8 inspiring beach reads that dont feel like career advice

8 inspiring beach reads that dont feel like career advice8 inspiring beach reads that dont feel like career adviceAs the busiest travel season of the year, summer is when professionals give themselves permission to disconnect, relax and take a vacation, or have an adventure. Even so, overachieving superstars - like you - cant fully be away from all-things-career-development, so finding a happy medium is essential.Instead of reading emails when you should be soaking up vitamin D, you can advance your knowledge by devouring a business or career advice book. Dont select difficult, technical novels that require too much concentration, rather go for inspiring, intriguing and captivating reads that keep you engaged. From page-turners that provoke creativity to memoirs that challenge you to work harder, consider these recommendations from successful professionalsThe Big Leap by Gay HendricksAsk anyone who has soared to the top of the ladder or has experienced monumental success, and theyl l be the first to tell you that taking chances is one of the most important factors of getting ahead. Chief Marketing Officer of Evernote, Andrew Malcolm says this book challenges readers to think about how to use traditional motivation to push beyond the limits of what they deemed possible. It provides us with an altered perspective on how to break down walls that stand in our way in order to achieve a better and mora meaningful life, he explains. Being a business leader is as much about psychology as it is strategy or finance or marketing. Sometimes, people are inspired by the art of the possible sometimes they respond to the fear of a burning platform sometimes they need the challenge to their abilities and other times they need the solace of a hug after a failure.The Artists Way by Julia CameronThis summer, consider taking the program that millions have completed in the past few decades. The CEO of TBWAChiatDay NY, Rob Schwartz recommends this creative journey for anyone who wan ts to tap into hidden skills, explore their creativity and more. Apart from encouraging you to do what you think you cant, the books real secret and gift is the power of writing three pages. Yes, journaling, three pages at a time, will help you sort through what every leader must do every day figure out how to contend with the biggest threats and the greatest opportunities, he explains.Shoe Dog A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight Becoming a household name is the goal of nearly every entrepreneur, but remember, even the most well-known companies had humble beginnings. To be reminded youre on the right track, the CEO of Quizlet Matthew Glotzbach recommends this true story of the first days of Nike. In addition to being a fun read and a great story, Phil Knight teaches a lesson of perseverance and confidence in business. I welches surprised at how close to bankruptcy and failure Nike was on many occasions, even fairly late into the companys development, he explains. Embrace the Machine 111 Ways AI Will Change Your Marketing JobbyNancy A. ShenkerDont want to page through chapters? You dont have to with this book by the CEO of theONswitch, Nancy A. Shenker. Written in listicle format, this book tackles difficult, technical concepts like AI, machine learning, robotics, etc., with a fun, non-tech language. We are all time-pressed and reading business books that are more like comic books - one of my childhood passions - makes learning more interesting, she shares. Art of War by Sun TzuThough the vice president of operations at Energy Solutions Direct Steven Grant first read this when he was a young karate student, believing he would one day enlist in the military and become a soldier, he realized many of the teachings applied to the corporate world. I went into the business world and realized many of Sun Tzus words could benefit me in dealing with not only competitors and negotiations, but even inter-office politics, he shared. With chapters such as layin g plans, tactical dispositions and use of energy, it really is a book on strategy with lessons that can be applied to a broad spectrum of situations.The Attention Merchants The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads by Tim WuThese days, advertising drives a vast amount of our economy, but it isnt always an easy industry or aspect of business to understand. Glotzbach recommends getting started with this book that provides an in-depth look at the origins of the attention-based economy and links them to the present-day Internet-related business. It is important simply as a consumer to have a grasp of what services you get for free and what you are giving in exchange. I particularly like the historical linkage as I feel it gives us a much better, richer understanding of how the current advertising world has been shaped, and how it might be altered in the future, he says. Band of Brothers by Stephen AmbroseEspecially when youre leading a team or find yourself in a months worth of unnecess ary meetings, it is easy to lose sight of what really matters and what actually defines achievement people, purpose, and attitude. Malcolm says every time he reads this book, he is reminded never to underestimate the power of a team with a common mission. When you have team that feels like your tribe, that youd go to battle with any day, that you know you can count on and that you hope can depend on you - its not as big a deal if you make the right decisions, he continues. So long as the right people are in the room, youll figure it out. Maybe more importantly, you cant read the book without being grateful to those who laid the foundation for us to live as we do and remember that the stress we feel is minor compared to what others face.Crucial Conversations Taking Stakes SecondWant to become a better public - or not-so-public - speaker? As one of the most common fears, the more you weed through this angst, the better prepared you will be to move forward in your career. Shenkers y ounger daughter recommended this read to her, and she says its a must for individuals and teams who want to take their feet out of their mouth when they are speaking, negotiating or team building. It gives you a simple lexicon for how to avoid nuclear disasters in any conversation - business or personal, she says.

I couldnt shop for 3 months and it was the financial refresh I needed

I couldnt shop for 3 months and it was the financial refresh I neededI couldnt shop for 3 months and it was the financial refresh I neededNo one thought I could do it. My friends and family didnt believe in me. Well, Im happy to say I proved them all wrong. I spent three months living out of a carry-on and I didnt need to buy new clothes even once. I was about to embark on a three-month journey that would take me from Orange County to New York City to Pittsburgh to Stockholm, then back to Pittsburgh, and finally home to Orange County. I knew I wouldnt want to be weighed down by heavy baggage over the following months and I also was elend eager to check bags - and pay fees - for the 10 different flights I would be taking. Hence my journey began with a single carry-on filled to the brim with the bare minimum.How I did itCredit where credit is due, I dont think I could have done it without my Away carry-on. Seriously, that bag can squeeze in a lot of clothes. I was able to fit two pai rs of shoes, three pairs of pants, a dozen T-shirts and tank tops, three dresses, a bikini, shorts, two sweaters, two sweatshirts, undergarments, pajamas, and was even able to bring my hair straightener along for the ride. It may have been a team effort at times to actually zip it, but it did the trick. When it came time to pack, I basically created a travel capsule wardrobe. I could only bring one pair of tennis shoes, one sandal that worked for the beach and walking around, and one pair of slightly dressy shoes. Because my shoe options were so limited, I knew everything I brought with me had to match them the saatkorn theory applied to pants. I had one pair of jeans, one nicer non-denim pant, and one pair of workout leggings. This meant that all tops had to work with those pants. When packing, I mapped out a color scheme (neutrals for the most part) and chose items that could be dressed up or down like camisoles and classic button-downs. I also only packed items I absolutely loved . It was pretty easy to make do with my limited wardrobe when it was all my favorite styles.What I LearnedBecause I wouldnt have room in my luggage to bring anything home with me after the trip, shopping basically became a no-go. This meant that I was able to worry less about trying to find the perfect souvenir or chic outfit while traveling. I also had no choice but to ignore many alluring sale alerts from my favorite brands. Of course, there were temptations, but I really wasnt able to act on them. Before I left on this journey, I was shopping in person or online pretty frequently. Even though I often didnt make a purchase, I spent a lot of time hoping to find the perfect styles. What I realized during my forced shopping freeze was that I already had so many clothes that I loved. I found other non-shopping related ways to fill my time and found I was mora active and read more frequently. Less time scrolling for style inspiration on Instagram meant more time practicing my French vo cabulary.My Closet TodayBefore my travels began, I was curious to see what effect wearing the same outfits day after day would have on my personal style. To my surprise, when I came home, I was still primarily reaching for the same clothes Id packed on my trip. Over the years Ive allowed social media or trends to dictate my style choices and my wardrobe wasnt as cohesive as I wanted it to be. Now I know with absolute certainty what works for me. Classic button downs, simple sweaters, anything navy or dove grey, straight legged pants, chunky sandals, high necklines, and a good trench coat are all likely to make the cut.How Ive ChangedFor me, shopping was just a habit I formed over time and was fueled by not wanting to miss a great deal or turning it into a social outing. Fortunately, I had three months to beat my bad habit. I still enjoy shopping, but its not my go-to anymore. Ive been home for longer than I was gone and Im proud to say the only thing Ive bought was three more of the exact T-shirt I wore nonstop over the summer during a Black Friday sale. I know I wasnt really spending much money while shopping and even though Id often come home from the mall empty-handed, I still felt the desire to go. Now that desire is pretty non-existent. Do I want shiny new things? Of course. But would I rather meet my best friend for a walk or spend an afternoon at home with my family than go shopping? Absolutely.This article originally appeared on The Everygirl.

Critique Your Resume Like a Hiring Manager

Critique Your Resume Like a Hiring ManagerCritique Your Resume Like a Hiring ManagerCritique Your Resume Like a Hiring ManagerIn order to critique your resume effectively, you need to understand how a hiring manager will look at it. As a rule, resume reviewers start by making a snap judgment based on their first impression. If there are no immediate red flags, theyll spend the next 10 to 30 seconds scanning it to determine whether you seem to have the right qualifications. If your resume passes those two tests, it has a good chance of being reviewed more thoroughly, and with luck, winning you an interview. What does all this mean to you and your resume? It means you should worry less about listing your past job duties, and more about making an outstanding first impression Here arethe important factors toconsider as you evaluate your resume.1) First ImpressionOverall appearance is neat, organized, and easy to read.Length is no more than 2 pages (1 page is fine if everything fits neatl y).No obvious errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, or word usage.No obvious inconsistencies in use of numbers, spacing, punctuation, or capitalization.Contact information is complete.Email address is professional, elend shared, not goofy, and not your current work address.2) Quick Check of QualificationsResume starts with a summary that lists the most compelling qualifications that match the employers needs.Calls attention to relevant experience from past jobs.Matches keywords and expressions from the job ad.Uses descriptive job titles (e.g., Dont just say Machinist, say Robotic-Arm Machine Operator).Includes licenses, certifications, or coursework that support qualifications (if applicable).3) Other Things to Look ForAction verbs introduce each sentence or bullet phrase.No unnecessary words or repetition.Acronyms or technical jargon are adequately explained.4) Things You Should Leave OutOlder job experiencesExperience from more than 10 or 15 years ago is probably irrelevant no w.Personal informationAvoid topics such as religion, politics, age, race, marital status, lifestyle, or disability.Older educational detailsAlways list your highest level of education, but after a few years stop mentioning GPA,as well as your roles in clubs, sports, or other school-related activities. If youre an older job seeker, leave out the year of graduation.A self-critique should be part of the process any time you submit a resume. We havent mentioned the cover letterbut the same critiquing principles can help you create a cover letter that makes a great impression and opens the door to your resume. Critiquing your own resume mightseem like a lot of extra work, but if the mistakes are there, wouldnt you rather find them yourself than let the hiring manager do it for you?

Eat these foods to avoid afternoon slump says nutritionist

Eat these foods to avoid afternoon slump says nutritionistEat these foods to avoid afternoon slump says nutritionistThe last time Ladders sat down with nutritionist and dietician Allison Stowell, we inquired after the key nutrients that governed quality sleep. Surprisingly, there are several everyday foods that directly contribute to a good nights rest, and Stowell was decent enough to oblige ur curiosity in detail, indexing recipes and underreported snacks that effectively oil the gears of ur circadian clocks. On the back of this, it occurred to us to unpick Stowells years of research in regards to foods that might help us wax the candle at both ends, given how often our readership deals with the ill-famed afternoon crash. As it turns out, seeking methods to combat a post-lunch-dip is the wrong way to go about it. Its all about adopting the kind of nutrition policies that ensure you dont get them often enough to preclude your productivity in the first place, Stowell adds, While some foods may suggest that they will boost your energy (generally through a combination of caffeine and sugar), the best way to maintain good energy and boost productivity is to eat balanced meals and snacks.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreA general contempt for shortcuts permeates Stowells work, anthroponymly as it pertains to public health goals. A nourished mind and body are authored by lifestyle choices, not two-cent balms and power-bars. While we all may wish there was a quick fix for weight loss, it takes time and effort to properly lose andmaintain a healthy weight, Stowell told Ladders. She, this time joined by fellow Guiding Stars scientific advisor, Kitty Broihier, went on to explain a burgeoning trend amongst young professionals beset by hectic schedules and limited time, called mini-meals. Bigger than snacks, these mini meals nourish us throughout the day and have the potential to work together to satisfy our nutrient needs, Guiding Stars writes.Crashes are typically the result of abweichend blood sugar levels, so simply reserving time for small meals throughout your day will do very little if these meals are not comprised of the right foods think carbohydrates, healthy fat, and protein. Together these food groups are defined as macronutrients, nutrients that are integral to an organisms ability to survive, sustain energy and reproduce.Very few diets call for the abstaining of protein, though carbs and fat can use a little help in the PR department.The underappreciated role of carbsCarbohydrates, named such because at a chemical level they are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, can be found most abundantly as sugars, starches, and fibers residing in grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.Ladders recently published a polemic against trendy diets that label carbs the resolute enemy of quick and easy weight loss. Of course, being thin and being healthy are only tangentially related. Our bodies are very picky when it comes to energy sources, with glucose reigning king so if you adopt some ludicrous regimen that sees you load up on protein and steer clear of carbs your liver will actually make amino acids that turn into glucose, while you succumb to whats known as the carb-flu fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headaches, irritability, and nausea. If youre a panicky Pete about your waistline, remember there are a wealth of healthy and varied ways to obtain carbs that will not diminish your sex appeal -strawberries, apples, legumes, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, kidney beans, chia seeds, and whole grains, just to name a few. The Carbohydrates found in these foods break down into simple sugars which surge our energy levels and decrease our risk factors for developing several chronic illnesses.The skinny on fatsAn apposite admonishment applies to fats. In addition to boosting energy levels, dietary fat is needed to absorb vitamins and protect our brains and hearts. Fat just like cholesterol is essential for our bodies to function properly, its all about demarcating good and bad fats, and the best sources to acquire the former. Bad fats most often refer to trans fats and saturated fats. Though trans fats pose a significantly greater threat to our bodies than saturated fats, both spell bad news if not imbibed in moderation.Conversely, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats (good fats) lower our risks for heart disease and stroke and help lower our blood pressure. Both breeds of fats make us feel fuller for longer after a meal, so its important to include both in the service of a balanced diet. Avocados, olives, peanut butter, and canola oil are all good sources of monounsaturated fats, while tofu, sunflower seeds, fatty fish, soybeans and soy milk are all choice ways of incorporating polyunsaturated fats into your diet.Eat small meals throughout the day Mini-meals allow you to maintain your ener gy and not feel sluggish. This way of eating may be new for some. The key is to break your days intake down into small meals and slightly larger snacks. Snacks and meals composed of some carbohydrate along with some protein and/or healthy fat will help control blood sugar and maintain energy levels. Banana and nut butter, plain Greek yogurt topped with berries, and avocado trinkspruch are just some examples of balanced snacks, Broihier and Stowell explained to Ladders.

7 Surefire Tips to Land the Job Interview

7 Surefire Tips to Land the Job Interview7 Surefire Tips to Land the Job InterviewIts a fact that recruiters spend an average of six seconds anfangsbuchstabely reviewing a resume. This is when a recruiter decides whether you will move forward in the hiring process. Not to be overly dramatic, but that six seconds can change your life. If you make it past the first screening your odds increase dramatically. This article will show you how to beat the six-second test.Be a good fit for the jobObvious advice, but this truth is ignored by many jobseekers. If youre not qualified for the job you will not be successful in the traditional application process. This isnt to say that you cant get a job for which you are not qualified. Youd need to do it through non-traditional ways.Apply to fewer jobsDont bother applying for jobs that youre not excited about. You could be excited about the product, the team, the money, or the skills youll learn?- ?but make sure its something. If youre excited abou t the opportunity, youll spend more time applying and do a better job of it. Simply sending your resume to hundreds of open jobs is a waste of both your time and each companys.Extensively research the companyTaking the extra time to research the company is your best weapon. Youll get an idea of its products, culture and values. This information will be extremely valuable when customizing your resume for the job and writing a cover letter. In the interview stages it becomes even more relevant.What to researchThe company websiteNews articles and press releasesThe companys products. If it is software, sign up or watch a demo. If it is a physical product, go to a store and give it a try.Interviews with any key team members (try a YouTube search)Team members LinkedIn profiles and social media profilesThis will give you data on what the company culture is like and help you get a better idea of what exactly its looking for.Customize your resume (and cover letter) for the jobAwell-designed resume will outline your skills, experience and how it all relates to the job. Customize your resume for each job application, and use keywords from the job description to increase your chances at an interview. The initial resume review involves pattern-matching?- ?looking for similarities between the job description and your resume. Make the job easy. According to The Ladders resume study, recruiters spent almost 80 percent of the time looking atCandidate name, current title and companyPrevious title and companyStart and end dates for current and previous positionsEducationBeyond these data points, recruiters did little more than scan for keywords to match the open position, which amounted to a very cursory pattern-matching activity said researchers inthe study.A piece of advice Never apply to a job with your LinkedIn profile?. ?It is too general and doesnt outline exactly what you bring to the table specifically for the position.The same advice applies to your cover letter. Adapt your cover letter to the companys style using information you learned in your research.Get a warm referralContact someone relevant at the company for an informational interview where you can learn more about the position, impress the right people and increase the odds of your resume getting a second look.Search on Data.com or LinkedIn to find someone to speak with at the organization. Find their emaille address (dont send an InMail).Write a relevant email outlining why youre interested in learning more about the company. If you show your passion for the job and ask great questions, you will get a response.Following these five steps will give you the best opportunity to move forward in the hiring process.Now what?Heres how to get the job after passing the initial resume screen.Beef up your online presenceOnce employers like your resume, theyll dig deeper. This includes a second look at your resume and a Google search.Link to an online portfolio of your top projects from your resume. Our data shows that people spend on average almost four minutes viewing an online portfolio? ?compared to a six-second resume screen. Its your best opportunity to make a lasting impression.You should also have a basic LinkedIn account and Twitter profile. If youre not planning to be active on Twitter, delete your account. Clean up your Facebook and Instagram accounts to make sure you dont trigger any red flags. Red flags are anything stupid youve done in the past with picture or text evidence.Prepare for the interviewResearch is your best friend for interview preparation. If youre getting an interview? ?the employer is interested.Your hours of previous research will be extremely useful here. If you know the company, the product and the people inside and out you will do well. A simple Google search will also help you find the most common interview questions?. Employers usually ask at least a handful of these. Get an idea of their style, and try to emulate it. Same goes for the compan y style. Another trick is to get in touch with people who have interviewed there before and ask for any insight.Close the dealIf youre well prepared and confident going into the interview, youll nail it.James Clift is the CEO atVisualCV the fastest way for job seekers to build stand-out resumes and portfolios. Build your free online resume and view thousands of real resume samples atVisualCV.comtoday.FollowVisualCVon Twitter visualcv.

One of the Most Overlooked Options for Tutor Resume

One of the Most Overlooked Options for Tutor Resume You cannot write an inordinate amount of in an English Tutor resume objective you have to be succinct and specific. If this is the case, you can some excess money for a Tutor. In the summertime, applications are restricted to returning tutors. The tutor resume objective samples provided inside this post will act as a valuable help and template you may use in making one for your resume whenever you should put in an application for a tutoring job. The work title of tutor covers a variety of roles. Problem Solving As a tutor, youve got to have great problem-solving abilities and not only math ones. Therefore, besides turning into a professional, you might also go for individual tutoring in a skill in which youre adept. Provided that you include all the appropriate info, sometimes a different look can be what makes you stick out from the remainder of the applicants. Utilizing power text and expressions and making certain that y our abilities and qualifications sparkle is crucial. By applying the reverse chronology format, the man reviewing your resume will get to observe the most crucial details straight away. When writing a resume, it helps to review resume examples that are associated with your occupation. The Tutor Resume Cover Up A tutor should develop new creative methods of teaching to engage students in the learning approach. The aim of tutoring is to help students to develop into independent learners and raise their motivation to learn. A tutors mission is to aid students be prosperous. Organization Being a tutor can get messy, especially if youve got multiple students and perhaps even multiple subjects that youre teaching. The principal function of the internet tutor is to give partial supervision and guidance. Students like teacher that are innovative. Finding the Problem Before you start to aid a student, youve got to learn what the student knows and doesnt know. It is essential for th e student to understand when to apply a rule. A History of Tutor Resume Refuted Communication is among the essential skills for a tutor. Youre asking for an extremely specific job, so make sure any skills you include are laser-focused that job. Its not sufficient to highlight your abilities and experience for a well-written resume. Communication Skills To be a tutor you want to have excellent communication abilities. Next, you wish to jump straight in and describe your abilities and why youre going to be ideal for the job. You should not submit the exact one to all jobs you desire to submit an application for. Its even possible that some agencies or recruiters may request teaching qualifications, certifications or diplomas that are specifically relevant and useful in various areas involved with online teaching such as IT. Be certain to include job particular skills. When you are working to make flawless case management resume make certain you highlight the Pinterest. Key to building and keeping an awesome reputation for a tutor is writing a flawless resume. Be certain you include your work experience and the accomplishments which you achieved in all the numerous employment stages you passed by. The Start of Tutor Resume Teaching someone is the very best approach to learn something, therefore its unavoidable to learn at work. You may explain why you decide to put in the area of language teaching and why you own a passion for it. If you have little teaching experience, include volunteer positions and co-curricular pursuits that involve teaching in some manner. Independent thinking Independent thinking is the practice of being in a position to consider by yourself, without someone else guiding you. To become a specialist in any area, you have to learn something new and enhance your skills continuously. Otherwise, youre discover that its extremely tough to complete your work, and you are going to end up losing it. If you own a strength that yo u really need to see, think about using a headline. Please look at our resume builder if you need assistance putting it together Many teachers get the chance to teach during their studies as a component of their degree program. If a specific problem has presented difficulty before, the student needs to understand whether he or shes on the right path. By way of example, student A might understand something readily, whereas it isnt necessary that student B might comprehend the very saatkorn with this much ease. Then have the student solve an issue of the very same type. The Tried and True Method for Tutor Resume in Step by Step Detail There are samples offered in the Resume Templates that can be access anytime and prepared to download free of charge. Contact info section is quite easy. If you wish to find out more about how resume formats work, read our handy guide and get going on your customized document.

WPEO Recognizes Outstanding Women Business Owners and Corporations

WPEO Recognizes Outstanding Women Business Owners and Corporations The Women Presidents Educational Organization (WPEO) not only creates increased access to geschftlicher umgang opportunities for women business enterprises (WBEs), the organization also celebrates how the WBEs maximize these ventures. During its Annual Awards Breakfast on March 7, 2014, the nonprofit recognized outstanding achievements on behalf of womens business enterprises, corporations and womens business advocates in New York, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut and the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas.Winners of the Outstanding Corporation awards are selected based upon accomplishments in support of women business owners and the womens business community, innovation, Done Deal participation, and overall commitment to the mission of the WPEO. Advocate awardees are selected based on significant involvement with WPEO and support of women-owned businesses.2014 Award winners includeNew York flchePepsiCo Outstanding CorporationJaymie Mitchell, Bank of America Outstanding Womens Business AdvocateHallie Satz, HighRoad Press Star AwardMary Nittolo, The Studio Presidents Award DC RegionExxon Mobil Corporation Outstanding CorporationJacqueline Smith, New Kent Coatings Star AwardCarol ORiordan, The ORiordan Bethel Law Firm, LLP Presidents AwardWPEO works collaboratively with WBEs and Corporate Members to promote business development opportunities. Those that have been successful and generated contracts need to be recognized for their commitments and contribution, Dr. Marsha Firestone, WPEO president and founder, said. The awards were created to recognize and validate Corporate Members who are supportive of women-owned businesses. Of course not to be forgotten is celebrating Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) for their success in opening doors to the Corporate Members of WPEO.As the north east regional affiliates of the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nations leading advocate of women-owned businesses and third-party certification organization, WPEO certifies and validates that companies have met official criteria as a business legitimately-owned, managed and controlled by women.To commemorate the organization s 15th anniversary, Firestone also announced the recent launch of the new WPEO website, which includesResponsive plan capabilities across desktop and mobile platformsA new system to manage and register for events and Done DealsAbundant information about Corporate Members andExplanation of WPEO joining process and benefits.

The Pursuit of Workplace Happiness

The Pursuit of Workplace HappinessWorkplace HappinessThe Pursuit of Workplace HappinessWhat makes for a happy workplace? If you look at the results of recent surveys, you wont come away with a clear answer. But one thing is clear The happier you are at work, the more likely you wont be looking for another job. And it appears that the higher your salary, the more likely youre planning to stick around.A survey of 2,000 U.S. workers by workforce services provider Hudson and independent research firm Rasmussen Reports found that about 5 of every 7 employees (72%) would recommend their companies as good places to work, up 10% from a previous survey in 2005. But tucked under that bit of good nachrichten for employers are unterstellung warning shotsThe less a person earns, the less happy he or she is with the company. Most of the survey respondents said their companies value them as employees, and make conscious efforts to keep them happy so they dont leave. But those who earn less than $40 ,000 a year are more likely to answer otherwise.Less happiness = more likely to be looking elsewhere. Employees who are actively seeking new jobs are less likely to be happy with their current employers and more likely to answer that their employers arent bending over backwards to keep the hired help happy.Retention strategy? Whats that?? The first baby boomer just applied for a Social Security pension. Expect a lot more of that, which will make it tougher on companies to fill job roles as these new retirees begin their long, slow fade into the sunset. But 75% of managers surveyed said theyre not aware of formal employee retention strategies at their companies. If these companies havent begun to think about how to hang onto their hired help and the experience and institutional memory they provide, they need to, by looking at the things that can keep their workers happy. That ranges from compensation and benefits to management climate, work culture, opportunities for advancement, and work-life balance, which is a much higher priority among employees than employers, according to a recent survey by recruiting and staffing company Spherion.

8 stupid workplace rules that make everyone miserable

8 stupid workplace rules that make everyone miserable8 stupid workplace rules that make everyone miserableCompanies need to have rules - thats a given - but they dont have to be shortsighted and lazy attempts at creating order.I understand the temptation. As my company has grown, so has our difficulty maintaining standards. There have been many instances where someone crossed a line, and we were tempted to respond with a new rule that applied to everyone.But thats where fruchtwein companies blow it.In just about every instance, upon closer inspection, we realized that establishing a new rule would be a passive and morale-killing way to address the problem. The vast majority of the time, the problem needs to be handled one-on-one by the employees manager.When companies create ridiculous and demoralizing rules to halt the outlandish behavior of a few individuals, its a management problem. Theres no sense in alienating your entire workforce because you dont know how to manage performa nce. It makes a bad situation that much worse.Here are some of the worst rules that companies create when they fall into this trap.1. Bell curves and forced rankings of performanceSome individual talents follow a natural bell-shaped curve, but job performance does not. When you force employees to fit into a pre-determined ranking system, you do three things 1) incorrectly evaluate peoples performance, 2) make everyone feel like a number, and 3) create insecurity and dissatisfaction when performing employees fear that theyll be fired due to the forced system.This is yet another example of a lazy policy that avoids the hard and necessary work of evaluating each individual objectively, based on his or her merits.2. Ridiculous requirements for attendance, leave, and time offPeople are salaried for the work they do, not the specific hours they sit at their desks. When you ding salaried employees for showing up five minutes late even though they routinely stay late and put in time on the weekend, you send the homilie that policies take precedence over performance. It reeks of distrust, and you should never put someone on salary that you dont trust.When companies are unnecessarily strict in requiring documentation for bereavement and medical leave, it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of employees who deserve better. After all, if you have employees who will fake a death to miss a days work, what does that say about your company?3. Restricting Internet useThere are certain sites that no one should be visiting at work, and Im not talking about Facebook. But once you block pornography and the other obvious stuff, its a difficult and arbitrary process deciding where to draw the line.Most companies draw it in the wrong place. People should be able to kill time on the Internet during breaks. When companies unnecessarily restrict peoples Internet activity, it does more than demoralize those that cant check Facebook it limits peoples ability to do their jobs.Many companies restrict Internet activity so heavily that it makes it difficult for people to do online research. The most obvious example? Checking the Facebook profile of someone you just interviewed.4. Banning mobile phonesIf I ban mobile phones in the office, no one will waste time texting and talking to family and friends, right? Ya, right. Organizations need to do the difficult work of hiring people who are trustworthy and who wont take advantage of things.They also need to train managers to deal effectively with employees who underperform and/or violate expectations (such as spending too much time on their phones). This is also hard work, but its worth it.The easy, knee-jerk alternative (banning phones) demoralizes good employees who need to check their phones periodically due to pressing family or health issues or as an appropriate break from work.5. Draconian e-mail policiesThis is a newer one thats already moving down a slippery slope. Some companies are getting so restrictive with e-mai l use that employees must select from a list of pre-approved topics before the e-mail software will allow them to send a katechese. Again, its about trust.If you dont trust your people to use e-mail properly, why did you hire them in the first place? In trying to rein in the bad guys, you make everyone miserable every time they send an e-mail. And guess what? The bad guys are the ones who will find ways to get around any system you put in place.6. Stealing employees frequent-flyer milesIf theres one thing that road-weary traveling employees earn, its their frequent flier miles. When employers dont let people keep their miles for personal use, its a greedy move that fuels resentment with every flight.Work travel is a major sacrifice of time, energy, and sanity. Taking employees miles sends the message that you dont appreciate their sacrifice and that youll hold on to every last dollar at their expense.7. Pathetic attempts at political correctnessMaintaining high standards for how peo ple treat each other is a wonderful thing as we live in a world thats rife with animosity and discrimination. Still employers have to know where to draw the line.Going on a witch-hunt because someone says Bless you to another employee that sneezed (real example) creates an environment of paranoia and stifled self-expression, without improving how people treat each other.8. Shutting down self-expression (personal items and dress code)Many organizations control what people can have at their desks. A life-size poster of a shirtless Fabio? I get it thats a problem. But employers dictate how many photographs people can display, whether or not they can use a water bottle, and how many items theyre allowed to place on their desks. Once again, its the ol If I could just hire robots I wouldnt have this problem approach.Same goes for dress codes. They work well in private high schools, but theyre unnecessary at work. Hire professionals and theyll dress professionally. When someone crosses the line, their manager needs to have the skill to address the issue directly.Otherwise, youre making everyone wish they worked somewhere else because management is too inept to handle touchy subjects effectively.Bringing it all togetherIf companies can rethink their policies and remove or alter those that are unnecessary or demoralizing, well all have a more enjoyable and productive time at work.Travis Bradberry is the coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the cofounder of TalentSmart.This article originally appeared onLinkedIn.

This shocking number of people have nothing saved for an emergency

This shocking number of people have nothing saved for an emergencyThis shocking number of people have nothing saved for an emergencyWith unstable schedules, fluctuating paychecks, and difficulty getting on the schedule often enough, hourly workers are hard-pressed to save anything, even for an emergency. A new report by Branch, a mobile platform for hourly workers, found that 40% of all respondents said they had nothing saved up for an emergency, while 75% of respondents reported having less than $500 saved for their emergency fund.close dialog Advertisementclose dialog/* effects for .bx-campaign-1012257 *//* custom css .bx-campaign-1012257 */.bx-custom.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-type-agilityzone .bx-close z-index 2-ms-keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from -ms-transform rotate(0deg) to -ms-transform rotate(360deg) -moz-keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from -moz-transform rotate(0deg) to -mo z-transform rotate(360deg) -webkit-keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from -webkit-transform rotate(0deg) to -webkit-transform rotate(360deg) keyframes bx-anim-1012257-spin from transform rotate(0deg) to transform rotate(360deg) bx-close-inside-1012257 top 0 right 0 /* KD - Remove padding from video wrapper and set height to 100% */.bx-custom.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-row-video .bx-video-wrapper padding-top 0important height 100%.bx-custombx-campaign-1012257 bx-creative-1012257 .bx-wrap height auto/* KD - Change positioning to static as that was not necesaary and here you can adjust the height of the video element */.bx-custom.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-row-video .bx-video-wrapper video position static/* rendered styles .bx-campaign-1012257 */.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-active-step-1 .bx-creative *first-child width 100%.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-active-step-1 .bx -creative background-color transparentborder-style nonemax-width 900px.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257.bx-active-step-1 .bx-close stroke whitebackground-color blackborder-style solidborder-color whiteborder-width 1px.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-group-1012257-AFvXBOB padding 10pxdisplay blockwidth auto.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-element-1012257-J0EiS8Y width auto.bxc.bx-campaign-1012257 .bx-element-1012257-J0EiS8Y *first-child padding 2px 4pxfont-size 10pxcolor rgb(255, 255, 255)text-transform uppercasebackground-color rgb(0, 0, 0)background-color rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.34)The report surveyed 3,000 hourly workers in the food service, retail, and healthcare industries.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreOne factor that contributes to the inability to save was erratic scheduling nearly 80% of the hourly workers surveyed experience some degree of pay variance from week to week, meaning they cant co unt on getting paid a similar amount each pay period. Over half (57%) of hourly workers said a stable and predictable schedule is very important to them.Its also difficult for an hourly worker to work as much as they want to. Only about half (50%) said they were scheduled for the number of hours they would like to work. Over 40% of workers said theyd like to work more hours.Because earnings are directly tied to the number of hours worked, unstable, unpredictable hours can undermine financial security for workers of all ages, said Dr. Susan Lambert, Associate Professor in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.Basic living costs such as rent/mortgage (58%) utilities (47%) and groceries (42%) were their main financial concerns.As for housing arrangements, over a quarter (27%) lived with family and friends for free, while 16.5% contributed to a mortgage. The rest paid rent.Still, the workers surveyed were loyal to their companies they were twice as in terested in using their experience to get a promotion at their current employer (32%) instead of switching jobs (16%).