Avoid Indeed and Use These Job Boards Instead

Avoid Indeed and Use These Job Boards InsteadAvoid Indeed and Use These Job Boards InsteadThe job motherboard Indeed is one of the most well-known job boards for finding online applications. But there are things about it that should leave job seekers wanting to use other job boards. We explain the reasons to avoid Indeed and the reasons why you should use other job boards.Indeed should be avoided for 5 simple reasonsEmployers do not have to pay to use it. Anyone can post anything.Job seekers use the site for free, too. Anyone can apply to anything.Fake or expired job applications.Spam invites to apply for jobs that do not match resumes.Sponsored jobs that only appear higher in searches due to the amount paid by the employer.Ultimately, as a job seeker, you are using website with very low accountability, screening, or quality control. Since Indeed is absolutely free to post jobs, hiring managers often post 2,3,even 5 of the same job while testing out different titles and job descripti ons to entice the applicants. Even though this job site may have morejobs posted than any other job board in the world, the numbers do not make it easier to get hired. In fact, it makes it more difficult. You will spend countless hours applying to duplicate jobs only to become discouraged with your efforts.Use these job boards insteadLinkedInGlassdoorZipRecruiterTheLaddersWhy are these job boards better?LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter all cost the employer money to post job opportunities. This cuts down on the amount of fake, expired, and duplicate job listings. Fake job listings come in forms of advertisements for other job listing sites or jobs posted simply to advertise a new startup. Websites like the TheLadders cost money for both the job seeker and employer. If you are an executive or manager, TheLadders is a great website. You do not deal with hundreds of competing applications. You do not see entry-level, low paying work. The website cuts out the not-so-serious users b y having them pay. And in the process, provides a higher quality service.At the end of the day, it comes down to quality assurance caused by asking people to show how serious they are about their openings by asking them to pay. Some may not agree with that geschftliches miteinander model but in the end, it makes finding work much easier.

Why you should take on your biggest projects in the fall

Why you should take on your biggest projects in the fallWhy you should take on your biggest projects in the fallIs there a big project looming over your head? You should actually start it as soon as possible because it turns out Autumn is the most productive season. New data from software companyRedbooth that looked at1.8 1000000 projects and 28 million tasks over a four-year period found that the average person gets mora work done in the fall than any other season.The study found that people are20% more productive in autumn than in winter11% more productive in autumn than in spring7% more productive in autumn than summerIt isnt surprising that we would be less productive in winter,though a bit surprising that we are actually more productive in summer than spring.In fact, October (the month we are in now) is the most productive month followed by September and November. The least productive month is January. People complete 9.5% tasks in while in January they only do 7.2%. The researc hers surmised that it could be the holiday rush that pressures people into getting more done but perhaps even adults have that refreshed, back to school feeling in the fall. Check out the chart below.As for which days and what time of day we are most productive the study found that even though you may hate Mondays, you work super well on them as that is the day people reported completing the most tasks at 20.4%. Sunday was the least productive day which makes sense.Your most productive hour during the day is right before lunch at 11 AM and then the effects of food platzdeckchen in and are slump tends to occur after 1 PM.But if you are looking to take on your most challenging project, start it on a Monday at 11 AM in October.

Understanding Your Sales Quota Agreement

Understanding Your Sales Quota AgreementUnderstanding Your Sales Quota AgreementLove them or hate them, schlussverkauf positions and quotas go hand in hand. While most every sales professional is assigned a quota, many do leid understand how they are formulated, why they are important and how having a full understanding of your quota can be a major factor in your success in your sales career. Quotas From the Management Side Management sees sales quotas as both a tool for forecasting and for holding their sales professionals accountable. Without assigned quotas, reps have no formalized revenue or activity targets to shoot for and management is weakened without the ability to reference an objective expectation that both the managers and the reps agree to. And while reps may not necessarily agree with their assigned quotas, most employers include acknowledging any assigned sales quota as a requirement for employment. This acknowledgment means that the employed sales professional und erstands that he will be expected to produce at least his assigned quota and that management has the right to expect their reps to deliver assigned quotas. Quotas are not, however, purely a means for management to hold their employees accountable. Quotas are also used as a measurement tool to estimate and predict how much revenue can and should be expected from each rep or account base. While management often inflates the assigned quotas when compared to their estimates, quotas are (usually) grounded in reality and based on reasonable expectations. How Most Quotas are Formulated If you work for a sales company that has multiple sales territories or product lines, your assigned quota is likely the result of past performances, market share, and market data. While ansicht may seem a bit confusing, understand that for almost any industry, independent reports are available that describe the total opportunity for each market area and are often purchased by sales companies who need to understand better how best to market, position and sell their products or services. For newly formed sales companies, assigning quotas is much more of an optimistic approach since they lack key indicators like past performances, but the vast majority of assigned quotas are not random and are based on research and evidence. The Importance of Quotas Quotas are important for several reasons. First, they do give management a measuring vehicle against which they can judge the performance of their sales representatives. Secondly, quotas provide valuable feedback for management that aids in their forecasting requirements. Third, quotas are often used as part of a sales professionals compensation plan. Many comp plans include over-achievement bonuses that reward reps who exceed their assigned quotas and some comp plans include a variable pay-range that increases the closer a rep is to assigned quota. Quotas From a Sales Professionals Viewpoint Get 10 sales professionals in a room an d ask a simple question to them all How do you feel about your assigned sales quota? Those who respond that their quotas are too high and unrealistic are those reps who are far short of hitting their quotas. Those that respond that their quotas are tough but attainable and those reps who are very close or slightly over their assigned quota. And those that respond that their quota is very accurate and is a great motivating tool are those who are producing revenue that far exceeds their assigned quota Quotas are a part of practically every sales job and are often the cause of the majority of stress that a sales professionals deal with on a daily basis. Knowing that you are expected to deliver your assigned quota drives some to work even harder than they normally would and drives others to the world of fear, complaining and negativity. Learnhow successful reps view their quotas, manage around their quotas and view them as their minimum acceptable standard.

Survey finds why Americans enjoy traveling solo the most

Survey finds why Americans enjoy traveling solo the mostSurvey finds why Americans enjoy traveling solo the mostWhile taking a vacation with a friend or significant other can be easy and familiar, Americans want to strike out on their own when it comes to travel. A majority (66%) say they have already taken a trip by themselves or would consider doing so, according to research from YouGov RealTime in a survey they conducted of 1,215 adults. The most popular reason people offered for traveling alone (or wanting to) is being able to choose their own itinerary and decide things completely by themselves (47%).Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe other most popular reasonsOthers said it welches easier to relax on their vacation when they were alone (37%).A third (32%) said traveling alone builds up their independence and self-confidence. This reason was especially big among Millennial (41%)and Gen X (39%) women. Relatedly, Millennial women are most likely to say that theyve never traveled alone before but would consider doing so.Aelendher third (32%) said that certain destinations were attractive to them, but not to their partner or friends. (Serbia, anyone?)And 17% said it was easier to meet new people when they were flying solo.Who has already flown solo?Nearly one in five (19%) millennial women have traveled internationally alone, and 16% of female Gen Xers and 14% of female Baby Boomers have as well. Twenty percent of Millennial men have traveled alone.What kind of trip is good for solo-tripping?Of course, traveling solo depends on the type of trip. At least half of Americans (57%) says they would like to take a trip to another U.S. city by themselves. Half would be into taking a solo road trip. Fewer people are interested in taking a beach vacation by themselves (40%), and only 37% would want to go to a foreign city alone.Only a quarter would go camping alo ne, proving that pitching a tent and building a fire is a fairly social activity.Those who do not want to travel alone said their primary reasons are that they fear feeling unsafe (57%), especially women, or lonely (51%).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

Promissory Note FAQ - United States

Promissory Note FAQ - United StatesPromissory Note FAQ - United StatesDefinitionsWho is the Borrower?The Borrower is the person or corporation that receives value (money, property or some service) from the Lender on the condition that the Borrower will pay the principal amount plus any interest to the Lender at sometime in the future.Who is the Lender?The Lender is the person or corporation that gives something of value (money, property or some service) to the Borrower on condition that the Lender will be paid a certain amount in the future.What is the governing law for a Promissory Note?The governing law is the law of the jurisdiction in which the promissory elende will be entered into. Often the parties select the jurisdiction where the Lender resides. If the promissory note relates to the purchase of certain assets, then the location of those assets is selected.What is the Principal amount?The principal is the original amount of the note that is owed by the Borrower to the Lender on the date the Promissory Note is signed. Once the Borrower has begun to pay back the note, the principal refers to the amount of money still owing to the Lender at any given moment in time.What is interest?Interest is an amount charged to a Borrower for the use of the Lenders money. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed and is calculated at a specified interval over the course of the term of the Promissory Note. The interest rate is the annual interest rate.What does compounded mean?Compounded refers to how frequently the interest is calculated and added to the principal amount of the note to arrive at a new balance. The more frequently the interest is calculated, the more interest the Borrower will end up paying to the Lender.What is a demand promissory note?The balance owing in a demand promissory note does not need to be paid until the Lender demands to be repaid. In other words, the loan is repayable on demand. There is no fixed end date for the repaym ent of the note. Upon demand, the Borrower is given a certain period of time to repay the outstanding balance of the note.What is the difference between a Promissory Note and a Loan Agreement?Both contracts evidence a debt owed from the Borrower to the Lender, but the Loan Agreement contains more extensive clauses than the Promissory Note. Further, only the Borrower signs the promissory note while both parties sign a loan agreement.What is the Term?The Term is the time length of the note. At the end of the term, the Borrower must repay the outstanding balance of the note.Promissory Note DetailsI am a shareholder. Should I use the Loan Agreement, the Shareholder Loan Agreement, or the Promissory Note?As a shareholder, if you are lending money to the corporation, use our Shareholder Loan Agreement. If you are borrowing money from the corporation, use either our Loan Agreement or promissory note. If you want an extensive contract, use our Loan Agreement. Use our promissory note if you prefer a voreingestellt basic contract.Do I have to charge the Borrower interest?No, the Lender can choose whether or not to charge interest. If the Lender decides to charge interest, they can pick how much interest to charge. However, there may be tax consequences to the Lender or Borrower if interest is charged but it is not a reasonable rate.What are the payment options available?There are four options for the method of repayment. Specific periodic amounts - the Borrower will make a certain payment to the Lender on regular intervals. Lump sum payment at the end of the term - the Borrower pays nothing to the Lender until the end of the note term, at which time the Borrower repays the entire note in one payment. Interest only - the Borrower makes regular payments to the Lender that are put toward paying off the interest on the principal amount only, with no portion of the payment going towards the principal amount itself. Interest and principal - the Borrower makes regular payment s to the Lender that are put toward paying off both the principal amount and the interest as it is compounded. At the end of the term of the Loan Agreement, there will be no outstanding balance to be repaid.Should the Borrower be able to pay the Outstanding Principal without penalty?Granting this option enables the Borrower to pay the outstanding balance at any time without having to pay an additional sum as a penalty. If the Lender is making this loan as an investment, the Lender may not want to allow prepayment without a penalty as the lender would incur expenses and possible lost income in reinvesting this amount.Should the Lender require the Borrower to provide security/collateral for the note?If you do not take collateral, and the Borrower defaults on the note, you will have to take the Borrower to court in order to recover your money and your judgement can only be enforced against certain assets of the Borrower. However, if you take collateral for the note, then you may be ent itled to seize and sell the collateral if the Borrower fails to repay the note.Does the collateral need to be equivalent in value to the note amount?No, if collateral is given for the note, it can be for any amount. If the Borrower fails to repay the note, and the collateral is worth less than the note, then the Lender can seize the collateral and sue the Borrower for the remaining amount of the note. If the Lender recovers more than the outstanding balance from the sale of the collateral, any surplus amount would be returned to the Borrower or his other debtors depending upon the situation.Signing DetailsI do not know when the Promissory Note will be signed. Can I fill in the date later?Yes, by selecting Unsure as the date the note will be signed, a blank line will be inserted into the contract so that you can add the correct date after printing the document.Do I need witnesses to sign the Promissory Note?Generally speaking, there is no requirement for a witness or notary public to witness the signing of the Promissory Note. However, depending on the nature of the note and the governing law of the jurisdiction in which youre entering into the note, you may be required to have witnesses or a notary public witness the Promissory Note. Even if it is not required, having an objective third party witness the signing of the note will be better evidence when you need to enforce the repayment of the note. Signing the note in front of a notary public is the best evidence that the Borrower signed the note.Who should sign the promissory note?In general, at least the borrower should sign the promissory note. Depending how much the parties trust each other, you may also wish to have the lender sign as well AND get the signatures notarized.

Successful Strategies for What to Put under Skills on a Resume You Can Use Immediately

Successful Strategies for What to Put under Skills on a Resume You Can Use Immediately Things You Wont Like About What to Put under Skills on a Resume and Things You Will Resume writing ought to be carried out so as to sell yourself in market. As you proceed through the list of skills above, make a distinct list with the skills which you already possess. Technical skills are either something youve got or you dont, but theyre always something which youre able to learn. Dependent on the help of our expert sources, here are a number of broad sorts of skills your resume could include, together with unique approaches to express them. Networking becomes much easier when it is possible to introduce your friend in addition to yourself when meeting new folks. Therefore, if youd like, you can place the Skills section over the Work Experience section. A Key Skills section, on the flip side, is listed on top of a resume. Be sure your computer skills are of high caliber since they are crit ical for success in the modern marketplace. An SEO is someone who uses different practices and brings the website on top in the various search engine rankings. Youve got computer abilities. There are many skills that are required to be present in an SEO. Detecting a listing for an open dishwashing position is normally simple, but securing such a position isnt always so straightforward. You should write a quick description of each position youve held. For example, if you try to apply for a Chinese-English interpreting job, you ought to be fluent in both languages otherwise you would just not qualify for the position. Stand up and smile even if youre on a telephone interview. At length, youve figured out a career which you think will hold your interest for a very long time. An eye for detail is a crucial skill when seeking to pull customers to an item. In reality, you should only incorporate the most relevant info or the previous 10-15 decades of job history. Do not unnec essarily increase the duration of resume by including irrelevant details, but include all things you feel may assist you in your work. One, your present employer doesnt value what you need to offer and secondly, there might be some blind spots that you arent able to personally recognize. To put it differently, an organization might just be in the thinking stage and then once you come along and present your credentials, they will make a job only for you. Speak to professionals in the area If youre having a hard time determining what skills an employer might need to see, think about contacting a professional already working in the business or position very similar to the one that youre applying for. Remember to take a look at every part of a possible employer prior to making the leap to a different job. How to Choose What to Put under Skills on a Resume A skills resume also allows you to showcase what you could do rather than focus on a string of jobs. Then youve developed your communication abilities. Try to remember, the majority of the special skills that you set on your resume needs to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. Has up-to-date abilities and the capability to learn new abilities and procedures easily. In many instances, it is going to be simple to learn what skills you want to be thought about for the job. Key skills are work-related skills that you will need to do a job. Hard skills arent skills that are tough to learn. In the majority of cases, your soft skills can boost your hard skills. A hiring manager will be searching for skills which are the absolute most relevant to the job accessible. The decision can be found in the person. Remember you dont need to incorporate each and every job that youve ever had.

Working in Tech Without Tech Background

Working in Tech Without Tech Background A version of this article previously appeared on Skillcrush, an online education program for creatives, thinkers, and makers that gives total tech newbies the tools to make major career changes.Haele Wolfe, SkillcrushIm a Junior Editor here at Skillcrushmy job is to work with ur editorial team to edit this website youre reading at this very moment. When you picture editing, you probably think about someone staring at long blocks of text on a computer and making cuts or even marking up a manuscript with a big red pen. And youre not wronga lot of editing does look like that. It can be super low-tech and there are certainly editing jobs that dont require any tech skills. But those are becoming fewer and farther between, and as someone who doesnt come from a tech background, it was clear that my career wasnt moving in any positive direction taking the analog approach. I just knew I wouldnt be able to keep up with the changing media landscape if I w ere only to rely on my red pen. I never expected this, but if I wanted to keep editing with any type of job security, Id need to abflug applying my tech skillsand up skillto my career as an editor.When I started at Skillcrush, I had just the basics of hypertext markup language under my belt and a solid background in tech skills like video production and sound editing. There was still a learning curve with the amount of skills I needed to gain to be a digital editor, but luckily, picking up things on the fly is kind of my favorite thing, and learning tech skills isnt exactly a huge time investment.In addition to mora job security, moving from media to tech gives me flexibility I couldnt have imaginedespecially in the form of remote work. Since I began this position seven months ago, Ive logged in everywhere from Ohio, to Chicago, to Dallas, to Marthas Vineyard A typical day for me is filled with equal parts chatting with coworkers, organizing marketing strategies, adding to my growin g tech skills, and of curse, a lot of writing Heres a breakdown of how I spend my time.730 a.m.On a good day, I like to get up, start the coffee, and prioritize my to-do list before jumping on the computer. Im currently based in Brooklyn and live with roommatesthree human, one felinewho all work outside the home (except aforementioned feline, who is my daily co-worker). Mornings can be quite busy at ur place, with people vying for bathroom and kitchen space. I like to avoid the cluster and sip my coffee while plotting out the day or catching up on reading for one of my book clubs. (Right now, Im very behind in three of the book clubs, but doing okay in one. Making a mental note to carve out some extra reading time this week.) Taking time to assess what I need and want to get done for the day has been critical while adjusting to my position with Skillcrush. I also have a background in the arts, and enjoy having several side projects going in addition to my day job, so its vital that I create at least twousually threedaily to-do lists to address the separate needs of each facet of my life.900 a.m.Time to log on Depending on the day of the week and what projects Im helping facilitate, I may get on a little earlier to make sure things are running smoothly. Skillcrush was my introduction to many tech tools, but the one that has most dramatically reshaped my thinking is SCRUM.My day runs on the principles of SCRUMa project management strategy that began in the software industry and is now widely used to track projects and help keep team members connected. We use a program called JIRA to track our SCRUM progress, which allows us to break projects down into smaller tasks and move them from To Do, to In Progress, to Done. I love this system becauseas I mentioned aboveI love checklists SCRUM also bakes in time to check in daily, to have hard and fast deadlines, and to spend time looking back over the last working period (these are called sprints) to see what went well a nd what needs to change. In fact, Ive just finished implementing SCRUM to every facet of my personal, creative, and professional lives and use free online tools to manage my own projects. (Airtable and Trello, I love you.) Ive been SCRUM-ing my life for about a month now, and Im already seeing improved results. So first thing in the morning, Im likely looking at our JIRA dashboard to see what tasks I need to do today, see if theres anything I need to run by my co-workers, and make a plan for what I hope to move to the Done column by the end of the day.Oftentimes, the first thing on my agenda is to build posts in our content management system, WordPress. Sometimes I think of WordPress as the coworker with whom I spend the most time. WordPress is a staple for any editortech or otherwisesince so many sites run on the platform. Every story that appears on our site has to be formatted and scheduled through WordPress, which requires some HTML know-how. One of my big goals right now is to dive deeper into HTML and to finish learning PHP, the coding language associated with WordPress.In the last minutes before I start our big meeting bloc, I spend a few minutes every morning checking in on our social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. This ends up being one the most fulfilling aspects of my day, since the Skillcrush community is so active, funny, and supportive. Getting to celebrate goals with students, check out the work theyre posting, and laugh at the latest corgi gif being passed around is a pretty perfect way to start the day.1100 a.m.100 p.m.The Marketing Team works across several time zones, and 11 a.m. is our sweet spot for daily check-ins, planning, weekly reviews, and the hottest gossip about everything from goat yoga to paragliding. We use Google Hangouts to connect with each other, as well as the chat program HipChat to talk throughout the day. Though it was weird only connecting on video at first, I now absolutely love the balance betw een facetime and digital chatting. Having focused meeting time makes it easier to concentrate on hitting goals, and makes my workday way more efficientand we use this time for my favorite thing SCRUM Every day we have a 15 minute daily check in where we provide updates, resolve blockers, or ask for support, and then we either have a planning session for our next sprint, a presentation of the sprint thats just ended, or a review of how we think the sprint went. Theres also one-on-one meetings with my boss or worksessions with other coworkers where we collaborate on projects.100 p.m.200 p.m.Lunchtime Stepping away from the computer for a bit helps me to refocus after a block of meetings, so I try to force myself to take this break. It can be tempting to just keep going, but I need the down time so that I can shift into writing or editingwhich for me requires more uninterrupted concentration.Since I have chronic back pain and often have trouble sitting for long periods, I also use my l unch break to do yoga or go to a class at a local studio around the corner from my apartment. I feel super strongly about how the flexibility of remote work helps me to accommodate my physical needswhich change day to dayand have often been difficult to work around at other jobs. Although this daily exercise may seem insignificant, it has radically improved my physical and mental well-being.300 p.m.500 p.m.The second half of my day is reserved for writing and editing, since its usually not as meeting-filled as the morning. I start by checking in with the Editorial team about what stories were working on, what stage my teammates are in, and what we need to plan for in the coming weeks. Then its knocking out edits, fact checking, telling our writers what changes I need from their articles, marking the stories as done and ready to be built in WordPress the following morning. I also write a fair amount of articles for the site, so that means researching, interviewing experts, and thenof coursethe actual writing. My favorite editorial task is interviewing Skillcrushersboth current students and alumnifor articles we run about learning to code, remote life, or their winding career paths. Ive picked up so many new tips and tricks just from having to do research for this position, everything from how to timebox my day like a pro, to the smartest ways to gain clients as a freelancer.600 p.m.1000 p.m.After work I like to cook dinner, look at my personal and creative to-do lists, and start knocking some things out before I have to hit the hay. In a perfect world I get to roll into bed around ten, read for a bit, and the turn out the lights. But living in Brooklyn, there always seem to be events, creative meet-ups, dinners, or other fun things to attend, that often keep me out laterwhat a great problem to have Depending on what kinds of artistic projects Im working on that are most pressing, Ill look for events that sound like theyll help me network or will add to my skill set. Often, Im working on deadline and am stuckverzierung drawing or editing right up till bedtime, but the satisfaction of finishing something I love is totally worth the late nights. And, having a packed schedule forces me to be more conscious of my time and more organized at the beginning of every day. So whether Im logging in from my house or the highway, I know what I need to do and how long it should take me. In another seven months, Ill be moving onto new coding languages, video calling in from even crazier places, and still touting the magic of SCRUMwatch out. One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction work ers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that dive rse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive neuschpfung and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. Th e next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

7 Tricky Interview Questions Private Equity and Hedge Fund Firms Ask

7 Tricky Interview Questions Private Equity and Hedge Fund Firms Ask7 Tricky Interview Questions Private Equity and Hedge Fund Firms AskBrainteasers are like standardized tests of little relevance to the actual subject but designed to compare all people equally. As for what ansicht tricky interview questions entail, they typically encompass probability and/or statistics. Both hedge funds and private equity firms use brainteasers during the interview process. But hedge funds use them more often because these questions test mental math skills, which are perhaps more important for hedge fund jobs than PE positions.Accuracy, of course, is key to answering brainteasers. But so is your thinking process. You should expect to explain your reasoning a logical verbal breakout followed by a wrong answer is better than just a plain wrong answer. Dont forget Pay attention to your interviewers face for clues as to whether youre going in the right or wrong direction. And, since brainteasers are mea nt to be tough, its fine to take a minute to collect your thoughts and outline the steps toward calculating your answer.That said, here are some example questions (along with their answers) to give you an idea of what to expect if youre interviewing with a PE firm or hedge fund.1. What is the probability of drawing two sevens in a card deck?You can multiply the individual probabilities to get the cumulative probability. There are four 7s in a deck of 52 cards. Therefore, the probability of drawing the first 7 is 4/52 or 1/13. On the second draw, there are only three 7s in a deck of 51 cards, yielding a probability of 3/51 or 1/17. So 1/13 multiplied by 1/17 equals a cumulative probability of 1/221. (Dont expect to be able to use paper or a calculator for 13 times 17. You can just simplify the math in your head by saying 17 times 10 is 170, positiv 3 times 17 which is 51, and yields 221.)2. You play a game of dice where you are paid the equivalent amount of dollars to the number you roll (i.e., if a 4 is rolled then you get $4). You roll one fair six-sided die. How much are you willing to pay for this roll?The expected return is every possibility multiplied by the probability of the possibility. The average of all the potential die rolls, which each have equal probabilities, is $3.50, the midpoint between 1 and 6.How much would you pay to play the same game, but with the vorkaufsrecht to roll again? If you only roll once you get that score if you choose to roll again, you get the score of the second roll.Intuitively, you know the price should be higher since youre given the option to roll again if youre dissatisfied with your first roll. You should only roll a second time if the first roll is less than 3.5, the expected value. Thus, you have the following six scenarios rolling 4, 5, 6 and stopping, or rolling 1, 2, 3, and rolling again. Again, the expected roll is 3.5, so the latter three outcomes have expected returns of 3.5. Therefore, a game of two rolls exp ected return is (4 + 5 + 6 + 3.5 + 3.5 + 3.5)/6 = $4.25.Again, same games, option for a third roll now. How much will you pay?Follow the same logic as before two rolls have an expected return of 4.25 so you will only roll a third time if you get above that. You have an expected return of (4.25 + 4.25 + 4.25 + 4.25 + 5 + 6)/6 = $4.67. As the number of rolls approaches infinity, the price you pay gets closer to $6.00.3. You have stacks of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. The number of coins in the stacks is irrelevant. You can take coins from a stack in any amount, any order, and place them in your hand. What is the greatest dollar value in coins you can have in your hands without being able to make change for a dollar with the coins in your hand?Start adding the highest coin to your hand, the quarter. Four quarters make a dollar, so you can only have three quarters $0.75. Five dimes would bring it to a dollar, so you can only have four dimes $1.15 = 0.75 + .40. You cant add a n ickel because three quarters, two dimes, and the additional nickel would create a dollar. But you can add four pennies for a maximum total of $1.19 = 1.15 + .04.4. A closet has three light bulbs inside. Next to the door (outside) are three switches for each light bulb. If you can only enter the closet one time, how do you determine which switch controls which light bulb?Turn on two switches, A and B, and leave them on for a few minutes. Then turn off switch B and enter the room. The bulb that is lit is controlled by switch A. Touch the other two bulbs, which are off. The one that is still warm is controlled by switch B. The third bulb, off and cold, is controlled by switch C.5. What is the square root of 7,000,000 (approximately)?You know that 2 * 2 = 4 and that 3 * 3 = 9, and that 1,000 * 1,000 = 1,000,000 so the answer has to be between 2,000 and 3,000. Edge closer in, 2.5 * 2.5 = 6.25 and 2.7 * 2.7 = 7.29 so the answer is approximately 2,600.6. You are given a length of rope, whi ch can be lit to burn for an hour. However, the rope burns unevenly (meaning half of it burnt does not indicate a half-hour has passed). How would you burn the rope to know that a half-hour has passed?To measure a half-hour, burn both ends at once. One side will burn faster than the other, but the opposite side will burn slower such that when they meet, the equivalent of half the time has passed.If you were given two ropes, how would you measure 45 minutes?For two ropes, take one rope and burn both ends like the previous situation. At the same time, light the second rope on only one end. When the first rope burns out, a half hour has passed. The second rope only has 30 more minutes on it. Immediately burn the opposite end of the second rope. The fire will meet at both ends again, which is fifteen minutes.7. Youve got a 10 x 10 x 10 cube made up of 1 x 1 x 1 smaller cubes. The outside of the larger cube is completely painted. On how many of the smaller cubes is there any paint?First, note that the larger cube is made up of 1000 smaller cubes. Think about how many cubes are NOT painted. 8 x 8 x 8 inner cubes are not painted which equals 512 cubes. Therefore, 1,000 - 512 = 488 cubes that have some paint. Alternatively, you can calculate this by recognizing that two 10 x 10 sides are painted (200) plus two 10 x 8 sides (160) plus two 8 x 8 sides (128) 200 + 160 + 128 = 488.The above was excerpted from the Vault Guide to Private Equity and Hedge Fund Interviews.Follow us onTwitter.Read More50 Best Banking Firms to Work ForHow to Land a Private Equity Job11 Interview Questions Private Equity Firms Ask (and How to Answer Them)

10 tweaks to your morning routine that will transform your day

10 tweaks to yur morning routine that will transform yur day10 tweaks to yur morning routine that will transform yur dayI dont know anyone who couldnt use a little boost in their energy and self-control.Researchers at the University of Nottingham recently published findings from their exploration of 83 separate studies on energy and self-control. What they found will change the way you start your day.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraThe researchers found that self-control and energy are not only intricately linked but also finite, daily resources that tire much like a muscle. Even though we dont always realize it, as the day goes on, we have increased difficulty exerting self-control and focusing on our work. As self-control wears out, we feel tired and find tasks to be mora difficult and our mood sours.This exhaustion of self-control kills your productivity, and it makes the mor ning hours, when self-control is highest, the most important hours of the day.But the trick isnt just to spend your morning hours working its to do the right things in the morning that will make your energy and self-control last as long as possible.For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been No for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Steve JobsThe Nottingham research has led me to uncover ways we can break bad habits in the morning and maximize our energy and self-control throughout the day.Whether you naturally wake up feeling alert and productive or rise with the brainpower of a zombie, these tips will help you transform your morning routine and set a positive tone that lasts the entire day.Start with exerciseResearchers at the University of Bristol found that people who exercise during the workday ha ve more energy and a more positive outlook, which are both critical to getting things done. Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. Exercising first thing in the morning ensures that youll have the time for it, and it improves your self-control and energy levels all day long.But drink some lemon water firstDrinking lemon water as soon as you wake up spikes your energy levels physically and mentally. Lemon water gives you steady, natural energy that lasts the length of the day by improving nutrient absorption in your stomach. You need to drink it first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) to ensure full absorption. You should also wait 15-30 minutes after drinking it before eating (perfect time to squeeze in some exercise). Lemons are packed with nutrients theyre chock full of potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants. If youre under 150 pounds, drink the ju ice of half a lemon (a full lemon if youre over 150 pounds). Dont drink the juice without water because its hard on your teeth.No screen time until breakfastWhen you dive straight into e-mails, texts, and Facebook, you lose focus and your morning succumbs to the wants and needs of other people. Its much healthier to take those precious first moments of the day to do something relaxing that sets a calm, positive tone for your day. Jumping right into electronics has the opposite effect - its a frantic way to start your day. Exercising, meditating, or even watching the birds out the window are all great ways to start the day.Eat arealbreakfastEating anything at all for breakfast puts you ahead of a lot of people. People who eat breakfast are less likely to be obese, they have more stable blood-sugar levels, and they tend to be less hungry over the course of the day. And these are just the statistics for people who eat any breakfast. When you eat ahealthybreakfast, the doors to a produ ctive day swing wide open. A healthy breakfast gives you energy, improves your short-term memory, and helps you to concentrate more intensely and for longer periods.Set goals for the dayResearch shows that havingconcretegoals iscorrelated with huge increases in confidence and feelings of control. Setting goals specific to the day puts everything into motion. Narrow your goals down to a few achievable ones that can easily be broken down into steps. Vague goals such as I want to finish writing my article are counter-productive because they fail to include the how of things. The same goal re-phrased in a more functional way would read something like this I am going to finish my article by writing each of the three sections, spending no more than an hour on each section. Now, you have more than simply something you want to achieve - you have a way to achieve it.Getting your morning started off right at home is important, but its only half the battle. If you fail to maintain that tone o nce you set foot in the office, your morning can lose momentum quickly. Heres how you can maintain a productive tone once you hit the officeFirst, clean your workspaceEven though its a pain to clean right when you get into work, it makes a big difference to your ability to concentrate. A Princeton University study found that people who worked in a clean workspace out-performed those who worked in a cluttered one because clutter pulls your attention away from your work. In fact, the effects of clutter on concentration are not all that different from the effects of multi-tasking.No e-mail until youve eaten three frogsEating a frog is the greatest antidote to procrastination, and the most productive people know the importance of biting into this delicacy first thing in the morning. In other words, spend your morning on something that requires a high level of concentration that you dont want to do, and youll get it done in short order. Make a habit of eating three frogs before you check your e-mail because e-mail is a major distraction that enables procrastination and wastes precious mental energy.Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day. Mark TwainKeep morning meetings on scheduleMeetings are the biggest time waster there is, and they can ruin an otherwise productive morning. People who use their mornings effectively know that a meeting will drag on forever if they let it, so they inform everyone at the onset that theyll stick to the intended schedule. This sets a limit that motivates everyone to be more focused and efficient. Keep your morning meetings on time, and your entire day will stay on track.Dont multitaskMulti-tasking in the morning - when you have lots to do, tons of energy, and it feels like you can do two or three things at once - is tempting, but it sets your whole day back. Research conducted at Stanford University confirmed that multitasking is less productive than doing a single thing at a time. The researchers found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information cannot pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time.But what if some people have a special gift for multitasking? The Stanford researchers compared groups of people based on their tendency to multitask and their belief that it helps their performance. They found that heavy multitaskers (those who multitask a lot and feel that it boosts their performance) were actually worse at multitasking than those who like to do a single thing at a time. The frequent multitaskers performed worse because they had more trouble organizing their thoughts and filtering out irrelevant information, and they were slower at switching from one task to another. OuchMultitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus adequately on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully.Finally, say noNo is a powerful word that will protect your precious mornings. When its time to say no, avoid phrases such as I dont think I can or Im not certain. Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments and gives you the opportunity to successfully fulfill them while your mind is fresh. Research conducted at the University of California Berkeley showed that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression. Learn to use no, and it will lift your mood as well as your productivity.Bringing it all togetherThe right morning routine can make your day, every day. The trick is to be intentional about your mornings, understanding that a.m. hours are precious and should be handled with care.This article first appeared on LinkedIn.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your s ocial 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 people10 tweaks to your morning routine that will transform your dayI dont know anyone who couldnt use a little boost in their energy and self-control.Researchers at the University of Nottingham recently published findings from their exploration of 83 separate studies on energy and self-control. What they found will change the way you start your day.The researchers found that self-control and energy are not only intricately linked but also finite, daily resources that tire much like a muscle. Even though we dont always realize it, as the day goes on, we have increased difficulty exerting self-control and focusing on our work. As self-control wears out, we feel tired and find tasks to be more difficult and our mood sours.This exhaustion of self-cont rol kills your productivity, and it makes the morning hours, when self-control is highest, the most important hours of the day.But the trick isnt just to spend your morning hours working its to do the right things in the morning that will make your energy and self-control last as long as possible.For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been No for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Steve JobsThe Nottingham research has led me to uncover ways we can break bad habits in the morning and maximize our energy and self-control throughout the day.Whether you naturally wake up feeling alert and productive or rise with the brainpower of a zombie, these tips will help you transform your morning routine and set a positive tone that lasts the entire day.Start with exerciseResearchers at the University of Bristol fou nd that people who exercise during the workday have more energy and a more positive outlook, which are both critical to getting things done. Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. Exercising first thing in the morning ensures that youll have the time for it, and it improves your self-control and energy levels all day long.But drink some lemon water firstDrinking lemon water as soon as you wake up spikes your energy levels physically and mentally. Lemon water gives you steady, natural energy that lasts the length of the day by improving nutrient absorption in your stomach. You need to drink it first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) to ensure full absorption. You should also wait 15-30 minutes after drinking it before eating (perfect time to squeeze in some exercise). Lemons are packed with nutrients theyre chock full of potassium, vitamin C, and anti oxidants. If youre under 150 pounds, drink the juice of half a lemon (a full lemon if youre over 150 pounds). Dont drink the juice without water because its hard on your teeth.No screen time until breakfastWhen you dive straight into e-mails, texts, and Facebook, you lose focus and your morning succumbs to the wants and needs of other people. Its much healthier to take those precious first moments of the day to do something relaxing that sets a calm, positive tone for your day. Jumping right into electronics has the opposite effect - its a frantic way to start your day. Exercising, meditating, or even watching the birds out the window are all great ways to start the day.Eat arealbreakfastEating anything at all for breakfast puts you ahead of a lot of people. People who eat breakfast are less likely to be obese, they have more stable blood-sugar levels, and they tend to be less hungry over the course of the day. And these are just the statistics for people who eat any breakfast. Whe n you eat ahealthybreakfast, the doors to a productive day swing wide open. A healthy breakfast gives you energy, improves your short-term memory, and helps you to concentrate more intensely and for longer periods.Set goals for the dayResearch shows that havingconcretegoals iscorrelated with huge increases in confidence and feelings of control. Setting goals specific to the day puts everything into motion. Narrow your goals down to a few achievable ones that can easily be broken down into steps. Vague goals such as I want to finish writing my article are counter-productive because they fail to include the how of things. The same goal re-phrased in a more functional way would read something like this I am going to finish my article by writing each of the three sections, spending no more than an hour on each section. Now, you have more than simply something you want to achieve - you have a way to achieve it.Getting your morning started off right at home is important, but its only hal f the battle. If you fail to maintain that tone once you set foot in the office, your morning can lose momentum quickly. Heres how you can maintain a productive tone once you hit the officeFirst, clean your workspaceEven though its a pain to clean right when you get into work, it makes a big difference to your ability to concentrate. A Princeton University study found that people who worked in a clean workspace out-performed those who worked in a cluttered one because clutter pulls your attention away from your work. In fact, the effects of clutter on concentration are not all that different from the effects of multi-tasking.No e-mail until youve eaten three frogsEating a frog is the greatest antidote to procrastination, and the most productive people know the importance of biting into this delicacy first thing in the morning. In other words, spend your morning on something that requires a high level of concentration that you dont want to do, and youll get it done in short order. Ma ke a habit of eating three frogs before you check your e-mail because e-mail is a major distraction that enables procrastination and wastes precious mental energy.Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day. Mark TwainKeep morning meetings on scheduleMeetings are the biggest time waster there is, and they can ruin an otherwise productive morning. People who use their mornings effectively know that a meeting will drag on forever if they let it, so they inform everyone at the onset that theyll stick to the intended schedule. This sets a limit that motivates everyone to be more focused and efficient. Keep your morning meetings on time, and your entire day will stay on track.Dont multitaskMulti-tasking in the morning - when you have lots to do, tons of energy, and it feels like you can do two or three things at once - is tempting, but it sets your whole day back. Research conducted at Stanford University confirmed that multitas king is less productive than doing a single thing at a time. The researchers found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information cannot pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time.But what if some people have a special gift for multitasking? The Stanford researchers compared groups of people based on their tendency to multitask and their belief that it helps their performance. They found that heavy multitaskers (those who multitask a lot and feel that it boosts their performance) were actually worse at multitasking than those who like to do a single thing at a time. The frequent multitaskers performed worse because they had more trouble organizing their thoughts and filtering out irrelevant information, and they were slower at switching from one task to another. OuchMultitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus adequately on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully.Finally, say noNo is a powerful word that will protect your precious mornings. When its time to say no, avoid phrases such as I dont think I can or Im not certain. Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments and gives you the opportunity to successfully fulfill them while your mind is fresh. Research conducted at the University of California Berkeley showed that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression. Learn to use no, and it will lift your mood as well as your productivity.Bringing It All TogetherThe right morning routine can make your day, every day. The trick is to be intentional about your mornings, understanding that a.m. hours are precious and should be handled with care.This article first appeared on LinkedIn.

9 Phrases Successful People Say Every Day (and You Should, Too)

9 Phrases Successful People Say Every Day (and You Should, Too)9 Phrases Successful People Say Every Day (and You Should, Too)Accomplishments are based on actions, bedrngnis on thoughts- yet the thought is always father to the deed.Achievement starts with an idea, a perspective, a point of view, or even just an attitude.Here are some of the things extraordinarily successful people say every day- and how those statements spur them to take actions that lead to greater success1. No one else is willing to do that...so thats what I will do.Often, the easiest way to be different is to do what other people are unwilling to do.Pick one thing other people wont do. It can be simple. It can be small. Doesnt matter. Whatever it is, do it.Instantly, youll be a little different from the rest of the pack.Then keep going. Every day, think of one thing to do that no one else is willing to do.After a week, youll be uncommon. After a month, youll be special. After a year, youll be incredible...and you definitely wont be like anyone else. (And, in the process, you will develop remarkable mental toughness.)2. Wow. That wasnt so bad after all.The most paralyzing fear is fear of the unknown. (At least it is for me.)Yet nothing ever turns out to be as hard or as scary as we think. Plus, its incredibly exciting to overcome a fear. You get that, I cant believe I just did that rush, a thrill you may not have experienced for a long time.Every day do something a little scary, whether physically or emotionally. (If you need a quick boost of confidence to get you going, here are some really simple tricks to use.)Then, trust that you will figure out how to overcome any problems that arise.Because you will.3. I cant do everything today...but I can take one small step.You have plans. You have goals. You have ideas.Who cares? You have nothing until you actually do something.Every day we let hesitation and uncertainty stop us from acting on our ideas. Pick one plan, one goal, or one idea. And get started. Just take one small step.The first step is by far the hardest. Every successive step will be a lot easier.4. I should just be quiet.I used to talk a lot. I thought I was insightful and clever and witty and, well, a real hoot.Occasionally, very occasionally, I might even have been one of those things.Most of the time I was not.Truly confident people dont feel the need to talk. While I hate when it happens, I still sometimes realize Im not talking because the other person is interested in what I have to say but because Im interested in what I have to say. (Ick.)Never speak just to please yourself. When you do, you please no one. (And, unlike these folks, you wont be particularly likable.)5. I dont care what other people think.Most of the time, we should worry about what other people think- but not if it stands in the way of living the lives we really want to live.If you really want to start a business- which you can do in just a few hours, mind you- but youre worried that pe ople might say youre crazy, do it anyway. Pick one thing you havent tried because youre concerned about what other people think or say, and just go do it.Its your life. Live it your way.6. Ill show you.Im ashamed to admit it, but one of the best ways to motivate me is to insult me- or for me to manufacture a way to feel insulted, regardless of whether Im actually justified in feeling that way or not.Justified is not the point fueling my motivation to do whatever it takes to prove that person wrong, and, more importantly, achieve what I want to achieve is all that matters.Call it artificial competition or manufactured anger call it childish and immature call it creating perceived insults...but it works for me. (Hey, it worked for Michael Jordan.)And it can work for you.7. Its not perfect...and Im OK with that.Yes, you only get one mglichkeit to make a first impression. Yes, perfection is the only acceptable outcome.Unfortunately, no product or service is ever perfect, and no project or initiative is perfectly planned. Work hard, do great work, and let it go. Your customers will tell you what needs to be improved, and that means youll get to make improvements that actually matter to people.You cant accomplish anything until you let go. Do your best, let go...and then trust that youll work hard to overcome any shortcomings.8. I should have done better.Weve all screwed up. We all have things we could have done better. Words. Actions. Omissions. Failing to step up, step in, or be supportive.Successful people dont expect to be perfect, but they do think they can always be better.So think back on your day. Think about what went well. Then think about what didnt go as well as it could have and take ownership. Take responsibility.And promise yourself that tomorrow you will do a lot better.9. Thats OK. Ill just outwork them.Like Jimmy Spithill, skipper of Americas Cup-winning Team Oracle USA, says, Rarely have I seen a situation where doing less than the other guy is a good strategy.You may not be as experienced, as well funded, as well connected, as talented...but you can always out think, out hustle, and out work everyone else. (Or, as I like to say, the extra mile is a vast, unpopulated wasteland.)Even when everything else seems stacked against you, effort and persistence can still be your competitive advantages- and they may be the only advantages you truly need.More From Inc.How to Form Habits That Youll Keep for Life8 Deadly Ways to Kill Employee MotivationHow to Turn Every Failure Into a Measure for SuccessPhoto of speech bubble courtesy of Shutterstock.