Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), founded in 1948, is the largest Human Resources industry professional association. SHRM represents mora than 275,000 members in over 140 countries. At this writing, SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters in the United States and subsidiary offices in China and India. 93% of Fortune 500 Companies are represented in SHRMs membership. The Mission of SHRM SHRMsmissionis to serve the professional development needs of HR professionals. The organization works through research, publications, and legislative input to advance the interests of the HR profession. Lately, SHRM has extended efforts to impact the workplace as a whole through stepped up legislative recommendations and the development of industry standards. The most common face of SHRM, that practitioners experience, is found at theSHRM website. The website features articles, legislative up dates, news, HR policy and other practitioner samples, books, and jobs. Many of its professional resources are only available to members. Members also receive the monthlyHRMagazineby mail or online. If you live outside of the United States, you can be an online member only. This allows you access to the information but without a hard copy of the magazine. The SHRM website is a tremendous help to all HR practitioners - whether youre handling HR and other tasks in a small business, or if youre one of the hundreds of HR people within your organization. For instance, with your membership number and name, you can access information such as the2016 HSA limitsor the latest information on theBan-the-Box rule. SHRM offers an annual national conference somewhere in the United States, usually in June. The speakers are experts in their respective fields and give valuable information for all. Also, the conference also allows HR people to network with each other, providing the opportunity to grow our careers, as well as help others, grow theirs. SHRM sponsors additional national conferences focusing on areas such as legislation. SHRM has also traditionally sponsored smaller, regional conferences through its state-affiliated chapters. Typically, a local SHRM chapter offers monthly lunch meetings. Thesemeetings feature member networking and a speakerwith expert credentials who talk on a topic related to member interests. It also allows you a space to meet with other people who understand what HR does on a daily basis. The shared situation and experience can relieve stress. Monthly chapters also feature networking events such as an annual golf outing, an annual legislative update, and a state-wide conference. Joining SHRM If your employer pays, the answer is hands down yes. Theres absolutely no reason notlage to become a member. If you are the only HR person or one of a few in a small company, you should petition your boss for membership. Human Resources is a constantly ch angingfield, and there is no way one person can keep on top of every regulation change and every best practice. Membership is inexpensive for a business and will return value to the company. Remind your management that mistakes are easy to make and expensive to recover from. SHRM membership is a cheap way to stay on top of changes. If youre part of a large HR team, membership may not be as critical. You have expertise among your colleagues, and you can become an expert in your area of focus. However, having information, networking, conventions, sample templates for policies and procedures, and ideas to help youdetermine your next steps are also valuable. SHRM also offers education and training that can help you advance in your HR career. If you hold certification, such as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certificate, you can use SHRM classes to fulfill your continuing education requirements. These classes can be taught in person or virtually, which means you dont have to trav el to get great training.

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying for a Job

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying for a Job7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying for a Job7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying for a JobDont apply to another job until youve asked yourself these questions.Lets face it the job search can be a frustrating process. And job applications? Dont get me started Before you spend another minute filling out yet another tedious online job application, ask yourself the following questions to make sure its worth your time.Does the role fit into my long-term career plans?Whenever possible, be strategic with the job positions you apply for. Each job should be a stepping stone towards your ideal career. When evaluating a position, consider if it will help you build the right skills for your dream job. Even if youre searching for part-time work to help pay the bills, look for opportunities that would allow you to work in your target industry or expose you to a field you want to pursue in the future.If youre already established in your career and seeking full-time work, consider if the job plays to your strengths or will help you fill any skill gaps that are holding you back from getting ahead. While no job is perfect, do you find the majority of the job description to be enticing? Dont apply to a job you know will leave you feeling bored, unmotivated, or just plain frustrated.Related Set Goals that Really Matter to Your CareerDo I meet the requirements? Am I over- or under-qualified for the role?Remember, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Before you apply to a job, carefully review the job description. Then read it over one mora time. Some job postings will include a ridiculously long wish list of qualifications that the company would like the ideal candidate to possess. Your job is to identify which of those qualifications are on the hiring managers list of must-have requirements. In other words, what are the deal breakers? If an MBA and six years of management experience are required a nd you dont have these, then the job application is a waste of your time and theirs.Pay special attention to the number of years that are required for the role. If theyre looking for someone with 3-5 years of experience and you just graduated with little to no relevant internship experience, this job is a not a good fit. The same goes if you have 10 or mora years of relevant experience. The required years of experience indicate the level of responsibility the position holds and the pay range the company is willing to offer. If youre over-qualified for the job, you can expect the pay to be less than what youre accustomed to making. In addition, the organization may assume youll get bored in the position and jump ship as soon as a better opportunity comes around.What do I know about the company culture?You can possess all the qualifications for a role, but if you dont mesh well with the organizations culture, then you ultimately wont be successful. Consider the work environments of th e companies where youve thrived in the past to get a sense of what types of companies you should target during your current job search. Take steps to investigate the company culture of a prospective employer to make sure the job application is worth your time.Is the commute reasonable?If you took this position, how would you get to work? Would you need to relocate for the role (and if so, are you and your family willing and able to make such a move)? Would you be able to take public transportation or would you have to drive? How much would your commute cost you per year? How long would it take you to get to the schreibstube? Does the company have a reputation of offering flexible work schedules or telecommuting options?While you may love the job opportunity, you have to be realistic. First, local candidates usually get preference over those who apply from out-of-state because employers are worried about relocation costs and getting burned by a impulsive candidate who turns into a co stly flight risk. Second, the length and the cost of your commute must be taken into account. Both of these factors have an impact on your quality of life. Make sure the commute is feasible before you apply.Do I know anyone who works at the company?Studies have shown youre 10 times more likely to land the job when your application is accompanied by an employee referral. Before applying for the position, go through your network to see if you know anyone who currently works or previously worked at the organization. Oftentimes the online application will specifically ask you if you know someone at the company. I guarantee those candidates get some preferential treatment. Also, if you reach out to your connection, he or she may be able to pass a copy of your resume along to the hiring manager, helping you bypass some of the initial applicant screening processes.As an added bonus, this person may be able to provide you with insights into the company culture and the organizations hiring p ractices to help you evaluate the position and customize your resume and cover letter accordingly.Have I customized my resume and cover letter?Even a professionally written resume may require a few tweaks for a particular position. Take a look at the job description one more time. How does it define the role and its responsibilities? What specific language does it use to state the core requirements? If you possess those qualifications, make sure they are obvious to the reader.You can also copy and paste the job description and your resume into Wordle to identify the most frequently used resume keywords and see how your application measures up.Related How to Avoid the Resume Black HoleDoes my online presence support my career story?According to a study by Jobvite, 93 percent of employers will search for your social profiles before inviting you in for an in-person interview. Make sure your online presence is consistent with your resume so that candidate the interviewer meets in person and reads about on paper matches whats online. Click on the following links for tips on how to monitor your online brand and to download TopResumes free personal branding checklist.Click on the following link for more job search advice.A successful job application starts with a great resume. Submit your resume for a free review.Recommended ReadingHow to Follow Up on a Job ApplicationHow to Create a Target Company List for Your Job Search7 Job-Search Statistics You Should Know

A Goal in Mind

A Goal in Mind A Goal in Mind A Goal in MindWhat is it about world champion hockey goalies? Why did it seem like Patrick Roy could will his team to a Stanley Cup? And what must it have felt like for a top scorer to shoot powerfully and watch Roys awe-inspiring reflexes stop the shot?Well, one way to beat a strong goalie is to practice against one. And theres a mind who has made that happen. Of course, after you go up against this new goaltender for a while, you still may not be ready for the NHL. Because rather than taking to the ice, this goalie focused on air hockey.The Puck Stops HereJuan Pedro Calderon Negueroles, founder of JJ Robots in Edinburgh, UK, says the thought of a robot for air hockey actually came from his daughter. I am a robot enthusiast but never did something like this. The idea was to be friendly and affordable to everyone and at the same time doable to someone who wants to replicate it, he says.The air hockey robot (1) exchanges information with a computer (3) an d a camera looking at the rink (2). Image JJRobotsAnd the parts involved? I have used common elements from the Maker and 3D printer world, he says. The motors are the ones used in almost every 3D printer, and the same for the stepper motor drivers and the electronics (Arduino). Of course, there were many challenges along the way. Actually, there were a lot of problems to solve, he says. Mechanical problems, timing issues, real-time processing, calculation bottle necks. It is way more complicated that it looks at first glance. The fast response was the key and using inexpensive elements was a challenge.The air hockey robot has the visual features recognizing.No PushoverNegueroles hopes to get everyone in on the action. I am currently working on a simulator that will allow everyone to simulate a virtual air hockey robot and set different parameters like accelerations, aggressiveness, defensive skills, he says. This would be a nice feature for any student who wants to know how a robot like this works and how to adjust it.Still, dont expect the robot to be a pushover. Its a challenge unless you know how to beat it according to its internal parameters, he says. Even so, it is quite difficult to beat and if you adjust its parameters perfectly it is simply impossible. The robot is faster than you and if it adopts a defensive behavior there isnt any fun at all, so you have to find the balance. And this robot goalie doesnt just lager shots but it pushes the puck forward, forcing you to hone your goalie skills as well.Like trying to find the net, this project required shooting for solutions until finally breaking through. Sometimes the problems seemed impossible to solve and I was about to give up more than two times, Negueroles admits. The work has resulted in an overwhelming response from the robotics community, he says. And maybe its not surprising when you consider how popular air hockey has been over the years.Of course, this still leaves one vital question yet to be answered.Can the robot beat Patrick Roy?Eric Butterman is an independent writer.Even so, it is quite difficult to beat and if you adjust its parameters perfectly it is simply impossible.Juan Pedro Calderon Negueroles, JJ Robots