7 Tips on Social Media for Job Seekers

7 Tips on Social Media for Job Seekers 7 Tips on Social Media for Job Seekers Social media has the potential to make or break your job search, so use it wisely. Here are seven tips for job seekers in the digital age.1. Makethe Most of LinkedInBrad Schepp, coauthor of How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+,recommends not only creating a profile on those sites, but also becoming an active, helpful member of the community. Try to give four times for every time you take, says Schepp. On LinkedIn, that means answering questions, making introductions, and offering endorsements.2. Tweet About ItAccording to Nicole Fallon, assistant editor at Business News Daily, recruiters are increasingly turning to Twitter to get a sense of potential candidates.When youre looking for a job, a good percentage of your tweets, retweets, and replies should focus on topics that are relevant to the companies you want to work for, Fallon says. You can achieve this by making use of keywor ds and hashtags that professionals in your field talk about and follow.3. Dont Spread Yourself Too ThinThough you should strive to stay active on social media, that doesnt mean you have to create anaccount on every platform you can find.You want people to know who you are, what you do, and where youre going, says career expert Erin Greenawald. That means picking just one or two platforms to update regularly.4. Stay in the LoopMake sure that your social media profiles are linked to an schmelzglas address you check every day. You dont want to miss a promising connection because someone reached out through a defunct social media account. If you dont already have a professional email address, head over to Gmail and create one right now5. Red (Google) AlertGoogle yourself to see what employers see, career coachCaroline Ceniza-Levineadvises.Set a Google Alert on your name so you check what is on the Internet about you on a regular basis.If you have a very common name, create a more specif ic Google Alert that includes your hometown or field of expertise.6. Clean Up Your FacebookThough LinkedIn remains the most popular professional networking site, Career Gliderfound that over a quarter of recruiters also screen candidates through Facebook. Companies like to see engaged, active candidates, but be warned if youre prone to political rants, you should know thatone in six recruiters said that strong political opinions were a turn off.7. Practice Good GrammarIn the Career Glider study, two-thirds of recruiters said they would hold poor spelling and grammar against candidates. Although grammar standards on Twitter and Facebook are more relaxed than LinkedIn, you should always proofread before you deutsche bundespostRemember the Internet is forever. For better or worse, our digital selves need to make a good first impression, so bemindful of your social media profile. You never know whos watchingDo you have a social media success story or cautionary tale? Share it in the com ments

What Job Would Make You Happy

What Job Would Make You HappyWhat Job Would Make You HappyTime for a change. Try this visualization exercise to figure out where you should go next with your career.Among the most distressing facts of the Great Recession is the length of unemployment. Previously, job seekers could expect a search to last four to six weeks for every $10,000 they expected to earn. The average length of unemployment now can extend to more than seven months, more for senior job seekers and high-income earners. Executives whose industries have been hit especially hard face even greater periods out of work or may never work in their fields again.So, its fair to ask the question At what point is it time to start considering a different line of work?Dont get me wrong If youre fully engaged in what feels like a fruitful job search, please stay with it. But what if youre not? What if your contacts and connections have dried up and you havent had an active lead in far too long? What if youve hit a permanent dea d end?Sure, Napoleon Hill said, Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. But maybe your next step has less to do with perseverance than reinvention. Maybe its time to take what you already know and can do and apply it in an entirely new way.Your awesome dayEven if youre just wondering what other type of work you might do, its not a bad idea to think things through a bit. So here are a few ideas to help get you startedImagine your ideal workday. Its likely someones suggested this to you already and you gave it lip service or blew it off entirely. This time, give it a try. Take a morning and go somewhere peaceful, affirming and inspirational. Wear comfortable clothes. Bring a small snack, something to drink, and pen and paper. (Leave your technology at home.) Now, start to sketch out your perfect day at work.Consider the place Do you prefer working in an office building, a home office or on the road? What does your Ideal Workp lace look like? What colors do you see? What textures? Whats the feel of the place - literally and figuratively? Tempo-wise, is the environment fast-paced, formal or more relaxed? Ask all your senses for input.Consider the people Who else do you imagine working with you? What are they like? Whats important to them about what they do? For what do they rely on you? Think about the questions for which your colleagues might turn to you. Imagine the meetings and projects theyd want you to lead. Whos calling and e-mailing you? What are they hoping you can do for them? What value-add do they know you can provide?Consider the clock Trace your ideal day. How does it start? What time are you getting out of bed? What are the first five things you do in the morning? Imagine lunchtime. Are you in a cafeteria, nearby restaurant or at your desk? What does the afternoon look like? At the end of the day, what did you achieve? What made the day totally worthwhile for you? Whats on tap for tomorrow?C onsider your thoughts Write down any notes you want to remember at this point and then take a short break. Enjoy your snack to cleanse your palate. Stretch your body take a few deep breaths.(You might find it helpful to start at the opposite end of the process and begin by identifying the things that would not be part of your ideal day. With that all out of the way, what is ideal often emerges more readily.)Imagine your ideal work week. Returning to your imagination, string five (or six) of your Ideal Workdays together into a full ideal work week. How does it feel? Whats missing? What, if anything, would make Thursday as compelling as Tuesday? What specific tasks and responsibilities are essential for you? Dont overthink it dont worry about labels or titles. Just relax into your imagination and let it take you wherever it wants.Take note of your notesReflect on whatever insights, discoveries and realizations these ideal scenarios prompted. Using the following chartList out the four or five core duties of your absolutely ideal jobIdentify two or three accomplishments from previous jobs that speak directly to your familiarity with each of the core duties you listedAssess the match/fit (high/medium/low) between those accomplishments and your core duties. Pay particular attention to the medium and low ratings you may even want to check earlier versions of your resume for stronger, more compelling, accomplishments to cite.Assessing the Match/Fit Between My Prior Accomplishments and the Core Duties of My Absolutely Ideal JobCore Duties of Your Absolutely Ideal JobPrior AccomplishmentsMatch/Fit1.a)H M Lb)H M Lc)H M L2.a)H M Lb)H M Lc)H M L3.a)H M Lb)H M Lc)H M L4.a)H M Lb)H M Lc)H M L5.a)H M Lb)H M Lc)H M L 2010, GottaGettaCoach, Inc. All Rights Reserved.Whats Next? is whats nextBased on your assessment, what do you see now as your next steps? Is it time to pursue your ideal job? Is it time to renew your efforts in your current job search? Is it time to repeat thes e exercises and see what else percolates for you?Give yourself permission to think more freely about whats next for you and find out.Barry Zweibel, MBA, MCC, president of GottaGettaCoach Inc., is a noted executive coach, leadership consultant and master certified life coach. He engages smart, capable executives in deeply meaningful conversations about their personal growth and professional development. For more information, or to schedule an exploratory coaching conversation with Barry, visit www.ggci.com/life-coaching or call (847) 291-9735.

How to sell yourself in an interview without being an egomaniac

How to sell yourself in an interview without being an egomaniacHow to sell yourself in an interview without being an egomaniacThe idea of having to sell yourself in an interview is something that a lot of job seekers might struggle with. You want to highlight your qualifications without coming off sounding too smug. But what can wind up happening instead is that you undersell yourself, or you come across as overly confident and conceited, neither of which is appealing to a fhigkeit employer.Try these techniques so that you can sell yourself in an interview without coming across as a total egomaniacBe a storytellerWhile some interview questions require specific stats and figures, others allow you to dive a little deeper into your answer. And theres no better way to do that than by telling a story. Have a story (or two) prepared when you sit down for a job interview that can show off your skills and tell a bit about yourself, but still remain humble and down-to-earth. It could be about the time your companys website got hacked, and how you worked with the hosting company to resolve the issue and reinforce the site against future hacks. Just make sure your story is comprised of three parts a problem faced, what you did to fix it, and the outcome.Watch your toneEver notice how the same sentence can sound totally different depending on the tone in which someone says it? Just like yourbody language can convey a lot during a job interview, so can the way in which you answer interview questions. You can talk about your accomplishments in previous positions, but do so in a more humble, low-key manner. Being loud, bold, and brash as you speak about past achievements can be a big turnoff for a potential employer.Mind your posturePeople who are trying to sell themselves in almost any situation will adopt a certain posture. They tend to lean in way too much, speak a little too loudly, and might make sweeping gestures with their arms as a way to hammer home a point. You can sell yourself- in a good way- by being mindful of your posture. Sit up straight, and lean in slightly to your interviewer as they speak to show your interest in what theyre saying. Keep good eye contact and be sure to smile naturally as you speak.Be honestTheres a veryfine line between self-promotion and bragging. The problem with bragging is that the truth tends to get overinflated and distorted. If you want to impress a hiring manager, be honest about your experiences. If you feel the need to self-promote out of feelings of insecurity about your qualifications, remember this if you werent pre-qualified for the position, you wouldnt have been called in for a job interview. So answer the questions accurately and dont exaggerate your answers to make yourself sound better. You wont.Understand the brandDuring your job interview, try to switch the focus off of you and instead show your interviewerwhat you can do for the company. It could be anything from improving their online image to streamlining systems for maximum efficiency. Then, use previous work experience or a specific skill set to highlight exactly how you would do that. In this way, youre selling yourself, but in a positive way that is meant to help the company.Keep it shortEgomaniacs love two things - 1) to talk about themselves, and 2) the sound of their own voice. Thats why they tend to ramble on and on when they have to answer a question. So before you take a deep breath and answer the question, compose your thoughts first. Then, come up with a response that answers the question thoroughly but doesnt leave you looking long-winded or boastful.Give others leistungspunktIt might be tempting to claim credit for past projects that youve done, even if they actually were a team effort. Thing is, its fairly easy for interviewers tofact-check your job applicationand also what you say during an interview. If a hiring manager finds out that you were part of an award-winning team and not solely responsible for the award, it can count as a big X against you.Hogging all of the glory for yourself isnt a good quality for someone who is going to be hired to work in a team, so try to be fair about the work you contributed to past successes.Know your strengths - and weaknessesA common job interview question you might get asked is, What is your biggest weakness? Even if you want to come across asthecandidate to hire, no one is perfect, and trying to present yourself as such might only offend a hiring manager. So just as you would keep track of your former glories, you should also have an example or two to present to a potential employer of things you need to work on. You can say something like, In looking for a remote job, Ive found that learning how to self-manage is very important. Ive become much better at being able to meet my all of my deadlines. This doesnt show failure, per se, but it does make you more menschengerecht as you portray a weakness - and how youre working to make it better. Offer examplesWhen a hiring manager asks you about some of your biggest accomplishmentsin your past job, you say, Well, without my input and expertise, the company would have made a multimillion-dollar mistake. But before you let a doozy like that roll out of your mouth, youd better be sure to have examples to back up your claim. Otherwise, youll come across as a total egomaniac and untrustworthy, which can kill your chances of being considered for the job.This article first appeared on FlexJobs.

You Can Be Successful Outside the City - The Muse

You Can Be Successful Outside the City - The Muse You Can Be Successful Outside the City Up until my freshman year of college, my career plan was simple: I was going to be on Broadway. Believe me, I roll my eyes at the mere thought of it now. But, in my naïve and optimistic adolescence, this goal seemed as rational and logical as saying I was going to be an accountant. It was a sure thing. I was already picturing my life in New York City- my stylish apartment, my days spent auditioning, and my inevitable big break. Needless to say, I’m obviously not on Broadway now. So, what happened? Well, to put it simply, I got to college and became completely intimidated by how much immense talent there was at my school. I was no longer a big fish in a small pond. And, I figured if there were this many amazing performers just at my university alone, the world had to be absolutely filled with people who were way more deserving of that starring role than I was. I didn’t want to resign myself to waiting tables for a living, so I switched my major to communication and journalism. To some, that seems like a big change. However, I think that the career paths of musical theatre and editorial actually have a few major things in common. First, most people look at your goal as a pipe dream- you’ll end up a starving artist for the rest of your life. And, secondly, people assume that both of those occupations require you to live in a big city to truly reach success. New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or even Chicago- if you want to really make a name for yourself, you need to be where the action is. I can understand why people have these perceptions, and pop culture definitely plays a role. When I utter the words “writer” or “editorial,” I know people immediately picture the hustle and bustle of The Devil Wears Prada or Carrie Bradshaw scribbling away in her NYC brownstone. I too fell victim to the trap of thinking that if I wanted to be a successful writer myself, I’d have to live in a booming metropolis and search my couch cushions in order to make rent each month. There was only one problem with that idea: I no longer wanted to move to a big city. Once I had kissed my Broadway dream goodbye, I grew into much more of a homebody. I live in a small town in Northeastern Wisconsin. You know the kind- your mailman knows you by name and the whole city is up in arms when your one family restaurant changes ownership. To most people, I know that life sounds predictable and torturously boring. But, to me, it’s comforting. I love it, and I don’t want to leave if I can help it. So, I found myself stuck in this catch-22. I wanted to be a successful writer while staying exactly where I was. But, according to everybody else, I’d need to move in order to ever reach success. What was I supposed to do? How could I choose between a career I desperately wanted and a location I adored? Why couldn’t I have both? Well, I can. Actually, I do- and you can too. That’s right, I’m living proof that you don’t have to move to a big city in order to pursue your dreams. In fact, I’ve found that my geographical location really has very little to do with it. They key is to place more of your emphasis on what you want to do, rather than where you want to do it. You should set your goals based on specific skills, milestones, and achievements- not on that elusive holy grail city you’ve heard so much about. Aim to be a top-notch software engineer- not the greatest engineer in all of Silicon Valley. Set your sights on being a trusted and respected financial advisor- not the most prestigious and well-known one on Wall Street. Of course, this concept can obviously become more difficult if you live in an area where your chosen field is especially inadequate. However, I still encourage you to think outside the box and not restrict your definition of success to one specific city. Why? Well, when you limit your career goals based on location alone, you’re really doing just that- limiting yourself. You could pass on amazing opportunities, simply because they don’t afford you the chance to move to your industry’s hotbed. However success doesn’t live in just one place. It isn’t defined by your city. Instead, it’s defined by your professional reputation, your personal growth, and- most importantly- your happiness. So, think about it this way: If you finally land that job of your dreams, but are stuck in a city that makes you positively miserable (as I likely would’ve been in New York), are you truly that successful? Probably not. It’s a balancing act, but you can definitely find a career that makes you feel fulfilled in a city that you love. If you’re a nomad who loves to move around and chase that next big opportunity? More power to you! But, if you’re someone who likes to stay put and would like to find success and happiness right where you are? It’s totally possible. Remember, success doesn’t recognize state lines. Take that from a girl who wrote this very article- but lives in a town with one stoplight. Did you move to a big city to score that gig of your dreams? Or, have you put down roots and founda job you love right where you are? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter!

How to redefine the role of humanity in the workplace

How to redefine the role of humanity in the workplace How to redefine the role of humanity in the workplace Imagine that you are standing up in the middle of a large crowd. You have to look someone else in the eye. You are not allowed to talk or interact with that person for two minutes.It’s much harder than you think. Time drags by.That’s exactly what I asked the audience to do before I kicked off my keynote in Istanbul. People felt (really) nervous. They couldn’t keep the eye contact. Some starting moving, others tried to establish physical contact, many started chatting before the time was over.I was speaking at the International HR NowNext conference and wanted to set up the context. No matter how much we want, we cannot hide our human instinct.We are social animals. We want to socialize with other people. It’s intuitive and natural. Many times, when talking about the role and future of technology, we forget about the basics.What does it mean to be human? And, most importantly, what world do we want to live in?The future is not the problem“Technology is taking over, what shal l we do?”There’s a lot of worries about the future.I see two primary reactions.Futurists are telling us that robots will replace humans in no time, that the future is already here. However, like most predictions, they don’t go as planned. The movie Back to the Future is a great example. Flying cars were meant to be the new normal by October 21, 2015. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Do you?Opposers, on the other hand, underestimate the future. They are in denial and believe that’s not going to happen. For them, things will continue as normal.However, both reactions are extremists and exaggerated. The future is not the problem, how we react is. We need to find a more balanced approach. And, as author and futurist Richard Watson added: “our vision about technology and the future is very reactive and short-term.”The only thing we can be sure about is that live in a time of uncertainty. Rather than resisting the future of believing that we know what will happen , let’s acknowledge and celebrate the unexpected.Adapting to a new work realityThere’s no doubt that things will change rapidly. However, there’s no reason to panic.Yes, many jobs will be automatized. According to Oxford, 70% of jobs will disappear in the next 25 years. Some will be easier to replace such as telemarketers and retail salespersons. Others will be more difficult to automatize like dentists or recreational therapists.But if we observe the previous years, jobs are already changing. Social media managers, user experience designers, app developers - to name a few - are all jobs that didn’t exist five years ago.This will continue to happen. As technology moves on, many new jobs will be created to support it. We will need self-driving cars mechanics, algorithms ethicists, digital currency advisors, drone managers, home automation contractors, and the list goes on and on.Not all new jobs will be tech related. Nostalgists will help people navigate the crush between t he past as we know it and the future. Not everyone will want to give up current ways of living. They will need help to reconcile both worlds. Today we are already experiencing lots of tensions as people tried to adapt to a more tech-driven world. This will become worse and worse.Richard Watson said that AI: Can’t create at a high level of creativity Is not empathetic Can’t manage or inspire people Has no morality - it needs to be programmed There are many versions of the future. Most probably, most will be wrong to a certain degree. The question is: how do we prepare for this uncertain scenario? How can companies prepare people for jobs that don’t exist yet?The end of job descriptions as we know themKnowledge is essential but is losing relevancy. A degree is no longer an indicator of future success.As things change and evolve, our ability to learn new things is much more important than what we know today. The same happens with our skillset. Organizations might continually train their employees to adapt to ever-changing demands of new jobs.Our abilities and mindset will be more critical to achieve success. Adaptability will become the new competitive advantage to thrive in an ever-changing environment.Careers will be less and less linear. Fluid mobility will take over. Career change will become the new normal. Work must be redesigned around people. We need to move from a “job-centered” workplace to a “People-cent ered” one.As automation takes over repetitive and predictable tasks, the need to find fulfillment and purpose will become more relevant for everyone.Collaboration is the solutionAs human beings we like comparison. However, most are deceiving.Some people believe human beings are superior to AI. Other think that we are inferior compared to technology. A few, believe that we are equal.I believe it’s all of the above. Actually, the sign of interaction and collaboration is a combination of all those elements (greater than, less than, equal than).We need to stop comparing if artificial intelligence can beat humans at chess. Who cares? Let the machines win. We need to reframe the problem. Instead of competing against tech, let’s collaborateHow might technology helps us bring out the best of being human?Embrace our humanityIt’s time to get back to basics.Let machines be machines, let’s human be humans.Being vulnerable is what makes us unique. Let’s embrace our perfect imperfecti on. We are not supposed to be perfect. Let’s stop trying to beat machines.Our vulnerability feeds our emotions, creativity, empathy, sense of humor, personalities, imagination, and more.Being vulnerable does not mean being weak, as many people believe. On the contrary, accepting that we are not perfect requires self-confidence and courage as Brené Brown has been advocating for many years.The power of EmpathyWe possess the ability to walk in someone else’s shoes. To understand others in spite of their imperfections. The need for life-long learning and high-touch work will turn empathy into a critical ability. Doctors and nurses dealing with special needs patients or the elderly play understand this concept very well.Curiosity is the mother of creativity and innovation Our ability to connect what seems unconnected. To ask What if? Creativity is not just critical to innovate and to differentiate from a business standpoint. It will become a powerful ability to adapt to a fast-changing environment. It’s also critical to design the new world we want to live in. Rather than to react to tech-driven changes, lets’ define the world we want to live in.The power of storiesAs I said before, we cannot hide being human. We are social animals. We like to connect with others. And nothing does that better than stories. We don’t remember stats, but we can remember a story forever because it connects with our emotions. Telling stories is a human ability. Everyone can share the news but what differentiates one journalist from another is storytelling.Decision-making is not just logicalAccording to scientists both the heart and gut have brain cells tissue. We don’t have one but three brains. Making decisions is not just a logical process but needs to integrate all our senses, emotions, and instincts. Neuroscientists have demonstrated that, when the emotional parts of the brain are affected, people cannot make basic choices like if they want to eat chicken or pasta. Their IQ is not affected but their lives are impaired. We need to revalue our integrated decision-making process, not just our logic.A unique trait: our personalitiesA robot can play music or get you a tattoo. However, what makes a human DJ or tattoo artists unique is their styles. It’s not that they can do it, but how they do it. And their personality doesn’t just show in their work. It’s part of the overall experience. We engage with artists because of how they behave and what they reflect upon ourselves.Our personalities play a critical role at work too. Diversity of thinking is a consequence of having teams composed of people with different backgrounds and walks of life. Diverse personalities make teams more interesting and productive - It’s the opposite to group-t hinking.Mistakes drive innovationBeing vulnerable equals to being imperfect. And that means embracing our emotions as well as making mistakes. An uncertain world requires companies to experiment more than ever. Trial and error involves making mistakes. But, most importantly, that we can learn from them, as I explained here.Most significant discoveries in the history of humanity, such as penicillin, were mistakes or unexpected acts of nature. Our ability to explore is critical to continue driving innovation. Embracing vulnerability during the exploration process is very hard for many, as I observe when consulting organizations.- - - The future is uncertain - we need to collaborate with technology, not compete with it.Our ability to adapt to a changing world is a competitive advantage. Developing self-awareness, creativity, and resilience are critical to understanding reality - to learn, adapt and evolve.We need to bring back humanity to the workplace. Let’s recover the value of being vulnerable, our perfect imperfection. That’s the most important asset that humans can bring to the table.Let’s focus on designing the world we want to live in.Let’s move from a reactive to a more strategic view about the future.Work has always meant about personal fulfillment. Now more than ever. We need to have a purpose-driven approach to design the future. Technology should enhance humanity, not diminish it.We need to spend more time thinking about the human experience in the future.What world do we want to live in?The future is uncertain. Adaptability will turn it into a friend.Before you leaveDownload my ebook “Stretch Your Team: how to thrive in a changing world:  get your free copy.Receive my weekly “Insights for Changemakers”:  Sign Up NowThis  article  first appeared on Medium.

Fatigue and Polycystic Overian Syndrome PCOS

Fatigue and Polycystic Overian Syndrome PCOS Fatigue and Polycystic Overian Syndrome PCOS Women often burn the candle at both ends and neglect themselves to meet the demands of work, family, and others. When women (or men) are overworked or not getting enough sleep at night, it should come as no surprise that they often feel lethargic and tired toward the end of the day. But when afternoon slump is more than just a feeling of being run down and tired, there may be another silent culprit to blame for women: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Although PCOS does not affect men, a similar condition called Metabolic Syndrome does affect both men and women. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) PCOS is the most common cause of infertility in women of child-bearing age, affecting as many as one in every 10 women of child-bearing age. The CDC reports as many as five million women in the United States have PCOS, and many do not know it. PCOS is a syndrome, not a disease. That means different women will have different symptoms and to varying degrees. Diagnosis requires a careful physical examination of the ovaries (usually done by ultrasound) and lab tests. A Serious Medical Disorder PCOS is a very serious medical condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even certain types of cancers. Women with PCOS run a high risk of developing Hashimotos Thyroiditis (an autoimmune disorder that causes low thyroid disease), and Celiac disease, and an increased risk of premature death. PCOS is most often best treated by a reproductive endocrinologist who can treat both complicated metabolic problems and issues that affect the menstrual cycle and fertility. Symptoms of PCOS Symptoms often associated with PCOS vary with individual women, but often include a high sex drive; weight gain; skin tags (acrochordons); changes in color or texture in patches of skin under the arms, neck, groin, or other areas (acanthosis nigricans); excess facial and body hair (hirsutism); loss of scalp hair (alopecia); adult acne; and irregular menstrual cycle. Women with PCOS also experience a higher rate of miscarriage- four times higher than that of other women- and seem to have a higher rate of irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and thyroid problems. PCOS tends to run in families and statistically is most likely to be passed on by the fathers genes. Although many women with PCOS have problems with weight, not all do. Thin women and even women who have normal periods can still have PCOS. In fact, Kate Gosselin, mother of eight children, has PCOS. PCOS and Afternoon Fatigue Women who experience a profound and intense desire to sleep, severe muscle fatigue, nervousness (shaky or jittery), sweating, the shakes, headaches, changes in vision, or any combination of these symptoms may be suffering from hormonal imbalances that can cause rapid changes in blood sugar and insulin levels. These symptoms are not signs of normal sluggishness but are often signs of insulin resistance, a common concern for women who have PCOS. When afternoon slump symptoms worsen or become severe enough that they decrease your ability to complete tasks, you may want to seek advice from a physician to rule out certain health problems, including PCOS. Women with PCOS have an increased risk of developing pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome, as well as full-blown type 2 diabetes. If you develop insulin resistance, your body will resist the normal action of insulin. To compensate, the body overproduces insulin to keep blood sugar levels in balance. Overproduction of insulin can cause fluctuations in blood sugar, moodiness, and periods of profound fatigue and hunger. If you suspect you may have insulin resistance, or that your afternoon fatigue is debilitating or getting worse- especially if you begin to gain weight- call your doctor and arrange for an appointment to talk about possible health problems that could be masking themselves as an afternoon slump. Always consult your doctor if you have any concerns about your health. This article is not intended to be used as medical advice for the diagnosis or treatment of any condition.

10 Brilliant Tips for Dealing With a Difficult Boss -The Muse

10 Brilliant Tips for Dealing With a Difficult Boss -The Muse 10 Brilliant Tips for Dealing With a Difficult Boss In an ideal world, we would all have fantastic managers- bosses who helped us succeed, who made us feel valued, and who were just all-around great people. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. But, whether the person you work for is a micromanager, has anger management problems, shows favortism toward one person, is a flat-out workplace bully, or just isn't very competent, you still have to make the best of the situation and get your job done. To help out, we've gathered the best advice from around the web for dealing with a bad boss. Try one or more of these tips to find some common ground with your boss- or at least stay sane until you find a new gig. 1. Make Sure You’re Dealing With a “Bad Boss” Before trying to fix your bad boss, make sure you really are dealing with one. Is there a reason for her behavior, or are you being too hard on him or her? “Observe your boss for a few days and try to notice how many things she does well versus poorly. When she is doing something “bad,” try to imagine the most forgiving reason why it could have occurred. Is it truly her fault, or could it be something out of her control?” Read More From Fast Company 2. Identify Your Boss’ Motivation Understanding why your boss does or cares about certain things can give you insight into his or her management style. “...if the rules are totally out of control, try to figure out your boss’ motivation. Maybe it’s not that he really cares about how long your lunch break takes; he actually cares about how it looks to other employees and their superiors.” Read More From Brazen Careerist 3. Don’t Let it Affect Your Work No matter how bad your boss' behavior, avoid letting it affect your work.  You want to stay on good terms with other leaders in the company (and keep your job!). “Don’t try to even the score by working slower, or taking excessive ‘mental health’ days or longer lunches. It will only put you further behind in your workload and build a case for your boss to give you the old heave-ho before you’re ready to go.” Read More From Work Awesome 4. Stay One Step Ahead Especially when you're dealing with a micromanager, head off your boss' requests by anticipating them and getting things done before they come to you. “…a great start to halting micromanagement in its tracks is to anticipate the tasks that your manager expects and get them done well ahead of time. If you reply, ‘I actually already left a draft of the schedule on your desk for your review,’ enough times, you’ll minimize the need for her reminders. She’ll realize that you have your responsibilities on track- and that she doesn’t need to watch your every move.” Read More on Managing a Micromanager 5. Set Boundaries Working with someone who seems to have no boundaries means that you have to go ahead and set them. “One of the challenges of unlikable people is that they come with equally unlikable behavior- and it’s important to learn how to distance yourself from that behavior. As Robert Frost said, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’” Read More on Working With Someone You Don’t Like 6. Stop Assuming They Know Everything Just because someone has a managerial title doesn’t mean that they have all the right answers, all the time. “I realized then that, just because someone is in a position of authority, doesn’t mean he or she knows everything. From that point forward, I stopped assuming the title ‘manager was equivalent to ‘all knowing.’ .” Read More on Finding the Good in a Bad Boss 7. Act as the Leader When dealing with an incompetent boss, sometimes it's best to make some leadership decisions on your own. If you know your area well enough, there is no reason to not go ahead creating and pursuing a direction you know will achieve good results for your company. People who do this are naturally followed by their peers as an informal leader. Management, although maybe not your direct boss, will notice your initiative. Of course, you don’t want to do something that undermines the boss, so keep him or her in the loop. Read More From Careerealism 8. Identify Triggers If your boss has anger management problems, identify what triggers her meltdowns and be extra militant about avoiding those. “For example, if your editor flips when you misspell a source’s name, be sure to double and triple-check your notes. And if your boss starts foaming at the mouth if you arrive a moment after 8 AM, plan to get there at 7:45- Every. Single. Day.” Read More on Dealing With Toxic Bosses From The Muse 9. Use Tips from Couples' Therapy When dealing with disagreement, pull on some tenants from couple's therapy to work through the issue. “Simply repeat back to him what he said and ask “Is that what you meant?” (a standard trick ripped from couples' therapy). If he agrees to your recap, ask him to tell you more about it. When you repeat someone's perspective back to him, you give him a chance to expound and, crucially, to feel heard.” Read More From Fast Company 10. Avoid Future Bad Bosses When interviewing with a new company, do your research ahead of time to make sure you're not getting into another situation with a less-than-ideal manager. “Have coffee or lunch with one or more staffers at the new company. Ostensibly, your purpose is to learn general information about the company and its culture. However, use this opportunity to discover as much about your potential boss as possible, without appearing creepy, of course.” Read More From Inc.