Curated by the Knowledge Team of ICS Career GPS
Career
Is the 9-to-5 workday dead?
Excerpts from article by Nick Statt, published in theverge.com
Joining other tech giants like Facebook and Microsoft that have announced permanent work-from-home policies in response to the coronavirus pandemic, cloud computing company Salesforce recently announced more freedom for employees to choose what their daily schedules would look like.
The company says that the “9-to-5 workday is dead” and that it will allow employees to choose (from three categories) how often, if ever, they return to the office once it’s safe to do so.
New work categories
In a blog post, Brent Hyder, Salesforce’s chief people officer, defines the three different categories of work as flex, fully remote, and office-based.
1. Flex would mean coming into the office one to three days per week and typically only for “team collaboration, customer meetings, and presentations,” and Salesforce expects most of its employees to fall into this category.
2. Fully remote is what it sounds like — never coming into the office except perhaps in very rare situations or for work-related events.
3. Office-based employees will be “the smallest population of our workforce,” Hyder says, and constitute employees whose roles require them be in the office four to five days per week.
‘Immersive workplace not limited to a desk in our Towers’
“As we enter a new year, we must continue to go forward with agility, creativity and a beginner’s mind — and that includes how we cultivate our culture. An immersive workspace is no longer limited to a desk in our Towers; the 9-to-5 workday is dead; and the employee experience is about more than ping-pong tables and snacks,” writes Brent Hyder, Salesforce’s chief people officer.
“In our always-on, always-connected world, it no longer makes sense to expect employees to work an eight-hour shift and do their jobs successfully,” Hyder adds. “Whether you have a global team to manage across time zones, a project-based role that is busier or slower depending on the season, or simply have to balance personal and professional obligations throughout the day, workers need flexibility to be successful.”
‘Will allow for expansion of recruitment’
Hyder cites picking up young kids from school or caring for sick family members as reasons why an employee should not be expected to report to work on a strict eight-hour shift every day. He also points to how the removal of strict in-office requirements will allow Salesforce to expand its recruitment of new employees beyond expensive urban centers like San Francisco and New York.
Education
5 studying tips you should learn before you leave college
Excerpts from article by Meaghan Bellavance, published in mainecampus.com
In college, balancing multiple classes, self-care, a social life and even a job can seem overwhelming, if not impossible. Learning how to get into a study routine, though, can help you stay organised and sane during your crazy, work-filled semester. Here are the top five routine studying tips you should learn before your college days are over.
1. Take good notes
One of the most important studying tips you can learn before leaving college is taking good notes. When note taking, be sure to keep things simple by writing down the key points from the lecture or textbook. If you write down too much information, it can overwhelm you. Another good tip for note taking is to colour-code your notes.
2. Change your studying location
Studying in the same location can become boring and repetitive. By switching up your venue, it can help you retain more information as memory is influenced by locations. Go to the library, student union or even a local park. Get creative!
3. Make some flashcards
Not only does good note taking help you study better, but making flashcards is helpful, too. Flashcards are especially helpful for learning vocabulary words in information-heavy science classes. This can be a fun way to study when you’re with friends. Have a friend hold up a card and see if you know the answer on the other side.
4. Don’t multitask when studying
When you sit down to study for a class or exam, you need to eliminate all distractions. Let your friends know you will see them later, place yourself in a quiet environment and put your phone away on silent. By deciding to focus only on studying, your brain can process information faster and engage fully with the content you need to learn.
5. Take breaks in between
Remember to always take breaks in between studying. If you study all of your material at once, your brain will retain less information due to a lack of rest and reflection. Staying energised is the best way to keep up with learning, so take a short break every hour or so. Self-care is just as important as doing well in classes, so your mental health should be your top priority.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)
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