In Defense of the Messy Desk

In Defense of the Messy DeskIn Defense of the Messy DeskEvery day more and more information is thrown at you. New mail, reports from various committees, invoices, proposals, and more all hit your desk several times a day. You are too busy to deal with it right away so it just begins to pile up. Your desktop begins to look like a war zone. The problem here is not that your desk is messy the problem is that important stuff gets lost. It either gets buried by new materie coming in, or its in the new material but is not noticed. As a result, you spend too much time on things that are simply urgent rather than those that are important. When your babo wants to know how soon she can have that report for the Vice President, you dont want to tell her you didnt notice the memo she sent you requesting the report. Nor will your boss be thrilled to hear that the layout for the new product line is late because you set it aside and it got covered up and you forgot about it. Some people will tell yo u the best way to solve this problem is a clean desk. Others say amess is okay. Whos right? Cluttered Desk, Cluttered Mind Not too long ago, there was a popular expression a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind. That expression gave rise to an entire industry designed to help business executives clean their desktops as a sign of their mental acuity. No doubt you have seen movies where the boss sits in his office atop a downtown skyscraper. He sits behind a glass-top desk with no drawers. The only adornments are the impressive pen set for signing important documents and a telephone or intercom so he can give orders. On the Other Hand... Many people see nothing wrong with piles of paper covering the desktop, even spilling onto the chair seats and office floor. They quote adages like a cluttered desk is a sign of genius and a messy desk is only a sign of a messy desk. We all know someone whose desk is that way. You dont see how they can even tell if the desktop is metal or wood. Yet, when you ask them for something, they go right to a pile, leaf through 2 or 3 sheets, and pull out what you asked for. What Works For You Both sides are correct. The issue is not which is correct. The issue is which will make you more effective. There are a few fundamental guidelines that apply to both approaches, but the key is to work in a manner that allows you to be most effective. Almost everyone needs to get rid of some of the clutter atop their desk, but having no more than a single eintrag on your desk at any one time wont work for many of us. Many people are working on several projects at the same time (or almost the same time). Creative types feel the need to have inspiration surrounding them. Detail-oriented individuals need volumes of reference material close at hand. Some people feel the piles of work make them look busy and, thus, keep them safer in times of layoffs. Others feel a clean desk shows how efficient they are at getting the work done. What is important is to do what works for you. How to Tame the Monster Whether you are going for the sterile glass desktop, or simply want to bring a little more order to the chaos of your desktop, there are a few fundamental guidelines Really Want to Improve We dont recommend the severe approach that some do. Unfortunately, that leaves excuses to be too easy on yourself. This attempt to make your desk less cluttered and more efficient depends on you making a serious effort.Keep, Toss, or Move Find three containers. Label the smallest keep. Label the largest toss. Have another container labeled move. The really vital stuff will go into your keep container to be sorted later. Anything that you want to take home or give away goes into the move container. Everything else goes into the toss container. Start With the Oldest You can tell by looking at them which pile is the oldest. Usually, it is farthest from your chair. It will be easiest to throw away items from this pile.Evaluate Each Piece Only Once Look at each item in the pile. Decide which container it will go into. You cant set it back on your desk for later, you have to decide now. Put everything into one of the three containers. There is no other option.Ask Yourself This The first question is do I have this somewhere else, or can I get it from someone? If you have a copy inyour email, or in a report, or on the desk of the part who prepared the market analysis, etc., you dont need to keep another copy. Toss it. Then ask why do I need this? If the answer is a) to take action on it, b) to do something with it when I get more information from someone, or c) to refer to as I do other work, put it into the keep pile. (After you get rid of the clutter you will re-sort your keep pile by those three categories, so feel free to separate them now. It will save time later.) If your answer was anything else, toss that item. Be Ruthless and Brave As you progress through each pile, getting closer and close to the things that just arrived, be ruthless in your decisions. Take no prisoners. If you really dont need it, toss it. And be brave. Dont hang on to something just because someone might ask you something about it someday. Dont build a fortress of paper to protect yourself. Manage the Issue Your desktop doesnt have to be sterile and completely devoid of paper, although it can be if that helps. Your goal is to organize your desktop so that it maximizes your efficiency. If that means a few more piles on your desk than the person next door, that is okay - provided everything you kept helps you meet your goal of increased efficiency.

Zoo Veterinary Technician Career Profile

Zoo Veterinary Technician Career ProfileZoo Veterinary Technician Career ProfileZoo veterinary technicians are specially trained and certified to assist tiergarten veterinarians with exams and procedures. Duties Zoo veterinary technicians assist veterinarians with exams and procedures performed on a wide variety of tiergarten animals. Routine tasks may include assisting with general exams, collecting samples, running diagnostic lab tests, preparing surgical sites, changing bandages, inserting catheters, taking radiographs, administering fluids, filling prescriptions, and giving intravenous or intramuscular injections. Vet techs, including zoo vet techs, may be required to work nights or weekends depending on the schedules of the zoo veterinarians. They must also be aware of the risks inherent in working with exotic animals and must take proper safety precautions to minimize the potential for injury animals who are not fully sedated. Career Options Zoo veterinary technicians p rimarily find employment in zoos, but they may also find jobs at aquariums and research facilities. Veterinary technicians may also transition to other positions in the animal health industry such as veterinary pharmaceutical sales or other veterinary product sales. Education and Licensing There are over 160 accredited veterinary technician programs in the United States that grant two-year training programs. Vet techs must also be licensed in their state of residence. State certification involves passing the National Veterinary Technician (NVT) certification exam, though specific requirements may vary depending on the state. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) recognizes 11 specialties for veterinary technician specialist (VTS) certification. The currently recognized specialties for veterinary technicians are anesthesia, surgical, internal medicine, dental, emergency, and critical care, behavior, zoo, equine, clinical practice, clinical patholog y, and nutrition. The Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians (AVZMT) offers VTS specialty certification to vet techs that have completed at least 10,000 hours of work experience in the field of zoological medicine. Additional requirements include the following completion of at least 40 hours of documented continuing education in the field of zoological medicine, a case log consisting of at least 40 cases, five in-depth case reports, and two letters of recommendation from zoo professionals. There are also a variety of skill checklists that must be completed and documented. Veterinary technicians meeting these significant requirements are eligible to take the zoological medicine certification exam that is administered once each year. The location and test date change yearly, so it is advisable to check the AVZMT website for the latest information. Zoos may show a preference for hiring candidates who hold specialty certification in the field of zoological medicine becaus e these individuals have demonstrated significant skill and ability in the field. The Industrys Professional Group Should you choose to enter this field, youll want to join the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians (AZVT), which was founded in 1981 and has almost 400 professional members worldwide. The group organizes yearly conferences, publishes quarterly newsletters, educates the public, and provides networking opportunities for its members. Salary According to the U.S. Labor Statistics Bureau, the average salary for a veterinary technician specializing in zoo animals is about$42,000 to $44,030 per year. Benefits for zoo veterinary technicians may include a number of perks in plus-rechnen to basic compensation. Health insurance, dental insurance, paid vacation days, a uniform allowance or discounted admission tickets to the zoo may all be a part of the overall compensation package. Of course, as with any position, salary is commensurate with thelevel of experience and education. Specialists can command the high-end salary in their areas of expertise. Career Outlook According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession will expand over the next few years. The limited supply of new techs entering the field combined with the difficulty of achieving zoological medicine specialty certification should translate to very strong job prospects for certified zoo vet techs.

5 Negotiation Tips to Remember for Your Next Job Offer

5 Negotiation Tips to Remember for Your Next Job Offer5 Negotiation Tips to Remember for Your Next Job OfferIt is really exciting to have a job offer on the table. When the job offer includes a pay negotiation it is time to stop and think about these negotiation tips.1. Your salary looks VERY different after taxes and feesThis is so very important to remember when you enter a pay negotiation. Factor in the cost of taxes, direct deposit, and other bank transaction fees. These fees add up. You may be happy with the sound of what you will earn in gross salary, but after everyone takes their cut, what are you really left with?A negotiation tip here is to remember the city you live in, your bank fees, bills, and taxes. You may have a higher cost of living.Do the math for yourself or use a cost of living calculator. Figure out your net income before becoming too impressed with the gross income offer.2. Consider your own needsThink about your personal needs that could require extra money. M edical insurance and commuting all come with a cost. Your pay negotiation will not involve a company proactively taking your needs into consideration. You must let them know.Using a real example, a Senior VP has to relocate to England to work directly with a department. She has to relocate to another country for a job, which means her needs include time to see family, travel costs, traveling back home for emergencies, food, rent, and the cost of business clothes in the area.Negotiation tip Try and think long-term when it comes to your salary. How far will it get you and will you be able to do your job or live paycheck to paycheck?3. Prepare for the unexpectedWe see it every day on the news. The reality of life is that unexpected things happen. Loved ones get hurt, sick, or pass away. Our homes suffer damage in storms. On the brighter side, we also need vacations and travel costs for special events in the family.Companies generally do not see why they should pay for anything other th an the tasks you perform. The problem is, when you are vital to a companys success, you need time away and still want to stay productive. That costs money. You may find with the right pay negotiation that you can spend time working remotely, and they will cover it.Negotiation tip with a real-life example During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a website manager loses his electricity and car. The manager works from a hotel for the next week and the company does not pay for it. This is something that should have been worked out during a pay negotiation.4. Your industry has a salary range Unfortunately, it always seems like the people who sweat less, get paid more. People in the food service industry work very hard, but they are not paid as well as CEOs of investment firms.The point here is not to go into a pay negotiation and ask for too much. Be aware of your industry averages.Try and avoid answering the question about your brde salary. Some cities have laws preventing employers from demandi ng salary history. It is an unfair request. Your previous salary was the result of the companys profit, your last negotiation, or the industry you worked in.5. Get paid for all you bring to the tableThe fact is a resume is only a snippet of what you bring to the table. We all have skills we picked up throughout life. They will come into play when thinking outside the box is required at work.Examine the job carefully and its description before a pay negotiation. You may have a hidden skill not worthy of your resume that can make you more money.You should use it, especially if it means increasing your value within a company