We asked A. Harrison Barnes, career coach and founder of Hound.com his thoughts on those overused phrases. He agreed there are those catchphrases that can make an interviewer’s skin crawl. So, in lieu of those worn out verbs and adjectives, here are a few that can easily be replaced and that will provide a fresher feel to your resume:

• Instead of “implemented”, try accelerated, accomplished, launched or optimized.
• Instead of “coordinated”, go for some originality with analyzed, orchestrated, motivated or spearheaded.
• Drop the “responsibilities included” and instead, go for structured, expedited, functioned as, or standardized.

Another tip the Hound.com founder offered is one we should all be doing anyway, but for some reason, seldom do as evidenced by the countless mistakes recruiters report. That tip is to double check and proofread every single word. Got it perfect? Good – now triple check it and proofread it again. Ask a friend or family member to give it the once-over, too.

While all of those abbreviations might look impressive, keep in mind, not every recruiter or interviewer knows what they mean. Spell them out in the first reference, and then, if you use them again in the resume, you can include them in abbreviation form. Much like the way you cited college papers, this tip will keep a streamlined reading process for anyone considering you for an interview.
Why folks still believe it’s acceptable to add cutesy graphics is beyond understanding. Please, save those creative energies for your weekend bar-b-que e-vites. Avoid the graphics in your resume. It’s a sure-fire way to not get a call.

Finally, keep your efforts honest. It is way too easy to verify even the tiniest details on a resume these days. A little white lie serves no good purpose in a job hunt. Just the facts, please.

“With the job market still trying to make a comeback, it’s up to those looking for new jobs to really pay attention to the small nuances”, says A. Harrison Barnes, “you might be surprised to learn just how significant those tiny details become when it’s time to select a candidate”.
Ideally, you can afford to have a professional resume team to give your resume a onceover, if that’s not possible, you have to be sure it looks as though you did.

Most employees will agree that anytime they’ve listened to criticism from a manager, it’s done in a respectful way with tact. The goal is hearing what’s being said instead of looking for the nearest escape route. There are a few things you can do, both during and after your meeting, that will tell your supervisor that you’ve heard what he has to say and that you appreciate the feedback. Here are a few tips to keep in mind, courtesy of A. Harrison Barnes:

• Your first instinct will be to argue your point. It’s important to resist that urge for a few reasons. First, you’re closing down and not hearing what’s being said, but more importantly, you’re saying, in essence, that you don’t trust the messenger. This will almost always put your supervisor on defense and this serves no good purpose.
• Keep eye contact, as difficult as it is. This allows your supervisor to say what needs to be said and you don’t feel it’s being dragged out because he wonders if you’re hearing what he’s saying.
• Keep your calm, says the EmploymentCrossing.com founder. If you’re upset, keep in mind that you’ll have an opportunity to have your say. If possible, warns Barnes, try to schedule a follow up so that you don’t allow your emotions to take over. If your supervisor asks what your thoughts are after he’s finished the review, ask if it’s possible to take a step back and meet the next morning. It’s OK to say, “Honestly, I’m feeling a bit vulnerable right now and I’d really appreciate the opportunity to sleep on it and consider what you said”. Odds are, he’ll agree to that and will be sensitive to your feeling of being exposed.
• Agree or disagree, be sure to thank your supervisor for his time. Tell him it’s a lot to consider, but your priority is to be the best you can be in your role. This fosters goodwill and allows you to keep your dignity and pride in tact. It’s easy to unintentionally become your own worst enemy, so the dignified approach is always best.

Remember too that you’re human and imperfect. Your boss is likely as uncomfortable as you. After all, he’s probably on the hot seat as often as those who work for him. As long as you’re being treated with respect, your best bet is to hear what he has to say.

One sure fire way to break the proverbial ice, says Barnes, is to tell them in your opening remarks that you’re aware they don’t know one another well, but that they’re here because of the company’s faith in them and that you’re sure by the time the seminar wraps up, not only will they know each other better, but that you also predict a dynamic group that has a lot to offer by the end of the day (or week or weekend) as a team.
Suggest they break off into teams of 2, 3 or more people for quick brainstorming sessions. Allow them to choose those they partner with and let the creative energy flow says the EmploymentCrossing.com founder. Never underestimate the power when creative minds come together.

Make it a challenge for your group by offering a nice incentive, says A. Harrison Barnes. “Offer to take the winning team to lunch next week or have your public relation’s team make several gift packages with coupons for free dinners in their regions, promotional products such as ball caps, coffee tumblers and golf balls and if you’re involved with the community and with other business owners, that’s a good time to toss in a free oil change from one of the businesses in your area”.
Get the creativity started by going over some of the thoughts upper management had tossed around in the past and see what kind of new and energized ideas come from your group.

Always ask for their feedback. You want to gather information to take back to home office, right? That fact gathering exercise should include more than just their ideas on how to grow the business. You want to know what’s already working and more importantly, what’s not working. Give your sales team a voice and then sit back and listen. You might be amazed at what you discover.

Finally, reiterate to each of the attendees that you have an open door policy and are always ready to hear anything they have to say. Fostering a relationship with your sales team is important; after all, they’re the ones who are talking to the clients on a daily basis and they’re the ones who know, even better than the president, a winning combination when they see one.

That’s not all, though. The EmploymentCrossing.com founder says these kids, who are nonplussed and have no sincere desire to get a college education are spending their time cutting classes and of all things – spending the lion’s share of their time on any number of social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. The course loads are getting lighter too and the courses these kids are signing up for are surprising, to say the least. Let’s face it, spending close to one hundred thousand dollars is a bit surreal when the degree is in surfing. Lest we forget the U.C. Berkeley course titled, “Arguing with Judge Judy”.

We asked A. Harrison Barnes to break the numbers down for us. Here ’s his breakdown, based on statistics and available information:

• The cost for a single day in an average college costs a bit more than $150.
• More than 20% of college students have no concept of how to manage their finances or balance their checkbooks.
• College students average ten hours a week at keg parties while only sacrificing eight hours for their studies.

Take a deep breath before you read this next fact:

• The average college student spends more than nine hours each day on Facebook, electronic games, their cells and PDAs and watching television.

The EmploymentCrossing.com founder also says a full 45% of college graduates do not have strong enough credit to purchase a home after graduating. Again, speaking of the average student, each carries more than $3000 in credit card debt.

To be sure, these numbers are staggering and for many, and certainly for parents, it’s disheartening. So does this mean parents shouldn’t encourage their slacker teen to consider a college education? Barnes says no parent wants to do that; we all want the good things in life for our children. But if Mom and Dad are shelling out thousands of dollars each month in an effort of getting little Billy educated, only to have him skip entire semesters, then clearly, the purpose is defeated.

Frankly, some say those kids are show up at campus ready to party are likely to become one of the saddest statistics at all: 1,700 college kids die each year from alcohol related injuries.

It’s a tough call, to be sure. Careers don’t just happen; it takes commitment and dedication and it appears these two qualities are sorely lacking in some of these would-be college freshmen.

One 2009 study of seniors at Columbia’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science revealed nearly 37% of its graduates went straight into the financial arena and specifically, many chose Wall Street.  Only 17% opted for software related and other IT roles.

The founders of HackNY say their efforts are already paying off.  Many students who interned with IT companies as part of the college careers said they are now considering this as a career choice and have abandoned their focus for those careers in finance.  A. Harrison Barnes, founder of EmploymentCrossing.com, says this is an idea that’s working – and working well, even though it is in its infancy.  It’s going to lead to great things for the IT industry as a whole.  With many young employees who chose Wall Street, there are some who are now saying they experience little or no job satisfaction.  One reason, says the EmploymentCrossing.com founder, is that they likely entered into the job market during one of the worst economic times in the U.S. history.  It comes as little surprise, then, that there is a degree of burnout for some.

For those who are already in the IT business, the benefits because of HackNY’s efforts will mean more of the nation’s brightest minds will be focusing on their companies for employment.  A. Harrison Barnes says this trend will likely continue, especially because of the uncertainties of the global financial outlook.  “Graduates do want to make a difference and make their marks in this world, but they don’t want to walk into such unpredictable environments with no assurances of whether they’ll have a job next week”, says Barnes.  Others agree.  The outlook for the U.S. economy does look better, but there remain other variables that affect the overall financial health not only in the U.S., but on a global level.  The BP oil crisis and the growing tensions in North Korea are but two of those factors that can’t be discounted.

Finally, HackNY founders say another goal is to attract women.  Fewer women enter the IT market each year; ideally, these new efforts will change that trend and more women will begin considering these lucrative careers for themselves.

You might think that reserved parking space, complete with a small placard that includes your name, is an added bonus, but what will that equate to in the long run? Not much when you stop to consider it. That parking space isn’t going to spell a bigger bonus at the end of the year and besides, not having reserved parking means you’re getting a bit of exercise when you trek through the employee parking lot.
An additional vacation day, however, is money in your pocket while also placing a percentage into your 401(k) plan. Consider the interest it draws until you retire. Its value, of course, is the fact you’re able to take a day off, receive your salary while also enriching another part of your life such as time spent with family. There’s a definitive value with a perk such as this, says A. Harrison Barnes.

It’s true many, if not most, employers began reining in their various bonus and perk programs during the economic downswing; however, now that the recession is becoming less of a factor, employers are once again reintroducing the many ways it lets employees know their worth to the company.
What if one of your options was an annual membership to a gym? Again, it has value on many levels. Not only are able to forego the annual fees you’re currently paying, but you’re also making an investment in your overall health. A company car adds a financial aspect, too. Leaving your own vehicle in the driveway saves your fuel costs and wear and tear on your personal transportation.

Most of us will never have the luxury of having options when it comes to company perks, just being acknowledged in some way goes a long way in how well our work days go and is always a great motivator. Remember, though, the biggest satisfaction any of us have is knowing we’ve done a great job at the end of the day and recognizing that we always have options. Changing our job is sometimes the best perk we can give ourselves. If you’re wondering what the job outlook is for your chosen career, don’t forget to visit EmploymentCrossing.com. All of the latest trends and most recent openings around the country can be found here. Perks or no, the choice is always our own.

Malpractice lawyers work to ensure the rights of their clients who have suffered the consequences of wrong diagnoses. Most agree the both the medical and legal fields would benefit from a nationwide malpractice court system. The Obama Administration, along with many Democrats, remains opposed to the new regulations that are being tossed around. One of those arguments is that it would do nothing for the taxpayer. A. Harrison Barnes reiterates his earlier claim that health care costs would see a significant decline, which makes many wonder how the Obama Administration says it’s of no benefit. It’s not only the Law Crossing founder who has made these statements. The Congressional Budget Office calls the potential savings “huge”. Many analysts have even said more than $50 million could be saved over the next ten years in medical tort reforms. Health care costs lowered, lower malpractice insurance premiums for doctors and hospitals and savings to insurance companies since many physicians would no longer feel as though they had to order the whole realm of tests in their efforts of avoiding lawsuits: the justifications become clear.

These changes are long overdue; and yet very little has been done in recent months. The fact is, these changes should occur sooner rather than later. Now that the health care reform has passed, the time is now for these changes, at the foundational level, so that the new reform can better serve its purpose. Otherwise, we’re in for yet another big letdown in the health care sector.

The advice offered by A. Harrison Barnes hasn’t changed for lawyers wishing to make their mark in this ever-growing national debate. With the potential to forever change the way healthcare is administered in this country, this particular specialty promises to present challenges and rewards for those wishing to make a difference. As far as those closest to the reform measures agree the time has come.

It’s important to realize the Medicare program would benefit greatly from medical malpractice reform. Finally, those supporters of the reform measures are quick to point out the goal is not to protect those medical personnel who practice irresponsibly or illegally; and in fact, is intended to highlight those who jeopardize their patients’ lives to ensure they’re held accountable. The true goal of the reform is to guarantee medical treatment is made available to every American and to provide doctors the freedoms to practice medicine with fewer reservations with the decisions they make.

They will take their training in the diagnosis, treatment and understanding of mental disorders and provide consultation to lawyers, judges and others in the legal field. As with many cases that end up in front of a judge, a forensic psychiatrist will usually find himself on one side or another. Usually, though, he will represent that patient in an effort to ensure a mentally incapacitated persons needs are met. They are, of course, what is referred to as the “experts” in the court rooms, says A. Harrison Barnes, lawyer and founder of LawCrossing.com. Those forensic experts work from an ethical standpoint and focus on the evidence provided. They must remain objective and those who are exceptional in their jobs realize they are not testifying from a legal standpoint, but rather, a medical point of view.

Another interesting facet of forensic psychiatry is that these professionals do not always arrive at the same conclusion as the firms they are consulting with. It’s not uncommon for a firm to pay an expert for his time and efforts, and then not call them to testify in any court proceedings. Those ethical professionals know their goal is not to sugarcoat the truth, but to provide the best testimony that’s accurate and unbiased, says the LawCrossing.com founder. “It can be a fine line these experts walk”, says Barnes, “but the good ones know how to keep it in perspective while not compromising their oath or sense of right from wrong”.

One expert, when asked why he did not side with the attorney who hired him, was simple – yet clear – in his explanation. He said these professionals are paid for their time and not their testimony – and once this is understood, it becomes easy for these medical physicians to maintain perspective.

If you’re considering going into this field, A. Harrison Barnes says there are many programs across the country that are superb for fostering professionals with ethics and a clear understanding of their role in both the legal and medical fields. It’s a commitment, to be sure, but Barnes says it’s one worth making and those who are helped in the process should only reiterate the value of these professionals. And if you’ve already completed your education, be sure to visit the LawCrossing.com for more information on salaries and openings for forensic psychiatrists.

A. Harrison Barnes, lawyer and founder of LawCrossing.com says that the Court opted to not limit its decision to the facts presented and went a step further by stating even a policy that banned all personal computer use and provided unambiguous notice that an employer could retrieve and read an employees’ attorney-client communications . . . would not be enforceable.” In short, New Jersey employers may not read their employees’ email exchanges with personal attorneys, even when stored on a company computer regardless of whether the employer’s electronic resources policy expressly grants the employer the right to do so.

The Case

Loving Care Agency, Inc. gave the plaintiff a laptop computer for use in the course of her job. She was also issued a work-related e-mail address. The plaintiff used this laptop to access her personal Yahoo email account, which is where she communicated with her lawyer about an employment discrimination lawsuit. After a forensics computer expert spent a few minutes with the laptop, he was able to recover those Yahoo emails and provide them to the companys legal counsel. In the course of discovery, the plaintiffs lawyers demanded that privilege was attached, even though the companys lawyers said it had been waived since it was on company property. One court ruled in favor of the company and the Appellate Division reversed that decision, reasoning that Loving Care’s policy was too ambiguous to defeat the plaintiff’s privacy expectations. The New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the Appellate Divisions decision and called the policy ambiguous and that it did not diminish the plaintiffs expectation of privacy with respect to her communications with her attorney.

So what does this mean for employers? One thing, says A. Harrison Barnes, which is crucial to understand is that the rulings implications will affect not only employers in New Jersey, but employers across the country, too. Its likely a new precedent has been set that will bring attorney client privilege to new heights, even when its stored on a computer that does not belong to either the attorney or the client.

Still, the LawCrossing.com warns employees to keep private information away from company computers. This case could have realistically gone either way, as evidenced by the two different rulings by two different courts. But for the footer that was included at the bottom of every email received or sent by the lawyers that stated all communications were personal and confidential, this case could have resulted in a very different outcome.

Keep in mind, every law schools places a major importance on a number of factors, including your GPA and LSAT. These are very important and you should work hard to ensure high numbers. The higher the numbers, the more options youre afforded.

Cost matters. And costs vary. This is important when youre considering the financial aspects and law schools, contrary to popular belief, run the gamut in terms of affordability.

Dont forget the application costs. Expect to submit a check for each school you apply to, usually around $100. Choose wisely which schools you wish to apply to.

There is the time factor. Read: deadlines for applying. Be sure you have everything you need before you begin the process. This keeps frustration levels to a minimum and trust us, your stress levels will likely already be high.

Keep your focus and keep your faith. Youre going to discover the many levels of hope, fear and even rejection. Keep your eye on the ball, says the LawCrossing.com founder.

Have glamourized ideas of how law school will be? We hate to be the one to shatter your image, but you can expect to do a lot of reading of judicial opinions, rulings and anything else your professors deem necessary.

Expect to take a lot of notes, too. And exams. Lots of exams. Of course, the big daddy comes after youve completed the coursework and are preparing to set off into the world of legalities. That is, of course, after youve prepared for and passed your states bar exam.

So now that you know what to expect, youre ready to set off into the world of lengthy law school applications. A. Harrison Barnes says to go into it with an open mind. While its a grueling process, its also an important part of not on your career choices, but your life as a whole. Make it count, enjoy the ride and remember its just one of the many obstacles youre going to face as you pursue a legal career.
For more tips and information on applying to law school and locating the right job after graduation, be sure to visit LawCrossing.com. Its a one stop source for recent law school grads and seasoned professionals looking to broaden their horizons.