Important Skills for Construction Jobs

Important Skills for Construction JobsImportant Skills for Construction JobsConstruction can be a physically and mentally challenging career, though a personally and financially rewarding one. Some people work construction for a brief time, perhaps to raise money for college, while others spend their entire working lives building- or demolishing- in the world of contracting. Prospective construction workers might leid realize how many of the required skills they already have. Many people learn construction skills by working on their own projects at home, or by doing volunteer work with neighbors or community organizations. There are also skills that are highly relevant to construction work, such as mathematics, that you may have learned in anotlageher context. What Are Construction Skills? Anything related to the planning and erecting of physical structures involves construction. In spite of the blue collar stigma, technological advancements and growing economies worldwide leave construction work starving for manual labor. While most construction jobs begin on site performing menial, rigorous tasks, those that have practiced in the industry for many years go on to manage entire construction teams for impressive projects. Entry-level construction jobs typically have no educational requirements, though high school-level training programs can be a big help. Some apprenticeship programs require a high school diploma or GED. To practice certain advanced skill sets, such as welding, you may need specialized training and appropriate licensure. Manyconstruction jobs pay well. Types of Construction Skills Specific construction skills include bricklaying, carpentry, pouring cement, putting up drywall, and installing specific types of equipment. Be sure to tell your prospective employer the tasks that you have experience performing and the amount of experience, even if it is not directly relevant to the job for which you are applying. Employers typically appreciat e versatile workers who can take on additional tasks as needed. Construction tasks may include MasonryCarpentryPaintingDrywallElectricalPlumbingFramingBuilding site supervisionConstruction managementConstruction reportsConcreteRoofingSheet metal workDemolitionRenovationsRepairsBuilding codesElectrical codesEnvironmental codesOSHA safety requirementsInterpreting specificationsReading and interpreting drawingsInspectingMeasuringOrganize building materialsReading and interpreting drawingsEngineeringErectingHazardous materialsHVAC workInstallationIron workMetal lathingPipe fittingRefrigeration RiggingSteam fittingSurveyingTrimConstruction equipmentMaintenancePower tools Physical Skills As a construction worker, you will not only have to be strong and dexterous, you will also have to be smart about how you use your body. Proper ergonomics, including correct lifting posture and careful attention to safety, can prevent painful and costly accidents career-ending injuries do not only occ ur for athletes. Bad habits can also result in repeated minor injuries that young, fit people may dismiss and ignore, but will add up to disabilities years later. Also, proper movement is mora efficient and effective. Construction work generally involves Physical enduranceCompliancePersonal protective equipment (PPE)Heavy liftingDexterityHeavy equipment operation Office Skills Construction businesses, similar to all other businesses, require budgeting, planning, record-keeping, and marketing to stay viable. If you haveoffice skills, including familiarity with word-processing, spreadsheets, and publishing software, have excellent telephone etiquette, and goodorganizational skillsandcommunications skills, you can be an important asset. Even if you spend most of your time on-site, being able to pull into the office as needed is important if the office becomes short-staffed. Typical required office skills include Mobile devicesMicrosoft officePhone etiquetteOral communicationWritt en communicationInformation managementBasic mathPunch listsSchedulingCustomer service Management Skills Obviously, not all construction workers needmanagement orleadership skills, but having them certainly gives you more advancement options in your career. Managing work sites, developing estimates and negotiating prices, performing quality control, and reaching out to prospective clients are all important skills for construction workers. Management skills typically include Project managementLeadershipManaging a teamGiving and following directionsTeamworkCollaborationQuality assuranceComplianceSafetyDirectingSupervisionProblem solving Design and Planning Whether you are designing the project yourself or following someone elses plan, you need to know how to read a blueprint. You also need to understand design well enough that you can spot problems or mistakes while rare, blueprints can contain errors. You might also need to make decisions about what materials to use or how to schedule different phases of the project, and a good understanding of the projects design will be critical. These skills are important in the design and planning phase of a project Interpreting blueprintsGiving and following directionsProject managementFlexibilityConstruction managementConstruction reportsEstimatingIdentifying the building processIdentifying material costsUnderstanding the design Codes and Regulations As a construction worker, you will be subject to building codes, environmental regulations, safety codes, and labor agreements. While entry-level workers will not be responsible for enforcing those regulations, training will go more smoothly if you know the rules. Inspectors will appreciate it if you know all the information theyll need for site visits. There is also the possibility that your employer- or your site supervisor- could break the rules. Your own safety, and that of your client and those who live and work near your site, might depend on you recognizing and responding to the problem. Therefore, these skills are also necessary IntegrityComplianceEnvironmental awarenessAdherence to safety measureProblem sensitivityDiscernmentAttention to detailLabor relationsNegotiation How to Make Your Skills Stand Out Add Relevant Skills to Your Resume Review your work history and include any skills or experience in specific jobs and professions. Even if you are applying for a position in which you do not have direct experience, familiarity with skills in related positions can be a bonus for the employer.Highlight Skills in Your Cover Letter Most construction jobs do not require a cover letter, unless you are applying for a management position. In that case, be sure to mention a crew or two that you successfully managed in the completion of a construction project.Use Skill Words in Your Job Interview If you know how to do something relevant to the job description, say so. If you have specialized training or licensure (such as a CDL), say so in your resume and interview.

7 Striking Facts About Women in the Workplace - The Muse

7 Striking Facts About Women in the Workplace - The Muse7 Striking Facts About Women in the WorkplaceHeres a kicker Womens representation in the corporate world isnt improving in leaps and bounds. Not even in leaps or bounds. It actually hasnt improved much at all in the last few years. At least thats one of the top-level findings of the 2018 Women in the Workplace report recently released by McKinsey Company and LeanIn.Org. For the last four years, companies have reported that they are highly committed to gender diversity, it states, looking back at the period since the first in this series of annual studies in 2015. But that commitment has not translated into meaningful progress. Ultimately, the standstill hurts not only women who struggle to advance and have painful experiences at work, but also companies bottom lines. This latest Women in the Workplace report analyzed pipeline and HR data from 279 companies in North America that together account for more than 13 million workers. It also considered survey responses from more than 64,000 full-time employees from 81 companies and a few dozen interviews that help bring some of the numbers to life. To give you a sense of where things stand- without having to read the full 61-page report- weve pulled out seven striking facts about the state of women in corporate America. 1. Men Hold 62% of Manager Positions to Womens 38% (and it Gets Worse Higher Up)In 2018, women made up 48% of entry-level employees, but only 38% of managers, 34% of senior managers or directors, 29% of VPs, 23% of SVPs, and just 22% of C-suite executives. For every 100 men promoted to manager-level roles, only 79 women moved up into similar roles. The numbers are even more abysmal for women of color, who make up only 17% of entry-level roles and 4% of C-suite positions.And its not because women are leaving their companies or the workforce the report also found that these women and men are stepping away from jobs and careers at nearly identical rates. 2. Women Are Less Likely to Have Access to Senior LeadersThe study found that 27% of men never have a substantive interaction with a senior leader about their work, but 33% of women- and 41% of black women- say the same. And while 40% of men reported that they never have an informal interaction with a senior leader, 49% of women- and 54% of Latina women and 59% of black women- reported the same. That may not seem like the most profound discrepancy at first glance, but interactions with senior leaders can make a big difference in who stays, who successfully negotiates promotions, and who sets their sights on leadership positions of their own. In other words, fewer interactions can mean fewer opportunities. 3. Women Are Twice as Likely to Be Mistaken for Much mora Junior Employees and More Likely to Deal With DiscriminationI was in the elevator and pressed the button for the executive office, one Asian woman relayed as part of the study. She was a director whod been at her comp any for four years. Someone said to me, Um, no honey. Thats for the executive offices. The interns are going to this floor. Shes one of 20% of women whove been mistaken for someone far more junior. Only 10% of men have had similar experiences. Women are also nearly twice as likely to report needing to provide more evidence of their competence, and are more likely to have their judgement questioned in their area of expertise and to be the targets of demeaning remarks.In total, 64% of women said they faced microaggressions at work- with an even higher rate (71%) of lesbian women saying the same- compared to about half of men. These experiences add up. Women who experience these slights are three times more likely to consider quitting on a regular basis. 4. Women Are Far More Likely to Be Onlys and Suffer More for it When They AreAbout a fifth of women reported that theyre frequently the only woman (or one of the only women) in the groups of people they work with at the office. Its mor e like 40% for women in senior leadership and those in technical roles. Just 7% of men are in the reverse situation. Not only are women much more likely to be outnumbered, but they also tend to have horrible experiences when they are. Theyre far more likely to be subjected to microaggressions than women who work with other women, men who work in mixed settings, and men who are outnumbered, in that order. And then theres the pressure. With everyones eyes on them, women Onlys can be heavily scrutinized and held to higher standards, the report says. They often feel as though they represent an entire group, and that if they fail, the entire group will be judged along with them. 5. 35% of Women in Full-Time Corporate Sector Jobs Have Experienced Sexual HarassmentAs if that number werent appalling enough, an even higher percentage of certain subsets of women reported experiencing sexual harassment during the course of their careers, including 55% of senior-level women, 48% of lesbian wome n, and 45% of women working in technical fields. In general, employees dont report overwhelming confidence in their companies to properly investigate and address sexual harassment claims. But theres also a gender gap there. While 70% of men think a claim would be fairly investigated and addressed, only 52% of women agree, and while 15% of men believe reporting sexual harassment would be pointless, risky, or uncertain, 30% of women said the same. 6. Women Negotiate for Raises and Promotions as Often as Men DoAnd finally, lets throw some data at the idea that women just dont negotiate as much as men do. The study suggests that in corporate American in 2018, thats just plain wrong. In fact, in the last two years, slightly more women than men reported negotiating. While 29% of men had negotiated for a raise, 31% of women had done the same. And 36% of men negotiated for a promotion compared to 37% of women. 7. Women Are More Likely to binnensee Gender as an Obstacle to AdvancementIts not just that there are fewer women the higher up you look, or that theyre promoted less frequently than their male peers. Nearly a quarter of women, but only 8% of men, believe that their gender has played a role in missing out on a raise, promotion, or chance to get ahead. And 29% of women, compared to only 15% of men, believe their gender will be an obstacle to advancement in the future. If you dig a little deeper, women are also less likely than men to believe that their workplaces are fair, with black women being the least likely to agree that the best opportunities go to the most deserving employees or that promotions are based on fair and objective criteria.The vast majority of companies included in this report say that gender diversity is a priority. But those statements and some of the actions individual organizations have taken arent translating into any significant change in the overall numbers. The report goes on to suggest several strategies companies can use to move the n umbers in the right direction. It departures with clearly articulating diversity goals and holding employees formally accountable for reaching them, especially when it comes to those in positions of power who can model behavior for others. It also means implementing fair hiring and promotion practices that correct for biases, actively working to build an inclusive and respectful culture, and offering flexibility for employees as they manage the demands of work and family. But you dont have to be a CEO or the head of HR to start making change. If these statistics leave you with a bleak outlook, well, were right there with you. But remember that there are small things you can do as a manager or colleague (like these and this) to help push for gender equality at your office, starting today.

Learn What Working Capital Is and Its Impact On Business

Learn What Working Capital Is and Its Impact On BusinessLearn What Working Capital Is and Its Impact On BusinessWorking capital is the number of liquid assets that a company has on hand. Working capital is needed to pay for planned and unexpected expenses, meet the short-term obligations of the geschftliches miteinander, and to build the business. A lack of working capital makes it hard to attract investors or to get business loans or obtain credit. What is the Accounting Formula to Determine a Business Working Capital? The accounting formula used to calculate the available working capital of a business is Current Assets - Current Liabilities Working Capital Working capital can be reflected as a positive or negative number depending on how much debt the business is carrying. From an accounting standpoint, working capital comes from Net incomeLong-term loans (non-current liabilities)Sale of capital (non-current) assets andFunds contributed by the owners and investors (stockholder s). Working Capital is Required to Start and Grow a Business When you first start a business you need start-up working capital since the business is leid yet making money to sustain itself. The number one reason most businesses fail during their first two years of operation is due to a lack of working capital. Having ample working capital not only helps you to meet your obligations, it is vital to growing your business. Ways To Raise Working Capital Every new business is faced with the challenge of raising working capital. Here are some of the ways you can raise working capital for your own new, or existing business Borrow Money From Family or FriendsIf you borrow from someone you have a close personal relationship with it is important that you still treat all financial actions as a business deal. Make sure all loans or investments from personal contacts are in writing.Debt Financing (Take Out a Loan)The types of loans available to you will largely depend upon your credit, t he type of business you are starting, and the type of business structure you have decided upon. There are many sources of debt financing to consider including loads, microloans, and government sources. Raise Funds through CrowdsourcingMany budding entrepreneurs have raised working capital through crowdsourcing.GrouponWhen the economy crashed in 2008, many business owners used Groupon to generate quick cash. Be careful when using discount and voucher advertising platforms like Groupon because you could end up losing more money than it is worth in the long run.GrantsThere are many federal and state programs that offer grants to new startups. Start by calling your local chamber of commerce and asking if there are any grants or incentive programs for starting a new business in your area. Working capital is the money you need to cover business expenses, meet short-term obligations, and to grow your business. Start-up capital is the money you need to start a business until it generates e nough revenue to pay for itself. Start-up and working capital can come from loans, grants, investors, and partners, but many business women use their personal financial resources to fund their businesses.

10 Tips for Negotiating Maternity Leave

10 Tips for Negotiating Maternity Leave10 Tips for Negotiating Maternity Leave10 Tips for Negotiating Maternity LeaveIts essential to plan ahead when negotiating maternity leave. Heres how.From the nursery to the lack of sleep to the type of delivery youll have, there are so many things to plan for when theres a new baby on the way. On top of all that, you also need to determine how long youd like to be away from work to care for your new baby.Negotiating maternity leave takes some education and planning. A well-thought-out approach to requesting leave can increase your chances of being approved for an extended leave if you end up needing one. Below are some tips to help you generate your plan of action so you can enjoy your new baby without worrying about having to return to work too early.Research and understand your companys leave policiesBy law, organizations that meet certain criteria (50 or mora employees living within a 50-mile radius) have to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid le ave to eligible employees to care for the birth of a child or an adoption. Some organizations, however, offer additional maternity leave that might be paid or unpaid. Many organizations will pay for leave up until the doctor releases you to return to work, which is typically six weeks for a natural delivery and eight weeks for a cesarean delivery. The remaining leave might be unpaid, or some companies allow you to use paid personal or vacation time for the remainder of your leave. Depending on your organization, this leave might dip into your FMLA leave, which is the norm from my experience.Some organizations will also allow employees to take a personal leave of absence for a specified period. You need to research and get clear on your companys policies and how much leave is possible for you to take based on the standard company policy. Ask your human resources department about the organizations maternity-leave policy and how everything works, as well. From there, you can determine how much additional time you might need, if any.To read mora about employer requirements and employee eligibility requirement for FMLA, refer to DOL Fact Sheet 28 The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the DOL Family and Medical Leave Act web page.Check in with other expecting or new momsWhen youre pregnant, other expecting moms and new moms can make great allies in general. Youre all entering a new stage of your life that will surely bring surprises, joy, new challenges, and so much more. If you can connect with anotlageher mom who is close to giving birth, just gave birth, or just returned to work after maternity leave, you can ask them about how they negotiated maternity leave and what they received. This could help you in determining the minimum leave you could go in asking for, and can also provide moral support in requesting what you need in general.Go in with a plan and be clear on what youre requestingGo into the meeting with all the information you need, including re search on who youre negotiating with, so you know how to navigate the meeting based on their style or history with the matter. The more prepared you are, the better able youll be to make your case in negotiating maternity leave.Before requesting leave, or even bringing up the subject, get clear on how much time youd like to take, and plan for more than you think you might need. Its better to come back early than to request an extension when you realize your desire to have more time to spend with your newborn.Also, try to come from a benefit to the company approach versus an exception to policy approach the latter is often an uncomfortable stance for companies. Theres a lot of decent research that shows that organizations that offer maternity leave to new moms have a higher retention rate. The National Partnership for Women Families has published some good statistics on offering paid leave in a 2015 Fact Sheet, Paid Family and Medical Leave Good for Business. You can share this typ e of info with your manager to support your case.Leave your desk in good handsWhen youre requesting leave, it can help if your manager knows youre willing to check in every so often to keep him or her up to date on your status. Checking in does not imply that you agree to do any work, as you want to be careful not to make that commitment unless you truly want to. However, it can provide peace of mind to your manager that youre still in the game and plan to return to work.Going to your manager with a detailed plan of action and coverage while youre out will help ease his or her mind about how your work will be covered and by whom. It will also help you prepare for your leave with less stress knowing all your bases will be covered while youre out. The more you can show that youre leaving major projects and day-to-day activities and tasks in good hands, the better.Offer to attend important meetingsIf you can manage, it might help you score a win if you offer to come in for important me etings that are on the schedule. For example, if theres major project-planning meeting or a big vendor meeting and youre an account manager, you can offer to attend those meetings while on leave, assuming youre available and well enough to do so. Maybe consider calling in for the meetings as well.Consider part-time workI have a couple of friends who decided to return to work part time after each of their second children were born. This allowed them to remain in the good graces of the company while also having more time to stay at home with their children. If you can afford to and you know youd like more time, find out if this might be an option for you. Going from leave to part time to full time later down the road is also a great way to ease back into the workplace after having a child, especially because going back at full speed can be a difficult transition for many. Be ready to renegotiateTheres a good chance you might not get everything you ask for, so be ready to negotiate and come up with alternative solutions to support your leave.Related7 Powerful Ways You Can Improve Your Negotiation SkillsKeep things in perspectiveIts not always easy to get additional leave, especially if its outside of policy or the policy states its at the discretion of management. When negotiating maternity leave, know this going in and give it your best shot. Again, the more prepared and clear you are about what you need, the better. Also, if the organization is short on staff, is a newer organization, or youve had recent poor reviews or disciplinary action, all of these factors might impact whether or not youre approved.Keep your priorities in mindWhen negotiating for maternity leave, it can be helpful to keep in mind what your priorities are. For most who are starting or growing a family, its their children. We tend to have more regrets when we dont make choices or take a stand for the things that are important to us. Thats not to say that work is not a priority because it is for many, but not more of a priority than their children, especially newborns. Making money to feed those children is also a priority, of course. My point is that its OK to ask for extra time to spend with your newborn if thats a priority for you, because if you dont, you might feel regret that you didnt at least try. Though you might not get approved for everything you ask for, you can feel good knowing you spoke up out of respect for yourself and your priorities about what you needed.Before negotiating maternity leave, get a sense for the list above, and think through your personal circumstances and the organization you work for. Then decide what will be best for you.New moms, are you looking to get back into the workforce? Well review your resume for freeRecommended ReadingTop 4 Part-Time Jobs for MomsA Mothers Guide to Getting Back Into the WorkforceThe 10 fruchtwein Mom-Friendly Workplaces

Definitions of Theatre Resume

Definitions of Theatre Resume Acting ExperienceThis has become the most important part of your theater resume. Practical experience differs from your achievement. Circus skills might also be listed. Death assures him he can take any companions who will produce the journey with him. If you simply graduated, odds are your only relevant expertise in the business will have come from one or more internships. Additional, specialized schooling to carry on developing driving skills may be deemed necessary. Its possible to point out your distinctive competences and experience. If you understand how to work with sound systems, employed as a theatre technician may be a wonderful gelegenheit for you. What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Theatre Resume Whenever you have special acting skills, be certain your resume reflects that with precision. Include acting programs you might have attended here too. As an actor, you will need to get a professional resume. For instance, if you a re interested in being an actor, youve got to apply for acting assignments with professionally crafted resumes. The objective is to find the auditions you are genuinely right for, not to have a lot of auditions. As a Dance Captain, its my job to see the show and make certain it is staying true to our creative teams vision. When a production demands a character speaks with a specific accent or dialect, the objective is to receive as near native as possible. Bear in mind, states Turi, you merely get one shot to produce a first impression. When youre an actor, particularly during the early phases of your career, you want to locate methods to stand out. The gender of the character does not have to be a determining factor when selecting a monologue. If youve already played iconic characters, you can set them on your resume, particularly if they are somehow similar in nature to the role that youre being cast for. The most suitable acting resume showcases an actors talent and diversi ty along with list the range of projects theyve worked on. Begin the list with the largest role youve had. Regrettably, it didnt succeed owing to its remote site. All the excellent details in every single format will probably be used, therefore it might be a lot longer and provide additional information. For instance, some tracking systems arent compatible with PDF files. A Startling Fact about Theatre Resume Undeckblatted There arent many rules on how best to craft the ideal portfolio, but there are a couple strategies to make sure yours lands on the cover of the pile. Even if you need to be hunting for entry level work, the very fact youre asking for a specific project indicates your intention is definitely to acquire that occupation. The professionally crafted resume has different things you have to include. It isnt necessary to to include your street address, even though the city and state may be useful if trying to find a position in that geographic location. Some folk s use whats referred to as a bite light, a small light you place in your mouth and bite down on to provide you some light backstage. Quit attempting to second-guess what other folks want. Remember the men and women you will be competing with for the jobs you desire. The particular skills section of an actors resume isnt a landfill for useless info, he states. Physical FeaturesActing is a rather visual art. On the base of your resume, theres a section devoted to your special skills. At the time that your careers need particular composition, get the ideal sample to receive your standard. Operators should have the capability to follow through on verbal and written instructions and the ability to learn plans could be demanded. The skills example above should provide you with a superior idea of a purchase. Ruthless Theatre Resume Strategies Exploited Whenever you intend to find some sample, you also need to locate appropriate Sample Theatre Resume. When do not have any researc h, you might require a Sample Theatre Resume. Nonetheless, it doesnt always mean resume is not difficult to produce. Moreover, the subsequent Sample Theatre Resume is going to be the functional. Therefore, the money receipt forms might also be used for the promotional purposes. Its crucial stick to the directions in the job posting. When someone makes a transaction of some kind, they will see that a receipt can permit them to stay organized and to continue to continue to keep their live simple and straightened out. In situations like this, an extensive delivery receipt is very important.

Hire For Integrity By Focusing on Business Ethics

Hire For Integrity By Focusing on Business EthicsYour hiring process might feel perfect. You assess for skills and cultural fit. You deliver an excellent candidate experience. You even involve your team in the interview process, so everyone has a say in who joins the team.However, youre likely overlooking one important aspect business ethics. A candidates business ethics have nothing to do with their skills and experiences. However, theyre arguably one of the most important qualities you need to be aware of throughout the hiring process. Hiring a team of ethical employees who value your culture of fairness and diversity is crucial to the success of any business practice. To learn mora about making business ethics a priority in your hiring, we spoke with Ira S. Wolfe.As the founder and president of Success Performance Solutions, an employment services provider located in Wind Gap, PA, Wolfe sees the value business ethics has for every organization and emphasizes why you must assess c andidates ethics before making the offer. In 20 years of working with companies, I rarely hear managers or HR ask in-depth interview questions about ethics, he says. It seems to be one of the number one traits an organizations looking for is integrity, but people dont seem to interview for that.Read on for the full transcript of Wolfes explanation on the role business ethics play in the bigger picture and how you can assess for it during the hiring processMy personenname is Ira Wolfe. My company is Success Performance Solutions, and Im the author of the new book, Recruiting in the Age of Googalization. Business Ethics are Inseparable from the BrandA companys brand is mora important than ever. It takes years to create that brand and build a positive image, but with the age of social media, it can be destroyed in just seconds.So its more important than ever to hire employees who can build and sustain that image and add value, rather than taint it.A Lack of Definition Hinders Hiring fo r EthicsBusiness ethics means a lot of things to a lot of people. For some, its as simple as reliability, showing up on time, or actually showing up at all or honesty. Certainly, stealing, theft, and embezzlement is a pretty clear-cut indictment of business ethics. But it gets a little bit more cloudy when it comes to higher-level positions when it involves confidentiality, compliance, safety, conscientiousness, and social responsibility. The biggest challenge that many organizations have is finding out what the business ethics of a candidate are and whether they are going to fit into your organization. It isnt necessarily a problem of the candidate but a lack of definition by the company because very few business discussions are had until theres potentially a breach of that ethics.Testing for Integrity Is Not a Science But It Is ObjectiveIn 20 years of working with companies, I rarely hear managers or HR ask in-depth interview questions about ethics. It seems to be one of the numbe r one traits an organizations looking for is integrity, but people dont seem to interview for that. Organizations seem to think theres a correlation between 10 years of experience or a particular school that somebody went to thats related to that.When questions about ethics are asked, its almost like theyre looking for the candidate to give the one right answer, to begin with so they can move on because its a difficult subject. Its difficult to discuss ethics. So the manager asks the question about ethics, the candidate gives a response and then the interviewer just happens to move on. If business ethics is important in your organization, then it should be made an important part of the interview and screening processes. Some of the best practices relating to assessing a candidates business ethics is not an exact science. But there are a few steps that you can take. Ask Situational QuestionsThe first is, the interview should include several questions to assess how a candidate might r espond to an ethical dilemma. You might ask how they would handle a situation where they observed a co-worker, employee, or even a manager stealing or even harassing someone. Part of the strategy is to put them on the spot a little bit and you can pose some hypothetical situations but its most beneficial if you can find some situations that are realistic.Train Your InterviewerMaking sure the interviewer is trained is another aspect. Making sure theyre comfortable because asking questions about business ethics can put both the interviewer and candidate on the spot. The interviewer needs to be comfortable with that and know how to handle it.Conduct Reference and Background ChecksReference checks are also important, although theyre very difficult to get. But background checks are a must, especially for critical situations where business ethics is essential. They dont always expose anything but oftentimes they will reveal that somebody falsified their resume either with employment or ed ucation. Those are relatively easy to check, but more of the challenging ethical dilemmas are going to be difficult to find with a background check, but you can expose those who might be a high risk.Assess for RisksFinally, there are some pre-employment testing assessments for honesty, integrity at the associate level. They can test for risks of absenteeism, tardiness, theft, hostility, sexual harassment, and computer abuse. Those are validated, legal, and compliant with the EEOC. Although they are not a slam-dunk or an exact science, they do help to identify the people who are high risk. Most of those assessments also come with interview questions based on how the person responded. So if they do have some behaviors that are suspicious, then they responded in a way that might indicate they have a risky or volatile attitude, youll have interview questions to be able to assist in digging a little deeper.Test for ConscientiousnessFor management, sales, and senior-level executives, its a little bit harder. But most personality tests include a scale called conscientiousness. Its one of the most validated, reliable personality trait scales thats out there. While it wont detect if somebody is honest or not, it will determine how closely that person leans towards whether they use rules and guidelines over black-and-white thinking. In some organizations, that can be tolerated. Sometimes you want people to push the limits and the envelope a little bit, as long as they dont cross the line. In other industries or jobs, its critical that they abide by the rules and comply with regulations as they are.So while its difficult to assess business ethics and integrity, there are assessment tools that can assist in it. Background and reference checks can also help. Becoming more skilled at behavioral and situational interview should help a great deal.

Service dog earns a yearbook picture for his hard work

Service dog earns a yearbook picture for his hard workService dog earns a yearbook picture for his hard workOne service dog was so loyal, he earned himself a spot in a high school yearbook- and rightfully so.Andrew AJ Schalk, a junior of at Virignias Stafford High School with Type 1 diabetes, takes a pooch named to school with him every day. The dog smells the students breath to check his blood sugar levels, which keeps him alive.Schalk told Mashable about why Alpha entered his life, and the crucial role the dog plays in it.The decision to get a service dog came about just to have greater control over my blood sugar and A1C, and Alpha has even saved my life on multiple occasions, Schalk told the publication.The cutest shot everSchalk tweeted a photo of himself and Alpha in the yearbook - complete with their names.Grace Fuller, a junior on the high schools yearbook staff, told Fredericksburg.com about much Alpha means to the school.She reportedly featured the dog in in a small profi le in last years annual, and when looking at this years photos, she saw a picture of him andthought he had earned a spot in the book. Schalkwent with her to ask Alpha could be included and got a ton of support.AJ has always talked about how much he liked having Alpha at school, and he is here all the time- we see him in class and in the hallwaysHe is a part of this school now, Fuller told Fredericksburg.com.Heeven replied to a Twitter account with a photo of Alphas ID card.Alphas yearbook is sure to last forever- he is sure togo down in history atStafford High School.

Study Just the mere sight of coffee can enhance productivity

Study Just the mere sight of coffee can enhance productivityStudy Just the mere sight of coffee can enhance productivityA recent studyconducted by researchers at the University Of Colorado and published in the Journal of Consciousness and Cognition on March 27th proposes that merely being reminded of coffee or tea can provide boots to focus and alertness.This has a number of implications for how people process information and make judgments and decisions. says the studys coauthor, Sam Maglio.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraThe studied effects of primingThe phenomenon is called priming. Priming occurs when exposure to a stimulant effectively informs behavioral reactions and thoughts. These can be induced semantically, conceptually, or perceptually. More broadly, psychologists have explored the influence images have on our evaluation of concepts like politics.As Psychology Today r eports, Priming in a more general sense, still matters, such as when people use contextual cues during a conversation to interpret the meaning of ambiguous language.But how profound can association effects be in more specific instances?Magilo and his colleagues wanted to know if the mere associations made via coffee-related cues could induce any degree of arousal effects without consumption.The researchers began by conducting four separate studies, examining both tea and coffee related-cues across a wide range of individuals from eastern and western cultures. Their analyst yielded fascinating results.People who experience physiological arousal again, in this case as the result of priming and leid drinking coffee itself see the world in more specific, detailed terms, explains MagiloIn psychology, arousal refers to the state of active alertness and attentiveness usually triggered by a number of environmental, neurological or dietary factors.The strength of the results seemed to be d ependent on how pervasive coffee culture was within its respective region. For example, arousal based on coffee and tea related cues was not as strong in eastern civilizations as it was with participants residing in the west. Magilo comments,In North America, we have this image of a prototypical executive rushing off to an important meeting with a triple espresso in their hand. Theres this connection between drinking caffeine and arousal that may not exist in other cultures.Magilo intends to conduct further research to disclose the effects of associations with other kinds of foods and beverages.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

How to make allergies more bearable at work

How to make allergies more bearable at workHow to make allergies more bearable at workFor those of us afflicted with seasonal allergies, springtime not only gifts us with rain showers and bright flowers but also with presents that we would rather return to sender. We may be walking around the office with itchy eyes, runny noses, and stuffy lungs that are distracting us from getting any work done.Unfortunately, too many of us are dealing with these symptoms at work.More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. Those of us who have it, know the drill identify the underlying trigger and then attack the reaction with medicine or prayer. But what can you do when you keep sniffling and wheezing at work despite your remedies?Enter mindfulness. Its a practice that will not magically cure your allergies, but it can make them more bearable.To be mindful of allergies, stop judging yourself for having themBeing mindful of your allergies begins with accepting your situation. No, you never asked for this hellish hay fever, but now that you have it, you will not dwell on the unfairness of your illness. Thats whatRachael Kable, host of The Mindful Kind podcast, advises.If your eyes are itching or your nose is running, try to acknowledge that without labeling the experience good or bad, she says. If your breath is affected by an allergic reaction - if your nose is stuffed up or your breathing is shallow - just notice this, again without judgment.When you are mindful, you are teaching your body to stay in the present moment, even if that moment is unpleasant. How you think can change how you feel. Ruminating about your symptoms will just make you feel worse.As Kable puts it, Dont be afraid to be mindful of your allergies, however unpleasant they may seem at first. Exploring the sensations in your body is a powerful way of becoming more accepting of them.So next time pollen is clogging up your airways, pay attention to the sensation so that you can learn to br eak its hold over you.