Quality

As businesses across the globe are forced to transition to a remote and digital workforce, so are interviews.  Zoom, Skype, Teams and other video conferencing tools are becoming today’s interviewing norm.The truth is, whether you’re an interview guru or just jumping back into the job market, technical issues and unexpected trip-ups are now more possible than ever before.  So be prepared. Put yourself in the best situation to ensure you crush your video interview.Below are a handful of tips and tricks gathered from recruiters, hiring managers, candidates and industry professionals to put you in the best position possible:PREPARE YOUR TECHNOLOGY In an ideal, even typical situation, you would be sitting across the table from your recruiter or hiring manager.  However, with today’s circumstances, video conferencing is the next best thing.  With this, comes different video platforms; you should check to see if you need to create an account, download an app, or insert a password.  Additionally, be sure to test your connection prior to the interview.  You don’t want your first impression to be that you were late because you couldn’t figure out the platform.Test your camera and mic – nothing else can start an interview on the wrong foot, than a webcam or mic malfunction.  You don’t want to be the “Can you hear me? Can you hear me now?” interviewee.This one seems simple, but is commonly one that is forgotten…charge your device!  Whether you are taking the interview on your phone or computer, be sure you are sufficiently charged or if possible, plug into a power source.DRESS THE PART You should still dress to impress!  This helps to not only boost confidence, but will also leave a strong first impression.  Plan to wear the same clothes you’d wear if you were meeting in-person…yes this includes pants.  We have all heard the jokes about taking video calls in your underwear, but don’t let that be you.  Most likely, the interviewer(s) will only see your face and shoulders, but you should be prepared.BODY LANGUAGE AND SPEECH Video interviews can be uncomfortable and seem unnatural, but do your best to be yourself and get your personality across.  Be mindful of your posture, remember to nod and be engaged, try not to fidget, and don’t forget to smile!  Gesture with your hands as you normally would and don’t feel restricted or stiff just because you are talking to a computer screen.Do your best to speak clearly and deliberately.  Issues with internet and connection can occur and this can cause delays or sound quality issues.  So be adaptable and do your best to ensure your audience is understanding you.  Try pausing momentarily before responding, as there can be a delay and cause you to talk over one another.Eye contact.  This one can be a bit more challenging depending on your computer/webcam set up, how many interviewers are on the call or how the platform displays the video.  Your impulse is typically to look at the face on the screen or be distracted by yourself.A few helpful tips:Look at the camera as much as you can (this will give the appearance of making eye contact)Place a sticky note over yourself on your screen as to not be distractedPosition your camera at eye-level for the most flattering and straight forward anglePractice! (remember it doesn’t come natural to look at the camera rather than the people on the screen)BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT Beware of any potential distractions such as family, friends or pets.  Try to ensure you have privacy and won’t be interrupted or distracted.Turn your camera on before your interview and evaluate your background and lighting.  Have a professional, clean and clutter-free background within the frame. And don’t forget to check your lighting, no one wants to join an interview and realize you are so backlit, it looks like you’re taking the call from a dungeon.If the lighting isn’t favorable:Try facing a window to get natural lightSet up a light or two behind the screen to brighten yourself and backgroundIncrease the brightness on your screen to add some illumination to your faceBE ADAPTABLE It’s important to remember that technical issues or distractions can and do happen, even if you prepare.  Things can take place on your end or the interviewers, they are in the same situation as you and working to do what they can to give you the best interview experience.  Be patient and be understanding.DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW UP This will always be a best practice for any type of interview.  Remember to leave a strong impression and send a thank you note to the interviewer(s). 

Sustainability is more than a buzzword; it’s a business imperative. The world is facing environmental and social crises and consumers are demanding that companies and individuals take responsibility and action. It’s a hot topic in our work lives as much as it is privately. For many of us, it guides the brands we choose, the food we eat, and the decisions we make in day-to-day life. Fast fashion is one example of unsustainable living and a major contributor to the worldwide problem. Overall, the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global emissions, according to the UN - more than the aviation and shipping combined. The term ‘fast fashion’ describes the quick turnover of fashion trends and the move towards cheap, mass-produced clothing where new lines are constantly released. What is the environmental impact of this? Most of fashion's environmental impact comes from the use of raw materials: ​Cotton for the fashion industry uses about 2.5% of the world's farmlandSynthetic materials like polyester require an estimated 342 million barrels of oil every yearClothes production processes such as dying requires 43 million tonnes of chemicals a year​How does sustainability impact the Medical Device industry? Manufacturers are giving sustainability in medical device design more and more attention. Sustainable medical equipment can benefit businesses in terms of cost savings, investor attraction, greater brand value, and competitive advantage, in addition to being better for the environment and appealing to consumers. Manufacturers must consider sustainability at the beginning of the design phase and take the equipment's whole lifecycle into account if they are to gain these advantages. How to make medical devices more sustainable There are many approaches to make medical devices more sustainable. For example, they could use less energy, be produced with low-emission materials and procedures, utilize fewer materials or less packaging, or have longer lifespans. The sustainability of a medical device is significantly influenced by the choice of materials. Using more sustainable materials makes a device more tolerable for patients, for example by using fewer toxic chemicals during production. Using the fewest resources possible in production helps to enable recycling alternatives. Sustainability considerations should be built into the design of the device from the very beginning. However, medical device manufacturers face several challenges as a result. A lot of devices, such as needles and catheters, must be packaged sterile, which produces a lot of waste. The options for substituting or reducing the materials used is often limited due to the sterility requirements. Other manufacturers can switch to reusable materials or make their packaging as mono-material a possible, which makes it easier to recycle. The first step in becoming more sustainable is having an awareness of it as a business, or as a personal goal. Using this awareness can help us all to make better conscious decisions in our buying patterns, and in our R&D processes.

Building ResilienceResilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. So, what can we do that promotes resilience? AcceptanceWe must accept that stress, mistakes, and failure are an inevitable part of our everyday, in our professional work and in our personal lives. Adversity does not discriminate, we all have to handle situations in life of challenging pressures at work, grieving for a loved one, conflict in relationships or mental illness. The list goes on…The saying ‘failure is not an option’ is redundant in today’s emotionally intelligent world. Resilient people know that sh*t happens.In case you were thinking about boxing up all that stress, worry and, pressure - suppression is not an effective strategy. Try not to think about something, and guess where your mind goes… The ability to make mistakes, learn from them, and rebound is resilience building and from this we can branch out into new directions, boost our immune system and lead happier lives. Run Towards Resilience By taking opportunities for change and personal/professional development, we learn how to handle failure, rejection, mistakes; how to rebound and recover from extraordinary circumstances.Build your resilience by making pursuits meaningful. Meditation, photography, learning a new language, taking that course, asking for more responsibility at work…Be kind to yourself by discovering enjoyment in the challenges you face and be optimistic, even on the tough days. By finding your inner drive to take on new projects and also keeping in mind your future focus, you’ll be more autonomous, pragmatic and nurtured as a person.  Stronger and more prepared for whatever comes next in life. Mindset Matters Slow and gradual behaviour change is more likely to last. Commit to a manageable behaviour change and we are more likely to follow-through. Balance this with self-compassion.Exercise is so good for us, not only physically but for our mental health and to build cognition. Aim to do a walk for 10 minutes a day over lunch but always show compassion to yourself. If you are too self-critical when you miss one day, you are less likely to bounce back the next day.Be careful of when you place your attention.  As humans, our survival instinct makes us excellent at noticing weaknesses and threats. Take a step back, is the way you are thinking going to help you, or just have a detrimental impact you?Resilient people make a conscious effort to not be swallowed up by the negative and instead focus on benefit finding, all those things in your life that you can be grateful for.Don’t do it aloneMake a deliberate effort to find what’s good in your life. This should include a strong social connection with colleagues, friends, and family who you can turn to in your times of need. Resilient people ask for help when they need this and see this as a sign of inner-strength, not weakness. What changes do you need to make in your life or your mindset to become resilient?