Scope, Risk, and Assumption in Project Management

Scope, Risk, and Assumption in Project ManagementScope, Risk, and Assumption in Project ManagementThe field of project management, much like any other area of expertise, has a unique vocabulary filled with acronyms and specialized terms. Three essential terms and concepts you must include ScopeRiskAssumptions It is an outline of these three essential project management terms and includes links and suggestions for additional reading. Scope In project management, scope is the set of boundaries that define the extent of a project. The scope describes what is to be delivered to the customer as a result of the project initiative. Understanding the scope allows the project manager and project gruppe to understand what falls inside or outside the boundaries of the project. If something is not in scope, it is not factored in the planning work of the project. Activitiesthat fall within the boundaries of the scope statement are considered in scope and are accounted for in the schedule and budget.If an activity falls outside the boundaries, it is considered out of scope and is not planned for.? Whether youre a project manager or part of the project team, youll want to consider if something is in scope or out of scope as you move forward. As an example, imagine that a client has asked you to build a website. As you outline the scope (or set the boundaries) of the project, you indicate the following items as in-scope Site design and wireframe diagrammingEstablishment of a test bedCoding to the approved wireframeGraphics development for the website themeTesting and debugging prior to making the site public During the course of the project, the client asks you to include a video overview of the company. The video is not specified in the scope of the project and is therefore out of scope. While you may be happy to do the video work for an extra charge, this will require a revision of the scope and cost and time estimation for the project. In the absence of a clear and agre ed upon scope document, the issue of the video might have become contentious between your team and the customers representatives. A clear scope statement allowed you to defuse the situation and deal with a change in an orderly way. So how do you determine what is in or out of scope? Youll first want to outline all the details of the project you currently know based on discussions with the client or the project owner. Then youll want to make key assumptions that will drive whats considered in or out of scope. Assumptions At some point in your life, youve probably been told, Never make assumptions. However, making assumptions in project management is an everyday activity. Assumptions help you define scope and risks and fine-tune your estimates for time and cost. Of course, it is essential to document and validate your assumptions. Consider something simple, such as creating a book. Lets say your friend has an idea for a coffee table book and has asked you to manage the project. Hi s first request is for a budget so he can secure funding. As you define the scope, its clear that your friend is uncertain on many details, including page count, image inclusion, cover style and the weight of the paper to be used for the pages. Since all of these factors will impact cost and production complexity, you will have to make assumptions about the specifications and validate those assumptions as acceptable or unacceptable to your friend. After further discussion, your friend tells you he plans to include 50 photos in the book. You can base your assumption on the 50 images or,anticipating that this number will increase over time, you can make an assumption that there will be between 75-90 pages with images. You can see how assumptions directly affect schedule as well. For instance, imagine youre leading a project at a park that involves building a swing set. When setting up your project, you are given the budget and assigned team members, one of whom is in charge of materia ls. As you create your schedule, you ask the person in charge of materials when the cement will arrive. This person replies that hes not sure when the cement will arrive but that he believes it will be between June 1 and June 10. As you build your scope and schedule, you make the assumption that the cement will arrive no later than June 10. This example shows two benefits to making assumptions. The first benefit is that the assumption of receiving the cement no later than June 10 allows you to plan for activities that rely on the cement arriving. The second benefit is that it provides the person in charge of materials with a deadline to deliver the cement, which he can then relay to his supplier. It has inadvertently set up a key deadline for the project to move forward. Making assumptions creates benchmarks that are often revisited during the project to aid the project team in staying within scope, on time, and within budget. But what happens when assumptions are wrong? It is wher e the risk comes into play. Risk Once youve built your scope and identified the assumptions that are behind the scope and estimates, you will want to begin assessing areas of risk. Risk is the same in project management as it is in the real world it is a hazard or chance that can create damage. All projects contain risk, and if you are the project manager or project owner, its not only your responsibility to anticipate risk, but its also your job to communicate the vermgen impact of those risks to the project team and to prepare to mitigate the risks. Risk comes in various degrees. Sometimes risk can mean the project will run slightly differently or take a small unexpected turn. In some cases, however, risk can lead to catastrophic results that turn your project on its head. Lets use the playground scenario from the above cement example. One of the risks is that the cement does not arrive by the assumed date of June 10. What are the potential effects of this risk? All of the suc cessor activities that follow after the cement has been poured are delayed as a result of this problem. Risks can be positive, as well. Consider the impact to the project if the cement shows up earlier than anticipated. While this seems like a positive outcome, it still creates a problem for the timing and sequencing of all of the other steps in the project. Project managers work with their project teams to brainstorm and identify potential risks. They take the process a step further and look at the potential severity of the risk and its likelihood of occurrence. Furthermore, they identify those individuals best suited to identify when the risk is occurring, and they develop agreed-upon risk mitigation plans. Many firms have detailed risk templates they have developed over time and from experience with other projects. Some industries have compiled risk profiles that are used as a starting point for risk analysis. Many industries practice very detailed statistical analysis for risk p lanning as well.

Unemployment rises

Unemployment risesUnemployment risesPosted by crazynutjob, The 405 ClubPreviouslyOut from behind bars The ex offenders job search

How to meditate at work when sitting still is impossible

How to meditate at work when sitting still is impossibleHow to meditate at work when sitting still is impossibleWe know that mindfulness is key to unlocking ur potential at work. When we can take time out of our days to be present in our bodies and breathe deeply, it can help us make better decisions and relieve our anxiety and stress. But sometimes, the thought of sitting quietly and clearing our minds can feel like an impossibility.Its helpful to remember that at its core, mindfulness is not particularly sacred or special. Rooted in Buddhist thought, mindfulness meditation is simply the practice of learning to focus on the present. As one Scientific American article put it, the practice is awareness of your surroundings, emotions and breathing - or, more simply, enjoying each bite of a really good sandwich.You dont have to go to an expensive meditation retreat to do it. You just have to start paying attention to yourself.Heres how to meditate while on the moveAlthough mindfulness meditation is commonly practiced while sitting still, new studies have come out in favor of moving meditation, a practice that doesnt require you to sit cross-legged on a pillow as you count your breaths. One study found that moving meditation, the kind seen in yoga and tai chi, had the potential to reduce anxiety and stress. The researchers theorized that the slow, purposeful movements within these practices were a key aspect because they grounded us.Mindful meditation works because it can enhance grounding, which is the subjective feeling and objective state of being more stably connected to the ground, the study states. It seems likely that this experience would help increase the sense of self-efficacy, balance, and confidence and might help to stabilize mood swings and reduce depression and anxiety.And if you dont know tai chi, you can always walk. According to New York-based therapist and psychiatrist,Marlynn Wei, walking meditation begins by walking without a hurry. No need to pump your arms or rush towards a destination. The goal is in the journey. Once youve started your leisurely stroll, here are some questions Wei recommends you can ask yourself as youre walkingHow does it feel when yourback foot lifts?How does it feel when your heel touches the ground, and your weight shifts forward?How does itfeel when your weight shifts forward and passes to the next foot?The goal within these questions is to get you to pay attention to how your body moves and feels. These different forms of meditation show us that the sensations within the movements of our bodies can have an outsized impact on our minds. And lucky for us, this is not hard for us to do.Adding this practice into our workdays can be as easy asgetting up and going for a walk outside on our lunch break.

11 secrets that will make you more secure on the internet

11 secrets that will make you mora secure on the world wide web11 secrets that will make you more secure on the internetHacked accounts in the news. Endless robocalls. Online ads that eerily seem to read your mind. Do I hear Alexa and Siri gossiping about your secrets? Italmostfeels like paranoia is a totally appropriate reaction.In 2018 alone,data breachesexposed four-point-fivebillionrecords to hackers. Three months into 2019 and abedrngnisher two-point-seven billion are already illegally available for sale. But hackers arent the only problemFollow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard titelseiteing Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreWeve all read about the 50 mio Facebook accounts involved in theCambridge Analytica scandal. And another 30 million were exposed inOctober of 2018. Oh, and in September another 7 million hadprivate photos revealed.Of course, Google knows every search youve made (yes, even in incognito mode) andtons of o ther stuffabout you. And in 2014,hackersreleased a lot of not-so-clothed pictures stolen from celebrities Apple iCloud accounts.Oh, and dont forget that your internet service provider has a list ofeverywebsite youve ever visited at home. Yes, even those websites that we dont discuss at family dinner. And they sell thatinfo to marketers. Some retail stores nowtrack how often you visitandwhich aisles you spend the most time in. Three-hundred bucks to the right shady individual can buy meyour exact location at any time. And nobody wants their leistungspunkt info leaking. But italready has. Multipletimes.Feeling a bit 1984 over there, Winston Smith? Okay, lets take a breath. Dont start folding your tinfoil hat just yet.There is one ironclad rule on our sideNobody can abuse information about you that they dont have.Which is why we need to take security and privacy more seriously. Because its on us. And so I present you with what could be titled Internet Security and Privacy The-mora-Than -You-Care-To-Know Edition.Id like to single outMichael Bazzellfor his fine work that I drew a fair portion of this info from. He spent years at the FBIscybercrime divisionand was a consultant on the first season ofMr. Robot. His incredibly thorough books areThe Complete Privacy Security Desk ReferenceandHiding from the Internet Eliminating Personal Online Information.Were gonna cover everything from fundamentals like good passwords all the way to the paranoid level of aliases and burner phones. If you just want to be safer online or if you want that tinfoil hat to be nicely tailored, this should have you covered.So whats the first step?Know your Threat ModelSecurity and privacy are different. Security is somebody breaking into your online accounts. Privacy is someone having personal details about you. (So putting your entire digital life into Google products is excellent for security - but often terrible for privacy.) You can be more concerned about one and less about the other.An d then theres the security/privacy vs. convenience trade-off. Its pretty much axiomatic that more secure means less convenient. You can be concerned about privacy but not concerned about it enough that you want to live in a Faraday cage. So how can we be responsiblewithoutbeing paranoid?The answer is to think about your threat model. Ask yourself (non-rhetorically) What am I afraid of? And how much am I willing to do to prevent it? Are you more concerned about security or privacy? More worried about hackers or stalkers? Are you someone who just wants to be on fewer marketing lists or are you a whistleblower who may have the resources of a global corporation turned against him or her?Know what you want to defend against and youll know what measures will be vital - and what is paranoid overkill.(To learn more about how you and your children can lead a successful life, check out my bestselling bookhere.)Alright, we know how to evaluate whats necessary for each of us. But this first on e is non-negotiable, whatever your threat model may be1) Get FrozenNo, not the Disney movie. You need to get acredit freeze. Its the best defense against identity theft. The best time to get one is yesterday. Or sooner.Many of you are saying Yawn. I did that a long time ago with all three credit agencies. To which I would reply, Actually, there are 6 credit agencies. Oooooops.So fill out the forms forEquifax,Experian,Transunion,Innovis,NCTUEandChex. Theres an excellent overview of the whole absprachehere.And if you have young children get a credit freeze for them too. Kids are abig targetbecause their credit is not only clean but also their reports are unlikely to get checked for, oh, about a decade or so. It would be awful for little Jimmy to be $300,000 in debt by age nine. More info on credit freezes for kidshere.(To learn how to stop checking your phone all the time, clickhere.)Okay, lets talk about that computer of yours. Its feeling vulnerable and needs a little more than a hu g2) Full Disk Encryption, Firewall, And BackupsThis trio is critical for your computer. Full disk encryption keeps your data safer and a firewall protects you from some online attacks. (Heres how to setupFDEanda firewallon Mac, and heresFDEandfirewallon Windows.)Backing up means if anything happens to your computer you wont lose your data. Think of it like homeowners insurance for your digital life. You have to do this regularly, but its often easy to automate. If youreveryconcerned about your data, you want to have multiple encrypted backups, with one of them maintained offsite. The latter means putting an encrypted copy of your info on a USB drive that you keep at a friends place (recommended) or in the cloud (not recommended.) This way if a meteor hits your house or the jackbooted minions of the great global conspiracy seize the rebellions plans, youre covered. Good options areTime MachineandCarbon Copy Cloner. And I highly recommendthis little guy.The most important part of smar tphone privacy is limiting app permissions like location data, contacts, etc. And dont download sketchy apps.(To learn the 4-step morning ritual that will make you happy all day, clickhere.)Okay, you should be in good shape. But theres something that comes up again and again that we tend to put off. But its vital. In fact, many experts say its the single most important thing you can do to increase security3) Updates Are Annoying. Do Them AnywayMost hackers arent geniuses. Often theyre using the same tricks from 5 years ago. But if you havent updated your software in 5 years uhhh yeah, thats a problem.Those updates youre putting off? Most of them are security-related. Apply updates ASAP. It often feels like its doing nothing but youre forgetting that when it comes to security,nothing is a wonderful thing and something is very very schwimmbad.And routinely updateallyour devices. Desktop, laptop, smartphone, firmware on routers, etc. Enable automatic updates on any device that offers i t.After any update, check your settings. When new features are added they often default to the least secure options. And sometimes updates even turn on options you turned off. Sadly, the price of digital liberty is often eternal vigilance.(To learn the 4 harsh truths that will make you a better person, clickhere.)Okay, youre updating often. But theres a way to increase securityandmake updates less cumbersome at the same time4) Apps Are Not Pokemon. Stop Collecting ThemIf you dont use something regularly, delete it. Smartphone apps, computer software, browser extensions, etc. This reduces attack surface. The more software you have, the more points of failure you have. More things that can have vulnerabilities. More potential rogue software doing things it shouldnt do.That said, hold on to yourantivirusandmalware protection- especially if youre using Windows.(To learn how to have a long awesome life, clickhere.)Alright, time for an intervention. We need to have a serious talk about a very serious subject. Im very disappointed in your behavior5) Your Passwords Bring Shame Upon Your FamilyThemost common passwordsare embarrassing The top two slots have been left unchanged for the fifth year in a row. They are, maddeningly, 123456 and password.In fact, just by knowing thetop ten most common passwordsyou could break into almost 1 out of every 50 computers. Okay, maybe your password is slightly better. But slightaint cutting it, BubbaA password-cracking expert has unveiled a computer cluster that can cycle through as many as 350 billion guesses per second. Its an almost unprecedented speed that can try every possible Windows passcode in the typical enterprise in less than six hours.By the way, that article is seven years old. You think computers have gotten faster or slower since then? Exactly. You need unique, strong passwords for every account and on every device. 12 characters or more, a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. No excuses.Some people are th inking, Are you crazy? I cant remember all those. But you dont need to. Get a good password manager likeLastpass. It will generate super-strong passwords for you and remember them all.Willing to forego convenience for super-duper security? Then forgetLastpass. You dont want a password manager that uses the cloud - that means your passwords are out there onsomeone elses computer. Yes, theyre almost certainly safe and cloud-based systems are very convenient - but if youre a die-hard about security the only place the keys to your digital kingdom should be is onyourdevices. Go withKeePassXCandMiniKeePassfor your iPhone.Beyond that password, guard your primary schmelzglasle account with your life. If I can get into that, I can go to most every site you frequent and request a password reset. Boom - hacking one account gets me all of them. And Im not speculating here. This is exactly what happened to Wired reporterMat Honan.You also needtwo-factor authentication. (2FA) You know when you log into your bank and they text you a code? Yeah, that. And if youre getting all your 2FA codes via SMS you aredoing it wrong. Use an app-based system instead, like Google Authenticator (iPhone,Android) orAuthy. Some sitesonlyoffer SMS-based 2FA and, inexplicably, many are companies you would expect themostsecurity from. (Im looking atyou, Bank of America.) If SMS is your only choice, its definitely better than nothing. A helpful list of all major sites offering 2FA ishere.And finally, what if you wantultimatesecurity (but not necessarily privacy) for that precious primary email account? TryGoogle Advanced Protection. Then nobody can get into your account without a passwordanda physicalUSB key.And it works. Google instituted it for all employees. How many phishing-based hacks have they had since then?Zero.(To learn how to deal with out-of-control kids - from hostage negotiators - clickhere.)Perfect. But what are you using to log into those accounts anyway? And is it as private a s youd like?6) Stock Browsers Are Bad BrowsersAt least if youre very serious about privacy. Safarisends data to Appleand you better believeChrome sends info to Google. If this is part of your threat model, ditch them both and go withFirefox, which is the most secure of the mainstream browsers.For super-duper security and privacy, here are some recommended extensionsHTTPS everywhere This is a must for everyone. Forces sites to encrypt your connection whenever possible.Ublock Origin Great, customizable ad-blocker. Do not install if you love ads.Cookie Autodelete Prevents tracking. Not for everyone. Very secure, not-so-convenient.Multi-Account Container This makes each tab operate as if it was a separate browser, preventing those eerie recommendations that seem to read your mind. Not for everyone.Track Me Not It runs random Google searches in the background to bury your real searches in a haystack of noise. Only needed if youre very privacy conscious and have a puckish sense of humor.F or your smartphone, itsFirefoxagain, unless you want super-security and dont mind a convenience hit then go withFirefox Focus.And at thesuper-extremeouter edge we have the Deluxe Snowden Package. Youll needQubesandTor(Pro tip be careful with thoseexit nodes.) And you cannot afford to be tracked by your phone. Get aFaraday bag- or put it in a martini shaker. Yes,seriously.(To learn how to deal with passive-aggressive people, clickhere.)Browser secured. But thats not going to help much when the data leaves your computer and heads out there into the big bad internet. How do you keep your online activities secure and private when theyre out of your hands?7) Dig A TunnelYour ISP can see every site you visit when youre online at home. And so can the marketers they sell that info to. If a connection isnt secure, hackers can intercept your traffic and mess with you. And using public WiFi is like making your poor little phone have unprotected sex with very unattractive strangers. How the he ck do we stay safe from all ansicht prying eyes and barbarians at the digital gate?Its called aVPNand Ill go so far as to say everyone should have one. Basically, it creates an encrypted tunnel between you and your VPN provider, protecting your internet activities from visibility and attacks. Your ISP now only knows youre connected to the VPN, and nothing more. Hackers cant break through the encryption to monkey with your data. And public WiFi gets a much-needed condom.Note that some sites dont play well with VPNs, because many bad guys use them. VPNs are pretty cheap (roughly $5 a month) and theyre simple to set up on both computers and smartphones.PIAandNordVPNare recommended providers.(To learn 5 secrets from neuroscience that will increase your attention span, clickhere.)So far weve discussed a lot of attack scenarios youre probably familiar with. But heres one most people arent. And if youre not protected, it could lead to someone emptying your bank account8) The Phone Number I s The New Social Security NumberWhat do you do whenever you get a new phone? Call your cellular provider and have them move your number to the new device. Easy peasy. But what if I called your cellular carrier and pretended Im you? They moveyourphone service tomyphone. And when I log in to Bank of America with your password, guess who gets the text with that 2FA code? Yup, moi. Shopping spree time. (Hacking the password was easy its was 123456, right?)This is called SIM swapping. These days people are signing up for 2FA more often, so SIM swapping is happening more often. If youre doing 2FA with an app like Authy or ahardware token, youre covered. But some sites (*cough*, *cough*, Bank of America)onlyoffer 2FA by SMS. Ugh. What to do?Many of the phone companies are now offering to secure your account with a password, so go to their site or call them to get one. People wont be able to port your number without the code.And whats the ultimate-privacy-Jason-Bourne-level-security-tinfoil -hat-conspiracy-theory solution? Thats easymake sure nobody knows your phone number - not even you.This will prevent both SIM swapping attacks and shady dudes from selling your GPS location. But how the heck do you do it?Move your current phone number to Google Voice. (You can do thatherefor $10. Instructionshere.) Sign up for a pre-paid mobile plan. (Mint Mobile is dirt cheap and reliable. Joinhere.) Theyll give you a new SIM card with a new number. You now get all your calls, texts and voicemail through the Google Voice app. And you never give the new SIM card number out to anyone.Yes, this works. You cant be SIM swapped, you cant be tracked and anyone you tell about it will probably assume youre a fugitive, a drug dealer or utterly insane.While were driving down paranoia lane, SMS text messaging is fundamentally insecure. Switch to an encrypted free app likeSignal. But the people youre contacting need to have it as well. So now youre an insane fugitive drug dealer who is also ha ving an affair. Remember what I said about security vs convenience..?(To learn the neuroscience secret to how to quit bad habits without willpower, clickhere.)Weve covered a lot of technical stuff, but one of the most important things to do when dealing with online security threats is to change your attitude9) Be More SkepticalPhishingattacksdont always comein the obvious form of emails from Nigerian royalty. Increasingly, these attacksappearto come from close friends, leading you to click links without hesitation. Using a site likethisI can send you an email that appears to be from, well, anyone. Andthis sitelets me do the equivalent with my phone, spoofing my caller ID. Yes, its that easy.Dont log in to anything important using a public computer or public WiFi without a VPN. Turn WiFi off on your phone toavoid being tracked in retail stores. And sign up for notificationshereto find out if any of your personal information has popped up in data breaches.If giving out personal info i s an overwhelming concern for you (everybody say it with me nowthreat model) you might want to check outMySudo. Ever wanted a secret identity? MySudo offers you multiple aliases - each with their own working phone number and email address. For when you have to give the hotel a number but dont want marketing calls, when youre not sure about that person on Tinder, when buying things online, or if you just want to pretend youre Stringer Bell from The Wire carrying a burner phone.(To learn the 4 rituals from neuroscience that will make you happy, clickhere.)Okay, youve got the skepticism part down. But were already using some services that may not pass that new threshold. Time to reevaluate10) Be Wary Of The Cloud And Social MediaMost of us see free iCloud backup as an awesome service. And it is but also look at it through your security lensany time you backup in the cloud you are putting all of your data on a computer you do not control.The cloud is great for convenience and data loss protection but anything you put on someone elses computer is subject to data breaches or nosy employees. For most people, the cloud is probably fine. But if you plan on becoming a political dissident or an grenzberschreitend celebrity (no, Im not going to link to the hacked nudes of Jennifer Lawrence but I cant stop you from Googling them) keep your data on your devices. Theres also a middle path encrypt files before uploading them. (Free software for thathere.)So what about social media?Hereshow to get what Facebook knows about you, how to delete it, or to change your privacy settings.HeresGoogle.Thisis Apples data on you, how to delete it, and how to limit ad tracking.For the extreme crowd, hereshow to delete your Facebook account, yourGoogle accountandother social media.Me? Ill be sharing this post all over social media. But you cant see my nudes. I know my threat model.(To learn the secret to never being frustrated again, clickhere.)Ive tried to give a balance of reasonable opt ions along with more extreme measures. At this point, the reasonable folks are more than covered. But there are going to be some who say Im not being paranoid enough. Oooooookay, lets go to thetotal edge case11) Convinced They Are Watching You? Set Traps.If youve got a stalker, an abusive spouse, or live in a country where having unpopular political opinions tends to make people vanish, youve got a legit extreme threat model. And Imhere to help.Whether its a despotic government, your boss, or the henchmen of the Illuminati, how do you know if someone already has access to your computer? What if you had a canary in the coal mine to warn you?Canary Tokensallows you to create, for free, files that send you an email when theyve been opened, along with the IP address of the intruder. Throw one on your desktop with atoo-good-not-to-click-onname like passwords, finances or my personal favorite, stuff to discuss with therapist and then never touch them. If you get an email from Canary Token s, somebodys looking at your stuff - and it aint you.Yeah, agreed, this is all super-paranoid That is, unless the canary sings.(To learn the science of how to take naps that will make you smarter and happier, clickhere.)We have covered a positivelygargantuanamount of information. I should give you a diploma at this point. Lets round it all up and Ill tell you how to get everything you need to get your info off all those sketchy online data broker sites that flood your inboxes with spam and robocall you to deathSum UpHeres how to be more secure on the internetGet frozen Credit freeze. All 6. For the kids too. (Dont raise lazy kids. Let them run up their own debt instead of having someone else do it.)Full disk encryption, firewall and backups Armor and reinforcements.Updates are annoying. Do them anywayMany security experts say this is numero uno.Apps are not Pokemon. Stop collecting them What you dont download cant hurt you.Your passwords bring shame upon your family Get a password manager and 2FA. Its as simple as 123456.Stock browsers are bad browsers Get foxy, baby.Dig a tunnel VPNs are the best kept secret in security. (Bonus they also let you watchregion-specific Netflix content.)The phone number is the new social security number Get a password from your cellular provider, or port your number to briefly turn your life into a spy thriller.Be more skeptical Please wire me $500. Its a gullibility tax.Be wary of the cloud and social media Think twice before putting anything important on computers that arent yours.Convinced They are watching you? Set traps Tweet-tweet, said the diabolical conspirator.Yeah, its a lot. Consider your threat model and do a little bit at a time. (No, you cant email me with your IT problems. Only my dad gets to do that.)If you want to get your info off those data broker sites, two excellent places to start the process arehereandhere. Also, in my nextweekly emailIll be sending out a PDF with an exhaustive list that will really help i mprove your online privacy, get you off marketing lists, and reduce the amount info out there that hackers can use against you. To make sure you get it, joinhere.And if you want to get more involved in the security and privacy cause, check out theEFF.I hope this will keep you, your loved ones and your beloved data that much safer.I mean, after all,Theyare watching our every move, you knowA canary told me.Join over 330,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.This article first appeared on Bakadesuyo.com .You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Secret Solutions to Resume Examples for Students with No Work Experience Discovered

Secret Solutions to Resume Examples for Students with No Work Experience Discovered Putting it all together When youre attempting to compile a cover letter free of experience, it is sometimes a true challenge to convince an employer that you have what it requires to take care of his institutions job. Appealing to every individual employers demands and job requirements is the ideal strategy for getting yur application noticed. For students that are trying to acquire experience as interns at a specific company, the letter needs to be persuasive. For young interns looking for a place to find some experience, utilize this letter to inquire in the prospect of gaining a work experience. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Resume Examples for Students with No Work Experience Is Wrong Learning how to do a resume when dont have any work experience is quite a bit easier if its possible to demonstrate some seasonal or short-term work experience. What you would like to avoid is h aving an experience section thats almost empty, or one which is full of experience thats not pertinent to your targeted position. There are many websites out there made just to aid you write your resume. Resume Examples for Students with No Work Experience Secrets From the example above, you will observe there are plenty of skills listed. Employers wish to know youre pleased with your achievements and confident in your abilities. By promoting your skills and achievements, they will be sure to landsee you as a perfect fit for their company, even with no work experience. Recruiters often have a lot of applications to assess and might spend under a minute reading your resume. Resume examples and templates are incredibly helpful, especially when youre writing one of your very first resumes. Absolutely free online resume builder enables you to make a perfect resume minutes. Following each one of the rules in making the format of your resume, it is clear that you will draw the b usinesss HR. Advice and samples make it simple for resume first timers to stick to a format to make an effective document. While the functional resume format may be an attractive alternative for job seekers with minimal experience, most employers would rather have a chronological or hybrid resume format. The Little-Known Secrets to Resume Examples for Students with No Work Experience Karen guards the job you truly want. For instance, if youre asking for a job as an administrative assistant, you dont will need to discuss the way your role for a babysitter helped improve your childcare skills, but you might share the way the experience helped you cultivate time management abilities and the capacity to juggle many tasks simultaneously. For people that have no experience, staying at your very first job for a couple years is important to create a basis for future success. Additionally, its simple to find experience fast for just about any job. You will need experience to have a jo b but you will need a job to acquire experience. Even in the event youve never held an official job, its still true that you have life experience thats applicable to the work search. Resume for it job free of experience. The 5-Minute Rule for Resume Examples for Students with No Work Experience So you have to learn how to generate the best letter as youre in a position to deliver to the company and offer good first effect about yourself. Take a look at our marketing resume samples and find out how you can successfully market yourself and eventually sell your skills to possible employers. The education part of your entry-level resume can produce the hiring manager say the words above. To begin with, one of several sections that needs to be altered is the work objective. The Good, the Bad and Resume Examples for Students with No Work Experience Its fast and simple to use. High School Resume templates are a fantastic resource for such students. The Nuiances of Resume Exam ples for Students with No Work Experience Nonetheless, the most usual one is called the chronological resume. You should put some spotlight that may be notice by the reader quickly. True, job advertisements that ask for a particular number of years of experience could possibly be intimidating, and might begin to allow you to believe that all those post-grad horror stories are true. When youre moving from 1 job to another, a work experience letter creates a substantial difference. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. An excellent description functions as a possible organic advertisement and encourages the viewer to click through to your website. If you follow the suggestions above you are going to have an interesting, compelling resume summary that is likely to make the reader want to find out more about you even regardless of your lack of work experience

Employee Development Is a Critical Company Asset 3 Reasons Why You Should Invest

Employee Development Is a Critical Company Asset 3 Reasons Why You Should Invest Employee development Its a concept commonly invoked in HR and recruiting, but little action is ever actually taken to implement or improve it within an organization. Very few companies invest in strong employee development programs or effective software.As a company leader or business owner, you cant ignore that a lot ofcandidates are explicitly looking for development opportunities when they search for new jobs. Moreover, your existing employees likely crave it, too.Employee development, when implemented correctly, does not just help a small group of employees in your organization. It makes waves in your recruiting efforts, your onboarding strategies, your employee engagement, and yourretention.Are you wondering what employee development can really do for your team and your company? Here are three reasons why its time to invest inyour newest and most powerful company ass et1. Attract and Retain More Top TalentOn average, itcosts 33 percent of a workers annual salary to hire a replacement. So, if an employee makes $45,000 a year, their replacement will cost $15,000. It is in your best interest, then, to keepretention high and replacement costs down.To cut down on turnover, you have to understand why employees leave. For many, its because they arent getting career development. According to a study from Work Institute, 22 percent of employees name career development as their main reason for leaving a job.A good employee development program can help stem the outflow of employees in search of more opportunity. For maximum effectiveness, you also need the right software to manage that program. With the proper employee development software, you can gain immense insight into your employee development program, allowing you to track results and tweak approaches as needed. The right software can also help you set and manage goals for employees, which is key to any employee development strategy.2. Ignite EngagementDo your employees seem to lack connections between one another? Is performance low? Are workers unmotivated and unmoored? Employee developmentcan helpreignite engagementby offering your team members insight into their careers, opportunities to enhance their skills, and a sense of appreciation and respect from the company.Again, software is key here. When employees have a portal to set goals, track performance, and solicit real-time feedback from managers, they feel moreconnected to their jobs and more confident in their career progression. This translates directly to increased engagement, which boosts company performance and retention rates.3. Improve Performance for Today and for the FutureThink about how your employees currently receive training and performancefeedback. What are relationships like between managers and employees in your company? Chances are there is a disconnect somewhere, but employee development can help bri dge the gap. A robust employee development program brings managers and employees closer together by engaging them both in the employeesperformance journey.How is your company preparing for the future?If it is not investing in employee development, the answer is It isnt. The business landscape is constantly evolving, and companies must cultivate talent now to ensure performance tomorrow. With a formal system of coaching, training, and management, employee development prepares both the employees and the organization tomeet the challenges of the future.Performance reviews and employee development go flosse in hand. By investing in the right tools and resources, you allow your managers to track each employees path, conduct better reviews, and foster the growth of both the team and the organization overall.Whetherformal employee development programs are new to your companyor your current strategy hasnt been delivering, its time to invest in a high-quality, effective platform. Thats the b est way to see performance results, keep engagement high, and attract and retain the right talent.A version of this article originally appeared on the ClearCompany blog.Sara Pollock is head of the marketing department at ClearCompany.

ASME Video RD Engineers and Concentrating Solar Power

ASME Video RD Engineers and Concentrating Solar Power ASME Video RD Engineers and Concentrating Solar Power Video R&D Engineers and Concentrating Solar PowerRD Engineers are playing critical roles in reducing costs and improving efficiency in renewable energy systems. This program looks at leading edge research in three subsystems in concentrating solar power the collector field, the solar receiver and the power block. We visit a solar plant near aufi Angeles where engineers are challenging the assumption that bigger is better when it comes to mirror assemblies. We also visit Sandia National Laboratories where engineers are testing both an innovative solar receiver and power block. The receiver uses falling sand to capture heat. The power block uses supercritical CO2 to generate electricity. With advances from this type of research, the U.S. Department of Energy to predicts that Concentrating Solar Power will be cost competitive by 2020.Produced and written by Roger Torda, ASME Publi c Information.ASME Energy Forum is a new, year-long multi-media series that explores the technical aspects and workings of a broad range of energy sources and related technologies. From solar power and hydro to fuel cell vehicles and wind power, youll get leading technical expert perspectives on how these energy sources and technologies work, the technical issues and challenges, and the economic implications for businesses. Learn moreThe copyright of this program is owned by ASME.

Three sneaky benefits of haters in the workplace

Three sneaky benefits of haters in the workplaceThree sneaky benefits of haters in the workplaceSelf-Assessment Quiz True or FalseI am aware of my professional worth.I am observant of my coworkers and ur interactions.I am consistently documenting my Job Well Done and Do Better Next Time milestones.I am transparent with how I work.Ive said it once, and Ill say it again Youre going to have haters at work. We talked about how to deal with these lovely types of folks by understanding their underlying motives. This week I want to do a deeper dive into the benefits of having haters in your life.Say what now?If you answered TRUE to the questions above, then you clearly have a sense of yourself as a valued employee. But when a situation goes bad (e.g., your hater is stealing your ideas, talking behind your back, realigning your budgets and other resources, not including you in meetings, reducing your visibility with other senior leaders, or not sharing pertinent information with you), you m ust recognize that no matter how its being sugarcoated, you are indeed under attack. You must take action. You have three optionsYou can speak up for yourself to your superiors and coworkers to prove the hater wrong. Be sure youve documented every assault. List out the meetings you were invited to before the hater took over the invitations and suddenly youre persona non gratis on the list. In writing, ask why projects youd gotten awards for previously were suddenly being delegated to a person with fewer years of experience. Remove any emotion from the documentation and let the facts speak for themselves. No drama necessary, but it just may help people see you in a different, stronger light.You can work harder if, in fact, you do need to step up your game to shut the hater down. Prove why you deserve to be in that meeting. If a project could have been handled differently had you had that missing information, dont be afraid to share what the true after could have looked like had you h ad it. If your ideas are being flaunted as someone elses, speak up Show the work trail from concept through completion. Turn your work in early. Be proactive in finding solutions. Make I Can Do That your anthem that everyone knows you proudly sing all hours of the day. Anytime you get in front of your superiors, shine, shine, and SHINE some more Make them ask why they arent seeing more of you. Working hard usually gets people noticed in a good way.You can recognize this hater situation for what it is a gift from the universe to get the hell outta Dodge Dont ever be afraid to jump ship. Yes It is an option. Sometimes when life throws us a curve tanzerei, we want to rant and rave about it. Because were comfortable in this hellhole. It is, after all, our hellhole, which is a lot less scary than the unknown hellholes out there. Or even the nirvana opportunities. Thats the thing about being stuck and rooted in fear- you dont know if you can find a better job with nicer people, making mor e money, doing what you love because youre too comfortable in that fear to even peek over your cubicle to see what else exists for you beyond your limited view.Honey, listen to me. I told you in the first post of this year that a successful career is contingent on your mindset. If things have gotten to the point where you dread going to work because of a hater, then its time to reframe the hater. I suggest you rename him or her Angel and start thanking the universe for the blessed day this backstabbing, idea-grabbing, non-truth telling, smiling-in-your-face-but-mean-you-no-good person entered your lifeBecause this Angel may be just the push you needed outta this nest to get to your next level of success. Take your ball and bat, and go be a superstar someplace else.There you go, three benefits you gotta love that come from dealing with a hater. Yes, the benefits may have snuck up on you. I suggest, however, that you try one or all three out for size. But you gotta do SOMETHING to cha nge your situation. Now stop sneaking around corners, walking on eggshells and pulling knives out of your back and go beat these haters at their own game. Let me know what happens. (But I know youre going to be fine)Cheryl Grace is the sassy aunt, best friend, and mentor youve always needed in your life. The successful jet-setting, global corporate executive founded the aspirational lifestyle brand Powerful Penny LLC. Her products, workshops and speeches probe, inspire and empower to ensure those who really want to can get to their next level of best. Her blogs on careers, prosperity, relationships, family, looking and living fabulously, and living a five-star life can be found atwww.powerfulpenny.com.

Free Online Advertising

Free Online AdvertisingFree Online AdvertisingIf youre a geschftsleben owner, there are a number of ways to get the word out about your products or services to people who want to buy them without spending a lot of money- or any at all. Free angeschlossen advertising techniques can come in handy when youre in the startup phase and dont have much, if any, money to spend on marketing. Theyre also great for testing new ideas since you may not want to risk your money on something unproven. These methods can help you generate leads, build your email list, get direct sales, contact previous customers to get them to buy again, and more on various digital channels. But although they can be effective, but its important to consider both the pros and cons before deciding if free online advertising methods are a good fit for your business. ProsA cost-effective way to connect with potential clientsGreat for testing new business ideasConsCan be very time-consumingRisk of low return on investment (t ime and effort) Now that you know some of the pros and cons, lets take a look at some of the top free methods to promote your business online. Facebook Marketing The great thing is that you can do it for free. You can join Facebook and even start a business page on Facebook for at no cost so you can interact with your customers. Its the ultimate free online advertising method. Some best practices Post regularlyOffer useful informationAsk questionsInclude special offers, sales, and discountsInclude links back to your website and/or ecommerce storePost photos and videos that grab attentionUse advanced features such as tracking pixels and retargeting One of the most important practices is to engage with your audience. If one of your followers asks a question or comments on a post, be sure to reply right away. After youve gotten some good results with free Facebook marketing methods youll want to expand into paid advertising opportunities as well. YouTube Marketing With YouTube you can join and post videos related to your business for free. Best practices here are to offer useful advice and information, or offer a strong point of view. It could be a how-to video related to your niche or a video of your product in action, for example. Always fill out the description with details about your business, as well as a link back to your website (be sure to include http// so that your link is clickable). Include that in the video too- in fact, add a call to action at the end of your video encouraging people to visit your website for more information. If youre creating videos and uploading them to YouTube you should upload them directly to Facebook as well. While youre at it, add the video to your blog, too. LinkedIn Marketing If your product or service would help business owners or companies- a business-to-business (B2B) type of product- you should also be active on LinkedIn. Here, you can network with potential customers and post links to articles and other re sources. Its a great way to get the word out about your business. Again, its free online advertising. They key to really leveraging LinkedIn is to make personal connections and develop real relationships with people that can potentially turn into business leads, sales, or referrals. If youre a great networker offline then LinkedIn will magnify your networking abilities by a huge factor. Forum and Facebook Group Marketing Although Facebook has stolen a bit of the thunder of forums, forum marketing isstill a great way to interact with prospect and customers. A forum is an online discussion group about a specific niche or industry. The idea here is that you join the forum and read through past posts. Get an idea of what people are talking about and the issues that are concerning them. You can start posting your take on the issue, offer advice and useful information, and in general be an active participant. The next step is delicate. You dont want to just start posting links and ads to your website and products. The forum folks will consider it massenmail and might even ban you. Instead, include a link to your website in your profile and signature. You could even make casual links and mentions to in some of your posts to your product or your website. But dont be salesy or pushy no matter what you do. Getting listed on popular social sites like Reddit could also be a great way to drive traffic to your website and turn some free online advertising into real sales. Reddit has very specific categories, or sub-Reddits, dealing with just about any interest or niche you can think. Again, join the discussion and link to your product once youve been around awhile and people know you. All of the above advice can be applied to Facebook Groups, which is a great free marketing method as well. Blog Marketing Another great way to engage in free online advertising is to start a blog. You can include text content, photos, and videos about important topics in your niche. Of fer useful advice and information, like how-to tips, news about your industry, and more. The important thing with a blog is to post regularly, several times a week isthe best-case scenario (if youre really limited in time or dont like writing then try to commit to an at least once weekly schedule or outsource your content). Youll grow your blog audience by posting your blog on social media, mentioning it in forums, and, once youve been at it awhile, youll get free traffic through search engine optimization as your site sits higher in the Google rankings. The blog will help people get to know you and your business (and its products and/or services). Youll become a trusted authority in your niche. And that, eventually, will turn your blog visitors into paying customers. Once you have a bit of experience and a track record, you can also offer to do guest blog posts on other peoples blogs. The blog should be in a related niche, since you want to make sure the audience is interested in w hat you have to say. Again, you can include a link to your own blog or website. Of course, you will have to reciprocate by letting others do guest posts on your blog. A final note on blogging Any time you post new content be sure to use all the methods above to promote your new content. Podcast Marketing Podcasts are a very popular way for entrepreneurs to get exposure andfree online advertising. You can even make money with a podcast. You can start your own podcast and/or appear on the podcasts of others. It could be as simple as you talking into a microphone with your thoughts on your niche. You could offer advice, answer questions that come in via email- the sky is the limit. If you appear on somebody elses podcast you could do an interview. In either case, always make sure to tell listeners how to find you online so they can check out your website. Make your podcast available for download on your blog and/or website, as well as on the major podcast services like Apples iTune s. Your podcast should, of course, be a free download. Check out these top podcasts that entrepreneurs listen to if you want to see examples of how its done. Article Marketing Content marketing is another great channel for free online advertising. You can submit articles for posting consideration to websites like Entepreneur.com, Medium.com, and more. In order to be accepted, the article should be well-written, useful, and about a topic in your niche. Once you get on the radar of their editors, you can be published multiple times. In this way, you can get your name out there and build your authority as an expert in your niche- snd you can include a link back to your site. One thing to keep in mind is that you dont necessarily have to be published on a major media website to have success. You can and should target smaller niched publications, websites, and blogs that reach your target audience. The audience will be smaller but can be much more responsive. Once youve started to dr ive traffic and generate sales online youll seriously want to consider expanding into paid advertising opportunities to reach even a larger audience more quickly.