OCTOBER 2021
COVER STORY
Five Tips for Effective Job Hunting in 2021, pg. 18
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Contents
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com
About Us
Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader
Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad. Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com editor@ruralleadermag.com ruralleadermagazine@gmail.com
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5 Improve your financial health with these Four tips
6 Answers to Six Common Questions About Covid-19 vaccines 9 Five Ways Companies can Make a Difference 11 Overcoming Learning Loss Begins at Home 12 Four Things to Know about Sunscreen this Fall, according to a Dermatologist
14 New survey: How companies are Responding to the Delta variant 16 Supplemental Learning Can Help Mitigate the Covid-19 Learning Gap 17 Five Finance Tips to Consider Ahead of Fall Tuition Deadlines COVER STORY 18 Five Tips for Effective Job Hunting in 2021 20 This October, shop little labels making a big impact
Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com—
Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. @RuralLeaderMag
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Improve your financial health with these Four tips With recent news reports focusing on professional athletes’ mental health, the conversation has turned to a broader shared experience. According to a report from Insider, athletes can suffer from mental health issues due to the public and financial pressures they face when competing. Many athletes have been candid about their difficulties and discussed how they cope. For former U.S. speedskater Apolo Ohno, an important aspect of caring for his holistic health is tending to his financial health. “Finances tend to get overlooked when talking about mental health,” Ohno said. “But in the same way mental wellness affects athletic performance, your finances can have a huge impact on your mental health.” Defining financial health. Several dimensions make up financial health, like how much you have in savings, how much you’re investing for retirement and how much of your income goes toward nonessentials. According to recent data from Personal Capital and Empower Retirement, 77% of surveyed Americans say their financial well-being significantly impacts their mental and physical health. Additionally,
57% say their financial health directly correlates with their happiness. So clearly financial well-being is important, but how do you achieve it? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer or a one-size-fits-all solution for achieving financial health. Ohno says for him, it’s more about the journey rather than reaching specific milestones. But there are some steps you can take to start establishing some of the basics of a financial plan. So, if you are on your own journey to find financial wellness, here are a few tips to help you get started. Get clear on your short-and long-term financial goals. Fifty-nine percent of Americans say having clear goals is an important aspect of financial health. No matter your goals, try making each of them SMART, meaning they are: * Specific: Know precisely what you want to do with your money. * Measurable: Know the exact dollar amount you need to achieve your goals. * Attainable: Know how you can reach your goals based on your current budget. * Realistic: If a goal is out of reach, find ways to make it more attainable. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2021 5
Your SMART goals don’t have to stay the same. If you’re working on long-term goals, you can review and adjust them annually as life changes. Create a budget and know where you stand. A budget can give you a holistic view of your money habits. With a budget, it’s easier to manage, track and allocate your spending based on your needs. Establishing a budget can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of tools that can simplify the process. Rated as one of the top budgeting apps of 2021, the Personal Capital app is an excellent resource for tracking your finances. Link everything from your checking, savings, investment, loan and retirement accounts to see your cash flow and financial picture all in one place. This type of free app can also help you figure out your net worth - what you have minus what you owe. While more than half of surveyed Americans say their net worth is a critical component of their financial health, fewer can estimate theirs. “If you can’t measure it, it’s very difficult to gauge where you’re going,” Ohno said. Build a rainy-day fund. In an emergency, your financial safety net can determine your preparedness. Whether you endure job loss, car trouble or a medical emergency, your safety net can give you extra financial cushion when the unexpected happens. If you don’t have one already, there’s no need to panic. You can build your emergency fund through automatic deposits to your savings account and by cut-
ting out unnecessary expenses. If you can, save 3 to 6 months’ worth of expenses. Pay off bad debt While 35% of surveyed Americans say debt significantly impacts their financial health, another 69% associate being debt-free as a necessity for long-term financial well-being. While paying off debt gives you more independence, not all debt is bad. Mortgages, student loans and business loans can be considered “good” debt. Credit card balances, auto loans and personal loans are usually regarded as “bad” debt. That’s because bad debts can come with high interest rates and typically decrease in value over time. Eliminating your bad debt can take time but isn’t impossible. Financial advisors generally recommend paying off debt with the highest interest rate first. Then, as you work your way down, you’ll pay less and less as your balance goes down. “Whether you’re an athlete or not, it’s important to understand how your financial health relates to your overall health,” Ohno said. “Talking about and dealing with money doesn’t have to be taboo. When you’re aware of your financial wellness, you can face life’s ups and downs with confidence.” Apolo Ohno is a paid Financial Hero. He is not a client of Personal Capital Advisors Corporation and does not make any endorsements or recommendations about securities offerings or investment strategies. Continued on page on page 21
Answers to Six Common Questions About Covid-19 Vaccines
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COVID-19 vaccines are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for widespread use for those who are eligible. But while vaccines are now more accessible, vaccination rates are slowing across the country. Those still uncertain about whether the COVID-19 vaccine is right for them can look to trusted health experts within their communities like pharmacists to address key questions or concerns about getting the vaccine, the vaccination process, and common or expected side effects. Dr. Kevin Ban, Walgreens chief medical officer, addresses six common questions about getting the vaccine. 1. What are the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine? Getting a COVID-19 vaccine has many benefits, including reducing the chances of severe illness if you do get sick with COVID-19 and allowing you to get back to pre-pandemic activities, like gathering indoors without a mask. Additionally, getting the vaccine can help prevent you from getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to those around you. COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications that may lead to hospitalization, intensive care or even death. There is no way to know how contracting COVID-19 might affect you, or anyone else, so it’s important to get the vaccine to protect yourself and those around you. With COVID-19 vaccine rollout, infections have declined significantly, according to the CDC, but more people need to get vaccinated to continue to reduce community spread and protect from variants that have proven to be more transmissible. The benefits of the vaccine out-
weigh the risks associated with getting COVID-19, Ban said. 2. COVID-19 vaccines were developed quickly, how do I know they’re safe? Vaccines were evaluated in clinical trials with tens of thousands of participants, meeting the FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, efficacy and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization. In addition, the safe and speedy roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines is backed up by decades of research from a variety of prestigious medical and research institutions on this type of vaccine. Millions of people in the U.S. have received COVID-19 vaccines and these vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history, the CDC said. Experts are regularly reviewing and monitoring adverse events to assess whether there is a true safety concern. Vaccines have played a vital role in protecting the health and safety of communities throughout history. 3. Are there any long-term side effects caused by the vaccine? Some people will experience no side effects at all, while others may experience common short-term symptoms, like pain at the injection site or tiredness. These are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19 and should go away in just a few days. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about taking over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen to relieve any arm soreness or aches you may feel after getting vaccinated. Serious side effects are extremely rare following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. The FDA required each of the authorized COVID-19 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2021 7
vaccines to be studied for at least two months after the final dose even though anticipated effects occurred weeks before that. Hundreds of millions of people have received COVID-19 vaccines, and no long-term side effects have been detected, according to the CDC. Pharmacists are trained to respond and manage any instances of allergic reactions in the rare case they occur, as well as report to the CDC. 4. Do I really need more than one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines? If you receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, it’s vital that you receive both doses to get the maximum protection they provide, Ban said. Although the first dose provides some level of protection, the exact length of time you are protected is unknown. Getting the second dose sends a powerful response to your immune system to boost your antibodies, making them more effective against COVID-19. If you’ve waited longer than the recommended time between doses, it’s better to get the second dose late than not at all. Get the second shot as soon as possible if you missed the recommended window. 5. If I’m young and healthy, why do I need a vaccine? Although COVID-19 symptoms can vary
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from person to person, people can get very sick and have complications, long-lasting symptoms or die from contracting the virus. COVID-19 can also be transmitted to others if you’re infected, even if you don’t have any symptoms. Further, the Delta variant, deemed by the CDC a “variant of concern” for being more transmissible, continues to spread, accounting for more than 10% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Until more people are vaccinated against COVID-19, the virus will continue to mutate. The vaccine is meant to protect not only you, but also those around you, like family members and friends who may have weakened immune systems. 6. Where do I go to get a vaccine? You can conveniently and safely get the COVID-19 vaccine at numerous locations including your primary care provider, off-site vaccination clinics or at your local pharmacy. Not only do they have pharmacists to help answer any questions you may have, but they are now offering same day and walk-in appointments. For more information, visit Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine or call 1-800-WALGREENS.—
Five Ways Companies can Make a Difference After the past year, many companies are reflecting on their values and how they can make a positive impact in their communities. Finding better ways to interact with the world is not just good business sense, but helps a company become a positive force, leading to a more sustainable, thriving community for everyone. Collaborating with employees and stakeholders to develop benchmarks that include everyone’s input helps motivate all toward these collective goals. It’s important to review your company’s progress toward
your goals on a regular basis. For example, at Nordstrom, Inc., their 2020 Sharing Our Progress report assesses the company’s accomplishments and reflects on the progress they’ve made against their 2025 goals. Over the next five years, they’re working to achieve specific outcomes, creating new programs in response to customer and employee expectations. Here are five important ways your business can make positive changes. 1. Environmental sustainability GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2021 9
Customers today desire eco-friendly, sustainable products. From recycling and reducing packaging to energy conservation and decreasing your company’s carbon footprint, changes big and small help the environment. For example, in 2020, Nordstrom Made brands reduced their single-use plastics by 13 million units. The company also launched BEAUTYCYCLE, the first beauty take-back and recycling program accepting all brands of beauty packaging at a major retailer, with the goal to recycle 100 tons of beauty waste by 2025. 2. Diversity, inclusion and belonging Companies wanting to ensure that employees and customers know they walk the walk when it comes to diversity and inclusion must review their products, services, hiring and business practices. Making sure everyone is welcomed within the company is vital to ensuring you’re serving the entire community. One way to demonstrate your commitment to diversity and inclusion is to champion underrepresented brands. Last year, Nordstrom committed to $500 million in sales from Black and Latinx brands by 2025, and they made it easier for customers to find Black-founded brands online by launching a new category. To better serve all their customers, the company also introduced Inclusive Beauty, a new category featuring a curated assortment of beauty products for everyone - regardless of skin or hair type, tone, complexion or texture. Additionally, diversity should show up at all levels of a company. For instance, Nordstrom’s leadership is 60 percent women and its Board of Directors is 45 percent women, nearly 30 percent of whom are people of color. 3. Giving back to the community. For any size business, there are many ways to give back. From restaurants providing free meals to frontline workers to companies retooling their manufacturing setup to create face shields, giving back has been one of the most inspiring aspects of the pandemic.
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Companies can also encourage employees to volunteer by offering days off for volunteerism, or to give to charities by offering a donation match. In 2020, Nordstrom gave more than $11 million, with $3.5 million to 3,615 causes through their employee matching gift program. 4. Supporting employees. Because the pandemic has posed so many challenges, companies wanting to retain talent need to ensure their business is a positive, nurturing place to work, even from home. Supporting employees is not just the right thing to do, it also helps your business grow and thrive. Nordstrom has worked to ensure that their supply chain employees on the front lines were supported with the safest possible work environments, with enhanced pay and wellness resources. MListening to employee feedback, the company also expanded flexible work solutions and added new caregiving benefits and mental health resources to help employees balance competing demands of work and family. Flex-work solutions included “no meeting” blocks, core work hours, reduced/part-time hours and job sharing. To help employees impacted by the pandemic, they also enhanced leave of absence options and introduced new benefits for caregivers - including back-up childcare options and elder care resources. 5. Global responsibility. While for some businesses global responsibility may seem daunting, it’s become clear that issues in one part of the world can affect people - and businesses - half a world away. It’s more important than ever to be aware of where the products you sell come from, and who is impacted by their creation. Last year, 32 percent of Nordstrom Made products were manufactured in factories that invest in women’s empowerment, reaching 40,000 workers. Making a commitment to further empower women in developing countries is one crucial way to ensure your business is having a positive influence. Learn more about how Nordstrom is working to make a difference at NordstromCares.com.—
Overcoming Learning Loss Begins at Home School closures. Widespread distant learning and hybrid classrooms. Two summer breaks. Since the pandemic started in March 2020, students in the United States have faced numerous challenges. While educators nationwide have done their best to shift learning to reach all students, studies show cumulative learning loss could impact students for years to come, especially for students of color. What is learning loss? “Learning loss refers to how much knowledge a student loses or misses over a period of time,” said Dr. Rebecca Palacios, Age of Learning, Curriculum Board Member. “Summer learning loss happens when schools close for summer vacation, but new studies show the shifting learning environment during the pandemic had a similar impact on knowledge gain and retention.” On average, students lose between 25% to 30% of their school-year learning over the summer, according to the Brookings Institution, with Black and Latino students losing more over the summer compared to white students. This learning loss is compounded by pandemic learning loss. Last fall, McKinsey research found that students in grades K-5 were on average three months behind in mathematics due to the pandemic. Students of color were about three to five months behind in learning, while white students were about one to three months behind. Reading skills loss was found but not as significant, with students a month and a half behind historical averages.
Hispanic communities in particular have faced pandemic hardships, which exacerbate student learning loss. According to the Pew Research Center, about half of Latinos in the United States have a family member or close friend who has been hospitalized or died from the coronavirus. Additionally, a similar amount say they or someone in their household has lost a job or taken a pay cut during the pandemic. How to help students. One of the most impactful ways you can assist students with learning loss happens at home. Palacios said parents and caregivers can create an environment of learning by taking a few simple steps and encouraging kids to engage in learning every day: Step 1) Quality screen time. Children have more readily relied on screens for entertainment throughout the pandemic, but not all screen time is created equal. Monitor what your kids watch on TV and opt for educational programming that underscores age-appropriate social and educational skills. Choose smartphone and tablet apps that are a positive influence on their development as well. One example of fun, quality screen time is ABCmouse. Designed by educational experts, and utilized in classrooms, this affordable program features more than 11,000 learning activities in literacy, math, science, social studies, art, music and more. Parents, caregivers and children can navigate major features in English or Spanish, and there is a tracker that Continued on page 13 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2021 11
Four Things to Know about Sunscreen this Fall, according to a Dermatologist While it may be easier to remember to protect skin from potentially harmful UVA and UVB rays by regularly applying sunscreen during the hot, sundrenched days of summer, a recent poll conducted by CeraVe and OnePoll reveals that 96% of U.S. adults still fail to apply their SPF every day. As summer draws to a close and fall edges near, less than half of Americans (42%) understand that sunscreen application is an important process all year long, regardless of the season. While daily beach trips and pool days may come to an end when fall begins, using a 100% mineral broad-spectrum sunscreen is still a daily essential to help protect your skin and minimize damage. The right products can not only help prevent sunburn but also protect from UVA and UVB rays that can lead to sun damage, dry skin, premature signs of aging and skin cancer. Dr. DiAnne Davis, a board-certified dermatologist and laser and cosmetic surgeon based in Dallas, Texas, refers to sunscreen as “one of the holy grails in skincare.” The best sunscreens available, she notes, actively improve skin by replacing natural lipids called ceramides. “Ceramides are one of the building blocks found naturally in skin, and as we get older, we start to 12
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lose the ceramides that help us maintain a healthy skin barrier,” she explains. “That’s why I recommend products that contain essential ceramides, which lock in moisture to help prevent dryness, irritation and environmental damage.” When establishing a skincare routine, ceramides should be incorporated in everything from your moisturizer to sunscreen. In fact, according to new insights from a peer-reviewed publication featured in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology titled, “Efficacy of Ceramide-Containing Formulations on UV-Induced Skin Surface Barrier Alterations,” a skincare regimen that includes a moisturizer and sunscreen formulated with ceramides can help protect against UV-induced skin barrier damage and improve skin barrier health overall against chronic sun exposure. With a focus on health and beauty, Davis shares the following tips to keep in mind as you establish a sunscreen routine to carry you through autumn and into the colder months of the year. Understand sunscreen is necessary for all skin types. People of all skin types and tones need broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays for optimal skin health. Fortunately, CeraVe offers a wide range of products that are formulated to suit different skin types and concerns. If your skin is sen-
sitive or easily irritated, you might opt for a mineral sunscreen containing ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Mineral sunscreens create a barrier on the skin’s surface to effectively protect from the sun’s harmful rays. Choose a sunscreen developed by dermatologists. Not all sunscreens are created equal, so you’ll want to find one formulated with ingredients that not only protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays but also provide additional skincare benefits. A surprising number of survey respondents are unaware that sunscreen can provide extra beauty benefits; 51% don’t realize it can hydrate the skin and 94% have never sought barrier-restoring ingredients like ceramides. When it comes to SPF protection, CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Sheer Tint optimizes three essential ceramides to restore the skin barrier, plus hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and niacinamide to soothe irritation. The tinted, 100% mineral sunscreen offers a sheer, natural finish that blends seamlessly into skin while providing allday hydration and a healthy glow. Make it a habit: Use sunscreen each day regardless of weather - even when indoors. Twenty-eight percent of U.S. adults believe they only need sunscreen protection in sunny weather, according to the survey. However, since UVA and UVB rays can still penetrate through clouds and UVA rays can also
penetrate through windows, Davis advises applying a high-quality hydrating sunscreen as part of your daily routine - all day, every day, year-round. “Sunscreen isn’t just for pool days, but for fall activities too, like attending a football game or picking your favorite pumpkin from the patch,” she notes. “And, even if you are staying indoors as the temperature drops, you are still exposed to the sun through your windows.” Reapply sunscreen generously and frequently. In the survey, 58% of respondents report that they only apply sunscreen when spending multiple hours outside. However, the FDA recommends generously reapplying a broad-spectrum SPF at least every two hours, starting 15 minutes before you leave. In general, an average-sized adult or child needs at least one ounce of sunscreen (enough to fill a shot glass) to evenly cover the body. The good news is that many Americans are becoming more proactive about their sunscreen habits, as 57% report practicing better sun care habits now than when they were younger, and 26% say that sunscreen is one of three products they’re likely to apply daily. Knowing the facts about sun care and skincare can help you keep your skin protected and healthy. Make sure that sunscreen is on your list of daily musthaves, no matter the season!—
Overcoming Learning Loss, Continued from page 11 allows parents to see how much progress a child is making. Research has found that with as little as 45 minutes of ABCmouse per week learners show significant gains in math and reading. Step 2) Daily reading. Reading is an important activity that helps support the developing brain in addition to helping children learn important literacy skills. Whether it’s reading out loud to a young learner or helping select a book to grow a new reader’s confidence, supporting students’ reading matters. In addition to traditional books, explore audio books, digital or e-books, as well as other sources for reading such as newspapers, comics and magazines. Know a second language? Make time to read in both with children. ABCmouse makes it easy with over 1,500 books, puzzles, and activities in Spanish. Just 20 minutes of reading a day can have a big impact
on students learning and help them catch up from learning loss. Step 3) Teachable moments. Hands-on learning is one of the most effective ways for students to retain knowledge, and fortunately for parents and caregivers, learning opportunities present themselves every day. Shift to an educator’s mindset and look for ways you can include your child in daily activities to help them learn new skills. For example, involve kids in measuring and mixing while cooking in the kitchen. Get the family outdoors to help grow a garden. Count your change together at the grocery store. Have older children help you build a project or fix something around the house. Life is full of teachable moments if you take the time to pause and get children involved.—
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New survey: How companies are Responding to the Delta variant In 2020, the sudden shift companies made to remote work was seen as temporary. Unfortunately, due to the Delta variant and increasing COVID-19 infection rates, many companies that planned on employees returning to the office are adjusting their plans. A recent study assessed how small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are responding to these changing conditions - and what that means for the future of business. The study, JumpCloud’s 2021 Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs survey, gives an overview of these businesses’ responses to the challenge, from vaccination incentives to remote work technology. When reviewing these responses, you may want to ask - how does your company compare? Businesses take steps to incentivize or mandate vaccines. In response to the uptick in COVID-19 cases since the Delta variant took hold in the U.S., responses vary to some degree depending on the region of that business. While nearly 68% of the U.S. companies surveyed are taking steps to mandate vaccinations for employees, in Southern states that number drops to 56%, and companies in Northeastern states were the most likely to be mandating vaccinations (82%). Over half of the companies surveyed (54%) are offering special incentives to encourage vaccinations: 72% offered paid time off work to get the vaccine, 50% offered a holiday with proof of vaccination and 14
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66% offered cash or cash equivalent compensation. To return or not to return: That is the question. The Delta variant put a wrench in the plans for many offices anticipating the return of employees in late summer. The dates the return was pushed back to vary widely. Over half (52%) of U.S. respondents are re-evaluating their plans to return to the office. An additional 17% have already delayed their “work in office” start dates. From those businesses surveyed who put off their workplace return past the summer: * 28% delayed until September * 21% are delaying until October * 19% are delaying until November or later * 33% do not have a firm timeline for returning Health and safety measures. For those businesses who are planning for returning employees, many are putting in place additional protocols to help ensure workplace safety. These include: * Requiring masks/PPE (61%); * Requiring social distancing in workspace (57%); * Limiting numbers of people in the workspace at
one time (55%); * Upgrading air filters/HVAC equipment (39%) * Altering workspaces with physical dividers (39%) How workplaces keep evolving. Just how much has changed in the past several months? A whopping 70% of U.S. companies will be offering work-fromhome options indefinitely, or plan to put in place a hybrid model, where employees spend part of the week at home and part in the office, depending on their roles. “SMEs continue to exhibit great resourcefulness, flexibility and initiative in responding to the pandemic and the Delta variant,” said Rajat Bhargava, CEO of JumpCloud. “As an SME ourselves, we know the current conditions are extremely fluid, and like the majority of respondents, we had to rethink and delay office return and hybrid workplace options.” Many businesses learned that hybrid-remote work can be a long-term solution capable of bridging the gap between the flexibility of remote work with the benefits of in-person collaboration. With the hybrid-remote option, many employees and employers have struck the right balance - as long as they have
the technology to make it work. Technology upgrades to meet new business demands. With hybrid-remote options, a company’s technology platforms - and security measures - are of paramount importance. To meet these increasing demands, JumpCloud’s cloud directory platform offers integrated features like one-touch multi-factor authentication, conditional access policies, crossOS device management and more to make it easier and more cost-effective for SME IT teams to adopt advanced security policies. The company uses a Zero Trust Security philosophy: Every access transaction must be verified, whether through multiple factors of authentication, specific conditions around the device, network and geolocation or other methods before an individual can be authorized to use any given resource. With this enhanced security, IT teams can be confident as employees focus on what matters: making work happen. With effective tools like these in hand, SMEs today are embracing the reality that permanent remote work and hybrid workplace models are here to stay. Visit JumpCloud.com to learn more. —
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Supplemental Learning Can Help Mitigate the Covid-19 Learning Gap After many schools were forced to close their doors last year, the new normal of the virtual classroom introduced the “COVID learning gap.” As K-12 students enter another unpredictable school year, 90% of teachers agree that learning gaps were more noticeable last year due to the interruptions of the pandemic, with many (77%) feeling an extra burden to bridge the learning gap that students experienced due to COVID-19 but don’t feel like they have the resources they need to do so. To further understand teachers’ concerns about the challenges students may face coming into the new school year, The Harris Poll, on behalf of BYJU’S FutureSchool, surveyed 501 pre-kindergarten to grade 12 teachers (U.S. adults employed full-time as teachers in public or private schools, 72% of whom have taught for 10 or more years). Nearly nine in ten teachers (87%) think students, regardless of their learning style, will suffer from learning gaps, while seven in 10 believe physical or kinesthetic learners (71%) and social or interpersonal learners (70%) are more prone to experience a learning gap. So how can parents help ensure that their children are prepared and thriving? Below are 16
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suggestions for parents to consider in order to make the new school year successful. Consider supplemental learning programs. To help fill the learning gap, 93% of teachers see clear and diverse benefits to supplemental learning programs. Benefits may include strengthening knowledge and skills (70%), the opportunity to explore subjects that may not be available to students in more traditional school settings (69%) and exposing them to new and different learning tools that aren’t provided in standard classrooms (69%). According to teachers, the key parts of supplemental learning programs critical to ensuring students don’t fall behind are wide-ranging, but the most commonly cited are an activity-based curriculum (73%) and one-on-one attention (71%). Active vs. passive learning. One of the biggest pieces of the puzzle missing from the past year for students of all ages is the engaging and active learning environment that the classroom normally provides. According to the survey, 95% of teachers said students benefit more from an active learning environment (e.g., one-on-one or small groups; hands-on activities) than passive (e.g., large group
instruction, one-way communication); however, 91% said COVID-19 forced teachers to engage students in more passive learning than active learning. Online learning platform BYJU’S FutureSchool provides individualized attention and guidance focused on encouraging students to enjoy the journey of learning, creating and problem solving, rather than on the end destination or end result. One-to-one teacher-to-student attention. More than nine in 10 teachers (93%) believe the lack of resources and time to engage in one-on-one learning hampers students’ ability to get the individualized attention to reach their full potential. Teachers also believe one-on-one supplemental learning can provide a richer learning experience than classroom instruction alone (83%), keep kids engaged in areas of learning that are of interest to them (96%), and is a great way for parents to enhance their children’s in-class learning (90%). Nearly all (91%) say oneon-one instruction is crucial for students to learn and grasp concepts that they might otherwise struggle with, and the majority (84%) agree that parents should consider one-on-one supplemental learning programs to fill gaps in their children’s learning rather than holding their child back. Though teachers believe all learners can benefit, supplemental one-onone programs are most effective for solitary or intra-
personal learners (82%), visual or “spatial” learners (70%), and logical or mathematical learners (69%); and feel that core subject areas like math (84%), reading and language arts (80%), and science (62%) can be aided the most by taking advantage of one-on-one supplemental learning. BYJU’S FutureSchool is an interactive learning platform that offers education programs on coding, math and music for students ages 6-18. Students receive personalized attention with live access to a teacher in a one-on-one setting that is designed to challenge them and strengthen their active learning skills. BYJU’S FutureSchool also has an app and frequently hosts a variety of virtual experiences that offer families flexibility and fun wherever they are. Every student is invited to take a free trial class in all subjects, and classes start at $26. Learn more at BYJUSFutureSchool.com. The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of BYJU’s FutureSchool between August 13-19, 2021 among 501 pre-kindergarten to 12th grade teachers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the US who are employed fulltime as teachers in public or private schools). Full methodology available upon request.—
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COVER STORY
Five Tips for Effective Job Hunting in 2021 Whether you’re actively looking for a job or are simply curious about a new career, you’re not alone. Millions of people nationwide are open to work, but it can be hard to know the most effective methods for finding the right job for you. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost half of all American job seekers are currently looking to transition careers, according to a new Morning Consult job-seeker insight survey commissioned by Amazon. Many of those job seekers (43%) identified better pay and benefits as the top reason they are looking for new work. “Whether you’ve been out of the job market for a while or have been working and want a change, this is a fantastic time to be looking for a new opportunity,” says Luli Chaluleu, hiring expert at Amazon. “Many companies are hiring, and with the right search tactics you’ll find a job that you not only love, but has ample benefits.” Amazon is included in that list of companies eager to hire. Despite the pandemic, in 2020 they hired over 400,000 employees in the U.S., of which, more than 60% are now paid more than they were paid at their previous job. Competitive benefits include health insurance, up to 20 weeks of parental leave and company-funded career advancement opportunities. 18
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“Amazon gave me a chance to branch into the IT field with no prior tech experience. The company really values us as employees, and it shows, from the pay to the benefits to the ability to learn and move into new careers - within Amazon or beyond,” said Erica Bozeman, data center technician at Amazon. If you want to find a new job, knowing current job search strategies can help, including updating your resume and conducting virtual interviews. Research career events that allow you to learn, network and even apply for positions of interest. Career coaching can help as well. Tips for job seekers To help supercharge your job search efforts, Luli shares these important tips: Explore the company website: One of the best ways to learn more about an organization is through their digital presence. Look at the website, including careers pages, news sections and any applicable departmental information. If you know where you want to work or what role you’d like to pursue, have that information ready when you apply or speak with a recruiter. Keep your resume short: Resumes should be compelling and concise. Think about skills you gained at previous jobs and how they apply to future positions. No matter how long you’ve been working or how
many positions you’ve had, a resume should be no longer than two pages. Focus on the facts, communicate essential skills and highlight career achievements. When you interview, you can go into more detail. Customize with keywords: Many companies use technology to discover and track the best candidates for open positions. These applicant tracking systems look for important words and phrases within a resume to filter candidates, so be sure to use keywords in your copy. The job description is a good source for potential keywords. If you need more ideas, look at resumes and profiles for other people who have a similar position. Apply even if you’re not 100% qualified: If you see
a job post of interest, but hesitate to apply because you don’t have all the qualifications, think again. Hiring managers know that oftentimes candidates may lack experience in a few areas. If you have the majority of the skills listed and a willingness to learn the ones you don’t, apply anyway and then convey your enthusiasm about the opportunity during the interview. Stay positive: Job searches take time and you may have to apply to many positions and interview numerous times before getting an offer. Don’t be discouraged, because if one role doesn’t pan out, there are plenty more opportunities to explore.—
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This October, shop little labels making a big impact
You have probably seen a variety of certifications on food products when shopping at the grocery store, like the Fairtrade Mark, or the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue fish and/or the NonGMO Project label. While these certifications are showing up more and more, there’s still confusion as to what they actually mean. If you’re like many shoppers, you want to know how the food you buy impacts people and the planet, including how it was grown, harvested and produced, and each of these labels can help! October is traditionally Fair Trade Month, National Seafood Month and Non-GMO Month, all of which are a great reminder to focus on food sustainability and traceable supply chains. But this year, consumers can celebrate all three during the newly coined “Good Food Month.” The three organizations behind the labels are coming together to make it easier than ever for shoppers to buy goods that do good. By looking for the little third-party certification labels that are making a big impact in our food systems, consumers can shop sustainably throughout the grocery store. Here is what to look for, and what each of the labels mean: 1. The blue and green farmer: Farming is the single largest employer in the world - two out of every five people farm for a living! Purchasing goods with the Fairtrade America logo is an easy way to make a difference in the lives of people who grow our food, enabling them to earn a decent income, to support 20
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their families, and to invest in their communities. Look for the logo on coffee, tea, chocolate, produce, cotton and more! By buying Fairtrade products, you are also helping to combat climate change, support gender equality, end child labor and protect workers’ rights. 2. The blue fish: From the seafood counter to canned or pouched fish, to frozen seafood, and even pet food and supplements, look for the blue fish label from the MSC for seafood that is wild caught and certified sustainable. Products with the blue fish label are independently verified as environmentally sustainable, and are traceable back to a sustainable source in order to fight fraud and mislabeling. 3. The butterfly: Processed foods - especially those containing corn, soy and sugar derivatives - dairy, meat and eggs, fruit and vegetables, snack foods, vitamins and supplements, vegetable oils, body care products and more can carry the Non-GMO Project’s butterfly label. In buying products with the butterfly label, sustainability-minded shoppers will know they’re avoiding consuming genetically modified organisms (GMOs). No matter the grocery store or aisle, there is a label to look for that will help you feel good that your purchase is having a positive impact on the planet and on people’s lives. Celebrate in October and beyond to ensure you and your family can make a positive impact on our food system.—
Four Financial Tips Continued from page on page 6 Many people have reexamined their finances since the pandemic. While some are itching to dine out and travel again, others are looking to invest in their future. According to a recent survey, Americans’ top financial goals include boosting their savings, planning for retirement and paying off debt. To reach these and other goals, people often look for an advisor to help manage their money. However, there are many different types of financial professionals to choose from, so it’s important to know what makes the right financial professional stand out. “Americans often share more with their financial advisors than they do their doctors,” says Geoffrey Brown, CEO of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). “So, it’s important they have someone they can trust and who will always put their best interests first.” Qualities to look for in a financial advisor. Selecting an advisor is one of the most important life decisions you’ll make. When looking for the right qualities, you want your advisor to be: 1. A Fee-Only financial advisor. When selecting a financial advisor, it’s important to understand how they are compensated. Fee-Only, fiduciary financial advisors are paid directly by their clients for advice. The advisor does not receive commissions or remuneration from third parties, meaning they’re not going to sell you financial products that can rack up expensive fees and make you lose money. Instead, their compensation is based on an hourly rate, a percent of assets under management, a flat fee or a retainer. Commission-based financial professionals, on the other hand, may recommend investments with higher fees, riskier features and lower returns because they earn more money for the advisor, even if those investments are not the best choice for their clients. Because of the conflicts of interest inherent in these transactions, these advisors may have difficulty putting their client’s interest above their own. “Before you select a financial advisor, always ask them how they’re compensated to help you understand the nature of the relationship. If they give you anything other than a straight answer, you should continue your search,” says Brown. 2. A fiduciary. “Fiduciary” is one of the key attributes you should look for when searching for an advisor. Financial advisors held to a fiducia-
ry standard are required to act within your best interest, meaning they must: * Disclose any conflict, or potential conflict, to their clients before and during the advisory engagement * Adopt a code of ethics * Explain their fee structure While finding an advisor that adheres to a fiduciary standard is important, some use the term loosely, which can make it hard to decipher who is a legitimate fiduciary. NAPFA has a tool that can help you research and find Fee-Only, fiduciary advisors that are a good fit for you. “As consumers of financial services, we all owe it to ourselves to remain diligent - to understand our options and the standards our financial professionals are held to,” says Brown. 3. Confident and proactive. Managing your finances can be stressful and time-consuming. That’s why having an experienced advisor is important. You can use educational background such as an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in financial planning - or financial services designations including the Certified Financial Plannerâ„¢ certification - to gauge expertise. In addition, you want someone who has a broad view of your assets and takes the time to learn about your goals and your worries. You also want to feel good about the recommendations your advisor gives you and know they will work hard to keep your goals on track. 4. Holistic in their approach. When you work with a financial advisor, you want to ensure the person is looking at areas beyond your investments. Unlike a broker who is focused on selling specific products and investments, a holistic financial advisor will help you review your retirement, taxes, estate planning, education funding, insurance needs and overall budgeting. A Fee-Only, fiduciary financial advisor can provide practical guidance and planning around your long-term financial goals and factor them into developing your overall financial plan. Finding the right financial advisor for you. Choosing to work with a financial advisor can be one of the best life decisions you make. Knowing what qualities make a transparent, reliable and objective advisor will allow you to find a professional who can help you achieve your financial goals. For more information on selecting the right advisor for you, visit www.napfa.org/financial-planning/consumer-resources.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2021 21
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