7 ways to start being more self-disciplined right now

7 ways to abflug being more self-disciplined right now7 ways to start being more self-disciplined right nowAnyone can make alist of goals. But only a few learn how to be disciplined enough to achieve them.I grew up in a home and a family that constantlyreinforced the importanceof self-discipline. Every single night, Id watch my dad platzdeckchen the timer on the coffee maker and put his oatmeal in the refrigerator for the next morning. By 530 a.m., hed be awake. By 600 a.m., hed be in the gym. By 700 a.m., hed be knocking on my bedroom door, making sure I welches awake. And by 800 a.m., hed be at the hospital ready to operate. My dad is a spine surgeon.My mom, meanwhile, somehow managed to work as a voice teacher at a local college, and take my sister to her violin lessons, and take my younger brother to gymnastics practice, and take my other younger brother to chess club, all while making sure dinner was on the table by 500 p.m., and everyone was working on their homework or practic ing their respective musical instrument by 700 p.m.Our house operated like a retreat for the arts with my mothers thumb on a stopwatch.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreFrom a very young age, I learned how to be disciplined in all sorts of different ways.Truthfully, how I learned the art of self-discipline was through the World of Warcraft.Different from my other commitments as a teenager, like playing classical piano or hockey, the World of Warcraft was what gave me a way to tangibly measure my progress as a player. With piano, I could vaguely understand how I was improving year over year. With hockey, I could feel myself becoming more and more comfortable handling the puck. But in the World of Warcraft, each action, each step forward prompted me with some sort of measure for success abedrngnislageher bar of experience gained, or a new epic item. And it was this new way of perce iving my progress that ultimately made me more and more willing to devote time, energy, and effort into mastering the game.By 17 years old, I had become one of the highest ranked World of Warcraft players in NorthAmerica.Ever since I graduated high school, and ultimately moved on from gaming, I have been extremely aware of what both my family and the World of Warcraft taught me about discipline.So, if this is something youre looking to improve in yourself, here are 12 simple ways you can start practicing the art of self-discipline1. Dont set a goal without knowing how youre going to track its progress.One of the easiest things in the world is to imagine the thing you want to achieve.Unfortunately, thats what a mentor of mine would call mental masturbation. And no amount of imagining is going to move you any closer to what you can so clearly binnensee in your minds eye.Instead, challenge yourself to question how youre going to measure your progress. If you decide, I want to change X about my life, dont just write down your goal in your journal. Write down the way youre going to prove to yourself you are moving in the right direction. For example, whenever I set a goal for myself, I always write down how often Im planning on practicing the skill required for me to achieve that goal. If I want to write a book, how many days per week am I planning to work on it? And more importantly, how am I going to be honest with myself if too many days go by without me writing anything at all?2. Surround yourself with disciplined people.You are a reflection of the 5 people you spend the most time with.Plain and simple.If everyone around you eats junk food, chances are, youre going to eat junk food too. If everyone around you watches five hours of TV per day, chances are, youre going to start watching more TV with them. Which means, if you surround yourself with people who really, really struggle to be self-disciplined, then chances are, you will too.Instead, choose your friend swisely.Spend time around people who are extremely self-disciplined?- ?so that you can watch and learn how to be self-disciplined too. Mimic their daily routines (until you find one that works for you). Adopt a similar mentality. Absorb their habits.This is, without question, the fastest way to becoming more disciplined yourself.3. Read books that remind you of the importance of discipline for 20 minutes eachday.One of the best ways to keep yourself practicing the art of self-discipline is to remind yourself constantly about its importance.Now, something I write about often is being careful not to just spend all day consuming other peoples information, but making the time to practice these skills yourself.The rule I live by is that your input (say, reading) should never exceed your output (whatever the thing is you need to practice and want to master).Here are a few books I frequently pick up for quick reminders about the importance of disciplineThink and Grow Richby Napoleon HillTh e Practicing Mindby Thomas M. SternerThe ONE Thingby Gary Keller and Jay PapasanMasteryby Robert Greene4. Use a visual calendar to see how many days in a row youre consistently practicing.One of the best ways to keep yourself accountable is to see your progress (or lack thereof).This was something I always loved about video games. In the World of Warcraft, I could see how far I was from the next level. I could see how many more points I needed in order to buy an epic piece of gear. And because I could visualize the process, I found myself more willing to be engaged with it.So, recreate this same experience for yourself with a calendar.Lets say you want to be more disciplined with writing. Every day you successfully write (for 1 hour, 2 hours, whatever period of time you feel counts), put a big X through that day. Congratulations Youre well on your way in the world.Over time, those Xs will start to add up, and youll want to keep stringing them together. Simultaneously, if you go two weeks without putting an X through a single day, youre going to feel guilty.Good. You should.5. Detox distractions from your life at least one day perweek.Between the ages of 23 and 26 years old, I didnt allow myself to have Internet in my apartment.Im not kidding.The reason was because I knew that if I had the option of browsing the Internet or watching TV after a long day of work, then I was never going to do what I needed to do to become a successful writer. So, I removed the option altogether. That way, after I came home from a long day working as a copywriter at an ad agency, and then heading to the gym, I only had one option write.Every single night, for almost four years, I wrote from 900 p.m. to midnight.And thats how I wrote my first book,Confessions of a Teenage Gamer.To this day, I still find ways to detox unnecessary distractions from my life. During weekends, especially, Ill deliberately keep my phone on silent or away in another room. I wont watch TV or check my email. Saturdays and Sundays are reserved for nature and long hours spent thinking or working deeply on something.I encourage you to find ways to do the same.6. Journal constantly and always be honest with yourself.One of the hardest parts about becoming more disciplined is the fact that its so easy to forget why you wanted to be disciplined in the first place.Similarly to what I mentioned above, the reason is because everyone loves the idea of being more disciplined, but then after a few days they disconnect from their original desire. They either can no longer see the purpose, or they fall back into familiar habits out of comfort.A great way to combat this is by journaling all throughout theprocess.Ive been journaling since I was in middle school, but I started intentionally journaling in 2010?- ?and every year since. And one of the reasons I journal so frequently (I aim for daily, but weekly at a minimum) is to remind myself of the things Im working on and working toward.I dont like to o much time to go by without remembering where Im headed and why I chose that direction in the first place.7. If youre actively practicing being disciplined, allow yourself days to NOT be disciplined.During my no-Internet years (2326), I was obsessive about being disciplined.At the time, I was also a bodybuilder, so my entire life revolved around eating entire meals every 2.5 hours, on the dot, and 2-hour long lifting sessions immediately after work. Everything about my day was structured when I woke up, what I ate for breakfast, when I needed to start walking to the train, when I needed to leave work to make the express train home, when I needed to be in the gym by, how many meals I needed to have eaten beforehand, and what hour I needed to take my pre-workout supplement so that I had enough energy to lift and then write for 3 hours after, but not too much that I couldnt sleep.Needless to say, it was exhausting.One of the things I didnt do enough was give myself time to NOT be disc iplined. This is a hard line to draw for most people, considering many reward themselves with relaxation time regardless of whether or not theyre actively working toward their goals. But in my case, I was pretty far on the other side of the spectrum?- ?and Id very often bring myself right to the edge of burnout.Part of learning the Art of Self-Discipline is knowing when to push and when to pull back. Similar to my input v.s output philosophy, your pull-back time should never exceed your push time (where youre actively working toward improving yourself). Similarly, your push time should never be so much that your pull-back time is entirely nonexistent.Discipline is not a destination. Its a daily practice.Which means you need to optimize for a marathon?- ?not a sprint.This article originally appeared on Medium.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 Benj amin 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

How to Make Your Resume Less Boring

How to Make Your Resume Less BoringHow to Make Your Resume Less BoringYawn. Thats probably the last reaction you want from the person looking to hire you. If your resume is the summation of where youve been and what you can do going forward, you dont want it to be a snooze-fest. Figuring out how to make your resume less boring can be a make-or-break call when it comes to getting the job.In a sense, your resume is your front page, highlighting past accomplishments, but also offering a forward-looking view that shows your true potential. To be sure,formatting your resumeis always worth the time and effort. The last thing you want is to make your resume hard to read or access. But beyond that, you want your resume to stand out, and that means bringing a measure of excitement to telling your story in resume format.To departure off, you should assume that your resume might be screened first by an applicant tracking system,and thats where proper formatting can get you over the initial hurd le. Once your resume is in human hands, the real work begins to make your story, and your qualifications, shine and give you an edge over the competition.Read on for tips on how to make your resume less boringBe upfront about what you can do for the employer.Me, me, me. Sure, your resume is all about you, but more important, its also about what you can do for your potential employer. Besides listing all the great things youve done in your previous jobs, make sure you lay out clearly what you bring to the table for the company you want to work for in the future. Your career accomplishments should be offered in the active (not passive) voice, and should look outward to your possible new employer in a way that generates their interest in what you can do for them.Ditch the objective.One of the most powerful moves you can take to make your resume less boring is to ditch the so-called resume objective, which typically states what youre looking for in your next job, and in your career. The objective is one of those old-school automatic anschauungsyour resume doesnt need to make you stand out. A career objective statement can be a deal-killer if its all about what you want for yourself, rather than what you have to offer to a new employer.Get out of the weeds.Skip the minutiae that goes into all of the the day-to-day details about what your previous job duties may have been. Those tiny details are what can make a hiring managers eyes glaze over, and lead them to skip over your job application. Likewise, dont bog your resume down with unrelated hobbies, awards, or side interests that have little or no bearing on your qualifications for the job at hand.Use your own voice.If youre trying to impress a hiring manager with your industry savvy, it can be tempting to fall into corporate speak, peppering your resume with inside lingo or stilted business jargon. Its best not to go there if you want to stand out from your competitors. Demonstrating self-confidence by using your own voice in your resume can send a strong signal to a potential employer about your ability to be straightforward and get the job done.Be results-oriented.Whats the upshot of everything you did in your last job? Thats what youre looking to convey. Rather than say what you churned out, state what all your hard work achieved. Instead of sleepy verbs liked worked on this or that, use powerful, action-oriented verbs like delivered, initiated, led, supervised, or accomplished. That way, youre taking your employer to the finish line and giving them a vision of what may be in store for them, if they hire you.Got a good understanding of how to make your resume less boring? Use your revised resume to find a great flexible job.

Practicing to practice

Practicing to practicePracticing to practiceA few months ago we noted that some law schools are modifying their traditional classroom curricula in an effort to better prepare students for the real-life practice of law.The National Law Journal reports today that Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia is going to replace all academic classes for third-year students with experiential learning. Instead of burying their heads in casebooks and dodging professors questions, students will participate in simulated negotiations or oral arguments and consult with other lawyers-to-be in problem-solving sessions. In addition to role-playing scenarios, students may meet with real clientsand theyll even be expected to keep track of their billable hours, just like real lawyers.The schools goal, according to the description on its web site is to transform law school into a three-year progression from the purely academic study of law to the development of the lawyers professional role as counselor and advocate in the highest ethical traditions of the profession.To explain the thinking behind the new program, Dean Rod Smolla cites the wisdom of a Chinese proverb Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I will remember. Involve me, I will understand.- posted by vera

Want to be in the dictionary Heres your chance

Want to be in the dictionary Heres your chanceWant to be in the dictionary Heres your chanceSometimes at work, it can feel as though you share a secret language with your colleagues. As you speak your very own lingo, outsiders may give you blank stares. And thats sometimes fun, but other times, it just means bad communication.If only there were a place for poor souls who are out of the loop to look up your turns of phrase? Oh right, there is - its called the dictionary.But - and this may come as a shock - dictionary entries dont just magically happen. I know that growing up, dictionaries felt like something set in stone, probably written in 2000 B.C.E. by an enclave of hard-working elves. That is, however, not the case dictionaries are actually assembled by real, human people, and theyre changing all the time.Now, the folks over at the Oxford English Dictionary are asking for your help. In lieu of visiting all of your offices and taking stock of new turns of phrase (as the elves o f yore would have done), theyve posted an appeal online to learn about the words, phrases, and expressions particular to your workplace.And they have some examples, to get your creative juices flowingAmong plumbers, sweating the pipes = soldering two pipes together (this ones boring)Among doctors, a gomer = a bad, disagreeable patient (Im listening)Among vets, DSTO = Dog Smarter Than Owner (my personal favorite)Do you have any colorful expressions that you and your coworkers use regularly? The Oxford English Dictionary is looking to collect them all - no matter your profession. Just fill out a quick form, and your word could (but probably wont) end up in the dictionary.Meanwhile, if youve been called a DSTO and I broke the news to you about what it meant, Im sorry. But hey, it may not be an insult Maybe your dog is the next Einstein. Time to send Pluto to work in your stead and have him rack in the cash.And you can kill two birds with one stone Your entry to the Oxford English Dict ionary can be ruff ruff

6 Questions to Ask a New Boss to Be More Likable - The Muse

6 Questions to Ask a New Boss to Be More Likable - The Muse6 Questions to Ask a New Boss to Be More LikableStarting a new job is all about making a good first impression. You have this amazing opportunity to start over- to build strong relationships and set your new career in the right direction- so dont just enter your new schreibstube prepared to do the bare minimum or the same old routine you did before.This also means asking a lot of questions as soon as you get started. You may think it makes you sound annoying or stupid, but its actually a great way to quickly understand the inner workings of your new company and also get on your anfhrer good side. (Plus, science says it actually makes you sound smart.)While there are no bad questions, there are some that will boost your reputation better than others. For example, these six are worth asking in the first few days and weeks if you want to get ahead.1. How Are You Doing?First off, this shouldnt be a one-time question. In fact, you should be asking this regularly of your new boss, if not daily. (And hopefully, theyre asking the same of you.)Why? Your boss is probably very busy, very stressed, or in some instances feels ignored or underappreciated, so making them feel noticed is an instant plus for you. And, it gives them a chance to open up. This could lead to more transparency and even more opportunity for you to get involved.Look, Im aware that not every boss is going to take this kind of question and immediately become your confidante. But at the very least its a nice thing to ask, and thats easy brownie points right there.2. What Can I Take Off Your Plate?Their answer might be nothing. Youre just beginning to get ramped up, so its possible theyll let you know when theyre ready to hand stuff off to you.But maybe they just havent thought about it, or theyre currently working on something that could use an extra set of hands. By asking rather than waiting for them, you make it easier for them to delegate- an d shine a spotlight on your work ethic.3. Who (Besides You) Should I Meet With in My First Week/Month?Networking in a new job is crucial. You should be meeting with not just your new teammates, but other teams and executives (if possible) to get a better sense of your companys goals and initiatives and how they tie back to your role.But getting your boss weigh-in on who you should interact with shows you respect their opinion but also are willing to collaborate with other teams.4. What Are Your Goals for Me in the Next Month/Year?Thinking long-term shows youre driven and ready to hit the ground running from day one. It also helps you best set and align your priorities.Its possible your boss doesnt know yet, or maybe their sole goal is to get you onboarded. In that case, turn it on them What are your goals for the next several months? This way, if nothing else you can set your own goals and actions by figuring out how they contribute to your boss.5. When Do You Do Your Heads-Down Wor k?This shows respect for their time and how they like to work. Itll also help you work efficiently.Use their answer to organize your schedule accordingly. Ensure youre not communicating with them when theyre in this mode, and that you give them enough lead time with projects so youre not waiting around for them to get back to you.6. How Do You Best Like to Communicate? How About Other Teams?Like the above question, this can help you avoid miscommunication or conflict and immediately put you and your boss on the same page. They may prefer email for certain things and in person for others. They may hate meetings. Take note.Also, get their insight into others and their communication styles so youre effectively interacting with all sides of your team (that said, if you can also ask these people individually). You can follow this up with more specific questions, depending on the conversation and your needs How much notice do you prefer when requesting time off? Which emails do you want t o be CCd on? What projects would you like regular updates on, how often, and how? are some good places to start.Looking for more ways to impress your boss? Here are eight questions you should be asking of any boss- new or old- and thatll help you better manage up.

Want to Know More About Easy a Online Free?

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There are a nu mber of newer options out there which are very easy to use, you wont need to be concerned about hiring a programmer to take care of everything. Video conferencing has never been simpler. Several online streaming apps online are deceiving in nature and they simply attempt to inject malware in your device. HD Online is just one of the ideal location to watch absolutely free movies online without downloading. What to Expect From Easy a Online Free? You are going to be able to come across all sorts of eBooks here and you do elend need to waste your time surfing the world wide web for hours in tracing the eBook that youd like to purchase. The benefit of eBooks is that we dont have to drive to our bookstore to choose our favourite books or await the bookstore to ship the books we order. Together with that, it has also got a very good chain of audiobooks and internet courses. Your library determines the entire number of titles it is possible to borrow every month. 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Creating the Ideal Work Environment - Spark Hire

Creating the Ideal Work Environment - Spark HireWhether you are working for yourself or have a team of employees, it is important to have the right work environment. You need to be able to create a place where everyone can get into a creative flow on a regular basis. There are many different ways to accomplish this. If you are willing to take the time to create an ideal work environment, you will find productivity will soar. Have an open work area If you have a team of creative individuals, you want to make sure that they are collaborating on a regular basis. Instead of investing in old school cubicles, try having a more open workspace. This will help your creative employees feel much more at ease about going and talking to others about their projects. Offices that are more open are also easier to make friends in. Lighting makes all the difference Harsh fluorescent lighting should be reserved for boring high schools and eerie shopping centers. Long gone are the days of having blaring white lights in your geschftszimmer. Track lighting, floor lamps, LED desk lamps, and even colored wall lights can be a great addition to your office. Lighting sets the mood of your office and gets everyone into a productive workflow.Make sure everyone is well-fedFood is a small investment that is really going to pay off in the end. A company fridge that is well-stocked with drinks and food keeps morale up for hours every day. By keeping your company fridge full of goodies employees need, your workers will be happier and more awake. Recognize the hard work that your employees doIf you dont have a solid employee recognition program, it will be difficult for your employees to feel like they are appreciated at work. They are the lifeblood that keeps your company rolling. When employees work hard, they need to be recognized. With small incentives, causal parteies, and awards, your employees will feel as they are recognized for all of the hard work they are putting forth. Hear the ideas and concerns of everyoneEveryone wants to feel like they are a member of the team. If they are not able to have their ideas and concerns heard, it will be very hard for them to feel included. Hold regular meetings where you hear the ideas of your employees and team members. You can also have a group chat online where team members can give their honest opinions about ongoing projects. The more the members of your team get their ideas and concerns heard, the more they will feel like part of the bigger team. Make your office more laid backIf you have an uptight and stressful office, it is going to be hard to get any sort of real work done. It is necessary to accomplish tasks at work, but you can do it in a much more laid back fashion. A few bean bag chairs and a ping pong table can really set the mood for your office. You will have employees who are really looking forward to coming into work. Ask your employees what they would like in the office in order to feel more at ease. Playing cheerful and relaxing music in the office is also a great way to make your workplace seem much more inviting. You really dont have to change up your office that much in order to create the ideal stress-free work environment. Creating the ideal work environment can be a fun and exciting thing to do. Make sure that you work with your employees to create a system that everyone will enjoy. Once you have a great work environment in place, everyone will be more productive than they ever have been before. About the AuthorRobert Cordray is a former business consultant and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience and a wide variety of knowledge in multiple areas of the industry such as corporate leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture and entrepreneurship. Robert earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Chicago. He currently resides in the Southern California area and spends his time helping consumers and business owners alike try to be succes sful. When hes not reading or writing, hes most likely with his beautiful wife and three children.

Examples of Employee Workplace Violations

Examples of Employee Workplace ViolationsExamples of Employee Workplace ViolationsEmployees and job seekers often have questions aboutovertime,unused vacation time,comp time, wages, and other employee rights issues.Employment lawcan be confusing, and it can be difficult to learn what your rights are and what you are entitled to. Because employment law is so complicated, employees often dont even know what their rights are regarding vacation, comp time, commissions, and more. In fact, some employees dont even know when an employer is violating a workplace law. Below is a list of the top twelve workplace violations that employees should be aware of. Read this list of violations to make sure you know your rights, and to ensure that you are being compensated fairly. Types of Workplace Violations Unpaid Compensable Time When your duties include putting on or taking off a uniform or personal protective equipment, performing a stock inventory, setting up and cleaning your work area, or attending a change-of-shift-meeting, youre entitled to your regular wages for the time you are engaged in those activities. Youre also entitled to compensation for any extra hours you work, such as working through yourlunch break, even if your employer didnt require you to work the extra time. behauptung are all consideredcompensable time. Your employer is legally required to pay you for all compensable time. Unpaid Vacation Time TheFair Labor Standards Act(FLSA) does bedrngnis require employers to pay employees for unused vacation time. Vacation and other time off from work are not regulated by the FLSA. However, some states requirepayment of unused vacation leave upon termination. Company policy is also a factor. If the employer does provide paid vacation, the time accrued (collected) becomes parte of the employees compensation as per company policy and state law. If you are fired or you quit, and you have vacation time accrued, you are entitled to payment for that time. Use It or Lose It Vacation Leave Some employers who provide vacation time adopt a use it or lose it policy, where they requireemployees who dont use their accumulated vacation by the end of the year to lose it. Use-it-or-lose-it policies are illegal in some states, including California, Montana, and Nebraska. Other states including North Dakota, Massachusetts, and Illinois require employers to give their staff a reasonable opportunity to use their vacation time before losing it. Some states, including New York and North Carolina, require employers to formally notify staff of any policies indicating that they will lose vacation if they dont use it. Unpaid Commission or Bonus Your compensation may includecommissionsor bonuses based on wertmiger zuwachs benchmarks, such as production or sales quotas. Bonuses and commissions are not regulated by the FLSA. Whether or not youre entitled to bonuses or commissions is determined by your agreement with your employer and the laws of the state where you work. However, if you have been promised a bonus or commission for achieving certain benchmarks, and you have achieved those, you are entitled to receive the commission or bonus promised by your employer. If your employer does not give you a promised bonus or commission, he or she is violating employment law. Misclassification of Employees as Exempt Workers Confusion aboutexemption rulesis common among both employers and employees. Despite what many people think, exemptions have nothing to do with your title or job description. Whether you receive asalary rather than an hourly wageis not necessarily enough to determine your status either. Be aware of your salary level and job duties, as they are the determining factors for your classification. Knowing whether or not you are exempt is important because exempt employeesare not entitled to receiveovertime payas guaranteed by the FLSA. Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors Independent contractors, by definition, are self-employed workers who are not covered by the tax and wage laws that apply to employees. This is because employers do not pay Social Security, Medicare orfederal unemploymentinsurance taxes on independent contractors. If you are not anindependent contractor, make sure your employer isnt classifying you as one. Independent contractors are not eligible for certain benefits such as medical, dental, and unemployment benefits. Unpaid or Improperly Calculated Overtime Pay Under the FLSA,overtime payrules are based on a 40-hour workweek. The FLSA states that all work over 40 hours in a workweek must be paid at a rate of one and one-half times the employees regular hourly rate.Non-exempt employeesmay be paid on a weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly basis, but overtime is always calculated by the Monday through Friday workweek. Make sure youre keeping track of your hours worked, and make sure that you are receiving properly calculated overtime pay. Comp Time Instead of Overtime P ay Compensatory time, commonly referred to as comp time, is generally paid time off granted instead of overtime wages. For example, rather than paying employees time-and-a-half for overtime during a busy season, a business may offer comp time to be taken at a later date. While comp time may be legal depending on the classification of the employee, it must always be paid at the same rateas overtime wages 150%. According to the FLSA, private employers can only give comp time if it is in the same pay period as the overtime work. There are also differences between comp time for exempt and non-exempt employees. Non-exempt employees must be paid overtime. Giving non-exempt employees comp time is a violation of employment law. Make sure you are receiving proper compensation for overtime work. False Reporting Many employers establish rules that overtime work will not be permitted or paid without prior authorization. Some choose to look the other way whennon-exempt employeeswork overtime and dont allow those hours to be reported. These policies dont comply with the FLSA. Employees must report their overtime hours. Minimum Wage Violations As of July 24, 2009, the federalnadir wagefor most covered employees is $7.25 per hour. Some exceptions include certain student workers and certain disabled workers, who may be paid at a lower rate. The minimum wage for young workers under the age of 20 is $4.25 per hour during their first 90 days of employment only (consecutive calendar days, not days of work). This applies to every job a person has until he or she turns 20. It does not just apply to his or her first job. Workers who receive tips on the job may be paid aminimum hourlyrate of $2.13, as long as the hourly rate plus tips received totals at least $7.25. Make sure you are receiving the proper minimum wage (at least) based on these requirements. Twenty-eight states and some cities have higher minimum wages so be sure to review the statutes in your location. For example, Ari zona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington all have established a minimum wage of $10 or more. Whistleblowing Awhistlebloweris someone who complains about illegal activity or activity in violation of company policy at anemployer. A whistleblower can be an employee, supplier, client, contractor, or anyone who may have insight into any illegal activity occurring at a business or organization. Those complaints are often voiced in public or reported to government or law enforcement agencies. Whistleblowers have often been fired by the company they work for. Whistleblowers that do retain their jobs may face blacklisting, demotions, overtime exemptions, benefit denial, threats, reassignment, or a reduction in pay. The Whistleblower Protection Act provides legal protection for federal employees in addition to the protective laws created by theSecurities and Exchange Commission(SEC) andOccupational Safety and Health Administrat ion(OSHA). Workplace Discrimination Unequal treatment or harassment based on race, gender, religion, age or nationality in the workplace or as part of the hiring process is expressly prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sexual harassment is one widespread form of workplace discrimination. While not all unfavorable treatment constitutes unlawful discrimination, any employee who believes that he or she has experienced workplace discrimination can file a complaint with the EEOC (The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Hereshow to file an employment discrimination claim. More Information on Workplace Violations If you think your employer is committing a workplace violation, your first step is to get as much information as you can. Check out the elaws Advisors- these are interactive tools provided by theUS Department of Labor. These can give you more information about a number of federal employment laws. Contact your State Department of Labor Office for information about employment laws impacting your state. Ask your Human Resources office or labor union for clarification of any employer policies as a first option to redress any grievances. Consult an employment lawyer if you are not satisfied with any resolution of issues surrounding your situation.

31 things you should remove from your resume immediately

31 things you should remove from your resume immediately31 things you should remove from your resume immediatelyEvery job application starts with a resume.Hiring managers gather resumes to determine when to interview promising candidates - and manyuse robots to eliminate bad ones before it even reaches a human being.Read more15 email etiquette rules every professional should knowIf you want to pass that test, you need to have the perfect resume to highlight your qualifications.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreHere are 31 things you shouldneverinclude on your resume.Jacquelyn Smith, Vivian Giang, and Natalie Walters contributed to earlier versions of this article.Dont put an objective on your resume.If you applied, its already obvious you want the job.The exception If youre in a unique situation, such as changing industries completely, it may be useful to include a brief summary. Leave irrelevant work experience outYes, you might have been the king of making milkshakes at the restaurant you worked for in high school. But unless you are planning on redeeming that title, its time to get rid of all that clutter.But as Alyssa Gelbard, career expert and founder of career-consulting firmResume Strategists, points out Past work experience that might bedrngnislage appear to be directly relevant to the job at hand might show another dimension, depth, ability, or skill that actually is relevant or applicable.Only include this experience if it really showcases additional skills that can translate to the lokalitt youre applying for.You dont need to disclose your relationship status in a professional resume.Dont include your marital status, religious preference, or Social Security number.This might have been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask from you, so theres no need to include it.Dont put your hobbies on your resume.Nobody cares.If its not relevant to the job youre applying for, its a waste of space and a waste of the companys time.Dont lie.ACareerBuilder survey asked 2,000 hiring managersfor memorable resume mistakes, and blatant lies were a popular choice. One candidate claimed to be the former CEO of the company to which he was applying, another claimed to be a edel Prize winner, and one more claimed he attended a college that didnt exist.Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder, says these lies may be misguided attempts to compensate for lacking 10o% of the qualifications specified in the job posting.But Haefner says candidates should concentrate on the skills they can offer, rather than the skills they cant offer.Hiring managers are more forgiving than job seekers may think, Haefner explains. About 42% of employers surveyed said they would consider a candidate who met only three out of five key qualifications for a specific role.Putting your age on your resu me could be a hindrance.If you dont want to be discriminated against for a position because of your age, its time to remove your graduation date, saysCatherine Jewell, author of New Resume, New Career.Anothersurprising wayyour resume could give away your age double spaces after a period.Dont be wordy.When you use a 0.5-inch margin and eight-point font in an effort to get everything to fit on one page, this is an epic fail, says J.T. ODonnell, a career and workplace expert, founder of career-advice siteCareerealism.com, and author of Careerealism The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career.She recommends lots of white space and no more than a 0.8 margin.Dont disclose upcoming vacations on a resume.If you took time off to travel or raise a family, Gelbard doesnt recommend including that information on your resume. In some countries, it is acceptable to include this information, especially travel, but it is not appropriate to include that in the body of a resume in the US.Keep your refer ences separate.If your employers want to speak to your references, theyll ask you. Also, its better if you have a chance to tell your references ahead of time that a future employer might be calling.If you write references upon request at the bottom of your resume, youre merely wasting a valuable line, career coach Eli Amdur says.Remove inconsistent formatting.The format of your resume is just as important as its content, says Amanda Augustine, a career-advice expert and spokesperson forTopResume.She says the best format is the format that will make it easiest for the hiring manager to scan your resume and mucksmuschenstill be able to pick out your key qualifications and career goals.Once you pick a format, stick with it. If you write the day, month, and year for one date, then use that same format throughout the rest of the resume.Dont say the word IYour resume shouldnt include the words I, me, she, or my, says Tina Nicolai, executive career coach and founder ofResume Writers Ink.D ont write your resume in the third or first person. Its understood that everything on your resume is about you and your experiences.Refrain from using the present tense to talk about a past job.Never describe past work experience using the present tense. Only your current job should be written in the present tense, Gelbard says.Dont use a less-than-professional email address.If you still use an old email address, like BeerLover123gmail.com or CuteChick4lifeyahoo.com, its time to pick a new one.It only takes a minute or two, and its free.You dont need to put phone before listing your cell number.Amdur says there is no reason to put the word phone in front of the actual number.Its pretty silly. They know its your phone number. The same rule applies to email.Your resume is not the place for headers, footers, tables, images, or charts.These fancy embeddings will have hiring managers thinking, Could you not?While a well-formatted header and footer may look professional, and some cool tab les, images, or charts may boost your credibility, they also confuse the applicant-tracking ordnungsprinzips that companies use nowadays,Augustine tells Business Insider.The system will react by scrambling up your resume and spitting out a poorly formatted one that may no longer include your header or charts. Even if you were an ideal candidate for the position, now the hiring manager has no way to contact you for an interview.Dont include your bosss name on yourresume.Dont include your boss name on yourresume unless youre OK with your potential employer contacting him or her. Even then, Gelbard says the only reason your boss name should be on your rsum is if the person is someone noteworthy, and if it would be really impressive.Leave out company-specific jargon.Companies often have their own internal names for things like customized software, technologies, and processes that are only known within that organization and not by those who work outside of it, Gelbard says. Be sure to ex clude terms on your rsum that are known only to one specific organization.Social-media handles that are not related to the targeted position should be kept off your rsum.Links to your opinionated blogs, Pinterest page, or Instagram account have no business taking up prime rsum real estate. Candidates who tend to think their personal social media sites are valuable are putting themselves at risk of landing in the no pile, Nicolai says.But youshouldlist relevant URLs, such as your LinkedIn page or any others that are professional and directly related to the position you are trying to acquire, she says.You dont need more than 15 years of experience.When you start including jobs from before 2000, you start to lose the hiring managers interest.Your most relevant experience should be from the past 15 years, so hiring managers only need to see that,Augustine says.On the same note, never include dates on education and certifications that are older than 15 years.The rsum is not the place to disclose salary information.Some people include past hourly rates for jobs they held in college, Nicolai says. This information is completely unnecessary and may send the wrong message.Amy Hoover, president ofTalent Zoo, says you also shouldnt address your desired salary in a rsum. This document is intended to showcase your professional experience and skills. Salary comes later in the interview process.Dont use an old-fashioned font.Dont use Times New Roman and serif fonts, as theyre outdated and old-fashioned, Hoover says. Use a standard, sans-serif font like Arial.Also, be aware of the font size, she says. Your goal should be to make it look nice and sleek - but also easy to read.Dont use fonts that are hard to read.Curly-tailed fonts are also a turn-off, according to ODonnell. People try to make their rsum look classier with a fancy font, but studies show they are harder to read and the recruiter absorbs less about you.Try not to use buzzwords.CareerBuilder asked2,201 US hiring managers What rsum terms are the biggest turnoffs? They cited words and phrases such as, best of breed, go-getter, think outside the box, synergy, and people pleaser.Terms employersdolike to see on rsums include achieved, managed, resolved, and launched - but only if theyre used in moderation.Dont reveal your reasons for leaving your current company.Candidates often think, If I explain why I left the position on my rsum, maybe my chances will improve.Wrong, Nicolai says. Listing why you left is irrelevant on your rsum. Its not the time or place to bring up transitions from one company to the next.Use your interview to address this.Dont add your GPA.Once youre out of school, your grades arent so relevant.If youre a new college graduate and your GPA was a 3.8 or higher - its OK to leave it. But, if youre more than three years out of school, or if your GPA was lower than a 3.8, ditch it.You dont need to include an explanation of why you want the job.Thats what the cover letter and in terviews are forYour rsum is not the place to start explaining why youd be a great fit or why you want the job. Your skills and qualifications should be able to do that for you - and if they dont, then youre rsum is either in bad shape, or this isnt the right job for you.Keep photos of yourself off your rsum.This may become the norm at some point in the future, but its just weird - and tacky and distracting - for now.The rsum is the place for facts, not opinions.Dont try to sell yourself by using all sorts of subjective words to describe yourself, ODonnell says. Im an excellent communicator or highly organized and motivated are opinions of yourself and not necessarily the truth. Recruiters want facts only. Theyll decide if you are those things after they meet you, she says.Dont include short-term employment.Avoid including a job on your rsum if you only held the position for a short period of time, Gelbard says. You should especially avoid including jobs you were let go from or d idnt like.Remove any unnecessarily fancy job titles.Being specific with your job title, and use the same description an employer would type, Ian Siegel, co-founder, and CEO of the employment marketplaceZipRecruitertoldBusiness Insider.Dont say youre a coding ninja - say youre a Python engineer, Siegel said.Delete your laundry list of daily tasks.Regurgitating what you do all day without describing the value you add to companies does not impress hiring managers, Celeste Joy Diaz, a recruiting manager at Amazon, toldBusiness Insider.Instead, Diaz suggests specifying with numbers and data how you moved your company forward. Using the winning phrase I created a solution for X amount of customers and it saved X amount of money, using X skill can help applicants stand out, Diaz said.This article first appeared on Business Insider.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 jngstes 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 Lifestyle of Private Equity Professionals

The Lifestyle of Private Equity ProfessionalsThe Lifestyle of Private Equity ProfessionalsOnce youve landed a job with a private equity firm, you can expect to experience some of the most interesting, fast-paced work in finance. The pay and benefits will be commensurate with this kind of work- but so will the pressure. Typically, private equity investmentsare high-stakes ventures if youre helping to manage a billion-dollar stake in a major company, youll be held responsible for the outcome.Entry-level lifestylesAt the analyst and associate levels, or in any support role, you can expect long hours- 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. wouldnt be seen as onerous. On the other hand, unless theres something big pending, your weekends and vacation time can be your own. That said, if youre supporting the dealmakers, and theyre deep in negotiations with a major publicly traded company, youll be expected to be right there with them on a Saturday night at 1030 p.m.Executive lifestlyesIn more senior positions, yo ur day-to-day hours can actually be much more reasonable- 830 a.m. to 6 p.m. in some cases- but youll also find the line between work and the rest of your life to blur considerably. Some of your meals will be spent working, while evening conference calls and the occasional late-night panic email will eat into what you once may have considered your private life. Travel will pick up considerably as well, no matter your role. You may have to fly out to Sacramento to convince CalPERS to invest in your fund, or head to Atlanta to finish a buyout deal, or tour a portfolio companys facility in China looking for ways to improve productivity and cut costs.Its bedrngnis like you wont be able to take vacations, but since youll still be held responsible for outcomes in your absence, most high-level workers in private equity tend to schedule vacations carefully. If youre in major negotiations for a deal right around Christmas, you may not be able to get away for the holiday. Youd be wise to sche dule your summer tripafteryour portfolio companys annual report to the funds board of directors.For most high-level private equity employees, this lifestyle is par for the course. If youve worked on Wall Street in other capacities, youre likely used to the trade-off. But if youre just starting out and are eying a private equity career, bear in mind that your career can quickly become its own lifestyle- especially if youre successfulPay and benefitsWith billions of dollars at stake in each transaction, private equity firms are more than willing to pay for talent- so long as that talent executes properly. You can generally expect salaries, zugabees, and benefits to be at the high end of Wall Street pay scales. Its not quite what hedge fund managers make, but its generally on par with the top investment banking salaries.In the few entry-level positions available at private equity firms, you can expect to make a base salary of $60,000 to $75,000 as an undergraduate degree holder, and ro ughly $125,000 as a newly minted MBA holder. There are bonuses on top of that as well. Some firms have separate personal and companywide bonuses, while others combine them into one bonus. Typically, in your first few years you can earn 25 to 35 percent of your base salary in bonus money.Once youve grown out of these support roles, or if youre coming into a private equity firm with more experience, the base salary grows geometrically while your bonus money grows exponentially. Those who are in direct-action or supervisory roles can expect base salaries ranging from $250,000 to $1 million or more, depending on how closely they work with fund investors, dealmakers, or the portfolio companies. Their bonuses depend greatly on how well they manage their work. Did the dealmaker get the best terms for the fund? Did the fund raiser bring above-quota money into the fund for the year? Did the portfolio company manager cut costs and boost margins above projections? The bonus money for private e quity professionals at the vice president, principal, or managing director levels can be anywhere from two to 10 times their base salaries.Big benefitsOf course, like most Wall Street firms, private equity employers generally dont skimp on other benefits. Medical, dental, and various insurance plans are generally very good. Some firms will also set aside up to 20 percent of base salary in a retirement fund- thats on top of the base salary, not a cut into it. The retirement fund can, in many cases, be invested in the companys private equity funds, giving workers an additional stake in their companys success. Indeed, its worth noting that at the managing director level, most companies will take a cut of your bonus money and roll it into the fund for you. Given the outsized returns and personal stake in the firms success, few complain.The above was adapted from the newVault Career Guide to Private Equity.Follow us onTwitter.Read MorePluses and Minuses of Working in Private EquityHow to Land a Private Equity Job11 Interview Questions Private Equity Firms Ask (and How to Answer Them)