Best Online Fax Service for Small Businesses

Best erreichbar Fax tafelgeschirr for Small BusinessesAfter conducting our 2018 research and analysis of online fernkopierer services, we recommend Nextiva for its online fernkopierergert service for small geschftlicher umganges.We chose Nextivafrom a pool of dozens of online fax services. To learn more about our full methodology and for a more comprehensive list of online fax services, binnensee Business News Dailys best picks.Why Nextiva?Nextiva isincredibly affordable, and it comes with all the key features we looked for in an online fax service, making it our best overall pick for small business online fax services.PricingNextiva offers three different plans. The first and lowest-cost plan, Single User, includes 500 pages for $4.95 per month. The Small Business package includes 1,000 pages per month at $12.95. Finally, the Business Pro package includes 3,000 pages per month at $29.95. Each of these pricing tiers is billed annually single-month subscriptions are slightly costlier, but they make it much easier to cancel your subscription if you decide that this particular service isnt for you.Nextiva offers a 30-day free trial before it asks you to subscribe, so you can give it a test spin. Nextivas overage rates are among the most generous in its class, at just 3 cents per fax beyond the allotted limits. There are no startup costs, and Nextiva integrates with Microsoft Outlook, so you will already have access to your existing contacts.FeaturesFor its low costs, Nextiva still offers a robust selection of features. It accepts most file types, including PDF, GIF and rich text. Although there is no mobile application unless you have Nextivas full unified communications solution, you can send and receive faxes with your mobile browser or email application. This is not an uncommon method among online fax services for mobile sending. You can also keep your existing fax number, so you dont have to replace any business cards that already list that number. Nextiva can even configure the service to work with your existing fax machine if you dont want to get rid of it entirely.SecurityWhile Nextiva does not comply with the standards governing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), it does employ a secure online portal to protect your documents. Sent and received documents are stored on the companys secured server until they are deleted. Still, if you work in a HIPAA-regulated industry, youll want to look for a service that offers more robust measures, including business associate agreements. If youre looking for a HIPAA-compliant service, check out our review of SRFax.Customer tafelgeschirrNextivas customer support service is available Monday through Saturday, from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m. Arizona time on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Arizona time on Saturday. In our experience, Nextivas customer service representatives were responsive and friendly, answered all of our questions about their online fax service, and werent over ly aggressive in trying to make a sale.LimitationsThere is no Nextiva smartphone application, but you can access the online portal through your mobile devices web browser as well as your email application. In addition, Nextivas service does not allow you to electronically sign documents. International faxing is only available at an additional charge, which is something to consider if you need to send a lot of faxes to other countries.Ready to choose an online fax service? Heres a breakdown of our complete coverageBest Online Fax Services 2019Choosing an Online Fax Service A Buyers GuideBest HIPAA-Compliant Online Fax ServiceBest Pay-Per-Use Online Fax ServiceBest Free Outgoing Online Fax ServiceBest Free Incoming Online Fax ServiceBest Online Fax Service for Multiple UsersAdditional reporting by Jill Bowers. Business News Daily Editor Business News Daily was founded in 2010 as a res ource for small business owners at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey. ur site is focused exclusively on giving small business advice, tutorials and insider insights. Business News Daily is owned by Business.com. Start Your Business Business Ideas Business Plans Startup Basics Startup Funding Franchising Success Stories Entrepreneurs Grow Your Business ausverkauf Marketing Finances Your Team Technology Social Media Security Build Your Career Get the Job Get Ahead Office Life Work-Life Balance Home Office Lead Your Team Leadership Women in Business Managing Strategy Personal Growth Find A Solution HR Solutions Financial Solutions Marketing Solutions Security Solutions Retail Solutions SMB Solutions About Us Contact Us Partner with Us Copyright Policy Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do bedrngnis Sell My Personal Information Advertising Disclosure Sitemap 200 Fifth Avenue, Second FloorWaltham, MA 02451infobusinessnewsdaily.com Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) All Rights Reserved. Company About Us Contact Us Partner with Us Copyright Policy Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Personal Information Advertising Disclosure Sitemap Network Business.com BuyerZone.com

7 Signs That Youre Actually a Problem Employee

7 Signs That Youre Actually a Problem Employee When we think of schwierigkeit employees, a few traits inevitably come to mind, including outright defiance to managers, poor performance overall, and a glaring lack of reliability. However, problem employees arent always the blatant disasters we may assume. Sometimes, a more subtle brand of negative behaviors can turn a once-promising worker into a managers worst nightmare.Wondering whether you might fall into this dubious category? These seven signs may indicate your standing as a problem employee.1. You have trouble finding past managers willing to serve as references for you.Generally, high-performing managers and supervisorins eagerly accept the opportunity to provide references for excellent employees when those people are ready to move on. So if youre getting ready to apply for a new role and find that multiple managers from your past cant (or, rather, wont) be references for you, that may suggest that you didnt make as positive a n impression on those bosses as you previously believed.2. You cant think of a single boss whom youve liked.Think back on the last several bosses youve had. Can you honestly say that you liked (or, at least, enjoyed working for) any of them? If the answer is a resounding no, its worth looking at the relationships you formed with those people and considering whether your distaste relates to those people in particular, or an adversarial perspective the concept of authority in general.3. You do exactly whats required of you... and never anything more.Of course, being a good employee doesnt require logging excessive hours and performing work tasks that far surpass your job description. However, if, when asked to help with a project that isnt technically your responsibility, your immediate reaction resembles Thats not my job, it becomes difficult for your boss and coworkers to view you as a team player.4. Youre very invested in sekretariat gossip.Office gossip occurs in the majority of w orkplaces, and when its kept to a minimum and involves fairly innocuous topics, it rarely causes a problem. But if you make it your mission to hunt down and collect the latest rumors about your coworkers and then proceed to spread them like wildfire, youre contributing to a toxic environment that reflects poorly on your professional value.5. You struggle with punctuality, even after managers have raised the issue with you.A sure sign of a problem employee involves a reluctance to accept constructive criticism from your manager, even about something as obviously important as timeliness. If your boss regularly tells you that you need to stop arriving at the office 15 minutes late, a continuation of that behavior with no mitigating explanation doesnt just read as flighty or annoying...it reads as disrespectful.6. When you make a mistake, you seek someone else to blame rather than accepting responsibility.Everyone makes the occasional misstep at work, and reasonable managers know that t o err is human. The way that you handle your mistake often says more about you as an employee than the whoopsie itself. Therefore, when your boss asks you about a mistake youve made and you immediately scramble for a scapegoat to blame rather than accepting responsibility and sharing a plan for rectifying the error, it may lead your supervisor to question your judgement and your trustworthiness.7. You overstep your role during your interactions with coworkers.Maintaining a functional, amiable, and collaborative relationship with your workplace peers is a crucial element to success in most offices. To that end, you want to avoid treating colleagues of equal hierarchy as if theyre your direct reports. Does that mean that you cant share ideas about a project that youre particularly passionate about? Of course not But its important to treat colleagues with respect and allow your peers to feel heard, respected, and valued.--

What Everyone Is Saying About Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume

What Everyone Is Saying About Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume The Birth of Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume Reason or Purpose The reason behind writing the letter is essential for deciding the company letter format. The titelseite letter is the main tool to entice the recruiters interest. If your cover letter isnt well organized, employer will certainly consider that youre not great at keeping up the financial records. Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume Explained There are a number of important questions to reply. So the fundamental homework starts here. Writing an entry-level resume is a task that everybody should understand how to address. As soon as you have described the intent of writing such a letter, explain him the specific context of the issue. The Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume Cover Up Every second is valued the exact same and should not be wasted. Simply following some basic methods and making certain adjustme nts could be sufficient to make your cover letter much oben liegend than before. In case the reason is valid, its vital to compose a jury duty excuse letter. The very first step is to track down the telephone number close to the end of the jury duty summons letter, usually printed in bold. If theres no response within fourteen days, it is necessary to get hold of the court and see whether the letter was received. The Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume Game If your methods are innovative, folks will most likely need to read the the original article to produce in depth sense of those. In case the work is good, it may be retweeted, read and favourited by the perfect folks in your research community. Mentioning a contact partie and their details is a necessity in all types of business letters. By following some basic ideas, you will secure the interest of any HR-manager. Details of Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume Also, love letters make a good way of re membering the excellent old days. Among the toughest things about cover letters is they need to be catchy, informative, and short at precisely the same moment. Make sure one will comprehend each and every word and will understand it correctly. Sometimes people incorporate a sentence about an appropriate time for calling. An essential point to keep in mind is that we dont need to agree with what happened, but we need to opt to let it go because it is having a negative effect on the life. The one below is an example that may be modified to fit unique scenarios. After calling the number, it is necessary to request the individual responsible for jury duty scheduling. You may become annoyed when you even consider the individual or situation and following a while, begin to truly feel hostile, cynical or take a sarcastic attitude towards them. Whatever They Told You About Best Word App for Writing a Letter or Resume Is Dead Wrong...And Heres Why So, theres an incredible job punkt you wish to apply. It is crucial to read the work description as carefully as possible, searching for possible instructions you ought to follow. From that point, your task is to frame your deficiency of experience as a positive. If you would like to receive a job in a well-known company, do your very best to fulfill their standards and to present yourself accordingly. Bear in mind, your understanding of the way to compose an excellent appeal letter for college can serve you well and its worth a try, but a lot of appeals are still not profitable. Its simple to accomplish in case an organization has social media accounts. The company audience doesnt have an identical reading habit as the college professor. Hence, its crucial for a business to continue to keep their writing skills up to snuff, since you do not need to appear amateur in light of different businesses you might interacting with on daily basis.

Hostesses Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Hostesses Resume Template 2018s Top FormatEntry Level Hosts/Hostesses Resume Template - 2018s Top FormatThe host of a restaurant is an important position requiring a good work ethic and positive attitude. Use your resume to touch on similar skills you gained in volunteer positions.Your resume can include nontraditional jobs like babysitting in the experience section. This is also where you put any public-facing roles, such as drama clubs or debate societies. A restaurant host sometimes takes payments from diners, so indicate cash-handling responsibilities youve had, such as fundraising, in the responsibilities bullets. Time management and multitasking are other critical attributes that you can list in the skills section of your resume.Use the entry-level hosts/hostesses resume template example below to create your own document. Create ResumeStanWard100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019 H (555) 322-7337 C(555) 322-7337 example-emailexample.comHighlightsHighly responsible and reliabl eWorks well under pressureExceptional interpersonal skillsUpbeat, outgoing and positiveFood safety understandingVery good customer serviceAbility to handle fast-paced environmentCash handlingAccomplishmentsFood PreparationAssisted diners with obtaining food from buffet/serving table as needed.Assisted in maintaining preparation and service areas in a sanitary condition.Cleaned and organized eating, service and kitchen areas.Cleaned and sterilized equipment and facilities.Greeted each customer with friendly eye contact.Kept dining room and kitchen area clean by performing cleaning and laundry duties.Performed all transactions in a cordial, efficient and professional manner.Notified kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.ExperienceHostess 05/2013 to Current Sesame Place Langhorne, PAAccepted payment from customers and made change as necessary.Apportioned and served food to facility residents, employees, or patrons.Assisted co-workers.Assisted diners with seating as neededC leaned and maintained the beverage area, display cases, equipment, and order transaction areaCleaned and prepared various foods for cooking or servingCleaned bars, work areas, and tablesGreeted customers in the restaurant or drive-thru, took and rang up orders, handled payment and thanked customersPrepared food items such as sandwiches, salads, soups, and beveragesEducationHigh School Diploma All Subjects 2013 Germantown High School Philadelphia, PA, United StatesCustomize ResumeMore Food and Beverage Resume TemplatesEntry Level Cooks Resume TemplatesCooks Resume Templates

35 Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them - Resumonk Blog

35 Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them - Resumonk Blog35 Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them Interviews can be one of the most challenging parts of trying to get a new job. When youre selling yourself and your skill set, you need to have just the right answer for everything. When you arent sure what bewerbungsinterview questions youll be asked, it can be difficult to prepare.Luckily, many interviewers ask the same or similar questions.If you have an interview coming up, you can prepare by drafting responses to some of the most common questions. To help you get started, here are 35 of the most common interview questions and what you should consider while answering them.1. Tell Me About YourselfAlmost every interview will begin with this seemingly simple question. While you may be tempted to provide the interviewer with every detail about your professional and personal life, many arent looking for such a long-winded answer. Instead, keep your intro duction short and to the point. Highlight what youre most proud of, what suits the sttte best or what makes you right for the job.2. What Made You Apply for This Position?Companies dont want to hire employees who are just looking for any job. They want to hire individuals who are dedicated to the position, company or industry. To prove you didnt only apply for this position because you applied to every job posting you saw, describe some specific reasons you want the job.3. What Do You Know About Our Company?Interviewers want to hear that you know a bit about the company youre looking to work for. To prepare for this question, spend some time researching the company, what it does and develop a few talking points that can prove you know the company well.4. How Did You Hear About This Position?There isnt much you can do to to prepare for this question. Let the interviewer know whether youve been referred, if youre a fan of the company or if you found the position on a job board. Howeve r, if you found the company on a job board, describe the way it stood out.5. What Makes You Qualified for This Position?This question may be easier to answer depending on your experience. However, knowing what particular experience you have and how it relates to the job can help you answer the question the best way possible.6. Why Should We Hire You?If youre directly asked why the company should hire you, dont get intimidated. Have a pitch prepared that speaks to your accomplishments, skills and abilities. Be ready to sell yourself.7. What Are Your Biggest Weaknesses?Getting asked your biggest weakness can be scary. While you dont want to sabotage your gunst der stundes of getting the job, you also dont want to give a response too generic that it seems dishonest. Choose an area that youre trying to improve in and explain what youre doing to turn your weakness into a strength.8. What Are Your Biggest Strengths?When selecting your strengths to talk about, dont worry too much about wha t you believe the interviewer wants to hear. Instead discuss strengths with confidence and provide clear examples of how you excel in that area.9. Are You Interviewing With Any Other Companies?While it may seem like a bad idea to talk about the other companies youre interviewing with, letting the company know youre considering other positions can actually work in your favor. Creating the appearance of desire around you and your professional skills can be enticing for the interviewer.10. What Is Your Ideal Work Environment?During your interview, the interviewer is also trying to determine how well you will fit with the company. When describing what kind of work environment youre looking for, be honest about what you need while also staying realistic.11. Tell Me About a Time You Worked as a TeamTeamwork is crucial for any company to succeed. By asking you this question, the interviewer wants to know youre capable of working with others. Describe a time your team has come together to a ccomplish a common goal.12. Why Do You Want This Job?Getting asked why you want the job can be intimidating. While a better salary, benefits package or location may be the real reason youre looking for the job, you probably dont want to answer that way. Instead, answer this question by talking about qualities of the company or specific roles of the position that make this job the perfect fit for you.13. When Was a Time You Made a Mistake at Work?During an interview, you are probably scared of admitting your mistakes. However, mistakes happen. Interviewers know it matters mora how you solved the problem. Choose a situation where you made a minor mistake at work and describe what you did to make the situation better.14. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?Interviewers want to know that youre looking to progress, especially if you want to move forward within the company. Share what you hope to accomplish in the next few years and how that position and company can help you get there .15. Tell Me About Your Dream JobSharing your dream job can help the interviewer understand if this is the right path for you. If your dream job is in a different industry, there is a good chance youll eventually be leaving the company. When talking about your dream job, relate it back to the position youre applying for.16. Tell Me About Your Ideal WorkdayExplaining your ideal workday can help identify whether or not youll be happy in the job. If youre looking for a schedule or environment that doesnt fit what youre looking for, you probably wont be happy in the job. Be realistic about the day you describe.17. Why Are You Leaving Your Current Position?This can be a difficult question to answer. While you dont want to badmouth your current company or manager, you also want to show that the new role is a better fit for you. Focus on what the new position can give you that your current company cant.18. Tell Me About Your Management StyleIf youre applying for a management role, your sty le may influence how well you fit with the organization. Give an answer that is honest but also fits within the culture of the company.19. How Would Your Managers and Coworkers Describe You?Try to think up some genuine answers to prepare for this question by pulling from conversations or reviews that youve already had. However you answer, remember to be honest in case the interviewer asks your references.20. What Is Your Most Notable Professional Accomplishment?Dont panic if youre asked this questions and you dont have awards or standard accomplishments you can point toward. Speak honestly about something you achieved that truly made you proud.21. What Makes You Different From Other Applicants?While you may not know who the other applicants are, interviewers may ask this question to find out what you think is unique about yourself. Make a list of things you can bring to the table that you think other applicants may not have. Pull from your unique experiences, skills or techniques an d relate them to the position.22. Tell Me a Time You Went Above and Beyond a Projects Requirements?Interviewers dont want to hire someone that only does the bare minimum. Be prepared to explain a time you were asked to do something and you took it to the next level.23. How Do You Handle Disagreements With Your Boss?Disagreements with your boss can happen, but interviewers want to know you handle them appropriately and productively. Be ready to talk about your communication skills and problem-solving skills.24. Where Are You in the Job-Search Process?Interviewers want to know what your job-search process has been like. If youve just started applying, you may not actually be prepared to accept a position. Stay honest but let the company know youre searching for the right fit.25. What Do You Do for Fun?Your life isnt just about your job. Interviewers want to know that you have hobbies, goals and interests outside of your career. Answer this question honestly, but consider professionali sm when you do.26. Do You Have Any Leadership Experience?Leadership experience shows interviewers you can take control of a situation when necessary. Whether or not youve had a professional leadership role, discuss a time you led a team or group to accomplish a task.27. What Would You Expect Out of Management?Your relationship with your manager or supervisor will typically influence how well you do in the company. Knowing what you expect or need out of the managers you work with will determine whether or not youll be a good fit. This question is another one to answer honestly but realistically.28. What Motivates You?Interviewers want to see that potential employees are driven to accomplish goals and continue moving forward. Knowing what pushes you to wake up every morning and go to work can help them determine if youll do well with the company. While many of us work for the paycheck that comes with it, talk about other motivators like passions, family or interests.29. What Are Your Favorite Parts About Working in Your Industry?Talking about what you love about your industry shows youre passionate about your career and the job. Make a list of favorite things about your job that you can refer to during the interview.30. What Are the Biggest Challengers You Have With Your Industry?Interviewers want to know that you recognize your weaknesses and youre looking to change them. For each challenge, also discuss what youre doing to overcome it.31. What Do You Hope to Accomplish in This Position?Discussing what you hope to accomplish in the job shows youve pictured yourself in the company. Relate the specifics of the job description to your professional goals to explain how the position will help you advance your career.32. How Do You Deal With Pressure?We all know jobs can be stressful, so knowing you wont buckle under pressure is important for an interviewer. Talk about some specific things you do to calm your nerves, tackle a situation head on and stay productive.33. What Professional Areas Would You Like to Improve?This question is similar to asking about your weaknesses or challenges, but it specifically asks about the areas you hope to grow in. Consider the professional areas you will need to improve in order to advance your career, but also talk about the specific steps youre taking to get there.34. What Are Your Expectations for This Position?You want your expectations for the position to align with the expectations the company has for you. Use your knowledge of the company, position and job duties to formulate an answer that lays out a few expectations you have.35. What Questions Do You Have for Us?You should have a few questions prepared for the interviewer every time you go into an interview. These questions should relate to the needs of the job, the environment of the job and the expectations of the position.Here is the complete list of these questions for your referenceShare this Image On Your SitepstrongPlease include attribution to https//www.resumonk.com with this graphic./strong/pbr /br /br /br /br /br /br /br /br /br /br /br /pa href=https//www.resumonk.com/blog/common-interview-questions-and-answers/img src=https//www.resumonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/35-most-common-interview-questions.jpg alt=35 Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them width=940 border=0 //a/pWhile preparing these questions can make the interview easier, you want to answer naturally and honestly. Spend some time reviewing these questions and coming up with potential ways to answer them. When you practice before your interview, youll be more prepared and confident with your answers. All the best for your next job interviewp.s. Resumonk helps you create a beautiful rsum cover letter in minutes. Stand out from the crowd and multiply yourchances of landing your dream job. Check it out now.

5 Ways to Evaluate Company Culture During a Job Interview

5 Ways to Evaluate Company Culture During a Job Interview5 Ways to Evaluate Company Culture During a Job Interview5 Ways to Evaluate Company Culture During a Job InterviewEvery company is not one-size-fits-all. Heres how to determine if its the right fit for you.Interviewing is a mutual process of getting to know one another that ultimately allows you, the candidate, and a prospective employer to determine if youll fit into the company culture, be productive and thrive in their work environment.As a job landseeker, you have a skill set, a background and a personality that, when plugged into the right place, will help make the organization productive and profitable. A wrong fit, however, does nobody any good. Since youll invest significant time and energy into your next job, its in your best interest to do your research and determine if the company culture is the right fit before you accept a job offer.Luckily, there are many resources available to help you make this assessment. Start by taking advantage of sites such as LinkedIn and Glassdoor and talking to employees who currently work at the company to gain valuable insights into the work environment and culture. However, there is only so much you can learn about an organization beforehand. You wont see the whole picture until you visit the company for a face-to-face interview. This is one of the most important (and often overlooked) opportunities to learn what the job is really like.Here are five questions to ask yourself during the interview process that will help you decide whether the job will be a good fit for youWhat is their interview scheduling process like?A good clue as to the organization and professionalism of a company is how they schedule an interview with you. Do they give you enough notice so you can clear your schedule, or do they expect you to be available on a moments notice? How they perform this step is likely indicative of how they typically interact with their employees. If you need to t ravel to the interview, take note of how this is handled as well.How are you received when you arrive?When you arrive for the interview, what is your first impression? Is it warm and welcoming or cold and foreboding? Is there is a receptionist? If so, do they know to expect you or are they surprised by your presence? Are you offered a glass of water? All these little things speak volumes about the company culture.Do they respect your time?It is never acceptable for a candidate to be late for an interview, but candidates should also take note of how well their time is respected. Of course, emergencies can happen, but if you are not greeted by the appointed start time of the interview, this could be a red flag. This is especially true if no one offers you an apology or explanation.What types of questions do they ask?Pay close attention to the questions that are asked in the interview, because these are almost always indicative of the problems the organization is having that they will want you to solve. Having problems is not in and of itself an issue, but depending on your skill set and tolerance, some may be right up your alley and some may leave you saying thanks, but no thanks. For example, if they spend a lot of time asking how you respond to angry customers and critical supervisors, you can be sure this will be a part of your job, should you choose to accept it.How are things left once the interview is over?Are you given clear timelines and expectations or is it left vague and open-ended? Did you get the feeling they enjoyed meeting you or was the process cold and sterile?While there is no way to know exactly what a company is like until you work there, these cues will give you a reasonably good idea of what to expect. Remember, this isnt necessarily about good and bad, as some environments will appeal more to certain individuals than others. Take a moment to define what is important to you, and then figure out how well the prospective employer measures up. Need help? Hire a TopResume writer to help you write the next chapter of your career.Related Articles

I ate (and cooked) like a Parisian for a week and heres what I learned

I ate (and cooked) like a Parisian for a week and heres what I learnedI ate (and cooked) like a Parisian for a week and heres what I learnedLike almost every young woman, I have long been fascinated with the French lifestyle. The romance, the fashion, the food, the passion (no rhyme intended). It was my language class of choice in high school and college, I watched classic French cinema, I studied abroad in Paris. Striped shirts, trench coats, and black ballet flats were closet staples. I tried - and am still trying - to pull off a silk scarf tied around the neck.One aspect of my life I somehowhadntapplied the coveted French influence to was one of their most sacred pastimes cooking. Besides mimicking my Parisian picnics by picking up a baguette, wedge of Brie, and an apple and traipsing over to a New York City park, I hadnt delved into any of Julia Childs books or tried my hand atcoq au vin. But as Ive become more of an experienced home cook and meal plan week by week, I decided t o try deep-diving into French foodie culture by cooking like the Parisians do all week long.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreI chose Rachel KhoosThe Little Paris Kitchenas my main inspiration, mostly because I already had it on my shelf and had been happy with its recipes the few times I used it. Also, my own cooking life may as well be called,The Little New York City Kitchen. Khoo studied at Le Cordon Bleu and cooked and baked in Paris culinary bookstore and tea salon, La Cocotte, for many years. She believes French flavors and techniques neednt be out of reach of the everyday home cook, and does all of her recipe testing from the tiny kitchen in her Paris apartment with just a mini oven and two gas rings- so it felt quite accessible too.The book is divided into certain categories of cooking, and I used recipes mostly out of the Everyday Cooking and Snack Time (Le Goter) secti ons, since I didnt want to go for big dinners too quickly and I was only cooking for one. Over the course of the week I made ratatouille, crepes, savory tartines (open-faced sandwiches), gratin dauphinois with arugula salad and homemade vinaigrette, and croque madame Muffins.Heres what I learned from cooking like a French person for a week, and what I plan to take into future weeks of my culinary (and general) life too1. Fresh is bestFrom breads to cheeses to meats to veggies, one aspect consistent throughout Khoos tips and recipes is to use fresh ingredients. She grinds fresh pepper, grates fresh nutmeg, and visits her neighborhood butcher, farmers market, and fromagerie (cheese shop) to source ingredients. Though of course produce is a bit limited this time of year, I made an effort to get as fresh as possible, and also got any bread ingredients from my local bakery, which made a huge difference in taste.2. Keep it simpleThe recipes I made, as well as the others featured in the bo ok, did not have a long list of ingredients, or even complicated cooking instructions and techniques. The French believe in cooking simply, but cooking those simple items reallyreallywell. Though I didnt do it perfectly, of course, the practice reminded me that you can make superb food and not necessarily be slaving over the stove for hours or using 10 different pots and pans. The ratatouille is really just a bunch of sliced vegetables, but roasted to caramelized bliss. The tartines are toasted bread with either pear and ham, avocado and grapefruit, or butter and radish. The Croque Madames are just bread, ham, cheese, egg, and cream. Simple, but true home-cooked comfort.3. Shop localParis is full of small local businesses - there are local wine stores, butchers, cheese shops, outdoor produce markets, and my favorite and perhaps the most famous the boulangerie (bakery). I dont have quite all of these options in the city (though I do come close), but I did buy a fresh loaf of French bread from my local bakery for the tartines, and besides being completely delectable, it was also nice to support a local business I enjoy. After all, one of my favorite parts of getting off the subway at the end of the day is smelling baked goods wafting through the air. Plus, it was practically the same price as a loaf of bread from the bakery section at my local grocery store, which is probably getting shipped in and doesnt taste nearly as wholesome. Definitely something Im going to remember for next time4. Food is meant to be enjoyedOne of the constant reminders as I cooked - which can really fall to the wayside in everyday life - is that food is meant to be enjoyed. And nobody knows that quite as well as the French. Khoo even says it herself, that many traditions in France are based on the opportunity to indulge oneself.I poured myself a glass of red wine every night, popped in some earbuds (since I have a roommate) with La Boulanger Pandora station playing, and got to choppi ng, or slicing, or boiling, or whatever that night entailed. It made it a relaxing daily activity that helped me disconnect from my day even more - something you can take your time with and not take too seriously. Were my potatoes for the Gratin Dauphinois sliced in the same thickness so they cooked completely evenly? No, not at all. Did they still taste incredibly delicious when mixed with cream and butter and baked until golden brown? Mais, bien sr.5. Treat yourself (literally)As in surround yourself with treats. I grabbed apain au chocolat(mostly just known as a chocolate croissant here) and acaf au laitfrom my local bakery in the morning for breakfast, and it was so luscious and indulgent that it instantly put me in a better mood for the day. I also picked up mini fruit tarts for dessert - since the Frenchalwayseat dessert - and many of the meals required rich ingredients (butter and cream potatoes, white bread, cheese, etc). Though of course not the stereotypically healthies t, I was surprised by how much having a treat to look forward to really made me that much more excited for a meal on a mundane day, and therefore put in me a better mood for life in general.This article originally appeared on The Everygirl.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 jngste im bunde 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