Science tells us how long it takes an adult to make a new friend

Science tells us how long it takes an adult to make a new friendScience tells us how long it takes an adult to make a new friendWhen you are a kid, gaining a best friend forever can happen in a single playdate. But when you grow up to be an adult, making and maintaining friendship gets harder. Suddenly, you need to compete with young babies, significant others, and fully-booked work schedules to find quality time and earn the title of friend.But how much quality time do you need before that stranger becomes your pal? Get ready to block off a good chunk of time if you want to earn the elusive title of best friend.A newstudypublished in theJournal of Social and Personal Relationships recently calculated that, on average, it takes about 50 hours of time with someone before you consider them a casual friend, 90 hours before you become real friends,and about 200 hours to become close friends.Just being around (and talking to) someone a lot doesnt equate to friendshipTo determine this, the studys author Jeffrey Hall, a communications professor at the University of Kansas, recruited adults in desperate need of friends in two experiments - people who had just moved to a new city in the past six months and college freshmen - and asked them to rate and track the degree of closenessand time spent together with a new person.Results suggest that the chance of transitioning from casual friend to friend is greater than 50% after around 80-100 hr together, the study concluded.You do not have to be chatty to gain a friend, but you do need to invest in quality time. The study found that the portion of time spent talking together, or the fact that you spent time at school or work with them, were factors unrelated to friendship closeness. Just spending time in proximity together is not enough to become friends with someone, otherwise we would all be best buddies with the coworkers who see us more than our families.Relationships with our coworkers count as closed systems wherein members have little influence on who else is included in the group, the research found. But these are not relationships of choice.On one pfote it is really easy to spend a lot of time with people as they are routinely in the same place at the same time as you, Hall told Ladders. However, my study shows you can have co-workers you spend hundreds and hundreds of hours with and still not develop a friendship.You do not need to become besties with your coworkers to develop meaningful relationships with them. But for those of us hoping to make the leap from girl who I eat lunch at work with to friend I can count on in a crisis, Hall suggests that you need to take the relationship out of the workplace for it to become a friendship.The participants who did activities outside of work with someone, such as being invited to their home, were more likely to develop deeper relationships with them.If those relationships stay at work, they are unlikely to become friends, Hall told Ladders. To make close-system relationships into friendships, you have to move the relationship outside of the institutional system.

Special Journal Issue Focuses on the Future of Musculoskeletal...

Special Journal Issue Focuses on the Future of Musculoskeletal... Special Journal Issue Focuses on the Future of Musculoskeletal... Special Journal Issue Focuses on the Future of Musculoskeletal BiomechanicsJan. 12, 2018 The ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering recently published a special issue, Spotlight on the Future of Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Frontiers and Challenges in Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, which highlights the work of young investigators and their scientific contributions to emerging frontiers and challenges in musculoskeletal biomechanics.The new issue concentrates specifically on several key areas for musculoskeletal biomechanics, including advances in assessment of tissue function in vivo integrating physiological processes and systems within the context of mechanical function sophisticated assessments of tissue structure and function and emerging uses of rodent models to study musculoskeletal systems.By featuring the work of young investigators on these c ritical frontiers, the guest editors of the special issue hope to highlight the research of emerging leaders and laboratories working in musculoskeletal biomechanics and help introduce new ideas, innovative solutions, and novel approaches to key challenges in musculoskeletal biomechanics.In addition to the review article Primary and Secondary Consequences of Rotator Cuff Injury on Joint Stabilizing Tissues in the Shoulder, the special issue also features seven research papers A Novel Method for Repeatable Failure Testing of Annulus Fibrosus, Noninvasive Assessment of Biochemical and Mechanical Properties of Lumbar Discs Through Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Asymptomatic Volunteers, Functionally Distinct Tendons From Elastin Haploinsufficient Mice Exhibit Mild Stiffening and Tendon-Specific Structural Alteration, Wireless Implantable Sensor for Noninvasive, Longitudinal Quantification of Axial Strain Across Rodent Long Bone Defects, The Functional Roles of Muscles, Passi ve Prostheses, and Powered Prostheses During Sloped Walking in People With a Transtibial Amputation, Reproduction Differentially Affects Trabecular Bone Depending on Its Mechanical Versus Metabolic Role, and Strain Distribution of Intact Rat Rotator Cuff Tendon-to-Bone Attachments and Attachments With Defects.The guest editors for the special issue are Dawn M. Elliott of the department of biomedical engineering at the University of Delaware, Newark, Del., and Kyle Allen of the department of biomedical engineering at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.To read the articles online, visit http//biomechanical.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/issue.aspx?journalid=114issueid=936510. For more information on the ASME Journals program, visit http//asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/journals.aspx.

Best International Job Search Engines

Best zwischenstaatlich Job Search EnginesBest zwischenstaatlich Job Search EnginesWhen youre looking for jobs abroad, one of the best tools is a job site that focuses on international listings. You will be able to find job postings for the country where you want to work. You may be able to view jobs in a choice of languages, and youll be able to apply onlinedirectly to companies and for positions of interest. The international job search engine sites allow users to search the major job sites, company sites, associations, and other online job sites by keyword for a variety of countries. International Job Search Engine Sites Using these sites is a way to expedite your search because youll find jobs from a variety of sources on one website, with a few clicks of your mouse or on your tablet or phone.Review thisinformation on some of the best job search engines for finding overseas jobs, and fortips and advice for finding a job abroad. Indeed.com International Jobs Use Indeed.coms int ernational job search engine sites to search job listings in Canada, France, Germany, India, Spain, the United Kingdom, and many other countries around the world. Their listings arefrom thousands of websites, job boards, newspapers, blogs, company career pages, and associations.Monster International Jobs Monsters job search engines enable users to access opportunities in Europe, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia.HRDC Job Bank This site,also known as Job Bank or HRDC, connects job seekers to Canadian job openings. In addition, users can upload and manage their resume, create email job alerts and match their profile to employer job postings. You can also get information on job market trends around the country and across industry sectors. LinkUp Canada LinkUp Canada includes job listings throughout Canada that are only found on company and employer websites.LinkUp UK LinkUp UK includes job listings throughout the United Kingdom that are posted on company websites.CareerJet Careerjets j ob search engine network provides job listings from 50 countries, featuring separate interfaces that are translated into 20 languages.Joblift Joblift works with partner job boards in the United Kingdom. It uses extensive filters and an intelligent search algorithm to deliver the best job search results from multiple job sites. Jooble.org Jooble is a job search engine that searches jobs in 44 countries.Recruit.net Recruit.net isaninternational, multilingual job search engine covering China, Japan, India, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. There are also some listings from other countries.Seek.com Seek.com includes joblistings in Australia, New Zealand, theUK, Asian executive jobs, job search and career tools, and volunteer opportunities.iHipo.com YoucanuseiHipo.comtosearch for international jobs and internships for students and young professionals by country or region. CareerBuilder International CareerBuilder has built a database of international opportuniti es worldwide most useful for English speaking countries like the UK, Canada, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Listings for other countries are in the native language spoken there. Sites for Americans without a Work Permit Some governments or agencies have mechanisms for job seekers to secure short-term work authorization. Here are a few North American Teaching and Cultural Assistants in Spain Thissiteconnectsuserstoeight-month long paid positions through the Spanish government assisting teachers within Spanish schools running from October through May. Bunac Bunac helps college students and recent graduates secure short-term work permits for countries in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Asia, Australia, Mexico, and Canada. Some fees apply. American Trainees in France The French-American Chamber of Commerce brings together young (ages eighteentothirty-five) Americans and French employers for paid work experiences lastingup to eighteen months and helps them secure trainee visas. Peace Corps Throughthisprogram,the U.S. government places thousands of Americans in projects related to agriculture, education, public health, environment, education, and youth in over sixty countries worldwide. ProFellow Thissitelists eighteen leading fellowships for mostly paid teaching positions for Americans abroad, including the Jet program for Japan and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program.

The 10 best products for new working parents

The 10 best products for new working parentsThe 10 best products for new working parentsStaying focused and productive at work can be a challenge for anybody. But, it becomes especially tough for new parents. Getting any work done when youre a new parent can feel like an insurmountable challenge. The good news is this new parents, youre not alone. Its a common struggle. And, because of that, plenty of companies are innovating and releasing products that help to make the lives of new parents at least a little bit easier- giving you more sleep, time, and mental clarity to focus on your work.For example, just look at this prototype that Ford recently introduced. Its a crib that mimics the motion of a real car, meaning your baby can doze off comfortably- and you can catch some zs yourself, without those middle-of-the-night drives around the neighborhood.What else is out there to help you power through your work and take your career to the next level- even when youre a parent to a brand n ew (screaming) bundle of joy? Here are a few awesome products that every working parent should have.Get Some Sleep1. Baby ShusherPrice $34.99What it Does This noise machine plays rhythmic sounds like the ones that your infant would hear in the womb. Itll soothe your baby- meaning you can get some sleep yourself. 2. Snoo Smart SleeperPrice $1,160What it DoesIt gently rocks your infant, and even chooses the best motion for your baby- a slow swing for sleep and a faster jiggle for little fits. Theres also a built-in swaddle and noise machine.Yes, thats a hefty price tag. But if youre missing a lot of sleep and youre looking for a sleeper with all sorts of helpful bells and whistles, this one might just fit the bill.3. ElliePrice $77What it Does Any new parent will tell you that those sleepless nights arent totally the fault of a screaming baby. Many newbie moms and dads are also up all night worrying. Is your baby still breathing? What was that little cough? Did you expose his or her l ittle immune system to too many germs? Disinfecting everything will give you the peace of mind necessary to sleep restfully. But, it doesnt need to involve endless sanitizing wipes. Instead, use this UV light technology to eliminate 99.9% of germs within 60 seconds.Save Time4. TilePrice Starting at $25What it Does Every sleep-deprived new parent is familiar with that race around the house to find their wallet, phone, keys, or anything else that has gotten lost in the shuffle- or misplaced by their little ones. Tile is a Bluetooth tracking system that attaches to things you frequently lose and helps you easily find anything- including where you parked your car. Press a button any of your Tiles, and your phone will ring- even on silent. 5. iiamo Self-Heating BottlePrice $35 + heating cartridgesWhat it Does Are you far from a microwave where you can heat up your babys formula? Dont panic. This self-heating bottle can warm up six ounces of milk to 98.6 degrees in just four minutes- mean ing you can take your baby out of the house, without that desperate search for a hot plate or stove. However, take note you do need to order the heating cartridges separately. 6. OXO Roll-Up BibPrice $13What it Does Any parent will tell you how much time they spend each day sweeping up under their babys high chair. Save yourself some time (and a mess) with this roll-up bib. The handtelefon silicone tray will catch all of those inevitable crumbs for you, so that you can get out of the kitchen and into your office. 7. Pocket NannyPrice $22What it Does From naps to feedings to diaper changes to medications, theres plenty to keep track of as a parent. Fortunately, this handy pocket nanny will do it all for you. You can get all of that stuff recorded and out of your mind, meaning you can turn your focus back to your workGo Hands-Free8. Solly Baby WrapPrice $65What it Does If you want to sit at your computer and crank out some work- without needing to leave your infant seated in a swing- baby wearing is the perfect solution to keep your baby with you, while still having your hands free to tap out some emails. Bonus its comfortable- for both you and your baby.9. Ba Original Baby Bottle HolderPrice $16What it Does Feel like your hands are permanently glued to a bottle? With this useful contraption that fits around the baby bottle, your infants small hands can grasp it for themselves and free you up to work on other things. When your infant outgrows bottle feeding, it can also be used as a soft toy.10. 4moms mamaRoo Baby SwingPrice $220What it Does An infant swing is a total lifesaver for parents who need a few minutes to get things done, without leaving their babies totally unattended. Just buckle your baby into this innovative swing that mimics your own motions.

Short Article Reveals the Undeniable Facts About Chemical Engineer Resume and How It Can Affect You

Short Article Reveals the Undeniable Facts About Chemical Engineer Resume and How It Can Affect You Chemical Engineer Resume Some businesses would require overtime, but others dont. Writing this form of resume can be a harder challenge, because people accountable for the hiring process usually dont have anything to do with engineering. The world we are living in today seems complex, so we frequently assume it can only get more complicated later on. Rehearse some practice interviews with a couple individuals to set a more realistic circumstance. You will get a better comprehension of what the business is about and its not unusual for students who make a fantastic impression on placements to be offered a full-time job at the exact same company upon graduation. So saying two distinct industries makes it sound like youve got less of an idea about what job you desire. Finding the company that is most suitable for your abilities and values is critical, for example some businesses specialize in organic or natural products if thats a significant factor for you. Because the career objective parte might be the Initial part of the majority of resumes. Developing a focused skills list is particularly beneficial if you are near the start of your career, because when you have less relevant work experience to rely on, you may use your skills to produce the key argument that youre a superior fit. Therefore, the valuable ideas and information mentioned would certainly enable you to draft an interview winning chemical engineer resume and increase your probability of getting work. Indicate relevant abilities, including computer, language and professional skills which may be important for a specific job. To learn more, have a look at our guide to chartership. The U.S. produces a number of the very best engineering talent in the planet, and engineers trained in in-demand fields can command a number of the greatest salaries among college graduates. Besides your soft a bilities, you also have to qualify academically. You could state why it is you are ideal for the job and all of your qualifications too. Seek out placements and discover more information regarding work experience and internships. Chemical Engineer Resume - Overview You can have a look at sample chemical engineer resume on unique sites which can help you to draft your own resume. The parent business is a multi-billion dollar chemical, gas and oil manufacturer. So, my initial step was supposed to create a LinkedIn account to attach with chemical engineers. Estimate the price of chemical that is used. Concerns concerning the security and environmental effect of large-scale chemical manufacturing facilities were also raised during this age. Monitored utility system behavior for adverse trends to permit nicht weit davon entfernt sein reaction to prospective threats. Identified and selected bio-derived materials in the creation of health care compounds. The dynamic nature of the industry means you may expect to get offered significant CPD opportunities to be able to create new understanding. Attempt to edit your resume instead, youll certainly find some information that may be omitted. The info included in the resume shouldnt be written in third individual. You may also have details about any internship completed. Chemical engineering includes the application of many principles. Chemical engineers have to be in a position to explore new methods of applying engineering principles. They must be able to troubleshoot designs that do not work as planned. They must be able to figure out why a particular design does not work as planned. For instance, if youve studied chemistry at degree degree, you could think about taking an MSc in process engineering. Put simply, research is a huge portion of a Chemical Engineers daily endeavor. Engineering programs ought to be accredited by ABET. Various universities teach various disciplines. What You Should Do to Find Out About Chemical Engineer Resume Before Youre Left Behind If your resume go over that recommended length, there is not any way youll be able to fool anyone by employing a 10-point font. The kind of format utilized for drafting your resume ought to depend on your experience and techniques. Theres no absolute right format. The capability to organise work (for example using a list such as this one) Research is always in addition to their to-do list. Furthermore theres also the mglichkeit of requesting lots of employer sponsored visas in case you have a firm offer of employment. It is possible to read trade journals and research online to work out a list of future cosmetic company employers. Please complete a web-based assessment to find out your eligibility, and to explore the options with a consultant.

First Day Jitters Heres What Your Company Expects From You on Your First Day

First Day Jitters Heres What Your Company Expects From You on Your First Day The first day of a new job can engender a multitude of emotions ranging from excitement to nerve-wracking anxiety. One of the big sources of anxiety comes from the lack of control over the unknown. What will your boss expect from you on your first day on the job? The fortunate answer to this question is not much. Thats right, Day 1 expectations are pretty low, but you will be expected to be punctual and show up ready to learn the ropes. Get ready to meet people, experience the work environment for the first time, and begin to gradually build your reputation among your coworkers and superiors. Even though first-day expectations arent very demanding, there are a few things you should consider when entering your new workplace for the first time. The first thing to keep in mind is that the higher you build expectations about your productivity at first, the harder it is going to be to keep pace with yourself. Most people feel the need to over perform during their first several weeks at a new job, but this sprinting mentality will quickly lead to job burnout. By working harder than you are capable of maintaining, and building expectations that you can regularly perform at that level, your productivity will eventually slip below the high bar and you will be seen as less capable than when you started.Pace yourself and take some time to adjust to your new location and adapt to the company. Dont try too hard too fast to avoid making silly mistakes and keeping expectations at a workable level. This way, you can get better at your work, over time, and appear even more impressive than your initial days.Relatedly, dont equate your value as an employee with your knowledge of a job youve possibly never worked before. You arent supposed to know everything about your job at first. In fact, if you show up intending to show off how much you know and end up being perceived as trying to change things to your preferences you will be thought of as an annoyance at best, and potentially even as a workplace disruption. Instead, you should approach your new job with an open mind, be willing to share your ideas when solicited, and be able handle to the prevailing attitudes of your bosses and coworkers.Dont be afraid to mess up. As a new employee, you are expected to make mistakes and you shouldnt feel ashamed about admitting them. Dont worry about making a bad impression. Hiding the fact that youve screwed something up and being found out is much worse than admitting to the mistake and showing that you have learned from it. Be honest. Ask for feedback on how you can do your job better. Earn the respect of your peers and bosses by using each mistake as an opportunity to learn and grow.Finally, understand that most employers will not fire you for your choices unless you perform the same mistakes repeatedly and fail to learn from them or do something illegal. Terminating offenses can include anything from mishandling cash, lying, treating customers with disrespect, stealing product or confidential information, chronic tardiness, and lack of accountability and refusal to accept personal failures by blaming them on others. So, fear not, unless you try really hard to get canned or have a seriously flawed work ethic, you should have no fears of hair-trigger firings.In sum, most employers expect only a handful of basic behaviors when you start your job (and for as long as you wish to remain employed) be punctual, use your mistakes to grow not punish yourself or others, be honest, keep an open mind, be motivated, and genuinely care about your job performance and the quality of your work.

New Process Transforms Lithium Battery Recycling

New Process Transforms Lithium Battery Recycling New Process Transforms Lithium Battery Recycling New Process Transforms Lithium Battery RecyclingResearchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) have received a $1-million contract from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), a collaborative organization of FCA US, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors, to further develop and scale-up a novel process that WPI developed for recycling lithium-ion batteries.Led by Yan Wang, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at WPI, director of the Electrochemical Energy Laboratory, and affiliated faculty member in the Center for Resource Recovery and Recycling, the research team developed a process that can recover any cathode chemistry, with no battery sorting required. This is a vast improvement over the current approach, which involves sorting the batteries by cathode chemistry to avoid mixing incompatible formulations. This labor-intensive and expensive process is c omplicated by the difficulty of determining the exact material used in a given battery. Wangs process saves considerable time and labor, making wide-scale recycling of lithium-ion batteries more feasible and profitable.Prof. Yan Wang with a battery recycling reactor. Image Worcester Polytechnic InstituteHow It WorksBatteries are among the costliest components of electric and hybrid vehicles, says Wang. If we can reduce the cost of lithium-ion batteries using our process, while still recovering and reusing large amounts of materials that are currently being thrown away, we can offer a value-driven path toward improved industry sustainability.Wangs recycling process is a closed loop. The first step is fully discharging the batteries and shredding them into small pieces. A sieving process recovers the fine and coarse powders, which include the cathode materials. The powders are chemically leached to recover the lithium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel used in the cathodes. After leaching , the pH of the solution can be adjusted to remove the impurities and then precipitate out new cathode materials with specific compositions, based on industry needs.In plus-rechnen to recovering cathode materials, we also recycle steel, copper, aluminum, graphite and most of the materials used in the batteries, says Wang. We can recycle up to 80 percent of the cathode materials from unsorted batteries using this process.Moving ForwardThe rechargeable lithium-ion battery market was $11.8 billion in 2011 and is expected to increase to $50 billion by 2020. With rapid growth in the consumer electronics and hybrid and electric vehicle markets, lithium-ion batteries will only grow in demand. However, currently they are not widely recycled because it is not economically justifiable instead they are thrown away and add to the toxicity of landfills.Wangs process, however, dramatically improves the economics of recycling lithium-ion batteries.When we first started this research a few years ag o, many researchers didnt care much about recycling, say Wang. They argued that there werent enough lithium-ion batteries to be recycled and it wasnt economical to recycle them. The basic thought was that this research would only be important in the future. Now, though, people are changing their minds. They know that lithium-ion battery recycling is critical. And, fortunately, now we have the solution.The United States Advanced Battery Consortium will finance the scale-up of the process from the current lab scale, which produces coin cells, to a larger process that will be validated using 25 Ah cells made by a world-class battery manufacturer under subcontract to WPI. Wangs research has shown that his recycling process could cut the cost of cathode materials for vehicle batteries by more than 30 percent.Cathodes are increasingly made from mixed materials, which makes it very difficult for recyclers to process them because they dont know the cathode chemistry. Thats the main reason U SABC chose our recycling process, says Wang. With our closed-loop process, we can extract the cathode materials and put them right back into new batteries that are equal in quality to the original batteries. And our final product is highly valuable cathode material that can be used to make new batteries. We now have the ability to recycle these valuable materials and keep them out of the waste stream.Mark Crawford is an independent writer.Learn about the latest energy solutions at ASMEsPower Energy Conference and Exhibition.We can recycle up to 80 percent of the cathode materials from unsorted lithium-ion batteries using this new process.Prof. Yan Wang, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Heres how to get more out of every networking event

Heres how to get more out of every networking eventHeres how to get more out of every networking eventBuy tickets to a networking event. Get tzu siche, buckled up for a cookie-cutter experience of going from one panel to the next. Only talk to other attendees during breaks and cocktail receptions, then rush to the next session.Instead of doing the same thing you always do, wed like to call your attention to a piece Humanyze CEO and co-founder andMIT Media Lab visiting scientist Ben Waber, PhDwrote for Quartz at Work about his approach to networking.Unimpressed by a Fortune 100 CEOs talk that he was looking forward to at a conference, he had a conversation with someone feeling the same way afterward - someone, as it turns out, who became a future client.Waber notes that the chance to connect with and be of tafelgeschirr to others who are like-minded is the most crucial part of behauptung events, as opposed to the content. Then he writes that at another conference, which was wasnt as long ago, he spent 12 hours going to talks all around the area, taking a small shuttle to each location. He decided to talk to a fellow rider every time.So the following day, he just rode around instead of going to talks - and met dozens of people, some of whom have helped his career.With Wabers example in mind, here are some strategies could help you stand out for all the right reasons when everyone is trying to make a name for themselves at conferences and networking events.Take a page out of Wabers bookYes, we know Youre most likely paying good money to learn from the featured panelists at conferences, but that doesnt mean there isnt room for more innovative approaches for getting what you want from the total experience.So do as Waber says he did, and have the guts to say no to talks, so you can spend more time getting to know other attendees instead.As you go to conferences, try to create these opportunities for yourself. Skip a speaker session and instead resolve to talk to on e new person every 15 minutes, Waber writes. Hang out by the coffee pot and strike up a conversation. While you cant be assured that every one of these conversations will be useful to you both, chances are itll be more valuable than going to a talk that youll forget in a few weeks.Reach out on social media beforehandI tried this once and it really worked in my favor.One summer, just before attending a conference for my four-summer internship program at CNBC through The Emma Bowen Foundation, I reached out via Twitter to speakers on the roster.While asking a question at the microphone during a panel with a CNBC media personality I reached out to, I introduced myself to her, and she announced that shed remembered me from Twitter.Wed never met, so I gave her my business card afterward during our conversation, and Ive considered her a mentor ever since. I shadowed her in the field on multiple occasions during my internships at CNBC, and we still keep in contact.Use a compliment as an ic ebreaker - but mean itThis just might break you out of your comfort zone.U.S. News World Report staff writer Laura McMullen features icebreakers from Michelle Tillis Lederman, author of The 11 Laws of Likability and CEO of the professional development firm Executive Essentials, among others, in the publication.One of them is great shoesIf you notice something you admire about these new contacts tell them (Who doesnt like receiving a compliment?), McMullen writes.

What To Know When You Start Working for a Painting Contractor Company

What To Know When You Start Working for a Painting Contractor CompanyWhat To Know When You Start Working for a Painting Contractor CompanyThis isnt my usual type of post, and I am leid an expert on the subject, but I have a friend who is getting his home painted, and it reminds me of the time I hired a painting contractor for my own apartment. I only learned afterward how little the workers (the actual painters) knew about painting and how little they probably knew about the contractor they were working for.Since working for a house painting company is a great way to bring in some extra money, Im writing this to at least clue in anyone who is thinking about this kind of work for the first time. AND I hope that any contractor who reads this will just maybe think about his workers, and how to make the work sweeter for both of themWhat I learned from my painting contractor My friends contractor was especially happy to get the job, since he says it means his workers will have extra mone y for the holidays. The contractor I hired a few years ago took most of the money himselfThe way he worked the deal, he charged me $25/hr (not all that unreasonable where I live for a good painter), and made it seem like he or a senior supervisor would be on the premises all the time. They werent.He also made it seem like he had experienced painters. But he got the guys he sent me off of Craigslist he didnt even train them. And he gave them only $10/hr, pocketing the other $15/hr for himself, even though he pretty much left them on their own. He told me all this after the job was done when I was making him give me back some money for the shoddy workmanship.What a painter should probably know I understand that when you need work, you worry that asking too many questions or seeming too pushy can lose you the job. And sometimes it can. But there are some basic things that can hopefully help improve the quality of the experience from all endsIf there is a way for you to ask directly o r snoop around, knowing how much the contractor charges might help you negotiate your own portion especially if you are really good at what you do or willing to take on some supervisory responsibilities. Always helps to know if there is wiggle room, or if he (or she) is cutting it close on their share.Make sure you find out exactly what the contractor promised the customer. If the customer thinks they are getting ALL cracks and holes repaired, and you were just told to just fix some of them and then start painting, that can cause a huge problem.Make sure you know how long the customer thinks the job should take, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Again, sometimes a promise is made that workers are unable to live up to and they get to deal with yelling customers.Makes sure you have enough ventilation for yourself while working, even with non-toxic paint. And, since you are using your arm and other muscles in a repetitive manner, take short but frequent stretch breaks.That said, if you are scheduled to start at 9am each day, even without a supervisor, dont take a whole hour to set up so that the customer walks in on you at 10am just hanging out and talking (each day) with the half-hour prep work still not done. Breaks are important, but remember how unsettling and costly this is to a customer.BEFORE you start painting, go over the repairs and make sure the customer is satisfied with the condition, so that you wont have to keep going back and repairing once youre in the painting stage.Ask the contractor for painting tips. Dont be shy or worry about appearing stupid. If the person is experienced in the business, there are some basics that will help make you both look great.Direction of the paint brush stroke (depending on type of paint, I think, different-direction strokes can show)Evenness and smoothness of the roller and / or paint brush techniqueHow to use painters tape the right way (you can also google some of this)Any other professional tricks tips the y can offer youBe aware of and smooth out any drips or thicker globs as you paint.Check for unpainted or sparsely-painted sections, especially when the cousine coat and top coat are almost the same color.Make sure that the trim is all the right color finish, especially if you are dealing with similar shades.Check where paint got to places it shouldnt be, including where walls meet meet ceiling and trimAfter its done, either you or the contractor should go over the paint job with the customer, for any last touches or to correct mistakes. Not only does this help spot things you might have missed, it helps involve the customer so they are part of the final closing phase.And remember that, in addition to the actual paint job, a careful clean-up leaves a great last impression. For extra points, the contractor should offer the customer a chance to live with it a day or two, so they can discover anything that was not done well. Sometimes a customer is so happy its done, their brain doesnt engage fully. A good contractor should make some room for that without opening the door to forever repairs, of courseA few closing thoughts As I said, Im not an expert. These are just my thoughts. I hope some of them help. And, despite my experience, there are really good contractors out there to work for. But I know there are also many like the one I had, who was a charming guy and even had some good Yelp reviews.Taking this kind of work can be a good way to make extra money or a decent living if you cut the right deal. Even better if you and your contractor discover the fine art of creating a mutually-enjoyable, working relationship with each other AND the customer.Open, respectful communication at all levels can make your days feel more enjoyable, leave customers more satisfied, and get your boss more referrals, which are the heart of the business. You may even wind up starting your own painting contractor business one day hopefully as one of the good guysPlease feel free to add your own tips to help workers and maybe even make for better painting contractors.Happy paintingSome more posts you might enjoy? Freelancer Tips Does Charging the Highest Rate Always Pay Off?? Are Online Degrees Really Worth Your Time and Money?? College Career Tips What To Do Now To Help Create Career Success? Does a GED Diploma Really Open Doors to Jobs and College? ? Whats the Right Career for Me Career Quiz? Career Success How Do You Measure Your Own Career Success?? 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