How to Boost Your Creative Brainpower

How to Boost Your Creative BrainpowerHow to Boost Your Creative BrainpowerSearching for inspiration? Heres how four accomplished creative professionalscome up with all-star ideas.Generating ideas for new projects can seem daunting, and getting abfluged is frequently a huge part of the battle. Feeling stuck? We talked to Gail Anderson (cofounder of Anderson Newton Design), Will Miller (partner and creative director atFirebelly Design), Andrea Pippins (founder ofFly and adjunct faculty member at the Maryland Institute College of Art) and Ron Thompson (cofounder of Italic Studio) about how they tackle the idea generation process. Based on a wealth of experience, here are their tipsWhen it comes to idea generation, beginning is often the hardest part. How do you kick-abflug yourself?Anderson I collaborate with my partner, Joe Newton. Its great to have someone to commiserate with. He is probably more polite than he needs to be, but its good to know that theres someone there to shoot down my bad ideas as needed. We do a lot of pencil sketches and have copious notes scrawled everywhere, so we typically dont rush to the computer right away. Both Joe and I really enjoy dissecting a project together, so its fun to just sit at our desks and talk about all the possibilities.Miller Many times, we push ahead by looking back. Past projects provide many opportunities for good ideas that began to take shape but might not have come to fruition. We also ask ourselves what weve seen out in the world thats exciting - a special print process, a certain type of binding or an interaction we werent expecting. If its something of interest to the studio and makes good sense for a project, well try and find a way to explore it and make it unique.Pippins I typically start writing down words that come to mind when thinking of the topic at hand. Its usually in a list form or a mind map. I use those words to refine my research for inspirational imagery. I love going to the library to do rese arch, but I also use online resources. I build private mood boards on Pinterest for projects, and collect images that I can use as inspiration and reference throughout the process. Then I start sketching. Most times, those thumbnails are scanned in and used as a base where I build the final design or illustration.Thompson Luckily, we dont begin any project in a vacuum. We have a starting point that is spelled out in the client brief. After listening to our clients talk about the problem theyre trying to solve, well do a deep dive with them to learn all about their industry and their product. This initial research gets us in the right frame of mind for developing our concepts, from which all other ideas and visuals will flow.Do you have idea generation sessions with clients to get their input?Anderson Some clients really appreciate engaging, and others are too overwhelmed with their own day-to-day chaos to have time for more than a quick email. But its always preferable to draw clien ts out to get any tidbits of information, even if its simply telling us what they dont want. Weve been working with one client whos been really great about including us in their internal process, and who welcomes our input and guidance. Thats been really energizing, and keeps us on our toes. When a client truly respects your point of view, you want to give them 110 percent. Everyone wins.Miller When we talk about ideas and inspiration with the client, its typically early in the project. We present real-world examples of design, art, and architecture, and we talk about each example in a way that highlights the clients need or captures a key characteristic of the project. A 10- to 15-page deck of inspiration, organized by concept and design direction, really helps our client understand how what we do will directly tie to their goals and objectives. An added benefit of this step is it allows clients to voice their subjective distastes, helping us focus on what will be most well-receive d.Thompson Each client is a bit different. Some want working brainstorming sessions while others are fine being hands-off and letting us do our thing. With that said, we always start every project with a kickoff meeting in which we discuss the creative brief with our client, listen to their goals and then ask a ton of questions. Then, we like to break out on our own to really dig into our ideas rather than sit in a room and have a big brainstorming session where ideas are jotted on whiteboards. Those meetings can work against you when it comes to being efficient and letting your mind flow unedited.What do you do when you hit the proverbial wall? Do you have any advice on how to overcome creative blocks?Anderson Over time, Ive learned that the best thing to do when you hit a wall is to step back from the project. Close the file and walk away - temporarily, of course. Even when things are time-sensitive, you need to take a stroll around the block, get a cup of coffee, or whatever it takes to shift your mind and focus on something else, preferably not work-related. Its really important to figure out what to do when the needle gets stuck. Its a lesson that took me about 20 years to learn.Miller Theres a huge amount of collaboration in the office, so when one person is hitting a wall and feeling stuck, well share files and discuss. Theres no ownership of work and no one is protective of a project. We try to work together to move projects forward in the best and most appropriate way. Being willing to ask for advice and critique is a solid way to move forward.Pippins Having a person you can go to for feedback on a project is a great way to get unstuck. He or she can ask you questions and provide insight you havent thought of, or tell you what youre doing is great (youre overthinking it) or terrible (you need to go back to the drawing board). It always helps.Thompson I wish we had a secret serum (whiskey, perhaps) that would always allow us to be at our peak, but we all get blocked. For us, just stepping away tends to be the best cure. Go run, walk, surf, bike, read a book or whatever it is that you like to do outside of work. It can help to take your mind off things and open you back up to new ideas or ways to approach the project.Do you have any tips for recent grads just starting out their creative careers on how to generate ideas and stay fresh?Anderson When youre walking down the street, put your smartphone down and remove your earbuds. Constantly observe your surroundings, noting even the most mundane daily occurrences or patterns. There are stories everywhere, and those stories are the basis of ideas. Not being afraid to fail is important, too. An idea might seem corny or bad in the moment, but you never know if theres a kernel underneath that can be built on. I find that even now, Im sometimes too self-conscious to take a chance on throwing an idea out there that might be a clunker, only to hear someone else say it. And then everyone th inks that person is a genius Ugh.Miller Stay aware of whats happening in the design world. Dig into projects that have a lot of writing accompanying the final piece. Reading how other visual communicators have turned colors, symbols and ideas into something fresh is exciting and empowering. Not only does it help you understand how to talk about successful projects, it promotes the vocabulary needed in your own work to articulate challenging concepts.Pippins I show my students at MICA different techniques to generate multiple ideas like visual brain dumping (quick doodles) or giving them a random word to think about in relation to the topic. My advice is to get off the Internet when doing research and go to the library. Looking for historical references and the original sources for an idea you saw online can trigger another direction. When we learn as much as we possibly can about a topic, within a given timeframe, it gives us more information to be inspired by.Thompson Get out of yo ur comfort zone and live. Meet new people, try new restaurants, visit a country youve never been to, take a class and so on. Also, write down your thoughts or keep a journal. And I mean write, not type. Its amazing how the mind works differently when using a good old-fashioned pencil or pen on paper. Just get your ideas out and get them out fast.Idea generation can be tough when youre a freelancer who works alone. For more tips, read our post, How to Brainstorm When Youre Working Solo.SEARCH ur JOB OPENINGS

Raising a Mid-Level Resume to VP Level

Raising a Mid-Level Resume to VP LevelRaising a Mid-Level Resume to VP LevelCertified professional resume writer Ken Moore bridged a senior sales executives varying roles together to elevate a sub-par resume.Sometimes its hard to recognize that your resume doesnt really reflect your talents - or may even give readers the wrong impression.Case in point Bill Johnson.Bill, who asked Ladders not to use his real name for this article, is a senior sales executive with proven leadership in geschftsleben development. But to read his old resume read, you would think he was a mid-level strategic partner, not a vice president-level expert in both wireless technology and construction materials.Bills former resume would have given people a false impression that he only had mid-level experience, said Ken Moore, certified resume writer with Ladders. He was much more senior than he was portraying. Also, there was no focused job target in his intro.Johnson attended a networking event Ladders held re cently at the New York Athletic Club, where he received a resume critique. (For more information on upcoming events nationwide, drop a line to the career services team.)You know, I was pretty skeptical about the whole thing, Johnson admitted. There are a lot of people trying to take advantage of this downturn, and lots of job sites that are polluted with garbage. I made sure to grill them about things. And I got my answer.The answer? His resume needed a professionals touch.I decided I would try the free resume critique they had there at the event, Johnson said. They were very gentle about it. They went out of their way to critique it in a way that was considerate, but they ripped it to shreds. It was a gentle but constructive shredding.Johnson said he is really pleased with his new resume and much preferred collaborating on it to going it alone.I had a hard time reconciling my two very different sales roles in wireless and construction supplies, Johnson said. I also had a really har d time writing about myself, and I really wasnt up with the style of resumes written today. Writing your own resume is kind of like cutting your own hair. Ive tried it, but it didnt exactly look right. Two roles, one goal One challenge we had with Bill was to bridge and condense his expertise in two very different fields, Moore said. But we also had to overcome some common mistakes in resumes that we see a lot, like the use of personal pronouns and the lack of things like revenue numbers and percentage of business increased.In a field as competitive as technology sales, it becomes incredibly important to quantify the bullet points in your resume. With guidance from Johnson, Moore was able to go back and retrofit the resume. He included hard numbers about business Johnson won and brands he supported, and he consolidated the document to focus on the past 10 to 12 years.Bill had a lot of one-liners, said Moore. Things like 1 sales performer in U.S. for two years but no qualification of what that did for the business. Anyone can write that, but you need to qualify it in a more detailed fashion.The formula for a successful resume, according to Moore Say what you want by saying what you are.Its not personal, its businessYou have to capture the reader of the resume right at the very beginning, Moore said. You have to point out your immediate career goal and show your value to a future employer.Moore said it takes subtlety to focus on what you want without overdoing the personal angle.Your career goal is not a personal objective statement, Moore said. Its a branding statement that says, This is who I am and This is what I can do for your business. What surprised Bill most about the process of having his resume tuned up by The Ladders professionals?They know what they are doing, Johnson said. Its like the difference between an autobiography and a biography. You know what I mean? Its like having a nice, finished, polished product thats been andrang through all the quali ty checks. It was very worth it, and I got it back in a week. They were good and fast.

4 Tricks to Landing Interviews Without Ever Applying for the Job

4 Tricks to Landing Interviews Without Ever Applying for the Job4 Tricks to Landing Interviews Without Ever Applying for the JobEverything infuriating about applying for a job can be easily summed up in that one unpleasant feeling that twists knots in our stomachs the moment we hit the submit button carrying our resumes away to the next level. In other words, its the waiting process that does the most damage to our poor hearts and weakens them.However, there are times when, paradoxically, you submit one resume after another, yet no call is being given back. It all becomes even more frustrating when you hear tales of impossible happenings involving a certain someone applying for one job only and getting a meeting appointed thirty minutes later. Yes, job searching can be really terrible.This isnt an article talking about how to make your application stand out more. This is all about being one step ahead of everyone else and landing an interview without even sending in a CV. Why? Becaus e chances are that this particular someone earlier mentioned did similar backstage work in order to get to this point. All it takes is to follow the formula laid out by people like them.1. Stop Waiting, Take ActionWeve already established that waiting sucks. Surely, you can try all kinds of tricks to stand out from a list of applicants. You can even find ways to stand out without having to actually apply. For example, you can polish your LinkedIn profile or your social media and fill them up with crucial information that might be really eye-catchy for any companies scouting the Internet and search results.However, that does still involve a little bit of waiting, doesnt it? What is left to do is to take the initiative. Do make sure that you have all of these elements in check regarding your Internet parta. Seek out contact information for your company and, as the name suggests, actually do take contact Send an e-mail or a message on a social platform to a company representative in th e shape of an open letter. Let them know of your interest in a collaboration and line up some incredible skills and sets of experiences that will make it difficult for them to overlook your request.2.Get a Boost with Wink MarketingAka probably the most commonly used tactic by aspiring youtubers. What is this wink absatzwirtschaft we speak of, exactly? Its essentially the equivalent of standing idly in someones line of sight for so long that they have no choice but to notice you. In other words, in means making yourself known without showing any direct intentions that youre interested in what the recruiters have to offer.Lets return to the YouTube comparison for a better understanding. When you scroll down in the comment section of a popular video, you can easily spot out numerous people trying to bring attention to their channels. Some go about it with a complete lack of tact pro tip, do avoid using phrases of the likes of please check out my channel. An efficient way is to leave c omments that compliment the video, that talk about anything else. By being an active member of a community, people are going to grow an interest in you at some point.3. Make Use of ConnectionsAlthough this seemed like the most obvious advice, it only came out now because there tends to be a rather grim connotation behind this tactic. Its not all about fraud and unfair advantages, but rather about taking an approach which means getting to know a representative as a person before you get to know them as a company worker.If youre not lucky enough to become acquainted with someone who can earn you a direct visit to a recruiters office, you can always do so through referrals. Statistically speaking, many recruiters have admitted to prioritising referrals over classic CVs and standard applications. If you dont know where to start, zero is a good place. If you want to get a referral for Crossmark, make an account on their website, browse it, find contact means, and start with baby steps.4. Build a ReputationMake some noise on the Internet You cant exactly travel from company to company with a paper filled with ideas, suggestions, and qualifications and expect anyone to actually pay attention to it. Even if they do, chances are youll be sadly forgotten rather quickly. But this doesnt need to happen in the online space. This is because once you put something on the Internet, it remains there forever.Create a blog or a website where you can publish some writings demonstrating some of your ideas. Offer useful critiques to the works of others, something thats specifically useful if youre seeking to publish articles. E-mail important people with ideas and suggestions. Basically become this Fairy Grandmother of great ideas and an incredibly benevolent desire to share them with someone.Its not necessarily easy to take this approach, but its definitely worth it if executed right.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

Air Force Radio and Television Broadcasting Job Description

Air Force Radio and Television Broadcasting Job DescriptionAir Force Radio and Television Broadcasting Job DescriptionThe Department of Defense has a radio and television channel. It is called AFRTS - American Forces Radio and Television Service. Headquartered at Fort George Meade, Maryland, this multi-media platform distributes news, entertainment, and policy updates for military personnel around the world. The Defense Media Activity is the unifying command of the television, radio, print, and multi-media mission. The AFRTS mission is to communicate Department of Defense policies, priorities, programs, goals and initiatives. By providing stateside radio and television programming to those who are part of the Department of Defense, AFRTS offers a touch of home, to those outside continental United States. AFRTS includes the Radio and Television Production Office (RTPO), The Pentagon Channel and the AFN Broadcast Center. Specialty Summary The men and women of the Air Force Radio a nd Television Service organize and conduct broadcast operations, produce programs, and directs radio and television broadcasts. The journalists and video specialists, prepare informational materies in broadcast format for use on Armed Forces Radio and Television (AFRT) and commercial media serves as talent and operates broadcast equipment. Sporting events that are happening in America are high lights of deployed airmen, sailors, marines, and soldiers every week. Being able to slip away even for a few hours while deployed is needed R R that is provided by the AFRTS network. Duties and Responsibilities The men and women of AFRTS also prepare informational materials for use on AFRT and commercial media by identifying and selecting newsworthy events. They are able to produce radio and television scripts, narrations, spot announcements, and news and sports broadcasts. They also select associated visual material as necessary and available and coordinates the use of graphics, sets sp ecial effects, and audio and video material to support programming requirements. This job requires both creative skills as well as organizational skills. In order to prepare and maintain schedules, daily operation logs, and continuity book, they must assist public affairs officer in working with electronic media as well.They are responsible for programming and directing radio and television broadcasts by selecting and scheduling programs for broadcast on AFRT stations. They review all copy and program materials for host country sensitivities before airing and coordinate receipt and disposition of AFRT program materials. Maintaining station library or recorded programming is also another responsibility as well as evaluating audience feedback. The men and women of AFTRS monitor station programs for effectiveness, professional quality, and support of mission objectives. They also manage resources to support the United States Air Force Internal Information Program. They also learn to operate radio and television broadcast equipment and arrange remote broadcast coverage of special events. Additional Responsibilities Supervises radio and television broadcast operations.Coordinates maintenance of radio and television equipment.Directs positioning of lights, cameras, microphones, properties, and personnel.Conducts broadcast rehearsals as necessary.Coordinates maintenance and acquisition of broadcast equipment.Performs as talent in programs produced for AFRT.Conducts radio and television interviews.Performs as disc jockey, newscaster, sports announcer and producer. Specialty Qualifications Being creative and organized isnt the only skills one should have when considering a specialty code within the Defense Media Activity. One must be a good writer, speaker, and reader in order to perform at this very public job within the military television and radio, internet, and print media world. Here are more details of the types of qualifications one must have Knowledg e. Knowledge is mandatory of radio and television writing and broadcasting regulations and policies governing AFRT and other public affairs activities broadcast equipment capabilities and methods of researching public attitudes. Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school or general educational development equivalency is mandatory.Training. For award of AFSC 3N032, completion of the basic broadcasting course is mandatory.Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated (Note See Explanation of Air Force Specialty Codes).3N052. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3N032. Also, experience in broadcasting and directing television or radio programs.3N072. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3N052. Also, experience in performing or supervising broadcast activities.Other. The following are mandatory as indicatedFor entry into this specialty1. A favorable evaluation of a voice audition.2. Ability to type 20 words per minute.F or entry, award, and retention of these AFSCs, absence of any speech impediment, and ability to read aloud and speak distinctly. Strength ReqH Physical Profile 333333 Citizenship No Required Appitude Score G-69 (Changed to G-72, effective 1 Jul 04). Technical Training Course E5ABD3N032 000 Length (Days) 60 Location FGM Possible Assignment Information

Why the idea of the big leap is total nonsense

Why the idea of the big leap is total nonsenseWhy the idea of the big leap is total nonsenseWhen you think about getting to where youre going, or when you hear about the people who have, theres so much emphasis on the single, life-changing moment when everything came together, the giant plan that made it all happen. The day someone quit their job and went all in on their dream. The day they pitched their crazy idea. Or when they finally put their hat in the ring for that huge versetzung that changed their whole life.Those moments are all real. I have had a few of them myself. But theyre not the whole story. You dont have to upend your life to be living it. You dont have to risk it all immediately to get what youre hoping for. Big leaps dont guarantee you getting to your desired future faster.Quite the contrary, I believe there isnt really any such thing as the big leap. Its total bullsh-t. Rather, the big leap is an inflection point that happens to be preceded by a long series of sma ll steps and tiny plans.Think about running a marathon. Youve taken how many steps? Lets say thirty-three thousand. And its not until that final step that you cross the finish line. Was the last step any different from the first one? Other than you feeling much more tired, no, it just happens to be the one step with a little bit more specialness because its the step that got you to the end, the same but different from the 29,999 steps before it. The big finish didnt happen as a result of one massive fucking leap. You didnt long-jump the marathon. Rather, its the result of small step after small step for 26.2 miles of torture (or at least thats how it felt for me).Overnight successes are almost always 10 years in the making and filled with these tiny steps. How long was Kendra Scott running businesses before her jewelry line took off? How long was Kerry Washington acting before anyone knew her name? The answer, despite the details a long fucking time.But they kept going. They kept cr eating. And they had been executing on their small plans a seriously long time before they ever hit that inflection point.Whats important is to be all in on your commitment to yourself and to your bite-size plans, regardless of whether any recognition is coming your way. Its not about making massive changes that require you to upend your life. Gradual is a beautiful thing. Gradual builds. Gradual allows you to adjust. Gradual allows you to change and refine. Gradual is a beautiful thing. Gradual builds. Gradual allows you to adjust. Gradual allows you to change and refine.Your energy and daily actions can be all in without your how being abrupt or hasty.Thisarticlewas originally posted onMaxieMcCoy.com.

Things You Wont Like About Indeed Summary Examples and Things You Will

Things You Wont Like About Indeed Summary Examples and Things You Will Last, read the directions carefully to make sure that you finish the appropriate portions of the shape and know when the deadline is. 1 A resume summary is a brief, snappy introduction paragraph that delivers a summary of your very best work. Now imagine if this SAME resume had had a summary statement on top clearly outlining why youre an ideal candidate. Indeed Summary Examples for Dummies You might also have your communication and disciplinary abilities, along with highlight how patient youre with your students. The major advantage is it helps your resume stand out. There are lots of ranking aspects to take into consideration in regards to improving your resumes search visibility. Theres loss of communication, due to external forces. Your measurable achievements help it become real. You ought to have five objective statements. Summaries are fantastic, but they may be a detriment to your resume if theyre done incorrectly. The absolute most efficient summaries target one career objective. What Everybody Dislikes About Indeed Summary Examples and Why You dont require experience to get achievements. Once mora, different can be useful. The job requirements can function as a preliminary job-fit test thats extremely scalable. Our reviews contain information like the score of the clients, our rating, starting prices, Discounts, and caliber of the papers. The piece you truly need the hiring manager reading is your latest work experience (and be sure you tailored that info to fit the work description). On the flip side, functional resumes are normally used by fresh graduates or those who have less experience but want to grab the work vacancy. If you follow the advice above you will have an interesting, compelling resume summary that is likely to make the reader want to find out more about you even regardless of your lack of work experience Landing a large internship for a college student is an excellent means to get prepared for the challenges of life after the university. For some of them you will require help, while others youll be able to write all on your own. If youre an art student then you need to know these things. The applicant managed to mention important qualifications in just a few sentences. Indeed Resumes are visible to employers so they can allow you to know about jobs you may be interested in. Lies Youve Been Told About Indeed Summary Examples Thus, the most essential rule of writing a LinkedIn summary is to help it become original. Take a look at our FAQs if you have any questions regarding your resume. A list of Indeed Resume Mistakes that youre going to want to prevent. Youre going to compose a resume summary which gets many more interviews. Utilize Hirations Online Resume Builder to aid you in getting results. The very first is for you if your work search does not need to be kept secret. If you dont need to continue to keep yo ur search secret, its important to create clear that youre searching for employment, and to give clear contact details. Revamping your resume in front of a work search is almost always a good idea. Your cover letter is similar to a skilled sales proposal to promote your skills, wisdom and experience in the very best possible light. The vast majority of Indeed resumes that show up on the very first page are resumes which have been updated within the last few months. You may want to think about a qualifications summary which we outlined in last weeks postbut if only you need to have a summaryhere are some examples to help you begin. You ought to make sure your resume summary statement concisely demonstrates why youre a perfect candidate for the particular job and business. You may even check out several reviews and decide on the business that most suits your requirements and very affordable budget. With a little preparation and a deep comprehension of the local job market, its p ossible to easily simplify your work search. If youre applying for at least 1 position or career field, utilize a different summary for each position to make certain that you keep on topic. Make certain its tailored to not merely the position, but the provider also. The Importance of Indeed Summary Examples Even in case you nail the other 3 steps, if you are not successful on the fourth one, then the entire issue is a failure. To make it simple to compose a profile that covers all the vital points, Im likely to provide you two unique templates that you are able to customize to suit your own hintergrund and situation. Luckily, theres nothing like a tiny bit of inspiration to receive your creative juices flowing. The very first thing that you want to do is go back and examine the job which youre applying for and determine your intended audience.

How to Get Better Interview Answers from Job Candidates - Spark Hire

How to Get Better Interview Answers from Job Candidates - Spark HireLets face it weve heard and even said it all before kollektiv player, people person, self-starter. While these are all great adjectives, they have been overused so much in the job search that hiring recruiters and managers dont take them seriously anymore. As far as theyre concerned, everyone seems to be a self-described team player or people person during a job interview.So how can hiring recruiters and managers wade through the overused clichs to learn the truth about candidates? TIME suggests asking the right follow-up questions for these overused interview answers.If a job candidate describes themself as a people pleaser, ask them about times theyve differed with a client or co-worker and how they worked to win them over. Or if they state that they are flexible, follow up with a question about having to change focus mid-project or times when theyve had to adjust to a changing market.Candidates who use the phras e problem solver in the job interview can be asked to articulate a time or situation they encountered that required them to do such. And if youve really planned ahead, put together a problem they might experience in your workplace or industry and ask them about steps they would take to find a solution.TIME explains that self-starters should be prompted to talk about a time when theyve taken action while team players need to be asked about their previous experiences with co-workers, both good and bad. When using follow-up questions for hard workers, ask for examples of times theyve met difficult deadlines as well as scenarios in which they performed beyond their job description, states TIME.And finally, when it comes to the most overused phrase on the resume highly qualified prompt candidates to elaborate during the job interview. Youll be looking for interview answers that express unique skill sets, certifications and recognitions.Getting the interview answers youre looking for as ks you to do a little more preparation before the actual job interview. Too much these days, hiring recruiters and managers are bogged down with other responsibilities and priorities, and they neglect to do the necessary prep before a job interview. Instead, theyre accepting clichd answers just as theyre asking clichd questions.With a little research and a half an hour of prep time, hiring recruiters and managers can avoid circling standard interview conversations and learn more about the candidates theyre interviewing. With that, theyre making better hiring decisions, which yields better results for the business and happier new hires.