Sara Blakelys advice for when you have a million dollar idea

Sara Blakelys advice for when you have a million dollar ideaSara Blakelys advice for when you have a million dollar ideaToday, shaping undergarment Spanx is ubiquitous. But 20 years ago, billionaire CEO Sara Blakely writes on LinkedIn, everyone thought her idea for footless pantyhose was crazy. Luckily, she knew not to tell very many people about it only kapitnspatent lawyers and people in the undergarments businesness.Ideas are the most vulnerable in their infancy, she writes. Regardless, no one got it. Some made her an object of ridicule.That was hardly a surprise, Blakely wrote, because the men in charge of the industry didnt know what it was like to be a women wearing their products they werent thinking about how she FEELS in it. And although she was only 25 years old at the time, with no training in design or business, she trusted her instinct.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and mo raEventually, she ended up on the cover of Forbes and named one of TIME magazines most 100 influential people. Spanx is now sold in airports, has categories for men, and is a household name. Oprahs a fan. Blakely even makes occasional appearances on Shark Tank. Her message If you have an idea, talent, or skill run with it.

Customize this Outstanding Lab Monitor Resume Sample

Customize this Outstanding Lab Monitor Resume SampleCustomize this Outstanding Lab Monitor Resume SampleCreate Resume Jill Temple100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234emailexample.comProfessional Summary Dedicated Lab Monitor with in-depth knowledge of chemistry lab procedures and standards. Experience in equipment sanitation, student monitoring and proper lab checks. Specific expertise in laboratory safety procedures.Core QualificationsStudent MonitoringEquipment OperationSanitation StandardsSafety ProceduresLaboratory RegulationsLab ChecksExperienceLab Monitor, January 2014 May 2015New Parkland University New Parkland, CAMonitored student use of chemistry lab and equipment.Answered student questions, assisted with equipment use and dealt with problems or issues that would arise.Set up, disassembled and cleaned laboratory equipment.Completed documentation regarding laboratory use on a daily basis.Lab Assistant, September 2012 May 2013New Parkland Community C ollege New Parkland, CAProvided chemistry laboratory oversight and monitoring.Helped students with proper equipment use, answered questions, managed unexpected issues and completed documentation each shift.Set up equipment, cleaned and sanitized equipment after every use and reported malfunctioning equipment to the department chair.Education2015 Anticipated Bachelor of Science Chemical EngineeringNew Parkland University New Parkland, CACustomize Resume

The Cost of Not Taking Your Vacation Days - The Muse

The Cost of Not Taking Your Vacation Days - The Muse The Cost of Not Taking Your Vacation Days We’ve all used every excuse in the book for not taking vacation (or not unplugging while on vacation). “My co-workers won’t survive without me.” “Something major will happen while I’m gone and then I’ll be fired because I wasn’t there.” “Taking a vacation would make me more stressed right now.” And while they’re all baloney, we’ve still managed to convince ourselves that we don’t need to take breaks. So I’m going to give you one reason today why you should get offline and go away: Because when you don’t use your vacation days, you’re essentially paying your employer. Yup. According to a recent article on CNN titled, “Your Boss Wants You to Take a Vacation” (how’s that for a headline?), American employees forfeited 212 million vacation days in 2017, otherwise sacrificing $62 billion in lost benefits. “In other words, the average employee actually donated $561 in ‘free’ work to their employer by not using their vacation time,” says the article author Katie Denis, citing a study done by Project: Time Off. Let me break that down for you. Companies set aside a certain number of days off for each employee, expecting that they will be paying some money for their employees not to be working. While some organizations offer rollover days- allowing employees to accrue and use any leftover vacation days from the previous year- many don’t, which means if you don’t use them, you lose them. This means that rather than get that extra money without having to work, you’re giving that money back in unnecessary labor. The point? Take your vacation days- all of them. And not just because it’s costing you much-undeserved stress and energy. According to career coaches, taking breaks makes you more motivated and productive in the long run, puts your career into perspective, and even helps you get promoted. Want hard numbers next to those facts? The CNN articles goes on to say that “those who travel with all or most of their time are 28% happier with their companies and 24% happier with their jobs than those that travel with little to none of their vacation days.” Convinced? Good. Now time to ask your boss for time off and start planning for your next adventure!

7 Fantastic Interview Tips

7 Fantastic Interview Tips 7 Fantastic Interview Tips 7 Fantastic Interview Tips How To Land The Job PROSTOCKSTUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK If youre new to job interviews and the business world, you probably dont realize just how much tact is expected and required to make it past your first encounter with an interviewer, especially if youre facing a fair amount of competition for a single position. In this article, weve compiled seven interview tips to coach beginners how to find their footing (and a way to stand out from the pack). 1. Have an impressive resume and application For most positions, a simple form with your basic background information (such as your job history, references, and availability) is required before an interview can be offered. Your application should be written neatly, succinctly, and thoughtfully. Avoid run-on sentences, small or illegible handwriting, and keep your availability as open as possible. This will make you a higher-ranking candidate when compared to the rest of the applicant pool. Whether or not its required, you should always submit a professional resume with your job application. It shows employers that you are willing to go above and beyond, and it also gives you the chance to show off your credentials. Spend plenty of time creating a detailed and impressive resume. We can help you there. 2. Practice your conversation skills Your potential employer will want to know that youre comfortable being social. You should be able to engage your interviewer in small talk and intellectual conversation, if they so choose. Dont try to rush through the interview to get to the questions. Be calm, collected, and patient. This person is trying to determine how well youll do in a stressful environment. You shouldnt give them any reason to doubt your capabilities. Just sit back and be personable. 3. Be honest about your flaws This is a big one. When your potential employer asks what your biggest flaw is (and they will), dont give them the predictable, face-saving runaround that everyone else has given them prior to you. Its practically a guarantee that theyve already heard: I work too hard. My ambitions get in the way of my normal day-to-day life. My friends tell me that I need to take it easy and relax. I spend too much time helping my coworkers. Its all been done before. Instead of turning a perk into a flaw, and then awkwardly trying to twist it around in order to impress your interviewer, just be honest with them. By being straightforward, youre giving them information that they can use to place you in the company and figure out where you stand as a worker. Were all human. Unless you tell them that youve robbed a candy store or party too hard on the weekends, they arent going to use this question to determine the outcome of your interview. The question is meant to throw you a hard ball and see whether youll shoot straight, or adjust course to avoid the hard stuff. 4. Have a firm, confident handshake The most important part of being a memorable candidate is your confidence level. In an interview, youll have endless opportunities to make a great first impression. But it all starts with the handshake. Your greeting should be firm, brief, and friendly. We suggest practicing with a family member or a friend before trying it for the first time. And dont forget to smile. 5. Dont be afraid to ask questions At the end of the interview, youll usually be given the opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the position youve applied for. You should write these down beforehand, and ensure that they are either answered during the interview or asked afterward. Nodding and insisting that you dont have any questions isnt helping anyone, and it doesnt necessarily make you look smart. If it comes down to making a difficult decision, you need to have as much information as possible. Your interviewer is there to help. 6. Practice your posture Keep your back straight and your eyes focused. Dont be afraid to make eye contact with your interviewer. Averting your eyes because you dont want to feel uncomfortable is common, but its also noticeable after a lengthy period of time. Avoid putting your elbows on the table, or slumping over in your seat. You want to be alert and polite. 7. Job Interview Follow-Up When the interview is over, your job isnt done. Be sure to obtain the contact information of your interviewer and follow-up by phone or email within forty-eight hours. This shows that youre serious about the position and that youre not afraid to take the initiative to get things done. Dont wait a week before you make contact. At that point, its too late. You need to push your way into their memory. Follow these tips, and youll already be taking strides to stay ahead of your competition and get ahead in our competitive job market.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Corporate Credit Card

Pros and Cons of Getting a Corporate Credit Card Pros and Cons of Getting a Corporate Credit Card A corporate card sounds like a great perk, but dont  forget the fine print. Most importantly, you need to clarify whether youre being offered a corporate card or a business credit card. They may sound like the same thing, but theyre actually a little different. One key distinction: Where business credit cards are concerned, employees are personally responsible if the company fails to make good on the payments; not so with corporate cards. Corporate credit cards are a breed all their own. They come with some pretty nice benefits, but also a few drawbacks that are worth your attention. Consider these pros and cons before going all in. Pros of a Corporate Card 1. Your Personal Credit Is Out of the Mix When you receive a corporate credit card, the monthly bill  goes directly to your employer. Your corporate card activity isnt reflected on your personal credit report because your company  takes full responsibility for any expenses you charge. Your only responsibility is to use your corporate card in accordance with your companys policies. (Put another way: Keep all personal expenses off this card.) Keeping work-related expenses away from your personal credit history has some other benefits as well. If you were to use a personal card, work charges would increase your credit utilization ratio (a.k.a., the amount of available credit youre currently using). This ratio makes up 30 percent of your FICO Score. Translation: Carrying work debt from month to month could bring down your credit score. 2. You Dont Have to Wait for Reimbursements Theres definitely a convenience factor to having a corporate credit card. Using a personal credit card to pay for business expenses means waiting for your employer to pay you back. If you are flush with cash and can just pay it off and afford to wait for your reimbursement to come in, thats not going to be too much of an issue, says Beverly Harzog,  credit card expert and consumer finance analyst for US News World Report. If youre a person who lives paycheck to paycheck, waiting for that reimbursement can get a little dicey for you. 3. The Card Isnt a Concern When You Exit the Company When the time comes for you to leave your company, your employer will cancel your corporate card. This wont affect your credit, since activity on the card doesnt show up on your credit report. However, if you were granted a business card - which is connected to your personal credit history - closing down that line of credit would reduce your available credit limit and increase your credit utilization ratio. As a result, your credit score could fall. Cons of a Corporate Card 1. You Wont Reap Any Credit Card Rewards Unfortunately, you probably wont be able to cash in on any rewards you accumulate with your corporate credit card. Many people want to use their own cards because they can earn rewards, Harzog says. With a corporate card, those rewards points just get funneled back to your employer instead. Some companies might make some sort of arrangement or exception, she adds. But, in general, you should not expect to be getting those rewards if youre using a corporate card. In other words: Dont  plan to cover your next vacations airfare with miles accumulated from your business  purchases. 2. You May Feel Pressured to Use It - Even When You Shouldnt Having a corporate credit card in your wallet does not give you license to whip it out whenever you want. Every company has its own set of guidelines around employee spending, and straying from them could put you in hot water. Youre held accountable for your expenses, even if youre not filling out an expense report, says Harzog. If you cant justify your expenses, its going to make you look bad and could put your job at risk, so practice setting boundaries. - Corporate credit cards are nice in that they keep your work expenses separate  from your personal spending  and leave  your credit score intact. The major downside is youll miss out on earning rewards. At the end of the day, only you can decide whether thats a worthwhile trade. Marianne Hayes is a longtime freelance writer and content marketing specialist.

5 Criteria for Hiring a Great Manager

5 Criteria for Hiring a Great Manager 5 Criteria for Hiring a Great Manager It speaks well of a professional culture when staff at various levels interview incoming leaders. It suggests a spirit of collaboration among the ranks. Don Raskin, Senior Partner at MME , advertising and marketing agency, and author of The Dirty Little Secrets of Getting Your Dream Job points out, “If an employee is given a choice to be a part of the interview team for their next manager, the employee should always say ‘yes’. . . it will allow them to have a say in whom they will be working for, but most importantly, whom they will be learning from once the manager is hired.” Serving in this capacity can feel both exciting and worrisome; it’s a big responsibility. Here’s how to own it. It’s hard to find what you’re seeking if you don’t know what that looks like; crystallize it for yourself. Review the position description, and think about what you need in a manager. Consider past managers you’ve reported to: What qualities stand out? What priorities does a great manager champion? How do stellar leaders communicate? If you’ve had the misfortune of working for poor leaders, what made them difficult? For Raskin, great managers have five core qualities. He advises: “Find a candidate who possesses all five, and you have found your next hire.” Raskin outlines his criteria that make a great manager:   Synthesize your own criteria for what constitutes an outstanding manager, and use that to guide your search.   It takes effort to prepare strategic interview questions . Give yourself time to think about the smaller picture of your team’s daily operations and the bigger picture of what your organization does.  Raskin points out: “An interviewer prepares strategic questions by looking at the company mission and asking questions about how the manager envisions achieving the mission.” Next, consider what questions would tease out relevant details. Raskin explains how to formulate strategic questions: “A good interview question allows for the respondent to answer the question in a way that shows how they will think and act. It also allows for the respondent to answer and present their thinking in a logical and sequential way.” Raskin offers these sample questions. Notice how they directly hinge on his management criteria:   “ Empowers â€" How do decisions get made between you and your employees? You want to hear that the manager says he trusts his employees to make their own decisions, but if they are unsure they can come to him/her and they can make a decision together. Has your back â€" How would you handle a situation where an employee comes to you and tells you they made a mistake? You want to hear the manager say that you will work through the mistake together until the mistake is fixed. Mentors â€" Can you describe your management style? You want to hear that the manager is always there for you so you can get a point of view based on their experience.” Formulate questions that unearth the qualities you’re seeking. If you’re new to the role of interviewer, consider running them by your HR colleagues for an extra vote of confidence. Non-verbals can relay important information that can inform your gut instincts, so take note.  Pay attention to how you feel in each candidates’ company: Is s/he comfortable surrendering the floor? Does s/he seem to need to dominate the conversation? Does s/he listen or interrupt? Observe and note communication styles, keeping in mind that the interview situation is a high-pressure case study for interviewees.   Raskin points out other key non-verbals: “[A] firm handshake tells you everything you need to know at the start of the interview. It demonstrates confidence, leadership and passion. . . . Eye contact is critical during the interview. Strong eye contact allows the candidate to quickly bond with the interviewer and build a relationship.” Your gut feeling is important, but make sure to fortify it with data and evidence from the interview. Job interviews are a two-way conversation. Strategic interviewees foster good conversations about the open position. One way they do so is by posing strategic questions. Prepare to field questions about your tenure, team and institution. Prompting conversation by asking key questions is not just a positive quality in an interviewee, it’s a positive quality in a manager. Earning the nod to serve on an interview team gives you voice in an important decision, and it bolsters your professional skillset.  Recognize the compliment, and embrace the opportunity.  

The reason more Millennials are moving home is not what you think

The reason more Millennials are moving home is not what you think The reason more Millennials are moving home is not what you think Millennials (aged 23 to 39) have earned the nickname of the Boomerang Generation because a significant number have gone back home to live with their parents after graduating from college and even living on their own and being in the workforce for a few years.Now, most stereotypes would have you believe that most 20 and 30-somethings that move home do this because they are lazy, unemployed (think Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers, Step-Brothers and a bunch of others) and know that having your mom do your laundry regularly is one of the greatest things in the world.But it turns out, that is actually not the reason most Millennials move back into their childhood bedrooms (and curl up in the fetal position.) The real reason is actually even sadder.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!  According to a Homes.com survey of over 1,000 Americans who moved back in with their parents, the m ost common reason Millennials boomerang is because of a divorce or breakup. Cue the sad face emoji. The survey found that good old fashioned heartache was the primary reason for moving back home for 33% of 26 to 30-year-olds, 37% of 31 to 35-year-old and 24% of 36 to 40-year-olds.Even though Millennials have been labeled as the generation that has killed the divorce rate, it clearly still happens. Plus, even though Millennials are getting married later they are cohabitating with their significant other that they are not married to at higher rates than ever before.The number of cohabitants in the U.S.   increased by 29% between 2007 and 2016, according to a study from the Pew Research Center. Of those 18 million cohabiting half of them are under the age of 35 AKA Millennials.   Patricia McManus, an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University, told Bustle of this new trend, “Most young adults, most millennials, will certainly live together before marriage,” she said. †œIt’s become more of a norm with less of a stigma.” In addition to it cutting down on living expenses, it is also a good way to test out whether the relationship is compatible with marriage. And let’s remember, though the breakup may be just as painful, it will still cost less than a divorce (and you can tell your  Mommy all about it when you move back home.)As for the reason across all age groups that many people move back in with their parents is  â€œsaving money for a house or purchase” followed by breakups.  Joblessness and debt were also other reasons that were cited.Something else to note is that 45% of those that move back home live in their childhood bedrooms which has gotta be weird. Interestingly,   22%   pay rent to their parents.You might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people