Guided by Mentors and Exploration Meet Twishansh Mehta

Guided by Mentors and Exploration Meet Twishansh Mehta Guided by Mentors and Exploration Meet Twishansh Mehta Guided by Mentors and Exploration Meet Twishansh MehtaBy James R. Palmer IIRead the full interview with Twishansh Mehta.Members of ASMEs Old Guard Committee presents an award once a year to an ASME member in their early career who is an exemplar of what other engineers starting their careers should strive towards. Twishansh Mehta, this years award winner, is no exception to setting a high standard for the rest of us. I was able to learn what it is that makes Twishansh so exemplary by asking how his work and perspective got him to a fulfilling lifestyle. A lifestyle which allows him to work as a manager of supermarket refrigeration at Loblaw while maintaining his status as a volunteer and family man. Twishansh will receive his award at the ASME International Engineering Mechanical Exhibition Congress Members and Students Luncheon on Sunday, November 15, 2015.From the beginnin g, Twishansh had a niche that made him fit for engineering. Doing well in mathematics and the sciences he was recommended for, and agreed to take, a course in high school which he says, integrated engineering drawings with computer programming, graphic design, and product design and construction sic. That seemed to pin down his engineering interest early on. However, what really broadened his interests the diverse courses he took at university, being a member of a local ASME student section, and his two internships.To the credit of his first internship he attributes that, part of the reason I am a Project Management Professional today was simply because my project manager back then was one as well.From seeing what a Project Management Professional (PMP) can do Twishansh held the goal of following a management track of engineering only to be encouraged throughout his volunteer experience. ASME volunteering has only solidified my personal career goals, and is one of the reasons why I felt confident to pursue engineering management and leadership as a focus of study in graduate school, says Twishansh.All of that arose from conversing with a fellow classmate about the ASME student section where he subsequently joined committees and obtained formal leadership training. Since then, my motivation to volunteer has become a given, taking any opportunity provided to me to contribute my thoughts or my action, or to just help out a friend, said Twishansh recalling his volunteer experience. That experience not only gave him encouragement to pursue a Master degree but also, Improved my written and oral communication ability, and connected Twishansh with a mentor in his current industry of retail refrigeration.Once graduating with his bachelor degree from University of Toronto, Twishansh began working at Loblaw Companies Limited where he is currently a Manager for Supermarket Refrigeration. While this work is centralized to his Canadian office, Twishansh deals with collabora tors that span the globe. Examples include working with an Australia firm to realize design visions for refrigerated display cases, which Twishansh will translate to a United States firm for them to manufacture. In addition, refrigerant technologies have been spearheaded by international firms, due to the European Unions rigorous environmental regulation framework. Twishansh says among his roles in all of this is to, establish refrigerated display case aesthetic specifications, technical standards, and monitor how governments are progressing with climate and refrigerant regulations to ensure our business is prepared for the saatkorn in our country.This work can be seen as connecting engineering solutions to other non-technical stake holders. Therefore, Twishansh has been tasked with getting the logic learned in engineering to others who are used to using intuitions. Ive learned to work through these challenges by recognizing our mutual differences and adjusting my approach, says Twi shansh.Thus far Twishansh could be seen as someone who manages engineering equipment design and engineering standards, advises non-technical associates, and who volunteers to make sure future engineers can have the same chances that he did in his early career. His lifes work has been guided by mentorship and exploration, as seen from his diverse experiences of engineering and volunteering. The motivator throughout that guidance was to live by his creed to, be yourself and be true to yourself. This lesson which Twishansh has lived through is made vivid when he says, When you recognize who you are, you know your capabilities and you can seek resources and assistance to support you in your goal, whether that be to answer a question, complete a project, or fix an issue. As expected by an Old Guard Early Career Award winner Twishansh has found wisdom from the beginning of his efforts.Learn more about the ASME Old Guard Early Career Award and the annual nomination process. Nominations are being accepted now through February 1, 2016.

How to Manage Difficult People in IT

How to Manage Difficult People in ITHow to Manage Difficult People in ITDealing with difficult people is mora than a challenge its a skill. Here are five of the most difficult IT personality types, plus tips on how to adjust your management style to deal with them.Technology kollektivs are known for their personality diversity. If youve done your job as an IT hiring manager, youve staffed your teams with experts, and we all know what can happen when you get a bunch of experts in a room. While the skill sets and expertise are there, theres also the domineering personalities, the internalizing ones and everything in between.Dealing with difficult people on your technology teamYour biggest challenge when dealing with difficult people is to establish different management styles for each one. Here are five common personas youll find in an IT department and the management styles that work best to handle them1. Who The WallflowerThis employee is a classic introvert, preferring to work quie tly and with minimal intervention. You wont see this person pitching new technology improvements in a staff meeting or actively socializing in the break room. In fact, you may not always notice the person is there at all, diligently completing projects.How Be understanding and accommodating.Dont try to change The Wallflower because she doesnt have the loudest voice in the room. Instead, tap into her strengths. Rather than get frustrated that she never offers ideas in a formal setting, ask for suggestions in writing or in small groups. Dont rule out this personality type for leadership roles, either. Those who are more reserved tend to be great listeners, well organized and thoughtful in their actions, making them effective at directing teams and staying cool when tempers get hot.2. Who The Know-It-AllThe Know-It-All is a stereotypical and self-described tech genius whos often short, impatient and frustrated that no one else has the same level of IT expertise. The Know-It-All may b e one of the most challenging when dealing with difficult people, because this employee always believes he is correct.How Be firm.The Know-It-All may be a resident subject matter expert, but he may also be the one others dread working with the most. Since this person will dominate staff meetings if given free reign, you need to step in and make sure others get a chance to voice opinions or ideas. Also consider sending the Know-It-All to soft skills training and development to help refine interpersonal communication skills. If he really does know it all, think about whether he would make a good trainer. That way, the persons knowledge can be transferred to other employees.3. Who The Panic AttackWhen you think of this team member, you probably dont think cool under the collar. She is capable and deadline oriented, but just the thought of that website overhaul makes her nervous. And when she gets nervous, she bombards everyone on the team with emails and derails meetings with potential what-ifs. Now your whole team starts to feel anxious.How Be structured and realistic.This personality type thrives on structure and predictability. The more organized you are, the less likely the employee will freak out at the onset of a new initiative. Providing a list of key steps and citing all the resources available to support the efforts can alleviate fears. It can also be helpful to check in periodically on progress and provide feedback to reassure her that all is on track.4. Who The Laid Back ProThe opposite of The Panic Attack is The Laid Back Pro. Think of the coder on your team who always dons headphones and downs Mountain Dew (or something heavily caffeinated). While hes no doubt skilled and competent, he often leaves others worried whether the job will get done on time. Can someone who seems so relaxed really be committed to quality work?How Be direct but casual.The management style thats ideal in this case is a straightforward one. Assuming the individual is meeting e xpectations and providing quality work, resist the temptation to micromanage. Motivate through trust by giving clear instruction and then handing over authority. The Laid Back Pro flourishes when given the freedom to tackle projects creatively.5. Who The CompetitorYou finished updating software on all the desktop systems in four hours? This employee claims to have done the same in three hours. Maybe two-and-a-half as she recalls taking a coffee break. Seemingly unimportant issues are big ones to The Competitor. This person views everything as a contest and sometimes steps on toes just to win. Theyre sometimes less concerned with quality so long as they appear quantitatively superior in self-imposed competitions.How Be strategic.One way to tone down this unproductive behavior? Give her more work. The Competitor cant worry about games if theres a full plate of projects to tackle. Also consider ways you can use the competitive mindset as an asset to your team. For example, you might ch arge her with the task of negotiating pricing with tech vendors.Do these management styles sound familiar?Dealing with difficult people on your IT team is a fact of leadership. And being a strong leader means knowing how to adapt to different personality types as well as difficult ones. Share your preferred management styles or your tried-and-true tips for dealing with difficult people. Tags

9 simple ways to make your mornings less painful

9 simple ways to make your mornings less painful9 simple ways to make your mornings less painfulWhen youre a working mom, a busy college student, or a young professional, mornings can be jam-packed with racing around as you handle endless to-dos. For anyone looking to make over their morning routine, there are a plethora ofproducts geared toward getting bright-eyedif youre a night owl,healthy breakfaststo give anyone an energizing boost, andrecommended morning habitsto jump-start your day, but the sheer volume of suggestions can seem overwhelming. Laura Vanderkam - time management expert and author ofOff the Clock- is stepping in to share some proven simple ways to turn your hassled mornings into more manageable and productive parts of the week.1. List out your priorities.Vanderkam suggests making a list of your current top priorities. Time management is, fundamentally, about spending more time on things that matter to you and less on things that dont. Getting clear on priorities g ives you a framework for deciding what belongs in your schedule and what doesnt (or should be minimized if it cant be avoided). Write down what you want to accomplish with your mornings - whether its exercise, spending more time with your kids, or working on a passion project.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more2. Use mornings to pay yourself first.Once youve figured out the top priority your morning should advance, focus on it when youre the freshest. Exercise is often a great way to start the day, since it can give you a natural boost of energy. If family dinners are tough to wrangle, family breakfasts together would be a wonderful time to connect. If you maintain a full-time job while working on a side hustle (like writing a novel, starting a business, or painting), mornings might be a window of time to dedicate energy for it. For college students, Vanderkam shares, If your cla ssmates sleep in until 10, getting up at 830am - not exactly the crack of dawn - can open up what feels like extra time.3. Knock out your toughest tasks before the rest.In her book, Vanderkam writes, Planning your toughest task for when you have the fruchtwein energy means you can cut that task from two hours to one. When starting your days work - whether youre a freelancer or full-time employee - figure out which project will take the most discipline, then tackle it early. Reserve routine tasks for later in the day when most peoples energy is lower. Leaving an important task to a time of day when youre likely to get distracted means it will take longer, reminds Vanderkam.4. Simplify routines.InOff the Clock, Vanderkam suggests a number of ways to free up more time by streamlining common tasks You might designate a specific spot for car keys in the morning, or you could create a FAQ document to copy and paste when someone wants to pick your brain. For mornings specifically, Vand erkam recommends either winnowing down your wardrobe to what works best for you on a daily basis (making it easier to choose your OOTD) or preselecting your clothes for the next day before you sleep (so youre ready to dress as soon as youre up).5. Cut down on distractions.Our biggest time suck in the morning is digging into emails or social media as part of getting ready before heading to the schreibstube or plunging into the days routine. While it may seem like looking at your phone is productive, Vanderkam says that avoiding being buried in your phone first thing in the morning can free up time to exercise, meditate, and connect with loved ones.6. Find reflection time.Remembering what youre grateful for through journaling, meditating, or writing down gratitude lists is a way to make your day feel more spacious and inviting. A busy morning can make a lot of people feel like they have zero time to reflect, but Vanderkam points out that there are often hidden opportunities we can unc over. Think of the shower as reflective time. You probably find time to shower, so as youre in there, think about your day, what you like about your life, and what youre grateful for.7. Wake up 10 minutes early.Using your mornings well doesnt mean you have to get up at 5am. Setting your clock even just 10 minutes before you need to start your day can be an excellent way to squeeze in your priorities or new goals. Waking up a little bit early means you can use this time for something thats important to you that life has a way of crowding out, encourages Vanderkam. You could write in a journal for five minutes, do some push-ups and sit-ups, and have a great morning routine.8. Swap unproductive evening hours for productive morning routines.If youregenuinelydoing your best work at night, then youre a night owl. But for most people who say theyre not morning people, says Vanderkam, what it really means is just that theyre still tired when they wake up. Evaluate how you spend your evening s. If you could cut back on something thats not a priority to go to bed a bit earlier, you could start the morning more refreshed and ready to make the most of it - or even wake up a little sooner.9. Design your morning.To make over your mornings, Vanderkam says, Think about what you could reliably do at least a few times a week, even when things go wrong. You dont have to move mountains in one shove. You just have to do a little bit at a time and just keep going. She gives some examples If you write 250 words every morning, you could finish a draft of a novel in a year. Lifting weights three mornings a week would make you stronger in six months. Craft a morning routine that you like rather than trudging through what you dislike (which slows you down).This article originally appeared on Brit + Co.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 Frankl ins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Solar, Hotter Than Ever

Solar, Hotter Than Ever Solar, Hotter Than Ever Solar, Hotter Than EverHowever cheap and effective todays solar cells may be, they dont yet take advantage of all the light that hits them. Solar thermal energy converters are an alternative to photovoltaic cells that have the potential to reach much higher efficiencies at much lower costs. Now researchers at the University of Bristol, UK, have found a new way to efficiently milk each sunray of its energy, bringing us one step closer to that potential.The trick is to not let the suns heat get away. When a surface gets hot, it starts losing heat immediately, through conduction, convection, and radiation. Put a material in a vacuum, though, and youve stymied conduction and convection of their heat-sapping powers. If you could find a way of preventing the radiation from getting out, says Martin Cryan, a professor of applied electromagnetics and photonics at Bristol, then youve got this object that, when you put all this solar energy in, it cant conduct it away, cant convect it way, and cant radiate it away, so it will get much, much hotter.To do that, Cryan and Ph.D. student Chenglong Wan created a three-layer sandwich with carbon in the center and gold on the outside. The combination acts the way a silver blanket does, minimizing heat otherwise lost through radiation. The surface is also a metamaterial. That is, its patterned using nanolithography, by Wan, to further reduce radiation loss in ways that seem somewhat unnatural. What weve created is a surface that looks black to the sun, but to all unterstellung other wavelengths it looks like a mirror, says Cryan. Thus, the majority of the energy that hits the sandwich is trapped inside.Focused ion beam fabricated trilayer metasurface within inset showing rounded features in the upper 2D gold square periodic surface. Image University of BristolThe technology could someday sit on the roofs of homes or other buildings. But to really start cooking it would require much h igher temperatures than those typically found there, somewhere in the neighborhood of 500-600 degrees Farenheit. To get that hot, though, the gold-carbon-gold sandwich would have to sit at the focus of a big parabolic dish, sucking up the rays from a much larger area.The triple decker is part of a larger project at the university, run by Dr. Neil Fox, to develop the field of Solar Thermionics. In essence, it attempts to capture the electrons given off when things get hot, and put them to use. The central carbon layer may help in the efficient emission of the electrons. The technology needs to be in a vacuum, so it would likely end up looking like a light bulb. The whole area may rescue an industry thats about to shut down, because no one wants incandescent light bulbs anymore, says Cryan. Putting things in a vacuum and getting electricity in and out of the vacuum is a very well-established technology.Currently, Cryan and his team are trying out materials that can withstand greater h eat. Gold gets soft at around 500 degrees and melts around 1,000 degrees. Cryan is hoping that nickel or nichrome can hit 1,000 degrees without much of a change. Later this year theyll bring their technology to India and test it on a huge parabolic mirror there that will take the temperature to such heights.While such a systema parabolic mirror focused on a light bulb-like objectcould some day sit on rooftops in sunny parts of the world, its not likely to replace photovoltaic cells anytime soon. But if youre in the middle of a desert in an isolated community, photovoltaics might not be the best option, says Cryan, as, ironically, when photovoltaic cells get really hot they dont work as well. But its a few years away yet.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Learn about the latest energy solutions at the ASME Power Energy Conference. For Further DiscussionWhat weve created is a surface that looks black to the sun, but to all these other wavelengths it looks like a mirror.Chenglong Wan, University of Bristol

Making a Tech Resume Speak for Itself

Making a Tech Resume Speak for ItselfMaking a Tech Resume Speak for ItselfHow a certified resume writer helped a systems analyst elevate her resume.If theres one thing that sets Lisa apart from many of her techie brethren, its that she communicates well. Just ask Mary Schumacher, a certified resume writer for Ladders who worked with the Midlothian, Va., nicht auslagerbar in March.Lisa said she welches often pegged for nontechnology projects in her company for organizational development, and I could see why. She could communicate really well, Schumacher said. She was able to communicate well about what she knew and what she did and what was important and why it might be important to the companies she applies to.But while Lisa tells her story with style, the resume this technology project leader started to shop around in February came up short.Heres an example of what that lackluster communication looked likeProject Management ? Team Building ? Corporate Communication ? Presentation De velopment.Those words comprised the first chunk of text on Lisas old resume, bold and bulleted, centered at the top of the page just under her contact information and desired job title of Information Technology / Systems Analyst.Whats so bad about that laundry list? After all, it states Lisas field (information technology) and her desired position (IT analyst) and it contains those oh-so-important keywords.What it lacks is a summary statement, Schumacher said. Thats a key part both recruiters and ATSes (applicant tracking systems) are looking for nowadays.Her resume wasnt too bad, Schumacher said. But if you cant sum up your history and strengths in a few sentences, its one reason your resume might be thrown out. Theres just so little time for recruiters to look at resumes now.Mistaking tasks for accomplishmentsBeyond the lack of a summary statement, the language was weak, Schumacher said. The resume needed more hard-hitting accomplishments. For example, one accomplishment said she was responsible for a $500,000 company wide IT annual budget. That should elend even be there she sort of mixed up accomplishments and the job description. In this case she did have the job description, but the budget item - that wasnt an accomplishment it was more a task.Lisas job search ramped up slowly, and her decision to get a resume rewrite wasnt immediate. Currently in her fourteenth year at a pretty decent company, shes a little leery about the state of the economy. She also misses her family in Kansas and would like to move back.While Lisa wasnt fully invested in looking for a new position, she said, she still saw interesting opportunities. The problem was, her resume simply embarrassed her. Every time I submitted my resume I was embarrassed for myself, the TechnologyLadder member said.While shed paid for the old resume three years ago, I never got something I was satisfied with and just gave up on it and did my own edits after that, she said. My situation changed, I never ended up using it, and I just tabled it.When she decided to start the current search, out came the old resume. But after a few weeks, she decided that enough was enough. Every time I looked at my resume I was reminded of that experience, and it made me so mad, Lisa said. I decided I had to have another leg up.A first draft within one weekThe resume rewrite with Schumacher couldnt have been more different from her previous disappointing experience. Within 48 hours after Lisa signed up on Ladders, Schumacher called her to schedule a conference call. Schumacher asked Lisa tons of questions, Lisa said, and would then relay Lisas answers back to her to enaya they were both on the same page.Within about four days, Lisa had a first draft. The results a resume that included that critical summary statement with energetic wording thats sure to catch recruiters eyes, including words such as versatile and energetic, along with dynamic passages such as, Effective communicator able to solicit fe edback and convey technology vision to stakeholders.Finally, Lisas resume communicates the fact that shes a great communicator.Lessons learned?Lisa said she learned that a superlative resume can surmount even the toughest of roadblocks, such as her lack of a college degree. (It) makes me self-conscious. I was very nervous when I presented myself because Ladders (includes) executive-level, higher-paid positions. I looked at my old resume as a detriment, but the way (that Schumacher) wrote it, it covers such a broad skill set that Ive applied in the last 15 to 20 years, that the lack of a degree fades in importance.She represented me as a higher-level professional, somewhat of a generalist, well-rounded, experienced in all facets, not just the technical aspects of her career, Lisa said.And thats exactly whats shes after a tech job that includes project management instead of requiring her to be a narrowly focused technology specialist.I think she did a fantastic job, Lisa said of Schum achers efforts.

Startling Info Regarding How Long Should a Resume Be Exposed

Startling Info Regarding How Long Should a Resume Be Exposed Since you may see, theres a broad range of freebies to select from. Fortunately, you dont need to be a designer to produce a professional resume. Or, you can begin from scratch and make a brand-new document on the freeonline resume builderandfree CV Makerusing any of our free resume samples youre searching for. Business cards are also included to finish the look. The Basics of How Long Should a Resume Be If you have trouble figuring that out, you might simply go through the many unique samples of resumes you may find just about anywhere online. You also need to leave something to chat about in the interview. Whenever your resume is too long it simply takes your very best stuff. URLs The man reading your resume will read the name of the business, and probably type in the name of that company on the internet to find out mora regarding where you were. Youre now able to earn an excellent first impact with professio nal styling and personalized appearance. So, the majority of the moment, a short resume is the very best alternative. Whether youre just starting out, are a seasoned professional, or are looking to earn a big career change, CV Owl has the resume tools you have to get ahead. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. Resume trends have a tendency to change so that its ideal to make sure yours is doing all it can to receive a hiring managers interest. Various kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with a number of the very same skills. Not to mention that you need resumes to make an application for the great majority of jobs anyway. Experienced technical men and women often have three-page resumes. The Little-Known Secrets to How Long Should a Resume Be The use of resume templates will help you to make your very own well-structured and well-organized paper. The upcoming free resume template was made in the shape of a brochure. The minimum template includes a 6-page resume, including pages for a portfolio. Its not so difficult to master 2-page resume format. The web Has Increased The Length of Resumes The web has exploded the popularity of on-line recruitment. Possessing a strong resume will enable you find quite a few great jobs. Job searching is a three month procedure, and thus dont wait around for your perfect resume to get created. Transportation jobs involve plenty of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can take care of that. Up in Arms About How Long Should a Resume Be? Moreover, it also includes a cover letter and an experience page also. You should keep the normal section order. Each section is clearly visible and the whole document is readily navigable. You pro be in a position to say pleasant that within a page. When you compose a resume, you will need to find the employers attention immediately. Occasionally a contractor will request a raise during t he contract period. In case the resume is too long, it is a waste of time to experience. Also show youre a well-rounded worker. For instance, if a work ad called for a person who is, organized and ready to deal with many tasks at once, writing that youre organized and can juggle several tasks may not get your resume past an ATS despite the fact that they mean something similar. Resume length is just one of the terrific mysteries of the job application procedure. Possessing a 1 page resume is advantageous for fruchtwein job applications on account of the way the hiring procedure is made today. You should not mention marital status, size of family, political organizations or some other group unless its regarding the job youre applying for. Hence, it is a recommendation to experience the job description thoroughly prior to applying for work. You also receive an absolutely free job interview tracker for a bonus. You always need to tailor your resume to the job that youre searc hing for. Besides the very good salary which you may get from a web-based job, in addition, it promises freedom at some degree especially when it has to do with office politics and schedules. Click our sample to learn to compose the ideal transportation resume. So what youre going to need to do is to point out your complete name alongside your address and contact info. The duration of a resume shouldnt matter so long as the high quality and the info is relevant for the job. The duration of your resume should not be a problem as long as its properly structured and emphasizes the crucial details of your qualifications. You might also compose a two-page resume if youre in a field that demands technical skills. Even when you have a good deal of work experience, you should nonetheless be selective about what goes on your resume. If you have sufficient relevant experience, training, and credentials relevant to the place to showcase on more than 1 page of your resume, then do it. The work experience and education sections ought to be accurate and total.

The 7 Things You Need To Look For In Your New Job (To Make You Happy)

The 7 Things You Need To Look For In Your New Job (To Make You Happy) The 7 Things You Need To Look For In Your New Job (To Make You Happy)Posted September 8, 2016, by Vivien LuuJob hunting isnt easy. From agonising over whether to sign off your cover letter with Sincerely or Regards to trying to take the perfect LinkedIn profile picture looking for a new job can be a back-breaking process thats about 33 per cent exciting, 25 per cent frustrating, and 1,000 per cent stressful. Since youre doing everything possible to put your best professional face forward, its easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your prospective employer holds all the power. But the job search is actually a two-way street. Sure, through the resume, cover letter and interview process, the company vets you. But heres the thing you vet the company too. And if you arent doing that, you absolutely should be Why, you ask? Because we spend a helluva lot of time at work over 80,000* hours in a lifetime in fact Thats a lot of meetings, a lot of emails and way too much time spent feeling miserable if you hate your job. So how do you find a job that makes you happy?1. A salary that puts food on the table (and meets your basic needs)A job needs to pay you what youre worth, and even more importantly, it needs to pay you enough to live life the way you want to.And no, thats notlage all about getting paid the big bucks. A seminal Princeton University study has found that a higher salary doesnt necessarily translate into feeling happier each day.Similarly, a review of 120 years of research on the relationship between employee happiness and salary has found that if you want employees to be happy and engaged, money is not the answer. Having said that, you do need a salary that meets your basic needs. If it doesnt, you need to go in to bat and negotiate a higher package, or you need to walk away. So, as boring as it may be, take out your calculator and do the maths so you can answer t he following questionsHow much do I need to earn to live life the way I want to?Whats the minimum salary Im willing to accept?Am I willing to sacrifice parts of my lifestyle in favour of a job I love?2. A job that lets you liveWork hours are another non-negotiable, since they have a huge impact on your happiness and health. Workaholics, listen up You want to work to live, not live to work.And Ive got science on my side to prove it.According to a report on job satisfaction published by Copenhagens Happiness Research Institute, work/life balance is one of the six key factors that contributes to job satisfaction.The think tank surveyed 2,600 workers to better understand what contributed to a happier work life, and found that a healthy relationship between our professional lives and our private lives was absolutely crucial.Along with this, science has found that long work hours can lead toPoorer sleep levelsIncreased risk of depressionThe possibility of developing heart complicationsDec reased productivity (thats right)So when youre hunting for a new job, make sure you find one that suits your lifestyle and has a healthy work/life balance byDeciding upfront whether youre looking for full-time, part-time, casual, contract work/freelance work, or a fly-in-fly-out arrangementFiguring out if you need flexibility, and finding out if theyre willing to accommodate youFinding out if youre expected to travel frequently as a part of your roleAsking what the usual work hours are (FYI Legally speaking, the Australian FairWork Obudsman says that employers can only make you work a maximum of 38 hours per week.)3. Work thats challenging, but not impossibleScience and popular belief are in agreement feeling satisfied and happy at work involves feeling engaged by what you do, and being so absorbed by the task at hand that youre able to get into the flow of things. Sounds a bit hippy dippy trippy, doesnt it? Seriously though, the researchers use the term flow to define when someo ne becomes totally absorbed in using ones skills to progress on a challenging task to the point where they completely lose track of time. How do you find work that lets you do that? Look for a good challenge Challenging work is something thats difficult enough to hold your attention and be rewarding to complete but nothing thats so difficult that it seems impossible. Heres a beautiful graph here that demonstrates my pointYou would think that having a job thats really easy would be fun.But if a job is too easy, you can expect to be bored out of your brains, watching the clock waiting for the day to end. But if its too demanding and youre out of your depth, youll be stressed up to your eyeballs.Neither are great things to feel at work, and both are probably why youve left

Its Employee Appreciation Day and heres how everyones celebrating

Its Employee Appreciation Day and heres how everyones celebratingIts Employee Appreciation Day and heres how everyones celebratingSometimes, it can feel as though our jobs are thankless. Thats why there are holidays such as Employee Appreciation Day to remind us how much we matter.On March 1, people took to Twitter to thank those individuals who make their companies well work. From CEOs to ice cream trucks, they had a lot to say.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreFor many businessowners and managers, sweet treats seemed to be the most popular way to celebrate how employees (not even necessarily their own)contribute to their lives and work.Other lucky employees had masseurs come to the office to relieve their worktime stress.But if youre seeing these posts and getting salty that your company didnt treat you to a spa day, dont worry Some people in the Twitterverse are keeping it real .Like this guy who cant get a photo with his entire kollektivOr this woman who knows how to capture everything youre feeling with a single memeSo if youre not feeling appreciated, just know youre probably not alone. Now, time to post all about it on Twitter. After all, the hashtag is trending Maybe your boss will see your tweets and buy you some cookies.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

Six Tips to Make New Grads Feel Welcome

Six Tips to Make New Grads Feel WelcomeSix Tips to Make New Grads Feel WelcomeIf youve been following the Simply Hired blog, you know weve recently been covering the benefits that hiring recent grads can bring to an organization. In the short term, younger employees can spur innovation in process and approach across the company. Recent graduates will often bring that fresh set of eyes that is needed to help innovate and also demand diversity and HR initiatives that positively impact corporate culture.With all the positive impacts the newly minted workforce can bring to your company, it only makes sense that employers would want to take all necessary steps to effectively integrate these fresh new faces. While many larger companies have official training programs designed especially with this goal in mind, onboarding new grads can seem like a daunting effort to smaller companies or to those without official policies in place. With the goal of easing the burden and providing an abbrevia ted roadmap to launch your process, below we cover six tops to make new grads feel welcome that can benefit any company, large or small.Make No AssumptionsEstablished companies will often have a voreingestellt set of onboarding materials that covers basic policies, procedures specific to the given position. If your company is established, perhaps there is an expectation that those coming in the door will simply know whats expected of a professional in the workplace. With a new graduate, its never safe to assume, well, anything.The first step to successfully welcoming new graduates into your company is to start from scratch. From the basics such as expected start time to a full job description, including duties, no detail is too small. Ask your recent graduates plenty of questions about what they need to know, or feel like they dont quite have a grasp on, and youll set them off on the right track plus give them a big boost of confidence.Benefits, Policies, and ProceduresIn line with tip 1, recent graduates are far mora likely to have little to no prior professional experience before joining your company. One of the biggest frustrations of any new hire is often in learning policies and procedures that to more experienced workers may seem rote. Go over items such as work from home expectations, retirement, healthcare, and any other benefits or policies that you may typically take for granted. This is also a great opportunity to ensure you arent making the same mistake with even seasoned new hires in skipping out on vital infassonation that could help make the first few days of onboarding smoother. Get SocialLong gone are the days when you could expect workers to show up, do their job, and exit at the end of the day all while remaining happy and productive. Given the increasing importance of careers, having a sense of family in the workplace is more important than ever. In addition, the ability to make your employees feel that you are invested in their happiness a nd fulfillment goes a long way.With all this in mind, social events have become a must with companies looking to successfully integrate and get the most out of young grads. Cocktail hours, welcome lunches, and team building events are essential for bringing on board recent graduates. While these events may seem social, they are will let your new employees feel like the company is taking the time to get to know them personally and is taking steps to ensure their mental and social well being, both of which are large selling points among younger workers.Provide TrainingAs we mentioned earlier, its wishful thinking to expect any new employee to hit the ground running without a fair bit of context around their job duties and responsibilities. Training your new graduate employee will be essential to help them feel comfortable and welcome on the job. Training can take the form of specialized instruction in individual tasks but should also include long-term thinking that allows the employee to see your investment in their growth. Leadership and communication skills courses will not only benefit the individual employee, but it will also ensure you have the best shot at building from within solid and lasting in-house talent.Offer MentorshipEven if you have a substantial incoming class of recent graduates, younger employees can often feel ostracized or alone when not provided with guidance withing an established team. To help overcome this hurdle, consider implementing a formal mentorship program that pairs your newest employees with established veterans. Not only with these mentors provide valuable guidance, but theyll also serve as role models and will help demonstrate what your new grads can aspire to achieve with a little bit of hard work.Check In RegularlyOur final tip for ensuring new grads feel welcome in the workplace is a subtle reminder that communication should go both ways in a healthy employee/employer relationship. Schedule a regular weekly or monthly meeti ng in which you discuss how the employee is transitioning, listen to any concerns and address deliverables and other goals. Checking in often with your new graduate employee will provide structure and will help ensure your talent is staying on the right path while allowing for any corrections to be made in a timely manner.Have any other tips for ensuring new graduates are welcome and comfortable in their new job? Drop us a line in the comments and share your insights with fellow Simply Hired readers in our community.

The silhouette you may be seeing all over your office this fall

The silhouette you may be seeing all over your office this fallThe silhouette you may be seeing all over your office this fallIt was in 1964 when Mary Quant introduced the world to the mini-skirt and everything, including (obviously) hemlines, changed. The skirt reached several inches above the knee and was a major power play for women (especially if worn with tall boots and no stockings.) With fashion icons of the time like Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Ali MacGraw and Goldie Hawn in all her Laugh In glory it was mora than a trend, the mini-skirt was now a fashion staple, making its way into so many womens closets over the next 60 plus years. The mini-skirt will always be there, but there is a new skirt as well as general aesthetic you will be seeing in offices this fall.The oversized look will be big this fall and will permeate into the next seasons. It isnt a direct reaction to the MeToo movement, but it is definitely inspired by it. Designer Matthew Adams Dolan, who often dresses Rihan na in his oversized suits, told The Wall Street Journal, Its about the idea of being comfortable and not pleasing someone else, wearing something that makes you feel good and also sexy at the same time.The tight, short, skimpy look is just not on trend right now. Fashion dictator Anna Wintour said recently in a video, the idea of anything thats overly sexy, or overly clinging or overly look-at-me has simply gone out the window. This is why we are also seeing midi skirts (calf length) pop up all over, especially in offices. Just as the mini-skirt was a rebellion against oppression, the midi-skirt is a rebellion against violation. Weve already seen this as with pants as skinny jeans have been slowly phased out in favor of a wider leg.Wearing a large coat or oversized suit is not a deliberate attempt to cover up but to show that you are confident even if there is more material involved. The woman is focused. Lady Gaga recently opened up about her choice to wear a very oversized Marc Ja cobs suit from his 2019 collection at the Ellemagazines Women in Hollywood event on Monday. She wore it instead of a dress toresist the standards of dressing to impress. To use what really matters my voice. From her speechThey were all dresses. This was an oversized mens suit made for a woman. Not a gown. And then I began to cry. In this suit, I felt like me today. In this suit, I felt the truth of who I am well up in my gut. And then wondering what I wanted to say tonight become very clear to me.