The weirdest ways some exes got revenge on Valentines Day

The weirdest ways some exes got revenge on Valentines DayThe weirdest ways some exes got revenge on Valentines DayHas your ex done you wrong?Its a dog-eat-dog world out there, and people can be nasty as they cut ties. Maybe a breakup from a few years ago still stings, or perhaps you were one of the unlucky individualswho had their hearts crushed just moments before Valentines Day. Either way, alls fair in love and war, and nothing says Im over you quite like plotting an elaborate revenge scheme against your ex.Plus, theres good news As the fruchtwein romantic holiday of the year fast approaches, wildlife everywhere is here to help in your quest to get even. Here are some of the weirdest ways animals can be the Robin to your Batman this V-day as you right all the wrongs from your dating history.Name a cockroachIt is a universally acknowledged fact that cockroaches are the most disgusting creatures on Earth. Their antennae alone make them creepy crawlers, and that crunch they make - * shudders.*Well, for only $15, the Bronx zoologischer garten will name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after whomever you like and email you a certificate on Feb. 13 as proof. Your exs legacy can be a cockroach named Jake, because why not?But whats that I hear? Thats not far enough? Dont worry, there are more cockroaches ahead.Kill a cockroachMaybe youre just not all that grossed out by cockroaches. Or maybe you want your ex to squirm in the fourth circle of hell for a little while, and a simple name game isnt enough to quench your rage.Either way, the El Paso Zoo has got you. For a few days in February, all you had to do was message your exs name to the zoo, and they would name a cockroach after that awful excuse for a human being. Now, theyre about to start posting names of exes on social media (first name and last initial) leading up to the big primetime moment.At 215 p.m. on Valentines Day, the zoo will live stream meerkats eating said cockroaches on Facebook Live and its meerkat webcam. Additional feedings to other animals are forthcoming. If you didnt get your entry in on time, at least youll be able to bask in the glory of someone elses sweet, sweet revenge as you watch Jim get taken down by a member of the mongoose family.Name a snake after your exSo admittedly, snakes are kind of cool. But theyre also creepy. Theres a reason so many Disney villains seem to be surrounded by snakes all the time.And this Valentines, the Wild Life Sydney Zoo in Sydney, Australia, is giving one (un)lucky lover the chance to name a venomous brown snake after their ex.The entry process includes a 25-word summary of why your ex deserves such a fate, as well as a $1 donation to the Wild Life Conservation Fund.But lets be real, guys Its probably best to just let go of the past and hope for better treatment in future relationships. No? notlage gonna work for you? Well then, these options are the best revenge the Internet can provide, so knock yourselves out.

76% say not hearing back about a job worse than being ghosted

76% say not hearing back about a job worse than being ghosted76% say not hearing back about a job worse than being ghostedNew research from cloud-based talent acquisition solutions provider iCIMS Inc. shows that 76% of Americans consider not hearing back after sending in a job application more frustrating than being ghosted after date number one.Five hundred working American adults reportedly took the survey (whether they were full-time or part-time), and the report also included numbers from the iCIMS system, which is reportedly based on a database of more than 61 million applications and three million jobs posted per year by 3,500+ customers.Heres what applicants think of employersThe research found that 95%of people surveyed think that how a kompetenz employer treats them as a candidate is a reflection of how they would treat them as an employee. Still, 67% of working Americans think that the application, interview or other process would make or break theirdecision on whether to t ake a job.But 26% of those surveyed say that they have resigned from a position specifically because they didnt feel they were onboarded or trained properly. While this option should be a last resort, here are some tips on how to leave a job on good terms, should you ever need to do so.Still, other employees felt like taking it there - but held back - with 44% thinking about resigning without actually going through with it.

5 ways to handle an influx of new hires at your company

5 ways to handle an influx of new hires at your company5 ways to handle an influx of new hires at your companyHaving one or two new employees start around the same time is one thing, but when a bunch of new hires come on board around the same time, companies can change overnight. Heres how to welcome them and the changes they will bring.Get to know themWhether the new people sit near you or across the office, feel free to introduce yourself and tell them what team youre part of when you meet them face-to-face for the first time.Your company may or may leid introduce new hires publicly, but doing this is sure to help them feel more at home at their new workplace.Youll also probably feel more clued into whats going on with new hires.Try not to feel too left outIf a bunch of people join other teams, but not yours, you might feel like youre not part of the office tribe.But if they join your department, justrealize that this is an opportunity to get to know people who might eventually bec ome valuable additions to your professional network. You can probably learn a lot from at least one new employee on your team, if not more than one.An influx of new employees could also be a good sign of growthand can makeit easier to tell where the company is heading.Accept that the office dynamic will changeRealize and accept this - as long as the new hires arent disruptive, that is.New people will bring new energy into your workspace, which just might shake up the company culture in a good way. They may also bring in fresh perspectives and ideas.But if all the new employees are making it harder for you to get work done, look for a quiet space to work or put in headphones while at your desk.Be open to their questionsWhether they need someone to quickly show them the ropes, or they have questions about the kind of work you do, be receptive to their questions and concerns.Chances are, you wont have all the answers, so feel free to point them in the direction of someone who knows mo re when youre stumped. This is also a good way for them to branch out and get to know others.Introduce them to key peopleNew employees managers may not have gotten around to introducing them to other people in passing - especially if they arent in the same department.Clearly, this is in the same vein as being open to new employees questions and concerns if they have a question about something and you know the perfect coworker in another department who could be of help, introduce them to each other.Who knows? Maybe one day theyll return the favor by introducing you to someone you havent met before.

ASME Partners with Nano Commercialization Organization for 2015 and 2016 Conferences

ASME Partners with Nano Commercialization Organization for 2015 and 2016 Conferences ASME Partners with Nano Commercialization Organization for 2015 and 2016 Conferences ASME Partners with Nano Commercialization Organization for 2015 and 2016 ConferencesASME has partnered with the Micro and Nano Technology Commercialization Education Foundation (MANCEF) in the groups next two Commercialization of Micro-, Nano-, and Emerging Technologies (COMS) conferences, which are widely regarded as being among the leading global events focusing on the scale-up of micro- and nanotechnologies. The next conference, COMS 2015, will take place from Sept. 13 through 16 in Krakw, Poland.COMS 2015, to be held at the at the Holiday Inn Krakw City Centre, will consist of a number of tracks examining the science and applications related to micro- and nanotechnology, as well as the market opportunities it presents. Technical papers and sessions will focus on areas including technical transfer, new materials a nd applications, emerging microfluidics technologies, new instrumentation for life science, green energy, smart medical systems, and education and workforce issues, among others.Speakers at the 2015 conference will include a wide range of experts from the field of micro- and nanotechnology. Invited speakers include Volker Saile, president of MANCEF Khalil Rouhana of the European Commission Gabriel Crean of the Atomic Energy Commission Thomas Laurell, director of CellCARE at Lund University in Sweden Erol Harvey, chief executive officer at MiniFAB Pty. Ltd. Janusz Bryzek, CEO at eXo ordnungsprinzip Inc. Susumu Kaminaga of SPP Technologies Pty. Ltd. Oja Aarne, director of the High Performance Microsystems Program at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Maximilian Fleischer, senior principal for Sensing Systems, Corporate Research and Technology at Siemens AG.For more information on COMS 2015, visit http//coms2015.eu//. To learn more about the Micro and Nano Technology Commerci alization Education Foundation, visit www.mancef.org. COMS 2016 will be held next fall in Texas.

Finding Passion with the Help of Flexible Work

Finding Passion with the Help of Flexible WorkFinding Passion with the Help of Flexible WorkIn a recent article titled The Problem with Following Your Passion, the age-old adage of doing what you love is picked apart. While most professionals have probably tried to find work they are passionate about, many overlook the possibility of creating passion in work they already have. Which, given the right mindset, could be possible in many situations.Its interesting to see that psychologists are examining human passion and how it relates to work. Through research conducted by Patricia Chen, it was found that 70 percent of professionals believe in the fit theory, which is when skills and rewarding work match up or fit. This is the societal version of finding passion at work. The other 30 percent of polled professionals believed mora in the develop theory, which is when a passion for work is developed over time. This is handing power back to individuals to create their own success.Given that passion, generally defined, means finding enjoyment in challenges that others would find cumbersome and grueling, it seems that passion is more about perspective than the right fit. Given this information, we can apply the power of perspective to a job search and our own daily work by facing challenges head on in a way that we find enjoyable.So, are you ready to have a different perspective and start finding passion in your work? Heres how flexible work can helpIt creates a different environment where you are in more control of your work and your personal life.Flexible work can help you remove the office politics that might be clouding your perspective and how you feel about your work.The change afforded by flexible work might be enough to change your perspective and allow the underlying passion to shine through.Flexible work is available in a number of industries if your interests arent aligned with your current field.Flexible work can increase health and happiness, which can chan ge the perspective on other areas in work and life.Working flexibly can support a healthy lifestyle, including decreased stress levels.As you go about your day and wonder if you are passionate about your work, consider the different areas where you could change your perspective. Do you think you could change your perspective and create passion in your work through flexible opportunities? With the ability to manage our own happiness, there are endless possibilities of where you can follow your passion and create work you are passionate about.Know someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- youll get a month free service and theyll get 30% off

The Secret Truth on Sales Associate Resume Examples Uncovered

The Secret Truth on schlussverkauf Associate Resume Examples Uncovered Sales Associate Resume Examples Can Be Fun for Everyone The last product should appear similar to the professionally written resumes at the peak of the webpage. Often as the geschftsleben will get a great deal of words, then they may use computer software to look at the letter. Researching the business you may be working for can be as simple as surfing the world wide web for the info. The Benefits of Sales Associate Resume Examples If this is the case, you may be an ideal candidate for a sales associate job. You want to have that retail job. Only if youd like the greatest retail jobs. Look back at your previous jobs. If youre searching for a career in sales, the very first place to begin is in your resume. If youre on the lookout for a new job, its important to understand that having a well-written resume can help you land the sales associate position youre searching for. With that very first example, you might get a work selling magic wands at Ollivanders. Learn about the business, its requirements, and the work offer. By agreeing you accept using cookies in agreement with our cookie policy. In the majority of cases, you ought not include hobbies on your submission in the slightest. A tailored resume will be able to help you get noticed. The illustration will help make certain that you compose a resume of your own that will unquestionably be correct and in the correct format. Whether you work as a retail salesrolle or manage a big account with a worldwide corporation, you will need to comprehend your customers needs. In some cases, a sales associate resume will also have to include cold calling and client service duties too. Your sales associate resume needs to seem professional if you would like to have your credentials stick out in a crowded field. To create a powerful and productive career within the field of sales by consistently contributing to the revenue genera ting programs of the business. Finding Sales Associate Resume Examples Online Summary are two fundamental strategies. A resume summary is a couple lines on the first day of your resume. Examples of resumes are among the absolute most helpful approaches to be certain that youre writing one which is good and thats correct for the specific job youre applying for. Whispered Sales Associate Resume Examples Secrets Companies would like to know how you contributed to the success of your prior employers. Positions involving the selling of more advanced or complicated products may expect a college degree. You must find out how to create the best retail sales associate you could send to the business and offer good first impact about your self, understand it here. The retail business is only projected to grow, so now is the ideal time to apply So to become involved with the business you want, will come to be increasingly hard due to the several competitors who also use for work. Wh ich means youve got to understand how to generate the best letter as youre ready to deliver to the business and offer great first effect about yourself. Look at any media articles covering the organization and research on people that are holding or have held the exact same job to be ready for any questions. No formal illustration is usually required to turn into a sales associate. Ensure you highlight your strongest full and many sample professional achievements. To compose a very first class resume you want to make it predominantly results oriented and concentrate on your achievements and contributions during your career. Creating the resume for your very first job is particularly difficult as you may not sample your prior positions like most resumes do. It is quite easy to find examples for resumes which are job specific. Sales Associate Resume Examples Secrets That No One Else Knows About Your experience becomes the product that you will need to sell. To be successful in practically any sort of sales occupation, you require the skills to convince a person to purchase your organizations product. 20 real examples will explain to you how to describe your experience and compose a sales resume. Perhaps, but theres no reason you cant locate the inner sales person in you and become one. You ought to have the ability to know the merchandise and services that you are selling. A sale doesnt have to involve an item. In order to construct the ideal sales associate resume, you should include relevant info about your sales, organization, and communication abilities. To make an eye-catching retail sales associate resume, you will need to incorporate a few vital components. You require busy hiring managers to quickly glean the information that you present. A sales representative has to be very personable, energetic, trustworthy, and results-oriented. Sales associates are employed in virtually every area, and have an excellent growth track. Which means that you have to find out the way to generate the best page as possible deliver to the business and give good first impact about yourself. Sales Associate Resume Examples - the Story To stand out, you will want to earn your experience and skills shine. Then youll move on to other resume examples that tell you just how to present your educational info and any special skills youve got. You ought to have the requisite skills to be successful in sales. Youll want fundamental accounting skills to produce a change and to notice errors.

Spark Hire and AcquireTM Partner to Launch Video Interviewing Integration - Spark Hire

Spark Hire and AcquireTM Partner to Launch Video Interviewing Integration - Spark HireSpark Hire is proudto announce its partnership with AcquireTM, an easy-to-use applicant tracking software and hiring management solution. The integralrechnung allows AcquireTM customers to utilize Spark Hires video interviewing functionality directly on the AcquireTM platform. By taking advantage of the video interviewing integration, customers will have the tools necessary for streamlining the interview process and improving candidate screening. This will enable hiring pros to make better, more informed hiring decisions.At Spark Hire, were working with thousands of companies every day and we understand how important it is for these organizations to quickly fill open positions without sacrificing their quality of hires, said Josh Tolan, CEO of Spark Hire. The integration of Spark Hires video interviewing technology with AcquireTMs applicant tracking software will give hiring professionals full contr ol in establishing an efficient and effective talent acquisition process that will produce better hiring results.If youre interested in checking out the Spark Hire and AcquireTM integration or are an existing customer that wants to get set up, contact us today

100+ Common Job Interview Questions And How To Answer Them

100+ Common Job Interview Questions And How To Answer Them100+ Common Job Interview Questions And How To Answer ThemWith a fair deal of exaggeration, your resume is just a piece of impersonal paper that offers nothing but crude facts. Interviews, on the other hand, reveal much more about your personality, attitudes, manners and values.The first face to face meeting often becomes the turning point in the hiring process. Thats why its wise to invest some time in research and preparation for your next job interview.Back at school, we always strived to learn all exam questions in advance. Job interviews work in a similar fashion. But instead of marks, good answers can get you a fantastic job.Weve collected 100 fruchtwein common job interview questions to help you get ready to tackle tricky questions and craft smart responses to the major questions coming your way. Five categories of interview questionsCertainly, recruiters wont ask you all 100 questions in a row. But chances are theyll s ample a few questions from each of the below categories to get a full sense of your skills and personality.Traditional questions. Open-ended questions about your background, goals, and work style.Behavioral questions. These ask you to provide specific examples of situations that illustrate an achievement, a learning experience, and even a failure.Cultural fit questions. More personal or creative questions that are common in companies that value workplace culture.Logistical questions. Practical issues revolving around work history, how long you plan to stay or your salary expectations.Oddball questions. Random stuff and icebreaker questions. Your opportunity to let your personality shine through. Yet another way that enables them to gauge your cultural fit.Traditional questionsThese fairly common interview questions may sound familiar to you because theyve been around for decades. Theyre some of the first questions in an interview that get the conversational ball rolling as the inter viewer starts to figure out who you are and what are your qualifications for the jobTell me about yourself.What do you consider to be your greatest professional strengths?What would you say are your weaknesses?Why do you want this job?Why should we hire you?What would you contribute to this job?If you had a personal mission statement, what would it be?If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?What do you feel makes you unique?What do you find motivating?How do you define and measure success?Where do you landsee yourself in five years?How does this position fit in with the career path you see for yourself?Would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?What are some of your hobbies?What were some responsibilities in your previous job?Whats your work style like?What were some of your favorite things to do in your brde position?What were some of your least favorite things to do in your last job?What would your manager say are your best s trengths?What would your manager say are areas that you need to develop more?How do you make decisions?What could you contribute to make this company better?What are you looking for in your next position?Whats your style of management?Can you describe the best anfhrer you ever had?Can you describe the worst boss you ever had?How do you manage your time?What are you looking for regarding career development?Whats a goal you have for self-improvement in the next year?How has your education gotten you ready for your career?If you got this job, what would some of your goals be?How do you keep yourself organized?If you could choose, would you prefer working in a team or alone?Tips for answering traditional questionsSome of the questions may sound quite personal - like Can you tell me more about yourself? or What makes you unique? - theyre all openers to point out your professional qualifications.Instead of talking about your own goals and priorities, your responses should reflect the co re competencies of the job in a natural-sounding way. The recruiter wants to make a successful hire and needs to see your value for the company.2. Behavioral questions How do you act on the job?No one ever really impressed a hiring manager with abstract ideas about their work ethic or skills. If you say something, you need to prove it. And thats when behavioral questions come into play. Its simple. Past behavior predicts future behavior. By seeing how youve fared in the past, recruiters can have a clearer vision of how youll perform in the future.Personal stories make your job candidacy far more memorable and colorful. So if you want to leave a great impression, intriguing anecdotes are a great way to do itCommon behavioral questions Can you describe a time you demonstrated leadership?Can you speak to a time that you had to handle criticism of your work?Tell me about a time when your workload welches especially heavy and how you dealt with it.What would you do if you were asked to t ake on more assignments than you could conceivably finish by the expected deadlines?Can you give me an example of a time you had to follow a policy with which you didnt agree?Tell me about a time you went above and beyond expectations at work.Have you ever worked on a time when someone was not pulling his weight? What did you do?Have you ever had trouble working with a manager?Have you and your boss ever disagreed with something you did? How did you deal with it?How do you handle difficult customers?How do you deal with stressful situations?Have you ever had to deal with a coworker who put you down at work? What did you do?Can you tell me about a time that you faced a difficult situation with a colleague?Have you ever had to give someone tough feedback? How did you go about that?Have you ever gone against official policy or directives? Why? What were the results?Can you give me an example of a challenge or conflict you faced at work? Describe how you handled it.Tips for answering be havioral questionsBehavioral questions let you zoom in on specific situations, your reactions and decisions to light.Nows the time to bring in some examples. To highlight success stories that demonstrate you have the core competencies the interviewer is looking for.Remember to stay authentic and true to yourself. Stories that talk about your values implicitly are more digestible those that do so in an explicit and rather embarrassing way (Im a very hard-working person.) For the start, prepare your stories that relate to the most common questions a time you demonstrated your leadership skills, overcome a challenge, were a member of a team, solved a precarious problem and when you failed - but rose like a phoenix from the ashes.3. Cultural fit questions Do you share our values?Research has shown good workplace morale and employee perks can improve individual performance, retention and teamwork as well as prevent workplace conflict.No wonder hot trending topics like workplace values and the happiness levels of employees receive a ton of attention. The same goes for your interview. Recruiters are keen to gain a sense of your cultural fit and will use the following questions to do soCommon cultural fit questionsWhat does teamwork mean to you?What three qualities do you look for in a workplace?How would you deal with a coworker you dont get along with?How well would you say you adapt to change?What are you passionate about?Describe your ideal company culture. What four or five characteristics does it have?Who inspires you and why?What motivates you to come into work every day?What was it like working at your last company?What are some of your workplace values?Do you prefer a more structured work environment or one where you can be more entrepreneurial?What personality types would you say you work best with?What are some activities you like to do outside of work, and how do they benefit your day-to-day job?What would your friends tell me about you?Tips for answerin g cultural fit questionsClearly, most of behauptung questions focus on workplace values. But they also aim to review your soft skills, like communication, flexibility, passion, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.The best approach is to research the company culture and mission statement online and, perhaps, also by talking to its employees (via LinkedIn or in person).These cultural fit questions should also help you to figure whether youre at the right place. If the company values and work style make you feel youd like to work for them, go ahead. Reflect your alignment in your responses and let them know youre up for the job.4. Logistical questions Employment history and salary expectationsThis category contains fairly straightforward questions. Details on your resume, your professional goals, or your salary expectations. Salary negotiations, in particular, may show up a bit later in the hiring process, usually in a second interview when things get a bit more serious.Anyway, you shou ld be ready to talk about behauptung logistical topics regardless of when they crop up. Heres a rundown of what to expectCommon logistical questionsYou worked at your last company for a long time. Will it be difficult moving to a new firm?Why have you changed jobs so often over the past few years?If you got this job, how long would you plan to stay with us?What did you earn at your last job?What are your salary expectations?Why do you have a gap in your job history?Why do you think you can lead a team without any previous managerial experience?Why do you want to join our company?Why do you want to move from an academic field to the business world (or vice versa)?Why should we give you the job over other applicants?Would you jump ship if you received another offer?What other companies are you applying to?What caused you to leave your last position?Why do you want to leave your current position?Why did you take a job that seems unrelated to your career path?Tips for answering logistic al questionsNows the time to talk about your professional history. Be ready to describe your last job, its responsibilities, and your reasons for applying elsewhere. Challenging topics that you should skillfully handle include potential employment gaps or career changes. If thats your case, dont despair - come up with sound reasoning and try to connect the dots on your career path.And concerning the pay, check out websites like Payscale and Glassdoor. They may help improve your position in salary negotiations while still staying within a reasonable range.5. Oddball questions The odd and unexpectedImaginative as they are, these quirky questions deserve a special category. They are far from totally unpredictable, though. Recruiters like to use them to throw you off balance a bit and see what happens when you get out of your comfort zone. Also, they want to check your ability to think on your feet and see how you make decisions in real life. By requiring creativity and wit, these ques tions can tell a robot from a person. Like a CAPTCHA challenge, really. So all you need to do is demonstrate your inventiveness and come up with surprising, fresh answers that will steal the show.Potential oddball questionsIf you could live your life over again from the beginning, whats one thing that you would change?If you could be an animal, which one would you be and why?If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?Whats one new thing you taught yourself in the last year?What would the name of your app be?You have two minutes. Teach me something.Why do people climb mountains?If you were on a desert island and could only bring three things, what would you bring?If you were 80 years old, what would you tell your children?If you were a pizza delivery man, how would you benefit from scissors?Youre a new addition to the bleistift box, what color would you be and why?What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?What is your least favorite thing about humanity?How does the internet work?Why are manholes round?How would you cure world hunger?What do you think of garden gnomes?Pepsi or Coke?If youre the CEO, what are the first three things you check about the business when you wake up? (Dropbox)What would the name of your debut album be? (Urban Outfitters)How would you sell hot cocoa in Florida? (J.W. Business Acquisitions)If I gave you $40,000 to start a business, what would you start? (Hubspot)What would you do if you found a penguin in the freezer? (Trader Joes)If you were a brand, what would be your motto? (Boston Consulting Group)How many basketballs would fit in this room? (Delta Air Lines)If you had $2,000, how would you double it in 24 hours? (Uniqlo)How many cows are in Canada? (Google)How many quarters would you need to reach the height of the Empire State building? (JetBlue)A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here? (Clark Construction Group)What songs best describes your wor k ethic? (Dell)Jeff Bezos walks into your office and says you can have a million dollars to launch your best entrepreneurial idea. What is it? (Amazon)What do you think about when you are alone in your car? (Gallup)Can you say Peter Pepper Picked a Pickled Pepper and cross-sell a washing machine at the same time? (MasterCard)If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us? (Trader Joes)How would people communicate in a perfect world? (Novell)How do you make a tuna sandwich? (Astron Consulting)When a hot dog expands, in which direction does it split and why? (SpaceX)If you had to, which two celebrities would you pick to be your parents? (Urban Outfitter)Tips for answering oddballsPrepare for the unpredictable. Theres no single formula that will help you answer every question in this category.However, you can set up a rapid-fire question and answer practice session with a friend to see what you come up with. Youll see how you react without preparation and how good y our improvisation skills are.Remember not to overthink these too much. Keep your einbildungskraft active and flexible. This will help you unleash your creative genius as your spirits loosen up a bit. Keep calm and do your homeworkJob interviews can get a bit intimidating, but it all depends on your attitude.Weve collected 100+ most common interview questions but now its your turn. If you skip preparation, youre about to fail. Once you do your homework, though, youre all set to win the hearts of hiring managers and get the job youre hoping to land.Remember - succinct, thoughtful, witty responses have the power to tackle any tricky question. And thats what will make you feel more confident and ready to put your best foot forward.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

Why we make bad decisions, even when we know better

Why we make bad decisions, even when we know betterWhy we make bad decisions, even when we know betterOn a cold, rainy night in 1962, Hershey, Pennsylvania, one of the greatest games in basketball history would take place. Its the Philadelphia Warriors versus the New York Knicks.The star player of the warriors welches a 7-foot, 1,275-pound man with a towering physical presence. His name welches Wilt Chamberlain.In the game of basketball, 7-foot tall players look awkward and clumsy on the court. But Wilt Chamberlain welches different. He was as tall as a giraffe and as graceful as a ballerina.During the 1962 basketball season, Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.36 points per game. A single season points record that has never been broken. In context, Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, averaged 37.09 points per game in his best single season. Let that sink in for a second.Back to the game. By the end of the first quarter, Chamberlain scored 23 point s. 41 points at halftime. 69 points in the third quarter. And boy, he wasnt slowing down.With 46 seconds left on the clock, Chamberlain broke free from five Knicks players, approached the basketball rim, jumped high and put the ball through the hoop. The arena exploded into a frenzy. Hundreds of spectators stormed the court, to celebrate and touch the hero of the night. Wilt Chamberlain had just scored 100 points, the most any player has ever scored in a professional basketball game.But, that wasnt all. Something strange occurred after this historic game. A head-scratching decision, some would say near insane, by the star man, Wilt Chamberlain.Chamberlains puzzling decision, begs the question why do we make bad decisions, or dumb choices, even when a good choice is right in front of our face?Granny shots and free throwsWhen Wilt Chamberlain first joined the NBA, he dominated his opponents physically, scoring at will, even when he was grappled by two or more players. But, when it cam e time to shoot a free throw - an unopposed attempt at scoring points- he was horrendous. Were talking 40 percent of shots made from the free throw line.At the start of the season leading up to the historic game, Wilt Chamberlain made a decision to try a different way of shooting free throws. Instead of shooting, like every other basketball player - overhand, releasing the ball near the forehead- Chamberlain switched to underhand free throws. Also known as theGranny Shot.Throughout the season, Wilt Chamberlain would hold the ball between his legs, slightly crouch his knees and flick the ball upwards to the basket rim. And all of a sudden, he became a pretty good free throw shooter, netting close to 60 percent of his shots.Then, on that historic night in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain netted 28 out of his 32 shots from the free throw line. Thats an incredible 87.5 percent from the free throw line. The most free throws ever made during a single game of basketball in NBA history .This drastic improvement, from 40 percent to 87.5 percent, didnt occur because Chamberlain improved his athleticism or shooting skills. It happened because he changed thewayhe shot free throws. Wilt Chamberlain would stick by this good decision and improve as a free throw shooter.Or would he?After the historic game, something incredible happens. A baffling, near insane moment. Wilt Chamberlain stops shooting underhand, and reverts back to shooting overhand. He chose to go back to being a terrible free throw shooterTheres a saying thatinsanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Could insanity also be doing something different, finding a solution to your biggest problems and then, reverting back to your old ways that didnt work?There were no rational reasons for Wilt Chamberlain to stop shooting underhand free throws, as he wasnt ignorant to the positive results of the new approach. But despite knowing better, Chamberlain switched back to hi s old way of shooting. And for the rest of his basketball career, remained a poor free throw shooter.At that time, the only other player who shot underhand free throws was Rick Barry, a Hall of Famer, and just like Chamberlain, an unstoppable offensive juggernaut, who stood 6 foot 7 inches tall.Unlike Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry never switched back to overhand free throws. And for a damn good reason. At the time of his retirement, Rick Barry held a godlike 90 percent free throw record, ranked first in NBA history. But, this could well have been Wilt Chamberlains record, if he had stuck to the underhand throw for the rest of his basketball career.So, whats it about the Wilt Chamberlains of the world - who makebad decisions even when they know better - thats different from the Rick Barrys of the world, who stick to good decisions, even when theyre an anomaly?The threshold model of collective behaviorIn a famous essay published over four decades ago, Stanford University sociologist, Mark Granovetter, tried to answer the question of why people do things out of a character. 3Granovetter used riots as one of the main examples. Because during a riot, otherwise normal people, get involved in destructive and violent behavior. Why would law-abiding citizens suddenly throw rocks through windows?Before Granovetters paper, sociologists tried to explain this phenomenon in terms of a persons beliefs. Previous theories suggested that when people were in a crowd, theyd lose their independent rational thinking and change their beliefs to conform to the crowd. For example, if say, at the start of a riot, one person in a crowd throws a rock through a window, the beliefs of the people in the crowd would change and theyd act in irrational ways.But Granovetter believed otherwise. In his view, riots arent caused by a collective of people who hold beliefs about whats right, and then suddenly, because of a mob mentality, change those beliefs. Rather, riots are driven by a social rea ction to the behaviour of people in the environment. They are driven bythresholds.Your threshold is the number of people who have to do an activity, before you join them. You can think of thresholds as a form of peer pressure. The higher your threshold, the more people you need to do something, before you participate.In the context of a riot, the rebel who needs little encouragement to throw the first rock through a window, has a very low threshold. But, an otherwise law-abiding citizen, who steals a computer, only if everyone around them is also looting, has a very high threshold.Granovetter formalised these insights asthe threshold model of collective behaviour.The implications of this is that, regardless of our beliefs, within certain social contexts or thresholds, we could make really bad decisions, even when we know better.This brings us one step closer to solving the puzzle of Wilt Chamberlains irrational decision to switch back to overhand free throw shooting.Heres another cl ue. In Wilt Chamberlains autobiography, he wrote I felt silly, like a sissy, shooting underhanded. I know I was wrong. I know some of the best foul shooters in history shot that way. Even now the best one in the NBA, Rick Barry, shoots underhanded. I just couldnt do it. 4Did you notice anything strange about Wilt Chamberlains comments? Any alarm bells ring based on Granovetters threshold model?Lets dissect this. First, Chamberlain mentions that I felt silly, like a sissy. Why would he feel silly or like a sissy? Thats because almost all basketball players in the NBA at the time, minus Rick Barry, shot overhanded. Plus, the underhand throw was mocked as a granny shot for sissies. Chamberlain didnt want to look stupid, in front of his peers and the world.Second, Wilt Chamberlain said, I know I was wrong I just couldnt do it. So, despite being completely aware of a good choice, he still made the bad decision to keep shooting overhanded. As predicted within Granovetters threshold model , it wasnt Chamberlains beliefs that drove his decision. It was the social context. In other words, Wilt Chamberlain was a high threshold person, who would only stick to the granny shot, if a majority of basketball players also did so. But, what about Rick Barry?When Barry first switched to underhand free throw shots, as a junior in high school, he also believed that hed look like a sissy. In fact, early on, he was ridiculed for his shooting style. But,Barry didnt let this discourage him. As far as he was concerned, the only thing that mattered was improving his shots. 5Unlike Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry had a very low threshold. He didnt needapproval from other peopleto stick to a good decision that works. And thats what separates the Wilt Chamberlains from the Rick Barrys of the world.The social courage decisionWe like to think that bad decisions are a result of beliefs or ignorance. But thats not always true. Most times, we dont always do whats best for us, even when we know bet ter, because of peer pressure.But, there are a handful of people, the Rick Barrys of the world, who would rather be right, than liked. They have the social courage to put mastery of a task at hand, ahead of social approval.Unlike the Wilt Chamberlains of the world, who die with regrets of what could have been, the Rick Barrys of the world pass on with no regrets. Because they didnt let the opinion of others hold them back from being the best person they couldve been.Mayo Oshin writes atMayoOshin.com, where he shares practical self-improvement ideas and proven science for better health, productivity and creativity.To get practical ideas on how to stop procrastinating and build healthy habits, you can join his free weekly newsletterhere.A version of thisarticleoriginally appeared atmayooshin.comas The Chamberlain Effect Why We Make Bad Decisions, Even When We Know Better.FootnotesWilt Chamberlainsregular season records.Video ofhis 100 point game.NBA all-time points leaders in aregular season per game average.Granovetter (1978),Threshold Models of Collective Behaviour.Wilt Chamberlainsbiography.The story of Rick Barry being ridiculed comes from aninterviewwith Malcolm Gladwell.

Bank Teller Job Overview

Bank Teller Job OverviewBank Teller Job OverviewBank tellersare the key point of customer contact in bank branches, involving the processing of a variety of transactions.Becoming a teller can serve as an entry-level position in banking, and can help facilitate entry into higher payingcareer pathswithinfinancial services. However, this is the exception rather than the rule. Few tellers actually are considered seriously as candidates for promotion by their current employers. Employment Trends The total number of jobs for tellers tend to follow cyclical patterns, as major banks embark on successive periods of expansion or contraction in the number of their branches.The recent trend toward mergers and consolidation of the banking industry(accelerated bythe 2006-07 mortgage crisis) caused the total number of bank teller jobs in the U.S. to fall 11.2% between 2008 and 2012, from 600,500 to 545,300. Nonetheless, employment prospects for bank tellers are expected to be excellent for the foreseeable future, primarily because the field has a long history of high turnover. While theBureau of Labor Statistics(BLS),forecasts that jobs for tellers will expand by a mere 5,600 positions (1%) in the decade from 2012 to 2022, the high churn rate among tellers means that many positions are constantly coming open. Find Job Openings Use this indeed.comsearch tool to find current job openings in this field. Education In general, a high school diplomais sufficient, though college graduates are increasingly preferred. Due to the sensitive nature of the job, any blemish on your record that may emerge in a background check can preclude employment as a bank teller. Facility with numbers and skill in arithmetic are musts. Additionally, the increasing computerization of banking operations makes computer literacy highly desirable. Good tellers are comfortable dealing with customers, have strong oral communication skills and aregood listeners. Training In all but the largest banks, t he training for bank tellers tends to be strictly on the job, under the tutelage of experienced tellers and/or branch officers(supervisors), with little or no formal classroom instruction. The BLS reports that such training typically lasts about a month. Duties and Responsibilities The basic duties of a bank teller include cashing checks, making deposits, processing loan paymentsand withdrawing funds from customer accounts. Bank tellers also assist customers with opening and closing accounts. The job requires adhering closely to rules and regulations regarding the verification of customers identities, the accounts and transactions that they are permitted to access or initiate, and the amounts of funds that may be placed at their disposal. Tellers also must adhere to various reporting requirements. The rules and regulations in question are a mix of those platzset by law or by banking regulators, and those peculiar to the individual bank. In some banks and banking environments, t he tellers role may be expanded to assess customers needs and to market certain products and services to them. Both this aspect of the job and that related to rule enforcement demand a keen sense of judgment, going far beyond a rote adherence to routine. Typical Schedule A 40 hour work weekis typical, but it can be longer, given the trend for banks to accommodate customers with longer hours, including nights, Saturdays and even Sundays in some cases. The old days of bankers hours that stretched only from 9 to 3, Monday to Friday, are long since past. However, also note that today about 33% of tellers work part-time. Whats to Like Those who enjoy working with people can find interacting with customers an enjoyable aspect of the job. It is particularly true for those fortunate enough to become tellers in bank branches with light to moderate levels of customer traffic, in which time pressure is not a major issue. Depending on the bank and on the initiative of the individual, a bank teller jobcan be a steppingstone to higher-level jobs in banking. The most obvious next step is as an officer (supervisor) within a branch. Whats Not to Like In very busy urban bank branches, tellers can be under severe pressure and find the job physically and mentally draining. The problem can be compounded if the customer base is demanding and hurried. Under such time pressure, the possibility of making computational errors is enhanced, leading to yet mora stress. After the branch closes, depending on the volume of transactions during the day, and the size and efficiency of the staff, the process of proving up tellers work during the day can be a lengthy and stressful process. Normally, tellers are not allowed to leave for the day until their work is proved up. That is, the cash on hand at the end of the day must equal starting cash plus cash deposits minus cash withdrawals. Likewise, non-cash deposits and withdrawals (by check or electronic transfer) must be checked to e nsure that they were accounted for correctly. Furthermore, working as a bank teller does bear some risk of physical danger associated with attempted robberies. The open architecture of many bank branches, with tellers largely exposed to the customers across a counter, adds to the risk. High turnover is spurred by low pay (see the next section). Also, while opportunities for advancement do exist (as stated above), they typically are limited. Compensation Median annual wages for bank tellers(BLS occupation code 43-3071.00)were $24,940 as of May 2012, with 90% earning between $19,630 and $34,320. As with all job categories, expect significantgeographic pay differentials. More than 90% of tellers earn less than the median annual wage for all occupations, which was $34,750. Meanwhile, nearly 75% of workers in other occupations earn more than the median annual wage for tellers ($24,940).