Thursday, November 28, 2019

4 Ways to Reduce 3 Ways to Impress Your Boss to 2 Ways

4 Ways to Reduce 3 Ways to Impress Your Boss to 2 Ways 4 Ways to Reduce 3 Ways to Impress Your Boss to 2 Ways As Ive argued before, in 5 Reasons Why We Like 5 Reasons Why Analyses , there are, in particular, some good reasons why 5 ways is especially appealing and common- mostly because of the fact that we have 5 fingers on which to conveniently count and remember them.So, if starfish wrote HR articles, they would probably display a similar bias for 5 ways, e.g., 5 Killer Ways to Snag an Ideal Catch.Mathematical HamletHowever, most appealing of all has to be making the number of ways as small as possible or at least as small as some symbolically or otherwise psychologically satisfying target number- yet especially 2, because it is the smallest number that suggests freedom of choice and therefore free will.Hence, the freedom and choice-loving human mind being what it is, well probably be interested in having mora than one way to reduce the list to two ways, like Hamlet.Accordingly, an article with the title 4 Ways to Reduce 3 Ways to Impress Your Boss to 2 ways has got to bestattungs the attention of ways-and-free-choice-minded existentialists who insist on having choice, free will and responsibility for both, but with as few clear-cut choices as possible- if only to avoid existential clutter in the form of over-choice of options, decisions and responsibilities.But, in practice, how easy can it be to find 4 ways to reduce 3 ways to 2 ways- or, more generally, to find n ways to reduce p ways of doing X to r ways? If that question can be answered, it may be possible to extract from that analysis some general counting principle with terrific applications to ways-list creation or to ways of doing almost anything.Moreover, the answer may shed additional light on the psychology, strategies and objectives of making lists of ways, in general.Ways of Reducing WaysConsider a very simple model involving rolling dice. Suppose we want to get a sum of 4 in a roll of 2 dice . There are, as combinations, 2 ways to do that Roll a 1 and a 3, or roll two 2s. But imagine that before we do that, we actually have 3 dice to roll, but still want to get a sum of 4.Thats possible roll a 1, aelendher 1 and a 2. But thats the only way. If, however, we remove exactly one of the dice from the toss- passiv 1, 2 or 3- we will have exactly three ways to be left with 2 ways to get the result we want. Hence, in this model, there are, in some sense, 3 ways to get 2 ways of getting the result we want.To reduce 4 ways of getting 3 ways to get 2 ways of getting a sum of 4, just add a fourth die and refrain from rolling one of the four. Yes, Im equivocating on the concept of ways, here- using it to mean mathematical sums on the one hand and dice selection on the other. But, both count as ways of doing something.Having illustrated even just one way there can be 4 ways of reducing 3 ways of doing something to 2 ways, I think the general principle can be understood Yes, there can be n ways of reducing p ways of doing X to r ways of getting some result, through a process of whittling of ways- even perhaps all the way down to existentially satisfying 2-ness.So What?But apart from that metaphysical consequence, so what? Metaphysical reassurances of our claims and aspirations regarding free will aside, what practical benefit can there be in knowing that this kind of reductive multi-step process is possible?Consider this very concrete, practical recruiting scenario Youve got to prune your candidate list down to 2 finalists. Your HR manager has told you that in the time available thats the manageable number for the final interview. But you sincerely believe youve got 10 great candidates. Now, youve got the challenge of finding a way or ways to reduce that field to the final 2. You think youll be happy to find even one way to do that- until you reflect on it, and wonder whether the first way you find will also be the only or even the best way.What youve realized i s that youve got a qualitative challenge as well as a quantitative one to not only reduce the numbers, but also to maximize or at least preserve the quality of those numbers.You also realize that the first way of pruning the field may not be the wisest- just as the best way to reduce your payroll may not be to lay off essential personnel instead, eliminating costly overtime pay or reducing general hours, across the board.So, now you start to enumerate the ways available to you to reduce the candidate field to 2. For example, you identify four ways1. Lottery literally picking the names out a hat2. Reassigning weights to specific, established selection criteria, e.g., shifting more weight from personnel test scores to prior experience.3. Adding new criteria, e.g., second-language competencies4. Reassessing prior assessments, e.g., carefully reviewing notes and comments of your own, of other interviewers, of references and of the candidates themselvesNow youve got 4 ways of reducing 10 candidates to 2.Although each of these 4 ways has its merits, it would be great if these could not only be reduced to a smaller number, but also reduced to the smallest set of optimal ways.So, revisit the list of 4. The lottery method seems inferior to the others, despite its obvious fairness- that is, fairness, assuming that the initial rankings were impartial and otherwise well-grounded. Thats because despite its appearance of being a decision rule, its in fact a default option, to be exercised when decisive action is neither possible nor appealing.Now we are down to three, having found one way to get there, viz., by an analysis of the concept of real decision making weighed against an analysis of fairness. But thats not the only way to whittle down the four ways of whittling 10 candidates down to 2.Consider the second way of accomplishing this Eliminate 2, above, i.e., eliminate reassigning weights to previous criteria. Way 2 could be effective as a way to end up with only 2 can didates, but only if the reweightings are not arbitrary, are not biased, are not desperate ad hoc juggling, etc. So, pruning away way 2, from our list of 4, is a second way to reduce a field of 10 candidates to 2 finalists.If you eliminate 1 and 2, for the reasons just given, you are left with 2 ways to reduce a field of 10 candidates to 2, namely, 3 and 4. Which survives the next cut depends on what matters more or seems smarter adding new criteria or reassessing the assessments.Either way, from beginning to end, the decision process involves finding n ways to reduce p ways of reducing X things, choices, etc., to r ways of choosing, doing, etc.Without this concept, understanding and application of this multi-phase, decision-counting process, the likelihood of making the mistake of choosing the first and sub-optimal way to reduce options and ways that pops into ones head vastly increases.Exactly how many ways can making this mistake happen? I dont know. But I do know one thing.There s no way you want that to happen.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

6 ways to help relieve holiday stress and burnout

6 ways to help relieve holiday stress and burnout6 ways to help relieve holiday stress and burnoutAhh, the holiday season is upon us The halls are decked with garland. Homes and storefronts are glittering in twinkle lights. The smell of peppermint mocha lingers in the air. And, our holiday stress levels are probably working their way up to peak level.This season often brings an abundance of work stress, in addition to the outside-of-work stress thats happening. Maybe its your organizations year-end push for sales or donations. Maybe youre racing the clock as you wrap client projects before taking a vacation.Maybe youre dreading working on Christmas or Hanukkah. You have office parties to plan and attend, cards and gifts to send to colleagues and customers. As our to-do lists swell, many of us nudge self-care to the very end or forgo it altogether. No wonder we often end up feeling frazzled rather than festive each December.Not this holiday season. Try some or all of these tips and ki ss your holiday work stress goodbye - at least, until next year.HOLIDAY HACK MAKE TWO LISTS CHECK EM TWICEWhether you thrive off checklists or cant stand the sight of them, theres no denying they can be a helpful tool - especially when work duties shift at year-end. My suggestion for staying sane is to channel your inner Santa and make two lists this season.The first list is everything you have to do during the holiday season, before any vacation or when the books close. This list is bedrngnis a bucket list or a place to dump every little administrative task. With this list youll track of all your priorities, everything you absolutely must do before the holiday season ends - whether thats sending a job to the printer or crushing a milestone for a team project.Then, make a second to dont list of everything you wont do this holiday season at work. Maybe this year you dont help with the annual office holiday party. Maybe that networking coffee will need to wait until 2019. Do you re ally need to hand-write Christmas cards to everyone in your work network? Maybe the answer is no, or maybe its a resounding yes Make your lists and relieve yourself of to-dos you dread, not ones that bring you joy (keep those on the to-do list, but be realistic about your time). Then, invite in the peace of mind that comes from crossing off all the items on your list this year.HOLIDAY HACK GIFT YOURSELF A BREAKWhen work overwhelms its tempting to skip scheduled breaks and power through the day to complete everything on your list. Some days, everyone has to do this. During the holidays, one skipped lunch may lead to another and another, and soon youve lost several precious hours of free time. Believe it or not, this has an adverse effect on your productivity. Studies have shown breaks increase worker productivity.Breaks help us clear our heads and manage stress so that we come back to our work feeling refreshed and restored. So reclaim your time this holiday season - whenever possib le, take the breaks your job allows. Then, notice your focus soar and stress abate because youve had time away from your screen/workload. Its a little gift you can give yourself this season.HOLIDAY HACK TREAT YOSELF - WELLI love a good Christmas cookie - no shame. With the barrage of holiday gift baskets and goodies, its easy to celebrate the season with something sweet. And yet we all know its possible to have too much of a good thing.My advice? Treat yourself well Have that homemade cookie when its really worth it, but dont let daily indulgence wreck your health. When treats are everywhere, the constant temptation might cause our willpower to buckle from having to work so hard. Find other ways to swap in a healthier treat yourself moment during the workday - whether its brewing a warm cuppa festive holiday tea or taking 15 to discuss Hallmark Christmas movies with your work bestie. Maybe you take an afternoon walk away from the free food and come back feeling refreshed and a li ttle more virtuous than your colleagues.Treating yourself well extends beyond dodging holiday cookie tray. Make sure to eat regular, nutritious meals, including protein and vegetables. Stay hydrated. Move your body. And please Take a sick day if youre sick Youll recover faster and avoid spreading that holiday bug. During this busy time of the year, many of us let self-care slide. Right now is exactly when we need it most. In order to slay the day, youve got to take care of you.HOLIDAY HACK MAKE IT SIMPLEGet strategic. Analyze your holiday work with laser focus and consider how you might simplify it. If you send client gifts, for example, could you mail all the same gift baskets from the same company, which offers delivery? Mailing holiday cards to your network? What would happen if you sent an e-card this year or waited to send a New Years card instead? Same goes for personal tasks If youre short on time, skip the baking and bring store-bought pie or better yet, eggnog, to your offi ce shindig. Pay for gift wrapping rather than doing it on your own.If youre overwhelmed by all you have to do, start by thinking through your most time-consuming holiday tasks and make them easier or (gasp) avoid them altogether. Gift the same ah-mazing bottle of pinot to all your girlfriends for Christmas. Make it simple and let that stress go. Youll be thanking yourself later.HOLIDAY HACK HEADED HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS? PLAN AHEADMany of us plan time off for the holiday season, but the crunch to prep for vacation can often feel like, well, a crunch. The best advice I have is to start planning for your time away early. If you havent already, clear that time off with your supervisor.Next, think of your work leading up to the vacation and what will need to be covered while youre gone. Try and do as much of the work yourself or make arrangements so it will be done. Be sure to think ahead to whats coming up in the office when youre back as well. You might have to ask for help, but itll l and easier if you can show how youve prepared ahead of time for your break. Remember to be realistic about what you can and cant get done before you go.If you work for an organization, create a vacation plan for your boss. This document will show what youve care of before you go, and any stray tasks that need to be completed (hopefully with an explanation of whos covering this, or how theyll get done.) You can share it with your manager a few days before you leave. If you work for yourself, consider doing the same for yourself. This will give you the peace of mind so you can truly unplug while youre out. And dont forget to set your seasonal out-of-office messageHOLIDAY HACK JUST BREATHENo matter how much you plan, you cant outwit every holiday stressor that comes your way. Emergencies will happen. You might forget to add something to your list. You may end up working late - for whatever reason - the day of Christmas Eve. Your office party could get weird.Life is unpredictable, bu t we can control the ways we cope with holiday-induced anxiety. In fact, did you know one of the best ways manage anxiety, whether surprising or expected, is by simply breathing? Yogis all over know this - and science backs it up as well - that taking a moment to breathe mindfully helps us calm down.Try this right now Sit up in your chair, close your eyes and just breathe. Exhale out all your stale air then inhale deeply through your nose, filling up your belly and rib cage. Hold it at the top, then open your mouth and let it go. Do this three to five times. Open your eyes. Feeling any better?Happy Holidays, Career Contessa readers. May yours be stress-free and brightThis article first appeared in Career Contessa.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Customize this Outstanding Sample Driver Resume 1 Sample

Customize this Outstanding Sample Driver Resume 1 SampleCustomize this Outstanding Sample Driver Resume 1 SampleSample Driver ResumeCreate Resume Career ObjectiveSeeking for a drivers position in the professional trosportation.Truck Driver, ABC Corporation, July 2003 PresentThe duty include driving truck to various locations to pump and service grease traps.Computer Programming SkillsOperating Systems Windows9X, Windows2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, Unix, MS DOSHTML Editing Tools Macromedia Dreamweaver, Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe GoLiveGraphics Tools Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Fireworks, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator, 3D Max, Bryce 3DOffice Package Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook ExpressProgramming Language Pascal, Turbo Pascal, C, C++, Java, Java Swing, PythonTruck Driver, Heavy Equipment Operator Birmingham, AL, October 2001 June 2003To drive different types of vehicle, or mac hine to sites where work is preformed and ensures that all vehicles are geldschrank and in good condition.Truck Driver, ABC Inc, Atlanta, GA, May 2003 PresentResponsibilities includeDriving haul truck to and from work sites and deliver equipment to perform job duties.Driving tandem to and from work sites and load with base, asphalt, and tow equipment on trailer.Truck Driver, XYZ Inc, Atlanta, GA, March 2001 May 2003Responsible for loading and unloading trailer with the help of construction equipment from and to construction work site and load tandem truck and transport to work location.EducationBirmingham high school, High SchoolFuture Trucks of America, February 2001Customize Resume