This is why elegance is better than winning

This is why elegance is better than winningThis is why elegance is better than winningMany years ago my wife whisked me away for my birthday to Anderson Valley, located near the coastal region of Mendocino County in Northerbein California. Our lodging was the Philo Pottery Inn, a charming little bed and breakfast that since closed down. Beyond the beautiful scenery, the primary purpose of our weekend was to attend a wonderful Alsace wine dinner at Scharffenberger Cellars.We dressed up for the vorstellung and were seated at a large table full of friendly strangers. As the evening unfolded, appetizers and tasty dishes were paired with outstanding wine selections.Then, at some point in the dinner conversation, a woman at our table ventured into politics. She made a very partisan statement, nodding affirmatively with the expectation that everyone agreed with her.Some at the table nodded in agreement. Others were silent. I was young, full of opinions and ready to joust.Spoiling for a figh tI grew up in a household of readers. My father, an administrative law judge and learned man, often held court at dinner time. Wed discuss current events, news and politics. I couldnt compete with my fathers expansive knowledge of history, but I enjoyed testing him on political issues.I grew to enjoy lively debate, however, I learned that its generally bad form to make partisan political comments to a table full of strangers. Its presumptuous and a little arrogant to drop political bombs among polite company. It puts people on the spot, and can turn a pleasant gathering into an uncomfortable evening.Unfortunately, when the woman at our table made her political remark, I immediately disagreed and challenged her.Well, things got interesting. Real fast. The woman was an accomplished attorney. I was a cocky law enforcement professional with a graduate degree. Before the dessert and aged port arrived, the woman and I were engaged in a heated debate.The fool chatters while the wise man li stensMy wife rolled her eyes and slid across the table to converse with a quiet woman who seemed unimpressed with the political banter. But the most fascinating chap at the table was an elegant Irish gentleman. He had white hair, was impeccably dressed and non plussed by the political salvos being hurled back and forth. The gentlemans name was Guinness McFadden.My wife, who has far mora common sense than me, stayed completely out of the political morass. Apparently, others tired of it as well and the table thinned.Mr. McFadden was queried at one point to offer his opinion. I recall that he raised an eyebrow and briefly shared a bit of his military background. Somehow, he managed to deliver a salient yet non partisan point. He smiled, fell silent again, and leaned back in his chair. He seemed content to let us exhaust ourselves.Later that night, back at the Philo Pottery Inn, I sensed my wifes displeasure. That woman should know better. You cant drop political bombs and expect everyo ne to agree with you, I reasoned. My wife countered with her observations about Guinness McFadden. About how dignified he was. Above the fray. Clearly capable of delivering trenchant, probably devastating insights that would have ended the debate. But he didnt. Too much of a gentleman.Mistakes of youthI was younger then. It took less to tease an argument out of me. I didnt understand that such debates were often of little consequence. People believe what they believe.Mr. McFadden obviously knew this. He had wisdom and much more life experience on his side. In fact, hes quite a remarkable guy. He turned down an Ivy League scholarship to attend the University of Norte Dame. He earned a bronze star in Vietnam. In Potter Valley, where he makes wine, he is also a pioneer in the Mendocino organic movement.As the years marched on, I often thought about our little weekend getaway to Mendocino County. Over time, I learned to stand down when someone tosses out provocative remarks or political statements.I took a page from Guinness McFadden, with my wifes approval. I guess wisdom, like caviar, is an acquired taste. You need some experience and time to develop it.Wolves and monkeysPeople often say that mans natural inclination is towards violence and war. I remember a quote by the historians Will and Ariel DurantNo one ever wants to recognize the inexorable periodicity of war.Perhaps theyre right. In many ways men can be like wolves. They like to pack together, go on the hunt and fight. They respect strength and usually pick a leader of the pack.But men can also be like monkeys. They can form tight bonds, families and supportive networks. They can look out for one another and demonstrate great tenderness.A few years ago the Wall Street Journal carried an article that questioned whether man was innately violent. The article relied on some fascinating research with monkeys.Id like to think that mans deeper instincts, eventually, bend towards elegance, peacefulness, and love . Maybe thats why aged felons who get out of prison infrequently reoffend. Theyre older and hopefully wiser. All the piss and vinegar of youth is spent and the mind turns to more important concerns. Thoughts about purpose. Family. Legacy.Choose elegance over winningIf you want to please your spouse, impress fellow dinner guests and actually enjoy your dessert, heres some advice for you. Namely, three reasons why elegance is better than winning.1. You wont look and sound like a jerk. You might have all the answers and even be right, but sometimes you lose even when you win an argument.2. Winning rarely changes peoples minds. As noted above, people believe what they believe. Try convincing a Palestinian that Israel should exist. Or vice versa. Same thing with apologists and atheists. People become entrenched in their beliefs. Beating someone in a debate may feel good, but have you really influenced your opponent?3. Elegance transcends bias. It didnt really matter to me what side of th e political fence Guinness McFadden was on. I was far more intrigued and impressed with his kind demeanor, distinguished flair and friendly disposition. Not to mention the fact that my wife was more smitten with how he behaved at dinner, as opposed to my combative approach.I have nothing against wolves, but they do help illustrate my point. The next time you are tempted to jump into the fray, snarl your fangs and nip at the heels of your political opponent, take pause. Picture those amazing gorillas we see in nature films, sitting placidly in a lush rain forest, rocking their babies and grooming one another. Which better illustrates what we should strive for?Guinness McFadden already figured this all out. Thanks to his example, my wifes gentle reinforcement and the mellowing refinement of time, Im starting to figure it out, too. Elegance is better than winning.Before you goIm John Weiss. I draw old school, handcrafted cartoons and write about life. Get on my free email listherefor t he latest cartoons and blog posts.Thisarticlefirst appeared on Medium.

How to Win Friends and Influence People at Work

How to Win Friends and Influence People at WorkHow to Win Friends and Influence People at WorkYouve probably heard of Dale Carnegies book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, but have you read it? Probably not (although many people have). If you have read it, have you applied the principles in the book at work? While friendship isnt necessary for the office, it sure is a better place to work in when everyone gets along. Here are three of Carnegies principles about how to win friends and influence people adapted to the workplace. Use these ideas so you can know how to win friends and influence people at work. Become Genuinely Interested in Other People That water cooler chit-chat wont help you if your focus is always on you. I did this, or Heres what I think about that, is often how people talk. People love to talk about themselves. But, if you can switch that interest and become genuinely interested in other people, youll become someone people want to be with, and youll be a ble to selectively influence people on factors that are really important. Remember, you already know everything there is to know about you, so dont waste your time talking about you and your ideas. While its not appropriate to get too personal in the office (especially with people over whom you have hire/fire/evaluation power), it is appropriate to find out about their outside interests and use that information to build relationships. For instance, Hey, Karen, I saw that the Dodgers won last night. You must be thrilled This is a simple statement. Its not personal, and its not invasive. But it tells Karen that you care enough about her to know what her favorite team is and its important enough to you that you paid attention to last nights game. You should know peoples marital status, how many children they have, and the general health things.No, you dont need to dig into their personal business, but giving an employee or a coworker a small, inexpensive gift for her babys first birth day will put her over the moon with her thoughtfulness. When John tells you that hes stressed because hes had to move his grandmother to the nursing home, inquiring as to how his grandmother is every few months can show you care. While all the above are critical to building a good relationship, you also need to focus on specific work-related tasks. Of course, you follow up on projects that you assign to others or with people who need to provide you deliverables, but if you want to build relationships, youll need to go a step farther. Along the saatkorn lines as the personal information, ask questions about how things are going for others, but in an Iminterested manner, not an Im telling you what to do manner. Here are several examples of good and badly expressed interest. Good Examples of Expressed Interest I saw that you were handed the Jones project. Congratulations, youll do an awesome job. Hows it going?Hey, have you decided on a vendor yet for the Jones project? I saw the p resentations too and wondered which one you thought was the best fit because Ill probably need something similar later this year. Bad Examples of Expressed Interest Have you got everything under control on the Jones project?Who is your vendor for the Jones project? In the good examples, youre demonstrating that you think your coworker is a capable worker. In the second, you sound like youre trying to become the anfhrer and second-guessing their ability to handle the job. Always congratulate people for jobs well done, and offer help and sympathy when appropriate. This doesnt mean that you have to take over and do extra work- your job is still your job and their jobs are still their jobs- but you do want to let people know that youre available. Let the Other Person Think That the Idea Is His or Hers This may seem antithetical to getting ahead in the workplace, but its actually the key to success. If you want your ideas implemented, the best way to do that is to have senior peo ple think that they thought it up. But what advantage is there to let your peers or direct reports think they thought up your fabulous ideas? Well, remember, this is about making friends and influencing people at work. You want them to feel good about themselves, and theres no better way than congratulating them on an awesome idea. Its winning all around- you get everything accomplished that you wanted to do (influence) while having everyone else love you (winning friends). This strategy can be a bit tricky, and you cant just say, Jane thought of that. But, if youre in a meeting, discussing a project, you can steer the conversation toward assigning credit. Heres a sample dialogue. Boss Were really having difficulty pinning down the finance team to get the right projections before we have to submit our headcount projections for next year. You Working with finance is tough. Like you were saying yesterday, Kevin is the key person for contact here. We should go ahead and set up a meetin g with Kevin. If we can get him on our side, it will be possible to get the whole team working on this. Now, your claim shouldnt be a complete fabrication. Your boss has undoubtedly mentioned Kevin before, and youre taking it to the next level. The boss will feel silly if she says no to the Kevin idea since she was the one who said he was the key to this success. The result is, you get your idea implemented, your boss feels good about herself, and finance gets the right numbers to you on time. Begin With Praise and Honest Appreciation This is not a feedback sandwich. If you dont appreciate the work others have done you will come across as fake and manipulative. Fake praise is more damaging than no praise. So, you have to switch your brain to start appreciating the work other people do. If you think about it, you can make a list of a ton of things people do that make your life easier. For instance, the person who starts the coffee pot before you get in, the admin who keeps your c alendar straight, and the person who maintains the client database all do jobs that make your job significantly easier than it would be otherwise. This is also true of the janitor that cleans and stocks the bathroom, the cooks in the company cafeteria, and the payroll department that ensures you get paid on time and accurately every single pay period. Many people dont stop and think about those people, and as such dont appreciate them. But, once you think about it, you can show appreciate them. So, start by saying thanks to the janitor every time you see her. Make a point to use her name. If you dont know it, find out by introducing yourself, Hi, Im Jane. I see you all the time, and Im afraid I dont know your name. Dont worry if the same person has been cleaning the office for three years and youve never asked. Now is the time to act. There are 27 other principles in Carnegies book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, but hopefully, these three will give you the kickstart you n eed to make your life at work better. - Suzanne Lucas is a freelance journalist specializing in Human Resources. Suzannes work has been featured on notes publications including Forbes, CBS, Business Insider and Yahoo.

Why you never seem to have enough time

Why you never seem to have enough timeWhy you never seem to have enough timeRight now, I can feel the tight squeeze of stress in my stomach. This morning, I got a call from a close friend needing support, which prevented me from starting this article. At any moment, I expect one of my coworkers to email me asking for help with a last-minute assignment. And Im set to leave my desk early for a dentist appointment, after which Ill rush home to cook a late dinner.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraIm under time pressure- and I know Im not alone. If youre awoman, or asingle parent, or practically anyone living in todays go-go-go American society, you probably are, too. When researcherssurveyedAmericans before 2011, about half said they almost never had time on their hands and two-thirds said they sometimes or always felt rushed (though a more recent study suggests things may beimproving a bit).As researcher Cassie Mogilner and her colleagueswritein a 2012 paper, With waking hurs largely consumed by work, precious minutes remain for the daily list of to-dos, including exercise, cleaning, and socializing with friends and family.At first glance, the issue seems straightforward. Time pressure comes down to a lack of time, right? Well, partly. Its the feeling that we dont have enough time to do what we want to do- but it turns out thatfeelingsandenoughandwantsare somewhat subjective.From 1965 to 2003, theaverage American workweekactually declined by three hurs, whileleisure timeincreased. And in many places in the developed world, the workweek has gotten even shorter since then. Inone studyof more than 7,000 working Australians, researchers declared that time pressure is an illusion. They estimated how much time is necessary for basic living- hurs of paid work, housework, and personal care- and compared it to how much free time people had in their actual schedules. It t urns out there was a big discrepancy, which was most extreme for households without children and the smallest for single parents.Those who feel most overworked- those who have least free time- largely do it to themselves, the researchers wrote. In other words, we could theoretically spend fewer hours making money, vacuuming and washing dishes, or cooking and eating, and wed get by without getting overwhelmed.Although you may not want to subsist just above the poverty line or give your kids as little attention as possible, the broader point is important Tight-squeezy time stress has to do with the things we value and the time we devote to them. And, other research suggests, it also relates to our attitudes and mindsets about time. Rather than always blaming the clock, we can find some roots of the time crunch deep in our own psychology. Here are some scientific insights to help you make a distinction between real stopwatch pressure and the unnecessary pressure you might be putting on yourself.1. Enjoyment and passionIn a2004 studyof nearly 800 working people in Ohio, researchers were confronted with a puzzle.When women did more than 10 hours of housework a week, they felt more pressed for time and in turn more depressed. But when men did the same amount of housework, they didnt. A similar pattern appeared for volunteering Men who volunteered more were less depressed, but women got time stressed and didnt seem to experience as much benefit.The explanation that the researchers came up with, bolstered by peoples accounts of how they spent their time, was that men tend to do more enjoyable housework and volunteering. They cut the grass and coach soccer teams they get into flow and feel a sense of accomplishment. Women, on the other hand, are often occupied with small, repetitive daily chores and service work less cheering and high-fiving and more trying not to thema asleep at school meetings.Unsurprisingly, a day packed with somewhat engaging activities feels less busy and stressful than a day of drudgery. If time flies (in a good way) when youre having fun, it also seems to fly (in a bad way) when youre not. This subjective element might have created more of a sense of time pressure in women who participated in the study, even if mens activities equaled or exceeded theirs in hours.A similar effect takes place at work. Inone study, researchers surveyed more than 2,500 employees at a technology company and a financial services company. They found that people who are more passionate, who aspire to do things that matter to them at work, arent as rushed and harried as others.If you feel short on time, you might simply not be enjoying the activities that fill up your schedule. Life can be like that sometimes, but if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, it might help to add one more thing to your day- something that keeps you engaged.2. Inner conflictWhy does passion seem to free up our time? The researchers who observed this phenomenon wanted to discover what was really going on.They found a clue when they asked employees about how conflicted or aligned their goals were. Employees lacking in passion said that their goals were competing with each other, fighting for time and attention for example, the drive to do well at work might make it hard to get home for dinner with the family. But passionate employees were different They saw their goals as supporting each other. After all, healthy home cooking and family bonding might give them more energy and motivation tomorrow.So, time pressure isnt just about how enjoyable our activities are, but also how well they fit together in our heads.One studyfound that people who simply think about conflicting goals- like saving money vs. buying nice things, or being healthy vs. eating tasty foods- feel more stressed and anxious, and in turn shorter on time.Knox College professorTim Kasser, an expert on materialism who coauthored a seminalpaperon time scarcity, once joked, If every resear ch project that Im currently working on right now was a cat living in my house, it would be very clear that I had a problem. If your to-do list feels like a herd of hungry felines, all in competition for your one can of food, its no wonder youre overwhelmed.While we may freely choose some tasks on our plate, others are largely the product of our society or culture, says Australian National University professorLyndall Strazdins, who has spent the last decade trying to show how time scarcity matters for individual and public health. For example, being a good suburban mom today seems to include chauffeuring your kids around the neighborhood to countless sports and hobbies.If you dont do that, then you feel youre not living up to one set of norms, but if you dont do something else, youre also not living up to another set of norms, says Strazdins. Youve got 24 hoursand you get to a point where you just cant expand your day. If you feel a lot of inner conflict about a task, then you might consider just letting it go.3. A sense of controlOften when were caught in a time conflict, its because of some external obligation Daycare pickup runs up against an important meeting your work shift starts at 9, but the bus is late. Time pressure goes hand in hand with feeling youre not in control of your own schedule.In one2007 study, researchers interviewed 35 low-income working mothers who were caring for at least one child. They asked the moms to talk about how they spent the previous day, and how they manage to feed their families when its hectic.The researchers were able to pinpoint different ways of managing time- some of which were more successful than others.The least successful was the reactive style, where mothers didnt feel in control of their days. All those mothers felt time-scarce, beholden to the clock, unable to accomplish everything they wanted to. In contrast, mothers who had an active time-style had some success at scheduling, managing, and structuring their da ys. They felt slightly more in control of their own time and a bit less time-stressed than the reactive group.People often complain of being in a time bind not only because they are objectively busy, but also because they perceive a lack of control over their time, researcher Ashley V. Whillans and her colleagueswrite. That perception may be based on our life circumstances- because we havenon-negotiable work hoursor babies who arent fond of sleeping through the night- but it can also be part of our psychology.According to research, rather than experiencing life as masters of their own fate, some people tend to feel like theyre at the mercy of external forces (and thusless resilient to stressandmore depressed). If this describes you, it may be harder for you to seize back a sense of control over your schedule.In that case, try to keep your eyes on the prize and do what you can to gain a sense of control over your time. Take little steps, likeoptimizing your to-do listorpracticing say ing noto people who ask for favors.4. The value of your timeOne last piece of the time-pressure puzzle is money, and that one is complicated. If you work multiple jobs or cant pay for a babysitter, youre bound to feel short on time. Butsomeresearchhasfoundthat people with high incomes feel particularly short on time- and people who get richer becomeeven more harriedthan they were before. Even justfeelingrich- when your savings is on the higher end of the scale on a form youre filling out- can make you feel more rushed.In a society like ours, the go-to answer for happiness is make more money, buy more stuff, says Kasser. What were trying to say is, well, no what people actually need is more time.Why would an abundance ofmoneyfeel like a scarcity oftime? One possibility is that rich people have so much they could do with their money but only a handful of hours outside work to do it,suggestresearchers Daniel Hamermesh and Jungmin Lee. So many expensive hobbies to pursue, so little time But another possibility is that they simply put more value on their time. If each hour theyre not working is $100 they could have earned, they better use that hour well.As economists would remind us, when something is scarce, its value goes up- but the opposite is also true. When something is valuable (like time), we perceive it to be scarcer. Inone experiment, researchers asked 67 students to engage in some mock consulting work, for which they would charge $1.50 or $0.15 per minute. The students who were charging $1.50 felt more pressed for time- even though they werent actually going to earn that money In another experiment, when people were asked to calculate their hourly wage, high earners felt even more time-starved.Feelings of time pressure are not just a function of individual differences, the quantitative amount of time spent working, or even peoples working conditions, although these factors are obviously important,writeresearchers Sanford E. DeVoe and Jeffrey Pfeffer. Time pressure is at least partly a result of psychological processes and the perception of times value.This is all good news and bad news. It means that our efforts to optimize and schedule, plan and streamline, might not be getting to the heart of the problem. But it also means that we may have more leverage than we think, even if we cant manufacture spare hours to call a friend or get to the dentist. Time pressure is the uncomfortable gap between how we wish we spent our time- and how we think that would make us feel- and how were spending it and feeling now. With that in mind, we just might be able to find some room to breathe.This article originally appeared on Greater Good, the online magazine of The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley.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 productivityTh e worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

7 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career This Summer (Without Giving Up Pool Time)

7 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career This Summer (Without Giving Up Pool Time)7 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career This Summer (Without Giving Up Pool Time)When the sunshine beckons and the backyard hammock starts to look a lot more appealing than your cubicle, it becomes all too easy to put off those small but important career-building tasks.But the less-harried pace of the office during the lazy days of summer may actually provide an opportune time to do a little professional fine-tuning.Everyone gets a bit more laid-back when the weather is warmer, says Jill Jacinto, a Millennial career expert and Associate Director of Editorial and Communications for career site WORKS by Nicole Williams. Dont fall into this trap. Use the summer as a time to shine and develop new projects while your co-workers take summer Fridays and long lunches.Just think Youll be ahead of the game for the busy fall hiring season- or when your babo takes a renewed interest in your duties in anticipation of year-end reviews.So we asked workplace experts to share their top summer career to-dos for everything from developing your skills to beefing up your personal brand- so that youll be moving ahead professionally while your competitors are working on their tans.Summer To-Do 1 Revamp Your Online BiosDo the descriptors you use to define your professional persona on the internet seem a bit blah? Then nows a good time to assess whether those few- but important- words really showcase your best self.There are three versions of your online bio that you should take the time to hone, says Cachet Prescott, a resume writer, career coach, and workplace trainer.The first is a micro bio you might use on social media platforms like Twitter, which Prescott suggests keeping to about 50 words. You might use a medium-length bio (100 words or so) on your own professional blog or website, as well as content you contribute to other sites. And theres the deeper-dive version (up to 500 words) that may appear on Linked In or your companys staff about pages.Regardless of a given bios length, make sure your brand message is consistent across all platforms, Prescott says. Think about what you want people to know about you, who you are, and what youre doing professionally.If youre unsure of the personal brand you really want to portray- creative visionary? customer-service pro? take-charge leader?- then ask colleagues how they view you.If theres a disconnect in how they see you and how you want to be seen, look for ways to close the gap in your branding, she says.Summer To-Do 2 Liven Up Your LinkedIn PageTheres research showing LinkedIn is the primary way employers are going to get their candidates, says Mark Frietch, President of Frietch Consulting Group, a career coaching and recruiting firm. So working on a resume is elend going to be the best use of your time.Indeed, a 2014 Jobvite survey found that 94% of recruiters are active on LinkedIn. So, rather than while away a lunch hour looking at viral videos on YouTube, consider using that time to update your profile with your latest credentials, promotions, or any other career strides youve made over the past few months.Jacinto even suggests setting aside time every week to maintain your LinkedIn network. Connect with people you dont talk to as often. Maybe theres even a project theyre working on that you can help out with, she says. Summer is a good time to do this because youll be the most prominent one in their inpckchen.And if your photo hasnt been changed since the early 2000s, tis the season to freshen up your LinkedIn look.Take advantage of the suns rays for amazing professional head shots, Prescott says. Winter is a depressing time of year, and you dont tend to capture the saatkorn happiness and carefree spirit that you can in photos in the summertime.Summer To-Do 3 Request a Mid-Year EvaluationIf your company does only one employee performance review at the end or very beginning of the year, summer may be a good time to check in with your manager to see how your boss thinks youve been progressing since winter.Put your request in an email, saying something like, I know we set some goals in January, but can we do a mid-year check-in? suggests Lauren McGoodwin, a former recruiter at Hulu and founder of work-life site Career Contessa.With this move, you can review your strengths and weaknesses, McGoodwin says, and have time to correct any performance issues before the next formal review time rolls around.Successfully capturing your bosss feedback and giving yourself time to make subsequent changes could mean the difference between spinning your wheels for the rest of the year- or ringing in the new year with the raise youve been gunning for.Summer To-Do 4 Take Your Networking OutdoorsFace time can go a long way toward furthering professional relationships, so why not take advantage of the nice weather and do a little alfresco networking?If a traditional networking game of golf isnt your thing, you can turn pretty much any summer outing or personal hobby into a meet-up opportunity- baseball games, yoga classes, and even outdoor concerts.Most cities have a free music series during the summer. Invite colleagues youve recently met, and look to build that relationship, suggests Frietch.Jacinto suggests taking advantage of shorter work days by trying to attend at least one networking event per week. And it neednt be a run-of-the-mill mixer or industry panel.It could be a great cooking class, or a documentary screening, she says. Or maybe you decide to go to an industry event one week, and a non-industry event the other- as long as you arent meeting the same people over and over again.Summer To-Do 5 Fill in for Vacationing Co-workersHave you been curious to learn more about the project your colleague is working on? If hes planning to take a two-week cruise, offer to pinch-hit while hes away.Your co-worker will be happy that youre willingly pitching in, and youll be able to further your skills, Jacinto says, adding that its an opportunity to shine for a new department, a new set of stakeholders, or a new supervisor.And you dont have to wait for a co-worker to go on a European excursion to make an impact- thinking outside the box is an evergreen endeavor.Make it known that you want to take on more, Jacinto adds. Managers always want to hear that youre thinking about the business and ways to make it better. So if you share a great idea, and it gets positive reception at a staff meeting, dont wait for the official assignment- get it to the rough draft phase and show it to the team.Summer To-Do 6 Schedule Informational InterviewsIf youre planning to spend some time this summer figuring out your next career move- especially if an industry change is in your future- try to squeeze in as many informational interviews as you can while your workload is light.Picking the brains of some of the smartest and most capable people in your extended network could give you the push y ou need to make the leap to your dream job.McGoodwin knows from experience She sent 30 LinkedIn messages to recruiters in the Los Angeles area- and met with 28 of them over the course of seven months- before deciding she wanted to become a recruiter herself.Your goal for the conversation should be to walk away knowing what the day-to-day is of that job, McGoodwin says. You want to gather enough information to decide This is the job for me.Summer To-Do 7 Start a Career JournalSometimes deciding where youll go and what youll do next career-wise requires a more introspective take.So just as youd keep a travel journal for the summer, consider regularly jotting down your thoughts about your professional life- particularly if you feel like youre in a rut.Create a list of the things that make you tick, or write down how you feel about work after each week, suggests McGoodwin. What makes you feel like the best, most productive, most authentic you? Maybe its when you write, or create graphic s, or teach someone something new.Journaling can not only help you discover things about yourself that you can use to boost your personal career brand, but also help you deal with a hard day at the office. Research has shown that writing down how they thought and felt during a stressful event helped people better cope with the situation afterward.And while its true that writing may come more naturally to some, dont let writers block discourage you- there are no rules for perfect prose.Feel free to just brainstorm, McGoodwin says. But it helps to write it down so you can go back and reference it when you need a little work inspiration.More From LearnVest8 Traits Youll Find in Every Fearless Job Hunter4 Intrepid People Dish My Crazy, Risky Career MoveThat Paid Off8 Ultimate Opening Lines for Fearless Networking

Is Pursuing Your Dream Career Worth It

Is Pursuing Your Dream Career Worth ItIs Pursuing Your Dream Career Worth ItHow to decide whether you should quit your day job to follow your dreams.The short answer is that only you can make such a decision. You must look at your current career, your financial status, and much more, to decide if this is something you can and should do. There will be many reasons why you should quit your current job immediately to follow your dream path- such as gaining satisfaction, becoming happier, reducing stress. But there will also be many reasons for why you shouldnt pursue your dream job- not enough pay, no available insurance, will have to relocate. For either decision that you make, sacrifices will have to be made. You have to decide if those sacrifices will be worth it, in the long run, compared to what you will gain.Is this your dream job?Has this been a lifelong passion that you have experience in and know you enjoy doing? Or is it just a hobby that you do on the weekends that brings yo u joy? A lot of the times, we can come up with idealizations of what another job will be like when we simply dont know what the day-to-day schedule looks like. For example, the idea of being a zookeeper might be appealing to you. Ideally you get to work with animals, feed them, talk to visitors and educate them on animals. However, during regular work operations, much of the job involves cleaning up after the animals- meaning feces, bodily fluids, old food, etc. Have you really researched this ideal career and gotten a feel for what it will be like? If you arent quite sure, perhaps try getting some hours of experience in, whether through a part-time job or volunteering, to make sure this is the right path for you.Why now?Motivation is key here. Why do you want to pursue your dream career now, of all times? If you are unhappy at your current place of work, this could be a big motivator. However, then its time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Are you unhappy with y our career field of choice, or just the current company that you are looking for? It is much easier to find a career in the same field than it is to change career paths. Do you think this dream career path will be more fulfilling and give yourself purpose? This could be possible. But as mentioned before, there are still boring and unsavory tasks with any job out there. A good idea would be to make a list of what you think day-to-day tasks would look like at this job, good and bad. Put in some research online to make sure you arent missing anything.Can you do both?A good way to decide if you should pursue your dream career, or if you can, is to start doing it. However, you dont have to quit your day job right away. Make your dream career part time. Put in some hours every day, build up some progress. For example, if your dream is to make your income off a food critic blog, then start doing it If you see success slowly starting to build, you can gradually add on more hours, and then e ventually quit your day job. Same goes for any other schriftart of job. Get a part-time position that allows you to get your foot in the door. Even if you arent seeing any type of advancement coming your way yet, you at least have relevant experience.Have you tried researching and networking?Big factors that go into the job search process is researching and networking. This is something that you can still do without quitting your day job. Tailor your online profiles to match the dream job that you are searching for. Attend networking events for that industry and start making connections- get to know people. You may get lucky and find a job Join groups that are related to the industry- such as the groups offered on LinkedIn. Add constructive information to the conversation. You should know what is going on in the industry and be knowledgeable. If you feel like this is a transition you can make, then take that step.

High School Student Resume Objective - Is it a Scam?

High School Student Resume Objective - Is it a Scam? The 30-Second Trick for High School Student Resume Objective High school templates are perfect for students to highlight their abilities and expertise. There are an assortment of student and teacher resumes here to pick from. A high school student resume doesnt ask for much, but you should be certain that all of the essential information is correctly presented. Students with minimum work experience may also add a section discussing their involvements. An individual can write hobbies that are associated with the work too. Work depend on region to spot. Your work is always to thoroughly take a comprehensive research before enrolling within an internship. It is possible to also leave off any jobs that are entirely unrelated to the job that you desire. Resumes arent the trendiest paperwork. Your resume will be split into sections. Filtering out resumes for mechanical engineers is simple after you get started using the peop le that seem odd. The Little-Known Secrets to High School Student Resume Objective Conclusion If youre a high school student seeking to land a part-time job which brings you extra income and aids 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 probability of being picked for the job. Rather, the objective of the career objective is to showcase your abilities and abilities that can help you to successfully fulfill the responsibilities of the position. Though you might not have a work history or lengthy collection of impressive degrees, you can definitely find something to include. Therefore, if your student intends to work while theyre in school or simply wishes to be ready for graduation, developing a scholarship resume now gives them the framework they have to receive one ready for work applications whenever the time comes. You just need to select the opportunity to cau tiously mine your experiences and determine how to present them to the employer. It could be inviting to embellish your resume, and you will possibly get the job, but in the long run, it is going to come back to bite you as soon as you cant deliver on your promises. Who knows, they might even supply you with a fulltime job the instant you end your level. Thus, take some time to explore your past. You must find out strategies to adapt your experience to the demands of the new job and platzdeckchen it in such a manner your strengths are displayed on top. Be sure the skills are related to the job which you desire. Write down what skills you used, and the way they may relate to the job that you desire. Strong interpersonal skills enhanced by participating in theatre activities to come up with confidence and communication abilities. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. A clearly defined resume objective will be able to help y ou convey your abilities and experience that lead to your professional objectives. A normal college application doesnt always provide a student room to highlight all her or his accomplishments and experience. If you wish to put in an application for a lifeguard position, your resume objective should mention all certifications you have gotten. Its easy to compose an outstanding objective. Bear in mind that the objective is the very first glimpse an employer will get of you and your skills-and you simply get one chance to create a first impression The intention of the career objective isnt to tell the hiring manger what you want to escape from the business.

4 Kinds of Hiring Data You Need to Start Tracking

4 Kinds of Hiring Data You Need to Start TrackingHiring today looks a lot different than it did 10 or 20 years ago. What used to rely on a piece of paper and a gut feeling now relies on recommendations, evidence, and data. And its all thanks to recent advances made in technology. Of these factors, hiring data is particularly important, as it can essentially reveal how well (or not well) a job candidate will perform in a role, if hired. Rather than taking a candidates word for it, hiring data can provide the much-needed evidence hiring professionals need to make an informed decision.So, to help you better identify top talent, here are fur things to take into consideration when it comes to hiring data1. Start with a rubric.Before you even begin gathering candidate data, you need a streamlined evaluation process. Thats why we advocate for using interview rubrics to eliminate emotional biases and conduct a more efficient recruiting process.A rubric can prevent you from jumping to conclus ions by replacing emotional judgment with bite-sized factors helping you make objective, micro-evaluations about each candidate.Great candidates come in different forms. A rubric will help you compare different profiles and resolve differences in strengths and weaknesses.Jordan Wan, founder and CEO, CloserIQBefore hiring data can be collected, you need a streamlined evaluation process. jordanxwanClick To Tweet2. Focus on predictive dataHiring managers should focus on data metrics that have evidence of being predictive of on-the-job success, such as a pre-hire assessment score, a company culture fit score, a job test score, and a structured interview score. Using these types of data metrics will increase the likelihood of hiring the right candidate, but it wont guarantee it. This is because there are many on-the-job contextual factors (e.g. your supervisor, your co-workers) that also determine how successful someone is at work.The best ways to use these data metrics when evaluating potential new hires is to put in place a standardized, objective ordnungsprinzip for every candidate. My biggest tip for effectively using this data when hiring is to use software tools that automate and standardize the process for you software that assesses every resume for you, software that tests candidates job-related knowledge, software that helps you interview candidates, etc. Using software will not only allow hiring managers to accurately use data to compare candidates to each other, it significantly reduces the amount of time and administrative burden it takes to collect and analyze this data.Ji-A Min, Head Data Scientist, IdealLooking for top talent? Focus on data metrics that have evidence of on-the-job success. ji_aminClick To Tweet3. as well as what can be measured.Our experience shows that the most reliable metrics are the ones that can be properly and objectively measured. It is easier and less subjective to focus on hard skills. Skills such as how well somebody can use Excel can be a reliable metric, especially when it comes to productivity at the workplace, so it can be hard to ignore.Everybody knows that soft skills are really important. However, it is so hard to measure them, let alone to get honest responses from candidates, that the attempt to get any metrics usually is not worthwhile. Stelios Lambropoulos, Product Manager, TEST4UThe most reliable metrics are the ones that can be properly and objectively measured. s_lambropoulosClick To Tweet4. Rethink time to hire.Weve been using time to hire for a while, until we found ourselves in this situation OK, this job takes longer to fill than the other job. But why? Often, its by the end of the hiring process. Thirty days have gone by and we honestly didnt know where to dig up the reasons for the slowness. So, we found a better metric to use interview to hire.We track both the time and the reason why the hiring decision is made. The time tracking starts the moment a candidate is tagged with int erview stage and it ends the moment they sign the contract. Then, we track why the candidate gets the job offer. Since the implementation of this metric, we have seen two improvements in our hiring process we close candidates faster and we are more aware of why we choose some candidates over others.Perry Oostdam, co-founder and CEO, Recruitee Forget time to hire, try interview to hire. PerryDamClick To TweetWhat hiring data metrics do you measure? Let us know in the comments below