3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online Reputation

3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online Reputation3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online Reputation3 Job Seeker Tips for Protecting Your Online ReputationTodays guest post is written by Anthony Kirlew (pictured), author ofThe Internet absatzwirtschaft Guide for Small Business. He has founded three online marketing firms and served in various corporate roles such as Search Engine Marketing Director and Web Marketing Manager. Anthony also operates his own blog, oldschoolseo.com.Its common today for savvy employers and recruiters to do a web search on a prospective employee as part of a background check. I recall an interview a few years back when a hiring manager asked me about my involvement in the real estate business as well as a network marketing company Id been affiliated withdetails I hadnt mentioned in my resume. As I answered his questions (knowing he already had the answers), I thought This guy has really done his homework. That interview taught me the importance of online reputation management.For those who are notlage aware, online reputation management simply means monitoring what is said online about you, and ensuring that only positive attributes can be found in the search engines. As it relates to your job search, its critical that you know what the search engines will reveal about you before you submit your resume or contact a recruiter. For example, if you enjoy the party scene and youve got pictures on Facebook that everyone but your mother can binnensee, the hiring manager may learn a bit more about you than youd prefer. Or maybe youre a blogger and you express political or religious viewpoints that are controversial or opposite those of the hiring manager.There are many similar scenarios and they absolutely affect hiring decisions. We know hiring managers are not supposed to be biased, but lets be real.Here are three tips to help you monitor and manage your online reputationGoogle Yourself. If you have not set up a Google Alert for your name, do it. This is a free service from Google that alerts you any time it indexes content that includes your name. This way, if theres anything questionable out there, youll know quickly and can respond accordingly. Visit Google Alerts to register.Keep Your Personal Accounts Private. One of the most basic things you can do to keep your personal life away from the search engines is to make koranvers your social media profiles (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, MySpace) are set to private. (In Facebook, for example, you can check your privacy settings by clicking Account, then Privacy Settings.) This way, only people you authorize will be able to see your photos and posts.Create a Separate Online Profile for Career Purposes. Consider setting up social media profiles that highlight only your job history, professional accomplishments, and career goals. I recommend that every job seeker create a profile on LinkedIn, the largest professional social networking site, which is highly respected by hiring managers. In fact, many recruiters and hiring managers routinely look for candidates on LinkedIn. I also strongly recommend that you do industry-related writing on trusted sites in addition to posting your resume online and creating social media profiles.However, there are two circumstances you may not be able to overcome with this strategy When you have the same name as someone who has done something unethical or criminal and when you have done something unethical or criminal. Either way, upfront communication is the key. Its often easy to overcome a case of mistaken identity by highlighting what that person does and some facts that distinguish you, such as age and industry. If the problem is an incident from your own past, again, be up front about it. Let the employer know what happened and the circumstances surrounding it. Most of all, emphasize that you have learned a valuable lesson and that it was a catalyst for personal change.So, what are you waiting for? See what the web has to say about you Then, make sure that anyone else who searches your name can see only what you want them to see.

This 20-something is on her way to becoming a FIRE Millennial

This 20-something is on her way to becoming a FIRE MillennialThis 20-something is on her way to becoming a FIRE MillennialImagine being able to retire and do whatever you want with your life by the age of 35. Thats what Gwen, 28, originally had in mind when she became a part of the FIRE movement.FIRE means financially independent, retire earlyand is a popular trend among millennials who want more out of life than 40-hour work weeks and stacks of bills.Its all about freedom andflexibility, she told Swirled. By having all of this money saved up, Im able to take risks and chances that other millennials arent able to because Im not tied down to anything. Im not beholden to anybody.Gwen, who asked that her last name not be shared for privacy reasons, is the founder of the blogFiery Millennialsand co-host of the podcastFIRE strenge ausbildung Podcast. When she first began her focus on becoming a FIRE millennial in 2012, Gwen lived in Illinois. Her Midwest location coupled with a good salar y and lack of student loans and other debt made saving money easy. However, it welches another financial blog that ended up putting her on track for FIRE.Learning About FIREIve always been pretty good with money, Gwen said. I was very blessed to have parents that were financially savvy. So they taught me to not put more on credit cards than I could pay off, get short loans and low interest rates and pay those off quickly, and to pay with cash as much as you can. I had a good foundation, but then I foundMr. Money Mustaches blog. My mind was blown because this was a path that was clearly laid out for me to follow.Gwen knew from the get-go that she didnt want to work in an office for 40 years. She was lucky to find full-time employment right after graduation, but still craved the freedom and flexibility of a college students lifestyle and schedule. She just wanted it with more money.Becoming A FIRE MillennialSaving money was the first step, but Gwen realized she needed to be deliberate with the way she spent her money, too.This helped her see a path to becoming a FIRE millennial.I was fortunate enough to be debt free in college, Gwen said. I bought my car in cash, which I am still driving. Instead of paying $250 to $300 per month in a car payment, Im able to sock that away instead.I abfluged out with a three-bedroom house for $900, which in the Midwest is a bit much. And then each subsequent place that I moved was a little smaller and a little less, until finally, I ended up buying a house. And that house is special because it wasnt just for living in, it was a money-maker. I lived in one unit and rented out the other two. And so my housing costs were negligible because I didnt spend any money toward housing at all. Being deliberate about my spending and lifestyle choices really helped me get ahead.Advice For Others Looking To Join The FIRE MovementBecoming a FIRE millennial isnt for everyone, but it can definitely allow for freedom and flexibility earlier in lif e. And while saving a lot of money is great, so is living a quality life while doing it.If someone feels like they dont have enough money and theyre unhappy because they cant go out and do anything, then they might be saving too much and they need to back off a little bit, Gwen said. It should feel on the borderline of uncomfortable, but if youre unhappy with the way your lifestyle is then you need to cut back a little bit because theres no use in saving a bunch of money to be miserable. You need to enjoy your life while youre saving.The amount of money that youre comfortable saving is going to be different from the person next to you. However, if you can get into the habit of stashing that cash away before you even see it, youll forget that its even there. Gwen did this and forgot what her full paycheck even looked like.Beyond straight-up saving money from your paycheck, Gwen also suggested that millennials look to hack their experiences, like when they travel.I started travel-hack ing by getting credit cards with bonuses, she said. I would travel to places where I could stay with somebody and reduce my costs even lower. It really helped when I went to Australia and the whole trip cost me about $3,000. I was able to stay for free with people I knew. And I am more than happy to return the favor.Actually Knowing What You Need To RetireBesides working hard to save more money than ever before, its also important to know what youll need to retire early and live comfortably. Gwen realized that she wasnt able to live comfortably on a freelancers budget after a few years and returned to a full-time job by the start of 2019 to accelerate her path to becoming a FIRE millennial.When I started out, it was with the knowledge that I didnt want to work for 40 years, she said. But Ive kind of relaxed a little bit. I started out thinking that Ill be retired by the age of 35 with saving, like, $600,000 because Id need, like, $25,000 per year to live. But I realized that I didnt like spending that little bit of money and that Id need to save up more in order to be comfortable in my retirement. I dont have a date or an age in mind anymore because I dont exactly know what I need. But I know that if I can save up as much money as I can, eventually Ill get to a point where I can step back and live off of my investments.Though Gwen may not reach FIRE by the time shes 35, shes still on track to retire earlier than her peers may be. By saving money before spending, hacking her expenses and being deliberate about her spending, shell be able to live the life shes always wanted, both now in her 20s and later on when she does finally retire early.By following Gwens example, you too can start making your way toward an early retirement. And even if the FIRE movement isnt right for you, youre sure to feel fierce in your finances before you know it.This article was originally published on Thrive.

4 reasons to include your team in your next hiring process

4 reasons to include your gruppe in your next hiring process4 reasons to include your team in your next hiring processWhen you hire someone new, youre introducing risk and reward into the set equation of your office tribe. Teams can be made or broken by this one new hires skills and interpersonal dynamics. Its why hiring is the most important decision a manager can make. Thats why careers experts argue its so important that this decision shouldnt be made alone and you should include team members in the process.When done right, collaborative hiring is a win-win for both sides It vets good and bad hires and it can make your teams feel valued to be included.Heres why you need to include current employees in your next hire and how to do it right1) It makes things easier once the candidate gets hiredIf you let candidates talk and interview with your team, this benefits both your team and the chosen candidate because it will build relationships that will make it easier for them to join the group if theyre hired.Being a good fit means elend only having the skills to do the job, but it also means being a good fit for the community your job serves and the organization you work for. And thats exactly the kind of vetting process collaborative hiring can improve.Randy Conley,Vice President of Client Services and Trust Practice Leader at the leadership development companyThe Ken Blanchard Companies, says that managers who fail to seek the eintrag of their team members in a new hire are putting themselves and the candidate at a disadvantage.I think not soliciting the input of your existing team sets you up for a gap in trust and a harder onboarding process of who youre bringing on whether its a peer of theirs or a manager, he said.With an inclusive hiring process, the new hire gets to ask honest questions about the company culture to their future team, and your team gets to see how a candidate seems in person - not just on their resume and cover letter. When that chosen can didate starts their first day of work, they will already have the beginnings of relationships with the people they will be working with on a regular basis.2) It makes employees feel valuedCollaborative hiring doesnt just help you find strong hires, it also keeps teams strong to know that their voice and opinions matter.But how do you make employees feel valued while also letting them know that they dont have final say? Conley says he makes expectations clear from the beginning about what role each team member will play in the hiring process is and how their opinions will factor into the final decision.Conley said he tells his team members, I value their input and it will influence my decision on who to hire and I leave it at that because it ultimately is my decision.He warns that managers should avoid giving false promises to staff that their input matters, or else its a trustbuster because if Ive already made up my mind, thats worse than not involving them.3) It vets candidates for cultural fitDespite the advantages of involving your team in the hiring process, there are many command-and-control managers who dont subscribe to collaborative hiring. The thinking goes, its much quicker and easier to hire someone when the decision process is just up to you. Which is true. But to those managers, Conley argues that you gain more than you lose when you involve your teamYes, itll take a little longer. Yes, its logistically harder. Yes, it can present some challenging team dynamics depending on whos included, whos not. But at the end of the day, I think it is worth it because you get multiple perspectives and views that you may not pick up on your own. The more information you have as a hiring manager, the better equipped you are to make a decision.In fact, people who support collaborative hiring say there are plenty of ways to include stakeholders in the hiring process without slowing down the process too much.Cheryl Hyatt, a partner of Hyatt-Fennell, an executive se arch firm, cited an example ofa college looking for a new vice president. The schools search committee of faculty, students and staff had winnowed the pool to two candidates who were then brought to campus to meet with the wider community. The committee was split on who to pick because both candidates were perfect on paper, so they needed help.behauptung two individuals had such differing skill sets and differing personalities that they wanted to bring them both in as the finalists. When they came on to campusthe campus community truly went behind one candidate and the other candidate pretty much bombed, Hyatt said. So while it was up to the president who was going to get hired, the campus community was able to provide input and they all aligned behind one particular candidate.4) It adds overall accountabilityBy including your team in the hiring process, it spreads accountability and maintains trust within a team even if the hiring decision leads to a bad outcome like a termination. Conley cites the example of hiring an employee who he eventually needed to fire because she was not a good fit. Because his team had signed off on the vetting of this hire, Conley said it was a collective ugh when the hire didnt work out.If you get your team to buy into your next hire, theyre less likely to mutiny if the hire doesnt pan out, because they were as invested as you in the hires success.People who plan the battle rarely battle the plan, Conley said. If you involve your team in not just hiring decisions, but also in the strategies youre developing as a team, the action plans youre focused on, it creates much more ownership. Theyre invested in it. They will be less likely to work against your plans if theyve had a hand informing them.

5 Skills and Drills to Prep for Job Interviews

5 Skills and Drills to Prep for Job einstellungsgesprchs5 Skills and Drills to Prep for Job vorstellungsgesprchsbewerberbewerbungsgesprchs can be intimidating and scary, and having a good system in place to prep for job interviews is essential. From knowing what to wear to how to handle sensitive subjects, job interviews are full of formalities, emotions, and questions. To help you make the most of your time in front of hiring managers, the skills and drills below will help you prep for job interviews in their many formsHere are five skills and drills to help you prep for job interviews and make a great impression1. bewerbungsinterview PreparationPreparing for the interview puts you on top of your game when its showtime. These resources will help you tischset the stage for interview success.15 Quick and Dirty Job Interview TipsHow to Prepare for Different Types of Job Interviews5 Steps to Prepare for Your Second InterviewStand Out in Your Next Job InterviewHow to Use a Mock Interview to Boost Your Job SearchHow to Make the Most of Your Time in an Interview5 Steps to Make a Great Impression During a Job InterviewInfographic 5 Things to Avoid in a Job InterviewHow to Prepare for a Remote Job InterviewHow a Job Interview Is Like a First Date7 Job Interview Mistakes to Avoid2. Sensitive SubjectsInterviewing can be tricky, especially when dealing with sensitive subjects. These articles will help you navigate those less than clear waters.10 Tips for Navigating Job Interviews After Addiction RecoveryShould You Mention Your Divorce in a Job Interview?8 Questions to Avoid at the End of an Interview5 Tips for Talking About Failure with Potential EmployersWhy Have You Been out of Work So Long?3. Remote InterviewsIt might be an interview, but conducting one remotely comes with its own set of challenges. Check out these resources to help you prepare and ace your remote interview.Infographic How to Interview for Remote JobsVideo Interview 6 Things You Might Not Think of But Should5 Job Interview Worries Remote Job Seekers Dont Need to Have9 Tips for a Successful Online Job InterviewWhat Your Video Interview Background Really Says About YouHow to Conduct a Video Job Interview with StyleHow to Be More Personable in Phone Interviews4 Things to Do Before Your Next Video Interview8 Tips for a Successful Online InterviewTips to Prepare for a Video Job Interview5 Tips for a Successful Phone InterviewPhone Interview Tip Smile as You Speak4 Office Tips for Skype InterviewsPhone Interview Tips That Bring Success4 Tips for a Perfect Phone Interview5 Ways to Ace Your Next Video Interview4. Interview TricksEven interviewing has its own tricks, and the below resources will help you utilize them to make a better impression.Best- and Worst- Colors to Wear to a Job InterviewHow to End Your Job Interviews on a High NoteWant More Job Interviews? Think Like a Hiring ManagerNot Getting Job Interviews? Heres What to DoHow to Turn Work Accomplishments into Stories for Your J ob InterviewsAre You a Nervous Job Interviewee? Heres How to Hide ItInfographic Prepare for Your Job Interview with Super FoodsVideo The Hidden Power of Smiling in Your Job Search, TED TalkHow to Turn a Potential Job Rejection into a Job OfferInfographic 5 Things to Avoid in a Job Interview5. Interview QuestionsDespite preparing for an interview, it can be difficult to predict which questions will be asked. Check out the below resources to learn about common interview questions, and how to best answer them.Job Interviewers What They Really MeanHow to Answer Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?What Makes You Unique? How to Answer This Job Interview Question5 Odd Job Interview Questions and What They Really Want to Know3 Tell Me About Yourself Answers for Job InterviewsWhat to Do When Employers Ask Illegal QuestionsJob Seekers Tell Us the 20 Weirdest Job Interview Questions3 Questions You Should Never Ask in the First Job InterviewQuestions to Ask in an Informational InterviewHow to Answe r the Question, Tell Me About Yourself5 Remote Job Interview Questions to Prepare ForHow Moms Can Handle 5 Tricky Job Interview QuestionsJob Seekers 19 Questions to Ask in Job InterviewsHow to Answer Would You Rather Work on a Team or Alone?10 Job Interview Questions for Remote JobsFor more great resources to help you prep for job interviews, check out the Job Interview Tips section on the blogReaders, how do you prep for job interviews? What tips do you have to offer other job seekers? Share with us below

What I Learned From Taking the Wrong Job

What I Learned From Taking the Wrong JobWhat I Learned From Taking the Wrong Job Sometimes a job seems right on paper, but once you actually start, you find that you have made a terrible mistake . Maybe the hiring manager painted an untrue picture, maybe you approached the job wearing rose-colored glasses or maybe you were so eager to get out of your last position that you leapt without looking.Whatever the reason, every wrong job can still teach some lessons that benefit you long after you have moved on. That may not be evident as you head to work each miserable day, but keep your head up and consider your mistake a learning opportunity for next time.Jason Hall In my 20s, I worked as a retail manager, and I took a promotion that involved transferring to another location about 40 miles from my home. The next year-plus turned into one of the hardest periods of my professional life. And it welches essentially all because I went in with terribly wrong expectations.As a retail manager, long hours and working different shifts are commonplace. It wasnt out of the ordinary to still be at the store at 10 p.m., only to have to be back in before 7 a.m. the next day if a truck was scheduled to deliver merchandise.Unfortunately, I went into the job with the expectation that it would be an easy transition and my personal and social life would not be affected. The reality was very different between working longer hours, a much longer commute and a schedule that changed all the time, I was forced to reevaluate my concept of work-life balance and make some personal sacrifices for the sake of my career.To make a long story short, I sucked it up and worked hard to support my store and team, and I learned the value of hiring great people to take the burden off myself. I eventually earned another promotion to a better opportunity - and made sure I went into that new job with the right expectations .In the nearly 20 years since, Ive avoided making the mistake of not really knowing what I was getting into, and its paid off immensely in helping me be a better employee and partner. And thats helped me earn a lot of opportunities for advancement over the years.Maurie Backman When I first graduated college, I landed a job at a hedge fund that was exciting at first, but it went from interesting to awful in a matter of months. Not only was the environment abusive, but I really wanted a more creative role than the one I was in. But rather than stick it out for, say, a year, and then resign at that point, I wound up working there for almost five years. The reason? I was relatively well paid for someone my age, and I didnt want to give that income up.Ill be the first person to tell you that sometimes it does pay to follow the money. Like many people my age, I graduated college with a decent pile of debt and a pretty pathetic amount of savings . My goal in working that job was to pay off my loans and pad my bank account before leaving. But once I re ached those milestones, I made myself stay on even longer because of the money, even though I was miserable.In hindsight, its quite clear that my first job out of college was the wrong one for me, even though I managed to make the best of it. Staying at that job so much longer than necessary wound up being good for my wallet, but bad for my career. But I did learn one key lesson Never take a job you wont be happy with just for the money - at least not for the long haul. Frankly, lifes too short for that.Daniel B. Kline Early in my career I worked for a now-defunct newspaper company that had a reputation for not treating people well. In my first job with the company, I had a decent boss who insulated us from corporate, so I never really knew how little the CEO valued people.That changed when I first interviewed for a promotion. The CEO conducted the interview, and we were talking about management style when he shared a piece of his philosophy with me.Sometimes I like to fire some one for no reason just to keep everyone else on their toes, he said.That was a red flag , but it was one I chose to ignore because I wanted the job. There were many others over the next few months, as I learned that upper management rewarded competency with more work and less help. The CEO - and by extension, the rest of upper management - did not see people as assets.Certainly, thats not how I operate, and it put me in a situation like my first boss. I could be a buffer for the employees, or everyone could be miserable.I chose to take the burden on myself and spent over a year knowing I had made a mistake. Still, I also learned an important lesson in how to treat people and that when people tell you who and what they are, its best to listen.

Resume for Retail - Overview

Resume for Retail - Overview Want to Know More About Resume for Retail? That 2nd retail clothing resume example makes you appear to be a standee. An eye for detail is an important skill when attempting to draw customers to an item. The actual golds in the particulars. Even though the method is identical, you need to know when to back off or come on. Work experience does not need to be paid to be relevant. You must find out about the job which youre applying for to be in a position to compose a productive executive resume. You can also like Marketing Analyst Resume Templates A man or woman who would like to apply for this sort of job should have a resume. Employers know youre searching for work, and therefore you dont need to waste valuable space on your resume stating the obvious. Companies want to understand how you contributed to the success of your prior employers. When youre applying for part-time and casual work, employers are somewhat more likely to request a CV. Th e Resume for Retail Game Retail Sales Associates play a vital role in retail establishments since they increase customer satisfaction and generate increased company revenues by helping clients purchase solutions. Selling Skills naturally, to be a great retailer, you will need to have the ability to sell products. The sales associate is generally the very first rolle a customer encounters on going into the store. Examples sales has is that you must seem good in order to be successful in sales. You must know how to create the best retail sales associate you could send to the geschftsleben and offer good first impact about your self, understand it here. To make an eye-catching retail sales associate resume, you will need to incorporate a few vital components. Its an adequate store manager resume. Adhere to these eight ideas to create the great retail sales resume. Ensuring that each and every customer has a superb experience each and whenever they come into your store goes a way s toward the accomplishment of where you are. Perhaps, but theres no reason you cannot locate the inner sales person in you and become one. Characteristics of Resume for Retail Completing the award will greatly enhance your career planning and jobhunting skills, improve your work readiness and offer you the confidence and strategies to acquire a graduate career. Aside from including your abilities and achievements, you should also incorporate previous work experience alongside character references to boost your odds of getting hired for the job that you desire. Additionally, there are opportunities for activity organisers, who dont demand a TEFL qualification. Find out more about retail careers. The Appeal of Resume for Retail Resume samples are a practical approach to direct your own writing. Ensure your resume is very clear and on point. Vital Pieces of Resume for Retail Our resume builder provides you with tips and examples about how to compose your resume summary. Jus t make sure you double-check with the work description in the event the business accepts PDF. There are many types of retail stores and a few of those are 2. Use the sample retail resume on top of this post. Top Resume for Retail Secrets You are able to receive a fantastic idea of keywords from the work description. As a rule of thumb, you shouldnt use the specific same resume for each work program, particularly if youre applying for jobs with various titles. It is crucial to make an engaging resume summary, thats the secret to giving an employer reason to read the remainder of your resume. Your summary ought to be written in bullet points to prevent writing longer paragraphs. Its necessary for you to decide which aspect in retail that youre going to be in a position to showcase your strengths or assets. Retail should have the ability objective understand the merchandise and services that you are selling. Not all your work experience should come from full-time management . Constantly make certain that work ethic and business standard is totally adhered to during working hours. Including all this information helps to ensure that potential employers can connect with you in various ways. You may also use a mix of functional and chronological resumes. Its simpler than you believe. All fantastic resumes start with the right contact info.

Late Workers No Problem

Late Workers No ProblemEvery employer has experienced the annoyance associated with workers casually strolling into the office 15, 30, or even 60 minutes after the work day has begun. Though you may have met and hired your workers using video interviews, their current positions are far from virtual, so you expect punctuality.However, a recent study suggests that perhaps you can be more lenient when it comes to late workers. The study, which was conducted among 1,000 American, British, German, French and Irish employees and employers reveals 73 percent of bosses dont mind if employees are late for work. In fact, U.S. employers will tolerate workers showing up 37 minutes late on average.There are many industries, like healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing where workers usually work on shifts, where late workers are still quite unacceptable. But if youre the head honcho in a creative industry, allowing workers more flexibility with their schedules may improve employee relations and your bottom line.So how do you know when tardiness among workers is OK?When Its OK For Employees To Come In LateAccording to the aforementioned study, employers who are more relaxed about workers coming in late expect employees to be more readily available throughout the day. In the age of laptops and smartphones, one in five employees has already checked his work email by 7 a.m., and the average employee has already spent up to 46 minutes working before he arrives at the office.The work day has extended beyond 5 p.m., too. Although the average worker leaves the office around 548 p.m., he doesnt stop fully working until about 719 in the evening. About 15 percent of U.S. bosses surveyed said they feel comfortable contacting employees up until 9 p.m., and many even allow employees to work remotely from home about a quarter of the week.Its OK for employees to come in late for work if theyre spending an increasingly amount of time accomplishing tasks outside of work and theyre in contac t with the office while doing so. Other acceptable reasons for tardiness include1. Transportation Issues. Every worker (including employers) run into transportation issues every now and then. Getting stuck behind traffic accidents or running into unexpected car or public transportation issues usually arent a workers fault, but be wary of workers who claim they were caught in the morning rush. Most workers commute to the office, so if only one worker is delayed for this reason, you know its most likely because he didnt leave home on time.2. Illness or Exhaustion. All workers have some mornings where it just seems downright impossible to jump into their routines promptly. As an employer, you know that workers who are ill or overtired are really a hindrance in the workplace, so allowing ansicht employees to get an additional couple hours of rest and then stay later in the day or spend the day working from home may be better for overall office morale (and health).3. Poor Weather. Much l ike transportation issues, sometimes poor weather can really hinder workers ability to make it in on time. And while experienced professionals most likely know how much time four inches of snow or increased wind speeds add to their commutes, younger professionals may misjudge how the weather will affect their arrivals.Transportation issues, illness or exhaustion and poor weather are excusable reasons for tardiness if given only on occasion. If tardiness for these reasons becomes a weekly occurrence for your employees, and theyre unwilling to stay in the office or remain available later in the evening, its much more likely that theyre unhappy with their jobs or they are poor fits for your office.Document every time employees are late for work, and for those who are habitually late, schedule meetings to discuss if theyre satisfied with their positions. You may find that some workers simply feel more fulfilled with flexible schedules, like the study suggests. If thats the case, relax L ate workers dont need to be a problemWhen, if ever, do you think its acceptable for workers to come to the office late? Do you think a flexible schedule can benefit your workers?SOURCE Mozy via MashableIMAGE Courtesy of WhySoBlu.com

How to Navigate Your Next Professional Move

How to Navigate Your Next Professional MoveHow to Navigate Your Next Professional MoveHave you reached an inflection point in your career? Not sure how to get to the next step or even what the next step will be? Consider the advice of a 20-year staffing veteran.You can reach career crossroads for a variety of reasons. They can be a result of organizational change (your company reorganized or welches acquired), professional change (you gained valuable new skills or earned a promotion), or personal situation (you relocated or have to attend to family needs), just to name a few.I recently spoke at the HOW Design Live Conference on this topic as its close to my heart. I have encountered several significant career crossroads that changed my professional path. Perhaps you can relate.Finding my passion Early in my career, I was very unsure of what I wanted to do. I had varied academic and professional experiences, none of which seemed to drive tremendous passion for my work. It was at this time that I fell into recruiting with Robert Half, TCGs parent company. When I learned that the organization was looking for an experienced sales professional with my background, I was in. It seemed like a risk but also a perfect opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills to a role with greater customer interaction. Little did I know that it would be the start of a 20-plus year career with the firm.LEARN HOW ROBERT HALF CAN HELP YOUAccepting a promotion After demonstrating success in a variety of positions at Robert Half, I was presented with an offer to lead and expand one of the companys newer business lines. While this was no doubt a great opportunity, it required relocation and significant travel. I was recently married and pregnant with my first child as well. I ended up accepting the job, and while my family and I made personal sacrifices, we also gained new experiences along the way.Adjusting to changes in personal circumstances Over the course of the next decade, I made t hree significant career decisions based on changing dynamics at home. As we were growing our young family, extensive travel became difficult. So I wrote my own job description and pitched the idea of heading up the companys new Technology and Digital Strategy division, a role that required less time on the road. Then, as my children matured, I pursued internal opportunities that allowed me to grow professionally and attend to my familys changing needs.Recognizing an opportunitySeveral years ago, The Creative Group was uniquely positioned to serve our customers in a time of profound change in the creative industry. I raised my hand to lead the division with a passion and excitement to grasp the opportunities ahead.If youre at a career crossroads, I recommend you first think about what is driving the motivation to make a change then take stock of your skills and seek opportunities that match your experiences and interests. Do you possess expertise in the areas employers are hiring for ? Research the positions that are in demand and define how you can meet the needs of the business a process that is crucial for staying relevant and finding long-term professional success.To help, heres an overview of the hiring environment for creative professionals, which I shared in my session, as well as some exercises to help you map out your next career move.Career Crossroads Navigating Your Next Professional Move from Robert Half

Interview Question What Is Your Biggest Weakness

Interview Question What Is Your Biggest WeaknessInterview Question What Is Your Biggest WeaknessYoure having a successfulinterview. Your answers are all on-point and you feel like youre hitting it out of the park. And then, out of left field, you get asked a dreaded interview question. What is your biggest weakness? asks your interviewer. How do you answer it? Should you even answer it? Yes, you should. Heres how.Be prepared.Unfortunately, most candidates are taken aback by this loaded interview question. After all, the whole point of an interview is to show off your strengths, not your weaknesses. So dont assume youre being asked the question because youve done or said something wrong during the interview. Since this is a standard question, its best to be prepared that your interviewer may ask it.Be honest. When giving your answer, its best to be honest. If you lie about a weakness, youre going to come across as false in the interview. It might then make your interviewer wonder abou t your overall honesty. So stick to the truth when answering the question.Be positive. Now, what should you actually be honest about? Should you mention that in previous positions youve used the company copier to print out flyers for your daughters cheerleading team? No. Instead, pick a trait that you would use on your resume as a selling point, such as the fact that youre a good public speaker. You can say that your weakness used to be that you would get nervous before giving presentations, but with practice, you have become a better public speaker. The difference is that youre taking something that was a negative and turned it into a positive. That way, youre not leaving your interviewer with a negative perception about you. He will admire your ability to assess your own weaknesses and do something about them.Be short. As you answer the interview question, try to be as concise as possible. Its a good idea to rehearse your answer a few times before your interview, so youll get used to saying the story. Dont offer extra details, as it might cause you to talk too much- which could be considered another weakness.As unfair as it might seem, an interviewer asking you what your weakness is can be a golden opportunity for you to showcase your skills. Use it to your advantage to show off your strengths, not your weaknesses.Readers, have you ever been asked what your weaknesses are during an interview? How did you handle the situation?

I lived like Gwyneth Paltrow for a week and it broke some bad habits

I lived like Gwyneth Paltrow for a week and it broke some bad habitsI lived like Gwyneth Paltrow for a week and it broke some bad habitsI tried to live like Gwyneth Paltrow for a week, and it didnt quite work out the way Id planned.Paltrow famously leads an intense life. In terms of exercise, she used to do an hour of cardio and an hour of weights six days of the week. Her lifestyle brand Goop also hawks all sorts ofhardcore detoxes and cleanses.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBut all that doesnt really reflect Paltrows current reality. She recently toldNet-a-Porterthat she doesnt have the time or energy to tackle that grueling schedule anymore Im getting old, my back hurts Its depressing. Some days, the gym gives me this rush of energy and I feel amazing, but then my bodys like f- you.She also doesnt stick to any Goop cleanses for a long amount of time. She told Net-a-Porter s he passes on breakfast and eats a low-carb lunch so my energy levels dont peak and valley through the day. Then, for dinner, she typically decides to loosen the reins.I decided to follow zu sich diet as best I could, as well as take up her previous exercise routine. Here are the rules I welches determined to follow for a weekSkip breakfast.Have a low-carb lunch.Put in an hour of cardio exercise.Go for an hour of weights-based exercise.Eat a dinner along the lines of her typical evening meal A glass of wine, maybe a baguette dripping in cheese, some fries.I didnt prepare at all for this. I just jumped into it, sparking concerns among the people I know. Youre going to die, several coworkers told me when I described my plan. Family members predicted I would seriously injure myself and expressed concerns about my shambling running style.All of this just bolstered my determination to rise to the occasion.The experiment itself left me somewhat surprised. On the one hand, some of Paltrows dietary habits were easier to tackle than I thought. On the other, I ended up pulling my shoulder.Heres a look at what happened when I tried to live like Gwyneth Paltrow for a weekBefore this Gwyneth Paltrow challenge, bagels were my go-to morning meal. Id often grab one - poppy seed with cream cheese or anken - before heading into the office.But, like some other celebrities, Paltrow skips breakfast altogether. So I had to kick the habit. Instead of stopping by the bagel shop, Id just hop on the train and head to work.Truth be told, this welchesnt particularly challenging for me. Back in college, I rarely ate breakfast. It may or may bedrngnis be the most important meal of the day, but Ive never had a problem skipping it.I managed to follow this aspect of Paltrows schedule for the entire week, and I think the week-long bagel cleanse worked. I havent had a bagel since. Health-wise, theyre far better as an occasional treat than a breakfast staple.I didnt have too much trouble with l unch either. Normally, Id grab a sandwich or a slice of mafiatorte from some place near the office. For the experiment, I needed to spring for low-carb choices instead.I tried to get fancy and even looked up some of Paltrows salad recipes. There were some tempting vorkaufsrechts in her cookbooks. I figured Id try to make a few, to tide me over for the week.Heck, I even bought a jar of cornichons - which are adorable, tiny pickles, btw.But, to be honest, I ran out of time before I could snag all the ingredients necessary to throw together some of Paltrows recipes (what the heck is silken tofu, anyway, and where am I supposed to find it?).So I ended up improvising. My non-fancy salad welches pretty good, though. Id pack it up in Tupperware and eat it at my desk every day around noon with a ginger ale.I enjoyed the salads, but I welches bummed to have to decline a ton of delicious and tempting offerings throughout the week. My coworkers seemed to show up to work with chocolates, cooki es, and other sweet treats every other day during my challenge.By the end of the week, I welches getting a bit bored with salad, although I tried to spice things up by switching up the dressings.In fairness, I probably couldve gotten more experimental with my lunches - low carb can include a whole range of meals, of course.But I only have so much brain power to devote to planning out and cobbling together what Im going to eat ahead of time.Still, I didnt have much of a problem sticking to low-carb lunches for the entire experiment.Once I got home from work, Id hide in the basement, where no one could see me flailing around with a medicine ball and hand weights, looking like a reject from the worlds worst workout video.I was unsurprised to find out that weights arent my strong suit. I didnt really know what I was doing, so I just switched in between different moves for the hour. It was boring and hard. And Im sure my technique left much to be desired.Around Wednesday, my left should er began to really hurt. An hour of weights is probably too much if youre clueless about exercise - especially if youre making a leap from couch potato to workout fanatic, like I was. After Wednesday, I had to cut down on the weights a bit.Overall, Id say I truly disliked this aspect of the experiment. Id rather do cardio for an hour than do weights for an hour. At least you can read while walking on the treadmill. The weight exercises just felt repetitive and tedious after about 30 minutes.Before I started my experiment, I envisioned myself sprinting around outside, running through twilit parks and drinking in the fresh winter air.Reality quickly shattered that cardio fantasy. Im usually home after sundown. Running outside in the cold darkness didnt sound like a good idea. Itd be really embarrassing to get hit by a car while doing an exercise experiment for work.So, while I did go on a few night runs, I mostly opted for working out on the treadmill.I quickly found that I dont have the stamina, pacing abilities, or patience to full-on run for a whole hour. Id switch between power walking, jogging, and running.As I walked, Id balance a book on the treadmill in front of me to stave off the boredom. I simply dont have the attention span for long workouts.The running was fine, but I feel like I couldve gotten more out of an intensive 30-minute jog than an hour spent switching between paces.Naturally, dinner was my favorite part of this whole experiment. Bread? Cheese? Wine? Whats not to love?There was another dinner option I didnt go for. Homemade fries are a favorite of Paltrows - she mentioned eating those for dinner in her Net-a-Porter interview.I swear, I was going to try to figure out how to make them, but it just didnt happen.Working out for two hours a day has a way of draining your interest in putting in any extra effort in other areas of your life.Plus, I had no complaints about the cheesy baguettes. They tasted a bit like a grilled cheese if you forgot to toast the bread. That description doesnt sound fantastic, but they were delicious.Typically, Id throw some gouda in a frying pan, melt it down, and drip it onto a baguette.One time, the chunk of cheese was too big and melted weird. I ended up getting a slightly burnt, crispy cheese sandwich and a kitchen full of smoke. Mostly, though, these dinners were easy to whip up.By the time the evening rolled around, I was usually quite hungry. It was kind of nice to have something decadent to look forward to at the end of the day. But Im sure Id get sick of this meal if I had to eat it for more than a week.Im also not a dietitian, but Im fairly certain salads and cheesy baguettes dont contain all the essential nutrients we need to stay healthy.Paltrow likely eats more well-balanced dinners than this - homemade fries and baguettes dripping with cheese were likely just her go-to examples, not her only two meal options - but I wanted to follow exactly what she said in her Net-a-Porter int erview.I did pretty well with my experiment, until Thursday. That was the night of our office party. My zeiteinteilung for this health and exercise-based experiment couldnt have been better.Back when she was working out for two hours a day, Paltrow said she only kept up the routine for six days a week. I knew I was going to throw my rules out the window at the office party, so I justified that by counting Thursday as my cheat day.I skipped my workouts. I stopped asking myself, What would Gwyneth do? I tried to mitigate things by choosing not to eat breakfast or lunch in anticipation of the party - which is definitely what youre not supposed to do at an office party.The results were pretty predictable. I ended up eating a lot of chocolate, drinking wine, and eating a whole plateful of cheese cubes at the party. It was great - but Ill admit I definitely overstepped on my cheat day.Despite my major office-party hiccup, I was mostly able to follow through on the routine for the entire week.The diet was pretty easy to handle. The exercise was difficult to keep up with. Overall, though, I was surprised to find there were some things I really appreciated about this experiment.Two hours of exercise a day is a lot. Its pretty unsustainable for someone with a nine-to-five and other life responsibilities.Regardless of whether youre in shape, thats a lot of time to carve out of your schedule.Plus, theres the issue of safety. If youre like me - enthusiastic but clueless - you could end up hurting yourself. In my case, my sore shoulder isnt a big deal and it feels fine now. But its still best to be careful.But the experiment certainly broke me out of some unhealthy tendencies, like my automatic trips to the bagel shop or tendency to chow down on sandwiches and pizza at lunch.The food portion of the experiment actually worked for me.I wouldnt say its something I could continue doing indefinitely, but it was pretty helpful if you treat it as a pseudo cleanse.All in all, I wouldnt say that Id recommend this diet or exercise routine to anyone.And I probably wont be asking myself, What would Gwyneth do? going forward.But I certainly appreciate that this process has helped me kick a bad habit or two.This article was originally published on Business Insider.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 nesthkchen Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong peopleI lived like Gwyneth Paltrow for a week and it broke some bad habitsI tried to live like Gwyneth Paltrow for a week, and it didnt quite work out the way Id planned.Paltrow famously leads an intense life. In terms of exercise, she used to do an hour of cardio and an hour of weights six days of the week. Her lifestyle brand Goop also hawks all sorts ofhardcore de toxes and cleanses.But all that doesnt really reflect Paltrows current reality. She recently toldNet-a-Porterthat she doesnt have the time or energy to tackle that grueling schedule anymore Im getting old, my back hurts Its depressing. Some days, the gym gives me this rush of energy and I feel amazing, but then my bodys like f- you.She also doesnt stick to any Goop cleanses for a long amount of time. She told Net-a-Porter she passes on breakfast and eats a low-carb lunch so my energy levels dont peak and valley through the day. Then, for dinner, she typically decides to loosen the reins.I decided to follow her diet as best I could, as well as take up her previous exercise routine. Here are the rules I was determined to follow for a weekSkip breakfast.Have a low-carb lunch.Put in an hour of cardio exercise.Go for an hour of weights-based exercise.Eat a dinner along the lines of her typical evening meal A glass of wine, maybe a baguette dripping in cheese, some fries.I didnt prepare at all for this. I just jumped into it, sparking concerns among the people I know. Youre going to die, several coworkers told me when I described my plan. Family members predicted I would seriously injure myself and expressed concerns about my shambling running style.All of this just bolstered my determination to rise to the occasion.The experiment itself left me somewhat surprised. On the one hand, some of Paltrows dietary habits were easier to tackle than I thought. On the other, I ended up pulling my shoulder.Heres a look at what happened when I tried to live like Gwyneth Paltrow for a weekBefore this Gwyneth Paltrow challenge, bagels were my go-to morning meal. Id often grab one - poppy seed with cream cheese or butter - before heading into the office.But, like some other celebrities, Paltrow skips breakfast altogether. So I had to kick the habit. Instead of stopping by the bagel shop, Id just hop on the train and head to work.Truth be told, this wasnt particularly challenging for me. Back in college, I rarely ate breakfast. It may or may not be the most important meal of the day, but Ive never had a problem skipping it.I managed to follow this aspect of Paltrows schedule for the entire week, and I think the week-long bagel cleanse worked. I havent had a bagel since. Health-wise, theyre far better as an occasional treat than a breakfast staple.I didnt have too much trouble with lunch either. Normally, Id grab a sandwich or a slice of pizza from some place near the office. For the experiment, I needed to spring for low-carb choices instead.I tried to get fancy and even looked up some of Paltrows salad recipes. There were some tempting options in her cookbooks. I figured Id try to make a few, to tide me over for the week.Heck, I even bought a jar of cornichons - which are adorable, tiny pickles, btw.But, to be honest, I ran out of time before I could snag all the ingredients necessary to throw together some of Paltrows recipes (what the heck is silken tof u, anyway, and where am I supposed to find it?).So I ended up improvising. My non-fancy salad was pretty good, though. Id pack it up in Tupperware and eat it at my desk every day around noon with a ginger ale.I enjoyed the salads, but I was bummed to have to decline a ton of delicious and tempting offerings throughout the week. My coworkers seemed to show up to work with chocolates, cookies, and other sweet treats every other day during my challenge.By the end of the week, I was getting a bit bored with salad, although I tried to spice things up by switching up the dressings.In fairness, I probably couldve gotten more experimental with my lunches - low carb can include a whole range of meals, of course.But I only have so much brain power to devote to planning out and cobbling together what Im going to eat ahead of time.Still, I didnt have much of a problem sticking to low-carb lunches for the entire experiment.Once I got home from work, Id hide in the basement, where no one could s ee me flailing around with a medicine ball and hand weights, looking like a reject from the worlds worst workout video.I was unsurprised to find out that weights arent my strong suit. I didnt really know what I was doing, so I just switched in between different moves for the hour. It was boring and hard. And Im sure my technique left much to be desired.Around Wednesday, my left shoulder began to really hurt. An hour of weights is probably too much if youre clueless about exercise - especially if youre making a leap from couch potato to workout fanatic, like I was. After Wednesday, I had to cut down on the weights a bit.Overall, Id say I truly disliked this aspect of the experiment. Id rather do cardio for an hour than do weights for an hour. At least you can read while walking on the treadmill. The weight exercises just felt repetitive and tedious after about 30 minutes.Before I started my experiment, I envisioned myself sprinting around outside, running through twilit parks and dr inking in the fresh winter air.Reality quickly shattered that cardio fantasy. Im usually home after sundown. Running outside in the cold darkness didnt sound like a good idea. Itd be really embarrassing to get hit by a car while doing an exercise experiment for work.So, while I did go on a few night runs, I mostly opted for working out on the treadmill.I quickly found that I dont have the stamina, pacing abilities, or patience to full-on run for a whole hour. Id switch between power walking, jogging, and running.As I walked, Id balance a book on the treadmill in front of me to stave off the boredom. I simply dont have the attention span for long workouts.The running was fine, but I feel like I couldve gotten more out of an intensive 30-minute jog than an hour spent switching between paces.Naturally, dinner was my favorite part of this whole experiment. Bread? Cheese? Wine? Whats not to love?There was another dinner option I didnt go for. Homemade fries are a favorite of Paltrows - she mentioned eating those for dinner in her Net-a-Porter interview.I swear, I was going to try to figure out how to make them, but it just didnt happen.Working out for two hours a day has a way of draining your interest in putting in any extra effort in other areas of your life.Plus, I had no complaints about the cheesy baguettes. They tasted a bit like a grilled cheese if you forgot to toast the bread. That description doesnt sound fantastic, but they were delicious.Typically, Id throw some gouda in a frying pan, melt it down, and drip it onto a baguette.One time, the chunk of cheese was too big and melted weird. I ended up getting a slightly burnt, crispy cheese sandwich and a kitchen full of smoke. Mostly, though, these dinners were easy to whip up.By the time the evening rolled around, I was usually quite hungry. It was kind of nice to have something decadent to look forward to at the end of the day. But Im sure Id get sick of this meal if I had to eat it for more than a week.I m also not a dietitian, but Im fairly certain salads and cheesy baguettes dont contain all the essential nutrients we need to stay healthy.Paltrow likely eats more well-balanced dinners than this - homemade fries and baguettes dripping with cheese were likely just her go-to examples, not her only two meal options - but I wanted to follow exactly what she said in her Net-a-Porter interview.I did pretty well with my experiment, until Thursday. That was the night of our office party. My timing for this health and exercise-based experiment couldnt have been better.Back when she was working out for two hours a day, Paltrow said she only kept up the routine for six days a week. I knew I was going to throw my rules out the window at the office party, so I justified that by counting Thursday as my cheat day.I skipped my workouts. I stopped asking myself, What would Gwyneth do? I tried to mitigate things by choosing not to eat breakfast or lunch in anticipation of the party - which is def initely what youre not supposed to do at an office party.The results were pretty predictable. I ended up eating a lot of chocolate, drinking wine, and eating a whole plateful of cheese cubes at the party. It was great - but Ill admit I definitely overstepped on my cheat day.Despite my major office-party hiccup, I was mostly able to follow through on the routine for the entire week.The diet was pretty easy to handle. The exercise was difficult to keep up with. Overall, though, I was surprised to find there were some things I really appreciated about this experiment.Two hours of exercise a day is a lot. Its pretty unsustainable for someone with a nine-to-five and other life responsibilities.Regardless of whether youre in shape, thats a lot of time to carve out of your schedule.Plus, theres the issue of safety. If youre like me - enthusiastic but clueless - you could end up hurting yourself. In my case, my sore shoulder isnt a big deal and it feels fine now. But its still best to be careful.But the experiment certainly broke me out of some unhealthy tendencies, like my automatic trips to the bagel shop or tendency to chow down on sandwiches and pizza at lunch.The food portion of the experiment actually worked for me.I wouldnt say its something I could continue doing indefinitely, but it was pretty helpful if you treat it as a pseudo cleanse.All in all, I wouldnt say that Id recommend this diet or exercise routine to anyone.And I probably wont be asking myself, What would Gwyneth do? going forward.But I certainly appreciate that this process has helped me kick a bad habit or two.This article was originally published on Business Insider.