How to Tell Your Boss You Dont Want to Climb the Ladder - The Muse

How to Tell Your Boss You Dont Want to Climb the Ladder - The MuseHow to Tell Your Boss You Dont Want to Climb the Ladder Youre in the middle of your annual performance review and your manager asks what your goals are for the upcoming year. She expects you to launch into how youd like to grow and advance but truthfully, the voice inside your head is saying, I want to be right here doing the same thing- I really like where I am Many people want to climb the ladder, and doing so often results in being seen as a go-getter. But there are others who are content where they are, and dont possess a need to move up and out. For these folks, participating in Where do you want to go? conversations can be really stressful, because they dont want to sound like a slacker.You know why you want to remain exactly where you are Your job is an optimal fit at this point in your life. It hits on many of the key factors that make you happy and engaged at work, such as having a good relationship with your boss and peers, being fulfilled by the work you do, earning good pay and benefits, etc. You dont have the desire to move up, but its not due to a lack of skills or confidence or drive- you just really like your job as is. Having the Conversation With Your BossManagers ask about your future plans so they can help develop your skills and advocate for you. But if your goal is to stay where you are, you can be honest (and still be viewed as a valuable member of the team). Heres howWhen your boss asks, What role do you see yourself in over the next year, or two? explain that you love what you do right now. Follow this up by pointing to the strong relationships you have I couldnt ask for better colleagues than Marcus and Suzanne, we work really well together and I am constantly learning from them.Say your boss persists, following up with, But you are so good at what you do, youre well respected and liked, why not consider another role- maybe one in which you can really use your management and leadership skills? You, of course, thank him for the compliment and talk about how your job fits the life you have outside of work, and that its good for you (and your family). It could sound like this Thank you so much. My current role allows me the flexibility to spend Wednesday afternoons with my daughter (or care for my dad, or work from home two days a week), and achieve a really strong work-life balance. At this point your manager may shift gears and ask If you dont want to move into a different role, Im not sure what kind of development I can offer you. What are you looking for? This is your chance to avoid the impression that youre taking the easy way out or that you simply have a lack of ambition. You should come prepared with one or two ideas for how you can add even more value to your organization and your team right where you are. Need inspiration? Is there training or a certification you can achieve? Perhaps you can learn from a peer? If youre unable to think of a process or project that needs improvement, ask your boss what he sees and offer solutions.If you follow these guidelines, fruchtwein managers will understand, appreciate where youre coming from, and continue to see you as an asset. If youre still nervous youll be seen as complacent, keep in mind that supervisors would have a difficult time dealing with a situation in which every single team member wants a promotion. It would be a revolving door of people coming in and out. The competition would be fierce and inevitably someone would end up disappointed or disengaged. The reality is that there are only so many promotions to go around and its healthy to have a team with varying career aspirations. There are many ways to contribute and add value to your organization. Advancement is only one of them. Dont be afraid to have honest and professional conversations about your desire to stay in place. The key is communicating how your current position benefits both you and the organization. I f you make yourself indispensable, your manager will be thrilled for you to stay where youre happy.

Becoming an Insurance Agent Career Path, Salary, and Jobs

Becoming an Insurance Agent Career Path, Salary, and Jobs Becoming an Insurance Agent Career Path, Salary, and Jobs 2establish a career in ausverkauf. An insurance ausverkauf career can pay well while offering a measure of security for candidates whove worked toward having the right qualifications, background, and temperament for the job.If youre browsing insurance jobs and wondering how to become an insurance agent, there are specific steps you can take to boost your hireability. Many employers that hire for insurance sales jobs look for a set number of qualifications that often (but not always) include education, experience, and, for candidates just starting out, trainability.Here are a few factors to consider if youre starting an insurance sales career.How to Become an Insurance Sales AgentA high school diploma is the minimum education requirement in most cases, though many employers give preference to candidates with an associates or bachelors degree, especially in fields like bu siness or finance.Generally, youll also need to be licensed to sell insurance in the state where you work, based on your chosen specialty or line of authority. Enrolling in pre-licensing courses while you complete your education can help you get your foot in the door. For more information, check with organizations like the National Insurance Producer Registry, a national not-for-profit insurance licensing clearinghouse.As somebody exploring an insurance sales career, youll need to present well, both in person and over the phone. That means being well-spoken, courteous, a good listener, and responsive in conversations. It helps to know what to expect in a job interview. Remember youre selling yourself first and foremost.Employers will also try to suss out your knowledge of the industry. Be upfront if youre just beginning on your insurance sales career path. If you have experience as an insurance sales agent, be prepared to talk about your background, your past sales successes, and sa lary expectations, including asking (preferably not too early in the interview process) what the employers top agents earn.Insurance Sales Agent SalaryAccording to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median yearly salary for insurance sales agents was $50,000 in 2018. There was a wide sortiment between the salaries of lower-level agents and top earners less than $27,500 a year for the bottom 10%, and more than $125,000 for top-tier professionals.Motivated independent insurance sales agents who are paid by commission only may be more likely to be among the highest paid. Agents who are sales workers only may be paid a salary, or they can earn a salary plus commission, a salary plus bonus, or some combination of the two. An individual agents drive, initiative, and analytical skills also factor in to annual earnings.Types of Insurance Sales JobsYour targeted specialty area and insurance licensure can guide you as you explore how to become an insurance agent and the types of insu rance sales jobs. Many insurance jobs fall under these general categoriesLife InsuranceLife insurance sales agents sell life insurance policies and annuities that pay beneficiaries when the policyholder dies. The pay is often on a straight commission, often at a high rate compared to other insurance sales jobs, in part because life insurance can be difficult to sell and prospective customers can be harder to find.Property and Casualty InsuranceThe role of property insurance agents involves helping customers protect property, including homes, vehicles, jewelry and other valuables. Casualty insurance specialists offer clients liability coverage against financial losses related to accidents involving their property, and includes auto, homeowners, and renters insurance. Property and casualty are usually combined into one general area of expertise.Health and Long-Term Care InsuranceA health insurance sales agent works on behalf of health insurance companies, selling health-related produc ts and services to consumers. By contrast, a health insurance broker works on behalf of consumers, assisting them in finding and enrolling in qualified healthcare plans. This category can also include agents who help clients find long-term disability insurance and coverage for assisted living care.Categories of Insurance AgenciesKnowing what kind of employer youll be working for is essential for ones insurance sales career. Insurance companies fit into one of these two categoriesIndependentIf you work for an independent insurance agency, you will likely be selling policies from a variety of different insurance companies. Often referred to as brokers, independent insurance agents work primarily on behalf of consumers, matching the best policies and products to clients.Direct Writer/Captive AgentAn insurance sales agent whos a direct writer (also called a captive agent) usually works for a single major insurance company (Allstate, Farmers Insurance, State Farm Insurance, and The Hartf ord, to name a few). A direct writer sells policies and products on their employers behalf.If you are motivated, persistent, and able to communicate clearly, an insurance sales career path may be right for you. And luckily, we can help Use to find a flexible or remote insurance sales job that lets you work full-time or on a part-time schedule.CONNECT TO INSURANCE ausverkauf JOBS TODAY

This is what women in tech wish they knew early on in their careers

This is what women in tech wish they knew early on in their careersThis is what women in tech wish they knew early on in their careersThe most encompassing way of phrasing the lesson is that I wish I paid much more attention to gender issues earlier in my career, and taken the disparity more seriously. Admittedly, until it affected me personally I dismissed a lot of the discussion surrounding the issue as frivolous whining. I subscribed to the idea of meritocracy and believed that the issues other women were facing were a result of their lack of focus and that the opposition they faced wouldnt happen to me because I was smart, talented, and hard-working (so my mom tells me).In retrospect I realize that it was naive of me to feel that way as an entry-level employee. I was at the bottom of the food chain and posed no threat to anyone. The enthusiasm, encouragement, and lack of repercussion I received for speaking my mind at that stage in my career only reinforced my view that I was ju st genuinely smart/talented, etc It wasnt until the past year and a half that I begun to experience the backlash of speaking up and I dont think its a coincidence that around the same time many of my female design peers who are near my age and previously experienced the same sort of early career success began to have similar experiences at their workplaces.When I would interview for jobs I always focused so much on evaluating the role from a design perspective. I would grill the company on the structure of their team, the design process they employed, the types of challenges they faced, and what kind of product vision they had in mind. I tried to get a sense of how much designers were valued at the company. I honestly never thought to ask the same question of women what was the ratio of women in the company? What kind of roles did they employ? What were their responsibilities? Were there any women in the leadership? My current job is the first company Ive worked at where I thought t o evaluate such things (more on that later).Sub-lesson 1Being a trailblazer isnt the only way to advance the current state of women in tech.The reason I didnt question these things is because I assumed that being the only woman on the product team (meaning PM/Designer/Development) was normal. That I would not find another awesome place to work with more than two women on the team. That if I wanted to work this industry, I had to be a trailblazer. So not true.When I joined the last company I worked at I was the only technical female and one of two women in the whole company. I wont lie, I romanticized the notion of being the first. I thought hiring me was an indication of open-mindedness on the parte of the company (in reality it was because they viewed me as the non-threatening ingenue). I thought I would pave the way, be the point of change. I knew so many talented women engineers, designers, and product managers that I could potentially bring in to the fold. It was very telling th at when I got one of them to interview, the experienced and talented female designer was met with criticism from my boss while he pushed me to give a boy who had no design knowledge nor evidence of intrinsic skill, who hadnt even graduated college, an offer on the design team.When I decided to leave and look for my next role, something occurred to me. The idea of being a trailblazer is a very direct way of addressing gender equality. I am grateful to anyone who is or has been in this position someone has to be the first and I know very well it is not easy. However, it is not the only way. By supporting companies that already demonstrate and value equality, you are also helping advance women. If, as research claims, diverse teams perform better, than I hope to help advance companies that already have their heart in the right place. Copy-catting is an undeniable tactic in the tech industry. Apples definitive success with design has increased the value of design and led to a slew of st artups clamoring to hire designers. Imagine if the next Apple or Facebooks definitive trait was having equal gender (or race) distribution on their teams.The ugly side of the first woman on the team coin is that not every woman wants to be a trailblazer. Theres an undeniably seductive quality about the princess spot (a term my friend Ash elaborates on in this comment). Dont automatically mistrust other women or other men, for that matter. Also, dont let the subtle differences in your perspective on feminism stop you from being friends with other women.Theres a lot of lists out there for women-in-tech who deserve recognition. I follow those, but in addition, I have a mental list of men that I want to make it a point to work within the future. These are all men whom Ive seen publicly speak (or tweet) about gender equality. I think its important to recognize men too because they currently do make up the majority of this industry. My list is actually pretty long and I know that if I we re to work with any of them I would be treated respectfully, and if I found myself in a questionable situation whether at work or a conference, these men would use their privileged position to speak up. So basically Sub-lesson 2 Know and embrace your allies (but not literally, because HR).As I mentioned earlier, when I started looking for my current job I had new criteria on which to evaluate companies. In a sense, I wanted to work somewhere in which Sub-Lesson 2 was irrelevant because there was no us or them. I wanted a culture, not just individual people, that respected women. So what do you look for? Sub-lesson 3 Dont rely on the ratio. Nowadays theres a lot of focus on the percentage of female employees or engineers at a company. I think this potentially paints a misleading image. I tend to look at the companys leadership. How many women are executives, VPs, etc. I know its an easy decision to hire entry-level women because Ive been one, but at the point of my career Im at, I a spire to have more responsibility. Seeing women in the leadership at a company gives me physical evidence that upward mobility is possible, as well the potential for mentorship and advice.The healthiest thing to see is women at all levels in a company. This can be hard to identify at startups that have a flat hierarchy, which is why speaking directly to a woman is so important in the interview process. Sometimes when I say this it gets misinterpreted as since Im a woman, if I interview at your company, you should throw a woman in the interview process to reassure me.No, I think that if you have technical women at your company, I would hope that at least one is involved in evaluating both male and female candidates. So in being interviewed by another woman I am reassured that women play a role in hiring decisions and building teams, and I am able to get a personal account of her responsibilities and trajectory within the company.I wish I looked for these signs when interviewing earli er in my career and generally focused more on longevity and the potential to grow with a company. It might not be the worst thing to take an entry-level job in a glass-ceiling situation if your intention is to gain a certain amount of experience and move on. Though Id still want young me to be fully aware of what shes getting into.This article was originally published on Quora.

Home-Based Call Center Jobs in Maryland

Home-Based Call Center Jobs in MarylandHome-Based Call Center Jobs in MarylandTypically virtual call center companies hire in specific states, so if you live in Maryland youll need to find ones that hire in the Free State. These call center companies hire for work-at-home positions in Maryland. Work-at-Home Opportunities Accolade Support Call Center ServicesRemote tech support and customer service agents service this companys clients. Agents are all independent contractors. Pay is a per-minute satz of $10/hour at a maximum. However, here is no minimum wage. AdviseTechIT solutions provider hires agents with experience with PCs to troubleshoot and telemarket for its clients for two to six hours weekly. Alorica(formerly West at Home)Alorica employs hires remote customer service reps in Maryland. They are compensated on a per minute or per call basis, but because they are employees they do earn minimum wage. American ExpressHome-based call center agents with experience in reservation systems and travel agents are employed by Amexs corporate travel teilen. Bilingualism is an advantage in getting hired into one of these jobs. Apple At Home AdvisorsThe work-at-home call center division of Apples customer care division hires tech support and customer services agents nationwide,though the jobs often have locations listed in the postings. Apple provides computer equipment. AROCompanys virtual call center employees work in a variety of jobs including sales and customer service. It also hires insurance auditors and LPNs and RNs to work from home. Carenet Healthcare ServicesRegistered nurses work as medical call center agents from home. These employees are paid approximately $25/hour. Jobs are full time, and overnight work may be available and/or required. ConvergysWork-at-home call center reps employed by this business process outsourcing (BPO) firm take incoming calls and provide customer service, sales or technical support. Companys training is paid, and it offers be nefits. Gutter HelmetCustomer service reps handle calls and emails, set appointments and qualifies sales leads. Two years of customer service experience and high school diploma or equivalent required. Training is in-house in Maryland. Work is part-time evenings and weekends. LiveOpsThis BPO hires independent contractors for a variety of customer service jobs including bilingual customer service (Spanish and French), insurance work and financial services. Home-based agentsare paid at a rate that is based on minutes of talk time plus sales incentives in some cases. Agents must become certified to work for individual clients. This certification is not paid. Agents must pay for their own background check. Support.comThe company provides tech support services for its clients, using work-from-home chat and call center agents. Its remote services technicians answer inbound calls. ThinkDirectThis company hires employees as inbound work-at-home agents, selling magazine subscriptions. Pay wit h incentives is $10-$14 an hour. Ver-A-FastHomecall center agents make verification calls for companys clients, which are primarily from the newspaper industry. Windy City Call CenterChicago-based call center company hires remote agents as employees for telemarketing jobs. XACT TelesolutionsHires inbound and outbound call center agents (English-only and bilingual in Spanish) for work at home jobs. pay ranges from $8-$13/hour.

Use this template as a guide to writing your cover letters

Use this template as a guide to writing your cover lettersUse this template as a guide to writing your cover letters. Your personenname Street Address City, State Zip Code Phone Number Date Individuals Name Job Title Name of Organization Street Address City, State Zip Code Dear Mr./Ms. ________________________________ First Paragraph State the reason for writing. Name the specific position or type of work for which youre applying. Mention how you learned of the opening. Second Paragraph Explain why youre interested in working for this employer and specify how you fit this position. Dont repeat the information on your resume. Include something special or unique about yourself that will benefit the employer. Remember, the reader will consider this an example of your writing skills. Third Paragraph Mention that your resume is enclosed and indicate your desire to meet with the employer. You may want to suggest alternate dates and times, or simply advise them o f your flexibility to meet. Include day and evening contact information. Include a statement or question that will encourage the reader to respond. Be sure to communicate your plan to follow up. You might state that youll be in the area on a certain date and would like to set up a meeting, or youll call on a certain date to set up a meeting. Finally, thank the employer for his/her time. Sincerely, (Your Signature in blue or black ink) Your name Enclosure Source Creative Job Search, a publication of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The Fundamentals of Resume Esamples You Will be Able to Benefit From Beginning Right Away

The Fundamentals of Resume Esamples You Will be Able to Benefit From Beginning Right Away How to Choose Resume Esamples Furthermora, you must landsee that its concise and neatly done so they do not become bored reading your resume. Nothing will create a reader glaze over faster than reading exactly the same lines again and again. Ideal approach to mention your certifications is to earn a distinct section for the exact same. Once youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a highly effective accomplishment statement. Understanding Resume Esamples In some cases, a job posting may possibly generate a couple hundred resumes. In some cases, it might draws in a couple hundred resumes. Zetys resume schablones are made with the assistance of recruiters and adhere to the best practices in HR. There are lots of specialist job application template that could be on the internet fro m which you will be in a position to make out some idea about ways to construct a specialist cv employing best application contractor sites. The Most Popular Resume Esamples Presentation is the secret to success and lets the strong stand from the crowd. Experience is also a rather important qualification. It is very important. Experience and familiarity with the tasks is likewise an important aspect that employers look into before opting to employ someone. Theres no specific length for a resume, and theres no standard to it. The peak of your resume should includecritical key terms and a fast snapshot of your core strengths, Leavy-Detrick states. You ought to have a mixture of administrative abilities, a sense of an organization, an eye for detail and impeccable awareness of customer services. 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Actually, mentioning the license number could just create the recruiters job very very uncomplicated and might work as a distinguishing element for you. Building your resume with an internet templatecan greatly enhance your odds of getting your dream job by providing you with an effective, concise resume which appeals right to the pos ition or business youre applying to. Dont make the error of answering each job posting with the exact generic resume. Actually, there could be many resume templates that fit your requirements. Once you have decided on your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our completely free expert guidance about ways to craft the great modern resume. You may use our professionally created resume templates and one-of-a-kind resume builder to swiftly and easily establish a standout resume. There are lots of free resume templates readily available online but sometimes it can be quite hard to select the best one that is most suited to you. The Basics of Resume Esamples You may also read more on the ideal approach to use our resume samples here. Theres no need to bring a subheading. You are able to edit the color in addition to the content with no trouble. When you buy, the template is permanently your own, and this means you can upgrade whenever you have a title change or may be want to highlight a recently available accomplishment. The New Fuss About Resume Esamples Nursing is among the super prestigious and most sought-after professions in the usa. Certifications matter a lot in the modern competitive world. Jobs in the hospitality profession require those who are good working with different men and women.

How to Scale HR Processes for Growing Companies - Spark Hire

How to Scale HR Processes for Growing Companies - Spark HireYou start out as a one-person show or with just an employee or two. But as your company grows, you need to make sure that your processes and tools grow along with you. Human resources is just one area you need to ensure keeps pace with your ever-expanding needs. Follow ansicht 5 steps to get ahead.1. Refine Your RecruitingYour first employee might have been your third cousin, Ned, but now you need more sophisticated channels for finding your next hire than the family tree. Job boards and Craigslist can be great channels for finding talent and dont overlook industry-specific job posting sites like Dice (technology) or HealthCare Source (healthcare).Also consider whether you want to handle your own recruiting or not. If you dont feel adept at the process or simply dont have time for it, hiring a recruiter could be a great way to get access to highly-qualified candidates without weeding through hundreds of resumes.No matter whe re you recruit from, make sure you have clearly-defined job descriptions so that you accurately hire for the role. Hang onto these and then revamp them when you rehire for a given position.Also realize that the more people you hire, the more different generations youll be dealing with. Understanding that, recruiting Millennials might need to look slightly different from recruiting Gen Xers ensures you put your company in the best light for every generation.2. Nail Down the Onboarding ProcessYou might have hired your first few employees without a real onboarding plan, but the more you grow, the easier the early days will be if you have processes clearly defined.Create hiring packets that include all the information a new hire needs for their role, including employee handbook, benefits information, policies, and procedures. Give them an option to fill out the necessary paperwork from home before they start so they can hit the ground running.Because so much of the onboarding process is identical for each new employee, youll save yourself a ton of time by streamlining the processes and documents.3. Get a Training PlanAfter that smooth onboarding process, youll want an easy and effective way to train new employees. While hands-on training is imperative for pretty much any role, a learning management system (LMS) can help facilitate that training. The beauty of LMS is that employees can study and train on modules of their roles at their convenience. You can reinforce learning with quizzes at the end of each section and include interactive features to keep them engaged.The best part? You can reuse these modules for any role. You can also use LMS for ongoing professional development for employees who are looking to earn a vorrcken or step into a new role. Its a great perk of working for your company if an employee knows they have the opportunity to grow their career with you4. Hire a Dedicated HR TeamIf you started out as the business owner managing the minimal human resources tasks, that solution wont sustain itself for long. Rather than juggling hiring and training on top of your other responsibilities, get smart and hire an HR manager to take over those tasks. As your company grows, you might even need to expand the department and thats a good thing5. Focus on RetentionJust as important as finding and training the right people is keeping them around long-term. Motivated and engaged employees will work hard for your business for years, but it takes effort on your part to ensure that your staff is happy.Check in with each employee regularly to make sure theyre able to do their job effectively, and that they dont have any issues impeding their work. Offer opportunities for advancement, as well as that professional development mentioned earlier so that they have room to stretch their wings in your company.When employees do quit, sit down with them for an exit bewerbungsgesprch to understand the reason. While it may be beyond your control (they ar e moving to Texas), you may find out interesting details about team dynamics or building frustration among your staff that you can then work to remedy to keep others from jumping ship.Change and growth are good, but they require a bit of flexibility and attentiveness to manage well. Establish processes to make recruiting, hiring, training, and keeping your employees easier, and your HR department will run like a well-oiled machineAbout the AuthorChristine Soeun Choi is a digital marketing associate at Fit Small Business. Currently based in NYC, she has a background in business studies and math with a passion for business development. Outside of work, Christine enjoys taking photos, exploring artwork, and traveling.

How to Write a Cover Letter Everything You Need to Know

How to Write a Cover Letter Everything You Need to KnowHow to Write a Cover Letter Everything You Need to Know7theres a definite art to the exercise of writing a great titel letter.Like most aspects of job hunting, understanding how to write a titelbild letter can be learned, and you can only get better with time and experience. As you grow increasingly comfortable with selling yourself and explaining why youre the best candidate for the job (the reason cover letters exist, of course), you may come to appreciate how to take advantage of cover letter tips to write a letter that makes you shine.Heres what you need to know about how to write a cover letterDO Strategies to consider.Start off strong.Kick off your cover letter with a bang. Some options include making a statement about your enthusiasm for the company, your passion about what you do and your accomplishments, or using keywords in your cover letter to catch the hiring managers attention.Explain why youre the one.Making the cas e for why youre the best candidate for the job can help you preemptively answer the question of why you want to work for a particular company by showcasing your knowledge and qualifications.Research the company.Finding an employer thats a good fit for your flexible career goals is an essential first step in your job search. If youre a member (and hopefully you are), understanding how to research a company in the database can set you on the right path.Study the company culture. Seek to know acompanys cultureand understand its mission and how it works to achieve it. Study the companys website and research outside sources in your research, and reference your knowledge about the company in your cover letter.DONT Mistakes to avoid.A cookie-cutter approach.A job search isnt one size fits all, so to that end, take particular care to ensure that you customize your cover letter not just to the company, but to the particular job at hand. Each cover letter you write should be unique to the j ob youre applying for.Being long-winded.Keep your cover letter tightly worded and avoid straying off course by being wordy or bringing up off-topic information. As much as possible, avoid repeating your resume while keeping your language personal in a succinct way.Inappropriate humor.Exhibiting humor thats in poor taste is bad form in pretty much any situation, but it can be particularly harmful in a cover letter. While you dont want to be overly serious or heavy, avoid going to the opposite extreme by being too light or frivolous.Loaded words and phrases. Self-promotion (which is what a cover letter involves) can be tricky, and its easy to step over the line. Certainwords and phrasescan be overkill, such as saying youre THE perfect person for the job, or coming off as too picky or demanding.The Basics of a Cover Letter That ShinesA major goal of writing a standout cover letter, of course, is to set yourself apart from other job candidates. As you compose a letter that helps you shi ne, dont lose sight of a few basics.Make sure you address the letter to the correct person.Be sure to use the correct title (Mr. or Ms. is usually appropriate) and name of the contact person. At all costs, avoid using To Whom It May Concern or other generic titles or honorifics, which could be a red flag that you havent done your research.Spell out the specific position youre applying for.No matter how beautifully crafted your cover letter may be, it may all be for nothing if you fail to include the basic information like the title of the job youre trying to land and, particularly, the kind of work flexibility youre seeking.Demonstrate your knowledge of the employer.You can be brief, but a tightly crafted sentence or two that shows off what you know about the employer can make you stand out. Good places to research this information include the About Us and mission statements of a companys website. Researching companies on can help get you ahead.Briefly highlight your soft skills.A cover letter is a great opportunity to highlight any soft skillsyou may have. Unlike so-called hard skills, soft skills encompass interpersonal talents like creativity, interpersonal relationships, communication, and decision-making.A big finish.Make your final paragraph a closer. Summarize why youre the right candidate for the job and dont forget to thank the hiring contact for their time and consideration. If a meeting or interview hasnt been set up or offered, nows a good time to request one as the next step in the hiring process.Looking for some help with your job search or career?SIGN UP FOR CAREER COACHING

Living in a financial desert can be bad for credit score, financial success

Living in a financial desert can be bad for leistungspunkt score, financial successLiving in a financial desert can be bad for credit score, financial successYour financial health is partially a result of whether or not you grew up in proximity to banking or other financial institutions, according to a new study from Iowa State University.Those who were exposed to banks at earlier ages have increased financial literacy and trust of the institution. However, people who grew up in financial deserts swaths of neighborhoods without banks hesitate to get credit, resulting in lower credit scores and more delinquent accounts.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe study will be published in the Journal of Financial Economics.The fact that this has a lingering impact is important because people dont have a lot of control over where they grow up, said researcher James Brown, Kingland MBA p rofessor, in a release. I remember growing up right across the street from a bank and going with my dad to open my first account. But a lot of people grow up in an environment where banks are not visible and its not as easy to connect to a financial institution at a young age.The researchers obtained their data by studying people on Native American reservations with tribal courts, comparing them to people on Native American reservations with state courts. Reservations with tribal courts had 20% fewer bank branches per capita in the 2000s.FindingsFor those who grew up with fewer financial institutionsThey are 20% less likely to have a credit reportThey have 7 to 10-point lower credit scoreThey have 2 to 4 percent higher delinquency ratesThe effect on their credit scores is similar to the effect of reducing annual income by $6,000Moving to a community with stronger financial markets does improve individuals situations. However, researchers estimated, it still takes about 17 years to g et their credit score back on track and 12 years to reduce delinquency rates.Exposure and trust go together, said Brown. If you grow up in an environment with more banks, youre more inclined to trust banks and the financial system. If you grow up in a financial services desert, youre much less likely to trust financial institutions, which may be one reason you dont engage or you dont pay back your credit card bills with the same frequency.Relatedly, The New York Times reported on financial deserts in 2017, writing that the Bronx has fewer bank branches than any borough except for Staten Island.That same year, the Wall Street Journal reported on the closure of black-owned banks across the country. On the South Side of Chicago, a resident told the paper that fewer small banks in her neighborhood meant that it would turn into a financial desert, with only predatory institutions available for banking, like payday lenders and check-cashing joints.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reve als 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

The 6 Things You Should Never Sacrifice for Your JobNo Matter What

The 6 Things You Should Never Sacrifice for Your JobNo Matter WhatThe 6 Things You Should Never Sacrifice for Your Job- No Matter WhatThe typical workday is long enough as it is, and technology is making it even longer. When you do finally get home from a full day at the office, your mobile phone rings off the hook, and emails drop into your inbox from people who expect immediate responses.While most people claim to disconnect as soon as they get home, recent research says otherwise. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that more than 50% of us check work email before and after work hours, throughout the weekend, and even when were sick. Even worse, 44% of us check work email while on vacation.A Northern Illinois University study that came out this summer shows just how bad this level of connection really is. The study found that the expectation that people need to respond to emails during off-work hours produces a prolonged stress response, which the res earchers named telepressure. Telepressure ensures that you are never able to relax and truly disengage from work. This prolonged state of stress is terrible for your health. Besides increasing your risk of heart disease, depression, and obesity, stress decreases your cognitive performance.We need to establish boundaries between our personal and professional lives. When we dont, our work, our health, and our personal lives suffer.Responding to emails during off-work hours isnt the only area in which you need to set boundaries. You need to make the critical distinction between what belongs to your employer and what belongs to you and you only. The items that follow are yours. If you dont set boundaries around them and learn to say no to your boss, youre giving away something with immeasurable value.1. Your HealthIts difficult to know when to set boundaries around your health at work because the decline is so gradual. Allowing stress to build up, losing sleep, and sitting all day witho ut exercising all add up. Before you know it, youre rubbing your aching back with one hand and your zombie-like eyes with the other, and youre looking down at your newly acquired belly. The key here is to not let things sneak up on you, and the way you do that is by keeping a consistent routine. Think about what you need to do to keep yourself healthy (taking walks during lunch, not working weekends, taking your vacations as scheduled), make a plan, and stick to it no matter what. If you dont, youre allowing your work to overstep its bounds.2. Your FamilyIts easy to let your family suffer for your work. Many of us do this because we see our jobs as a means of maintaining our families. We have thoughts such as I need to make more money so that my kids can go to college debt-free. Though these thoughts are well-intentioned, they can burden your family with the biggest debt of all- a lack of quality time with you. When youre on your deathbed, you wont remember how much money you made f or your spouse and kids. Youll remember the memories you created with them.3. Your SanityWhile we all have our own levels of this to begin with, you dont owe a shred of it to your employer. A job that takes even a small portion of your sanity is taking more than its entitled to. Your sanity is something thats difficult for your boss to keep track of. You have to monitor it on your own and set good limits to keep yourself healthy. Often, its your life outside of work that keeps you sane. When youve already put in a good days (or weeks) worth of work and your boss wants more, the most productive thing you can do is say no, and then go and enjoy your friends and hobbies. This way, you return to work refreshed and de-stressed. You certainly can work extra hours if you want to, but its important to be able to say no to your boss when you need time away from work.4. Your IdentityWhile your work is an important parte of your identity, its dangerous to allow your work to become your whole i dentity. You know youve allowed this to go too far when you reflect on whats important to you and work is all that (or most of what) comes to mind. Having an identity outside of work is about more than just having fun. It also helps you relieve stress, grow as a person, and avoid burnout.5. Your ContactsWhile you do owe your employer your best effort, you certainly dont owe him or her the contacts youve developed over the course of your career. Your contacts are a product of your hard work and effort, and while you might share them with your company, they belong to you.6. Your IntegritySacrificing your integrity causes you to experience massive amounts of stress. Once you realize that your actions and beliefs are no longer in alignment, its time to make it clear to your employer that youre not willing to do things his or her way. If thats a problem for your boss, it might be time to part ways.Bringing it All TogetherSuccess and fulfillment often depend upon your ability to set good boundaries. Once you can do this, everything else just falls into place.More From Inc.If Your Boss Is Pushing You Too Hard, This Might Be Why5 Reasons to Stop Apologizing and Ask for What You Deserve5 Essential Tips for Finding a Work-Life Balance