Monday, December 30, 2019

The mommy wars come to work

The mommy wars come to workThe mommy wars come to workAlthough choosing to have kids is a personal choice, it is one that will inevitably be judged. Whether youre a parent or not, expect to face problems in the office.A study published in the journal Sex Roles this month found that relative to targets who had chosen to have two children, voluntarily childfree women and men were penalized by perceivers in the present research. Specifically, they were perceived as leading less fulfilling lives than do people who had chosen to have children.Butthings escalated from there.Moreover, their decision to forgo parenthood, arguably individuals most personal choice, evoked moral outrage- anger, disgust, and disapproval, the study said.A caveat the study isnt a sweeping one. It featured datafrom 197 students at a large U.S. Midwestern university, and most were women. Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate a male or female married target who had chosen to have zero or two children. Parti cipants completed measures of the targets perceived psychological fulfillment and their affective reactions to the target,the study said.While the sample size was relativelysmall and participants looked down upon both women and men, this is part of an ongoing discussion about what happens if female employees have kids- but also how theyre perceived if they dont.Theres a long history of a penalty for childlessness, at least in the perception of colleagues. Parents may look down on childless coworkers as people who have fewer responsibilitiesor be wary of them as people with endless ambition. In response, at least one woman without children fought back with a very public request for me-ternity leave - which gestures at the rift, but doesnt account for the fact that actual maternity leave is designed as a medical concern, and not a social one.Childlessness shaming in politicsEven UK Prime MinisterTheresa May has been shamed for not having kids.The Times reported that during the elect ion to be prime minister, candidate Andrea Leadsom said that since she is a mother, she has a a very real stake in the future of Britain and thatMay possibly has nieces, nephews, lots of people. But I have children who are going to have children who will directly be a part of what happens next.The week beforehand, May had spoken about not being able to have kids with her husband,Philip, even though they had wanted to,according to The Guardian.But Leadsom backpedaledand apologized after being criticized for her comments.The Telegraph reported that Leadsom said,I was pressed to say how my children had formed my views. I didnt want it to be used as an issue. Having children has no bearing on the ability to be PM. I deeply regret that anyone has got the impression that I think otherwise.But she still came under fire for her comments after using Mays childlessnessas a reason for an attack.MotherhoodversusfatherhoodAlthough working women are stigmatized for being child-free, working mothe rs also deal with a variety of challenges.A report by Professor Michelle J. Budig of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst for think tank Third Waysaid thatthere is a wage penalty for motherhood of 4% per child that cannot be explained by menschenwrdig capital, family structure, family-friendly job characteristics, or differences among women that are stable over time. Second, this motherhood penalty is larger among low-wage workers while the top 10% of female workers incur no motherhood wage penalty, the report said.Even though many mothers are in the same boat, there is rivalry among those in the group.TODAYput together list of moms comments on whythe judgement is wrong.But becoming a father does not hurt all mens wallets.The report also said,all else equal, fatherhood increases mens earnings by over 6% (for fathers who live with their child).This points to a double standard.Whats the solution to all this? Maybe its this whether you have kids or not, you shouldnt be judged for y our marital or parental status at work.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Overcoming Fear at Work - The Muse

Overcoming Fear at Work - The MuseOvercoming Fear at Work Your job can sometimes feel like walking on eggshells. You dont want to do or say the wrong thing, so you hold back- and dont do or say much of anything. But succumbing to that fear can seriously impact your career success. By playing it safe, you miss out on opportunities to grow, hone your skills, and do your job more efficiently.So, its time to face your fears- starting with these five common situations that you shouldnt be afraid of at work.1. Taking the Initiative to Schedule One-on-One Meetings With Your baboMany employees assume that since the boss is in charge, its his or her job to schedule all the meetings- especially a one-on-one meeting with an employee. Managers tend to have busy schedules, and many employees dont want to risk impeding on their time, leid aya if their boss considers a meeting with them a priority. If your boss doesnt take it upon him- or herself to schedule a recurring one-on-one meeting with you, though, you should take the initiative to request one. These meetings can be incredibly helpful to your career advancement and success in your individual position within the department. An individual meeting gives you the chance to ask for advice about tricky situations or assignments, talk through challenges, request feedback about your performance, and more. (Also, most bosses will accept the meeting invite without question.)2. Making a Phone Call Instead of EmailingEmail has become the standard in most offices. From quick questions to intricate requests, almost everything is communicated electronically. Email simply seems less intrusive and gives recipients more time to really think through an answer, rather than putting them on the spot. Its the way most people communicate, and you dont want to break that mold. But relying solely on email isnt always efficient, and it certainly isnt always the right option. When you pick up the phone, you can often get the answer to a quick que stion in a fraction of the time or a better understanding of an intricate concept- one that would have been next to impossible to summarize in an email. It doesnt have to be your go-to method of communication- but you shouldnt hesitate to switch it up. 3. Turning in Something Youre Not 100% Sure AboutWhen I started in my first communications position, I was terrified to turn anything in to my boss- because I assumed that if it wasnt perfect, it would prove that I didnt deserve the role. It would take me weeks of editing and re-editing to finally turn it in, and even then, I wasnt confident about the final product. But eventually, my boss helped me learn that sometimes, its best to get something on paper, then let him take a look. Hed provide his guidance and let me know sooner rather than later if I needed to do anything differently (or, alternatively, if I was on the right track all along). Im not saying you should turn in sub-par work. But if youre feeling stuck with a certain ass ignment, dont put off showing it to your boss. He or she will usually be glad to point you in the right direction. (Just make sure to do this well before its actually due. Turning in something at the 11th hour with the side note Im really not sure if this right wont help anyone.) 4. Clarifying Assignments With Your BossNo matter what position youre in, its likely you get requests from every direction- sometimes from your boss, sometimes from your co-workers, and sometimes from other departments. Eager to please, new employees will often jump on these assignments without question. Its a fear of saying no mixed with the question of whether theyre even allowed to decline a request. Failing to evaluate these outside assignments, however, can lead to wasted time and a focus on the wrong priorities. For example, just last week, one of my co-workers jumped on an urgent assignment she received from another department and spent the entire day scrambling to finish it. When my boss found out a bout the project later that evening, he revealed that if hed known about it, he wouldnt have had her work on it at all. It simply wasnt a priority for our department. So, when you receive requests from people other than your boss- especially if they dont seem to jive with your usual work- its OK to bring it to your boss to make sure its something you should actually be working on. 5. Asking for FeedbackFeedback makes people nervous. Its the fear of the unknown- asking that open-ended question (How do you think my presentation went?), not knowing whether your boss will pat you on the back or give a disapproving shake of his or her head. You may get praise, but you also may get flat-out criticism. But keep in mind Without feedback, youre not going to get better. Without knowing how you can improve, you simply wont. Youll continue to do things the way you always have. Feedback can be uncomfortable, but its not something to be scared of. Its something to value- because its key to moving up in your career. Here are a few tips for taking it seriously, not personally.If youre not already doing these things, what are you afraid of? Incorporating these things into your career will help you do your job better- and might just be the key to your next promotion. Photo of woman at desk courtesy of Shutterstock.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

4 Ways to Show HR Youre Qualified for the Job - FlexJobs

4 Ways to Show HR Youre Qualified for the Job - FlexJobs4 Ways to Show HR Youre Qualified for the Job -28How is it possible that with so many people out of work, employers still have a hard time finding people to fill their open jobs? The study offered a few possibilitiesThe economy is improving, so employers who were spoiled by the overflow of qualified workers during the recession have a hard time switching back into competition mode where they compete for the best candidates by offering perks like moving expenses and training.Or, because theyve grown used to an overflow of qualified candidates, employers have become lazy and need to look harder and up their recruiting practices to pre-recession levels.And finally, there IS a legitimate shortage of qualified professionals in highly-specialized fields like engineering, computer information technology, and manufacturing.What can job seekers do to make sure that they are noticed by employers? Here are four ways to show HR youre qual ified for the job1) Tailor every job application you submit to the specific job and company to which youre applying. Make it easy for an employer to spot your unique, well-suited job application in a pile of generic, boring, or downright mismatched applicants. For more ideas on this crucial job search stepCustomized Resumes and Cover Letters are Better for Your Job Search3 Ways to Boost Your Resume and Cover Letter with Keywords5 Changes to Make to Your Resume NOW2) Follow up on your applications. Unless an application says something like, no phone calls, its perfectly acceptable to call or e-mail the hiring manager to make sure they received your application, and let them know that youre very much interested in the job and feel you have the right qualifications. If nothing else, the hiring manager has to find your application and look at it to confirm theyve received it, and getting it in front of their eyes is a key step in the process.3) Be the first application they receive (or at least one of the first). If youre searching for jobs online, use notification tools to be instantly notified when a new job that matches your interests is posted. If youre an FJ member, check out New Jobs for You. At, we offer a New Jobs of Interest feature which lists the most recently posted jobs matching your resume profile. And we have Twitter feeds for our 50+ job categories which automatically tweet every time a new job is posted. Even if youre NOT an FJ member, you can still follow our Twitter Job Feeds. The early bird often does get the worm or at least a job interview which gets them closer to the worm.4) Dont wait for a job to be posted. Who says you need to wait for a job to be posted publicly before you try to get hired? Identify the companies you want to work for and interact with them on LinkedIn. Attend industry events where people who work for those companies are sure to be. Join local or national trade organizations and attend meetings. Volunteer in your communi ty and talk to your fellow volunteers. There are SO many ways to find a job, and online job searching is just one of them.Readers, what do you do to show HR youre qualified for the job? Share your tips

Monday, December 16, 2019

6 company-wide health challenges for 2018

6 company-wide health challenges for 20186 company-wide health challenges for 2018There are two camps you can fall in pro-New Years resolutions or *cue eye roll emoji* when a co-worker comes in on January 2, determined to drop 20 pounds. While various schools of thought recommend or dismiss the notion of new-year-new-you mentalities, improving your overall quality of life, happiness, and health is never a schwimmbad idea - regardless of what date on the calendar jumpstarts your inclination.Considering you spend far more time with your colleagues, employees, and managers than you do with your friends or family, adopting a newfound dedication to wellness might be more successful in the office environment. In addition to the obvious benefits of shedding those five extra cookies you didnt technically need at the holiday party, health and wellness coach Kevin Bailey explains the wide ripple effect of a January company program.Challenges create an office wide atmosphere of accountability and encouragement because everyone is watching each other. If the challenge has a strong reward, like money, then overall group compliance is increased. Most coworkers want to see everyone win, especially if the reward or benefit is contingent upon the success of the group or team as a whole, he says. With increased compliance, you will have more employees achieving their goal, which means they are becoming healthier The ultimate goal. This will result in increased office camaraderie, more harmony and teamwork among co-workers as a result of becoming healthier together.Here, a few ideas from health professionals on office-appropriate, company-wide challenges to propose to your team this year.Walking challengeTalented, hardworking employees come in all shapes and sizes, and any health initiative should cater to inclusivity. Not only does this reap the most participation, but it ensures no one makes a complaint to HR for an activity thats out of reach for certain staff members.Accordi ng to registered dietitian and professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Keith-Thomas Ayoob, EdD, RD, FAND, a walking competition is a pressure-free place to start. As a team, you can select any type of destination - an amusement park, a ski resort, a major city, etc. - and determine how many miles away it is. The idea is to walk those many miles over the month as a team - from commuting into work or having active meetings outside or logging miles on a treadmill.Once you reach the mile goal together, the prize is a trip to the spot you walked toward - literally.Ask your employees or coworkers what they wantThe definition of what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle will dramatically shift depending on who youre talking to. Thats why fitness coach and expert Nadia Murdock says to poll staffers on what theyd like to work on in the New Year. Perhaps its a meditation program, access to a specific boutique gym or meetings with a nutritionist.Whatever the cause, the key is ensure a prize for participation.Health challenges circled around a prize tend to do well especially when the prize is money. It creates an opportunity to get those into working out and leading a healthy lifestyle if they dont already. Chances are after the challenge is completed they will stick to their new lifestyle, she says.Individual incentivesEvery industry experiences a different busy season, and if yours happens to be at the start of the year, squeezing in time for workouts or breaks to focus on a healthy-something-or-another challenge might feel frivolous. Even so, the CEO and co-founder of Virtual Health Partners, Jillian Bridgette Cohen, says employees are inspired by individual incentives, too. This could be offering opportunities to be recognized or awarded for attending classes, walking a certain number of steps or another form of physical activity.She encourages managers to apply a 15 minute challenge, where you inspire employees to take even a short amount of time t o do something that benefits their health. It is an excuse saying you are too busy to stop. I also think offering the opportunity for employees to participate in a virtual program with nutrition, lifestyle modification and fitness is very helpful, she says.Weight loss based on percentageWhile many people are often eying the ideal number on a scale, others have further to go than their counterparts. Weight loss challenges can be difficult to implement in office settings, since everyone faces various barriers to actually shed pounds. Thats why Ayoob suggests setting aside a structured group for voluntary participation and making the incentive based on percentage lost, not actual pounds.When they lose the percentage of their body weight they set as their goal, without fad dieting, they can be rewarded with a gym membership for a month, a spa day, or whatever non food-related prize they want, he says. This takes off the pressure or any potential shaming habit they might develop because they select their own success marker.BYOL challengeEspecially if your city is covered in a sheet of sparkling, never-ending snow during the winter, takeout seems like a great idea every single day. The only issue with food thats prepared out of the home is the mystery surrounding preparation and ingredients. Understanding the true salt, sugar, and fat content is difficult, since you rarely watch it prepared before it arrives via courier.As a way to not only save money but be mindful about what youre chowing down on deskside, Ayoob suggests a bring your own lunch challenge with coworkers. The person who wins the January (and February) prize can select the one for the upcoming months, and so forth, creating friendliness and support in the office.The goal here is compliance the person or team that does this regimen the most is the winner. Without noticing, they are actually changing their lifestyles and eating habits, without focusing on losing weight, he says. Its more about eating we ll and living better.A straight-up steps challengeA step - no pun intended - from the miles contest is a step challenge. With a plentiful budget, you can purchase pedometers or even FitBits for the whole office, inspiring employees to battle kindly against one another. Because everyone can track their steps, Bailey recommends rewarding every employee, with various levels of achievement, from 10,000 to one million steps.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Web Project Manager Job Description

Web Project Manager Job DescriptionWeb Project Manager Job DescriptionWeb Project Manager Job DescriptionThis web project manager sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements.Web Project Manager Job ResponsibilitiesAccomplishes Web project objectives by establishing project scope entwurfing and delivering solutions leading team members.Web Project Manager Job DutiesEstablishes Web project scope by studying strategic business drivers discovering and validating business and technical requirements and parameters obtaining input from subject-matter experts examining and recommending changes to current business practices developing and writing proposals.Develops Web solution by formulating objectives planning project life-cycle deliverables and resource availability and application preparing installation and modification specifications leading the exploration, evaluation, and design of technical solutions.Implements Web solution by monitoring project progress tracking action items conducting design and implementation reviews examining, researching, and resolving issues escalating issues to appropriate authority responding to team members concerns coordinating requirements with interested departments.Assures quality Web solution by developing and completing test plans maintaining project and technical documentation.Accomplishes work requirements by orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching employees following production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards identifying work process improvements.Meets cost standards by monitoring expenses implementing cost-saving actions.Provides project status reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and trends.Updates job knowledge by tracking technology and project management advances participating in education al opportunities reading professional publications maintaining personal networks participating in professional organizations.Accomplishes organization goals by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.Web Project Manager Skills and QualificationsWeb Savvy, Project Management, Planning, Verbal Communication, Written Communication, Process Improvement, Analyzing Information , Reporting Skills, Problem Solving, Perspective, Problem SolvingEmployers Post a job in minutes to reach candidates everywhere. Job Seekers Search Web Project Manager Jobs and apply on now. Find out more abouthow to hireRecruiting a New Hire if You Havent Hired in a WhileInterviewing Gaffes and Recruiting DisastersMaintain a Legal Hiring Process

Friday, December 6, 2019

Top How to Write a Resume for Colleges Tips!

Top How to Write a Resume for Colleges Tips Dont forget that these accomplishments frequently do not arrive in the shape of scores or GPA. Since a resume isnt only employed for applying for internships and jobs, it is critical to receive one going as you will probably need it when applying to colleges too. However, lots of scholarships permit you to submit extra materials, and a resume is a wonderful accession. Compare this keyword list by means of yur college transcript to detect the appropriate coursework. Landing a terrific internship for a college student is an excellent means to get prepared for the challenges of life after the university. Next, you will learn how to create a college resume prepared for the big leagues Here is what you have to know about writing a scholarship resume. Include your greatest achievements and honors. You are able to have the ideal college admissions resume on the planet. A in depth education section is the meat of a university student res ume, so make koranvers that you dont brush over it. As most applications dont want a scholarship resume, adding one is a superb way for students to acquire an edge. Therefore, if your student intends to work while theyre in school or simply wishes to be ready for graduation, developing a scholarship resume now gives them the framework they should receive one ready for work applications as soon as the time comes. From that point, you can filter your connections by all sorts of criteria. For those who want to acquire things done quickly and painlessly, weve got a resume generator which can help you collect a resume in minutes. A resume example is able to help you make a decision as to what type of content to include, in addition to how to format your resume. Most folks use one or a mix of these. How to Write a Resume for Colleges Features Lets have a more sophisticated appearance. This happens more than you know, which means you shouldnt let this prevent you from chasing foll owing your dream job. Do that, and you will be your very first picks very first pick. If you keep everything in one location, it is going to be less difficult to put the resume together whenever youre finally ready to begin handing it out. A job like that teaches you how you can be professional, how to answer the telephone, how to cope with conflict, and the way to maintain a disciplined schedule. Lets walk through three unique resumes for different kinds of post-college jobs. Do not list a salary range unless it is specially requested by means of an employer. Employers want those who are efficient-minded, able to follow along with procedures, and schwierigkeit solve. When you switch roles, almost all of your prior work experience is going to be considered irrelevant. Since youll discover, even in the event that you dont have any prior professional experiences, its possible to still draw on your school experiences. Everyone has desirable abilities and experiences to provi de employers including you There are lots of students who must work, who must go home to family responsibilities. The Nuiances of How to Write a Resume for Colleges You may even wish to consider the chance of an internship to boost your work experience in your field of interest. Maybe you did a great deal of volunteer work or fundraising during high school which might also be noteworthy for them to understand your own personal values and what types of things are important to you. Scholarship resumes arent a compulsory portion of the application procedure, therefore it feels like extra unnecessary work. Youve got to compose several academic papers over the duration of a year. The Rise of How to Write a Resume for Colleges For instance, a faculty position will want to list information pertinent to the teaching experience and could be quite long. A work objective has to be specific if used and identifies the particular job. There are a lot of resume strategies to master whic h will help you land the job that you desire. Of course if youre asking for a particular job, its simple enough to amend a resume to incorporate an objective that matches the work description. How to Write a Resume for Colleges Options Some colleges will give a space on their application to input information regarding every one of the categories listed above. If you choose to use high school info, make certain its really robust and appropriate content. It shows you could organize data in a logical method. In addition, it leaves them with a means to contact you afterwards to share more thorough details. The New Fuss About How to Write a Resume for Colleges Writing a winning college student career objective is a fairly simple approach to bolster your application for this internship or job youve got in sight. Below are a few tips that will allow you to turn into a skillful college student resume writer. Youre going to see the very best college application resume on Earth. Take a look at our other strategies for college prep on the advice section of our site. You are going to want to pick a look which best satisfies your preferences. Its a remarkable way to learn about the procedure and get valuable strategies and tricks like the ones covered within this article so they can boost their odds of succeeding. Each guide is based on another amount of qualified experience, so locate the one most appropriate to your specific circumstance. Show your resume to three distinct individuals, and youll probably get three unique perspectives. Theres not anything wrong with any one of these approaches per se, but in general Id suggest that you avoid them. A resume should immediately grab the interest of the individual reviewing it. A crystal clear statement about how youll utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3. The How to Write a Resume for Colleges Trap If you take nothing else awa y from this column, do not forget that you can and ought to request aid with your resume. The download link is right below the webpage title. Which is the reason why its essential to have a personal blog or website where you are able to showcase your work to any interested party. Below are a couple things to keep in mind while writing this resume section.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Workplace Toxin Office Politics - Spark Hire

Workplace Toxin Office Politics - Spark HireAny workplace is much mora complex than it seems at first, and part of being a member of the workforce, especially in a managerial position, is deciphering what is really going on in a work environment and effectively dealing with any issues that arise before they become bigger problems. One unfortunately common issue that adversely affects many places of work is schreibstube politics.Defining Office PoliticsOffice politics is a catch-all term that describes something that is always political, but can apply to any workplace, not just an office environment. Although politics are often part of the workings of an organization, and not necessarily a bad thing, office politics refers to a particularly destructive type of political maneuvering. When a person works to pursue only their own agenda and only their own best interests, without any consideration of the consequences for their coworkers or their company in general, that is the essence of office politics.Common tactics of office politicians include gossip, brazen toadying (to superiors and/or colleagues), stealing credit while deflecting blame, and intricate combinations of all of the above and other forms of subtle and not so subtle manipulation.Whats wrong with Office Politics?Just about any workplace will have some degree of politicking and machinations among its employees. This becomes a problem when somebody is only looking out for themselves, at the expense of anything and everything else. The consequences of this mentality can range from basically nonexistent to downright destructive for both the organization and its employees.Identifying Office PoliticsGenerally, people who play a self-serving game in the workplace want to be subtle about it enough not to be identified. Depending on circumstances, and what purpose they are trying to serve, there might not be much of an attempt to hide political scheming. However, usually you have to read between the lines of what is going on to get the feel for the political landscape of a workplace.The tactics mentioned above are often a good sign of at least some degree of toxic politics, but not always. All it takes is some knowledge of the common tactics, a bit of common sense, and experience. The more experience you have in working environments, the easier it is to spot office politics.Dealing with Office PoliticsDealing with office politics is a complex skill set. A good education in human resources management will help equip you with the skills you need to both read the dynamics of a workplace, and deal with problems as they come.One very effective way to deal with common types of workplace manipulation is to not fall prey to the usual tactics. For instance, gossip is often used as a way to manipulate opinions, damage reputations, and put others at a disadvantage whether gossip is part of a larger manipulation or not, it is always sensible to avoid and discourage gossip in the workplace, espec ially in a managerial role.As a manager, you may also run into obvious sycophancy. While it is advisable to thank and give credit to somebody making an effort, it is important not to let yourself be manipulated by what is, unfortunately, often a self-serving strategy.More than anything, dealing with office politics means spotting these tendencies as they come, and not getting drawn into the fray. (http//guides.wsj.com/careers/how-to-overcome-career-obstacles/how-to-handle-office-politics/)(http//www.inc.com/steve-tobak/how-to-cure-office-politics.html)Whats your take on office politics? How do you prevent possible manipulation from employees? Leave us a commentIMAGE Courtesy of Flickr byVictor1558About the Author Trisha Vivona is a freelance writer focused on human resources management. She values innovation, hard work, and a relentless approach to creating value for clients and stakeholders. She can be reached on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.