The Single Most Underrated Career Skill Ever Is #8230;

The Single Most Underrated Career Skill Ever Is 8230 The Single Most Underrated Career Skill Ever Is 8230 Im not kidding (It is a strange one, isnt it?)You probably thoughtit was going to something like initiative or creative thinking or interpersonal skills, didnt you?Let me explain.Im usingPowerPoint as a kind of shorthand. I am not really talking about how to bullet a list or bold a word. Im talking about something a little more.What Are PowerPoint Presentations, Really?PowerPoint is really just a tool.When we say PowerPoint today, we mean a presentation. And when we say a presentation, we usually dont mean public speaking. Who gives speeches at work other than the CEO? No, we mean a report, an update, a brief, or a summary.And by all of that, wemean a structured, written communication that combines words, data, and graphics.At the bottom of it all,what we talk about when we talk about PowerPointis ur value-add our ideas, our recommendations, and our work in a form that is co mprehensible.And that, for our careers, is the whole ball game. Without others seeing, understanding, and recognizing our value-add, our careers will be rather short.Great communication skills are the very foundation of career success.The Role of Communication Skills in Your SuccessCommunication is the core enabler of social enterprises like geschftliches miteinander.Being a poor communicator hinders your ability to be understood. It undermines your credibility and makes you less efficient. It even lessens your ability to lead after all, people do not follow those whom they dont understand.The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) conducted a survey in 2014 that asked hiring managers what skills they prioritize when they hire college graduates. The top five skills wereAbility to work in a teamAbility to write effectivelyAbility to solve problemsAbility to plan, organize and prioritize workAbility to work with numbers and dataWriting effectively (2), solving problems (3), and working with numbers and data (5) are all central to strong communication.The Medium Is the glaubenszeugnisWritten business communication happens via business presentations. PowerPoint is the lingua franca of corporate America.PowerPoint has become how we communicate. We used to use typewritten, one-page memos. Now, we use graphs, tables, pictures, and color. We have adopted the convention of slides to structure our communication.Understanding how to communicate is no longer just about being able to write well although that remains critical or speak clearly. No, the bar has been raised considerably.Needed A Distinct Set of SkillsCreating a successful written presentation requires leveraging a broad group of very different skills, includingthe ability to think in a structured, logical mannerthe abilityto write concisely and clearlythe understanding of numbers and datathe ability to communicate data effectivelyand the appreciation for and ability to create greatdesigns.1. Structured ThinkingStructured thinking is the process of putting a framework around your ideas. It is an approach in which related detail are designed to support larger, more abstract arguments. Structuring your ideas can be very challenging for many people. It is difficult to do.2. Writing ConciselyOmit needless words. Be clear about what you wish to say. Simplify.3. Data and VisualizationDemonstrate dont justsimply assert. Use facts, and preferably data, to demonstrate. Show data with graphs, charts, and tables. Avoid pie charts.4. DesignSo many people get trapped by the task of designing a presentation.Usually, less is more.If you lack design skills, get yourself a professionally designed template from GraphicRiver or SlideHeroes.What Next?Many jobs require you to use PowerPoint ever day. Learn how to use the tool. Then, go beyond the tool and learn how to communicate powerfully.Learning to create great business presentations can take you a very, very long way.Creating great busi ness presentations requires practice. Here are a few additional recommended resourcesThe Visual Display of Quantitative Information, by Edward TufteThe Pyramid Principle, by Barbara MintoThe Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr.

Applications Now Being Accepted for ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellowship

Applications Now Being Accepted for ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellowship Applications Now Being Accepted for ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellowship Applications Now Being Accepted for ASME Advanced Manufacturing FellowshipASME Government Relations is currently accepting applications for an ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellowship opportunity at the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) in Chicago, Ill. The deadline for ASME members to apply for the fellowship is Sept. 30.DMDII, which opened earlier this year, was established to accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies for making new, globally competitive products through industry and industry-university partnerships. Managed by UI Labs, the institute is an extensive network of more than 100 companies, colleges and universities, non-profit organizations and government agencies from across the United States. The ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellow will be expected to prov ide scientific, technical, curricular and intellectual leadership, and analytical support contributing to the advancement of the institutes goals, particularly as they apply to workforce development and educational outreach. Specifically, the Advanced Manufacturing Fellow would lead efforts to develop a Digital Manufacturing and Design 101 type of course and curricula materials. The Fellow will serve as a liaison with internal and external partners, including policymakers, to help DMDII enhance its network of education and workforce development solution providers and help organize the development of the body of knowledge on digital manufacturing and design process, both emerging and currently in practice, that offer promise for engineering design and technical implementation in the production process. The ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellow will also support DMDII partners in the development and marketing of online, hybrid and traditional continuing education courses and workshops in the interest of developing the current engineering and technician workforce in industry, and provide instruction and content resources to engineering and technology faculty at universities and community colleges to assist in evolving their curricula to prepare the technical workforce of the near future with the latest in digital manufacturing and design tools and techniques. Additional information about DMDII is available at http//dmdii.uilabs.org. The ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellow would receive an $80,000 stipend and be required to relocate to Chicago for one year during the fellowship, which would begin Jan. 1, 2016.For more information on the ASME Advanced Manufacturing Fellowship, including required criteria for Fellowship candidates, and to submit an application, visit http//ppec.asme.org/latest-news/asme-advanced-manufacturing-fellowship-opportunity-digital-manufacturing-design-innovation-institute.

Understand the Hiring Landscape for Veterans

Understand the Hiring Landscape for VeteransUnderstand the Hiring Landscape for VeteransUnderstand the Hiring Landscape for VeteransIn January 2011 things looked pretty dismal for Americas veterans.The veteran unemployment rate reached an alarming post 9-11 high of nearly 10%. Veterans themselves, a population whose success on the battlefield inspired a nation, lacked confidence with only three out of ten believing they had the ability to achieve career success outside of the military.Today, the overall veteran unemployment rate is half that of 2011. And according to the 2015 Veteran Talent Index (VTI), to be released on July 28th, two-thirds of employers report they hire veterans not out of a patriotic obligation, but because employers believe veterans are the best qualified within the candidate pool.Some additional VTI findingsNearly 51% of veterans feel very confident theyll be able to find a civilian job this is significantly higher than the average rate of 36% since 2011Up from an average of 56% since the fall of 2011, 67% of veterans feel prepared for transition out of the militaryAn impressive 70% of veterans are very confident theyll be successful working as a civilianVisit the Veteran Talent web page on July 28th to download the fruchtwein recent release, a comprehensive analysis of transitioning military service members, veterans, and their employers.