Latest news with #CNBCMakeIt
CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
Here's the No. 1 resume green flag, says CEO: It shows you're ‘really driven and really curious'
Priyanka Jain, co-founder and CEO of vaginal microbiome test and care company Evvy, is very involved in her company's hiring process. "Nothing is more important than who we hire," she told CNBC Make It at Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Gala and Summit. "I interview every single person before we hire them." Evvy currently has 25 employees. Jain also looks at candidate resumes, and there's one section in particular that she believes can indicate some level of success at a startup like hers: the Interests section. An Interests section could give a sense of your passion and motivation. Listing outside of work activities like nonprofit volunteering shows that you are a person "who goes above and beyond just what your job title tells you to do," said Jain. And that's critical for a nascent company. Working at a startup "very much requires you to be feet on the ground, rolling up your sleeves, getting things done," she said. A person who's hungry to learn and do more fits right in. Career experts agree with this approach, even if you're not looking to work at a startup. "I love former athletes. I love people that do triathlons. I love parents," ex-Google recruiter and current podcaster and advisor Nolan Church previously told Make It. The Interests section helps show off "passion or creativity that makes you unique, that makes you who you are." If you feel like you don't have enough outside of work accomplishments or activities to include an Interests section, don't despair. Jain can pick up on passion for what you do in other ways, too. "I think people who are really driven and really curious tend to have some way that that is coming through" in their resume, she said, even if it's just through "a theme in the types of jobs" they do that proves they want to improve in that field. Make sure to include your accomplishments on the job and when you've had successes in the workplace. For Jain, the point is "people who are generally interested in their lives and interested in the world around them points to a curiosity that I think is really important to succeed at a startup," she said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ivy league professor reveals 90-second interview hack that could define your career success amid AI's rise
Forget the old belief that first impressions are formed in just seven seconds. According to Columbia Business School professor Michael Chad Hoeppner, the truth is a bit more forgiving—but just as crucial. In his new book Don't Say Um: How to Communicate Effectively to Live a Better Life, Hoeppner uncovers how the first 90 seconds of a job interview can define your future. The 90-Second Window: Why the Beginning Holds Power Hoeppner, who also trains political candidates, explains that while the "seven seconds" myth may be overly rigid, time is still very limited. 'People's attention spans are worse than they've ever been,' he told CNBC Make It. 'They've been hijacked entirely, and so we tend to have less time to actually make an impression.' In an age of short attention spans and endless digital distractions, he argues that the first answer you give in an interview might be the only one that truly lands. That makes your response to questions like 'Tell me about yourself' your most powerful tool. 'You have a tremendous amount of latitude with those questions,' Hoeppner says. 'And you often can take them anywhere that you want to.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 23.7% Returns in last 5 years with Shriram Life's ULIP Shriram Life Insurance Undo Don't Memorize—Humanize: Why Delivery Trumps Perfection According to Hoeppner, many candidates unintentionally sabotage themselves by becoming overly formal or robotic in tone. 'They speak in a more monotonous voice, they restrain their hand gestures and they anchor eye contact unblinkingly forward the entire time,' he says. Instead, he urges candidates to be themselves—but polished. That means relaxed posture, natural gestures, confident voice, and real eye contact. These small tweaks can be more powerful than a perfectly worded response. In fact, how you say something can often overshadow what you're saying. You Might Also Like: Why your job applications keep getting ghosted: Top tech executive reveals red flags young candidates ignore The Secret to Nailing Your Interview To prepare, Hoeppner swears by a method he calls 'loud drafting.' The idea is simple: choose an open-ended question and answer it out loud repeatedly until it sounds natural. 'The first time you do it, it will be bad,' he assures. 'That's fine. Do it again, do it again, do it again.' The problem with jotting down perfectly crafted statements, he explains, is that written language doesn't translate well when spoken. 'Often, people open their mouths in interviews and a bunch of polysyllabic pablum comes pouring out,' he adds with candor. Why Speaking Skills Will Matter Even More in the Age of AI With AI tools now able to churn out endless streams of information, Hoeppner believes one skill will stand out above all: how you express your ideas aloud. 'What determines whose ideas get paid more attention?' he asks. 'Very likely how you say them.' Whether it's in the boardroom, a client pitch, or a job interview, communication is no longer a soft skill—it's a make-or-break factor for success. As Hoeppner puts it, even the most brilliant professionals often get overlooked if they can't communicate their ideas effectively. You Might Also Like: 'They copy-pasted from AI': Tech company offers Rs 20 lakh, can't find a single techie who understands code So, the next time you walk into an interview, remember: you don't just have to be smart—you have to sound like it too. You Might Also Like: The biggest blunder in answering 'Tell Me About Yourself' question in a job interview. Hiring coach reveals
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
The 10 most livable cities in the world based on healthcare, infrastructure and more—not a single one is in the United States
In June, The Economist Intelligence Unit released its 2025 Livability Index, which ranks the world's most livable cities. The index scores 173 cities on 30 indicators divided into five categories, with each one being given a weighted percentage: Each city was given a score of 1-100 — one is considered intolerable and 100 is considered ideal. EIU's report states that the average score for livability across the 173 cities in the index stands at 76.1 out of 100, which is unchanged from 2024. Despite that, the report states that "livability remains under pressure amid geopolitical tensions, civil unrest and widespread housing crises." After spending three years as the world's most livable city, Vienna was outranked by Copenhagen for this year's top spot. The Danish city got perfect scores for stability, education and infrastructure and an overall average score of 98.0. Ana Nicholls, EIU's Director of Industry Analysis, tells CNBC Make It that the reason Copenhagen ranked No. 1 was partly due to its higher score in the culture and environment category, which encompasses aspects such as bars, restaurants, sporting events, and occasions. Western Europe remains the best-performing region for livability across four of the five categories and was only outpaced by North America in education. The United States didn't have any cities make the top 10 or the top 20 and that has a lot to do with its higher crime rates, lower social stability and infrastructure, Nicholls says. "It's worth saying that smaller cities in the U.S. do much better than bigger cities and that's true overall across the livability ranking," she says. "Places like New York tend to much worse, but that said, U.S. cities have one area where they excel and that is in terms of education." The U.S. city that ranked the highest was Honolulu, Hawaii, at No. 23. There were a total of 21 American cities in the overall ranking. Nicholls also pointed out that of the 21 U.S. cities ranked, 14 rose in the index, but mainly because the rankings for other cities around the world went down. "The U.S. does have quite a strong education system, so it is more about the availability and access to healthcare and that being relatively equitable," she adds. "One other lesson that the U.S. could learn is a bit more investment in infrastructure." 1. Copenhagen, Denmark2. Vienna, Austria and Zurich, Switzerland (tie)4. Melbourne, Australia5. Geneva, Switzerland6. Sydney, Australia7. Osaka, Japan and Auckland, New Zealand (tie)9. Adelaide, Australia10. Vancouver, Canada Tied for the No. 2 spot are Vienna, Austria and Zurich, Switzerland, each with a score of 97.1. Vienna scored higher than Zurich in the infrastructure category, while Zurich scored higher in culture and environment. Nicholls says the only reason Vienna dropped out of the No. 1 spot was due to and the discovery of a planned attack on a city train station earlier this year, which led to a decrease in the stability category score. "In one way that didn't affect livability, but the threats made a difference in terms of the stability bit of our ranking," she adds. "[On the other hand], Switzerland does very well in terms of healthcare and education because they have very good systems in place."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why your job applications keep getting ghosted: Top tech executive reveals red flags young candidates ignore
In a world brimming with glossy job titles and Instagram-worthy offices, it's easy for young professionals to fall for roles that sound cool but have little alignment with their experience. But according to Chidi Achara , the Global Chief Product Officer at design and tech powerhouse Huge , that mismatch is one of the most common—and fatal—mistakes fresh candidates make. Speaking to CNBC Make It at Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Gala and Summit , Achara reflected on his years of experience leading teams at major companies including Nike and investment app Stash. With a keen eye for talent, Achara has conducted countless interviews and learned to spot red and green flags almost instantly. Humor and Storytelling Go a Long Way In an era where AI can mimic professionalism and resumes are increasingly polished, Achara values something far more human: personality. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vergiss die blaue Pille: Diese Methode stellt alles auf den Kopf Undo 'Do they have a sense of humor?' he told CNBC Make It . 'Do they have storytelling ability so they can communicate clearly?' These two qualities, he believes, are not just soft skills—they're essential signals that a candidate can gel with a team and carry ideas forward with impact. It's not just about ticking technical boxes anymore. The ability to tell a story, to inject warmth and clarity into communication, is a trait that separates good hires from great ones, Achara emphasizes. You Might Also Like: This job search hack helped a candidate land 3 interviews in a week. Here's how Applying Without Alignment But for all the charm a candidate might bring, a lack of relevant experience is still a dealbreaker. One of the biggest issues, according to Achara, is the 'scattergun approach' many young jobseekers take when sending out applications. 'They're just applying for a bunch of stuff because the title sounds cool, or they like the comp, or they like the location,' he explained. This unfocused strategy may stem from desperation in a tough job market, but it rarely works. 'Hiring managers can very quickly see those people are not qualified,' Achara warned. And when it's clear that a resume doesn't match the role, 'I'm probably going to move on to the next.' Experience Doesn't Always Mean Employment Still, Achara isn't suggesting that recent graduates need years of full-time work behind them. He's a strong believer in the value of side projects, internships, and passion-driven pursuits. 'Say you're applying for a web developer or an engineering job and you've never worked full-time in either but on the side, you've built an app,' he said. If you've published it and drawn users—even just a few thousand— that counts. You Might Also Like: Bill Gates predicts only three jobs will survive the AI takeover. Here is why Tailoring your resume to highlight such accomplishments can tilt the odds in your favor. 'Immediately, you'll take that person more seriously,' Achara noted. The hiring team is looking for proof of potential—not perfection. So, what's the key takeaway for job-hunters, especially those at the start of their careers? Be selective. Be strategic. And be honest. 'If they're just applying because they think it sounds like a cool job, then it's probably not going to work,' Achara concluded.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why WFH can be a hurdle for a successful career? Kim Kardashian's brand co-founder shares her growth mantra
Learning by Listening: Grede's Early Office Grind A No-Excuses Culture for the Hungry Remote vs. Reality: The Hybrid Work Dilemma "If you're not in the room, you're not able to do that at an excellent level." That's how Emma Grede , the powerhouse entrepreneur behind Kim Kardashian's billion-dollar brand Skims , defines ambition in today's a candid interview on The Skinny Confidential Him and Her podcast, Grede shared her unwavering belief in the power of proximity, stating that deeply ambitious professionals should steer clear of remote work if they want to truly excel. With a personal net worth of $405 million (as per Forbes), the CEO of Good American and founding partner of Skims has built her success by being relentlessly her early days in the office, Grede described how sitting next to her boss helped shape her business acumen. 'I learned from proximity,' she said. 'I'd write down every phrase that came out of her mouth.' For her, the cadence, word choice, and real-time feedback created a boot camp for excellence—one she now replicates for her own Good American, the message is clear: five days in the office, or you're not the right fit. Grede admitted she makes exceptions when needed—like supporting new mothers or employees with special circumstances—but made it clear that, for most roles, in-person presence is non-negotiable.'I think I make it quite clear that if you're a three-day-a-week person, that's totally fine—it just doesn't work here. It doesn't work for me,' she from her leadership in Skims and Good American, Grede also co-founded the eco-conscious cleaning brand Safely and appears as a guest investor on Shark views come amid an ongoing debate over hybrid work. According to 2023 Gallup data, 76% of employees reported improved work-life balance with hybrid setups. But nearly a quarter also said they felt less connected to their Software CEO Dave Grow echoed this complexity in a CNBC Make It interview, highlighting that executive dissatisfaction with remote productivity suggests we haven't yet perfected hybrid Grede remains firm. 'We want to create conditions for ambitious people to succeed,' she said. 'But for those starting out, for most people in the company, we have to be [in person] five days a week.'Emma Grede's stance might spark debate in today's flexibility-loving workforce—but it undeniably reflects the intense drive behind her success. In an era dominated by Zoom calls and Slack channels, her message cuts through the noise: 'Show up, be seen, and learn by doing.'
