5 Big Differences in Job Searching Today

5 Big Differences in Job Searching Today5 Big Differences in Job Searching Today4If youre finding yourself job searching for the first time in a while, a number of typical job search components have probably changed. Here are five of the biggest differences between the job search of yesterday and job searching today.5 Big Difference in Job Searching Today1. Resumes and Cover Letters Arent Printed AnymoraMost organizations do not receive paper resumes anymore. Instead, they opt for a more efficient and organized way of doing things using e-mail and job application systems. What does that mean for you?ALWAYS expect your application materials to be read on a computer screen. Actually, now that Im typing this, its more possible than ever your documents are being viewed on a device (smartphone or tablet). This means you have to format your resume and cover letter in a way that makes screen-scanning easy. Really easy.Try using these writing techniquesMake sure there is plenty of white spac e on the pageKeep paragraphs shortUse headlines to break up contentUseboldanditalicsto emphasis key pointsUsecolortastefully, consider adding logos, icons or charts2. A Summary is PlentyThese days, the almighty resume is used mostly in the screening process while the REAL decisions are made after interviews. And because there are so many folks competing for each job, HR people (or hiring managers) often scan resumes for only a moment.In fact, the average time spent reading a resume is 30 seconds.The majority of resumes today are no longer than two pages but still include the expanded sections of yesterdays longer resumes. My advice? Keep it simple and remove that extra bullet point.3. Social Proof is MandatorySocial proof dramatically shrinks the perceived risk of you as a candidate. Examples of social proof are testimonials or recommendations.The biggest error a hiring manager can make is to hire the wrong person. This can cost a company a ton of money and ultimately put the hiring managers own job at risk. Ouch. Some report if a new-hire leaves within 90 days, it costs the organization one and half that persons annual salary. And with the economy as competitive as it is, you can understand why employers are so cautious.Set their mind at ease by offering endorsements on your resume and LinkedIn profile. A good rule of thumb is to have the number of recommendations equal to 10% of the number of contacts in your LinkedIn network.4. Genuine Interaction First, Resumes SecondResumes arent really used as introductory documents anymore. Fresh connections will often ask for your resume AFTER the introduction is made which means your first impression is more vital than a silly ol resume.And if an introduction is made online, your digital profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) offer a better window to your professionalism than a resume. So shift your priorities from, Oh crap, I have to get my finish my resume to, Oh crap, where can I meet some more people today? or Oh crap , how can I look better online.Theres a reason over 80% of jobs are landed through networking. Alter your strategy, today.5. Google Trumps Your Resume, Every TimeRecruiters are now using more affordable ways to find talent Google and LinkedIn. Spending cash on job-board and talent databases are no longer the primary strategy. In fact, the majority of companies are even requiring every new application go through a Google screening process. That means the first page of your Google results matter much more than ever before.But, heres the schwierigkeitThe items Google delivers on search results for your name are very difficult to control. After all, background checks are carefully regulated in order to avoid the types of misunderstandings happening online these days.Besides, Googles algorithm changes several times a year. So what can you do about it?Well, the last thing you should do is ignore this reality. As a job seeker, you have two courses of action.First, you become a publisher of original content and overflow Googles spiders with lots of great keyword-rich content.Second, you control the results on a Google search withVizibility.com. members receive a free 60 day trial of Vizibility Premier Regular price is $2.95/month. This information is an excerpt from my new book,Job Searching With Social Media for Dummies.Do all these differences make sense? What are your tips for job searching today? Leave your comments and questions below.

How to Write an Email Greeting and Email Sign-Off

How to Write an Email Greeting and Email Sign-OffHow to Write an Email Greeting and Email Sign-OffIf youre concerned about effective communication in the workplace, youve probably wondered How do I start and end a geschftsleben schmelzglasle? Ask 10 professionals what the best emaille greeting and email sign-off is, and youll get 11 responses. For some, you must remain formal at all times, and only Dear and Sincerely will do. For others, a simple Hey, Cheers or even Thnx are perfectly appropriate. For others still, no email greeting or sign-off is even necessary. Where do you - and should you - fall on the spectrum?The email greetingMany of us dash off so many emails in a day that its easy to consider them casual. Some certainly are - for example, sending a quick note to ask a coworker a question or putting in your lunch order for the meeting next week. In those cases, anything other than a friendly, familiar greeting would come off as ... well, weird.But not every email is as inf ormal, of course, and taking a relaxed attitude with each message is a big mistake. You want to be mora professional when emailing someone youve worked with only a few times before, a new client or a company executive, for instance. Treat it like a business letter, business etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore says of work emails. When in doubt? Its better to be more formal than too casual, she advises.By being respectful in your email communications, you show the recipient that you are a competent, conscientious businessperson. This is especially important if youve yet to establish much of a connection with the person youre emailing. Your email - and your email greeting, in particular - is the first impression he or she has of you. If your email greeting is too informal or personal, it can be off-putting and give the impression that youre rushed, inattentive or sloppy.Heres Whitmores take on several voreingestellt approaches to the email greetingDear Name - The best bet for busi ness communication.Hello, Name - Also acceptable but a little more relaxedHi, Name - The friendliest option while still appearing professional.No greeting - Not recommended. Use at your own peril.You can hardly be wrong going too formal. But you can be dead wrong going too casual, Whitmore says. In the beginning, its better to be more formal than casual. As time goes on, and you have a relationship with a person, you can relax a bit.JOB HUNTING? WE CAN HELP YOUThe email sign-offWhitmores go-to business email closing is Best regards or All my best followed by her name. But email etiquette is not black-and-white, she says. The email greeting and email sign-off choices she uses depend who Im sending the email to, how well I know them and my relationship with them, she says. The No. 1 rule, according to her, is to not be too affectionate in your email sign-off.For someone Whitmore has an established relationship with, the most affectionate I might get is Warm regards or Kind regards, she says. Signing off with xoxo is entirely inappropriate for business emails.If youre in a creative industry or have a strong personal brand, your email closing could have more character, though. A friend of mine writes vegan books, and she signs her emails Love and blessings, Whitmore says. And thats who she is.For more casual email communications, you could sign off with a Cheers, Thanks, or Best. But Whitmore strongly advises steering clear of any text-like abbreviations when it comes to your email sign-off, like Tx or Thank u, no matter whom youre communicating with or how well you know them.A cheat sheet to email greetings and sign-offsKnowing that etiquette is so situational, its difficult to prescribe a one-size-fits-all email greeting and email sign-off. But this chart can guide you in the right directionRecommendedNot RecommendedBusiness email greetingDear Name,Hello, Name,Hi, Name,Good morning, Name,Hi,Hey,Yo, Name,Whats up?Business email sign-offBest regards,Sincerely,T hank you,Love,Tx,TGIF,Subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter for free articles and resources to help you land a new job, succeed in your career, and build and manage a winning team - all sent directly to your inbox.

Infographic Successful Job Interview Tips

Infographic Successful Job Interview TipsInfographic Successful Job Interview Tips17job interview. After all, its one BIG step closer to landing a new job But job interviews are also one of the most stressful parts of the job search process, and many job seekers fail to prepare themselves well enough to succeed.This infographic by InterviewSuccessFormula.com illustrates how job seekers can read the most common types of interviews and interviewers and how to succeed in the process, including in-person interviews, phone interviews, video interviews, and group interviews.Heres the infographic containing successful job interview tips

What to Do When a Co-Worker Puts in Two Weeks Notice- The Muse

What to Do When a Co-Worker Puts in Two Weeks Notice- The MuseWhat to Do When a Co-Worker Puts in Two Weeks NoticeFor a variety of reasons, people leave their jobs. This is undoubtedly a big deal in their lives. However a departure doesnt just affect that person, but also those left behind, too. If the person leaving is your friend, you may be really sad. Who will you grab Thai food with on Thursdays? Who will listen to you rant about your worst client and then give you really good advice? (And even if you two never saw eye-to-eye, therbeiell be a vacancy in your department, and thatll affect you, too.)Regardless, theres mora to it than writing well-wishes in a going away card and raising a glass at her farewell happy hour. Here are six smart things you should do when a colleague gives her two weeks notice.1. Check in With Your BossIf someones departure will impact your workload, its good to know how so you can be prepared. For example, if he wont be replaced right away, you may be a sked to take on extra work. Or, if the position is going to be reimagined and split across departments, that could affect your role, too.So, set a meeting and ask your babo what you can expect in the coming weeks (or months). Then ask to hash out a game plan together, so you can both be on the same page during the transition period. Of course, your manager will appreciate it a lot more if you frame this as a desire to be supportive while things are in flux, rather than a need to know exactly how many nights you may be asked to work a little later.2. Learn His SkillsIs your colleague leaving a role youve been eyeing? If so, ask him to impart some of that coveted knowledge before he goes. Again, sell it to your manager as a desire to help keep bases covered. (Bonus If the companys waiting to sto off the hiring process, youll be a very attractive candidate for the role when it opens up.)And if your co-workers already training a replacement? Ask if you can sit in on the sessions. Hey, y oull still be building out your skill set- for free.3. Ask for NotesFrom a top clients favorite wine choice to hacks for your companys most complicated software program, your colleague likely has her own trade secrets. Ask if shell share this info with you before she leaves. Preface any conversation with a compliment, It always impresses me that you consistently convince Company B to renew its contract early- what do you think youre doing differently than the rest of us?While any guides shes written along the way will be useful, odds are your boss already asked her to save those to the shared drive. So, I recommend asking for all the unofficial tips that made her so successful, including anything quirky that she felt silly putting down in writing. For example, Michelle loves her dog more than anyone, so asking how Mr. Kibbles is doing is a surefire way to get on her good side.4. Do Your Own Version of an Exit InterviewOf course, theres some feedback your co-worker would probably rat her share outside the office walls. Invite her to coffee or lunch and ask her impression on the company, why shes leaving, and what advice and guidance she may be able to offer you. Of course, you cant do this with someone youve never said more than Good morning to. But if its a colleague you know, this is the time when shell probably be willing to share her insights.Just remember that you still work at the company. So even if she starts talking about how she secretly always hated another member of your team or how your boss voice is so annoying, dont join in. Redirect by telling her youd love to hear what strategies she used to be successful in her position and what (positive) advice shed give to someone starting on the team tomorrow. 5. ConnectNowadays, one of the best way to keep tabs on a former colleague is LinkedIn. So, send a connection request before he get distracts with his new gig.If you worked together closely, be sure to ask for a LinkedIn recommendation as well. (Bonus points for good LinkedIn etiquette if you offer to write one for him, too.) Unlike his first few months at his new position, he probably does have the time now to complete requests like this.Related Your 5-Minute Guide to Writing an Amazing LinkedIn RecommendationDepending on how close you are, its probably also a good idea to swap personal email addresses or follow each other on social media. While LinkedIns the professional way to keep in touch, you may find email, tweeting articles and back forth, and even Instagram tagging to be a more natural, less buttoned-up way to say hi throughout the coming years. 6. Show Your AppreciationDont overlook saying a heartfelt goodbye. If you enjoyed working with someone- if he inspired you or taught you something- let him know. Showing appreciation does wonders for work relationships. Even though you wont be working together, your paths may cross again someday- and if youre in the same city and professional association- that day could be, like , tomorrow. Ending on a positive note, and then not letting the connection grow entirely cold, could make a big difference when it comes time for you to look for a new role.Even though a colleagues departure can be sad (or stressful), if you follow these six steps youll be able to make the most of this situation. Photo of work conversation courtesy of Shutterstock.

The Resume with Gpa Diaries

The Resume with Gpa Diaries The Basic Principles of Resume with Gpa That You Can Benefit From Beginning Today Not the type of first impression you will need to wish to portray. A well written resume is one that is not so overwhelming in the opinion of employers. Explain why you would like the job without sounding whiny. Be sure to prevent words like hard worker since its already assumed you are. A Secret Weapon for Resume with Gpa It might also be appropriate to bring the state in which youre certified, especially if youre applying for jobs away from your house. As our main customer-facing position, you will learn the the inner workings of all our products and be in a position to help our clients in everything from choosing the most suitable hand cream to managing international returns. The most suitable candidate is going to want to learn about multiple substantive places and take on a broad assortment of responsibilities. There are quite a lot of places the place youre a ble to acquire good resume examples. Top Resume with Gpa Choices To be certain, many smaller employers wont expect to observe a GPA on a resume, but the majority of large companies will. If youre a CS major applying for a programming job, odds are the employer would like to utilize your GPA within CS as an indicator of whether you will be in a position to do the job. It is very simple for an employer to confirm your GPA by taking a look at your transcript. If youre calculating a significant GPA, be certain that if employers ask for your transcript, they will have the ability to follow your calculations. Scenario 2 If they opt to promote you to a greater level position in the future, they may look to confirm your education and GPA. Job applications incorporate many distinct elements that matter over a GPA. Think about placing your GPA only as long as you have under 3 decades of experience. After you have 2-3 decades of work experience, it is the right time to eliminate your G PA from your resume. In the event the position only calls for five decades of experience, your very first task must be to make sure your resume shows five decades of solid experience. If it isnt written on the resume, then youre leaving it up to them to guess in case you have that skill. Needless to say, in the broader sense, its relevant, since the topic of knowledge is identical. Resume examples for free will assist you in a detailed course of on the best way to compose your resume. Resume with Gpa Options On looking out it online, youre secure the record of templates for the specific position. Every kind of job demands particular abilities, qualifications and expertise. Creating your first resume doesnt have to be a struggle. You may pick the template for the place you should apply. A Startling Fact about Resume with Gpa Uncovered The very first point is really much self-explanatory. Dont send in a string of disjointed emails over the span of a day or two that each c ontain different details. Unless, obviously, youre asking for a job where that training course is very relevant. Naturally, when it comes time to complete the work program, list all your employers, even the short ones. Locate a means to add something genuinely different to your resume thats also related to the job. If you believe its pretty cool you know the way to use standard applications, I am likely to worry you dont know a lot about computers. The search is basically a numbers game. New Step by Step choreografie for Resume with Gpa You need to allow them to know youve added an extra school and desire a letter. If you want my opinion, it is far better to dont have any cover letter than to have a poor cover letter, particularly if your cover letter is a templated content. Your address needs to be your existing residence, where you could get mail in a timely fashion. For instance, you can begin by sending out a specific amount of resumes each week. Get the Scoop on Resume with Gpa Before Youre Too Late Occasionally a school choice is going to be limited by the major. If you currently have work experience it will matter a lot more than your grades. If you currently have experience in the area, you also need to avoid listing your GPA and pay attention to your experience instead. While you might have minimal work experience for a high-school student, you may use your resume to highlight activities and exceptional skills that show your value to a possible employer or college interviewer. If you are prepared to apply for one of our latest graduate or student programs in Capital Markets, please make sure you submit your information to the right email inbox. Assemble a draft of your resume and carry out a crucial analysis of just how much substance is in fact included when alls said and done. Older experience might also be shown in the Summary of Experience paragraph also. Finance experience isnt required.

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume

Unbiased Report Exposes the Unanswered Questions on Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume Deciding upon the proper minor can enhance your upcoming outlook too. At times, however, the decision isnt crystal clear, and it can be hard to choose just one path. Double majoring or minoring is an alternative for you to alter the world in the very best way you can. You have some options in regard to how you wish to list it. The Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume Cover Up Take a look at this political consultant resume. If you believe you might want a career as a political consultant, start looking for opportunities to become involved with your community government. Its also a fantastic place to concisely demonstrate the employer your written communication abilities. Learn as much as possible concerning the organization so that you are able to express yourself knowledgeably about how youd fit in the organization and why youre interested. Writing a Double Major and Min or on Resume - Overview As stated by the Huffington Post, some college minors can provide you a leg up on the competition and create your resume look far better. There are a number of programs available to assist students break free from the limits of a single major. Rather than picking numerous minors, you are able to often take merely a couple more classes to double major in two fields of study without having to spend any more time in school. The classes you take in your minor field will be able to help you broaden your abilities and learn there are unique methods to achieve the exact things. What Is So Fascinating About Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume? A minor is somewhat like a major as its an intensive plan of study into one field, but it is not as rigorous and in-depth than a major. However, its very valuable to me and I want to include it in my resume. A double major essentially provides you two degrees, even though a minor simply offers you the opportunity to explore another field of interest. But What About Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume? Employers will recognize the difficult work necessary to attain more than one major. Resumes are crucial to the work hunt. Understanding Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume There are a lot of approaches to format and organize resumes. This information was adapted from such workshops for use in an internet format. The important thing is to guarantee clean formatting and effortless readability. Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume Features A minor is frequently a good bit of relevant info, especially whenever your minor is associated with the job for which youre applying. Below is a good example of the way to set a minor on your resume. That kind of combination would really permit a candidate to come in on the technical side but in addition allow him to benefit from the company applications. Youre able to observe an instance of this below. Key Pieces of Writing a Double Major and Minor on Resume Remember that these programs are usually very competitive, and applicants must acquire admission to both colleges to be able to participate. If you wish to do something similar to this, be certain to read about the requirements at your college. In addition, if you get a masters degree or doctorate as a portion of your program, you will probably start at a greater salary for an entry-level job than youd with merely a bachelors. Furthermore, if you wind up with two bachelors degrees, you wont necessarily have a considerable advantage for jobs beyond entry level, though you could have an edge with regard to job possibilities, because youll have several regions of focus.

How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Previous Job

How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Previous JobHow to Answer Interview Questions About Your Previous JobIts easy to talk at interviewabout what you liked about your previous job, but you need to be careful when responding to questions about the downsides of your brde position. Its leid the time to vent, so heres what you need to know about answering this type of question. Some of the common ways interviewers inquire about previous jobs include What did you most like and dislike about your previous job?What did you enjoy most in your last role?What did you dislike about your last role?What were the best and worst aspects of your last employer? What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know By asking about your feelings toward a previous job, ahiring committeeoften isnt that interested in the list of actual likes or dislikes you can provide. Rather, theyre trying to judge your character by listening to the tone and attitude with which you respond to a tricky question. Details of your likes and dislikes can also reveal whether youll be agood fit culturallyat the company at hand. How to Answer Questions About Your Previous Job Thebest strategy to use in this case is to focus on the positives of your previous job and totalk about how your experiences there have prepared you to assume a progressive and challengingnew role with a different employer. You dont want the interviewer to think youll also speak negatively about this job or the company should you eventually decide to move on after they hire you. Neither do you want to provide them with the first impression that youre a complainer, hold grudges, or are difficult to work with. When youre asked at ajob interviewabout what you didnt like about your previous job, try not to be too negative. If the interviewer presses you to say something negative- or if you feel that your answer will not be complete without a nod toward the negative aspects- keep it focused on tasks, situations, or company structure, and not on people. Bonus points if its something that will be easier at the new company. For example I often found myself frustrated by the limitations of our content management system- it was slow and also prone to crashing. Thats why I was so relieved to hear you say that ABC Companys had recently been updated. Examples of the Best Answers I enjoyed the people I worked with. It was afriendly and fun atmosphere, and I actually enjoyed going to work each morning. I felt thatthe leadership team was great too. They knew all of their employees on a first name basis and tried to make those personal connections. I also enjoyed the fact that the office tried to do community outreach with local organizations. ExpandWhy It Works This answer is so revealing Personal connections are clearly a priority for this candidate. This honest-seeming response says a lot about the candidates values as an employee. Plus, the overall tone is really positive. One of the reasons Im leaving is that I fel t I was not challenged enough at the job. As a new employee in the working world, the company offered me a great opportunity for a good entry-level position- one that Ill always be grateful for. However, after being there for so many years, I felt I wasnt able to fulfillallofmy potential because of a real lack of challenge. There was no room for advancement in the company. While I did enjoy working there and appreciate the skills I developed, I feel myskill setcan be better employed elsewhere.Somewhere my capabilities are more recognized, and wherethere is the opportunity for growth. ExpandWhy It Works Seeking more challengingwork makes a candidate seem like a hard worker. This person also seems quite loyal (After being there for so many years). Thats a good thing, since employers can be wary of hiring people who wont stick around. Through my experience at ABC Company, I learned a lot aboutdifferent management stylesand strategies for maintaining cooperation in a large group project setting. I feel that as valuable as that experience has been, I am eager to work on more specialized projects onwhich I will have the opportunity to be more of a leader than was going to be possible there. ExpandWhy It Works This answer keeps the focus on the positive aspects of the previous job. In a situation where the new role offers leadership opportunities, this answer will make a candidate appear a strong fit. While the people at XYZ Company were terrific to work with, I felt that the opportunities for me there were limited by the structure and size of the company. I believe that a larger company with an international presence can offer challengesandopportunities unavailable at a smaller firm. The position with your company is a great match for my skill set, and I feel that I would be an asset to your marketing (or HR or IT) department. ExpandWhy It Works This answer focuses on a negative structural aspect, making it clear why this job would be a better fit. Tips for Givin g the Best Answer Display positive energy.Your skills matter a lot, but employers are also looking for candidates who have enthusiasm, dedication, and energy. Avoid complaining in your response. Instead, focus on good experiences at your current (or former) employer. Mention positives that demonstrate your culture-fit or skills.Your mention of a positive aspect of your former job should ideally advance your candidacy. If what you liked was Free bagels on Thursdays that may be honest, but it does not show youre a good fit for the job at hand. End on a positive noteabflug off by mentioning a positive. Then mention the negative and try to pivot back around to something positive. You can do that by talking about how you managed the aspect you disliked, or bymaking a connection to the job youre interviewing for. Focus on tasks over peopleThis is not the time to complain about coworkers or your manager. Instead, talk about structural problems or characteristics of the company, unavailabl e opportunities, or tasks that were frustrating. What Not to Say Dont bad-mouth an employer or your peers.When an interviewing committee sees that you refuse to bad-mouth your previous employer, theyll trust that youll offer the same respect and loyalty to them if you become their new employee. Dontchoose a negative aspect that isnt common in the industry.Mention a dislike thats present at the company youre interviewing with, and you could disqualify yourself as a candidate. Be honest.As you can see, you want to be strategic in your response. But make sure also tobe genuine. If you truly loved your job let that shine through, and be specific about what made it so great. And if an aspect was frustrating, do mention it- without letting it overpower your response. Possible Follow-Up Questions Being asked what you liked and disliked about your former employer isnt the only question where you may have to tread carefully during a job interview. Here are othercommon interview quest ions and answersthat an interviewer will ask not only tolearn more about your skills and work background, but also to measure your personality and positivity What wasthe most/least rewarding at your last job?Why are you leaving your job?What interests you about this job?How is our company better than your present employer? Key Takeaways STAY POSITIVE.Do not vent or complain in your response. Keep it positive to help show that youre easy to work with and not prone to holding grudges.FOCUS ONWHATOVERWHO.Reference negative aspects that will be solved in the new job and avoid bad-mouthing the company or its employees.SHOW YOUR FIT WITH THE COMPANY/JOB.When you talk about both the positive and negative aspects of previous roles, you have an opportunity to further your case as a candidate. Take advantage

New System Aims to Cut the Cost of Solar Power in Half

New System Aims to Cut the Cost of Solar Power in Half New System Aims to Cut the Cost of Solar Power in Half New System Aims to Cut the Cost of Solar Power in HalfSolar power has many advantages, mainly an endless supply of energy by harnessing the power of the sun. But it suffers from extremely inefficient storage systems, a limitation that has kept prices high and limited the widespread adoption of the technology.alexanderplatz Huang, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and director of the schools Semiconductor Power Electronics Center, hopes to change that with a bold promise for the future of solar cutting the price of the technology in half by combining power generation and storage into one single system.We need to achieve higher efficiency in solar energy conversion, Huang says, referring to the purpose of his teams new power storage architecture, which recently earned a $3 1000000 research grant from the U. S. Department of Energy. And that led us to propose a new design that allows the solar power plant to be connected to the medium voltage system directly, instead of going through another transformer. We also added multi-function capabilities so this project has additional functionality, particularly in the integration of energy storage and to provide other services to the energy grid.For You A New Solar Cell on the BlockMost solar energy storage systems today are based around a solar invertor that is connected to a 480-volt or 690-volt system and then fed through a transformer. But those transformers are massive pieces of equipment, and add substantially to the cost of operation. Its like connecting a dedicated substation to each inverter in order to manage the system. That means the energy generated by the solar cells has to be moved and stored outside of the generators. Its inefficient, expensive and outdated.UTs solar farm at Pickle Research Campus. Image UT Cockrell School of En gineering CommunicationsDr. Huang s team is working to cut the cost of solar power and make it mora efficient by combining both power generation and storage into a single system. Its based around several new types of photovoltaic inverters, or modular, multifunction, multiport and medium-voltage utility-scale silicon carbide solar inverters, better known as an M4 inverter. This design is dedicated to converting the direct current output of a solar panel to medium-voltage alternating current without the need for an expensive and external low-frequency transformer.The basic way this works is were taking DC voltage from the solar and turning that into AC, but in this case the AC voltage is much higher than the DC voltage, Huang says.There is a high-frequency transformer inside the M4 inverter operating at frequencies hundreds and thousands times higher than those found in traditional transformers, which top out at around 60 Hz. This higher-frequency approach can improve the quality of the final product on its own, though the UT teams modular architecture design places several converters in series to further streamline the output quality.The end result is a clean power generation and storage system thats cheaper to operate and easier to maintain over time.But thats just the beginning.By incorporating the transformer functions into the solar power generation system itself, the M4 is also intended to drive clean energy adoption by utilities, offering new functionality and advanced tools that stand to change the way those power systems operate.For example, the lower voltage battery system in the M4 can be charged either via the solar panels directly or by tapping the existing electrical grid. From there, that power can be discharged back to the grid at any time. The battery system provides the buffer that commercial systems need to operate, making solar-produced power available for dispatch at any time, regardless of the weather time of day.It provides a lot of freed om for the grid, Dr. Huang says. When your solar power generation goes up when we have a lot of sunshine, or goes down when we have clouds in the sky, the storage can come in to make up the difference. So from a utility point of view, its more grid friendly. Its a very flexible, controlled system.Although still in the research stages, the long-term plan is to introduce this technology as a lower cost alternative to existing solar generation and storage solutions. One objective of the project is to demonstrate the overall ownership cost of modern solar, particularly the ongoing operation costs associated with clean energy sources.Its not just the initial capital cost, which will be higher than a traditional transformer system, per kilowatt level, but that will be offset by improved reliability, reduced service time, and the multi-port functions that offer additional revenues streams for systems, Huang says.Over time, Huang hopes this technology leads to broader adoption of solar powe r by utilities, driving more and more investment into these types of efficiency technologies. He believes the industry is already moving in this direction and is targeting power plants and commercial-scale installations.The message is that utilities can make use of solar in ways they have not been able to in the past, he says. Future solar energy systems will offer multiple functions and new kinds of connections by combining this kind of solution with new semi-conductor technology. This is just one part of the smart grid of the future.Tim Sprinkle is an independent technology writer.Listen to Episode 1 of ASME TechCast Building the Case for a Diversified Workforce, with Roma AgrawalThe message is that utilities can make use of solar in ways they have not been able to in the past.Prof. Alex Huang, University of Texas, Austin

Survey Majority of managers are uncomfortable with communication (aka doing their jobs)

Survey Majority of managers are uncomfortable with communication (aka doing their jobs)Survey Majority of managers are uncomfortable with communication (aka doing their jobs)To be a good manager to the employees youre in charge of, you need to be a strong communicator to your employees about your expectations, deadlines, and goals. But a newInteract surveyrecently highlighted by Harvard Business Reviewfound that the majority of managers are uncomfortable doing just these things. Otherwise known as doing their jobs.Survey Managers uncomfortable with giving any feedback to their employeesThe Interact survey of mora than 2,000 U.S. adults found that69% of the managers admitted that they were often uncomfortable communicating with employees. Over a third of managers surveyed said that they were uncomfortable giving direct feedback about their employees job performance if they thought the employees would take it badly.Basic communication skills like giving clear directions and speaking fa ce to face were also listed as stressors that made managers uncomfortable. Twenty percent of managers surveyed said that the thought of needing to deliver the company line about an employers change in direction made them uncomfortable.