The Moral Beauty of a Disobedient Robot

The Moral Beauty of a Disobedient Robot The Moral Beauty of a Disobedient Robot The Moral Beauty of a Disobedient RobotImagine directing your personal robot to perform a task and getting a response of No, I cant do that.Dont be surprised. As robots are integrated more and more into everyday life, teaching them to disobey or question a directive is just as important, if not more so, as teaching them to follow orders.Thats going to become a critical capability that all instructable robots will have to have, says Matthias Scheutz, professor of computer science at Tufts University School of Engineering and director of its Human-Robot Interaction Laboratory.Listen to episode 2 of ASME TechCast How Engineers Close the Communication GapScheutz is principal investigator on a Department of Defense-funded project, Moral Competence in Computational Architectures for Robots, a collaboration with Brown University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The researchers are exploring how to equip rob ots with reasoning tools, a sense for right and wrong, and what the consequences may be of their actions when facing real-world dilemmas, such as those that may result in death versus life.In situations that are morally charged, where there is possible conflict of principles that you have to resolve, we want to understand whether robots are held to the same standards by society as people are.Prof. Matthias Scheutz, Tufts University School of EngineeringIn situations that are morally charged, where there is possible conflict of principles that you have to resolve, we want to understand whether robots are held to the same standards by society as people are and what people even expect from robots, Scheutz says.Ultimately, researchers hope to design a computational architecture that allows robots to reason and act ethically in such situations. But Scheutz is quick to point out, This is not a project that will have solved the problem at the end, he says. This is only a beginning.A networ k representation of prescribed actions in eight distinct scenes. Visualized using the Vibrant Data mappr tool. Image Brown UniversityRPI is leading the work on logical frameworks, how to reason through dilemma-like situations, and Brown leads collecting empirical data, understanding norms, and what expectations people have for robots. Scheutzs labs main focus is implementing the findings on the robotic platform, experimenting with algorithms and exploring what people think of them.Robots today can be given the wrong instructions, intentionally or not, that could have harmful side effects to people, animals or property. These systems need to have an algorithm that takes into account moral values and when an instruction might violate those values, Scheutz says.This concept has become very prestigetrchtig in the context of autonomous driving when an autonomous car has to make life and death decisions about who to run over, Scheutz says.If a driverless car sees a child run in front of t he moving vehicle but cannot brake in time, for example, the question becomes whether the car should move forward or instead veer and crash into parked cars which could endanger the life of its passenger but could be a lower risk for injury than alfruchtwein certainly killing the child?That kind of decision-making is not available now, he says. In autonomous cars, avoiding collisions is still the ultimate goal.Or consider a car stopped at a red light and there is no cross traffic. A car is approaching from behind at such a high speed that it could not stop before crashing into the stopped car. What should the front car do? A human driver, seeing the rapidly approaching car, would actively break the law and run the red light to avoid the accident. There is no autonomous car now that can purposely break the law to avoid an accident, he says.Early findings gave researchers some insight into the psychological effects of agents and autonomous agents making decisions. For example, do peop le believe it is morally right or wrong for someone to take an action that would save the lives of several people while killing fewer rather than taking no action and killing more (the so-called trolley dilemma)? Additionally, do they have the same opinion when the action or inaction is taken by a robot. The researchers found that most people put more blame on the person for taking an action. In the same situation, though, the robot gets blamed more for not taking an action.The researchers continue to work on understanding the difference and under what conditions opinions might be the same for both. They found that if the robot looks very human-like or if those making the judgment are told that the robot really struggled with the decision, then the difference of blame disappears.Our hypothesis is that people subconsciously can simulate the robots decision-making dilemma better when it has a human-like appearance or when they are told that it was struggling as a human would, Scheutz says.One of the many engineering challenges in robotics is dealing with uncertainty, such as deciding whether or not the robotic system is receiving the correct information from its sensors. That uncertainty also needs to be taken into account in moral reasoning and decision-making too.We dont yet have a good way of factoring in uncertainty in comprehensive normative reasoning. We have the logical descriptions of normative principles, and we have a way of dealing with the specificity of the real world and uncertainty of the sensors, but the approach we have proposed so far does not scale, Scheutz saysWe can only handle a small number of conflicting norms. Yet, people have a large number of norms.Another challenge is with natural language processing. There are lots of ways people express moral judgments, reprimand others, blame others and respond to blame in ways that robots cannot. Its very likely that robots will be blamed because they will screw up, and they need to be able to int eract and be able to make their justifications to people, he says We do not know how to do that yet.The bar is really high on laying the architectural foundation in the robotic control system to take into account a whole moral range of ethical questions where human norms apply, Schuetz says. Society expects people to abide by established norms. When they dont, if a violation is illegal, they face consequences.Current machines have no such notion, and yet they are being increasingly deployed in human society and in social context where we are bringing into the interaction all of these expectations, he adds.Nancy Giges is an independent writer.Read More Breakthrough Makes Graphene Easier to 3D Print Making Sense ofReal-Time Factory Data Smart Bandage Does It All For Further Discussion

Age-Appropriate Jobs for 9-Year-Old Children

Age-Appropriate Jobs for 9-Year-Old ChildrenAge-Appropriate Jobs for 9-Year-Old ChildrenTheyre not quite tweens yet, but as most will be glad to tell you, theyre not little kids, either. Most 9-year-olds fall somewhere between little kid and big kid on the position scale. They love doing small jobs and tasks to show that theyre old enough to handle responsibility but theyre not quite ready to be left unsupervised yet because - lets face it - kids will be kids.However, there are plenty of age-appropriate tasks and helper jobs that can give 9-year-olds that big kid feeling they crave if they want to earn some money. Here are some jobs that can help teach 9-year-olds responsibility - and, in some cases, even a skill. 01Yard WorkCaiaimage/Paul Bradbury / Getty ImagesAlthough its not a traditional helper job, a lemonade stand can be a fun business adventure for kids. This is obviously a seasonal activity depending on where you live, but making the lemonade, setting up the table, and ma king signs are all tasks that a 9-year-old she be able to handle.Your child will learn about customer service and how to count change, both skills that will serve her well in jobs she might have in the future. An adult should be nearby to supervise and your childs lemonade stand should be on a quiet street within view of your house. Set a time limit for hours of operation so your 9-year-old doesnt get tired or discouraged if sales arent going well.Check into any licensing issues you mightface before your child sets up a lemonade stand. Some municipalities come down hard on unlicensed businesses, even when theyre staffed and zulauf by children.You Know Your Child Better Than AnyoneAt the end of the day, age is just a number. Mozart composed his first published music when he was only 5. You know your child. You know his quirks and his talents. If Mozarts mom had suggested that he give music lessons, he probably would have aced the job, but he might have totally botched the job had he been faced with an unruly dog.Try small tasks out at home first. Identify your childs affinity. Then supervise, supervise, supervise ...and turn her loose.

Sample Cover Letter for Merrill Lynch Internship

Sample Cover Letter for Merrill Lynch InternshipSample Cover Letter for Merrill Lynch InternshipIf youre a student looking to eventually work in the financial industry, you likely consider Merrill Lynch to be a potential new employer someday. Headquartered in New York City, Merrill Lynch is one of the largest wealth management companies in the world, handling over $2.2 trillion in client assets. The corporation employs over 15,000 people. They have repeatedly won awards as a top financial adviser, best institutional investor and best brokerage firm. Merrill Lynch offers many job opportunities for those interested in finance, boasting high levels of independence and an uncapped extra salary structure that allows top advisers to make many times over their base salary. Its a lucrative policy that helps attract the best talent in the field. Because the corporation is so prestigious, internships at the company are highly sought after. Your Merrill Lynch internship application needs to be as strong as possible to be considered. In particular, your cover letter needs to highlight your strengths, your skills, your passion for the industry and your familiarity with Merrill Lynchs offerings as a wealth management firm. Emphasizing your entrepreneurial spirit and your potential contributions to the company will establish you as a serious and professional candidate. Sample Merrill Lynch Cover Letter Haleigh B. Baleigh 4 Birch CourtSmithtown, NY 23475(Home) (232) 422 2211(Cell) (902) 777 3333hbaleighbrandeis21.edu April 24, 20XX Ms. Doris JonesExecutive Director Finance Divisionl Merrill Lynch238 Seventh AvenueNew York, NY 4321 Dear Ms. Peabody My academic and previous work and internship experience make me the perfect candidate for Merrill Lynchs Summer Analyst Program. Mary Smith, Merrill Lynchs Senior Analyst, recommended that I write you in regards to the position in hopes that I can apply and interview with you prior to the October 31st deadline. In the internsh ip posting, it listed strong analytical, leadership and quantitative skills. Through my business, finance, and economic courses I have developed strong skills in these areas and look forward to the opportunity to further develop my skills through a challenging and rigorous ?internship experience. My previous experience in the financial field includes an internship as an analyst with Smith Barney as well as working for the credit union for the past two years at my college. In addition to my knowledge and skills in the area of finance, I have been commended by my professors and previous supervisors as to my strong verbal and written communication skills. I was a key player in putting together the financial portion of my management and business project and presentation which was highly praised by the executive team that attended. I am confident that I can apply the saatkorn skills at Merrill Lynch that have made me successful in my previous educational and career pursuits. I will call next week to see if you agree that my qualifications match what you are looking for in a summer analyst. I am available to schedule an interview that could be arranged at a mutually convenient time for both of us. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Haleigh B. Baleigh

8, 10, MANY Resume Words to Avoid

8, 10, MANY Resume Words to Avoid 8, 10, MANY Resume Words to Avoid Your resume should avoid any word or phrase that is subjective, unverifiable and unquantifiable. There are eight words no resume should include because they’re “fluffy,” says Tina Brasher, a certified professional resume writer. Actually, there are 10 resume words to avoid, according to recent research from LinkedIn Analytics. Really, there are hundreds of words and phrases to avoid. Brasher culled her list of “phrases and words that ‘resume readers have seen 10 million times’ and that will lose their attention.” LinkedIn’s analysis isn’t exactly words to avoid, but words overused â€"  the 10 phrases that occur most often in it’s vast database of resumes and user profiles. In reality, your resume should avoid any word or phrase that is subjective, unverifiable and unquantifiable. And the list is long. From Brasher: Resume readers want to know specifics relating to the bottom line, Brasher said. “What they want to get out of a resume is 1) How can you make the company money? and 2) How can you save the company money?” [Brasher] said. “They’re looking for a resume not only for that but, ‘Are you qualified for the job opening I posted?’ And, ‘What’s your skill set? How did you make a positive difference in the company you just left? How are you different and more valuable as an employee from John Smith whose resume I just read or John Doe whose resume I’m about to read?’ The best advice we’ve found comes from certified professional resume writers like Brasher, Andrew Pearl and Tina Harlan, is to make your resume sizzle with strong active verbs as well as characterizations and accomplishments in objective, quantifiable terms, according to a story from Ladders Career Advice. Resumes can describe those actions in two different ways: They can limp anemically across the document and put hiring managers to sleep, or they can jump off the page and grab the recruiter’s attention, inspiring him to reach for the phone to schedule an interview. Active verbs can inspire recruiters and hiring managers to follow through with scheduling an interview. They can make your resume pop, letting employers know that you Addressed, Advertised, Arbitrated, Arranged, Articulated, Authored, Clarified, Collaborated, Communicated, Demonstrated or Diagnosed. Resume writers Steve Burdan and Mary Schumacher counter the weak resume words with 10 resume action verbs you should use on your resume: collaborated, clarified, authored/generated, diagnosed, enrich, fortify, forge, transform and galvanize. Now the bad… Tina Brasher’s 8 resume words to avoid (in no particular order): Highly qualified Results focused Effectual leader Has talent for Energetic Confident Professional Successfully LinkedIn’s Top 10 profile buzzwords: Extensive experience Innovative Motivated Results-oriented Dynamic Proven track record Team player Fast-paced Problem solver Entrepreneurial

Top 10 Common Job Interview Questions and Best Answers

Top 10 Common Job Interview Questions and Best Answers Top 10 Common Job Interview Questions and Best Answers Are you ready to ace your upcoming job interview? Its always important to be prepared to respond effectively to the questions that employers typically ask. Since these questions are so common, hiring managers will expect you to be able to answer them smoothly and without hesitation. How to Respond to Interview Questions You dont need to memorize your answers, but you  should  think about what youre going to say so youre not put on the spot. Your responses will be stronger if you prepare in advance, know what to expect during the interview, and have a sense of what you want to focus on. Knowing that you prepared will boost your confidence, help you minimize interview stress and feel more at ease. Top 10 Interview Questions and Best Answers Review the most common interview questions and  examples of the best answers. Also, be sure to review the bonus questions at the end of the article so you’re prepared for some of the more challenging questions that might come up. 1. Tell me about yourself. What They Want to Know: The interviewer wants to know why youre an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer questions about yourself without giving too much, or too little, personal information. You can start by sharing some of your personal interests and experiences that dont relate directly to work, such as a favorite hobby or a brief account of where you grew up, your education and what motivates you. You can even share some fun facts and showcase your personality to make the interview a little more interesting. As an ER nurse, I find that the best way for me to de-stress when I’m not working is to relax outdoors, rain or shine. I’ve always been an avid hiker, nature photographer and trout fisher, and one of my favorite things to do is to volunteer with the U.S. Forest Service and with local salmon habitat restoration groups. I also lead group hikes on some of Mt. Baker’s more challenging trails.  This  is where the skills I developed during my initial training as a military nurse sometimes come in handy.  My current personal goal is to climb Mt. Rainier next summer. Being outdoors never fails to renew my spirit so that I’m able to be the best ER nurse I can be.     Expand More Answers: Tell me about yourself. 2. Why should we hire you? What They Want to Know: Are you the best candidate for the job? The hiring manager wants to know whether you have all the required qualifications. Be prepared to explain why youre the applicant who should be hired.  Make your response a confident, concise, focused sales pitch that explains what you have to offer and why you should get the job.   You should hire me because my experience is almost perfectly aligned with the requirements you asked for in your job listing. I have seven years’ progressive experience in the hospitality industry, advancing from my initial role as a front desk associate with Excalibur Resort and Spa to my current position there as a concierge. I’m well-versed in providing world-class customer service to an upscale clientele, and I pride myself on my ability to quickly resolve problems so that our guests enjoy their time with us.   Expand More Answers: Why should we hire you? 3. What is your greatest strength? What They Want to Know: This is one of the questions that employers almost always ask to determine how well you are qualified for the position. When you are asked about your greatest strengths, its important to discuss the attributes that qualify you for that specific job, and that will set you apart from other candidates.   As a cyber security specialist, my greatest strength is my intellectual curiosity.  I enjoy  researching  the  latest  technology trends so that our critical information technology systems remain uncompromised. Not only do I do this by reading the latest issues of cyber security journals, I also convinced my employer to fund my participation in quarterly information technology conferences.  This  has allowed me to build a network of peer resources- many of whom are leaders in the field- that I can call upon for strategies when new threats arise to  our systems.   Expand More Answers: What is your greatest strength? 4. What is your greatest weakness? What They Want to Know: Another typical question interviewers will ask is about your weaknesses. Do your best to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee, turning seeming “weaknesses” into strengths. You can also share examples of skills you have improved, providing specific instances of how you have recognized a weakness and taken steps to  correct  it. My greatest weakness used to be procrastination. Friends who knew my work style would tease me, saying, “Panic precipitates performance.” In college, I was the person who pulled all-nighters to finish their essay right before deadline. This isn’t as irresponsible as it sounds- from the moment I’m assigned a project, I’m thinking about it. Most of my first and second drafts get composed mentally, so it’s only a matter of writing down the final draft. And, since I have an excellent command of grammar, I don’t have to spend much time proofreading or revising.However, after I landed my first job as a content writer, it became clear that while this process worked for me (I’ve never missed a deadline), it made my editor extremely nervous. And so I’ve learned to set “early” deadlines for myself, at least 24 hours before the actual deadline, so that my projects now always arrive with plenty of time to spare.   Expand More Answers: What is your greatest weakness? 5. Why do  you  want  to  leave  (or have  left) your current  job? What They Want to Know: The interviewer wants to know why you want to work for their company. When asked about why you are moving on from your current position, stick with the facts, be direct and focus your answer on the future, especially if your departure wasnt under the best circumstances.   I was very fortunate to be hired by ABC Company right out of college. They taught me a lot about digital marketing, and it’s been stimulating to work as a contributor to their creative teams. However, I’m ready for the next step. I’ve always been a leader- I was captain of the crew team in college, student body  vice president, and I’ve served as team lead for most of our projects in FY 2019. I think I’m ready to move into management, but ABC Company already has very talented managers in place, and they won’t be leaving such a great employer anytime soon. I’ve completed supplemental management training courses during my time there, and I know I can hit the ground running as your next digital marketing manager.   Expand More answers: Why did you leave your job? 6. What are your salary expectations? What They Want to Know: The hiring manager wants to know what you expect to earn. It seems like a simple question, but your answer can knock you out of competition for the job if you overprice yourself. If you underprice yourself, you may get shortchanged with a lower offer.   Reliable salary calculators, like the one used by Glassdoor.com, say that experienced sous chefs here in Portland average around $50,964 a year, 5  percent below the national average. I brought home around $49,700 last year. While I would definitely welcome a salary over $50K, particularly given the cost of living here, I’m open to negotiation if a lower salary was accompanied by greater flexibility in scheduling and additional vacation time. Expand More Answers: What are your salary expectations? 7. Why do you want this job? What They Want to Know: This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about the job and the company, so take time beforehand to thoroughly research the company,  its products, services, culture and mission. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to you most. Construction design is in my blood- both my dad and my grandad were home builders who owned their own construction firm. From the time I entered college, I knew that I wanted my architecture career to be focused on sustainable, green design practices, so I earned my certification as a LEED Accredited Professional. Greenways Construction is the most respected sustainable design firm in Texas.  I’ve been following reports of your LEED Certified projects in Journal of Green Engineering, and I wrote my capstone project on the energy modeling you pioneered for the ACME Business Park and the ABC Tech campus. Working here really would be my dream job, since your mission aligns perfectly with my goals as a sustainability specialist. Expand More Answers: Why do you want this job? 8. How do you handle stress and pressure? What They Want to Know: What do you do when things don’t go smoothly at work? How do you deal with difficult situations? The employer wants to know how you handle workplace stress. Avoid claiming that you never, or rarely, experience stress. Rather, formulate your answer in a way that acknowledges workplace stress and explains how you’ve overcome it, or even used it to your advantage. I’m not someone who is energized by or thrives in stressful environments. My first step in managing stress is to try to circumvent it by keeping my work processes very organized, and my attitude professional. When customers or associates come to me with issues, I try to look at things from their perspective, and initiate a collaborative problem-solving approach to keep the situation from escalating. I find that maintaining an efficient, congenial office with open lines of communication automatically reduces a lot of workplace stress. Of course, sometimes unanticipated stressors will arise. When this happens, I just take a deep breath, remembering that the person I’m dealing with is frustrated with a situation, not with me. I then actively listen to their concerns and make a plan to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.     Expand More Answers: How do you manage stress? 9. Describe a difficult work situation or project and how you overcame it. What They Want to Know: The interviewer wants to know how  you  respond  when faced with  a difficult decision. As with the question about stress, be prepared to share an example of what you did in a tough situation. It’s important to share details to make the story believable and engaging.   I think the most difficult situation I face as a production manager is when I have to lay off staff, either because they aren’t doing their job properly or,  even worse,  because sales are down. When I can, I try to work with underperforming personnel to see if we can’t improve their efficiency.  If not, then I hand them their pink slip and give them straightforward reasons for why they are being laid off.  No one wants to be fired without an explanation. When this happens, I keep my tone polite and avoid using too many “you” statements; I absolutely do not want to cast shame on them.   Expand More Answers: What are the most difficult decisions to make? 10. What are your goals for the future? What They Want to Know: This question is designed to find out if you’re going to stick around or move on as soon as you find a better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the company, and reiterate to the interviewer that the position aligns with your long-term goals. I’m someone who likes stability.  My goal is to find a job that  I  can  hold long term with a local company, becoming a valued employee as I gradually advance to positions of increasing authority and responsibility. I’m extremely interested in the teller job here at First Financial Credit Union because of your internal training program.  My long-term goal is to eventually become a branch manager after I’ve proven my competencies in customer service and team leadership.   Expand More Answers: What are your goals for the future? Possible Follow-Up Questions Here are some related questions you might be asked during a job interview that will require some thought to answer. How do you handle success?How do you handle failure?Do you work well with other people?What can you do better for us than the  other applicants?Why are you the best person for the job? ?What else will the hiring manager ask? Review more of the most frequently asked interview questions, tips for responding, and sample answers you can use to practice for a job interview. You can also expect to be asked about how you would respond to a specific work-related situation. Heres a list of examples of these behavioral interview questions you may be asked. What shouldnt the interviewer ask? There are some questions that hiring managers should not ask during a job interview for legal reasons. Here are questions that shouldnt be asked, with advice on how to respond  diplomatically. Questions to Ask the Interviewer At the close of the interview, most interviewers ask whether you have any questions about the job or company. If you don’t have any questions, this can make it seem like you are apathetic about the opportunity. Its always a good idea to have a list of questions ready, and to be prepared to discuss them. How to Prepare for a Job Interview The more time you spend preparing for a job interview, the better your chances will be of acing it. You’ll feel more comfortable speaking with the hiring manager if you’re familiar with the company’s products and services. Research the company. Before your interview, take the time to learn as much as possible about the job and your prospective employer. There are many different resources you can use to find information and news about the organization, its mission and its plans. Tap your connections for insider information. Who you know at a company can help you get hired. Check LinkedIn to see if you have connections who work at the company. Ask them if they can give you any advice that will help with the interview process. If you’re a college graduate, check with your career office for alumni who may be able to help. Make a match. Take the time before the interview to make matches between your qualifications and the requirements as stated in the job announcement. This way, you will have examples at hand to demonstrate your suitability for the job. Practice your responses. Write out your answer in advance for each question and then read it aloud to ensure it sounds natural. Try to keep it short and sweet.  You don’t want to come across as the type of person who endlessly drones on about themselves. Be prepared to show and tell. It can be helpful to remember the tip “show,  dont tell.” For example, rather than stating that you are an excellent problem solver, instead give  an  example  that demonstrates this, ideally drawing on an anecdote from your professional experience. How to Make the Best Impression The first impression you make at a job interview, is going to be the most important one. Hiring managers can decide whether you’re a good candidate,  or not,  within a few minutes of meeting you. These tips will help you make a terrific first impression. Dress for success. What you wear to the interview is important because you don’t want to be underdressed or overdressed. A three-piece suit can be as out  of  place as shorts and a t-shirt. Carefully choose appropriate attire, and don’t be afraid to ask the person who scheduled the interview if you’re not sure what to wear. Be on time or a little early. You definitely don’t want to keep your interviewer waiting, so be on time or a few minutes early for your appointment. If you’re not sure where you’re going, do a trial run ahead of time so you know how long it will take you to get there. Keep it positive. Always try to put a positive slant on your responses to questions. It’s better to give the impression that you’re more motivated by the possibility of new opportunities than by trying to escape a bad situation. In addition, it’s important to avoid bashing your current organization, colleagues or supervisor. An employer is not likely to want to bring on someone who talks negatively about a company. Follow up after the interview. After every job interview, take the time to send a thank you note or email message sharing your appreciation for the time the interviewer spent with you, and reiterating your interest in the job. If there was something you wish you had said during the interview, but didn’t get a chance to, this is a good opportunity to mention it

How to Make a Good Impression at Your First Job

How to Make a Good Impression at Your First Job How to Make a Good Impression at Your First Job Youve graduated from college or high school, and now youre about to embark on a life-altering experience. You will start your first job. At least its your first real one since you may have worked part-time while you were a student. After spending approximately the last 17 years sitting in a classroom absorbing knowledge, getting tested periodically to  see how well you remembered it, and occasionally being asked to write a research paper, you will soon discover that things are quite different out here. Thrust Into the Real World Remember when you were in school and your teacher or professor assigned a paper? He or she told you about it at the beginning of the semester, but it wasnt due until the end of it. You had plenty of time (unless of course, you procrastinated until the due date was close). When you start your first job, you will find things are very different. Your deadlines wont be months away anymore. If you procrastinate, you will likely miss them. Theres good news about those exams you stressed over. Your employer wont give any. The bad news is that you will still be tested- every day. The results will not come in report cards, but instead in  performance reviews. Your boss will be observing how you perform your job and will also keep an eye on how you act. Dont let him or her catch you engaged in  bad behavior at work. Why is your employer watching you? You may think its a money thing. That is, of course, true; but it isnt the only reason. Your performance in the classroom impacted you alone, not your school, or even your professor or teacher. Your performance at work will affect the organization as a whole, your bosses, and even your coworkers. Tips to Help You Succeed Here are some simple things you can do that will help you succeed in your first job. Always Arrive at Work on TimeConsider arriving a little early. Stick to your lunch hour and if you are particularly busy, eat at your desk. Dress  AppropriatelyLook around you to see what others are wearing, especially those who are further along on the same career path you want to be on. For example, if you work in an advertising agency and aspire to be an account executive, dont dress like the art director whose job allows a more casual style. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN... and ObserveSpend your first few weeks on your first job, or on any job, listening to and watching what is going on around you. You will learn a lot if you do this. Dont Spread  Gossip  and Try Your Best to Avoid Becoming the ?Subject of ItThats not to say you shouldnt keep an ear to the grapevine because you might pick up some valuable information. Learn how to separate truth from fiction. Mind Your MannersDont forget what you learned as a child. Please and thank you should still be the magic words. Always knock before you enter. Although barging into your friends dorm room may have been okay with him, barging into your supervisors office is not okay. If you are invited to join your colleagues for lunch, be aware there are certain things you should never do at a business lunch. Learn Proper ?Telephone EtiquetteSure youve been using a phone your entire life, but probably not for work. You should know how to politely make and receive calls. Find a  ?MentorLook for someone on your career path that is willing to take you under her wing. Your supervisor may not be a good idea, but someone else who works under his supervision may make a good mentor. Dont Pretend to Know Things You DontInstead, do your homework to gather all the information you need. When You Dont Know How to Do Something, Ask QuestionsYou may feel silly revealing gaps in your knowledge, but everyone knows you are just starting out. It is much better than delaying a project because you did it incorrectly. Learn How to ?Manage Your TimeIt will help you meet all your deadlines. It is a must unless your boss tells you there is some flexibility with the due date. Finally, Pay Close Attention to Corporate CultureLearn how things are done within your organization. Are relationships formal or friendly? Does everyone arrive early and stay late? Are lunch hours short or non-existent? Give yourself a break if you dont always do as well as you would hope. It is your first job, and you will continue to improve.

10 words and phrases you might be using wrong

10 words and phrases you might be using wrong 10 words and phrases you might be using wrong Ah, grammar - people either hate it with every fiber of their beings or absolutely love it, and I’ve always fallen into the latter category. Luckily, I’m an editorial assistant and copy editor here at The Everygirl, which means my days are filled with correcting all of the mistakes my word-filled heart could ever desire.With this, however, comes correcting the same mistakes - over, and over, and over, and over. There are a select few grammar mistakes that people continually make, and in the same breath, words and phrases that people continually misuse.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!While I already dove into the  most common writing mistakes I see, I also see the same words and phrases misused all of the time. These are the ones that are at the top of my list (and the list is  not  a place you want to be).1. LiterallyThis is the 2019 version of Valley Girl diction, an d is obviously frequently used intentionally wrong to be dramatic. Trust me, I get it - contrary to what I said when I got into the office this morning, I was  not  literally going to die if I didn’t get an iced americano.But in writing, literally is used frequently where it isn’t necessary - literally means that something is actually literal. While it isn’t necessary to say a jacket that only comes in four colors comes in “literally a thousand colors,” you could have “received literally 100 emails today”- literally!While you’re writing, your best bet is to stick to “literally” when you really mean it.2. InfamousWhat people think it means:  A synonym for ‘famous’What it really means:  Well-known for a bad quality or deedMaddie is infamously horrible at singing.3. TravestyWhat people think it means:  A tragedyWhat it really means:  A false or distorted representation of somethingJussie Smollett’s charges getting dropped is a travesty of the justice system .3. Entitled“I watched a movie entitled  Us  this weekend!”What people think it means:  A descriptor for a titleWhat it really means:  Entitled means believing you deserve special treatment - it shouldn’t be used to describe the name of something.4. Good/ wellPeople always think good and well can be used interchangeably, but that isn’t the case.Good  is an adjective, while  well  is an adverb answering a “how” question.Examples:She did a  good  job. (Good is describing job, which is a noun.)She did the job  well.  (Well is an adverb describing how the job was done.)When referring to health, use  well.You don’t look well!When describing emotion, use  good.I don’t feel good about this project.What it really means:  A choice between two equally undesirable optionsI had to choose between eating asparagus and broccoli - it was a dilemma.9. I could care lessWhen people say “they could care less,” they usually mean “they  couldn’t  care less.”Correct:  I couldnâ €™t care less - meaning that you don’t careIncorrect:  I could care less - meaning you do care10. AestheticAesthetic is a noun describing a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist - or Instagrammer.“I love her feed’s aesthetic.”It also can be an adjective, referring to a concern or appreciation of beauty.“That picture gives me such great aesthetic pleasure.”People frequently say “that’s  so  aesthetic” - don’t.Bonus:  Plural last namesChristmastime is a doozy for me, and let me tell you why.Every year, my mom displays all of the Christmas cards we receive on a board in our kitchen. They’re lovely and uplifting and full of magical holiday spirit, but most of them have the plural of the sender’s last name wrong - front and center. God save the queen.Don’t use an apostrophe, stick to adding ‘s’ or ‘es’ -  Merry Christmas from the Gillettes!  NOT  Merry Christmas from the Gillette’s!If your last name ends in s, z , ch, or sh, add ‘es.’ - Seasons Greetings from the Joneses!This article originally appeared on The Everygirl.You might also enjoy… New neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happy Strangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds 10 lessons from Benjamin Franklin’s daily schedule that will double your productivity The worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs 10 habits of mentally strong people