How women can begin a career transition Studies have shown that many women are not happy with their careers because they often feel unappreciated, that they're wasting their potential or don't have the flexibility they need. Women who are unhappy in their current jobs should take steps that include networking in areas of interest and volunteering to gain experience as they plan their next steps, writes Kay Zanotti. Forbes (11/1)How you time your breaks can affect productivity You will likely increase your productivity if you take 15-minute breaks after 75 to 90 minutes of work, according to author Robert Pozen. Another strategy is to use the Pomodoro Technique, which involves short, 25-minute bursts of work followed by five-minute breaks. Fast Company online (10/31)
When you begin a job at a new company, it's important to approach your co-workers and display a sincere interest in learning about them. "Relationship-building should be your number one priority," says Strategize That founder Lori Scherwin. Glassdoor (11/6)
The Landscape
Could a tax help gig-economy workers get benefits? Some workers' groups want legislation that would impose a fee on gig-economy transactions to fund benefits for independent contractors. Companies have considered an optional fee to help workers access medical coverage, but most have hesitated to mandate anything that jeopardizes tax breaks associated with nonemployee status. The Atlantic online (11/6)
Your Next Challenge
Are online salary calculators accurate? Be wary of basing your salary expectations on data you find online, because experience and other factors will influence your salary range, writes Jessica Vann. Supplement salary knowledge from your research with information you obtain through networking. The Muse (11/6)
Food historians share the histories of popular US sandwiches, such as how the tuna salad sandwich originated in a 19th-century need to use scraps of food but later became a made-from-scratch extravagance. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich, meanwhile, is an American staple but disliked in many other places. The Conversation (US) (11/2)
We are all wise in capacity, though so few in energy.
