Thursday, March 12, 2020

800+ Diverse Women Attend 1st Fairygodboss Virtual Career Fair

800+ Diverse Women Attend 1st Fairygodboss Virtual Career Fair Many companies today have set lofty goals to hire greater numbers of female talent. But in the vast landscape of online job postings, how can companies be aya their openings are getting in front of the women they want to hire? And how can they make a connection with women that will resonated, and convince women to apply.Fairygodboss aimed to help employers attract more female applicants through our first-ever virtual career ritterlich, available exclusively to women job seekers, in January. Recruiters at participating companies including Accenture, Bank of America, Charles Schwab, Dell, Deloitte, T-Mobile, and United Technologies had the opportunity to connect directly with highly qualified women.Fairygodboss invited our community to the event, and the response was overwhelming with 800 women participating. These women represented a diverse span of industries and job functions from technology, marketing, and sales to ad ministration and operations.The participants also ranged in career stage, with 55% of attendees having at least 7 years of professional experience. Forty-five percent of the participating job seekers self-identified as Women of Color (WOC), and 71% of participants were pursuing full-time career opportunities.Participating companies walked away from the fair with access to the resumes of 794 accomplished female job seekers. One Recruiting and Diversity Manager at Deloitte said, The traffic during the event seemed fantastic and the resumes that I received seemed really solid, with relevant background and skills that we are looking for I was pleased with the quality of candidates.Fairygodboss will be hosting its next virtual career fair with a specific focus on women in technology on Wednesday, April 18thfrom 8 AM 9 PM ET. For more information, or to register, contact foundersfairygodboss.com.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

The Argument About Resume Writing Ebooks

The Argument About Resume Writing Ebooks How to Get Started with Resume Writing Ebooks? Another awesome motive to beta test your ebook is to get rid of any kinks. The author delivers practical and easy-to-follow advice and numerous samples that demonstrate every one of her tips in action. The Lost Secret of Resume Writing Ebooks Dont forget, your resume is an immediate marketing and advertising sales-letter. The majority of the resumes writing services dont offer you the chance of direct contact by making use of their writers. Resume writing services often provide a whole package strategy to resume writing. There are quite a lot of services youre able to utilize to run an affiliate program. Resume writing is daunting work for those who write a resume once annually, or once a decade in some instances. Staying in contact with your clients is among the most important elements to cultivating an active resume-writing enterprise. Offering free resume reviews is one method to d iscover clients. It is possible to also read reviews for each writer submitted by previous customers, aiding you to be certain you hire the ideal individual. Take a look at the calendar and find out when you might have a couple sales on your ebook. Selling is the hardest part in the procedure, so in the event you can enlist the aid of others to publicize your ebook, all the better. The Ultimate Resume Writing Ebooks Trick Promotion is the tough part. Ebooks take a while to finish. Writing an ebook is fast, easy, cheap to make and potentially more profitable. Naturally, seeing as youre covering resume, you might as well consist of cover letters and CVs in your job portfolio. Perhaps you shouldnt charge for it whatsoever. CV Solutions offers professional CV writing to aid you become noticed. Writing a CV may be long and time-consuming procedure, but by means of the ideal expert assistance, you can create one quite quickly. If you regard yourself a do-it-yourself-er ther e are a whole lot of great books on the industry that could help you craft a compelling and visually distinct document. The Illustrator file makes the the majority of colour to assist its simplicity. After youre happy with the content of your ebook youll want to format it so it seems good on a page. Included, are eight FREE templates you may utilize to create the process simpler. The Downside Risk of Resume Writing Ebooks Keep in mind, your resume is the simplest way for you to receive your foot in the door for a desirable job. Your work is just to make certain it says good things about you. When youre in the practice of writing your ebook, it is likely that you will devote a reasonable quantity of your time thinking about it. Nothing differs in the event of picking the resume writing service.

Friday, January 3, 2020

When Work Feels Chaotic, Take Back Your Power With Learning

When Work Feels Chaotic, Take Back Your Power With Learning The modern workplace can give even the most laid-back person a case of sensory overload. At any given time, emails arrive, notifications flash, devices buzz, coworkers chit-chat, and meeting reminders pop up. Its no wonder 70 percent of respondents to the Udemy In Depth 2018 Workplace Distraction Reportsaid theyre distracted.The steady stream of distractions is making people stressed, unmotivated, and frustrated. No mere annoyance, workplace distractions undermine confidence and performance, especially among younger employees.Workplace distraction has real consequences for employers, too. In addition to lost productivity, lower engagement, and lower retention, distractions interfere with the next generations preparedness for future leadership roles.Twenty-two percent of millennials and Gen. Z workers dont feel theyre able to reach their potential, and 34 percent say they like their jobs less as a result of distractions.Many millennials are already in management, but they havent necessarily received training on what it takes to be a great manager i.e., soft skills like leadership, team-building, and giving constructive feedback. Our research found that 69 percent of millennials spend two hours or mora looking at their phones for personal activities during the workday, which makes it that much harder for them to develop those critical leadership skills and stay tuned into their teams needs.Across all age groups, 59 percent of workers agree that personal use of technology is more distracting than work tools.Were all new to this balancing act, manically responding to pings, notifications, and interruptions while trying desperately to carve out time for deep, focused work. According to our research, 70 percent of workers think training could help them cope with distractions, but 66 percent have never spoken to a manager about it. It is possible, based on my experience, they re afraid of looking like theyre having trouble doing their jobs or are less capable than their peers.Asking for learning and development opportunities should be viewed as a good thing a signal an employee wants to keep getting better at their job. At a time of continuous, disruptive workplace transformation, companies that attract and support avid upskillers will have a competitive edge. Besides, with a measurable gap between skills employees need and skills job candidates have, it makes a lot more sense to upskill the talent you already have than to get stuck in a costly cycle of constantly recruiting for new skills.Individuals can still grow and advance in their careers in uncertain times. Employers would be wise to support them along the way, lest those proactive upskillers take their talents to a different company, one that prioritizes learning and development.Never Stop LearningWhen people embrace lifelong learning, assimilating new skills isnt a source of fear or stress its just another part of the career journey. Tech workers have long been accustomed to continuous upskilling as programming languages evolve and new software versions launch, but that cycle is accelerating. Staying current in a particular language or framework isnt enough for techies, and a narrow focus wont be enough for workers in other disciplines either.Learning shouldnt be limited to those hard skills, though. Even as automation and artificial intelligence expand their impact, soft skills like communication, leadership, and team-building wont be easily replicated by machines.The good news, even if you werent a fan of traditional schooling, is that learning can now happen on your schedule and on your terms. For example, affordable options exist for on-demand zugreifbar courses you can take at your own pace, whenever, wherever, and however you choose. Explore Outside Your FunctionI also suggest people get curious and stretch in different directions, and that employers empower their workers to do so. People dont expect to stay in the same role indefinitely, and career paths arent linear anymore either. Being open to people moving between teams and functions lets employers accomplish two cost-saving measures at once retaining the institutional knowledge of longtime employees while leveraging their expertise to generate fresh, innovative ideas.Pursue a PassionAnother great way to hone your skills, old and new, is to apply them to something real, whether its publishing a blog, selling on Etsy, or creating a mobile app. Nonprofits always need volunteers to help with their websites, organize events, or attract new members.Having a side hustle or passion project is a great showcase for your soft skills, too, as you demonstrate your ability to initiate and follow through on projects, pitch your ideas, collaborate with others, and take ownership.Theres a quote I like that says, The best way to predict the future is to create it. This has never been more true than toda y, when the world of work is moving and changing so fast. Instead of feeling like they cant think beyond the latest urgent email chain, people can take charge of their careers by embracing learning.Shelley Osborne is head of learning and development at Udemy.

Sunday, December 29, 2019

3 Positive Steps for Managers to Curb Workplace Bullying

3 Positive Steps for Managers to Curb Workplace Bullying3 Positive Steps for Managers to Curb Workplace Bullying3 Positive Steps for Managers to Curb Workplace Bullying Namie, PhD, author of The Bully-Free Workplace Stop Jerks, Weasels Snakes from Killing Your Organization (Wiley, 2011).Back in 2007, many were surprised to learn that 37% of all adult Americans claimed to have been bullied at work. The scientific poll by the Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) used the definition repeated mistreatment by one or more employees that takes the form of either verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, humiliation, interference with work or some combination. Bosses were the main perpetrators (in 72% of incidents). Workplace bullying held steady at 35% according to the 2010 WBI survey.Employers have a dismal record of voluntarily dealing with bullying. Why? Bullying benefits executives. Or people dont know how to stop it. If the former is true, laws are needed to compel attention. Better to assum e knowledge and skill shortcomings.While waiting for executives to realize the benefits from adopting a comprehensive solution, there is much that can be done by managers and supervisors to tamp down bullying and dilute its destructive impact on employee and organizational health.Here are three simple action steps for managers that can be done today.1.) Hold confirmed bullies accountable. Drop the go work it out between yourselves ducking of your responsibility as manager. Get involved or the festering problem eventually will prevent any work from getting done.Your task is easier if there a clear statement about what conduct is, and is not, acceptable in the company. If none exists, you can always create one in collaboration with the team that applies to those you supervise. If such a code does not exist, write a list of what you consider unacceptable. Use work-relevant impacts to justify each item. Share that list with everyone you supervise.If the alleged bully is your favorite, y ou will have trouble believing that she or he is capable of being mean. To solve the problem, you have to shelve favoritism. All your other employees are counting on you to do so.Before questioning the alleged bully, provide the complaining target with physical separation for safety, assuring that it is not punitive. Do it because retaliation follows questioning of the bully. Bullies will justify their conduct targets make them do it or they are perfectionists. Assess the relevance in terms of impact on the work teams ability to perform without fear.The rationale for your 11 interviews with employees is a checkup of the work climate, rather than an investigation. Getting information from terrified coworkers is nearly impossible.Many side with bullies for self-protection. Ask if they personally ever had negative encounters with the alleged bully. Ask how negative things can be hidden from you. Ask if they have seen personal changes, minor or major, in any coworkers.Should you be con cerned? Believe the accuser until proven otherwise. Bullies lie. Humiliated targets are ashamed. With a mind untainted by favoritism, you will understand the competing versions of reality represented by the alleged bully and target.If the facts confirm that your line in the sand was crossed, make the bully apologize. Choose other appropriate consequences (HR can advise). Promise coworkers freedom from bullying in the future. Help restore the targeted workers health paid time off, counseling, support. Monitor the bullys conduct, imposing the threat of termination for non-compliance with the policy or your list. Practice in executing this step makes it easier. Paradoxically, it also becomes rarer.2.) Catch and correct peer bullies. If you stumble on a colleague berating a worker, you can intervene. The least risky method is to tug on the managers arm to remove her or him. Simply interrupt the incident. Then, deal with it behind closed doors for dignitys sake. It is more likely that a worker supervised by your subordinate or by another supervisor seeks your help. Do not ignore the person who asked you for relief.When you have the manager alleged to be a bully alone, make the case for stopping the bullying behavior. Encourage change by citing impact on employee health, morale, productivity, trust and loyalty. If an anti-bullying policy exists, remind her or him of the hassle of a complaint and investigation. Good managers do not use tactics of intimidation, domination or humiliation. Become the anti-bullying advocate within the management team.3.) Your Management Style Could you be the bully?This is the hardest step of all. Ask your family. Do you feel constantly misunderstood and misperceived? Do you think your standards are high and wonder why others seem to not care as much as you? Is it impossible for you make your contributions subordinate to those of others?Indicators at work include being excluded from social events. At meetings, are your ideas never met w ith dissenting views? Is the employee turnoverrate in units you supervise higher than elsewhere in the organization? Is absenteeism so high that production is subpar? Do you see decline in the pool of available talent so that no new hires seem acceptable?Look in the mirror. You are the problem. Turn to your staff to ask how you could change to eliminate the above problems. Follow their instructions.Author BioDr. Gary Namie is President of The Work Doctor, consulting specialists in workplace bullying. He is co-author of The Bully-Free Workplaceand directs the Workplace Bullying Institute.Make your company a bully-free zoneYour workplace should foster teamwork and innovation, which leaves absolutely no room for bullying. As the boss, youre in charge of making sure your employees are safe and comfortable, and that means dealing with bullies before they become a problem. Could you use some help?Sign up for exclusive https//www.youtube.com/ adviceand well send you the latest recruiting t ips, hiring trends, management strategies, and even some awesome deals.Weve got tips to help you spot potentially troublesome candidates, as well as strategies you can use to create a healthy work environment.

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Civilian Careers in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Civilian Careers in Criminology and Criminal JusticeCivilian Careers in Criminology and Criminal JusticeMany people immediately think of law enforcement officers and police detectives when they talk about careers in criminology and criminal justice. These are the most visible professions within criminal justice, but theyre not the only ones. You dont have to be a police officer to work in criminology. A host of jobs are available to those whose interests go far beyond law enforcement, from working with evidence to working with crime victims. Civilians vs. Sworn Officers- Whats the Difference? Sworn officers have the power to arrest individuals who are breaking or have broken the law. Theyre also authorized to carry weapons. Theyre literally sworn as the title suggests- theyve taken an oath to uphold the law. This doesnt detract from the contributions of those who work in civilian capacities. Their goal is to assist in upholding the law as well. Crime Analysts A crime analyst plays a vital role in assisting local, state, and federal law enforcement officers in the fight against crime. They gather intelligence and data, and they help officers in nearly every aspect of law enforcement, from planning patrols to identifying emerging trends and criminal activity. Crime analysts study police reports to help predict when, where, and what crimes will occur. They also provide crucial information in officer safety bulletins regarding dangerous people and trends, helping to make sure that more officers make it home safely at the end of their shifts. Forensic Science Careers Forensic scientists work in a variety of conditions and numerous specializations. They might work in a crime lab or as part of a crime scene investigative unit. Forensics technicians collect, preserve, and analyze evidence, then they present their findings to investigators to help them solve crimes. Some forensic technicians specialize in bloodstain pattern analysis. They look at the spread and pattern of blood spatter at crime scenes to gather information about how a crime occurred, as well as insight into the schriftart of person who might have committed it. Other technicians are experts in ballistics. They can obtain valuable information about the trajectories of projectiles, the caliber, and the type of bullets used in crimes. They can even help identify the type of gun used. Forensic anthropologists use their knowledge of human remains to develop information about the victims of crimes. They can help give investigators clues as to the types of injuries a victim sustained, the age of the victim, and even certain identifying characteristics such as height and weight- all based on little more than a few bones and skeletal remains. Forensic Psychology Forensic psychologists work in various components within the criminal justice system. Some work as jury consultants, helping attorneys analyze and select jurors for trials and prepare witnesses for the stand. Others work in the corrections industry, helping to rehabilitate convicted criminals or evaluate accused criminals to determine whether theyre competent to stand trial. One very intriguing career in forensic psychology is that of the criminal profiler. These professionals work closely with investigators to provide information about the perpetrators of serious crimes, giving detectives leads based on personality type that can even help identify the age and race of a criminal when they have little else to go on. Criminologists Criminology is the study of crime and its causes, costs, and consequences. The job of a criminologist is to do just that study crime. Criminologists teach in universities, work for think tanks, and assist policymakers in creating public policy regarding crime and the appropriate response to crime. Forensic Computer Investigators Computer investigators use their knowledge of technology and their computer skills to assist investigators in collecting electronic ev idence and tracking cybercriminals. They can be called upon to dig deep into a hard drive to recover lost or erased data, or they might work for cybersecurity firms, helping to create and test measures that protect systems from hackers. Loss Prevention Specialists Loss prevention specialists work for retail stores. Their primary function is to mitigate or eliminate the theft of merchandise by both customers and employees. People who work in loss prevention often hold degrees in criminology and criminal justice, and they use the job as a stepping stone toward careers in law enforcement or security. Many, however, go on to successful careers preventing theft for major corporations. Child Protective Services These workers do their own type of investigation, often with the assistance of other authorities. Its their job to look into allegations of child neglect or abuse. These allegations can be received from a variety of sources family members, neighbors, friends, or adults who have a duty to report their suspicions by law, such as teachers and medical personnel. Sports Security and Investigations Theres even a place for criminology in major sports. The National Football League, Major League Baseball, and the NCAA all make use of security professionals to maintain the integrity of the sport. These professionals protect players from others and from themselves, and they look into allegations such as cheating, rules violations, and steroid use. Police Dispatcher Law enforcement officers need tons of support to perform their jobs well. Police dispatchers provide that support by taking calls for service, recording and providing case numbers, and sending units to incidents that require police intervention. Dispatchers are an indispensable component of any law enforcement agency, and this can be a wonderful career opportunity for those who want to work in law enforcement without having to serve as police officers. Victim Advocates Victim advocates aid and assists the victims of crimes. They might arrange for medical services in the immediate aftermath of a crime, then later walk victims through the judicial process and help with any questions or needs the victim might face. Many advocates are employed by state courts or state services, but others work for police departments. Private Investigators OK, maybe you do want to carry a gun. Private investigators must typically be licensed by the state in which they operate, and they must have permits to carry firearms if theyre going to do so. The primary job of this type of career is to collect evidence, both physical evidence and through witness testimony, that can then be turned over to the authorities. But private investigators arent limited to issues of crimes. They might investigate domestic situations, potential employees, or missing persons. They can work independently, through an agency, or even for private corporations or law firms. There Are Plenty of Careers Availabl e These are just a few of the many careers available to those who are interested in civilian employment in criminology and criminal justice. The options are nearly limitless, and youre sure to find a job that will meet all your needs with the right preparation and education.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

A Kids Kitchen

A Kids Kitchen A Kids Kitchen A Kids KitchenFor 25 years, University of Tulsa engineering students have used their talents to address the special needs of Oklahoma residents with physical and developmental disabilities.The program is called Make a Difference EngineeringMADE at TUand students from all departments in the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences are invited to participate. This year, seven seniors designed and built a small portable kitchen as an educational tool for developmentally challenged children.The kitchen allows children to participate in food preparation ranging from mixing and chopping to slicing and dicing. Christopher Butler, Sam Carr, Mohamed Ghori, David Gogolakis, Salman Hassan Al-Ali, Joe Meier, and Khristen Thornburg worked directly with staff from the Little Light House, a tuition-free Christian center for preschool-age children with special needs.Molly Smith, the Little Light Houses director of development, said, The goal of the center is to provi de hope for families of children with special needs and improve their quality of life.John Henshaw, chair of the universitys Department of Mechanical Engineering, is the MADE at TU advisor. TUs goals are broadto use the engineering talents of students to make life better for people with disabilities, Henshaw said. This program not only helps the students develop comprehensive technical skills, but it also helps them gain the experience of client interaction.The project features cooking tools that children can control with supervision.According to David Gogolakis, the team leader on the kitchen project, The Little Light House pitched the project to us as a potential customer for our senior project and collectively, seven of us put about 1,400 hours in on creating the Mobile Cooking Center.The modified kitchen is designed to be safe and friendly for the children, who will use it under supervision of a therapist or aide. The cooking center is a completely functional mini kitchen with u pper and lower cabinets for storage, two fold-down tables for counter space, an induction stovetop where the surface area around the pan doesnt get hot, a cutting board, mixer, a mechanical arm to help pour ingredients into bowls, and a slicer and dicer.The kitchen has options to accommodate different children, many of whom have mobility and sensory challenges. The TU students purchased a Ninja slicer and dicer and then built stands for it, so it can be operated by remote control. After the therapists plug the machine into a specific outlet, the children can push a button, allowing them to watch the process in action.The kitchen has plastic knives that are safe for the kids to use with assistance. Therapists can attach different spoons or measuring cups to the pouring arm, which functions similar to a desk lamp. The arm can be repositioned to pour ingredients into a second bowl.The design team helped the children make pancakes in the mobile kitchen the day it was delivered. Accordin g to Meier, a remote control device was used to operate the mixer to mix pancake batter. All of the kitchens components can be operated both manually and by remote control.The mechanical engineering students have listened to our needs of making all their projects accessible to all of our children, said Dede Flately, physical therapist at the Little Light House. They have provided projects that help the children with different aspects of their development by providing a fun activity that will not seem to be work to them. For Further DiscussionThe goal of the center is to provide hope for families of children with special needs and improve their quality of life.Molly Smith, the Little Light House

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Unexpected Contract You Should Write When Taking on a New Job

The Unexpected Contract You Should Write When Taking on a New JobThe Unexpected Contract You Should Write When Taking on a New JobCongratulations, NeilI welches sitting across from an HR exec at Walmart a few years ago. His hand was outstretched, and on the desk in front of us was a crisp sheet of paper spelling out all the terms of my new promotion. I shook his hand and left doing mental cartwheels down the hall.This was it The dream job mora money, bigger team, fancier title, more interesting work.And more total work, too. A few more meetings. A few more hours. A few more business trips. A bigger job means bigger responsibilities, which would probably mean dedicating more time and effort overall- thats just how promotions work, I inwardly shrugged.Promotion letter in hand, I popped my head into the office of one of my mentors at the company Guess what I got the big promotion.Congratulations he said. Are you going to accept it?What did he mean, Was I going to accept it?Well, it feel s like a slam dunk, I replied, wondering what he was getting at. I feel like I should sign this right now and head straight back to the SVPs office.Go ahead and sign it, he said with smile. But its a big job Youll be leading a large team and on the road a lot. So, before you hand it back in, make koranvers you take the contract home, share it with your wife, and write up another contract, too- a family contract. One between you and her. The company is changing all your terms, arent they? So, make sure you revisit all your home terms, too.He had a point. Many of us have contracts with our employers, but few of us have contracts with our partners.Strange as it sounds, I went home that night and pitched the idea to my wife, Leslie. We both agreed it was a smart move to think deliberately about how changes in either of our careers might affect work-life balance for both of us. So, we sat down and spent a long time that night discussing things. At the end, we arrived at a short contract with four key bullet points whose terms are still in force today1. Nights AwayAs a parent, it breaks my heart to miss bath time. Knowing theres a finite number of these nights in our lives, Leslie weighed approximately how many nights per year I might have to be away in the new role. We came up with a number that we could both live with. Then, we began tracking it.The nights-away cap wed agreed to was easy to break down per month, so if I had a really busy month (say, a conference out of town) then I knew Id need to cut back on travel the next month to make up for it. No, I never actually told my boss, Sorry, Ive hit my quota, send someone else In fact, just tracking things helped me stop sweating every business trip. I simply counted them toward an annual number. Plus, if I ever fumbled this bullet point, I knew Id have to make it up on one of the subsequent three (theres only so much control you have when youre working for someone else). Can this hamper your career? Absolutely. Le ts not pretend you can have everything. Come up with a number that works for your family, and stick with it.Related Heres How Metric Parenting Can Relieve Working Parent Guilt2. Family DayWe decided it was important for us to have one family day every weekend- a full day with no cell phones, no extended family, no friends, nothing. Just me, my wife, our two little kids, and zero interruptions.Before setting this down in writing, so many weekends would rush past in a blur of gymnastics, birthday parties, and extended family dinners. They were fun But there was no deep family time for just us four. To be honest, sticking to this bullet point has been really tough. Sometimes you feel terrible declining an invitation to an outing or get-together you know will be really special. But prioritizing one family day every weekend creates energy, and it helps you be choosier about your commitments. After all, theres a real risk in saying yes to things reflexively.3. Nights OutThe third item in our contract reads NNO/LNO Neils Night Out/Leslies Night Out. This is a fun one. Once a week, we each get one night to do whatever we feel like. That can mean dinner with a friend, catching some live music by myself, spinning around in circles in empty parking lots- hey, who cares, its my night off Leslie gets her own each week, too.Again, energy is the priceless commodity here. Its too easy to collapse on the couch in a Netflix coma once the kids are in bed. These regular night-out appointments help us plan to prioritize ourselves and maintain our other relationships, too. I feel like a great father and husband both before and after I go away on business, because I get energy from those nights to carry me through the time Im away.Plus, I get my own stories and experiences to bring back into the home while continuing to develop my life as an individual. The best part is theres no guilt, since my wife and I both practice this habit in equal proportion (so in a way our two nights pay for each other). The two nights end up feeling like a gift to each other- even when we (admittedly) need to push one another to actually take them during a tiring week.Related How I Knew When Saying Yes Was Hurting My Productivity (and Worse)4. Vacation DaysI know work contracts generally have a number of vacation days spelled out. But most of us arent taking real vacation. We either dont take all our days- by some recent estimates most Americans leave paid time-off that theyre entitled to on the table- or we work while were away. Its also worth noting that some companies have policies where you can either buy additional vacation days or take unpaid personal days. Whats my point? Simply that its one thing for your employer to tell you what you get and another for you and your family to decide what you want to take.After all, vacation time is one of the things many people dont bother to negotiate when theyre considering a new job offer or weighing a promotion. In fact, you might even be able to swap out something smaller, like a bonus, for more vacation time if you ask for it. After finalizing our contract, I took advantage each year of a policy at Walmart that let me apply for an extra couple weeks of unpaid leave, and then took the 5% annual hit to my salary. It was a worthwhile tradeoff for the extra time with my family, and I never noticed the funds that were being skimmed off the top.Thats it Four bullet points- but they couldnt be more important. Everybody will have a different set of terms that matter to them and their partner. Maybe yours will involve school drop-off and pickup, or whether or not you work from home certain days of the week. In any case, you dont have to march into work and share this work-life contract with your boss. The point is simply to help you articulate your values, then actually express them in how you live.Ive actually found this helps me make smarter, speedier decisions about the way Im spending my time. For instance, if I can t avoid traveling on a weekend and miss a family day, then I automatically know I need to book two back-to-back family days on an upcoming weekend. Good excuse for a road trip As you think about a contract that works with you and your partner, remember that the goal is never to be perfect. Its simply to be a little better- and more balanced- than before.Related The Insanely Simple Way to Prioritize Your Life and WorkThis article was originally published on nicht weit davon entfernt sein Company. It has been republished here with permission.