It happens to the best of us. You hit a bump in the rocky road of your career and find yourself out of work for longer than you’d like.
Being out of work for an extended period of time does more damage than just a gap in your resume. It affects your self esteem, how you view yourself, and what you believe you can bring to the table.
Everyone has doubts at some point in their career; this is your time. Know that you can and will get past this bump.
So How Do You Bounce Back? Follow These 5 Steps Below.
1. Remind Yourself That This Is A Moment In Time.
Your career runs for multiple decades. That’s a long period of time. What this means is sooner or later a setback will happen in your career. It’s just the way things happen. All cycles have up’s and down’s and this is your down. The good news is it’s all up from here. Remind yourself that a job will be there, and is waiting for you, right around the corner.
2. Reacquaint Yourself With Your Accomplishments.
When was the last time you looked at your resume? And when you do, does it seem like your accomplishments were achieved by someone else? Just because you have not performed a function in a while doesn’t mean you can’t perform it anymore. It’s like riding a bicycle; you never forget how. Spend quality time with your resume. Read the bullets slowly. Remember the projects you worked on and the people you worked with to obtain these results. Remind yourself that these are your accomplishments, which are something to be proud of. Just because it’s been a while, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
3. Create In Your Mind What You Want To Happen Next.
I believe that people get stuck in the day-to-day doldrums of life when they don’t have something to look forward to. You may not know when your next job is coming, but you can get ready for it. Ask yourself what you want next. Where do you want to work? What location? What type of people? How much do you want to be making? When you can see what you want, clearly and powerfully, you can get it. I find that when people are out of work for a while, they can’t see themselves in their jobs anymore. The amount of time that has passed only matters to you. Visualize what you want so you can get back to work again quickly.
4. Don’t Give Up.
Most people don’t take discouragement well. When they first lost their jobs, they had vigor and excitement. They got up everyday and had people to call and job search related activities to work on. Over time, the momentum and activities diminished. That caused them to stop or slow down. Don’t let this happen to you. You only need one job and one person to give it to you. The work you put in now will bring results; you just haven’t seen them yet. A job search is not an instant gratification pursuit. It’s a process that brings results over time, on its timetable and not yours. So, you have to keep going.
5. Believe In Yourself.
Most of the time, we are our own worst enemy. We tell ourselves why something cannot be done before someone tells it to us first. This approach keeps you safe from rejection and failure, but it also holds you back. This economy may be forcing you to get out of your comfort zone and into new territory, all great for your personal growth. (Even though it does not feel so great most of the time.) Many people who come to me want to be challenged in their career. It’s what’s missing in their jobs and their lives. Well, this is your challenge. Will you rise to the occasion or let it get the best of you? You already have a track record of achieving great things. This will be another one to add to your list.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
Deborah Brown-Volkman is a successful career coach and mentor working with Senior Executives, Vice Presidents, and Managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seek to become more productive in their current role. Her articles are regularly published on EmploymentCrossing. To read more such career articles, please visit EmploymentCrossing.com.
Being out of work for an extended period of time does more damage than just a gap in your resume. It affects your self esteem, how you view yourself, and what you believe you can bring to the table.
Everyone has doubts at some point in their career; this is your time. Know that you can and will get past this bump.
So How Do You Bounce Back? Follow These 5 Steps Below.
1. Remind Yourself That This Is A Moment In Time.
Your career runs for multiple decades. That’s a long period of time. What this means is sooner or later a setback will happen in your career. It’s just the way things happen. All cycles have up’s and down’s and this is your down. The good news is it’s all up from here. Remind yourself that a job will be there, and is waiting for you, right around the corner.
2. Reacquaint Yourself With Your Accomplishments.
When was the last time you looked at your resume? And when you do, does it seem like your accomplishments were achieved by someone else? Just because you have not performed a function in a while doesn’t mean you can’t perform it anymore. It’s like riding a bicycle; you never forget how. Spend quality time with your resume. Read the bullets slowly. Remember the projects you worked on and the people you worked with to obtain these results. Remind yourself that these are your accomplishments, which are something to be proud of. Just because it’s been a while, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
3. Create In Your Mind What You Want To Happen Next.
I believe that people get stuck in the day-to-day doldrums of life when they don’t have something to look forward to. You may not know when your next job is coming, but you can get ready for it. Ask yourself what you want next. Where do you want to work? What location? What type of people? How much do you want to be making? When you can see what you want, clearly and powerfully, you can get it. I find that when people are out of work for a while, they can’t see themselves in their jobs anymore. The amount of time that has passed only matters to you. Visualize what you want so you can get back to work again quickly.
4. Don’t Give Up.
Most people don’t take discouragement well. When they first lost their jobs, they had vigor and excitement. They got up everyday and had people to call and job search related activities to work on. Over time, the momentum and activities diminished. That caused them to stop or slow down. Don’t let this happen to you. You only need one job and one person to give it to you. The work you put in now will bring results; you just haven’t seen them yet. A job search is not an instant gratification pursuit. It’s a process that brings results over time, on its timetable and not yours. So, you have to keep going.
5. Believe In Yourself.
Most of the time, we are our own worst enemy. We tell ourselves why something cannot be done before someone tells it to us first. This approach keeps you safe from rejection and failure, but it also holds you back. This economy may be forcing you to get out of your comfort zone and into new territory, all great for your personal growth. (Even though it does not feel so great most of the time.) Many people who come to me want to be challenged in their career. It’s what’s missing in their jobs and their lives. Well, this is your challenge. Will you rise to the occasion or let it get the best of you? You already have a track record of achieving great things. This will be another one to add to your list.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
Deborah Brown-Volkman is a successful career coach and mentor working with Senior Executives, Vice Presidents, and Managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seek to become more productive in their current role. Her articles are regularly published on EmploymentCrossing. To read more such career articles, please visit EmploymentCrossing.com.
Labels: economy, job seeker, openings
Friday, January 29, 2010
Advice: Maintaining Recruiter Relationships
By Alina Dizik, Wall Street Journal
Having good relationships with recruiters can make it easier to find a new role. But keeping in touch with a busy recruiter can be difficult. To continue the relationship, it’s important to convey the value of your experience, say experts.
“It needs to be a win-win relationship from beginning to end,” explains Jason Hersh, managing partner of recruiting firm Klein Hersh International, a member firm of the MRINetwork.
Here, Mr. Hersh gives advice on maintaining recruiter relationships.
How can a candidate begin to build a relationship with an executive recruiter?
Just like approaching an employer, make sure that you aren’t blindly sending resumes to recruiters who don’t work with candidates in your field. Unlike employers, recruiters often share resumes with each other, and a poor approach to a recruiter could have repercussions far beyond just that one submission. Candidates should do some due diligence to find executive recruiters that specialize directly in the industry and/or discipline that he or she currently works in. When a recruiter who specializes in your industry calls, there should be an open conversation regarding insight and referrals, even if the executive isn’t actively looking in the marketplace.
What common mistakes do candidates make when trying to build a relationship with a recruiter?
Sometimes candidates’ expectations on timing can be misaligned, especially if the recruiter doesn’t specialize in their industry or discipline. While you are working closer with a recruiter than you would a hiring manager, don’t cross the line. Don’t contact them just for an update; make sure you have more to contribute to the job search as well.
How important is the rapport that a senior-level job hunter builds with a recruiter?
One primary advantage you have from working with a search consultant is that you will have the opportunity to be more open and honest about your situation and seek advice for how to present it to employers. A recruiter will be able to help you better explain touchy subjects, like being laid off, leaving a job or extended unemployment.
What are some ways that candidates should continue to be on a recruiter’s radar without being bothersome?
Once there is an expectation that the recruiter and candidate can be a resource for each other, an email or a phone call on a monthly basis while actively searching is a good way to stay on the radar. When something important happens in a candidate’s career—especially if they are employed—like receiving a promotion or industry award, passing on that information is a great way to keep in touch with a recruiter.
What can candidates do to be a good resource for recruiters?
When candidates hear about opportunities in the marketplace, they should run these positions by their search consultant first prior to sending [materials] directly into the company. This will give the search consultant (who most likely will have a relationship with the company) an opportunity to qualify and capture insight and share detailed information and feedback with the candidate.
Having good relationships with recruiters can make it easier to find a new role. But keeping in touch with a busy recruiter can be difficult. To continue the relationship, it’s important to convey the value of your experience, say experts.
“It needs to be a win-win relationship from beginning to end,” explains Jason Hersh, managing partner of recruiting firm Klein Hersh International, a member firm of the MRINetwork.
Here, Mr. Hersh gives advice on maintaining recruiter relationships.
How can a candidate begin to build a relationship with an executive recruiter?
Just like approaching an employer, make sure that you aren’t blindly sending resumes to recruiters who don’t work with candidates in your field. Unlike employers, recruiters often share resumes with each other, and a poor approach to a recruiter could have repercussions far beyond just that one submission. Candidates should do some due diligence to find executive recruiters that specialize directly in the industry and/or discipline that he or she currently works in. When a recruiter who specializes in your industry calls, there should be an open conversation regarding insight and referrals, even if the executive isn’t actively looking in the marketplace.
What common mistakes do candidates make when trying to build a relationship with a recruiter?
Sometimes candidates’ expectations on timing can be misaligned, especially if the recruiter doesn’t specialize in their industry or discipline. While you are working closer with a recruiter than you would a hiring manager, don’t cross the line. Don’t contact them just for an update; make sure you have more to contribute to the job search as well.
How important is the rapport that a senior-level job hunter builds with a recruiter?
One primary advantage you have from working with a search consultant is that you will have the opportunity to be more open and honest about your situation and seek advice for how to present it to employers. A recruiter will be able to help you better explain touchy subjects, like being laid off, leaving a job or extended unemployment.
What are some ways that candidates should continue to be on a recruiter’s radar without being bothersome?
Once there is an expectation that the recruiter and candidate can be a resource for each other, an email or a phone call on a monthly basis while actively searching is a good way to stay on the radar. When something important happens in a candidate’s career—especially if they are employed—like receiving a promotion or industry award, passing on that information is a great way to keep in touch with a recruiter.
What can candidates do to be a good resource for recruiters?
When candidates hear about opportunities in the marketplace, they should run these positions by their search consultant first prior to sending [materials] directly into the company. This will give the search consultant (who most likely will have a relationship with the company) an opportunity to qualify and capture insight and share detailed information and feedback with the candidate.
Labels: fluid power recruiter, job seeker
Thursday, January 28, 2010
How to Send Your Resume Using Today's Technology
Sending Your Resume Via E-Mail the Right Way
When submitting your resume to a company for employment consideration, it’s become almost a rule to do so over the Internet. Many companies use software and other electronic methods to evaluate some resumes, and as such they’ll refuse resumes received via any other method.
So now that you know that you will very likely continue to be required to submit your resume online, it’s a good idea to learn how to do so the right way. Here are a few tips to consider:
Attachments
There is a little bit of a debate going on about whether you should add the resume as an attachment when submitting it or placing it in the body of the e-mail. Some say that attachments aren’t a good idea, as they take up space in the employer’s inbox and may possibly contain viruses. It’s also worthwhile to consider that a company’s email security might block the message, or the hiring manager might avoid the message altogether if he doesn’t want to take the time to open it.
On the other hand, depending on what e-mail program you’re using (and the employer is using) cutting and pasting your resume into the body of an email could look ill-formatted. Spacing could be weird – and worse, the fonts you worked so hard to choose could change. It is for this reason that many pros suggest doing both. This method pleases those who dislike plain text formatting as well as those hiring managers who detest opening attachments. You should consider using the PDF format for your attached resume, since it’s very clean, it looks clear and concise, and PDFs can’t be changed after they’re created.
If You Are Cutting and Pasting…
If you’ve decided that you want to go ahead and paste your resume into the body of an e-mail, it’s good to consider a few rules of cutting and pasting. First, remember to add a brief introduction of yourself, something that would do the job of a cover letter. You should also limit your introduction to two paragraphs or less, and limit each paragraph to two or three sentences.
Third, use text for the e-mail instead of HTML. Word processing programs can wreak havoc with the layout of your resume text when you use copy and paste, as pointed out earlier. If you don’t know how to change your emails into simple text, try writing your resume out in a text only program like Notepad (under Accessories on the Windows menu) and then copying and pasting into your email. You’ll have to offset text with special characters (for instance, ====Introduction====) or use capitals in order to differentiate between sections, since plain text removes formatting like bold or italics.
Avoiding Spam Folders
As mentioned previously, your resume can sometimes get lost in a company’s security efforts. So to help you avoid spam folders and other issues, you could consider keeping punctuation (especially exclamation marks) out of the subject line and avoiding any other words that might be misinterpreted as something inappropriate by spam folders.
The last thing that you want is to create the perfect resume only to not have it reach its destination appropriately. It doesn’t make sense to spend hours and hours on your resume, only to submit it incorrectly via email and ruin your chances of getting a job, so be sure to consider the above tips before clicking that send button.
Article written by Heather Eagar. Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Review resume services and choose the best one for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com
Sending Your Resume Via E-Mail the Right Way
When submitting your resume to a company for employment consideration, it’s become almost a rule to do so over the Internet. Many companies use software and other electronic methods to evaluate some resumes, and as such they’ll refuse resumes received via any other method.
So now that you know that you will very likely continue to be required to submit your resume online, it’s a good idea to learn how to do so the right way. Here are a few tips to consider:
Attachments
There is a little bit of a debate going on about whether you should add the resume as an attachment when submitting it or placing it in the body of the e-mail. Some say that attachments aren’t a good idea, as they take up space in the employer’s inbox and may possibly contain viruses. It’s also worthwhile to consider that a company’s email security might block the message, or the hiring manager might avoid the message altogether if he doesn’t want to take the time to open it.
On the other hand, depending on what e-mail program you’re using (and the employer is using) cutting and pasting your resume into the body of an email could look ill-formatted. Spacing could be weird – and worse, the fonts you worked so hard to choose could change. It is for this reason that many pros suggest doing both. This method pleases those who dislike plain text formatting as well as those hiring managers who detest opening attachments. You should consider using the PDF format for your attached resume, since it’s very clean, it looks clear and concise, and PDFs can’t be changed after they’re created.
If You Are Cutting and Pasting…
If you’ve decided that you want to go ahead and paste your resume into the body of an e-mail, it’s good to consider a few rules of cutting and pasting. First, remember to add a brief introduction of yourself, something that would do the job of a cover letter. You should also limit your introduction to two paragraphs or less, and limit each paragraph to two or three sentences.
Third, use text for the e-mail instead of HTML. Word processing programs can wreak havoc with the layout of your resume text when you use copy and paste, as pointed out earlier. If you don’t know how to change your emails into simple text, try writing your resume out in a text only program like Notepad (under Accessories on the Windows menu) and then copying and pasting into your email. You’ll have to offset text with special characters (for instance, ====Introduction====) or use capitals in order to differentiate between sections, since plain text removes formatting like bold or italics.
Avoiding Spam Folders
As mentioned previously, your resume can sometimes get lost in a company’s security efforts. So to help you avoid spam folders and other issues, you could consider keeping punctuation (especially exclamation marks) out of the subject line and avoiding any other words that might be misinterpreted as something inappropriate by spam folders.
The last thing that you want is to create the perfect resume only to not have it reach its destination appropriately. It doesn’t make sense to spend hours and hours on your resume, only to submit it incorrectly via email and ruin your chances of getting a job, so be sure to consider the above tips before clicking that send button.
Article written by Heather Eagar. Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Review resume services and choose the best one for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com
Labels: job seeker, resume
Monday, January 25, 2010
Hydraulic Hybrids Continue to Shine for 2010
Hydraulic Hybrid Systems refocuses on core technology
By Tom Hacker
Loveland Reporter-Herald
By Tom Hacker
Loveland Reporter-Herald
Denver International Airport’s fleet of 200-plus light-duty trucks, used for everything from plowing snow to maintaining runway lights, burned through about $1.3 million worth of gasoline and diesel fuel last year.
Everybody connected with the airport, from the guy who manages the fleet to Mayor John Hickenlooper, would like to see that number come down. So, they’ve turned to Loveland company Hydraulic Hybrid Systems for a solution that eventually could cut fuel use by as much as 40 percent.
A forerunner in the “other” hybrid vehicle technology — hydraulic, instead of electric as exemplified by the Toyota Prius — HHS is angling for a slice of the market made up of 6 million light-duty trucks in the United States alone.
What they offer is a hydraulic propulsion system that, when paired with a standard diesel or gasoline engine, can reduce fuel use by 40 percent and emissions by half.
“It’s something that everybody’s been waiting for, and nobody’s done it,” DIA fleet manager Bernie Maez said. “They’re really going to shine when they get done with their product.”
HHS is the relatively new subsidiary of Lightning Hybrids Inc., the company that burst upon Loveland’s business scene in 2008 with plans to produce a 100-mile-per-gallon, high-performance sports car.
The new company is focused not on building a sexy new car, but on developing the technology that powers it for use in more mundane fleet vehicles.
That technology is at once elegantly simple and infinitely complex.
First, the simplicity: The system stores energy used in braking in high-pressure tanks, built to contain 5,000 pounds per square inch, then releases that power to a hydraulic motor that propels the vehicle during acceleration.
The second key ingredient that HHS engineers are perfecting is more complicated. It’s the computerized controller that senses the most efficient way to balance power between the hydraulic and conventional engines.
HHS and Lightning Hybrids founders Dan Johnson and Tim Reeser last fall decided to shelve the sports car plan in favor of perfecting the hydraulic hybrid technology, a business decision driven by harsh reality.
“The crux of it was that it was going to cost $4 million to produce the car,” Reeser said. “We couldn’t raise that. But it’s not just us. NASCAR’s not getting their sponsors, either,” he added, referring to the nation’s premier stock-car racing organization.
Eyes Off the Prize
Abandoning the Lightning project, at least for now, also meant dropping out of the quest for the Progressive Insurance “X Prize,” a goal that the founders announced when Lightning Hybrid first emerged.
The insurance company’s global competition to produce the most efficient and highest-performance 100-mile-per-gallon vehicle will award $10 million to the winner.
A 23-page business plan that HHS revised this month serves as a road map to profitability, with some lofty goals set for the next two years that would eclipse the X-Prize target.
For the current year, HHS projects sales of 1,050 systems — priced at $12,900 each — but will still post an operating loss of just over $800,000.
But by 2011, according to the plan, unit sales will climb to 7,500, resulting in cash flow of nearly $16.4 million.
Simultaneously, the company will redevelop a building at 319 N. Cleveland Ave. in downtown Loveland to serve as its new, 8,000-square-foot home.
Profitability will also drive employment upward from the current 12 workers, including six interns paid by the Larimer County Workforce Center, to 36 full-time employees by the end of this year, the plan says.
Crucial Door Opens
A market gateway opened for HHS when Denver-based consultant Richard LeFrancois made a trip to the company last fall.
LeFrancois’ firm, Equipment Maintenance Innovators LLC, is one of the nation’s pre-eminent providers of advice on energy-efficiency technologies for the trucking industry. Clients include Conoco-Phillips, British Petroleum, and, yes, DIA.
“I think HHS has a tremendous future,” LeFrancois said. “We’re at the threshold of getting adoption of this technology into our industry, and they are perfectly positioned to take advantage of that.”
The key to HHS’ potential success is as much a matter of people as it is product, he said.
Company chief executive Johnson is the former founder and principal of SA Robotics Inc., a Loveland company that produces remotely controlled machines used to clean up deadly waste at nuclear plants.
Johnson and his wife, co-owner of SA Robotics, sold the company in 2008 after building its annual revenue to $20 million.
“It’s Dan’s entrepreneurial spirit,” LeFrancois said. “If you look internally at HHS, and Dan Johnson in particular, you have something very special. You have this guy who came out of the nuclear industry, and transferred everything he learned and perfected to an entirely new industry.”
Johnson’s new focus on the light-duty truck market doesn’t mean he has permanently abandoned his wish to build the perfect car, he said.
“The car is sexy. This isn’t so much,” he said. “But we’ve got to develop the technology in any case. When the time is right, it will be ready to go.”
Everybody connected with the airport, from the guy who manages the fleet to Mayor John Hickenlooper, would like to see that number come down. So, they’ve turned to Loveland company Hydraulic Hybrid Systems for a solution that eventually could cut fuel use by as much as 40 percent.
A forerunner in the “other” hybrid vehicle technology — hydraulic, instead of electric as exemplified by the Toyota Prius — HHS is angling for a slice of the market made up of 6 million light-duty trucks in the United States alone.
What they offer is a hydraulic propulsion system that, when paired with a standard diesel or gasoline engine, can reduce fuel use by 40 percent and emissions by half.
“It’s something that everybody’s been waiting for, and nobody’s done it,” DIA fleet manager Bernie Maez said. “They’re really going to shine when they get done with their product.”
HHS is the relatively new subsidiary of Lightning Hybrids Inc., the company that burst upon Loveland’s business scene in 2008 with plans to produce a 100-mile-per-gallon, high-performance sports car.
The new company is focused not on building a sexy new car, but on developing the technology that powers it for use in more mundane fleet vehicles.
That technology is at once elegantly simple and infinitely complex.
First, the simplicity: The system stores energy used in braking in high-pressure tanks, built to contain 5,000 pounds per square inch, then releases that power to a hydraulic motor that propels the vehicle during acceleration.
The second key ingredient that HHS engineers are perfecting is more complicated. It’s the computerized controller that senses the most efficient way to balance power between the hydraulic and conventional engines.
HHS and Lightning Hybrids founders Dan Johnson and Tim Reeser last fall decided to shelve the sports car plan in favor of perfecting the hydraulic hybrid technology, a business decision driven by harsh reality.
“The crux of it was that it was going to cost $4 million to produce the car,” Reeser said. “We couldn’t raise that. But it’s not just us. NASCAR’s not getting their sponsors, either,” he added, referring to the nation’s premier stock-car racing organization.
Eyes Off the Prize
Abandoning the Lightning project, at least for now, also meant dropping out of the quest for the Progressive Insurance “X Prize,” a goal that the founders announced when Lightning Hybrid first emerged.
The insurance company’s global competition to produce the most efficient and highest-performance 100-mile-per-gallon vehicle will award $10 million to the winner.
A 23-page business plan that HHS revised this month serves as a road map to profitability, with some lofty goals set for the next two years that would eclipse the X-Prize target.
For the current year, HHS projects sales of 1,050 systems — priced at $12,900 each — but will still post an operating loss of just over $800,000.
But by 2011, according to the plan, unit sales will climb to 7,500, resulting in cash flow of nearly $16.4 million.
Simultaneously, the company will redevelop a building at 319 N. Cleveland Ave. in downtown Loveland to serve as its new, 8,000-square-foot home.
Profitability will also drive employment upward from the current 12 workers, including six interns paid by the Larimer County Workforce Center, to 36 full-time employees by the end of this year, the plan says.
Crucial Door Opens
A market gateway opened for HHS when Denver-based consultant Richard LeFrancois made a trip to the company last fall.
LeFrancois’ firm, Equipment Maintenance Innovators LLC, is one of the nation’s pre-eminent providers of advice on energy-efficiency technologies for the trucking industry. Clients include Conoco-Phillips, British Petroleum, and, yes, DIA.
“I think HHS has a tremendous future,” LeFrancois said. “We’re at the threshold of getting adoption of this technology into our industry, and they are perfectly positioned to take advantage of that.”
The key to HHS’ potential success is as much a matter of people as it is product, he said.
Company chief executive Johnson is the former founder and principal of SA Robotics Inc., a Loveland company that produces remotely controlled machines used to clean up deadly waste at nuclear plants.
Johnson and his wife, co-owner of SA Robotics, sold the company in 2008 after building its annual revenue to $20 million.
“It’s Dan’s entrepreneurial spirit,” LeFrancois said. “If you look internally at HHS, and Dan Johnson in particular, you have something very special. You have this guy who came out of the nuclear industry, and transferred everything he learned and perfected to an entirely new industry.”
Johnson’s new focus on the light-duty truck market doesn’t mean he has permanently abandoned his wish to build the perfect car, he said.
“The car is sexy. This isn’t so much,” he said. “But we’ve got to develop the technology in any case. When the time is right, it will be ready to go.”
Labels: fluid power systems, green technology, hybrid systems, mobile hydraulic, news
Mobile Hydraulic News: Hydraulic Hybrids Taking to the Streets
Hydraulic hybrid retrofit for refuse trucks
Jan 22, 2010 11:19 AM, By Jim Mele, Editor-in-chief, FleetOwner Magazine
A new hydraulic hybrid retrofit kit specifically designed for refuse collection trucks can deliver up to 30% better fuel economy while increasing brake life and improving productivity, according to the developer Eaton Corp.
The Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) hybrid system will be available for installation in Mack LE, MR and Granit chassis later this year, with kits for other makes and models to follow, according to Robert Golin, business development manager for Eaton’s Hybrid Power Systems.
The retrofit is a parallel hybrid system that sits between the transmission and rear axle. It uses the momentum of the truck to compress hydraulic fluid when slowing the vehicle and then releases the stored energy in the fluid to help the truck accelerate on takeoff. It is especially well suited for applications with frequent stops and starts such as refuse collection trucks.
“A Class 8 automated side loader is a great application for HLA because it can make 1,400 stops in a day,” said Golin. It is also simpler than a diesel electric hybrid system and at 1,200 lbs. weighs less than half as much, he said. Diesel electric systems make sense for applications with less stop and go, but “Why have the cost and complexity (of a diesel electric system) when HLA gives you what you need in a refuse truck?” Golin asks.
The Eaton HLA has two operating modes that can be set by the fleet. The first provides maximum fuel economy, using only the stored kinetic energy in the hydraulic fluid to start the truck moving from a stop. That initial boost can be up to 180 hp and can accelerate a stop refuse truck up to 12 MPH in four to six seconds, according to Golin.
The second operating mode provides maximum productivity, combine the diesel engine’s power with the HLA’s to increase acceleration by 16 to 22% and deliver an overall 10% improvement in productivity. “That means a truck can handle more bins in a day, and more bins mean more revenue," said Golin.
Installed in a 2- or 3-yr. old chassis, the Eaton HLA should offer refuse fleets a 3-yr. payback, according to Golin. By taking over much of the vehicle’s braking, it will extend the life of service brakes by four to five times, eliminating up to four brake jobs a year at $1,800 to $2,000 a piece, he estimates. Fuel savings from using the power stored on braking should save another $3,000 to $4,000 a year, and additional productivity gains should boost yearly savings from the HLA system to about $15,000, Golin said.
The first Eaton HLA retrofit kits are intended for Mack LE, MR and Granite chassis with Allison automatic transmissions, a common combination for side-loader refuse collection trucks. They will installed by a network of service providers trained and certified by Eaton, who will also provide service and warranty support, Golin explained. Eaton expects to begin delivering the kits to the first certified installers “in the next couple of months,” he said.
Designed for a 10-yr. life and tested up to 3.3 million operating cycles, the HLA hydraulics are self-contained and completely separate from the refuse packer’s hydraulic system. “Our system is also completely fuel agnostic, so it can even work with CNG-powered trucks to help them regain some of the power lost (with that fuel),” Golin says.
Hydraulic hybrid retrofit for refuse trucks
Jan 22, 2010 11:19 AM, By Jim Mele, Editor-in-chief, FleetOwner Magazine
A new hydraulic hybrid retrofit kit specifically designed for refuse collection trucks can deliver up to 30% better fuel economy while increasing brake life and improving productivity, according to the developer Eaton Corp.
The Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) hybrid system will be available for installation in Mack LE, MR and Granit chassis later this year, with kits for other makes and models to follow, according to Robert Golin, business development manager for Eaton’s Hybrid Power Systems.
The retrofit is a parallel hybrid system that sits between the transmission and rear axle. It uses the momentum of the truck to compress hydraulic fluid when slowing the vehicle and then releases the stored energy in the fluid to help the truck accelerate on takeoff. It is especially well suited for applications with frequent stops and starts such as refuse collection trucks.
“A Class 8 automated side loader is a great application for HLA because it can make 1,400 stops in a day,” said Golin. It is also simpler than a diesel electric hybrid system and at 1,200 lbs. weighs less than half as much, he said. Diesel electric systems make sense for applications with less stop and go, but “Why have the cost and complexity (of a diesel electric system) when HLA gives you what you need in a refuse truck?” Golin asks.
The Eaton HLA has two operating modes that can be set by the fleet. The first provides maximum fuel economy, using only the stored kinetic energy in the hydraulic fluid to start the truck moving from a stop. That initial boost can be up to 180 hp and can accelerate a stop refuse truck up to 12 MPH in four to six seconds, according to Golin.
The second operating mode provides maximum productivity, combine the diesel engine’s power with the HLA’s to increase acceleration by 16 to 22% and deliver an overall 10% improvement in productivity. “That means a truck can handle more bins in a day, and more bins mean more revenue," said Golin.
Installed in a 2- or 3-yr. old chassis, the Eaton HLA should offer refuse fleets a 3-yr. payback, according to Golin. By taking over much of the vehicle’s braking, it will extend the life of service brakes by four to five times, eliminating up to four brake jobs a year at $1,800 to $2,000 a piece, he estimates. Fuel savings from using the power stored on braking should save another $3,000 to $4,000 a year, and additional productivity gains should boost yearly savings from the HLA system to about $15,000, Golin said.
The first Eaton HLA retrofit kits are intended for Mack LE, MR and Granite chassis with Allison automatic transmissions, a common combination for side-loader refuse collection trucks. They will installed by a network of service providers trained and certified by Eaton, who will also provide service and warranty support, Golin explained. Eaton expects to begin delivering the kits to the first certified installers “in the next couple of months,” he said.
Designed for a 10-yr. life and tested up to 3.3 million operating cycles, the HLA hydraulics are self-contained and completely separate from the refuse packer’s hydraulic system. “Our system is also completely fuel agnostic, so it can even work with CNG-powered trucks to help them regain some of the power lost (with that fuel),” Golin says.
Labels: fluid power systems, green technology, hybrid systems, mobile hydraulic, news
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Cover Letters – The Icing on the Cake
Why? I get a lot of questions from clients about whether or not they should include a cover letter when sending in their resume. My response is “Would you consider making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the jelly?” The point being that the two go hand-in-hand, and unless a job position announcement specifically states that you should not send in a letter along with your resume, you should ALWAYS include one.
There are multiple reasons. As more companies are using applicant tracking software to scan for job keywords, this document also can get fed into this system as well. Building up your hit ratio in this system is paramount to catapulting you into the next level of the screening process.
Additionally, the letter serves as the compelling reason as to why the employer should hire you- it’s your opportunity to make the case as to why you are a superior candidate over the applicants. The resume presents your value proposition in terms of facts. The cover letter can provide the softer skill side where you can talk about your drive, initiative, attention to detail and how you are willing to go the extra mile.
But actually writing this introduction can be deceptively easy, and many people get trapped writing the wrong thing. Many people fail in this activity because they simply end up focusing entirely on themselves. The truth is that in this document, while it is about you, it’s actually really about THEM (the employer).
Here are a couple of straightforward tricks to use when developing an effective cover letter that addresses an employer’s needs:
1) Personalize your letter. Don’t know the human resource manager? Use your network or look them up on LinkedIn.com. A personalized cover letter always gets more attention than a ‘Dear Human Resource Manager’ or ‘To Whom it May Concern’ type of letter.
2) Always include a reference to the specific position you are applying for in the cover letter. Here’s an example of the format:
3) Create immediate interest. Use a compelling ‘hook’ to spur the employer to read on. You can relate to something that is of interest to the employer by making a direct appeal or providing an interesting fact relevant to that company. The key is to make a connection to what is of interest to THEM!
4) Write to your audience. Demonstrate familiarity and knowledge about their company… this can stroke their ego while at the same time subliminally demonstrating your resourcefulness by digging up information about their company. Find out what types of challenges that your target company might be facing, and then provide yourself as the solution to those problems. Advertisers use this ‘problem-solution’ tactic all the time!
5) Talk about what you can do for the employer. Focus on the target company, versus rattling off a litany of ‘I’ve done this, and I’ve done that…now hire me!” It doesn’t work that way. You should be into your third paragraph in the cover letter before you start touting yourself, and even at that point, you need to relate specifically what you offer to what they need. Avoid a lot of ‘I’ or ‘my’ statements!
6) Use keywords in your cover letter like you do in your resume. These can generate hits and adds to the employer’s perception of your relevancy.
7) Don’t forget to close the sale. Most people, whether in their cover letter or at the end of an interview, forget to ask for the sale. You are selling your services to help their company, and your close in a cover letter is just as important as your opening. Don’t be afraid to ask them to hire you!
Avoid ‘regurgitating’ your resume in your cover letter. Remember, the resume are the facts, and the cover letter is how you make the case as to why they should hire you!
Hopefully, these tips will help you understand that the cover letter is practically equal with the resume… they go together and act as compliments to provide a tight, focused and informative snapshot about what you offer the employer.
Dawn Rasmussen, President Pathfinder Writing and Career Services PO Box 20536 Portland OR 97294 (503) 539-3954 phone http://www.pathfindercareers.com
There are multiple reasons. As more companies are using applicant tracking software to scan for job keywords, this document also can get fed into this system as well. Building up your hit ratio in this system is paramount to catapulting you into the next level of the screening process.
Additionally, the letter serves as the compelling reason as to why the employer should hire you- it’s your opportunity to make the case as to why you are a superior candidate over the applicants. The resume presents your value proposition in terms of facts. The cover letter can provide the softer skill side where you can talk about your drive, initiative, attention to detail and how you are willing to go the extra mile.
But actually writing this introduction can be deceptively easy, and many people get trapped writing the wrong thing. Many people fail in this activity because they simply end up focusing entirely on themselves. The truth is that in this document, while it is about you, it’s actually really about THEM (the employer).
Here are a couple of straightforward tricks to use when developing an effective cover letter that addresses an employer’s needs:
1) Personalize your letter. Don’t know the human resource manager? Use your network or look them up on LinkedIn.com. A personalized cover letter always gets more attention than a ‘Dear Human Resource Manager’ or ‘To Whom it May Concern’ type of letter.
2) Always include a reference to the specific position you are applying for in the cover letter. Here’s an example of the format:
- Date
- Contact Name, Title, Company, Address: City, State, Zip
- Re: Position Title and Reference Number (if applicable)
3) Create immediate interest. Use a compelling ‘hook’ to spur the employer to read on. You can relate to something that is of interest to the employer by making a direct appeal or providing an interesting fact relevant to that company. The key is to make a connection to what is of interest to THEM!
4) Write to your audience. Demonstrate familiarity and knowledge about their company… this can stroke their ego while at the same time subliminally demonstrating your resourcefulness by digging up information about their company. Find out what types of challenges that your target company might be facing, and then provide yourself as the solution to those problems. Advertisers use this ‘problem-solution’ tactic all the time!
5) Talk about what you can do for the employer. Focus on the target company, versus rattling off a litany of ‘I’ve done this, and I’ve done that…now hire me!” It doesn’t work that way. You should be into your third paragraph in the cover letter before you start touting yourself, and even at that point, you need to relate specifically what you offer to what they need. Avoid a lot of ‘I’ or ‘my’ statements!
6) Use keywords in your cover letter like you do in your resume. These can generate hits and adds to the employer’s perception of your relevancy.
7) Don’t forget to close the sale. Most people, whether in their cover letter or at the end of an interview, forget to ask for the sale. You are selling your services to help their company, and your close in a cover letter is just as important as your opening. Don’t be afraid to ask them to hire you!
Avoid ‘regurgitating’ your resume in your cover letter. Remember, the resume are the facts, and the cover letter is how you make the case as to why they should hire you!
Hopefully, these tips will help you understand that the cover letter is practically equal with the resume… they go together and act as compliments to provide a tight, focused and informative snapshot about what you offer the employer.
Dawn Rasmussen, President Pathfinder Writing and Career Services PO Box 20536 Portland OR 97294 (503) 539-3954 phone http://www.pathfindercareers.com
Labels: cover letter, job seeker
Monday, January 18, 2010
Finding What You Need?
The term 'fluid power' is definitely not a household name. In fact, if you are employed in this industry, we are continually reminded of this by friends and family with the reaction we get---"fluid power...what is fluid power?".
Thanks to the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) and the International Fluid Power Society (IFPS), along with others like the Fluid Power Distributors Association (FPDA) and journals like Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine, Fluid Power Journal and Diesel Progress, we've got a wealth of information out there for people to dig into!
Below are some links that may help you if you are looking for information on hydraulics and pneumatics;
Fluid Power Industry Associations: Here is the short list of the primary associations;
National Fluid Power Association (NFPA)
Fluid Power Society (IFPS)
The Fluid Power Educational Foundation (FPEF)
Fluid Power Distributor Association (FPDA)
Fluid Power Network International (FPNI)
Fluid Power Products: Find fluid power distributors in your area that provide hydraulic and pneumatic components, as well as complete fluid power systems. Another great tool is the Fluid Power Product Locator found here.
Below are some links that may help you if you are looking for information on hydraulics and pneumatics;
National Fluid Power Association (NFPA)
Fluid Power Society (IFPS)
The Fluid Power Educational Foundation (FPEF)
Fluid Power Distributor Association (FPDA)
Fluid Power Network International (FPNI)
Fluid Power Engineering: Whether you are a student looking for solid fluid power education or someone looking for technical help from fluid power consultants, you've come to the right place. Click here for a list of fluid power schools and The Fluid Power Educational Foundation
Fluid Power Energy
Fluid Power Energy
Labels: fluid power energy, fluid power engineering, fluid power products
5 Critical Mistakes in a Job Interview
Don’t Arrive Late (or Too Early)
Don’t Trash a Previous Employer
Don’t Question Pay and Benefits Too Soon
Major Mistakes That Ruin Your Chances at a Job Interview
However, it’s quite common for a valid, potentially hirable job candidate to get into an interview and “fumble the ball.” If you’re not careful, you can easily make some minor mistakes that will ruin your chances at a position. So before going on your next interview, take a look at these mistakes that could definitely ruin it.There’s no doubt that going on a job interview is a critical portion of a job candidate’s application process. If you were lucky enough to have a resume that got you through the door, the interview will provide you with an opportunity to further prove that you’re right for the position.
One fatal error that could hurt your chances of acquiring the position you desire is to arrive to the job interview late. The time of the hiring manager is very valuable, and you’re showing disrespect and confusing his plans. If you show up late, you give an indication of what the employer could expect from you as an employee – not a good thing.
However, it’s also good to keep in mind that arriving too early could work against you too. While arriving 15 minutes prior to the interview is perfectly acceptable, arriving 30 minutes early could also through off the interviewer’s schedule and is generally frowned upon.
If you had a bad experience with a previous employer, don’t tell the prospective employer about it. If you left your last employer because you constantly clashed with your boss, simply say that your goals weren’t in line with your old company. But to say that the manager “sucks” will likely leave a bad taste in the interviewers mouth.
Don’t Get Too “Familiar”
Some hiring managers have complained that job applicants often get too familiar or friendly with them during an interview. If you’re talking about your bad kids or mentioning the wart on your back, you may not get called back for the position.
Don’t Dress Inappropriately (or Sloppy)
We all know that wearing a t-shirt or provocative attire is unacceptable during an interview, but many employers also frown upon attire that looks cheap, or even you not ironing your suit or having scuffs in your shoes. Remember, if there’s ever a time to look your best, it’s during a job interview.
You may be anxious to know whether the position you’re interested in will pay will or offer health insurance benefits, but the time to ask is not when you walk through the door for the interview. If during the interview, you’re offered the position then it’s good to be prepared to negotiate. Hold your tongue until that point, though, if you don’t want to appear to have a sense of entitlement.
If you think in terms of what you should and should not do in an interview, you can strengthen your chances of getting the position you want. Besides, what’s the point in working so hard on a resume if you’re just going to sabotage the efforts in your interview?
About the author: Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Review resume writing services and choose the best one for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com.
Labels: interview, job seeker, jobs, resume
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Ringing in the New Year
Happy New Year! Belated Happy New Year to you all! It's time to wipe the mud off our boots from 2009 and step into 2010 with our chins up and a smile on our face...we've got a lot to be proud of and thankful for!
Ring, Ring, Ring. The 'ringing' in this new year has been our phones. Yes, the candidates who have been put out on the street continue to call and send resumes, but the better news for all in our industry is that hiring managers are calling! Now, not to say things are back to normal, that will take more than a few years from what we can tell--however the level of employer confidence to hire is up. Very good news.
You are out of a job and saying "where are all these companies that are hiring?" Well, much of the activity is still talk--but they are planning on making changes in these first two quarters. The jobs will come, but you must be prepared for the competition.
Polish your resume. It is the first look that a hiring manager has and first impressions mean everything. Ask us for a free evaluation of your resume, and we'll tell you how to stand out in the crowd.
Hone your skills. Interviewing, whether face-to-face or on the phone, is what will get you the fluid power job you are wanting. We have many articles on interviewing and offer our candidates free advice on how to best prepare to meet the hiring manager and any others in the hiring process. It does make a difference, we're here to help.
Our candidates and employers work in these areas: mobile hydraulics, industrial hydraulics and pneumatics, robotics, motion control, power transmission, bearings, and fluid sealing. Typically, they are selling, designing or manufacturing components and systems comprised of pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, manifolds, seals, hose and fittings, or filtration.
A unique benefit of pursuing a career in fluid power is that our industry encompasses many fields. These include construction, agriculture, entertainment/simulation, automotive, material handling, biomedical, automation, machine tools, utilities, wood processing, packaging machinery, plastics machinery, military, marine and offshore, and aerospace.
Happy New Year! Belated Happy New Year to you all! It's time to wipe the mud off our boots from 2009 and step into 2010 with our chins up and a smile on our face...we've got a lot to be proud of and thankful for!
You are out of a job and saying "where are all these companies that are hiring?" Well, much of the activity is still talk--but they are planning on making changes in these first two quarters. The jobs will come, but you must be prepared for the competition.
Polish your resume. It is the first look that a hiring manager has and first impressions mean everything. Ask us for a free evaluation of your resume, and we'll tell you how to stand out in the crowd.
Fluid Power Jobs and Bosco-Hubert & Associates, LLC are continually working to find the best talent in our industries, including; fluid power, motion control, power transmission, and automation. If you have experience working for a fluid power manufacturer or distributor, we can give you an objective view of the conditions in the industry that can directly affect your income and lifestyle!
Our candidates and employers work in these areas: mobile hydraulics, industrial hydraulics and pneumatics, robotics, motion control, power transmission, bearings, and fluid sealing. Typically, they are selling, designing or manufacturing components and systems comprised of pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, manifolds, seals, hose and fittings, or filtration.
A unique benefit of pursuing a career in fluid power is that our industry encompasses many fields. These include construction, agriculture, entertainment/simulation, automotive, material handling, biomedical, automation, machine tools, utilities, wood processing, packaging machinery, plastics machinery, military, marine and offshore, and aerospace.
Labels: economy, interview, job seeker, jobs, openings, resume