How to Juggle a Full-Time Job and a Job Search

How to Juggle a Full-Time Job and a Job SearchHow to Juggle a Full-Time Job and a Job Search1No matter which way you slice it, job searching is a lot of work. In fact, your hunt for a new gig can often feel a lot like its own full-time job- which wouldnt be quite so bad if you didnt already have a regular 9-to-5 that you also need to keep up with.Yes, balancing a job hunt when youre still employed full-time can present some time-management challenges. But, the good news is that its not impossible- as long as youre willing to stay organized and hold yourself accountable.Here are five tips to help you successfully juggle a full-time job and a job search1. Be realistic.Theres a lot that goes into a job hunt, which means its easy to be a little overambitious with the goals you tischset for yourself. You want to apply to a lofty (perhaps even unattainable) number of open positions in a week or spend every waking moment perusing job boards.However, there are only so many hours in the day. And, even though youre job searching, youre still entitled to a little bit of downtime. So, make an effort to be realistic when mapping out how youll fit job searching in with the rest of your busy life. Otherwise, youll only set yourself up for disappointment.2. Break your job search into smaller pieces.When youre short on time to job search, your smartest move is to leverage any time that you do have to dedicate to your hunt. In order to effectively do that, its smart to have a roster of smaller tasks that you can be working on.From polishing up your LinkedIn profile or searching for company contacts to analyzing job descriptions or tailoring a resume, keep a running list of those smaller to-dos that need to be taken care of. That way, when you sit down to work on your job search, youll have some things you can get started with and make some progress on- rather than a vague and overwhelming objective of find a new job.3. Schedule your time.Heres the brutal truth if you tell yourse lf that youre going to work on your job search whenever you have the time, chances are good that youll rarely get around to actually working on it. Thats because, well, none of us ever really feel like we have a profit of free time.This is why its wise to create some sort of schedule that you can stick to (while remembering the golden rule of being as realistic as possible). Maybe you can dedicate two hours each weekend morning to looking for new gigs. Or, maybe youre going to set a rule that you need to invest an hour into your search each evening before you allow yourself to relax.By creating some sort of predictable schedule (and then holding yourself accountable), you can intentionally carve out the time thats required for a successful job hunt.4. Utilize small pockets of time.Scheduling can be a big help, but that doesnt mean that you can only sink your teeth into your job search during those designated hours.Keep an eye out for small pockets of time that you would otherwise be wasting. Those 15 minutes that youre spending in the dentists waiting room while flipping through an eight-month-old magazine? Thats a great time to peruse job boards on your phone. When you arrive a little early for coffee with a friend? Use that time to run through your answers to some common interview questions.Of course, you dont always need to be in work or job search mode But, if there are some small chunks of time that you only wouldve been wasting anyway, it doesnt hurt to leverage those moments to your advantage.5. Go easy on yourself.Even with the best of intentions, you arent going to be flawless. Despite what your meticulously mapped out schedule says, there will be nights when you would rather park yourself on the couch than quantify the bullet points on your resume.Its to be expected- particularly when youre spreading yourself a little thin between your job search and your full-time role. In those moments, give yourself a quick reminder that youre doing the best you c an and then show yourself some mercy. Youll bounce back tomorrowStart Your Job Search

How to Become a Business Analyst

How to Become a Business AnalystHow to Become a Business AnalystIts one of the most searched for jobs in America right now according to Forbes. And it was on Glassdoors list of top jobs in America in 2015. But the term geschftsleben analyst is broad in relation to industries these professionals operate in, and its confusing with the different job titles associated with the role. Is it the same as a business consultant or management consultant? How about a management analyst or systems analyst? Step one is knowing what the role entails. Understand the Role Analysts leverage their skills towards a specific field, or domain, such as the insurance, health, or finance sectors. In all cases, they work with managers, IT, and relevant stakeholders to develop systems and solutions that drive the company forward. Various issues force a company to make adjustments. Inefficient systems, outdated policies, and unsuitable equipment are examples. A business analyst must spot barriers to progres s and competitiveness and suggest ways to overcome them. As part of this, they Evaluate company data to identify areas of weaknessRecommend changes and improvements based on data modeling methodsAssess feasibility and impact of changesDocument findings and present them to stakeholdersValidate and verify requirementsIncrease efficiency and productivity Acquire and Leverage Skills The next step is to analyze your skills and compare it with those that are essential for the job. The position calls for these soft skills, transferable skills, and hard skills Analytical skills - Identify and understand the real problems facing a company. These are not always obvious.Critical thinking and evaluation skills - Listen to stakeholders and ask the right questions to determine needs. Then critically evaluate those needs to ensure they address underlying problems.Problem-solving skills - Facilitate understanding of problems affecting a project and enable all stakeholders to achieve mutual agre ement on solutions.Research skills - Analyze documents, observe procedures, and bewerberinterview relevant parties to pinpoint core issues. Written and verbal communication skills - Meetings, interviews, and discussions help a business analyst understand company requirements. This could be face-to-face or in a virtual setting. Clear and concise writing skills are necessary to document and share findings and action plans.Interpersonal skills - Disagreements always occur over prioritizing steps forward. And implementing change isnt possible if teams dont cooperate. So interpersonal skills are non-negotiableOrganizational skills - Analysts pour over volumes of data. They must prioritize tasks and be efficient with time and resource allocation. Good organizational skills mean they communicate important information to the right people. Technical skills - On paper, IT skills arent essential to the job besides basics like Microsoft Office proficiency. But since its such a broad field, busi ness analysts often do more than youd expect. Thats why a list of technical skills accompanies most job listings. These may include SQL, Oracle, .NET, C, and many others. Become Qualified Most positions require a bachelors degree in business administration or related areas. Popular majors include Computer scienceAccountingInformation TechnologyInformation systemsManagement Information Systems A bachelors degree will allow you to secure an entry-level position as a business analyst. After building up work experience, certification strengthens your position. The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) offers Certification of Competency in Business AnalysisTM (CCBA) and Certified Business Analysis ProfessionalTM (CBAP programs. The Institute of Management Consultants (IMC) certifies at basic, experienced, and management levels. A minimum of 3 years experience is necessary for the basic course. The Chartered Institute for IT offers Foundation, Practitioner, Professional, and Consultant and Expert certificates. While a bachelors degree is standard for entry-level positions, hirers often want a graduate degree too. Relevant masters degrees include Master of Science in Business Analytics (MS-BA)Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM)Master of Business Administration (MBA) Gain Experience Many industry professionals and developers become a business analyst for new career challenges. They have valuable expertise and skills, and they can boost their portfolios through certification. If youre working towards entering the field, apply for internships while youre at college. Then gain experience through an entry-level position. Youll work with a team of consultants or senior analysts, and you can expand your knowledge and skills. Conclusion New job seekers or those interested in a career change should gain relevant qualifications and leverage skills to take up the role. Expand career opportunities through networking with LinkedIn analyst groups and by joining IIBA Chapters. Its a popular job nowadays, and demand for business analysts is forecast to continue. This article has since been updated by Laurence Bradford.

Embedding Ethics in Engineering Education

Embedding Ethics in Engineering Education Embedding Ethics in Engineering Education Embedding Ethics in Engineering EducationEthics in engineering has evolved considerably over the years as engineers recognize their responsibility to society in not only bringing new technology, discoveries, and designs to the world but also in protecting the public interest as they do so. While case studies in ethics discussions still include examples of major design flaws, much of the focus today is also placed on general professional ethics, and engineers are reminded of their responsibilities starting in early-college coursework and progressing throughout their careers in continuing education courses. Early on, the obligation to hold the public interest in the highest regard welches considered a personal responsibility, not a broad professional industry concern. But the thinking changed when public and private projectsbridges, tunnels, factories, private vehicles, public transports, power plantsen dangered citizens, and that led to the establishment of codes of ethics by professional engineering societies. States also began considering and legislating licensing requirements. Today in the U.S., regulations about the licensing of engineers are governed by each state, and many engineering organizations have not only adopted codes but also set up boards to interpret the codes and issue advisory opinions on ethics cases. For example, the Board of Ethical Review of the National Society of Professional Engineers has issued around 500 advisory opinions since its formation in 1954. In the last two years, the cases have dealt with a number of topics and run the gamut from conflicts of interest to issues related to serving as an expert witness to acceptance of gifts and other payments. Plagiarism Issues Joachim Heberlein, engineering professor at the University of Minnesota, says of continual concern is the issue of data falsification. Its sometimes inadvertent and sometimes consciously done, he says. He adds that another major concern is plagiarism among not only students but also scientists. Its become rampant. Every journal editor is battling that. William M. Worek, dean of engineering atMichigan Technological University, says there are related concerns about how to handle intellectual property in regard to confidentiality and attribution. He believes science is now doing a better job of attribution when it comes to displaying other peoples work, in part, throughplagiarism detection programs now available. Issues of plagiarism and attribution of material often are an engineering students introduction to ethics in college. Margaret Bailey, professor of mechanical engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology, believes there needs to be much more. She is considering proposing a course or workshop that conveys the responsibility engineers have in the discussion about the impact on society of the designs they make. After teaching a class this year that combined advanced thermodynamics and public policy, particular related to energy issues, Bailey says it was clear The students didnt strongly identify with a responsibility of our profession to be engaged in such dialogues. She was surprised they did not grasp they have a responsibility to not only design things but also participate in how they are legislated and how they impact the planet. Nancy Giges is an independent writer.Students did not grasp that they have a responsibility to not only design things but also participate in how they are legislated and how they impact the planet.Margaret Bailey, professor of mechanical engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology