Things My Mother Taught Me

Things My Mother Taught Me Every day is Mothers day at PowerToFly - but to celebrate, this year we decided to share the lessons our own mothers taught us, and how theyve helped us become the people we are todayThank you to all the wonderful mothers out there - we appreciate youhttp//bit.ly/30fMaOn One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When was the last time you actually spotted a woman o n a construction site? Or hired a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the wertzuwachs of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem -solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help drive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an av erage salary of $60,000 or higher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.

5 Seemingly Minor Mistakes That Could Cost You Your Job

5 Seemingly Minor Mistakes That Could Cost You Your Job5 Seemingly Minor Mistakes That Could Cost You Your Job We all make mistakes on the job, whether its botching a presentation or showing up late more often than not. But while certain blunders are clearly bad news, what you may not realize is that minor on-the-job errors can hurt your career just as well. Here are just a few seemingly trivial mistakes that can come back to bite you.Lifting office supplies is something fruchtwein of us are familiar with, and its something most companies have come to expect to a certain degree. The problem, however, is when you take the concept too far. Rest assured that if you happen to bring home the occasional pen or notepad, your manager probably wont bat an eyelid. But if you make a habit of sneaking supplies for your personal use, someone in charge is bound to take notice. And if that happens, your job could end up on the line.Most of us complain about work at some point in tim e or another. And theres nothing wrong with airing your grievances when you sit down with your friends and confidantes. But be careful about bashing your company on a public forum, because if word gets back, you could easily find yourself out of a job. Youll need to be particularly careful if you know you have coworkers following you on social media.Now this isnt to say you cant ever seek sympathy for a long day or tough project. But keep your commentary employer-neutral. Its OK to say something along the lines of, Its 900 p.m. and Im still at the office. But stay away from posts like, Stupid boss made me work late again. This company bites.Its nice to be social during the workday. Not only can it help pass the time, but it can also help strengthen your relationship with your colleagues . That said, there is such a thing as being too social, so if you come to find that youre spending more than 30 minutes a day outside of your lunch break shooting the breeze with your coworkers, it s time to start cutting back on that chitchat. You dont want to get a reputation as that person who distracts others and is too busy talking to get things done.Weve all been known to make a personal phone call on our office landline, or use the copier on occasion. And theres certainly no reason to rethink that activity if its indeed infrequent. But if you abuse the privilege of using office resources for your own needs, it could come back to haunt you. So resist the urge to print out 100 copies of your sons soccer teams flyer without asking. Youre better off spending a little money at your local print shop than risking your job.Whether its a department-wide happy hour or your company holiday cocktailparty , youre likely to encounter a work situation where alcohol is being served and youre tempted to enjoy it. But while theres nothing wrong with having a few drinks, dont let things reach the point where youre obviously intoxicated. Not only will this make you look irresponsible, but with your inhibitions dangerously lowered, you could end up saying something out loud that you come to regret. Youre better off taking it nice and slow, and indulging in moderation.You never know when a series of small mistakes might end up derailing your career. Avoid these blunders, and youre more likely to remain an employee in good standing.This article was originally published on The Motley Fool . It is reprinted with permission.