Why Google is Looking for These 5 Key Traits in Employees

Why Google is Looking for These 5 Key Traits in EmployeesGoogle did a two-year study of its workers and discovered (surprise) that fancy degrees and super-genius IQs dont make great team players. Recent research out of the University of Notre Dame confirms this what matters most is that coworkers trust each other and believe in what theyre doing. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Forget self-interest and pedigree. Forget top-name colleges and the SATs. Google is now shifting course to recruit people who are hardworking and resilient insteadand finally working to diversify their workforce (which is a shocking 70% male and 60% white). Say goodbye to the old elitism of the lone wolf superstar, and say hello to an appreciation of candidates who can overcome adversity.The most important thing companies want to do is building better teams, and heres what theyll be looking for1. Psychological safetygruppe members need to trust each other to take risks. Superegos only get in the way. Team members need to be comfortable being vulnerable together to do their best work.2. DependabilityThe best teams get it done on time and set the bar consistently high.3. Structure ClarityThe best teams work together with clear roles and goals and strategies.4. MeaningIts important to believe in the work youre doing together and to make it matter.5. ImpactThe best stuff comes out of teams working to make something meaningful and affect change.As a Harvard HR rep wrote in a blog post, Whois on a team matters less than how the team members interact, structure their work, and view their contributions. The dream team of the future is a powerhouse of people with a wide variety of strengths and talents, people who can trust each other enough to take risks and create a more dynamic future. It doesnt matter where you went to college. What matters is what you bring to the table and how well you contribute to the group.

For Working Moms Like Me, Supportive Company Policies Dont Matter If This 1 Thing Is Missing

For Working Moms Like Me, Supportive Company Policies Dont Matter If This 1 Thing Is Missing Helen Daly didnt do anything specific to prepare for maternity leave. Despite the amount of guidance (or, as she semi-jokingly put it, opinions dressed up as advice) that first-time moms are showered with, Daly had access to something that no number of What to Expect books can offer a workplace that truly gets and supports parents.In many ways, an understanding company meant I didnt feel any need for special programs I already had all the help and support I needed, Daly, a Development Manager at Informatica, said. Bosses and colleagues have always been understanding about the need to fit in family life as well as work. I took six months off for maternity leave, and honestly, returning to work welches amazing.The company can only do so much you need the understanding and respect of your colleagues when trying to manage the day-to-day demands of family life. And that comes from having coworker s whove been there and get it, she said. We have an environment where people know its OK to rearrange a meeting to fit in the kids Christmas Concert or to start your work day after the school run at 930 a.m. Its having people at every stage of life that results in that attitude, and thats what has made Informatica a great place to be a parent.Recently, Daly shared with Fairygodboss how shes developed as a professional and as a mom at Informatica, as well as her No. 1 tip for working parents who are trying to build better work-life boundaries.How long have you been in your current role, and what were you doing previously?Ive been a Development Manager at Informatica for six months, and prior to that, I was a software engineer here.How did you prepare for maternity leave and what advice can you offer to other moms who are expecting their first child?I didnt do anything specific to prepare for maternity leave was I meant to? It kind of just came and went Advice Ignore all the advice y oure given, as the vast majority of it is nonsense. Pregnant women are constantly showered with opinions dressed up as advice, and you have to learn to tune it out. If that ever gets too hard, just tell people to back off.How long were you on maternity leave and what was it like to return to work?I took six months off for maternity leave, and honestly, returning to work was amazing. Not that I dont love my children, but I missed adult conversation, problem solving, pub lunches, etc. It was great suddenly having a purpose beyond being a giant walking pacifier.What type of programs did/does your company offer to new and expectant mothers?The arbeitszimmer manager was very proactive about reaching out regarding things like work-station assessments and whether or not I needed a place to pump milk after returning. Bosses and colleagues have always been understanding about the need to fit in family life as well as work.In many ways, an understanding company meant I didnt feel any need for special programs I already had all the help and support I needed. And in the six years since I last did it, theyve become even more proactive in terms of support both whilst expecting and in returning to work.How has your morning routine changed since becoming a mom?Lets compare Old routine Get up, cycle to work, shower, eat breakfast, job done.Current routine Get up, make packed lunches, pull childrens clothes on whilst theyre still asleep because they just wont wake up, make breakfast, manage complaints about breakfast, manage complaints about packed lunches, make a second breakfast, tell children to smother daddy so we cant hear his snoring anymore (why is he still in bed?), get football kit ready, hunt out guitar, lose cycling things, pack car, check that there are two children in the car, platzdeckchen off for school, realise weve forgotten the homework bags, go back home, grab bags, get back into car, stop car in middle of road and tell children that were not moving until the y stop fighting, eventually realise thats not going to stop them and just turn radio volume up to drown them out, get to school, leave oldest child at school door, carry youngest over shoulder screaming and kicking to classroom door, smile politely at other parents as if this is all completely normal and return to car, take a deep breath, and remember its all great practice for management the children in the office have nothing on the ones at homeWhy do you think your company is a particularly great place to be a working mom?The kids are covered on our healthcare and were entitled to parental leave. But to be honest, I think one of the fruchtwein important things is a diverse work environment. The company can only do so much you need the understanding and respect of your colleagues when trying to manage the day-to-day demands of family life. And that comes from having coworkers whove been there and get it. You have the newlywed thinking about what car to buy. The mum-to-be showing off her bump. The dads working from home because the babys sick. Parents all excited about their childs first day at school or college Water-cooler conversations about menopause.We have an environment where people know its OK to rearrange a meeting to fit in the kids Christmas Concert or to start your work day after the school run at 930 a.m. Its having people at every stage of life that results in that attitude, and thats what has made Informatica a great place to be a parent.Whats your go-to stress-relief activity or routine?Soccer. Well have office soccer on a Friday during lunchtime, which is a great stress reliever. After that, cycling or running.What kinds of boundaries to you follow (if any) to separate work and family time?I often have to leave the office early to pick up the kids, so I log-in from home to make up the time. If I do that, Ill set myself a specific task I want to accomplish from home before leaving the office. That way, I dont just spend hours on the laptop i n the evening, and I have a sense of achievement from the extra time put-in.Whats your No. 1 tip for new moms who are navigating the delicate balance of working and mothering?Two tips Stick up for yourself, and dont assume that its just the women around you who will be understanding and helpful. The dads out there get it, too--Fairygodboss is proud to partner with Informatica.

Does Your Company Encourage Binge Working

Does Your Company Encourage Binge Working NBC recently reported on the tragic case of Mita Diran, the 24 year old copywriter who dropped dead toward the end of a debilitating 30-hour straight shift, just prior to Christmas shut-down. They also highlighted two other cases in the same year of employees dropping dead after similar cases of overworking, which is now being termed binge working. The first was Li Yuan from Olgivy and Mather in China and the second was Moritz Erhardt, aelendher ad writer from Bank of Americas Merrill Lynch office in London. Now, these are extreme cases but they are real, and they do at least highlight the perils of binge working. Even though most people may not suffer such extreme reactions to binge working, medical evidence shows that binge working has drastic health consequences. According to research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, these health compl aints include increased rates of heart disease, diabetes, fatigue and depression and they also found that sustained binge working correlated with reduced cognitive functioning in middle age and later life dementia.With us now living in an increasingly health and lifestyle conscious world, it seems that many employers are behind the times with 56 percent of UK employees working over 40 hours a week, and the U.S. average workweek being 46 hours according, to research presented in this infographic byOnline MBA.So, the odds are that unless your company has a detailed work-life balance management system, binge working is likely to be occurring in your business and you need to do something about it today because its not only slowly killing your staff, its killing your profits as productivity decreases by half after 8 hours work.In fact, its likely that your business could be encouraging binge working (knowingly or unknowingly) by creating a top down culture of working long hours where em ployees feel that the only way that they can be recognized and get ahead is by pulling all nighters and burning the candle at both ends.If success is characterized by presenteeism and not results and if objectives are not realistically attainable within a 40-hour week, you will be encouraging a binge working culture.So, what steps can you take to discourage binge working?1. Lead from the top. Senior executives need to set an example by communicating the importance of leaving work on time regularly, not doing year-round overtime, not working through lunch, and taking vacation allowanceand actually be seen doing the above themselves.2. Start tracking overtime hours. Do this to understand the extent of the binge working problem. Investigate areas of concern and introduce remedies such as hiring more staff, more efficient working practices, etc.3. Discourage lunch time working. How often do employees work through lunch or cut lunch breaks short? Encourage employees to take lunch and eat healthily. Its actually the bad diet that comes as a result of binge working, which was responsible for many of the health issues.4. Check objectives are attainable. Honestly review objectives and assure that they are attainable within a 40-hour working week for a competent employee.5. Be open to promoting part-time workers and job sharers. If youre not open to this, you give the impression that shorter working employees are second class citizens, further encouraging long working hours.6. Allow flexible working or telecommuting. Flexible working conditions are especially if employees work in different time zones or face a long commute, to ease the pressure on working longer hours.7. Encourage employees to work smarter rather than harder. Do this by rewarding employees who come up with new, more efficient ways of working.Good luck with creating a healthy working culture

When Work Feels Chaotic, Take Back Your Power With Learning

When Work Feels Chaotic, Take Back Your Power With Learning When Work Feels Chaotic, Take Back Your Power With Learning The modern workplace can give even the most laid-back person a case of sensory overload. At any given time, emails arrive, notifications flash, devices buzz, coworkers chit-chat, and meeting reminders pop up. Its no wonder 70 percent of respondents to the Udemy In Depth 2018 Workplace Distraction Reportsaid theyre distracted.The steady stream of distractions is making people stressed, unmotivated, and frustrated. No mere annoyance, workplace distractions undermine confidence and performance, especially among younger employees.Workplace distraction has real consequences for employers, too. In addition to lost productivity, lower engagement, and lower retention, distractions interfere with the next generations preparedness for future leadership roles.Twenty-two percent of millennials and Gen. Z workers dont feel theyre able to reach their potential, and 34 percent s ay they like their jobs less as a result of distractions.Many millennials are already in management, but they havent necessarily received training on what it takes to be a great manager - i.e., soft skills like leadership, team-building, and giving constructive feedback. Our research found that 69 percent of millennials spend two hours or more looking at their phones for personal activities during the workday, which makes it that much harder for them to develop those critical leadership skills and stay tuned into their teams needs.Across all age groups, 59 percent of workers agree that personal use of technology is more distracting than work tools.Were all new to this balancing act, manically responding to pings, notifications, and interruptions while trying desperately to carve out time for deep, focused work. According to our research, 70 percent of workers think training could help them cope with distractions, but 66 percent have never spoken to a manager about it. It is possibl e, based on my experience, theyre afraid of looking like theyre having trouble doing their jobs or are less capable than their peers.Asking for learning and development opportunities should be viewed as a good thing a signal an employee wants to keep getting better at their job. At a time of continuous, disruptive workplace transformation, companies that attract and support avid upskillers will have a competitive edge. Besides, with a measurable gap between skills employees need and skills job candidates have, it makes a lot more sense to upskill the talent you already have than to get stuck in a costly cycle of constantly recruiting for new skills.Individuals can still grow and advance in their careers in uncertain times. Employers would be wise to support them along the way, lest those proactive upskillers take their talents to a different company, one that prioritizes learning and development.Never Stop LearningWhen people embrace lifelong learning, assimilating new skills isnt a source of fear or stress - its just another part of the career journey. Tech workers have long been accustomed to continuous upskilling as programming languages evolve and new software versions launch, but that cycle is accelerating. Staying current in a particular language or framework isnt enough for techies, and a narrow focus wont be enough for workers in other disciplines either.Learning shouldnt be limited to those hard skills, though. Even as automation and artificial intelligence expand their impact, soft skills - like communication, leadership, and team-building - wont be easily replicated by machines.The good news, even if you werent a fan of traditional schooling, is that learning can now happen on your schedule and on your terms. For example, affordable options exist for on-demand online courses you can take at your own pace, whenever, wherever, and however you choose. Explore Outside Your FunctionI also suggest people get curious and stretch in different directions, and that employers empower their workers to do so. People dont expect to stay in the same role indefinitely, and career paths arent linear anymore either. Being open to people moving between teams and functions lets employers accomplish two cost-saving measures at once retaining the institutional knowledge of longtime employees while leveraging their expertise to generate fresh, innovative ideas.Pursue a PassionAnother great way to hone your skills, old and new, is to apply them to something real, whether its publishing a blog, selling on Etsy, or creating a mobile app. Nonprofits always need volunteers to help with their websites, organize events, or attract new members.Having a side hustle or passion project is a great showcase for your soft skills, too, as you demonstrate your ability to initiate and follow through on projects, pitch your ideas, collaborate with others, and take ownership.Theres a quote I like that says, The best way to predict the future is to create it. This h as never been more true than today, when the world of work is moving and changing so fast. Instead of feeling like they cant think beyond the latest urgent email chain, people can take charge of their careers by embracing learning.Shelley Osborne is head of learning and development at Udemy.

Brace yourself for even more changes to your Gmail

Brace yurself for even more changes to your GmailBrace yourself for even more changes to your GmailJust recently, we were graced with changes to our Gmails when the G Suite team created ways for us to download schmelzglass, undo and redo actions, and even strikethrough words in the text of our messages. And on Jan. 29, Google announced yet another update to the email platform, this time on mobile.The Gmail mobile app is getting an overhaul to match Googles custom Material theme already, Gmail, Drive, Calendar and other Google web experiences have been updated to reflect Googles new branding as a family of products. The new Gmail redesign will be available to Android andiOS users.Aesthetically, the update means a lot more clarity, like on the web. In essence, there will be fewer red touches and more crisp whiteness as we check our emails every day.But beyond the overall look, Google is also adding cool new functions to make our mobile experience easier. Heres a preview of what their e ngineers have in store.Viewing attachmentsNow, on the web, theres no need to open an email and scroll to the attachment to open it. We can simply click on the attachment icon below a messages subject line in our general inbox to see whatever photo or document has been attached. But on mobile, weve had no such luck - until now. The latest update to Gmails mobile app makes it so that we can quickly view attachments- like photos- without opening or scrolling through the conversation, according to Google.Switching accountsMany of us have more than one Gmail account at this point, and it can be tedious to keep up with them all. But Google is here to help. The redesign includes a way to more easily switch between accounts, so youll be answering work emails seconds after responding to photos of your nieces third birthday party.WarningsWe all know there are a lot of bad actors out there. Thankfully, Google has started flagging phish-y messages for us on the web, and now itll do the saatkor n on mobile. Just look for a big red banner at the top of the email - that means danger.

Top trends in Philadelphia Hiring

Top trends in Philadelphia HiringTop trends in Philadelphia HiringTop trends in Philadelphia HiringIntelligence dug into whos hiring and for what in Philadelphia these days. If youre recruiting in this area, youll want to know what we found.Philadelphias diverse economy is geared towards information and service-based industries. The area is a mecca for tourists due to its many historic attractions and is home to a number of post-secondary educational institutions and Fortune 500 companies. The biggest drivers of job growth are the Philadelphia metro areas professional and business services, healthcare, and leisure and hospitality industries. The area has created 60,700 new jobs over the past 12-months the unemployment rate was 5.7% in August 2016 which was 0.8 percentage points above the national rate of 4.9%.By August 2016, about 3.1 million workers were employed in the Philadelphia area, and the market accounts for 16% of all jobs posted on in the Middle Atlantic region. To give yo u some insight into what your recruiting competitors are up to, our Intelligence team analyzed data from the CEB TalentNeuron tool to identify which companies are posting the most jobs, and which jobs are most listed, and which jobs are most searched. Supporting Philadelphias diverse economy some of the positions most in-demand include truck drivers, registered nurses, and retail workersWhat are companies hiring for?Most Common Employment in PhiladelphiaRetail ausverkaufpersonsCashiersRegistered NursesFood Preparation and Serving WorkersCustomer Service RepresentativesMost In-Demand Jobs in PhiladelphiaTruck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-trailerRegistered NursesRetail SalespersonsRetail SupervisorsMarketing ManagersPhiladelphia Jobs41% of available Philadelphia area jobs are for Healthcare, Sales, and Technology workersOf all open healthcare positions, 42% of available Healthcare jobs are for NursesOf all open sales positions, 47% of available Sales jobs are for RetailOf all open techn ology positions, 30% of available Technology jobs are for Software DevelopersMost Common Philadelphia Jobs IncludeTruck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-trailer employed 22,100Annual wage $45,690Registered Nurses employed 66,800Annual wage $76,460Retail Salespersons employed 91,630Annual wage $26,820Retail Supervisors employed 18,990Annual wage $47,870What are job seekers looking for?Most viewed Philadelphia jobsSecretaries and Administrative AssistantsSales Representatives, Wholesale and ManufacturingCustomer Service RepresentativesMiscellaneous Business Operations Specialists (e.g., Project Managers, Contracts Administration, etc.)Miscellaneous Managers (e.g., General Managers, etc.)Top Philadelphia job searchesAdministrative AssistantPart TimeReceptionistCustomer ServiceSalesAccountingHuman ResourcesWarehouseMedical AssistantMarketingWant to know more about the top trends in Philadelphia hiring? Check out the Philadelphia Market Overview from Intelligence.Data finding are based on anal ysis of all available online jobs reported by the TalentNeuron tool and job seeking activity from more than 22 million unique visitors1.1comScore Media Metrix, 1Q 2016, 3-month average, (includes all US Mobile + PC traffic)

Fatigue and Polycystic Overian Syndrome PCOS

Fatigue and Polycystic Overian Syndrome PCOSFatigue and Polycystic Overian Syndrome PCOSWomen 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 w omen 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 thyreoiditis (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 (h irsutism) 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 slugg ishness 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.