More People Prefer to Work for a Male Boss

More People Prefer to Work for a Male BossMore People Prefer to Work for a Male BossYou dont like being stereotyped as a woman, so dont make the mistake of stereotyping all men as being the same to work for. The glass ceiling is a reality in the corporate world, but that does not mean all men in the corporate world will refuse to promote or fairly compensate women. Lumping all men together isnt any more productive than it is to lump all women into groups. In fact, another stereotype you should ignore is those female bosses are notorious for being more difficult to work for than male bosses despite data to suggest otherwise. In recorded Gallup polls since 1953, men and women say they prefer to work for a male boss rather than a female boss. In a 1953 Gallup poll, 66% of those asked said they would prefer working for a man than for a woman. (When considering the 1953 data, it does pay to bear in mind the types of jobs women held in the 1950s and that the majority of wage earners were m en.) Although the statistics have changed dramatically over the past 60-some years, the number of respondents stating they would prefer working for a woman has never exceeded 25%. In a 2013 Gallup Poll that asked Americans, If you were taking a new job and had your choice of a boss, would you prefer to work for a man or a woman? respondents who had a preference still preferred to work for a man Americans are still more likely to say they would prefer a male boss (33%) to a female boss (20%) in a new job, although 46% say it doesnt make a difference to them. While women are more likely than men to say they would prefer a female boss, they are still more likely to say they would prefer a male boss overall. Does It Mean Men Are Better Bosses Than Women? The poll data alone is not conclusive, but we can still see some interesting points More women prefer to work for men than another woman however, of all respondents who stated they would prefer working for a woman, the majority are a lso women.Workers of both genders who currently have a female boss were more likely to prefer working for another woman in the future than for a man. The above may suggest that not having worked for a woman before may be a factor in how respondents replied. However, it might also be that workers, in general, feel men have more power and influence in the working world and, therefore, may be in a better position to offer advancement. What Can Be Learned From This Data Women are still seen as being less desirable to work for than male bosses, at least to some degree. Stereotypes may be one explanation as to why more people stated their preference for working for a man, but other 2013 Gallup poll statistics could suggest that ones personal belief system and values may also be a factor 46% of Republican respondents preferred a male boss.16% of Republican respondents stated a preference for a female boss.29% of Democrat respondents chose male and 25% said they would prefer working for a woman. Republicans tend to have more conservative family values and different attitudes about the role of women in society and prefer working for men while Democrats seemed to consider gender less of an issue. How you view women in the workforce and their role in society at large also seems to be a factor as to why certain groups lean in one direction or another. People who work for a female boss (regardless of gender, age, or party line) were more likely to state they would choose another female boss. That attitude would seem to indicate women do make good bosses. The bottom line is this women make great bosses and so do men, but it would be unfair to say all men make great bosses (because they are men) and that all women make great bosses (because they are women). What makes a boss great probably has a lot less to do with gender than individual styles, approaches, and attitudes towards subordinates- how a boss treats employees- and that our own individual filters through which we see gender are a lot less reliable than we may think.

How financial infidelity impacts mental health

How financial infidelity impacts mental healthHow financial infidelity impacts mental healthBefore we tied the knot and merged ur finances, my husband and I decided to each hang on to a credit card from our single days. Higher limits in case of an emergency and the ability to charge a surprise gift unnoticed solidified our decision. But as I scanned our joint credit card charges brde month, I thought back to our individual cards and how easy it would be for either of us to be financially unfaithful.Marital infidelity is widely known, butresearchshows that financial infidelity is on the rise.41% of American adultsreported that theyve hidden accounts, debt, or spending habits from their partner. Arecent surveydetermined that millennials are nearly twice as likely to hide money or accounts from partners than other generations.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreChoosing to keep financi al choices hidden from a loved one - no matter how seemingly harmless - can have significant repercussions for relationships and for your mental health.Hiding Finances Breaks TrustDeliberately concealing or lying about finances creates a barrier in even the strongest relationships. When exposed, it breaks down an essential component of partnerships trust. Without thefoundational element of trust, couples may face an uphill battle that would require time, focused effort, and professional support to rebuild.It is difficult to repair trust once it has been broken, said Washington D.C.-based Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, CFTP. When one of the partners withholds information from the other or covers it up, it is normal to feel betrayed, guilty, anxious, or depressed. All these can lead to problems and affect our mental health.Megan McCoy, a professor at Kansas State University who specializes in financial therapy,told NPRthat money fights are often more intense and last longer because money relates to significant life events like college savings or retirement.Realizing the deception from someone you love adds to the pain. Its hard to realize someone could be so fake to you, someone you thought you understood and could read, she said.The Bigger the Secret, the Greater the Long-Term StressLiving a double life riddled with worry can send stress levels skyrocketing. Will he discover that extra account? Will she find out about my compulsive gambling? Will he see my credit card debt? There are many stressors in everyday life - includingsome that may surprise you- but as the financial stakes get higher when you cheat financially, the stress levels will, too.Long-term stress can have a lasting impact on your health and negatively affect your immune, digestive, sleep, and reproductive systems.TheNational Institute of Mental Healthwarns that chronic stress can lead to complications like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health condi tions like depression. The financial choices you hide clearly have implications that can last long after a secret transaction.Financial Anxiety is AmplifiedFeeling nervous, sweating, increased heart rate, and having trouble sleeping are just a few of thecommon symptomsrelated to anxiety, which can develop from financial infidelity. We all experience these feelings from time to time, but in some cases, individuals can developanxiety disorders, where the symptoms do not subside and often get worse over time.The inverse can also be true. Astudy by the Royal College of Physicians foundthat about half of people with problems like anxiety also struggle with problem debt.Finances, in general, are a common source of anxiety. Its one of themain issuescouples fight about, and with Baby Boomers entering retirement, its become an even more significant issue. But its not just impacting older generations. Astudy from Northwestern Mutualfound that nearly 25% of millennials have felt physically ill because of their finances and more than half have felt depressed. Tack on the secrecy and deceit interwoven in financial infidelity, and youll see how this form of cheating can make anxiety skyrocket.The Lies Begin to SnowballWhats the hurt of one trashed receipt, one big bet, or one private loan? Its actually more dangerous than you think. Thesnowball effectapplies to lying - no matter what the topic.Researcherswho studied the brain activity of people who told small lies found that they were more likely to tell larger lies in the future.Whether its evading tax, infidelity, doping in sports, making up data in science, or financial fraud, deceivers often recall how small acts of dishonesty snowballed over time and they suddenly found themselves committing quite large crimes, study co-author Tali Sharot said in anews article.Because every couple is different, Catchings encourages us to think beyond generalizations. If there are no repercussions, the person may continue to be deceitf ul. He or she may instead feel remorseful and stop the behavior.The main point is to recognize that we need the help and to be able to work with our fears, Catchings said. It is much better to be honest and work through relationship issues centered on money as early as we can, instead of having to deal with a mountain of stories and lies that can truly destroy the relationship.Working together as a couple in the spirit of openness, you can set the road map that will lead to a strengthenedrelationshipand freedom on the way to recovery.This article first appeared on Talkspace.

Finding a Job Without a College Degree

Finding a Job Without a College DegreeFinding a Job Without a College DegreeBill Gates never graduated from college. Neitzu sich did Michael Dell nor Steve Jobs. Outside of the tech world, Richard Branson has done pretty well for himself without a college degree, as has Barry Diller.But Sharon Willis is a more common example of the challenges to American workers who never graduated from college.Since February, Willis has been the acting vice president for external affairs at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a medical and health-sciences graduate school of 850 students. She will continue in that role until some time in the fall, when she will resume her position as deputy vice president. The VP role is one she wanted to apply for when it became vacant but couldnt, even though she had the experience and knowledge. Why? She doesnt have a bachelors degree.Willis started at the university 28 years ago as a clerk typist and worked her way up through the ranks. She desc ribes herself as the go-to person for just about everybody with whom she works. Willis has done the job of vice president, and the college president knows she is up to the task on a permanent basis, yet her lack of a college diploma - a job requirement means she does not qualify for the position.Willis has hit a professional wall at the university, and she realizes that things would likely not be different elsewhere.When we have vacancies here, I see the qualifications of the applicants, many of whom have masters degrees, said Willis. I realize that if I were to leave here, I would probably rank at the bottom of the applicant pool because of my lack of a degree, despite excellent experience, job stability, a very strong work ethic and great references. Its disheartening.What Willis suspects to be true about the world outside the university is only too real for many of the millions of people the recession unleashed upon the job market. Many of these people started at a company in a n entry-level position and worked their way up the ladder. Not having a college degree may not have mattered until the time came to apply for a new position.Bruce Hurwitz, president and CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, said he sees this issue come up regularly. Every time I have tried to get a client to waive the college-degree requirement in light of the candidates exemplary work experience, I have been refused, he said. They alfruchtwein always say that it is their policy that all employees have at least a college degree.Such jobs now account for most of the economy. Nearly 60 percent of American jobs now require at least a bachelors degree, according to Help Wanted Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018, a June 2010 report released by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University. That number jumped from 28 percent in 1973 to 59 percent in 2008 and is expected to rise to 63 percent over the next decade, the report said.Resume and Netwo rking SolutionsSo is your dream job, even most jobs, out of reach if you dont have a college degree?Not necessarily. Experts who spoke with Ladders said solid, long-term professional experience and proven results can often supersede the need for a college diploma.I believe that employers want the right person for the job, said Karla Porter, director of workforce development and HR for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry and a private consultant on human capital and new media. Theyre not looking for a certificate, a degree, a piece of paper they are looking for a solution provider. If there is a person who can do that for them and has a proven track record and can show what theyve accomplished for other companies, I believe they will be considered.All of this must be conveyed in a carefully constructed resume. To replace the college-degree situation on a resume, the person needs to stress the results they have been able to achieve due to their extensive experien ce, said Dianne Durkin, president and founder of Loyalty Factor, a consulting and training firm.Make sure the resume is very, very well done, Porter said. If its not, it will go to the C pile.Tony Deblauwe, senior HR partner at Citrix Systems and founder of HR4Change, agreed Your resume has to be rock-solid. It has to demonstrate your experience, your skills, your accomplishments. Youre promoting your best skills so that people focus on that and not get to the end and say, Well, wheres your degree? Cheryl Palmer, president of Call to Career, said she has worked with many people who have been to college but never got the degree. When writing a resume for a person in this situation, she mentions the college major and degree program but does not state that that he has a degree. Im being truthful, but not drawing undue attention to the fact that they dont have a degree.This strategy will also help you get your resume past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software that most companies use to screen resumes.If a job description says bachelors degree required and you dont have a bachelors degree, your resume can say bachelors degree not completed or not attained so the system will pick up the keywords bachelors degree, Porter said. You dont want to say anything that is not true, but you want your resume to get in front of people. Make sure your resume contains the same keywords that the job description contains, and then rearrange them to how they fit for you.All the experts who spoke with Ladders emphasized the importance of describing any training, certifications or licenses you have to show that you have invested in some training for yourself. I havent found too many scenarios where people have done nothing, Deblauwe said. Theyve at least taken some college classes or gotten some certifications or something to talk to. Or something internal from a previous company.Its commonly understood that networking is one of the most important things you can do when pursuin g a new job, but its even more critical if you dont have a degree, said Palmer. If you dont have a degree, the whole idea of networking is much, much more critical, she said. Employers prefer to hire someone that they know something about. They prefer people who have come referred. If you are trying to land a job in this very competitive job market and you dont have a degree, you really have to take that networking to another level, to get around the fact that most employers are looking for a bachelors degree at an absolute minimum.Along those same lines, strong recommendations from clients, former employers, co-workers and associations can go a long way toward making up for the lack of a college degree.Its Never Too LateSo, what else can you do if you dont have a college degree? Well, you can get one or at least begin working toward one, no matter what your age.Once enrolled in a program, you can write on a resume that a degree is in progress, experts suggested.Thats just what the Uniformed Services Universitys Willis is doing.A busy single mother of three, Willis is taking classes in business management in the hopes that she can break through the barriers put up by the lack of a degree. Willis said her boss is very supportive and is giving her whatever time she needs. In addition, because she works for a federal institution, she gets tuition reimbursement. All of this, along with flexible options such as online classes, has allowed Willis to start on a path she hopes will lead to a higher-level position.I think in the long run, people are much better off just going ahead and pursuing the degree, no matter how hard it may be, she said. Thats what everyone will be looking for. You do get to a certain point where you just cant go any further, and thats where I am right now.