Choose mentors outside your company Seeking guidance from a good mentor within your field can help advance your career, and it may help to choose mentors that are not employed at the same company as you. Asking questions to mentors outside your work circle can provide a "safe space" for being honest and forthcoming without worrying about possible repercussions, Katherine Brodsky explains. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/26)Battle of the sexes: multitasking Some studies have concluded women are better multitaskers than men; however, a recent Norwegian study concluded that there are no differences in serial multitasking abilities between men and women. This study focused on serial multitaskers, where the person switches rapidly between different tasks and deals with interruptions. Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model) (9/26)
Making the Connection
Avoid coming across as a humble braggart on social media Post your highest-value content to social media, as well as your wins, but don't step beyond the bounds of coming across as bragging or egocentric, writes Austin Gallagher. Avoid posting personal wins multiple times per day, Gallagher suggests, and avoid complaining or negativity in posts. Forbes (9/26)
The Landscape
Study: Minorities don't want to be token hires Job listings that mention equal employment opportunity can discourage minorities from applying, leading to 50% fewer minority candidates in some cases, according to a study. Researchers emphasize that the study involves only small employers but say that fear of being a token hire is a major reason someone doesn't apply, and predominantly white cities have the largest gaps. Quartz (9/25)
Your Next Challenge
What to ask employees when considering a job offer When getting a chance to speak with current employees at a company you're considering working for, avoid asking generic questions like "Do you like working here?" Instead, ask questions related to company growth and learning opportunities, or lack thereof, to get a feel for the company's grip on helping employees advance up the career ladder. Fast Company online (9/26)There's a delicate balance to accepting the counteroffer or not In a hot job market like today's, employees have the upper hand when negotiating salary at a new job or asking for a raise at their current one. When receiving a counteroffer during negotiations, you can use it as leverage to get a better offer from another interested company, but maintain honesty and be forthcoming when multiple parties are involved so as not to leave a bad impression of your character or values. USA Today (9/26)
Balancing Yourself
Change tasks when feeling restless at work When things get tough at work, have a strategy to defeat antsy or negative thoughts of the situation, suggests Stav Ziv. A few proven strategies include exercising, spending time in nature or looking at cute or funny videos online for a few minutes. The Muse (9/25)
The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary added 300 new words that can now be used in Hasbro's popular word game, such as "OK," "ew," "yowza" and "emoji." This is the sixth edition of the official game dictionary produced by Merriam-Webster. CBS News/The Associated Press (9/24)
The most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity.
