Improve your career prospects with green skills

Improve yur career prospects with green skills Improve your career prospects with green skillsPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie ChunWith talk of climate change and carbon taxes on everyones lips, awareness of green issues is at an all-time high. But look around your workplace are green practices an integrated part of your organisations culture? And have you ever thought about what more you could be doing to help further your sustainability practices?Green-skilling has emerged as one of the top workplace trends for the coming year, and this trend is sure to continue. The implementation of green workplace practices is leid only good for the environment, but is becoming an increasingly powerful way of attracting potential employees, clients and investors. Sustainability is the way of the future and both individuals and businesses will have to departure thinking and acting green.Sharan Burrow, Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President, says, Sustainability will become centra l to business strategy. Integrating sustainability into all aspects of their business into the products they make, into their operations and processes, and into their accounting practices, they businesses will increasingly demand green skills and knowledge. However, despite increasing awareness of environmental issues, a Green Steps Australian Workplaces Survey has found that most Australian workplaces offer no green skills or sustainability training for staff, do not review staff on environmental performance or address sustainability issues when hiring. Green Steps Manager Mark Boulet says, This is not good news. The workplace is the frontline when it comes to sustainability it is as important as what we do in our homes. If Australia wants to save water, cut carbon emissions and reduce our impact we need employees everywhere to be green skilled.Employers want green candidatesSustainability needs to be factored into businesses at all levels and be part of overall performance m anagement practices. What we do at home accounts for only 20 to 30 per cent of Australias energy and water consumption and waste production, which means we can do far more to combat our environmental challenges by addressing sustainability within the workplace, and this requires greater knowledge and skills from employees everywhere, says Boulet. Despite the lack of workplace training, 90 per cent of Australian employers still consider themselves to be environmentally aware and 71 per cent said they would favour green-skilled candidates when hiring. Employers want green skills but arent investing in this capacity in their workforce. Rather than simply relying on a small number of sustainability specialists, Green Steps wants to see a workforce with ordinary everyday workers who go about their everyday jobs knowing how sustainability fits into this and what they could do to reduce their impact. We call them green implants. Were going to need millions of them if we are to make a d ifference, says Boulet. How you can acquire green skillsGaining green skills means going beyond simply recycling paper and turning off your computer at night. In most cases, specific green training is required. Green Steps is a hands-on sustainability education and leadership program developed by the Monash Sustainability Institute to equip participants with the skills to drive environmentally sustainable practices within organisations and the wider community. Its Green Steps Work intensive training program teaches non-specialists practical skills in energy, waste and water auditing, implementing carbon reduction and waste minimisation action plans, and instigating staff behaviour change programs. We need green skills to be a part of everyones CV, says Boulet.Green careersGreen jobs are growing faster than any other sector according to a recent Manpower report, and some experts believe that a critical shortage of green skills is looming. According to Sharan Burrow, green skill s shortages already exist and the pace of green job creation will only accelerate in coming years. We need to prepare new workers for the skill requirements inherent in green jobs. We also need to ensure that our transition to a greener more sustainable economy is not stymied by a shortage of adequately trained workers, says Burrow. For those wishing to explore a career in this dynamic and growing field, or industry professionals wishing to further their careers through the development of green expertise. Five things every organisation can do to improve their environmental performanceConduct a basic environmental assessment. What is your organisations energy and water use and waste production?Reduce energy use by encouraging staff to turn computers off at the end of the day.Reduce waste by taking away land-fill bins under desks and setting up central waste and recycling stations in staff rooms or kitchens.Cut paper use in half by setting double-sided printing and photocopying as a default.Build the capacity and green skills of staff by providing green skills training. Environmental ResourcesEnvironmental manager sample resumeEnvironmental manager sample cover letterCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Environmental ScientistSustainability OfficerEnvironmental ResearcherEnvironmental ConsultantPolicy OfficerPopular Career Searcheshow to become an ecologist in australiasustainability courses onlinebachelor of environmental science wildlife and conservation biologyenvironmental science degree online australiaenvironmental courses perthEnvironmental CoursesBachelor of Engineering (Civil and Environmental) HonoursEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of Environmental ScienceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Science (Environmental Management)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreGreen power is good for jobsFor those who work in the energy sector, career opportunities and envi ronmental values have long been at opposing ends of the spectrum, until now.EnvironmentalA lightbulb moment for Earth Hour participantsSaturday 29 March marks the 8th annual Earth Hour event, but are you in the dark about why youll be turning off the lights?EnvironmentalPlanet-saving careersIf youre concerned about the future of the planet and want to do everything you can to make a difference, then an environmental career could be your door to personal fulfilment and a more sustainable future.

Tips for Effective Employee Recognition

Tips for Effective Employee RecognitionTips for Effective Employee RecognitionEmployee recognition reinforces and rewards the most important outcomes that people create for your business. Employees gain a better understanding of how you would like to landsee them contributing in the workplace. Recognition programs can help to motivate employees in a way that encourages positive approaches to their jobs and their tasks at hand. When developing such a program, make sure to follow some simple standards to gain the most benefit for your firm. Make everyone eligible You need to make all employees eligible for the recognition. You should never exclude any employee or group of employees. This is especially important to consider when different employees have entirely different responsibilities. Depending on the nature of your firms business, you may need to create multiple recognition programs for different departments or different types of jobs. Define criteria clearly The recogniti on must supply the employer and employee with specific information about what behaviors or actions are being rewarded and recognized. The more clearly you design and communicate the criteria for eligibility for the award, the easier it is for employees to perform accordingly. Since this is the performance you most want to see from employees, its a plus for the employer if many employees attain eligibility. Equal opportunity Anyone who performs at the level or standard stated in the criteria receives the reward. Or, in an occasionally used approach whenthe affordability of the reward by the employer is a concern,every employee who meets the criteria has his or her name added to a drawing. You must communicate on the front end the fact that one name or three or however many employees you plan to reward will be selected randomly from among the employees who met the eligibility criteria. Be timely The recognition should occur as close to the performance of the actions as possibl e, so the recognition reinforces the behavior the employer wants to encourage. Monthly recognition might be too infrequent and not reinforcing. Annual recognition, plaques, and gifts reinforce the performance youd like to see even less effectively. Depending on the nature of your business, rewards can be as frequent as daily. An element of surprise also is beneficial. If you frequently reward employees with a free lunch, gradually the lunch becomes a given or an entitlement and is no longer rewarding. platzset objective standards You dont want to design a process in which managers select the people to receive recognition based on subjective criteria. Employees will see this type of process forever as managerial favoritism, or they will talk about the recognition in words such as, Oh, its your turn to get recognized this month. This is why processes that single out an individual, such as Employee of the Month, are rarely effective. When recognition is based on objective figures- such as sales totals- it will be much more meaningful and effective. Supervisors must also apply the criteria consistently, so you may find the need to provide some organizational oversight.

How to Make a Job Sound Super Impressive on Your Resume

How to Make a Job Sound Super Impressive on Your ResumeHow to Make a Job Sound Super Impressive on Your ResumeWhen it comes to applying for jobs, looking good on paper is important. After all, youll only get to the next step- an interview- if your resume grabs the attention of hiring managers. If youve already done the basics of crafting your resume, its time to move on to the next phase making each individual position shine with the work experience section. But how? Weve rounded up tips and tricks thatll help make jobs sound impressive on your resume- without going too far, and making yourself appear boastful or silly. Use Numbers Which sounds better? Option 1 Served tables at busy restaurant or Option 2 Served 15 tables simultaneously at busy restaurant. Youll probably pick option number two, which is just a bit mora descriptive thanks to the use of numbers. Its surprising how meaningful metrics can be- and thats true even for positions that are English-major friendly. If your position is staff writer, your resume can list how many articles you write each month or how many page views you receive online, for instance. Go ahead and quantify your job descriptions with numbers, whether its tables served, customers helped, or percent of growth in sales. Prioritize Readability You probably thought about formatting, from font choice to margin size, at some point during your resume creation. But take a second look at each job description that you have listed, with an eye toward how easily each description can be absorbed. Consider the readability from both a copy and a design perspective. If its a bit too take in, consider cutting some copy or using less jargon. (Some jargon is good, but using all buzzwords and acronyms can make a resume hard to read.) And, make sure theres plenty of white space- you can add this by using bullet points or paragraph breaks. Of course, it goes without saying that having typos or grammatical errors in your job description is det rimental to their readability. Use this resume proofreading checklist to help guarantee your document is error-free. Talk Accomplishments, Not Tasks Its tempting when describing a job on your resume to create a bulleted listof tasks, essentially writing down your day (or weeks) to do list when you were on the job. But most likely, thats information that hiring managers already know from looking at the job title. Instead of a to-do list, share accomplishments and achievements. Rather than write, Designed window display on monthly basis, you might write, Increased customer walk-in rate by 10% with themed window displays, updated on monthly basis. If you led a meeting, talk about what happened during that meeting, how you steered it, or what got done as a result of your leadership. Or, if you create a monthly report, talk about why the report matter- did it help keep the budget on track, prioritize sales efforts, or engage customers? See more tips for sharing accomplishments on you r resume. Choose Powerful Words A caution Dont go over the top with your word choice. No need to break out the synonymlexikon on a hunt for zany, unusual words But be aware that some words are just more exciting than others- here are some recommended power words to use on your resume. Review your job descriptions for words that get re-used throughout the document. Try to vary them more. Instead of managed, for instance, try supervised or coordinated. There are some words that often come up on resumes. Think team player or detail oriented. These words and phrases can feel stale to hiring managers. Consider ways you can show off that you have these skills rather than stating you possess them. For instance, instead of saying detail-oriented maybe you can have a bullet point about Releasing clean code and helping others track down small code errors. One cautionary note Theres making your job sound impressive and meaningful- and then theres boasting. If you puff up recognizable posit ions with over-the-top language, it can really backfire and make you seem silly. The hiring manager will know what it means if your job title is assistant or manager and aggrandizing the positions responsibilities with inflated language wont help you land an interview. And definitely, do not be deceitful or dishonest. Lying on your resume can cost you a job opportunity and is even grounds for dismissal if the lie is discovered after youre hired on- heres more on why its important to keep your resume honest.

8 Steps to Leverage Social Networks

8 Steps to Leverage Social Networks8 Steps to Leverage Social NetworksThe following eight steps helped job seeker Paul put his ansprechbar social networking into its proper place.Recently a colleague suggested I help an executive job seeker who was having trouble making sense of the online social networks he thought were supposed to support his job search. Let me call this person Paul.Paul came to me with no less than 50 pages of contacts, resume material and logs from his multi-month job search online and offline. As he recounted the hours hed spent networking, sending resumes, posting to blogs and using social-media channels, I realized that his unfocused activity had been counterproductive.The following eight steps helped Paul put his online social networking into its proper placeFocus on outstanding content, not simply exposure. Paul developed comments on blogs and short articles for two industry-specific publications where he could grow his authentic brand.Decide in advance what you want to accomplish with social networks. He stopped chatting with people about myriad issues and developed a business plan for his search and professional conduct.How you behave online is how you will behave in person. He stopped the one-way conversations (via opinions added to Comments pages) and started interacting with key professionals in his field on a number of niche channels, groups on LinkedIn and more.A weak online profile equals a weak executive. Paul had his resume professionally reworked, then refined it to fit his LinkedIn profile and used various versions to populate other channels where people could read his bio.Your online profile must match the media. He created two one-minute, industry-focused videos that demonstrated his activity in the industry and added them to his YouTube channel.Keywords, bio and resume must create a compelling brand focused on a productive purpose. Paul engineered his bio to attract third-party recruiters and began communicating with thi rd-party and corporate recruiters he met through Ladders Follow Me feature and via other professional introductions. He was also found by recruiters who were hunting for keywords, phrases and other digital insight that let them know he may be an excellent tischordnung candidate.Concentrate on one or just a few social networking opportunities leave the others behind. He simplified his social-media interactions on eight different channels and focused on a few industry channels that helped him broadcast his value proposition vs. his needs in fact, he quit 10 job-seeker groups on LinkedIn in favor of industry- and association-focused groups within his profession and started interacting with top peers in his field.Social networks may require a new degree of transparency and originality - he stopped trying to sell his skills and just enhanced his professional connections and brand.

Shutdown Without a Paycheck FlexJobs Is Here to Help Furloughed Feds

Shutdown Without a Paycheck FlexJobs Is Here to Help Furloughed FedsShutdown Without a Paycheck Is Here to Help Furloughed Feds is here to help thosegoing without pay find an easy way to supplement their uncertain incomes until theyre able to get back to their regular jobs.Even though the shutdown has been lifted, at least temporarily, its a good idea for federal workers to continue thinking about how flexible work options might help them during a similar situation in the future.Flexible jobs like temporary jobs and freelance projects are a solid option for anyone who wants to either supplement their income now or have a plan B to fall back on in the case of another shutdown.For many workers, a shutdown can mean dire financial consequencesI moved and began my new federal job one week before the shutdown. I spent most of my savings getting here and cant pay the rent without a job. Im looking at homelessness, Cynthia Letts told CNN.I decided to apply for unemployment so we can hopeful ly have some income in the next few weeks. We live in a very expensive valley, so its not the best drehort to be unemployed in, and its hard to get temporary work here since we dont know how long we will be furloughed for, Jennifer P. also shared with CNN. Jennifer and her husband are both federal workers. She just paid off her student loans, leaving her with little savings.After January, if the shutdown continues, thats when Ill have to start searching for some sort of temporary job lokalitt, Morgan Stewart told the Chicago Tribune.Lots of businesses rallied to help federal workers during the shutdown with discounts on things like theater performances and food and drinks at local restaurants. will continue to help federal workers and contractors find supplemental sources of income through the thousands of types of temporary, project-based, part-time, or gig-style jobs available on our site.Learning about the variety of job options available from , such as freelance, part-time, and project work, can help federal workers prepare options for future work disruptions.Even though the shutdown has ended, federal workers can use the promo code SHUTDOWN for up to 30% off when you register for 30-day subscription $9.95, down from $14.95Three-month subscription $23.95, down from $29.95One-year subscription $44.95, down from $49.95Use this promo code on gift certificates you can purchase and give to othersHow can you make this work- taking on other work when you may be called back to your regular job at any moment?To find a job that fits your current work schedule and that you can continue to do during a shutdown, we highly recommend looking for jobs that have flexible, part-time, or alternative schedules, meaning they can be done outside your typical federal work schedule. For example, if you usually work a 9-to-5 job, your ideal supplemental job would allow for early morning, later evening, and/or weekend hours- even if its a remote job.Resiliency During the Shutdown with the Partnership for Public Service and Federal employees across the country felt the impacts of the shutdown. Are you one of them? ThePartnership for Public Service hosted a Facebook Live chat on January 10with Vice President for Employee Engagement and StrategicInitiatives Mika Cross. Mika is a former federal employee with 20 years of public service and will be discussing Resiliency During the Shutdown.A membership comes with some great additional perksDeeply discounted, one-on-one career coaching to help you with a job search action plan. Get your resume reviewed, learn the best techniques for applying to flexible jobs, and more.More than 150 skills tests to showcase your abilities to employers and see where you need to improve.ur FREE, exclusive members-only Remote Work Virtual Job Fair on Thursday, February 7 from 1000 am to 400 pm ET.To show you the possibilities, here are a few samples from the thousands of current flexible job listings that might work for furloughed fe deral workers1. English SpeakerPart-time, remote, temporary job. Needs to speak English and be able to track, analyze, and report issues. Will create transcriptions and subtitles, analyze media content, and use data to develop and improve speech recognition capabilities.2. Customer Support RepresentativeReceive inbound customer calls and provide wide-ranging support. Must have a high school education and one year of call center experience. Full- or part-time, home-based position with variable shifts. Specific tech equipment is required.3. Health and Safety CPR and First Aid Instructor*Teach health and safety-related courses and maintain/store equipment in this part-time role. Must have a high school diploma/GED, basic computer/email skills, MS Office knowledge, and strong presentation skills. Heavy travel required.*Job is available in multiple locations across the U.S.4. Online English TeacherImmediate need for an online English teacher providing interactive lessons to children. Pr ior related experience in teaching and a bachelors degree required. Six-month, part-time contract with potential for extension. Flexible schedule.5. Remote Accountant TaxFreelance, remote position working full-time or part-time hours. Responsibilities include answering tax questions and analyzing clients financial statements and tax returns. The ideal candidate will have a bachelors in accounting and a CPA license.6. SAT Prep Instructor*SAT prep instructor will teach and coach students in preparation for the exam. Hour flexibility, evening/weekend availability, and 90th percentile exam score required. Part-time, short-term, six-month temporary job with some remote hours.*Job is available in multiple locations across the U.S.7. Social Media EvaluatorPart-time, long-term job. Remote work. Needs to be an active daily user ofsocialmediaand has experience in using web browsers to navigate online content. Ratesocialmediaads and other quality and relevancy in order to help improve experie nce.8. School Survey Data CollectorTemporary position for approximately 6-8 weeks. Will travel among schools to administer surveys. High school diploma required and must be willing to travel. Prefer previous related experience.9. Specialist EditorSpecialist editor sought for a remote, freelance, flexible hour position requiring a BA/BS and strong editing skills. Duties will include performing manuscript edits, ensuring compliance, and verifying information.10. Telemedicine PhysicianWork from home. Part- and full-time roles available. Flexible schedule. Must specialize in medicine, emergency, internal medicine, or family medicine. Two evenings a week and one weekend per month required. Certification required.11. Web Search EvaluatorWeb search evaluator is needed for a part-time, remote role. He/she will provide feedback on search results, advertisements, and web page content. Must enjoy working independently. Basic computer knowledge is required.BROWSE OPEN FLEXIBLE JOBS

How to Homeschool Engineering Students, Part 2

How to Homeschool Engineering Students, Part 2 How to Homeschool Engineering Students, Part 2 How to Homeschool Engineering Students, Part 2Part 1 of STEM Education Hits Home showcased the trends behind homeschooling and the challenge of incorporating STEM subject into the curriculum. In this section, we look at the different resources parents and other educators can use to teach engineering at home.Curriculum ResourcesEEME, an acronym for electrical engineer/mechanical engineer, is a web-based engineering curriculum that helps parents teach their 7-12 year-olds the basics of electronics and robotics through hands-on building projects. The EEME program works on a subscription basis. New subscribers receive reusable base components (a baseplate, breadboard, and battery pack) to begin with, and thereafter they get a bag of components for a new project. ansprechbar video building instructions and other curriculum materials are designed for use by parents or instructors without an engine ering background. In addition, one-off robotics kits for older kids are available without a subscription. Non-subscribers can access lesson guides for free by creating an online EEME account.EEME makes hands-on projects paired with online video curricula to teach kids about robotics, electronics, coding. Image EEMETeachEngineering offers a free online curriculum library to help educators design an engineering-focused curriculum aligned with state or national STEM educational standards. The National Science Foundation-funded initiative was developed by a consortium of U.S. engineering colleges led by the University of Colorado. The curriculum is populated with individual activities, longer lessons and full units focused on skills like data analysis, measurement, reasoning, and mathematics. Lessons touch on a broad sortiment of STEM subjects such as the life sciences, chemistry and physics. Online living labs allow students to access government research data and modeling software for hands-on projects in seismology and energy efficiency.For younger children, STEM educators typically incorporate science and engineering concepts into play exercises. A number of homeschool websites and blogs like this one offer guidance and free materials for preparing a do-it-yourself homeschool STEM curricula for preschoolers and early elementary school students.More for You Read how Experiential Learning and Cooperative Education Pay OffIn response to the growing shortage of supply chain professionals as baby boomers leave the workforce, APICS has developed the SupplyChain STEM outreach program. Designed to introduce K-12 students to the importance of supply chain management, the program offers a wide range of hands-on activities that teach the basics of STEM and explain the role of scientists and engineers in each step of the supply chain. The STEM curriculum can be taught by volunteers either in traditional schools or in non-traditional learning environments.Inspiration and Id easThe web is full of free food for thought for parents considering the homeschool switch for their STEM-savvy children. What better place to dive in than in this round-up of well-known engineers and scientists who obtained at least part of their education at home. Five useful tips for exposing children to engineering learning at an early age are offered at homeschooltracker.com. At stemmom.org, discussion of all things STEM education is accompanied by a clearinghouse of links to free online lessons, activities and labs ideal for homeschool use. Similar information appears in the wide range of STEM activity books available for kids of various ages.Whats the homeschooling experience like from the students point of view? The Homeschooled Engineer blog, although a few years old, offers some useful insights that would-be home educators should bear in mind when contemplating the homeschool decision. Similarly, the website homeschoolsuccess.org offers these practical tips for home learner s hoping to transition into college-level engineering.If the past is any indication, great minds will continue to push the boundaries of science and engineering regardless of where they were educated. By stimulating a childs natural inclination to explore, analyze and create at his or her own pace, resources like these can only help history repeat itself.Michael MacRae is an independent writer.

The Nuiances of Mcdonalds Resume

The Nuiances of Mcdonalds Resume Too many people believe that they can boost their odds of being hired by applying to more jobs. Some clothing stores even pay commissions on sales, which is an amazing chance to earn more money past the base hurly speed. If you would like to display your organization skills, acquiring a tightly structured resume certainly helps. There should be a strategy behind everything that you do in a work search including how you expect other people to refer to you. The One Thing to Do for Mcdonalds Resume As most applications dont need a scholarship resume, adding one is a superb way for students to acquire an edge. High School Resume templates are a valuable resource for such students. Therefore, if your student intends to work while theyre in school or simply wishes to be ready for graduation, developing a scholarship resume now gives them the framework they should receive one ready for work applications once the time comes. Students with nadir wor k experience may also add a section discussing their involvements. Potential employers wish to know precisely what you can do, and thus dont hold back when youre developing your resume. Ensure you include any appropriate experience or skills that you possess which are related to the position within McDonalds that youre applying for. Youll also learn of the skills, abilities, knowledge, etc. that you should develop to work at work. Guarantee the skills are related to the job that you desire. Resumes give potential employers a means to learn about applicants quickly and readily, and theyre your very first step toward new job opportunities. Dont make employers need to work hard to get what theyre searching for. Most employers wish to observe a resume too. Top Mcdonalds Resume Secrets McDonalds might not be the absolute most prestigious employer, but it doesnt matter. Since if youre truly desperate, youre take what it is you are offered. You dont know what could happen so be ready. You should clearly state the reason why they should hire you. Bear in mind youll require a cover letter to have the greatest chances of landing employment. Employers really like to observe a superior cover letter. Motivated No employer wishes to employ someone who isnt motivated. The One Thing to Do for Mcdonalds Resume Every task listed will provide you with information like the location, how much it pays, what sort of advantages you get, and will end with an Apply Now button, which will lead you into the true form that you will need to complete. It is essential that a Counter Crew must possess decent customer service abilities. Who Else Wants to Learn About Mcdonalds Resume? Read the work deutsche post ag carefully to get ideas about what to have in your McDonalds skills list. It is extremely easy to track down examples for resumes which are job specific. If you locate a job which you really love, it is like you arent doing work in any way because you enjoy it. If youre attempting to get considered for work at McDonalds, utilize the resume objective to your benefit. The cook answers straight to the sous chef, who examines whats prepared by the cook to make sure they are in accordance with company standards. Otherwise, then theres something wrong. Naturally, it always depends upon how busy the place is, too. Having a look at how others wrote their resumes can offer you some decent ideas. The business would like to employ people who fit or represents what their brand is about. 1 final perk that everyone who works at McDonalds will enjoy regardless of their position is the simple fact they can literally move any place in the world whilst still being in a position to stay with exactly the same company. Showing some interests and activities beyond your work experience could really offer you a leg up over the remainder of the candidates. You might have a whole lot of expertise or you may not. Take a look at our shift manager resume sa mples to direct you through the practice of developing a memorable resume. Quite simply, right now is the ideal time to submit an application if you would love to become employed at McDonalds. If youre going to provide both the resume and the program, youll be extra conscious to be sure that the info in each matches. The very last thing that you ought to do is submit a run-of-the-mill application. If you want to employ a worker for your McDonalds restaurant, you can take a look at the work description given below to get a better idea. The McDonalds job portal is available online to anybody no matter their place, any place in the world. Every day differs in the restaurant business and at times you dont know when its going to be busy or not. Getting the Best Mcdonalds Resume Crew members at McDonalds are also accountable for preparing and cooking a broad range of food utilizing a wide variety of equipment and tools. Youre probably creative. Read through it a couple of occa sions and youll probably spot three or four essential skills mentioned repeatedly throughout the document.