Conduct the Interview without the Resume

Conduct the Interview without the ResumeConduct the Interview without the ResumeConduct the Interview without the Resume ConlanResumes are a handy way to quickly learn about a candidates experience and skills. But once a candidate gets in the door, its time to set the resume aside and focus on the person in front of you.Relying too much on a resume can turn an interview into an interrogation, says Matt Doucette, director of global talent acquisition at Monster.That approach doesnt work. It makes them uncomfortable and gives a bad candidate experience, he says. Instead, a behavioral interview thats resume-free is more likely to create a conversation and help you find the top talent you need to grow your business.Interviewing without a resume can be an adjustment, but the result can be worth it. Heres how to do it right.Explain Your DecisionIt can be a little disconcerting when job candidates realize youre conducting an interview without a resume, says Seth Matheson, director of Talent Fusion delivery RPO at Monster.com. Job candidates are used to seeing hiring managers reviewing the resume during the interview and looking for ideas to talk about. Going in without a resume looks like youre bedrngnis prepared, Matheson says.To put the candidate at ease, be open about why youre not working off their resume, Matheson says. The first thing I say is that I want to have a conversation, he says. Above all else, says Matheson, I need to be prepared about the questions I ask, because not prepping is a recipe for disaster, but I tell them I want them to be comfortable as we have a conversation during the interview.Look Forward, Not BackMany hiring managers use the resume as a conversation-starter for candidates to talk about their work history. But this puts the focus on what the candidates have done at other companies, rather than how they will solve your problems.When you think about hiring, youre trying to fill a gap you have in your team, Doucette says. Youre not hirin g for what they did at another company. Youre hiring them for their processes and the way they think throughout their career.To get a clearer idea of whether the candidate has what it takes, describe a problem, challenge or gap your company is facing and then let the candidate talk.Interviewers tend not to tell people this is the project youd be working on, and these are the outcomes I want, Doucette says. When you outline the role you need to fill at your organization, the conversation naturally moves toward how the candidate would use their skills and experiences to meet those needs.Focus on Behavioral QuestionsRemoving the resume from the interview process calls for behavioral questionsthat focus on the candidates judgement in certain situations. This approach gets at the details that resumes dont often cover, including how candidates approach their work and a more values-based interview strategy.Too often managers hire a candidate based on their resume or skills and often fire the employee for attitude or culture, says Rick Maher, a member of The Alternative Board, an zwischenstaatlich peer advisory board, and CEO of Effective Human Resources, an HR consulting firm in Port Jefferson, New York.Behavioral questions are more likely to spark a conversation that provides deeper insights into how they think and whats important to them. This will help the manager hire for company culturemore effectively, Maher says.Matheson says one of his favorite questions focuses on problem-solving If I asked you to tell me how many marketing firms were in this metropolitan area, how would you go about finding that out? This is behavioral, but also illustrates their analytical thought, he says. Its not could you or would you find out, but how.Another seeks to uncover a candidates ethics, Matheson says Say we work in a small office and a salesman comes in. Ive been trying to avoid him and I tell you I dont want to talk to him. What would you do? If the answer is Ill tell him y oure not here, the next question is What do you do if I come out and the salesman sees me? I allow them to dig their hole or come clean, Matheson says. How they handle the situation tells a lot about them.

How to Select a Resume File Name

How to Select a Resume File NameHow to Select a Resume File NameWhats the best file personenname to use for your resume or CV document when you save it to apply for jobs?When youre saving your resume, its important to select a file name for your resume that includes your own name. When you apply for jobs, hiring managers will know whose resume it is, and it will be easier for them to track your job application and share it with colleagues involved in the hiring process. If you email your resume to an employer, the document name will be the first thing he or she will see. Once the employer opens the document, the first thing he or she looks at is the heading. Thus, the title and document name are critical to getting your resume a second glance. How to Select a Resume File Name Dont name your resume resume.doc. There will be no way to distinguish it from all the other resumes with the saatkorn file name. Instead, use your name as the file name. The employer will know whose resume i t is at a glance, i.e., johndoeresume.doc or JohnDoeResume.docx, for example. Name your cover letter the same way, i.e., johndoecoverletter.doc or JobDoeCoverLetter.doc. Options for Saving Your Resume Unless an employer specifies otherwise, itsimportant to send or upload your resume as a PDF or a Word document. This way,the receiver will get a copy of your resume and cover letter in the original format. In many cases, the employer will tell you how they want to receive your resume so be sure to follow the instructions and provide what is requested. If you dont follow the instructions in the job posting, you may not be considered for the job. Before you save your resume, you may want to create a new file folder so all your job application materials are in one place. This will help you keep track of different versions of your resume, your cover letter, and when you have used them to apply for jobs. To save your resume as a Word document click on File, Save As, and type in the file name you are giving your resume i.e., JohnDoeResume.doc. Select the folder youve chosen to save it in. To save your documents as a PDF, depending on your word processing software program,you may be able to File, Print to Adobe PDF. If not, there are free programs you can use to convert a file to a PDF. Select a folder to save the PDF version of your resume in. If youre applying by email, follow these directions for attaching your documents to an email message. Tips for Choosing a Resume Name Don Fornes, CEO of Software Advice, shares his adviceon how to name your resume, how to save your resume, and other resume tips. Dont Name Your Resume Resume. About a third of applicants name their resume documents, resume.doc. Resume may make sense on your computer, where you know its your resume. However, on my computer, its one of many, many resumes with the same name. By using such a generic file name, the applicant misses a great opportunity to brand him or herself (e.g. John Doe - Quo ta Crusher). If youre qualified enough to sell or market for us, you wont miss the opportunity to at least use your name in the file name. You Dont Have to Use All Lower Case Im not sure where this trend originated. Is it some text messaging thing? Its so easy to capitalize properly on a keyboard, and its appropriate to do so. Proofread Your ResumeIts unbelievable the number of spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes I see in resumes. Again, this is a blaring clue telling the hiring manager that you dont check your work and you dont pay attention to detail. Heres a?checklist to use to proofread your resume. Save Your Resume as a PDF Not everyone uses the same operating system and word processor that you do. I use a Mac. I dont have Word - and I dont want it. My ATS cant handle .docx files. A lot of the resumes I see come through horribly garbled. So much for that nice formatting you did (Did you?).PDF, or portable document format, is a simple solution. Heres how to select a file format for your resume. Remember or jot down the schauplatz where you saved the document, so its easy to find it and attach it to an email message or upload. Its a good idea to create a new folder for all your job search correspondence. Another option is to email a copy to yourself, so you always have the latest version in your inbox.

Over 60% of workers have thought about quitting their jobs because of this reason

Over 60% of workers have thought about quitting their jobs because of this reasonOver 60% of workers have thought about quitting their jobs because of this reasonI dont know that its actually possible to achieve enduring job satisfaction. Career malaise is easier to identify in the corposatz world, but it permeates all industries, it just takes different forms. Paper pushers slump in their cubicles and start a stamp collection, while rock stars develop a coke habit and put out albums like Bridges to Babylonboth examples evidence a lack of drive and starvation for appreciation. There are also circumstantial factors donating to frequent reporting on job satisfaction. For one thing, the herd now entering their early thirties grew up in a time wherein college degrees were pitched as golden tickets. Get a degree in anything as soon as possible has finally reached its dead end. The other, less charitable factor, is the one about my generation-workforce millennials being the most voracious for approval. Ill grant that anecdotal evidence makes this a uniquely difficult charge to fight, but not without insisting that the root isnt necessarily narcissism and self-absorption. I dont think its a crime to welcome professional self-evaluations, many of which can only be properly addressed by requesting feedback from employers.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe key questionsIn a new CNBC/SurveyMonkey Workdistributions-mix Happiness Survey, a third of the 8,000 American working adults queried said that they considered quitting their job in the last three months. Sixty-seven percent of this demographic reported ruminating over this resolve because they feel undervalued. To be clear, a quarter meant this in terms of salary, while the remaining meant they would like more verbal demonstrations of appreciation for the work they do from their colleagues.Ninety percent of worke rs that havent given resignation a serious thought still lamented this lack of recognition this was a recurring theme in the new report. Workers that have considered quitting and those that havent (yet) still agreed on the key issues troubling their place of employment- a lack of mentorship availability, the perceived refusal to instruct staff on how to operate and or combat automation on behalf of their employers, and a frustrating hesitance evidenced by their bosses to validate their efforts. .Validation doesnt only have to be communicated via a moist, hand on the shoulder Atta boy sentiments, in fact, most find these affirmations to be condescending. Workers like to be alerted to their value in the form of increased opportunities within their firms, the younger the employee the fiercer the appetite. One in four respondents that belong to the Gen Z and millennial generation (age 1824) feel that opportunities to advance are the most important precursor to the longevity of their ten ure at a given company. Some autonomy must be allowed in the crawl space between positions, as salary isnt a strong enough incentive on its own to motivate workers to rise to the challenge. Telling employees precisely how and exactly how long it should take them to complete a task is to ignore the grit and grain of the bottom of the professional food chain-productivity will suffer and company morale will suffer. Seventy-one percent of workers that have considered quitting in the last months occasioned doing so by reason of lack of self-government within their position.Roughly 3.5 million U.S workers quit their jobs every month the unemployment rate being what it is, means the well of passionate competent workers of which to replace these with dries more and more every year.Brian Kropp, who is the vice president at research firmGartner, fully comprehends the power professional acknowledgment has in steadying a temporizing foot out the door, telling CNBC Make It, People didnt get prom oted in 2018. We saw a reluctance from companies to actually significantly promote people. Today, the average employee is at the same level for about four and a half years. Pre-global financial crisis, that was about two and a half years, so the average employee is at the same level roughly 50 percent longer than they were a decade-plus ago. And thats a sign that it wasnt a great year for employees.

Social Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on Them

Social Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on ThemSocial Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on ThemUpon the release of Clark Frey and Michael Osbornes research The Future of Employment How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerization in 2013, automation anxiety was at an all-time high. This research estimates that about 47 percent of total U.S. employment is at risk of being computerized within the next two decades. As social skills are difficult to automate, their importance will continue to increase.Although the jury is still out on whether robots will actually start taking over ur jobs, advances in artificial and deep-learning technology are exacerbating the concerns over the future of work. As technology continues to produce machines that complete increasingly complex tasks that were once safely reserved for humans, the question remains what jobs will be left for us? Making Yourself Hard to AutomateNo need to panic, because recent research by NBRE suggests that as long as you have great social skills, then youll likely avoid having your future opportunities taken away by artificial intelligence- mainly because social skills have been proven very difficult to automate. NBREs research shows that employment and age growth have been particularly strong in occupations with high cognitive and social skills. It argues that these high-skilled, hard-to-automate jobs will increasingly demand social adeptness. Having social skills is clearly important if youre looking for a position that will not be at risk of being automated in the future. So how exactly are we defining social skills and how can you build on them? Social skills are the skills we use to interact and communicate with our peers, both verbally and non-verbally. Below, lets take a look at some basic social skills that your next employer may be looking for, and how you can build on them. 3 Social Skills in a Job Search and How to Build on ThemConfidence in CommunicationThe ability to confidently commun icate and present information, whether in a small or large group setting, is a skill many employers value. Some people are naturally outgoing and able to present this confidence, but if you dont particularly feel you have this skill, try taking a speech or public speaking course. Youll likely feel out of your comfort zone, but these classes can help you learn how to present your ideas confidently, regardless of the setting.Good ListenerIf you ask someone in sales why they are great at their job, theyll likely tell you that theyre good listeners. And thats because they have to tune into the prospects cues, both verbal and non-verbal, in reservierung to truly understand what their needs are. Try this simple trick to see if youre a good listener the next time youre in a conversation with your peers, count how many times you interrupt the conversation. If youre constantly interrupting, its likely youre not really listening. Use this as a small stepping stone to build on your listening s kills. FlexibilityFlexibility may not really sound like a typical social skill, but in the workplace your ability to show you are flexible in various situations indicates youre a team player. In order to contribute to the cohesive structure thats so essential to successful teamwork, youll need to be outwardly flexible. Let your team know youre capable of lending your support to any situation, and by doing so, youll likely gain respect in your position. Be conscious of your ability to be flexible when others ask for your help. During an interview, describe various situations in which you displayed your flexibility- it will likely go a long way. This is just a small glance at the many social skills that one can utilize in their favor for a future position. And because the threat of job automation remains very real, working on these social skills could help you obtain a future position in the growing sector of jobs that require high social skills. Readers, do you use your social skills when conducting a job search? Share your tactics with us belowPGi has been a leading global provider of collaboration software and services for over 20 years. PGi is constantly innovating new technologies to help professionals do business outside the office, making virtual meetings easier and mora productive than ever before. Learn more at our blog, The Future of Business Collaboration.

Tech Support Resume Help!

Tech Support Resume Help All information provided ought to be considered fictional. To begin with, determine what information you wish to gather from the survey. When customers click a response, the total survey opens in an internet browser. For instance, it requires customers to click the hyperlink to supply feedback. fruchtwein Noticeable Tech Support Resume Support can be supplied in person, over the telephone or on the internet. It is essential that you adhere to the formats because theyre the normal ones which are used. The format of your resume can play a considerable portion of your very first impression. Heres What I Know About Tech Support Resume With the rising use of technology today, theres an increasing requirement to present technical support. Instead, technical support work can supply a firm foundation for careers in different fields which also involve extensive use of computers. Typically, the work description of technical support representatives also inv olves training individuals on the way to use technical merchandise and services. Technical support could be delivered by different technologies based on the circumstance. All of these list exactly the same tech abilities. Just strive to be perfectly average, and youll go far Im a tech support supervisor for quite a well-known computer company. Provided that their computer is on, you will be able to access it remotely. Technical and Analytical Skills naturally, you should know how computers and other relevant electronics work and the way to repair them. The Basics of Tech Support Resume To turn into a great customer care employee, you need to be able to demonstrate previous customer support experience and an established history of success in achieving sales targets and quotas. Just guarantee the organization will accept one. It will detail the hard skills they need. Most companies wish to find months, not just years especially in case you have some jumps or if youre currentl y unemployed (i.e. they wish to view how long youve been out). Lets look at a favorite work-from-home job advertisement from U-Haul. Again, its tough to assume precisely what each individual hiring manager is searching for in the ever-evolving tech business, but with just a little research on your end, youre set up to give it a pretty great shot. When you post work, put yourself in the ideal ort to acquire top talent. The piece you truly need the hiring manager reading is your latest work experience (and be sure you tailored that info to fit the work description). Utilizing a view to truly have an outstanding job which you ought to talk to the employer that youre prepared, ready, and in a position to acquire the task done. You will be back on the job hunt quickly in the event you take a job that you dont really want. Therefore, if youre actively searching for employment, its probably worth signing up for the completely free month. Locating a job isnt as simple as it once was . The Battle Over Tech Support Resume and How to Win It Besides being a convenient approach to work from house, field is well-known since it welcomes entry level and well-experienced applicants alike. It is very important to remember you need to only add skills that are pertinent to the position youre applying for. Accordingly, as a way to get hired by them, youre have to be a professional with extensive understanding of your area. The best method to catch a hiring managers attention, he stated, is to give something measurable. Confidence in ones skills is fantastic, but it doesnt mean that you can appear at an interview wearing your favourite housecoat and puppy-themed slippers and expect to get taken seriously. Although in the work interview it is not enough simply to list the skills, youve got to demonstrate how you use them, and the way they may be transferred to your new function. A better approach to showcase your skills is to produce an attempt to locate clever tactics to add them in the experience bullet points.

Details of Resume Writing Service Glendale

Details of Resume Writing Service Glendale Whether youre in the usa or UK, or any place in the Earth, just know we are always here online available for you, and we can help you write some of the greatest essays that will bring you good grades. Experts certified federal resume writing services by offering professional writers are likewise a premier federal resume. Below youll find a couple of lists on all the very best rated resume writing services we could find. Writing a federal resume means following federal resume guidelines to ensure hiring managers are ready to locate the precise details they want with only a quick glance. Finding Resume Writing Service Glendale All you have to do is consult with an expert customized essay writing service like ours that is guaranteed to submit all of your assigned work punctually. Because every work announcement will require a tailored resume, theres no federal resume writing guide that will supply you with surefire outcomes. At this crucial junction in life, you will need the most effective resume service readily available to acquire your new career began on the proper foot. New Questions About Resume Writing Service Glendale Federal hiring managers wish to know you can follow instructions until they consider your actual qualifications. Successful candidates are well qualified, but theyre also prepared. You may observe that every work announcement has an identical layout but distinct requirements for candidates. Whether a skilled professional or someone whos new to the workforce, they can help you achieve success. A group of experts advocating for you ur whole team is focused on your objectives, and is devoted to your success Retiring or separating from service in the military may be an exciting time, provided that you take the required steps to recognize a new career path that will result in a fulfilling future. Things You Wont Like About Resume Writing Service Glendale and Things You Will You will be able to continue to keep your USAJOBS federal resume in the system for any amount of time you require, together with the ability to create several versions for various applications. The USAJOBS application procedure is intended to weed out candidates who cant follow precise instructions. For a conventional federal resume, here are the minimal components that ought to be included. Tailored to help in the usajobs application procedure. If youre on the lookout for professional federal resume writing services you may trust to secure you the federal job youve always wanted, SES Resume Writers is precisely what you need. Your Job Search Goals We will understand your work search goals before the building of your resume. The premier federal job may be the top. Speak to us for a totally free consultation if you would like to know more or if you truly feel prepared to start on your high-quality federal job resume. With our specialized therapy, you are going to be in a place to ta p the complete potential of your professional network and make certain your profile on social networking channels matches the caliber of your resume. Next, you are going to give the company some information regarding your career and send a duplicate of your current resume, in case you have one. To the news paper or any type of press.

5 Red Flags to Look Out for in Job Descriptions

5 Red Flags to Look Out for in Job Descriptions5 Red Flags to Look Out for in Job Descriptions Lets face it Many of us are guilty of being job description skimmers. Once we see a title that were interested in, scan a few of the qualifications and check out the salary, we often want to apply as quickly as possible to get ahead of the competition.But doing so will only set you up for disappointment down the line. Either recruiters will ignore your application because youre not truly a fit, or worse - youll end up at a job thats not right for you.To avoid that hassle, its best to look out for subtle clues ahead of time. Fortunately, they can often be identified right from the very beginning within job descriptions themselves - here are a few key indicators to be mindful of.Job descriptions should always give job seekers a specific idea of what the role involves and what background and skills are required, so that job seekers can determine whether they are well -suited for the position.If the potential employer cant describe what a job entails, how will they operate as a manager? A vague job description should be a major red flag for job seekers, as it suggests an unfocused employer and a job that will lack structured goals, says Daniel Shoch, recruiter at RippleMatch .Nebulous job requirements may also signal that the opportunity is a scam .Scammers will list job requirements that are simple and easily qualify a large group of people. The requirements may be as simple as being 18 years old, a citizen and having internet access, without listing prerequisite years of experience or levels of education, explains Justin Lavelle, Chief Communications Officer of BeenVerified .While job seekers should be wary of insufficient requirements , they should also keep an eye out for job descriptions with too many requirements.Job descriptions with TONS of basic qualifications indicate that the employer truly has no clue what they are seeking, or wha t it actually takes to get the job done, says Jennifer Tardy, founder of Jennifer Tardy Consulting, LLC .This will either make it near-impossible to get through the screening process, or challenging to meet expectations if hired .Ideally, job descriptions should be a two-way street, describing not just a laundry list of what the company needs, but also how the role and company stand to benefit you.If the job spec only talks about what they expect from you and nothing about what they can offer in return, this is a definite red flag for a poor company culture that wont invest in you and your development, says Karly May Green, HR Manager at Builtvisible . A good job description should offer a balance of both and leave you in no doubt that this is a company in which you can grow, develop and be appreciated .A few pieces of company information to look out for in particular include mentions of competitive salaries, generous benefits and/or the companys mission and values.The old say ing, If its too good to be true, it probably is definitely applies to job listings, especially when companies mention earning potential instead of a concrete salary.Job descriptions that state an earning potential of a wide range (i.e., $45,000-$200,000) are jobs to STAY AWAY FROM. This almost always means that its commission-based, and youd expect to make the lower end of this range, but they want to entice applicants by putting six figures as a possibility on the listing, explains Val Streif of Pramp , a mock interview platform for job-seeking engineers, software developers and product managers. Much like a multi-level marketing scheme, very few (if any at all) of the people in this position are earning the top potential. fruchtwein make the lesser number.Commission-based jobs arent always a bad thing, but its something to be wary of when you first start - especially if they exaggerate your likely commission, Streif adds.Cleverly-disguised references to a companys poor work-life balance are rampant in job descriptions - for example, its common for a job description to list flexibility as a helpful trait, but if flexibility is over-emphasized in a description through repeated references to qualities like able to change directions quickly, able to work independently immediately or agile or nimble, it may be a sign of chaos in the workplace, says Amy M. Gardner, Certified Career and Career Transitions Coach with Apochromatik .Another sketchy phrase? Must be willing to wear multiple hats or must be able to handle highly stressful environments.These can be indicators that the company is short-staffed and doesnt value work/life blend, says Kyle Elliott, founder and career coach behind CaffeinatedKyle.com .Moral of the story? Pay close attention to those job descriptions. You dont have to thoroughly inspect every single job post with the right title, but if theres a position youre seriously considering applying to, its well worth taking the time to read the description through in its entirety. Remember A few minutes of extra effort today could pay off in spades down the road.

The Race for Space Weapons Speeds Up

The Race for Space Weapons Speeds Up The Race for Space Weapons Speeds Up The Race for Space Weapons Speeds UpOn March 27, 2019, India tested an antisatellite weapon by destroying one of its own satellites. While a similar Chinese test in 2007 sparked widespread protests, the Indian exercise seems to have largely escaped front-page headlines.Yet observers believe its aftermath will be debated for years to come and may eventually concern people who never think about such things. This is not just because it created a rapidly moving cloud of space junk that could threaten commercial satellites and ISS astronauts. Instead, they see it as another disturbing escalation in the slow advance toward war in space.Despite the popular belief that space is peaceful, the military has always played a role in its exploration. The first rocket to breach the 100-kilometer-high Karman Line, which defines the beginning of outer space, was a German military V2 fired in 1944. The first satellite, Sputnik, soared into orbit atop a modified Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in 1957.NASA, founded one year later, established Americas space program as strictly civilian. Still, the military went along for the ride. Its officers piloted fruchtwein Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spacecraft, which its rockets boosted into space. Behind the scenes, the Pentagon planned its own secret space missions, coordinated by an agency later renamed DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).Yet space remained free of actual weapons during the Cold War. While military surveillance devices existed, most satellites were instruments of national prestige or scientific curiosity. With the United States and Soviet Unionthe only nations with spaceflight capabilityalready confronting each other with nuclear-tipped ICBMs, extending arms into space seemed superfluous.Today, however, space is far mora crowded and more economically and militarily valuable. It is filled with vast constellations of s atellites that link together communications and computer networks, monitor weather, search for natural resources, and provide GPS data for smartphones and navigation aids. There are also many more military satellites.Nor is space the dominion of just two powers. More and more countriesand private corporationshave developed launch capabilities. Today, even a private company in Thailand can aspire to launch its own satellite aboard a 3D-printed rocket.Editors Pick Top 10 Space Missions Set to Explore New FrontiersThe space environment has become increasingly congested, competitive and contested, Frank Rose, a senior fellow for security and strategy at the Brookings Institution and former assistant secretary of state for arms control, explained to Congress in March 2019.That means more diverging objectives, opposing interests, and even open conflicts. This is especially true when modern militaries depend on satellites to communicate with remote forces and target drone and smart bomb st rikes. Defending that capabilityand knocking out the military networks other nations depend uponbecomes essential.War has not yet invaded space, but it could. The X-37B is a reusable space plane operated by the U.S. Air Force. Image NASA/MSFC Dual Use From the abflug, the military rationale for space weapons was to control the high ground and shoot down enemies. Such an attack, generals and politicians argued, would be impossible to stop.While such post-Sputnik ravings about missile gaps and Soviet satellites raining down H-bombs may have frightened voters, experts knew it was hogwash. As engineers perfected ICBMs, it became cheaper and far easier to attack another countrys territory from the ground instead of from space.Space-based weapons fare poorly when compared with other long-sortiment means of attacking ground targets, a 2005 study by the American Academy of Arts Sciences concluded.Yet as space began to fill with militarily (and economically) valuable missiles and satellites, militaries around the world pondered how to attack them from the ground and in space.Both the United States and the Soviet Union have planned, tested, and even partially deployed various types of antiballistic missiles (ABM) and anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon systems for decades.These range from ground-based missiles to rocket interceptors fired from high-altitude aircraft and space-based nuclear weapons. At first glance, an antiballistic missile, like the U.S. SM-3 deployed against North Korea, seems an unlikely weapon to take out satellites. It is designed to destroy an incoming ICBM by crashing into it.The same missile could also target some satellites, as the United States has already proved in tests. In fact, it is much easier to hit a satellite, which follows a known and predictable orbit, than a missile whose trajectory must be computed in real time.Missile defense interceptors make excellent antisatellite weapons, at least hit-to-kill ones do, said Jeffrey Lew is of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.This functional dichotomy causes enormous practical, political, and military complications. An antiballistic missile is defensive by definition, used only against incoming ICBMs. But an anti-satellite weapon is primarily offensive when used to attack an enemys satellite. If the same system can defend and attack, how can a potential adversary gauge your intentions? Due to the dual-use nature of many space technologies, even benign space capabilities can be viewed by others as counter-space weapons, a 2018 report from the Center for Strategic International Studies noted.Indeed, one does not even need an actual antiballistic missile to take out satellites.If youre a nation that has the capability of routinely launching satellites, then you also have the ability to destroy satellites, said Ted Postol, an MIT emeritus prof of physics and former Pentagon nuclear security expert.While antiballistic missiles attack by direct assent , launching from ground or near ground-level into space, antisatellite weapons can strike by co-orbiting, which is sneakier and, in some ways, simpler.The problem with direct ascent is you have to be able to see your target at significant range and line yourself up to hit it, Postol explained. When you co-orbit, you can just sort of cozy up to your target. You dont have the problem with acquiring your target and precisely positioning yourself until you get close to it.A co-orbiting ASAT simply moves in and either hits the target or explodes next to it.Beam WeaponsBoth antiballistic missiles and co-orbiting antisatellite weapons use kinetic attacks that apply physical force to disable or destroy a satellite. They are far from the only options in the counter-space arsenal.Nonkinetic approaches were studied intensively since the early 1960s and then revived during President Ronald Reagans Strategic Defense Initiative in the 1980s. They seek to disable or destroy vital components or sen sors with lasers, particle beams, or high-powered microwaves, either from space or ground stations. Such methods are difficult, expensive, and require great amounts of power, but the United States and other nations have tested them.A more subtleand perhaps more deniablenonkinetic approach might involve electronic warfare. This might range from such time-honored techniques as jamming or spoofing an adversarys satellite communications to cyberwarfare that targets computer systems that control satellites or process their data.Recommended for You Help Wanted Aerospace Engineering JobsNonkinetic weapons also avoid den augapfel betreffend debris. The 2007 Chinese test, for example, produced a rapidly moving cloud of thousands of razor-sharp fragments in a highly-traveled high orbital zone. Those fragments will remain in orbit for decades before decaying and burning up in Earths atmosphere. The Indian government claims its recent test created less debris in a lower orbit that will burn up faster, but it is still high enough to possibly threaten the International Space Station and its crew.Even random orbital debris created unintentionally from decades of space activities is a danger, especially with no available means of cleaning it all up. Intentionally adding to it with kinetic weapons would only make the situation worse and endanger an aggressors own satellites. Military and commercial surveillance satellites, such as the WorldView-4, make potential targets for space weapons. Image Lockheed Martin So far, only the United States, Russia, China, and now India have demonstrated any sort of viable anti-satellite capabilities. The United States maintains a firmbut by no means unchallengedtechnological lead, thanks to its commanding advantage in sensors to detect, acquire, and home in on targets, MITs Postol said.Take, for example, light sensors. Antisatellite systems that rely on visible light cannot attack in the dark, a big problem when satellites spen d half their time in Earths shadow. U.S. engineers have developed mercury-cadmium-telluride arrays and other advanced devices, which they can tune precisely to detect specific infrared wavelengths.Its very closely guarded technology that allows you to home in at long range with an interceptor, Postol said. You cant use radar because you cant put a giant radar on top of a small interceptor. So it must be something like an infrared homing device.Such technologies no doubt fuel U.S. military dreams of space superiority or counter-space dominance. Judging by their own publications and statements, Russian and Chinese strategists clearly share such reveries. Nascent space powers like India and North Korea may do so as well. Yet technology advantages often prove fleeting. After all, the U.S. military once had an exclusive hold on atomic weapons, jet aircraft, ICBMs, semiconductors, cyberwarfare, and artificial intelligence. It may still lead in those fields, but it is clearly no longer alo ne.Besides, space, by its very nature, will be hard to transform into just another theater of military operations.The most important thing to keep in mind about space is that its a commons, said Martin Nonproliferation Centers Lewis. Space, he explained, is a shared domain. Land can be fenced in and guarded and shorelines, sea lanes, and airspace patrolled. But space has no natural boundaries or regions that can be marked off and claimed by anyone. Any orbiting object can move anywhere. The space debris issue underscores this commonality and the need for a common approach.We need the cooperation of all spacefaring countries to reduce the amount of debris and to help mitigate it, Lewis said. The biggest threat to satellites right now is getting hit by a piece of debris. We cant use threats of force to deter countries from creating debris, we actually have to actively engage with them.The commons of space also creates another show-stopper Theres no place to hide.Satellites are easy to attack, Postol said. Theyre in known orbits, so acquiring them with a visible light sensor is doable, although you may have to be restricted when you can attack them.But to defend them is essentially not possible for all practical purposes. The obvious ways you defend things is to use armor, which is not viable because it costs so much to lift anything into space, Postol said.Nor is it easy to evade an attack If you have a satellite thats important, its lifetime in space is usually determined by the fuel it carries, Postol said. You need propellant to keep an orbit from decaying. And if you have to expend that propellant trying to evade attacking interceptors, your satellite is going to become useless very fast.Even the United States, which boasts the worlds most sophisticated space surveillance and tracking capabilities, cannot get around such problems.The U.S. has the advantage of the best sensors that modern engineering can produce, which work near the limits of what science say s can happen, Postol said. We also have a lot of allies who let us put facilities on their soil so we can track things. We get to look at things from all different locations, using different kinds of sensors. So were in a much better position to know were under attack if things get bad. But we cant do much about it.The Union of Concerned Scientists agrees. As it observed, No foreseeable space-based technologies would allow one country to prevent another from deploying space weapons or would allow it to reliably protect its satellites.CooperationThats why Postol claims anyone with two neurons to rub together would support the international effort to make space a sanctuary against weapons.In fact, efforts to keep space a weapons-free zone dates back to the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. Among other things, it prohibited weapons of mass destruction and the establishment of military bases in space or on any celestial body.Yetperhaps because there were so few orbital targets in 1967the trea ty permitted conventional weapons, such as antisatellite weapons. Subsequent arms control treaties, such as SALT and START, forbade interference with surveillance satellites used for treaty verification, but did not cover communications and global positioning satellites.Plugging such loopholes will require new diplomatic efforts to address space infrastructure issues that barely existed decades ago. New treaties may limit space weapons, but they will also have to improve international cooperation.When people start the conversation about protecting space assets by assuming that the main threat is someone attacking them, theyre missing 90 percent of the problem, Lewis said.There are all kinds of real challengesallocating slots for communications satellites in geostationary orbit, deconflicting frequencies so that they dont inadvertently jam one another, and mitigating debristhat require cooperation.Postol argues that any agreement could be verified The United States is certainly in a position to provide the data. You can have a treaty regime that is very solid and all of the countries involved have a big incentive to follow it.Yet todays international climate seems less welcoming for intensive diplomatic negotiations and new international treaties. Some organizations, such as the Stimson Center and the Union of Concerned Scientists, have drafted codes of conduct and proposals for spacefaring nations to avoid space conflict. Even if nations adopt them, they do not carry the same force as a binding treaty.As the technologies of space warfare continue to become ever more sophisticated, the Earth seems trapped in a slow spiral of escalation toward open conflict in space. In some ways, it seems like a rerun of the Cold War, but with more players and less predictability. In this realm of move and countermove, Indias recent antisatellite exercise is merely the latest symptom.We need to do everything we can to reduce the fear that were going to use these weapons against other countries satellites, because that fear is whats generating a reaction, Postol asserted. This is nuclear deterrence without the nuclear weapons.Mark Wolverton is a freelance science writer and author of Burning the Sky Operation Argus and the Untold Story of the Cold War Nuclear Tests in Outer Space.You May Like Navy Sails into Supply Chain with Metal 3D Printing

Tim Cook Says Youll Never Feel Ready, But Its OK - The Muse

Tim Cook Says Youll Never Feel Ready, But Its OK - The MuseTim Cook Says Youll Never Feel Ready, But Its OK Tim Cook stands at the helm of one of the largest and most valuable public companies in the world. Hes been the CEO of Apple for nearly eight years, but he didnt feel ready for the job when he took it on, he told the class of 2019 at Stanford University on Sunday, June 16, and thats to be expected.Your mentors may leave you prepared, but they cant leave you ready, he told graduates. Its a lesson he learned firsthand when he took the reins from his predecessor, Steve Jobs, just weeks before Jobs died. By then Cook had already put in more than a decade at the company, with six of them spent as COO, but the transition was nevertheless a difficult one. When Steve got sick, I had hardwired my thinking to the belief that he would get better. I not only thought he would hold on, I was convinced down to my core that hed still be guiding Apple long after I myself was gone, Cook said. Wh en he was gone, truly gone, I learned the real visceral difference between preparation and readiness. It was the loneliest Ive ever felt in my life by an order of magnitude.People were watching and their expectations were high. Cook could sense as much. When the dust settled, all I knew was that I was going to have to be the best version of myself that I could be, he said. He also knew, however, that if you got out of bed every morning and set your watch by what other people expect or demand itll drive you crazy.Its only fitting that this was a lesson that came from Jobs, who famously told Stanfords class of 2005 that your time is limited, so dont waste it living someone elses life. Standing in the same spot 14 years later, Cook paid homage to his own mentor, who left him prepared but not ready, yet certain that he should forge his own path instead of hewing to others expectations or blindly emulating those who came before him.Here was a giant in the world of business and technology admitting to the world how daunting it was to take on that role and reminding everyone else how normal it is to feel that way. No matter what field youre in or what next step youre embarking on, moving up is not only exciting, but also intimidating. Your bosses and mentors can teach and guide you, but then its your job to learn from your own experiences and develop your own way forward. Graduates, the fact is when your time comes- and it will- youll never be ready. But youre not supposed to be, Cook said. Find the hope in the unexpected. Find the courage in the challenge. Find your vision on the solitary road.He urged people to spend their time creating and building in service of some greater cause they believe in. That, presumably, is what will help guide you even when youre not aya youre ready for what lies ahead- and help you face the challenge with integrity. While Cooks speech offered comfort and encouragement for anyone figuring out their path, it also came with a warning. To o many seem to think that good intentions excuse away harmful outcomes, but whether you like it or not, what you build and what you create define who you are, he said. If you want to take credit, first learn to take responsibility. In other words, fear is natural, but that doesnt mean you can be careless. So when you dont feel ready, remember that even a famous CEO felt that way too. His advice? Let yourself chart your own course, have the courage to think things through, and take responsibility as readily as you take credit.