Is Your Body Language Keeping You From Getting the Job

Is Yur Body Language Keeping You From Getting the JobWe say a lot with ur bodies. When your spouse gets home from work, you can tell before they say a word how theyre feeling and whether or not they had a good day. If theyre feeling defeated and dejected, theyll walk with their shoulders slumped and head down. If theyre feeling confident and energetic, theyll have their head up and an easy smile on their face.It doesnt take the bonds of marriage or family to tell what most people are feeling at any particular time. Thats why body language is so important to job seekers. If you look nervous, uncertain, and/or lacking confidence, your interviewers are going to see it and will likely move on to the next candidate. Here are a few tips for maintaining good body language that projects confidence.Keep Your Posture OpenA lot of us cross our arms over our chests when we feel like we have nothing else to do with our hands. This closes you off from the person youre talking to dont do it. Practi ce standing with your arms relaxed by your sides. You dont need to do anything else with your hands. Just stand up straight and keep an open posture. The more you practice this, the more comfortable it will feel.Smile and Maintain Eye ContactWhen you meet your interviewer(s), dont forget to smile. Not only does this have a welcoming effect that shows youre friendly and approachable, but it also helps you feel relaxed. Studies have shown that our facial expressions affect our moods almost as much as our moods affect our facial expressions. In other words, the more you smile, the happier and more relaxed youll feel. This will help quell any nervousness you have during your interview.Finally, maintain eye contact. Practice this with friends, family, the cashier at the grocery store, and anyone you speak with on a daily basis. Eye contact shows trustworthiness and openness, but it can be difficult for some people. If you feel exposed or nervous when you lock eyes with someone in a posit ion of authority, practice making eye contact with other people wherever you go. Again, the more you do it, the more natural it will feel.The combination of an open posture, a smile, and good eye contact will set you unbekannt as someone whos confident, eager, and honest. Practice these as much as possible, and dont let your body language get in the way of your job search.

Wordsmithing Your Resume Tenses, Plurals, and Optimized Keywords

Wordsmithing Your Resume Tenses, Plurals, and Optimized KeyabsolutsPosted on October 11, 2017July 1, 2019 by Jon Shields If youre unsure whether to write your resume in past tense or present tense, traditional advice sides with common sense. If youre describing something in your past, use past tense.Managed, coded, designed, marketed.If youre describing something youre still doing in your current job, use present tense.Manage, code, design, market.Simple enough, right? Not so fast.If someone is actually reading your resume top to bottom, that advice is sufficient. But most large companies use software that adds a layer of complexity to your word choices that extends beyond past and present tenses. Every resume keyword must be carefully considered.Blame it on Applicant Tracking SystemsWhen you click submit on an online job application, your resume isnt usually zapped directly to a hiring managers inbox for review.Most large companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) as an interm ediary. These systems can automatically rate applicants or allow the hiring manager to search for specific terms. The problem with that? The matching and search capabilities of most ATS stink.Many ATS bill themselves as an all-in-one human resources tool. Many can post job listings, schedule interviews, and onboard new employees alongside their core applicant tracking functions. When ATS companies try to do too much, applicants chose through the cracks.ATS companies dont focus a lot of effort into making search better because they sell the comprehensive solution, Jobscan CEO James Hu recently said on the CareerCloud Radio podcast. That becomes a problem for job seekers because search is leid great. Theyre often lost during that process.If a hiring manager searches their ATS for the noun analyst but you only have the verb analyze on your resume, they probably wont find you. Even worse, the same problem can arise if they search for the present tense manage but you only have the past t ense managed.Resume Keyword OptimizationJob seekers have to work around this. A major part of optimizing yourATS resume is figuring out exactly which search terms andkeywords a hiring manager is likely to use, right down to the tense or conjugation.The most direct way to do that is to look at the job description. By reviewing what a hiring manager asked for and how they asked for it, you can get an idea of which words theyll plug into the ATS after applications have been collected.Carefully read through the job description or use Jobscan to determine which keywords (in whatever tense or style) are used the most. Work them into your resume exactly as they appear.When Optimization and Traditional Advice ClashWhat are you supposed to do when using the optimized form of a keyword throws a wrench into the style or tense of the rest of your resume? This is a major frustration in the fight against ATS, as stated by several Jobscan users in a recent survey.Changing the tense of a verb just to satisfy an ATS often creates a resume that appears sloppy to a human reader because adjacent bullet points are in different word tenses, Darren W. told Jobscan. I need to make the change to get past the ATS, but end up with a poor resume when presented to a reader.It would be great if the system were more intuitive to understand plural use or, even better, different tenses in order to get an accurate read, said trb S. I often find myself creating awkwardly phrased sentences in order to satisfy the system.It is beyond frustrating that the ATS do not recognize various differences in verb tense and singular-plural variants, said Scott H. It forces the applicant to wordsmith and re-write sentences or entire sections to be counted as a match.Some users, like Joy S., are at a loss How on earth do you get your past tense resume to match present tense job descriptions?Wordsmithing Your ResumePresent tense keywords in past experienceIt might not come naturally to convert a past tense acti on verb like managed to manage or managing, but its possible without abandoning traditional advice. Simply move the tense to a different word in the sentence. For exampleCurrent motto (Past tense)Optimized KeywordNew motto (Past Tense)Managed team of 15 engineersManageBrought in to manage team of 15 engineersManagerServed as manager for team of 15 engineersManagingTasked with managing team of 15 engineersManagementExcelled in management role over team of 15 engineersUse the same thought process when converting between singulars and plurals or nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Dont just plug your optimized keyword into your old sentence. Instead, build a new sentence around the optimized keyword.Current Phrase (Past Tense)Optimized KeywordNew Phrase (Past Tense)Researched and implemented marketing strategiesStrategyShaped marketing strategy through research and implementation ofStrategizeRequired me to strategize, research, and implement the marketing planStrategistMarketing strategist t asked with research and implementation ofStrategicResearched and implemented strategic marketing initiativesTweaking job titles is OKIn many cases, hiring managers prefer candidates who have done the job before. With this in mind, the number one resume keyword is always going to be the job title for which youre applying.There are many variations of job titles based on industry, company culture, or experience levels. For example, you might be applying for a job as a front end developer but your most recent experience is as a front end engineer. If the job descriptions are practically the same, its not inappropriate to change the job title on your resume.Ask for helpIf youre struggling to figure out how to insert an optimized keyword into your resume, get feedback from a friend. Writing and wordsmithing might come easier to others than it does to you, and sometimes all it takes is a set of fresh eyes.When in doubt, use common senseAt the end of the day, my best advice is to put yourse lf in the shoes of the recruiter, Hu continued on the podcast. Would you be searching for this keyword? If the answer is yes, then it would make sense to include it in your resume.Facebook Commentswpdevar_comment_1 span,wpdevar_comment_1 iframewidth100% important

The Basic Facts of Best Resume Summary

The Basic Facts of Best Resume Summary The New Fuss About Best Resume Summary Everyone knows that when browsing for work, the very first task you will need to complete for a possible employer is, Send a copy of your resume. You always need to set yourself aside from the remaining part of the applicants as long as its for the proper factors. Employers dont wish to waste time reading lots of meaningless babble. Most employers utilize computer scanners in reviewing resumes so you need to make sure which youre only writing words that are associated with the job. The Number One Question You Must Ask for Best Resume Summary You may want to look at a qualifications summary which we outlined in last weeks postbut if you simply need to have a summaryhere are a number of examples to help you begin. Now imagine if this SAME resume had had a summary statement on top clearly outlining why youre the ideal candidate. If you do decide to move forward with a resume summary statement, be sure t o take care of it as your own private highlight reel. You need to have five objective statements. The major advantage is it helps your resume stand out. After assessing your skills, you will probably have a lengthy list of things you could include. The very first thing that you want to do is go back and examine the job that youre applying for and determine your intended audience. Additionally, look at the subsequent additional blurbs you may want to grow the conclusion of your professional overview to further clarify your intent and value. Our resume builder will provide you with tips and examples about how to compose your resume summary. Normally, you can opt to create References on request. 1 A resume summary is a brief, snappy introduction paragraph that gives you a summary of your very best work. The format of your entry-level college-graduate resume will be dependent on the info youve got to work with. What You Can Do About Best Resume Summary Beginning in the Next 5 Minutes The absolute fruchtwein important consideration to remember when it has to do with a staff accountant resume is that you have to be in a position to accept any accounting task the moment it ought to be carried out. On the flip side, the moment the work applicant has strong experience, there isnt any need to depend on the academic training any longer and it doesnt need to get mentioned. As a student, you may not have much work experience. As soon as you determine the skills you need to concentrate on, do some research and see whether they line up with job requirements listed for the positions youre seeking. Make certain your resume destroys that average with a good format. Based on who you ask and the way youre using it, summary statements can be an entire waste of space or an overall game changer. Some jobs require a certain quantity of travel on a normal basis. You must think about writing a bit more different resume within different jobs, a modern resume template will be quite useful in doing this.

8 Tips for Mature Tech Workers Delaying Retirement

8 Tips for Mature Tech Workers Delaying Retirement8 Tips for Mature Tech Workers Delaying RetirementIf youre 60-plus but feeling like retirement is not an option for you, youre not alone. According to a survey conducted in late 2009, seven out of ten mature workers in the U.S. are delaying retirement due to financial reasons. And instead of thinking of about leisure activities and relaxation, many older IT workers with years of experience under their belts are looking to upgrade their technical skills so they can remain competitive in the job market. Here are some tips to help you work through your retirement options, transition into your next technical job, and show just how valuable you are to your current and future company, boss, and colleagues. Tip 1 Have a chat with your human resources department. If you have a certain plan in mind in terms of how long you are going to stick with your current job, make sure HR knows they can help you sort out details about your future if youre not sure how things will work out. Tip 2 Remain open to a change in plans. If your current employer has been making plans based on when they think youre going to retire, and you suddenly decide you want to stick around, you might find that this complicates things. Find out whether you might be able to work on other projects if your employer has already decided to hand yours off by a certain time. Tip 3 Networking is key. Make sure you build your network, on both a social and professional level, so that you have some connections and potential job leads in case staying with your current employer is not an option. If youre not on it already, sign up with LinkedIn to make connections online, and get recommendations from people who have worked with you in the past. Tip 4 Get involved with mentoring and cross-training. You have tons of experience and knowledge to reisepass along to others. Offer to become a mentor to a younger employee (or even someone outside of your w orkplace), or to help cross-train someone from a different department. This will demonstrate your value to both your current employer and potential future employers. Tip 5 Make sure your resume is up-to-date and relevant. Especially in the technology industry, skills and certifications can become obsolete very quickly. To avoid looking dated, leave off the floppy-disk-era experience and focus on your most modern areas of expertise. Tip 6 Use your age to your advantage. Rather than getting defensive and feeling like youre at a disadvantage when competing with all the fresh-faced college grads, focus on all the good things your age brings to the table. Youre experienced, youve proven you can adapt to a constantly changing work environment, youve had more time to hone your communication and leadership skills...the list goes on. Tip 7 Dont get discouraged. If youre out of a job and in the market, give it time. Older workers take longer on average to find a new job CareerCast .com reports that the average baby boomer has an 8.5-month long job hunt. Use the downtime to network, update your skills, take a breather before jumping back into the workforce. You could also look for freelance or consulting work to help pay the bills in the meantime. Tip 8 Finally, in addition to using all the regular methods for finding a job, take advantage of job resources for mature workers. Some websites to check out Seniors4Hire, WorkForce50, and Senior Job Bank. Note Updates have since been made to this article by Laurence Bradford.

3 Ways to Deal With the Office Know-it-All

3 Ways to Deal With the Office Know-it-All3 Ways to Deal With the Office Know-it-AllSome things never change.Remember when you were a kid, and there welches always at least one of your playmates who seemed to have the answer for everything? It was annoying back then, and not surprisingly, its still annoying as an adult- especially in a work setting.It was easy enough to avoid the playground know-it-all you probably just ignored him or her and found someone else to play with. But, in a professional setting, its not quite so simple. Depending on the dynamics of your team and the relationship with your all-knowing colleague, handling his or her perceived omnipotence can be a delicate manner.If youre faced with a know-it-all in the bro, try these three strategies to deal, without having to kick sand in anyones face.1. EngageOne of the first times I encountered someone who had all the answers, I was fairly early on in my career, as was she, and I interpreted her knowledge-sharing as a sli ght against my own experience. I assumed, because she was telling me all about how a certain procedure really worked, she was implying I didnt know myself.I took offense- and blurted out something about how everyone in the group knew that, and she wasnt on to anything new. She was horrified, and soon, I was, too. Turns out, she was simply excited that shed learned something new and was eager to prove to the rest of the team she was keeping up.I felt like a complete jerk. Rather than simply joining in on the conversation and sharing my own experience on the topic, I let my ego get in the way and couldve easily damaged a great working relationship. Fortunately, we both recognized what had happened and changed how we interacted going forward.Now, when I come across a suspected know-it-all, I remind myself to cool my jets and actually listen to what the person saying- through a professional lens, rather than a personal. I pay attention to whats being said, and then I use it as a jumping -off point to engage with my colleague. If it feels like someone is telling you his or her way is the only way, ask questions about the process, and share how youve been doing things as well. Who knows- maybe between the two of you, youll find a way that really is the best2. IgnoreOK, I know I said playground tactics wont work in the office, and while thats mostly true, ignoring your know-it-all colleague is probably a good move when its clear he or she isnt just trying to fit in or collaborate with you.Ive worked with a few people like this, but the worst offenders were when I worked for a bank, essentially on a trading desk. (Think long tables with people lined up right next to one anther, with zero space or privacy.) At the time, I was the only woman on the desk, and the fellas enjoyed giving me a good roasting on nearly a daily basis. I have pretty thick skin, so that never bothered me- but when theyd butt in on phone conversations or interrupt me in the middle of complicated as signments to show me how things are done, Id lose my cool pretty quickly.Initially, Id unleash my best brand of sarcasm to put them in their place, but that rarely worked. Finally, exhausted from the effort (being sarcastic is hard work) I channeled my inner playground tactics and decide to try ignoring them instead. Every time theyd offer up their help, Id smile politely and just keep going about my business. Sometimes, Id pretend I didnt hear what they were saying, or Id get up from the desk for a few minutes until they lost interest. It worked like a charm Over time, my expert colleagues figured out I actually knew the job as well as they did- if not better- and their helpful advice abated.If your know-it-all is at a similar level to you professionally and isnt offering you any valuable advice, try politely changing the subject or excusing yourself to go visit Bob in accounting. Anything to distract your helpful colleagues from their all-knowingness. Over time, theyll get the ide a and see that their advice is falling on deaf- and completely capable- ears.3. EndureNow, if your wise colleague happens to be someone more superior- say, your boss- handling the situation gets a bit more complicated. After all, your boss is supposed to know it all, right? Yet, theres just something about how that knowledge is dropped that makes all the difference between being a mentor and being a pain in the ass.I had a boss many years ago that really knew his stuff. And if it wasnt apparent by the work he did, hed make sure you heard about it. If I was working on a complicated transaction, for example, hed peer over my shoulder at my desk and say things like, Oh, I wouldnt do it like that. Let me show you the right way to do this. Id been around the block a few times by this point, and I knew I couldnt just shut him down or try to engage. This left me only one, fairly uncomfortable option I had to hunker down and take it.Work isnt always fun or fair, which means sometimes we hav e to do things we dont like for the greater good. In my case, my boss got to feel like he was really coaching me, and although I often ended up doing things my own way in the end, he always felt as if hed done his job as a manager and mentor along the way. Definitely painful, but a win-win for everyone.Throughout your career, youll no doubt encounter a few know-it-alls, and while they can be pretty pesky, they dont have to ruin your day. Follow these guidelines to recognize where all that helpful advice might be coming from, whos giving it, and why, and youll be better equipped to handle it like an adult.Photo of office know-it-all courtesy of Shutterstock.

How to get smarter every day

How to get smarter every dayHow to get smarter every dayIntelligence is a work in progress. Everything a smart part knows, they learned from somewhere at one point or another. Getting smarter doesnt necessarily mean a huge commitment of time and energy every day.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIf you can consistently train your brain to adapt to new situations and information?- ?you will get smarter with time.Work on your personal prioritiesIn five minutes, you could decide what to do next week. Track what have you learned so far to avoid getting complacent and help learn new things.Planning in a few fun anchor events gives you something to look forward to. Make a list of things you want to learn in the upcoming days.Dont over-plan and under-act though. A decision alone changes nothing. Action is the greatest gift that only you can give to yourself, so get started.Reading is ins anely essentialOpinions vary on whats the best brain-boosting reading material, with suggestions ranging from developing a daily reading habit to picking up a variety of fiction and nonfiction books.I have recommended a few books in the pastherehere, andhere.Charlie Munger once said, I constantly binnensee people rise in life who are not the smartest, sometimes not even the most diligent, but they are learning machines. They go to bed every night a little wiser than they were when they got up and boy does that help, particularly when you have a long run ahead of youEmbrace life longlearningUse theFeynman Techniqueto make sure you understand things. This is perhaps the single most effective studying tool that you can use to focus.Learning is best when you connect it to things that youve already learned. The more you know the more you can connect.Dont stop looking for answers. If something doesnt make sense to you, look for ways to expand your knowledge so that you do understand it.Su bscribe to insightful newslettersA smarter you is just a few newsletters away.Barking Up The Wrong Tree,Farnam street,Brain Pickings, andThe Longreadsare a few newsletters you should subscribe to.These newsletters share ideas on how to be awesome at life.It pays to have a knowledge source from where you can learn something new daily. Use Pocket to save insightful pieces you come across for later reading. Before going to sleep at night try to finish those.Give yourself something topursueDo something. Create something of value. Share your works. Start a passion project. You will learn more in the process even if you failure. You will be a better person than you were before you gave it a shot.No matter what you do create value.Every online break doesnt have to be about checking social feeds. Replace hours of social browsing with something more mentally nourishing activities.Challenge yourself to do something original.Start reflecting inwritingWrite down what you learn. It doesnt have t o be pretty or long, but taking a few minutes each day to reflect in writing about what you learned is sure to boost your brainpower.Write a few hundred words a day on things that you learned. Always take notes. Records brilliant thoughts you get through the day for later use. Be willing to try new things?- ?even if they dont seem immediately useful or productive.You never know what will be useful ahead of time. You just need to try new things and wait to see how they connect with the rest of your experiences later on.Share what youlearnOne of the best ways to learn something is to teach it. If you really want to learn something, find a way to teach it to others.Share your thoughts with others via a blog, podcast or vlog. Answer a question on Quora. Teach what you know on Udemy.Explain what you learn. It might help others and it will definitely help you, just for the sake of learning.The person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thin ks, says Mortimer AdlerWhen you share, you remember better. It challenges your understanding and forces you to think.Publish what you learn. It will help you organize your thoughts.Take time to sit insilenceTake purposeful breaks. Giving yourself space for your brain to process what its learned.A growing body of evidence shows that taking regular breaks from mental tasks improves creativity and that skipping breaks can lead to stress, exhaustion, and creative block.Idleness is not a vice, it is indispensable for making those unexpected connections in the brain you crave and necessary to getting creative work done.Spend some time tothinkThere is one activity that will have a tremendously beneficial impact on your results thinking.Unless you schedule a time to think, to really do nothing else but think, you wont do it.Dont just read for other peoples opinions, read for facts and then think. This requires time and effort. Youll have to learn how to focus.That space needs to be free fro m distractions. Your mind is a novelty-seeking device. It evolved to pay attention to things that are new and interesting.Evaluate your ideas. Ponder them. Thinking is asking yourself questions about ideas.AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, for instance, makes his executives spend 10 percent of their day, or four hours per week, just thinking. Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, schedules two hours of uninterrupted thinking time per day.Increase mental intensityDeveloping mental strength is a work in progress. Mental strength requires that you continue building new nerven betreffend pathways by learning new things.Mental strength involves more than just willpower it requires hard work and commitment.Force yourself to use your brain more.The more regularly you pick up a new skill, or study a new subject, the stronger your mind becomes. Try to pick up one new thing every week, then continue working on it as you learn new things.Focus, strategy, logic, and creativity are just a few of the mental muscles you should be exercising more regularly.Cultivate self-awarenessAwareness is a powerful tool.The power of being self-aware is that it helps you become conscious of your own habits and decide if you need to change them.Self-awareness keeps you in touch with your emotions and the underlying feelings that influence your actions and thoughts.Self-awareness is a tremendous tool for helping us understand ourselves and be at peace with who we are. It leads to self-confidence by building on the knowledge of who you are.Create a daily habit of self-reflection.Observe your mind when you are immersed in emotion.Compete withyourselfGet one percent better every day. Focus on tiny consistent improvements every day.Learn to beat your expectations of yourself. You will learn how to handle your limits and challenges in the process.If everything is too good, youre probably stuck not being awesome.Calvin Coolidge says All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectua lly without effort, and effort means work.If you want long-term success, stop avoiding whats hard.Stay hungryBefore yougoIf you enjoyed this post, you will lovePostanly Weekly(my free digest of the best productivity and self-improvement posts).Subscribeand get a free copy of my new eBook, The Power of One Percent Better Small Gains, Maximum Results.Join over 24,000 people who are on a mission to build a better life.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The psychological hack that can help you save more money

The psychological hack that can help you save more moneyThe psychological hack that can help you save more moneyBank of Dad is a weekly column which seeks to answer questions about how tomanage moneywhen you have a family. Want to ask aboutcollege savings accounts,mortgage hacks, or how to be a little bitbetter with money?Submit a question to Bankofdadfatherly.com. Want advice on what stocks are safe bets? Ask your broker. And then tell us. Wed love to know.I suck atsaving money. I dont buy luxurious stuff or make decisions that put my family in jeopardy, but I am bad at, say, not buying coffee out every morning or packing my lunch. I put some money away but should put more away. Were about to have a kid, so I want to get better. ur finances arent bad but they need to improve. My buddy mentioned financial psychology to me. What is it and is there any worth in looking into it? - Chris L., Kissimmee, FLIts one thing to identify areas that you need to work on in yourfinancial life.But actually changing bad habits that may have been there for years? Thats something altogether different.The latter is where financial psychology comes into play. The idea is to help individuals not only create worthwhile goals for managingmoney, but overcome the mental obstacles that tend to trip them up along the way.Its not all that different from someone trying to lose weight. How many people do you know who have found it hard to shed pounds over an extended period of time? Its not that they dont knowwhatto do. In fact, that might be the easiest parte. Its that, for whatever reason, they simply cant achieve the desired result.Some are trying to apply that same thinking to the world ofpersonal finance.The idea has certainly been catching on in recent years. Today, there are a handful of organizations that train advisors on how to recognize the attitudes and behaviors that prevent clients from reaching their goals. Does that mean youll be asked to lay on the couch and talk about you r relationship with your mother the next time you visit a financial planner?Not quite, says Dr. Bradley Klontz, who co-founded theFinancial Psychology Institutein 2002. Were not training financial advisors to be therapists by any stretch of the imagination, says Klontz. What we are doing is equipping them with the theory to understand their clients behaviors.How might this work in real life? Klontz offered me the example of an advisor whos trying to get their client to create a will but is hitting resistance. In that case, the planner might try to steer the conversation in a way that gets at the root issue behind their caginess.Of course, you can use the basic precepts behind financial psychology without necessarily working one-on-one with an advisor whos certified through FPI or another like-minded organization (Kansas State Universitys financial therapy program and the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, for example, meld these two disciplines as well).Heres a strategy that applies to your particular pitfall. When it comes to building up yoursavings, Klontz is a proponent of making your goal as tangible and as personal as possible. So if youre creating anemergency savings accountfor your new family, he suggests actually naming it after your child.Perhaps it becomes Jamies Security Fund or the like something that emotionally links each transaction with your son or daughters welfare. Suddenly pulling money out of the account to eat out or sip venti macchiatos five days a week becomes a whole lot harder. If you really want to eliminate temptations,automating your contributionsdoesnt hurt either.Klontz points to a 2017 double-blind study that he spearheaded as evidence that these emotional attachments really work. One randomly assigned group of participants was given a fairly standard lecture about building up their savings. The other group was told to bring in a nostalgic item and was prompted to talk about how their savings goals related to that item. In oth er words, they explored the reasonswhythey were putting money away.After three weeks, both groups managed to increase their savings level. But the uptick was three times greater for those who took the emotion-based approach.When you develop excitement about what you want, its really easy to pass on these things that have no meaning to you, says Klontz. But you really need to engage that emotional part of your brain.I can tell you from experience that saving andinvestingdoesnt get an easier once theres a new mouth to feed. If ever there was a time to address your financial stumbling blocks, this is it. Congratulations on your exciting news.This article was originally published on Fatherly.