Taxing Situations on the Job Hunt

Taxing Situations on the Job HuntTaxing Situations on the Job HuntNot all tax deductions are created equal.We often use the aphorism that the job search is a job itself. Like most maxims, its easy to take for granted - until theres actual personal value at stake.When you consider your relationship with the IRS, your job hunt does indeed take on a decidedly entrepreneurial cast in many ways, youre hanging out your own shingle and reporting the results of your business venture by April 15.The government is aware that it takes money to make money (to deploy another slogan), and the U.S. tax code allows you to deduct many expenses related to your job search, from travel to training to supplies up to and including some relocation costs. But be aware Not all deductions are created equal, and faulty assumptions can put you at odds with the feds.Ladders editors are not finance professionals, and our first, best advice is to check with an accountant or other qualified financial advisor abou t your specific situation. To get you started, however, weve talked to pros about your prospects for happy returns from your job search.

3 Smart Ways to Brainstorm Better

3 Smart Ways to Brainstorm Better3 Smart Ways to Brainstorm BetterWhen was the last time you brainstormed?Was it over a group assignment in high school? Maybe over a particularly challenging DIY project? Or was it this week, at work?Brainstorming is a tried-and-true way many managers encurage their employees to generate ideas.The goal is to get people in a room with a white board- and snacks, hopefully- and let the fantastic, creative ideas fly.Heres the twist We may have been going about it all wrong.The New Yorkerreports that research consistently proves that traditional brainstorming- the schriftart youve likely been doing yur whole life- is less productive than sending people off to think by themselves. (Although thereisa type of brainstorming researchers recommend- well get to that.)This could be good news when youre privately brainstorming ways to ace your employee review, but it could cause some problems in the office.Namely, you cant just opt out the next time your boss herds you into the conference room. (Plus, you might miss the snacks.)We talked to a brainstorming expert- yes, there is such a thing- to find out why this is, and how you can be a better brainstormer in three easy steps.This Will Make You More CreativeThe New Yorkerwrites that a key principle of most brainstorming is the absence of negative criticism. Thats supposed to encourage people to speak up, since no one wants to volunteer ideas that get shot down.But research shows that its not brainstorming thats ineffective so much as brainstormingwithout any criticism. This is because criticism encourages us to engage more fully with the work of others and to reassess our viewpoints.In an experiment at UC Berkeley, a test brainstorming group encouraged to give negative criticism blew groups without criticism out of the water by generating nearly 20% more ideas.The same professor, Charlan Nemeth, showed in a separate study that people are more creative when exposed to dissenting opinions.There s this Pollyannaish notion that the most important thing to do when working together is stay positive and get along, to not hurt anyones feelings, she tells The New Yorker. Well, thats just wrong. Maybe debate is going to be less pleasant, but it will always be more productive. True creativity requires some trade-offs.3 Tricks to a More Productive BrainstormGerald Solutionman Haman is the founder of four separate innovation and creativity organizations and platzdeckchen the world record for brainstorming by hosting a session with 8,000 people who generated 454,000 ideas for government improvement in Singapore Stadium. In the 20 years since he founded his innovation companySolutionPeople, he has helped clients generate over three million ideas, valued at $2 billion.Clearly, he believes in brainstorming.We asked his advice for how to do it right1. Get ComfortableHaman SaysIve found that if your feet are comfortable, your brain is comfortable. One client actually calculated that people who wore socks generated 13% more ideas that those who did not.When youre comfy, you can devote your full attention to the task at hand.You CanGet appropriately comfortable. You probably cant don sweatpants at work, but you might be able to kick off your shoes under the conference table or wear pants instead of a skirt when you know theres a creative meeting. Pick a spot at the table where you can see the board or screen easily, and bring a sweater in case the room is cold. This principle is doubly true (and even easier to pull off) when youre brainstorming by yourself at home.2. Start AskingHaman SaysDuring the past 20 years, we have helped our clients generate over 3 million ideas by asking over 10,000 questions. We have an entire question bank He built a toolto facilitate innovation, which includes basic but crucial questions such as, What is needed, wanted, or wished? among other images, questions, and ideas that prompt creativity. Unexpected questions lead to unexpected, and p otentially great, ideas.You CanSpeak up. Haman and his team arent the only ones who can ask questions You can achieve a similar effect through asking questions and expressing your (possibly dissenting) opinion. The best ideas come from friction, such as between people in different departments. Speak up, ask questions, express your opinions.Remember Criticism and conversation are key to a productive session. But frame your contributions as improvements rather than refutation This might work even better if weEven outside of the workplace, it can be wise to ask the opinion of someone you trust before acting on an idea you have. By allowing them to ask questions or poke holes in your ideas, you may wind up with a better plan than you started with.3. Dont Give UpHaman SaysInvest more time in brainstorming sessions. I have a model called the M-Curve that shows thatoldideas are generated during the morning of a typical one-day brainstorming session, andnewideas are generated in the afterno on. Near the end of the sessions is when the best new ideas and breakthroughs occur.You CanStretch it out. Sure, your team might only have the conference room for 45 minutes, but you can make your personal brainstorm last much longer. Before your meeting (that morning or the night before, not en route to the room), jot down the ideas you already have. That way, youll be in the right mindset to generate fresh ideas once you hit the table. If youre planning a brainstorm, you might want to break it into two sessions so your group can meet, take a break, and then come back stronger for round two. The same goes for brainstorming at home If the right idea doesnt occur to you right away, revisit the problem later in the day.This article has been republished with permission from our partner,LearnVest. For more financial and life advice thats sound, savvy, and actually fun to read, check out If your profession isone of the most well-rested, were a little jealous. It may seem impossible, but you canstart balancing work and family in 10 easy steps. Mixed signals no more Fend off creepy co-workers withthese four tips.Photo courtesy of Gonzalo lvarez Maran.

Top 5 Social Skills for Workplace Success

Top 5 Social Skills for Workplace SuccessTop 5 Social Skills for Workplace SuccessWhat are social skills, and why are they essential for workplace success? Social skills, also called interpersonal skills, are those we use to interact and communicate with other people. These skills include both verbal skills (the way you speak to other people) and nonverbal skills (your body language, gestures, and eye contact). Why Employers Value Social Skills Social skills are importantsoft skills- the personal qualities (as opposed to professional hard skills acquired through education, training, or job experience) that are key to interacting well with others. Almost every job requires social skills. If you work on a team, you need to be able to get along with others. If you work with clients, you must listen attentively to their questions and concerns. If you are a manager, you will be called upon to motivate employees. Even if your job does not involve interacting with other people very muc h, you still need to possess a few social skills to interact with your employer and colleagues. Because social skills are so important, almost every employer looks for job candidates with unterstellung competencies. It is therefore vital that you demonstrate that you have strong social skills in your resume, cover letter, and interview. Here is a list of the top five social skills that employers seek in candidates for employment. Also have a look at the subsequent tips on how to demonstrate that you have social skills throughout your job search. Top 5 Social Skills 1. Empathy Empathy is a very important skill. To interact well with others, you must be able to understand how they are feeling. Empathy is especially critical when dealing with clients who come to you with questions or problems. You need to express genuine concern for their issues, as well as helping to solve them. 2. Cooperation Cooperation is especially important when you work on ateam, where you will be required t o partner with others to reach a commongoal. However, even if you do not work on a team, cooperation is still necessary on those occasions when you are asked to work alongside colleagues to help achieve the goals of your organization. 3. Verbal and Written Communication Verbal communicationis the ability to express yourself using clear language that others can understand. Youll need solid verbal communication skills whenever you speak to others in person or on the phone. Written communication comes into play whenever you write an email, text, letter, report, or presentation here, appropriate grammar, spelling, and format are necessary. 4. Listening Another important communication skill that helps you interact well with others islistening. You need to be able to listen carefully to what your employer tells you to do, to what your colleagues say in a meeting, and to what your employees ask of you. You must listen to clients concerns, and express to them that you have understood them. People respond well to others when they feel they are being heard. 5. Nonverbal Communication While verbal communication is an important skill, so isnonverbal communication. Through your body language, eye contact, and facial expressions, you can express that you are an empathetic person who carefully listens to others. How to Show Your Social Skills During a Job Search Try to demonstrate that you have all of these social skills throughout your job search process. Firstly, be sure to incorporate the social skill words discussed here (empathy, cooperation, verbal and written communication, listening, nonverbal communication) into yourresume. Good places to use these keywords are in your work history or in yourresume summary(if you have one). Secondly, you can use these words in yourcover letter. In the body of your letter, mention one or two of these skills, providing specific examples of a time when you demonstrated them at work. Thirdly, you can use these skill words in aninte rview. Make sure you have at least one example for a time you utilized each of the top five skills listed here. Of course, each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description carefully, and focus on the skills listed by the employer. Interviews also provide the perfect forum to demonstrate your interpersonal talents. Make sure to usenonverbal communicationthat conveys your interest in the interview, the employer, and the job. Speak clearly, and listen carefully to the questions being asked. Displaying these interpersonal skills in person is the best way to convince an employer that you have what it takes to excel in the position theyre offering.