Friday, December 27, 2019

Food Waste for Solar Storage

Food Waste for Solar Storage Food Waste for Solar Storage Solar energy still has a problem. Storage. Batteries are nice, but there are losses going to and from chemical storage. Water tanks can help use the light of day to warm ur nights, but they dont hold on to their heat for the long term.To turn the heat from our summer sun to heat for our winters we may soon be able to turn to our leftovers. Theres no dearth of the stuff. Some 40 percent of U.S. food ends up in the trash, of which 97 percent winds up in a landfill. Thats 33 million tons per year, if you prefer your stats by weight.Theres gold in those hills of rotting comestibles, in the form of sugar alcohols. They have a high storage capacity, theyre safe, and thanks to our wastefulness, theyre plentiful. The major problem with using sugar alcohols as heat storage is they are quite slow in terms of its heat transfer kinetics, says Huaichen Zhang, a mechanical engineer at the Netherlands Eindhoven University of Technology. Now Zhang may have found a way to fix that problem.Smart energy workshops. Image Eindhoven University of TechnologyWhere the heat conductivity of sugar alcohols is below one Calvin per watt per meter, the heat conductivity of nanoscale carbon structures, like graphene or carbon nanotubes, is a thousand watts per meter per Calvin. What if you mix them up? asks Zhang. What if you combine them, make a sort of composite material? How can it improve the heat conductivity?To answer the question, Zhang ran a molecular-scale simulation, using molecular dynamics modeling methods, to binnensee exactly how the heat transferred from the carbon to the sugar alcohols and vice versa. In 2015, he examined two possible mechanisms. The first, heating the carbon layer with a laser beam, proved too slow to produce any real advantage. The second is more promising transferring heat from sugar alcohol to sugar alcohol, using the carbon as a sort of heat transfer medium. So the heat passes through it, instead of transferring into it and out of it again, says Zhang.Using this mechanism, Zhang showed that when mixed with erythritol and xylitol, two sugar alcohols commonly found in food, carbon nanotubes with larger diameters were better at conducting heat. Higher density combos also improved head conductivity.Thats great for getting the heat locked up in the sugar alcohols. But when the time comes to use that heat, we dont yet know how to get it quickly. It seems that the higher the storage energy density is, the harder it is to get the energy out, says Zhang. These are the major problems we want to solve To increase the crystal growth speed, to increase the heat power, and the discharge power, so we can get the heat out as fast as possible, and as much as possible and whenever we want it. Currently we dont know how to do it.Though that may sound like a full plate of research, Zhang thinks those problems are eminently solvable and that a real-world application will be available in a not-to o-distant future.Actually its not that far off, if you just want the material, he says. To commercialize it, we have a ways to go. Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Learn more about the latest energy technologies atASMEs Power and Energy.The major problem with using sugar alcohols as heat storage is they are quite slow in terms of its heat transfer kinetics.Huaichen Zhang, Eindhoven University of Technology

Sunday, December 22, 2019

5 Marketing Tips for New College Grads

5 Marketing Tips for New College Grads5 Marketing Tips for New College Grads1As new grads you almost by definition are lacking years of work experienceand since a resume is so heavily focused on just that, how do you show your whole self to employers?Employers want to hire and invest in someone with the right skill set and attitude. Jobs youve had to this point might or might elend be what you want to do with your life but you probably excelled in a group, or class, or activity you were passionate about. As a new grad you will need to pull from all of your life experiences and show employers your potential.Here are five marketing tips for new college grads1. Showcase your passionswhatever they may be.Employers want to know that you have that spark in you to see that you can bring that passion to work. Discuss your soft skills in terms of any activity you really excelled at and/or showed leadership in. Describe your transferable skills in a way that would be helpful in a professional atmosphere. Make that recruiter excited about you2. Network. Networking is a big buzzword and an intimating prospect in some respects. To network really means to speak with strangers and move out of your comfort zone. Networking takes multiple forms from cold calling/emailing, to attending big events, to following and responding to the work of thought leaders, and more. Meeting new people opens doors in ways you could never imagine.Ive had plenty of instances where I met someone without a specific purpose but they turned around and made a great introduction or offered insight into what I was doing. I always go to as many events as I can and speak to whoever will speak with me. Im always learning and expanding my network and you never know who can help you or offer that crucial warm introduction and vouch for you.3. Be articulate. Our generation gets a bad reputation for not being good writers and communicators. While your future job might not include a lot of writingbeing able to s uccinctly say what you mean, write without typos or grammatical errors, and use the proper tone is essential anywhere.Proofread all of your emails, stop and think about what you want to accomplish when you reach out to people, and be aware of how you communicate with others. Being articulate shows a great deal about your character and give a professional appearance.4. Have a portfolio. Many employers look for past work or achievements when they go to hire. The type of portfolio that is appropriate for you depends on what your academic and career interests are.Many computer science students use GitHub to share their code and past projects, Art students may use Behance, Carbonmade, or another type of portfolio to share their past works, and English/Communications students may use blogs. A well-crafted portfolio is a great way to show what youve done and to stand apart.5. Have a positive web presence.Web presence is a loaded term. On one hand, you want to protect your personal profile on sites like Facebook and Instagram while sharing those pieces of you that you want employers to see and can help your job search.I founded a company that is building CareerApp as the Common App for jobs that allows you to create a robust profile and really showcase yourself to employers. You can share your profile with employers and apply to jobs with one click to help your job application process.Make sure that youre more than a piece of paper to an employer and show your full, dynamic, well-rounded self in a polished and professional way.Readers, what would you add to these marketing tips? Tell us in the comments belowTodays guest post comes from Phoebe Farber. Phoebe is a Senior at Northeastern University in Boston and the Founder CEO of Prospective Plus, which has built CareerApp.me the Common App for Jobs. Connect with Phoebe via PhoebeFarber, CareerApp, or phoebe careerapp.me.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

These are the 10 best jobs in America for 2018

These are the 10 best jobs in America for 2018These are the 10 best jobs in America for 2018If you love what you do, youll never work a day in your life.That saying is 100% unfounded for the vast majority of workers, but you could still have one of the best jobs in the world and not realize it.STEM and technical careers are pushed as the fruchtwein rewarding, safe, and overall great jobs to have in todays economy. But thats not completely true. Theres still room for other skills at the top of the best jobs list.Weve already looked at the best colleges for getting a job and the best job markets for 2018. Now lets look at the best jobs.Here are the 10 best jobs for 20181) Financial managers2) Computer and information systems managers3) Lawyers4) Software application developers5) Physicians and surgeons6) Pharmacists7) Systems software developers8) Sales managers9) General and operations managers10) Chief executivesHow we determined the best jobs for 2018Using the most recent Occupation al Employment Statistics data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we created an index to analyze what jobs are the best to have this year.We focused on three variables for the studyTotal employmentAnnual mean wageAverage entry-level payFor the entry-level variable, we focused on the average annual salary of the bottom 10% for each occupation. This is standard practice for research based on entry-level occupations.We ranked 805 occupations 1 to 805 for each variable. We then took the average of the three numbers to create an index. The lower the average, the better the rank.Below is a more detailed look at the Top 10, followed by a list of the Top 100 best jobs for 2018.1. FINANCIAL MANAGERSTotal employment 569,380Annual mean wage $143,530Entry-level pay $66,480Financial managers take the top spot for best jobs of 2018, offering the best balance of total employment and pay.With an average annual salary of $143,530, the occupation is compensated well for ensuring their companies dont go bankrupt, among other tasks.2. COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGERSTotal employment 365,690Annual mean wage $149,730Entry-level pay $83,860The first, but not the last tech job to appear on the Top 10 list computer and information systems managers help implement computer-based initiatives in companies.With an average entry-level salary of $83,860, recent grads can find themselves making a hefty paycheck right out of school if theyre qualified enough.3. LAWYERSTotal employment 628,370Annual mean wage $141,890Entry-level pay $57,430Becoming a lawyer will require a few extra years for you go get your J.D., but the areas one can become established in are endless sports law, music industry, public firm.Lawyers continue to be one of the most popular occupations, too, with over 600,000 throughout the country.4. SOFTWARE APPLICATION DEVELOPERSTotal employment 849,230Annual mean wage $108,710Entry-level pay $59,870Software application developers take the idea behind an app and turn it into something tangible for the user to enjoy.It takes a certain amount of imagination and technical aptitude to create apps, and the occupation is one of the fastest growing in the country, expected to increase by 24% in total employment by 2026.5. PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONSTotal employment 355,460Annual mean wage $211,390Entry-level pay $60,390You could say physicians and surgeons are important saving peoples lives and all of that. So it makes sense that they are some of the best-compensated jobs in the country, raking in an annual average of over $211,000.6. PHARMACISTSTotal employment 309,330Annual mean wage $121,710Entry-level pay $87,420If youve ever stepped foot inside a CVS or Walgreens, youve most likely come in contact with a pharmacist.The job also has the seventh-highest average entry-level pay of all 805 occupations analyzed.7. SYSTEMS SOFTWARE DEVELOPERSTotal employment 394,590Annual mean wage $111,780Entry-level pay $65,670Rounding out tech-specific jobs in the Top 10, systems software developers combine aspects of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to help businesses run smoother.With an average salary of six-figures, one can make a nice living working behind the scenes in this role.8. SALES MANAGERSTotal employment 371,410Annual mean wage $137,650Entry-level pay $57,590As long as businesses exist, there will always be a need for sales managers. After paying your dues in call centers or cold calling, sales managers have a rewarding career and average salary of over $137,000.Of course, with sales comes other opportunities for commissions and bonuses, bumping up potential pay.9. GENERAL AND OPERATIONS MANAGERSTotal employment 2,212,200Annual mean wage $123,460Entry-level pay $44,510General and operations managers is the 10th most popular job title in the country, with over 2.2 million throughout the United States.While each manager has different responsibilities related to his or her corporation, having an average annual w age of over $120,000 with that many jobs is something to acknowledge.10. CHIEF EXECUTIVESTotal employment 210,160Annual mean wage $196,050Entry-level pay 68,110Is there really anything negative about being a chief executive? Besides the stress that comes with being one of the faces of a business.Nevertheless, a high entry-level salary and average annual salary of close to $200k doesnt let the high stress go unrewarded.Wrapping upSo there you have it. The Top 10 best jobs of 2018.The average annual salary of the Top 10 jobs is $144,390.The average entry-level salary of the group? Thatd be $65,133.Given that 2018 college grads make an average salary of just over $50k, thats a sizable raise from the norm.Automation and the elimination of certain jobs seem to flood the news cycle every month or so, but if theres anything this list proves, its that theres a wide variety of jobs and industries among the Top 100.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the workforce is expected to grow by 11.5 million in the next decade. Well see how the job market fluctuates in the next couple of years, but until then be sure to check back for our best jobs of 2019 listFor now, though, here are the Top 100 jobs of 2018Thisarticlefirst appeared onZippia.

Friday, December 13, 2019

Interview Questions About Trends in Your Profession

Interview Questions About Trends in Your ProfessionInterview Questions About Trends in Your ProfessionMost employers are looking to hire employees who are forward thinking and in tune with trends impacting their profession. With insight into trends and whats expected in your industry, you can help propel a company beyond the status quo. Being engaged with the industry shows you care about it - its an indicator that youre passionate about work, and will go beyond the bare minimum as an employee. Interviewers and recruiters are very likely to expect you to know about trending topics in your profession and/or career field. How to Answer Interview Questions About Trends in Your Profession You should be able to show the interviewer that you are on top of whats new and noteworthy. To do that, youll need to regularly spend time researching the latest trends in your field to make sure you acquire the knowledge and skills to keep pace with change. When you are injob searchmode, it is esp ecially important to have a handle on trends and to be prepared to comfortably discuss your views about the factors influencing the evolution of your profession. Even if you are not explicitly asked about trends, your insight into the industry can be helpful throughout your interview. It can inform your responses to other interview questions. How Can You Keep Up with Trends? Wondering how to stay current on the news and trends within your industry? Youve got lots of options. Here are a few ideas Attend events Conferences tend to book thought leaders and big names within industries to give keynote addresses. Pay attention to what these speakers discuss - and also listen for mentions of any Twitter accounts, websites, or other resources or places for information that they mention. You can also attend webinars, workshops, meet-ups, and seminars to keep current on trends.Follow prominent figures on social media Thanks to the internet, you can follow along with the readings lists an d discussions of the leaders and big thinkers within your field. In fact, you can even (politely) engage with them on social media, and become a part of the conversation. Subscribe to newsletters Along with social media, seek out industry newsletters, from the formal ones written by major groups to the chatty ones from people who are passionate about the industry. Podcasts can also be a rich source of information, as can industry trade publications.Seek out relevant groups on LinkedIn, Facebook, and other platforms Groups on LinkedIn and Facebook are full of conversations, shared ideas, and links to interesting articles that can help you sense the trends within your field. Set up Google alerts You can create alerts around key industry terms, ongoing news stories, or buzzwords. That way, you will always be up-to-date on the latest information. During interviews, as well as mentioning trends, you can share where you learned about them. That will show that youre interested and involved in the industry, and actively seeking to stay current. Examples of the Best Answers Once youre actively following and reading thought leaders and stars in your field, as well as keeping up to date through newsletters, podcasts, and other sources of information, its easier to talk about trends. Here are some potential ways to respond if you are asked about the latest trends in your industry, where you think the industry is headed, how you keep up with industry trends, or other similar questions. I enjoy conversing with fellow professionals and the buzz recently has focused on the importance of maintaining adequate loan reserves at this point in the economic cycle. I follow John Brown, Jane Smith and Bob Meyers on Twitter and they all have touted the urgency of reducing expenses by outsourcing programming to lower cost countries. I recently read an article in the Journal of Marketing underscoring the importance of tapping the social media to more effectively target market segment s. There were three or four sessions devoted toSearch Engine Marketingstrategies at this years annual conference for the Web Marketing Association, I welches able to attend two workshops and learned... I find our industry so fascinating. Without even trying, Ive followed and engaged with some of the big thought leaders in our field, such as Sarah Jane, Joe Smith, and so on. As well as my early-morning Twitter scrolling, I subscribe to newsletters from mainstream and industry publications. Plus, I try to attend at least one big conference a year. I find the conversations with peers can be as valuable as the keynote speakers and workshops at these events.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Template for High School Students

The Number One Question You Must Ask for Resume Template for High School Students Sharing your awards and achievementsacademic or otherwiseproves that can be made positive contributions and can help you stick out above other candidates. Employers search for staff that have a history of earning positive contributions. On the contrary, its considerably more useful if youre able to come up with a few accomplishments associated with every one of your positions, and thereby prove the worth you brought to the organization. If for no other reason, acquiring the resume will enable you to easily finish all the on-line profiles teams require prospects to finish. Virtually every job involves some sort of anxiety. You are able to gain from the totally free training they offer and get the ability you will need to run into a better, lasting occupation once it is going to wind up available. Developing your resume is essential. A work purpose isnt required on several resumes. Concentrat e on highlighting relevant coursework to the job youre applying for. Write down what skills you used, and the way they may relate to the job that you desire. Your work is really to know precisely what needs there arealready. However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. Having the capability to communicate in person is crucial, but having the capacity to communicate via technology is a developing hot commodity in the modern workplace. The goal is to discuss issues and promote dialogue between both groups. You are able to showcase your work history, but in addition fill in more space by talking about your abilities and other knowledge youve got. High school resume templates supply a fantastic resource for students. If you own a career goal or study interest that it is possible to pursue away from the classroom, take advantage. Instead, concentrate on the exceptional skills you bring to the classroom to advertise the academic a nd personal development of adolescent students. If you wish to develop into a high school principal, you can begin acquiring the qualification and skills you need now to produce the leap whenever youre ready. Do that, and you will be your very first picks very first pick. If youre looking for work, a well-written resume is critical. If youre looking for work, a well-written resumeis essential. You are likely to want to generate your resume relevant to each job. Now you have the school hiring managers attention that you do not need to lose it. By customizing your resume for the job that you want, you can show employers youve got the abilities and experience theyre searching for. Conclusion If youre a high school student seeking to land a parte-time job which brings you extra income and enables you build some skills that might become important to your career in future, you have to present a compelling resume to prospective employers to increase your probability of being picked for the job. When it is high, its a fantastic way to catch the eye of a hiring manager. Understanding Resume Template for High School Students Some quite helpful tips about job hunting and resume creation can be discovered on the work search tipsheets. The recruiters might have encounter similar resume habits inside their encounter, so its very important to alter the resume template in order that it appearance distinctive from the usual one. Remember that they can see the name of the file that you send them and also remember that they get tons of resumes every day. Resume examples and templates are really helpful, especially when youre writing one of your initial resumes. Employers wish to know precisely what you did or learned so they know what you need to offer as an employee. They will probably choose a candidate with a feeling of direction and motivation. They already know that you want their job, so instead its better to write an elevator pitch at the top of the page that will help your potential employer understand you as a person and remember whats on your resume. Just make certain it is altogether clean of whatever you wouldnt need a prospective employer to see. The Hidden Treasure of Resume Template for High School Students The third sort is the combinational kind of resume which as the name implies, borrows features from both of the other kinds. When you havent already, nows a very good time to earn an expert email address. As you wont be in a position to see the schools resume workshop video without valid Yale login info, you may read its resume advice and take a look at its substantial collection of resume-friendly action verbs. The majority of the time when writing a high school resume, an individual might think whats the usage of mentioning the personal details in the resume. Theres tons of competition for jobs for high school students, and that means you need to make sure you stick out from the crowd. A student may also inclu de their interests and honors. High school students may require a resume to submit an application for work or as an element of a university application. Most high school students have a tendency to make an application for a food services position. Education is among the primary facets of a students life, but educational institution plays an important part within it. Talk about both years you have set into learning a third language and the way you pursue it in the summertime at a university abroad. You have just what it requires to be successful in college. Talk about the excess courses you took in a neighboring college because youre fascinated by marine biology but do not own a class offering to select from in your high school.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Must-Know Strategies for Hiring and Retaining New Grads - Spark Hire

Must-Know Strategies for Hiring and Retaining New qualitts - Spark HireRecent graduates possess a passion and an energy that stands to benefit an organization. They have new ideas and a strong understanding about technology, making them powerful assets to a company. However, as the economy regains its strength and job possibilities continue to open up, youll want to make sure that your business is competitive in order to land bright, young talent. Secondly, youll want to do your part to make sure that these young professionals continue to grow and develop within your organization. There are a few crucial ways to do this. They includeOffering up small perksEmployees want to feel as if theyre appreciated, and see the value in small perks that they enjoy just by working where they do. Whether its free breakfast one day a week, casual Fridays, or discounts at local restaurants, these benefits wont go unnoticed. In fact, they may help to set you apart from your competition, landing you so me of the industrys most inspiring young talent.Help your employees to grow and developRecent graduates often hope to stay with an organization for a good chunk of their career, but end up leaving when they feel their career is stalling or that theyre not getting guidance from management. In order to retain young talent, make sure that they have the support they need in order to grow as a gruppe member. Dont just hire them and then leave them alone as they work. Consider setting up a mentoring program or a regular review system where theyre able to get feedback, tips, and answers to questions. This helps them to take their career to the next level, eliminating the need to go elsewhere.Understand what matters to themPeople who are entering the workforce today have different values and goals than those who entered decades ago. In order to hire and retain recent graduates, you need to get a firm understanding about what matters to these young professionals. Many of them value flexibili ty, whether thats the ability to work from home or perhaps the ability to set their work schedules. Others want to be able to be involved in different kinds of projects, thus preventing them from getting pigeon holed. When you know what your young talent is after, you can make sure to create a working environment that caters to these desires, thus making your business highly appealing.What does your business do to appeal to (and retain) young employees?Check out Spark Hires infographic How to Hire the Perfect GradImage andres/Bigstock.com

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Search

SearchSearchSearchMonsterSearchuses precision search technology to find the exact talent you need. Plus, you can manage and contact candidates via email and text message - all from the same interface.No more toggling from one platform to another. Searchlets you do it all. Find and reach the top-quality talent you need, when you need it.Take a look at the materials below to get up and running with Searchin no time.Sign up for Free Live Webinar TrainingSearchTraining GuidesSearchUser GuideSee how you can do it all with SearchMonster. This guide will take you step by step.Searching Best PracticesGet to know all the tips and tricks when it comes to searching for your next great hire.Using Boolean with SearchMonsterFind out how you can set up the fruchtwein successful Boolean searches within SearchMonster.SearchOverviewReview all the features packed within Monsters most advanced resume search tool.Texting Samples Best PracticesThis quick reference guide will give you a leg up on recruit ing via text message.Inventory ManagementKeep tabs on your inventory and get some tips on making it last.Sample MessagesNot sure what to say? Here are some messages to help you get going.4 Components to Successful MessagesTake a look at our best practices for the most successful messages.SearchVideosSearchfor Super Search CustomersIf you have been upgraded from Super Search to SearchMonster, this video will show you all the new features and functionality waiting for you.SearchDemo (6 mins)Get a quick overview of everything Searchhas to offer search features, messaging via email and text, links to public social profiles and more.Searchfor Power Resume Classic Search UsersThis video will make the transition to Searcheffortless. Check out all the features youll have access to.SearchWebinar (25 mins)This recorded webinar will show you how to source the skills you need and find top talent fast. Plus, see new ways to research candidates and connect.SearchSearchMonsterSearchuses precisio n search technology to find the exact talent you need. Plus, you can manage and contact candidates via email and text message - all from the same interface.No more toggling from one platform to another. Searchlets you do it all. Find and reach the top-quality talent you need, when you need it.Take a look at the materials below to get up and running with Searchin no time.Sign up for Free Live Webinar TrainingSearchTraining GuidesSearchUser GuideSee how you can do it all with SearchMonster. This guide will take you step by step.Searching Best PracticesGet to know all the tips and tricks when it comes to searching for your next great hire.Using Boolean with SearchMonsterFind out how you can set up the most successful Boolean searches within SearchMonster.SearchOverviewReview all the features packed within Monsters most advanced resume search tool.Texting Samples Best PracticesThis quick reference guide will give you a leg up on recruiting via text message.Inventory ManagementKeep tab s on your inventory and get some tips on making it last.Sample MessagesNot sure what to say? Here are some messages to help you get going.4 Components to Successful MessagesTake a look at our best practices for the most successful messages.SearchVideosSearchfor Super Search CustomersIf you have been upgraded from Super Search to SearchMonster, this video will show you all the new features and functionality waiting for you.SearchDemo (6 mins)Get a quick overview of everything Searchhas to offer search features, messaging via email and text, links to public social profiles and more.Searchfor Power Resume Classic Search UsersThis video will make the transition to Searcheffortless. Check out all the features youll have access to.SearchWebinar (25 mins)This recorded webinar will show you how to source the skills you need and find top talent fast. Plus, see new ways to research candidates and connect.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Tell If a Company Will Be Fun to Work For

How to Tell If a Company Will Be Fun to Work ForHow to Tell If a Company Will Be Fun to Work ForSuffice it to say, at times, your office may feel like a second home. With that much time spent at work, its worth it to ask Are you enjoying your time there? Of course, salary, responsibilities, title, and opportunities for advancement are important considerations when applying for a job or weighing a job offer- but so is the jobs fun quotient. If you want to know if youll enjoy working for a given company, all you need to do is consider the three Ps people, property, and perks. Evaluating these elements reveals what a day at the office will feel like, and can help you know if youll enjoy your time spent at work. People Consider just how much time you spend with co-workers, from formal meetings to quick information exchanges to coffee breaks and possible after-work happy hours. Genuinely liking and enjoying time with co-workers can make all the difference in your attitude as you head into work on a Monday morning. To get a sense for the character of potential co-workers, inquire about company culture during your interview, and see if it tends toward congenial or competitive. Look around too A quiet office of headphone-clad workers feels different from space with chattering colleagues, and one of those options may feel more comfortable to you. Try to see how entry-level employees and interns are treated Are they part of the team, or are they relegated to grunt work? Pay attention to peoples personalities and general vibe, especially when talking about the company. Ideally, everyone at a company, from interns through to the CEO, is happy, engaged, and elend overworked. Also good colleagues who can teach and mentor you. Property Offices and cubicles have a reputation for looking grim often the color scheme is restricted shades of gray and beige. The temperature is generally too hot in winter, and overly air-conditioned in summer. But not all offices are drab or feature recirculated air. As you walk through the office on the way to an interview, take in the aesthetics and atmosphere Would you feel comfortable spending the bulk of your week in this space? Evaluate how workspaces are laid out (e.g., cubicles or open spaces), the artwork, and general dcor. Check to see if an office has space devoted to group gatherings- such as lunchrooms with tables or a space to grab a coffee- as well as non-conference room meeting areas, private spaces to make a personal phone call, and other amenities that can make an office feel like a place where spending eight hours a day is a pleasure. Perks Any perk or benefit a company offers is a wonderful, non-required add-on, by definition. Some things, though, are fairly voreingestellt two weeks of vacation, sick days, health insurance, and retirement fund matching. Perks that go beyond these typical offerings can be transformative to your finances and general happiness. Examples of stellar add-ons to a bene fits package include Unlimited vacation days (or any vacation time stretching beyond two weeks)Free meals and snacks alcohol at the officeBring your pet to work daysAccess to the latest technology- some companies may allow you to keep laptops, phones, and tablets after a certain tenureVolunteer matching programsBonuses and profit sharingMentorship programsPaid maternity/paternity leaveIn-house gym Perks display a companys values, the value they place on their employees, and offer a glimpse into day-to-day life. A company with paid leave for new moms and dads is likely considerate to the complicated schedule that comes with parenting a company giving out endless free meals, with booze on tap, may very likely have long hours as a trade-off. Review perks with an eye toward the picture they paint of the company and of day-to-day life on the job.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Dont bottle up your emotions at work

Dont bottle up your emotions at workDont bottle up your emotions at workMany of us have been taught to ignore, discount, or devalue our feelings. Or we learn to only express particular emotions in specific settings at certain times. For example, we hear things like boys should never cry and its unladylike to express anger, and we are supposed to behave accordingly.These messages may be passed along by our families, our cultural and religious institutions, and society at large. Perhaps these communications are well-intentioned to seemingly help us follow public rules and leid stick out like a sore thumb.But the truth is the internalization of these emotional memorandums is unhealthy for partieal development. And they are counter-productive to our functioning in relationships and at work.As psychologists and faculty at Yale University, we spend a lot of time encouraging people to understand their emotions. We teach a course called Interpersonal Dynamics at Yales School of Management to help current and future business leaders develop the capacity to create more open, effective, and rewarding relationships both on and off the job. A large part of the course is teaching theoretical and practical frameworks and skills to help identify, understand, use, and express emotions wisely.Dont bottle your emotions at workIf we had a giant megaphone, wed tell people who say workers should suppress negative feelings at work to please stop promoting this line of thinking.When people suppress feelings, they wind up shutting out access to a lot of great thinking. People can sometimes succeed in suppression but can wind up throwing out the baby with the bathwater.In addition to suppressing emotional expression that is unwelcome, they can also suppression good ideas, enthusiasm for being at work, and the capacity for connecting with others.Has anyone ever told you to smile when youre having a badeanstalt day or to be just be nice when you really feel like knocking someone upside th e head? If so, you were being told to essentially bottle your emotions.But telling people to zip their emotions, lock it, and put it in their pocket doesnt work. Eventually, these emotions will come out one way or another - theyll leak, burst, or fester inside you and take a toll on your emotional or physical health.This kind of suppression of emotions is not only bad for people its destructive to our organizations and the world.Why emotions are goodThere are reasons why we have emotions. We need emotions to motivate and organize us for action (e.g., overcoming obstacles), communicate with and influence others (e.g., sending them a message) and communicate with ourselves. Emotions are powerful data that help us understand the world around us.The goal is not to express all our feelings all of the time. That would exhaust us and tax our co-workers. The objective is to start becoming more aware of the emotions we do have - and have a choice in their expression, both on and off the job .Psychologist and President of Yale University Peter Salovey and Jack Meyer devised a model of emotional intelligence. Essentially, they found that those with stronger emotional intelligence have the ability to accurately identify emotions (their own and others), the ability to use emotions to help them think through problems and develop solutions, the ability to understand the causes of emotions and the ability to manage emotions to help make decisions and take effective action.Most of us arent born with oben liegend emotional intelligence, but we can learn to be more effective in our everyday interactions, even in our adulthood. Having access to emotional information can help us to motivate ourselves and others in ways that positively impact work culture and job performance.Building your emotional vocabularySome of us need an emotional vocabulary list to helpus see and accurately label a broader range of emotions.Take anger for example. Some of us think we understand this powerful emotion - we know when we are angry or were not.But there are large gradations between fleeting annoyance and full-fledged rage. Understanding the differences along that continuum makes us more effective human beings and better communicators.For example, if a co-worker borrows your stapler and you go into a fiery wrath andmake aggressive or threatening gestures, thats problematic.But if you allow yourself to experience the appropriate level of aggravation from such an inconvenience, and you express it to the other person with a clear head, concordant tone, posture, and facial expression, you not only get your point across and feel good about yourself but you also often gain power and respect.Not everyone can appropriately self-regulate especially under duress. Being able to do so while remaining authentically engaged can wind up being a useful way to positively differentiate yourself.So rather than suppressing your own and other peoples emotions on the job, be willing to take the r isk of being familiar with a gaining the ability to wisely use your emotions. It may feel a bit vulnerable at the start, but over time, you can gain choice and using your emotions can be an asset rather a liability.