9 words and phrases that make any professional look weak

9 hundertprozentigs and phrases that make any professional look weak9 words and phrases that make any professional look weakHey, Im not sure if you have the time right now, but it would be great if you can read my latest column. Is that OK?said the weakest communicator ever.Confidence is a powerful tool to gain respect and get stuff done.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraAs you compose emails/documents (and in conversation too), remove these words/phrases from your vocabulary. They make you look weak.1. JustIjustwant to ask youItlljusttake a minuteImjustsayingWeak, weak, weak. Just is a little word with big implications. Each time we use just, it suggests we waste someones time. No, if you have something important to say, then say it.Well, anywayitsjusta writing tip.See how that sounds? Weak.2. SorryDont apologize all over the place. In most cases, you didnt do anything wrong. Sor ry is mora like Sorry for bothering you or Sorry for taking up your time.Of course, if youdidscrew up, then yeasay Sorry.But if you have worthwhile information to send in an email or say aloud, then go for it. Respect yourself and the value you add to the conversation.3. Im not sure if you can, but Such an inferior tone. As if the other part is SO important and SO busy that you need to kneel down and beg for assistance.How about Would you like to?Stay on equal footing with the partie across from you. Youre no worse (or better). Eye to eye is the way to play it.4. I hate to bother you, but Similar to 3, I hate to bother you, but connotes the other person has all the power in the relationship. Even if youre an intern, new hire or several years junior to someone at the company, you have every right to stand proudly and say, When you have a minute, Id like your opinion onAnd let me tell you, plenty of business execs can suddenly find 15 minutes in their jam-packed schedules if someone w ants their opinion. Maybe even 30 minutes or an hour.5. I hope thats OK.Dont give up authority in the conversation - you have the same rights to the territory. Instead, go with Thanks for the consideration or I appreciate the help.- Here are four weak writing habits specific to managers and other leaders in an organization.6. The new rule on vacation days has been put in place by me.Passive voice is perhaps the weakest way to communicate with your employees. You must be willing to stand by your decisions, and the best way is to put yourself (I) at the start of the sentence.CorrectionI have put in place a new rule on vacation days.7. Put your call to action or request at the bottom of the message.Timid managers wait until the last line of an email or document to explain what they need employees to do. Its a subtle way to say, Im afraid to give orders or be in charge.Instead, put the directive high up in the message. Employees will see the information right away, and your message wil l have a mora assertive tone.As an exampleHi team,Im writing to remind everyone to have their fourth-quarter reports on my desk by 5 p.m. on Friday. Remember the report must includeStart strong, and employees will take notice.8. More words = less respectA babo who communicates with brevity commands a certain level of authority. That doesnt mean you should write with a terseness that feels cold and emotionless.The best leaders write with enthusiasmandan economical word count. Its a skill that must be practiced every day by managers.Whoops, there goes the passive voice again.Managers must practice the skill every day.9. Misspelling an employees first or last nameWant an easy way to lose an employees respect? Spell his/her name wrong in an email/document.Want to ruin the relationship for the long-term? Spell the name wrong more than once.Before you press send, make sure the names are 100% correct. These are the people who put in the hours for you day after day. If you repeatedly type J ohn instead of Jon, its more than a weak approach.Its a clear lack of respect.- Well, Ihopeyou like my advice. If not,sorryfor the troubleYour words set the tone. Use them wisely.This column first appeared onDannyhRubin.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 double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people9 words and phrases that make any professional look weakHey, Im not sure if you have the time right now, but it would be great if you can read my latest column. Is that OK?said the weakest communicator ever.Confidence is a powerful tool to gain respect and get stuff done.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAs you compose em ails/documents (and in conversation too), remove these words/phrases from your vocabulary. They make you look weak.1. JustIjustwant to ask youItlljusttake a minuteImjustsayingWeak, weak, weak. Just is a little word with big implications. Each time we use just, it suggests we waste someones time. No, if you have something important to say, then say it.Well, anywayitsjusta writing tip.See how that sounds? Weak.2. SorryDont apologize all over the place. In most cases, you didnt do anything wrong. Sorry is more like Sorry for bothering you or Sorry for taking up your time.Of course, if youdidscrew up, then yeasay Sorry.But if you have worthwhile information to send in an email or say aloud, then go for it. Respect yourself and the value you add to the conversation.3. Im not sure if you can, but Such an inferior tone. As if the other person is SO important and SO busy that you need to kneel down and beg for assistance.How about Would you like to?Stay on equal footing with the person acro ss from you. Youre no worse (or better). Eye to eye is the way to play it.4. I hate to bother you, but Similar to 3, I hate to bother you, but connotes the other person has all the power in the relationship. Even if youre an intern, new hire or several years junior to someone at the company, you have every right to stand proudly and say, When you have a minute, Id like your opinion onAnd let me tell you, plenty of business execs can suddenly find 15 minutes in their jam-packed schedules if someone wants their opinion. Maybe even 30 minutes or an hour.5. I hope thats OK.Dont give up authority in the conversation - you have the same rights to the territory. Instead, go with Thanks for the consideration or I appreciate the help.- Here are four weak writing habits specific to managers and other leaders in an organization.6. The new rule on vacation days has been put in place by me.Passive voice is perhaps the weakest way to communicate with your employees. You must be willing to stand by your decisions, and the best way is to put yourself (I) at the start of the sentence.CorrectionI have put in place a new rule on vacation days.7. Put your call to action or request at the bottom of the message.Timid managers wait until the last line of an email or document to explain what they need employees to do. Its a subtle way to say, Im afraid to give orders or be in charge.Instead, put the directive high up in the message. Employees will see the information right away, and your message will have a more assertive tone.As an exampleHi team,Im writing to remind everyone to have their fourth-quarter reports on my desk by 5 p.m. on Friday. Remember the report must includeStart strong, and employees will take notice.8. More words = less respectA boss who communicates with brevity commands a certain level of authority. That doesnt mean you should write with a terseness that feels cold and emotionless.The best leaders write with enthusiasmandan economical word count. Its a skill t hat must be practiced every day by managers.Whoops, there goes the passive voice again.Managers must practice the skill every day.9. Misspelling an employees first or last nameWant an easy way to lose an employees respect? Spell his/her name wrong in an email/document.Want to ruin the relationship for the long-term? Spell the name wrong more than once.Before you press send, make sure the names are 100% correct. These are the people who put in the hours for you day after day. If you repeatedly type John instead of Jon, its more than a weak approach.Its a clear lack of respect.- Well, Ihopeyou like my advice. If not,sorryfor the troubleYour words set the tone. Use them wisely.This column first appeared onDannyhRubin.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 double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can m ake in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Turn Down Your Boss the Easy Way

How to Turn Down Your Boss the Easy Way How to Turn Down Your Boss the Easy Way The most effective way to say no is to provide your boss with a good reason for your response. The reasons for turning down assignments are typically that you are too busy to take on another responsibility or that you are unqualified to do a good job at the requested task. If you are too busy, make a list of all of your current projects and responsibilities to share with your boss. Include data about projected time requirements, anticipated project completion dates and your own time management strategies so that your boss knows you are handling your responsibilities well. This shows your boss your commitment to current projects and that they would suffer with additional tasks.If you are saying no due to a lack of abilities, be upfront and honest. State that you feel that you are not currently capable of doing a good job at the new task. This would be a great time to discuss educational opportunities or mentorships that could add valuable skills to your repertoire.Another method of saying no is to avoid the word no altogether. Instead, share information with your boss that will lead him to landsee that the assignment is not right for you. For example, if you are already spread too thin, ask your boss to go over your schedule with you to help you see how you can fit in a new assignment without harming your current projects. Include time data and your own time management strategies. If your boss feels that the new project is a priority for you, he has the option of removing another task from your list. After seeing how busy you are, it is likely that he will delay the project or assign it to someone else.Soften a no answer by providing your boss with options to get the new assignment completed. Perhaps you know of someone in your department who is more qualified than you and truly enjoys that type of work. Maybe you can think of a way to modify the assignment so that you could handle it. Consider offering to do part of the task or to provide guidance to a capable subordinate who is looking to move up. Offering options when turning down assignments shows that you take initiative and turns saying no into a gunst der stunde to show off other skills, such as flexibility and leadership.Regardless of your reason for saying no and the approach that you take, remember that saying no is almost always better than failing. Stand up for yourself and your professional integrity by keeping your workload sane. A well-reasoned refusal when necessary keeps your work relationships, integrity, and productivity strong.

How to remove jargon from your work communication

How to remove jargon from your work communication How to remove jargon from your work communication In today’s fast-paced, streamlined workplace, buzzwords permeate the landscape … value-add, deliverable, leverage, take it to the next level, it is what it is. And when you get deeper into workplace departments, the jargon gets even more confusing: internet of things, return on investment, total quality management, bleeding edge, capacity planning.These are just a few prevalent terms now used at work. And while departmental jargon sometimes works well to communicate ideas and goals inside a single business unit, once it crosses department lines, it’s often vague, confusing, and even offensive. Departmental jargon can hurt both internal and external business if it’s misunderstood.The bottom line: Workplace communication is hard enough without throwing in departmental jargon!“When everyone is on the same page, it’s so much easier for everyone to do their job,” according to JobMonkey.com. “A failure to communicate is one of the fastest ways to sabotage your business. A s imple comment lost in translation … could all be solved through proper communication.”So how can you “separate the signal from the noise” at work and speak concisely to individuals outside of your area of expertise?Keep email, chat, text, and video free of jargon The best way to make sure your message is clear to anyone not familiar with your department’s specific jargon is to not use buzzwords at all. Use clear and concise wording to get your point across. This helps you avoid confusing those not familiar with specific departmental jargon.Think of it this way: If you were speaking to your mother about a problem at work and she had no idea what your job was, how would you explain it to her? Use this approach regardless of who you are communicating with and the method used, whether via email, chat, text, or video.Email: Write simple, direct emailsWhen crafting an email, avoid using jargon. The reason is simple: You don’t always know who will be reading your email. Plus, y ou can save yourself some time writing it, because you won’t need to explain any buzzwords or concepts that someone outside your department may not understand. This way, regardless of who reads the email, your message will be crystal clear. For example, you may write: “Management is changing the market dynamics” compared to “the company is acting as a disruptor in the market.” Someone may consider the word disruptor a negative in this example instead of a positive if they didn’t have a full understanding of the term in a business context.“Emails, like traditional business letters, need to be clear and concise,” according to MindTools.com. “Keep your sentences short and to the point. The body of the email should be direct and informative, and it should contain all pertinent information.”If you do use jargon in your emails, then make sure to fully explain it.Chat: Eliminate jargon to avoid confusionChat is another area where departmental jargon often causes confusi on. Using buzzwords in a business chat with clients or coworkers could cause your message to get lost amid confusing “business speak.”When a chat involves just your own department, there usually isn’t an issue with communication because everyone understands the same jargon, whether it is about IT, operations, human resources, etc. Problems can occur, however, when a new coworker joins you and isn’t up to speed yet or if individuals from different departments take part in a chatroom conversation and they aren’t familiar with your work or processes.If everyone spoke in their own departmental jargon, how many communication breakdowns would you expect? More than likely, at least a few.And what if you speak with one of your customers through a chat program? While you might know exactly what you are trying to communicate, the customer may not fully understand your message, possibly costing you a valuable business opportunity.Text: Make it clear and to the pointAnother communicat ion method most of us have used over the past few years is text. With text communications, it’s vital that you speak simply and clearly. If you don’t, you risk confusing, or worse alienating, the person at the other end of your text.Just imagine the amount of time it would take to have to explain a complex, jargon-filled text to someone who doesn’t know what you’re talking about. Using simple terms that everyone understands, to begin with, is the best way to get the point of your text across quickly and effectively.In addition to avoiding jargon while texting, it’s important to follow common text etiquette rules to make sure that your text is easily understood. For instance, avoid using emojis and abbreviations in a work-related text. The people you communicate with are your co-workers and clients, and they require a more formal method of communication. “The receiver should not be confused as to what you are trying to say, and if your message is interpreted the wrong way , your miscommunication could cause conflicts and even missed business opportunities,” according to Entrepreneur.com. “Make sure your message is clear, and review it for standalone clarity before hitting the send button.”Video: Instruct or explain using succinct, crisp dialogueIt’s also critical that your video communication is clear and concise. Not only can confusion run amuck if you use departmental jargon, it’s difficult to come back after the fact and explain what you meant. Use terms everyone can understand when making your video presentation. This is especially true for videos meant to educate others in a process familiar to employees who are not in your department. Look at it this way: If you were someone completely new to your department, how would you want something explained to you? Maybe you haven’t had time to pick up on all of the common departmental terms. Think of the confusion that would create. Instead, create a video that avoids that confusion using su ccinct, crisp dialogue.The ultimate goalDepartmental jargon is bound to pop up when you work with others in the same field or team. Keep in mind, though, that company leaders, co-workers in other departments, and customers unfamiliar with the jargon might find themselves feeling lost and confused. Your ultimate goal? Craft clear, concise communications that anyone can understand in order to get your message across each and every time.Alexa Lemzy is a customer support manager and content writer at  TextMagic, a bulk SMS software provider. When she’s not working, you can find her inventing a new pancake recipe in her kitchen or going for a run in the nearest park.

How To Get Hired As A Designer Job Search Resume Advice

How To Get Hired As A Designer Job Search Resume Advice How To Get Hired As A Designer Job Search Resume Advice [clickToTweet tweet=‘’I want to connect with people who want to change the world and help them do it.’’ @MindaugasLT quote=‘’I want to connect with people who want to change the world and help them do it.’’]This was one of the main reasons why we connected with Mindaugas who specializes in helping companies hire designers better, and matching them with jobs they’ll love. He has been doing this for the past 3+ years and one of his top skills has always been working with people.1. Mindaugas, how did you find out that recruiting designers is your passion?I moved to Dublin around 4 years ago. First, I worked as a recruiter for different roles software developers, project managers and so on. But I felt like I couldn’t really connect with them on a level I wanted to. However, by working those different roles I was able to discover design and absolutely fell in love. Eventually, there was an opportunity to solely focus on design roles in my company, I took it and I’ve loved it ever since. I guess it’s because designers can show me what they work on and as I’m quite a visual person myself, it just felt right. I find designers easy to engage with and, as a community, they are very welcoming. If you do it the right way.2. What was the biggest challenge when transitioning to hiring designers exclusively?I think at the beginning I had to make a lot of mistakes, say and do the wrong things. The key for me was quickly learning from those failures, taking the feedback on the chin and improving my process.I realized that for me to be able to do this well I had to learn what designers actually do and not be afraid to ask for feedback on how I was doing, that approach also helped me connect with the design community. It was a long term approach but after 3 years working this way, I can say that now I am part of that community. It’s taken 3 years. To achieve that, I’d go to different design meetups, events, UX Sketch Clubs which would mean going aft er work, in my free time. But I didn’t just sit there, I got involved and I didn’t try to hire anyone at those events. I was just there to build relationships and learn.I also organized a couple of events myself, one was to help junior designers get better jobs, the “Design Disruptors” Irish Premiere, Framer workshop. I always believed the community support would get me ahead and it’s true, I’ve had so many awesome experiences because of that. 3. What is the first thing you look for on a resume of designers?There are stats that recruiters spend something like 9-10 seconds on a resume, and I think it’s true. I usually look for a link to their portfolio or something they might have publicly out there. For me personally, it gives a good sense of what this person might be about. A CV doesn’t always tell the full story. By the way, I’m not starting this whole portfolio debate again ??Also, when it comes to the design of a resume, I feel people sometimes go a bit over th e top. But if a resume is clear and gives me an idea of what type of person I’m dealing with and what they want to do, I continue reading. You often see the usual motivated, team-player, you know, everybody says that. And nobody cares. Tell me what you want to do and where you want to get. If someone is clear about their goals, I instantly want to help them achieve that.Related articles:11 summer books to make you miss work while on vacationThe ultimate guide to building professional reputationHow to be as graceful as Michelle Obama when you leave your job4. If there are 2 designers with similar skills and experience applying for the same company, how do you choose between the two?I would not make the differentiation based on just a resume, that would be so wrong. I’d set up a call or a coffee with both. And go from there. Because it often happens that somebody applies for a job and when I do get to chat with them, we figure out that maybe the company isnt the right one for the m. So that can often happen. That’s why I feel a good, honest job description is crucial to getting more relevant applicants which speeds up the whole process incredibly. Also, soft skills are a big thing these days. If I know the hiring company really well, I know what type of people they’d enjoy meeting. So it becomes less about the tech skills and more about the person. Anyone can match the job description against a resume, but it becomes tricky when you need to match the people. I look for terminology, maybe similar interests, mutual contacts, even tone of voice some sort of common ground the candidate and hiring manager might have. That way there’s a pretty good chance they’ll get on. I love spending the extra time to get to know both sides on a deeper level, you get better results that way. 5. What advice would you give to junior designers starting out?It’s my favorite topic. ?? There are not that many junior designer roles advertised, so what do you do? Get in touc h with the company. That doesn’t mean that you go and email 50 companies saying the same thing. No quality over quantity. And this method works. They should treat it like a project. Do some research, identify 20 companies you find interesting. Put them on the list. Go on Linkedin. See who might be in a hiring position there design manager? Get their names, emails. Then look into their profile in a bit more depth. Find their portfolios or side projects that they’re working on that are public. Look at that and personalize every email, mention something you find interesting about what they’ve worked on or spoke about at a conference. Send 2-3 emails and see if you get any results, if you don’t, try to switch up a little. Try not to ask for a job, but rather for advice. Most people will find some time and meet you and give you advice, and maybe would want to hire you in the future. It may seem like a lot of work, but I’ve seen it result in juniors getting good jobs time and time again. I think this approach works for everyone to be honest.6. Do you think something’s changed in the recruitment when it comes to matching?I think it has. Some companies use the term ‘’company culture’’ but they don’t really care about it that much. But more and more companies do look for a perfect personality match because there’s so much competition out there. Companies are often swamped with irrelevant applications, they need to find somebody who is aligned with their goals and vision. Even if the candidate is more junior and their skills don’t exactly match the job description, they’d prefer someone who can fit in well and they can upskill them. Unfortunately, this still doesn’t happen often enough. But this brings us back to the fact that one needs to show personality in how they apply for jobs to attract the hiring managers attention.7. Why don’t some people get hired?It’s hard to say because I’m not physically in that process with them, I’m not sitting in during the interviews. I think it often happens because the basics aren’t covered at the start of the process. There are very simple ways to figure all that stuff out before it’s too late. I always insist with any client I work with that they do a phone call first or exchange a couple of emails. That helps work out whether there’s a potential match. You’ve seen their resume, portfolio etc, it’s time to get to know the person. Through just having a quick conversation you can learn a lot. I see a lot of times people complain about getting rejected but then you ask did you follow up and ask why and what you could do to improve? I think it’s really important. Some companies won’t bother but some are really awesome at coming back with very specific feedback which will help improve going forward in the job search. You just gotta ask.If youd like to connect to Mindaugas, do it via  Linkedin or follow him on Twitter. You can also check out his Jobs Board.

9 Companies with Cool Office Perks

9 Companies with Cool Office Perks 9 Companies with Cool Office Perks There’s just something about being in a great office that motivates you. When you walk into a working environment that’s modern, attractive and has a few exciting perks to boot, you feel energized, valued and ready to take on the world. After all, investing in a great office space is one of the ways that a company can show their employees that they care. If you’re getting tired of a ho-hum workspace, upgrading your digs at an exciting new company might be just what you need to reinvigorate your career. Check out some of these companies with amazing office perks, and apply now! Cool Perks: Genentech is one of those companies setting the gold standard when it comes to perks. To start with, they make the commute easy by offering shuttle services to their office. And once you’re at the office, the benefits only get better. With on-site child care, car wash facilities, bicycle repair, haircut services, spa treatments and a full-service fitness center, this is definitely a company you’ll want to stick with for the long haul. And if you do, you’ll be handsomely rewarded - employees who have been with the company for six years get a six-week paid sabbatical ! Hiring For: Global Study Manager, Workforce Services Sr Director, Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Protein Crystallography), Senior Administrative Associate, Senior Statistical Programmer Analyst, Interactive Marketing (iM) Program Manager / Senior Program Manager & more What Employees Say: “Nice people. Great mission. Gorgeous campus. Great benefits. The campus overlooks Oyster Point which is beautiful. The on-site gym is beyond state of the art with plenty of interesting classes and free to employees. Open neighborhood environment is nice. Focus on sustainability in building design is great. Fantastic history in general… after all, Biotech started there.” - Current Communications Employee Cool Perks: Perhaps the only company in America to have its own in-house “escape room,” United Shore trains its team members in mortgage knowledge and team-building skills as they must find clues and solve puzzles to escape in a certain amount of time. If that weren’t enough, they also have a state-of-the-art fitness center, their own Starbucks, an outdoor basketball court and more. Hiring For: Scrum Master, Junior Digital Marketing Coordinator, Security Officer, Application Architect, Underwriting Excellence Development Program, Benefits Specialist, Network Engineer & more What Employees Say: “The environment here is a balance of competitiveness, encouragement, accountability, passion, openness, and fun! The expectations are high but if you are a hard worker, focus on the positive versus the negative, lift people around you up, strive to get better, you will succeed here, I’ve seen it.” - Current Employee Cool Perks: PNC Living Well offers activities for each employee - like wellness challenges and biometric screenings - that lead to credits, which are deposited as dollars into HSAs or paychecks. The company also has onsite Well-being Centers in Pittsburgh, PA and Miamisburg, OH, and employees participating in its medical benefits have access to Teladoc which provides 24/7/365 access to quality medical care through phone and video consultations. Hiring For: Branch Sales & Service Associate, Branch Sales & Service Representative, Teller, Application Developer, Operations Associate, Client Solution Specialist Sr, Business Development Officer, Tax Analyst Sr, Fiduciary Advisor, Business Analytics Consultant, Field Examiner, Capital Markets Sr Associate & more. What Employees Say: “PNC has amazing work-life balance. They also have phenomenal benefits;401k, pension, maternity (10 weeks 100% pay), educational assistance, childcare assistance, adoption assistance, etc. They promote from within and give you training to be successful in many areas.” - Current Universal Banker Cool Perks: Voted “the Coolest Office Space” by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, The Penny Hoarder HQ perfectly reflects their unique, quirky culture. Bookworms will love their library complete with a two-sided fireplace and T-Rex head mantle, while moms will appreciate the mother’s room, where nursing mothers can pump. Those looking to get their zen on will enjoy participating in the optional, twice-daily meditation sessions in their quiet room, and relaxing in their indoor park that features artificial turf flooring, company-branded yoga mats and beanbag chairs. And just about everybody can get behind their coffee bar, air hockey and shuffleboard tables. Hiring For: Social Media Director, Director of Email Marketing, On Air Journalist, Vice President of Branded Marketing and Communications, Digital Data Analyst II What Employees Say: “Pros: Company truly cares about [its] employees. Excellent benefits. Stellar Culture to work in. Collaborative bullpen environment. CEO is extremely approachable and caring. Professional Development available. Flexible hours and great work/life split. Management is very supportive and energetic. All in all this is a truly superb place to work, with a group of engaging people.” - Current IT Project Manager Cool Perks:   With their cloud-optimized platform for machine learning and analytics, fast-growing company Cloudera helps organizations transform complex data into clear, actionable insights.  Cloudera has locations around the world and provides great perks like happy hours, Bring Your Child/Parent to Work Day, volunteer time off, quarterly team-building off sites, employee appreciation parties, fundraising events/donations and social events like Giants games, mini golf and even robot wars. Hiring For: Strategic Account Manager, Customer Operations Engineer, Director of Product Management, Data Scientist, Partner Operations Manager, Field Readiness Program and Events Manager & more What Employees Say: “Great opportunities and many avenues for growth. Always challenging work and always learning. Love the culture. Very open and inclusive. Executive team is one of the best I’ve seen” - Current Employee Cool Perks: At Commvault, it’s all about working hard while having fun. Their Tinton Falls, NJ headquarters features an in-office slide from the fourth to third floors, ping-pong, foosball and pool tables, a fitness center, softball field, basketball court and walking trail, to name just a few perks. No matter how cool the office, though, Commvault understands that you’ll want to spend time relaxing and recharging on vacation - that’s why they offer unlimited PTO. Hiring For: Enterprise Account Executive, Customer Support Engineer, Systems Engineer, Marketing Intern, Human Resources Coordinator, District Channel Manager & more What Employees Say: “I love working at Commvault. The culture is unlike any other company I have ever experienced and I really feel that the company values me as an employee. The work I do is meaningful, and contributes to the organization as a whole, which is a huge motivator… The headquarters in Tinton Falls is an incredible building. Each floor has game rooms that employees are encouraged to use, there is an on-site gym, and of course, there is the slide open for employee use at any hour.” - Current Employee Cool Perks: Procore Technologies’ headquarters is lucky enough to have a benefit that not many companies could implement even if they wanted to - a beachside location! And although this construction management software company is located in Southern California, Procore’s Carpinteria, CA office gives Silicon Valley companies a run for their money in terms of perks: catered lunches, a dog-friendly office, a gym and fitness classes and even on-site massages and haircuts. Hiring For: Manager of Customer Success, Marketing Automation Specialist, Billing and Collection Specialist, Business Systems Analyst (HR), Sales Development Manager, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Senior Software Engineer & more What Employees Say: “From the day I started working at Procore, I’ve felt welcome, engaged, and energized. The work is challenging and fast-paced, but the people and culture make coming to the office something I look forward to everyday. Procore truly lives its values of Ownership, Optimism, and Openness â€" visible in everything from the frequent and authentic communication from our executives to the positive and supportive attitudes of our employees. I love being be part of a team working to build a product that positively impacts the global construction industry, making it safer, more organized, and more cost effective.” - Current Employee Cool Perks: Boston-based cloud company Acquia prides themselves on their “fast-paced, highly motivated, enormously fun work environment,” and it shows in their perks offerings. The Acquia office has kitchens stocked with snacks and beverages (including beer on tap), games like foosball, air hockey, ping pong and PS3s, a gym and even a nap room if you need to recharge in the middle of the day. And if you feel yourself starting to become a little bit tense, don’t worry - you can work out the kinks with a monthly in-office massage! Hiring For: Product Owner, UX Researcher, Senior Field Marketing Manager, Offshore Engineering Director, Salesforce.com Manager, Software Engineer, Talent Acquisition Coordinator & more What Employees Say: “Over [the] years Acquia has continued to attract and hire great talent, finding people from different backgrounds that are extremely bright and passionate. As an employee that means you have the opportunity to learn and meet people that can become mentors and be influential to your career. Acquia has always made sure to listen to employees and collect feedback, in order to improve when times were not perfect.” - Former Employee Cool Perks: As a company in the entertainment space, Showtime is able to offer quite a few unique perks like advanced screenings of TV series premieres and free Hulu and Showtime. And according to one employee , “They hosted a very cool ‘Billions’ Day to get employees excited about Season 2.” Outside of that, though, Showtime also provides solid core benefits like 401(k) matching and parental leave as well as innovative health and wellness benefits like an on-demand teledoctor, free flu shots and subsidized backup daycare for children and elders. Hiring For: Sr. Designer (Digital â€" Display Media), Acquisition Social Marketing Manager, Key Account Media Supervisor, Associate Producer (Special Features), VP, Production & more What Employees Say: “People are friendly, knowledgeable and willing to help. However, my advice is not to wait for the conversation to come to you. Take the initiative, engage and share your point of view.” - Current Director

A Career Profile That Includes Duties, Salary and More

A Career Profile That Includes Duties, Salary and More A Career Profile That Includes Duties, Salary and More Zoo habitat designers are responsible for designing animal exhibits and overseeing their construction. They must oversee all aspects of exhibit design from initial planning through final construction. Their duties include coming up with the design concept and writing a design proposal, choosing plants and landscape features, estimating expenses, supervising fabrication and construction, consulting with zoo personnel, and supervising the construction staff. Duties While creating an exhibit concept, zoo habitat designers must research the animal’s natural environment and try to replicate that as faithfully as possible within the constraints of the exhibit area. They must also seek information about the animal’s behavior as it relates to containment (i.e. they must know how far an animal can jump, whether it can swim, and how strong it is to ensure that it is safely housed in the exhibit and separated from members of the public). While working on an exhibit, the designer must collaborate with curators, keepers, zoo educators, and veterinarians to determine the best way to accommodate the needs of both animals and visitors. A habitat designer may work long hours during the design and construction of an exhibit, particularly on nights and weekends, if the schedule is tight. It is important that designers are able to manage their time carefully to meet deadlines and to allow for potential setbacks in the construction process. Designers may also be exposed to changing weather conditions and varying temperatures if they happen to be working in an outdoor exhibit area. Career Options Habitat designers may find projects with a variety of organizations including zoos, aquariums, marine parks, animal parks, theme parks, museums, and wildlife conservation centers. They may also transition to a variety of positions within zoo management, including curator roles. Others may choose to leave zoo design and pursue other aspects of landscape and architectural work. While some designers are self-employed, many work for large firms that may or may not specialize specifically in zoo work. Some large zoos also hire habitat designers as full-time staff members. Education Training In most cases, a zoo habitat designer holds a degree in architecture or landscape architecture. Some have an additional degree (or significant experience) in zoology, wildlife biology, animal behavior, or another animal-related field. A designer should also have signification experience with computer-aided design (CAD) as well as knowledge of how to obtain necessary permits and complete construction documentation. Knowledge of animal behavior and physical requirements is beneficial, though this information can also be acquired through research and discussion with zoo professionals. There are many zoo related internship opportunities that an aspiring designer could take advantage of to gain valuable experience and knowledge of animal behavior. Internships involving landscape and architecture work are also extremely valuable for those hoping to pursue this career path. Professional Groups Zoo habitat designers may be members of professional groups such as the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), an organization that boasts members in all levels of zoo management from keepers to curators. The AAZK currently boasts a membership of more than 2,800 zoo professionals. The International Zoo Educators Association (IZEA) is another professional group that includes designers in its membership. The IZEA seeks to improve the quality of zoo education and to promote interaction of zoo professionals with the public. Salary Compensation can vary widely based on the size of the project, the financial backing of the institution and the specific responsibilities involved. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes zoo habitat designers under the more general category of landscape architects in its salary surveys. During the most recent salary survey conducted in May of 2012, landscape architects earned a median annual wage of $64,180 per year ($30.86 per hour). The lowest ten percent of landscape architects earned less than $38,450 per year while the highest ten percent of landscape architects earned more than $101,850 per year. As with most careers, compensation is directly commensurate with experience in the field. Zoo habitat designers with many years of experience or those with a coveted area of expertise can expect to earn top dollar on the salary scale. Job Outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that landscape designer positions will grow about as fast as the average for all positions (at a rate of approximately 14 percent from 2012 to 2022). With growing public interest in seeing zoo animals housed in natural looking and well-designed exhibits, the prospects should be good for those entering the zoo design niche of the landscape design market.

Blowing with the Wind

Blowing with the Wind Blowing with the Wind Blowing with the Wind Wind turbines rely on efficiency like few means of energy, so when Arturo Villegas team received results of around a ten percent increase in average coefficient improvement at a university wind tunnel through their Aerodynamic Flow Deflector, it was cause to celebrate. And to continue testing. For their technology, it was a matter of redirection, turbines to Villegas taking too simple of an approach to wind farms. Its amazing what a little adjustment can do, he says. Deflecting, the Strategy At Rutgers University, Villegas was already part of a group which wanted to improve wind turbines for wind farms, an ever-increasing means of alternative fuel globally. They found their aerodynamic flow deflector, similar to somewhere around a very thin, plate-like shape or air foil-like shape with a slight curve, can adjust wind power. Wind turbine mounted in the wind tunnel. Image: Rutgers Going through the blade torque and deflector torque, the wind moves through with the blade tangential force and has redirected tangential force with the aid of the deflector, says Villegas, co-founder and CEO of XPEED Technology, the company formed for the technology. We knew there was substantial loss in power in terms of turbines. The thought of how to increase the power focused on really redirecting the velocity into creating more torque. Its not just one deflector. When you put several deflectors around the blade, every one of them are all working towards the configuration of the torque. According to Villegas, the Appalachian University Wind Testing Center, two weeks with deflectors found it to have an annual energy production increase of 8.7 percent to 11.4 percent compared to two weeks without deflectors. At an NREL Regional Testing Center, it was found to be between 2 percent and 8 percent for both turbines tested with 100 hours of deflectors as opposed to 100 hours without. These are considered third party experiments, he reminds. Not just good for the public, but good for us, because we want to be honest with ourselves that were on the right track. The deflector is customizable through wind farm testing for any turbine, he says, but they have the goal to switch to fiberglass for the deflectors, similar to what is often found in wind turbine blades. I Shall Return? Villegas estimates it will take two to three years to see return on investment after implementation to a wind farm, though they are not at the production phase. But for how it can serve you, it has a chance to be a major source of revenue with patience, he says. Beyond that, Im happy it could help keep wind farms going for the positive effect it can have on our world. This is more than a means of profit, but a means of energy that can create power for parts of the world with little and conserve it for countries that dont need to use as much energy. Eric Butterman is an independent writer. For Further Discussion This is a means of energy that can create power for parts of the world with little and conserve it for countries that dont need to use as much energy.Prof. Arturo Villegas, Rutgers University