Goal Setting to Find Your Perfect Career

Goal Setting to Find Your Perfect CareerGoal Setting to Find Your Perfect Career9Searching for the right career is one of the most important steps you can take towards a life full of meaning and accomplishment. Goal setting to find your perfect career is essential.Job searching can also be one of themost difficult journeys you will ever experience. In todays highly competitive, highly digital job market it can feel like a Herculean task just to land an interview. It is very easy while on this journey to allow feelings of powerlessness and negativity grow in your mind. Without the right goal-setting plan, suddenly the journey towards your perfect career has turned into a downward spiral of anxiety and frustration.Symptoms of the downward spiral includeDaily anxiety and stress over never getting enough doneShowing up to your interviews with a sheen of sweat that doesnt exactly exude confident and ready, andCreating negative-self talk that further erodes your self-esteemSymptoms of the downward spiral can lead to accepting a job, any job. But wait, you dont want a job you want a career, right? You want a career that focuses your passion and results in continuous development and new accomplishments.The antidote for the downward spiral is to take back control of your career and ultimately, your destiny. By setting the right daily, weekly and monthly goals you will begin to see incremental successes that will reduce stress, increase your self-confidence and begin to open the doors to your perfect career.Next, we are going to walk through the rules of peak performance goal setting and a goal setting process that has helped me reach any achievement I set out for.The peak performance goal setting rules are as followsGoals must be incremental and all supporting larger, ultimate goals.All goals must be SMART Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-boundGoals must be written. People who regularly write their goals have been shown to make up to nine times as much in a lifetime than those who dont.Goals must be shared with accountability. People who share goals with a friend and check in on them regularly increase their success rate by 33%.Now, use these rules to create your partieal peak performance goal plan, as shown below. As you check off each incremental goal throughout the weeks, your sense of achievement and confidence will increase week by week, which is a much better look than that sheen of anxiety on your brow.Here is an example of how a person in the throes of a downward spiral can create goals to calm anxiety and focus their search towards the career theyve been searching for.Peak Performance Goal Setting ExampleUltimate Goal Career as an HR Business Partner within a company that aligns with my core values and offers constant career development.Supporting Goals6 interviews over the next 3 months3 of the interviews will be for jobs found through word of mouth or websites3 of the interviews will be for jobs found through the Hidden Job Market, as described by career expert Dennis Thompson. (The Hidden Job Market are the jobs that need to be filled but either the company hasnt gotten around to posting yet, or they dont yet know you exist and that they desperately need you.)Belong to 3 groups that offer networks of people who will support your career.Incremental GoalsIdentify 15 career postings per month to apply for.Spend 5-10 minutes per website, each day, reviewing job postingsIdentify 10 companies per month which dont have posted jobs, but you would be interested in working for.Call each company and ask the HR manager for five minutes. Mention you are interested in leaving a resume with the company for future reference, but want to make sure you would be a right fit. Ask relevant questions about the company and mention your experience as appropriate.Identify six possible career-networking groups to join and try their next meeting out for fit.Create an interesting sentence this week that describes your ideal position and the value you offer.Memorize. Tell as many people as possible.You can see how each level of goals supports the one above it, actually reversing the downward spiral into an upward one. The plan needs to be flexible based on the job market, your career development and your weekly goal calibration. By using this format, I have achieved ultimate goals I never thought possible.Todays post comes from Jessica V. Weatherford, CEO Marble Arch Consultants, Inc. Marble Arch Consultants leverage an waffenvorrat of proven tools to remove the conflict causing stress in daily life, then replace it with habits that increase career success and relationship connection. Everyone gets a no-charge hour of consultation with the CEO and the arsenal. Contact throughwww.marblearchinc.com.Readers,are you goal setting to find your perfect career?

What to Write in Your Resume (If You Have Nothing to Mention)

What to Write in Your Resume (If You Have Nothing to Mention)What to Write in Your Resume (If You Have Nothing to Mention)The time has come for you to search for a job, and that means writing a resume.Its bedrngnis very difficult to write a resume, especially when there are so many tips and tricks around. Websites share articles on resume writing. HR managers share tips, too. Many successful employees share their experience in their personal or professional blogs.But nothing works or helps you if you have nothing to mention in your resume.Maybeyou are a graduate with no job experienceyou do not have any official job experienceyour experience is not professional enoughyour experience does not fit a job you are going to apply forLucky for you, you always have something to include into your resume to make it professional.1. You DO have work experienceThe problem for many young people when they start their job searches is a lack of work experience. They do not know what to write in a res ume because they have not worked before. Even if you think you do not have experience, you have it.Have you ever made something? Did you have work probation? Did you have any part-time jobs,even if they did not fit your major? Did you take part in any volunteer projects? Did you helpanyone as a freelancer? All this information can be mentioned. Moreover, it may give a recruitermuch more information than you think. It may tell the recruiter about your organizational skills,talents, your leadership potential, etc.There are things that make you special. Put them in your resume.2. Do not write a long resumeYour resume should be no longer than one side of one page. Its easier for a recruiter to read,and its enough space to mention all information that may be important for a recruiter to know.This would include your education, all your achievements and your job experience. Yes, you havesome job experience even if you think you dont. Check the above mentioned section one more time if you s till have some doubts.3. Think about formatPay attention to structure. Make your resume clear and easy to read because recruiters need lessthan 30 seconds to understand whether your resume is worth their attention.Include paragraphs and lists. When you do not have enough facts to write in your resume, lists can help. Use them to mention your achievements, expectations for the job, your strongest traits and your educational courses. A recruiter can read it quickly and pick up information needed to understand whether you fit their expectations as an employee.4. Your education is your saviorGraduates and other people with no work experience have thin resumes. The trick is to persuade a recruiter that your potential can compensate for your lack of practice. Mention all languages you speak, your major and all specializations from college, even if you consider them unimportant for your career. You can also include the topic of your dissertation, if you had one it may help a recruiter unde rstand what fields you know well.5. ReferencesYour former boss is not the only one who can give you a positive reference. You can get it fromyour college professor, for example. If you have experience working as a freelancer, you may askfor references from your clients. If you participated in volunteer projects, some referencesmay be taken from those leaders as well. The Internet can help, too. Some positive feedback on LinkedIn can help a recruiter get an impression about you as a potential employee.Important Proofread your resume before sending it to recruiters. Do not let one grammar or spelling mistake kill your chance to get a job. If you are going to print your resume, use a laser printer to make the text look presentable.And please, try to avoid all common resume writing mistakes.Lesley Vos is a blogger for Bid4Papers company and teaches the French language. She will finish her first e-book this year and cant imagine her pastime without reading. She is honored to be a guest c ontributor of many authoritative websites, including Recruiting Blogs, College Recruiter and College Puzzle Stanford.

ASME to Conduct Boiler and Pressure Vessel Courses in New York

ASME to Conduct Boiler and Pressure Vessel Courses in New York ASME to Conduct Boiler and Pressure Vessel Courses in New York ASME to Conduct Boiler and Pressure Vessel Courses in New York(From left) Thomas Gardner, member of ASME and the Industry Advisory Board, who presented opening remarks at the briefing moderator Grace Wang of the National Science Foundation and panelist Neil Gershenfeld from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ASME Training Development will present two of its most popular Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code training courses next month at ASME Headquarters at 2 Park Ave. in New York. Although designed for beginners, the two courses will also be beneficial to mora experienced engineers who would like to update their knowledge of Section VIII. BPV Code, Section VIII, Division 1 entwurf Fabrication of Pressure Vessels (PD441), from July 14 to 16, will provide attendees with a comprehensive introduction to the requirements of Section VIII, Division 1 , including background, organization, design, materials, fabrication, inspection, testing and documentation of pressure vessels. The class covers the more commonly applied subsections and paragraphs, and it includes a practical discussion of individual problems and situations. The course describes the background of the Code explains how to apply the Code rules to more common design and fabrication situations identifies the calculations for some of the loadings and situations not addressed by the Code and describes the preparation of design specifications, design reports, data reports, and other documentation. Registration is $2,050 for ASME members, $2,150 for nonmembers. The second course, Inspection, Repairs and Alterations of Pressure Equipment (PD442), will be offered July 17-18. The class offers a complete introduction to the requirements of various codes and standards, regarding inspection, repairs and alterations of pressure equipment, and in particular, pressure vessels. Areas covered during the class include the latest developments in the rapidly advancing field of pressure equipment inspection and repairs the work being performed by ASME, the American Petroleum Institute, and the Pressure Vessel Research Council in related areas the post-construction codes and standards and the interrelation of various documents the responsibilities of the users, manufacturers, repair organizations, regulatory agencies and authorized inspectors how to obtain a National Board stamp and much more. Registration is $1,535 for members, $1,645 for nonmembers. Attendees can save up to $645 by signing up for both courses. Registration for BPV Code, Section VIII, Division 1 Combo Course (PD443), is $3,050 for members, $3,150 for nonmembers. The instructor for both courses is Kamran Mokhtarian, a professional engineer and ASME Fellow with more than 40 years of experience in design, analysis and fabrication of pressure equipment. As a member and past vice chairman of ASME Code Subcommittee VIII as well as past chair of the Pressure Vessel Research Committee, Mokhtarians practical experience and insight into the latest trends and professional innovations will help registrants understand the codes and standards relevance and impact on safety, quality and integrity. For more information on the courses in New York and to register, visit http//go.asme.org/newyork1.

How to Interview to Uncover a Candidates Ethical Standards

How to Interview to Uncover a Candidates Ethical StandardsHow to Interview to Uncover a Candidates Ethical StandardsHow to Interview to Uncover a Candidates Ethical Standards DezubeEthical standards are critical to the success of any organization, yet it can be extraordinarily difficult to judge a candidates ethical standards during the vorstellungsgesprch process.Hiring managers must know how to interview to find candidates with attitudes and characteristics that align with the companys mission, imagination and values.Interviews that focus on more general ethical standards as well as industry issues and social norms for the local cultures in which the company operates will often yield more interesting and informative results.Uncovering Ethical StandardsThe biggest challenge in conducting an interview that includes a discussion about workplace ethics is getting a candidate to give honest and meaningful answers.In any workplace, there may be several acceptable answers to an ethical issue, yet job candidates will be leery of responding in a way that reveals any ethical warts to the hiring manager.That makes a behavioral approach best when deciding what interview questions to ask, says Patricia Harned, president of the Ethics Resource Center, Arlington, Virginia.We know, if you ask people if theyre ethical, theyre going to say, Yes, she says. Behavioral questions tell you that the part was in a situation that they saw as ethics-related and tell you how they thought through the problem and what they did.Important Ethics Interview Questions to AskUse these nine interview questions to ask about ethics along with interviewer tips from ethics experts during the recruiting process1. What do you believe compromises the ethical workplace? Here at XYZ Corp, we are accountable, confidential and stable. How do you define accountable, confidential and stable? This is a great lead-off question to talk about ethics because its general.2.Have you worked for a company that had a code of conduct, and did you have positive or negative experiences there? This is another good opening question because it allows the candidate a lot of leeway in his or her response.3.Have you taken a course or had any training in business ethics? This question is tailored to campus recruiting and interviews with recent grads, as well as employees with experience in large companies, where ethics training is often required of employees. What did the candidate recall from their training how well did it sink in?4.How does being an ethical individual differ from being an ethical corporation? This is a tricky question because the answer is There is no difference, says Nan DeMars, author of Youve Got to be Kidding How to Keep Your Job Without Losing Your Integrity. Employees individual values and morals have to match up with the companys values, or the employee will be stressed, unhappy, unproductive and therefore likely to leave.5.Would you ever lie for me? The response youre looking for with this question is I would never lie for you. An employee who wont lie for you wont lie to you, DeMars says.6.Tell me about a time that you were challenged ethically. Dont trust a candidate who says hes never faced an ethical challenge. You want a candidate who avoids misconduct, not someone who lies and says theyve never done anything wrong, says Tim Mazur, COO of the Ethics and Compliance Officer Association. The right candidates answer might be I was part of a proposal team, and the marketing people inserted language that overstated what we were doing. I argued that we shouldnt include the language, but I lost and it was left in. I signed off on the project.7.Did you binnensee the ethics material on our website? Which of our corporate values made an impression on you? The point of this question is to see whether the job seeker considers ethics and corporate values important enough to include in his or her background research on your organization, Mazur says.8.I see youve worked with people from different cultures. What ethics and values did you find you had in common, and where did you differ? This question is especially important when the candidate will work in multicultural settings. If the candidate is from outside the US, be aware that in some cultures, ethics is translated into a word thats more about personal values, and you may do better using the word integrity when talking about workplace values, Mazur says.9.When youve had ethical issues arise at work, whom did you consult? Here, youre looking for an answer that shows the candidate took action by talking to a coworker or manager about their concern, or that they sought out other company resources, Harned says.Few candidates are going to come right out and confess their past ethical mistakes.Knowing how to interviewwith behavioral questions will enable them to open up about their past experience, providing the hiring manager with a good sense of the person sitting in front of them, Harned s ays.Companies want ethical employees, but there is only so much a business can do to encourage ethical behavior, she says. We have to ensure that the hiring process takes into account peoples character and gives a good sense of who they are before we bring them into the company.

What You Need to Do About Sample Project Manager Resume Starting in the Next 10 Minutes

What You Need to Do About Sample Project Manager Resume Starting in the Next 10 Minutes Sample Project Manager Resume Secrets That No One Else Knows About Use facts and figures from the particular projects you have been able to show that which you have accomplished. The Gantt Chart is going to be the reference point on the advancement of the undertaking. The Meaning of Sample Project Manager Resume Whether this Project Manager resume example was not sufficient for you, youre absolutely free to review a few other samples and templates from our website. There are a number of webinars that provide completely free PMI PDU online. Zetys resume templates are made with the aid of recruiters and adhere to the best practices in HR. If you also ought to go over the fundamentals of CV writing, be certain to take a look at our handy how to compose a CV guide. You can select the best amongst the many template samples out there. Youll observe a sample of my resume later in this informat ive article. What you can sample within this write-up. Never rely just on the samples. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Sample Project Manager Resume Furthermore, an overview of qualifications enables you to show off exactly what youve done during those years of experience. Your resume should stick out in the crowd to find focus of the employers. Inside my opinion, the very best resumes are focused on a single objective which is to demonstrate to the prospective employee you may add value to the business. Then, it turns into a double benefit in which you get PDUs and additionally the satisfaction of having volunteered for a cause. Regardless, during your job search, you will need to anzeigegert your capacity to work well others and stay cool under presaya. Once you locate the right resume that you may use, the next step is going to be to go through the work description and the requirements necessary for the post youre applying for. A complete selection for candidates with a great deal of experience who desire to have a really good one-page resume template. Therefore the project management CV should obtain the balance between what each audience wishes to see. In case an individual cant actually have the notion of how to begin creating and effective resume, there are dozens and dozens of unique formats of resumes available online. Check to be certain youre providing all of the info required and clearly define your skill sets with respect to application requirements. The majority of this info can be got through the social media, on the internet or by going to the provider physically. Sample Project Manager Resume Options No matter your degree of work practical understanding, your resume structure is vital to making your program stick out. This template may be used by project managers of every area. Its imperative that hiring managers can see just what youve done previously. Whats more, its possible to also learn about the agile methodology because most industries are moving towards agile project administration. A perfect pick for academics and candidates trying to find jobs in traditional sectors. An entry-level position for a project manager usually requires three to five decades of experience in a specific field before you receive the reigns for a whole project, so make sure to include prior company projects you lent a hand in. A project manager is an indispensable portion of the infrastructure of any provider. A project manager ought to be updated with latest trend, so he can manage any single advance work free of trouble. Your Project Manager resume should reflect the abilities and competencies that are related to the industry youre applying for. Also, think of all of the effort that you put into getting your PMP certification. As an experienced project practitioner odds are you have a great deal of project management abilities and experience. So whenever your dream job calls you, you can be certain to make it using a good resume in hand. Make sure expert example associated with the area of engineering or indicative of writers relevant soft skills necessary for the job.

The Honest to Goodness Truth on Writing Your First Resume for Work Study Jobs

The Honest to Goodness Truth on Writing Your First Resume for Work Study Jobs Once you put in the workforce, theres a great deal mora to it. In the present workforce, the capability to communicate is important. Which format you select will depend, in part, on the form of work youve performed and whether you will continue in the identical field. In case you have any part-time work, that will go a ways towards an excellent experience section. Resume writing is more engaging and client-facing as you have to work one-on-one with the customer. You dont necessarily must be certified to find work or obtain plenty of clients as a freelance resume writer. Writing resumes for one more company might help you hone your writing skills while additionally providing a (hopefully) stable supply of income during the early days of your enterprise venture. You are able to also research different sample resumes, and revamp and revise resumes of family and friends members. You need your resum e to seem full but not too overcrowded. There are two major kinds of resumes. For each past job, give the conventional information found in the majority of resumes. Using Writing Your First Resume for Work Study Jobs Our resume builder (youre able to create your resume here) will offer you tips and examples on the best way to compose your resume summary or some other section. Besides traditional writing skills, you also had better understand how to optimize copy for the internet. For a first resume, you will likely only need a single page. Please review the accomplishment-based statements worksheet for ideas on how to compose this section. In most instances, it makes sense to set the education section at the start of your resume, as youre a college student or recent grad. Now you need to know how to compose a resume with no experience thats compelling and distinctive, ideal for a high school resume or a beginners resume for teens. This info is very good for students who h ave not ever written a resume before. Writing resumes for individuals extends to you the chance to help them land work, along with earning money from your writing skills. Learning how to do a resume when do not have any work experience is a lot easier if you are able to demonstrate some seasonal or short-term work experience. You should think about your part-time position as an important job that may affect your upcoming work experience. Chronological resumes work nicely if your career has been progressive and you intend to continue in the exact saatkorn line of work. If you are in possession of a consistent work history with no important gaps and ample expertise in the area for which youre applying, a chronological resume will be OK. What Does Writing Your First Resume for Work Study Jobs Mean? A resume is needed each time you submit an application for a job. Prepare one resume for every sort of job. Then, when applying for jobs, you are going to be able to pull from the master resume and make a tailored one for each application. Most entry-level jobs include entry-level pay.

6 Resume Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs

6 Resume Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs6 Resume Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs You only get one shot - do not miss your chance to blow. Eminem may have been referring to rap battles when he dropped this lyric back in 2002, but he just as easily could have been talking about resumes and the job search. Resumes, after all, are your first chance to show a company what a perfect fit you are for a position - but if done incorrectly, they could also be your last. Thats why its absolutely critical to get them right the first time. Otzu sichwise, all the time you spend filling out applications is essentially for naught.But for every resume mistake, theres a remedy. Weve rounded up a few of the most common resume errors that prevent you from moving onto the next round, as well as solutions for how to fix them. It may take some time to tweak, but the payoff is worth it.Its an age-old adage in writing show, dont tell. When job seekerssimply state how great they are without p roviding any evidence, they lose credibility in recruiters eyes. One common way job seekers do this is by using buzzwords (strategic, specialized, leadership, experienced, passionate, focused, creative, enthusiastic), shares career coach Jeanne Patti .The Fix Instead of using these words, demonstrate how you use that skill. Its a powerful way to share your experiences and what makes you stand out without boring the person on the other end, says Patti. One common approach is the STAR method - provide the situation, task, action and result of different initiatives you have been involved in, making sure to include specific information like metrics as relevant.If your college career counselor ever told you to put an objective like Find an entry-level position in absatzwirtschaft at the top of your resume, were giving you full permission to disregard them. One of the biggest mistakes that I often see in a resume is an objective in lieu of a professional summary . Objectives should not be used in a resume, says Wendi Weiner, resume writer & career transition coach .The Fix Dont just say you want a job - show recruiters why they should hire you for the job with a professional summary. Your professional summary should resonate who you are as a professional and the high-caliber skill sets you have to offer, explains Weiner. Think of a professional summary as an introduction to the novel about yourself. It should allure the reader and entice him/her with information that will make him/her want to continue on reading to learn more.When youre applying to multiple jobs, its tempting to use a generic, cookie-cutter resume and blast it out everywhere youre applying to. But that strategy may end up preventing your resume from getting in a recruiters hands at all. Most resumes are reviewed electronically before a human sees them, Patti says , and if your resume doesnt have the keywords specified in the job description, it will likely be overlooked by the softwar e.The Fix It may be a pain to create a customized resume for each company, but if youre truly interested in a position, its worth it. Tailoring each submittal with keywords from the job posting is critical to pass the electronic screening, Patti says.If your resume reads like the original job description you saw when you applied, its time to spice it up. Most people focus too much on their job tasks/functions to ensure that the keywords are in the resume, and fail to devote time to strategically marketing their best skill sets and career wins, Weiner says .The Fix Instead of talking about the day-to-day, describe the big picture impact you had. The more effective thing to do is to have a separate core skills section and focus your work experience section on results, major contributions and key projects you have worked on at various companies/organizations, Weiner says. It is the number one way to distinguish yourself among the hundreds of applicants applying for jobs.Many peop le arent using the presence of social media to their advantage and use their resume as a stand-alone document, Patti says. But in a constantly connected world where being transparent and informed iscritical at every stage of the hiring process , it only makes sense to add links to your professional social media profiles. The Fix Give another layer of depth to your resume by linking to relevant, professional social media links. Patti recommends that job seekers remove your physical address and add your LinkedIn URL. By linking to your updated profile, you will immediately gain credibility through your recommendations and endorsements of your skills and show insight into your personal brand and value, Patti adds.When it comes to your resume, your experience and career accomplishments are the most important, but how you present that information comes in at a close second. The way you express yourself on your resume (and in any form of communication) impacts the way others perceive you, says Angela Copeland, Career Coach . Spelling mistakes, clichs and complex, industry-specific jargon will all count against you.The Fix First, ensure your resume is grammatically correct. Then, be sure that it is worded in a professional manner with a somewhat formal tone. Last, ensure your resume is understandable to someone, even if they dont work in your industry, Copeland says. The easiest way to improve your choice of words is to read your resume out loud to yourself. This can catch many of the potential issues before anyone else sees it. Then, ask a friend or family member who works in another industry to read it. If they find your resume to be confusing, consider updating the wording, so that its more clear.

These are signs when you should turn down a job offer

These are signs when you should turn down a job offerThese are signs when you should turn down a job offerI recently got a call on theBossed Up Podcasthotline from Christina in Seattle. She had just turned down a job offer and wanted to hear my take on whether or not she made the right choice.

The History Behind the 21-Gun Military Salute

The History Behind the 21-Gun Military SaluteThe History Behind the 21-Gun Military SaluteThe practice of firing gun salutes has existed for centuries. Early warriors demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective. This custom welches universal, with the specific act varying with time and place, depending on the weapons being used. Use of Cannons The tradition of rendering a salute by cannon originated in the 14th century as firearms and cannons came into use. Since these early devices contained only one projectile, discharging them once rendered them ineffective. Originally warships fired seven-gun salutes seven planets had been identified and the phases of the moon changed every seven days. Land batteries, having a greater supply of gunpowder, were able to fire three guns for every shot fired afloat, hence the salute by shore batteries welches 21 guns. The multiple of three probably welches chosen because of the myst ical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations. Early gunpowder, composed mainly of sodium nitrate, spoiled easily at seabut could be kept cooler and drier inland magazines. When potassium nitrate improved the quality of gunpowder, ships at sea adopted the salute of 21 guns. For many years, the number of guns fired for various purposes differed from country to country. By 1730, the Royal Navy was prescribing 21 guns for certain anniversary dates, although this was bedrngnis mandatory as a salute to the Royal family until later in the eighteenth century. The American Revolution Several famous incidents involving gun salutes took place during the American Revolution. On November 16, 1776, the Continental Navy brigantine Andrew Doria, Captain Isaiah Robinson, fired a salute of 13 guns upon entering the harbor of St. Eustatius in the West Indies (some accounts give 11 as the number). A few minutes later, the salute was returned by 9 (or 11) guns by order of the Dutch governor of the island. At the time, a 13 gun salute would have represented the 13 newly-formed United States the customary salute rendered to a republic at that time was 9 guns. This has been called the first salute to the American flag. About three weeks before, however, an American schooner had had her colors saluted at the Danish island of St. Croix. The flag flown by the Andrew Doria and the unnamed American schooner in 1776 was not the Stars and Stripes, which had not yet been adopted. Rather, it was the Grand Union flag, consisting of 13 alternating red and white stripes with the British Jack in the union. The first official salute by a foreign nation to the Stars and Stripes took place on February 14, 1778, when the Continental Navy ship Ranger, Captain John Paul Jones, fired 13 guns and received nine in return from the French fleet anchored in Quiberon Bay. Evolution of the 21-Gun Salute The 21-gun salute became the highest honor a nation could render. Varying cus toms among the maritime powers led to confusion in saluting and return of salutes. Great Britain, the worlds preeminent sea power in the 18th and 19th centuries, compelled weaker nations to salute first, and for a time monarchies received more guns than did republics. Eventually, by agreement, the international salute was established at 21 guns, although the United States did not agree on this procedure until August 1875. System Changes The gun salute system of the United States has changed considerably over the years. In 1810, the national salute was defined by the War Department as equal to the number of states in the Unionat that time 17. This salute was fired by all U.S. military installations at 1p.m. (later at noon) on Independence Day. The President also received a salute equal to the number of states whenever he visited a military installation. The U.S. Navy regulations for 1818 were the first to prescribe a specific manner for rendering gun salutes (although gun salutes were in use before the regulations were written down). Those regulations required that When the President shall visit a ship of the United States Navy, he is to be saluted with 21 guns. It may be noted that 21 was the number of states in the Union at that time. For a time thereafter, it became customary to offer asaluteof one gun for each state in the Union, although in practice there was a great deal of variation in the number of guns actually used in a salute. When Are They Traditionally Used A 21-gun salute for the President and heads of state, Washingtons Birthday, and the Fourth of July became the standard in the United States Navy with the issuance of new regulations in1842. Today, the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigningroyal family, and the President, ex-President, and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a Presid ent, ex-President, or President-elect, on Washingtons Birthday, Presidents Day, and the Fourth of July. On Memorial Day, a salute of 21-minute guns is fired at noon while the flag is flown at half-mast. Fifty guns are also fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect. Gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers. Military Funerals At military funerals, one often sees three volleys of shots fired in honor of the deceased veteran. It is often mistaken by the laymen as a 21-gun salute, although it is different. In the military, a gun is a large-caliber weapon. The three volleys are fired from rifles, not guns. Anyone who is entitled to amilitary funeral will receivethe three rifle volleys, subject to availability of honor guard kollektivs. The fi ring team can consist of any number, but one usually sees a team of eight, with a noncommissioned officer in charge of the firing detail. Whether the team consists of three or eight, or ten, each member firesthree times(three volleys). The three volleys come from an old battlefield custom. The two warring sides would cease hostilities to clear their dead from the battlefield, and the firing of three volleys meant that the dead had been properly cared for and the side was ready to resume the battle. The flag detail often slips three shell casings into the folded flag before presenting the flag to the family. Each casing represents one volley.