42 Ways to Make People Like and Respect You - The Muse

42 Ways to Make People Like and Respect You - The Muse42 Ways to Make People Like and Respect YouWe all want to be liked, yes. But- perhaps mora importantly in the workplace- we all want to be respected. Respect is so important when it comes to your career development. It comes into play when the higher-ups are considering your ideas, when theyre choosing people to participate in projects, and- yes- when theyre thinking about whos getting promotions or raises.But too often people associate earning respect with, well, leid being very nice. Were here to tell you thats bedrngnis often the right approach. Instead, try some of the ways below that you can make aya your colleagues like and respect you. Youll be on your way to being seen as a leader in no time.1. Do Your Job and Do It WellThe most basic way to get respect? Dont spend your time worrying about getting respect, and instead spend that time doing your job really, really well. Get a reputation for being really good at what you do, and word will surely get around. As career expert Jennifer Winter explains, Its hard to ignore results, and when youre striving for the respect of your colleagues, one of the best things you can do is show youve got the right stuff.2. Never Be Late or Miss a DeadlineAlong similar lines, get a reputation for being incredibly dependable. That means, any promise you make- be it a date to finish a project, an appointment, or anything else- you keep. 3. Dress Up (the Right Amount)You know the whole dress for the job you want spiel? While, yes, you should dress a little nicer than youre expected to, dont dress up so much that you look out of place or like you dont fit into the culture. So if your company has a casual dress code? Avoid the sweats, but avoid the suit, too.4. Treat Everyone With RespectIn order to get respect, you have to give it- and elend just to the higher-ups. People will pick up if youre nice to the bosses but mean to the receptionist or delivery guy, and think youre a brown-noser rather than a genuinely good person. Aim for the latter. 5. Make Friends With the Right PeopleSeek out relationships with others in your organization who are well-respected and well-liked. And were leid just talking about higher-ups here- think anyone who has a great reputation around the office.6. Be a ConnectorKnow someone at abedrngnisher company who may be able to help with a problem a co-worker is facing, a friend who may be a great sales lead, or anyone else who you think could move the company forward? Introduce them Doing this shows off that you have an impressive network- but also that youre willing to share it in order to help others.7. Invite People AlongIf you got an invite to a snazzy event or are planning on networking after work one day, consider inviting along someone from work who you think might enjoy it. Shell be thrilled you thought of her, and youll get a chance to get to know one of your colleagues a little better.8. Use I LessStudies have shown th at people tend to use the word I mora frequently when communicating with people they feel are mora powerful than them. Want to level the playing field? Monitor your use of I. The people youre speaking with will view you as more powerful without ever knowing why.9. Ask for HelpWhile many people may think asking for help hints that you dont know what youre doing- earning you less respect- it can actually work in your favor in several ways (if done right). First, it shows the person youre asking that you respect his or her opinion. Second, it will show that youre productive enough not to waste tons of time trying to figure it out yourself. Finally, it shows that you care about your work (and your professional growth) enough to admit when you dont know something- and then learn from it. For more on how to do this right, check out Winters advice.10. Take Something Off a Colleagues PlateHave a little extra time? Ask your boss or another colleague if theres anything you can help out with o r take over for them. Theyll appreciate the lighter load, and your proactive willingness to help will not go unnoticed. 11. Listen- Really ListenNothing will make people lose respect for you quicker than if they feel like your focus is always somewhere else when theyre talking to you. So next time youre in a conversation, make sure youre really engaged. Adopt open body language, dont let other things distract you, and ask validating or clarifying questions to show youre paying attention. For more on upping your listening skills, check out career coach Lea McLeods advice.12. Ask People How Are You?Being all geschftsleben all the time wont make you very well liked. So take the time to ask people about their lives as well Youd be amazed how good a simple How are you? can make someone feel.13. Remember Things About PeopleTaking note of small details about people- their spouse and kids names, what theyre doing over the weekend, their hobbies, where theyre planning to vacation, and the li ke- and then asking them questions about those things or referencing them in conversation can be a surefire way to up your brownie points. It shows that you really listed, took the time to remember, and overall care about them as people. Have a terrible memory? Try Muse COO and productivity expert Alex Cavoulacos trick for remembering anything about anyone.14. Own Up to Your MistakesExplains Winter I know, it sounds a bit counterintuitive, given you want your clients to think youre a genius, but trust me They know nobody is perfect. In fact, your clients will probably get a bit suspicious if you never, ever, make a single mistake. Admitting when you do, however, shows them youre confident (and humble) enough to face the music. In my experience, thats a trait most people respect. (Hint This applies to your boss and co-workers, too)15. ...And Then Explain How Youre Going to Fix ThemThat being said, simply saying you messed up and then not doing anything about it isnt going to garner y ou much respect. Instead, when you fess up, make sure to come with a plan for how youre going to fix things. And if youre not sure what to do? Try to at least come up with a few options and then ask the person youre talking to for his or her thoughts on the best course of action (see point 9).16. Seek Out FeedbackShow that you know youre not perfect and are constantly looking to improve and grow yourself by regularly seeking out feedback from everyone around you. And this isnt just something for your annual performance review Try setting up monthly meetings with your boss, team members, and even direct reports where you can solicit open and honest feedback from them about what you can be doing better.17. Give Feedback, TooIt doesnt hurt to dole out some feedback from time to time, too. Obviously, you dont want to become the office critic, but giving colleagues the occasional dose of constructive criticism shows that youre committed to helping everyone around you grow and be the best professionals they can be. Here are a few tips on how to give this advice without seeming like a jerk.18. Never Say Its Not My JobNotice the trash is overflowing? Take it out. See your colleague struggling to carry all the stuff for the conference booth? Grab a bag. Showing that youre willing to pitch in on small things- even if theyre not part of your job description and may be beneath your capabilities- shows that you dont think too highly of yourself and that youre willing to do whatever it takes to help the company succeed. And thats something that people can respect.19. Anticipate NeedsIve actually already started on that is music to your managers ears, explains Muse career expert Katie Douthwaite, It means that instead of waiting for him or her to ask you to do something, youve already thought of it and taken action. You obviously cant anticipate everything, but thinking of things your boss commonly asks for or that will make his or her life way easier is a good place to star t.20. Do Small Nice Things for PeopleWhether its grabbing an extra coffee on your way to work for your boss (or your intern) or getting some flowers for your colleagues desk when you know shes had a rough day, small gestures like this can speak wonders to your character. 21. Say No More OftenReally While you may think jumping at every opportunity is the way to gain more respect, the opposite is actually more often true- especially when you dont have time to do what youre being asked to do right. When you become known for having the guts to speak your mind, put a stake in the ground for the sake of everyones success and find better ways to navigate the rough waters, youll land as a person people respect, a leader, explain leadership trainers Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin. So when you dont have time, show that you respect your time and the quality of your work too much to agree. Other people will follow suit. Nervous to say it? Try these strategies for turning people down nicely.22. Hav e an OpinionAgreeing with everything everybody says wont make people think of you as a leader. Instead, have a well-thought-out opinion on things, and dont be afraid to bring it to the table. Whether its an idea about a new product or service or a thought on how a process can work better, people will appreciate you thinking of ways to help the organization improve.23. Respect Other ViewpointsCaveat Dont dig your heels in the ground too much when it comes to your ideas. Instead, consider other peoples viewpoints, too, and be willing to compromise and work together to reach a solution that works for as many people as possible. 24. Speak UpNothing shows lack of confidence in yourself like mumbling. So speak up PR professional Ashley Colbert explains, To be taken seriously in a meeting, speak clearly, firmly, and loudly enough so that people can hear you. And avoid trailing off at the end of a sentence or using fluffy language like I hope to have this done or I think it will get results .25. Avoid the Gossip MillIf youre known for regularly putting down other people, people will start thinking down on you. So dont waste your time speculating about the lives of others. Instead, spend your time by the water cooler genuinely getting to know your colleagues- youll still be involved in the social side of the office, without tarnishing your reputation.26. Never Waste Anyones TimeGet more respect by showing people you respect their valuable time. What does this mean? Dont ask questions you can answer yourself, dont plan meetings that you dont need, and dont take forever getting back to people. You get the idea. 27. Make Your Meetings WorthwhilePeople are pretty skeptical of meetings, and so will likely think less of you if they think your meetings are a waste of time. Make sure youre following the 21 unwritten rules of meetings to have meetings that people seriously find valuable.28. Figure it Out YourselfInstead of always running to your boss for help when faced with a p roblem, do everything you can to figure it out yourself. Even if you ultimately need approval before moving forward with a solution, its better to come to your manager with a plan for him or her to give an OK to than to come asking what should we do?29. Never Say I Dont KnowAt least, not on its own. Simply saying I dont know leaves the person asking you a question at a dead end and doesnt make you seem very willing to help. Instead, offer to help figure it out, get more information, or direct him or her to the right person to help out. See leadership coach Jo Millers suggestions for better responses when youre really not sure.30. Become a Stellar Public SpeakerLearning to speak well will gain you respect in many ways. First, youll have the ability to present more confidently in meetings. Second, youll be comfortable speaking at industry events, giving you credit as a leader in your field. But finally, all this practice and training will give you a more powerful speaking presence eve n in day-to-day conversations.31. Work on Communicating Both Warmth and AuthorityBody language expert Amy Cuddy explains When we judge others- especially our leaders- we look first at two characteristics how lovable they are (their warmth, communion, or trustworthiness) and how fearsome they are (their strength, agency, or competence). This is a fine line to balance, but Miller has some ideas for how to do it.32. Have Clear Work-Life BoundariesPeople are likely to connect with you more if you understand the importance of not working all the time. So set clear work-life boundaries- and then stick to them Whether its that you never check email on the weekends or you leave work by 6 to eat dinner with your family, if youre upfront about your boundaries, people should respect them- and you.33. Dont Leave Right at 5 PMThat being said, dont jet out of the office every day when the clock strikes five, especially if theres work that really needs to get done. Have boundaries, but show that y oure willing to pull extra weight when its really important.34. Learn Your Colleagues Working Preferences- and Follow ThemHave a chat with the people you work most closely with about how they work best, and find ways to help them achieve that. Maybe one prefers conversations to emails and will appreciate you coming over to her desk rather than sending a lengthy message. Maybe another needs quiet working time in the morning and will notice if you stop scheduling meetings during that time. 35. Be a TeacherWhen a teammate or direct report is having trouble or does something wrong, instead of getting angry, get helpful. Walk him or her through how to do it. Youll get better employees, and theyll respect you for helping them grow.36. Be a beraterTake junior employees under your wing- even if they dont report to you- and help advise them on everything from company politics to career growth. Not only will the employees youre advising gain more respect for you, but others will notice the ge sture, too. 37. Help Out NewbiesWhen someone new joins the company, make sure to say hello and let him know youre there if he has any questions or needs help- even if hes not in your department. People all over the company will start seeing you as a leader in the company from day one. 38. Champion Your EmployeesHave direct reports youre proud of? Understand their goals- and do whats in your power to help them achieve them Whether thats setting up a meeting with your boss because you know they want to grow at the company or helping them find opportunities to grow important skills, look for ways to help them succeed.39. Manage UpwardBy simply waiting around to be told what to do by your higher-ups, you seem like a follower- not a respectable leader. Instead, learn to tell your boss what you need to get your job done well. Youll improve your performance and command your boss respect. Check out some tips for learning this elusive skill here.40. Dont ComplainAre you tired after a long da y, and still have more to do? Are you sick of one menial task you seem to be stuck with? Never whine about it, at least not in the workplace. Having a positive attitude about your work is critical to making other people think highly of you. And if you really have a problem with something? See if you can come up with a proactive way to solve it.41. Get Out in the WorldPeople will hold you in higher regard if you dont just do your job in a vacuum. So make sure to stay up with the latest and greatest in your industry. Go to events and conferences, and report back on what you learned. Get meetings with experts, and maybe even bring them in to talk to your team. Read relevant articles and share them around to help others.42. Question YourselfGreat leaders are good at self-reflection. Check on yourself regularly with questions like these and always be looking for ways to be better.

What Employers Do About Employees Surfing the Web at Work

What Employers Do About Employees surfen the Web at WorkWhat Employers Do About Employees wellenreiten the Web at WorkEmployees spend between one and three hours a day surfing the web on personal business at work, depending on the study reviewed. Since most studies depend on employee self-reported data, this productivity loss, combined with the concerns employers have for where their employees are surfing the web at work, causes more employers to decide to monitor employee use of the internet. Employees shop, do banking, visit sports sites, pay bills, chat on Facebook, tweet on Twitter, and more. With most employees, ansicht are occasional activities that they pursue on breaks and lunch. If they do spend a few minutes of work time, they likely make up for it answering email after the kids go to bed. Abuse of Internet Usage at Work But, a small percentage of employees abuse the privilege of internet usage at work. In one company, a disgruntled supervisor was spending 6-7 hours a d ay doing everything from job searching to looking up recipes, shopping, and downloading coupons. In anotlageher, an employee changed the position of his computer, making the view of its screen impossible by anyone except the employee. This raised the suspicions of the IT staff so they viewed his internet usage. They found that the employee was downloading and watching pornographic movies. So, sometimes employers worst fears are justified when employees abuse internet usage at work. In this second example, if the employer had remained unaware that the employee was viewing porn, the employer could have been put in the position of a potential lawsuit for sexual harassment or a hostile work environment claim. Neither would have been welcomed, so the employer let the employee go. (The employers internet usage policy spelled out clearly the conditions under which they would terminate an employee.) Employer Surveillance of Employees Surfing the Web at Work Employers who block access to employees surfing the web at work are concerned about employees visiting adult sites with sexual, romantic, or pornographic content game sites social networking sites entertainment sites shopping/auction sites and sports sites. In addition, some companies use URL blocks to stop employees from visiting external blogs. Others block access to sites such as Facebook at work. Depending on the company, computer monitoring takes many forms some employers track content, keystrokes, and time spent at the keyboard some store and review computer files others monitor the blogosphere to see what is being written about the company by employees, and others monitor social media networking sites. Of the companies that monitor email, some use technology tools to automatically monitor email and others assign an employee to manually read and review email. Why Employers Are Monitoring Employees Surfing the Web at Work Employers believe this employee surveillance is necessary for employee productivi ty, legal reasons, the safety of company information, and to prevent an environment of harassment. According to Manny Avramidis, senior vice president of global human resources for the AMA There are primary reasons why employers monitor employee Internet behavior at work, depending on the organization and its employees. Employee productivity is key. Some companies will say that trade secret issues are important, not necessarily because employees intentionally share company information, but employees may not realize the importance to competitors of such items as new product features and organization charts. Intranet sites share information employers dont want outsiders to know because of competition and the need to beat competitors to market. Other companies are concerned about fraud as far as data security, making sure information is not being stolen. Some companies will say safety and productivity are their key concerns which may involve monitoring employee location via GPS global positioning satellite, video cameras in production work areas, and security guards to check IDs and the contents of items brought to work. And, other employers will cite potential liability because they have been burned in the courts. Most organizations have some capital to monitor and its ritterlichly cheap to do it. So they do. More Employer Concerns About Surfing the Web at Work In addition to the concern about the kinds of sites employees are visiting at work for these reasons, a number of additional concerns motivate employers to monitor employees surfing the web at work. Litigation is a serious issue to employers said Nancy Flynn, executive director of The ePolicy Institute and author ofThe ePolicy Handbook, 2nd Edition (AMACOM, 2008) and other internet-related books. According to SHRM (accessed 1-11-18- you must be a member), In this age of digital information, business managers, HR professionals, IT professionals and legal professionals must work closely together to deve lop policies and procedures related to employment record-keeping. In the event of employment-related litigation, a thorough search will likely be done of an employers electronic records. Electronic data include e-mail, web pages, word processing files, computer databases and any other information that is stored on a computer and that exists in a medium that can be read only through the use of computers. It can also include electronic trails left behind, such as when a manager adds or deletes text to a performance review, the formulas employees used for making spreadsheet calculations or edits to a memorandum and other unintentionally stored data. Electronic data are becoming increasingly important in legal proceedings. Consultation with legal counsel about electronic data storage, zurckhalten and destruction is especially important since the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure- Rule 34 was amended specifically to address discovery rules for electronically stored information. According to Avramidis There are more and more employers placing employee computer use under surveillance because the technology is becoming cheaper and cheaper. No matter how you feel about it, employers that dont monitor will become fewer and fewer, not to nail employees, but because monitoring increasingly makes business sense. Its only going to become more and more significant in America. Employees really need to read and be aware of policies. Employers should establish policies to be clear with employees about their employment relationship. A policy acts as a deterrent. In Florida, as an example, it is not unusual to park police cars by the road over-night as a deterrent to motorists speeding. Where employers often fall short is that they tell employees that they will be monitored but they dont describe exactly what behavior is expected or not expected. To explain exactly what their expectations are about the policy is important. Educating the employees and explaining the definition of w hat is fair and acceptable internet and email use annually is recommended. While an increasing number of states and jurisdictions are requiring employers to notify employees of electronic monitoring, the majority of employers are doing a good job of alerting employees when they are being watched. Most employers inform employees that the company is monitoring content, keystrokes and time spent at the keyboard and most let employees know that the company reviews their computer use. Most also alert employees to email monitoring. Should You Monitor Employees? Despite this increase, the monitoring of employee time and use online is a signal of distrust and incongruent with an employee-oriented culture that regards employees as the chief assets of the company. If fewer than one percent of employees, according to some reports, abuse their work day and employertrustonline, why make 100 percent of employees feel uncomfortable and distrusted? So, the practice ofelectronically monitoring e mployeesat work has strong pros and cons. Electronic surveillance of employees at work can yield results that are beneficial to the employer in controlling abuse. They can protect an employers interests in a lawsuit- or not- depending on the nature of the situation. But, there are powerful reasons why an employer might not want to use employee internet monitoring. Avramidis says that this decision depends on the company and the work environment an employer wants to create Depending on the level of freedom allowed in a company or the type of employer, electronic surveillance of employees may not be desirable. Companies that employ new college grads, who have absolutely blurred lines, and are online all day, are an example. In fact, 99 percent of the population will be fine without electronic surveillance fewer than 1 percent of employees are causing the damage that allows all of the bad stuff for employers to kick in. On days like Cyber Monday, Black Friday, the NCAA championships, a nd other popular events, employers might be tempted to overreact to employees shopping and watching games online. And, employees may feel as if they need to sneak and cheat to do their internet activities. But, a healthy balance benefits all parties. Employers may want to think twice about developing and implementing policies that forbid all personal online computer use during the work day with employees who are still answering emails at 8 p.m. at night. Employees must also practice reasonable internet use for personal shopping and the like at work. Few employers will quibble over a few minutes to place an order, but many deservedly object to an employee comparing prices online for half the workday. It would behoove employees, to understand their employers internet, email, and computer policies and expectations. Over half of all employers surveyed had fired employees for email and Internet abuse. Employers who have fired workers for email misuse did so for these reasons violation of a company policy inappropriate or offensive language excessive personal use or breach of company confidentiality rules. Know your employers policies about the internet and email use. Because the percentage of employers monitoring computer behavior is rising every year, what you dont know or pay attention to could hurt your standing with your employer. Most employers dont mind some or a small amount of computer use for personal business at work. You need to know how your employer defines some. Alternatives to Employee Monitoring Its a choice every company has to make. And, more and more companies are choosing to monitor employees and their online use. I dont recommend employee internet monitoring. I do recommend the following actions to create an organizational environment in which employees dont abuse their employers trust. Develop a solidinternet and email policythat provides employees withclear expectationsabout the employers stance on personal time online at work. This polic y can broadly forbid certain activities and site visitations without making employees feel like criminals. The policy can emphasize responsibility, faith, professional confidence, and trust.Communicate the policy using lots of examples so that employees are not confused about their requirements. Continuously communicate your expectations and address employees who take advantage of their employers time individually.If an employees productivity or contribution slips, communicate with the employee to determine if online use is affecting performance. Useprogressive disciplinewith employees who repeatedly violate your expectations and trust. Train your managers and supervisors about how to establish and maintain the expectations and policies of your workplace. Train them to recognize when an employee might be abusing internet time or sites at work.The IT staff, in the example above, had been given clear guidance and training about what to watch for in potential cases of internet abuse. R ather than monitoring all employee activity online, they selectively monitored when they thought a potential problem might exist.Develop and maintain a culture of trust. Developing an environment in which employees self-monitor personal online time at work is the most effective approach. verstndigung im strafverfahren with employees who are over the line on a case-by-case basis.Dont burden the majority of your hard-working employees with overly burdensome policies because of the actions of a few. Get rid of the few. Online abuse of time does occur in workplaces. But, employee internet monitoring is an overbroad reaction to the activities of a small percentage of employees. It contributes to an environment in which employees feel untrusted. It encouragessneakybehavioron the part of employees. It causes employees to waste energy worrying about whether what they are doing is okay or not, and it encourages a 9 to 5 mentality. Anemployer of choicefinds alternatives to employee internet monitoring.

Strange love For those that hate Valentines Day

Strange love For those that hate Valentines DayStrange love For those that hate Valentines DayDear H. G., he was a devil, he ruined my life. , he was an unexhaustible source of love and friendship to me for thirty five years, we should never have met -Rebecca WestValentines Day is objectively the worst holiday behind Arbor Day. Dedicating a holiday to the person youre currently dating, is like giving your migraine a birthday. If you disagree now, check back in about six months.Even if youre one of the misguidedly hopeful, youre likely exhausted by all the musings on roses and listicles of naughty places to stash sweethearts so Ive compiled a list of the historical figures that boasted a mora accurate portrayal of love and all of its sordid potential.Vincent and SienThe only thing that comes close to resembling romance in the relentlessly miserable life of the post impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh, is bookended by poverty and illness.Short on cash and desperate to work, Van Gogh decided to employ the talents of a homeless seamstress named Clasina Hoornik (Sien) as a model for some of his portraits and sketches. He even named one of his famous masterpieces after her, its calledSorrow, (isnt that just the cutest thing?)When Vincents family learned of Siens extracurricular activities, they effectively cut him off. Vincent doubled down on his commitment to Sien and her young daughter for two whole years. The troubled genius eventually left Sien at the behest of his dearest brother Theo, but he would always hold on to the memento she gave to him.Lord Byron and Caroline LambMAD, BAD AND DANGEROUS TO KNOW Caroline LambIn 1812, Lord Byron, the most influential poet of the romantic movement entered a highly publicized affair with a one Caroline Lamband it was disastrous.The aftermath saw them hurl a series of diss-poems at each other over the course of several decades with the occasional interruption of lude pranks, suicide attempts and substance abuse.Caroline at some point unlawfully obtained a portrait of Byron from his publisher. She promised to return it to him in exchange for a locket of his hair. He sent her a badestrand of his new girlfriends instead.Rebecca West And H.G WellsThe eventful love affair between these two literature titans is detailed thoroughly in J.R. Hammonds biographical epic, simply titled H.G Wells and Rebecca West. The stalwart author of Black Lamb And Grey Falcon, was only 19 when she met Wells, (46 and already as famous as a writer could be). He fathered her illegitimate son and authored the mercurial waves of passion that defined their fraught romance.Their son, the talented, Anthony West, published a fictionalized biography of the entanglement that birthed him, resulting in a rift between him and his mother that would never be mended.Britney Spears and Kevin FederlineI just thought it would be too much if we had done it when we were supposed to. It became this huge thing and I was like, What are we waiting for ? We know this is the real thing, why not just do it now? Thats why I wanted to sneak and do it our little way. Millionaire Pop Star, Britney Spears talking about the guy that penned PopoZao.For an in-depth chronicle of the whirlwind romance, please refer to UPNs Britney And Kevin Chaotic Britney I want somebody who will take care of me and that sounds stupid. Is that stupid?Kevin Its the furthest thing from stupid. Its probably the smartest thing Ive heard you say since Ive been out here.Please watch this show. It rules.

Should You Disclose a Chronic Illness in an Interview

Should You Disclose a Chronic Illness in an InterviewShould You Disclose a Chronic Illness in an Interview?Should You Disclose a Chronic Illness in an InterviewRosalind Joffe (pictured) is a career coach for people who live with chronic illnesses. In this post, she discusses the pros and cons of disclosing a chronic illness in your job, as well as what to say, and when and how to say it. On her blog, WorkingWithChronicIllness.com, and on her website, CICoach.com, she covers the challenges of living with illness. She has also authored a book, Women Work and Autoimmune Disease Keep Working Girlfriend, as well as Career Thrive, a Guidebook Series available in both hard cover and PDF.As a career coach for people with chronic illnesses, Im most often asked this question Should I disclose my illness when interviewing for a job?Naturally, I have mora questions than answers. But heres a guideline Ive found thats worth followingIf symptoms get in the way of doing the job as it is expected to be performed and it will be obvious from the day you start, you should disclose the illness.But theres another important factor to consider. A commenter on my blog wrote that the fine print of her employers insurance policy says you can be fired or excluded from medical coverage if you dont disclose an illness in advance.I dont think all insurance policies say this, but how do you find out what an employers health insurance policy says before they hire you? The negotiation phase would be a good time for this, when youve been offered the job and can ask questions and negotiate your demands. This includes reviewing information about health insurance coverage. Yet it doesnt answer the real concern a person might have about losing the job once they disclose their illness. I dont have to tell you that there are no guarantees, but you can be as prepared as possible by planning carefully.Consider the situations in which this issue might come up the interview, the offer negotiation, and onc e youre hired. Plan what you would say about living with this illness in each step. Include how it impacts you and how it doesnt. Finally, stress that you have managed it successfully in your work life thus far. The stronger and more confident you are in addressing this, the better the chance you can ease a hiring managers concerns.Do you notice that your illness is hurting your chances for career success? Is your confidence eroding because you only see the roadblocks? Consider working with a professional who can help you see your strengths, understand your limitations, and reach your goals.

If you turn to Facebook to cope, make sure you also have IRL friends, too

If you turn to Facebook to cope, make sure you also have IRL friends, tooIf you turn to Facebook to cope, make sure you also have IRL friends, tooIts easy to turn to Facebook when youre stressed out and in need of support. Theres always someone awake and online, and the likes and chat boxes pop up.But you need real-world friends too when youre under stress, a new German study says. If you dont get offline support, you could end up addicted to Facebook.The findings of the study came from the results of an online survey of 309 Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 56. Students were specifically recruited for the study, as they are often under stress and dont yet have strong personal networks.It welches discovered that those who didnt reach out to, or have, real-life networks beyond Facebook were at a risk of becoming addicted to the platform when they used it in times of stress.Our findings have shown that there is a positive relationship between the severity of daily stress, the i ntensity of Facebook engagement, and the tendency to develop a pathological addiction to the social networking site, said Julia Brailovskaia, in a release. She led the study, which was conducted bythe Mental Health Research and Treatment Center at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum in Germany.It was noted that the effect of Facebook addiction by users in distress was diminished if they received backing from IRL family and friends.The study was published in the journal Psychiatry Research.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

Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About How Do You Spell Resume Is Wrong and What You Should Know

Why Alfruchtwein Everything Youve Learned About How Do You Spell Resume Is Wrong and What You Should Know When reviewing examples and templates, pick the format which is best for your circumstances. In order to do the shortcuts, youll need to have a document open. When reviewing examples and templates, pick the format thats most appropriate for your circumstances. By picking a template, you dont need to be worried about the format itself. Dont use two or more fonts. Together with formatting your presentation, make certain to thoroughly edit your text. The Chronicles of How Do You Spell Resume There you will find a drop-down menu with a range of choices. Here are a few of the highlights. You are going to binnensee that there are 3 sorts of format used generally employed for resumes. The Nuiances of How Do You Spell Resume We make an effort not to hold it against the student, provided that he or she has played a part in the procedure. Its critical to be accurate once yo ure recounting your work history. However, the procedure is fairly slow. A career change resume example should teach you the way to concentrate on your prior employment. Someone with limited experience, but robust writing skills can assemble a compelling resume. Still, despite everything they do from interviews to screening, its still just an educated guess and it may still be wrong, but they try to lower their likelihood of making a poor hire. Before we begin, its a great notion to know the general strategies and strategies that may make your resume shine. 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the substantial cost saving in contrast to traditional hiring methods. Creating an incorrect hire is expensive. Forgetting about when and where you worked at any certain time may not look like something that may happen. Irrespective of which format you use or what information you decide to include or omit, there are particular things you can do in order to help your resume stand out over the crowd. With the increase of social networking, blogs, and individual webpages, it is currently getting more common to find these links on resumes. Most people have this, and it is a quick, totally free download whenever they dont. Within the next unit, well be going into greater detail about how to compose each section of your resume. There are equally as many typo-ridden resumes out there since there are error-free. Webpage portfolios are excellent for showcasing your work, especially if youre in a technical or creative industry. Start with highlighting the most compelling components of your experience first. Choosing How Do You Spell Resume Is Simple Youll be taken to a mini file explorer where youre able to choose the file to open. Unless it is necessary for the position, your photo isnt vital. New Step by Step Roadmap for How Do You Spell Resume Youll also learn about considerations for including links to internet profiles and individual webpages . It is vital to carefully inquire into the effects of a dietary supplement, even if its a perfectly natural item, like the Garcinia Cambogia. Make certain all content is grammatically accurate. Also, should you not have much following on these sites, it is not going to be advantageous to include them. The How Do You Spell Resume Game Think creatively, however, because sometimes the work youve performed outside the field might help you meet job requirements. Demonstrating true interest and attention may make a difference on the margin. Make certain your references are willing and prepared to talk about your abilities and abilities with a prospective employer. Even though most of resumes should offer advice in your work and education experience, together with your abilities and achievements, there are various tactics to present this info. Interviewers frequently begin a work interview by asking you to supply a summary of your employment experience. Lawyers ought to be ab le to keep high professionalism in their resumes which will be apparent to the prospective employers within merely a couple of seconds of looking at it. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often theyre utilised to secure new employment. They may be organized in different ways. Theres a slew of questions a company is attempting to answer when hiring someone. Here are a couple things to think about. The ideal way to accomplish this is to take a while to find ready ahead of time. But the most typical spellings appear to use a minumum of one accent. In the event the key phrase youre attempting to include is strategic planning, utilize a thesaurus to locate alternative words, like defined program targets and measures. Some grammar and spelling mistakes are easily missed. Now press the letter you want to accent. Keep in mind that accents appear good on paper, but onscreen, they have a tendency to produce things more difficult to read. The Bad Secret of How D o You Spell Resume As is true with several nouns borrowed directly from Latin, theres often some confusion concerning the right way to form its plural. These symbols incorporate the most frequent accented letters found in numerous words. All of them are accents which can be placed above letters. Leave the cursor at the close of the word. Every one of the punctuation keys mentioned above caters to a particular accent. How Do You Spell Resume - the Conspiracy They can be particularly beneficial for college graduates and entry-level job hunters who might not have the work experience to demonstrate their abilities. If you want my opinion, Ill tell you theres just one approach to loosing weight and staying fit, and thats to adopt a healthful way of life. We would like families involved.

Are You a Good Listener If Not, This Infographic Will Help

Are You a Good Listener If Not, This Infographic Will Help According tomultiple surveys, the skills gap so many employers face isnt just a matter of technical skills. A lot of organizations are struggling to find candidates with the right soft skills, too.In one such study from the Washington State Human Resources Council, 22 percent of executives said they were facing a shortage of technical skills but 44 percent said they were facing a shortage of soft skills.Some ofthe most desirable soft skills are communication skills, with 88 percent of the executives surveyed by the Washington State Human Resources Council saying that interpersonal skills were the soft skills they wanted in candidates.All of this is to say that being a good listener isnt just a matter of being polite to those around you its a matter of career success, too. If youre a good listener, you have some critical soft skills that are very much in demand today.Even if youre not a job s eeker, good listening skills are still important. For example, a recruiter who is a bad listener will have a hard time gaining the trust of candidates and clients alike.Not sure if youre a good listener? Check out the following infographic from CT Business Travel, which offers a helpful flow chart as well as some advice on how to improve your listening skills if it turns out they arent quite up to snuff

7 healthy holiday traditions you can start right now

7 healthy holiday traditions you can start right now7 healthy holiday traditions you can start right nowThe holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it definitely isnt always the healthiest. During this season steeped in indulgence, many of our favorite traditions make choosing healthy options difficult. You cant pass up Grandmas apple pie or your sisters homemadeeggnog, after all, or neglect to sit throughA Christmas Storyfor the umpteenth time. So although theres nothing wrong with digging into your favorite dessert or lounging through a holidaymovie marathon, why not add some healthier traditions into the mix too? Youll counterbalance some of the seasons excesses - and make it a bit easier to get back to regular life come January. Not sure what it would look like to start a healthy holiday habit? Dont worry, were not talking about replacing your cookie exchange with a kale salad competition Here are seven easy ideas to shake it up this season.1. Try a fun ru nHoliday fun runs go by many names - turkey trot, jingle jog, Hannukah hot chocolate run - but no matter the title, the concept remains the same. On a day when youre likely to feast, its a good idea to start with some activity. Even if a fun run doesnt take distributions-mix on an actual holiday, training to participate in a 5K, 10K, or other distance race can keep you working out regularly. Choose a run that supports a cause you care about and make it an annual affair2. Start a family fitness traditionBaby, its cold outside - but that doesnt mean you cant work in some heart-pounding exercise. Depending on where you live, you might establish a yearly post-present hike, a sledding stint on New Years Eve, or just a neighborhood walk after Christmas dinner (caroling not required). Alternatively, stay the fitness course all season long by challenging a friend or family member to a steps competition throughout December.3. Add a healthy recipe to your repertoireHave you perfected the a rt of thesugar cookieor nailed the greatest pot roast? Maybe its time to let your cooking prowess shine in other areas too. Especially if youre headed to a gathering you know wont have many healthy offerings, be the one to bring a tasty, good-for-you dish. Revel in your new reputation as theSalad MasterorQuinoa Queen.4.Give backFor many of us, the struggle for holiday well-being is as much about mental health as physical health. One proven means of boosting good vibes is to give of your time to others. Why not make volunteering an annual commitment? Serve at a food pantry, donate to a womens shelter, or visit older folks at a nursing home. You may find yourself looking forward to this activity even mora than the usual cookie baking and light display viewing. Plus, you might even make some new friends in the process.5. Keep a holiday gratitude journalThanksgiving may have come and gone, but thats no reason to cease counting your blessings. Grab a blankjournaland jot down a handful of things youre thankful for every few days. Youll experience thehealth benefits of gratitude- and finish the year with a record of all the great memories you made throughout the season.6. Take a social media breakWhat, take a social media break when you could be posting your cutest Christmas party photos on Instagram? Yep. Overwhelmingresearchreveals that our favorite online platforms actually do more harm than good for our mental health. Comparing ourselves to others leads to feelings of inadequacy, while FOMO (fear of missing out) makes us high-strung and anxious. Saying a temporary sayonara to social media can allow you to focus on your own experience of the holidays, instead of feeling envious of someone elses.7. Host a healthy New Years brunchWhether or not you hit your health goals during the holidays, you can leise ring in the new year right. A healthy New Years brunch with friends may be just the thing to start fresh in January. Invite attendees to bring their favorite dishe s for a healthy potluck meal and to share resolutions. You might even make a commitment to follow up with each other every month. Its one tradition that could help you (and your besties) stay healthy all year long.This article was originally published on Brit + Co.

How setbacks help us discover what we truly love

How setbacks help us discover what we truly loveHow setbacks help us discover what we truly loveCharles Duhiggis a Pultizer Prize-winning journalist and the bestselling author ofThe Power of Habit Why We Do What We Do in Life and BusinessandSmarter Faster Better The Transformative Power of Real Productivity.He recently sat down withSrinivas Raoon theUnmistakable Creativepodcast to discuss why even the fruchtwein admirable among us are flawed, and how setbacks are crucial signposts on the journey of self-discovery.This conversation has been edited and condensed.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreSriniGrowing up, did you have a hero?CharlesNot really, no. I would actually argue that having a hero is leid a great thing, because its too simplistic. There are certainly people that I admire, people who live with purpose and dedication whose examples I draw a huge amount of inspiration fr om. But Im very cognizant of the fact that those people are not heroic. Because if youre heroic, its not particularly hard to do things. If youre a hero- like a Jedi Knight with a lightsaber- all the obstacles fall away with just a little bit of effort. But thats not how life works.Take Reverend Martin Luther King, who I think is deeply, deeply admirable, and, by the way, welches also a deeply flawed part. He had positives, and he had negatives. And whats most amazing about him is that he dedicated himself to a philosophy of nonviolent protest. Is he a hero? I dont think he is. I think hes something much more impressive- a person who found a purpose, and was willing to make sacrifices and continue working, even when it was not clear that the work was going to be successful.John Lewis was also a major figure of the civil rights movement. In his early 20s, he crossed the bridge out of Selma and was beaten by police officers. But what has actually been most impressive about John Lewis is that since then, since he has been out of the public eye, he has spent the rest of his life serving in Congress, working every single day on things that oftentimes are not successful in order to make the world a better place. Going in and filing some amendment to a bill is not particularly heroic- nobody ever writes, InStar WarsPart Seven, Luke Skywalker files a cloture motion. But thats actually what makes the world change. And those people are deeply admirable, not because theyre heroes, but because they found a purpose, and despite their setbacks, they worked to succeed.SriniI love that. If not heroes then, who would you say had a profound influence on your life?CharlesI dont know- I just dont think that way. I actually think its dangerous to think that way. For people who want aphorisms, or want heroes, or want one figure who solves everything- its a way of telling yourself that you can stop thinking.The only people in this world who are unflawed are super boring people.Let m e give you an example. Theres a guy named windschatten Lorch who led the fight to desegregate Stuyvesant Town, which is a big housing village in New York City. And he got fired again and again and again from universities for standing up for civil rights, particularly for integration of African-Americans into what had previously been segregated environments. And apparently, from everyone who Ive ever spoken to, Lee Lorch was awful to spend time with. He was combative and obsessive and self-aggrandizing- yet he fought for civil rights his whole life, and he got a lot done.Thats why there are lots of people who I admire, and there are lots of people who I look at and say, I want to stealthatelement of who that person is. I want to stealthatelement of their character. But there isnt just one person, because thats too much to put on one person. Thats too much to put on ourselves. It has to be this mosaic.SriniI agree with you- my perspective on life and creativity has been shaped by more than 600 people who Ive interviewed.One of the things that really struck me was when you mentioned how both Martin Luther King and Lee Lorch were deeply flawed. And its funny, because Ive heard that same sentiment echoed about other high-achieving people. Why is it that this deeply flawed nature and the accomplishment of amazing things seem to be birds of a feather?CharlesI dont think its that spectacular people are deeply flawed, and therefore also great. Its that all of us, all human beings, are deeply flawed. People who do great things tend to recognize their flaws, make peace with them, and say, I am flawed in this one way. Let me figure out the situations in which that flaw is a huge strength, and try and put myself in those situations, rather than trying to be an unflawed human being.Because to be honest, the only people in this world who are unflawed are super boring people. You can be unflawed, but that means youre never going to try anything hard. Youre never going to take any risks. Youre never going to make any mistakes. Youre never going to do anything- and thats a recipe for being vanilla.If youre dedicated to believing in something and fighting for it, then by definition, there are going to be flaws in your personality. And once you accept that, then the next step is to say, These flaws are experiments, and Im going to learn where ansicht flaws work, and where theyre drawbacks. And Im going to do everything in my power to maximize the strength and minimize the weakness.SriniSo how do you find the situations in which your flaws become your strengths? This is fresh in my mind because somebody asked me recently about what all the people that I interview have in common. And one thing that I did find is that almost every one of them tooksomething that, on the surface, seemed like a major disadvantage, like dyslexia,and turned it into a disproportionate advantage in their work.The best thing that can happen to us is to encounter some obstacles that te st us, and make us think about that motivation, and push us to continue working.CharlesSo I would push back on that, because I dont think thats true. Theres very little evidence that shows that dyslexia becomes an advantage. What we do know is that people who are dyslexic oftentimes learn ways to push themselves, and to be persistent. They develop more grit because theyve had to show grittiness in order to do everyday activities like reading, and that grit spills over into helping them in other settings. But its not like, The fact that Im dyslexic causes me to be great. Its, The fact that Im dyslexic gave me an obstacle to overcome, and I learned skills in persistence that I can now apply to other problems.Now, one exception to that is Chuck Close, the artist. He did what most people refer to as photorealistic portraits- paintings and drawings of people that look like photographs. And then he suffered a stroke. And as a result of the stroke, he was confined to a wheelchair, and he l ost the ability to do precise brushwork. So at that point, Chuck Close decides to come up with a new form of portraiture, which is to divide the canvas into boxes. He says, Im only going to paint individual two-inch by two-inch boxes, and put these boxes in combination. And if you step back from them, they will look like a portrait of someone. He actually became much more famous because of this new style of portraiture.Now, thats a situation where someone has a disability, and they use that disability to do something new and amazing. But not every person who has a stroke becomes an amazing portraitist. Whats important is that Chuck Close said, When I dont have one set of tools available to me, I will find another set of tools that will allow me to continue doing portraits. But its not because of his disability that he did amazing work- he did amazing work, and his disability shaped that work in another direction.SriniThat reminds me of a story I read about the guy who did all the gl asswork on the ceiling of the Bellagio. He went blind in one eye, and that completely changed the way he shaped the glass, and it actually became much more interesting as a byproduct. So in what seems like a really bad situation, what separates the person who reacts like that from the one who doesnt?CharlesThats Dale Chihuly. And I think actually most people respond that way. There are not a lot of people in history who were super high performers, and then had one setback and everything fell apart. Actually, there are many, many more stories of people for whom everything was always going right, and everyone assumed they were talented, but they had one setback and never recovered- because it turned out that they were just lucky, instead of talented.I think that most people find a motivation that drives their work. And in some ways, the best thing that can happen to us is to encounter some obstacles that test us, and make us think about that motivation, and push us to continue working .The truth is, we just dont know whether we actually are in love with the process until we experience the setbacks.If you look at most politicians who have gotten to the presidency, they often had some period of deep disappointment early in their lives. But its not that they became president because of that setback- its that they had the capacity to become president, and when they encountered setbacks, they knew that they could push through it, because they had this genuine, passionate commitment to the work, as opposed to just the outcome of the work.Theres a huge difference between someone who says, I love making art. I love experimenting with different ways of holding-gesellschaft my brush or blowing glass or writing stories, and someone who says, I would love to write a bestselling book, or, I would love to make a great painting, or, I would love to have a famous piece of sculpture. If all youre focused on is the end product, if thats all that interests you, then its very, very hard to make it through those setbacks. But if youre fascinated by the activity itself, if youre fascinated by the process and the journey, then the setbacks really arent that big of a deal. Its disappointing, but the setback teaches you a new possibility, a new way forward- like, That didnt work, so now Ill try this.The truth is, we just dont know whether we actually are in love with the process until we experience the setbacks. We might tell ourselves, I dont care if people like my art- I just love making artBut until youve been through it, its very hard to test that thesis. If you find that youre going into work, and the work kind of sucks, and nobody ever appreciates you, but you still like going in every day, you discover, I actually do like doing the work.SriniTo me setbacks are the biggest tests that stand between us and the next level of significance. Something good always seems to come from a setback, even though it never seems like it in the moment.CharlesYeah, but again, I think its really important not to fall into these platitudes- Something good always comes from it. You know what? Sometimes nothing good comes from a setback. Its important to be honest with ourselves and say, Sometimes bad things happen, and thats okay. If you still like what youre doing in the midst of the bad thing, then youre doing the right thing. And if you dont like what youre doing, its okay to say, Maybe I should go do something else.I became an editor about two years ago at theTimes. I loved when we were successful, but when we had a setback, I was like, Ah, this job sucks. Whereas when Im reporting and writing stories, even when theres a setback, its like, Oh, that didnt work, but heres another way to try. I just love reporting, and I love writing. And being honest with yourself, and learning that about yourself- thats when you learn where youre going to be successful.This article originally appeared on Heleo.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that w ill make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from kleine 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

27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired

27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired27 surprising things that affect whether you get hiredThere are many pieces to a job interview.Theres the obvious stuff Have you done yur research on the company? Are you polite to the interviewer and eager to join the staff?But theres also the less obvious stuff How do you treat the receptionist? Are you smiling too much?Below, we put together a list of seemingly trivial details that can affect your options of landing the gig - and only some are within your control.Jacquelyn Smith and Vivian Giang contributed to a previous version of this article.1. The time of your interview1030 a.m. on a Tuesday is the best time for you to schedule an interview, reports Glassdoor. People are shown to be fruchtwein productive on Tuesdays and wont feel rushed by the time they meet you. Its also late enough in the day that your interviewer has had time to check their email, have a cup of coffee, and get ready for your arrival.You also dont want t o be someones last meeting of the workday, because theres a good chance the interviewers attention might elend solely be on you. They could be thinking about priorities that they have after work, for example, such as dinner plans, kids homework, etc.Also, avoid interviewing pre or post-lunch because your time with them could either be cut short or you could be left waiting for a long time.2. The weather on the day of your interviewUniversity of Toronto researchers Donald Redelmeier and Simon D. Baxter found that medical school applicants fared worse if they interviewed on a rainy day compared to sunny day interviewees.They say Overall, those interviewed on rainy days received about a 1% lower score than those interviewed on sunny days. This pattern welches consistent for both senior interviewers and junior interviewers. We next used logistic regression to analyze subsequent admission decisions. The difference in scores was equivalent to about a 10% lower total mark on the Medical Co llege Admission Test.The data included nearly 3,000 applicants over a six-year period.3. How early you arriveYou may think itll look good if you arrive early - but if youre excessively early, you could be hurting your chances.Of course arriving a few minutes early is a good idea, and is certainly better than arriving late - but dont show up a half hour before your interview, says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.It can make you appear too anxious or put pressure on the interviewer. If you have extra time, gather your thoughts in your car or take a brief walk to get your energy up.4. Whether your rival also interviews on the same dayYes, it may be difficult to know when your rival is interviewing, but if you happen to know, schedule your interview on a different day. Research suggests that whether or not youre considered qualified for a position depends on who else is applying for the job.People are averse to judging too many applicants high or low on a single day, which creates a bias against people who happen to show up on days with especially strong applicants, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science.However, this comparison only lasts for one day, which means that you are only compared to people who are interviewing on the same day as you - not the day before or after.5. When you send your thank-you noteWe all know how important it is to follow up after a job interview with a thank-you note - but not everyone realizes that when they send it can be just as important.If you wait too long, the hiring manager may forget about you or assumeyoure not interested in the job. It may also make you seem like a slacker.The best timeframe to send a thank you email is within 24 hours after your interview, Whitney Purcell, formerly the associate director of Career Development at Susquehanna University, previously told Business Inside r. It should be sent during business hours no 3 a.m. emails that make your schedule seem a little out of whack with the companys traditional hours.For mora on how to craft the perfect thank-you note, check out this handy guide.6. What you do while waiting in the lobbyDrinking coffee, eating, or talking on your cell is not the first impression you want to make with the hiring manager - or the receptionist, says Taylor. You dont know exactly when the interviewer will show up, so be at the ready.She suggests keeping one hand free so that you can quickly shake hands without awkwardly placing all your personal items on a chair or on the floor. You want to appear organized and attentive.Also, as you wait, either make conversation with the receptionist (if he or she is available to talk), review notes from your notebook, or review any company materials for guests. Maintain a pleasant smile and upbeat demeanor.7. How you treat the receptionist or the driverEmployers want to know how you i nteract with others regularly, so a common tactic is to ask the receptionist about you later.Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he will ask the shuttle driver who picks up candidates whether they were impolite or rude.A lot of our job candidates are from out of town, and well pick them up from the airport in a Zappos shuttle, give them a tour, and then theyll spend the rest of the day interviewing, Hsieh says. At the end of the day of interviews, the recruiter will circle back to the shuttle driver and ask how he or she was treated. It doesnt matter how well the day of interviews went, if our shuttle driver wasnt treated well, then we wont hire that person.8. Your handshakeAs in any business or networking situation, a weak, tentative handshake conveys a lack of confidence, Taylor says. And this gesture is a key part of your first impression.Make sure you convey your self-assurance with a firm handshake and a smile on your face - and dont be afraid to take the initiative in reaching out. Some people go overboard, however. You dont need to cause injury to make your point.9. If you accept the offered coffeeIf the interviewer offers you something to drink besides water - especially coffee - dont accept it.Your interviewer doesnt want to spend 10 minutes just to make you a cup of coffee, say authors John B. Molidor and Barbara Parus in their book Crazy Good Interviewing How Acting A Little Crazy Can Get You The Job.This is especially true if they have a busy day ahead, since theyre now spending even mora time than they originally planned just to make you coffee.10. Whether youre a little narcissisticResearch from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests that narcissists score much higher than others in job interviews, and its because theyre comfortable with self-promoting.Since narcissists typically think theyre fantastic, the interviewer may think so, too.11. The color of your clothingAccording to 2,099 hiring manage rs and human resource professionals who participated in a CareerBuilder survey, blue and black are the best colors to wear to a job interview, and orange is the worst.Conservative colors, such as black, blue, gray, and brown, seem to be the safest bet when meeting someone for the first time in a professional setting, whereas colors that signal mora creativity, like orange, may be too loud for an interview.Red is the most powerful color, but consider whether you want to outshine your interviewer. This, of course, depends on what role youre interviewing for and the culture of the company.12. Whether you glance at your watch or cell phoneAs benign as this might seem, people notice when youre peeking at your watch or phone, and you certainly dont want to convey that youre not engaged in the conversation, Taylor explains.Even having your cell phone in plain sight is disrespectful. Youre not going to text or take calls, so turn it off and put it away. Make sure your hiring manager has you r undivided attention.13. Sitting before youre asked toShow respect for your interviewers space by waiting for them to offer you a seat, or wait for them to sit first.After you sit, Molidor and Parus say to sit tall with squared up shoulders and try to occupy as much space in the chair as possible. Dont be like a shrinking violet with a bowed head, no eye contact, and slouching shoulders.14. Tailoring your answers based on the interviewers ageDifferent generations are most impressed by different values. By being aware of your interviewers age, you can tailor your answers to what you think theyre looking for, advise Molidor and Parus.With a little practice, you can home in on the values that each generation holds most dear. You can shape your answer using the language of their values, they write.15. The way you make eye contact in a panel interviewKeep everyones attention in a panel interview by making eye contact with different people at specific times during your response, say Moli dor and Parus.In a panel interview, always begin your response by making eye contact with the person who asked you the question. Then make random and soft eye contact with each of the other interviewers. As you finish up your response, return your eye contact to the person who asked you the question. Do not mow down the interviewers by going down the line making eye contact after the other. Soft random eye contact does the trick.16. Your postureWhen youre in the interview, your default should be sitting straight and keeping a pleasant smile on your face, Taylor says.Avoid slumping in your chair and remember to lean forward, showing interest in the interviewer. Even if you feel the discussion is going south, maintain your poise, posture and inflection. That can sometimes help you turn things around.17. What you do with your handsMolidor and Parus writeShowing your palms indicates sincerity.unternehmensverbund your palms downward is a sign of dominance. Do not shake hands with your pa lms down.Pressing the fingertips of your hands together to form a church steeple is a display of confidence.Concealing your hands, as in putting them in your pockets, is a sign that you have something to hide.Finger tapping is a sign of impatience.Folding your arms across your chest is a very defensive position, indicating disappointment or disagreement.Overusing hand gestures to the point of distraction.18. The questions you askMaybe youre capable of answering every question sent your way with flying colors, but you also need to leave on a good note by asking smart, thoughtful questions at the end.Below are two questions from Vicky Olivers book 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview QuestionsWhat are some of the problems your company faces right now? And what is your department doing to solve them?What type of employee tends to succeed here? What qualities are the most important for doing well and advancing at the firm?19. Where you grew upIf you spent your childhood in LA and your i nterviewer did, too, you may have a better chance of landing the job.Its clearly unfair (and out of your control), but your interviewer may not even be consciously aware that shes biased toward Californians. Its called the similarity-attraction hypothesis People simply gravitate toward those who are similar to them in some capacity.There are a few potential explanations for this phenomenon. One is that people with a decent level of self-esteem are satisfied with their personalities, so when they see their qualities reflected in someone else, they like that person, too.Another idea is that humans have evolved to like people who look and act the way they do. At one point in human history, the safest bet was to only trust people in your small social group.20. How competent you seemComing across as super-competent can in some cases hurt your success in an interview.Thats because your interviewer might worry that youll threaten his status in the organization. And thats especially true in organizations with highly competitive cultures.Of course, you should still put your best foot forward in any job interview. If the company doesnt hire you because they feel threatened, you might not want to work there anyway.21. The sound of your voiceIn the near future, some companies may begin analyzing candidates voices to determine if theyd be good fits, according to an NPR report.Essentially, an algorithm would determine whether your voice is engaging, calming, or trustworthy - which could be especially important in industries like hospitality and retail.Humans would have the final say on hiring.22. Whether youre smilingIts common sense that flashing a smile makes you look friendlier and more approachable.But research suggests that, for certain professions, smiling too much can undermine your success in a job interview.In one study, published in the Journal of Social Psychology, researchers asked college students to role-play job interviews. They found that students who playe d candidates for the position of newspaper reporter, manager, and research assistant were less likely to get the hypothetical job when they smiled - especially during the middle of the interviews.23. Your accentResearch published in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that some employers may discriminate against candidates for executive positions when the candidates have foreign accents. Specifically, the employers may believe that those candidates have less political skill.This is another example of completely unfair discrimination, and the researchers behind the study say companies should add accent-bias awareness training to existing training programs for hiring managers.24. Your weightRecent experiments suggest that were less inclined to hire job candidates when theyre overweight.In the study, published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, men and women rated digital resumes that included photographs of non-obese people and digitally alter ed photographs of those same people as obese. As it turns out, obese candidates were rated significantly less competent than non-obese candidates.Right now, Michigan is the only state that has a law against weight discrimination - theres no protection under federal law. But if you feel that weight discrimination has affected your chances of landing a job, you can get in touch with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the American Civil Liberties Union.25. Whether you have tattoos or piercingsA Salary.com survey found that some 76% of people say tattoos and piercings hurt a job candidates chances of getting hired.Your body art might stand out more in certain fields - for example, the survey found that just 8% of government workers have tattoos, compared to 20% of those in the hospitality, tourism, and recreation industries.26. Your body languageExperts say that when people like each other they mirror each others body posture and movements. In a way, it looks like the two people are dancing.If you dont mirror your interviewers body language, it might seem like youre not interested in what theyre saying or even that youre lying.Obviously, you dont need to go to extremes here - like scratching your nose every time your interviewer does. But if theyre leaning forward in their chair or sitting with their legs crossed, you can subtly mimic these behaviors.27. How sweaty you areOffering a clammy palm to shake the hiring managers hand is the greatest fear of many a job candidate.And for good reason - sweating suggests youre nervous and can undermine the image of cool confidence youre trying to project.One public relations recruiter tells US News that she recommends asking for a cold cup of water while youre waiting to be called in for your interview. That way, youll lower your body temperature and stop some of the sweating.On the other hand, you can just accept that sweating and nervousness are normal in a stressful situation and hope your interviewer fee ls the same way.This article first appeared on Business Insider.