6 maternity leave myths people NEED to stop spreading

6 maternity leave myths people NEED to stop spreading6 maternity leave myths people NEED to stop spreadingAs an expecting mom, you have many things to consider, and a lot of advice thrown your way. Some of that advice may include what to expect during yourmaternityleave, and how to plan for it best. But as we all know, not all advice is created equal.Lets take a look at 6 of the most common maternity leave myths and get to the truth of what every mom needs to know.1. Myth My maternity leave can berejected.Many working moms can feel a bitnervouswhen approaching their supervisor or HR specialist about maternity leave. But dontworry, its your right to take a maternity leave, and you have legal protections.Under the FamilyMedical LeaveAct (FMLA), eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave. However, some of this will most likely be unpaid leave (make sure you know your companys paid maternity leave policy), so unfortunately, many working moms simply cant afford to t ake all 12 weeks. However, you can ask your employer if they would be open to shared parental leave that allows you to work from home.2. Myth My employer already has a plan.While the number of employers providing maternity leaves increased from 1 in 6 to1 in 3in 2018, your employer might not have a written policy. Sometimes, businesses dont even develop maternity leave or breastfeeding policies until they have their first expecting mother on the team. Plus, it takes time to develop and prepare these policies. Be sure to speak with your supervisor about your desire to take a maternity leave andbreast pumpat work a few months ahead of time to allow them to prepare.3. Myth Ill have to work during my maternity leave.This myth is completely false. Under theFMLA, you are not required to work during your maternity leave to allow for time to bond with your baby and physically recover from giving birth.However,Unpaid or short maternity leavesput working moms in an unfair position, forcing th em to return to work before theyre physically and emotionally ready. It takes, on average, about six weeks to physically recover from giving birth. If youre faced with an unpaid maternity leave, plan ahead by accumulatingpaid time offand saving money to cover that additional time.4. Myth I wont want to return to work.Every mother is different, and whether you stay home or go back to work is a personal decision. If you are a mom who looks forward to returning to her career, do not feel guilty or compare yourself to other moms.5. Myth Ill be less productive when I return to work.Its perfectly prototyp to be nervous aboutreturning to workafter your baby has completely changed your life. You may feel some pressure to prove yourself, but you may also surprise yourself with newly discovered mom talents.Even though you may be sleep deprived and slightly emotional, as you adjust to work life, youll find that you have new timemanagement skills,productivity, focus, and more to effectively mee t deadlines and take your career to the next level. Just dont overdo it, and take your time to avoid any extra stress in the beginning.6. Myth Talking to my employer about breastfeeding can wait.Its your right to breastfeed when you return to work, and you are covered under theFair Labor Standards Act(FLSA). The act states that employers must provide reasonable break time for mothers to express milk for their child up to one year after their birth, as well as provide a space, separate from a bathroom thats free from the intrusion of coworkers and the public for to purpose of expressing breastmilk. All employers are subject to the FLSA unless those with 50 or fewer employees can prove that adhering to these provisions would deutsche post ag undue hardship.Make sure to have the conversation about breastfeeding BEFORE you go on maternity leave. Waiting until you are back is too late. Do they have a plan for you to take breaks to breast pump? Is there a lactation room on site? Have you been transparent about your needs? Some employers will proactively have this conversation. But if not, talk to your employer before you are out so there are no surprises when you get back.- Jennifer Jordan is the Director of Mom Baby atAeroflow Healthcare, a durable medical equipment provider that has provided breast pumps through insurance to hundreds of thousands of women. A working and once-breastfeeding mom,Jennifer along with her team is committed to supporting all moms on their breastfeeding journey through support, education, and exceptional customer service.A version of this post previously appeared onFairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.

3 ways to tell if your relationship is ruining your career

3 ways to tell if your relationship is ruining your career3 ways to tell if your relationship is ruining your careerEven if you feel like youve won the career jackpot where youre excited to go to work every day, tackling new projects and deadlines with vigor, very few people can feel completely fulfilled by their jobs. It takes more than success to reach contentment, making interpersonal relationships and friendships another non-negotiable facet of your life.But giving your best both at work and in love? Its a tough task for most people, hence why work/life balance continues to be a pressing topic for many professionals. While its difficult to ever reach nirvana on this lifelong seesaw, if you find the majority of your stress derives from your relationship, the remnants of arguments might wreak havoc on your office performance.While only you can determine if your romantic life is truly interfering with your ability to scale upwards in your industry, these warning signals are ones to heed with major caution. After all, you dont want your pink-hearted love affair to result in a pink slip of another kind. Here, some ways your relationship might be ruining your career.They dont sttze you emotionallyThough everyone goes through periods where theyre not their best self - after family trauma or drama, woes with friends and the list goes on - seeing the glass half-full is a quality we should all strive for. If you consider yourself a mostly positive, empowered, and resilient human, while your freund tends to be dismissive and sour on most topics, their energy could following you everywhere you go, including the office. After all, as brand and career coach Colleen Star Koch explains, the company we keep speaks volumes about our state of mind and our personality. Because we all need an emotional backbone to keep us sane, if your home life is hectic, it can be tough to leave the chaos at the door when you clock in with your boss in the A.M.The people that we spend the m ost time with have an enormous impact on our identities, period, Koch says. No matter how smart, talented, and fabulous you are, a romantic mann an ihrer seite who isnt a good match has the potential to be the single determining factor in whether or not youre successful in your career.They dont agree on your meaning of quality of lifeConsider your friend group from college While some married as soon as their diploma was in their hand, others waited a decade and traveled the world instead, collecting passport stamps instead of stroller seats. While most people land somewhere in the middle of being nomadic and growing roots, Koch says choosing a lebenspartner who values and desires the same quality of life as you do will ensure your happiness post-working hours.For one partner, quality of life might mean ample time off to spend with your partner, adventuring around the city and having time to spend on personal growth. If the other partner in the relationship equates quality of life wi th financial security, and becomes a workaholic as a result - you have a problem, she says.To figure out if youre both speeding toward the same endgame, Koch recommends to have a brainstorming session together where you envision what an ideal life would look like - from how you both excel in your respective job titles to how youd like to spend your vacations and weekends and beyond. This is where you can discuss where you have differing ideas and consider attending a facilitated core values workshop to help you understand what is fundamentally important to you both, Koch says.They dont support you at homeWhile Koch says this all-too-common occurrence primarily impacts women who are balancing their maternal and professional timetables, men can also feel the brunt, too. What it boils down to is how active your partner is within the duties of your home. When there isnt an effective balance and one person is spending more time cleaning, tending to children, and running errands, theyll ultimately feel run down and exhausted, leading to a poor work performance.No one can work 24/7, and if you dont have adequate support at home, youll find yourself constantly exhausted. Tired brains dont make for smart, accomplishing professionals, Koch says.To help remedy this situation, Koch warns itll take ample patience and reinforcement to implement change. The first step though? Having a candid conversation where you barter about the responsibilities of the home and decide who will take which task. The key is to keep the energy light and positive, and really think about which chores make the most sense for each of you.If one of you finds dishes meditative, and the other really likes folding warm, fluffy laundry, then those should be your assigned tasks, she explains. As for the must-dos that no one wants to add to their docket? Keep it neutral and make it fair. Do your best to take traditional gender roles out of this conversation. Arbitrarily separating pink and blue jobs is a shortcut to resentment, she says.They make you feel bad about yourselfThose cheerleaders youve collected over the years - from high school and college comrades to those pals who made a new city feel like home and the travel buddies youve shared the world with - make you feel joyful and appreciated. Of all the quality friendships in your life, though, your relationship should be the one thats the most empowering and encouraging. Because your partner is meant to be there through all of the trials and triumphs that inevitably come with life, having a partner who doesnt make you feel like the rockstar you are can be detrimental to your confidence. And poor self-esteem doesnt have a place in any office, anywhere.If you have a partner who is constantly telling you how awesome, smart, talented and wonderful you are, thats going to influence the running commentary you have in your head. Those thoughts will lead to feelings like competence, confidence, passion, excitement, daring, and d rive, Koch says. If, on the other hand, you have a partner who doesnt care about your work, feels like youre doing something that isnt worthwhile, or reinforces any of the ugly things you think about yourself, youll find yourself caught in a litany of thoughts that make you feel insecure, incompetent, unsupported and afraid.The bottom lineSeems pretty straightforward on which one will earn you the most happiness, right? A partner who doesnt come to your corner and isnt present for you only has one way to go on your ladder kicked off, ASAP.Just as you would choose a business partner whose skills complement your own, and who doesnt undermine you, be intentional about choosing a romantic partner who makes you feel more like yourself in the best, most deeply satisfying and supported way, Koch adds.

30 days to a smarter brain (how to rapidly improve how you think)

30 days to a smarter brain (how to rapidly improve how you think)30 days to a smarter brain (how to rapidly improve how you think)Everyone wants a better, and smarter brain to process information faster and have better memory recall.The fruchtwein brilliant minds dont have more brain power than the average person, they just use their brains more efficiently.Yur brains health is a product of your daily habits.To optimize your brain, all you have to do is make slight adjustments to your routine.30 days offer just enough time to realistically adopt new habits that can help you get smarter and think better, yet long enough to be challenging.In 30 days or less, you can adopt some of these habits to boost your brain power, improve your mental clarity and build a better brain.Exhaust your brainChallenge yourself with a whole new experience.Do more of what exhausts your brain.Your brain needs exhaustion to grow.Take up new, cognitively demanding activity - something new youve never done bef ore dancing, piano lessons, a foreign language - is more likely to boost brain processing speed, strengthen synapses, and expand or create functional networks.When youre learning something new, and your brain is feeling like it wants to take a nap, thats when you know youre doing things that are growing your brain neurologically, not just maintaining it, says Dr. Jennifer Jones, a psychologist, and expert in the science of success.Every time you learn something, you create new connections, and the more connections you can maintain, the easier it will be to retain new information in the future.Stop feeding your comfortComfort provides a state of mental security.When youre comfortable and life is good, your brain can release chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which lead to happy feelings.But in the long-term, comfort is bad for your brain.Without mental stimulation dendrites, connections between brain neurons that keep information flowing, shrink or disappear altogether.An active life increases dendrite networks and also increase the brains regenerating capacity, known as plasticity.Neglect of intense learning leads plasticity systems to waste away, says Norman Doidge in his book, The Brain That Changes Itself.Michael Merzenich, a pioneer of plasticity research, and author of Soft-wired How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life says that going beyond the familiar is essential to brain health.Its the willingness to leave the comfort zone that is the key to keeping the brain new, he says.Seeking new experiences, learning new skills, and opening the door to new ideas inspire us and educate us in a way improves mental clarity.Anything that makes you really comfortable is not really good for your brainWhen you are inside your comfort zone you may be outside of the enhancement zone.Your brain needs novelty to grow, says Jones. Stepping out of your comfort zone literally stretches your brain by allowing the dendrites to become like big trees wit h full branches rather than little shrubsStart mind focus exercisesEmbrace mindfulness.Theres plenty of research that shows meditation increases the grey matter in your brain.Meditation can increase the thickness of regions that control attention and process sensory signals from the outside world.Yes, meditation makes your brain bigger (literally).Meditation is the art of silencing the mind.When the mind is silent, concentration is increased and we experience inner peace and more.But concentration requires a great amount of effort and time.In less time than it takes you to have lunch, you could be expanding your brain - literally.Just like building muscles, you can beneficially build the strength and even the size of your brain in the healthiest and most natural of ways.Meditation has been proven to benefit the brain.Although the practice of meditation is associated with a sense of peacefulness and physical relaxation, practitioners have long claimed that meditation also provides c ognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout the day, says study senior author Sara Lazar of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program and a Harvard Medical School instructor in psychology.The problem is getting started.Its kind of like going to the gym. We all know we should do it, but If you do decide to give it a try, you can use Headspace, an app that bills itself as a gym membership for your mind.Your brain needs you to read every dayReading heightens brain connectivityOur brains change and develop in some fascinating ways when we read.As you read these words, your brain is decoding a series of abstract symbols and synthesizing the results into complex ideas.Its an amazing process.The reading brain can be likened to the real-time collaborative effort of a symphony orchestra, with various parts of the brain working together, like sections of instruments, to maximize our ability to decode the written text in front of us.Reading rewires parts of your brain. Maryanne Wolf explains in her book, Proust and the Squid The Story and Science of the Reading BrainHuman beings invented reading only a few thousand years ago. And with this invention, we rearranged the very organization of our brain, which in turn expanded the ways we were able to think, which altered the intellectual evolution of our species. Our ancestors invention could come about only because of the human brains extraordinary ability to make new connections among its existing structures, a process made possible by the brains ability to be reshaped by experience.Reading involves several brain functions, including visual and auditory processes, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and more.The same neurological regions of the brain are stimulated by reading about something as by experiencing it.According to the ongoing research at Haskins Laboratories for the Science of the Spoken and Written Word, reading, unlike watching or listening to media, gives the brain more time to stop, think, process, and imagine the narrative in from of us.Reading every day can slow down late-life cognitive decline and keeps the brains healthier.Start a journaling habitGetting a full night of sleep, going for a run, maintaining a healthy diet, and keeping up with family and friends all have well-documented and significant impacts on overall cognitive function.Whats even more important for your total well-being is journaling.Journaling helps you prioritize, clarify thinking, and accomplish your most important tasks, over urgent busy work.Numerous studies (of the scientifically rigorous variety) have shown that personal writing can help people better cope with stressful events, relieve anxiety, boost immune cell activity.Judy Willis MD, a neurologist, and former classroom teacher explains, The practice of writing can enhance the brains intake, processing, retaining, and retrieving of information it promotes the brains attentive focus boosts long-term memory, illuminates p atterns, gives the brain time for reflection, and when well-guided, is a source of conceptual development and stimulus of the brains highest cognition.Dont sit stillSitting still all day, every day is dangerous.Love it or hate it, physical activity can have zeugungsfhig effects on your brain and mood.The brain is often described as being like a muscle. It needs to be exercised for better performance.Research shows that moving your body can improve your cognitive function.What you do with your body impinges on your mental faculties.Find something you enjoy, then get up and do it. And most importantly, make it a habit.Build a better exercise routine, and maintain it.Simple aerobic exercise such as walking 3045 minutes of brisk walking, three times a week, can help fend off the mental wear and tear, and improve episodic memory and executive-control functions by about 20 percent, according to Art Kramer of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Take a good and undisturbed sleepA good sleep reduces both physical and mental stress.The brain accomplishes reorganization of information during sleep.Importantly, a short afternoon nap (called the power nap) serves as an energy booster for the brainScientists have known for decades that the brain requires sleep to consolidate learning and memory.Far from being lazy, napping is scientifically proven to help improve concentration and boost productivity when you reach a brain power plateau.Studies on napping suggest that it increases reaction speed and helps with learning - provided naps are no longer than 20 minutes.Do nothing for a changeDoing nothing is a skill.Busyness can be counterproductive.Its hard, we know, but doing nothing is a good way to refocus your brain and help you pay attention to the present time.Spending time unplugged, disconnected, and in silence can improve your focus, productivity, and creativity..learning to do nothing will help you retake control of your attention at other times, too. One t rick schedule do nothing time, like youd schedule tasks. Just dont expect others to understand when you decline some social event on the grounds that youre busy not being busy, says Oliver Burkeman.Neuroscience also reveals that silence has nourishing benefits for your brain.The neuroscientist Marcus Raichle says his best thinking happens in quiet places. For Raichle, silence was shorthand for thoughtful solitude.The brain is actively internalizing and evaluating information during silence.A study by Duke University regenerative biologist, Imke Kirste, found that two hours of silence per day prompted cell development in the hippocampus, the brain region related to the formation of memory, involving the senses.Exceptional creativity often happens in solitude.Dig deeperIf you enjoyed this post, you will love Postanly Weekly, my free weekly digest of the best posts about behaviour change that affect health, wealth, and productivity. Join over 49,000 people on a mission to build a bette r life.Want to upgrade your decision-making skills?Join my Thinking in Models community today. Its designed to help you make complex decisions, and solve problems with confidence Click here for details.This article first appeared on Medium.

Step-by-Step Your Role And the Recruiters

Step-by-Step Your Role And the RecruitersStep-by-Step Your Role - And the RecruitersA step-by-step guide to how recruiters and job seekers partner together.In a recent editorial package, How to Work with Executive Recruiters, on working with executive recruiters, Elizabeth Bennett explored the frustrations Ladders hears from job seekers confused and angry about a lack of responsiveness from executive recruiters.Nobody has the professional courtesy to get back to me or any person submitting job applications, one frustrated job seeker complained to Ladders. The online application goes into a black hole, never to be heard from again.I sent an e-mail to a recruiter two weeks ago asking for status of that job and still have bedrngnis received a reply, another candidate said. I find that very frustrating and unprofessional.So what are those recruiters doing while you wait to hear the results of your resume submission or job interview? In fact, you and the recruiter both have roles to pla y every step of the way there are times to press forward moments when patience is essential. Download this step-by-step flow chart to learn the steps you need to waltz away with the job

The Upside to Resume for Law School

The Upside to Resume for Law School Resume for Law School at a Glance If youve got an error in your resume, it can be much easier to repair. Give a range in case you dont know the precise number. Undoubtedly, anyone whos sending in zu sich or his application has a good grasp of Microsoft Office. The sole specific example proved to be an overall reference to a great paper. Your resume objective helps you make a great case why you would like to study the particular discipline youre applying for. Whatever you speak about in your private statement needs to be backed up in the resume. Youre encouraged to check with your pre-law advisor, who might also request to review a last draft of your statement. Take your own personal statement and make a research undertaking. Residence managers should possess a diverse selection of expertise, plus also they need to comprehend possessions together with persons. If you would like to practice in a particular area, set the experience youve g ot in that area above the rest of the experience. Do not be concerned if you dont have any legal experience yet. You may then note your most relevant expert experience. For instance, it can describe how to lay out your CV. Whatever you must discover more about the instructional CV. Any data that you believe to be related to your application is suitable. If you employ the LSAC assistance, you must download and give each recommender the essential form. Download the web Casino software today and you may play our completely free casino online, and be on your way to the fun and excitement of Vegas style internet casino gaming Personal info and social networking links. For those who havent completed a research undertaking, its time to get started. If youre looking for assistance with your dissertation then we provide a comprehensive writing service offered by fully qualified academics in your area of study. Employing themes will offer you with all the jumpstart in the event you must make your academic continue. Our students have excelled in virtually every business. The Dos and Donts of Resume for Law School To put it differently, you might apply when you are still in school, so long as youll have obtained your baccalaureate degree by the moment you start law school. High school resume templates are a fantastic resource for such students. Other schools allow it to be optional. Your grad school resume is among the crucial things in your grad school application procedure. For more information on how best to structure a graduate school resume, take a look at our guide about how to compose a graduate school resume. Students will write appellate briefs and then theyre going to argue that brief usually on a really narrow portion of the law facing a panel of judges. Resumes arent usually one of the significant aspects that admissions committees consider. Law school resumes arent the very same as a resume that you would utilize to submit an application for w ork. Do your research carefully to select a list of schools wherever your odds of admission range from very great to ones where youve got a smaller likelihood of admission. So you know part of law school that most people today overlook is networking. Including all of your professional jobs and internships, in addition to extracurricular involvement, gives the admissions offices a notion of the things which youre excited about. Taking fully timed practice tests is considered the best method to get ready for the test.

How to Identify Long-Term Fit During Times of Rapid Growth

How to Identify Long-Term Fit During Times of Rapid GrowthIdentify long-term employees w/attributional interviewing tips from bradowens.Click To TweetJosh TolanMy name is Josh Tolan and Im the CEO of Spark Hire, the leading video interviewing platform used by thousands of organizations around the world.And this is The Recruiting Reel, a video series in which we discuss real recruiting challenges with prominent recruiting experts to provide you with actionable tips you can apply to your own recruiting.As your organization begins to scale and hiring seems to be happening at a rapid pace, its critical that youre still focusing on the best long-term fits for your organization.Thankfully, we have the perfect rolle on the show for this topic in Brad Owens. He is a Hiring and Retention Expert at HRCoaching.com. Through his work, Brad helps tons of businesses solve challenges that are plaguing their hiring process. He is also the host of the Small Business Hiring Podcast.So without further a dieu, Ill hand it over to BradBrad OwensMy name is Brad Owens, I am the hiring and retention expert at hrcoaching.com What Im going to cover today is what are some of the challenges companies face when hiring too quickly during times of rapid growth and what are the top traits and responses to look for in the interview that demonstrate long-term fit. Im just going to get into it right here.So its an awesome problem to have to need to hire very, very quickly because you have a period of rapid growth. But some of the things companies overlook is what type of people youre hiring during that rapid growth. So the typical problem that I see companies kiste into is they hire based on skillset. They look at, Heres the project that we have, that needs to be completed. Here are the people that can do that because they have this specific skill set. Good for you in the near term, because youre going to get this project completed. But long-term? You may not be hiring people who are the best fit for your organization, that will stick around after this project is done. Think about it, if you hire someone who just has one specific technology experience, what happens when that technology is no longer used? Youre stuck with this shell of an employee that now needs to train on something else. Its a really easy problem to fall into when we start hiring simply for skillset.The things that I like to advocate companies doare do interviews focused on specific attributes that will enaya long-term fit for your organization. This is called attributional interviewing. The things youll want to look for are someones attitude, aptitude, accomplishments, adaptability, appreciation, and are they amiable. Lets go into each one of those in detail.Because look, this is not some hey ask this magical question and youre going to find the perfect person for your organization. type of interview strategy. This is simply listening for the right attributes that are going to be a long-term fit for your o rganization. So, attitude, what do you need to listen for? It kind of depends on your company, but the typical attitude people want to see is is this person upbeat? Are they positive? Do they badmouth their former employer? Or something like that. Just make sure youre listening out for things that will give you some sort of key into their attitude towards work, themselves, other people.Then youve got aptitude. Which is one of the biggest ones when youre scaling quickly because if they dont have the aptitude, which is the ability to come up to speed quickly, youre not really going to have anyone on staff after this project is done. Whatever you are scaling up for, when thats done, this person is not going to be able to learn anything new. So you need to ask them questions around when theyve been faced with having to learn new things quickly before, what their learning process is, and make sure that theyre up to the task of being a long-term fit for your organization.Then there are ac complishments. Now we all know theres a big difference between what you can do, and what youve done for someone else. You might have this awesome skillset, but if youve never done anything with it, then who cares. Make sure you ask some questions around what this candidate has done with their skillset in the past. And listen for that, make sure theyve actually done something with this amazing skillset they put on their resume.And then theres adaptability. Your organization is going to go through changes, obviously, youre going through one right now, rapid scale. So you need someone whos adaptable, who can run in these types of environments, who can go with this high-paced, huge uptick in activity, but then, when the activity is done, they are still able to hang and be okay, stick it around with the new group thats there. With all these new people coming in, theyre still going to jive with everyone because theyre adaptable. So look for that adaptability.And then, appreciation. We all know that person with whom youve had to do an interview that said, Tell me about your former employer. And they just trash them. You dont want that kind of person. You want the person who can show a genuine appreciation for the jobs theyve had and the people theyve had in their lives up to this point because its gotten them to the position where they can interview with your company. Do they appreciate others inputs on projects? Do they understand that they werent the only one that welches responsible for all these things, there were other factors that lead to that. Do they show appreciation, youve got to listen for that.The easiest one for you probably to assess just on what people call that gut feeling is amiable. So, are they easy to get along with? Are they well-liked by others? Check their references, make sure theyre well-liked by their former employers, employees, and coworkers. Make sure you check these references thoroughly because youre going to want to make sure theyre go ing to fit with you. Dont bring them into an office environment if you want to get a good feel for if theyre amiable if they get along with everyone. What I suggest is people throw a cultural hiring event, something that will reflect your culture. Lets say youre an outdoors company. Go on a big outdoor hike, or rent a big picnic shelter and put a whole bunch of games out there. Bring all these candidates there and let them meet the team and make sure they jive with everyone. So, amiable, are they easy to get along with, are they well-liked.Those six attributes are probably going to be the best thing to keep in mind for long-term fit. Again, this is called attributional interviewing. You can actually get this whole guide if you go to yourinterviewguide.com. You can actually download all these attributes, and example questions for all of them that you want. Make sure you go to yourinterviewguide.com to get that. But really its attitude, aptitude, accomplishments, adaptability, appreci ation and amiability. If you look for those six attributes I think youll have a great, long-term fit for your organization. Congrats on your rapid growth, but hopefully you get hiring right.Josh TolanYou nailed it, Brad. I think that one of the things many growing organizations struggle with is they focus on hiring people for the now because the immediate need is so pressing.As a result, they look at can this person do this job right now? and if the answer is yes, they hire them.While that solves the short team need, you might end up with a lot of people that hit a plateau within your organization sooner than later.Your advice on using attributional interviewing is key to finding people who have what it takes to be a positive contributor now and in the future.A 7th attribute Id add to the list is ambition. Does the candidate have the motivation to be at your organization for the long run? Why do they want to join your company? Your growing fast, but the only way to grow faster is to hire ambitious people that will push the envelope to help you grow even faster.I want to thank Brad Owens for the awesome tips. If youd like to learn more about his company or podcast, check out hrcoaching.com. Connect with Brad and follow him on Twitter BradOwens.Thank you for watching The Recruiting Reel and stay tuned for more episodes. For additional HR and recruiting content, head over to hr.sparkhire.com and subscribe. Also, follow us on Twitter, sparkhire. And subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to know about the newest episodes of The Recruiting Reel.Thanks again for watching and happy recruiting

Commuter Barbie knows the public transportation struggle is real

Commuter Barbie knows the public transportation struggle is realCommuter Barbie knows the public transportation struggle is realShes the career girl whos running the world- and running late.A new Commuter Barbie parody video is a playful takeon the everyday (and sometimes harrowing) realities of getting to work on time- especially if youre taking the train in a place like New York.NYC comedians Carina Hsieh and Claudia Arissocame up with the idea, which is a send-up of multitasking New York commuters who dress for their trip to work as if theyre preparing for the apocalypse - complete with jackets that can face the Arctic headphones to block out fellow commuters a phone full of the latest hip podcasts and prestigious-looking books to appear smart.See Commuter Barbie in actionCosmopolitan Magazine editor Hsieh, who is also a comedian,tweeted out a cropped version of the video on Tuesday.In a later tweet, Hsieh toldviewers to click the Facebook link to watch the full version of the v ideo, which clocks in at three minutes.In the video, two strangely wise girls play with the doll, which comes complete with a puffy jacket, a tote bag, an MTA card, aStarbucks Grande Macchiato that really spills, a water bottle, a Clif bar, a Trader Joes bag, and more.A Barbie thats ready for commuting warThis Barbie, a sophisticate, is also constantly on the defense against the indignities of living in New York - or other big cities where people are packed together.Shes not a fan of manspreaders who stretch out and take two seats on the train, or the harassment thats standard in many public spaces.Herheadphones tune out the creeps when youre stuck in the middle seat.This Barbie must also come with the standard stay away from me scowl of many New York commuters, because one of the girls in the video says, but if she cant hear the catcallers, how will she know to smile? which is met with total silenceas both of their faces slowly turn to face the camera.No comment needed, girls - n othing they could say would sum upjust how real that is for women of all ages.A doll that captures multitasking realityHsieh told Gothamist how much the pair relates to the fictional doll.We dont think were Commuter Barbies, if only because we cant afford $800 Canada Goose jacketsBut arent we ALL a little bit Commuter Barbie? Hsieh told Gothamist.What makes the video really brilliant is the wise asides the little girls offer on Commuter Barbies life.One of the girls says,shes got that review coming up at work, to which the other responds, her manager keeps rescheduling. Typical.Commuter Barbie also shows off just how cultured she is, toting around a mini-copy of the book Swing Time by Zadie Smith and a phone to listen to podcasts. When one little girl announces the reviews of the book, the other deadpans, we get it, you read the New Yorker.But Commuter Barbie has to deal with the price of transportation too, with aMetro card sold separately and subject to random fare hikes.The real Barbie chimed inMattel evengot wind of Commuter Barbie, and made a joke about the dolls Los Angeles drive to work.Well played.Commuters cheer their harried BarbieCommuter Barbie already has some fans.Hsieh was right- each of us isa little bitof the doll.

3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywords - FlexJobs

3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywords - FlexJobs3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywords -38If youre sending out the same old resume and cover letter for telecommuting jobs, part-time jobs, or freelance jobs and not getting much of a response, theres a reason. Several, actually. For one, recruiters get bored with the same old documents day after day and they can spot a generic application from miles away.Another reason is this When you upload your application materials to company websites, their recruiting software often has the ability to screen the documents for specific keywords related to the job to which youre applying. If your resume and cover letter dont contain those keywords, chances are theyre not being sent by the software to a menschlich recruiter for further review. So, whether theyre being screened by a human or a computer, resumes and cover letters without keywords are doomed.3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywo rdsHeres how to make your job search materials stand out using keywords1. Use the job description as a knowledge base. Job descriptions are filled with industry jargon and the keywords found here are the ones that companies want to see in your application. Wherever possible, edit the content of your resumes and cover letters to include relevant keywords from the job description.2. Company websites speak the company language. Websites have become an art form and most companies take the time to craft very carefully whats written on their website. Look at the Career and About pages to see how the company speaks about itself and what it values then incorporate any relevant keywords into your resume and cover letter.3. Numbers are always good keywords. Talk about your accomplishments in quantifiable ways, whether its how many people you manage, or how many clients youve brought in, or how much youve saved the company through cost-cutting initiatives. Anything youve done to increase prof its or decrease costs is keyword gold.If youre looking for telecommuting jobs, freelance jobs, part-time jobs, or flexible schedule jobs, your job search success starts with a well-tailored resume and cover letter. For other specific tips on customizing your resume and cover letter, check out Customized Resumes and Cover Letters are Better for Your Job Search.

8 Ways to Create a Desirable Employer Brand for Candidates

8 Ways to Create a Desirable Employer Brand for Candidates8 Ways to Create a Desirable Employer Brand for CandidatesBy now you probably aware that employer branding efforts help companies attract and retain talent. But if you dont have a clearly defined and documented strategy, candidates can fall through the cracks. Research shows that top employer brand companies are twice as likely to have a defined and documented strategy as companies outside of the top group. Once you define your strategy and get executive buy-in, its necessary to make koranvers your company website and your interviewing process reflects your employer brand. Heres what you need to know.WebsiteYour website is usually the first place candidates look for information about your company. A corporate website with job listings and no information on company culture is a wasted opportunity. Engage candidates on your corporate page by doing the followingEnsure what is conveyed is accurate and honest. If its not, candidate s will find out during the interview process, or worse, after they accept an offer and start work.Show pictures and videos of employees having fun AND working. Ive seen companies post images of only snack areas, Ping-Pong tables and parties. Unless you run a playground, this is not an accurate picture of wherbeie employees spend most of their time. If your company has a wide variation in work environments by department (workshop, office, warehouse, lab, etc.) show pictures of employees at work in each environment. Consider hiring a professional photographer/videographer to come in for a day to capture images of employees on the job.Keep it updated. If key employees have left the company or the office has been redecorated or moved, by all means update the content to reflect the changes. Management shifts and policy changes can significantly impact corporate culture, so its important that whats shown on the website reflects reality.Provide links to articles and awards. Your company ma y have a press page, but remember to highlight any articles and awards relevant to job seekers on the careers page itself. bedrngnis every candidate seeks out press information, and the most relevant information for candidates can get buried in a chronological list that includes product announcements. Put information in the place where the people you want to find it are most likely to look.InterviewingThe interview process is where candidates get a firsthand view of the employer brand in action. Sometimes a companys interviewing process can convey a different message than the actual culture.Laura Gonzalez, principal at CDM Search, once consulted with a company that was having trouble finding candidates that would accept offers.They had a positive laid-back culture, she said, but their interviewing process was disjointed and drawn out. Smart questioning revealed that the team hadnt been trained in interviewing practices and didnt understand the importance of moving quickly in a compe titive job market. Heres how to make sure the same thing doesnt happen to you.Plan the interview process for each position. Candidates who have to answer the same skills-based questions over and over again can get fatigued. Make sure ever person on the interview team knows what the position is, what aspect of the candidates experience they should address and is familiar with interviewing techniques. You cant assume that just because someone has a manager title that they know how to interview, said Gonzalez. She provides clients a packet of interviewing guidelines when needed and gathers the team for a pre-interview briefing and post-interview debrief.Let the recruiter serve as candidate advocate. The primary task of the hiring manager and team members is to make sure the candidate can do the job and will fit in with the team. The recruiters task should be to understand the factors under consideration for the candidate such as commute time, desired salary and benefits, family situati on and motivation for seeking a new job. Once the team makes a decision to hire a candidate, that information can be used to prepare a suitable offer quickly.Allow for the candidates human needs. Candidates tell horror stories of being left in conference rooms during marathon interview sessions without water and not knowing where the restroom is. Make sure to offer a beverage upon arrival and provide directions to the restroom. If the interviews stretch over a lunch period, buy the candidate lunch.Get creative with candidates. There are a myriad of ways to make a candidate feel welcome. Gonzalez gave two examples of successful candidate attraction tactics. One involved courting an executive for a cross-country move. On the second round of interviews the executives wife was flown in. She was paired with another executives wife for a tour of the area. After her warm welcome, she could no longer say, I dont know what its like there and I wont have any friends, to discourage her husband from taking the job.The second example involved finding an employee with a personality match from another department to give a candidate a tour of the campus. For instance, a candidate with an interest in long-distance running or guitar playing could be shown around or taken out to lunch by an employee with similar interests. These sort of casual connections outside of ones department are factors that make a workplace attractive to candidates.As we mentioned previously, experience makes candidates skeptical of employer brand marketing. The more you can show them evidence of your employer brand by providing authentic information on your website and follow through during the interview process, the more likely youll find the right candidates who will accept offers.Read part 1 and part 2of this series on employer branding.