The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)A National Personnel Records Center officially opened its doors on October 15th, 2011 with an official opening ceremony led by Archivist of the United States, David S. Ferriero. The National Personnel Records Center The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is one of the National Archives and Records Administrations largest operations. It is the central repository of personnel-related records for both the military and civil service employees of the United States Government. Its mission is to provide world-class service to government agencies, military veterans and their family members, former civilian Federal employees, and the general public. The NPRC, as it exists today, is the product of several previous operations. Todays organization is the embodiment of National Archives and Records Administrations (NARA) policy that places all inactive Federal personnel records, both military and civ ilian, in the custody of a single administrative unit. NPRC Basics The National Personnel Records Center, with the capacity for more than 2.3 million cubic feet of records, is home to all of the Agencys archival and permanent records. The NPRC houses all Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF), Organizational and Auxiliary files, and Official Personnel Folders (OPF) of former civilian Federal personnel who separated prior to 1973 at the center. The facility is also home to NPRC staff and over a dozen other Federal agencies. It has a state-of-the-art preservation laboratory for records conservation, a large public research room, and a multi-purpose room for meetings and public outreach. Overview of NPRC Records Holdings There are two types of records available at the NPRC, Archival records, and Federal records. Records are accessioned into the National Archivesand become archival62 years after the service members separation from the military. Records with a discharge date of 62 years ago or longer are archival and are open to the public. Records with a discharge date of less than 62 years ago are non-archival and are maintained under the Federal Records Center program. Non-archival records are subject to access restrictions. Archival records opened to the public are as follows Organizational, Auxiliary and Other records pertaining to individual military and civilian service with the government of the United States - includes Selective Service RecordsOfficial Personnel Folders (OPF) of former Federal civil servants whose employment ended prior to 1952Records of Persons of Exceptional Prominence (PEP) military personnel files of Presidents, members of Congress and the Supreme Court famous military leaders decorated heroes celebrities and other cultural figures who served in the military Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) from all service branches for veterans with a discharge date of 1949 or prior Federal records subject to access restrictions are as follows Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) from all service branches for veterans with a discharge date of 1949 or afterEmployee Medical Folders (EMF) of former Federal civilian employeesOfficial Personnel Folders (OPF) of former Federal civil servants whose employment ended after 1951Military health and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans, retirees and military family members treated at military service medical facilities Visitors and on-site researchers are able to access information at the facilities research rooms, but an appointment is required. More Information For more information, be sure to check out the NARA website. Thefacility is located at 1 Archives Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63138 in suburban North St. Louis County.

How to End a Cover Letter Land the Interview

How to End a Cover Letter Land the InterviewHow to End a Cover Letter Land the Interview Youve written an amazing intro and compelling body copy that perfectly highlights your achievements, but youre having a hard time making it through the final stretch - How in the world do I end this titel letter ? you might be thinking to yourself. The truth is, closing a cover letter is a difficult task for many job seekers . Theres a lot of pressure because, sometimes, the cover letter is the only piece the recruiter will read.If you want to land an interview with your cover letter, you dont want to sound vague or wishy-washy. Your cover letter should illustrate why you are the best fit and how you will help the company or organization reach success. However, when writing the closing paragraph of your cover letter, its easy to have a passive voice, because you dont want to appear overconfident. For example, if you say, I look forward to hearing from you, thats great - but that alone doesnt seal the deal. The closing paragraph of your cover letter must be one of the strongest elements because it is the last impression you leave in the readers mind.Here are five phrases to include in the final paragraph of your cover letter that will help you seal the deal for your next interview.Strong cover letter closings are enthusiastic and confident. You want the reader to have the impression you are truly passionate about the position and working for their company. This statement will also illustrate your ability to fit into the company culture and how your personality and work ethic is exactly what theyre looking for.Its always a good idea to explain what you find attractive about working for the company and how you want to bring your passions to the table. By doing this, you can illustrate how much thought you dedicated to applying for the position and how much you care about becoming a part of the company.By adding this piece to your conclusion, yo u will be able to add some flare and excitement to your cover letter. The reader will become intrigued by your enthusiasm to hit the ground running. Employers look for candidates who are prepared for the position and are easy to train. Therefore, this phrase will definitely raise some curiosity and the reader will want to discover what you have to offer for their company.Remember, you want to make it clear in your cover letter how the employer will benefit from your experience and qualifications. You want to also express how your goal is to help the organization succeed, not how the position will contribute to your personal success.The most essential part of your closing is your call to action statement. Remember, the purpose of your cover letter is to land an interview . Dont end your cover letter saying youll hope to get in touch. Explain to the reader the exact day and how you will be contacting them. When you state you will be following up with the employer, make sure you do itRemember, the closing of your cover letter is the most important element that will help you land your next interview. By crafting a strong, confident and enthusiastic closing paragraph, you will leave the reader feeling like you would be the best candidate for the position.

Accountability partners are great. Success partners will change your life

Accountability lebenspartners are great. Success partners will change your lifeAccountability partners are great. Success partners will change your lifeEven though most people avoid it, accountability works. It really works.Actually, if you do bedrngnis measure and report your progress, then youre probably leid making much progress at all. According to Pearsons Law when performance is measured, it improves when performance is measured and reported, it improves exponentially.Research studies have shown that publicly committing your goals to someone gives you at least a 65% chance of completing them. However, having a specific accountability partner increases your chance of success to 95%.When most people think of an accountability partner, they cringe. Its not sohonigweinhing they feel excited about, unless they are highly motivated individuals.One of the reasons accountability has a slightly negative energy is because it feels like you have to do something. And accountability partner ships can give off that vibe even though, as a functioning adult, you get to make your own choices.By adding an accountability partner to your life, youre simply increasing your odds of success. You dont want to lie to someone you respect. So when you tell them youre going to show up this week, youre more likely to do so.Its actually quite crazy, but were far more likely to lie to and let down ourselves than someone else.Accountability is Great But Success Partners are More PowerfulSurround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than your past. Dan SullivanHaving an accountability partner is an unfair advantage. For those seeking major success in their lives, its an incredible opportunity.The mere fact that most people avoid accountability is a powerful reason to create LOTS of it in your life.Even still, there is another form of relationship that can take your life much further than accountability partnerships.Rather than simply having someone who holds you account able, you want a success partner who is heavily motivated themselves.You want to have someone who is already pushing their own boundaries and taking huge psychological leaps forward. They are taking big risks, moving forward, and continually upping their game.If youre doing the same, then you can join forces and push each other further and further than you could ever go on your own.A success partner is someone who is already motivated. They dont need someone to hold them accountable. Instead, they need someone to propel themselves further than they could propel themselves.Here is the important distinction accountability partnerships are process-oriented. The goal is to keep you accountable to the process. Did you do your workouts this week?Conversely, Success partners are progress-oriented. The focus isnt on you trying (and failing) to be perfect. But instead, how much tangible movement toward your dreams did you make? Success partners focus on results over process, because it is th rough courageously pursuing meaningful EVENTS that you develop an innovative process.The process is the product of the goal, not the other way around.Accountability also can feel like a drag. It feels like a job.Success partners are about excitement, energy, and movement. Not perfection. Success partners measure the gain and movement made toward big dreams, not the gap of what they arent doing good enough.Becoming a Transformational Leader for Yourself and OthersOne of the core theories of leadership is called, Transformational Leadership, and it involves four specific behaviors of the most successful leadersInspirational motivation developing and articulating a powerful vision and high expectations that are motivating, inspiring and challenging.Idealized influence being a role model, someone who themselves is moving forward in their lives and achieving a bigger vision. You cannot be a leader of others if youre not powerfully leading yourself.Intellectual stimulation challenging exi sting assumptions, connecting deeply with those youre leading, and helping them re-frame their limitations.Individualized consideration treating everyone in a cookie-cutter fashion, but instead, seeking first to understand and then to be understood. In other words, you develop true connection and trust by listening first and coming to understand the person youre working with as a unique individual.You can be a transformational leader. And the only way you can become a powerful success partner is by being a transformational leader.When two people come together and act as transformational leaders to each other, explosive growth happens.Ive had many success partnerships in my life. Recently, I met an amazing guy named Alex. Hes been through a lot in his life. He grew up with a stutter, which led him to over-compensate in his attempts to feel worthy of love and friendship.His desire to be loved led him down some bad paths, ultimately getting him arrested and expelled from his college.Bu t then Alex started investing big in himself. He started envisioning a much bigger future. Now, people pay him over $100,000 to work with him one on one. He is a highly-paid public speaker despite having a stutter.And heres what I love about Alex there are no limits on where hes going. Hes just getting started.Hes willing to push himself further and further mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.Ive recently met him and we hit-it-off. We come from totally different backgrounds, have different skill-sets, and different ways we can help each other.More than just helping each other be motivated and accountable, we push each other to go beyond anything wed do on our own. Weve both challenged each other to take needed action on things in our personal lives and business that we 1) either have been procrastinating or 2) didnt even realize we should take.Thats what happens in Success Partnerships you help each other take immediate action on what is most important. No more proc rastination. You also help each other get new insights, and then to immediately act on those insights.This is where the psychologist, Robert Kegan, comes in. According to Kegan, the highest level of conscious evolution is what he called the transforming self.It takes courage.It also takes a different way of thinking.Rather than thinking how you can achieve something, you think in terms of who. According to Kegan, the transforming-self is a stage of being wherein two or more individuals go beyond their perceived notions and open themselves up to new and bigger ideas through collaborative ideation and connection.The whole becomes more than the sum of its pats.A third party emerges out of the two people a new superhuman that is distilled in each individual. Newness. Vision. Relentlessness.Both parties synergize and collaborate and motivate and push each other. The relationship becomes a vehicle for transformation and growth.Self-Leadership is Key to Being a Success PartnerYou cant be a success partner if youre not actively and aggressively moving forward in your own life. Hence, self-leadership is essential. Accountability on many levels is implied.You dont avoid accountability. You embrace it in all aspects of your life. Your whole world and environment reflect accountability to higher ideals, values, and aims.But, you also know that with the influence of other people who are likewise pushing themselves in profound ways, that you can push them and yourself further and faster.This is why success partners are so exciting. Individually, they are already motivated and achievement-oriented. Collectively, they push each other to new limits of courage and commitment. They serve as sounding boards to each other. They not only listen to each others account progress, but they really challenge them.Transformational leaders challenge assumptions. They really ask the hard questions.Is this what you really want?Why do you want it?Are you playing small?What do you really want? Why are you waiting to get it?What could you do that would get you there in the next seven days?What huge failure are you avoiding?Do You Have a Success Partner?Success partners are all about extreme action, helping each other to take on extreme courage, and coaching each other through the process.Do you have a success partner?You shouldnt just have one. Instead, you should create a network of people who are constantly pushing you to up your game.Success partners are all about excitement and fear and according to Dan Sullivan, those are two sides of the same coin. You cant have excitement without fear.If you really want to play a bigger game, you need to start making bold moves. And then you need to be a giver and help other people make bold moves in their lives.Your network is your net-worth. When you begin surrounding yourself with people who remind you of your future and you not only engage in the relationship but inspire those around you to QUICKLY get to the next level then you r life will begin accelerating very quickly.You can increase your income by 10X in a year with the right network.You can achieve goals that would normally take a few years in a few months with the right network.Taking on huge goals and change is inherently stressful. So having someone to buffer that stress and help you through the process is key.Having someone who excites you about moving forward because you inspire each other is an unfair advantage.Its also incredibly available.You must start by being an inspiring person yourself. Lead yourself to a better life. Then excitedly help others improve their lives.Use the relationship to propel each other forward.Every week, share your huge wins and courageous leaps. Then, really dig into helping each other to move beyond fears and to commit to bigger leaps.Heres whats fascinating. Youll often get more clarity and inspiration for your life while helping your success partner get clarity than while directly trying to get clarity for yourse lf. The synergistic partnership is key. Giving and receiving.Every week, you should be attempting something youve never done before. You should be failing and learning, and growing in new and powerful ways.Hard-Truth Questions to ConsiderDo you have a success partner?Are you growing like crazy?Are you excited?Is your future bigger than your past?Is your brain growing through novelty, risk, learning, and excitement?Are you shattering subconscious blocks?Are you consistently improving all aspects of your life, and thus developing confidence?Are you making bold commitments and seeing those commitments to the end?Ready to Upgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.

You wont believe the staggering amount of time wasted on workplace smoke breaks

You wont believe the staggering amount of time wasted on workplace smoke breaksYou wont believe the staggering amount of time wasted on workplace smoke breaksHave you ever wondered if company suggestion boxes ever really amount to change? For employees at one Japanese marketing agency, a simple submission turned into almost a full week of paid time off. After watching their coworkers take multiple smoke breaks during working hours, one employee complained their regular absence disrupted productivity. The company responded by giving nonsmoking employees an additional six days of paid vacation time.If that sounds like a lot, consider this Every year, smoking-related illnesses cost over $156 billion in lost productivity, including $5.6 billion as a result of secondhand smoke exposure.To understand how employed Americans feel about the time their coworkers spend smoking, HaloCigs surveyed over 1,000 people about how fair smoke breaks really are, if U.S. companies should give nonsmokers e xtra vacation days, and how many of ansicht extra days smokers would need to kick the habit altogether. Curious how much time is really being wasted by smokers in your industry? Read on to landsee what we uncovered.Time lost to smokingWhile the average smoker takes roughly six days of smoke breaks every year, time wasted on smoke breaks fluctuated greatly for Americans in various industries. Americans in technology, wholesale and retail, and finance and insurance spent more than an hour and 20 minutes each day on smoke breaks at work. Those breaks equated to over 40 hours a month and more than 20 days every year for each industry.Jobs in these industries (including IT and financial managers) are often among the most stressful in the country. Other industries taking smoke breaks for more than one hour each day included transportation and warehousing, arts, entertainment, and recreation, information services and data processing, hotel, food services, and hospitality, and medical and h ealthcare.Stance on smoke breaksAn estimated 36.5 million adults in the U.S. smoke. While the law doesnt require breaks for employees, additional paid smoking breaks have been provided to employees who request them without the same time offered to nonsmoking employees.Over 81% of smokers said smoke breaks were fair, while roughly 1 in 4 nonsmokers agreed. Perceptions of these breaks varied by industry, as well. Over 17% of medical and healthcare professionals who smoked, themselves, believed smoke breaks were fair.Other industries with a more favorable opinion toward smoke breaks included wholesale and retail (nearly 15%), hotel, food services, and hospitality (about 12%), and education (over 11%).Deserving days offConsidering the average smoker spends roughly six days each year on smoke breaks at work, we asked smokers and nonsmokers how many extra days of vacation should be offered to nonsmokers.More than 38% of smokers and nearly 20% of nonsmokers didnt think nonsmokers deserved any additional vacation days. While roughly 1 in 4 nonsmokers suggested one or two extra vacation days was fair, nearly 42% said nonsmokers should be given between three and five additional vacation days each year. More smokers (over 16%) than nonsmokers (nearly 14%) indicated nonsmokers should receive seven days or more of additional vacation time.Incentives for quitting smokingSome additives found in cigarettes can be addicting, and going without a cig for even short periods can lead to cravings and feelings of withdrawals. While quitting smoking can be difficult, one study found increasing the price of cigarettes by even $1 made smokers 20% more likely to quit.On average, Americans would be willing to give up smoking for an additional 11 days of vacation time each year. Women suggested a slightly higher average 12 extra vacation days each year. Certain industries also indicated a higher incentive price for giving up smoking. Smokers working in education (30 days), wholesale and retail (17 days), and legal (15 days) would need the highest number of additional vacation days to consider kicking the habit.Monetary motivationDespite the health benefits of giving up cigarettes, millions of people find it hard to surrender smoking completely. Despite health concerns, lost productivity, and general time wasted, many Americans believed companies should offer incentives for employees to quit smoking. Highest among them were people working in arts, entertainment, and recreation (over 93%), government and public administration (nearly 90%), and technology (about 87%). Ultimately, 82% of employees across all industries agreed that incentives to quit were a good idea.MethodologyHaloCigs surveyed 1,005 Americans from Amazons Mechanical Turk about the fairness of smoke breaks in the workplace. Fifty-one percent of participants identified as female, while 49% identified as male. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 73 years old, with a mean of 35. Participants were exclud ed if they were not paying attention (such as failing the attention check question or entering obviously inconsistent data). We weighted the data to the 2017 U.S. Census for age and gender. Hypotheses were then statistically tested.

What Pros Arent Saying About Difference Between a Cv and a Resume and How It impacts You

What Pros Arent Saying About Difference Between a Cv and a Resume and How It impacts You The Truth About Difference Between a Cv and a Resume Giving such an answer can signify which you are not prepared. Yet another thing that has to always be remembered is that in the event that you are certain you are capable of the job, and then only send the application. Youre only presenting an answer that you can use with multiple job interviews. Contemplating the cover letter advice you must remember that at the conclusion of the day its the personal decision that one has to take. The Pain of Difference Between a Cv and a Resume Within this article excerpt, you will see the fruchtwein essential differences between CV and Resume. It is my hope that this guide makes it possible to get the ideal CV and resume. Also enjoy a resume, you dont require a subject heading for this section. Normally, a resume is 1 page long, though it can occasionally be as long as two pages. In the USA a cu rriculum vitae is extremely similar to what is called a resume. CVs are frequently used to apply for jobs outside the United States of america. But, in america, a resume and CV are two distinctly different kinds of documents. A resume or CV is often the very first thing a prospective employer looks at when thinking about a candidate. If youre looking for work, you might have noticed that some employers request a CV rather than a resume. You wish to impress an employer, and that means you are inclined to be too enthusiastic in your resume. Keep in mind, your CV is meant to let prospective employers find out about you in the hope that theyll give you a job, therefore its in your interest to allow it to be straightforward to comprehend The Number One Question You Must Ask for Difference Between a Cv and a Resume A resume is generally used when you wish to brief about your experiences and techniques in the past few years. Portfolio in many ways is comparable to a resume. Thi s usually means you should only list experience thats associated with the position. In your resume, you may only include things like work experience directly associated with the job which you apply. The Secret to Difference Between a Cv and a Resume If youre not certain how to compose your CV or resume youll have the ability to come across all types of inrformation on the web today together with companies that will write the document for you or just direct you in the correct direction. A carefully crafted resume can indeed assist you in landing an excellent job without a lot of effort on your part. A technical objective is also served in doing this. Some are provided a perfunctory glance and rejected at once, while some are given a more sophisticated look. What Is So Fascinating About Difference Between a Cv and a Resume? A resume generally is a quick overview of an individuals education, experience, skills and relevant details. Both consist of a structured collection of f acts that lets you impart relevant information regarding your abilities and achievements to an employer as fast and simply as possible. You should make sure your resume is eye-catching but at exactly the same time, it needs to be elegant enough so the reader can easily skim through essential details. Look after the info that you provide and the language which you use in application. Writing a Superb CV As you are able to see, among the key advantages of a CV is its flexibility. Whether youre submitting a resume or CV, there are particular features which you should include to make the most of your chances of succeeding. Such a thorough presentation usually means you dont will need to tailor your CV to each new position. Its important to adjust a resume to a certain position to be able to fit the wants and requirements. A resume is a sort of summary which is used to spell out your skills, talent, and experiences in a compact edition. You should tailor your resume for each wo rk application to demonstrate the way your experience is a great fit. Resume means summary and its the shortest of all of the formats. Difference Between a Cv and a Resume Can Be Fun for Everyone One more thing is using photographs on CVs. As an example, in CV, if youre asking for work in education, you can want to place your teaching experience in addition to the CV. Moreover, you might want to incorporate any appropriate experience youve gained while pursuing your hobbies or private interests. If you believe some of your previous career experience wont earn any difference to an HR erase it. There are lots of books and websites offering ideas to help job applicants write resumes and CVs. It is most important if writing a resume, but in addition, it applies to CVs. Curriculum vitae have become the most popular document required by applicants in the work application. Most resumes are one page and supply a short, compelling summary of why your experience is perfect for the jo b.

Transitioning from Contracted Freelance Work to a Full-Time Employee

Transitioning from Contracted Freelance Work to a Full-Time Employee Becoming a full-time employee after a career of freelance contract work is frequently difficult due to the stigma employers place on such candidates, considering them to be flight risks. Just as common is the notionthat freelancers are loners who lack the personality and social skills to work in a collaborative environment. Additionally, some companies have a hard time interpreting the resumes of longtime independent contractors, since freelance work often does not fit into the traditional resume style of company, title, years worked, and responsibilities.To overcome this stigma, job seekers should first tap into their network of employers. Connect with past and present clients who are already familiar with your freelance contract work, as they may be more receptive to considering you as a full-time employee they mighteven create a new job for you.When approaching potential employers, explain why you are ready to become a full-time employee at this time. It is important to fully articulate the reasons behind why you have reached a point in your career where you want to transition to a full-time employee from freelance contract work. It is also crucial for hiring managers to hear that you want to contribute in specific ways and can learn something by being a full-time employee.Make sure youre specific about your experience in your resume, titelseite letters, and in person. It is important to portray what youve done as a results-oriented employee, even more than a typical job applicant. Companies will look upon you more favorably because it is hard to decipher your past accomplishments when you simply say that you are a specialist in a given field.Tell potential employers what you did as a freelancer and what you have accomplished, and show them hard examples of your work. Even if your freelance contract proj ects were short, list them on a resume or discuss them in terms of revenues created, costs saved, new customers gained, and similar benefits that you brought to your past clients.You can use the job description of the position you want to apply for to prioritize your resume and cover letter. Usually, the skills and qualifications are listed in the order of an organizations desires. Your resume should be tailored to reflect those needs. If you dont have the right keywords for that specific job, thecompany may pass you by regardless of the experience you have.One point of concern that you will need to address quickly is whether or not you work well with others. Provide examples of collaborativefreelance projects you worked on, including how you have worked with clients, vendors, and other third parties.Finally, dont shy away from promoting the skills that have made you successful at freelance contract work. Successful freelancers are typically driven, hard-working, and independent, wh ich are qualities that you will want to emphasize. Use your ability to handle many assignments or contracts as a way to show you are adaptable and capable ofevolving as a full-time employee.