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A firm handshake can help you land a job

Thu, 08 May 2008 07:53:00 -0400

Never mind polishing your resume and work on the handshake instead to get that job – at least that’s what a new research suggests.

According to University of Iowa researchers, a firm handshake is key to landing a job.

In the study, scientists had put 98 students through mock job interviews with businesspeople. The students also met with trained handshake raters who, unbeknownst to the students, rated their grips.

Separately, the businesspeople graded each student's overall performance and hireability. The two group's scores were then compared.

Students who got high handshake marks were also rated most hireable.

"We've always heard that interviewers make up their mind about a person in the first two or three minutes of an interview, no matter how long the interview lasts," Live Science quoted study leader Greg Stewart, associate professor of management and organizations at the University of Iowa, as saying.

"We found that the first impression begins with a handshake that sets the tone for the rest of the interview,” he added.

According to Steward, handshakes provide a glimpse of the real you.

"Job seekers are trained how to act in a job interview, how to talk, how to dress, how to answer questions, so we all look and act alike to varying degrees because we've all been told the same things," he said.

He added: "But the handshake is something that's perhaps more individual and subtle, so it may communicate something that dress or physical appearance doesn't."

Stewart also found those with strong handshakes scored better with the interviewers in part because they also exhibited greater ease with small talk, eye contact and other social skills.

"We probably don't consciously remember a person's handshake or whether it was good or bad. But the handshake is one of the first nonverbal clues we get about the person's overall personality, and that impression is what we remember,” Stewart said.

Good handshakes involve a firm, complete grip, eye contact and vigorous up-and-down movement, Stewart advised.

However, this may work against women because their grips tend to be not as strong. But other research finds women tend to be stronger in other nonverbal communication skills that seemed to offset their less brawny grips, Steward said.

And in the study, women who did have a strong handshake seemed to have an advantage over men.

"Those women seemed to be more memorable than men who had an equally strong handshake. A really good handshake made a bigger impact on the outcome of the interview for the women than it did for the men,” Steward said.

The study is published will be detailed in September in the Journal of Applied Psychology. (ANI)

Almost 750,000 problem gamblers among America’s youth

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:21:00 -0400

Researchers at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) have found that there are almost 750,000 problem gamblers among America’s youth.

They found that gambling activity is widespread among U.S. adolescents, with results of the first national survey of its kind showing problem gambling occurring at a rate of 2.1 percent among youth 14 to 21.

Besides this, 11 percent of the youth surveyed gambled twice per week or more, a rate that describes frequent gambling.

And sixty-eight percent of the youth interviewed reported that they had gambled at least once in the past year.

"In a society where young people are increasingly exposed to gambling influences, there is cause for concern," said John W. Welte, Ph.D., principal investigator on the study.

For the study, a total of 2,274 U.S. adolescents were surveyed from August 2005 through January 2007.

The researchers examined pivotal times of life for youth and found that gambling increased with each major life change.

They found that those who worked full-time were more likely to gamble, those who were not students were more likely to gamble frequently and those who lived independently were more likely to gamble and to be problem gamblers.

"We compared problem gambling rates among youth with problem gambling rates among adults from our national study of U.S. adults in 2000," Welte said.

"As far as gender, it seems likely that females' gambling involvement tends to emerge in adulthood, while male involvement can be high in adolescence. We found identical problem gambling rates for adult males and young males (4 percent).

“We found adult females gambling rates were much higher (3 percent) than that of young females (less than one-tenth of a percent). In other words, problem gambling is almost non-existent among female adolescents and young adults," he added.

The study showed that black youth were less likely to have gambled than white youth; but if they gambled, it was likely to be more frequent.

Asians as a racial group showed the lowest gambling involvement. Native Americans were found to have a higher rate of frequent gambling when compared to whites as well as to be higher on measures of problem gambling.

Generally, low socio-economic groups were less like to gamble, but if they did, were more likely to be problem gamblers. The highest socio-economic groups are linked to the lowest gambling involvement.

Religion was related to having gambled in the past year with every religious group except Catholics, who were less likely than Protestants (except Baptists), to have gambled at all.

Other religions (which include Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist, Jehovah's Witnesses and others) had a lower rate of having gambling in the past year but if they gambled, they had higher rates of frequent gambling than any other religious group.

Similarly, Baptists were less likely than other Protestants to have gambled in the past year, but if they gambled, they had higher rates of frequent gambling.

The will be published in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Gambling Studies. (ANI)

Smoke-free laws don’t affect employee turnover in restaurants

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:15:00 -0400

A new study has suggested that smoking ban in restaurants does not affect employee turnover.

The researchers analysed the payroll records of a franchisee of a national full-service restaurant chain operating 23 restaurants in the state of Arizona, a state where several communities have adopted smoke-free laws.

“We already know from multitudes of other studies that going smoke-free doesn’t hurt business,” said Ellen Hahn, professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing.

“But this is the first one to look at how smoke-free laws may impact employee retention and training,” Hahn added.

The findings showed a decline in the probability of turnover in the initial months after a smoke-free law was implemented and turnover rates lowered 16 to18 months after implementation.

However, over the long-run (a five year period) there was no consistent pattern of either a decline or an increase in employee turnover after the implementation of a smoke-free law.

“We thought we might see a short term spike in turnover but we didn’t see that,” said Eric Thompson, associate professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

It was previously believed that the introduction of a smoke-free law may compel some workers to leave their jobs at bar and restaurant businesses.

“The concern was that once smoking was no longer allowed, workers would no longer be interested in that particular job. Ostensibly, when the smoking law changed, the mix of characteristics in their job (such as wages, job responsibilities, the presence of second hand smoke) may have changed and caused people to choose another place of work. But the study did not bear this out,” said Thompson.

Hahn hopes that the findings would give the restaurant industry the courage to stop fighting smoke-free laws.

“There’s no reason the hospitality industry should resist smoke-free legislation in light of the huge body of research showing that it doesn’t impact business,” said Hahn. (ANI)

A Russian woman’s guide to snare an oligarch

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:15:00 -0400

Russian women would now be able get a taste of the nation’s super-rich oligarchs lifestyle- thanks to a slew of books telling them how to step into their shoes.

With 110 billionaires and 130,000 millionaires, oil-rich Russia now ranks only behind the United States in terms of sheer numbers of wealthy bachelors.

The publishing industry is giving tips to women, guiding them what clothes to wear, to strategies in the bedroom and the divorce court.

The most important being not to look too tarty, reports the Telegraph.

In Marry a Millionaire, Russian socialites Oksana Robski and Ksenia Sobchak warn women against wearing "jeans with sequins… bare bellies, fake tans under Dolce & Gabbana leopard print tops, dark glasses at night and high-heeled boots, even if it's July"

The reason behind this approach, according to one former oligarch hunter, is that decent men in Russia are generally thin on the ground, especially those who are both solvent and sober.

A trend was born and Russia's bookshops are now lined with dozens of texts with such titles as Bitch Seeks Man and The Bitch's Beginner's Course.

"Take 100 Russian men," said Oksana Grussova, who spent 15 years hunting rich men, and was married to a wealthy construction magnate.

"Ten of them will be gay, 30 alcoholics, 10 drug addicts, 20 impotent, leaving a paltry 30 men.

"Now take 100 Russian women, 90 of whom will be beautiful - the race simply isn't fair," Grussova added. (ANI)

Women are better managers than men

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:15:00 -0400

Women are more efficient than men when it comes to business management, according to a new Australian survey.

In the survey, involving 1800 Australian female and male CEOs and managers, women have emerged victorious in the key issues of strategic drive, risk taking, people skills, aesthetics and altruism, and innovation, whereas both were equal in the area of emotional stability.

The survey showed that men were superior in only two areas, command and control of management operations and focus on financial returns.

The study, conducted using the Hogan Assessment System (HAS), an international personality test designed to help organisations select employees and develop leaders, suggested that men were more task focused and more comfortable getting the job done, rather than bothering with relationships.

"The study reflects the ability of women to look beyond operational process management and cost control alone, and focus more on the holistic elements of a business," News.com.au quoted Gillian O'Mara, director and general manager of Steps Leadership Programs, as saying

"I think a number of people might have suspected women are stronger in people management skils, or some of the typically softer skills. But the results in terms of strategic drive, risk taking and capacity for innovation might surprise some," she added.

While focus was the key to men in managerial field, confidence was the key to women.

"The confidence women have at the start of their careers is vital to building their career plans and putting themselves forward for promotion and actively networking and seeking mentors,” O'Mara said.

"These are critical elements we find successful women leaders have used," she added.

The study will be presented at the Steps Women and Contemporary Leadership seminar in Sydney and Melbourne later this month. (ANI)

Brits turn to monks’ breathing techniques to beat stress

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:05:00 -0400

British city workers are using breathing techniques practised by monks to cope with the credit crisis in the hope that the exercises will help them reduce stress levels.

The professionals are taking up the centuries-old breathing techniques used by monks, shown to lower both stress and blood pressure.

After experts found that Gregorian chanting could promote a sense of well-being and help people to cope with pressure, a course was set up to teach its rhythmic breathing techniques.

Demand for the course among City professionals has doubled in the past six months as the crisis in the financial markets has deepened.

"Research shows that the regular breathing associated with chanting can have a significant and positive physiological impact,” the Telegraph quoted Dr Alan Watkins, a senior lecturer in neuroscience at Imperial College London, as saying.

"Communal singing and the simplicity of the melodies seem to have a powerful effect on reducing blood pressure and therefore stress,” he said.

Dr Watkins, who also runs a company that helps executives perform better in stressful conditions, said the training helped create a more coherent pattern in the heart rate.

"When times are tough, as they have been recently, people tend to suffer increased stress," he said.

"We have found that teaching individuals to control their breathing generates more positive emotional states and they can connect better with those around them.

"Communal singing and the simplicity of the melodies seem to have a powerful effect on reducing blood pressure and therefore stress,” he added. (ANI)

Superdad Beckham causing stress epidemic among British fathers!

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:05:00 -0400

Up till now it were only the ‘yummy mummies’ causing a headache for women, but well, how could men be far behind, therefore, make way for super dads like David Beckham, who are responsible for causing a stress epidemic among British fathers who cannot live up to the ace’s standards.

According to a new research, a shocking 85 percent of dads say they feel pressured to try to live up to a Becks-like ideal of keeping fit, doting on their wife and kids — and earning cash.

And a third fear the stress of unrealistic role models like the footie star and Tory leader David Cameron may end their marriage, the poll of 4,000 dads found.

Also, the poll found that millions of relationships could be close to breaking point because of the “David Effect”, reports The Sun.

But a survey of 4,000 fathers by parenting website Netmums.com blames the two Davids for being unrealistic role models.

In real life, they find themselves having to do more of the household chores and childcare because their partners work full time – unlike the wives of the celebrity dads.

Four in 10 said they suffered depression after the birth of a child. Often it is because they have to look after the baby to allow their partners to go out with the girls.

More than half the fathers complained they now have less “me-time”, with fewer nights out at the pub and reduced chances of playing golf or watching football.

Netmums.com founder Sally Russell, whose site conducted the poll, warned that partners need “time and space to be an individual as well as a parent” and added that women should “realise the positives in your partner”. (ANI)

Mums can improve kids’ academic performance by reading

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:03:00 -0400

Mums can improve their kids’ academic performance by encouraging them to read more, says an expert.

Sharon Darling, president and founder of the National Centre for Family Literacy has suggested that incorporating a daily reading habit is essential for children’s future academic success.

“Many moms wonder what they can do to help their children be successful in school. The answer is surprisingly simple,” said Darling.

“Many of the things parents do with their children as they work, play, read and talk together have an impact on the skills needed to become a confident and competent student.

“Singing songs, making up silly rhymes, talking about what you see, pointing out letters and words in the environment and reading together are just a few activities parents can do,” she added.

Parents can support their children’s learning with talking at the dinner table, playing games together, sharing household chores or while riding in the car.

It could also be done by making reading a daily habit of the family. Everyone should have a library card and teach children that reading is fun.

Creating reading rituals by setting aside a special time and place every day so that they enjoy stories without interruptions.

Moreover, cuddling closely with your child to foster a sense of security can actually eliminate stress that scientists believe produce hormones, which blocks learning.

Mealtimes can be the best opportunity to enhance learning skills.

Various programs have shown success in incorporating mealtime with literacy. In Southern California, the McDonald’s Family Mealtime Literacy Nights have resulted in parents using its strategies and materials at home to improve literacy skills.

You can talk to your kids while driving across town or on vacation and looking for signs with words that begin with the same letters as child’s name. Each person remembers what the other items were and adds an item that begins with the next letter of the alphabet.

Make up rhymes using words or items you see as you drive along or alliteration statements where all the words begin with the same sound. See how long you can keep the rhyme or alliteration statement going; and

Use techniques for reading that have been proven to increase effectiveness in reading time, providing sound effects to capture their attention, making connections between the spoken and written word because hearing sounds in words is a basic skill needed for reading, talking about the story to reinforce comprehension and memory skills and reading again and again as it helps children recognize and remember words. (ANI)