Amid rising job-seeker rates and economic concerns, employees are looking for methods to safeguard their careers against potential layoffs, writes career coach Caroline Castrillon. To reduce the risk, workers should focus on financial literacy, creating additional income streams, enhancing workplace visibility, personal branding and treating their careers with a CEO mindset, Castrillon recommends. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (9/8)
Study: Is remote work harder on women? Research from Durham University Business School indicates that remote work can exacerbate gender inequalities. Women experience more blurred boundaries between work and home life compared to men, which leads to increased stress and decreased productivity for women. The study suggests that while remote work offers flexibility, it also highlights the need for more equitable distribution of household duties and better employer support. Full Story: Yahoo (9/9)
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman credits his professional success to a daily practice of acting on his goals, using the mantra "You aren't who you are, you are what you do," to break down big goals into small tasks to build confidence and momentum. Additionally, Huffman has learned to reframe stress as a privilege, saying, "I have my dream job, and it's hard. And so if I didn't have that stress, what's the alternative? I'd be bored." Full Story: CNBC (9/8)
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How to keep your resume from creeping In a competitive job market, job seekers are bulking up their resumes with extra details, but experts caution that overly detailed resumes can be difficult to navigate and may hurt job prospects. James Neave from Adzuna highlights the issue of keyword stuffing, which has led to up to 40% more words since 2021, and Jasmine Escalera from LiveCareer advises using distinct sections and focusing on recent experience. Full Story: Business Insider (9/8)
Is it OK to use AI to create your resume? According to an Adobe study, 64% of recruiters are open to AI-enhanced resumes, yet only 28% of job seekers use AI for theirs. Generation Z is the most receptive to using AI in resume creation, but some industries, including finance and construction, are skeptical of AI-generated resumes. Full Story: TechRadar (9/7)
White House to fill 500K cybersecurity jobs The White House has introduced the Service for America campaign to address the 500,000 open cybersecurity positions in the US by promoting cyberwork as a form of national service. The Office of the National Cyber Director, the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management will hold career events and workshops to help job seekers navigate federal applications and explore cybersecurity careers. Full Story: Technology Magazine (9/9),The Register (UK) (9/5)
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Have Summer Fridays sunsetted? With summer Fridays likely ending for the year, data from Envoy suggests this workplace perk may become a thing of the past as hybrid work trends evolve. Only 10% of employees commute to the office on Fridays, with most preferring to work remotely or planning shorter Fridays throughout the year. Jonathan Weindel of Envoy questions the practicality of summer Fridays and hints at the potential risk of a four-day workweek. Full Story: Employee Benefit News (free registration) (9/9)
American football's perpetual safety woes aren't a secret to anyone. Neither are the NFL's attempts to make equipment, particularly helmets, safer to avoid major health problems like CTE. You might not expect a sport as rough as rugby to help make the NFL safer, but that's exactly what's happening thanks to players wearing rugby caps over their helmets to foster better impact absorption. It's not exactly a widespread practice yet, but as Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers says, "as long as it's not impeding me or slowing me down, I don't see why not." Full Story: The Telegraph (London) (tiered subscription model) (9/9)
SmartBreak: Question of the Day
Driving drunk has been outlawed since the beginning of the 20th century. Which inventor here was awarded a patent for one of the first devices to test for driver inebriation?
Put your AI advancements in the spotlight Is your team innovating with AI? SmartBrief's newest Innovation Award will recognize AI products and solutions that are making a difference in the retail, IT/cybersecurity, education and people management industries. If your team has a tool in market or poised for market entry in 2025, submit your application by Sept. 20. There is a fee to enter, and winners will be selected based on degree of innovation and business impact. Learn more and apply.
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