Taming your crocodiles Tune into Owl FM learn leadership depth

Taming yur crocodiles Tune into Owl FM learn leadership depthTaming yur crocodiles Tune into Owl FM learn leadership depthHow do we really grow as human beings and as leaders?Michelangelo was once asked how he created the beautiful sculpture of David in Florence. He responded I saw an angel in the stone and carved to tischset it free. Similarly, when we truly grow as human beings, something beautiful comes to the foreground as we carve away what no longer serves us. What is looking from behind our eyes matures, and as a result, the way we landsee the world and how we interact with it expands as well. You could say that we are gaining leadership depth, as we scrub our hausintern landscape freeing ourselves from beliefs, thoughts, and feelings that no longer serve us so that our deepest truths can come to the surface.Leadership depth complements leadership breadth. Developing breadth is about learning a technical skill like finance, project management or marketing. Breadth and depth are both important to be effective as leaders. Still, from what I have seen, true leadership development is more about learning depth. Acquiring breadth by honing a technical skill is certainly helpful. Yet it is not sufficient to become an effective leader.Depth is about our consciousness how we see things and experience things, our belief systems, and how our intern landscape works. The more depth we have, the more were able to work adaptively with complex challenges while staying true to ourselves what we stand for at our core.How do we cultivate leadership depth? And why should we care about it arent we too busy to work on our depth?Lets start with the second question. Think about some of the challenges we as leaders are currently facing. According to Gallup, employee engagement hovers around 30% (in the U.S.) many people come to work without their heart being fully in it stress and burn-out are at an all-time high the pace of change is accelerating 88% of the companies in the Fortune 500 from 1955 were no longer on the list in 2014 information availability is exponentially increasing and a recent Pew survey found that 35 percent of adults say the Internet, email and cell phones have increased their hours worked.Einstein said that problems cannot be resolved from the same level of consciousness that created the problem. When we try to approach our current challenges from our current level of consciousness our current level of depth we set ourselves up for failure and disappointment. We keep doing and thinking the same thing while expecting different results. Now, more than ever before or so it seems we need to cultivate leadership depth and put it to good use.How do we create great depth? It all starts by taking an honest look at ourselves, parteicularly at the self-talk in our head. When we tune into our self-talk consciously, we may discover some patterns we can see them as radio stations that are broadcasting frequently. They are broadcasting messages that mold our thoughts and feelings.To increase leadership depth, we need to be able to recognize our inner radio stations, so we can consciously choose whether we keep tuning into them, or whether we start listening to other ones or no stations altogether.Having studied my own internal radio talk and that of thousands of leaders that I have coached over the years, I noticed 7 radio stations that have many listeners. These radio stations operate like static they obscure our inner silence which is more about truth, courage, and compassion.These are The Safe One, The Us vs. Them One, The In Control One, etc. Youll recognize the acronym SUCCESS. You can also think of them as identities we take on.Radio Station/IdentityCore Message I should Safe be richUs vs. Them please othersControl do it perfectlyCertain stay in my comfort zoneEssential dominate othersSapient know everythingSpecial be the oneWhen we listen to ansicht messages often, we may start believing that they are tr ue. And, before we know it, we base most if not all of our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, opinions, choices, and actions on them. We can live our whole lives based on these radio-induced hallucinations without ever realizing it, as these stations are playing their static non-stop in our heads. They become the background noise that runs our lives.You may notice a correlation between Maslows hierarchy of needs (survival, relations, self-esteem, etc.) and these stations. And when you study the 7 stations closely, you may discover that each of them is broadcasting fear I have to be safe or else , I have to belong or else , I have to be in control or else , I have to be special or else Neuroscience helps us understand that these fear-based radio stations are broadcasting from our primitive reptilian brain whose primary function is our physical and egoic survival. Because they are reptilian and fear-based, we also call these radio stations crocodiles.To explore how our crocodilian radio sta tions operate, I will share a part of my life story. As I do, I invite you to see if you can spot the crocodiles in it, and perhaps also reflect on your own life and the potential crocodiles that have been influencing it.I was born and raised in the North of the Netherlands on a farm with many more cows than people. I loved the land, the big views, the church steeples on the horizon, and the beautiful music I heard being played on the 17th-century church organ every Sunday. Unlike many of my friends and family, I wasnt interested in the cows, the farm work or the tractors. I often felt awkward that I didnt share their interests why were the people around me so excited by the number of liters of milk that a cow could produce each day? I just didnt get it. I sensed I was different and didnt belong there. Fortunately, I found a solution for my awkwardness I became an accomplished French Horn player and a great student in school. As the talented one, I felt I could fit in again. I had found a role in my community and that was my specialness.And yet I never felt quite settled. My underlying mantra soon became, I have to get out of here as quickly as I can. And I did. I ended up in New York City in my early twenties. I still remember riding the Greyhound bus into the city from Washington DC, and just before we entered the Lincoln Tunnel, I saw, for the first time, the awe-inspiring view of Manhattan the Hudson River and the skyscrapers, lit by the afternoon sun against a stark blue September sky. I still remember thinking, I will make it to the top of one of these buildings as quickly as I can. Not as a tourist, but as a managing director, CEO or owner. And I did. I got part of the way there. I was elected one of the two youngest partners in the strategy consulting company I was working for, had a corner office on Lexington Avenue next to the Chrysler Building, was flying first class all over the world and thought I had it made.Not so fast, said life, You have a l ot to learn. Some seemingly strange things started to happen. At a holiday party, a colleague came up to me and said Hylke, you seem to be really good at what you are doing, but do you really like it? I thought that was a strange question. Yes, I love it, I responded, thinking, I dont really. What do work and joy have to do with each other? The farmers I grew up with didnt really love what they were doing, or so I thought. Work was about making moneyA few months later something else occurred. We were presenting the final recommendations of a strategy project we had been working on for a German pharmaceutical company on whether they should invest in one or more large asthma drug-trials. They had invested millions of dollars with my company and this was D-Day for our project. The project manager who reported to me came into my office an hour before the final presentation to the board and said Hylke, we have a problem. I cringed Ouch, thats really bad. Isnt our analysis bulletproof? Th e manager said, Hylke, the problem is you. You are the worst manager I have ever worked with and I will never work with you againI breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Thankfully the numbers are right, the client will be happy Criticism is something I had learned to deal with through a feedback course I had taken, and so I suggested to my colleague that we have a meeting to discuss his perspective when we were back in New York. Fortunately, our presentation went great. Unfortunately, I never worked with this manager again. Nor did I give the whole situation a second thought.Then it came time for performance reviews. I had always loved these As an A-student, I usually had gotten the top grades in school, and now in business, I was raking in the biggest bonuses and promotions. This time, instead of praising me, the Managing Partner said to me, Hylke, I will fire you, unless you completely change your behavior. No one in this firm wants to work with you anymore. I thought he was kidding . I had brought in way more money than my target that year. But hearing nobody likes to work with you anymore stung.When I thought about it some more, I thought I understood. I was smarter than my farmhands, who feared me, just like the farmhands I had observed as a boy. They were intimidated by their boss. No wonder my colleagues didnt like working with me. They were afraid of me like they should be The farmers I talked to prided themselves on running efficient farms by having their laborers follow their orders. Really, what did these guys know about running a farm? Thats why they were mere farmhands. I didnt say any of this. I wanted to keep my job. I said I would work on my behavior and hired a coach. I kept my job and not much changed, as I kept seeing myself as special and better than others.What crocodilian beliefs do you see that were running my life?As it turns out, life wasnt done teaching me. It wanted me to go deeper. Ironically, as I had been working on the asthma study for our client, I developed severe asthma. I managed my condition by using the strongest inhaler-medications I could find potential competitor products for the drugs my client was about to put on the market. Also, I developed pretty severe insomnia. I tried all the medications I could find, and nothing helped. Sometimes I wouldnt be able to sleep for 7 nights in a row. Going to bed at night became a nightmare. I panicked at the thought of having to get to sleep and not being able to. I would lie in bed, wide awake, and full of despair and pain totally lost.It was during one of these sleepless nights, that it hit me I couldnt go on like this. I had turned into a robot, completely obsessed with money and prestige. What had happened to the little boy who loved the fields, the church steeples, and who had wonderful friendships with many people in the village? My body had started to fall apart. My relationships werent working and I felt terrible. I was lost.That sleepless night I resol ved to make a drastic change. And with my mind made up, I started to look for a solution. During this quest, I discovered yoga and meditation, and with it, I connected with a whole new world that had been hidden from me for so long. I rediscovered sleep. After having meditated for about an hour, the cycle of insomnia broke, and I slept at last soundly for seven hours something that hadnt happened to me in years. Also, meditating I reconnected to a deep sense of joy, warmth, and compassion that I had sensed as a child and had completely lost touch with since.I became so enthralled by my new experiences that I almost became a monk. In the end, I didnt make that jump, and decided instead to serve as a coach, facilitator and writer to help people at work the place where the majority of us spend most of our waking hours connect with the love, compassion, and wisdom I began experiencing meditating (and eventually during my day-to-day activities away from the meditation cushion).Do any parts of this story sound familiar to you? And what crocodilian beliefs did you see shape this time of my life? Yes, all seven of them were active. Heres howSafe I wanted to be rich, which I now understand was a way for me to prove that I was worthy, insulating myself from the judgments I felt from my communityUs vs Them I wanted to please my dad by doing my job well and being the bestControl I wanted to do everything perfectly. And micro-managing others seemed to be a aya bet to stay in control and guarantee great outcomesCertain I wanted to play it safe. I felt I had to walk the path of my community by becoming a business person. Finding a less mainstream profession, going into something unknown was unthinkable for meEssential Afraid of losing my pole position at work, I tried to dominate everyone else and be above themSapient To dominate, I felt I had to know better than othersSpecial And I was still in my French Horn prodigy energy, playing the special one at work, the one who outshines everyone else, as a way to protect my place on the team.Do you recognize any of these crocodilian radio broadcasts? Do you tune into any of these in your life and leadership? Chances are you do, as they are not personal, but a part of our collective conditioning. We are blasted every day with messages that tell us to become rich, to be liked, to be perfect, to be special and to be in control of our lives. And this all starts when were very young when our minds are still very pliable. We internalize all the external noise and transform it into internal radio stations most of us end up listening to our whole lives without realizing it.Thats the bad news.The good news that we dont have to keep listening to Crocodile FM. The first step is to become aware that this static is playing in our heads. Naming our crocodiles, we tame them. By simply being aware that these radio stations are broadcasting in us and around us, we can choose to tune them out. How do we do this?Listening t o Crocodile FM doesnt feel good. We feel on edge, stressed out, and when we check in with ourselves more deeply, we may notice that we are not acting in integrity. We are not grounded in our authentic values our highest selves when we buy into the messages of Croc FM. Listening to Croc FM, we stop playing our own music.Listening to Crocodile FM, our relationships suffer people around us feel judged, excluded, used as a means to an end, or taken for granted. And we become less and less effective. Trying to be perfect, we focus on the short-term battles and lose the war. Having to be in control, we lose the heartfelt engagement of our teams and disempower them. Having to be the special one, we isolate ourselves and become obsolete as we lose touch with the needs of our environment.Taking an honest inventory of the costs of listening to Croc FM can help us fuel our resolve to change what we give our attention to. We can ask ourselves the Dr. Phil Question How is this working for me, listening to my crocodilian self-talk?We can choose to stop listening to these self-limiting stations. The less we listen to them, the less they tend to broadcast at some point they go out of business, as any radio station does that has no listeners. In neuroscience, this healing process is called neuroplasticity neurons that fire together, wire together. The more often we repeat a new thought, the more likely it is we will think the new thought in the future. The less often we think the old way, the less likely it is we will think the old way in the future.When we sense thatwere hooked in again to Crocodile FM, we can switch our inner dial, simply by asking Whos talking now, the owl or the crocodile? The owl stands for our deeper wisdom and compassion that comes through the heart and our prefrontal cortices. And when we still feel drawn to keep listening to our self-destructive self-talk, we can ask ourselves, How is this working for me?The more often we ask the question Whos tal king now, the owl or the crocodile? the more we tame our crocodiles. The more our crocodiles calm down, the more easily we start noticing the deeper owl wisdom that comes online as we make space for it. Try it out. Ask yourself right now for a challenge that you are facing Whos talking now, my owl, or my crocodile? And then ask How would my owl respond to this situation? See what becomes possible for you when you let go of the crocodilian static and tune more into your true self.Enjoy Owl Radio.Hylke schmied serves as a leadership coach and facilitator and leads the coaching organizations, Constancee and the Growth Leaders Network. His first book, Taming Your Crocodiles Unlearn Fear Become a True Leader, was released in May 2018 and was soon selected as one of Bloombergs 10 Best Books on Leadership in 2018. Through his ongoing collaboration between Constancee and Columbia Business School Executive Education, Taming Your Crocodiles has become the curriculum cornerstone for Hylkes sou ght-after online learning series, Leader as Coach.

5 smart tips that will help you impress people in any video interview

5 smart tips that will help you impress people in any video bewerberbewerbungsinterview5 smart tips that will help you impress people in any video interviewJob interviews can be stressful already - and then sometimes, to add to the nervousness, they happen over Skype. The interviewers impression wont depend just on your personality, but also in how well you present on video- which is a very different skill than being great in person.Video is a tough way to make a first impression, but a first impression it definitely is video interviews are likely to be the first step in a process, and will help determine whether you get a second interview.Thats why it pays to get it right. Weve written about how to look good on video before, and heres what youll need to keep in mind as you approach the interview strategically.Be expressiveA video interview may be the first interaction youve had with the company other than hitting Submit on the official application page.Being expressive and open can make all a difference. As emotive as you think youre being on camera,you might still be coming across as flat. Add some personal expression by remembering to smile, appear comfortable, confident and well-versed on both the company and what you bring to the table.Practice with a friend as you prepare for the interview so youre used to talking to someone else about your experience.Choose your space carefullyKeep the employers attention on you, not whats going on in the background.A Monster article features advice from Cheryl Palmer, owner ofCall to Careerand Michael Yinger, Aon Hewitts global lead for recruitment process outsourcing delivery, on getting your space ready.You may think the only thing the people on the other end of a video interview can see is your face, but they will see some of your surroundings too, Palmer says. The room that you are in should look neat and attractive and not be visually distracting. You also need to avoid any auditory distractions such as a barking dog or a crying child. Also be aya to turn off the ringers of all the phones in the area.Mistakes weve seen include video interviews recorded in a coffee shop with a very noisy background or in a bedroom with dirty laundry scattered on the floor, says Michael Yinger,Aon Hewitts global lead for recruitment process outsourcing delivery. Weve seen interviewees dressed in a robe and children playing in the vicinity. Weve also seen a partially clad spouse running behind the person recording the interview, the article says.As adorable as his daughter is, you probably dont be this person on a video conference call.Check your video and audio ahead of timeA video interview has technical elements that you have to set up and test beforehand. Making sure the video and audio are working is a basic requirement. Dont wait until the last minute to test the lighting, either.A Fast Company article provides advice from Adam Robinson, cofounder and CEO of hiring management software platform Hireology.O nce you know the platform youre going to use, be sure you practice using it before the actual interview. Whether its Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangout, or another platform, be sure its downloaded and operational on your computer. Load or login time may take longer for some than others and you dont want to be in a panicked scramble trying to figure it out in the minutes before your interview, the magazine advises.Timing is everythingA U.S. News World Report article sheds light on the important of pacing your interview.Much video interviewing happens on Skype or Google Hangouts, where connections may pause, cut out, or be slow. There will be strange gaps that would never exist in a one-on-one conversation. Make sure your interviewer has completely finished their question before you start.Time is of the essence. Be mindful of how long you take to respond to questions, whether in a two-way interview or a one-way interview. Many video interview tools have time limits for each question so be precise, but answer questions with sufficient detail. There is no do-over in an interview, it says.Come fully dressed and pick the right color of clothingDont just professionally dress your top half. A suit jacket with boxers or yoga shorts is just not going to cut it.What if construction unexpectedly starts outside and you have to move to another room? Dont give the company any chances to see you in clothes you wouldnt wear to work there. Good clothes will also help you get more in the zone for the interview.Business Insider points out what not to wear during a virtual interview- including white.Whites are brighter on camera and may overpower your face, making eye contact virtually impossible. Colors that look best on camera include deep colors such as navy, and solids should always be selected over prints, the article says.

5 Must-Know Microsoft Word Formatting Hacks

5 Must-Know Microsoft Word Formatting Hacks5 Must-Know Microsoft Word Formatting HacksAbout to format a document in Microsoft Word? Dont overlook these steps that can streamline your work.By now youve picked up so many Microsoft Word tips, tricks andkeyboard shortcuts, you could probably teach a class. Yet, somehow, no matter how expert you become, there are always a few hidden gems left to discover.Laying out and formatting your documents is time-consuming and fiddly work, so the more secrets you learn, the better. To streamline your Word formatting and whip your pages into shapelike a pro, check out these fivelittle-known Wordhacks1. Insert anywhere?Youre staring at a leer Word document and you need to create a good-looking layout. No need to hit Return and Tab a dozen times to move the cursor around the page. Simply double-click anywhere and youre ready to insert text right there. If you already have your text prepared, paste it. If not, read on to learn how to add placeholder cop y.2. Prepare with placeholders?Did you know you can get documents looking immaculate even before you have final text?Using placeholder copy lets you do all your Microsoft Word formattingin advance, then replace the dummy text with the real thing when youre ready.To add random text in English, first decide how many paragraphs (x) and how many lines per paragraph (y) you want to add. Then type =rand(x,y) and press Enter. For example, =rand(2,5) instantly gives you two five-lined paragraphs to play with.To look like a real pro, try using the pseudo-Latin lorem ipsum dummy text that designers prefer to use. Its less distracting than actual words but still has the same distribution of letters. Just replace =rand with =lorem.3. Lets stay togetherSome words belong together. For example, the last thing your boss wants to see is a line break in the middle of the companys name. You never have to worry about that again thanks to this next one in our lineup of Microsoft Word tips.Instead of an inserting a regular space between words, press Ctrl+Shift+space to get a non-breaking space. It looks exactly the same to the reader, but it permanently holds the words together for you. The same applies to Ctrl+Shift+- for non-breaking hyphens. (Mac users Replace Ctrl with Cmd.)4. Find and replace formattingFind and Replace isnt just for words. You can use the command to change all instances of Microsoft Wordformatting, too. For example, change bold to underlined, or red to blue. ??Use Ctrl+H to open the Find and Replace dialogue schachtel (Mac users Shift+Cmd+H). Delete any text in the Find box and then click More. (Mac users Click Advanced Find Replace.) Now use the Format option to choose and change any Microsoft Word formatting - from font and paragraph styles to tabs and language. Use one click on Replace All, and formatting throughout your document is fully updated.5. Always the same with AutoCorrect?Are you tired of pausing toitalicize the same reporttitle every time you m ention it? Use AutoCorrect to automatically format any frequently usedtext.First, select the text and format it (e.g., OfficeTeam 2014 Salary Guide). Now create an Autocorrect short code for it (e.g., ot2014sg). Access the Autocorrect dialogue box from the File menu at Options Proofing AutoCorrect Options (Mac users Tools AutoCorrect). Just type in your short code and click Add. Now, each time you type the code, it will be replaced with the full, formatted text.These Microsoft Word tips and tricks should save you time and hassle. Dont keep them to yourself- share them withyour coworkers to make everyones jobs a little easier. And if you have any additional pointers, share them in the comments section below.Check back on the blog soon for additional tips when using Microsoft Office programs.Related Posts Microsoft Word Shortcuts 8 Tips Every Admin Should Know Excel Tips and Tricks Formatting Reports Using Pivot Tables 5 Ways to Save Time Using Excel Shortcut Keys

7 Clear Signs That Your Careers Going Well (That Have Nothing to Do With Your Salary)

7 Clear Signs That Your Careers Going Well (That Have Nothing to Do With Your Salary)7 Clear Signs That Your Careers Going Well (That Have Nothing to Do With Your Salary)Success means different things to different people.For many, accumulating wealth or power are definitive signs of achievement. For you, it may be as simple (or complex) as being happy.And although an attitude of continuous self-improvement reaps great rewards, its beneficial to stop every now and then and appreciate what weve already accomplished.With that in mind, here are seven unexpected signs that youre more successful than you think1. Youve Made Tons of ProgressWhen I was struggling to learn a language, a wise person once told me Dont think about how far youve got to go. Look back, and consider how far youve already come.This principle applies across our lives. Think about the version of yourself from five years ago. What experience have you collected? What lessons have you learned?The truth Youve come a long wa y.2. You Set Your Own PrioritiesYour business may elend be making millions, but you love what you do. Or, youve learned the invaluable lesson that money cant buy more time- so you spend as much of that time as you can with family and friends (or doing whats important to you).Establishing priorities is half the recipe for success. The other half is sticking to them.3. You Love to LearnYoure a voracious reader. You love to try new things. You dont mind making mistakes.Why? Because every new journey broadens your horizons and helps you to better understand yourself, others, and the world around you. Mistakes arent failures- theyre only more opportunities to learn.4. You Use Goals as Stepping StonesWe tend to measure success with the big things- graduating from school, earning our first promotion, even getting married.But its the small, behind-the-scenes goals that lead to the bigger accomplishments every passed test, every productive work assignment, getting past that horrid first date .All great successes begin with smaller ones.5. You Cultivate Good HabitsIts been famously said by Aristotle We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.You know how you get up early every morning? How about that fitness routine you stick to? Or the fact that you work hard to always arrive a little bit early?Reaching goals requires hard work and perseverance. But regardless of where youre trying to go, the right habits are helping you get there.6. You Strive to Be Emotionally IntelligentNone of us can perfectly control our emotions.But by working to identify your emotions, realizing the major role they play in your life, and using that understanding to inform your decision making, youre vastly more successful than you would be otherwise.7. You Havent Given UpOne of the biggest keys to success is persistence.So many people give up right before crossing the finish line, or just before reaching the goal theyve invested so much time and effort to achieve.B ut thats not you. Youre still here- day in, day out, moving forward, determined to leave it all on the table.And thats what makes you a success.More From Inc.This Is How Successful Entrepreneurs Spend Their Time6 Key Principles to Achieve Success7 Toxic Thoughts That Are Sabotaging Your SuccessPhoto of happy man on couch courtesy of Tetra Images/Getty Images.

8 unrealistic expectations smart people ignore

8 unrealistic expectations smart people ignore8 unrealistic expectations smart people ignoreYour expectations, more than anything else in life, determine your reality. When it comes to achieving your goals, if you dont believe youll succeed, you wont.Research from LSU shows that people who believe in themselves use more metacognitive functions than those who dont. This means that they use more of their brains and have more brainpower to solve problems. Metacognition is especially important for achievement as it ensures that you approach problems from many different angles and adapt your approach as needed.The tricky thing about your expectations is that they impact other people too. As far back as the 1960s, Harvard research demonstrated the power of our beliefs in swaying other peoples behavior. When teachers in the studies were told that certain (randomly selected) children were smart, those kids performed better, not only in the classroom, but also on standardized IQ tests.Indeed, we get the most out of other people when we believe in them. Research shows that this happens because when we believe in someone,we treat them better than people we think will fail,we give them more opportunities to succeed than we give those we think will fail,we give them more accurate, helpful feedback than we give others, andwe do more teaching because we believe its time well spent.Letting your doubts cloud your belief in someone (or something) practically ensures their failure. Medical professionals call this the nocebo effect. Patients who have low expectations for medical procedures or treatments tend to have poorer results than those who expect success, even with regards to well-established treatments. If a doctor uses a treatment with a clinically verified high rate of success but presents it in a negative light, the probability of a negative outcome increases.Your expectations shape your reality. They can change your life, emotionally and physically. You need to be extra careful about (and aware of) the expectations you harbor as the wrong ones make life unnecessarily difficult. Be especially wary of the expectations that follow - they give people all kinds of trouble.Life should be fairWeve all been told a million times (and likely told other people) that life isnt fair, but in spite of what we know about the intricacies of injustice, its a concept that doesnt quite sink in in practice. A surprising number of us subconsciously expect life to be fair, and we believe that any unfairness that we experience will somehow be balanced out, even if we dont do anything about it. If youre stuck in that mindset, its time to get over it. When something unfair happens, dont rely on outside forces to get you back on your feet. Sometimes there isnt any consolation prize, and the sooner you stop expecting there to be, the sooner you can take actions that will actually make a difference.Opportunities will fall into my lapOne of the most important things a person can do is stick his or her neck out and seek opportunity. Just because you deserve a raise, a promotion, or a company car, doesnt mean its going to happen. You have to make it happen. You have to put in the hard work, then go and get whats yours. If we limit ourselves to whats given to us, we are at the mercy of other people. When you take action, think what steps do I need to take? what obstacles are in my way and what do I need to do to remove them? and what mistakes am I making that take me away from my goals rather than toward them?Everyone should like mePeople have hang-ups, and that means all sorts of decent, kind, respectable people are not liked by (some) others, for no good reason at all. When you think that everyone should like you, you end up with hurt feelings when you shouldnt (you cant win them all). When you assume that people are going to like you, you take shortcuts you start making requests and demands before youve laid the groundwork to really understand what the other person is thinking and feeling. Instead of expecting that people will like you, focus on earning their trust and respect.People should agree with meThis one can be tough. Sure, you know what youre talking about, and for that reason, people should take you seriously, but expecting people to agree with you out of courtesy or because your ideas are so incredibly sound is another story. Something thats obvious to you might not be so to someone with different experiences and a different agenda, so stop being offended when people disagree with you, and stop assuming that there is only one right answer (yours). Instead, focus on how you can find solutions that give everyone what they need.People know what Im trying to sayPeople cant read your mind, and what youre trying to say is rarely what other people hear. You cant expect people to understand you just because youre talking- you have to be clear. Whether youre asking someone to do something without providing the context or explain ing a complex concept behind a big project, its easy to leave out relevant information because you dont think its necessary. Communication isnt anything if it isnt clear, and your communication wont be clear until you take the time to understand the other persons perspective.Im going to failAs Ive touched upon already, if you expect to fail, you stand a higher chance of creating the very outcome youre worried about. If you fail, accept that sometimes youll fail and sometimes youll succeed, but if you pursue an endeavor, believe with all your being that youre going to succeed in that endeavor. Otherwise, youll limit the chances of that happening.Things will make me happySure, things can make life more fun and comfortable in the short run, but they cant make you happy in the long run. Too many of us expect a future event (Ill be happy when I get that promotion) to make us happy, instead of looking more deeply into the real causes of our unhappiness. If you dont fix whats going on insi de, no external event or item is going to make you happy, no matter how much you want it to.I can change him/herTheres only one person in this world you can truly change - yourself - and even that takes a tremendous amount of effort. The only way that people change is through the desire and wherewithal to change themselves. Still, its tempting to try to change someone who doesnt want to change, as if your sheer will and desire for them to improve will change them (as it has you). You might even actively choose people with problems, thinking that you can fix them. Let go of this faulty expectation. Build your life around genuine, positive people, and avoid problematic people that bring you down.Bringing it all togetherBelieving that youll succeed really does make it more likely that you will. It also means that youll need to let go of some erroneous expectations that will only get in your way.This article first appeared on LinkedIn.

Resumetemplate Tips & Guide

Resumeschablone Tips & Guide The Upside to Resumeschablone Be certain to highlight people skills and that you understand how to close a deal. Concentrate on their demands, and allow it to be clear the special ways it is possible to address them. This remarkable simple word resume template catches the eyes of the work recruiter within a couple of Today we present you the absolute most dynamic word resume template to reach yur dream targets. When it is a more customary job, stick with a conventional format. Possessing a very clear and professional resume is important in the medical field. You only ought to put jobs on a resume that relate to the role accessible. Its content-packed layout is great for engaging employers with numerous facts, from experience to education. This very clear and expert template is beneficial to people whove been out of the workforce for an elongated period, or are seeking to move from temporary work to a full-time position. When applying for empl oyment in a big company that you may find they use specialized software to help weed out candidates. By clearly displaying your military experience and explaining your special responsibilities, youll have the ability to find the attention from employers you have earned. The health care industry can be quite competitive. Various kinds of work in the food service industry require resumes with a number of the exact same skills. The Essentials of Resumetemplate You Can Learn From Beginning Immediately If youd prefer a different search for your resume, have a look at our tremendous library of other beautiful templates. Youre able to use our resume building software to produce your own from scratch. It is wise to use those websites to download the essential templates to get a better work. There are lots of sites offering free resume template with no watermarks or logos inside them. Should you need a resume template which allows you to discuss your abilities and creative talents fro m a deep perspective, you will enjoy exactly what this template offers. Resume templates are one method to guarantee structure behind your resume. Our creative templates let you stick out from the crowd. This straightforward template is ideal for folks who need to modify their careers. The Resumetemplate Game Therefore, our aim is to provide you the very best tools you have to succeed. Education and skills qualifies an applicant for more processing but doesnt necessarily mean immediate success. Next, in case you have these skills, make sure to include them on your resume. The initial one is about outlining your abilities and your availability in a given job position. Writing a strong application is a challenging procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Those who unemployed and searching for a job we provide a conventional professional resume templates for absolutly free. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. Simply stick to a few ide as to represent yourself to prospective employers as effectively as possible. Lets see how simple it is to begin Other times, you might need to rewrite no more than the personal overview to coordinate with the work description. You should also chat about past experience. If you wish to get a nice job, you require a good resume. Top Choices of Resumetemplate Based on the business or position youre applying for, it may ask that you bring some personality. Regardless of what level of job seeker youre, theres a konzept within this library for you. Again, dress for the job that you want, not the job youve got. Dress for the job that you want, not the job youre applying for Lies Youve Been Told About Resumetemplate At the moment theres still an opportunity to stick out from the competition being different. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better likelihood of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a templa te. All you need to do is point and click. DO make sure that the remainder of your resume is completely machine readable. By making use of a template, you receive a feeling of what information to include in your resume and the way to arrange it. Our free resume templates arrive in two kinds of layouts. The upcoming free resume template was made in the shape of a brochure. When deciding on the best template for yourself, follow yet another tip, please.A timeless style resume template is also simple to customize. Once you have selected your perfect resume template from our selection, follow our completely free expert guidance about ways to craft the ideal modern resume. In case the template isnt in an appropriate format there isnt any value of using it. To find some formatting tips for your resume, take a look at our samples.

Toxic Employees How to Maintain Company Culture

Toxic Employees How to Maintain Company CultureWeve all had to deal with toxic employees in our work lives. These are the Debbie Downers who never seem to be happy no matter whats happening at the company. No inconvenience is too small to escape the criticism of these employees and no good news is big enough to lift their rechnerwolke of gloom.If you think toxic employees arent poisoning your hard-won company culture, you are unfortunately kidding yourself. A recent article on CNN stated that approximately 5 percent of your employees could be accounting for 90 percent of peoples work-related woes. Just like the old saying, its completely possible in a work setting for one bad apple to spoil the bunch.So what can you do to stop a few unhappy employees from turning your company culture gloomy? The first step is to know theres plenty you can do to maintain your organizational values even in the face of a toxic employee. You cant just throw in the towel and say theres no way to change so meones attitude. This might be true, but youve worked too hard to create an attractive company culture and employer brand to let a few grumps ruin your hard work.Here are some ways to maintain your company culture, even when toxic employees are bringing it downWatch Your Work EnvironmentThe last thing you want is for your your office to become a hostile work environment. To make sure this doesnt happen, keep an eye out for aggressive people in the workplace. In a hostile work environment, employees dont feel safe and certainly dont feel like the company is looking out for their best interests.Make sure toxic employees are bedrngnis also becoming office bullies. Pay attention to the employees who could fill up a swear jar with their coarse language and make sure to take every complaint of bullying seriously. Nothing will hurt your company culture faster than the hostility of your workers.Encourage Employee OutingsA great way to increase your employee morale is to get your team bondin g outside the office. Plan a monthly or bi-monthly corporate outing, and make sure to listen to the suggestions of your employees. Maybe your employees want to do a day at the park or perhaps they are passionate about volunteering.Whatever your workforce would enjoy the fruchtwein, try to plan fun stress-busting trips centered around these activities. Your toxic employee might not show up, but the bonding opportunity for the rest of your team will build employee morale.Encourage Your Most Motivated EmployeesYour fruchtwein motivated employees are also your brand ambassadors and company culture defenders. Dont ignore these workers or leave them in the lurch. In your dash to improve the attitude of your most toxic employees, you might just be missing out on opportunities to reward your workers who show up to work smiling every day.Reward good work, supply feedback, and motivate your most dedicated employees to work hard and reach high. As a bonus, the rest of your workers will see tha t it pays to be a highly motivated superstar instead of a sad sack Debbie Downer.Focus on Fit in HiringThe best way to avoid toxic employees pulling down your company culture is not to hire them in the first place. While this can be easier said than done, you can avoid hiring the wrong people if you really focus on fit in the interview process.During the video interview, really drill down on what makes the candidate a good fit for your organization. Does the candidate like order or thrive in chaos? Do they like to really focus on one task or wear a lot of hats? Depending on the company and the position, a great candidate might end up as a toxic employee if the fit is all wrong. The video interview is the time to consider your company culture before you move forward with a job offer.Toxic employees can really hurt your company culture and with it, your business bottom line. But if you focus on hiring motivated employees and encourage workplace bonding youll be able to offset the bad vibes of even the most mopey Debbie Downer.What are some ways you maintain your company culture in the face of toxic employees? Share in the commentsIMAGE Courtesy of Flickr by ewanmcdowall

How to make money blogging The real side hustle truth

How to make money blogging The real side hustle truthHow to make money blogging The real side hustle truthOne of the big questions that people commonly ask about abfluging to blog is how to make money blogging.Is it possible to make a full-time living?Is blogging as glamorous as some internet gurus make it seem?Im elend going to address those questions right here, but you will get those answers and mora from this in-depth post.Youll also be able to form your own opinions when it comes to blogging as a side hustle.But, the reason I wanted to address this topic is there is tons of fluff when it comes to making money blogging.I also wanted to write this post to provide the real honest truth about blogging as a side hustle or even as a career.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraHopefully, youll come away with a better understanding of blogging, how to make money from your blog, and the realities of pursuing a money making blog.Shall we dive in?Challenges with blogging as a side hustleYouve probably read some blogging income reports that show $10,000+/month income and you think, Wow, sign me upIts easy to get hypnotized by the profil and dollar signs.Yet what you dont see, is the amount of effort it took these bloggers to get to that level.Im talking years of writing, marketing, and consistency to their blogs which has paid off.(Of course timing and a bit of luck may factor in too).There are always those unicorn bloggers that started crushing it in year one too.But that is nowhere near the norm and their hustle is on another level.And the fact is, most new bloggers only make it a few months before growing tired and quitting.When I started Invested Wallet in June 2018, by the Fall I already noticed many others who started around the same time as me had slowed down or quit completely.The reality is, there is no guarantee youll make a lot of money even if you do every thing right.You can make money, but it may take a year or maybe even longer.Many people have the impression they can get their blog up, create some content, slap some ads and affiliate links, and they are retiring on some island three months later.Or working from their camper at the beach.If onlyBlogging is also tough and standing out can be a major challenge.According to some datafrom 2018 recorded by InternetStats.com, there were more than1,883,637,867websites verbunden.That doesnt even account for all the ones that post content then monthly, weekly, or dailyThe competition is fierceThe other challenge is blogging is time-consuming.Think about all the pieces to this like establishing hosting, building your website, writing quality content every week, promoting content, and other marketing aspects (social media, email, etc).And all that work, wont yield many great results for some time, so the ROI can be ugly based on your efforts.I put probably 20+ hours a week on my blog outside of my full-time job and many others put way more than I doWhy am I writing about making money blogging?While Invested Wallet is more about personal finances and investing, I do enjoy talking about making money too.Whether throughside hustlesorincreasing your salary, its mucksmuschenstill quite fitting.Additionally, Im attempting to use Invested Wallet as an additional stream of income in my pursuits of financial independence.Although Im very passionate about finances, blogging, and marketing, Ive looked at this blog as a profil revenue stream too.Is Invested Wallet Making Money?My blog is almost a year old and Ive now made just over $1,000.You might be thinking not bad, but if you knowmy story, I work full-time in marketing so I have a slight advantage when it comes to growth and getting besucherzahlen to my site.Thats not too brag at all because my besucherzahlen is still peanuts compared to others, but its so you know I have some advantages andblogging is still really effing hardS ince June 2018 and adding all the hours working on this site, Im sure my hourly return is pennies.Im not complaining either because I love growing the blog and excited that in my first year, I am making some money.But this is the reality.If you need to make money sooner, dont have the time, or patience, then blogging my not be a suitable choice for you as a side hustle.How to make money bloggingAs I mentioned above, this is not to completely discourage you from blogging.Its important to confront the realities that just because you start a blog, doesnt mean youll make an insane amount of money.However, even with the amount of competition, the online world continues to grow and there is still room for you.While content might be shifting, its also not dying off quite yet or really anytime soon.And you can make money blogging in various ways.Many of these eventually bring in some decent recurring revenue and you even have a chance to bring more than a full-time salaried job.ExcitingBut pump the brakes if you are getting too hyped again and re-read my above sections to bring you back to the realities.Blogging is HARD WORK.But heres how to make money blogging.Affiliate marketingAffiliate marketing is simply promoting products that you link on your blog or within blog posts that when someone clicks and signs up, you get a commission.I like and dislike affiliate marketing and also cringe when I see blogs for lack of a better term - whore out their content to stuff affiliates all over.However, if you do it correctly, have a strategy, and promote products you actually believe in and fits with your audience, it can work out well for you.I currently onlyhave a fewand dont really promote them heavily.There are a few websites and blogs who are affiliate-based only and are crushing it.Even some sites recently have been bought out for millions because of how much affiliate revenue the blogs were bringing in.ProsIt can be easy income for doing little and as your site grows an d ranks, that traffic all has potential to convert.Pending your industry, some affiliates have great payouts ($50+).ConsAffiliates can shut down or change their pay structure whenever, dumping affiliates all over appears tacky and spammy, making money takes time and there is no consistency.Many affiliates pay very little too.AdvertisingProbably the most standard form of making money from blogging, is running ads.I currently run some basic ads on my site, although I was a bit reluctant at first.Typically, I think they sometimes disrupt the user experience if not targeted well and can slow a website down.I joined a specific network, which offers more tailored ads and better payments for running ads.This is something Id recommend over joining Adsense, which has terrible ad experiences and extremely low payouts.You can also sell ad space individually to brands, which can work too but may be more time-consuming.Pros Little work involved, potential recurring revenue.Cons Can disrupt user experience, income relies on your traffic growing.Sponsored postsThe idea behind this is working with a brand on content that promotes them or educates your audiences about their product or services.Sometimes the brand may write it or you may also write it, either way you charge them for this.I actually like this option and its a great way to make money blogging.Typically, if you have a good audience and can provide value, you can charge a few hundred all the way to a few thousand to do so.However, you need to followFTC guidelinesand also ensure you follow Googles rules so your website doesnt get penalized and deranked.This has been my main source of income on the blog so far, but I havent put much focus on on it either yet.These can also branch out into brand partnerships, which are longer commitments but can generate great income.ProsPotential to make great money, not always as much work pending how you approach sponsored content.ConsNo consistent revenue when you are starting, a lot of spammers ask to do this for cheap.Doing this too much can turn audiences aways.CoursesThis has also been a popular trend among blogs and bloggers, is creating a paid course.These are a lot of work to set up, plus you need to ensure you actually are providing real value first.A lot of information can be found online for free and are things you can teach yourself.However, if you can provide value and you have an engaged audience, courses can bring in some good recurring revenue once they are published.Pros Can bring in huge sums of money and can be on a recurring passive basis once courses are created.Cons Tons of up front work, you need an engaged audience willing to pay, you need to prove you are an expert and have something worth to say.Selling digital productsA great way to make recurring passive income is with digital products.Things you create that you have for purchase on your website.Think of items like ebooks, toolkits, documents, plugins, photography, etc.Here is some more aboutdigital products.ProsLow overhead costs, potential automated income, higher profit margins for you.ConsYou need to create something worth paying for, can take time to create, need an audience engaged enough to purchase from you.Contract workIf you focus on a particular blog niche, you may start offering your services and knowledge to other companies.For example, I can offer marketing and digital marketing services since that is my background, but doesnt always translate well since most of this site is all about finances.But a lot of bloggers actually make their first bit of money this way.Pros Great earning potentials, can work on your time and availability, no commutes.Cons No consistency guaranteed in revenue, can take time to find clients.Freelance writingAnother cool option for making money from your blog, is freelance writing opportunities that are paid.This may depend on your niche and many times it may not be paid, but this does happen.Your blog is a great content training tool and shows off your writing chops.You might be able to apply for freelance writing gigs or brands may reach out to you.Pros another revenue source, expands your brand and personal brand reach.Cons Not always easy to get paid writing gigs, not a consistence source of revenue to rely on.Selling your blogYouve heard the cool stories of former bloggers selling their websites for six-figures and then someAgain, this takes a lot of time and many factors in order for this to work in your favor, but it can be done.Marc over atVital Dollarhas done it a few timesBut you can also buy, build up, and flip blogs for money too.Netting a few thousand dollars each time.ProsYou can get a nice lump sum or if you buy and flip can make decent money from that as well.Cons Extremely time-consuming, you have to know how to build up websites so they are worth something in the future, even great websites have no guarantee that anyone would want to buy it.Finding a buyer takes time or youll need a broker to help.Can you make good money with your blog?Absolutely you can, but you need to be realistic.Good money and blogging income reports you have read do not come easy and it takes a lot of work.But, the cool thing about blogging is there are multiple streams and ways to monetize your work and efforts.This besides additional opportunities you might get as well from being a thought leader in your blogging niche.Some bloggers also get paid speaking gigs and others have gotten book dealsIts pretty cool where blogging can potential take you.But even if you dont make money or turn blogging into a full-time career, you will learn a lot.For me, it taught me so much more about marketing and is also a great resume booster.When I had a music blog, many job interviews I went on at the time loved that I created something and grew it on my own.I think if you go in with the realities that blogging wont make you rich overnight or even in a year +, then you have a good shot of succeeding and making some money.And just because the odds might be slightly stacked against you, doesnt mean you should not give a shot.My best advice if you do get into blogging to make money, is ignore the noise and income reports.Stay focused on your blog and be patient.If youd like to learn how to set up a WordPress blog in a few steps and grow it,I wrote this post which might be valuable to you.Why I chose blogging as a side hustleIve been blogging since 2010, when I started a music blog on the simple platform called Blogger.I had no clue what I was doing, but I created it for a few reasons.I loved music, I wanted to share great artists with people, and want to learn more about blogging and building websites.I also did not know how many music blogs were out there or that you could make money from a blog.But I loved writing, making connections, getting set cool music, and other perks.The same thing applied with Invested Wallet.Im passionate about personal finances and investing, helping othe rs, and writing about these topics.But I approached this one as a business from day one, as a way to potentially make extra money.After reading all the above, you might be wondering why I chose blogging still, especially knowing it takes time to make money.Even though it is time consuming and there is no guarantee to make money quickly, there are many potential opportunities with it regardless.For me, Ive learned how to start an LLC, open a business bank account, get a business credit card, use Quickbooks to manage business finances, and grow my marketing skills.Ive previously always been nervous about doing these things or afraid too, but after learning it I feel more confident in my entrepreneurial endeavors.So while there are thousands of personal finance blogs out there, I still love blogging, growing a site, writing, and earning some extra income.Will it take off and make six-figures?I really dont know, but Im loving the journey with it so far.If you love the idea of blogging, passionate about the topic, and are okay with putting in the work and potentially not making money for awhile, then blogging might be for you.Some additional blogging resourcesBesides my nuggets of insight, there are a few blogs I dig that help bloggers grow and tips on how to make money.Im sure there are more to include, but these are two that I dig.Check them out hereBreaking the One PercentDigitalMarketing4BloggersThis article originally appeared on Invested Wallet.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Marine Corps Infantry Officer Job Descriptions

seestreitmacht Corps Infantry Officer Job DescriptionsMarine Corps Infantry Officer Job DescriptionsMarine Corps Infantry Officers lead the expeditionary force that is the backbone of this branch of the service. Its up to them to make sure infantry Marines (affectionately known as grunts) are prepared for ground combat missions. It is a challenging job for a young officer, but the leadership skills they learn are invaluable. The Marine Corps considers this a primary military occupational specialty (PMOS), and its open to ranks between lieutenant colonel and 2nd lieutenant. This is an unrestricted line officer position. The Marines categorize this job as MOS 0302. Duties Infantry officers lead their troops in combat operations and oversee morale and discipline. They have the difficult job of deciding how to use and deploy weapons and equipment in combat situations, which includes patrols, battle plans, and intelligence. ansicht officers are the commanders or their assistants in in fantry and reconnaissance units in what is formally known as Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). They plan, direct, and assist in the deployment and tactical employment of MAGTFs and any subordinate infantry and reconnaissance units. In offensive situations, MOS 0302 is responsible for employing machine guns and mortars, and they and their troops support offensive operations with assault units. They may employ anti-armor units or demolitions in support of these operations. If in a defensive situation, Marine Corps Infantry Officers oversee the use of machine guns and mortars and prepare their company or platoons fire plan overlay. Training The infantry officer course at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia is one of the most grueling in the U.S. armed services. Some years the washout rate (those unable to complete it) is as high as 25 percent. It includes completing atotal of nine hikes, three of which are evaluated, participating in six tactical field exercises and crossi ng a 56 wall in 30 seconds or less. The course also requires passing physical standards, which involves completing a 15-kilometer hike carrying 105 lbs. in three hours or less, conducting a ground casualty evacuation (simulated by carrying a 200-lb. dummy) in 54 seconds and lifting a 77-lb machine gun overhead while rushing 300 meters in under four minutes. And although its no longer required for graduation from the training course, Marines will undergo the Combat Endurance Test, which assesses basic training (boot camp) knowledge and endurance. The aim of the CET is to evaluate whether or not a Marine will succeed in the infantry training. The CET is now used as just one of several tools to evaluate Marine officer candidates. Requirements To be eligible for this job, a Marine needs a bachelors degree and must be a U.S. citizen. A criminal background would be disqualifying. Marine Corps Infantry Officers must be between 20 and 27 when they receive their commission.

Listing for Social Security Numbers on Job Applications

Listing for Social Security Numbers on Job ApplicationsListing for Social Security Numbers on Job ApplicationsMany job seekers are concerned about providing their social security numbers (SSN) when completing job applications. State laws vary on what information can be collected from applicants, and most states dont prohibit companies from asking for social security numbers. However, you have the right to decide whether or leid you feel comfortable giving out your social security number just keep in mind that it may impact your chance of getting hired. Why Employers Ask for Social Security Numbers on Applications Some employers (including state hiring agencies) require applicants to list their social security number (SSN)when completing job applications. Employers may want your social security number to conduct a background check or leistungspunkt check. However, several states have prohibited or limited the use ofcredit checksfor job applicants. Most employers that do conduct t hese checks do elend do so until you are further along in the hiring process than the anfangsbuchstabe application. When Employers Can Ask for Your Social Security Number Employers are permitted to ask applicants for their social security numbers in all states. Several states including New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts require employers to put safeguards like encryption in place to protect the privacy of job seekers. However, theSociety of Human Resource Managementadvises employers -An employment application should request only information directly related to an applicants ability to perform a specific job general practice, employers should request SSN information only when absolutely necessary. Check with yourState Department of Laborto ascertain any restrictions for local employers to request your social security number. Your Options for Filling Out the Application Just because you are asked for your social security number, does notlage mean you are obligated to giv e it out.It is important for job seekers to know that they are not legally required to provide their social security numbers to employers, with the exception of government and national security-related jobs or jobs that require a credit check. With therise of identity theft, it makes sense to be wary of to whom you give your social security number to. If the employer says giving your social security number is optional, you can simply choose not to give it. If it is required on the application, you can still choose not to list it if thats possible. Add an Explanation. You may be abletoexplain in your application that you do not feel comfortable giving them your social security number at this point in the job application process. However, keep in mind that if any job listing requires your social security number and you do not list it, your application may not be considered.You May Be Able to Leave it Blank.If you are filling out a job application, you may be able toskip the section wh ere they ask for your SSN.Or make a notation that you would be willing to share your social security number once you are being seriously considered for employment. You Could Edit What You List.Another option is to list the last four digits as 0000. Of course, employers might choose to screen out applicants who do not comply with their request for information. When You Have to List Your Social Security Number If giving your social security number is a required field on an online application, leaving the answer blank may not be an option. Before filling in your social security number, make sure you are on the companys legitimate site. If you are applying for the job through a job search site, considerresearchingor calling the companybefore applying to confirm that the posting is legitimate. In cases where employers conduct credit checks on employees as part of background checks, applicants will need to furnish their SSN in order to receive consideration.Background checks are typic ally conducted on candidates who have already passed through the initial screening of applications. However, several states have prohibited or limited the use of credit checks for job applicants. Check Before You Give it Out When giving out your social security number, you need to be really careful about who you give it to and under what circumstances you disclose it. ThePrivacy Rights Clearing Househas advice on how to carefully check out companies who request it and what you can do to protect your social security number online. Tips for Avoiding Scammers Scammers often ask for social security numbers as part of a fake job application or as part of the hiring process for a job that doesnt exist. If an employer ever asks you to send them money as part of the application, chances are it is a scam.If an employer you have never worked with or never heard of gives you a check, it is likely also a scam. Tear up the check and cease communication with the company.Definitely do not email your social security number to any prospective employer - or to anyone, in general.Avoid sharing any personal information beyond your contact information. Do not include, for example, your drivers license number and/or credit card information. The information contained in this article is not legal advice and is not a substitute for such advice. State and federal laws change frequently, and the information in this article may not reflect your own states laws or the most recent changes to the law.