Should You Make a Lateral Move - The Muse

Should You Make a Lateral Move - The Muse Should You Make a Lateral Move In your career, if you’re not moving up, it can feel like you’re not moving at all. And because of that misconception, lateral moves don’t always seem like a great idea. You’ll have a comparable title, make a similar paycheck, and essentially be on the same level as you were in your previous role- but in most cases, further from a promotion than if you’d stayed put. So if you have the opportunity to make a lateral move into another department or functional role at your company, a few key worries may keep you from pulling the trigger. In most cases, though, those worries aren’t cause for concern; rather, they’re benefits waiting to happen. Consider these common doubts: Worry #1: This Won’t Help Me Advance My Career At first glance, a lateral move may not seem to push you up the career ladder. If you’re moving from a sales associate role, for example, to a marketing associate, you’re basically starting from scratch in your new department- you probably would have been closer to a promotion if you’d stayed in sales. But that doesn’t mean you career isn’t going to move forward. A lateral move can actually give you more marketability in the long run. By understanding more aspects of the company as a whole and how different departments fit together, you’ll likely be better suited for management or executive positions down the road. And, your experience in your prior role can help move you forward, too. When I moved from a technical support position into marketing, I was already intimately familiar with the company’s products and customers- which helped me jump in and contribute meaningfully to my new department from the start. Worry #2: I’ll be Starting from Scratch You may be within the same company, but after a lateral move, you’ll have a new boss, new co-workers, and new responsibilities to master. And now that you’re in a new functional role, all the contacts you made in your previous position- mentors, clients, and peers at other companies- will no longer be the network you need to move forward. It can seem like even though you’ve only moved down the hall, you’re starting completely from scratch. While it’s true that you’ll need to stretch your networking muscles again to start digging in to this new role, your current network can help you get there. Your current mentor can likely point you in the direction of a new mentor in your new department- and your previous colleagues may have friends or contacts they can introduce you to. Building your network within your new role can be challenging, but in the end, you’ll end up with a network much larger- and even more useful- than your original one. Worry #3: I Won’t Make More Money For the most part, a lateral move is just that: You move to another role on the same level with similar pay as your current position. But depending on the specific move you make, you may actually be able to use the move to your advantage- even when it comes to your paycheck. When I moved from a supervisor position to a marketing role, HR confirmed it was a lateral move- however, I researched the market value of my new position and ended up negotiating a $4,000 salary boost in my new role. That’s the beauty of a lateral move- a new position means a new opportunity to negotiate. Is it always possible? No. You may find out that the move truly doesn’t warrant a salary change. But you may find out that it does, especially if you didn’t negotiate the salary for your previous position. So before you accept the new offer, do your research and make sure you’re getting the full value of your new role. Worry #4: I’m Mot Moving Up, So I Won’t Be Challenged When you make a lateral move, it doesn’t always feel like you’ll be doing more- just something different. And without increasing responsibility, will you still feel challenged? Will you feel like you’re advancing professionally? Or will it feel (and when it comes to your resume, look), like you’re staying stagnant? It depends on your specific position, of course, but a lateral move can actually increase your responsibility significantly. A similar role in another department could, for example, carry the responsibility of managing interns or other direct reports. Or, in my case, maybe you’re moving from a managerial position to one without direct reports- but you’ll be responsible for more big projects that have major visibility within the organization. It may look different than your prior role, but it can- and should- be just as (if not more) challenging. When you make a smart, thoughtful lateral move, you can move into a role that you will enjoy much more, will give you more visibility, and will help you build the skills and network you need to advance even quicker than if you’d gone the straight-and-narrow route. Photo of arrow courtesy of Shutterstock.

Metal That Remembers Its Shape

Metal That Remembers Its Shape Metal That Remembers Its Shape Metal That Remembers Its Shape Most mechanical engineers dont know much about nitinol, even though this intriguing nickel-titanium alloy was discovered in 1959 at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in White Oak, MD. The research team made the discovery while searching for materials that could be used in tools for dismantling explosive mines. Now, more than 50 years later, nitinol is the material of choice for select applications in the medical device and aerospace industries. Nitinol is best known for two unique properties that broaden its appeal as a manufacturing material: shape memory and superelasticity. Shape memory is the ability of a part made from nitinol to undergo deformation at one temperature and then return to its original shape, undamaged, when heated above its transformation temperature. Superelasticity occurs within a few degrees just above the transformation temperature, at which point nitinol exhibits extreme elasticity, up to 30 times that of ordinary metal. These incredible qualities are caused by the material changing from its low-temperature monoclinic martensitic structure to a high-temperature cubic austenitic structure.When nitinol is its martensitic state, it can be easily deformed into a new shape that it holds. When heated to its transition temperature, the deformed object transforms to an austenitic structure and reverts to its original shape. The transition temperature can be adjusted by making slight changes to the alloy composition and through heat treatment. A schematic illustrating the shape memory effect of NiTi alloys. Image: Wikimedia Commons Above the transformation temperature, nitinol becomes superelastic. This is caused by martensite that forms in areas of high stress, even though the temperature is in the austenite range. When the stress is released, these martensite zones return to an austenite structure. Nitinol has a high fatigue strength. Above its transformation temperature, it can handle up to an eight percent strain and still return to its original shape. Other attractive physical properties are thermal and electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and kink resistance. Working with Nitinol In order to have the shape-memory function, the part must be shape set. The part is held in a mold under pressure while it is heat-treated at 500 degrees Celsius and then fast-cooled. Then, if the piece is later twisted or deformed below its transformation temperature, it will return to its remembered shape after it reaches the transformation temperature during reheating. Nitinol also has excellent corrosion resistance, the result of a passive titanium oxide layer that protects the base material from corrosion and nickel release. In fact, writes Confluent Medical Technologies, a medical device manufacturer in Fremont, CA, many researchers report that nitinol is more corrosion-resistant than stainless steel. Surface preparation is also critical for good biocompatibility and corrosion performance. A very abrasive material because of its hard titanium-oxide surface, nitinol generates considerable tool wear on milling, turning, and grinding equipment. Carbide tooling is highly recommended, states Confluent. During centerless grinding, ensure adequate cooling lubricant is present. Nitinol can also be electrical discharge machined (EDM), water-jet cut, and laser machined with excellent results. Bear in mind that nitinol is expensive to make, buy, and engineer, so to be commercially successful, these costs must be small relative to the price of the final product, points out Craig Bonsignore, vice president of applied technology for Confluent. This is true for many medical products, where nitinol enables minimally invasive procedures that would otherwise require more costly and/or risky surgery. Applications Abound The unique combination of shape memory, superelasticity, and biocompatibility makes nitinol an ideal material for medical and dental applications. Products include orthodontic arch wire, filters, and bone anchors. The superelastic qualities of nitinol especially benefit stents, mesh-like devices that structurally reinforce blood vessels. Nitinol stents (or heart valves) can be compressed into shapes that fit inside a catheter. When the catheter is positioned at the correct location within a blood vessel, the stent is released and returns to its predetermined shape, holding open the wall of the blood vessel. The aerospace industry is quite invested in shape memory applications, most notably in newer commercial jet engines that can morph in shape to optimize for noise and fuel efficiency at different stages of flight, says Bonsignore. Nitinol is also a key component in robotically controlled instruments, flight control panels, aircraftlanding gear, and thermal actuated controls. Researchers have also developed nitinol nanoparticles for electrical and thermal sensors in devices for aerospace, electronics, optical, biomedical, and petrochemical industries. These particles enable transmission of electrical energy without overheating. Nitinol is also used for manufacturing eyeglass frames, robotics, household appliances, and fire sprinkler systems. In a less serious application, Nitinol enables spoons from the magic shop to bend when placed in hot water. Bonsignore cautions that, although nitinol has some very attractive characteristics, using it comes with significant costs. Dont use nitinol if you dont have to, or if the application cant afford it, he advises. We spend a surprising amount of time trying to talk customers out of using the material. Although industrious engineers can make good progress with some material samples purchased online, simple forming tools, and an air furnace, Bonsignore recommends engaging a manufacturer experienced with the material to avoid common pitfalls and make progress quickly. Many engineers do not appreciate the importance of thermal processing and surface processing to the mechanical and fatigue characteristics of the material, so working with an experienced manufacturer can have a significant influence on performance outcomes. Mark Crawford is an independent writer. For Further Discussion

This employer is offering a tempting trade-in for your vacation days

This employer is offering a tempting trade-in for your vacation days This employer is offering a tempting trade-in for your vacation days It sounds like a devil’s bargain: Trade in vacation days to pay off student loans. But that’s the exchange one company has settled on, and indebted employees are already planning to cash in.At insurance company Unum Group, “employees get at least 28 days of paid time off,”  according to Bloomberg. Meanwhile, its average employee is burdened by $32,000 of debt. So next year, Unum’s 8,500 staff will have the opportunity to opt for student loan relief in exchange for sacrificing days off.Bloomberg reports that “each day is worth an employee’s hourly rate for an eight-hour day,” and Unum estimates workers who take advantage of the program will get $1,200 a year on average toward their loans.“We thought it was a more creative method,” Carl Gagnon, assistant vice president of global financial well-being and retirement programs for Unum, told Bloomberg.People dealing with their own student loans aren’t the only ones affected; parents who are partially responsible for t heir children’s debt can also participate.Losing vacation days for loan relief may not seem like a win-win, but at Unum, the generous paid time off policy makes it more of a fair trade. Twenty-eight days of PTO - or more than five work weeks worth of time off - is far more than most workers in this country get, and already, a lot of Americans don’t use all of their PTO because they feel pressure to be at work or don’t have the money to afford travel. When they do use their days off, often times they regret how they were spent.For Unum employees such as Jimmy Valentine, who has $22,000 in debt, the trade-in is worth it, especially when they are unlikely to use all their PTO anyway.“I should take more days off,” Valentine told Bloomberg. “But I continue to work to make sure I keep up with everything.”

Case Study Job Search Goes Mobile

Case Study Job Search Goes Mobile Case Study Job Search Goes Mobile There’s no denying that today the majority of web activity takes place via mobile.  The majority of consumers currently own multiple devices and use them to browse everything from their morning news to shopping websites.  This shift in the way we consume media and information means that those looking to reach individuals must adjust their outdated ways of thinking about interaction.   Skeptical as to whether this applies to your recruiting endeavors?  Check out a few stats we’ve collected regarding smartphone and tablet use: In the U.S. there are 235 million smartphone users and that places us at only third place for global users per country. In 2017 63% of internet usage was via mobile and projections have that number reaching the two-thirds mark by the end of 2018 The time spent on a website when browsing via a smartphone or mobile device versus a desktop PC is now nearly equal, bucking the trend that smartphone users stay and read for a shorter time than their PC counterparts. Now that we’ve got you convinced, it’s time to talk about what these numbers mean when applied to a real-world recruiting example.  At Simply Hired, we see comparable trends in how users search, review and apply for open positions.   Take for example a real user’s recent experience let’s call her Sally a nurse practitioner in Utah interested in landing a new gig.  Over the course of four months, we examined her usage of the site and the stats are incredibly useful for anyone looking to crunch the numbers on mobile applicant usage. She clicked on 178 jobs over 120 days, checking in an average of every other day. On a particularly active day, she clicked on a total of 28 jobs. She tended to visit early in the morning or late in the evening. More than half of the time she came to us through her custom Simply Hired email alerts.   Only 30 percent of her visits came from a laptop or desktop PC. About half of those visits were the result of a search on Google for “nurse practitioner Utah.” 10 percent of her visits came from a tablet. About half of those visits were the result of a search on Google. 60 percent of her visits came from a smartphone, and those visits came from her email alerts. What are some of the things we can conclude from our analysis of Sally’s job search? The above suggests that employers looking for top talent currently working in the space should be aware that their applicants will be searching during their free time before and after work or school.  Simply Hired’s email alerts are already timed to optimize on this fact arriving early in the AM. The fact that most of Sally’s interaction on both desktop and smartphone came from clicking through alerts suggests that it pays to be included at the top of the list.  Simply Hired can help promote your open positions, ensuring you’ll be seen among the first and most relevant listings delivered directly to candidates’ inboxes and fully accessible via smartphone or desktop. Smartphone and mobile device usage is here to stay.  Listings should be optimized for viewing snippets on a smaller screen.  In addition, all websites should be fully accessible for mobile users to ensure a frustrating landing page doesn’t thwart the applicant’s interest. Hopefully, these mobile use statistics were helpful in seeing how trends in data digestion can impact your recruitment process.  Check this space often as we continue our exploration of trends in the hiring marketplace and provide updates with how Simply Hired is working to ensure we’re the best possible partner in the employment game.

7 Ways to Spice Up Your Resume

7 Ways to Spice Up Your Resume 7 Ways to Spice Up Your Resume With unemployment rising, increasing numbers of applicants for each job, and recruiters struggling to keep up, it can sometimes feel as though youre sending your resume into a black hole. You send hundreds of applications and never hear back and what makes it worse is that you know you are qualified for the jobs. But heres the thing if your resume is like most of the resumes I see, its not doing you any favors. Here are 10 ways you can improve your resume and increase your hit rate: 1. Make it about action and impact: Dont take up more than 10-15% of your resume describing job responsibilities as an employer, I dont care what you were supposed to do, I care what impact you made. Show me! 2. Spice it up with references: When you buy a product especially online, dont you like to see testimonials or customer reviews? You can apply the same principle to your resume. Pull a couple of glowing quotes from LinkedIn, your performance reviews or customer thank you letters and put them in a prominent place on your resume. 3. Understand your unique value: Ask people who know you and those who have worked with you, what makes you especially good at what you do. Look back over your career for common themes. And most importantly, understand what your target audience (employers) are looking for. 4. Invite them to go online: If you know you have established a good online presence (and if you havent, you need to get to work now!) add the line Feel free to google me for more information. This conveys confidence and at least some of your potential employers will take you up on it. 5. Replace the objective with a value summary: Dont tell me what you want out of your next job, tell me what youll do for me. Start with the headline How I will add value 6. Consider a philosophy section: Tell employers how you approach your work. For example, a sales person might say I never do the hard sell instead I build relationships, I understand the customers needs, and I use that knowledge and the trust Ive built, to turn prospects into long-term clients. An admin assistant might say I am so organized that Ill know what you need before you ask me! 7. Add some personality: Use words that sound like you, not words you read on someone elses resume. Everyone is results-oriented and accomplished according to their resumes, but do they ever really describe themselves that way? These are just 7 ways that you can bring some life to your resume, and create a document that grabs attention instead of blending in with all the others. For more tips, feel free to sign up for my free resume writing course. And if you have other ways to spice up a resume, please take a moment to share them in the comments. Id love to hear them!

Tips for Dealing with Invasive Job Applications

Tips for Dealing with Invasive Job Applications Tips for Dealing with Invasive Job Applications When you’re applying for a job, it makes sense that a prospective employer would want to know your skill set and previous work experience. But sometimes they dig a bit deeper- and in some cases, maybe a little too deep. Sometimes, job applications can feel kind of invasive. After all, does the hiring manager really need to know on your job application if you have a disability or not, or whether you were born in the U.S.? While the vetting process can vary from company to company, more often than not employers ask these types of questions early on to assess how well their recruitment practices are. They’re looking to gauge if the talent pool from which they have to choose represents a broad range of applicants. And companies that make it a point to have a diverse team might want data on age, race, and gender identification. So what should you do if you’re faced with invasive job applications? Here are some tips: Decide whether youre comfortable sharing certain information. If the job application requires you to include any overly personal information that has nothing to do with your qualifications for the job, such as your marital status, for example, decide how it makes you feel. Uneasy? Totally cool? If youre at all uncomfortable with divulging any information, dont (see more below!). Or, inquire about why theyre asking before you answer. Having some context might help. Talk to your network. Let’s say that you’re filling out an online application, and short of asking for your blood type, the employer seemingly wants to know everything about you. If you’re unsure how to proceed, consider asking your network- or even an attorney- for advice. Maybe someone already works for the company or knows someone who does, and can let you know what working there is really like. After all, an intrusive job application could be a glimpse into the daily workings of the company, which might not be what you want in an employer. Or, perhaps they really, genuinely take interest in their employees lives and are simply asking because they want to get to know you better. Express your hesitations or concerns. If the idea of providing your salary history  on a job application, for example, is unsettling to you, leave it out and  express your feelings and/or concerns to the employer. Though you shouldnt feel obligated to defend your choices or feelings, it may help your case. Plus, if you skip over questions, your application may not go through or you could get an error message from the applicant tracking system (ATS). You may be better off emailing the employer separately to avoid those situations. Wait to answer them in the interview. If youre more comfortable explaining your answer to a particular question in person, rather than just writing it on the application, or checking off a box, do so! Again, if the application is rejected by the ATS, you may have to come up with another plan or reach out to the hiring manager. But simply explain that there are a few questions or answers youd like to elaborate on and would prefer to leave them blank until you have a chance to speak with someone in person. Hopefully theyll be understanding! Address these questions/answers in the cover letter. Let’s say that you’re a disabled worker looking for a remote job. Before clicking the Yes box on the job application indicating that you are disabled (and being afraid that it might be held against you, even though that would be illegal), you can address your disability in the cover letter. For instance, you can mention that you are disabled but also point out your strengths as an employee. So in theory, you’re answering the question- but on your terms. Know someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- you’ll get a month free service and they’ll get 30% off!

Customize this Outstanding .Net Developer Resume Sample

Customize this Outstanding .Net Developer Resume Sample Customize this Outstanding .Net Developer Resume Sample With the constant changes in the IT field, especially on the developer side, its no surprise that what employers look for in a viable .Net Developer resume is constantly changing as well. Stay on top of the latest trends in resume writing by reviewing our .Net developer resume sample for a great example of how to present your skills in a way that will stand the test of time. With your extensive history of developing technical tools and solutions, youll also appreciate our resume builder tool, which offers step-by-step guidance in creating your resume using proven methodologies and easily comprehensible processes.Create Resume Nadia Peterson100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell: (555) 987-1234example-email@example.comProfessional SummaryResourceful .Net Developer with comprehensive experience in key aspects of .net development. Remain fully involved in client side functionalities, including the implementation of new code and redevelopment of existing program structures. Take p ride in nurturing productive relationships with co-workers, superiors and clients by consistently delivering quality results.Core QualificationsObject Oriented ProgrammingJava script, ASP.net proficiencyAdvanced Software Engineering certificationOracle back-end programmingMS Visual StudioMultiple project implementationStrong communicatorExperience.Net Developer, January 2015 PresentTrent Technologies New Cityland, CAResearch relevant software technologies.Design and test custom web applications.Create and update software documentation.Write code based on client requests.Program XAML applications.Implement ETL tools in SSIS package..Net Developer, November 2009 January 2015Global Tech Systems New Cityland, CAPerformed testing and analysis throughout software life cycles.Created necessary technical specifications and design documents.Utilized MS Expression Studio and Expression Blend to design websites.Used ADO.Net to program data access layers.Prepared required software documenta tion.Determined client software requirements.Updated documentation for existing software.Provided support in multiple .Net environments.Determined most appropriate delivery methodologies.Education2009 Bachelor of Science, Computer ScienceUniversity of California New Cityland, CACustomize ResumeWhy Is This a Good .Net Developer Resume Sample?Youve seen the stereotype of the socially inept IT specialist, though you likely thrive in a team environment, building your creativity and inspiration from the gestalt energy of team members you trust for their expertise and reliability as much as they trust you. Yet too many technology professionals enter into a job search thinking their technical skills are the only things they need to survive in the modern job market ” when in truth, it takes a well-rounded candidate with a hybrid skillset to gain the attention of employers.Thats where our .Net developer resume sample comes in. This sample demonstrates without a doubt that a well-rounded j obseeker is much more attractive to potential employers than someone purely technical. The sample effectively blends hard and soft skills for a strong presentation of a candidate who knows her own value, beginning with the opening summary. This summary covers all the bases with dynamic language, discussion of client-side code development, program structures, team building, and client relationship management. Already this candidate has a strong selling point to position her above others as someone comfortable in a client-facing role.The next section, the core qualifications, allow the candidate to call out certain skills such as object-oriented programming, JavaScript, ASP.Net, Oracle, and MS Visual Studio. The best part about this section of the .Net developer resume sample is that its flexible and easily customizable to improve keyword matching on each application.The employment history section of the .Net developer resume sample solidifies the candidates presentation as a hybrid p rofessional with a strong skill mix. Using vividly worded bullets that begin with impactful action verbs, our sample candidate shows her team building and collaboration abilities in an active development environment. By blending technical capabilities with a keen awareness of her role in the software development lifecycle, she shows how her expertise contributes to business health.Why You Need a Strong .Net Developer ResumeSoftware and application development is one of the fastest rising job sectors in the country; where average job growth nationwide peaks at six to seven percent, software development jobs are exploding at a dramatic 17 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In an increasingly technology-driven world, companies are hungry to hire IT professionals capable of building the tools, services, and systems that provide the backbone for business growth.With our .Net developer resume sample and a resume rebuilt using our principles, you can prove to employers tha t youre that IT professional. Show off your skills and your prior successes in innovative business technology development with an exceptional resume that brings your accomplishments front and center.Costly .Net Developer Resume Mistakes To AvoidOver your career, youve likely worked with dozens of programming languages, applications, and technology platforms. That doesnt mean you need to list every last one in your resume, particularly when youre condensing your experience to a single page. Lists of technical skills can take up to half a page and often provide no value when to employers its just a jumble of text that makes it hard to find what theyre looking for. Instead, be selective. Include key technologies relevant to your target job in the core qualifications section shown in the .Net developer resume sample, and pepper them throughout your job history where relevant in context.However, avoid listing every last technology used in every project. Youll end up overstuffing and padd ing out your experience to the point where your accomplishments and contributions end up lost in an unintelligible list of programs and platforms. Keep it simple, and focus only on whats relevant.ConclusionIf a software application showed a high failure rate, youd pull it from production and dive hard into bug-fixing and troubleshooting mode. Your job applications are no different; if they show a high failure rate, its time to pull your resume from production and start troubleshooting. Use our .Net developer resume sample to identify the bugs in your resume, and re-launch your job search with improved career tools..Net Developer Resume Questions  1. How can you separate your .Net developer resume from other candidates resumes?The best way to distinguish your resume from the resumes submitted by other applicants is to include a sufficient amount of detail about your background and accomplishments, including specific problem-solving abilities and specializations.While the backgrounds of .Net developers are likely to vary, they probably share some of the same technical skills. Look for ways to demonstrate you can be a particular asset. In her summary statement, the candidate in our .Net developer resume sample points out her resourcefulness and the pride she takes in developing working relationships. She also backs up these claims in her core qualifications and experience sections.2. What goes in the header of a .Net developer resume?Contact information is the best choice for the header of a resume in any field. You want to make it as easy as possible for an employer to contact you about a position for which you have applied. Provide your full name, city and state of residence, if not a complete physical or mailing address, and several reliable methods for contacting you, such as a personal phone number and email address. Refer to the header on our .Net developer resume sample to see how you might organize this information.3. How do you write a summary statement for a .Net developer resume?The summary statement on our .Net developer resume sample is an excellent example of how to use this section to emphasize your strongest qualifications. It also shows how to emphasize the abilities and traits that make you an exceptional developer and, more particularly, an asset to a company thats hiring.4. Whats the best way to list certifications on your .Net developer resume?The candidate on our sample points out her development background and knowledge, the role she has played in past projects, and her focus on establishing trust in her working relationships. She also demonstrates her priority of delivering results.Determine where to bring up credentials on your resume by carefully reading the job advertisement or description to determine which certifications are most important for the job you want. You may want to cover credentials near the top of your resume. The candidate on our .Net developer resume sample lists hers in the qualifications sectio n. You may also include certifications in your professional summary or a separate section near education.5. Whats the best format for a resume: PDF, MS Word, or txt?Submit your resume in the format requested in a job advertisement or description. It may be advisable to check for any file specifications before you start writing your resume. PDF, MS Word, and text files have different formatting capabilities and software requirements. A PDF locks in formatting but may require special viewing software. MS Word provides a full array of word-processor formatting options. A text file is ideal for copying and pasting into a text field for online application submission. Our step-by-step resume builder and template based on the .Net developer resume sample make it easy to create a resume quickly and save it in several standard file formats.