The 7 best podcasts of 2019

The 7 best podcasts of 2019The 7 best podcasts of 2019According toNielson, there exist today more than 700,000 podcasts available to downloada number which itself is up from the meager 525,000 podcastsApple reported to be available last year. Thats an absolutelyoverwhelmingamount of podcastable content. There simply isnt enough time for one to sift through it all. As a result, most of us tune into the same popular behemoths week-over-week. And, in consequence, we miss out on podcasts that could prove life-changing.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThats why theMinutes staffput ur heads together and compiled this short list of our favorite podcasts to share with readers. Perhaps youll find something you missed out on heretofore.So, without further adieu, here are the best podcasts of 2019Hidden Brainby NPRIf youve ever wondered how your brain responds to ads, what robots mean for y our future sex life, or why you prefer one food over another, listen to Hidden Brain. It is a wild, informative ride of science and storytelling. It intricately and interestingly combines areas of neurology, biology, anthropology, economics, and psychology to show listeners how world-renowned research connects to everyday life. And the host, social scientist Shankar Vedantum, has a knack for sharing scientific facts and stories in a way that makes you see the world- and yourself- differently. I recommend starting with one of my favorite episodes,Creative Differences The Benefits Of Reaching Out To Others Unlike Ourselves. Katrina KirschTo Live and Die in LAby Neil StrausIm not typically a True Crime fan. I find the genre sort of predictable. But this podcast, created byRolling Stonewriter Neil Straus, of whom Im a big fan, bucks conventions in a number of ways. First, Straus tells the story of Adea Shabani, who disappeared from her Hollywood apartment just days before her 26th birth day, in real-time. He was in fact an integral component of the investigationand he brings listeners into the world of crime, deception, and private investigation as he himself is experiencing and participating it. This in and of itself would make for a captivating listen, but the incredible true story of what happened to Shabani is riddled with twists and turns. Ultimately, it plays out like a well-plotted novel. At once a showcase from a creator at the top of his game, as well as a fascinating depiction of a true story, theres a reason this podcast isso popular. I cant recommend it enough.Dan MooreCreative Confidenceby IDEO UFor us creatives, confidence is key. The work of writers, marketers, designers, architects, and artists alike requires not only know-how but also a certain level of inspiration and the right mental framework. This podcast explores the unique challenges faced by creative professionals, offers actionable advice to help you do your best creative work, and features interviews with a diverse array of high-profile creatives, from New York Times bestselling authors to CEOs and CIOs (chief innovation officers). In short, its awesome. Dan AlmasiRISEby Rachel HollisBestselling author Rachel Hollis has had a huge impact on my life. And her podcast, Rise, is bold and informative. In it, Hollis operates like a fitness coach who pushes you to take huge personal leaps and go after your goals. She provides tools and advice you can actually use. She has incredible guests, as well, who share their own inspiring storiesfrom Joe Biden to Brendon Burchard. If youre someone who needs encouragement to not give up on yourself, your career, or your goals, then this is the podcast for you. Rachel isnt your cheerleadershe tells you straight to your face that you need to suck it up, get over it, and go after what you want And personally, I love that. Most people do. Ashley PerkinsBitch Sesh A Real Housewives Breakdown by Ear WolfI stumbled upon this podcast a few ye ars ago, after dissolving my relationship with cable. With so much going on in the world, I appreciate the break from reality that Bitch Sesh provides. Sick of hearing about apocalyptic politics? Throw on Bitch Sesh Hosts Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider are seriously hilarious. Thanks to them, I know what is happening on Bravo without having to bum someones cable account to watch. They have awesome guests, of course, but the podcast is itself inherently amazing. If you want to laugh uncontrollably about Bravo reality stars, or people in general, do yourself a favor and check this one out. Latoya FladgerDissectby Cole CuchnaFor music aficionados, there might not be a more engaging podcast available today than Dissect. Each season is like a college course dedicated to, well, dissecting a popular piece of music. The first season unpacked Kendrick LamarsTo Pimp a Butterfly. Season two was dedicated to Kanye WestsDark Beautiful Twisted Fantasy, and seasons three and four took a deep dive into Frank Oceans and Lauren Hills discographies, respectively. Upon the conclusion of each season, youll walk away with a deeper and richer understanding of just how genius these bodies of work are, how layered their themes and plots, and how generally impressive the artists who made them prove to be. Each episode is a forensic and smart piece of contemplative audio which fascinates, entertains, and educates at the same time. Dan MooreNew Mindset, Who Disby Case KennyCase Kennys bi-weekly podcast shares short-but-real and relatable life advice. The iTunes reviews say it all I feel like Case is the homie that you can go to just get some real advice. Listening to this podcast makes me feel less alone in the world. He embodies exactly what he preaches and does it in a way that doesnt come across as arrogant or entitled. A must listen for entrepreneurs or people looking for a fresh outlook on life.I dig the podcast because its real, raw, but also inspirational. Case is the guy I w ant talking sense into me. Dan MooreThis article first appeared on Minutes.

Guidelines for Working Minors

Guidelines for Working MinorsGuidelines for Working MinorsHow young is too young for a part-time job? What hours are minors allowed to work? A lot depends on the teenager in question, their parents feelings about teenagers having jobs, and school and after-school commitments. However, even the most responsible teenager, with willing parents and enough free time to devote to a part-time job, will run up against one limitation to their employment TheFair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This law regulates the days, hours, and times that 14, 15, 16, and 17-year old employees can work. AgesTeens Are Legally Allowed to Work The FLSA places restrictions on employment for minor workers (workers under age 18), depending on their age, the time of year, the day of the week, and mora. The FLSA sets the tiefpunkt working age at 14 for non-agricultural jobs. Workers from ages 14 to 18 cannot work in occupations that aredeemed hazardousby the Secretary of Labor. These include mining, excavation, ma nufacturing explosives, and using some power-driven equipment. Minorsoccasionally can work at work sites in hazardous industries, but only in limited tasks that have been declared safe. State labor laws often differ from federal laws. When they do, the law that is more protective of the minor applies. For example, if your state says workers under age 18 cannot work in any hazardous industries(even if the task has been declared safe), then this is the rule you must follow. Check your states labor laws for more information. Hours Teens Are Legally Allowed to Work There are also employment restrictions that refer only to minors of particular ages. Under Age 14Childrenunder age 14 cannot work any non-agricultural jobs unless employed by their parents in a non-hazardous industry. Ages 14-15Children ages 14-15 can only work hours when they are not in school. There are also rules about how many hours they can work each day. They can work up to 3 hours per day on a school day, and 18 ho urs total during a school week. They can work up to 8 hours on a non-school day, and40 hours total during a non-school week. One exception to this is that they can work extra hours if they are working for a state-sponsored career exploration program or work-study program through the Department of Labor. Finally, there are limits on the specific hours of the day they can work. Generally, they can only work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, from June 1 throughLabor Day, they can work between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Ages 16-17There is no limit on the hours that someone age 16 or 17 can work. However, if you are under 18, you cannot work in a job that the Labor Department considers hazardous, as mentioned above. Age 18 and overThere are no limits on the hours you can work if you are 18 or older. Exceptions toRestrictions Generally speaking, age-based work restrictions dont apply to minor workers who are employed by their parents or guardians. The exception to the exception? Those hazardous i ndustrieslisted above. Employees under the age of 18 cannot work in mining or manufacturing, for example, even if they would be employed by their family. Teen Wages Generally, teenagers who work should be paid at least thefederal minimum wageof $7.25. Workers under the age of 20 can be paid a youth minimum wage (or statutory minimum wage) of $4.25 for the first 90 consecutive calendar days this youth minimum applies to every job the teen holds, not just their first job. If a worker under the age of 20 changes jobs, their new employer may pay them the lower rate for the first 90 days of their new job. Many states and some cities have set minimum wages higher than the federally mandated minimum, but these dont necessarily apply to younger workers. Recently, a few states have proposed minimum wage exceptions for teenagers, partly in response to these minimum wage increases. I dont think voters approved an increase thinking in terms of a first job for high school students, Nebraska state Sen. Laura Ebke toldThe International Business Times. It really refers more to the working poor, people who cant make ends meet. Whether you agree or disagree, its in your best interests to familiarize yourself with both state and federal laws applying to young workers in your area before applying for a job or allowing your teenager to do so. In most cases, employers will have to abide by both state and federal law.

Don#8217;t Build Your Future on For-Profit College Degrees

Don8217t Build Your Future on For-Profit College Degrees Don8217t Build Your Future on For-Profit College Degrees Thats the finding of a working paper from the National Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research. (Fortunately its blessed with the acronym CALDER.) The center, a compendium of universities, tracks student learning on an annual basis.The researchers from the University of Missouri and RAND sent almost 9,000 fictitious resumes of young job applicants who recently completed their schooling to online job postings in six occupational categories and tracked employer callback rates. They found no evidence that employers prefer applicants with resumes listing a for-profit college relative to those whose resumes list either a community college or no college at all.As the Wall Street Journal reports, That may be unwelcome news for operators of for-profit colleges, which generally charge higher tuition than similar programs at community colleges do. For-profi t schools are already under scrutiny, given their dramatic enrollment growth over the past decade, and the high debt loads their graduates carry.The report targets resumes that list for-profit and public-community-colleges because, based on CALDERs research, for-profit colleges award a sizable share roughly one third of sub-baccalaureate certificates and degrees in the United States.Bluntly, the report states, Our experiment does notlage reveal any evidence to suggest that resumes listing for-profit colleges are more likely to garner interest from employers relative to resumes that list public community. It adds, In fact, while not statistically significant, our point estimates indicate that applicants who attend for-profit colleges receive less interest from employers than do applicants who attend public community colleges.This finding holds when we pool across educational attainment levels as well as when we allow the for-profit effect to vary by attainment level. We also find l ittle evidence of a benefit to listing a for-profit college relative to no college at all our point estimates for this comparison are close to zero and inconsistent in sign. The estimated effects of listing a public community college relative to no college are also statistically insignificant.This about sums up what a for-profit degree means to your career advancement the research indicates that the labor market payoff to attending a for-profit college may be limited, especially in comparison to the much-cheaper community college alternative.The Wall Street Journal article observes, The authors do note a caveat to their study They only tracked employers initial responses to applications, and differences that would only come out in, say, late-round interviews were not accounted for here. However, they say, other researchhas found limited labor-market benefits from for-profit college education.Another caveat worth noting is the types of jobs applied for as part of the research. The a uthors note, One practical issue was that job advertisements were more abundant in some fields than others. Openings for which our applicants were reasonably qualified were more common in administrative assisting, customer service, medical billing/office and sales. The number of suitable advertisements in information technology and medical assisting was lower.That latter point demonstrates a potential argument against for-profit colleges as well. They may be training students for positions not abundant enough to justify a higher cost of education. That fact is compelling federal regulators to explore the issue of post-graduation employment vs. loans secured for payment. The lucrative source of income (guaranteed student loans) could dry up for the for-profit colleges if it is determined an insufficient number of students are finding work in the field they paid high prices to study.

How Payroll Managers Increase Motivation in the Workplace

How Payroll Managers Increase Motivation in the WorkplaceHow Payroll Managers Increase Motivation in the WorkplacePayroll doesnt really have a quiet season. It just has different levels of busy. Some periods are certainly more hectic than others, and year end - with closing running up against holiday scheduling - is certainly one of those times that can have a detrimental effect on motivation in the workplace.As a payroll manager, you can make your teams job easier - as well as your own - by checking in regularly to ask about their workload and any problems or frustrations they may be encountering. Stressed workers are more likely to make mistakes - and incur costly penalties - than ones who are happy with their job. No, you cant remove every stress factor, but here are six ways you can help increase their motivation in the workplace.1. Recognize hard workIf your payroll staff has been putting in extra hours to get through a busy period, they deserve some recognition. The gestu re can be simple, like calling out a workers exemplary behavior in an all-team email, or buying bagels or doughnuts for everyone. For people who have gone above and beyond, such as coming in on a weekend to complete data migration or wrap up financial reporting, thank them with a gift card or an extra vacation day.Robert Halfs report on workplace happiness shows one of the key drivers of job satisfaction for finance and accounting professionals is feeling appreciated for the work they do. To help workers stay motivated, be aya to make your efforts are specific, timely and sincere.MORE ABOUT WORKING HAPPY2. Customize your feedbackYour employees are individuals who want to know how theyre doing and where they can improve. But you need to fine-tune the amount of feedback you give them Too little, and some might feel neglected. Too much, and others will feel smothered. Many Generation Z employees, for example, expect consistent and frequent comments from their boss. On the other hand, y our boomer payroll workers may see regular feedback as meddling micromanaging. Work with each person to find that just-right level of boss-to-employee communication.3. Engage in training and developmentProfessional development and training are essential for broadening your workers skills base. Whats more, when you invest in them, they return that investment with greater loyalty and engagement. Training often gets pushed to the back burner when things become manic, but dont let busyness get in the way. Besides, who doesnt welcome a little break from their daily tasks?A common form of professional development is the brown bag lunch session, where attendees bring their own food and management supplies the guest speaker. For an extra treat, order mafiatorte or box lunches for the whole gang. When theres more time, plan for job rotation or job shadowing to promote a transfer of skills between team members. Payroll conferences are a great way for your staff to learn from industry leaders and their peers from around the country. 4. Present staff with interesting projectsDo you know how to motivate people who are frequently engaged in repetitive work? One way is with cool projects that stretch their talents and shake up the routine. For example, ask the group to list some payroll pain points, and then brainstorm solutions together. These could include reducing the error rate, moving toward paperless onboarding and improving payroll-related communication with company employees. By working on creative solutions together, you build a tighter team and empower staff to take ownership of their work.5. Give the gift of timeDuring the busy season, you expect a certain amount of flexibility and extra time from your staff. During quieter periods, show that youre equally flexible by allowing extra perks, such as flexible scheduling and additional work-from-home days. This is especially useful during the holidays, when employees are trying to balance their workload with the need to run errands and visit family. Being treated with fairness is another key driver of workplace happiness, and respecting your teams work-life balance can really help boost staff engagement.6. Bring in extra helpEven the best payroll employees can mentally check out when theyre stressed and tired. This is especially true around the holidays, when so many other responsibilities compete for their attention. As you anticipate the departments long to-do list for year-end closing and tax-related paperwork, make sure youre adequately staffed. If not, work with a staffing agency that specializes in accounting professionals to access temporary payroll specialists. You can boost staff motivation by making sure your full-time employees arent overworked and can enjoy the season.Employee engagement isnt just some touchy-feely concept that you can leave or take. Helping your team stay motivated has net benefits all around Its good for staff, good for management and, ultimately, good for the bott om line.

James Comey shows what happens when we lose our jobs and our identities

James Comey shows what happens when we lose our jobs and our identitiesJames Comey shows what happens when we lose our jobs and our identitiesFBI Director James Comey was abruptly fired on Tuesday night. Comey reportedly heard about it while he was giving a speech as the news flashed on TV screens behind him he was so unprepared for it that he believed it to be a prank. Afterward, instead of making a statement, Comey went silent he pulled out of several events, including a speech to fellow FBI agents and scheduled testimony in front of the Senate.Comeys firing illuminates an issue many successful people face what do you when your job is your identity- the reason you get invited to things - and then you lose it, or fear that you will? Very often, you may start to question who you are, you may even start to feel like youve lost your purpose in life. After a flurry of initial interest, invitations may drop off and you may start to feel like a pariah in the industry you had a strong po sition in.Our jobs, ourselvesWe spend at least a third of our lives at work - and its often more for overachievers and hard workers - so its not surprising we tie our own happiness to how well were doing at work.Its easy to feel like your job defines you.A 2014 Gallup poll found that55% of U.S. workers get a sense of identity from their job, compared to 42% who feel that its just what you do.A 2017 study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior of 377 British employees surveyed three times in 2014 says that job insecurity and the stigma attached to unemployment can negatively impact peoples social identity and well-being.Our professional titles can be pretty closely connected to how we identify ourselves and our perceivedself-worth, so fear of losing jobs can feel like were losing our social standing, and more importantly, who we think we are deep down.Questioning your identityPart of the sadness around job loss is the sense of exclusion youre separated not just from yo ur title and your organization, but your workmates, your daily habits, your distributions-mix in the world of work. If you think you might lose your job soon, its not uncommon to feel like youve already been excluded from a club of lucky people with income.It is shownthat increased perceptions of job insecurity are likely to lead people to identify less with the employed population.People who perceived their job as more insecure were also more likely to feel less belonging to the employedworking society they de?ned themselves less as employed people. Thisreflectsan impression often anecdotally reported by job-insecure workers, of already being at the margins or pushed out of employment, wroteEva Selenko, Anne Mkikangasand Christopher B. Stridein the Journal of Organizational Behavior.So even if you still have a job, you might feel like you already lost it.When somebodys employment is secure, their social identity as an employed person may not explicitly come to mind very often. Howe ver, when the loss of a job becomes more salient, people may start to become increasingly aware of being identified as parte of an alternative, stigmatized out-group the unemployed, said ablog post by the Association for Psychological Science.In short No one wants to be left behind.Letting go of the idea that your job is your identityFor those of us who tie who we are to our careers, it can be hard to deal when our livelihoods are in question.In an emotional piece inGood Housekeeping, Melanie Gardiner wrote about losing a job she loved, and just how hard that loss hit her. Its an account that may resonate with many of us.I proceeded to throw myself an epic pity party for the next couple of months. I barely left my couch. I avoided music, friends, family, and just about anything that once brought me joy. I let days go by mindlessly, Gardiner wrote.So how do you fix your feelings if youre actually unemployed?You might be tempted to stew in your sadness, worryingaboutwhat you think you could have done to avoid losing your job- but you dont have to for long. The human condition is shouldve, couldve, wouldveWhen youre beating yourself up, think, I did the best that I could under those circumstances and ask What can I learn and go forward with? career counselor Judith Gerberg told SELF. Its completely possible to get over your grief if you lose your job or think you will. Just dont forget this you are more thanwhere you work. Your identity is something you dont owe your boss.

Top Resume Latex Template Guide!

Top Resume Latex Template Guide Lies Youve Been Told About Resume Latex Template All manuscripts must be submitted through theManuscript Central. Please check in case you already have a current account on ScholarOne Manuscripts. As a case, theres a specific space for composing aJr.a. Theres nothing complicated or difficult that you install, and you can begin using LaTeX at this time, even in the event youve never seen it before. It is crucial to realize that Greek letters and special characters like mathematical symbols, along with formatting codes like italic, bold, and superscript wont automatically convert to Web-compatible codes. PDF documents have the ability to embed font files. The references are kept in a bibtex file. Dont number text heads-the template is going to do that for you. The Importance of Resume Latex Template Rather, it is a strategic tool for marketing your personal brand. Type in a couple of keywords describing what information you want in the text box below. The web templates are created in a manner they make the resume stick out. A blank receipt template has features which may be quite ideal for a huge assortment of businesses. You would want to list in-depth particulars and that usually means you are going to have all the info you need to submit an application for any job. Make sure you make the info youre looking for. You have to offer relevant, concise info. Theres too much info to show in a more compact area. The Hidden Truth About Resume Latex Template Acknowledgement of feasible financial support is going to be listed in the very first page of the end manuscript, as a footnote. Youre able to produce a receipt that is just ideal for you as well as your organization. If it is possible to form the letter. Nonetheless, the letter must incorporate a few crucial elements. Authors will be supplied with a unique DOI, which wont change after formal publication. Normally, you might choose to create References seen on r equest. Typically, you might choose to compose References on request. In instances like this, showing receipts could be useful or even necessary in the custom of establishing eligibility. Your portfolio correspondence ought to be generic so that you may later tailor it to your precise employer. A receipt might be used in many ways, and the objective is determined by the title. The sales receipt will function as a proof of a particular transaction done with a particular organization. When you submit your manuscript you arent going to be capable of making any alterations to it unless requested to do so by the Editor-in-Chief as a consequence of the review procedure. The exact same paper cannot be submitted to more than 1 PES Transactions. Making your resume is critical. You can make a receipt in a matter of minutes throughout the help of a Receipt Template. There are lots of things to check at when writing an agenda. A team meeting agenda can be sure your meeting time is utilized in the very best way possible. The sales meeting agenda should be distributed to the employees and workers beforehand in order that they can acquire an idea about the full meeting. unternehmensverbund a PTA meeting agenda is an incredible approach to reduce the gap between teachers and parents no matter what kind of issue is being discussed. Resume Latex Template - Overview The sections in the template can be utilized as examples to make your own. To begin with, templates ought to be comprehensive. Such a template will enable you to create just what you will need in order to keep everyone organized. The majority of the templates are supplied by named, resume writing specialists and thus the quality is extremely great. What to Do About Resume Latex Template Before You Miss Your Chance There are four principal types of agenda. What a way to introduce the considerable character Simply have a look above to observe the kind of template you could utilize. Type the rema inder of the correspondence the manner that you would any formal correspondence. What Does Resume Latex Template Mean? You could also prefer to acquire a weekly agenda to locate a weekly improvement of the event that youre planning. Developing your resume is critical. You will initially get the grade after weve evaluated the reports along with the poster presentation.

Why Staffing Firms Should Incorporate Video Interviewing - Spark Hire

Why Staffing Firms Should Incorporate Video Interviewing - Spark HireVideo interviewing has become a powerful tool for staffing firms, as it saves these companies both time and resources, while allowing them to serve their clients more effectively. In the past, staffing firms had to bring candidates in for a conversation (or sometimes multiple conversations) and then try to effectively distributions-mix that individual. Today, thats all changed. Staffing firms can use video interviewing to present a more 3D look at a candidate. It streamlines the entire process, puts the candidate at ease, and allows the client to get a better sense of what this individual is all about.Though the benefits of video interviewing are enormous, some staffing firms have yet to consider this method as an option. If you work for a staffing firm and are looking to streamline your companys process, heres what you should know about video interviewingIt benefits your client, as well as the candidateUltimately, a staffing firms goal is to get the best candidate into an open position as quickly as possible. Video interviewing helps to speed up this process, as individuals can record answers on their own time. Additionally, candidates can answer questions pertaining to multiple positions at once, instead of having to continually drop back into the office when new jobs open up.It helps to put the potential employee at easeSearching for a job is stressful, and many people get nervous, even when they come in to talk to a representative from a staffing firm. As a result, they may not showcase their best self. Video interviewing helps to take some of that pressure off, as the candidate can take some time to mentally prepare. Theyre also able to re-record answers if need be. For more introverted or nervous candidates, this is a huge plus.It gives the client more controlWhen candidates do video interviews, they can answer more general questions about who they are, what they do, and what theyre look ing for. The client can then watch their responses, get a sense of where the candidates strengths lie, and figure out which position they might be most suited for accordingly.Video interviewing has proven to be a major benefit to staffing firms, their clients, and their candidates alike. It streamlines the hiring process for clients by enabling staffing professionals to avoid wasting time and resources on the wrong candidates. Additionally, it allows the staffing firm to more effectively cater to various personality types, allowing more introverted employees the chance to shine too.Image AndreyPopov/BigStock.com

Its Time to Break Up With Your Job

Its Time to Break Up With Your Job Its Time to Break Up With Your Job Happy Valentines DayIts time to end that toxic eight-hour-a-day relationship. You wouldnt put up with all the negativity in a romantic partner. Why are you putting up with it at work?Every February, I write a column about why its important to love your job. This year, however, Ive decided to take a different approach. Im going to encourage you to break it off with your job - provided, of course, you dont love it anymora.I know, its a hard decision to make.Your job has been so reliable, sostable. You dont want to be left in the cold with no job to your name. Butis holding onto this gig worth it?Are you really happy? Does your job put you first? Or does your jobsap your strength, drain your energy, and even take money out of your wallet?You may spend more time at work than you do with your spouse, so its important your job be one you love. If its not, now is the time to make a change - and I do mean right nowThe job market is the best it has been in a generation. Many economists say it hasnt been this great since the late 1960s. New jobs are showing up every day. Do yourself a favor Look and see whats new in your field. You might be surprised.Make a list of all the things you want in a job. What would make you really love your work? Do you want a great boss?A great team?A product you can get behind? Are you looking for a company with integrity?Write down your list of goals, and then use it to guide your search. What youre hoping for is out there. Dont stay committed to a company that is not committed to you. Look for something better, something more fulfilling. Make your happiness a priority.Breaking up with your job isnt as hard as it sounds. Just follow a few simple tipsDont tell anyone youre leaving until youve secured a new job.Once youve found a new job, wait until youve accepted it in writing to tell your company.Start with your boss. Thank them for the opportunity and let them know y ouve found something new. Give at least two weeks of notice, but no more than four. Things can get stressful if you give too much notice. After youve shared your news verbally, confirm it in an email to your boss.Come up with a plan for how and when youll share the great news with the larger team.Before long, the breakup will be complete, and youll be off to a bigger and better opportunity you truly loveA version of this article originally appeared onCopeland Coaching.Angela Copeland is a career coach and CEO atCopeland Coaching.

Tips for Becoming a Comedy TV Writer

Tips for Becoming a Comedy TV WriterTips for Becoming a Comedy TV WriterThe job of a TV comedy writer can be quite lucrative and entertaining. To some, it might be a bit lacking creatively, because as a part of your job you will mimic the voices of pre-established characters or personas. Youre also working every day with a group of talented and funny people. So, it is likely also one of the most fun jobs youll ever have. Study the TV Format If you havent already, the first thing you need to do is to make sure you understand the structure of TV comedy. Whether its a sit-com like Two and a Half Men or a drama day like Sex in the City, half-hour or hour in length, you need to get clear on how the show is broken down. Determine if it is a two- or three-act structure and if it has a clear A- or B-story. You may want to departure by reading a few books on script and story structure. This will help you to understand the basics of scriptwriting. You should also start to learn about how a television show is produced. You will need to understand the roles of the executive producer down to the showrunner. Understanding how a television show goes from an idea to your television set is good knowledge for you to have. Once you have a sense of how a show is produced, how a TV script is written and what the basic structure of your favorite show is, youre ready to move on to the next phase. Write a Spec Now, you need to show the industry that you can actually write by writing a spec script. The same way an artist or photographer has a portfolio, a writer has a collection of samples that he or she can show a potential employer. Technically, a spec refers to a speculative script. Youre writing it for free and speculating that someone will read it and hire you. Its essentially a sample script that is either of an existing and popular TV comedy or a piece of original material that highlights your ability to create voice, situations, characters, and, ultimately, tell a story . Keep in mind, that if you want to be a comedy writer, then whatever piece you use as your spec script should at the very least be funny. Write a spec of a popular show. After all, it wont do you much good to write an episode of a TV comedy that only a handful of people are aware of. Changes in the Industry Now, it used to be that if you wanted to be a TV comedy writer, you would simply write up a spec or two of your favorite shows, send them to an agent and hopefully impress them enough to inspire them to go out and find you a writing job. Things have changed a bit since then- and, actually, it was never quite that easy. The industry (meaning potential employers) is mora open to reading different types of material. A lot of the shift has to do with the fact that there just arent as many comedies on the air as there used to be. That said, its recommended that you write at least two spec scripts. One script should be of a popular TV comedy and one original pilot concept. Its a b it mora work, but it gives people the chance to see that you can not only recreate the character voices and story dynamics of an existing show, but that you can create your own voices, characters, and storylines that are unique to you, as well. Some writers balk at the notion of having to write an episode of an existing show but consider that the job youre going after is exactly that. So, if you show people you can do it, youll dramatically help your chances of getting to do it. Get Usable Notes on Your Spec Script Before you show your hot off the pressspec scriptsaround town, you need to make sure theyre as good as you think they are. Find a minimum of three people who can give you usable notes. Usable notes are notes that help you address problems in the script. This is also referred to as constructive criticism. A Note About Notes A note from your mother telling you how much she enjoyed the script is not a note. That is an opinion (ofcourse your mother is going to like it ). Frankly, opinions are useless. You need someone to read it who is a bit more qualified and who can give you specifics on whats not working and why. If you dont have any friends who are in the biz then consider giving it to another comedy writer. You want them to be brutally honest with you. If the story doesnt seem feasible, or they say the character voices are way off, or your jokes arent funny enough, take heed. These are usable notes that will help you to create a better script on your journey to becoming a better writer. Tip on Notes It can be trying to hear someone tear your work apart. But if you can learn to remove any emotional attachment to your work and simply listen to the notes that are being given, youll be able to calmly discern which notes will help you to improve your script. Dont justify why you did something. In fact, dont say anything at all. Just listen to the notes as theyre being given use what works for you and filter out what doesnt. But remember that, if something isnt coming across to your reader, it wont help you to explain what you meant. If its not working, its not working, so consider fixing what might be broken. Pack up Your Specs and Move to Los Angeles Unfortunately, Los Angeles is really the only distributionspolitik to be aTV comedy writer. Ofcourse, there are similar jobs in England and in Canada, but to work on 99% of all comedies on U.S. television, Los Angeles is where you need to be. Unlike writing for movies, your options for living anywhere other than Los Angeles are nil. Network Most TV writing jobs are found through personal connections. Rare is the occasion that someone lands in Los Angeles with a script tucked under their arm and suddenly starts working in the TV biz. So, you need to start networking. Here are a few suggestions Go to Writers Events There are a number of events in Hollywood that are geared toward aspiring television and screenwriters. Whether its a screening, lecture, or social event, you can find many of them advertised online or in thetrade magazines. Take a Class UCLA Extension,AFI, and USC all offerhigh-qualitywriting classesthat will not only help you toimprove your writing skills, but theyll group you together with a number oflike-mindedindividuals. Theyre also often taught by professional writers. Start a Writers Group Through Craigslist.com, online chat rooms, or even through local newspapers, you can identify other writers whom you might want to start meeting with on a regular basis.A writers groupis not just a great networking tool, but it can help you get a host of constructive criticism on your writing. Take an Assistant Job Find a job working at one of the networks, studios, or agencies as alow-levelstaffer. By working as an assistant to a development executive, agent, or producer, youre not only learning valuable information about the business as a whole, but youre developing relationships with people who have the power to help your budding writing career. Consider Working as a Writers Assistant Work as a writers assistant jobs are not easy to find, but many television writers began their careers as a writers assistant. The job is exactly that- working as an assistant to the writers. It will not only familiarize you with the process of writing for television, but you will be working directly with the writers on staff. You will be in direct communication with the people that might one day hire you as a writer. Get an Agent Now heres the big catch-22 of Hollywood- to get an agent, you need to be a working writer, and to become a working writer, you need an agent. Frustrating as that may seem, its not impossible to get an agent. Randomly submitting your spec scripts to agencies has been known to work for some people, but it is bothtime-consumingand expensive. Besides, most agencies have a policy against people blindly submitting material and infact, may either return the package to you or simply throw it away and never respo nd (this way they can say it was simply never received). So, the easiest and most productive way to go aboutgetting an agentis to focus a lot of your attention on steps 2, 3, and 5 above. Make sure you have spec scripts that are of the highest quality possible and that yourenetworkingany time youre not writing. More than likely, you will soon come across someone who is in a position to help you. Let us repeat the importance of having your spec scripts in tip-top shape. When the opportunity to have someone of importance read your scripts comes along, youll want them to be so impressed by your writing that they cant possibly pass you up. Career Advice If you remember nothing else, remember these three tips Always be Writing Remember, writing is a craft and the only way to get better at it is to keep doing it. So, just because you have your twospec scriptsready and in hand, dont think thats all you have to do. Youll want to start creating a body of work that you can use to enhance your career and yourskillset. If you dont want to write another script, then practice writing scenes from your favorite TV shows. Practice mimicking the voices (on paper) of your favorite TV characters. Develop new ideas. The point is never, ever stop writing. Youll only get better and better with each passing day. Writing Is Rewriting Your first draft is most likely not your best draft. You will perform an infinite number of rewrites over the course of your writing career. Dont let this discourage you. After you complete most rewrites youll soon discover that what you wrote was much better than what was there previously. Story pieces, jokes, characterarcs, and dialogue that werent working suddenly work better than you ever imagined. Be open to this possibility and dont let yourself get married to something youve written. Be willing to change whatever you need to change to make your scripts as good as they can possibly be. Personally, I prefer rewriting, because at least I have so mething other than a blank page staring back at me. Have Patience From the moment you first start writing, assume it will take you anywhere from six months to three years (or longer) to get your first TV comedy writing job. Just like anything, its a process. Not only in learning the craft itself, but in meeting those people that can help you achieve your career goals. Look at it this way, if you dreamt of becoming a surgeon, you wouldnt pick up a scalpel on Monday and expect to be operating on people on Tuesday, right? You have to learn the skills, you have to practice them, and then you have to surround yourself with the right people who can help you achieve your dream. Final Thoughts Becoming a TV comedy writeris an admirable career goal. Its a great job and can, in time, be quite lucrative. Dont get discouraged by those lucky few who get hired right out of college or after only two weeks of living in Los Angeles for most people, its a long, hard road. If you stay focused, sta y driven, and keep writing, you will eventually get where you want to go. The job is well worth the wait.

People willing to lose 2.4 hours of sleep per night for $25,000 raise

People willing to lose 2.4 hours of sleep per night for $25,000 raisePeople willing to lose 2.4 hours of sleep per night for $25,000 raiseCan you sleep your way to the top? Actually, many people think you have to sacrifice sleep to get there. While many people lose sleep at night over work stress, many are willing to give up sleep for success or a major raise at work, a new survey found.Mattress Advisor surveyed over 1,000 working professionals,from entry-level to executives, about their sleep habits and how their ideas of success.The most surprising, if slightly disturbing finding Respondents would be willing to lose almost 2.5 hours of sleep per night for a $25,000 pay raise.How well theyd perform on that amount of sleep is up for debate the people surveyed said that the least amount of sleep they could really function on was 5.5 hours. Even losing just 2 hours of sleep can effect your mood, and one recent study says missing just a couple of hours of sleep over two days was enough to cause significant anger.Sleep, money powerThe less money offered, the less sleep respondents said theyd be willing to sacrifice. People said they would give up 1.6 hours for a $10,000 raise, and one single hour of sleep for a $5,000 raise.And then theres power Men would choose more success (50.8%) over sleep, but 55.6% of women would choose sleep over success.Men said theyd be willing to give up an average of 30 minutes more sleep than women each night (1.9 hours vs. 1.4 hours) to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 Company.When it comes to perks, men and women agree each would give up an hour of sleep for an extra week of paid vacation, or the privilege of working from home once a week.Execs do it less?Who prioritizes sleep in the hierarchy? Not those at the top of the chain. 54% of executive said they thought it was necessary to give up some to be successful. Only 42.9% of entry-level workers felt the same way.42% of execs also felt it was worth being sleep deprived for success. That feeling trended down by hierarchy 32% of middle management felt the same way, and approximately 25% of both intermediate and entry-level workers agreed.Curiously, 54% of executives reported getting an average of 6.6 hours of sleep every night. Only 39% of middle management only received that much, and 35% of entry-level workers.That last point is a good thing for execs weve just seen the latest example of sleepless CEOs with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose sleep-deprived ramblings filled the media until Arianna Huffington and Richard Branson both have had to tell him to get some sleep.