Research shows rich people are more likely to cheat, steal, lie

Research shows rich people are more likely to cheat, steal, lieResearch shows rich people are more likely to cheat, steal, lieThere is a reason people love HBOs latest profoundly dysfunctional family drama Succession (that family makes the Lohans look like theyve really got it together.) We love to watch rich people behaving badly. And its bedrngnis like these are the first serials to depict the lives of the rich and famous. They follow in the diamond and blood encrusted footsteps of Dynasty, Dallas, Peyton Place, 90210, Gossip Girl, Billions, etc., Heck, Tom Wolfe made a career (and entire vernacular) out of exposing the underbelly of yuppie narcissism.But with these shows, a part of us thinks, People cant really be this bad, can they? This is for entertainment. Are rich people really this immoral? Well, according to recent research and if you just watch the news (hello Paul Manafort trial), these dramas and our gage on the wealthy may not be that far off.Dacher Keltner, a psycholog ist at the University of California, Berkeley and Paul Piff who have spent decades studying wealth, power and privilege through a series of experiments. One looked at cars at a busy four-way intersection and found that it was people in the more expensive cars like Mercedes thatwere four times more likely to ignore the right-of-way laws than those driving cheaper and older cars.When Keltner had a researcher pretend to be a pedestrian crossing, guess which cars actually stopped? Yup, the people in the cheaper cars while only half of the expensive cars did.It told us that theres something about wealth and privilege that makes you feel like youre above the law, that allows you to treat others like they dont exist, Keltnertold the Washington Post.Rich people behaving badlyIn an absolutely shocking finding, Keltner and Piff also found that rich people are literally more likely to STEAL CANDY FROM CHILDREN. In an experiment with 129 subjects, they had them compare their finances to people had more or less money. Then they have them a candy jar that was going to be given to children in a neighboring lab but they could take some if they liked. The subjects that were categorically richer than the people they were compared to took more candy for themselves then those were poorer. To researchers who study wealth and power, its dismaying but not surprising because it tracks so closely with our findings. The effect of power is sadly one of the most reliable laws of human behavior, said Keltner.Past studies have also shown that the wealthy are more likely to cheat on their taxes and romantic partners.These studies do make the rich look very culpable but do keep in mind that they are small sets of the wealthy and some of this people could have had immoral and jerk-like tendencies before they acquired wealth.Robert Gore, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at Alliant International University, in San Francisco, said when Piff and Keltners study came out that studies lin king class and ethics are hard to make conclusive. Not everyone who is coded as relatively high social class drives a luxury car, Gore said to CNN. Luxury car drivers are a subset of the well-to-do, and we all know people who drive cars they cant really afford. He added, This study really shows that people who identify as a higher social class are more likely to admit unethical behavior. Its not clear whether they actually behave worse or just claim to.However, Piff noted that they conducted several experiments and they all had similar results and factors including age, sex, ethnicity, and religious and political affiliations, which can impact ethics and morals, were accounted for.

ASME Publications Win Two EXCEL Awards

ASME Publications Win Two EXCEL Awards ASME Publications Win Two EXCEL Awards ASME Publications Win Two EXCEL AwardsTwo ASME publications, DEMAND- ASME Global Development Review and Mechanical Engineering magazine, were honored this year by Association Media Publishings EXCEL Awards program, which is recognized as the largest and most prestigious awards program exclusively aimed at celebrating excellence and leadership in nonprofit association media, publishing, and communications. Nearly 1,000 publications from 110 organizations and associations were entered into this years EXCEL Awards program. The awards were presented at the 34th Annual EXCEL Awards Gala, held in Tysons Corner, Va., in conjunction with Association Media Publishings 2014 annual meeting. DEMAND- ASME Global Development Review received a Gold Award for General Excellence in the Journals category at the awards ceremony. General Excellence is considered the highest level award because it encompasses a review and recognition of writing, content, design, and overall packaging. The new publication, first published brde November, provides a platform for engineers and other technically trained people in the global development space to share their insights with the greater engineering community through in-depth case studies and articles exploring the technical, programmatic and community challenges related to the field. DEMAND was created and published by ASME in collaboration with Mechanical Engineering magazine with reports from Engineering for Change (E4C) and support from the ASME Foundation. The second issue of DEMAND was recently published and is available as a free app, or via www.asme.org/network/media/demand. Mechanical Engineering magazine received a Bronze Award for Redesign in the category for publications with a circulation of more than 100,000- this was the only award issued in this category. The award recognizes a publication that significantly upgraded its design or content during 2013. The redesigned Mechanical Engineering, which debuted with the January 2013 issue, features a bold new look employing dynamic layouts, custom illustrations, and powerful imagery. Bates Creative was the design consultant for both DEMAND and the redesigned Mechanical Engineering magazine.

Lead a Happier, More Successful Career and Life In 10 Days

Lead a Happier, More Successful Career and Life In 10 DaysLead a Happier, More Successful Career and Life In 10 DaysNeed a travel plan that will take you to an outcome of a more successful career and life? You can accomplish this journey in just ten days with the help of this email class. Are you ready to get going on this journey? These practices will help you get started. I wish life, family, and work were easy. Really. But, theyre not. The best of you struggle with concepts such as loving your work, balancing home and family life with work, and making the income that allows you to fulfill your dreams. You struggle with a lot more than that, too. You have kids to put through college, homes that develop leaks in the roof, the challenge of saving for retirement, and family and friends that actually want to spend time with you. Wow. You struggle with quite an armful. And, some of you struggle with even more than that. Disabled family members, illness, and lifes unexpected and unplanne d for events occur. Many of you are caring for your own children at the same time as you are caring for your aging parents. You have family weddings, births, and deaths. My basement flooded with three inches of water as I wrote this class. Thats minor, compared with what many of you experience, but it disrupted my plans for the week. Recognizing all of this, I have tried to zero in on the ten most important concepts that will help you develop the tools and thinking you need to succeed at work. At the same time, work success is fleeting if you dont also succeed at home. Life is a balancing act, so these concepts are applicable to your whole person, too. Happiness is as important as success, so I wanted to include happiness in the equation, too. Consequently, ten days to a happier and more successful future is the theme for this ten lesson series. Read, enjoy, and grow, but, most of all, benefit from this time you spend thinking about yourself and your life. Please, take this journey slowly over the next ten days. Stop to do the work, the thinking, and the actions necessary to carry out each days step. Or, take ten weeks if needed. Do whatever is necessary for maximum benefit from these thoughts. Okay, fellow travelers, the journey begins - with this ten-day program. Are you ready to start? I hope so. Ten Days to a Happier, More Successful Career and Life. Day 1 How to Take Responsibility for Your Life.Day 2 Your Thoughts Matter.Day 3 Define Your Purpose, Your Mission, and Your Goals.Day 4 Chart Your Course.Day 5 Stay the Course or Change the Course.Day 6 Promote Your Personal Development Every Day.Day 7 Identify and Live Your Personal Values.Day 8 Practice Personal Courage to Participate in and Resolve Conflicts.Day 9 Network Your Way to Professional Success.Day 10 Renew, Restart, and Revitalize to Continue the Journey.

Customize this Outstanding Payroll Resume 19 Sample

Customize this Outstanding Payroll Resume 19 SampleCustomize this Outstanding Payroll Resume 19 SampleSample Payroll Administrator ResumeCreate Resume Career ObjectiveTo obtain a challenging Payroll Manager position in a diverse and ethical company with the opportunity to grow and learn new skills.Summary of QualificationsExpertise in Preview payroll software and worked with American Contractor payroll software.Worked with certified payroll.Familiar with ADP reports.Familiar with accounting.Well versed in payroll and tax laws, including multi state.Fur and a half years experience with all aspects of payroll including attendance, garnishments, S125s, retirement plan, bank reconciliation, and more.Conducted company meetings, with and without PowerPoint presentations.Experienced with new hires, benefits orientations, and terminations.Responsible for COBRA and Workers Comp, including annual audits.Competent in MS Office including Word, Excel, Access, Visio, and PowerPoint.Trained in Tim e in a kasten and Attendance Enterprise time clocks including platzdeckchenups.Strong researching skills.Detail oriented.Self-motivated. Work well alone or part of a team.Analytical thinker and team player.Currently working on CPP certification.Customer service background.Employment HistoryNon Profit Organization 2007 presentPayroll Administrator/HR AssistantResponsible for running bi-weekly payroll for over 100 employees and multiple companies using Preview.Entered and kept up all employee changes for payroll, including new hires and terminations.Wrote a company specific quick start guide for the Preview software and Time in a Box time clock.Entered and balanced payroll GL in Financial Edge and Excel.Set up PC Entry time clocks (Time-in-a-Box), including training.Used both Time in a Box and Attendance Enterprise time clocks.Reconciled time off accrual and put it on the paychecks.Helped with fiscal year end audit of taxes and time off accruals.Calculated and made retirement, garnis hments, and other deduction payments, including Workers Comp.Conducted New Hire Orientations and Terminations.Set up and conducted company bi-monthly meetings.Held Employee Benefits Orientations.Responsible for COBRA and Workers Comp, including annual audits.Requested, calculated, and wrote manual checks as necessary.Solely responsible for Petty Cash including audits.Entered donations into Raisers Edge software as needed.Countywide, El Cajon, CA 2007Payroll AdministratorRan weekly certified payroll for over 100 employees in a very fast paced environment.Fully responsible for calculating and entering payroll into two payroll software packages, Paychexs Preview and American Contractor.Reconciled payrolls (payroll software packages were bedrngnis bridged).Served as the primary HR contact for employees.Worked on reorganizing the entire payroll and HR department.Set up new insurance and new hire packages.Reconciled time off accrual and put it on the payroll checks.Responsible for the tim e clock (Time-in-a-Box).Paychex Inc., Ventura,CA 2003 2006Senior Client Service RepresentativeResolved clients concerns relating to payroll (multi-state), payroll transmission, tax matters, and system support in a fast-paced environment.Frequently ran payrolls for clients when requested.Trained clients in all aspects of payroll, especially payroll software.Communicated with the IRS and multi-state government agencies to research tax errors.Amended annual and quarterly returns when necessary. Kept abreast of changes in wage and tax laws as well as proprietary and major changes and trends in the PC industry.Participated in intensive, mandatory, ongoing training and quarterly testing.Conducted periodic team training.Amgen, Newbury Park, CA (temporary position) 2002 2003GMP Data Entry CoordinatorSet up and conducted a File Maker Pro to Oracle migration in a quality controlled GMP environment. Used Web based proprietary software (LiveLink).Completed two projects on a compressed schedul e ahead of time for rolloutSolus Micro Technology, Westlake Village, CA 2001 2002Administrative and Engineering TechnicianProvided engineering support plus set up administrative support for several engineers.Created and wrote user manuals with digital photos.Established new standards for user manuals.Analyzed and graphed data as necessary.Ordered inventory, researched and introduced new products when applicable.Cogent Light Technology, Santa Clarita, CA 1996 2001Manufacturing TechnicianWorked in all aspects of electro-optics manufacturing in the medical optics industry helping to take projects from R D through certification, production, quality assurance, and shipping, including inventory.Led a fiber optics project to completion.Wrote initial procedures for production for own project.As a team completed the ISO 9001 certification.EducationUniversity of Paychex, Cert. courses, Payroll, Payroll taxes, Payroll software.University of Phoenix, BS degree, Information Technology.Fleets Business School, full Administrative Course inc. Bookkeeping.Professional AffiliationsAPAIEEE Computer Society member (inc. full access to online computer courses)Secretary for Home Owners Association.Customize ResumePayroll Resume Questions1. How do you write a summary gutachten for a payroll resume?The first and foremost rule of a good summary statement is to keep it short. You can sell yourself succinctly in no more than three sentences, making for a strong statement akin to the one in our payroll resume sample.The second rule of a good summary statement is language. Powerful language makes an effective resume, and when you use strong action verbs and bold statements, you can craft a summary statement that presents your value in as little space as possible.2. What is the best design for a payroll resume?Payroll can be a by-the-numbers field, but your resume doesnt have to be. While you dont want to go overboard with inappropriately creative designs, you can still use a more elega nt look to give your resume understated class. Elegant resumes tend to use lightly stylized header fonts paired with common sans serif fonts for body text.Regardless of design, your resume should reflect the same components as our payroll resume sample summary, keywords, work history, and education. For more help, create a resume in minutes with our resume builder.3. Whats the best length for a payroll resume?Most experts recommend a one-page resume. When you condense your experience to one page, your resume turns from a passive document to an active sell sheet that employers can take in at a single glance. Most employers rarely spend more than six to seven seconds on a resume before making a decision.4. How can you separate your payroll resume from other candidates resumes?To pass this test, you need a concise document that delivers precise information chosen for impact, rather than an entire kitchen sink of details. Our payroll resume sample can show you how to keep your resume sh ort.If you want to stand out among jobseekers, you need to show how you stood out in the workplace at past employers. This means focusing on achievements and demonstrating the moments when you outperformed your targets or improved the business bottom line.5. What goes in the header of a payroll resume?Your resume header is the simplest part. Its your name and contact information, nothing else. There are still ways you can mess this up, though. If you exclude your address entirely, employers may think youre trying to conceal the fact that youre not local.Double-check your information for accuracy, as well. Nothing can sink you faster than an inaccurate phone number or emaille address. Even if employers want to contact you, they cant. If you include your LinkedIn profile, check the URL. For examples of great header design, read our payroll resume sample.

Things You Wont Like About Shidduch Resume and Things You Will

Things You Wont Like About Shidduch Resume and Things You Will And until you work out the degree of observance you personally are comfortable with, you wont understand what type of guy youre searching for, anyway. If not for Jewish sites I would have no clue whats happening on earth outside my very own little Jewish enclave, especially when it comes to shidduch madness. All of us who are attempting to earn shidduchim want to aid people but we ought to take care not to hurt them along the way. Its hard for me I dont fit into a particular mold. Of course this is hard in the present frenzied occasions but still, attempt to pick the personal touch as much as possible But you made us realise that we cant simply settle back and wish for that which we want, we will need to do our own work in many unique locations. A multitude of options may also create the illusion that with just enough on-line shopping, an individual should have the ability to discover the perfect mate exactly the s ame way one clicks around searching for an ideal pair of shoes. There are too many choices and a few individuals end up paralyzed. Shidduch Resume - Is it a Scam? If you would like references or whatever, Ill offer you whoever you wish to speak to to check me out. The best references are positive, outgoing men and women who are in a position to talk enthusiastically and articulately regarding the single. As a rule of thumb, one needs to not get engaged while theres still new information being revealed. You provide such standard information that its impossible to lie. I am pleased to hear that you know youre prepared to date and you know a fundamental outline of what youre looking for. Im NOT advocating dropping Shidduch Resumes, on the contrary, if you require it then get one ASAP, but take care not to eliminate perspective and please dont set your faith in discovering a fantastic Shidduch only through a slice of paper or inside a WORD or PDF computer document The intention of the shidduch resume or profile is to give basic info about a single. Evaluating someone on paper is quite different than evaluating someone in person. You want to fulfill the person in person. A responsible Jewish parent has to do research and to be able to be in a position to do research, youve got to have something before you. Every individual silently prays that this is going to be the conclusion of their search. Essentially, he is the owner of his own information and someone who misuses it is a thief. The above is just a synopsis of all of the rules. Youre able to influence change by simply embodying the change you want to see. Whatever the situation, you have an unbelievable method of communicating your perceptions in a very clear and constructive method. The shidduch resume is an excellent means to put all of your information in one spot. Shidduch Resume - the Story E-mail may also hasten the matching process. In different circles, the system might be different . You really let me through the entire process and I definitely appreciate it. Theres a communication process, he states. Vital Pieces of Shidduch Resume There are various opinions about the major purpose of the resume, and so, how to compose a resume. It may be rather beneficial to receive a hold of many resumes from friends that are very similar to you and creating one off of those. Do not be scared to remind the people who have connections that youre still on the lookout. Additionally, resumes are occasionally examined very intensely. For all those of us of a specific age, its sorely missed. Marriage is nice with the proper girl, after we establish a good relationship. While I feel this rabbis assessment is true to a point, I still feel things might not be as easy as that. If youre married, you can enjoy my thoughts on marriage. Its a miracle that everyone becomes married this manner The examples there demonstrate that Gneivas Daas is violated even if theres a non- financial deception. Folks are not as likely to go through a long resume. Over the last year or so facebook inc has started to be a fantastic place to meet other singles, states Yitz. Things wind up falling into place. As Im sure that you know, there isnt any physical contact between the couple on the date at any moment. When beginning the search for the suitable shidduch, many calls took place to different shadchanim around the nation. And I will offer you shadchanus money if you would like. Nowadays, we dont require recipe boxes and index cards. Its much simpler to approach prospective dates, especially once you have mutual friends in common. I dont have any complaints about it whatsoever. You dont need to ask or answer the exact same questions twenty times. Resumes wont be shared with different organizations or shadchanim unless specific permission is provided. Feel free to get in touch with me with questions, comments, or merely to say hey. Be certain to include yo ur address.

The Chronicles of Does Resume Have to Be One Page

The Chronicles of Does Resume Have to Be One Page Since a resume isnt only employed for applying for internships and jobs, its imperative to receive one going as you will probably need it when applying to colleges too. There are a couple of ways you may pare down your resume. For instance, if you tutored other students as an undergrad and think which will help show you can teach nicely as a graduate assistant, you can incorporate that. The same is true for recent grads. Unless youre a recent college graduate, acquiring a one-page resume may signify too little experience to employers. You merely dont have sufficient experience yet. Contrary to what you may have heard, you do not need to squeeze 15 decades of work experience into a one-page resume. Youre searching for an internship or entry-level job, which usually means you have just two or three years experience. The work experience section will most likely take up the majority of the space on your resume. In addition to getting a lot of important info to include on your resume, its critical that you make sure it is well-written. With all these achievements and previous experiences, an individual would be right to believe that you would need tons of pages to be able to cover all of them. Include your wonder years only as long as youre having trouble filling that very first page and you require mora material. Theres not anything wrong with a 2 page resume in many instances. If you submit a resume where you havent followed the directions on how best to apply, theres a great chance theyll observe that as a reflection of how youll respond to following directions at work. You also need to make sure you commence each point with a good action word. You shouldnt desire a 3-line bullet point. In truth, its better to leave your reader with a couple questions theyd love to ask you. Many struggle with the question of the number of pages ought to be in a resume. You must be very detailed about your exper ience in order to trigger more questions for you and boost your odds of getting hired. For me, it is a fun little challenge. What Does Does Resume Have to Be One Page Mean? Page count isnt as crucial as the range of words on the webpage, Bollinger states. Ensure your page header involves the right personenname and number on every page of your resume. Determine if you want more than one resume page. If you think a 1 page resume is essential, youre incorrect. Work Experience Try to fit your latest work experience so that it starts on the very first page. If you opt to go with a couple of pages, make certain to include your name and suitable page number at the very top, suggests Ann Baehr of Best Resumes. Resumes dont need to be one page, but it typically helps. Heres What I Know About Does Resume Have to Be One Page If you wish to give employers access to more info about you, supplement your application with an on-line document. Even if the info is relevant, you dont really need to include positions you held upwards of a decade ago. You have to offer relevant, concise details. All the info ought to be highly pertinent to the position that youd like. Whatever They Told You About Does Resume Have to Be One Page Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why Always make certain it reaches the comprehensive length of the initial or the second page. Theres no precise length for a resume, and theres no standard to it. Its simple to master 2-page resume format. You will also need to hope that its set up using the right format. As with other creative resumes, it is not meant for the majority of employers, so you might want to get a traditionally formatted resume on hand to complement it. Furthermore, you might have a lengthy resume or have unique requirements for a work application where youre expected to make an addendum. Experience and familiarity with the tasks is likewise an important component that employers look into before opting to seek the services of some one. If you wish to expand upon your experience and demonstrate your expertise, you may produce an expert addendum. When deciding whether to use an addendum, its important to concentrate on the particular job which youre applying for. If youve got many abilities, the previous skill paragraph may be called Additional Skills. Special Circumstances You wont need to use an addendum all the moment.

The War Against Linkedin Resume

The War Against Linkedin Resume Online Presence Recruiters spend a whole lot of time online searching for candidates. They also use Linkedin to verify the jobs listed in your resume. Resumes continue to be a fairly significant part getting work. Definitions of Linkedin Resume Take a look at the seven important changes youll be able to make to improve your profile. The success and development of firms is a crucial factor concerning the financial development, so to adapt to recent trends on the market, its vital for an organisation to grow. By keeping the aforementioned demand in view, a lot of inexpensive resumes andonline resume writing services are offered for the ease of candidates, but its not easy for all of the jobless candidates to bear the excessive professional resume writing rates. For opportunities, please get in nichts von with me at The important thing here is clarity. Understanding Linkedin Resume Nevertheless, in regards to LinkedIn profiles, individuals go the excess mile. Each available section on the LinkedIn platform the moment it applies to your background and experience. Find Yourself Before searching for the appropriate job, you should define what right means for you. LinkedIn has altered the way professionals from other sectors connect. You simply may not be sure how to discover remote freelance customers or reach out to them. Networking doesnt concern only business, an individual can even network to learn more people and that is precisely where the basis of fostering relationships arrive in. So, besides checking the search results, its required to look at the feedback of earlier clients. The Chronicles of Linkedin Resume Today, LinkedIn is really the most important social network for creating a brand clear. Networking makes it possible to interact with people from several business backgrounds. It is the easiest way to foster healthy corporate relationships. You dont require a massive network on LinkedIn to get wha t you desire. If youre applying for jobs, or want to know more about exploring a new career path, LinkedIn enables you to find the profiles of professionals within the field or company youre interested in. Therefore, youve resolved to move forward and quit your job. Bear in mind it is possible to get carried away and make your LinkedIn resume too long to work, so make an effort not to get too wordy. LinkedIn is now an unequalled digital marketplace for local and worldwide talent. LinkedIn is something similar. With the debut of creative bots, LinkedIn could grow to be as superior as OkCupid.

4 Ways College Grads Can Make a Lasting Impression on Employers

4 Ways College Grads Can Make a Lasting Impression on Employers4 Ways College Grads Can Make a Lasting Impression on EmployersIf you recently graduated, youre probably aware that youre going to have to do something different to stand out from all the other job candidates youll compete against. What you lack in experience youll have to make up for in innovation.Prezi is a presentation tool that has changed the way we view and create presentations. Peter Arvai, CEO and co-founder, offers the following tips for how new grads may use Prezi to get the attention of hiring managers1. Seek an alternative to the traditional rsum. Job seekers and human resources managers alike are over-saturated with the standard Microsoft aber ja template rsum. With more easy-to-use tech and design tools accessible to professionals, were starting to see more interesting alternatives to the paper rsum.Prezi, which was originally adopted by people sick of PowerPoint presentations, is now adopted by job seekers using it to create prezums. Part presentation, part social profile, these visual and interactive rsums are getting the attention of employers.When Michael Dwyer was invited for an interview for a teaching position at Arcadia University, a small private university located outside Philadelphia, he used Prezi to present his job history. Now, hes the assistant prof of media and communications at the school.Prezi can be used for more than just rsums After Nicole Plati had an interview with the public relations firm Borders + Gratehouse, she used the site to send a thank-you note and reiterate her interest in the company. The note helped her receive an offer with the firm. 2. Dont just tell your job history. Weve been trained to focus on where weve worked and what weve done in our rsums and LinkedIn profiles, but another way to stand out is to tell your unique story. Who you are is as important to employers as what youve done, especially if you have little job experience. After all, if yo ure hired, youll need to mesh with the company culture.The prezums, as well as tools like About.me, provide you the opportunity to share more of your personality than you could with a standard rsum. Charity Temple is a multimedia producer and freelancer designer. In addition to providing all the expected info about her job history in her prezum, Temple also included a few images and details about what she does in her spare time. Making paper models and traveling might not relate to the job she wants, but it gives employers a better sense of her personality, making her more affable and appealing as a job candidate.3. Be active on Twitter. If youve used Twitter for fun, now is the time to take a more professional approach. Arvai says A professional and well-rounded social media presence gives potential employers greater insights into your personality and interests outside of the workplace.Find companies you admire or would love to work for, and follow and retweet what theyre sharing o n Twitter. Also follow companies in your industry so that you stay well-informed on your field. Be aware of what youre posting, and keep it professional. Dont post anything you wouldnt want a potential employer to see.4. Get Linked. You have a LinkedIn profile to show off your professional experience, but you can also use it to subscribe to company updates for the employers for which youre interested in working. This can keep you informed on whats happening at the company and allows you to show that youre on top of the companys news when you go in for an interview.You can also connect with people who work at those companies to build your network. Dont make a blatant plea for a job, but as you build the relationship, you can let them know youd love to work for their company, and ask if they have advice on getting hired.Lindsay Olson is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs.com, a niche job board for public relations, communications, and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.

Operations Jobs Pick Up Steam

Operations Jobs Pick Up SteamOperations Jobs Pick Up SteamOperations take a big hit in recessions but those skilled in teaching other operations managers how to work more efficiently will find big opportunities.In fruchtwein professions, when people realize the light at the end of the tunnel is a train, the normal response is, Uh-oh.In operations management, its more like, The shipments here so we can finally get to work.The tunnels elend getting lighter yet, but some in the operations market are starting to feel rumbling on the tracks.Were starting to see signs of a turnaround, said Jeff Chaponick, president of MAC Executive Recruiters Inc., a Texas executive-search company with a focus on efficiency experts in supply-chain, logistics and distribution functions. The business-development folks in my organization spend all day on the phone with potential clients and, for a long time, the answer was usually, We dont have any jobs to fill or, Call back in six months. Now were either get ting the work or theyre saying, Call back in two weeks. Thats not an indication that the economy as a whole is recovering Chaponick said - or even the overall market for operations specialists. MACs specialty is placing operations managers certified in Six Sigma - a complex discipline whose goal is to identify errors in production that lead to defects in a product or an inefficient process that wastes time and resources.lila drink Production (or Lean Six Sigma ) can be applied to any business process, not just manufacturing or distribution, said Tim Noble, managing principal of The Avery Point Group Inc., a search firm in Alpharetta, Ga., that also specializes in efficiency expertise. Applied correctly, working lean can improve efficiency and reduce costs so dramatically that the processes themselves become even more attractive to companies that understand how to benefit from them, he said.In a lean economy, lean production becomes a necessity, and the expertise remains highly pri zed. Lean-Production and Six-Sigma jobs have proven more immune to layoffs and declines in hiring than operations jobs outside the specialty, Noble said.That said, we still see a lot of companies that arent fully committed to Lean or Six Sigma laying off their continuous-improvement staffs, Noble said. And there are obviously a lot of losses among operations staffs in general. But for people with Lean and Six-Sigma skills, things are a lot healthier than in the broader job market. What these folks are about is taking out costs, improving businesses, improving services - all the things a company should be doing during tough times.Bright spots in opsIn general, operations employment has suffered. The industries most reliant on operations professionals are shedding jobs faster than the national average. Between March 2008 and March 2009, manufacturing jobs declined 9.2 percent, durable-goods jobs dropped 11.29 percent, and automotive-parts and assembly jobs fell 24 percent, according to the Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.There has been a pretty heavy hit in supply chain, manufacturing, engineering - either in layoffs or pay cuts - whatever it takes to cut their direct labor costs, Noble said. Especially in places like automotive, where Chrysler, Ford and GM sit their volume is down 30 or 40 percent. That cascades right through the supply chain, and theres nothing you can do. There are a lot of A players out there who are out of a job.But other operations sectors have fared better in the recession primarily those involved with moving things from one place to another. Transportation and warehousing jobs actually rose 8.9 percent while employment in the trade, transportation and utilities sector is down 3.14 percent, and wholesale trade is down 3.9 percent in the same period, according to BLS data.C playersThe decline in available positions resulted in a backlog of candidates for recruiters and hiring managers to sort through, something Noble and Chaponick referred to as the C players problem.Employers are definitely leveraging the economy to save on their payrolls, Chaponick said. Theyve taken advantage of cost cutting to drop second- or third-tier performers from their roster. The result is a lot of C players looking for the same jobs as A and B players, he said.That makes getting hired a tougher prospect for anyone whos out of a job, Noble said. Recruiters are having to spend a lot of time figuring out if candidates are A listers out on the street through no fault of their own, or C listers who might be competent enough, but dont have the chops to make it in a market where employers have such a wide selection of candidates.The hiring cycle is much longer now, Chaponick said A hiring decision that might have been made in seven days a year ago is taking three and sometimes four weeks now.In operations, job descriptions and lists of requirements have not gotten longer or more onerous, Noble said. By contrast, in sa les, marketing, IT and other functional areas, recruiters complain that employers use long lists of skills to filter the mass of candidates down to a few that match specific requirements.In operations, hiring managers seem to be enforcing much more consistently the requirements they already had and pressuring recruiters to vet a candidates qualifications more thoroughly before theyll schedule an interview, according to Noble, who said he hasnt seen any clear signs of an economic turnaround.A lot of companies are in wait-and-see mode, and theyre all being much more selective because theres the perception that they can be, Noble said. They want to make sure that if they bring a person on board, its someone who can contribute right away and is accretive, additive to their situation.That abundant supply has also driven down salaries about 10 percent, even for those with Six Sigma and other special skill sets, Chaponick said. And it has reduced or eliminated benefits like relocation expe nses and help selling a house.Two years ago, companies might have a program to help a good candidate sell their house, and if they didnt, to buy it from them as part of a relocation package, Chaponick said. Thats completely gone no ones doing it. We deal in a higher salary range, so our clients generally keep their houses and rent them out until the economy turns around, but theyre not getting much help from employers.But there are signs of overall recovery for operations managers, Chaponick said. His business remains below what it was a year ago, and he doesnt see a dramatic turnaround, but his clients are calling, he said. Theyre booking his company to vet operations specialists for a host of new positions.Our revenue for April will probably be about the same as for last month, which is somewhere between 10 percent and 15 percent down from last year, he said. But were definitely seeing an uptick in response and things are starting to move a little faster. If (job openings) were tr acking come down from 90 days to 75 days (to hire a candidate and finish the contract) that will be a really big deal.

Use Your Parents as a Resource When Job Hunting -The Muse

Use Your Parents as a Resource When Job Hunting -The Muse Use Your Parents as a Resource When Job Hunting Anyone who has built a career knows that finding your first job is a real challenge. There’s no class in college called, “How to Find a Job That Will Make You Happy,” and many stumble to carve out their own paths in those first couple of years. When you’re on the verge of graduating, it’s tempting to get buried under online applications and advice from career counselors, all the while forgetting there's one untapped resource right at our fingertips. Remember those people who raised you? Your parents are a great resource for the job search process, serving as consultants who help you hone in on your strengths, tap into a wider network, prepare for an interview, and evaluate an offer. But don't just take our word for it, we spoke with Campus Recruiters at Philips, Brett Romary and Rebecca Abrahams, about how to leverage your parents' wisdom to make that big jump into your first job a great one: Get Their Feedback Your parents, it turns out, know you better than almost anyone. They’re a great resource to help you understand your strengths and passions. And luckily, parents are always there (remember when you couldn’t get away from them fast enough?). They can help with the job search process from the very beginning- from figuring out what cities you want to live in, to what kind of role you want to pursue. As you consider the route you want to take- and the opportunities that arise from there- parents are a great sounding board to help you process this big life change. Rebecca says, “Young professionals and their parents would benefit from having a good conversation about each opportunity. Is this something that’s aligned with what you did in college and your interests?” You can be a bit more vulnerable (hopefully) with your parents than with your career counselor, which will help you to honestly examine how you feel about a certain opportunity. That said, make room for your own instincts, too. Sometimes, parents want to sway you in a certain direction; building awareness around that will help you strike a balance between benefiting from their support and making independent decisions. Tap Into Their Network Parents have networks, even if they’re informal. These communities may be the key to making inroads into your first job, and they’re worth tapping into. “Making professional introductions is huge,” says Brett. “Parents probably have connections somewhere, whether they work in this field or not. They can really help candidates learn more; the possibilities of these connections are endless.” Don’t dismiss your parents’ network just because they don’t work in a field related to your interests. Although it’s hard to believe, your parents are social beings. Maybe a neighbor, PTA member, or friend of your dad’s has your dream job. So, ask your parents to mention to their friends (and acquaintances) that you’re looking for a role- you never know what will come of it. As Brett notes, “These communities often serve as the bridge between students who are just graduating and a job.” And, your parents’ network is one of the easiest ways to get your hat into the ring- you know your parents are dying to brag about your qualifications! Ask for Professional Prep Many parents have worked in a professional setting for years, if not decades, so they have a wealth of information about how to navigate a new job. Talk to your parents about the most important career lessons they’ve learned along the way. “Parents can really help their children develop business acumen within the field,” Brett says. In no situation is this truer than in the interview process. “Young professionals are really nervous because they’ve never interviewed before,” says Brett. “We tell them to practice; if their parents can help prep them at all, it’s a huge plus.” Set aside time to do a few mock interviews with mom or dad. This kind of exercise will make it easier to get comfortable when you’re in front of a hiring manager, and ask your parents to give you helpful tips to improve your pitch. Evaluate Compensation When you’re evaluating a compensation package, it’s difficult to know where to even begin. You probably don’t know the difference between HMO and PPO insurance plans or have a clear sense of expectations for vacation days. Online research can be really helpful, but if your parents have experience negotiating compensation packages, they could be your best resource. Rebecca says, “It can become really overwhelming to assess your first package because you’re not sure what’s the norm. That’s why we encourage students to talk to their parents.” Beyond helping you assess the package itself, they can give you insight into whether the compensation is something you could really live on. Work with your parents to create a budget around your potential salary to make sure you can cover daily expenses, have savings, and plan for retirement. As a young professional, you’re in the driver's seat. But use the knowledge and experience of your parents, and give yourself a boost when you need one most. We bet your parents are going to give you unsolicited advice anyway, so why not solicit the advice you really need- that extra support from your parents could help you launch your career.

How to Be a Great Candidate Even If Youre Under-Qualified for the Job

How to Be a Great Candidate Even If You're Under-Qualified for the Job How to Be a Great Candidate Even If You're Under-Qualified for the Job How to Be a Great Candidate Even If You're Under-Qualified for the Job Think a position is out of reach? Not so fast. Have you ever found a position description that looked fantastic except that the experience it required was a little out of your reach? There are many reasons why that perfect match position is sometimes tricky to find. Whether you're searching for an opening that represents a promotion, changing industries, or trying something new, sometimes your skills and past experience do not quite meet the opportunity's stated requirements.But don't let yourself give up. Applying for a job with no experience or not quite the experience on the job description is okay! From someone who has been in this situation (and has seen countless professionals do the same), I have good news. The lack of a perfect match is not necessarily a verdict. This may sound counter-intuitive, but not all listed job requirements are 100 percent required. To be more precise, any job description is a mix of must-haves and nice-to-have qualifications. That makes your position as a candidate a little more challenging, but also gives you more options to explore. So, let's say you came across a job opening that has you really excited, even though it does represent a bit of a stretch in terms of experiences and skills. What do you do? To apply or not to apply? Your first order of business is to decide whether you want to throw your hat in the ring. Consider the position carefully, and ask yourself how close of a match you have between the requirements and your experience. Are you applying for a job with no experience? Or do you have some of the skills necessary? Your chances are better if the position is just a little out of your reach on paper. If you notice a significant skill and experience gap, making your case will be more difficult. Let's say you have one year of relevant experience. A position that requires three to five years of experience may not be completely out of your reach. However, getting interviews for an opening that calls for 10+ years of experience will be tougher. Similarly, if a position requires a Master's degree and all you have is a Bachelor's, you may not be out of the running yet. In some cases, your experience or professional certifications might make up for the lack of an MBA. On the other hand, hiring managers that are looking for a candidate with a Ph.D. may not give someone with a Bachelor's a second look. As you measure the gap between the position description and your resume, consider whether you have what it takes to do the job well. If you feel that you would be out of your depth in a way that could compromise your career, the timing may not be right. However, if you know you can be effective in the role, it may be time to move into strategic preparation. Pre-interview strategy. Your pre-interview strategy can be summarized in one short phrase: do more homework than all other candidates. Here are three preparation steps to consider, with a fourth one for extra credit. Step 1: Understand what you're stepping into. In order to get an offer, you must understand this position as well as someone who has been in it. This is particularly important if you are a bit underqualified. You will need to do a lot of research, which can include industry magazines and blogs, as well as informational interviews with professionals who can offer advice and share insights. Reach out to your professional network. You can also use LinkedIn to make new connections and ask for introductions if needed. During the informational interviews, focus on the biggest challenges of the position. What does it take to be effective? Ask for advice, insider tips and interview questions to anticipate. Your goal is to gather the information that will impress the hiring manager and convince him or her that you have what it takes to succeed, even if your resume does not directly back that up. Step 2: Dig deep. As you remap your resume and work on your cover letter, go beyond your obvious job duties and accomplishments. Your first area of focus is transferrable skills. From project management to working with difficult personalities, think about your overall talent build and experience, and package it all in a way that highlights your qualifications. I also encourage you to think of the unique perspectives you would bring to the position. Sometimes you don't have the necessary experience for a reason that actually makes you a great candidate! Having worked in a different industry or country means that you have experienced a range of tools, approaches, and techniques that are broader than those of a candidate who chose to homestead within the traditional career path. As a result, you have the potential to enhance the department and bring a fresh perspective. Step 3: Get really good recommendations. With the core experience just shy of the mark, you will need strong recommendations to bridge the gap. Be strategic about who you ask a letter from a manager carries more weight than one from a co-worker. You want to select the person who is in a position to write a strong recommendation, complete with examples and a powerful endorsement. I recommend taking the time to speak with the recommendation-writer over the phone or in person, so that you can share an overview of the position and mention specific skills that make you a great candidate. Your tips and ideas will make writing the recommendation easier. Step 4 (extra-credit): Complete a pre-interview project. I know that this step is ambitious and time-consuming. However, when done right, it has the potential to elevate your candidacy and get the hiring manager to look beyond the missing qualification (or three). The idea is to prove to the company that you understand the challenges of the position and can solve them. Depending on your target company, the pre-interview project could involve performing a product positioning assessment, building a website, or conducting interviews and proposing improvements to anything from packaging to software user experience. Your creativity, understanding of the industry and genuine interest in the company can boost your credibility and make you stand out among the applicants. Interview strategy. Congratulations your hard work has paid off! The hiring manager is intrigued enough to offer you a chance to interview for a stretch position. Now is your chance to show him or her that you have more than just the potential to do the job well. Strategy 1: Ask really good questions. If your goal is to set yourself apart from other candidates, you must do some extra preparation to ensure you're asking great questions during the interview. How do you ask great questions? Imagine that you already have the job, and are in conversation with your manager about the challenges ahead and the strategies to overcome them. This is where your prep work, particularly the informational interviews, has the potential to set you apart. Be sure your questions are open-ended and genuinely thought-provoking. Strategy 2: Connect with the hiring manager. Creating a strong personal connection with the hiring manager is a powerful way to elevate your interview. Working together isn't all about technical qualifications! If you are able to demonstrate that you are a loyal team player and a dedicated professional who is committed to doing the right thing, the hiring manager will be more likely to take the leap of faith. Strategy 3: Tell the truth. In everything from your resume to your interview, be honest about your skillset and experience. However, that does not mean that you should resign yourself to starting your sentences with I know I am not qualified Tell the truth, but do it in a way that is positive. Instead of saying I understand that I don't have any experience in the healthcare industry, open with My experience in the professional services industry has taught me Remember: your experience is highly valuable, even if it is not an exact natural match for the job description. In closing, I encourage you to use your networking muscles for every job opportunity, and particularly those that are just outside your reach. An introduction and an endorsement by a company insider is a powerful way to skip the experience match-up exercise and get you in the door. However, even if you don't have an insider introduction, stretch positions are often worth applying for. At the very minimum they give you an opportunity to learn more about the industry, meet new people, and test your readiness for the next level in your career. If you get the job, it will be a fantastic growth opportunity. So, be strategic, prepare well, and go for it! Want to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our free critique today! Related Articles:

10 warning signs a job offer is too good to be true, according to experts

10 warning signs a job offer is too good to be true, according to experts 10 warning signs a job offer is too good to be true, according to experts After months of researching, applying, and interviewing, nothing is more relieving than finally getting that dream job offer. Even though you’re fresh out of college with minimal job experience, they’re promising you a six-figure salary, the ability to work from home once a week, and free trips to Mexico should you meet your goals.Although you’ve been doing all of the reaching out, the company seems really interested in bringing you on, despite not yet having an in-person interview. Out of eagerness, you’re ready to sign the offer letter. They haven’t sent you one, but that’s okay, you can just give them your social security number and bank statements over the phone.Sound like a plan? No! If you find yourself in a similar situation, know that there are many red flags in this particularly dire example of a hiring process that should steer you clear of accepting the job.It’s important to be mindful of vagueness, verbal agreements, an eagerness to hire, and personal data r equests early on, as these could indicate that the company is fraudulent, has a toxic environment, or otherwise may not be what it seems.Here, two career experts walk through 10 potential warning signs that your dream job offer is too good to be true, and that you should avoid the opportunity at all costs:1. The salary offer is too highAn unreasonably high salary is a common sign that the job may not be what it seems, according to career expert Eileen Sharaga.“This could be a sign that nobody wants the job because the conditions are toxic,” she says. “They could be desperate to hire and will need you to solve an immediate problem.”2. They make verbal promises“Steer clear of companies that make verbal promises to you but won’t put them in writing,” Sharaga said. “This almost always translates to unfulfillment.”Plus, there’s no physical evidence of the verbal commitment, so the company can’t be held responsible for not following through.3. The details are vague†œIf they don’t have the answers to your questions, this could be a red flag,” Sharaga said.These questions may include details about your job responsibilities, the company’s work environment, when you would start, or where the company’s headed in 10 years.According to Sharaga, vagueness signifies disorganization and instability.4. They’re overly eager to hire“A company that seems eager to hire you will want an answer right away and want you to start immediately,” Sharaga said. “This can be a sign that they’re desperate and haven’t done their due diligence to find the right fit.”A company that’s hiring for the right reasons will interview multiple candidates and will issue an offer to the person they want to bring on, according to Debra Wheatman, C.P.R.W. and certified careers coach at Careers Done Write. Then, they’ll allow you to take the time to think about your next steps instead of making you decide immediately.5. There’s no formal interviewFormal, fa ce-to-face interviews allow you to get a sense of your company’s intentions and work environment.“I had a client who got a job offer from a France-based company making, for what the job was, an incredibly high amount of money,” Wheatman said. “The company claimed to be expanding their business to the US, so my client did not have an in-person interview. They spoke over the phone and requested her personal information and social security number in order to move forward with the hiring process. This was an instance of attempted fraud. You’ll always want to avoid accepting an offer without an in-person interview.”6. You’re doing all of the follow-upAccording to Wheatman, if you’re doing all of the follow-up with the company - calling them first and constantly checking in for updates - usually there’s a problem. “This could signify that the company is disorganized and may not have much respect for their employees,” she said.7. There’s a high employee-turnover r ate“Companies could have high turnover rates for many reasons, such as they may hire entry-level employees that move on, they hire minimum-wage employees, or other companies are offering more money for the same job,” Sharaga said. “If a company has a high turnover rate due to poor management or a toxic work environment, that’s a reason to consider an alternative company.”8. They want your personal data upfront“If they’re requesting your social security information and bank statements early on in the hiring process with no offer, this could be a sign that the company is fraudulent,” Wheatman said. “This kind of personal data is highly confidential and sensitive. If someone gets your social security number, you could be dealing with the consequences for the rest of your life.”9. You have to pay-to-play“If they’re asking you for money to start the job, this immediately raises concern,” Wheatman said. According to Wheatman, they may tell you to front X amount o f dollars to be able to set up the business, and then you’ll start making a big salary. “You shouldn’t be providing any money in the hiring process,” she added.10. Your intuition tells you to be careful“You’ll know when something isn’t quite right intuitively,” Wheatman said. “If you feel that way during the hiring process, nine times out of 10 you’re correct and should seek job opportunities elsewhere.”This article first appeared on Business Insider.

Finding Work through the Job Bank of Canada

Finding Work through the Job Bank of Canada Finding Work through the Job Bank of Canada HRDC Job Bank (also known as Job Bank or HRDC) connects job seekers to Canadian job openings. As of January 2019, the site contains over 70,000 job listings. In addition to searching for available jobs, users can upload and manage their resume, create email job alerts, and match their profile to employer job postings. You can also get information on job market trends around the country and across industry sectors. HRDC Job Bank Overview Job Trend Information This section offers employment statistics in Canada to help job seekers understand where the opportunities (short, medium and long-term) might be in a local community and around the country. For instance, the 2015 Job Vacancy and Wage Survey found that there were 401,000 job openings in Canada in the third quarter of that year and the job vacancy rate was 2.6 percent. You can also read results on job vacancies by occupation, hourly wage, full- and part-time status and by type of position. Surveys are available for Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon. HRDC Job Bank My Job Seeker Account Register online to use HRDC tools like Job Alert, Job Match, and Resume Builder. HRDC Resume Builder Registered users can create a resume online and use it to apply online for federal jobs or to apply directly to employers using the contact information in the job posting. HRDC Job Alert Registered users can sign up to receive new job postings twice a day via email. HDRC Job Search Options Use the job search to search for jobs by industry, keyword, job title, location, and more categories. Application instructions are listed in each job posting. Skills and Knowledge Job Search This unique section offers users the ability to search not by occupation but rather by particular abilities. For instance, the Skills section has categories covering Handling Goods and Materials; Building; Operating and Repairing Equipment; Machinery and Vehicles; Working with Technological Equipment and Machinery; Service and Care; Communication; Creative Expression; Information Handling; Analysis and Management. Within those areas you can check off skills such as Mechanical Installing, Maintaining and Repairing; Debugging and Reprogramming Technical Systems; Operating Stationary Industrial Equipment; Counseling and Nurturing; Teaching and Training; and Recruiting and Hiring. The Knowledge section covers Manufacturing and Production; Communications and Transportation; Law and Public Safety; Social Sciences and Arts; Education and Training; Mathematics and Science; Engineering and Technology; and Business, Finance and Management. Job Match Job Match allows registered users to create and manage job profiles that can be advertised to employers using the Job Bank and/or matched against existing job advertisements in the Job Bank. HRDC Training and Careers Training and Careers offers career exploration, training and learning options, plus worker rights resources for Canadian workers and job seekers. Services for Employers Employers can post jobs in Canadas Job Bank. They can also access information on the Job Bank about hiring and managing employees, as well as information on other services provided by the Government of Canada

Your work spouse should probably make your real spouse jealous

Your work spouse should probably make your real spouse jealous Your work spouse should probably make your real spouse jealous We’ve all been there. You’re deep in the trenches at work and just need a shoulder to cry on to make it through the day. So you confide in someone at work - rather than bringing it home to your actual romantic partner or spouse - and suddenly, you feel better. You feel heard. You get sympathy and good advice. It’s a beautiful friendship. Your confidant is your work spouse.This is the person who you turn to in times of anxiety, the person who gets coffee with you, the person who tells you when you have spinach in your teeth. Together, you swap advice, alleviate stress, and may even help each other get ahead, all while building trust for eight or more hours a day. In some cases, that may be more of your waking hours than you’re spending with family or friends - which new research shows can spell trouble.A new, informal survey shows that more white-collar workers than ever before are relying on co-workers for emotional support during the workday - perhaps not surprising, con sidering Americans work longer hours than anyone in the industrialized world and take less vacation.Around 70% of business professionals said they currently have a work spouse now or have in the past, according to a recent Office Pulse survey by digital media company Captivate. That’s a big jump from compared to 65% in 2010 and 32% in 2006, the company said.The scope of the intimate information we share at work also seems to be expanding. While 81% of respondents said they talk about work with their work spouses, and 41% of people said they never see a work spouse outside the office, there is the potential for things to get intense. Some conversations reportedly strayed to more touchy subjects like problems with spouses, money problems, and airing dirty laundry usually left at home.Source: CaptivateThe age gapThere’s a significant age difference in how people see work spouses, too.Millennials reported being happier at the office because of a work spouse, with 73% of them saying so. Only 52% of baby boomers said a work spouse improved their lives at the office.But with work remaining central to our identity development and people wanting to enjoy their careers, sharing more and more with a “work spouse” over the course of a 40-hour work week may pose a threat to one’s actual marriage, since much of who we believe we are at our core is often related to the work we do.The gender of work spouses seemed to matter quite a bit and seems to mimic heterosexual romantic relationships, according to Captivate, which found that 94% of men report they’ve had a female work spouse, and 77% of women have had a male work spouse.Crossing the lineThis can create an element of danger back home. Although it’s possible to have a work spouse of the same gender, people can create “emotional infidelity” by sharing more intimate feelings with someone of the opposite gender at work than they did with partners at home, psychotherapist M. Gary Neuman told Business Insider .That threat of infidelity seems to be small, but still too big to be dismissed. Around 7% of the professionals surveyed by Captivate said they “crossed the line” with a work spouse, although it wasn’t clear what exactly that meant. Another 7% of male professionals said their actual life partner was jealous of their work spouse, as opposed to 2% of female ones, and 11% of men and 5% of women keeping their work spouse a secret.And there may be good reason: These increasingly close relationships at work are so full of trust that they can outlast most marriages. Around 47% of business professionals say they’ve never lost a work spouse - which is more people than stay married in some generations in the US.

Why the worlds best soccer player isnt playing at the Womens World Cup

Why the world's best soccer player isn't playing at the Women's World Cup Why the world's best soccer player isn't playing at the Women's World Cup Ada Hegerberg is probably the world’s best women’s soccer player. The 23-year-old Norwegian stars for Lyon, one of the world’s top club teams, where she dominated throughout Europe (four Champions League titles) and dismantled opponents nearly singlehandedly with 130 goals in just over 100 matches across five years.Hegerberg could’ve shined at this month’s Women’s World Cup in France, but she isn’t there. She spurned Norway who qualified and quickly made an impressive stamp in the week’s first action after beating Nigeria 3-0 in their opening match of the tournament. But she’s sitting out this summer’s games for a bigger reason.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!The fight against inequalityHer exact reasons for sitting out of the World Cup remain unclear, but she’s been protesting the inequalities in women’s soccer. It started when she began protesting the Norwegian national team two years ago because she felt there wasn’t the same support for the women’s team as there was for the men’s. Beyond pay, Hegerberg was concerned with playing conditions, coaching, treatment, and other things.Since her protest started in 2017, she has not played an international match for Norway. The Norwegian soccer federation did reach an equal pay agreement for both genders in 2017, but that didn’t address all the problems Hegerberg wants to see fixed.“It’s the amount of respect and the fact that we’re equal in terms of conditions, the pitches we have, eating in the same canteen and really taking a part in the club together with the men’s team,” Hegerberg told ESPN before the World Cup. “People stay here a long time because they love it, they actually have a comfortable life here, and they can live from football and compete at the highest level.”A similar battle is taking place in America after the US women’s national team filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation seeking equal treatment and pay. The women’s players claim there’s “institutionalized gender discrimination” compared to the men’s national team, which has never won a World Cup compared to the women’s’ three championships.Hegerberg, who won the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018 in a cringe-worthy ceremony that included a question about twerking, admitted her absence from Norway’s national team was because she didn’t have her heart fully invested into the squad, which hurt her performance both for her club and the national team.“I was trying to make an impact [on Norway] for a lot of years, and I could see that in this system, in the federation, it didn’t fit me at all,” she said. “I feel like I was placed in a system where I didn’t have a voice. I felt this weight on my shoulders more and more: This isn’t working,“When you’re quite sure about yourself and the values and wher e you want to go, it’s easy to make difficult choices. For me at that point, being able not to lose myself and not to lose what I believe in, I had to take that choice. I couldn’t go any other way. And as soon as I did it, it was like [exhales], I could be myself again. I could perform on the highest level again.”You might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people

3 Ways Building Trust Will Get You Hired

3 Ways Building Trust Will Get You Hired 3 Ways Building Trust Will Get You Hired As heard in a recent job-search workshop:Participant: “Just get me an interview, and I’ll get the job.”Leader: “OK. How are you sure that one will lead to the other?”Participant: “I’ll show my enthusiasm and just tell them how great I would be for this job!” Leader: “And they will believe you … why?”Participant: “What do you mean by that? I have a right to be trusted!” Not so much! Your reputation for being the go-to person and the faith that people have had in you up until now don’t automatically transfer to new people in new companies. Unfortunately, you have to go back to square one and build your reputation from the ground up once again. Arthur Ashe, the great tennis player, put it this way: “Trust has to be earned and should come only after the passage of time.” It might be that you are a perfect fit for that ideal job you are pursuing. Even so, it is necessary to build confidence in your abilities at every stage of the hiring process in order to seal the deal. Ultimately, every offer of employment should be seen as a hiring manager’s statement of trust: “I believe you can do this job better than anyone else I can hire, and therefore I want you on my team!” A leader in one federal agency recently confided that it frequently takes his department a full year to complete all the reference and background checks necessary for a candidate to earn the trust necessary to be hired. Of course, in most other areas, the process is not nearly so long, but it still takes time to complete. Think about ways in which your cover letter,  résumé and  interviews all play into that larger trust-building objective. 1. Credibility. You need to demonstrate why you should be taken seriously. Does your writing present a clear message that conveys your value? Do you present yourself as a true professional? Do your claims pass the “this stands to reason” test? Do you claim expertise, or do you build the case to show you have it?Are you boisterous in your assertions, or do you back them up with facts?Are the promises you make for the work you can produce realistic?Can you show the credentials necessary to claim expertise in your field? 2. Integrity. It’s unlikely that anyone will ask outright for you to prove your professional integrity. And no one is likely to say in an interview: “I cheated my way to where I am.” Yet, many skilled interviewers have the ability to give candidates enough rope to hang themselves.Are you honest enough to admit your flaws when asked for your areas of weakness and show how you turn them into strengths?Are you willing to shoulder your share of responsibility when talking about something that didn’t turn out the right way?What do you say about the boss you hate or the co-workers who fail to live up to your expectations? 3. Reliability. In order to show that you will be reliable in the future, demonstrate how you have been so the past.  CAR (Challenge-Action-Result) statements on a  résumé  can go a long way toward this. Explain what you were mandated to do within what limits, how you went about the task and what you achieved. Who wouldn’t  want to hire a candidate who has a record of being on time and under budget on a regular basis? Show reliability by establishing and meeting realistic expectations. When you tell people what to expect and when to expect it, and then deliver on your promise, you gain a track record of success. It is perfectly fine to talk about an employer’s goals with time frames in an interview. Sometimes they will knowingly set unrealistic expectations in order to determine how much you will bend yourself into a pretzel to say “yes” to everything. You can respond honestly in a situation like this by saying, “I understand and share your objective. However X, Y and Z factors might make a different timeline more achievable and realistic.” And then you can clinch it by saying: “I can promise you my absolute fullest efforts, but don’t want to over-promise on a timeline that I honestly don’t think can be met.” When you think about it, the glue that holds any relationship together is trust. And no one wants to risk hiring someone who hasn’t shown trustworthiness. Frame your stories and messaging to demonstrate this critical personal characteristic, and you’ll be well on the way to building a long-lasting relationship. Happy hunting!  Arnie Fertig, MPA, is passionate about helping his  Jobhuntercoach  clients advance their careers by transforming frantic “I’ll apply to anything” searches into focused hunts for “great fit” opportunities. He brings to each client the extensive knowledge he gained when working in HR staffing and managing his boutique recruiting firm.

New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy

New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy You get all kinds of happiness advice on the internet from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. Don’t trust them.Actually, don’t trust me either. Trust neuroscientists. They study that gray blob in your head all day and have learned a lot about what truly will  make you happy.UCLA neuroscience researcher Alex Korb has some insights that can create an upward spiral of happiness in your life. Here’s what you and I  can learn from the people who really have answers:Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!1) The Most Important Question To Ask When You Feel DownSometimes it doesn’t feel like your brain wants you to be happy. You may feel  guilty or shameful. Why?Believe it or not, guilt and shame  activate the brain’s reward center.Via The Upward Spiral:Despite their differences, pride, shame, and guilt all activate similar neural circuits, including the dorso medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, insula, and the nucleus accumbens. Interestingly, pride is the most powerful of these emotions at triggering activity in these regions - except in the nucleus accumbens, where guilt and shame win out. This explains why it can be so appealing to heap guilt and shame on ourselves - they’re activating the brain’s reward center.And you  worry a lot too. Why? In the short term, worrying makes your brain feel a little better - at least you’re doing something about your problems.Via The Upward Spiral:In fact, worrying can help calm the limbic system by increasing activity in the medial prefrontal cortex  and decreasing activity in the amygdala. That might seem counterintuitive, but it just goes to show that if you’re feeling anxiety, doing something about it - even worrying - is better than doing nothing.But guilt, shame and worry are horrible long-term solutions. So what do neuroscientists say you should do? Ask yourself this question:What am I grateful for?Yeah, gratitude is awesome … but does it really affect your brain at the biological level? Yup.You know what the antidepressant Wellbutrin does? Boosts the neurotransmitter dopamine. So does gratitude.Via The Upward Spiral:The benefits of gratitude start with the dopamine system, because feeling grateful activates the brain stem region that produces dopamine. Additionally, gratitude toward others increases activity in social dopamine circuits, which makes social interactions more enjoyable…Know what Prozac does? Boosts the neurotransmitter serotonin. So does gratitude.Via The Upward Spiral:One powerful effect of gratitude is that it can boost serotonin. Trying to think of things you are grateful for forces you to focus on the positive aspects of your life. This simple act increases serotonin production in the anterior cingulate cortex.I know, sometimes life lands a really mean punch in the gut and it feels like there’s nothing to be  grateful for. Guess what? Doesn’t matter. You don’t have to find anything. It’s the searching  that counts.Via The Upward Spiral:It’s not finding gratitude that matters most; it’s remembering to look in the first place. Remembering to be grateful is a form of emotional intelligence. One study found that it actually affected neuron density in both the ventromedial and lateral prefrontal cortex. These density changes suggest that as emotional intelligence increases, the neurons in these areas become more efficient. With higher emotional intelligence, it simply takes less effort to be grateful.And gratitude doesn’t just make your brain happy - it can also create a positive feedback loop in your relationships. So express that gratitude to the people you care about.(For more on how gratitude can make you happier and more successful, click here.)But what happens when bad feelings completely overtake you? When you’re really in the dumps and don’t even know how to deal with it? There’s an easy ans wer…2) Label Negative FeelingsYou feel awful. Okay, give that awfulness a name. Sad? Anxious? Angry?Boom. It’s that simple. Sound stupid? Your noggin disagrees.Via The Upward Spiral:…in one fMRI study, appropriately titled “Putting Feelings into Words” participants viewed pictures of people with emotional facial expressions. Predictably, each participant’s amygdala activated to the emotions in the picture. But when they were asked to name the emotion, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activated and reduced the emotional amygdala reactivity. In other words, consciously recognizing the emotions reduced their impact.Suppressing emotions doesn’t work and can  backfire on you.Via Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long:Gross found that people who tried to suppress a negative emotional experience failed to do so. While they thought they looked fine outwardly, inwardly their limbic system was just as arous ed as without suppression, and in some cases, even more aroused. Kevin Ochsner, at Columbia, repeated these findings using an fMRI. Trying not to feel something doesn’t work, and in some cases even backfires.But labeling, on the other hand,  makes a big difference.Via Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long:To reduce arousal, you need to use just a few words to describe an emotion, and ideally use symbolic language, which means using indirect metaphors, metrics, and simplifications of your experience. This requires you to activate your prefrontal cortex, which reduces the arousal in the limbic system. Here’s the bottom line: describe an emotion in just a word or two, and it helps reduce the emotion.Ancient methods were way ahead of us on this one.  Meditation  has employed this for centuries. Labeling is a fundamental  tool of  mindfulness.In fact, labeling affects the brain so powerfully it works with other pe ople too.  Labeling emotions is one of the primary tools used by FBI hostage negotiators.(To learn more of the secrets of FBI hostage negotiators, click here.)Okay, hopefully you’re not reading this and labeling your current emotional state as “Bored.” Maybe you’re not feeling awful but you probably have things  going on in your life that are causing you some stress. Here’s a simple way to beat them…3) Make That DecisionEver make a decision and then your brain finally feels at rest? That’s no random occurrence.Brain science  shows that making decisions reduces worry and anxiety - as well as helping you  solve problems.Via The Upward Spiral:Making decisions includes creating intentions and setting goals - all three are part of the same neural circuitry and engage the prefrontal cortex in a positive way, reducing worry and anxiety. Making decisions also helps overcome striatum activity, which usually pulls you toward negative impulses and routines. Finally, making deci sions changes your perception of the world - finding solutions to your problems and calming the limbic system.But deciding can be  hard. I agree.  So what kind of decisions should you make? Neuroscience has an answer…Make a “good enough” decision. Don’t sweat making the absolute 100% best decision. We all know being a perfectionist can be stressful. And brain studies back this up.Trying to be perfect overwhelms your brain with emotions and makes you feel out of control.Via The Upward Spiral:Trying for the best, instead of good enough, brings too much emotional ventromedial prefrontal activity into the decision-making process. In contrast, recognizing that good enough is good enough activates more dorsolateral prefrontal areas, which helps you feel more in control…As Swarthmore professor Barry Schwartz said in my interview with him: “Good enough is almost always good enough.”So when you make a decision, your brain feels you have control. And, as I’ve talked about bef ore, a feeling of control reduces stress. But here’s what’s really fascinating: Deciding also boosts pleasure.Via The Upward Spiral:Actively choosing caused changes in attention circuits and in how the participants felt about the action, and it increased rewarding dopamine activity.Want proof? No problem. Let’s talk about cocaine.You give 2 rats injections of cocaine. Rat A had to pull a lever first. Rat B didn’t have to do anything. Any difference? Yup: rat A gets a bigger boost of dopamine.Via The Upward Spiral:So they both got the same injections of cocaine at the same time, but rat A had to actively press the lever, and rat B didn’t have to do anything. And you guessed it - rat A released more dopamine in its nucleus accumbens.So what’s the lesson here? Next time you buy cocaine… whoops, wrong lesson. Point is, when you make a decision  on a goal and then achieve it, you feel better than when good stuff just happens by chance.And this answers the eternal  mystery of why dragging your butt to the gym can be so hard.If you go because you feel you have to or you should, well, it’s not really a voluntary decision. Your brain doesn’t get the pleasure boost. It just feels stress. And that’s no way to build a good exercise habit.Via The Upward Spiral:Interestingly, if they are forced to exercise, they don’t get the same benefits, because without choice, the exercise itself is a source of stress.So make more decisions. Neuroscience researcher Alex Korb sums it up nicely:We don’t just choose the things we like; we also like the things we choose.(To learn what  neuroscientists say is the best way to use caffeine, click here.)Okay, you’re being grateful, labeling negative emotions and making more decisions. Great. But this is feeling kinda lonely for a happiness prescription. Let’s get some other people in here.What’s something you can do with others that neuroscience says is a path to mucho happiness? And something that’s stupidly si mple so you don’t get lazy and skip it? Brain docs have an answer  for you…4) Touch PeopleNo, not indiscriminately; that can get you in a lot of trouble.But we need to feel love and acceptance from others. When we don’t it’s painful. And I don’t mean “awkward” or “disappointing.” I mean actually  painful.Neuroscientists did a study where people played a ball-tossing video game. The other players tossed the ball to you and you tossed it back to them. Actually, there were no other players; that was all done by the computer program.But the subjects were told the characters were controlled by real people. So what happened when the “other players” stopped playing nice and didn’t share the ball?Subjects’ brains responded the same way as if they experienced physical pain. Rejection doesn’t just hurt like a broken heart; your brain feels  it like a broken leg.Via The Upward Spiral:In fact, as demonstrated in an fMRI experiment, social exclusion activates the same circuitry as physical pain… at one point they stopped sharing, only throwing back and forth to each other, ignoring the participant. This small change was enough to elicit feelings of social exclusion, and it activated the anterior cingulate and insula, just like physical pain would.Relationships are very important to  your brain’s feeling of happiness.  Want to take that to the next level? Touch people.Via The Upward Spiral:One of the primary ways to release oxytocin is through touching. Obviously, it’s not always appropriate to touch most people, but small touches like handshakes and pats on the back are usually okay. For people you’re close with, make more of an effort to touch more often.Touching is incredibly powerful. We just don’t give it enough credit. It makes you more persuasive, increases team performance,  improves your flirting… heck, it even boosts  math skills.Touching someone you love actually reduces pain. In fact, when studies were done on married coup les, the stronger the marriage, the more powerful the effect.Via The Upward Spiral:In addition, holding hands with someone can help comfort you and your brain through painful situations. One fMRI study scanned married women as they were warned that they were about to get a small electric shock. While anticipating the painful shocks, the brain showed a predictable pattern of response in pain and worrying circuits, with activation in the insula, anterior cingulate, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. During a separate scan, the women either held their husbands’ hands or the hand of the experimenter. When a subject held her husband’s hand, the threat of shock had a smaller effect. The brain showed reduced activation in both the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex- that is, less activity in the pain and worrying circuits. In addition, the stronger the marriage, the lower the discomfort-related insula activity.So hug someone today. And do not accept little, quick hugs. No, no, no. Tell them your neuroscientist recommended long hugs.Via The Upward Spiral:A hug, especially a long one, releases a neurotransmitter and hormone oxytocin, which reduces the reactivity of the amygdala.Research shows getting five hugs a day for four weeks increases happiness big time.Don’t have anyone  to hug right now? No? (I’m sorry to hear that. I would give you a hug right now if I could.) But there’s an answer: neuroscience says you should go get a massage.Via The Upward Spiral:The results are fairly clear that massage boosts your serotonin by as much as 30 percent. Massage also decreases stress hormones and raises dopamine levels, which helps you create new good habits…  Massage reduces pain because the oxytocin system activates painkilling endorphins. Massage also improves sleep and reduces fatigue by increasing serotonin and dopamine and decreasing the stress hormone cortisol.So spend time with other people and give some hugs. Sorry, texting is n ot enough.When you put people in a stressful situation and then let them visit loved ones or talk to them on the phone, they felt better. What about when  they just texted? Their bodies responded the same as if they had no support at all.Via The Upward Spiral:…the text-message group had cortisol and oxytocin levels similar to the no-contact group.Author’s note: I totally approve of  texting if you make a hug appointment.(To learn what neuroscience says is the best way to get smarter and happier, click here.)Okay, I don’t want to strain your brain with too much info. Let’s round it up and learn the quickest and easiest way to  start that  upward spiral of neuroscience-inspired happiness…Sum UpHere’s what brain research  says will make you happy: Ask “What am I grateful for?”  No answers? Doesn’t matter. Just searching helps. Label those negative emotions. Give it a name and your brain isn’t so bothered by it. Decide. Go for “good enough” instead of  â€œbest decision ever made on Earth.” Hugs, hugs, hugs.  Don’t text - touch. So what’s  the dead simple way to start that upward spiral of happiness?Just send someone a thank you email. If you feel awkward about it, you can send them this post to  tell them why.This really can start an upward spiral of happiness in your life.  UCLA neuroscience researcher Alex Korb  explains:Everything is interconnected. Gratitude improves sleep. Sleep reduces pain. Reduced pain improves your mood. Improved mood reduces anxiety, which improves focus and planning. Focus and planning help with decision making. Decision making further reduces anxiety and improves enjoyment. Enjoyment gives you more to be grateful for, which keeps that loop of the upward spiral going. Enjoyment also makes it more likely you’ll exercise and be social, which, in turn, will make you happier.So thank you for reading this.And send that thank you email now  to make  you and someone you care about very happy.Join over 285,000 readers.  Get a free weekly update via email  here.This article  originall y appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.You might also enjoy… Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy You get all kinds of happiness advice on the internet from people who don’t know what they’re talking about. Don’t trust them.Actually, don’t trust me either. Trust neuroscientists. They study that gray blob in your head all day and have learned a lot about what truly will  make you happy.UCLA neuroscience researcher Alex Korb has some insights that can create an upward spiral of happiness in your life. Here’s what you and I  can learn from the people who really have answers:Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!1) The Most Important Question To Ask When You Feel DownSometimes it doesn’t feel like your brain wants you to be happy. You may feel  guilty or shameful. Why?Believe it or not, guilt and shame  activate the brain’s reward center.Via The Upward Spiral:Despite their differences, pride, shame, and guilt all activate similar neural circuits, including the dorso medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, insula, and the nucleus accumbens. Interestingly, pride is the most powerful of these emotions at triggering activity in these regions - except in the nucleus accumbens, where guilt and shame win out. This explains why it can be so appealing to heap guilt and shame on ourselves - they’re activating the brain’s reward center.And you  worry a lot too. Why? In the short term, worrying makes your brain feel a little better - at least you’re doing something about your problems.Via The Upward Spiral:In fact, worrying can help calm the limbic system by increasing activity in the medial prefrontal cortex  and decreasing activity in the amygdala. That might seem counterintuitive, but it just goes to show that if you’re feeling anxiety, doing something about it - even worrying - is better than doing nothing.But guilt, shame and worry are horrible long-term solutions. So what do neuroscientists say you should do? Ask yourself this question:What am I grateful for?Yeah, gratitude is awesome… but does it really affect your brain at the biological level? Yup.You know what the antidepressant Wellbutrin does? Boosts the neurotransmitter dopamine. So does gratitude.Via The Upward Spiral:The benefits of gratitude start with the dopamine system, because feeling grateful activates the brain stem region that produces dopamine. Additionally, gratitude toward others increases activity in social dopamine circuits, which makes social interactions more enjoyable…Know what Prozac does? Boosts the neurotransmitter serotonin. So does gratitude.Via The Upward Spiral:One powerful effect of gratitude is that it can boost serotonin. Trying to think of things you are grateful for forces you to focus on the positive aspects of your life. This simple act increases serotonin production in the anterior cingulate cortex.I know, sometimes life lands a really mean punch in the gut and it feels like there’s nothing to be  grateful for. Guess what?D oesn’t matter. You don’t have to find anything. It’s the searching  that counts.Via The Upward Spiral:It’s not finding gratitude that matters most; it’s remembering to look in the first place. Remembering to be grateful is a form of emotional intelligence. One study found that it actually affected neuron density in both the ventromedial and lateral prefrontal cortex. These density changes suggest that as emotional intelligence increases, the neurons in these areas become more efficient. With higher emotional intelligence, it simply takes less effort to be grateful.And gratitude doesn’t just make your brain happy - it can also create a positive feedback loop in your relationships. So express that gratitude to the people you care about.(For more on how gratitude can make you happier and more successful, click here.)But what happens when bad feelings completely overtake you? When you’re really in the dumps and don’t even know how to deal with it? There’s an easy answ er…2) Label Negative FeelingsYou feel awful. Okay, give that awfulness a name. Sad? Anxious? Angry?Boom. It’s that simple. Sound stupid? Your noggin disagrees.Via The Upward Spiral:…in one fMRI study, appropriately titled “Putting Feelings into Words” participants viewed pictures of people with emotional facial expressions. Predictably, each participant’s amygdala activated to the emotions in the picture. But when they were asked to name the emotion, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex activated and reduced the emotional amygdala reactivity. In other words, consciously recognizing the emotions reduced their impact.Suppressing emotions doesn’t work and can  backfire on you.Via Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long:Gross found that people who tried to suppress a negative emotional experience failed to do so. While they thought they looked fine outwardly, inwardly their limbic system was just as arouse d as without suppression, and in some cases, even more aroused. Kevin Ochsner, at Columbia, repeated these findings using an fMRI. Trying not to feel something doesn’t work, and in some cases even backfires.But labeling, on the other hand,  makes a big difference.Via Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long:To reduce arousal, you need to use just a few words to describe an emotion, and ideally use symbolic language, which means using indirect metaphors, metrics, and simplifications of your experience. This requires you to activate your prefrontal cortex, which reduces the arousal in the limbic system. Here’s the bottom line: describe an emotion in just a word or two, and it helps reduce the emotion.Ancient methods were way ahead of us on this one.  Meditation  has employed this for centuries. Labeling is a fundamental  tool of  mindfulness.In fact, labeling affects the brain so powerfully it works with other peo ple too.  Labeling emotions is one of the primary tools used by FBI hostage negotiators.(To learn more of the secrets of FBI hostage negotiators, click here.)Okay, hopefully you’re not reading this and labeling your current emotional state as “Bored.” Maybe you’re not feeling awful but you probably have things  going on in your life that are causing you some stress. Here’s a simple way to beat them…3) Make That DecisionEver make a decision and then your brain finally feels at rest? That’s no random occurrence.Brain science  shows that making decisions reduces worry and anxiety - as well as helping you  solve problems.Via The Upward Spiral:Making decisions includes creating intentions and setting goals - all three are part of the same neural circuitry and engage the prefrontal cortex in a positive way, reducing worry and anxiety. Making decisions also helps overcome striatum activity, which usually pulls you toward negative impulses and routines. Finally, making decis ions changes your perception of the world - finding solutions to your problems and calming the limbic system.But deciding can be  hard. I agree.  So what kind of decisions should you make? Neuroscience has an answer…Make a “good enough” decision. Don’t sweat making the absolute 100% best decision. We all know being a perfectionist can be stressful. And brain studies back this up.Trying to be perfect overwhelms your brain with emotions and makes you feel out of control.Via The Upward Spiral:Trying for the best, instead of good enough, brings too much emotional ventromedial prefrontal activity into the decision-making process. In contrast, recognizing that good enough is good enough activates more dorsolateral prefrontal areas, which helps you feel more in control…As Swarthmore professor Barry Schwartz said in my interview with him: “Good enough is almost always good enough.”So when you make a decision, your brain feels you have control. And, as I’ve talked about befo re, a feeling of control reduces stress. But here’s what’s really fascinating: Deciding also boosts pleasure.Via The Upward Spiral:Actively choosing caused changes in attention circuits and in how the participants felt about the action, and it increased rewarding dopamine activity.Want proof? No problem. Let’s talk about cocaine.You give 2 rats injections of cocaine. Rat A had to pull a lever first. Rat B didn’t have to do anything. Any difference? Yup: rat A gets a bigger boost of dopamine.Via The Upward Spiral:So they both got the same injections of cocaine at the same time, but rat A had to actively press the lever, and rat B didn’t have to do anything. And you guessed it - rat A released more dopamine in its nucleus accumbens.So what’s the lesson here? Next time you buy cocaine… whoops, wrong lesson. Point is, when you make a decision  on a goal and then achieve it, you feel better than when good stuff just happens by chance.And this answers the eternal  mystery o f why dragging your butt to the gym can be so hard.If you go because you feel you have to or you should, well, it’s not really a voluntary decision. Your brain doesn’t get the pleasure boost. It just feels stress. And that’s no way to build a good exercise habit.Via The Upward Spiral:Interestingly, if they are forced to exercise, they don’t get the same benefits, because without choice, the exercise itself is a source of stress.So make more decisions. Neuroscience researcher Alex Korb sums it up nicely:We don’t just choose the things we like; we also like the things we choose.(To learn what  neuroscientists say is the best way to use caffeine, click here.)Okay, you’re being grateful, labeling negative emotions and making more decisions. Great. But this is feeling kinda lonely for a happiness prescription. Let’s get some other people in here.What’s something you can do with others that neuroscience says is a path to mucho happiness? And something that’s stupidly sim ple so you don’t get lazy and skip it? Brain docs have an answer  for you…4) Touch PeopleNo, not indiscriminately; that can get you in a lot of trouble.But we need to feel love and acceptance from others. When we don’t it’s painful. And I don’t mean “awkward” or “disappointing.” I mean actually  painful.Neuroscientists did a study where people played a ball-tossing video game. The other players tossed the ball to you and you tossed it back to them. Actually, there were no other players; that was all done by the computer program.But the subjects were told the characters were controlled by real people. So what happened when the “other players” stopped playing nice and didn’t share the ball?Subjects’ brains responded the same way as if they experienced physical pain. Rejection doesn’t just hurt like a broken heart; your brain feels  it like a broken leg.Via The Upward Spiral:In fact, as demonstrated in an fMRI experiment, social exclusion activates the same circuitry as physical pain… at one point they stopped sharing, only throwing back and forth to each other, ignoring the participant. This small change was enough to elicit feelings of social exclusion, and it activated the anterior cingulate and insula, just like physical pain would.Relationships are very important to  your brain’s feeling of happiness.  Want to take that to the next level? Touch people.Via The Upward Spiral:One of the primary ways to release oxytocin is through touching. Obviously, it’s not always appropriate to touch most people, but small touches like handshakes and pats on the back are usually okay. For people you’re close with, make more of an effort to touch more often.Touching is incredibly powerful. We just don’t give it enough credit. It makes you more persuasive, increases team performance,  improves your flirting… heck, it even boosts  math skills.Touching someone you love actually reduces pain. In fact, when studies were done on married coupl es, the stronger the marriage, the more powerful the effect.Via The Upward Spiral:In addition, holding hands with someone can help comfort you and your brain through painful situations. One fMRI study scanned married women as they were warned that they were about to get a small electric shock. While anticipating the painful shocks, the brain showed a predictable pattern of response in pain and worrying circuits, with activation in the insula, anterior cingulate, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. During a separate scan, the women either held their husbands’ hands or the hand of the experimenter. When a subject held her husband’s hand, the threat of shock had a smaller effect. The brain showed reduced activation in both the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex- that is, less activity in the pain and worrying circuits. In addition, the stronger the marriage, the lower the discomfort-related insula activity.So hug someone today. And do not accept little, q uick hugs. No, no, no. Tell them your neuroscientist recommended long hugs.Via The Upward Spiral:A hug, especially a long one, releases a neurotransmitter and hormone oxytocin, which reduces the reactivity of the amygdala.Research shows getting five hugs a day for four weeks increases happiness big time.Don’t have anyone  to hug right now? No? (I’m sorry to hear that. I would give you a hug right now if I could.) But there’s an answer: neuroscience says you should go get a massage.Via The Upward Spiral:The results are fairly clear that massage boosts your serotonin by as much as 30 percent. Massage also decreases stress hormones and raises dopamine levels, which helps you create new good habits…  Massage reduces pain because the oxytocin system activates painkilling endorphins. Massage also improves sleep and reduces fatigue by increasing serotonin and dopamine and decreasing the stress hormone cortisol.So spend time with other people and give some hugs. Sorry, texting is no t enough.When you put people in a stressful situation and then let them visit loved ones or talk to them on the phone, they felt better. What about when  they just texted? Their bodies responded the same as if they had no support at all.Via The Upward Spiral:…the text-message group had cortisol and oxytocin levels similar to the no-contact group.Author’s note: I totally approve of  texting if you make a hug appointment.(To learn what neuroscience says is the best way to get smarter and happier, click here.)Okay, I don’t want to strain your brain with too much info. Let’s round it up and learn the quickest and easiest way to  start that  upward spiral of neuroscience-inspired happiness…Sum UpHere’s what brain research  says will make you happy: Ask “What am I grateful for?”  No answers? Doesn’t matter. Just searching helps. Label those negative emotions. Give it a name and your brain isn’t so bothered by it. Decide. Go for “good enough” instead of  â€œbest decision ever made on Earth.” Hugs, hugs, hugs.  Don’t text - touch. So what’s  the dead simple way to start that upward spiral of happiness?Just send someone a thank you email. If you feel awkward about it, you can send them this post to  tell them why.This really can start an upward spiral of happiness in your life.  UCLA neuroscience researcher Alex Korb  explains:Everything is interconnected. Gratitude improves sleep. Sleep reduces pain. Reduced pain improves your mood. Improved mood reduces anxiety, which improves focus and planning. Focus and planning help with decision making. Decision making further reduces anxiety and improves enjoyment. Enjoyment gives you more to be grateful for, which keeps that loop of the upward spiral going. Enjoyment also makes it more likely you’ll exercise and be social, which, in turn, will make you happier.So thank you for reading this.And send that thank you email now  to make  you and someone you care about very happy.Join over 285,000 readers.  Get a free weekly update via email  here.This article  originall y appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.You might also enjoy… Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people