Word on RealStreet!
December 2018
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USE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO FIND A JOB IN THE NEW YEAR
Many job seekers assume that the holiday season is a bad time to begin a search, even though they hope to take on a new role in the coming year. On the contrary, the holidays are an excellent time to begin the process! If youre considering a change, make the most of this time in order have a more efficient and effective job in the new year! 3 TIPS TO JUMP START YOUR JANUARY JOB SEARCH DURING THE HOLIDAYS 1. MAKE THE MOST OF NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Parties, get-togethers, and other celebrations are a staple aspect of the holiday season. While most people focus on those with friends and family, companies and professional organizations often host events as well. Make a point to attend these events and to mingle, as they serve as exceptional networking opportunities. After all, people tend to be more relaxed and sociable at holiday gatherings than they would be during a typical day at the office. Maintain your current network by catching up with colleagues and industry associates, but dont forget to grow your network as well. Have an elevator pitch prepared in case the topic of your current work situation or career goals comes up in conversation, but do your best to avoid making the conversation about how they can help you. After all, this is a social event, not a job fair. These individuals will be more inclined to help, and less likely to perceive it as an inconvenience or professional risk, once the two of you have developed a rapport. If the addition of holiday gatherings to your schedule leaves you feeling stretched thin, take time to first evaluate each event for its potential. Focus on those that can help you the most in your current job search as well as throughout your career. A respectable, professional network is extremely valuable. Do not miss out on these great opportunities to develop yours! 2. ENGAGE WITH HIRING PROFESSIONALS If you have applied to or interviewed for a position recently, touch base with the recruiter or hiring manager. Wish them the best, be social but also use the opportunity to nonchalantly inquire about your current standing. The process simply may be moving slowly due to time of year. Even if they cannot provide you with definitive answers, they may be able to provide you with feedback or updated information about that job or any new positions. At the very least, they will be reminded of your ongoing interest, persistence and professionalism. 3. USE TIME OFF WISELY Many professionals take time off during the holiday season. Depending on your vacation history and how your office functions, the holidays might provide inconspicuous opportunities to utilize some of your time off to manage your job search. Try to make the most of it by working on time-consuming tasks, such as establishing a strategy, cleaning up and/or building up your online presence and updating your resume, or by going on job search related appointments which typically cannot be scheduled due to timing conflicts with your current role. CONNECT WITH OUR TEAM If you are interested in securing a new architecture, engineering or construction job, RealStreet can help you get the process started. The knowledgeable team at RealStreet has access to leading opportunities and can help you explore the options. Contact us to see what positions are currently available and to learn more about how our services can help you find your dream job in the new year! Article Originally Published by RealStreet |
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INCREASE YOUR OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY BY WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER
Are you having trouble achieving everything you want to accomplish each day? Before overworking yourself and burning out, look at all the factors. Are you working hard and do you have the necessary knowledge, tools and resources? If so, the problem may be your approach to completing the work. You may not need to work harder to increase your productivity levels, you may simply need to work smarter. 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO BOOST OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY Want to learn how you can accomplish more without doing additional work? Use the following five tips to increase your overall efficiency and avoid spending more hours at the office each day! 1. STOP MULTITASKING You probably think you are saving time by trying to do three things at once, but its unlikely. When your attention is split between tasks, its often difficult to dedicate the attention needed to focus, work efficiently and do the job well. This can lead to sub-par work and mistakes. Instead, complete each task separately. It will help to ensure that you always do your best and that each finished product meets any standards. 2. CREATE DAILY TO DO LISTS Take a few minutes each morning to plan how you are going to spend the rest of the day. Create a to do list by prioritizing the most important and urgent items and saving the rest for later. Ensure that your lists are realistic and let others know if it looks like you will not be able to complete something in time. Your superiors will appreciate knowing of he issues and it will provide the opportunity for co-workers to assist before any deadlines are passed. 3. START DELEGATING Do not be afraid to ask for help when you have more on your to do list than you can handle. When reviewing your assigned tasks, you may realize there are people on your team better equipped to handle certain items than you. Trying to do it all can quickly lead to burn out. Avoid overworking yourself by delegating tasks or asking for help from someone else. 4. TRACK YOUR TIME If you constantly find yourself wondering where all the time goes each day, make it a point to find out. See how much time you are spending on each task. Are you wasting time attending meetings you really dont need to be at, talking to co-workers who stop by your desk to chat and other activities that can easily take up a good portion of your work day? Use the results to make a positive change. 5. TURN OFF EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS Its easy to get distracted when a notification flashes on your screen, every time you get a new email. Plus, how many emails do you receive each day? The time you spend responding to emails probably adds up quickly, and each time you stop in the middle of another task it takes a little time to regain your focus. Combat this by turning your notifications off and only checking your messages a few times each day. You might be surprised at how much time you spend reading and responding to emails. Article Originally Published by RealStreet |
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New McAfee Survey Reveals More Than Half of Online Holiday Shoppers Would Risk Purchasing from a Potentially Fake Website for Savings
New Yorkers are the Most Vulnerable to Cybercriminals During the Holiday Season NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
- Survey finds that 53 percent of online shoppers believe the stress of the holiday season can cause them to behave carelessly online
- 22 percent engage in risky behavior, such as using public Wi-Fi to complete online purchases
- 80 percent of New Yorkers surveyed reported they are more careless when shopping online during the holiday season due to increased financial stress
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today McAfee, the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company, announced findings from its latest survey, Holiday Stresses, revealing the risky habits of online shoppers, including using unsecured Wi-Fi for online shopping and purchasing items from online retailers they are not fully confident are genuine (51 percent). The majority of respondents (79 percent) agree that the holiday shopping season induces increased financial stress, while 53 percent admit that this pressure can cause them to be careless while shopping online. This highlights the need for consumers to slow down and consider the risks of unsafe purchasing behavior that could lead to identity theft or financial loss. Last year consumers spent $453.46 billion on the web for retail purchases, which was a 16 percent increase over 2016. Unfortunately, when it comes to online shopping, consumers are more concerned about finding the lowest price than potentially jeopardizing their personal cybersecurity in the process. The survey found that 56 percent of consumers are willing to use a website they are unfamiliar with, if this means they can save money on their purchases. Even worse, 31 percent admit to clicking links in suspicious emails for better deals. For most people, the holiday shopping season is a stressful time of year, especially from a financial perspective. With added stresses and distractions, people often let their guard down when it comes to their digital security, which can lead to risky consequences, said Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at McAfee. Cybercriminals know that people are less focused on security measures during this time and use that to their advantage. By taking the proper steps to protect themselves and being wary of deals and offers that appear to be too good to be true, consumers can enjoy a safe holiday season. The United States of Online Shopping The McAfee survey also examined cross country behaviors, identifying the states that exhibit the safest online behavior. Residents in Washington are most likely to stay cyber-safe during the holidays, with nearly 80 percent of respondents claiming they are very unlikely to click on a link in an unfamiliar email. Conversely, New York residents are the most likely to fall victim to a cybercriminal, with 80 percent claiming that they are more careless when shopping online due to the financial stress of the season. Shoppers in Delaware reported that they do not monitor their bank and credit card statements during the holidays, while 70 percent of survey participants in Illinois noted that they are willing to risk their email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses and bank account details for an online deal. The states where residents are most likely to fall victim to a cybercriminal are:
- New York
- Illinois
- New Mexico
- Kansas
- California
The states where residents are least likely to fall victim to a cybercriminal are:
- Washington
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- Hawaii
Tips for Consumers to Stay Safe While Shopping Online:
- Connect with caution. Using public Wi-Fi might seem like a good idea in the moment, but if consumers are not careful, they could be unknowingly exposing their personal information or credit card details to cybercriminals who are snooping on the network. If public Wi-Fi must be used to conduct transactions, use a virtual private network (VPN) to help ensure a secure connection.
- Think before you click. One of the easiest ways for a cybercriminal to target victims is by using phishing emails disguised as holiday savings or shipping notification, to lure consumers into clicking links that could lead to malware, or a phony website designed to steal personal information. Instead of clicking on a link in an email, it is always best to check directly with the source to verify an offer or shipment.
- Browse with security protection. Use comprehensive security protection, like McAfee Total Protection, which can help protect devices against malware, phishing attacks and other threats. It includes McAfee WebAdvisor which can help identify malicious websites.
- Use a tool to help protect your personal information. A solution like McAfee Identity Theft Protection, takes a proactive approach to help protect identities with personal and financial monitoring and recovery tools to help keep identities personal and secure.
About McAfee McAfee is the device-to-cloud cybersecurity company. Inspired by the power of working together, McAfee creates business and consumer solutions that make our world a safer place. www.mcafee.com. McAfee technologies features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software, or service activation. No computer system can be absolutely secure. McAfee® and the McAfee logo are trademarks of McAfee, LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other marks and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Survey Methodology: McAfee commissioned MSI-ACI to conduct a survey of 2,472 adults in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 55 in October 2018. Article Originally Published by Business Wire |
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Half of industry expects majority of projects to be 'green' in 3 years
Dive Brief:
- Dodge Data & Analytics surveyed more than 2,000 industry professionals in 86 countries for its newly released World Green Building Trends 2018 report and found that 47% expect more than 60% of their projects to be green by 2021. In the U.S., those anticipating a shift to mostly green projects increased from 32% to 45%.
- The top reasons for going green were to meet client demands (34%), comply with environmental regulations (33%) and social reasons, such as the drive to "do what's right" by producing healthier buildings (27%). Of all the social factors presented in the survey, improved occupant health and wellbeing was most important (77% global; 78% in U.S.). However, although green building activity is expected to increase, not all professionals who plan to go mostly green intend to pursue certification via a third-party program. Even so, more than 66% of those that do certify their projects believe that the process results in better-performing buildings. Globally, new commercial construction, followed by new institutional construction, was the top sector for green building.
- The professionals surveyed also reported that there were obstacles to green building. The top barriers were actual and perceived first costs (49%), lack of political support or incentives (35%), affordability (33%), lack of public awareness (32%) and lack of market demand (25%).
Dive Insight: The green building industry is also about to get some additional practical support from the International Code Council. The ICC recently released the 2018 edition of the International Green Building Code (IgCC), which addresses elements such as energy efficiency, resource conservation, site development and building performance. The latest version integrates ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1 "Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings" into the IgCC. The ICC said this takes the cost and time burdens of development off local agencies, making the IgCC easier and cheaper for them to implement. According to the latest ICC data, 14 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., use at least some portion of the IgCC in their own building codes. The U.S. Green Building Council said it will "recognize and reward" projects that comply with certain provisions of the IgCC within its LEED certification process. LEED is likely the program most familiar to those in the construction industry, but there are other green certifications out there like United Kingdom-born BREEAM USA, Green Globes, the International Well Building Institute's WELL standard, the International Living Future Institute's Living Building Challenge and Zero Energy Building certifications and Parksmart. Article Originally Published by Construction Dive |
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