Thursday, November 28, 2019

Pursuing a promotion while pregnant

Pursuing a promotion while pregnantPursuing a promotion while pregnantIn the fall of 2018, I applied for a new role within my organization. It seemed like a great fit that would give me an opportunity realize one of my career goals. I thought, How can I reisepass this up? There was just one important factor to consider I was 5 months pregnant. But, I wasnt going to let that stop me from growing in my career.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIf youve been considering whether or not you shouldpursue a promotionwhile pregnant, here are a few tips on how I approached my situation and how you might, tooKnow Yourself and Your LimitationsAlong with all the new learning curves that come with taking on a new position at work, dont forget to consider that youll be taking on the additional role ofbecoming a mother. Thats taking on a lot of change and responsibility at once So take a personal inventory and decide if youll be able to handle it.If you have a partner, talk with them about the pros and cons, search your heart, and listen to your gut. Ultimately, know that taking on this promotion at this time in your life will challenge you to be the best version of yourself.Seek Advice, But Be Ready for Lots of OpinionsSolicit advice from peers and mentors who can help prepare you for what is to come. Its extremely valuable to learn fromother moms experiences, but when you open yourself up for advice, be ready for a lot of entgegengesetzt opinions to come your way, too.You may find that women colleagues who continue to advance their career while also starting their family are generally encouraging and supportive. But, speaking from my experience, you may also encounter others who think youre making a big mistake by taking ona promotionand becoming a mother at the same time.Appreciate their perspective, but dont let it completely deter you from pursuing your goals. Take eac h nugget of advice that comes your way with a grain of salt and use them to educate and prepare yourself for the possibilities.Honesty is the Best PolicyBut Also Know Your RightsTaking on a new role while pregnant will be challenging for both you and your organization, so I approached the topic with as much honesty as possible when talking with my hiring director. That way, we were able to take a collaborative approach to plan for my maternity leave.Although youre not obligated to disclose your pregnancy and you may feel like youre running the risk that that information could be used to discriminate against you, know that such discrimination is illegal based on the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1970.At the end of the day, its your decision, but if youre going to start a new position, think about whether you really want to start off those new working relationships by withholding information.VisitU.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissionfor more information and to understand your legal rights and protections, too.Ultimately, I am satisfied and proud of this career move. I found that taking on this promotion at this time in my life challenges me to be the best version of myself. I hope that I am able to show the women that I have the opportunity to work with and mentor that they dont have to make a choice between their career and starting a family. That they dont have to postpone their professional advancement in order to pursue their personal goals.Whats your take?Have you pursued a promotion or job change while pregnant? Are you thinking about doing so? Whats holding you back? What factors are you considering when weighing your choices to move forward? Share your experience in the comments below.This article first appeared on Bossed Up.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Alorica at Home Virtual Call Center Jobs

Alorica at Home Virtual Call Center JobsAlorica at Home Virtual Call Center JobsAlorica at Home is a customer careoutsourcing firm that employs thousands of home-based agents across the country. It acquired virtual call center West at Home in 2015 and runs its operations in much the same manner as West at Home did, employing virtual call center agents to provide customer service for its varied list of clients. Types of Work-at-Home Opportunities Alorica at Home hires its agents as employees, not independent contractors, so workersare guaranteed the minimum wage in their states. They receive inbound calls and perform services such as sales, customer service, billing, surveys, account management, ansprechbar chat, and technical support. Bilingual call center and interpretation jobs are also available. Paid training is done online via self-paced tutorials. Pay and Benefits Pay for Alorica agents depends on the type of program you are in and the amount of time you work. There are four types of programs Per-Minute Rate, Worktime Rate, Per-Call or Guaranteed Hourly Rate. No matter what, if your total earnings come to less than minimum wage, your pay will be bumped up to meet local minimum wage standards on a weekly basis. Agents typically earn between minimum wage and $10 per hour. Agents are paid every two weeks via check, direct deposit, or pay card. The company does not offer paid time off or pay for medical benefits. However, it does give employees the option to purchase medical and dental benefits. Agents must be available to work at least 10 hours per week. Applying To apply for a position, click the Apply Now button on the companyswebsiteand fill out the application. Set some time aside, because the application is extensive. Youmust be at least 18 years old and have a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED, but some college education is considered favorably. You should also be comfortable with a computer. After the application is accepted, appli cants are invited to do a series of online skill and behavioral assessments. After that, an offer may be issued. Following the preliminary offer, some positions may require a drug test and background check that will be paid for by Alorica. Once accepted for a position, there may be ongoing paid training about products and services that clients offer. Technical Requirements Agents must provide their own computer, landline phone service, internet service, and corded telephone. The requirements are much like those of other home call centers.Aloricas website lists the equipment and supplies youll need PC (no Macs)17-inch monitor or largerOS version Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and 8.1, and Windows 101GB RAM minimumMinimum processor speed of 1 GHz or better on multicore processors and 1.4 GHz on single-core processorsMinimum graphics beschluss 1024 x 768Sound card with speakers or headset for training audioHeadset that attaches to your phone for call processingDSL, cable, or f iber optic connection (no dial-up, satellite, or 4G wireless connections) Geographic Restrictions Alorica at Home operates in the United States only, but it doesnt hire in all states. Even in the states where it does hire, jobs dont apply to all counties or areas. Early in the process, the application asks for your state and lets you know whether you are eligible.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

3 ways to get out of a productivity rut at work

3 ways to get out of a productivity rut at work3 ways to get out of a productivity rut at workEvery day wont be a slam dunk when it comes to productivity. Heres what to do when youve taken your eyes off the ball, and you feel like youre drowning in work.Make sleep a priorityKristin Wong, a freelance writer and author of Get Money Live the Life You Want, Not Just the Life You Can Afford, writes about this in Lifehacker (the piece is written with the idea that youre normally able to get things done, but you experienced a short-term setback.Wongs first tip is to get an early start.Lets say you got jack done Monday. Once you realize the day has been a waste, make it a point to get to bed earlier that night, so you can get a head start on Tuesday (getting up early is hard, but lucky for you, wevegot a whole list of ways to make it happen), she writes. When you get up that morning, dont dive straight into work, though. Indulge in something you love. This starts your morning on an optimisti c note, putting you in the right frame of mind for tackling the day. Instead of approaching it with the stress of having to catch up, stay calm and approach it optimistically and methodically.Start all over againTodd Henry, author of The Accidental Creative How to Be Brilliant at a Moments Notice and more, told Fortune about how to do this when things arent going as planned in terms of everything you have to get done.Forget the original plan. What would success look like now, given my new constraints? Which problems are the most important? What would be the most valuable use of my now reduced time? he told the site.You should get comfortable moving forward in a different way.Feel free to switch gears for a momentAmanda Zantal-Wiener is a writer for the HubSpot Marketing Blog, strategist, editor and owner ofcreative consultancy Amanda Zantal-Wiener, LLC. Shewrites on the HubSpot site about how she was busy when spending time with herbei parents forThanksgiving but took the time to h elp her mom with a laptop issue she was having, and then felt ready to work again.If youre feeling stuck, use your brain for something else. Maybe theres a colleague who youve been meaning to get back to on an unrelated project, or maybe you just need to do a quick online puzzle. Keeping your mind active while giving it a break from the dredge of your to-do list might leave you feeling re-energized and ready to hit the ground running, wherever you left off, she writes.Dont be afraid to do this.