Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Two Myths About MBAs Tested

Two Myths About MBAs TestedTwo Myths About MBAs TestedHere are two MBA myths One, people who go for their MBAs only want a job in finance, consulting, or whatever straight-laced corporate job we might call conventional and two, sweet gigs only go to MBAs from the elite schools.The clever thing that admissions consultant Paul Bodine did to test these myths was to go on LinkedIn and peruse the post-MBA careers of one respected but not exactly coveted business school Carnegie Mellons Tepper School of Business. He found that while many Tepper grads did indeed become consulting and finance-types, there were also a good absprache of Tepper MBAs with roles that would highlight any B-schools brochure. He has listed some of those less-conventional roles on his site.Paul Bodine

Friday, November 22, 2019

5 ways to rock your career, according to Netflixs Girlboss

5 ways to rock your career, according to Netflixs Girlboss5 ways to rock your career, according to Netflixs GirlbossNetflixs latest 13-episode series was inspired by Girlboss, Sophia Amorusos bestselling autobiography. Although Amorusos geschftlicherbei umgang efforts have tanked recently, the show focuses, optimistically, on the mechanics of her rise.The show tells the behind the scenes story of how Amoruso created Nasty Gal, a multimillion-dollar retail clothing brand. Theres a plucky heroine who is prone to speechifying, a literal rags-to-riches business venture, and ample coverage of many of the issues millennials can face in the sometimes confusing world of business and entrepreneurism. What there isnt though, is a lot of reality, since Nasty Gal, sorely badly managed in real life, ultimately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy - something that isnt touched upon at all in the show. And well be direct the lead character is, to say the least, unsympathetic.But that doesnt mean it isnt fun to look at and that there isnt much to be learned. Know what your sh*ts worthThe series reminds us (in exactly those words) that sometimes the greatest skill you can have is understanding the value of an item. In the case of the show, a single jacket, bought dirt cheap and sold for hundreds, inspires the idea of an online store. In the case of job hunters, or anyone whos part of the gig economy, or even those in corporate jobs, the lesson is to know your own worth and the value of your work.The key Dont accept a job just because youre desperate and dont grab any opportunity simply because it comes your way. Research what your competitors charge and take a lesson from the Girlboss always price your own sh*t accordingly.Or, to put it abedrngnisher way, bill like a boy.Invest in your own knowledgeThe fictional Amoruso, played by Britt Robertson, seems to pick up business (if not life) lessons as she goes and those words were something of a mantra. One lesson that can be translated for the rest of us is the notion of carefulness never investing past your pain point, trying to keep a steady flow of return business, earning enough to create a comfortable profit margin. If you work in a cube, you can translate this to the notion of how much of yourself you invest into every single project. Think in terms of impact. Do you pour everything into a small report that no one will read? That wont yield you kudos or possible promotions. If youre searching for a job, that approach could mean anything from how much time you invest in your cover letter to how much you want to spend on career coaching, schmancy letterhead or business cards you print up. In the freelancing life, investing well could mean the difference between renting an actual office or simply a co-working space for meetings or networking. Try to think of your time and talent as investments and factor in what the rate of return is before investing too much too soon. Learn to handle negative feedbackIn the s how and real life, the Girlboss in question received a veritable avalanche of negative feedback on everything from the quality of merchandise sold, to the way she conducted herself professionally. After a round of layoffs in 2014, Racked featured an in-depth article discussing the internal dissatisfaction of employees at Nasty Gal, in particular the reviews on GlassDoor, which were scathing. Out of 78 employee reviews, 11 claimed Management and upper management (except for a few) have no idea what theyre doing and are routinely dishonest. While were not entirely sure of the future of the show, or fictional Amoruso, the real deal Girlboss managed to segue from retailer to media company. After the flurry of negativity and subsequent bankruptcy filing, Amoruso regrouped and retooled her now ubiquitous branding as part of more of a social network or experience that according to the websiteToday, Girlboss enables women to connect across social, digital, and experiential platforms to dis cuss and share knowledge about career, entrepreneurship, personal finance, relationships, and more. Well never be sure if the Nasty Girl brand could have survived the sheer volume of negative feedback and accusations of mismanagement, but Amoruso also apparently learned from the critical reviews she received and didnt try to reinvent what had failed. Like Madonna, Amoruso jumped on the reinvention train and salvaged the best possible pieces of her original brand and ideas. She also somehow managed to connect with Charlize Theron, whose name is connected with the production, which is another lesson in and of itself Even if you bomb-dot-com, try to find a reputable business person or celebrity to lend some sparkle to your next project. Hustlin aint easyTheres a dichotomy in the show and brand (and real life if were completely honest). Girlboss the series, seems a bit sugar-coated and embraces twee ideas of what success - especially in founding an online business- can or should mean. T he heroine of the shows entrepreneurial spirit seems more akin to Kimmy Schmidts irrational optimism and professional navete, than someone like Victoria Beckham whos evolved from Posh Spice to mega-fashion mogul. At one point, TV Sophia leans out her window and shouts that the world should kiss her ass. While it makes for entertaining enough viewing, its a pretty awful attitude, professional or otherwise. In many ways, TV Sophia and her real life counterpart have both been accused of representing the downside of Millennials who allegedly embrace a gimme attitude without providing an appropriate payoff a reviewer from The Guardian called the heroine a walking selfie, and objects, its a show which fully mistakes being an overindulged horror-show for being an assertive millennial role model. While its fun to imagine that celluloid Girlboss succeeds on her pluckiness alone, its not something that could happen in the real world. The rest of us have to keep trying and failing until we fin ally succeedand then lather, rinse, repeat until weve mastered our own version of being a Girlboss.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Additive manufacturing technologies provide better tools for p...

Additive manufacturing technologies provide better tools for p... Additive manufacturing technologies provide better tools for p... An Engineering Education Should Never EndYou might have received your degree years ago, but every engineer knows that his or her education never really ends. In fact, professional development hours credits are a requirement in many states.Beyond those requirements, engineers at all stages of their career can gain additional advantages and improve their skills through continuing education classes. Sometimes, however, its difficult to decide which courses to take.For You The Rise of the Master of Engineering Management DegreeTo me, it often starts with business skills, says Edward Brunet, Jr., who received his mechanical engineering degree from the University of New Orleans and is the founder of PDHengineer.com, which offers continuing education courses for engineers. Looking back on his own career, Brunet says a course on project management at the earlier part of mid-career would have been among the most beneficial. Many engineers can design, but they could use help organizing, he says.Brunet points out that many engineers find themselves in a managerial role as they enter mid-career. It may not be why you went into engineering, but you cant always avoid it, he says.It also makes sense to consider the size of your company is when choosing a continuing education course. While you may have a sizable legal department in a huge company, in a small one, its a different story.Heres where taking courses on legal issues in engineering or one that just focuses on contracts can come in handy, says Brunet, who was a senior mechanical engineer for Waldemar S. Nelson and Company, with a focus on oil industry issues. It doesnt mean a lawyer wont be consulted, but you could limit the amount of time they have to be used.Another advantage of continuing education is that it may help engineers learn new technologies and skills that younger employees b ring to the table. Mid- or late-career engineers might feel more comfortable learning those in a continuing education class than requesting the training at work.Brunets last continuing education tip? Be open-minded.You may think you know everything, but there are always new things to learn, he says. It doesnt have to be about a requirementit can just be about becoming the engineer you want to be, the one you know you really canbe.Eric Butterman is an independent writer.Read MoreHow to Interview on Camera for a New JobMeasuring MotivationIt doesnt have to be about a requirementit can just be about becoming the engineer you want to be, the one you know you really can be.Edward Brunet, founder, PDHengineer.com