Live From Phoenix 4: Sunday In The Valley Of The Sun

I forgot to tell you the high point of yesterday. Actually, I didn’t tell you about our worship and Bible Study at all. The Bible Study was good. The worship was impaired by bad liturgy at the offices but was great at Eucharist, as always. That’s when the high point occurred.<br /><br /> Bp. Pryor of Minnesota read the Gospel with just the right pause and inflection. Jesus told this series of parables, all of which were pretty paradoxical and strange as parables tend to be, culminating in the parable of the net with all kinds of fish, then someone sorting the fish when they get to shore. “When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to the crowd, ‘Have you understood all of this?’ and they said, ‘Yes.’” That’s when the congregation erupted into laughter.<br /><br /> Today we worshiped at Trinity Cathedral, nice building, great organ, great choir – packed pews. Worship attendance had doubled in the past five years, thanks in no small part to the leadership of their tech-y social networking, blogging Dean, the physicist Nick Knisley.<br /><br /> After Eucahrist, there were wonderful Mexian folk dancers in the garden. The Cahtedral already had a good Latino/ Hispanic Ministry going. Then after the passage of AZ 1070, local law enforcement set up shop next to one of our smaller Latino/ Hispanic Congregations. That itimidated that congregation virtually out of operation. But now Latino/ Hispanic Ministries is all the livelier at the Cathedral. The performance was both beautiful and fun.<br /><br /><br /> Tonight we met to go over the draft pastoral letter and teaching document on Immigration. The teaching document is particularly important because it deals with faith and citizenship in a nation. That has broader implications than immigration. The Roman Church is making a concerted effort to educate their congregations in “faithful citizenship.” For us, that means the Church does not tell the people who to vote for, but Christians should vote and their voting should be informed by their faith.<br /><br /> The conversation was intelligent and conscientious. I was once again impressed with the House of Bishops. There was a change in the quality of pastoral letters a few years ago. In the troubled 80s and early 90s, the bishops apparently liked to pound their chests and shout irreconcilably righteous stands on left and right. Then toward the beginning of this decade, the Bishops began reasoning together. It all goes back to the College For Bishops. Now we collaborate to try to say something to build up the Body of Christ, not tear it apart.

Live From Phoenix 4: Sunday In The Valley Of The Sun

I forgot to tell you the high point of yesterday. Actually, I didn’t tell you about our worship and Bible Study at all. The Bible Study was ...

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Good way to end the weekend…

<p>…by getting Wendi & Hayden home!!! Sunday morning Hayden’s billy levels were low enough for us to go home! I’ll be back tomorrow with my regular posts!</p> <p>In the mean time I’ll leave you with a few pics from the weekend!</p> <p>The decorations I made for Hayden’s door!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIr9QBnwJvuSOjXBGpUUWmZr1JWO6hHWnFEjV4CEvTUfwf7Xv-cnYODz9DlN4nHzyE5XHiMmdF9KrgMZfvnwAkM13wk8AytmDAodrWpw882GshzOTUGGzU-VVJ1qOrMElR7iBBEABhMnK/s1600-h/DSC08659%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08659" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjricmKWgo7NtOAr5o2srE3lqcsFRsXlNNZFTLXKKb2F7oswB-EXeO8Tp73-Dx3210ICskdW2jsrZvJ7B3efmNDK5usahgxT7lkSBlr4aaEohmFZMCI4adPrjqWtHDtOgcHkzMT7b3Mei9T/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08659" width="404" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit75uT8qV8sFh2-ZFUW2kreH9IX34puFkRKhcpqSEre8HvyqddIh7hbeRfBGDIKEllJclxSIbmQjsiBbFv2HLH0A6L0jm5Taeju_-DlV1klPife0IALPePZtkmaFFFdKhkjA5uUdsAyLAC/s1600-h/DSC08660%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08660" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIR0dPnhxEaQ3baDwLfvoTf0RkIzRpDcxFHFpTZjkcXfA4Zchfc5s5IJylgLvCItr5ECPBU3FhLYkZOc-BcpC3-TWAbX80GlD7H_vDpBnD4IleMBoIwePPuCRSmH94I_nMKFkgWv1yrDf_/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08660" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Wendi got to help, for the first time, give Hayden a sponge bath Saturday night!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFRdtlTwbLm642H45RbLUuV2z1HE852cgC4NGX2oh15B_4WqwTjgb4LoB9VF7-1ThSCBnmCVSeByn9diX5DBfyIf24lXNNwIw5ZRsoesh0c2JDO8UDbQIIYV8tVeLr14YgbLkEDFS77ep/s1600-h/DSC08666%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08666" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1x7taTUlaz75K04-ffLjFT7iQaideRVbhu0sYjJadtZZPFASFUiIbC2IEB_bmHm2gqCOOuJdhZhTKr3_pWPbiKvb6J6lptqmVuFcShLejOhSwl4QB6Qb88ywk6K_CpBrk49eNlhMQuaA1/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08666" width="404" /></a></p> <p>Finally getting some cuddle time with Hayden! The photo light therapy was turned off at 7:30pm Saturday!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMe0eKoJwGd5SERPQS7Bucbz50Y7JNBsTgx-aTEELbAHllOtXVFswtqYM73vQY46uyJlepij-zx2rnhAzl7KZ8aNwpBDgS5hZPswYX4hjGG6gau4lT_0I9Uib5JdJ_u1gth4JhcRA1OYSM/s1600-h/DSC08680%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08680" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq4MnKCE8PVp3YsN6ZxaSf61ndPWR4lSPWs3gT-K14u9vHhtx3Mu0VYoiXKGViptOU6lmNcg7FwPBvlnTPaOCyc6uScX9WpLNHCRCfGK3VjKVgA_PCeWVG5AYTjZDn5HSBaSxIF4p7yHO/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08680" width="304" /></a></p> <p>Sunday morning we said good bye to the NICU at Mercy. We were happy to leave, but very thankful for the great care that Hayden received. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-yD82mipnMZXxe3RQZrJe2ooGAadKG71HuqnwA1baIJ940kGVKLNdgLlHFyz-CfjgXHedZABJOKD0CuCoG_ztfrj-1HRvhK1hvfAe4mas7WRa-MGbLfjhe3bYCnO8cK9ETqUtEotKAGE/s1600-h/DSC08682%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08682" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mHgUWASwipsPucLuskeC3b59qDKMLtncY1dWs23hvHUtgFKBvB3MEXGKk8sV9S1h_dRgDAR4gSaqeBsDOwjFCeuu_Ti2JksP6aEXh44npMUBLJQjpm4GL9F_HmDzuoGJz4DDdUJ2gU5x/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08682" width="304" /></a></p> <p>Ready to go home!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qReRx32rkOGjoedXg__QdmgcZF1Jda5m_Ogk7B_l5t8iyApqkmeGklHkpEInmQ-6UsE2apGSS75EIWB1KwAU6z81vn_WUs3bRD4D70CSuO3zXpAv3XGSPGaAMxZcIST9Jka3UVGVTgDq/s1600-h/DSC08688%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08688" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cW4efF935HjCtPXc5zCafTCXWdbu32N8SQWaxPdsssFB5_LyDhyXmuwdRGPQ5LBf6d-Kc9Z5tp8Ugzb_K-humOlflEhpvtx08QUICKKTlwCETfZbdxn-ktlaMrDYxf2qPMgc0V9xACeW/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08688" width="304" /></a>     <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbRxcX0IjQ5pe_xVPHeeZJZUh2fwciMz7FCxVHTQXA5_h_ofUgXBlPgCLvXZbcWvBDkv-Bjm83T2wTao5FEqBXqXcVNKK67B_OraBBpw78EH7LQa9fMMhOyeOymtls0bk_RMaZ78PDmKi/s1600-h/DSC08694%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="DSC08694" border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jgwYvdDIWAWI8COx5DhhJ2cxUx9JTa0p3FFch-LZ2vGUzdG-CyrabEpJbhKvppMpWksVylxbCNVDeT7aEBBWVWnZMnwLKO1b6RQzYhDoRWWUMu2G9NmhyphenhyphengxY6dYhdcubJktpdwCkDWsV/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08694" width="304" /></a></p> <p>Hayden did really well on the hour car ride home. My Mom, Step Dad, Kyle, 2 sisters & their husbands all greeted us when we got home!</p> <p>I know I’ve repeated this almost everyday, but I have to say <strong><u>thank you from the bottom of my heart</u></strong> for all your thoughts, prayers, emails, and support this week! </p> <p><strong><em>Happy 1 week to my sweet nephew, Hayden!</em></strong><img alt="DSC08692" border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghE7CmM0fgywzFPFBOej8dZAupOQI92klIJOz3qLBEXiRRBhycvD8np8bMnLeEux8lh5Aw65LMl2Jtt9I8ugA0WKNOTwh7gqL3uu_FAsG7G17bAiTtrL2v5IyNDe-lHY4wpUmAJIhHe7Na/?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="DSC08692" width="404" /></p>

Good way to end the weekend…

…by getting Wendi & Hayden home!!! Sunday morning Hayden’s billy levels were low enough for us to go home! I’ll be back tomorrow with my...

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What it's Like to be an Online Entrepreneur

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ty/ar5l13k6p7zglpbg4hty.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/ty/ar5l13k6p7zglpbg4hty.gif" /></a></div>The essence of SheFinds media is wrapped up in its tagline: "What to Wear, Where to Get it." The blog/online shopping companion provides everything a time-crunched fashionista needs to stay current on top trends and budget-buys; from shopping guides categorized by price range to featured sales and "where to buy" information. <br /><br />The site is the brainchild of Michelle Madhok, who started SheFinds.com in 2004 after stints as both the entertainment marketing director at CBS and women's content director at Aol. Since then, Madhok's SheFinds websites (which now include Shefinds.com and sister sites MomFinds.com and BrideFinds.com) have become some of the web's most popular shopping resources. <br /><br />Below, Madhok tells us how she began her budding online media empire. <br /><br />CareerBuilder.com: You're the owner of SheFinds Media. What is a typical day at work like? <br /><br />Michelle Madhok: I lead a team of online shopping experts. My company publishes websites that help busy women shop online: SheFinds.com, MomFinds.com and BrideFinds.com. We have six full-time staffers and about 20 freelancers across the country.<br /><br />What made you decide to start a shopping website? Where did your career start and how did you end up where you are now? <br /><br />I spent five years overseeing the women's audience for Aol, which at the time had 35 million subscribers -- 50 percent of which were women. I sat through numerous focus groups ... What I learned is that all women were starving for products that saved time. Women felt they were operating at a dizzying pace and didn't have time for the self-care. They had money but no time. <br /><br />Meanwhile, I was doing a lot of shopping for my friends. I'd go to the outlet malls for my friends who didn't have time. eBay and iVillage were becoming popular, and I knew the power of the Internet and realized that on the Web I could take this personal shopping to the next level. No one was telling you the best place to buy black pants on the Internet. Shopping magazines like Lucky were popping up, but the online content did not exist, so I created SheFinds.com.<br /><br />When you started SheFinds back in 2004, did you know that the "blogosphere" was going to be this big? <br /><br />When I started SheFinds, e-mail newsletter sites like Daily Candy were the hot thing. However I quickly realized that blogging was taking off and getting all the media attention so I set-up a blog and got going. <br /><br />It seems like things in both online media and fashion are always changing. How do you keep up?<br /><br />I have over 100 blogs in my RSS reader and I skim them all day long. If a trend is building I can usually see it by how many bloggers are talking about it. <br /><br />Recently, it's been said "bloggers are the new fashion editors" and the AP officially began crediting bloggers as sources in news stories. Has this improved perception of bloggers changed your business in any way? <br /><br />It's changed it for the better. When I started, bloggers were looked down upon -- the great unwashed masses of regular people. PR people didn't want us fraternizing with the editors and getting samples was like pulling teeth. The fact that now bloggers are getting their due respect has helped my business leap ahead.<br /><br />What about the recession? Has is affected your business?<br /><br />The first quarter was a little scary. We are well financed so personally we don't have a problem, but many of our regular advertisers -- mostly small online boutiques went under. Some holiday advertising checks bounced and things were quiet until March when we started to see a rebound in bigger advertisers wanting to spend their money on SheFinds and MomFinds.<br /><br />What is the best part about being an online shopping expert? <br /><br />I get paid to surf the web and shop -- my two favorite things.<br /><br />What is the toughest part? <br /><br />Running a company can be a challenge. I have to keep a lot of plates spinning and grow traffic and sales on the sites.<br /><br />What qualities do you have that make you good at your job? <br /><br />I'm passionate about the topic and the industry. I'm impatient and innovative when it comes to getting things done. I am curious about what's next so I'm constantly asking questions and meeting people to make sure we're on top of the trends.<br /><br />Any advice for people looking to break into the fashion or media industries? <br /><br />Get experience. Intern and if you are too old to intern launch a blog, read-up, learn how to write for the web. You can't come in cold and expect a company to train you from scratch. There's so much information available on the internet there's no reason not to self-teach the skills you need.<br /><br />By Kaitlin Madden writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

What it's Like to be an Online Entrepreneur

The essence of SheFinds media is wrapped up in its tagline: "What to Wear, Where to Get it." The blog/online shopping companion pr...

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10 Ways the 2020 Workplace Will Work For You

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/tx/ar5l38b6t2rw6dc1qmtx.gif?time=9/15/2010 12:46:03 pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/tx/ar5l38b6t2rw6dc1qmtx.gif?time=9/15/2010 12:46:03 pm" /></a></div>The workplace of 2020 is an exciting one, filled with changes specifically designed to benefit the future employee. Workers of tomorrow can look forward to more employee development and advancement opportunities than at any time in the past 30 years. How you develop your work skills today could lead to a big pay-off in the 2020 workplace. <br /><br />Ten factors that will impact the 2020 workplace:<br /><br />1. Demographics.<br />What it is: By 2020, the American workplace population will be more diverse: 63 percent white, 30 percent Latino, and 50 percent female. Four or even five generations, from Boomers to Generation 2020, will be working at once. <br />How it helps you: Companies going global will need to incorporate the experiences and backgrounds of a diverse workforce. Teams will be built up of workers of different gender, race and generation -- and even workers of different nations.<br /><br />2. Rise of business ethics<br />What it is: Companies that once only operated for profit will place new emphasis on the importance of their people, as well as the impact their existence has on the planet. The new bottom line will incorporate profit, people and planet. <br />How it helps you: An emphasis on doing good means companies will strive to be environmentally friendly. Plus, the ability for workers to give real-time feedback about their leaders ensures leaders will be held to their worker's standards.<br /><br />3. Social technology<br />What it is: Vlogging, Twitter, intranet chat rooms, Skyping -- even today, there's a vast array of online communication tools, with more to come. <br />How it helps you: The use of social technology means real-time feedback loops as well as facilitating offsite work teams. Social technologies will also enhance informal and peer-to-peer learning. <br /><br />4. Mobile workplace <br />What it is: Increasingly powerful mobile phones are replacing laptops as the main work device. <br />How it helps you: Advanced Internet capabilities on your cell mean accessing your "desk" anywhere, anytime. Welcome to the "third place": If the office is the first job site and the home office the second, the "third place" is anywhere your phone is.<br /><br />5. Work/life flexibility<br />What it is: For younger generations, work is a significant part of their life, but they don't compartmentalize it like older generations tend to. It isn't about work-life "balance"; it's about work/life integration. <br />How it helps you: Flexibility tools like web commuting and "third place" working will help replace the 9-to-5 workday with a goal accomplishment one (meeting goals regardless of what time of day the work was done), which will help companies boost the job satisfaction of their employees.<br /><br />6. Serious play<br />What it is: "Sims" (Simulated Games) is the new buzz word in training: Online Sims allow employees to learn new jobs through low-risk direct practice. <br />How it helps you: Training will start to look like the games we've come to love, and studies show that Sims are effective methods for accelerating competence across the employee spectrum.<br /><br />7. Mentoring<br />What it is: One-on-one mentoring is still a powerful way to develop employees, but companies will also use reverse-, micro- and group-mentoring. <br />How it helps you: Increased emphasis on mentoring means that your professional development will get a super-charge via direct input from company leaders as well as from your peers. Best of all, your opinions and skills are given new value as you reverse-mentor others, meaning that you will be tasked with teaching those senior to you about your role.<br /><br />8. Democratization of information<br />What it is: Digital record keeping makes company information accessible to all. <br />How it helps you: The end of hierarchies! More employees will be tapped to help shape policy, project management and solve problems, rather than just follow orders.<br /><br />9. Personal branding<br />What it is: Social technologies track personal ratings, referrals and reputations. <br />How it helps you: A good reputation has the same value in the future as it does now: It makes you a highly desired employee who can set your own value in the marketplace.<br /><br />10. Talent shortage<br />What it is: There's a big gap between all the Boomers retiring and the number of Generation X'ers available to fill their shoes. <br />How it helps you: The demand for 2020 leaders will result in more concentrated employee development and faster promotions for younger workers! <br /><br />Although it's a ways off, you can start preparing for the 2020 workplace by: <br /><br />Adopting a global mind-set. <br /><br />Becoming familiar with social networks <br /><br />Building your personal brand <br /><br />The future is coming, and adapting now will position you for a fast-track career in 2020.<br /><br />By Jeanne C Meister and Karie Willyerd, Co-Authors: The 2020 Workplace

10 Ways the 2020 Workplace Will Work For You

The workplace of 2020 is an exciting one, filled with changes specifically designed to benefit the future employee. Workers of tomorrow can ...

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What Does the Boss Need to Hear? - Things you'd get off your chest if there were no repercussions

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/v5/ar5m6hb6xkh4tl51ybv5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/v5/ar5m6hb6xkh4tl51ybv5.gif" /></a></div>You have an extra dollar in your pocket and decide to purchase a lottery ticket. That night, you watch the drawing and realize you've won millions of dollars.<br /><br />You're cleaning out the attic and find an old painting. You take it to an appraiser and find out you're holding an original Picasso.<br /><br />You're at karaoke singing a spirited cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" and a music producer stands up and says, "You're amazing! I want to sign you to my label and make you a star."<br /><br />These harmless fantasies are just that: imaginary scenarios that we know won't happen but that give us momentary feelings of excitement and hope. Many fantasies involve becoming rich and famous without having to do much work.<br /><br />Another common fantasy is telling off an authority figure. When you were a child, you probably bit your lip when your parents scolded you. In high school, you probably imagined what it would be like to give that mean chemistry teacher a piece of your mind. And now that you're an adult, a bad boss can become the focus of your silent anger.<br /><br />Of course, you don't actually say what you're thinking because you could risk your job. So we decided to ask workers what bottled-up rants or even some tough but loving advice they have sitting on their tongues, waiting to be said to their bosses. Unsurprisingly, workers have plenty to say. Here are a few things workers would tell their bosses if they thought they'd be received kindly.<br /><br />Be a professional<br /><br />"He needs a crash course in saying 'no' or 'not right now' when it comes to promises to clients or myself (employees). He continuously bites off way more than he can chew and needs to make requests fall within a more realistic timeline. Stop promising what's difficult to deliver in the time frame given, state it can be done but will take longer than client believes. <br /><br />"Also, his consistent tardiness to meetings and discussions, especially those I've planned for him (since it affects me), is not only unprofessional, but reflects poorly on myself and the company. It's inconsiderate to other parties involved to be tardy even in personal settings, but that insult is magnified in the professional realm. If time equals money, you have cost them by your tardiness. <br /><br />"[And your] follow-up stinks to high heaven. I wouldn't care, except this directly affects my income and it aggravates me severely. My income level is dependent on your follow-up and it's been a big disappointment whenever I think of it." -- Kim<br /><br />Be careful<br /><br />"I did tell my boss what was on my mind and was fired. No regrets. <br /><br />"My boss promoted a team peer without considering the other team members' experiences, which were all negative. The peer which was promoted had [a romantic bias] towards another peer. In bringing this information forward, my boss remarked with, 'You are making me feel as though I was bamboozled.' I replied, 'I cannot and did not make you feel anything. I simply want you to know that you may have a potential lawsuit as a result of not checking your facts prior to a haphazard promotion.' Within a week, I was let go and given an eight-month severance package. The action that occurred continued with others over the next six months." -- Tina<br /><br />Be a boss people want to follow<br /><br />"Protect, back up and defend your workers." <br /><br />"Listen twice as much as you speak." <br /><br />"Do not always seek to find bad behavior to punish, but also seek good behavior to reward."<br /><br />"Promote within."<br /><br />"Encourage a work environment that is conducive to success."<br /><br />"Allow for failure." -- Michael Coritsidis<br /><br />Bing: What you should never say to your boss<br /><br />By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

What Does the Boss Need to Hear? - Things you'd get off your chest if there were no repercussions

You have an extra dollar in your pocket and decide to purchase a lottery ticket. That night, you watch the drawing and realize you've wo...

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Do You Know the Most Important Part of a Résumé? - It's All about the Summary

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/rr/ar5m6w76y3rtqs4xl8rr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/rr/ar5m6w76y3rtqs4xl8rr.gif" /></a></div>A tough job market means piles of applications for open positions, so it is no surprise that hiring managers are looking for ways to screen candidates quickly.<br /><br />"Recruiters typically devote only 10-15 seconds to read any résumé," says Wil Lemire, director of career services at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass. To make that precious time count, job seekers need to create concise, attention-grabbing profiles that make employers want to know more.<br /><br />Things to include<br /><br />"Some people refer to the professional summary as the résumé equivalent of a 30-second sales pitch or an elevator speech," says Carolyn Yencharis Corcoran, assistant director of the Insalaco Center for Career Development at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. "We recommend that our students take great care in writing this area, as it is yet another way for them to demonstrate their ability to communicate pointedly and efficiently and to exude professionalism by using industry-specific keywords in the proper context." <br /><br />Experts generally favor the profile being placed right under contact information at the top of a résumé. (This well-crafted skills summary also can prove useful as a networking intro or as part of an online profile.) Among the items candidates may wish to include are:<br /><br /><br /><br />Keywords that match those of the job description <br /><br />Hard skills (professional and technical experience) <br /><br />Soft skills (personal attributes) <br /><br />Advanced degrees <br /><br />Years of experience <br /><br />Interesting achievements <br /><br />Anything that sets one apart from other candidates <br /><br /><br /><br />"Like any other section of your résumé, the professional summary requires some self-reflection, time and attention," Corcoran says. To get the creative juices flowing, she suggests:<br /><br /><br /><br />Asking co-workers, family members, professors and friends what qualities they like most about you. <br /><br />Thinking about positive comments you've received from employers or teachers. <br /><br />Reflecting on awards received. <br /><br />Remembering instances where you handled an emergency, presented or taught something, made something more efficient or contributed to a change. <br /><br /><br /><br />Things to avoid<br /><br />Cynthia Favre, director of career management at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minn., offers this precaution when creating a summary: "Don't include things that most everyone can do (such as use the Internet or Word). It actually makes the candidate look like he doesn't have useful skills."<br /><br />Favre also cautions against using vague adjectives, such as "excellent" and "great." "Such words encourage the reader to compare the candidate with others. Take the phrase 'an excellent communicator.' Compared to whom? Barack Obama? Your college roommate? It is better to state the skills as factually as possible and let the reader determine if they are excellent and of value to him."<br /><br />Putting your best self forward<br /><br />While seasoned workers can use their skills summary to describe past job accomplishments, novice job seekers often worry that they will appear lacking. While it is inevitable that different candidates will bring different attributes to the table, the main thing is to focus on what you can contribute.<br /><br />"It's important that the job seeker know what the job requirements are in order to properly sort and rank his own knowledge, skills and abilities," Lemire says. "Recent graduates should use skills and knowledge gained from part-time and summer jobs, internships, classroom projects and activities on and off campus." <br /><br />Corcoran agrees that it is up to each individual to identify and present her own strengths. "While a seasoned worker will have more hands-on experience to include in a professional summary, new grads will want to highlight the things that set them apart -- such as possessing skills in the newest and latest technology, energy and drive, openness to multiple areas and an eagerness to learn."<br /><br />Remember that whether this is your first job or your tenth, you only have a bit of space to get yourself noticed. Choose your words carefully, and chances are an employer will want to hear more.<br /><br />By Beth Braccio Hering who researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

Do You Know the Most Important Part of a Résumé? - It's All about the Summary

A tough job market means piles of applications for open positions, so it is no surprise that hiring managers are looking for ways to screen ...

Read more »