Issues and Debates with CEO Compensation

Issues and Debates with CEO CompensationIssues and Debates with CEO CompensationThe topic of CEO compensation is popular in the business press and the subject of significant media coverage as the annual studies are released to the market. Few tears are shed for the earning power of the top executives of major publicly-traded corporations the firms where data is visible and reliably reported in shareholder and related documentation. In many cases, the scale of the largesse received by these visible executives is difficult for the typical worker to relate to. In one study, it was reported that the then-CEO of Walmart, Michael Duke, earned by 830 a.m. on the first of January as much as the average worker in his company earned for the entire year.Reports of some of the cosmically large compensation packages of top executives are met with outrage by groups, who view this income inequality issue as one of societys ailments. The purpose of this article is to look at the issue from multiple perspectives you are free to draw your own conclusion on whether CEO compensation is appropriate or excessive. What the Reports Say About CEO Compensation As reported in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the average CEO of a major corporation made 42 times the average hourly workers pay in 1980. By 1990, that had almost doubled to 85 times. In 2000, the average CEO salary reached an unbelievable 531 times that of the average hourly worker. Another group that studies this topic the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) regularly tracks the ratio of CEO compensation to median worker pay. Their data suggests the following In 1965, CEOs earned on average 20-times the average employee.By 1978, CEOs earned just less than 30 times the average worker.In 1989, the divergence grew to 59 times and by 1995 it was almost 72 times.By 2014, the EPI suggested that the ratio was 313 times the average worker compensation. Of course, data and metrics have the fhigkeit to paint the picture you want to paint. In an alternative view, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the role of top executive much more broadly and reports a ratio of just 3.8 times the average workers compensation in their much larger reporting sample. Regardless of source and definition, there is little doubt those who occupy the top role in our largest organizations are highly compensated, often at levels unimaginable to the rest of us. A key question is, of course, why? How CEOs are Compensated Salary is one measure of CEO compensation, however, other variables are involved. These include Bonuses paid for achieving targets in growth, revenues, earnings and other measures as established by the board of directors.Restricted stock grants or stock option grants that become valuable if and when the firms share price rises to a targeted level.Deferred compensation, retirement benefits, and the contingent golden parachute should the individual be terminated.Expense accounts, the use of corporate assets including a cor porate jet for travel. What CEOs Do for Their Money The top executive of any organization is ultimately accountable for ensuring the development and deployment of a strategy intended to achieve stakeholder objectives. Shareholders want profitable growth and an ever-increasing share price and possibly an ongoing and growing stream of dividend payments. Employees want an environment that offers rewarding work, some security and the ability to gain new skills and grow in their careers. Other stakeholders are concerned about fair and ethical practices in trade, foreign sourcing, and all other business dealings. The top executive is accountable to the board of directors for creating and sustaining a healthy, growing business. From top talent selection to strategy to ensuring the coordination and accountability of strategy execution, the internal work of the CEO is never-ending. From an external perspective, the CEO is the public face of the firm on a grand scale, representing the co mpany in all of the media and mediums in use in our world. Much like star athletes, boards, shareholders, and employees put a premium on the potential impact of a visible executive they believe can promote and realize success. The star power can have a positive impact on the share price at the time of hiring and it may buy some time and acceptance of less than stellar results as the new CEO works to change the direction and strategy of the firm. The Effectiveness is One Person Of course, the value question in CEO compensation is, are they worth all of that money? The answer is, maybe. Or maybe not. Given the visibility of CEO compensation to the external world, boards of directors are increasingly vigilant about protecting themselves and their firms from any aspersions of dereliction of duty. In many cases, CEO compensation is explicitly tied to results, especially growth in the share price. If the shareholders win, the CEO wins and, in theory, everyone is happy. In reality, the hard work of creating shareholder value is carried out by the hundreds, thousands or hundreds of thousands of workers in our largest organizations. One person, even the CEO, has little impact on the work performed. What she or he does is own the issue of what work will be performed. The setting of direction, selection of markets, approval of investments and work to ensure that the entire strategy execution process takes place with the synchronicity of a well-tuned symphony orchestra. The CEO does not do the work, however, she/he directly or indirectly impacts it based on decisions around talent, direction, and investment. When and Where the Issue of CEO Compensation Becomes Contentious During periods of poor performance and layoffs across the organization, and in the absence of a diligent board, high top executive compensation is deemed as outrageous by those impacted by the results. Shareholders appropriately rankle at high CEO compensation when? the share price is sinking, a nd both the employees who lose their jobs and the employees who fear losing their jobs view high top executive compensation as offensive. Even mnznominal or more than nominal concessions by the board and top executives leave these individuals with compensation that seems laughably large to someone who lost their job. The Bottom Line As mentioned above, you are free to draw your own conclusion on this topic. In some countries, the ratio of top executive compensation to median worker pay is constrained by culture and a sense of duty. In others, it is viewed as a free market scenario and the price of a star CEO matches the pricing of star athletes. If you believe the practices are unfair, find ways as a shareholder to let your concerns be heard. Support the election of activist board members who will work on your behalf. Make noise at annual shareholder meetings or via your right to free speech. Ultimately, you can choose to vote with your purchasing dollars and your feet by goin g elsewhere. This is a challenging and controversial issue with no easy resolution for many situations.

How to Deduct Job Search Expenses on Your Tax Return

How to Deduct Job Search Expenses on Your Tax ReturnHow to Deduct Job Search Expenses on Your Tax ReturnIf it didnt hurt enough to be on the hunt for a new job, then you realize youre on the hook for all of the expenses that come with the process traveling to the job, picking up copies of your resume and even new clothesso you give your best impression.We have some good news some of these expenses can be deducted on next years taxes Or, if you are preparing your tax return for last year and you were on the job hunt then, you might be able to slip in some extra deductions to help you get a bigger return. Heres how to approach your own deductions1. If you want to deduct your job search expenses you have to itemize your deductions on a Schedule A, and they must meet a extremum threshold. Since your job hunt expenses are considered a miscellaneous expense, they are deductible when they (and all your other allowable expenses) exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income. For example, if your adjusted gross income is $60,000 you must have miscellaneous expenses that add up to more than $1,200. If you have $1,300 worth of expenses you can only deduct $100. 2. You can only deduct expenses if youre looking for a consecutive placement at a job in the same occupation.If youre switching jobs in the same field from one company to another, youre covered, but if youre switching careers from one thing to an unrelated thing (such as electrician to writer), youre not. The switch must also be consecutive, which means youre moving from one job to another. If you took an extended leave of absence or stayed home with children for several years you cant deduct expenses for re-entry into the job market. You also are not covered for expenses when looking for your first job.3. If you hire an employment or outplacement agency, you can deduct those fees.If youre later reimbursed for those fees, you file it as income. 4. If you travel to look for a new job, you might be able to deduct th ose expenses. It will depend on what percentage of the trip was personal and whether or not the primary reason was to consider a new position in your current occupation.5. If you dont get the job you can still take the deduction.As long as youre trying to move from one job to another in the same field, you can take the deductions even if you didnt receive an offer or take the job. 6. If you land the job make sure you keep your receipts for your moving expenses, too.If youre moving more than 50 milesaway from your current home, you can deduct those expenses.As with any discussion about taxes, youll want to check with your tax professional before acting on any of the tips below. However, now you have a good sense of when and how it would be appropriate to deduct job search expenses on your tax return based on the IRSs instructions.

Using the Banking Backlash to Your Advantage

Using the Banking Backlash to Your AdvantageUsing the Banking Backlash to Your AdvantageFinance firms will care as much about your character as the skills and performance on your resume.In financial services, reputation matters. So does character. That welchesnt always the case, but in the wake of the recession that decimated the publics regard for the industry, financial services firms are more concerned than ever in building a reputation for trustworthiness and that starts with new hires, said one recruiter who works in the industry.Recruiters are now being asked to qualify a candidates character as well as their funtional skills and performance, said Kevin Collins, co-director of Financial Services practice at Koren Rogers Executive Search in White Plains, N.Y.Collins said his clients cant afford to make mistakes in hiring candidates who may be unethical. Those individuals carry the companys brand. The demand is even greater for customer-facing roles, he said.More than seven out o f 10 adults claim to have lost trust in the finance profession, according to a February survey by Mintel Comperemedia, a global consumer, product and market research firm. The only way to beat the public perception of mistrust is to make hires that strengthen relationships and repair the industrys tarnished image, said Susan Menke, a behavioral economist who contributed to the report.Companies need to regain peoples trust, but they need to do it on the peoples terms, Menke wrote in the report. By trusting a financial institution, customers are in essence allowing that brand to make decisions for them. In order to get to that point, companies need to look at trust from the individuals perspective, focusing on values like honesty, fairness and consistency. They need to make the customer feel safe and secure.Rebuilding that trust, said Collins, begins with hiring executives with impeccable credentials and experience.Thats a significant shift, said Collins, from the last two years of hi ring when many firms considered the poor economy and high unemployment meant they could simply pull people off the street.The firms that were left standing thought they could get ahead of the game and save money by poaching all the available talent that was now pounding the pavement without having to use recruiting and executive search firms, he said. Thats not the case. For a variety of reasons, the best talent has been reluctant to leave current roles and the available talent isnt just ready to be picked up, he said.Regardless of how easy it is to hire, he said, candidates scooped up without regard to their cultural fit or their character can be harmful hires.

This Language Will Help You Land (More) IT Jobs

This Language Will Help You Land (More) IT JobsThis Language Will Help You Land (More) IT Jobs If youre a programmer, youre probably always looking to improve your skillset and beef up your resume. IT recruiters certainly see programmers who inadvertently limit their job search options by focusing on the same languages, year after year. If youre thinking about learning a new language soon, a good bet would be Python.Heres why Python would be the best investment in your career right now.Learning Python widens your job search options because its a language that many companies want to use across various industries.This might be at least partially because its free and lowers overhead costs.Python isnt just big in the tech space (which is, of course, huge in itself), though.Its also used in hot job sectors like Science, Medicine, Finance (Fintech), Retail, and Entertainment.Python works for so many of the trends employers want to participate in right now.Its a language that works for Scrum and Agile development, which is much more popular than Waterfall.Its also a language that works better for open-source technologies, which many innovative, progressive employers want to use.Lastly, Python is a trendy language among employers because it gets frequent updates.Employers never see it as a stale, archaic language.Employers, especially in the tech space where its a job seekers market, want to pick languages that attract top talent.Make yourself a more viable job candidate by playing into this trend and adding Python to your arsenal. Python attracts programmers right now for a few reasons.Firstly, its easy to learn (partially because its so readable it includes English words). Its also being taught more and more frequently in universities and colleges.Secondly, its popular among programmers who want an alternative to the highly corporate, controlled .NET, as its open source.Lastly, IT staffing companies find that Python appeals to programmers beca use its a craftsmens language.It allows programmers to really show off their skills and demonstrate a deep mastery that other, less flexible languages dont allow.Samantha Keefe is an Interactive Marketing Managerat AVID Technical Resources .AVID Technical Resources is a leading information technology recruiting company with offices around the country.

In Japan, you can hire someone to quit for you

In Japan, you can hire someone to quit for youIn Japan, you can hire someone to quit for youQuitting your job can be an awkward affair of having to tell your boss why you will not be around to finish projects, and why nothing they can offer would make you stay.If you cannot summon the courage to meet with your boss face-to-face about your exit strategy, theres now one Japanese startup that seeks to address this anxiety and resign on your behalf. Called Exit, the service submits resignation notices on behalf of employees, who for whatever reason, could not quit on their own.Quitting jobs can be a soul-crushing hassle. Were here to provide a sense of relief by taking on that burden, Toshiyuki Niino, co-founder of Senshi S LLC, the startup that operates Exit, told the Japan Times. Exit, which calls itself a retirement agency and has a logo of a person running out the door, charges $450 per resignation notice, and if youre a repeat client, you get a $90 discount.The appeal of getting som eone to quit for youOnce you pay the fee, Exit will contact your employer and inform them about your plans to leave and relay other requests like how you plan to use your remaining time off. For more legal matters like severance packages, youre on your own, because as co-founder Yuichiro Okazaki put it Were strictly the messenger and wont stick our nose into legal matters. After Exit intervenes, the client and employer will often only communicate by email about loose ends like returning belongings.This service may seem extreme. Whats so hard about mustering up the courage to tell your boss youre leaving? But in Japan, a sudden exit goes against the tradition of staying loyal at one firm for your entire career. At its worse, this commitment can lead to karoshi, or death by overwork. When you are told you should be put your job above all else, you can be made to feel guilty for leaving. Co-founder Niino endured one-hour meetings with five of his superiors asking him to stay when he le ft Softbank, the Japan Times said.But this commitment to one company is changing in Japans strong economy. As the Wall Street Journal reported in April, more employees are jumping ship for fewer hours and higher pay. As these shifts happen, services like Exit can ease the burden of those willing to make the uncertain leap away from a job.

Magical Answers to Good Objective Statement for Resume Discovered

Magical Answers to Good Objective anschauung for Resume Discovered Also, the business will serve both regional learners and worldwide learners. For example, the companies are involved with exploitation of clients. The majority of the companies arent legitimate as theyre involved with fraud. Initially there were very few businesses in the business but as people came to know more about the significance of the insurance and its benefits, lots of new companies emerged. Top Choices of Good Objective Statement for Resume As its anthroponym suggests, objective votum states your career goal to the employer that you want to accomplish working in the business. Woman were property and not anything more. In the Eve story god states it isnt good that Adam doesnt have a partner. The GOOD example indicates a Summary that presents similar info in a sense that is a lot more meaningful to a prospective employer. Life After Good Objective Statement for Resume The sample may be used as an e xample or template when writing a resume to get utilized in turning in an application for a substitute teacher job. For instance, a new high school graduate applying for a nursing program might need to include things like a resume objective, while a professional registered nurse should decide on a summary statement. A massive section of the students discover that its challenging to write superior accounting papers as a consequence of challenges above. On the flip side, students who write fantastic thesis discover that its effortless to write great papers. Finding Good Objective Statement for Resume on the Web Based on your degree of experience and the jobs youre applying for, what you decide to concentrate on in your resume summary might vary. Creating a quick mention of a cool hobby is OK, so long as it highlights an expert quality. Maybe youre unable to do the particular task requested, but theres another facet of the project you would have the ability to help out with. Ph rases like hard worker and decent communication skills are typical on resumes, nor offer much info on what makes you unique. Odds are, they are interested in having the task done well, too. Importance of good resume template to receive your dream job dadakan. You, if you would like the job. Make sufficient research before applying for any job. Introducing Good Objective Statement for Resume A great beginning will always generate far better results. There are some people who would argue that the membership fee isnt well worth it. Prioritize the information that you need to convey in the document and if you do have to attend a second page, make sure the absolute most important things are listed on page one. If you havent heard from them for a couple weeks, do another follow-up. Key Pieces of Good Objective Statement for Resume Yes, it is a ridiculous method to do businessyet this is just what its like in new product development. Many businesses are doing it wrong. Whats m ore, you are able to take support from a number of expert CV writing services providers to steer you regarding the new market trend of 2018. Keep reading to find recommendations and examples on how best to do precisely that. The key is as long as youre specific in the way you design your resume you stand a very good likelihood of achieving your desired goal. Hopefully, you presently have a few players capable of stepping up. Ultimately, whether to use resume objectives isa highly personalized choice. Career in Insurance There is an assortment of positions in the field at which you can work and earn a career. Remember your CV should speak professionalism of the maximum order. If at all possible, it is also possible to talk of your major accomplishments during your previous employments. Top Good Objective Statement for Resume Choices So far as motivating others, try and produce situations where you could invigorate someone with enthusiasm and maintain a team moving. A stron g summary statement at the peak of your resume can increase the possibility of them noticing what youve got to offer from the beginning. Your resume should be formatted in an easy, professional method. Your office will want you to have a small amount of an interest in policy. Traditionally, CVs have a tendency to be arranged in a chronological format and makes it simple for the recruiter to acquire a summary of somebodys full work career. Bear in mind there are a number of other candidates making an application and writing their resumes to standout from various other candidates. Targeting your job statement to the specific job will impress the employers and boost your odds of finding the work interview. The sort of thesis statement included in the paper determines the standard of the paper. The thesis can be included at the beginning of the paper. So, the students should see to it that the thesis statement is all up to date.

Recent Grad Learn How to Land a Job with CSI#8217;s Suzana Simic

Recent Grad Learn How to Land a Job with CSI8217s Suzana Simic Graduation season is in the air. Tassles are being turned, photos proudly taken with degrees in hand, and masses of former students are breathing that we-finally-made-it sigh of relief. And while many graduates may think the work is finally over, for a great deal, the work has just begun. Research continues to tell us about the unfortunate plight of recent graduatesunderemployed or unemployed. Even recently, a Beyond.com survey revealed that the majority of HR professionals have stereotypes about Millennial workers, making it that much harder for people in this group to find a job.With all of the schwimmbad news, whats a new graduate to do? Suzana Simic has a suggestion Begin your job search as early as possible.Simic is the director of Career Services at Computer Systems Institute (CSI), a post-secondary institution that offers degree and career programs in the computer, medical and business fields. Working with a variety of students, Simic knows firsthand the challenges students face when preparing to enter the real world. Read on to discover the advice she offered Recruiter.com readers on how to ensure you successfully transition from college graduate to full-time employee1. Millions of college students are graduating this year. What steps should they take to secure employment in todays economy?Students should start their career search as early as possible. It is never too early to apply, but it can be too late. Start with partal contacts and career websites. Remember that networking is essential in todays job market. When all else fails to produce the necessary results, put your feet to the street.2. How can a student ensure his/her resume stands out from the crowd?Students should always remember that their resume needs to tell the employer what they will get from this particular candidate. Also, remember tha t job descriptions are a great tool to pick from when updating your current skills. List four to six major accomplishments on your resume to set yourself above the rest.3. Im a recent college graduate and just received a callback for my first bewerbungsgesprch. What do I do?PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE Research the organization prior to the interview formulate at least three questions to ask during the interview map out directions to the site perform a trial run the day before to gauge traffic patterns iron out a suit the night before print out several copies of your resume on professional resume paper and, most importantly, practice interviewing with your career services department, advisor, friend anyone willing to be brutally honest.Suzana Simic4. Are there any major dos and donts when interviewing?Doprovide a firm confident handshake.Doengage the receptionist with a smile.Dobring several copies of your resume.Dont.lie during your interview.Dont.be late.Dont. forget to send a follow up/thank you letter.5. How can job candidates know which questions to ask during an interview and which to avoid?Research the organization and base your questions off of said research. Ask questions that will help enable you to make a wise career decision for yourself. Avoid asking presumptive questions, i.e. What does the position pay? What would my hours be? Are there benefits?6. What can current college students (freshman-senior) do to prepare themselves for finding and securing a job post-graduation?Start networking with alumni while in school, apply to positions prior to graduation, and lastly put your feet to the street.7. In what ways does CSI helps student transition into successful careers?CSI has a rigorous 8-month, hands-on program, which teaches our students the fundamentals that are directly related to their career paths. Career Services has monthly career-related workshops that instruct our students on how to network, interview, and how to create a professional resume . Furthermore, each student goes through intensive mock interviewing, both via Skype as well as i- person interviews.8. Final thoughts?Remember that if you have to take a job that is a bit less desirable than your dream job just to get your foot in the door, there is nothing wrong with that.

The 15 Most-Read Job Search Articles on FlexJobs in 2018

The 15 Most-Read Job Search Articles on FlexJobs in 2018The 15 Most-Read Job Search Articles on in 2018Companies with work-from-home jobs. How to follow up on job applications. Avoiding job scams. Great jobs for stay-at-home moms. ansicht are just some of the fruchtwein popular and widely read articles from the blog in 2018.And since theyre so popular, we thought it might be helpful to compile them all in one place, so you can get the same info that lots of other job seekers were interested in this yearOne thing to note some of the articles below include flexible and remote job listings that have expired since it was published. You can search all the current job listings on here. 15 Most-Read Articles of 20181. Top 25 Companies Hiring for Part-Time, Work-from-Home JobsTwo of the most desirable flexible work options are working from home and having a part-time schedule. The 25 companies in this article posted the highest number of part-time, remote job listings, based on an analysi s of the job posting histories of over 50,000 companies.2. 10 Great Work-at-Home Jobs for Stay-at-Home MomsA survey of working parents found that a flexible job is one of the top contributing factors to having healthy work-life balance. This article details 10 remote jobs that would be a great fit for stay-at-home moms (and dads), such as marketing specialist, health coach, online teacher, and social media consultant.3. 100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs in 2018Every year, analyzes the remote job posting histories of the over 50,000 companies in its database to determine which 100 companies posted the most over the curse of the last year. Some, such as PRA Health Sciences, Toyota, and Williams-Sonoma, are newcomers to the list, while others, such as Xerox, Kaplan, and UnitedHealth Group, have been featured on the list since 2014.4. 10 Companies with Legitimate Work-from-Home JobsBecause working from home is the most popular form of work flexibility, we like to highlight the compan ies hiring for remote jobs. In this article, youll learn about companies such as Amazon, Deloitte, UnitedHealth Group, the Walt Disney Company, and others that regularly hire remote workers.5. 23 Resume Titles That Helped Members Get Hired members have the opportunity to fill out a resume profile that will help them pinpoint the best jobs for them, but it can also let employers know what they have to offer. These 23 members wrote excellent resume profile titles and were hired for flexible jobs, so we want to help other members learn from their great profile titles6. How to Follow Up on Job ApplicationsMost job seekers know they have to follow up with an employer after they submit a job application, but the question is how to do it well. This article helps job seekers figure out the when-where-who-what-how of following up after applying to a job.7. 100 Top Companies with Remote Jobs in 2017Our annual list of the top companies for remote jobs is so popular that even last years list was popular this year Read about the top remote-friendly companies, watch a video about what they have to offer, and learn some interesting remote work stats in this article.8. How to Answer Would You Rather Work on a Team or Alone?When youre searching for flexible work, this question may come up during job interviews because flexible and remote working can be a bit isolating. Future employers want to know how you handle working alone and on a team. This article offers several ways to approach answering this potentially tricky interview question.9. 10 High-Salary Work-from-Home JobsSome of the most common myths about remote jobs are that they offer low pay or are only unskilled jobs. To help dispel that notion, this article details 10 remote jobs that pay about $90,000 or more annually, including positions like clinical regulatory affairs director, supervisory attorney, and environmental engineer. And yes, they can all be done remotely.10. Why Employers Dont Always Respond After Job InterviewsOne of the most frustrating experiences a job seeker can have is interviewing for a job, and then not hearing from the employer afterward. Learn eight common reasons why employers may not contact you even after a job interview.11. How to Find a Real Online Job (and Avoid the Scams)In the market for flexible and remote jobs, scams do unfortunately exist (especially with work-from-home jobs). Learn to spot common job scams with the tips in this article so you can keep yourself safe as you search online for a legitimate, high-quality flexible or remote role.12. What to Do When You Cant Find a JobThis article offers nine coping strategies for when your job search just isnt paying off. If youve been actively looking for work but havent found a job yet, consider some of these suggestions, such as rewriting your resume, upping your networking game, and adding to your skill set.13. 9 Legitimate At-Home Jobs in Data EntryData entry is one of the top career fields for remote jobs, and this article offers details for nine real data entry jobs that were posted on . Job seekers, take note of how many different job titles a data entry job can have While the jobs in the article have since expired, you can find all our latest remote data entry jobs here.14. 4 Big-Name Companies Now Hiring for Hundreds of Work-from-Home JobsAnother common myth about remote jobs is that they arent available at bigger, more well-known companies- that only startups and obscure companies offer them. Thankfully, the truth is quite the opposite Learn about the remote job opportunities at Amazon, Dell, Humana, and Williams-Sonoma.15. Top 15 Companies for Remote Jobs in HealthcareDid you know that healthcare is the top career field for remote job listings? In 2018, these 15 companies in the healthcare field posted the most remote job opportunities, including Aetna, Cigna, CVS Health, Merck, Sodexo, and moreLooking for a flexible job in 2019?BROWSE OPEN FLEXIBLE JOBS

Is no really the worst answer you can get from a boss

Is no really the worst answer you can get from a baboIs no really the worst answer you can get from a baboSelf-Assessment Quiz True or FalseThere are instances when I need to place my needs ahead of others.I know how to follow up on a closed-ended response.I am not afraid to gently challenge authority.A part of being self-aware on the job is not being afraid to ask for what you want, rahmen boundaries, and teaching people how to treat you. This includes bosses. If you answered TRUE to the questions in this weeks self-assessment quiz, you probably dont have a problem in this area, but your cousins might need a little bit of help. So do me a favor, and forward this weeks post on to them.If you arent asking for what you want on a regular basis, especially at work, whats stopping you? Is it fear? And what specifically are you afraid of? Is it the word No?If you ask your boss for a day off so that you can go to your daughters chess match, whats the worst thing your boss can say?A. You su ck Youre the worst team player EVAH I hate you, and I wish I had never hired you.B. The timing isnt the best, but youve asked in advance, so let me think about it.C. No.Some might think the worst response is A. But my goodness, think of all the money youd earn with that lawsuit (Ive had friends who are bosses and have been sued for far less.)Some (like me) might opt to select B as the worse answer because its a non-answer. A passive-aggressive non-answer at that. On the one hand, you were offered praise and acknowledgment because you planned ahead with your ask. This shows a certain level of respect. On the other hand, this answer sucks rocks because if the boss doesnt get back to you after thinking about it, you have to circle back and ask her again. Sigh Why cant people just make up their minds?But those of you who selected C as the worst answer, well, youre just flat out WRONG At least with a No you have something to work with. Where some might see the response as one and done, I see it as an open-ended response. A chance to negotiate Oh, goodyWhen it comes to negotiating, Ive been taught to softly repeat the response, with a question mark at the end. Then stop talking.No?Wait, silently. Usually, the boss wont give you the same one-word response again. More than likely, she might take the time to explain her answer a bit more. If she does say a curt No again, prompt her (gently) for a more specific reason.May I ask why? Again, using your softest Valley Girl Becky-voice.Is your boss overworked? Has she been chewed out for being too soft and handing out too many days off? Does your boss resent that she cant take time off to spend with her own daughter?The point is you gently press until you have an answer. This strategy is usually a win-win for those of you who arent used to asking for what you want because it forces you to be a tad bit dogged IRT about getting a final answer. Youve demonstrated to your boss (and hopefully to yourself) that you deserve a full y thought-out response. After one or more encounters like this with you, your boss will recognize that youre nice, but youre not a pushover. And she hasnt strung you out on some dubiously defined future timeline after shes thought about it like she did in response B.By the way, if you are truly afraid of getting a response like that in answer A, you obviously work in the television industry or in politics (And yes, Im straight up throwing shade at these industries because Ive worked in them and know what Im talking about). But for the rest of the working world, its a response so far removed from reality that you need to just get over yourself, open your mouth, and ask for what you wantCheryl Grace is the sassy aunt, best friend, and mentor youve always needed in your life. The successful jet-setting, global corporate executive founded the aspirational lifestyle brand Powerful Penny LLC. Her products, workshops and speeches probe, inspire and empower to ensure those who really want t o can get to their next level of best. Her blogs on careers, prosperity, relationships, family, looking and living fabulously, and living a five-star life can be found atwww.powerfulpenny.com.

How to Use Resume Bullet Points

How to Use Resume Bullet PointsHow to Use Resume Bullet PointsDont slay your reader with too many bullet points.Solid, unbroken chunks of text are daunting to read in any format. So the best advice for those writing their own resume has always been to lighten the task by describing their work experience in sharp bulleted sentences instead of paragraphs.But be careful not to slay the reader with too many of these graphic daggers. Professional resume writers caution their clients to use bullet points in moderation.Andrew Pearl, a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders recently overhauled a resume that was drunk on bullet points three pages of them to be exact.The original resume was all bullets, and the all-bulleted approach is difficult to navigate, Pearl said.Pearl transformed the all-bullet resume by alternating brief informative paragraphs of text with bulleted lists that highlight specific achievements.In this particular case, the resume, which described a se nior-level technologist, now uses a bulleted list to highlight, among other things, the specific total dollar amount in savings the job seeker achieved by implementing a centralized server farm to house an accounting package. The paragraph that precedes this bulleted list incorporates powerful words that speak to leadership and strategy as well as keywords that are relevant in the candidates field, including infrastructure, architecture, user support, training, project management, and system development.By creating a document with a clear organizational structure, we have built something that clearly demonstrates value, Pearl said. Decision makers dont have time to hunt for the important details. The new document has a clear road map to what is most tangible. By being selective about what we highlight, we create a document that speaks at a higher level.Another thing to keep in mind about bulleted lists When stacking bullet points, Put the brightest ones on top, said Steve Burdan, al so a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders.