Retreat Ceremony U.S. Flag Customs and Procedures

Retreat Ceremony U.S. Flag Customs and ProceduresRetreat Ceremony U.S. Flag Customs and ProceduresThe retreat ceremony serves a twofold purpose. It signals the end of the official duty day and serves as a ceremony for paying respect to the flag. Because the time for the end of the duty day varies, the commander designates the specific time for the retreat ceremony. The retreat ceremony may take place in the unit area, on the base parade ground, or in the vicinity of the flagstaff. If conducted at the base parade ground, retreat is a part of the parade ceremony. If conducted within the unit area, it is usually a ceremony leid involving a parade. If the retreat ceremony is conducted at the Flagstaff, the units participating may be formed in the line or they may be passed, depending on the size and number of units and the space available. When persons not assigned to a formation are outdoors and in uniform, on the first note of retreat, they should face the flag (if visible) or music an d assume the stelle of parade rest. Events Accompanying Retreat Ceremony at the Flagstaff Shortly before the specified time for retreat, the combo and troops participating in the ceremony are positioned facing the flagstaff and dressed. If marching to and from the Flagstaff, the band precedes the troops participating in the ceremony. If the band and troops march to the Flagstaff, a flag security detail also marches to the Flagstaff, halts, and is given the command Parade, REST by the senior member. As soon as the troops are dressed, the commander commands Parade, REST. The commander then faces the Flagstaff, assumes the position of the troops, and waits for the specified time for retreat. The commander orders the band leader to sound retreat at the specified time by commanding SOUND RETREAT. The band plays retreat. If a band is not present, recorded music may be played over the base public address system. During the playing of retreat, junior members of the flag security detail assume the position of attention and move to the Flagstaff to arrange the halyards for the proper lowering of the flag. Once the halyards are arranged, the junior members of the flag security detail execute parade rest in unison. After the band finishes playing retreat, the commander facesabout and commands Squadron (Group, etc.), ATTENTION. The commander then commands Present, ARMS. As soon as the troops execute present arms, the commander faces to the front and also assumes present arms. The members of the flag security detail execute present arms on command by the commander. The band plays the national anthem or the bugler plays To the Colors. The junior members of the flag security detail lower the flag slowly and with dignity. If the flag is being flown at half-staff, it is raised briskly to the top, then lowered slowly. The commander executes order arms when the last note of the music is played and the flag has been securely grasped. The commander faces about, gives the troops Order, ARMS, and then faces to the front. The flag security detail folds the flag. The senior enlisted of the detail remains at attention while the flag is being folded unless he or she is needed to control the flag. When the flag is folded, the flag security detail, with the senior enlisted on the right and the flagbearer in the center, marches to a position three paces from the commander. (In an informal ceremony, the detail marches three paces from the officer of the day.) The senior enlisted salutes and reports Sir (Maam), the flag is secured. The commander returns the salute, and the flag security detail marches away. The troops are then marched to their areas and dismissed. Lowering the Flag When practical, the persons lowering the flag should be an NCO and three junior members for the all-purpose flag and an NCO and five junior members for the base flag. The detail is formed and marched to the flagstaff, and the halyards are detached and attended from the leeward side. O n the first note of the national anthem or, if no band is present, To the Color, the members of the detail not lowering the flag execute present arms. The lowering of the flag is coordinated with the playing of the music so the two are completed at the same time. The senior member commandsOrder, ARMS when the flag is low enough to be received. If at half-staff, the flag is hoisted briskly to the staff head while retreat is sounded, and then it is lowered on the first note of the national anthem or To the Colors. The flag is detached from the halyards and folded. The halyards are secured to the staff. Above information courtesy of United States Air Force

United States Marines

United States MarinesUnited States Marines

How Much the Opening Band Should Make at a Gig

How Much the Opening Band Should Make at a GigHow Much the Opening Band Should Make at a GigGetting paid for a gig isnt always as straightforward as it could be even when youre the headliner. When youre the opening musikkapelle, the waters can get a little murkier. There are a few different ways that opening acts are paid and much of what determines what kind of deal you get depends on what kind of show you are playing. Keep in mind that there are many different kinds of deals for shows, so your mileage may vary. But here is some general information about getting paid as an opening act. Set Opening Band Fees At larger shows (be they larger club shows or shows in even bigger venues), there is usually a platzdeckchen fee for an opening act. This fee can be a lot smaller than what the headliner makes. There is usually an unwritten norm for opening act fee in most areas - say $100. So ask around and get some feel for what others in your town are getting. Door-Split Deals At smal l club locations, where the headlining band has a door-split deal, the opening act may not get paid at all. In these cases, some kind promoters will throw a little money in the direction of the hilfestellung band if the show is a big money maker, or the headlining act might pay you a little something. Another scenario is that the opener will get a portion of the door split. With this kind of show, it is very important to go into the show knowing what to expect. Dont assume that youre simply getting a cut. Promotional Benefit and Exposure At very large shows in which the gig represents a major promotional opportunity for the supporting act, again, things can vary widely. The opener might get a small set fee. The idea here sometimes is that the promotional benefit of the show is payment enough. In fact, in some instances, opening acts buy on to large tours, which means they pay a fee for the chance to be a support act. Although this happens, you should never commit to this kind of deal without having the advice of an agent or manager. This kind of deal is also not for you if you are not in a position to take advantage of any buzz generated by your shows - for instance, having distribution for your music is a must to get the benefits of a buy on tour. The Bottom Line for Opening Acts So, what does it all boil down to? There are not really any hard and fast rules governing deals for opening acts. In many cases, you have to approach a support slot at a gig as a promotional opportunity and not as a money-making venture. Think of it this way Youre taking advantage of the change to play in front of an audience to turn those people into your fans, so you can be the headliner someday. That doesnt mean, however, that you should accept any opening offer slot that comes your way. Although they are good promotional opportunities, you should weigh up the expense of playing the gig with the benefit you will get from it. For instance, if you have an indie rock band, i ts not worthwhile to travel 500 miles to support a hip-hop act. Also, especially if youre not getting paid, make sure you will be allowed to sell merchandise at the show. Some headliners dont want the opening band to sell merch since it could distract from the sales of their items. This is less of a problem at a small show but a very big deal at large shows. If you can, try to get in on some rider action, and try to keep your costs down by sharing gear with the headlining band (this may be harder to arrange when were talking about a major act with an elaborate stage set up).

Curveball Interview Questions How to Handle Them Like a Pro

Curveball Interview Questions How to Handle Them Like a ProCurveball Interview Questions How to Handle Them Like a ProWhen you come prepared to dazzle an interviewer with your response to Why do you think youd be a good fit at our company? only to be hit with Why are manhole covers round? (an actual question asked at Google), you may be taken aback. But instead of panicking or demanding to know what the heck manhole covers have to do with applying to be an administrative assistant, take a breath. Curveball interview questions do have purpose, and you can handle them like a pro with these actions.How to handle curveball interview questions with easeRelax- and remember why theyre asking this question.Many times, the interviewer is trying to assess the way a candidate handles pressure, saysVicky Oliver, author of301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions. Unfortunately, due to the ancient part of our brains that reacts to stress, we have a fight or flight reaction.Your first task, t herefore, is to remain calm. Its OK to pause or make a statement such as Let me take a minute to think about that interesting question. Maintaining composure is a sure-fire way to score points.Think.Keep in mind that the employer usually isnt looking for therightanswer (sometimes, there is no right answer to these types of questions) and instead they simply want to hear you talk through your thought process. So, its okay (actually, its encouraged) to think out loud.For instanceHow many roses were sold on Valentines Day in Vermont last year?The interviewer probably wants to test your reasoning skills, so talk through how you might arrive at an answer (such as estimating the population of Vermont, figuring out a reasonable percentage of how many of them might have bought flowers, multiplying by 12 since roses are usually sold by the dozen, etc.).If Crayola named a new crayon in your honor, what color would it be and why?Let your creativity shine This interview question also allows the interviewer insight into your personality.How would you teach a five-year-old to make and serve pancakes?This question displays your ability to break down a complex process into chunks that others can understand. It also tests thoroughness of seeing things through from start to finish- from gathering batter ingredients to putting the final product on a plate.Prepare.The problem with unusual interview questions is that, well, theyre not typical. You have no way of knowing what might be thrown at you.However, just like sports teams do drills to become better able to handle whatever happens during an actual competition, candidates can up their game through practice. The Internet contains a variety of crazy questions people have been asked. As you read them, think of how you would respond if put to the testKnow someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- youll get a month free service and theyll get 30% off

Public Speaking Workshops at Johns Hopkins

Public Speaking Workshops at Johns HopkinsPublic Speaking Workshops at Johns HopkinsPublic Speaking Workshops at Johns Hopkins CONFIDENT, MEMORABLE, IMPACTFUL PUBLIC SPEAKING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERPrepare and practice for Interviews, Briefings, Meetings and PresentationsExpert Public Speaking WorkshopAug 22, 2017, Johns Hopkins University, Wash., DCTJ Walker, Presentation and Media Expert,Speaker and InstructorOne-Day Public Speaking WorkshopAug. 22, Tuesday, 830 to 500LocationJohns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)Bernstein-Offit Building1717 Massachusetts Ave NW, 5th Floor, Room BOB500 Washington, DC 20036Date Tuesday, August 22, 2017 Time 830 to 500Registration and Fees$995 (includes books, and online course materials, pre- and post training for one year).We can prepare an invoice before the course for payment by credit card.Call (410) 744 4324 x 2 for invoice requests.Contact Us to Registerfedjobtraining.com/contact-us.htmTechnology for Practice SpeakingWe will be using video for practicing your speeches and short PowerPoints.We will play back for the class and give critiques of your presentations.LaptopsBring your laptop for the presentation to make notes,Pre-Course HomeworkBefore the workshop, you will be given homework to prepare for the workshop.Class SizeMaximum 20Is the way you Communicate Limiting Your tauglichkeit?The way of others see you and the way they perceive your value has everything to do with the way you communicateAre you good with where you stand right now?Have you Ever Given a Presentation without Making the Impact you Wanted?/liPublic speaking skills are the most important personal development skill you can have, yet many dont overcome the fear, discomfort and know-how necessary to become great speakers.Imagine yourself Giving a Fantastic Speech,Every time you Stand up to Present.You can Become a great Speaker TodayTJ Walker Speaking Improvement ProcessBecoming a great public speaker is more than about learning technique There is a psychological and guided practice element that when properly combined leads to incredible results with the ability to customize training for you that guarantees dramatic improvement.PSYCHOLOGY Overcome the fear and discomfort that has prevented you from having the big breakthroughs necessary to grow into a great speakerTECHNIQUE Learn the technique and strategies that make you a more connected, organized and polished/powerful speakerSUPPORT Ongoing expert support directly from TJ Walker and access to his private online community focused on providing an active safe environment-focused on improving your public speaking skillsPRACTICE Develop a system to dramatically improve your overall speaking ability and prepare every presentation you will give for the rest of your lifeWhat TJs Speaking Improvement Workshop Will Teach YouHow to get dramatically better in a short period of timeA process to become a great speaker over timeHow to look comfo rtable, confident, relaxed and powerful in any speaking environmentHow to make aya your audience really understands youHow to make sure your audience remembers your key messagesHow to have more influence with your audience and get them to take the actions you desireIts true You can become dramatically better in one dayBy the end of this training, you will love how you come across as a speakerWhat speaking situations will this workshop prepare you for?Speaking to large audiencesOne-on-one presentationsClient presentationsPanel discussionsIndustry conferencesInvestor and analyst presentations Annual meetings Sales presentationsInvestor and analyst presentationsAnnual meetingsSales presentationsMORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATIONfedjobtraining.com/public-speaking-workshopSPEAKER BIOTJ Walkers Bio https//www.linkedin.com/in/tjwalkerpublicspeaking/Kathryn Troutmans Bio resume-place.com/about/our-story/kathryn-troutman/

Hr Assistant Resume Explained

Hr Assistant Resume Explained If youre looking for a position in HR, its vital that you take the opportunity to network with men and women in the profession. A lot of people who have to compose a resume while applying for their very first job have hesitations since they arent certain what information to include and what things to lead off with. If youre on the lookout for additional aid, click to find out more about getting into menschenfreundlich resources. Making your resume is vital. The Battle Over Hr Assistant Resume and How to Win It Its possible to start a career in human resources before being qualified, but its a very competitive location. You may find the recommendations of your professors and elders. For instance, legal administrative assistants may want to have a comprehensive comprehension of legal terminology and procedures, while medical assistants may ought to be well versed in handling insurance businesses and reading medical reports. Administrative assistant s in some fields may be asked to have extensive expert understanding. Our HR administrative assistant position demands excellent organizational abilities and the ability to take care of sensitive information confidentially. There are times that you learn indirectly, like through a protracted absence or repeated requests for leave. Most, however, are in a position to earn no less than a livable wage. Write beside all your accomplishments for previous employers. A Secret Weapon for Hr Assistant Resume A personality reference letter should be written carefully. Youre searching for an geschftszimmer assistant who will be a fantastic fit for your organization, so dont hesitate to expand on the abilities and traits youd love to have in your office assistant description. If you receive the job, your new employer may figure out the hard way which you were dishonest about your experience. Employ the very best talent for your business. Its critical for each and every institution to recruit the appropriate human resources staff to guarantee smooth operations in manpower resources required for productivity. As an immediate connection to your employees you have to be keenly mindful of employee relations ensuring theyre healthy throughout the organization. The most important tasks and job specifications for a payroll clerk are usually standard across different industries. Helps employees identify certain behaviours that will result in service excellence. This HR Assistant cover letter sample will be beneficial for you if youre thinking to begin your career as an HR assistant. Searching for an expert HR assistant position. Highlight all of the HR duties and duties. Looking to obtain employment as HR assistant to use my abilities and abilities in ensuring an efficient HR unit. Ensure current and accurate information is fed in the Human Resources Software. Theresume summaryis best whenever you have a great deal of HR experience. Your HR knowledge has to be a continuing evolution. Match those achievements to the present HR generalist job. Our human resources resume samples are a fantastic distributions-mix to begin. Clearly, English skills is critical. To assist you master writing compelling objectives for your resumes whenever you will need to make one, weve got tons of resume objective examples in addition to resume samples that youre able to apply. Flexibility to answer a selection of various work conditions. Whatever They Told You About Hr Assistant Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why You will assist and support the everyday operations of our HR dream group and take part in the hiring process from beginning to finish. Quite a few of our entry-level human resources resume samples include hobby info, so if youre hesitant to include it, review the job posting youre applying to, so you may find a better feel for if the firm would view it as welcome details. You arent going to acquire the job if you cant come to get contacte d for an interview, plain and simple. So find innovative approaches to do your job and it is going to come to be even better. The comprehensive information regarding the HR coordinators duties and obligations highlighted within this post can permit you to make a wonderful description for the position that could entice the best candidates to your job offer. saatkorn advice goes for sending employees from the country to work too. Normally, the human resource assistant is liable for maintaining the personnel records of the corporations employees. For instance, he cannot divulge an employees wages to another employee, except if the individual is an authorized person, such as a manager.

5 Best Practices for Employee Referral Programs

5 Best Practices for Employee Referral Programs Ever wondered how some organizations are able to achieve a 60-70 percent hire rate through employee referrals while your organization is still lagging at a measly 25 percent or even less hiring through referral programs? The reason may lie in the practices being adopted by these organizations that signify a quantum leap in the effectiveness of the referral program. For instance who would have thought that introducing game dynamics into the referral program can bring about such a significant positive impact on employee engagement? Today organizations have tried gamification with a lot of success, helping them reap rich rewards from a more engaged workforce. Organizations with highly driven referral cultures have always looked at best practices revolving around the basic principles of the program itself like responsiveness of the referral program, refe rral rewards, communication, etc. Following best practices in referral programs can help you benefit from the positive experience of others who have experimented with new referral initiatives with a great deal of success. It also gives you the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others so that you have a greater chance of success with yours.1. Brand your Employee Referral ProgramIn todays world, the success of the program depends on the absatzwirtschaft effort behind it. A well marketed program with flaws has a greater chance of succeeding than a fantastic program being run without any absatzwirtschaft effort behind it. Brand the referral program with a catchy name and logo like Microsofts SpreadtheLove website or Hewitts Gift a Hewitt Life. A catchy name and tagline gives the referral program a purpose beyond merely staffing the company and entrusts upon employees the cause of organization building, a much more compelling and motivating objective to work for. The name, logo a nd tag line should be arresting and catchy enough to catch the attention of employees and generate recall whenever displayed. Market the program through posters, events, and distribution of collaterals with the program name and logo prominently displayed. Referral merchandise prominently displayed in the office can be a big hook to draw employees to the referral program.2. Create awareness about your referral programClosely tied to marketing of the referral program is communication. A referral program which fails to reach the employees will never be able to fully engage them and make them willing participants in the referral program. In todays technology-driven world, there is no dearth of communication channels, be it emails, 24-hour help line, employee chat, blogs, online videos and tutorials newsletters and even town-hallsany and all of them can be used to constantly update employees regarding the referral program, share successes and take feedback for program improvement.3. Inte grate Social Media to the referral programNo employee referral program today is complete without social media integration. Advanced employee referral tools like ZALP use social media to unleash the potential of your referral program. The online world today is as much a part of our everyday life as the physical world we inhabit and hence maintaining an active presence online has become a key social imperative for everyone. Social media presents organizations with the unparalleled opportunity to tap these employee connections for organizational hiring through referral programs. With an integrated social media platform, employees can share job postings with all their networks as well as upload profiles of their social connections for job openings at the click of a button. The vast reach of the social media means that employee job sharing can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of people in virtually minutes, something which would require the organization to invest millions of dolla rs to achieve in the physical world.4. Have a reward management systemReferral rewards continue to be the biggest driver of motivation for employees to participate in the referral program. However, referral rewards can only motivate if they are in line with employee expectations, else they might turn out to be counter-productive, harming the cause of referrals more than helping. Introduce a reward program that seeks to reward everyone in some or the other way for participating. The bumper reward remains for the employee with the successful referral, but it is also important to recognize the contribution of employees who have referred but whose candidates have not made it to hiring. Recognition can be by way of hand written appreciation notes, public acknowledgement of contribution in newsletters and town-halls, gift cards and even small tokens like reserved parking space for some days. This helps keep employees proud and happy to be participating in the program and keeps referrals c oming in.5. Keep your employees updated on the referral statusLastly, nothing beats a referral program that responds to employees within a quick time window. A program that responds fast to employees conveys the simple, yet strong message that it cares for employees and their time. Ensure that employees receive regular updates on candidates referred by them employee queries are responded to within definite timelines and feedback on candidates, whether good or bad is shared within reasonable time frames.These small measures can go a long way in building an organization with a world class employee referral program, one which will help the organization hire the best talent in town and achieving higher output, by incurring only a fraction of the cost.

Top Myths About Promotional Modeling Careers

Top Myths About Promotional Modeling CareersTop Myths About Promotional Modeling CareersIf youve ever attended a trade show, convention, concert, bar, launch party, or other live event, chances are youve chatted with at least one promotional model. These beautiful, outgoing, and personable men and women are hired to grab customers attention and leave a lasting impression. Theyre a popular form of advertising and marketing and are a huge asset to any event. However, even though promotional models are used by companies around the globe, not a lot of people know exactly what promotional modeling involves. Here are some of the most common misconceptions You Need to Have Modeling Experience Even if you have no promotional modeling experience or modeling experience of any kind, chances are you have related experience that companies are looking for. Have you waited tables or dealt with the public in another way? Worked in retail? Done some acting? Great Be aya to mention these things. T hese kinds of skills are exactly what model agencies and brands are looking for in a promotional model. Promotional Models Always Wear Skimpy Clothes Sure, some companies want their models to show up in a bathing suit or nothing but body paint and high heels. But thats not always the case. You could also be asked to wear jeans and a logot-shirt, a team jersey, or another not-so-revealing outfit. Just like other types of models, promotional models have the right to set boundaries with regards to clothing and products and only choose jobs theyre comfortable with. Male Models Are Never Hired to Be Promotional Models While its true that most promotional models are women, that doesnt mean that there isnt a need for male promotional models. It means that jobs are a little harder to come by and competition is a little stiffer. Just like their female counterparts, male promotional models must be attractive, friendly, outgoing, smart, and reliable. If you tick all of the boxes, your best bet is to submit your photos to a reputable model scouting company like ModelScouts.com where they know exactly where male promotional models are needed. Promotional Models Are Uneducated and Flaky Promotional models are the beauty and the brains behind the brand. In addition to being attractive, they also have to be articulate, reliable, a born salesperson, and know the product inside and out. They have to memorize an enormous amount of information to inform customers and answer all of their questions, all the while being outgoing and friendly. Many promotional models are working on (or already have) a college or university degree, and find they learn valuable marketing, business, and entrepreneurial skills while on the job. You Need Professional Photos Agencies and brands arent looking for expensive photos with fancy lighting and plenty of Photoshop. Thats because promotional modeling is 100% face-to-face interaction and clients need to know that the model theyre hiring looks exactly like their photos. So, snapshots are fine Its Easy Promotional models only stand around and hand out drinks, gifts, and brochures, right? Wrong. So wrong. As mentioned above, promotional models are essentially an employee of the brand and therefore have to be as knowledgeable as possible. It also takes a special kind of person to keep a smile on their face for 812 hours at a time, not to mention possibly standing in stilettos for half a day. Not easy. Promotional modeling doesnt lead to other modeling jobs While working as a promotional model, youll have endless opportunities to network with agencies, brands, and other important industry insiders. If youre interested in furthering your modeling career, these important connections can be an in to commercial modeling, fashion modeling, or even acting. It is all the more reason why you should be as friendly and outgoing as possible You never know what your promotional modeling job could lead to.

Think Like a CMO

Think Like a CMOThink Like a CMODo you aspire to be a chief absatzwirtschaft officer? You first have to think like one. And to think like a CMO, you need to get plugged into whos influencing them, the topics theyre discussing and the absatzwirtschaft content theyre reading.Whats on the minds of komplementre metalloxid-halbleiter today? Well, you can tell a lot by what they share on Twitter. And thanks to Leadtail, we now know.Leadtail analyzed 241,148 tweets from 1,289 CMOs that were published on Twitter during the first quarter of 2016. The results provide a snapshot of the issues CMOs are focused on and the influencers and ideas that are currently shaping their marketing worldview.If you dont want to fall behind in your marketing career, you should start thinking like a CMO, says Karri Carlson, Leadtails vice president of social insights. You need to digest the content CMOs read, follow the right people and engage in the right conversations on the right topics.Top influencers of CM OsTheres an interesting mix of people that CMOs favor with mentions and retweets, Carlson says. Some influencers are practical and tip-oriented, while others are inspirational or conversational. There are evangelists for their companies like ValaAfshar (Salesforce), Jack (Twitter), and Randfish (Moz) and agency leaders such as JayBaer (Convince Convert) and MargaretMolloy (Siegel+Gale). There are also individuals who fully lean into engaging their audiences like TedRubin. Adds Carlson Rubin has really found the path to influence by being authentic, personal and heavily engaged in discussion with his followers. People like BryanKramer and TamaraMcCleary have also effectively built influence with this approach. Hot CMO topics on TwitterIt will come as no surprise that the top hashtags used by CMOs were marketing and socialmedia. But visionary CMOs continue to drive the ascent of tech, IoT and innovation within the hashtag ranks.The need and interest for information surrounding the in tersection of marketing, creative and tech is clear. When you look at topics like data as a service and the Internet of Things, these traditionally might have been in the wheelhouse of the CIO or CTO, but its come over the proverbial wall to the CMO, Carlson says. CMOs are digital change agents and company leaders are increasingly turning to CMOs for insights on developing big, longer-term visions for new lines of business around IoT.The most shared marketing contentAdweek, Advertising Age and Marketing Land topped CMOs most-shared list. These outlets have done a great job gaining email subscribers with highly active list-building efforts. And people share what they read, says Carlson, noting that those three publishers share a steady stream of quality content and didnt rise to the top based on just one or two viral posts.Moreover, remember three years ago when everyone was talking about how brands needed to become publishers? Carlson says that CMO.com, HubSpot and Moz are a few exa mples of that early cohort of brands that actually achieved it. Says Carlson These brands do such a good job of creating and distributing useful content that theyre considered credible publishers in their own right - not just vendors hawking software.Leadtail works with innovative companies to develop social media strategies that leverage social insights research. Learn more at Leadtail.com or follow Leadtail on Twitter.SEARCH MARKETING JOBS

Whatever You Do, Dont Follow the Rules

Whatever You Do, Dont Follow the Rules Whatever You Do, Dont Follow the Rules This morning, I was reading one of my favorite career-related columns, Heather Huhmans Examiner.com column, and came across her interview with Katy Piotrowski, author of “The Career Coward’s Guide to Job Searching.” The first tip was this: Follow job application instructions to the letter. After running a job ad, one hiring company received 116 applications, yet only 27 of the applicants had followed directions correctly and submitted the three pieces of information (application form, résumé and references) requested. “If job seekers miss the basics in applying, how will they handle the more difficult details on the job?” asked the hiring manager. Good question. But with 116 applications, how does anyone have a chance of standing out or being evaluated properly? My advice is a little different first, apply to the job and yes, follow the instructions. Its like they say about the New York Lottery hey, you never know! But then the real work starts. Your goal is to get referred into the company by a current employee, so that the hiring manager receives your resume from someone he or she trusts. First, ask everyone you know if they know anyone at the company. If not, go online. Search your network on LinkedIn. Dont see anyone? Search the whole of LinkedIn looking for people who work at that company. Look for people who are second degree contacts (meaning they know someone you know) and then ask your friend for an introduction. One note: Be honest about why you want the introduction its important that the company employee accepts your request knowing what he or she is getting into, because this means they will be far more likely to help you. Cant find anyone on LinkedIn? Do internet searches looking for blogs written by people at that company. (Use Technorati to search). If you find them, make contact with the blogger. Read back through their posts and then send a nice note complimenting or discussing what they have written. If they write back, you can casually ask Hey, whats it like to work there? I saw a vacancy advertised and wasnt sure if I should apply. It might not work, but it might just get you an introduction. Lets say you cant find someone to introduce you. You can still go further than the other 115 people who are following the rules. First, try to find out the name of either the hiring manager or someone who works in that department. Search Twitter looking for people who work at the company. Or use Google to track down the names of employees. Research the company website looking for names and see if you can figure out the email protocol from any published email addresses. This means that if you have discovered Sam Smith is the hiring manager, you can now guess that his email address will be sam.smith@.. or ssmith@.. When you do find contact information, send an enthusiastic but short email explaining that you have applied for the position as directed, but that its such a great fit that you wanted to reach out directly. Include the 3 or 4 key points that prove you are the right person for the job. Be upbeat, positive and above all focused on how you can help the hiring manager reach his goals. If you cant find email addresses or you prefer the phone, try calling the company and sweet-talking the receptionist into telling you who the hiring manager is. You may even get through to talk to him. This isnt an exhaustive list by any means these are just a few ideas for going the extra mile with a job application. You may have better ideas (and Id love to hear about them in the comments). The point is that if you do something more than everyone else, you will be more successful than everyone else and whatever you do, dont follow the rules!