10 Books to Unwind with This Memorial Day

10 Books to Unwind with This Memorial Day It’s almost Memorial Day and let’s face it: us busy girls need a break from our nonstop grind. We rounded up the crème-de-la-crème of reading escapes to add to your weekender bag this May that will transport you to another life and far away from your social media, computer and daily hustle â€" you’re welcome: 10 Books To Unwind With This Memorial Day. Its Always the Husband by Michele Campbell Or is it? That’s the question ladies will be asking themselves as they race through this absorbing novel about three best friends and the drama that explodes when one ends up dead (especially when one of them urged the other to jump off a bridge). A stunning whodunit trifecta of suspense, unpredictable twists and troubling turns, there isn’t a chance you’ll return to work without finishing this one. Into the Water by Paula Hawkins Have you been seeking adrenaline-inducing suspense ever since you finished The Girl on the Train? Us too. Thankfully the author of our book obsession is delivering us with yet another rollercoaster ride this summer and we guarantee you’ll consume it in one sitting. When a string of dead women are discovered at the bottom of a lake, a mystery unfolds…one that will surely leave every reader spooked all summer long. In This Moment by Karma Brown When wife and mother Meg Pepper beckons a teenage boy to cross the street, disaster strikes â€" he is hit by a car. Burdened by the heavy weight of guilt, she stays by the boy and his father during the entire rehab process (even when she begins to develop feelings for the latter). An emotionally gripping exploration on how one tiny decision can transform multiple lives, In This Moment is the most thought-provoking reading adventure of the season.   The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Samsion Warning: your heart will encounter major warming when devouring this breathtaking adventure. A former pianist has a second chance at love when his old actress flame knocks on his door nearly two decades after he let her go…but will he bite? A dazzling story about second chances and the art of taking risks at midlife, The Best of Adam Sharp will leave you ready to seize those chances never taken. This is Just My Face Stare by Gabourey Sidibe Wittingly penned by Oscar-nominated actress and Empire star Gabourey Sidibe, this inspiring memoir will leave you ready to make your own dreams come true. A touching personal account on the tough climb to Hollywood in the face of relentless diversity, This is Just My Face Stare will pierce every fierce feminist’s heart straight to the core and leave her ready to hustle even harder. Navigating Life by Margaux Bergen Let’s face it: us ladies all need a little help overcoming life’s mountains and hurdles (sometimes). Well, this is the stunning and honest guide to life we’ve all been waiting for. A refreshingly honest and emotionally honest book written by a mother and given to her daughter on the first day of college, chances are this enchanting guide will leave readers in tears, laughs, and in inspiring bouts of every feeling in between. Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki  Intense female friendships, dysfunctional families and the drama-filled hills of Hollywood â€" yes, that’s the literary recipe for one of your favorite 2017 reads. From bestselling author Edan Lepucki comes a darkly twisted tale about destructive relationships and the dangers of harboring secrets. Every drama-loving reader will fervently devour this dazzling and mesmerizing novel. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert The peaceful life of a reclusive cider-maker is interrupted when a hunky man and his son turn up at her orchard’s doorstep…both of them escaping the heartbreak of home. A fiercely emotional story on family loyalty and giving in to the sweet desires of the heart (even when inconvenient),The Simplicity of Cider is soul-food for any sentimental girl boss this summer. The Saturday Evening Girls Club by Jane Healey Four young immigrant women in Boston use their weekly pottery making group as a setting to launch their dreams, ambitions and heart’s true desires. From the first word to the last, this unputdownable novel celebrates the art of overcoming oppression, cultural prejudice and the embracing the strength found in female friendships. This summer’s most inspiring read for females, The Saturday Evening Girls Club is mandatory reading material for every feminist. Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane When journalist Rachel Childs has an on-air meltdown, she enters seclusion which she thought would last forever…then fate and conspiracy intervenes. A richly thick and adrenaline-inducing plot that combines complex characters with lethal secrets, Since We Fell is a true summer page-turner.

The top 7 excuses clients make for not paying their invoices (and how to get past them)

The top 7 excuses clients make for not paying their invoices (and how to get past them) We’ve all been there. You’re looking to wrap up a contract but the customer is refusing to pay for work done. In these circumstances it’s important to remain professional whilst still finding a way to get past client excuses for not paying invoices. There are a number of simple strategies for dealing with clients who refuse to pay, and today I’m going to run through the top 7 excuses clients make, and how to get past them. 1. “I cant afford to pay you until my customers pay me.” This is a very common excuse, particularly when dealing with small businesses â€" and yes, sometimes there can be some truth to it if the business is struggling with managing cashflow. But this is definitely not an excuse that justifies not paying at all. The best way to deal with this excuse is to suggest the customer pays in instalments. This will allow you to open the lines of conversation with them, strengthen your relationship by showing that you can be sympathetic with the trials of running a business, but still be on your way to recouping your debt. 2. “I haven’t received the invoice.” At times this excuse can stem from disorganisation (maybe they genuinely have not seen your invoice), but it’s also just a go-to excuse for many customers refusing to pay for work done. There are a couple of ways to mitigate the risk of not being paid here. The first is to set up email read receipts early in your relationship with clients so that you can see when the emails with invoices have been opened. The second is to follow up your emails and reminder letters with phone calls to guarantee that your invoices have been received, and noted by someone at the business. 3. “We’re in the process of changing banks.” Whilst unlikely (it seems a little too convenient for the client to be changing banks at the exact time that you’re chasing payment), this excuse is credible. But in the modern world there are more ways to receive payment than the good old bank transfer. One of your first ways around this excuse should be to request a PayPal or credit card transaction â€" both these facilities should be readily available to your client. If this doesn’t work, or if those attempts are rejected, ask for a concrete payment date and advise them that a debt collector will be engaged immediately after that date. 4. “We’ve been liquidated” The very first thing you should do if someone gives you this excuse is to check the truth of their claims. You can do this either by speaking to other businesses or people you know who do business with that client, or you can check a company’s liquidation status through the ASIC website. If it is indeed true, you need to find out who the liquidators are and lodge a debt claim with them immediately. 5. “Our accountant is on holidays/has made a mistake.” Put simply, this is not your problem. Learning to manage cashflow is one of the most basic aspects of running a business â€" including managing contractors and ensuring they get paid. So if someone pushes blame for non-payment onto their accountant, you are well within your rights to request a concrete date of payment and to politely notify your client that if payment has not arrived by that date, a debt collector will be immediately engaged. 6. “I think we did pay, I’ll look over it” (faux disorganisation) If a client uses this excuse, there is a very simple resolution. Phone them directly, assure them you have not been paid and ask them to check. Tell them you’ll hold while they confirm. They should be able to very quickly bring their accounts up and say for sure whether the payment has been made. If they can’t for some reason, it should take them an absolute maximum of 24 hours to respond definitively. When they confirm that they have not paid, ask them to pay within two days and inform them that if payment has not been received by that time, a formal debt collection process will be started. 7. “I’m not paying, there’s a mistake in the work!” In these circumstances, you always want to remain professional and to avoid burning any bridges. The client was not happy? Why? When did this come to light and why was it not mentioned earlier in the relationship? Keep the dialogue open, identify the issues and work out a way to resolve the situation that is agreeable for all parties â€" then ask for payment again. In doing this, it’s important to keep written details of conversations so that you will have solid records to rely on should the situation escalate. If you reach an impasse, refer back to your contract â€" outline how the work you’ve done fulfils the contract requirements and again, ask for payment. Dealing with clients who refuse to pay can be tricky. You walk a fine line between not wanting to damage relationships by calling out excuses, but you still need to get paid. It can be incredibly frustrating, but by using the strategies above you will be able to get past client excuses for not paying invoices while still maintaining good client relationships. A professional debt collector can help you with this.

How to Write a Resume

How to Write a ResumeFor anyone with a desire to get into the position of employment in the USA, a resume should be the first point of contact. This is a reflection of your ability to perform the job of a potential employee.You need to put into consideration the information that you have previously gained and put them into a format that is easy to read, to identify the relevant experiences and work experience in your mind. It is advisable to research the US employment requirements to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations that are specific to your career. This will give you an insight as to how to write a resume that is competitive and meets the requirements for employment.Understanding the method of how to write a resume is essential. The format is important since it determines the effectiveness of the document. You should strive to put all your qualifications into one convenient package that is easy to read and understand. The format should be consistent with the way y ou present yourself and other details on your resume.A resume that goes beyond the requirement of getting a job in the USA is vital. A resume that includes business or professional experience, when they are acquired abroad, should be put in an editor and translated into English so that they can be utilized by employers.The most important thing in writing a resume is that you put in focus all the important points of your career. You should highlight what makes you unique and which skills, skills that you possess that are unique to your profession. This will make your resume look impressive.If you have any experience in another country, be sure to add it to your resume. It will give your employers the impression that you are competent in dealing with other people and have the ability to adapt to different situations.The next thing you need to do is to prepare your cover letter. It should include a strong request for interview and a statement of your interest. Then you need to include the entire information about your career in the employment application package.Any well-written good resume will give you an edge in the job market. So, start preparing your resume today.

Job Board Mania What to Do

Job Board Mania â€" What to Do There are so many job search sites on the Internet, including Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, and Indeed.com, that its hard to know where to turn. Which ones are best? Whats the best way to use them? Job boards are fantastic tools, as long as you think of them as tools and not solutions. What should you use them for? Research: When you are just starting out and trying to articulate your next-job goal, use job boards to find 10 job descriptions that meet your criteria. Don’t apply! Print them, spread them out on a table or the floor, and study them. Highlight the key words used and learn how to “speak the language.” This analysis will help you create your cover letters and may trigger word edits you want to make on your résumé. For example: if your target industry or function uses “business development” in their job descriptions, yet you have “sales development” in your résumé, change it! Opportunities: Eliminate the excuse that “there are no jobs out there.” You will not only find that there are thousands of jobs, but that there are more than enough that you are qualified for. Remember, we hiring managers write job descriptions for the perfect person, someone who does not exist. Don’t rule yourself out if you meet 80% of the requirements! Application: Even though networking is the best way to get your credentials on the hiring manager’s desk, you also need to go through the formal application system for the jobs you want. So do apply and log those applications in your Job Search Tracker so you can follow up. There are so many job boards out there, including many specializing in niches, such as part time, health care, or even candidates with government security clearance! I’ve compiled a free resource guide to help you get started. Glassdoor.com is also a great free resource for salary information and much more. Don’t forget the jobs listed on your local Business Journal website under “Jobs”!

FAST personality test - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

FAST personality test - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog How about an MBTI test that only takes a couple of minutes? I tried it, and in just four questions it figured out that Im an ENFP. Ive tried other MBTI tests that had a lot more questions, and they gave the same result. Try it. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Action Words For Resume Related Writing and Research

Action Words For Resume Related Writing and ResearchAction words for resume related writing and research can actually be very useful when you are trying to attract people's attention. The words can be written in such a way that they are direct statements, and in the same way that the main statement is also a direct statement.When you are trying to write action words for resume related writing and research, you must try to make the main statement of the resume as direct as possible. You can use many ways to achieve this, and they include:Describing the person using the specific call letter of the person. For example, if the person was a computer scientist, you can describe him as a 'computer scientist', or if the person was a baseball player, you can describe him as a 'baseball player'.For action words for resume related writing and research, the noun is the one who was written as action words. But you have to be very careful to remember to use the appropriate nouns.Using the action w ords directly will not work, because people will automatically identify you as an outsider. So you have to use verbs and adverbs when you are writing about a person who is in a job role.Remember to use actions verbs and adverbs in action words for resume related writing and research. Adverbs are something that describe how the action was done, and verbs describe the manner in which the action was done. Thus, verbs are much better than adverbs when you are writing action words for resume related writing and research.Remember to use action words for resume related writing and research in all the places where you want to highlight the purpose of the person's actions. If you are writing an email to a potential client, the words you should use include the actions in the person's job role.

Should I Apply for a Job I Dont Want

Should I Apply for a Job I Don't Want Q: I am very interested in applying to work for a specific, small nonprofit organization. Can I apply to a different position I am not interested in just to get my foot in the door? I truly believe in their mission and the work they do. However, they have no open positions for the job I would be suitable for. Should I email them my resume and cover letter for the job for which they are not currently hiring? How can I get myself on this organization’s radar? A: Don’t apply for a position you’re not interested in. You’ll be wasting their time, and small organizations really don’t have the luxury of that. Plus, if you get the job, you’d be potentially sidetracking your own career for a different job that might never happen. Instead, your best bet is to find ways to make connections with people there (volunteering is one way, but it doesn’t have to be that), let them know you’d love to work for them some day and what you do, and make sure you stay in touch. If feasible, go to their events and get involved in other ways. In other words, get on their radar and keep yourself there so that you’re around if they ever do have an opening that’s right for you. Plus, once you get to know their context better, you might see a way to pitch the type of work you’d like to do â€" but that will be a lot more effective once you know more about them. Read More: How quickly should you return calls and emails about interviewing? Q: Should I start job searching now or wait to hear if I get a promotion? My boss, the head of our two person department, has resigned. Company policy is to do a full search, so it’s been posted and I’ve applied. For the last year or so, my boss has worked hard to get me to stay while they were job hunting, (reclassification and higher than average raise) but that doesn’t mean the hiring manager will decide I’m the best candidate in the pool. If I’m not selected, I’ll move on. I’m ready for a promotion, and the company really doesn’t need someone at my level in my current position. My question is, do I start looking at outside positions now, or wait until I hear about the promotion? Read More: Where should you look for jobs? A: Start now. Yes, it could end up as wasted effort if you get the promotion, but it sounds like that’s outweighed by the advantages you’ve listed here if you don’t get the promotion. As for worrying about a recruiting using the information to send in a candidate who ends up getting the job, you don’t need to tell the recruiter your boss is leaving. Use a different reason. Read More: What’s a good job application/interview rate? These questions are adapted from ones that originally appeared on Ask a Manager. Some have been edited for length.