How to Spot Audit Your Payroll System

How to Spot Audit Your Payroll SystemHow to Spot Audit Your Payroll SystemThe possibility of payroll fraud occurring is always a concern for a business. But an even greater concern for organizations should be remaining in befolgung with all applicable laws and regulations.Fraud is an important issue but einhaltung is even more so, says Jim Medlock, director of education and training for the American Payroll Association (APA). An organization is more likely to be found out of compliance and penalized as a result than it is to experience fraud.Alleviating risks, preventing mistakesMedlock advises businesses to conduct periodic spot audits of the payroll process to guard against the risks - and possible legal and financial consequences of noncompliance. Regular audits can confirm payroll accuracy and identify and correct problems, ensuring businesses remain in compliance with all state and local requirements, as well as federal regulations, such as those issued by the IRS and the U.S. Department of Labor.Common pitfalls for companies include failing to calculate overtime pay correctly, including the employees regular rate of pay, especially if a worker also receives additional wage payments in the form of shift differentials, commissions or bonuses.Auditing your payroll process isnt overly complicated, according to Medlock. Even the smallest businesses usually have automated payroll systems that have the capability to produce reports on demand.These reports allow employers to verify various aspects of payroll, such as whether mandatory deductions are being made and whether pretax deductions are handled properly. In addition, the IRS provides tools that give employers the ability to verify that withholding amounts and various tax payments are being reported and paid to the proper agencies.The value of regular payroll system auditsMedlock recommends auditing the payroll system every pay period. In addition, payrolls should be balanced and reconciled every pay perio d, as well as on a quarterly and annual basis. By reconciling your payroll system in a timely manner, problems can be identified and corrected sooner rather than later, reducing the potential for penalties.A payroll audit is best performed by compliance consultants or skilled payroll professionals. Even if a company outsources its payroll function to a service provider, Medlock cautions this doesnt remove the company from bearing responsibility for payroll accuracy.You can outsource the responsibility, but not the accountability, he says. It always comes back to your organization.He cites a case where a companys payroll service provider failed to pay taxes to state authorities, but the company was still held responsible for the problem, as well as any back taxes and penalties. Medlock notes that service providers rely on calculations and other information supplied by the employer, so employers must ensure they provide accurate inputs to the payroll process.Ensuring accuracyIn additi on to auditing your payroll system automatically, Medlock suggests taking the following steps to ensure payroll accuracySegregate duties - The likelihood of payroll fraud occurring can be reduced by not allowing one employee to be responsible for multiple aspects of payroll.For instance, reconciliation shouldnt be performed by the same rolle who issues paychecks otherwise, you have the same individual validating his or her own work. The more you can divide duties among employees, the more youll have a system of checks and balances.Stay informed - Payroll and tax issues are always changing, and the professionals best equipped to manage ever-evolving changes are those who engage in continuous learning.Companies can help their staff enhance their skills by encouraging involvement in organizations such as the APA. Managers also should support ongoing education, including regulatory compliance training opportunities and professional payroll certifications, such as the Fundamental Payro ll Certification (FPC) and Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designations.Subscribe to our newsletterWhen you subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter, youll get articles and resources to help you build and manage a winning payroll team - all sent directly to your inbox. Click the button below to sign up todaySUBSCRIBE NOW

A city is facing a ninja shortage even though the pay is $85,000 Ladders

A city is facing a schattenkrieger shortage even though the pay is $85,000 LaddersA city is facing a ninja shortage even though the pay is $85,000 LaddersYou may have heard about Japans demographic crisis - but the country is facing another, lesser-known crisis as well.Japan does not have enough ninjas.In an episode of NPRs Planet Money podcast, Sally Herships visited Iga, a small city in central Japan that claims to be the birthplace of the ninja.Each year the city of around 100,000 swells by around 30,000 as tourists come to experience the annual ninja festival.Unfortunately, Iga is suffering from depopulation. Its facing a shortage of those two key things you need to keep an economy humming stuff to sell and people to buy the stuff, Herships cohost Stacey Vanek Smith says.Iga is also losing its young people, who dont want to live in the rural countryside They want life in the big city like Tokyo or Yokohama.In order to revive the local economy, the mayor of Iga, Sakae Okamoto, is promoting its ninja heritage with the aim of drawing more tourists.Right now in Iga, we are working very hard to promote ninja tourism and get the most economic outcome. For example, we hold this ninja festival between late April to around the beginning of May. During this period visitors and also local people come here. Everybody will be dressed like a ninja and walks around and enjoys themselves - but recently I feel that its not enough, Okamoto tells Hership.Japan is currently experiencing a major tourist boom - the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimates that almost 29 million tourists visited Japan in 2017. Thats an increase of almost 20% from the year before.While some cities are benefitting economically from the influx of tourists, rural ones like Iga are apparently not.With the hope of encouraging tourists to stay longer than a day in Iga, Mayor Okamoto is relocating city hall and building a second ninja museum in its place. While the budget is not d isclosed, Okamoto has received funding from the central government from the public - Japans government is funding ninjas, Herships says.The project faces some hurdles, though. Iga needs to attract labor forces to work and live in the rural city as the ninja tourism scheme is extended.This means not just builders and planners - but also ninjas themselves. Theres a ninja shortage, Herships says, or - to be accurate - a ninja performer shortage.This issue is especially difficult given Japans extremely low unemployment rate, which is just 2.5%.It is therefore hard to find workers in Japan, let alone highly-specialized ninja performers.Ninja is not an inheritable class. Without severe training, nobody could become a ninja. Thats why they have silently disappeared in history, Sugako Nakagawa, curator of the local Ninja museum, told Reuters in 2008.But this job does have a lot to offer, Herships says. First of all, the pay is quite competitive, today, ninjas can earn anything from $23, 000 to about $85,000 - which is a really solid salary, and in fact, a lot more than real ninjas used to earn in medieval Japan.Herships quotes the International Ninja Research Centre, which states that in Iga, the typical ninja earned between $8,000 and $17,000 a year - salaries adjusted for inflation.Mayor Okamoto faces an uphill battle, though. The Mie Prefecture (the prefecture where Iga is located) as a whole attracted just 43 new young residents last year, meanwhile, Iga alone s-lost 1,000 residents.If ninjas are going to save Japans depopulation crisis, theyd better act fast.This article first appeared on Business Insider.

4 Ways to Make Career Envy Work for You

4 Ways to Make Career Envy Work for You4 Ways to Make Career Envy Work for You Envy. Jealousy, The green-eyed monster. Whatever you call it, almost all of us have experienced it before in our careers (and if you havent yet, you probably will). Whether its sparked by hearing how much your colleague makes, seeing someone else get that promotion youve been eyeing or hearing about an old classmate getting your dream job ( brewmaster , anyone?), career envy can put you in a serious funk - but it doesnt have to.J ealousy and envy are gifts saysSally Srok, Founder and President of Inner Compass Consulting . Theyre informing you of an unfulfilled part of your destiny.So the next time career envy rears its ugly head, dont just feel sorry for yourself - get proactive with these four steps.The first pangs of envy are intense - often, it feels like a punch right in the gut. But before you give in to anger, sadness or bitterness, its important to take a step back. A great way to do that, according to Miriam Leia Bekkouche of mindfulness coaching firm The Brain Spa , is to practice a few deep breathing exercises.First, take a deep breath Jealousy can be intense. Breathing helps you ride the wave instead of letting it sweep you away. Even one long exhale activates the calming (parasympathetic) system of your body so that you can regain your balance, Bekkouche says.Instead of dwelling on your envy, compassionately acknowledge the fact that youre feeling it.Being able to feel an emotion and stay present enough to identify whats arising as its happening takes skills, Bekkouche says. This simple action is helping steer clear from any automatic tendency to spiral into a whirlpool of envious thoughts or to drown in shame for feeling jealous in the first place.Once youve had the chance to recuperate a bit, its time to explore what specifically is making you feel this way.Our emotions are our greatest allies in letting us know whats swimming around in our unco nscious, Bekkouche says. Jealous of your friends new title? Your emotions may be pointing you to some hidden career goal you werent quite ready to acknowledge publicly. Envious or your colleagues corner office? Perhaps its time you consider what your ideal work environment would look like.When reflecting on what exactly youre envious of, its also important to identify whether its a small- or big-picture issue.Identify if it is the actual role you desire, or only elements of it, Srok recommends. For example, you may envy your bosss job because she gets to think of big ideas, while you handle the details. This information tells you that you look forward to working in a role that involves vision-thinking. You may be jealous of a salespersons job because he gets to travel. If the saatkorn career envy appears repeatedly throughout yourlife, it may be giving you information about your calling.Another valuable exercise is to think whether or not you would really be happy with what what ever the person youre envious of has.If its purely because they are progressing in their company faster than you are in yours, or are making more money , this is standard envy, and we are all a little guilty of this from time to time, says Steve Pritchard, HR Consultant for Cuuver . The simple fact is, different industries pay different amounts at different levels - they may have a job title that sounds impressive, but it may pay several thousand dollars less than your current role. The grass is always greener on the other side.Similarly, you might covet a prestigious promotion somebody got, but would you really be willing to take on the additional responsibility that it entails? Or if a friend scored a job in an exciting but demanding industry like entertainment, would you realistically be okay with sacrificing your work-life balance? Oftentimes, the answer is no.In some cases, of course, the answer will be yes - and thats fine It just means you have some extra work to do. Wh ich brings us to our next pointJealousy can have a positive side in that it can become a motivator for you to work harder, Pritchard says. So the next time you resent a coworker or friend for their success, try to turn that envy into inspiration.But dont let that momentum lead you to make a rash decision like quitting your job without thinking it through first. Instead, put together a plan with tangible, realistic steps that will help you work toward your desired result.A great way to do this is to find the job requirements for your dream job and put them next to the skills you are learning in your current job, Brown says. Look for overlaps and work on the areas that will strengthen your skills each job you take after that should help develop the skills you need.Career envy may not be particularly pleasant in the moment youre experiencing it, but it can be a powerful way to help you take control of your career.Jealousy is likely to show up every once and a while. And, although w e may all agree that wed like to see less of it around, why not treat it like an ally on the journey when it does show up? Bekkouche says.

The New 9-to-5ers Guide to Office Lingo

The New 9-to-5ers Guide to Office LingoThe New 9-to-5ers Guide to Office LingoYoure a week into yur first corporate gig when your boss stops by your cubicle, coffee cup in hand ( la Office Space), and casually mentions, Hey there, with the restructuring brde week, were going to need some of your bandwidth to develop action items for the sales push- can we bestattungs some time this afternoon?Huh?When youre the new one, it can feel like your boss is speaking another language- one filled with buzzwords and acronyms that even a good set of Corporate Flashcards couldnt prepare you for. Weve been there. So, if your managers lingo has your head spinning, heres your guide.Bandwidthn.time or capacity to do work, particularly work that was not originally assigned to youIf you have some bandwidth today, can you take over one of Amys financial reports?If your manager asks you if you have any bandwidth, she wants to know if you have any spare time aside from the projects youre already working on . The correct answer is almost always Im pretty busy with insert reminder of what else she assigned you, but could make time for this if needed or if I deprioritize project X.Pingv. contactIll ping you after my meeting so we can find a time to discuss last months numbers.Though its not clear why there needs to be a term in place of simple words like call or email, corporate culture has invented one. Ping means to contact someone by any of several methods- which makes it even mora confusing. Youll instantly be reminded of the dilemma you used to face with your high school crush Wait- does he want me to call? Email? Text?Drill Down v. go into more detailWhen we drill drown into that account, we can see that they made a purchase last week.Again, we have a simple word that means the same thing Look. Yes, drilling down means to look further into a matter in order to get more details. But you wouldnt want to be caught using a regular word, now would you?Deep Diven. a more detailed analysi s than what you did last timeI need you to do a deep dive into last weeks numbers to figure out our budget for next month.Pick up a venti latte and get ready to strain your eyes, because if youre asked for a deep dive, it usually means youll be looking at data for a long time. Typically, this means a time-consuming look into numbers or other documents for the purpose of gathering detailed information- just how you wanted to spend your lunch break.Circle Backv. catch up laterAfter you resolve the issue with the client, can you circle back to me?When someone asks you to circle back, she usually means something to the effect of check back in or follow up. Because, again, we already had words that meant the same thing, but wanted to make koranvers we had a more important-sounding phrase to use in the office.Bubble Upv. tell your boss whats going on- but only if its importantIf a clients giving you trouble, make sure to bubble it up.This is your boss way of saying- I will help you if you need it, but only bring me the important stuff. Instead of asking the woman who sits next to you about how to handle the inconsolable client on the line, tell your direct supervisor- hell be more helpful than your cubemate anyway.Cascade v. tell other people, so your boss doesnt have toWell need you to cascade the information about the budget cuts to your team.When your management team cant stand to be the bearers of bad news, theyll tell you to cascade information down to your team- meaning its up to you to let your employees down gently. Good luck.Take it Offlinev. talk about this laterIf youd like to discuss that further, well have to take it offline.This term is usually used when youre getting a little off topic during a meeting, or need to talk about something confidential. So even if you thought the team meeting about next years budget was the perfect segue into a conversation about why you deserve a raise, youll need to meet separately rather than discussing in front of the entire department.Ridiculous as this term is (youre online in the meeting?), its also very useful for reminding Joe from Marketing and Susie from Partnerships that no one else in the sales meeting wants to listen to them hash through every detail of the new ad campaign.High Level View n. a vague descriptionI only have a few minutes, but I can at least give you a high level view of our software functionality.A high level view explains a concept without getting into the small, technical details. This is usually used when theres limited time- or when its outside your area of expertise and you really dont want Steve from IT to explain the nitty-gritty details to you, anyway.Low-Hanging Fruit n. easily attainable accomplishmentsWe need to go for the low-hanging fruit on this one for a quick boost in income.This particularly overused idiom refers to easily attainable accomplishments, quick sales, or goals that you can tackle immediately. Or, in other over-used corporate words, quick wins. Whitespacen. potential sales to existing clientsLets take advantage of our whitespace and have our inside sales team start reaching out to all our Tier 2 clients.This industry term refers to potential sales that can be made to existing clients. For example, if your company sells office supplies, and a current client only buys paper from you, possible whitespace could include the sale of paperclips and staplers. Because- hello- how else are they going to hold stacks of papers together?Action Itemsn. things you can doLets prioritize the action items for this project.As opposed to regular tasks on your to-do list, action items are tasks on your to-do list with a slightly more important title. They are also supposed to be a reminder that talking about stuff is not the same as taking action.Going Forwardprep. in the futureGoing forward, you should focus on staying caught up on your project backlog.This seemingly friendly phrase isnt as innocuous as it sounds- beware of serious undertones . ansicht words can really mean In the future, dont ever do this again.Tell us What are some of the cryptic buzzwords used in your office?Photo of team meeting courtesy of Shutterstock.

My Engineers Notebook Twishansh Mehta

My Engineers Notebook Twishansh Mehta My Engineers Notebook Twishansh Mehta My Engineers Notebook Twishansh MehtaTwishansh Mehta, an ASME member from Markham, Ontario, Canada, is a manager for supermarket refrigeration at the Canadian food retailer Loblaw Companies Ltd., where he is responsible for most aspects of refrigeration design, engineering, procurement, installation, maintenance, and process standards for the entire retail organization. His duties include supporting construction projects in verifying engineering schedules and drawings ensuring that refrigeration systems and display cases are specified, ordered and manufactured correctly verifying that installation practices are in accordance with specifications and addressing equipment and installation flaws. An active volunteer since he joined ASME 11 years ago, Mehta is currently a member of the Nominating Committee, the Volunteer Orientation and Leadership Training (VOLT) Academy Executive Committee and the ASME E-Fest Ste ering Team. He previously served the Society in a number of other capacities, including chair and secretary of the Ontario Section vice president, Leadership and Recognition and District B Student Sections Committee representative. Mehta was the winner of the Old Guard Early Career Award in 2015. He received a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto in 2009. He is currently pursuing a masters degree in engineering management and leadership at Purdue University and a Certificate of Business Administration at Indiana University.Whats inside yur engineers notebook?My engineers notebook has different items, depending on what Im working on or where I am at any given day. Some pages have action items from a meeting or call. Some pages have lists of tasks or projects. Other pages might have scratch calculations that only I can understand.Twishansh MehtaWhose notebook would you most like to peek into? Why?I would love to take a peek into the notebook of my colleagues who support the companys retail geschftliches miteinander. A notebook shows how you think, whats important to you, and how you get from problem to solution. We engineers tend to be similar in our thought processes, but to see how someone from a completely different discipline looks at a problem and establishes their frame could really benefit this interdisciplinary collaboration.How and when did you know you wanted to become an engineer?Probably sometime in high school. I really enjoyed math and science class, but more so, I enjoyed and excelled at my computer science and engineering classes. I knew that if I excelled at something, I could make a career out of it, and to combine all of those subject areas into one made engineering the ideal choice.Whats the most exciting project youve ever worked on?At work, I think the most exciting project was the launch of our flagship supermarket in a historical building where the local NHL team used to play since 1931. From new desig ns of fixtures, including refrigerated cases, to a first-of-its-kind refrigeration plant for our company, the challenges were numerous, but the result was a store that still remains a tourist attraction five years later and the adopted technologies still being cutting-edge.Outside of work, my most exciting project was the management of a student leadership development conference in ASME in 2010. I worked with some amazing volunteer peers and had a ton of support from senior volunteers and staff parteners that made the conference an experience of a (short) lifetime for the participants who attended.What do you think youd be doing if you hadnt become an engineer?If I was answering this in high school, I think I would have become a scientist or software developer. At the end of college, I would have said I would have gone into business strategy or business development. However, now, I think I would have found my way into teaching somehow. My ASME experiences since I was in school have transformed me into a mentor in numerous ways, and my passion for developing leadership skills in young engineers has only grown. I already do it informally, so teaching would probably be my most natural fit had I not gone into engineering.Twishansh Mehta (right) with Nathan Taylor, chair of the ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge Committee, at ASMEs E-Fest Asia Pacific, which took place in early March 2017 in Jaipur, India.Whats your favorite activity when youre not working?I really enjoy traveling, whether it be a part of a work or ASME trip, or a family or personal vacation. From every trip, theres always something I wish I did or did more, and so whenever I have down time, Im always planning my next trip. When Im not traveling, I enjoy following my adopted Purdue Boilermakers and Indiana Hoosiers during college football and basketball seasons, and following other major sports events.Was there a book or a movie that piqued your interest in science or inspired you to become an en gineer?Between the end of high school and the start of university, I participated in a one-month residency program for STEM and entrepreneurship at the University of New Brunswick called Shad Valley. That was the first time I was in the presence of high achieving students interested in the same things that I was interested in, and had a significant impact on me being proud of who I am and the career path I chose. One of the first activities we participated was a movie night where we saw October Sky, a movie about a boy who grew up in a blue collar family who was inspired to build rockets and eventually make it to NASA as an engineer. While engineering was already my path when I saw that film, whenever someone asks me this question, I always recall the impact that movie had on me.Who are your heroes, either within the engineering profession or in the rest of your life?I always have a challenge answering this question. Numerous people, books, television shows and movies have shaped me into who I am and what I believe to be right and wrong. No one signal connection has entirely impacted me either. I have taken some of the lessons, values and characteristics from each and tried to emulate the ones I aligned with the best to live my life.Whats the most meaningful or rewarding aspect of being connected to engineering?For me, its all about being able to think. The world is filled with opinions these days, and strong communicators and strong presences can shape the direction of public policy, economic decisions, and social interactions. Being connected to engineering allows me to think for myself and be accepted for my ability to develop my own thoughts, using logic and relationships to develop conclusions.What does ASME mean to you?To me, ASME is a community of colleagues, but more so, friends. Being a part of the ASME community means that I can instantly strike up a conversation with my peers, sharing common interests and values, and being able to share experiences with some amazing people.Being connected to engineering allows me to think for myself and be accepted for my ability to develop my own thoughts, using logic and relationships to develop conclusions. Twishansh Mehta

What Does Genius App Mean?

What Does Genius App Mean? Choosing Good Genius App Root genius apk wants a computer or PC to install it upon your android device for the reason that it works on windows. Employing root device is quite useful but at the very same time, its risky too. Root Genius app for mobile is a great application which allows you to root your Android device without the necessity of a computer. Click the install to begin the installation procedure for Root Genius apk. The Quit Genius Smoking Log enables users to track cigarettes smoked every day, together with details like time, circumstances, and mood. Makeup Genius was made to allow you to try a new look without needing to purchase it first. Genius App Secrets The organization recognizes that each and every smoker differs, which is the reason why the app involves a massive range of personalized interactive exercises that promote self-reflection when assisting you to change your thoughts. Other users searching for a game would then be c apable of seeing the events around them for a given sport, and discover somewhere to acquire their ball on. These apps will help to make the day to day manageable as you achieve your end aim of becoming completely smoke-free. Having Android app for finance will allow you to maintain and calculate your expenditures, channelize your income, suggest you where should you allocate your funds, strategies to make savings and a lot different matters you can and you ought to do. If you own a computer on the exact same wifi network, you may use an internet browser to visit the listed address. Spotify users will have to enable Broadcast mode and Poweramp users will want to enable Scrobbling. You will earn a username and password to anmeldevorgang if you want to access them. Its true, you can log into the app working with exactly the same login details on more than 1 device. Who Else Wants to Learn About Genius App? The Crypto Genius trading platform was supposed to be employed by ine xperienced and professional traders alike. At the moment, there are just a limited number of spots offered in the Crypto Genius Software. Have a look at the CarKit concept on Behance to observe how Moritz would quantify the vehicle. No, its possible to only utilize Car Genie in 1 vehicle. You may also produce and conserve Genius playlists directly on iPad. The superb characteristic of Root Genius apk is it can reverse its action. The tracks will show up on your phone and be available with a track search. The Ultimate Genius App Trick Communication is essential for any company to work efficiently, thus a platform that empowers communication and encourages collaboration is going to have a significant impact on efficiency. Finally, innovation is essential for great marketing because therell always be room to enhance brand relationships and experience with consumers. A central part of any software product is the capacity to integrate seamlessly with different products. The ap p is a superb resource for customers in the consideration phase of the purchasing cycle. To begin with, you ask for the distinctive color-calibration card from the businesss website, await the card to arrive in the mail, and after that have a selfie on the app with the card beside your face. 75% of the marketplace is covered by Android and to raise your elektronischer geschftsverkehr company, Android app is mandatory. Payment is going to be charged to iTunes account as soon as the order is confirmed. Business Whether youve got a restaurant organization, grocery organization, clothing company, Android app is a must-have for any business you have. The selfie game wont ever be the exact same again I bet It will never be the same again. In case it detects a problem, we can arrange to fix it or counsel you over the phone prior to a breakdown occurs. The registration procedure takes no more than a moment. As part of the activation process you are going to receive a guide which le ts you know where to locate your cars OBDII port. You may soon are having trouble starting the vehicle. Root Genius apk has no any charges. Wait around for the few seconds to enable the installation done. Having said this, theres extensive accessibility to LOreal products within the app so odds are you can easily locate an outstanding style for you. All of your own personal details, including your name and number plate, will be deleted from the computer system. You are able to play with the design to ensure it is darker or lighter, bigger or smaller, and you may even mein herr the location a little. Taking a lot of pictures of documents doesnt do you a lot of good in case you cant get them off your mobile phone.

2016 Recruiting Trends - December 2015 Roundup

2016 Recruiting Trends - December 2015 RoundupWhile many recruiters are in the evaluation phase of their 2015 recruitment efforts, there are some exciting trends to look forward to in the new year. As you prepare to enhance your recruitment strategy in 2016, there are a few key insights that can take your efforts to another level. 3 Workforce and Hiring Trends in 2016iCIMS posted this article to their blog in November, which touches on some hiring trends to understand in 2016. The workforce is projected to evolve with the increase of Millennials and Generation X employees, work/life balance initiatives, and a push for remote work opportunities. Some of their key findings includeThe war for talent increasesYounger workers are entering the workforceThe workplace will evolveIts important to keep these in mind when finalizing your hiring strategy in order to maintain control of talent in the new year.3 Workforce and HiringTrends in 2016 via iCIMSClick To TweetHow Hiring Will Change in 2 016A challenge we all (HR pros and job seekers alike) must prepare for in 2016 is how the quality of hires will outweigh the length of time it takes to fill positions. In this article, dive into the evolution of HR technology and how it will (and should) change your hiring efforts for 2016. With an emphasis on company branding and internal talent development, these insights will help any organization attract and maintain top talent.3 Ways Hiring Will Change in 2016 (and What You Can do About it) via sparkhireClick To TweetThe Talent War is Coming Candidates Have All the PowerThis article takes a look at the UK job market in 2015 and predictions for the UK job market in 2016. Candidates will be in control in 2016, and businesses will need to provide all the perks necessary to recruit the best talent to join their team. While the job market (23.1% increase since 2014) doesnt show any signs of slowing down which is good news on the opposite side of the spectrum, with the job market c ontinuously growing, skill shortages will be a challenge hiring managers will have to face in 2016.UK Recruiting Predictions for 2016 via RecruitmentBuzzClick To TweetRetention is Key to Successful Recruitment Strategy in 2016Would you rather spend a night in jail than go without benefits like health insurance, 401(k), and paid time off? Apparently, this is true for three in five Americans pretty astonishing, right? But what does this mean in terms of zurckhalten and recruitment, you ask? Ensuring employees are happy and engaged at the workplace is important when looking to recruit candidates. Modern candidates are looking more and more into a companys reputation and company culture upon accepting an offer. A few strategies to improve employee retention and recruitment includeAsking for referralsKeeping your wordUsing technologyMake sure you implement these strategies and hold onto your talent in 20163 Strategies to Improve Retention and Recruitment via 1alicehw for sparkhireClick To Tweet4 HR Technology Trends to Watch in 2016Fact. 53% of organization report they will increase HR tech spending in 2016. Will you be one of them? In this article written by Spark Hires CEO, Josh Tolan, he explains why including HR tech into your hiring strategy in 2016 will create a more efficient and effective process. The key talking points include mobile recruiting trends, employee referrals, video, and programmatic advertising.4HRTech Trends to Watch in 2016 via AllThingsBiz via YohCorporateClick To Tweet3 Hiring Hacks to Up Your 2016 Recruiting Game in 2016This webinar is a must-watch for all talent acquisition experts In order to optimize your recruiting efforts in 2016, take a look at a few things that worked well for Glassdoor in 2015, and how to shift your efforts in 2016. A few aspects that worked especially for Glassdoor in 2015 includeAnalyze data and establish benchmarksAdopt a marketer first mentalityOptimize candidate experienceThese are easy-to-implement tactics that you can apply right away, and will without a doubt make 2016 a better year for recruiting.WEBINAR Hiring Hacks to a Better Q1 2016 Recruitment Strategy with GlassdoorClick To Tweet2016 The Year of TransparencyJason Weingarten, Co-Founder and CEO of Yello, put together this must-read guide for creating transparency in the recruitment process. Transparency is a surefire way to win top talent, which is exactly the talent youll need to grow your business in 2016.Announcingyello_cos recruitment secret of 2016 TransparencyClick To TweetIf you found this roundup helpful, get your daily dosage of talent acquisition-rich content by subscribing to the Spark Hire newsletter and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to suggest content to be highlighted in the February roundup by commenting below. Also, keep an eye out for our new infographic which explains 16 hiring problems you need to solve in 2016

ASME Fellow Arthur Ware to Receive the Zamrik Medal

ASME Fellow Arthur Ware to Receive the Zamrik Medal ASME Fellow Arthur Ware to Receive the Zamrik Medal ASME Fellow Arthur Ware to Receive the Zamrik MedalArthur G. Ware Arthur G. Ware, P.E., Ph.D., an ASME Fellow and active Society volunteer, will receive the 2014 S.Y. Zamrik PVP Medal on July 23 during the ASME Pressure Vessels Piping (PVP) Conference in Anaheim, Calif. The conference will take place July 20-24 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County.Established as the Pressure Vessel and Piping Medal in 1980, the award was renamed the S.Y. Zamrik PVP Medal in 2010. It is bestowed for outstanding contributions in the field of pressure vessel and piping technology including, but not limited to, research. The award recognizes Dr. Wares numerous services to ASME and the Pressure Vessels and Piping Division, as well as his significant contributions to the design, analysis, licensing and license renewal of nuclear power plants worldwide. Ware began his career at the Bettis A tomic Power Laboratory in West Mifflin, Pa., and the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho Falls, where he specialized in the design, analysis and operation of naval nuclear plants. After a brief period with the Babcock Wilcox Co., the majority of his career was spent at the Idaho National Laboratory, where he performed structural and safety analysis for Department of Energy (DOE) test reactors. There, he also conducted research for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), contributing to the development of ASME Code Case N-411 (nuclear piping damping), resolution of Generic Issue 113 (large bore hydraulic snubbers), and a license renewal procedure for fatigue analysis of reactor components under environmental conditions. A private consultant since 2001, Ware has reviewed and performed DOE performance category 3 and 4 seismic analyses, conducted engineering marketing, delivered seminars, and reviewed new reactor licensing and licensing renewal applications for the NRC. During this peri od, he also worked part-time as the principal analyst for Applied Engineering Services Inc. of Idaho Falls. Ware currently serves on the ASME Technical Communities Operating Boards Committee on Administration and Finance, which he chaired in 2013-2014, and the Manufacturing Technical Group Operating Board. He was a member of the Nominating Committee, which he chaired in 2011, and the Leadership Task Force in 2011-2012. Since 2001, Ware has served on the Pressure Vessels and Piping Division (PVPD) Senate and Financial Committee, and on the Seismic Engineering Committee since 1989. He previously he served on the PVPDs Executive Committee and Honors Committee. He has been the recipient of many ASME certificates of recognition and appreciation between 1991 and 2012, as well as the PVP Literature Award in 1991 and the ASME Dedicated Service Award in 2009. Ware received his bachelors degree in engineering mechanics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1965. He earned his masters degre e in engineering mechanics and his Ph.D. in applied mechanics from Stanford University in 1966 and 1970, respectively. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Idaho.

5 Strategies for Finding a Winter Break Internship

5 Strategies for Finding a Winter Break Internship5 Strategies for Finding a Winter Break InternshipWinter break is a time that college students look forward to early on during their first week on campus.When course schedules and commitments get busy, and students begin feeling a little (or a lot) overwhelmed, theres a small voice that may begin popping up in their head that says, I cant wait until winter break when I can sleep in and leid have to be accountable to anyone. While students at this juncture believe this little voice in their head, many students also find that they recover quickly and begin questioning what they are going to do for the next three or four weeks that they are home from college. If they have not made any plans, they may find themselves bored and start looking for ways that they can best occupy their time. It is why planning early and looking for an internship or volunteer experience during the fall semester for winter break, makes sense to many college stu dents. Job shadowing is also a great way to gain exposure and make connections for one or mora days during winter break. Gaining relevant work experience during winter break can be invaluable to a college student hoping to break into a particular career field or industry. Winter Research When researching winter break internships, you will probably find that very little comes up on the internet. For a number of reasons, many employers dont even think about hiring college students during this time of year. For one, far fewer students seek internships during this short period of time. Also, many employers feel that theres not much a student can accomplish in a three to four-week time span to make it worthwhile for either the employer or the student. So while employers may be busy with holiday shutdowns or year-end reporting, students are spending their time sleeping in and catching up with friends and family or watching TV marathons to get caught up on their favorite shows. Althou gh college students anticipate winter break long before it happens, many of them tell me that after the first two weeks they find themselves ready to return to college. So why not use this time to gain valuable knowledge and skills in a field of interest and as a way to make important networking contacts within an organization for future references or to help land a future internship or job? In the past, you may have found the competition tough when looking to land an internship in your field of interest.Thousands of students compete heavily for some of the fruchtwein prestigious, competitive internships in the country. Even in smaller communities, there are many students looking to find summer work in their hometown or in their local college community. When seeking a winter break internship, the challenge is more about connecting with employers and making them see your services as valuable to them during this time of year. Start Early You will want to begin your search early. C ontacting an employer the second week of December and inquiring about a winter break internship, is just not going to work. Its important to begin your search and start contacting employers around October or early November of the fall semester for a winter break internship. Networking Networking is the 1 job search strategy out there, and it works well for finding internships as well.You may start by contacting people in your personal network family, friends, faculty, previous employers, etc., and then move on to a more formal network of alumni and/or parents provided by your college or through social networking sites like LinkedIn. Letting people know about your interests and your skills will put you on their radar screen when thinking about how you might be of assistance during this wither very busy or downtime of the year. Previous employers are another source for potential short-term internships and a way to stay in touch with past connections that youve made.Doing an inte rnship during winter break will also help to keep you in close proximity to an employers future needs for upcoming internships and jobs. Prospecting Although you may find a handful of organizations offering internships during winter break, you are most likely going to have to make your own experience happen by networking or prospecting with individuals currently working in the field. Identifying places in which youd like to work is the first step, followed up by emailing and calling the company and letting them know that you are a college student interested in finding work over winter break. Selling Yourself Since most employers dont think of hiring college students during this time of year, you will need to convince them of how you will be an asset to their organization even if its only for a short period of time during winter break.Always focus on the employers needs and be sure to do your research on the company so that you can offer ways that you might be able to help th em for this short period of time.As a college student, you have many of the skills that some of their full-time employees may lack especially when it comes to technology or using social media to advance their presence online. Volunteering Volunteering is another way to fill up your time with useful activities that will make you feel good while benefiting others at the same time.Volunteering is also another great experience to have on your resume. When speaking to employers about potential candidates for internships or jobs, many of them state that previous volunteer experience or studying/interning/working abroad are things that they find favorable when hiring college students for employment. So, if you are looking to do something meaningful over winter break, these strategies can be helpful since you probably wont find many opportunities listed online. By being prepared with a short elevator speech to introduce yourself to employers you also want to have a script ready about wa ys you can impact an organization during this short period of time.

4 Tips for Successful Online Networking

4 Tips for Successful Online Networking 4 Tips for Successful Online Networking Pin1Online networking can be one of the most successful tools to boost any job search. We’ve all experienced the trials, tribulations, and all around time-consuming nature of a job search, yet when we smartly employ the techniques of online networking, our struggles can be greatly reduced. Successful online networking is possible with some work and patience. It is first important to understand the practice of online networking. Online networking does not entail networking with your friends around current sports or events; rather, professional online networking focuses on one thing: career success. Because you’re either trying to land a new job or find a promotion within your current company, professional networking must remain exactly that- professional at all times. Professional in your speech, appearance, online communication, and social media presence. Follow the guidelines below to develop a successful online networking strategy. 1. Create an Online Profile The days of using a word processing software to design your resume are quickly coming to an end. Consider joining this shift by building an online profile. Many professionals are turning to LinkedIn for its resume building tool, as well as its accessible networking features. If your work involves a visual component, consider using Pinterest or Instagram to support your message. Other options include Facebook, Twitter, or building your own website. 2.  Watch Your Words Before initiating any kind of online communication with industry professionals, be sure that you’re being clear, direct, and original in your language. Starting with the subject line, does it draw enough attention to catch someone’s eye? Is the body of your message concise, and are there elements that make it memorable? As you close your message, did you include a call to action or a clear request? It is also important to be mindful when initially forming working relationships with other professionals. As you continue to develop your relationship, you can dive into more details about your professional relationship and potential jobs, but jumping in with both feet and asking outright for a job will only hurt your chances of success. Before you start firing off questions, you might request an informational interview. Taking these small steps will demonstrate your interest and dedication to the company, and will display respect for the time and consideration of the professional you are contacting. 3.  Choose the Right Connections Before you reach out to any professional, consider how politics might come into play, as they frequently do in business, and if you’re reaching out to the appropriate person. There is often a pecking order of who talks to whom, and if you are a mid-level professional trying to reach out to CEO and executive-level professionals exclusively, you may be hurting your chances of forming any valuable connection. Connect with professionals on a similar career level to you; this way, you will foster relationships with the people that truly matter- the ones who can influence hiring decisions. In addition to online networking, joining a professional association in your area is a great way to network in your industry. 4.  Considering your Existing Network Reaching out to existing connections is a successful way to network online for several reasons. For the newbie networker, it can offer a greater sense of support and connection simply because of an already present mutual connection. No one looks forward to making that cold call, especially those new to networking. LinkedIn also has a convenient tool that allows your current connections to introduce you to their connections with whom they think you would benefit from knowing. Networking is one of the most complex aspects of being involved in the professional world. There are endless methods, tools, and platforms associated with the practice and it can be difficult to decide where and how to start. One constant about networking, however, is that it is about the practice of building relationships over time. There is never a right time to start networking, rather it’s something you should be developing throughout your career. You should never wait until you are out of work to start networking. Take the time to successfully network online using the tips above, and the results will be worth the wait. Readers, what are your tips for successful online networking? Share with us below!

The Intersection of Art and Engineering

The Intersection of Art and Engineering The Intersection of Art and Engineering The Intersection of Art and Engineering 2011 > 10 > If youve ever tried designing and building a model of the inner ear the size of an airplane hanger and capable of firing off bursts of propane in 56 places, then you know that, whatever the source of inspiration, such a project requires considerably more engineering than art. Take it from Mike Prados, who helped build just such a structure for this years Burning Man, the annual week-long party in Nevadas Black Rock Desert that took place August 29-September 5 this year, and which celebrates wildly diverse forms of self-expression. The most substantial parts of the piece are these canals that are depicted as very large curved trusses, says Prados. Assembled, the sculptures foot print is about 80x 40 feet, with a total weight of between 20,000-25,000 pounds. Its substantial, says Prados. Prados is one of forty-odd Flaming Lotus Girlsa loose-knit troupe of artists, engineers, and anyone else, who have, for the past 11 years, conceived of, designed, and built massive-scale, fire-breathing works that come to life at the annual party in the desert. By day, hes the director of hardware engineering at Earthmine, a company that makes the tools to produce the Street View on Google Maps. Tympani Lambada at night. Photo courtesy of Michael Prados. Prados and his compatriots are Girls rather than People because they are a female-positive group, he says. We try to emphasize having women in leadership positions. The goal can often be difficult to achieve, given the lopsided ratio of men to women in the engineering field. The group has made an effort to educate itself, even if we bring in a few experts who are male. Regardless of the gender of the people at work on it, a piece as large, complex, and twisted as Tympani Lambada, as the work is called, requires a certain kind of determination and a certain kind of expertise. Specifically, a large, gangly structure needs both a structural engineer and one of the mechanical sort. For these big weird organic forms, mechanical tools are sometimes better, explains Prados. The bread and butter of most structural engineers is big, boxy buildings like what you and I are sitting in right now. Tympani Lambada features propane and liquid fuel fire effects, sequenced LEDs, and sound hammers. Photo courtesy of Michael Prados. Starting with the simple concept of reproducing the inner ear in gargantuan proportions, a form dictated by nature, the group went through dozens of ideas of how to go about it before settling on that most efficient of structures, the truss. To give the structure its particular form, the Lotus Girls linked the trusses with 140 joints they call space pigeons (thanks to their shape that resembles the common bird in astronaut garb; Someone was up too late, elucidates Prados). The trusses that the space pigeons hold are propane-carrying pipes. There are 56 fire effects and 28 accumulator tanks. Solenoid valves release propane into what the group calls poofer boxes, because they, in turn, release giant poofs of propane. Over the course of an event we go through thousands of gallons of propanea pretty serious amount of fuel. Poofers, pigeons, and everything between were fabricated by the Lotus Girls. An example of a “space pigeon.” Photo courtesy of Flaming Lotus Girls. To translate the project from conception to reality (and make sure it wouldnt fall down), Prados used many of the same tools he uses at his day job. Most of the geometry was constructed in solid works, then exported into a structural analysis program. Certainly the laws of physics are the same, says Prados Whats different is the shift from the technical to the tactile. In a world where manufacturing infrastructure is falling apart or moving elsewhere, people find it therapeutic to come in and do things in a manual wayto go into this big messy shop and grab an angle grinder, says Prados. I was surprised that anyone could do a project of this scale on a volunteer basis, he says. I was very pleasantly surprised at how effective it can be. I hope there are lessons here for the larger world. Michael Abrams is an independent writer. If you’ve ever tried designing, and building, a model of the inner ear the size of an airplane hanger and capable of firing off bursts of propane in 56 places, then you know that, whatever the source of inspiration, such a project requires considerably more engineering than art.

Where The Federal Jobs Are - Department of State

Where The Federal Jobs Are - Department of State Where The Federal Jobs Are - Department of State Where The Federal Jobs Are Department of State “WHERE THE FEDERAL JOBS ARE” FEDERAL AGENCY SERIES PART 11:   WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT The DEPARTMENT OF STATE (State Department) Website:   state.gov/ Secretary:   John F. Kerry (2013 â€" present) DID YOU KNOW:   The first Secretary of State was Thomas Jefferson, appointed by President Washington in 1789.   Headquarters:   Washington, D.C. with many Embassies and Consulates abroad.   The State Department’s Civil Service employees are located in the U.S. (primarily in D.C., but also other offices across the country), while its Foreign Service employees travel through assignments (generally rotational) abroad. Mission:   Shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic world and foster conditions for stability and progress for the benefit of the American people and people everywhere.  This mission is shared with the USAID, ensuring we have a common path forward in partnership as we invest in the shared security and prosperity that will ultimately better prepare us for the challenges of tomorrow. TIP 1:   The State Department was ranked 3rd (tied with the Department of Justice) among 19 large federal agencies in the Partnership for Public Service’s 2015 edition of “The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government.”   The Department’s “agency subcomponents” were not separately rated.   Strategic Goals: The Department of State (and U.S. Agency for International Development) Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-2017 includes 5 goals: strengthen America’s economic reach and positive economic impact strengthen America’s foreign policy impact on our strategic challenges promote the transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient world while expanding global access to sustainable energy protect core U.S. interests by advancing democracy and human right and strengthening civil society modernize the way we do diplomacy and development   Number of Civilian Employees:   Total number of State Department employees is over 73,000.   Of those, approximately 11,000 are Civil Service employees.   Approximately 14,000 are Foreign Service employees and close to 48,000 locally employed (LE) staff (foreign nationals and other locally resident citizens) at the 275 embassies and consulates worldwide. State Department Organization Structure:   The State Department is the diplomatic wing of the federal government, responsible for promoting foreign policy.   The Secretary of State is supported by 2 Deputy Secretaries, the Executive Secretariat, Counselor, Chief of Staff, 6 Under Secretaries, and many functional and management Bureaus and Offices. BUREAUS AND OFFICES:   REGIONAL BUREAUS Bureau of African Affairs. Advises the Secretary of State on issues relating to 50 sub-Saharan African countries, focusing on consolidating democratic gains among African nations, expanding economic growth, and stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS. Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Carries out diplomatic relations with 31 foreign governments addressing issues including security, counter-terrorism and free trade. Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. The largest geographic bureau in the Department, the Bureau is responsible for implementing U.S. foreign policy in Europe and Eurasia.   Conducts diplomatic affairs with more than 50 foreign governments.   Issues include NATO enlargement, energy, and terrorism. Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Responsible for U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relations with 19 Near Eastern and North African countries addressing policy issues including the war in Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and political/economic reform. Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Handles U.S. foreign policy with 13 South and Central Asian countries including India-Pakistan relations and Afghanistan. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Staffs and operates embassies and consulates throughout the Western Hemisphere (in more than 40 countries and dependencies), implementing U.S. foreign policy, coordinating foreign aid and formulating policy. U.S. Permanent Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS). The only U.S. diplomatic mission  housed at State Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.   U.S. Mission’s core functions are to promote democracy and democratic institutions; to strengthen OAS security initiatives; to improve social conditions; and to contribute to the creation of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas.   OAS has 35 member states and is the world’s oldest regional international organization. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND BUREAUS Bureau of International Organization Affairs. Develops and implements U.S. policy in the United Nations, its agencies, and other international organizations.   Advances the President’s vision of robust multilateral engagement as a crucial tool in advancing U.S. national interests.   Its engagement spans the full range of important global issues, including peace and security, nuclear nonproliferation, human rights, economic development, climate change, global health, and much more.   The Bureau has missions to international organizations in Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Paris, Montreal and Nairobi where major international organizations are headquartered. U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN). Reports directly to the Secretary of State.   Includes the Office of the U.S. Permanent Representative (Ambassador) to the UN.   The U.S. Mission assists the President and the Secretary of State in conducting U.S. policy.   Located in New York (across from UN Headquarters), the Mission employs approximately 150 staff representing U.S. political, economic, legal, military, public diplomacy and management interests.   Jobs include political affairs officers, policy officers, economic affairs officers, agricultural, fishery and animal production officers, climate change officers, quality managers, program managers, financial officers, and IT specialists. TIP 2:   In addition to the United Nations, the U.S. also has Missions in locations noted above under the Bureau of International Organization Affairs and Missions to numerous organizations including e.g., the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organization of American States (OAS), the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).   For a comprehensive list of international organizations, see http://iocareers.state.gov/Main/Content/Page/international-organization-contact-information.   Eligible federal employees and Foreign Service Officers may be detailed or transferred to certain international organizations.   Most International Organizations follow the U.N. Common System grade structure that is comprised of base salary and post adjustment (generally based on the GS scale plus a 10-20% adjustment).   To learn more about careers with international organizations, see http://iocareers.state.gov/Main/Home. U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions (see usembassy.gov/index.html). United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Although an independent agency, the Administrator of USAID also reports to the Secretary of State.   USAID is the lead U.S. Government agency working to end global poverty and enabling democratic societies to realize their potential.   Career opportunities exist for a full range of positions (including civil service, foreign service, and private sector contracts/consultants). OTHER BUREAUS AND OFFICES (alphabetical with brief mission statements if not apparent) Bureau of Administration. Includes, among others, Office of Logistics Management, Office of Procurement Executive, Office of Language Services, Office of Directives Management, Office of Overseas Schools, and Office of Emergency Management. Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance. Ensures that appropriate verification requirements and capabilities are considered and integrated into the development, negotiation, and implementation of new arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament treaties, agreements, and commitments.   Serves as the main liaison to the U.S. Intelligence Community and other key policymakers for verification and compliance issues. Bureau of Budget and Planning. Prepares and submits the Departments budget requests; manages operational resource requirements, and ensures that operational planning and performance management is synchronized with resource requirements. Bureau of Comptroller and Global Financial Services. Provides technical and policy advice on all issues related to the Chief Financial Officer’s Act and other key financial management legislation. Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. Advances the Department’s understanding of violent conflict through analysis and planning; monitoring, evaluation, and learning; and targeted, in-country efforts that help the U.S. government anticipate, prevent, and respond to conflict and promote long-term stability.   Approximately 170 staff. Bureau of Consular Affairs. Provides consular services to protect U.S. citizens, ensure U.S. border security, facilitate the entry of legitimate travelers, and foster economic growth.   Formulates and implements policy relating to immigration and consular services and ensures efficient overseas consular services.   Issues passports for American citizens intending to reside, conduct business, study or travel abroad.   Provides alerts and warnings concerning potentially dangerous conditions in foreign countries and assists US citizens abroad on a variety of issues, including helping those who want to vote by absentee ballot when they’re out of the country, those who are involved in international adoptions, or those who fall victim to crime, accident or illness.   Provides services to citizens of other countries seeking visas to visit or reside legally in the United States.   Serves as a liaison between the State Department and overseas embassies and consulates on visa matters.   As o ne of the Department’s largest Bureau, Consular Affairs employs more than 12,000 “direct hire and contract employees in 300 offices worldwide.” Office of Children’s Issues. Develops and coordinates policies and programs relating to international child abduction; coordinates policy and provides information on international adoptions.   Approximately 40 staff. Bureau of Counterterrorism. Coordinates U.S. Government efforts to improve counterterrorism cooperation with foreign governments.   Develops, coordinates, an implements counterterrorism policy.   The primary mission of the Bureau is to forge partnerships with non-state actors, multilateral organizations, and foreign governments to advance the counterterrorism objectives and national security of the United States.   Takes a leading role in developing coordinated strategies to defeat terrorists abroad and in securing the cooperation of international partners.   Approximately 150 employees. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Prepares annual country reports on human rights practices around the globe and have the reputation of being among the most trusted and comprehensive sources of information The Bureau also administers a multi-million dollar grant portfolio, including the Human Rights and Democracy Fund, financing a wide range of human rights and democracy programs worldwide.   Carries out programs regionally or on a country-specific basis, focusing on issues such as press and religious freedom, civil society building and democratic reform, labor rights and women’s initiatives.   Helps formulate and implement US policy abroad- especially with regard to the State Department’s increased emphasis on democratizing “transitioning countries. Bureau of Diplomatic Security. The Bureau is part law enforcement agency and part intelligence operation.   As one of the largest components of the State Department, it is responsible for protecting the personnel, information and property associated with U.S. embassies and other diplomatic posts.   Provides protection in the U.S. for the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and specified foreign dignitaries who visit the United States.  Employs approximately 34,000 staff (foreign and civil service), including Foreign Service special agents serving in more than 150 countries.   Has field, satellite and resident offices throughout the U.S. Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. Serves as a leading voice for promoting US economic interests across the globe.   Implements policies involving international trade, investment and finance, economic development and sanctions, intellectual property, debt policy, terrorist financing, energy security, telecommunications and transportation. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Brings together students and professionals from the U.S. and across the world in hopes of building stronger relationships between countries.   The Bureau funds and sponsors many programs for international education exchanges to promote their objective of cultural learning and mutual understanding. Bureau of Energy Resources. Ensures that diplomatic relationships advance the Nation’s interests in having access to secure, reliable, and ever-cleaner sources of energy.   Has 3 core objectives:   energy diplomacy; energy transformation; and energy transparency and access. Bureau of Human Resources Bureau of Information Resource Management Bureau of Intelligence and Research. A member of the U.S. Intelligence Community, the Bureau’s primary mission is to harness intelligence to serve U.S. diplomacy.  Utilizing all-source intelligence, the Bureau provides independent analysis of events to U.S. State Department policymakers; and ensures that intelligence activities support foreign policy and national security purposes.   Serves as the focal point in the State Department for ensuring policy review of sensitive counterintelligence and law enforcement activities around the world.   Over 300 staff. Bureau of International Information Programs. Main information arm; produces and distributes information about the United States to an international audience.   Created after the US Information Agency was abolished and merged into the State Department.   Approximately 300 staff are associated with providing public diplomacy materials. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The Bureau is not a “law enforcement” organization; rather, it combats the worldwide drug trade and other major crimes through managing large law enforcement training programs involving other federal agencies and countries.   Although anti-drug operations are its dominant mission, jurisdiction includes serious cross-border crimes, such human trafficking, and modernization of foreign criminal justice systems. Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. Manages a broad range of U.S. nonproliferation policies, programs, agreements, and initiatives.   Combats Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) threat through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.   Leads the Department’s efforts to prevent the spread of WMD whether nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological and their delivery systems. Bureau of Legislative Affairs. Coordinates legislative activity for the Department of State and advises on legislative strategy. Bureau of Medical Services. Provides healthcare to U.S. government employees and their families assigned to U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide.   Advises Embassy and State Department officials about health issues throughout the world.   Has over 200 health professionals working in over 170 countries. Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. Responsible for the integration of matters relating to the environment, science, and technology into United States foreign policy.   Works closely with the White House, Congress, US government agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and private citizens, as well as other State Department bureaus.   Represents the U.S. in its agreements with other nations including: bio-terrorism, climate change, conservation, fisheries, forests, international health issues, oceans, the use of outer space, and wildlife. Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. Responsible for the buildings that house America’s overseas embassies, consulates and missions.    Utilizes domestic contractors to building of new embassies. Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. Provides policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense.  Builds security partnerships to advance U.S. national security objectives. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Responsible for helping refugees around the world through assistance to international and non-governmental organizations and by admitting refugees to the United States.   Administers and monitors U.S. contributions to international and non-governmental organizations to assist and protect refugees abroad.   Oversees admissions of refugees to the U.S. for permanent resettlement in coordination with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).   Approximately 130 staff. Bureau of Public Affairs. Communicates information to domestic and international media, including strategic and tactical communications planning to advance the Nation’s foreign policy interests. Office of Authentications. The State Department issues certificates of authenticity for a variety of documents to individuals, institutions and government agencies.   Many documents for use abroad may require authentication (such as powers of attorney, treaties, extraditions, or bylaws). Office of Chief Economist. Created to augment diplomacy and advance strategy, capacity building and outreach.   Provides strategic advice and analysis to the Secretary and serves as an analytical resource for the Department, embassies and consulates. Office of the Chief of Protocol. Advances foreign policy goals by creating an environment for successful diplomacy.   Promotes cross-cultural exchange. Office of Civil Rights. Advances diversity within the Department and ensuring equal opportunity to all employees. Office of Executive Secretariat. Coordinates the internal work of the Department and serves as liaison between Bureaus and Offices.   Handles the Department’s relations with the White House, National Security Council and other Cabinet agencies.   Includes the Department’s   “Operations Center,” providing senior policy makers with alerts and briefings on world events on a 24/7 basis. Office of U.S Foreign Assistance Resources. Ensures the strategic and effective allocation, management, and use of foreign assistance resources.  Assists in coordinating U.S. Government foreign assistance strategy, including multi-year country specific assistance strategies and annual country-specific assistance operational plans. Office of Foreign Missions. Ensures reciprocal treatment of U.S. diplomatic and consular missions and personnel as well as privileges and benefits to the foreign mission community.   Protects U.S. public from abuses of privileges and immunities by members of foreign missions; regulates foreign missions to protect U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.   Has 6 regional offices. Office of U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. Leads implementation of the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Office of Global Criminal Justice. Advises on issues related to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.   Helps formulate U.S. policy on the prevention of, responses to, and accountability for mass atrocities. Office of Global Food Security. Advances global food security, including the causes of hunger and under-nutrition.   Works with other governments, multinational institutions, NGO’s and private companies to advance country-led actions to improve food security and drive economic growth. Office of Global Women’s Issues. Ensures that women’s issues are fully integrated in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy.   Promotes stability, peace, and development by empowering women politically, socially, and economically around the world. Office of Inspector General. Inspects each of the approximately 260 embassies, diplomatic posts, and international broadcasting installations throughout the world to determine whether policy goals are being achieved, and the interests of the U.S, are being represented and advanced effectively.   Performs specialized security inspections and audits to ensure effective, efficient, and economical operation.   Investigates instances of fraud, waste, and mismanagement. Office of Legal Advisor. Advises on all domestic and international legal issues in the course of the Departments work.   Includes assisting Department principals and policy officers in formulating and implementing U.S. foreign policies and promoting the development of international law.   Provides direct legal support to the various regional and geographic offices and functional offices.  Employs approximately 200 attorneys and 100 support staff. TIP 3:   For information regarding “Practicing Law in the Office of Legal Adviser” including the organization structure and employment procedures, go to state.gov/s/l/3190.htm. Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation. The Department’s central management analysis organization.   Comprised of three entities as noted in the Office title. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Employs diplomatic, economic, political, legal and cultural tools to combat global human trafficking through prevention, protection, prosecution and prosecution. Office of the Ombudsman. Handles workplace conflicts that are not currently in a formal process and helps employees identify mutually satisfactory solutions Office of Policy Planning and Resources for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Provides long-term strategic planning and performance measurement capability for public diplomacy and public affairs programs.   Includes the Evaluation and Measurement Unit and the Office of Global Youth Issues. Office of the Science and Technology Adviser. Provides a focal point for science and technology as a key component of U.S. foreign policy interests.  Links the Department with the science and technology community in the U.S. and abroad. Office of Terrorism Finance and Economic Sanctions Policy. Coordinates: (a) efforts to build international support for efforts against terrorism finance; (b) efforts related to unilateral sanctions as they relate to the changing international situations; and (c) domestic and international efforts to disrupt and dismantle the Somali pirate enterprise.   Develops strategies for implementing aspects of sanctions regimes.   Provides foreign policy guidance on specific commercial and licensing  issues to the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security. CENTERS AND INSTITUTES: Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications. Coordinate, orients, and informs government-wide foreign communications activities targeted against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly al-Qaida and its affiliates and adherents.   The Coordinator for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications leads an interagency staff drawing on whole-of-government knowledge, skills, and resources. Foreign Service Institute. Governments primary training institution for U.S. foreign affairs community officers and support personnel.   Prepares American diplomats and other professionals to advance U.S. foreign affairs interests overseas and in Washington, D.C. Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. Joint effort of the Department of State and USAID.  Identifies major global and operational trends that constitute threats or opportunities, delineates priorities and reforms, to ensure our civilian institutions are in the strongest position to shape and respond to a rapidly changing world. CAREERS:   TIP 4:   SEVERAL CAREER PATHS.   The State Department’s workforce consists of both Civil Service and Foreign Service employees.   Application and selection processes vary accordingly. CIVIL SERVICE.   The Department employs approximately 11,000 Civil Service employees.   Most of the civil service opportunities are located in the U.S., but some “hard to fill” overseas positions may be open to Civil Service “bidders.”   Civil Service vacancies ARE competitive positions subject to Federal Civil Service laws and are posted on USAJOBS.   Applicants submit their federal resume and on-line application though USAJOBS and the information is transferred to the State Department online automatic hiring system “Gateway to State Automated Application System” that streamlines the process.   The job selection process is identical to that for other federal career civil service jobs.  Opportunities exist in 11 job categories:  Foreign Affairs (Job Series 0130) , Human Resources (Job Series 0300) , Management Analysis (Job Series 0343), General Accounting and Administration (Job Series 0500), Budget Administration (Job Series   0500) , Legal Counsel (Job Series 0905), Passport Visa Services (Job Series 0967), Public Affairs (Job Series 1035), Contract Procurement (Job Series 1100), and Foreign Language and Professional Training (Job Series 1712).   Employees may perform responsibilities including: compiling and analyzing reports from overseas, providing logistical support to posts, informing the Congress about foreign policy initiatives and policies, formulating and overseeing the budget, issuing passports and travel warnings, and keeping the American public informed.   TIP 5:   The State Department often announces its positions as “Agency Wide” rather than for a specific Bureau or Office.   FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS AND SPECIALISTS are State Department direct-hire career employees who serve in overseas assignments at U.S. embassies and consulates (with some domestic postings).   The Foreign Service Corps includes approximately 14,000 employees. FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS represent the U.S. worldwide, analyzing and reporting on political, economic, and social trends in the host country; and responding to the needs of American citizens abroad. Foreign Service Careers require candidates to pass the Foreign Service Officer Test.   These jobs are NOT posted on USAJOBS as there are no immediately available jobs posted.   The application process begins with selecting one of 5 career tracks (Economic Officer, Management Officer, Consular Officer, Political Officer and Public Diplomacy Officer)  and registering for the Foreign Service Officer Test.   Candidates register to take the multi-choice Foreign Service Officer Test administered online at designated test centers.   The test measures knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) including assessing writing skills with an essay on an assigned topic.   If you pass the test, you will submit a Personal Narrative for review by a Qualifications Evaluation Panel.   The next step in the proces s is a day-long oral assessment that measures your ability in to succeed in the position.   Successful candidates will then complete a background investigation that is reviewed by a Suitability Review Panel.   If an applicant receives a conditional offer of employment, their name will be added on the Register in the chosen specialty according to prescribed ranking criteria. TIP 6:   For specifics on the Foreign Service Officer test and selection process, see http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/officer/test-process.   FOREIGN SERVICE SPECIALIST opportunities exist overseas (at embassies and consulates) and in the U.S. for managerial, technical, healthcare, and administrative professionals. Vacancies ARE posted on USAJOBS but the application and selection process differs from other civil service positions.   Specialist positions are grouped into 8 TRACKS: Law Enforcement and Security (including Special Agents, Security Engineering Officers, Security Technical Specialists, and Diplomatic Couriers), Information Technology (Job Series 2000) , Office Management (Job Series 0318), Administration (Job Series 0300), Medical and Health (Job Series 0600), Construction Engineering (Job Series 0801) Facility Management (Job Series 1176), and International Information English Language Programs (Job Series 4300).   After an applicant chooses a career track and applies for a position on USAJOBS, the application is reviewed by a Qualifications Evaluation Panel.   If a candidate moves forward from that point, they take the “Foreign Service Oral Assessment” â€" a writing exercise, structured interview and exit interview to assess whether they demonstrate the essential dimensions to succeed in the position.   Successful candidates then complete a background investigation reviewed by a Suitability Review Panel.   If the candidate receives a conditional offer of employment, their name will be added to the Register in their chosen specialty according to prescribed ranking criteria. TIP 7:   For specifics on the Foreign Service Officer test and selection process, see http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/specialist. LIMITED NON-CAREER APPOINTMENTS (LNA): Foreign Service LNA opportunities range from 15-27 months with renewal contract for up to 5 years.   The positions supplement the work of career Foreign Service employees serving abroad.   Based on the needs of the Foreign Service, positions are currently limited to: Foreign Service Consular Fellows (formerly known as Consular Adjudicators) with specific language skills; Country Coordinators; Registered Nurses; and Licensed Clinical Social Workers.   These opportunities are posted on USAJOBS with the application information transferred to the State Department online automatic hiring system “Gateway to State Automated Application System.”   The recruitment, selection and hiring process is similar to those of Foreign Service Offices or Specialists.   A panel determines whether the applicant will move forward to the oral assessment phase.   For more information, see https://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/lna. LOCALLY EMPLOYED (LE) STAFF, currently numbering close to 48,000, support the more than 270 embassies and consulates. LE staff are foreign nationals and other locally resident citizens (including U.S citizens) who are legally eligible to work in the particular country.   S. Citizen eligible family members and Veterans (assigned to the specific Mission) receive hiring preference. TIP 8:  Vacancies are posted on specific post websites that may be accessed at http://usembassy.state.gov.   Applicants submit a special application (DS-174) directly to the U.S. Mission’s Human Resources Office.   Each Mission is responsible for its own recruitment of locally employed staff.   Individuals should contact the Mission’s HR office or website as the State Department’s Office of Overseas Employment does not maintain a centralized database of job vacancies.   Most missions have personnel assigned from other executive branch agencies in addition to those from the Department of State.   Department of State employees at missions comprise U.S.-based political appointees and career diplomats, and Foreign Service Nationals. PROFESSIONAL FELLOWSHIPS.   There are many fellows programs for mid- and senior-level professionals.   For specifics on the various programs, see https://careers.state.gov/work/fellowships. Current Vacancies:   There are currently 16 Department of State General Schedule (GS) vacancies for civilian positions posted in USAJOBS for “U.S. Citizens.”  Many are between the GS-11 and GS-15 levels.   As noted above, the Department also has a large contingent of employees (e.g., Foreign Service Officers) where vacancies are not posted via USAJOBS.  Occupations with the most current vacancies are: Program or Management Officer (Job Series 0301) Program Analyst (Job Series 0343) IT Specialist (Job Series 2210) Budget Analyst (Job Series 0560) Procurement Analyst (Job Series 1102) Foreign Affairs Officer (Job Series 0130) Visa Specialist (Job Series 0967) Engineer (Job Series 0800) As with all Federal Agencies, most current or former Executive Branch competitive service Federal civilian employees, Veterans eligible for veterans’ preference, and persons with non-competitive appointment eligibility (referred to as “Federal Employee” applicants) enjoy broader eligibility for federal jobs than those who do not.   This latter category of applicants (referred to as “U.S. Citizen” applicants) is limited to applying for jobs open to the general public.  There are many more vacancies for “Federal Employees” than for “U.S. Citizens.”  This is also the case for the other Executive Branch Departments and Agencies overviewed in this series of Blogs. Need Help with your Federal Resume for the Department of State? Complete our Request Quote for Federal Resume to ask for a QUOTE for professional writing services for your federal resume. THE NEXT BLOG IN THE FEDERAL AGENCY SERIES WILL FOCUS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. Federal Resume Guidebook 6th Edition New January 2016! For federal employees seeking new positions Our flagship title is completely updated for 2016. With a focus on writing the best Federal Resume for USAJOBS and other online federal resume builders, the Federal Resume Guidebook provides comprehensive, in-depth guidance on how to craft the perfect federal application to change jobs or get promoted. The sixth edition also includes information for individuals in the fields of Information Technology, Acquisition Management, and Management and Program Analysts, as well as for those seeking a career change. Order in print or ebook Ellen Lazarus is a Resume Place Certified Federal Job Search Trainer, Federal Resume Writer and Career Coach.   She is a former Legislative Branch senior executive.

How to solve silent problems Dont avoid conflict; solve it

How to solve silent problems Don’t avoid conflict; solve it How to solve silent problems Don’t avoid conflict; solve it “It’s unbelievable how much you don’t know about the game you’ve been playing all your life.” - Mickey MantleThe most important role of a leader is to face reality.Understanding what lies ahead is critical to making the right decisions. Accepting reality requires to remain open to new information - especially the one that challenges what we know for sure.Avoidance doesn’t make issues go away - sugarcoating the truth only makes them worse. Surprisingly, denying reality is the main reason CEOs get fired. A team can only solve the problems they talk about.Denial Is dangerous“The health of an organization is measured by the lag time between when you feel it and discuss it.” - Joseph GrennyFreud referred to denial as “the state of knowing but not knowing.”I see this all the time when coaching teams - people know what’s wrong at their organization but they act as if they didn’t. Fear and lack of support have turned everyone silent - rather than speaking up; th ey operate in denial.Defense mechanisms help us survive losses or dramatic news. We deny something terrible happened because we can’t accept it to be true. If data is showing our business is having problems, we tend to believe the information is incorrect - we are not wrong, the data is.Denial helps us cope with grief. However, when we can’t move past denial, we become ignorant.Overconfidence and sticking to what used to work fuel denial. Once a team has solved a problem more than once, they stop looking for new ways to solve it. Acting in denial is why most CEOs lose their jobs- they fail to deal with the realities of change, underperforming employees, customers’ needs and reality itself.Why CEOs Get Fired, by Mark MurphyThere’s a much bigger problem than CEOs acting in denial: When their teams follow the same pattern. Silencing problems become part of the culture.Operating in denial is not a one-off, but a pattern that develops through time as Richard Tedlow, explains in his book Denial: Why Business Leaders Fail to Look Facts in the Face.The Harvard professor believes that denial is the major reason why most companies disappear. He provides the example of how the ‘great’ grocery chain AP was sunk by executives who celebrated only the statistics they liked. Or how many struggling, but respected, companies erect monuments to themselves (like the Sears Tower) instead of tackling their real challenges.Does your organization silence problems?Denial goes hand in hand with short-term and autopilot thinking - we choose to get rid of issues rather than addressing the root cause.When the real problems become silent, organizations end solving the wrong ones. Is denial endemic to your company? Use this checklist to assess how your team operates. Are people ignored or silenced when they speak up? Do most of your team members stay quiet during meetings? Do they agree too easily? Are water cooler conversations animated only until the manager shows up? Are conflicts avoided? Does your company promote silence over tough conversations? Does your organization like to celebrate past successes but fail to address the new reality? Do your team members blame other departments or external factors when things go wrong? Do you tend to sugarcoat bad news or problems rather than confronting reality as is? If you answered ‘yes’ to two or more, your company might be silencing problems.A team can only solve what they talk about. Tedlow suggests that the time to deal with denial is right now. The sooner you address silent problems, the better.He recommends separating rock solid truth from the surrounding haze of assumption. That’s what Jim Burke, CEO of Johnson Johnson, succeeded in doing when Tylenol was mysteriously poisoned in 1982.Here’s how to start addressing silent problems: Name the problem: you can only solve what it’s made explicit. Share the responsibility: when everyone is equally accountable for solving a problem, there’s no room for blame. Destigmatize problems: most organizations associate problems with weaknesses. However, denial is the true sign of being weak - problems are opportunities to improve your game. Create a culture of problem-solving rather than avoidance. Promote healthy conflicts: tensions keep teams at the top of their game. Positive friction creates energy that propels teams forward. Challenge groupthink: successful teams benefit from having a devil’s advocate. Promote diversity of thinking, rotate roles, listen to the power of quiet people - everyone is a sensor that can detect both threats and opportunities. How to solve silent problemsAvoidance is usually rooted in a company’s culture - to make silent problems explicit; you must encourage open dialogue and healthy debates.1. Promote psychological safety:Fear brings the worst out of a team. People avoid discussing the elephant in the room because they are afraid of being ridiculed, criticized or punished. Providing a safe space is the foundation to build open dialogue.Safe doesn’t mean being protective; it’s providing the right conditions for people to behave as adults. Let them name the real problem, address it, and solve it - remove the fear of being fired for speaking up.2. Lead with questions:Leaders prefer to be right than to acknowledge they don’t know. The mighty fall because they deny the new realities - most organizations rather stick to what worked in the past that to admit they don’t have an answer.Let go of perfectionism and promote a culture of curiosity. In a fast-paced and unpredictable world, asking the right questions is what matters the most. No one knows for sure what will work tomorrow.“If I leave the company, what would you like the new CEO to change?” “How can we play better?” versus “What’s driving our success?”Lead with questions, not with perfect answers. Encourage your team to challenge your thinking - success requires not taking anything for granted.3. Encourage continuous feedback:The more you avoid problems, the worse. Anticipate the snowballing effect - it’s easier to address small issues before they get out of hands. Many companies keep silencing their problems because they are afraid of facing them. However, postponing that conversation only makes things worse.By encouraging ongoing feedback, people feel comfortable discussing issues as they arise - it’s easier to speak up about small issues than complicated ones. Feedback is a gift - making it a regular practice turns an avoidance culture into one of dialogue.4. Celebrate mistakes, not just wins:There’s nothing wrong with celebrating wins. But, when acknowledging the great stuff is the only thing that’s addressed publicly, people tend to hide the n ot-so-good news.Celebrating mistakes is not saying that errors are okay - it’s the lesson that counts. Mistakes are a required stop, not the final destination - they are necessary for learning and experimentation. Embrace them as part of the innovation journey.5. Turn naming problems into a habit:You can’t afford to deny denial - become comfortable with addressing it. Create regular spaces to encourage people to talk about silent problems. Here are a couple of effective ways to get started.Mindset Check-in: an intentional practice to create team awareness at the beginning of regular meetings. Each participant shares “what’s got your attention?” before the work conversation starts. When people can name the real problems, it’s easier to focus on getting the job done. Learn more.Anxiety Parties: Google developed this practice to encourage teams to unload both individual and collective anxieties. Openly discussing what’s causing stress is an effective way to make proble ms explicit - it’s better to focus on the solution than to be the victim of silent anxieties.- - - You can’t afford to deny denial. Solve your silent problems. Learn to recognize avoidance. Silencing issues will not make them disappear; it will only make things worse.Naming problems is the first step toward solving them. Encourage your team to speak up - curiosity and resolution are the way to go.Improve your change fitnessDownload a free copy of my guide “7 Ways to Improve Change Fitness.”This article first appeared on Medium.

How to plan ahead so you can splurge all summer

How to plan ahead so you can splurge all summer How to plan ahead so you can splurge all summer It’s mid-June, which means that we’re in full swing for summertime! Although summer is never as fun as it was when we were in school and had the summers off, it’s still a time that encourages us to spend more time with friends and more time outside. It’s also a time of year that inspires us to spend more money, since we’re being more social and often traveling more.It often seems like you either have to be a hermit during the summer to stay on budget or just blow the whole thing and go off track for months. But I don’t think it has to be an either/or situation. There are ways to plan ahead in the winter and spring so that you’re financially ready for summer. Do these things so you can feel like you’re “splurging” all summer!Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Maintain a fun fundI’m a huge proponent of the fun fund. Basically, this is a savings account that is created and funded just for fun things for you. This could be anything, but some examples are: shopping, traveling, getting your nails done, going to a bottomless brunch, etc. I most often use my fun fund for buying new clothes or taking a weekend trip. It’s really great to just always know that I have money set aside for these things as they pop up. Of course, you have to continue funding this fund in order to maintain it, or else you’ll just deplete it over time. Assign a monthly amount that you want to deposit into this account year-round. As long as you’re not withdrawing constantly all year, you’ll have plenty of money to use once summer comes. Of course, if you get to summer and don’t have as much money saved as you’d like, you should increase your monthly savings amount for the next year.Prioritize activitiesGet clear on what the most important activities are going to be for you. Is it making sure you can get in on those weekend trips out of town? Or is it goi ng to be jazz in the garden every Friday night? As the summer is getting started, identify those things that you want to make sure you can always do (or plan ahead for a big weekend trip). If you decide which things are must-haves, you can more easily say “no” to the things that aren’t as exciting or impactful to you.Be creativeHaving fun during the summer doesn’t just have to look like going out for drinks on a rooftop bar or going on a weekend trip to the beach. You can have a great time doing things that are more cost effective. Throw a tiki-themed happy hour on your own patio or in your apartment. Host a potluck where everyone brings their favorite summer dish. It takes a little more effort to be creative and come up with new ideas, but it can be even more fun when you aren’t spending more than you can afford.Cut back in other areasIf you want to live it up this summer and do the things you love the most, you might have to cut back in other areas. Identify the things t hat you don’t value and see how you can lower or eliminate your spending on them. For example, a former client of mine realized that she was spending literally thousands of dollars on Uber and Starbucks. Those are not services and products that she deeply values, and that money could be going to other priorities, like travel and getting out of debt. What are the things that you’re spending on that aren’t moving you towards the things you love? How can you cut back?Have a fantastic summer! And share your summer budgeting hacks in the comments below!You might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people