Data breaches are inevitable heres how to protect yourself anyway

Data breaches are inevitable heres how to protect yourself anywayData breaches are inevitable heres how to protect yourself anywayIts tempting to give up on data security altogether, with all the billions of pieces of personal data Social Security numbers, credit cards, home addresses, phone numbers, passwords and much mora breached and stolen in recent years. But thats not realistic nor is the idea of going offline entirely. In any case, huge data-collection corporations vacuum up data about alfruchtwein every American without their knowledge.As cybersecurity researchers, we offer good news to brighten this bleak picture. There are some simple ways to protect your personal data that can still be effective, though they involve changing how you think about your own information security.The main thing is to assume that you are a target. Though fruchtwein individual people arent specifically being watched, software that mines massive troves of data enhanced by artificial intellige nce can target vast numbers of people almost as easily as any one person. Think defensively about how you can protect yourself from an almost inevitable attack, rather than assuming youll avoid harm.Whats most important now?That said, its unproductive and frustrating to think you must pay attention to every possible avenue of attack. Simplify your approach by focusing on what information you most want to protect.Covering the obvious, keep your software up-to-date. Software companies issue updates when they fix security vulnerabilities, but if you dont download and install them, youre leaving yourself unprotected from malware such as keystroke loggers. Also, be smart about what links you click in your email or when browsing the web you could inadvertently download malicious software to your phone or computer, or allow hackers access to your online accounts.In terms of online data, the most important information to protect is your login credentials for key accounts like banking, go vernment services, email and social media. You cant do much about how well websites and companies safeguard your information, but you can make it harder for hackers to get into your account, or at least more than one of them.Reusing login names and passwords is a significant risk.Mihai Simonia/Shutterstock.comHow? The first step is to use a different username and password on each crucial site or service. This can be complicated by sites limits on username options or their dependence on email addresses. Similarly, many sites have requirements on passwords that limit their length or the number or schriftart of characters that they can include. But do your best.The reason for this is straightforward When a bunch of usernames and passwords fall into malicious hands, hackers know its human nature to repeat usernames and passwords across many sites. So they almost immediately start trying those combinations anywhere they can like major banks and email services. A chief information secur ity officer we know in the banking industry told us that after the Yahoo breach of a few years ago, banking sites were hit with multiple attempts to log in with credentials stolen from Yahoo.Use long passwordsThere has been a lot of research about what makes a strong password which has often led to many people using complex passwords like 7hi5sMyPs4w0rd. But more recent research suggests that what matters much more is that passwords are long. Thats what makes them more resistant to an attempt to guess them by trying many different options. Longer passwords dont have to be harder to remember They could be easily recalled phrases like MyFirstCarWasAToyotaCorolla or InHighSchoolIWon9Cross-CountryRaces.It can be daunting to think about remembering all these different usernames and passwords. Password management software can help though choose carefully as more than one of them have been breached. It can be even safer despite conventional wisdom and decades of security advice to writ e them down, so long as you trust everyone who has access to your home.Use a third line of defenseHave hackers driven us back to the age of the physical key?BautschTo add another layer of protection including against troublesome housemates many sites (Google, for example) let you turn on whats called multi-factor authentication. This can be an app on your smartphone that generates a numeric code every 30 seconds or so, or a physical item you plug into your computers USB port. While they can afford at least some protection, be wary of sites that send you a text with a code that method is vulnerable to interception.With these straightforward steps and the new mindset of thinking like a target who wants to avoid getting hit youll be far less worried when news breaks of the next breach of some companys enormous data files. Bad guys may get one of your usernames, and maybe even one of your passwords so youll have to change those. But they wont have all your credentials for all your online accounts. And if you use multi-factor authentication, the bad guys might not even be able to get into the account whose credentials they just stole.Focus on whats most important to protect, and use simple but effective methods to protect yourself and your information.W. David Salisbury, Sherman-Standard Register Professor of Cybersecurity Management, Director Center for Cybersecurity Data Intelligence, University of Dayton and Rusty Baldwin, Distinguished Research Professor of Computer Science Director of Research, Center for Cybersecurity and Data Intelligence, University of DaytonThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

They got $5,000 raises. How

They got $5,000 raises. HowThey got $5,000 raises. HowI hope youre ready for a little raise.Ask for it welches my advice two weeks ago. I asked for it, and got it welches the response from many of our 9 million members.I thought Id share a couple of the best stories, with names and locations altered to protect their negotiating secrets. First up is ThomasI was unhappy at my old job, mainly because of the salary. Old Job refused to give me anything mora than a token raise, which would have been fine if my actual salary wasnt below my market value i the first place. With two years under my belt there, a security clearance, and incredibly specialized training out of the way, I was making only $3k more than the day I was hired and the day I was hired I had none of those.I was making less than $50k. I told myself I wanted to make low-60s in my new job, which was humble and realistic but would still represent a dramatic increase to me.So I interviewed at competing firms and, after weeks o f interviews at both, coincidentally got two offers in the same day.My first choice company offered $65k. $65k met my goal, and as Im in my mid-20s in the defense industry, I knew the role itself would open many more doors - I knew the small fish in a big pond factor was also worth a lot.I was about to accept but decided to ask for more. Worst they could say is no, right?I recalled advice to Ask for 10-15% more right off the bat. See how they react.So I asked for $72k. It was done instantly, and they didnt bat an eye.I started in August 2016. I went from $46,000 to (currently) $73,000 just by a couple rounds of interview a few times at a competing company.Salary-wise, I completely skipped the 50s and 60s.A 49% increase in salary.Same city, same industry, same exact job.And I all I did was ask.Thomas Thats a terrific example ThomasNext up is DaveHi, Marc,I have an interesting story for you.When I was interviewing with my current employer almost 5 years ago, I had another possibility brewing. This was a little weird for me a few years prior I had lost my job and was unemployed for 11 months straight, followed by being bounced through 3 other jobs for economic reasons. Having two employers at once trying to have me felt odd.Anyway, I got the job at what I thought was a reasonable salary $6,000 more than their initial offer and definitely higher than Id ever been paid, anyway and started working. A couple of weeks in, I got an offer from this other company that was very close to what I already had. I told them I couldnt justify leaving the job I had just started and had begun to settle into, for essentially the same compensation.After a little back-and-forth, they said, We dont normally do this, but were going to offer you $5,000 more.I agreed to think it over.A day later I decided to speak with my manager. I told him about the other offer, and said that I didnt really want to leave, but their offer was somewhat compelling. He asked whether I would stay if they could match the other number. I said I would, even if it were just close to being a match. He promised to present it to upper management and I told him that I appreciated his assistance.A couple of days later I was called up to the VPs office to speak with him and my manager. I went in and had a seat.My manager said, Weve talked it over, and I have to tell you that we are NOT going to be matching the other offer. He held a somewhat defeated expression.I sank a little as I processed what this meant Id either leave the job I had (something Id never done) for a better offer and accept burning a bridge, or Id keep what I had and accept losing the extra money.My manager then continued, We ARE going to beat the other offer by $5,000. The VP then said that it makes him proud when a manager comes to him to support their people, because that means to him that they have good people. Handshakes were had. I then had to call the other company to decline their offer.So its almost as if I didnt negotiate at all rather, I let the companies battle it out. I actually said relatively little. And it played out very much in my favor. It all seemed very lucky.Thanks for the emails in helping me to find something better-DaveWhat a terrific job these two members have done in improving their economic situation for themselves.And all it took was asking for it.Good luck with your ask this weekIm rooting for you.

Additive Manufacturing Prototypes and Design Simulations Showc...

Additive Manufacturing Prototypes and plan Simulations Showc... Additive Manufacturing Prototypes and Design Simulations Showc... Additive Manufacturing Prototypes and Design Simulations Showcased at Two ASME ConferencesBy Roger TordaASME Public Information We did some testing from idle up to 3,500 RPM on Joshs truck, explained Morgan Thomas. Morgan, Nicholas Heiman and Joshua Hieb are agricultural engineering students at South Dakota State University. What they were testing on Hiebs 2005 Chevrolet Silverado was a 3D printed muffler made with a heat-resistant plastic. We tested temperature and sound levels, and the muffler handled it fine. So then we decided to take it out on the road, and test it until it failed.The students were among 30 gruppes participating in the ASME Innovative Additive Manufacturing 3D Challenge (IAM3D) and the Societys Innovative Design Simulation Challenge (IDSC) held Aug. 2, in Boston.A team from Texas Tech University won the IAM3D Best Overall Design Award for a low-temperature desalinator. Shaun Foreman and Taylor Cychowski presented two prototypes a small version for hikers and campers and a larger model that could supply drinking water for a family of four.Nikola Tepavac, Scott Hill and Chas Davies (left to right) present the compliant prosthetic hand at IAM3D, which was held Aug. 2, in BostonThe IAM3D Best Innovative Design Award went to Scott Hill and Chas Davies of Tennessee Technological University, and Nikola Tepavac of the University of Novi Sao, in Serbia, for a one-piece, compliant prosthetic hand. The team tested three different joint entwurfs and built prototypes with two different plastics. Tepavac, participating in the design process via Skype, is working on electronic controls. The winner for Best Re-engineered / Collaborative Production was a team from Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada, for an Audible Hockey Puck. Ryan Vierira and Kristoffer Pascual worked with a group of visually impaired hockey players, and desig ned a device that emits electronic sounds. Vierira explained that currently-available products produce sound only when the puck is moving, as metal parts rattle around inside. Durability is a big challenge in the fast-moving, stick-slapping world of hockey. The first two Sheridan prototypes were brittle, and quickly shattered in play. The current version is tougher and more water-proof.Jeffrey Paquette, of Stratasy, Inc., one of the competitions judges, praised the Sheridan team for its re-design process, calling the puck a fully iterative product. A team from Temple University was honored for Best Verbal Presentation for designing wind turbine blades. Alexander Benvenuto, Sarah McLeod and Joseph Fossity sought efficiency and low noise in a small system that could be used in urban areas. Their final design combined two proven features leading edge tubercles, similar to those found on whale fins, and trailing-edge serrations.Soumay Gupta and Ramanjeet Singh from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee won the Best Freshman Design Award for a system to generate electricity as vehicles pass over speed bumps. The team, which presented from India via Skype, used 3D printing to create a piston and cylinder that can be embedded in a roadway. Passing vehicles send compressed air into a tank, which drives a turbine and generator. The tank can collect air from several speed bumps at four-way intersections, for example.IDSC Results In the Innovative Design Simulation Challenge, Yu-Han Cheng, Yen-Ting Wang and Han-Yu Lee from National Taiwan University won a Best Overall Simulation award in the commercial software category for the design of a novel stent for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. The team developed computer models to evaluate the mechanical integrity and fatigue resistance to various loading conditions, including expansions and annealing during manufacture, crimping inside a catheter and release into a blood vessel. Simulations showed significant ly improved reliability. Judges of the competition encouraged the team to seek a patent.Sharanga Bora of NIT Silchar, India, won the same honor for his innovation, Application of Coanda Effect in a CPU Heat Sink Fan. Bora modeled airflow over airfoils placed on a heat sink. He tested three airfoil cross sections, and simulations showed the best design led to 15C reduction in heat compared to a conventional fan/heatsink system. The Coanda effect, named after aerodynamics pioneer Henri Coanda, refers to the tendency of a fluid to follow a curved surface. The Best Utility / Impact Award for commercial software went to Jonathan Lewis Adn Pacheco Alcocer, Eduardo Daniel Aguilar Arvea and Miguel ngel Rodrguez from Universidad Autonoma del Carmen, Mexico, for demonstrating an increase in the efficiency of a solar cook stove with the use of constructal design for a heatsink. Constructal design uses patterns found in nature, such as the branching of rivers. Sohail Reddy of Florida Internatio nal University won the Best Overall Simulation Award using both commercial and custom software, for analyzing micro-pin fins used to cool electronic chips. He compared cooling wertmiger zuwachs for circular pins, airfoil-shaped pins and pins with symmetric convex cross-sections. Reddys analyses demonstrated improved performance with the airfoil and convex cross section designs.Pin-Yi Chen of Taiwan National University presented her iLatte project at IDSCRohit Solanki, Jeet Trivedi and Harsh Pandya from B.H. Gardi College of Engineering and Technology in Rajkot, India, won an award for Best Utility or Impact, for an analysis of a mechanism for vehicles based on the gate of an animal. The team studied the work of a Dutch artist, Theo Jansen, who uses mechanical legs in kinetic sculptures. The students believe such a vehicle could achieve energy reduction and move effectively across rugged terrain.In the custom software category, Pin-Yi Chen of Taiwan National University was recognized for Best Overall Simulation for a project inspired by a trip to the coffee shop. Chen designed her iLatte project to gather data as a barista makes intricate designs while pouring steamed milk and strong coffee. Chen modeled a latte-pouring robot and created a system that would teach people how to make similar designs.IDSC in the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, was well attended.The South Dakota team reported that its muffler broke and melted at 50 miles per hour. They were loud and clear, however, about the value of the experience. It was a great opportunity, Thomas said. At the beginning of this, I knew hardly anything about 3D printing. But we did everything in this process. Testing. Redesign. Documentation. Writing papers. We made presentations. We learned what it means to be an engineer.

How to Be a Good Leader

How to Be a Good LeaderHow to Be a Good LeaderStrengths-based Leadership encurages us to look into our strengths to identify what works and doesnt work for us as leaders. I think you should go beyond that.Learning about leadership starts when you experience someone elses leadership style. You learn from every single boss you have ever had. Both the good and the bad. Same with the parenting styles you experience. Look into your upbringing. What can you learn from it?I recently realized that my leadership style strongly reflects the parenting style of my parents. As a result, Im no longer s CMO. Ive adopted those values and principles and thats how I leuchtdiode of marketing team at , a team of 5 people from 4 nationalities. Do I have things to share? Yes.Should you learn from me? It depends. My 8 PrinciplesWhen I was a child, my mom dad - provided safety - they created a safe environment, free of worries and dangers when a neighbourhood boy was bullying me, mom talked to him and ho nestly scared the shit out of him, so he never bothered me after thathelped me grow - they provided a nurturing environment they attended exhibitions and took my sister and I with them, ate moderately and healthy, went to the mountain every weekend and brought us with them, read books to my sister and I.gave me hope - they confirmed that things will be okay when I fell on the ground, they helped me get up and said everything will be okay, your knee will heal quick showed me compassion - they understood and respected my feelings. When my parents heard that my boyfriend in primary school had broken up with me, they said they were sorry I felt that way. were honest - they spoke openly about what we can afford or not, so they managed my expectations well and kept their word. I only got a Mickey Mouse magazine or a Happy Meal just a few times throughout my childhood, but that was fine. respected me expected respect in return - they never crossed a line and didnt allow me to make a jo ke of them either, not even once. taught me how to dream big - I was 5 years old and my mom was taking me to German lessons when she said learn German and one day you can travel to Germany or Austria and schi in the Alps at the time I was skiing down a hill in the neighbourhood, so the Alps sounded absolutely outstanding (and they are, as I saw a few years ago)congratulated me on my successes youre our little hero Mom always said that whatever challenge I overcame or accomplishment I had. Each of those strongly shaped my understanding of whats right and wrong at home, as well as in school or the workplace. And heres how I applied them as a CMO. Please note, much like in parenting, sometimes we have the right intentions, but the result is different. The principles below show what Ive aimed for. I have to admit I didnt succeed with them 100% of the time.1 Help them grow As a leader, I aim to encourage people when they are scared, I push their boundaries helfende hand them in crisis or when they feel low give as much feedback as I can to any piece of work. I expect high quality of anyone, regardless of their seniority, title, or years of work experience.give both positive and constructive feedback that aims the same thing to encourage a growth mindset, not just to be good. When a colleague challenges me, I usually thank them for doing that as Id like to encourage them to question my decisions or directions rather than be good by blindly following me and always be approving of what I say. support them to develop their strengths, even when outside of their comfort zone Vessy has been challenging me every single day. Thats why I jokingly started calling her Chief Challenger. One time she challenged me to go to London on a work trip, on my own. Its a city that always made me unusually anxious so at the time it felt completely outside of my comfort zone. Despite being scared I ended up going and once it was over, I realized I had overcome the fear. She successfully pushed my boundaries and Im proud I went on that trip. That experience still gives me courage and makes my out-of-my-comfort-zone experiences more comfortable. 2 Give them hope As a leader, I aim to explain that overnight success is not overnight, so when success doesnt come right away, the team has hope and keeps trying explain we all do things that are hard and do them for the first time and we eventually figure it out and if we dont, we will figure something else outbring hope to them, even when Im struggling with it myself knowing they rely on me, pushes me to find hope myself get people enthusiastic about the future our company vision, strategy, or even next months campaign Since Im very self-critical I can easily go into an Impostor Syndrome state if I dont landsee results quickly enough. It was especially hard to try out a bunch of tactics for advertising optimization and see our costs decrease only slightly. Vessy helped me focus on the amount of things we tried and learned , reminding me how far weve come, even if the numbers didnt show it. Then I could move forward with restored motivation and came to several new solutions to try out. Without hope, the worlds looks and feels meaningless and people become helpless. Thats valid just as much at work3 Show them compassion As a leader, I aim to Actively listen and be present Acknowlumineszenzdiodege their feelings (If I dont care that someone is struggling, that results in two things - they get discouraged and Im an asshole) Determine if I should give advice or instead I should give them space so they can figure things out and fix them on their own Be there for them when they struggle outside of work, too. Vessy has never stopped being incredibly supportive of me and everyone on the team, particularly as Ive evolved from being more of a writer into a broader SEO role. One ironic by-product has been that we came to a point where there was less of a need for a head of marketing. Everyone now takes full res ponsibility for their own domain and the whole operation works smoothly. You could say shes a victim of her own success there. I believe that lack of compassion results in emotional invalidation. Its sneaky and powerful. It creates a distance between you and the other person and damages their confidence. Three things if you want to work on Compassion Whats emotional invalidationHow to improve the level of validation 5 things NOT to say4 Be honest earn their trust As a leader, I aim to act as a role model and Im aware that everything I do can be replicated by anyone in my team, so Id better do things as best as I cankeep my promises (and keep private matters we have discussed private) Be authentic and candid, e.g. tell them when I disagree and when Im having a hard time Encourage honesty and establish trust between all team members to help them collaborate more smoothly. If Im not honest with them, why would they be honest with me? Delegating, for example, would become impossible or pointless. If they dont respect me and trust me, why would they care which direction I attempt to lead them? That would make any strategy, campaign, or tactic chaotic and inapplicable. As an illustrator, Ive never been too interested in business, marketing analytics or numbers in general. I actually, never thought they could have anything to do with my job. AT ALL. Vessys honest questions and challenges showed me how important it is, to back up my work with business goals if I want to make an impact. When I was working on developing s illustration identity, I managed to put in action all the lessons learned during our one-on-ones. Answering the questions, why are we doing that and how it could impact s business goals, helped me realise that drawing cool stuff is not enough, if theyre not the right cool stuff. And on top of that, the whole team was able to see how awesome illustrations are, when used the right way.5 Create a safe space for them As a leader, I aim to provide safety a nd security when people feel threatened that doesnt mean protecting them, but more so empowering them how to face the challenge and helping them identify numerous ways to do it teach them how to deal with ambiguity and embrace change I show them the freedom and the wide range of opportunities that come in times of great flux. Oh, we do this pretty well at ? https//t.co/LX2PcIDx8j Tatiana Rehmova (TRehmova) achter monat des jahres 31, 20186 Expect the other side to follow the same principlesAs a leader, I aim to Encourage constructive, courageous, healthy behavior rather than focus on punishing the unwanted habits.To address things, when an employee has hurt my feelings or shown me disrespect. The alternative is to leave things to stay unresolved and bottle up until it explodes. You dont want a partner, friend, colleague, boss, parent, or sibling who jeopardizes the pillars of the relationship (respect, trust, safety, etc), do you? For example, my girlfriend and I built a habit to c heck-in on the health of our relationship. We dont do it in a structured way or at a specific period of time. We casually ask each other questions that allow us to get feedback from each other and understand if theres something we should work on as a couple or as individuals. Then, we discuss ways we can tackle it and commit to them. Last time we did that, we put them down. One of those commitments was to go to spoken word poetry together and tonight were going to one. 7 Teach them how to dream bigAs a leader, I aim to Show them how to see potential beyond whats visible to themThat allows the team to spot the big opportunities and chase the big results. I know of few leaders that would take on a college student with little-to-no professional experience to write a resume on someone they admire, but Vessys decision to ask me to work on Rupauls Resume is what led to me taking on an internship at and getting to know some extraordinary people. Not only has this gifted me valuable experi ence, but have gone on to be featured in top-tier media such as Fast Company, Gay Times, and more because of this. These are achievements I never thought would be possible in five years let alone a few months Vessy has been a creator of opportunity that has inspired me and challenged me at every step. With her guidance, Ive been afforded many things that I never thought I would have authenticity in the workplace, professional drive, the freedom to dream big. 8 Congratulate them on their successes As a leader, I aim to Take the time to say well done, fantastic job, im pressed, so proud of youShow my gratitude yes, they are paid to do their job, but I dont take a job well done for granted I genuinely appreciate this kind of people, the hard work and attitude they have put into it Sometimes I check in with myself if I do that and when I realize I havent done it for awhile, I reach out to the individual or the team. One of the top 3 reasons why people change jobs, validated by resea rch with our users and with our employees, is that they didnt feel valued and appreciated. Responding vs Initiating 3 tools that help me follow the eight principlesLeadership is built on relationships. In any relationship theres a line that once crossed, its hard to retrieve from. While responding means were always catching up, its important to have different mechanisms, or tools, that allow you to initiate conversations rather than respond to the final situations when nothing can be repaired, discussed, or restored.These are my ways of deal with things early on, often way before they have even started. One-on-one meetingsWeve been having 1on1 meetings for over 2 years now. Ive had over 200+ with various team members. Over time their objective and format have evolved a lot according to the needs of the company, as well as adapted to the respective leads style. During my 1on1s, for example, Id always ask - what would you like us to talk about today? Is there anything thats bothering you? What would you do with X if you were leading the team? Expectation documentsThese are simple one-pager documents that have 3 sections Performance (e.g. attract X new unpaid website visitors), Behavior (e.g. come prepared to meetings), Skills (e.g. advance SEO). They show the person what to focus on in the next 6-week period. As a marketing lead I used to find it super handy as it was helping me set my own expectations towards the employee, make aya they are communicated, as well as check if they are understood by the employee. On the other side, that was giving clarity and direction to the employee. So every 6 weeks wed meet up and compare notes on how the previous period went and whats needed in the next period. Constant, immediate feedback Building a team dynamics that encourages team members to give feedback to each other, so when Im not there (on vacation or no longer their lead) they are independent from me and they can do things together, on their own. Being a leader is beyond being a team lead I aim to follow the same principles in any relationship that I have in my life. And in the case of , that means I aim to follow them with any person in the company a founder, an early employee, or a recent one. Quite often being open about my vulnerabilities has been a foundation for the trust in any of those relationships vulnerability and authenticity are also big themes for me in my writing on Medium. Vessy started to be very open about her vulnerabilities, and instead of taking away from her credibility, this actually added to it. When Im facing a challenge related to how to approach a complex project or have a tough conversation with a person, I sometimes catch myself thinking Vessy had that anxiety. She overcame that. And so can I What you should take away from this how-to-be-a-leader article Would any of the above make you a successful leader? It depends on who you are. While most of us read books about the leadership styles of successful generals or CEOs, its not about imitating someone elses style. Its about identifying what makes your style unique, cultivating those strengths, and recognizing handy others practices that are relevant for you and possibly worth trying. If you recognized anything you think you should give a try, thats fantastic. But do look into yourself. Into your upbringing. Into what makes you you. Whats next for me, now that Im not the CMO any more?My new role is Career Industry Expert Talent Scout. I will be focused on more strategic pieces such as exploring different business models for , scouting for talent, and occasionally write articles for our blog.

Considered Working as a Marketing & PR Coordinator

Considered Working as a absatzwirtschaft & PR CoordinatorConsidered Working as a Marketing & PR Coordinator?Considered Working as a Marketing & PR CoordinatorThis is a true career story as told to AllBilingualJobs.com. This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect as a Marketing Public Relations Coordinator, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn, and more.I am a Marketing Public Relations Coordinator with five years of experience in this field. I currently work for a public relations firm with clients across the bank industry, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. Being extroverted, a team player, and a leader at the same time have made me successful at what I do. In addition, being a bilingual Hispanic female has been of great help to be able to communicate in both English and Spanish effectively with people around the world, and develop long lasting business relationships.I am responsible for managing effectively the commu nications of our clients that include press releases, presentations, speeches, articles, coordinating events, conducting market research, and creating marketing or communication plans in both English and Spanish. Although my profession is usually misunderstood as sales or events coordination, I would describe it as the backbone that supports sales and operations.On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate my job satisfaction with a 9. To use my talents and do the things I enjoy, while learning many different things about the variety of clients in different industries that we serve, has been a highly rewarding experience. I know it will be a 10 when I am able to do it on my own, have my own clients, and charge full fees for my services.Before I got to work for this firm, I had to make a few sacrifices. It took from me the courage to quit a dead end job with a high pay, to go back to college and complete my thesis to earn my Masters degree in Communications. Then, I took the courage to pick up the phone to call the president of the firm I work for, and tell her that I wanted to work for them. To my surprise, they needed part-time help at that moment so I started part-time and after a couple of months, I became a full-time employee.One of the main reasons she gave me the chance was because I used to write an online column and she liked the way I wrote in English. We live in a country where Spanish is our main language, but many companies need bilingual people to be able to communicate with suppliers, sponsors, overseas customers, translate documents, and so forth. That is how I ended up in charge of coordinating an zwischenstaatlich Congress where I have to contact our guest speakers that come from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, and Venezuela.If I had known about this opportunity, I would have done my Masters degree a lot earlier. However, I learned that it is never too late, and that I had to work harder to compensate all the y ears I spent doing other things away from my current career path. I also learned that when I sacrificed to follow my calling, I got instant rewards in career satisfaction.Books gave me a lot of theories, but the field gave me lessons about people, relationships, and the importance of dealing effectively with those two. Relationships move the world. So, I learned how important it is to cultivate effective and long lasting relationships throughout my life and my career. I also learned that in this global world it is important to know other countries, other cultures, and other languages to communicate effectively.Every morning I get up excited to go to work because it is thrilling to know that I will be contacting many new interesting people or being able to inspire others through a speech I wrote for some organizations President, or be able to communicate an interesting finding on a news press release, maybe boost my countrys economy by coordinating the best International Congress wit hin this industry, or get an interview on TV for one of our clients.Sometimes challenges arise, businesses are more conservative about sponsorships, sometimes a great press release doesnt get published, or at other times participation to an event was below expectations. Although all these experiences have been frustrating at times, I have learned that persistence is key, and there is no way I can fail while I am still trying and giving my best. Besides, the rewards I get from my job always outweigh the setbacks.My job requires for me to work unconventional hours at times. Sometimes I have to attend a meeting on a Saturday afternoon or a Thursday night. However, fruchtwein of the time I work regular hours, and I have the weekends and holidays for myself to spend it with my loved ones. I usually take vacations twice a year to be able to spend quality time with my extended family, recreate myself, get some rest, and feel renewed for when I come back to work.Where I live, a good marketi ng coordinator and/or public relations coordinator can make from $25,000 to $35,000 a year. Bilingual candidates usually get paid towards the higher end. I am happy with what I get paid, but I also have high expectations for my career future and expect my earnings to increase accordingly.To get this job, I have completed a Masters degree in Communications and a Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a major in marketing management. It was very important to my employer that I could also write, read, and understand, both written and spoken, English and Spanish. In addition, I need to keep myself updated by reading various newspapers, magazines, listening to the radio, and watching news on television to stay up to date with current events that may have an impact on our clients businesses.I have many friends that have followed this same path. Within the next five years, I would like to have some of these friends join me and create a top of the line bilingual marketing and publ ic relations consulting firm in my country that provides the most exclusive consulting services worldwide.

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Homemaker Resume and What You Should Do Different

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Homemaker Resume and What You Should Do Different Whatever They Told You About Homemaker Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why Volunteering may have supplied you with credentials and accomplishments which are highly related to your career objectives. Finding a job that you love is vital to success. Transferable skills are universal skills that may transfer from 1 job to aleidher, in nearly any career field, regardless of the sort of work. Hearsay, Lies and Homemaker Resume The more you are able to reveal that youve got the credentials to provide appropriate care, the more likely you should find the job. Families that are selecting a caregiver might bedrngnis be as strict about their requirements. All care providers arent going to offer transportation services and wont offer financial management services. Homemaker services can offer temporary relief till you resume normal pursuits. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Homemaker Resume Displaced homemakers are those who have worked in the house for a range of years and suddenly discover they are the principal supply of household income. After losing a primary source of income, they often need to return to the workforce. Ok, I Think I Understand Homemaker Resume, Now Tell Me About Homemaker Resume If you are not pleased on the job you are going to be unhappy at home. Alternatively as you might guess if youre happy on the job youre a lot more likely to be happy at home. The job of a homemaker is to look after a family members and the location where the family lives. Possessing a job which pays doesnt guter mann the simple fact that caring for my family members and creating and keeping up a home for them is my single most important job. The Most Popular Homemaker Resume You need your resume to be noticed, but theres such a thing as standing out in a poor way. One of the greatest things you can do in order to acquire your resume in fighting shape is to be sure your headline game is strong. A vital requirement if youre attempting to find a new job with an employer, but in addition one of the toughest things which you will have to handle if youre a felon on account of your circumstance. Everyone knows that having a nice and professional resume helps us to locate a good job. The Good, the Bad and Homemaker Resume You might need several resumes if youre applying for many jobs. Dont be too proud to undertake a job which you feel is beneath you. Discuss what you learned and the way that it applies to the job that you seek. Include volunteer experience if its pertinent to the job. Managers seek employees that are resultsoriented. Objective or Job Target involves a description of the job you want. If you understand how to make the most of the education part of your stay-at-home mom resume, you will allow it to be matter Moms who choose to stay home with their children for lots of years usually never regret that choice. In s ome instances, homemakers are also predicted to provide sitting services for kids, elderly or people that are not able to look after themselves. For any number of reasons, they may also want to go to work-either to make more money for the family, to get out of the house, to try new things or because the kids or other family members have the ability to fend for themselves for a while and the homemaker wants to return to the job or start a job. Folks jump back in the workforce all the moment, and you are able to too. Employers seek employees that are successful. When an employer is thinking about hiring you, he might ask you to supply a list of references. A prospective employer may want to hire you due to your work-related abilities, but if youre not an excellent person to work with, he can think more than once about hiring you. If you believe the job is not possible for your own house, think again, its as easy as using a magazine or catalog A resume objective serves a terri fic purpose which is to set the path that the remainder of the resume will tread on. Rather than that, you use the name of a particular skill for each heading. A bulleted list is a wonderful method to highlight your marketable skills. Many caregiver positions need you to have first aid training. Nurse The Homemaker is accountable for all simple first-aid requirements, including small cuts, scraped knees, the typical cold, flu and headaches. Many volunteer efforts ask that you lead and motivate others that are also unpaid. The church requires a volunteer. A cover letter provides you an opportunity to fill in all the blanks, and add a little extra information. Among the biggest issues you might face is ensuring that your resume has all of the appropriate information which you require, but isnt too long. If youre in the middle of a work search with a felony on your record, or know a person who is, we highly suggest that you sign up to find access. Thankfully, its not diffic ult to understand which skills an employer is searching for as theyre normally clearly specified in the job postings. Whispered Homemaker Resume Secrets Research more creative resumes which people have set together and see whether they speak to you. The other candidate might also have a lot to offer you. Successful candidates are well qualified, but theyre also prepared. Candidates that arent qualified due to a deficiency of education is going to be screened out of consideration early.

The Mad Men guide to advertising

The militrischer abschirmdienst Men guide to advertising The Mad Men guide to advertisingPosted September 20, 2013, by Julia Watters The glossy world of advertising has always fascinated and has long provided the backdrop for television shows and films. From ad execs Darrin Stephens in Bewitched to Heather Locklears Amanda in Melrose Place but has anyone ever fascinated quite like Don Draper in Mad Men? Mad Men takes us deep into the complex, fast-changing and political world of advertising as it evolves through major changes in the industry and cultural landscape. Even though the series is set in the 1960s, plenty about agency life still rings true and is just as relevant today. Pete is fairly ruthless when it comes to work and women. Hes a stereotypical, determined young businessman trying to cut his teeth in the industry and get ahead at any cost. His inflated sense of self acts as both a professional help and hindrance. Put yourself in any corporate environment and you are like ly to find someone just like Pete. The office manager is a good person to befriend in any workplace and Joan is no exception. She has her finger on the pulse of everything that goes on and can help you find your feet, notlage to mention get you the good stationery. Office managers can wield a lot of power, so dont underestimate them. The whiskeys, cigarettes, beehives and overt sexism may have vanished from modern advertising offices, but the characters and the work are still compelling. See the range of online advertising coursesavailable so you, too, can enter this mad world.Bachelor of Business (absatzwirtschaft)Study modeOnlinePayment optionsHECS-HELPUpfront paymentCourse guide+ FREE eBrochureEnquire Online Nadim ElRahi - Marketing MangerJames Ellender - General Manager, Marketing and StrategyRahul Chauhan - Head of StrategyAlessandra Marques - Marketing Manager, AAPolyInterested in becoming a?AccountantOffice AdministratorManagement ConsultantMarketing ManagerMarketing Officer Popular Career Searchesdiploma in advertising melbourneadvertising courses australiagovernment funded visual merchandising course brisbanegovernment funded visual merchandising course perthsocial science degree career opportunitiesMarketing CoursesBachelor of Applied Business (Marketing)Enquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Digital MediaEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of CommunicationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMaster of CommunicationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJulia WattersRelated ArticlesBrowse moreAdvertisingHow To Break Into Advertising 4 Career PathsTheyre on highway billboards, theyre in your monthly magazines, on your most visited websites and interrupt your TV programs. Advertisements are a part of our daily lives and constitute one of the most competitive and exciting industries around.AdvertisingEmbracing technology key to success in advertising worldThe absatzwirtschaft and advertising industries were amongst the hardest hit during the recent economic downturn but opportunities and openings are still to be found.AdvertisingJob hunting tipsHow to get a job in advertisingWith shows like The Gruen Transfer, 30 Seconds and Mad Men all centring on the ad world, the advertising industry is looking sexier than ever.

Biggest Resume Blunders to Avoid at All Costs

Biggest Resume Blunders to Avoid at All CostsBiggest Resume Blunders to Avoid at All CostsBiggest Resume Blunders to Avoid at All CostsOur writers share the fruchtwein common resume mistakes they binnensee job seekers make.With limited space to highlight your cumulative professional skills and accomplishments, plus perk an employers interest, your resume is high-value real estate. Everything from layout to word choice matters. Our network of professional resume writers work with hundreds of job seekers every day to re-write their resumes and its safe to say theyve seen it all when it comes to resume blunders. Weve asked them to weigh in on the most common mistakes they see. Keep your eyes peeled you dont want your resume to include any of the followingcommon mistakesThe most common mistake I see is having one really broad resume that isnt focused on a specific job goal.Carrie M., TopResume writerMost of my clients struggle with formatting, word usage, and the promotion of their accom plishments. First and foremost, I work with folks to move their content to a modern format keeping with industry best practice. I then work on the verbiage, seeking to expand my clients vocabulary, eliminate redundancies, and teach clients how to say certain important points in a more eloquent and/or concise way.Lauren P., TopResume writerI see a lot of clients cramming their resumes with as much information as possible. A resume shouldnt include anything and everything, it should simply create interest for the hiring manager or recruiter by summarizing and demonstrating their qualifications. The extra little details should be reserved for the interview, once the employer is already interested.Mark S., TopResume writerThe most common resume mistakes I see with my clients are a bunch of small errors that add up to one big, ineffective resume. These resume mistakes range from using first and third person language, failing to incorporate enough of the right resume keywords, listing out too many tasks instead of highlighting achievements, and usign a resume format that doesnt accurately reflect the clients professional level of experience.Muhammed S., TopResume writerSome of the most common resume mistakes I see on my clients resumes have to do with improper formatting, the inclusion of outdated positions (beyond the 15-year window), typos (especially those that spellcheck misses), and too much passive language.Hillary F., TopResume writerIf these resumes mistakes sound all too familiar, its time to upgrade your professional resume. Click on the following link to access more expert resume advice.Want to see how your resume stacks up? Request a free critique todayEditors NoteTopResume is a Talent Inc. company, the worlds largest resume-writing service in the world.Learn more about Talent Inc.

Over 98% of Fortune 500 Companies Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Over 98% of Fortune 500 Companies Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Over 98% of Fortune 500 Companies Use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) Applicant tracking ordnungsprinzips, or ATS, are a type of software used by companies to assist with human resources, recruitment, and hiring processes. There are hundreds of companies developing ATS software and each system offers a different package of features. That said, ATS are primarily used to help hiring companies collect and organize large numbers of applicants.Read more What is an applicant tracking system?Job seekers interact with an ATS just about any time they submit a resume through an erreichbar form. Rather than manually reviewing each resume, recruiters and hiring managers can search for resumes based on keywords, or have the system filter or automatically rank applicants. If an ATS resume doesnt contain the right search terms or is formatted sub-optimally, it could get lost in the system.Weve known for a while thatmost compani es used ATS.We wanted to get more specific, though, so we took a closer look at U.S. Fortune 500 companies.Fortune 500 applicant tracking system usageOur research began with what we already had in the Jobscan database.As part of the Resume Match Report, job seekers can enter the name of the company and application URL of the job for which theyre applying in buchen to receive tailored resume tips. This crowdsourced data, once verified, contributes to our database of company-ATS matches. After filtering for Fortune 500, we had to do some ground work to fill in the gaps.Combining what Jobscan already had in its database with manual research of Fortune 500 companies processes, we found that all but nine Fortune 500 companies utilize an ATS of some kind in their hiring process thats 491 thatuse an ATS, or 98.2%.Jobscan research At least98.2% of Fortune 500 use applicant tracking systemsFortune 500 ATS market shareNot only were we able to find that at least 491 Fortune 500 companies use a n ATS, we were able to identify which ATS was used by 482 of them. In other words, 96.4% of Fortune 500 companies utilize an ATS that we were able to identify via a variety of methods. The easiest way to identify an ATS is to look at the URL of a job listing.Heres a small sampling of the dataCompanyATSSample Job Listing URL3MWorkdayhttps//3m.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Search/job/AllstateiCIMShttps//careers-agencystaffcandidate.iCIMS.com/CloroxADPhttps//recruiting.ADP.com/srccar/public/Coca-ColaWorkdayhttps//coke.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/coca-colaLockheed MartinBrassRinghttps//sjobs.BrassRing.com/TGnewUI/Search/MicrosoftProprietaryhttps//careers.microsoft.com/us/en/job/NikeTaleohttps//nike.taleo.net/careersection/10020/OshkoshSuccessFactorshttps//career4.SuccessFactors.com/career?United Natural FoodsSilkRoadhttps//unfi-openhire.SilkRoad.com/epostings/Wynn ResortsCareerBuilderhttps//application.careerbuilder1.com/wynn-rThe most popular applicant tracking systemOne thing we found is that softw are giant Oracle, itself a Fortune 500 company, continues to dominate the ATS market. A handful of their offerings cropped up in this list, but Taleo stood above all with a massive 30.2% market share.We noticed earlier this year that Greenhouse ATS was gaining a lot of ground in the startup and tech, but their presence wasnt felt on the Fortune 500 list outside of some subsidiaries. For example, Walmart corporate uses BrassRing for some listings, but Greenhouse for their Jet.com subsidiary. The rising star among Fortune 500 companies appears to be Workday, which offers robust human resource management services beyond applicant tracking. Second to Taleo, Workday has been gaining a lot of ground in the past year based on what weve seen in older ATS market share reports.Read MoreThe Top Applicant Tracking Systems Used by Hiring CompaniesWhy ATS matter for job seekersApplicant tracking systems are indispensable software for large organizations but can be a frustrating roadblock for job seekers. Some offer a difficult candidate experience. Some take a long time to complete. Some have rudimentary search and ranking functions that allow stellar applicants to slip through the cracks.Instead of reading through hundreds of resumes that come in for a job opening, a recruiter can opt to narrow the applicant pool by searching for keywords. These resume keywords might be job titles, hard skills, or qualifications. Even if an applicant is highly qualified for the job, if they dont have the right search terms on their resume, they might not be found.Some ATS, like Taleo, even automatically rank applicants by comparing the uploaded resume to the job description. This allows recruiters to cherry plek candidates at the top of the ranking.Read MoreTaleo 4 Ways the Most Popular ATS Ranks Your Job ApplicationIf youre a job seeker, the best way to ensure you have the right search terms and a high match rate is to study the job description and pick out the top keywords. Traditionally , this was a manual, time-consuming process. These days, job seekers can automate the process with Jobscan.The hard skills section of the Jobscan Resume Match Report.Try it yourself here?Applicant tracking systems are a central part of the hiring process in 2018. Job seekers who understand this and react put themselves in a better position to get job interviews and offers.Hannah Craig and Etan Bard contributed to this article.

Customize this Behavior Therapist Resume

Customize this Behavior Therapist Resume Customize this Behavior Therapist Resume Behavioral therapy is a growing field with therapists working in schools, hospitals, and private practice. It’s important to tailor your resume to the area you wish to work in, and a strategic resume shows recruiters that you are serious about helping people withstand pressures in the workplace.To gain board certification as a behavioral therapist you must have a bachelor’s degree. Graduate degrees are preferred, so state your education to your advantage. Recruiters will also be scanning your resume for state licensing credentials, and its a good idea to place that information near the top of your document. Remember to mention positions that highlight your listening, interpersonal, and analytical skills.The behavior therapist resume template below is designed to help you write a document that stands out from the crowd. Create this Resume Rebecca Nava4992 Hemlock LaneCleburne, TX 76031(222)-382-4675r.nava@smail.comObjectiveLooking for an available job position as a Behavior Thera pist in a fast-growing medical care company with the possibility for improvement and experience needed to pursue long-term goals under the field of psychology.Summary of QualificationsExperience working with children and individuals with disabilityAbility to purchase professional liability insuranceHas extensive experience in handling children who require special needs and attentionAn independent worker whos passionate and drivenCan multitask and render customized care and methods for each student to acquire maximum potentialVery patient and has advanced knowledge and background in Applied Behavior AnalysisProfessional ExperienceBehavior Therapist, January 2007 PresentNHS Human Services, Bedford, PA ResponsibilitiesEvaluated clients such as children regarding their behavior.Conducted screening and case management for children.Facilitated Child Development Services.Provided guidance for children.Provided guidance and assistance to other associates.ABA Therapist, May 2004- December 2 006Lourdes Health System, Camdem, NJ ResponsibilitiesApplied the principles of behavioral analysis.Conducted therapy to understand a childs behavior.Developed skills such as linguistic, cognitive and social skills of children with autism.Facilitated activities to determine the childs behavior.Encouraged desired behavior and discouraged inappropriate behavior by using repetition and reinforcement. EducationMasters Degree in Psychology, 2004Yale UniversityBachelors Degree in Psychology, 2002Yale UniversityCustomize ResumeMore Sample Resumes:Beauty Salon Resume Behavior Therapist Resume Benefits Coordinator Resume Benefits Specialist Resume Beverage Manager Resume Beverage Sales Resume Bicycle Mechanic Resume

Title Identical Twins

Title Identical Twins Title Identical Twins Identical Twins To understand why manufacturers are fascinated by digital twinsexact digital replicas of products, machines, processes, or even entire factoriesconsider a packaging line that engineering software provider Maplesoft helped create. Nondisclosure agreements prevent Paul Goossens, Maplesofts vice president of engineering solutions, from mentioning the machines creator, but he cannot stop talking about what makes it unusual. Packaging machines are amazing, he explained. Theyre complex machines that pick up and cut pieces of cardboard, fill them, and seal them off. This is all done traditionally with complex mechanisms driven by a single motor. Robots are replacing those motor-drive-gear-operated systems, Goossens said. The robots perform the same cutting, bending, and sealing tasks, but their arms are driven by independently controlled servomotors. The old machines are much cheaper to build, he said, but they can only do one thing. So, if you had a new package, you either had to re-engineer your machine or scrap it. With robots, its simply a matter of changing the packaging profiles and the software parameters. Still, reprogramming robots takes time. In the past, an engineer might have used software to simulate how the line would handle the new packaging, but eventually he or she would have to pull those robots off the line. Then the engineer would test and tweak the movement of cardboard through the machine and the ability of the robotic arms to make and package containers, all the while trying to whittle fractions of seconds off each cycle. A digital twin goes one step beyond conventional models. It models the robotic line with such high fidelity, the engineer can do all this in the virtual world. After adjusting the models profiles and operating parameters, the engineer simply exports the profiles and parameters to the control system of the physical equipment. Theoretically, at least, it should run perfectly the first time. That alone will certainly disrupt the packaging machine industry, Goossens said. Thats the future, and its certainly where digital twins for large machines will end up. Yet this is clearly not the end for digital twin technology. In fact, simulating individual machines is only the beginning. Because the real power of a digital twin is not that it optimizes a single machine, but that it interacts with the digital twins of every piece of equipment in a factory and the digital twin of every product those machines make. Nor is it limited to optimizing those production processes in the virtual world. Digital twins run in tandem with their highly instrumented physical twins, fed by data by from actual operations. By comparing the output of the digital and physical systems, engineers can quickly spot problems before they arise, avoid bottlenecks, and find new ways to boost throughput and reduce costs. In short, digital twins are the foundation of tomorrows smarter workplace. Cheap Bytes Digital twins may seem like the buzzword du jour, but the concept dates back 15 years, to John Vickers, NASA principal technologist in advanced manufacturing, and Michael Grieves, now executive director of Florida Institute of Technologys Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design. Their premise was simple: A digitally modeled system is really composed of two systems, a physical system and a virtual system that contains all the information about the physical system. They can exist for products and for processes. Engineers have used product models for decades, but only recently have they achieved the extraordinary fidelity needed for digital twins. In industries like automotive, we can define a big chunk of our products geometrically such that it is almost impossible to determine whether a representation is virtual or physical, Grieves said. Product models slash development time by letting engineers build and test virtual prototypes to optimize design and cost. In 2002, Grieves proposed applying the same approach to manufacturing processes. I think the original concept of the digital twin is one of moving from trial and error on the physical side to doing as many things as you can with bytes, Grieves said. The key is trading off expensive atoms for cheap bytes to the extent you can, so you can manufacture the product more efficiently and less expensively. Conceptually, it is not much of a jump from testing product designs to simulating manufacturing processes. In fact, many software programs do something similar today. What makes digital twins different is their fidelity and their ability to handle large amounts of data in real time. Even modest factories are complex, and they have far fewer constraints than any complex product designed to operate in a specific way. In a factory, operating procedures are always changing. Even a simple drill press might bore aluminum one day, then switch bits, speed, and coolant for steel the next. A modern factory might make many products, and the flow of materials from machines through assembly stations will change with them. A factorys digital twin must be robust enough to capture those changes, plus all relevant data from each operation. That takes massive IT horsepower. Fortunately, networked PCs have grown more powerful and manufacturers can now tap the cloud to store and analyze factory data using cognitive computing programs. Modeling tools have also advanced, especially their ability to generate lightweight models. We can select the geometry, characteristics, and attributes we require without carrying around unnecessary details, Grieves explained in a 2014 paper. This dramatically reduces the size of the models and allows for faster processing. Reducing data requirements lets digital twins visualize and simulate complex systems without drowning in a flood of extraneous real-time data. It takes highly instrumented equipment to supply that data. While manufacturers have been adding sensors to the shop floor for decades, the Internet of Things is making it cheaper and easier to collect up-to-the-minute factory data for performance analysis, said Matt Nielsen. He is a principal engineer at General Electric. GEs Brilliant Factory is based on digital twins and the IoT data and cloud analytics needed to feed those models. Plants are always changing, people are moving around, machines break and lines slow down, Nielsen said. The digital twin will only work if it reflects the reality of the shop floor. Optimized Processes Smart factories, like GEs Brilliant Factory and Siemens competing Industrie 4.0, need both types of digital twinsproduct and processto work. Digital product models contain each component that goes into a product, from screws and welds to plastic shapes and machined metals. The digital twins that drive a factory have an associated bill of process for each of those components. This instruction manual describes the steps needed to produce and assemble those components into the final product, Alastair Orchard, vice president of digital enterprise for Siemens PLM, explained. Product and process twins work together. The digital twin can provide the manufacturing execution system with step-by-step instructions for making that product, Orchard said. Our MES system can reference that instruction manual and perform all the coordination tasks to guide the product through the factory, setting up machines on the fly, and check that each step is done correctly. The twins let engineers test-drive new processes. They could, for example, add a new machine to their virtual line and see how it affects output of specific products, or test whether relocating equipment or readjusting workflow between machines improves output. The result is not just an optimized machine, but an optimized process, Maplesofts Goossens said. He envisions laser-scanning an entire factory to model its infrastructure, then dropping digital twins of machinery and logistics systems into it. Well do thousands of virtual production runs to see if we really did design this product with manufacturing in mind, he said. We can run a simulation where we put gloves on the employees and see if they can still assemble the product, or create assembly cells that combine collaborative robots and people and see if that helps. Once the physical line is up and running, its sensors will send operating and inspection data to the factorys digital twins. These models provide a detailed view of factory operations. By looking for unexpected variances between actual and simulated data, engineers can probe for potential problems that might reduce operating rates or quality. Digital twins also support greater automation, Orchard said. As orders come in, the system will make sure the proper parts are in inventory, schedule machine time, and route components from workstation to workstation with only minimal human intervention. Each step of the way, the plant would autonomously check product and machine specs against their digital twins to ensure each operation is carried out correctly and that no equipment is drifting out of tolerance. Pedal to the Metal Thats the theory, anyway. The fully connected factory of digital twins linked with IoT sensors and cloud analytics is still a work in progress. Yet this has not stopped engineers and manufacturers from simulating some operations with existing tools. Italian carmaker Maserati, for example, created a virtual model of the production line that would build its new sports sedan, the Ghibliwhile still designing the car digitally. This interplay between product and process digital twins ensured Maserati that its factory could produce and assemble the parts its designers had envisioned, said Massimo Anfosso, Maseratis manufacturing, engineering, and general assembly project manager. It also helped Anfosso work out problems before production. This was no small feat. Maserati offers highly customized cars, and the Ghibli comes in 27 versions, 13 colors, and 205 different configurations. The virtual factory Maserati devised had to be flexible enough to create the parts needed for each combination without slowing down. There was also a second complication: Maserati planned to make the Ghibli at its Grugliasco factory, which already produced Maseratis Quattroporte luxury sedan. The challenge, Anfosso said, was to integrate two new assembly lines into an existing facility. To be able to introduce the new models to the market as quickly as possible, engineers laid out the new lines while the Ghibli was still on the drawing board. Our design engineers rapidly went through different modification scenarios of the new models over and over again. Accordingly, we had to continuously adjust the production facilities, Anfosso said. Fortunately, software tools are rapidly rising to the challenge of concurrently building and integrating digital twins. Anfossos team, for example, used Siemens Tecnomatix to analyze how car design changes affected production, so they knew where to focus their attention. As the technology evolves, those tools will grow more powerful and sophisticated, and IoT-enabled digital twins will become more tightly integrated into a plants production processes, and far more capable. They will also become smarter, using machine learning programs, a type of artificial intelligence, to learn more about a factorys machines and improve the ability of digital twins to simulate and predict their behavior. At the outset, you have a good idea of what operating parameters should be, but you can improve your prediction capabilities by incorporating data as the machine is operating, and learn from that data, Goossens said. As AI systems learn more about specific machines, they will use their digital twins to help engineers run plants more efficiently. An odd sound coming from a machine? AI can analyze it to see if a screw is loose or a bearing is starting to fail. The better the AI knows the machine, the more accurately it can predict when that failure is likely to happen. And the more optionsfix it now, run the machine to maintenance, or readjust production schedules and take the machine offlineit can offer a plant manager. Digital twins are evolving rapidly. Where will it end up? More economical manufacturing of small lots, or even lots of one? Maybe. Hyper-customized products? Perhaps. Fully programmed and optimized production lines that need only a few hours of shakedown before startup? Hopefully. Machines managing and controlling other machines? Closer than we think. That is what Siemens is demonstrating in an Industrie 4.0 plant in Amberg, Germany. It churns out 12 million programmable logic controllers (used to automate machinery) each year, and uses extensive digital product and process twins to keep everything on track. The results are stunning. By using digital instruction manuals and robots to ferry parts from one workstation to the next, it can produce any one of Siemens extremely broad range of PLCs in just 24 hours. It takes almost no human intervention. Each day, Ambergs software, machines, logistics robots, and digital twins exchange 50 million discrete communications. These interactions determine which machines manufacture what components, and how each workpiece flows along the factory floor. They also compare digital twin simulations to physical machine and product data, so the factory can tune and retune its equipment. This achieves remarkable levels of quality: only one out of every 100,000 finished products has a defectdespite churning out hundreds and even thousands of different products every day. This is very much what mass customization looks like. One day, Orchard said, similar plants may churn out customized products nearly as inexpensively as factories that make mass-produced models. Digital twins will make that possible, as well as a whole lot more. Their future is still being written. Readthe latest issue of theMechanical Engineering Magazine. The digital twin will only work if it reflects the reality of the shop floor.Matt Nielsen, principal engineer at General Electric

Medical Coder Pay in Los Angeles

Medical Coder Pay in Los Angeles Medical Coder Pay in Los Angeles When it comes to hiring medical coders in Los Angeles, speed is a huge factor, according to staffing expert Lindsay Jarett. “Almost every day we see employers who don’t make decisions fast enough,” she says. “By the time many of them finally make an offer, their top choice has already accepted another job.” Why the high demand for candidates? Jarett, practice manager at Accountemps Healthcare Practice in Los Angeles and Orange County, points out that there are a lot of people who need medical services. More than 200,000 licensed and active-care medical doctors treat over 10 million residents in the city and eponymous county - the second-largest population center in the U.S. With major employers like Cedars-Sinai Hospital, UCLA Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente - plus myriad doctor’s offices eager to staff open positions - hiring managers in LA have a lot of competition. “Good talent is only available for a short time, sometimes just a few days,” says Jarett. For employers, this creates the need to speed up their hiring process, especially as competition gets even more intense. The number of health IT jobs, including medical coder roles, is expected to increase by 19.6 percent across California between 2014 and 2024 according to the California Employment Development Department. According to the 2019 OfficeTeam Salary Guide, Los Angeles has a market variance of 32 percent above the national average, mostly to compensate for the city’s high cost of living. The midpoint salary for a certified coding specialist or certified professional coder in LA sits at $69,960. Candidates with multiple certifications or specializations, such as ambulatory surgery, cardiology or oncology, could earn even more. Medical coding managers, who oversee professional coders, have a midpoint salary of $87,450. At the midpoint, candidates have average experience with the necessary skills to meet the job requirements, and the role may be in an industry where competition for talent is moderate. GET THE 2019 SALARY GUIDE What to look for As with the rest of the country, demand for medical administrative professionals in Los Angeles is driven by constantly evolving regulations and an aging population in need of medical care. Top medical coder candidates tend to have the following: A high school diploma or an associate degree, although a bachelor’s degree is preferable for supervisory roles At least three years of coding experience Extensive knowledge of various coding systems, including EM, HCC, ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS Experience with electronic medical records programs Understanding of HIPAA regulations and compliance Ability to keep up with changing coding and billing guidelines Strong analytical skills Attention to detail Added expertise and training Of course, employers should expect to pay more for candidates with relevant certifications. Professionals with a certified coding specialist (CCS) or certified professional coder (CPC) certification from AAPC, formerly the American Academy of Professional Coders, are good to look out for. AAPC also offers other specialized certifications, including certified outpatient coder (COC), certified risk adjustment coder (CRC) and certified inpatient coder (CIC). Adapting to new tech Among the challenges employers in the healthcare industry face, the rise of new technology is at the forefront. As medical offices upgrade to new, more efficient programs, it pays to hire a candidate with experience in the latest versions of electronic medical records and coding systems. Act fast Considering the demand for administrative healthcare professionals in the Los Angeles area, timing is everything. Need help with your talent search? Take a look at our Los Angeles medical coder candidates.

How to Find a Part-Time Evening Job

How to Find a Part-Time Evening Job How to Find a Part-Time Evening Job Do you have a day job and are looking for a  second job  to earn extra money? There are a number of part-time evening jobs that can help you earn money while working a schedule that fits your needs or preferences. Learn how to find the right job for you, and check out a list of common jobs. Benefits of a Part-Time Evening Job There are a number of reasons why a part-time evening job might be ideal for you. If you tend to stay up late and sleep in, a night job might be perfect for your sleep schedule. It will allow you to do work when you feel most productive. If you already have a day job, an evening job is a good way to earn some extra money during your free time. A night job might also just work better for your current schedule. For example, if you have children that you care for during the day, it might make sense for you to find an evening job. Night jobs often pay better than similar day jobs, because not as many people want to work at night. Another benefit is that night jobs often pay better than similar day jobs, because not as many people want to work at night. Its often the same scenario with weekend jobs. Finally, many night jobs involve fewer interactions with people, since most people work during the day. If you like to work in an environment with fewer distractions and/or  less human interaction, a night job might be perfect for you. Types of Part-Time Evening Jobs Customer Service Jobs:Customer service jobs  range from assisting shoppers at a store to answering customer questions over the phone. Many companies need employees to fill the evening and night hours. If you like to talk to people on the phone or in person and enjoy helping solve problems, this might be a good job for you. Call Center RepresentativeCashierClient Relations AssistantCustomer Care ManagerCustomer Service AgentDispatcherHelp Desk WorkerReceptionistRetail AssociateSales Coordinator Driving Jobs:If you enjoy driving in the evenings or at night, and enjoy solitude, you might consider a job as a delivery driver. Many companies need people to make deliveries late in the day or need people to drive through the night. If you like to interact with people, consider a job as a chauffeur, taxi driver, or rideshare driver. These jobs often allow you to create your own schedule, which means you can choose to work at night. Delivery DriverLimousine DriverRideshare DriverTaxi DriverTruck Driver Healthcare Jobs:Interested in working in a  hospital or clinic? Hospitals always need people who are willing to work evening and  night shifts. Often, these positions pay more, because fewer people are willing to work them. Whether you are interested in working directly with patients or working on the administrative side of things, you can find an evening job in healthcare that is right for you. Clinical Lab TechnicianHome Health AideLicensed Practical NurseLicensed Vocational NurseMedical AssistantNursing Assistant Hospitality Jobs:The  hospitality industry  is a broad category that includes everything from jobs in hotels to restaurants to casinos to amusements parks. Many of these places are open in the evenings and require employees to cater to guests at all hours of the night. While many of these jobs involve customer service, others require little interaction with customers. BartenderBellhopChefCookDJFlight AttendantFront Desk AssociateGaming DealerGuest Services AssociateHostessHousekeeperValet AttendantWaiter Security Jobs:Many offices, event spaces, college campuses, hospitals, and more need security guards who are willing to work evening shifts. If you like working on your own, an evening security guard position might be the ideal job for you. BouncerCampus Security GuardPrivate Security GuardSecurity GuardSecurity Officer Teaching Jobs:While most teachers work a typical workday, there are many positions that involve  teaching  in the evening hours. For example, you might work as an evening tutor for students at a tutoring center or in an afterschool program. You might also teach a particular skill or activity to students (such as dance, music, etc.). If you specialize in a particular field, you might teach evening classes to students or to adults at a local university. Adjunct ProfessorAdult Education TeacherAfterschool TeacherBabysitterMusic TeacherOnline TeacherTest Prep TeacherTutor Tips for Finding the Right Job for You Think about what you want.  Before you start searching for jobs, think carefully about what kind of job you want. In part, this means thinking about what kind of industry you want to work in. However, this also means thinking carefully about other factors. What window of time do you have available to work? Are you looking for a job for the early evening, or do you want a job that will have you working through the wee hours of the morning?Once you have a sense of the type of job and the hours you are available, you are ready to start searching. Search online.  Most  job search engines  and  job boards  allow you to search by type of job. The advanced search options usually let you check off parameters like “part-time only” or even “night jobs.” Check out the advanced search options on your favorite job search site to see if you can narrow your search this way.You can also search the phrase “night jobs” or “evening jobs” in the search bar on the job site. You can then narrow that search by adding other relevant keywords and by using the advanced search options. Search locally.  If you are looking for a job  close to home, use a variety of methods to find local night jobs. For example, if there are specific local businesses you are interested in working for, visiting their offices and ask if they have any evening jobs available. Check your  local newspaper  for job listings.Use your network.  Like any other job search, you should use your  network  of colleagues, friends, and family to find a job.  Send an email  to friends and family telling them about your job.  Update your LinkedIn profile. You might even reach out to contacts via your  social media accounts. You never know who might know of a good part-time evening job for you. Consider working freelance.  Depending on your industry, you might consider  freelancing. This is a great way to  work from home, and it generally allows you to work your own hours (including evening hours). Jobs like writer, editor, virtual assistant, programmer, web designer, and more, can all be done freelance. There are apps you can use to find money-making gigs that you can work based on your availability.Ask your boss if you can work evening hours.  If you already have a job that you like, but are either looking for extra work or want to shift to night hours, ask your boss if you can make some changes to your schedule. Perhaps he or she will let you do some extra work at night, or will let you shift your hours.

Employee Engagement Starts with Compensation

Employee Engagement Starts with Compensation Employee Engagement Starts with Compensation Money, in the form of salary and benefits, could be standing in the way of your efforts to produce a more engaged workforce. Reasonable salaries and thoughtful benefits must be the foundation of any employee engagement program. Without this footing, employees are automatically distracted. Consider that the salary negotiation process is often the first time a potential employee expresses her basic terms for being successful in the new role. A bruising pre-employee salary negation takes a long time to heal. On the other hand, a thoughtful counter-offer could also reveal engagement opportunities, deliver clarity around the job description and set a clear path for career growth. Some companies have gone as far as taking money off the table â€" thus making salary a non-issue â€" by paying employees what they want to be paid and putting in place benefits and rewards that drive engagement. To ensure money issues doesn’t prevent employee engagement, let’s unravel the compensation and engagement knot. The Twisted Relationship between Money and Engagement After several years of salary and benefits being frozen, cut and rigidly defined, employers are starting to refocus on the role money plays in facilitating engagement. Dan Simovic, chief executive of TAMS (Talent Assessment and Management Services) Group reports that many of his recent projects focus on salary and rewards programs. For these employers salary is not just an attraction and retention tool, it’s also an engagement tool. During the most recent recession, some companies financially fortified themselves but neglected the implications on engagement. For instance, many organizations that rapidly grew through merger and acquisition activity were focused on delivering bottom-line results, thus delaying investments in culture and systems integrations. Years after the deals were inked, commission and bonus structures, titles and job descriptions and career pathways still have not been aligned. TAMS Group is working with several such companies that finally realized that the administrative burden of managing multiple pay scales, governance systems and naming conventions were only part of the problem. What drove management to take action was that “the conflicting messages sent to employees hamper engagement and are a huge distraction that reduce productivity,” said Simovic. This is a major shift. In leaner times engagement was viewed as a cheap way to replace the salary and benefits they were cutting. Somewhere “employers got the idea that if people were happy at work, they wouldn’t need to be paid more,” Sean Williams, owner of Communication AMMO said. This was the era when managers were prompted to smile more, thank their employees and institute other free methods that ostensibly drove engagement by making the workplace a more pleasant environment. Creative and Responsive Rewards Beyond salary, employers and employees alike have come to recognize that total rewards deliver lifestyle benefits that fuel engagement by providing some relief from the pain-points that cause employees to miss work or be distracted.  During salary negotiations, recruiter Simovic has noticed an increase in requests for flex time, work-from-home arrangements and other special scheduling considerations. Taking it a step further to the company’s entire workforce, responsive benefits empower employees to adapt the program to their preferences. For instance, in one location, employees might select wellness benefits that include discounted fitness center memberships. In another it might take the form of free healthy snacks in the break room. “Involving employees in making decisions about their work environment and perks creates a sense of ownership and also ensures the benefits are appreciated,” said Jesse Lahey, managing principal of Aspendale Communications. The combined product of such an effort is increased engagement. Beyond benefits, employees are demanding more transparency about their individual career paths. During pre-employment negotiations and after some time on the job, employees are asking for “clarity about their career trajectory and want to be given goals that ensure continuous learning and growth, reports HR expert Simovic. While not traditionally considered a benefit, clear-cut career path is an incentive that is valued by employees. Also appreciated by employees is a commitment to their education and development. Where coaching was previously used as a step toward firing a problem employee, now employers and employees alike view coaching as “a strong signal that the company is appreciative of the employee, is investing in her and wants to see her succeed, said Simovic. Coaching is no longer a response to a crisis, but a proactive investment in a leader. Money Alone Won’t Cure Engagement Issues Above average pay and benefits aren’t replacements for other engagement activities, although some companies have tried to take this shortcut. Employee engagement expert Lahey has seen “companies with the cash to do so attempting to throw salaries and bonuses at their engagement problems.” While this phenomena might sound attractive on the surface, it’s likely that the corporate culture is so damaged in these scenarios that no amount of money is enough to make people feel good or work harder. Think of benefits and compensation as a foundation for engagement; they are necessary for a strong relationship between employer and employee. Although they’re not a cure-all, organizations would be wise to address compensation and benefits as part of any employee engagement effort. If you want to learn more about achieving authentic and lasting engagement, start by building your leadership credibility. Download the free eBook Character Trumps Credentials: 171 Questions that Help Leaders Tell Great Stories that Influence, Engage and Inspire.

How to avoid high-income lifestyle creep

How to avoid high-income lifestyle creep How to avoid high-income lifestyle creep My personal goal is to become financially free as soon as possible. As a software engineer in Switzerland, I am earning about $130,000 per year, and, lifestyle creep is one of the toughest parts of my life.With my salary, I am viewed as a high-income earner. And, people think that earning a high-income makes it  easier to become financially free.And in many ways, it does.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!But, most high-income earners are not  financially  free and a lot of them are not even wealthy.People believe most high-income earners are wealthy. Indeed they generally show  signs of wealth  such as a nice car, large house, and pricey suits. But, a lot of these people do not have any savings and accumulate large amounts of debt.They are  not wealthy at all!Is it any wonder that a third of all Americans have more credit card debt than savings? It’s a scary thought, but it ’s also true.The main reason for that is lifestyle creep, and in this post, I’m going to spill the beans about how I battled with the devastating phenomenon as well as how I’m avoiding its grasp!And more importantly, how high-income earners can overcome lifestyle creep and achieve their own version of financial freedom!Lifestyle CreepLet’s start at the beginning:  what is lifestyle creep?As people earn more, they have a tendency to spend more. This means that even though you earn more money each money,  you are not saving more. In other words, you aren’t acquiring additional wealth. At least, not much.This is as simple as that. But it has a large impact on their finances.Lifestyle creep â€" also known as  lifestyle inflation, is the main reason why  many high-income earners are not wealthy. In fact, many high-income earners are less wealthy than some low-income earners.To keep up with their lifestyle,  high-income earners are often using credit. They have enough money to p ay their bills and their interests each month. But they do not contribute to increasing their net worth.This is surprising for many people, but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. If you spend as much as you earn and you buy depreciating assets, your net worth will not grow. You may earn $250,000 per year, but if you spend it all, you are not becoming any wealthier!Of course,  lifestyle creep  does not only impact high-income earners. Even a small raise to a low-income earner can turn into an inflated lifestyle. Nevertheless, the more income you get, the more you can inflate your life. And consequently, the worse you can make your situation.How Lifestyle Creep Affected My LifeMy journey into Financial independence  started with my own experience with Lifestyle creep.I have kept a budget since earning my very first dollar.This is a great thing! Yet,  I made one big mistake. I always kept a budget where the total of my budget was also my income. And this is a terrible ide a.At the end of the month, I was always happy if the sum was positive. But, it was almost always negative. I was saving a little money every year. And I was able to invest some money in my retirement accounts.Once I got my first raise, I simply updated my budget to increase it to my current income level.And of course, I directly started to spend more.My big issue was with computers and technology. I am a huge geek. And, I started playing with servers at home. I bought a server rack and started buying and installing servers.It was a lot of fun, to be honest. At some point, I had 10 systems humming along. I also had a lot of DIY home automation gadgets. At this time, I did not realize what was going on with my finances. After all, my budget was always positive.At some point, I added tracking of my net worth in my financial dashboard.And I realized that it was almost not increasing. It came a bit as a shock for me. I was living alone and I had an okay salary that was increasing. So how come I did not have more wealth? I took a look at my expenses over time and I saw that they increasing faster than I ever realized.I did some basic research on the internet for ways to make a better budget. And I discovered the concept of  savings rate. I added this into my financial dashboard. And I took a look at how it evolved over the years.Here is my savings rate over time when I did that:I soon realized something was really wrong. My income increased significantly, yet my savings habits were worse. This was a wake-up call. After this, I decided to seriously cut down my expenses. And I started considering long-term goals.Fortunately, I never went into debt for lifestyle creep. I paid for everything with cash. And I never went over budget. I never used my savings to sustain my lifestyle. I am considering myself very lucky for that.Life as a high-income earnerToday, I earn much more than before. But I did not fall into lifestyle inflation (or creep) again. I am saving much more money now. My current average savings rate is almost 50%.My current income is about $130,000 per year as a software engineer. Even for Switzerland, this is considered as high-income.Fortunately,  I overcame lifestyle creep before I was a high-income earner. Otherwise, I would have wasted a lot more money.Now that I am a high-income earner, I manage to keep my spending in check. When my earning increases, I simply increase my savings. Every new penny simply goes towards my goals.Avoid lifestyle creep by using GoalsI think the best tool there is to manage my expenses is to have goals. Before I started being serious with my finances, I did not have financial goals.Now, I am setting myself goals at the beginning of each year. This helps me a lot during the year. When I get new income, I can simply work towards my goal. I do not think I am loosing out on anything with this. I can see the progression of my goals.Our current goal is to become financially free as soon as possible. We are no t far on the track to Financial Independence. But we are making good progress. We will also probably buy a house during our journey. And children will likely come and change our plans. But I have no doubt that our goals will help us!Now, not all of the goals have to be aimed towards finances. You can set goals to buy a new TV by the end of the year. Or better, you can set a goal to buy a new car, in cash, in six months. That way, you force yourself to save money towards something you want.One thing is important:  there is nothing wrong with spending money. You are working hard for it. If you want a very good dinner once a week. Then go for it! You need to take each purchasing decision being aware of its impact on your finances. And you need to weight the cons and pros of each spending.Avoid lifestyle creep by understanding  your expensesThere is one thing that is incredibly important and that many people often disregard. You need to understand your expenses.The first thing you need to do with each expense is to understand how they will impact your goals. This is why your goals are incredibly important. Once you have goals, you need to ask yourself these questions for each expense:Will you be able to reach your goals with this expense? If not, how much will this put you back? Will this expense come back in the future? Is it recurring? Will this expense incur some other expenses later on? How happier will you be with this expense?You will see that once you have goals and you ask yourself these questions, you will avoid most expenses.Avoid lifestyle creep by controlling maintenanceI think that the question that most people ignore is “Will this expense incur some other expenses later on?“. This is more important than you may think.Indeed, some of your expenses will incur maintenance costs or upkeep costs.For instance, if you adopt a puppy for $100, you may well spend more than $500 each year to take care of it. You need to think of food, toys and veterinarian fees. Once again, that is not to say you should not buy a puppy if you want one! But there are important things you need to consider when you buy it, not only the purchase price.Another very good example is when buying a new car. If you upgrade your car, you will also increase your upkeep costs. A bigger car will likely cost you more in insurance. A stronger car will also use more gas and you will spend more to fill it. A better car often also means higher fees for maintenance. Tires will be more expensive as well. These are all the things you need to consider for this expense.But most people do not care about that. People only think about the purchase price. This could be  a great mistake! If you buy several things that then incur a lot of expenses later, you may quickly end up with a lot of extra expenses. And you will wonder how you ended up there!Avoid lifestyle creep by completely ignoring the Joneses, who are probably flat brokeYou probably have heard it many times already, but it is very important!  You do not want to try to  keep up with the Joneses.Generally speaking, society expects you to spend more as you earn more. High-income earners are expected to:Have a big house Have a big car Dress very well Play golf! Have expensive vacationsAnd this is not an exhaustive list. These expectations have been here for a long time already. You need to fight these expectations for your life. There is no reason you cannot have a high income and a low-end car for instance.If you ever come to my company parking, it will be easy to spot my car.  My car is the cheapest in the parking  and by far. My car probably cost twice less than the next cheapest car of my colleagues. And some of these cars are 10 times more expensive than mine. Do I feel any worse because of that? No!My car never brought me any pleasure. It is just a tool for me. It transports me from A to B every day and does it perfectly fine. I bought it new and I paid for it in cash. I have very low maintenance fees on it. Sure, it is not shiny and nobody will ever waste a sight on it. But it works!We rent a small apartment and we do not play golf. And all our vacations are kept on a small budget. Do we have a worse time because of that? No!Because we follow these simple rules with our finances, we can save half of our income every month! This will help us buy a reasonable house in a few years. And this  will help us become financially free earlier  than if we were trying to do what other people are doing!High-Income and Financial FreedomTo a lot of people, it seems like earning a high-income helps a lot to become  financially  free.It does help, but it is not that simple.As we saw, high-income earners are not as wealthy as we may think. They are faking wealth and people see them wealthy. But a lot of them will never be able to retire if they want to sustain their lifestyle. And for some of them, retiring would mean cutting in half (or more) their expenses. But you cannot cut half of your expenses and keep the same lifestyle!Of course, a high-income is not all that bad! But, you need to decide on a certain lifestyle. Once you did that, earning a high-income can help you become financially free. If you are not spending, more in come means you are saving more on a monthly basis. This is extremely valuable. Saving more will mean you will be able to  become financially free faster!ConclusionSimply having a high-income does not make anyone wealthy. And it does not make anyone become Financially Free any faster! Most people with high-income simply spend more than people with less income. It makes sense, right?Whatever your financial goals are, you need to be cautious with lifestyle creep. It is a trap in which it is very easy to fall into. Everybody should be aware of this trap!If you are careful with each of your expenses, you can avoid this trap! For this, you will need to set yourself some Financial Goals. What do you want to achieve? This will help you decide which expenses are worth it and which are not.And you will also need to consider the upkeep costs of your purchases. Most people ignore that and end up with expensive costs from smaller purchases. The direct price of a  purchase  is sometimes only the tip of the iceberg!By following these simple rules, we are able to overcome lifestyle creep yourself. It is not easy of course. Sometimes the temptation is big. But once you consider your real goals, you realize that most expenses will not make you any happier!This article first appeared on ThinkSaveRetire.com.