Are You Committing Job Search Sabotage

Are You Committing Job Search SabotageAre You Committing Job Search SabotageIf someone were to ask you, you might objectively state that youre a diligent job seeker. You reach out to companies to see if theyre hiring, your resume and cover letter are on point, and you even apply to many positions on a daily basis. So, why arent you getting more job offers? Are you committing job search sabotage?Chances are, you might be- and leid even realize it.Here are some ways you might be committing job search sabotageYou applyfor positions youre not qualified for.You saw a job listing for a position that absolutely screamed your name. Thing is, you dont really have all the skills necessary for the job. You apply for the position anyway, hoping that youll get past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). No shocker you dont.Applying for jobs that youre not qualified for is a waste of time. While there is definitely a certain amount of training and learning associated with new jobs, those job descrip tions are there for a reason. Theyre there to let you know if you have what it takes to apply. If you dont, as much as you might want the job, its best to look for another job that you are qualified for.You respond at inappropriate times.You finally hear back from a potential employer for a job you really want. Youre at the park with your kids, and you take the call anyway. In the background, your boss-to-be hears kids screaming and your toddler telling you that hes gotta go pee pee.As eager as you are to respond to a employers call or voicemail, think first about the timing of your conversation. Are you in a location thats quiet and free of interruptions? Do you have spotty cell service? If so, wait until you can have the optimum conditions to converse with the hiring manager so you look as professional as possible.Youre a littletoo honest.You have a list of 14 jobs you applied for, in bestellung of how much you want them. So when job 12 comes along and offers you the position, you tell the hiring manager that you really want to work for another company and that youll take the job for now.Employers want to feel special. They want to feel as if you want to work for their company- and their company only. So when you clue them in on your plans (e.g., youre only taking this job to pay the bills or using it as a stepping stone), it can be insulting to them. If you need the job and think you can devote the time and energy that it deserves, then take the position, but dont make your potential employer feel badly because of your blunt honesty.You dont doyour research.Youve been applying for so many jobs in an effort to expedite your job search that youve kind of lost track of all the positions youve sent your job application in to. So when youre finally seated in front of a potential boss, you innocently ask, Tell me, what is your role here in the company?One of the biggest ways to blow a job interview is by going in blind. That is, not knowing what the company does, the person youre interviewing with (i.e., their name, title, and length of time at the company), and the position youre applying for. Do some digging prior to the interview so youre completely prepared.You try to know it all.As a prospective employee, you want to show that youre the one and only person for the position. Thats why you answer every question confidently and quickly, and even correct your interviewer when he says something incorrectly.Lets face it nobody likes a know-it-all, especially a potential employer. While you might want to show how smart you are, all youll do is probably offend him or her. Your role during a job interview is to try to establish a connection with your interviewer and showcase all your skills, education, and previous work experience that would make you a match for the job. And thats it.Its easy to commit job search sabotage without even realizing it. Be mindful of unterstellung tips, and youll be able to have a successful job search sans sabotage Readers, have you been committing job search sabotage? Let us know what happened in the comments below

This study says you have to do more of this if you stare at a screen all day

This study says you have to do mora of this if you stare at a screen all dayThis study says you have to do more of this if you stare at a screen all dayIts a drag staring at a screen all day. Sometimes it feels our lives are ruled by devices, be it computers, cell phones, or TVs.In fact, a new survey says that 36% of adults claimed they wouldnt be able to avoid looking at a screen for 24 full hours, and two in five couldnt recall their last day without screens.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreHycosan and Optase Eye Care commissioned a study that surveyed 2,000 British adults about their digital media habits. The survey found that the average person spends five and a half hours a day looking at screens.The typical 9 to 5 worker is having eye discomfort by 2 PM and a third of office workers say that they often have headaches brought on by eye strain. One in five have experienced bl urred or distorted vorstellung.The cause of the discomfort? A lack of blinking.Humans usually blink 20 times per minute, said researchers, but when theyre concentrating on computer work, that rate of blinking drops to between just one and three times per 60 seconds.That lack of blinks is leading to uncomfortable outcomes for many, from blurred vision to dry eyes to headaches from the strain.The results demonstrate how screens have really taken over our lives, they are everywhere we look, eye care expert and oculoplastic surgeon Sabrina Shah-Desai said in a statement. Obviously its difficult to avoid them, especially in a working environment, but its vital we take steps to look after our eyes and have regular breaks from artificial light and digital devices.Shah-Desai added that it was the time when people were focusing on computer work and going long periods without blinking that uncomfortable sensations like dry eyes, redness, a feeling of grittiness, and blurred vision set in.Some people are taking heed to cut back on their time around screens. 27% of those surveyed had adjusted their brightness, and 50% took breaks from screen time. At home, they tried to stop looking at devices after 925 PM at night.Screens, screens everywhereEven though some people are taking care, that doesnt mean that abstainers are able to avoid other peoples screens, however. In fact, they cant 3 in 10 had to deal with their partner using a cellphone in bed while they were trying to sleep, and 55% saw people with their phones out at social events.One in 10 admitted phones had affected their relationships due to their partner being distracted. Just over half have been unable to avoid seeing television screens in bars or restaurants.Theres one hack to be had, however, at least at work. Shah-Desai recommends the 20-20-20 rule every 20 minutes, look away at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrange rs know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from nestkken 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

What to do if youre going to miss a deadline

What to do if youre going to miss a deadlineWhat to do if youre going to miss a deadlineFeel that? The fluttering butterfly panicking at the anxiety disco in your rib cage feels like its going to bust right out and go all Hulk Smash on everything. If only you could channel that energy into the deadline youre about to miss.Its as though the doctor said you have a week to live because thats how much time you have until your deadline. That means you have today to decide if you can push through this fueled by an espresso IV drip andno sleep. The reality is youll need to be honest with your client and boss about the likelihood of missing the deadline - cloudy with a chance of serious disapproval.Dont panic at the impending deadline. Youve got this with class and professionalism - and yes, youll keep your job. Heres what you do.1. Extinguish the stress fireSecondhand stress is real and spreads like wildfire - 26% of people experience increased cortisol levels simply by proximity and obs ervation of a stranger expressing stress. Imagine seeing your boss, coworker orloved one undergoing high levels of stress as a witness. For a romantic partner, when you observe this person stressing out, your cortisol levels rise by 40 percent.You need to find the source and prevent it from spreading. fruchtwein of the pressure comes from yourself. If your boss and client add their pressure, the pressure feels tripled. Stop self-imposing irrational deadlines and negative self-talk on yourself. Take a break. Go outside. Pour yourself that cup of Joe.Ask yourself hard questions with objectivity, and follow up with self-reminders of your accomplishments. What unrealistic expectations have I placed on myself? What are my fears? What are the fears of my client and boss?To extinguish the stress, youll need to prepare solutions. Dont worry - thats coming up.2. Hack the timelineAsk yourself tough questions about what went wrong to discover what slowed you down in the first place. Also, obs erve what went right. Dont let yourself dwell. Youll come back to address your hiccups. Take whats right, and see what you can give the client now. Or, do you need to push the timeline out farther? Do you need to get more people involved in the project? What processes can you cut out to still give the client quality work? Instead of juggling and multitasking, direct single focus to one task at a time - youll give your full attention to every step and eliminate distractions.While hacking the timeline, youll come across many process improvements. Make note of this. Also, know that if you need to outsource work, thats acceptable. Turn the anxiety disco into a party of productivity and quality client work.3. You have to say something soonIts a Captain Obvious moment - you have to say something soon, or those worst-case scenarios playing in your mind may hold merit after all.Accept the situation, and go into action mode. You dont have to think through this alone, but you need to come u p with possible and actionable solutions.Start with an email, clearly and concisely stating the status. Indicate there were errors in projection without assigning blame, but if you messed up, prepare for concise and honest accountability without overdoing it. Right now, the focus is gathering everyone together at the office. You already faced your worst case scenario, and now you move on to solutions. Bring your hacked timeline to the meeting. This shows that you addressed what went wrong on your end and took measures to address and fix the solution. You show doing an excellent job matters to you. Getting everyone together stresses the importance of team effort and workplace support. Work together.Everyone misses a deadline at some point. The important part is learning from the experience and trusting your gut when you know the projections are off.You may struggle with figuring out what went wrong. In the meantime, what matters is that you stepped up to address the situation with ac countability, promptness and solutions. While the project may not meet the original deadline, youll rebound with quality work because you took the time to do it the right way - with your job, reputation and passion for the work in check.