Thursday, November 28, 2019

5 Things You Should Say in Every Job Interview

5 Things You Should Say in Every Job Interview5 Things You Should Say in Every Job Interview5 Things You Should Say in Every Job InterviewInterviews are complicated, but sometimes the simplest bewerbungsinterview advice makes the most sense... the kind youll find in this post by GL Hoffman, authorof the blog What Would Dad Say. Rather than tell us more about what not to say in a job interview, GL provides a list of five simple things you should always say in an interview. No matter who you are or what the job is, these five statements will impress your interviewer and set you apart. 1. Please and Thank YouWere all adults, so youd think this would go without saying. Thats the problemfor many job candidates it does go without saying. Respect and gratitude... verbalize them early and often.2. Ive been thinking about your company, and I believe I can contribute by...This kind of statement shows you took the time to research their business. As GL points out, it doesnt matter if your analy sis is wrong. The fact that you thought about the company before your interview earns you points.3. Im impressed by the way you... Everyones a sucker for a genuine compliment. If theres something you particularly likedthe building, the people, the corporate mission, the interviewers punctuality, the music you heard on holdsay so.4. May I start right away?They wont say yes on the spot. The purpose of this kind of bold statement is to tell them youre very interested in the job. That puts you ahead of the candidates who leave with a vague statement like Ive got a lot to think about or Thanks, have a nice day5. So, the next steps are...?If the interviewer instructs you to do something (e.g., send work samples or references, or call Jane Smith on Monday at 900 am), make sure youve got the details right, then go home and follow those instructions to the letter. Yes, its a test dont flunkThere you have it. Its hard to argue with courtesy, friendliness, respect, and affirmation.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

3D Printing Scaffolds for Bone

3D Printing Scaffolds for Bone 3D Printing Scaffolds for Bone 3D Printing Scaffolds for BoneNatural werkstoffs like wood and bone, although porous, support great weights and can perform as the scaffolding for tree limbs, buildings, or bodies for a long time without breaking down.Those materials have whats termed a high strength-to-weight ratio because their inherent internal structure and their porous nature give them a high surface-to-volume ratio.But that very architecture makes it hard to mimic these materials through engineered means. Manmade materials with these ultrastrong properties could be used in a range of emerging applications, such as high-performing lithium ion batteries and biological scaffolds.Now engineers at Washington State University in Pullman, WA, have created a 3D printing method to print structures that can precisely imitate the internal architecture of nature-made materials.Most natural materials like wood and bone are lightweight, yet very strong because the y have precise control of their structural architectural, says Rahul Panat, associate professor of mechanical and materials engineering at the university, who led the research. Arranging nanoparticles in 3D space allows us to mimic these materials.Engineers use the technique to print 3D lattices with hierarchical structures, meaning that the structural elementsthe rods that connect the latticecan themselves be made of lattices of even smaller rods. This same hierarchy of structure gives bones their compressive strength. The printing method was inspired by the desert rose, a natural, rose-like formation of sulfate and sand. Image Stock photoThe first step in the printing process is to create the printing material. For this, researchers crushed a build material into nanoparticles. They used silver to demonstrate the technique, but other materials such as ceramics or different types of metals, anything that can be crushed into nanoparticles, will work, Panat says.They then mixed the p articles with a solvent to create their ink, which they then aerosolized. This creates a mist of fog-like microdroplets that contain nanoparticles of silver. An aerosol jet printer next deposits those droplets in precise locations, allowing the researchers to control the size of the pores in the material down to the nanometer, Panat says.The material is next heated to around 200 degrees Celsius to fuse the nanoparticles and evaporate the solvent. As the liquid in the fog evaporates, the nanoparticles remain, creating delicate metal structures with features as small as 20 microns, the size of a human hair.Controlling the heating conditions allows the researchers to control the size of pores in the material down to the nanometer, Panat says.The tiny structures that result look similar to Tinker Toy constructions.The researchers have already created several intricate and beautiful structures, including microscaffolds that contain solid trusses but are created without supporting materia ls. Theyve also printed stretchable interconnects, spirals, and pillar bridges, electronic connections that resemble accordion bellows, and doughnut-shaped pillars.By arranging nanoparticles in 3D space, we can maintain the nanoscale benefits of particles while building the total volume. Nature does it in a more random way but the principle is quite similar.Prof. Rahul Panat,Washington State UniversityBy arranging nanoparticles in 3D space, we can maintain the nanoscale benefits of particles while building the total volume, Panat says. Nature does it in a more random way but the principle is quite similar.Indeed the principle is similar because, in creating the printing method, Panat was inspired by the desert rose, a rose-like formation of gypsum or barite, and sand. I knew of structures in west African deserts that are made from sulfates dissolved in fog droplets, he says. The fog condenses and evaporates and leaves the 3D structure that is a desert rose.The team has been at work on the method for two years and now looks forward to exploring several applications to put it to use. For instance, they are developing finely detailed, porous anodes and cathodes for batteries that could replace the solid structures now used. This could significantly increase battery speed and capacity, Panat says.The 3D printing method could be used to quickly fabricate materials at large scales and could also be used for tissue engineering, microfluidics, and micro-optoelectronics, he says. Biological implants and artificial bones printed using the technique would be lighter and stronger than materials used today.The researchers are now working to scale the technique so it can be used for large-scale manufacturing. The technology currently uses four print heads that work in tandem to print the materials in three dimensions. But more print heads, potentially hundreds, as is the case of 2D printing applications, will certainly speed the printing process, Panat says.This will fill q uite a few gaps in existing applications and create entirely new applications, he says of the printing method.Jean Thilmany is an independent writer.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How to Set Career Goals and Land Your Dream Job

How to Set Career Goals and Land Your Dream JobHow to Set Career Goals and Land Your Dream JobIt is important to set career goals for yourself, even from the time that you graduate from college. These goals will act as stepping stones that will help you build a successful career that you enjoy. The goals can also help to prevent you from making serious career mistakes. Its important to keep in mind that your first job may not be your dream job, but its a step toward reaching your long-term career goals. Determine Your Ideal Job First, you need to decide what your dream sttte is. This is your long-term goal. You may want to work up to a manager or director position or to become a vice president. You may want to write a book or go into business for yourself. Regardless of the position, its important to have a clear goal in mind. This will make planning out the process and the steps you need to take to get there much easier. How Will You Get There? Once youve decided on your ide al career, you need to determine what steps you need to take to get there. For example, if you want to move up into a position as manager, you may need to get an MBA. If you want to open your own business, you will need to gain experience in that field, then you will need to find capital to open the business. Seeing these specific steps can help you map out a career plan. It may also be helpful to set monthly, bimonthly, and annual goals for obtaining your dream job. For example, a monthly goal could be to read a book about your chosen field, while a bi-monthly goal might be to sign up for a business class. An annual goal might be to obtain an internship in your chosen field. Dont Let Missteps Discourage You After you graduate, you may find that you do not enjoy working in the career field you chose. Sometimes your major may not have been the right fit for you career-wise. It may not be as enjoyable as you want or leave you time for the things that are the fruchtwein important. If this is the case, you may want to completely change fields. Thats OK. One of the easiest ways to do this is to go back and get a degree in a different field but it is not the most cost-effective way. You may be able to just take classes to get extra certifications or the specific things you need in order to qualify for another job. You may also apply for an internship in the field before you transfer over to it, to make sure that you are choosing the right field for you, and not making the same mistake twice. You should also consider the job security of the new position or field. Sometimes a riskier job will pay off, but you need to prepare for the additional risk when you with. Build Your Resume Most people work for several different companies throughout their career. If you are looking for more upward mobility, you may want to consider looking for new jobs every few years.Whether you advance through the same company or you advance by taking positions at different companies, building your resume and adding new skills and areas of expertise will help you eventually land your dream job. When you switch jobs your benefits will also change. Keep in mind that its important to stay on top of your health insurance and life insurance, especially as you get older. It is best to have your life insurance independent of where you work so that you will have continuous coverage, no matter what your current employment situation is. Plan for the Future If you do find yourself switching jobs or companies, be sure to keep your retirement in mind. This means you should continue to contribute to your 401(k), IRA, or another retirement vehicle. No matter what direction your career takes you, you need to make sure that you are planning for your future, as well. As you take on more financial responsibility, you will need to be better prepared to handle the financial emergencies. This means you should build your emergency fund at the same time you are pursuing the other s kills you need to complete your career path. Careful planning will make it much easier to reach your career goals, and eventually land that dream job. Updated by Rachel Morgan Cautero.