Sustainability Archives - Other CMS

Job Interview Rules That Everyone Needs to Know

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 19:33:27 +0000

Job Interview Rules That Everyone Needs to Know

For all the media attention surrounding the nation’s ongoing economic uncertainty, there is no denying that America is a job-producing colossus, with hundreds of thousands of new hires each month. That’s a lot of people filling a lot of positions … but only after having survived the dreaded job interview process.

Landing the job you want has been and always will be a competition. You need the professional experience, for sure, and a sharp resume will certainly get your foot in the door but then it’s up to you to ace the interview. In that regard, here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare to meet a potential employer.

Just the Highlights: Job candidates are guaranteed to be asked some version of “Tell us about yourself” and “Why are you interested in our company?” You might think you can just repeat what’s on your resume, but that would be a mistake. What potential employers want to hear is a concise walk through your career, one that hits all the highlights but doesn’t drag on to the point of boredom. The ability to do this effectively demonstrates your intelligence and professionalism.

Tailor Your Response: Tailoring your questions and answers to the person interviewing you is one of the most important unwritten rules. If the person across the table is a potential co-worker, your answers should reflect your commitment to effective collaboration and being a team player. A manager, by contrast, wants to hear in concrete terms what experience and capabilities you can bring to the organization overall. Differentiating your responses in this way will substantially enhance the image you wish to get across.

Body Language Tells Its Own Story: Another unspoken rule to keep in mind is that a candidate’s body language can speak as loudly as their words. When you enter that office, be aware of how you’re sitting, what you’re doing with your hands and your facial expression. Maintain eye contact and offer facial cues to show you are being an active listener. These are small gestures that can make a big difference.

Do Not Follow-Up: Hearing nothing back after an interview you thought went amazingly well can be frustrating but realize that the silence is usually not personal. Indeed, it’s most likely due to other interviews being conducted or internal bureaucracy. Never, ever nudge a potential employer with a “Just following up!” email; that simply will not speed up the process. The ideal strategy is just to have patience and if you receive no feedback after a reasonable time, move on.

Ask Around: No matter how great the interview makes you feel about a prospective employer, check whenever possible with people who actually work at the firm. Talking with colleagues who have worked with your potential new boss is going to give you a much more accurate portrait of what the management and company culture is truly like.

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

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How to Conduct Midyear Financial Checkup

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 23:11:45 +0000

How to Conduct Midyear Financial Checkup

While summer is more readily associated with baseball, barbecues and beach parties, the season also provides the ideal opportunity to take stock of your saving and spending with a midyear financial checkup. As of July 1, the first half of the year is the rearview mirror, so reviewing the current state of your finances will enable you to determine whether you are on track to meet your annual goals.

It also can prove invaluable come tax time, as the checkup can reveal whether you are earmarking enough money each month for state and federal taxes. Confirming this now – and making any needed adjustments – lessens the likelihood you’ll encounter any unwelcome tax season surprises. Here are a few steps you can take to help you accurately assess your midyear financial health.

Is That 401(k) OK?: Retirement will be here before you know it, so double check to ensure you’re doing all you can to make it a happy and prosperous one. Make sure you’re contributing enough to your 401(k) to collect any employer match to which you are entitled; after all, who wants to leave free money on the table? Your goal is to max out your tax-favored retirement plan – 401(k), 403(b), IRA – to build that nest egg and access any potential current-year tax deductions.

Cut the Debt: There is no escaping some debt, of course; think student loans and home mortgages. Credit cards, however, regularly come with double-digit interest rates that can wreak havoc on your budget and overall quality of life, particularly with the Fed prepared to raise rates at least one or two more times this year. The most effective debt-reduction strategy is to tackle the card with the highest rate first, while continuing to make minimum monthly payments on the others to avoid late fees. Once that first debt is eliminated, move on to the next highest rate card until you are debt-free. In the interim, make sure you don’t pay for any new purchases with plastic.

Saving for A Rainy Day: Mid-year is also an opportune moment to ensure your emergency fund is up to snuff. Financial professionals recommend having three to six months’ worth of living expenses set aside in a liquid, interest bearing account, such as a money market fund or savings account, for life’s little emergencies. If you don’t have an emergency fund, there’s no time like the present to start one.

Where Does the Money Go?: The National Foundation for Credit Counseling suggests consumers, regardless of their financial position, track their spending for at least 30 days annually to get a better sense of where their money is going and to establish better spending and saving habits. Write down every cent and put your spending into categories. Look for opportunities to liberate cash flow by cancelling memberships in clubs you don’t use, slashing your cable bill and swapping one trip per year for a staycation.

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Steps to Take to Strengthen Your Mental Health

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 23:01:51 +0000

Steps to Take to Strengthen Your Mental Health

Three years after COVID-19’s arrival, public health authorities agree that Americans’ growing focus on mental health is among the few silver linings the once-in-a-century pandemic left behind. While the COVID crisis has all but passed, there remains plenty of reasons for people to strengthen their mental health as we move through an era of invasive technology, bitter partisan politics, economic uncertainty and accelerating climate change.

Federal, state and local governments, as well as private employers, as a result are channeling unprecedented resources toward mental health services. While those initiatives are both overdue and admirable, here are some steps you as an individual can take to support your own emotional well-being.

Get Some Sleep: Sound physical and emotional health is directly related to the quality of your sleep, so the first step is to establish an effective sleep routine. This will help you take on the day with energy while reducing irritability and brain fog and increasing your capacity to work efficiently and communicate well with friends and family. The best sleep routines involve waking up at the same time each day; avoiding large amounts of substances right before bed, including alcohol and caffeine; and exposing yourself to light immediately upon waking.

Time for Yourself: This might sound like a no-brainer but we all know how difficult it can be to carve out quality me-time given the persistent demands of family life and the workplace. How best to build meaningful self-care into your schedule? One strategy is to keep reminding yourself that you will not be able to meet the needs of others if you have not first addressed your own.

The Company You Keep: In this increasingly virtual world, it’s easy to lose touch with people, be they old friends or even family members. This can pose a real challenge to your sense of well-being, as studies show that regular contact with loved ones has a vital role to play in enhancing an individual’s overall mental health. The answer is to make time for those connections, whether it’s a 10-minute FaceTime call or an afternoon excursion to the park with the grandchildren. The result will be a much-need jolt of positivity you might not otherwise experience.

Prioritize Gratitude: We all have so much to be grateful for and, unfortunately, just as much we take for granted. You can break that cycle by simply writing down one or two things each day that you are grateful for, the more specific the better. Research reveals this one activity significantly eases feelings of depression and anxiety while bolstering productivity and personal resilience. Try starting a gratitude journal or just keeping a list on your phone.

Free Time: Modern life is nothing less than hectic for many of us, with in some cases every hour of every day scheduled well in advance. That’s all the more reason to embrace the rare unscheduled days. It might feel like your playing hooky but in truth there’s nothing wrong with taking a day to do nothing but calming self-care. Read a book, take a long walk, draw a hot bath or binge-watch a show.
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Staying Current on Home Maintenance A Must

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 22:21:03 +0000

It is not surprising to find that some people consider maintenance something to avoid, given the term’s connotations of unwelcome expense and inconvenience. It’s time again for that tune-up, oil change or brake job? How am I, let alone my checking account, going to squeeze that in this week? Procrastination results, although we understand far greater expenses in time and cash likely will result. Chalk it up to human nature.

Homeowners are even more prey to that impulse, given the costs associated with many of even the simplest maintenance projects. Owners of manufactured housing have proven no exception, despite the fact it is even more important for them than traditional homeowners to stay on top of the maintenance regimen. Mobile home maintenance procedures vary from model to model but the first step is always to consult your owners’ manual to determine what needs to be done when. That said, here are some basic tips for maintaining your residence and, along with it, your ability to make it as comfortable as possible.

Start at the Top: That roof over your head? In many cases, it is metallic surface created by fusing galvanized steel sheets together. Constantly exposed to the elements, it is susceptible to all kinds of damage. Do it and yourself a favor by periodically examining and cleaning the surface, taking care to avoid walking on the roof itself.

Side Job: With most manufactured homes, steel informs not only the roof but the unit’s overall frame. Again, regular inspections are the answer. Take a walk around your unit and eyeball it closely. If you notice a scratch or any damage that might expose the frame to rust or corrosion, repair it as soon as you can. Choose high-quality asphaltic base, zinc chromate or paint for these projects – all will provide the protection you seek.

Windows and Doors: Windows are among the most expensive items in a home to purchase and install, which is all the more reason to stay current on their maintenance. Window panes, tracks and operating mechanisms should be checked regularly and kept clean to ensure everything is in working order. Also it is imperative in drier seasons to check windows for leaks; no one likes surprises during a spring downpour. As for doors, use warm, soapy water to keep them clean and remember to adjust them as necessary to ensure they fit properly and close fully. Got the squeaks? Take some silicon spray to the hinges.

Get At the Gutters: Gutters exist is to channel water away from your manufactured home’s foundation. If that doesn’t happen you could be looking at foundation damage or any number of leakage problems, and it will not happen if your gutters are clogged. This is a particularly common problem in the fall in more wooded mobile home communities. The answer is to clean your gutters on a regular basis or look into installing gutter guards. There are several brands of guards on the market and most have proven effective in limiting the amount of natural detritus likely to accumulate and clog your gutters.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.

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Six Unexpected Ways Tiny House Living Encourages a Greener Lifestyle

CENTRESTAGEFILMS — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 13:29:25 +0000

The rise of tiny homes as an affordable housing option is bringing sustainable living to the masses. But the sustainability of tiny house living goes beyond the materials used to construct them: A compressed living space encourages a unique lifestyle focused on consuming (and wasting) less – a measure that’s good not only for our wallets but also the environment.

Here are six ways that tiny house living can help you embrace a cleaner, greener lifestyle.

#1: It encourages responsible purchasing.

When you have so little space to house your impulse purchases, you will be far less likely to make them in the first place. This will drive you to make more mindful purchases – that is, seeking only items that are absolutely essential for you and your family. Fewer haphazard purchases benefit more than just your family budget: It serves the planet by reducing the amount of waste that will inevitably accumulate in about a year when you trash the items you decide you never really wanted in the first place.

#2: It drives us outdoors.

Living in such close quarters can be challenging, which is why outdoor space is so valuable for owners of tiny homes. Utilizing outdoor space can also encourage a healthy change in habits. After all, there’s simply no room for a 70-inch television in a tiny home – but there is ample space to set up patio furniture, yard games, or other outdoor activities that you and your family can enjoy together. Taking advantage of nature rather than buying, using, then trashing and upgrading appliances that keep us sedentary and isolated can help us cultivate new, healthy habits, hobbies, and practices.

#3: It reduces our environmental footprints.

A small home naturally consumes less gas, water, and electricity – a shift that benefits both our wallets and the environment. The average American home is about 2,500 square feetand uses a commensurate amount of energy. In fact, American homes account for about 38% of the country’s total energy uses. By contrast, a small space uses just a fraction of this. Not to mention, tiny homes themselves consume fewer resources, from the materials used to construct them to the available land they consume.

#4: It reduces wasted food and other consumables.

With two or more refrigerators and freezers in your home, you’re more likely to stock up on bulk items at membership stores like Costco or Sam’s Club. These types of purchases often lead to waste, with food items sitting forgotten in fridge #3 or spoiling before they’re even consumed. This type of waste not only blows our budgets but also takes up space in our landfills. The same problem arises with water use, as well as plastic and paper waste. Living in a smaller space means you simply don’t have room to stock up, encouraging mindful, small-scale purchases of only the essentials.

#5: It embraces sustainable energy sources.

Many tiny homes utilize sustainable energy sources, like solar panels, rainwater recycling mechanisms, and more. Moreover, because they are small, it’s much easier to construct them using sustainable, recycled materials that simply aren’t available in the quantity needed to build larger homes.

#6: It reduces costly repairs.

A smaller home necessarily entails a lower “life cycle” cost, meaning that it contains fewer fixtures – like sinks, light fixtures, and toilets, to name a few – that will break down and require replacement. In fact, a 2014 studyestimated that tiny homes reduce “life cycle” costs by 36%. A home with four or five bathrooms, conversely, will involve a much higher number of repairs throughout the life of the home, generating far more broken or outdated appliances that will sit in our landfills.

Scale Back and Go Green

While tiny homes may not be the right option for every family, it’s worth considering how a compressed living space can benefit the environment. From less waste to a drive to find more creative ways to spend time, tiny house living does much more than just reduce the monthly utility bills: It encourages homeowners to pursue a more minimalistic, mindful, and sustainable lifestyle.

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