LEGOs Women of NASA Set Is Available Today

LEGOs Women of NASA Set Is Available TodayLEGOs Women of NASA Set Is Available Today Want to unleash your inner astronaut? Youre in luck. Today, LEGO rolled out their highly anticipated platzdeckchen honoring the Women of NASA . The set includes four minifigures of Nancy Grace Roman, Margaret Hamilton, Sally Ride and Mae Jemison.In all realms of science, engineering, and technology, pioneering women have historically been underappreciated for their often groundbreaking work. We have also seen that when girls and women are given more encouragement in the STEM fields, they become more likely to pursue careers in these areas, said LEGO fan designer Maia Weinstock who crowdsourced herbei idea to honor these women.With this project, I wanted to spotlight a fantastic group of women who have made seminal contributions to NASA history. My dream would be to know that the first human on Mars - or an engineer or computer scientist who helped her get there - played with th e LEGO Women of NASA as a child and was inspired to pursue a STEM career as a result.In addition to the minifigures, wannabe astronauts both young and old can play in three LEGO builds that illustrate the expertise of the NASA iconsIf playing with NASA LEGO figurines isnt enough, both NASA and LEGO are hiring now. Apply to these amazing companies and land the job of your dreams

Including a Photo on Your Resume

Including a Photo on Your ResumeIncluding a Photo on Your ResumeShould you add a photo to your resume? After all, your picture is on LinkedIn and your other social networking site profiles. So its only reasonable to wonder if including a headshot photo on your resume will enhance your chances of getting noticed and hired. Should You Include a Photo on Your Resume? There isnt one right answer for including a photo on your resume, though its typically been considered a bad idea for most job seekers.Depending on your circumstances, it can be no, maybe, or even yes. Or you can consider a creative solution for showing a prospective employer your smiling face. The Traditional Answer - No The traditional advice regarding placing photos on resumes has been an emphatic No. The only exception is for actors and models, whose appearance matters for hiring. The rationale for excluding photos has been to protect employers from allegations of discrimination based on race, age, weight, gende r, attractiveness, or personal style. Plus, many employers are eager to avoid unconscious bias in their recruitment, using strategies like removing college and candidate names from resumes before reviewing them. Including a photo can make the quest to have a bias-free recruitment process more challenging. This perspective is still embraced by the majority of experts and human resources professionals. Because of that, its worth considering carefully if its worth it or will be beneficial for your candidacy to include a photo. Some segment of people who review resumes will likely view including a photo as somewhat unprofessional. It could be a mark against your candidacy. That said, we live in a multimedia age. Most likely, a quick online search of your name will reveal photos and social media profile pages with your face. And, even regular, non-celebrities often try to establish a professional brand, using a photo as part of that strategy. That means theres a bit more nuance to the question now. There are also ways you can get employers to view your picture without having to add your photo to your resume. Review these options for including or not a photo on your resume. There are some exceptions to the no picture guidance that might work for you. Option Include the internetadresse of Your LinkedIn Profile LinkedIn profiles regularly incorporate a photo and are widely utilized by candidates in their job search and by recruiters sourcing talent. If you believe your appearance would be an asset for your target job,incorporating a link to your LinkedIn profile on your resumeis a safe and acceptable way to showcase your looks. Though a certain appearance is essential for actors and models, an attractive, trustworthy, or approachable appearance can also be an asset in many other fields. Sales representatives, receptionists, bartenders, financial planners, public relations representatives, recruiters, and many other service providers can benefit from projecting a certain image. Option Add a Photo to Your Networking Resume Another possible exception to the accepted wisdom regarding the inclusion of photos is when you are utilizing your resume mostly for networking purposes.If you are distributing resumes at conferences or other events where you will be interacting with many individuals, a photo can help new contacts to remember you. In addition, if you are being referred by your contacts to other individuals who dont know you, you might include a picture on your resume if you believe your appearance would be an asset. You can mention to networking contacts that you would be glad to furnish a version of your resume without a picture if they would like to forward your document to other individuals for formal job screening. Option Attach a Business Card with Your Photo to Your Resume One more option for in-person networking is toinclude a business cardwith a photo that youve made just for your job search. If you share your resume and your card with your contact information, both can be passed on if youre being referred for a job or to another networking connection. Where to Put the Picture on Your Resume If you do opt to include a photo on your resume, the recommended place is at the top of the page. The photo should be a professional headshot, similar to or the saatkorn one you used for your LinkedIn profile. Here aretips for taking and choosing a professional photo. Be Careful If You Need to Add a Photo Even though you can add a photo in some circumstances, it doesnt mean that you should. It could get your resume knocked out of contention for a job if the employer doesnt think its appropriate. Consider what value a picture will add, if any, before you start reworking your resume.

Why Mentoring Is the Key to Achieving Your Career Goals

Why Mentoring Is the Key to Achieving Your Career Goals Why Mentoring Is the Key to Achieving Your Career Goals Earlier in my career, I asked myself, What am I doing thatis getting in the way of me reaching my goal as a leader? I posed that question to a colleague I respected, who responded,Have you ever asked anyone for help? That simple question made a huge impact on me.Even if youve never been involved in a formal beratung program, youve had ratgebers along the way. A teacher, a colleague, a boss, a friend with a particular experience or skill set All of these people can act as mentors, guiding you along your journey to reach your goal.When you set out to achieve career success, finding a mentor is critical to your personal development. However, it can seem like a daunting task. Where do you start? What do you ask? Who qualifies for such a role?Heres the secret The whole process of mentoring is actually much easier than you think.The Importance of Mentoring - on Both SidesMento ring impacted me, and not only from a career standpoint. Mentoring has led to different behavior in my personal life. The more you are mentored, the more you realize there is equal value in serving as a mentor yourself.Mentoring - both for thementor and for the one who is mentored - engages us on a menschenfreundlich level. It addresses two separate but often intertwined human urges the drive to get better and the desire to help others.As we look up to others for guidance, we should also be looking below and sideways to provide guidance ourselves. It is not only good for the soul to do this, but there is also a practical side The people you mentor will eventually advance and become good industry contacts.8 Ways to Make the Most of MentoringHere are some things I have learned about mentoring - some I learned while being mentored, and some I learned as a mentor1. Mentoring Can Be Both Formal and InformalThere are many fine, formal mentoring programs organized bycompanies and profes sional societies, but there are also informal opportunitiesthat can be of equal and perhaps even greater value.Maybe there is someonewho has a skill or capability you admire. Consider asking them if they have time for a meeting over coffee. Then, ask them about their career path - what worked for them, what didnt, and whether they have recommendations they would make to someone who is developing in their own career.Im not sure if my informal mentors knew they were mentors to me, but I appreciated their time and wisdom, and I learned a lot by connecting informally, listening to their stories, and soliciting their advice.2. Be Clear on Your Mentoring GoalsKnow what youd like to learn from a mentor, whether its how to influence others, how to present new ideas or concepts, or something else entirely. Share your goals with your mentor so they know how to help youreach them. In most formal mentoring relationships, the goals you want to achieve should be clear so progress can be measured along the way.3. Learn From Negative ExamplesYou can learn from anyone - even people you didnt really like working for or alongside. In fact, these negative examples can teach you a lot about the professional and personal pitfalls to avoid in life. Seeing and experiencing things I didnt like made me think about the behaviors I didnt want to exhibit as a leader.4. Look for Opportunities to Be a Mentor YourselfMentoring doesnt always come by looking up in an organization. Dont look up all the time Look down and sideways, too.Opportunities to mentor others can come from being a resource to new employees joining the organization.We have all been in that situation, and most of us would have appreciated having a buddy to help us navigate a new company or role. Your helpfulness will be returned many times over.5. Confidentially Is KeyConfidentiality is an essential component of mentoring, andthat may mean that you will need to seek a mentor outside of your immediate chain of command. The mentor/mentee relationship should be a safe space, a circle of trust.There is another benefit to having a mentor outside your reporting chain, tooThey may be able to share what they know about you with other people in the organization. Its great to have advocates across the organizationwho can speak highly of you and your accomplishments.6. Trust Your AdvocatesAs indicated above, a mentor can talk on your behalf. As one mentor put it to me, its a matter of building your fan club. Bosses appreciate hearing positive feedback about you from others.7. Dont Be Afraid to Ask Someone to Be Your MentorEven if its someone at a senior level. Senior-level people are easier to reach for help than you might think. You may not find them available at your company, but they can be found informally in your social circles and community life.Every senior-level person with whom I have spoken has told me getting to where they are welches never easy. Most have had their setbacks along the way, and they can share with you how they bounced backin the face of adversity.8. Be Open to ListeningAgain, mentors can be found anywhere. Once you have foundone, you have to listen to what they have to say.- I could go on and on, but let me stop myself and end on this final noteA mentor can provide a fresh perspective they can point out new things you hadnt considered before.Being amentoror a mentee puts you in a position to teach and communicate, which makes you a better professional.So go ahead. Get mentored, and become one yourself. It will be a game-changer in your life.Cheryl Middleton Jones is chief people officer for CO-OP Financial Services.