Professional Portfolio Essentials

Professional Portfolio EssentialsProfessional Portfolio EssentialsCreating and maintaining a professional portfolio is part of the price of admission to the creative industry whether youre seeking an in-house role, agency job or running a freelance business. But what exactly do you need, and what format is right for you? Heres a quick QA.What is a professional portfolio?Whether its digital or print, your professional portfolio is essentially a collection of work samples that demonstrate your creative skills. Think of it as a visual resume that communicates the message I have done great creative work for others and I can do the same for you.Who needs a professional portfolio?Anyone who wants to work as a creative professional, including graphic designers, web designers, UX designers, copywriters, marketing communications professionals and multimedia experts.Should I have a digital portfolio?Yes Every creative professional should at least have a digital portfolio of some kind. Agency o wners and hiring managers often surf online portfolios as their first step when determining which candidates to contact for interviews. If you want to be on their radar, youll need a digital portfolio. You can post one on your website or use sites like Behance, Coroflot or Carbonmade to get up and running quickly.A well-optimized digital portfolio lets you share samples with anyone, anywhere, which can be a great time-saver when youre talking to potential clients or employers. It also helps you to pre-qualify prospects so you waste less time talking to people who arent a good fit for you. Some portfolio apps and websites also let you tailor what you show depending on the situation or the prospects needs.SEARCH OPEN JOBSDo I also need a printed portfolio?While digital portfolios are versatile and inexpensive, its sometimes easier to communicate your skills by sharing a tangible item that the would-be client or employer can hold in their hands. Consider having a printed portfolio in a ddition to your digital presence if one or more of the following apply to youYou frequently present samples to more than one person during face-to-face meetingsYou regularly work in a larger format than the size of a laptop or iPad screenYou want to show fine photographic detailYour work is three-dimensional, such as packagingYour samples feature specialty folding, die-cutting, pop-ups or other custom paper treatmentsYour samples use elements that dont display well on computer screens, such as metallic or neon colors, reflective surfaces and varnishes.How many pieces should I include in my professional portfolio?A safe range is eight to 12 samples. Aim to show the breadth of your abilities with as few samples as possible, so choose carefully from the best pieces you have. If there is something in your portfolio you dont love, leave it out. Its important to self-audit and be koranvers that your professional portfolio represents your best work and clearly demonstrates the type of skil l the client or employer is looking for. Some creatives maintain a larger secondary portfolio in Evernote or a similar tool. That way you can quickly access two or three appropriate selections when a client says, We like what we see in your portfolio, but have you ever done X?And heres a quick bonus tip for copywriters Be sure to include work samples that your design colleagues have done an excellent job with. A little visual appeal makes your work more than just a wall of words. If possible, use pieces featuring a variety of design styles to reinforce your versatility as a copywriter.How often should I update my professional portfolio?Whether its digital or physical, youll want to update your portfolio regularly to keep it fresh. Theres no hard and fast rule, but looking things over at least once a quarter is a good general practice. Any time you complete a project that youre really proud of, consider adding it to your portfolio sooner rather than later. Youll also want to rotate o ut any samples that are becoming stale or dated. Looking for creative work? You can create your own digital portfolio on The Creative Group website. If youre not yet a TCG candidate, simply submit your resume to get started.

ASMEs New President Said Jahanmir Discusses Goals for FY19 at...

ASMEs New President Said Jahanmir Discusses Goals for FY19 at... ASMEs New President Said Jahanmir Discusses Goals for FY19 at... ASMEs New President Said Jahanmir Discusses Goals for FY19 at Presidents DinnerJune 15, 2018 Said Jahanmir, ASMEs new president, outlined his goals for his term as ASMEs 137th president during the Presidents Dinner on June 5 at the ASME Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.During his inaugural address at the ASME Annual Meeting Presidents Dinner on June 5 in Vancouver, Canada, ASMEs new President Said Jahanmir discussed his goals for his yearlong term, which include increasing the number of active members, especially early career engineers and students, and motivating staff and volunteers to develop genuine collaboration and partnerships. Cultivating an active and motivated membership base is essential to ensure the continued success of the Society and appealing to the rising generation of engineers is necessary for that to happen, Dr. Jahanmir said. We must attract and retain students and early career engineers and capture their energy, creativity and passion, he said. In order to do this, he continued, we need to have a clear value proposition that includes new programs and services. We should provide what members, and particularly younger members, need for their professional growth, for example professional development and leadership training. ASMEs immediate Past President Charla Wise passed the presidential gavel to ASME President Said Jahanmir during the Presidents Dinner.In addition, Jahanmir said, it is also imperative that we strive for increased diversity and inclusion, not only in ASME, but also in our profession keeping in mind that diversity is a major contributor to our success as engineers and to finding innovative solutions.On the subject of volunteer and staff collaboration, Jahanmir noted that the ASME structure and culture have always been based on a close partnership between staff and volunteers. We n eed to nurture this relationship and make it more seamless. Charla Wise, ASMEs immediate past president, reflected on the past year during her speech at the Presidents Dinner.As his address drew to a close, Jahanmir expressed optimism for ASMEs future. I am convinced that we have a great path for future, he said. I look forward to the opportunity of serving as your president and setting the stage for this great Society to achieve its true potential and serve humanity by improving the quality of life worldwide.Earlier in the program, ASMEs new Immediate Past President Charla Wise reflected on high points of the term over which she had just presided, including the continued implementation of ASMEs new strategy, the creation of the new Group Engagement Committee, the selection of Thomas Costabile as ASMEs new executive director, and the adoption of the new Integrated Operating Plan, which set budgets and targets for ASME staff and volunteers of the segments, divisions, councils and se ctions. (Left to right) ASME Executive Director Thomas Costabile, ASME President-Nominee Richard Laudenat, ASME President Said Jahanmir, and ASME immediate Past President Charla Wise at the Presidents Dinner in Vancouver. We have just begun the evolution of ASME, Wise said. A year ago, I said that my theme for this year would be Continuity, as we move forward, together. I have said it many times and continue to believe it. This is the answer to ensuring a healthy and robust organization. Thats the beauty of ASMEs strategy that the Board has been working on for several years. It brings us continuity as we look to the future. It helps us move forward toward achieving our mission by having clear goals. It brings us all together.Wise challenged the ASME members in the audience to DARE to create the future D Disseminate ASMEs technical knowledge and solutions A Advance and apply engineering knowledge for improving the quality of life R Recognize each others accomplishments and achi evements and E Excite the next generation engineers. We must DARE to create the future because we are leading the charge and we have the knowledge, expertise and commitment to make this world a better place, Wise said.

The number 1 book that made me a stronger person

The number 1 book that made me a stronger personThe number 1 book that made me a stronger personQuite literally - in fact - I have beat over 170 personal fitness records since I read this book in August 2012.But it made me stronger in all aspects of my life, because it taught me how I can strengthen myself in every area of my life.BeforePrior to reading this book, I welches aimless. I lived just to get by. I felt I didnt utilize my potential, but I felt I had no control over my life.I led the reactive life. When the prolonged period of student loan forbearance ended, I asked for a salary raise. When my wife got pregnant with our third kid, we looked for our own place in emergency mode.Because I felt no deeper purpose in my life, I succumbed to many pleasures in order to temporarily forget about this void. I played computer games, read a lot of fiction, browsed news sites mindlessly and watched TV.I didnt believe I could achieve anything meaningful like get better job, develop my ed ucation, have positive impact on the lives of others, deepen my spiritual life, lose weight or start my own business.SerendipityThe Slight Edge landed in my lap while I was on vacation in Ireland. I had been visiting my parents as well as my sister who literally travels the world.She had the book - I was bored. I hadnt read anything concerning personal development for about 16 years. Long ago, I decided that personal development doesnt work for me.But I was bored.So I read it in one day.Jeff Olson elaborated on Jim Rohns simple messages regarding success and failureSuccess is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.Failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.Jeff explained in details how small disciplines accumulate their effect and how small errors in judgement bring disaster to ones life.The Slight Edge was different than all the books I had read previously. When I reflected on my past, I quickly noticed cases when I could attribute my s uccesses to my daily disciplines, and my failures - to daily neglect.I tried to start a MLM (Multi-level-marketing) business when I was 17 years old. I failed because of my fear of personal interactions. I simply didnt do enough on a daily basis to succeed.InspirationMy past successes were especially motivating for me.I passed my final high school exams with flying colors and (barely) got in a university. I attributed that to my learning habit that I cultivated during the vacations before the last year of high school. For one hour a day, I had been studying math and English. It was enough not to lose momentum before the last year.I could do well over 100 pushups in a row, because every morning I did one consecutive series of them in the morning.I got an educational stipend during my forth year at a university simply because I attended all lectures. My brighter colleagues didnt have this habit - and showing up was enough to beat them.InternalizationBecause I could find concrete exa mples from my past, I owned the lessons instanced in the book. I internalized them. I read the book only once and I skipped a few first chapters. But I have lived it since then.I didnt start right away. 16 years of inertia was a lot to overcome.But I couldnt get rid of the books message. In the end, I decided to give it a try because I had nothing to lose. I was sure I could not change my life. If I had failed with The Slight Edges implementation, where would I have been? Only at the same miserable place.It took me one whole month before I finally sat down and wrote down several goals. Additionally, I wrote down 15 daily disciplines that should have helped me to achieve them.The Simple BeginningIt took me only about 15 minutes to come up with those goals and disciplines. Every answer was hidden in me despite the years of avoiding self-analysis.I quickly abandoned 5 out of the 15 disciplines. They were stupid ideas or simply hard to implement in the place where my life was.The rest o f them, I had been practicing for at least several months. They were spot on. Even those I abandoned at the later stage, brought me significant results.For example, I decided to study professional documentation for 10 minutes a day. In two years, I passed three exams and got two professional certificates in Oracle database certification.StrengtheningSix of the initial disciplines, Ive been practicing for years and they still contribute to my life.Small consistent daily disciplines revolutionized my life.I quickly noticed results. In one month of speed reading practice, I doubled my reading speed. That was the first time I thought, Wow, this approach worksI had no idea how well it worked. I was right - I had nothing to lose. I just couldnt envision how much I had to win.Because of those initial results visible in a few areas, I kept all my disciplines and even added more along the way.In some areas - like my spiritual life - I was convinced I couldnt observe results. Its not somet hing that is measurable - and any internal feelings in that regard could be misleading. But I knew that the Slight Edge way was universal, so I kept my spiritual disciplines as well.After a couple of months, I discovered I want to become a writer. In eight months, I publishedmy first book. I kept my writing-related disciplines even though my results were laughable.In the first 5 months, I earned an equivalent of a single overtime hour at my day job. After 18 months since reading, The Slight Edge and publishing five books - my royalties reached 2% of my salary.However, I was hooked. I trusted the process. Success is a few simple disciplines repeated consistently over time.The ResultsThe Slight Edge made me stronger.15 months after I read it, the new edition of the book was published. My transformation story was included in it.Since 2014, Ive been publishing the annualSlight Edgereports describing my progress.The last onewas quite impressive.The next one will be even more impressive . Its still three months to the anniversary, but I already doubled my book sales doubled the number of my email subscribers and quadrupled some other metrics in my business.I earn more than half of my day job salary from royalties and my coaching practice.Hundreds of thousands people read my articles online. Thousands of people buy my books every year. Thousands of people follow me on social media and look up to me.This is unbelievable. When I compare the two pictures, I cannot connect the dots. Five years ago, I started a dozen of small daily disciplines.Today, I influence lives of thousands people.I grew in strength.This article was originally published atQuora.

How to Apply for Disability Insurance Benefits

How to Apply for Disability Insurance BenefitsHow to Apply for Disability Insurance BenefitsYou might be considering applying for disability insurance benefits if youve become disabled from work due to an illness or injury. Depending on your circumstances, you could be eligible for thousands of dollars each month to cover your personal and health care needs. Disability benefits can provide much-needed cash for paying rent or mortgage payments, for food and utilities, and for ongoing care to make sure you have the best quality of life possible. How to Get Started Workers Compensation The process of applying for disability benefits starts with your employers or former employers human resource department. Consider how you became disabledif it occurred on the job, and determine if the injury or illness was directly work-related. If so, you should have already been approved for workers compensation coverage and received some level of medical care and benefits, at least for a short per iod of time. Speak with an attorney to learn about your rights and find out where you stand if you havent been approved for workers compensation. Short- and Long-Term Disability Benefits You might also be eligible for short-term disability and/or long-term disability benefits if your employer offers them and if they were something you signed up for. These benefits can equal from 40% to 60% of your former salary. Ask your HR representative about this, or talk directly with the disability plan provider to get more information about eligibility requirements. Each plan can vary. If Youve Left Your Job Youll also want to talk with a qualified disability attorney if you developed a health care concern while you were employed and later resigned because of it. An attorney might be able to get you approved for work-related disability benefits even if youve left your job. Repetitive injuries from work tasks, unreported accidents, and harmful work conditions can affect your wellbeing m onths after leaving a job. Life-Long Disabilities Your next course of action is to apply for permanent disability benefits if your condition developed over a period of time through no fault of your employer, or if youve been diagnosed with a life-long disability. You can apply through your local Social Security office. The process is long- it can take up to two years to be approved for benefits in some cases. Youll have to rely on your personal savings and assets in the meantime, as well as the support of friends and family. The good news is that benefits are retroactive to the date you originally applied. You can expect a lump sum payment after youre approved, followed by regular monthly payments thereafter. Submit your application for Social Security disability insurance as soon as possible. You can use an online form, or visit your local Social Security office. Call 1-800-772-1213 toll-free to make an appointment. WHAT YOULL NEED Youll need certain information to fill out the application for benefits. Make sure you take this information with you if you apply in personMedical records Know what you have been diagnosed with, the date you were diagnosed, and your physician information.Workers compensation records You can request this through your employers HR office.Names and birthdates of all your household members You might be eligible for additional benefits based on family size.Checking and savings account numbers These will be used to verify income eligibility for SSI benefits and for direct deposit of benefits.Proof of U.S. citizenship status and your address Your U.S.-issued drivers license and birth certificate should suffice.List of any prescription medication you take for your condition You might be eligible for medical coverage under Medicare.Your detailed work history for the last 15 years The Social Security Administration will want to know about your jobs, tasks, and your ability to work. Youll receive notification of a time for a hearing. You ll meet with a Social Security case manager who will review your documentation with you, ask you for additional information if needed, and schedule a follow-up visit if necessary. Now the waiting game begins. You should be notified in about 45 days of the status of your case. Dont be shocked if your anfangsbuchstabe request is denied, because 70% of cases are denied the first time. You can appeal if necessary, and you should retain a Social Security disability attorney to represent you the second time around.

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines Time for a Comeback

Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines Time for a Comeback Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines Time for a Comeback Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines Time for a Comeback?Invented prior to World War II, the vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) had some appealing features the vertical orientation accepted wind from any direction and the heavy generator and gearbox equipment rested on the ground instead of on the tower (much easier to access). However, compared to advances in horizontal-axis wind turbines, VAWT disadvantages included the longer total blade length per swept area, cyclic loading, structural resonance, lack of aerodynamic braking, and higher operating costs. As horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) technologies continued to improve and rotor costs dropped, the HAWT became the dominant technology for land-based wind systems, especially over the last two decades. Although they are not the frontrunner for 5-MW-10-MW land-based systems, VAWTs may be the favored technology for larger offshore systems in the 10-MW-20-MW scale, where the vertical-axis rotor architecture offers potentially large reductions in cost of energy (COE) for operations and maintenance, substructure, installation, and infrastructure. Evaluating Feasibility This idea is currently being tested at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, where a research team is evaluating the feasibility of VAWT architecture for large-scale deployment in the offshore environment. The goal is to reduce the biggest barrier to offshore wind developmenthigh COEby 20% or more through the application of VAWT rotor technology. The research project will Develop innovative VAWT rotor designs that result in cost-effective and easily manufactured rotors for deep-water offshore machines Demonstrate the potential for greater than 20%t reduction in COE for deep-water, floating VAWT systems Develop specialized manufacturing techniques, certification test methods, and a commercialization plan for offshore VAWT rotors Test, in a wind tunn el and combined wind-wave tank, a proof-of-concept subscale, deep-water floating offshore wind-turbine generator employing a VAWT rotor Sandia National Laboratories is undertaking a project to test the feasibility of vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) architecture for large-scale deployment in the offshore environment. Image Sandia National Laboratories Modeling suggests the COE reduction opportunities follow from three fundamental characteristics of the VAWT lower turbine center of gravity, reduced machine complexity, and the opportunity for scaling the machine to the 10-MW-20-MW size, says Matthew Barone, one of the projects lead researchers in Sandias Wind Water Power Technologies Department. Several rotor architecture concepts that incorporate unique VAWT load-alleviation and braking strategies will be considered, especially for curved-bladed Darrieus rotors and lightweight, towerless V- or U-shaped rotors. A rotor optimized for increased energy capture, as well as airfoils opti mized for use with load-alleviation concepts, will also be tested. Design Requirements The most original and innovative aspect of this work will be the suite of rotor design solutions we are developing that simultaneously address the need for reliable aerodynamic braking, while also smoothing out power and torque oscillations associated with VAWTs, says Barone. By addressing these design requirements through rotor innovations, we hope to retain the VAWTs inherent advantage of simplicity of design, while improving its overall cost-effectiveness in the offshore environment. The ultimate VAWT rotor design may also create manufacturing challenges. The complexity and scale of a 10-MW-20-MW VAWT blade structure, along with significant differences in blade loading, may require specialized manufacturing processes. Researchers will also identify the best materials, coatings, and manufacturing options for the VAWT rotors. Total estimated reduction in COE from the baseline work is 28%. The mos t important COE reduction categories are the increased annual energy production and reduced operations and maintenance, support structure, and balance-of-system costs. These reductions more than offset the increase in blade costs due to the longer VAWT blades. Deep-water deployment in a larger wind resource also plays an important role, accounting for 32% of the COE reduction due to increased energy capture. However, calculations were also performed for the HAWT baseline in the deep-water wind resource, and COE reduction for the VAWT concept relative to the revised baseline is still 21%. The greatest challenge of this project is combining past successes in VAWT design with new innovations that will result in dramatically improved machines for offshore, says Barone. This type of research runs counter to the usual incremental nature of wind turbine innovation. We feel, however, that the challenges presented by offshore wind demand new approaches. For deepwater applications at the 10MW -20-MW scale, the VAWT architecture is potentially a transformational technologysomething that may be necessary for large-scale offshore wind development in the U.S. fruchtmark Crawford is an independent writer.The greatest challenge of this project is combining past successes in VAWT design with new innovations that will result in dramatically improved machines for offshore.Matthew Barone, lead researcher, Sandias Wind & Water Power Technologies Department

Resume Tips 2019 - the Story

Resume Tips 2019 - the Story Finding the Best Resume Tips 2019 What lots of people dont know is the way to compose a good resume, one that is going to have them notlageiced. Building an excellent job resume is simple enough, especially in the day and age of computers with spell check. Maximize your chances of succeeding by taking a look at LOTS of free resume examples. Imagine a lot of other individuals copy the exact one. When you have completed your very first job resume, be certain to save it. You need to understand how to compose a resume to find the ideal job. If youre looking for a professional job, youll need to get a resume. Whether youre on the lookout for a job linked to design or not, design thinking is an invaluable skill to get. Do a search utilizing any of the big search engines such as Google, Yahoo, or MSN and youll find loads of resources to aid you. The tips below are an excellent collection of resume help for felons who are ready to begin all over agai n by locating a good job. First impressions matter, even if it has to do with resumes. Your resume should be formatted in an easy, professional way. The basic resume sections is going to be the exact same. Change career resume examples reveal that you should begin with personal info. Then youll move on to other resume examples that tell you just how to present your educational info and any special skills youve got. Looking for resume samples in your subject of expertise may also offer you a sense of the quantity of pages that are usually expected in your area. Resume Tips 2019 the Ultimate Convenience Consequently, job seekers have to understand how to sell their abilities and qualifications with the support of their primary advertising document. If you dont have teaching experience, then emphasize any training you might have done. The skills required vary based on the field youre applying for. A normal job may not be won with a totally free expert Resume sample. Resume Tips 2019 and Resume Tips 2019 - The Perfect Combination Your contact details are also rather important pieces of your resume that you shouldnt ever neglect to include. This example will explain to you ways to handle the dates you have spent in jail. When its just generic info, you might want to leave it out. At the peak of your resume you are going to want to put down all our private contact information like your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. If you really need to give a great impression on your prospective employer, you need to use only current references you also ought to send journal updates to employers. In case you should think of your professional career for a movie, your resume would function as the preview. Highlighting the prior employment record will demonstrate the responsibilities an individual previously held and the length of time they usually maintains a job. Nowadays resume references have gained supreme importance whilst putting in an application for work in a recognized organization. Also, a growing number of companies are abandoning the practice of optical scanning resumes into a database in order that they can look for keywords. There are lots of sources online and in the bookstore that supply you with sample resumes. There are various software programs out there for computers that may help anyone build a job resume. There are a lot of great Resume examples online by which you can learn the correct use of job-specific skills. What you may not know is that using professional resume samples can greatly increase your odds of success. The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. Attempt to send resumes when you will have the time to interview too. The response is 6 seconds for the very first pass. When you know what skills your employer is searching for, you may use the appropriate words on your resume. Many job seekers attempt to pass off periods of unemployment by claiming that they start ed their own company, which might or may not truly be true. It is vital that the employer is given the impression that youre well educated and professional. Resume tips for felons are a substantial assistance. Another point to bear in mind when applying for employment is that the CV, resume and cover letter arent similar documents, theyre used in various circumstances and differ in the minute details. A cover page for Resume isnt that important but correct spellings are definitely far more critical. Resume writing doesnt have to be hard. There are lots of examples of resumes, but you need to remain certain to create your resume and cover letter with your very own personal touch. Vital Pieces of Resume Tips 2019 Resume are simple to craft and can be readily copied and adapted to your specific circumstance. Dont forget that discussion is easily the most important portion of your interview (after you set on a superior conservative suit or dress and polish your shoes).

How Price Consulting Group Creates a Flexible Interview Experience with Video Interviews - Spark Hire

How Price Consulting Group Creates a Flexible Interview Experience with Video Interviews - Spark HireEvery summer, the SHRM AnnualConferencedescends upon a city for a few days of HR pro networking, learning, and exhibiting. Spark Hire has been attending SHRM for many years and this year, SHRM was conveniently hosted in downtown Chicago. The Spark Hire team capitalized on the conferences proximity to Spark Hire HQ to not only discuss the platform with conference attendees, but also to speak with ur current customers.I was sent to the conference to meet with some of our customers. We discussed why they love Spark Hire. Over the next few weeks, well explore my conversations. First up, let me introduce you to Dr. Kella Price. Dr. Price is an HR powerhouse.Not only is she an HR consultant and CEO, shes part of Arizonas statewide SHRM council, helping to organize their conference and awards.Juggling these professional hats means she needs lots of flexibility with interviewing. Asynchronous video interviews afford her more flexibility than in-person interviews and phone screens.She describes more about her Spark Hire experience in her video testimonial Im Doctor Kella Price, with Price Consulting Group. I am an HR consultant and CEO as well as on the Arizona State SHRM Council. What challenges were you experiencing prior to using Spark Hire?We had a process to examine candidates and a panel of evaluations that occurred and it was very difficult to schedule interviews for the candidates as well as all the evaluators over a period of time. In addition to time zones and travel. So this has really facilitated that process.How did Spark Hire help you overcome those challenges?Spark Hire makes it really easy for the candidates to do the interview process at their own time and on their own schedule. It allows those who are rating and reviewing those applicants to evaluate those same interviews at their own schedule and at their leisure. So you dont have to worry about time z ones, or difficulties with coordinating schedules. And then you can go back and rewatch the interviews should you need to view them at a later time.What aspect of Spark Hire have you found to be the most valuable?The fact that it is asynchronous environment, to allow you to gather information on candidates and have them go through the interview process. It really speeds up the process and facilitates scheduling as well as rating the candidates through the rating tools available within Spark Hire.How is it doing business with Spark Hire?Spark Hires staff is very supportive and friendly. They checked in throughout the process and when candidates have questions, there are resources available for them to contact tech support at any time.