Monday, December 30, 2019

Prince Harry shares his secret to better wellness and self-care

Prince Harry shares his secret to better wellness and self-carePrince Harry shares his secret to better wellness and self-careEveryone who tuned into last Mays royal wedding or has ever seen a photo of royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle knows that they are goals.Theyre always flawlessly exuberant in a way that we did not previously know mere humans could be, and so, of course, were going to try to replicate their behavior in whatever ways we can to get even an ounce of their aura.Well, today, fans of the duke and duchess are in luck - Harry has shared one of his secrets to wellness, and its not as crazy hard to do as you might thinkAccording to the Daily Mail, when Harry visited customers at Number 7, a discounted supermarket and cafe, he revealed his big self-care routine He meditates every day.The revelation came when everyones favorite ginger met with 69-year-old Kelsang Sonam, one of the customers at Number 7 and a Buddhist monk. Sonam gave the prince a copy of the book , 8 Steps to Happiness.But it looks like Harry is already well on his way to being happy. With a brilliant wife and his first baby expected this spring, what more could he want?Well, other thana few minutes a day to himself so he can meditate.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Writing a Strong Cover Letter With Personality

Writing a Strong Cover Letter With PersonalityWriting a Strong Cover Letter With PersonalityThere are mountains of advice articles on how to write really good deckblatt letters. But if you follow every detail of these articles, at some point, your titelseite letter will look like a typical best titelbild letter for job applications. Writing a strong cover letter with personality is what gets you remembered for that next job. Here is how to give your cover letter personality.The best cover letter may feel like a riskIt may feel like a risk to start writing a strong cover letter with some personality, but in todays world of online job applications, a cover letter personality that is strong has become necessary. The classic way to write really good cover letters never let the hiring manager know the followingWho you areWhat you knowWhy you are valuableHow great you are to work withReally good cover letters show some personality to communicate through the device they are reading. This wa y companies know exactly the type of a person they will be interviewing. To start writing a strong cover letter, you almost have to listen to advice and then make it all your own. Here is how to do it.Use anecdotes and powerful stories about accomplishmentsA great way for hiring managers to get to know you better is by telling passionate stories or anecdotes about past work experiences in which you made great accomplishments.This gives your cover letter personality and offers the hiring manager a sense of what you care about most and how well you respond to pressure situations. They may also get an idea of your work ethic and integrity.When telling such stories, it is important to leave out information that is irrelevant to the job. It is VERY important to explain what skills were involved in your story, especially when the skills are related to the job description. In the process, you are also showing the hiring manager your ability to write and communicate.Avoid making assumptions and being rudeThis is a problem that has been around since the dawn of communicating through digital means. When all a person has are words on a screen to paint a picture of You, it is important these words do not derail your chances of getting an interview.This happens when people write out assumptions of what they believe the complete stranger on the other screen must be thinking. For exampleMaking jokes. Always attempts at humor.Making statements about popular news or political topicsComments such as, You must hate having to read this cover letterMaking assumptions such as, You must be busyThe single reason for avoiding this negative cover letter personality above is that you simply do not know who is reading your cover letter. You do not know what they look like, how they feel, or what they think. Being too familiar is just plain awkward. For more on cover letters, check out the5 cover letter mistakes to avoid.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Work-Life Integration for Finance Pros Management Resources

Work-Life Integration for Finance Pros Management ResourcesWork-Life Integration for Finance Pros Management ResourcesLeading executives know that work-life balance is an important zurckhalten tool. Many have spent years developing policies and programs - often shaped by direct employee input - designed to help their workers more adeptly juggle the demands of their jobs and their personal lives. Now, just when they thought they had a handle on what their staff want and need, they find they must pivot because a new concept is gaining traction in the business world work-life integralrechnung.Work-life integralrechnung isnt exactly a new idea, however. The University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business has a Work-Life Integration Project that it launched in 1991 to produce knowledge for action on the relationship between work and the rest of life. And that was before the advent of the digital economy and the notion of a 24/7 work culture, when the once-distinct lines between w ork and life really started to become fuzzy for many professionals.Do a quick search online and youll also find many articles on the topic of work-life integration from the past few years. One piece in Fortune went so far as to declare that Work-Life Balance Is Dead, and reported Increasingly, people are rejecting the notion of work-life balance in favor of another metaphor work-life integration.But what is work-life integration and how is it different from work-life balance?The University of California Berkeley and the Haas School of Business offer one explanation. These employers no longer use the term work-life balance because it evokes a binary opposition between work and life. They describe the difference between the two concepts on their website The traditional bild of a scale associated with work-life balance creates a sense of competition between the two elements. Work-life integration instead is an approach that creates more synergies between all areas that define life work , home/family, community, personal well-being, and health.Millennials driving evolution toward work-life integrationSo, work-life integration isnt about compartmentalizing work and life - turning off one part of your life temporarily to focus on another. Instead, synergy is the name of the game. With work-life integration, work and life are blended together in a way that aligns with the interests of and meets the unique needs of the individual.The truth is that professionals have been moving toward work-life integration since technology has made it possible to work from pretty much anywhere at any time. Anytime-anywhere working is also one reason why work-life balance initiatives became so important for hiring and retention. The more work began to creep into life, the more workers wanted to reclaim their personal space.And generally, work-life balance efforts appear to be working well for finance leaders and their teams In a recent survey from our company, 82 percent of chief finan cial brors characterized their work-life balance as good or very good. More than three-quarters (77 percent) of office workers polled expressed the same sentiment about their level of balance.See more survey results in our infographic.View InfographicSo, why is there so much talk about work-life integration if employees have been demanding more work-life balance and these initiatives appear to be having a positive impact?One reason In todays workplace, there is a lot more emphasis on the individual. Millennials are driving this to a large degree. A new report from Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF), Robert Half and author Michael S. Seaver, Creating a Leadership Pipeline Developing the Millennial in richtungeration Into Finance Leaders, explains that millennial workers are looking for customized and personalized careers that can help fulfill their desire to express their individuality.Download the ReportSo, for this demographic group, which includes Gen Y and Gen Z, its important for their work and life to be intertwined to some degree because it gives the work more meaning - which in turn creates more job satisfaction.Ask your staff what will make them happyIf your employees - and potential hires - start asking what the organization does to support work-life integration, how do you respond?Well, if your business is a strong proponent of employees maintaining work-life balance, you may already have a partial answer - especially for millennial professionals. Consider this insight from the aforementioned report Millennials need for balance means senior finance leaders should consider offering an a la carte menu of work-life balance options, such as on-site daycare, casual dress, flextime options, telecommuting, bike commuting and mental health services.Flexible schedules and wellness programs are also key aspects of work-life integration initiatives. So, if your business is already offering employees these options, you have a head start. However , simply rebranding your work-life balance programs isnt the solution. While work-life integration is admittedly challenging to define, it is definitelydifferent from the traditional idea of work-life balance.As opposed to the somewhat mythical quest for balance, work-life integration is a real opportunity for employees to gain more control over their life and career and how they devote time and energy to both. And making it happen requires a supportive employer who sees its workforce as a team of individuals.To determine what your finance staff needs to be successful, ask them. After all, they are the best people to offer insight on what will help them to be more engaged, productive and satisfied.As part of these discussions, emphasize what outcomes the business expects and requires, even as it adapts to meet the needs of a changing workforce. (Now is a good time to have these conversations, too Research by Robert Half found that more than half of professionals are more committed t o their personal lives than they were a year ago.)By communicating and working together, you and your employees can develop a culture that fosters work-life integration in a way that fits the unique needs of the company and its people.More insights for finance leadersDont Let the Good Ones Get Away 5 Steps Every Manager Should Take to Retain Star Employees Would you stop your best people from walking out the door if you could? Of course you would. Start by boosting your retention efforts.Improving Cross-Departmental Collaboration Tips for Finance Leaders Are you doing enough to foster collaboration between your finance team and other departments in the organization? These strategies can help.7 Ways Leadership Is Changing - and How Financial Executives Can Respond It isnt easy being a finance leader today. Do you possess the attributes needed to succeed?Career Ladders Offer Milestones for Improving Employee Retention Career ladders can be an effective retention tool. Help your staff to chart their future path at your firm.

Sunday, December 15, 2019

How to algorithm optimize your resume to get past the bots

How to algorithm optimize your resume to get past the botsHow to algorithm optimize your resume to get past the botsMore and mora companies today are using screening algorithms to aid in their recruitment of new hires. Its not practical anymore to have human resource professionals sift through hundreds of resumes for a single position, and so companies are turning to software with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities to do the heavy lifting, allowing the HR professional to spend more quality time with their hiring managers putting together better job descriptions, job specs, and core competencies.AI makes those folks in HR more effective at screening candidates when they spend quality time getting to know what a hiring manager is seeking.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and morePlus, HR folks are often not qualified to decide the ideal candidate through a review of resumes for a partnering hiring manager. So instead, the hiring manager can set the parameters for the software and HR can manage the flow of applicants coming in.Similar to how search engine optimization works for websites, a resume screening algorithm is looking for keywords, phrases, and text strings within the document itself. These keywords are usually the knowledge, skills, and abilities a company is looking for in the ideal candidate, and often include the duties of the job. The algorithm will sift through a resume to match against the keywords. Often, from here, a resume is scored according to keyword match and fit. Often, hiring managers can emphasize the order of magnitude for knowledge, skills, and abilities. So, one skill might have a higher weight in whether a candidate is a fit for the job.The downside to using AI to sift through job candidates is that machines, rather than people, perform the tasks. It is going to find the candidate according to the pre-determined criteria. This limitation puts a lot of preskoranvers on the hiring manager to be thorough about the requirements for the hire. If jobs become too standardized by these algorithms, companies can miss out on a home run hire. Maybe a candidate applies for a job in project management, and on the resume, we learn that this individual was a contract employee that lead a massive system integralrechnung at a company that leads to an additional $2M in revenue at the risk of $5M in losses. Learning this alone speaks volumes about this candidate. And theres no good way to create quality tags for that kind of experience.A candidate will want to ensure that the resume contains the keywords that are showing up in the job description, specs and competencies. Does the company want highly competent in specific software? Make sure to have a section that speaks to that particular software. In my industry, there tend to be specific skill sets within a skill cluster (multiple regression, econometric m odeling, cluster analysis, etc). They could roll these up and call them statistical modeling, but a hiring manager often opts not to because he or she knows these are the core techniques we use. So, a candidate will want to match this tit-for-tat. Experience in statistical modeling, specifically in (insert the specific ones you asked for).There are three keyword clues usually found in a job posting, and they are on a continuum of observability. Surface-level attributes are often found within the job requirements and include the length of experience, educational background, licenses, and other related skills. These are things that are easily observed and easily verified. The next is the back does the candidates employment history match our desires? Has he demonstrated an ability to write surveys, conduct analysis, etc.? Third are the less tangible skills, often called soft skills. Things like people management, project coordination, or other phrases that suggest something about an a bility to execute a task. A job description might say they want a candidate to manage a project from initiation through completion. So you want to hit on how you have produced work from end to end.There is often some level of expressed magnitude for a skill or task. Its a clue for the level of desire for this skill or task. If a job posting says it wants mastery in a software program, thats a clue that the software is weighted heavily by the algorithm. Other key emphasis words might include significant, strong, or compelling, the adverbs successfully, effectively, or efficiently (note the ly at the end) or emphasized nouns, like mastery, proficiency, or competency.In the arms race of rising up the ranks in web search, early SEO professionals would hide keywords throughout the website so that someone searching would be more likely to find this site. Google and other search engines figured this out quickly, so SEO folks had to adapt to work up the ranks in search properly. Some candid ates might try to do something similar with resumes. Its called the white font trick. Candidates will simply list as many related keywords as they can fit in white font. The naked eye wont see them but the algorithm may still pick them up. This is not a smart approach for job candidates because many algorithms have picked up on this trick and will flag this. Plus, if certain keywords come up too frequently, itll likely get flagged as well.Now, cover letters are still highly important. While a smart resume speaks directly to the job posting, the cover letter is a way to talk directly to the hiring manager. A way to speak to the job in more intimate detail in ways a resume cannot. A candidate can reference to those intangibles through experiences and stories, and to why he or she is a fit for the company. It is an opportunity to get noticed by the hiring manager and is often the key talking points when folks get in a room and decide who to bring in for an interview.The biggest mistake job seekers make when submitting their resume digitally is not writing a resume to the job posting. Sending out the same generic resume is a sure way to get called by a bunch of jobs that are just looking for warm bodies. In terms of speaking to the algorithm, if the resume cannot be read on a basic word processor, it wont do well in front of an algorithm either. Any images, unique fonts, tables, charts, are often not great for submission. I have seen some impressive resumes with graphics that detail a candidates skills and capabilities, but thats better served in an interview. You only get so much space, which means minimal real estate to hit the keywords and tags the algorithm is looking for.Dr. Jon Christiansen was trained in Computational Analytics at Carnegie Mellon and holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Economics, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Clemson University. He is also certified as a Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) and an SHRM Senior Certif ied Professional (SHRM-SCP).You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Career Counseling - Get the Most From Professional Help

Career Counseling - Get the Most From Professional HelpCareer Counseling - Get the Most From Professional HelpCareer counseling provides professional advice about the issues all of us face regarding our careers at some point - and usually at multiple points- during our lives. They include choosing or changing careers, job searching, and dealing with work-related problems. Here are eight things you should do to make sure you get the most out of this very valuable service Choose the Right Professional After deciding you need career counseling, your next step is to find the right professional to provide it. A lot of people claim to be experts in this area. Your job is to make sure to hire someone who is appropriately trained to help you. The individual you hire may be a career counselor, a career services provider, or a career coach. Although each has different credentials, all should be well-versed in career development. For simplicitys sake, we will refer to anyone who provides ca reer counseling as a career counselor or a counselor. Do not get help from someone who may have an ulterior motive, for example, a recruiter. His or herbei goal is to fill open positions as quickly as possible, not to help people find satisfying careers. Share Your Expectations With the Career Counselor Before scheduling your first appointment or at the initial session, thoroughly explain what you need help with, whether it is choosing a career or deciding whether to change careers, looking for a job, writing a resume, organizing your job search, or preparing for job interviews. If you dont share your expectations with the counselor, he or she wont be able to fulfill them. If you are unsure about your exact needs, be upfront about that too. For example, it may be unclear whether you need anew job or a brand new career. Ask for help figuring it out. Be On Time For Your Appointment Get the most out of your appointment by being punctual. Arriving on time allows you to utilize t he entire session. The counselor probably wont be able to continue meeting with you beyond your appointment time because other clients will be waiting, but he or she will charge you for the full session. Dont Expect a Career Counselor To Tell You What Career Is Best for You Even the most well-educated career counselor cant tell you what career is best for you and be very wary of anyone who claims they can. Choosing a career is a process that involves self assessment and exploration. The career counselors job is to use information gathered during your sessions- for example, your interests, work-related values, aptitude, and personality type- to help you figure out what careers are a good fit. This will be done through discussion and the use of self assessment tools. Then you will have to explore occupations and pick the one that is most suitable. Be Honest Career counseling can only work if you are truthful with your counselor. Dont withhold any information that may impact y our ability to reach your goals. For example, if you are suffering from anxiety and you know that rushing headlong into a job search will exacerbate it, let the counselor know it is necessary to move slowly. A good counselor will be willing to work at your pace. If financial difficulties are going to keep you from getting the training required for a new career, say something. He or she may be able to help direct you to scholarships and financial aid resources. Do Your Homework Some counselors give their clients assignments to work on between sessions. For example, she might ask you to bring in a couple of job announcements that interest you or may ask you to research an occupation or two. Arrive for your sessions with your assignments completed. Doing so will allow you to keep moving forward. Follow Your Counselors Advice You hired a counselor because you needed help. While you dont have to follow every suggestion, not taking his advice means you are wasting your time and mo ney. If you find yourself not following through on the counselors advice, ask yourself why. Is it laziness on your part or fear of making a change, or do you think the advice is wrong?If, after carefully thinking about it, you decide it is, find a new counselor. Evaluate Whether the Counseling Is Working If you are like most people, you dont want to spend an infinite amount of time in counseling. You want to resolve the problems that brought you there in the first place and ultimately meet your goals. Periodically ask yourself if you are moving forward at a reasonable pace and are you getting out of career counseling what you wanted. While it may not be possible to achieve all your goals as quickly as desired, for example, you may not have a new job yet, think about whether you are closer to reaching them than when you started. If the answer is yes, ask yourself if there is more to gain from continuing to meet with your counselor. If its no, decide if you could benefit more from trying someone new.

Friday, December 6, 2019

What Absolutely Everyone Is Saying About Objective Statement for Resume

What Absolutely Everyone Is Saying About Objective meinung for Resume Objective Statement for Resume Features A well-written one is going to impress on the hiring manager the methods by which you are a perfect candidate for the job. As soon as youve set goals for your business, you should figure out how youll reach them. For instance, a job applicant could possibly be interested in both an overall management team position, along with an advertising job. Simply comply with the directions and ideas, and youll learn precisely how to capture the attention of hiring managers. The 30-Second Trick for Objective Statement for Resume My purpose is to find the job. There are a lot of ways to compose an employer-centered objectives. Much like the problem formulation, the total objective ought to be framed within a sentence. A clearly defined career objective will convey skills, training and experiences you will bring to a particular organization if youre given the opportunity. An ob jective is a brief statement that clarifies your goals about the sort of employment desired and the way in which your skills make you a nice fit. Resume Objectives for Career Changes When you choose to create a career change after years in 1 field, a resume objective might help to indicate to a future employer how you believe your particular experience may translate to a different kind of position. A very clear statement about how youll utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3. When youre asking for work, your very first purpose is to let employers know your abilities and talents align with the needs of their open position. Choosing Good Objective Statement for Resume A Career Aim, Personal Statement or Profile can be a helpful method of flagging an interest and techniques for a specific career on your CV, particularly in case you have no appropriate degree or employment experience to present your CV focus. You may recycle the exact info, but be sure you change the presentation to fit each individual program. For applicants who have any degree of experience whatsoever, really specific detail is required here. Dont hesitate to browse back to our home page and look for any specific statement example which you are looking for. By making an extremely very good impression right from the beginning, such statements definitely force the employer to go through the remainder of your resume too. Your one statement will either set a negative or positive effect on the interviewer. Youre wondering in the event that you should have a statement on top of your resume to grab the hiring managers interest. You might also have a peek at some useful resume keywords to further boost your resume. Thus, make certain your objective for wanting the job communicates the essential benefits youre going to be bringing to the employer for a cook. When re-entering the workforce, it can be difficult t o understand what information to include, but you might want to keep off detailed information about the reason behind the gap in your work history, especially if it is a lengthy gap. One of the ways that you can use to demonstrate your point is by dressing appropriately for the huge moment. What You Dont Know About Objective Statement for Resume Even though its bedrngnis a strict requirement to incorporate a resume objective in your resume, a well-written objective is able to help you catch the eye of the recruiter. Still others are very unstructured, leaving the applicant free to deal with a wide variety of matters. Resume objectives can be a little controversial. If your objective is powerful enough, the employer is going to be held on to reading the other components of the resume, which increases your odds of winning their hearts. Introducing Objective Statement for Resume The use of job specific resume objective is only going to be targeting the job which youve indicated in the statement. It is an important part of any job resume. If your Objective says youre searching for a full-time job and youre asking for a part-time internship, you will probably be disqualified immediately. To be able to prepare adequately, these advice will be convenient. Whatever its purpose, the content has to be presented in a fashion that will give coherence to the entire statement. Savvy resumes are anchored by a comprehensive summary that permits the reader to rapidly find salient info about the applicant. Objective Statement for Resume - Overview If you wish to put in an application for a lifeguard position, your resume objective should mention all certifications you have gotten. My aim is to give safety for OIDV survivors and their children in a place thats often neglected. Career goals for nurses are determined by the person. Your nursing career goals are very likely to change through the years.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Workplace Tensions Rise as Political Discussions Propagate Through Offices Nationwide

Workplace Tensions Rise as Political Discussions Propagate Through Offices Nationwide A new survey by Fierce, Inc., has found that over 78 percent of employees think that political discussions in the workplace are detrimental to professional relationships, leading to increased tension among coworkers. Over one-quarter of these respondents feel that these conversations can either temporarily or even permanently harm work relationships. However, about 80.4 percent of survey participants dont want their ability to discuss politics stymied by their employers. Specific risks, identified in the survey, that political workplace discussions pose include 39.8 percent of employees have seen a political discussion transition into a personal attack. 29 percent of workers believe that managers play favorites with subordinates who express similar political views. 54 percent of respondents said that political di scussions are leid healthy and damage communications. 13.7 percent said that political discussions can lead to the exclusion of some coworkers.Although political discussions at work may cause discomfort and tension, management should never outlaw specific topics of conversation, said Halley Bock, CEO and president of Fierce, Inc. Employees will inevitably discuss politics, whether it is allowed or not, so forward-thinking organizations should set guidelines for how to approach the subject of politics and what is acceptable behavior.Instead of muzzling political discussions in the workplace, Fierce recommends employers limit time spent in discussion and set expectations on how to interact during exchanges. Rules should focus on making issues the focus on political conversations, not individuals, encouraging employees to keep their minds open to other opinions, and on calling out damaging behavior to offending employees on a one-to-one basis.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

A Packing Checklist for Business Trips

A Packing Checklist for Business TripsA Packing Checklist for Business TripsWhether your job requires frequent business travel or just the occasional overnight stay, keeping a list handy of what to pack will help you save time and minimize stress. Even though most major airlines now dienstgrad a separate fee to check your bag, it might be worth it. Airports are big and overhead compartments on airplanes fill up quickly. Business travel is stressful enough without the additional worries associated with lugging your bag through security and to the gate only to find out that the overhead compartment above your seat is already full and that your bag is being put in the back of the plane. Relax, check your bag, and consider it a worthwhile investment in you and your travel sanity. Basic Bottoms Whether you plan to wearpants or skirts while traveling for business, pick one basic color for your bottoms (black, brown or blue) and stick with it. This consistency will eliminate the need fo r multiple pairs of shoes and belts in different colors. Dark colors are preferable as they dont show travel wear, tear, and dirt as easily. Jacket or Blazer Choose a basic, solid-color jacket or blazer that matches your basic bottoms color scheme. Tops, Blouses, and Sweaters Choose prints and solids that coordinate with your basic bottoms color scheme. A Travel Outfit If your travel days are long, consider packing a comfortable travel outfit and comfortable shoes for the trip home. Shoes Bring a maximum of one to two pairs of shoes. Select a style and heel height that will work with your basic wardrobe selections described above. If youll be doing a lot of walking while on your business trip, choose comfort over style. Underwear and Socks Pack enough for each day of your trip, plus two extra pairs of each. You never know when you might want to cpistee clothes or just freshen up a bit. Pajamas Consider a pajama top style that buttons down the front so it can double as a robe. Most robes are bulky and take up too much valuable space in your suitcase. Workout Clothes Pack one lightweight, quick-dry exercise outfit. Wash it out in the sink after each exercise session and hang it to dry. Toiletries Pack shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, facial cleanser, toothpaste, toothbrush, a razor, and make-up in resealable plastic bags or a toiletry bag.If youre traveling by air and not planning to check your bag, keep travel restrictions in mind. All liquids and gels must be smaller than 3 ounces and must be packed in quart-size plastic bags. Pack these bags in an outside pocket or on the top of your suitcase since youll need to remove them as you go through security checkpoints. Travel Documents Place airline reservations, hotel confirmations, and rental car confirmations in a separate folder for quick and easy reference. If you have these items on your phone or tablet, then bookmark the sites or flag the email confirmations for quick acce ss. LaptopBag If youre traveling by air, make sure your laptop or tablet is easily accessible since youll need to remove it from your briefcase as you go through security. Dont forget yourpower cords and thumb drives. Cell Phone Charger Pack both a wall charger and a portable charger or power bank in case you need to charge your phone but dont have an outlet. Bring a car charger if youre traveling by car or will be renting one at your final destination. Office Supplies Pack pens, pencils, paper clips, sticky pads, and notepads. Dont take an entire office supply store with you in your briefcase- just what you will actually need for your trip. Business Cards Replenish your supply of business cards before each business trip. You never know who you will meet. 10 x 13 Envelopes for Expense Receipts As you drop each receipt into your envelope, make a note on the front that includes date, expense amount and the reason for the expense. Doing this will help you save time wh en you submit your expense report and ensure you can easily find all of your receipts. Your Purse While most female travelers prefer tocarry a purse in addition to a briefcase, the general rule of thumb for business travel is to carry a small purse with minimal contents. Pack your ID, wallet, gum or mints, a small make-up bag, phone, and any medications you need. Small Travel Umbrella Pack this in the outside pocket of your suitcase so its accessible in the event it is raining when you arrive.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How stereotyping costs you business, engagement, and happiness

How stereotyping costs you business, engagement, and happinessHow stereotyping costs you business, engagement, and happinessWhen I was growing up parents didnt drive their kids to playdates or adventure sports. Your best friend was whoever lived closest to you. You knew where all your friends were by whose house had the most bikes in the front yard. You only went home to do homework which involved a book, notebook, encyclopedia and a pencil to watch the puppet part of Mr. Rogers, to eat meals, or at the end of the day when the streetlights went on.Back then your fun was climbing trees, holding crayfish, catching fireflies, watching trains flatten pennies on railroad tracks, and playing kickball on the four corners after dinner. Every neighborhood had a bully, a heartthrob, a mean girl, a nerd, a skinny kid who didnt fit in and a popular kid. I was the skinny kid who didnt fit in. You learned quickly who you could trust and who you couldnt.Fast forward to today where technology has impacted the way children grow up and the way companies do business. Children need not go to their friends house to play a game or telephone them to communicate. Distance learning transformed education. Telecommuting transformed the way we work. Audioconferencing transformed the way we meet. And technology eliminated some industries altogether. Exit stage left World Book Encyclopedia.Yet in todays world, as people revisit a simpler time with vinyl records on the rise and electronic book readers on the decline, there are some things that havent changed. Most companies have a bully, a heartthrob, a mean girl, a nerd, a skinny kid who doesnt fit in and a popular kid.The problemWe stereotype people because our minds need to have order. Humans are programmed to stay safe with a fight-or-flight mentality. This self-preservation mechanism served humanity well when dinosaurs roamed the earth. It is easier to metaphorically put people in a box with a label and store them safely away than to deal with fear that makes us uncomfortable. After all, there are more pressing issues that interest us. Enter stage right iPhone8.The costWhen we stereotype we discriminate. We become the judge and jury without a trial. The sentence most often is permanent and without bail. When a co-worker is labeled difficult or not management material we stop stewarding them to higher performance. When they realize their potential is limited they often underperform, drive others out of the organization, and become an attrition statistic.The solutionThe solution comes from Mr. Rogers theme song. When you are a good neighbor the doors of engagement open. Can you think, for a moment, about the last time someone called you a anthroponym? It hurt. You probably felt unfairly judged and powerless to undo it.Before you stereotype someone, pause. Put yourself in their shoes. Here you are their peer. Sometimes we dont want to imagine their perspective because it makes us feel defenseless. Remember, we migh t be eaten by the mammoth. But, in reality, being comfortable with our own vulnerability is a springboard to compassion for others and peace for ourselves. We separate the people from the problem, thus focusing on problem solving, not our position. Early in my career I was labeled The Divorcee with Four Kids until I shattered the goals every place I worked. Then I was labeled The Racehorse Get Out of Her Way. Ill take it.What we judge in others is often what we judge in ourselves. When you can platzset aside resenting a colleague because shes successful, you can learn from her. When you can set aside being annoyed by a leaders eruptions, you can build trust enough to ask what worries him.If you are the one being stereotyped it is virtually impossible to drop the label without calling attention to your intention to do so. Ask for an appointment individually with key people who have labeled you. Tell them you recognize that a negative perception exists. Tell them they would be doing you a huge favor if they would tell you what that perception is. Do not defend yourself. Tell them you understand and ask what they advise you to do to remedy this. Then thank them and say you will update them on your progress. They will be intrigued to be part of your transformation.In summary, make the most of this beautiful day by imagining your colleagues wear a big sign around their necks that reads, Wont you be my neighbor?Mary Lee Gannon, ACC, CAEis an executive coach and corporate CEO who helps busy leaders get off the treadmill to nowhere to be more effective, earn more, bemore calm and enjoyconnected relationships with the people who matter while it still matters.Watch her FREE Master Class training on Three Things to Transform Your Life and Career Right Now atwww.MaryLeeGannon.com.

5 Things You May Not Know About Working in the Insurance Industry

5 Things You May Not Know About Working in the Insurance Industry 5 Things You May Not Know About Working in the Insurance Industry According to an industry trend report, 63 percent of insurance companies plan to increase their staff sizes in the next 12 months. By 2020, there are projected to be  nearly 400,000 open positions in the insurance industry. The high number of openings - coupled with the fact that only about a third of all millennials have any interest in working in the industry - means there has never been a better time to consider a career in insurance. February is recognized throughout the industry as Insurance Careers Month, a chance for insurance companies to showcase the benefits of a career in the field. In light of the low levels of interest in insurance careers among young talent, now might be a good time to survey some of those benefits: 1. Jobs for All Professionals of All Backgrounds One of the most appealing parts of working for an insurance company is the wide variety of jobs that are available across a very broad spectrum of career paths. For instance, an insurance company usually employs people in all the following areas: Accounting and finance Actuarial science Administration Claims Customer service Data science Human resources Legal Marketing and communications Medical (including clinical) Operations Product development Sales Technology Professionals in virtually any function can also advance in the field to key management and executive-level positions. Regardless of your career path, there is a strong likelihood theres a job opportunity for you in insurance. Better yet, the compensation for jobs in the insurance industry often exceeds that of other entry-level jobs, with an average starting salary of more than $50,000 per year. 2. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Individuals of all backgrounds, languages, and economies need insurance.  Because of this, professionals in the insurance industry often serve and work with a broad spectrum of people from across social groups. The insurance industry not only provides products and services to meet the  needs of diverse people, but its top employers also strive to cultivate very diverse workforces. In 2018, 69 percent of insurance executives felt diversity and inclusion  were important issues. 3. Access to Professional Development Opportunities One advantage of working for an insurance company is the high level of training and professional development companies in the field offer. You can expect to be thoroughly trained in all areas of insurance when you work at an insurance company. Topics your training may cover include understanding and administering Medicare benefits, understanding state health care regulations, and even learning some medical coding and billing practices, depending on  your specific role. Professional development is a priority in the industry, and you can expect to participate in continuing education, professional seminars and workshops, and other opportunities for growth within your  role and the insurance field in general. 4. Flexible Scheduling Working from home  is an option for many in the insurance field. Insurance agents in particular tend to have a lot of control over their own work schedules. As freelancing and independent contracting grow in popularity, the insurance industry will only become even more responsive to workers demands for flexibility and work/life balance. 5. A Strong Sense of Purpose The insurance industry prides itself on being purpose-driven, and insurance professionals strive to make positive impacts on the individuals and communities  they serve. In fact, the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit that  promotes and facilitates the charitable work of insurance organizations, has distributed more than $31 million in community grants and helped to arrange more than 300,000 volunteer hours by more than 110,000 insurance industry professionals since it was established 25 years ago. This high level of charitable giving makes sense, given that the core  goal of the insurance industry is to help people live better, healthier, safer lives. If you want a career that makes a difference, you would be hard-pressed to find a better industry for it than the insurance industry. Michael Z. Stahl is executive vice president of HealthMarkets.