#associate project manager salary

[sandrawilson-1]

Drew Chapin: Partner, Project manager Extraordinaire

Some people stand out as they play multiple roles in business and provide invaluable input. Drew Chapin, both as a project manager and partner, is an example of versatility, leadership and strategic knowledge. This article examines Drew Chapin key responsibilities, examining how his diverse set of skills has had a positive impact on the world of business.

Strategic Partnership

Drew Chapin's role as Partner is crucial in the shaping of overall directions and the success of ventures with which he works. Drew's abilities to create strategic alliances, the bedrock of successful companies, are a testimony to his innovative approach. Through identifying synergies between complementary strengths and exploiting them, he helps to create a robust and balanced business ecosystem.

Expertise in project management:

The ability to manage projects effectively is crucial in today's fast-paced world of business. Drew Chapin is a highly skilled Project Manager who brings an abundance of knowledge to the table. To achieve the desired results, the project manager must coordinate resources, schedules and tasks. Drew’s methodical approach to managing projects is defined by a sharp eye for the details, strong organization skills, and a natural ability to navigate complexity.

Leadership and decision-making

To be a successful leader, you must make informed decisions aligned to your goals. Drew Chapin must be able to make informed decisions in his dual roles as a project manager and partner. Whether he is steering a partnership in strategic direction or managing the complexities of a project, Drew Chapin has an inspiring leadership style that combines vision, decisiveness, a collaborative attitude, and the ability to inspire teams.

Communication Mastery

It is impossible to negotiate the importance of effective communication when you have a multifaceted job. Drew’s ability to clearly communicate is invaluable in project management as well partnership negotiations. When communicating with project teams, partners, or other stakeholders, Drew's ability to communicate effectively fosters a cohesive and transparent working environment.

Adaptability & Innovation

Drew Chapin’s adaptability and innovative approach are essential to success in a constantly evolving business environment. As a Partner he is able to navigate the changing landscapes of different industries and identify trends. In project planning, adaptability can be crucial to overcoming unforeseen problems and developing innovative solutions.

Relationships with Clients and other Stakeholders:

Drew Chapin's main responsibility is building and maintaining good relationships with customers and stakeholders. Drew Chapin has a knack for cultivating trusting relationships, which is essential to the success of any partnership. Project management requires effective stakeholder involvement to ensure that everyone is on the same team, contributing towards the smooth completion of projects.

Results-Driven Approach:

Success as a Project and Partner Manager comes from a mindset that is results-driven. Drew Chapin’s strategic partnerships are a clear example of how he is focused on outcomes. Measurable results is an important metric. Project management is an area where Drew Chapin's commitment to achieve tangible results can be seen in his ability to deliver projects on time, within budget.

Permanent Learning and Professional Development:

To succeed in today's fast-paced corporate world, it is important to have the ability and willingness to constantly learn. Drew Chapin’s experience as a partner and project manager is defined by a dedication to continual learning and growth. He stays abreast with industry trends, technology advancements and best practices to ensure that his approach will remain fresh, innovative and in line with an ever-changing business landscape.

Conclusion:

Drew Chapin's dual position as Project Manager and Partner demonstrates his dynamic blend of leadership skills, strategic thinking, and operational knowledge. Ses contributions to successful strategic partnerships, and to project outcomes reflect not just a profound understanding of business dynamics, but also an unwavering commitment to excellence. This sets him out in the highly competitive world of businesses. Drew Chapin’s journey is an inspiration to aspiring professionals who navigate the complicated intersection between partnership and project-management.

[annerly-san]

Love and Deep Deadlines | A LaDS Corporate AU - Chapter 1

Summary:

Amidst the cut throat culture of Onyxion Enterprises where cutting-edge innovation is overshadowed by corporate chaos, no one talks about how hard it is to be an intern.

Alongside Caleb, the sales department smooth-talker; Zayne, the cold and unflappable CTO; Xavier, a director who might as well be an intern himself; and Rafayel, the overly dramatic Creative Director who brings his own flair to every meltdown, our intern is just trying to survive the workday. Oh, and don’t forget Onyxion’s very own CEO, Sylus, a walking HR violation who gets off on terrorizing his employees.

In this company, will love bloom before the deadlines run deep, or will the company go under first?

Chapter Navigation: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ?

Alternative AO3 link:

“Do you really need this coffee, pipsqueak?”  Caleb grabbed the two warm drinks the barista handed to him through the drive through window and passed me a cup.  “The way you’re already shaking before even drinking this is making me worried.”

He was right.

I clasped at the paper cup held in my hands, aware of the way it was shaking and threatening to spill its contents all over the passenger seat of Caleb’s car.

“Y-yea!  I got to be awake and aware for my first day, you know!”  I brought the rim of the cup to my lips to take a sip, wincing at the burning sensation of the hot liquid as it hit my tongue.

Caleb chuckled as he started to pull out of the drive through and back onto the main road to our destination.

“I guess I can’t blame you for being excited on your first day of work, huh?”  Caleb had one lazy hand on the steering wheel while the other took a careful sip from his own coffee.  “Though I can’t say I was as anxious as you were on mine.”

I glared at him as he laughed at me.  “Hey!  Stop teasing!  You’re you, and that’s totally different.  Stupid Caleb…” I countered in my defense.  Of course he wasn’t as anxious as I was on his first day.  He was personally scouted by his boss at the time and was assured in his abilities to perform at his role well.

Anyone could testify at how well Caleb was able to waltz into a room of stuffy businessmen or straight-laced engineers and convince all of them to buy a thousand units of something they don’t need.  The fact that he climbed up so many levels from an associate sales position to a senior sales lead within the span of three years was irrefutable proof of how competent and unrivaled he was at his job.

On the other hand, there was me.  Well into the age range of where I should have been a level two employee with a staff-- or at least an associate title-- to my name, but I was instead just starting my industry experience with an internship at a position that catered to none of my skills.

“I-I just want to prove that I can do the job, that’s all.”  I fiddled with the lopsided label stuck to my cup.  Caleb didn’t respond right away, and I was glad. I didn’t want to hear him say I was overthinking again.

The truth was, I was scared—scared I wasn’t good enough for this role.  Scared that I would mess it up.

It was my fault for my lack of commitment to a higher degree and indecision of what field I should specialize in.  Now as the market turned for the worse and the niche industry that I pursued my degree in became headlines in the news for mass layoffs and job cuts, I found myself straggling behind my peers as the consequences of my actions.  A jack of trades.  A master of none.

How I managed to land a role at such an esteemed company was beyond me.

I glanced at Caleb again, who was focused on navigating through the morning rush hour traffic.  It was only thanks to his referral that I even landed a salary job that offered the base benefits of what’s needed to survive in today’s world.  There was a sense of humiliation that ate at me inside stemming from insecurities about my inadequacies at this point in my life, but I should start to appreciate the small things that I have now.

I have a job.  It doesn’t matter how I got it.

I just need to do well at it.

Even if it’s for a role that I wasn’t meant for.

“You’ll be fine, pipsqueak.  They’re gonna love you!” Caleb’s voice brought me back to the present.  “They’re lucky to have you, you know?  You’re going to be the best intern they’ve ever had, and you’re gonna get a return offer for a full-time position before you know it!”

I couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips at his encouragement.

Growing up and living together with Caleb meant that he always knew what to say and when to say it.

I let out a sigh of relief and a small laugh of gratitude.  “Thanks, Caleb.”

We were driving closer and closer to the tall glass building that stood out distinctly amongst the other towers in the city.  Tens of stories high and towering above the scenic river that wound itself around the city, it was an architectural marvel made from glass and steel that reflected its surroundings with a reddish hue all whilst hiding everything else behind the glass.  Aloof.  Refined.

Onyxion Enterprises.

It was the epicenter of all technological innovation in today’s society.  Their most renowned product called “Protocores” can augment the natural human capability to expedite healing factors, boost innate strength, and cure illnesses while also being the foundation of new technology that everyone interacts with in today’s world.  Protocores drive all digital and artificial technologies, and Onyxion has positioned itself so that society fundamentally runs on them alone.  Just like steam was pivotal in the Industrial Revolution and electricity in the digital age, nothing could operate without Protocores.  Nothing could operate without Onyxion.  It was the dream to join them.

No matter how many times I saw it, my heart still leapt with excitement.

Caleb pulled the car through the security gate, his identification and registration information seamlessly pulled from the protocore band he wore around his wrist as he drove down into the multi-level parking garage beneath the Onyxion tower.

The car pulling to a stop in his designated parking location broke me from my stupor as I stumbled to unbuckle and step out.

The faint screeching of tires and distant conversation echoed in the parking lot as I followed Caleb to the elevators taking us to our appropriate floors.

“Intern orientation is on the fourth floor, pipsqueak.  Want me to walk you there?”

The urge to retort and dismiss him for treating me like a little kid fought with the highly strung bundle of nerves inside of me.  My thoughts got the better of me.

What if I got lost?

The building has tens of thousands of rooms.

They might as well fire me on my first day if I couldn’t find my orientation room.

I grabbed onto his sleeve, muttering a quick, “yea, could you?” before trailing behind him to hide my embarrassment.

What kind of corporate employee makes her big brother escort her all the way to orientation?

Caleb must have been surprised too, but he decided to leave it be.  He pressed the button to the elevator door and we waited in silence for the car to arrive.

The doors finally swung open and the two of us stepped in.

Caleb pressed the button for the fourth floor and I gaped in wonder at the many, many buttons on the panel ranging from the underground (G20-G0) and above (L1-L150).  Caleb must have noticed my shock and let out a laugh.

“I think that needless to say, in addition to planning your time around driving ten levels to find parking in the garage, you also need to plan time for riding the elevator.  Depends on what floor, but you might be stuck for awhile,” he chuckled.

“Does the elevator ever get stuck?” I asked, eyeing the panel curiously.

“No, not really,” Caleb mused. “You’ll find that our CEO is a real stickler about that. Last time an elevator got stuck, he bought the company that made it and fired every single employee.”

My jaw dropped. “W-what? R-really?! Caleb, don’t mess around like that!”

Caleb shrugged, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “Yep. That’s Sylus for you. Onyxion’s very own CEO.”

Caleb was always the first to make a joke about Onyxion’s CEO, calling him names like ‘a deranged sociopath’ or ‘a mentally unstable asshole.’ But knowing his position as a sales lead, it wasn’t like he ever ran into the man.

I scoffed, shaking my head. Caleb could spin tall tales in his sleep.

From what I’d seen—reading articles, watching webinars, and browsing through the endless fan blogs—Mr. Sylus was perfectly polished. The number of stockpile images and glowing profiles online were proof enough that he was highly regarded, no matter what Caleb said.

I gave him a playful slap on the arm. “Don’t talk about the boss like that! Mr. Sylus is a respectable man.”

Caleb rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, pipsqueak. I just hope you never meet him. It’ll shatter all your little dreams.”

I shot him another glare, ready to punch him, but the elevator doors opened just in time, saving him. We scooted to the back to make room for the other riders.

“Do you have any interns in sales this summer?” I asked him quietly.

“No, not this summer,” he whispered back.  “Would you rather have been assigned to my department instead?” I stared up at him, thinking that it was a serious question.  Seeing the smirk on his lips, compelled my hand to slap his arm again.  “No way!  You’d probably work me to death and make me fetch you coffee all day.” “Hey now, pipsqueak,” he bantered back.  “I’ve been the one to fetch you coffee this morning, don’t be so ungrateful.”

The elevator doors slid open on the fourth floor with a soft chime. Caleb nudged me forward as I hesitated at the threshold, my legs feeling like lead.

“This is your stop, pipsqueak.” He grinned, trying to reassure me, though I could tell by the twitch in his brow that he was gauging my nerves.

I forced a smile, clutching the straps of my bag tighter. “Yeah… thanks for walking me.”

We stepped out into the bustling hallway where a few other interns were huddled together, glancing at their phones or chatting nervously in low voices. I scanned the signs on the wall until I found the one labeled “Intern Orientation – Room 403.”

“I’m good from here,” I said, though my feet seemed reluctant to move.

Caleb eyed me for a second longer before giving me a firm pat on the back. “You’ve got this. If anyone gives you trouble, just tell them your big brother works here.” He winked.

I laughed, despite the knot of anxiety in my stomach. “Yeah, that’ll help me make friends.”

With a final nod, Caleb turned back toward the elevators. “See you at lunch?”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Definitely.”

After a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and stepped into the orientation room, finding a seat toward the middle, somewhere inconspicuous but not too far back. I wasn’t the only one trying to blend in—most of the other interns had the same deer-in-headlights look I felt on my face.

The presentation began soon after. Onboarding videos. Policies. The usual HR spiel. My mind started to drift, despite my best efforts to focus.

Just as I was beginning to wonder how much more of this I could take, a voice broke through my haze, calling my name. “Hey there!”

I blinked, turning to see a woman standing in the doorway, her arms crossed with a friendly grin on her face. “I’m Tara, from Product Marketing. Our manager sent me to pick you up.  We’re on the same team. Come with me—I’ll show you to the office.”

Relief washed over me like a cool breeze. I quickly grabbed my things and followed her out of the room, eager to escape the dull onboarding and get a glimpse of what awaited me on the real floors of Onyxion.

The ride up was silent, but not uncomfortable. Tara seemed nice enough—calm, collected, and already giving off the vibe that she knew exactly what was happening around here. Exactly the kind of person I wanted to follow on my first day.

As we stepped off on the 22nd floor, I felt my stomach flip again, but this time, it wasn’t just nerves. It was excitement.

My real first day was just beginning.

[lol-jackles]

I have a question for clarification. What’s the difference between Executive Producer and Producer? My friend says Executive Producer is just the name to attract investors and none of the responsibilities. What say you?

Producer will manage the entire process from beginning to end: fundraising, networking, securing rights to creative works, commissioning writers, hiring a director, crew, and actors, organizing shooting and production schedules, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations during production, holding regular meetings with director to discuss progress, ensuring the project is done on time and within the budget.  They supervise the entire project from beginning to post-production.  Co-producers like Jerry Wanek is responsible for set designs so he has to learn new lighting tricks, the latest cameras that are on the market and what shoots best in what scenarios.

The Executive Producer title are given out like candies. Most of the producers, co-producers, associate producers and executive producers are writers.  The unions limits the number of people who can receive writing credit on any one episode.  Keep in mind that TV shows have big writers room, so every writer on the show might contribute at least in small part to every episode.  So they need some sort of credit.  That credit becomes “executive producer.”  

Actors get “executive producer” credit to get profit-sharing deals, they very rarely have any power in the creative process. That said, the title does validates the value of the actor’s presence on the show. So in some cases the EP actors participate in some of the show’s important decisions. The industry has a very strict hierarchies.  Timothy Olyphant of Justified said he took advantage of the executive producer title (he joked that the title of Glorified Cheerleader wasn’t available) because the credit system has a certain hierarchy, so he was able to access the process behind the camera, collaborate with the showrunner, and be in the writers room two months before filming starts. While some actors are perfectly fine being told on as needed basis because they think their acting will come across better by having a more natural reaction, I think Jared is one of those people who has to be in the loop. like how he would read up to 3 SPN scripts ahead.

Now the real dish.  Networks don’t want to set precedent for high ranking actors’ salaries.  Many in the industry think NBC giving in to Friends six actors’ demands was a huge mistake and set a very bad precedent.  CBS was at the frontline to prevent this from happening again.  To compensate the leading actors, the network will give them two paychecks: one for acting, and one as producer.  But technically the network could still say, “well, Jared Padalecki is only getting $300,000 per episode for his acting duties”.

[solarpunkbusiness]

Reimagining waste management in Fortaleza, Brazil

Fortaleza has almost no citywide waste and recycling infrastructure. Like in many other Brazilian cities, an estimated 8,000 catadores — who are not formally employed by the city — form the backbone of its waste management system, providing most of its pickup services and selling collected recyclables to third parties to earn a living.

While the Brazilian government has made efforts to formalise the job in recent decades, most catadores face hazardous working conditions. Many pull up to 240 kilograms (530 pounds) of waste over the course of an 18-hour workday using hand-drawn carts. Salaries fluctuate based on how much each person collects and what they can sell it for, with the average Fortaleza waste picker often taking in just R$300 (about US$53) a month.

Meanwhile, trash accumulates. In 2023, a mere 6% of Fortaleza’s recyclables ended up in processing facilities, leaving curbsides crammed with trash bags and cardboard boxes. “Sometimes, Fortaleza is not a clean city,” admitted local restaurant owner Manu Duvale. “We live with trash as if it’s nothing.”

But for the past four years, Fortaleza’s recycling problem — and the catadores’ jobs — have been gradually improving. This is largely thanks to an innovative project called Re-Ciclo led by the Fortaleza government’s Innovation Laboratory. And e-tricycle warriors like Aires are powering the change.

Re-Ciclo has worked to both uplift Fortaleza’s catadores and expand its recycling infrastructure by redefining how the city manages waste. Central to this effort is a fleet of electric tricycles that has enabled the city’s first-ever door-to-door collection service for recyclables while also strengthening its cycling system for all residents.

Re-Ciclo has reimagined what a catador can do.

Through the programme, catadores now collect recyclables along specific routes through the city’s neighbourhoods, stopping by homes and apartments where residents have requested recycling pick-up. The recyclables are deposited at one of dozens of “eco-points” — a network of collection centres — where they are sorted and cleaned by waste pickers and then sold to recycling intermediaries. Re-Ciclo revamped this once ineffective collection infrastructure to support the programme.

But Re-Ciclo is not just a waste collection program. It’s also significantly improved the catadores’ working conditions.

In most cases, better recycling has translated to more efficient work and more stable pay for Re-Ciclo workers. Raquel Silva, president of the Moura Brasil Waste Pickers Association, explained that she can now visit 10-16 collection sites per trip before returning to the eco-points in the same time it used to take her to visit 3-4 sites.

The program also collects data along pick-up routes, enabling catadores to track the volume of their collected recyclables and drive better salary negotiations. Re-Ciclo encourages unaffiliated waste pickers to join associations to drive more collective bargaining power.

Thanks to a more stable income and reliable collection monitoring, most workers now receive significantly higher salaries — up to 500% above previous levels. “Today, the waste collector who is part of Re-Ciclo earns his daily wage for the goals achieved,” Pereira said. “[The waste collector] has transportation vouchers, has meal vouchers, and is now valued.”

[patemi-pk]

There are a few problems in the colorist community in italy. From the page of the association FeMU:

"IF THEY MAKE YOU THIS OFFER, DO NOT ACCEPT IT

It is known that Christmas is the best time to announce mass layoffs and spending cuts. Italian comics are no exception! GFB, the company that manages the coloring of comics and series published by some of the main Italian publishing houses such as Panini and Bonelli, has announced to its colorists that their payments will be reduced by 20%, going, in the case of the colors of Mickey Mouse, from €8 gross to €6.40 gross per panel. This is an unjustifiable offer and should not be accepted. Normally a flattist takes between €10 and €15 per panel. This is without considering the growth in the complexity of the work in recent years, especially on the panels of series such as Mickey Mouse. Coloring it no longer means making simple flats, but managing more complex atmospheres with timing ranging from 40 minutes to 3 hours at the table: the compensation in this case drops to €2.7 gross per hour. The situation is similar for those who make the flats of the collections attached to the Corriere della Sera of Bonelli series such as Blek or Commander Mark.

All this always as freelancers (with all that this entails: no coverage for sickness, holidays, maternity, fixed income) and without stable contracts.

We want to respond to this offer with three messages. To those working in the publishing sector, we want to say, once and for all, that proposing to someone to work for figures like these is mortifying for the professionalism and commitment shown by the author. This applies to the company that pays €2 per hour to the flatter as well as to the publisher who pays the designer €15 per table. This is even more true for those comics where there are no royalties on sales and where you can't even bet on an unexpected success of the project. Nobody forces you to be on the market and make comics. Nobody forces you to use third-party agencies that withhold part of the payments for intermediation. And the fact that there are professionals willing to accept such wages cannot be a justification. We contest the frequent narrative according to which your company/publishing house is presented as a large family in which you have to help each other and make sacrifices together. This is not the case. Cartoonists and their clients are not related by blood or friendship. They have a professional relationship. Companies are the subjects that can and must most sustain the entrepreneurial risk and the sacrifices that derive from it without passing them on to the author. If you want to do so, make the authors your partners. On the other hand, we want to tell the authors not to accept these figures and to always carefully evaluate the conditions that are proposed.

To give you an idea of ​​how little colorists are paid through GFB, consider that in the best case scenario we are talking about a salary of €6.40 gross per hour (corresponding to approximately €5.60 net) and in the most common (2 per table) of €3.20 per hour (€2.80 net). The minimum wage for a housekeeper (among the lowest paid jobs overall) is €6.11 net, for a babysitter it is €7.03 per hour. In both cases we are talking about jobs that give the right to sickness, maternity, thirteenth month, severance pay and unemployment benefits in addition to a higher basic hourly salary.

Do not accept conditions like this first of all for yourselves, for the quality of your life and for your career. Working in the world of comics and living off comics is very difficult, but there are many opportunities, especially if you look abroad.

If you are offered a low-paid job and you are considering taking it to gain experience, always evaluate whether it is actually something that can give meaning to your portfolio (making only flat, unfortunately, no).

But don't accept it for the sake of others. Taking low-paid jobs is harmful for everyone, because it justifies your clients to propose these rates or to reduce the compensation, even now that inflation and consumer prices are increasing. Each of us has our own life and our own needs, but if we remain isolated, certain things will never change. Publishers, fairs and agencies often have a paternalistic and condescending attitude towards those who make comics. We are treated with condescension, without the care or respect we deserve. We must be a united front at certain times and remind publishers, fairs and agencies that we are the professionals who allow them to exist and as such we must be treated and paid. Let's network.

To those who say "why complain? Our industry works like this!”, we reply: it’s true. It’s normal that those who make serial comics are usually external collaborators but in practice employees, deprived however of all the guarantees that an employment contract offers. It’s (bad) practice that those who make comics are not entitled to holidays, sick leave and that they work constantly and even more than the hours provided for by most collective agreements (and without overtime payment, to boot), but to this we cannot add the fact that they don’t even get to receive the lowest hourly wage achievable by the least generous of employment contracts. Do you like this? We don’t. This system can neither be justified nor normalized. We need to talk about it. The system is wrong and must be changed.

We condemn GFB’s choices to reduce compensation so suddenly and drastically, at a time when it would be useful to increase it to align it with the market and to allow a dignified life for those who make a living from this profession.

We ask Panini, Bonelli, Corriere della Sera and anyone indirectly involved to verify the adequacy of the conditions offered by their service providers and third parties to the final workers, if necessary adjusting their budgets, acting as bearers of the legitimate rights of professionals in the sector and ensuring that they have sustainable working conditions and adequate remuneration. We ask you to join us in showing solidarity with all those professionals who have collaborated with GFB for years because it happens too often in the comics profession to have to choose between giving up everything or having to continue working in absolutely unacceptable conditions. We are with you!

Merry Christmas"

[sienaunfilteredtarot]

Which style do you like better ( comment 1 or 2 with Next in Career reading)

Next in Career (how would you like to receive this message: bullet points or paragraph form?)

ONE:

Pile One: Page of Cups + 9 Pentacles + 7 Wands + Lovers (1976) 

Page of Cups (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) 

Naturally creative 

New to the field, may have transitioned from a different skillset 

Going in a little naive due to being new to the field or lack of experience

Innocence carries a cup-half-full attitude 

Naturally optimistic about your prospects (Elle Woods in law school)  

Work brings love and friendship 

Represents creative industries, spiritual sector, or working with children in some capacity 

9 of Pentacles

There is a potential for you to attain high earnings within this career field 

Having a lot of experience with a particular skillset 

Turning a situation around, showing growth and maturity 

Inherently valuable; you are willing to adapt, and your thorough and organized nature makes you an asset to any company 

Worked hard to get to where you are 

Likelihood to be an overnight success  

7 of Wands: Mars in Leo 

With the 9 of Pentacles, getting PTO or using it, parental leave, leave of absence, and sabbatical. 

Confident teacher

Excellent public speaker; can hold and maintain engagement within a room well. 

Taking action that benefits you, even if it means rejecting a project—set boundaries. 

Getting another degree 

Masters/PhD (graduate studies), undergrad, associates, certification, GED 

The Pair or The Lovers 

It can be a powerful team—meeting colleagues or having coworkers you vibe well with 

Being able to have trust with someone at work 

Working in pairs/having a partner at work 

Strong relationship with a mentor or advisor 

Lovers is representative of Virgo, and therefore Mercury vibes 

Information exchange (meeting to discuss a potential raise or time off)

Interviewing for a new position 

In need of work that is naturally mentally stimulating 

Advertising/Marketing 

Administrative, personal, and/or virtual assistant 

Project management

Requires you to multi-task; work with a lot of moving pieces 

Working with animals

Educating others about something 

Sales or publishing 

Facilitating communication btw parties or clients (divorce attorney) 

It also reinforces the element of choice in the matter; your experiences bring a fresh pov 

TWO: The Page of Cups denotes Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces energies. Some of you are naturally creative and have careers in the arts (writing, illustrating, photography, design). Some of you may be in the wellness or spiritual sector, and some work alongside children in some capacity. Others are entirely new to the field or may have transitioned from a different skill set. You might be going into this situation a little naively due to being new to the field or lack of experience. Be careful with whom you trust and guard against those who seek to take advantage! This innocence carries a cup-half-full attitude; it inspires an Elle Woods type of optimism. This card also invites new relationships, including friendships or a romantic partner, to develop at work.  

The 9 of pentacles card conveys the potential to attain a high salary and excellent benefits within your career, as there is much room for professional growth. This card might suggest that you have a lot of experience in a particular skill set (for example, being a pastry chef or photographer). With the Page of Cups, you might be transitioning to a different career field (for example, teacher -> dean) in which you'll apply skills you possess while simultaneously learning to cultivate new skills. Additionally, this card can talk about having the means to turn a situation around, echoing the optimism within the Page of Cups. You are inherently valuable, as you can adapt. Your thorough and organized nature makes you an asset to any company (including your own if you're self-employed). You have worked to get where you are; some may even get a lucky break, quickly finding success in your arena. 

The 7 of Wands, which represents Mars in Leo, suggests taking action that benefits you, even if it means rejecting a project and setting boundaries. This card indicates confidence and the ability to stand your ground. It may represent a rest period when paired with the 9 of Pentacles. As this is a general reading, it could include several things, including PTO, maternity leave, a leave of absence, or a sabbatical. It could also convey pursuing further education, such as an undergraduate or graduate degree, associate’s, certification, or GED. It also indicates being a confident teacher with a powerful talent for public speaking, as you can maintain engagement within a room nicely. Creative movements may pique your interest, such as learning to be a Zumba, Pilates, pole, or dancing instructor or a personal trainer. 

The Lovers card suggests that what's next in pile one's career may be the beginning stages of a strong partnership, a fruitful collaboration, or you may be connecting with colleagues or coworkers that you can genuinely be yourself around, fostering trust and teamwork. Some of you may be required to work alongside a partner or within a small group of individuals with a similar skill set. Others may be under the guidance of a mentor who will provide helpful insights and support in your professional journey. Regardless, these relationships will be crucial. 

Fields that might intrigue Pile One include career paths related to communication, such as advertising, project management, or being a personal and/or virtual assistant, often necessitating a strong ability to multitask. These roles not only offer professional growth but also provide opportunities for personal development. Furthermore, the lovers card is emblematic of mentally stimulating work, as its ruler, Mercury, governs information exchange. This can include careers in education, sales, or publishing. The Lovers card highlights the agency you have in making choices that leverage your unique perspective.

[xettle-technologies]

What Are the Costs Associated with Fintech Software Development?

The fintech industry is experiencing exponential growth, driven by advancements in technology and increasing demand for innovative financial solutions. As organizations look to capitalize on this trend, understanding the costs associated with fintech software development becomes crucial. Developing robust and secure applications, especially for fintech payment solutions, requires significant investment in technology, expertise, and compliance measures. This article breaks down the key cost factors involved in fintech software development and how businesses can navigate these expenses effectively.

1. Development Team and Expertise

The development team is one of the most significant cost drivers in fintech software development. Hiring skilled professionals, such as software engineers, UI/UX designers, quality assurance specialists, and project managers, requires a substantial budget. The costs can vary depending on the team’s location, expertise, and experience level. For example:

In-house teams: Employing full-time staff provides better control but comes with recurring costs such as salaries, benefits, and training.

Outsourcing: Hiring external agencies or freelancers can reduce costs, especially if the development team is located in regions with lower labor costs.

2. Technology Stack

The choice of technology stack plays a significant role in the overall development cost. Building secure and scalable fintech payment solutions requires advanced tools, frameworks, and programming languages. Costs include:

Licenses and subscriptions: Some technologies require paid licenses or annual subscriptions.

Infrastructure: Cloud services, databases, and servers are essential for hosting and managing fintech applications.

Integration tools: APIs for payment processing, identity verification, and other functionalities often come with usage fees.

3. Security and Compliance

The fintech industry is heavily regulated, requiring adherence to strict security standards and legal compliance. Implementing these measures adds to the development cost but is essential to avoid potential fines and reputational damage. Key considerations include:

Data encryption: Robust encryption protocols like AES-256 to protect sensitive data.

Compliance certifications: Obtaining certifications such as PCI DSS, GDPR, and ISO/IEC 27001 can be costly but are mandatory for operating in many regions.

Security audits: Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments are necessary to ensure application security.

4. Customization and Features

The complexity of the application directly impacts the cost. Basic fintech solutions may have limited functionality, while advanced applications require more extensive development efforts. Common features that add to the cost include:

User authentication: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric verification.

Real-time processing: Handling high volumes of transactions with minimal latency.

Analytics and reporting: Providing users with detailed financial insights and dashboards.

Blockchain integration: Leveraging blockchain for enhanced security and transparency.

5. User Experience (UX) and Design

A seamless and intuitive user interface is critical for customer retention in the fintech industry. Investing in high-quality UI/UX design ensures that users can navigate the platform effortlessly. Costs in this category include:

Prototyping and wireframing.

Usability testing.

Responsive design for compatibility across devices.

6. Maintenance and Updates

Fintech applications require ongoing maintenance to remain secure and functional. Post-launch costs include:

Bug fixes and updates: Addressing issues and releasing new features.

Server costs: Maintaining and scaling infrastructure to accommodate user growth.

Monitoring tools: Real-time monitoring systems to track performance and security.

7. Marketing and Customer Acquisition

Once the fintech solution is developed, promoting it to the target audience incurs additional costs. Marketing strategies such as digital advertising, influencer partnerships, and content marketing require significant investment. Moreover, onboarding users and providing customer support also contribute to the total cost.

8. Geographic Factors

The cost of fintech software development varies significantly based on geographic factors. Development in North America and Western Europe tends to be more expensive compared to regions like Eastern Europe, South Asia, or Latin America. Businesses must weigh the trade-offs between cost savings and access to high-quality talent.

9. Partnering with Technology Providers

Collaborating with established technology providers can reduce development costs while ensuring top-notch quality. For instance, Xettle Technologies offers comprehensive fintech solutions, including secure APIs and compliance-ready tools, enabling businesses to streamline development processes and minimize risks. Partnering with such providers can save time and resources while enhancing the application's reliability.

Cost Estimates

While costs vary depending on the project's complexity, here are rough estimates:

Basic applications: $50,000 to $100,000.

Moderately complex solutions: $100,000 to $250,000.

Highly advanced platforms: $250,000 and above.

These figures include development, security measures, and initial marketing efforts but may rise with added features or broader scope.

Conclusion

Understanding the costs associated with fintech software development is vital for effective budgeting and project planning. From assembling a skilled team to ensuring compliance and security, each component contributes to the total investment. By leveraging advanced tools and partnering with experienced providers like Xettle Technologies, businesses can optimize costs while delivering high-quality fintech payment solutions. The investment, though significant, lays the foundation for long-term success in the competitive fintech industry.

[jonathanshaw4747]

Why Canadian Companies Prefer Digital Marketing Agencies over In-house Teams

In the ever-changing digital landscape of Canada, companies big and small have to make one very important decision: develop an in-house digital marketing team or hire the services of a dedicated agency. Far from being a routine operational issue, this choice has great implications for its competitive position, market relevance, and general growth trajectory. With the digital platform becoming increasingly complicated and the stakes of online visibility soaring high, a trend has definitely been witnessed across Canadian companies: that of choosing between the expertise and agility provided by digital marketing agencies over in-house teams.

Expertise and Specialization

This has been one of the major reasons for the tectonic shift in the approach of Canadian enterprises. Digital marketing is not a monolithic discipline but a constellation of specialized areas, each with its own particular demands in expertise. From SEO virtuosos to social media savants, content marketing maestros to PPC prodigies, agencies house a cadre of specialists under one roof. Such an assemblage of talent allows businesses to tap into a wellspring of knowledge that would be prohibitively expensive and logistically challenging to cultivate internally.

What is more, the digital marketing field keeps on changing 24/7, since that is when algorithms, best practices, and consumer behaviors change at the speed of light. This places agencies in a much better place to be updated due to their focus and the heterogeneity of their client base. They undertake heavy continuous learning and serious means of professional development investment to ensure that their strategies remain at the cutting edge of industry changes. This means a commitment to staying current translates into better marketing solutions for their clients-more effectively and innovatively.

Agency versus in-house: financial implications are huge and multi-dimensional. At face value, the retainers or project fees associated with agency services might appear huge. However, a close look will reveal that this is not true on the cost-efficiency level. By outsourcing an agency, a business may significantly reduce overheads like salaries, benefits, office space, and equipment, which are kept by full-time employees.

The next strong economic case lies in the fact that it can make that great sense of scalability and flexibility. It eases the opportunity to adjust marketing spend against seasonal demands, special campaign needs, or fluctuating economies without getting into the complexities of hiring or drastically reducing an internal team. That elasticity of resource allocation permits better budget efficiency and implores optimization of Marketing ROI.

Technology and Tools

The digital marketing arena is the haven for sophisticated tools and platforms-most of which come with heavy price tags, coupled with steep learning curves. Agencies, able to use economies of scale, invest in a wide array of premium software and technologies that would be financially unviable for most individual businesses to acquire. From advanced SEO tools to full-service social media management platforms, agencies arm their clients with the technological arsenal needed to drive marketing effectiveness.

Besides tools, agencies often have state-of-the-art analytics and reporting. These systems allow for the granular tracking of campaign performance, consumer behavior, and ROI. Insights gained from these advanced analytics become the powerhouse that drives businesses into making data-informed decisions and fine-tuning their marketing approaches with strategy precision.

Strategic Objectivity

One of the most overlooked benefits of hiring a digital marketing agency is the fresh perspective it brings to the challenges a brand faces. Sometimes a company's internal teams, despite being quite familiar with the brand, can suffer from tunnel vision or be stuck in paradigms. Agencies, drawing on diverse experience across industries and markets, have become a fertile source of new solutions and unconventional creative approaches, which for those within the organization can be virtually invisible.

This objectivity extends to performance appraisal as well. Large agencies are usually held to very tight KPIs through which they are accountable to deliver measurable results. The setup ensures a very transparent culture of business betterment, whereby the agencies fall under pressure to prove their strategies right and value-proposition-valid on a regular basis.

Time and Resource Management

For most Canadian businesses, more so for the SMEs, the job of dedicating or committing resources to build and maintain a fully-fledged in-house digital marketing team is surely going to distract them from their core business activities. By outsourcing such functions to an agency, this energy is freed for product development, customer service, and other mission-critical activities.

Furthermore, more often than not, agencies are in a much better position than in-house units to implement marketing initiatives. With the established processes, loads of already-vetted resources on standby, and a lot of previous work to its credit, an agency can consequently save time throughout the process from conceiving of the strategy to launching the campaign. This agility is paramount in the fast-paced digital landscape, where usually the early bird catches the worm.

Many of these digital marketing agencies boast of having an extensive industry network, including influencers, media, and technology partners that can open various doors of opportunity to collaboration. Beta programs and early access to new marketing channels/features fall into this category. To Canadian businesses, this is quite an invaluable asset that networks with potential new customers.

Moreover, most agencies have good relations with key platforms, such as Google, Facebook, and LinkedIn, which provide them with the latest features, premium support, and, in some cases, almost privileged rates. More probably than not, such partnerships are passed on as tangible benefits to the clients to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of their digital marketing initiatives.

As a sustenance of risks

The regulatory requirements associated with digital marketing, encompassing privacy, advertising standards, and the specific policies of these diverse digital platforms, make hazardous minefields for businesses. This adds further pressure on digital marketing agencies because they possess specialized knowledge and experience in ensuring that their clients work in conformance with these regulations. This becomes even more crucial in instances involving Canada, where there are regulations like CASL, which is anti-spam law dictating strict requirements on electronic messaging.

Additionally, the agencies adapt by nature through adaptation to market changes. Their diversified client bases and regular activities with businesses in various industries enable them to identify and respond to the change in consumer behavior, change in technology, or economic conditions very fast. Adapting to the situation at hand helps hedge against potential risks associated with sudden changes in the market which could render several marketing strategies irrelevant.

Performance and Results

What's arguably most convincing in the move towards agency partnerships is the attention to accountability and measurement of performance. Most of the agencies operate on performance-based models with clear KPIs and reporting structures that generate tangible means through which firms realize their marketing return on investment. In other words, therefore, the approach is results-based, with continuous optimization of marketing to align with business objectives.

As such, agencies can contribute to performing competitive benchmarking. With many years of experience across industries and data, they can paint a view for a business regarding its relative standing in digital marketing performance from its competition and industry benchmarks. Such a comparative perspective may also help them zero in on opportunities for performance improvement and areas of differentiation.

The Future of Digital Marketing Partnerships in Canada

The trend of Canadian businesses partnering with specialized marketing agencies is showing no signs of abatement in the evolving digital marketing landscape. The recipe combining experience, the advantage of being cost-effective, technological advances, and strategic value when working with an agency makes compelling economic sense. And, of course, in-house teams will always have their role; it's actually quite important for big organizations. The passed "advantages to this kind of approach are flexibility and comprehensive capabilities available to organizations of any size.".

The collaboration with a digital marketing agency is considered an investment in terms of growth strategy and competitiveness. Increasingly, this is a cost consideration that Canadian executives are factoring in as Canadian businesses strive to find their way through digital complexities—and as a result, a way to innovate the catalyst for success in the long term.

[aetherceuse]

⟢ - Structure of the 𝐀𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

The 𝐀𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 operates as a corporation and trust, funding research for various fields of scientific study through grants. It also engages in many different charitable acts related to the rehabilitation and conservation of endangered Pokémon, especially those native to the islands of Alola.

The corporation was founded by current sitting president and CEO, Lusamine Delacroix, with her husband, Mohn Delacroix, serving as vice president until his disappearance. The pair set out to establish a higher standard for how humans, Pokémon and technology can work with one another, while benefiting the natural ecosystems. Aether works alongside many different organizations throughout, and outside of, Alola.

Fields of Interest

The foundation funds projects, research, innovations and expeditions related, but not limited to, conservation, ecology, biochemistry, physics, epidemiology, genetic engineering, and computer engineering. Scientists and scholars from across the globe often seek out the foundation’s funding, traveling to the Aether Paradise in order to meet with members of the board, and Lusamine herself. There is quite the impressive network of intellects connected to the foundation, and it is not unusual to see the Aether seal stamped onto many peer reviewed journals.

Grants and scholarships for students pursuing careers in STEM are also gifted by the Aether Foundation. Many of these students are then placed into internships at the paradise, or in one of the Aether Houses— and funneled into a permanent position of employment upon graduation. The foundation relies on having the most brilliant, cunning minds involved with their projects, and so they make sure to leave a good impression on the scientific community. It is pretty common to see an Aether representative at any major conference involving STEM, or around university campuses.

Working for the Aether Foundation

Employment with the Aether Foundation ranges across different positions— from field researchers, to chemists, to public relations, and many, many more. Those who work at the Aether Paradise work directly with Aether’s conservation programs, vaccination developments, and technology departments. And the genetics program and UB project, if you’re aware of the horrors.

Gaining employment, however, is no simple task. Lusamine expects an impressive resume, and a mind to match, but if somebody passes the hiring process, it is great job security— as long as they do not disappoint her.

All employees are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement upon being hired. All positions are by contract, and salary paid.

All employees are required to submit their biometrics.

The hierarchy

From highest to lowest:

President

Vice President (currently unoccupied)

Branch Manager

Assistant Branch Manager

Divisional Manager

Assistant Divisional Manager

Office Administration

Lead Associate

Associate

Intern

Scientists and research teams are categorized and ranked based on individual projects and assignments.

Accessing the Aether Paradise

If commuting to work, employees have two options: traveling across the water from one of the islands via Aether-owned ferry service, or by helicopter. The ferry service also carries tourists on public access days, so that they can experience the conservation deck, and tour the island.

Aether offers on-site dorms for those who would rather not commute back and forth all week, and for those who are staying on the artificial for an extended period of time for an assignment.

Security

Security is taken very seriously on the island; Lusamine is incredibly strict about it, and intends on keeping it that way.

All employees are assigned key cards, which are required to access all of the rooms and laboratories on the floors one through three.

All of the laboratories and doors on floor three, and in basements 1, 2 and 3 require a fingerprint and retina scan.

Certain high-security areas require two or three employees to use fingerprint or retina scan in order to unlock the door for access.

Higher ranked foundation members and scientists have a chip implanted in their left wrist, which is used as a “master key” to access everything on the Aether Paradise, along with the locks for the Aether House and research stations.

Basements 1, 2 and 3 have safety laser scanners installed that are programmed to scan every room, laboratory and corridor every fifteen minutes. If a persons whose biometrics have not been logged into Aether’s system is picked upon, an alarm goes off, and all doors are locked. Only Aether security guards, or high ranked foundation members, are capable of unlocking the doors in order to remove the intruder.

ALL points of the Aether Paradise have motion sensing cameras and CCTV streaming.

Aether buildings are known for their monochrome coloring and bright fluorescent lights. This is to prevent employees and visitors from finding dark or secluded corners to hide in, and discourages people from attempting to smuggle Aether property. It also makes it easy for visitors to be picked up on by the security cameras; everybody on staff is wearing all white, so somebody who is wearing even the slightest bit of color stands out.

In the case of an emergency, the Aether Paradise is capable of undergoing full lockdown mode. All incoming boats and aircraft are instructed to return to the mainland, and all outgoing forms of transportation are halted.

[classicquid]

Short Term Loans UK the Best Option for You Is A Direct Lender

Without second thought, take into consideration short term loans UK if you find yourself in a situation where you need money quickly and have nowhere to turn to apply for a loan. Short term loans UK direct lender are designed specifically with salaried people in mind. Your ability to repay the loan until your next payday determines how much is accepted. You have no more options about these credits, so you can take full use of the outside financial assistance as quickly as possible without encountering any issues.

If a borrower needs financial assistance but does not have a debit card, they can still take advantage of short term loans UK and avoid going through a drawn-out process. In terms of requirements, they must be a citizen of the United Kingdom, be at least eighteen years old, be employed full-time with steady income, and have an open checking account. You are therefore always worthy of successfully and without fear taking out a loan.

There is a 100% chance that you will be approved even if you match the requirements listed above! With short term loans UK direct lender, you can obtain the desired amount of money—between £100 and £1,000—after being approved. Make a mental note that you have a rigorous two to four week window in which to return the money. These credits help you pay for a variety of expenses, like unexpected medical bills, unexpected car repairs, home improvement projects, emergency shopping, and monthly installment payments for your house, small-scale debt repayment, utility bills, and so on.

People who struggle with a history of negative credit, including foreclosure, missed payments, arrears, bankruptcy, country court judgments, individual voluntary agreements, etc. Additionally, it is thought that they qualify for the greatest benefits of short term loans UK direct lender. Apart from that, keep in mind that you must return the money till your next paycheck. In addition, if the loan has not been repaid in whole and on time, you will be assessed additional costs by the lender to extend the repayment period.

With just two to three minutes of online application time, you can apply for short term cash loans whether at home or at work. To ensure that your financing is approved by the lender, you must fill out the online form for confirmation. Same day, the money is approved and deposited straight into your bank account. One advantage of this service is that there are no costs associated with it because everything is done automatically via the internet.

Do you need a simple, short term loans direct lenders that you don't have to pay back in full right away? Spreading out the expense of a loan over a longer and more manageable term is possible with a Classic Quid loan. It's important to keep in mind that all lenders typically impose late payment penalties for non-payment, which can have an adverse effect on your credit rating. Therefore, before applying, make sure you can pay our loan as you don't want to go into a debt spiral.

https://classicquid.co.uk/

[erastaffingsolutions]

Understanding the Costs of Hiring Contractors for Small Businesses

For small business owners, navigating the world of contractors can be a daunting task. Whether you're looking to undertake a construction project, revamp your company's website, or need specialized services, understanding the cost behind hiring a contractor is critical for budgeting and managing your company's resources effectively. In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you through everything you need to know about the complexities of contractor costs for small businesses.

The Essentials: What Is a Contractor?

Before we deconstruct the pricing strategies and factors that drive contractor costs, it's essential to define what a contractor is. A contractor, in business parlance, is an individual or a business entity that provides specialized services in a particular field. Contractors are typically hired on a project basis and are not full-time employees of the hiring business, which can offer cost-saving benefits in terms of benefits and salary.

Demystifying Contractor Costs

Hiring a contractor has a myriad of financial implications, and a crucial decision point for any entrepreneur is understanding the overall costs associated with this choice. Whether it's a general contractor managing a construction project or an IT specialist working on a software development job, the cost of their services can vary widely based on multiple factors.

How Much Do Contractors Cost?

The answer is both simple and complex. In general, contractor costs are not uniform and can be influenced by a range of variables. Some rough figures to consider are that a typical contractor might charge between $50 to $150 per hour, while general contractors involved in substantial construction projects can have daily rates ranging from $400 to $1,000, depending on the scope and complexity of the work.

Determining General Contractor Rates

There are five key elements to consider when estimating what you'll pay for a contractor's service:

Specialized Skills and Experience

The more specialized and in-demand an individual's skills are, the higher the potential cost. Years of experience can also play a significant role, as seasoned contractors will naturally command a higher fee.

Project Length and Complexity

Simple projects with clear parameters will generally be less expensive than those that are complex and prone to scope changes, which can lead to additional charges.

Materials and Tools

In some cases, the materials and additional tools required for a project are not included in the contractor's fee. Always clarify these costs beforehand to avoid surprises.

Market Conditions

Like any service, contractor prices are influenced by the market's supply and demand equilibrium. High-demand periods usually mean higher rates.

Reputation and Portfolio

Highly reputable contractors with a strong body of work may charge a premium for their services. However, this could also mean a higher likelihood of a successful project outcome.

Understanding the Type of Contract

The type of employment agreement you have with a contractor also significantly affects cost. There are several common kinds of contracts:

Fixed-Price Contract

This type of contract outlines a predetermined sum that a contractor is paid upon the project's satisfactory completion. It's considered one of the least risky options in terms of financial surprises.

Time and Materials Contract

Under this type of agreement, the contractor is paid based on the time spent on the project and materials used. It can be more flexible but also lead to unexpected costs if the project scope isn't well-defined.

Cost-Plus Contract

This less common agreement sees the contractor reimbursed for project expenses and also receive a percentage-based fee on top of the costs. It provides transparency but can be the most expensive option if the project faces delays or cost overruns.

Choosing Wisely: Selecting a Reputable Contractor

Finally, the quality of a contractor can significantly impact the overall cost of hiring them. Here are some best practices:

References and Reviews

Always ask for and follow up on references. Take the time to read reviews and testimonials to gauge the quality and reliability of past work.

Clear and Detailed Estimates

A reputable contractor will provide a detailed estimate that breaks down all costs, including labor, materials, and any unforeseen changes. This transparency is vital for budgeting.

Professionalism and Communication

Do they arrive on time for meetings? Are they responsive to calls or emails? Good communication indicates a professional approach, which can save you time and money by preventing misunderstandings.

Legal Considerations

Is the contractor properly licensed and insured? Ensuring that they are adequately covered can protect your business from potential liabilities and ensures you're working with a professional.

By taking these considerations into account, you'll be better equipped to understand and negotiate the costs involved in hiring a contractor for your small business. Remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best, and investing in quality can pay dividends in the long run.

Hiring a contractor can be the catalyst for your small business success, but understanding and managing the associated costs is key to a fruitful and profitable relationship.

@erastaffingsolutions

[b-courageous1010]

Day 11: Career Reflection and Year-end Evaluations 

Went into the office, and it always makes me feel better even though I don't go in as much as I should.  

Finally submitted an assignment that took me way too long to finish, but I'm glad I got it out. 

I met with my manager to review what was on my plate and see if I am over-committing myself. After laying out what I had on my plate, I decided I could handle everything and was in a much better place mentally.  

I also asked for areas where I could improve. Of course, he said asking for help, but my manager also suggested I improve my presenting skills. While I know I struggle with it, he said it's because he knows I know what I'm talking about; I just have to be confident. He also said I have to make my presence known. 

Newfound passion in my role

Starting side projects and gave myself a personal work project. I found a new love for projects; it's always been my favorite part of any role. I talked to my mom about it, and it got me thinking about pursuing project management as a career. Today I put my workbook together and started the preliminary analysis. I also organized my notes and mapped out the following steps! I'm super excited to get the creativity flowing! 

Going to do some research on what skills are needed to excel in a project-based role 

I asked my aunt for her tips since she's in the same type of role, so I'm putting together some questions to ask her. 

Also wondering if I should invest in a tool or how I can track my progress another way 

Reflecting on Year 1 

Year 1: In September, I will be 1 year in my position, and time has flown by. I was completely new to finance, and it was quite the "work culture shock" I went from being a micromanaged hourly worker to a trusted salaried finance employee. There were a lot of hiccups, and I learned what exposure meant. The first year, I kept my head down, learning background information, and focused on understanding our tasks and roles in the audit process. I built my personal library and got organized. I learned new tips and tricks for communication. I am immensely grateful and fortunate for this position. I interact with upper management in a way that doesn't usually come to entry-level associates. I feel so lucky to have landed in a project-based role unintendedly, it's something I wanted to dip my toes in, and I feel blessed every day I go to work.  

Heading into year-end evaluations: I've come far in just a year and am excited to see what next year brings. I plan to use the knowledge I learned and make my presence known in the department. My mentorship is going great, and I'm finally starting my side projects. Also starting to think about the next leg of my career, which means new goals! Made a note to reevaluate my PeopleSoft goals. I feel the shift from learning to actually doing and the ending of being able to fall back. I will embark on a journey to make a name for myself, and I can't wait to see what's in store. I know things won't always be smooth sailing, but I'm learning not to fear the unknown. Fantastic opportunities lie right outside of my comfort zone.  

Tremendous opportunities lie right outside of my comfort zone.  

[bignosebaby]

hi! don't know if we can still send in questions, but I was wondering if you know what kind of careers you can get in conservation?

You can always send in questions!

There are a lot of different careers in conservation. Like, a LOT. Many jobs, especially at the entry level, may be tricky to find as many organizations rely on funding which means you see a lot of very specific jobs that are for specific periods of time as outlined by grants and funding. For example, I recently applied for a job that was hiring specifically for a set number of hours a week a a set hourly rate, for a period of 10 months. This is because when grants are given to organizations to hire people, they tend to be very specific as to how the grant money must be allocated. Some of these jobs are extendable, meaning if they get more funding they can keep the person in the position on for another grant period (usually doubling the original contract).

If you live near a zoo or conservation facility you would like to work for, I recommend checking their career page regularly or subscribing to receive hiring updates via emails. When it comes to conservation jobs getting a foot in the door is crucial so even being a janitor or doing grounds keeping for a reputable zoo is a great way to start networking, and start moving up into a job that you would prefer more. Similarly, working in any type of environmental role or conservation position is an asset. My goal is to work in ape conservation, but I will look for any environmental jobs that are comparable to the type of work I would like to do.

When it comes to what kind of careers you can get, there are a lot of fantastic options to set your sights on. Remember that many of these jobs require many years of experience, but even if you are not qualified knowing what kind of career you want to strive for can help create a path to your dream job. Different skills and experiences can help you become qualified for different rolls, but the single most common thing I see in job postings (especially permanent, salary rolls that pay well) is management skills. This is good news because this is a very transferable skill, meaning that you can become a skilled manager in any field and be qualified to move into a conservation roll. In general, if you have management, financial, or administrative skills and experience you can probably find a conservation job that wants you. Here's an incomplete list of some conservation careers I have seen:

In animal care/wildlife sciences: Veterinarians, Wildlife Health Technicians, Zookeepers, Reproductive Research Assistants, Nutrition Assistants, Conservation Stewards. 

In facilities and infrastructure: Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters, Mechanics, Gardeners, Material Collectors, Project Managers Exhibit Design Technicians.

In communications and guest experience: Event planning, Partnership & Event Associates, Marketing Associates, Education and Outreach facilitation, Fundraising, Advertising.

In administration and general management: Finance, Purchasing & Supply, Human Resources, Payroll, Technology, Safety & Security, First Aid.

Basically conservation is a very large expanse of many careers, and while it can be very competitive (last job I applied had over 100 applicants for one position) it's a small world where you can make connections with people and build on pretty much any skills or experience you bring to the table. If you have questions about specific career paths I would love to answer them, and I recommend checking out GoodWork.ca* and the websites of places you want to work such as the jobs page for the Toronto Zoo or Calgary Zoo, just for example. Even if there isn't anything you like or are qualified for, you can learn a lot.

*GoodWork is Canadian. If you know of a conservation job posting site for other countries such as the U.S., drop a comment!

[mariacallous]

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s daughter Maria Vorontsova earns hundreds of millions of rubles per year from her stake in Nomeco, a company which receives all its money from a healthcare facility called the Sogaz clinic, according to a new investigation by jailed Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny’s associates.

Vorontsova is an endocrinologist by profession. According to the Navalny team’s investigation, she earns around 200,000 rubles ($2,280) per month through her work:

110,000 rubles ($1,250) for her work at Moscow State University in the Faculty of Fundamental Medicine,

35,000 rubles ($400) from the Russian Association of Endocrinologists,

48,000 rubles ($550) from the Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Center of Endocrinology.

But Vorontsova earns far more as a member of the board of directors of Nomeco, a company she founded in 2019, according to the investigation. Nomeco’s website says it focuses on innovative technologies in the field of medicine. The investigation’s authors note that the website’s “company news” page primarily posts congratulatory messages for various holidays.

Nomeco, which employed only five people in 2022, generates millions of rubles in net profits per year:

600 million rubles ($6.8 million) in 2020,

810 million rubles ($9.2 million) in 2021,

855 million rubles ($9.7 million) in 2022.

As a company shareholder, Vorontsova earned 232 million rubles ($2.6 million) in dividends in 2020 (more recent data is not yet available). Vorontsova also earns a salary of 700,000 rubles ($7,980) from Nomeco per month. The investigation reports:

If the dividends [in 2021 and 2022] are paid in the same way as in 2020, then our businesswoman earned a total of 910 million ($10.3 million) in dividends and a salary of 33 million rubles ($376,000). 944 million rubles ($10.7 million)!

The investigation’s authors say that Nomeco received all its money from the Sogaz clinic. In 2021 and 2022, the clinic transferred 1.5 billion rubles ($17 million) to Nomeco for certain “services related to information modeling for project implementation.”

In 2021, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty found that the following individuals were treated at the Sogaz clinic:

Yury Kovalchuk, a close associate of Putin and co-owner of Sogaz insurance group,

Sergey Fursenko, vice president of Gazprombank,

Ilya Klebanov, Putin’s former presidential plenipotentiary to Russia’s Northwestern Federal District,

Valentina Matvienko, speaker of Russia’s Federation Council.

After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the clinics also treated Wagner Group mercenaries injured on the battlefield. In August 2022, the clinics were bought out by top managers at Nomeco.

[moviesessionwithmyhubby]

The ceiling

#notamovieexplanation As I matured and progressed through school, work, and various experiences, I came to a realization that everything is truly quite simple. I realized that even if we work in the same company, perform the same job, face similar challenges, and share moments of happiness, there are two things that will always remain different. The first aspect to consider is the level of your expectations. The second aspect is the level of your tolerance. I will combine these two aspects into one and call them “ceiling”. Let imagine it this way, each of us is a house with different height of “ceiling”. 

Expectation

People have varying expectations when starting a job, and their response to achieving a particular outcome will differ accordingly. Some people place their hopes in money or fame, while others invest their aspirations in art and freedom. Some others simply desire to work diligently throughout the day without any particular expectations. And some others just hope to showcase their talents and connect with individuals who appreciate them. The level of high expectations varies for each type of achievement, making the variable even more vast. When we work tirelessly towards a goal but still can't achieve it, the feeling of self-doubt and frustration can drive us to madness. Madness and despair may flourish behind the smiles, concealed in a silence that no one is aware of. 

After graduating from university, my initial job was working as a translator and proofreader for TV movies and dramas. Prior to accepting the job, I was unaware of the professional path associated with it. As a result, my expectations were limited to working diligently throughout the day and earning a specific salary, without any specific goals. And I was satisfied with what I had at that time. However, upon seeing my co-workers who were the same age as me getting promoted to project coordinators, I began to feel peer pressure and I wanted to become a project coordinator. Then after being promoted to project coordinator, I wanted to become a project manager. However, at that time, I was uncertain about the role of a project manager, the qualifications required for the position, and whether it was a suitable job for me or if I would enjoy it. I just wanted to be a project manager because my friends wanted to be it. I was simply following the expectations of my friends. After five years of working, I have achieved the position of mid-level project manager. But I must admit that I have not accomplished much in my career thus far. I have not felt particularly passionate about my work, nor have I dedicated a significant amount of effort or patience to it. I have also overheard my friends discussing their plans to purchase their own homes and cars before reaching the age of 30. So I held myself to these expectations, despite being unsure if they were truly what I desired. And as I approach the age of 30, I have not yet experienced any of the aforementioned things. Let's imagine it this way: my expectation was a 10, but my achievement was only a 7. And as an obvious result, the disparity between my expectations and accomplishments has left me feeling unfulfilled and empty, like a failure.

Tolerance

Next, we have the level of tolerance. Everyone, no matter how desperate, will experience a phase of suffering and negotiation. When considering leaving a job that I have dedicated many years to, I find that the person I question the most is myself. I question myself for the inconveniences I would probably bring to my boss and my co-workers, I question myself for causing concern to my family and husband. But most importantly, I question myself for the decision I want to make, I am afraid that the decision I am making for my own life may not be the right one. So I think, before proceeding to the final step, we all will undergo a rigorous endurance test. Those who are able to tolerate the current situation will remain, while those who have reached their limit will quickly depart. That is unavoidable. As a project manager at an outsourcing company, my daily responsibilities include managing urgent client requirements, addressing non-essential requests from my boss, attending numerous impromptu meetings, and working within tight deadlines and budgets. My co-workers are capable of effectively managing these things. But these things give me a severe headache and I often need to take Panadol during the day to manage it. At that moment, I glanced at my co-workers and wondered how they were able to accomplish the task while I struggled. I even questioned whether I was too weak or incapable. Why am I unable to cope with work-related stress while others can manage it effectively? But gradually, I came to the realization that the level of tolerance towards me differed from their level of tolerance. I came to the realization that the difference was due to the varying heights of our ceilings. It is not practical for me to take the pillar that supports the other’s house and use it in my own house with the expectation that it will function properly. This pillar would not be suitable for my house as it is taller than the height of my house's ceiling and could potentially cause damage. Meaning that I can’t apply other’s expectation and tolerance level on myself. If I did that, I would break myself into pieces. It took me five years to realize that people have varying expectations and levels of tolerance. And it took me five years to realize that clinging to a rope while hanging on a cliff may not always be the best way to survive, even though it may seem like the only option. Sometimes holding onto the robe too tightly may cause the rope to cut deeper. Sometimes letting go of the rope can be a transformative experience, representing the death of your old self and the birth of a new one.

So after having negotiation with myself and receiving the encourage from my husband, I took three deep breaths and cut the rope that I had been clinging to. I have stopped comparing myself to others and their successes. My husband asked me one thing, and it got me thinking about where I see myself in the next few years, as well as what my new ceiling will be. And at that point, I began to wonder. I simply believed that I needed to break the old cycle of expectation and tolerance that I had been in for the last five years, but I didn't know what my true goal would be when I started this new adventure. I shared my intention to have a writing career with my husband and said it was all I wanted to do. I haven't really given it much thought yet. And my husband warned me that this was not the correct way to handle the situation, and that if I continued to handle it in this manner, I would find myself back in the same cycle in a few years' time. He began coaching me to create my own expectation this time, and with this expectation, let's see how many efforts and how much patience I can put in to accomplish the goal that I set for myself, as well as how much I can tolerate to reach that objective. This time, I am going to live within the height of my own ceiling, and I am not going to follow the ceiling of any other person anymore.

[renewablephilosopher]

Considering a career as a Wind Turbine Technician

If you're considering becoming a wind turbine technician, there are a few things you should know before jumping into this career path. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

Education and training: To become a wind turbine technician, you generally need a high school diploma or GED certificate and either technical school certification or an associate's degree in wind turbine technology [1]. You can also train on the job, but having some formal education and training can give you a leg up in the field.

Job outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 44 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 1,900 openings for wind turbine technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade [2]. This means that there will likely be plenty of job opportunities in the field.

Salary: Earnings for wind turbine technicians can vary depending on location, employer, and experience. According to the BLS, wind turbine technicians earned a median annual salary of more than $61,000 in 2022 6].

Job duties: Wind turbine technicians are responsible for performing routine maintenance, troubleshooting problems, and dealing with urgent issues on the three primary parts of a turbine - the tower, the blades, and the nacelle, composed of the generator, gearbox, and brakes [11]. The role can be physically demanding and may require working outdoors in harsh weather conditions [4].

Skills needed: Wind turbine technicians need to be able to identify and solve problems quickly and efficiently [5]. They should also be comfortable using hand and power tools, as well as computer equipment, to fix and maintain turbines [16]. Safety is also a critical aspect of the job, so wind turbine techs should be familiar with safety procedures and comfortable climbing up to 300 feet in the air [16].

Overall, the field of wind turbine technology offers promising job prospects and the opportunity to work in a hands-on environment that contributes to ecological health. It can be physically demanding, and you'll need to be comfortable working outdoors and at heights, but the rewards can be significant. If you're interested in pursuing this career path, be sure to research education and training options, as well as job opportunities in your area.

Sources:

1] "If you're interested in becoming a wind turbine technician or a similar profession in renewable energy, here are 10 jobs you may consider: 1. Environmental scientist 2. Crane operator 3. Industrial project manager 4. Electrician 5. Mechanical engineer 6. Land acquisition specialist 7. Construction equipment operator 8. Construction laborer 9."

URL: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-become-a-wind-turbine-technician

[2] "Job Outlook. Employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 44 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 1,900 openings for wind turbine technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who ..."

URL: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm

[3] "To become a wide turbine technician, all you need is a high school diploma (or GED) and a technical school certificate or associate's degree. You can train on the job or enroll in a technical school to become one. These requirements enable you to start your career earlier than many other career options. Contributing to ecological health"

URL: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/pros-cons-being-wind-turbine-technician

[4] "The role of a wind turbine technician can be quite demanding. If you're outside on location, you can face harsh weather conditions, heavy materials, and machinery risks. What Does It Take To Become A Certified Wind Turbine Technician You need proof of high school completion, like a school diploma."

URL: https://blog.pcitraining.edu/blog/things-to-know-about-becoming-a-wind-turbine-technician

[5] "The ability to identify a problem, compile a list of issues, and identify the proper procedures needed to diagnose and repair a wind turbine is paramount for wind turbine technicians. While there are always going to be issues to manage, it is up to the technician to get the optimal performance from the wind turbine by solving problems quickly ..."

URL: https://miat.edu/2021-12-what-qualifications-do-i-need-to-become-a-wind-turbine-technician

[6] "Earnings can vary depending on your location, employer, and level of experience. According to the BLS, wind turbine technicians earned a median annual salary of more than $56,000 in 2020—or hourly wages of more than $27. The lowest-paid 10% of technicians earned less than $40,000 and the highest-paid 10% earned upwards of $83,000."

URL: https://www.imagine-america.org/become-wind-turbine-technician/

[7] "I've personally tried to convince applicants looking for a summer internship to drop out of their wind turbine tech school to come work full time. Additional schooling isn't required, but you might be building experiance in a more remote area in Wyoming, Texas or Indiana. RIPmyGuardianAngel • 1 mo. ago."

URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/wind/comments/11hlajn/looking_how_to_get_into_wind_turbine_technical/

[8] "Once you earn your A.A.S. degree in Advanced Energy Technician, you will be prepared to start your career in the field of renewable energy. You will be working with outside and may have to travel to different locations. You will have to learn to use a variety of electrical tools and measuring systems."

URL: https://www.tccd.edu/academics/courses-and-programs/programs-a-z/credit/electronics-technology-advanced-energy-technician/

[9] "The average age of an employed wind turbine technician is 42 years old. The most common ethnicity of wind turbine technicians is White (60.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (21.5%), Black or African American (9.0%) and Unknown (5.0%). In 2021, women earned 93% of what men earned. 4% of all wind turbine technicians are LGBT."

URL: https://www.zippia.com/wind-turbine-technician-jobs/demographics/

[10] "All individuals planning to become wind turbine technicians must complete a series of steps before qualifying for a job. The first step involves completing high school and earning a high school diploma or GED certificate. From there, many aspiring technicians enroll at a community college or technical school to study wind turbine technology."

URL: https://www.bestcolleges.com/trades/electrical-technology/how-to-become-a-wind-turbine-technician/

[11] "The role of a wind turbine technician is straightforward. You'll perform routine maintenance, troubleshoot problems and deal with urgent issues on the three primary parts of a turbine - the tower, the blades and what's called the nacelle, composed of the generator, gearbox and brakes. Beyond that, additional education can lead you into ..."

URL: https://www.grainger.com/know-how/business-operations/people-management/kh-the-job-you-want-wind-turbine-tech

[12] "15 Essential Wind Turbine Technician Skills For Your Resume And Career 1. LOTO Here's how loto is used on wind turbine technician resumes: Perform Test-Verify-Test on equipment and perform LOTO. Perform LOTO procedure on daily basis. Fill out reports and LOTO procedures."

URL: https://www.zippia.com/wind-turbine-technician-jobs/skills/

[13] "Working as a wind turbine technician, or wind farm technician, is an excellent career choice if you enjoy being outdoors, don't mind heights and enjoy a physical and mental challenge. The work generally involves maintaining the performance of wind turbines and ensuring they operate as intended."

URL: https://uk.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-wind-turbine-technician

[14] "Working as a wind turbine technician allows you to apply your knowledge of sustainable energy technology in a hands-on environment. Wind turbine technicians require specialized education and training in mechanical systems and green energy to maintain wind-powered generators."

URL: https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-wind-turbine-technician

[15] "You can earn your Basic Wind Turbine Technician GWO certs at Wind Academy by Siemens Gamesa in Orlando. 3 week program, state of the art facility, resume assistance, guaranteed interview before you graduate. $12600 tuition, no student loans. 2."

URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/windturbine/comments/vrs342/how_much_do_wind_turbine_technicians_make/

[16] "Safety is super important in wind turbine technician work. Wind turbine techs use safety harnesses and must have training in safety procedures. They need to be comfortable climbing up to 300 feet in the air and using hand and power tools, as well as computer equipment, to fix and maintain these awesome machines."

URL: https://www.uti.edu/blog/wind-turbine/how-to-become-a-wind-turbine-technician

[17] "The main wind turbine component that wears out over time is the blades. The blades are made of composite materials subject to fatigue and can eventually crack. The leading edge of the blades is also subject to erosion from wind and rain. Another factor that can damage wind turbine blades is lightning. Lightning can cause a blade to break or ..."

URL: https://safetyculture.com/topics/wind-turbine-maintenance/

[18] "A wind turbine service technician has to be able to perform various tasks such as installing blades, inspecting equipment, troubleshooting problems, and repairing damaged parts. Therefore, they usually start their shifts in the morning and finish during the afternoon to complete their tasks. This article will provide insight into a wind tech role."

URL: https://blog.pcitraining.edu/blog/turbine-technician-what-is-a-wind-turbine-technician-work-schedule