The 4 Most Important Questions to Ask in a Remote Job Interview

The 4 Most Important Questions to Ask in a Remote Job InterviewThe 4 Most Important Questions to Ask in a Remote Job InterviewIts that time of the vorstellungsgesprchwhen the hiring manager sits back and asks, So, do you have any questions for me? Nows not the time to say nothing- especially if youre interviewing for thatcoveted remote job you really, really want.Interviewing for a remote job is a bit different from typical on-sitejobs. And theres no exception to the question portion of the remote job interview. While you can still ask the same questions youd ask of a non-remote job, youll want to be sure to ask others that are more directly related to telecommuting.Below are a few of the most important questions to ask in a remote job interview1. What are the remote work policies for this position?Whether the company is fully remote, or youre the first remote employee, youll want to be clear on the expectations and policies of working remotely in this particular position. Determine things like Will you be working 100 percent remotely or do you need to come into the office occasionally? Can you work in public places like a coffee shop or coworking space? Do you need to work a standard 9-to-5 schedule or will you have flexibility?leid all remote jobs are created equally, so youll want understand the particular rules of the company youre interviewing with. For example, if you need the ability to stop work to pick up the kids from school and the remote job youre interviewing for doesnt have a flexible schedule, youll want to either move onto the next or determine if this is a negotiable policy.2. What does communication look like at your company?Communication is a huge part of successful remote work. Getting insight into how the company communicates and what sorts of remote communications tools it uses will help you assess how connected youll be. Perhaps employees are big into Skype meetings, or maybe youll primarily use instant message. Familiarize yourself with the companys chosen communication tools to ensure youll be a top-notch remote employee.Its a red flag if your interviewer lacks a good answer for this question. Youll want to be surethe company values keeping remote workers in the know and connected to other remote workers or in-office counterparts.3. How will I be evaluated a remote employee?Sometimes remote employees can feel left behind when it comes to advancement opportunities and getting work performance feedback. See if the company has an annual or biannual review process and determine how youll get feedback from your boss.If your remote job interviewer gives you a lackluster answer, youll want to determine your ability to work in a job that may lack structure, praise, and constructive criticism. If there are no clear advancement options, consider your future career goals and if this remote position will be a positive step in your career direction.4. What does a successful remote worker look like to you?Asking your job interv iewer what it takes to be a successful remote workerwill help you gauge if you have what it takes to work remotely for this company. Perhaps the company values proactive communication, a certain level of output, orsomeone who works at their desk 9-to-5 each day.Gaugethe interviewers response to this question withwhat youre looking for in a remote job. Are you able to perform at a level that is acceptable and considered successful to this particular company? If so, youll be heading into the job knowing just what theyre looking for.

Just 2 teaspoons of this superfood daily can prevent cognitive decline as you age

Just 2 teaspoons of this superfood daily can prevent cognitive decline as you ageJust 2 teaspoons of this superfood daily can prevent cognitive decline as you ageIf youre getting older, you may have already thought about adapting to a mora healthy diet for your body. But have you thought about changing to a better diet in order to improve your brain?A diet high in nuts, over time, could lead to better cognitive health in older people, according to a new study fromresearchers at the University of Australia.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAnd you only need to need two teaspoons full a day. Researchers especially recommend peanuts, for their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that specifically reduce cognitive decline.By eating more than 10 grams (two teaspoons) of nuts per day, older people could improve their cognitive function by up to 60%, compared to those not eatin g nuts effectively warding off what would normally be experienced as a two-year cognition decline, said head researcher Dr. Ming Li, in a release.The study looked at 4822 Chinese people age 55 and over, and found that eating two teaspoons of nuts daily was positively associated with improved mental function, including improved thinking, reasoning, and memory.Lead researcher Dr. Ming Li says this is the first study to make a major link between an abundant diet of nuts and improved mental function in older people specifically older Chinese adults. These findings contributed new understanding of mental health problems such as dementia, a major issue faced by any aging population but especially China, where the population is aging more rapidly than almost any country in the world, according to Dr. Li.If youre aging, youre at risk for cognitive decline, and should absolutely consider changing your diet (even if you dont like nuts).There is no cure for age-related cognitive decline or neurogenerative disease, said Dr. Li. But changing our diets is the next best thing. Variations in what people eat are delivering improvements for older people If we can find ways to help older people retain their cognitive health and independence for longer even by modifying their diet then this is absolutely worth the effort.And if you really dont like nuts, there are other things you can eat to sharpen your mind.A study out of Singapore published earlier this year found that eating certain types of mushrooms twice a week could boost brain function and prevent cognitive decline.

What to Do When Your Boss Keeps Changing His Mind -The Muse

What to Do When Your Boss Keeps Changing His Mind -The MuseWhat to Do When Your Boss Keeps Changing His Mind After weeks of pouring all of your time and energy into a new project, you turn it in and are feeling pretty victorious. Moments later, your supervisor walks over to your desk. It feels a little soon for praise, but OK, why not?She sits down and tells you that youll need to go back to the drawing board.Wait, what?Then she starts describing the revisions shes looking for, and theyre nothing like the project you were assigned. Is your manager an indecisive flip-flopper, or was she saying this all along and you completely missed her point? Here are two key questions you can ask to figure out what happened and prevent this from happening again (and again).Are We Shifting ur Primary Goals?Your first order of business is to learn if there are new considerations. Even though its a little annoying to start over, if recent budget cuts or new information from the client has come to ligh t, this question ensures youll have the information you need to revise your work. It also reassures you that you heard your boss correctly the first time (important for overall communication and your self-esteem)- and reminds him that you were doing your best to deliver what he originally asked for. As a bonus, its a gentle nudge in his direction to keep you in the loop as much as possible.Conversely, if youre told the audience, focus, and metrics are the same as theyve always been, youll know that you and your manager have been on two different pages. Clearing this up is the first order or business- otherwise youll keep making the same types of mistakes. This time around, instead of using his recommendations as a jumping off point, plan to stick to exactly what he asks. Take notes- verbatim- and wherever theres room for interpretation, ask for clarification. Clearly, your boss has specific expectations, and it will make both of your jobs easier if youre clear on what they are.What Can I Do to Make the Next Version Successful?OK, your tone really matters on this one. If theres even a hint of I cant believe I have to rework this in your voice, it could come off as passive-aggressive. And thats not your goal Your goal is to zero in on the exact flaws and areas for improvement. Theres no need to redo the parts of the project that are working- and at the same times its essential that you do revise the elements where your supervisor expects changes.This question moves the conversation to what your boss sees as a miss. Sometimes, it gives you an opening to discuss why you got (overly) creative, and either way it ensures you and your manager will be on the same page moving forward.Youre always trying to shave minutes off your daily to-do list. Being asked to completely revise your work is basically the enemy because it forces you to spend time redoubling your efforts. Use the questions above to figure out where you went astray, get back on the same page as your boss, and avoid going through this process again.Photo of confusing messages courtesy of Shutterstock.