How to retire with a high income A definitive guide

How to retire with a high income A definitive guideHow to retire with a high income A definitive guideIts a common scenario, and one that Im super familiar with Youre in the prime of your career and earning good money. But, your job stinks. It provides no satisfaction. Youre paid well, but thats about it. You want out. You want to retire with a high income.I happen to know a little something about this.I did something similar after 14 years of working ininformation technology, I quit the rat race at 35 and now spend my time traveling the country with my wife in our Airstream travel trailer. I love almost every minute of it.And, Im about aserkennbar as they come in the last year both my wife and I worked full-time jobs, we earned a combined $250k. The year before that, it was about the same, give or take.My first job out of college in 2005 was worth $55,000 a year to me. Each year, Id get cost-of-living raises and every time Iswitched jobs(a tactic I highly recommend to maximize the growth of your earnings), I enjoyed a nice bump.14 years after I started my career, I increased my salary by a factor of three.In other words,I know what its like to earn a bunch of moneyway mora than what I needed to provide for the basic needs of life. Way more than I truly ever thought that I would earn.And if youre sitting in your career earning big bucks,Im going to drop some wisdom into your lap that might just transform the way that you think about your salary and your lifestyle.If youre earning a high salary and want to retire early, youre in the right place.3 things to know about high incomesA high income is different than being richIf you are not familiar with the term pseudo-affluence, heres what you need to know. Earning a high salary doesnt necessarily mean youre financially stable. Thepseudo-affluentare people who typically earn high incomes and do certain things to make themselves look rich.But, looking rich doesnt mean that you are rich.The pseudo-affluent generallyE arna high-income, but spend the majority of what they makeWearexpensive suits or carry Louis Vuitton pursesDrivehigh-end luxury or sportscars like BMWs, Porsches, and MercedesGenuinelybelievethat rich peopleact richNaturally, this does not mean thateverybodywho drives a BMW is pseudo-affluent. The world isnt black and white enough to make such a concrete statement. However, those who do spend the vast majority of high incomes DO tend to drive unterstellung cars and live in wealthy neighborhoods to display their wealth.Many are good people, well-educated and perhaps earning a six-figure income,writesAlexander Green, author of the bookBeyond Wealth The Road Map to a Rich Life. But they arent balance-sheet rich because its almost impossible for most workers even those who are well paid to hyper-spend on consumer goodsandsave a lot of money.stimmung of this story Your high income is worthless if youre spending the majority of it.High-income families still battle with debtYou might be surprised at how many high-income folks still live paycheck-to-paycheck. And,high-income debtis a thing that a lot of people struggle with.Nearly eight in 10 workers in the United Stateslive paycheck-to-paycheck, and its not just low-income earners that account for those numbers.More than half of minimum wage workers said they needed to hold down two jobs to make ends meet, while one in 10 workers earning $100,000 or more yearly say they live paycheck to paycheck, wroteU.S. News.And, thats only those who actually admit it.Heres the thing High-income jobs also come with an unwritten expectation to look the part. When were in high-level roles, we arent expected to drive to client meetings in a 2001 Toyota Corolla. Why? Because we look more successful when were rockin the brand new 7-series Bimmer.But,lifestyle inflationhas a way of eating through the hard work that we put into our careers.A couple of the best graphics Ive seen about this fake wealth come fromZack Van Zantwho mapped th eaverage Joessavings level relative to income and perceived needs.There are Average Joes and Extraordinary Joes.To the average Joe, savings rates increase marginally as our lifestyle along with our income, increases substantially.The average Joe is in contrast to the Extraordinary Joes savings level, who resists the temptation to increase perceived needs along with incomeMoral of this story Your lifestyle paints a better picture of your financial freedom than your income. Earning a high salary is a wonderful thing, but if we spend the majority of our earnings, its tough to truly get ahead.Your 5-step guide to retiring early after a high-income careerStep 1 You dont need a budget, but you need to know where your money is goingThough your budget doesnt need to look exactlyas mine did, tracking your spending and controlling where your money is going is equally important in a high salary as it is a lower one.In fact, theres a good argument to be made that its more important with a high income because high incomes enable more spending. Your means are greater, and as a result, more money can be spent on more expensive things that, if not controlled, can systematically squeeze the freedom out of your financial situation.High-income earners needfinancial visibilitycashflow tracking (money in vs. money out)a financial roadmap to help focus spending and investmentsWe usePersonal Capitalto provide the financial visibility that we need. We also track, through the use of spreadsheets, our cash flow and general trajectory toward our money goals even though were no longer earning a consistent income.Personal Capital is one of the easiest financial applications Ive used. Works well. Colorful. Gets the job done.If you are a high-income earner, what are some of the things youre doing to keep yourself honest? High incomes are great, but only when we entwurf a system where we keep the majority of the money that we earn. They can lull us into a false sense of security.Step 2 Esta blish an emergency fund of at least six monthsAnemergency fundis crucial tohigh-income earnersbecause our lifestyles very often require quite a bit of resource to maintain.Another way to describe your emergency fund is your FU Money. Meaning, if things get bad at work or you find a better option, having enough stashed away means we can easily say, F-U, Im out at work at a moments notice.FU Money means you can effectively put a stop to full-time income immediately and still remain financially independent, at least for a while. It doesnt necessarily mean or imply that you can flat out retire. But, it does give us options, and lots of em FU money is good money.Unfortunately, themajority of peopledont have adequate emergency funds. And, the last thing we want to do is plop unexpected costs onto credit cards.How much emergency fund money should we have?Usually, I like to encourage at least three to six months, but for high-income earners, err on the side of six months. If you cannot last six months without income, then you have a problem.Youre probably spending too much money. Your lifestyle has become overinflated to the point where its putting you into a position of weakness.Step 3 Forget what the experts say and just focus on YOU and your goalsThere isnt justone single wayto get out of debt, build wealth and achieve financial freedom.I dont care what the experts tell you. If they believe theres a one-track path to success (probablytheirway thats available in their book for the low, low price of $9.95), remove yourself from that conversation and never seek their advice again. Why? Its B.S.Im a big fan of the try it and see method, especially if youre a high-income earner.If an expert says that you gotta get up an hour earlier in the morning in order to be successful, then try it if youre properly motivated. If its working for you, then keep doing it. Otherwise, re-gain those 60-minutes of sleep and put your effort toward something else.Check out these point-blank statements that I believe wholeheartedly to be true.There is no one way toget out of debt. Your way is just as valid as mine.There is no one way to invest in the stock market. I prefer index fund investing. Others prefer dividend investing. Frankly, I dont care what method you choose. They all work. The point is to do it. Just try. More on this below.There is no one way to live asensiblelifestyle. If you want that 80-inch television, who am I to tell you that its unnecessary (we havent owned a television in years, by the way)? Buy whatever you feel is necessary for you and your family.There is no one way to manage your finances. Some married couples have combined finances (like my wife and me). Others have kept them separate. Some use Ally savings accounts. Others use money market accounts. As long as you arent stashing your wad of cash under your mattress, there are a ton of different ways to manage your finances effectively.There is no one way to budget. Heck, some people dont ev en use a budget. Many subscribe to the pay yourself first method and forget a budget entirely. Others prefer to keep their budget so they can see exactly where their money is going. If budgeting works for you, keep it upThere is no one way to retire early. My wife and I sold both of our homes and bought anAirstreamthat we live in full-time. While that works for us, it sure as hell wont work for everybody. And, thats okay. Big homes or small, it is up to each and every one of us to decide how to retire early and what well do once we reach that point of sweet no-job ecstasy.Dont blindly focus on what financial or so-called early retirement experts tell you (yes, that includes methough, I dont consider myself an expert). Do what works forYOU.Step 4 Dont just save invest your wealthNo one ever got rich by saving money.It seems to go against the grain, but its also a fact of life. Saving money isnt what gets the majority of us rich.Saving is not the magic sauce to early retirement. There is nothing wrong with it, thoughIt is true that saving money does not lead to wealth. That said, theres nothing wrong with saving some cash by changing up the spending habits you developed over the years that probably resulted inwholesale hemorrhaging of your precious greenbacksfrom your wallet. Dont get me wrong, saving money is great. Its wonderful. It all helps.Its just not the magic sauce to early retirement.Early retirement is enabled throughhousehold wealth. How much money youhave, rather than how much yousave. Thats the delicious gravy that, when smothered over a stack of steaming hot mashed potatoes, makes the meal.Ultimately,wealth is built by investing your earnings. Here, take a look at apretty graphthat puts in chart form what little effect saving money has over your household wealth. I warn you, however, that there are a bunch of sleep-inducing financial buzzwords that permeate that post.You know, things like market revaluation and consumer durable investments.Its not about how much money we have. Wealth is a direct byproduct ofwhat we do with that money. ItsTHISthat enables early retirement.Keep your savings in a Ziplock baggy under your mattress and you dont prepare yourself for anything beyond the apocalypse. And even then, I doubt your local merchant will be around anyway to accept your cash for a loaf of bread because their credit card processing machine was destroyed in the nuclear blast that annihilated most of humanity.Letcompound interestwork for you.Step 5 Plan your strategy by giving your money a purposeAs a high-income earner, your money needs a purpose in life, just like you.A reason for its existence. Youre not just going to work to earn a paycheck. If youre like most of us, youre at work toearn a living. To provide for your family. And, youre doing an awfully good job at it, too. Youre bringing in big bucks.The next step is to give your money purpose. Train yourself to think of your income as a tool. Its a tool that youll use to bu ild your future free of the constraints of full-time work.This happens by giving your money purpose.How to give your money purposeKnow where your money is going You cant begin to un-screw your financial situation until you realize where your money is going. Budgets can help, but frankly, your bank statement is all you really need to determine where your money is going and, importantly, whether your spending is setting you up to meet, or fail, at your financial goals.Show me a mans bank statement, and Ill tell you what he values.For example, those damn automated monthly payments for services that you may no longer use are killers. They were for us. Because you dont have to lift a finger to make those payments, you quickly forget that youre making them. Bank statements help. Just look at em. Can you justify it all?Care about your future More critical than most people realize, you need to care about what happens to your future self. Yes, we all want to be successful, but what does that mean? Do you actively want to retire early, or are you content with working through the traditional lifespan of a typical worker in our society? In 20 years, do you see yourself living in the same house? Working the same job? Driving the same car? What will change?For the record, its okay if you have no interest in retiring early. But, knowing exactly what you want out of life whatever that happens to be will guide your moneys purpose.Invest If your company matches 401k contributions, at least contribute that amount. Remember, 401ks are pre-tax money, which means not only is your company shoveling you cold hard cash, but youre lowering your tax burden by a dollar-for-dollar contribution into your 401k account.Brokerage accounts work, too. We like Targeted Retirement investment accounts and have heavily utilized their automatic diversification strategy so we dont have to worry about all that. Seriously, we just throw money into our brokerage account and literally forget it. Theres no secret sauce to getting rich in the market. Besides time. You gotta give it time.Persistence Early retirement is easy, but its not quick. It takes time, just like most goals worth striving toward. Avoid the rookie mistake of expecting 20% capital gains in the first year of investing your dough. It doesnt happen that way, even in todays outrageously lucrative market.Your lifes purpose takes time, just like your moneys. Dont expect miracles with your money. Reality doesnt work that way. Budget and invest. Then, stick with it. I mean stick the hell with it. Keep throwing those greenbacks into your investment accounts. Month after month. Year after year.Step 6 Automate your saving and investing strategyAutomation removes the element of discipline from the equation of saving money. With automation, we dont have to remember to move our money to where it needs to go.Through the magic of automation, we arent manually transferring our cash every single month, which definitely takes disci pline. We dont need to lift a finger after we set up an automated process to save money. Its all done for us, like clockwork.How does automation work?Payroll deductions are often the easiest way to automate your savings. If your company offers a 401k plan, youll probably be able to setup auto-deductions from your paycheck to fund that account for your retirement. An IRA account can work the same way.What are some of the things that can be automated?Company-sponsored 401k contributionsMoney transfers from checking accounts into savingsMonthly bill payments (cable TV, credit cards, etc) to reduce late feesBanks usually provide automation services to make this easy. Companies typically provide automated payroll deductions for 401k and IRA contributions. Credit cards may also untersttzung automated payments every month.Automation is key to removing the element of discipline from your financial life.If you dont yet have financial automation in your life, start today.Make an appointment w ith your companys HR department to find out about your 401k retirement options. Then, auto-deduct from your paycheck to start funding your retirement account.Or, establish a savings account through a bank (we like Ally, but it could be withany bank) and create a recurring transfer from your checking account into that saving account.Just start with one. Over time, consider other automation as well.Check out theAutomatic Millionaire, by David Bach, for an excellent in-depth look at how automation kicks our finances into high gear.This article originally appeared on ThinkSaveRetire.

Common Cashier Interview Questions and Tips for Answering

Common Cashier Interview Questions and Tips for AnsweringCommon Cashier Interview Questions and Tips for AnsweringWhen you arebewerberinterviewingfor a position as a cashier, regardless of industry, you need to highlight your focus on customer service and accuracy. Companies want to hire cashiers who are good with money and good with people. Your goal is to show that youre both, and to demonstrate that youre a pleasant, reliable person to work with, as well as a positive public face for the company. For many customers, youll be their only point of direct interaction with the organization, so its essential that you show youll make a good impression. By learning some of the most common cashier interview questions and tips for answering each, you can enter your interview feeling confident and prepared. Tips for a Cashier Interview Prepare answers to common interview questions. Before you even get to the interview, be sure to prepare by reviewing common interview questions such as Wh at are your strengths? and How would you describe yourself? Make sure you have answers prepared for these interview questions, since you will most likely be asked at least a couple of them. Review the top skills for the job. Before the interview, also be sure to review the job listing to make sure you have a sense of the top skills required for the job. Be prepared to answer questions about those skills. While every job is different, most companies want cashiers who have strong customer service skills, as well as candidates who possessskillslike basic accounting, computer literacy, and familiarity with the companys products. Because cashiers handle money, you might also be asked questions about integrity. Provide specific examples. When answering questions during the interview, be sure to support your answers with specific examples from your past work experience or schooling. Using specific instances in your answers gives your responses more weight and credibility, allowing the empl oyer to see how youd succeed in the role. Dress professionally. Finally, dont forget todress professionally for the interview, even if the job itself will involve wearing a uniform. Choose neat, clean, conservative clothing, andavoid heavy makeup or perfume. Your goal is to impress the hiring manager with your skills and experience, not to grab their attention with your attire. Cashier Interview Questions While mostjob interviewsshare common questions regardless of the type of job, there are some specific questions you will likely face when applying for a role as a cashier 1. What does excellent customer service mean to you?As a cashier, you will be working with the public at all times. It is essential that you provide excellent service, and that your standards of service match your potential employers.In your answer,highlight the importance of good service, identifying solutions, and resolving issues to the customers satisfaction. If possible, offer examples of times when you w ent the extra mile to provide customer satisfaction. (Reminder its important to be positive. The unvarnished truth might be that the customer was a pain, but it will be more persuasive if you spin the story to focus on your ability to give excellent customer service by resolving their issue.) 2. Do you prefer working alone or as a part of a gruppe?Cashiers typically work independently, but working within a team is a key part of the job you will work closely with stockers, floor managers, and others. As you respond, stress that you can work independently and can thrive on your own, but that you appreciate the support and expertise a team can give you.Emphasize your ability to communicatewith others and support your colleagues. 3. What if a coworker calls out sick and youre on your own?This is a common issue in service industries, so you should expect a question like this. When short-staffed, cashiers can face long lines and frustrated customers. When answering this question, its impo rtant to highlight the role of politeness and efficiency. However, you should also mention that if, even working at your fastest, the lines keep lengthening, you would consult with your manager about calling in other workers or asking other employees to take over another register. It may be tempting to answer this question by emphasizing your ability to handle ever-increasing volumes of customers, but even the worlds fastest cashier needs help now and then. The hiring manager doesnt want a candidate who insists that he or she can do everything without help thats just not realistic. 4. How are you with handhabung money?A key part of a cashiers job is handling money, so trustworthiness and integrity are important. In your answer, highlight your experience managing money, your past employers feedback on your honesty, and your accuracy in managing the cash drawer. You might also mention your familiarity with certain technologies often used in retail, such as barcode scanners and credit card readers. 5. Tell me about a time you delivered excellent service.For this question, paint a vivid description of the situation so that the hiring manager understands what happened and what actions you took. Also emphasize the positive outcome for the customer. Highlight when you went above and beyond the standard response of a cashier and focused on the customers needs.

U.S. Military 101 - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard

U.S. Military 101 - Army, Navy, Air Force, kriegsmarines and Coast GuardU.S. Military 101 - Army, Navy, Air Force, seestreitkrafts and Coast GuardThe present U.S. military organizational structure is a result of the National Security Act of 1947. This is the same act that created the United States Air Force and restructured the War Department into the Department of Defense. Department of Defense The Department of Defense is headed by a civilian, the Secretary of Defense, who is appointed by the President of the United States and approved by the Senate. Under the Secretary of Defense, there are three military departments The Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force, and the Department of the Navy. Each of these military departments is also headed up by a civilian tafelgeschirr secretary, who are also appointed by the president. There are five military branches The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine studentencorps, and Coast Guard. The Army is commanded by a four-star gen eral, known as the Army Chief of Staff. The top military member in the Air Force is the Air Force Chief of Staff. The Navy is commanded by a four-star admiral, called the Chief of Naval Operations. The Marines are commanded by a 4-star general called the Commandant of the Marine Corps. While the chiefs of staff of the Army and Air Force report to their respective cabinet secretaries for most matters, both the Chief of Naval Operations and the Marine Corps Commandant report (for most matters) to the Secretary of the Navy. So yes, the Marine Corps is technically part of the Navy. Joint Chiefs of Staff These four flag officers also make up a group called the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC), which also includes theVice Chairman and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Chairman is nominated by the President and approved by the Senate (as are other general and flag officer positions). For operational matters (such as war or conflict), the Joint Chiefs bypasses the individual service secretaries and report directly to the Secretary of Defense and the President. Army Main U.S. Ground Force The Army is the main ground-force of the United States. Its primary function is to protect and defend the country and its interests with ground troops, armor (such as tanks), artillery, attack helicopters, tactical nuclear weapons, and other weapons. The Army is the oldest U.S. military service, officially established by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775. Its also the largest of the military services. The Army is erleichterunged by two Reserve Forces which can be tapped for trained personnel and equipment during times of need The Army Reserves, and the Army National Guard. The primary difference between the two is that the Reserves are owned and managed by the federal government, and each state owns its own National Guard. However, the president or the Secretary of Defense can activate state National Guard members into federal military service during times of need. Air Force Newest Branch The Air Force is the youngest military service. Prior to 1947, the Air Force was a separate Corps of the Army. The primary mission of the Army Air Corps was to support Army ground forces. However, World War II showed that air power had much more potential than simply supporting ground troops, so the Air Force was established as a separate service. The primary mission of the Air Force is to defend the U.S. and its interests via air and space. It operates fighter aircraft, tanker aircraft, light and heavy bomber aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters. The Air Force is also responsible for all military satellites and controls strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. Like the Army, the active duty Air Force is supplemented by the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard. Navy Safety at Sea Like the Army, the Navy was officially established by the Continental Congress in 1775. The Navys primary mission is to maintain and protect U.S. interests at sea. In times of conflict, the Navy helps to supplement Air Force air power, since Navy aircraft carriers can often deploy to areas where fixed runways are impossible. An aircraft carrier usually carries about 80 aircraft, mostly fighters or fighter-bombers. Navy ships can attack land targets from miles away with very heavy guns and cruise missiles. Navy submarines allow stealth attacks on our enemies from right off their shores. The Navy is also primarily responsible for transporting Marines to areas of conflict. The Navy is supported in times of need by the Naval Reserves. However, unlike the Army and Air Force, there is no Naval National Guard (although a few states have established Naval Militias.) Marine Corps Amphibious Operations Marines specialize in amphibious operations their primary specialty is to assault, capture, and control beachheads, which then provide a route to attack the enemy from almost any direction. The Marines were officially established on 10 November 1775 by the Continental Congress to act as a landing force for the United States Navy. In 1798, however, Congress established the Marine Corps as a separate service. While amphibious operations are their primary specialty, in recent years, the Marines have expanded other ground-combat operations, as well. For combat operations, the Marine Corps likes to be self-sufficient, so it also has its own air power, consisting primarily of fighter and fighter/bomber aircraft and attack helicopters. But the Marines do use the Navy for logistical and administrative support there are no doctors, nurses, or enlisted medics in the Marine Corps, for instance. Even medics that accompany the Marines into combat are specially-trained Navy medics. Coast Guard Smallest Branch The United States Coast Guard, the smallest of all the U.S. military branches, was originally established as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790. In 1915, it was reformed as the United States Coast Guard, under the Treasury Depa rtment. In 1967, the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Transportation. Legislation passed in 2002 transferred the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security. In peacetime, the Coast Guard is primarily concerned with law enforcement, boating safety, sea rescue, and illegal immigration control. However, the president can transfer part or all of the Coast Guard to the Department of the Navy in times of conflict. The Coast Guard consists of ships, boats, aircraft and shore stations that conduct a variety of missions. It is also supported by the Coast Guard Reserves, and a volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary in times of need. The Coast Guard is commanded by a four-star admiral, known as the Coast Guard Commandant. Enlisted Personnel Enlisted members perform the primary jobs that need to be done, trained to perform specific specialties in the military. As enlisted personnel progress up the nine ranks, they assume more responsibility and provide direct supervision to their subordinates. Enlisted personnel in certain grades have special status. In the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, this status is known as Non-Commissioned Officer status, or NCO. In the Navy and Coast Guard, such enlisted are known as Petty Officers. In the Marine Corps, NCO status begins at the grade of E-4 (Corporal). In the Army and Air Force, enlisted personnel in the grades of E-5 through E-9 are NCOs. However, some Army E-4s are laterally promoted to corporal and are considered NCOs. Also in the Army and Air Force, personnel in the grades of E-7 to E-9 are known as senior NCOs. In the Marine Corps, those in the grades of E-6 through E-9 are known as staff NCOs. In the Navy/Coast Guard, petty officers are those in the grades of E-4 through E-9. Those in the grades of E-7 to E-9 are known as chief petty officers. Warrant Officers Warrant Officers are highly-trained specialists. This is where they differ from commissioned officers. Unlike commissioned officers, warrant officers remain in their primary specialty to provide specialized knowledge, instruction, and leadership to enlisted members and commissioned officers alike. With few exceptions, one must be an enlisted member with several years of experience, recommended by their commander, and pass a selection board to become a warrant officer. The Air Force is the only service which does not have warrant officers it eliminated the role when Congress created the grades of E-8 and E-9 in the late 1960s. The other services elected to retain the warrant ranks and shifted the emphasis from a promotion process for E-7s to a highly selective system for highly-skilled technicians. There are five separate warrant ranks. Warrant Officers outrank all enlisted members. Commissioned Officers Commissioned officers are the top brass. Their primary function is to provide overall management and leadership in their area of responsibility. Unlike enlisted members and warrant officers, commissioned officers do not specialize as much (with certain exceptions such as pilots, doctors, nurses, and lawyers). Commissioned officers must have a minimum of a four-year bachelors degree. As they move up the ranks, if they want to get promoted, they will have to earn a masters degree. Commissioned officers are commissioned through specific commissioning programs, such as one of the military academies (West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy), ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps, or OCS (Officer Candidate School), called OTS (Officer Training School) for the Air Force. There are also two basic types of commissioned officers Line and non-line. Non-line officers are non-combat specialists which include medical officers such as doctors and nurses, lawyers, and chaplains. Non-line officers cannot command combat troops as they are specialists and have different jobs and responsibilities.

The Best Cities for Jobs in 2018

The Best Cities for Jobs in 2018The Best Cities for Jobs in 2018 As popular metros like San Francisco , New York City and Los Angeles continue to boom - both in terms of residents and traffic congestion- many assume that these are the hottest spots for jobs as well. Sure, they may have cool jobs and enviable skylines, but surprisingly they do elend top this years list of best cities for jobs.Glassdoors Best Cities for Jobs in 2018 report is out and ranks the top U.S. cities according to their Glassdoor City Score,a figure determined by weighing three factors equally how easy it is to get a job, how affordable it is to live there and how satisfied employees are working there.* As it turns out, the midsized metros are home to the top five best cities for jobs. Thats right, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Hartford top the list.Why? The big, metropolitan cities in the U.S. have well-known brands and attract attention from around the world, but this star factor has also made them expensive places to live. As such, job seekers might be missing out on the potential benefits of a lot of midsize cities.Here are the top five best cities for jobs this year and some of the best companies hiring in each metro. Whether youre in finance or food service, construction or consulting, healthcare or hospitality, there are exciting jobs in each of these cities. Start your job search todayPittsburgh, PA Glassdoor City Score (out of 5) 4.7 Job Openings 91,849 zentralwert Base Salary $46,500 Companies Hiring US Navy, Polyconcept North America, Special Pathogens Laboratory, Bealstone Inc., PNC Financial Services Group, CGI, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Kforce, Duolingo, DICKS Sporting Goods, Facebook, Cognistx, Microsoft, Amazon, LendingHome & more.St. Louis, MO Glassdoor City Score (out of 5) 4.3 Job Openings 75,061 Median Base Salary $48,000 Companies Hiring Oculus, BOEING, Bonfyre App, BJC Healthcare, Bausch & Lomb, Biome rieux, Wells Fargo, Ascension Technologies, Infosys, Brown Smith Wallace, TATA Consultancy Services, IBM, Amerisure & more.Indianapolis, IN Glassdoor City Score (out of 5) 4.3 Job Openings 55,344 Median Base Salary $45,000 Companies Hiring McClain Matthews Insurance, SalesPond, Leaf Software Solutions, emarsys, Availity, VOXX International, Geico, SugarCRM, Edward Jones, Penske Automotive Group, Blackbaud, Dell, New Relic & more.Cincinnati, OH Glassdoor City Score (out of 5) 4.2 Job Openings 61,320 Median Base Salary $45,000 Companies Hiring Merrill Lynch, Vartek, US Navy, Fidelity Investments, Shipt, US Department of Veteran Affairs, London Computer Systems, FDM Group, CBTS, Total Quality Logistics, SigmaTEK Systems & more.Hartford, CT Glassdoor City Score (out of 5) 4.2 Job Openings 40,978 Median Base Salary $55,000 Companies Hiring Travelers Companies, Fox Rehabilitations, Cardinal Logistics Management, Hartford Healthcare, Bohan & Bradstreet, Morris Group , UTC Aerospace ISR and Space Systems, Voya Financial, Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, Mirion, The Creative Group & more.

How to Write a Compelling Profile of a Person

How to Write a Compelling Profile of a PersonHow to Write a Compelling Profile of a PersonA profile is a type of feature story and usually focuses on a part and whats important or interesting about that person at the moment. For example, the journalist Gay Talese did a famous profile of Frank Sinatra, called Frank Sinatra Has a Cold and spoke to the singers dunstkreis since Sinatra would not grant an interview. Although profiles usually focus on people, like celebrities, journalists also can profile entities like sports teams or companies.Its also not necessary for subjects of profiles to be public figures. They can be anyone who might make for an interesting story readers can relate to. Profiles are popular in magazines, but you also will see profiles in newspapers and other publications. The focus of profiles should be News angles or aspects of the subjects personal or professional lifeExplanations for why the subject is newsworthy, relevant, and interestingBased on interviews with the subjectInclude major elements of hard news stories, but also provide readers with details that capture the essence of the subject being profiled Tips for Writing Compelling Profiles Writing a compelling profile involves a few different components. Research and preparation is always the fruchtwein important part of writing, and for feature profiles, the interview often is the most important step in putting together a strong story. When sitting down to write the profile, care with putting pen to paper will help you bring the person to life in a way that is genuine, believable, and interesting. To put this together in the form of a compelling feature, consider these 10 tips for writing better and more compelling profiles Focus on narrative, not quotes.Feature stories, such as individual profiles, are much different than hard news stories. Part of your job is to weave a narrative for readers. When interviewing subjects, focus on getting the details of the story accurate and don t worry so much about taking down everything they say verbatim. Certainly, if someone says something worth quoting, that must be accurate- but an abundance of quotes is not what drives a good narrative.Show, dont tell. Most writers remember this cliche from their creative writing classes, and it is especially valuable when writing feature stories. Set a scene for readers, build tension, make them feel as if they are right there in the story, alongside your subject. Be clear about why the subject is newsworthy.Perhaps the individual being profiled did something or experienced something uncommon. Or, perhaps the subject had an experience or is involved in something that serves as a microcosm of a broader news story that is relevant at the time. Make it clear to readers as soon as possible why the individual is worth reading about.Create an outline.Once youre ready to write, review your notes and mark down the most interesting points and quotes you would like to use to shape your story about this person. Consider what was most surprising and build your storys structure around the peaks and most compelling parts of the conversation. Spend extra time at the beginning of your story. Readers will decide whether to keep reading based on your lede and how much you have piqued their interest.Write with verbs versus adjectives. Dont describe someone as bitter or an office as sterile, instead describe the details you observed and let the reader envision that persons actions or the characteristics of that office themselves.Be strategic with quotations.It can be hard to capture a mood with direct quotes only, so use your own prose and then interject relevant quotes to enhance your point.Be sure to always provide attribution for the quotes that you do use as the reader shouldnt have to ever wonder who is talking. Watch for gaps.Are there gaping holes in your story or questions that you have not answered? Ask another wordsmith to read your story and tell you if they are left with more questions than answers at the end of reading your piece.Dontend with a conclusion.Instead, consider featuring a particularly resonant quote for the last sentence. Let the person you are profiling be the last voice your readers hear.Edit, check for accuracy, and proofread. Once you have finished writing, go back through your work with a fine tooth comb forspelling or grammatical mistakes. Check that you have spelled names correctly, gotten titles right. Also, check and recheck your facts- if you cant verify something, its probably best to leave it out.The better your work when it reaches the copy desk, the more time copy editors will have to spend massaging and improving your prose, as opposed to fixing common grammatical errors.

Resume Objectives: the Ultimate Convenience!

Resume Objectives the Ultimate Convenience Crafting the ideal receptionist resume objective takes time and a good amount of thought and skill to receive it right. A resume objective can explain why youre qualified for the job, even if its the case that you do not own a lot of related experience. Building a resume can seem to be a sizable endeavor, but its something that will be very rewarding in the end when you have the job. Before you delve into crafting your stellar and compelling resume, you want to assess yourself first whether you possess enough understanding of the work position youre applying for. Objectives can arrive at the rescue by providing hiring managers with valuable information concerning the candidate, without them having to experience the entire resume. Consider what your career goals are, your most significant strengths and most impressive abilities, the precise sort of position you need and what sort of organization you prefer to work for. Writing an o bjective statement isnt a bit of cake. The exact first sentence should reflect that youre the most suitable candidate and you are able to make substantial changes in the organization and benefit the business. The schablone starts off with an expert overview of the worker. Enhancing your customer service skills will be able to help you move from providing fantastic customer service to great customer support. Reviewing customer feedback may offer you a different sense of your present customer service abilities than that which you will receive internally from management or colleagues. You might find it helpful to practice your customer service abilities. Everyone can benefit from improving their customer service abilities. The Basic Facts of Resume Objectives Every prospective employer will want to find a General Resume Objective Examples Receptionist from you and its the caliber of that resume that will determine who receives a work interview. Statistics proclaim that the ty pical employer isolated takes a couple of seconds to see at a General Objective On Resume Examples, therefore it is very important that it makes a long-lasting impression. Transferable Skills There are a lot of core abilities and competencies that may be applied to a number of different careers. Writing a strong and efficient executive resume doesnt need to be hard or complicated. It is possible to state the reason behind choosing that specific company or summarize your key qualifications. To begin with, consider the job description to see whether it indicates the kind of skills the provider is seeking. The important thing here is to appeal to what the employer is searching for in an employee. Your employer needs to have a clear picture what you could do for them. Employees generally feel that a powerful resume is sufficient to fetch them with the dream job. Your experience should reveal only jobs, the essence of duties of which, are very similar to that of the job which you are currently applying for. Only the simple fact that youre ready to prepare a professional resume for job gets you across the majority of your primary obstacles. Things You Should Know About Resume Objectives For this reason, you need to have a specific resume objective. In the end, stating an objective is optional, but it might help convince employers that you understand what you want and know of the business. Your goal is to receive a job. It has to be job specific. One of the hazards of a resume objective is that it is possible to focus too much on what you would like in your career, and not enough on how you are going to add value to the corporation. Hence for your assistance youre able to consider some absolutely free sample resume objectives in accordance with your arena, which may be available on the web. Focusing on gathering all of the info required to create a oben liegend objective is a rather important key in resume success. In the main resume, you will need t o abide by a particular format and theres no scope of explanation there. Resume Objectives Secrets If you search for a few of the completely free sample resume statements, then you are going to observe they do not is made up of any sentence in first individual. The aim is usually 1-2 sentences long. The next thing to do is to include things like a few well-chosen key terms and phrases. In the majority of cases, a resume objective is merely a couple of sentences long.

How to Promote Your Company Culture to Recruit Top Talent

How to Promote Your Company Culture to Recruit Top TalentIn the 10th episode of The Recruiting Reel, China Gorman provides some excellent advice on how to promote your company culture to recruit top talent remember, culture is everythingTheRecruitingReel Episode 10 is live Feat. ChinaGorman and AllThingsBiz Watch it hereClick To TweetHeres the transcript of the episodeJosh Tolan Hey everyoneMy personenname is Josh Tolan and Im the CEO of Spark Hire, the leading video interviewing platform used by thousands of organizations around the world.And this is The Recruiting Reel, a video series in which we discuss real recruiting challenges with prominent recruiting experts so you walk away withactionable tips you can apply to your own recruiting.Todays episode focuses on How to Promote Your Company Culture to Recruit Top Talent and our featured expert is China Gorman.Now, if youre in HR or recruiting, the odds are pretty high that youve already heard of China.Shes the former Chief Operatin g Officer at SHRM, an amazing keynote speaker, and a high-profile global executive. Were absolutely thrilled to have China on the show today and Ill let her take it from hereChina Gorman Hi Im China Gorman. Im a consultant and author of the Data Point Tuesday blog at chinagorman.com. Im also Chair of the WorkHuman Advisory Board powered by Globoforce.Today, were talking about culture and recruiting and what role does company culture play in recruiting.Well, in many ways, culture is everything in recruiting. Culture is the employee experience brand that you take out to your talent pool. Just as with other types of brands, theres whats disseminated in to the market and then theres reality.Magic happens when those two are one in the same, but we all know that doesnt happen all the time especially in the recruiting game. It gets hard when the message and the reality dont match so the most important thing for recruiters to keep in mind is that current employees talk and they share.They t alk to each other, they talk to the market, and they share. Boy, oh boy, do they share. If what you describe to candidates about your employee experience is real, your candidates will know. If it isnt, theyll know that too and not only will you have to overpay market rates to close the deal and get the talent you want, but your personal and professional reputation could also take a hit.We all know big, famous brands whose cultures are awful though. They dont show appreciation, they give their values lip service, and leaders dont follow through behaviorally. They work their employees into the ground. They arent very good corporate citizens. They arent honest with their employees and yet, their brands are bright and shiny in the marketplace. Those organizations can and do hire people, but they overpay and they have tough retention challenges.People go there to get that brand on their resume as a kind of professional purple heart and after 18-24 months, if the company is lucky, they ar e gone. So culture is critical in both attracting and retaining talent as well as repelling talent.How can companies best promote company culture in order to attract and hire todays top talent? Well, its kind of simple and its really kind of organic. Create and maintain a human, people focused culture that is led by leaders who are trustworthy, who appreciate their colleagues, who are fair, and who are competent.If every leader in your organization lives up to those principles, recruiters will have no problem attracting the best talent because employees share. Boy, oh boy, do they share.Josh TolanThats a very engaging and very spot on answer from China on how to promote your company culture to recruit top talent.In a previous episode, we spoke with Alison Hadden from Glassdoor about building a successful recruitment brand and she emphasized how organizations must start to embrace transparency.China brings this full circle by pointing out that your employment brand is going to be tra nsparent whether you like it or not. So your company culture is going to be promoted organically and thats going to have a really positive or really negative impact on your recruiting.So, if youre not already, make 2016 the year when your executive gruppe cultivates a golden rule culture and sets the example for the core values that are expected in the workplace. This will lay the proper foundation for a strong company culture that will without a doubt, help your recruiting team attract top talent.I really want to thank China Gorman for being the featured expert on todays show. I encourage you guys to check out her website at chinagorman.com to learn more about her background and some of the amazing work she has done. Also, follow China on Twitter ChinaGorman and connect with her on LinkedIn.Thank you for watching The Recruiting Reel and stay tuned for more episodes. For additional HR and recruiting content, head over to hr.sparkhire.com and subscribe. Also, follow us on Twitter, sp arkhire. And subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to know about the newest episodes of The Recruiting Reel.Thanks again for watching and happy recruiting

Small Business Recruiting

Small Business RecruitingSmall Business RecruitingFor small geschftliches miteinanderes, competing against larger companies in hiring is a perennial challenge. When it comes to recruiting skilled workers, larger companies have greater financial and personnel resources to offer people who are trying to find a job. Bigger organizations also are more likely to have the wherewithal to offer more generous benefits, such as health care and 401(k) options, and the resources to invest in their employees professional development. How can your small business recruiting efforts compete?With creative, comprehensive small business recruiting techniques and effective employee retention policies, you can attract highly skilled candidates who become long-term, loyal staff.Small business recruiting leveraging your strengthsHere are some recruiting basics for small and midsize businesses to help you take advantage of your strengths and add more power to your small business recruiting effortsMake small a selling point. When talking to candidates, be sure to highlight the many benefits of working for a small business. For example, because your staff is small, your employees often perform functions beyond their stated job descriptions. This business need can translate into a career booster for employees, enabling them to rapidly acquire new skills and develop a broad range of abilities. You can also let candidates know that staff members are like family, and the company truly cares about each employees job satisfaction and professional growth. Because your business is small, talented employees can quickly advance to senior-level positions, keeping their job satisfaction high and employee turnover low.Develop brand awareness. Create a pipeline of skilled local job candidates who want to work for your company by making your small business visible and top-of-mind in your market. This effort entails building your companys reputation, whether its for customer service, neuerung in the ma rketplace or leadership in fostering work-life balance for employees.Leverage your website. Your website is an important tool to help you meet your goals for building brand awareness and communicating your strengths to job candidates, as well as to customers or clients. Here you can post detail-rich information about your companys mission, culture, history, successes, ongoing community involvement, current activities and so forth. Other ways to increase your companys visibility include executive bylines in business and trade publications, website content on topics in which your company has expertise, and sponsorship of forums or workshops for professionals in your industry.

Top 10 Free Resume Builder Online Reviews

Top 10 Free Resume Builder Online Reviews Top 10 Free Resume Builder Online Reviews

Legal Nurse Consulting Career Profile

Legal Nurse Consulting Career ProfileLegal Nurse Consulting Career ProfileLegal nurse consultants offer advice to attorneys, paralegals and legal experts regarding medically-related issues of the law. A legal nurse consultants nursing education and clinical expertise uniquely qualify her to analyze complex medical information and render informed opinions to attorneys in medical-legal matters. Legal nurse consultants assist attorneys in a wide variety of matters including medical malpractice, products liability, workers compensation, nursing liability, personal injury, wrongful death, toxic tort, sexual assault, and criminal defense cases. Job Duties (Consulting) Legal nurse consultants screen new cases for merit, locate and interview medical experts, serve as a liaison between law firms, medical experts, and other parties, formulate medical-legal case theories, identify deviations from nursing standards of care, research medical literature, and coordinate independent medical exam inations. A frequent role of the LNC is the management and analysis of a plaintiffs medical records. Legal nurse consultants assist in analyzing medical records interpreting the notes of physicians and nurses and preparing medical record chronologies, charts, diagrams, and timelines. Job Duties (Expert Witness) In plus-rechnen to serving in a consulting role, legal nurse consultants also serve as expert witnesses, testifying at trials, depositions, hearings, and arbitrations and preparing expert witness reports for use at trial. Education Legal nurse consultants are licensed, registered nurses with a minimum of five years experience in any nursing specialty. Most legal nurse consultants possess bachelors degrees in nursing and some have advanced degrees. Nurses generally enter the legal nurse consulting field by taking legal nurse consulting coursework and/or obtaining a legal nurse consulting certification. Skills Skills required to be a successful legal nurse consultan t include solid organization, communication, and multi-tasking skills. Critical thinking skills are crucial in developing case theories. Solid research and writing skills are also necessary. Nurses must have a firm grasp of legal terminology and stay up-to-date on developments within their nursing specialty. Practice Environments About 50% of all legal nurse consultants are employed in law firms, insurance companies, and other private institutions, while the other half work as independent consultants. Salary Legal nurse consultants employed by law firms earn slightly less than their independent counterparts, with billing rates averaging between $60$100 per hour and annual income averaging $50,000-$75,000. Independent consultants bill at rates ranging from $65-$200 per hour, depending on the task and nursing specialty. Generally, legal nurse consultants charge premium fees for serving as an expert witness. Typical rates range from $150 to $200 per hour for deposition and tria l testimony. Job Outlook According to CareerBuilder.com, legal nurse consulting is one of the ten hottest careers today. With over one million licensed attorneys in the United States and growing, legal nurse consultants will continue to be called upon to advise attorneys on the medical aspects of a case. Additional Resources American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants National Alliance of Legal Nurse ConsultantsThe Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting