6 Ways High School Students Can Prepare for Careers in Sports

6 Ways High School Students Can Prepare for Careers in Sports6 Ways High School Students Can Prepare for Careers in SportsUse your passion for sports to prepare for a career in the field by taking advantage of a variety of ways to gain important skills and knowledge. Opportunities are numerous for high school students who know where to look and how to employ the right strategy. By participating in the right activities in school and in the community, you can gain valuable experience for when you land on a college campus. Six activities all present pathways to careers in sports, so position yourself for success by involving yourself in as many of them as possible. 1. Playing on Sports Teams Leverage your athletic experiences by staying in contact with coaches and other leaders who may be able to boost your career later. Plus, you will learn all about winning, losing, teamwork, overcoming adversity, the value of practice habits, and many other life lessons that will inform your prof essional career. Even if you are pursuing a career in an area such as sports marketing, youll have a better chance for success if you have your own experiences as an athlete to draw from. If your true passion is coaching or scouting, advance as far as you can as an athlete. Coaches and scouts are almost exclusively always former players- especially at the highest levels. 2. Being a Student Manager Not every student who wants to play high school sports has the ability to make a team, but there are other ways to launch a sports career.A student manager in high school can gain valuable knowledge and experience and possibly parlay that into a student manager role in college or another sports-related opportunity. Regardless of the type of sports career you pursue, the experience you gain working with and supporting athletes and coaches provides you with industry knowledge and experience to help you get a foot in the door. 3. Following the geschftlicher umgang Move beyond rooting for teams and to start studying the business of sports. Being knowledgeable about a particular sport or sports, in general, is about more than being able to recite statistics or break down game film. Teach yourself about contracts, salary caps, and collective bargaining agreements involves players associations and team owners. High-profile elements of the business of sports are regularly covered by major news organizations such as ESPN but dig deeper to learn how minor league franchises generate revenue and make themselves a part of their local communities. The more business knowledge you possess, the more impressive youll be when you get an interview. 4. Volunteering Many high schools require community service hours for graduation, so use the opportunity to coach kids, organize a fundraiser for a team or league, or volunteer at a community sports veranstaltung like a 10K run.These activities mirror much of the work that is involved in sports-related careers and provide valuable industry experience for when it is time to apply for that first job. Entry-level jobs in sports often involve college teams or minor league teams in small communities where budgets are tight. Strategies volunteers use to generate revenue and draw interest serve as good starting points for these lower-level jobs. 5. Connecting Other Careers A job in sports does not have to be connected directly to a sports team. Almost any field connects to the sports industry, so apply your knowledge and experience in another area to your passion for sports. Professional sports teams or leagues and college or university athletic departments all need professionals to run business operations or conduct marketing initiatives. You could work for an independent marketing firm, for example, that caters to sports franchises. Medical students can specialize in sports medicine and work directly for teams or work independently to treat or consult with teams or athletes. Physical therapists operate simila rly. Sports agencies hire lawyers, and many agents also have their law degrees. Teams also regularly hire lawyers to handle contract details. Careers in print or broadcast journalism put reporters and photographers close to action covering sports. 6. Officiating Umpires and referees are viewed as leadership positions and always look good on a resume. Officials run the game, have to make quick decisions under pressure, and need the people skills to navigate disagreements with coaches or players. Work hard at the craft of officiating and try to move up the ladder to higher-level leagues as you gain experience.Another bonus is that when you get to college you can put your skills to use as an official at your universitys intramural sports program. Those who find they have a knack for calling games even can pursue careers as officials by training to work college or professional games.

The ABCs of Emergency Landings in Small Aircraft

The ABCs of Emergency Landings in Small AircraftThe ABCs of Emergency Landings in Small AircraftOne of the first lessons taught to student pilots during their initial flight training is how to perform an emergency landing in a small airplane. At every stage of pilot training, from sports pilot to airline pilot, emergency situations are rehearsed. It can be nerve-wracking for students to remember all of the things theyre supposed to when the pressure is on during a real emergency situation, so simulating an emergency for the sake of practicing is necessary. If you cant keep your cool during a training maneuver chances are youll lose it in a real emergency situation, too. One of the tricks for performing a flawless emergency landing, used by flight instructors everywhere, is as simple as remembering your ABCs. This memory aid works well becauseit compiles complicated procedures into a simple format thats easy to remember. Im not advocating that students disregard checklists. In fact, t he ABC acronym involves at least one checklist, but it puts the emergency into perspective quite nicely for the pilot, allowing him or her to prioritize with ease and maintain positive control of the situation. A = Airspeed The most important thing in an emergency situation, particularly with an engine failure or fire, is to maintain the appropriate airspeed and trim the airplane so that you can release control pressure and focus on the rest of your duties as the pilot. If your engine fails in a small airplane, the first thing you need to do is to maintain the aircrafts best glide speed. The best glide speed can be found in the pilot operating handbook for your airplane. Maintaining this speed ensures that youll maximize your range so that you have more distance and time to platzset yourself up for a nice landing and complete the appropriate checklist. Another emergency situation often practiced we prepare for is an engine fire, which requires an extreme pitch-down attitude as a n effort to get down to the ground quickly for a landing. The A applies to this situation as well, as youll want to maintain a predetermined airspeed necessary for a quick spiral down to the ground (usually toward the yellow arc on the airspeed indicator, but not faster than the red line speed for practice flights or you could cause structural damage B = Best Place to Land After you establish the proper glide speed for your airplane, the second most important thing to do is find a place to land. If youre out in the middle of nowhere, its not usually too hard to find a field to land in. It can be challenging to find a decent place to land if youre over a congested area, though. Youll want to find a place quickly either way, but there are a few things to consider before you rush to a decision. Choose a landing area away from people or buildings. Fields are good optionsbut exercise caution as there are often large ditches, irrigation trenches and power lines surrounding them. Once you find a place to land, try to set up a normal traffic pattern for your approach, remembering to land into the wind when possible. At this point, youll be happy your instructor made you practice soft-field landings so much C = Checklist Only after you establish best-glide speed and are headed toward your landing spot should you begin the emergency checklist(s). For an engine failure, it should go something like this Fuel Selector BOTHPrimer IN/LOCKEDFuel Pump ONMixture RICHCarb Heat ONMagnetos CYCLE Then youll want to complete the power-off landing checklist, which could go something like this Fuel Selector OFFMixture IDLE/CUTOFFMags OFFFlaps As neededMaster Switch OFF (after making any last radio calls)Seatbelts ONDoor UNLATCHED Note Checklists are examples only- consult your aircrafts operating handbook for actual emergency checklists The ABC checklist makes it easy for pilots to remember what to do during an in-flight emergency. Its an easy acronym to remember and helps arr ange the priorities so that the pilot flying doesnt get overwhelmed. Practicing with the ABCs in mind can make simulated emergency situations and real emergencies less stressful for pilots.

3 Ways to Actually Leave Work at The Office - The Muse

3 Ways to Actually Leave Work at The Office - The Muse3 Ways to Actually Leave Work at The OfficeIm willing to bet that you can think of a time when you were about to sit down for a meal, only to be interrupted by an urgent update at work that pulled you away from the table. You can probably tell me about at least a dozen times when this happened to your friends- and how annoying it was to tell them it was Of course, OK for them to respond right that second. Leaving work at work is tough for almost everybody. And while there isnt one perfect answer, here are a few ideas to help you at least try. 1. Create a Calendar Reminder to Leave Work Every DayAt one of my previous jobs, work-life balance was hard for everyone to achieve. One day, I caught a glimpse of an executives calendar and noticed he blocked off time for himself to leave the office. At first, I thought it was sad. I couldnt fathom having to tischset aside time not to be at work. Fast forward a few years, and now I get it. S ometimes you get caught up in what youre working on and simply forget to leave. Or you convince yourself that its OK to stay for just 30 more minutes, then an hour more. By the time you leave, your brains burnt out and you cant carry on a normal conversation about anything else. So create a reminder for yourself that forces you to leave (or at the very least, serves as a friendly nudge). It might not work every single time, but its a good start toward leaving the office when your head still feels screwed on and you can think about other things. 2. Take Your Work emaille Off Your SmartphoneFull disclosure I used to be the worst about checking work emails on my phone. Even though projects rarely got to the emergency stage, I was always ready for it. But when I caught myself checking my inbox during my brother-in-laws graduation weekend, I realized that a simple fix was to un-sync my work accounts. After all, I was on my personal time on my personal phone. I cant speak for every single company on the planet, but take a minute to review your teams email policy. If it doesnt require you to set up your work account on your phone, be bold and remove it yourself. Itll feel unsettling at first, but its one of the easiest ways to control when you are and arent thinking about your job. If thats not an option for you consider turning off notifications or telling your team that they can always email you on your personal email if its urgent. 3. Write Down the First Thing You Need to Do the Next MorningThis might sound silly, but think about what freaks you out the most when you walk away from your desk. Ive lost count of how many times Ive heard people say that they just had too much to do before they could seriously leave for the night. And Ive been there too- because sometimes it feels like no matter how long you work, one more task is bound to come up. And that means you always walk away feeling like you couldve done more. That feeling is what results in you checking you r phone all night or stressing about the next day. Rather than deal with that unsettled feeling every night, take a few minutes at the end of each workday to create a short list of what you have to do the next morning. Sure, an emergency could pop up, but knowing whats on the docket as soon as you head in can help you feel like youre in a good place to leave. I dont think anyone will ever truly master the art of leaving work at work. There will always be reasons to check in with a teammate or peek at your email on a Saturday afternoon. But if you truly want to think about work less during your downtime, there is hope for you- and it starts with these steps.

How to Put in Two Weeks Notice - The Muse

How to Put in Two Weeks Notice - The MuseHow to Put in Two Weeks Notice Its bittersweet to leave a job. Youre excited about the new faces, projects, and energy your new role and company will bring but also sad to leave behind the teams you work with day in and day out. Some colleagues youve become close friends with, others have impacted you in ways they arent even aware of. You have mentors, managers, teammates, almost teammates, and lunch buddies to say goodbye to.How do you even begin to say goodbye? And when?Last week, I started telling my boss, teammates, and colleagues that our time together was coming to an end. This week is my last at LinkedIn, and Im grateful to everyone who has made my experience here so memorable. Before I go, Ill share a final lesson Heres what Ive learned about the art of giving notice this week.1. Prepare What You Will SayThough you dont need to memorize your departure speech word by word, you should be sure to hit on a few core parts when you give form al two weeks noticeExplain that you have received an offer from another company and have accepted.Express gratitude for the opportunities given to you to date.State when your final day at work will be.Offer help for the transition process (more on that in step 4).Extra pointers Be swift but courteous. Contrary to alternate advice, I do not think you should cut out all niceties and small talk. (Thats like leading with a punch to the gut) Be human and engage in authentic small talk, but dont beat around the bush either. When its time, deliver your nachrichtensendung. Know in advance whether you will consider a counter offer, as you very well may get one.2. Tell People in the Right bestellungYour boss should be the first to hear the news, and you should tell her in person. Depending on your experience, you may want to tell your mentor next, your working teams and stakeholders after that, and lastly, anyone else youve worked with in the past youd like to keep in touch with. Make a list of any dependencies that might impact that order, too Is there a meeting you will need to announce your departure before? Meetings you should really no longer sit in on? This will help you safely prioritize who to give notice to when, and how. (Err on the side of giving notice in person whenever possible- followed by phone, and email as a last resort.) Before you say anything, though...3. Make Sure Your Game Plan for Announcing Your Departure Is Vetted by Your anfhrerYour boss may have to backfill your role and do some internal shifting to keep things afloat while she looks for a new hire. If your boss asks for a few days to come up with a transition plan before announcing your departure to working teams, sit tight. If there are key figures your boss would like to update first, honor that. Help your boss out by sitting on the news while plans for what happens once youre gone come together.4. Help With Transition PlanningOffer to wrap up loose ties, and help document as much as you c an to pass on to your replacement. This is the spring-cleaning phase of your exit Organize your projects and list out points of contact, open action items, and potential next steps. Your goal is to leave your work at a stage where someone else can easily jump in and pick up the thread. Think of it like prepping your apartment for Airbnb visitors You dont know who will stay next in your apartment, but it needs to be tidy. Youll also want to make it really easy for them to find the nearest grocery store, bank, and your version of the major sights.5. Expect People to React DifferentlySome colleagues will positively beam and shout Congratulations with glee when they hear your news. Others will bemoan your decision and cry out, Oh no before adding a less hearty congrats. Still others will want every detail- How long have you been thinking about leaving? What didnt you like about your team/role/company? Some may try to convince you to stay- your boss may even counter your notice with an o ffer Prepare for every reaction, and do your best to take it all in stride. Its up to you how much you want to divulge about your next job, but say thank you and express gratitude no matter what.6. When it Comes to Giving Feedback, Save it for the Exit InterviewLosing good talent is painful for employers, so they will inevitably want to know more about why youre leaving. Your boss may ask specifics Did you not have enough resources? Were your projects not compelling? Was management effective? Was it something else entirely? Consider what feedback you can provide for the benefit of the company, then reserve it for your boss or your HR department. If a fellow teammate complains or seems to be prodding you to gossip about the company, zip up. Save constructive criticism for the exit interview, and leave on a good note. No sour apples in the crowd7. Say Thank YouYou have earned your new job by virtue of the work you have done over the course of your career, including your most recent wo rk at the company you are now leaving behind. There are undoubtedly people who have inspired you, challenged you, and collaborated with you in your current role. Thank them for their time, their generosity, their mentorship, their good spirit. Trust that someday soon youll find a way to return the favor.8. Keep in winzigkeitWhether thats on LinkedIn (a final plug before I go), email, or other social networks, give now-former colleagues a way to keep in touch. Keep your relationships alive by checking in from time to time and offering advice, skills, relevant articles, or mentorship when the time is right. Your network really is the gift that keeps on giving- where possible, make sure you spend time giving back, too.9. Save Time for Self-reflectionChanging jobs is a truly momentous thing. No matter how smoothly your transition goes, its bound to bring some stress along with it. This is perfectly normal. In the midst of goodbyes and see-you-soons, take a beat to reflect on all you hav e achieved in your current role, and everything youre excited for next. Write down your accomplishments, gather any key work samples youre proud of (company policy permitting), and breathe. Its all part of the process. You are exactly where youre meant to be.10. Lastly, Say Yes to CakeNever be too shy to turn down an excuse to celebrate you. If your team plans a farewell gathering for you, say yes and smile big Now is the time to reflect on your achievements, celebrate your time and impact at the company, and remember the lessons you learned there and how you will build upon them moving forward. A little bit of cake and champagne to celebrate all the hard work youve given to your current company, and all the exciting things yet to come at the new one? Cheers to that.One Last ThingNo matter how thoughtful your approach in giving notice, remember that no method is foolproof. Know that word may get out before you want it to, that some people will get left out of announcements or miss a meeting and end up hearing the news from someone else. You cant control everything. Know that you did your best because you cared, and you tried.Congratulations, job changer. Good luckThis article was originally published on LinkedIn.Photo of calendar courtesy of Shutterstock.

The Never Before Told Story About Application for Employment Templates You Must Read or Be Left Out

The Never Before Told Story About Application for Employment Templates You Must Read or Be Left Out Heres What I Know About Application for Employment Templates The gestalt is simple to fill and simple to use. You should complete most job application forms online via the providers website, but paper forms continue to be accepted in some instances. Along with the files in the prior table, a form template can incorporate any of the files in the next table, based on the form templates design. The employment form template isnt only free to download, but in addition it isnt difficult to edit. It is a simple to use template and easy to customize. The template needs to be professional to win you a reply from a possible employer. Your customized template will make polished PDF resumes for each and every work applicant, permitting you to spend less time sorting out paperwork and more time choosing the correct candidate for the position. Therefore, a Sample Employment Application templa te will be ideal for you if youre seriously searching for employment. Up in Arms About Application for Employment Templates? Only provide details you feel will help support your application. If you require any extra info, please feel free to get in touch with me at 555-111-1212. Check with your employee if any extra information should be shared. All information provided ought to be considered fictional. An application letter is oftentimes used for unsolicited job offers, whenever there isnt really a work vacancy but nevertheless, you are considering submitting an application for a position in that corporation. Job applications are able to help you get the eye of the company that you are applying by writing down your skills, qualifications, and associated experiences. On the grounds of the sort of business, the work application can be among the ways which assists in finding great talent for your organization. The Blank Job Application is important for individuals who are aski ng for work and company hiring people. As soon as you create your account, you can look for jobs. Writing for an employment is observed by many as their possibility of gaining advantage over the rest of the applicants that are applying for the job. There are lots of work in the market now. If you land work which did not present you with an employment contract, then you might want to think about the type of employment which youre in. Application for Employment Templates In your very first paragraph, explain simply why youre writing. Employment proof letters are sometimes not written by employers. The following are a few of the explanations for why writing for employment is crucial, along with its uses. Job application letter templates can assist you if building a work application letter appears hard for you. The CV is really the most significant parte the application and shouldnt be longer than two to three pages. You may want to take a look at some application writing sa mples. Finding the very best application templates can lead to the increase of your organization and success of yours too. Your iApplicants system will permit you to have a custom on-line employment application. To earn application easy and the likelihood of landing an interview easy, you may want to look at utilizing a premade Application Forms. To assist you write your application the very best way, you should think about using a church application for employment form. If youre entering a new position and seeking to negotiate a better salary than that which is being offered, a salary certificate may be used to verify your prior salary. Work experience is valuable to companies as it will inform the company in the event the applicant meets their requirements. An Application for Employment is among the most crucial documents an employee should complete. All employment will continue on such a basis.

Rumors, Lies and How to Write a Resume

Rumors, Lies and How to Write a Resume If candidates wish to create their resume themselves, there is an assortment of options they are able to look at. Make sure that your resume is a simple read and it flows well. So make certain your resume isnt hard to read by making sure there is lots of white space around the text, particularly headings. Theres not particularly a correct or best color to pick. Its possible to also discuss volunteer work and traveling. Show Youre Professional Include things that show that youve had professional experience previously, even in case you dont think its pertinent to the job which youre applying for. You probably shouldnt be listing each job youve ever had. Stunning Resume matters a lot when youre trying to find a fine job. The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. If you choose to incorporate an objective statement at the commencement of your resume, make certain it describes how you want to use your unique skill set to imp rove or benefit that specific firm. To be quite honest, writing a resume isnt such a tricky job. Keys Skills Under Your Headline The third idea is to place your key skills below your headline. Characteristics of How to Write a Resume Developing a professional resume is the basic yet crucial requirement for virtually any job search whether youre a fresher or a seasoned jobseeker. The information that you provide to every prospective employer should differ. All your prior jobs ought to be arranged in chronological order alongside achievements. Its difficult to compose a resume. How to Write a Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone As soon as you have your keywords its possible to abflug to compose your resume. When you are beginning to compose your resume the first thing which you need to do, is a fast job search online. The work objective in resume explains about the personal aims of the candidate working in the specific position. When youre searching for work, in the event the hiring manager or recruiter can see youre a good candidate for a job they will want to speak with you. If youre making a resume for employment and wish to come into the opinion of the hiring manager then you must highlight your abilities. Each job demands specific skills which you ought to clearly emphasize in your resume, if you need to maximize your odds to get contacted for an interview. Try to remember that youre not superior than they are. Rewriting your resume for each new possible employer is plenty of work, but it might provide you an advantage. There are several creative suggestions to receive your resume noticed. Understanding how to compose a resume is an important accomplishment for everyone who wants to climb that ladder of career success. Choosing somebody who might be great in some specific things, but doesnt fit the criteria of the job can be an expensive mistake. You may also have a support of your friend. Among the most dreaded things about a work search is having to compose a resume. There are a couple things you must know on the best way to compose a resume.

What Does Your Salary Mean

What Does Your Salary MeanWhat Does Your Salary MeanThe value of work is mora than just a dollar figure.I grew up and live in St. Louis, Missouri, which by definition means I am a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Always have been. They dont call this Cardinal Nation for nuthin. In the long, glorious history of the St. Louis Cardinals there are two amazing players who stand out above all the others. They are Stan Musial and Albert Pujols.Just to give you an idea of how much Stan Musial means to St. Louis Cardinals fans, Ill tell you a story about my dad. He died at the age of 79 on March 18, 2009. He suffered from a horrible disease called Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which essentially robbed him of his mind and his muscles. In the last six months of his life he no longer knew my name or my siblings names. The therapist suggested we show him picture books to stir his memory. We would go over family photo albums, and he would barely stir. Then I showed him a baseball hall of fame book and when he saw Stan Musials picture, he sat up and said, Thats Stan the Man.What does your salary mean?At the height of his playing career in 1958, Stan Musial at the age of 38 signed a one-year $100,000 contract. It welches the highest salary in the history of the National League. Recently Albert Pujols signed a 10-year $254 Million contract. It is the second biggest contract in Major League Baseball history. At the age of 38, he will earn $25.4 Million.So what do these two contracts tell us? Is Albert Pujols two-hundred-and-fifty times more valuable than Stan Musial? Is his batting average two-hundred-and-fifty times higher than Musials? How about his average number of home runs or average number of hits? Did the Cardinals under Albert win two-hundred-and-fifty times more often than under Stan? Obviously not.So what is the lesson from this story? Your annual salary is a function of a number of factors, many of which are outside of your control. It is dependent on your perfor mance, your experience, your industry, the era in which you work, the overall economy, the marketplace, and a host of other factors.Salary and Self-EsteemThe reason this is so important to understand is that if you think the value you contribute to society is directly related to your salary you will constantly weaken your self-esteem. Self-esteem is not the value you have to offer to other people. Self-esteem is the value you see within yourself. It is subjective, not objective. It requires looking inward rather than accepting what others say about you. If you correlate your self-esteem with your salary, you will constantly see less and less value within you because you can always find other people who make a lot more money than you do or who live in a much bigger house than you do or drive a fancier car or go on a more exotic vacation. Dont waste time playing that game.Lets say you earn $80,000 a year. Thats a pretty darn good salary. But if your neighbor earns $800,000 you might f eel rather insignificant. And if your neighbor has a business tycoon friend and that part earns $8 million a year, then you both might feel like chumps. John Lasseter is the creative head of Disney/Pixar Animation Studios. According to celebritynetworth.com he has a net worth of $100 million. Steve Jobs, who owned 50.1% of Pixar when it was sold to Disney, became the single largest stock holder of Disney stock with 7%. His net worth at the time of his death was reported to be $8.3 billion. Should Lasseter feel somehow insignificant compared to his good friend, Jobs? I dont think so. I think they each have contributed real value in their work.The Real Value of Your WorkThe real value of what you contribute to society can only be measured by you. To what degree are you fulfilling the purpose you think you were put on this earth to do? To what degree are you applying your strengths and your passions toward fulfilling that purpose? I encourage you to think much longer and harder about t hose two questions than about how your income compares to someone elses.To this day, some of the most influential people in my life were my high school teachers, my college coaches and my parents. None of these folks ever made more than lower middle income salaries.John Lasseter was interviewed on December 2, 2011 by Charlie Rose and Lasseter said, I love animation. I love the way it can entertain people of all ages. I think its what I was put here to do. Lasseter was just as focused on animation back in 1994, the year before Toy Story catapulted Pixar into the financial stratosphere. Albert Pujols was just as focused on baseball in his rookie season as he was heading into a record contract.Rather than driving yourself crazy that your salary isnt the same as Pujols, why not turn the argument around and focus on the value you contribute with your life. Ive heard people say, That guy has a great job. What does that mean? For them, it means hes earning what they consider to be a boatlo ad of money. My question is, Is the rolle fulfilling his purpose in life either through his work or through what he accomplishes with the money he earns? If he is, then I would say he truly has a great job. If he isnt, I wonder if hes just kidding himself.Avoid the Grand IllusionI encourage you to read the words to the song, The Grand Illusion, by Styx. It was one of my favorite songs back in the 1980s and it still is today. I think the words have stood the test of time quite well. Dont fool yourself into thinking that your value as a person is equal to the size of your salary, otherwise youll spend the rest of your life ignoring the real value you bring to other people.

Scope, Risk, and Assumption in Project Management

Scope, Risk, and Assumption in Project ManagementScope, Risk, and Assumption in Project ManagementThe field of project management, much like any other area of expertise, has a unique vocabulary filled with acronyms and specialized terms. Three essential terms and concepts you must include ScopeRiskAssumptions It is an outline of unterstellung three essential project management terms and includes links and suggestions for additional reading. Scope In project management, scope is the set of boundaries that define the extent of a project. The scope describes what is to be delivered to the customer as a result of the project initiative. Understanding the scope allows the project manager and project team to understand what umstands inside or outside the boundaries of the project. If something is not in scope, it is not factored in the planning work of the project. Activitiesthat fall within the boundaries of the scope gutachten are considered in scope and are accounted for in the sche dule and budget.If an activity falls outside the boundaries, it is considered out of scope and is not planned for.? Whether youre a project manager or part of the project team, youll want to consider if something is in scope or out of scope as you move forward. As an example, imagine that a client has asked you to build a website. As you outline the scope (or set the boundaries) of the project, you indicate the following items as in-scope Site design and wireframe diagrammingEstablishment of a test bedCoding to the approved wireframeGraphics development for the website themeTesting and debugging prior to making the site public During the course of the project, the client asks you to include a video overview of the company. The video is not specified in the scope of the project and is therefore out of scope. While you may be happy to do the video work for an extra charge, this will require a revision of the scope and cost and time estimation for the project. In the absence of a clear and agreed upon scope document, the issue of the video might have become contentious between your team and the customers representatives. A clear scope statement allowed you to defuse the situation and deal with a change in an orderly way. So how do you determine what is in or out of scope? Youll first want to outline all the details of the project you currently know based on discussions with the client or the project owner. Then youll want to make key assumptions that will drive whats considered in or out of scope. Assumptions At some point in your life, youve probably been told, Never make assumptions. However, making assumptions in project management is an everyday activity. Assumptions help you define scope and risks and fine-tune your estimates for time and cost. Of course, it is essential to document and validate your assumptions. Consider something simple, such as creating a book. Lets say your friend has an idea for a coffee table book and has asked you to manage the pr oject. His first request is for a budget so he can secure funding. As you define the scope, its clear that your friend is uncertain on many details, including page count, image inclusion, cover style and the weight of the paper to be used for the pages. Since all of these factors will impact cost and production complexity, you will have to make assumptions about the specifications and validate those assumptions as acceptable or unacceptable to your friend. After further discussion, your friend tells you he plans to include 50 photos in the book. You can base your assumption on the 50 images or,anticipating that this number will increase over time, you can make an assumption that there will be between 75-90 pages with images. You can see how assumptions directly affect schedule as well. For instance, imagine youre leading a project at a park that involves building a swing set. When setting up your project, you are given the budget and assigned team members, one of whom is in charge o f materials. As you create your schedule, you ask the person in charge of materials when the cement will arrive. This person replies that hes not aya when the cement will arrive but that he believes it will be between June 1 and June 10. As you build your scope and schedule, you make the assumption that the cement will arrive no later than June 10. This example shows two benefits to making assumptions. The first benefit is that the assumption of receiving the cement no later than June 10 allows you to plan for activities that rely on the cement arriving. The second benefit is that it provides the person in charge of materials with a deadline to deliver the cement, which he can then relay to his supplier. It has inadvertently set up a key deadline for the project to move forward. Making assumptions creates benchmarks that are often revisited during the project to aid the project team in staying within scope, on time, and within budget. But what happens when assumptions are wrong? It is where the risk comes into play. Risk Once youve built your scope and identified the assumptions that are behind the scope and estimates, you will want to begin assessing areas of risk. Risk is the same in project management as it is in the real world it is a hazard or chance that can create damage. All projects contain risk, and if you are the project manager or project owner, its not only your responsibility to anticipate risk, but its also your job to communicate the eignung impact of those risks to the project team and to prepare to mitigate the risks. Risk comes in various degrees. Sometimes risk can mean the project will run slightly differently or take a small unexpected turn. In some cases, however, risk can lead to catastrophic results that turn your project on its head. Lets use the playground scenario from the above cement example. One of the risks is that the cement does not arrive by the assumed date of June 10. What are the potential effects of this risk? All of the successor activities that follow after the cement has been poured are delayed as a result of this problem. Risks can be positive, as well. Consider the impact to the project if the cement shows up earlier than anticipated. While this seems like a positive outcome, it still creates a problem for the timing and sequencing of all of the other steps in the project. Project managers work with their project teams to brainstorm and identify potential risks. They take the process a step further and look at the potential severity of the risk and its likelihood of occurrence. Furthermore, they identify those individuals best suited to identify when the risk is occurring, and they develop agreed-upon risk mitigation plans. Many firms have detailed risk templates they have developed over time and from experience with other projects. Some industries have compiled risk profiles that are used as a starting point for risk analysis. Many industries practice very detailed statistical analysis fo r risk planning as well.

Feeling Lost Take an Aptitude Test

Feeling Lost Take an Aptitude TestFeeling Lost Take an Aptitude TestIs yur current job leaving you feeling like a square block trying to fit into a round peg hole? Do you find yourself spinning your wheels on a daily basis in your current position? Or maybe you just feel underappreciated or like despite your best efforts you still havent made advancement in your current job position.If these feelings sound familiar, chances are youve considered that you may be in the wrong career field or position. This determination, however, is the easy part of the equation. The harder aspect for those who are feeling lost in their job or career is determining just what is the best alternative path that fits both their skills and personal ambition and desires.Enter the aptitude test as a valuable tool for helping increase job and career satisfaction for workers in need of a change of scenery. The various tests on the market use every day questions and scientific and social analytics to help identif y core personality traits and values. These can then be applied to common traits of various jobs or industries to help find just the right fit for your particular needs. Intrigued? Read on We break down the most popular aptitude tests out there today and weigh the pros and minuses thatll help you figure out just the right equation for work/life happiness.What Color Is Your Parachute?If youve spent any time online or perusing social media, youve probably come across dozens of personality tests. While the what is your inner spirit animal quiz probably wont go far in helping you pick your ideal career path, there are numerous science and researchbased resources with long standing track record that may provide real help.The book, What Color is Your Parachute, has been in publication continuously for decades. Updated annually, this well written and researched resource breaks down essential personality characteristics to help job seekers and those looking to excel in their current careers develop proven strategies for finding work satisfaction and happiness. An initial personality assessment through self-quizzing is followed up by a variety of personalized recommendations and approaches. In addition to the book, an online course is also offered for those looking more in-depth analysis or interactive features.Myers Briggs Personality TypesPerhaps one of the most well-known and longest established tests of the personality persuasion, the Myers Briggs has been analyzing your innermost workings since the early 1900s. Developed by an experienced psychologist, the test is regularly updated to account for modern trends and developments in social and personal interactions. Myers Briggs focuses less on individual traits, instead grouping people into one of 16 basic personality types based on four main personality traits, their presence or lack, and the various combinations they may form. The Myers Briggs website and various resources from supporting companies and services ma y provide helpful insight into not only your inner motivations but just what careers or job tasks can help keep you fully satisfied with your work.CareerOneStop.orgWhile the other resources on our list of personality tests may require you to shell out a few clams to delve into the depths of your job aptitude, the U.S. Department of Labor has a totally free service available for those looking for an initial overview. CareerOneStop.org not only lists a variety of positions, including open government positions, it also offers a handy Interest Assessment feature where you can answer a few straightforward prompts and questions for instant feedback on potential careers that may be up your alley. While not quite as in depth as the other sites, if youre on the job hunt and short of funds this easy to access resources is a great place to start on your road to job self-discovery.While weve listed a few of the most commonly used personality assessment sites, feel free to break the mold and tak e a DIY approach using the numerous resources available online and in print. Industry publications, chat groups and homepages often provide in depth reviews of various job positions, including the types of people that tend to excel in their roles. Dont forget that mother knows best, either. Quizzing friends or family over what they see in your personality or as a career field that may be a great fit is an excellent way to get a fresh perspective if you find yourself in a rut. Whatever route you take, as in most areas of life, a little self-examination will go a long way towards your individual and career growth and towards helping you find long term happiness in the work world.