Nanoparticles Kill Cancer

Nanoparticles Kill Cancer Nanoparticles Kill Cancer Nanoparticles Kill CancerOf the mora than 200 types of krebs that threaten the human organism, lung cancer is the deadliest. Its responsible for some 27 percent of all cancer deaths, and less than 20 percent of those diagnosed with the disease will beat it. The attempt to do so usually involves chemotherapy, radiation, or lobectomy, all of which come with difficult side effects. Now theres some hope that the nearly half-million people with lung cancer could some day be treated with an inhaler and a few magnets. The key to the possible treatment is the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle. Jayanth Panyam, a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics at the University of Minnesota, has shown in lab work with rats and mice how the method would work. Patients would first suck the nanoparticles into their lungs. Then, they would be surrounded by an oscillating magnetic field, which would heat up the particles. If you can localize these particles in or next to the tumor cells then you can heat the tumor cells and then they die, he says. Panyam proved the effectiveness of the technique by injecting nanoparticles into tumors in mice. When he subsequently put the mice inside of a small magnetic coil and turned on the juice, he successfully killed tumor cells. To get the particles to where they need to be, and away from healthy cells, the nanoparticles would likely be attached to peptides that would attach onto tumors. Then you would have a more selective tumor cell kill, says Panyam. The heat given off by the particles dissipates within mere microns, so nearby healthy cells will, for the most part, remain unscathed. The hope is that, yes, you may have some nonspecific distribution to the healthy cells, but if the concentrations are not high enough you wouldnt induce enough heat to kill the cells, he says. Tumor growth in each group of mice monitored over four weeks after nanoparticle-induced magnetic hyperthermi a treatment. Image Jayanth Panyam As of now, the technique attacks only the surface of a tumor. Panyams lab is working on creating a protein cocktail that would help the particles shoot through the tumor matrix. But however deep such nano drills might penetrate, theyre not likely to extinguish a tumor entirely on their own. This would probably not be a stand-alone treatment, says Panyam. Panyams most recent paper shows that the way the cells die depends on the size of the particles. Researchers had thought the magnetically heated particles killed cells by inducing hyperthermia, a slow form of death, he says. But Panyam found that larger aggregates of nanoparticles were killing tumor cells in an entirely different manner. The oscillating magnetic field was causing the particles to actually move. The heat coming from the particles wasnt what was killing the cells. Instead, the particles were literally ripping open the cell membrane. These micron-sized aggregates actually induce necros is, the more violent form of death, says Panyam. The finding was so surprising that Panyam and his colleagues thought perhaps the larger particles were heating up more and perhaps burning a hole through cell membranes. But when they put the particles and cells in a cool bath, they found that when hit with the magnetic field, they killed the cells in the same way. In cancer that might actually be more beneficial. Necrosis can stimulate an immune response, and that is more effective in eliminating tumor growth, says Panyam. Whatever the size of the particles and how they do their killing, the technique might not be limited to inhalation and lung cancer. When the surgeon goes in and cuts out the tumor, you could introduce the particles right on the site of the tumor, Panyam says. With the right proteins, and afew more studies, it may someday be the smallest particles that take down one of the biggest killers. Michael Abrams is an independent writer. Learn more at ASME 2015 4th Global C ongress on NanoEngineering for Medicine and Biology For Further DiscussionIf you can localize these particles in or next to the tumor cells then you can heat the tumor cells and then they die.Prof. Jayanth Panyam, University of Minnesota

Veterans

VeteransUniform Regulations For Air Force Retirees / VeteransWhether you are retired Air Force or served and now classify as a veteran of the Air Force, there are rules to where, when and how you can wear the uniform and medals and ribbons on civilian clothing. Naturally the retired member is granted more frequency to wearing the uniform but only for certain occasions. A retired member of the military are granted many privileges to active military bases, stores and services, as well as receives a pension and medical / dental benefits. Typically to achieve this level of privilege, one much serve for at least 20 years, however being medically retired due to injury or illness is aleidher way to receive similar benefits as a retired member in the military. These members also qualify for the following uniform authorizations The Rules for Retirees Air Force retirees may wear the uniform under the following circumstances Formal Settings - Events such as military ceremonies,funerals, we ddings, memorial services, and inaugurals are all appropriate places to wear the uniform. Traveling to and from any of these functions as well as the ones listed below while in uniform is permitted however the travel while in uniform must be less that 24 hours of the event starting time. Holiday Events - There are many days where the uniform of the military retiree is appropriately worn. Holidays such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day on other such events as patriotic parades when military units are participating or being honored. Educational Institutions - When part of giving military instructions or responsible for military discipline the retiree may also take part and observe while in uniform. Social Events or other functions when the invitation to the event is because of the retired service members prior service and acquaintances related to that service. Air Force retirees may wear any of the uniform as prescribed at date of retirement according to Air Force Instruction 36-2903. Retirees should wear the retirement lapel button on the left lapel. Retired Airmen receive the retired lapel button at retirement. If the retired Airmen welches in command at the squadron, group or wing level can wear the command insignia pin on the left lapel, below the retired lapel button. Senior Enlisted retirees whose last assignment before retirement was a first sergeant and/or command chief may wear appropriate chevrons in all instances the uniform is worn The Rules for Veterans A veteran is defined by a prior military service member who served honorably in any of the branches of the military and Coast Guard (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) as an officer of enlisted. Discharged Veterans. Veterans who served honorably (this includes honorable and general discharges) in the Air Force (including service with an air component of the Army before the Air Force was established), during a declared or undeclared war, may wear the uniform Formal Settings- Event s such as military ceremonies,funerals, weddings, memorial services, and inaugurals are all appropriate places to wear the appropriate uniform. Traveling to and from any of these functions as well as the ones listed below while in uniform is permitted however the travel while in uniform must be less that 24 hours of the event starting time. Holiday Events- There are many days where the uniform of the military retiree is appropriately worn. Holidays such as the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day on other such events as patriotic paradeswhen military units are participating or being honored. And any other event required by law.Separated Airmen (regardless of whether or not they served during a time of war) may wear the uniform from place of discharge to home, within 3 months after discharge. Medal of Honor Recipients TheMedal of Honor is obviously special and the recipients deserve the benefits and may wear the uniform at any time except the following events or situati ons Public or Political Speeches - Participating in public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches or rallies, or in any public demonstration when the Air Force sanction of the cause for which the activity is conducted may be implied. Personal or Political Gain - The MOH recipient may notfurther political activities, private employment, or commercial interests wearing the medal and / or the uniform. Civilian Employment - MOH recipients may not wear the medal while working in an off-duty civilian capacity. Civil or Criminal Court - The MOH recipient may not wear the medal while participating in civilian court proceedings when the conviction would bring discredit to military service. Note Any individual wearing a US Military uniform is expected to reflect the high personal appearance standards and esprit de corps that the US Military in uniform represent. To this end, particular attention will be paid not only to the correct and military wear of uniform components, but also to the individuals personal and physical appearance. All personnel exercising the privilege of wearing a US Military uniform will comply fully with their services grooming and weight control standards. Air Force Instruction 36-2903addresses the wear of Air Force uniforms by Air Force retirees and Air Force veterans.

Best Companies for Women Seeking Executive Positions

Best Companies for Women Seeking Executive PositionsBest Companies for Women Seeking Executive PositionsYou are a woman seeking out the best companies to pursue an executive position.But you have a problem. You are aware that there are still forms of institutionalized gender bias in the workplace.It could be a companys culture. It could be that they still ask for salary history during an interview and base their offer off of previous, unfair, and gender-biased wages.You need to find a company willing to invest in the future of achieving gender equality in the workplace.Read the recently posted list of Top 1000 Companies Worldwide for Millennial Women in 2018, presented by Mogul, the women-only tech platform that enables women worldwide to openly share knowledge with each other. Century-old multinational companies investing in gender equalityCompanies like Philips (1891), Mars (1915), and Kraft Heinz (Kraft 1903 Heinz 1869) were founded during times when women did not even have the r ight to vote in the USAStatistically, the only time companies saw an influx of women into the workplace was during and after a major war that required men to leave jobs. Even still, women were never given leadership positions.These same companies that existed during major wars, the Suffrage Movement, the Civil Rights Era, and the 1970s Equal Rights Amendment movement, are now investing in the futurePHILIPSAt Philips, we strongly believe that diversity is a requirement to remain a high performing organization. We are stepping up to improve ur inclusiveness to leverage the full potential of our employees whilst better serving our increasingly diverse customer base. We are taking intentional actions to empower the career growth of women and increase diversity in leadership positions. As such, we are proud to be named on Moguls 2018 diversity award list in recognition of our progress. - Ronald de Jong, Chief HR Officer, Royal PhilipsOne of the greatest opportunities we have to future-pr oof the success of Philips is to harness the diverse nature of talent that exists within the Millennial generation. We have started to see grassroots movements in the company, whereby groups of energetic millennials are stepping up and leading innovative and scalable change. We are honored to support and fuel their passion for making a positive difference in the world. - Cynthia Burkhardt, Global Head of Talent Acquisition, Royal PhilipsMARSAt Mars, every one of us is unique and every one of us matters. - Michelle Thomas, Global DI DirectorWe believe that inclusion unlocks diversity. When Associates feel included, they want to stay and grow with us. Some companies count people. We are very intentional about making people count. - Michelle Thomas, Global DI DirectorEveryone in the organization is a leader. From the bottom to the top, its everyones responsibility to create inclusion. Inclusion is a way of being, and how you show up every day. -Michelle Thomas, Global DI DirectorKRAFTA t Kraft Heinz, we believe that our culture of Ownership Meritocracy helps us attract a diverse talent base. Diversity in our workforce creates an inclusive work environment and allow us to lean into Our Vision To be the Best Food Company, Growing a Better World.Given these companies are now global brands in a global company, the opportunities for women seeking executive positions is looking better than ever.At the current time, only 11% of women hold the highest paying jobs in corporate America. However, US companies and others worldwide in this Top 1000 list are looking to simultaneously create cultures that support the development of female talent.Resources will be provided so that women who want to become the executives of tomorrow will be afforded the same opportunities as men

12% say theyd prefer a new iPhone over a better credit score

12% say theyd prefer a new iPhone over a better credit score12% say theyd prefer a new iPhone over a better credit scoreNew WalletHub data ahead of the expecteddisplay of new iPhones onSeptember 12 shows that 12% of Americans surveyed say that theyd prefer a new iPhone to a better credit score.Its also important to note that 28% said they wanted to buy the new iPhone that is launching later this year, while 72% reported that this is not in their plans.Overall, 46% said they had an iPhone, 47% said they had an Android, and 7% said they had another kind of phone. The company polled mora than 480 Americans for the research.How people feel about iPhones versus credit scoresAmericans have some pretty strong opinions when it comes to both.The WalletHub data shows that 34% think their phone has more of an influence on their life than their credit score,and the 19% say theyd prefer unlimited cell phone data to an excellent credit score.A whopping 48% of people said that they would rather let a stranger access their credit score than their phone. But broken down further in terms of age, 53% of those 18-29, 48% of those 30-44, 51% of those 45-59, and 55% of those 59 and older agreed.While 88% of people surveyed think that parents should provide their children with a cell phone before a credit card, 12% still think a credit card should come first.The survey also showed that 61% of people think credit reports are easier to understand than cell phone agreements, and 29% said they didnt know that cell phone companies sometimes check credit.But when asked about who they trust more with your personal data, 41% said Apple, 33% said Google and 26% said the government.The survey also makes it clear that some people wouldnt have a problem going to great lengths to get a new iPhone.Some people are willing to go into debt for a new iPhoneLewis Davis, Professor of Economics at Union College, weighed in on the finding that 11% of respondents think the new iPhone is worth going into de bt for.iPhones are becoming more than phones. They are quite functional little computers. Economically, it makes sense to go into debt for items that deliver services over several years. Of course, this includes things like a house or a car, or even a college education, which pays-off over an individuals lifetime. If you tend to get a new phone every three years, however, then you shouldnt take out a five-year loan to pay for it. More generally, consumer debt tends to rise when peoples economic prospects are good, which they currently are, he told the site.

Do you need to go to parent school

Do you need to go to parent schoolDo you need to go to parent schoolHow do you entertain a grumpy three-year-old? My strategy is generally (a) panic (b)rustle about in my bag for some breadsticks or if shes lucky a coluring book (c)pfote over my iPhone and let zu sich watch some cartoons all the while worrying Im stunting zu sich brain development.My friend, however, has a different strategy. One morning we were enjoying a coffee when, to distract her three-year-old daughter, she serenely reached into her bag and pfoteed her a sheet of paper with six or seven three-letter words on it and a red pen. She then proceeded to read the words out at random, while her daughter correctly circled each one. It was impressive. I was horrified.Id never considered doing similar activities with my own daughter, just fur months younger. Although we read to her before bed each night, Id always assumed formal reading and writing was just something shed pick up when she went to school. Perhaps Id got it terribly wrong.About a week later, when dropping my daughter off at nursery, I was handed a leaflet about parenting classes. Like many mums, no one taught me how to raise my children Ive simply muddled by on instinct and the odd book. But perhaps theres a mora evidence-based way to raise happy and successful kids. Maybe I needed to enrol at Parent School. Thomas SlaterTrends in parenting have waxed and waned over the years. Although once upon a time, new parents simply fell back on the wisdom and experience of their extended families, doctors started getting involved from the late 19th century onwards. Today theres no shortage of Supernannys, paediatricians and psychiatrists serving up often conflicting parenting advice. New parents can choose any number of approaches dateianhang parenting, minimalist parenting, Tiger Mom parenting.Even politicians are getting in on the act. In 2012, UK Prime Minister David Cameron launched CANparent, a heavily subsidised network of parenting c lasses that aspire to teach us all how to become better parents. Parenting has become a public issue, which means its now eating up public funding.All of this begs the question which approach is best? Whereas many parenting trends reflect the opinions of a single psychoanalyst, paediatrician or nanny, CANparents providers claim to draw upon the latest scientific research about how children develop and say their strategies are proven to make a real, positive difference to families. Others, meanwhile, claim that such evidence-based parenting policies are based on distorted science and undermine parents confidence in their ability to raise their children.It transforms the meaning of family life, says Jan Macvarish, who studies the impact of neuroscience on family policy at the University of Kent. It says we will be able to measure the quality of your family life by the intelligence or emotional intelligence of your child.Camerons intervention in this most personal area of family life c ame in response to a report published in 2011, entitled Early Intervention The next steps. On its first page sits an image of a healthy three-year-olds brain and, next to it, a brain approximately half the size labelled extreme neglect. The reports message is simple Many of the costly and damaging social problems in society are created because we are notlage giving children the right type of betreuung in their earliest years, when they should achieve their most rapid development.The report goes on to cite several scientific findings, such as the fact that a childs development score at just 22 months can serve as an accurate predictor of educational outcomes at 26 years. And that while babies are born with 25percent of their brains developed, their brains are 80percent developed by the age of three. In that period, neglect, the wrong type of parenting and other adverse experiences can have a profound effect on how children are emotionallywired, the report says. This will deeply influ ence their future responses to events, andtheir ability to empathise with other people.It makes scary reading for parents like me who have largely muddled through their childrens early years. My kids, now four and two, have probably passed this key window of intervention. If Ive been doing things wrong, it may already be too late.Yet many neuroscientists query the significance of this critical window of development or whether it even exists at all. It may be important to intervene early because the early years come first and may influence later experiences, but later experiences can be very influential in affecting both behaviour and brain structure, says Sir Michael Rutter, professor of developmental psychopathology at Kings College London.That said, why not start early particularly if you can train parents to be mora effective over their entire parenting career? Theres no denying the gulf that exists between the achievements of children from rich and poor areas by the time they start school. For instance, according to the UKs Department for Education, in 2013, 52 per cent of all children reached a good level of development at age five, compared to 36 per cent of children from poorer backgrounds who were eligible for free school meals. Its a similar story in the USA. If you look at overall measures of numeracy and literacy, what you see is a huge gap between kids from families in the top and bottom fifth of the income distribution, says Greg Duncan of the University of California, Irvine, who studies the links between poverty and child development. Whats mora, this gap widens as children age.It may seem logical, then, to look to the quality of a childs parenting to explain it. Maybe unterstellung infant underachievers simply need better stimulation or more rigid boundaries. Thomas SlaterOne solution proposed by the current UK administration is parenting classes from birth not just for poor families, but for everyone. We know that the single most important factor in a childs development is the quality of parenting, yet babies dont come with instructions included, says Vera Azuike of CANparent. Everybody could use a little extra advice or support, but it has to be the right advice.Predominant among the classes offered by CANParent are those provided by an Australian company called Triple P (the Ps stand for Positive Parenting Program). Founded by clinical psychologist Matt Sanders, its original focus was helping children with aggression problems through a series of home visits and interventions drawn from social learning theory the idea that children develop their model of values and behaviour from what they see and experience around them.Triple P claims to be one of the few parenting programmes thats scientifically proven to work, having helped hundreds of thousands of families in 25 different countries to deal with issues ranging from temper tantrums and disobedience to bedtime dramas and teenage rebellion in the 30years since it wa s conceived. Today its a private company, managed by the University of Queenslands technology transfer arm, although Sanders who directs the Universitys parenting and family support centre remains actively involved.There are some key principles that we think are very important to childrens development, he says. The first is that kids grow up in an interesting and engaging environment with age-appropriate things to keep them busy. The second is that children will do better in a world of encouragement and positivity rather than criticism and putdowns. The third principle is really about boundaries and limits umgebung parents should have clear ideas about what they expect of their children, and there should be consistent and predictable consequences if they break those boundaries.Triple P doesnt offer any classes on teaching your three-year-old to read. It does, however, offer a smorgasbord of other parenting interventions, from one-to-one sessions designed to help families experienc ing serious difficulties to group courses and one-off discussion groups, covering issues such as developing good bedtime routines and managing fighting and aggression.I enrol on a two-hour discussion session entitled Dealing with Disobedience at a Childrens Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire. Before going, I ask Sanders what he thinks Id get out of attending a Triple P class. mora than anything else, I think it would give you time to pause and reflect upon how you are dealing with issues with your kids, he tells me. It would enable you to think about the kind of skills, behaviours and values that you want to promote to your children and provide you with a toolkit for accomplishing that.I arrive, eager to learn the secrets of good parenting. The session is being held in a government-funded Childrens Centre in the middle of a large council estate. My first surprise is that many of the 12 parents in attendance already have multiple children some of them teenagers. One of them is Racha el Kelly, 35, a mother of five from Redditch whose children range in age from nine months to 14 years. Surely if anyone knows how to parent, its her. But she tells me shes hoping to get some new ideas Every parent hits a brick wall at some time or another, she says. Children are unique, and they all respond to things differently.After introducing ourselves, one of the first exercises we are asked to do is list the problems we have faced as parents over the past month. I tick complaining or whining, demanding things, answering back and tantrums. We then talk about reasons why children might be disobedient. I underline the section in my handout about tiredness or hunger being common reasons for disobedience it strikes me that most sulkiness occurs when my kids have just come home from nursery or after theyve woken up. Next, we are asked to look at a list of common parent traps and tick those that might apply to us. I tick six of the boxes, including giving attention for schwimmbad be haviour by arguing or negotiating and ignoring good behaviour.Our instructor explains the importance of praising children for doing the right thing, as well as pointing out when theyve done something wrong. Often you get what you praise for, she adds. Im encouraged to think of behaviours that I could look out for and celebrate, such as kindness, tidying up or simply playing quietly together. Were also taught about setting limits for our children and backing those instructions up with consequences. Triple P advocates the use of time out taking your child away from a troublesome situation, possibly to their bedroom or another room, and having them sit quietly for a short time.None of this, frankly, is rocket science. The threat of time out already looms large in our household, although I hadnt come across its gentler cousin, quiet time, where your reaction to disobedience is to make your child sit quietly near the activity they were doing for a couple of minutes while they reflect on what went wrong. Even so, I leave the session feeling uplifted. Talking to other parents reminds me that unterstellung issues are common, and makes me think Im probably not doing such a bad job. Also, as Sanders suggested, taking two hours out of my usual routine to reflect on the values I want to instil in my children, and on how to achieve this, feels as though it was a valuable investment. Thomas SlaterSeveral days after my course, I put my new parenting skills to the test. I take my two children to a local toddler group and my daughter hits the ball pit, showering multicoloured balls around the room. It looks like great fun, but as she meanders off to play with a large plastic kitchen I remind her that she needs to tidy up afterwards. I am ignored, so I try backing up my instruction with some quiet time I ask my daughter to sit with me, and I describe how tired it makes me feel always having to do the tidying up. I beseech her to help me I even suggest that we turn it into a co mpetition, and it works. Soon all the balls are tidied away, and I thank her for working so hard. Although I feel like Supermum, it also feels a little bit contrived. Still, my daughter seems happy, and she responds to the additional praise with a big smile and a thank you in return.I call up Rachael and ask how shes got on. She recounts a similar experience of using quiet time to emphasise the need to share a garden swing. Shes also taken a tip from a session on promoting good bedtime routines, constructing a chart to remind her son of what he needs to do before bed and in what order. It is working brilliantly, she says.Both of us feel a renewed sense of confidence in our ability to parent, and it seems were not alone. A pilot trial of CANParent in the London borough of Camden, Middlesbrough and High Peak in Derbyshire reported that 91 per cent of those who attended classes said they had learned new parenting skills, and 84 per cent said they felt more confident as a result. Sevent y-fivepercent thought their relationship with their children had improved.All the same, I wonder if parenting classes are really the solution to social inequality that some including the UK government would have us believe, especially considering that just 4percent of eligible parents took up the offer of subsidised classes during the CANParent trial. Presumably anyone signing up for parenting classes is already motivated to try to improve their parenting.A week later, I attend a conference in Bristol where a number of parent class providers are setting out their stalls to the local authorities that commission (and pay for) their services. Although each of the providers is trying to hype up their unique selling point, as I work my way around the room I hear the same strategies repeated again and again firm boundaries, loving and responsive care, positive praise.Like Triple P, most of these programmes draw on social learning theory as their base, with a smattering of attachment the ory the idea that a strong emotional bond to at least one caregiver is critical to personal development on the side. Their founders tend to be child psychologists, keen to put their theories about how to get the best out of children into practice. But theres also a financial incentive an eight-week Triple P course costs a local authority approximately 250 per parent, while the Solihull Approachs online course, which is marketed directly to parents, costs 39.Most claim empirical evidence that their interventions work, but some are more evidence-based than others. Sanders cites a recent study that measured outcomes from 16,099 families who had participated in a Triple P programme We found significant positive effects on child social, emotional and behavioural problems, plus significant effects on parenting practices and satisfaction, he says. These are persistent effects that dont disappear once the parent has completed the programme.It sounds impressive, and Triple P can indeed cit e hundreds of other scientific studies, including randomised controlled trials, the gold standard for evaluating how effective a drug or intervention is. Often, though, these studies have relied on parental reports of child behaviour, rather than independent assessment and if parents are feeling better, they may rate their childrens behaviour as less troublesome. The evidence for Triple P providing lasting benefits is also stronger for children with more serious behavioural problems, whose parents receive more intensive parenting support, than for the everyday child on the street whose parent attends group-based classes like I did.Other scientists have raised concerns about a high risk of bias and potential conflicts of interest in many studies that have investigated Triple P. We found no convincing evidence that Triple P interventions work across the whole population or that any benefits are long-term, wrote the authors of a recent analysis that compares previous studies of the pr ogramme.But Triple P isnt the only parenting programme with such methodological issues, adds the reports lead author, Philip Wilson at the University of Aberdeen In general, studies of the effectiveness of parenting programmes have been small, underpowered and have had methodological problems.Thats not to say they dont work. But if parenting classes are supposed to be a prescription for a better society, perhaps we should be demanding the same standard of evidence as we do for new drugs. There is a real need for head-to-head comparisons of different parenting programmes which are adequately powered to see if there is any real benefit, Wilson adds.I think back to my own Triple P experience. I certainly feel like Im putting more effort into how I interact with my children. Even if it makes no difference to their long-term academic or social development, its difficult to see how this could be harmful. But its also true that I might have reaped similar benefits by going to a coffee morn ing and swapping tips with other parents.And the very fact that I had to seek expert advice to confirm that Im good enough at parenting troubles some sociologists. It worries me how many of the things that we all do naturally reading, relaxing, cuddling, singing, talking to our children have been repackaged in a commercialised and expert-led way, says Macvarish. Although what were doing is probably no different to what our own parents and grandparents did when we were infants, were no longer just doing it to provide comfort or entertainment were also doing it to stimulate their brains.For some of us, that added sense of purpose can bring anxiety. Ive certainly had moments where Ive wondered if Im doing enough cuddling, singing or reading with my children, or whether Im somehow stunting their brain development by letting them watch more than an hour of television.However, most of the experts I speak to reassure me that what comes naturally is probably more than enough for most chil dren. As Claire Hughes, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Cambridge, told me The difference between being an adequate parent and Supermum well, its diminishing returns, frankly. Thomas SlaterAccording to Hughes, the children we really need to be thinking about are those facing toxic levels of stress, and whose parents are unable to provide support because they are facing their own health problems or other concerns. By placing such a strong emphasis on parenting, are we leaching resources away from other social issues that need to be tackled to really close the gap between rich and poor kids?Partly what parents get from attending a parenting class is a sense of reassurance and the support and companionship of other parents, and thats so important, says Val Gillies at London South Bank University. The problem comes if you present parenting classes as the key to social mobility.So if inadequate parenting isnt to blame for the poorer academic performance of chi ldren from low-income families, what is? Gillies points out that family income and parental education have a far greater impact on childrens educational attainment and wellbeing than any particular parenting style. Money doesnt just buy your children toys, books and a house in a good school catchment area it can also buy museum trips and foreign holidays, which enhance childrens knowledge about the wider world.One of the roadblocks to literacy and more general achievement once kids get to school is the background knowledge that will enable them to understand what they are reading about, says Duncan. That kind of background knowledge is conveyed effortlessly in a lot of households with higher socioeconomic status.Education is another factor that often goes hand in hand with affluence. Studies have found that highly educated parents are more likely to read to their children, and use a wider vocabulary and more descriptive sentences when speaking to them. They are also more inclined to use mathematical language terms like more and less or half and quarter.Vocabulary development is critical for your ability to communicate, your understanding of the world and your ability to decode the meaning of novel words as youre reading them, says Fred Morrison, a psychologist at the University of Michigan. A childs understanding of mathematical language may also influence their rate of mathematical development and achievement in late preschool and the early school period.Obviously, its easier to send mums and dads to parenting classes than it is to tackle inequalities in wealth or persuade parents to go back to college and boost their own education. Yet at least one study has suggested that when poorly educated young mothers return to school, their childrens academic performance particularly their reading skills also increases. Thomas SlaterIn recent years, some American kindergartens have introduced a teaching method known as Tools of the Mind, which is specifically desig ned to foster a set of skills called executive function in preschool children. A good analogy is to an air traffic controller, says Duncan. Its about being able to keep a lot of things up in the air at the same time, so it involves working memory, impulse control and being able to shift from thinking about one thing to another.Until recently, executive function wasnt thought to tritt in until adolescence it certainly wasnt something people thought you could train. Yet some recent studies have suggested that executive function is a good indicator of later literacy, numeracy and general personal adjustment.In 2007, a study published in Science found that preschool children who completed a Tools of the Mind programme had higher levels of self-control than children who received a standard preschool education. One strategy that Tools of the Mind teachers use is engaging children in extended sessions of make-believe, where they are encouraged to plan scenarios that change as their play pr ogresses and to swap roles.High-quality childcare has been shown to balance out some of the effects of social deprivation. Nursery teachers are often trained in how to teach basic numeracy and literacy to young children, as well as helping them to solve problems for themselves using a technique known as scaffolding. You might have a child who is completely unable to do a jigsaw, but when supported by an adult they can complete it, says Hughes. One potential alternative to parent classes is to skip the parents and target the children directly, using methods such as Tools of the Mind.Yet more recent studies have cast doubt on how much of a difference Tools of the Mind truly makes to childrens development. If you really want to know what skills or behaviours best equip children to be successful at school, its not executive function it is about getting along with others, and its concrete academic numeracy and literacy skills, says Duncan. Its not a case of bringing three- and four-year- olds into a classroom and lecturing to them, but building structured learning experiences into their play activities.Of course, middle-class, well-educated parents like me seize upon statements like this, wanting to know how do I do that? And yet many of the things proven to be associated with better early school grades immersing children in language, talking about mathematical concepts, scaffolding are things were doing already. Kids from middle-class families are generally supported to fulfil their potential, whatever their genetic tendencies, says Adam Perkins, a personality researcher at Kings College London.Even so, middle-class parents arent perfect. If parenting classes have taught me anything, its the value of paying attention to your child even when theyre being good. All too often Ive caught myself using this kind of quiet time to check for emails or read Twitter, rather than taking an interest in what my children are doing. Its a bad habit Im trying to change.I decide against writing out three-letter words for my daughter to recognise, at least until she shows a genuine interest in reading for herself. Instead, I carry on much as before asking my children to describe leaf shapes when we go for walks, singing songs about numbers and reading them a book or two at bedtime.Although most of us worry from time to time that were not being the best parents we could be, Im inclined to believe that we dont need experts to tell us how to raise our children if were honest about our anxieties and prepared to swap notes with other parents. In 1946, paediatrician Dr jngste Spock wrote the Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, which remains one of the bestselling books of all time. Its opening line Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.How do you entertain a grumpy three-year-old? My strategy is generally (a) panic (b)rustle about in my bag for some breadsticks or if shes lucky a colouring book (c)hand over my iPhone and let her watch some ca rtoons all the while worrying Im stunting her brain development.My friend, however, has a different strategy. One morning we were enjoying a coffee when, to distract her three-year-old daughter, she serenely reached into her bag and handed her a sheet of paper with six or seven three-letter words on it and a red pen. She then proceeded to read the words out at random, while her daughter correctly circled each one. It was impressive. I was horrified.Id never considered doing similar activities with my own daughter, just four months younger. Although we read to her before bed each night, Id always assumed formal reading and writing was just something shed pick up when she went to school. Perhaps Id got it terribly wrong.About a week later, when dropping my daughter off at nursery, I was handed a leaflet about parenting classes. Like many mums, no one taught me how to raise my children Ive simply muddled by on instinct and the odd book. But perhaps theres a more evidence-based way to raise happy and successful kids. Maybe I needed to enrol at Parent School. Thomas SlaterTrends in parenting have waxed and waned over the years. Although once upon a time, new parents simply fell back on the wisdom and experience of their extended families, doctors started getting involved from the late 19th century onwards. Today theres no shortage of Supernannys, paediatricians and psychiatrists serving up often conflicting parenting advice. New parents can choose any number of approaches attachment parenting, minimalist parenting, Tiger Mom parenting.Even politicians are getting in on the act. In 2012, UK Prime Minister David Cameron launched CANparent, a heavily subsidised network of parenting classes that aspire to teach us all how to become better parents. Parenting has become a public issue, which means its now eating up public funding.All of this begs the question which approach is best? Whereas many parenting trends reflect the opinions of a single psychoanalyst, paediatri cian or nanny, CANparents providers claim to draw upon the latest scientific research about how children develop and say their strategies are proven to make a real, positive difference to families. Others, meanwhile, claim that such evidence-based parenting policies are based on distorted science and undermine parents confidence in their ability to raise their children.It transforms the meaning of family life, says Jan Macvarish, who studies the impact of neuroscience on family policy at the University of Kent. It says we will be able to measure the quality of your family life by the intelligence or emotional intelligence of your child.Camerons intervention in this most personal area of family life came in response to a report published in 2011, entitled Early Intervention The next steps. On its first page sits an image of a healthy three-year-olds brain and, next to it, a brain approximately half the size labelled extreme neglect. The reports message is simple Many of the costly an d damaging social problems in society are created because we are not giving children the right type of support in their earliest years, when they should achieve their most rapid development.The report goes on to cite several scientific findings, such as the fact that a childs development score at just 22 months can serve as an accurate predictor of educational outcomes at 26 years. And that while babies are born with 25percent of their brains developed, their brains are 80percent developed by the age of three. In that period, neglect, the wrong type of parenting and other adverse experiences can have a profound effect on how children are emotionallywired, the report says. This will deeply influence their future responses to events, andtheir ability to empathise with other people.It makes scary reading for parents like me who have largely muddled through their childrens early years. My kids, now four and two, have probably passed this key window of intervention. If Ive been doing thi ngs wrong, it may already be too late.Yet many neuroscientists query the significance of this critical window of development or whether it even exists at all. It may be important to intervene early because the early years come first and may influence later experiences, but later experiences can be very influential in affecting both behaviour and brain structure, says Sir Michael Rutter, professor of developmental psychopathology at Kings College London.That said, why not start early particularly if you can train parents to be more effective over their entire parenting career? Theres no denying the gulf that exists between the achievements of children from rich and poor areas by the time they start school. For instance, according to the UKs Department for Education, in 2013, 52 per cent of all children reached a good level of development at age five, compared to 36 per cent of children from poorer backgrounds who were eligible for free school meals. Its a similar story in the USA. If you look at overall measures of numeracy and literacy, what you see is a huge gap between kids from families in the top and bottom fifth of the income distribution, says Greg Duncan of the University of California, Irvine, who studies the links between poverty and child development. Whats more, this gap widens as children age.It may seem logical, then, to look to the quality of a childs parenting to explain it. Maybe these infant underachievers simply need better stimulation or more rigid boundaries.One solution proposed by the current UK administration is parenting classes from birth not just for poor families, but for everyone. We know that the single most important factor in a childs development is the quality of parenting, yet babies dont come with instructions included, says Vera Azuike of CANparent. Everybody could use a little extra advice or support, but it has to be the right advice.Predominant among the classes offered by CANParent are those provided by an Australian c ompany called Triple P (the Ps stand for Positive Parenting Program). Founded by clinical psychologist Matt Sanders, its original focus was helping children with aggression problems through a series of home visits and interventions drawn from social learning theory the idea that children develop their model of values and behaviour from what they see and experience around them.Triple P claims to be one of the few parenting programmes thats scientifically proven to work, having helped hundreds of thousands of families in 25 different countries to deal with issues ranging from temper tantrums and disobedience to bedtime dramas and teenage rebellion in the 30years since it was conceived. Today its a private company, managed by the University of Queenslands technology transfer arm, although Sanders who directs the Universitys parenting and family support centre remains actively involved.There are some key principles that we think are very important to childrens development, he says. T he first is that kids grow up in an interesting and engaging environment with age-appropriate things to keep them busy. The second is that children will do better in a world of encouragement and positivity rather than criticism and putdowns. The third principle is really about boundaries and limits setting parents should have clear ideas about what they expect of their children, and there should be consistent and predictable consequences if they break those boundaries.Triple P doesnt offer any classes on teaching your three-year-old to read. It does, however, offer a smorgasbord of other parenting interventions, from one-to-one sessions designed to help families experiencing serious difficulties to group courses and one-off discussion groups, covering issues such as developing good bedtime routines and managing fighting and aggression.I enrol on a two-hour discussion session entitled Dealing with Disobedience at a Childrens Centre in Redditch, Worcestershire. Before going, I ask San ders what he thinks Id get out of attending a Triple P class. More than anything else, I think it would give you time to pause and reflect upon how you are dealing with issues with your kids, he tells me. It would enable you to think about the kind of skills, behaviours and values that you want to promote to your children and provide you with a toolkit for accomplishing that.I arrive, eager to learn the secrets of good parenting. The session is being held in a government-funded Childrens Centre in the middle of a large council estate. My first surprise is that many of the 12 parents in attendance already have multiple children some of them teenagers. One of them is Rachael Kelly, 35, a mother of five from Redditch whose children range in age from nine months to 14 years. Surely if anyone knows how to parent, its her. But she tells me shes hoping to get some new ideas Every parent hits a brick wall at some time or another, she says. Children are unique, and they all respond to thing s differently.After introducing ourselves, one of the first exercises we are asked to do is list the problems we have faced as parents over the past month. I tick complaining or whining, demanding things, answering back and tantrums. We then talk about reasons why children might be disobedient. I underline the section in my handout about tiredness or hunger being common reasons for disobedience it strikes me that most sulkiness occurs when my kids have just come home from nursery or after theyve woken up. Next, we are asked to look at a list of common parent traps and tick those that might apply to us. I tick six of the boxes, including giving attention for bad behaviour by arguing or negotiating and ignoring good behaviour.Our instructor explains the importance of praising children for doing the right thing, as well as pointing out when theyve done something wrong. Often you get what you praise for, she adds. Im encouraged to think of behaviours that I could look out for and celeb rate, such as kindness, tidying up or simply playing quietly together. Were also taught about setting limits for our children and backing those instructions up with consequences. Triple P advocates the use of time out taking your child away from a troublesome situation, possibly to their bedroom or another room, and having them sit quietly for a short time.None of this, frankly, is rocket science. The threat of time out already looms large in our household, although I hadnt come across its gentler cousin, quiet time, where your reaction to disobedience is to make your child sit quietly near the activity they were doing for a couple of minutes while they reflect on what went wrong. Even so, I leave the session feeling uplifted. Talking to other parents reminds me that these issues are common, and makes me think Im probably not doing such a bad job. Also, as Sanders suggested, taking two hours out of my usual routine to reflect on the values I want to instil in my children, and on ho w to achieve this, feels as though it was a valuable investment.Several days after my course, I put my new parenting skills to the test. I take my two children to a local toddler group and my daughter hits the ball pit, showering multicoloured balls around the room. It looks like great fun, but as she meanders off to play with a large plastic kitchen I remind her that she needs to tidy up afterwards. I am ignored, so I try backing up my instruction with some quiet time I ask my daughter to sit with me, and I describe how tired it makes me feel always having to do the tidying up. I beseech her to help me I even suggest that we turn it into a competition, and it works. Soon all the balls are tidied away, and I thank her for working so hard. Although I feel like Supermum, it also feels a little bit contrived. Still, my daughter seems happy, and she responds to the additional praise with a big smile and a thank you in return.I call up Rachael and ask how shes got on. She recounts a simi lar experience of using quiet time to emphasise the need to share a garden swing. Shes also taken a tip from a session on promoting good bedtime routines, constructing a chart to remind her son of what he needs to do before bed and in what order. It is working brilliantly, she says.Both of us feel a renewed sense of confidence in our ability to parent, and it seems were not alone. A pilot trial of CANParent in the London borough of Camden, Middlesbrough and High Peak in Derbyshire reported that 91 per cent of those who attended classes said they had learned new parenting skills, and 84 per cent said they felt more confident as a result. Seventy-fivepercent thought their relationship with their children had improved.All the same, I wonder if parenting classes are really the solution to social inequality that some including the UK government would have us believe, especially considering that just 4percent of eligible parents took up the offer of subsidised classes during the CANPare nt trial. Presumably anyone signing up for parenting classes is already motivated to try to improve their parenting.A week later, I attend a conference in Bristol where a number of parent class providers are setting out their stalls to the local authorities that commission (and pay for) their services. Although each of the providers is trying to hype up their unique selling point, as I work my way around the room I hear the same strategies repeated again and again firm boundaries, loving and responsive care, positive praise.Like Triple P, most of these programmes draw on social learning theory as their base, with a smattering of attachment theory the idea that a strong emotional bond to at least one caregiver is critical to personal development on the side. Their founders tend to be child psychologists, keen to put their theories about how to get the best out of children into practice. But theres also a financial incentive an eight-week Triple P course costs a local authority appr oximately 250 per parent, while the Solihull Approachs online course, which is marketed directly to parents, costs 39.Most claim empirical evidence that their interventions work, but some are more evidence-based than others. Sanders cites a recent study that measured outcomes from 16,099 families who had participated in a Triple P programme We found significant positive effects on child social, emotional and behavioural problems, plus significant effects on parenting practices and satisfaction, he says. These are persistent effects that dont disappear once the parent has completed the programme.It sounds impressive, and Triple P can indeed cite hundreds of other scientific studies, including randomised controlled trials, the gold standard for evaluating how effective a drug or intervention is. Often, though, these studies have relied on parental reports of child behaviour, rather than independent assessment and if parents are feeling better, they may rate their childrens behaviour as less troublesome. The evidence for Triple P providing lasting benefits is also stronger for children with more serious behavioural problems, whose parents receive more intensive parenting support, than for the everyday child on the street whose parent attends group-based classes like I did.Other scientists have raised concerns about a high risk of bias and potential conflicts of interest in many studies that have investigated Triple P. We found no convincing evidence that Triple P interventions work across the whole population or that any benefits are long-term, wrote the authors of a recent analysis that compares previous studies of the programme.But Triple P isnt the only parenting programme with such methodological issues, adds the reports lead author, Philip Wilson at the University of Aberdeen In general, studies of the effectiveness of parenting programmes have been small, underpowered and have had methodological problems.Thats not to say they dont work. But if parenting cl asses are supposed to be a prescription for a better society, perhaps we should be demanding the same standard of evidence as we do for new drugs. There is a real need for head-to-head comparisons of different parenting programmes which are adequately powered to see if there is any real benefit, Wilson adds.I think back to my own Triple P experience. I certainly feel like Im putting more effort into how I interact with my children. Even if it makes no difference to their long-term academic or social development, its difficult to see how this could be harmful. But its also true that I might have reaped similar benefits by going to a coffee morning and swapping tips with other parents.And the very fact that I had to seek expert advice to confirm that Im good enough at parenting troubles some sociologists. It worries me how many of the things that we all do naturally reading, relaxing, cuddling, singing, talking to our children have been repackaged in a commercialised and expert-led way, says Macvarish. Although what were doing is probably no different to what our own parents and grandparents did when we were infants, were no longer just doing it to provide comfort or entertainment were also doing it to stimulate their brains.For some of us, that added sense of purpose can bring anxiety. Ive certainly had moments where Ive wondered if Im doing enough cuddling, singing or reading with my children, or whether Im somehow stunting their brain development by letting them watch more than an hour of television.However, most of the experts I speak to reassure me that what comes naturally is probably more than enough for most children. As Claire Hughes, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Cambridge, told me The difference between being an adequate parent and Supermum well, its diminishing returns, frankly.According to Hughes, the children we really need to be thinking about are those facing toxic levels of stress, and whose parents are unable to provide support because they are facing their own health problems or other concerns. By placing such a strong emphasis on parenting, are we leaching resources away from other social issues that need to be tackled to really close the gap between rich and poor kids?Partly what parents get from attending a parenting class is a sense of reassurance and the support and companionship of other parents, and thats so important, says Val Gillies at London South Bank University. The problem comes if you present parenting classes as the key to social mobility.So if inadequate parenting isnt to blame for the poorer academic performance of children from low-income families, what is? Gillies points out that family income and parental education have a far greater impact on childrens educational attainment and wellbeing than any particular parenting style. Money doesnt just buy your children toys, books and a house in a good school catchment area it can also buy museum trips and foreign holidays, wh ich enhance childrens knowledge about the wider world.One of the roadblocks to literacy and more general achievement once kids get to school is the background knowledge that will enable them to understand what they are reading about, says Duncan. That kind of background knowledge is conveyed effortlessly in a lot of households with higher socioeconomic status.Education is another factor that often goes hand in hand with affluence. Studies have found that highly educated parents are more likely to read to their children, and use a wider vocabulary and more descriptive sentences when speaking to them. They are also more inclined to use mathematical language terms like more and less or half and quarter.Vocabulary development is critical for your ability to communicate, your understanding of the world and your ability to decode the meaning of novel words as youre reading them, says Fred Morrison, a psychologist at the University of Michigan. A childs understanding of mathematical langu age may also influence their rate of mathematical development and achievement in late preschool and the early school period.Obviously, its easier to send mums and dads to parenting classes than it is to tackle inequalities in wealth or persuade parents to go back to college and boost their own education. Yet at least one study has suggested that when poorly educated young mothers return to school, their childrens academic performance particularly their reading skills also increases.In recent years, some American kindergartens have introduced a teaching method known as Tools of the Mind, which is specifically designed to foster a set of skills called executive function in preschool children. A good analogy is to an air traffic controller, says Duncan. Its about being able to keep a lot of things up in the air at the same time, so it involves working memory, impulse control and being able to shift from thinking about one thing to another.Until recently, executive function wasnt thou ght to kick in until adolescence it certainly wasnt something people thought you could train. Yet some recent studies have suggested that executive function is a good indicator of later literacy, numeracy and general personal adjustment.In 2007, a study published in Science found that preschool children who completed a Tools of the Mind programme had higher levels of self-control than children who received a standard preschool education. One strategy that Tools of the Mind teachers use is engaging children in extended sessions of make-believe, where they are encouraged to plan scenarios that change as their play progresses and to swap roles.High-quality childcare has been shown to balance out some of the effects of social deprivation. Nursery teachers are often trained in how to teach basic numeracy and literacy to young children, as well as helping them to solve problems for themselves using a technique known as scaffolding. You might have a child who is completely unable to do a j igsaw, but when supported by an adult they can complete it, says Hughes. One potential alternative to parent classes is to skip the parents and target the children directly, using methods such as Tools of the Mind.Yet more recent studies have cast doubt on how much of a difference Tools of the Mind truly makes to childrens development. If you really want to know what skills or behaviours best equip children to be successful at school, its not executive function it is about getting along with others, and its concrete academic numeracy and literacy skills, says Duncan. Its not a case of bringing three- and four-year-olds into a classroom and lecturing to them, but building structured learning experiences into their play activities.Of course, middle-class, well-educated parents like me seize upon statements like this, wanting to know how do I do that? And yet many of the things proven to be associated with better early school grades immersing children in language, talking about mathem atical concepts, scaffolding are things were doing already. Kids from middle-class families are generally supported to fulfil their potential, whatever their genetic tendencies, says Adam Perkins, a personality researcher at Kings College London.Even so, middle-class parents arent perfect. If parenting classes have taught me anything, its the value of paying attention to your child even when theyre being good. All too often Ive caught myself using this kind of quiet time to check for emails or read Twitter, rather than taking an interest in what my children are doing. Its a bad habit Im trying to change.I decide against writing out three-letter words for my daughter to recognise, at least until she shows a genuine interest in reading for herself. Instead, I carry on much as before asking my children to describe leaf shapes when we go for walks, singing songs about numbers and reading them a book or two at bedtime.Although most of us worry from time to time that were not being the best parents we could be, Im inclined to believe that we dont need experts to tell us how to raise our children if were honest about our anxieties and prepared to swap notes with other parents. In 1946, paediatrician Dr Benjamin Spock wrote the Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, which remains one of the bestselling books of all time. Its opening line Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.This article first appeared on Mosaic and is republished here under a Creative Commons licence.

Why Everybody Is Completely Mistaken Regarding How to Write a Resume for College

Why Everybody Is Completely Mistaken Regarding How to Write a Resume for College The Bizarre Secret of How to Write a Resume for College Dont neglect to incorporate any exceptional training youve completed or appropriate coursework. A winning scholarship essay is one which truly sets a specific essay besides the others. Its also wise to touch on the skills you possess, but you wish to chat about how you will use them. Writing a resume for an internship can be challenging, particularly if youre just starting to enter the professional world. A resume, actually, is your own bonafide advertising document. In case you have publications or work samples which are linked to your job search, think about putting together one of your own. The easy-to-use on-line tool makes it quick and hassle-free to create your very own personalized perfect resume. Based on your own reasons for going back to school, you will likely need to categorize your experiences in a manner that makes the most s ense. For instance, if your education history isnt specifically linked to the job, put it toward the conclusion of your resume, behind the info thats associated with the job. Most folks look at writing a resume as just something youve got to do to have a job. A lot of people dont like their present job or career. Choosing a professional writer is an investment in your career that may exponentially boost your probability for a telephone interview by turning your previous experiences into your special story. On the reverse side, in the event the work only requires a fundamental understanding of XML, and you list that youre a novice, you get a good possibility of making it in the list of applicants they wish to interview. Bear in mind that the summary is probably going to be the very first thing a recruiter reads on your resume, so concentrate on creating a terrific first impression. Unfortunately, most recruiters only spend 10 to 20 seconds looking at every individual resume, or s o the trick to writing a great resume is to tailor it to the job which you want, highlighting that youve got the abilities and talents necessary to not just qualify for the job, yet to help the business reach its targets. Managers and executives should revolve around business skills together with technical expertise even should they fall into a technical industry. A resume is your very first impression with the provider. If you wish to catch the interest of the hiring manager, you need to give them what they want. 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the substantial cost saving in contrast to traditional hiring methods. If you write in various fields, think about dividing your portfolio into sections. If you are in need of a quick kick-start on developing a template first, take a look at a resume builder before employing a professional. As soon as its only a page or two in length, a resume is among the most important sections of a work application. Well it is all dependent on whether the job posting instructions specify a specific format. You really ought to speak to them in advance, so they are all set to explore your performance with your prospective employer. Building a resume isnt a task youll be able to leave up to chance. Constructing a resume is an intimidating task should you do it alone. Therefore, our aim is to offer you the very best tools you must succeed. No matter your approach, your target is going to be to make a chronological collection of experience thats pertinent to the jobs youre applying to. Speaking of unique, the main purpose of your resume is to make you stick out from the remainder of the folks applying for exactly the same job and another means to create that happen is to use action verbs and power words (also called resume verbs). You also need to tailor your resume to demonstrate the way your work experience specifically meets the requirements of the job which youre applying for. Finally, you wish to attem pt to strike a balance between including experience thats both timely and relevant. There are scores and scores of possible skills to think about using. The Basic Facts of How to Write a Resume for College You need to have five objective statements. Possessing a very clear and professional resume is critical in the health care field. When writing your statement, it is necessary to contemplate where youre in your professional progression. There are a couple factors you must look at.

HRs Role in the Age of Working Remotely - Spark Hire

HRs Role in the Age of Working Remotely - Spark HireThe number of companies with a partial or entire remote workforce has grown significantly over the past decade. As both management and employees navigate new remote capabilities, adjusting the way companies manage employees has become necessary. Within this new reality of a physically disconnected workforce, trust and communication become more important than ever before. Human resources teams must find a way to hire and manage trustworthy remote employees, and employees need a platform to build and earn that trust as well. If youre considering implementing remote work into your business, integrate these tips into your companys remote work policies.Establish ExpectationsOne of the most important things for employees to know is who and how they should ask questions about payroll, their rights as employees, and where to find other employee information and resources. In order to keep track of both in-office and remote employees, impleme nt tools that track hourly activity and calendar tools to dictate working hours. This serves as an informative notice of what hours they work and when they are available to answer questions. You should also make an effort to engage with remote employees regularly through kenntnisse check-ins to both stay on the same page professionally and chit-chat personally.Integrate QuicklyIts important to set remote employees up with the most efficient tools on day one so they familiarize themselves with your tools and processes quickly. This includes providing your remote employees with reliable technology that allows them to get right to work, meaning a computer fully equipped with the tools your in-office team uses every day. A few additional and important tools implement include those for communication, such as instant messaging and video conferencing so they can chat with team members throughout the day. Also consider utilizing voice over IP phone lines to avoid sending a phone company int o your remote employees homes to set up their company phone number.Improve CommunicationWhen it comes to communicating with remote employees, being proactive and intentional is key. Employees away from the office need more attention from and structured forums to communicate with HR professionals to ensure they feel like part of the team. Spend ample time building relationships and personal connections with all employees to make distant coworkers feel included and on the same page with those in-office. One simple way to accomplish this is to create social media groups and chats for remote and in-person employees to discuss mutual interests aside from work.Take Advantage of TechnologyThe onboarding process is often tricky to navigate when implementing remote employees. Acclimating new employees to your companys culture is especially difficult when they arent in the same physical location as their new coworkers. To effectively get your new hire up to speed as quickly as possible, utili ze a digital collaboration database that hosts all of your company policies, benefits plans, marketing materials, mission and vision statements, and goals of each department. Make this platform interactive so new hires can ask questions and save the documents they anticipate referencing the most.As more companies adopt remote capabilities in some capacity, having these HR policies and practices in place will set your company apart from the rest. elend only will this give managers the knowledge they need to properly work with remote employees, but it will also make those remote employees feel like a valuable part of your team. This quarter, take a closer look at what policies your company has in place and make a pledge to update if necessary

Describe Your Strategy For The First 30-60-90 Days

Describe Your Strategy For The First 30-60-90 DaysDescribe Your Strategy For The First 30-60-90 DaysWith the vast amounts of information that you can find online these days, you have all the tools you need to excel during a jobinterview.In spite of the help at their disposal, most job applicants are unprepared.When the time comes to prove yourself, you want to be ready.What will enable you to stand a bit taller than the rest?Being able to describeyour strategy for the first 30-60-90 days of a new job.In fact, this is possibly the strongest resource you can have while youre in the interview process.Why you need a strategyMany people at this stage of a job interviewwill spew clichs with little substance towards the hiring manager.Then theyll hope for the best.Dont be that candidateBy taking the time to prepare ...You show that youre interested in what you are applying forYou demonstrate your willingness to put in the work to get the offerThe guidelines below will help in your approach to this relatively common interview question.(For mora interview questions and answers see our article on the 50 Top Job Interview Questions And Answers.)Tips on creating a 90-day job strategyJust imagine What better way to pitch yourself in a new position than to describe what your plans are for the opportunity?You have the chance to help the hiring manager envision you in the position by describing actual research and realistic goals.This will exponentially increase your chances of receiving an offerNow, you may think this 30-day strategy needs to be a 20-page thesis paper.However, the more focused and to the point your plan is, the better.Stick to a short PowerPoint presentationOr try creating a brief written document (1-3 pages)(To find out how to create a 30-60-90 day plan, see our article How To Create A 30-60-90 Day Plan For An Interview.)When will this interview question come up?Okay, lets assume you have created your plan and have an attractive means of presenting the plan. Now, you must focus on what the hiring manager wants to hear.Here are a couple of tipsOnly discuss the actions and outcomes that you can controlDont get caught up in imaginary targets that are irrelevantRemember that you do notlage know the inner workings of the companyIdeally, this question would be asked in a second interview.In the first interview, you will be able to ask questions and get a more realistic outlook on the company culture and what they will expect of you.Then you will have the time to prepare a strategy that covers the first 30-60-90 days on the job.If you are applying for a position that only requires one interview, you might not have as much time to prepare a specific outline.However, the hiring manager would likely not expect such a polished presentation.Your plan would likely focus on what you can do as a new hire and the hoops you are willing to jump through to be successful.Who needs to answer this question?This question is typically asked of candidates who h ave a lot of freedom to make decisions on their own.Managers and executives will likely hear this question during an interview.Most entry-level jobs have a well-defined job description with little wiggle room.As such, they would not have the same expectations as far as creating a work strategy and seeing it through.However, just because you may be applying for an entry-level job does not mean you cannot build and present a plan.If answering this interview question from an entry-level positionDescribe how you will best utilize your trainingFocus on how you plan to build relationships with your coworkersOutline skills and experience that you would hope to put into practiceIf you are a manager or higher, you have a more extensive background.As such, you would builda plan based on your industry experience and your expectations for your given industry.If your position involves a team working under youGo into detail about how you intend to interact with your new employeesTalk about what s teps you would take to gaintheir trust and respectDelineate a few specific teamworking goals relevant to the positionThis is essential for any managerssuccess as you are only as good as the production of your team.The 90-day plan breakdownSome resources suggest building a flat 90-day plan.Although this is fine, breaking up your plan in 30-day increments can make the plan easier to follow.It displays a step-by-step strategy with each tier building upon the other.The outline below will describe what your plan should focus on for each periodFirst 30 daysFocus on training, finding mentors, and embracing the company culture as it relates to both your job description and the people around you.30-60 daysImplementyour training and experience into action while working with your supervisor to optimize your performance.60-90 daysAdd your personal touch to the position. Be an effective leader/coworker and build relationships that benefit your position and the company as a whole.Its showtimeNow, there is some room to play with your plan as the position calls for it.But do not step out of what you know.The hiring manager will know what a realistic approach to the position is, soyou will not be able to fake it till you make it.But dont let that scare you out of making a plan in the first place.The fact that you have a 30-60-90 day strategy in place will speak volumes about your work ethic and make a great impression on the interviewer.Closing thoughtsRemember, as long as you do your homework and prepare to present your plan, youll separate yourself from other candidates.Prepare to take constructive criticism.Make sure you can back up what you plan to do.Good luckNeed extra help preparing for your job interview?Find My Profession offers an expert career finder service that is guaranteed to help you land your dream job

Tips to Make the Most of Adobe MAX

Tips to Make the Most of Adobe MAXTips to Make the Most of Adobe MAXNeed a boost of fresh inspiration? Then make plans to attend Adobe MAX, November 2-6, in Los Angeles.MAX brings together graphic, web, UX and multidisciplinary designers art and creative directors illustrators video and photography professionals students and educators and other creative pros. Hands-on training from Adobe product experts and best-in-the-business creatives, along with inspiring talks, help attendees ignite their creativity and grow their careers. And because conferences are best when they include both learning and fun, MAX is designed with plenty of time for play and personal innovation.Join us at Adobe MAX- The Creativity Conference, November 2-6 in Los Angeles. Learn new skills and get inspired at this annual celebration of creativity. Save $400 with promo code P19MTCG.What happens at MAX?The MAX preconference begins November 2-3 with twelve preconference courses available as add-ons to a conference pass. These give you plenty of time to go deep with a product or skill.The conference begins on November 4 with an opening keynote from Adobe execs, who will share industry trends and demo the latest features in Adobe Creative Cloud. The rest of the day is spent attending sessions, labs and creativity workshops or hanging out in the Community Pavilion where attendees can visit partner booths, create cool stuff in makers fair experiences, and have a chance to talk with Adobe product teams.On November 5, hear from speakers including photographer Annie Leibovitz and writer, producer and director M. Night Shyamalan. Later in the day, Adobe hosts MAX Sneaks, where product teams show off cool new features that might or might not become a part of the latest product releases. The day ends with a rocking fete, MAX Bash.Be sure to join our own Diane Domeyer, executive director of The Creative Group, and Soowan Scheuermann, managing director of Managed Creative Solutions at Robert Half, for a session on pivoting and taking advantage of change in the workplace. It will include a discussion ofFive transformative technologies and how theyre redefining the workplace and creative jobsHow to build a creative team that delivers world-class resultsThe value of a find a need, fill a need approach to innovation for your company and careerHelping employees prepare for - and get excited about - changeThe final day of MAX wraps up with mora sessions, labs and creativity workshops and a creative marketplace in the Community Pavilion. Thinking of attending? Here are our best MAX hacks for navigating the conference.1. Book your sessions early.Theres a ton of great content at MAX - everything from handson labs taught by product experts to inspirational sessions led by your design heroes. Choose the courses that are right for you and add them to your schedule as soon as possible for the best chance to get your first choices.2. Book your hotel early. Downtown L.A. is a happening place. Reserve a room at the nearby hotels Adobe partners with, and youll be close to all the action.3, Highlight your work. Include your Behance profile name when you register so other MAX attendees can see your work and you can view theirs.4. Dont overbook. Its tempting to pack your schedule with sessions. But make some time to visit the Community Pavilion for art, exhibits, sponsor offers and giveaways. Dont forget to visit the MAX Marketplace to buy directly from all the artists in this large collection of pop-up shops.5. Dont miss MAX Bash This is the ultimate party with food trucks, art installations, live music, and so much more.6. Get social. MAX is filled with people who live, breathe and eat creativity - engage with them on the MAX Facebook and Twitter channels and onsite.Get ready to be inspired, connect with your peers and learn more in one week than you ever thought possible. And remember, friends of The Creative Group save $400 on a full conference pass using promo code P19M TCG when you register.Image courtesy of Adobe.

5 Tips for a Successful Career Change

5 Tips for a Successful Career Change 5 Tips for a Successful Career Change Want to make a smooth career transition? Follow these five steps.Q: I am looking to break into other industries, such as healthcare administration or medical sales. I know I have a transferable set of skills that an employer would value but I am not getting the calls I hope for. Any advice? â€" Matt E., Tucson, AZA: I know it can be incredibly frustrating when you send out application after application and don’t hear back anyone. You are definitely not alone! Let’s be honest â€" searching for a job, especially in this economy, is not fun. Have you ever heard anyone say “I love job seeking!”No? I didn’t think so. Looking for a job â€" and a really good job that you actually want â€" takes time. A LOT of time. It takes patience. And a whole lotta work.Trying to switch industries or change careers is even more challenging because you will rarely meet all the must-have requirements in the job description. But there are some things you can do (and prepare for) that will help set you up for success.When considering a switch, do your researchFocus on identifying an industry that is strong or emerging in your targeted area and has similarities to your current industry experience.If you’re unsure which industries are easiest to transition to, look for former colleagues who held a similar role to you and have moved on to other companies â€" what industries are they working in? What companies have accepted their previous experience? This is a good place to start.Once you’ve identified what industry you want to target, begin immersing yourself in their terminology. Subscribe to industry-specific online newsletters and blogs, join professional groups online and attend networking events or trade shows where you’ll learn more about the industry and meet new people. Identify connections in your current network that work in your targeted industry, and take them out for a cup of coffee to pick their brain. This is a great way to gain valuable insight into the mar ket and uncover unpublished opportunities.Pick one target, not fiveNotice that I said “industry” and not “industries” â€" if you’re going to make a switch, you’re going to have to do a lot of work to become really familiar with that industry. The research I mentioned above takes time.Now imagine doing all of these things multiple times for multiple industries â€" it would get old really fast, believe me. Not to mention that you need to set up your resume and online professional profiles so they are positioned for your new target industry.Do yourself a favor and based off your market research, pick one main industry to pursue for your switch. If you’re switching industries, stay in the same function â€" i.e. if you’re in sales now for one industry and you want to switch industries, target sales jobs in that industry â€" not some other role like corporate finance. One change at a time is challenging enough.Focus on job requirements, your qualifications resultsYour cov er letter and elevator pitch should focus on your ability to deliver results. In your resume, play down the industry of your former positions and play up other aspects of the company (revenue, number of people, ranking, etc.) that may be similar to the companies you’re now targeting. If you’re struggling with repositioning your resume and online brand, don’t be afraid to reach out to the experts for help â€" that’s what they’re here for. There are lots of services out there to will help you rewrite your resume with a switch in mind.When applying to jobs, focus on the nuts and bolts of the job requirements and show how you meet all of those requirements. A “t-format” cover letter  can be a really great way to showcase how you fit these core must-haves.If you’ve worked in multiple industries in the past (especially if you’re in sales), mention this in the cover letter to prove that you have been successful in a variety of industries, and can do it again for this orga nization.For example: “Over the past 10 years I have met or exceeded quota in every role I’ve taken on, in industries ranging from financial services to pharmaceuticals. I excel at immersing myself in new industries, and then applying that knowledge to deliver above-average results. I am eager to put this practice to work for you.”Don’t rely on applications aloneEven with an excellent, well positioned resume and tailored cover letter, you may have difficulty getting a call back if you are only sending out applications online. Especially if the job description emphasizes relevant industry experience as a must-have. This is when networking becomes an even more important part of your job-search strategy.Why? Well, you need people to vouch for your previous experience and get you past the gatekeepers. Your connections in the industry can help you learn about job opportunities that aren’t even published anywhere. Pursuing these job leads (and with someone in the industry advoca ting on your behalf) puts you in a much better position to land the job. You will also gain valuable insight into the hiring process for that industry, and be able to navigate it more smoothly as a result.Show passion … and patienceIt’s imperative that you let your passion for this new industry shine. Why are you interested in this industry? Why is this company so appealing? How does it relate to your previous work? Have you worked in the industry in the past? If so, why are you so interested in returning to this type of work? Remember, this is your sales pitch. You need to find some element of the company or industry that you find particularly interesting or appealing and play that up in your elevator pitch and during interviews.Keep in mind that transitioning to a new role can be a long process, especially in this saturated job market. Be prepared to be in the job hunt for many months â€" many career coaches agree it takes an average of 8 months to find a new job these days, e ven when you’re not looking to make major changes to your career. And that’s only the average! The greater the gap between your job goals and most recent experience, the more challenging this transition can be. It may be necessary to compromise on compensation and job title in your next job in order to get you on the right track towards your targeted role. Think of this job as a ‘stepping stone’ along the way to your dream job.If you’re considering a change, give these best practices a try! I can’t tell you enough how important the research part is in the beginning â€" it will make all the difference! And don’t expect to get away with just sending applications â€" you need to meet people in your new chosen industry, and get them to be your advocates!

4 Ways to Protect Your Personal Brand From Holiday Mishaps

4 Ways to Protect Your Personal Brand From Holiday Mishaps 4 Ways to Protect Your Personal Brand From Holiday Mishaps Plan ahead to save face during corporate events.There are tons of articles out there warning you to be on your best behavior during holiday events, but still, many find themselves the butt of their colleagues’ jokes the next day. I don’t know what it is about holiday parties, but many think it gives them a license to abandon all the rules and let loose, regardless of the consequences.I’ve seen my share of poor holiday performances over the years and have learned a lesson or two along the way. The bottom line: there’s never a good reason to behave badly at a corporate event â€" during the holidays or otherwise. Not only are you damaging your personal brand, but you could be sabotaging your potential advancement at the organization.Even if you are counting down the days till bonuses are delivered so you can quit, don’t burn any bridges that could lead to recommendations, references, or even job leads later in your career. No one wants to stick their neck out for the guy who e nds up in a sit-down with HR the morning after a holiday party. Here are four tips to help you avoid mishaps at the company party:Catch the right attentionShow up on time and spend the first part of the event chatting with your boss and your higher-ups. You’re better off getting your face time in early, before the drinks start flowing or you’re a sweaty mess from dancing. Remember, these events are opportunities to promote your personal brand and network with colleagues you normally don’t work with.Hit up the buffetIf the evening will involve alcoholic beverages, have a game plan. Make sure to hit up the buffet at the beginning of the event to avoid  liquid-only consumption. If you’re unsure of the food situation, do yourself a favor and eat something before you go, or bring a snack with you. I like protein bars because they’re small enough to fit in a suit pocket or slim purse and still fill you up.Stick to the 2-drink ruleIf you’re going to drink, limit yourself to 2 alcoholic beverages, and have a glass of water in between each one. There’s nothing wrong with ordering seltzer with a lime as the night progresses â€" this way, your hands are still full and you’re not in danger of embarrassing yourself with a drunken mishap.Have a plan BHave a buddy at the event to keep you in check. This could be your date or a trusted colleague at the company. Program the number of a taxi or car service into your phone, just in case you or another colleague needs alternative transportation to get home.Everyone likes to have a good time at corporate events â€" but that doesn’t give you license to disregard the rules. Remember that you are an extension of your company’s brand, and behave accordingly. Follow the tips above to keep your reputation intact and your career headed in the right direction.

Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Discusses Space Explorations Future at the Roe Lecture

Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Discusses Space Explorations Future at the Roe Lecture Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Discusses Space Explorations Future at the Roe Lecture Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Discusses Space Exploration’s Future at the Roe Lecture Charles Bolden, the recipient of the 2019 Ralph Coats Roe Medal, discussed his experiences as a NASA Administrator and astronaut during his lecture, “Humanity’s Journey of Exploration.” During his presentation of the Ralph Coats Roe Lecture on June 2 at the ASME Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla., retired Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr., shared the thoughts and insights he gained on the progression of human space flight during his 14 years of experience as an astronaut and two terms as NASA Administrator during President Barack Obamas administration. Bolden, this years recipient of the ASME Ralph Coats Roe Medal, was honored with the award for his outstanding leadership of Americas aeronautics and space programs; for courageous service in the fight to preserve freedom and liberty; and for dedication as a role model, inspiring others through words and actions. Established in 1972, the Ralph Coats Roe Medal recognizes outstanding contributions toward a better public understanding and appreciation of the engineers worth to contemporary society. Charles Bolden described space exploration as “one of the most important tools this generation will use to bring about the better future that we all deserve” during the Roe Lecture at the ASME Annual Meeting. Following introductions by ASME Executive Director/CEO Tom Costabile, 2018-2019 ASME President Said Jahanmir and ASME Foundation Chair Tom Pestorius, Bolden observed toward the beginning of his speech that as someone who has been fortunate enough to view Earth from space, the planet from that perspective can appear borderless, tranquil and trouble-free. I came here tonight to tell you that our planet does need you, however Bolden continued, addressing the engineers in attendance. We need your leadership. We need your ingenuity. We need your imagination. We need increased international cooperation and collaboration and we need your deliberate, dedicated focus on the important issues of diversity, inclusion and equity. While at NASA, we attempted to focus like a laser on making the agency the best place to work in the federal government by putting deliberate effort into these three challenges. Following his lecture, Charles Bolden (left) fielded some questions from the audience during a QA session with ASME Executive Director/CEO Tom Costabile. After sharing with the audience his belief that space exploration is one of the most important tools this generation will use to bring about the better future that we all deserve, Bolden went on to talk about the significant role he felt the International Space Station (ISS) held in the chronicles of space exploration since tens of thousands of people from 15 countries have been responsible for the construction and operation of the space station over the past two decades. Today, a child who is 18 years old or younger has lived every single day of his or her life while human beings from multiple countries are living and working together in space aboard the International Space Station, Bolden said. Even in the few times when weve gone down to two crew members, its been at least one Russian and one American. I still maintain that the Space Station ought to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. The incredible science being conducted onboard every single day continues to inform and make life better here on Planet Earth. (Left to right) ASME Foundation Chair Tom Pestorius, ASME Executive Director/CEO Tom Costabile, 2019 Roe Medal Winner Charles Bolden, 2018-2019 ASME President Said Jahanmir and 2016-2017 ASME President Keith Roe at the Roe Lecture. Bolden, an astronaut who spent more than 680 hours in space during four space shuttle missions, later discussed the United States decision to phase out the space shuttle program, following the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, in favor of pursuing new commercial partnerships with private industry to transport cargo and people to low Earth orbit. He then recounted President Obamas April 2010 speech in Cape Canaveral, Fla., which Bolden described as a major space policy address. During the speech, Bolden said, the president laid out a plan to replace our unsustainable exploration trajectory with a clear, affordable and financially sustainable way forward. In that speech, President Obama called for expanding robotic exploration of the solar system and this direction has continued under our current president. President Obama also asked NASA to proceed with the development of the next-generation James Webb Space Telescope, which is expected to be launched early next year, and charged the agency with leading the International Space Station partners to extend operations of the space station until at least 2024. In addition, the president stepped up NASAs Earth Science research program with the aim of developing a better understanding of the planet and climate change in particular. The ultimate goal of NASAs current space exploration plan, A Journey to the Moon and on to Mars, is to send astronauts back to the moon during the 2020s and then to Mars during the following decade, Bolden said. To that end, the space agency expects to work with commercial, international and non-traditional partners in the development of rockets, spacecraft and the related technology necessary to realize this ambitious objective. Today, nine years after President Obama challenged NASA to send astronauts to Mars in the 2030s, we are closer to sending human beings back to the moon and on to the Red Planet than ever before in history, Bolden said. One of the keys to our success in achieving these ever-changing goals is the emergence of a robust, viable commercial space program. One possible barrier to achieving these goals as effectively as possible is NASAs current inability to work with the Chinese Space Agency on human space flight, which is the result of a 2011 Congressional ban on bilateral cooperation between NASA and China. Theres a tangible sense I get as I travel and meet folks that space exploration is in vogue now, Bolden observed. This coolness factor is what inspires young kids to want to study science or write a science fiction story and all these things make a difference. Inclusion of the Chinese into our team of innovators and explorers, I think, will allow us to make an even bigger difference. In keeping with this years anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, Bolden told the engrossed audience, I truly believe the sort of future I laid out is within our grasp in this 50th anniversary year of humanitys first landing on the moon. Just think of what it will be like when youre with your loved ones watching the first astronauts from Earth land on Mars. I plead with you to join me in pursuit of this vision and to help us to continue to turn science fiction into science fact and make the impossible possible.