How to Write a Perfect Human Resources Cover Letter (Examples Included)

How to Write a Perfect Human Resources Cover Letter (Examples Included)applying for a menschengerecht resources position can be kinda like having your parent as your teacheryou know youre not going to get away with much, because they know your game. unterstellung professionals landsee the best and the worst of application packages, and it can be nerve-wracking to join that fray. but you shouldnt see it as a daunting, close-your-eyes-and-jump kind of thing. rather, you should look at this as an opportunity to step up your game and impress someone who might very well spend his or her days wading through the good, the bad, and the ugly. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) first lets start with the basics of a good titelbild letter.necessity 1 a rollealized introductionhuman resources professionals are used to being the middleman when it comes to job applicants. theyre reading your words, but those words are often intended for someone elses eyes (the hiring manager, a hiring committee, etc.). but if youre applying to join an hr department, its possible that the person who reads your deckblatt letter first is someone who will have significant input into whether or not you move on to the next level (or, even mora importantly, whether you get the all-important offer). either way, dont treat this person like an anonymous resume-reading robotpersonalize the intro as much as you can. whether its an schmelzglas (which can feel mora informal) or an honest-to-goodness letter (on nice paper and everything), its nice to dispense with blah greetings like dear sir or madam whenever possible.if you have a specific personenname from the job posting, greatuse that. if you dont have a specific name, you can do a little sleuthing to see if theres a human resources contact listed on the companys website. or you can even take the old-fashioned route and call the company on the dl to see who would be receiving your application package.its also important to use the right tone. definitely dont go too casual. the fact that youre likely submitting these online, or writing an email, can lead to a false sense of shortcut familiarity. so even if youre submitting your titelseite letter and resume digitally, treat the email like a regular letter.potential obstacle 1you have a name, but the gender is not clear. this one is stickyyou dont want to risk alienating someone before you even get to the meat of your cover letter. in this case, better to go a little vaguely formal dear mr./ms. works. it feels a little clunky, but thats better than missing the greeting entirely.potential obstacle 2making social assumptions about the reader. mr. is pretty straightforward, and will likely be so forever. female salutations can be trickier, because you dont want to make any assumptions about the reader. ms. is your safest option. calling someone miss or mrs. incorrectly isnt the end of the world, but the fruchtwein neutral option is the most pr ofessional option. elizabeth chung could be married, single, divorced, older, younger, from marsit doesnt matter a bit. ms. chung covers all those options neatly.good salutation examplesdear mr. chung,dear mr./ms. chung,greetings mr. chung,bad salutation examplesterry, (too short/informal)greetings mr./ms. terry anderson (too formal)hello (too impersonal)to whom it may concern (too formal/too impersonal)you want your cover letter to seem professional, but approachable. the salutation helps set that tone. if you make it seem too much like an impersonal form letter, or the stiff letter of a person who is uncomfortable talking about this job application, you run the risk of not engaging the reader. and i think we all know what happens to application packages that dont engage the reader. (spoiler alert they dont get read.)necessity 2 your elevator pitchbelieve it or not, cover letters have become controversial. personally, i disagreeand its a moot debate if a job description specificall y asks you for a cover letter anyway. if youre wavering on whether its actually necessary to do one, think of it is an opportunity to give the reader an elevator pitch about yourself. ideally, the reader will also be reviewing your resume, but your cover letter can be the eye contact and handshake that get the conversation started.potential obstacleyou dont want to give away the farm, so to speakthe person will be reading your resume, so you dont want to just summarize the same bullet points. instead, use 1-3 sentences as a narrative line for your resume/qualifications. you also dont want to leave it too brief, conveying little information about youotherwise, whats the point? its like saying, im forced to write a cover letter, so here you go. again, dont miss an opportunity to talk about how you fit well with the company and the job description.good exampleas a human resources professional with mora than 8 years of experience in benefits management, i welches thrilled to hear about your opening for a benefits coordinator. ive worked with companies of more than 500 employees (like vandelay industries), and i understand the organizational and communications challenges that can arise along the way. ive spent my career working to make those challenges into opportunities for better and more efficient communication throughout the company. i believe my highly developed skills in training and corporate communications would work very in the role of benefits coordinator.bad examplesi am applying for a job at vandelay industries. please see my attached resume, and let me know if you have any questions.basically, make sure that your cover letter has some of your big talking points, but dont just rehash your resume. take the opportunity to set the narrative.necessity 3 a strong finishalways have a closing that leaves room for follow-up. yes, the reader knows that they can email you with any questions, but its a conversational way to close out the letter and move the reader on to your resume.good closing examplei would love to have the opportunity to join your team, and look forward to hearing more about the benefits coordinator position. please let me know if you have any questions, or if theres any more information i can provide about my experience coordinating benefits.bad closing exampleplease let me know more about this job opening. thanks.in these examples, one writer reminds the reader that the writer is focused on this job and his or her qualifications for it. the other writer closes with the most generic close-out possible, and could apply to a job opening for a line cook or a podiatrist. you want to make sure youre aligning yourself with the job in the readers mind, and this is your last chance to do so before they read your resume.necessity 4 keep it cleanlike with your resume, you want your cover letter to be clear and easy to read. that meansa standard font. this is not the time to test out fun fonts. plektron something clean and basic, l ike times.no huge blocks of text. in a letter, unbroken paragraphs can look like the ramblings of a manifesto. you want your reader to see a series of separate, elegantly outlined points. short paragraphs, a few at most.short length. a cover letter should never be more than a page, and even a full page is definitely pushing it. brevity is the soul of wit, and the friend of application readers everywhere.good letter body exampleas a human resources professional with more than 8 years of experience in benefits management, i was thrilled to hear about your opening for a benefits coordinator. ive worked with companies of more than 500 employees (like vandelay industries), and i understand the organizational and communications challenges that can arise along the way. ive spent my career working to make those challenges into opportunities for better and more efficient communication throughout the company. i believe my highly developed skills in training and corporate communications would work very in the role of benefits coordinator.i would love to have the opportunity to join your team, and look forward to hearing more about the benefits coordinator position. please let me know if you have any questions, or if theres any more information i can provide about my experience coordinating benefits.bad letter body exampleas a human resources professional with more than 8 years of experience in benefits management, i was very thrilled to hear about your opening for a benefits coordinator. ive worked with companies of more than 500 employees (like vandelay industries), and i understand the organizational and communications challenges that can arise along the way. ive spent my career working to make those challenges into opportunities for better and more efficient communication throughout the company. i believe my skills in training and corporate communications would work very in the role of benefits coordinator. i would love to have the opportunity to join your team, and l ook forward to hearing more about the benefits coordinator position. please let me know if you have any questions, or if theres any more information i can provide about my experience coordinating benefits.in the bad example, the information is crowded and tough to read. its also made even more unreadable by the font. and emojis are great for texting, but they have no place in your application package, sorry. if you want to convey tone, youve got to do it the old-fashioned way through your words.once youve got the body of the letter in shape, all thats left is the closing. like the salutation, you want to err on the side of formal, but friendly.good closing examplesbest wishes,sincerely,bad examplesthanks. (brusque tone)fondest wishes, (too flowery)nameno greeting (too abrupt)call me, (too informal and oddly personal)and after that, youre done human resources professionals, maybe even more so than any other professionals, can appreciate a well-constructed cover letter. they also see a lot of them, so its important to get in, present your information in a clean, engaging way, and get out. you want them to remember you, not the person who sent the wacky/inappropriate/super-formal cover letter.lets take a last look at the good example cover letter as a wholedear mr. chung,as a human resources professional with more than 8 years of experience in benefits management, i was thrilled to hear about your opening for a benefits coordinator. ive worked with companies of more than 500 employees (like vandelay industries), and i understand the organizational and communications challenges that can arise along the way. ive spent my career working to make those challenges into opportunities for better and more efficient communication throughout the company. i believe my highly developed skills in training and corporate communications would work very in the role of benefits coordinator.i would love to have the opportunity to join your team, and look forward to hearing more abou t the benefits coordinator position. please let me know if you have any questions, or if theres any more information i can provide about my experience coordinating benefits.sincerely,barbara franklinthejobnetwork is your best spot to find the exact job hr you seek in your area. take a look at listings for the following jobs, or search for your own specific termshuman resources manager jobshuman resources assistant jobsstaffing specialist jobs

Working Mom Natalie Portman Has the Perfect Clapback When a Man Describes a Woman as Crazy

Working Mom Natalie Portman Has the Perfect Clapback When a Man Describes a Woman as Crazy Ratherbei than responding with major eye roll the next time you hear a man calling a woman, who likely isnt crazy, crazy, you might want to try shutting down that dude the way Natalie Portman does.While onstage to accept an award atVarietys Power of Women luncheon last Friday, the Oscar-award-winning actress and mom shared some steps people can take tohelp women advance, and one of them dealt with men who gossip about women. Stop the rhetoric that a woman is crazy or difficult. If a man says to you that a woman is crazy or difficult, ask him what bad thing did you do to her? she said.Natalie continued, Crazy or Difficult is a code word. Hes trying to discredit her reputation. Earlier in the speech, the actress, who expressed her support for the Times Up movement, discussed how discrediting women was a tactic former film producerHarvey Weinstein used to silence his accusers.Natalie hit the nail right on the head. Plus, what does a guy even mean when he calls a woman crazy or difficult? More often than not, he gave her the label because she dared to express that she wasnt happy with him or she did something he didnt like, and for him, invalidating her feelings or ruining her reputation, is easier than trying to understand where shes coming from.During her speech, Natalie, who shares son Aleph, 7, and daughter Amalia, 1, with husband jngste Millepied, also dispelled aworking-mom myth that women mainly leave the workforce to spend more time with their kids or because their workplace isnt family-friendly. She said that there are too many women who either dont choose to have children, do not yet have children or who have grown children to account for the gaping lack of women in leadership positions in almost every industry, and also mentioned that many professions that might be considered incompatible with motherhood, or arent considered family-friendly, are almost entirely fem ale, like gynecology, or makeup and and wardrobe departments on TV and movie sets, respectively.Its much more likely for a woman tostay in a job for her children than to leave for her children. Consider all the women in the restaurant industry or domestic workers who sometimes work many jobs at once in order to support their kids. So lets stop saying that women are choosing to drop out of the workforce because of their families. Thats wrong, she said. Of course, there are women who have a personal preference for being full-time parents, and thats a beautiful and admirable choice, and way harder than working all the time in my opinionand unpaidbut they dont account for all the women who should be in the leadership positions who are not there.Natalie clarified that family-friendly policies and workplaces, likefamily leave or daycares at work, can help keep women in their industries, but the lack of both isnt whats causing many of them to leave. Instead, she suggests a reason that move ments like Times Up are shedding light on.Lets be clear the reason women are leaving in nearly every industry and are not being represented in powerful positions is because women are being discriminated against or retaliated against for hiring and for promotions. When they do get the jobs, they are being often harassed and assaulted, and they are being paid less than their male counterparts, all of which coerce self-preserving women into finding safer options for themselves and different ways to feel valued. Many women are further oppressed by intersections with other marginalized identities, whether by sexual orientation, race, age, class, religion, physical ability and are subject to multiple avenues of discrimination and harassment at work at once. And then if they try and report it, theres often a second harassment and their reputations are smeared, their future hiring is jeopardized, and they are further harassed.Preach, Mama.--This story originally appeared in Working Mother.

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your First Days on the Job [Ask Away]

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your First Days on the Job Ask Away This weeks questionA new hires first 90 days on the job can make or break their experience with their employer. Given this fact, what do you recommend all new hires do during their first 90 days in order to get off to the best possible start? What are the one or two most important things a new hire can do? Every hire should hit the ground running as soon as he/she begins a new job. Ask for more work or start a new project to benefit the company at some point before the end of your 90 days. It is a great way to show your willingness to take the initiative.- Patrice RiceCEO and FounderPatrice AssociatesIts all about establishing a North Star for new hires to follow in the first 90 days. In the first 3 months, new hires should ask what theirspecific goals are and what they need to do to be successful. They need to know what to aim for s o they dont feel lost. Asking questions is the mostimportant thing to do if you dont, youll be dead in the water.- Eric SiuCEOSingle Grain My only thing is for new hires bedrngnis to overcommit and overextend themselves in the first 90 days. Take the time to learn the ins and outs of the business, the people, the idiosyncrasies, and the preferences. Soak up as much as you can during this time, because once you get moving on the daily work, its hard to stop because its too much.Also, dont be afraid to ask questions. Yes, you were hired to do the job, but you dont know everything. Youre leid psychic or omnipotent. A question about even the most basic things is better than being silent and getting everything wrong.- Andr LedgisterAccount ManagerSPR Atlanta To show your progress and position yourself for future advancement, write a short note to your boss at the end of each week, just keeping them apprised of everything you did during that week. Come evaluation time, the boss may well use those notes to help write the evaluation. At the very least, youll have all the ammunition when its time to talk about that first raise or promotion.- Barry MaherSpeaker and AuthorBarryMaher.comTry to participate in some non-work-related activities. Is there a group volunteering at a community center or going bowling after work? You dont have to do everything, but try to do something that shows your support particularly if your boss or a company exec is behind the activity.- Joseph TerachCEO and FounderResume Deli Discover how your role is actually measured, quantitatively. Every job has metrics learn what yours are. Track them and discuss them with your boss at least once every 90 days.- Patrick MulveyManaging DirectorCenter for Strategy Execution, Inc.Beware of buyers remorse you join a company and discover immediately that it is not as rosy a picture as you envisioned. Dont complain and dont make any impulsive decisions. All companies are flawed, and that is especially true in this still-challenging market. You need time to determine if the problems are simply due to an unfamiliar environment or are much bigger in scale. When you complain, you risk being viewed as weak, naive, a quitter, or in need of too much hand-holding.- Roy CohenCareer Counselor and Executive CoachCareerCoachNY.comNew hires specifically younger or millennial employees should connect with current team members and higher-ups to see what projects they might be able to observe, assist, or even help manage during their first 90 days with the company. Being included as part of the team not only shows that the new hire can take initiative, but that they are interested in learning what the company is working on in an effort to work more successfully during their career. It is imperative that the new hire be genuinely interested in making this effort to ensure they do not look uncomfortable or seem unaccessible to other employees.While you dont want to push a new hire into an uncomforta ble situation, they should be willing and able to put themselves out there and prove they are a benefit to the team and the company as a whole. gruppe collaboration is a building block for almost every career across multiple industries, and because of this, it is crucial that a new hire sets the stage during their first 90 days for how they will be able to work in a professional environment for years to come.- Heidi ParsontFounderTorchLight HireSuccess starts with planned performance reviews. Good habits start early Talk to your manager about the best way to start an ongoing, two-way dialogue about expectations, performance, and development by conducting performance reviews 30, 60, and 90 days after your start date. By doing this, you will receive early direction, feedback, coaching, and development all of which youll need to succeed and become a high performer in your new role.- Dominique JonesVice President of Human ResourcesHalogen SoftwareTake advantage of all available trainin g resources in the company. Some companies offer video or online training on the intranet or via a learningmanagement system. Pay particular attention to product- and service-related information vis-a-vis what the company sells. If demo units of the companys products are available, find out if you can take one home to try out.- Derek HandovaSenior B2B Content Marketing Writer for a Wireless Networking CompanyAsk Awayis Recruiter.coms weekly column. Every week, we rumliche lage an employment-related question to a group of experts and share their answers. Have a question youd like to ask the experts?Leave it in the comments, and you might just see it in next weeksAsk Away

3 Scenarios When Communicating Online Is Not Right

3 Scenarios When Communicating Online Is Not Right3 Scenarios When Communicating Online Is Not RightThere are so many ways we communicate online. Theres schmelzglas, text messaging or messaging through one of the many apps out there that support it. But using email or messaging is not always the most effective way to communicate. In certain circumstances, you should avoid them. Sure, its easy to hide behind your computer and say what you want to say via the keyboard. But sometimes you need to step out into the world and use your voice. Here arethree situations where itd be better if you didnt hit send. Avoid Hitting Send To Resolve Conflict Weve all been part of an email or message string between two parties trying to resolve an issue. Sometimes, you might be one of the two main participants or perhaps youre simply one of many people someone felt compelled to include you. With every email or message reply, the issue escalates. In the end, what was perhaps a relatively small issue has become a much bigger one. This usually results in a face-to-face meeting between the two parties as well as a supervisor or manager to resolve the conflict. Instead of usingemail or messaging to resolve conflict either call the rolle or schedule a face-to-face meeting. If you are the recipient of an email or message from someone else trying to resolve an issue, resist the temptation to respond via email. Pick up the phone or walk into the other persons office and say, I received your email and thought it might be better if we discussed this situation one-on-one as opposed to by email. Do you have a few minutes to talk? If email is your only option, do not copy other people on it. Doing so escalates the issue. If youre on the receiving end of such an email dont hit reply all. Simply reply only to the individual who sent the email. If you do reply all, your reply should say, I appreciate you bringing this situation to my attention. Ill call you in just a minute to discuss. This w ill alert everyone who has been copied that you are taking care of the situation one-on-one. Avoid Hitting SendWhen Youre Upset After an upsetting situation or interaction, what we need is a cooling down period. Email and messaging do not lend themselves to this its instantaneous by design. Instead, onceyouve calmed down, call or visit the individual todiscuss the situation.If you are on the receiving end of a scathing email, avoid the urge to reply. Give yourself time tocalm down and then call the person and ask to discuss face-to-face. In the future, decide in advance that you will never use email or messaging when you are upset. Make this a non-negotiable pact with yourself. If you feel the need to write something when you are upset, hand write a message. Dont enter it into email even if you dont intend to send the message. You wouldnt be the first person who accidentally hit the send instead of the save button. Avoid Hitting Send to Send Bad News No one likes to receive bad nachrichtensendung and receiving it via email or a message can add salt to the wound. Have you ever emailed a client to tell them that their order was delayed? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, stop using email or messaging to communicate bad nachrichtensendung.Using email or messaging to communicate bad news can send the message that you dont care or that the issue isnt important enough to warrant your personal attention.When you use email or messaging to communicate bad news, you have no way of judging the persons reaction. Most likely, people will be disappointed or upset. If youre not delivering the news in person, their feelings of disappointment may escalate and create an even worse situation. Lastly, when you use email or messaging in this scenario you appear cowardly. Customers, co-workers, bosses, and friends appreciate people who have the courage to communicate bad news in person. If youre unsure if your message qualifies as bad news to ask yourself, Woul d I want to receive an email or message with this type of news or would I prefer to have it communicated in person?. Then act accordingly. While there is no doubt that email or messaging is a quick and efficient means of communication, its not always an appropriate one. Follow the guidelines above and avoid using email or message when its inappropriate to do so.

Big Data in Mechanical Engineering

Big Data in Mechanical Engineering Big Data in Mechanical Engineering Big Data in Mechanical Engineeringby Andrew Kusiak,Professor and Chair of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at The University of IowaBig data will make its mark on technological developments in this century. It will play a key role in shaping the konzept of materials, products, systems, and innovations from heavy equipment and energy industry to avionics and healthcare industry. Data may well become as powerful an economic engine as the steam engine once was. Data may reconfigure industry and businesses. Additive manufacturing factories may be built next to hospitals to manufacture various supplies, and new industries may be created in the spirit of digital manufacturing.The interest in data is bedrngnis new. It has accompanied developments in science and engineering practices for centuries. The novelty is in the volume and speed with which the data is generated, its growth, and the emergence of data science.What is Big Data?The concept of big data can be illustrated using an Excel-like file (see Figure 1) containing process data on four parameters, temperature, flow, frequency, and status collected at one second intervals. Such a file could include many columns (e.g., from hundreds to thousands) and rows of data (e.g., from thousands to millions). The data can be numerical (e.g., the temperature parameter in Figure 1) and qualitative (e.g., the status parameter in Figure 1) the rows of the Excel file could be generated (streamed) at high frequency (e.g., 1 second in Figure 1). It is important to recognize that a big data engineer does not expect data to reside in the Excel format, as big data sets seldom exist in a ready-to-use form. Rather, data must be identified and integrated for diverse uses.TimeTemperatureFlowFrequencyStatus13220113025.22790Green13220215225.12791Green13220316533.22795Green13220417827.72870Orange13220513035.92999Orange13220612319.23004Orange13220711125.83 099Orange13220813625.23123Green13220915733.23222Blue13221015534.83222BlueFigure 1. Sample data set.Sources of Big DataDespite the proliferation of research about big data, a handful of applications may surface in which big data is readily available. Corporations store large volumes of data. However, the share size does not make data big. For example, industrial process data at a particular location may be collected for years, although the number of parameters for which the data has been collected could be limited. However, data collected at one location can be integrated with data gathered elsewhere, including public domain data.Big data is not likely to be found in one area of mechanical engineering rather, it can be harvested across different areas. The most powerful applications will likely emerge when data from multiple sources is integrated, e.g., material, process, manufacturing, and business data. The best quality data is usually generated by sensors, which are often arranged in networks.Sensors and Sensor Networks Sensors resonate in a two-fold manner within the areas of research and practice in the field of mechanical engineering. First, mechanical engineers are involved in the design of sensors for applications ranging from the measurement of flow and temperature to the measurement of wind speed and vibration. Second, many products and systems designed by mechanical engineers utilize sensors. Markets call for products and solutions that are more reliable, safer, and more dependable. This in turn creates demand for new and more accurate sensors, which measure parameters that only a few years ago were merely dreamed about. Progress in computing and data science is another factor fueling progress in sensor technology, as the data generated by sensors adds value to products.While sensors and sensor networks are usually sources of data, certain products for example, wind turbines actually benefit from such data. The data generated from behauptung senso rs leads to smart products.Smart Products and systems are able to make decisions ranging from improved wertmiger zuwachs and condition monitoring to greater autonomy. Robotics, autonomous vehicles, home appliances, energy systems, and avionics will naturally benefit from sensor technology.Smart products and devices will create The Internet of Things.The Internet of Things involves the interconnection of devices, systems, and services and goes beyond machine-to-machine communications. It covers a variety of protocols, domains, and applications. The Internet of Things extends Internet connectivity beyond traditional computers, smart phones, and tablets to a diverse range of devices and everyday things that utilize embedded technology to communicate and interact with the external environment, e.g., cars, electronic appliances, lights in households and industry, and electric car batteries.The individual components of The Internet of Things will need their own sensory data for performanc e improvement. Data generated across all components will share the characteristics of big data. When collectively processed and analyzed, this consolidation of data may unleash previously unseen power through global rather than local optimization.The operation and control of a large number of interconnected devices will require new computing paradigms. It is rather common to encounter computation platforms in industry that do not meet the big data challenge. Relational databases that have been designed for optimized usage of data storage space prevail in industry. Using a relational database to store sensor-generated transactional data, e.g., truck engine performance data, is not a good idea. Yet, this practice is widely employed in the industry. Telematics data from a fleet of trucks may lead to big data applications. However, retrieving it from a relational database is highly inefficient. Even the simplest efficient, cost-effective scheme resembling data warehouse technology, e.g. , the SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system, would offer tremendous benefits. Cloud computing could be the platform of choice.Cloud Computing involves deploying remote servers and software, thus allowing for centralized data storage and online access to computer services. Cloud computing considers users preferences in providing real-time access to data. It may change the way we all communicate and store data.Big Data at the Core of Mechanical EngineeringSensors versed in fluids, thermal, or mechanical principles offer a promising avenue for data science applications. A large segment of mechanical engineering focuses on domains such as product design and development, manufacturing, and energy, which are likely to benefit from big data. Product Design and Development is a highly multidisciplinary process awaiting innovation. It is widely recognized that the design of an innovative product must consider data streams originating with customers, experts, the trail of da ta left by generations of products throughout their lifetime, and cyberspace. Markets concur through products that consider the most essential design requirements, extending beyond mere product functions. The success of Apple products is attributable to the companys expanded set of requirements.Manufacturing is continuously evolving due to the progress in process and computer technology. These changes have been reflected in a reach terminology used to describe it, beginning with flexible manufacturing of three decades ago to digital manufacturing of today. The fact is that the continuous manufacturing transformation has led to more sensors generating large volumes of data. Such data can serve various purposes. For example, mechanical engineers may improve reliability of the existing manufacturing processes, predict emerging equipment failures, design next generation of manufacturing equipment, and invent new technologies based on the historical data.Energy Conversion and Economy (Th e energy industry) is undergoing changes triggered largely by environmental concerns and the limited supply of fossil fuels. Energy generation is becoming distributed rather than centralized as the shift to clean energy takes place. Combustion plants and nuclear power facilities are being replaced by dozens to hundreds of wind turbines and solar panels. The existing designs of wind turbines await improvements in cost and reliability to be more competitive with fossil fuel combustors. The world awaits designs of new energy devices converting natural energy, e.g., wind energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, and waste energy into mechanical and electrical energy. In addition to developments in energy conversion, solutions in energy consumption are needed as well.Energy conversion and economy systems call for greater autonomy and enhanced intelligence. A combination of design ingenuity, smart materials, and smart systems will lead to winning market solutions. These new d evices will join the world of The Internet of Things.Making a DifferenceData science offers a new paradigm of bottom-up versus top-down modeling and solving supported by the traditional physics-based approach. An engineer involved in traditional modeling (e.g., developing a finite analysis or a reliability model) looks at the problem of interest and in essence fits in the model s/he was trained to use. An engineer equipped in data science knowledge gathers historical data and uses data-mining tools to build the model of interest. If needed, s/he optimizes this data-derived model with tools such as evolutionary computation algorithms.What Next?Mechanical engineering is faced with a multitude of exciting opportunities. Some of these may require moving out of the usual comfort zone and embracing new materials, such as biomaterials and stem cells. The concepts embedded in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and mechanical systems have much to offer in understanding and benefitting from natu ral systems and biology. Experience in the design of energy systems may also be useful in the design of biomaterials and bio-factories that produce substances which aid in healing the human body. Additionally, data will play a significant role in understanding the underlying biology phenomena and the design of devices and systems supporting them. -Andrew Kusiak has writes about the applications of big data in design, manufacturing, wind energy, wastewater processing, healthcare, and sustainability. You can find a number of his work online categorized by Recent Journal Papers and Research in Progress.

Self-Certification of Women-Owned Businesses

Self-Certification of Women-Owned BusinessesSelf-Certification of Women-Owned BusinessesWhile some certifications are leid worth the paper they are printed on, certifying your business as woman-owned definitely is worth doing especially if you plan to do business with any local, state, or federal government entity. Your business does not have to be entirely owned by women in buchung to qualify for certification as a woman-owned business (WOB) as long as the business is at least 51% owned by a woman(en).If the business is publicly owned, 51% of stock must be owned by women.Additionally, a woman (or women) must be actively involved in the business in a certain way (see more below about requirements for being certified as a WOB). Benefits of Being Certified as aWomen-Owned Business More Opportunities If you are planning to do business with a government agency the first and most likely place you will be found is in the Contractor Registry.Exclusive Opportunities When you become a ce rtified WOB you may receive discounts for memberships or even free subscriptions to services and magazines.Increased Credibility Becoming certified is a process you must apply and be approved for certification.Not all businesses are eligible for certifications and not all that apply are approved.Being certified makes your business stand out in a unique way. Requirements for Self-Certification of a Women-Owned Business You absolutely can self-certify your business as women-owned, so long as it falls within the parameters of what a woman-owned business is. However, this self-certification can be challenged upon procurement award. If this happens, the procuring agency may request proof of the firms WOB status, or even require certification. If you fail to comply, you could lose the award. Your business may also be overlooked as there is considerable discretion among contracting officers in how they accept, approach, and award contracts. A formally certified women-owned business ma y, in the eyes of a contracting officer, be preferable. Definition of a Women-Owned Business The term women-owned small business concern as defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) as A business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women and in which management and daily business operations must be controlled by one or more women. It is important to note, however, that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has other, more specific criteria for women, including The business must be independently owned and operatedMust be organized for profitIs not dominant in its field or industry Additionally, the SBA further defines small business based on industry, number of employees, and receipts. WOSB Program Third-Party Certification The SBA has approved four organizations to act as third-party certifiers under the WOSB Program El Paso Hispan ic Chamber of CommerceNational Women Business Owners CorporationUS Womens Chamber of CommerceWomens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

13 Reasons Why showrunners remove graphic suicide scene

13 Reasons Why showrunners remove graphic suicide scene13 Reasons Why showrunners remove graphic suicide sceneWhatever side of the fence you fall on in regards to the admittedly strange circumstances surrounding the death of Kurt Cobain, few could argue against its inimical impact- one effectively demonstrated in Garth Ennis and Steve Dillons Preacher series. The graphic novel features a character named Eugene Root, later called Arseface after a botched attempt to pay homage to the late Nirvana frontman, leaves him both alive and horribly disfigured.The poetry of self-slaughter is often celebrated in reference to the works of William Shakespeare. The 13 notable suicides present in his plays, Brutus (Julius Caesar), Cassius (Julius Caesar) Cleopatra (Antony and Cleopatra) Charmian (Antony and Cleopatra) Goneril (King Lear) Juliet (Romeo and Juliet) Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Ophelia (Hamlet) Othello (Othello)Mark Antony (Antony and Cleopatra) and Portia (Julius Caesar)are all consequence d by shame and despair. However, unlike the model evidenced by Cobain, Wallace, and Hemmingway, they are not framed with the too gifted for this world motif. I think the late post-impressionist painter Vincent familienkutsche Gogh introduced the kind of voluntary march to the maggots that is most compelling to the current generation.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreConflicting reports shadow the details of the dutchmans death, just like Cobains, and the archetype that links them are toxic in the same way. To a lesser degree perhaps, Cobain suffered a perpetual state of anguish and his solution to this has been echoing for twenty-five years. What welches likely a panicked retreat to him, was a lyrical farewell to the rest of the world True genuises dont stick around.Similarly, Van Goghs posthumous success retconed the society that did not understand him as villainous short-sighte d fools. These results are particularly attractive to teens and adolescents, a period defined by an appetite for attention.Recently Ladders reported on the unfortunate spike in suicide rates among this very demographic after the release of the popular Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why.Kyle Schnitzer of Ladders wrote,Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry said there was nearly a 30% increase in suicide among Americas youth - ages 10-17 - in the month that followed the shows first episode, which aired on March 2017.The shows plot revolves around a high school student named Clay after he discovers seven cassette recordings left by his friend and unrequited love, Hannah following her suicide. Each tape corresponds with a different person that contributed to Hannahs death.The story is set in motion by a three-minute-long sequence depicting the young womans suicide in graphic detail. This inclusion of this scene intended to demonstrate the tragedy and horror of Hannahs decision to its full potential in the hopes that young viewers would be deterred from emulating it. Unfortunately, a series of studies suggested the contrary, urging the showrunners to respond with the followingAs we ready to launch Season 3, we have heard concerns about the scene from Dr. Christine Moutier at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and others, and have agreed with Netflix to re-edit it. No one scene is more important than the life of the show, and its message that we must take better care of each other. We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers.While it is by no means the job of an author to have our well being in mind while determining the beats that best articulate their work, the premise of 13 Reasons Whyrepresents why the allure of suicidal ideation is so persuasive to young people.The appeal for many has to do with the n otion that when were gone, the party sort of stops, while the attendants gather to make sense of it all. Moreover, it puts the potential of our legacy on ice. While you all prepare to spend the rest of your lives wondering whether or not I would have been the next Orwell, Ill be at the rickety stool store, drafting my note. The truth of the matter is, however strong the temptation is to lionize the dead, it will always cow to an alliance of grief and betrayal, time will make sure of this. That isnt to say that the pitch is always possible to reject or even always selfish to consider.Netflix and the showrunners made the right decision to remove Hannahs controversial suicide scene but if its on the authors to be mindful of the impact of their work, its on us consumers to be mindful of the caution in cautionary tales.