Engineers Without Borders The Rwanda Project

Engineers Without Borders The Rwanda Project Engineers Without Borders The Rwanda Project Keir Hart, an ASME student member, vividly remembers that night when he stepped off the plane into the darkness of Rwanda. Six months of planning as a participant in Colorado University s Engineering for Developing Communities had brought him and his group to the village of Muramba to examine a failed water ordnungsprinzip.Harts group was working with Engineers without Borders-USA, the national non-profit organization founded three years ago by CU civil engineering professor Bernard Amadei.Hart, a mechanical engineering student at CU, joined project coordinator Evan Thomas, Laura Richards and Amadei on this project, to work on a deteriorating water system that supplied a few thousand people.Genocides Lasting EffectsThe village, still plagued by the aftereffects of a decade-old genocide, suffers from widespread starvation and disease. Poor water conditions cause frequent illness among residents. Inadequate soil conditions and a severe drought have made barren farm fields a devastating blow to the agriculture-dependent village.Women and children would spend hours everyday carrying water from broken fixtures, Hart said. Unfortunately, we could only install simple repairs. We were not equipped or funded well enough to fix the entire system, merely to analyze what was there.Help on the WayThe group ended up installing three solar-powered lighting systems, a drip-irrigation system for farming, and handed out a few hundred soccer balls to kids. For engineers like Hart, the trip was about more than just fixing a villages water and energy problems.I learned a lot about Rwanda, engineering, and especially myselfas all good traveling tends to do, but I think that the most important memory I took away was the look on the peoples faces we were helping, Hart said. I earned a renewed faith in what I was doing. With regular classes you look at books and your equations and hope for a right answer. When you are involved in a team like EWB-Rwanda, you still hope that you are correct, but you get to see the consequences.He said the best experience of all was seeing the faces of the kids light up. I will never forget my experiences there and I sincerely hope that I get to go back, he said.EWBUSA projects involve the design and construction of water, wastewater, sanitation, energy, and shelter systems. These projects are initiated by, and completed with, contributions from the host community, which is trained to operate the systems without external assistance. The projects are conducted by groups of students under the supervision of faculty and professional engineers from partnering engineering firmsThe CU-Boulder Outreach Committee, the Engineering Excellence kenntniserlangung in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, along with private donations, sponsored the Rwanda project.For more information on EWB, and how you can participate as an ASME member, go to asme. org/Communities/Students/Undergrad/Engineers_Borders_2.cfm.The group ended up installing three solar-powered lighting systems, a drip-irrigation system for farming, and handed out a few hundred soccer balls to kids.

Automated Guided Vehicles Do the Heavy Lifting

Automated Guided Vehicles Do the Heavy Lifting Automated Guided Vehicles Do the Heavy Lifting Human beings arent perfect, which is why we make mistakes, hurting ourselves on the job, or mishandling equipment that damages products and the bottom line.Take, for example, palletized goods, which are hustled through manufacturing plants and distribution facilities 24/7. Pallets are often dropped, lifted, and pushed across hard floors. Pallet damage often results in damaged products and unsaleable merchandise that averages about 1% of gross sales for retailers and distributors.An innovative solution to this problem is automated guided vehicles (AGV) that serve as unmanned pallet trucks and tow tractors that operate with much higher precision than human operators.Vision-Guided NavigationWhat makes AGVs so special? Sophisticated, vision-guided technology.Seegrid Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, is a manufacturer of AGVs for the material-handling industry, including robotic pallet trucks, tow tra ctor, and walkie stackers. These vehicles are equipped with range-finding stereo cameras that record and store thousands of features along the route, allowing the AGV to remember the route by replaying the recorded features.This type of vision-based evidence-grid technology, an application of probabilistic volumetric sensing, was invented and initially developed by Dr. Hans Moravec at Carnegie Mellon University.Seegrid has built upon this technology with its AGVs, using stereo cameras to construct 360-degree maps of the environment. The images are analyzed in real time to identify features, and their locations, in three-dimensional space. Five pairs of stereo cameras operate concurrently to analyze thousands of interest points per second, with a margin of error of only one to two inches.This allows the vehicles to be deployed easily, says Mitchell Weiss, chief operating officer for Seegrid. They are walked through the path once to build the map, and then they repeat the route. Becau se of the high density of map data, they can maintain precise navigation even in changing environments.Seegrids automated guided vehicles use stereo cameras to construct 360-degree maps of the environment. Image Seegrid.comHighly Integrated SystemsFrom an engineering perspective, AGVs are highly integrated systems. They departure out as a basic chassis. Because the optical equipment is so sensitive, Seegrid engineers must devise methods that allow these high-precision components to be integrated with the chassis, and also withstand harsh shock and vibration conditions.To accomplish this we have designed rugged mechanical components, which can be adjusted or adapted to the truck chassis at time of manufacture, says Weiss. Camera-to-camera and camera-to-vehicle fine-tuning is accomplished with software.The size of components is very diverse, ranging from customized miniature cameras to one-half-inch-thick steel plate to batteries that weigh 1,000 pounds. This requires a variety of man ufacturing environments, including near-clean rooms with special calibration tools for the cameras, ESD-controlled environments for electronics assembly, overhead cranes and lifts for the trucks, and simulated warehouse environments (cold, dim) for testing.We have also added more time for AGV burn-in than is normal for the industry, to detect infant mortality in hydraulic system seals, bearing contamination, and other infant issues, adds Weiss. We have also improved battery monitoring to compensate for the lack of a driver, who can notice changes in vehicle performance duringa shift.Future PlansThe most expensive part of operating a truck is the cost of the driver. This cost includes wages and benefits, accidents, injury, lost time, and errors. Also, human drivers cannot operate without breaks for instruction, food, stretching, etc. In comparison, robotic pallet trucks, priced at $85,000, operate at significantly higher duty cycles, improving capital performance.AGVs are the ultimat e electric vehicle, says Weiss. Unlike the cars we drive, they really can zulauf 24/7, do it for up to 10 years, emit zero emissions, and tow up to 10,000 pounds. All of this comes in a package size that fits in the bed of a pickup truck.Seegrids vision-guided AGVs currently operate from point to point along planned routes. Company engineers are continually developing new methods for improving camera performance, using field data collected from hundreds of deployed systems, says Weiss.For example, the company has just developed a new walkie stacker that automatically picks, drops, stacks, and puts away loads up to 72 inches, at a maximum load capacity of 3,500 poundsideal for automatic lane building or deep lane storage at dock and staging locations.Mark Crawford is an independent writer.AGVs are the ultimate electric vehicle.Mitchell Weiss, COO, Seegrid

Dress to Network Every Encounter Counts

Dress to Network Every Encounter CountsDress to Network - Every Encounter CountsTips on how to avoid overdressing or underdressing at everything from job ritterlichs to barbecuesGot a lunch date with a friend who knows a friend who has a friend who is hiring? Did the boss invite you to join him at the Yankees game? Schmoozing at a gallery opening? If your calendar is chock-full of potential networking opportunities, its time to make an appointment with your closet as well.Networking outside the office is your best chance to meet new people beyond your corporate circle who can help promote your career. Its also a no-mans land when it comes to the dress code.Networking is not an interview, and once outside the office, the strict rules of the dress code no longer apply. Youre left on your own to overdress and look like you dont belong or underdress and look like youll never belong.If youre not sure what everyone will be wearing, ask around to ensure you wont be the only one sans suit. When in doubt, geschftliches miteinander casual is your best bet. But the clothes call could run the gamut from a tuxedo to jeans. Networking outside the office, with more focus on culture and entertainment, is also the perfect opportunity to be more fashion forward and express yourself. This is not a free pass to don your sequined 80s jumpsuit, but wear your favorite colors accessorize and, most of all, smile.To help you dress properly for the occasions you might encounter on the job search, here are some common networking scenarios as well as some stylish solutions for men and women facing each event.Reminder Dress for success every day, no matter whats on the agenda - you never know who you will run into on your lunch breakNetworking scenarios includeA job fairAttending a job fair is basically like speed interviewing. You should be dressed for the possibility of in-the-moment interview. In others words, wear a suit.Women A dress is appropriate as well, when paired with a tailor ed jacket. Choose shapes that work for your body. Stick to a flattering palette of black, navy, gray or cream. Keep jewelry delicate, but carry a chic tote. (Its not fashionable to schlep a canvas bag full of resumes)Men You know the rules nice fit suit, power tie and polished shoes. For more formal interview style tips check out my article Lose the Frump Factor, Win the Job.Lunch with a connected friendYour old college buddy wants to do lunch and might be bringing a big-time player in your industry along. A business associate wants to get your thoughts over lunch on a new venture hes considering. Whatever the circumstance, lunch can be a tricky style situation. You want to be dressed to impress, but too formal sends the impression that you are too eager and dont respect the social aspect of the meeting. In other words, the goal is to play it cool while looking casually sharp. My rule is wear business casual with an emphasis on the casual.Women Wear your favorite separates, like a slim pencil skirt and printed blouse. Avoid looking staunch by ditching your jacket, close-toed shoes, and oversized work tote. Opt for pretty heels and a smaller handbag - no resume requiredMen Keep your look casual in dark jeans or crisp khakis and a button-down in classic color. Wear your suit jacket on top to add the right element of professionalism. No tie required, but a leather belt with a square metal buckle and sleek oxfords will complete your casual business attire.A cocktail partyWhether you are celebrating with a group of friends or a colleague invites you to a benefit, cocktail parties are the perfect excuse for schmoozing. The great debate in the fashion arena is what defines cocktail attire. Short dress? Suit and tie required? While these are all up for discussion, it is best to avoid the risk of looking inappropriate by wearing what has always classically defined cocktail attire a short, formal dress or a suit and tie. When it comes to your professional image, it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.Women Choose a cocktail dress that is flattering and exposes a tasteful amount of skin. No plunging necklines or bandage dresses, please. Look for a hem that grazes the knee - any longer, and you will look dated any shorter, and you will look like you belong in a club. Dresses made in chiffon or silk lay nicer than satin, which tends to rumple in all the wrong places. A silhouette that flatters almost any womens body is sleeveless, with a scoop neck, fitted waist and slightly fuller skirt. Avoid fussy prints and stick to colors that translate well at night black, gray, shades of red and navy. Wear open-toed heels and your favorite ear or neck sparklers for a finishing touch.Men I am not trying to torture you, but you need to wear a suit. Your best suit. Use this opportunity to experiment with colors. In other words, save your black suit for the office. Try suits in shades of gray or tan. Tiny-printed or solid-color ties give a dres sier appearance appropriate for a cocktail party. Add a tiny pocket square for a finishing touch.Drinks with a colleague Whether bestattungsbing a cocktail with a co-worker or meeting a potential employer for a scotch, your daytime look will require some minor adjustments for the bar. Most people dont have time to run home and change after work, but a few additional items and tricks will keep your look professional but night-worthy.Women Wear a blouse or dress with tasteful embellishments, whether it has a sheen, a beaded design or simply a row of ruffles. This will allow your look to translate easily from the office to the bar. Ditch unwanted layers such as tights, jackets or cardigans. Last, add a fashionable necklace in colorful jewels, and dont forget to switch your day tote for a sleek clutch. Transformation completeMen Lose your jacket, roll up your sleeves and slightly loosen your tie for a relaxed look. Add a fashionable vest or casual sport coat for a style statement.For mo re tricks on day-to-night dressing, see Style Day to Night - Wardrobe Switch Not Required.A conference or seminarA gathering of top industry professionals or a business seminar is a great way to network with names with whom you are probably familiar but have yet to meet face-to-face. With an opportunity to zero in on specific industry influencers, it is key you make a good first impression. While formal attire is not required, you dont want to be caught shaking hands without a jacket on your arm. Your look for these opportunities should be business casual, with an emphasis on business.Women Sick of your skirt-and-blouse office routine? Use this opportunity to wear a flattering shift dress in a rich color. With a hem right around the knee and a minimal neckline, this is the perfect notice-me look. Closed-toed heels and a sleek tote will ensure you look professional. Bring a tailored jacket or cardigan with you in case you get cold, but wearing it is not a must.Men See A job fair. (O nly you dont need to be wearing your jacket its there just in case.)Tickets to the big gameWhat to wear when drinking beer and eating nachos with the boss while watching his favorite sports team? In such a casual environment as a sporting arena, dressing with a business purpose in mind is tricky. The key to looking relaxed yet professional is choosing the right fabrics and showing the appropriate amount of skin. As a rule, the attire should be weekend casual.Women Although you might usually grab a tank and shorts for game day, when networking is on the agenda, opt for a little less skin. Try cotton shorts with at least a 5-inch inseam, and tuck in an airy button down in linen or chambray. Wear flat sandals, no flip-flops. Classic aviators and a sporty watch complete your look.Men Reach for your weekend pants, like a lightweight chino or classic jeans, but avoid sporting shorts in front of the boss. A cotton polo will keep you cool, but the collar will keep you looking cleaned up. We ar sandals or sleek sneakers, no flip-flops. But feel free to wear your favorite baseball hatNote Basketball games tend to be dressier. (See Lunch with a connected friend above.)Weekend barbecueWhether headed to a Fourth of July blowout or a more intimate birthday celebration for a colleague, barbecue are a great chance to meet friends of friends and expand your professional network. But unless you are manning the grill, your look needs to send the right message. The attire for a barbecue is weekend casual, with an Americana influence. (No crop tops or wife beaters allowed.)Women Try a breezy denim skirt (stay away from minis) and striped knit tank. Make sure the straps are thick enough that you wont have any bra-strap mishaps. Metallic sandals and a chunky bracelet add just the right amount of polish. A knee-length sundress (avoid halters) is also a stylish but appropriate option.Men Khaki or navy shorts (no jean shorts, ever) are a temperature-friendly option for barbeques. Try a polo shirt in classic color, as T-shirts tend to look sloppy. Avoid wearing a hat so you can make good eye contact. Lastly, brown leather sandals are a more-polished option than flip-flops.Photos Courtesy of J. Crew

How to win the biggest battle of all within yourself

How to win the biggest battle of all within yourselfHow to win the biggest battle of all within yourselfThe toughest battle youll ever fight in your life is the battle within yourself.?- ?AnonymousWithin each day, each moment of life, each challenge, adversity and mistake, theres something to be won. Everything we categorize or think of as a loss can be converted into a win. The magic of life is about self-discovery Its our job to find the wins, to recognize the opportunities for personal growth and to move forward wiser, more self-aware and better prepared for the next battle.If we focus and concentrate, using the power of our minds, well begin the process of overcoming the things that hold us back. Well departure to embrace the battles and view them as part of a longer journey- one that will take us to highs, lows and everything in between. Everything Ive learned in my business career and personal life has taught me that equanimity is the most important unspoken truth of life.The moment that we allow life to drag us down, thinking that theres some indefinite time period before we can recover, is the moment that we surrender our free will. Successful businesswomen like Sheryl Sandberg have used adversity to their advantage repeatedly and have moved forward with brilliance and grace.Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran overcame a major stuttering problem as a child to become one of the most successful recording artists on the planet. Remarkable that someone who struggled with stuttering could wow so many people with the power of his voice. Sheeran refused to give up.Basketball star LeBron James never gets too high after a big game, and never believes anything is too challenging. In the 15th year of his long, storied career, he has been pressed to his physical limits and yet again, finds himself competing for the NBA championship. Hes lost five times in the NBA Finals. But hes kept coming back for more.Its why hes a champion and one of the greatest players to ever live .The battles that count arent the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself, the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us, thats where its at. Jesse OwensWinning the battle takes extra effort and more than we thought possible. But its there if we want it. We must accept the challenge and we must do so with a spirit of courage that embraces risk. If youre not willing to risk, if you just want to play things conservatively and hope for the best, youll be sorely disappointed. The conservative route is a losers strategy, and yet so many people think minimizing risk in ventures is the right way to play.The battle within is triggered by external stimuli. We either react to what comes at us or take up the gauntlet and start attacking life proactively with a winners mindset. If you sit there and wait all the time, life begins to consume you. The struggle to be successful in your career starts to feel overwhelming every time you let up and think you can coast by.Your relation ships begin to flounder when you stop working for them and think that everyone should come to you and things will work out all right. Life is a contact sport and you must be willing to compete and battle for what completes you. This means mastering your emotional and mental abilities through a mindset geared toward continuous improvement.To be at peace mentally and emotionally, we often need to be at peace spiritually. This means?- ?we have to accept life for what it is, to acknowledge things at face value, then do our best to influence and impact how we want to change things so they will align with our truth?- ?our imagination and purpose. It is this vision and purpose that must guide us to win the battle within.4 Ways to Win Your Battle Within1. Build in time for self-reflectionSuccessful people who live boldly and joyfully are great thinkers. They dont suffer from paralysis by analysis, but rather they spend time in deep thought about how they want to design their lives. They thi nk of traps to avoid, they have an excellent memory which steels them against repeating future mistakes. They overcome negative thinking with optimism and hope.I recommend dedicating a minimum of 15-minutes daily to thinking of all that youre facing right now in your life. You wont be able to solve all your problems in 15 minutes, but you will know what youre up against. Youll be able to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for each part of your day and youll become more resilient for approaching new and old obstacles.2. Find the environment that will enable you to clear your mindWhat distribution policy works for you? Does it help you to meditate or find time in solitude in the confines of your own home? Is it in a public space like the library? Is it a church or house of worship? Maybe you need to get out in nature, disengage, unplug and find your inner-voice. We all need peace if were going to be great warriors against the things that threaten to derail us.I encourage you to find a place where you can think clearly and passionately.There is an amazing power getting to know your inner self and learning how to use it and not fight with the world. If you know what makes you happy, your personality, interests and capabilities, just use them, and everything else flows beautifully.?- ?Juhi Chawla3. Bucket your worries and anxious thoughts into categoriesWhen you struggle long enough with anxious thoughts and fears, you come to a fork in the road. You either do something about it, or you become complacent. Remember this?- ?action is always better than inaction. Compose a list of all your worries and anxious thoughts. Once you have these in one place, begin bucketing them out and categorizing them.This simple act of shining a light on what affects us mentally and emotionally is vital in helping us develop a winners mindset. What do I mean? When youre able to isolate and highlight the things that threaten you, youre better able to analyze and target ways to ove rcome them. You can dismiss some thoughts as unfitting of your time and move on.Some of our biggest worries or concerns seem very trivial when we open them up to the light.4. Game PlanUltimately, you have to do the work. Better organization leads to better results. Become skilled at planning and executing off the plan you set for yourself. To win the battle you must know your enemies. And you must learn how to defeat them. Kindness, perseverance, gratitude, humility and hard work are all great values that will help you.Having a plan is a tremendous safeguard against down times and bad thoughts. This game plan will lift your spirits and keep you pointed in the direction to keep fighting on for a new day.Join my newsletterand let me know ifyoud like to work togetheras you build each day toward living the life you truly want. Lets GOAlso check out my Amazon Bestselling book,The Value of You. This will give you inspiration to start planning for success on your journey.Thisarticlefirst a ppeared onMedium.

Where to Find Resume Draft

Where to Find Resume Draft The Resume Draft Cover Up If youre not sure concerning the format of the resume, you can search the internet for some sample format and select the one which you think can serve your objective. Have a peek at these examples to choose which format is most suitable for you. Then think about some simple questions to help you to clarify it would be best for you. The other one is called the purposeful format. What you are able to do is the next. Below are two sample resume format that will allow you to achieve only that. A basic resume vorlage is the most elementary version or kind of a resume template which may be utilized to produce resumes for any work position. The Resume Draft Pitfall There are several differences in expectations for each job seeker because of these reasons including but not restricted to. Overview of somebodys qualification is also advisable to put your very best foot forward right at the start of the resume. Actually, you could a lways create a compelling and strong resume that may brandish all of your relevant skills and experience for you to ultimately get the job which you want. A fundamental job resume is best for candidates that are fresh out of college and are probably on the lookout for an expert start. The Little-Known Secrets to Resume Draft If youre in a creative position (for instance, graphic design), think about using a nontraditional resume. There are many tactics to compose a resume. There are a few things that dont belong on a resume for work. It is possible to also mention your athletic skill below a distinct sub-heading. All information provided ought to be regarded as fictional. You should make sure the absolute most important details in your resume appear on the very first page rather than the second. Employing a resume template has turned into an acceptable and smart practice for several explanations. Referring a sample template will thus help you in creating the the majority of the opportunity. The Nuiances of Resume Draft Based on your work history, you might want to look at employing a functional resume. You also ought to speak about past experience. Since that you dont have a thing to reveal where work experience can be involved, you desire to focus on your very own academic qualifications alongside other accomplishments that youve got. If work experience isnt your key highlight or whether youve got an inconsistent work history, its best advisable to start your resume with your qualifications. Creative While its important to get a professional resume, sometimes just a little creativity and neuheit is suitable. If you prefer your resume to have past the initial screening phase, you will have to put your very best foot forward and prevent appearing over-qualified or under-qualified. The competition can be difficult How to Find Resume Draft Together with mentioning the work type, if youll give a tiny description of your work in the cv then it is g oing to be best too. You need to use a chronological resume whenever you have extensive work history thats regarding the job youre applying for. The present job may not always ensure job satisfaction, however shifting career avenues are going to be a gigantic deal full of a fantastic deal of uncertainty. If youre attempting to acquire work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. Government representatives wont have decision-making authority and might have to consult the government before taking a determination. Federal jobs often need you to have experience in a special type of work for some period of time. As with other creative resumes, it isnt meant for the majority of employers, so you might want to get a traditionally formatted resume on hand to complement it. Employers find it quite unattractive. Recruitment consultants often utilize ATS too. Your experience should deal with every essential qualification in the job announcement. Also, in case you fre quently change jobs, you might also think about a functional resume. Accounting and finance managers might want to see your technical understanding. LinkedIn plays an essential part in Job hiring procedure and frequently the job seekers will appreciate if its provided. Job seekers deserve to come across decent content quickly. Professional Resume Writers will function to educate you on the changes in resumes since youve left the workforce and the info that employers are currently on the lookout for now. Short, one-page resumes are perfect for fresh graduates. Resume Draft the Ultimate Convenience It is a fact that writing a resume isnt an easy job. Writing a successful resume isnt effortless. Writing a strong application is a difficult procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Make certain that the last version of your accounting resume highlights your specific abilities and abilities.

Crush Your Next Conference 5 Small Ways to Make a Big Impact on New Contacts

Crush Your Next Conference 5 Small Ways to Make a Big Impact on New Contacts Chances are youve attended at least a few conferences in your career and already know the basic tips and tricks to make them successful Go for drinks with people youve met after the conference dont be shy know your elevator pitch plan out your schedule etc.This is basic advice any Google search can give you.That isnt what this article is about.Rather, this article is focused on the micro-details the very small things that make all the difference at conferences. Check out five of them below1. Hold Your Drink With Your Left HandLets imagine the scenario You go to a conference after-party and someone wants to shake your hand, but alas, your right hand is occupied by a freezing cold drink You switch your drink to your left and remove any remaining moisture from your right by wiping it on your pants. Smiling awkwardly (and probably apologizing), you finally meet hands with the pe rson standing across from you, welcoming them with a cold and slightly wet mitt.Does this sound at all familiar?If so, then join 90 percent of people. The good news is theres a simple fix. All you need to do is hold your drink with your left hand.This means no mora cold hands, no more water marks on your pants, and no more awkward first impressions. Plus, now you get to chuckle to yourself every time you landsee someone else performing the handshake shuffle.2. Learn How to Toast ProperlyThis one is primarily for North Americans. When they raise a glass, they usually look at the glasses as they clink and then proceed to take a healthy sip of their beverage.No problem, right? Well, thats fine if youre only meeting with people from your continent.In many European cultures, however, its very rude to elend look someone in the eye when you toast. If youre superstitious, its considered incredibly bad luck.If you want to make great, lasting impressions, then you need to stay informed on cul tural customs and standards. Every country has slightly different traditions, so educate yourself especially if you know you plan on meeting with an executive from outside your country.3. Never Discredit AnyoneIts a small world, and you never know whom youre talking to or whom that person might know. Making a great impression on someone who is lower down in the company can be a way either to learn more about the inner workings of the business or to get a foot in the door to talk to more senior members.Tim Ferriss has a great speech on this. He describes going to a conference and talking to a gentleman for 10-15 minutes, not expecting to get anything significant out of it. As fate would have it, the mans cousin was Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold), which earned Tim an introduction and led to him being featured on Spurlocks show, A Day in the Life.The point is simple Dont dismiss anyone, because you never know whom theyre connected to. Dont discredit anyon e orlook over your shoulder for someone else to talk to. Instead, devote your full attention to the conversation youre in and figure out a way to ask the right questions. When you feel its time for the conversation to end, politely excuse yourself.4. Use Mnemonic Devices to Remember NamesIf youre one of those people who hears a name and instantly forgets it, dont worry. Youre in good company. Its highly common to meet someone and immediately have their name escape you.Your solution? Mnemonic devices.A mnemonic device is a technique a person can use to help improve their ability to remember something. In this case, word association is the technique.People have a tendency to make snap decisions based on the way people look and act. In a study, researchers suggested it takes one-tenth of a second to make a judgement about someone. Thats fast, and it means youre already making snap decisions about people as soon as you meet them. You can actually use this to your benefit.Say you meet so meone named Betty who looks like a sweet older lady. You can instantly relate that sweetness with dessert and dessert with Betty Crocker. Yes, this does require just a little bit more effort, but youll thank yourself later when its time to go through your business cards and you have names saved to faces.5. Clean Up Your Social Media PagesIf you havent done this already, get on it now. This is an important tip for any professional especially those who are about to attend a conference. Its almost guaranteed you will have one or two people go to add you on social media, and there is no telling which page that will be. Twitter and Facebook are just as likely as LinkedIn.Do an audit of your internet presence. If your Myspace account is still up, its time to get those photos taken down. Its great if you made an awesome impression on people at the conference, but if they go to your Facebook and see pictures of you from your college days partaking in unflattering activities, then you can s ay goodbye to any clout you may have earned.In addition to deleting inappropriate pictures, its also good to update your profile picture and maybe even create a few posts that are loosely business-related in the days leading up to the conference.Taylor Kerby is a film buff, a photographer, and the creative director at Cave Social, an international absatzwirtschaft agency with offices in Fort Lauderdale and Toronto. You can connect with him on Twitter or via his weekly marketing series In The Cave on YouTube.