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5 Meaningful Ways To Advocate For Your Mental Health At Work

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5 Meaningful Ways To Advocate For Your Mental Health At Work

Even the most rewarding work can be a lot sometimes. Sprint deadlines, metrics, meetings, and code reviews — all of these expectations can be a lot to juggle. And it gets especially tricky when you’re also balancing childcare, college courses, or teaching yourself to code.

So what do you do when it all gets to be too much? Better yet, how can you prevent yourself from getting to the point of burnout?

While some stress is to be expected, it can be hard to tell when and how to ask for help. It can also feel a little scary to be vulnerable with your team leader when you’re having a hard time. Fortunately, you can take a few steps to make it easier.

“Advocating for your mental health” sounds serious, but it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Often, it just requires a little communication. For Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we’re shining a light on different strategies that you can use to make your mental health a priority in the workplace.

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Talk to your manager

Your manager might have no idea that you’re struggling or need some additional assistance. That’s why it’s important to set up a conversation with your team leader (or a trusted colleague) to start a dialogue about the specific resources you need to be successful. 

What obstacles are you facing at work? What changes could help you stay on track? Getting a better sense of your specific needs can help shed light on a solution, according to Kelly Greenwood, founder of the mental health organization Mind Share Partners. “Think through the resources or support that would be helpful to you, whether it’s access to mental health care, a formal accommodation, or something simpler,“ she wrote in an article for Harvard Business Review.

A few examples of working preferences you might want to bring up include whether you work remotely or in the office, your preferred communication style (like preferring email to Slack), and scheduling accommodations so you can make your therapy appointments.

But also remember that you don’t need to divulge more personal information than you’re comfortable with. Start by figuring out what you’re okay with sharing and go from there, Kelly wrote. If you have a close relationship with your team leader, you might choose to share specific details about your diagnosis and mental health history. On the other hand, you could keep things vague and explain that you’re having a difficult time and need to take time off, for example.

Going into a conversation with your manager, it might help to lead with a solution in mind. For example, a person with anxiety could explain how having their camera off during Zoom meetings helps them focus on the subject matter. Or if you’re talking to your manager about neurodiversity accommodations, you can mention the ways that it can benefit your contributions and enhance the workplace culture.

Set strong boundaries

When you’re passionate about your work, it can be hard to step away — and the lines can get even blurrier in remote positions that lack traditional workplace boundaries. Whether you’re working from home or the office, it’s easy to let work run into your personal life.

Setting boundaries is a matter of protecting your peace by identifying behaviors and situations that can influence your personal wellbeing. It plays a big role in maintaining a good work-life balance. Common workplace boundaries include:

  • Physical boundaries like your preferences around personal space and physical touch (e.g., handshakes).
  • Emotional boundaries like your preferred communication style and right to a healthy work environment.
  • Mental boundaries like your off-hours when you’re unaccessible and focus hours during the week that you set aside to be able to work without distraction. 

Every workplace is different, but here’s an example of an email you could send to communicate your scheduling boundaries to your team: 

I won’t be able to respond to messages sent after working hours. I’m committed to my work and always strive to provide the best possible output. However, I also believe in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. After hours, I’m focused on spending time with my family and friends, pursuing my hobbies, and relaxing — and I strongly encourage you to do the same!

If you need immediate assistance after hours, please contact [teammate’s name]. They are available to help with any urgent matters.

If you find yourself constantly checking Slack or your work email after-hours, try silencing notifications after a certain time. (You can also create an auto-response to let people know when they can expect a reply.) Along the same lines, fight the urge to check in on your days off or when you’re on vacation.

Setting boundaries can also mean saying “no” to additional projects when you’re at capacity, or rescheduling a meeting on a particularly busy day. It’s easy to fall into the habit of saying “yes” when someone asks you to do something, but it’s important to be mindful of your workload and well-being. If you have too much on your plate or you feel overwhelmed, speak up: discuss your priorities and time restraints with your manager, and be honest about what you can and can’t handle.

Maintaining your boundaries is ultimately your responsibility. The good news is, there are tons of tools and techniques we can use to keep ourselves on track, like pomodoro timers, email filters, and time-trackers. Check out our list of helpful work-life balance apps for more recommendations. 

Find (or create) a channel for discussion

There are general best practices you can follow to advocate for your mental health at work, but the best approach ultimately depends on your environment. Some companies have employee resource groups (ERGs) for neurodiversity and mental health.

“ERGs are created to build community among people with shared identities or experiences at work,” Kelly from Mind Share Partners wrote in another article. “When done thoughtfully, those that focus on mental health promote diversity and inclusion and provide support for employees managing symptoms of mental health conditions.”

If your company doesn’t already have an ERG for mental health, consider starting one yourself. Or if you’re a contractor or freelancer, speak to your point of contact about your needs and concerns. You can also consider adding a mental health clause to your contract that allows for adjustments in case of emergencies.

Seek accommodations if necessary

Some people who are neurodivergent or disabled are entitled to workplace protections and accommodations in the U.S. That might include flexible work hours, professional support (e.g., job coaching), or noise-canceling headphones and LED lighting (for people with sensory sensitivities).

You know yourself best, and which habits or techniques help you. For example, maybe you need an outline of what to expect during a meeting, or you work best when you can listen to music with headphones on. Let your team leader know what types of accommodations you might need to work at your peak potential. And keep in mind: Creating workplace accommodations will make things better for everyone.

For example, flexible work hours are great for parents, caretakers, and people with side hustles. They can also help you free up time to learn new skills or take up a hobby.

Don’t be afraid to speak up

Whether you’re asking for a mental health day, an accommodation, or a leave of absence — speaking up for your mental health is important, and it’s something that everyone should feel empowered to do. Everyone needs help sometimes, and being open about your mental health helps normalize the subject and could empower others to do the same. Starting a dialogue ultimately makes your organization’s culture better for everyone.

Make your mental health a priority

Work plays a huge role in your mental health, but it doesn’t stop there. Giving yourself room to play and be creative outside of work, spending time with loved ones, and exploring your other passions is just as important. (You know what they say about all work and no play.)

What Cultural Traditions Are Important to You?

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What Cultural Traditions Are Important to You?

What are some cultural traditions that you participate in? These may include practices related to religion, holidays, food, dance, clothing, language, music, crafts and pastimes, or anything else important to your cultural background.

For example, perhaps you give out red envelopes for Lunar New Year, fast for Ramadan or eat hot dogs every Fourth of July. Maybe you dance bachata, watch Bollywood movies or speak Creole at home.

What is one custom that you participate in that feels especially meaningful to you?

In “Preserving Hula, the Heartbeat of Hawaii,” Miya Lee writes about the tradition of hula and what it means to Native Hawaiians:

HILO, Hawaii — The airy Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaii, was silent except for bird song and the low, steady chanting of Mapuana de Silva as she sprinkled a mixture of turmeric and saltwater along the perimeter of a square stage. Ms. de Silva, a kumu hula (master hula teacher), was conducting a ceremony called pikai, before her students began their 50-minute hula practice.

“We’re known as traditionalists,” Ms. de Silva, 74, said, whose dancers practiced in shirts with the word “boring” on them. Her students performed a seated hula kahiko (ancient hula). The emphasis of their presentation wasn’t movement, but the oli (chant) and mele (song) that they were performing.

Later that night, they would compete against 23 other hula schools in the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival.

The annual post-Easter festival honors King David Kalakaua, known as the “Merrie Monarch” for his enjoyment of the arts. When he assumed the throne in 1871, Native Hawaiian culture had been severely restricted by Christian missionaries, and the Native Hawaiian population had been decimated by Western disease. King Kalakaua is credited with reviving many ancient Hawaiian practices, most notably, hula, which he called “the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.”

Today, the Merrie Monarch Festival includes a parade and a traditional Hawaiian craft fair. However, it is best known for its hula competition, which draws some of the best hula schools, or “halau hula,” in the United States. They compete in two categories: hula kahiko, which refers to hula that predates Western contact, and hula ‘auana, which encompasses hula that has developed post-contact.

Ms. Lee describes the importance of this practice to Hawaiian culture:

In the imagination of many mainland Americans, hula may mean coconut bras and cellophane skirts. It may conjure visions of a figurine jiggling her hips on a car dashboard or smiling serenely as she is used as a bottle opener.

But hula is an ancient and often sacred dance, indigenous to Hawaii.

Each performance is built around the narration of a particular song or chant, many of which have been passed down for generations.

Pre-Western contact, Native Hawaiians did not have a written language. Instead, they documented their world — their history, mythology, religion, scientific knowledge and more — through a rich oral tradition.

Hula, Ms. de Silva said, “is the presentation, the visual and audio presentation, of our stories, our history.”

And one young woman shares what it means to carry on the tradition:

Taizha Hughes-Kaluhiokalani, 27, who won the festival’s soloist competition in 2019, started dancing hula when she was 8. “As a hula dancer, as a true ‘olapa is what we would call it, you become a channel, you become a vessel for the mele that you’re bringing to life,” she said. “It’s so important to know who you are because of the people that came before you, because once you forget, not just those people but the places, the mo‘olelo, the stories, become lost.”

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

  • What is one cultural tradition you participate in that is important to you, and that you hope future generations will continue to practice?

  • In what ways do you participate in this custom? Is it something you do on your own or with your family? Are there wider community rituals or events dedicated to it, such as the Merrie Monarch Festival?

  • Do you know the history of this tradition? How did it become a part of your culture? What is the story or the lore, if any, behind it? Why do you practice it?

  • Whether you do it on your own or with your family or community, what does it mean to you to participate in this tradition?

  • Why is it important to your culture to keep this tradition going? What would it mean if it were lost?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Lesson Plan: ‘How to Print Money’

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Lesson Plan: ‘How to Print Money’

Featured Article: “How to Print Money”

It is often said that money doesn’t grow on trees. So if it doesn’t, where does it come from?

In today’s featured article, The New York Times takes us behind the scenes of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth, Texas, to find out how money is made in the United States. In this lesson, you will learn about the many fascinating steps needed, and meet the vast team required, to print the money that fuels the U.S. economy, the largest in the world.

In Going Further activities, we ask you to share your opinions and experiences with money and invite you to design your own currency.

When was the last time you looked at money? We mean, really looked at it?

Take out some printed money (a $1, $5, $10 or $20 bill — whatever denomination you can easily find), and spend a good five minutes looking closely at it. Feel free to use a magnifying glass, if you have one, and to take notes on your observations. Here are a few questions to help guide your close inspection:

  • What do you notice? What can you observe about the design, colors and paper? Its texture? Its symbols? Its writing?

  • What do you wonder? What questions do you have about the bill you examined or money in general?

Afterward, share your observations with a partner. Then, together, make two lists. On the first one, write down all the materials that you think are needed to make money. On the second, write down the steps you think go into printing it.

Read the featured article, and then answer the following questions:

1. Summarize the six basic steps in printing money at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth, Texas. Which part of the process did you find most fascinating, and why?

2. Return to the lists you made in the warm-up. Which steps and materials did you get right? What else do you need to add?

3. What can you learn about the process of making money from the videos and images featured in the article? Which visuals stood out most?

4. Consider some of the numbers included in the article: How much U.S. currency is currently in circulation? What percentage of Americans are cashless in their weekly spending habits, according to the article? Do either of those figures surprise you? How often do you and your family use cash — coins or bills — rather than cards or apps?

5. The article ends:

And while many people may never give a second thought to how the crumpled dollar bills in their pockets actually got made, the painstaking process of printing money highlights the important role that the U.S. dollar continues to play in the world.

What is your biggest takeaway from the article? Do you think you will give more thought to the crumpled bills in your pockets now?

Option 1: Share your thoughts and opinions on money.

Many of our daily Student Opinion questions and Picture Prompts have invited teenagers to share their views and experiences about money. Choose one of our money-related writing prompts below and share your thoughts with young people around the world:

Option 2: Design your own currency.

You’ve seen what it takes to make money. Now it’s your turn: Design your own currency. You can redesign the currency for the nation you live in or for a fictitious country of your own.

For your original bank note, you might include:

  • Country name

  • Denomination (how much your currency is worth)

  • National motto

  • Political or cultural symbols

  • Serial numbers

  • Signature of the Treasury secretary

As you design your currency, keep in mind: What “story” does your money tell? How does it represent the values of your country? Does your design catch your eye? Is it easy to read and use?

For inspiration, check out this history of U.S. currency or these exciting design examples from around the world here and here.

Find more lesson plans and teaching ideas here.

Sad Songs

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Sad Songs

When you’re sad — when you’re facing heartbreak, loneliness or grief — do you ever put on sad music?

If so, why do you think you do it? Does listening to a sad song help you feel your feelings? Is it emotionally cathartic? Does it make you feel less alone, knowing that someone else has been through what you’re going through? What are your go-to sad songs?

If you don’t like to listen to sad music, why not? What do you do instead when you’re feeling down?

Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to find out what science says about the reason people like emotional tunes.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

Expanding learning opportunities: A.I. is now integrated into A.I.U’s Virtual Campus

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Expanding learning opportunities: A.I. is now integrated into A.I.U’s Virtual Campus

Atlantic International University is pleased to announce an innovative integration of our online educational platform with Artificial Intelligence in the Virtual Campus, making it a part of our commitment to innovation and providing students with an enriched and enhanced learning experience.

 

By integrating AI tools, our goal is to enable AIU students to learn and optimize all aspects of their lives. Additional tools will be made available in the student section, accompanied by instructions and summaries on how to use them, to enhance the user experience.

 

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized various domains in a short period of time. One such example is ChatGPT, which has the potential to transform the interaction between students and AIU’s online educational platform. With this incredible AI-powered assistant at their fingertips, our students can now embark on a learning journey like never before, enjoying its availability 24/7.

 

Through the implementation of AI tools, students can benefit in numerous ways. The system can provide quick and accurate answers to frequently asked questions, granting students immediate access to relevant information.

 

Thanks to the new Artificial Intelligence section in our Virtual Campus, the student will have the opportunity to increase their personal and professional productivity, making use of these powerful tools, now integrated into the student section, thus being a participant, in first person, of the accelerating trend of AI and continuing its Perpetual Evolution with AIU.

 

 

To make the most of the new Virtual Intelligence section, students are advised to log in to our student platform and navigate to the ChatGPT function. There, they can ask questions or make requests and receive information provided by AI. It is encouraged to combine the generated results with their existing knowledge, experience, and acquired concepts, fostering critical thinking and improving proactivity.

 

The integration of these tools into our online educational platform reinforces AIU’s commitment to providing our students with quality, cutting-edge, and accessible education. The AI technology will complement the work of our professors and the content of our courses, ultimately enhancing the learning experience and promoting active student participation.

 

Atlantic International University takes pride in being a pioneer in adopting innovative and promising technologies. With this novel implementation, we reaffirm our commitment to offering our students a forward-thinking education that prepares them for the challenges of the future.

 

In order to demonstrate how powerful Artificial Intelligence can be, if used correctly, we share an example of how AI can help you write a properly structured grant proposal.

 

 

This press release was partially created with the help of ChatGPT.


Author : Vanessa D”angelo
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Major : Marketing
Country : Spain
Language : English

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Word of the Day: defer

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Word of the Day: defer

The word defer has appeared in 109 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on March 3 in “Learning to Become a Better Grandfather” by Paula Span:

Dr. Hirsh-Pasek urged parents to share information about their children’s current obsessions, so grandfathers can bone up on dinosaur facts or watch a few episodes of “Bluey” and talk with their grandkids about them. For online visits, “find books they can read together and things they can do together,” she said.

… Dr. Hirsh-Pasek advised grandfathers in heterosexual relationships to spend some time with their grandchildren on their own, apart from their spouses. Otherwise, they might defer to their wives, especially if “she is the child-raiser, the more experienced one,” she said.

Can you correctly use the word defer in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how defer can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

FLMS Interview with Gulf View Medical Centre

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FLMS Interview with Gulf View Medical Centre

Skills development is a critical aspect for any individual or organisation that wants to stay in and ahead of the competitive marketplace. Many companies are taking it upon themselves to invest in the learning and development of their employees. We met with one of our valuable clients, Gulf View Medical Centre, who utilises our Free Learning Management System (LMS) for their staff and help them maintain and improve the necessary skills and knowledge for their industry.

Please tell us more about your company.

Established in 1993 by Dr S. David Ali and Mrs S. P. GVMC is a 33-bed multi-speciality full-service private hospital that provides a wide range of in-patient and out-patient services to the population of San Fernando and the surrounding areas.

The Hospital is staffed by an extensive team of highly skilled specialists, professional medical staff, and an infrastructure that features the latest advances in diagnostic testing. Our hospital employs approximately 200 employees.

At Gulf View Medical Centre Ltd, we are committed to providing our customers with affordable, high-quality healthcare services within a patient-friendly environment.

Our goal is to provide patients and their families with the highest level of comfort, respect, and confidence/peace of mind during their treatment with the aim of making GVMC their most trusted destination for quality healthcare

What are the biggest challenges facing organisations when it comes to upskilling their workforce?

The pace of technological change is a major factor. Rapid advancements in technology are creating new skill requirements, and organizations need to ensure that they are keeping up with these changes to remain competitive.

Ensuring that employees are engaged and motivated to participate in upskilling programs is another challenge. Employees may resist training if they feel that it is irrelevant to their job or that it may not have value beyond their current position.

Why is investing in skills development for your team and organisation important?

Investing in skills development for my team and organisation will pay off in increased productivity, employee satisfaction, and the likelihood of increased innovation and creativity making it a worthwhile investment. When people are properly equipped to do their jobs and feel confident about their success, this can only lead to more wins for the organisation.

What is your company’s learning and development philosophy?

We encourage and support employees to maintain ongoing efforts to develop new skills and knowledge. By promoting a culture of continuous learning, we are assured of a knowledgeable, skilled workforce, through which effective succession planning can lead to organizational sustainability. This is done via a robust performance assessment system that identifies and provides for closing detected gaps.

What are the benefits of LMS that you have reaped/are reaping?

Within the past 18 months, we have embarked on an aggressive campaign of digital transformation across the organisation. This has led to many changes in existing procedures and caused the development of new ones.

These endeavours have opened many skill areas that are lacking amongst our staff population. Alison LMS has allowed us to give our employees the option to study at their own pace in the areas that are most critical, thereby building their skills and abilities to do their job effectively.

How has your experience been in using the platform and monitoring your teams’ progress?

The LMS allows the Manager to view all employees who are enrolled in courses – even multiple courses – and to be able to see their progress, in terms of % completed.

This gives us the opportunity to converse with the employee if a course is taking too long to complete; what might be the challenges they are experiencing, or simply give them a timeline for completion.

Has the introduction of an LMS increased learning and development in your organisation?

Yes, it certainly increased L&D within the organisation. It gave employees the opportunity to study in their own time, using their phones, laptops, or tablets – whatever is available to them – rather than having to attend classes at a pre-set time which would create schedule conflicts.

This LMS allows them to gain their certification in their own time at a pace that they can manage individually, and that has resulted in a substantial increase in certifications and courses completed.

What problems did the LMS solve for you or your organisation?

The main problems solved were the ready availability of courses all in one place, the sheer variety of topics, and the ability to study at the employee’s own pace as opposed to pre-set classes at various institutions.

What key features of Alison’s FLMS did you find most attractive or beneficial to you?

The feature that allows the Manager to view each employee’s courses and the progress made on each course.

Alison’s Free LMS is quick and easy to set up. It allows you to keep track of your staff’s progress and because of the flexible and self-paced learning paths, it’s ideal for different learning styles.

The 5 Things Hiring Managers Want to See in an Entry-Level Tech Candidate

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The 5 Things Hiring Managers Want to See in an Entry-Level Tech Candidate

If you’re applying for your first entry-level tech position, deciphering what a hiring manager really wants to see in your application or hear in an interview can feel like trying to read someone’s mind. “Getting a job in tech seems like a black box for anyone not in tech,” says Mariya Chekmarova, Senior UX Research Manager at Codecademy. 

Given how many of our Codecademy learners are vying for these entry-level positions, our UX Research team decided to go straight to the source: hiring managers. In a recent research study, we asked hiring managers exactly what they look for and prioritize in an entry-level candidate for an engineering position. The goal of this study was to get researched-backed insights about the current tech hiring process that we can use to help Codecademy learners (like you!) have a better chance of landing an entry-level job in tech.

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Our UX researchers are always talking to our learners to better understand their needs, explains Sil Lavers, a UX Researcher at Codecademy. This specific study is considered “generative research,” a type of research that’s focused on developing a deeper understanding of users and defining the problem that you’ll address later on. (You can learn how to conduct generative research in our free course Learn User Research: Generative.) 

For context, a “hiring manager” in this study is anyone whose job includes hiring an entry-level technologist, with a focus on the last six months. “We did not speak to recruiters,” whose job it is to source potential candidates for a position, Sil says. “It was all hiring managers who will have the final say in hiring a person.” 

The hiring managers who the UX Research team interviewed for the study worked at companies with 100+ employees, including some folks at big-name FAANG (shorthand for Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) companies. Curious what they had to say? Here are the main takeaways from the research study to keep in mind as an entry-level job candidate.

Your resume is the most important material in an application 

Of all your application materials — like your cover letter, portfolio, and GitHub profile — your resume matters the most to hiring managers. The writing style and format of your resume is just as important as the content of it, Sil says. “A poorly-written or typo-ridden resume could be a deal-breaker,” she says. Not only is your resume a summary of your experience and proof of your fundamental technical knowledge, but it’s also an opportunity to showcase your communication and presentation skills. (If writing isn’t your strongest suit, read this blog with tips about how to use ChatGPT when drafting resumes and cover letters.) 

You should include any additional work experience that you have on your resume, even if it’s not directly related to tech. Hiring managers see work experience as an indicator of soft skills, like verbal communication and problem-solving, Sil says. So while your part-time camp counselor gig might not seem directly applicable to a developer position, it shows that you understand how to lead a team and resolve conflicts.

Soft skills will get you the job

Your flawless resume and technical skills might get you in the door, but “soft skills get you the job,” Mariya says. During behavioral interviews and even technical assessments, hiring managers want to make sure that you can effectively communicate your process and ideas to any audience. You should be able to articulate how you approach a problem and collaborate with others in a team setting. 

Practicing how you’ll answer interview questions is a great way to get used to talking through your work. Our interview prep courses are specifically designed to help you develop and showcase your collaboration and problem-solving skills in a tech job interview.

You aren’t expected to know everything

Gauging whether you have what it takes to apply to a job can trigger feelings of impostor syndrome big time. But here’s the thing: Hiring managers don’t expect entry-level candidates to have a perfect technical skill set and know everything on day one. 

Someone in a senior-level position might hit the ground running and start contributing meaningful work to projects within a few weeks of starting a new role. Entry-level folks are usually granted a longer ramp-up period, because they require additional onboarding, training, and development, Sil says. 

So you can exhale a little bit knowing that you don’t have to be perfect to be successful in an entry-level job. That said, when an organization takes a chance on an entry-level employee, they’re also investing in your development. “They expect you to have a good attitude, and demonstrate that you’re willing to learn,” Mariya says. “That actually goes quite a long way.” 

In our learner stories on the blog, you can read how Codecademy learners handled the first day of their new tech careers.

Degrees and certifications are positives

Any designation that demonstrates your completion and mastery of something are positives to have in your job application. For example, professional certificates, awards, or a bachelor’s degree in any area of study (not just STEM-related fields). “Hiring managers view certificates as a positive signal, but not a deciding factor,” Sil says.

Like your work history, a bachelor’s degree can signal to a hiring manager that you have experience working on projects with others and presentation skills, Sil says. If you don’t have a college degree, there are other ways you can showcase your alternative qualifications, like including projects in your portfolio or highlighting practical experience that’s similar to what you’d get out of a bachelor’s program. If you have professional certifications that you’ve earned, it can’t hurt to include them on your resume: “Hiring managers view certificates as a positive signal, but not a deciding factor,” Sil says. 

If you’re someone who’s switching careers or lacks specific qualifications like a bachelor’s degree, do your research and consider the companies you’re targeting in your job search. For example, smaller companies like start-ups may put more emphasis on skills than traditional education requirements. For many organizations, college degree requirements are baked into their hiring policies, and aren’t necessarily a reflection of the actual job responsibilities. Fortunately, more and more companies are getting rid of these degree mandates altogether, leveling the playing field for folks from non-traditional backgrounds to break into tech.

Show that you’re serious about switching careers

When evaluating candidates who are switching careers, hiring managers in the study were looking for “proof of your commitment to changing careers,” Sil says. One way to do this could be highlighting projects you’ve completed, internships that you’ve done, or hackathons you’ve participated in. 

Really anything that demonstrates your dedication to pursuing the tech field is worth documenting — it doesn’t have to be prestigious to be relevant. For example, volunteering to assist a local charity with their database, building a website for a friend, or contributing to Docs. “What matters most is your initiative, your interest, your curiosity, and how you document and talk about that,” Mariya says. 

Need some ideas for projects that you can use to bolster your resume? Check out our catalog of projects you can use for practice, portfolio, inspiration, and more. 

How Have Your Friends Helped You?

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How Have Your Friends Helped You?

When was the last time your friends helped you through something difficult? How did they show up for you? Did they check in regularly, write and deliver notes of encouragement, share a special treat at just the right time, or just sit quietly and listen to you vent? How did it feel to have someone you could depend on?

When was the last time you did something similar for one of your friends? How did it feel to be able to be there for them?

Though its context is the end of a marriage, Maggie Smith’s “During My Divorce, Close Friends Became a Parachute” describes the solace that friendships can give people of any age who experience difficult times. The article begins:

When my marriage ended a few years ago, I tried everything I could think of to get over it, to get back to myself. I started traditional talk therapy, then “cheated” on my regular therapist by seeing an intuitive ‌one — because if your life is painfully uncertain, the promise of a little foresight is comforting.

I also tried meditation, yoga, reiki‌ and acupuncture. I started running, though I’m not athletic, so that only lasted about a year. (I call this current phase of my life the “5K to Couch” era.) I soaked up every possible moment with my children. I fell in love again. I traveled. I wrote, and wrote and wrote.

These things helped, I felt more centered and whole. But nothing has been more healing than my friendships with women.

We don’t talk enough about how terrifying divorce can be. For years, it felt like I was skydiving in tandem with someone; we were “in it together.” Suddenly, I was in the clear blue sky, untethered, free falling alone.

My friends were a parachute. Because when you lose “your person,” it’s critical to have “your people.”

That first year, when I was sad and too thin and sleep-deprived, my people showed up. They made sure my life was more than stress and sadness; more than pulse-quickening emails and invoices from lawyers; more than parenting two children alone through grief and upheaval.

Thanks to my friends, there was roller skating in parking lots and vinyl-only dance parties at a local concert venue. There were happy hours and countless meals (“Yes, we want to see the dessert menu, thank you”), and loud, unselfconscious laughter.

  • How have your friends “shown up” for you when you have experienced a challenge, such as disappointment, stress, grief, confusion or heartbreak? How have you shown up for your friends in tough times?

  • Which of Ms. Smith’s friends’ actions make the biggest impression on you? What can you learn from the examples she includes about how to help a friend who is going through a difficult time?

  • Ms. Smith says, “My friends were a parachute.” What does that mean to you? Have you ever experienced a similar feeling?

  • In reflecting on her friends’ roles in her life, Ms. Smith writes, “They give me something I can’t give myself.” How would you describe the role friendship plays in your life? What do your friends bring to your life that wouldn’t be possible without them, and what do you bring to theirs? Does the article inspire you to lean on your friends more?

  • Ms. Smith writes, “We’re often socialized to focus on our romantic partnerships and to let our friendships fizzle‌.” Do you agree that society often sees friendship as secondary to romantic relationships? Have you ever felt as if you or your friends were more concerned with dating than with maintaining your friendship? What advice would you give to someone who wants to stay better connected to their friends in this situation?

    • Word of the Day: mantra

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    Word of the Day: mantra

    The word mantra has appeared in 215 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Feb. 21 in “Greenland Wants You to Visit. But Not All at Once” by Gabriel Leigh:

    Greenland is still a place where “the weather decides” can be a liberating mantra — once we accept that we’re powerless to do anything about the weather, we can give up control. And when we do, anything can happen.

    For me, a delayed flight turned into an expedition onto a mountain. And then in Nuuk, with my packed schedule of outings wiped clean, I was free to wander, ducking into a pub that seemed straight out of old Denmark, dining on a plate of surprisingly affordable giant snow crab legs, and visiting the national museum to learn how Indigenous Greenlanders thrived in the harsh conditions a thousand years ago, long before the kind of heat I had in that igloo.

    It wasn’t exactly the Greenlandic experience I’d planned, but it was the kind of adventure that endures.

    Can you correctly use the word mantra in a sentence?

    Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

    Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

    If you want a better idea of how mantra can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

    Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

    The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

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