does your name spell success

7/29/2019 does your name spell success

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Does Your Name Spell Success?

By M. Wolfe for AOL Find a Job

"What's in a name?" a man named Shakespeare asked long ago. Potential employers may

ask this same question of you. After all, your name is the first thing on your resume.

Along with your appearance, it's one of the things most people use to form a firstimpression.

Much effort goes into understanding the power of names-ask anyone having their first

baby. Some believe a name is the single most important influence on development of ourpersonality and helps create our destiny. Can your name help you succeed? What can you

do to increase your chances of success in the name game?

Teacher's Pet

The focus on names starts in grade school. One study of sixth graders by S. GrayGarwood found that students with names that were popular with teachers scored higher in

skills tests, set more ambitious goals and were better adjusted. And, with many

classrooms being seated alphabetically, already the "A's" are at the head of the class infront of the teacher.

Who Gets the Grade?

Researchers Lief Nelson and Joseph Simmons looked at several different studies on

names. They found that while all students want As, students whose names begin withletters associated with poorer performance (C and D) achieve lower grade point averages(GPAs) than do students whose names begin with A and B. This was especially if true if

the students liked their initials.

The researchers also looked at 15 years of grade point averages for MBA students at a

large private U.S. university. Students whose names began with C or D earned lower

averages than those whose names began with A or B, they found. This led them tobelieve that there is something subconscious about our attraction to our names and

initials. It's not that students with C and D initials don't work as hard; it's just that they

may find a grade of C or D not as bad if their name begins with that letter. But, whatabout the rest of us whose initials rank even further down the alphabet? This is an area

for more research.

Don't StriiiKe Out

Researchers Nelson and Simmons also looked at Major League baseball records spanning93 years to see who strikes out and the effect, if any, their name has on strikeouts.

Strikeouts, are recorded using the letter "K." And, sure enough, it was discovered that

batters whose names began K struck out slightly more often than others. It's not that the


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batters wouldn't be unhappy with a strikeout, but they may just find it a little less aversive

than players with no K for an initial.

Call It Like You Hear It

Grouping is a natural tendency; it's the way our brains work. And, we humans do this

when it comes to names. While the danger for stereotyping is real, an Ohio Universitystudy showed that employers weigh several factors when judging job candidates, and that

the gender match between an applicant's name and the occupation could have asubconscious impact. In a study by James Bruning young adults were asked to predict the

success of a group of people entering new careers, based on information provided about

the applicants.

Participants predicted that women with more feminine names Emma and Irma, for

example would have more success pursuing traditional female careers such as nurse,hair stylist orinterior decorator.

Men with more masculine names Hankand Bruno were expected to be successfulwith traditional male careers such asplumber, truck driverandelectrician.

Those whose names least matched the occupation stereotypes might have a harder time

landing certain jobs, the study suggests. A woman named Garrett pursuing a job in daycare or a man named Bud who wanted to become a hair stylist, for example, might be

searching for that dream position for a long time.

Names for Success

One of the biggest studies on names was conducted by the Sinrod Marketing Group'sInternational Opinion panel. After surveying 75,000 adults, the panel found that names

people associated with intelligence, for example, include:

Women:

Abigail

Alexis

Grace

Leah

Meryl

Vanessa

Men:

Alexanderl

Davidl
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Johnl

Kennethl

Samuell

Tim

Names most associated with leadership include:

Women:

Ruth

Men:

Alexanderl

Dwightl

Lance

When it comes to being hardworking, the edge goes to:

Women:

Adal

Ingridl

Mariel

Margaret

Men:

Jakel

Manuell

Ronl

Todd

The Internet Changes Everything

As the online world becomes a bigger part of your job quest, consider that potentialemployers may turn to the Internet to find out more about you beyond your resume.

Having an unusual name almost certainly guarantees higher search engine placement. An

unusual name like "Celine" might be easier to find than "Mary" or "Linda." And,finding information on the right "Isaac Smith" will be easier than finding the right

"James" or "Michael" with the same last name. In business, a unique name may mean


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you'll get a lot more "hits"-and a lot more exposure.

Easy Fixes for a Name to Keep

Dreaming of a name that's still you, but a bit more unique? Consider changing thespelling of your name. Amy may become Aimee. Turn Lisa into Lesa. Make Kevin

Kevynn. Change Ryan into Rhyon. The search for alternatives also prompts some peopleto be creative with punctuation. Take Mari'elle orD'ante, for example. Some people

unhappy with their first name just use their middle one. Did you know Farrah Fawcett'sfull name is Mary Farrah Fawcett? Or they've adopted a first/middle-name combination.

Meryl Streep's social security card reads Mary Louise Streep.

More Telling Features:

Body Language

Go All the Way: Changing Your Name

Different states have different rules for name changes. And the Internet is making it

increasingly easy, fast and affordable. Once you've made the change through the proper

legal channels, there is still much work to do, such as notifying the Social SecurityAdministration, your state motor vehicle department, and the human resources office at

your job, among others. Then, start ordering new checks and credit cards. It may take

time for your friends to start calling you by your new name. Be prepared for some who

never will. To them, you'll always be the person you were when they first met you-evenif that was in third grade. Still, you'll have the pleasure of knowing that the new people

you'll meet will accept your new name-and the identity that comes with it-easily.

Taking the Stage

Entertainers are masters of creating a name to suit their image. Morgan Fairchild's name

was Patsy Ann McClenny. And who would think that Kirk Douglas was born Issur

Danielovitch Demsky. Whoopi Goldberg -- whose name makes you smile when you sayit -- came into this world as Caryn Johnson. Research shows that most people like their

name and initials.

Whether you're Maria-Elena theexecutive assistant; Sean the cop; a television host,media mogul andphilanthropist named Oprah; or Bill the Microsoftguy, your name

played some role in making you who you are.
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