How My Liberal Arts Degree Paved the Way for a Consulting Career

How My Liberal Arts Degree Paved the Way for a Consulting CareerHow My Liberal Arts Degree Paved the Way for a Consulting CareerAs recruiting season kicks off, I remember back to two years ago when I welches just beginning the interview process as a Dartmouth senior. Studying for a degree in History and Geography, I had enjoyed my liberal arts coursework, but was interested in pursuing a consulting career post-graduation. I wanted to quickly gain a variety of business skills and get broad exposure to several different industries rather than committing to one before knowing what I was actually passionate about. While I had the interest, I still questioned if I had the appropriate background and wasnt sure how Id stack up against other candidates who may have had more fitting finance and economics majors. Now, a year after joining L.E.K. Consulting, I realize that many of my colleagues come from non-traditional backgrounds like my own and that L.E.K. actively tries to bring a variety of experiences to the table. When I was a student, I worried about being behind on accounting and finance. However, L.E.K. training assuaged those fears and adequately prepared me for my consulting responsibilities. And the allocations department that assigns you to new cases is well aware of your background, strengths and development needs and considers all of those factors when staffing you.Here are a few suggestions about what to expect and how to best navigate through the process. These items are fairly straightforward and common-sense, yet good to keep in mind.Making Your Liberal Arts Skills Stand OutOne key during the recruiting process is to use your liberal arts background to differentiate yourself, and also to illustrate how your diverse skills would add value in the Associate role.First, its simple. Read the job description thoroughly. What combination of qualities is the company looking for? What are they emphasizing? Take time to see where your experiences and activiti es fit with those skills. If its writing a thesis or completing a senior seminar, explain how your research, synthesis and analysis, and eventual delivery of your results via presentation or report would translate well to a L.E.K. case.An interviewer often gives you the chance to walk them through your resume. Use the time talking about your background to explain how your coursework and experience have prepared you for the Associate job. They probably have already skimmed your resume, so theres really no need to repeat it verbatim. In my interviews, I stressed how my experience with research papers and group projects equipped me well for the role. Searching extensively for the best sources, subsequently analyzing large amounts of information, and iterating applied well to the jobs responsibilities. Additionally, I had honed strong communications and presentation skills through the same activities and classes, learning how to effectively deliver my findings and opinions. Finally, I d escribed how my discussion-based senior seminars gave me experience interacting in small group environments and creatively attacking issues from many different viewpoints and disciplines. Finally, be prepared for the why consulting? or why business? question. Dont be afraid to acknowledge your relative lack of business training, but be able to articulate why you are interested in business and why you might not have yet pursued such a track. For instance, on my resume, I highlighted how I had taken advantage of the opportunities to take business courses as electives outside of my degree requirements. I also spoke about how my extracurriculars such as Women in Business and prior internships prepared me for such a role and demonstrated my interest in the business world. So, dont hesitate to apply because of your liberal arts background, and send any additional questions to the L.E.K. Advisor. We look forward to hearing from you this fallEmily R., L.E.K. Consulting This post was adap ted from L.E.K. Consultings L.E.K. Advisor blog, which is an interactive resource for undergraduate, MBA and PhD candidates interested in pursuing a career in management consulting. The L.E.K. Advisor acts as a voice for the L.E.K. brand and also features contributions from L.E.K. employees who share their real-world perspectives about the management consulting industry and life inside L.E.K. Check it out at http//ask.lek.com/. To learn more about the firm, also check out Vaults L.E.K. Consulting profile.

Erasing your credit score and other life lessons on debt

Erasing your leistungspunkt score and other life lessons on debtErasing your credit score and other life lessons on debtWhat is the biggest trap people fall into? Debt.Your credit score should really be called a sucker score because its a number that exists for only one reason to tell banks how much money theyre going to be able to make off of you. The higher it is, the mora of your money goes to them.Thats not how theysell it, of course. They sell it as a metric for determining credit worthiness. But if you really break down what makes a credit score higher or lower, youll see that they arent being honest about what it actually is.For example, if youre the type of person who doesnt use credit all that much, but can make large purchases and pay them off in a matter of days or weeks, thatshouldbe an indicator that youre the most credit worthy person on the planet. Right? Shouldnt the people who do that have the highest credit scores?Nope. Youre actually penalized for that, and your cr edit score goes down. Banks hate you, because you dont carry debt long enough for them to make anything off of you.You know who banks like? The people who take a long time to pay things off. Thats why they tell you to carry a balance on your credit cards, to finance things you could easily pay cash for and take your time paying it off, to refinance your house and start the loan over for another 30 years instead of paying it down, and so on. And when you do these things, they reward you with a higher credit score so you can keep borrowing more, keep juggling as much as you can afford, and keep your money flowing to them.Thats why they give you bonuses like the ability to skip payments, reward points, airline miles, limit increases, and the like. Thats why they send you offers in the mail for retailers who give you discounts when you use their card. Want to trade up a car youre already upside down on? No problem, just roll the negative equity into the loan for the new one. Go pick ou t a boat while youre at it.Banks win when you stay in debt.And thats the trap people fall into perpetual debt. Most people dont even realize theyre being played, theyve been taught how to be good little customers and focus on their credit score. You purposely stay in debt when you dont need to, so you have theoptionof using debt when you want to. Eventually all of your money is going out the door to monthly payments, and then youneedto use a credit card at the grocery store just to manage your day to day cash flow. Today, most people couldnt even afford the car theyrecurrently drivingif they hadnt financed it. Thats sad.Whatsmoresad is that none of that stuff is even yours. Youre just renting it from the bank. All it takes is one little hiccup in your income for the house of cards to come crashing down, the bank takes it all back, and everything you paid along the way was for nothing.And what happens when you figure the game out, and decide to opt out of it? When you actually pay o ffeverythingand have no more debt? Your credit score goes to zero.Yep, literally zero. Its not a myth.Hows that for irony? Actions that should have told banks Give this guy whatever amount of money he wants, you can trust him.instead became Screw that guy, he wont play the game and we arent going to make squat off him.But you know what? Im pretty happy about that. I decided a long time ago that if I couldnt pay cash, I couldnt afford it. I looked at my paycheck, then looked at how much of it was going out the door toward monthly payments, and imagined what my savings account would look like if it wasnt.Buying cars, taking trips, all of it gets really easy when your paycheck goes into your bank account and stays there instead of going right back out to bills.You can get out of the trap you just have to commit to staying out of debt. Pay off your credit cards and close them. Ignore the interest rates, just start with the one with the smallest balance, focus all of your extra cash on paying it off, then close it and work your way up to the next one.Pay off your car and keep driving it instead of running out and financing another one. You could write a check for your next car if your car payment was going into your savings account for a year or two.Break the cycle, live on what you make, and your credit score wont matter.This article originally appeared onQuora

3 Ways to Get a Better Job

3 Ways to Get a Better Job3 Ways to Get a Better Job5A typical refrain over the past few years is that most people want to change jobs. Last year was no different.A Harris poll showed that almost 80 percent of 20-somethings desire a career switch. Those in their 30s and 40s arent much happier with their current lages, with 64 percent and 54 percent, respectively, wanting something different.Its one thing to crave it, but how do you get it? Consider these three ways to get a better jobStart with New VisionIf you work for someone else, whether in-house or remotely, now is the time to schedule an intense goal-setting session with your manager. Jennifer Folsom of Summit Consulting suggests that this may be the only time all year that youll have your supervisors undivided attention.If youre not happy with your job, setting achievable, clearly defined goals can be a way to jump-start your way to a new position within your current company. If you have an office position, keep flexible work arrangements in mind as one option that might make a difference in your job satisfaction.Dont Blow the InterviewIts hard to change jobs without jumping through the interview hoop. Since you know you must do it, its smart to prepare for it- and know what to avoid.To get a better job this year, executive coach and speaker Mark Goulston recommends taking care to dodge these common interview misstepsbedrngnis being informed on anything about the company thats available onlineNot listening carefully enough and then giving an answer to something that the interviewer didnt askBlaming anyone or anything other than yourself for somethingTalking so quickly that you cause the interviewers to think that you havent thoughtfully considered what they are sayingBe Open to OptionsSometimes a better job might be right in your own backyard- literally. While it seems logical to think career dissatisfaction means you must move to another position or company, its possible that you could be happier at wor k simply by gaining more flexibility and control over where and when you get things done. Consider telecommuting jobs and other flexible job opportunities.And dont assume your employer wont be open to it- research from Catalyst has proven flexible work arrangements are the new normal, with over 80 percent of companies surveyed globally offering flex options.So take charge of your career destiny, and take the steps needed to position yourself for greater success and happinessReaders, what steps are you taking to get a better job?

Former Netflix Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord on how to fix your company

Former Netflix Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord on how to fix your companyFormer Netflix Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord on how to fix your companyCorporate America is known for specific kinds of standards, practices, and initiatives,but one person has thrown how organizations commonly operate today under the microscope.Along with CEO Reed Hastings, former Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord helped develop the Netflix Culture Deck - a manifesto which helped define the culture and values of the company - whichmade wavesthrough Silicon Valley.It may well be the most important document ever to come out of the Valley, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg reportedly told GQ in an interview.The original presentation racked up more than 17 million views since it was first published in 2009, and was updated in June 2017.On the heels of the release ofher new book, POWERFULBuilding a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility,McCordspoke withLadders Newsabout what she learned during her 14 years at Netf lix.In the first of two parts, McCord discussescorporations and what they can doto evolve.On typical corporate standards and conventionsIts elend just that we call them standards, we refer to them as best practices in our organizations and what Im challenging is, Really? Says who? Looks a lot like were just copying each other to me.Lets say I want a process that gives people feedback because I think itll make them perform better. So we come up with the annual performance review and thats the best we could do? Really? Its elend so much as I turn things on their head or recommend radically different stuff, mostly just that we just throw it away because it doesnt work anymore.On workplace feedback and annual performance reviews I learned a lot, Ive been taking a lot of cues from professional sports coaches that Ive been speaking with recently and if you talk to them about how they get performance from their teams theres a rhythm of giving feedback that is absolutely geared at optimal performance for every member of the team.So I dont really care what system you use, but I do know that you cant get very good at anything that you only do once a year. Im not wed to any particular rhythm but it needs to be more than once a year. It probably needs to be in the moment.The most effective feedback is positive and in the moment. I mean catching people doing things right, encouraging them when youve asked them to do something hard that theyve actually tried and helped/succeeded at. Its that constant working together to make us a better team.On expectations of employeesIf you expect excellence, you might get it even from mediocre performers. But if you expect mediocrity thats the best youre gonna get.On one hand, were supposed to be the group that makes everybody happy, you know, the happiness polizze we want everyone to be engaged. And engaged, happy employees make better products, or so we say, we dont prove that, but we say that.And on the other hand, weve gotta protec t the company from the evil employees that might sue us - so which one are they? And its not true that companies with lots of perks and happiness dont result in bad behavior, as weve certainly seen lately.On engagement, empowerment and millennialsIve seen plenty of engaged employees at work, but theyre not engaged because theyre rewarded with perks and parties. Theyre engaged because theyre working on stuff thats interesting to them, with other smart people, that makes a difference. Thats what engagement really is.Empowerment is not something you give people, you empower people by giving them a lot of context and holding them responsible for the decisions they make and the impact that they have. That would be way more helpful than any class on empowering people.Ive just never been a fan of putting people in those big buckets, anyway, because theyre too simple. And not broad enough. I mean, the idea that millennials dont want to work hard is ridiculous.On how employees should be tre ated like adults at workOne of the biggest things that slow companies down is people having to ask for permission or get approval to do something when they know its the right thing to do - when theyre making a good judgment call and they understand.When we ask people to ask for permission for things they can logically figure out then we say, We cant trust you. In doing those things, were like, You cant make the best decisions, and thats pretty childish if you think about it. yet, how being an adult is not just about reaching a certain ageIn America you have to be 18 to work. You should be pretty far along on that maturity curve. What I mean by maturity and what I mean by adult is not age. I know really mature 25-year-olds, and I know really immature 45-year-olds. So, by adult, I mean, taking responsibility, following through on your commitments, informing other people - you know, the things that grown-ups do.On how technology keeps changing, just as companies should tooI think i ts important to understand how were different than millenials, you know? We hold in our hands the same computational power as I used to have on my desk. The idea that we call it a phone and we take pictures, send email, do text - basically, its what used to be a laptop computer that I now hold in my hand. It changes the way we all live and work, and I dont think technology tethers us to our jobs, I think it frees us.Thats kind of the point of why I wrote the whole book I thought, You know, really, were all doing things the same way we did in 1980? Every couple of decades, we really should rethink this stuff.On how older companies can begin to peel away at the status quoI think that one of the think one of the things that larger, more established companies, do is a matter of habit. Everything has to be a huge corporate initiative. They strive for consistency in these big rollouts. And I think what they can at least try is Take a little corner of the company, or a particular organiz ation, and strip away some of the stuff from them, and see if it yields better performance. I think weve learned now, that not everything has to be done the same way across the world with 100,000 employees.On the biggest fallacy regarding company managementThe misconception that managers have all the power. That theyre psychic, and theyre gonna make the right decisions for you, and they own your future. They dont. We gotta stop telling ourselves that lie because it hasnt been true for a really long time and its not true now, and its definitely not gonna be true in the future. This is a journey, you gotta embrace it, enjoy it.

The Forbidden Truth About Free Printable Resume Templates Exposed by an Expert

The Forbidden Truth About Free Printable Resume Templates Exposed by an Expert If you havent written a pharmacy resume before, or for quite a long time, you may use the next template for aid. Being a real banker by profession is a lucrative career, but you need a compelling resume to find work in the very first location. You need to have a well-written resume if youre serious about landing a pharmacy technician job. The work market is extremely competitive at this time, therefore its always best to have a resume that stands out. Because a free resume template already has the perfect format for a company or work resume, all you have to do is fill it with accurate information regarding your work and education. To compose a good resume it is helpful to use examples of different resumes. Fantastic Resume A conventional format ought to be picked if you want to continue to your present-day career in precisely the very same industry sector. While choosing resume themes select the one which suits the work expertise instead of the work account. The upcoming free resume template was created in the shape of a brochure. The very best part is they are all set to be uploaded, professional resume templates. So long as you know what you would like, then the free resume templates are perfect. The subsequent professional resume template is appropriate for professional bankers, and its precisely what you demand. Free Printable Resume Templates - Overview So many of the work search websites and resume sites incorporate free resume templates for your usage. If you want more help, to make the most of my Gold-Premium free-resume-formats consulting services. When youre finished, youll want to find the resume out of Google Docs. There are lots of ideas, tutorials and sample Resume available to become perfect idea for making your Resume. Keep reading if you want to learn why you may want to team up an infographic resume to your traditional one. Additionally, the built- in methods and expert advice will allow you to compose the perfect resume. Practice questions and techniques when you begin the work search to assure youre prepared to ace the interview. What You Should Do to Find Out About Free Printable Resume Templates Before Youre Left Behind Theres a PDF file for a preview which can be created. You need to choose the proper format. Other documents you have used. PDF documents look the exact same on every computer, and that means you wont have to be worried about any formatting inconsistencies. Some companies need a particular format, so make sure to inspect the format they want and use it. Luckily, there are resources available to you that will be able to help you begin. There are four documents that you are able to pick from and simple to edit layered and organized. The content which you would love to include should dictate whether the resume is printed on a couple of pages. When seeking to compose your first resume, the task might appear very daunting. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better prospect of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. If you would like help making decisions all along how you may want to cover a resume consultation or seek the services of a resume writer. It is crucial to elend forget that everyones resume should differ and theres no rigid structure to writing your resume. Youll find several step-by-step tutorials to aid you with that. You can find plenty of different free resume template samples by doing an internet search. If you dont have Microsoft Word, or you would like to try out several other templates, there are tons of templates readily available on the net. You will discover free resume templates with distinct fonts. These fonts have links that may be downloaded for free also. Its possible to add your own pictures and texts, and it is going to be all set that you print. Analyze the w ording and the way its written. Search and download a completely free assortment of letter templates. Create resume here is only a fun. Employing a resume template has turned into an acceptable and smart practice for several explanations. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons but most often theyre utilized to secure new employment. Infographic resumes arent for everybody, however, and on occasion a traditional resume will be more appropriate, based on the situation. Knowing the distinction between a resume and course load vitae is a good deal more crucial before selecting a template. You can supply a workshop anywh One approach to construct your business is to create interest and interaction with potential customers or clients. You dont need to use expensive paper, especially if youre sending out a good deal of resumes, but you may want to use paper thats slightly heavier than standard paper. If you have the right training and skill, then youre ready to reach your targ et in an effortless way.

Video Interviewing Keeping it Legal - Spark Hire

Video Interviewing Keeping it Legal - Spark HireWith more and more businesses utilizing video interviews, you may be considering implementing this technology into your startups existing interview process. One of the questions that many small business owners have about video interviews deals with how to stay within HR guidelines and keep things legal.While video interviewing can seem like a huge difference from the standard resume screening, phone screening, and in-person interviewing, there is no difference when it comes to HR requirements. The main difference in the two methods is that video interviewing allows you to actually see the candidate earlier on in the process, or see a remote candidate in their home setting.In any instance, it is important that you remember what to do in order to ensure your interview goes smoothly and stays within legal guidelines.Ask the right questionsConducting a video interview, whether it is a one-way or live interview, should be very similar to a p hone interview or an in-person interview. Yes, you will be able to visibly see the candidate sometimes earlier than normal and sometimes in their home setting, but you must still approach the interview in the saatkorn mindset as if you were on the phone with the candidate or interviewing the candidate in your office. You still need to stick to questions that deal with the candidates ability to do the job and stay away from questions regarding their personal beliefs or life.Treat each candidate equallyAbove all, the most important thing to remember when implementing video interviews into your consideration process is that you must treat each candidate equally.This is no different than in any other situation when you are interviewing someone for a position. You must concentrate on the candidates skill, experience, and ability to do the job required. Age, race, or any other differentiating feature should not be a limiting factor in your interview process.Keep this in mind, especially w hen interviewing candidates through live videos. For example, if you notice through the video that the candidate has a family photo in the background, it is not okay for you to ask questions about their family. Questions about children, marriage partner, or marriage in general should be avoided.In addition, if you notice that the candidate seems to have a little gray in their hair, it is not appropriate to ask questions regarding age. In fact, just as with any interviewing situation, it is not appropriate to disqualify a candidate due to age.Implementing video interviews into your interviewing process can be a bit scary at first, but as long as you remember all of the basic rules of interviewing, you will find that video interviews are a huge timesaver to your interview process.Have you considered implementing video interviews into your current interviewing process? If so, what have been your concerns? We would love to hear from you please leave your comments below.Image Wavebreak Media Ltd/BigStock.com

5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity in the Workplace

5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity in the Workplace5 Tips to Increase Your Productivity in the WorkplaceAre you interested in mora ways to increase your productivity at work? In the first part of the interview with Jason Womack, executive coach and author of the book, Your Best Just Got Better Work Smarter, Think Bigger, Make More (Wiley),he offered eight tips to increase your work performance. Interview With Jason Womack About How to Improve Your Productivity In this continuation of that interview, Jason provides additional insights into how to increase your productivity at work. Susan Heathfield In a workplace environment, what are the three-five most performance inhibiting factors? Jason Womack I call them the sins of an unproductive day. Here are five sins. 1. Lie. Okay, this is step one Tell the truth. Most people say yes too often, and they say yes to things that arent exactly on course for where they are going, or whats important to them. Of course, its not always appare nt on the front side.But over time, and with practice, you can begin to ask was that worth it? to whatever it was that you just did, where you went, who you talked to, the meeting you attended, the business trip you went on, the class you attended - the list goes on.When people lie and say they can (or cant) do something when they intuitively know they shouldnt (or should) do it, they compromise their focus, integrity, and power. Stop it. Get focused on where youre going. Up-level your Social Network (more on that later) and move in a direction that is on course for your talents, interests, and strengths. 2. Keep working after youre done. Call whats done- done. You probably have a project or task that youre done working on, but you havent marked it as complete because you think youll have more time to work on it later. You wont.Out of the 20, 40, 100 things that youre managing right now (that is, the events, projects, and deliverables youre responsible for over the next 1-6 months), there might be 10 percent that youre actually not going to do anything more about or on. Good.Tell someone, anyone, and if you need to, pass on the as-much-as-youre-gonna-do task to someone who wants to do more. Otherwise move on. 3. Wishing things were different. At the water cooler. In the line at coffee. On the subway. Over dinner. These are the places where people talking about things theyre not willing to do anything about.Wishing (or worse, complaining) that things were different is perhaps the greatest sin of the worker, manager, entrepreneur or senior executive. The Pareto Principle exists to remind us that (approximately) 80 percent of our results come from 20 percent of our assets.Study the 20 percent and identify what you could address that would have the biggest impact on your productivity and performance. Ill share some ideas below if you want a place to start, focus on the 2 out of 10 people in your social network (not your social media network, thats something diff erent) who are moving forward and willing to mind map strategies for success with you. That 20 percent focus, may just change 80 percent of how things are. Thats how you make things different. 4. Hope to remember. Ok, this is the starting point for inefficiency, ineffectiveness and under-performing. I frequently ask people, When you have an idea here for something to do there, how do you get that into your system?When someone says, Oh, I just remember to do it, I worry. No, I dont think people cant remember, I worry that while they are busy remembering one thing through the day, they may not have the opening to notice something else that passes their periphery.You see, if youre so full of remembering what you need to do later, you wont want to take in/on anything new. No new ideas, no new reading, no new conversations, no new media, no new meetings.But, in the new is where you see the difference. And, when you start doing things differently- or, as Steve Jobs said, think different- the opening occurs. We have the opportunity to engage at another, higher, level. 5. Thinking you should already know what to do. In a weird way, the educational system that most of you experienced is actually setting employees up for failure during your first few years on the job. Students spend years working alone, doing homework at home, taking tests on their own, sitting quietly in a classroom as teachers lecture about the topic of study.Then, they enter the workforce. Immediately, collaboration is king. I believe in the power of thinking- yes, we need to be able to do deep, integrative, developmental thinking on our own- and, I know that people move further and faster when they work together. The moment I get the intuitive thought that I should know better or I should know how to do something already, thats my cue to raise my hand and ask for help (or, send a tweet or status update, asking for help). Heathfield In your book, you present a number of frameworks for how an individ ual can review the week, the month, and the year to improve productivity and performance. You are suggesting that a regular pattern for assessing productivity is important to establish. Can you tell us more about how this is helpful and what you recommend? Womack A weekly debrief is just a good all-around idea. Thursdays, mid-afternoon, look back on the week and ask yourself How did I do? What did I do? Where did I do it? Who did I do it with? The most important part of this activity is not just that you are doing it. The most important part is what you do when a thought about the past triggers a thought about what should happen.- what you should do, where you should go, who you need to meet with, and so forth- in the future. In the Stanford commencement speech by Steve Jobs that regained popularity just after his death, Steve said something that Ive been promoting for years In hindsight, we can connect dots. If our work, our world, our lives are always spent simply trying to get th rough the day, and into the next week, the next meeting, the next event, we lose the perspective that the review gives us. Look back, check it out, learn and use those experiences to build something that naturally comes next. You can use ansicht ideas for increasing productivity to help you increase your focus and identify whats really important to accomplish each day, week, month. Just thinking about your everyday actions will bring forth ideas that could change your world- for the better. More Related to Improving Your Productivity Achieve Your Dreams 6 Steps to Accomplish Your Goals and ResolutionsCreate Your Personal Vision StatementTake Responsibility for Your Life

History of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars

History of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign WarsHistory of American Legion and Veterans of Foreign WarsThe Veterans of Foreign Wars(VFW) and the American Legion organizations are thetwo best known veterans associations for U.S. military veterans. They have done a large amount of good not only for veterans but for society as a whole for over100 years. After you have honorably served in the military, you are classified as a Veteran. Being a veteran has its perks whether you are retired military or not. Easy access to home loans, education benefits, veteran group insurance programs, and many other organizations allow the returning veteran better assimilate into civilian society. The American Legion The American Legion (sometimes referred to as The Legion) began after World War I as a group of twenty officers who served in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in France. The AEF Headquarters had asked these officers to suggest ideas on how to improve troop morale. One office r, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (eldest son of the 26th President), made the proposal of an organization of veterans. In February 1919, this group formed a temporary committee and selected several hundred officers who had the confidence and respect of the whole army. The following month, about 1000 officers and enlisted men attended the first organizational meeting, known as the Paris Caucus.At this meeting, the group adopted a temporary constitution and the name The American Legion. The American Legion welches chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help war-time veterans organization and the first American Legion post in the United States was General John Joseph Pershing Post Number 1 in Washington, D.C., organized on March 7, 1919. Since then, the American Legion has evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States - the American Legion is a community-service organization w hich now numbers over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. Eligibility for American Legion membership is limited to those honorably discharged veterans and current personnel of the United States Army, Navy, seestreitkraft Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force who served at least one day of active duty during any of the following periods World War I April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918World War II December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946 (except that for the U.S. Merchant Marine eligibility dates are December 7, 1941, to August 16, 1945)Korean War June 25, 1950, to January 31, 1955Vietnam War February 28, 1961, to May 7, 19751982 Lebanon War and Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada) August 24, 1982, to July 31, 1984Operation Just Cause (Panama) December 20, 1989, to January 31, 1990Gulf War/ War On Terror (Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Oper ation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom) August 2, 1990, to today The Veterans of Foreign Wars The VFWs forefathers were two smaller veterans groups that started in 1899 when to two veterans organizations, the American Veterans of Foreign Service and the National Society of the Army of the Philippines merged to form the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1914. unterstellung first veterans groups were formed as local organizations after the Spanish American Wars and Philippine Insurrectionto secure veterans rights and benefits for their service, as many had arrived home wounded or sick. In those days, there was no Veterans Administration care or pensions for medically retired. These organizations enabled veterans to care for and help each other with the transition from the battlefield to normal life. The first VFW chapters were formed in Colorado, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.Of the three posts that claim to be the first, the VFW national organization recognizes the Denver Post as being first it is now officially VFW Post 1. By 1915, membership grew to 5,000 by 1936, when it became a government-chartered non-profit organization, membership was almost 200,000. Today, membership stands at around 1.4 million (though, National membership in VFWs has fallen from 1.8 million in 2004). To be a member of the VFW, the individual must be a U.S. citizen or national with an honorable discharge from the U.S. military, or currently serving in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard. Membership also requires military service overseas during an einzelschritt or conflict and decoration with an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a campaign medal (or ribbon). This requirement is the major difference between the two organizations. Both the American Legion and the VFW have extended beyond the realm of simply being veterans helping fellow veterans - from their beginnings of providing financial, social, and emotional support to members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans, and their dependents, and being leaders in community involvement in such areas as mentoring youth groups, helping in community food kitchens, and volunteering in blood drives, and other civic voluntarism(to give a few examples).

Career Path Definition With Examples

Career Path Definition With ExamplesCareer Path Definition With ExamplesA career path is composed of a sequence of jobs that make up your career plan. Career paths and career plans may sound like the same thing, but theyre not. Acareer planincludes short-term or long-term goals leading to an ideal career, while a career path specifically includes the jobs that step an individual towards his or her goals and objectives. Curious about how a career path works? The first thing to know is that while it includes the jobs, youll need to hit your ultimate career goal, a career path doesnt need to be a straight line. Theres no blueprint or timetable for climbing the career ladder. Your career path will be as individual as you are. You may take a very different route than your colleagues and wind up in the same spot. Whats Included in a Career Path Career paths traditionally imply vertical growth or advancement to higher level positions, but they can also entail zur seite hin gelegen movem ent within or across industries. And each path can be slightly different for each person, depending on how long you need to take to get to your goals, or if you change your goals along the way. At the heart of a career path is the fact that youll be changing jobs from time to time. The average personchanges jobs 10 to 15 times during their careerand sometimes those changes will involve different types of positions in different industries. Some career paths have a few ups and downs and, in fact, some people even plan a move down the career ladder. For example, people who are midlife-career changers may need to go down a level or two from where they were, so they can get the training and experience they need to move back up the ladder. Whichever way a career path takes someone, its designed to provide increased satisfaction of a workerscareer valuesand needs by targeting a series of jobs designed to get them to his or her career goal. Job satisfaction is one major key to a happy and l ong career. Organizational Career paths are sometimes part of the employee development processes within organizations. In this case, an employee and a supervisor or Human Resources representative discuss the career development of the worker within the context of their organization. It may occur as part of theperformance appraisalprocess and takes into account the interests, knowledge, and skills of the employee. Additional education, training or work assignments may be planned as mechanisms to qualify employees for subsequent roles within their career path. In many cases, an individual will develop and actualize a career path without the cooperation of their employer. These workers will engage in the career exploration process independently or with the assistance of a career counselor, mentor or personal advisor. Examples It can help to review examples of career paths for a variety of different career fields. Keep in mind that some career paths are direct and include specifi c jobs that move an individual up the career ladder and are typically followed in order. Other career paths are indirect and may involve work in different industries or types of jobs, such as when someone isworking on a career change. AdministrationAdministrative Assistant - Executive Assistant - Office ManagerAdvertisingAdvertising Account Coordinator - Assistant Account Executive - Account Executive - Major Account ExecutiveCommunicationsPublic Relations Assistant - Public Relations Representative - Assistant Director of Public Relations - Director of CommunicationsCustomer Services / SalesCustomer Service Representative - Inside Salesperson - Outside Salesperson - Major Account Salesperson - Regional Sales ManagerDevelopmentDevelopment Assistant - Annual Giving Officer - Development Associate - Major Gift Officer - Leadership Giving Officer - Associate Director of Leadership Gifts EditorialEditorial Assistant - Assistant Editor - Associate Editor - Editor - Senior Editor - Editor ial DirectorEducationTeacher - Master Teacher - Curriculum Coordinator - Assistant Principal - PrincipalEducation to TrainingTeacher - Insurance Salesperson - Trainer for New AgentsEngineeringJunior Engineer - Senior Engineer - Project Manager - Engineering ConsultantEntrepreneurSalesperson - Sales Manager - geschftliches miteinander OwnerHuman ResourcesHuman Resources Assistant - Interviewer - Benefits Assistant - Benefits Specialist - Assistant Director of Human Resources - Director of Human Resources RetailRetail Sales Clerk - Assistant Manager - Department Manager - Store Manager - Regional ManagerSales to MarketingSalesperson - MBA - Assistant Brand Manager - Brand Manager - Group Manager - Marketing Director Tips for Finding Your Career Path Always Be LearningTodays job market moves quickly. To keep up, you need to be prepared to add to yourskill set constantly. Not sure which skills are most in demand in your industry? Take a look at the LinkedIn profiles of your peers e specially those who have the next job above yours. Youll learn whichhardandsoft skillsyoull need to advance.Pay Attention to Industry NewsWhat will your job be like in five years or 10? No one knows for sure, but if you keep up with the news, youll get a sense of theoccupational outlookfor your job and which employers are likely to remain in the game. Network, Network, NetworkNetworkingisnt just for job seekers. Connecting with your peers can help you identify whole new directions for your career even if youre not interested in job hopping at the moment.Make Plans (But Be Flexible)Dont hold too tightly to your career plan when developing your career path. Be open to opportunity and keep your ultimate goals in mind. Whats important to you? What do you enjoy about your job and career and what would you prefer to minimize at your next gig? Be Ready for a Career Shift. Perhaps your working in a declining industry or simple tired of working at the same old thing for what seems like a long time. It may be time to considering making over your career, and moving in a different direction.Dont Be Afraid of a Lateral MoveSometimes, you need to move sideways (or even backward) to get ahead. If a job offers you a chance to develop skills or connections that will be valuable later on, feel free to consider a lateral move.