7 toxic bosses you should avoid like the plague

7 toxic anfhreres you should avoid like the plague7 toxic bosses you should avoid like the plagueDifficult bosses contaminate the workplace. Some do so obliviously, while otzu sichs smugly manipulate their employees. The bad boss has become a comedic part of work culture, permeating movies and television, but when you actually work for one, theres nothing funny about it.Bad bosses cause irrevocable damage by hindering your performance and creating unnecessary stress. The stress they create is terrible for your health.Multiple studies have found that working for a bad boss increases your chance of having a heart attack by as much as 50%.Even more troubling is the number of bad bosses out there. Gallup research found that 60% of government workers are miserable because of bad bosses.In another study69% of US workers compared bosses with too much power to toddlers with too much power. The comparisons dont stop there. Significant percentages of US workers describe their bosses as self-or iented (60%), stubborn (49%), and overly demanding (43%).Most bosses arent surprised by behauptung statistics. A DDI study found that 64% of managers admit that they need to work on their management skills. When asked where they should focus their efforts, managers overwhelmingly say, Bringing in the numbers yet, they are fruchtwein often fired for poor people skills.So what do fruchtwein people working for bad bosses do about it? Not much.While 27% of people working for a bad boss quit as soon as they secure a new job and 11% quit without having secured a new job, an amazing 59% stay put. Thats an alarming number of people who are living with overwhelming stress and experiencing the trickle-down effects this has on their sanity and health.TalentSmarthas conducted research with more than a million people, and weve found that 90% of top performers are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress in order to remain calm and in control. One of their greatest gifts is the abili ty to neutralize difficult people- even those they report to. This is no easy task. It requires a great absprache of emotional intelligence, a skill that top performers rely on.While the best option when you have a bad boss is to seek other employment, this isnt always possible. Successful people know how to make the most of a bad situation. A bad boss doesnt deter them because they understand that success is simply the product of how well you can play the hand youve been dealt. When that hand is a bad boss, you can identify the font of bad boss youre working for and then use this information to neutralize your boss behavior. What follows are the most common types of bad bosses and the strategies you can employ to neutralize them.The Tyrant The tyrant resorts to Machiavellian tactics and constantly makes decisions that feed his ego. His primary concern is maintaining power, and he will coerce and intimidate others to do so. The tyrant thinks of his employees as a criminal gang aboar d his ship. He classifies people in his mind and treats them accordingly High achievers who challenge his thinking are treated as mutinous. Those who support their achievements with gestures of loyalty find themselves in the location of first mate. Those who perform poorly are stuck cleaning the latrines and swabbing the decks.How to neutralize a tyrantA painful but effective strategy with the tyrant is to present your ideas in a way that allows him to take partial credit. The tyrant can then maintain his ego without having to shut down your idea. Always be quick to give him some credit, even though he is unlikely to reciprocate, because this will inevitably put you on his good side. Also, to survive a tyrant, you must choose your battles wisely. If you practice self-awareness and manage your emotions, you can rationally choose which battles are worth fighting and which ones you should just let go. This way, you wont find yourself on latrine duty.The Micromanager This is the boss wh o makes you feel as if you are under constant surveillance. She thought your handwriting could use improvement, so she waited until you left work at 700 p.m. to throw away your pencils and replace them with the .9 lead mechanical pencils that have the proper grip. She has even handed back your 20-page report because you used a binder clip instead of a staple. The micromanager pays too much attention to small details, and her constant hovering makes employees feel discouraged, frustrated, and even uncomfortable.How to neutralize a micromanagerSuccessful people appeal to micromanagers by proving themselves to be flexible, competent, and disciplined while staying in constant communication. A micromanager is naturally drawn to the employee who produces work the way she envisions. The challenge with the micromanager is grasping the envisioned way. To do this, try asking specific questions about your project, check in frequently, and look for trends in the micromanagers feedback.Of course , this will not always work. Some micromanagers will never stop searching for something to over-analyze and micromanage. When this is the case, you must learn to derive your sense of satisfaction from within. Dont allow your boss obsession with details to create feelings of inadequacy as this will only lead to further stress and underperformance. Remember, a good report without a staple is still a good report. Despite your boss fixation on detail, she appreciates your work she just doesnt know how to show it.The Incompetent This boss was promoted hastily or hired haphazardly and holds a position that is beyond her capabilities. Most likely, she is not completely incompetent, but she has people who report to her that have been at the company a lot longer and have information and skills that she lacks.How to neutralize an incompetentIf you find yourself frustrated with this type of boss, it is likely because you have experience that she lacks. It is important to swallow your pride and share your experience and knowledge, without rubbing it in her face. Share the information that this boss needs to grow into her role, and youll become her ally and confidant.The Inappropriate Buddy This is the boss whos too friendly, and not in the fun, team-building sort of way. He is constantly inviting you to hang out outside of work and engages in unnecessary office gossip. He uses his influence to make friends at the expense of his work. He chooses favorites and creates divisions among employees, who become frustrated by the imbalance in attention and respect. He cant make tough decisions involving employees or even fire those who need to be fired (unless he doesnt like them). His office quickly becomesThe Office.How to neutralize an inappropriate buddyThe most important thing to do with this type of boss is to learn to set firm boundaries. Dont allow his position to intimidate you. By consciously and proactively establishing a boundary, you can take control of the situation. For example, you can remain friendly with your boss throughout the day but still not be afraid to say no to drinks after work. The difficult part here is maintaining consistency with your boundaries, even if your boss is persistent. By distancing yourself from his behaviors that you deem inappropriate, you will still be able to succeed and even have a healthy relationship with your boss.Its important you dont put up unnecessary boundaries that stop you from being seen as friendly (ideally, a friend). Instead of trying to change the crowd-pleaser and force him to be something hes not, having him see you as an ally will put you in a stronger position than you could have anticipated.The Robot In the mind of the robot, you are employee number 72 with a production yield of 84 percent and experience level 91. This boss makes decisions based on the numbers, and when hes forced to reach a conclusion without the proper data, he self-destructs. He makes little or no effort to connect with hi s employees, and instead, looks solely to the numbers to decide who is invaluable and who needs to go.How to neutralize a robotTo succeed with a robot, you need to speak his language. When you have an idea, make certain you have the data to back it up. The same goes with your performance- you need to know what he values and be able to show it to him if you want to prove your worth. Once youve accomplished this, you can begin trying to nudge him out of his antisocial comfort zone. The trick is to find ways to connect with him directly, without being pushy or rude. Schedule face-to-face meetings and respond to some of his e-mails by knocking on his door. Forcing him to connect with you as a person, however so slightly, will make you more than a list of numbers and put a face to your name. Just because hes all about the numbers, it doesnt mean you cant make yourself the exception. Do so in small doses, however, because hes unlikely to respond well to the overbearing social type.The Sea gull Weve all been there- sitting in the shadow of a seagull manager who decided it was time to roll up his sleeves, swoop in, and squawk up a storm. Instead of taking the time to get the facts straight and work alongside the team to realize a viable solution, the seagull deposits steaming piles of formulaic advice and then abruptly takes off, leaving everyone else behind to clean up the mess. Seagulls interact with their employees only when theres a fire to put out. Even then, they move in and out so hastily- and put so little thought into their approach- that they make bad situations worse by frustrating and alienating those who need them the most.How to neutralize a seagullA group approach works best with seagulls. If you can get the entire team to sit down with him and explain that his abrupt approach to solving problems makes it extremely difficult for everyone to perform at their best, this message is likely to be heard. If the entire group bands together and provides construc tive, non-threatening feedback, the seagull will more often than not find a better way to work with his team. Its easy to spot a seagull when youre on the receiving end of their airborne dumps, but the manager doing the squawking is often unaware of the negative impact of his behavior. Have the group give him a little nudge, and things are bound to change for the better.The Visionary Her strength lies in her ideas and innovations. However, this entrepreneurial approach becomes dangerous when a plan or solution needs to be implemented, and she cant bring herself to focus on the task at hand. When the time comes to execute her vision, shes already off onto the next idea, and youre left to figure things out on your own.How to neutralize a visionaryTo best deal with this type, reverse her train of thought. She naturally takes a broad perspective, so be quick to funnel things down into something smaller and more practical. To do so, ask a lot of specific questions that force her to ratio nally approach the issue and to consider potential obstacles to executing her broad ideas. Dont refute her ideas directly, or she will feel criticized instead, focus her attention on what it will take to realistically implement her plan. Oftentimes, your questions will diffuse her plan, and when they dont, theyll get her to understand- and commit to- the effort its going to take on her part to help make it happen.Bringing it all togetherIf you think these strategies might help others, please share this article with your network. Research suggests that roughly half of them are currently working for a difficult bossTravis Bradberryis the co-author ofEmotional Intelligence 2.0and the cofounder ofTalentSmart.This column first appeared at LinkedIn.

You might be a psychopath if you live in this part of the country

You might be a psychopath if you live in this part of the countryYou might be a psychopath if you live in this part of the countryIdentifying a psychopath can be tricky, but they might be living next door to you.Whether its little tendencies in the office or using social media in a certain way, theres one thing for certain a ton of psychopaths live on the east coast, according to a new study.Research published in the scientific journal Heliyon examined data and the patterns of the Big Five rolleality patterns - Neuroticism, Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Agreeableness - to map out a landscape of where psychopaths are most likely to be living. Those five indicators showed that urban areas harbored more psychopaths compared to rural areas, with Washington, DC leading the way.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThats not really a surprise considering lawyers and polit icians are among the top career choices for psychopaths.The District of Columbia is measured to be far more psychopathic than any individual state in the country, a fact that can be readily explained either by its very high population density or by the type of person who may be drawn to a literal seat of power, the study says.In terms of geography, the East Coast was deemed the most psychopathic area in the US, taking seven of the top 10 spots in the studys state rankings, including the top six which had New York at No. 3.The clustering towards the top of the list is somewhat consistent with either a concentration of psychopaths in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic, or a concentrationof psychopaths within urban areas, said research, according to the study.The top 48 contiguous states1. Maine2. Connecticut3. New York4. Maryland5. Massachusetts6. Delaware7. Wyoming8. New Jersey9. California10. Nevada11. Virginia12. Rhode Island13. Illinois14. Ohio15. Wisconsin16. Arkansas17. Pennsylv ania18. Arizona19. Louisiana20. Idaho21. Colorado22. South Dakota23. Texas24. Kansas25. Iowa26. New Hampshire27. North Dakota28. Florida29. Washington30. Kentucky31. Michigan32. Alabama33. Oregon34. Minnesota35. Utah36. Indiana37. Missouri38. Vermont39. Montana40. New Mexico41. West Virginia42. Oklahoma43. Georgia44. South Carolina45. Nebraska46. Mississippi47. Tennessee48. North Carolina

Experienced Tax Professionals Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Experienced Tax Professionals Resume Template 2018s Top FormatExperienced Tax Professionals Resume Template - 2018s Top FormatAs a tax preparation specialist, demonstrating your experience with preparing taxes for clients of all types, as well as familiarity with the U.S. Tax Code, are necessary skills to show potential employers. Your resume assures hiring managers of your analytical approach, professional knowledge, and experience with proper tax preparation.Your education and post-college training courses and certifications should be prominent on your resume. As an experienced accountant, be sure to list a professional title such as a Certified Public Accountant or other designations. Your work experience should mention different types of clients and tax situations youve completed, such as preparation for small businesses or for mergers and acquisitions. Facility with unusual tax situations should be noted.Using the experienced tax professional resume template below, craft your own personalized document. Create ResumeKelly Giraldo100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019Cell(555) 322-7337example-emailexample.comSummaryCertified Public Accountant with almost two years of progressive experience in public accounting serving C-corporations and partnerships. HighlightsCPA certificationGeneral and tax accountingPublic and private accountingEffective time managementStrong organizational skillsSuperior research skillsAnalytical reasoningExperienceDeloitte Tax LLP, October 2011 to Current Tax Consultant IIAtlanta, GAPrepared and reviewed federal and state income tax returns and estimated tax payments.Researched federal and state issues arising from the preparation of tax returns.Assisted with various aspects of income tax provision process.Participated in federal and state income tax compliance, research and planning.Assisted in the quarterly and year-end tax provision calculation including FAS109 adjustments.Calculated quarterly estimated tax payments.Engaged in tax p lanning for mergers and acquisitions.Participated actively in acquisition due diligence reviews.Prepared the work papers and schedules supporting the federal and state tax returns.Reviewed and analyzed the federal accrual to tax adjustments.CertificationsGeorgia State University 2011 Master of Taxation Taxation Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia State University 2009 BBA Business Administration Atlanta, GeorgiaCertified Public Accountant State of Georgia 2012 AffiliationsAmerican Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Customize ResumeMore Accounting and Finance Resume TemplatesEntry Level Tax Professionals Resume TemplatesEntry Level Payroll Administrators Resume Templates

8 Certifications That Actually Impress Recruiters

8 Certifications That Actually Impress Recruiters8 Certifications That Actually Impress Recruiters With the rise of online learning , theres no shortage of classes you can take that offer you a certification in a particular trade, skill or software program. But outside of positions that require certifications - pilots, emergency medical technicians and often insurance agents, for example - do any of these make a real difference in a job application? We reached out to recruiters and HR professionals to get the answer.The consensus Certifications certainly can make a difference, but bedrngnis all certifications are created equal. Below are some of the ones that recruiters say actually move the needle in their decision to hire a candidate - if one of them is relevant to your field, consider looking into it1. Human Resources Certifications (PHR, SPHR, SHRM)While notlage a requirement, many recruiters agree that job seekers in the HR field can benefit greatly from pr ofessional certifications.If Im hunting for an HR professional, Ill want to be sure they have certification from SHRM, says Laura Handrick, HR Analyst at Fit Small Business .I am going to be mora interested in seeing certifications (or formal degrees) related directly to their career progression (e.g., PHR, SPHR for Human Resources), adds Dawn D. Boyer, CEO of D. Boyer Consulting .2. Project Management Certifications (PMP)Anyone can claim to have the leadership and organizational skills of a Project Manager, but a certification in this field really adds value to a candidates resume, says Ashley Riedesel, Technical Recruiter at OakTree Staffing & Training .Employers love to see this since employees with the PMP certification tend to have a more sophisticated approach to taking projects from inception through to completion across different methodologies, adds Bryant Vargas, Director of Recruiting, Information Technology at Atlas Search .Bonus While this certification is especially helpful for those in the Project Management field, the knowledge you gain can also be broadly applied to other fields at the manager and leadership level.3. abverkauf Certifications (Challenger Sales, Spin Selling, Sandler Training)Selling skills are often gained from experience, but candidates can stand out by including formal training or certification from a well-known abverkauf philosophy on their resumes. A few examples MEDDIC, Challenger Sales, Spin Selling, Sandler Training, etc., says Jordan Wan, Founder & CEO of CloserIQ . This shows the candidate has the discipline to back up their raw skills with learnings from sales experts to improve their selling ability.4. Help Desk/Desktop Analyst Certifications (A+, Network+)A caveat here recruiters say these certifications arent quite as impressive for more senior roles, but if youre in an entry-level position, they can help your resume stand out.An A+ cert looks great for a lower-level position like help desk or desktop. Its a re ally good starting point and will definitely help you find your footing in the IT industry, says Chase Wagner, Technical Recruiter at OakTree Staffing & Training.Recruiters may also like to see Network+ certifications, says Senior Technical Recruiter Kamron Cox, also of OakTree Staffing & Training. These are easier to get but do look good for those types of roles, Cox shares.5. Network Certifications (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE)If you want to be a network engineer or admin, Cisco offers a variety of certifications that can boost your application.A good network engineer/admin typically would have a CCNA or CCNP, and for the heavy hitters, youre looking at different levels within CCIE, Cox says.The CCIE in particular is a series of the highest level of Cisco Certifications offered for Network Infrastructure Leaders who design, build and implement enterprise networking systems, Vargas says. Candidates must first pass a written exam and then pass a hands-on lab exam. When employers see that youve dedicated yourself to passing the written and lab portion of their CCIE it shows not only subject matter expertise, but also dedication and perseverance.From sales to marketing to customer service and more, many departments in a corporate setting rely on customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, and Salesforce is one of the most popular choices.Its like the Google of CRM systems most everyone uses it, says Wes Lieser, Executive Recruiter & Practice Director of Demand Generation & Marketing Technology at Versique . If someone is Salesforce.com certified, then I know theyre going to be well-versed in analytics.Hubspot is primarily a tool for marketers, but it encompasses many different functions within that field - odds are, if you have a role within marketing, a Hubspot Inbound Certification can only help.There are only a select few certifications that actually move the needle forward when assessing a candidate The first is Hubspots Inbound Certification, says Keith Johnst one, Marketing Manager at Peak Sales Recruiting . It provides a framework and methodology for basic inbound marketing strategies and tactics like SEO, blogging, email marketing and social media.3. Google Certifications (Publisher, Analytics, AdWords, etc.)Google has a tremendous range of products and services, and almost as many certifications. Whether youre in digital marketing, data science or software engineering, theres likely a Google certification that you can benefit from.We look for candidates that have the Google Publisher University certificates. There is one for each of Googles flagship supply-side products DoubleClick Ad Exchange and DoubleClick for Publishers , says Kean Graham, CEO of MonetizeMore . Its rare to see candidates that have these certificates but when we do see them, we snap them up. We have found these candidates tend to be at a consistently higher level than the others.Johnstone looks for candidates with Google Analytics certifications under their belts. These courses allow students to learn everything about Google Analytics from how to analyze reports, set up goals, campaign tracking todata collection, processing and configuration and more complex analysis and marketing tools, he says.Rachel Lehn, Manager of Business Operations at Perfect Search Media , says her company looks for current certifications in Google AdWords As an agency, almost all of our employees have those certifications, she shares. If a candidate has current certifications, we know that they have at least a basic understanding of Google AdWords and Google Analytics, which are core platforms for our service offerings of paid search advertising and search engine optimization.

Nuts and Bolts of Self-Releasing Your First Album

Nuts and Bolts of Self-Releasing Your First AlbumNuts and Bolts of Self-Releasing Your First AlbumIf youve been sending your bands demo out to record labels and not getting a response, releasing your own album by yourself might sound appealing. Self-releasing an album can be a successful tactic, but dont underestimate the amount of legwork involved. Here are some factors to consider. The Cost of Manufacturing Having an album pressed is not cheap, and without the backing of a label, you carry that cost yourself. Labels often get better rates with manufacturers because they can buchen in larger volume or because they have a distribution deal in which their distributor pays for pressing. Furthermore, if you dont boast a track record, a manufacturer may not extend credit to you, meaning you have to shell out cash up front before making any profit on your record. Recently, self-publishing services such as CD Baby will press professional-looking CDs for you complete with cover art and liner notes. Distribution Self-releasing an album and selling it online is one way to go, but if you want your record in brick and mortar stores, youll need some kind of distribution deal. Some distributors will take on your album and simply funnel it into stores if they happen to order it, but a good distributor takes your music and proactively sells it to stores. Getting one these distributors is a tough sell with your first album, so you may find that your ausverkauf avenues are fairly limited as you platzdeckchen out. Digital distribution is a cost-effective way to get your music heard. Amazon Music, iTunes, or Spotify all pay (relatively small) royalties for plays and digital album purchases. Several platforms now exist to aggregate your tracks and send them out to several digital streaming services. Promotion An established label, even a small one, will have relationships with press and radio that they can cash in on to generate press buzz for their releases. Most labe ls will also hire PR companies which may be too pricey for you to do on your own. Again, this can be a question of volume - if a label runs a lot of business through a particular PR company, they can get a better price. Many of these elements are interconnected - for instance, if you have a PR company lined up to work your release, a distributor will be more interested in working with you because press attention makes your album easier to sell. If you have a distributor, the manufacturer might be willing to extend credit to you, because the distributor will help you get sales to cover your bills. The Nuts and Bolts of Self-Releasing an Album Do you know actually how to release a record? Do you have time to dedicate to the project to make it worthwhile? Thats the reality check. Now heres the good news...if you set realistic goals. If this is your first release and you dont have any press coverage, start small. Sell your albums at your shows, try to get local independent record st ores to take it on a consignment basis and drum up some press coverage. Use your website to sell your album to your fans as well. When you have some sales under your belt and some press to show off, start looking for a distributor who can bring your album out to a wider audience. Every success and every bit of progress, no matter how small, is a building block for your next step. Signing a Record Deal After a Self Release One caveat - if getting signed to a label is your goal, be aware that when you self-release an album, a label may hesitate to release that album again in the future. If youve already gotten press attention for those songs, the label wont be able to promote them again. In that case, consider either holding back some of your songs or continue to write and record new ones while working your release to give a label new material to work with.

Practical Techniques for Resume Draft That You Can Use Immediately

Practical Techniques for Resume Draft That You Can Use Immediately The Little-Known Secrets to Resume Draft There is an assortment of advantages of employing the simple resume formats. The Simple resume formats can be employed by anyone who wants to put in an application for a job. There are a couple common kinds of resumes, and were likely to evaluate when (or if) you ought to use every one of them. Simple resume formats assist you in making your resume. One of the absolute most important design choices you can possibly make on your resume is your font. The beneath template case in point might be used for somebody who has practical experience. Once you have selected your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our totally free expert guidance about ways to craft the great modern resume. Sometimes all you will need is a timeless style template thats clean, clear and right to the point. Resume writing isnt simple, and there are lots of unique opinions on how be st to do it. So below are some approaches to take an original look at revising your resume. Resume objectives can be a little controversial. Describe well with the assistance of bulletined list and paragraphs to elaborate on the strengths one has. Type of Resume Draft The sphere of information technology gets more important each day. Learn about the three kinds of skills youll be able to highlight and the way youre able to incorporate them into your resume. So want to get the list to be simple to read. Dont forget, your target is to catch the hiring managers eye and stick out from the remainder of the paper in that pile. First off, we have to discover what type of job seeker youre. Just make sure, whichever format you pick, which youre targeting it for the job that youre applying to. Whether youre looking for your very first job or seeking to earn a career change, the practice starts with your resume. You should review similar postings for the kind of job youre applying for . Whenever you are asking for work, its mandatory that you submit a resume. You really need to find out more about the job and company (starting with the work description) and set the abilities and keywords THEY mention. The present job may not always ensure job satisfaction, however shifting career avenues are going to be a gigantic deal full of a superior deal of uncertainty. Again, you would like to make sure that your resume is readable. Transportation jobs involve a lot of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can take care of that. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often theyre utilised to secure new employment. They may be organized in different ways. Resume Draft - the Story Job searchers have plenty of choices when it has to do with creating their resume. Chronological resumes have a small trouble organizing diverse abilities and experience. The success of a restaurant is dependent upon how its managed. You must also chat abo ut past experience. Do not be worried if you dont have any legal experience yet. For some restaurant owners, experience in conditions of tenure is crucial. It isnt difficult to read, and they are able to discover the keyword phrases and qualifications EASILY when theyre reading hundreds of applications. So you should be taking a look at the particular job description for keywords. A recruiter trying to find a marketer might find someone acquainted with Google Analytics and Google AdWords. You should have the ability to communicate whatever you will need to say on a single page. The Hidden Secret of Resume Draft You need to not just catch the hiring managers eyeyou should make sure they look over your statement and say Whew When its essential, its your obligation to guarantee the recruiter sees it. Your resume writer will get in touch with you to clarify details. By highlighting a couple of essential abilities and your existing objectives, you give the recruiter or hiring man ager a taste of whats to come in the remainder of your resume. If youre arranging a move to another city, your existing address may confuse the hiring manager. When it has to do with the work hunt, you must sell yourself as the ideal candidate for the function. If youre attempting to obtain work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. The more skills a candidate has, the less they will have to be trained and the faster they will have the ability to donate to the business. If you have a specific language ability which may be relevant to an employer, you may include an abilities or languages section with that info. You may also have a course via LinkedIn Learning and add this to your Skills section. Writing a strong application is a challenging procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Writing your resume now can help you identify crucial abilities and experiences you might be missing.

Accountancy career bright spots despite a gloomy economic forecast

Accountancy career bright spots despite a gloomy economic forecast Accountancy career bright spots despite a gloomy economic forecastPosted October 13, 2011, by Sue Stevens Since taxes are one of the certainties in life, it stands to reason that jobs in accountancy are too. But accountants are having to suss out the jobs balance sheets to find the career bright spots and avoid the current economic storm. We all know that accountants are integral to businesses of all shapes and sizes. Whether its finance, IT, retail, communications or entertainment, its a safe bet that an accountant is behind the scenes keeping the books balanced and the business on a sound economic footing. Despite this, some accountants are finding themselves out of work. Its not all bright out there As many employment sectors are copping a battering from the global financial crisis, so too accountancy jobs have not been immune to the financial fallout. Most of Australias big accounting firms have swung the axe in recent months. PricewaterhouseCoopers cut 170 staff in January and about 30 before Christmas, while Ernst Young and KPMG have also sacked a number of tax accountants. These have been mainly first wave cuts where the companies have made strategic decisions to exit some of their business programs and the accountants employed in them have lost their jobs. In addition, accounting graduate positions are down a whopping 64 per cent according to the Olivier Job Index. Some organisations have put a freeze on recruitment altogether while others have delayed graduate program starting dates or reassessed the number of positions they are offering to graduates during 2009. But while the financial squeeze is having a flow-on effect for some accountancy jobs, others are finding the bright spots where there are good employment options. Finding the bright spots Forensic accountants remain busy seeking out dodgy business dealings. Insolvency accounting jobs are also in demand as the global econom ic crisis takes its toll on businesses. Over 15 per cent of all accounting jobs were for insolvency practitioners according to the MyCareer website on 5 May 2009. befolgung and risk management jobs are holding up, as are reporting, cash and payroll positions. Think about working for the government The government sector is another place accountants can look for employment. Hays Recruitment reported in April 2009 that candidates with in-depth financial analysis and modelling skills, such as assessing the expenditure of ongoing projects and establishing budgets for future projects, are in demand due to the high level of project work occurring within State and Federal Governments following the stimulus packages. In addition, the report says that work with State Governments on budgets, spend and analysis of revenue and expenses have all contributed to increased requirements for payrollers, management accountants, financial/statutory accountants and credit controllers. Those with goo d systems experience are in demand as employers lack the time to train new staff. For temporary roles in these areas, experience working in the government sector is required, as departments want new employees who understand government processes and systems so they will settle into the role quickly. Another possibility working for the government is temporary or contract work. Many departments have a headcount freeze (not employing new people as others leave) so temporary employees are having their contracts extended to cover the shortfall. Surviving the economic downturn Its a game of survival of the fittest at the moment so be the best accountant you can be The financial industry is in a state of rapid change, so keep abreast of the latest goings on. There seems to be little good news on the employment front with Access Economics predicting that the jobless rate forecast will hit 8.5 per cent, significantly higher than its current level of 5.7 per cent. And while many employment s ectors are taking a battering, long-term accounting prospects in some sectors are holding up so dont jump ship just yet. Only when taxes are abolished should accountants start to worry about their employment prospects.Accounting ResourcesManagement accountant sample resumeManagement accountant sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorManagement ConsultantPopular Career Searchesdiploma of accounting career optionswhat to study to become a bank teller australiaquickest way to become an accountant in australiahow to become an investment banker australiadiploma of economics tafeAccounting CoursesAdvanced Diploma of AccountingEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate IV in Accounting and BookkeepingEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate IV in Accounting and BookkeepingEnquire Online Enquire OnlineDiploma of AccountingEnquire Online Enquire OnlineSue StevensRelated ArticlesBrowse moreAccountingBusinessCPA offers uni undergrads a big breakAspiring student entrepreneurs are being offered an exciting opportunity to kick-start their careers with The CPA Big Break Project 2012.AccountingAccounting more than a numbers gameGood with numbers? Get into accounting it offers great salaries, job prospects and the key to spicing up your love lifeAccountingWhat is an actuary?An actuary is one of those jobs that youve heard of but youre not quite sure of exactly what it is. Want to know more?

The Comeback of the Aluminum Can Part 1

The Comeback of the Aluminum Can Part 1 The Comeback of the Aluminum Can Part 1 The Comeback of the Aluminum Can, Part 1Summers here and the time is right for cracking open an ice-cold can of ones favorite brew. For those who imbibe, nothing goes better with a day at the beach, on the links, or behind the mower than a cold beer. And for the past 60 summers, millions of beer lovers have been quaffing the golden elixir from 12-oz aluminum pop-top cans.As we commemorate the aluminum beverage cans 1958 debut, several factors are shaking up the current can market. On the up side, a growing embrace of cans by the nations surging craft brewing industry is driving sales of high-end microbrews and recycling the beer cans low-brow public image. On the uncertain side, new U.S. tariffs on imported aluminum sheet are causing the brewing industry to predict widespread job losses, brewery failures, and higher prices. We cant foretell the future, but we can take a look back at engineerings role in t he evolution of Americas iconic beer cans.Cans at a GlanceThose born after a certain date might not recognize this aluminum can pull tab. Image Wikimedia CommonsBeer has been packaged in metal cans since the end of Prohibition. The first company to make the switch welches Richmond, VA-based Gottfried Krueger Brewery, which in 1935 started selling two of its varieties in heavy-gauge steel cans weighing nearly 4 oz. Later that year, Pabst would take the can national, and the other major brewers swiftly followed suit. To open these early cans required the drinker to keep handy a church key, a once-familiar gadget with a pointed metal tip used to punch drinking and ventilation holes in the can top. To work around that inconvenience, later brewers developed cone-topped cans that were capped and could be opened like traditional bottles. However, the conical shape of the container made it more difficult than a flat top can for shipping and stacking and cone tops fizzled out by the end of t he 1950s.For You New Twist on an Old Tool A quantum shift in beer can production occurred in 1963 with the introduction of the self-opening pull tab can by Pittsburgh Brewing, maker of Iron City beer. The pull-tab caught on quickly and dominated the industry for at least 10 years. The only drawback what to do with the sharp-edged metal ring-tab assembly once the can was opened? Many people simply tossed them aside, leading to concerns over litter and the risk of injury. The industry responded with safer, litter-free opening technologies such as Coors push-button can and todays standard stay-tab design.All In for AluminumAluminums introduction to the canned beer market in 1958 was less than smooth. To commemorate Hawaiis impending statehood in 1959, Honolulu-based Hawaii Brewing Company decided to introduce a canned version of its Primo beer. The company grew interested in aluminum because the raw material was much lighter than steel and therefore cheaper to ship in from the mainland . The company invested in the earliest aluminum filling and packing equipment and successfully produced some 23,000 cases of 11-oz cans of Primo. However, according to Rustycans.com, a website for collectors, the company used a can-lining process that failed to block interaction between the beer and surrounding metal, effectively spoiling the contents. Reportedly unable even to give the skunked swill away, the company issued a recall and lurched toward its eventually bankruptcy. But this was merely a hiccup in aluminums inevitable rise to dominance after Coors brought all-aluminum packaging into the hauptrichtung in 1959.Aluminum cans help protect the beers quality and increase its shelf life because they were better than bottles at blocking out light and oxygen. Cans are also much cheaper to produce, store, and ship and are getting better all the time. For example, can-maker Ball Corporation (Broomfield, CO) says its cans now contain 40% less metal than they did in 1970, and about 70% of that is recycled material. Consumers like cans because they chill quickly, are easier to haul around, and are more convenient to recycle than glass bottles. And more recently, small regional craft brewers have readily embraced cans as a cost-effective means of expanding their market reach. In the process, they are helping to recycle canned beers low-brow public image as the drink of choice for Homer Simpson types who prize quantity over quality. Todays world-wide tipplers go through about 200 million aluminum cans a year. Thats a lot of dead soldiers. Brewers, however, promote aluminum as a more sustainable packaging choice than glass. According the Aluminum Association, used aluminum cans are nearly twice as likely to be recycled than glass or plastic containers.Read Part 2 of The Comeback of the Aluminum Can to learn more about the production process and new technologies surrounding aluminum cans.Michael MacRae is an independent writer.Read More3D Printing Trains Bomb-Snif fing DogsInsight from menschengerecht SightNew Process Embeds Coded Data on 3D-Printed Parts For Further Discussion

A Case for Cover Letters

A Case for Cover Letters A Case for Cover Letters Between updating your resume and searching for open punkts,the job hunt can be both a daunting and time-consuming endeavor. You may be tempted to skip the titelseite letter or even worse, send a templated titelblatt letter its imperative that you take full advantage of the unique opportunity to share your story.Below are just a few reasons why cover letters are critical to securing a first-round job interview, as well as some thoughts on how they can separate you from thecompetition.Cover Letters Allow You to Express YourselfUnless the job for which you are applying is in a creative field (e.g., designer, art director, etc.), your resume should notlage be the place to show off your personality. Save that for your cover letter.When applying for a position, your resume should include facts and figures. Much of your resume will be composed ofjob titles and succinct data points (e.g., I grew revenue by X percent in 2015). Cover letter s, on the other hand, are your opportunity to express yourself.Yourcover letter can show a company what type of person you are and what inspires you. It should tell the company how it will benefit from hiring you not what you want from the company. A Google search can tell employers things that they might find on your resume (i.e., awards, past jobs, education), but cover letters reveal information that employers may not be able to find online.Consequently, crafting a solid cover letter gives you the ability to impress the company with your writing skills, something that is valued in a wide variety of jobs. Not only does an eloquent cover letter build your personal brand, but it also shows your competence in matters of communication and style, thus increasing your options of securing an interview.A Great Cover Letter Sets You ApartIf you can capture the attention of the employerwith a well-written and thoughtful cover letter, they will remember you especially if your tone and writ ing style appeals to them. The best cover letters show that you took time to research the company, position, industry, and ways youcould contribute in that specific environment. Be sure to exhibit that youve done your research on both the company and the position, as this will be another differentiator when the employer is deciding upon which candidates will be given interviews.On the other hand, submitting a boilerplate cover letter will, more often than not, result in your resume heading straight to the recycle bin. Do not assume that one vague cover letter will be sufficient for all applications, or that businesses will not be able to tell that youve used the same cover letter for multiple applications. Youre better off not sending a cover letter at all than you are sending something generic.Cover Letters Allow You to Make a Case for YourselfIf you found a job listing, prepared your resume, and researched the company, then, at this point in the process, you should know the charac teristics, education, and job experiences the company is looking for in applicants. Cover letters allow you to make a case for yourself if you do not meet all the requirements.Instead of avoiding the listed requirements that you do not possess, you can address them head-on. This is your chance to tell your story, to explain why you would be a good candidate for the position, and to win the company over.For example, if you have held a variety of different jobs for short periods of time, worked nontraditional jobs, or lack experience, a cover letter could be incredibly helpful insecuring an interview. If you are applying for a job but have no business experience, employersmay be inclined to dismiss your application. However, you could explain in your cover letter that although you do not have business experience, you have lead a group of peers as the president of your sorority in college. This explanation could encourage employersto keep your resume in the stack of potential candidate s.Another example is if a company is looking for a future team member that has skills that you do not. Perhaps a company wants to hire a coder who knows a specific code language that you do not know. Instead of ignoring the requirement, you can explain in your cover letter that you know similar languages, or that you have taken a class in the specific language, therefore assuaging any doubt the company may have.Do not think that employers will not notice your lack of experience or that you have an unrelated college degree. In fact, they will notice and will think that you applied without even reading the job posting at all.If They Specifically Say No Cover Letters, Then No Cover LettersAlthough there are a lot of benefits to cover letters, some companies dont want them. If this is the case, then you do not have to submit a cover letter. Alternatively, if the company does not specify one way or the other, it never hurts to send a cover letter with your application.Cover letters take a lot of time, but they are well worth it. Put in the extra effort to do the research, personalize each letter, and call out important position requirements, and youll be happy with the resultsMeghann Isgan is an HR consultant working at One Click.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.

8 Tips to Help You Disagree Without Being Disagreeable

8 Tips to Help You Disagree Without Being Disagreeable8 Tips to Help You Disagree Without Being DisagreeableI once walked into what I expected to be a fairly tense meeting, and the senior executive in the wrong pointed at me, and said I dont care what he says, I disagree. That was the first and only time Ive ever been disagreed with, without opening my mouth. While you will never come off in a positive light if you adopt the disagree before knowing what hell say tactic of the executive above, it is possible and necessary to express disagreement from time-to-time. Doing it properly and professionally, however, is critical to your success. This article offers ideas on how to navigate this sometimes awkward issue. When No One Disagrees Many firms and many workplace cultures discourage disagreement, particularly with senior management ideas and plans. Thats too bad. Because when a disagreement is suppressed, firms and teams end up making flawed decisions or following paths that no on e outside of the boss agrees with following. Whether senior leaders actively discourage disagreement or their (or your) management behaviors suggest that disagreement will not be tolerated, the suppression of ideas is part of the formula for failure. Foster a Collaborative Company Culture It is the leaders job to provide the vision for the group. A good executive must have a dream and the ability to get the company to support that dream. But it is not enough to merely have the dream. The leader must also provide the framework by which the people in the organization can help achieve the dream. It is called ?company culture.?? When your company culture allows people to challenge ideas, suggestions, and plans, you create an organization of thinking, committed people capable of producing the kind of neuheit and productivity required to succeed today. If your company culture does not allow for constructive dissent, if people who suggest alternatives are castigated for not being team players, you produce an environment of fear, stagnation, and antipathy. Not allowing appropriate dissent will kill your company. Allow for Discussion and Debate Youre asmart manager. You encourage your people to challenge you and suggest alternatives. But are you a good subordinate? Do you challenge your boss? Or do you sit back and protect your job by agreeing with everything the boss suggests? A mindless agreement wont protect your job, at least not for long. Every manager has a boss. Our responsibility to our bosses is, to be honest with them and to tell them what we think, even if we disagree. Perhaps especially if we disagree. You and your peersneedto discuss issues openly, frankly, and with the best interests of your area clearly visible. You need to give the boss as much information and as many options as possible. Dont be afraid to fight hard for what you believe to be right. Be professional about it, but be candid too. However, once the boss has made a decision, the di scussion and dissent must stop. Once the decision has been made, you have an obligation to support your boss in that decision. You expect it of your people you should do no less. 8 Tips to Help You Disagree Without Being Disagreeable You think your sttte is right. You want what is best for your people. You want things done in the way that works best for your department. So you argue your points strongly. Thats good, but dont overdo it. You wont win every battle. After all, your boss is looking after the best interest of his or her entire organization, not just your part of it. Instead of establishing a reputation as a stubborn naysayer, try these tactics to help you disagree without being disagreeable Ask clarifying questions about the proposal in front of you. Make certain you and others clearly understand the issue before you voice your objections.Assess the framing of the issue. If the situation was positioned as a solution to a problem, try and encourage the team to think ab out solutions as if the issue were a potential benefit. If you frame the same issue as either a positive or negative, you may very well develop a completely unique solution for each situation.Strive to understand the assumptions behind the current position or idea. Listen carefully and if you hear a flawed assumption, politely suggest that it be reviewed. Dont make your disagreement personal, focus on the business issues at hand. No one appreciates a personal attack. Instead of suggesting yours is the only answer, position it as an option to be considered.When describing your approach, treat the other idea respectfully, while carefully describing the benefits that yours offers above and beyond the other approach.Ask for an opportunity to prove your case with a trail run of your idea. Many executives will appreciate the spirit of giving someone a shot to prove their point. Dont expect to win them all You are in a marathon, not a sprint. The Bottom Line It is important to foster a culture in your company where differing opinions are encouraged. Be certain as a manager that you are not overtly or inadvertently suppressing the free exchange of ideas. If everyone always agrees with you, its a sign that people are not comfortable sharing their true views. And most of all, learn to disagree without positioning it as a life and death issue and alienating people in the process. After all, no one wants to be that executive mentioned in the opening of this article. Updated by Art Petty