Co-workers talking loudly on the phone ranks as the No. 1 workplace distraction by 76% of respondents to a recent survey, writes Michelle Cheng. Office parties, visiting family (including pets) and ringing phones also made the list. Quartz (5/13) How to sell an idea Influence is not about dazzling others with our ideas but developing a reputation that tells people our ideas are worth considering, writes executive coach Alisa Cohn. It's easier to win approval when we explain how an idea takes the entire organization's interests into account. Forbes (5/12)
Making the Connection
LinkedIn expands features for job seekers LinkedIn announced its salary insights feature, which was previously available only to premium members, is now accessible to all users. Job seekers can also receive push notifications of newly posted positions related to their experience. Adweek (tiered subscription model) (5/14)
Pentagon data that found only 29% of 17- to 24-year-olds are eligible for military service also has troubling ramifications for the job market, says retired Rear Admiral Thomas Wilson. With the other 71% ineligible due to a criminal record, obesity or failure to finish high school, he says more needs to be done to improve youth outcomes in poor school districts. USA Today (5/14)
Your Next Challenge
This reason for wanting a job is better left unsaid It's likely the truth, but don't tell interviewers you want the job because it's a step up, writes Scott Mautz, CEO of Profound Performance. This signals your interest in the position is temporary, so focus instead on explaining why you're excited to contribute to the company's success. Inc. online (5/12)5 options for a strong start to your cover letter If uncertain how to begin a cover letter, here are five strategies for writing a compelling opener, writes Heather Huhman. They include immediately conveying your level of interest, detailing your accomplishments or proving how knowledgeable you are about the employer. Glassdoor (5/13)
Balancing Yourself
Personal priorities shift, so schedules should too We need to frequently reassess our personal priorities when scheduling our time so these find a place in our daily routines, writes Anisa Purbasari Horton. Identify which activities are non-negotiable, whether it's family time, exercise or something else. Fast Company online (5/10)
Using photos of the moon's surface taken since 2009 and seismometer data on several Apollo missions since 1969, a study by NASA has found that the moon has been shrinking because of the cooling of the inside. The shrinking has caused the surface to wrinkle, causing the crust to break and push together, which triggers quaking on the moon. CNN (5/14)
I've never really taken anything very seriously. I enjoy life because I enjoy making other people enjoy it.