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☆ Chomps: How we turned $6,500 into a business bringing in close to $250 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Raffi Paul | Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChomps: How we turned $6,500 into a business bringing in close to $250 millionLooking to make a healthier-for-you meat snack, friends Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali together put forth $6,500 to launch their "side hustle" back in 2012. After four years, Trader Joe's began selling their products and sales significantly grew. In 2023, Pete and Rashid's once side-hustle has brought in nearly $250 million in retail sales.

Persons: Pete Maldonado, Rashid Ali, Joe's, Pete, Rashid's

One of their friends in Missouri had mailed them meat sticks made by Kevin Western, a Greentop local who made the snacks for fun and sold them around town. In December 2012, Maldonado and Ali started selling Chomps' first product — the original beef jerky stick — on its website. Trader Joe's placed an initial order for a million meat sticks to stock in over 400 stores. Chomps started selling meat sticks in Trader Joe's, its first national retailer, in July 2016. Building a jerky empireOnce Chomps started selling its sticks in Trader Joe's, other stores quickly followed, including Whole Foods, Target and Walmart.

Persons: Pete Maldonado, Maldonado, Rashid Ali, Slim Jims, Maldonado craved, Ali, Chomps, Here's, — Maldonado, Kevin Western, Gene Woo Kim Maldonado, you'll, —, Joe's, Rashid, Clint Boland Organizations: Facebook, taco, Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, CNBC Locations: Chicago, Long, Greentop , Missouri, Missouri, Greentop, Naples , Florida, U.S, Joe's, Naples

☆ Many of the world’s happiest countries are also the best for women, research shows—here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the organization behind the World Happiness Report, uses six factors to score countries' happiness: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity and absence of corruption. The WEF compares countries' gender gaps across four dimensions: economic opportunities; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. It's no coincidence that the world's happiest countries also champion gender equality socially and economically. How Nordic countries use social policies to promote gender equality and happinessIn its research, the WEF establishes a clear correlation between social policies, families' happiness and women's career advancement. The Nordic countries — Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Norway — have some of the most generous paid leave policies for parents in the world.

Persons: Alexa, Norway's, Linda Akeson McGurk, McGurk Organizations: UN Sustainable Development Solutions, Sweden, Organisation for Economic Co, Development Locations: American, Bergen, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, U.S, Swedish

☆ Harvard-trained neuroscientist: Use this 'tried and true' trick to stand out at work—especially if you're an introvert
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Speaking up in meetings can be intimidating, especially if you're an introvert — but failing to make your voice heard at important moments could hurt your career. That's at least according to Juliette Han, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School. There's a different "tried and true" trick to standing out at work without speaking up during meetings, says Han, who is also an academic advisor at Harvard medical school. This could include brainstorms, status-update meetings, problem-solving meetings or other important work conversations. Or, if someone posed a potential solution to a business challenge during a meeting, and you would recommend a different approach, outline your thoughts in the follow-up email, says Han.

Persons: That's, Juliette Han, Han, — Han, what's, moxie Organizations: Harvard, Columbia Business School, CNBC

☆ The No. 1 mistake companies are making when designing the office for RTO, according to two CEOs
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It's no secret that people aren't going to the office as much as they used to. The "biggest mistake" companies make when thinking about the office itself, and its role in enticing people back in, says Cohen, is not understanding what their employees actually want from the office. "What many companies don't realize is that the office needs to give employees the space and resources for both collaborative and deep focus work, not one or the other," he explains. "What creates a great office experience, one that employees look forward to, is giving them a sense of choice," she explains. The businesses that don't adapt to employees' evolving preferences and needs, says Cohen, could see their offices become obsolete.

Persons: Andy Cohen, Diane Hoskins, Gensler, Cohen, Hoskin, Hoskins Organizations: Kastle Systems, John's, Employees, Employers, CNBC Locations: Bethesda , Maryland, St, New York

☆ 41-year-old and her family left the U.S. for Costa Rica and live on less than $30,000 a year: 'We're a lot happier' and never moving back
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Morgan Smith Valentina Duarte | Morgan Smith | Valentina Duarte | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

But in 2018, after Hurricane Harvey destroyed her Houston home, a trip to Costa Rica with her husband Nicholas Hopper and then 9-year-old daughter Aaralyn became a permanent move. From Hopper's perspective, moving to Costa Rica was a no-brainer. Fast-forward six years later, and the Ward-Hoppers are now permanent residents of Costa Rica, with no plans to move back to Texas. The Ward-Hoppers live in Costa Rica with their daughter Aaralyn, 15, and son Nico, 3. Photo: Alejandro FerliniNico's arrival also introduced another element of stability to their lives by making the entire family eligible for citizenship in Costa Rica.

Persons: Kema, Hopper, Hurricane Harvey, Nicholas Hopper, Aaralyn, let's, —, Heidi, Dan Buettner, Buettner, Nico, Alejandro Ferlini Nico's, Costa Rica's, Costa Ricans, Krishnan Organizations: CNBC, U.S . Ward, American Cancer Society, CAJA, Costa Rica didn't, Gas Locations: Costa Rica, Houston, Texas, Costa, Nicoya, Playa San Miguel, U.S, United States, Nicaragua, Spanish

☆ High earners, young people and women are working fewer hours after the pandemic, says new research—here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But the people driving the post-pandemic decline in hours worked fall into four categories: women, young adults, highly paid workers and employees at small businesses. Richardson points out that high earners can maintain their annual income while working fewer hours, thanks to big post-pandemic pay increases. Women are working more part-time jobs than menA record number of Americans — 22 million — are working part-time, Labor Department figures show. In 2019, women worked 4.4 hours less per week than men, who worked 40 hours. The industries that saw bigger declines in hours worked — health care, leisure and hospitality — are dominated by women.

Persons: Nela Richardson, Richardson, they're, Gen Zers, there's, Zers Organizations: ADP Research, U.S, ADP, Workers, Labor Department, National Women's Law, Deloitte Locations: U.S

☆ 29-year-old was laid off from her hotel job in 2020—now she makes $125,000 working in tech, without a bachelor’s degree
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ayana Dunlap has been working in tech since 2020. Even though she doesn't have the job she wanted as a kid, Dunlap found a different vocation she loves: technology. Dunlap didn't consider turning her knack for computers into her career until she was laid off from her sales job in June 2020. While working there, Dunlap was tasked with helping organizations prepare to return to the office, by setting up their desktops, routers and printers on-site. Some of the skills that helped Dunlap transition into tech without a bachelor's degree included oft skills she learned while working in hotels, namely, communication and customer service.

Persons: Ayana Dunlap, Dunlap, lockdowns, doesn't, she's, Weeks, Dyanne Organizations: Bank Policy Institute, CNBC, Montgomery County Community College, Washington , D.C, Widewaters Hotel, Magna Hospitality Group, Google Locations: Washington, AskMakeIt@cnbc.com, Cheltenham , Pennsylvania, Montgomery, Blue Bell , Pennsylvania, Washington ,, D.C, Scholas, New York, Gaithersburg , Maryland, Dunlap

☆ Use this simple strategy to win your boss over, say two CEOs: ‘Don't be afraid to be seen’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But it takes a lot more than being a hard worker who meets deadlines to be a standout employee. Hoskins has noticed that younger employees — Gen Zers and millennials —are especially good at establishing strong, empathetic relationships with higher-ups. If it's hard to find time on their calendar for a check-in, Cohen says you can still build a strong personal relationship with your boss with small gestures. What most employees don't realize, adds Hoskins, is that "as much as you want your boss to like you, they want you to like them too. So don't be afraid to be seen, to build a close relationship with them."

Persons: Andy Cohen, Diane Hoskins, Hoskins, Gen Zers, — Hoskins, Alison Green, Cohen Organizations: CNBC

☆ 7 in-demand side hustles you can do from home—some can pay as much as $100 an hour
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

There are dozens of in-demand, non-tech side hustles you can do remotely to earn extra cash — some of which can pay as much as $100 an hour. These jobs have dozens of active listings and offer remote, part-time opportunities. Some of these remote side hustles can pay upwards of $100 per hour, depending on your level of skill and the project. Bookkeepers on Upwork, for example, can charge as much as $175 an hour or, for some projects, $300 an hour. The most salient benefit of pursuing one of these remote side hustles, says Frana, is the flexibility.

Persons: FlexJobs, Toni Frana, Frana, Angelique Rewers, BoldHaus Organizations: CNBC

☆ This simple job interview trick can help you get hired 'on the spot,' says 19-year recruiting pro—but most people skip it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In a job interview, your body language can make or break your chances of landing an offer. This means that, in a job interview, how you speak is just as important as what you say, says Bert Bean, CEO of the staffing firm Insight Global. Bean has interviewed hundreds of job applicants in his 19-year career as a recruiter-turned-CEO. Showing that you are energized and enthusiastic about a role is the top "green flag" hiring managers look for in a job interview, Shekhinah Bass, an executive at Goldman Sachs, told CNBC Make It in August. It's important to note, however, that body language isn't the only way to show your enthusiasm or engagement during a job interview.

Persons: Bert Bean, Bean, He's, it's, Shekhinah, Goldman Sachs, Bass Organizations: Research, Insight, CNBC

☆ Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S.—meet 3 who grew their side hustles into successful businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Black women make up less than 10% of the U.S. population, but they've emerged as the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, new research from GoDaddy has found. The number of Black women-owned businesses in the U.S. was trending upward even before the Covid-19 pandemic, which accelerated entrepreneurship overall. Between 2017 and 2020, the number of Black women-owned businesses increased by nearly 20%, far exceeding the growth of women-owned businesses and Black-owned businesses overall, the Brookings Institution reports. Ofodu's decision to leave Instagram reflects a larger trend of Black women ditching corporate jobs and flocking to entrepreneurship for more freedom, fulfillment and flexibility in their careers. "When I go to industry events, I'm still one of the few Black people or women in the room," says Frelow, 53.

Persons: they've, we're, Joy Ofodu, Instagram, Brianna Doe, Doe, Jessica Juniper, Alexis Rivera Scott, Rivera Scott, Leslie Frelow, Frelow, hasn't, I'm Organizations: Brookings Institution, Universal Service Administrative Company, Federal Communications Commission, Association of African Locations: U.S, Instagram, Phoenix, Boise, Washington ,, Maryland

☆ Finding a job is getting harder even in a strong labor market: ‘It’s just a mess,’ says recruiting pro
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The job market might look solid on paper — unemployment is low, job openings are high — but the reality for many Americans on the job hunt tells a different story. "I just think the numbers are underselling how hard it is for job seekers right now." Economists and recruiters say lingering expectations from the "great resignation" and businesses' fears about an imminent recession could be to blame for job seekers' malaise. "How people feel about the job market is informed by their recent experiences with the job market," Glassdoor chief economist Daniel Zhao recently told CNBC. So even if 2024 is shaping up to be a relatively healthy labor market by recent comparison, it doesn't feel quite as strong."

Persons: ghosting, Javier Serrano, Serrano, Daniel Zhao, Bert Bean, aren't, Zhao, it's, Dan Kaplan, Kaplan Organizations: LinkedIn, CNBC, Insight Locations: Orlando, boardrooms

☆ The No. 1 trait employers are looking for right now—and how to show you have it, according to a 19-year hiring pro
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

One of the best candidates Bert Bean has ever hired in his 19-year career as a recruiter-turned-CEO landed the job by talking about shrimp during her interview. "I remember thinking to myself: 'If you can do that, you must have an incredible work ethic' … it sold me." Although years have passed since that conversation, Bean says employers still value candidates with grit, adding that it's the top soft skill employers assess candidates for during an interview. "Especially right now, when employee productivity is slipping and companies struggle against inflation, you want someone who can persevere when times get tough." Take CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay.

Persons: Bert Bean, Bean, you've Organizations: Insight

☆ 3 in-demand freelance jobs that you can do from home—one can pay $500 for a few hours of work
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In addition to AI services, here are three of the most in-demand freelance services for 2024, according to Fiverr, including what professionals on the platform are charging for them. Two kinds of video editing have seen "huge demand" as of late, according to Hornung: AI video editing and social media video editing. Between January and July 2023, searches for AI video editors increased by more than 625% on Fiverr. Video editing for short-form content is another in-demand skill. Social media managers and specialists charge at least $150 per project.

Persons: Yoav Hornung, Hornung, Fiverr Organizations: CNBC, Social Locations: U.S, Upwork, Mobile

☆ 3 in-demand freelance jobs that you can do from home—one can pay $500 an hour
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In addition to AI services, here are three of the most in-demand freelance services for 2024, according to Fiverr, including what professionals on the platform are charging for them. Two kinds of video editing have seen "huge demand" as of late, according to Hornung: AI video editing and social media video editing. Between January and July 2023, searches for AI video editors increased by more than 625% on Fiverr. Video editors on Fiverr typically charge at least $100 per hour. Social media managers and specialists charge at least $150 per hour.

Persons: Yoav Hornung, Hornung, Fiverr Organizations: CNBC, Social Locations: U.S, Upwork

☆ As AI creates more 6-figure, remote work opportunities, 'the upside is high, but so are the risks,' experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Mark Kashef had long considered finance the most stable, lucrative field you could work in — until the release of ChatGPT. Kashef adds that, in the long term, he wouldn't be surprised if AI surpassed finance in terms of job opportunities and earning potential. AI brings new fears and opportunities for workersEconomists and HR experts say the future of the AI job market is bright — but its success isn't guaranteed. "If you look at the descriptions for AI job postings, many of the roles are still very exploratory, alluding to building or testing new products," Pollak says. Several industries outside of tech have demonstrated a clear, consistent interest in hiring for AI jobs, including retail, finance, health care and education, Pollak notes.

Persons: Mark Kashef, ChatGPT, Kashef, it's, wouldn't, —, Julia Pollak, Pollak, Trey Causey, Causey, Ryan Sutton, Robert Half Organizations: Ottawa, Queen's University, Companies, Meta, Netflix, Amazon, Business Locations: —, Kingston , Ontario, ODAIA, Toronto

☆ The No. 1 soft skill you need to get hired right now, according to LinkedIn–and how to mention it in an interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The difference between landing a job offer or a rejection can come down to how well you adjust to a fast-paced environment and interact with your colleagues. Communication is the top skill companies are hiring for right now, while adaptability is a soft skill that's "increasingly in demand" across a wide range of industries, according to new research from LinkedIn. Employers want to hire people who can quickly adapt to these ongoing changes, says LinkedIn vice president Aneesh Raman. "Adaptability is the best way to have agency right now," he notes in the report. "At its core, communication is essential for connecting, inspiring, building trust and getting work done effectively," she adds.

Persons: Catherine Fisher, Aneesh Raman, Fisher, What's, they're, you've Organizations: LinkedIn, Project, CNBC, Employers Locations: U.S

☆ 'Vampire tasks' are killing your productivity at work, says workplace expert—how to focus and get more done
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Cecily Motley, the co-founder of Harriet, an AI-powered workplace assistant, calls these repetitive, tedious activities "vampire tasks" — and warns that getting bogged down by admin work is the number one thing that kills people's productivity. "It's those dull, time-sucking tasks like scheduling meetings and responding to emails that drain your energy and take time away from deep-focus work or higher-value projects," she explains. "That constant influx of administrative tasks can hurt productivity the most." Responding to every notification as it comes in can make it harder to refocus on the work you were previously engaged in. Instead, Motley suggests turning off your notifications at work and checking incoming messages/alerts all at once during your admin period.

Persons: Cecily Motley, Harriet, Motley, timeboxing, Slack, Qualtrics Organizations: Salesforce

☆ The No. 1 mistake to avoid in a job interview—it gives hiring managers 'the biggest ick,' says new research
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Now, that 15-minute window has shrunk to five minutes, both for in-person and phone or video interviews, Hyman says. Don't panic if you're late to a job interview — Hyman says you can still recover and win over the person you're speaking to with a quick, genuine apology. But you don't need to launch into a lengthy explanation about why you were late either, Hyman adds. Instead, he recommends a brief, sincere apology along the lines of: "I'm really sorry I'm late, something came up, but I value your time and I'm very interested in this opportunity. 7 job interview phrases you should never use—what to say instead

Persons: Jeff Hyman, Hyman, — Hyman, I've Organizations: CNBC, Google, Microsoft Locations: Ringover

☆ Men benefit more from their looks at work than women do, new research shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

New research upends the trope that women use their looks to get ahead in their careers, showing that men actually reap greater benefits from being attractive in the workplace. A recent study of more than 11,000 Americans conducted over 20 years has found that good-looking men are more likely to attain better jobs and make more money than similarly attractive women. Alexi Gugushvili and Grzegorz Bulczak recorded participants' demographic information and socioeconomic status, then asked volunteers to rate the participants' physical attractiveness on a 4-point scale: Very attractive, attractive, unattractive, and very unattractive. Even with potential obstacles like coming from a low-income household or growing up in a dangerous neighborhood, attractive men still managed to achieve upward mobility. Good-looking women had a slight advantage in their careers over other women deemed less attractive, but men saw the greatest benefits from their physical appearance, according to the report.

Persons: Alexi Gugushvili, Grzegorz Bulczak, Bulczak, it's Organizations: University of Oslo, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adolescent Health

☆ This 90-year-old has been working as an NYC crossing guard for nearly 50 years—why she hasn’t retired
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Maggie Poston started the morning after her 90th birthday the same way she has nearly every day for the past 45 years: helping students at P.S. Poston started working as a crossing guard at P.S. "We haven't had any students hit by a car with Maggie here, because she makes sure that everyone stops," says Katerina Sidbury, P.S. The only time Poston says she's been late was on Jan. 29, the morning after her 90th birthday. She told her friends she was looking for a part-time job with a short commute, and one of them told her about the open crossing guard job.

Persons: Maggie Poston, Poston, Maggie, Katerina Sidbury, Ida Ripo Ramos, she's, Ripo Ramos, She's Locations: P.S, Brooklyn, N.Y, Lincoln

☆ One of 2024's 'best jobs' can pay over $200,000 and let you work remotely without a college degree
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

You can earn upward of $200,000 working from the comfort of your own home — no bachelor's degree required — if you're willing to crunch some numbers. Loan officers claimed the No. The pay is great: The average salary for loan officers is $192,339, per Indeed's research. At least 75% of the listings for loan officers on Indeed's database have remote or hybrid options. Loan officers assist people and businesses in the process of applying for loans, evaluating financial documents and helping borrowers complete their applications.

Persons: Scott Dobroski, Banks Locations: U.S

☆ The No. 1 reason people 'fail' job interviews, says ex-Amazon recruiter: 'It causes a lack of trust'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Some job interview faux pas are obvious. Showing up late or badmouthing your former employer are almost guaranteed to ruin a first impression. But there's one sneaky interview mistake that can cost you the job: Forgetting to provide specific examples in your answers. Holly Lee, a former recruiting leader at Amazon, Meta and Google, says it's "hands down, the number one reason" people tank a job interview. "Giving vague, clipped answers causes a lack of trust, it shows me that someone is unprepared and doesn't have a deliberate approach to their work."

Persons: Holly Lee, Lee, you've, it's Organizations: Amazon, Google Locations: Phoenix

☆ Anxious about layoffs? A simple strategy can help you cope, says mental health pro: 'It takes less than 5 minutes'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's been another brutal week for layoffs across various industries as dozens of big-name companies and media properties announce job cuts. If you're reading the headlines and wondering if you might be next, you're not alone. Eighty-five percent of Americans are worried they'll lose their jobs in 2024, according to a recent MyPerfectResume survey of nearly 2,000 people. Confronting your feelings is the best way to proceed, says Christopher Hansen, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks in San Antonio, Texas. There's a simple strategy you can use to cope, though, according to Hansen — and even better, he adds, "it takes less than five minutes."

Persons: It's, they'll, Christopher Hansen, I've, they're, Hansen, Hansen — Locations: San Antonio , Texas

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