WARNING 8 Signs Your Job Interview is Scam

WARNING 8 Signs Your Job Interview is ScamJob interviews arent just a time for you to sit in the hot seat and be judged. Theyre also an opportunity for you to vet the potential employerto determine whether this company would be a good fit for you, and to make koranvers there arent any giant flapping red flags that should be telling you to run for the hills. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) If youre ever in an iffy situation in an interview and cant quite tell whether your gut reaction is the right one, here are a few warning signs that this job might not be the one for you.1. The vibe is not so great.Everyone looks miserable. Its quiet, but it doesnt look like thats because everyone is concentrating so hard on their work. It just seems frosty and weird. If youre a friendly collaborator by nature, this might not be the place for you. Things might be extra bad if youre introduced to a few potential future coworkers and they dont seem in any way enthused. If they cant fake it to impress a potential new team member, theyre certainly not into the place.2. Its all over way too soon.Interviews dont have to be long and grueling, but they also shouldnt be too short. If you feel like youre being asked a handful of questions with very low stakes and you get offered the job in a hot second, take a step back and make sure this isnt because theyre desperateor incompetent. Are they overselling? Whats the catch?? Dont just snap it up because youre flattered or relieved to get an offer in the first place3. You find out theres a high turnover rate.Constant and consistent departure of employees might be another reason for a particularly hasty offer. If theres a way to find out from current or former employees what the turnover rate seems to be and why it might be particularly high, that would be useful information. If that question seems to forward, simply asking some current employees how long theyve been there might help. If everyon e youve spoken to has only been with the company a short time, activate your spidey sense.4. Everything is done super secretively.You seem to be getting shuffled through the process on the DL. The interview doesnt take place at their office location. Youve not honigwein the person holding the position youre meant to replace. You dont know why the position is open. You dont get to meet anyone else on your team. Think about these things before accepting an offer, lest you show up for work on Monday morning and the entire team hates you for stealing their pals job seemingly overnight.5. Youre ghosted.You interviewed, you followed up, and the line went proverbially dead. Or, theyre making you wait an inordinately long time before letting you know when you might expect next steps or decisions to happen. Leaving a candidate hanging is disrespectful and unprofessionalboth bad signs right out of the gate.6. They ask you for money.Run. Just run.7. Everyone uses robot-like corporate-speak all the time.Too many buzzwords or fancy jargon might be a big ruse to make the company or team sound successful and inspiring, when the reality could be anything but. If they seem like theyre trying really hard to impress you but theres not much substance underneath, try to do a bit more sniffing around.8. Theres no indication of company growth.If the interviewer cant give you a clear picture of career growth opportunities or provide you with a clear account of what your role would beboth immediately and in futurethen watch out. Not having a clear sense of how you would develop your career there isnt a particularly good sign at this stageand it doesnt bode very well for later stages either.

How to Find a Career Path A Guide for the Class of 2016

How to Find a Career Path A Guide for the Class of 2016 How to Find a Career Path A Guide for the Class of 2016Kick off your career with this guide full of college grad career help for the class of 2016. TWEETAs the class of 2016 is picking up graduation gowns and planning celebratory dinners with family and friends, many graduates are anxious about whats next for them. Some may have a job lined up and are excited and nervous to start. Others are going through interviews and wondering when the pieces will fall into place for them.No matter what your situation, read on to supercharge the start of your recent grad career path1. Use your resourcesIt may feel like you are on your own in the midst of confusion. Remember that as a recent graduate you have access to many resources, including your schools career center, as well as professors and mentors. This is notlage the time to be a lone ranger. Reach out and ask for guidance.On that note, dont discount your family and friends as potenti al sources of job opportunities. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, and neighbors are all connected to dozens of professionals.I know that it can be difficult to ask for advice, feedback, or constructive criticism. It does not help that mock interviews at Career Services can feel stuffy and forced. Do it anyway. You wont regret it.2. Be clear on your value propositionAs a recent graduate, you might feel that it is impossible to stand out of the crowd. When everyone has similar GPAs, extracurricular activities, and little relevant work experience, how do you differentiate yourself?When determining your recent grad career path, begin with your strengths. Reflect on the things that you naturally do well. If you get stuck, ask your friends and family, or take an online strengths-based assessment to give you some language around your personal superpowers.3. Dont let your major limit youOne of the most frequent complaints I hear from soon-to-be-graduates is, But I majored in English (or fill -in-the-blank with your major) getting a job is near impossibleRemember that employees hire young graduates for their potential, not necessarily for which school they went to, or what degree is on their diploma. No matter what major you graduate with, you have many options for your recent grad career path.Step away from the narrow frame of your major, and into possibility. What are the big-picture skills and talents you have built? Where might they be of value? In my experience, an uncommon major can actually make you stand out as a candidate.I know one past English major who became a passionate and effective attorney, and another who worked his way up to head project manager of a major gaming company. Another young professional, with a Bachelors degree in business and international relations, was hired by a prestigious accounting firm. Dont let your major limit you.4. Be strategic about your applicationsIt can be tempting to submit as many applications as you can. Dont be seduced by big numbers. The only applications that count are those that represent positions where you have a good chance of getting an interview. Applying to dozens of random jobs only exposes you to rejection and drains your resilience.It can also be difficult to write a compelling cover letter if you cannot tell one position from another. Hiring managers can see a rubber-stamp cover letter a mile away Become deliberate and strategic in your applications.On the same note, dont rely on the Internet alone. Network in your other circles alumni clubs, volunteer groups and civic organizations. 5. Follow upConsider this piece of college grad career help this is not the time to be casual All employers want to hire graduates with confidence and an ability to follow through. Professional (yet persistent) follow up can set you apart from other candidates. You dont want to nag, but following up when you said you would establishes you as a young professional who is good on his word.6. Clean up your ac tRecruiters and hiring managers do a lot of due diligence online. If your social media presence reveals past indiscretions that you would not want to explain to your grandparents (or your potential employer), clean up Dont count on private settings to keep late-night drinking and bikini pictures out of your recruiters search.Also, take a hard look at your voicemail greeting. Many college students have a playful (or sometimes even off-color) voicemail homilie that is not appropriate in a professional setting. Remember that the hiring manager does not know you, and is making snap judgment calls based on every little shred of evidence he can get. Make sure those shreds show you in the best light.7. Show your enthusiasmAs a past hiring manager myself, I can validate that one of my favorite things about new college graduates is their enthusiasm. A staff member who shows up bright-eyed and genuinely excited to be there can do wonders for the mood in the office. Be that person who brighten s up everyones day.8. Ground your expectationsA complaint I often hear from hiring managers is that new hires can have ungrounded expectations about job responsibilities and their recent grad career path. I have heard stories of younger staff members displaying an attitude when asked to scan paperwork, make copies, or answer phones. I think it stems from the gap between their preconceived idea of what the corporate world is like, and the reality of it.Now, I am not discouraging you from having a career track and aspirations. All I ask is that you listen carefully to the job expectations, so that you are clear on what your first year will be like. You can ask about growth opportunities, but remember that you will need to demonstrate consistent high performance before you are trusted with more responsibility.9. Dont overthink itToo much analysis can freeze you in your tracks. If you are one of the recent graduates who feels paralyzed by the multitude of choices and the fear of making a mistake, take a deep breath, and then take a step.Apply for jobs. Go to interviews. Network. Dont be so afraid to make a wrong choice.Remember that no matter which job you pick after you graduate, it is only the first career choice you get to make not the last and final one. No one expects you to make one job decision and stick with it until you retire. No job is ever a waste of time you can learn, gain professional and personal experience, and grow in any position.Ready to find your dream job? Hire a TopResume writer todayRelated Articles

Job Search Tips for Veterans

Job Search Tips for Veterans Veterans face unique challenges when searching for civilian jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience higher than average unemployment rates. Despite this, there are steps you can take to help you succeed in your job search. Make a PlanThe first step is exploring the resources that are available to you and forming a strategy. Dont wait until after you leave the service instead, start thinking about the transition as early as possible. Psychologist Katharine Brooks recommends assessing your current situation and then looking at where you want to go and what you need to do to get there. You should also make a frank assessment of any injuries or physical limitations that will impact your job search.Make a list of your skills, the work that youd like to do, and potential employers to contact. Check out the Military to Civilian Occupation Translator, which helps service members match military skills and experience to civilian occupations.Update Your ResumeTalking about your service in civilian terms can be tough. Staffing firm Robert Half recommends skipping the acronyms and military details, and creating a resume that focuses on core competencies that hiring managers in the civilian job market can easily understand.Whenever you make changes to your resume, its important to proofread. Ask a friend to look over it or take advantage of Grammarlys online proofreading tool. Presenting an error-free resume is an essential part of making a good impression.NetworkNetworking is one of the most essential activities for any job seeker. First, let everyone in your social network know the type of work youre looking for. Consider attending trade shows, job fairs, and other networking events just make sure you have a stack of personal business cards in hand when you go. You can get low-cost cards from companie s like Vistaprint and Overnight Prints, or design and print your own using a template.There are networking opportunities specifically for veterans, too. Military.com, for example, hosts the Veteran Career Network online. Check with your local V.A. office or with other veterans you know to find opportunities in your area.Train New SkillsWhile youre searching for employment, consider refreshing your skills or developing new ones. The Bureau of Veterans Affairs has vocational rehabilitation and employment services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.Your local public library is a treasure trove of information, online training programs, and even workshops and classes. You might also explore your options for higher education using your G.I. Bill opportunity, but be wary of programs that seem to make promises that are too good to be true. No degree program can guarantee employment.Ask for Help If You Need ItThe V.A. is a good resource for ongoing assistance, but there are other organizations dedicated to connecting qualified veterans. Hiring Our Heroes is a nationwide program backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help veterans find jobs.There are an increasing number of programs like Hiring Our Heroes to help veterans re-enter the workforce, and first lady Michelle Obama is spearheading the initiative. She specifically addressed female veterans, who represent 10 percent of all vets. She encouraged them to flaunt their skills, saying And believe me, you all have so much to show off. Thats the beauty of it those years in the military set you apart from so many other candidates.As part of her program to help all veterans find meaningful employment, Obama teamed up with Coursera, an online college platform, to offer free certifications to veterans. The professional networking site LinkedIn will also offer free premium access to veterans.We here at Grammarly would like to take this opportunity to honor the men and women who have served our country. Thank you.

Lead Applications Developer Job and Salary

Lead Applications Developer Job and SalaryLead Applications Developer Job and SalaryThe desire for top-notch developer talent isnt slowing, so its no surprise that lead applications developers are in demand.Business needs have caused many organizations to increase their internal development staff, and this, in turn, is leading to more hiring and the promotion of senior developers to lead applications developer positions, says Nick Chlam, recruiting manager for Permanent sitzordnung Services at Robert Half Technology in Cincinnati. The bottom line is that these organizations need strong leadership for their growing development gruppes.Use the Robert Half Technology Salary Calculator to find specific salary information for lead applications developers in your city.What it takes to be a lead applications developerHere are a few qualifications for a lead applications developerAt least three years of experience in technologies such as Visual Basic .NET, PHP, C/C++ and Microsoft .NET frame work developmentA solid background in applications programmingA bachelors degree in computer science or a related fieldSeveral years of proven success as a technical team leaderAs a lead applications developer, you would be responsible for directing the development team in the design, development, coding, testing and debugging of applications. You would also coordinate the development staffs schedule and ensure effective communication between team members and other IT functional areas. Additionally, you will be expected to provide feedback and suggestions for process and product improvement and act as a technical mentor and adviser.Aspiring lead applications developer prove youre more than a team playerA lead applications developer doesnt just excel at creating, testing and programming applications software for computers and handheld devices. Technology professionals in this role also work closely with other managers and prioritize resource needs while simultaneously directing and m otivating staff. You do not become a lead applications developer overnight, Chlam says. It requires proven talent and experience and the ability to teach, motivate and mentor others.These qualities are a direct result of strong communication skills that help the lead application developer translate the ideas of business leaders and end users into technical requirements that the development team understands and implements.The best lead applications developers even go a step further with their nontechnical skills, using good communication and other leadership qualities to help boost team morale. In all, being a lead applications developer is about more than showing off your creative expertise when it comes to developing applications. Its about acting as an example for the other developers to follow. This role is creator, leader and mentor rolled into one. Its obvious why the position is in such high demand. Who wouldnt want that kind of expert leadership on board?Look to Robert Half T echnologys latest Salary Guide for job descriptions and starting salaries for a wide range of IT jobs - including lead applications developerDOWNLOAD THE SALARY GUIDEThis post has been updated to reflect more current information.

Tough Interview Questions Why Are You Making a Move in a Recession

Tough Interview Questions Why Are You Making a Move in a RecessionTough Interview Questions Why Are You Making a Move in a RecessionDespite the recession, people are, in fact, changing jobs by choice. Voluntary job changers who have trouble explaining why theyd look for work in a tight economy can use these three tactics to answer this tough interview question.If you just read the newspapers or watch television, you might think that most people are hanging on to their jobs by a thread. There are numerous stories about people putting up with a bad boss, a salary cut, long commutes and more difficult workloads because of work-force reductions. Thats just the side of the story that makes for good press, however. There is no story on someone who is essentially happy with her current position and voluntarily looking for something else.People are, in fact, changing jobs by choice.Moves are inspired by a variety of reasonsYou are in a declining industry with bleak short-term prospects.Yur s pecific company is in decline.You are following a career track for which your current company offers limited opportunities.You have personal or family reasons to make a change, such as relocating to another part of the country.Career moves dont wait for a recession to end. In fact, some savvy job seekers spot opportunities in crisis. If your intent is to find new work, it is important to to be able to explain your motivations clearly in an interview. I believe there are three basic tenets to focus the conversationYou are being proactive, not reactive.Your decisions are analytical, not emotional.The most important issue is what you can bring to the table.You are being proactive, not reactive.You do not have control over the current economic climate, but you do have control over your career. If you are in a declining industry, you have several choices, including making a move.If youre in a declining industry or company, focus your interview pitch on how you are making a proactive move , rather than waiting for a layoff and a severance package, Make sure to do your due diligence so you do not move into a similar situation. Consider what will be a reasonable level of risk for you.Your decisions are analytical, not emotional.You might be making a change because of problems at your own company. This is a subject that requires the most discretion because you do not want to air dirty laundry in any way. Steer the conversation toward a discussion of your most logical career path.Most executives are following a formal or informal career path. Some are moving toward a C-level role. Others have completed education or professional training to take on more-complex roles, such as international project management. Sometimes people want to move to a smaller company, where they can have more influence and a broader range of responsibilities. Others want to move to a larger company with more resources or a global presence.An interview provides a forum to explain your next intende d career step and why you cannot take that step at your current company. If your career has always moved through serendipity and not through intention, now is a good time to create a career plan that covers your next 90 days up to five years.Its fine to bring up your personal situation in an interview if you are asked and you can discuss it professionally. For example, you might say something likeI have stayed in Dallas until my daughter graduated from high school. But my parents and other family members live in Boston, so my wife and I have decided we can now relocate and return to our roots.You dont need to volunteer details such as your parents failing health. Another example might beMy wife and I have a new baby. I want to find a new position that requires less international travel.Your interview tactic should be just to state the facts.The most important issue is what you can bring to the table.No matter what, you must be very clear on your transferable skills and knowledge. Wh y would someone want to hire you? If you are not sure, a career coach can be an objective sounding board as you consider your value to your next employer. Once you decide this, you can state clearly how you perceive your industry and how you can move within or outside of it.So if you are currently employed but contemplating potential jobs, use these perspectives to develop a way to discuss your motives and goals. You need to be 100 percent confident and clear in an interview that you are forward thinking. Then you will be able to shift the interview to what you have to offer your next employer going forward rather than dwelling on your current status.Your approach should be calm and composed, not desperate, secretive or unsure even if you actually have anger, frustration, fear or insecurity about your current job.Your interview strategy should be just to state the facts about yourself and your plans for the future.

How to have more energy 3 powerful secrets from research

How to have mora energy 3 powerful secrets from researchHow to have more energy 3 powerful secrets from researchThe world might be all go-go-go but that doesnt mean we areWhen Gallup researcher Tom Rath surveyed 10,000 people only 11% said they felt like they had a lot of energy.FromAre You Fully Charged?When we surveyed more than 10,000 people to binnensee how they were doing across these three areas, we found that most people struggle on a daily basis. For example, when we asked them to think about their entire day yesterday, a mere 11 percent reported having a great deal of energy.Luckily, Tom and his team didnt go take a nap. Instead, they pored over studies and talked to experts to get some answers on why renewable energy is a big thing everywhere but inside our bodies.FromAre You Fully Charged?To discover what creates a full charge, my team and I reviewed countless articles and academic studies, and interviewed some of the worlds leading social scientists. We identified and cat alogued more than 2,600 ideas for improving daily experience.They found there were three factors that separated your supercharged days from your low battery ones.Tom summed up their results in his book,Are You Fully Charged? The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life.Were going to look at some of what he found and learn how to have more energy.Alrighty, lets get to itMeaningEverybody wants happiness - but that little bugger can be quite elusive and fleeting. As Viktor Frankl once said, Happiness cannotlage be pursued it must ensue. One must have a reason to be happy.But if we seek meaning in life, we often get happiness as a bonus. So whats meaning?It comes down to doing stuff that benefits other people.Research shows what makes us happy in the moment is often kindaselfish.And heres where things get a little weirdBecause neuroscience studies demonstrate that while focusing on meaning ends up making us happier, pursuing our own happiness can make us - believe it or not - unhappy. FromAre You Fully Charged?A 2014 study followed a group of teenagers for a full year to see how their brains reacted to self-fulfilling (hedonic) acts versus acts that created meaning (eudaimonic) using fMRI scans and questionnaires. While the participants were in the fMRI scanner, researchers posed scenarios to them about keeping money for themselves versus donating it to their families. The researchers also followed up at the end of the year to review any changes from the teens baseline levels of depressive symptoms. The results revealed that teenagers who had the greatest brain response to meaningful actions had the greatest declines in depressive symptoms over time. In contrast, teens who made more self-fulfilling decisions were more likely to have an increase in risk of depression. Meaningful activity essentially protects the brain from dark thoughts.But happiness feels good, right? Isnt that why they call ithappiness? Well, oddly enough, it doesnt feel good to your body if the res no meaning. The bodies ofpeople who are cheery but lack anything deeper actually show higher levels of inflammation.Happiness without meaning is the physical equivalent of being stressed out.FromAre You Fully Charged?When participants in a study led by the University of North Carolinas Barbara Fredrickson were happy but lacked meaning in their lives (defined as pursuing a purpose bigger than self), they exhibited a stress-related gene pattern that is known to activate an inflammatory response. They had the same gene expression pattern as people dealing with constant adversity have. Over time, this pattern leads to chronic inflammation, which is related to a host of illnesses, like heart disease and cancer. Fredrickson noted, Empty positive emotions are about as good for you as adversity. Unfortunately, 75 percent of participants in Fredricksons study fell into this category their happiness levels outpaced their levels of meaningfulness. In contrast, participants who had meaning in their lives, whether or not they characterized themselves as happy, showed a deactivation in this stress-related gene pattern.And when we feel were making progress in meaningful work were 250% more likely to be engaged at the office.FromAre You Fully Charged?My research suggests that the odds of being completely engaged in your job increase by more than 250 percent if you spend a lot of time doing meaningful work throughout the day. To discover what leads to better work and lives, Harvard Business Schools Teresa Amabile and psychologist Steven Kramer sorted through 12,000 diary entries and 64,000 specific workday events collected from 238 workers across seven different companies. Their conclusion from this research welches Of all the events that engage people at work, the single most important - by far - is simply making progress in meaningful work.Okay, so how do we find this meaning stuff? Well, you dont find it. You create it.Research in the area of job-crafting shows that i f we tweak how we work, we can enjoy a lot more meaning in those hours at the office.What activities give you a feeling of engagement, warmth and pride in what you do? Find a way to spend more of your time doing that stuff and less of the other stuff. Talk to your boss and co-workers to try and shift duties around if you need to.And speaking of co-workers, who makes you feel good versus stressed? How can you spend more time with the former and less time with the latter?Small changes in how you work can make a big difference in how you feel.FromAre You Fully Charged?This research, led by a team at the University of Michigan, found that you can craft existing jobs to significantly improve the meaningfulness of your work. Effective job crafting starts by looking at how much time you dedicate to specific tasks that give you energy each day. It also entails looking at the way your relationships at work and your perception of what you do create meaning for others.I know what some people a re thinking they cant change a thing about what they do or who they work with. No, youre not screwed.The most important factor here is perception - how youfeel. And everyones work benefits someone else. By thinking more about who your work helps and making a little effort to see those results, you can dramatically increase the level of meaning in your life.When university call center employees who were asking alums for donations got to meet the scholarship students who benefited from their work, productivity, enthusiasm and the amount of money coming inwent up dramatically.Were often focused on our well-being above all else. Put a little more effort into your well-doingand your well-being often takes care of itself.(To learn more about the science of a successful life, check out my bestselling bookhere.)Okay, so meaning can help fill your tank. What else do we need?InteractionWhen Tom looked at the research something became quite clear across the board, people greatly underestimate d how much little daily interactions affected how they felt.You may dream about winning Oscars or slaying dragons but those wont be the moments in life that youll look back on most fondly. People consistently said that the most positive times in their lives all had to do with belonging and connecting - not achieving.FromAre You Fully Charged?When researchers ask people to reconstruct the most positive and negative experiences of their lives, they consistently describe social events as their most influential memories over a lifetime. Across a series of four studies, participants recalled the moments when close relationships began or ended, when they fell in love, or when the loss of another partie broke their heart. One of the studys co-authors summarized, In short, it was the moments of connecting to others that touched peoples lives the most. Participants consistently rated events with other people as more influential than solitary experiences. Independent events or individual ach ievements, such as winning awards or completing tasks, did not affect participants the most. Instead, the researchers concluded, social experiences gain their emotional punch from our need to belong.And this is true day-to-day as well. When you have positive interactions with people throughout the day your aussicht of feeling good quadruples.FromAre You Fully Charged?My teams research found that people who reported having great interactions throughout the day were nearly four times as likely to have very high well-being.How can you guarantee that? Make close pals at work.But how do you know if yourereallyfriends with someone at the office?Ask yourself how much you share your partieal problems with each other.FromAre You Fully Charged?Gallups research has shown that people who have best friend-caliber relationships at work are seven times as likely to be engaged in their job. When researchers asked employees how they formed a close workplace friendship, they found that it takes about a year for an acquaintance at work to become a friend. The telltale sign of a friendship between co-workers was the amount of time they spent talking about topics unrelated to work. Then the next phase, a very close friendship at work, was marked by something less intuitive sharing problems from one anothers personal and work lives. This self-disclosure was the central element of the strongest relationships.And how do you improveallof your interactions? Be 80% positive. Make sure 4 out of 5 things you say or do are about the good stuff, not the bad stuff.FromAre You Fully Charged?We need at least three to five positive interactions to outweigh every one negative exchange. Bad moments simply outweigh good ones. Whether youre having a one-on-one conversation with a colleague or a group discussion, keep this simple shortcut in mind At least 80 percent of your conversations should be focused on whats going right. Workplaces, for example, often have this backward. During performance rev iews, managers routinely spend 80 percent of their time on weaknesses, gaps, and areas for improvement.Yeah, I know evaluating and counting interactions isnt very realistic. Fine. Fine. Then just take a second and do your best to make someone smile. Yes, its that simple.FromAre You Fully Charged?according to a recent study from Stanford and Harvard Business School. As part of a series of experiments, one group of participants was assigned a goal of making another person happy, while a second group was told to simply do something that made another person smile. The results showed that small, straightforward actions to make someone smile were far more effective than broad, nebulous attempts to improve overall happiness. The studys authors wrote, Acts with small, concrete goals designed to improve the well-being of others are more likely to lead to happiness for the giver than are acts with large, abstract goals - despite peoples intuitions to the contrary.(To learn the two-word morni ng ritual that will make you happy all day, clickhere.)So your life is meaningful and your life is filled with positive interactions What else? Well, doing things to make sure your life doesnt end prematurely is quite powerful tooHealthEat better. Move more. Sleep longer and deeper. Thats what it takes.We talk a lot about eating too much, but turns out the quality of food is important too. Just because you dont eat too many Pop-Tarts doesnt mean you should be eating Pop-Tarts.FromAre You Fully Charged?A landmark Harvard University study that tracked more than 100,000 people over two decades makes it clear that the quality of what you eat is more important than quantity alone. This study revealed that the types of food you consume influence your health more than your total caloric intake. Consuming 300 calories worth of spinach is not the same as eating a sugar cookie with 300 calories. Yet most people I speak with continue to believe the age-old myth of everything in moderation. As the studys lead author Dariush Mozaffarian put it, the moderation myth is really just an excuse to eat whatever we want.And the type of food you eat also affects your mood. Studies show processed foods with lots of sugar increase laziness. Trans-fats increased aggression.And comfort foods dont comfort you - they can make you depressed.FromAre You Fully Charged?A 2014 study suggests that highly processed foods with added sugar may also contribute to laziness. One experiment on this topic found that people who consumed more trans-fatty acids were more aggressive and irritable as a result. These findings were so pronounced, one of the researchers suggested that places like schools and prisons should reconsider serving unhealthy foods because they might be dangerous for others in these environments. Even comfort foods like baked goods actually have the opposite effect of comfort and are likely to make people more depressed.Most people now spend more hours sitting (9.3 on average) than they do sleeping. The NIH says that even if you did 7 hours a week of exercise that much time on your butt still doubles your aussicht of a heart attack.Get up and move. Right now. Ill still be here when you get back, I promise.FromAre You Fully Charged?A 2014 study estimates that every two hours of sitting cancels out the benefits of 20 minutes of exercise. When researchers from the National Institutes of Health followed more than 200,000 people for a decade, they found that even seven hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week was not enough to protect against the hazards of excessive sitting. Even the most active group they studied - people who exercised more than seven hours every week - had a 50 percent greater risk of death and doubled their odds of dying from heart disease if they were also in the group that sat the most throughout the day.When people exercised moderately for 20 minutes they felt better for up to12 hours. So get to the gym early and you can boos t your mood for almost the entire day.FromAre You Fully Charged?When researchers assigned one group of participants in a study to do 20 minutes of a moderate-intensity workout, they found that the participants had a much better mood immediately following the exercise than a control group who did not exercise. What surprised researchers was how long this increase in mood lasted. Those who exercised continued to feel better throughout the day. Even two, four, eight, and twelve hours later, they were in a better mood than the control group.Everybody knows aboutin anderen angelegenheiten Ericssonsresearch that showed it takes (roughly) 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. But thats not all the study showed. The experts also slept. A lot.Yes, I literally just said that spending more time in bed is one of the keys to expertise. Youre welcome.FromAre You Fully Charged?While many concentrated on his findings relevant to 10,000 hours of deliberate practice, the other factor that di fferentiated top performance was sleep. The best performers in these studies slept for 8 hours and 36 minutes per night on average. The average American, in contrast, gets just 6 hours and 51 minutes of sleep on weeknights.But its not merely an issue of sleeping more. You also want to sleepwell. When people cut back on hours of sleep they tripled their likelihood of getting sick. But people who had poor quality sleep more thanquintupledtheir chance of catching a cold.FromAre You Fully Charged?Study participants who had lower sleep efficiency over the 14-day period before exposure to the rhinovirus were 5.5 times as likely to develop a cold. This compares with the threefold increase based solely on duration of sleep. As with other areas of health, quality of sleep beats quantity by a wide margin.(To learn the secret to never being frustrated again, clickhere.)Okay, weve covered a lot. Time to round it all up and learn one more thing you can do to help all of the above boost your ener gy even moreSum UpThis is how to have more energyMeaning Do things that benefit others. (It doesnthaveto be me but I appreciate the thought.)Interaction Be 80% positive. (I am 99% certain of this.)Health Eat better, move more, sleep long and well. (And if I did all those things Id have enough energy to write a funnier joke here.Blogger, heal thyself.)Want to turn the above into habits that stick? Then help someone else start doing them. Supporting others in their goals isnt just awfully neighborly of you it also makes you more likely to achieve them yourself.FromAre You Fully Charged?Research from one of the largest clinical trials in alcohol research found that 40 percent of alcoholics who helped other alcoholics during their recovery were successful and avoided drinking in the year following treatment. In contrast, only 22 percent of those who did not help others were able to stay sober. Helping someone else with a similar problem nearly doubled success rates. A subsequent study f ound that 94 percent of alcoholics who helped other alcoholics experienced lower levels of depression.So being healthy produces energy. And part of that means good sleep. But other than those two, did you notice what everything else has in common?To have more energy, dont do less. Domore. Of the right things.And for you to feel more alive, you shouldnt focus on you. Focus onothers.Rest is only a small part of why you feel energized.Its more about what you do and how those around you make you feel.Join over 320,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Thisarticleoriginally appeared atBarking Up the Wrong Tree.

5 ways to tactfully turn down responsibility without appearing lazy

5 ways to tactfully turn down responsibility without appearing lazy5 ways to tactfully turn down responsibility without appearing lazyEveryone is taking on more responsibility at work these days and often without being paid for doing so. But, is there a way to keep more of your work plate without appearing lazy or not being a team player?Weve asked work experts for their tips on how to say no effectively and tactfully to your boss without your image being tarnished.Be forthcoming about your workloadIf you sincerely feel that the quality of your work would suffer due to your current work overload, share this, but do it gracefully. Claudia Luiz, PsyaD, a psychoanalyst and author in Tarrytown, NY, suggests some dialogue that conveys that you really appreciate the offer of added responsibility, yet would like to devote yourself entirely your initiatives at hand.She suggests saying something like, I am so excited about this job and I am really loving the work. I want to show you what Im doing so you can help me balance the workload, or maybe even give some work to someone else because I would really like to devote myself fully to fill-in-the-blank, Luiz says.Set reasonable boundariesWith the establishment of boundaries, which can be initiated with the simple word, No (even whispered to ourselves), we can politely, respectfully begin to disentangle ourselves from unrealistic expectations, says Mark Borg Jr., PhD, a psychologist and psychoanalyst and co-author of RELATIONSHIP SANITY Creating and Maintaining Healthy Relationships.Sometimes this begins with the simple but not easy process of shifting back into our work role what it was that we were hired to do, he says.One way to do this is to write down the specific tasks that are detailed in our job description, and refer to this list whenever we are tempted to take on other tasks in an attempt to gain favor from others, Borg recommends.Talk it through and dont complainIf you want to get your point across to your boss about how overworked you feel, the best approach is to have a conversation with him/her that doesnt involve you complaining about your job or your colleagues, says Robin Schwartz, PHR, managing partner, MFG Jobs.If youre taking on more work than peers at your saatkorn level, approach that subject without throwing anyone else under the bus, says Schwartz. Weve all worked with people who do the bare minimum, so its probably not going to be surprising to your boss that youre feeling as if your abilities are being taken advantage of.Make sure you remind your boss that you want to be a team player and help the company achieve its goals, but youre struggling to be able to keep up with the amount of work being handed to you.Be prepared to show your workloadShow your boss what projects or tasks you have on your plate that keep you feeling as if youre just treading water.It may be helpful for your boss to visual the duties and projects assigned to you as opposed to others at your level, continues Schwartz. It may also be effective to keep a journal or log of your day for a week or two so your boss has better insight as to the challenges youre facing.Seeing how dedicated you are to your work will have your boss more willing to work with you to re-delegate certain tasks or projects.Agree to take on part of the projectJennifer Davis, PCC, CPCC, an executive leadership coach in Hopewell, NJ, says she recommends that her clients navigate challenging conversations with this creative approach.I often encourage them whether talking to their boss or simply managing their own priorities to consider re-framing every no into a yes, and every yes into a no, which could work well when declining an increased workload without appearing lazy. Change the response to focus on what you do want to do, the impact you want to make, and how you truly want to prioritize your current projects vs. spreading yourself too thin by adding additional responsibilities, she suggests.Davis also s ays to share your vision for your role and projects, as well as the impact they will have on your company and team.