Why you should use Twitter to keep up with academic research - Debut

Why you should use Twitter to keep up with academic research - Debut This post was written by an external contributor.  Freya Marshall Payne relays why Twitter can be a great tool for keeping up with academia.   Why would you care about the latest academic research, especially if you’re a student who doesn’t plan on becoming an academic or if you’ve already embarked on another career? Because academic research isn’t something far removed from the real world. It will overlap with your work and your personal interests, sometimes more directly and sometimes less so. At the end of the day, research is about asking questions and producing new knowledge. Youre constantly developing and challenging the ideas you’re working with all of the time. For example, if you’re in publishing it’s useful to stay on top of new perspectives and changing trends within literary criticism. Even if your career doesn’t have involved academia, therell be things that will help your professional development. For instance, I recently delivered a paper at a conference on fascism, psychoanalysis and surrealism. Surprisingly, the audience wasnt just made up of academics. I met a police social worker who felt that understanding the roots of fascism would help them in their work as well as satisfying their curiosity. In short, keeping up with academia can spark innovative ideas for you and allow for knowledge-exchange and networking between industries. So, how can Twitter help me? Taking part in academia if you aren’t an academic has traditionally been tough: beyond the specialist language, pay walls making accessing journal articles harder, conferences usually having a registration fee and academic books costing a small fortune. Enter Twitter. This social media platform really makes academic ideas accessible because it lends itself so well to interaction and conversation. In fact, academics really seem to love Twitter. It’s a quick way to keep an eye on what’s going on in a field and join in discussions! #AcademicTwitter has a whole host of great hashtags you can use to take part in day-to-day discussion or even follow along with far-away conferences. I’m a massive history nerd and recently missed a conference I wanted to go to. However, by keeping an eye on the Twitter hashtag I felt like I definitely got the gist of it, joined in a few virtual discussions and even found some days later that videos of some papers had been uploaded. You can follow relevant people and keep up with their research, publications, blogs and thoughts. Theres also some bonus content on there, like TV reccomendations or cute snaps of their dogs. People tend to be incredibly helpful and kind, especially when you have an interest, but don’t have institutional accesses for journals etc. I’ve had very kind people send me PDF’s of articles and even their own reading lists! It really is a great environment to ask for help, advice and ideas. How do I make this happen? Here are some of my top tips for anyone looking to make the most of academic Twitter: Great hashtags to follow and use are: #AcademicTwitter, #AcademicChatter  and #AcWri #PhDchat and #ECRchat is where you’ll find tweets mostly from people starting out their careers in academia, and these hashtags are also lovely places to find advice and join in exciting conversations One of terms you’ll be looking for is “open access” content, which you can read without an institutional log-in. Hashtags include #OpenAccess, #OA, #OpenKnowledge and #OpenScience Follow journals like History Workshop Journal (@HistoryWO). They really care about accessible and “open access” academia, and you’ll find it’s not just for #Twitterstorians: there are plenty of topical articles using history to shed light on today. Read this piece on family historians for a feel of what this journal does. It’s basically just really cool Look out for blogs coming out of universities â€" like the London School of Economics’ LSE impact blog  (@LSEImpactBlog) which specifically wants to make academic research into policy, society and business relevant to the wider world. A recent great example was this blog on what the #TenYearChallenge teaches us about public perception of data Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Do you go with the flow - Hire Imaging

Do you go with the flow - Hire Imaging Honestly, is it that hard to relax, shift gears and roll with the punches? Umm. Yeah; sometimes it is. And a job search or career issue can yield quite a few blows. Sometimes you feel down for the count. If you’re feeling rigid against life’s hits, here are some ways to loosen up and move with grace when you’re not in your comfort zone. Why is it so hard? I’m not sure about you, but I take great comfort in familiarity; so do many of my clients, according to what they tell me. This can be good. Routines and thinking in habitual ways saves time and energy; and is often efficient. But we sometimes get caught in what one expert in psychological flexibility calls “psychological stuckness.” And that’s not good, because it can stop you from moving forward in other, more productive or impactful ways. My client Jean had trouble getting unstuck when it came to embracing social media. In today’s world, this doesn’t serve the job seeker well. Mark almost turned down an offer (which was by the way, a perfect fit) because it was 25 miles farther than he had on his “wish list” for target companies. Loosen your hold Sometimes inflexibility stems from the fear of failing, being hurt or not being in control. The latter was very familiar to my client Julianna, a 40ish project manager and married mom of two. “I’m a Type-A-Perfectionist,” she told me. “I admit that sometimes I won’t do something because it might not be perfect.” Julianna’s epiphany came this winter when friends asked her to go cross-country skiing. She strongly resisted, thinking she’d fall, be cold and be bored out in the winter woods. Her friends didn’t let her off the hook. “Jul, it’s an hour or so of your life, for heaven’s sake!” So, she went. And had a great time! She said she hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time. She also felt great about the exercise benefits. “That ah-hah moment made me realize that flexibility is important,” Julianna told me. “I try to work it into other parts of my life. And when my husband, Patrick recently lost his job, my new attitude made a big difference in how I r esponded and supported him.” Julianna had connected flexibility to being much about acceptance. Release it I’ve heard story after story from clients where their inflexibility â€" or someone else’s â€" caused problems in getting things done or moving forward. What I found most interesting, was that it also did a number on the unbendable individual’s self-esteem. One of my long-time clients, Sherri, was sent reeling recently. A nose-to-the-grindstone woman who had worked hard to get to a Senior Vice President role she loved. She had done “all the right stuff” â€" or so she thought. Got an MBA and other credentials. Worked long hours. Volunteered for extra committees. Hired a nanny to help with her two children. So, when she lost her job, victim to a major acquisition and restructuring, she was angry. Then, she allowed herself to let go. There were no bad guys here. She did nothing wrong. “They took over and didn’t need all of us. It really was just business.” In fact, Sherri gained major traction in letting go. “Now, when things aren’t going the way I hoped they would, I don’t stress like I used to. I go to a quiet place and meditate. Or at least breathe deeply, close my eyes, and give it up.” Sherri decided to try real estate. And ironically, her new attitude enhanced her job security with the new employer. They remarked that they liked her flexibility. They had noticed she handled uncertainty well. And that was a good thing. She soon learned why. “You had better be flexible in real estate, or find another job,” she told me. “A client may or may not show up. Interest rates fluctuate. You have no control. I plan my day in pencil with several erasers by my side,” she joked.   I thought it very cool that she transferred this new found talent for letting go, to helping her clients. “I tell them that when we sign the contract, we can do a little happy dance. We save the big dance for after the closing!” Try to stretch I believe that although we probably can’t force our personalities to change overnight, we can train ourselves to be more accepting and accommodating. If you want to loosen up, one of the best ways is to put yourself in a situation where you have to be flexible.   Back to that psychological stuckness. A new challenge, though painful to take on, can help unlock your mental flexibility. Have you noticed that those people who are generally very rigid, have body language to match? Tensed up. Breathing shallow. Short choppy movements when under stress. One of the exercises I find helpful to clients is to help change their perspective about something by imagining themselves to be someone they think is physically flexible. Top picks have been Madonna and Derek Hough, the dance pro on Dancing with the Stars. I ask them to show me how that person walks and what gestures they use. Then I’ll ask them, “How would that person deal with the ___ issue that is challenging you?” Clients often laugh at this point. But they loosen up! The act of forcing themselves to physically act as a different person helps them reframe their problems and come up with new solutions. Yes, balance Being more open-minded and flexible is not synonymous with ignoring your values or morals; it’s not being a pushover. But it does mean training yourself to engage with life as it comes. Living in the moment rather than focusing on wishful do-overs of the past or fear of the future. The good news is, that anyone can learn this at any age. My husband and I recently moved from the north woods to the metro area. I was honestly terrified of driving here. Always someone on my tail or aggressively weaving in and out. Streets seemed like mazes. After just three weeks of putting myself out there, it’s a piece of cake. I’m in the hood. I get it. The ability to change is just another muscle. One that needs regular exercise! Photo: jemasmith

Why Executives Earn Every Penny Theyre Paid

Why Executives Earn Every Penny Theyre Paid Why Executives Earn Every Penny Theyre Paid It’s pretty easy to sit back in your cubicle and envy the executives in your office. From your point of view, it looks as if they get paid the big bucks without really doing much work! The truth, however, is that executives actually earn every penny they are paid. What Does the Average Executive Make? That’s a question many people ponder. How much does the average executive in a company make a year? That’s a bit of a tricky question to actually answer. Most executives get a base compensation salary, but then they also get bonuses, stock options, and other perks that equal their overall pay. At the biggest companies in the country, executive pay means big bucks. Take Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone for example. The company’s CEO made $702,440,573 in 2008. But that wasn’t all in base compensation. About $700 million of the $702 million was from stock options earned after Schwarzman took the company public the year before. Let’s look at another example. Michael Jeffries, the chief executive at Abercrombie Fitch, made more than $60 million in stock options alone in 2008. In addition, he was given a bonus of $6 million an enticement to remain as the company’s chairman and CEO. Add in his $1.5 million salary, $1.3 in personal airplane usage, and $382,687 for his 401(k) and Mr. Jeffries came out pretty sweet for the year. How to Become an Executive It’s clear that executives get the big paychecks. So how do you go from your corner cubicle to the office with a view? Here are some tips to help you rise to the top. ?           Define your career. If you want to become an executive, you have to know what you want to be when you grow up. This takes some serious time and attention to your career. Decide where you want to focus your efforts and then work hard to build a career. ?           Don’t worry about making friends. Of course, you don’t want to make enemies, but you can’t worry about the people who don’t like you. It’s more important to be respected than liked, so make sure you are being true and trustworthy and the friends will follow. ?           Become a great team player. When you play on a team, you don’t always have to be the starting player. You’ll want to be on a team where you are the star in one area. The key to success in a team environment is to surround yourself with good people. Smart people around you will help you get to the top faster. ?           Be yourself. You need to be yourself at all times. There’s no need to develop a work personality different from your home personality. You are who you are and you need to be true to that. It’s easier to get people to follow you if they know you are who you say you are at all times. Becoming a powerful executive is hard work, but well worth it. After all, a $700 million paycheck would surely make up for years of dedication and hard work. ++++ Todays post was a guest post from Cathy Pierce. Thanks, Cathy!

Finding Free Resumes Samples

Finding Free Resumes SamplesIf you are looking for a resume sample, you've probably found that there are many to choose from. One thing that you need to be aware of is that when you're doing your search you'll find a large number of these samples. So you need to make sure that you have found the right one for you.In order to do this, you should try searching on search engines. There are a number of sites online that will allow you to upload your resume. You then take a look at all the resume samples that you find. Then you can narrow down the list of the ones that you feel are the best for you.Another option you have to do is to hire a service to look over your resume for you, and then give you a list of resumes that are most likely to be the right ones for you. This can also be a service that you can use to help you in your job search, so make sure that you go with a company that is reputable.Some free resume samples will even allow you to download a copy of your resume if you are n ot happy with the quality of the resume that you get. Make sure that you keep this in mind if you use a service to review your resume.In fact, there are websites online that will allow you to search for free resume samples to help you out. They will offer you a list of different samples so that you can narrow down the ones that you think would be best for you. This is the best way to make sure that you are looking at the resume samples that you want.You may also want to look into using the services of a writing company to help you get your resume written. These companies will offer you a wide variety of free resume samples that you can use. They will also have experienced professionals that you can work with who will help you get a great resume.As you can see, there are many different ways that you can find free resume samples. The important thing is to make sure that you find the best ones.

Good First Impression 4 Tips for Job Interviewers

Good First Impression 4 Tips for Job Interviewers If you are looking for a job or about to go on a job interview, you need to focus on your professional image. Everything about you â€" how you walk, what you say, how you sit, and what you have online â€" matters when it comes to making a good first impression. Image consultant Sylvie di Giusto shares what she calls the ABCDs of making that positive first impression. A â€" Appearance â€" This is what you wear. Pick things that are professional-looking and are comfortable for you to wear. You have seven seconds to make a good first impression. B â€" Behavior â€" Consider your body language: Are you open or closed-off? How do you walk? With your head held high, or your shoulders hunched? Make sure you make eye contact when you speak, and always shake hands. C â€" Communication â€" The first 11 words are what people will remember about you, says di Giusto, so make them count. D â€" Digital Footprint â€" Google. Social media. Background checks. What pops up when you plug your name into a search engine? Before you even come in for a job interview, your potential employer is researching you online. So make sure that your online presence reflects well on you.

Shave Time Off Your Job Search By Being A Smart Shopper - Work It Daily

Shave Time Off Your Job Search By Being A Smart Shopper - Work It Daily Earlier today, I was speaking with a client who is finishing her bachelor’s degree and preparing to begin her job search. I asked her what she was looking for and she replied “Something in finance.” Related: How To Approach Your Job Search Differently This reply is a little like telling a friend you are going shopping and when asked, “For what?” you reply, “Something from a store.” Is it any wonder it takes some job seekers months to land a job? I love to shop, and on some days, I do it just to escape and wallow away the hours. I refer to this as “wandering aimlessly.” On the other hand, my husband hates to shop, so when he does, he knows exactly what he wants and which stores carry it. He’s a man with a clear goal and detailed vision of the item he is intent on buying. My husband is a “smart shopper.” Successful job seekers follow the same approach. In the one hour of coaching time, I had set aside for my client, my goal was to turn her into a “smart shopper.” First, we needed to take drill down to the specific aspects of finance that appealed to her. Collections? Payroll? AR/AP? Taxes? Auditing? “Benefits!” she replied with enthusiasm. Good, now we were getting somewhere. Next, I asked her to tell me how she sees herself spending her day; what tasks does she see herself performing. She offered up the following: Reviewing forms and data, maintaining spreadsheets, talking with employees, reviewing eligibility guidelines, making calls to gather information, and solving employee problems. Now, I was getting a better picture. Maybe she was looking for work as a benefits administrator in an HR office? Next, I asked her to describe the company. What do they do, who are their customers? She shared that she likes the idea of working for a company that “helps people.” A human resources department of a large company might be the place to “shop” for the type of work she sees herself doing, but she had something else in mind. With a little prodding on my part, she concluded that she really liked the idea of working for an organization that provides financial support (benefits) to people in need. “Like the social services department or unemployment office,” she said with even greater enthusiasm. The picture was getting even clearer for me now: maybe she is looking for a position as an intake counselor or eligibility specialist for a service or government agency? Next, we needed to clarify how far she was willing to travel to “do her shopping.” She identified a 25 to 50-mile radius from her home. Great! “So, what service or government agencies are within a 25 to-50 mile radius of you home?” I asked. She quickly began ticking off names: Department of Social Services, Social Security Administration Office, City Housing Authority, County Health Department. Within minutes she had listed 15 places to “shop.” Our hour was about up, so I asked her again, “What are you looking for?” She replied differently this time: “I’d like something with a service or government agency where I am meeting one-on-one with clients to assess their needs, determining their qualifications for specific service benefits, and helping them fill out their claims. I also see myself filing those claims, inputting and tracking claims information on spreadsheets, and making follow-up calls to resolve problems. I’m targeting agencies within a 25 to 30 mile radius of Clinton, North Carolina.” Perfect! Job tiles vary from one organization to the next, so searching by job title was not the best approach. On the other hand, searching by company type, location, and desired job functions/responsibilities makes “shopping” for a job so much easier In less than an hour, she went from “wandering aimlessly” to being a smart shopper. Any job seeker can make this transition and when they do, opportunities will start appearing where they never thought to look. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

7 Ways Youre Actively Contributing to a Toxic Working Environment

7 Ways Youre Actively Contributing to a Toxic Working Environment If you work in an office environment that youd describe as toxic, its easy to assume that your workplaces negative vibes are a result of forces beyond your control as an employee. However, in many circumstances, our actions- even those we take inadvertently- can contribute to a less-than-pleasant atmosphere and can perpetuate behavior patterns that impede progress and amiable relationships between colleagues. But how can you tell whether youre contributing to a toxic work environment? If these 7 actions seem familiar to you, that may give you an answer.1. You participate in cliquey dynamics and rumor-mongering.Of course, theres nothing wrong with befriending a small group of coworkers and choosing to spend lunch and coffee breaks chatting with your pals. However, when the dynamics become outright exclusionary and your clique engages in regular bouts of rumor-starting and spreading about other colleagues, thats a surefi re recipe for a toxic work environment. Were not in high school anymore, so leave the mean-girling out of the office.2. All of your work-related conversations are dominated by negativity.Everyone needs to vent about work frustrations from time to time even the genuinely career-satisfied among us will occasionally vocalize complaints. But if you find yourself unable to talk about work without immediately and consistently plunging into negative commentary, its likely that youre carrying some of that discontentment into the office with you.3. You choose not to express your work-related questions and concerns to management.In a paradoxical turn of events, employees who spend a significant amount of their off-the-clock time complaining about work often hesitate to bring their concerns to the people who can actually affect change their managers. Some managers certainly do their part to discourage open discourse with their team members (usually to the companys detriment), but if your manag er is typically reasonable and open to suggestions, take the initiative to share your feedback.4. You go to extraordinary lengths to avoid face-to-face (or voice-to-voice) contact with coworkers.Certain company cultures fully embrace the concept of replacing face-to-face conversations with online messaging- and dont get us wrong, were big fans of using GChat and Slack for work discussions. But if your office climate necessitates in-person talks with coworkers on a regular basis, youll be significantly disrupting the workplace rhythm if you insist on corresponding solely through chat messages, emails, and texts.5. Youre missing deadlines and allowing necessary tasks to fall by the wayside.A positive work environment depends heavily on trust between colleagues. Therefore, missing multiple deadlines and frequently dropping the tanzerei on assignments that must be completed both establishes you as an unreliable team member and feeds into a general atmosphere of uncertainty and dissatisf action, which can in turn devolve into toxic energy.6. Youre primarily fueled by a competitive drive at the expense of collaboration.A competitive drive can be a healthy and vibrant way to keep yourself motivated and engaged at work. But if your desire to surpass your coworkers makes you difficult to work with, that can wreak havoc on collaborative projects and prove demoralizing to your entire team.7. You arrive at work without taking proper self-care steps.While self-care should be an individualized process unique to everyone, implementing the steps required to make you feel rested, energized, and ready for the workday will positively affect both yourself and your coworkers. If you show up at the office hungry and exhausted, your productivity will inevitably suffer.