a discussion about your responsibilities not with you, but with someone else whose only connection to the whole affair is that he likes to kiss up. This may sound far-fetched to my luckier readers, but trust me, I once found myself in just such a situation. After he droppe d his bomb, I stood there thinking, Who do you think you are? Well, not in those exact words. Actually, I thought something else, which the editors wont print. Then a wolfish smile crept over my face, as I realized, with clarity of thought that is rare for me, that I had a maneuver that, oddly enough, would make this situation work to my advantage. I welches talking to a coworker, his favor with the boss notwithstanding, so I looked the bosss pet in the eye and said, in no uncertain tone, that I will not do the extra work and will be happy to take the hit on my annual review for not doing so. The bosss pet was taken aback. The boss and he had laid out this plan, and I should acquiesce. By rebuffing this individual, what series of events had I set in motion? First, I had disconnected him from the boss. He should not have implied that he and the boss decide things together. He should certainly not have let me know the decision before the boss had informed me. Invariably, this individu al goes and tells the boss what I have said. There should be no fear coursing through your veins, for the simple reason that all but the worst manager knows that you cannot give complete credibility to secondhand information. The individual relaying the information will tell it in a way that was not identical to the original statements. It is getting to be fun now, isnt it? Occasionally, your manager will be floating an idea to see how it flies. Either way, the boss now knows what your position is and you did not have to tell him in person. There is even an element of plausible deniability to your position. I am sure that the coworker did not even get the managers intent 100 percent correct. So, if confronted by your boss, respond with, Oh, that is what you meant? I did not get that from your minion. Or you can say that, even though when you first heard the idea you were resistant, upon further reflection you realized the value of it. Both you and your boss know that you are wafflin g, but if this is the greatest compromise you have to make in a year, you are having a better year than I have ever had. In the best of all worlds, your bosss response should go in the following sequence. First he should look at his confidant and think in disgust or dismay that the fellow has blown it. Second, he moves on to much easier prey. If handled properly, this occurs with minimal if any negative repercussions to you. Now thats communication. Adapted from Talking Back, by Ronald A.L. Rorrer, University of Colorado at Denver, for Mechanical Engineering, August 2006.A difficult boss almost always has a favorite subordinate, and invariably it is not you or me.

How to Advance Your Career With Continuing Education

How to Advance Your Career With Continuing EducationHow to Advance Your Career With Continuing EducationHow to Advance Your Career With Continuing EducationThe road to your next best career opportunity may lead you to continuing education classes. Heres why they are a great option. TWEETThe Great Recession may be over, but finding a great job is mora challenging than ever. Competition is fierce and employers want candidates who leid only excel at their work, but who are also versatile and can take on multiple jobs at once.The fastest way to land a job, earn a promotion or compete for a raise is through professional development opportunities such as continuing education classes. These noncredit courses teach professionals valuable skills to enhance their career, make them more employable and push them to the top of their game.What are continuing education classes?Continuing education classes are typically taught at a college or university, city employment agency or corporation special izing in a certain skill. Rather than focus on college curriculum, these courses delve more deeply into the specializations that are relevant to your career.Classes also teach fundamental skills not typically found in the students career. These additional skills augment your degree and major. Typical continuing education classes vary depending on industry and specialization, but some of the more basic classes include Computer Operating Systems, Microsoft Office, Office Management and Productivity, Adobe Creative Suite and Project Management. Click on the following link to view a list of the most popular adult education courses.Why should I take these courses?Theres something to be said about a person who wants to improve themselves and increase their knowledge. Learning is a lifelong journey, and youre never too old to take a class and learn something new. TWEETMost significantly, adult education classes help advance your career and stay ahead of the competition in the workplace. It s as simple as that. Employers will not spend money on team members who dont significantly contribute to the company.In addition, professional development classes can help you build skills you dont have the opportunity to practice during the regular workday. What better way to end a stressful day than by learning to do something youre truly interested in? Continuing education courses can be fun and exciting. For instance, many instructors invite students on field trips to practice their new skills in a professional setting.How else can this benefit my career?Any career coach will tell you that networking is key to getting ahead in todays workforce. In addition to building new skills that employers will find attractive, continuing education affords you the opportunity to network with your classmates and instructors. Take the time to get to know the instructor and ask questions. Who knows those questions may lead to your next career.How do I leverage these courses on my resume?Adding continuing education to your resume is as easy as 1, 2 and 3.Step 1 Choose the location.Location is the key element to any segment of the resume. The information at the beginning is more likely to be read than information stuck at the bottom. Continuing education is no different. Basic skills and augmented knowledge should be placed under the Areas of Expertise or Core Competencies section, which is usually located directly below the professional summary.Coursework specializing in certain areas of your major belongs under the Education and Professional Development section of your resume.Step 2 Limit the amount of Information.Some information is more important than others. While you want prospective employers to know you were selected for the business ethics seminar at Harvard University, the Excel training class at the YMCA doesnt require the same about of attention on your resume. The most important training opportunities should be listed with the following information institution, dates, location and training topic. The speaker and description is not necessary. Something like the Excel training course doesnt need to be included in your list of coursework simply list it among your technical proficiencies and leave it at that.Step 3 Format it appropriately.How you format your information will determine what the hiring manager notices and what he or she might miss during their initial review of your resume. For important training classes, list it directly under the college section. Format it as followsPrinciples of MicroeconomicsSponsored by YALE UNIVERSITY Atlanta, GA (2014)Specialized Diseases in PoultryU.S. FOOD DRUG ADMINISTRATION New York, NY (2010)Less important classes or locations should be formatted into a centered list, separated by bullet points or some other symbol, as followsProfessional Training DevelopmentMicrosoft Office Advanced Adobe InDesign Photoshop Business Ethics for Professionals IT Systems for Accountants Business Managers HIP PA FERBA Records Compliance Industrial Safety ProceduresIn the end.Whether youre looking for a new job or competing for a promotion, continuing education has several advantages. It helps prepare you for a new job, enhances your employability, furthers your education and offers insights into information you previously knew nothing or little about. Even if the courses dont yield you a new job, it is sure to help advance your career in years to come.Let TopResume help you write the next chapter of your career. Heres how.

A Quick Guide to Education Placement on Your Resume

A Quick Guide to Education Placement on Your ResumeA Quick Guide to Education Placement on Your ResumeA Quick Guide to Education Placement on Your ResumeWhere should your education go on your resume? Heres a quick guide to get you started. TWEETAs you piece together the information on your resume, you may start to wonder where that information needs to go. In terms of resume format, should you include your qualifications at the top of the document or is that better left for the end? Do you include your contact information on each page? There are many pieces to the puzzle, but the question I am asked fruchtwein often is whether or not to list your education prior to your experience or after your work history.The answer is this it depends. While that may not be the answer you want to hear, it is the truthful response. Read below for several rules and questions that we can apply to the education section that will guide you in its placement within your resume format.First have you gradu ated college within the last six months to one year?If so, then it is appropriate to list your education prior to employment experiences. This is because you most likely have limited professional experience and your education is the core competency that you wish to highlight for an employer.Secondly have you graduated from a well-known college or university?For example, if you graduated from Harvard or Princeton, this is information that should be highlighted in your resume. Depending upon the position and the employer, these types of universities will provide you with an additional advantage over other candidates.Next how many years of professional experience do you have in your desired field?If the answer is one or more years, then the education section can go after the professional history in the resume format. In this case, focus on highlighting your skills, accomplishments and abilities at each position. For those who have many years of professional experience, education beco mes less important as you move forward in your career.Remember, there isnt one resume format that fits all job seekers. Be strategic when placing your information and showcase your strongest assets and experiences first. Recruiters and hiring managers have precious little time and youll want to ensure the front-loading of pertinent information.Need help with your resume? Our TopResume writers can helpPhoto credit David Joyce/Flickr

Free Professional Mechanic Resume Template

Free Professional Mechanic Resume TemplateFree Professional Mechanic Resume TemplateA professional mechanic knows the business well and does notlage waste time when there is work to be done. Your resume should reflect this same quality with the language you use to describe yourself, getting right to the point and demonstrating with your attitude that you offer the most cost-effective solution for your prospective employers needs. As a professional, you back up your claims with hard evidence and provide numbers to show your performance.Create ResumeCustomize ResumeWhat to Include in a Professional Mechanic ResumeA professional resume should include information that is relevant to the exact job you are applying for. If you are responding to an advertisement, make sure to customize your resume based on the stated needs of the employer. Give specific information how you would solve the problems that the company has stated it needs help with. Always describe your certifications and creden tials, but avoid adding information that is not relevant to the job itself.Common Resume Fails Mistakes to AvoidIncluding Irrelevant Information Use direct language that clearly states your qualifications. Using wordy or overly descriptive language distracts from the goal of communicating. Just get right to the point. Do not include any hobbies or work information that isnt important to your prospective employer.Using a Generic Resume Customize your resume for each job you apply to. An employer should see how your specific qualifications meets the role that you have applied for. Use the job notice as a guide.Using Gimmicks Always create a professional-looking resume on plain paper with a simple font that is easy to read. Complicating your presentation with elaborate print, embossing, gloss or distracting colors makes it more likely that you will not be taken seriously.Including References Space is limited on your resume, and your list of references can be supplied later when asked f or. References on the resume itself is a waste of paper.Making Typing or Grammar Errors Proofread your resume before submitting it. Have someone else that you trust also check it over to be certain. A simple mistake on your resume can damage your credibility. These types of errors are distracting and should be fixed before you send it to an HR department.Resume Content Henry Cowl 123 Andrews Road, Fort Jackson, Il 11111 (555)422-8191 Henry88anymail.com Summary Master repair technician with advanced diagnostics skills and over 14 years of experience, seeking employment as a flat rate technician in a high-volume shop. Highlights ASE Certified Automotive Master TechnicianASE Certified Advanced Engine Performance Specialist Certification Average of 65 labor hours earned per week over the past ten years99.4% career customer satisfaction index from all third-party survey results Successfully upsell services on at least 40% of all work ordersExperience Master Repair Technician 2/1/2009 P resent House of Imports Eugene, OR Perform services and repairs according to factory specificationsAchieve an average of 15% saving for shop customers compared to dealer pricing Maintain highest level of quality and reduced shop rework by 18%Negotiate additional repair fees with federal warranty claims Diagnostic Service Technician 5/1/2006 2/1/2009 BMW of Portland Portland, OR Performed approved repairs on all models of BMW vehiclesPerformed routing inspections and new delivery inspectionsObtained highest shop quality awards and Customer Service Index for two years in a row General Repair Mechanic and Installer 9/1/2001 4/1/2006 Diamond Automotive Service Group Corvallis, OR Performed bumper-to-bumper repairs and maintenance on all makes and models of vehiclesCritical inspection services for used dealer stock saved the shop an average of $1100 per month in reconditioning expensesEducation Associate Degree in Automotive Technology Lane Community College, Eugene, OR1075 Hours of BMW Factory TrainingSpecial Training Services of BMW, Portland, OR

Cloud Engineer Job and Salary

Cloud Engineer Job and SalaryCloud Engineer Job and SalaryIt could make sense for many IT professionals as more companies move their data to the rechnerwolke and shift spending in that direction.For most companies, wolke computing is now a critical aspect of the technology stack. Whether its part of a hybrid solution or a full-fledged migration to hosted services, the datenwolke has become a cornerstone of digital life.Its a big move from traditional enterprise infrastructures, where on-premise servers handled most tasks and stored all the data. Because this changeover has been so sudden and all-encompassing, it has left many businesses with a skills gap theyre now struggling to fill with professionals with rechnerwolke experience, including the role of cloud engineer.Across the country, this demand has created a large number of cloud engineer jobs and cloud-related positions. In our recent Jobs and AI Anxiety report, 72 percent of the managers surveyed said theyre already using the cloud, and an additional 23 percent plan to make the switch in the next three to five years. And according to the latest State of U.S. Tech Hiring research, three of the top five positions were related to distributed ordnungsprinzips cloud security, cloud architecture and cloud engineer.Learning how to be a cloud engineer could be a smart move for people in traditional IT roles. But job seekers have to be willing to learn these new skills even if it means pursuing training on their own.Getting started as a cloud engineerMoving from a traditional IT specialty to a cloud-based system requires a mindset change. Often, this is the biggest hurdle for tech professionals because there are some fundamental differences. For example, theres more focus on automating infrastructure in the cloud, and it can be a big change not logging into a server and doing everything manually.To prepare for the move, consider these four areas to focus onCloud platforms - Many of the major platform providers o ffer free resources to give IT professionals a chance to practice. And practice you must. Make koranvers to try out more than one. The top ones today are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. Many companies are starting to explore the use of multi-cloud environments as a way to manage fault tolerance, so knowledge of several platforms is a bonus.APIs and web services - APIs (application programming interfaces) and web services are key to fundamental cloud architecture, so youll need to understand how they integrate with your companys systems. You may also be required to build your own APIs or maintain those offered by your firm. There are a number of online courses about creating a RESTful API, which will give you an insight into both sides of the process.Software configuration management (SCM) - SCM becomes more important than ever in a cloud-based environment. A cloud engineer should be familiar with some of the most common SCM tools, including Chef, Pu ppet and Ansible.Agile development - If youre not already Agile trained, get to know this methodology. The Scrum pillars of transparency, inspection and adaptation make Agile an ideal approach to the fluid and fast-moving world of cloud computing. Sites like Scrum Alliance and Agile Alliance will help you get started.Traditional IT roles that can translate to cloud careersWhat types of traditional IT positions are now morphing into cloud jobs in many organizations? Below are just three examples, along with details about core job responsibilities and starting compensation from the Robert Half Technology Salary Guide. To tailor the national average salary figures listed below and in the guide, use the local variances included in the guide.Systems engineerSystems engineers need in-depth technical knowledge of an employers software and hardware, as well as advanced analytical, troubleshooting and design skills. Employers generally prefer candidates with at least five years of experienc e working with the hardware and software systems used by the company, as well as a bachelors degree or equivalent experience.Typical duties includeDeveloping, maintaining and supporting technical infrastructure, hardware and system software componentsPerforming installation, maintenance and support of system software and hardware and user supportConfiguring, debugging and supporting multiple infrastructure platformsPerforming high-level root-cause analysis for service interruption recovery and creating preventive measuresThe starting national average midpoint salary for a systems engineer is $103,000.For a career as a cloud engineer, in-demand skills that can increase starting compensation include cloud-relevant abilities such as virtualization and Linux/Unix administration.Because many organizations are only now making their first foray into the cloud, they need access to skilled IT talent that can help solve herausforderungs and innovate along their journey.The systems administrat or role is changing dramatically because the cloud is commoditizing IT. For example, many systems administrators now need to learn programming languages like Python in order to interact with a cloud vendors APIs.Network engineerNetwork engineers must be detail-oriented and have in-depth knowledge of networking hardware and software. Typical job requirements are a bachelors degree in computer science or electrical engineering, and five or more years of experience in areas such as network design and implementation, security, and server and network infrastructure.Typical duties includeEngineering enterprise data, voice and video networksEstablishing and operating network test facilitiesMaintaining a secure transfer of data to multiple locations via internal and external networksWorking with vendors, clients, carriers and technical staff on network implementation, optimization and ongoing managementProviding high-level support and technical expertise in networking technologyThe starting national average salary midpoint for a network engineer is $108,750.How do you build a career as a cloud networking engineer? In-demand skills that can increase starting compensation for this role include cloud-relevant abilities such as Voice over web Protocol (VoIP) administration.Networking in the cloud is very different from traditional networking. While a traditional network engineer needs to know everything about firewalls, switches, routers and other specific network components, cloud networking engineers focus more on network design, as most cloud providers offer networking as a service. Cloud engineers who specialize in networking might also be responsible for auditing the way that rules are applied in a cloud environment.Database administratorDatabase administrators need a strong technical foundation in database structure, configuration, installation and practice. Knowledge and experience in major relational database languages and applications, such as Microsoft SQL Serve r, Oracle and IBM DB2, are typically required. Effective database administrators must have keen attention to detail, a strong customer service orientation and the ability to work as part of a team.Typical duties includeManaging, monitoring and maintaining company databasesMaking requested changes, updates and modifications to database structure and dataEnsuring database integrity, stability and system availabilityMaintaining database backup and recovery infrastructureThe starting national average salary midpoint for a database administrator is $97,250.To find a cloud engineer job specializing in databases, start by integrating in-demand skills that can increase starting compensation for this role. These include cloud-relevant abilities in the Hadoop framework and Oracle databases.With most cloud services, you dont need to focus on setting up the database server. Database backup and recovery may also no longer be relevant to your domain. However, you may still need to do things like set up tablespaces, optimize queries, and evaluate and execute table structure changes.Cloud engineer salaryBecause this is a relatively new job title, theres not much data about cloud engineer salary ranges. Looking at related jobs listed above and similar engineering roles in IT, a good estimate for a national median salary would be around $100,000 to $140,000. A cloud computing analyst, who designs, tests and deploys infrastructure for an existing cloud platform, can expect a starting salary of $94,500, according to the latest Salary Guide.Other hot cloud jobsCloud architectCloud systems engineerCloud developerCloud security consultantCloud support specialistCloud applications engineerCloud computing specialistDevOps cloud architectCloud engineers are problem solversBecause some organizations are only now making their first foray into the cloud, they need skilled IT talent who can help solve problems and innovate as the company makes its journey. Thats why its essential for candi dates vying for cloud jobs to be able to demonstrate that theyre capable of providing that type of support - even if their professional experience is deeply rooted in traditional IT.For example, take something thats very cookie-cutter in the on-premises world - setting up a LAMP stack (open source web platform), for example - and think about how youd approach it in a cloud environment. Then use available tools to actually do it so you know that it works.Cloud services will continue expanding and evolving, creating both new challenges and new opportunities. To be a successful cloud engineer, you need to combine a willingness to learn with a dogged determination to make things work.Find a cloud engineer jobSkilled cloud professionals are in demand across the United States. See our open jobs. Tags

What Has to be Done About Interpreter Resume Before Its Too Late

What Has to be Done About Interpreter Resume Before Its Too Late Interpreters also desire a superior comprehension of spoken and colloquial language. They are not translators. Medical interpreters should have an in-depth understanding of health terminology, and they ought to be ready to be tested on medical terminology and language skills during the interview practice. Prospective interpreters may benefit from volunteering to receive first-hand expertise in the area. Some interpreters work in just one department while others might work in quite a few departments as needed. They specialize in other forms of interpreting for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Translators are predicted to be very accurate and to defend the confidentiality of communicated information. Health or healthcare translators frequently do not have the identical amount of private interaction with patients and providers that interpreters do. Simultaneous interpreters cant begin interpreting until the overall significance of the sentence is understood. The process of locating the most suitable interpreter starts with you. If youre fluent in mora than 1 language, you might look at employed as a medical interpreter. It is a little positive if a person speaks a foreign language. Details of Interpreter Resume As a result of significant number of resumes ur Denver interpretation provider receives daily, were not able to reply to individual resume submissions. A great court interpreter will understand how to address an issue and as soon as it is essential to bring an issue to the interest of the court. Identify the most important concept, the significance of the message, so you may paraphrase it later. You will be provided the chance to interpret the spoken words after the speaker has finished communicating her or his message. Actually, there are particular jobs in which its important to place a skill section at or close to the top of the resume. Your skills are determined by the job. The first thing you have to do in the work application procedure is to prepare a resume that will reflect your language abilities and medical terminology insight. Professionally, our resumes are often the very first impression a prospective employer gets of us. You may change your writing formatting depending upon the type of job which youre seeking. Theres one little-known approach to have the job. A guide job isnt likely to become an archives position. Conclusion If you would like to get a good resume for the interpreter job that youre gunning for, you should start it using a compelling objective statement that offers value to the prospective employer. Your accounting degree or experience with bookkeeping might be more applicable than you believe. When you make an application for a job well send your application to the named recruiter, who might contact you. Even though the freelancers may provide you with interpretation at a significantly less expensive rate, y et you can not ever be sure regarding the quality they provide. For example, you are applying for five positions, additionally you want to generate five objectives customized for each of the positions. Your application was created to sell 1 productyou. You might use the application objective once youre focusing on any type of certain job. In general, theres not anything wrong with using a work application objective. Interpreter Resume Explained Youre in a position to fully grasp why you begin with an objective can actually undermine the potency of the remainder of your continue whether the remainder of the continue is really a work of genius. Bu tirst, here are a few important things to remember when putting together an effective collection of skills. So working here isnt only a job, it is a mindset and a lifestyle. To begin with, if youre seeing a great absprache of hard skills that you just dont have, it can be better to move on to the next position. Your efforts will only be expected in locating the ideal interpretation company. Even in case youve never placed an official job, theyve still true youve got life experience thats applicable to the function search. Show your conceivable employer why you will be in a position to implement the work much superior than others regardless of much experience youve got. A job or an internship is a superb approach to practice spanish whilst gaining valuable work experience or simply earning some extra cash.

4 Tips for Becoming a Better Team Player

4 Tips for Becoming a Better Team Player Do you work well with others? Do you prioritize kollektiv success over your own? There is a reason these are common interview questions all employers want employees who are team players. No one can achieve greatness completely on their own, and fruchtwein companies are looking foremployees who know this to be true.The best candidates are those who canhighlight their own successes as well as praise others for theirs. These candidates will go on to become the kind of employees whorecognize that success is always better achieved through teamwork.Are you not much of a team player yourself? Or maybe youre just worried that youre starting to get a little self-centered and need a brief refresher course. Whatever the case, here are four tips to help you become a better team player and, as a result, become the kind of employee organizations will fight for.1. Its No t WhatYou Say, but How You Say ItThis is a simple, but important one. Consider your word choice when interacting with your colleagues. Choosing to say we instead of I is a small gesture, but its a gesture that can go a long way in recognizing the contributions of others.At my company,City Wide Franchise, we have all become accustomed to referring to the whole group, rather than to certain individuals. Communicating in this waystrengthens our bonds and gives us greater purpose.2. Keep All Lines of Communication OpenWhether you communicate with your team through email, weekly webinars, team meetings, or one-on-one meetings, its important that you use some method to foster ongoing, clear, and consistent communication. Doing so ensures that nothing gets lost in translation and that everyone is held accountable to deadlines.AtCity Wide Franchise, we use a tool called Asana, which is designed to help teams collaborate more efficiently. Instead of using email, we create projects,assign tas ks to team members, and track progress through an online dashboard.3. Have an Open MindsetNothing ever goes exactly as planned. This is especially true when it comes to working in a group environment. One team member can present a new approach that changes the direction of an entire project.Rather than challenging or contradicting opposing viewpoints, an effective team player will demonstrate flexibility, embrace change, and show a willingness to try something new and different.4 Dont Forget to CelebrateGreat team players celebrate the successes of their teammates.One way to recognize fellow teammates is to include a shoutouts section in the company newsletter, where team members and team leaders can acknowledge their colleagues great work. Another effective recognition tool is to set aside some time during team meetings for team members to stand up and acknowledge their coworkers efforts.It is incrediblyimportant to celebrate team victories. At City Wide Franchise, we hold a monthl y scorecard meeting that we use to measure and share group and company-wide successes. We also host off-site celebrations to show our appreciation for groups that exceed expectations.Its not hard to be a team player, and learning to become one will help you advance your career to new heights. Really, its all about refocusing your mindset stop thinking about yourself as an individual at work, and start thinking about yourself as an important part of an overall team. Do this, and youll make a name for yourself as a real asset to your company.

Introducing The Next Big Thing The Company Thatll Lead the Revolution

Introducing The Next Big Thing The Company Thatll Lead the RevolutionIntroducing The Next Big Thing The Company Thatll Lead the Revolution It may come as no surprise that the future is hybrid - from cars to college majors to careers - its all about combining skills and strategies in order to innovate. As such, the next big hybrid is agtech, or agriculture technology. And its champion is Boston-based Indigo , whose goal is ironically simple to help farmers sustainably feed the planet.Agtech is an industry based on technologies, old and new, that are responsible for increasing the output and efficiency of agricultural production, says Lauren Ashbrook, Senior Communications Lead at Indigo . In recent years, agtech has become a buzzword, most often describing emerging technologies that are aimed at increasing agricultural production to meet the demands of a ballooning population.For the past few years, agriculture technology has been a hot sector for venture capital ists, entrepreneurs and data hounds, but it has now reached critical mass presenting a huge opportunity for job seekers. According to a Boston Consulting Group study , in 2015, the combined agtech investments of agribusiness companies and early-stage investments of VC firms totaled an estimated $20 1000 milliarden to $25 billion.Some of the most popular subgroups of this hot industry are agricultural bioscience, data-enabled agriculture, automation and robotics, supply chain and logistics, agricultural processing, and alternative business models. Indigo works to utilize plants natural microbes to improve crop health and productivity. They work with farmers to provide microbial seed treatmentsfor corn, cotton, rice, soybeans, and wheat that lead to higher-yielding, hardier crops that can withstand water shortage.In short, Indigos seed treatments maximize field productivity, enhance crop quality, and satisfy increasing consumer demand for sustainably grown food, adds Ashbrook. Thus f ar, weve focused ur research and development on products that address water stress (i.e. arid or drought conditions), which is elend only a pressing concern for the agriculture industry, in particular, but also a problem that is projected to worsen under all climate change scenarios.In order to reach their goal of helping farmers sustainably feed the planet, Indigo hires engineers, data scientists, and more that will develop products that address biotic stresses, such as pests and disease, in order to provide growers with efficacious tools that enable them to meaningfully reduce agricultural chemical use.Whether working on the finance, manufacturing, crop product management or bioprocessing teams, every Indigo employee has - you guessed it - a hybrid love of farms, healthy food and a clean planet for future generations. We caught up with Ashbrook and Indigos VP of People, Katie Czerepak to talk about the career opportunities in agtech and what its like to lead the second green r evolution.Glassdoor Why is the agtech industry booming right now? Any reason behind the growth?Lauren Ashbrook There is a lot of opportunity for innovation in agriculture. By 2050, the planet will have 9.7 billion people to feed. At the same time, the yield gains resulting from modern agricultural technologies have largely plateaued, generating annual yield increases of just over 1 percent per year. Climate change, meanwhile, has caused weather volatility and created record dry spells, impacting farmers around the globe. If current trends continue, by 2050 we will no longer be producing enough food to sustain our population.Compounding the problem, recent gains in agricultural productivity stem from the increased use of existing technologies such as synthetic fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, plant breeding and hybridization, and genetically modified traits (GMOs). We are now faced with the challenge of increasing our planets capacity to produce food without leaning on existing technologies, many which have raised environmental and health concerns.The agtech industry is beginning to recognize, articulate, and tackle this challenge. To sustainably meet the demands of a growing population will require new innovations, new models, and wide-scale collaboration in agriculture and beyond.Glassdoor What makes Indigo special in terms of its relationship to growers/farmers?Lauren Ashbrook While Indigo has much to offer in the way of cutting-edge computational biology and crop science, the companys core mission focuses on grower profitability. We work to ensure that growers, rather than middlemen or large corporations, capture most of the value associated with their crop. We design our offerings to enable farmers to have sustainable businesses, while also enabling healthy food production.Launched this year, Indigos production model for Indigo Wheat strengthens our relationship with growers by creating a partnership that positions them to succeed from the start to f inish of the growing season. More than just a transaction, this model complements growers expertise with a comprehensive package of products and services, including our microbial seed treatment, agronomic advice, precision ag tools, to give growers a competitive edge. Moreover, our model moves to connect consumer preferences with agricultural practices. Consumers increasingly want, and are willing to pay for, high-quality food, produced in a sustainable way. Given this, we are able to provide farmers with a significant harvest-time premium for growing Indigo Wheat, a sustainably and traceably produced crop.Taken together, the assets that we provide have the potential to dramatically raise farm revenue, attracting the next generation of growers.On top of this, growers are a critical part of our R&D process. Weve developed the Indigo Partners program to assess and validate new technologies on real growers fields, rather than hyper-controlled trial environments. The data and insights g athered in partnership with growers allow for us to bring innovative and effective products to market.Glassdoor How would you describe Indigos workforce and team?Katie Czerepak A bedrock of our values is treating others with transparency, respect, honesty and integrity. We aim to be radically transparent by sharing company information, feedback and details behind policies with all employees. For example, we openly share our compensation bands so that everyone knows what the possible compensation ranges are at each level .We are really proud of attracting some of the best and brightest from many different backgrounds business, agriculture, science and technology and creating an environment conducive to collaboration. We are proud of our weltumspannend diversity , with 25 different countries represented among our 200 employees.Glassdoor What kind of employee thrives at Indigo?Katie Czerepak At Indigo, we are trying to do something extraordinary, and to accomplish extraordinary g oals, you need extraordinary people. When we decide whom to bring onto our team, we think first about our core values, as we want everyone at Indigo to be committed to collaboration, transparency, and integrity. We are proud of the talented and diverse team we have in place, all united by a dedication to farmers and to the sustainable production of food for our growing world.Its the think big and mission-driven nature of Indigo that has attracted talent to Indigo, and those who succeed here are the ones that are eager to be part of our experienced and innovative team, and to work together towards a greater good.Glassdoor Indigo is hiring. If you could speak to a room full of agrotech enthusiasts, how would you pitch them to work at Indigo?Katie Czerepak I can honestly say that I think Indigo is the most exciting company to be working at right now. First and foremost, we are a truly mission-driven company , and we all come to work inspired by making the planet a healthier place. As a parent of 3 young kids, knowing that the work Im doing is leaving our world better for them is extremely gratifying.Second, there is a thrill to being part of a fast-growing company where we are scaling quickly and making things happen. It allows for just fantastic career development because our people are always being asked to meet aggressive goals and come up with innovative ways to do that.And because of the combination of behauptung 2 things (which is not all that common), we have been able to attract really smart and high caliber people, and are cultivating a really strong company culture that is inclusive, energizing, and rooting in doing the right thing. Working at Indigo means joining an insanely talented team that has the potential to not only impact an industry, but to fulfill a larger vision of a world where nutritious food is transparently sourced and resources are conserved for future generations. Its really funGlassdoor Boston is an interesting location for tech , and agrotech at that. Why Boston? What makes it the next Silicon Valley?Katie Czerepak As a company uniting agriculture, science, and technology, being in Boston allows us to uniquely draw on the best minds from some of the top universities in the world. Boston, home to some of the top technology companies as well as cutting-edge science and research institutions, is a hub for talent.Boston is buzzing with excitement around emerging technologies in pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, and now in agriculture. Its not the next Silicon Valley - its its own thing

Falling with style Buzz Lightyears secret to overcoming failure

Falling with style Buzz Lightyears secret to overcoming failureFalling with style Buzz Lightyears secret to overcoming failureNo one succeeds at big goals that matter without failing along the way.So unless you survive the failures, youll never succeed at all.In this post, Ill teach you a simple but crucial mindset shift to help you persevere through setbacks and challenges without giving up.Because people who dont give up are capable of amazing things.What Buzz Lightyear knows that you dontGrowing up, Toy Story was one of my favorite movies. Since its now over twenty years old - yikes - Ill give you a quick refresher.An uptight sheriff doll named Woody, who belongs to a boy named Andy, has his world turned upside down when a shiny new toy crash-lands in Andys bedroom. This new toy is Buzz Lightyear, a fancy action figure with buttons, lasers, and wings that shoot out of his back. Buzz is a cool toy, but whats interesting is, Buzz thinks hes an actual space ranger. His arrogant beh avior sends the already tightly wound Woody over the edge.Their argument escalates quickly and comes to center around one claim. Buzz believes he can fly. After bouncing around the room doing micro-parkour, most of Andys other toys agree. But notlage Woody.When Andy accidentally forgets Woody and Buzz at a pizza restaurant, the two rivals have to work together to find their way home.In the process, Buzz comes across a TV commercial that reveals, to his horror, Woody was right. Buzz is not a space ranger hes just a toy. And if that werent bad enough, hes not a flying toy.Refusing to believe what hes heard, Buzz climbs to the top of a staircase, spreads his wings, and jumps. He crashes to the ground, losing an arm in the process.Buzz is truly ruined. With no sense of self-worth, hes robbed of all purpose.Seeing Buzz despondent, Woody tries to encourage him. He admits that he was jealous of Buzzs bells and whistles, and tells him that while he is just a toy, hes a very cool toy, and he has the power to do something meaningful by making life more fun for his owner Andy.Soon after, Woody is taken prisoner by an unstable teenager who tears apart toys for fun. So Buzz resolves to overcome both his insecurities and his arrogance, by working together with other toys to save his only friend.In a daring rescue, Buzz launches himself from a bottle rocket to grab Woody before soaring into the sky. When the rockets flare dies out, Buzz spreads his wings, and glides toward the ground with Woody in his arms. Seeing what Buzz is capable of, Woody is amazed, and without a hint of bitterness, he shouts, Buzz, youre flyingBut Buzz, remembering his tumble down the stairs, humbly explains, This isnt flying its falling with style.Why falling with style is the best-kept secret of successEvery day, overconfident dreamers, who dont understand the journey of success, invite everyone they know to watch as they leap from dangerous heights, embarking on an unexpected date with gravity. Wou nded, ashamed, and shocked, many, after hitting the ground, never get back up to try again. They mistakenly believe their error was in dreaming big, taking risks. They feel worthless, as the talents they so prized are proven insufficient, and they realize theyre no better than the people they wanted to impress.The world isnt divided into talented space rangers and lowly toys. Were all toys. Depending on how you view yourself, that even playing field may be encouraging. Or, like Buzz, you might take offense, thinking, Hes just trying to hold me down. To keep me from flying.But thats the thing, isnt it? You cant fly. You werent born with some exceptional power that will allow you to bypass the challenge and struggles required to succeed. Youre going to have to work hard, strengthen your weaknesses, and fail often. If I dont tell you that, gravity will, as it reminds me every day.But thats not a reason to quit either. Even though you and I are no better than the other toys, we are uniq uely equipped, each with our own buttons and lasers. And when we, in community, acknowledge our weaknesses and combine our talents in service to others, we can accomplish amazing things.How to pay this mindset forwardThe road to success is paved with a thousand failures, but most people dont know that. And when you reach your goals, admirers will look at you and exclaim, Wow, youre flying But by the time youve made it that far, youll know better. Youve simply gone from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.Let them in on your secret. Teach them success isnt flying - its falling with style.Want to go deeper?Do you have big goals you long to achieve? The biggest threat to your success is simply giving up.Become a finisher with my short bookQuitterProof The 5 Beliefs of Highly Successful People.Download your free copy right here.Kyle Youngis helping creative people achieve big goals that matter.

What to Do When Calling in Sick is Unavoidable

What to Do When Calling in Sick is UnavoidableWhat to Do When Calling in Sick is UnavoidableWith cold and flu season upon us, many professionals will face the tough decision of calling in sick or just powering through, despite the fact that fruchtwein companies discourage working when sick.While you may worry about falling behind if you take a sick day, its far better to stay home, unplug and rest when you feel the flu coming on or youre contagious with a viral illness.In an ideal world, wed all have unlimited sick days and paid time off, along with someone to bring us chicken soup, but thats usually not the case. Besides potentially making your illness worse and infecting others in the process, going to work sick can cost your employer, too. Here are some general tips about when and how to call in sickA checklist to follow when calling in sickSend an email or call your manager at the start of the day. (Make sure you know ahead of time the preferred method of alerting your boss when youre sick.)Send another message to key members of your team to let them know you are calling in sick and if you will be responding to email. (This is especially important when you have a project youre working on or a deadline coming up.)Keep it brief and to the point. (Theres no need to divulge specific details about your symptoms.)Never lie or exaggerate your illness. (It can come back to bite you and permanently damage your credibility.)If youre a temporary employee, be sure you also contact your recruiter about your absence.SEARCH OUR JOB OPENINGSWhen to absolutely stay homeIf youre seriously sneezing and coughing. This is how a cold spreads, and if you dont have your own office, frequent coughing is likely to disturb your coworkers.If you have active symptoms, such as chills, fatigue and body aches. These are early signs of the flu, and you are often contagious a day before you have symptoms.If you have a fever. A high temperature signals that your body is fighting something of f and that you need to rest. Staying home to rest will help you recover more quickly.If you are vomiting or have diarrhea. Things like food poisoning and 24-hour bugs need bed rest and lots of fluids more than anything.If youre otherwise contagious. Anyone with a condition such as pink eye should definitely stay home to avoid passing on the illness to others.If the medication youre on affects your alertness. You wont be at 100 percent while trying to do your job, and driving could be dangerous. Dont risk it.When it makes sense to go back or keep workingIf youre no longer contagious. You are capable of transmitting the cold or flu virus to others for about a week after you initially get sick.If youre feeling a lot better. Once youre out of the danger zone, or your doctor has given you the thumbs up, going to work can be a relief from the monotony of staying home sick.If its just allergies. Theyre annoying, not contagious, so there is no need to worry about getting your coworkers sick . Do consider taking a decongestant or antihistamine to minimize your coughing and sneezing, though.How to avoid getting sick at workWash your hands frequently. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best way to ensure you dont spread germs or catch them.Try not to share too much. If you can help it, dont share food, phones, keyboards or a computer mouse with coworkers.Keep your workspace clean. Wipe down surfaces at your desk with an alcohol-based solution.Consider getting a flu shot. Ben Franklin was right An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The Centers for Disease Control recommends annual flu vaccines to help you build antibodies that can protect you from infection.If your company allows it, and youre feeling up to it, working from home is an option. But keep in mind that the most important thing may be to focus on getting better. Pushing yourself when youre sick may have the opposite effect.By taking care of yourself and getting some rest after calling in sick, youll be on the road to recovery and back to work more quickly.Employers, if you need backup during cold and flu season, Robert Half can help you quickly. Consult our staffing experts.START HIRING NOW