Job Interview Question What Major Challenges and Problems Did You Face

Job Interview Question What Major Challenges and Problems Did You FaceJob Interview Question What Major Challenges and Problems Did You FaceInterviews can be daunting. Its like an interrogation that you volunteer for. Every question requires some preparation and strategy. One of the most common and also difficult questions is What major challenges and problems did you face, and how did you krallele them?What Interviewers Want to KnowThis question is about your performance and problem-solving abilities. Your interviewer wants to understand how you behave under pressure and how you handle tough situations. Do you keep your cool? Can you think when put on the spot? Every job has its share of challenges, and your answer will reveal to your interviewer how you might fare in the new role.How to Prepare an AnswerWhen I was asked this question in a previous interview, I panicked and whipped up an anecdote about how I dealt with a particularly difficult customer request. Despite my initial an xiety, it turned out to be a good answer because I told it like a story, using very specific and concrete examples of the problem at hand and how I solved it. Answering this type of question is easier and more effective with a bit of storytelling. As you brainstorm on your past experiences it helps to remember moments that stick out in your mind.A few scenarios you can use are times when youFaced a last-minute or tight deadlineManaged interpersonal relationsTackled something new or differentHandled a seemingly impossible requestYoull want to share a win and demonstrate your leadership or critical thinking skills. Use stories that will showcase how you are resourceful, composed under pressure or quick to think on your feet.The best way to structure your answer is by using the STAR method. Once youve decided on the right story to use, break your narrative down into the Situation you faced (S), the Task you had (T), the Action you took (A) and the Result you achieved (R). You can also think of STAR as the storys introduction, conflict, climax and conclusion.Your answer should cover the following pointsWhat kind of role were you in? What were your responsibilities at the time?What was the challenge that you had before you?What was your thought process and your line of reasoning to approach this problem?What was the impact you had?Example AnswerA good answer doesnt need to be dramatic or grand. It can be anything from saving your company money to resolving a dispute among team members.Heres an exampleI used to be an event coordinator for my previous employer. I had to platzdeckchen up a speaker to present at a big annual event. Normally I would contact viable presenters weeks in advance. Although we already had everything in place, right before the big day our speaker notified me that he would no longer be able to attend. It was too short notice for me to go through the same process to find a new speaker, so I thought it might be easier to leverage our original spe akers network. I asked him to refer a few contacts who might be willing, able and fit to speak at the event, and he did. I spent the entire day reaching out to the referrals on his list and was able to convince a local person to present for us. Because he hadnt worked with us before, I prepared a number of speaking points for him, shared the program outline and suggested a quick practice run prior to the presentation. Everything went smoothly and the event was a success.How Have You Dealt With a Difficult Customer?Do You Have Any Questions For Me?Where Do You binnensee Yourself In 5 Years?Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?What Are Your Salary Requirements?Whats Your Greatest Career Accomplishment?Are You Interviewing With Other Companies?What Motivates You?

Getting Recycled in Air Force Basic Training

Getting Recycled in Air Force Basic TrainingGetting Recycled in Air Force Basic TrainingRecycling has a completely different meaning in Air Force Basic Training. It doesnt refer to separating bottles and cans from trash. It means being sent back to repeat an earlier part of your basic training. You may think that failing Air Force basic training is the biggest threat your training instructor (TI) can make, but you would be wrong. The biggest threat is recycling. What Is Recycling? When you are recycled in Air Force Basic Training, you are set back and have to repeat one or mora training weeks. It means you will be reassigned to a new training group and a new training instructor. If you are recycled in week two, you have to join a different unit who is starting week two. Recycling is very common.About 15 to 20 percent of recruits in AFBMT get recycled at one point or another. It costs the Air Force more money per recruit as you are in training for longer, but it ensures recruits h ave been fully and properly trained upon graduation. How Is It Ordered? Training instructors will make you think that they can recycle you for any reason. They dont like the way you look, they dont like the way you grimace, or they dont like your breath. In actuality, training instructors dont have the authority on their own to recycle you. Thats up to the commanding officer.The commanding officer is limited by basic training regulations as to when he can and cannot recycle a recruit. It does not mean that you shouldnt take the recycling threat seriously. When deciding whether or not to recycle a recruit, the commander relies heavily on the recommendations of your TI. With as many as one out of five recruits being recycled at least once during their training, it shows it is a threat that they carry out. The Reasons It Can Happen Recycling isnt just used for disciplinary reasons. Its also used for recruits who fail a pass/fail requirement of basic. For example, if you fail to qualify with the M-16 rifle on the firing range, you will get recycled. If you fail the finalPT test, you will be recycled. You could also be recycled for medical reasons. If you miss more than two or three days of training because of a medical condition, you will likely be recycled to make up for that training. For example, if you are hospitalized during week three of training, when the medical folks let you out, and certify you as fit for duty, you would likely be recycled to a different flight who is just entering week three of training. Failing Air Force Basic Training Only 8.2 percent of recruits fail to make it throughAir Force Basic Military Training(AFBMT). Most of ansicht cases are not due to reasons of failing any aspect of basic. The vast majority are due to medical reasons, oftenpre-existing medical conditionsthat the recruit andAir Forcedidnt know about. Other causes arefraudulent informationon enlistment documents or failing thearrival urinalysisdue to illegal or prohibited drug use.

4 Ways to Perfect Your Resume in the New Year

4 Ways to Perfect Your Resume in the New Year4 Ways to Perfect Your Resume in the New YearThe start of the year is a time of renewed conviction to improve professionally, and many workers change jobs within the first several months of a new year.As you enter 2016, here are four things you can update on your resume to prepare for a possible career change this year. 1. Your career objective. I know. Implying that your resume has an Objective seems taboo per modern standards. However, even if you dont write Objective on your resume, it needs a professional purpose. You need to determine if you are targeting more of the same or looking to change your role, responsibilities or industry. Depending on your goal, your resume should clearly reflect how you are a strong contender for a specific role. Resumes without a specific purpose or objective do elend fare as well as those that are targeted. Remember, it is the job seekers responsibility to establish his worth if he wants to capture th e attention of a busy and distracted hiring manager. So, even though you no longer write Objective, your summary, the description of your previous positions and overall look and feel of your resume should be aligned with the change you seek. 2. Your layout. Once you have a professional goal in mind, reexamine your resume to see if the layout helps or hurts. For example, when you are a new college graduate, your college degree is most likely your greatest professional accomplishment and should be listed first. Fast forward a couple of years, and instead of listing your degree first, relevant work experience should lead the resume. Another cause for layout modification is a desired change in career path or industry. For example, lets say that you have been working as a sales person in the pharmaceutical industry and would like to start in project management in any field. You may need a strong summary at the top of your resume to convey how your sales role gave you opportunity to hone your project management skills. Or maybe you have gone through a rigorous project management certification program and would benefit from including a Skills and Training section near the top of your resume. Finally, everyone should view their resume on a mobile phone. You will be amazed at how little space you have to work with before the screen cuts off. It is critical that those top few lines capture the readers so that they are compelled to open the document all of the way or scroll down. Wasting half of the available mobile screen space on contact information is never a good idea. 3. Your impact. A typical resume is a list of duties. However, a powerful resume communicates the impact you have made in your roles, not just your tasks. Think about the business problems you have solved. Look for ways to quantify or measure your success. For example, does your role have an efficiency rating or customer satisfaction score? Do you process a high volume of something or perform with a low error or escalation percentage? Numbers make the reader feel that something is true and factual, not just your opinion. When you can include them, along with a well-written description of how you added value, a hiring manager is more likely to think youre a better hire than someone who has no visible track record. 4. Your errors. Once you have put the finishing touches on your masterpiece, print it out. Too often, people rely on on-screen editing to catch every error. Your eyes will catch more when you look at your document on paper. Of course, you can use the Reveal Codes feature to see all the hidden editing, such as spacing, but you should still print a final document. After your first review, walk away, then review one more time later in the day. It never hurts to ask a trusted friend to review as well. Make sure you pick someone detail-oriented with excellent command of grammar and punctuation. Ask someone who will truly take the time to read your resume. With those three extra layers of review, your resume should be ready for submission. Landing a new career is not easy for most. Taking time to examine and enhance your critical first impression your resume displays your professional commitment. It also makes it easier to be identified for a first interview by recruiters and hiring managers who receive hundreds of poorly matched or poorly written submissions. Heres to your success in 2016.

Survey says if you live with your partner this is what you complain about

Survey says if you live with your partner this is what you complain about Survey says if you live with your partner this is what you complain about So you’ve been dating a long time, had discussions about money and religion, met each other’s families, and of course, you love each other and can see a future together. Maybe it’s time to take the next big step â€" wait, not getting married, that’s crazy! We’re talking about moving in together. Sofary.com surveyed over 900 people about living with their significant others about the good and the bad about shacking up.Why make the move? We felt ready: 73.6% It made it easier to see each other: 45.7% To save money on rent: 28.1% One of us needed a new housing situation: 20.2% Millennials were more likely than any other generation to move in together in order to save money on rent or because one of them needed a place to live.Sixty-one percent said their satisfaction with their relationship increased after moving in with their partner.Over time, though, that satisfaction leveled out based on how quickly or slowly they had pulled the trigger on shacking up together.   Of those who had decided to live together too quickly, 53.1% were dissatisfied with their relationship. (Not everyone’s ready to share a bathroom in the early stages of a relationship.)And of those who felt they decided to live together at just the right time, 82.9% were satisfied with their relationship.Domestic turmoilOnce a couple is happily ensconced in a home (or tiny apartment) together, reality â€" and complaints â€" quickly hits.On a more hopeful note, 50% of married couples say that tolerance of your partner’s habits and quirks gets easier after you move in together. (Just be sure to clean up after yourself).Feathering the nestPurchasing furniture and new decor is a ritual for moving in with a partner. About 58% of a shared apartment’s furniture is purchased after a couple moves in together, and men spent about $600 more on furniture and decor than women. (Women spent $4,964, and men spent $5,624.) Still, 19% of women felt they hadn’t spent enough on furniture and decor, while 16% of men felt they had overspent. Yet another place to agree to disagree!The furnishing of a new shared home best illustrates the importance of compromise. As a man surveyed by Sofary said, “She wanted a rain lamp; I think it’s a 1970s piece of decor that’s tacky but she had to have it.” And so they bought the rain lamp, and all is peaceful on the home front.

Air Force Specialty Code Explanation

Air Force Specialty Code Explanation Air Force Specialty Code Explanation In the Army and Marines, an enlisted job is called MOS or military occupational specialty. In the Navy and Coast Guard, an enlisted job is called a rating. But in the Air Force, a job is referred to by an Air Force Specialty Code, or AFSC. Its a five-digit alphanumeric code for enlisted Air Force personnel, four digits for officers, sometimes modified  with  additional characters for more precise identification. Air Force AFSCs: A History When it split from the Army in 1947, the Air Force continued to use the MOS system to  describe its jobs. This changed in 1993 when it introduced the current system used today in a major restructuring. This allowed the Air Force to streamline its workforce somewhat; the number of enlisted jobs was trimmed from 203 to 176, and officer jobs were reduced from 216 to 123. Heres how the AFSCs break down. Meaning of Characters in AFSCs The first number in the AFSC is the career group. There are nine Air Force career groups. Operations is Group 1 and includes jobs such as aircrew operations, cyber warfare, intelligence, remotely piloted aircraft (drones), and weather. Maintenance/Logistics is Group  2 and includes aerospace maintenance, logistics, and missile and space systems maintenance. Jobs in Group 3, Support, include cyberspace support, civil engineering, and security forces. The Professional career group, Group 5, includes paralegals and chaplains, while Group 6,  Acquisitions, includes contracting and financial management. Special Investigations is Group 7, and Group 8, Special Duty Assignments, is used for specialized jobs like instructors, couriers, and training leaders. Special Reporting Identifiers is a designation for temporary status, such as a trainee, prisoner, or someone in a group that is otherwise temporary. Its career Group 9. The second digit is a letter that identifies the career field. The third digit is a number indicating the career field subdivision, also known as the job functional area. Skill Levels in AFSCs The fourth number in the AFSC indicates a persons skill level. For example, someone with the AFSC 1A051 has a five skill level. An individual receives the 1 (helper) skill-level when they enter technical school for the AFSC. Upon graduation from technical school, they receive the 3 (apprentice) skill level. Airmen are normally awarded the 5 (journeyman) skill level after a period of on-the-job training and correspondence courses, or CDCs. Depending on the job, this process can last anywhere between 12 and 18 months. Staff Sergeant and Craftsman Skill Levels Upon promotion to Staff Sergeant, individuals enter training for the 7 (craftsman) Skill Level. This level ?of training includes more CDCs, more on-the-job training, and for some jobs, a 7-level technical school. Once promoted to E-8, the person receives a 9 (superintendent) skill level. The final digit (numeral) indicates further job division within the same functional area. Specific skills (such as the type of aircraft) are designated by suffixes, such as A or B.

The Benefits and Advantages of Server Virtualization

The Benefits and Advantages of Server Virtualization The Benefits and Advantages of Server Virtualization If you’re the administrator of a system where users need to be separate from one another and from the original server, a cheap and efficient way to do this is by creating private servers through a process called “server virtualization.” Server virtualization is the idea of taking a physical server and, with the help of virtualization software, partitioning the server, or dividing it up, so that it appears as several virtual servers, each of which can run their copy of an operating system. In this way, rather than the entire server dedicated to one thing, it can be used in several different ways. Advantages of Server Virtualization Saves money on IT costs. When you partition one physical server into several virtual machines, you can deploy, operate and manage multiple operating system instances at once on that single physical server. Fewer physical servers mean less money spent on those servers.Reduces the number of physical servers a company must have on its premises. Regardless of company size, it’s always a good idea to save space.Cuts down on energy consumption since there are fewer physical servers consuming power. Thats especially important, given the trend toward green IT planning and implementation. Creates independent user environments. Keeping everything separate is especially useful for purposes such as software testing (so programmers can run applications in one virtual server without affecting others).Provide affordable web hosting. When dozens of servers can fit on the same computer, the supply of servers is increased for virtually no additional cost. Types of Server Virtualization There are three different kinds of server virtualization: Virtual machine model (or “full virtualization”): Based on the host/guest paradigm, use a special kind of software called a hypervisor. Administrators can create guests with different operating systems.Paravirtual machine (PVM): similar to full virtualization, also based on a host/guest paradigm. Can also run multiple OSes.OS-level: not based on the host/guest paradigm. Guests must use the same OS as the administrator/host, and partitions are completely separated from one another (so problems in one cannot affect any others). Careers in Virtualization Some of the server-virtualization-related positions you may come across on employment websites may include: virtualization engineervirtualization architectserver virtualization systems administratorcloud virtualization engineer Major Players in the Server Virtualization Arena: VMWareMicrosoftCitrix;Red Hat. The Future of Server Virtualization Understand that virtualization itself is not a novel concept. (Computer scientists have been making “supercomputers” for decades.) However, virtualization for servers was only invented in the late 90s. It took a while to catch on, but in past years especially, the growth of server virtualization has been explosive. Companies realized they were wasting resources, and virtualization technology was adopted by most as a way to consolidate their business’ technical operations. These days, server virtualization is more of a basic requirement than an advanced concept. With that in mind, specializing in server virtualization as a career move may not put you in high demand on its own (although it is continuing to evolve). However, being familiar with implementing virtualization can set you up for whatever’s coming next. Note: updates have since been made to this article by Laurence Bradford.

How to Become a Magazine Writer or Freelancer

How to Become a Magazine Writer or Freelancer How to Become a Magazine Writer or Freelancer A career as a magazine writer can be rewarding and fun. You get to meet and work with interesting people, learn about new topics and craft fascinating stories that readers enjoy. It is also very competitive and a job that requires diligence and patience. Once you see your name in print for the first time, you will know that your hard work paid off. Getting a break in the magazine world is not easy, but it is possible for any talented writer. There are many magazines- from large to small- that rely on great writers to give their readers what they want. It is an exciting career, and there are a few ways to approach it.   What Magazine Writers Do Magazine writers are essentially ?journalists. They find, research and write stories that interest readers. The kind of journalism that magazine writers focus on varies greatly from journalism for other publications, such as daily newspapers and blogs.? With few exceptions, magazine writers often produce feature-oriented pieces. Some magazine writers focus on smaller stories, while others produce long-form, or narrative, pieces. It can include exclusive interviews with sought-after subjects and celebrities that can be several pages long. It is increasingly common that magazines need stories for their online publications as well. Some of these stories never make it to print. Instead, they are published solely on the magazines website. Full-Time and At-Large Full-time positions as magazine writers are some of the most coveted in the print media world. Some lucky- and of course talented- writers take positions as staff writers for magazines. Staff writers usually work in the office and have more of a 9-to-5 schedule.   Other magazine writers have official affiliations with magazines and may have at large titles like writer-at-large or editor-at-large. It typically means that they get assigned a certain number of stories for a set fee. These positions often require no time in the office. Freelance Life Due  to the nature of magazine writing, many magazine writers work as freelancers. Some have cushy at-large positions, while others live assignment-to-assignment.  Freelance magazine writers who don’t have steady gigs- i.e., stories for a certain section that magazine editors regularly assign to them- can find it stressful to chase assignments constantly. Some full-time freelance writers find success pitching stories, but many rely on editors to assign them pieces. The key to being a top-of-mind writer to editors is producing good, timely work. Sending them a scoop now and then doesnt hurt either. What Defines a Story Every editorial staff is different, and quite often a magazine will give first priority to regular contributors. Once you get in with a magazine, they may send out a regular call for stories to their entire pool of writers. It will be a list of topics they are interested in, and each writer can choose which story they want to take on for that particular issue.   How to Get a Job College or Experience: A college degree helps, particularly a bachelors in journalism or a related field. If you want to write for magazines, a solid education in writing, composition, proofreading and fact-checking will help significantly. For the right individual with drive and talent, a college degree is not always necessary. Experience and a long list of published articles can also get your foot in the door of some magazines.Get an Internship: Many magazines offer internships, and though they are often unpaid or pay very little, they can offer valuable experience. These positions will give you insight into the publishing process and look good on your resume and CV. Magazines will often give former interns a chance to write for them in the future as well. Read Magazines: It is important that you gain an understanding of the style of magazine journalism. It is different than writing for a daily newspaper, and the best way for you to familiarize yourself with it is to read. It is often called learning your market, and it is essential, particularly if you wish to focus on niche topics such as beauty, fashion or technology. Through this research, you will learn about story length and format and how magazine writers capture a readers attention.Start Writing: Writers need samples of their work and practice honing their skills. The best way to do that is to write and write often. Give yourself assignments and write sample stories, pick up a side gig with a local publication or do some work for a blog. It will create a body of work that you can show editors when sending queries.? Develop a Niche and a Style: Every writer has their own voice, and many choose to focus their career on a certain topic. While you may start off as a generalist, finding a niche that you love to write about is good on many fronts. It keeps you motivated and allows you to concentrate and gain authority on a certain topic. It will also show editors that you are dedicated to the topic and give you industry contacts that will be helpful for future stories. A niche doesnt have to be extremely narrow, either. An entry-level tech writer may not focus just on the Windows platform alone, but rather on the broader scope of computers, software and the business of technology. Many writers will concentrate on broad topics like politics or business, food or lifestyle, entertainment or sports.   Persistence is Key: The magazine world is very competitive, and it can be frustrating at times, especially when you have ten queries to editors out there and have received no response. Try not to get disheartened. Persistence will keep you motivated, so send out those queries and pitches and wait for editors to respond. If you dont hear from an editor after a few weeks, send them another pitch or send that story you really care about to another editor (be careful about sending it to too many editors all at once). The magazine editorial process can be very slow at times and after persistence comes patience. Love the Deadline: Deadlines are key to any writers success, and it is vital that you make every deadline you are given. It can be easy to procrastinate and put off a story until the last minute, but you need to think about the quality of your story as well. A writer who consistently misses deadlines will get a reputation, and that can significantly affect your prospects in the future. Learn to love deadlines and consider them essential to your career.