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Thursday, 7 October 2021

10 Effective Tips to Instantly Boost Your Resume

October 07, 2021 Career Tool Belt No comments

Have you been on the job hunt for a while now? And, perhaps, despite submitting application after application, you’ve still not had any luck.

We know the process can begin to feel disheartening, but don’t give up just yet. By making a few simple tweaks to your resume, you can seriously increase your chances of landing your dream role.

Here are 10 tips you can use to instantly boost your resume and boost your chances of success:

1. Cut It Down

Your resume should never be longer than two pages, but if you can cut it down to just one page, that’s even better!

Recruiters don’t have much time to read through each individual application, so you should aim to get your key selling points across as concisely as possible. Just cut out any unnecessary information or fluff and aim for a short, sweet, and punchy document.

2. Ditch the Clichés

Recruiters read hundreds of resumes and are faced with the same cliché phrases time and time again.

The likes of “Always gives 110%” and “Determined go-getter with an amazing work ethic” might sound impressive, but they prove absolutely nothing to recruiters.

So, ditch these overused buzzwords and focus your resume on hard facts, achievements, and skills instead.

3. Add Facts and Figures

Showcasing your achievements on your resume is a great way to prove your value, and the best way to do this is by adding facts and figures. Quantifying your achievements shows how you can add real impact to an employer.

For example, rather than merely stating that you’ve got digital marketing skills, you could say, “My SEO strategy increased traffic to the company website by 34% in six months.”

4. Remove the Jargon

While you might be clued up on all the industry-specific terminology, acronyms, and jargon, you should avoid using these too frequently in your resume.

Remember, the recruiter or HR personnel reading your resume might not understand what these mean and, therefore, won’t understand how they add value.

5. Utilize Bullet Points

Bullet points can be helpful for breaking up big chunks of text and aiding the readability of your resume.

Use them to list your key skills and responsibilities in your employment history section, as well as anywhere else you feel it’s appropriate.

This will make it far easier for the recruiter to navigate through the document and digest the information.

6. Simplify your Design

You might think that choosing a quirky or bold design will help you stand out, but overdoing it can be quite distracting and take the focus away from the all-important written content.

Therefore, it’s best to simplify your design, so it’s easier for the recruiter to scan through and find all the information they need.

7. Perfect Your Top Quarter

The top quarter of your resume is the first thing a recruiter reads and should contain a punch professional summary and core skills list.

Be sure to spend time perfecting these sections – if recruiters don’t like what they read, they might move straight onto the next application.

Aim to make it short, snappy, and attention-grabbing. These two sections should put forward your key selling points, capabilities, and achievements and entice the reader to read further.

8. Focus on your Hard Skills

While soft skills (teamwork, communication, flexibility, etc.) certainly have their place in the workplace, it’s more important to showcase your hard skills on your resume.

Hard skills (coding, speaking a language, medical knowledge, project management, etc.) show the employer you’ve got the technical skills required to succeed in the role.

For this reason, try to prioritize space for your hard skills and, where possible, back them up with qualifications, certifications, and examples to show recruiters why you’d be a good fit for the position.

9. Tailor Every Resume

Every resume you submit should be tailored to the specific position and company you’re applying to. To do this, research the company before you begin writing and use the job description to help inform your resume content.

Your aim should be to match the job requirements as closely as possible. Every sentence in your resume should prove your suitability, while anything that’s totally irrelevant to the role should be deleted.

10. Ask for Feedback

Lastly, if you’re feeling disheartened and can’t understand why your resume wasn’t successful, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback.

Most recruiters will be happy to oblige, and this can help you to improve for next time. So, get in touch with the recruiter for the last role you applied for and politely ask for some constructive feedback.

Then, adapt your resume to suit. Continue to do this for each role you apply for, and you’ll consistently improve your chances as time goes on!

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How to Find and Land Your Dream Internship

October 07, 2021 Career Tool Belt No comments

Internships are a great way to gain experience and start out your career on the right foot! Rather than applying for an internship and then fitting yourself into the position, figure out who you are, what you want out of a career, and what lights you up. Then apply to internships that align with those things!

Find, Land, and Keep Your Dream Internship

Here are eight steps to finding, landing, and keeping your dream internship.

1. Self Reflection & Exploration

Before applying to internships, take some time to think about who you are. You want the foundation of this internship search to be comprised of the most important thing – YOU!

Here are some things to think about when taking stock of yourself:

Your Passions – These are the things that energize you throughout the day vs. starting at the clock and counting the minutes. What are things that light you up and make you lose track of time?
Your Gifts – These are the unique talents you possess rather than just the areas you’ve been previously trained on. What are things that come naturally to you?
Your Values – These are principles that you hold dear and are important to you, like teamwork, authenticity, or adventure. What are the principles you want to be known for and stand by?
Your Purpose – This is a succinct vision for the impact you want to make in your career at this time. Defining your purpose helps you to gut check if the job aligns with your broader vision. What is your vision for yourself? What impact do you want to make?

4. Determine Your Industry

Now that you have learned about yourself and laid a solid foundation of introspection, think about what you want out of a career and what industries are interesting and exciting to you.

Dream big, now is not the time to hold yourself back – we’re just exploring here. A great place to start would be thinking about what classes did you always look forward to?

3. Narrow It Down

Once you’ve determined what industry you’re interested in, you want to make a list of companies you’d like to apply for. Start with a big list, and taper it down from there. You can narrow it down by thinking about what companies align with your unique strengths and the things you’re passionate about. Focus on companies whose values align with yours so you’ll be a good fit culturally.

Do a quick gut check to ensure this role will help you reach your longer-term goals. Once you’ve narrowed down your list, do some research – what will the day to day look like, what’s the company culture like, etc.

This is also a great time to think about your non-negotiables. Do you care if it’s an unpaid internship? Are you willing to commute? These are important questions to ask yourself when deciding where to begin your career path!

4. The Tacticals and Practicals

This is the step that you want to make sure you all your pieces of collateral reflect who you are and what you want to say. Your resume, LinkedIn, elevator pitch, and any other personal branding piece should be cohesive, up to date, and something you’re proud of and want people to see. Looking for more tips and tricks? Feel free to download this guide!

5. Apply, Apply, Apply!

Now that you’ve decided where you’d like to get an internship and have the tacticals and practicals you’re proud of, you get to apply. The application process can be overwhelming and daunting, you’re not alone in thinking that!

But you want to give the applications the time and effort they deserve. Stay organized in your applications and make sure that you don’t miss deadlines or confuse your contacts. Here is a great resource to learn how to get that interview!

6a. Interview Prep

You have applied and now the interview process begins. Interviewing can be intimidating, but preparation can really help you out here. Things to research prior to any interview are

The company – what are their values, have they been in the news, are they working on any big projects or initiatives
The culture – check out their social media, see what people are saying on Glassdoor, browse the linkedin profiles of their employees
The people – who are the key people in leadership, who will you be working with, who else should you know
The process – what is the interview experience like, what are commonly asked questions, what is the average timeframe to hear back from them

6b. Interviews

Interviews are pretty nerve wracking and it’s easy to ramble on and on. When asked an open-ended question, use the Rule of 3’s tool where you first speak to the most important thing, then the other two things can be supportive – this keeps you structured and thorough but concise.

Another great tool when you’re asked a behavioral (tell me about a time…) question is the STAR Method:

S – Describe the event or situation.

T – Explain the task you had to complete.

A – Describe the specific actions you took to complete the task.

R – Describe the results of your efforts.

Nervous about how to break down those “about me” questions, check out this resource.

7. Day One Success

You’ve landed your dream internship – congratulations! But the hard work doesn’t stop here. You want to set yourself up for success so that one day this internship can turn into a full-time position if you want to stay with the company. Ways to do this are:

Finding a mentor who has been right where you are and can share advice.
Schedule a one on one with your boss to discuss responsibilities, expectations, communication style.
Learn quickly and stay up to date on industry news.
Internal networking is important and doesn’t just stop once you are on the job. This is a great way to advance, so aim for a coffee date a week, or join a committee within your company.

8. Re-Evaluate

Once you’ve been in your internship for a while, you want to re-evaluate and determine if this is the path you want to continue to be on:

How has your experience been?
Has it been great and meaningful and you want to stay?
Has it been okay, and you like the work but maybe this company doesn’t align?
Or has it been terrible and this path is totally not for you and you need to go into a totally different industry?

All of these options are totally okay! You are figuring out what you want and need, and are one step closer to figuring out right where you should be!

Internships are a great way to gain experience and start understanding yourself as a young professional. Use this as a learning opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you want. Don’t be afraid to go after the internship of your dreams – you’ve got this!

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Top Apps for Earning Extra Cash

September 29, 2021 Career Tool Belt No comments

Do you want to earn extra money? Whether you’re looking for a quick, easy way to make a few extra dollars or you’d like to market your skills to boost your income, you can use an app to find gigs and jobs, apply online, and get hired.

Many workers have built entire careers on gigging apps. Others use them as sporadic side hustles. Whatever you’re looking for, most gigging apps feature flexible hours and on-demand work.

Some apps require specific skills sets. For others, you simply need to have the time available to complete the task. With many of them, you can start work right away, and you’ll often be paid as soon as you complete the job.

Shopping and delivery services

One of the easiest ways to make extra money is to provide delivery services via apps. With some apps, like Shipt, the app worker will do the shopping and delivering. For others, like FoodKick, you’ll pick up and deliver orders. Some services will pay right away. For example, Uber drivers can sign up for Instant Pay and get paid up to five times a day.

Ride-share driver gigs

If you own a reliable car and appropriate insurance, ride-share driving is a great way to make extra money in your spare time. Driving jobs have an online application process that includes a background check, so be prepared to wait for approval to get started.

Caregiving gigs

If you’re interested in caregiving, for either humans or pets, you can sign up to provide care services when you’re available.

Building, repairing and moving gigs

If you have a talent for repairing things, assembling furniture, or moving large boxes, you can use an app to find jobs at your convenience. Once you are approved, you’ll be able to select tasks that fit your schedule.

Bellhop
Billy
Dolly
Handy (also for domestic house workers)
HomeAdvisor
Houzz
Thumbtack
Unpakt

Quick gigs that pay fast

You probably won’t get rich from using these apps, but you can make money quickly. How much you’ll earn depends on the job, and you’ll be paid quickly after you complete the task.

BlueCrew: BlueCrew provides flexible W-2 employment for hourly workers in a broad range of industries, such as warehousing, logistics, e-commerce, events, delivery, and hospitality.

EasyShift: Sign up to complete simple and fast jobs at local stores, such as taking pictures and checking promotions. You’ll receive payment via PayPal within 48 hours.

Gigwalk: Gigwalk posts jobs that take as little as a few minutes or as long as several hours. Gigs include checking product displays or product availability in retail stores. The app has a GPS feature to find, complete and report on jobs. Payment is remitted via PayPal upon completion of the gig.

TaskRabbit: Taskers do small jobs like cleaning, delivery, shopping, organizing, and running errands. After the job is done, you’ll submit an invoice to get paid via direct deposit. Note: there is a $25 registration fee.

Wonolo: Wonoloers work on immediate local, hourly or daily jobs. Receive notifications of new jobs, then click to accept. Payments are processed by Stripe, and typically take three to five days from when the job was approved.

More gig apps for blue-collar work

Check out our list of the best blue-collar on-demand job apps available.

Top gig apps for professional services

Skilled freelancers can use apps to find jobs and market their professional services. If you’ve got the right skill set, you can take on side gigs or make freelancing your full-time job.

As with most app-based gigs, the work schedule is typically flexible. Some sites, like Upwork, offer general opportunities for gig workers while others, such as Crowdflower, focus on specific niches.

Angi allows clients to find professionals for any household task, from contracting to electrical engineering to remodeling.
Appen is a service that provides crowdsourced jobs in artificial intelligence and data management. Their app includes one-off gigs as well as long-term projects.
editorr is an on-demand service that hires online editors with an academic or professional background in English, journalism, copywriting, creative writing or similar field.
Fiverr is a platform where freelancers can market their creative services in more than 200 categories. Freelancers post the services they provide and set a price for the gigs, which begin at $5.
Havenly is an app where professional interior designers can connect with clients online. Designers can be paid on commission, through incentives and per-project. Havenly said its top designers make up to $7,500 per month.
Jijatjo provides flexible options for hospitality workers, matching you with opportunities that work for your schedule. Jijatjo offers competitive hourly rates, and pay is almost immediate (within a few hours) after you finish a shift.
Thumbtack, like Angie’s List, offers professionals a way to find jobs doing almost anything. Pros post their business, and customers reach out.
Tutor.com is an internet-based tutoring service. Professors, teachers, professionals with industry expertise provide online tutoring services.
Upwork is a platform for a wide array of freelancers to find jobs and projects, connect with clients and get hired quickly.
VIPKid is an English tutoring platform for experienced teachers only. Teachers earn between $7 and $9 for a 25-minute class.
Wyzant provides one-on-one tutoring services for school and university students. There are more than 12,000 subject areas and a stringent vetting process for applicants.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

You’ll need a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer to get started on your app gig journey. Most apps have both iOS and Android versions. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

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Are You Using the Wrong Resume Keywords?

September 22, 2021 Career Tool Belt No comments

Is your job search stalled out? If you’re not getting responses from hiring managers despite applying to what feels like hundreds of job openings, your resume keywords may be to blame.

You see, before you can impress a hiring manager, you need to impress the robots that gatekeep their inbox. Most big companies—and many small ones—use applicant tracking systems to manage their hiring process. ATS software filters candidates’ resumes and cover letters, selecting the ones that seem like the best fit for the role.

The problem with employers relying so heavily on these systems is that the robots aren’t necessarily very smart. They don’t see an applicant’s talents, qualifications, and potential; they only see the keywords that they’ve been trained to look for.

Choose the wrong resume keywords, and you might find yourself stuck in job search limbo. This could mean getting zero responses for jobs that are a perfect fit for your skills.

The good news is that this is a problem that’s relatively easy to solve.

How To Use the Right Resume Keywords

The best resume keywords are often right in front of you. The trick is knowing where to look and understanding how to use these words in your resume and cover letter.

Be Prepared To Write Your Resume From Scratch

This isn’t what you want to hear when you’re already slogging through a job search, but sometimes you need to throw out your old resume and start fresh. Let’s face it, if your old CV were working, you wouldn’t be reading this post. So don’t be afraid to start with a blank slate. We’re about to give you some tips that will make that empty page a lot easier to fill.

Start With the Job Description

A resume is a sales pitch. But before you can make your pitch to an employer, you have to understand what they’re hoping to buy.

The job description is the place to start figuring out what the employer wants. Make a list of the skills, qualifications, and prior experience mentioned in the job listing.

Don’t worry if you don’t have everything they want (or say they want). Bear in mind that many employers reuse job descriptions for similar roles or add new qualifications to their list without considering whether they need all of the old ones.

Look Beyond Hard Skills

Job-specific skills like coding languages, software packages, or project management are important, but they’re not the only things that employers look for. Soft skills like flexibility, communication, and emotional intelligence are also crucial to success. Plus, these skills are harder to teach than technical skills that can be learned through repetition over time. So, don’t forget to highlight soft skills in your resume and cover letter.

Match Your Experience to Their Requirements

One common problem for job seekers is job title mismatch. This happens when your job title doesn’t accurately reflect your role, responsibilities, and duties. Job title mismatch becomes an issue when you want to apply to a job that fits what you do, not what your title says you do.

If you’re still in that job, you can negotiate with your boss for a title change that better reflects your role. But if you’re moving on to something else, your best bet is to make sure that you describe your duties using accurate terms. Most importantly, make sure those terms match the terms used in the job listing.

Note: It may be tempting to tweak your job title on your resume. Don’t do it. Employers will catch the change during a background check and perceive this as lying about your work history.

Don’t Forget These Crucial Bragging Points

Your skillset and work history aren’t the only thing you have to offer an employer. The ability to work in different ways and cope with specific challenges are also important.

For example, if an employer is hiring for a remote job, and you have prior experience working from home, include that information in your resume, e.g., “Graphic Designer, ABC Corp (Remote Job).”

Or let’s say that you’ve worked for multiple startups before and have targeted another new company for your next role. Use the word “startup” in your description of the job in the “Experience” section of your resume.

Remember that employers are hoping to find someone who will be able to get up to speed quickly. Using these resume keywords can show them (and their ATS) that you’re the best candidate for the job.

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Can You Work Two Full-Time Jobs?

September 20, 2021 Career Tool Belt No comments

Working two full-time jobs used to be a virtual impossibility. Because the majority of workers performed their duties at a physical work site, holding down two jobs meant putting in at least 80 hours a week—tough to pull off, if you also need to commute, eat, sleep, and attend to any responsibilities outside of work.

But the world of work is changing. As more employers embrace telecommuting and full-time remote jobs, another trend has emerged: the full-time double-timer. For obvious reasons, it’s hard to come by accurate stats on just how many people are working two full-time jobs. But it’s safe to say that the practice is on the rise. So, can you—and should you—join them?

Here’s what you need to consider:

Are You Breaking the Rules?

If you have an employment contract or employee handbook, now’s the time to consult them. Many companies have rules in place to prohibit moonlighting (otherwise known as “working two jobs”). You’ll want to make sure you understand corporate policy, especially if you’ve signed a contract stating that you’ll adhere to it.

But even if your employer doesn’t specifically forbid moonlighting, you can still get in trouble for it. Look for contract language restricting your ability to work for competitors, use the company’s intellectual property for another organization, or similar.

What Are Your Other Responsibilities?

Even if you’re young and single and willing to put your hobbies and friendships on a shelf for a while, you have responsibilities outside of work. Can you take care of yourself and maintain your health and happiness if you hold two jobs?

Some people don’t need a lot of sleep. Others may be willing to multitask by eating at their desk or exercising while they work by incorporating a treadmill desk. But keep in mind that even those folks need some downtime eventually. Be honest with yourself about what you can handle.

What Are Your Goals?

Think about why you want to work two full-time jobs. Maybe you’re hoping to pay down debt, build up savings, get a head start on a second career. Whatever your reasons, it’s important to be clear about them. Knowing why you’re embarking on this experiment will help you define success in the short- and long-term.

What Is the Long-Term Plan?

And speaking of the long-term, know what that looks like. For most people, working 80-plus hours a week won’t work as a permanent career choice. Even if you love what you do, you are likely to want other things in your life besides work at some point. In fact, loving what you do may be the biggest reason to make the two-jobs lifestyle a short-term choice. In the long run, you might want to get promoted or start your own business or otherwise focus your professional life on a single track.

What Are the Alternatives?

If you’ve read this far and you’re having second thoughts, know that you don’t have to throw out your plans altogether. There are other ways to earn more money, gain experience, or try new professional paths without taking on a second full-time job:

Freelance or contract work: Earn extra money while gaining valuable work experience…without committing to another 40-hour-per-week job.
Education or internships: Train for a job that pays more and fits better with your personal and professional goals.
Negotiate salary or find a new job: Earn more without doubling your workload by negotiating a raise or looking for a better paying role.

How Will You Make This Work?

Ready to add another full-time job to your schedule? Create a plan to make it work. Figure out how you’ll manage your workload, time, and interactions with two sets of bosses.

Remember that you won’t have a lot of energy to spare, so create a system that will work even when you’re tired or otherwise feeling unproductive. For example, you might try working on different laptops, especially if they’re supplied by your employers, so that you don’t accidentally message one boss about the other boss’s priorities.

Above all, be discreet. Even if you’ve approved your plan with both companies, you won’t want to emphasize your dual commitments. And should you decide to keep things under wraps, remember: a secret that involves two people isn’t a secret. Don’t tell any of your colleagues anything that you don’t want to get back to the rest of your team.

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Starting a New Job: Checklist for Success

September 20, 2021 Career Tool Belt No comments

Giving a good first impression on the first day at your job it’s a great way to show what they can expect from you. But deciding what to wear and what to bring can be nerve wrecking. If you don’t know where to start, and want to prepare quickly, here are some tips for starting a new job.

Familiarize yourself with the commute

Decide how you will be getting to work and if you are driving make sure to take into account the time it will take for you to get there. If you are taking public transportation or even walking, make sure to familiarize yourself with the route and leave a few minutes early in case of delays.

Get enough sleep

To wake up feeling fresh in the morning, it’s important to rest well the night before. Avoid alcohol or any mind-altering substances and set up an alarm for a time that you will be able to get enough sleep as well as have enough time to get ready.

Plan your outfit

Try to take a few minutes the day before to pick an outfit and have it ready for the next morning. It’s also a good idea to prepare what snacks and lunch you will be bringing, and have them packed and ready to go.

Make a checklist

If you can, talk to your supervisor and check if you need to bring any documents or anything else for your first day. Also make sure to pack a water bottle and a sweater, as well as a charger and toiletries. To make it easy for you, you can download and print out this checklist of how to prepare for your first day.

Prepare for your first week

You will most likely spend a big chunk of your first week setting up your accounts, meeting people and familiarizing yourself with the company. But staying organized and setting goals for your week can be a great way to start your job and give a great first impression. You can create a schedule for your week, have lunch with co-workers or talk to your supervisor and see what is expected from you.

Tip: Review these do’s and don’ts for starting a new job to be sure you make the best impression.

If you want to learn more about how you can prepare for starting at your new job, check out Mint’s infographic below.

Infographic courtesy Intuit Mint.

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How a Nap Can Help Your Career

September 08, 2021 Career Tool Belt No comments

A few years ago, a midday snooze was a perk restricted to a few tech workers. And typically, if a company offered a nap room, they also expected their employees to work late enough to need it the next day.

Now, the work environment is evolving. More people are working from home than at any other point in history. Freelancers make up an ever-expanding segment of the workforce. And employers are being forced to get creative to attract new talent. The odds that you can catch a snooze at work—without annoying your boss—are better than ever before.

The Benefits of Taking a Nap

So, let’s say you can catch some Zzz’s at work. Should you? Consider the following reasons to block off some time in your calendar for some shuteye:

Get Over the Afternoon Hump

Do you get sleepy in the middle of the afternoon? You’re not lazy. Mid-afternoon sleepiness is a normal part of many people’s circadian rhythm, according to Harvard Health. What’s more, taking a nap may be the best way to overcome it. Research cited by Harvard Health showed that naps were more effective than caffeine at getting subjects through that productivity lull. Even getting more sleep at night wasn’t as helpful as taking a short nap in the afternoon.

Improve Your Ability to Learn

A short nap (say, 20 minutes or so) can improve your alertness. But here’s some good news for nappers dedicated to longer snoozes: research shows that a 60- to 90-minute nap can boost the ability to learn new things. Study participants have greater success with a visual learning task after a good night’s sleep—or after a long nap.

Solve Problems While You Sleep

Not only do naps boost cognitive function, studies show, but they also may help you solve problems while you snooze. University of Bristol researchers found that study subjects subconsciously processed tasks while sleeping for short periods. Upon waking, the subjects who napped showed faster processing speed with these tasks than the subjects who didn’t nap.

In other words, it’s possible that your napping brain is still working at job-related tasks while you sleep. So, don’t think of a nap as a time out. It may well be the quickest route to a solution.

Be Healthier

Experts say that at least 50 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep deprivation. The mental and physical health effects of regularly missing out on a good night’s rest are sobering. Researchers have identified an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, hypertension, and depression, among other ailments.

Why is sleep deprivation so bad for your health? In part, it’s because lack of sleep increases cytokines, an inflammatory molecule, and cortisol and norepinephrine, which are stress hormones. But research suggests that napping can help mitigate the effects of losing sleep at night. Study subjects who slept for just two hours a night showed increased cytokines and norepinephrine when they didn’t nap the next day. But when they did nap, their levels were normal—as if they hadn’t missed out on nighttime sleep at all.

Enjoy Real Work-Life Balance

Productivity boosts and health benefits aside, there’s a less obvious benefit to making a daily nap a part of your routine: it returns your time to you.

It’s been at least 20 years since office workers could count on a 9-to-5 schedule. Taking work home with you, checking email on the weekends, and logging in early in the morning are part of many people’s routine. Scheduling time to rest and recuperate during the workday reminds you what work-life balance is really about: giving you back your life, not giving work your life.

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