How to be a powerful connector without feeling used

How to be a powerful connector without feeling usedHow to be a powerful connector without feeling usedRecently, a Bossed Up podcast listener called in with a career conundrum all about how to provide advice and encouragement to budding professionals without feeling used and burned when her prospective proteges up and ghost herDont get me wrong I want all of us to lift as we climb and support one another. But Bossed Up women including those of us who find ourselves in the position of supervision and counseling others along the way must set clear boundaries for how we give back.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreSet boundaries for giving backOne thing to consider is to set limits on how many of these meetings youll take. Perhaps you can justify mentorship meetings once a month or once a week.Whatever you make space for, send the folks who ask for your counsel aCalendlylink thats se t up to just allow them to book time on your schedule during those limited hours. That way, you know youre making yourself available to give back, but also can protect your time, too.Ask more of the person whos asking for helpSecond, its perfectly fine to ask more of the folks you choose to mentor. When I meet with people like this, Im promising them a certain amount of my focused time. The follow-up game is really up to them to pursue.During our initial meeting Ill typically drop a few names of people who Id bewillingto connect them with. I tellthemto first do their due diligence and look those folks up before I introduce them, so they can be sure that yes, that is someone theyd be interested in being connected with. Otherwise, we run the risk of connecting people before theyre sure its what they really need and want.From there, I always ask the folks I mentor to send me a quick introductory paragraph I should use when introducing them. This allows them to ensure that Im introducin g them by highlighting whats most important for their purposes, and it saves me the time, energy, and effort of writing up my own little explanation of who they are and why theyd like to connect.At the end of my mentorship meetings, I tell them Ill respond to their email when they send me those two things a list of the folks theyve vetted to make sure they want to be introduced toandthe blurb I should use when making the connection.Opt for the double opt-inFinally, its always best to opt for the double opt-in before introducing someone. By that I mean, email your contactfirstto get their permission to be connected. In the spirit of ensuring that none of us feel used while supporting other professionals on the rise, this is key before you CC everyone together, get permission to connect folks first.Ive written in the pastabout how I used to jump the gun and make this networking mistake. But it can earn you a reputation for taking your connections for granted, so dont make the same roo kie error.If you get ghosted, its not about youKeep in mind if the folks you mentor completely ghost on you after you made time to give them advice thats not about you, boo. Thats on themOn next weeks anfhrer tip podcast, well turn the tables on this question and answer another listener career conundrum about how to slay the follow-up game when youre the one asking to pick someones brain over coffee, so stay tunedThis article originally appeared on BossedUp.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

9 Top Female Models You Need to Follow on Social Media

9 Top Female Models You Need to Follow on Social Media9 Top Female Models You Need to Follow on Social MediaIts no secret that social media has changed the modeling industry. Thanks to popular networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, we no longer have to wait a whole month for the next issue of Vogue to update us on the latest fashion trends. We dont have to travel to Paris and get a front-row seat at Fashion Week, either, or bump into Gisele at Starbucks to know how her day is going.No, these days models are mora than happy to give their fans real-time insight into their not-so-exclusive worlds. And while its true that some models are contractually obligated to tweet up a storm, most do it because its fun and because its an easy way to build their brands. Clients prefer models who have a strong social media following because it means theyll get more exposure.So whether youre looking for inspiration for your own modeling career or cant get enough of your favorite models, these are the ladies you need to check out online. 01Kendall JennerGetty Images for Veuve Clicquot / Getty ImagesCoco Rocha is an outgoing and outspoken social media master. Shes acquired millions of followers across 13 social media platformsand wants nothing more than to use her power for good. Cocos all about being a role model and making the industry a safer and healthier place for both new and experienced models.

27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired

27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired27 surprising things that affect whether you get hiredThere are many pieces to a job interview.Theres the obvious stuff Have you done your research on the company? Are you polite to the interviewer and eager to join the staff?But theres also the less obvious stuff How do you treat the receptionist? Are you smiling too much?Below, we put together a list of seemingly trivial details that can affect your chances of landing the gig - and only some are within your control.Jacquelyn Smith and Vivian Giang contributed to a previous version of this article.1. The time of your interview1030 a.m. on a Tuesday is the best time for you to schedule an interview, reports Glassdoor. People are shown to be most productive on Tuesdays and wont feel rushed by the time they meet you. Its also late enough in the day that your interviewer has had time to check their email, have a cup of coffee, and get ready for your arrival.You also dont want to be someones last meeting of the workday, because theres a good chance the interviewers attention might not solely be on you. They could be thinking about priorities that they have after work, for example, such as dinner plans, kids homework, etc.Also, avoid interviewing pre or post-lunch because your time with them could either be cut short or you could be left waiting for a long time.2. The weather on the day of your interviewUniversity of Toronto researchers Donald Redelmeier and Simon D. Baxter found that medical school applicants fared worse if they interviewed on a rainy day compared to sunny day interviewees.They say Overall, those interviewed on rainy days received about a 1% lower score than those interviewed on sunny days. This pattern was consistent for both senior interviewers and junior interviewers. We next used logistic regression to analyze subsequent admission decisions. The difference in scores was equivalent to about a 10% lower total mark on the Medical College Admis sion Test.The data included nearly 3,000 applicants over a six-year period.3. How early you arriveYou may think itll look good if you arrive early - but if youre excessively early, you could be hurting your chances.Of course arriving a few minutes early is a good idea, and is certainly better than arriving late - but dont show up a half hour before your interview, says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.It can make you appear too anxious or put pressure on the interviewer. If you have extra time, gather your thoughts in your car or take a brief walk to get your energy up.4. Whether your rival also interviews on the same dayYes, it may be difficult to know when your rival is interviewing, but if you happen to know, schedule your interview on a different day. Research suggests that whether or not youre considered qualified for a position depends on who else is applyin g for the job.People are averse to judging too many applicants high or low on a single day, which creates a bias against people who happen to show up on days with especially strong applicants, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science.However, this comparison only lasts for one day, which means that you are only compared to people who are interviewing on the same day as you - not the day before or after.5. When you send your thank-you notenzeichenWe all know how important it is to follow up after a job interview with a thank-you note - but not everyone realizes that when they send it can be just as important.If you wait too long, the hiring manager may forget about you or assumeyoure not interested in the job. It may also make you seem like a slacker.The best timeframe to send a thank you email is within 24 hours after your interview, Whitney Purcell, formerly the associate director of Career Development at Susquehanna University, previously told Business Insider. It should be sent during business hours no 3 a.m. emails that make your schedule seem a little out of whack with the companys traditional hours.For mora on how to craft the perfect thank-you note, check out this handy guide.6. What you do while waiting in the lobbyDrinking coffee, eating, or talking on your cell is not the first impression you want to make with the hiring manager - or the receptionist, says Taylor. You dont know exactly when the interviewer will show up, so be at the ready.She suggests keeping one hand free so that you can quickly shake hands without awkwardly placing all your personal items on a chair or on the floor. You want to appear organized and attentive.Also, as you wait, either make conversation with the receptionist (if he or she is available to talk), review notes from your notebook, or review any company materials for guests. Maintain a pleasant smile and upbeat demeanor.7. How you treat the receptionist or the driverEmployers want to know how you inte ract with others regularly, so a common tactic is to ask the receptionist about you later.Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he will ask the shuttle driver who picks up candidates whether they were impolite or rude.A lot of our job candidates are from out of town, and well pick them up from the airport in a Zappos shuttle, give them a tour, and then theyll spend the rest of the day interviewing, Hsieh says. At the end of the day of interviews, the recruiter will circle back to the shuttle driver and ask how he or she was treated. It doesnt matter how well the day of interviews went, if our shuttle driver wasnt treated well, then we wont hire that person.8. Your handshakeAs in any business or networking situation, a weak, tentative handshake conveys a lack of confidence, Taylor says. And this gesture is a key part of your first impression.Make sure you convey your self-assurance with a firm handshake and a smile on your face - and dont be af raid to take the initiative in reaching out. Some people go overboard, however. You dont need to cause injury to make your point.9. If you accept the offered coffeeIf the interviewer offers you something to drink besides water - especially coffee - dont accept it.Your interviewer doesnt want to spend 10 minutes just to make you a cup of coffee, say authors John B. Molidor and Barbara Parus in their book Crazy Good bewerbungsgesprching How Acting A Little Crazy Can Get You The Job.This is especially true if they have a busy day ahead, since theyre now spending even mora time than they originally planned just to make you coffee.10. Whether youre a little narcissisticResearch from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests that narcissists score much higher than others in job interviews, and its because theyre comfortable with self-promoting.Since narcissists typically think theyre fantastic, the interviewer may think so, too.11. The color of your clothingAccording to 2,099 hiring m anagers and human resource professionals who participated in a CareerBuilder survey, blue and black are the best colors to wear to a job interview, and orange is the worst.Conservative colors, such as black, blue, gray, and brown, seem to be the safest bet when meeting someone for the first time in a professional setting, whereas colors that signal more creativity, like orange, may be too loud for an interview.Red is the most powerful color, but consider whether you want to outshine your interviewer. This, of course, depends on what role youre interviewing for and the culture of the company.12. Whether you glance at your watch or cell phoneAs benign as this might seem, people notice when youre peeking at your watch or phone, and you certainly dont want to convey that youre not engaged in the conversation, Taylor explains.Even having your cell phone in plain sight is disrespectful. Youre not going to text or take calls, so turn it off and put it away. Make sure your hiring manager ha s your undivided attention.13. Sitting before youre asked toShow respect for your interviewers space by waiting for them to offer you a seat, or wait for them to sit first.After you sit, Molidor and Parus say to sit tall with squared up shoulders and try to occupy as much space in the chair as possible. Dont be like a shrinking violet with a bowed head, no eye contact, and slouching shoulders.14. Tailoring your answers based on the interviewers ageDifferent generations are most impressed by different values. By being aware of your interviewers age, you can tailor your answers to what you think theyre looking for, advise Molidor and Parus.With a little practice, you can home in on the values that each generation holds most dear. You can shape your answer using the language of their values, they write.15. The way you make eye contact in a panel interviewKeep everyones attention in a panel interview by making eye contact with different people at specific times during your response, say Molidor and Parus.In a panel interview, always begin your response by making eye contact with the person who asked you the question. Then make random and soft eye contact with each of the other interviewers. As you finish up your response, return your eye contact to the person who asked you the question. Do not mow down the interviewers by going down the line making eye contact after the other. Soft random eye contact does the trick.16. Your postureWhen youre in the interview, your default should be sitting straight and keeping a pleasant smile on your face, Taylor says.Avoid slumping in your chair and remember to lean forward, showing interest in the interviewer. Even if you feel the discussion is going south, maintain your poise, posture and inflection. That can sometimes help you turn things around.17. What you do with your handsMolidor and Parus writeShowing your palms indicates sincerity.Holding your palms downward is a sign of dominance. Do not shake hands with your palms dow n.Pressing the fingertips of your hands together to form a church steeple is a display of confidence.Concealing your hands, as in putting them in your pockets, is a sign that you have something to hide.Finger tapping is a sign of impatience.Folding your arms across your chest is a very defensive position, indicating disappointment or disagreement.Overusing hand gestures to the point of distraction.18. The questions you askMaybe youre capable of answering every question sent your way with flying colors, but you also need to leave on a good note by asking smart, thoughtful questions at the end.Below are two questions from Vicky Olivers book 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview QuestionsWhat are some of the problems your company faces right now? And what is your department doing to solve them?What type of employee tends to succeed here? What qualities are the most important for doing well and advancing at the firm?19. Where you grew upIf you spent your childhood in LA and your intervie wer did, too, you may have a better chance of landing the job.Its clearly unfair (and out of your control), but your interviewer may not even be consciously aware that shes biased toward Californians. Its called the similarity-attraction hypothesis People simply gravitate toward those who are similar to them in some capacity.There are a few potential explanations for this phenomenon. One is that people with a decent level of self-esteem are satisfied with their personalities, so when they see their qualities reflected in someone else, they like that person, too.Another idea is that humans have evolved to like people who look and act the way they do. At one point in human history, the safest bet was to only trust people in your small social group.20. How competent you seemComing across as super-competent can in some cases hurt your success in an interview.Thats because your interviewer might worry that youll threaten his status in the organization. And thats especially true in organi zations with highly competitive cultures.Of course, you should still put your best foot forward in any job interview. If the company doesnt hire you because they feel threatened, you might not want to work there anyway.21. The sound of your voiceIn the near future, some companies may begin analyzing candidates voices to determine if theyd be good fits, according to an NPR report.Essentially, an algorithm would determine whether your voice is engaging, calming, or trustworthy - which could be especially important in industries like hospitality and retail.Humans would have the final say on hiring.22. Whether youre smilingIts common sense that flashing a smile makes you look friendlier and more approachable.But research suggests that, for certain professions, smiling too much can undermine your success in a job interview.In one study, published in the Journal of Social Psychology, researchers asked college students to role-play job interviews. They found that students who played candi dates for the position of newspaper reporter, manager, and research assistant were less likely to get the hypothetical job when they smiled - especially during the middle of the interviews.23. Your accentResearch published in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that some employers may discriminate against candidates for executive positions when the candidates have foreign accents. Specifically, the employers may believe that those candidates have less political skill.This is another example of completely unfair discrimination, and the researchers behind the study say companies should add accent-bias awareness training to existing training programs for hiring managers.24. Your weightRecent experiments suggest that were less inclined to hire job candidates when theyre overweight.In the study, published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, men and women rated digital resumes that included photographs of non-obese people and digitally altered phot ographs of those same people as obese. As it turns out, obese candidates were rated significantly less competent than non-obese candidates.Right now, Michigan is the only state that has a law against weight discrimination - theres no protection under federal law. But if you feel that weight discrimination has affected your chances of landing a job, you can get in touch with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the American Civil Liberties Union.25. Whether you have tattoos or piercingsA Salary.com survey found that some 76% of people say tattoos and piercings hurt a job candidates chances of getting hired.Your body art might stand out more in certain fields - for example, the survey found that just 8% of government workers have tattoos, compared to 20% of those in the hospitality, tourism, and recreation industries.26. Your body languageExperts say that when people like each other they mirror each others body posture and movements. In a way, it looks like the two people are dancing.If you dont mirror your interviewers body language, it might seem like youre not interested in what theyre saying or even that youre lying.Obviously, you dont need to go to extremes here - like scratching your nose every time your interviewer does. But if theyre leaning forward in their chair or sitting with their legs crossed, you can subtly mimic these behaviors.27. How sweaty you areOffering a clammy palm to shake the hiring managers hand is the greatest fear of many a job candidate.And for good reason - sweating suggests youre nervous and can undermine the image of cool confidence youre trying to project.One public relations recruiter tells US News that she recommends asking for a cold cup of water while youre waiting to be called in for your interview. That way, youll lower your body temperature and stop some of the sweating.On the other hand, you can just accept that sweating and nervousness are modell in a stressful situation and hope your interviewer feels the same way.This article first appeared on Business Insider.

How To Identify And Embed Your Company Culture To Grow Your Business

How To Identify And Embed Your Company Culture To Grow Your BusinessHow To Identify And Embed Your Company Culture To Grow Your BusinessDo you know what makes your company tick and what makes it unique? Do you and your team truly live the culture and values of your business? Is your team working smoothly, without having conflicts? If the answers a No to any of these questions, its a good idea to think about what to change in order to answer Yes. In his study, Professor Noam Wasserman looked at 6500 failed businesses. 65% of those failed as a result of co Our value is teamwork, then the expected behavior is the team always comes first. The interview question is When last did you take one for the team?, How did it feel and what happened? When you ask each candidate this question, youll be able to score them against those answers afterwards. The values based hiring process is the missing piece in many companies at the moment. And its the best way to ensure that candidate matches your v alues. Another thing that most companies dont do very well is the onboarding process. After the candidate joins the company, its important to help them hit the ground running and be productive from day one. Some companies invest in training and dump a lot of information on the new hires. The best companies, help the new joiner develop relationships within the company as the first step. They have a buddy ordnungsprinzip which helps the new joiner work out what the real issues in the company and in their role are, and who are the most important people. So they use a bit of training, but the focus is on relationships, because relationships create trust. And trust allows teammates to work well together.6. How can companies measure their company culture?Measuring company culture is quite hard because for most companies it is an invisible and subconscious liability versus a tangible measurable asset. You can do surveys on employee engagement but this is a snapshot of time and employee eng agement is only a small piece of the culture puzzle. Ask yourselves the following questions to evaluate the strength of your company culture. Are we able to hire the right A+ candidates who fit with the companys culture?Are those candidates approaching us?Do we have low staff turnover? Does the leadership team have mora energy and time available to work on the business rather than in the business? How strong are the bonds between team members? Do we have a happier workplace environment, with fewer sick days, lower stress levels and more respectful communication? Do our people take personal responsibility for results? Is there more autonomy, healthier intra- and inter-team dynamics, less conflict, less need for mediation in our company? Does everyone pull in the same direction during times of hardship for the company? Do we have highly engaged employees who happily invest their discretionary energy back into the company? Is there a values match, meaning that for our people, it is mor e than just a job it is self-development? Can we demonstrate that we have improved happiness and job satisfaction?Back to youDefining your company values and then company culture is something that cant happen overnight. Investing the time into it, though, can have a positive impact on both employees and the future of your company. As the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb saidclickToTweet tweet=CompanyCulture is the foundation for future innovation. An entrepreneurs job is to build the foundation. bchesky quote=A companys culture is the foundation for future innovation. An entrepreneurs job is to build the foundation. Keep it in mind.In case you have any more questions, let us know in the comments below. You can also follow Brett or his company Culture Gene on Twitter for more info.

The Holiday Hiring Myth

The Holiday Hiring MythThe Holiday Hiring MythMany believe companies do little hiring in December, but HR execs call it a myth. Get your application in. December may be your best chance to get hired.The weeks between Thanksgiving and the new year are often perceived as the job-seeking equivalent of a lump of coal in your stocking.A perception persists that hiring managers push off hiring until January either to save money before they close the books on the old years budget or to avoid the administrative hassle associated with onboarding a new employee during the busy schedule that accompanies end-of-year deadlines and holiday vacations.But the slowdown in hiring during the holidays is a myth, said several hiring managers and recruiters. In fact, many say they feel increased pressure to fill open slots before the end of the year.If a job is available, whether its the holiday season or not, it has to be filled, said John Robak, chief operating officer and executive vice president for G reeley and Hansen, a global environmental and engineering consulting firm. Were a professional services firm, and, at the end of the day, were about selling billable hours. If theres a job vacancy, were leise interviewing people.Robak said hes interviewed people all during the holidays, including on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. People who wait or think that those jobs might be available after the first of the year might miss a golden opportunity.The end of the year also brings use-em-or-lose-em deadlines at many companies. If hiring managers dont fill open positions before the New Year is rung in, they risk losing the open slots.What ends up happening is that hiring managers put a great deal of pressure on recruiters to be able to get them candidates and set up interviews before everyone in the company goes away for Christmas break, said Phil Rosenberg, president of reCareered, a job information site and career coaching service. So, the first weeks of December are oftentimes som e of the best times to be active, especially in strong years.Holiday PaceIf the volume remains steady, hiring managers admit the pace can sometimes slow during the holidays.One of the challenges at this time of year is getting all people needed to make a hiring decision in the same room and on the same page. The volume of hiring might remain the same, but the pace does seem to slow, said Kathleen Brush, author of Leadership = Motivation = Innovation + Productivity.Theres a good reason that some companies slow down their hiring during the holiday season, and thats because there are a lot of people who are out, she said. Its very difficult to jump through all of the hoops that go along with the hiring process because you need to meet with a number of different people.Brush doesnt advise that job seekers sit out the job search until the last badestrand of tinsel is vacuumed up. She does recommend making a concerted effort to keep the connection fresh.In other words, its great if you u se the holidays to your advantage to make a connection with a key player at a company for which youre interested in working. However, you will need to make a concerted effort to rekindle that relationship after the holidays and to connect with other stakeholders at the company.Whatever the actual pace of hiring during the holidays, take advantage of your rival job seekers impression that its a season better spent sipping hot toddies than aggressively interviewing, says Robak.Everyone is busy with holiday festivities and all of the things we have going on, he said. There are fewer job seekers and fewer resumes being sent. That can be an opportunity for someone who truly meets the requirements of the job to stand out because the competition might be less.

Secret Techniques for Functional Resume That Only a Few People Know About

Secret Techniques for Functional Resume That Only a Few People Know About Functional managers also require interpersonal skills since they will need to get together with people within or outside their function, for instance, senior managers or investors. A functional manager is someone who has management authority over an organizational unitsuch for a departmentwithin an organization, company, or other organization. A superior functional manager needs to be in a punkt to accomplish tasks in time. Functional managers and project managers have various roles and duties inside an organisation. At times, once employers see your work background isnt matching with the job demands of the position they can offer, they have a tendency to not look on the opposite pieces of your resume. Indirect work experiences are able to make your prospect employer select different applicants who have undergone jobs which are directly linked to the department or position that youre applying for. Exami ne the different sorts of job resumes you can utilize when applying for employment. Keep in mind that a good resume is always useful to secure you the job of your pick. The Appeal of Functional Resume Functional resumes are extremely tricky and might or might not go nicely with the recruiters. They do not contain a reverse chronological listing of past positions. They make it look like the applicant is trying to hide something from the recruiter. Functional and conventional resumes arent the only resume types to select from. There are a few simple tweaks that may make a functional resume advantageous Job searchers have plenty of choices when it has to do with creating their resume. All you have to do is merely download resume template and edit it the direction you want to find the best outcomes. There are several on-line templates which you can utilize to design your resume. A great resume format is simple to scan. A simple approach to format your resume is to choose a template that you may come across online and just insert your information into the proper sections, following the prompts provided by the template. Consider your requirements and see the explanations below to select the best resume format for you. A functional resume is an excellent choice for folks who have gaps in their professional experience. You should say that the functional resume can be a game changer for certain groups of individuals. Functional resumes are perfect for individuals who dont have a great deal of work experience about the job they are applying for. All About Functional Resume Functional managers are accountable to handle people with specific abilities and distinct resources within a department or section to satisfy functional objectives in addition to corporate objectives. Functional medicine integrates the very best medical practices. By switching the traditional disease-centered focus of medicine to a patient-centered approach, it is able to addres s the entire person. Type of Functional Resume At the peak of the resume is a list of somebodys skills and qualifications. The response is yes in the event you wish to.The absolute most important skill for the job which you are applying to should go first. On the contrary, it focuses on the skills you have developed that fit the needs of the job for which youre applying. On the contrary, it highlights your abilities and abilities. Next, you will start to list your key abilities and abilities. Theres no need to bring a subheading. When writing a resume, its essential for you to know the sort of job youre hunting for. A combination layout has many characteristics that will allow you to produce the desired impact. Based on your work history, you might want to think about utilizing a functional resume. What You Need to Do About Functional Resume Otherwise, your resume may get set aside immediately. Nowadays you have the information which you need and youre prepared to co mpose your resume. All resumes begin with contact information at the peak of the webpage. The info in your resume should paint a photo of the kind of employee you are and show employers what youre capable of accomplishing. The functional resume is utilized to concentrate on skills that are particular to the sort of position being sought. If youve got more than 1 objective, you might need more than one resume. In such instances, youve got enough experience but not in one specific field. If youre just starting your career, or in case youre changing career fields, you may consider a different resume type. Because you dont have anything to show in your experience section and everything you have are some skills, which you want to improve or extend. If you dont have sufficient work experience, you should earn a functional resume instead of a chronological one. Rather than having a work history section near the top of your resume, you may have an expert experience or accomplishm ents section that lists various skills which youve developed over recent years.

What It Takes to be Great

What It Takes to be Great A year ago I had the opportunity to meet motivational speaker Don Yaeger after he presented for the company I welches interning with. He talked about having what it takes to be great, taking various qualities from the numerous people hes met and worked with in his careerpeople such as Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, Warrick Dunn and Coaching legend John Wooden. Yaeger left the audience with a bookmark-like handout containing 16 consistent characteristics for greatness. The characteristics varied from understanding the value of association and seeing victory before the game begins to not playing for the money and embracing the idea of being a role model.As a senior in college soon to enter the workforce, I welches inspired by his message. A quirky hobby of mine is reading biographies I love to see the story behind the success, so Yaegars examples hit home for me. After read ing his provided characteristics and the qualities from numerous biographies, I was inspired to write down a few characteristics of my own.No matter what area you enter, whether sports, technology or HR, you should always aim to be great, always push to be the best in yur field. Check out four commonalities of successful people below1. RecognitionThose who have excelled in their field did so because they first recognized what it is they were supposed to be doing. We all have innate abilities and recognizing what they are and how to use them in our futures is vital. Iconic athlete David Beckham said that even at an early age he always knew he wanted to play soccer, even stating this each time a teacher would ask in school what he desired to be when he grew up.2. DeterminationSuccessful people are determined. They have the attitude that theyre going to do whatever it takes to reach their goals. It is said that Thomas Edison had around 1,000 unsuccessful attempts before inventing the l ight bulb, but, as we all know, he did not throw in the towel. He said, The three things that are most essential to achievement are common sense, hard work and stick-to-it-iv-ness Stick-to-it-iv-ness e.g. determination.3. ConcentrationWith our fast-paced society, staying focused can be difficult, yet necessary. Its very easy to begin a task, or even a career path, and never finish it. But those who have accomplished their goals and attained the highest levels in their industry did so because they concentrated on their professions. Being great requires the ability to eliminate outside factors and devote time, attention and resources to your craft. Michelangelos Statue of David is a 17-foot masterpiece that took three years to sculpt. Michelangelo started out with a misshapen block of wood that two artists before him had attempted to carve, yet he focused on his vision and did not give up until he completed the task.4. AppreciationThere are always obstacles on the path to greatness it s inevitable. Yet, if you look at the life of any successful person, you will learn how the setbacks and adversity he or she faced prepared the individual for the future. Valuing what you had to go through is essential to success because it helps you see the life lessons. At 30, Steve Jobs was fired from the company he started, Apple Inc. He then started NexT, which was eventually bought by Apple and became the heart of the companys rebirth. Jobs said that although it didnt feel good at the time, he was convinced that the benefits of NexT never would have happened had he not been fired. He appreciated what looked like a setback in his career because it eventually propelled him forward.

Heres How You Can Motivate Employees

Heres How You Can Motivate EmployeesHeres How You Can Motivate EmployeesMotivation is an employees intrinsic enthusiasm about and drive to accomplish activities related to work. Motivation is that internal drive that causes an individual to decide to take action. An individuals motivation is influenced by biological, intellectual, social, and emotional factors. As such, motivation is a complex force that can also be influenced by external factors. How to Encourage Motivation at Work Every person has activities, events, people, and goals in their life that they find motivating. The trick for employers is to figure out how to inspire employee motivation at work. To create a work environment in which an employee is motivated about their job involves both intrinsically satisfying and extrinsically encouraging factors. While employers understand that they need to provide a work environment that creates motivation, many fail to understand the significance of motivation in accomplishing the companysmission and vision. Even when they understand the importance of motivation, employers often lack the skill and knowledge to provide a work environment that fosters employee motivation. Thats because, too often, organizations dont pay attention to the employee relations, communication, recognition, and involvement issues that are most important to people. Here are some ways to change that. 10 Factors to Encourage Motivation These are some of the factors that must take place in order for employees to be motivated. Management and leadership actions that empower employeesTransparent and regular communication about factors important to employeesTreating employees with respectInvolving employees in decisions about their work and jobMinimizing the number of rules and policies in an environment that demonstratetrust for employees and treats employees like adultsProviding regular employee recognitionFeedback and coaching from managers and leadersAbove industry average benefi ts and compensationProviding employee perks and company activities Managing employees within a doable framework of goals, measurements, and clear expectations Minimize Rules and Policies for Employee Motivation The first step in creating a motivating work environment is to stop taking actions that are guaranteed to demotivate people. Three of the top conditions that demotivate employees are not giving workers the tools they need to do their jobs, not telling employees what is expected of them, and bosses that dont listen to underlings. 6 Guidelines for a Motivating Work Environment Make only the minimum number of rules and policies needed to protect your organization legally.Publish the rules and policies and educate all employees.With the involvement of many employees, identify organizationalvalues and write value statements and a professional code of conduct.Develop guidelines for managers and educate them about the fair and consistent application of the rules and policies .Address individual dysfunctional behaviors on an as-need basis with counseling, progressive discipline, and performance improvement plans. Clearly communicate workplace expectations and guidelines for professional behavior. Involve People to Inspire Employee Motivation Most people want involvement in decisions that affect their work- though some may not want the final accountability. If thats the case, ask yourself why. Have people been punished for decisions they made in the past? Perhaps organization leaders in the past didnt provide the time, tools, and information needed to make good decisions. Or, have people made decisions that were over-ridden by their managers? You also have to find out if the people who make decisions and contribute ideas are rewarded and recognized. If not, you need to start acknowledging people no matter what standort they hold. Empower Employees to Get Involved Use these tips to create a work environment that emphasizes employee motivation throu gh employee involvement. Express the expectation that people should make decisions that will improve their work.Reward and recognize the people who make decisions that create improvements at work.Make all employees aware of your organizations mission, vision, values, goals, and guidelines so they can funnel their involvement in appropriate directions.Never punish a thoughtful decision- otherwise, it will undermine the employees confidence.If you see an employee embark on a course of action you know will fail or cause a harte nuss for a customer, intervene as a coach. Ask questions that help the individual find a better approach. Never allow a person to fail as a way to teach a lesson. More Helpful Hints If you are genuinely open to ideas and feedback, your employees will know it.If you are not open to feedback, step back and ask yourself, Why? Almost any decision can be improved with feedback. Allowing for ownership creates motivation and channels energy in the direction that w ill help your organization succeed overall.Examine your beliefs about people. The majority of people do not get up in the morning and come to work with the intention of causing problems. When you experience a problem at work, ask yourself the Dr. W. Edwards Deming-attributed question, What about the work system caused this person to fail? Instead of issuing blame, this approach will help you solve the fixable problem.

The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do With Your Life

The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do With Your Life The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do With Your Life The Zuckerbergs, the Oprahs, the Gateses theyre the usual suspects who pop up in discussions about success. Theyve rightfully earned their statuses as hallowed gods in the pantheon of achievers, and we love to parse their stories,sleeping habits,and breakfast choices for clues about how they did it.But industry giants arent the only ones worthy of analysis. From photographers and video game designers to food scientists and sports journalists, theres a vast body of peoplewhove made careers out of whatexcitesthem. behauptung individuals share something in common and Roadtrip land has spent 15 years interviewing professionals of every kind to find out what that something is.Roadtrip nationalstaatstarted when fresh-out-of-college grads Nathan Gebhard, Brian McAllister, and Mike Marriner hit the road in a beat-up R.V. to talk to people who had forge d livelihoodsdoing what they love. More than a decade later, it has grown into a long-running PBS series, an educational organization, and a movement of people committed to living lives true to their interests.So, whatdid Roadtrip Nationfind? Its not amagical five-step method for success you can read in a listicle. Its not an anchoring life principle. Its not an acronym you can learn at a workshop. And frankly, if you study the lives of the thousands theyve talked to from Supreme Court justices to lobstermen their decisions look starkly different.But thereisa common approach that ties together their journeys a process of self-construction thats allowed them toavoid dreading Mondaysand create satisfying careers centered on their interests, values, and vision.The Roadtrip Nation cofounders outline this approach from their new book,Roadmap The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do with Your Life, so you, too, can adopt it.Let Go of Misaligned Ideas About YourselfFrom the moment we enter the world, expectations from family, friends, and society are piled onto us. These build up to form boundaries around our dreams. From advertisements that show us what to strive for to our educations that prescribe narrow choices and our moms well-meaning advice that reflects their owndesires more than ours, were constantly showered with other peoples visions of success.These ideas about who we should be and what we should do tend to worm into our brains, overpowering our internal aspirations. Soon, we find ourselves careening down paths that arent our choosing, and decades can fly by before we realize were living someone elses life.So, how do you seize control? Study yourself. Ask questions about where youre headed and why things likeAm I here because of my own choices or others wishes? Am I engaged in my work or living for the weekend? Am I being true to myself?If the answers to ansicht questions are alarming, its time to tune out others dictates and start listeni ng to your own needs.Define What Success Means to You.We live in an era when its common to tirelessly document your every move, crop out the imperfections, and share these cleaned-up momentswith the world for approval. Its no wonder were trapped in the snare of external validation, making decisions based on how theyll appear to others on Facebook.Theres nothing wrong with wanting the cars, vacations, and promotions we can flaunt on social media. The problem is when we measure success by these superficial trappings ignore the work we had to do to acquire them.The people who find authentic happiness look beyond societys one-size-fits-all view of success and define it for themselves. How do you do this? By distancing yourself from the envy-inducing pressure cooker of social media and the hectic motions of the daily grind. Think about what matters to you when all of thatis stripped away.Break your vision of success into categories What does success mean to you financially? With family? At work? Your priority could be financial stability, spending time with loved ones, or the ability to work for yourself. Identifying these core motivations will help you dismiss paths that are incongruent with your values and find ones that fit.AcceptThat Youll Keep ChangingThings that satisfy at 25 probably wont satisfy at 45. Time marches on, and priorities shift as we move into new life stages. So even if you find that one thing that grips you, its bound to evolve and with the pace of job change, it might not exist in the same form in the future.As these waves of change approach you, you have to move like a surfer. Dont fight it. Ride it and make constant adjustments to stay on your feet. If youre consistently exploring areas that interest you and expanding your skills in lateral directions, you wont just tackle whats thrown your way youll avoid stagnancy when youve outgrown something.Its easier than ever to curate your own set of capacities to stay relevant to the world and yo urself. Take an online class, watch a YouTube tutorial, join a Meetup of people with similar interests, or just follow someone on Twitter who inspires you.Ultimately, by shedding pressures,defining what you truly want,and courting change, youll be able to stay on a path thats true to who you are and who youre becoming.A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.For 15 years, Roadtrip Nation has been talking with professionals of every kind and asking the questions that no one is asking honest questions about their struggles, successes, and how they solvedout the age-old problem, What should I do with my life?From video game designers to lawyers, sports journalists to STEM professionals and everything in between, Roadtrip Nation has sought out untold stories and shared them. These stories form the basis of itscareer-exploration products including an educational curriculum, personalized online tools, video content, bestselling books, and live events. Together, thes e tools create a diverse and relevant collection of resources showing young people the vast scope of careers and possibilities.

6 motivational speaking trends that you want to pay attention to

6 motivational speaking trends that you want to pay attention to 6 motivational speaking trends that you want to pay attention to Whether you’re planning a small sales meeting with your team or preparing for a national conference,  guest speakers  need to stay aware of the latest trends to appear - and remain - innovative. More importantly, they need to be able to adapt to changing audience preferences and technologies to ensure their speeches are engaging and memorable.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Which motivational speaking trends will impact how relevant your presentations are? Which ones will limit - or open up - future opportunities? Here are six areas that need your attention.Organizers want speakers who deliver more than a speechConference organizers want to work with  motivational speakers  who are knowledgeable, inspiring, and capable of providing their audience with actionable takeaways. That’s a given. Simultaneously, event coordinators are looking for presenters who will partner with them, not just deliver a speech and leave.Organizers are looking for speakers who will help them promote the event via their own platforms. This way, their built-in audience can become aware of the speaking engagement and make plans to attend or promote its value to others who could benefit. They also want speakers who will allow them to film keynotes so they can be distributed and shared with those who couldn’t attend.The holy grail? Some  sales motivational speakers  I know will host a meet-and-greet prior to their presentation. It’s a simple and powerful way to build a stronger connection with an audience. It also helps the presenter create more personalized content. Organizers would be thrilled if a speaker stuck around to mingle or have dinner with important clients.Audiences demand participation and connection from speakersThe days of formal presentations, where an audience sat silently in an auditorium-like venue listening to an individual talk for an hour, are fadi ng. Instead, attendees are demanding smaller, more conversational presentations. This makes the speaker seem more approachable and authentic.This also encourages more interaction with audience members, enabling them to ask questions and share feedback. Speakers can incorporate live surveys and even get a little creative using the setup. For example, an event could ditch the standard seating structure, such as a ballroom layout or a roundtable setup, and go with a lounge setting. Likewise, the event could be held outside, allowing participants to sit on bean-bag chairs, hay bales, or smart benches.People love the TED experienceThe debate on ideal session length rages on. Audiences crave shorter talks, where they can attend snappier sessions held by diverse speakers, which is more in line with the TED experience.On the other hand, it’s almost impossible to present an innovative idea and get the audience to put that idea into practice in only 20 or 30 minutes. In reality, you’ll ne ed anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.It may not be feasible to host a TED Talk-style conference, limiting speakers to 20-minute talks. However, presentations  are  getting shorter. It’s now the norm for a one-hour standard presentation to be replaced by multiple 30- or 45-minute sessions.If a talk does deserve more time, facilitators may want to break up the speech into parts. For example, an hour-long presentation could be divided into two 30-minute sessions, with a break in between.Presentations need to be visualYour audience didn’t RSVP to your conference or seminar just to read your slides. They could have done that at home. They want to be engaged and entertained, and the best way is by skipping text-laden PowerPoints.That’s not to say that PowerPoints are banned. It means limiting your text to 10 words or fewer and using more visual content like pictures, infographics, and videos. This not only holds the audience’s attention, but visual aids also create a compelling story and reinforce your message. In fact, according to the  2018 State of Attention Report, the key to engaging content is a compelling story and the use of visuals.The most important takeaway: Don’t overdo your visuals. They should be clean and easily scannable, adding meaning to your story or concept.Organizations and speakers need to keep up with the speed of changeThe world is rapidly speeding up: Just look at how a business model or new gadget becomes obsolete in a year. Organizations must respond accordingly.For starters, planners focus on creating events that address emerging trends, innovations, and strategies. This empowers an event’s audience to stay up-to-date on the latest disruptions and prepare for them. The best speakers help them envision how to pre-empt or get ahead of a major industry disruption.That increased pace doesn’t just apply to innovations - speakers can expect to be booked much faster, too. In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to be booked for a spea king gig a year in advance. However, because we live in a high-velocity world, the planned talk may no longer be relevant. That means coordinators are booking speakers only months prior, ensuring their discussion will be significant and timely.What’s more, in order to stay ahead in a world of change, speakers need to provide specific solutions. While there’s still room for inspirational speakers, it’s become increasingly important for the audience to walk away with actionable steps to answer their real-world questions.Finally, both event planners and presenters need to stay current on technology. For example, while PowerPoint is still a popular tool for sharing information, a variety of tools like ClearSlide, Keynote, and Prezi allow anyone to create dazzling presentations on their smartphones.And don’t dismiss the virtual realm. In order to save money and dive deeper into a talent pool, organizations are looking for speakers who provide online content, webinars, and virtual coaching.The message needs to be reinforcedFor an event to be successful, it has to promise lasting results. In other words, attendees must leave the event able to implement what they’ve learned. As such, it’s the responsibility of the speaker to guide attendees in making the concepts stick.This could be done by showing a pre-event video to establish a connection and then surveying the audience after. You can also hand out reference materials, like infographics, for everyone to take home. To save on paper, let audience members know where they can access more in-depth information online.If you want to connect with your audience and ensure your presentations - and your preferred events - remain relevant, act on the trends above. Focus on keeping your audience engaged, remaining aware of disruptions, and reinforcing an event’s message. You’ll not only remain relevant but also earn more audiences to speak to.This article first appeared on Personal Branding Blog.

Improving the Internal Combustion Engine, Part 2

Improving the Internal Combustion Engine, Part 2 Improving the Internal Combustion Engine, Part 2 Improving the Internal Combustion Engine, Part 2 Part 1 of Innovative Valves Drive Greener, More Efficient Engines looked at the some of the problems with todays internal combustion engines. In this part, we take a closer look at the solution. There are many experimental laboratory versions of fully selectable valve systems available today, and engineers have been working on similar systems for internal combustion engines for years. But the technology has long been held back by two critical variables: complexity and cost. Selectable systems like the one that Khajepour has developed can cost more than a million dollars at the prototype stage, and the solenoid valves that they are based on can be extremely complex to work on. This is a reliability issue at the commercial stage, especially for trucks, which ideally dont see significant service until the engine reaches half a million miles, limiting the commercial applicability of the technology to date. A view of the improved valve system. Image: University of Waterloo The Waterloo team has addressed these shortcomings, and cut the overall cost of the technology, by switching from a solenoid structure to a rotary valve that is connected directly to the crankshaft. In this type of system, the timing is controlled by the rotation of the valve. So, controlling the opening and the closing of the valve is done by phase shifting, in which the valve opens and closes for set durations as the rotary valve spins, depending on how large or small the valve opening is. It offers performance that effectively matches solenoid-based valves in a much simpler, much cheaper package. What weve done is replace the solenoid system, control system and magnetic field [of todays VVTs] with a rotary system that is driven by the crankshaft, Khajepour says. Even if it fails, because it uses just an electric motor, it would default the valves back to a fixed timing, rather than completely fail the whole engine and the vehicle. Powering Big Iron To start, Khajepour is targeting this technology at large commercial engines like heavy construction equipment, ships, long-haul trucks and other large engines as they stand to realize the most savings from efficiency gains. In the long term, I do not see any reason that this system cannot be used on any combustion engine.Prof. Amir Khajepour, University of Waterloo In the long term, I do not see any reason that this system cannot be used on any combustion engine, he says. However, from a practical perspective, we are starting by putting it on larger engines where fuel efficiency and fuel cost is significant. Because, not only will they be able to save the more, but space in the engine and packaging for these applications is not as critical as in smaller cars. For example, in the cases of the large engines that are used in ships, fuel costs may be on the order of several hundred thousand dollars per year. So, even a small savings in fuel expense at the end of the year, as the result of a selectable valve system, could end up saving the operator tens of thousands of dollars. That kind of impact could help drive commercial adoption, eventually bringing this technology down into mid-sized and consumer vehicles. Were always working toward commercial solutions, Khajepour says. The idea is to join with a company, and design and make the system specifically for their application. We are already in contact with some companies and hopefully we will be commercializing this technology and putting it on real applications in the near future. Tim Sprinkle is an independent writer. Read More: NASAs Alien Tire Superalloy Rescues MEMS Sensors Ring Around the Thumb for Easier Data Input

15 Tips For Writing A Customer Support Resume (with a successful example)

15 Tips For Writing A Customer Support Resume (with a successful example) 15 Tips For Writing A Customer Support Resume (with a successful example) The area of customer service is growing year on year. Effective customer support representatives must be knowledgeable of the product / service(s) offered by their organisation, well-organised, timely, able to communicate (sometimes complex ideas) in simple terms, and must be inviting and friendly. How does one highlight these skills and more in a resume? Below, you can find 15 of our top tips for writing a customer support resume. The first five are exemplified by Daniel’s Story, a customer support representative hired at Intercom. We’ve also prepared a sample resume to put all 15 tips into action. 1. Quantify your achievementsResumes need metrics tied to achievements. Recruiters are less concerned with your duties and responsibilities than your impact on business operations. When describing your previous experience, remember to include a numbers or percentages where possible. If you have experience in retail, estimate how many customers you served per day instead of saying you worked at the checkout. This highlights your ability to deal with high volumes of customers.Daniel does this well by describing his upscaling skills and mentioning he grew a team from 10 to 80 members.2. Include language abilityYour ability to communicate in different languages is essential to most corporations today. Not only does your language ability allow you to communicate with many customers no matter their issue, but it also helps you spot group-specific concerns. Daniel notes he is a native English speaker and a beginner Afrikaans speaker. 3. Highlight key competenciesCustomer support staff have to wear many hats. They need to be ready to interact with customers over the phone, live chat, or even in person. Add to this liasing with other departments and processing refunds and you have a wide variety of competencies you need to demonstrate. But, two main things that recruiters need to see is that you are organised and dependable. Support staff need to consistently be able to do this and always stay on top of complaints; something dependability and organization play a big part in. Daniel highlights these competencies in his skills section.4. Describe customer support solutionsSolving customer queries is not always a paint-by-numbers job. At times, you’ll be tasked with coming up with creative solutions to person-specific issues. If you have prior experience in customer service, now is your time to highlight it. Think outside the box if a previous experience is not coming to mind even de-escalating issues with customers while working at a checkout is valuable experience. You can include such experience in an Achievements section or Most Proud of section of your resume. Daniel indicates his creative customer support solutions in his Projects section, where he describes a browser extension he built to remind customers to cancel PayPal subscriptions. 5.  Springboard to additional resourcesResumes can only tell so much of your story. In-depth description o f projects and expertise can take more time to explain. Linking to your LinkedIn page or website is essential to give recruiters another avenue to explore should your resume entice them. This way, you can grab their attention with your resume and seal the deal with your other resources. Daniel does this by including his Useful Links section, which includes his GitHub and LinkedIn Profile.6. Detail your technical experienceCustomer support representatives need to be tech savvy. It doesn’t matter what line of work you’re going into, there will always be some form of technology you will need to navigate. Whether this is logging customer complaints in a database, chatting with customers on Live Chat, or managing customer relations on SalesForce. Recruiters will be interested to see if you have any experience with these systems.Dedicate a section of your resume to your technological experience. Here, you can note your Office Suite proficiency and prior experience. 7. Discuss your int erpersonal skillsCustomer service is founded on interpersonal skills. Not only are these important for communicating externally with clients, but internally with upper management and colleagues. Your interpersonal skills will be what carry you to success and allow you to impact the bottomline. Rather than simply stating you have high interpersonal skills, quantify these (as mentioned in step one). Perhaps you were involved in communicating with a team of 5 or you sent 50+ emails per day in a prior role.8. Include a photograph*Impersonal customer service is awful. Customers want to feel they are talking to another person who is capable of understanding their concerns and can deal with them on a personal level. The same can be said about recruiters of customer support representatives. Recruiters will be able to get a better view of who you are if you include a photo. It humanises all of the abstract content that will be featured on your resume. Many customer support jobs will require staff to have a company photograph for your company ID or profile (if working customer support online). Showing you’re comfortable with this aspect of the job ticks another box.*Note that in some countries it’s forbidden or frowned upon to include a photograph. So, double check (this can be as simple as emailing the HR department to ask).9. Words-per-minuteCustomer support representatives will have to deal with a high amount of communication with customers. Being able to type a large amount of words-per-minute is an advantage over someone that cannot do the same. Including your average words-per-minute on a resume is a clearly beneficial skill that will entice a recruiter to offer you an interview.10. Management experienceCustomer support work can often involve managerial qualities. This can be managing a customer support team or motivating colleagues. Management experience is perfect for customer support roles for this reason. It also indicates your ability to interact with oth er people and find a consensus, something imperative for customer support. 11. Use a clean and readable designWith the number of customer support jobs increasing each year, recruiters will be turning to electronic systems to screen resumes that come through their door. This means you’ll benefit from having a clean-cut design with readable fonts. You can accomplish this using our Single Column resume design.12. Have a friend review your resumeThere are only so many mistakes you’ll notice by yourself even with the help of our content analyzer. Referring your resume to a friend allows you to see how your resume is perceived by another person. Perhaps it isn’t as personable as you thought it was or there may be a phrase that isn’t as common as you think. You can easily do this using our built-in referral link.13. Include your hobbies and interestsMany argue that hobbies and interests aren’t relevant to your career. However, this often isn’t the case. Your hobbies and intere sts can give insight into your ability to communicate with others and work on a team. They can also indicate your ability to hold conversations with customers and make them feel valued.You can include these in your resume in a dedicated section of through a My Time infographic as found in our resume builder. 14. Speaking engagementsYour oral communicative abilities are essential for a career in customer support. Speaking engagements (public speaking, presentations and so on) are a great way to show these skills off. You can include these as part of an Achievements or Most Proud of Section.15. Add reputable referencesWe all know references are important for job applications, but did you realize how important they are for customer support jobs? References are your personal reviews companies want employees that will drive customers to give them good reviews. Having reputable references or even testimonials on your resume indicates to the recruiter that you inspire people. To see how t hese tips can be applied to a resume, check out our sample resume below.

These are the most (and least) dateable professions according to singles

These are the most (and least) dateable professions according to singles These are the most (and least) dateable professions according to singles Being a single construction worker or even a farmer makes you more desired than a single politician, according to a new study.Dating website eHarmony published new research looking into singles who were seeking a committed relationship and wanted to find what exactly they considered they desired most from a potential partner.When it comes to professions, being a politician or policymaker ranked dead last on their list while the construction worker ranked No. 11 and working in the farming industry came in at No. 23. The top professions that singles most desired all were based on health, education and public protection including doctors, teachers, veterinarians and firefighters or police.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!In terms of character qualities, singles said they were more interested in honesty (54%) compared to looks or attractiveness (34%).What the study, which interv iewed more than 1,000 people who identified themselves as single, showed that was most surprising was just how many people were interested in finding a serious relationship in the current dating climate. Seventy percent indicated that they were more interested in something serious compared to just a casual fling.eHarmonyDespite the rise in the hook-up culture through popular dating apps, over 75% of Millennials and Gen Xers said they were more interested in serious relationships, which ranked higher than any other age bracket.Thirty-six percent of Baby Boomers said they were interested in something casual.“The data illustrates how Americans have shifted their priorities when it comes to lasting love,” said Dr. Seth Meyers, a licensed psychologist, in a press release. “Instead of identifying physical attractiveness as the most important factor in dating, millennial women are leading the way in showing that finding an intellectual and emotional partner is just as important, if n ot more.”The most desired professions in a partnereHarmonyYou might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people

5 Job Search Mistakes to Avoid

5 Job Search Mistakes to Avoid 5 Job Search Mistakes to Avoid 6The process of trying to find a job can be challenging, to say the least, and there are a lot of job search mistakes to avoid if at all possible. Finding the right position and gaining an understanding of what the role entails are one thing, but the application, interviews, and waiting period can feel like a lot of hoops to jump through. Part of managing the process means being mindful of ways you can screw it up if you aren’t careful. Here are five overall job search mistakes to avoid: Don’t dismiss the process. Taking shortcuts or not paying close attention to what the employer is asking for in your application is a fast way to end up in the pass pile. Whether you think it’s valid or not, employers generally have reasons for asking certain questions or for particular information. If nothing else, not following the directions certainly doesn’t give a sense of confidence. Don’t skim the information. Any correspondence you get from a company is important. If they have taken the time to send it, you need to read it carefully. It’s completely acceptable to ask for clarification when needed, but before you fire off an email to ask a question, look back at all your information to be sure it hasn’t already been answered. Don’t be uninformed. Do your research on companies and the professionals connected to them. Any knowledge you can gain is valuable. Including a line about an article you may have read profiling the company in your cover letter is a great way to show- and not just state- your interest in the job. Don’t be too pushy. Do you know someone who knows someone? Do you have an email address for someone in a position to make decisions? Use caution here, my friends. While networking and connections can be very valuable in landing a great job, it is easy to go too far in those scenarios. Don’t misrepresent yourself. While admitting you don’t have the experience, the skill, or the education a job requires will most likely put you out of the running, the alternative is worse. Let’s say you manage to secure the position. Chances are very good that the less-than-honest information you gave will catch up to you. The long-term implications are simply not worth the short-term benefits, as evidenced in famous resume lies and their lessons. Check back in for more detailed advice about avoiding mistakes in the application and interview phases of your job search! Readers, what mistakes have you made or witnessed in the job search? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Information on Marine Corps SERE Training

Information on Marine Corps SERE Training Information on Marine Corps SERE Training Story by Cpl. Ryan D. Libbert Note: The Marine Corps does not have a single location for SERE Training. The Marines conduct SERE training at various Marine Corps installations throughout the world. CAMP GONSALVES, Okinawa, Japan In the northern jungles of Okinawa theres a group of individuals stranded, without the aid of food, water, shelter  and the basic necessities required to survive. They are tired, hungry and looking forward to going home at the end of their ordeal. This may sound like an episode of Survivor, and in a sense it is. But instead of contestants, the individuals participating are U.S. Marines and there isnt a million-dollar prize at the end. Survival, Evasion, Resistance  and Escape training (SERE) is held monthly at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves. According to Staff Sgt. Clinton J. Thomas, chief instructor at JWTC, the purpose of the course is to teach Marines the skills they need should they become separated from their units in a combat zone and must survive off the land while evading the enemy. We focus more on the survival and evasion portions of the course more so than we do with resistance and escape, the Grand Rapids, Michigan,  native said. We teach them enough to survive on their own in the Okinawan jungle. If you can do that, you can survive just about anywhere. The 12-day course is broken down into three phases: classroom instruction, survival and evasion. During the first three days, Marines are put in a classroom environment where the instructors teach them the basics of survival. They are taught how to identify and catch food, build tools, start fires  and construct shelter. The survival phase takes place on a beach where the Marines put the training they received to use by surviving on their own for five days  with nothing but a knife, a canteen and the camouflage utility uniforms on their backs. The last phase of the course is four days long and the Marines are broken into teams of four to five men. The teams must stay on the move through the muddy and tangled jungle to avoid being captured by students from the man-tracking course. Weve built our own POW (prisoner-of-war) camp where we stick the students if they are captured, Thomas said. Theyre forced to wear the POW uniforms we made and the instructors interrogate and attempt to pry information from them to test their resistance level. We set them loose after several hours so they dont spend the entire evasion period in the POW camp. During their time in the POW camp, Marines are subjected to forced labor such as digging trenches, filling sandbags and cutting wood. They are also put in a small three-foot squared cube-like cell where they are tempted with food to give up information. While evading capture, the Marines are given free range to move anywhere they like within JWTCs 20,000-acre training grounds. When evening draws near, they are instructed to find a safe zone where the captors are not allowed to enter. If able to reach the safe zone, the students can get five to six hours of sleep per night. If they do not find the zone, they are still subject to capture and may get only  a few hours of sleep if any at all. The average student loses 12-15 pounds while going through the course. During their time in the field they must rely on the nutrition given to them through natural food sources in the jungle, such as plant roots, snakes, insects and fish. Participating students learn to get through the torment of starvation and weariness by staying motivated and appreciating what they are going through. I thought the survival portion was very interesting, said Lance Cpl. Daniel L. Pendergast, rifleman with 1st battalion, 25th Marine Regiment now assigned to 4th Marine Regiment. Im not used to catching my own food and finding or building my own shelter. The course has shown me where my limits are as far as how long I can go without food. Learning how to deal with that is the only tough part.

How to Find a Job as a Recent Graduate - 2019 Guide

How to Find a Job as a Recent Graduate - 2019 Guide How to Find a Job as a Recent Graduate How to Find a Job as a New Grad Goodbye university. Hello working life. Well, that’s the plan anyway.Making the transition from student life to full-time employment comes with mixed emotions. Beginning your career might mean sacrificing late-night drinks on a Tuesday at the campus pub, but it comes with plenty of benefits. Just picture what you’ll do with that first paycheque.Graduating from university or college and finding a job is a significant life event. And people handle it in different ways. Some new grads will take their time and go traveling to forestall the change. Others will be keen to get their professional lives started right away.Regardless of when you plan on finding a job as a new grad, the process can be challenging. Many graduates lack familiarity with the basics of job searching, or how to sell themselves to employers when they have minimal work experience.Not to worry, here we’ll cover some of the best strategies for finding a job for those who are recent g raduates. This guide includes advice on:Setting expectations for your job searchThe importance of a well-crafted resume for new gradsHow to identify job opportunitiesEnhancing your professionalism1) What to Expect As a Recent GraduateOK, time for a reality check. Unless you are extremely fortunate, you will not find your perfect job right out of school. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s important to keep your expectations in check.This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t do everything you can to land a fantastic job. But you need to remember that there are thousands of other new grads out there looking to jumpstart their careers too. And there aren’t many ‘amazing’ jobs on offer to people who have minimal experience.You may find that there are limited opportunities on offer with your preferred company or in your ideal role. Be flexible in this case. Look for opportunities that vary slightly from these ideals.By all means, stay true to your interests and background. Just d on’t be too narrow in your view of how you can apply your skills and experience. For example, you may want a financial analyst position with a commercial bank. Well, maybe that commercial bank isn’t hiring analysts right now but they are hiring project assistants. Chances are good that many of the skills required of a project assistant are required of financial analysts as well. And maybe you can start off as a project assistant, prove your abilities, and make a leap to an analyst.The point is to look for opportunities that are relevant to the career path you foresee for yourself. This may also mean pursuing unpaid internship opportunities as a potential starting point with a company or career path. Internships often lead to full-time, paid roles; and worst-case, an internship offers you valuable experience that you can use to help secure employment elsewhere.Source: quora.com2) Be Ready-to-go With Your ResumeBefore you start your job search, you had better make sure you have a resume or CV that you can send along to recruiters or other contacts. You won’t find too many organizations that don’t require you to submit one or the other as part of their hiring process.As a new grad, if you’re serious about landing a professional job, your resume or CV should look the part. So throw away that Word document you created five years ago when you applied for a job as a restaurant server, and upgrade to a modern version.You will want to give careful attention to layout and design so that you can make a visual impact on recruiters. A resume builder can help on that front. But even more important is the content you include.As a new grad, your best strategy for developing a resume/CV is to create an initial version that you can alter to fit the different positions you will be applying for. Don’t make the mistake of using the same resume/CV over and over again for every application.One of the basics of resume writing is to customize your resume/CV to reflect the requirements of a particular job description. In other words, you need to show recruiters that you’ve got what they are asking for.In terms of content, students and recent graduates can struggle to decide what to list on their resumes, especially if they lack relevant work experience. However, there are plenty of tricks for writing a resume with little to no experience. What’s important is that you think hard about how other experiences, such as school work or extra-curricular, demonstrate the abilities you can apply to real-world work.Once you’re equipped with a resume or CV, the battle of finding a job opportunity begins.You can check the following resume examples for a graduate and use it as inspiration before creating/updating yours: Update Your Resume3) Identifying Opportunities: Offline is KeyOne of the most common mistakes new grads make when searching for work is relying strictly on online search. Yes, many companies post jobs on their own websites, and these jobs get aggregated on sites like Indeed or listed on LinkedIn.However, what you find online represents just a fraction of the jobs out there. A lot of companies choose to hire new people through referral channels or word of mouth.Plus, the process of searching and applying for jobs through online applications can be tedious. There is a more efficient way of going about it, and it’s called the “disruptive job search”.The idea here is that you research the companies or positions that interest you, and then identify a networking path that will lead you to that job. In other words, you bypass the online application process by proactively connecting with employers.Every new grad needs to harness the power of networking as part of their job search. By building relationships you will get your name and aspirations known by people who can help you get the job you want.Wondering how to network? Well, a good starting point is to identify people you already know who work in the industry that inte rests you.If you’re lucky, your personal contacts will lead you directly to a job prospect. Otherwise, you may have to push your comfort zone a little farther and approach people who don’t know you already.You can find with these people in person â€" for example, by attending industry events â€" or by doing some digging online. You’re not looking for HR managers or recruiters necessarily, though you may want to still contact these people to discuss job opportunities. Instead, you’re looking for people who are well-positioned to offer you information on a particular career and have their own powerful network that you can get access to. Let’s call these people “connectors”.Once you’ve found a connector, your next step is to try to get his/her attention. This takes a bit of courage, but it’s as simple as introducing yourself, explaining that you are getting started in your career and would like to learn more about the line of work. You then ask whether they would be w illing to have a short 15-20 minute chat about their own experiences in a certain profession.This is what is called an “informational interview.” As the name suggests, this interview isn’t about asking for a job, it’s about getting information that can help lead you to job opportunities. They are best-done in-person at a time and place that is convenient for your contact, although a phone call work too if that’s all they can offer you.Be strategic with the short, precious time you have for your interview. Don’t ask about where your contact went to school or about his/her job description â€" information that is probably readily available.Instead, ask questions that give you a real insight into what it’s like to work in that field, including the skills and experiences that are considered the most valuable.Based on how your conversation progresses, you may be led into talking about potential job openings. But if this doesn’t come up, don’t force the subject. You can s till express your interest in a subtle way. An excellent way to end your conversation is to ask “As someone looking to get started in this line of work, is there anyone else you think would be good for me to speak with?”

Sorry, but these 5 words, you like, really, kind of overuse

Sorry, but these 5 words, you like, really, kind of overuse Sorry, but these 5 words, you like, really, kind of overuse TBH, IRL, do you, OMG, like, believe what other people say?!Abbreviations and shorthands in text messages and unfiltered speech with your best friends are fine metrics of communication. But in the workplace? It’s not every breath you take - but every word you iterate that shapes how others perceive you. Corporate culture expert and author Lior Arussy stresses the importance of choosing your language carefully - whether it’s via email, in person or in a late-night or a last-minute iMessage exchange over a client brief with your manager.“Always ask yourself what emotions am I trying to evoke? And what action do I seek people to take? You will discover that some of your language choices are counterproductive to what you are trying to achieve,” he explains. “If you want to be understood and drive actions, choose your language carefully. Keep it simple and inviting. Welcome people to the conversation so they will in return accept the challenge of execution.”Ladders is now on SmartNews!Download the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.Though training your tongue will take some time - especially if you’ve never edited yourself before - you can get started with these overused words. According to career experts, they have no place in your office or inbox:‘Just’Career expert and founder of #BossinHeels Heather Monahan challenges professionals to look at these two sentences: “I was just thinking that it might be worth giving this a shot?” and “This is worth giving a shot.”The latter speaks to more confidence and inspires you to trust the opinion of the speaker, right? Monahan says when you implement the word “just,” you lose your power - and oftentimes, your audience. “Just is used to soften a blow or to put a toe in the water when someone doesn’t feel fully committed and this takes your strength away from your request or statement,” she explains.That’s why you should n’t “just” drop it, but stop using it ASAP.‘Like’When you were applying for college or prepping for your first job interviews, did your go-to mentor encourage you to slow down on your responses? It’s a common method that many utilize, since the faster you speed through speech, the more likely you are to add in filler words.Executive coach and leadership coach Libby Gill says too often, professionals rush to demonstrate their brilliance that they end up stumbling over their language. When this happens, many subconsciously use filler words - including “like,” “umm,” “ah,” and “you know?” - to give their brain time to catch up to their lips.Instead of racing to be the first to chime in, give yourself a “pause” so you can come prepared to share your point.‘Strategy’Unlike frivolous, meaningless words that add little value to your paragraphs, Arussy says many professionals overuse “strategy” as an umbrella term to explain, well, anything. While m any start-up content consultancy companies, web designers, graphic arts specialists and SEO managers turn to “strategy” to describe their talents, it doesn’t always accurately describe their true talents.This is why Arussy motivates professionals to be clear and specific about the services and skills they’re offering, instead of lumping everything under a single word.“The main purpose of an organization is simple to engage and retain customers, so stop turning every initiative into a strategy. Contextualize what you are trying to achieve in the greater objective of the organization,” he says. “We need less strategies and more execution.”‘Low hanging fruit’In creative writing, idioms, buzzwords and relatable examples draw in readers and hold their attention. But in business, Gill says these go-to phrases can discount your intelligence. “These are those annoying workplace tics that are used so frequently they’ve become meaningless. Related to clichés, they are specific to the workplace, overused, and often found in Dilbert cartoons,” she says.Some examples might include “let’s drill down,” “I’ll circle back,” “we need disruption,” or “we’re looking for a low-hanging fruit.” Unlike prepping for an interview where you aim to throw specific keywords or tidbits of the company or interviewer into a conversation to illustrate you did your research, business meetings are more productive with tangible discussions.Instead of saying you’ll ‘circle back’ on a conversation, write down the questions that need to be answered and provide a detailed report of next steps. This shows you’re not only aware of how to finish a project, but you’re committed to doing it - and not merely using colorful language to push someone off.‘Sorry’Though women are guiltier of over-apologizing than men, most professionals overuse the “my bad” mentality according to Monahan. This brings negative attention to your performance and e xercises a persona of shame you might not identify with. “In the workplace, there are many times that someone is running late or misses a deadline and the go-to for everyone is ‘I’m sorry.’ this gets thrown around so often that many people begin apologizing for things that aren’t their fault,” she explains.A fix to practice is shifting from “I’m sorry” to “thank you” - which Monahan explains moves you past the shortcoming and focuses on the solution. “If you are late for a meeting and you arrive thanking everyone for their patience, you send a much more powerful statement. If you make a mistake with a client instead of saying I’m sorry again why not thank them for their understanding,” she says.

The Bio-Arcade

The Bio-Arcade The Bio-Arcade The Bio-Arcade The pleasure of playing video games springs, at least in part, from the feelings of control and power that saturate the player, however temporarily. In the end, though, the Q*berts, the Marios, and the Master ChiefPetty Officer John-117s, are just lights on the screen, code in the machine. Nothing alive, or even tangible, has been driven, jumped, or killed. But now gamers weary of the merely digital can get their power trip on playing a video game where theyre in control of an actual living organism. Ingmar H. Riedel-Kruse, a professor of bioengineering at Stanford University, wanted to allow everyday people to experience the microbiologic processes that are normally hidden from us in new ways, enabled by modern technology, he says. We all can look through a microscope and see these cells, but you can never really interact with them and touch them. In a paper published in Plos One in October, he offers a blueprint for a device that allows gamers, hobbyists, and budding scientists to turn microbes to Pac Men. In short, with a smart phone, a joystick, an off-the-shelf eyepiece, some LEDs, a handful of 3D printed parts, and some Euglena cells, bio-gamers can be directing a microbe through a maze in a matter of hours. The price for these parts is less than a $100less than $60 if you have access to a 3D printer. The cells (which are both cheap and safe) can be ordered from a school supply company and will last for months unrefrigerated. LudusScope 3D printed microbiology game console. Image: Stanford University Once assembled, the phone shows whats going on under the DIY microscope. At the start its nothing more than Euglena cells swimming willy-nilly. But once players tap the image of one of the Euglena cells, a Pac Man character instantly appears superimposed on top of it, as well as a surrounding maze with edible dots. The Pac Man/Euglena cell unit can then be steered through the maze with the joystick, gobbling dots as it goes, just as the original arcade character did back in the 1980s. The joystick turns the LEDs on and off, attracting (and repulsing) the cells, which are light sensitive. In another game the cells are athletes on a soccer field who can dribble a soccer ball down the screen and can pass it to other cells or kick for a goal. Getting a bunch microbes to behave according to plan on a soccer field was as difficult as getting a bunch of five year olds to behave according to plan on a soccer field. There were a number of challenges, says Riedel-Kruse. These cells have circadian rhythms and other influences, so the way they respond to the light may vary at different times of the day and between days. On the other hand, maybe thats also what makes the flavoryou interact with something that is living and less predictable. However thrilling the joy of cell manipulation, The LudusScope is not meant for fun alone. The hope is that it will educate on three different levels: in constructing the device; in playing the games; and in experimentation. You have augmented play which basically transitions into more serious scientific inquiry, where you can make measurements, says Riedel-Kruse. You see the cells swimming across the screen and you have real time tracking, which tells you how fast the cells are moving. To ramp up the educational value of the game system, Riedel-Kruses lab has received a seed grant from the NIH to develop a kind of kit with all the necessary elements. If mass-produced, the cost of a LudusScope kit would likely go below $30. At that price point, the LudusScope may become the first videogame kids are allowed to bring to school. For me the key tagline is to really make biology accessible, says Riedel-Kruse, to not only look through a microscope and see, but to influence what you see. Michael Abrams is an independent writer. You have augmented play which basically transitions into more serious scientific inquiry, where you can make measurements.Prof. Ingmar H. Riedel-Kruse, Stanford University

What You Dont Know About Do I Need an Objective on My Resume

What You Don't Know About Do I Need an Objective on My Resume Make certain your resume contains keywords. The relevant key terms which were highlighted also will need to get included in the resume. Both types of resumes are great and could eventually get the job done for everyone the exact same. If your resume does not include the keywords, you could possibly be overlooked. You are interested in being succinct and straightforward. Your resume objective have to be simple and has to be clear. It is simple to learn and super powerful. Your OKR should be measurable. Up in Arms About Do I Need an Objective on My Resume? Most hiring professionals wish to see your latest experience on top. Some recruiters adore the resumes with a good career objective that states why the candidate is a great pick for the position and the business. Resumes have changed through the years. Conclusion If you're a high school student seeking to land a part-time job which brings you extra income and assists you build some skills that might become important to your career in future, you have to present a compelling resume to prospective employers to enhance your odds of being picked for the job. Well, so are thousands of different individuals that are also on the lookout for employment. Objective men and women who have work experience in the identical field as the job for which they're applying. Follow with the kind of education you've got and any work experience you've got. Make certain that you produce a very clear summary that provides the reader a concept of who you are and what you have to give. You surely wish to have a look. Well, you merely must take a look further in the post and discover out! If you're still wondering, have a look at our tips. You will receive a complete refund. In cold locations, an expert attire always goes well. Simple, a resume obje ctive 2019 is excellent, but always based on your goal. The peak of your resume is prime real estate, and that means you don't squander it by utilizing vague filler material. Developing a strong mixture of technical wisdom and soft skills will undoubtedly impress employers. You must make sure you fully grasp the work description well in order to develop an objective which is relevant to the provider requirements. If you choose to include an objective on your resume, just make certain it's pertinent to the job that you are applying for. The existent objective was geared toward the actual job they originally desired. Another style of assessing heroism might be the level of effort to which an individual goes as a way to help others. It isn't possible that you know more about the preference of the recruiter (unless you are able to read their minds)! If it is difficult to produce an Objective in the very first location, it typically means the candidate has not done the suitable self-assessment to become focused on two to three job targets. Most Objective statements are excessively general, have very little meaning or worse may indicate the candidate doesn't have any idea what they want. For a chronological resume, or perhaps all sort of resumes, it's always advised to compose your contact info and a resume introduction in which you explain your objectives, part of your achievements and a succinct description of your profile and potential as a professional. The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. If you're looking to put in an application for a lifeguard position, your resume objective should mention all certifications you have gotten. If you're looking to apply to get a part-time position at a retail shop, utilize the next objective examples as a guide to assist you create one that is right for you. An objective statement is merely too stale and boring to truly capture the eye of a hiring manager. If it is used, one thing to keep in mind is to state it in terms of benefit to the employer. Things You Won't Like About Do I Need an Objective on My Resume and Things You Will Then you should get cracking. As a fantastic guideline, should you need to submit a resume to receive your next job, you aren't visionary. Make certain that your resume objective is related to the role that you're seeking. An administrative assistant position isn't an exception. You must include an effective summary that captures the interest of a hiring manager. While being resume is not typicall y required for administrative examples, it might be a fine bonus for businesses that work with international customers.