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What we’re reading: Procrastination, workism, nonverbal interview mistakes, and more

Written by: Marc Schultz
Published on: Feb 28, 2019

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This month, we’ve been reading about nonverbal interview cues, how the experts stay on-task, the art of subverting workplace stress, career advice you shouldn’t follow, the perils of worshipping work, and the way a new congressional star learned to overcome her fear and speak out in any situation – plus a top-line roundup from the Harvard Business Review’s career advice podcast.

JOBSEEKING
Forbes: 5 nonverbal cues that will ruin any job interview
“Take notes but not too many. Write down pieces of information that will jog your memory later, but don’t be a stenographer. Listen. When you listen, you make eye contact. Eye contact shows interest and confidence.”

Chicago Tribune: Terrible tips: Bad advice still runs amuck with today’s job seekers
“Don’t feel like you have to base your resume on the chronology of your career… Find a resume format that lets you stress your top accomplishments and list your most relevant jobs without taking someone through the career equivalent of ‘This Is Your Life.’”

PRODUCTIVITY
Entrepreneur: 6 ways top CEOs beat procrastination
“Most of us keep chugging along on a project until it’s either time to stop for the day or we run out of ideas… Instead of just randomly quitting a task, make sure you leave off at a place that will inspire you to get going next time you’re ready to pick it up.”

Inc.: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez uses this 1 mind hack to overcome her fear of speaking up in Congress
Just like everyone else, the freshman Congresswoman from the Bronx experiences fear of failure on the job – but she recently revealed how she uses it to her advantage: “Here’s my trick: for a long time, I’ve used fear as a guiding light instead of a reason to turn off.”

Harvard Business Review: From bad bosses to career changes: The hosts of Dear HBR: on one year of answering listener questions
A smorgasbord of insight from the Harvard Business Review career advice podcast, where listeners submit their questions on workplace issues, with useful links to HBR artilces and specific podcast episodes for following up on topics like “job crafting,” “swimming in your lane,” and the “career triangle.”

WORKPLACE PRESSURE
Glamour: Here’s why you should care less about your work
The authors of No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work provide tips for avoiding burnout by caring for yourself first, and your job second. (Want more from this colorful duo? Check out their Instagram-based career advice cartoon series and their illustrated guide to sending email “without going insane.”)  

The Atlantic: Workism is making Americans miserable
“Perhaps long hours are part of an arms race for status and income… or maybe the logic here isn’t economic at all. It’s emotional – even spiritual.” Save this thoughtful piece for when you have 15 minutes to spare: It’s long, but provides worthwhile perspective on the where the American work ethic has led us, and how to think about your own relationship with the workplace.