The first step in reacting to bias in the workplace is understanding whether the event is a one-time incident or a recurring pattern. After doing so, state your position on the matter with detailed facts and explain what those facts mean to you personally. Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model) (5/3) How professionals can maintain relevance Professionals who want to stay relevant in the coming decade should pay attention to happenings within and outside their industries while actively looking for ways to expand their skills, writes Gwen Moran. It's important for professionals to be willing to leave their comfort zones and document their achievements in professional development, Moran writes. Fast Company online (5/4)
Making the Connection
Avoid using generic elevator pitches Your elevator pitch should be anything but generic, which you can accomplish by sharing the "why" of your job title instead of just the "what," writes Priscilla Tan. Another way to create a memorable pitch is to share the impact you have with others in a concise, confident way. The Muse (5/4)
Despite reports that retail is fading, fast-food workers are seeing tangible benefits from swapping industries, including bonuses and paid time off. Some fast-food chains are changing uniform policies, increasing wages or offering cash incentives for good work to retain workers. Bloomberg (5/3)
Your Next Challenge
Don't send your resume before using this checklist You should never send your resume before checking your grammar and spelling and making sure it is clear and focused, writes Amy Elisa Jackson. Check for font consistency, use numbers to illustrate facts whenever possible and remove unnecessarily complex words. Glassdoor (5/3)
Balancing Yourself
How to-do lists can ensure better sleep You can get a better night's sleep simply by writing down your to-do list for the next day before going to bed, some researchers say. Organizing your objectives for the coming day can bring down your stress levels and encourage your sympathetic nervous system to relax, making it easier to sleep peacefully. Inc. online (free registration) (5/2)
The Water Cooler
Times Square's bright lights made history The predecessor to today's modern electronic billboards was an animated electric sign with 2,000 bulbs that debuted in New York City's Times Square just over 80 years ago. The project was the brainchild of advertising legend Douglas Leigh, though the actual sign was designed by a woman named Dorothy Shepard. Smithsonian online (4/28)
We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.
