Wednesday, November 27, 2019

How to Find Out Who You Will Be Interviewing With

How to Find Out Who You Will Be Interviewing WithHow to Find Out Who You Will Be Interviewing WithIt maysound like a no-brainer, but before you go on a job bewerberinterview, you need to know who youll be meeting with. It could be one person, or it could be quite a few people. Given the limited resources for hiring new staff and the costs associated with bringing in new employees, employers are extra careful when it comes to hiring. This has translated into adding more layers to the screening process, including the inclusion of more staff in the interview process. How toAsk Who Youll Be Meeting With Applicants should make an effort to learn who will be included in the interview process so they can anticipate the concerns of those interviewing them and prepare accordingly. The first thing to do is to ask Human Resources (HR) for the names, titles,and roles of any interviewers when making arrangements for your interview. Employers will often have an HR recruiter conduct an initial interview to determine if a candidate is genuinely interested in the position and a good fit for the company. This makes sense because if youre not a good fit, they dont want to waste the time of their employees. These screening interviews are often conducted by phone or Skype. Calling or emailing to confirm the interview gives you another opportunity to ask if you werent informed when the interview was scheduled. You can also ask for an overview of the hiring process, so you get a sense of how many interviews the employer likes to conduct before making an offer and the rule of thumb with regards to what staff members generally attend interviews. For senior management positions, the employer may engage a recruiting firm to conduct an initial screening and recommend candidates. Follow Up Interviews Typically, the prospective supervisor and department manager will be in attendance for a follow-up interview. At these meetings, employers will often include employees who hold the sam e job, or a similar job, to the one for which you are interviewing. Though it might seem like their primary purpose is to educate you about the details of the position, the staffers in attendance will be asked to evaluate you as well. It comes down to whether or not you fit the corporate culture and get along with the team. People From Other Departments Representatives from departments that interface with, or are served by, your prospective department might also be a part of the interviewing team. Occasionally, an outside entity, such as an affiliated firm, might be represented. For example, an Alumni Affairs department at a college might ask an alumni leader to interview candidates for a position in that area. Its worth noting that some organizations will have a final layer in the process whereby the leading candidate(s) meet with the President, CEO, or another top executive for a final look before finalizing the hire. Send a Thank You Note Whoever you meet with, its import ant to send a thank you letter to everyone who interviews you. It can be time-consuming when the interview process is multi-layered, but acknowledging someones time and effort to meet with you is one of the best ways to make a good impression.

Friday, November 22, 2019

A.F. Pararescure Physical Ability and Stamina Test PAST

A.F. Pararescure Physical Ability and Stamina Test PASTA.F. Pararescure Physical Ability and Stamina Test PASTIn the Air Force, Special Operations Combat Medics and Rescue Specialists are trained and equipped to conduct conventional and unconventional rescue operations. Known as PJs, these airmen rescue downed pilots, conduct combat search and rescue operations, and assist Navy SEAL platoons and Army Special Forces units as combat medics. PJs may conduct their duties in humanitarian and combat environments using air, land, or sea tactics. The training for these airmen is among the most rigorous and intense of any in the U.S. Armed Forces. Requirements for Air Force PJs As part of the Air Force Special Operations Command, candidates have to be of above-average physical abilities. Being a good swimmer andcompetent in the water is critical to making it through training, since saving personnel in the water is a requirement of the job. Running, lifting, and high repetition calisthen ics also are required to get through the physical challenges of the training program. And PJs also take challenging courses in medical training. The Physical Ability and Stamina Test (PAST) is for recruits seeking Pararescue status. Air Force Battlefield Airman PAST Requirements In the Air Force, the special ground combat units are known as Battlefield Airmen. After Basic Military Training, all members of the group will attend a Battlefield Airmen Prep Course for eight weeks. The following chart demonstrates the PAST requirements for each of the Air Force Special Operators. This test must be conducted in a three-hour time frame and in the order listed below. There is one pass/fail event and five point-scored events. The candidate must receive a combined total of 270 points, and pass the pass/fail event in order to receive a passing grade on the PAST. The below chart includes the requirements for each of the Air Forces Special Operations segments Pararescue (PJ), Combat Controlle rs (CCT), Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape (SERE) Instructor, Special Operations Weather Tech (SOWT), and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). PJCCTTACPSERESOWTEODUnderwater swimP/FP/FP/FP/FP/FP/F500m swim10071142notlage tested1400200m/ 1000not tested1.5 mile run101010101047101011001100Pullups1086883Situps544848484850Pushups524840484835 Training to just meet the minimum standards for the PAST is not recommended as the training itself is highly competitive to join.Plus, once in the selection and training program, students will be pushed both physically and mentally. Being in good physical shape and having a foundation of fitness will serve students well in the challenging 18-month training pipeline. Getting in Shape for the PJ Program To get accepted into the Air Force PJ program, you have to first focus your training routines on the events listed above Swim, Run, Pullups, Pushups, and Situps.Consider this your entrance exam. Youll need to be a fast runner and strong swimmer, and be able to do higher repetitions of calisthenics than the average military person. Otherwise, your chances of getting accepted into the program may be limited. Most people who succeed in these challenging fitness tests and follow on selection programs will run and swim five or six days per week to improve their time.Also, the upper body calisthenics requires training at least three days a week (every other day) at a high volume. Getting through the training will build upon the above fitness foundation focusing on mora strengthLong-distance endurance with longer swims with fins, longer runs, and long rucksPool skills such as treading water, drown-proofing, buddy breathingSCUBA diving competency tests

Thursday, November 21, 2019

6 Free Online Courses to Boost Your Career Skills

6 Free Online Courses to Boost Your Career Skills6 Free Online Courses to Boost Your Career SkillsThere are so many free resources online that can truly bring an edge to your job search, and if youre smart about your use of time, you can really get a leg up and improve your soft skills. Those are skills that equip you to ace a job interview and function well in the workplace. Employers seek candidates with strong soft skills for alfruchtwein every position they hire for because people with strong soft skills are excellent communications. If you have downtime between writing deckblatt letters and applying to jobs, or if youre currently unemployed and looking for a constructive way to fill your day, you should take advantage of the opportunity to give yourself a competitive advantage over other candidates. These free courses will do just that. Do keep in mind that even though the courses are free, if you want to receive a certificate youll need to pay for the course. Some components ma y not be available unless you opt for the paid version. Free Online Courses on Coursera to Boost Your Career Skills What You Will Learn How to Ace an Interview, Even When Youre Really NervousTake - Introduction to Public SpeakingThis 18-hour course is an intense one, but youll be so, so glad you took it. After all - public speaking skills are hugely applicable to interviewing when youll likely be put on the spot to sell yourself and to answer tough questions. This course teaches immensely useful oral communication skills that strengthen your interview skills and help you later on in your career when you need to make presentations or speak during meetings. What You Will LearnHow to Get Better at WritingTake - High-impact Business WritingNo matter your field or level of expertise, strong writing skills will always give you an advantage as a job candidate, and in your career. You need to write well to craft a strong cover letter, communicate effectively with co-workers and clients, write engaging emails, write compelling presentations, and so much more. Courseras High-impact Business Writing is a four to eight-hour course that is 100% worth it. What You Will LearnHow to Negotiate a Sale, Salary, or Raise?Take - Successful Negotiation Essential Strategies and SkillsNegotiation will be a parte of every aspect of your career - from answering tricky questions in an interview to negotiating a job offer or a raise, to making deals with clients and colleagues. This course teaches a tangible, a multi-purpose strategy that you can use for all three - and in many more situations, too. What You Will LearnHow to Make Tough Decisions at WorkTake - Effective Problem-Solving and Decision MakingConflicts are inevitable in the workplace, and managers appreciate employees who approach issues in an intelligent, intentional manner. This four- to eight-hour course will show you how to assess problems, evaluate solutions and anticipate risks, using real case studies so you can gai n a sense of real-life situations you might encounter in your own career. What You Will LearnHow to Understand Your Companys Finances and Accounting PracticesTake - Finance for Non-Finance ProfessionalsEven if you arent in finance, having a basic understanding of your companys financial strategy is extremely helpful. Not only will it provide you with a comprehension of how your role interacts with the organizations larger goals, but it will also inform your own decisions, both personal and professional. What You Will LearnHow to Be Happy at WorkTake - A Life of Happiness and FulfillmentYour satisfaction in your personal life and your contentment in your career are interdependent. If you are unhappy in general, a negative mood will likely have a negative effect on your performance at work. If you hate your job, youll probably be miserable even when youre not actually working. This course might not seem so relevant to your career, but, it will certainly help you obtain a positive work -life balance and cheer up your prospects even if youre in the midst of a dreary job search. More Free Career Courses These are only some of the career-related courses that are available. Search Coursera using general terms like career, resume, skills, or specific keywords related to the topic youd like to learn more about, to find more course offerings. If youre looking to enhance your tech skills, check out these free or low-cost online programming classes. Add Your Courses to Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile Be sure to add the most relevant courses you have taken to your LinkedIn profile and your resume. Youll have more skills to add to both, and taking classes shows that youre moving your career forward and boosting your expertise.