Discover New Healthcare Talent in Todays Career-Switchers

Discover New Healthcare Talent in Todays Career-SwitchersDiscover New Healthcare Talent in Todays Career-SwitchersDiscover New Healthcare Talent in Todays Career-Switchers ConlanAs a healthcare staffing professional, youre well aware of the explosive healthcare job growth and escalatinghealthcare salariesthat are in full swing. The phenomenon has also attracted the attention ofworkers in other industries, many of whom are looking for a fresh career opportunity. The result is thatmany professionals are heading back to school to pick up degrees in nursing, healthcare administration and other roles.While the trend will help increase the labor pool for healthcare employers, its not always easy to tell how well a recent grad will do on the jobparticularly if their previous experience has been in other fields.The good news is that there are many ways to spot someone who can make the switch to healthcare. Thesestrategies will help supplement your healthcare talent pipeline.Look for Lifelong LearnersHealthcare is a rapidly evolving field. Those who thrive in it often embrace continuous learning to stay apace.When evaluating a career-switcher who is moving into healthcare, look for clues that theyve taken their continuing education into their own hands.Steven Stein, a clinical psychologist and founder and CEO of Multi-Health Systems, suggests asking whether they subscribe to any professional or industry journals, attend conferences or do extra reading in their free time. During the interview, ask about their previous career, not just the one they are switching to.I find that people committed to a certain career path use their own personal time to learn more about their area of interest, Stein says.In addition, look for examples of applicants who take the initiative to develop vital skills such as computer skills, research and analytics. These are key for people who are interested in becoming a registered nurseor a nurse practitioner, says Keith Carlson, a nursing career coach. It cant be overstated for nursing and healthcare, as informatics becomes ever more crucial, he says.Look for Consistent GrowthHealthcare employers rely on workers who are committed to excellent performance. When evaluating career switchers, look for a history of candidates who strive for more responsibility and greater leadership.Keep in mind that people tend to stay for shorter amounts of time at employers than they used to. If their experience includes a step up from previousroles it shows they have talent and drive, says Stephanie Troiano, executive recruiter at The Hire Talent.Short stints at different employers arent necessarily a red flag or a sign of job-hopping, especially if the jobs have increasing amounts of responsibility and increased results. You can often spot someone who is attempting to find these step-up opportunities by their resume history, how long they were in each stelle and any skills and accomplishments listed, Troiano says.For example, while a job c andidate applying for their first job as a pediatrician after a career outside of healthcare was obviously committed enough to make it through med school, its still worth probing their work history before they returned to school.They Connect the DotsHealthcare workers often have to take in information from a variety of sources and develop their own conclusions.This also applies to the candidates own career. A good career-switcher will be able to provide concrete examples of how her skills will apply in a new setting they will display a knowledge of the position, even if she hasnt worked in it yet.The fail-safe indication that a candidate can truly switch industries is their ability to connect the dots, says career coach Kathryn Sollmann. A recruiter knows this when the candidate draws clear parallels between the same job function in Industry A and Industry B.For example, a former teacher who can clearly describe how she developed rapport with difficult students is likely to be able to apply those skills in stressful situations as a nurse practitioner. Its easy for confident candidates to say I can do this, Sollmann says, but a candidate committed to switching careers will be able to draw detailed parallels between the two.They VolunteerBeing service-minded is a must in healthcare. Volunteering can indicate an inclination toward that outlook, says Linda Kuriloff, an author and career specialist.Look for evidence of a prospective employees interest in the helping professions, Kuriloff says. Also, those who choose to volunteer tend to be humble enough to be trained to do what they havent done before and comfortable meeting others needs, she says.For example, a newly-minted licensed practical nurse with a volunteer history of working with the elderly, the underserved or in shelters will bring those skills and experiences to his career.They Get Consistent ResultsPeople with an ability to switch careers get results no matter their roleso look at their successes over time, says Elene Cafasso, founder of Enerpace, an executive coaching company. Ask about how they generated success in their different roles and how they solve problems.Applicants for high-profile positions such as healthcare administration should provide examples of results theyve achieved through data management, supply and inventory and conflict resolution.In the end, all career-switchers should be able to provide examples of their customer service skills. Providing five-star service is as important to a nurse these days as it is to a hotel staff person, Carlson says.

I cant believe you wrote that in an email

I cant believe you wrote that in an emailI cant believe you wrote that in an emailA elende from the editorPlease be aware that this is a blog post and newsletter. If you have received it in your email, it is either because you subscribe to this blog feed, or because you subscribe to Marcs newsletters. It is not directed at any individual in particular. Dont put anything in writing that you wouldnt want to see on the front page of the New York Times.I cant believe you wrote that in an email.Because whoever is the most embarrassing person in the world to see what you just wrote, is online too.And theyre going to see it. As will all your future employers, customers, colleagues, and friends.So for the New Year, make a new promise to yourself, to never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever send embarrassing emails.

These are the best (and worst) big cities to reside in this year

These are the best (and worst) big cities to reside in this yearThese are the best (and worst) big cities to reside in this yearHome may be where the heart is, but where you live matters as well.New WalletHub data shows that Seattle, Washington is the best big city to reside in this year.The company analyzed 62 of the biggest American cities (each with more than 300,000 residents) in terms of five factors quality of life, economy, safety, education health and affordability. It then took a look at those five in terms of 56 other factors before eventually giving each city a score out of 100. WalletHub also used information from the U.S. Census Bureau, among many other sources.The 10 best big cities to reside inThese 10 were at the top of the list.1) Seattle, WA (total score 63.63)2) Virginia Beach, VA (total score 63.27)3) Austin, TX (total score 63.24)4) San Francisco, CA (total score 62.56)5) San Diego, CA (total score 62.49)6) Honolulu, HI (total score 61.41)7) Portland, OR (total score 61.07)8) San Jose, CA (total score 60.87)9) Colorado Springs, CO (total score 60.72)10) New York, NY (total score 60.38)The 10 worst big cities to reside in62)Detroit, MI (total score of 33.15)61) Memphis, TN(total score 37.20)60) Cleveland, OH(total score 38.59)59) Baltimore Maryland(total score 41.23)58) St. Louis, MO(total score 42.81)57)Indianapolis, IN (total score 45.79)56)Tulsa, OK (total score 46.95)55)Milwaukee, WI (total score 47.28)54)New Orleans, LA (total score 48.25)53)Santa Ana, CA (total score 48.48)Heres how the cities compare to each otherHeres what not to do when movingDont just jump right in.Clara E. Irazbal-Zurita, PhD, Director of the Latina/Latino Studies Program and Professor of Planning at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, told WalletHub about the worst thing people do when relocating.The biggest mistake people make when planning a move to a new place is mis-estimating the relationship between sources of income that are going to be available in t he new setting and the cost of living, she told the site. If income is insufficient, people can incur in debt and the situation will eventually become unsustainable. People may be forced to have more than one job, potentially compromising their quality of life and health. Negatively, people may face financial default or house eviction, from which it is hard to recover.

Customize this Dance Teacher Resume

Customize this Dance Teacher ResumeCustomize this Dance Teacher ResumeCreate this Resume Lee Bullock3694 Powder House RoadWest Palm Beach, FL 33401(222)-207-4608l.bullocksmail.comObjectiveTo obtain a job position as a Dance Teacher in an institution to motivate students to perform at the peak of their capabilities to become one of the best dance professionals in the entertainment industry.Summary of QualificationsAbility to motivate studentsExcellent skills in updating knowledge in current dance movesAbility to assess capabilities of studentsAbility to dance solo or with a groupKnowledge in different types of dance steps Professional ExperienceDance Teacher, January 2007 Present Dolly Dance Academy, Los Angeles, California ResponsibilitiesTaught students series of dance moves for the charity event.Conducted dance clinics during weekends to attract students to join classes.Motivated students to be strong especially when performing in front of big audience.Graded students according to their performance.Qualified students during start of the semester in order to know who will be included in the class.Dance Teacher, March 2004 December 2006 St Marys Academy, Kansas City, Missouri ResponsibilitiesOrganized handbooks for new students during the start of the semester.Evaluated the performance of each student to ensure all are performing at their best.Created new dance steps and trained the students.Organized dance competitions with other schools in order to have competitive edge.Trained students daily until they perfect the dance moves.Instructed students of correct postures to prevent injuries.EducationMasters Degree in Performing Arts, 2004University of ArizonaBachelor of Science in Performing Arts, 2001 University of Arizona Customize ResumeMore Sample ResumesDance Teacher Resume Data Analyst Resume Data Architect Resume Data Entry Clerk Resume Database Developer ResumeDay Camp Counselor Resume Daycare Director ResumeDaycare Provider Resume Daycare Teacher Resu me Debt Collector Resume Demolition Worker Resume

How to Ask for an Office Transfer

How to Ask for an Office TransferHow to Ask for an Office Transfer Maybe your current location doesnt quite gel with your personality. Maybe you want to be closer to family. Ormaybe youre a wanderer, never content to stay in one place too long. Whatever the case, many people find themselves itching to explore new cities. If youre dreading the job search that will come with it, though, remember there are other options.If you happen to be employed at a company with multiple branches, or if you think your company would be open to the possibility of you working remotely , asking for a transfer could be a great way to accommodate your desire for a new environment while still keeping the job that you love.Make no mistake, though - securing a transfer isnt as easy as simply announcing a move to your employer. To get them on board, youll need to think and act strategically.When requesting a transfer, research is critical - it makes the difference between coming to your e mployer with a well thought out proposal and an unreasonable demand.Dont ask for something if you havent researched whether or not its feasible, says Erica Perkins, Director, Human Resources Business Partners at Glassdoor. Find out what your employer policy is on location transfers and (if international) auf der ganzen welt mobility programs and assignments/expatriation.If you are planning on going international, pay especially close attention to immigration and labor laws .The feasibility and duration of an international transfer depends largely on the type of employment authorization available in the new location, which varies country-by-country, Perkins adds. Know what youre getting into with respect to an international move, as there are significant differences in employment practices and regulations, as well as tax implications that are important to know before you determine you want to move.Besides the nitty-gritty legal details, you should also consider what else youll need to be successful there.For employees considering a role in another country, they should consider the language and culture changes that may be associated with an international move. What additional competencies might you need to be successful there? says Mark Eckert, Internal Mobility Head at Uber .For employers, facilitating an internal transfer is often an investment - one that should ultimately pay off for them. So its worth thinking about it from their perspective What factors do they have to take into account before making their decision? And how will transferring you to a different schreibstube be beneficial to them?Cost is often top-of-mind for employers when it comes to their internal mobility programs, Eckert shares.In addition, employers would need to consider 1) is there a compelling business case for the change in office/location, 2) does the employee moving offices/locations provide added benefits to the business (not just to the individual)? (e.g., having the employee work with other gruppes , cross-pollination, knowledge-sharing, as well as establishing a footprint for that business function in another location, etc). 3) What are the individual benefits for the employee (ability to accommodate a request generates loyalty and is motivational for the employee which can help with retention) and 4) Can the employee bring additional value to the business in the new location? Perkins says.Keep in mind that if you have already proven your value to the company, they will be more likely to entertain your request.The first thing a company considers when an employee requests a transfer is how valuable they perceive the employee to be. The more a company wants to keep them, the more flexible the company will be, says career coach Angela Copeland . A company would be most interested to transfer an employee wishing to grow their professional skills in a new location. But, if they value the employee, they may also respect their desire to relocate for perso nal reasons, such as to be closer to family.With a solid understanding of what exactly a move will require from your employer, as well as what would make transferring you worth their time, youre ready to initiate the conversation. The best way to effectively state your case is to articulate your ability to thrive and add value in the roles you are interested in, much like how you would if you were searching for new opportunities outside of your current company, Eckert says. How does your past experience and technical expertise apply to the new role? What can you bring to the role/team that will make you stand out against other internal and/or external candidates?Make sure you are clear on the reasons for your request, and help articulate how your move may help improve the business beyond your own self-interest, Perkins adds. Sensing reluctance on your employers end? Offer to do the move for a mutually agreed trial period if your employer is hesitant to make a commitment, she sugge sts.Depending on your employer, you may even want to create a formal presentation for them, just as you would for a project at work.The most effective request I have seen for an internal transfer to a new city came from a woman interested to move from Memphis to Dallas. She created an entire presentation to sell her boss on the idea that she could work remotely . Then, the boss was able to use the same presentation to sell the idea to upper management, Copeland says. The move worked well for both the employee and the company.If your request is granted, its time to start thinking about what you can do beforehand to ensure a smooth transition.Do everything you can to ensure you hit the ground running. Set up time with your new manager and team to start getting up-to-speed before you leave, Eckert suggests.You may even want to visit your new city and office before you make your move.Before you take the plunge, be sure to tour the new office and the new city. Moving is a big decisi on. You want to make the right choice the first time, Copeland shares.And if youre going international, develop your cross-cultural competency, Perkins suggests. Besides honing language skills, study and educate yourself the customs and culture of your new locale. Important cultural differences can be very subtle (things like how you greet someone, body language , making eye contact, etc.). Dont make the mistake of assuming that the way you did it at home will work in your new location.And if you didnt get the green light on your request to switch offices? Dont worry - all is not necessarily lost.Dont get discouraged if you dont find a fit immediately. Business landscapes change quickly and so will the opportunities available internally at your company, Eckert shares.

New Article Reveals the Low Down on Font to Use for Resume and Why You Must Take Action Today

New Article Reveals the Low Down on Font to Use for Resume and Why You Must Take Action Today You can experiment with various fonts on your resume to inspect the clarity on distinct screens. Paragraph format could possibly be used to conserve space. Serif fonts are excellent for reading on paper. Sans-serif fonts dont have the lines at the conclusion of each stroke. Youre going to be landing that dream design job in no moment. There are numerous to select from and theyre quick to edit and adapt for each work application. A perfect option for candidates with plenty of experience who desire to have a really good one-page resume template. Its possible to useResume Samplesor templates but tailor the resume based on the work role youre applying for. Even though it might sound simple, its always vital to proofread the resume before submitting it. Randomly written resumes arent simple to read and they may be unprofessional. 5 Bold text is excellent for drawing particular atten tion to a couple words. This font has lately come to be a favorite among people who want to recreate their resumes. Still clean and simple to read, sans serif fonts are an excellent thing to do if youre searching for a clean and Avant guard resume. As your motive of picking the proper font size in a resume is to create the content readable, its better to begin with a font choice first. Characteristics of Font to Use for Resume Theres no need to use various styles in a titelblatt letter. Its only that you could be more creative and add additional graphic information. You might need to try two or three distinct sizes to make sure your cover letter fits on a single page. You should use headings to create the most significant parts stick out. If you have a look at how most websites online try to set up trust youll find they have tons of logos on the base of the website, usually in an as seen on section. This guide on the best way to write resume headingswill explain how to pre vent the most frequent pitfalls job and offer you tips on the best way to nail yourresume section headings. In terms of point size, a lot of studies are conducted to discover the ideal size for legibility and readability. This list provides links to more info about user-supplied details. The Debate Over Font to Use for Resume There are specific crucial strategies to be thought about before starting with your resume. If its necessary to send a general resume for a work website, decide on this font. You may also obtain expert support to get this done. Make certain to share Best of the Web with your buddies The Basics of Font to Use for Resume The font is just too much for an expert document. It is a serious matter. Dont be deceived to think this font is a little overused due to the polished and traditional look. If you wish to use a sans-serif font, Arial is one of the greatest options for your resume. According to Luckhurst, you may only use such a font in case you do not understand the way to use your computer properly and you have not handwritten properly too. Zapfina This kind of font is quite flowery. Ultimately you would like to use a font thats clear, easy to read, and the right size. Be in agreement with the font, resume type, and fashion. Serif fonts are more difficult to read from a distance. Open Sans is a huge choice for Lato. Choosing Font to Use for Resume Resume templates are the simplest means of producing top-quality resumes which maximize your odds of reaching the very first interview stage. For Example Consider everything you were doing throughout that time and if at all possible, present them in a means thats related to your job objective.

How to Boost Your Employees Productivity - Spark Hire

How to Boost Your Employees Productivity - Spark HireWhile no one wants to have to stand over their employees shoulders watching their every move, a manager needs to make sure that theyre holding their staff members accountable. You want to give them freedom, while still ensuring that everyone is performing to the best of their ability each day. There are a number of ways to do this without treating your team like theyre children. In order to keep workplace productivity levels high, keep these tips in mindCheck in regularlyMany times, people become lazy when they dont feel like theyll be held accountable for that days work. To reverse this issue, check in with your team members at the end or beginning of each day. Ask them about how things are going, find out exactly what theyre working on, and let them know that you care and are involved. When staffers know that their manager is invested in their progress and is aware of what theyre doing, theyre much less likely to slack off and wa ste time.Find a way to measure productivityIn order to keep your team members accountable, you need to come up with a ordnungsprinzip that measures accountability. Maybe each employee needs to make 50 calls per day, schedule three appointments, or send out 100 prospecting emails. The system will vary depending on the type of business youre in, but its important regardless of your industry. An accountability system makes it much harder for an individual to feign productivity and progress.Fully understand that employees jobIts hard to measure productivity when youre comparing two very different staff members. While one staffer may have made 30 calls that day, another made three. This may seem like one is wasting time, when in reality they may have had to put more research into each call, thus slowing the process down. Also, realize that a task that takes one person 15 minutes may take another a half hour. This is not necessarily because one person is right and the other is wrong its s imply because people operate differently and have varying strengths and weaknesses.Before assuming that one individual is underperforming, take the time to understand the details of their daily responsibilities. When you have a better sense of their position and how they operate, it makes it easier to analyze whether or not they are truly making the most out of each day.How do you manage your employees productivity without hovering? Let us know in the comments

What to Know About Throwing an Office Baby Shower - The Muse

What to Know About Throwing an Office Baby Shower - The MuseWhat to Know About Throwing an Office Baby Shower Your colleague just announced his wife is pregnant. Or maybe your teammate just sent an email letting you know shes expecting.Either way, your co-workers start talking about possibly throwing the partie an office baby shower. And yet you have so many questions about the protocol of the whole thingDont fret- we talked to several working parents and employees whove thrown one before so youll know everything you need to make the event worthwhile.How Do You Even Know if You Should Throw One?This is the ultimate question, right?Well, after informally surveying 20 working parents, the answer varies. Some told me they were thrown one, yet they didnt want it. Others said they were glad they had one. And even others told me they werent thrown one and wish they had been.What I did discover is that if youre really unsure if the person wants it, its best to ask. Because yes, surprises ar e fun, but they could lead to making someone uncomfortable, or point attention at them when they dont want it, or highlight their pregnancy when theyd rather notlage get into specifics.And doing this also ensures you throw the right kind of party. One of my co-workers who recently planned one was glad she brought it up beforehand because she knew the mom-to-be was more introverted Finally, it helps to know if the person will even be available that day.Who Throws It?At some companies, HR plans all celebrations- meaning they may take the lead on any baby shower.But if this isnt the case at your organization, its usually the persons closest friend, manager, or direct report. If you problematik into any of those three buckets and dont want to do it alone, loop in the other two people listed in that sentence above and see if theyd like to work together.Graphic by Tyler Tamulinas.Who Do You Invite? Men, Too?This also depends on your companys culture as well as the guest of honors personal ity. Like the above example, your colleague may be more introverted, and therefore, uncomfortable having a big, blowout party.So keep the person in mind- do they tend to like attention, or shy away from it? Do they like to spend time with everyone in the office or only with a small group?And again, it doesnt hurt to ask- and in terms of whether or not you should invite your male colleagues, thats also up to the person, what theyre comfortable with and who theyre close to at work. Where Do You Have It?If you want to have it in the office, make sure youve checked with your office manager to make sure you can reserve a spot. Of course, keep in mind if you have it at work, youre more likely to exclude people who werent invited- which is why if you want to keep it small, go elsewhere.The benefit of that is that going to a restaurant makes it feel less like a work event and more like a celebration.When Do You Have It?For the most part, baby showers occur before the baby is born so the par ent can celebrate before they go on parental leave. That said, make sure it doesnt conflict with the parents schedule (both in and outside of the office), and also that the parent and their baby is healthy. Planning a party when theyre going through a tough period may do more harm than good (which is another reason to ask the person before you plan it).And, if youre having trouble finding the right time, its definitely not off the table to throw it after the babys born- after all, its better late than neverWho Pays for It?For most baby showers, teammates chip in collectively for the event. You shouldnt expect your company to pay for it (especially if they havent in the past), but its worth asking HR or your own manager if there is budget for these types of events.Can Dads Have One, Too?Yes In fact, we believe that celebrating soon-to-be-fathers is an important reminder to everyone that men are parents, too. With that said, all the same rules above still apply (namely, making sure th e person wants it).Anything Else?Yes, a few final notesThink beyond the party You can still celebrate without making it a big deal by having the team pitch in for a nice gift instead. This is a great way to keep things simple and still show you care.Make sure the event isnt patronizing, inappropriate, or overly gendered. Be respectful of the parent, their situation, and their decisions (also, because this is a work event, you should respect your colleagues regardless). This means staying away from games that can be insulting or presumptuous.Keep conversations light and impersonal- and keep your parenting advice to yourself (even if youre a parent yourself). The shower should be about celebrating the person and having some fun during the work day, not an ask me anything on being pregnant.Baby showers can be an incredible opportunity to show your co-workers you care about them as more than just co-workers. Many of the parents I spoke with were pleasantly surprised and grateful for hav ing been thrown one.And, even pitching in on something on their registry or taking them to a nice lunch goes a long way in making them feel more at home at work.

High-Tech Startups Its About the Business

High-Tech Startups Its About the Business High-Tech Startups Its About the Business High-Tech Startups Its About the BusinessSteve Blank, co-author of The Startup Owners Manual, who also co-launched a course at Stanford University on starting a high-tech company, says one of the biggest mistakes engineers make is celebrating that they have a great product. It brings up that old question of why McDonalds blows away most fancy steakhouses in sales. Because its not just about the productits about the business.Having a technology idea is not the same as having a company, Blank says. Theres often a disconnect between engineers and scientists and what commerce and capitalism is about. These people are often the smartest but you dont get paid for being the smartest in the world in a start-up. You get paid for being the one who put it together the right way.Steve Blank, co-author of The Startup Owners Manual.In my class the real shock to the system is that I throw them out of class the first day, says Blank. You have an idea? Well get out and start talking to the potential customers. Call up your peers and friends and start testing key assumptions. Find out who would buy your product and how much would they pay? How much will it cost you to produce it?And some of the answers may even be in their eyes. Look for their pupils dilating, for that excitement, he says. Or for eyes glazing over and knowing you missed your mark. Until you get a reaction, you dont know where you stand.Understand Your CustomerThe Startup Owners Manual, co-authored with Bob Dorf, describes discovering who your customer is in four phases 1) The authors break down the business model into product, customers, channels, demand creation, revenue models, partners, resources, activities, and structures. They recommend writing a page for all hypotheses and deciding on the research to find out if theyre correct. 2) Test the hypotheses. 3) Try out a solution through a minimum viable product for customers. 4) Analyze the experiment results to assess if you understand the customers problems, passions or needs, confirm the value proposition for those same three things, and decide if you would have enough customers who will buy at a price point that will allow for profitability.Take Feedback SeriouslyRemember, you dont have to complete the product to find out valuable information. Keep building your product as you get feedback on part of it, Blank says. People dont need to see everything to get excited. Get earlyvangelists, people who will offer money for the product even before its done. This happens all the time.Now are you ready to scale? Does your research show that this product deserves a sales force, a formal training department, and can you raise the money for this because you have proof of need? Blank asks.Proof of need is vital. In The Startup Owners Manual, the authors mention Webvan, an online grocery store company that raised around $400 million and had $8.5 billion in market c ap the day of its initial public offering, but went bankrupt less than three years later because, in the authors opinion, it tested less and grew more.But even if youre sure the business model fits, the last key can be among the hardest to master staying with the process. Sometimes the same people who are great at starting something arent the best at the day-to-day, Blank says. They get bored. You need to keep policies in place, make the sales numbersthats why most founders dont end up running their companies but hire people who can. Its important to be honest about your personality.Eric Butterman is an independent writer.You have an idea? Well get out and start talking to the potential customers.Steve Blank, author of The Startup Owners Manual

Engineers on the Mechanics of Designing Board Games

Engineers on the Mechanics of Designing Board Games Engineers on the Mechanics of Designing Board Games Engineers on the Mechanics of Designing Board Games.indent width-removed 96%margin-left 4%.numbd-left float-removed leftwidth-removed 4%font-weight bold.numbd-right width-removed 90%float-removed leftfont-weight boldIf the words mainmotzu sichboard game bring to your mind the tried and true games of yesteryearMonopoly, Clue, Riskyou may be unaware that we are now living through a veritable board game renaissance. Thanks in part to Kickstarter, which has allowed board game designers to produce games without the backing of a Milton Bradley-sized corporation, and to BoardGameGeek, a thriving online community that rates games in addition to hosting several annual conventions and awards ceremonies, and perhaps to a somewhat nostalgic yearning to get off the phone and engage with other physically present people, there are thousands of new, beautifully designed games on the market.But how ever pretty the box and board, it is ultimately the mechanics of a game that make it a thing worth playing. So its no surprise that a large percentage of board game designers are or have been engineers. Are they drawn to the puzzle-like nature of constructing gaming challenges for the player? Do they use the saatkorn part of the mind that solves engineering problems to solve the problems of developing an engaging game? Nine board game engineers weigh in on these questions.1. Scott Almes Tiny Epic series, Best Treehouse Ever, Martian DiceMy mechanical engineering background has had no small part in my success as a game designer, Scott Almes said. Hes a product development engineer by day and a board game designer by night, as his blog puts it. For Almes, designing a game is just like designing any other product. Both have phases of research and market, as well as prototyping and development.Join ASME and Leading Industry Experts for Offshore Wind Turbine Webinar seriesExperience with this process is what can give an engineer an edge in the game business. Many designers come in thinking of their games as an art piece that cant be touched, and will be resistant to further iterations, outside input, or even customer feedback, Almes said. As a mechanical designer, I was already used to the process.But that doesnt mean the engineering process and board game development are the same. When you are designing a mechanical product, your goals can be very detailed and technical, Almes said. You might need a pump that cannot weigh mora than X pounds, must move at least Y gallons of water a minute, and should cost less than Z. For games, you might have some hard data pointssuch as price, game length, or player countbut fruchtwein of your goals are going to be softer. You want players to get a certain feeling, or you want to set the game in a certain fictional world, or you want the players to laugh while playing. These soft goals can not only be hard to define, but hard to test.2. Adam Wyse Masque of the Red Death, Poetry Slam, Head of MouseholdAdam Wyse was once a software engineer who worked for a mechanical and civil engineering firm and, later, an energy billing company. Then he found games.Playing my first modern board games and seeing the kinds of mechanics and experiences that games were now providing blew my mind, he said. Owing partly to my engineering background, I wanted to start getting into the innards of the games . . . and wondered if I could make one myself.Soon thats all he was doing. In addition to creating games he now works full time in logistics and development for Roxley Games in Calgary.Read more on Design Game Theory Helps Robot DesignFor Wyse, the embryonic stages of a game have little to do with anything engineering. When I first start a game design it can at times feel like an artist sitting down in front of a leer canvas, he said. It is more about exploration and creativity than I found with engineering.But once a game has taken form and needs revision and refinement, the engineer in him kicks in.Being able to separate out use cases or game states and evaluate the probability of these things occurring, or being able to figure out how many of a certain card or component are required, can often be very mathy, Wyse said. Some designers will go by feel, try what seems right, test it, and see how it works. The problem is there is just not enough testing that can possibly be done.I feel that a math background is so important to making good games.Thats not to say that after the initial stages a board is just another engineered product. With most engineered items, the mechanics are the means to an end. When it comes to game design, the mechanics are the game, he said. And the ends to which a game is the means is a nebulous, subjective concept called fun. It was definitely a skill Ive had to learn (and continue to try to learn) to find the fun.3. Phil Eklund Neanderthal, Bios series, Pax seriesOf what objectiv e merit is a board game? asks Phil Eklund. The engineering problems of building bridges, vehicles, power networks, etc. have obvious consequences to help man command the resources of nature and the problems of social living. But of what survival value or human advancement does a board game represent?The question is an important one for Eklund, who, after working for 32 years as an aerospace engineer for Hughes Aircraft segued into fulltime gaming with his company Sierra Madre Games. Hes produced many games including a trilogy of Bios games which encompass the entire history of Earth as a habitable planet.For Eklund, gameslike all artmirror the world. Crucial to that mirroring are the rules, as important to games as they are to engineering. Games and engineering are similar because they both require a grasp of rules, Eklund said. Perhaps even more than in engineering, the users of your product will be poring over the nuances and interpretations of every word, seeking a literal interp retation that will give them a competitive advantage.Read more on Latest Tech in Old School Toys VR and Drone Technology in a Paper AirplaneThis need to organize and record our world is Eklunds answer to his existential question. Man, who is a uniquely conceptual being, finds use for art, which I define as the recreation of reality according to the artists value judgements, he said. Obviously, board games fall under such a definition. My board games are simulations of reality according to value judgements, which I take the effort to identify in footnotes in each game.4. Tunca Zeki Berkkurt Ittihat, IhtillTunca Zeki Berkkurt is currently working on his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University. He designs games in his spare time. Ihtill, or Revolution, and Ittihat, or the Union, are strategy games that recreate events in Turkish history. But my methodology is based on engineering design rather than historical research, he said.After breaking down a piece of histo ry into manageable components, he develops a mathematical model that captures the relationships that produced the historical occurrences. I always define a fundamental rule that players winning strategies will focus on, Berkkurt said.This conceptual process takes about a week. But fine tuning and end design takes almost a year. Tweaking rules, actions, come-back mechanisms and winning conditionsall of which need to be tested in playcontribute to the long gestation. Berkkurt uses analytical and numerical testing to supplement what he learns from humans at the game table.Of course, after the game has been properly calibrated, it becomes a product like any other. So when I Kickstart a board game, I find retailers and printing presses, I choose the materials that the games components will be made of, and I even check the tools and workers, he said. All this work is the manufacturing engineering process and should be taken carefully.5. Joan Wendland X-Machina, Counting Zzzzs, Evil Vendet ta Pie FightJoan Wendland is the owner, operator, game designer, and Queen of Cardsas her website puts itof Blood and Cardstock Games. Shes also an engineer. Game design doesnt pay the bills, she said. For 25 years shes been an engineering consultant, which has included gigs as a systems engineer, a technical trainer, a test engineer, a requirements manager, and a data liaison. She also writes novels.When creating her quirky games, Wendland largely leaves her engineering self behind. I do know a lot of technical people will use statistics to balance a game, but I lean more heavily to reproducing the feel of the theme, she said.Her Counting Zzzzs game is so close to the actual mechanics of sleep there is a sleep doctor in Portugal that uses it to talk to children about their sleep disorders.But her engineer returns when it comes to testing and writing the rules If theres a way for the players to break the game, your product will fail. If someone cant teach themselves to play from the instructions, the product will fail.Read more on Inspiration Sources How Elephants Use Their Tails to Chase Away MosquitoesAnd the problem-solving part of her brain works to keep gameplay well oiled. For instance, in her Pie Fight game she found that certain dice rolls could land all the pies on a single limb which would not hurt that player any more than one pie, she said. So I decided after a second pie, the third pie would be able to slide to another body part because the first two pies made that limb toogooey for the third pie to stick. This did the trick.6. Geoffrey Engelstein Space Cadets, The Fog of War, The Ares ProjectGame design, like all design, is about solving problems, Geoffrey Engelstein said. Engelstein should know hes solved a lot of problems. As a junior and senior at MIT he was president of the Strategic Gaming Society. Now he runs Mars International, an engineering design and manufacturing firmin New Jersey, while simultaneously creating games. He also teaches b oard game design at NYU.One of the first things I talk about are the strong analogs between game design and engineering, he said. Game design is, in many ways, a type of engineering. Engineering is about dealing with constraints. And tabletop games in particular have tremendous constraintsthe physical nature of the components, shelf cost, playing time, the ability of players to comprehend and remember the rules, and moreall of these need to be considered and juggled by the designer, and you have to balance them against each other.The ability to test a game with iterations of a mathematical model can give an engineer an advantage in making board games. You can get a much quicker understanding of the behavior of your design by doing simulations, similar to finite-element modeling for structural strength, Engelstein said.But the advantages are not just limited to testing and product developmentIn product design, mechanical engineers and industrial designers build affordances and signif iers into designs so that users know what to push and what to pull, and how different features may interact with each other, he said. The best products are intuitive to use. The same holds true for board games. Using iconography and other features can make it a lot simpler for players to understand what is happening, and what their options are.There are elements of game design that require a shift in the engineering mindset. The biggest eye-opener I had taking my engineering skills and applying them to game design was in writing the rules, he said.Read more on Engineers and Fun YouTube Star Goes Viral with Glitter BombEngelstein had first thought of writing rules the way he wrote code, breaking structures into small chunks and giving specific steps for each piece Well, my first rule book was completely incomprehensible to the vast majority of players, he said. A rulebook is a teaching guide, not a flow chart that should be memorized.7. Haim Shafir Piraten kapern, Speed Cups, Halli G alliGames are products. They are a special kind of product, Haim Shafir said. They are distinct from industrial products in which the functionality is the paramount issue to consider in order to make a decision on whether to buy them or not. Games are meant to fulfill personal satisfaction. Industrial products are meant to fulfill functions.Trained as a mechanical engineer at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shafir found his own personal satisfaction in the world of play. After several years I found myself attracted by social and humanistic questions which led me to be involved in toys and games, he said. On the one hand, one may say it is far away from engineeringalmost the oppositebut I disagree. All my training as an engineer is still useful as a game inventor.For four decades now Shafir has put that training to creating games for his company Shafir Games.The skills one need to become a successful game designer depend on the type of games one is focused onbut mathematics is certainly important, he said. But above all creativity is paramount. Creativity starts with curiosity.And Shafir is curious about whats fun. I am the kind of designer that focuses on social and fun games, so I learn and research fun and the roots of fun. This is as far as one can think of from mechanical engineering but any successful creative career is always surprising, transformational, and combiningmany disciplines.8. Bruno Cathala 7 Wonders Duel, Five Tribes, KingdominoFor 18 years, Bruno Cathala created Tungsten alloys for the medical, aeronautic, and military industries. To create a new material, he always went through the same stages. As he puts it First there is a sparkling idea.This requires the design of an experimental plan for validation. During this stage, you adapt, correct, modify, cancel, and validate to reach the final answer you are looking for. Then, when you have exactly what you want, you have to write the process with very precise and simple sentences so th at anybody on the production line can understand all the instructions.The development of a game follows exactly the same path, he said. So, today, Im doing the same job. Its only the field which is different.Read more on Designing Learning Environments Rats Play VR Game to Explain How Human Brain Works Same job or not, Cathalas path has produced some very popular games. 7 Wonders Duel is owned by over 60 thousand registered users at BoardGameGeek and is ranked 14th most popular game. Do Cathalas sparkling board game ideas come from the same place that his engineering ideas come from? Well, its quite impossible for me to know if ideas for games or products come from the same place, he said. Because I just dont know where my ideas come from, never mind if its game ideas, or metallurgical development ideas in my former job, or music ideas (Im trying to play guitar).But he does know when he gets his ideas. Ideas come when Im not focused on searching for ideasand maybe even what theyre made ofTheyre generated by a lot of different influences Papers, movies, and discussions. But its always unconscious. That means that my brain has digested a lot of different data and, at one point, generates something which seems unique to me, but is for sure the result of this digestion. Then the works begins to try to know if this idea deserves some development or not.Engineers hoping to develop any board game ideas of their ownwherever they come fromcan check out the Board Game Design Lab. There, board game designers from all walks of life get into the minutia of just how an idea becomes something anyone can sit down with and play.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Register today for ASMEs Offshore Wind Summit to learn about the latest technologies, opportunities, and supply chain strategies from leaders in the oil, gas and wind energy industries. The Best Stories of the Month Open Source Engineering Creates Great Ideas for Rural AreasHelp Wanted Aerospace Engineering Jobs Engineering Thrills from Cedar Point Rides When it comes to game design, the mechanics are the game.Adam Wyse