Multitasking In The Workplace 5 Strategies That Actually Work

Multitasking In The Workdistribution policy 5 Strategies That Actually Work Ever find yourself responding to emails on your phone running through the grocery stores? Or on hold with the insurance company while vacuuming the house and waiting for the oven to preheat? Or rushing into a meeting while on the phone wrapping up another important call? Those are all examples of multitasking.What Is Multitasking?Multitasking is what we do when we deal with mora than one task at the same time.So what happens in your brain when we multitask?Multitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus on one thing at a time, according to Talent Smart. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully. Research also shows that, in addition to slowing you down, multitasking lowers your IQ.How Does Multitasking Hurt Women?Is multitasking a thing for women more so than men? Science says yes.A recent study, however, has shed some light on individual performance when multitasking, and it turns out women have a more natural ability to multitask. In a study published by the Royal Society Open Science Journal, a group or researchers set out to see the effects of performing multiple tasks on a group of men and women. The experiment consisted of swinging the right arm, which is an action controlled by the left hemisphere of the brains, while also performing cognitive tasks using the left hemisphere. The participants had to walk on a treadmill and swing their right arm, while also completing a Stroop test (a test where color names are written out in colors that dont match their name).This study backs up the results of a previous study that showed the effect of multitasking on men and women. The study, whose results were published in theBMC Psychology Journal, compared the performance of 120 men and 120 women. The experiment consisted of a computer-based task switching paradigm. A second experiment was don e that measured the effectiveness of multitasking on paper.The results for both studies showed that men had the most difficulty performing these tasks, while women, specifically women under 60, had little to no interference in performing the acts. In all scenarios, women outperformed their males counterparts considerably. So it turns out women do have the ability to multitask. But should we juggle multiple tasks at a time?How to Multitask SuccessfullyWhile multitasking at work isnt necessarily ideal, sometimes, in the fast paced, ever-evolving world of the working woman today, its a necessity. Thats why mastering effective multitasking skills is an integral skill to practice. There are only 24 hours in a day, but sometimes 34 hours of work needs to get done. Sometimes youre given a project at the last minute that needs to get done alongside an array of other projects with looming deadlines. And while multitasking shouldnt be habitual, when youre on a deadline, proper technique could make you a star and increase productivity tenfold.It is important, however, not to sacrifice effectiveness for efficiency. Doing something quickly for the sake of getting it done cant prove to be a worse endeavor than not meeting a deadline. Thats why multitasking needs to be done correctly. And with these tips on mastering workplace multitasking, youll never make that mistake again.1. Make a PlanThe first step to effective multitasking is having a plan or setting goals. You cant just wing it and hope that your goals will be reached and your tasks will be completed to the best of your abilities and with optimal focus. Multitasking isnt effortless, and it takes succinct and well-thought-out planning to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. A great place to start is with a to-do list. Give yourself a period of time to perform these tasks, and dont overload yourself with too many at a time. Two or three tasks in a two to three hour time slot can ensure that youre giving yourself en ough time to work on each task and give it the attention it deserves.Its vital that you know how you are going to tackle each project and have that laid out so you dont have to do too much on-the-spot thinking or brainstorming. Theres nothing worse than getting halfway through a project and realizing you have to do it all over again, and if your brain is fried trying to do too many tasks at once, that is exactly what could happen.2. Combine Similar Tasks to Work on at the Same TimeMultitasking in and of itself is a complicated process. Many believe it cant even be done But in order to master effective multitasking, its vital that the tasks youre working on have some similar thread. If your mind is going to be jumping around from task to task, its necessary that the tasks have something in common, as your short-term memory can only handle so much. Whether they are all a part of the same project, or they all involve the same process, keeping the tasks youre working on similar will mak e it much easier to complete them effectively and efficiently.If youre working on multiple projects for clients, try to keep the content of each client similar. If they are all in the automotive industry, clump them together. If you have social media plans to create for multiple clients, clump those together as well. This will waste less time switching from one train of thought to another, and might even add an extra boost of creativity.3. Eliminate DistractionsDistractions are your enemy. Distractions can be detrimental even when youre working on the simplest of tasks, so when trying to juggle multiple projects at once, they could spell disaster. This might mean keeping the door to your office closed while work going on in the office around you. If you dont have an office, it might mean booking a conference room for a few hours to keep you away from distractions like gossiping coworkers, colleague phone calls, and the smell of someones pizza being reheated in the kitchen. Turn off your cell phone. Move into a quiet area. Maybe you want to listen to music to increase focus. Whatever your technique, dedicate yourself to these tasks and these tasks alone.Especially after a few hours of work, your mind will want to wander. Thats why its key to make sure there is nothing thats going to make it easier for you to drift. Multitasking demands all of your attention, and then some. It takes perseverance and dedication and commitment. Youve come this far, you cant slip now. And you dont want your attempt to multitask affect the outcome of whatever it is youre trying to accomplish.4. Consistently Check in with Your Tasks and GoalsThis harkens back to the first point about planning out your tasks. If you know what you have to work on, and you set times for each step to be completed, then you know youre on the right path. Look back on your to-do list for this. Make sure you are checking and rechecking your work throughout the process. If you have goals that you wanted to re ach working on the one project alone, and you havent yet reached them, then you know your multitasking is likely getting in the way. Set small steps for each project so that you know youre moving forward as opposed to plateauing.There are some great tools out there that can help you with it. Tools like Trello and Asana can help keep you accountable as youre working through these tasks. Having something that keeps you accountable and is easily accessible will make the process of multitasking even more effective, and it might even give you a greater sense of accomplishment to know you can fit so much into a shorter amount of time.5. Take Time to Review Your WorkWhen all is said and done, and the projects youve set out to work on have been completed, its imperative that you take the time to pay attention to specific details and review all that youve done. This might seem counterproductive, or even a waste of time. But the review process is vital when working on any project or task. Thi s is the step that might end up taking the most time, as you must make sure that the work you did on one task didnt bleed over into the other. Check what your original assignment was, and make sure the final product ticks off all the boxes. Dot your Is and cross your ts and before long, youll have completed a successful multitasking session.Not all people multi-task in the same way, as one menschlich brain isnt the same as another human brain. But with research backing the prevailing idea that can, in fact, effectively multitask, its important that you follow these steps for complete cognitive control. Theres a reason many psychologists say they dont believe in the idea of multitasking, but that doesnt mean its not possible when youve had the proper practice, and are dedicated to completing these tasks to the best of your abilities.In todays society, multitasking is a skill that working women can use to their advantage, and they should do so to increase productivity and give themsel ves a leg up on the competition. But its vital that you pay attention at all steps of the process. Plan, prepare, and review to keep yourself accountable and your focus strong. People try and fail to multitask all the time, but if you can master these skills, you can prove yourself a valuable asset no kollektiv can live without.

The Battle Over Unh Resume Writing and How to Win It

The Battle Over Unh Resume Writing and How to Win It The Number One Question You Must Ask for Unh Resume Writing The level of your writing samples will determine to what extent your clients are eager to cover your articles. The trick is to sell PLR articles to a limited quantity of buyers. Looking for resume samples in your subject of expertise may also provide you a good idea of the amount of pages that are generally expected in your area. A Startling Fact about Unh Resume Writing Uncovered Before you seek the services of any writer, you should make sure of their qualifications. Selecting a writer can be costly too. Choosing a resume writer isnt a task which should be dismissed. Some bedrngnis all, but a number of the freelance writers we encounter seem to have somehow picked up the thought that all they need to do to succeed is to be useful at writing. Whatever you include in your resume must reinforce that youre an appropriate job candidate. The aim of your resume is to secure you the interview. While a resume objective tells the reader what you would like to do and why you would like to do it, a summary provides a fast recap of your career. With a tiny bit of practice, you are going to be writing effective resumes that is going to be getting you the interviews you require for the job youve always desired. Skills-based resumes may also permit you to combine related work and other experience during the skills-based headings. The lesson will also go over a few other resources online where you are able to look over sample resume headings and objectives. It will discuss how to set up the heading of your resume and the options you have available to you when youre doing so. A Secret Weapon for Unh Resume Writing Since you may see, there are lots of ways you can earn money online writing articles. If your work involves social media, you can incorporate the links to other social networking accounts including Twitter, Instagram, and so on. Write rs make money when theyre advertising their own item. They want to get paid, not work for free Getting the Best Unh Resume Writing You are able to also incorporate details about volunteering on your resume, especially when you have few or no prior jobs to write about. Most candidates dont think theyre a risk. Generally speaking, well-written resumes revolve around teamwork and candidates actions. Employing a custom resume instead of a generic one is going to greatly increase your odds of an interview, as youll be a better match in the view of the reader. Rather, it is a strategic tool for marketing your personal brand. Limited Options Resume software offers limited options and doesnt permit the user the freedom to share their very own exceptional style and personality.

How to Maintain Control of an Interview - Spark Hire

How to Maintain Control of an Interview - Spark HireAs an employer, you have the upper hand on any candidate who comes through the doors of your business. You are in a familiar atmosphere and they are not. They are most likely nervous and anxious about doing their best and impressing you and you have the luxury of being the one to fire off questions. However, employers also know that, for one reason or another, a job seeker can inadvertently dominate a job interview, leaving you feeling that youve been given an inadequate idea of their qualifications and suitability for the position. Here are a few ideas for maintaining control of an interview so it is a productive experience for you and for your company overall.Give Some Basic InstructionsWhile a basic interviewing format should be known to most people, it is helpful to put the candidate at ease and explain how you will be conducting the interview. If youll be taking copious notes throughout the interview, explain that youd like the m to answer your questions, and that youll be writing while they speak. If youre conducting a behavioral interview, it may be beneficial to briefly explain what kinds of answers you are looking for. Explain at the outset when the appropriate time will be to ask questions of their own. Doing so establishes you as the person in charge of the progress of the interview.Focus on Smooth TransitionsAsk them to summarize and make clear transitions to new questions for them. Throughout the interview, the candidate will obviously be looking to you to move the conversation along. In their nervousness, some candidates can be prone to rambling and waver off topic. In such a situation, you could offer a summary of their answer such as, So, I hear you telling me that X was difficult under your last employer, but that you were able to complete the project by doing Y. Similarly, offer a transition into the next question How did your employer respond to that, and was it beneficial to the company in t he end? As the one in charge, you show your confidence and your control over the situation by jumping in and moving the interview along. Thank them for their answer and be frank about the need to go to the next question.Demonstrate Interview ConfidenceShow confidence from the first moment. Just as the candidate is hoping to impress you by the strength of their handshake and steady eye-contact, impress upon them your confidence and knowledge early on as well. Show that you are prepared and anticipating their interview by telling them so and giving a firm handshake of your own. You can also monitor your confidence and control by adhering to the level of professionalism within the office. Be prompt about the time youve committed to spending with a candidate and stick to your interview guidelines.How do you maintain control of an interview? We want to hear what has worked for you. Share in the comments

Short Term Jobs Make My Resume Look Bad

Short Term Jobs Make My Resume Look BadShort Term Jobs Make My Resume Look BadPresenting a string of short-term jobs on your resume is a common problem. You separate from your most recent significant role, and, typically while job searching, you take on a gig to fill your time and pad your wallet. The pro in this scenario is that you were active and productive. The cons, however, can be several the job is outside your traditional career path the job welches at a much lower level than your experience warrants, or the job was for a friend who has a company or consulting firm. Lets talk about how to position a short-term or multiple short-term roles on your resume.If the short-term role was in your industry and at your levelThats good nachrichtensendung The best option is likely to present this time as a consulting engagement. Consulting is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate to the audience reading your resume that your expertise is still useful and valuable in the marketplace.The k ey with consulting is detailing the actual projects or engagements. There is elendhing worse than a resume by Jane Doe that starts off with JD Consulting, 2016 to Present Participated in a series of technology projects for small and mid-sized businesses. When that is followed up with zero detail, it falls absolutely flat.Instead, treat every project like a bulleted achievement. Specificity is important, so that you position your consulting time as bona fide work. Present a description of the client, what they called on you to do, what you actually did, and the quantified results.If the short-term role was outside your traditional career pathThis scenario requires evaluating a couple time factors a) how long you were in the role and b) how long it has been since your prior, regular position ended. If the short-term position was less than 3 months ago, and your regular position ended 4 months ago, it may be best to simply omit the short term role, then bury the dates indicating your r egular position.Whats also important here is not distracting your audience from your primary message. If youre an IT Director who happens to have a love and natural talent for the arts, and your short-term role was assisting curating a museum exhibit, that would be too distracting from your IT achievements and expertise.The best way to present your time spent would be to showcase it as additional employment or a professional endeavor in a separate section towards the end of your resume.If the short-term role was at a lower level than your experience warrantsWorking at all, even if its at a lower level, is typically a positive point to present on your resume. Just as you can bury the dates for when your last regular position ended, you can also bury your job titles. Both simply require formatting the resume so that the material you want to bury is neither in bold, nor separated out along the right or left margin we dont want it to attract the eye too easily.When presenting a role lo wer than what youre used to, make sure to concentrate on specific achievements, particularly if you were able to contribute ideas, processes or tools that were new to the organization. Emphasize any numbers you can that indicate the impact you were able to deliver.If the short-term role was at a friends company or consulting firmToo often, the tendency is to downplay this because it was just work for a friend. However, reconsider that stance. No one in your audience knows that this is your friends company, only you do. Youre not hiding anything or holding back information in some unethical manner. Simply treat the short-term employment like it was with any other employer.Present what you were called in to do in the first place. Friend or not, the owner of the organization needed your particular brand of expertise for a specific reason. Discuss your scope of responsibility, and, as always, present your specific, quantified achievements.In many cases, short-term work can be showcased to your benefit. Bottom-line temporary work beats having no work every day of the week. Additionally, there may be a point at which you can leverage the contacts you made during that assignment in order to land your next permanent role.

A Look Ahead to 2012 Tax Changes for Small Business

A Look Ahead to 2012 Tax Changes for Small geschftslebenA Look Ahead to 2012 Tax Changes for Small BusinessA Look Ahead to 2012 Tax Changes for Small BusinessApril 2, 2012With the 2011 tax deadlinebehind us, and special Recovery Act incentives phasing out, small businesses need to reassess their strategies for upcoming 2012 tax changes.Equipment deductions, new reporting requirements and a whopper of a tax leistungspunkt are all on the table.Here are five key 2012 tax changes of Federal tax law provisions for small businesses.What a Boon Small Business Health Care Tax leistungspunktWith unemploymentdown substantially from its peak, even very small businesses should consider offering at least partially paid health insurance, to retain high potential employees.The good news is that, if conditions are met, small employers can claim a tax credit of up to 35 percent of the employee premiums they pay in 2012.Add in a deduction for the remaining 65 percent of employer-paid premiums and your company could get back in tax savings more than half of what you invest in this coveted employee benefit.Even better news the maximum Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is scheduled to rise to 50 percent on Jan. 1, 2014.If you can clear all the hurdles on an ongoing basis and sustain paying for half or more of the premium, its a great credit, says Tim Gagnon, CPA, a professor at the College of Business Administration at Northeastern University.The Incredible Shrinking Section 179 DeductionThe Section 179 deduction for tax year 2012 should be filed under half full, half empty. For tax year 2011, business could immediately deduct up to $500,000 in certain business equipment purchases, rather than depreciate it over a period of years.For 2012, the ceiling on this deduction drops to $139,000 still a generous amount for a very small business. And its a brass ring to grab before the maximum deduction drops again, to $25,000 in 2013.New for 2012 real estate no longer qualifies for the Section 179 deduction.A Smaller Bonus for Small BusinessThe zugabe depreciation deduction is also taking a haircut in tax year 2012.This business deduction, which applies after youve maxed out your Section 179 deduction, enables you deduct up to 50 percent of certain equipment investments, up to a total of $2 million for both Section 179 and bonus deductions. Thats down from a 100 percent bonus deduction for tax year 2011.Keep in mind that a big current-year deduction, however enticing, isnt always superior to depreciation over the long haul. Consult with a tax professional.The government is providing these generous incentives, says Mike DAvolio, a senior tax analyst at Intuitin Mountain View, Calif. You just want to know how generous they are for your particular situation.A New Reporting Requirement Form 1099-KDoes your small business accepts merchant credit or debit card payments or payments via online networks, such as PayPal?If so you may need to update your bookkeeping and acc ounting systems to keep on top of new IRS reporting requirements for these transactions, according to Gagnon.When youve gotten over your headache from trying to understand what the IRS has to say about the new 1099-K requirements, consult with your tax professional.Keep an Eye on Perennial Tax ExtendersBecause of Congresss annoying habit of repeatedly renewing dozens of tax incentives for just one year at a time, small business owners need to keep an eye on these so-called tax extenders.The largest of these tax savers, the research and development tax credit, has faced an up-or-down vote annually for about 30 years, creating economically destructive uncertainty among business owners.The RD tax credit seems likely to be extended, but who knows, says Valerie Colin, senior vice president with accounting firm Gumbiner Savettin Santa Monica, Calif.Tax extenders of particular interest to small business include a 15-year write-off period for restaurant and rental-property renovations and a $1,000 credit for new hires and the 100 percent exclusion of gains on small business stock.Keep up with legislative action on the tax extenders by subscribing to IRS newsletters or asking your tax professional. And dont forget to check on changes to state and local tax law.Disclaimer All tax laws are subject to change. None of the information provided herein constitutes legal or tax advice on behalf of the author or Monster.

How Etsy, Pandora and Indiegogo Make Gender Diversity Work

How Etsy, Pandora and Indiegogo Make Gender Diversity WorkHow Etsy, Pandora and Indiegogo Make Gender Diversity WorkThree companies in the tech business that have achieved high gender diversity are Etsy, Pandora and Indiegogo. How did they do this in an industry that is known for a high male-to-female ratio? Hiring with gender diversity in mind is still complex, and some companies receive negative feedback for their hiring practices. Well look at the positive and negative consequences of Etsy, Pandora and Indiegogo hiring with gender diversity as a goal.EtsyAccording to Fast Company, in 2014 Etsy was able to increase its female engineers by 500 percent. It went from three female engineers on a kollektiv of 47 to 20 females on a team of 90. The company reinvented the way it recruited by making gender diversity a priority.What sparked the change was the realization that Etsys user base was 80 percent women.What plan did Etsy execute to boost female engineers? It offered $5,000 grants t o Hacker School, an engineering program in NYC and promoted the grants to women. Some criticized this action as reverse sexism, according to Forbes. Now Etsy works with with organizations such as NCWIT(National Center for Women in Technology) and B-corp to train and educate its employees and hiring managers. It also has anonymous resumes and testing to prevent bias when hiring . The CTO of Etsy said that hiring with a focus on gender diversity gives it a better choice of both male and female candidates. In The Atlantic, CTO Kellan Elliott-McCrea said The men who come into our organization who are excited about the fact that we have diversity as a goal are generally the people who are better at listening, theyre better at group learning, theyre better at collaboration, theyre better at communication.PandoraIn 2014, Pandora shared its diversity reportand highlighted one key finding about its workforce. Its 50.8 percent men and 49.2 percent women. Although they are split almost 50-50 i n gender for total employees, there is less gender diversity in leadership positions. Pandoras plan for increasing and maintaining gender diversity was hiring Lisa Lee as the diversity program manager. Lee spends 60 percent of her time with the recruiting team ensuring best practices for hiring a diverse workforce. In addition to focusing on diversity in the hiring process, there is also an internal female group called Pandora Women to provide community and mentorship. Pandora made the effort to publicly share diversity reports to keep the company accountable. According to a blog post on Culture Lab X titled How to Make the Case for Business Diversity, Lee said, The number of current listeners and potential listeners, the buying power of communities of color, and the growth potential of diverse untapped markets are benefitted by not only gender diversity but diversity in all aspects.IndiegogoIndiegogo has 45 percent women and 55 percent men, and 43 percent female and 57 percent male leadership. Indiegogo made its gender diversity a core part of its mission statement, whose goals are to support and amplify all entrepreneurial, creative and community-related endeavors. Besides recruiting, Indiegogo promotes that their platform is a better way for women founders to raise funds for their company than seeking out venture capitalists. According to Fortune, Less than 15 percent of venture-backed companies have a female founder, but Indiegogo says 47 percent of campaigns that reach their funding target are run by women. By supporting women, they attract more women to their company. The benefits for Indiegogo of having a gender diverse population is the company appears more reputable to the public because hiring practices are aligned with their mission statement. As mentioned earlier in the Etsy example, diverse companies attract better quality candidates.

Cheat Your Way to a Better Professional Summary

Cheat Your Way to a Better Professional SummaryCheat Your Way to a Better Professional SummaryCheat Your Way to a Better Professional SummaryThe part about resume writing that I loathe most is the Professional Summary, or Summary of Qualifications. And wouldnt you know, its the most important part. Its the first thing employers read, and it has to draw them in enough to want to read the rest of your resume. So it makes sense that it would be the most difficult chunk to write.Here are two ways you can cheat and make it easier on yourselfHave a friend write it for you. Jot down your duties, responsibilities, qualities, and accomplishments, then hand that list over to a friend and ask him/her to put it all together in an interesting, impressive, and formal way. This especially helps if you know someone who knows how to write well If you find it difficult to talk yourself up (I do), having someone else do it for you could produce better results than attempting to do it on your own.Copy s omeone elses. Borrow or buy some resume sample books and find a summary that most relates to your career goals and what you do. Then you can edit, paraphrase, massage, and tweak it to make it yours. You could even combine parts of different summaries if youre really struggling. The most useful resume sample books exhibit industry-focused resumes. For instance, if youre a nurse, you can jump straight to the nursing section to see what others in your field have written. Same goes for auto mechanics, writers, accountants, etc.Bottom line Writing your resume is about as pleasant as, well, nothing. But there are ways to make it less painful. And no matter what you do, make sure the final product is honest, accurate, and something youre comfortable with. And if you use either of these two approaches, dont send out a single copy of your resume without studying it word-for-word first. Theres nothing worse than not knowing what your own resume says when employers ask about it in an interview