How to Work Full-Time and Fit in Vacations

How to Work Full-Time and Fit in VacationsJoanna Niles, a lifestyle and travel blogger, wrote about traveling while working full time over at the HuffingtonPost this week. I thought her tips were greatpractical and strategicand my husband and I used many of the saatkorn approaches when we plan travel a fewtimes a year. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Look at the calendarSince I teach workshops and college-level courses, my schedule is bound by the academic calendar. This means I can travel a lot in early and late summer, I have a lot of time in January, and I always have a few 3- and 4-day weekends during the fall and spring.Chances are if you work for a corporate or government employer, you have a variety of paid and national holidays to make the most of, too. Not every trip is a week-long extravaganzaweve done weekend jaunts to San Francisco, Philadelphia, Portland, Maine, and have a trip to New Orleans coming up at the end of the mont h. Its surprising how refreshing and enjoyable a brief visit can be. You can also be more efficient with your vacation days by adding on one before or after a long weekend.TelecommuteNormally, youd be working during the day and perhaps socializing at night. Maybe you can work out an arrangement where you can take that format on vacation with you, too. Another option is to work after the family goes to bed or before theyre up in the morning.This tip has the vermgen to backfire since you can also be pursued by work long after youre ready to unplug, but if youre disciplined about allowing and restricting access (yours, and your coworkers), a vacation where you spend an hour or two emailing and coordinating in the morning and then go about your day can be great for making your getaway productive.This summer I had to take a pile of grading to the beach, and the first two days of our trip were divided between lounging on the sand and marking up papers on the balcony. Sure, I wanted to be spending more of my time on the boardwalk, but the alternative was postponing our much-anticipated vacation just for a deadline, so it turned out to be a worthwhile compromise.Plan AheadWhen my husband and I first got together, he hated the way I liked to plan six months or a year out, but now he appreciates that if you dont get a head start on planning trips, you can miss out on awesome seasonal opportunities or experiences that sell out as soon as they become available to the public.Dont forget to set aside some vacation time around the holidays My first year of working full-time, I didnt anticipate that my company wouldnt just automatically close on important eves. If my boss hadnt been generous about commuting my sick time, I would have had a sad solitary holiday weekend alone in my apartment instead of back in my hometown.Be FlexibleThat said, sometimes you have to just get that price alert in your inbox, click through, reserve your flight and grab a weekend bag. If budget is t he most important factor in your ability to travel, get yourself on the mailing list of sites like The Flight Deal and Airfare Watch Dog and stay tuned as rates rise and fall during the various tourist seasons.Where you go is more important than when you go anyway, and remember how nice a quick weekend can befly out Friday after work, enjoy Saturday and part of Sunday, and maybe go in a little late on Monday.How to Travel with a Full-Time JobRead More at Huffington Post

29-Year-Old Taylor Swift Spoke Out About Ageism Heres Why Thats Important

29-Year-Old Taylor Swift Spoke Out About Ageism Heres Why Thats Important Taylor Swift isnt even 30 yet, but shes already done with ageism.In a recent profile for ELLE magazine, she spoke out against the societal pressures that women feel to look young... basically forever. Young equals beautiful is a diminishing message that cosmetics companies have been using to sell lotions and potions and powders for centuries, making Taylors stand in a fashion magazine even mora moving.Society is constantly sending very loud messages to women that exhibiting the physical signs of aging is the worst thing that can happen to us, she wrote in zu sichbei personal list of things shes learned ahead of her 30th birthday. These messages tell women that we arent allowed to age. Its an impossible standard to meet.The star says she has been doing a lot to accept her body as she changes in the public eye.I work on accepting my body every day, she wrote, mentioning that just like everyone else, she needs po sitive role models to remind her that her body is great just as it is.Ive been loving how outspoken Jameela Jamil has been on this subject, she said. Reading her words feels like hearing a voice of reason amongst all these loud messages out there telling women were supposed to defy gravity, time, and everything natural in order to achieve this bizarre goal of everlasting youth.One of the best points Taylor makes? This need to be forever young isnt even remotely required of men.Ageism is a terrible form of discrimination that disproportionately affects women in the workplace, on the dating scene and in public discourse. While some people online are upset that someone as young as Taylor is complaining of ageism, Im glad a pop star as influential as Taylor is tackling it head on.Plus, dont we all know that societys damaging 30 is old trope is as classic as white bread? Taylor has every right to talk as she crosses this line that Hollywood has historically portrayed as old. In fact, it makes it even more powerful that a younger woman understands the challenges she will face as she ages, and sympathizes with those who are older than her rather than being tone deaf to the struggles of older women (who are often left out of discussions on discrimination).Taylor Swift knows that women shouldnt be defined by age, whether theyre 30 or 80. Thats pretty powerful no matter her age, isnt it?

Join PowerToFly and Morgan Stanleys Cutting

Join PowerToFly and Morgan Stanleys CuttingHi its Katharine, CoFounder and President of PowerToFly. Ill be hosting a unique evening of networking and tech talks featuring Morgan Stanleys cutting-edge technologists on Thursday 10 October 2019. Want to join us? RSVP HEREThe night will include a tech talk on Why We Like Open Source and a panel discussion entitled The Tech of FinTech A Turning Point for Techies in Finance. Whether you are looking for a new role or just want to learn mora, we hope youll join us. Click HERE to register or visit Morgan Stanley on PowerToFly to learn more about the company including their open roles.**************************Bonjour, cest Katharine, co-fondatrice et prsidente de PowerToFly. Jorganiserai une soire unique de rseautage et de confrences techniques avec les technologues de pointe de Morgan Stanley le jeudi 10 octobre 2019.Envie de nous rejoindre? RSVPLa soire comprendra une confrence technique sur Pourquoi nous aimons lOpen Source et une table ro nde intitule La technik de la technologie financire un tournant pour les techniciens en finance. Que vous recherchiez un nouveau rle ou que vous souhaitiez simplement en savoir plus, nous esprons que vous vous joindrez nous.Cliquez ICI pour vous inscrire ou visitez Morgan Stanley sur PowerToFly pour en savoir plus sur la socit, y compris sur ses rles ouverts. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this i mage.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found t hat the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions i n construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

5 Steps to get Back into the Work Mindset

5 Steps to get Back into the Work Mindset 5 Steps to get Back into the Work Mindset But no matter how comfortable we get, at some point we all have to go back to work. Even though you know your vacation days are numbered, the idea of returning back to your typical 9-to-5 routine can be daunting. Is there any way to soften the inevitable blow?Below are five steps you can take to get yourself back into the work mindset, post-holiday season1.RestYou may be thinking, but this is what Ive been doing this entire time, right? Well, yes, but you still need to rest up a little more before going back to work. Give yourself at least a day to relax, free of busy activities and functions. Prepare yourself for work the night before you actually return to the office-iron work clothes, gather your work materials and work bag, set your alarm, go to bed on time. Just as they say you dont want to go back to work the very next day after flying back home from out of town, you shouldnt return to work wi thout some time to fully relax and prepare the night before.2.Head startNow this may not sound appealing, but going into work a little early on your first day back can help jump-start your normal routine. Instead of dragging your feet out of bed and sluggishly returning to the office, going in earlier than normal will push you back into the familiar. This can also help you get a head start on your workload for the new year (or quarter).3.Follow upMany people go on vacation and leave behind unfinished work. Following up on emails, looking back at your past work history to landsee what you were working on before you left, and checking voice-mails and returning missed calls is a great way to get back into the swing of things.4.ReviewTake some time to review any goals for the new year, whether set by your employer, specific department, team or yourself. What do you hope to accomplish in 2013? What goals did you or your team set to wrap up 2012? Have you reached them? What steps do you n eed to take to fulfill each one? Reviewing your goals will help remind of you the necessary work you need to complete once your vacation has ended.5.ConverseDont forget to make time to mingle with your coworkers once you return to work. Ask them how they spent their vacation time and compare stories on how all of you willed yourself back to work. Not only will this help you easily transition back into the work environment as the sense of familiarity and comfort takes over from chatting with your colleagues, you can also discover new ways of preparing yourself to go back to work as you learn what did and did not work for the others on your team.A lot of Americans are considered workaholics, but almost every worker may find it difficult to return to the work functions and mindset after a vacation, especially an extended one completely unrelated to his or her job. There are many tricks and tips to get your mind focused and prepared to returning to work. Dont see one of the ways you get yourself back into the work mindset on this list? Recruiter.com encourages you to share it below

Early Release for Exceptionally Talented Army Personnel

Early Release for Exceptionally Talented Army PersonnelEarly Release for Exceptionally Talented Army PersonnelThe Army has established a program which allows enlisted members and officers to apply for early separation to participate in activities with recruiting and public affairs beneficial to the U.S. Army. As part of the Armys ongoing recruiting efforts and to enhance the Armys public affairs efforts, personnel meeting the eligibility criteria may request for excess leave or early separation under the provisions of this new program. Exceptional personnel with unique talents and abilities may be released from active duty when there is a strong expectation they will provide the Army with significant favorable media exposure likely to enhance national recruiting or public affairs efforts. Personnel will be expected to use their talents primarily within the United States in a manner that generates interest for service in the United States Army. There are two options under this program Excess Leave Personnel may apply for excess leave, after serving 24 months of the currently obligated period, not to exceed a period of 1 year, for the purpose of pursuing an activity with qualifikation recruiting or public affairs benefits for the Army. While in an excess leave status, personnel remain subject to recall and must maintain current contact information (e.g., e-mail, current address, phone number) with their commanding officer.Personnel is not entitled to pay and allowances while in an excess leave status. Personnel who incur a physical disability while in excess leave status are not entitled to receive disability retired pay.Personnel on excess leave for purposes described in this message must sign an agreement acknowledging that time served in excess leave will not be used to satisfy an existing Active Duty Service Obligation (ADSO) or other service obligation. In the veranstaltung the individual fails to achieve the desired benefit for the Department of the Arm y, he or she will immediately return to active duty no later than the termination date of excess leave. Early gestaffelte anordnung Personnel may request early separation if they have secured a contract or similar binding commitment that guarantees an opportunity to pursue an activity providing potential recruiting or public affairs benefit to the Army. In all cases, the contract must reflect the intent of the parties to employ the individual in a way that brings credit to the Department of the Army, and in a manner that would have potential recruiting or public affairs benefit for the Army. An early release shall be conditioned on the execution of a written agreement as follows To serve in good standing in the Selected Reserve as a Drilling Individual Mobilization Augmentee (DIMA) of the Army Reserve, assigned to the U.S. Army Accession Command, for a period of not less than two times the length of the individuals remaining service obligation.Officers subject to recoupment (und er the provisions of Title 10, United States Code, Section 2005) for receipt of advanced education assistance (United States Military Academy graduates and Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship recipients) must reimburse the United States a pro-rata share of the cost of their advanced education assistance based on the period of unfulfilled active duty service. Soldiers in receipt of enlistment/reenlistment bonus are subject to recoupment based on the period of unfulfilled active duty enlistment obligation. Personnel must serve at least 24 months of their current period of active duty service obligation before becoming eligible for release from active duty or excess leave. The request must contain a specific proposal describing how the individuals talents will be used to benefit the Armys recruiting or public affairs efforts. Evaluation The chain of command, in evaluating the request will consider the needs of the Army, the quality of the individuals performance to date, t he strength of the individuals recruiting or public affairs potential. Personnel who demonstrate a strong potential to participate in a professional activity can be assigned to U.S. Army Accession Command unit in proximity to where the professional activity will be conducted for the two-year period of active duty. Personnel will conduct recruiting and public affairs activities to support the Army during this assignment. Individuals may participate in professional activity during thetwo-yearactive duty period, as long as the professional activity does not interfere with the service members military duties. Obligations In the event that the Solider is no longer under a contract or binding agreement with an activity, they will agree to continue to fulfill their obligation in the Selected Reserve for a period of not less than two times the length of their remaining ADSO assigned to any Selected Reserve billet as deemed appropriate by the U.S. Army. The Assistant Secretary of the Ar my (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) is the approval authority for all requests for excess leave and early separation from active duty under this program. The request for release from active duty must be submitted no later than 6 months from the expected date of the release from active duty.

Creating Certainty in Uncertain Times

Creating Certainty in Uncertain TimesCreating Certainty in Uncertain TimesWe all like predictability because it makes life easier. From knowing the sun is going to rise in the morning to the regularly scheduled time of ur favorite show, the predictable elements of life give us a sense of calm. Its one less thing we have to worry about. On the flip side, uncertainty in our lives can be stressful. Not knowing whats around the corner often leads to fear. This fear can be psychologically paralyzing, particularly when it comes to the job search. The loss of a job or the experience of career transition is a big shock to the brain. The loss of your daily routine, commute, work space, and social contacts is nerve wracking. Your first buchen of business should be to restore these elements in your life as best you can and then start thinking about how to get yourself out there in a deliberate and focused way. Creating certainty in these uncertain economic times requires establishing structure, knowing yourself, and creating a plan.Establish a Simple Structure Your job is now getting a job, so you need to treat it that way. Take the time to create some basic guiderails to help keep you on track. Revisit the core elements of your former routine and consider which ones you can recreate. You may want to replace your commute to the office and morning planning with a drive to your local coffee shop where you read the paper and make your list of job search activities for the day. The idea is to get yourself into a structured routine to keep you active and productive. Its very easy to fall prey to having too much time on your hands and spiraling into the psychological trap of self-doubt and procrastination.Get to Know YourselfIt may sound a bit clich, but only you have the capacity to really know yourself. The challenge is actually making the time and committing the energy to do so. Famous psychologist Carl Jung once said, who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakens. Crea ting certainty starts with developing a keen sense of who you are, what you need, and where you want to go. We all have our internal drivers that manifest themselves through our daily actions. Understanding those internal drives will help you harness the essence of who you are and direct that energy in a positive way. Take the time to ask yourself the following questions and be sure to articulate the answers in a way a stranger would understandWhat are my personal values or guiding principles?What are my intrinsic assets and natural strengths?What are my true passions?From recent graduates to corporate executives, everyone I have ever worked with struggled with answering these questions because they never took the time to really think about them. Consider this an opportunity to take a step back and engage in the kind of introspection that your hectic work schedule never allowed before.Create a YOU PlanJust as every NFL coach has a game plan for Sundays, you should have a you plan fo r your career. Nobody can predict the future, but you can certainly plan for it. Planning is the single greatest way to build certainty into an uncertain life, yet most of us dont spend enough time doing it. Ask yourself the following questionsWhat is my long-term career and life vision?What are the necessary interim accomplishments required to get there?What short and long-term goals do I need to set?What kind of time frame do I need to commit to?Once you have answered these questions, the next step is to put it in writing and commit to taking action. Draw a map, make a list, create a graph, or do whatever you are comfortable with. The idea is to have a destination and a basic roadmap for getting there. Make sure to put it in a prominent place where you can check it every day. Having a plan to fall back on as a reference point is a great way to restore a sense of certainty when the anxiety of uncertainty starts creeping up.

How to Land a Job in BigLaw

How to Land a Job in BigLawHow to Land a Job in BigLawLaw school applicants often face the choice between attending a higher ranked law school at full tuition and attending a lower ranked law school with a partial scholarship. Although it may seem like only a choice between tuitions, choosing the right law school may be even more important than OLs realize.According to research by FindTheBest, a research company that aggregates data and draws conclusions based on that data, law school rankings matter tremendously and a spot in a top 14 school is essential. FindTheBest noted that T14 schools, as ranked by U.S. News World Report, claim the best employment rates and T14 graduates are heavily recruited to the largest, fruchtwein desirableread highest payinglaw firms.Although the results of this study are somewhat general and certainly unsurprisingjust ask anyone who has been through OCI recentlyprospective law students should seriously consider the impact the law school they attend will have on their future careers and dreams of the $160,000 BigLaw starting salary.Vaults data confirms FindTheBests results that those vying for a BigLaw job should attend a T14 school. Associates from Vaults Top 100, the most prestigious law firms in the United States as ranked by nearly 17,000 associates from over 150 large and mid-sized law firms, attended primarily T14 schools.The 14 most common law schools attended by Vault 100 associates include all of U.S. News T14 schools except Yale Law School, Stanford Law School and Cornell Law School. The schools outside of T14 are Fordham University School of Law (ranked No. 36), The George Washington University Law School (ranked No. 20) and The University of Texas School of Law (ranked No. 15). Although not T14, those schools are still highly ranked and located in strong legal marketsNew York City, Washington, DC and Texas, respectively. Additionally, schools like Fordham may have longstanding connections with BigLaw firms that other lo wer ranked schools do not. According to a Chadbourne Parke associate, The firm generally recruits from top 14 law schools and also maintains a strong relationship with Fordham, which is one of the New York City areas top law schools outside the top 14.Associates from Vault 100 firms go on to confirm that those seeking a job in BigLaw better have the law school pedigree. When asked what factors mattered most when hiring new attorneys, Vault 100 associates emphasized that while fit was important, attending a highly ranked law school and earning excellent grades were required to even warrant a response email from H.R.One Jenner Block associate put it bluntly, Law school is by far the most important criterion. If you are not at one of the top 10 schools, you have very little shot of being hired. For firms that are willing to look beyond the T14, a Mayer Brown associate noted, In addition to the typical top 10 schools, the firm is eager to hire people at the very, very top of their gra duating classes from lower-ranked schools. In my class were individuals from the top 1 percent of the University of Indiana, University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois and University of Iowa. Students at T14 schools are given a break on their grades that students at non-T14 schools are not. Someone from a top-10 school could have a lower G.P.A., says a Nixon Peabody associate.Prospective law students considering a non-T14 school because they received a scholarship may think they can breeze to the top of their classes because they are more qualifiedhence the scholarshipand smarterafter all they had a 4.0 in college. However, they should remember that, even at lower ranked schools, all admitted students are smart and likely had killer undergraduate G.P.A.s, the competition for the top 5 percent of the class will be fierce. Additionally, scholarships are often used by lower ranked schools to lure students into accepting offers to keep the schools admission rates high and are often conditional upon law school performance. The law school may give a small scholarship to 50 percent of incoming 1Ls and condition it upon remaining in the top 20 percent, meaning that more than half of those eager bright students will lose their scholarship and be stuck at the lower ranked school paying full tuition. So even if law students pick the lower ranked school to save money, they might end up being forced to pay the full cost of tuition and then will be less likely to land a BigLaw job that will enable them to easily pay off their loans. Additionally, because many large law firms dont even participate at OCI at lower ranked schools, even mediocre students at T14 schools have a better shot at BigLaw than top-ranked students at lower ranked schools.The bottom line is thisrankings for law schools are important and potentially career making (or breaking). Prospective law students fortunate enough to gain admission to a T14 school should take it.Thank you Vera Djordjevich for cr eating the table Follow Vault on TwitterVAULTLAW, InstagramVaultCareersandFacebookREAD MOREWhy Law School Rankings Matter More Than Any Other EducationRankings (Forbes)On universittsgelnde Interview StyleSimplifiedWhat One Firm Looks For in Summer AssociatesWhich Law School do Firms Love Best