10 career tips that are also great to apply to your life

10 career tips that are also great to apply to your life10 career tips that are also great to apply to your lifeWe get it, building a successful career is tough work. And not only that how are you also supposed to have work-life balance if most of your waking hours are consumed by either job searching, interviewing, career development, or just straight up work hustle?Its all about making smart choices that affect your work-life AND your personal life. After all, a successful career is built upon strong character and purposeful choices the same factors that drive a happy, fulfilling personal life.Here are 10 career tips are also great life tips they build your character and drive your purpose.Let the hedgehog guide your choicesYour main mission while growing in your career (and in life) should be based on what your one thing is according to the hedgehog concept.The hedgehog concept is a favorite of ours and it comes from a famous essay by Isaiah Berlin called The Hedgehog and the F ox when you put the fox and the hedgehog against each other, the cunning fox tries many things and is just okay at each one, while the hedgehog sticks to its one great thing the hedgehog wins.To use the hedgehog concept for your own career and life growth, think of your one thing as the intersection of these three conceptsWhat youre good atWhat youre passionate aboutWhat you can do to earn moneyEvaluate each professional opportunity against that mission by asking, Does this role hilfe or detract from my mission? Is this leading me closer to my end goal or pulling me away?Likewise, you should have a mission in your personal life to better enable you live with purpose and leave a lasting mark on the world.Follow the 24-hour ruleWhen youre ready to lose your cool no matter how bad they have it coming to them commit to waiting 24 hours before sending that response. Theres a good chance that in those 24 hours you will come to your senses, cool down, learn mora information that changes your perspective, or come up with a much more productive way to address the problem. In any case, youll be better prepared for the discussion.(This works in relationships, too.)Show authentic interest in othersDale Carnegie one of the most influential people in the world has influence down to an art. And the most important component of influence according to Mr. Carnegie himself? Genuine interest in others. Showing sincere interest in those around you opens uncountable doors for you it makes you more likely to be promoted, more likely to be followed by those you lead, more prone to growing friendships and relationships, better in sales, and more.Interest cant be faked in order to come off as genuine, you have to be genuine. Work on how you feel about those around you and start by asking about them before volunteering information about yourself or your own experiences.Give yourself permission to failThe only way youll ever take a risk in life is if youre permitted to fail. And tho ugh many leaders give their employees permission to fail because they understand the critical nature of failure in success, human beings are much less likely to give themselves the same room they give others.Allowing yourself to be wrong, to mess up, and to fail from time to time obliterates crippling defensiveness and opens your mind to new perspectives and wisdom. Additionally, it allows you to take career- or life-changing risks.Believe the best about othersWhen you believe that each person you lead, work alongside, or report to in an organization has the very best intentions to back their actions, youre able to experience a rewarding career marked by productive, empowering relationships and remarkable results.No homilie you share will ever be well received unless you believe that those listening want to be the best at what they do.Own your own mistakesDont play the blame game at work not only will it prevent you from ever growing and improving, but itll alienate those around you . When you find an error, fess up despite the consequences. Every mistake comes with valuable lessons learned and even an opportunity to show those around you that youre human, youre honest, and youre willing to admit when youre wrong.Eat the frog firstIf youve never heard of this phrase before, the basic idea is that if you do the worst thing (the frog) on your plate first thing in the morning, the rest of the day is a cake walk.Eat a live frog every morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day. Mark Twain.Whatever task you dread the most when you punch that clock in the morning is the first task you should complete. If you allow the most dreaded task to be delayed until the end of the day, the dread will hang over you like a dark cloud, preventing you from tackling other tasks with the gusto and creativity they deserve.Shut it off when you leaveWorrying doesnt resolve problems. Before you leave at the end of the day, take a quick glance at your calendar for t omorrow and decide what small steps you can take right now to better prepare yourself for the next day. Likewise, look at your list of tasks and ask yourself if any of them require completion before you leave. This ensures that when you walk out the door, you check out both physically and mentally.This applies at home, too. Consider any problem youre facing and ask yourself, What small step can I take in this moment to move toward resolution? Take that small step and check off the box for the moment. Worrying wont create results.Go above and beyondWhatever you do, do it the best of your ability whether at work or at home. This improves your chances of getting promoted, yes but it does so much more that. When you put your best foot forward every day, you begin to build character that defines and empowers you.Know when to say noWhen you overextend yourself at work, your colleagues, clients, and superiors face the consequences. Either you cant meet timelines, you cant give those aroun d you the connection and attention they need, or your personality and affect suffer from being overextended for a long period of time. When you know you cant do a project justice, be honest. And if saying no is too hard, try another way like, I can take this one but Ill have to delay another initiative. How does October sound for that project?Key takeaway Both your personal and professional life benefit when you focus on continuous improvement and purposeful living.Linda Le Phan is the Content Marketing Manager at kununu US.This article first appeared on kununu.

Science Gels with Healthcare

Science Gels with Healthcare Science Gels with Healthcare Sometimes a patient needs more medication, right away. Maybe a nurse isnt available. They hit the call button, but its a busy night, everyone is doing the best they can. In other words, they just have to wait. Or worse, a patient is not even at the hospital but has trouble moving around their home. What do they do?One day the answer may be nothing. Hydrogels are well known in the field of medicine but how about using them for a system that will sense when medication is needed and deliver it?This Isnt Jell-OXuanhe Zhao, an associate prof in the department of mechanical engineering at MIT, explains how the hydrogel invention came about and developed over time.?Conventional hydrogels such as Jell-O that we eat? are weak and brittle and they cannot adhere to engineering materials such as metals and ceramics well, he says. Over the last decade, many groups, including my group, have significantly improved the toughness a nd strength of hydrogels. In 2015 and 2016, my group further invented a set of methods to robustly bond hydrogels to diverse solid materials, including metals, ceramics, silicon, SiO2, and various elastomers. These breakthroughs in enhancing physical properties of hydrogels enable the current design of stretchable hydrogel electronics and devices. For example, this smart hydrogel band-aid invention.Professor Xuanhe Zhao demonstrating band-aid gel. Image Melanie Gonick/MITSays Zhao, The system is generally made of biopolymers, water, and components of electronic devices, he says. Since most parts of the human body are made of hydrogels, the biocompatible ?hydrogel electronic devices can potentially provide long-term, high-efficacy interfaces between the human body and electronic systems. For example, a smart hydrogel band-aid may measure temperature changes around a wound area and deliver specific drugs accordingly.As far as the electronics for the invention, the hydrogel matrix has components such as lumineszenzdiode lights and temperature sensors. Many electronic devices are encapsulated by an insulating layer before being integrated with the hydrogel, he says.Of course, there have been a number of challenges along the way in this work. Maintaining the high robustness, high biocompatibility, and proper functions of the electronic devices in the system is a great challenge, Zhao says.The Future The invention has a futuristic feel. You would almost expect Bones from Star Trek to use it on a wounded Captain Kirk. But its own future might still see further improvements.The idea is to bring in more types of sensors, including those that directly show the presence of infections in a system.? We will also carry out in vivo tests on the system to seek feedback, he says.And hopefully, the work will go well enough that one day the hospital call button will be that much more of a last resort. Eric Butterman is an independent writer. For Furth er Discussion For example, a smart hydrogel band-aid may measure temperature changes around a wound area and deliver specific drugs accordingly.Prof. Xuanhe Zhao, MIT

7 ways to survive a long, lonely unemployment period

7 ways to survive a long, lonely unemployment period7 ways to survive a long, lonely unemployment periodYou spend all day at home trying to figure out your next career move,while visions of your friends stacking their latest paychecks sky-high flood your psyche.Welcome to a long, lonely stretch of unemployment. While part of you might feel like youlost your identitywhen you lost your job, there are things you can do to help navigate such an emotionally draining time.Do more than stare at your computer all dayDoing this until your eyes glaze over isnt healthy.Instead, give your eyes a rest andtake breaks outside. Research has found that spending time in greenery outside (as opposed to a concrete jungle) can make you feel better about yourself when youre at work. But this doesnt mean you have to be employed to enjoy natures benefits.Of course, you also should do your best to avoid getting hooked on your smartphone - dont overdo it. Luckily, there are ways to break your addiction.Look for jobs in different placesIn other words, get off the couch and get moving.Head to a local library or coffee shop to break things up while you work. After all, it can be really difficult to search for jobs when you have a badeanstalt case of cabin fever.Have a mentor who can help you brainstorm? Reach out and see if they can meet to talk, as well as others in your professional network.Keep your spaces as clutter-free as possibleIf you havent done your spring cleaning yet, now would be a pretty good time to start. So get rid of everything you dont need in both your closet and home workspace - old clothes, shoes, files, papers, electronics and more.Also, back up your computer onto your hard drive and delete what you dont need anymore.Focus on your healthIts so easy to use feeling upset during unemployment as a reason to pack on the comfort food, but you should resistthe urge to binge on unhealthy snacks and drinks.Instead, you should continue to prepare different types of healthy f oodsfor the week, go on long walks, hit the gym, and indulge yourself once in a while.See your friends when you canThis might be difficult, but its better to get a real dose of perspective on how everyone else is doing than sit at home all week, pining for better days.Remember, all that glitters Going out will help you remember thatwork shouldnt be your everything, anyway.Be careful with your cashIn the same vein, youll want to save as much money as you canwithout depriving yourself of socializing. If you had no time for friendshipsback when you were working full-time, you definitely do now, so take advantage of this time.Cut unnecessary spending where you can and figure out ways to earn more cash.Keeping this in mind, this is where a side hustle could come in handy as you look for something full-time again pick something that will both excite you and help pay your bills as you wait to hear back from employers.Do some volunteer workHelping others is a valuable use of time - whether youre unemployed or not - because there will always be someone in need.Doing volunteer work is also a great way to meet other people who have charitable spirits, and to get out of your own head. Whether youre volunteering at a soup kitchen, helping tutor local students or mentoring someone, youll always have your hands full while learning something new.

Main Components of Communication in the Workplace

Main Components of Communication in the WorkplaceMain Components of Communication in the WorkplaceCommunication is sharing information between two or more individuals, the act of conveying information. Communication has so many components, and failing to communicate in the workplace effectively is commonplace. Effective communication requires all components of a communication interworking perfectly for shared meaning, my favorite definition of communication. It is of particular importance when questions are asked and answered. Components in Communication There are five components to any communication and a sixth that is the overall environment of the workplace in which the communication takes place. The components of communication are The individual sending the katechese. The sender must present the message clearly and with enough detail so that the receiver shares meaning with the sender. The context for the message. The context is how the message is delivered by the sender of the message. Context involves nonverbal communication such as gestures, body language, facial expressions, and elements such as tone of voice. Most of the context for a message is only available when the receiver can see and hear the message sender. Email and IM emoticons, for example, are a poor substitution as the sender formulates them without input from the receiver.Aelendlageher piece of the context is the emotions that are involved in the communication circle. Is the sender angry? Is the receiver indifferent to the content of the communication or disdainful of the sender? Normal human emotions affect whether a message is successfully shared. The person receiving the message. The receiver must listen carefully and intently, ask questions for clarity, and paraphrase to ascertain that the receiver shares meaning with the sender. If the receiver trusts the sender, the chances for effective communication increase. The delivery method you choose. The delivery method should be selec ted based on the medium most effective to convey the meaning of the message. Since communication methods are so diverse since the dawn of computers and mobile devices, decisions about the delivery method have become more complex. The delivery method must suit the communication needs of both the sender and the receiver.Communication methods includeverbal communication, instant messages (IM), email, letters, signs, posters, videos, screenshots, telephones, notes, forms, written documents, and more. These methods will continue to expand, and employee expectations for instant communication about everything having to do with their work will continue to grow.In-person communication has increased in importance especially for organizational information that might call for change, provide employee recognition, or allow for on-the-spot questions. In-person communication is also favored because employees have access to the component, context. The content of the message. The content of the me ssage should be clear and presented and described in enough detail to obtain understanding from the receiver. If the message content resonates and connects, on some level, with the already-held beliefs of the receiver, it is most effective. How Asking Good Questions Enhances Communication James O. Pyle and Maryann Karinch add the following to aid effective communication. From human resources to customer service, bad questions pollute nearly every workplace. Bad questions often prompt incomplete or misleading answers and can undermine rapport. On the other hand, good questions are a valuable tool of efficiency, competence, and rapport-building. There are six types of good questions direct, control, repeat, immerdar, summary, and non-pertinent. To describe them briefly DirectYou pose a simple question with a basic interrogative. ControlYou already know the answer to it when you ask it. Its a way of finding out whether or not the person is lying, uninformed, and/or not paying atte ntion. RepeatYou ask two different questions that are after the saatkorn information. PersistentYou ask the same question in different ways to explore all facets of the desired information. SummaryYou ask a question that is intended to allow the source an opportunity to revisit the answer. Non-pertinentIt doesnt pertain to the subject you want to know about, but its one the person will probably not lie about it serves the purpose of seeing what the truth looks like and getting the person to open up to you. It can also tie into the context of the questioning exchange. Details about the 6 Types of Good Questions Direct Direct questions are the best One interrogative, one verb, and one noun or pronoun. Who are you?What happened at the party?When did you arrive at the office? Where are the car keys?Why did you leave the meeting early?How much did you pay for that iPad? Control When do you say, Im deliberately not going to ask a direct question? When you check the truthfulness or ac curacy of a response, then you use a control question and look for consistency. Control questions are deliberate questions that you know the answer to so they are not about thediscovery of information. They are about the discovery of behavior, patterns of speech, and level of truthfulness or accuracy. Perhaps its something you talked about before with the person. If you know that someone on your human resources gruppe alienated an employee because the employee sent an email to complain about the person, you might ask a control question like, How did it go in the performance review with Pamela today? You already have the information you just want to find out how your HR person answers the question. Repeat You want to come at the same information in two different ways. For example, if you asked, How many people are on the schlussverkauf force? the person youre speaking with might respond There are 22 in the field. Later on, when youre talking with him about something different - area s where the company has a foothold, for example - you might ask, How many sales regions do you have? He might respond, 22, which is a way of confirming the number of personnel on the sales force. Its not an absolute test, but it gives value and credence to what he said before. They are two different questions that cross-check the information provided. In using repeat questions, you may also uncover discrepancies. If your source in this example responds that there are 28 sales regions, you would want some clarification. Maybe theres a perfectly good reason - the sales force normally has a complement of 28, but there has been so much turnover lately, that they are six short - but the response does give rise to doubt the fact that there is a mismatch between the number of personnel and the number of sales territories. That mismatch must lead to further questioning to resolve the issue. Persistent In any exchange in which more than one answer might be given to a question, use persist ent questioning to get a complete answer. Like repeat questions, persistent questions are also useful if you suspect that the person is not truthful. Where did you go on your vacation to California? might elicit the answer, Disneyland. Although its possible that Disneyland is the only place, its logical to follow that question with, Where else? Bypassing that repeat question and going straight to questions about Disneyland means that you miss the opportunity to get a complete picture of your friends California trip unless that information happens to leak out at some other time. Summary Summary questions arent about determining veracity as much as feeding back to the source what she has said so she has the opportunity to think, Did I actually say what I meant to say? You sell cars of all kinds, from two-door hatchbacks to full-size luxury models. A young couple comes to the showroom and asks to test-drive one of the luxury models. What will you use the car for most of the time? you a sk. Commuting back and forth to work. We work in the same building, she says. What else will you use the car for? Trips on weekends to see my parents. Stuff like that. She pauses and adds, They live a hundred miles away. Why do you think the luxury car is the best choice? They exchange a glance. He says, We like it better than the others. Whats your favorite color, you ask, looking straight at her. Red. So let me see if I got this right. I hear you say you want a red, full-size car in the luxury class. How well does this description fit what you want? (You have framed your summary question with pertinent information in this case.) They exchange another glance. He said, We think a more subdued color might be better. What about the luxury model makes you think its the best one for you? (Again, this is a way of summarizing and verifying what you have heard. You want to find out if they are just so enamored with the look of the expensive car that they dont want to consider anything else , or if the first answer was disguising a salient fact.) My dad says this is the safest car on the road. The answer to the summary question tells you they may, in fact, like it, but not because of how it looks. You read between the lines. They are just getting started in their life together. Her dad has probably sent them to the dealership to buy the safest car on the road, which he will help them buy. You decide to proceed with the sale, knowing that the down payment and loan application will probably give you the rest of the story. Some people may not be comfortable asking a summary question like those embedded in this sales encounter because they dont want to look simple-minded or inattentive. If you ask the question exactly the same way you asked it the first time, then they mighthave a valid conclusion. You also dont want to ask the same question two times in a row even if you do change the phrasing. By putting some distance between the first time you pose the question and the second, and rephrasing the question slightly, you simply come across as someone whos really interested in what the other person has to say. Non-Pertinent You might detect that the person answering your questions seems stressed out a non-pertinent question could mitigate the tension. Or, maybe you need time to think or refer to your notes, so you use the question just to buy you a little space and time. In asking pointed questions such as, What project did you undertake in the past that failed? and How did you try to fix the problem? you can easily make a job candidate feel as though hes in the middle of a battlefield interrogation. The candidate might say, I tried to address the problem by rallying the department around a common goal - the way I get my sons little league team to focus on hitting the ball. You can give the candidate a break by asking, How long have you coached little league? before you return to the discussion of his screw-up and how he attempted to fix it. Finally, here are two ways to ruin questions that start off with all the requisite components and end up falling short ofgood. Adding too many qualifiers or other words and phrases that distract from the question. For example, What did you have for breakfast at the diner where the vinyl counter stools are cracked and covered with duct tape?Not waiting for an answer is also common. You ask, Whats your favorite meal? The person thinks a moment rather than responding immediately. You chime in, Roast beef? Silenceis an effective questioning tool.Dont lose the discovery, the information, the leads as a result of opening your mouth when you need to open your ears. Remember the two ears, one mouth rule of getting the most out of questioning.The Environment and CommunicationThe above components of communication promote shared meaning when they operate together to deliver a message effectively. The work environment in which those components take placealso affects the communication and whether the co mmunication is received.When you ask valid questions you build rapport and inspire confidence. Questions form another portion of the foundation for workplace communication that shares meaningIn a work environment that stresses open communication, employee involvement, and common goals, communication more frequent and more effective. But, the expectation for significant communication sets the bar higher in these best workplaces. So, even in high morale, employee-focused work environments, employees complain that they dont know what is going on.Because of all of the components and the overall environment of an individual workplace, communication remains challenging. The age-old questions about who needs to know what and when do they need to know it is never fully answered to just about anyones satisfaction.Employee complaints about too much information, not enough information, and even, information overload, will continue to resonate in workplaces. You will never cure the problem of c ommunication but, with commitment and thoughtfulness, you can increase the effectiveness of both your interpersonal communication and your workplace communication.More Related to Effective Workplace CommunicationReceive Feedback With Grace and DignityHow to Develop Your Emotional IntelligenceHow to Hold a Difficult Conversation Feedback

A Master Resume Helps Target Multiple Roles

A Master Resume Helps Target Multiple RolesA Master Resume Helps Target Multiple RolesHere are five steps that can take your resume from confusion to focus.To avoid a dozen versions of your resume, consider a master resume like this months Does Your Resume Stink? contest winner.For personalized resume advice contact our experts directly, or if youre feeling lucky, old resume tried to pull all of her talents together. She highlighted specific partes of her background, but then it was unclear exactly what type of job she wanted next.What positions was she targeting? This resume had organization but no focus.The best solution for nanzig was a master resume that worked. The new resume is a focused but flexible document that will serve different purposes. It has a different structure so that she can change it as needed. Every part of the resume is a place holder in an organized structure that visually separates the different types of information.Here are the five steps that took Nancy fro m confusion to focus1. A Headline that immediately shouts out what she has to offer Nancys headline section, which defines what she can do and where she has worked, listed an obscure title, rarely recognized outside her industry Productivity Consultant.To avoid using such a diluted title, Nancys new master resume allows her to change the headline for every application.Text can be added, changed or deleted. But a specific, understandable headline is critical. Its stronger than an objective, which is what you want, elend who you are. If you dont have anything here and just say profile or something generic, you are wasting an important opportunity to immediately say who you are.2. A table section for areas of expertise Another flexible part of her master resume is the areas of expertise section. Remember A resume is written for three audiences - for a person to read it, a person to scan it and a computer to scan it.To meet all three needs, the areas of expertise section is set up as p lace holders. If Event Planning is not relevant for her next job (even though Nancy likes it), that field can be edited to include something else instead. This section gives a lot of flexibility in what is to be emphasized. Currently it is listed in alphabetical order, but it can be re-arranged to highlight different things.3. Use bold text to highlight specific wording The third flexible feature is the use of bold text. Based on the job Nancy is interested in, she can bold different sentences to draw the readers eye to specific accomplishments.4. Space for additional credentials.Nancys old resume did not indicate that she is an attorney with a masters degree. By including that in the new resume, the reader immediately understands her education and credentials. These sections are configured so she can easily add to the information as she gets more credentials over the next few years.5. Keep track of changes you make to your master resumeStay up-to-date by having a process for how y ou rename the file. For example you can haveSmith_Jane Master ResumeSmith_Jane Bank of America Resume Nov 2009Remember The content determines the format and structure of a master resume not the other way around.

Most Noticeable List of Action Verbs for Resume

Most Noticeable List of Action Verbs for Resume Utilizing action verbs and active voice makes a big difference in your resume, therefore its well worth the additional work. You dont need to go overboard, clearly, using only such verbs or using them over and over. In fact, there are thousands of verbs to pick from, so feel free to talk about your favorites. Distinct skills will profit from various verbs. Action verbs are a crucial type of salesmanship. They are very popular in resumes orCVs. They describe something that has been done. They can help you avoid using the passive voice. Rewrite passive sentences when you havent employed the passive voice on purpose, as soon as a change would create a more powerful impact, or whenever you should show who did whatoften the ideal choice in fiction. Last, continue to broaden your connections on LinkedIn since you cant ever know which connections will earn a vital introduction for you later on. It is likewise very vital to take adv antage of certain keywords while writing a resume. Seriously, if youre employing any of ansicht terminology, you want to generate a change today Power words are used for many explanations. Youve got to maintain a notebook. Details of List of Action Verbs for Resume Was the judge for the best recipe. In addition, they function as a breath of fresh air for those recruiters who are fed up with seeing the exact same words day in and day out. The practice of resume writing has gotten so generic that lots of organizations already understand what things to find in about eighty-five percent of resumes, thus, the only manner in most cases to have the ability to secure a small bit of advantage is to be fluid with the building of your resume and try as much as possible to prevent cliches. Is it true that the author intend to The readers would need to know something about the way the tank works to be able to make sense of the instructions, but the thing about instructions is that folks a re reading them since they dont already understand what things to do. A Secret Weapon for List of Action Verbs for Resume For instance, you can use them when speaking about your achievements. Harry Potter is the largest failure ever. Authors are those who finish things. Somebody who has the capability to publicize information achieves just that. Limiting your choices will save yourself a great deal of time and headache whilst ensuring a greater quality resume. It may also mean to blend a few substances together. Attempt to use numbers or quantities, and always in regard to business outcomes. You want to create a great first impression. Your attitude determines your capacity to be successful. What you say is at least as vital as what you think in making your destiny through the ability of positive talk. This sort of verb shows your capacity to be successful. The Ultimate List of Action Verbs for Resume Trick You decide to submit an application for the job. Resumes are not any different in that respect. They describe the difficult skills you have that qualify you for work. They are the skills which the recruiters are seeking, which are crucial to the vacancy that is advertised. Its intended to provide the applicants a concept of the work theyll do. This way, once your dream job (or any job that you may want to apply for) does come along, youre ready. None of them are very good, though they are active, since they dont sell your upcoming employer on what youre able to do, or what benefits youre in a position to bring to their team. Finding your voice is all about experimentation. Resume keywords will showcase your unique skills. This list focuses on verbs which are particularly practical for high school and university students that are just beginning in their careers. There are different kinds of keywords. Resume Keywords are centered through your base abilities. The keywords in your resume can help you get selected for a work interview. Sprinkle the right buzzwords into your resume and cover letter to demonstrate that youre a portion of the business. So as to impress a possible employer, virtually every word on your resume must pack a proverbial punch. Hear the songs right on this website and get motivated to take significant action. Were not saying that someone hung the lanterns within this sentence. If youre asking that question at the moment, continue reading. Youve got a limited number of real estate on the webpage and under a moment to generate a great impression. You always need to set yourself aside from the remainder of the applicants as long as its for the proper factors.

Kristina Kuzmic

Kristina Kuzmic Can you relate? Then join us tomorrow for a one hour workshop with life coach Elinor Cohen on finding focus and creating a work-life balance EVERYONE can maintain SIGN UP bit.ly/2v2gxKm bit.ly/2LLWLNq One of the biggest challenges in alfruchtwein all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer i s most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot mora to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currentl y experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthe rmore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next platzset of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.