The signs that signal you are too obsessed with making money now

The signs that signal you are too obsessed with making money nowThe signs that signal you are too obsessed with making money nowMaking money is something Ive been working on quite a bit the last few years to better my financial health.Yet, at times I also found myself becoming a bit too obsessed with making money now and the pursuit of wanting to get rich.I think its a natural feeling for many in ur society.However, Ive been fortunate enough to catch myself and ensure I do notlage make it my entire life either.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreLife is short and anything can change in an instant.So while money is important to our lives, it should not be all that matters.Below are a few signs that might signal you are becoming too obsessed with making money or getting rich fast.All you talk about is moneyThats rich coming from a personal finance nerd like me, right?(Thats rich, get it?MoneyPuns)As much as I do think about money, its not something I talk about constantly to everyone in my life.It can be a touchy subject to some, plus there is plenty to talk about and connect with others about.If you find that every word you speak or conversations lead to making money, getting rich, or how much youre making, try to find ways to dial it back.You shouldnt have money on your brain 24/7.You stress yourself out trying to get richMoney is stressful and managing personal finances can be too.But if your obsession with getting rich and chasing the almighty dollar is stressing you out, you may be too obsessive.Im all about working hard and chasing financial independence, but if it is affecting your mental and physical well-being, its time to re-evaluate your goals.Ask yourself, Is trying to make money or get rich worth the toll it has on my body and mind?You jump on every money making ideaSince making money now is a heavy priority, anytime some new way to make money comes up youre the first one to jump on it.There is nothing wrong with wanting try something new, but it can become a problem if you never see something through and jump to the next thing right away.By doing this, you arent putting 100% of your focus on something and can get frustrated when it doesnt work out.This can take a serious toll on your mind.I actually battled this for awhile a few years ago, trying to figure out what kind ofside hustleto pursue.I got excited about ideas I read about and the potential money it could make, but would quickly abandon that to move on to something else if it didnt work right away.Needless to say, it was frustrating me and was actually costing me time and moneyYoure alienating friends and familyI love working on side projects that generate income and working towards my financial goals.But, I also am learning to spend time away from these items. This includes spending more moments with friends, family, and my significant other.If you departure noticing that you are alienating friends and family, or sacrificing close relationships to spend every waking hour focusing on money, youre developing an unhealthy pattern.What you should ask yourself is, after making all this money, who will be around for you to enjoy my life with?Your pursuit can push you to the top, but you might be standing there all alone.And independence from others is certainly okay, but you may start pushing away the people that matter most in your life.Assuming your happiness strictly depends on moneyYouve probably read or have heard others say it, money doesnt guarantee you happiness.Many pursue money thinking it will make them much happier.Sure, driving a Lambo around an oceanfront property would probably make you smile a bit, for example.But once the excitement of having money settles, many times that happiness fades too.If your mindset is that happiness is strictly based on your money, you might be too obsessed with the idea what getting rich can mean.Remember that your self-worth is not based on your bank account.Youre constantly comparing your finances to othersI actuallywrote about thiswhen the blog was just a baby (it still is), but constantly comparing yourself financially to others can also be a signal.There will always be someone better than you that you know - thats lifeBut, there are also a lot of people who spend money they dont have to keep up appearances.And constantly focusing on others financials or stuff that may indicate their wealth, will drive you nuts.For awhile, I felt stuck in my career and that I was financially far behind my peers and people I knew.It did make me work harder, but I always became fixated on what others had or were doing.It was a dangerous path to start getting on, but I credit theMillionaire Next Doorand other readings to realize it doesnt matter how well-off I am, others are faking it and others will just always been wealthier than me - and thats okay.Asking yourself why youre so obsessed with mak ing money nowI think there are so many factors to why many of us become so enamored with money.And there is nothing wrong with working hard, looking to better your financial future, and ensure a safety net for your family.But sometimes, we becometooobsessive over making money now or wanting to get rich.My interests in personal finance, saving, and investing aggressively really stemmed from just never wanting to worry about money in the future.Ive seen all sides of the affects of money, so its been important for me to work hard, but also stay grounded and not make it my entire life.I think the trouble begins when your pursuit and interests become so obsessive that it is causing harm to your quality of life and those around you, instead of being beneficial.There were times where Ive borderline becoming too obsessed over the last few years, but Ive been able to dial it back.Consider this a combo of fortunately having the right mindset, having a great upbringing, keeping good people aro und me, and witnessing other people I know suffer from their money obsessions that keep me self-aware.Final thoughtsHopefully some of the signs above can help you recognize some negative money behaviors you may have developed or maybe just help keep you a bit more grounded.Or maybe Im being too preachy?I truly hope not as I never want to have that holier than thou attitude when it comes to finances.Youre probably thinking, Damn, let me live my life manSorry, just dumping out thoughts here.Anyway, some of these items above may really be unintentional or you are just now realizing what your obsessive money pursuits are doing.I think its also important to remember if youre not happy in your life now, your hardcore pursuit of money wont help either.Temporarily maybe, but when the dust settles youll still have the same unhappy feeling.This article originally appeared on Invested Wallet.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your soci al class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

4 F-Words to Help You Prepare for a Second Interview

4 F-Words to Help You Prepare for a Second InterviewPrepare for a Second Interview4 F-Words to Help You Prepare for a Second InterviewCongratulations, youve landed the second interview All that hard work and research really paid off. Do a little dance and Twitter your excitement - but dont get too comfortable just yet. Youve still got some work cut out to land the offer. Keep your eye on the prize and prepare a solid strategy with the help of these four F-wordsFIRM UP YOUR MEMORYGetting called in for a second interview means youre one step closer to a job offer. Now take the opportunity between interviews to firm up your memory. Review the names of those you interviewed with during the first round, as well as their positions and contributions to the organization. Be prepared to recite these names during the second interview if youre facing a new platzdeckchen of interviewers who arent completely up to speed. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUSEven though the employer has shown interest and wants to get to know you better, you havent closed the sale yet. Maintain your focus. You need to treat the second interview as seriously as you would the first. Dress up (in a different outfit than the first, please), be professional, and dont let your guard down, even if the interviewers seem more relaxed. FORMULATE QUESTIONSChances are you received a wealth of information in the first interview and asked important questions during the do you have any questions for us phase. So were there any questions you would have liked to ask the first time around, but you didnt get a chance? Or maybe something came to mind on the drive home? Interviewers will understand that a second interview may not elicit as many questions as the first, and thats okay. Just be prepared with a few in case they ask again. FOLLOW THROUGHYouve made it this far. If the interest is mutual, the employer should explain any benefits youd receive and inform you of the next stage of the hiring process. But if they end the int erview without a call to action, go ahead and ask what the next step would be. This could be the last step, or only the second of four. Also, its not uncommon to leave without an offer. The employees you just met with will probably have to sit down with the first-round interviewers to discuss your qualifications and how you might fit in before the company decides to extend you an offer.

Going Back to School Doesnt Have to Be Scary

Going Back to School Doesnt Have to Be ScaryGoing Back to School Doesnt Have to Be ScaryGoing Back to School Doesnt Have to Be ScaryA lot of people talk about or consider going back to school at some point during their career, either to learn more about their field, earn that ever-important graduate degree, or to reach the next step on the corporate ladder. But many dont actually enroll for one simple reason Its scary. School can be a big, time-consuming, money-draining commitment, and that keeps many people from ever heading back.But going back to school today isnt as difficult as it may initially seem. Heres why.You Dont Have to Go Full-TimeWe assume that going back to school would require a full-time commitment quitting work, giving up a paycheck, and trudging off to class four times a day. This doesnt have to be the case. With so many working adults going back to school to finish a degree or start a new one, colleges and universities are tailoring programs to work for these indiv iduals. Most geschftliches miteinander schools, for example, offer night and weekend programs for those career professionals who want to earn their MBA. On top of that, you often have a choice of whether you want to go full-time, part-time, or just take a class or two per semester. How many classes you take and how quickly you finish your degree is totally up to you. And with online classes now added into the mix, theres even more flexibility in regards to scheduling, location, and when you attend class.You Dont Have to Spend a Lot of MoneyAnother thing we assume about going back to school Its going to be a huge investment. But, depending on what kind of education you already have and what youre looking to do, school doesnt have to be unbearably expensive. Your local community college might offer a certificate or diploma program that will teach you the skills you need (without the expense of a four-year bachelors degree). If you have a two-year degree and want to earn your bachelors , the classes you already took might count towards your program (which means you wont be starting from scratch). And depending on where you work, your company might even be willing and able to help front the cost of your degree program expenses.You Dont Have to Make a Huge CommitmentThis might be the biggest obstacle to overcome. Going back to school can have the appearance of being a huge two- or four-year commitment thats going to drain your time and energy. Instead, you can dip your toe in the water by just taking a class or two to start. See if the program and the curriculum are the right fit for you. If theyre not, youre free to explore other options that will help you attain your personal and professional goals.About the AuthorNol Rozny writes and edits the career and education blog, myPathfinder for myFootpath, a career and education resource for students of all ages. She also maintains the companys social media outlets, and is passionate about using these technologies to hel p students and job seekers alike find the degree program or career thats right for them. You can find her on Twitter at myfootpath or noelrozny.

Top 28 destinations for 2019 (Part 4) Rising stars

Top 28 destinations for 2019 (Part 4) Rising starsTop 28 destinations for 2019 (Part 4) Rising starsIn choosing our picks for the most intriguing destinations for the upcoming year, we decided to dive deeper, considering destinations with intriguing sites, cultures and experiences. The complete list is divided into four segments, including both domestic and international destinations and something for every travel style. First, we focused on seven newsworthy destinations, next we showcased our Diving Deeper category. We followed that with our Cultural Explorations destinations.This week were introducing our final category Rising Stars. This group includes Seville, Spain Mobile, Alabama Oaxaca, Mexico Brno, Czech Republic Newfoundland Quito, Ecuador and, Billings, Montana. Heres why we chose these seven.Seville, SpainTapas tasting, Flamenco dancing and a host of other authentic cultural experiences await in Seville. The worlds largest Gothic cathedral stands guard over the city center beckoning exploration. Dont miss a climb to the top of Giralda, the cathedrals bell tower. Existing for mora than 11 centuries, the UNESCO World Heritage listed Alczar Palace as a spectacle to behold. Recently featured as a location for Game of Thrones, the palace is a union of Christian and Mudjar architecture.In the spring, the processions of Holy Week- Semana Santa- are followed by the colorful Feria de Abril. The festival begins with 22,000 lights bathing the expansive fairgrounds in a soft glow. Its the beginning of a week of dancing, music and celebration of Sevillian culture.Mobile, AlabamaMention Mardi Gras and everyone immediately thinks of the rowdy revelry that overtakes the streets of New Orleans each year. But the truth is, Mardi Gras began in 1703 by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in Mobile- fifteen years before New Orleans was founded. Mobile never let go of its carnival celebration and today Mardi Gras in Mobile is a multi-week affair with traditional masked balls and parades where participants toss gifts to onlookers. Yes, there are beads, but there are also Moon Pies- a favorite local confection. Moon Pies dont just make an appearance for Mardi Gras. A 12-foot-tall, 600-pound lighted faux Moon Pie is now permanently attached to the local RSA Trustmark building where it drops for the countdown to the New Year.Oaxaca, MexicoFrom its capital city of the saatkorn name to the rural regions of the central valley, from the verdant Sierra Norte highlands in the north to the southern Pacific shoreline where beaches line the coast, Oaxaca is a gem. Its also one of Mexicos safest and most stable destinations. Spend some time exploring the colonial capital, Oaxaca, which UNESCO has designated as Humanitys Cultural Patrimony. The streets are lined with 17th century architecture, courtyards and shaded zocalos.If youre looking to escape for a little beach time, Huatulco is known for its 9 bays with beaches ranging from golf resorts to quieter laid-back villag es.A mecca for surfers, Puerto Escondido has remained relatively under the radar for most tourists. You wont find high rises here- and thats part of its charm. Even if you dont surf, relaxing on this beautiful stretch of sand will rejuvenate you. When you eventually tear yourself away, seasonal boat trips to search for dolphins, sea turtles and whales are available. Depending on the season, you may even have the opportunity to assist with a baby turtle rescue or swim in bioluminescent waters under the moonlight.Brno, Czech RepublicSituated about halfway between the tourist meccas of Prague and Vienna, Brno awaits as a less crowded authentic travel experience. The Czech Republics second largest city has a booming restaurant and bar scene, a fascinating subterranean world and the sound of music. In October, the Moravian Autumn Festival showcases concerts by orchestras from across Europe while the New Music Exposition (the same month) provides a more experimental take on classics.This former Moravian capital has long been a favorite beer destination, but Moravian wines are becoming increasingly popular as well. Perched on a hill overlooking the city, the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul is an architectural highlight. As for that subterranean world, the Capuchin Monastery houses the mummified remains of monks and nobles, and an ossuary underneath the Church of St. James is home to more than 5,000 skeletons.NewfoundlandYes, its a land of icebergs, moose, whales and puffins, but Newfoundland is so much more. In St. John, hilly streets wind past jelly bean houses painted red, yellow, lavender, green and blue. This is a place of folklore, humor and stunning natural beauty. Locals relish the opportunity to tell you about their homeland and when they speak, its enchanting.Standing on the most easterly point at Cape Spear overlooking the Atlantic Ocean you are directly across from County Clare, Ireland. Immigrants from Ireland settled here centuries ago and the Irish lilt settled with them.For sweeping views overlooking St. Johns and the Atlantic Ocean, head up to Signal Hill. This was the site of fortifications in the mid-17th century. And in 1901, its where Guglielmo Marconi received the worlds first transatlantic wireless signal.Numerous coastal hiking trails begin in and around St. Johns including the East Coast Trail. Started in 1994, the East Coast Trail stretches over 186 miles. Its made up of 26 wilderness paths and intersects with more than 30 communities along the route.No visit to Newfoundland is complete without being screeched in. Its the only way to become an honorary Newfoundlander. All you have to do is recite a little passage with phrases like long may your big jib draw then kiss a cold dead codfish and down a shot of Screech Rum. CheersQuito, EcuadorWith the volcanic Galapagos Islands teeming with strange and fascinating wildlife, impressive Andean peaks, and the lush Amazon rainforest, Ecuador is perhaps best known for its nat ural wonders. But it has another side its cities. In 1978, Ecuadors capital, Quito, was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site for its extensive historic center. Surrounded by volcanos and straddling the center of the earth, Quito is a place where the past and present effortlessly coexist.Founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Incan City, Quito has the best-preserved historic center in Latin America. Narrow cobblestoned streets are lined with colonial churches, monasteries, convents, and beautifully restored houses with architecture from the 16th to the 20th century.For some of the citys most spectacular architecture, stroll the Calle de Las Siete Cruces- Street of the Seven Crosses. Named for seven churches located just blocks from each other, each one has a predominately displayed cross as a testament to the religious practices that have existed since the citys inception. The iconic La Compaa de Jess Church, also known as the Golden Ember, is considered the Baroqu e jewel of Latin America and the world with a facade carved out of Andean stone. Inside, altars, pulpits, pillars, and arches are all covered with gold leaf. Baroque carvings in geometric shapes along with those of flowers, fruit, and garlands are actually plated with 23-carat gold.Billings, MontanaSurrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of Big Sky Country, Billings is an ideal getaway for anyone with a pioneering spirit who prefers to sleep in a bed. Often referred to as Montanas Trailhead, Billings is the gateway to the Beartooth Mountains where Montanas highest peaks stretch to over 12,800 feet. The Yellowstone River runs through the heart of the city providing ample adventure opportunities like fishing for walleye or kayaking.When the days adventures are done, spend the evening strolling to Montanas Brewery District. This 1.5 mile stretch through downtown Billings is home to six breweries, one cider house, two distilleries and numerous restaurants. When youre done for the nigh t, rest assured you can snooze in a comfy bed not a sleeping bag.This article was originally published on TravelSquire.

6 tips for quitting your job on a high note

6 tips for quitting your job on a high leide6 tips for quitting your job on a high noteWeve all had that wanderlust thought Man, I really wish I could just quit my job. Regardless of whether you were offered a position at another company, youre leaving to start your own business, or youre going on a much-needed sabbatical from everyday life, resigning can be tricky business. You might fantasize about a dramatic exit after a difficult conversation with your boss, but if youre really about to make a move, its important to leave on the best note possible.Take a note from these successful entrepreneurs who took that leap of faith, while still keeping their professional reputation healthy.1. Make koranvers youre ready to leaveNo matter how long you mull over the decision or how confident you are with it, leaving a steady paycheck and working environment can give you anxiety.When Regan Walsh left her job as the head of branding and culture development at a non-profit after four years, she said it welches a stressful endeavor. To ease her worries as she transitioned into a full-time executive coach, she created a plan B to make that step off the ledge into the unknown easier to navigate. As the frustration and weariness of my job set in, I immediately began evaluating what it would look like for me to step away, she said. I had a safety net- savings, a supportive partner and a detailed business plan- while I transitioned to a new career. Feeling a sense of security during this in-between period was important to me.Especially if you dont have another gig to hop to, make a list of everything you need - from the number of zeros in your banking account to how youll handle health care - to ensure you dont spiral before you even get started.2. Be professional with your exitThough quitting might seem like the last part of a long process, Susan Bratton, the founder and CEO of Savor Health argues its the most important one. She left a 20-year career on Wall Street to start S avor, which is a company dedicated to the nutritional needs of cancer patients. But when she decided it was time to head out, she knew how essential it was to be professional. Instead of two weeks notice, she gave a month. If you are leaving because you are unhappy or you dont like the culture, be honest but also professional, she said. Say something to the effect of While I love the X, Y, Z of this company, I have found that A, B, C are not suitable for my partieality/desires/objectives etc. In other words, focus on how you are not a good fit rather than saying I hate this place.She added that its important to not throw anyone under the bus. I am a big believer that there is a place for everyone and sometimes when things dont work in a job it is because of fit more than anything, she said.3. Dont look behind youA year ago, James Aschehoug left his job as a financial consultant to start the social media platform, Uriji Jami.While he was ready to plunge into the entrepreneur life, he knew that focusing on the past or worrying about the future wouldnt serve him professionally - or emotionally. When youre putting in your notice, you dont want to harp too much on what happened, he said. Focus instead on the reasons youre moving forward.Rather than brood over the past and the reasons that might have led you to quit, try focusing on your next step and the exciting times ahead, he said. There is nothing worse than being bitter as you will be remembered as a loser. Instead, impersonate this inspiring, high-potential person leaving for something better. And then be that person.4. Do it on a FridayAfter working in investment banking for several decades, Catherine Tan decided to leave to create acompany, Notey.com, that curates recommendations for travelers. When she made her move, she put in her notice on a Friday. While the day of the week might not seem important, it sets the tone for your exit, she said.The worst thing is showing up to work the next day and your bos s is still angry, she said. Give them a weekend to calm down so that Monday you can proactively start working on a transition plan.5. Tie up loose endsCo-founder and CEO of Bombas, David Heath, left his job to work-full time for his company, just a few months before it officially launched. Making the move was an important one for Heath - not just because he was passionate about his companys mission, but also because he knew it was essential to leave on a high note, instead of a messy one. Make sure you tie up all loose ends, clean out your inbox, and leave your coworkers and employers in a secure place before leaving, he said. Arm your team and your managers with the tools to pick up where you leave off, he said. Be understanding, too. While you may be leaving, your colleagues and managers still have the work to do. So make sure you help make the transition as easy as possible on your way out.6. Be sure you want your passion to become your jobIf your motivation to leave is centered around a thirst to become an entrepreneur, remember that when your passion becomes your job, that inspiration may change. Cate Brinch, the owner of Recycle Studio in Boston, learned this first hand. I drew a line and realized early on that the best way for me to run this business was to be owner and operator, not instructor because I couldnt wear all hats, she said. I think it is important to identify the best ways for you to work with your passion if you chose to do so.

List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume: No Longer a Mystery

List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume No Longer a Mystery Most standard resume formats incorporate a skill section at or close to the bottom of the resume. A mix of both is when youre able to demonstrate each one of your capabilities along with proof of work. In addition to the practical demand for developers in just about any company, programming skills demonstrate advanced problem solving skills that could promote a well-rounded professional. At length, should you need help with the numerous sections of your resume, utilizing a resume builder is the perfect answer.Actually, there are particular jobs in which its important to set a skill section at or close to the top of the resume. On that sheet of paper, you can lay down each skill that enables you to stand from the crowd. Or perhaps you want to reinforce a product included in your resume skills section since you are aware that it is important to the function. In truth, it could be appropriate to incorporate a mora promi nent core competencies section at the peak of your resume with thorough descriptions of certain skills if theyre absolutely central to success in the desired position. List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume Secrets Although creativity is critical in how you present yourself, it isnt going to be useful if you dont understand how to create a resume and it doesnt contain any sort of special abilities or knowledge that can be gotten through free certifications or any other sort of education. Soft skills are a little bit more vague and open to interpretation. A good example of miscellaneous skills include your willingness to travel and whether you own a passport. You have to be in a position to communicate with your customers, employers, colleagues, staff, vendors, etc in various various ways. Naturally, there are a lot more courses on unique topics that will earn a change in your resume. Graphic-based resumes permit you to lay out complex info in a simplistic way. Speaking of s ocial networking, you also will need to comprehend the basics of a content calendar. List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume Fundamentals Explained If this is the case, youll be the winner. If you wind up deciding you just require a job at the moment and will take the one whichs not your dream. Nowadays you ll have a great deal of opinions on your lifetime and a range are likely to change with time. One of the greatest sources of getting experience in some specific areas is volunteering. To begin with, if youre seeing a great deal of hard skills that you just dont have, it might be far better move on to the next position. The skills that you place in your resume will actually be based on what position youre applying for within a supermarket. Definitions of List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume Normally, the primary purpose of any resume is to highlight the abilities and obtain work. To begin with, you should know there are two distinct kinds of skills. There are a couple s kills that is going to be utterly necessary for any successful candidate. There are a few skills that will be utterly necessary for any successful candidate. You have to brush up on your abilities. Skills are superb, and I imagine you have a good deal of those. When considering what things to put on a resume, skills are the absolute most important. Needless to say, certain skills can assist you almost in any position. The Number One Question You Must Ask for List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume Earlier than you start working in your resume, its ideal to get a peek at a variety of the resume examples obtainable on-line with a view to acquire concepts and data. Although it may not be as rewarding as an actual job since you dont get paid, it can bring a great deal of very good knowledge on how things work, for instance, organizing events, fundraising, and similar pursuits. A great instance is Prime Minister, a completely new service which brings the matching room straight to the houses of Prime members in buchen they can try on the latest fashions till they buy. Should you need an instance of creativity in CV, have a look at Lukas Yla story told to AdFreak. List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone To start, you dont need to list every job that youve ever had. Also, dont hesitate to list non-traditional work like volunteer jobs or freelance work, particularly if you havent held a normal job in a little while. When applying to a transportation operations manager job, make sure that you match your skills with the demands of the work description to make the most of your chances. As you learn skills and earn experience from 1 job, you are going to be able to translate that experience into another position till you work your way up to the ideal accounting job. Being technically savvy is critical. Someone who trained in a particular skill for 2 years may have spent more hours training than somebody who has done it for 6 decades. In lots of cases, one particular person being subpar can be an enormous detriment to the total group, but you dont wish to be harsh with individuals who play for fun, therefore its vital to be nice about it The Unexpected Truth About List of Good Skills to Put on a Resume Its only required to include enough info to catch the interest of possible employers and create enough interest in your skills they may want to grant you that interview. Specific Skills In some cases, a candidate might want to list specific hard skills that arent tied to any particular goods, but distinctive comprehension. The majority of the times your resume is the exact first impression which you make to your employers. Utilize your judgment, and as always, you need to always prepare many resumes for a number of varieties of companies.

What Is An Internship

What Is An Internship What Is An Internship?Posted April 15, 2019, by EleshaInternships are more important than ever for entry-level job candidates. An internship, paid or unpaid, gives you hands-on industry experience and an edge when applying for jobs. For many employers, an internship on your CV may be the deciding factor on whether you land the role or not. What Exactly Is An Internship?Essentially, an internship iswork experience and training with an employer in a specific industry for a certain period of time. Internships might be short, with some lasting only a week while others will be long as 12 months. During this time, the internship candidate (usually a student or graduate), is exposed to the day-to-day work environment and gets hands-on learning experience in the field. Complimenting the studies the student has or is undertaking, this real-world experience is extremely valuable and viewed as a real asset by employers. Internships are available in all kinds of sectors inc luding IT, banking and finance, marketing and sales, public relation, government departments, human resources, and environment and sustainability. This is just naming a few internships are available (and are highly valued) in a huge range of industries. Different Types Of Internships Lets take a look at the different types of internships and nope, theyre not only for graduates and students. Taking an internship when making a career change is a great way to learn more about a new industryPaid InternshipThe main difference between a paid and non-paid internship is pretty obvious the money. In a paid internship, youll be paid a wage.While it may sound like taking a paid internship over an unpaid one is a no brainer, there are definitely other factors to consider. Unpaid internships may offer more perks in some circumstances. For example, small businesses, and startups might not have the budget for a paid internship but could offer a lot more hands-on experience than a big organisation for their interns.Unpaid InternshipIf youre still a student with no work experience at all, taking an unpaid internship may open up future (paid) opportunities with the organisation. The potential to move from the internship into a full-time role in the organisation is a major incentive to take an unpaid opportunity. Internships in areas like media (radio, television, print), non-profit organisations, startups and politics dont usually offer any remuneration. Australias Fair Work Ombudsmensets out some guidelines around paid vs unpaid internships.Student InternshipThe earlier you can get insight into how the industry youre interested in works, the better. As a student, taking an internship can help you decide if a certain career path really is for you. Theres nothing to say you cant take a few internships in different industries to explore your options while youre still studying. As a student, its great to try as many things as possible so you dont feel locked into one thing too ear ly. Graduate InternshipGraduate internships typically commence straight after completing the final year of study and consist of supervised, hands-on training related to the graduates academic background and career goals. The training could also be quite general to give the graduate a feel for the different roles and areas within an organisation. Graduate internships are usually unpaid. How To Get An InternshipWant to get an internship but not sure where to start? Heres how to get the tanzabend rolling. ResearchTime to get your Google on. Spend time researching different organisations in the industry youd like to land an internship. Find out if they already offer internships, but dont be discouraged if they dont. You may become the organisations very first internThere are also Australian graduate programs for internships that work to place you with a company in an industry of your choice. Youll usually pay for these services though, so why not reach out to an organisation youre inter ested in directly?Reach OutRegardless of whether a company has an intern program and open position or not, reach out to them with your interest. Getting in nichts von with a company who isnt advertising internships can actually be an advantage. You might be the only one approaching them, rather than competing with others for an advertised position.Crafting a great cover letter and finding the right person to send it to is a crucial part of this step. You want to show youve researched the company and how their mission aligns with your studies, interests and career goals. Also, dont do the whole to whom it may concern thing address your cover letter to an actual person. If you cant tell from the organisation website or LinkedIn profile who that may be, address it to the CEO or Director. Network Its so important to network when starting your career or taking the next step, whether it be landing an internship, a new job or a whole new career. The idea of networking might feel a little o verwhelming, especially if youve never done it before, but it doesnt have to be a big, scary deal Heres how to get yourself noticed on LinkedIn and some tips on the art of networking.You never know, that internship you land might open career paths and opportunities you never knew existed ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searcheswhat is communication skillswhat is a futures traderwhat is vocational education and training key featureseffective oral and written communication skillscareer advisor online CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineEleshaRelated ArticlesBr owse moreAgricultureA different kind of hay feverWe chat to Rohan Brill, a Research and Development Agronomist for the NSW Department of Primary Industries, about why he chose a career in Agriculture.CAREER ADVICERecession-proof your careerEmployers are starting to feel the vicious bite of the global financial crisis and many are cutting back on costs and staff. Dont panic, but do prepare yourself so youre not the first to go if your company decides to downsize.Career changeJob hunting tipsAm I In The Wrong Job?Sometimes its easier to identify something we dont like rather than something we do, and our careers are no exception.

How to Write a Resume Summary that Grabs Attention

How to Write a Resume Summary that Grabs Attention How to Write a Resume Summary that Grabs Attention One of the key points I cover in my free resume writing course, is the need to stand out by writing a powerful resume summary.You only get a very short amount of time to make an impression and a well written resume summary can make all the difference.But I think the resume summary is one of the most misunderstood aspects of resume writing. Most people write summaries that are almost guaranteed never to be read.Let me show you what I mean.Here is a resume example that I recently received. I have disguised the client, but she gave me permission to share herbei original resume (which cost her $400 from another resume writer) along with the rewriteclick image to see a larger versionThis resume summary is typical of too many resumes. It may look and sound very professional but heres the truth No one will read it.Every recruiter or hiring manager faced with that big block of text will simp ly skip it to get to the professional history. The only positive thing about the resume summary as it stands right now is the headline Marketing Manager which clearly communicates to recruiters who this candidate is and what types of jobs she should be considered for. Other than that, its useless.So Im going to take this resume and rework the summary in stages so you can see exactly how to spice up your own resume introduction.First, lets deal with the fact that its just a big block of text that no one will read. Im going to try breaking it up and creating sub-headers and bolded text calling out the most important information recruiters need to know about this candidate. That way, if someone wants to skip the introduction, theyll still learn some persuasive facts about SydneyThats better but I still dont feel the chunk of text in the middle is going to be read by most recruiters. I also think its filled with fluff. Sydney may claim to be a proactive manager, team player and tactical planner who has contributed to revenue growth but who knows if thats true?Instead of making those unsubstantiated claims, Im going to prove that theyre true by replacing all those words with short bullet points highlighting some of her best successesBetter, but I wonder if I can do more? I wonder how I can use this resume summary to prove that Sydney is really something special? One possibility is to go to her LinkedIn page, look for endorsements and pull out some of the best quotes. I can then use them to provide third-party proof that Sydney is worth hiring.I tried that here, and this version is evidence that I dont always have the best ideas first time roundI like the quotes, but I think they make the introduction too long and they distract from those compelling bullet points. A busy recruiter will probably just skip this whole section looking for the professional experience. Ive just tried to do too much here.But all that work led me to the final version a resume summary that does everything I wanted.I decided that I needed to get the focus back on those key facts that prove Sydney is a high achiever, so I selected just one quote to use. This quote says it all really and by setting it off to the side, we keep the introduction from being too long and too busy.I have also redesigned the resume. Sydney is a marketing manager for the tech industry in 2011 so her resume shouldnt look like something from 1986.The redesigned resume summary may not be to everyones taste, but I would bet good money on its being more effective during a job search than the resume Sydney was using previously.One last time here is the original resumeAnd here is the new versionnotenzeichen that this exact approach may not be right for you. You may not have LinkedIn testimonials. A different approach to conveying value might be appropriate. (For example, highlighting awards you have won or starting your resume with a personal statement) The key to success is not to copy any one approac h but to think of your resume summary as the place to grab attention and prove your value and to do it in as concise a way as possible.Good luckPS If youre interested in professional resume help, just ask us for a quote here. Well take a look at your current resume, provide our ideas and feedback, and give you a firm, no-obligation price quote. And well do it by either email or phone your choice. Just click here to ask for your feedback and quote.Other articles you might find helpfulShould You Use a Resume Template?3 Easy Ways to Disguise Resume GapsThe Simple Resume Hack That Will Transform Your Job Search

Something to Prove

Something to Prove Something to Prove Something to ProveRobots have emerged as a force in infrastructure inspection.That is especially true in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, which are not an obvious test bed for new technology. Because their assets sortiment into the billions of dollars, their managers are very cautious about entrusting their facilities to any new technology. Yet even something as simple as inspecting storage tanks for corrosion and leaks shows why robots are increasingly popular.Tanks are exposed to weather outside and aggressive chemicals inside. Users must periodically look for damage on their walls, roofs, and especially floors, where water under the tank can cause invisible corrosion.To inspect a tank, operators must empty it, vent any toxic gases, and erect scaffolds to get to high structures. Depending on the intensity of the inspection, this takes weeks or even months. It also exposes workers to heights and confined spaces, two of the industrys m ost common causes of accidents and death.Enter the robots. Magnetic robots crawl walls, traverse roofs, and search floors for flaws. Quadcopters do visual inspections inside. They are potentially faster and cheaper than humans, since they eliminate the need for scaffolds and confined space work.Recommended for You A Special Report on RoboticsOn offshore oil platforms, drones check equipment and remote operated vehicles to search for problems in submerged pipelines. On land, they scan gases flaring from tall stacks for equipment leaks and overheating. Underground, their pan-and-tilt cameras illuminate the sides of pipes too small for humans to enter.At Waukesha-Pearce Industries, a 100-year-old oilfield services company, Terry Nelson uses crawlers to check fire tubes, 20-foot-high chimneys that regenerate desiccants used to remove water and contaminants from natural gas.We used to shut the well, cool the tube, and pull it out and lay it on its side with a large crane, said Nelson, th e companys production equipment services manager. Now we leave it in place until it cools below 200 F and send in a robot to map the erosion, corrosion, dents, and fissures. It takes six-to-eight hurs.Robots cannot do everything yet, said Brad Tomer, vice president of operations at Avitas Systems, which applies Big Data techniques and robots for Waukesha-Pearce. Yet they do some things really well.In a given plant, they might do 40 percent of what welches done manually before, he said.And robotic inspectors are getting smarter and faster. Using advanced analytics and machine learning, Tomer slashed the time it took to survey 20 different wells to seven days, from 40.Industry loves those numbers. It loves the improved safety and lower workers compensation costs. The efficiency of robots reduces the need for people, and it likes the reduction in workforce.Yet, given the size, cost, and complexity of their facilities, the industry remain cautious. So, why did refiners let in the robots ? And how did they learn to trust them to conduct tests as well as human beings? The answer is complex, and it says a lot about how the next wave of robots might penetrate other industries.DriversSafety played an important role in bringing robots to Dow Chemical, said Twain Pigott, Dows lead robot architecture specialist. His group wanted to use technology to reduce confined space, elevated fall, and equipment cleaning accidents.Dow Chemical uses drones to inspect the inside of storage tanks. It is safer than using workers and eliminates the need for scaffolds. Image Dow ChemicalThose three account for largest number of injuries and fatalities in our industry, he explained.Economics were also powerful. Because robots do not require scaffolds or ropes, they deploy faster and can reduce inspection costs by up to two-thirds, said Waukesha-Pearces director of drilling and production services Fred Stow.In the old days, you would drive out to the middle of nowhere and spend all day runnin g 100 different diagnostic tests, he said. Now, I can fly there, map the assets, and take visual and infrared readings on the site. If we measure the assets mora than once, we can see how they change and do predictive maintenance and root cause analysis of problems.Oil and gas were ready for those arguments. Since the 1980s, many had used remotely operated vehiclestethered underwater robotsto inspect offshore pipelines at depths where humans could not dive safely.They were also converting cylindrical pigs used to clean oil, gas, and chemical pipelines into smart pigs outfitted with sensors to measure leakage and pipeline integrity.Yet the industry never took robots seriously until late 2010, said Adam Serblowski, who heads Shells robotics program. Thats when drones opened peoples eyes. They were fully commercial, and we didnt have to put in time to make sure the platform worked.Serblowski first used drones to inspect the tall towers that flare off excess natural gas. Drones equipped with an infrared camera could inspect the flare while it was running and identify hot spots and uneven heating that were invisible to workers who mounted the tower only after it had cooled down.Today, Serblowski describes his use of drones as a list a mile long. For example, he now uses an Elios quadcopter encased in a pliant cage to inspect the interior storage tank walls and roofs. If it bumps into a protruding pipe or support, the cage absorbs the impact and the drone keeps flying rather than crashing to the ground.We still have to drain and vent the tank to make sure there is no explosive atmosphere present, Serblowski said. Still, its a gain because we dont have to put a person inside and we can inspect the roof without any scaffolding.The downside is that battery life is not great, since the drone has to carry the added weight of the cage and the sensors, he said.As a result, a full inspection takes two days. Still, that is much faster than the time needed to build and remove an interior scaffold.Drones awoke a new interest in crawlers. Dow uses miniature robots outfitted with pan-tilt-zoom high-definition cameras to crawl through smaller pipes that run between parts of its chemical plants. Shell uses crawlers with ultrasonic sensors to test its tank floors.And the more industry invested in robots, the more companies launched new and better ordnungsprinzips.New ModelsThe result is a growing profusion of ever-more capable robots. One example is Inuktun InCommand Robotics modular crawlers, which let users outfit one of several different fahrgestell with an assortment of tracks, controllers, manipulators, cameras, and sensors.Instead of having one robot for a pipeline, one for the vertical walls of a tank, and one for railcar, users can buy our kit and configure it for whatever task you need, said Wes Kirkland, Inuktuns vice president of operations. And the kit is not any more expensive than its competitors.The kit includes magnetic tracks that let the rob ot crawl up a wall, through a pipe, or under a roof. Because the system is waterproofInuktuns first robots inspected water pipesmagnetic robots can inspect offshore production risers as they come out of the water and ship hulls below the water line in lieu of bringing the vessel into a dry dock.Another robot developer, Diakont, is building a crawler that will inspect gasoline and petrochemical storage tank floorswithout draining the tank first. Diakont has proven its Stingray robot in 12 fire water tanks, and plans to inspect its first petrochemical tank this fall.Naturally, the robot is rated for an explosive environment. Its umbilical conduit, which also acts as a winch, delivers electricity and pressurizes the robot with nitrogen to 50 bar.If any rubber seals or gaskets fail, instead of fuel going inside the robot you have nitrogen going out, said Steve Trevino, Diakonts business development and strategy manager. It has 3-D sonar to avoid floating pipes, columns, or cathodic prot ection supports inside the tank. It uses magnetic flux leakage sensors and eddy current sensors to find and characterize any tank floor anomalies.New tanks are usually not inspected until they are 10 or 15 years old, Trevino explained. A lot can happen in that interval. Because operators dont have to drain their tanks, our robot makes it affordable to do more frequent inspections. That lets them plan in advance when they need to drain the tank to replace some plate on the floor.New sensors have added to robot capabilities.In fact, Kraken Robotics started out making synthetic aperture sonar, which builds images from multiple sonar transducers. By using video game chips, which excel at building images, to process the information, it slashed system costs dramatically.Krakens sensors provide enough range and resolution to image 3cm gas bubbles leaking from a pipeline hundreds of meters away.Resolution is important for trusting data, David Shea, Krakens vice president of engineering, sai d. Our system produces almost optical quality images. Theres no doubt about whats out there.Kraken decided to get into the robot business when users had trouble integrating the new sensor into existing ROVs. The business jumped when oil prices started to decline.Offshore oil and gas companies, which inspect thousands of miles of underwater pipelines, were already using ROVs tethered to large ships. Switching to Krakens ROVs increased their scanning range significantly, helping operators complete inspections faster and reducing the cost of operating expensive survey ships.A methane sensor developed by Lance Christensen, a scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab, could have a similar impact on drones. His laser spectrometer, developed to search for signs of life on the Mars Curiosity rover, samples methane down to the parts per billion level. That is three orders of magnitude more sensitive than existing devices.Chevron and the Pipeline Research Council helped repurpose the sensor to le t drones search for gas leaks while flying along a pipeline. Drones can also measure methane and wind velocity downwind from a petrochemical plant and use the data to pinpoint any gas leaks.NASA licensed the technology for commercialization.TrustAs noted, managers running billion-dollar-plus refineries and petrochemical plants are cautious about new technology. So how did they learn to trust robots? The answer depends on whom you ask.For many, the answer is simple Youre not necessarily trusting the robot, Inuktuns Kirkland said. Youre trusting the sensor. If it works in your hand, then it should work on your robot. All the robot does is put it there.Besides, humans are always in the loop. This usually includes one person guiding the robot and another carrying out the inspection. At Dow, for example, certified inspectors deploy robots only after putting together a detailed inspection plan. Even when a robot autonomously executes a plan, the inspector is responsible for the quality of the data.Its no different than having the inspector in the process, Pigott said.Yet operators remain cautious. If they follow a standard, it is, Trust, but verify.Before Waukesha-Pearce began inspecting fire tubes, for example, Nelson attacked a perfectly good unit with drills and grinders to simulate different defects.When we ran the robot through the pipe and it found every anomaly, then we knew we had something, he said.Verification can take time, added Avitas Tomer. This is especially true for Avitas, which analyzes data from multiple sensors to predict maintenance problems.One client gave us 30 years of maintenance data but held back the last five years to see how well we could predict what would happen, he recalled. We were very accurate, but even then, they spent one year doing normal inspections and running our system together to see how they compared.If todays robots already reduce human risk and cut inspection costs and time, the next generation of increasingly autonomous robots promises even more benefits. Once a human has selected where to inspect a facility, the robot will fly to those spots, take measurements, and leave. Large facilities and offshore oil platforms may even have resident robots that do those tasks daily.In order to do analytics well, we need to detect changes in the condition of equipment, and that is facilitated by taking the same measurements over and over again, Tomer said.Repeated observations under different conditions also improves the abilityand speedof machine learning tools to recognize and analyze the data they receive. When assigned to create 3-D models of 20 wells, Avitas took four hours to survey the first one and 48 hours to process the data. After learning to integrate data from several sensors and account for changing light and shadows, the last well took less than 15 minutes to survey and six hours to crunch the numbers.The more you use machine learning, the more accurate it gets, Tomer said. It becomes more econ omical and causes fewer problems.Tomers goal is to combine autonomous flights and sensor data with digital plant models and operational plant data to do more sophisticated types of predictive maintenance. When you combine data, thats really where you get insights, he said.Others are more cautious. That includes Patrick Saracco, vice president of technology solutions at Cyberhawk Innovations, a company that began inspecting North Sea oil platforms 10 years ago. While Cyberhawk is investigating machine-based image analysis and embraces drone autonomy, Saracco believes humans will remain in the loop for a long time.There is always the risk of missing 1 or 2 percent of existing defects, he said. And the oil and gas industry is so diverse, its hard to automate. Each offshore platform is different, and their materials differ in color, refractivity, and temperature. Furthermore, the risk factors are so high, you want to have a pilot there to take over should something happens.Also, platfor m owners want pilots to have training and competencenot just in flying, but in risk assessment. They have to know what to do when there is electromagnetic interference or strong wind gusts when flying under the deck, Saracco said. Autonomous flights will get there, but certainly the technology and competence of those systems is not there yet.Serblowski agrees Today, the human is absolutely doing the inspection. Someone is processing and signing off on the data.Yet he, too, is drawn by promise of data analytics to improve robotic inspection efficiency. Companies like Shell already use digital control systems with remote sensors and actuators to run their plants.It is not much of a stretch to envision digital robotic systems inspecting their plants as well.Alan s. brown is a senior editor at Mechanical Engineering magazine.Readthe latest issue of theMechanical Engineering Magazine.

J.K. Rowling Failure gave me an inner security

J.K. Rowling Failure gave me an inner securityJ.K. Rowling Failure gave me an inner securityIts graduation season, and we here at Ladders have decided to take a look back and showcase some past commencement addresses that stand the test of time. Below is the full transcript of J.K. Rowlings commencement address to Harvards Class of 2008President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers, members of the faculty, proud parents, and, above all, graduates.The first thing I would like to say is thank you. Not only has Harvard given me an extraordinary honor, but the weeks of fear and nausea I have endured at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight. A win-win situation Now all I have to do is take deep breaths, squint at the red banners and convince myself that I am at the worlds largest Gryffindor reunion.Delivering a commencement address is a great responsibility or so I thought until I cast my mind back to my own graduation. Th e commencement speaker that day welches the distinguished British philosopher Baroness Mary Warnock. Reflecting on her speech has helped me enormously in writing this one, because it turns out that I cant remember a single word she said. This liberating discovery enables me to proceed without any fear that I might inadvertently influence you to abandon promising careers in business, the law or politics for the giddy delights of becoming a gay wizard.You see? If all you remember in years to come is the gay wizard joke, Ive come out ahead of Baroness Mary Warnock. Achievable goals the first step to self-improvement.Actually, I have wracked my mind and heart for what I ought to say to you today. I have asked myself what I wish I had known at my own graduation, and what important lessons I have learned in the 21 years that have expired between that day and this.I have come up with two answers. On this wonderful day when we are gathered together to celebrate your academic success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure. And as you stand on the threshold of what is sometimes called real life, I want to extol the crucial importance of einbildungskraft.Itscommencement seasonFollow Ladders Commencement Addresses magazine on Flipboard to watch and read all of the most inspiring speeches from this year and years past.These may seem quixotic or paradoxical choices, but please bear with me.Looking back at the 21-year-old that I welches at graduation, is a slightly uncomfortable experience for the 42-year-old that she has become. Half my lifetime ago, I welches striking an uneasy balance between the ambition I had for myself, and what those closest to me expected of me.I welches convinced that the only thing I wanted to do, ever, was to write novels. However, my parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension. I know that the irony strikes with the force of a cartoon anvil, now.So they hoped that I would take a vocational degree I wanted to study English Literature. A compromise was reached that in retrospect satisfied nobody, and I went up to study Modern Languages. Hardly had my parents car rounded the corner at the end of the road than I ditched German and scuttled off down the Classics corridor.I canbedrngnis remember telling my parents that I was studying Classics they might well have found out for the first time on graduation day. Of all the subjects on this planet, I think they would have been hard put to name one less useful than Greek mythology when it came to securing the keys to an executive bathroom.I would like to make it clear, in parenthesis, that I do not blame my parents for their point of view. There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsib ility lies with you. What is more, I cannot criticise my parents for hoping that I would never experience poverty. They had been poor themselves, and I have since been poor, and I quite agree with them that it is not an ennobling experience. Poverty entails fear, and stress, and sometimes depression it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts, that is indeed something on which to pride yourself, but poverty itself is romanticised only by fools.What I feared most for myself at your age was not poverty, but failure.At your age, in spite of a distinct lack of motivation at university, where I had spent far too long in the coffee bar writing stories, and far too little time at lectures, I had a knack for passing examinations, and that, for years, had been the measure of success in my life and that of my peers.I am not dull enough to suppose that because you are young, gifted and well-educated, you have never known hardship or heartbr eak. Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the Fates, and I do not for a moment suppose that everyone here has enjoyed an existence of unruffled privilege and contentment.However, the fact that you are graduating from Harvard suggests that you are not very well-acquainted with failure. You might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success. Indeed, your conception of failure might not be too far from the average persons idea of success, so high have you already flown.Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears that m y parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.Now, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun. That period of my life was a dark one, and I had no idea that there was going to be what the press has since represented as a kind of fairy tale resolution. I had no idea then how far the tunnel extended, and for a long time, any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all in which case, you fail by default.Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above the price of rubies.The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned.So given a Time Turner, I would tell my 21-year-old self that personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a check-list of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications, your CV, are not your life, though you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two. Life is difficult, and complicated, and beyond anyones total control, and the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes.Now you might think that I chose my second theme, the importance of imagination, because of the part it played in rebuilding my life, but that is not wholly so. Though I personally will defend the value of bedtime stories to my brde gasp, I have learned to value imagination in a much broader sense. Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably mo st transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize with humans whose experiences we have never shared.One of the greatest formative experiences of my life preceded Harry Potter, though it informed much of what I subsequently wrote in those books. This revelation came in the form of one of my earliest day jobs. Though I was sloping off to write stories during my lunch hours, I paid the rent in my early 20s by working at the African research department at Amnesty Internationals headquarters in London.There in my little office I read hastily scribbled letters smuggled out of totalitarian regimes by men and women who were risking imprisonment to inform the outside world of what was happening to them. I saw photographs of those who had disappeared without trace, sent to Amnesty by their desperate families and friends. I read the testimony of torture victims and saw pictures of their injuries. I opened handwritten, eye-witness accounts of summary trial s and executions, of kidnappings and rapes.Many of my co-workers were ex-political prisoners, people who had been displaced from their homes, or fled into exile, because they had the temerity to speak against their governments. Visitors to our offices included those who had come to give information, or to try and find out what had happened to those they had left behind.I shall never forget the African torture victim, a young man no older than I was at the time, who had become mentally ill after all he had endured in his homeland. He trembled uncontrollably as he spoke into a video camera about the brutality inflicted upon him. He was a foot taller than I was, and seemed as fragile as a child. I was given the job of escorting him back to the Underground Station afterwards, and this man whose life had been shattered by cruelty took my hand with exquisite courtesy, and wished me future happiness.And as long as I live I shall remember walking along an empty corridor and suddenly hearing , from behind a closed door, a scream of pain and horror such as I have never heard since. The door opened, and the researcher poked out her head and told me to run and make a hot drink for the young man sitting with her. She had just had to give him the news that in retaliation for his own outspokenness against his countrys regime, his mother had been seized and executed.Every day of my working week in my early 20s I was reminded how incredibly fortunate I was, to live in a country with a democratically elected government, where legal representation and a public trial were the rights of everyone.Every day, I saw more evidence about the evils humankind will inflict on their fellow humans, to gain or maintain power. I began to have nightmares, literal nightmares, about some of the things I saw, heard, and read.And yet I also learned more about human goodness at Amnesty International than I had ever known before.Amnesty mobilizes thousands of people who have never been tortured or imp risoned for their beliefs to act on behalf of those who have. The power of human empathy, leading to collective action, saves lives, and frees prisoners. Ordinary people, whose personal well-being and security are assured, join together in huge numbers to save people they do not know, and will never meet. My small participation in that process was one of the most humbling and inspiring experiences of my life.Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other peoples places.Of course, this is a power, like my brand of fictional magic, that is morally neutral. One might use such an ability to manipulate, or control, just as much as to understand or sympathize.And many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not etwas them personally they can refuse to know.I might be tempted to envy people who can live that way, except that I do not think they have any fewer nightmares than I do. Choosing to live in narrow spaces leads to a form of mental agoraphobia, and that brings its own terrors. I think the wilfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.What is more, those who choose not to empathize enable real monsters. For without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through our own apathy.One of the many things I learned at the end of that Classics corridor down which I ventured at the age of 18, in search of something I could not then define, was this, written by the Greek author Plutarch What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.That is an astonishing statement and yet proven a thousand times every day of our lives. It expresses, i n part, our inescapable connection with the outside world, the fact that we touch other peoples lives simply by existing.But how much more are you, Harvard graduates of 2008, likely to touch other peoples lives? Your intelligence, your capacity for hard work, the education you have earned and received, give you unique status, and unique responsibilities. Even your nationality sets you apart. The great majority of you belong to the worlds only remaining superpower. The way you vote, the way you live, the way you protest, the pressure you bring to bear on your government, has an impact way beyond your borders. That is your privilege, and your burden.If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrat e your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped change. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already we have the power to imagine better.I am nearly finished. I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at 21. The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. They are my childrens godparents, the people to whom Ive been able to turn in times of trouble, people who have been kind enough not to sue me when I took their names for Death Eaters. At our graduation we were bound by enormous affection, by our shared experience of a time that could never come again, and, of course, by the knowledge that we held certain photographic evidence that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us ran for Prime Minister.So today, I wish you nothing better than similar friendships. And tomorrow, I hope that even if you remember not a single word of mine, you rem ember those of Seneca, another of those old Romans I met when I fled down the Classics corridor, in retreat from career ladders, in search of ancient wisdomAs is a tale, so is life not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.I wish you all very good lives.Thank you very much.