How to Write a Perfect Admin Assistant Cover Letter (Examples Included)

How to Write a Perfect Admin Assistant Cover Letter (Examples Included)Here at TheJobNetwork, we talk a lot about how to build the perfect resumeafter all, its your option to show a potential employer who you are, what you do, and what you will do for them. But although the cover letter has become somewhat controversial in recent years, with the advent of digital hiring tools and job application apps, its an komponente that you should be able to knock out of the park when you need it.For admin assistants, the cover letter can be a useful way to personalize your resume and packaging for the job to which youre applying. Having been there, I know the pluses and minuses of having versatile admin experiencesure, youve got flexible skills that you can take pretty much everywhere. but when youre trying to frame yourself as a unique candidate, how do you take those universal admin skills and experience and make them fit the exact job you want?First, lets start with the basics of a good cover letter.Necessity 1 An Appropriate AddresseeIf you have a direct name (hiring manager, recruiter, etc.), all the bettermake sure the opener is polite and personalized. If you dont have a specific name, you can still personalize it to the company.For exampleDear Ms. Perkins,Hello Ms. Perkins,Greetings Ms. Perkins,Dear Techedge Industries Team,You need to strike the right balance between conversational and formal. Definitely dont go too casual. The fact that youre likely submitting ansicht online, or writing an email, can lead to a false sense of familiarity with the person.Bad examplesHey Phyllis,Phyllis Perkins,HelloTo Whom it May ConcernAll of ansicht greetings are either too casual, or too vague. To Whom it May Concern is the cover letter equivalent of getting mail addressed to occupant chances are its going to be passed on without reading. It suggests that the cover letter writer is applying indiscriminately. that might not be the case (you might just be covering for the fact tha t you dont have a specific contact person), but they dont know that). its important to be as clear and direct as possible in your cover letter.Necessity 2 Your NarrativeThe whole point of your cover letter is adding context to you, and your resume. On your resume, you have limited space, and the priority goes to potent, high-quality bullet points to illustrate your skills and experience. The cover letter is your chance to craft the larger story of your career, and why you would be a good fit for this job in particular.For exampleAs an experienced administrative assistant and a lifelong home baker, I am thrilled to be applying for this position with Ginas homemade cookie company. Ive worked in companies that are large, small, and somewhere in between, and have found that my skills fit best in a small, close-knit company like Ginas. I have experience implementing new systems that improverecord keepingand bro efficiency, and with working as part of a gruppe coordinating complex schedul es and details while making sure everything gets done on time.Bad exampleI am applying for a job at Ginas homemade cookie company. Please see my attached resume, and let me know if you have any questions.In the good example, the applicant shows that shes done her research on Ginas homemade cookie company (company size, general culture), and is showing how she might fit well in that (as a baking enthusiast and experienced admin). The writer doesnt necessarily go into her life history, but picks highlights that dovetail well with the job description. It also gives the reader a voransicht of the kinds of experience to expect in the resume.In the bad example, the cover letter body says nothing about the writer and does nothing to supplement the resume. Its just an unnecessary attachment.Necessity 3 A Strong FinishAlways have a closing paragraph that restates the highlights (why youre a good fit) and leaves room for follow-up.For exampleI would love to have the opportunity to join your k ollektiv and look forward to hearing mora about this opening. My skills and experience as an admin (and a cookie enthusiast) would be a great fit as an administrative assistant in your company. please dont hesitate to contact me if theres any other information I can provide.Bad examplePlease let me know more about this job opening.In these examples, one writer reminds the reader why she is a good fit the other writer puts the onus on the reader to give more information about the job itself and says nothing about herself in the meantime. You want to make sure youre aligning yourself with the job in the readers mind, and this is your last chance to do so before they read your resume.Necessity 4 Clean FormattingLike with your resume, you want your cover letter to be clear and easy to read. That meansA voreingestellt font.This is not the time to test out fun fonts. Pick something clean and basic, like times.No huge blocks of text.In a letter, unbroken paragraphs can look like the rambli ngs of a manifesto. You want your reader to see a series of separate, elegantly outlined points.Short Length.A cover letter should never be more than a page, and even a full page is definitely pushing it. Brevity is the soul of wit and the friend of application readers everywhere.For exampleMy attached resume goes into more detail about my daily job duties and achievements during my tenure as an administrative assistant at two companies. My experience managing complex schedules, overseeing busy offices, and leading junior staff would be an asset to this role.I would love to have to opportunity to join the team at Ginas homemade cookies, and bring my expertise in managing day-to-day office processes to your company. I believe I can meet and exceed the expectations you have for this role, and I look forward to speaking more with you about my application. Feel free to contact me at any time.Bad exampleMy attached resume goes into more detail about my daily job duties and achievements d uring my tenure as an administrative assistant at two companies. My experience managing complex schedules, overseeing busy offices, and leading junior staff would be an asset to this role. I would love to have to opportunity to join the team at Ginas homemade cookies and bring my expertise in managing day-to-day office processes to your company. I believe I can meet and exceed the expectations you have for this role, and I look forward to speaking more with you about my application. Feel free to contact me at any time.Thats a lot to cram into one paragraph. Crafting shorter, punchier paragraphs can help you focus your letter on the points you want the reader to notice, and keep it visually appealing as well.After that closing pitch, all you have left is the closing. Like with the opening address, it should be simple and polite. Not too flowery (kindest warmest regards, dear recruiter isunnecessary.For exampleBest wishes,Sincerely,Bad examplesThanks.Fondest wishes,nameno greetingPlea se hit me back,And after that, youre done Well, except for the resume, the interview, and the negotiation. But your cover letter is in the books, and you have been introduced to your possible future employer.Lets take a last look at the sample cover letter as a wholeDear Ms. Perkins,As an experienced administrative assistant and a lifelong home baker, I am thrilled to be applying for this position with ginas homemade cookie company. Ive worked in companies that are large, small, and somewhere in between, and have found that my skills fit best in a small, close-knit company like Ginas. I have experience implementing new systems that improve record keeping and office efficiency, and with working as part of a team coordinating complex schedules and details while making sure everything gets done on time.My attached resume goes into more detail about my daily job duties and achievements during my tenure as an administrative assistant at two companies. My experience managing complex sched ules, overseeing busy offices, and leading junior staff would be an asset to this role.I would love to have to opportunity to join the team at Ginas homemade cookie and bring my expertise in managing day-to-day office processes to your company. I believe I can meet and exceed the expectations you have for this role, and I look forward to speaking more with you about my application. Feel free to contact me at any time.Sincerely,Francine WatersShort, to-the-point, informative, appropriate now thats a letter that shows what a good admin assistant francine would beLooking for an administrative assistant job? TheJobNetwork has you covered Search admin assistant jobsin your cityhundreds of jobs in many fields await

10 Email Rules You Cant Ignore, According to a CEO

10 Email Rules You Cant Ignore, According to a CEO Some days, I hate my inbox. I am sure you can sympathize. Like you, I (and every other business woman) receive an average 124.5 emailles a day. Yet, despite the fact that we are all glued to our screen, our email etiquette seems to have slowly disintegrated. Ive seen emails that bedrngnis only contained sloppy errors, but in some instances were downright rude or worse, overly casual. Even seemingly innocuous errors add up. And in some instances, can have serious consequences.Ive outlined some basic rules of etiquette to ensure your electronic communications match your professional image.1. Use a professional greeting.Granted, every company culture is different, but a polite and slightly formal salutation is always appropriate. Using words like hey or yo isnt professional, no matter who the recipient. Instead, use hi, hello, good morning/afternoon, or, to be even more formal, dear.2. Use reply-all appropriately.Group emails can be re al time savers because everyone is included in project updates or whatever else youre sending. Unfortunately, group threads can also spiral out of control and segue into separate topics that the whole group doesnt need to be part of. Think twice before hitting reply-all to consider whether everyone really needs to be looped in.3. Dont use nicknames.Shortening someones name (if youve not been told he/she prefers it) is overly casual, presumptuous and, in some cases, can come across as demeaning. My name is Tiffany. Unless I know you personally, its not appropriate to call me Tiff.4. Avoid using humor.Humor does not often work in email. Whats funny to one person may be offensive to others, or worse, could be misinterpreted as sarcastic or caustic.5. Reply in a timely manner.Even though we are glued to our keyboards, theres no need to play hostage to your inbox. If an email comes in under high priority and you know youll need several hours (or even days) to handle it, reply right away to acknowledge the request. Emails that hang around and gather dust in your inbox can give people the impression that you are overwhelmed or that you are ignoring their requests. Unread emails may also mean missed deadlines.6. Proofread your message.The ease of spell check means many of us rely on it to catch spelling errors, which only gets you about half way there. Consider the work public. If you mistype it and accidentally skip the letter L, the word is totenstill spelled correctly but has an entirely different meaning Its also a good idea to check for missed words or words that sound the same but are spelled (and mean) something different, such as your and youre. 7. Dont forget the attachment.This is an easy one to avoid. If you type the word attachment or attach in the body of your email, Outlook will prompt you if it looks like you forgot to attach something. One way to curtail this error is to start your note with in the attached 8. Avoid using all caps.All capital letters u sed in an email can come across as an affront to your recipients. If something is really important, say so or instead use bold or underline to highlight a key point or phrase.9. Consider a call.If you have a lot to say in your email, it may be more efficient to just pick up the phone or schedule a call. Not only can a phone call save time, it can also prevent any misinterpretation of your message. After the call, document agreed points or follow-up tasks with a concise email message.10. Include a closing greeting.Similar to point 1, its just good practice to include a closing greeting. Think about the last email you received where the note just ended abruptly. Chances are, it felt less like a note and more like an order. Remember, email, like any other form of business communication, is a direct reflection of your professionalism. Making sure your email etiquette is on point shows your colleagues that you are thoughtful, polite, and prompt in zugreifbar exchanges.More on email etiqu etteThe One Subject Line that Gets Me a Response Every Time6 Awkward Emails You Shouldnt be SendingThis Is Exactly How To Introduce Yourself Via Email--Tiffany Couch is the CEO and founder of Acuity Forensics, a forensic accounting and fraud investigation firm that helps unravel complex financial crimes.

Spark Hire and Greenhouse Webinar for Hiring Pros - Spark Hire

Spark Hire and Greenhouse Webinar for Hiring Pros - Spark HireSpark Hire and integration partner Greenhouse will present an in-depth webinar on video interviewing technology and the benefits its utilization brings to companies.Companies cant afford to have open positions sitting unfilled for weeks or even just a few days. Unfortunately, some organizations have accepted this as just the way things are and always will be, says Josh Tolan, CEO of Spark Hire. However, six out of ten companies currently use video interviewing for their hiring needs. With this webinar, we hope to reach out to more companies in order to show them how this powerful technology can greatly improve the way they connect with and hire talent.The free webinar, Hiring Hacks How to Use Video to Speed Up Your vorstellungsgesprch Process, will be on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 1100AM CST. Attendees will learn the followingWhy companies are utilizing video interviews for their hiring needsHow companies like ZenPayro ll, MeySen Academy, and iCracked use video interviewing to hire at scaleBest practices and strategies for achieving video interviewing successVideo interviewing basics, therefore, even those unfamiliar with the technology can join as wellBe sure to grabyour spot for next weeks Hiring Hacks How to Use Video to Speed Up Your Interview Process webinar with Greenhouse here

5 Signs Youre on Thin Ice at Work ( How to Fix It)

5 Signs Youre on Thin Ice at Work ( How to Fix It)5 Signs Youre on Thin Ice at Work ( How to Fix It) In an ideal world, you wouldnt have to guess whetherbei or not youre failing to hit the mark at work. Your anfhrer would meet with you regularly to supply open and honest feedback, and you could nip any emerging problems in the bud as soon as they flag them to you. But human beings are complex characters - whether your colleagues and superiors are afraid of confronting you with negative feedback, too busy to check in with you, or simply arent good at communicating , workplace grievances against you may pile up until eventually, they land you in hot water.On the opposite end of the spectrum, sometimes we tend to simply judge ourselves too harshly. Perfectionists out there will often perceive innocuous actions or poorly-phrased comments from co-workers to be slights on their performance, causing them to work themselves up over nothing.So between managers whose comm unication skills need improvement and your own self-doubt , how can you really tell if you need to get your act together at work? Read on below to learn five sure-fire signs that youre faltering at work, as well as advice on how to get back on track.When your managers disappointed in your performance, its often hard for them to conceal it - usually, their behavior or tone will shift in a noticeable way. A few indicators might be if your formerly buddy-buddy boss is getting agitated with you or is being mora short or cold with you, says Jill Santopietro Panall, HR consultant and owner of 21Oak HR Consulting, LLC , or if they have become more aloof or seem to be avoiding any conversation with you except for essential communication, says Valerie Streif, Senior Adviser at Mentat . Sometimes this sign isnt as clear depending on how your initial relationship with your boss was, but if you notice that they seem to avoid you, are sharp and short when answering your questions, and dont e ngage in conversation with you outside of strictly business, it could be a sign they are getting ready to get rid of you, or that an awkward conversation in a negative performance review is imminent, Streif continues.The confrontation averse may be tempted to ignore these signs, but addressing the problem is essential if you want to get back in your managers good graces. I would say, I notice that lately you seem less happy with my work. What can I do to change that? Then, listen as nondefensively as you can and take notes on what they want you to do, Santopietro Panall suggests.Be upfront and sit down with management to address any issues and see if it can be resolved before you get a negative review , Streif agrees. If they have noticed that your performance isnt what it used to be, you could explain yourself. If youve been unhappy or feeling unfulfilled, a simple conversation could lead to a promotion that could give you more responsibility and a sense of purpose again. It can be hard to sit down with management in these situations, but most likely you have nothing to lose and it could be the opportunity for a major positive change.You might be secretly rejoicing if your boss moves a few things off of your plate, but beware rather than just giving you a break, this could be a sign that they dont think youre capable of managing your tasks. Employees who perform well are typically rewarded with more responsibility and more complex tasks, leading to career growth and paving the way for future promotions , says Mary Grace Gardner, career strategist at The Young Professionista . So if you suddenly notice your manager consistently passing you up and giving coveted assignments to your coworkers or if your manager assigns you tasks that feel like a step backward, it may be an indication that youve lost their trust. Similarly, if your workload gets lighter or you are now receiving the grunt work, that could spell trouble, says resume writer & career transit ion coach Wendi Weiner.Before you confront your manager, think back and identify if you made a recent error. Perhaps you missed a deadline without appropriate notification, didnt take action when a problem occurred, or reacted in a non-constructive way in a tense situation, Gardner suggests. Then, do some damage control and own up to the mistake . Let your manager know you recognize what you did wrong, what you learned, and what you will do going forward. Taking ownership and bringing up the issue first helps with rebuilding trust.Its also worth letting your boss know that you do feel that youre willing and able to take on some extra work. A great way to turn this around is to tell your boss that you are happy to take on all tasks, which can contribute to more productivity, and you dont mind putting in the extra time or effort to get these tasks done, Weiner says.No matter how hard you work, youre bound to get some negative feedback from time to time - after all, theres alway s room for improvement. So if you get the occasional reminder from your manager about something you could be doing better, you dont need to sweat it. But if you consistently hear them bringing up the same issue over and over, it may be cause for concern.Once your boss has talked to you about it a few times, if they dont see the change they want to see, you can expect that a warning is on the way, says Santopietro Panall. If you find yourself on the receiving end of repeated feedback, be sure you are VERY clear in your mind on what expected changes they are looking for or what goals/metrics they want you to hit before you get further warnings I cant tell you how many times I have sat in on termination meetings with an employee who has been given multiple warnings or is on what I thought to be a very clear performance improvement plan and they are confused or asking Why is this happening? even though they knew they were on thin ice.Even if you are taking the right steps to address t he issue at hand, make sure that youre communicating that with your manager so they know that you are taking their feedback seriously and are working on overcoming challenges.Clarity is going to help you at all times be clear on your role and the expectations, be clear on your boss concerns and pressures, be clear on the timing of events, be clear on what you can lay down to pick up new responsibilities, Santopietro Panall advises.In the most recent season of HBOs Silicon Valley , all-powerful Hooli CEO Gavin Belson passive aggressively expresses his annoyance with one of his employees by promoting him to a new position that requires him to move his desk to the basement, surrounded by nothing but servers and maintenance workers (oh, and a nice view of the mens restroom). While this is on the more extreme end of the spectrum, its still true that a significant change in your workplace settings could be a sign that your standing at work is less than solid.I once worked with a colleagu e whose office was right in the middle of all the action. She was situated next to the executives and she had the chance to interact with leadership every day. Unfortunately, she never seized the opportunity to demonstrate her value. She was soon relocated to an office on a different floor without any windows. She didnt take the hint to step up her game and her manager finally let her know that she wasnt fit for the job, Gardner shares. While Gardner acknowledges that its difficult to recover from an unfavorable relocation there are ways you can turn things around, she says. First, seek ways to add value specifically with respect to the companys goals. Next, make sure your work is visible in a way that isnt braggingbut demonstrates your contribution . Finally, seek feedback from your supervisor. Not all supervisors are generous with both positive and constructive feedback, so you sometimes have to ask for it to get it, she says.Everyone deals with bottlenecks at work - maybe you r manager is dragging their heels on reviewing an essential document, or your department head shuts down your budget proposal. Its perfectly normal for things like these to happen every once in a while, but if they become an every day (or more) occurrence, you may want to examine things a little more closely.Is it getting harder to arrange a time to meet with your boss? Are your requests constantly getting denied? Are you being given the most tedious tasks to complete? If so, this may be a sign that your supervisor is encouraging you to quit and avoiding the task of giving you constructive feedback, Gardner says.If this sounds familiar, its time to get proactive about preventing roadblocks before they pop up. Set a regular cadence to check in with your boss and establish mutual expectations on how you engage. Ask for feedback and do so often Focus on adding value, stay aware of the changing environment at work, and adapt to changing circumstances, Gardner recommends. While getti ng assigned more difficult, complex tasks over time is a good sign, feeling blocked at every turn is a definite red flag .

Q&A With Rose-Gaëlle Belinga, a Morgan Stanley Technology Associate

Q&A With Rose-Galle Belinga, a Morgan Stanley Technology AssociateQ&A With Rose-Galle Belinga, a Morgan Stanley Technology AssociateRose-Galle (R-G) Belinga is a Technology Associate in the Global Expiry System group at Morgan Stanley. R-G recently spoke with Vault about how she landed an internship and full-time location with Morgan Stanley, the best aspects of working for the firm, and the advice she has for students looking to pursue a career with a top financial services firm. Below is an excerpt of that conversation.VAULT Where did you grow up and go to school? And how did you find your way to Morgan Stanley?R-G I welches born and raised in Yaound, Cameroon. My father, who had studied abroad in New York City, encouraged me to also study abroad and gain exposure to other cultures. Thats how I ended up in Atlanta and Auburn. I received a Bachelor of Arts from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and a Bachelor in Software Engineering from Auburn University. I also got my Masters in So ftware Engineering from Auburn. While at Auburn, I did two internships at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. These internships were really exciting, and I truly enjoyed working with scientists and applying what I had learned in school.While in school, it welches difficult to find female role models, but the Association for Computing Machinery and the Society of Women Engineers (two associations I joined) were really helpful. They both had great communities. It welches through the Society of Women Engineers Conference that I found an internship at Morgan Stanley.At first I thought, Why would I want to work for a bank if I was interested in technology? But I was really impressed by what the representative from Morgan Stanley told me about the strong technology talent at the firm and the internship. In fact, what struck me the most was the fact that he knew exactly what he was looking for in an intern that the internship was merit-based, that I would be doing real work, and that he was quite enthusiastic about his job- that made a huge difference to me Also, I am someone who gets bored easily therefore, I was excited to learn that there are opportunities to move around and see different parts of the company. I ultimately started with Morgan Stanley as a Summer Analyst in Prime Brokerage Technology.VAULT Can you talk a little about your anfangsbuchstabe experiences at Morgan Stanley?R-G The internship was basically a 10-week interview where youre interviewing the company and they are interviewing you. I frequently met with different technology teams to understand the business unit better while gathering requirements for my summer project, which was a proof of concept for a new mobile application. Until then, I had never developed a mobile app Moreover, there were several social activities organized throughout the summer to encourage Summer Analysts to get to know each other- several of whom I am still close to- and get exposure to s enior management.The end of the program was the most memorable part for me, because I not only got to present my application to my group and to our business sponsors, but also because I was amazed by how much I had accomplished in such a short timeframe. This fantastic internship experience motivated me return to Morgan Stanley the following summer as a full-time employee.During the full-time training period you go through a well-defined series of accelerated courses which bring you up to speed with respect to how technology is used in the industry- whether inside or outside the firm. We also got the opportunity to work on small projects to showcase our ever-growing tech skills. In fact, I implemented web application games for this, which was quite fun. There are also a lot of activities and opportunities to bond with other trainees.At the end of your training program, you are given a list of teams that have Analyst openings, and you are matched with a team based on your preference- which area you are most excited about. It is almost like matchmaking. You give your top picks, and you are matched up with a team based on need and your skill set. You also get help from your mentor before giving your top choices, so you are not making your choices blindly. Through the training program, you are assigned a peer mentor as well as a more senior mentor.After the training program, I joined Morgan Stanley as a developer on the Listed Derivatives Clearing Technology team. After three years, I was offered the opportunity to switch to the Global Expiry System team and seized it. I wear multiple hats, but I pretty much implement and manage the complete software life cycle for each task I am given.VAULT What have you found to be some of the things at Morgan Stanleythat set it apart from its competitors, both in technology and in banking?R-G People often stress the differences between working in technology for a startup, a big tech firm, and a big bank, but I think this is a m isleading conversation. The tech companies and investment banks often work together. In fact, when you look at the core of our day-to-day duties, our main goal is to implement innovative technology solutions for our users, regardless of the domain.Since I have friends at tech companies and other banks- I regularly attend meet-ups, hackathons, and conferences- I am well aware of what many other companies are like. And one of the main features unique to Morgan Stanley, and what primarily drew me to the firm, is the company culture. It really fosters your career growth. As a matter of fact, my initial plan was to work here for two years , and now I have been here for five and counting The culture is very collaborative and collegiate. We help each other out. It is a fun place to work, with great people. Everyone really cares about you. It is like an international family. In fact, I met many of my best friends at work and love visiting several of them in Budapest and Montreal.The commitm ent to career growth and support is great, too. I was given great mentors, and I have had the chance to be a mentor myself, for Summer Analysts and new full-time hires. I love doing this as a way of giving back, since my mentors helped me so much.Also, as part of my job, I often have to make presentations to my team. And to help you learn how to do that better, theres a Toastmasters group within the company. Toastmasters is a public speaking group, and it has really helped me out, both with my career and outside the firm.Finally, along with technology, Im passionate about art. So I really appreciate that Morgan Stanley sponsors a lot of museums, and sometimes brings in famous writers and Broadway actors to speak. We can also attend receptions at museums and movie releases. It is great to have the opportunity to participate in such activities through work.VAULT Are you involved with initiatives within Morgan Stanley outside of your day-to-day job?R-G I am involved in a lot of our div ersity networks, such as the Women in Tech, as well as the Latino, Asian, and LGBTQA employee networking groups. These and other diversity groups all help a lot when it comes to personal growth, as well as recruiting and retention. Through them we get to learn so much about each other, and learn how to avoid unconscious bias by understanding the people we work with.VAULT What advice do you have for students about how they should go about getting a job, especially throughon-campus recruiting?R-G As far as interviewing, first, you should come prepared. Do your homework on the company. Second, you should be yourself. Dont worry about trying to impress your interviewer with things that arent true. And third, have fun and ask a lot of questions. Interviewing is a two-way street. Never forget that you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Ask yourself, is this a place I can see myself working?VAULT This is going to sound like an interview question, but where d o you see yourself in five years? R-G It is hard to know where I will be in the future nevertheless, when I look at my long-term goals, they are all under the umbrella of helping the weltumspannend community and working on technology that is making a difference.This post was sponsored byMorgan Stanley.

Refreshable Braille Display for teaching geometry to Visually Challenged

Refreshable blindenschrift Display for teaching geometry to Visually Challenged Refreshable Braille Display for teaching geometry to Visually Challenged Refreshable Braille Displayfor Teaching Geometry toVisually ChallengedPrabal Goyal Department of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology, DelhiThe IT revolution in the last two decades has made information available in a quick and cheap way. All students may find themselves challenged in todays fast moving and globally competitive environment, but students who are blind or visually challenged have additional difficulties. Every blind student needs to possess the same levels of information processing and manipulation skills as their classmates and keep developing them with the changing needs. For this they need advanced technologies, both hardware and software, to become litesatz in the modern world. This access is made available to them through a wide range of special devices and software, referred to as assistive techn ology 1. These innovative technological tools allow them to access information effectively.But, some other issues keep these products away from the intended users. Most of them suffer from very high cost such that they are not even close to being affordable to the blind people. Also, user-friendliness is another area where these tools need to be improved to make them successful in the market. Some of the products presently available are very complex to learn and use for the visually challenged.According to WHO 2, There are 45 million blind people in the world and 90 % of them live in the developing and less developed countries. The income in these countries is so low that they cannot even afford a white cane. Also, the literacy rate of blind children in fruchtwein of the developing countries is less than 10% 3. These facts make it clear that there is an urgent need to develop simple, low-cost and user-friendly devices to serve the vast population of visually challenged people livin g around the world.A Refreshable Braille Display is a tactile device consisting of a row of soft cells. A soft cell has 6 or 8 pins made of metal or nylon. The pins are controlled electronically to move up and down to display characters as they appear on the display of the source system - usually a computer or Braille note taker. Various Braille Displays have been developed over the past few decades. One of the first developments was the Braille Slate and Stylus system (Figure 1(a)), which is still used by blind people to read and write Braille text. But, over the years with the changing requirements of the users there has been a shift towards Refreshable Braille Displays. The first form of Refreshable Braille Display used mechanical actuation of array of pins to provide character realization. Thereafter, electro-mechanical displays (Figure 1(b)) were developed where various actuation mechanisms were used to provide the refreshable property to the Braille cells. Further attempts wer e made with Electro-active polymers, Shape Memory Alloys, Motor based actuators but none of the products was commercially used.Figure 1 (a) Braille Slate Stylus (b) Refreshable Braille Display (Source www.afb.org)Refreshable Braille Displays have been well studied for several years, but there is tremendous scope for product improvement. The product being developed is a step towards it as it would have most of the improvements required in the presently available products in the market. Some of the improvements have been listed belowBetter Functionality Multiple Line DisplayCheaper Technology Low Cost Actuation MechanismGood Refreshing Rate Fast ResponseFlexible Design Extendable to Larger Matrix of Braille pins.In the project, a prototype has been developed using 5X5 array of electro-magnetic actuators. This prototype was integrated with the computer to take up input image, process it and produce tactile output. The concept can be extended to larger grid sizes which can be used for full page displays. In the prototype, low-cost electromagnetic actuators have been used which makes the concept simple and easy to develop further.The product will enable visually challenged people to realize patterns other than simple characters. Therefore, they will be able to process complete information i.e. simple text as well as images from digital documents.Figure 2 Pattern Realization with the developed Braille DisplayReferences 1. Assistive technology for students who are Blind or Visually impaired A Guide to Assessment, Ike Presley and Frances Mary DAndrea, AFB Press, 20082. Vision 2020 The Right to Sight. 2010. Blindness and Visual Impairment international Facts.3. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1706061/

5 effective ways to overcome setbacks in life

5 effective ways to overcome setbacks in life5 effective ways to overcome setbacks in lifeI had been assigned to my first FBI field office for less than one year when I was unexpectedly transferred across the country and given 30 days to report to my new office. The FBI likes to landsee how new agents overcome setbacks in their personal life and survive surprises in their career and still manage to land on their feet.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraWeve all started over in a different environment, lost a job or had a relationship fail. We grapple for a lifeline as we struggle to overcome ansicht setbacks. We feel the tug of war between a cerebral brain that thinks its way through problems and an emotional limbic brain ordnungsprinzip that feels its way around.To us, it feels as though each of these brain components have their own agenda, and at some point a certain amount of par alysis can set in as the two brains fight for dominance. Technically, this is what happens in post-traumatic stress disorder. The prefrontal cortex of the cerebral thinking brain loses its ability to regulate theemotional limbic system. While we may not experience the full impact of PTSD, stress and anxiety, they can still affect ur ability to make the best decisions.We can develop a strong mind when we find ways to get the cognitive and emotional parts of the brain to cooperate.Mental toughnessinvolves the ability to experience discomfort yet still feel comfortable. A setback doesnt have to be the end of the story. In fact, a setback might be exactly what we need to get where we want to be.Here are five effective ways to overcome setbacks in life1. Start with a minor source of uneasinessWhen we move out of our core competency, we often feel vulnerable and weak, not unlike how we feel when confronted with a setback. We no longer feel in control because we dont have the right answers or feel uncertainty about our choices.To overcome setbacks, we need a beginners mind that leaves behind old assumptions and gropes for new ways to move forward. This is exactly the mindset we need when confronted with obstacles and adversity We may not be able to rely upon our developed skills as we face a new barrier or challenge, but if weve continually and deliberately placed ourselves in situations that are beyond our core competency, were mora prepared to deal with the unknown.With experience and practice, we can predict our response to the unknown with greater accuracy. This is another important component of mental toughness - the ability to choose our response when confronted with the unknown rather than simply react to our circumstances.How to make it work for you Identify a minor source of uneasiness that clearly places you in a discomfort zone - but not in a panic mode. When you do, you begin totrain your emotional and thinking brains to communicate with one another. St art small so it doesnt put your emotional limbic system into survival mode. However, the challenge does need to be big enough to generate a physical reaction.For example, if you fear public speaking, the thought of your performance can cause palms to sweat and heart rate to increase. These physiological responses are triggered by yourfear response- which is housed in your limbic system. Start with a small group so you can experience the physiological responses. Prepare your talk and deliver it with confidence. Next time, speak in front of a larger group, etc.2. Pinpoint where your fear is coming fromThe limbic system is powerful we often have a visceral reaction to a situation before we have a conscious awareness of it. This is called ntzlich reaction. Studies have shown that we can use our thinking brain to control our limbic system if we do two thingsRecognize what has happenedTell ourselves that there is no reason to react with fearIf we force ourselves to use our cognitive func tion, we activate theprefrontal lobe of the cerebral cortex which can generate positive thoughts. Once we call attention to our fears, were able to see them in a different, and often more objective, light.How to make it work for you When you experience stress or anxiety that is produced from a fear, your brains amygdala triggers negative emotions. When this happens, observe your thoughts and feelings but dont chase them Take a deep breath and ask yourself, Have I overreacted? What triggered this response?Over time, youll get better at it because life tends to offer several fire alarms over the years, and eventually youll learn not to jump out the window every time.3. Get to know your fearStudies have foundthat when you call your emotion by name, it lessens the limbic systems activity. When you accurately identify and describe your discomfort, you lessen the power of the fear associated with it.When your fear is left in darkness, it will grow and sabotage your efforts to move forward . Dont hesitate to pinpoint your fear and spend a little time with it. The more you get to know it, the better you can control it.Similar researchhas found that it is important to limit your description of your fear to one or two words. If you engage in a long soliloquy, it will onlyheighten your responseand produce adverse effects.The ability to overcome setbacks and move on is the definition of resilience. Accept what you cannot change and choose a more productive response. No one enjoys stress and discomfort, but they can help you grow.How to make it work for you The next time youre stuck in traffic, resist the temptation to honk the horn, beat the steering wheel or shout obscenities. Instead, view the traffic jam as an opportunity to get better control of your emotions. Again, identify the specific emotion you feel and why you feel it. Acknowledge it and own it. Do this over and over when you do, you change the way your brain functions. You cant erase a negative encounter from y our consciousness, but you can park it in a place where you can deal with it at a later time.4. Get comfortable with your discomfortMost of our discomfort is fed by our fears - fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of embarrassment, etc. Once weve stared it down, its easier to become comfortable with our discomfort because fear is no longer the monster that lurks in the dark. The more we know about it, the better we can control the circumstances that cause it to rear its ugly head.At the very least, we can predict our emotional responses and head off unproductive ones before we sabotage ourselves.Its possible to get comfortable with your discomfort. If you can walk on scorching hot beach sand as you make your way to the cool water of the ocean, youve got the gist of a strong mind. The discomfort is there, you are aware of it, and while it doesnt feel great, it co-exists with the pleasure of a day on the beach.Pain is inevitable suffering is optional. Buddhist proverbHow to make it w ork for you Dont look at setbacks as failures because this attitude distorts your view of reality. Without a clear perception of reality, you cant see how to pivot, solve, or make progress around a setback. Psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen states in his book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life that the way we overcome setbacks wont unfold in a linear progression. As he puts it, no one gets better in a straight line. Growth is always about up-and-down struggles.5. Expect the worstAs entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners, you already know that setbacks are routine. The trick is to anticipate them. Ask yourself, What is the worst that could happen? That way youre never surprised by what the day brings instead, youre prepared for it.This is not about pessimism, its about reality. When we contemplate negative events in advance, nothing takes us by surprise. Its wise to imagine every conceivable setback so we can make plans on how to cope with them. We wont be rattled and can stay calm wh en they do show up.Begin each day by telling yourself Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness.- Marcus AureliusHow to make it work for you Distinguish between setbacks and roadblocks. Setbacks can slow you down but wont actually stop you. Roadblocks are like strips of flypaper you get caught and they can threaten your progress. Because both setbacks and roadblocks are unavoidable, build extra fluff time into your daily schedule. If every belastung minute is chock full of meetings and deadlines, a little blunder or miscalculation can disrupt your entire day.This article first appeared in SmartBrief. You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of m entally strong people5 effective ways to overcome setbacks in lifeWeve all started over in a different environment, lost a job or had a relationship fail. We grapple for a lifeline as we struggle to overcome these setbacks. We feel the tug of war between a cerebral brain that thinks its way through problems and an emotional limbic brain system that feels its way around.To us, it feels as though each of these brain components have their own agenda, and at some point a certain amount of paralysis can set in as the two brains fight for dominance. Technically, this is what happens in post-traumatic stress disorder. The prefrontal cortex of the cerebral thinking brain loses its ability to regulate theemotional limbic system. While we may not experience the full impact of PTSD, stress and anxiety, they can still affect our ability to make the best decisions.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, an d moreWe can develop a strong mind when we find ways to get the cognitive and emotional parts of the brain to cooperate.Mental toughnessinvolves the ability to experience discomfort yet still feel comfortable. A setback doesnt have to be the end of the story. In fact, a setback might be exactly what we need to get where we want to be.Here are five effective ways to overcome setbacks in life1. Start with a minor source of uneasinessWhen we move out of our core competency, we often feel vulnerable and weak, not unlike how we feel when confronted with a setback. We no longer feel in control because we dont have the right answers or feel uncertainty about our choices.To overcome setbacks, we need a beginners mind that leaves behind old assumptions and gropes for new ways to move forward. This is exactly the mindset we need when confronted with obstacles and adversity We may not be able to rely upon our developed skills as we face a new barrier or challenge, but if weve continually and d eliberately placed ourselves in situations that are beyond our core competency, were more prepared to deal with the unknown.With experience and practice, we can predict our response to the unknown with greater accuracy. This is another important component of mental toughness - the ability to choose our response when confronted with the unknown rather than simply react to our circumstances.How to make it work for you Identify a minor source of uneasiness that clearly places you in a discomfort zone - but not in a panic mode. When you do, you begin totrain your emotional and thinking brains to communicate with one another. Start small so it doesnt put your emotional limbic system into survival mode. However, the challenge does need to be big enough to generate a physical reaction.For example, if you fear public speaking, the thought of your performance can cause palms to sweat and heart rate to increase. These physiological responses are triggered by yourfear response- which is hou sed in your limbic system. Start with a small group so you can experience the physiological responses. Prepare your talk and deliver it with confidence. Next time, speak in front of a larger group, etc.2. Pinpoint where your fear is coming fromThe limbic system is powerful we often have a visceral reaction to a situation before we have a conscious awareness of it. This is called gut reaction. Studies have shown that we can use our thinking brain to control our limbic system if we do two thingsRecognize what has happenedTell ourselves that there is no reason to react with fearIf we force ourselves to use our cognitive function, we activate theprefrontal lobe of the cerebral cortex which can generate positive thoughts. Once we call attention to our fears, were able to see them in a different, and often more objective, light.How to make it work for you When you experience stress or anxiety that is produced from a fear, your brains amygdala triggers negative emotions. When this happens, observe your thoughts and feelings but dont chase them Take a deep breath and ask yourself, Have I overreacted? What triggered this response?Over time, youll get better at it because life tends to offer several fire alarms over the years, and eventually youll learn not to jump out the window every time.3. Get to know your fearStudies have foundthat when you call your emotion by name, it lessens the limbic systems activity. When you accurately identify and describe your discomfort, you lessen the power of the fear associated with it.When your fear is left in darkness, it will grow and sabotage your efforts to move forward. Dont hesitate to pinpoint your fear and spend a little time with it. The more you get to know it, the better you can control it.Similar researchhas found that it is important to limit your description of your fear to one or two words. If you engage in a long soliloquy, it will onlyheighten your responseand produce adverse effects.The ability to overcome setbacks a nd move on is the definition of resilience. Accept what you cannot change and choose a more productive response. No one enjoys stress and discomfort, but they can help you grow.How to make it work for you The next time youre stuck in traffic, resist the temptation to honk the horn, beat the steering wheel or shout obscenities. Instead, view the traffic jam as an opportunity to get better control of your emotions. Again, identify the specific emotion you feel and why you feel it. Acknowledge it and own it. Do this over and over when you do, you change the way your brain functions. You cant erase a negative encounter from your consciousness, but you can park it in a place where you can deal with it at a later time.4. Get comfortable with your discomfortMost of our discomfort is fed by our fears - fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of embarrassment, etc. Once weve stared it down, its easier to become comfortable with our discomfort because fear is no longer the monster that lurks in the dark. The more we know about it, the better we can control the circumstances that cause it to rear its ugly head.At the very least, we can predict our emotional responses and head off unproductive ones before we sabotage ourselves.Its possible to get comfortable with your discomfort. If you can walk on scorching hot beach sand as you make your way to the cool water of the ocean, youve got the gist of a strong mind. The discomfort is there, you are aware of it, and while it doesnt feel great, it co-exists with the pleasure of a day on the beach.Pain is inevitable suffering is optional. Buddhist proverbHow to make it work for you Dont look at setbacks as failures because this attitude distorts your view of reality. Without a clear perception of reality, you cant see how to pivot, solve, or make progress around a setback. Psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen states in his book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life that the way we overcome setbacks wont unfold in a linear progression. As he p uts it, no one gets better in a straight line. Growth is always about up-and-down struggles.5. Expect the worstAs entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners, you already know that setbacks are routine. The trick is to anticipate them. Ask yourself, What is the worst that could happen? That way youre never surprised by what the day brings instead, youre prepared for it.This is not about pessimism, its about reality. When we contemplate negative events in advance, nothing takes us by surprise. Its wise to imagine every conceivable setback so we can make plans on how to cope with them. We wont be rattled and can stay calm when they do show up.Begin each day by telling yourself Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness.- Marcus AureliusHow to make it work for you Distinguish between setbacks and roadblocks. Setbacks can slow you down but wont actually stop you. Roadblocks are like strips of flypaper - you get caught and th ey can threaten your progress. Because both setbacks and roadblocks are unavoidable, build extra fluff time into your daily schedule. If every last minute is chock full of meetings and deadlines, a little blunder or miscalculation can disrupt your entire day.This article originally appeared on LaRae Quy.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people