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8 research-backed techniques for becoming more likable

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Ellen DeGeneres

We all want to be liked. After all, likable people have more friends, are more respected by their employees and coworkers and close more deals.

While you can't force or trick someone into liking you, you can make yourself more emotionally appealing to people.

As Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of "The 11 Laws of Likability" and "Nail the Interview," puts it, "You can't make anybody like you, but you can enable people to see what is likable about you.

A lot of these things are not necessarily tricks that are meant to manipulate and deceive, but they're honest ways we connect and make others feel good."

Jack Schafer, a behavioral analyst, retired FBI agent and author of The Like Switch, says that good salespeople do these things instinctively, which is what makes them so successful.

"It's little things that get people to like you," he says. "You have to pay attention to those things."

Related: How to Hack Your Brain Chemicals to Be More Productive

Here are eight science-backed techniques you can start employing immediately to make yourself a more appealing person:

SEE ALSO: The CEO of a successful startup shares 5 research-backed ways he boosts his productivity

1. Smile

If it sounds simple, it's because it is. Smiling triggers your brain to release endorphins, which makes you feel good. And guess what? Smiling is contagious.

"People read your body language and facial expressions far more than hear your words or hear your tone of voice," Lederman says, "so that smile is immediately welcoming, disarming and relaxing to the other person."

You shouldn't just smile at everyone though, says Tim Sanders, author of The Likeability Factor. It has to come from a place of authenticity. However, you should always smile back at someone who is smiling at you.

"When you smile back at someone, what you are combining is friendliness and authenticity together," he says. "Often, when we don't expect a person to smile at us or we don't know them very well, we look away. When you smile back at a person, you're telling them, 'I like you too,' and that generates more likeability."



2. Watch your body language

We humans are just animals in fancy clothes. That's why, along with smiling, you can use visual cues to let other people know that you're not a threat. These include raising your eyebrows and tilting your head, Schafer says. The head tilt exposes your critical carotid artery to the other person, showing trust. Crazy, right?

"What typically happens is our brains are looking for threats in the environment," he says. "We communicate nonverbally. When the brain sees friendly signals, it can focus on other things. It's important to learn about these signals so we can use them appropriately."

Stressful situations, such as job interviews or client meetings, trigger your flight-or-fight response, making you defensive and closed off. Intentionally utilizing these physical signals, along with smiling, overrides this heightened state.

Related: 4 Ways To Push Through Adversity and Failure Without Ego



3. Make the other person feel good

"If you want people to like you, make them feel good about themselves," Schafer says. "We have to take the focus off us and put it onto the other person."

There are many ways to accomplish this.

"Appreciation, recognition, a thank-you, direct eye contact, a compliment, asking their advice — all of these are ways in which we make someone feel good," Lederman says.

In conversations, employ empathic statements. For example, if someone looks happy, say something such as, "looks like you're having a good day," Schafer says. If that person responds, "I just closed a deal," you can reply with, "you must have worked hard." He or she will walk away feeling good, and in turn, those feelings will reflect on you. Avoid direct flattery, as that can make people defensive.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 ways to make everyday feel like vacation

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vacation beach america usa

Why are vacations so magical? I don't mean that in a philosophical, just-making-conversation way. I mean, I'm really asking you guys: What is it about not working plus spending time in a new place that turns us into calmer, sweeter, more adventurous versions of ourselves?

I just returned from a 10-day vacation in Portland, Oregon. I hiked behind waterfalls, attended my first nude beach, monopolized the mic at karaoke night and spent time with a million wonderful people.

Now I'm drinking room-temperature coffee on a dog-hair-covered sofa in Minneapolis, wondering, "Where did all that magic go?! And how do I get it back?" Here are 10 ways I'm keeping that vacation feeling in my everyday life.

Eat Outside

Vacation food is peanut butter sandwiches nibbled trail-side. It’s plates of tapas under the stars. It’s drive-through daiquiris and food truck mini donuts and elotes you eat sitting on the curb.

Vacation food is not leftovers in a Tupperware container that you eat at your desk as you work through expense reports.

Eating outside feels special
 even when you’re just eating your salad on the apartment stoop or fire escape. It can also feel sneaky and a bit I-don’t-usually-do-this. Swing by your favorite Vietnamese place and go sit in the grass with your boxes of noodles, feeling good about your life choices.



Spend More Time Near or on the Water

Fact: Pretty much every activity is more awesome if you do it next to a body of water. Reading? Good. Reading next to the lake? AMAZING. Morning run? Cool. Morning run along the river? Exponentially more calming. Working on your term paper? Meh. Working on your term paper at a picnic table on the beach? Less meh!

The city of Minneapolis has 20 lakes, one of which is four blocks from my house, and you know how many times I’ve been there this summer? Five. Let’s be better at taking advantage of the natural wonders (or pools!) our cities have to offer!



Make Your Food and Drinks Beautiful

One of my favorite things about vacation is eating beautiful food instead of, say, popcorn out of a mixing bowl. I love eating things with herbs prettily chopped and sprinkled on top or an artistic smear of sauce on the side of the plate. I love drinking things with ice cubes and pieces of fruits and, dammit, maybe an umbrella or two.

Of course, vacation food is also more fun because it’s often prepared by someone else. But you can make your everyday meals more beautiful with minimal effort. Set the table with actual placemats and napkins. Plate your meals in the kitchen before you sit down. Sprinkle something
 spices! herbs! a little drizzle of something!  on top. Add ice cubes to your water. It’s not hard or expensive and it’s hugely satisfying.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 bedtime habits of unsuccessful people

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sleep pillow insomnia sleeping bed nightmare

Sleep is kind of a big deal.

The more quality shut eye you get, the more refreshed you'll be in the morning. In turn, that'll set you up to effectively tackle the challenges of your day.

On the opposite end, as Arianna Huffington told Business Insider, there's a direct correlation between sleep deprivation and an increase in stress and negative health effects.

That's why it's important to adopt some positive bedtime rituals to ensure you're making the most of your sleep.

People who've gotten mired in unhealthy sleep habits are basically sabotaging their future.

Here are some disastrous sleep-related habits that you should avoid:

SEE ALSO: 7 bedtime rituals that are hard to adopt, but will pay off forever

Forgetting to plan out the next day

By creating a game plan for the next day, you're ensuring that you'll have a smoother morning. Unsuccessful people waste the night away without thinking of tomorrow at all. This disorganization will likely carry into the next day.

Heck, it's fine to plan things out on the fly every once in a while. However, if you really want to make the most of your time, sticking to a routine is a good idea.



Not reflecting before going to bed

Unsuccessful people may not see the need to reflect, or they might simply feel that their lives are too hectic to squeeze a few minutes of silence in.

Of course, you probably don't have a ton of time during the day to sit down and contemplate you're life. That's why establishing a time for reflection right before bed is a great idea. This practice will help you become a more mindful, grateful person.



Bringing technology into the bedroom

Unsuccessful people wreak havoc on their own sleep cycles by refusing to put away their phones before bed.

The Huffington Post cofounder advises everyone to turn off their screens before bed. The bright blue lights mess with your head and make it harder to fall asleep, according to Erin Brodwin writing for Business InsiderThis also means switching over to paper books for any late-night reading.

Checking Twitter one last time isn't worth wrecking your Circadian rhythm.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Anthony Bourdain's top 10 travel destinations

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Anthony Bourdain

Splitting his television career between two popular documentary series—No Reservations on the Travel Channel, and Parts Unknown on CNN—Anthony Bourdain has spent fourteen seasons trotting the globe, devouring every noodle, chile pepper, and porcine morsel in sight.

With countless stamps in his passport, Bourdain has popularized restaurants, food carts, dive bars, and farmers markets all over the world. (Our contributor Justin Charity planned a 2012 vacation to Beirut inspired by Bourdain’s tour of the city in 2010.)

Now that Bourdain is in his fifth season of Parts Unknown, we found ourselves wondering: what are the very best destinations in the history of both shows? Bourdain has visited a few favored cities and countries more than once, which accounts for the heavy representation of Southeast Asia in our countdown of the 10 best Bourdain destinations so far. Let’s dig in.

Thailand

Show: No Reservations
Season 5, Episode 16

The episode opens with reports of violent clashes in Bangkok, evocative of the tensions that scuttled the No Reservations crew’s first shoot in Beirut. Peace is restored, however, just in time for Thailand’s annual Songkran festival, which the locals celebrate by brandishing high-power water guns at every leg of Bourdain’s journey, from Thailand’s capital to the Gulf of Thailand, via trains and rafts. After a slippery attempt at shucking cockles in the mud, the crew backtracks to Amphawa Floating Market on the Mae Klong river, where they feast on heaps of green papaya salad, barbecued pork, and deep-fried shrimp cakes. N.B., everything tastes better with bloodshot chili paste.—Justin Charity



Vietnam

Show:No Reservations
Season 1, Episode 4

This was early in the game. Here Tony travels by land and sea with his old friend Dinh Hoang Linh, who acts as his guide. They visit the streets of Hanoi, the farms of Montagnards, and Tuần Châu, aka the Island of Mr. Sang, to enjoy bun cha (porcupine) and lots and lots of rice liquor (of course). The real treat happens towards the end of the episode when Tony finally meets Mr. Sang. The mysterious figure pulls out all the stops for Tony, including a banquet which features a dance routine and food cooked by Sang himself.—Angel Diaz



Tokyo

Show:No Reservations, Parts Unknown
NR: Season 2, Episode 7; Season 4, Episode 16; Season 8, Episode 5. PU: Season 2, Episode 8

In Bourdain’s fourteen televised seasons of global tour stops, Tokyo is the most popular metropolis by far. “To come here,” Bourdain announces, “any excuse will do.” A city of fresh soba and delicious fish galore, Tokyo is a miracle of culinary patience and precision; soba noodles are precisely 1.6 mm wide, and don’t you forget it. (Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto laments “the younger generation’s hankering for hamburgers instead of rice.) Beyond Tokyo’s kitchens, Bourdain seeks discipline and inner-focus via the study of kendo (in No Reservations) and Kyokushin (in Parts Unknown) martial arts. Bourdain’s latest Parts Unknown episode covering Tokyo focuses less so on cuisine, and more so on the underground abundance of kink and rock—which provoke a broader discussion of the Japanese psyche. “I’ll never really understand the Japanese or their preoccupations,” he concedes from the onset. “But I don’t care.”—Justin Charity



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

It looks like Mark Zuckerberg is having a blast in Nigeria (FB)

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Mark Zuckerberg in Nigeria

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is visiting Lagos, Nigeria, on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa, and it looks as if he's having a blast.

So far he's visited a camp that teaches kids how to code, gone on a run through the city, and hosted a Q&A with local entrepreneurs.

He even crashed a Nigerian hip-hop music video.

Here's everything Zuckerberg has been up to in Lagos:

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg meets Pope Francis in Rome, gives him miniature Facebook drone

Zuckerberg landed in Lagos on Tuesday and visited a kids coding camp called CcHub in Yaba, a suburb of Lagos that's considered to be the city's tech hub.

"The energy here is amazing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can," he wrote on his Facebook page.



When Zuckerberg visits another country, he always makes sure to go for a run. Here he is jogging across the Ikoyi Bridge in Lagos:



The Facebook cofounder paid a visit to a woman named Rosemary Njoku who sells Facebook's Express Wi-Fi stations to locals.

These stations are part of Facebook's Internet.org program and provide cheap internet access.

"Rosemary already had a business before she also started selling Express Wi-Fi as well, but she told me she now has 3,000 customers and makes much more money from Express Wi-Fi,"according to Zuckerberg. "She's a great example of how local entrepreneurs spread internet access around the world."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

21 traits of billionaires that you can start developing today

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richard branson

What do all billionaires have in common?

Well, besides the size of their bank accounts, many of them exhibit special traits and personality quirks that have helped them achieve unlimited success — and impressive fortunes.

Click through to find out if you have any of these 21 traits that billionaires like Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates possess.

If so, maybe you, too, will one day become a billionaire.

SEE ALSO: 11 daily habits of self-made billionaires anyone can adopt

DON'T MISS: 21 of the best places in the world to meet a billionaire

1. Oprah Winfrey: Grateful

The former queen of daytime television doesn’t let her $3.1 billion net worth get to her head. Despite her abundant success, Oprah Winfrey's constant gratitude is truly humbling. In fact, Winfrey has had a gratitude journal for at least 10 years.

"I know for sure that appreciating whatever shows up for you in life changes your personal vibrations," she wrote in the November 2012 issue of "O, The Oprah Magazine.""You radiate and generate more goodness for yourself when you're aware of all you have and not focusing on your have-nots."



2. Warren Buffett: Patient

Warren Buffett, the second-richest man in America behind Bill Gates, built his roughly $65 billion net worth by simply taking his time. Not a fan of trendy stocks or knee-jerk reactions to market fluctuations, Buffett has a “set it and forget it” investing philosophy.

On the "Dan Patrick Show," Buffett said one of the biggest money mistakes when it comes to money is trying to get rich quick.

“It’s pretty easy to get well-to-do slowly," he said. "But it’s not easy to get rich quick.”



3. Bill Gates: Humble

If you want to become a billionaire and be like the richest man in the world, practice being charitable — and humble.

Bill Gates and his wife Melinda have devoted their money and time to improving the lives of the world’s poorest people. But despite his generous donations, Gates recognizes that others are making contributions that he says are more meaningful than his.

“I’m not giving up food, or vacation, or a trip to the movies” to give charitably, Gates said in a video interview for Reddit. “I essentially sacrifice nothing that I want, and there are people who are out in the field and they're giving more ... they're the biggest philanthropists.”



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

16 attractive personality traits that can help you land any job

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meeting coworkers

Hiring managers look for different things in job candidates.

The traits they're seeking may be determined by the role they are trying to fill, the company they work for, the industry they're in — or just personal preference.

But there is a certain set of characteristics that almost all hiring managers find appealing.

"Managers can usually find job applicants with sufficient technical skills — or at least the capacity to acquire them. But you can't teach, for example, honesty or character," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

So to really impress any hiring manager and land a job, you'll need to show that you possess at least most of the following traits:

SEE ALSO: 25 things you should never say in a job interview

Honest, trustworthy, and reliable

"These are three cornerstones of good character," Taylor says. "You can tell a hiring manager that you are these things, but your demeanor and the conversation will be far more credible. They are critical because trust is at the core of any sustainable relationship."



Enthusiastic

If you can't get excited about the company in the interview, then how motivated can you be once on board?

"This is standard thinking among hiring managers," she says. "My best hires, without exception, have always been those who are genuinely eager, energetic, and upbeat."

Taylor says it can help to keep in mind a personal phrase that keeps you on your game, such as, "Be amazing!""I'll crush this!" or "I love this job!"

"This doesn't mean being giddy, but looking as if your cat died won't help you, either."



Emotionally intelligent

Hiring managers put a lot of weight on your emotional intelligence (EQ), and rightly so.

"Do you know how to calm others and be the voice of reason? Do you tend to understand human nature and bring out the best in people? Are you prone to passive aggressive behavior if an interview gets dicey?" asks Taylor. "EQ isn't taught in school, yet it's so valued today. Explaining how you navigate challenges and bring situations under control can be very persuasive."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 2016 world champion of public speaking explains how he deals with stage fright

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darren tay toastmasters

Darren Tay, a 27-year-old Singaporean lawyer, became the 2016 Toastmasters International world champion of public speaking in August, surviving several rounds of a competition that lasted six months and included more than 30,000 competitors from Toastmasters public speaking clubs around the world.

But even he was nervous before giving his winning speech, "Outsmart; Outlast."

"Many people think that you get rid of the butterflies in your stomach, and said, ''You looked so confident on stage!'" Tay told Business Insider. "But really at the end of the day it's not about getting rid of the butterflies in the stomach. It's about taking that energy and making it fly in formation."

Tay broke down his pre-presentation ritual that he uses to get those butterflies in order.

SEE ALSO: Here's a breakdown of the speech that won the 2016 World Championship of Public Speaking

1. Contextualize that rush of energy

We've asked many great performers about how they prepare for a presentation, and while they have different rituals, all agree that everyone feels a rush of energy before getting in front of a crowd and that it should be a driving force for a great performance— Tay is no different. The thing is, many novice speakers fold under this nervous energy and while veteran speakers thrive off it.

Stanford professor Kelly McGonigal explained the science behind this in her popular TED Talk from 2013, "How to Make Stress Your Friend." Stress (or nervous energy), she explained, is not inherently bad; your increased heart rate is meant to prepare your body for action, and it only becomes negative and exhausting when our conscious mind associates it with preparing for danger leading to failure.

Tay explained that he collects his thoughts before a speech, allowing him to gain control over this adrenaline rush and use it to his advantage.



2. Briefly meditate

Tay is a practitioner of mindfulness meditation, a secular exercise intended to keep you in the moment and in control of your emotions. It involves sitting quietly, eyes closed, and breathing deeply, letting your thoughts float by without being engaged.

"When breathing in, feel the sensation, feel the rise and fall of your chest and feel the coolness of the air as it enters into your lungs," Tay explained. "And when you breathe out, feel the body soften."

He does this for two minutes before taking the stage.



3. Use 'power poses'

Tay finds a private place and uses "power poses," inspired by renowned public speaker and performance coach Tony Robbins, who learned the practice from Harvard psychologist and author Amy Cuddy.

As Cuddy has explained in a hit TED Talk and her book "Presence," the mind and body are intimately linked, and the mind is influenced by posture. When someone is feeling powerful, like in the wake of winning a race, for example, they'll throw their hands up in the air. Therefore, she recommends mimicking some of these poses to feel confident.

Before giving his presentation, Tay will take at least two minutes in private raising his hands above his head and stretching them wide. As with his breathing exercise, Tay uses posing to link his mind and body, with the intention of being fully present before his audience.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These were the best military photos of the past month

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A selection of military photos that you might have missed this month.

SEE ALSO: These images show the US-South Korean exercise North Korea threatened with a nuclear strike

A US Marine fires a M240 machine gun as another Marine guides his fire through his night vision optics at the Marine Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, August 18, 2016.



A US airman jumps out of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, 12,000 feet above the Malmsheim Drop Zone, Stuttgart, Germany, August 17, 2016.



US Marines watch the illumination from artillery during a live-fire exercise, August 18, 2016, at Bradshaw Field Training Area, Northern Territory, Australia.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

To cut their cost of living and pay their student loans, this couple is moving from Michigan to South Africa

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Sossusvlei Namibia 4There are tons of stories out there about couples who quit their jobs to travel the world, but Leeann and Max Sadler's story, as detailed on their blog The Passport Pair, is a little bit different.

"We kind of envy those people that quit everything to travel, and we don't exactly know how they do it," Max told INSIDER. "So I think we're taking a more realistic approach, trying to balance having student loans and working real jobs while also having the desire to travel."

So instead of quitting their jobs to travel, the Sadlers are moving from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Cape Town, South Africa, to work remotely and save money while they're at it.

South Africa holds a special place in their hearts.

While the couple met in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Max was living in Cape Town, South Africa, at the time, going to school. Leeann had never been abroad.

"We met and had a 13-hour first date and were like, 'Okay, let's do this,' and so then we committed to doing long distance," Leeann said.



Max went back to school in Cape Town, and after six months of a long distance relationship, Leeann flew across the world to visit him.

"It was kind of out of character for me because I'm a very big planner," Leeann said.



Together, they took a road trip across South Africa, Namibia, the Caprivi Strip, and Botswana.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These are the 10 best countries for computer programming — and the US didn't make the list

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Programmers hackathon

This week HackerRank published a study showing which countries have the best developers.

HackerRank is a free coding practice website that allows developers to hone their coding skills by solving challenges. Based on the speed and accuracy with which people finish the challenges, HackerRank has ranked 1.5 million developers.

This study ranked which countries were best overall, which types of challenges were most popular, which countries dominated in each type of challenge, and which languages each country preferred. 

While the United States and India have the most participants on the site, both countries put up disappointing numbers overall. The U.S. came in at 28th, while India was a few behind at 31st. 

So who's in the top 10, and why?

 

 

SEE ALSO: See inside the $10,000 per night penthouse Airbnb is giving to celebrities for free

#10: Italy

This country is specifically impressive when it comes to HackerRank's database and tutorial challenges, ranking second in both those areas. It looks like HackerRank is not the only one that thinks highly of Italy. Apple announced a new school for 600 programmers at The University of Napoli Federico II on the coast of Italy. 



#9: Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is dominant in shell scripting challenges. They also rank second in mathematics challenges on HackerRank. These skills lands the country at the no. 9 spot on the list of best programmers. 



#8: France

According to the HackerRank study, French programmers dominate C++ challenges. One reason: France began offering programming classes in elementary schools in June 2014.  



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

15 easy home decor fixes that will make a big difference

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Living Rooms London Hotel

When decorating, small adjustments can seriously make such a huge difference in how your space looks. In her new book, Home Decor Cheat Sheets: Need To Know Stuff For Stylish Living, Homepolish designer and Buzzfeed DIYeditor Jessica Probus breaks down the essentials of styling your home. From diagrams of furniture shapes and styles to the particular arrangements that can really step up your space, this author really knows her way around hacks.

Click through and see some of Probus' tips in action. Trust us, these hints are seriously game changers.

Adjust Your Nightstand

Getting the right nightstand all depends on its height. The best way to go is to find a nightstand that is either the same height or a couple inches higher than the bed.



Pillow Arrangements

There are a few styles of pillow arrangements that work best for a bed. First there is simple, where you only put out the essential pillows you need for sleeping. Standard includes the sleeping pillow, two large shams, and a smaller square or lumbar pillow at the center. A decorative arrangement just doubles the number of shams on the bed.



Dining Room Rug

In your dining room, a rug that's three to four feet wider than the table is the best choice to make it feel more spacious. However if you must use a smaller rug, find one that is a different shape than table to create an interesting visual contrast.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A CEO and former Googler shares the 5 traits every hiring manager looks for in young job candidates

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liz wessel

Every hiring manager looks for a unique set of traits in the job candidates they consider.

The characteristics they seek may be determined by the role they are trying to fill, the company they work for, the industry they're in — or, just personal preference.

But according to Liz Wessel, the cofounder and CEO of WayUp, a site used by hundreds of thousands of college students to find jobs at places like Microsoft, Uber, The New York Times, Disney, and Google — where Wessel previously worked — there are a few characteristics almost all hiring managers want to see in young professionals.

"Our team at WayUp analyzed entry-level job postings for recent grads across all industries, and there were five traits that consistently appeared in the list of 'required skills' that employers will write," she tells Business Insider. 

Here are the top five most sought-after skills across all industries, and how you can hone these skills while you're still in school:

SEE ALSO: The best advice a CEO and former Googler has for people in their 20s is just 2 words

1. The ability to communicate clearly

The ability to clearly articulate a message is a highly sought-after skill among recruiters across all industries, Wessel says. "Whether it's on behalf of yourself or a brand, great communication also entails understanding how to target and maximize the efficiency of a certain audience."

There are many ways to become a better communicator— and some you can do before you even graduate. For example, you can represent a brand on campus and communicate on their behalf, or join the debate team, she says. "Often ridiculed majors, like English or Philosophy, are actually great for honing this skill as well."



2. The ability to sell an idea

"Whether you're trying to sell a product through cold-calling or negotiating a job offer, the ability to persuade others and help them see your vision is a crucial skill in any professional setting, and one that's likely to make you stand out in a pool of other candidates," she explains.

Luckily, there are several ways to gain these skills before senior year ends.

Wessel says:

"For example, there are lots of companies looking to hire college students to do remote sales calls from their dorm rooms or even on-the-go on their way to class. If a sales job isn't for you, that's okay too. You can learn a lot about selling by taking a class about marketing or advertising. Frankly, the creation of any kind of organization — whether it be a volunteer club, or even just promoting a giant party— requires this kind of persuasion. So if you're the party-person on campus, congratulations!"



3. Strong writing skills

Your writing skills can easily boost or hinder your career, even if writing isn't the main part of your profession.

"Think about it: So much of the modern economy requires constant writing," says Wessel. "Emailing a coworker, creating a report for your manager, or crafting a proposal for a client — each one is built around the written word. A quick typo or small grammatical error can easily take away from your credibility."

There's a lot you can do to improve your writing skills.

Start by proofreading everything you write. If you're still in college, you're probably writing a ton. "If you are not taking writing-intensive courses, try submitting a few articles to your school's newspaper. Their editing process will be super helpful and will give you some insights on how you can improve."

If you're out of school, start a blog or write in a journal for fun. 

You can also always get a part-time writing job for a national publication, Wessel adds.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

12 hobbies that look great on your résumé, and one that doesn't

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taking picture photographer field focus

As the traditional career advice goes, you usually shouldn't include your hobbies on your résumé because they take up valuable space and waste the precious few seconds a recruiter spends skimming through your history.

But in some situations, they can actually add value to your résumé and help you stand out in a good way.

If you're looking for an internship at a company like Google, for example, one previous intern says hiring managers want to see interesting personal details on your résumé. "This is your time to shine and share some of the quirkier aspects of your personality that other, more traditional companies may not appreciate,"she writes.

Other companies may appreciate seeing a hobby on your résumé if it's somehow related to the job you're pursuing. And if there's a chance your hobby makes you stand out as a more attractive candidate, you'd be wise to include it, Alyssa Gelbard, the founder and president of the career consulting and personal-branding firm Résumé Strategists, tells Business Insider.

"When a potential employer sees a candidate's hobbies, it provides insight into personality traits, industry knowledge, and can make you more attractive for a role," she says.

"But remember: Anything you include on your résumé is fair game during an interview, so make sure you can really talk about your passion for the hobby and why you included it on résumé," Gelbard says.

Here are 12 hobbies you should consider including on your résumé if you actively pursue them, as well as one you definitely shouldn't:

SEE ALSO: 31 things you should remove from your résumé immediately

DON'T MISS: 21 unprofessional habits that could cost you a job

Yoga

Yoga demonstrates your ability to stay calm and in control, Gelbard says: "If you're seeking a role in very busy, high-energy environment, like an advertising or PR agency, it can make you more attractive because you can better handle pressure."



Extreme adventure sports

Extreme sports like ultramarathons, racing mountain bikes, or skydiving can show potential employers that you're comfortable pushing boundaries, you're disciplined, you don't fear the unknown, and you are a calculated risk-taker, Gelbard says. "These traits are desirable for any leadership role, especially in younger, growing organizations," she says.



Video production

Video production as a hobby can make you an appealing candidate for a role in production or event planning. Broadcasting and live streaming are often components of events or conferences, so your knowledge or interest in video production can be helpful in the job. It also shows that you are precise, highly detailed, and focused — all key to events positions.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 13 best movies of summer 2016

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finding dory

While this summer saw low box office receipts and some disastrous movies, there was no need to completely despair.

Summer 2016 actually had a big crop of strong movies. A few of them, including a superhero epic and a long-awaited sequel, came from major studios.

Not every movie was a big box-office hit though. Many gems were smaller indies that will likely have a long shelf life ahead of them.

Keep reading to see the best movies of the summer.

"Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping"

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%
Worldwide Box Office: $9.5 million

"Popstar" is a cult classic in the making. This Lonely Island-created mockumentary about a Justin Bieber-like musician named Conner4Real (Andy Samberg) is by far the best comedy so far this year. It has jokes stacked up on other jokes in a way that would be exhausting if it weren't so funny.

This is one of those comedies that is too good to be understood on its initial release; it was destined to be a box-office bomb. But as with "Hot Rod" and "MacGruber," two other movies that Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone have been involved with, "Popstar" will only get funnier with time.



"The Shallows"

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%
Worldwide Box Office: $93.3 million

While this was a weak summer at the box office overall, it was a good time for horror, with hits like "The Conjuring 2" and "Lights Out." One of the most surprising hits of the summer was "The Shallows," a movie in which Blake Lively fights a shark and befriends a seagull. The film received solid reviews and was a box office hit. 

Horror movies get a bad rep. However, thanks to directors like James Wan ("Insidious,""The Conjuring") and powerhouse production companies like Blumhouse, the genre has had a strong few years. Plus, most horror movies are cheap to make and guaranteed to make a profit. Don't be so surprised next time something like "The Shallows" breaks out. 



"Ghostbusters"

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%
Worldwide Box Office: $217.7 million

The all-female "Ghostbusters" reboot was working against a lot, as it spent months fighting against sexist internet trolls looking to take the film down. When you finally watch it, you won't understand what all the fuss was about.

While "Ghostbusters" has its flaws, as well as an uneven third act, it's overall hilarious, smart, and ambitious. Plus, it finds a way to address the haters from the start. And most of all, its cast, especially "Saturday Night Live" stars Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, make up for a dynamite comedy ensemble. While the film's lackluster performance might not call for a sequel, its cultural impact should pave the way for more female-led blockbusters.



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14 actors who went from 'Harry Potter' to 'Game of Thrones'

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nymphadora tonka and osha

For "Harry Potter" and "Game of Thrones" fans, the worlds keep colliding.

Though the series themselves are pretty disparate, they converge thanks to the actors who have brought the characters to the screen. Wednesday, it was announced that actor Jim Broadbent will be the latest "Harry Potter" alum to head to HBO's hit show. 

Here are 14 actors who have appeared in both series.

Jim Broadbent played the well-intentioned, if somewhat daft, Professor Slughorn who comes out of retirement to teach potions at Hogwarts.



He was just cast as a "significant" unknown character for the upcoming season seven of "Game of Thrones."

You can read about who he might be here.



Michelle Fairley made a brief appearance in the first part of "Deathly Hallows" as Hermione's mother.



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The 15 best media companies to work for in the UK, according to their employees

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Downton Abbey

Glassdoor, the anonymous employee review and recruitment site, has published a list of the top TV and publishing companies to work for in the UK.

The list is compiled from reviews submitted by employees working in the UK and each company is given a score out of 5.0.

Ratings are rounded to one decimal place, though actual calculations extend beyond the thousandth to determine rank.

Glassdoor says the average company in the UK scores 3.2, meaning the working conditions at all of the top 15 media firms are considered to be above average by employees.

Here's the full list:

15. Sky.

Glassdoor rating: 3.4.

What it does: Pay-TV and broadband. 

Employee review: "It's an addictive place to work, the products are sexy and the best in class."



14. The Chelsea Magazine Company.

Glassdoor rating: 3.5.

What it does: Publisher of magazines including The English Garden.

Employee review: "Chelsea is a fast-paced, exciting company with excellent growth prospects and a fun, collaborative environment."



13. Elsevier.

Glassdoor rating: 3.5.

What it does: Academic publisher.

Employee review: "Plenty of training, lots of emphasis on extracurricular activities, such as charity work or external courses."



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The 10 most expensive transfers in British football this summer

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John Stones evertonBritish football clubs went wild in the summer of 2016, breaking spending records across the board, and splashing money like never before.

Premier League clubs spent more than £155 million on players on the last day of the window on Wednesday, breaking 2013's record of £140 million.

In total, clubs in the Premier League spent £1.17 billion ($1.5 billion) on players this summer, the first time the summer total has passed the ten-figure mark for the first time in history.

Among the transfers made, there were numerous massive, multimillion pound deals which saw world class players and talented youngsters alike move for astronomical fees. 

We've rounded up the 10 biggest deals in English football this summer, which together accounted for more than £400 million of the money spent by British clubs.

Check out the biggest transfers of the summer below.

T=9. N'Golo Kante — £30 million. Kante is one of the many French footballers making it into the list. The defensive midfielder moved from last season's champions Leicester to London giants Chelsea.



T=9. Moussa Sissoko — £30 million. Tottenham signed the French midfielder from Newcastle United just before the transfer window closed on Wednesday night. Sissoko was relegated with Newcastle last year, but impressed with France at Euro 2016, bumping up his price.



8. Michy Batshuayi — £33 million. The 22-year-old Belgian striker player moved from French side Marseille to Chelsea after beginning his career in 2011 at Standard Liège. He has three goals in seven international appearances for Belgium.



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Meet the man behind the on-demand helicopter startup that the 1% use to get to the Hamptons

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Rob Wiesenthal Blade 1786

As the cofounder and CEO of on-demand helicopter startup Blade, Rob Wiesenthal is a pretty busy guy. 

A former Sony and Warner Music Group exec, Wiesenthal comes from a long line of entertainment industry professionals and has a sincere appreciation for aviation and its heritage. With Blade, he's built a system where well-heeled travelers can book helicopter and seaplane rides from New York City to the Hamptons, Nantucket, Jersey Shore, and Miami simply by using an app. There's also the option to take Blade Bounce, a quick, five-minute ride to any of the New York area airports.

We recently caught up with Wiesenthal, 50, at one of his favorite hangout spots in New York City, and learned a ton about Blade, his early business inspirations, and what it takes to run a company around the clock. 

SEE ALSO: We flew to the Hamptons like the 1% with Blade, an 'Uber-for-helicopters' startup — and it was as fabulous as it sounds

We met for a late lunch at David Burke Kitchen, located in the James Hotel in Lower Manhattan.



The restaurant is sleek and full of stylish people. They look like they could be Blade customers.

"Our flyer is spending a not insignificant amount of money to turn a 3-hour drive into a 30 minute flight. So they're buying time — something you can't typically buy, and more so, they're buying the Blade experience," he said. "So you end up with a rather … unique individual that holds [Blade] to a customer service standard that is extremely high."

Tickets range from $494 to $695 for a trip from Manhattan to the Hamptons, Blade's most popular destination. A one-way ticket on Blade One, the company's private jet service to Miami, costs about $2,200.

Socialites, celebrities, and elite businesspeople are catching on — Laura Prepon, Jon Hamm, and Olivia Palermo are just a few of the big names that have been spotted in one of Blade's three luxury lounges in Manhattan. The company's investors include Kenneth Lerer, Discovery Communications' David Zaslav, Google's Eric Schmidt, IAC's Barry Diller, and iHeart Media's Bob Pittman.



It's a nice day, so we head upstairs to the restaurant's Treehouse Bar.



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13 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever

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busy night working late

The best things in life may be free, but that doesn't mean they won't take time, sweat, and perseverance to acquire.

That's especially the case when it comes to learning important life skills.

To ascertain which talents are worth the investment, one Quora reader posed the question: "What are the hardest and most useful skills to learn?"

We've highlighted our favorite takeaways, as well as a few other skills we thought were important.

SEE ALSO: 15 things successful 20-somethings do in their spare time

DON'T MISS: The 20 cities where Americans work the hardest

Mastering your sleep

There are so many prescribed sleep hacks out there it's often hard to keep track. But regardless of what you choose, establishing a ritual can help ensure you have restful nights.

Numerous studies show that being consistent with your sleep schedule makes it easier to fall asleep and wake up, and it helps promote better sleep in general.



Empathy

"You can be the most disciplined, brilliant, and even wealthy individual in the world, but if you don't care for or empathize with other people, then you are basically nothing but a sociopath," writes Kamia Taylor.

Empathy, as business owner Jane Wurdwand explains, is a fundamental human ability that has too readily been forsworn by modern business.

"Empathy — the ability to feel what others feel — is what makes good sales and service people truly great. Empathy as in team spirit — esprit d'corps — motivates people to try harder. Empathy drives employees to push beyond their own apathy, to go bigger, because they feel something bigger than just a paycheck," she writes.



Time management

Effective time management is one of the most highly valued skills by employers. While there is no one right way, it's important to find a system that works for you and stick to it, Alina Grzegorzewska explains. 

"The hardest thing to learn for me was how to plan," she writes. "Not to execute what I have planned, but to make so epic a to-do list and to schedule it so thoroughly that I'm really capable of completing all the tasks on the scheduled date."



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