NASA Mines the Possibilities

NASA Mines the Possibilities NASA Mines the Possibilities NASA Mines the PossibilitiesNASA is simultaneously encouraging collegiate achievement and looking for innovative breakthroughs as the organization considers the future exploration of Mars. At least that is what Brent Chester, logistics leader for the University of Alabamas kollektiv in NASAs Robotic Mining Competition thinks. His kollektiv recently won the competition for the third consecutive time, and, now a senior, Chester has been a part of the competition for four years.NASA is out to test items going into space and the goal with the competition is to begin moving your robot from a starting zone and you have to navigate to other side of the pit for digging, he says. You pick the payload up and come back and deposit it, but just as important as all this digging is keeping the weight down on the robot. Autonomy is what we specialize in. Were the only team to do at least one run autonomously and this year we did two. Its a g reat chance to get used to how industry is high expectations and answering to others in a project setting where results will be decided.In reality, the competition is a year-long process of preparation but it culminates with approximately 50 universities competing in a showdown each May at the Kennedy Space Center, he explains.Alabama Astrobotics team, winners of the NASA Robotic Mining Competition 2017. Image The University of AlabamaThe actual mining is the fruchtwein visual aspect of the quest to determine a winner. But other factors include a 20-page systems engineering paper about all research, design, planning, and building of the robot a five-page essay on outreach and a slide presentation category, in which teams give a two-minute presentation to NASA judges, he says.Mechanically, Chesters team, known as Alabama Astrobotics, revised this years model to have a separate door mechanism and they added a bigger head to allow for more control in digging depth. This robot they cons ider to be their eighth iteration and their fourth year in a row using a bucket design. There are a bunch of buckets on it. The purpose of the bucket design is its the most efficient way to dig up as many materials as you want.Chester finds the competition helps him take classroom knowledge and utilize it in the real world. Working your way up the ranks and receiving more responsibility is a part of the university team as well, and Chester recalls receiving a good deal of help learning about cutting materials and mill work as he made his way up.Rising to the rank of logistics leader, hes had a chance to learn more of the business aspect of the field recently, from budgeting to collecting money, and now has the goal of receiving an MBA. He is slated to graduate with his bachelors degree in electrical engineering in August.I like to be able to understand what engineers present and understand how to package that and how to talk about it. From talking to potential clients and sponsors a nd presenting, he believes hes found his own niche in engineering.In that sense, the competition is only just beginning.Eric Butterman is an independent writer. For Further Discussion Were the only team to do at least one run autonomously and this year we did two.Brent Chester, Alabama Astrorobotics

3 Ways To Use LinkedIns New Job Search Feature

3 Ways To Use LinkedIns New Job Search Feature3 Ways To Use LinkedIns New Job Search FeatureIn 2012, LinkedIn reported 5.7 billion professionally oriented searches on their network. Based on the apparent demand for better search, on March 25, 2013, they rolled out an enhanced search technology, you may have not even noticed.The good news is that this new search makes it easier for recruiters to find you, if youve written your profile the right way.Here are some ways to leverage LinkedIns enhanced search for a better profile, and better job search.Autocomplete for Keyword ResearchKnowing what words to use in your profile can be a guessing game. Sometimes Bursar is better than accountant, sometimes advocate is better than organizer.LinkedIns new search provides an autocomplete and autosuggest which you can use to see what words are trending popular.In the example below, I searched for .NET to see what skills I should include in a clients profile. Alone, I would have never thought of .N ET Compact Framework.Try typing your job title or skills to see what LinkedIn might suggest for you.The New Jobs PageLinkedIns new Jobs page offers very interesting new features, namely the suggested jobs section. Based on your network and your profile, LinkedIn displays the logos of companies you might have some interest in working for.The next section down tells you what jobs are open from people in your network. As you know, going for jobs that you can get referrals to is always easier.Try setting up an email alert so you know if any changes, new jobs, open up in your network. Pretty fancySaved SearchThe more you search, the better your results will be. Thats according to LinkedIns release, their new search adapts to your style of search and your network. As your network grows, so will your search results change. So when you save a search you commonly make, not only does it save you time to save it for later use, but it helps LinkedIn understand your needs better.To access saved search, run a search, and then on the results page, click the Green + sign on the top right.I would suggest Saving searches on keywords you are trying to rank for so you can see if youve made progress each week.You can save searches for job titles you are going for at certain companies to see if anyone new is there to network with.Getting Your Profile to Show Up On an Employers SearchAs you can tell, search results are prioritized based on connection. So there is just no substitute for having as many well connected people in your network as possible. But you also need to have a profile that tells your story well, that includes choice keywords and compels employers to want to connect with you.Joshua Waldman is the author of Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies and is recognized as one of the nations top authorities in Social Media Career Advancement. Learn more at his website,CareerEnlightenment.com.Readers, what do you think of the new job search feature? Have you used it yet ?

What I Learned as a Pongo Intern

What I Learned as a Pongo InternWhat I Learned as a InternWhat I Learned as a InternAs a soon-to-be junior at UMass Amherst and a business student in the Isenberg School of Management, I have definitely felt the pressure of nailing a great summer pro domoship to start building a solid foundation for bedrngnis only my resume, but my future. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to intern at Resume for the past two summers and gained some incredible experience. Looking back now, I learned so much more than I imagined.I must say, it didnt take long for me to notice the quirky, fun, and laid-back atmosphere of. The green, blue, and purple colored office is filled with flying nerf darts, post-it decorated cubicles, cartwheels in between the aisles, noisemakers, a 7-foot tall mannequin named Bernie, and so much more Its an environment that emulates creativity and openness that made me feel a part of the team right away.Since my first day, I worked on an array of projects that allowed me to en gage with employees of every department. One project I worked on in particular was to interview every employee and document their duties specific to their position. In doing so, I not only better understood how the business operated but also the diverse, vivacious personalities of the people who comprise the company.Another project I worked on gave me exposure to analyzing large sums of data. I had to categorize thousands of customer survey comments and decipher the key drivers of customer satisfaction. I was amazed at how much I learned abouts services, what customers like and dont like, and opportunities for improvement. I then was given the chance to present my findings and communicate the voice of the customer to the Management team. I also worked alongside the Research Analyst and assisted him in gathering the figures for monthly and quarterly financials which was great experience for my major in Finance.My internship would not be complete without a How to Write a Resume 101 se ssion from a resume builder company, and thats exactly what I got Dallas, the Customer Support Supervisor, gave me some great advice on how to create a resume, cover letter, reference sheet, and everything you need to know about getting a job. I was given the tools and resources on how to best prepare myself for future employment.The people here at are truly dedicated to their mission of helping job seekers find success in their careers. stays true to their number one core value, Have Fun Get it Done and has provided an enriching experience. I learned that you have to love what you do and do what you love you must enjoy coming to work every day and enjoy the people who surround you.This internship has opened my eyes to many perspectives within the business and given me a wide sortiment of experience and confidence that I will need to carry onward in my journey to build a career.About the AuthorKelsey Reilly has been an Intern at Resume for two summers. A student of the University of Massachusetts, she is set to graduate from the Isenberg School of Management in 2013 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance.