Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural Areas

Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural Areas Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural Areas Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural AreasI spent two years in a rural Tanzanian village learning how to collaborate while developing water distribution and kogas infrastructure projects. The process was tedious, nonlinear, and I encountered a major learning curve. But the motivation to create tools that others could use and to provide them with the guidance they need when developing their own projects made the whole experience worthwhile. During that time I saw firsthand that engineering in low-resource environments requires deeper planning and a greater understanding of how to use locally available resources.The first tool I worked on related to the planning and development of a water distribution system. The community I was in had access to piped water from a catchment built in the mountains adjacent to the village. This access was extremely bene ficial in terms of reducing time and energy for water collection, compared to toting buckets long distances.Join ASME and Leading Industry Experts for Offshore Wind Turbine Webinar seriesRead More on Sustainability Engineers Know Their OystersThe water distribution system was constantly expanding to provide central taps to more neighborhoods. But the capacity of the system was unclear, making it difficult to predict how much the catchment could expand before it would no longer meet the demand of all of its users.This question led to the development of a planning and expansion tool programmed on open source software (EPANET) that allowed users to evaluate the flow and pressure in a system. And it only required available tools such as a bucket, a stopwatch, a measuring tape, access to a GPS, and a computer.Construction of a biogas plant in Tanzania. Photo Micah MacAllen (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)By creating a low-resource tool that could be used by people of varied backgroundsnot merely techni cal professionalsmore would be able to help plan for the continued expansion of tapped water throughout a community.The development of the second tool stemmed from an understanding that firewood, the areas most prevalent cooking fuel, was not the most effective or reliable fuel to use when cooking meals at the local schools. School administrators eventually decided that biogas would be a viable alternative fuel. It was clear that the administration needed a tool to evaluate what type and scale of biogas digester would be appropriate for the setting.Read ASMEs Top Story Air Taxi Aces Test FlightWe employed a solution that combined simple calculations based on the number of users and the proportion of their time spent at school. We also included a entwurf matrix to rate the effectiveness of each digester type against design and environmental parameters, to ultimately evaluate which type would be the most suitable solution at the school.Like the water system planning tool, this biogas solution was a synthesized and simplified resource that practitioners of diverse backgrounds could use. It created transparency in the design process to allow users to compare the major costs of a biogas plant with the expected yields. It also gave the user the resources they needed to make an informed decision about a large infrastructure project.Listen to the latest episode of ASME TechCast Breakthrough Could Bring New Cancer TreatmentUltimately these tools were not novel research but rather a culmination of existing resources, made accessible to a wider audience and demonstrated as effective when used in a community case-study example. And these types of tools are important because they help to break down the barriers of engineering projects in low-resource environments.Just as engineers dont all come from one background, engineering projects dont need to occur in one setting. And to continue to broaden these settings, we have the opportunity to further enhance access by developi ng tools that enable open source sharing and can be utilized in low-resource environments.Megan Richardson is a global development expert. I saw firsthand that engineering in low-resource environments requires deeper planning and a greater understanding of how to use locally available resources.Megan Richardson

Top 7 Reasons Not to Apply for a Job

Top 7 Reasons notlage to Apply for a JobTop 7 Reasons Not to Apply for a JobEmployers list job requirements when they advertise open positions for a reason. They want to hire the person who is the best-qualified applicant for the job. For most jobs, hiring managers have a good selection of qualified candidates and arent interested in those who dont have the qualifications. The employer has determined that those skills are necessary for success on the job. In addition, the employer wants to reduce the applicant pool so they can review the credentials of only the most qualified applicants for the job. So, sometimes it can make sense to save your time and not apply to a job. Heres when to consider other options. Top 7 Reasons Not to Apply for a Job Short on Skills If you dont have the skills and qualifications the employer is seeking, think twice about submitting an application. Many job postings list the skill platzset required for the position, and if you dont have at least most o f them you wont be considered.Dont Have the Experience Most employers require a certain amount of experience when seeking applicants. That information should be clearly listed in the posting. For example, these employers require a minimum number of years of experience5 years experience with SQL.2 - 3 years experience in an office environment.4 - 5 years or mora of proven experience.10 years of sales experience, preferably within the high tech industry.If youre close you might be considered but if you fall significantly short you wont be. Short on Educational Requirements In some cases, employers list educational requirements. Youll need to meet those requirements in order to be chosen for an interview.Here are some examplesBachelors Degree in a related field (i.e., English, Math, Chemistry).Masters degree in Student Personnel Administration, Counseling, or another appropriate field.High School Diploma required.As with experience, if youre close you might be considered. If you have t he degree, but a different major and appropriate work experience its worth applying. The Job or Company Isnt a Fit Sometimes, the job or the company simply isnt a match for what you want for your next job. It could be that you dont have the job requirements or that you have a different concept of fun than the company does.Looking for someone with a progressive career and would have some good tenure at each employer (spent at least 5 years with each).You like the idea of coming to work in jeans.We try to do a team activity every week, often friendly video games, basketball games or yoga.With these types of requirements, the employer is looking for a certain type of person who will be the best fit for the job and the organization. These arent always as definitive as some of the other job requirements. However, do be sure that the requirements and the company culture make you feel like youd love to work there rather than making youcringe at the thought of having to do some of the on-th e-job and extra-curricular activities. Live in the Wrong Place Because there are three applicants for every job it can be hard to get hired for a job in a different location. Its easier for employers to hire locally than it is to relocate a new hire. However, it can be worth applying if you have the flexibility to interview and relocate on short notice. For higher level positions, there are even more opportunities to get hired because the expectation is that the top level candidates may not be local.Cant Work the Schedule. If the job says that travel is required or that you need to be available for flexible hours that is what youll be expected to do. Here are some examplesMust be able to work the scheduled/assigned times and required overtime for the position.Ability to travel greater than 50% or as required.Must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays.Expect shift work, including weekends and holidays, on rotation.Dont expect an employer to change those requirements for you. In most cases, it wont happen. Be sure that you have the flexibility to work the job schedule before you apply. Short on Connections For some jobs, especially sales, youll be expected to have a network of contacts and clients that you can tap. Be sure that you have the client base or connections youll need for success on the job. mora Reasons Not to Apply for a Job Avoid Job Search RejectionSome of the toughest things about job searching are getting rejected or being ignored and not hearing back. That can happen anyway, but its much more likely when youre applying for jobs that arent a good fit. From a personal perspective as well as a professional one, youll minimize rejection if you apply for the jobs you are the most qualified for. When Youre Not QualifiedWhen you apply for jobs that are a stretch, at best, youre not only wasting the employers time youre also wasting your own. For example, one job seeker I know really wanted to work for Microsoft. He applied for every job h e could find online and there are many, of course. He was rejected from all of them. There are ways to get hired by your dream company, but thats not one of them. Heres more on how to decide what jobs to apply for and how to decode a job advertisement so youknow what the employer is looking for. When Its a Close CallIf its borderline and you have most of the qualifications, its different.In that case, all you have to lose is your time. If the applicant pool is small, you may have a chance of getting an interview. Here are some guidelines on when not to apply for a job More Factors to Consider When Applying There are other factors involved in determining whether to apply for a job. These are more flexible, and it can be easier to tailor your application materials to enhance your credentials. You can mix and match your qualifications for the job. Equivalent Experience and Educational RequirementsIn some cases, having experience equivalent to the degree requirements is acceptable. For example BA required. In lieu of degree, 5 years of relevant experience.Will also consider three years of progressive experience in the specialty in lieu of every year of education. These requirements offer some leeway, so if youre not sure apply and let the employer decide. Heres how to mention equivalent experience in a cover letter. When Requirements Are Preferred but Not RequiredWhen employers list preferred requirements, youll have a better chance of getting hired even if youre not a perfect match. Do be sure to list your closest qualifications in your resume and cover letter. A High School Diploma or GED is preferred but not required.Minimum four (4) year college degree strongly preferred.Must have High School Diploma or GED. Paid Work Experience vs. Other ExperienceOne thing to remember when youre deciding whether to apply is that your experience doesnt have to all be paid work experience. Internships and summer jobs count. So does volunteer experience and other activities . Be sure to include them when youre making the case for getting selected to interview. Match Your Qualifications to the Job Description Even when you have all the right stuff, its essential to match your strongest qualifications to the job. You need to show the hiring manager that youre qualified. They arent going to figure it out for themselves.

General Motors Chief Talent Officer on innovation at scale

General Motors Chief Talent Officer on innovation at scaleGeneral Motors Chief Talent Officer on innovation at scaleThe challenge of injecting innovation into large, staid, and stalled organizations has long vexed leaders, consultants, and academics. The list of failed efforts goes on and on, including Yahoo, Motorola, Blackberry, Sears, HP, Kodak, RadioShack, and that terrible merger between Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz. Yet there are exceptions. Some tired old companies do turn vibrant. And there are well-told stories about how and why old struggling companies have beat the odds and changed their cultures, practices, and products for the better - although it is important to remember that nothing life is permanent, so such successes are best viewed as temporary and precarious.My favorite such stories include Lou Gerstners Who Says Elephants Cant Dance, which I riff on for the title of this piece. Gerstner details how he led IBMs turnaround when innovation welches stalled and the coll ective energy of the company was focused on politics, in-fighting, and preservation of outdated traditions rather than excellence. And IBM customers were routinely confused and neglected by the company. Creativity INC describes how, after Steve Jobs sold Pixar to Disney, President Ed Catmull and others from Pixar revitalized the spirit, confidence, and storytelling at the iconic but then struggling Disney Animation Studios. And one of the best such tales is James Surowieckis 1998 New Yorker piece The Billion Dollar Blade. It tells how a group of insiders at Gillette banded together to oust leaders who were leading the company into commodity hell and returned to Gillettes roots as a product innovator.I have a new candidate for anyone intrigued with the nitty-gritty of instilling innovation at scale Michael Arenas new book Adaptive Space. I read an advance copy several months ago and was taken with the instructive blend of theory and research (especially on social network theory and i nnovation), stories about GM and other companies, and practical advice about what actually works. The book is compelling and fun to read, and accomplishes this without a hint of breathless hype or exaggeration.Many Silicon Valley companies that were once cute smart little startups but are turning into big dumb companies could a learn a lot from Adaptive Space (including Tesla). As Michael shows, making innovation happen in a big company is a lot different than in little one. Michaels book will be released tomorrow and we dropped our Stanford ecorner FRICTION podcast with Michael yesterday - which we titled Agile on Edges Managing Misfits. (You can listen to it, or if you prefer, read the transcript).I cant quite believe that I am praising book written by a GM executive. A decade ago, I was convinced that GM was doomed because it had a broken culture (based on frequent direct and indirect interactions with the firms managers and executives). In 2008, I wrote a very critical post abo ut the company that argued GMs core competence was captured by the phrase No We Cant - GM managers were the most skilled people I had ever met at explaining why, although they knew better ways to do things, it wasnt a good idea for GM to do them. They were a perfect illustration of The Knowing-Doing Gap, which Jeff Pfeffer and I wrote about back in 2000. And you likely recall that the company did, in fact, did go through Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2009 and was bailed out by the U.S. Government.What a difference a decade makes. GM paid back the money. Under CEO Mary Barras leadership, GM is financially healthy (some analysts make the case that the stock market undervalues GM, especially compared to Tesla). And, based on my admittedly biased view, the no we cant mindset is fading fast and innovation is evident in more and more GM people, practices, and products.The beauty of Michaels book - and our conversation on the FRICTION podcast - is that he digs into powerful nuances the prope l innovation in big companies. He has much insight into how to dampen and overcome bad friction in big companies like General Motors, and about when friction is useful too - including resistance to new ideas, conflict over how promising new ideas should be realized, and careful (and sometimes slow) development of promising ideas before they are implemented at scale. He explains that, yes, some parts of big companies can and should be entrepreneurial, experimental, move fast, and do risky things but it would be a disaster if everyone acted that way. Following work on the ambidextrous organization, he suggests that big companies must also simultaneously accomplish the routine, proven, and well-rehearsed stuff that makes money right now.I was taken with Michaels analogy that, to strike the right balance between scale and speed, he thinks of the core of a big company as much like a supertanker - where routine things happen, people have well-defined roles, and changes in direction are made with much forethought and unfold slowly. On the edges, however, are many speedboats, which move fast, travel to many new places, and try new things - all without affecting life on the supertanker. Many speedboats fail. Those that succeed get bigger and bigger, and when they become really successful, often come aboard and become part of the supertankers operations.Michaels insights about how to manage the links between the supertanker and the speedboats are especially useful. Drawing heavily on social network theory, Michael suggests that, while having very smart people is important to innovation, more and more research suggests having the right blend of people and positions in the network, and creating the right connections between them, is the key to being a big innovative organization - for binding together what happens in the supertanker and in the speedboats. For example, he talks a lot about challengers, people who break through the current status quo, and see a differen t set of possibilities The key, however, is that constructive challenges arent just complainers and critics - they dont just annoy and distract their colleagues, and thus create dysfunctional friction. Instead, they help break down the brick wall or pull other people and their ideas through the brick wall so that it can become the new big idea. And, as Michael added, they either have solutions to problems they complain about or ideas about how to develop solutions.Our interview and Adaptive Space unpacks the different kinds of roles and people that work together to bring new ideas into the core of social networks. Michael pointed out that ideas developed inside small teams are 43% more likely to be rejected by the larger organization. But when new ideas are advanced by energizers - people who leave others feeling more motivated and enthusiastic about their work, themselves, and the organization - the new ideas are far more likely be heard and spread. The implication, which has be en around the innovation literature for a long time, is that the most successful innovators are adept at getting others excited about new ideas, about their roles in helping to develop and spread the ideas, and about selling the ideas to outsiders. Or if they are skilled at finding or inventing new ideas, but arent adept energizers, they make innovation happen by teaming up with expert energizers. Steve Jobs and Thomas Edison were master energizers, but neither of those famous innovators had the best technical skills in their companies or industries. They become renowned innovators by teaming-up with more skilled inventors and technologists.I also like Michaels observation many of the best innovations already exist inside the organizations that need those ideas. He explains that social networks play a crucial role in finding and spreading these good but largely unknown and unused internal ideas. The role of brokers is key - these are people with connections to diverse people, group s, and ideas inside and outside of the organization. Because they have their fingers in so many different pies, brokers are often the first to learn about good ideas in their organizations and are in position to spread them to places where the ideas are not known or used. Michael says that brokers often uncover positive deviance, pockets where great things are happening and that most of their colleagues dont know about. For example, Michael talks about a nurse at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia who knew about an area that had far lower rates of MRSA infections than elsewhere the hospital. The nurse attributed these lower rates to a janitor named Jasper Plummer. He taught doctors and nurses to remove their splattered surgical gowns in a way that sealed the soiled gowns in their surgical gloves. That method made his clean-up job easier and isolated the infection in the gloves. That nurse is a textbook example of a broker Her connections to that unit meant she was one of the on ly a few people who knew about that practice and was also connected to the many other people and parts of the hospital who could benefit from using it - and thus Plummers practice was spread it throughout the medical center.A final thought about Michael Arenas attitude and perspective. When we talked, Michael acknowledged my grumpy assertions that life in organizations is often messed up, frustrating, and exhausting. Yet he did not want to dwell on the causes and symptoms of dysfunctional friction that are rampant in nearly all big organizations. He wanted to talk about how to overcome and remove these and other obstacles to innovation - and he especially wanted to talk about the good things in organizations, and how networks enable people to use their connections to find, develop, and scale good ideas. Michaels Adaptive Space, Lou Gerstners Who Says Elephants Cant Dance, and Ed Catmulls Creativity INC differ in many ways. The authors of all three of these wonderful books, however , have the same perspective on what it takes to fix a big stalled company You cant let the bad news and setbacks get to you down. Your job is to make things a little bit better each day. And there is always something constructive you can do to make that happen.Bob Sutton is aStanford Professorwho studies and writes about leadership, organizational change, and navigating organizational life. Follow me on Twitterwork_matters, and visit mywebsiteand posts onLinkedIn. My latest book isThe Ahole Survival Guide How To Deal With People Who Treat You Like Dirt.Before that, I publishedScaling Up Excellencewith Huggy Rao.My main focus these days is on working with Huggy Rao to develop strategies and tools that help leaders and teamschange their organizations for the better- with a particular focus onorganizational friction.Check out my Stanford FRICTION PodcastatiTunesorSticher.Thisarticlefirst appeared on LinkedIn.

A trendier professional wardrobe

A trendier professional wardrobeA trendier professional wardrobeThe work dress code is enough of a landmine as it is, with its myriad variations and elusive interpretations, that it is no wonder that sometimes the last thing employees (or even executives) dare to do is tread the changing waters of trends. But there is something to be said for having a little fun with and, believe it or not, expressing a little personality through, ones work clothes. While there is no scripted recipe to do so, below are some ideas that bring it as close to a science as possible.(1) Accessorize. Accessorizing can be the least expensive and lowest-commitment way to channel a trend.Women. Wrap a snake print belt around a conservative pair of dark womens pants. Hang a collar necklace, arguably one of the biggest trends of the season, above a neutral-colored blouse. Refrain from cocktailing one too many attention-grabbing pieces all at once, lest you end up channeling a Christmas tree. Easy does it.Men. Ad d a pocket square in a commanding hue or eye-catching print to a solid mens suit. Wear a tie, a pair of cufflinks, a wristwatch or carry a briefcase that showcases your taste, but remember it must be tasteful (this is not an endorsement of humorous ties).(2) Incorporate colors and prints. Flip through a fashion magazine or online fashion blog to identify which colors or prints strike your fancy.Women. A floral print scarf tied above an ivory blouse or a paisley cardigan over a solid shirt injects life into a drab outfit without hijacking your work look. Pops of color can also feature in your accessories, like an emerald blue statement necklace.Men. Show you are in tune with the bold-color trend by donning a pair of fuchsia socks with a dark gray suit and black leather shoes. Pocket squares and ties are a great canvas for brighter colors and prints, while dress shirts can play this role if the trend is dark or muted, like a forest green or pale pink.(3) Consider fabrics and cuts. Sig ning on to a trend in fabric or cut takes the most commitment, as it requires you to add another jacket or bottom to your repertoire.Women. Take a work pant collection consisting mostly of straight-leg pants and raise it up a notch by adding a pair of skinny pants or wide-leg pants. Similarly, a high-waist skirt and a full skirt can enhance a collection of interchangeable work skirts. Switch up a regular blazer or suit jacket by putting into rotation a menswear-inspired jacket, a feminine cropped jacket or, this seasons favorite, a peplum jacket.Men. In a business casual environment (where matching suit jackets are not required), opt for jackets made of tweed or corduroy, or with a trendy print, like herringbone or tartan. Incorporate various textures through ties and tie knots that range from small to Windsor thick.When all is said and done, your outfit should still be a work outfit. Your heels should not tower out of work-mode and into club territory, your blouse should not have a plunging neckline, your ties and other accessories should be tasteful. If you manage to mix in a trend subtly and avoid a case of the blahs in the morning, then consider your job well done. Showing that youve thought twice about your work wardrobe doesnt make you frivolous, it shows that you see it as an essential part of your identity, precisely because you are committed to your career.

Programmer Analyst Job Description

Programmer Analyst Job DescriptionProgrammer Analyst Job DescriptionProgrammer Analyst Job DescriptionThis programmer analyst sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements.Programmer Analyst Job ResponsibilitiesAccomplishes software requirements by developing and maintaining applications and databases.Programmer Analyst Job DutiesIdentifies requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual clients and with other persons in a position to understand service requirements.Arranges project requirements in programming sequence by analyzing requirements preparing a work flow chart and diagram using knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, programming language, and logic.Programs the computer by encoding project requirements in computer language entering coded information into the computer.Confirms program operation by conducting tests modifying program sequence and/or codes.Provides reference for use of prime and personal computers by writing and maintaining user documentation maintaining a help desk.Maintains computer systems and programming guidelines by writing and updating policies and procedures.Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops reviewing professional publications establishing personal networks participating in professional societies.Keeps equipment operational by calling for repairs following manufacturers instructions and established procedures evaluating new equipment.Protects operations by keeping information confidential.Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.Develops and maintains applications and databases by evaluating client needs analyzing requirements developing software systems.Programmer Analyst Skills and QualificationsAnalyzing Information , C, aufgabe Solving , Attention to Detail, Software Design, Software Debugging, Software Development Fundamentals, Software Documentation, Software Testing, Software Requirements, Software Development ProcessEmployers Post a job in minutes to reach candidates everywhere. Job Seekers Search jobs and apply on now. Learn more aboutthe hiring processVideo How to Conduct an InterviewMake the most of Hiring ToolsMaximize your Job Description Results

The Number One Article on Reume Template

The Number One Article on Reume Template You may easily copy the format of yur preferred template when youre making your very own medical resume. Our creative templates let you stick out from the crowd. Sometimes all you will need is a timeless style template thats clean, clear and right to the point. When deciding on the best template for yourself, follow an additional tip, please. Show your upcoming employer your degree of expertise and be as detailed as possible Its ideal for a professional who works in social networking or internet marketing. When youre asking for a job which relies on the strengths of the person, you want a resume template that you could inject a little mora personality into to make it pop. A complete pick for candidates with a great deal of experience who desire to have a really good one-page resume template. Utilizing a template can lessen the quantity of time you must spend formatting your document, which enables you to concentrate on adding content and polishing your resume. Most of our Resume Templates can be found in various color schemes to give you better editing opportunities. Highlight the text youd love to use the formatting to. The formatting may shift or break if used with different applications, although it ought to be easily modifiable to appear correct. Reume Template - the Story Youre now able to earn a fantastic first impact with professional styling and personalized appearance. Try to remember this specific template is perfect for people with some or significant work experience only. It is possible to edit the color along with the content with no trouble. This minimal template provides you with the chance to present yourself in an extremely professional yet beweglich way. You are able to change the colors if you want. All prior versions, for instance, present edition, will nonetheless be available. While browsing our selection, you will soon observe the broad variety of fashions and colours. The manne r of functional, chronological, and combination are three major forms of the resume. After you add your private stamp to it through imputing your specific abilities, professional experiences, and wording, it is going to stand from the crowd for all of the appropriate factors. The net has affected peoples reading behavior through the years. All you need to do is point and click. Double check to make certain that everything on the last version of the resume is about you. In the world today, a very first impression can either make or break your odds of landing your dream job. Possessing a strong resume doesnt necessarily signify you will land the job, but it is a wonderful way to make certain you receive the interview. Sometimes all that you will need is to reorder a couple of bullet points. If you wish to receive a nice job, you require a good resume. Reume Template - Dead or Alive? Business cards are also included to finish the look. All you need to do is simply edit the d ocument to include your own personal info. You also receive a feeling of what information you do not have to include. As a bonus, it is possible to also locate a template for a cover letter inside this package. All you need to do is choose the template you need and click the dowload links at the conclusion of this short article. Once you have selected your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our absolutely free expert guidance about ways to craft the ideal modern resume. Get your fantasy job with the aid of this totally free expert PSD freebie. Show employers that youre current and create a fantastic first impression by selecting the most suitable template. Zetys resume templates are made with the assistance of recruiters and adhere to the best practices in HR. Actually, our customers using our resume templates receive a job 33% faster than people who dont. A number of the templates are free while others cost a couple of dollars. For example, if you have an important employment gap since your final position, you can want to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one. As a nurse, you have to be in a position to emphasize your diversity and your capability for being in a position to take care of situations that may bring tension and pressure. If for no other reason, acquiring the resume will make it possible for you to easily finish all the on-line profiles teams require prospects to finish. If you are in possession of a lengthy employment history, you dont will need to include all of it.

Can Where I Choose to Sit Affect my Professional Success

Can Where I Choose to Sit Affect my Professional Success Undoubtedly, weve all heard the massive amounts of advice out there when it comes to interviewing. Research the company before the interview wear this and dont wear that be sure to ask questions at the end of the interview. With so many different tips and tricks, sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to master the perfect formula and approach for interviewing success.We all know the universal rules of arriving at least 15 minutes early and following up after an interview just to reiterate yur interest (along with thanking the interviewer for his/her time). And were all aware of how our appearance and body language can leave positive or negative impressions with hiring managers, ultimately affecting our employment success.But, did you know that besides the research, and showing up on time, and speaking with confidence, there is another area that could affect how successful you are during an interviewsomething most of us wouldnt even consider?According to furniture manufacturer Seats and Stools, candidates should consider this before their next interview Where should you sit?The company has created an infographic, Suits and Seats Where to Sit for Professional Success, which explains the relation between seats and professional business outcomes. And Seats and Stools even broke it down into four different business sitting scenarios.Lets take a look at how your seat can affect your professional lifeInterviews One-on-one interviewsIn a one-on-one interview scenario, the infographic advises you to sit opposite of the interviewer, which could make him/her feel intimidated. Candidates should wait to be asked to sit, and when they are seated, dont forget to sit up straight. The infographic advises to move your chair to be at eye level with the interviewer.Group interviewsIf you are interviewing with a group or panel, sit acros s from the group of interviewers. The infographic shows the best seat is directly in the middle if there are three people on the interview panel.The visual says to introduce yourself by giving your full name to everyone on the panel, make eye contact with the group, smile and show enthusiasm. Also, distributionspolitik your belongings on the floor, not the table.I agree with the point about introducing yourself to everyone. Once when I interviewed with a panel of three, I made it a point to introduce myself and shake each interviewers hand when I walked into the room. I could tell each person was impressed with this gesture.Brainstorming SessionWhen your team in brainstorming, the infographic believes you should keep groups small for spontaneous thinking.The infographic has seats in a circle, advising to try creating a brainstorming circle of seats without a table for an informal group discussion that facilitates lively discussion. And dont forget to separate strong personalities by distance when placing chairs in this type of seating scenario.PresentationsOne-to-manyPresentations are a form of business communication that many of us will encounter. The infographic says to arrange seats in theater style with rows facing the speaker in a semi-circular pattern or herringbone pattern. Make sure you stagger the seats for maximum viewing.This setup, the infographic explains, is best for the presenter because there are fewer distractions and allows the audience to pay more attention. The best seat to sit in during a one-to-many presentation is toward the middle of the row and close to the front (typical best seat when going to an actual movie theater).Sales MeetingDuring a sales meeting, the presenter should be at the front while the audience is at small tables. This banquet style approach to a sales meeting will help foster communication and keep the attention of the attendees.Business LunchNow, business lunches are extremely commonbut according to the infographicmo st of us who give no thought to where we or our clients sit may be missing out on the opportunity for maximum communication success. The best seating for a business lunch is a 4-top table in the quiet area of a restaurant with minimal noise and distractions, the infographic explains.If you and a colleague are hosting the lunch, sit next to each other on the ecksto of the table rather than across from each other. This way, according to the visual, both of you can have a client seated on the other corner next to you, allowing for intimate conversation. The infographic advises to subtly direct your client to the chair next to you once he or she arrives.I must admit, where I choose to sit affecting my professional life is an idea that never occurred to me before seeing this infographic. Yet, after viewing it, I can understand how ones seat can either hurt or help him/her in different business communication settings.What do you think? Is your choice of seat really a factor in professiona l business communication success?