The Smallest, Simplest Way to Reduce Stress at the Office

The Smallest, Simplest Way to Reduce Stress at the OfficeThe Smallest, Simplest Way to Reduce Stress at the OfficeForbes has written articles about it, Google trains its employees in it, and countless websites are now spreading the idea of it. So if you havent yet heard about the mindfulness movement, you probably wont be able to avoid it for much longer.Now, Ive seen plenty of workplace initiatives come and go. Typically, I refer to them as flavors of the month, since most are only around as long as the book promoting the program stays on the business bestseller list. But I truly hope that mindfulness in the workplace is different and that it doesnt simply become a buzzword well want to remove from a list of clichd office jargon by the end of 2014.Why? Mindfulness is incredibly valuable in an office environment. Do you ever feel anxiety over things that have already happened, like a bad conversation with your anfhrer or a presentation gone wrong? Do you worry about what might happen in the future, like if there will be a layoff, if your new boss think youre as good as the old boss did, or if youll (finally) get that raise this year? Do you struggle with feelings of not being good enough, worry too much about what others think of you, or wilt under the impact of working with negative people?If you recognize any of these thoughts, mindfulness can help. According to the Mayo Clinic, mindfulness is the act of being intensely aware of what youre sensing and feeling at every moment- without interpretation or judgment. And its been proven to improve quality of life, reduce stress, and eliminate the self-judgmental, jumping to conclusions-type thinking that can drive your anxiety levels up.Of course, this isnt something you can do overnight like many people, youll probably need to practice in order to develop the skills of mindfulness. After all, being intensely aware of your every moment is not exactly a perspective we honor in todays multi-tasking, information-overl oaded workplace.But there are some changes you can make- this week- toincrease your awareness of the present moment. To get you started, here are five incredibly helpful exercises from How to Train a Wild Elephant And Other Lessons in Mindfulness by Jan Chozen Bays, MD.Though they may seem like simple tasks, they can be a great jumping off point tomitigate the worries and distractions that consume your mindat work.1. Use the Opposite Hand When doing ordinary workday tasks, like writing with a pen or dialing the phone, try switching to your non-dominant hand. Because it doesnt have the skills of your dominant one, youre forced to think about what youre doing in the present moment.How it Helps This is a great demonstration of how much we unconsciously move through our lives. We dont have to think twice about using our dominant hand, but using the other makes us slow down and pay attention, as if its a new experience.2. Listen Like a SpongeIf youre having a conversation with a colleagu e or your manager, attend the conversation with no electronic devices. Dont formulate your response while he or she is speaking, and dont even take notes. Just focus completely on what the person is saying.How it Helps To do this kind of listening, you must quiet both your body and your mind. It may be a challenge to wait for your turn to speak, but by listening 100% attentively, you will be better able to take in what the other person is saying.3. Stop and ListenTry eating lunch in the cafeteria by yourself one day. While there, tune into the sounds drifting around you. Dont try to figure out what each sound is, where its coming from, or what you can do to stop it. Just listen to it as if youve never heard it before.How it Helps Intentional listening is another tool to quiet your mind. If your morning has left you frazzled with stress, too many emails, or a huffy customer, a listening practice at lunch will help you rejuvenate.4. Pay Attention to PostureTake notice of your posture during the workday. If youre standing in a slouch, straighten up. If youre hunched over in your desk chair, bring your shoulders back and take a few deep breaths.How it Helps Bays says that posture and focus are directly connected. When you feel drowsy and begin losing focus, your posture often deteriorates as well. By improving posture, youll increase your focus and pull yourself into the present.5. BreatheBefore you answer your phone, breathe. As soon as the ringing starts, pause and take three breaths. This will help settle your mind before answering the phone, which will help you go into that phone conversation fully focused and 100% present.How it Helps This exercise brings you into a state of stillness of mind and body, redirecting your attention to the moment and helping you respond to the caller with calm, kindness, and openness. If you would normally carry your workday stress into a phone call, the three breaths will help you to release that stress before you speak.When you ve tried these exercises for a week or so, notice whats happening for you. No, they wont immediately dissolve all of your work worries, but theyll likely help you approach your struggles in a different way. And ideally, youll find a sense of calm, peace, and presence in the moment. Start with these simple steps, and see what happens.Photo of man at work courtesy of Shutterstock.

Go the extra mile Show everyone what youre made of

Go the extra mile Show everyone what youre made ofGo the extra mile Show everyone what youre made ofSelf-Assessment Quiz - TRUE or FALSEIm aware of how much extra work I can manage to take on at work.I enjoy being a team player and taking on leadership roles at work.Being more visible at work is in line with my career goals.Do you want to shoot to the top in your career? Do you want to stand out to your boss? Do you want to be an exemplary employee that people trust and want work with? Add paper to the copier.What the what?Yes. Add paper to the copier When you go the extra mile at work, whetherbei youre new to the company just starting out in the mail room or have advanced to assistant communications manager, people leidice the little things you do, likehelping the entire teamby adding paper to the copier. Think about it, if everyone walks by the empty copier and grumbles, Thats not my job what happens? Productivity slows down, people get irritated and team morale goes down just a ti ny bit over something which takes two minutes to fix. By taking this sort of initiative, youre actually showing everyone what youre working with fortitude, leadership, awareness, ability and desire to go the extra mile.Depending on the situation, going the extra mile can feel likesucking up, but sucking up aint always a bad thing. Especially when done right. If youre in a meeting and your boss asks for a volunteer to compile a spreadsheet of the attendees to last years company fundraiser gala, think about raising your hand. Sure, youre busy like everyone else and clearly that aint your job because you work in finance and headcounts aint sales.BUT can it be? If you work on this list, youll have an inside look at who attended the fundraiser which means youll have an inside look at who gave funds or was open to giving. You can use this info to create ideas to get more sales for the company. Ding Ding Winning Youve just helped your boss (which through this project may also get you more career-enhancing face time with her) and who knows, maybe youve helped out Jill in auffhrung planning who would have jumped off a bridge if given one more project today. Jill may then give you her extra tickets to a gala fundraiser art opening which could mean networking and future growth for youGoing the extra mile, isnt of course always as easy as filling up the copier. Or volunteering for unassigned tasks. Its thinking beyond what you were asked to do. Nothing pisses a boss off more than handing out assignments and getting backexactlythat which was asked of the assignee. Confusing? Doesnt have to be.Look at it this way bosses love working with team members whosimplifyher life the most. People who take the project they have been assigned and run with it. Make it their own. Without any drama or unnecessary complications. That PowerPoint deck from last year I asked you to update because I dont have the time? You not only updated the charts that were outdated, but youanimatedthe enti re deck too? And added an appropriate video? You just made me look smarter than I am. I LOVE you for that Compare this to your colleague who got the same task and sent me her comments embedded in the deck about the changes shesuggestsmaking, replete with five paragraphs foreachcomment justifyingwhyshe is suggesting these changes in the first place. Oy Vey. Bosses dont need alla that We dont want to know all the background details you had to wade through to make the magic happen. We just want the magic. I dont want to know it took you 15 emails to find the person who had the answer to your question. I dont want to be copied on all 15 of those emails either And I dont want to know, unless I ask, that you stayed up until 4 am making that presentation literally sing. I just want the job done. Really well. You become the bosses pet when you up the ante with badass moves such as this. And this shows up in our bonus conversations. I start looking at you differently and asking you what your career goals are. Because, now Im vested in helping you move up. I can see your star power and potential.When you do that extra somethin somethin at work, you are demonstrating that you are a leader. Leadership is key to success and moving up the corporate ladder. (Pssst, heres aquiz on leadershipin case youre wondering how you stack up in this department.)However, newbie, do be aware of being dumped upon. Some bosses carry that corporate culture of churn and burn where they throw so much work at the capable achievers like you that adds incredible stress and ultimate burnout. You dont want this. Definitely consider the pros and cons of going the extra mile. If you have a boss who doesnt appreciate you - or even worse doesnt GIVE YOU CREDIT for all your hard work - you might need to take your ball and bat and head to a boss who isnt afraid to let your star shine. Look to your careerSMART goalsto help keep you on track.Now get on out there and start going beyondCheryl Grace is the sassy aunt, best friend, and mentor youve always needed in your life. The successful jet-setting, global corporate executive founded the aspirational lifestyle brand Powerful Penny LLC. Her products, workshops and speeches probe, inspire and empower to ensure those who really want to can get to their next level of best. Her blogs on careers, prosperity, relationships, family, looking and living fabulously, and living a five-star life can be found atwww.powerfulpenny.com.

4 ways to slash your resume down to one page

4 ways to slash your resume down to one page4 ways to slash your resume down to one pageSlicing off bits of your resume in order to keep it to one page can be so tough. When youve accomplished a lot in your career, it can be difficult to pick what to remove - so heres what to cut out.Say goodbye to super-old positionsIts just not worth keeping them around.Kim Isaacs, a resume expert for Monster and founder of Advanced Career Systems, writes on Monsters website that you should eliminate old experience.Employers are fruchtwein interested in what you did recently. If you have a long career history, focus on the last 10 to 15 years. If your early career is important to your current goal, briefly mention the experience without including details. For example Early Career ABC Company - City, State - Assistant Store Manager and Clerk, 1980-1985, she writes.Watch your wordingThis can make a big difference.Lily Zhang, Manager of Graduate Student Professional Development at the MIT Media Lab , writes in The Muse that you should shorten bullets.Your bullet points are really the meat of your resume. This is where you actually talk about your experience. To ensure that people actually read them, absolutely do not let them trail on to a third line. Two lines max, but preferably one, she writes. To decide between one or two lines, use your space efficiently. If your bullet is one line, plus a little bit that dangles onto the next, find a way to condense your language down. Ultimately, youre going for a dangler-free resume.Dont include this line - its unnecessaryPay close attention to this advice.Alison Doyle, an author, career expert and founder and CEO of CareerToolBelt.com, writes in The Balance that you should skip the references.Its not necessary to say references available upon request on your resume. Its understood that you will provide references, if required, as part of the job application process, she writes.Choose the right examplesThis is key.Marcelle Yeager, pre sident of Career Valet and co-founder of ServingTalent, writes in U.S. News World Report that you should filter out responsibilities.Employers can likely find almost exact replicas of your job descriptions by doing a Google search for your job titles. Its your responsibility to tell them mora of your story and what you are capable of, she writes. Replace your laundry list of duties with specific examples and the impact of your work. This is what is going to get you noticed.

7 of the most common mistakes recruiters make

7 of the most common mistakes recruiters make7 of the most common mistakes recruiters makeIf you do it correctly, executive recruiting can be a rewarding job.You get to work with interesting people, immerse yourself in diverse professions, and bring people together in a way that might not have been possible without you.But if you do the job incorrectly, it can become a constant battle against your bad habits.We all know that repeating the same mistakes is destructive, but some of those mistakes- especially in recruiting- can be hard to spot. The only way to fight them is to become aware of them and reflect on your work with a discerning eye.Here are a few of the most common bad habits to look out for.Mistake 1 You mistake activity for productivityMost executive recruiters want to do a good job. Theyre inspired- they want to find the best candidate for their client.But many recruiters misinterpret good as busy. They welcheste time and energy, and ultimately, they burn themselves out.I ve made this mistake in my own career by falling prey to paralysis by analysis- immersing myself so heavily in research that I forgot what it was I was hired to do.For example, one time I was tasked with finding a Controller for a public semiconductor company. I vaguely knew what a semiconductor was, but I had no idea what a controller did. So rather than pick up the phone and get to work, I decided to teach myself all there was to know about the state of the semiconductor industry and way more about Sarbanes-Oxley than anyone should.This was a mistake. Nobody cares about how much research I did or how many hours I put in. My job was to get candidates on the phone, tell them about the opportunity, and get them talking to my partner, who actually knew all he needed to know about the company, the industry, and the role. In my research, I forgot what my role was and what I was expected to do.Productivity is measured by results- not effort.Mistake 2 Youre too rigid in your approachExecu tive recruiting necessitates creativity and the ability to adapt. Many recruiters, however, operate with protocols inherently rigid in design.Reaching out to candidates via emaille might work for one role, but not for others. Cold calling candidates might pique some folks interest, but it might annoy others. In reaching out to CEOs, you will likely need a more tailored, personalized approach- one that shows youve done your research. Engineers, on the other hand, might require only a short note.Sticking with one strategy simply doesnt work. Your approach should differ depending on the situation, industry, and market.Mistake 3 You use too many email templatesAlong the same lines, using templates to lend even more rigidity to your recruiting process is a further step in the wrong direction.Recruiters use templates because they think it increases their efficiency. They think it allows them to reach more candidates at a faster clip. They think that wider reach increases their odds of fin ding a qualified candidate and eliminates the opportunity for mistakes.But thats not always the case. In fact, templates can ironically make recruiters more prone to mistakes. I recently received an email from a recruiter that started off, Dear FIRST NAME, Im really impressed by your work at INSERT COMPANY.Theres no better way to turn off a candidate than by revealing the machinery behind the curtain.Mistake 4 You get people excited and then ghost themAs a recruiter, an unavoidable component of your job will be telling candidates that the client ended up going with another candidate. It can be difficult, but you have to do it. You owe it to the candidate to give them clarity and closure.Some recruiters, however, eschew this step in the process.That is always a mistake. Ghosting reflects poorly on you, your firm, and your reputation. It hurts feelings. Its a bit like going on a great first date and then never giving the girl or guy a call back. People remember.Mistake 5 You over-per sonalize the processOne reason recruiters dont like informing candidates that they havent been picked for a role is because theyve over-personalized the process. They fear their candidate will think they werent picked because the company didnt like them.Recruiters cant let themselves be so emotional. Executives recruiters are in the business of telling candidates No. Good or bad, its a part of the job. After all, you can only place one candidate per search.But its also true that in the hiring process, personality and cultural fit are not usually considered until the very end. This means that in the recruiting process, nothing should be personal, either. In your communications with candidates and clients, you have to be honest, constructive, and transparent.Being short-sighted or afraid of hurting feelings is a mistake. At the end of the day, its always better to be professional. People respect that. And if you try to weasel around it, everyone knows.Just be honest. Dont burn any bri dges, and dont badmouth your client or your candidate. Be professional.Mistake 6 You dont stand up for your processEqually inevitable, though, is the fact that on the client side, some of the people you work with are going to be unreasonable. Theyre going to contradict previous requests. Theyre going to make outlandish statements, or be spurious in their feedback, or impede upon your process.As a recruiter, you need to be confident in your process and know when to defend it.This might look like providing feedback to the client on their feedback. It might look like advocating for yourself and your reasoning, which you can do by documenting and referencing your process using a search platform like Clockwork. Documenting your discussions with your clients and getting their feedback on each important stage of the recruiting process will make the search go more smoothly.If you can look yourself in the mirror and honestly say youve done the best job you can, then you should have the confi dence to stand up for yourself.Many recruiters dont, and as a result, they corrupt their process.A better alternative- even if it gets you fired- is to do your job the way you know is best (and have the CYA materials to back it up).Mistake 7 You bombard candidatesLastly, one of the most common mistakes executive recruiters make is inundating candidates inboxes. You send them an email in the morning and then again in the afternoon. You follow up the next day. You write something cute like, You must be getting chased by a hippo, because 1) you saw that somewhere, and 2) why else wouldnt a candidate respond to your awesome emails?This is another great way to annoy candidates who might otherwise be interested in the position youre recruiting for. Emailing candidates can be an effective technique, but imposing on candidates as if responding to you is an obligation almost always backfires.Its the equivalent of being approached by an insistent solicitor holding a sign your first response i s, Leave me alone.Its better, instead, to temper your follow-ups. Candidates are busy, and they dont owe you anything.Ive found a more effective approach is asking for help. Source people for people. Tell them- succinctly- what schrift of candidate youre looking for and ask them if they know anyone that might be interested. They just might know someone. They also might be interested themselves. Youd be surprised at the increase in responses you get. People- when asked nicely- like to help if they can.As is the case in any profession, executive recruiters are bound to make mistakes- all of us are.But if you can learn from those mistakes and actively avoid them moving forward, thats how you build strong habits conducive to success.Christian Spletzer, Founder and CEO of Clockwork RecruitingThis post was originally published on Quora.com.

Learn About the Role of a Network Affiliate

Learn About the Role of a Network AffiliateLearn About the Role of a Network AffiliateIn the United States broadcasting industry, a network affiliate sometimes referred to just as affiliate, is a local station owned by a company other than the network. The affiliate carries many of the same shows or radio programs as the core media network. They are different than owned and operated stations, which are owned by the core media network. How Affiliates Work Stations that carry a networks programming sign a contractual agreement with the network. The contract outlines key parts of the relationship and requirements for the affiliate, such as certain quotas. The agreements typically last for between three and five years, though they can be much longer. While many networks and affiliates maintain their relationships for very long times, sometimes a network will remove its programming and go to another station they think will be more prosperous. The five core commercial broadcast televi sion networks are ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW. These networks compensate stations with a portion of national advertising revenue. Regulations In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates the number of network-owned stations in market reach. Therefore, owned and operated networks, rather than affiliate stations, are often located in only the largest markets, such as New York City. They rely on affiliates for the rest of their reach. Stations often broadcast the full programming lineup from the core network, but they are not obligated to do that. They can decide to air shows outside of the prime time slot, purchase other programming to fill their schedules and even air shows that were not produced by the main network. Some affiliates also choose to air local events, such as college or high school football, rather than scheduled programming. Public Broadcasting Service Unlike the five major networks, PBS is not actually a network. Instead, it is a program distributor that provides content and services to members, rather than affiliates. The member stations are responsible for the local content, such as their nachrichten shows and local event coverage. In a traditional network and affiliate relationship, affiliates pay portions of their advertising revenue to the network to have the right to show network programs. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) works very differently and aims to change the programming business. PBS member stations pay for the shows acquired and ran by the national chapter. Because of this, PBS stations have more autonomy than commercially-owned stations. The majority of PBS funding comes from grants and fundraising. They solicit donations from individuals, corporations and hold telethons during their programming. Changes to Networks and Affiliates Digital and online-only content has been challenging the network and affiliate model. However, local television news programs remain the number one source of information for individuals. With growing competition from digital stations, local stations are having a more difficult time raising revenue. In some cases, they owe as much as 60% of their revenue to the networks, making it difficult for local stations to prosper. As a result, local programming is increasingly switching to online formats, signaling changes in the network and affiliate relationship.

Got Resume Builder Exposed

Got Resume Builder Exposed If you get a notion about How to compose a work application, next, additionally, it is a good idea to spot your awards. Only three steps which you want to complete to be a step closer to a job of your dream. Any time that youre working with the work application procedure, it is very important to consider a variety of resources that are readily available to use today right from home. Your resume should always contain hints that you will produce the company better that youll have something significant to contribute. Theres not any reason to feel embarrassed regarding the gaps so confidently explain the reason why theyre there. Then, VisualCV is the ideal place for you to create a trendy 21st century resume to provide the very first impression to your future employers. All at once, there are a number of rules that theres no exceptional have got to keep in mind, just write down them on a distinguish page and utilize it if needed. Moreover, it has vorst ellungsgesprch videos in which how folks handle pressure and the way they give the reply in the awkward circumstance. You might find yourself sending the same resume to different job applications and although you may believe that you are saving time you are really lessening your probability of receiving an interview When you are given a job, you barely have sufficient time to do laundry. There isnt any time for procrastination once it comes to getting your perfect job. Or maybe, youve just graduated from college and dont have any idea how to compose a resume in any way, spending hours online looking for at least some very helpful tip. Use bullet statements instead of complete sentences Reinforce the points that you are working to make by being specific. Your resume is a document it is possible to give to somebody who might hire you. The resume page gives you in-depth particulars of the person career. It is nearly always needed included in work software, and its deemed crucial i nfo and facts to be certain that a business to evaluate whether an individual might be an ideal applicant to acquire an initially spherical job interview. No matter your degree of work practical expertise, your resume format is essential to making your program stick out. Nowadays its quite crucial to have a perfect and error-free resume with a superior appearance and alignment as you judge on such a basis. Besides the forementioned details, its important to realise that its good to create the look and feel of your resume attractive, it shouldnt be overdone in order to defeat its goal. The Debate Over Got Resume Builder As soon as you are online, you merely click to load the titelbild letter builder to commence the approach. Putting a cover letter builder tool to use allows you to select from an assortment of templates to fit any kind of position you wish to fill. You may then save or print your cover letter online as soon as you have finished the procedure. When the cover le tter creator loads, its then feasible to pick from templates and commence inserting important details necessary to finish the letter. The Hidden Truth on Got Resume Builder Do not publish what youd like in function. If not, you might opt to compose References seen on request. Professional resumes can be difficult to create. Resume Builder Free and simple to use. You also need to rate the position, enterprise and marketplace that youll be pursuing. Or you can select a pre-written resume from your area. Should you ever buy resumes from your organization, please be sure to include information regarding your leadership experience. An organized and quick worker with good computer skills and a sound understanding of cash management principles. To aid you to decide on whats ideal for your wants, Allows look at the advantages and drawbacks of every resume structure. No computer experience is needed. Applying for work in todays market can be challenging, irrespective of the abil ities and experience you hold personally. There are a number of important facets to a resume. You only ought to put jobs on a resume that relate to the role available. Zety makes it simple to personalize the program. Even though most of resumes must offer data in your work and education experience, as well as your abilities and achievements, there are numerous methods to present this info.

Recruiting Best Practices for Social Professional Networks - Spark Hire

Recruiting Best Practices for Social Professional Networks - Spark HireSocial recruiting continues to be a huge trend within the staffing industry. Specifically, social professional networks, such as LinkedIn, are expected to become an even more necessary tool to be included in a staffing pros toolbox. In the past 4 years, utilization of these networks have increased by 73 percent making them the fastest-growing global source of quality hires.verbunden professional networks were created primarily to connect job seekers with staffing pros, recruiters, and employers unlike social media such as Facebook and Twitter which encourage more casual interaction. As more staffing professionals begin to realize the benefits of being on sites like LinkedIn, its important that they consider social professional networks best practices such as the followingMake sure you have an appropriate profile pictureAs stressed by William Hanson of The Guardian, authenticity and integrity are key on social prof essional networks. Appropriate profile pictures for these sites have a plain, neutral background. Busy backgrounds with people or loud patterns should be avoided. Moreover, photos of you partying and bathroom selfies have no place on LinkedIn save that for your rolleal Facebook page. Your social professional network profile picture doesnt need to be a professional headshot, but should be an accurate (and up-to-date) representation of your normal, work-appropriate self.Fill out all necessary profile informationMost people wouldnt trust someone with a mostly blank LinkedIn profile. As Corey Eridon of HubSpot explains, a barely-filled-out social professional network profile may cause people to thinkIs this a spammer?What do you they want from me?How did this person find me?Can I trust them with my contact information?If I accept, will they abflug sending me unwanted messages?With completed profile fields, some of those questions start to get answered. For instance, if I see an invite from someone who works at a company I recognize, at least I know theyre a real live person with a job at a real live company, says Eridon. If theyre in a similar industry, even better it makes sense that wed want to network together.Only publish meaningful postsDONT BE SPAMMYSharing your original content or articles that you found interesting and thought-provoking, is a great way to make connections with other professionals on LinkedIn. However, its important to refrain from publishing every single thing that you come across. Take a moment to consider if its something worth sharing and if it will encourage a discussion with others.Additionally, staffing and recruiting pros should be mindful of their behavior on LinkedIn forums. They are great for engaging with other people, but Hanson of The Guardian advises people to watch what they say. Its great to show your passion and knowledge about a subject, however, theres no need to use capitals and crude language.Provide context when sen ding connection invitationsIt can be awkward if youve never met a person and send them a LinkedIn connection invitation without context. Eridon of HubSpot explains that you dont need to write a novel as a short and simple message will suffice. Something along the lines of, Hi there, Jane Thanks for sharing that article. It was a great read and Id like to connect and know more about your thoughts can ease any anxieties the other person has about interacting with you and spark a conversation.Monitor who is checking out your profileDont waste your efforts of being active on a social professional network by not reaching out to people who are checking out your profile. LinkedIn notifies users when someone has viewed their profile. Take the time to send messages to people that have looked at your page and inquire about what is they need from you.There is a large population of job seekers on social professional networking sites today, thus, its crucial that staffing and recruiting professi onals take advantage of these online platforms when searching for and placing great talent. Connecting with a potential superstar employee for a client could mean just a few clicks and sending a short message. However, the ability to properly conduct ones self on sites like LinkedIn could make or break that connection, therefore, best practices should be considered.Be sure to check out our whitepaper The 2015 Staffing Industry Trend Report for more tipsImage logoff/BigStock.com

This one trick can maximize your weekend and improve your work week

This one trick can maximize your weekend and improve your work weekThis one trick can maximize your weekend and improve your work weekRecently Ladders reported on the shocking amount of Americans that are putting off important things on their to-do lists. Many find that there just isnt enough time. In fact, the average American said they have as little as 26 minutes of free time a week.Eventually, administrative tasks that demand our attention begin to add up, smothering us. This feeling of being overwhelmed is a bane to productivity and overall wellness.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIs there an effective way to maximize our free time?The Power hourGretchen Rubin, happiness expert and author of Outer Order, Inner Calm, provides some interesting insights into the curse of poor time management. Towards the end of a busy work week, panic begins to set in - so many tasks, so lit tle time. According to Rubin, its all about the first step, or the power hour, as she slickly called it.Give yourself an hour, Rubin told CNBC,Power hour is when you set aside an hour on the weekend to just do all the things that youve been procrastinating about.The thing that keeps most of the items on our checklist right where they are, is lack of exigence. You dont need to schedule that appointment right this minute, which means you likely never will. Setting aside an hour to knock things off the list, irrespective of their respective time sensitivity will better ensure they get done.In her book, Ruben recommends we actualize this process by making a list of all the unpleasant chores, we need to get done and then knock them out every week. Little by little, we can get a lot accomplished, says Rubin.The concept of the power hour was born out of a simple but often forgotten principle its much easier to keep up than to catch up. When we think about our to-do lists as one collective mass, they become very intimidating. Your list should be viewed as a collection of mini-components, all individually deal-with-able in due time. Have the things youve been avoiding doing in the back of your mind during the work week, then devote a little attention to them when Saturday rolls around.So do as much as you can do along the way thats going to make it more pleasant for you as you go through your work week. Thats going to make less work for you on the weekend, Rubin adds.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Julio Guerrero Selected as President-Nominee

Julio Guerrero Selected as President-Nominee Julio Guerrero Selected as President-Nominee Julio Guerrero Selected as President-NomineeJulio Guerrero, PhD During the Presidents Dinner held at the Societys Annual Meeting in Portland, Ore., the ASME Nominating Committee announced the selection of Julio Guerrero, PhD, as ASME president-nominee for 2015-2016. The Committee also announced the nominees for six other ASME leadership positions, including the next three members of the Board of Governors.Dr. Guerrero is a principal, RD and business development, at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, Mass., and founder of Cambridge Research and Technology LLC. Guerrero served as a member of ASMEs Board of Governors from 2011-2013, and as vice-chair of the Societys Industry Advisory Board from 2008-2010. His other Society activities include serving on the advisory board for the ASME 2014 Energy Forum on Shale Development and Hydraulic Fracturing, reviewer for the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design from 2010-2014, and working with the steering committee that proposed the ASME Innovation Showcase (IShow) in 2006.Prior to joining Draper in 2011, Guerrero served as a principal research scientist for seven years at Schlumberger Research (SLB), where he established 15 research collaborations with professors and students from Massachussetts Insittue of Technologys mechanical and electrical engineering departments, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Center (WHOI) for kriegsmarine Robotics for subsea and land oil operations. Since 2003, he has also done research with several MIT professors, graduate students and WHOI researchers taught engineering courses at MIT and served as a member of six doctoral committees at MIT and the University of Texas at Austin. An owner of nearly 20 patents worldwide, Guerrero received his masters and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995 and 1998, respectively. At the Presidents Dinner, the Nominating Committee also announce d the names of three Board of Governors members and three vice presidents who will begin their three-year terms at next years Annual Meeting, following membership approval by proxy ballot this autumn. Bryan Erler, Sriram Somasundaram and Caecilia Gotama are the three Board of Governors nominees. The three vice president nominees are William Predebon, Education Louis Bialy, Safety Codes and Standards and Richard Stevenson, Conformity Assessment.

4 Smart Tactics for Sending Emails to Recruiters

4 Smart Tactics for Sending Emails to Recruiters 4 Smart Tactics for Sending Emails to Recruiters Connecting with recruiters is one of the best strategies for scoring the interview you need to get the job you want. Yet many job seekers find reaching out intimidating because they don’t know how to email a recruiter. We’ll show you a few sample emails to help you get past fumbling around for the right words to presenting yourself in a way no recruiter could ignore. Applying for jobs is easy. (Well, aside from that whole “attach your resume, and now type everything from your resume into this online form” dynamic we all love to hate.) But scoring that plum position - the one lots of strong candidates are competing for - is a challenge. A well-written letter can do a few things to highlight you as an applicant to watch. There’s another compelling reason to forge connections with recruiters: an estimated 70-80 percent of positions are not posted. If you’re sitting around waiting for a position to appear on the job boards you frequent, you could be missing important opportunities. Being proactive can pay big dividends. Recruiters want to hear from you. It’s their job to find the perfect candidates for the positions they need to fill, and they’re on the lookout for talent. But recruiters also get a lot of emails, and their time is precious. Make sure your message meets these criteria. Here’s a tip:  Is it okay to contact a recruiter on LinkedIn? Yep. 87 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn regularly, including to connect with potential candidates. Just make sure you avoid these common faux pas when you reach out. Make your email message as customized as possible. (Whatever you do, avoid spamming recruiters with a stock copy/paste message. They’re easy to spot and even easier to ignore.) Use these sample emails for inspiration. Subject: Any content marketing roles at XYZ? I read the  Inc.  article last week about XYZ Inc.’s rapid growth since landing five million in venture capital last spring. Way to rock that funding! Do you have plans to expand your marketing department? I’ve had great success as the brand manager for Acme Widgets for the past five years. I’m planning to move into a broader content marketing role that challenges me to grow as a brand storyteller, and XYZ has been on my radar. I’d love to chat with you for 5-10 minutes to introduce myself and learn more about the company’s culture and any upcoming roles you need to fill. Would you have time for a quick phone call on Wednesday? Subject: Lead copywriting role at Acme â€" Résumé attached I applied for the lead copywriting role at Acme Widgets last week. I’m impressed by Acme’s crazy fast growth in the widget industry, and I’m excited by the opportunity to be part of a lively team. I think I’m a great fit for this position because my ten years in the copywriting trenches have made me a whiz at turning out clean, compelling copy. In 2016, I won a Netty Award for Best Copywriting for my work on the ABC123.com website. I’ve attached my resume so you don’t have to dig through your files to files to find my application. Would you like to schedule a time to chat about the role? I had lunch with Eric Ferguson yesterday and he mentioned that ABC123 was planning to hire more writers soon. I graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in English in September, and I’d love to learn more about your writing team and what makes them tick. And, of course, I’d love to talk to you about open roles. Do you have a few minutes for a video chat on Wednesday at around 1 p.m.? This article was originally published on Grammarly . It is reprinted with permission.