What to Ask When You Dont Get a Promotion - The Muse

What to Ask When You Dont Get a versetzung - The MuseWhat to Ask When You Dont Get a Promotion It sucks when you get passed over for a promotion. And it sucks even more when it keeps happening every single review cycle. All kinds of thoughts probably cross your mind. You might wonder if youre not good enough. You might wonder if youre not valued. And then, you might wonder who you should blame for your lack of growth. But before you start pointing fingers, here are a few tough questions you should ask yourself. 1. Are You Going Above and Beyond- or Are You Just Doing Whats Asked?If youre doing everything your anfhrer assigns you, thats great. If youre doing those things well, thats even better. But lets be honest Thats the bare minimum you need to do to stay employed. People who go above and beyond identify problems before their managers give them assignments, take initiative to find solutions, and tackle projects no one else wants to take on. So, take a closer look at your recent wo rk and ask yourself if you can identify problems youve both identified and helped to resolve.If You Cant Identify AnythingThink of ways that your promoted teammates took initiative. The ways they went above and beyond are a blueprint for you to land a promotion in the future. If youre stuck, Muse writer Katie Douthwaite White recommends these four basic steps putting feedback into action, anticipating needs, bringing ideas to the table, and going out of your way.But, If You Are Going Above and BeyondIf you felt you were bringing something extra to the table, ask yourself if its possible your manager didnt realize it. After all, even the best bosses arent mind readers and if its not directly impacting your work in a way she can see, then she might truly have no idea. (And for more on how to brag without feeling like a jerk, read this.)2. Was There Definitely a Promotion on the Table?Whats one of the reasons youre seeking out a promotion? If youre like most people, its a salary bump. But whats your current companys situation? If the business is struggling or your team has maxed out its budget, there simply might not be any cash left to give you that raise youre looking for.If There IsntYou can ask your boss for other perks. Maybe your job title doesnt reflect the work youre currently doing. Maybe you want to take on new projects. Identify what you want to change (other than your salary) and talk to your boss about it. Then, when the budget resets, youll be able to discuss adjusting your pay to reflect your new responsibilities.If There IsHave a heart-to-heart with your boss about your frustration, but also ask for honest feedback about why you didnt get promoted. Of course, this is way easier said than done. So use this email template to get the conversation started.3. Is the Promotion You Want Actually a Fit for You?Look at the job description for the role youre disappointed you didnt get. Then, compare it to your current career goals. Did this job help you tak e another step toward what you want? Or were you just chasing a more senior title and a bigger paycheck?If it IsAsk yourself a tough question Does your boss know that this is what you want? If not, remember Shes not a mind reader. Of course this conversation is much more complicated than saying, I want this so much. Instead, make the discussion more productive with this game plan. If it IsntThats OK You dont need to rush a promotion if its not on the track you want Instead, take a step back and figure out what you really want. Then itll be much clear what your next move should be. When you feel you deserve a promotion, its hard to be passed over for it. But by being honest about what you can improve, what youve done to earn it, and what you want, youre putting yourself on track to land it sooner than you think. With that said, you might have noticed a pattern here, and its to keep your boss in the loop. After all, if you want her help to get ahead, you need to tell her what youre lo oking for. More importantly, you need her honest feedback to understand how to land the job that you want. Now get out there and have an honest conversation

Save Face After Making Mistakes at Work

Save Face After Making Mistakes at WorkSave Face After Making Mistakes at WorkDont panic. Making mistakes at work is a fact of life. There are times when we all wish we had double-checked our figures, reread an email before hitting send, or removed our foot from our mouths before speaking. Though it feels terrible, theres a lot to learn from making mistakes at work, even in the world of accounting and finance.First of all, youre notlage alone. According to an Accountemps survey, more than four in 10 professionals (45 percent) said theyve cried at work. Fifty-two percent of the respondents said theyd lost their temper while on the job.Making a mistake is just one of the challenging situations that can lead to such emotional outbursts. It ranks up there with overbearing bosses, coworker conflicts, personal problems and heavy workloads.Once you acknowledge your error and take steps to correct it, you may emerge wiser and more capable of greater challenges ahead. But first, start saving face. Here are five steps to take to start that process.1. Forgive yourself for mistakes at workAfter making mistakes at work, you likely feel embarrassed, fearful and frustrated. Maybe you raced through your day trying to finalize next quarters forecast when you suddenly realized that the report you emailed out earlier has an error in column K, rendering your analysis way off the mark. Youre mortified and petrified that your mistake will cast a pall over your performance forever.Take a small amount of time to acknowledge what happened, and then let it go, because you have repairs to make. Pull yourself out of the gloom of realizing youre not perfect.2. Confess and take responsibilityAlthough its important to understand why the mistake happened, this is no time for excuses. Take responsibility, apologize to all affected parties for your misstep and promise to do better in the future. Avoid blaming coworkers or circumstances (though you may want to consider whether certain distractio ns in the workplace led to your flub). Keep in mind, theres a difference between acknowledging fault and berating yourself. Own up to your part but also display confidence in your abilities. Lastly, if your manager or peers have sound advice, use your listening skills and be open to their ideas to resolve the issue.Ready to explore your options in the job market?SEARCH TEMPORARY JOBSSEND US YOUR RESUME3. Do what you can to set things rightCreate and communicate your plan to set things right, such as volunteering to work extra hours to undo the damage. If you caused a ripple effect that is now out of your ability to stop, let your boss or coworkers know you would still like to help, even if it means taking on some of their projects. This will help you rebuild accountability and trust. When the dust settles, follow up to see if there are additional action items you can complete.4. Take stock of what youve learnedThis is where you can find the silver lining. This experience could revea l hiccups in your process or help you be more careful in the future. Ask yourself, What will I try to do differently? What still works? Ask peers for feedback on how you could have avoided this blunder. Check in with your boss on the aspect of your work where the error occurred. You may have thought you understood the process, only to discover you do not. Think of yourself as someone who embraces lifelong learning.5. Get back to work or move onDont dwell. This mistake was one moment in your career, likely amid myriad successes. So, get back into your daily work while applying your new insight. The bottom line is that one mistake - even a big one - doesnt have to derail your career. Focus on your ongoing self-awareness and improvement, while regaining faith in yourself and restoring it within your team. Failure is part of life, and your response will demonstrate your professionalism and resilience.If you find yourself after this experience hating your job - or if youre fired becau se of your mistake - discover the job opportunities that are out there. Get your references in place and your accounting resume updated. Compose your comeback story and start anew.

Punitive Articles of the UCMJ - Article 12 - Sodomy

Punitive Articles of the UCMJ - Article 12 - SodomyPunitive Articles of the UCMJ - Article 12 - SodomyText. (a) Any part subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficientto complete the offense. (b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall by punished as a court-martial may direct. Elements. (1) That the accused engaged in unnatural carnal copulation with a certain other person or with an animal. (Note Add either or both of the following elements, if applicable) (2) That the act was done with a child under the age of 16. (3) That the act was done by force and without the consent of the other person. Explanation. It is unnatural carnal copulation for a person to take into that persons mouth or anus the sexual organ of another person or of an animal or to place that persons sexual organ in the mouth or anus of another person or of an animal or to have carnal copulation in any opening of the body, except the sexual parts, with another person or to have carnal copulation with an animal. Lesser included offenses. (1) With a child under the age of 16. (a) Article 125- forcible sodomy (and offenses included therein see subparagraph (2) below) (b) Article 134- indecent acts with a child under 16 (c) Article 80- attempts (2) Forcible sodomy. (a) Article 125- sodomy (and offenses included therein see subparagraph (3) below) (b) Article 134- assault with intent to commit sodomy (c) Article 134- indecent assault (d) Article 80- attempts. (3) Sodomy. (a) Article 134- indecent acts with another (b) Article 80- attempts Maximum punishment. (1) By force and without consent. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for life without eligibility for parole. (2) With a child who, at the time of the offense, has attained the age of 12 but is under the age of 16 years. Dishonorable discharge, for feiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 20 years. (3) With a child under the age of 12 years at the time of the offense. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for life without eligibility for parole. (4) Other cases. Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 5 years. Above Information from Manual for Court Martial, 2002, Chapter 4, Paragraph 51

Giving Feedback to Your BossLike a Boss

Giving Feedback to Your BossLike a BossGiving Feedback to Your Boss- Like a BossLets face it Bosses arent perfect. And sometimes, they need to know it. Whether your managers long, personal-story-filled team meetings are preventing everyone from getting work done or her daily screaming matches are putting your relationships with other departments at risk, sometimes you need to share some constructive feedback with your boss.And when you do, it can be pretty daunting. Take the obvious fear of retaliation for telling her something she didnt want to hear and add the unintended consequences of being perceived as a complainer, and you have a tough cocktail to swallow.But scary as it may be, there are some steps you can take to be aya thatany feedback conversation is both diplomatic and productive.Consider the Cost-BenefitIve leidiced over the years, people seem much mora comfortable sharing their opinions than they did when I first started out- which can be a good thing. But, as a result, people sometimes say things that may have been better left unsaid, or at least, shouldve been said in a more diplomatic way.When I first started out as a manager, I had one such employee. He was bright, and a great worker, so I often appreciated his candor as it related to day-to-day problem-solving. But, when he cornered me in front of the whole team and told me I was going about a task incorrectly, I was stunned. In an instant, he had destroyed my credibility with the team (not to mention shattered my confidence).Worse, when I pulled him aside later to discuss, it turned I wasnt doing anything wrong, just different from how their old manager had. Over time, we both recognized that my approach worked just as well, but it took months to repair the damage to my confidence and my authority. The price of that comment was pretty high, with little to no benefit.While feedback is important for both of you, take the time to consider whether your input truly needs to be delivered, how shari ng it will impact your manager, and whether that information will end up helping- or hurting- you in the long run. As they say, plektrum your battles. Deliver the feedback you really think your boss needs to hear- and do it the right way.Write it DownTelling your boss shes not meeting your expectations is scary, so dont rely on your improv skills to carry you through this type of discussion. Instead, take time to collect and write down your thoughts.The first time I approached a manager about an issue I was having with his performance, I thought I could just wing it, and didnt bother to jot down any notes. About 30 seconds into the conversation, I deeply regretted that oversight. First of all, my boss wasnt expecting to receive feedback from an employee outside the annual review season, so I was immediately caught up in trying to explain myself and why we were there. By the time Id stumbled through an explanation, I was so tongue-tied and nervous that I ended up just blurting out ev erything that bothered me about him. Needless to say, that conversation did not go well.Jot down a few general areas of concern, focusing on issues you think are truly critical to address, and any supporting details that will help spark a productive discussion- the frantic phone calls you get from her boss when shes 10 minutes late to a meeting, for example. Then, stick to the script. While it may be tempting to pile on every little pet peeve, if it isnt in your notes, dont bring it up. Keep the discussion focused on the topics youve prepared to address, and save the little stuff for another time. If it wasnt important enough to make it into your notes, it can wait.Also, never send these notes to anyone via email, just write them down the good old-fashioned way, and shred them when youre done. Unless theres a serious problem, no one needs to know about this but you and your boss, and respecting his or her privacy on the matter will assure you both can address the issue without any u nwanted input from your colleagues.Stay Classy- and SpecificAs important as preparing what youll say is spending time thinking about how youll say it. The way you begin this interaction will set the tone for the entire discussion, and can mean the difference between a productive conversation and a, well, terrible one.Bottom line Keep it classy, professional, and kind. When dealing with your bosses, it can be easy to forget theyre human, too, and assume their skin is impervious to criticism- but trust me, its not.Rather than simply telling your boss point-blank, you think shes doing something wrong, approach her privately and ask if you could schedule some time to chat. Then, let her know what youd like to discuss in general terms- for example, if shes habitually late for morning meetings, tell her youd like to get her thoughts on the morning meetings. By giving her the right context, youll give her a chance to start mulling over how to improve the situation- and might even inspire h er to address her tardiness before you have to. But, even if you do have to bring it up directly, by maintaining your professionalism, youll help ensure your feedback is heard in a constructive setting.Remember, this is not a free pass to unload on your boss, rather, its an opportunity for you to show how you handle a particular situation or how specifically you can both work better together. After all, thats what youre trying to achieve.Be Wary of Solicited FeedbackFinally, a warning on solicitations of feedback from your boss This may seem counterintuitive- if she actually asks you for feedback, that means she wants to hear out all your thoughts, right? Well, thats only partially true. If you ask your significant other how you look in those jeans you just bought, part of you wants an honest answer, but the other is hoping for a glowing review. Its not so different with your boss.That first time a boss asked me for feedback, I didnt realize she was trying to get answers to a few sp ecific questions, rather than my general input on how she was doing. She had just had a review with senior management, and they felt her team needed more guidance on a particular product offering, so she was speaking to the entire team to get a sense for how comfortable they felt with the information shed provided. She did not, it turned out, want to know I found her habitual tardiness and long lunches demoralizing.If a manager comes to you for feedback, make sure youre both giving her what she wants and having the discussion on your own terms. For example, if your boss pops by your desk and asks how you think shes doing, tell her you appreciate the opportunity to share your thoughts, and ask her to go into more detail about what shes hoping to learn.Then, when you have a better idea of what shes after, try to schedule a specific time to talk, so youll have time to think through your answers. Trust me, itll be a better, more productive conversation for both of you. Also, recognize t hat if youre planning on bringing up any criticisms, you should be going through steps 1 through 3 above. Just because your boss asked for the feedback doesnt mean you should skimp on the preparation- and just because she asked how shes doing managing the project does not mean she wants to hear shes screwing it all up.Sharing feedback with your boss takes a lot of thought, preparation, and empathy- this is not something you approach lightly. But, with careful planning, you can still give your manager the feedback he or she needs to help both of you succeed.Photo of man talking to boss courtesy of Shutterstock.

Why You Should Never Lie About An Employment Gap

Why You Should Never Lie About An Employment GapWhy You Should Never Lie About An Employment GapThis in-depth job hunting article is about employment gaps and how to list unemployment on a resume. For mora resume writing help, visit our job seeker resource center. Most people have taken time off from working, at some time or anotlageher whether it be for a few months or a few years. According to a recent study by the US Department of Labor, there are currently 6.0 million Americans unemployed or experiencing an employment gap. 1.4 million of which are categorized under long-term unemployment, which the DOL classifies as being jobless for 27 weeks or mora. If youre worrying about how to explain gaps in employment, youre not alone. These periods without work are something everyone worries about when searching for a new job. This comprehensive guide will explain exactly what an employment gap is, how to smooth employment gaps over, and how to land a job, in spite of taking time off.Wha t Is An Employment Gap?While there is no absolute time frame that defines a employment gap, an employment gap which is also known as a unemployment gap is generally any time you lack employment for 1 month or more.Unemployment can either be involuntary (not your choice) or voluntary (you decided to take some time off). For recruiters, employment gaps are also usually broken down into short-term, which is less than 6 months, or long-term, which is 6 months or more.Lying About An Employment GapNo matter what the situation is, the number one rule for job hunting is to never lie on your resume. It is crucial that you are honest about your employment gaps. Your dates of employment will most likely be verified by an employer, either through a W-2 or a reference check, so any untruths on your resume or during an interview are grounds for disqualification. Even if you are hired with a dishonest resume, if your employer finds out that you lied, it is cause for immediate termination of your employment. You could be fired and your professional reputation could be tarnished.Common Reasons for UnemploymentThe most common reasons for employment gaps areTermination of Employment You were laid off or quit a job and it took some time to find a new oneContract Employment You typically work as a contractor and it takes some time to move from one project to anotherMaternity/Paternity Leave You took some time off while pregnant or left to spend time with new additions to your familyInjury or Sickness (affecting you) You were injured or critically ill and needed to take time off to recoverInjury or Sickness (affecting someone else) Someone close to you, such as a close family member, was sick or injured and you needed to take time off to provide them with careCareer Burn-Out You needed to take some time off to recharge your energy after a strenuous careerRelocation You and/or your family moved to a new city and it took some time to settle in and find a jobEducation You took time off to obtain a degree or to enroll in continuing educationProfessional Training You took time off to pursue a professional training courseEntrepreneurship You took time off to start your own business or pursue a solo projectTravel You took time off to travel the world and experience other places and culturesWhy Employers Care About Employment GapsEmployers are human beings, so they understand that personal events and circumstances beyond your control can affect you and your work history. That being said, it is still hiring managers job to find the top candidate to add to their team. Whether or not it is fair, having periods of unemployment on your resume can lead employers to be concerned about your ability to perform as a reliable and skilled employee. Here are the top three concerns employers have about candidates employment gaps Skill atrophyOut of touch with the industryLaziness and lack of motivationEmployer Concern 1 Skill AtrophySkill atrophy is another way of saying that yo ur professional skills are no longer up-to-date or useful.Employers usually worry about skill atrophy when a job seeker Has been unemployed for a long period of timeNeeds specific hard skills to fulfill the needs of the job Needs technical skills to use changing technology Skill atrophy is often a concern when a job requires knowledge or competence of specific hard or technical skills, which can be forgotten or lost over time. For example, someone could forget the details of operating factory machinery if it had been years since they had last used the machine. Hiring managers may also be worried about how current your professional skills are if the requirements of the job change quickly. For example, a software developer who has been unemployed for five years may find it difficult to apply their potentially-dated technical skills to current technology. However, employers hiring applicants for jobs that rely on soft skills and entry-level positions are less worried about skill atroph y from employment gaps. For example, skills relating to customer service and administrative work generally stay relevant over time.Employer Concern 2 Out Of Touch With The IndustryIf you have been unemployed, especially for a significant period of time, hiring employers may be afraid that you are not up-to-date with your trade or industry. Being out of touch with an industry is more concerning when the industry changes quickly. However, unemployment can raise concerns for any job that requires knowledge of fast-changing technology, processes, trends, or methodologies. Popular fast-moving industries include SAAS (Software As A Service), IT (Information Technology), Pharmaceuticals, Finance Investing, and Technology (General).Employer Concern 3 Laziness Lack of MotivationThis is a concern for both short and long-term unemployment. If you have a history of leaving jobs voluntarily, especially without finding another job first, employers will look at this as a lack of motivation. Whil e writing your resume and cover letter, and while preparing for an interview, try to craft an image that shows employers that they have no reason to be concerned.Although you have some employment gaps, you need to prove that your skills are up-to-date, that you are in touch with your industry, and most importantly, that you would be able to ramp up quickly on the job.Practical Resume Solutions To Explain Employment GapsThere are a number of practical solutions for smoothing over employment gaps on your resume. No matter which you use, always be aware of the fine line between being honest and dishonest. At the end of the day, an employer can forgive your humanity, but they are less likely to forgive a flat-out lie.1. Chronological vs Functional Resume FormatsIf you have multiple employment gaps, for example if you have taken time off between multiple jobs, it might be wise to use a functional resume format. With a functional resume format, your main resume sections are a professional summary, core competencies, and career accomplishments, and then you include a brief chronological list of your employment at the end. Your career accomplishments should be listed in order of relevance, not according to the dates that you achieved them. The functional resume format is perfect for multiple employment gaps, because the attention is drawn to your achievements, not the dates or order of employment.2. Reworking Your Employment DatesLets start off with clarifying that you should never extend your dates of employment to cover employment gaps. You should also never list that you are still at a company when your employment has already ended. However, it is acceptable to use years instead of months in your professional experience section. This generally works best for employment gaps of 1 years or less. For example, you could write your previous work experience (and period of unemployment) in your resume asABC Corporation, Project Manager (2017 2018)XYZ Corporation, Project Manager (2013 2017)Instead of specifying the exact months that you worked and did not workABC Corporation, Project Manager (December 2017 December 2018)XYZ Corporation, Project Manager (August 2013 January 2017)While this is effective for your resume, once you get brought in for an interview, always be honest if asked for the months of employment. You also need to keep the dates consistent, using either the month and the year or just the year, for the rest of your work experiences. 3. Write Time Off As A JobNo matter what the reason was for taking time off, you most likely used some valuable skills along the way. A great option for your employment gaps are to use a chronological resume format, like these traditional or true red resume templates, and write your employment gaps in your experience section in the format that you have written your professional positions. Here is a sample resume excerpt explaining an employment gap due to travelSoutheast Asia Australia, World Travel (December 2017 October 2018)After completing an intensive school program, took 10 months off to expand my mindset and to gain a broader understanding of the worlds landscapes, economy, and cultures. During my travel, the following skills were sharpenedTime Management Arranged and executed complex travel itineraries, crafted daily and weekly to-do lists, created smart goals, enkoranversd key adventures were accomplished within a limited timeframeNegotiating Completed strenuous daily negotiations with vendors in Southeast Asia, handled high-preskoranvers last minute schedule changes and cancellationsCross-Cultural Interactions Dealt with extreme cultural differences, gained an understanding of different mindsets and lifestylesLanguages Learned and practiced key words in multiple languages 4. Lump Positions TogetherIf you are a freelancer, or work a number of short-term contracts, it is a good idea to lump your positions together under one work experience. Dont worry if you had some t ime in between projects. You can list the experience together, including your job title, clients, and project descriptions. Here is a resume sample of how to list an employment gap for freelance work or self-employmentGraphic Designer (January 2000 Present)Clients ABC Corporation, XYZ Unlimited, ABC RestaurantAs a Graphic Designer, completed complex design projects for a variety of clients. Each project lasted between 1 month to 6 months. Key projects includeDesigning digital collateral for a holiday social media campaign, including custom illustrations using Adobe IllustratorCrafting print collateral, including flyers, stickers, and banners, bringing the design from conceptualization through print managementCreated print and digital collateral for a start-up company, including the creation of brand and style guidelines5. Indicate Contract or FTEFor many professions, like information technology and business consulting, jumping from contract to contract is the norm. This also means that you will inevitably have time in between each contract as you identify and negotiate your next engagement. To make sure this is obvious to hiring managers, list contract or FTE (Full-Time Employee) next to each job title.6. Add School, Professional Development, and CertificationsIf you took time off to pursue a degree, additional training, or certification, list it as you would a job under your professional experience section. See alsoHow to List Skills on a Resume (Real Skill Examples)This means you would include the institution, the degree or sessions that you attended, and the top skills learned. Here is an example of how to list unemployment while continuing your education in your resumeABC University, Bachelors Student (August 2014 May 2018)As a senior-level professional who previously left school early to support a family, it was always important to return to school and complete my bachelors degree. After a successful 10 years in the insurance industry, I decided it was time, so I enrolled in the bachelors program at ABC University where I studied accounting. Relevant coursework includedManagerial Accounting Financial data analysis, interpretation and reporting, profit loss statements, accounting for decision makingAuditing Financial document review processes, compliance, external regulations and lawsAccounting Information Systems Tools, technology, and procedures used to monitor accounting tasks and processesGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles The widely-accepted framework used to guide accounting practices and procedures7. Create an Official Business for Your Side Work, Freelancing Gigs, or Solo ProjectIf you took some time off to start your own business, to do some freelancing, or to pursue a solo project, make sure it sounds official. Avoid simply writing freelancer or entrepreneur. Instead, create a business name for your venture and list all of your experience under that company in your professional experience section. When creating a c ompany name, avoid using your first or last name, like John Doe Consulting or John Doe Computer Repair. Using your name makes the position come across as less official and usually evokes the image of you doing a few odd jobs out of your living room. Instead, create an official-sounding company name. You dont have to worry about filing for an actual LLC (unless you want to), but it is smart to create a company LinkedIn page, website, portfolio, and official schmelzglas signature. Any collateral you can create that makes your work seem more credible, the better.8. Explain Your LayoffsUnfortunately, there comes a time in most of our lives when we have been laid off from a job. This is particularly difficult for more senior-level professionals who typically have a harder time finding a new job, either because they are at a very high pay grade or because there are too many young graduates eager to come in and learn the job for half the rate. Employers will empathize with this, as they ha ve probably been there before, so dont be afraid to include that you were laid off under your work experience. Its even better if you can provide a brief description about a reorganization or a massive layoff. You can list an employment gap due to layoffs like this in your resumeABC Corporation, Program Director Civil Affairs (February 2000 December 2017)Laid off during a department-wide downsizing of 20 peopleUsing Cover Letters To Explain Gaps in EmploymentYour resume is a good place to start, but a cover letter has much more real estate for you to explain your gaps in employment. While employment gaps should definitely be mentioned, avoid your explanation taking over your entire cover letter, instead of focusing on your selling points and positive attributes.When explaining your employment gaps, be honest, direct, and professional. If you took time off to raise your children, say it, but make sure to include what skills you practiced while doing so. Put a positive spin on your employment gaps by explaining why your experience makes you an even stronger candidate than you were before. For example, if you were burnt out from a hectic career, make sure you explain how your time off revitalized your mind and made you more eager than ever to give your career 150%. You should also think back to earlier in this article when we discussed the reasons why employers care about career gaps. Your cover letter is the perfect place to convince a hiring manager that your skills are still sharp, that you are up-to-date with your industry trends, and that you are anything but unmotivated and lazy.Explaining Unemployment In A Job InterviewToo many people come into an interview fumbling to explain their time off. If you have a career gap on your resume, anticipate that it will get brought up in an interview, and make sure you have a short, concise, and honest explanation to give. In addition to explaining your time away, always back it up with why you are a stronger candidat e now. Emphasize the things you have learned, how you kept your skills sharp, and why you are still the perfect fit for their role.Another great reason for explaining extended time in between jobs is because you strongly believe in being selective about your roles. It makes you look way better to say I am looking for a career and a company to call home, so I am not willing to quickly accept the first job that comes my way rather than I have applied to every company in town but no one will hire me.Make Sure Your Personal Brand Is ConsistentMost employers will look at your LinkedIn profile, job references, and personal website or portfolio (if applicable) while considering you for a job, so after crafting your resume, make sure all of your other branding materials match.If you choose to only include the years under the experience section on your resume, make sure your LinkedIn profile follows the same format. When building your resume, especially after taking some time off, this resum e builder is the perfect place to begin. The van Deco and Three Blocks templates are ideal for using a functional versus chronological layout. While using the resume builder, you can easily use years, instead of months, for your employment sections. You can also use the work experience sections to list out the skills you learned during your time off, just like you would for your professional experience. The great thing about the resume builder is that you can save your progress and come back to finish it later once you have your thoughts together. And best of all, unlike other resume builders, its completely free

The 5-Minute Rule for What Is a Cv Document

The 5-Minute Rule for What Is a Cv Document Your CV may include everything which youve done thus far. Utilize your CV to keep an eye on your accomplishments and publications so that its always up-to-date. If you need assistance determining how to compose a CV, it can be beneficial to seek advice from a template. So, you might want to think about maintaining a distinct CV which you use specifically for submitting with applications.Its a fact that all CVs adhere to a specific standard and guidelines. You might also find the Sample CVs. What Is So Fascinating About What Is a Cv Document? An excellent place to find CV examples is to visit your favourite universitys web page and discover the faculty page for your department. You always need to tailor your resume to coincide with the data in the work description. Make certain you have replaced each of the information from the template with your own, personalized details. Use a template to have a feeling of what information to inc lude, and the way to format your CV. What Is a Cv Document for Dummies Double-click the template that you want to work from. The template can be found in PSD format. This template was intended for individual use only. It is easy to change colors, layout and fonts to suit your needs. It does enable you to speak just a little bit about your own passions, but this is simply a very little komponente of a CV. CV has to be apt and so much about yourself that you want to skip things which do not involve the company that you are going in to, or about yourself. Needless to say, a CV is for anyone seeking to apply for employment or admission to a specific position. What Is a Cv Document and What Is a Cv Document - The Perfect Combination Open sans will get the job done nicely as an alternate font choice. In a couple of clicks, you might have a ready-made resume template along with all the tabs and indents in the most suitable location. A number of the templates are free while others cost a couple of dollars. In different parts of the Earth, the expression CV keeps its American meaning. And this write-up will inform you everything that you need to understand about both documents. You also receive a completely free job interview tracker for a bonus. If you a trying to find a job for a lecturer, then you are in need of a CV to reveal your qualifications. You should ensure it contains all the very important information which is relevant that may lead you to have work. Lets start with a fast overview of resumes, because they are mora familiar to the majority of American writers than CVs. It is what the majority of employers wish to see. Employers utilize the CV to find out if they wish to interview you, therefore its important to get it right. An employer would always be expected to fix minor routine troubles without an assistance, so search for examples that truly stick out. For instance, an Indian employer might ask you for a CV or a resume. In a CV, for instance, if youre asking for work in education, you may want to set your teaching experience at the very top of your CV. CVs are often tailored to modify the emphasis of the information according to the specific position for which the work seeker is applying. In some nations, a CV is typically the very first item a possible employer encounters about the job seeker and is typically utilized to screen applicants, often followed by means of an interview. Settle on which sections you have to put in your CV (depending on the job that youre applying for), and which ones you may remove.

The New Professional Development Who You Are, Not Where You#8217;re Going

The New Professional Development Who You Are, Not Where You8217re Going No matter the source, most places you turn to for career advice point you in the same direction for achieving career success set realistic short- and long-term goals make an actionable plan to reach them and continually work to develop your skill set and improve areas of weakness. And while this advice is solid and forward thinking, a new font of approach may reveal a lack of comprehensiveness in this classic scheme. For some, career advancement has become more about figuring out who you are right now and acting to create the best outcome for the moment instead of placing your goals in the future. The central tenet of this new development philosophy is self-awareness rather than rote career planning. That is, its about who you want to be rather than what you need to do to reach your career goals. The traditional philosophy tel ls us that as long as we follow the rules, gain skills, and meet expectations, that we will progress in our careers and become successful. But the new philosophy, while recognizing the importance of goals, also says that living in the future can keep us from feeling validated in the now and developing a sense of negativity towards ourselves and our careers.Instead, the self-awareness approach has us determining our prime values and using them as the foundation and guide for everything we decide. The idea is that, if you make decisions focused on the moment, and base them in your preferred virtues, you will leid only more clearly see your progress over time but also feel more satisfaction in the journey. Since you are already on your path, you arent stuck feeling lost and discouraged trying to find it.The hardest part of such an approach is first determining what those values are that you want to use to propel you forward. Asking yourself, What matters to me most? is never straightfo rward and requires substantial time and trial-and-error. But in the end, what you want your life to stand for and the values you want reflected in all of your decisions become clearer.But even after youve identified those values, the process of integrating them into your day-to-day life is gradual and ongoing. The art of the new career-development philosophy is in learning to remember your values in the moment instead of after the fact. Once you become self-aware enough to realize when you are acting against your values, the process of remembering becomes easier over time.The self-awareness approach is all about over-throwing traditional advice. However, it still relies on the immortal truth that no one is going to do your work for you. You have to be your own source of motivation and put forth the time and effort to see your professional development through. You have to make the time you need in order to pursue those things most important to you. And once you get started, making pr ogress becomes addictive and serves as its own source for motivation.

Key Ways for Boomers to Land a Flexible Job That Fits Your Life

Key Ways for Boomers to Land a Flexible Job That Fits Your LifeKey Ways for Boomers to Land a Flexible Job That Fits Your Life4Flexible work is attractive to people for a number of different reasons, whether its having a flexible schedule, working from home, or working part-time instead of full-time. But those reasons may vary depending on your generation, according to a recent survey from of over 3,000 people interested in flexible work.When comparing respondents who identified as baby boomers or the silent generation versus those who said they were millennials, there were some notable points of differentiation.Different Reasons Generations Value Flexible WorkWhen asked why they value work flexibility, boomers and silent generation respondents were much mora likely than millennials to identify as caregivers for another loved one, to have chronic physical issues or illnesses, and to live in a rural area.On the other hand, millennials were mora likely to identify as introverts, trave lers or digital nomads, and students. They were also twice as likely to cite mental illness as one reason they value flexible work options.When it comes to why they work, both groups said paying for basic necessities was the main reason, but secondary reasons also differed boomers and the silent generation said they work because they enjoy working, while millennials said paying for travel was their second most important reason for working.Where the Generations Intersect on Work FlexibilityDespite these differences, each generation is clearly most interested in flexible work options, such as working from home and having a flexible schedule.mora than 60% in both groups said theyd be more productive workers if they worked remotely. Both groups are most interested in working from home 100% of the time, and both groups are about equally interested in freelancing.Less than 10% of each group said they would choose the office as their preferred place to get important work done. The vast maj ority would rather work from home, a coffee shop, the library, or another place outside the office. And both groups said a critical factor for accepting a job is to find the work meaningful.Living Your Values with Flexible WorkDepending on your situation and lifestyle needs, a flexible job may be just the ticket. But to be successful in a flexible job search and land a flexible job,youll need to be smart in your approach. Heres how to find a flexible job that fits your lifestyle1. Focus on your qualifications rather than your needs.Job seekers, especially those with difficult circumstances at home that necessitate a more flexible job, are often too quick to explain to employers why they need flexibility at work. Emotional and personal reasons for needing flexibility arent ideal to share with a potential employer.Stick to more professional topics of conversation, such as your experience, training, skills, and aptitude for working well in a flexible environment. If an employer asks wh y you want a flexible job, keep your reasons strictly professional. For example, youll be more productive or youll have less stress from commuting and be better able to focus.2. Pinpoint your search on jobs that truly fit your lifestyle.Each type of flexibility has benefits and challenges and you should assess them before deciding which flexible work arrangement might be ideal for you. Heres a quick rundown of the pros and cons of the most common flex typesRemote work Youll ditch the commute and can be more productive, healthier, and happier, but youll work alone much of the day and may be distracted by things at home.Flexible or part-time schedules Your work will better align with your life, but youll also have to work diligently to stay productive and focused if your hours shift regularly. Part-time hours may also bring reduced income.Freelancing Youll have more control over when, where, how, how much, and with whom you work. But youll also be responsible for business administrati on tasks, such as paying employment taxes, getting your own health insurance, and finding work and projects.3. Showcase your best qualifications in applications and when talking to people.If you have previous experience working remotely or flexibly, it should be clearly denoted on your resume and in your cover letter. Skills like being able to work independently, written and verbal communication, comfort with technology, and focus should also be leveraged in application materials.When youre talking to friends, family, and networking contacts about your job search, dont just ask what they do for a living- ask them how they do it. Youll likely find that more people work flexibly than you knew, and you can ask them how they landed their own flexible jobs and what tips they have for you.4. Know where to look for flexible and remote jobs.Certain companies and jobs are more likely to offer flexibility than others. Some of the most common remote and flexible jobs areAccountantProgram Manag erTeacher/FacultyWriterConsultantEngineerProject ManagerBusiness Development ManagerAccount Manager/Account ExecutiveTutorDeveloperCustomer Service RepresentativeSales RepresentativeAnalystEditorIn researching 50,000 companies with flexible jobs, the following companies have offered the mostKelly ServicesUnitedHealth GroupATTReal StaffingAetnaRobert Half InternationalHiltonAjilonSAPAccounting PrincipalsKforceCyberCodersKaplanPearsonAtrium HealthLeidosAnthem, Inc.DellTEKsystemsAFIRMWhile different generations may have different reasons for seeking and valuing flexible work, one thing is clear all generations benefit from flexible work arrangements. And with current employment trends favoring job seekers, now is a great time to be seeking jobs that offer work flexibility.Browse Open Flexible Jobs

Personal Injury Paralegal Skills and Abilities

Personal Injury Paralegal Skills and AbilitiesPersonal Injury Paralegal Skills and AbilitiesPersonal injury paralegals assist personal injury lawyers in all aspects of personal injury litigation from case inception through appeal. Jamie Collins, a paralegal for Yosha Cook Shartzer Tisch in Indianapolis, Indiana, and founder of The Paralegal Societyrelates the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed as a personal injury paralegal. Below is information on the role of paralegals in the area of personal injury law including daily responsibilities, challenges, and tips. Client tafelgeschirr A paralegal working on personal injury/wrongful death cases must know how to interview and screen prospective clients. The paralegal must review a file to determine what the clients case involves and to determine its current status. Medical Analysis Personal injury paralegals must understand the medical aspects of a case to ascertain which medical records and bills to acquire and to determin e if future cost projections or experts are required. The paralegal must be familiar with medical terminology and know how to prepare medical chronologies, medical expense itemizations, deposition summaries, and demand packages. A paralegal will address prescription medications and identify which ones may be related to a clients claim. This means understanding the typical nerve root distribution pattern for injuries involving radicular symptoms (pain that radiates from the spine into a persons extremities), becoming familiar with the human anatomy, and gaining knowledge of various types of injuries (e.g., if they pose permanent implications or may necessitate future surgery or lifelong expenses). Drafting Skills Drafting skills should be part of a personal injury paralegals capabilities. A paralegal should be able to draft discovery responses and assert all necessary objections to ensure that they are nearly perfect prior to the attorneys review. The paralegal must also prepare witness and exhibit lists, draft motions, final instructions, verdict forms, and be ready to tackle writing projects. Trial Preparation Personal injury paralegals are well-versed in the trial realm. Important tasks include witness preparation (helping to prepare the clients for trial) and preparing voir dire outlines, opening and closing statements, and witness outlines. A paralegal often determines the exhibits to be used and prepares them for viewing. Trial Personal injury paralegals play an important role at trial. At trial, the personal injury paralegal may perform the following functions Assist the attorney with the entire voir dire process (e.g., taking notes, striking, and selection of jurors)Pull and pass exhibits to the attorney as neededAct as a liaison to the client throughout trialEnsure the attorney does not inadvertently waive an objection during trial by allowing certain evidence to be read into the recordCommunicate with the bailiff or court reporter if issue s arise or information needs to be sharedBring witnesses into the courtroom when it is their turn to testifyRework exhibit binders if an exhibit is added or needs to be removed prior to presenting it to the jury (this is an event which often transpires just outside the courtroom when a belastung minute issue arises with an exhibit) Help the attorney to elicit key pieces of testimony from each witness based upon personal knowledge of the caseAssist with all aspects of trial strategy and act as a second set of eyes and ears (and another legal mind) in the courtroom It is also helpful to know the trial rules in the relevant geographic area, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence for trial purposes. Trials are very exciting. As with any area of litigation, a personal injury paralegal must also have the following characteristics An excellent multi-taskerOrganized and efficientA proficient writerCapable of prioritizing and reprioritizing tasksWilling to le arn new material regularlyDetail-orientedAble to work at a fast paceAccurate and consistentWilling to assume full ownership of all assigned workWell-spoken and personablePoised and professionalA positive attitude

How to Deal with Job Search FOMO

How to Deal with Job Search FOMO How to Deal with Job Search FOMO New year, new you- new job . At least, that may be the case for coworkers and friends who are job hunting and exploring new career options as we tip-toe into 2019. “When the start of a new year rolls around, many people see their friends, family, and coworkers embrace the saying, ‘new year, new me,’ and make big changes in their lives, from personal lifestyle adjustments to career transformations ,” says Michael Steinitz, executive director of staffing firm Accountemps . But if you’re not on the new-year-new-job bandwagon, you might feel a sense of FOMO- fear of missing out- as you watch others take on new jobs and challenges. “The feeling of FOMO is totally normally and is the same whether your neighbor buys a new car or a sibling [gets a new job],” says Madelyn Mackie , certified career management coach and trainer. “You might put yourself in their places and think, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if I had more money, a flexible schedule , a shorter commute, a nicer boss? It’s just human nature.” If you’re feeling job-search FOMO, don’t despair: Here are four things you can do instead. “First and foremost, do not let FOMO, jealousy, or bitterness ruin a friendship,” Mackie says.  Instead, “support your friends and co-workers in their quest by asking how you can help,” she suggests. For example, you might be able to introduce them to peers in your network- or help them prepare for their interview. It won’t hurt to brush up on your skills either! FOMO can be overwhelming. But “don’t make any changes based on what others are doing,” warns Steinitz, who adds that, “everyone has different reasons for needing [or wanting] a change in employment, and their situation is different from your own.” Steinitz suggests if you suddenly feel an urge to change jobs or careers, that you take a moment to ask yourself why. “Is it for career growth ? To reduce your commute time? Earn greater compensation?” he says. “Then, consider whether these things can be addressed at your current company.” As you’re watching others apply for new jobs and make changes, “ask them what they have learned during the process and what they wish they had put in place sooner,” Mackie says. “Maybe they wished they had used LinkedIn to build a strong network, or taken advantage of professional development opportunities from their employer, or kept their resume up to date.” Once you have their answers, you can use them to enhance your job- or a job search. If you have concluded it’s time for a new challenge, Steinitz suggests speaking to your boss before you jump ship. “See if there’s anything that can be done to improve your current situation, like taking on stretch assignments or enrolling in courses to further your skills and experience,” he says. You may find you don’t need to leave your company after all.

Why More Finance Professionals are Starting Their Own Businesses

Why More Finance Professionals are Starting Their Own Businesses Why More Finance Professionals are Starting Their Own Businesses By FranchiseHelp.com It’s hard to escape the high volume of human interest stories profiling people who left the banking industry to start their own business. Why are so many financial services professionals abandoning the field to venture out on their own? Often, they cite reasons that include: 1. The Economy (Of Course) Let’s face it: Working in the financial sector isn’t what it used to be. Huge bonuses are harder to come by, and job security isn’t so secure anymore. Starting your own business means that when a sale is made, the profits are yours. It’s your risk, so you reap the reward when you take advantage of great franchise opportunities or an idea for a new product or service. 2. To Find Work-Life Balance Yes, starting your own business is time-consuming; but by working from home or enlisting family to help out at your new establishment, there is still more opportunity for togetherness. As “the boss,” you can bring kids to work when necessary or have an employee hold down the fort when you need to attend a school event, referee a soccer game or play chauffeur. Owning your own business can often be a win-win for many family-focused professionals.   3. To Choose their Own Colleagues Often, financial services firms are staffed by confident people with strong personalities. That’s great for business, but not necessarily an advantage for forming pleasant work relationships. For finance professionals accustomed to butting heads with colleagues, starting a business is a great opportunity to choose one’s own co-workers. Except in this case, co-workers are employees â€" and they can perform the tasks you prefer not to.   4. To Try Something New For those with an investment background, there can be something exhilarating about taking a risk on a new venture. If you’ve helped others determine how to invest their money, you understand what makes a wise business decision and what doesn’t. In effect, many finance professionals are uniquely qualified to start their own business, whether it’s an independently owned establishment or one of the countless franchise opportunities with proven, established business models. 5. To Start Over For bankers, investors and others who have taken big hits over the past few years, starting a new business is appealing for a singular reason: the opportunity to start fresh. Many are launching their own boutique firms, while others are heading in the opposite direction to pursue an entirely different industry: retail, fast food, fitness. Any of these can be highly profitable, particularly when backed by the talents of an experienced finance professional. FranchiseHelp.com Since 1996,  FranchiseHelp.com  has been the leading resource for information on franchise opportunities and has helped thousands of people go into business for themselves.  The company was recently named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the most useful sites for entrepreneurs. Follow FranchiseHelp on Twitter @FranchiseHelp and visit the blog at franchisehelp.com/blog

Bad habits 8 ways to end them and be more productive

Bad habits 8 ways to end them and be more productive Bad habits 8 ways to end them and be more productive Bad habits; we all got’em. You  know what they are. You  know you  should stop. But  . . . it’s hard. In fact, sometimes you feel downright powerless. And you’re not crazy…Research  from Duke University shows 40% of what you do every day isn’t a decision - it’s a habit.From Charles Duhigg’s excellent book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business:One paper published by a Duke University researcher in 2006 found that more than 40 percent of the actions people performed each day weren’t actual decisions, but habits.Yeah, you spend almost half the day on autopilot. And changing bad habits isn’t just “kinda nice.” If you want to be a success, studies show habits really do matter.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!People who have career momentum are 53% more likely to have good habits.Via  The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People:Compar ing middle management employees, researchers have found that those whose careers continue to have momentum are 53 percent more likely to engage in healthy life habits than those whose careers are stalled. â€" Roberts and Friend 1998If we’re on autopilot for half the day, we want those routines  to be good ones. So what really works for ditching bad habits? And isn’t horribly difficult?  Let’s  get to it. . .1. Change a  bad habit. SingularAt one time we have all felt as if  our lives are a constellation of bad habits. You get home from work, you’re exhausted and you go from one “I should not be doing this” to the next.It’s like you need to change everything. And you need to do it tomorrow… No. Bad. Wrong. Does not compute.Do less. Just focus on fixing  one thing at a time. When I spoke to  Power of Habit  author Charles Duhigg, he said that’s  the key to lasting change. Here’s Charles:If you try to transform everything at once, it tends to be very, very destabili zing. In general, what people should do, is they should think of change as a project. It’s a project that takes a while…  Now, it might feel frustrating to say, “If you have ten habits you want to change, that means it’s going to take eight months or nine months.” The truth of the matter is if this is a behavior that’s really important, changing it will have this huge impact on your life. It’s worth spending a month to change one behavior permanently. You’re going to be reaping the benefits of that for the next decade.You don’t need to overhaul your life. Just kill  one bad habit. Give it a month and then move on to the next.(To learn the four rituals neuroscience says will make you happy, click here.)Okay, you’re focused on one thing. What’s a painless way to start?2. Don’t stop. Just countWhatever it is you shouldn’t be doing, you don’t have to stop yet. (Doesn’t that sound nice?)  Don’t try to reduce the habit, reduce the variability in the habit.I n other words, don’t even try to quit smoking; try to smoke the exact same number of cigarettes each day. Or only check Facebook your usual 90 times an hour.This tiny  effort toward self-control can lead to a decrease in bad habits  over time, unconsciously.Via The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It:Behavioral economist Howard Rachlin proposes an interesting trick for overcoming the problem of always starting a change tomorrow. When you want to change a behavior, aim to reduce the variability in your behavior, not the behavior itself. He has shown that smokers asked to try to smoke the same number of cigarettes every day gradually decrease their overall smoking- even when they are explicitly told not to try to smoke less.Just paying attention to those numbers can make a big difference. Merely looking at the calorie counts on food labels before eating was more effective for weight loss than exercise:Label users who did not exercise displayed a slightly greater likelihood of weight loss than those who exercised but did not read food labels. Additionally, those who only read labels were more likely to improve their chances of weight loss by adding exercise to their routines rather than abandoning label usage in favor of exercise.You don’t have to deny yourself at first. Just notice the numbers and continue to behave badly - but consistently.(To learn what Harvard research says will make you happier and more successful, click here.)That’s not hard. You don’t have to change. How else can you beat bad habits without changing yourself at all?3. Don’t change you. Change your worldEvery day I download Instagram on my iPhone and every day I delete Instagram off my iPhone. Does it sound like I have a problem? Nope. It’s a great way to make sure I only check it once a day.The app isn’t there tempting me to check it 600 times. And it’s a pain to keep downloading it. And this is a big secret to beating bad habits.Don’t change yourself. Change your context. We engage in habits because of “triggers” in our environment. Remove the triggers or make them more difficult to reach and you’re less likely to engage in the behavior.When I spoke to behavioral economist Dan Ariely he said context affects your behavior much, much more than you think.  Here’s Dan:One of the big lessons from social science in the last 40 years is that environment matters. If you go to a buffet and the buffet is organized in one way, you will eat one thing. If it’s organized in a different way, you’ll eat different things. We think that we make decisions on our own but the environment influences us  to a great degree. Because of that we need to think about how to  change our  environment.So get the tempting stuff away from you. Bestselling author Shawn Achor recommends “the 20 second rule.” Make bad habits 20 seconds harder to begin and you’re far less likely to engage in them.  Here†™s Shawn:Watching too much television? Merely take out the batteries of the remote control creating  a 20 second delay and it dramatically decreases the amount of television people will watch.You don’t need to change yourself just yet. Change the things around you.(To learn an FBI behavior expert’s secrets for getting people to like you, click here.)Pretty simple, right? Good. And let’s keep it that way. Do you need to put pressure on yourself and be a demanding taskmaster to eliminate bad habits? Nope. Neuroscience says do the exact opposite…4. Chill, dudeWhat makes you more likely to engage in bad habits? Stress.UCLA neuroscientist Alex Korb  says staying relaxed helps your brain make the right choices.  Here’s Alex:I have a friend who always says, “Stress takes the prefrontal cortex offline.” Stress changes the dynamics of that conversation. It weakens the prefrontal cortex. That part of your brain doesn’t have infinite resources. It can’t be eternally vigilant and so while it’s not paying attention, your striatum is  like, “Let’s go eat a cookie. Let’s go drink a beer.”  Anything that you can do to reduce stress can help strengthen the prefrontal cortex’s control over your habits.Don’t pressure yourself. Stay calm and you’ll behave better.(To learn how to stop being lazy and get more done, click here.)Alright, the tips  so far have been plenty easy. Time for some black belt methods. And we also need to correct some myths. How do you really eliminate those bad habits? It’s easy: Don’t.5. Don’t eliminate bad habits. Replace them.Ironically, studies show saying, “I’ll never do that again” makes you even more likely to do that again.Charles Duhigg wrote the book on habits. And he says the research is clear: you can’t eliminate bad habits but you can replace them.  Want to stop shoving donuts in your mouth?When you feel the urge, put some sugarless gum in your piehole. The “trigger” stays the same and you stil l get a nice reward but you’re replacing the bad behavior with a good one.From  The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business:We know that a habit cannot be eradicated- it must, instead, be replaced. And we know that habits are most malleable when the Golden Rule of habit change is applied: If we keep the same cue and the same reward, a new routine can be inserted.Notice what triggers your bad behavior and then replace your usual response with a new one that gives you a different (but still pleasurable) reward.(To learn a Georgetown professor’s secrets for managing your time like an expert, click here.)Am I making this all sound too easy? Don’t worry - I know you’re gonna screw up. We all do. In fact, I bet you know when you’re most likely to screw up.  So here are the two words that can make sure you don’t blow it…6. “If” and “then”Plans are good. And with a very simple one you can resist temptation. When do you always perform that bad habit? For instance, “Whenever I sit on the couch I surf the internet endlessly.”Okay, now use two words to make a teensy weensy little plan:If I sit on the couch, then I will pick up a book.  From  Nine Things Successful People Do Differently:It’s called if-then planning, and it is a really powerful way to help you achieve any goal. Well over a hundred studies, on everything from diet and exercise to negotiation and time management, have shown that deciding in advance when and where you will take specific actions to reach your goal (e.g., “If it is 4 p.m., then I will return any phone calls I should return today”) can double or triple your chances for success.Sound too simple to be true? Wrong.From  Nine Things Successful People Do Differently:The results were dramatic: weeks later, 91 percent of if-then planners were still exercising regularly, compared to only 39 percent of nonplanners! Similar results have been shown for other health-promoting behaviors, like remembering to do monthly breast self-exams (100 percent of planners, 53 percent of nonplanners), and getting cervical cancer screenings (92 percent of planners, 60 percent of nonplanners).Two words. Big changes.(To learn  what Yale research says is the lazy way to an awesome life, click here.)But what happens if you still blow it? Don’t worry, buddy. I got you covered . . .7. Forgive yourselfYou’re going to screw up. And that’s okay.  In Richard Wiseman’s study of people who achieved their goals he realized we should:Expect to revert to your old habits from time to time. Treat any failure as a temporary set-back rather than a reason to give up altogether.So you say you’re not going to eat cookies. Then you accidentally eat a cookie. That’s not when the diet is blown.The diet is blown when you eat the one cookie and say, “I give up” - and then devour the rest of the bag.What does science say we should do  when we lose self-control or procrastinate?  Forgive yourself and move on.Vi a  The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It:Study after study shows that self-criticism is consistently associated with less motivation and worse self-control. It is also one of the single biggest predictors of depression, which drains both “I will” power and “I want” power. In contrast, self-compassion- being supportive and kind to yourself, especially in the face of stress and failure- is associated with more motivation and better self-control.In trying to do anything to better your life, it’s okay to stumble. It takes time. You learn.(To learn how to be more compassionate with yourself, click here.)Okay, we’ve covered a lot. Let’s round it up and learn the eighth tip - which is the easiest and most fun of them all…Sum upHere’s how to get rid of those awful bad habits: One at a time.  Beat one bad habit per month and in a year you’ll be awesome. Don’t stop. Just count. Don’t eliminate the bad behavior just yet. First, be consistent in your awfulness. Don’t change you. Change your world. 20 second rule. Make it harder to engage in bad habits. Chill, dude. Stress makes the bad stuff tempting. Relax and you’ll behave better. Don’t eliminate. Replace. You can’t kill bad habits but you can swap them out for new ones. “If” and “Then.” A simple plan for how you’ll beat temptation helps you beat temptation. Forgive yourself. Beating yourself up makes you behave worse.  Self-compassion keeps you going. And what’s the final tip?Peer pressure is a good thing - when you use it strategically.  Mom wanted you to hang out with the smart kids in school because they  provided good examples. Mom was right.It’s simple, really. Hang out with people who you want to be. Procrastinate a lot? Spend more time with uber-productive friends. Want to get in shape? Hang around those healthy-eating gym addicts.When I spoke to Carlin Flora, author of  Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are, she said:Research shows over time, you develop the eating habits, health habits and even career aspirations of those around you. If you’re in a group of people who have really high goals for themselves you’ll take on that same sense of seriousness.  And conversely, if you’re in a group of friends who are not that ambitious, then you too will lower your standards.Okay, enough talk. Right now, email or text one of those friends you want to be and set a time to hang out.Friends don’t j ust make us happy. They can also make us better people.Join over 255,000 readers.  Get a free weekly update via email  here.This article originally appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

2012 Healthcare Hiring Outlook

2012 Healthcare Hiring Outlook 2012 Healthcare Hiring Outlook 2012 Healthcare Hiring Outlook Whats more complicated than a multi-organ transplant? 2012 healthcare recruitment, the labor market and the requirements that healthcare hiring will place on healthcare providers in nearly every care setting. Thats the consensus of executives, recruiters and researchers as the healthcare industry weathers waves of change. The forces at work will range from healthcare reform, to HITECH hiring,to variations in the supply of newly minted clinicians, to lingering effects of the great recession and a demographic revolution to beat all. We spoke to a variety of stakeholders to come up with a short list of the most important factors in the healthcare hiring environment for 2012. Extra credit goes to those recruiters who can predict the effects of a presidential election and an historic Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Healthcare reform will boost demand for certain occupations Despite the uncertainties created by legal challenges to the ACA, healthcare reform will continue to substantially reshape the healthcare labor market and create jobs. Doctors, nurses,therapy specialists, other clinicians and allied health workers will change jobs, as hospitals stake out new territory, while providers in other care settings staff up to compete for patients. Case manager is one occupation that will be in increased demand as providers align themselves with the quality-of-care carrots and sticks of ACA. Though there are a lot of nurses and social workers, there are not enough well-trained case managers, says Eric Rackow, M.D., CEO of SeniorBridge, a provider home of healthcare services in New York City. Uncertainty over fate of PPACA will delay some healthcare hiring Still, a June 2012 Supreme Court decision looms on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and that cloudy prospect will continue to put the chill on some hiring. Managers may be holding up positions until healthcare reform becomes clearer, says John Culbertson, director of research at the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. Renewed demand, re-retirements will take up slack from recession A recession powerful enough to create slack in demand for nurses and other shortage-prone clinical professions came as a total surprise to most in the industry. And as that recession knocked the stuffing out of millions of 401(k)s, many healthcare professionals, especially RNs, either delayed the end of their careers or rescinded recent retirements to shore up their personal finances. Many of these clinicians are finally deciding to retire or re-retire. This drain on supply will make nurse recruitmentfor experienced healthcare professionals more challenging in 2012. Scarcity of primary care physicians will jump Primary care physicians, even as their work-life balance improves in large group practices, are harder and harder to come by. Fewer young MDs are willing to take on the long hours, on-call duty and relatively modest compensation of the role. General practitioners will continue in huge demand, says Eric Dickerson, senior practice leader of the academic physician practice at recruiter Kaye/Bassman International in Dallas. Fewer and fewer PCPs have been trained over the past decade, so that will continue to be a gaping hole. And nurse practitionersand physician assistants will be highly sought after for their ability to practice everyday medicine at lower cost. Some low-paying jobs will require intensive recruitment You might think that with a stubbornly-high unemployment rate,low-skilled allied health jobs would be easy (and cheap) to fill. Not necessarily. Getting interest in being a caregiver isnt difficult, says Emma Dickison, president of Home Helpers, a franchisor of home care agencies. The challenge is to find the right fit; we hire just 10 to 20 percent of applicants. Adding to the expense of recruiting for these roles are criminal record checks and other background screening. The trouble with relocation: Millions will stay chained to oversized mortgages Given that housing prices are projected to remain weak into 2012, the problem of candidates who cant afford to relocate will persist. We can get candidates to change employers in a local market, but were not seeing nearly the numbers wed like willing to move from one market to another, says Mark Dixon, president of USr Healthcare,a staffing firm in Brentwood, Tennessee. That changed when peoples homes went underwater. Demand and supply: Demographics will have the last word The biggest story line for healthcare hiring in 2012 is the oldest: aging Americans will increase the demand for services while an aging workforce will put further stress on the supply of clinicians. No healthcare profession will feel this strain more than physical therapists. The demand for PTs is increasing as the number of uninsured decreases and the population ages, says Marc Goldstein, senior director of research at the American Physical Therapy Association.

How to work out with your spouse (and not hate eachother forever)

How to work out with your spouse (and not hate eachother forever) How to work out with your spouse (and not hate eachother forever) If you’re hoping to facilitate a  healthy, loving, and lasting relationship, it’s a great idea to  workout  with your spouse! Also, if you’re hoping to ensure that you’re forever trapped in an endless Mobius strip of  resentment, one-upmanship, and inventive new levels of searing joint pain, it’s a great idea to workout with your spouse! Yeah,  exercising  with your wife can really go either way, sorry.Be honest: You’ve seen couples working out together, and your reaction is generally either “Why don’t we do that?” or “Who in the ruddy blue hell has time for this GOOP new-age Pitbull-obsessed-$750-for-Athleta-pants-nonsense?” And both reactions are valid! Couples who work out together share a valid interest that carries the side benefit of helping to keep both parties alive, and Athleta is seriously expensive, guys. It’s black yoga pants, calm down.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisf action, Neuroscience, and more!But if you want to work out with your wife, how do you ensure you remain in that first group, and stay free of both workout-relationship struggles and tank tops that cost $125 because they feel sort of fluffy? Read on! (Erm, read on  separately, as we’re about to drop some serious samurai-level psychological trickery that won’t work if your spouse knows about it. Unless they already read this and  they  are doing it to  you. *makes mind blown motion* Anyway, it’s something to think about when you’re on the treadmill for 45 minutes.)DO: Make It a Joint EffortIf you’re going to do this, do it together. No dropping each other off at the gym and reconnecting in an hour after you’re all blasting quads or crushing jacks or pulverizing obliques or whatever. Work out a way that it’s a couples’ venture. You don’t have to make her watch you on the lat pulldown machine, and you don’t have to watch every minute of her kickboxing workout (althou gh those are awesome), but if you’re in this together, be in it together.DO: Be SupportiveThere are going to be about a dozen exceedingly hot people in your field of vision.  Remind your spouse that he/she is easily the hottest thing in the room, regardless of how long the 5’4” yoga-pants model can do a plank, which will sometimes be like two minutes, those people are like magical ab-crunching elves. Also: keep the blindeDO NOT: Grunt.Unless you are performing a workout that involves Mjolnir, keep the volume down. Unless you are lifting more than 1,400 lbs. from a standing position, shut up. Unless your spouse is deeply turned on by you making the kind noises that would indicate you’re singing a Korn song, shut up. Also, if your spouse is turned on by Korn, find a new spouse.DO NOT: Instagram.Under no circumstances should you: Scroll through Instagram workout models together Scroll through Instagram workout models separately Scroll through Instagram workout models in the other room after she goes to sleep Literally anything involving a peach emoji Honestly the whole thing is just bad news, those people are almost certainly emotionally bankrupt empty vessels whose primary joy comes from anonymous like numbers*, and the more you two focus on your thing the happier you will all be. * Except the Rock and Chris Hemsworth, who are both great.DO NOT: Tell Your Partner to Stop Doing “Vanity Exercises.”DO: Try Out New Classes TogetherChances are pretty good your gym offers a bunch of classes featuring words that sound totally made-up, like “aerial fitness” and “black light yoga.” And they might be terrible ideas born because some 20-year-old intern came across a workout content farm online! But unless you’re training together for a marathon or an Olympic discus competition or to launch a workout-couples Instagram (DON’T), you’re probably there to get a little healthier and spend time together. So, pick one or three of the dumbest-sounding classes, and try them out (If you don’t want to hate one another immediately, avoid any class with “Boot Camp” in the title)Worst-case scenario, you try something new and get a little better at pole dancing. Best-case scenario, you can make merciless fun of those idiots when you’re home later.  See, you’r e bonding already.Unless, that is you want to have a fight at the dumbbell rack. We all have our annoying tendencies. Just turn up the “Sweat Mix” in your AirPods and let them feel better about their show-off zones.DO: Go Running TogetherIn addition to being a quality exercise that will make your heart work better in your 70s, running offers many fringe benefits, like being outside, spending time together, possibly exploring new trails or paths or beaches, pushing each other, and possibly even doing literally nothing other than quietly enjoying each other’s company. It also might hurt your knees and cause you to trip over roots in the forest, but it’s worth a shot.This article originally appeared on Fatherly.You 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

If you feel like you need a break, take one

If you feel like you need a break, take one If you feel like you need a break, take one You recharge your phone when it runs out of juice. You refill your gas tank when you’re running on empty.But sometimes, you forget to do the same for your most precious possession: Your body (and the brain that’s inside of it).Whether you love what you do, are in between jobs, or have a job you hate: You’re working. Living is also a job. A pretty tough one, actually.Just the act of getting up in the morning can be a daunting task. And I’m not even talking about all the responsibilities we have.So why do you make your life even more challenging by not taking a vacation to recharge? I’m not talking about your weekends that are packed with activities, or holidays where you do more work than relax.No, that type of “free time” only costs energy. I’m talking about resting with a very specific reason: To recharge your battery so you can get back to living a productive life.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!  Rest reduces stress and improves productivity.Scientific research shows that a vacation decreases perceived job stress and burnout. Now, that’s a pretty solid benefit of taking a few days off. But there’s more.As you may know, I’m always interested in productivity. In the case of resting or a vacation, my question is:Will I get more things done when I get back?The answer is yes, but there’s one major thing to keep in mind. But let’s back up a bit: What does it mean to get more done? Getting things done has nothing to do with time- if you work more hours, you don’t necessarily get more done.In fact, research shows that working more hours general means less productivity.Why? Well, we often waste time if we have a lot of it. It’s simple: If I say to you, you have a year to write an article. What would you do? Put it off until tomorrow, right?But what if I tell you that you only have 2 hours? You’ll probably get started right aw ay. So in a way, having more days off, and fewer days to work, forces you to be more effective with your time.Research shows that a vacation in itself won’t make you more productive, but when you have more days off, you have a strong desire to get more things done in less time.And that’s a win-win situation for everybody: You, your business, or your job.You take off a few days, recharge, spend time with your family or friends, and when you come back, you’re more productive.Sounds great. But wait, there’s a caveat.When your vacation is stressful, the positive benefits go away. So keep the stress at a minimum on your holiday. Otherwise, you’ve wasted a perfect opportunity to relax and boost your overall productivity.I recently felt I needed a break for several reasons. I had a few injuries that didn’t seem to go away and had less energy. I could have powered through but instead, I decided to go on a vacation with my family. For a week, I did absolutely no work.Here are a f ew tips that might help you to do the same on your next vacation.1. Do What You WantThere are no rules for taking vacations and everybody relaxes in a different way. If you like to plan your holiday, just do it. If you want to go with the flow, then do that.Want to wake up early? Do it. Don’t like waking up early? Sleep in. Even if you go on a vacation with your partner, friends, or family, you don’t have to be together 24/7. You can also sometimes do things that you enjoy.The key is to not have expectations on your vacation. Let go of everything. I also don’t like to post vacation pictures on social media. Otherwise, I’m constantly thinking about taking a cool picture so I can impress others.You’ll probably even do things you wouldn’t do just to take a picture. “I really need to rent a jet ski so I can take a picture with it.” No, you don’t.Who cares? Focus on enjoying the moments you experience. Whatever those moments may be.2. ReadBill Gates is famous for his vo racious reading habit. He is also known for his ‘Think Week’ where does nothing else but read and think.You don’t have to be Bill Gates to think about your life and career. We all have our daily, weekly, and monthly routines. Usually, routines and habits can work very well. However, you can also get stuck inside a loop.That’s why I recommend you step back from your daily life and career. If you do that, two things can happen: When you step away, you miss your daily life and can’t wait to pick up where you left off.Or, the opposite will happen. You don’t want to go back. See that as a sign that you need to make a change. Either way, a break always serves a purpose. It doesn’t only help you to recharge, it will also make you think.That’s why I like to read for hours on my vacation.3. Get BoredOne of my favorite strategies for finding new ideas is to get bored out of my mind. It sounds easier than it is because of distractions.In the past, I would do everything to NOT g et bored: Watch TV, go out, browse Facebook, etc. But did you know that you can use boredom to your advantage?Instead of giving into distractions, just give into the boredom and see it leads your mind to. In fact, one of my favorite artists of all time, Andy Warhol, embraced boredom. You can tell by the boring films he made or the references he made in The Philosophy Of Andy Warhol about getting bored.Whenever I hit a creative wall, I just do nothing. Literally, nothing. Try it sometime. It’s a great strategy; maybe you come up with the next best thing in your industry.It’s never a good time to take a break. “I just need to finish this project.” “My boss will never accept it.” “People will think I’m lazy.” “I don’t have time.” “My family needs me.” Yeah, yeah, I’ve been there too. But what would you rather: Continue to work without resting and burn out? Or take some rest before you’re tired?So before you use all those valid reasons to not take a break, think about what all the people in your life have to do if you’re not here anymore. Yes, you’re important. So take care of yourself. Take a break and come back with more energy.This article originally appeared on Darius Foroux.

Beyond Traditional SMART Goal Setting

Beyond Traditional SMART Goal Setting Beyond Traditional SMART Goal Setting Once upon a time, in a business management world that seems more remote with every passing day, SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based goals) were enough to support business success. No more. Just as the annual performance appraisal, tied to the years accomplishments and the annual raise, is a dinosaur, so are SMART goals as traditionally defined in goal setting exercises. Now, dont misunderstand. Goal setting is critical to both personal and career success. Its a significant factor in business success. Goal setting allows all employees to hop on board the company mission and vision and it provides purpose and direction. Goal setting is the foundation for both personal and business success. Ideas such as setting goals, selecting a theme for your year, committing to New Years Resolutions, and picking one area of your life to work on all year provide direction for how you spend your time. A professional consultant who teaches about the art of achieving your goals and dreams is a deeply committed practitioner of selecting a theme for her year each year. She has had her Year of Imagination, Year of Alignment, Year of Radiance, and Year of Flourishing. She makes her annual plan around her theme. Any practice of this type shines a light on how you make decisions about whats important. When many activities call to you throughout your day, your written goals govern where you should expend your time and energy. They tell you what you need to accomplish first. They are informed by your personal vision statement. Experiment with different possibilities for prioritizing until you find the one that works for you. Here are additional thoughts on successful goal setting. Write Down Your Goals Yes, written goals. Just like a ?meeting didnt exist unless it has minutes, you have not deeply committed to your goals and resolutions unless you have written them down. The very act of writing out your goals is a means to hold yourself accountable for their accomplishment. You may surprise yourself, too. When I was younger, I didnt write out my goals but I made an annual habit of writing a sentence that described what I wanted to accomplish in areas such as income, career, health, and eating. Cleaning out a drawer a couple of years later, I found my cards and had vastly exceeded accomplishing all of my stories. You can, too. Beyond writing down your goals, your annual story, or your resolutions, whichever you prefer, it is time, too, in the business environment existing today, to expand the meaning of SMART goals. And, perhaps, one word per letter is no longer enough to define a useful acronym. Stretch your imagination with me and relook at the words that define successful goals in goal setting. SMART Acronym Newly Defined for Goal Setting ?S means that in addition to specific, dont you find that stretching, systematic, synergistic, significant, and shifting round out the picture?M means measurable, but I also recommend meaningful, memorable, motivating and even, magical.A is an achievable goal but it also needs to stand for action plans, accountability, acumen, and agreed-upon.R means relevant, but it also stands for realistic, reasonable, resonating, results-oriented, rewarding, responsible, reliable, rooted in facts, and remarkable. T means time-based and it also represents timely, tangible, and thoughtful. Fast Change Requires Direction: Goal Setting So, do you need to desert SMART goals in the current work environment? Not at all. But, you definitely need to expand their meaning if the goal-defining acronym, SMART, is to serve you well in the current and upcoming business climate for goal setting. Events in the workplace are moving faster and faster. To stay competitive, you must shift direction, based on customer requirements, sometimes daily. Your goals need the same flexibility. In a performance management system, this is why you review goals, at least, quarterly. Hop on the new SMART goals express-train because, as Alice said to the proverbial Cheshire Cat: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?That depends a good deal on where you want to get to, said the Cat.I dont much care where said Alice.Then it doesnt matter which way you go, said the Cat. In todays competitive business climate, it does matter which way you go. The redefined SMART goals for goal setting will help you get there. It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about? Henry David Thoreau What do you plan to be busy with this year? Set your SMART goals. They will enable you to accomplish your goals and dreams. They will elevate you to levels you may have never dreamed youd reach. Best wishes for a happy profitable journey. More Resources for Goal Setting Identify and Live Your Personal Values for SuccessBuild a Value-Based OrganizationQuotations About Goal Setting

4 Ways to Stop Getting Low Salary Offers

4 Ways to Stop Getting Low Salary Offers 4 Ways to Stop Getting Low Salary Offers If you are running into the constant problem of getting offers that are way below your salary expectations, this post may be for you. Low salary offers are not always the result of companies being cheap or trying to lowball job candidates. Sometimes, it comes down to the very ways you are presenting your arguments for a higher salary. We explain further some ways to stop getting low salary offers. 4. Start making yourself indispensable at your current job This obviously requires having a job. It is a highly proactive move to think about what you are doing at your current job. Are you constantly turning down chances to improve or take on new tasks and responsibilities? People who generally make themselves indispensable at a company are the ones who eventually get paid more. If they are not being paid more they at least have more leverage to seek better pay when they start searching for new work. The more you know how to do and the more important you are to a company, the more you deserve to be paid. In addition, due to recent law changes around the country and depending on where you live, your salary history cannot be used against you during negotiations. 3. Evaluate if you are not communicating well during salary negotiations We all work in a global work environment and being misunderstood during salary negotiations is quite possible due to the varying costs of living around the United States. For example, a person living in New York City making $100,000/year only needs to make $41,000/year to maintain the same style of living if they chose to live in Richmond, Virginia. You can check your own cost of living changes here. More so, you need to make sure you are communicating your expertise in a field, your ambitions in the company, and your capability to do the job. There are times when we get so caught up in the frustrations of a lowball offer that we forget salary negotiations are more than just communicating how much you want to be paid. The company obviously sees something that you do not. 2. Evaluate if you are being realistic about your expectations If you are constantly receiving low salary offers you cannot negotiate yourself out of, it is time to be realistic with what is happening. It may not be the time to modify your behavior. It may be the time to learn new, relevant skills. Start asking yourself some questions like these When is the last time I took a business class on anything? Am I missing certifications or degrees that would make me worth more salary? Am I expecting too much money based on the job title alone? Can this company afford my salary expectations? Staying relevant in your career makes you more valuable. Plus, the reality is job titles are interchangeable and appear in every industry. But some industries pay much less than others. For example, a Project Manager in a nonprofit organization makes an average $48,000/year while the same job title in the banking industry makes an average $78,000/year. 1. Improve your negotiation skills This one sounds so simple, yet it is one of the hardest skills to learn. Knowing what to do in a negotiation is one thing. Finding out how to apply it to your interviews is the real challenge. Here are the 10 skills you need; the basics of “what” to do: Flexibility Patience Resilience under pressure Indifference to outcomes Communication skills Critical thinking Creative thinking Maintaining your “poker face” ie. suppressing emotions or non-verbal cues Awareness of deceptive tactics Vision to predict outcomes of your choices There are so many reasons to get emotional these days. We have social media telling us how to behave like everyone else. We know others must deal with low balling companies, ageism, racism, and gender bias. However, if you come across as easy to manipulate because of your feelings, you may start finding the salary offers to be consistently low. Above all, you may be exhausted with the low offers so much so that you are willing to accept anything that comes in the form of a job opportunity. Accepting what people offer “just because you feel lucky to have a job” is a mindset that will lead you down a career path of low, poorly negotiated salaries.

Dont Ruin Your Job Interview Chances by Making These 10 Mistakes

Don’t Ruin Your Job Interview Chances by Making These 10 Mistakes Don’t Ruin Your Job Interview Chances by Making These 10 Mistakes If you really want the job, don’t ruin your job interview chances by making these mistakes! Here are 10 mistakes that are likely to ruin your job interview chances: 1. You’re inconsistent. During the job interview, you tell the manager that you’re looking to leave because you outgrew your position. But then, when you meet the Big Boss, you say that you’re leaving because you’re interested in the company’s flex. Well, which is it? Remember that all the people you interview with will likely compare notes- and a  potential employer is not going to try to decipher whats fact and whats  fiction.  The discrepancy in your statements could cost you the job. 2. You badmouth your current/former  boss. To say that you and your current boss don’t see eye-to-eye is an understatement of epic proportions. So when you sit down with the hiring manager, you start feeling chummy and comfortable and you let it slip that you loathe your current boss. You call him or her names. You point fingers. You go on and on about how horrible he or she really is. That can be a big torpedo in your chances to get hired. If you’re asked a question about your current boss, try to find something positive to say about him. Otherwise, you risk looking like an unprofessional complainer who enjoys drama. 3. You lie. Lying on your job application  or in the interview can, and likely will,  kill any credibility you have, and ruin your chances of getting hired. You may think your fib is foolproof, but HR managers are trained to look for discrepancies and spot red flags. In this day and age when almost anything can be verified online, it’s better to tell the truth on your job application, because you don’t want to get the reputation among hiring mangers that you’re a liar. 4. You don’t explain why you want the job. During a job interview, you can earn big brownie points by pinpointing all the reasons why you want to work for a company. If you fail to mention these reasons during the job interview, a potential boss might walk away from it thinking that you just want a job- any job- with the first employer who makes an offer. Be sure to express why you want to work for that company, and what excited you most about this role in particular. Let your personality and passion shine through, and show some enthusiasm for this job. 5. You make it all about the flex. You’d rather call in sick than have to commute even one more day to your current job. But even if you’re interviewing with a remote company for a full-time telecommuting job, you can’t make that the major reason why you want the position (even if it is). Mention the great parts of the job and the company- and what you can bring to the role if hired- and avoid talking about the work flexibility aspect of the position, since that can be a turn-off to a potential employer. 6. You show up late. Even if it isn’t your fault, being late for a job interview can be the kiss of death, particularly to a punctual employer who has interviews lined up back-to-back after yours. Although things can and will happen, budget your time generously for those speed bumps that can block you from getting to your interview on time. Prepare your interview outfit the night before, get all of your documents ready for the interview, map out the location ahead of time (if you have to travel for an in-person interview), and make sure that you have child-care coverage in place for the time you’ll be away. 7. You show up unprepared. Hiring managers appreciate when candidates do their homework and  show up prepared- and they have come to expect it. If you come without any questions prepared, or any knowledge of what the company does or what the job involves, you probably wont leave a great impression. 8. You don’t test your tech before the interview. You have a job interview with a fully remote company at 9:30 a.m. So at 9:25 a.m., you turn on your computer, log in to the video conferencing program- and nothing. No connection. The minutes tick by, and you’re now late for your remote job interview. If you have a video interview, it’s a good idea to test your tech the night before to make sure it’s all working as it should, and then again the day of your interview to ensure that your Internet connection is strong and to head off any potential glitches. Of course a tech issue thats out of your control wont necessarily lose you the job, but it certainly wont help! 9. You  dont follow basic rules of etiquette. Having bad manners will very likely put a bad taste in the interviewers mouth. Making one or two small mistakes wont necessarily be a deal-breaker, but if you consistently practice bad etiquette throughout the meeting, the hiring manager will probably think twice about bringing you on. For instance, failing to greet the security guard or receptionist can be a huge mistake! Dont treat anyone like they arent important. Also, chewing gum throughout the interview; forgetting to introduce yourself or say thank you;  or checking your phone during the conversation can kill your chances. 10. You dont follow up with a thank you. You can ace the interview and  still ruin your chances. How? The follow-up! Forgetting to send a thank-you note to those with whom you met can be detrimental. Some hiring managers put more weight on the follow-up than you might think. So, no matter how confident you are when you walk out of the interview, dont ruin everything by forgetting to express your gratitude. Sure, there are many things that can go wrong during a job interview, but there are also a lot of ways to avoid these mistakes. No matter how nervous you might be, play close attention to your behavior and do whatever you can to make the best impression possible!