Assimilation of Data

The purpose of data assimilation is to determine a best possible atmospheric state using
observations and short range forecasts. Data assimilation is typically a sequential time-stepping
procedure, in which a previous model forecast is compared with newly received observations,
the model state is then updated to reflect the observations, a new forecast is initiated, and so on.
The update step in this process is usually referred to as the analysis; the short model forecast
used to produce the analysis is called the background.

A gentle introduction to data assimilation principles and more specific information about the
operational ECMWF data assimilation system is provided in the dedicated ECMWF e-learning
module.

We also use data assimilation to monitor climate change based on past observations – this is
called reanalysis.

The atmosphere is chaotic, meaning that even small differences in its state can lead to very
different weather patterns occurring several days later – this is sometimes referred to as the
butterfly effect. To account for the chaotic nature of the atmosphere and the
associated uncertainty in prediction, we run an ensemble of 51 forecasts simultaneously; the
forecast using the best possible initial state plus 50 other forecasts with slight variations to the
initial state. Our ensembles provide a probabilistic forecast which is an estimate of how
predictable a particular weather situation is.

Organize your data

 Decide the most effective way to organize your data.

 Using graphs, charts and tables can help you make information
more accessible and actionable.
 The organization tools you choose often depend on the type of
data you're presenting.
 Experiment with multiple tools to discover the ones that best
communicate your information.
7 Tips for Designing and Delivering
PowerPoint Presentations
PowerPoint presentations are a great way to support a speech, visualize
complicated concepts or focus an audience’s attention. However, a bad
presentation can achieve the opposite. Poorly designed slides with too much text or
distracting graphics can lead the audience away from your message. Consider these
tips to avoid common mistakes:

1. Create a simple design template.

Use the slide master feature or a provided template to create consistency in your
design. The method of content presentation (list, image, text) depends on the
content, but consistency with other elements such as font, colors, background,
throughout the presentation is essential. Establish consistent contrasting colors
(dark/light) for text and background.

2. Use appropriate font and size.

Choose your font and size carefully. Use sans serif fonts (such as Arial Rounded
MT Bold) and 32 point font size for text. Anything smaller is difficult to read.
Avoid all caps. Use color to highlight. Limit punctuation. Follow the 6×6 rule: No
more than 6 lines of text per slide and no more than 6 words in each line of text.

3. Use good quality images.

Images should reinforce and complement your message. They should be impactful,
not space-fillers. Empty space on the slide will actually enhance readability. Don’t
clutter the slide with images unless they add value. Also, test your images to make
sure they retain quality when projected on a larger screen. Clip art generally lacks
emphasis. If you are willing to purchase quality images to enhance your
presentation, try corbis.com.
4. Avoid too many special effects.
These features seem impressive at first, but they tend to distract from your message
and get old quickly. Transitions, text fly-ins, animations and sounds may reduce
the professionalism you desire to portray. Special effect are similar to graphics,
they should impact the presentation not detract from the presentation.

6. Limit the number of slides.

Limit the number of slides according to the time you have available for the
presentation. Flipping to the next slide constantly and rushing through the
presentation not only distracts the audience, but typically does not get your
message across. A good rule of thumb is one slide per minute.

7. Do not read from your slides or speak to them.

Don’t face the screen and read your slides. The bulleted information on your slides
should be supplementary to what you are saying. Use the slides to trigger your
comments or to pace yourself, but do not read them. The audience can read.
Remember that your slides are only there to support, not to replace your talk!
You’ll want to tell a story, describe your data or explain circumstances, and only
provide keywords through your slides. If you read your slides, the audience will
get bored, stop listening and not get your message.

How to Prepare for a Presentation: 8 Helpful Tips

Preparing for a presentation can help you feel more confident and improve your chances of a
successful presentation. In this article, we explain why presentations are important and list eight
helpful tips to prepare for a presentation.

How to prepare for a presentation

While it's important to know how to make a presentation, you also need to know how to prepare
for one. Taking the time to prepare for your presentation can help calm your nerves and allow
your presentation to run more smoothly. Here are eight tips to help you prepare for your next
presentation:

1. Outline your presentation

Having an outline can help you stay focused on the main points of your presentation. When
creating your outline, make sure to include an opening statement that quickly welcomes your
audience and grabs their attention, a thesis statement that summarizes your topic, information
and examples that support your thesis, and a strong conclusion that further persuades your
audience to see your point of view.

2. Practice your presentation ahead of time

Practicing your presentation ahead of time can help give you added confidence on the day of
your presentation. Rehearse your presentation early and as often as you can. Consider presenting
to your family and friends and asking them for feedback. If you can, try to rehearse in the same
room where you'll give your presentation to help you feel more familiar with the space and setup
you're working with. Also, rehearse with any technology you plan to use during the real
presentation to help avoid any unexpected mishaps.

3. Read and revise your presentation

While it's important to rehearse your presentation, it's also important to make changes that can
make it more impactful. Consider why the audience would care about certain points you're
making. Also, consider how what you're saying is relevant to the overall presentation. Don’t be
afraid to make modifications as needed to ensure your presentation flows and is easy to
understand.

4. Write with your audience in mind

As you rehearse your presentation, think of what your audience may or may not already know. If
you're speaking to highly skilled professionals, you can avoid explaining basic terms. However,
if you’re speaking to people who are new to your industry or topic, then you may need to explain
unique industry terms or deliver your presentation in a way that’s accessible for your audience.
Revise your presentation as needed to ensure everyone in your audience will be able to
understand what you're saying.

5. Take cues from professional speakers

To help you perfect your presentation, watch online videos of professional speakers giving a
presentation. Consider how they keep their audience engaged. Look at their body language and
the tone of voice they take during their presentation. Consider the overall look of their
presentation and make changes to yours as needed.

6. Arrive early

To give you more time to prepare, plan to arrive early. This gives you time to set up your
equipment and technology. It also helps to arrive early if you tend to run late and if you've never
been to the location where you're making your presentation.

7. Practice your hand gestures

When you stand to give a presentation, it's important to know what to do with your hands while
you speak. Be aware of your hands while you rehearse and think about your hand gestures and
their relation to what you're saying. If you plan to move, make sure to move along with your
words. You can even use your hand gestures and where you pace or walk to prompt what you
need to say next.

8. Take some deep breaths

Instead of letting your nerves get the best of you, take time to yourself before your presentation.
Take a few deep breaths to help you regain your composure. Even taking just a few minutes can
help you feel more relaxed and give you the confidence you need to give a strong presentation.

Big Five Personality Traits

The best way to remember the Big Five Personality Model traits is to
remember the acronym OCEAN: openness to experience,
conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Openness to Experience

This trait is often referred to as the depth of someone’s mental

experiences, or imagination. It encompasses someone’s desire to try new
things, be open and think creatively. People who score high in this area
are generally artistic and curious, while those who score low tend to be
conventional and stay in their comfort zones.

Conscientiousness

This trait measures a person’s reliability and dependability. Someone who

scores higher in this area is more goal-oriented, tends to control impulses,
and is usually very organized. They are likely to see success in school and
excel as a leader. Those who score lower in this area are more likely to be
impulsive and procrastinate on assignments.

Extroversion

The extroversion trait indicates how social and talkative a person may be.
Those scoring high in extroversion are generally more assertive, socially
confident, and recharge from interacting with people, while those who
score lower are more likely to seek solitude and introspection.

Agreeableness
Agreeableness shows how well someone can get along with other people.
People scoring high in this trait are usually well-liked, sympathetic, and
affectionate, and those who score lower are perceived as blunt, rude, and
sarcastic.

Neuroticism

The last OCEAN trait is also known as emotional stability. It measures

how well a person can control emotions like anxiety and sadness. Scoring
high in this area indicates that someone may be prone to those emotions
and may also have low self-esteem. Those receiving a low score are
probably more confident and adventurous.

How to prepare for an

interview

Types of interview

There are different types of job interview. In some cases, you'll only need to succeed at one of
these to land the role. In others, particularly at large graduate employers, you may face several
interview formats throughout the application process.

 Face-to face - the traditional and still most common form of interview. You'll attend the
employer's office and be questioned on your suitability for the job by an individual or
panel. Face-to-face interviews usually last between 45 minutes and two hours, and may
 be preceded or followed by tests and exercises. Questions may be strength-
based or competency-based.
 Telephone - often used by employers early in the application process to filter large
numbers of applicants. If you're successful, you'll typically be invited to a face-to-face
interview or assessment centre. Expect a telephone interview to last around half an hour.
 Video - increasingly popular among large employers, particularly for applications to
graduate schemes. Video interviews can be live or pre-recorded and tend to last around
half an hour.
 Assessment centres - lasting a full day they enable employers to compare the
performance of lots of candidates at the same time. You'll attend an assessment
centre with other applicants and take part in tasks such as presentations, team exercises
and psychometric tests.

Interview research

Your performance in an interview depends, to a significant extent, on how well you prepare.
Don't leave this until the last minute. In the days leading up to the interview, focus your research
on the:

 Employer - you need to show that you understand the business beyond the basics.
What sector does it operate in? What challenges does it face? Who are its competitors?
What major projects has it recently completed? What are its culture and values? This kind
of knowledge demonstrates a genuine interest.
 Role - read the job description again and, if you completed an application form, go over it
to refresh your memory of how your skills and qualifications match the job. It's vital that
you can explain why you want the job, that you understand the role and, even more
importantly, why the employer should choose you over other candidates.
 Interview panel - try to find out who will be interviewing you. The email inviting you to
the interview may include this information. Use LinkedIn and the 'About us' section of
the company website to find out more about their professional interests and experience.
This may help you to connect with your interviewers and create a positive impression
during the interview.
  Questions - consider how you'll answer common interview questions, as well as
preparing some questions you'd like to ask the interviewer.

There are also some practical things to plan. When and where is the interview taking place?
Have you planned your journey and checked the timetables for any public transport you need to
take? Does all your equipment work for video and telephone interviews?

Getting a good nights sleep and having a healthy breakfast on the morning of your interview will
stand you in good stead. If your interview is scheduled after lunchtime, make sure you eat
something even if you're feeling nervous - you won't put in your best performance on an empty
stomach.

Practice job interviews

It's a good idea to do at least one mock interview before the real thing. Your university careers
and employability service will help you to practice your interview technique.

You can also write and practise answers to common interview questions with someone you trust
- possibly even recording yourself and then reviewing your performance.

It's also worth testing your telephone connection and making sure that your laptop, microphone
and any other technical equipment you need is working, and you know how to use them.

What to take

 pen and notebook

 your CV and interview invitation
 your academic certificates and work examples if requested
 photo ID
 breath mints or gum
 a bottle of water
 money for transport and food.

In addition, for online interviews you may also need:

 laptop/computer
  headset/earphones
 microphone
 log in for the software you need to use.

What to wear to an interview

While many employers expect candidates to dress smartly, a growing number encourage casual
wear at work, making it trickier than ever to choose an interview outfit.

What you'll be expected to wear depends on factors such as the size of the company, the industry
it operates in and the culture it promotes. For example, a small creative agency may have
different standards to a major accountancy firm.

If you're unsure on the dress code, ask before attending the interview. The key point to remember
is that it's better to be too smart than too casual. Only opt for a more casual outfit if you're certain
that's acceptable - if there's any doubt, go for smart business attire. Whatever you choose, make
sure that your clothes are ironed and your shoes are clean.

For telephone and online interviews make sure you dress as though the interview is in person.
Sitting in your tracksuit bottoms trying to act professional probably isn’t going to go too well.

4 ways to make a good impression

As you're preparing for the interview, think about ways you can show yourself in a positive light:

1. Punctuality - arriving late will increase your stress levels and give the employer a bad
first impression, so do your best to arrive in good time.
2. Positivity and enthusiasm - be polite and professional with any staff you meet before or
after the interview and, if you're feeling particularly nervous, remind yourself that the
worst thing that could happen is not getting the job. During the interview, respond to
questions with positive statements, be enthusiastic about the job and avoid badmouthing
your previous employers or university tutors.
3. Body language - give a firm handshake to your interviewer(s) before and after the
session. Once you're seated, sit naturally without slouching in your chair or leaning on
the desk. Throughout the interview, remember to smile frequently and maintain eye
contact.
4. Clarity - answer all questions clearly and concisely, evidencing your most relevant skills,
experiences and achievements. It's acceptable to pause before answering a difficult
question to give yourself thinking time, or asking for clarification if you're unsure what a
question means. When answering, don't speak too quickly.

Group Discussion

Group discussion (GD) is a comprehensive technique to judge the suitability of an

individual and his appropriateness for admission, scholarship, job, etc. GD assesses the
overall personality – thoughts, feelings and behaviour - of an individual in a group. A
topic is presented to the group members for discussion. While the discussion is going on,
a group of panellists observe them. Through this observation they judge intellectual,
social, leadership, communicative skills of candidates taking part in the GD.

Importance of GD

For admission to some of the universities, B- Schools, campus placements after

graduation or for recruitment to a multinational company, you need to have knowledge of
the field and also have the capability to work in a group as a leader or as a member. The
group discussion technique is a very effective way to judge the candidate’s ability to
work in a group.

What are the skills that are judged in a GD?

• How good you are at communicating with other • How easily you behave and interact
with the other group members • How open minded you are • How flexible or rigid you
are in accepting the view- points of others in the group • Your leadership skills • Your
analytical abilities • Problem solving & critical thinking skills • Time management skills
• Your skills at putting forth your ideas in an unbiased manner • Social attitude and
confidence

A Preview of a Group Discussion session

Let us have a look into a typical group discussion situation. A group was given a topic for
Group Discussion – ‘Education is the only way to remove poverty’. One of the
candidates in the group, ‘Vishal’, was very aggressive in his manner of putting up the
arguments in favour of the topic. Many times he even cut down other candidates and
barely allowed others to speak. He spoke rudely in case anyone put up a different view
and his voice was also loud. His body language was rude and not pleasant. He was doing
this to appear like a leader who knew the most about the topic of discussion. Do you
think Vishal’s behaviour was correct? Do you agree that Vishal’s behaviour would help
him get a job?

Do’s of participating in a GD

• Think before you speak.

• Pick up clues from the discussion and intelligently add points that come to your mind
with regards to the topic, in case you don’t know much about the topic.

• Back up your points with facts and figures if needed.

• Be gentle and sure in your presentation of views.

• Speak to-the-point and make sure that you do not repeat the points.

• Be calm and composed while speaking.

• Listening to others is also an important aspect of participation in the group discussion,

so listen to others.

• Have respectful attitude towards the viewpoints of others.

• Your body language should convey your ease of behaviour.

• Sometimes the discussion may take a hostile turn. In such a case it is a good idea to
intervene to make the situation relaxed. This act of yours will show your leadership and
problem solving skills.
Don’ts of participating in a GD

• Do not initiate the discussion if you do not know the topic well.

• Do not go overboard in exhibiting your knowledge even if you know the topic well.

• Do not interrupt other members when they are speaking.

• Do not change your opinion about the topic just because most of the other participants
are having an opinion different from yours.

• Do not feel unconfident if a speaker prior to you has presented the points more
effectively than you. • Do not ask irrelevant questions.

• Do not let your personal biases about the topic enter the discussion

Points to be kept in mind before the GD

No one knows what the topic of GD is going to be. Hence, it will be a good idea to keep
yourself abreast with topics like: 1. Current Affairs Current Affairs is something that you
have to be thorough with. For this, read newspapers regularly and watch news on the
television. Understand the recent crises that the world is reeling under, the latest
developmental initiatives, the ties between various countries and the like.

2. Historical topics Have a fair knowledge about the country’s history and also the history
of other countries. The topics may not be specifically from this area, but having historical
information will help you cite examples and make references whenever needed.

3. Sports, Arts & Literature

4. Data crunching Familiarize yourself with important data. Throwing in some data if
required in your GD will definitely create an impression among the assessors. Read as
much as possible. Have good and sound knowledge on numerous topics. Watching
documentaries on various topics will help here. Improve your vocabulary. This does not
mean that you use heavy and big words, but it means that you will be able to understand
the topic better and contribute effectively. Last but not the least; mentally visualize
yourself as succeeding and you will succeed.