If Youre Not Going to be Genuine, Dont Bother

If Youre Not Going to be Genuine, Dont Bother If Youre Not Going to be Genuine, Dont Bother Not long ago, I was invited to join a brand new business social networking site. Because I like the person who sent the invite, I clicked yes and signed up. But having looked around, I decided it was much too early stage to spend time on.For the last 3 days, Ive received an emaillele from the site founder. The first one thanked me for signing up and made reference to the fact Im a resume writer. I thought that was a nice touch as he had obviously taken the time to learn a little about me. But subsequent emails make it clear that he had not. His second email congratulated me on my great profile (I hadnt written a profile) and invited me to upload all my LinkedIn contacts to the new site. Huh? I just met you one day ago and now Im going to breach the trust of everyone I know on LinkedIn by giving you access to their personal information? Nice try but not on your lifeTodays email went to step fur ther. In addition to congratulating me again on my non-existent great profile, he also said he thought I was building a great network. Really? I havent contacted a single person. Again, he thought I might like to betray the trust of everyone I know by sharing their personal details with him.Later today Ill be figuring out how to close this account.But the experience reminded me of all the fake cover letters and thank you notes I received back when I was recruiting. So many candidates thought that personalize every cover letter meant feign an interest by inserting the company name into an otherwise generic email or letter. But every once in a while, Id receive a cover letter or email note from someone who really had taken the time to learn about our company and who conveyed a genuine excitement about the details of the job. That person always got an interview.I know its time consuming to personalize every communication and I know its frustrating when you do it and dont get a response . But it really is worth taking the time to go the extra mile on 5 job vacancies rather than sending out generic applications to 20.And the same goes for using sites like LinkedIn or Twitter. Take the time to write a personal note to each person you invite on LinkedIn rather than using the generic template. If youre on Twitter, never send automated direct messages. Youre honestly not fooling anyone.To get back to the site I joined, I know the founder thinks that he is combining a personal touch with efficiency. But if the personal touch isnt genuine, its better to do without it. Photo by Lauren Gaza

Math class

Math classMath classPosted by Todd Obolsky, Vault Staff Writer

6 Times Being an Out-Of-State Job Applicant Helps (and Hurts) You

6 Times Being an Out-Of-State Job Applicant Helps (and Hurts) You6 Times Being an Out-Of-State Job Applicant Helps (and Hurts) You When clicking submit on an online job application, youve probably stared straight into your computer screen and wondered whether your application would ever be seen.These uneasy feelings are compounded when you apply for a job in another state. Even if your resume lands into human hands, something as simple as your mailing address could hold you back.Join the club. About 86 percent of millennials - and 77 percent of employees overall - say theyre willing to relocate for work, according to a 2017 Bamboo report .When submitting your application for an out-of-state position, youve probably reconsidered including your home address on your rockstar resume . Some applicants even worry about the area code of their contact phone number.Hiding your location from hiring managers might get your resume chosen from the stack. But it will be reveale d during the einstellungsgesprch process.Here are three scenarios when living out of state might prevent you from getting a job.The more widely shared a job post, the more applicants it attracts, and the harder it is to score an interview .These days, you might see application tickers noting how many views a job post has received, or even how many applications it has garnered.So if youre living in a smaller city and looking to make a move to San Francisco, New York or somewhere in between, realize youre not alone.Human resources managers might be concerned that even if youre the better candidate , youre also a riskier one. Youll be making a big move and having to juggle your new living situation with your new job.To make yourself more attractive, you could use your cover letter to show you have a handle on the new city. You could mention, for example, that you already have a new home lined up. You might even cite examples of times you adapted to new surroundings in the past.Comp anies expand their budgets to hire senior employees some are willing to go far and wide to bring in the right leaders. For entry-level roles, however, a human resources team might not want to devote part of its budget to flying in and hosting out-of-state job interviews . New graduates with general skillplatzdeckchens are easy to find locally.Nobody wants to be on the hook for the expenses involved with funding your relocation if the relationship doesnt last, said Tyson Spring, founder of Elever Professional , an executive search firm and staffing company.If youre a new or recent graduate, you could erase a companys concerns over cost by offering to pay for your moving expenses.If you want to work for the state government, many states like Colorado require you to have been a resident for at least a year. In the private sector, you might see similar requirements on job descriptions or learn about them during a first interview.Even if no requirement exists, you might be penalized fo r a lack of familiarity with a city or region.The tech scene in Austin has a far different culture than the tech scene in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area the New York advertising and media culture differs dramatically from Los Angeles, Spring said.This is not to say that people cant make the switch, he continued, but when faced with two very similar skillsets, the off-the-resume attributes departure to come into the assessment.Spring added that a candidates network and knowledge of a given city could make a local candidate a better bet. The stronger network might make the new hire more helpful with recruiting and employee referrals , for example.Strengthen your connections in the city where youre hoping to live and work. You can do this by joining a national association tied to your field and attending conferences. You might also look through your LinkedIn connections to see if any of your college classmates ended up working in your preferred city.Many job applications will ask you if youre willing to relocate for the position. That reveals your status as an out-of-state applicant right away.Here are three scenarios when that status might help your case.The scope of your desired role should tell you a lot about whether the hiring manager will prefer a local candidate. If youre hoping to work for a national corporation that happens to be housed in Portland, Oregon, for example, you wont be expected to be an expert in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, they might even value an outsider that adds diversity to the team.But there will still be a cost to bringing you on board.In instances where relocation is budgeted for, your chances of being hired are probably just as good as someone local, said Tiffani Murray, a human resources consultant. The reason for this is that the company has already decided, through researching the market for talent, that they may have to look outside of the city for the best hire.Having unique experience or skills can push you over th e top. When applying for out-of-state roles, ask yourself what helps you stand out from the competition. If youre a content marketer who can also code webpages or design infographics, for example, that might set you apart.When you discover whatever it is thats unusually useful about your background, highlight it in your application. Make the case that its worth paying for at least the travel expenses required for an in-person interview.Understandably, hiring managers are put off by out-of-state applicants who say theyre willing to shift their entire life to take a particular job. Theyd feel especially guilty if you moved across the country only for the job to not work out months later.When possible, being transparent about your interest in a job and your ties to the companys city can help your case. Maybe you tell the hiring manager about your nearby friends or family, your past trips to the city or that youre moving with a significant other whos already found a job.These sorts of reasons for relocating give a company the impression that you know what youre getting yourself into, that youre ready to lay down roots. That lessens their risk of hiring an out-of-state applicant who sours on the new city and decides to quit the job .If you dont have ties to the city, dont worry. You might also try to use the opposite to your advantage. If youre leaving San Francisco for the lesser-known Santa Fe, for example, you might pitch yourself as someone having big-market experience who can help drive innovation.If youre feeling bold, you can offer to cover your own moving expenses, helping reduce the companys cost of hiring you.I have secured entry- and mid-level jobs in big cities on three separate occasions, in part, by explaining to the hiring manager that IBeing a relatively recent graduate furthered my argument. The companies knew I welches green and ready to pay my own way toward more professional experience. But you dont have to be in your early 20s for this str ategy to work.Consider covering the following details in your killer cover letter You might wait for the company to ask whether youre willing to finance your move, in case they make the offer first. Just ensure that you lay out the timeline of your move. A company might be willing to wait on you if youre paying your way to town.When youre an out-of-state job applicant, you dont just have to prove youre right for the job . You also have to prove youre right for the area.Unlike local candidates, youll have to show you can adjust to the cost of living and a potentially different salary in a new state. Itd be wise to perform your own research on the jobs pay, the states taxes and your possible living situation before even applying.If the math makes sense and the job description is a match, its up to you to put in the work to make the job happen.This article was originally published on Student Loan Hero . It is reprinted with permission.

5 Psychology-Backed Tips for an Awesome Resume

5 Psychology-Backed Tips for an Awesome Resume5 Psychology-Backed Tips for an Awesome ResumeLets be honest Writing your resume is complicated regardless of how much professional experience you have. Its one thing to have experience, but its an entirely different story to write about it.It seems like there are so many tips and an endless amount of advice on how to do it, but much of that is subjective. However, there are resume tips that are more scientific than a matter of opinion or industry trends. Some tips are based on psychology.Apply some basic psychology to your resume, and youll be on your way to an interview in no time.1. Include What Makes You UniqueYour resume must be professional, but you should inject some personality as well. Avoid going overboard, and save it for areas like your summary or objective, additional skills, volunteer experience and qualifications and your cover letter.The psychology behind it According to the famous Robert Cialdinis six principles of persua sion, people are easily persuaded by people they like and identify with. If your resume has personality, hobbies and passions somewhere, you have a greater mglichkeit of building this relationship with recruiters before you even speak with them.2. Focus on Your Work ExperienceWhile its strategic to include your extracurriculars, its still important to place the emphasis on your previous career experiences. This should make up the bulk of the information on your resume.The psychology behind it A study was conducted to find out what recruiters honed in on the fruchtwein when vetting applicants resumes education, extracurriculars or work experience. The findings were that recruiters were most impressed with work-related experience on resumes, and less so with the rest.3. Provide Social ProofIf theres any way to provide social proof within your resume or cover letter, do it. This could be an accomplishment that involved social media, such as building your Twitter following to promote a video you made. Or maybe you were voted employee of the month at your former workplace.Outside of your resume, you could also ask for social proof directly - in the form of a referral. If you know someone at the company, or know someone who knows someone, ask them to send a note of recommendation directly to the company or hiring manager.The psychology behind it Cialdini credited social proof as being one of the most powerful principles of influence. Its the same reason hotel reviews are such a powerful marketing tool - it provides social proof for prospective guests.Recruiters are shopping for candidates, much like travelers are shopping for the right accommodation. They both want to make the right choice and trust others opinions to help guide them.4. Drop NamesIf youve worked for a well-known company or an established expert in the industry of your expertise, include that within your resume. Its helpful when recruiters are familiar with your previous employers or work experienc es, and it also has the potential to make a great first impression.Dont think youre qualified to work with big brands? Become a brand ambassador. Its a great learning opportunity and a way to spruce up your resume.The psychology behind it Authority is another one of Cialdinis principles. Essentially, it states that people tend to obey authority figures. Well-known or influential names in your industry establish that sense of authority.Because individuals are more influenced by authoritative figures, this provides another layer of certainty that youre the right candidate. Its very similar to the concept of social proof.5. QuantifyWhenever possible, quantify your experiences and accomplishments. Rather than saying you won an award for best abverkaufman of the year, write that you won best salesman of the year for closing 25% of the companys sales or that you contributed $500,000 worth of sales for that year.The psychology behind it Greek philosopher Aristotle had his own theories arou nd persuasion and influence. One of his ideas was logos, the persuasion of others through logic, evidence and facts. Providing measurable accomplishments appeals to the logical side of the brain and makes your arguments more effective.Aristotle wasnt the only one with this idea. Since his time, research has proven that people find it easier to make judgments based on numbers than abstract ideas or facts.Using psychology will give your resume the necessary boost to land the jobScientifically based psychological resume tips can be the key to edging out your competition and landing the job. Including what makes you unique, focusing on your work experience, providing social proof, dropping names and quantifying your accomplishments will all help you get to that next step in the application process.Get the resume you need to nailthe perfect job

Sample Resume for Adjunct Instructor Job Position

Sample Resume for Adjunct Instructor Job PositionSample Resume for Adjunct Instructor Job PositionResumes are important for professional-level jobs such as teaching because they describe your skills and education. Recruiters look for signs of leadership ability and any specific certifications required by the facility.After your contact information, provide a few brief examples of your teaching and people skills. Your resume should include action words that describe your work and life experience. Keep each detail to one short sentence so human resource managers can read your resume quickly. Be sure to include information about your education and any related certifications youve earned.Begin the quest for your next teaching job by putting your details in the adjunct instructor resume template below. Create this Resume Anthony Moody4465 Timber Ridge RoadCitrus Heights, CA 95610(777)-448-6699a.moodytmail.comObjectiveSeeking a rewarding position as an Adjunct Instructor in a reputable sc hool to provide learning support for students.Summary of QualificationsExcellent communication and interpersonal skillsExcellent organization, presentation skillsKnowledge of learning and teaching tools to enhance cooperation and participation among studentsExpertise in various computer application and operating systems related to work, specifically library systemsDedicated and creativeEmpathic, patient and has strong passion to help othersLoves children and has background in child care and psychologyProfessional ExperienceAdjunct Faculty, January 2007 PresentAdelphi University, Garden City, NY ResponsibilitiesEncouraged the philosophy and mission of the school.Devised learning materials and conveyed these materials to students.Taught assigned subjects or courses by using various learning materials and equipment.Designed learning activities and learning styles to help students achieved their learning goals.Assessed student learning in the classroom.Adjunct Faculty, May 2004- Decemb er 2006University of Oregon, Eugene, OR ResponsibilitiesRendered counseling schedules or sessions for students as needed.Remained current in the subject matter by developing learning strategy.Obtained students grade or assessment records.Devised learning materials to help students.Rendered tutorial sessions for students. EducationMasters Degree in Education, 2004Yale UniversityBachelors Degree in Education, 2002Yale UniversityCustomize ResumeMore Sample ResumesABA Therapist Resume Adjunct Faculty Resume Adjunct Instructor Resume

Brief Article Teaches You the Ins and Outs of Free Curriculum Vitae Template and What You Should Do Today

Brief Article Teaches You the Ins and Outs of Free Curriculum Vitae Template and What You Should Do Today Youre able to locate a sample cv for use in the industry world academic settings or one that lets you concentrate on your individual abilities and abilities. It is likewise very very good approach to boost your programming abilities and polish your style. Unless youre asking for a job for a TV reporter, forget about doing it. Even though you can join the program with no prior coding experience, it can help to have minimal coding background before joining AltCampus. Choosing Good Free Curriculum Vitae Template As a consequence, the entire essay writing becomes less stressful. Youre reading the book since you need to learn to think far better. Consider what image youre conveying. To begin with, you dont have to take a seat before a typewriter to compose a manuscript. Even when youre a knowledgeable professional, youre able to nevertheless refer to samples which could e nable you to replace your resume. A template can spare you a great absprache of time. So, you might want to think about maintaining an individual CV which you use specifically for submitting with applications. Whether youre writing your very first curriculum vitae or revising a recent CV, a template can be extremely beneficial. For pharmacist CVs, its not advised to incorporate the references and ought to only be available upon request. The elements that you include will be dependent on what it is youre applying for, so make sure to incorporate the most relevant info to back up your candidacy in your CV. A lot of people create several distinct copies of their CV, customized to distinct regions of specialization. When youre thinking about how to compose a CV that wins you the interviews you would like, you should think about every facet of your CV, especially the layout and the true information you must include. Choose which sections you have to have in your CV (dependent on t he job which youre applying for), and which ones you are able to remove. Be certain Your CV Stands Out When youre making your CV, you might want to be certain that its visually attractive, hence the people evaluating it is going to find it effortless to read. The Foolproof Free Curriculum Vitae Template Strategy Employers are busy folks. In truth, its not a great idea to provide it even voluntarily, as it may make employers or schools feel uncomfortable due to the possible discriminatory implications. A lot of employers would make exactly the same choice. Its vital that teachers have the ability to offer krebs education and support to their students. Things You Should Know About Free Curriculum Vitae Template When you first begin learning how to program, it can be hard to find resources which will help you along your arduous journey. A teacher whos prepared for at least some of the situations that may emerge in the classroom is unquestionably a larger asset to a school than a teacher who really does not have any idea how to respond. Since nearly all online courses usually concentrate on teaching specific programming language they arent a solution. On the flip side, the great majority of online courses and bootcamps teach programming as an individual level, never as a component of Computer Science curriculum. Its possible to also see Resume Templates. Resume templates can be helpful in building your resumes. For instance, a template can explain to you how to lay out your CV. Overall, the template works best for users who want to track down huge volume of information. The New Angle On Free Curriculum Vitae Template Just Released To create a resume you want to understand the essentials of the perspective employer for that specific job profile. On any one you observe, you shouldnt ever locate an objective which is too vague. Generally, the objective of the resume is to secure work. The true use of the purpose is to sell hiring managers on your c andidacy. 1 werber described the plan for a nightmare because of all of the logistical details that werent addressed. Always keep in mind that the hiring manager is going to have no interest in knowing about your individual achievements. The employer may want to know precisely what you are interested in and the skills youre hoping to utilize. You either build your private brand before the work hunt begins or youll need to re-brand yourself at your new job. Youve got to read job descriptions and industry news critically to acquire an awareness of the skills which are needed by employers. Bear in mind that new career industry should have new jargons Following that, you choose the best skills that commonly are required in your new industry and you need to search for matches. Employers have a limited quantity of time. For sales positions, companies start looking for individuals with a history of succeeding, well-known businesses, and ambition. Just about all companies have a br and related to them.

Pinterest Isnt Just For Recipes Anymore How to Use it to Recruit - Spark Hire

Pinterest Isnt Just For Recipes Anymore How to Use it to Recruit - Spark HireWe all know that Pinterest is perfect for those looking to try new foods or get crafty at home, but this site can actually be a powerful recruiting tool too. Though it may not seem like it, Pinterest is quickly becoming a hot new strategy for those looking to get in touch with top-tier talent. Here are some ways that you can use your Pinterest board for more than just pinning workout routines you wont actually end up doingGive a job a pin boardIf youre looking to recruit for a particular position, consider dedicating a pin board specifically to the opening. On the board, you can post images that sum up some of the attributes that youre hoping to find in a candidate. You can also use pictures to illustrate the kinds of tasks that the new hire will be asked to take on. Additionally, you might consider pinning some useful resources for those who are looking to pursue this kind of job. As more and more people tu rn to Pinterest for professional guidance, it is important to develop a presence on the platform.Link back to your companys sitePinterest is a terrific way to garner some extra traffic for your companys site. If you pin a particularly useful article or picture, make sure it links back to your companys site. A person who is impressed with the content will probably click to find its source, and may be inspired to get in touch with you.Show off company cultureA recruiter can use Pinterest to illustrate the company culture found at some of their clients workplaces, or at their own place of employment. Pin pictures of company outings or the office space itself. These images will pique a persons interest, and are far more effective than simply writing a katechese that says, This company is laid back.Incorporate videoStill pictures and text can make it difficult to get a real sense of what a company is like. Pinterest allows users to incorporate video, which enables them to create a 3D pic ture of that particular organization. Instead of having to hope that your words are doing the business justice, let a short video get the message across.When you begin to incorporate Pinterest into your social media recruiting routine, dont forget to continue to continue to attend to your profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Some candidates prefer Pinterest, while others are heavily involved with Twitter. Making sure you are active on all of the major social media sites will help to boost your recruiting efforts and land you top-notch talent.

Personal finance etiquette for 2019 Your stupid simple guide to talking money

Personal finance etiquette for 2019 Your stupid simple guide to talking moneyPersonal finance etiquette for 2019 Your stupid simple guide to talking moneyMoney and partieal finance can be a difficult thing to talk about. Some people are just weird when it comes to money, and some situations require seriously creative thinking when it comes tocold hard cash.On one hand, we want to be helpful and offer genuine assistance when needed, but on the other, we also dont want people to take advantage of us or take your generosity for granted.Whats a giftstoffed frugal machine like yourself do to navigate those dangerous waters? Heres a simplesituational guideto help point you in the right direction with common money situations we tackle in life.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and morePersonal finance etiquette in 2019 A situational guideHere are a few scenariosYou suddenly came into some money ( lottery, big job promotion, etc) and a friend or family member has expressed a peculiar new-found interest in your success and hints attheir own need for money.You know, theyve suddenly absinken on hard times and just need some temporary help from a kind soul with some extra dough.Kindly offer your advice on how to generatemore incomeor get ahead at work. Sympathies arent what they are looking for, and you know that.But,that doesnt matter. They didnt earn the money. You did (except for playing the lotteryyou didnt earn jack, but you DID choose to actually play). Regardless, be relentlessly positive. Offer support and guidance.But, itsyourmoney and elend theirs. The moment you so much as hint at the possibility of loaning them money, youve pretty much committed yourself.And, the requests for money most likely wont stop.Lastly, Id pay special attention to those people who suddenly show their faces after they found out that youve come into some additional cash. Friends do this, but so do family members, and it sucks. If you think they are only cozying up to you for your money, they probably are.Friends and family expect your professional advice/services for free.If you are asoftware developerand a family member needs a website built, they might come to you and ask for your help or in other words,free labor.Doctors, lawyers, general contractors and virtually anyone who has specialized knowledge and experience has probably been solicited for free work.You are under no obligation to provide your services for free, even for family. Though you certainly can if it makes sense, be sure it does notlage interfere with your ability to make a living.If youd rather not take on free work but dont have the heart to just say no, then consider telling that partie that youre swamped at the moment. Too busy. Enough of these types of excuses and they might get the hint.And likewise,YOUshould never expect friends or family to provide expertise that they spent thousands of hours to master (or thousands of dollars to learn) for free. They may offer a friend or family discount, but they are professionals, like you.Treat them like one.That said If someone asks me an IT question, I wont suddenly send them a billjust for talking with me. Im not that anal. If someone wants advice, Ill generally provide it. But, Im done with forking over mountains of work for free.Been there, done that, but I was too busy to buy the t-shirt.A friend asks for a small loan, but they havent yet paid you back for that other small loan.I never consider a loan to be a loan. Never give someone money that youactually need to be returned. Ever. Instead, you may outwardly agree that its a loan, but inside, youre mentally preparing yourself tonever see that money again.If a friend asks you for money when they havent yet paid you back for another loan, kindly remind them of your previous arrangement and that you need to prioritize YOUR financial situation (in your head, that means not loaning mo re money to someone who probably has no real interest or ability in paying it back).A friend borrows $1,000 from you and starts walking around with a brand new pair of expensive penny loafers.First, refer to the previous situation never loan someone money that you need back. Once money has left your hands for another hand, it could very well be gone forever. In this case, your friend seems to have had the means to come up with that $1,000 on their own with the sudden sporting of expensive footwear. Of course, it could also be a suit, jacket or anything else.In other words, they probably had the money.Take notice of the new pair of shoes and offer an innocent conversation starter Hey, nice shoes When did you pick those up? Then, start digging a bit deeper Oh, I hope that the $1,000 helped you out. This should get the tanzabend rollin a bit.If your friend doesnt take the hint, consider offering a more pointed query, such as You could always just give me your new pair of shoes instead of paying back the grand. Hah Its funny, but its also really not.Personally, this is about as far as Id take it.Mentally, Id already said goodbye to that grand anyway. But, Id definitely reconsider my friendship with this person if he or she has expressed no real interest in making good on the deal, especially if they arebuying expensive stuffafter asking for money.Someone loves to ask you how much your house/car/boat/whatever costs.Naturally, you are under no obligation to answer these types of questions, and frankly, Id consider them extremely tactless to even ask. But, some people out there lack tact. Lack it big time.If Im ever asked a question about how much something costs and I prefer not to answer, Ill generally give them a polite F-off answer, like Way more than it should have But hey, did you watch the Packer game brde week?This accomplishes two things First, it lets the person know that you have no interest in talking about money, and second, it immediately changes the s ubject to something you might have an interest in.Your lunchmate asks you to pick up the check (again) after several previous meals without him or her even reaching for the bill.Id start with, Hey, why dont we split this one? Ive picked up the last couple and its making a dent in our restaurant budget. Unless youre dining with a real tool, that will probably be enough of a hint for that person to toss out a credit card to cover their portion of the bill.If it doesnt, and it seems like the only person whos willing to pay is you, then pay the bill and decline the next lunch invitation (or if youre the one doing the invite, dont invite him or her). Something like, Sorry, I need to start brown-baggin it a little more to save some cash should do it.Or, youre dining with a couple of colleagues and you easily get the least expensive meal, but they want to split the check equally.If its a difference of just a few bucks, I wouldnt worry about it. Pay your share and move on and consider the a dditional few dollars payment for good company and conversation. However, if you ordered a salad and they ordered prime-cut filets, then the difference is probably significant.Hmm, I think $20 should cover my salad and share of the tip, right? I opt for being a little generous with my offer. Ill cover my meal dollar-for-dollar but will offer a tip amount in the neighborhood of the final bill not just my share.Ive found the extra few bucks goes a long way to avoiding conflict in an otherwisehappy and peaceful settingeven though you dont actually owethat much.We cant just split it evenly? If you get that question in response to your perfectly reasonable offering, thats your queue to sever your lunch relationship with those people. Running up the bill with expensive meals and asking a much more frugal person to pay more than their fair share isnt the mark of true friendship, and I personally avoid engaging with people like that for lunch or otherwise.You like to entertain for friends and family, but you always seem to be the person who pays for food, drink, and entertainment.Try to throw a BYOB/F Bring Your Own Food/Beer party instead of offering to supply everything. Or at the very least, establish an understanding that everyone is expected to at least bring something to the party. A side dish. A six-pack of booze. Something.Freeloading time is over. Even if you have to buy something from the store instead of making it, thats fine. Everyone makes a contribution.Another option would be to encourage someone else to take a turn as the host. It is implied that the host will spend a little more on entertainment events because they want people to have a good time at their house. When youre always hosting, you are always signing yourself up to spend a little extra on peoples happiness. Instead, consider rotating homes for the next few dinner parties to help split up the cost.The gifts you give are always worth way more than the gifts you receive.First, look inward a nd examine your personality. For some of us, it genuinely makes us happy to spend money on other people, to see the smile on their face and excitement in their eyes, and we are willing to pay extra for a more expensive gift in order to obtain that level of joy both for the other person as well as for us. In this case, it might be okay to spend more.However, that doesnt necessarily mean that consistently spending more money than other people on gifts is always a good thing. If you feel resentful that people arent matching your level of investment in gifts, simply change your investment. If they are used to getting gifts of a certain quality from you, tell them that youre trying to watch your finances a bit more and need to save a little bit more money (or spend less). Match their investment instead.Orif your group of friends tends to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts, but youre only able to spend a fraction of that, be honest and upfront. Its easier to set and manage expectations f rom the very beginning than awkwardly explain why you gave someone hand-made mittens when they got you a $500 handbag.Is it ever a good idea to offer someone a loan during a rough patch?Sure I am not against helping someone out with a little cash when they need it. But, the larger concern is making sure the request is coming from an honest and trustworthy person.If they have a history of not following through with their agreements or are flakey people, thats an indication youll never see that money again. You should never feel bad about looking out for your own financial well-being first. If you dont, no one else will either. Its okay to be selfish.Like Ive said several times before, I consider all loan moneygone as if it were a gift. If it get it back, then cool. Otherwise, Ill chalk that up to a good deed and move on with my life, likely without the involvement of the person who preferred not to uphold their end of the deal.This article originally appeared on ThinkSaveRetire.You m ight also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to stop people interrupting you when youre trying to work

How to stop people interrupting you when youre trying to workHow to stop people interrupting you when youre trying to workInterruption overload is the new workplace affliction.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraIn the industrial age, people used to be able to interrupt you at work only by phoning or walking into your office.Today, information workers are faced with ever-increasing online distractions.Interruptions are everywhere, and personal productivity is suffering.51.5% of people are interrupted frequently throughout the day according to a RescueTime survey.For half the people we spoke to, interruptions were a constant threat to their focus. With an additional 46.5% saying they get interrupted at least a few times a day,writesJory MacKaySwitching attention can deplete your cognitive resources that can be devoted to focusing on any given task.Even the mere expectation of an emai l or a message can distract you from committing fully to a task.The profusion of communications channels is definitely harmful to productivity because it leads to more interruptions, says Jakob Nielsen,People who get distracted from a task struggle to get back to it and regain focus. And they also waste time trying to recover from interruptions.For people doing knowledge workthe most highly paid employeesevery time you are interrupted it takes 515 minutes to fully recapture your train of thought and get back to being completely immersed in your main task, says Nielsen.Some interruption like notifications can be addictive if you dont actively dont something about them.Answering emails can also be addictive. You feel you have accomplished something but in the long-term, you can losing focus from high-value work.Emails and instant messages contribute to productivity but without management, they distract us from the real work.Interruptions can eat up 28 tausend milliarden wasted hours a year, at a loss of almost $1 trillion to the U.S. economy,explainsJonathan Spira, author ofOverload How Too Much Information Is Hazardous To Your Organization.Make your unavailable time known to your colleaguesShare your calendar with your colleagues to make it easier for them to know when you occupied with important tasks.Its a simple but effective way to limit interruptions.Let people know when you are available, and when you are not.Make it clear that during your unavailable time, they should only interrupt you if they have to.Or better still, you and your co-workers can agree on a signal, a symbol, or anything that makes it clear to everyone that you are unavailable.If you are a manager and handle urgent issues as and when they arise, this may not be easy to implement, especially when your goal is to get people talking and giving you feedback.Stop interrupting yourselfYou are probably interrupting yourself more than you know.Browser tabs, clutter on your desk, and notifications are the biggest distractions when you want to get stuff done.When working on your important stuff, close all tabs that have no relevance to the work in progress or disconnect completely.If interruptions consistently rob you of time and energy, build a system to monitor your work behavior, and find out which distractions are highly disruptive.Turn off the automatic alert on e-mail and check it manually, say, three times a day. Use a timer or thePomodoro techniqueto single task successfully.Instead of cranking through a lot of tasks and multi-tasking, learn to focus on important tasks and single-task.Use the two-minute ruleDeal immediately with all interruptions that take two minutes or less.Two minutes is short enough to prevent loss of engagement when you have to get back to your task quickly.If email takes up a lot of your day, write shorter emails.The simple change of limiting yourself to 45 sentences per email will make a big difference.Take the number of jas you think your emai l should be, cut that number in half, and thats what your word count should be.Use atriggerHeadphone is a great trigger that can help you assume focused mode.It can easily send the right signal to people that you are not available.You can listen to calm tracks that can help you stay in the flow.You could even have an album or playlist that gets you in the mood to work and listen to that as part of your routine.Research supports listening to music at work. Its beenfoundthat listening to music can increase accuracy and speed, with 9 out of 10 workers performing better when music is playing.Sometimes, you dont even have to play music, and youll still be left alone.Start an interrupters logThis is a simple record of your interruptions in the course of a day.There is a growing body of research that shows that self-monitoring massively reduces the time spent on low-value work and interruptions.Use smart monitoring to determine the types of interruptions you experience daily. This means mo nitoring the activity and the nature of the interruptionthose related to your current task and unrelated ones, and whether they are important or urgent.Mark down the person interrupting you, and the date and time it occurs.Try it for at least a week, and analyze the information.If you can identify the source of your interruptions, you will be able to put strategies in place to minimize them.Closing thoughtsEveryday interruptions can be a key barrier to managing your time effectively.In our digital age, attention management is the new focus.Interruptions will get worse if you dont do something about them.Start every day with an interruption plan and stick to it. The key to controlling them is to know what they are and to plan for them in your daily schedule.Cut off distractions. Own your attention.Want to get more done in a day than most people do in aweek?You need systems, not goals. Im creating a new course,Systems For Getting Work Doneto help you create a personal productivity sys tem to get 10X more done in less time.Sign up to be notified when it launches.This article first appeared on Medium.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Alternative fees go mainstream

Alternative fees go mainstreamAlternative fees go mainstreamVault Law Blog special legal correspondent Raj Selvadurai is down in Washington, DC this morning at a symposium sponsored by BisNow on rapidly changing relations between law firms and corporate law departments. The panel includes Citigroups GC Michael Helfer and 3 of BigLaws biggest machers Eric Friedman of Skadden, Bruce McLean of Akin Gump, and Tom Yannucci of Kirkland Ellis. The topic The tectonic shift in the legal profession, including alternative fee arrangements (including fixed fees and performance incentives), the role of junior associates (or lack thereof), changing expectations for results and delivery of services, and more.One interesting aspect of the discussion is the public airing of alternative fee arrangements expectations and practices. According to Helfer, alternative fee arrangements account for 30% of Citigroups total legal spend (the bulk of that fixed fee), and plans to increase that percentage. All t o the panelists reported that their firm use discount (or alternative, or special, depending on the firms jargon) fees to varying degrees. Discount rates make up about 15% of Akins revenues andabout 10% of Kirklands (most all in litigation). Skadden has just begun experimenting with alternative arrangements, which currently constitute less than 10% of the firms total. Questions to Helfer Is it relevant to GCs how law firms are run? Do they care about law firm profitability? Paraphrased Answer Yes, of course. GCs value stability and morale in their outside firms. But what is most essential is developing and maintaining business trust, and key to that is flexibility and reasonableness of billing arrangements. For example, clients should bedrngnis be expected to subsidize the training of junior associates. -posted by brian