Top 5 desired skills for gig workers Independent workers with project management skills are currently the most in-demand, according to Business Talent Group's report on gig hiring trends. In addition to project management, other sought-after gig skills include market analysis, process optimization, advanced analytics and change management. Full Story: HR Dive (2/3)
How to position yourself for a promotion Getting promoted is all about positioning yourself by building your network, familiarizing yourself with the boss's goals and looking at hiring patterns of those who have jobs you would like, says organizational psychologist Jennifer Wisdom. "Deconstruct their background and notice the kinds of relationships they seem to have built over time, including who might have recommended them for the job," she says. Full Story: Forbes (1/31)
While a harsh alarm might be effective at raising you from your slumber, it might put you in a foul mood for the several hours that follow, according to a study published in PLoS One. "The researchers theorize that melodic alarms, like most morning bird songs, gently gain the attention and arousal of the brain, leading to increased cognition," writes Arianne Cohen. Full Story: Fast Company online (2/3)
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Unlikely candidates can bring fresh eyes to your business Hires from different professional backgrounds can open up your team to look at work in different ways, writes Jennifer Risi, founder The Sway Effect. "My team is collaborating in ways I never thought possible to fill in gaps I never knew existed; and I get to focus on what I do best because there are others clearing the way for me to do so," she says. Full Story: Quartz (tiered subscription model) (2/3)
Amazon's US workforce has more than tripled since 2015 and now surpasses 500,000 employees, the company said last week. Last year alone, Amazon added 150,000 US employees, an increase of 43%, and it now employs 798,000 people worldwide. Full Story: The Associated Press (1/31)
Co-working space spares the details Going against the flurry in most co-working spaces, interior designer Annabell Kutucu used concrete walls and spare furniture for what she calls Brutalist Silence for a co-working space in Berlin. "This is an unconventional approach based on simplicity, silence and aesthetics -- it's the beautiful environment that inspires," says Kutucu. Full Story: Dezeen (2/4)
The temperance movement gave rise to the PB&J After the Concord grape was invented in New England, it was embraced by the temperance movement to create a non-alcoholic juice. Years later, this grape was used to make Welch's Grapelade jelly, which was found to complement peanut butter -- thus the classic PB&J. Full Story: Gizmodo (1/30)
It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others.
John Andrew Holmes, writer
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