Blame it on Rio

Blame it on RioBlame it on RioBack in December 2008, Brian Dalton wrote about the growth of legal process outsourcing (LPOs) As clients are demanding mora for less, law firms may find LPO mora relevant than the LBO in 2009. Slashing legal costs was emerging as a trend even before the credit crunch now it is an overriding imperative, declares Richard Susskind, in a look at the soaring Indian legal process outsourcing (LPO) industry. For a while now, some law firms have been outsourcing back office (e.g., IT) functions. Increasingly, however, the outsourcing option becomes more attractive for certain (routine or repetitive) legal work, such as research, doc review and due diligence LPO companies hire Indian legal graduates with starting salaries at about $7,000. Compare BigLaws $160,000 base for first-years doing what often amounts to the same type of work. In June 2009, it looks like international mining conglomerate Rio Tinto has been sweating the same math. In an effort to shave 20 percent off its annual legal spendsome $100 millionthe conglom has hired its own Indian legal team. While the outsourcing of legal work to India has been steadily growing, Rio Tinto is the first major player to cut out the law firm middleman and take charge of the process, building its own team of 12 Delhi-based lawyers to tackle work that might otherwise have fallen to its (seven times more expensive) lawyers in London. The mining company, oft represented by such pricey heavyweights as Linklaters and Baker MacKenzie, will now punt its own work overseas. And its not just mundane legal processing were talking here less routine and more complex matters will be handled by the mining giants Indian crewa crew expected to double in size within a year. Already, the India unit has saved the company more than $1 million. Rio Tintos Indian legal team was assembled by CPA Global, a Jersey company specializing in trademarks, patents and acts. So optimistic is CPA on the scope of the market th at it has invested more than $50 million on legal facilities in Delhi plans to add another 500 Indian lawyers within the year and hopes to someday field more than 3,000 lawyers in Manila, New Zealand and South Africa.As it might evidence a seismic shift in legal practice, Rio Tintos maneuver is putting the fear of God (Ganesha?) into BigLaw. But fussing and backtalk is not an option, not with GCs under such pressure to cost-cut. Unless they wish to antagonize clients, BigLaw will have no choice but to welcome their Indian co-horts and adjust to this new sphere of competition in the traditional wayby particularizing and differentiating value. The customer, as ever, is king.-posted by anu rao

Sample Interview Questions for Hiring a Retail Manager

Sample Interview Questions for Hiring a Retail ManagerSample Interview Questions for Hiring a Retail ManagerSample Interview Questions for Hiring a Retail Manager DezubeWhat is the single fruchtwein important thing to know about filling your retail store manager job description and how to interviewretail manager candidates?Dan Jablons, president of Retail Smart Guys Inc., a Los Angeles retail consulting firm says its the sales acumen and the ability to act like an owner trump all other skills.Interview Questions to Ask MotivationThats why the most essential interview questionsto ask a retail manager job candidate is Whats your primary focus as a manager? The best answer is one that involves sales, profitability, total volume, and business building.Another way to get at the same issue in the interview process is to ask Tell me about your accomplishments in retail, says David Lieberman, vice president of The Fashion Network, a New York City executive recruitment firm.If the candidate s ays theyre great at recruiting or communicating with sales associates, those are good skills, but the best candidates will talk about growing your business success in mora measurable ways.Retail work requires a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, so ask How many hours a week do you put in at your current job?If they say 40 hours a week, thats not typically a rolle thats going to succeed, Lieberman says. Look for liveliness, enthusiasm and passion because retail managers are customer-facing employees, he adds.Interview Questions to Ask Past Performance Interview questions about the job candidates past performance provide insight into the job seekers sales skillsHow have you sold product X in the past?What objections did you hear, and how did you overcome those objections? What did you say, and what did you do?What have you done successfully to get people to try on clothes or to interact in other ways with the products?Tell me about the most difficult customer youve ever had to serve .What were your units-per-transaction or average-dollar-per-transaction stats in your prior positions?Interview Questions to Ask Vetting Management SkillsIn addition to having great sales skills of their own, retail managers need to berater others.That makes it essential to know how to interview a candidate to tease out management skills. Remember asking good interview questions doesnt always depend onthe right or wrong answers but givingapplicants the opportunity to talk about themselves.Start by asking, Are you a hands-on manager or a delegator? Delegating is good, but you want to make sure the general manager making $150,000 will still take the trash out, Lieberman says.Then, move on to ask more specific questions about management tasksHow many employees do you manage in your current position?How do you hire employees?What questions do you ask during interviews?What statistics do you use to measure employee performance?Do you do employee performance reviews?Finally, to get a fee l for how a retail manager reacts to real-world situations, you must know how to interview to draw out the job candidates soft business skills, says Stacie Garlieb, author of My resume is perfect (I think)so why didnt I get an interview?Asking the question, How would you handle a situation where half of your employees called in sick? should generate an answer about redeploying remaining staff, creating a to-do list for the short-handed staff, then getting more staff in, she says.If you found an employee was stealing, how would you handle that? The best answer to this interview question involves not only following corporate policy, but also elicits the candidates empathy and respect for the employee who made a mistake and stole from the company, Garlieb says.Interview Questions to Ask The CloseA successful interview should conclude with a classic question What do you want to know about the opportunity or the company?The answer you want to hear from the candidate, says Lieberman, will include technical and logistical questions about the company, rather than questions about vacation benefits, such asWhat kind of software do you use? What strategies have you implemented to raise total volume? What theft prevention programs do you use?Find The Right FitKnowing how to interview retail managers can help your organization hire employees that act like owners someone who can run your store with the passion, sales smarts and enthusiasm that is critical to your business success in todays competitive market. Want to know other ways you can determine which candidates are the best fit for the job?Sign up for exclusive https//www.youtube.com/ adviceand well send you the latest recruiting tips, hiring trends, management strategies, and even some awesome deals. Well help you find the kinds of star employees who will be great representatives for your retail brand.

Networking and Schmoozing for the Capitol Hill Job Search

Networking and Schmoozing for the Capitol Hill Job SearchNetworking and Schmoozing for the Capitol Hill Job SearchThis article is excerpted from the Vault Guide to Capitol Hill Careers. Read more excerpts or purchase the guideDiscuss government careers at the Government Career Message BoardDiscuss non-profit careers at the Non-profit Career Message BoardWithout question, networking and the ability to foster long-term relationships are at the heart of any successful career in Washington. It begins with your first position and continues throughout your time in the political community, whether it is on the Hill or in a related profession such as lobbying or public relations.For those conducting a job search, especially first time job seekers new to the city, establishing a network can be challenging. There are several good ways to use networking in pursuit of a first job. One of the most effective is to build a list of contacts by going on a series of informational interviewsRequest Inf ormational Interviews Meet with as many people as possible who work in organizations related to what interests you. Many people are receptive to helping newcomers to Washington and providing career advice. Contact people in your home state congressional delegation and others identified through friends, family, professors, and previous experiences. Not everyone will have the time or inclination to meet with you, but there will certainly be some that will. Most people in Washington began their careers much like you are now, so they remember what it was like to find that first position and will be open to helping out.How to Conduct an Informational Interview Once you have scheduled some interviews, it is important to have an idea of what you want out of them. An informational interview is exactly what it sounds like a option to get information about career opportunities. Although it is not an actual interview, you should follow the same rules for interviewing dress professionally, b e on time, ask good questions, and carry a copy of your resume. You should have several goals for your interviewsMake a Good Impression You want the person you met with to feel comfortable thinking that you are the type of person he or she would consider for a future opening or would pass along your resume to another organization seeking to fill a position. Therefore, dont go in unprepared. Do your research on the organization and have a clear idea in mind of the types of positions you are looking for. Dont be pushy about immediate openings with the organization, and dont expect to instantly find a job as a result of the interview.Leave Your Resume Bring a copy of your resume to leave with the interviewer. Again, dont present it as an application for a position with the organization, but do ask that the person keep you in mind should he or she hear of any needs that you could fill.Get New Contacts Informational interviews will help you expand your contacts. Be sure to get the nam es of additional people to contact (try to get two additional names, if possible), and make sure to get in touch with them soon. Doing so will allow you to rapidly expand your network.Follow up, but dont be pesky Continue to follow up with the people you have contacted, but dont become obnoxious about it. For example, after three weeks it might be worth a call to one of your contacts to remind him or her about your meeting and see if anything has come up. However, call too much and you will earn the enmity of your contact and be rewarded with silence. Also, remember to send a thank you note expressing your gratitude for the interviewers time.There are many additional ways to network in Washington, many of which allow you to explore your personal interests at the same time. Additionally, networking doesnt end with your first job in fact, it is just beginning. All of the following are good ways to either help you find a position or ensure that when you are ready to move up or conside r other opportunities, you will have a system of support in placeCo-workers get to know all of your coworkers, especially those in other areas that you dont interact with on a regular basis. On the Hill you will get to know them very well because you will be housed in tight quarters. Stay in touch with them after they leave your office.Staff Organizations There are many staff organizations on Capitol Hill, some of which are open to non-Hill staffers. Join all of those that interest you, and get involved with the clubs when you have time. Some examples include the Congressional Legislative Staff Association, Republican Communications Association, the Lesbian and Gay Congressional Staff Association, Congressional Black Associates, and many others. A list of staff organizations and contacts can be found at the Committee on House Administration web site, www.house.gov/cha.Get Involved Washington offers tons of opportunities for people to get involved in things that they enjoy, which also provides for networking opportunities. For example, there are many softball leagues in and around DC, including an active league pitting Capitol Hill offices against one another. There are many charitable activities organized by Hill staff and other young Washington types. One could also become a junior member at one of the small art galleries, which host receptions and educational opportunities, such as the Corcoran Gallery of Art or the Phillips Collection.Volunteer for Political Activities There are always elections taking place within DC or in the metro area. Get involved with local political parties or look out for opportunities to help out the national parties on races.This article is excerpted from the Vault Guide to Capitol Hill Careers. Read more excerpts or purchase the guideDiscuss government careers at the Government Career Message BoardDiscuss non-profit careers at the Non-profit Career Message Board

iTunes will be shutting down Apple just announced

iTunes will be shutting down Apple just announcediTunes will be shutting down Apple just announcediTunes has played its last song.Apple is shuttering its iconic music listening and library app after nearly two decades of revolutionizing how we listen to music in the digital age, the company announced Monday at its Worldwide Developer Conference.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe shutdown of iTunes comes after Mac introduced a new line of products and software including updated models of the Mac Pro and its new operating system, Catalina. On the new operating system, iTunes, which launched in 2003, will be replaced and consolidated into three separate apps targeted for music, TV, and podcasts.iTunes allure faded in recent years as subscription music streaming tafelgeschirrs like Apple Music and Spotify changed the digital landscape by simplifying how we listen to music. Apple sa id the iTunes Store will remain active which means music that was previously bought through the store will notlage disappear, however it remains unclear what will happen for users with music on their iPhones. Apples smartphones are normally backed up through iTunes which helps keep your device in working shape while storing data.The Los Angeles Times reported Apple Music had more than 50 million paid subscribers this year while Spotify has roughly 207 million months users and 96 million premium subscribers.If youre wondering what to do next with iTunes shutting down, it might be time to pivot to streaming services. Heres a rundown of some affordable options that might work for your music tastes.SpotifyThe uber-popular music streaming service is available on both desktop and mobile for free. The free version includes ads and wont allow users to listen to music offline. But if you sign up for the premium package ($10 a month), it allows for ad-less streaming and tons of other specs li ke podcasts. Family packages run at $15 per month which enables up to six people to log on and listen.Apple MusicLaunched in 2015, it was Apples response to other streaming services. Their deals are nearly identical to Spotifys. Apple offers a free three-month trial before a $9.99 monthly subscription option.PandoraThe radio streaming service allows users to craft custom stations based on anything from genre to artists to even albums. There are numerous packages to fit every user including Pandora Premium ($9.99 per month) which allows users to skip as many songs as they want and listen offline.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

ASME INSPIRE School Visit Celebrates Students STEM Achievements

ASME INSPIRE School Visit Celebrates Students STEM Achievements ASME INSPIRE School Visit Celebrates Students STEM Achievements ASME INSPIRE School Visit Celebrates Students STEM AchievementsRaymond Tran (far left), a teacher at Joseph B. Cavallaro School in Brooklyn, N.Y., with the mora than 50 sixth-grade students from his school who completed all 16 ASME INSPIRE course modules. Continued Caption Each of the students received a certificate during a special celebration that was held at the school in June.For the fourth continuous year, the team behind the ASME INSPIRE program capped another successful school year with a visit to Joseph B. Cavallaro School in Brooklyn, N.Y. During the visit, which took place brde month, members of the INSPIRE Classroom Connects team met with teachers and more than 50 sixth-grade students from the middle school, which was an early adopter of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) digital course.Over the past four school visits, more than 300 students from Joseph B. Cavallaro School completed the ASME INSPIRE STEM Readiness course of 16 modules, which use online gaming and simulations to teach critical technology and coding skills, ignite interest in STEM, and expose students to STEM opportunities that they might never have dreamed were within their reach. Since its inception four years ago, the program has reached nearly 200,000 students. This year alone, more than 90,000 students in more than 1,300 schools in all 50 states have used the INSPIRE program. Several of the sixth-grade students from Joseph B. Cavallaro School consider their responses during the INSPIRE Innovation Investigation activity during the ASME INSPIRE Classroom Connects visit last month.During this years visit, 52 students from Cavallaro School were recognized for successfully completing all 16 modules. The day kicked off with inspiring words from Patti Jo Rosenthal, ASME K-12 programs manager. Almost 140 years ago, ASME was forme d to tackle a real, critical problem, Rosenthal said. Because at their heart, engineers are problem solvers problem solvers for good. If something moves or requires energy to make it happen, a mechanical engineer probably designed and developed it.Students then had the opportunity to watch Dream Big, a recently released documentary about the impact of innovative engineers around the world. One part of the film that students particularly enjoyed involved learning about a robotics team from high school that won a national robotics championship. But the highlight of the day was when the students were put into small groups to conduct an ASME INSPIRE Innovation Investigation activity that would give them the chance to think like an engineer. Student teams analyzed a product and technology meant to meet the needs of both developing world communities and traditional consumers. Discussions focused on various ideas on identifying unintended consequences the product or its technology may hav e, how the product could be improved, and how it could be used in their own communities. Two classes of sixth-graders - 52 students in total - took part in the daylong celebration at Cavallaro School.When the bell rang, the enthusiastic students stayed behind to take photos with their program certificates and ask questions about STEM careers. By pairing the digital STEM program with the in-class visit, students left school with memories of a lifetime and a newfound confidence in being the innovators, developers and problem solvers of the future.ASME INSPIRE is supported through the generosity of the ASME Foundation. For more information on the program, contact Patti Jo Rosenthal, manager, ASME K-12 Programs, at rosenthalpasme.org.

Resume Font Size Options

Resume Font Size Options You always ought to pick the best font for your CV, it needs to be well structured as it gives an overview of your abilities, skills, and accomplishments. For instance, if youre asking for a tech job, your hard skills should consist of specific knowledge necessary for the job. By following a couple of basic suggestions youre able to create a simple to read resume that highlights your abilities and work experience. Avoid listing superfluous things such as obvious computer abilities or positions held more than ten decades ago. Fiddling with fonts and styles is the last stage of resume building, and among the easiest in case you know what things to bear in mind. They come with specific features that can determine and affect the perspective of the reader. Choice of font is dependent upon size, whilst size is dependent on content. Add a personal logo if youve got one. Youre the driver supporting the commercialization of technology. Although its a good o ption, it may appear somewhat stale and outdated to some. The key isnt to clog every square millimeter of the webpage. With so many choices readily available, determining the ideal font for a resume can occasionally be a tricky decision. Therefore, if youre still hesitant about which font family to use there is not any need to fret about doing it. The font you go with has an immediate influence on the readability, and thus, it has to seem good on PDF along with paper. The absolute most important aspect to consider while deciding upon the ideal font for your resume vorlage is to think about the readability of your resume. There are quite a lot of fonts for you to select from, and that may make selecting a font for your resume equally as challenging as writing it. The kind of font you select will tell the reader a little about you, so youve got to make a decision as to what you would like your fonts to say. When it has to do with deciding on a font to utilize in your cover let ter, the best course of action is to keep it easy and professional. In the majority of cases, employing an easy, professional font is perfect. Selecting a font thats easy and simple to read is vital. During the time youre formatting text, look closely at the style, also called the font, of the text. When youre using Microsoft Word, here is the way to choose a template for your letter and the way to pick the font style and font size. Utilizing a very simple font will guarantee your cover letter is simple to read. While its a skilled and easy font, it isnt excellent for reading on a screen. Make certain that it is simple to read and the font size isnt too tiny. So you have to be positive that so-called character of the font will match the objective of your text. The font is usually employed for official letters. It is simply too much for a professional document. 5 Bold text is very good for drawing particular attention to a couple words. Which format you select will depend, in part, on the form of work youve performed and whether you are likely to continue in the exact same field. Employing an appropriate font increases your opportunity of being selected for an interview. The information in every section must be to the point and outline the things in your experience that meet the needs of the position. In addition, the font of the important achievements section is a little larger than the important duties section. Adjusting the font just one-tenth of a point can produce the text fill out the remainder of a page or keep it from spilling over into the subsequent one. Use the same resume font type for many of your headings to provide your resume a simple to understand structure also. Just make certain that all your headings are consistent. Make sure that the spelling is correct, and everything is all up to date. Be sure to produce your font large enough so the reader doesnt need to squint to read your letter, but not so large your letter doesnt fi t well on the webpage. Also, take note of constraints in the event that you will be emailing your resume. A character reference correspondence must be written attentively.

Nice Guys Finish First Dave Kerpen on the Power of People Skills

Nice Guys Finish First Dave Kerpen on the Power of People Skills Conjure in your mind the image of an archetypal geschftslebenrolle. Theyre probably kind of a jerk, right? The kind of person who would do anything and stab anyone in the back to get ahead?Contrary to ourreceived wisdom, being a heartless sleazebag isnt going to get you very far in life. Thats according to Dave Kerpen, the CEO of Likeable Localand the author ofThe Art of People 11 Simple People Skills That Will Get You Everything You Want.In fact, Kerpen believes that if you want to be successful in business today and life in general you need to cultivate great people skills.Kerpen first realized this after writing his first two books,Likeable Social MediaandLikeable Business.I realized that the principles I wrote about in those books things like listening and authenticity they dont just apply to social media and business. They apply to all career and life skills when it comes to g etting what you want, Kerpen says. So I wroteThe Art of Peopleto help people get what they want out of life.The book is divided into 11 categories of skills, and across those categories it presents 53 tips on how to put these skills into practice.Back in April, I had the chance to speak with Kerpen about his book. What follows is a brief transcript of that conversation, minimally edited for style and clarity.Recruiter.comIf I were to ask you, What is this book about?, how would you answer?David Kerpen Id sayIts about how to get better at your people skills, communicate better with others, and get what you want out of life based on getting people to do things for you.RCOne of the major ideas in the book is that the people who win in life are the people who have the best people skills not the cutthroat competitivetypes. How did you reach this conclusion?DKIts based on my own experiences and having the privilege of knowing some very successful entrepreneurs. I believe that nice guys r eally do finish first, and by treating people well, thats how you end up on top. Countless people have demonstrated that, and I write about some of those people in the book.RCIs this a recent development, something that is specific to our cultural moment? Or has it always been this way?DK I think its always been this way, but the importance of people skills hasbeen magnified recently because the www and social media in particular has rendered the world smaller and more connected than ever before.It used to be that you could get away with treating people less kindly or building a culture at your company that isnt worth raving about. Now, people talk. People are more connected than ever before. People havealways talked, but now, when you post something onLinkedInor Facebook, word spreads a lot faster and a lot wider. Thats why people skills are more important now than ever before.RCThe book explores a number of critical people skills. Can you give us an example of one or two?DKWell, it has some wider skills, like listening, but also some very practical tips, like Always take the water when youre offered water at an interview or meeting.RCInteresting why is that? Why should you always take the water?DKYou want to put the other people at ease. Sometimes, you refuse to take the water because you dont want to put people out, but if someone came over to your house and you offered them water, you would want them to say Yes. It would make you feel like a better host if they said Yes.For that same reason, you should always say Yes when people offer you water or coffee when you meet them in a professional setting.RCFor job seekers who might pick up this book, whats the major takeaway?DKIts not about you. Its about the other person. In a job-seeking scenario, its less about selling yourself and more about understanding the other person interviewing you what they want to accomplish and how you can help them accomplish that.RCWould you say that the same kind of thinking applies to recruiters?DKYes. Recruiters should think less about themselves and how awesome they are, and more about the business theyre working with. What are the businesss needs and how can they help?

Rotary Snow Plow Joins ASME Landmark Roster

Rotary Snow Plow Joins ASME Landmark Roster Rotary Snow Plow Joins ASME Landmark Roster Rotary Snow Plow Joins ASME Landmark RosterThe Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2, the first machine to reliably remove deeply packed snow from railroad tracks, welches designated as an ASME historic mechanical engineering landmark in a ceremony held in Duluth, Minn., on April 16. (Photos by Wil Haywood, ASME Public Information)The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2, the oldest rotary snow plow still in existence, became ASMEs 257th historic mechanical engineering landmark in a ceremony held in Duluth, Minn., on April 16. The designation ceremony, which was held at the Lake oben liegend Railroad Museum, was attended by members of the Minnesota Section and University of Minnesota-Duluth Student Section as well as enthusiasts and representatives and trustees from the museum.The first machine to reliably remove deeply packed snow from railroad tracks, the now retired Snow Plow No. 2 is on p ermanent display at the railroad museum. Powered by a locomotive-type steam engine, the Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 employed a bi-directional rotating wheel with blades, and was propelled by several locomotives. ASME Past President Richard J. Goldstein (pictured) presented the bronze landmark plaque to Timothy Schandel, curator of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, during the ceremony. The plow, which was built in 1887 by Cooke Locomotive Machine Works of Patterson, N.J. remained in service for 81 years, originally serving in the Cascade Mountain region of the western North America before it was moved east to clear railroad tracks in Minnesota and North Dakota.The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 was nominated for ASME landmark status by the University of Minnesota-Duluth Student Section, and championed by student section member Adam Broderius, who led the yearlong effort to have the plow designated as an ASME landmark.The bronze landmark plaque was presented t o Timothy Schandel, curator of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, by ASME Past President Richard J. Goldstein during the designation ceremony. Goldstein, an ASME Fellow and Honorary Member, served as ASMEs 115th president from 1996 to 1997. ASME History and Heritage Representative Herman Viegas also attended the April 16 event. Herman Viegas, ASME History and Heritage representative, at the April 16 landmark designation ceremony. The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 was the second ASME landmark to be designated in the state of Minnesota, following the Thermo King Refrigeration Unit, which was named an ASME landmark in 1996.For more information on the ASME History and Heritage Landmarks Program, and to view the complete list of ASME mechanical engineering landmarks, visit www.asme.org/about-asme/engineering-history/landmarks/about-the-landmarks-program.

Email Etiquette Tips for Job Seekers

Email Etiquette Tips for Job SeekersEmail Etiquette Tips for Job SeekersWhen you are job searching, youll likely use schmelzglas for a number of reasons. You might send anemaillelelele asking about job openings, or anemail titelblatt letter with a resumeattached. You might send networking emails asking contacts for help with your job search. You will likely also send email thank-you messages after interviews. When you use email to job search, its important that all your communications are as professional as they would be if you were writing an old-fashioned paper letter. Heres information on all you need to know about job search email etiquette,includingwhat to put in your job search emails, how to format your emails, and how to make sure your email messages are read. Email Etiquette Tips for Job Seekers Set Up a job search email account.When youre looking for a job, its a good idea to platzset up an email account just for job searching. That way your professional email wont get mixed in with your personal mail. There are a variety of free web-based email services, like Gmail and Yahoo, that you can use. Youll be able to check your email online from any computer, so using webmail is a good way to stay on top of your job search. Be sure you have an email account name that is appropriate for business use, i.e. firstname.lastnamegmail.com rather than cutegirlhotmail.com. Once youve set up the account, send yourself a few test messages to make sure you can send and receive mail. Use this email account for all your job search communications to apply for jobs, post your resume, and connect with your contacts. Be sure to check your account frequently so that you can respond immediately to employers who are interested in hiring you. Also set up your job search email on your smartphone so you can get notifications instantly. Dont use your work email account.Many companies monitor email communications, and you dont want to get caughtjob searching from work. Dont use your work email address for job searching or networking. Dont send resumes and cover letters from your work email account or use that email address when you apply for jobs online. Send your email to a specific person.When possible, send your email to a contact person, rather than a general email box. Send a copy to yourself, so you have a record of the emails you have sent and the jobs youve applied to. Use a clear subject line.Your email message needs asubject line. If you leave the subject blank, the email isprobably going to end up in a spam mailbox or be deleted. Make sure you list the position you are applying for in thesubject lineof your email message, so the employer knows what job you are applying for. You might want to include your name in the subject as well. Below are two examples of appropriate subject lines Subject Line Communications Director PositionSubject Line Marketing Associate Position / Your anthroponym Choose a simplefont.Avoid ornate, difficult-to-read fonts. Use abasic fontlike Times New Roman, Arial, or Cambria. Dont use color in your text, either. Use size 10 or 12 point, so that the email is easy to read, without being too big. Write like its a business letter.In general, your email messages should look a lot likebusiness letters. They should include words, not acronyms, slang or emoticons. The email letters should be written in full sentences and paragraphs. Begin with a salutation, and end with a send-off and yoursignature. The only difference between an email and a business letter is that in an email you dont need to include the employers contact information, the date, and your information in the top left corner. Keep it brief.People tend to skim, or even ignore,very long emails. Keep your email brief and to the point. Include a signature.Include anemail signaturewith your contact information, so its easy for the hiring manager to get in touch with you. Including a link to your LinkedIn profile is a good way to give the hiring ma nager more information on your skills and abilities. Below is a sample email signature FirstName LastNameEmail AddressPhoneLinkedIn Profile URL (Optional) Edit, edit, edit.Make sure you proofread your email for grammar and spelling errors. Clear writingis just as important in an email as it is in a business letter. Send a test message.Before you send your email, send the message to yourself to check that the formatting works. Also, make sure that any files you attached are easy to open. If everything looks good, resend the email to the employer. Email Message Content If you have a contact person, address your email to Dear Mr./Ms. LastName. If you dont, address your email to Dear Hiring Manager or simply start with the first paragraph of your message. When youapply for a job via email, copy and paste yourcover letter into the email messageor write your cover letter in the body of an email message. If the job posting asks you to send your resume as an attachment, send your resume as a PDF or a Word document. No matter your purpose for emailing, be clear about why you are writing and the purpose of your email message. Include this information early on in the email. The reader is much more likely to respond if they know, at a glance, why youre reaching out to them.

Patenting Selling Product Foreign Countries

Patenting Selling Product Foreign Countries Patenting Selling Product Foreign Countries In the past, while the international marketplace increased the potential for greater sales, it also raised the stakes for protecting intellectual property.A product may be protected by a patent in the manufacturers home country, but patent protection did not cross borders. A seller had to go through the patent process in each country where protection of IP rights is desired. Under an international agreement known as the Paris Convention, the patent application in each country had to be filed within a year of the filing at home. So if a manufacturer applied for a U.S. patent and a year goes by without filing for protection anywhere else, the intellectual property will be protected only in the United States. The manufacturer had effectively donated the design of the product to the rest of the world.Filing patent applications in all the likely overseas markets could cost into the hundreds of thousand s of dollars.There are a number of critical timing issues that new product introducers had to consider as they attempted to capture intellectual property rights and facilitate an early sale. Generally, the drivers for an overall IP protection strategy for a new product were(1) The existence of the one-year Paris Convention, which allowed patent applicants to file in other countries within one year of the domestic filing date(2) The potential to attract foreign purchasers or licensees within the first one-year period after filing and(3) The provision of a more rapid and, hopefully, more efficient license or sale of the product in each country.During leiter I, the following tasks would have needed to be completed1. Completely finish the product.2. Complete a comprehensive business plan3. Gather all information needed to promote the product.4. Identify competitors, customers, and related entities for(a) Product-related trade associations(b) Product-related professional associations(c) Related government branches, elected officials and bureaucrats, including test organizations and standards-setting groups (local, state and federal)(d) Related trade shows (very important for leiter III activities after filing)(e) All trade-related magazines, including paid and free subscriptions, trade sales, and trade-related product publications, especially those which may carry a nachrichten story relating to the product after the patent is filed(f) All newspapers and magazines in any way related to the applicant or product, including those associated through geography or language, for example(g) A list of product endorsers, particularly those who might endorse without compensation, and even local elected officials, comedians, radio personalities, and other public figures.These efforts should not have been limited to home country or home language. Where the product admitted to use anywhere, the entire world should have been considered the potential market and the information dat abase should have been expanded accordingly.5. Integrate information gathered in Steps (1) through (4) to determine which markets to enter. Using all of the above information, make a list of why the product is better than others currently available, comparing all versions of the product (both high-end and basic) to the next-best alternative. This information will be used by the patent attorney in drafting the case.To begin Phase II, they needed to submit all product information, especially the information outlined in Step 5 above, to the patent attorney and allow two months for the patent to be completed (both first and final drafts), executed by the inventor and then filed.During Phase II, there should have been no disclosure or transmission of information, but fully prepare all media which can possibly be used to market the product so that it will be ready for dissemination immediately after the patent application is filed.Trade shows should have been scheduled during Phase III, o nly after the patent is filed, yet you should have tried to attend trade shows in the first year early enough so that you had enough time in the year left over for negotiation, but not so early that the publications wouldnt have time to publish your news items.You should have chosen shows early in the Phase III cycle to allow sufficient time to determine what foreign distributors were interested in your product. You would need to have made all the relevant foreign filings within your deadlineone year from the home country filing date.Filing the patent was a prerequisite for beginning Phase III absolutely no activities in Phase III should have taken place until it could be established with certainty that filing had occurred. To do otherwise would forfeit rights in other countries. It may have been preferable to devote a few days after the patent filing to secure a postal or computer filing receipt or other proof of filing in hand.Once the patent filing could be established with certa inty, youd begin Phase III which entailed all aspects of selling and marketing the product.Adapted from a Mechanical Engineering web exclusive by Curtis L. Harrington and Kathy E. Harrington.Filing patent applications in all the likely overseas markets could cost into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.