Both Soft and Hard Skills Are Important in IT Resumes

Both Soft and Hard Skills Are Important in IT ResumesAs an information technology (IT) professional, you are probably accustomed to speaking, thinking, and breathing technology. So now that its time for you to apply for new stttes, you are likely ready to utilize all of those great technical terms that make your industry flow so smoothly.But as a candidate writing resumes for individuals who may not exactly be entrenched in your world, you may have to make a few tweaks to have your resume read and understood by others. Additionally, its important to soften your resume a bit to show employers you come equipped with both hard and soft skills and are well rounded.What are Soft and Hard Skills?When applying for jobs, its good to know the distinction between soft and hard skills, especially as you begin to list experience in your resume. Even for the most technical standorts, employers want to know that candidates come with both soft and hard skills. So what are they exactly?Well, the har d skills would be your technical skillsthe skills and accomplishments that youve acquired that show you can handle the tasks handed to you. As an IT professional, the best way to showcase your technical skills would be to create a Technical Summary or Technical Expertise section that provides skills and training youve acquired, as well as programs, applications, and other important information such as technical certifications, networking/protocols, operating systems, and the hardware with which you are familiar.This information is critical to your resume and must be included to show you come equipped with the expertise the position requires. But in addition to these hard skills, an employer wants to know you also come stocked with soft skills such as interpersonal communication, leadership qualities, and an ability to work well in a team environment. These skills show an employer that you are a well-rounded candidate, which undoubtedly makes you more attractive.Why a Well-Rounded Re sume is NecessaryAs you work on your well-rounded resume, you may be wondering why its important that you include both hard and soft skills if youll spend most of your time behind a computer. Because even the most technologically driven position requires that you come out and talk to people sometimes.You may be required to help a coworker install a program, run a training class for numerous employees, deliver parts to different departments, or even work with accounts payable to create budgets for needed software and hardware. Your ability to work with others is critical to making others jobs flow smoothly, so employers would like to know ahead of time that you have the soft skills needed to get the job done.As you write your resume, its important to honor your technical side without ignoring the softer side that makes you a well-rounded person. By showcasing this in your resume, you show companies why you are undoubtedly the right person for the job.For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter GreatResume or visit our blog.

Top 10 Interview Tips and Tricks - Jobscan Blog

Top 10 bewerbungsgesprch Tips and Tricks - Jobscan BlogPosted on April 5, 2016November 5, 2018 by James Hu Interviews are among the most stressful parts of hunting for a new job. Depending on the job, bewerbungsgesprchs can take twenty minutes or span several days with multiple bewerbungsinterviewers and an intensive screening process.Preparing for an interview is a big part of the job hunting process. Someone can think they have everything covered, only to be thrown a curveball during the interview that leaves them speechless.In this article, we will go over 10 tips to help you get through your next interview.Get the Right ClothesMoney is tight, especially for someone looking for a job, but theres a saying in business that you should dress for the job you want, leid the one you have.If youre unemployed, you should consider getting at least one or two sets of clothes that are professional and presentable.Showing up at a job interview in your lucky football jersey isnt going to win yo u any points with the interviewer, unless they are extraordinarily enthusiasticof the particular team (like, to the extreme).Get clothes that fit properly and dont reveal too much skin.For ladies, a professional skirt is absolutely fine, but keep it at or below knee length. Low-cut tops should be matched with a conservative tank top that covers cleavage.Men should wear a button-up shirt if possible, matched with an undershirt if needed, and tucked in unless its cut specifically elend to be tucked.Ties and jackets are optional for many jobs these days, but should be worn if you are interviewing for a job and place where management wears ties.Have Interview Clothes Ready to GoWe all have that one or two really nice sets of clothes that we wear to interviews and important/special events. Unfortunately, these clothes are rarely ready to go at a moments notice.If youre in the process of looking for a new job, you should have a clean, wrinkle-free set of professional attire at the ready s hould you receive a call for a last-minute interview.This doesnt mean you should carry them around with you when you go to the grocery store, but having them ready keeps you from scrambling if you are in a hurry.Practice Answering Common Interview QuestionsThere are some questions that are commonly asked in interviews for just about any position. They are get to know you questions which, in theory, will help the interviewer get a better understanding of who you are and how you see your role as an employee.These questions by themselves arent terribly difficult for most people to answer, but in the context of the interview, they can be pretty intimidating.Here is a quick list of common questionsWhat are your weaknesses?Name a time when you have been challenged, and explain how you overcame that challenge.What are your career goals?What would your previous coworkers say about their experiences working with you?Why should we hire you?Practice Your Skill, Even if Youre UnemployedIf you a re interviewing for a skill-based job such as computer programming, be prepared to prove your skills in a written or computer-based test.Its very common for some jobs to test candidates either right before or during the interview to make sure they are hiring someone that knows what theyre doing.Common tests given to Web developers is a challenge to create a simple webpage that has a specific feature, or to debug some buggy code.Arrive EarlyArriving late to an interview is one of the worst things you can do. Its better to be 510 minutes early than 510 minutes late.One good strategy would be to leave your home well before your interview and plan out something to do in the area to kill time, such as visit a nearby store or grab a coffee.Research the CompanyTake some time to learn about the company to which you are applying. This means getting a sense for what the company does, and what type of culture it works to cultivate among its employees.You can learn a lot about a company through its website, and find some pretty helpful behind-the-scenes tips on sites like Glassdoor which hosts reviews of companies left by employees and interviewees.Practice With a FriendPractice interviews are great They help you get over any anxiety you might be having about the process, present you with questions you might not have expected, and give you insight into how well you interview.Find a friend that is honest, and preferably experienced with interviewing people. Tell them to do a practice interview with you (and dont let them go easy on you). Their objective insights will prove invaluable to you when the real interview comes along.Ask Good QuestionsThe questions the interviewer asks are only part of the actual interview. The questions asked by the person being interviewed are often equally important.They give the interviewer an opportunity to get a sense for the interviewees interest in the position, and willingness to ask questions rather than just end things quickly.Here are some good questions to ask the interviewerWhat are the top priorities of the position?What are some of the challenges that come with the position?What are the qualities that the company looks for in an employee?What is the company culture like?Get a Jump Start on the standortThis tip might not apply to every type of position out there, but for the ones it does, it is a huge plus for any interviewee.Lets say youre applying for a job as a Web developer. You have some information through questions youve asked leading up to the interview that the position is open because the company needs a new website.If you have the time, consider sketching some rough ideas or creating a mockup of how you would improve on the current website.During the interview, you can explain that you took the initiative of creating this material after seeing what the company is working with right now, and present it.Your ideas might not even be close to what management wants, but the initiative makes a big differe nce. You wont be the applicant that had bad ideas (unless they really are bad). You will be the applicant that cared enough to do something.Confidence is KeyConfidence in your qualifications and ability to do the job is what most interviers are looking for. They want to know that youre able to hit the ground running with the position, and an applicant that is too timid or unsure of themselves does not instill the same confidence.Practice interviewing into a mirror, or put your practice interviews on video and watch them. Think about things you can do to seem more confident in your answers, and practice them.Part of having confidence is being comfortable in the position youre in. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be.There is a fine line between confidence and bravado, though. Make sure you are staying on the right side of that line, and your interviewer will notice and appreciate it. If youre looking for more tips, check out this checklist from GoodCall, it details steps to take before, during and after an important interview.Facebook Commentswpdevar_comment_1 span,wpdevar_comment_1 iframewidth100% important

When You Start Saying These 3 Things to Yourself, It#8217;s Time for a Change

When You Start Saying These 3 Things to Yurself, It8217s Time for a Change Article by Steve RizzoWhen work and life areout of balance, you might have a conversation in your head that sounds something like thisI love my job, but it hurts that I am missing out on valuable time with my kids, time that I will never get back. I am going to have to occasionally leave early so that I can have more time for them. When I get home too late, I know that I missed out on something very special. I dont like going to bed feeling guilty.Im tired of taking my job home with me. I need a weekend off from work without interruption. I want to be able to do what I want read a book, listen to music, work in my garden, sleep. I miss this part of myself and Im taking it back.My spiritual reservoir is empty. Taking time to commune with nature is important to me, and I barely have time to meditate or to appreciate a sunrise or sunset the way I used to. I guess I just got caug ht up. Yes, Im successful, but I dont feel fulfilled. I have to bring that sacred part of me back to myself. I deserve to be happy on all levels.Sound familiar?Theres no doubt we are living in a fast-paced world that makes it easy to get lost and lose track of our values.A value can be something tangible or intangible that we esteem highly like family, freedom, spirituality, health, goodness, playfulness, self-sufficiency, time to spend as we like, and so on.Your personal and professional lives are individual parts of you that make up the whole of yourself. If you put most of your time and energy into just one of those things, you run the risk of leaving the other unfulfilled.When our jobs consume us, our souls pay the price. Of course, it is important to love what we dofor a living. It is essential that we devote quality time to our jobs and do our work with excellence. The problem arises when what we do for a living interferes with our other precious core values.These cherished v alues are sacred parts of us that need to be experienced and expressed. They give us self-worth. If we ignore them for too long, it leads to unhappiness, regardless of how prestigious ourprofessions are, how much money wemake, or how successful we think weare.When you have conversations like these in your head, its a sign that things must changeand it is up to you to change them.When you finally become aware that your job is interfering with other important parts of yourself, you can begin searching for ways to create more balance in your life.The result of living aligned with all your values is pure and simple happinessincreased peace of mind, self-respect and a sense of fulfillment.Now thats what I call nourishing your soulA version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.Steve Rizzo is a personal development expert, comedian, and author known as the Attitude Adjuster. Steve worked as a comedian, sharing the stage with Jerry Seinfeld, Rodney Dangerfield, Ellen DeGeneres , andmany others, before becoming a motivational speaker and author. He has been inducted into the National Speakers Associations Speakers Hall of Fame. Visit his website at SteveRizzo.com.

How to Build and Manage Strong Client Relationships - The Muse

How to Build and Manage Strong Client Relationships - The MuseHow to Build and Manage Strong Client RelationshipsIf youve ever been in a client-facing position- and I bet if youre reading this you have- its pretty easy to differentiate between a good client relationship and a not-so-good one. Good client relationships make you feel like a true partner to your client. They trust and listen to you, and you feel good about the work you do for them. As a result, your relationship builds and expands into bigger and better things, either through longevity, additional projects or business, or the biggest compliment- referrals to other clients.But building a strong relationship goes beyond delivering on what your contract says, although thats of course crucial. Here are some tips to help you wow your clients every day and further boost your reputation as a strong partner. 1. Really Get to Know How They WorkIn sports, theres a term for this KYP, meaning know your personnel. Coaches spend hour s dissecting their upcoming opponents plays, patterns, strengths, and weaknesses to design an effective game plan. The saatkorn goes for client relationships Know what youre walking into so you can present yourself and your work effectively. When you first make contact with a client, do your research on the company, team, past projects (if applicable), and the individual client contacts. This way, you go into your initial conversations with confidence, enthusiasm, and easy material to use to create a great first impression. For example, it never hurts to reference coverage of their new product in The Wall Street Journal, mention how fun their latest company retreat looked on Instagram, or discuss your mutual LinkedIn connections.Part of getting to know your client is also about learning to speak their language. That may mean picking up industry-specific jargon if necessary, or reading the room to understand the appropriate tone and level of professionalism. It also means feeling out (or just straight up asking) what the best form of communication is. Do they prefer chatting by email, by phone, or in person? Do they tend to write longer messages or keep things short and sweet?A great way to get to know your client from the start is to have a kick-off meeting in person. Going on-site gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the office culture and how their team communicates. If you cant go in person, suggest holding a video conference to get face time. Because while you can do all the research possible on someone, getting to know them organically is how youll truly learn to work with them effectively- and avoid giving off stalker-like vibes.2. Check in FrequentlySet regular check-ins (maybe every few days, once a week, or once every couple weeks) with your client during a project, and stay organized and respect one anothers time by creating agendas. Check-in meetings should include project updates (even if the update is business as usual), and also time to wa lk through any pain points or questions that need to be addressed.When youre in the neighborhood, it also never hurts to ask to stop by for a quick hello, a tour of the office, or a chance grab lunch (taking into consideration their busy schedule). Particularly if you work with clients in different states or parts of the country and youre traveling for business, make the time to landsee as many clients in the area as possible. This can be especially helpful after finishing a project as a way to acknowledge and even celebrate work well done, and can create a more casual space to ask for and engage in feedback (more on that below). 3. Ask for FeedbackGetting feedback isnt just for wrapping up finished projects. You should always be consistently and deliberately asking your client how you can improve the way you work together. When you finish onboarding them, for example, give them a quick call to ask for feedback on how it went, what they liked about the process, and if there welches anything that was challenging or could have been done differently. Not only do you show interest in their opinion and happiness, but you also learn valuable information for future clients you may onboard.Its also important to state the obvious- tell your client upfront you are open to, and encourage, any and all feedback they have. Creating an open relationship where feedback is respected and shared freely sets a foundation for successful long-term partnerships.Dont be afraid to ask for feedback from people outside your direct contacts either by asking questions like, How did the rest of the team react to X? or What was the general consensus in your department about Y?And its never too late to follow up- in fact, in some cases you may want to check in a while after the fact to see how the results panned out. For example, after youve finished a print job, check in a month later to see how the distribution went and how the materials were received, and if they noticed anything that the y hadnt thought of at the time of completion.The most important part? Make sure to actually take their feedback seriously and implement any changes that need to be made. If you cant necessarily fix or alter something, be honest and upfront about your limitations and offer instead to pass it along to other people who may be able to help.4. Set Expectations and DeliverIt probably doesnt need to be said, but Im going to anyway Do what you say youre going to do, and deliver on what you promise a client. And dont just meet expectations- exceed them with incredible communication, energy, and results. Simple as that. You can follow through by setting realistic expectations with your client from the start, from what youre going to actually deliver to how youre going to deliver it to how youre going to keep in contact throughout the relationship. This means understanding your own capabilities and timelines, and being honest with yourself if you have any limitations. Then, be explicit with yo ur client about what that all looks like from the start- both in person or on the phone as well as in writing via email or a formal document. Lets also not forget a key ingredient to delivering and exceeding expectations- your attitude Never underestimate the power of a calm, cool, collected, and positive attitude to instill confidence in your client. And a quick tip I carry with me from a summer job working at a luxury hotel You can hear a smile over the phone.5. Create AccountabilityGreat, were all on the same page about delivering. But what about your client? What are they responsible for? Partnership is a two-way street, and the best partners hold each other accountable. So its perfectly acceptable (and frankly crucial) to set clear expectations for your client. What deadlines do they need to meet? How should they communicate with you, and when are they allowed to contact you- are non-working hours off-limits? What specific tasks do they own in each process?These should be set ( and put into writing) from the very beginning of your relationship, and reaffirmed in each new stage you enter together.An easy way to do this is to set timelines and strategies you both agree feel manageable and realistic for your respective workloads. Just as you need to be held accountable, when your client doesnt hold up their end of the bargain, dont be afraid to advocate for yourself, your team, and your work. This of course can be done in a constructive and respectful way. For example, if your client isnt getting back to you with necessary feedback on a project, you can send the following emailHi Name,Im following up on the feedback were waiting for to move forward to phase two of the design project.When we belastung spoke, we agreed you would provide feedback within a week of receiving design drafts. Does this timeline still work for you? If we need to adjust or extend the deadline let me know since well also need to readjust our overall project timeline, as were not comfort able moving forward until we get the okay from you. Let me know if you would like to jump on a call and we can strategize any changes we need to make.Thanks,Your NameConfronting a client to hold them accountable can be incredibly intimidating. But doing so actually makes them respect you more. When you take control of the relationship, you show organization, initiative, and confidence- all qualities of a great service specialist. And it leaves little room for mistakes, unexpected emotions, or the blame game should something fall through the cracks.6. Embrace Your Role as the ExpertTrust is another key ingredient to a strong client relationship- and its easily earned when you show yourself to be exceptionally qualified and self-assured in your craft. Becoming the expert in the eyes of your client is really about more than just delivering on what you promised. Its done through showing you have broad industry knowledge that informs how you do your work. For example, if youre a recruite r facilitating the hiring of an executive assistant for a startup, you might inform the client of the recruiting landscape and industry standards for compensation so they can create a competitive package for candidates.Another great way to show youre an expert is to be an ongoing, reliable resource for them to ask questions and learn from you. This can be as simple as sending over an article you thought they might find interesting, or recommending an event they might like to attend, or connecting them with another expert in the space.And sometimes being an expert means saying no- for example, when you cant deliver what they need or you need to push back when their expectations arent aligned or are unrealistic. Lets continue with the recruiting example. Maybe your clients expectations of experience and skill set of a candidate are not aligned with the compensation theyre willing to offer. Its then your role to push back and educate them on what type of candidate they can expect for t heir price point. Even if it feels uncomfortable to do, itll be much worse to let them continue on and ultimately fail in hiring someone.7. Be a Stellar CommunicatorCommunication plays a pivotal role in building strong relationships with anyone, but especially with clients. And while we encourage leaning on the personal touch that face-to-face or phone conversations can provide, most of your communication will probably be done via email. So its important to know how to effectively interact online.Always write emails that are clear and concise. This means not rambling or providing information thats irrelevant, and keeping things short and to the point with a clear purpose or call to action. Also make sure the important stuff is close to the top (if not highlighted) so it cant be missed. And this may be another it goes without saying moment, but dont forget to edit your emails for spelling and grammar- simple mistakes can have your client questioning your attention to detail or level of professionalism. One last note about email communication Its always best practice after any conversation with your client to recap what you understand the takeaways to be in an email. It ensures you know what needs to be done, leaves no room for confusion or surprises, and holds you both accountable. 8. Own Your Mistakes (and Be Solutions-Oriented)Mistakes and mishaps are bound to happen- the key is how you bounce back from them.That means addressing the issues right away (and apologizing if youre at fault), communicating clearly whats going on, coming up with real, thoughtful solutions to what went wrong, and following through on those solutions.For example, lets say youre a publicist, and somehow your team misses the early-bird registration deadline to confirm a booth at the biggest tradeshow of the year for your client. As soon as you realize the mistake, regroup with your team, strategize a solution, and tell the client. It might sound something like this I wanted to update y ou on our progress. We had an internal miscommunication and missed the booth registration deadline to lock in the cost we originally discussed, and now the cost is X. We know this is unacceptable, and sincerely apologize. We want you to know weve made some changes internally so this wont happen again, and we will incur the cost difference to register for a booth so you wont see any changes to the budget.(If youre looking for more advice, check out this article on apologizing to a client and this one on backtracking on a promise you made.)9. Be YourselfRemember You were hired because your boss, company, and client believed you were the right person for the job. So embrace that. Plus, people tend to catch on when you arent being yourself. When you operate with authenticity, people know what to expect from you in terms of communication and the type of support you can provide, and it allows you to create actual connections that last in the long term. 10. Dont Just Be All BusinessYes, yo u were hired to complete work of some sort, and a huge part of a successful client relationship is about getting that work done- and well. But strong client relationships that grow and withstand setbacks are built on genuine connection, not just transactions. Its all in the small details- like offering recommendations on places to visit for an upcoming vacation and then remembering to check in to see how that trip went. Or acknowledging accomplishments that have nothing to do with your work together, like their recent promotion or a speaking engagement they participated in. Or sending them a card over the holidays or when they have a baby. Clients are people first and foremost. When you treat them as such- and not just as vehicles to hit your goals or make money- you instantly make yourself stand out from the pack.I cant tell you that following these tips to a T will guarantee that all your clients stick around for the long haul. Even the best client managers lose out on key relatio nships for reasons outside of their control- like budgeting issues or priority shifts. But good client managers also recognize that delivering is about more than just hanging on to a client- its about maintaining a positive reputation that encourages people to maybe return one day or spread the word to others. Thats what makes these actions worthwhile.

6 Tips for Working Wwith Coworkers You Dont Like

6 Tips for Working Wwith Coworkers You Dont Like6 Tips for Working Wwith Coworkers You Dont LikeWork would be totally awesome if you could always work with people that you like. These are the people who you not only respect in the workdistributionspolitik but are happy to socialize with outside of work, too. Wouldnt that be a dream come true? Well, maybe, and maybe not. Some people like to keep a complete separation between their work and their social life, otzu sichs are comfortable inviting their coworkers to share their social time. But everyone wants to have a nice place to go to work. A nice place to work is defined by the people working there and the workplace practices and environment. Unfortunately, you cant always pick the people with whom you work. So sometimes you get stuck working with a coworker you not only dont click with but who is a person whom you actively dislike, or even think you hate. How do you survive this situation? (Sure, you can always get a new job and qui t, but its silly to give up a job that you like in an organization that is otherwise good because of one colleague you dislike or are learning to hate.)So, what can you do instead of quitting? Here are six tips for getting along with even the most annoying people you dislike. Document the Disliked Coworkers Bad Behavior Mia used to work with a woman that she couldnt stand. At first, she thought it was just her own pettiness. She was pretty and smart and rapidly climbing the company ladder. Was she just jealous? Mia convinced herself that that was the case- she didnt like her because she was just petty and jealous. Now, that is a reason to cause you to dislike a coworker, but in this case, it turns out that wasnt the real reason. When she lied to asenior person in another department about workMia had done, she realized that her coworker was simply a horrible person. At that point, she was able to see that she wasnt the only person the coworker had happily sacrificed to make herse lf look better. Once Mia learned this about her, she understood that her unconscious mind had picked up on the coworkers sleazy character before she could see it clearly in action. But, Mia still had to work with her. They were peers, so she had no hire/fire power over the coworker. Mia otherwise loved her job and wanted to stay in it. So, she actively changed her interactions with the coworker. Knowing that she had no trouble lying about any conversations, Mia stopped speaking to her face to face and communicated via email so that every interaction was documented. While the supposed colleague remained a rotten person, she never did anything overtly to hinder Mias career again. She knew she wasnt going to get away with that behavior again. Identify Whether Youre Actually the Problem Sometimes the reason you dont like a coworker is that the person has the same bad habits that you do. When they reflect back at you, you dont like it. Sometimes, you dislike a coworker because that p erson is always criticizing you or telling you what to do. Ask yourself if her complaints are valid. For example, when your office enemy says, Are you going to get that report done on time? is she picky and naggy or have you finished the report late for the past three months? If its the latter, you can fix your relationship by fixing your own behavior. Since the only behavior you have any control over is your own, this is good to know. Try to Learn About the Coworker You Dont Like You give people you know and like the benefit of the doubt far mora often than you give it to strangers. When you learn what causes your coworker to tick, you might like her better. For instance, your coworker who is crabby all of the time might just have gone through a terrible divorce where she lost custody of her children. Understandably, shes not happy at the moment. Maybe management passed her over for promotions three times in a row. Maybe she has a deep and abiding love for cats and just wants t o talk about them. Anything is possible and it doesnt make the person even nicer, but it makes you see where shes coming from. And that can help you learn to like the coworker you think you dont like. Be the Adult in the Room When you were in elementary school, teachers expected you to get along with everyone, no matter what. If you could do that when you were seven, why cant you do it at 37? The answer is that you can. You dont have to become best friends- you do need to be polite. You need to do your job. Help other people. Dont respond to pettiness and bad behavior. Just act nicely and professionally all of the time. Professionalism can be contagious. Never, Ever Gossip About the Coworker You Dislike When you have a coworker you dislike, the temptation to talk about her with the coworkers you do like is sometimes overwhelming. Its fun to sit at work and talk about horrible Helga and the way she chews her food or uses Comic Sans in her emails. Ask yourself, what good will this do? Will it help your relationship with Helga? No. Will it make you a stronger candidate for promotion? No. Will it make your department more productive? Of course not. Dont gossip. Dont complain. Just be nice. Treat the coworker you dont like with professionalism and respect. Seek Help With the Disliked Coworker If your coworker causes actual problems with your work, talk to your manager. Ask your HR manager for tips about how to get along with your coworker. They really are there to help and many times, its possible for a manager to rearrange assignments so that you dont have to constantly interact with a coworker you dont like. This is a last-ditch resort, but it can work. All and all, remember that work is work and not loving every aspect of your job doesnt mean its a bad job or that your coworkers are bad people. It means that your life is pretty darn normal. - - - - - - - - - - - - Suzanne Lucas is a freelance journalist specializing in Human Resources. Suzannes work has been featured on notes publications including Forbes, CBS, Business Insider and Yahoo.

Getting Your Body Into It

Getting Your Body Into It Getting Your Body Into It Getting Your Body Into ItBen Severson has been among the elite body boarders of the worldand he shares his passion by designing boards for his peers. Though theyve been around in one form or another for much longer, Severson says the bodyboard design we know today is largely due to Tom Moreys work in the 1970s. He took some packaging foam and recreated the shape and design of the paipo board in a modern soft foam product, Severson says. His design incorporated the ability to change the rocker of the board, the curve from the front to the back of the board. Think of a boat hullsome are flat bottom, some have a lot of curve from nose to back. Its amazing what you can do with a bodyboard. And what Severson could do welches bring his own experience and instinct to the creative process. Heres his design philosophy. I start my initial design fabricating it custom to the person, says Severson, who makes his home in Hawaii. You start with their height and weight but then its also understanding the riding conditions theyre dealing with and what they want. The straight line design is faster but, you go curvier, and it becomes more maneuverable. Also, the placement of the wide point. I do it where your elbow rests on the board. Or if doing drop-knee style, then lower to where knee is on the board. Drop-knee style usually puts a little bit more curve into the board and puts the width of the nose in a bit more so it doesnt catch and cause pearling.Ben Severson, a pioneer of bodyboarding, and world champion. prestige Ben Severson The machinery used to create the boards is mostly custom built, he says. You basically have a core material, then you have a skin between one eight of an inch and one fourth of an inch thats heat laminated to that material, he says. Those are done with industrial laminator rollers at about 800 degrees with a certain amount of pounds of pressure. He says making channels in the board can be done man y ways. One way is proprietary machineries or you could go by hand using anything from belt sanders to jigsaws. Severson likes to use a rounded rail that he calls a transitional rail. According to his companys website, this allows the board to go against shearing off water, which it says can slow the board down. It also states that the rounded rail system improves turning efficiency. Severson says the material has changed in terms of flexibility. You used to be able to bend it over and touch the nose of the board to the tail of the board without it breaking, he says. You now have composite rods in them to keep the board stiffer so when people do big aerial maneuvers it doesnt fold boards in half. He adds that the material is more of a crispier foam than a spongy foam, which he says leads to a better performance. For Severson, his thrill is from watching someone find that better performance in the sport hes known for decades. Everybody talks about the importance of job satisfaction, he says. For me, you see somebody that has been using the wrong equipment and to then help design for them and their riding, thats my love. When I hear someone say, I cant believe how much better and faster Im going, thats what its all about. Eric Butterman is an independent writer. For Further Discussion When I hear someone say, I cant believe how much better and faster Im going, thats what its all about.Ben Severson, Ben Severson Designs

Cities with the Happiest Workers During the Holidays

Cities with the Happiest Workers During the Holidays Cities with the Happiest Workers During the Holidays */Read the infographic text.CITIES WITH THE HAPPIEST WORKERS DURING THE HOLIDAYSRank* City1 San Francisco, CA2 New York, NY3 San Diego, CA4 (tie) Atlanta, GA4 (tie) Miami, FL6 Phoenix, AZ7 (tie) Houston, TX7 (tie) St. Louis, MO9 Austin, TX10 (tie) Charlotte, NC10 (tie) Chicago, IL12 Dallas, TX13 Raleigh, NC14 Los Angeles, CA15 (tie) Minneapolis, MN15 (tie) Pittsburgh, PA17 Cincinnati, OH18 Washington, D.C.19 Seattle, WA20 Boston, MA21 Salt Lake City, UT22 Des Moines, IA23 Denver, CO24 (tie) Detroit, MI24 (tie) Indianapolis, IN26 (tie) Cleveland, OH26 (tie) Philadelphia, PASource Accountemps survey of more than 2,700 workers in the United States*Cities ranked from most to least happy. 2017 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.