• New York City is one of the most well known cities in the entire world. 
• I was born and raised in Manhattan, and I've heard some pretty interesting questions about the city throughout the years.  
• Here are some of the most common tropes and misconceptions people have about New York — and why they're dead wrong. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Being born and raised in New York City means that no matter where you travel to, when the question comes up about where you're from, people will be in amazement.

From Munich to Tel Aviv, I'm inevitably bombarded with a million questions. Even though New York is one of the most populous cities in the world, no one can seem to believe that someone actually grew up there.

As someone who was born in the mid-1980s and grew up in the 1990s, I noticed this fascination with my city was, back in the day, oftentimes coupled with questions about safety. Around the world, New York City has a reputation of being a big, bad, dangerous city — there are countless songsandmoviesto that effect.

While some of that may have been true historically, the reality is that New York City is very different from how other people imagine it. 

Read more:I travel between the US and Israel every 6 weeks — here are the most surprising cultural differences between the two countries

It turns out that people in the US and abroad often have the wrong idea about the Big Apple on many counts, including the local culture, the people, the food, and the cost of living. There are a ton of things that people get wrong about New York, for better and for worse.

Here's a look at the most glaring misconceptions people have about New York.

SEE ALSO: I travel between the US and Israel every 6 weeks — here are the most surprising cultural differences between the two countries

New York City is Manhattan

Often, when people talk about "New York City," they're really just talking about Manhattan. But New York City comprises five boroughs, each with its own distinct subcultures.

In fact, Manhattanites actually make up the minority of the city's population — only 1.6 million of the roughly 8.6 million New Yorkers hail from Manhattan. The outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens both have higher populations than Manhattan, at 2.6 million and 2.3 million, respectively.

New Yorkers are rude

New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude and abrasive. But in reality, New Yorkers are quick to lend a helping hand to a stranger.

For example, even though I've lived here for over three decades, there are still times I get out of the subway unable to separate North from South or East from West. I can't think of any time in all those years when I've asked someone for assistance and they haven't stopped to help me out.

That said, while they're not rude or cold, New Yorkers don't tend to go above and beyond. If asked, they will help, but they might not go out of their way without prompting. 

It's extremely dangerous

I'm certainly not saying you can't get mugged or assaulted in New York City — it can happen anywhere. But things have drastically changed in the last couple of decades. I might not have been alive during the peak New York mafia era, but even comparing now to the 1990s, there has been a massive downward shift in crime rates.

People are terrible drivers

New York City has a reputation for having some of the worst traffic in the US. It's horrendous 24/7.

But it's a myth that New Yorkers don't know how to drive well. It's just that when you're surrounded by so many cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and road hazards, you have to be decisive, aggressive, and quick. If you can drive in New York City, trust that you can drive anywhere. 

Of course, it's true that you don't really need a car to get by in New York, but many people, particularly families, do have them. And yes, their parking fees are what most people pay for their rent.

There's no nature in the city

Sure, not every block is tree-lined, and people don't have sprawling backyards.

But it's a myth that there's no nature in New York City. The sprawling Central Park is the most famous green space in the city, and takes up 843 acres of prime Manhattan real estate. And that's just the fifth biggest park in the city — the largest, Pelham Bay Park, is nearly 3,000 acres in size.

The reality is there are more than 1,700 parks of all sizes in New York City.

Everything is open late

You might know New York as the city that never sleeps, but I live on the Upper East Side, and let me tell you, we sleep. You'd be lucky to find a restaurant that isn't a diner open after 11 p.m.

That's not true for every area, but it's certainly a myth that the entire city is open for business 24/7. 

You can get anything, anytime

Along those lines, some people think New York is a place where you can find anything you want at just about any time, but that isn't the case.

Case in point: There are also still Prohibition-era rules when it comes to buying alcohol in New York City, meaning you can't necessarily buy it where you want, when you want it. For example, liquor or wine stores can only sell alcohol Monday through Saturday until midnight. 

On Sundays, liquor or wine stores can sell only from noon until 9:00 p.m. Grocery stores and drug stores, which are not allowed to stock hard liquor or wine, can't sell beer on Sundays from 3:00 a.m. until noon.

Everything is expensive in New York

It's true that you can easily spend $100 on brunch or $20 on a cocktail in New York, and most museums will cost at least $20 to get in the door. Even movie tickets tend to be pricier in New York City when compared with pretty much anywhere else. 

Then, of course, there's rent — only San Francisco has higher average rent in the US, and New Yorkers can easily expect to pay thousands of dollars to live in a tiny apartment with three roommates. Even chain restaurants, gyms, and supermarkets like Whole Foods are pricier in New York City when compared to other cities. 

But at the same time, it's possible to get by in New York without completely breaking the bank. There are always free events going on, from concerts to free museum nights to movies in the park.

New York is also one of the best cities for truly amazing cheap eats. For starters, there are countless dollar-slice pizza joints all across the city, Halal Guys carts for gyros, Yu Kitchen for killer dumplings and wontons, and if you really want a hot dog, skip the stand and beeline for the Papaya King— and get a juice while you're there. 

If you're responsible and do your research, New York City doesn't have to be cost-prohibitively expensive. 

It's easy to get around with public transportation

New York has one of the most expansive and comprehensive public transit systems in the world. But that doesn't mean it works flawlessly.

If you take the subway on a regular basis, it's easy to feel as though there's always something wrong. One day, you're waiting 20-plus minutes on the platform, the next, you're stuck in a tunnel, and the next your stop is mysteriously skipped, or perhaps the train line you need stopped working altogether that day. 

Then there are issues with MetroCard vending machines. On many occasions I've been faced with machines that have only taken cash or only taken credit cards, or had the audacity to take my money, but not fill my card with any credit. 

At least there's always the bus. Unfortunately, while buses have gotten better at sticking to a schedule, they are are far from perfect, and it could easily take an hour or more to get to your destination.

The food is amazing all across the city

The variety of food available in New York City is mind-boggling, but that doesn't mean everything is good. Like any other city, New York has a range of outstanding, so-so, and downright lousy places to eat.

Just because you've seen a hot dog and pretzel stand in a zillion movies, doesn't mean you should stop at one for your afternoon nosh. The same goes for any other kind of food. Do your research before you pick a restaurant and you stand a great chance of enjoying your meal.

It's no place to raise a family

I'm proof that you can raise kids in New York.

I never appreciated being a born-and-raised New Yorker more than when I went to Cornell. My freshman-year roommate didn't know what sushi was. She had never seen an R-rated movie or had a drink. College, for her, was her first taste of independence. 

I, meanwhile, had been taking public transportation home from school since the sixth grade, and spent all of high school sneaking into clubs and having dessert at fancy restaurants I saw on "Sex and The City." I never felt the need to rebel or binge drink in college and I credit the way I grew up for that. 

As I eventually discovered, suburban kids often wish they grew up in New York City, not the other way around. So don't worry about raising a family without a picket fence.

It's just like "Sex and The City" or "Friends"

Forget about what the characters on "Sex and the City" spent on food, drinks, and shopping — which was completely unrealistic, especially for Carrie Bradshaw. The apartments on the show were in no way reflective of how those characters would be living in real life. 

Ditto for "Friends" — each of those two apartments would literally cost millions.

Read more:What your favorite TV characters would actually pay in rent for their apartments in the real world

Also, if you've ever dated in New York City you know that in real life, Mr. Big would never have actually married Carrie. 

The city is really dirty

New York City isn't Tokyo when it comes to cleanliness, but it's also not the dump that people often make it out to be. While there are some areas — like the ritzy, residential Park Avenue — that are inherently cleaner than others, it's actually pretty clean when you consider how much waste is generated by residents, tourists, and food businesses. 

• Read more:
• I moved from China to the US — here are the 14 most disappointing aspects of American culture
• 8 things I wish I knew before I got divorced
• I'm an American living in the UK — here are the 9 American products I miss the most
• I travel between the US and Israel every 6 weeks — here are the food products I miss the most when I leave America

• Kathleen Hogan has served as Microsoft's chief people officer for close to five years, overseeing over 140,000 employees globally.
• She talked to Business Insider correspondent Shana Lebowitz about the mechanisms behind CEO Satya Nadella's push to transform company culture.
• One of these shifts has been considering a sense of purpose essential to job performance.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Purpose: It's not just for millennials. 

Microsoft Chief People Officer Kathleen Hogan recently told Business Insider this was a key takeaway from her first half decade on the job.

"There is a lot written about how millennials want purpose," she said to our correspondent Shana Lebowitz in a recent Q&A. "And what I've come to believe after five years in this role is everybody wants purpose. That's the secret sauce." 

The purpose you feel from working at Microsoft is the 'secret sauce' to getting hired and staying at the company

Hogan is accountable for over 140,000 Microsoft employees across the globe, and she looks for indicators that potential employees will find purpose through the company and the opportunities and culture it provides.

"Pay and perks are table stakes," Hogan said, "but if you have that great sense of culture and people, pride in the company and that sense of purpose, when you have all layers working, that's when people are at their best. And also when I think people want to stay."

She points to the research on how millennials want purpose from their work. According to a March report from Gallup, millennials want more than just a paycheck: They want a purpose. They want to work at a place that recognizes their strengths and allows them to do what they do best. Hogan says the need for purpose encompasses everyone, not just millennials. That's what she's come to believe after five years as chief people officer. 

Purpose means being personally fulfilled and feeling like you're contributing something meaningful to society. A study from Morten T. Hansen, a management professor at the University of California, Berkeley, found that finding purpose could help with job performance as well. People who matched passion with purpose performed better at work than people who didn't express one or both qualities, according to Hansen's research.

Read more:A 5-year study of 5,000 workers reveals exactly how you're sabotaging your own success at work

Unfulfilled employees are urged to make a change — whether internally, in terms of perspective, or externally

When Microsoft employees aren't feeling fulfilled, Hogan encourages them to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Sometimes people can get stuck on a single meeting or project, but when they look at the opportunity they have within the company, the people that they get to work with, and the global impact they have, their mindset could change. 

Even with that, if employees are still unfulfilled, they need to have that conversation with their manager. They have to do some soul searching and understand what gives them joy and purpose.

"If it's not the role that you're in," Hogan said, "seek to make a change." 

SEE ALSO: Microsoft's HR chief reveals how CEO Satya Nadella is pushing to make company culture a priority, the mindset she looks for in job candidates, and why individual success doesn't matter as much as it used to

Join the conversation about this story »

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• A report on nurse suicides recently found that the profession had higher rates of death by suicide than non-nurses in the US.
• Nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the US, yet nurses work long hours and often face physical abuse on the job.
• Nursing is one of many occupations with increasing rates of suicide.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nurses — who typically work long hours and may face abuse on the job — are more likely to take their own lives, a new study found.

Researchers from the University of California at San Diego recently conducted what they said is the first nationwide investigation into nurse suicides in more than 20 years. They found that both male and female nurses had higher rates of suicide than men and women in the US.

The findings are consistent with the increasing rates of suicide across the country. The US suicide rate has risen in recent years, increasing by 28% in the past two decades, to the highest it's been since World War II.

Read more:Nurses reveal the best parts about their job, from the steady pay to helping save lives

For nurses, hardships on the job include working long hours because of nationwide worker shortages, plus dealing with physical and verbal abuse on the job.

Here's what the high rate of suicide among nurses tells us about the crisis facing one of the nation's most in-demand jobs.

If you are a nurse with a story to share, email aakhtar@businessinsider.com.

SEE ALSO: Nurses reveal the 11 hardest parts of their job, from the death of patients to not having time to pee during a shift

DON'T MISS: THEN AND NOW: Here's how being a nurse has changed in the last 50 years

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country — yet nationwide nurse shortages mean nurses can work long hours with little time for rest.

Nurse practitioner is the sixth-fastest-growing career in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are also expected to grow at a pace higher than the national average by 2026. As baby boomers get older, more nurses will be needed to provide medical care to them.

Despite the job opportunity, many hospitals are struggling to fill roles — and the problem is expected to get much worse. By 2030, the US will have hundreds of thousands of vacant RN jobs, particularly in the South and on the West Coast, a 2012 paper from the University of Nebraska found.

Since nursing is a relatively high-paying profession — registered nurses make an average of $71,730 a year — the job's high demands could be turning workers away. Many nurses are also reaching retirement age, while enrollment at nursing schools is not rising fast enough to keep up with demand, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing said.

The shortage has led to nurses working 12-hour shifts and overtime, researchers at New York University found. Nurses have told Business Insider they sometimes don't even have time to use the bathroom during their workdays.

Read more:Nurses reveal 7 facts about hospitals a lot of people don't know, from why it's always so cold to how unclean they can be

Nurses, facing difficulties on the job, are taking their own lives at rates higher than the general US population.

Researchers from the University of California at San Diego's School of Medicine conducted what it said was the first national investigation on nurse suicide in over 20 years, publishing their results this summer.

The researchers found a suicide incidence of 11.97 per 100,000 people among women who are nurses, versus 7.58 per 100,000 for American women in general.

Women overwhelmingly make up the profession, but men who are nurses are also more likely to kill themselves than men in general, the study found: 39.8 per 100,000 people, versus 28.2 per 100,000.

While researchers have often documented burnout and suicide among physicians, very few have spent time assessing the mental health and suicide rates among nurses, the study's lead researcher, Judy Davidson, told MedPage Today.

"Nurses are known not to care for themselves as much as they care for others," Davidson, a nurse scientist, told the publication. "It's just a part of who we are."

Along with working long hours, nurses often face physical, verbal, and emotional abuse on the job.

One of the most pressing problems facing nurses is abuse on the job, a representative for the American Nurses Association told Business Insider in an interview.

ANA says that one in every four nurses is physically assaulted on the job — consistent with otherresearch pointing toward high rates of nurse abuse.

The research has found that patients — especially people with dementia or Alzheimer's — are more likely to abuse nurses. Assaults range from getting cursed at to grabbing and kicking, a 2014 survey of more than 5,000 nurses found. Visitors to medical centers have also been accused of abusing nurses.

The survey found that emergency nurses had the highest likelihood of experiencing abusive behavior.

While many nurses face abuse on the job, few report their experiences, ANA found — in part because there are no federal rules mandating that hospitals protect nurses from violence. Movements such as the #SilentNoMore campaign are attempting to shed light on the hardships facing people in the profession.

Nurses are one of many groups of people taking their lives at higher numbers, part of a nationwide increase in suicide rates.

More Americans of every age group are taking their lives today than 20 years ago, a 2016 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Other than nursing, industries like construction work and food service have seen a rise in suicide rates among workers.

Native Americans are the ethnicity most affected by suicide, yet suicides are rising among white Americans without a college degree, a 2017 paper released by the think tank Brookings found.

Researchers have attributed the rise in suicides in part to the deterioration of good blue-collar jobs.

"If you go back to the early '70s when you had the so-called blue-collar aristocrats, those jobs have slowly crumbled away and many more men are finding themselves in a much more hostile labor market with lower wages, lower quality and less permanent jobs," the Brookings researcher Angus Deaton told NPR in 2017. "That's made it harder for them to get married. They don't get to know their own kids. There's a lot of social dysfunction building up over time."

Many nurse-advocacy groups are calling for greater workplace protections.

Davidson pointed to work volume and violence as two of the largest contributing factors to nurse suicides.

In February, ANA helped introduce a bill in the House that would require the Department of Labor to address workplace violence toward healthcare providers, as well as require workplaces to train and educate employees at risk of being harmed and implement a comprehensive plan to protect nurses from violence.

A New York City nurse union earlier this year persuaded hospitals to ease understaffing after threatening to strike.

"From the bedside to the boardroom, all nurse leaders have a role in creating a healthy work environment supportive of mental well-being," the trade group American Organization for Nursing Leadership said in a statement. "We continue to advocate for funding of mental health resources and are working with fellow nursing organizations to address nurse suicide."

• Citadel Securities, one of the largest trading firms in the world, released a fall reading list based on recommendations from its traders.
• The books are centered around four topics its team felt traders should read more on: Statistics, game theory, Python, and options and futures.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.  

If your reading list is looking bare as summer winds down, one of the largest trading firms in the world has you covered. 

Citadel Securities, the market maker founded by Ken Griffin, released a fall reading list based on four topics it believes traders should read more on. 

Read more:An inside look at landing a tech job at one of Wall Street's largest trading firms, which is harder to get into than Harvard and requires final sign-off by the CEO — even for interns

The firm, which trades roughly 21% of all US equities volume, asked its traders to recommend books, "that will prepare you to challenge the impossible with the combined knowledge of statistics and coding, as well as a passion for markets," according to a LinkedIn post. 

The result was four books spanning a wide range of topics, touching on everything from a popular programming language to game theory. The suggestions are all highly analytical, which should come as no surprise coming from a firm that prides itself on taking such an analysis-driven approach to everything it does, including hiring interns. 

Here are the recommendations: 

"Statistics" by David Freedman, Robert Pisani, and Roger Purves

Topic: Statistics

Why Citadel Securities says it's important: "Continuously challenge yourself to understand the breadth and depth of statistical methods." 

About the book: Originally published in 1978, the fourth edition of the book was released in 2007. Basic statistic theories and techniques are explained using real-world examples.

Buy it here.

"Thinking Strategically: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life" by Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff

Topic: Game theory

Why Citadel Securities says it's important: "The principles of game theory help traders understand the potential motivations for other market participants."

About the book: As explained in the introduction, this book aims to answer one question: How should people behave in society? Co-author Barry Nalebuff went on to co-found drink company Honest Tea while teaching at the Yale School of Management. 

Click here to buy. 

"Python for Finance: Mastering Data-Driven Finance" by Yves Hilpisch

Topic: Python

Why Citadel Securities says it's important: "The complexity and volume of data we analyze makes it helpful to be familiar with a coding language such as Python."

About the book: Python has become an increasingly popular programming language for the finance crowd to learn, particularly among those who lack a computer science background. The book aims to tackle the basics of learning the language specifically for those on Wall Street.

Click here to buy.

"Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives" by John Hull

Topic: Options and futures

Why Citadel Securities says it's important: "You'll want to cultivate both functional and domain knowledge."

About the book: One of two textbooks author John Hull has written on financial products, the other being "Fundamentals of Futures and Options Markets". The book, according to its Amazon description, is known as "the bible" for those in business and economics. 

Click here to buy.

• Making small talk on a first date can get awkward — especially if you ask the wrong questions.
• Business Insider spoke to seven relationship experts and found out their least favorite first date icebreakers.
• Their off-limit questions ranged from "Why did you and your ex breakup?" to "Do you always wear this much makeup?"
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

First dates can be a communication minefield.

On the one hand, you want to present the best version of yourself to someone who could potentially be your boyfriend or girlfriend. You want to get past the awkward "small talk" and figure out whether the two of you are compatible.  

Read more: 7 relationship experts reveal their favorite questions to avoid awkward small talk on a first date

But on the other hand, you don't want to get too invasive. While there's no set rulebook for how to act on a first date, there are some questions that could give your potential partner the wrong impression. Business Insider spoke to seven relationship experts and found out their least favorite conversation starters, ranging from asking about an ex to bringing up sex too soon.

Here are the seven worst questions to ask on a first date, according to relationship experts:

SEE ALSO: 7 relationship experts reveal their favorite questions to avoid awkward small talk on a first date

SEE ALSO: 13 simple ways to get better at small talk

What's your relationship like with your parents?

Relationships experts say to stay away from overly personal questions on the first date.

Asking people invasive questions regarding their relationship with family and friends gets too nosy, says Rori Sassoon, a relationship expert based in New York City. "That's just so personal, number one, and it's not your business, number two," Sassoon told Business Insider.

If you're not sure if something is too personal, you can ask your date if they mind sharing, Shira Teichman, a dating coach and cofounder of the dating app Forj, told Business Insider. While Teichman understands many people want to skip the "small talk" and get to a deep conversation, you must ease into these topics so the other person does not become uncomfortable. 

"You can't 'fast-track' emotional intimacy; relationships need to unfold in their own time and in their own way," she said.

Why did you and your ex break up?

Bringing up past relationships can also ruin first dates, experts say. 

Some people might be curious about why their date broke up with an ex in order to spot potential red flags down the road, New York City-based love coach Susan Winter said. This question is problematic for multiple reasons, however — including the fact your date likely won't be honest with you. 

Plus, what happened in the past isn't relevant to the date that's happening right now. While someone may have had a rocky relationship with their last partner, you could bring out a completely different side of them.

"Sometimes we are different versions of ourselves with different people," Winter told Business Insider. "There are people who bring out the best in us, and there are people who bring out the worst in us."

What's your favorite position?

Avoid talking explicitly about sex on the first date, says Marla Mattenson, founder and CEO of a relationship consultancy. (The one "correct answer" here is "CEO," if someone actually asks this, Mattenson added). 

Sassoon said men especially tend toward getting too sexual too fast. "They can be a little more inappropriate," she said. "It's a little too much, too soon."

How can you work in a job like that?

Avoid judgmental comments and questions about what someone does, wears, hangs out with, etc., says Andrea Syrtash, a dating expert and co-author of "It's Okay to Sleep With Him on the First Date: And Every Rule of Dating Debunked."

"You don't want your date to feel like you're keeping score and auditioning him or her for the future," Syrtash told Business Insider.

Why weren't you a better friend?

Along with judgmental questions, avoid asking things that would make your date feel guilty about a personal story they revealed to you, says relationship coach Sami Wunder.

"Remember, the point is to feel good," Wunder said.

These kinds of comments can suggest a negative attitude that will lead to problems down the line. 

"You can tell when people have a negative attitude if they are judgmental or making fun of the people around them, if they are curt with the waitstaff, or if they're complaining," Winter said. "[You] just don't need that negativity."

Do you always wear this much makeup?

Mattenson says to avoid asking a question about someone's appearance.

In fact, don't say anything about your date's appearance unless it's a direct compliment, Miami-based matchmaker Claudia Duran told Business Insider. Even if your date looks different in real life than they do in their photos, or if you don't want to see them again, Duran says to still be kind.

"If there's nothing nice to say, be respectful and don't say anything at all," she added.

Do you want a relationship?

Don't inquire about a long-term relationship on the first date, Duran says. While you should be upfront about whether you just want to hook up or would like something more serious, getting too serious too soon turns your date off.  

Even if you are looking for someone to get serious with, "no one likes to be asked on the first date," she said. "It's too early to say."

Plus, you yourself should not decide whether you or not you want to date a person after just one date. Just as if you were a job candidate looking for a new gig, you don't know if the first place you interview at will work out. 

"You go and you look and you talk to the people and you look at the corporate culture and you kind of get a feel for whether this job would be right for you," Duran said.

• When it comes to work-life balance, Sweden is far ahead of the game compared to many countries.
• In Sweden, there is a law enforcing a five-week vacation policy.
• The work culture in the US compared with Sweden differs greatly when it comes to prioritizing family and well-being.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In 2013, I moved from New York City to Gothenburg, Sweden, to live with my husband.

I lived in Sweden for five years, and looking back, it's clear to me that Sweden differs from the United States in many realms of life and work.

In Sweden, people cherish their time outside when the weather is nice — even more than people in the US. And companies in Sweden seem to have less hierarchy than workplaces in the US.

Related:I'm an American who lived in Sweden for 5 years — here are the biggest cultural differences between the 2 countries

But after spending five years in Sweden, I noticed some of the most pronounced differences between Sweden and America had to do with work-life balance. From Sweden's generous parental leave policies to the five weeks of paid vacation it gives workers, there's a lot the US could learn from the European country.

Read on to see five areas where Sweden blows the US out of the water when it comes to work-life balance.

SEE ALSO: I'm an American who lived in Sweden for 5 years — here are the biggest cultural differences between the 2 countries

DON'T MISS: I moved to the US from China — here are the biggest cultural differences I've noticed between the 2 countries

Sweden mandates generous parental leave for all parents, regardless of gender

Having a baby can be an exciting yet scary time for parents. In the US, many parents do not have the luxury of taking substantial time off, if any, to bond with their new baby or take care of themselves. There is no law in the US that mandates employers to offer paid parental leave. 

In Sweden, not only do new mothers get time off, but the partner also has the right to 10 days off work within 60 days of the baby coming home in order to support the mother and get to know the newborn baby. Apart from getting 10 days off work, parents will get about 80% of their salary during those days. These same rules apply to families who adopt.

Furthermore, parents in Sweden have the right to a combined 480 days off. Out of those 480 days, 390 of them are based on your salary before the baby is born, and for the remaining 90 days, you get around $20 per day. During the 390 days, you'll get about 80% of your salary, but with a maximum of around $100 per day. You can distribute the 480 days as you wish between the parents, but 90 days are earmarked for each parent. In order to use all the days, the parent not giving birth must take 90 days off to take care of the child. 

Sweden's parental leave laws are also now changing to be more inclusive of non-heteronormative and "traditionally-structured" families with a cisgender man and woman at the head of the household. Older laws accounted for same-sex couples and couples introducing a step-parent by allowing the parent who gave birth to take parental leave until the adoption process was finalized for the other parent. 

Under new laws, it will now be possible for the partner who gave birth to transfer some parental leave days to the partner who did not before any adoption process is complete.

Everyone gets a minimum of five weeks of paid vacation

From time to time, everyone needs to be able to recharge their batteries and have time off from work. Multiple studieshave shown that taking vacation improves productivity, lowers stress, and is beneficial to one's mental health.

Many employees throughout the US have paid vacation, but most people have nowhere near five weeks of vacation. 

In Sweden, you are guaranteed five weeks, or 25 working days, of vacation. There is something called Semesterlagen, or "vacation law," in Sweden that governs vacation policies. Semesterlagen not only gives employees the right to five weeks of paid vacation time, but also the right to take four of those weeks consecutively during the months of June, July, and August.

Sweden doesn't penalize you for getting sick for long periods of time

No one likes getting sick, and no one likes sick people coming into the office.

Companies throughout the US have varying policies regarding paid sick leave, and often, American workers feel compelled to work through their ailments.

Meanwhile, in Sweden, everyone has paid sick days. However, a new 2019 rule says Swedish workers who take sick days will see a deduction of 20% of their salary for an average work week. For longer periods of sickness, in the US, you might run through your allotment of sick days and be forced to dip into your vacation time. But in Sweden, regardless of the length of your sickness, you will still only get that initial 20% deduction for the first day. 

And Swedish employees can take seven consecutive sick days before they need to provide a doctor's notice to prove they are actually sick.

You even get paid time off when your kids are sick

In the US, one would typically use their accumulated sick days in order to care for a sick child. Luckily, Americans are protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act when their child is sick for a long period of time. 

While this law protects parents' ability to stay home with their sick children, the act gives the employee the right to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave in a 12-month period to care for the child. That means that the family can end up in a financially problematic situation.

In Sweden, there is a system in place to support parents with children who are sick. The nationwide VAB policy, which is short for "vård av barn," or "care of child," gives parents the right to paid leave from work to care for a child that is ill. 

Just like the rules for parental leave, workers get around 80% of their pay up to $100 per day. They have the right to 120 days of VAB per year. This system relieves families from immediate financial troubles and the parent can stay at home and care for their child without being docked a full day's pay.

There are more boundaries between work and free time than in the US

Keeping a healthy boundary between free time and work is important for your stress levels and mental well-being.

The boundary between work and free time is, of course, highly dependent on your job position, but at a typical company in Sweden, people will go out of their way not to contact you outside work hours.

For many people I know working in the US, this seems not to be the case. Being contacted outside of work hours and even on weekends is fairly common and is not really seen as a problem, but more as a part of the job itself. 

Some people have no problem with that, but it is nice to have a culture in which you try to respect employees' time outside of the workplace. Most Swedish friends I speak with all feel their employers respect their time outside the office and only contact them when it's absolutely necessary.

• Many job interviewers ask tough questions designed to trick you.
• We took a look at some of the best responses from Vicky Oliver's book "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions" for a better idea at how to handle difficult situations.
• Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories.

Some job interviewers ask tough questions designed to trick you. Others want to get a better sense of your thought process or see how you respond under pressure.

Whatever the reason, you'll want to be prepared for curveballs or challenging questions.

In her book "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions," Vicky Oliver says in order to prevail, you need to "trounce your competition."

Read more: Here are the answers to job interview questions from 20 of America's top companies, from candidates who know

Previous reporting from Business Insider's Shana Lebowitz includes an ultimate guide to nailing any job interview. Lebowitz reported that speaking at a steady pace and resisting the urge to humblebrag are two key things experts recommend you keep in mind when answering questions.

We've highlighted 25 of the tougher questions you could be asked during your next interview, and examples on how to answer them from Oliver's book, "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions."

It's important to note that these sample responses are merely meant to help guide you. They won't necessarily work for everyone, in every situation — and you should never lie in an interview. 

Read on for the tough questions.

Vivian Giang contributed to a previous version of this article.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate guide to nailing your job interview

NOW READ: A 22-year-old job seeker's viral 'stress interview' illustrates exactly why even big-name companies such as Google are moving away from gimmicky job interviews

Q: What is your biggest weakness that's really a weakness, and not a secret strength?

A: I am extremely impatient. I expect my employees to prove themselves on the very first assignment. If they fail, my tendency is to stop delegating to them and start doing everything myself.

To compensate for my own weakness, however, I have started to really prep my people on exactly what will be expected of them. 

Q: Will you be out to take my job?

A: Maybe in about 20 years, but by then, I suspect you'll be running the entire company and will need a good, loyal lieutenant to help you manage this department!  

Q: You have changed careers before. Why should I let you experiment on my nickel?

A: As a career-changer, I believe that I'm a better employee because I've gained a lot of diverse skills from moving around. These skills help me solve problems creatively.

Q: What if you work here for five years and don't get promoted? Many of our employees don't. Won't you find it frustrating?

A: I consider myself ambitious, but I'm also practical. As long as I am continuing to learn and grow within my position, I'll be a happy camper. Different companies promote people at different rates, and I'm pretty confident that working for you will keep me motivated and mentally stimulated for several years to come.

Q: If you knew that things at your company were rocky, why didn't you get out of the company sooner?

A: I was working so hard to keep my job while everyone around me was being cut that I didn't have any time left over to look for another job. With all of the mergers that have been happening in our field, layoffs are a way of life. At least I gave it my best shot!

Q: I see from your resume that you worked at CC&L for four years, and that's terrific. But I also noticed that you weren't promoted during that time. Why not?

A: CC&L is a great company, and thanks in part to my team's contributions, they are doing very well these days. But that wasn't always the case. 

During the first two years that I worked there, people were being fired left and right, and just hanging onto my job was a feat. 

Once the company began to turn around, [my boss] was offered a terrific job at a rival organization and it took CC&L six months to replace him and when they did, the new boss was eager to bring in his own people. Once again, I tenaciously hung on to my job, and, even though I was long overdue for a promotion, I really didn't think that the timing was right for me to broach it. No one from the old staff was there to even vouch for my performance!

Q: If you were running a company that produces X and the market was tanking for that product, what would you do?

A: I would search for new markets for the product while I spurred the engineers to change the product to make it more marketable to its original core audience.

Q: From your resume, it looks like you were fired twice. How did that make you feel?

A: After I recuperated from the shock both times, it made me feel stronger. It's true that I was fired twice, but I managed to bounce back both times and land jobs that gave me more responsibility, paid me more money, and were at better firms.

Q: Are you telling me that, now that you're 40-something, you would be willing to start at an entry-level position just to get your foot in the door here?

A: Sometimes you need to take a step backward to move your career forward. Starting in an entry-level role would allow me to learn your business from the ground up.

The career that I've been in is so different than yours that I would love the opportunity to start over again in your field. The salary cut will be well worth it. 

Q: You majored in philosophy. How did that prepare you for this career?

A: Philosophy didn't prepare me for a career in architecture at all. But it did force me to become philosophical about my prospects. After two years of trying to figure out what to do with my life, I visited Chicago one weekend, and was absolutely spellbound by the gorgeous architecture all around me. 

I came home, applied to architecture schools all over the country, and was accepted by one of the best. I've never looked back ... this is definitely the career that I was meant to be in. 

Q: What are the biggest risks you've taken in recent years? Which ones worked out the best, and which ones failed?

A: I used to work at a large, global PR firm where life was sleepy, but comfortable. It was a "white-shoe" organization; people left every night at 6 p.m. and our clients were big biotechnology companies that really trusted the top management of our firm. After a couple of years went by, I felt like I wasn't learning anything new, and I confess that I began to feel bored. I thought that if I took a job at a smaller PR firm, I would feel more challenged. 

I joined a small PR boutique that had only been in business for five years. This turned out to be a colossal mistake. The top management was terribly unprofessional, plus they didn't have the contacts with newspapers, TV, and cable stations that we really needed to service our clients properly. I canvassed my own contacts, of course, but I was the only person in the entire firm who had any contacts! Promises were made to clients that couldn't be kept. It was a fiasco.

After six months, I called up the large, global PR firm and begged for my old job back. Fortunately, they hadn't replaced me.  They slapped by wrist for being disloyal, but they happily rehired me. I've been working there ever since, grateful, but bored ... which is why I'm meeting with you today. 

Q: What do you view as your risks and disadvantages with the position we are interviewing you for?

A: I think that with the home office located halfway across the globe, there is a very small risk that one might not have the chance to interact with the key decision-makers as often as might be ideal. On the other hand, teleconferencing, email, faxing, and having a 24/7 work ethic will go a long way towards bridging the gap. 

Q: From your resume, I notice that you interned at a small investment banking boutique. Did you pursue a full-time job offer with them? What happened?

A: Yes, I did very well at my internship, and I had originally assumed that I would come on staff once I graduated from college. However, BB&L drastically cut back the number of new hires they were planning. As fate would have it, they will not be hiring any of the interns they had last summer. 

I love working at BB&L, and I brought some references with me today to show you that my job performance there was stellar. Still, in some ways, I consider this new turn of events to be a lucky break for me, believe it or not.

Q: Can you describe your dream job?

A: This is my dream job and that's why I approached you about it in the first place. I am excited about the prospect of helping your promotion agency upgrade and fine-tune your loyalty programs.

Q: Why did you take so much time off from work, and why do you wish to get a job now?

A: When I first had the twins, my husband was working 24/7, and I really needed to be there to raise the kids. But during that time, I really missed working. 

Fortunately, I kept my hand in the business during those years by consulting for several of my ex-clients. 

Q: How many skis are rented each year?

A: There are 250 million people in the U.S. Let's suppose that the number of skis is 15% of that, or 37,500,000. Of those, let's figure that 21,175,000 of them own skis, leaving the number who rent at 9,325,000. Then let's add the number of tourists who ski, say, 1 million. So the grand total of renters would be 10,325,000.

Now let's assume that the renters who live here take three trips a year, so three times 9,325,000 is 27,975,000 and add that with 1 million is 28,975,000. 

Q: If you were hiring someone for this position, what qualities would you look for?

A: I would look for three main talents:

1. The ability to solve problems;
2. The ability to nurture strong working relationships; and 
3. The ability to close deals.

A candidate who possesses all three would make the ideal associate new business director. 

Let me tell you a little bit about my background ...

Q: What would you do if you really wanted to hire a woman under you, and you knew the perfect candidate, but your boss really wanted to hire a man for the job?

A: I'd recommend that we perform an on-site "test," by hiring both candidates on a freelance basis for two weeks each.

Q: What if you worked with someone who managed to take credit for all your great ideas. How would you handle it?

A: First, I would try to credit her publicly with the ideas that were hers. Sometimes, by being generous with credit, it spurs the other person to "return the favor."

If that doesn't solve it, I'd try to work out an arrangement where we each agreed to present the ideas that were our own to our bosses. If that doesn't work, I would openly discuss the situation with her.

However, if the person taking credit for my ideas was my boss, I would tread cautiously. To some extent, I believe that my job is to make my superiors shine. If I were being rewarded for my ideas with raises and promotions, I would be happy. 

Q: How many hours a week do you usually work, and why?

A: I work pretty long hours most of the time. With the extra time, I try to find ways to "add value" to each assignment, both my own and the firm's. When our clients read our reports, I want them to think that no one else could have possibly written them, except for our company.

Q: Are you better at "managing up" or "managing down"?

A: If you aren't good at "managing up," you rarely get the opportunity to "manage down." Fortunately, I've always been quite good at self-management. I've never had a deadline that I didn't meet.

Q: Please give an example of the most difficult political situation that you've dealt with on a job.

A: I was hired by a woman who was on her way out. She asked me to be her "fall guy" on a number of assignments. I just learned to drop the assignments off with my boss on the day that they were due, and when the managers would ring me up, I would recommend that they simply follow up with her. This kept me out of hot water with my boss and with her superiors.

Q: Let's discuss a time when you missed a significant deadline.

A: I would absolutely love to, but honestly, it's never happened.

Q: Is it more important to be lucky or skillful?

A: I think that it's more important to be lucky, although being very skilled can help to create more opportunities. Certainly, [at my former job, my boss'] confidence in me inspired the decision-makers at our firm to trust that I could do the job. But clearly, I also happened to be in the right place at the right time. 

Q: When do you think you'll peak in your career?

A: I come from a long line of healthy, hardy, mentally active types, and so I confess that I never even think about "peaking" in my career. That having been said, I do think it's important to have some self-knowledge, and to recognize when one is past one's prime. 

• READ MORE:

• The ultimate guide to nailing your job interview

  24 psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview

  Here are the answers to job interview questions from 20 of America's top companies, from candidates who know

  The 32 smartest questions to ask at the end of every job interview

  19 questions you should never ask in an interview — and what you should ask instead

• Adrian Granzella Larssen is a content strategist, editorial director, and founder ofSweet Spot Content. Eight years ago, she was the first employee at The Muse.
• When she began her freelance content-strategy business, she recruited all of her clients in her first year with one email. 
• But once she sent out that magical email, she needed to effectively communicate with her stable of freelance clients. She found herself sending out versions of the same important emails again and again.
• Here, she's shared her templates for professional, effective versions of every possible email that a freelancer will need to send when working with a client.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

When people ask me how I started my freelance content-strategy business, I always respond the same way:

It was one magic email. 

That email was so powerful that it brought me 100% of my clients my first year in business. So powerful that several friends have used their own version and had similar results. So powerful that I wrote about it in this article and included a template that anyone can adapt.

But then what? Best case scenario, you send a similar email, and you have yourself some freelance gigs — along with a whole host of other communication needs. How do you send a proposal to potential clients? What about invoicing? What do you say when you don't want to take a project on — or when someone isn't happy with your work?

Here, I've collected some of the other most important emails I send as a freelancer — all in easy copy-and-paste templates that you can steal for yourself.

The 'hire me' email

When to send: When you come across a "looking for freelance help" post on Facebook, LinkedIn, or other communities you're part of, and the work seems right up your alley. (Or, when someone responds to your "Hey, I'm freelancing now" email.)

Pro tip: Responding quickly is important — many companies looking for help are flooded with responses from interested parties. But also take the time to personalize the message and the work samples you send — it'll go a long way. 

Subject: [Project name]: Reaching out from [source you found the project]

Hi [Name],

Hope this email finds you well! I'm a freelance [job title] and just saw your post on [site/source] about looking for help on a [project type]. I'd love to help out.

My background: [1-2 sentences about your background, including the types of projects and clients you've worked on that specifically relate to the project]. 

You can see some of my work on my website here: [link]. In addition, here are a couple of links to my client work that's similar to your project — they [reason why these work samples are related to the project at hand]:

[Link to work sample 1]
[Link to work sample 2]

My rates are typically [rates per project]. Please let me know if you'd like more information or to hop on a call. I'd love the opportunity to work together!

All the best,

[Your name]

Read more: One email I wrote brought in 100% of my clients after I started my business — here's the template

The proposal email

When to send: After you've had an intro call to understand the client's needs. Of course, some projects may be as straightforward as writing a few blog posts or designing a logo, but other times, a company may look to you to tell them what they need.

Pro tip: A good proposal should outline the specific deliverables of the project, an estimated timeline, and pricing. I also like to include a "how I can help" paragraph summarizing the project goals and desired business results.

Subject: Proposal: [Project name]

Hi [Name],

Thanks so much for chatting last week. It was great to connect with you and hear more about what you're working on. 

I'd be very excited to help you [result you'd be helping the client achieve] and have attached a proposal for working together. As you'll see, I recommend [brief details of the project, e.g., "a 12-week engagement with six specific deliverables"], which is outlined here along with an estimated timeline and pricing. Note that this is a proposal and not our formal agreement, which I'll send along if we decide to move forward.

Please let me know if you have questions or would like to discuss — I'm happy to answer questions or make adjustments based on your feedback.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts,

[Your name]

The 'terms and conditions' email

When to send: Right after someone has expressed that they want to hire you, but before you start working on the project. 

Pro tip: Having a contract in place might seem overly formal, but ask any freelancer who's been burned before: It's helpful to have the project details spelled out from the get-go. Download one on LegalZoom or ask your freelancing friends to repurpose their templates.

Subject: Project agreement

Hi [Name],

Thanks so much for your email. I'm thrilled about working together!

To officially kick things off, I'm attaching a project agreement, outlining our timeline, deliverables, and fee schedule. You can e-sign it using a tool like DocuSign or HelloSign. 

In the meantime, here's what you can expect for next steps:

[Outline the next steps for kicking off the project once the client signs the contract.]

Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm so looking forward to this project.

Thanks,

[Your name]

Read more: One email put a 24-year old on a path from intern to COO in six months. Here's the exact text he used.

The 'out of budget' response email

When to send: When a potential client responds to your proposal with the dreaded, "Sorry, this is out of our budget."

Pro tip: If it's a company you really want to work with — for instance, it'd be a big name on your portfolio, or it's a project you're particularly passionate about — it might make sense to discount your rate. Otherwise, a better move is offering a scaled-down version of your services at a price that'll fit their budget. 

Subject: Revised proposal

Hi [Name],

Thanks so much for your email and your candor. I completely understand the nature of tight budgets. With that said, I'd still love the opportunity to work together and wanted to offer a couple of options.

First, we could extend the timeline a bit and break the fee down into multiple payments. Would that help give your budget any wiggle room? I'd also be happy to adjust the scope, and I've attached another proposal that outlines what I can offer based on a smaller budget. 

Please let me know if either of these options would work. I know that I could help you achieve your goal of [business result] and would love to work together!

All the best,

[Your name]

The 'scope creep' email

When to send: When a client asks you to do something that wasn't outlined in your original agreement.

Pro tip: When sending proposals, I always include a line that says: "Any work in addition to these deliverables will be billed at an hourly rate of $XXX" — which makes the following email much, much easier to send. 

Subject: [Description of task]

Hi [Name],

Thanks for sending this over! I can definitely take on [out-of-scope task] and have it to you by [date]. Just a quick reminder that since it wasn't outlined in our original agreement, my hourly rate will apply. It shouldn't take me more than about X hours to complete, but let me know if there's a cap on the time you'd like me to spend on it. Otherwise, I'll get on it shortly!

Thanks,

[Your name]

Read more: There are 7 types of emails you need to master to land your dream job. But they're easy to mess up. Here's a copy-paste template for each that will make you look great to employers.

The 'I'm too busy' email

When to send: When you're up to your eyeballs in work (every freelancer's dream, right?) and you need to turn down a project. 

Pro tip: If it's a client you would be interested in working with in the future, make sure you leave the door open. Say you'll follow up in a few weeks when things calm down — and then actually do that!

Subject: Thanks for thinking of me

Hi [Name],

Thanks so much for thinking of me for this project! While I'd absolutely love to help out, I'm completely at capacity with other projects for the next [timeline]. 

If you have any flexibility in your timing, I could help out after [date] — let me know if that would work. If not, I'd love to be kept in mind for future projects. I'll plan to check in with you in a few weeks when things calm down!

All the best,

[Your name]

The 'I'm not the right fit' email

When to send: When someone reaches out to you about a project that you don't want to take on or aren't quite the right fit for. 

Pro tip: While it can be hard to turn down work (especially when you're first starting out), remember that saying "yes" to a project you're not excited about may mean needing to say "no" to one you are excited about down the line. So it's worth it to be thoughtful about the clients you're taking on. On the fence? Take this Client Screening Quiz from the digital strategist Erin Flynn.  

Subject: Thanks for thinking of me

Dear [Name],

Thanks for reaching out to me. While your project sounds very interesting, it's not the type of work I'm taking on at the moment — I think you'd benefit more working with someone who [why other freelancers might be a better fit than you].

Here are a few other folks in my network who might be a better match:

• [Recommendation 1]
• [Recommendation 2]

Please let me know if I can make any introductions, and best of luck on the project!

Warmly,

[Your name]

The invoice email 

When to send: At the end of a project or at the end of a month, if you're billing on a recurring basis. 

Pro tip: Streamline your invoices by sending them on the same day — I like to tackle them on the last business day of the month — and using a tool that makes it easy to create, keep track of, and duplicate invoices (I use FreshBooks). While this could be a throwaway email, I like to use it as an opportunity to thank clients for the opportunity to work together. 

Subject: Invoice: [Your name] — [Month]

Hi [Name],

Attached please find my invoice for our work together in [month] / on [project]. 

As always, thanks for the opportunity to work together. It's been fantastic collaborating with you, and I'm excited to see what we can do next month and beyond!

Best,

[Your name]

Read more: I'm 34 and make $200,000 a year as a freelancer. This is exactly how I spend my money to both scale my business and still enjoy my Miami life.

The 'haven't received your payment' email

When to send: When the deadline you put on your invoice has come and gone. 

Pro tip: The first time someone misses a payment, it's worth giving them the benefit of the doubt — after all, things do sometimes fall through the cracks. But if a client repeatedly has trouble sticking to your agreed-upon timeline, consider whether it might be time to find some more responsible companies to do business with. 

Subject: Invoice payment due [date]

Hi [Name],

Hope you're having a great week. I just wanted to check in as I haven't yet received payment for my latest invoice, which was due on [date]. (I've attached it here again for your reference.)

Please let me know when you've sent the payment so I can look out for it.  

Thanks,

[Your name]

The 'I'm sorry you're not happy' email

When to send: When a client responds to something you've submitted by saying they're not happy with the end result.

Pro tip: This is one of those situations in which it's best to step outside your inbox and take the conversation offline. First, though, be honest with yourself: Did you miss the mark? Or was this a case of unrealistic client expectations? Go into the conversation with a few ideas about how to proceed accordingly.

Subject: Talk this week?

Hi [Name],

I really appreciate you sending over this feedback. I'd love to understand a bit more about your specific concerns and walk through a few options for how to proceed. Are you available for a quick phone call tomorrow?

I look forward to speaking. 

[Your name]

The 'let's work together again' email

When to send: When you could use some new work, it's always worth connecting with people who've hired you in the past.

Pro tip: Keep a running list of all of your clients, past and present, so it's easy to keep track of those you should reach out to in the future.

Subject: Thinking of you — hope all is well!

Hi [Name],

I hope all is well! I was thinking about you, as I just saw [something that made you think of the client; for example, a recent news feature or social-media post]. 

Also, I thought I'd check in and see if you have any upcoming needs. I loved working with you on [project name], and I'd love the opportunity to collaborate in the future. Let me know if I can be of service! 

Cheers,

[Your name]

Adrian Granzella Larssen is the founder of Sweet Spot Content, which helps early-stage companies and entrepreneurs create authentic, engaging content. Previously, she was the first employee and editor-in-chief of TheMuse.com, a content-first career destination. She's also the author of Your Year Off, a digital guide to traveling the world inspired by her experience traveling to 30 countries in 12 months. (Say hi and follow her travels on Instagram.)

SEE ALSO: This tactic brings in 100% of new clients for many freelancers and entrepreneurs

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian have a combined net worth of $189 million. Here's how they make and spend their money.

• School-ranking website Niche released a list of the best public high schools in America for the upcoming academic year, after rating thousands of schools across the country.
• The top spot went to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.
• Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, Illinois, which held the No. 1 spot in Niche's ranking last year, has now fallen to No. 2.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With 18,841 high schools across America, the process of getting into one — and figuring out the best fit — can be just as daunting as applying for college. 

To make families' lives easier, school-ranking website Niche has released its 2020 list of the best public high schools in America. The list was determined after rating thousands of schools in over 10,000 districts across the country. The rankings were based on academic factors like test scores and AP enrollment, racial and economic diversity, as well as reviews by student, alumni, and parents. Statistics were taken from the US Department of Education.

The No. 1 public high school in the country is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. Last year's Niche ranking gave the No. 1 spot to Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, in Aurora, Illinois, which has now fallen to No. 2.

Here are the 15 best public high schools in America.

SEE ALSO: The 25 top colleges in the US, and how much you might be earning 6 years after graduating

DON'T MISS: Here are the best public high schools in every US state

15. Staten Island Technical High School — Staten Island, New York

Students: 1,313

Student-teacher ratio: 23:1

Average graduation rate: 99%

Average SAT: 1410

Average ACT: 32

AP enrollment: 95%

According to a student: "This is a great school — great teachers, great students, great environment. I think the resources at Tech were the primary reasons I was instantly able to transition to college and succeed at a high level at one of the most prestigious institutions in the country."

Source: Niche

14. Adlai E. Stevenson High School — Lincolnshire, Illinois

Students: 4,028

Student-teacher ratio: 14:1

Average graduation rate: 97%

Average SAT: 1360

Average ACT: 30

AP enrollment: 50%

According to a student: "The teachers are all willing to help out, and the vast majority of my teachers at this school have been amazing and a pleasure to learn from. There's a lot of assistance available for students as well, both academic and for opportunities outside of school, including jobs, internships, and college. The community of students is also great. I love my school and would highly recommend it to anyone."

Source: Niche

13. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, & Technology — Lawrenceville, Georgia

Students: 979

Student-teacher ratio: 17:1

Average graduation rate: 95%

Average SAT: 1360

Average ACT: 31

AP enrollment: 68%

According to a student: "This is a great school, with well-qualified teachers. It offers a multitude of opportunities through its focus on STEM curriculum. There are several clubs to choose from that give great exposure to the students. Also, there are wonderful internship opportunities."

Source: Niche

12. Union County Magnet High School — Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Students: 298

Student-teacher ratio: 13:1

Average graduation rate: 95%

Average SAT: 1380

Average ACT: 32

AP enrollment: 47%

According to a student: "Union County Magnet High School is an excellent school! The student community feels like family and the teachers are available to their students often. It's a very safe environment both physically and emotionally."

Source: Niche

11. Northside College Preparatory High School — Chicago, Illinois

Students: 1,069

Student-teacher ratio: 18:1

Average graduation rate: 98%

Average SAT: 1370

Average ACT: 31

AP enrollment: 60%

According to a student: "The school offers several challenging courses that cover many different subjects. The teachers are friendly, but they also ensure that every student is succeeding in their classes. The school is diverse and welcoming of students from all backgrounds. There are also clubs, sports, and other opportunities for students to be involved in the school community."

Source: Niche

10. Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science — Worcester, Massachusetts

Students: 97

Student-teacher ratio: 14:1

Average graduation rate: 90%

Average SAT: 1480

Average ACT: 34

AP enrollment: n/a

According to a student: "I absolutely loved MAMS! The teachers were kind, but there was a lot of work. Ultimately, I think that MAMS brought out the potential in me as I was motivated to work harder from friends and teachers and stop doing the minimum to get by as I had done for my sending school."

Source: Niche

9. Basis Scottsdale — Scottsdale, Arizona

Students: 1,081

Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Average graduation rate: 95%

Average SAT: 1470

Average ACT: 33

AP enrollment: 95%

According to a student: "Basis Scottsdale is an extremely rigorous school, but it is really worth it! I feel incredibly ready for college, and I am so blessed to have faculty that are happy to teach and really specialized in their fields. The quality of learning is not comparable to most schools, since teachers and students are constantly motivating each other."

Source: Niche

8. Maggie Walker Governor's School — Richmond, Virginia

Students: 746

Student-teacher ratio: 15:1

Average graduation rate: 99%

Average SAT: 1400

Average ACT: 32

AP enrollment: 66%

According to a student: "Great college-prep school. Very rigorous class that benefit in the long run. Teachers are passionate in their area of studying and willing to learn alongside students."

Source: Niche

7. High Technology High School — Lincroft, New Jersey

Students: 291

Student-teacher ratio: 13:1

Average graduation rate: 95%

Average SAT: 1510

Average ACT: 34

AP enrollment: 33%

According to a student: "There are so many opportunities at High Technology High School to engage in engineering, as it is a project-based school. I love the academic rigor, and the school surrounds me with a ton of friendly people who also share my interests in academics, especially engineering. I would definitely recommend this school to others."

Source: Niche

6. The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science — Columbus, Mississippi

Students: 245

Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Average graduation rate: 100%

Average SAT: 1340

Average ACT: 30

AP enrollment: 78%

According to a student: "MSMS is a wonderful place for academically advanced kids. All the classes are at the honors level and really push kids to do their best. In addition, there are plenty of extracurriculars to get involved with, so there's something for everybody. Choosing to come here was one of the best decisions I've ever made."

Source: Niche

5. Bergen County Academies — Hackensack, New Jersey

Students: 1,069

Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Average graduation rate: 99%

Average SAT: 1460

Average ACT: 33

AP enrollment: 47%

According to a student: "Honestly one of the best high schools you can go to. It has everything a student could need, regardless of what you want to study. Having the opportunity to pick an 'academy' is very similar to picking a major and is a great way to prepare for college. The one and only downside is that you can't switch academies after you apply."

Source: Niche

4. Stuyvesant High School — New York, New York

Students: 3,368

Student-teacher ratio: 21:1

Average graduation rate: 98%

Average SAT: 1470

Average ACT: 33

AP enrollment: 56%

According to a student: "Really great school! I've made a ton of friends here, and it's great to be in an environment where most people are dedicated to learning and furthering themselves as a person and as a student. The teachers and faculty are also fantastic."

Source: Niche

3. Walter Payton College Prep — Chicago, Illinois

Students: 977

Student-teacher ratio: 18:1

Average graduation rate: 99%

Average SAT: 1400

Average ACT: 31

AP enrollment: 76%

According to a student: "This school offers a smooth transition from elementary school to post-secondary education. Payton prepared me for the rigor of college classes and despite its difficulty while I was there, I have benefitted from the high expectations that I had as a student there."

Source: Niche

2. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy — Aurora, Illinois

Students: 647

Student-teacher ratio: 12:1

Average graduation rate: 99%

Average SAT: 1450

Average ACT: 33

AP enrollment: 34%

According to a student: "At IMSA, I am able to find a real passion for chemistry and ability and resources to explore that passion. It is not the easiest school, and it's easy to forget to take care of yourself, but it is a great high school and I'm so lucky I'm here."

Source: Niche

1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology — Alexandria, Virginia

Students: 1,789

Student-teacher ratio: 17:1

Average graduation rate: 99%

Average SAT: 1510

Average ACT: 34

AP enrollment: 73%

According to a student: "Jefferson is a great school with great science & technology as well as liberal arts courses. The school is challenging but also rewarding. There are dozens of clubs and sports and there is even an opportunity to do extracurriculars during the school day."

Source: Niche

• Hawaii is a great place to be a psychiatrist or an astronomer.
• Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we found the 30 jobs with the highest average salaries in Hawaii.
• Seven of the top 10 jobs were in the medical field, which is common in other states.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's been 60 years since Hawaii became the 50th state in the Union. Since then, the Aloha State has been beloved for its inviting weather and popular surf spots.

It's also a great place for a profitable career if you happen to be a medical professional or scientist. 

Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics program, we found the 30 jobs with the highest average annual salaries in Hawaii as of May 2018, the most recently available data. The top spot was taken by psychiatrists, who make an average of $269,800 a year. Seven out of the top 10 occupations were also in the medical field. 

Hawaii is home to 23 observatories, making it ideal for astronomers. Mauna Kea Observatory is the world's largest, and has the second and third-largest telescopes in the world, Keck 1 and Keck 2.

Here are the 30 highest-paying jobs in the Aloha State.

SEE ALSO: The 30 highest-paying jobs in Florida, land of gators and 20,000 CEOs

Construction Managers make an average of $109,850 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 1,900

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

Air Traffic Controllers make an average of $110,050 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 260

What they do, according to O*NET: Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers according to established procedures and policies. Authorize, regulate, and control commercial airline flights according to government or company regulations to expedite and ensure flight safety.

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives make an average of $110,470 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 610

What they do,according to O*NET: Supervise and coordinate the investigation of criminal cases, offering guidance and expertise to investigators, and ensuring that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations.

Lawyers make an average of $111,290 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 2,020

What they do, according to O*NET: Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Marketing Managers make an average of $112,800 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 600

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

General and Operations Managers make an average of $114,040 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 9,550

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services.

Natural Sciences Managers make an average of $115,240 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 250

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

Optometrists make an average of $117,310 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 170

What they do, according to O*NET: Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.

Financial Managers make an average of $118,740 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 2,560

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

Nurse Practitioners make an average of $120,570 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 410

What they do, according to O*NET: Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and X-rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Petroleum Engineers make an average of $121,050 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 70

What they do, according to O*NET: Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.

Aerospace Engineers make an average of $121,100 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 30

What they do, according to O*NET: Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. May conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture. May recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques.

Physician Assistants make an average of $121,120 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 320

What they do, according to O*NET: Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

Pharmacists make an average of $121,780 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 1,710

What they do, according to O*NET: Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

Education Administrators (Postsecondary) make an average of $124,160 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 410

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate research, instructional, student administration and services, and other educational activities at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

Computer and Information Systems Managers make an average of $124,660 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 830

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

Medical and Health Services Managers make an average of $124,970 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 1,640

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

Astronomers make an average of $126,170 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 90

What they do, according to O*NET: Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.

Physicists make an average of $126,480 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 50

What they do, according to O*NET: Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

Health Specialties Teachers (Postsecondary) make an average of $137,560 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 500

What they do, according to O*NET: Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

Architectural and Engineering Managers make an average of $140,610 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 810

What they do, according to O*NET: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

Pediatricians (General) make an average of $174,390 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 190

What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent children's diseases and injuries. Prescribe or administer treatment, therapy, medication, vaccination, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury in infants and children.

Nurse Anesthetists make an average of $192,580 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 80

What they do, according to O*NET: Administer anesthesia, monitor patient's vital signs, and oversee patient recovery from anesthesia. May assist anesthesiologists, surgeons, other physicians, or dentists. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.

Dentists (General) make an average of $196,690 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 640

What they do, according to O*NET: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.

Chief Executives make an average of $201,680 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 1,090

What they do, according to O*NET: Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

Internists (General) make an average of $212,360 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 270

What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provide care mainly for adults who have a wide range of problems associated with the internal organs.

Physicians and Surgeons (All Other) make an average of $228,470 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 1,380

What they do, according to O*NET: This job category includes allergists and immunologists, dermatologists, neurologists, pathologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, radiologists, and urologists.

Family and General Practitioners make an average of $231,750 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 420

What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.

Obstetricians and Gynecologists make an average of $237,050 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 210

What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth and those who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general medical care to women.

Psychiatrists make an average of $269,800 a year

Number of people employed in Hawaii: 100

What they do, according to O*NET: Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent disorders of the mind. Prescribe, direct, or administer psychotherapeutic treatments or medications to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.

• Teachers have the incredibly important job of educating the next generation of Americans.
• The average salary for a public school teacher nationwide was $60,483 during the 2017-2018 academic year, the most recent for which data is available.
• Mississippi lands at the bottom of the list with an average salary of $43,107, while New York tops it with $83,585.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Teachers have the incredibly important job of educating the next generation of Americans, but how much they're paid varies widely across the country.

Nationwide, the average public school teacher salary for the 2017-2018 school year was $60,483, according to data from the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. While the nominal teacher salary has increased over the last couple decades, when adjusted for inflation, average salary has dropped over time — about 1.3% lower than the $61,275 (in 2017-18 dollars) average in the 1999-2000 school year.

While many teachers earn a solid middle-class wage, the job comes with unique challenges. Many teachers across the US end up spending a not-insignificant amount of their take-home pay on school supplies for their students and classrooms.

Read more: Teachers reveal the 7 things they wish they could tell parents — but can't

Below, find out how much public-school teachers made during the 2017-18 school year (the most recent year for which data is available in each state) according to the NCES, as well as the amount spent per public-school student during the 2017-18 fiscal year in each state, according to the Census Bureau.

Keep reading to see how teacher salaries compare around the US.

SEE ALSO: 31 teachers across the US reveal their exact salary, and how much of it goes to paying for school supplies like chalk and pencils

DON'T MISS: THEN AND NOW: Here are all the ways being a public-school teacher has changed in the last 50 years

51. Mississippi

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $43,107

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -7.7%

State spending per student: $8,771

50. West Virginia

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $45,642

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -11.0%

State spending per student: $11,554

49. Oklahoma

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $45,678

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -0.4%

State spending per student: $7,940

48. Utah

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $47,604

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -7.1%

State spending per student: $7,179

47. Florida

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $47,721

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -11.3%

State spending per student: $9,075

46. Arizona

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $47,746

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -11.7%

State spending per student: $8,003

45. New Mexico

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $47,839

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.3%

State spending per student: $9,881

44. South Dakota

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $47,944

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 12.5%

State spending per student: $9,939

43. Arkansas

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $49,017

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.2%

State spending per student: $9,967

42. Missouri

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $49,208

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -5.8%

State spending per student: $10,589

41. Idaho

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $49,225

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -5.5%

State spending per student: $7,486

40. Alabama

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $50,239

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.6%

State spending per student: $9,511

39. Louisiana

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $50,256

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 3.6%

State spending per student: $11,199

38. Kansas

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $50,403

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -1.7%

State spending per student: $10,961

37. North Carolina

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $50,861

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -11.9%

State spending per student: $9,072

36. Tennessee

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $50,900

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -4.4%

State spending per student: $9,184

35. South Carolina

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $51,027

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -3.5%

State spending per student: $10,590

34. Virginia

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $51,265

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -9.7%

State spending per student: $11,886

33. Maine

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $51,663

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -0.9%

State spending per student: $13,690

32. Colorado

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $52,389

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.3%

State spending per student: $9,809

31. Montana

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $52,776

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 12.1%

State spending per student: $11,443

30. Kentucky

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $52,952

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -0.7%

State spending per student: $10,121

29. Texas

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $53,167

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -3.4%

State spending per student: $9,375

28. Nebraska

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $53,473

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 9.8%

State spending per student: $12,579

27. North Dakota

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $54,421

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 24.3%

State spending per student: $13,760

26. Indiana

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $54,846

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -10.6%

State spending per student: $10,045

25. Washington

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $55,175

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -8.3%

State spending per student: $11,989

24. Wisconsin

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $55,895

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -7.3%

State spending per student: $11,968

23. Georgia

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $56,329

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -6.3%

State spending per student: $10,205

22. Iowa

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $56,790

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 8.6%

State spending per student: $11,461

21. Minnesota

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $57,782

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -1.0%

State spending per student: $12,647

20. Nevada

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $57,812

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 0.1%

State spending per student: $9,320

19. New Hampshire

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $57,833

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 4.6%

State spending per student: $15,683

18. Hawaii

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $57,866

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -2.7%

State spending per student: $14,322

17. Ohio

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $58,000

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -4.5%

State spending per student: $12,645

16. Vermont

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $58,527

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 5.8%

State spending per student: $18,290

15. Wyoming

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $58,578

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 17.1%

State spending per student: $16,537

14. Delaware

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $60,484

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -7.1%

State spending per student: $15,302

13. Michigan

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $62,702

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -12.8%

State spending per student: $11,907

12. Oregon

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $63,143

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 1.8%

State spending per student: $11,264

11. Illinois

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $65,776

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -3.5%

State spending per student: $15,337

10. Rhode Island

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $66,758

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -3.2%

State spending per student: $15,943

9. Pennsylvania

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $67,398

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -4.8%

State spending per student: $15,798

8. Alaska

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $69,474

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 2.0%

State spending per student: $17,838

7. Maryland

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $69,761

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 8.1%

State spending per student: $14,848

6. New Jersey

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $69,917

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -8.3%

State spending per student: $18,920

5. Connecticut

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $73,113

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: -3.7%

State spending per student: $19,322

4. Washington, DC

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $76,486

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 10.9%

State spending per student: $21,974

3. Massachusetts

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $79,710

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 16.8%

State spending per student: $16,197

2. California

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $81,126

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 16.1%

State spending per student: $12,143

1. New York

2017-2018 average teacher salary: $83,585

Change in adjusted salary since 1999-2000: 11.8%

State spending per student: $23,091

• There's a lot about being a nurse that many people outside of healthcare don't understand. 
• To find out more about the profession, Business Insider spent a day shadowing Czarina Cecilio, a registered nurse at Weill Cornell Medicine's Multiple Myeloma Center in New York City.
• Cecilio said the best part of her job was the flexibility, and the relationships she forms with the patients
• However, because one of the drugs needed in the treatment is facing a national shortage, Cecilio spends a lot of time on the phone with manufacturers and drug providers.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nursing is one of the fastest-growing professions in the country— yet many nurses have told Business Insider that people outside of healthcare aren't aware of the long hours they work. Others said they receive judgmental comments about being "just" a nurse. 

Read more:Nurses reveal the 11 hardest parts of their job, from the death of patients to not having time to pee during a shift

To help debunk some misconceptions about the job, I decided to find out what nurses really do in a day.

I shadowed Czarina Cecilio, a 33-year-old registered nurse at Weill Cornell Medicine's Multiple Myeloma Center in New York City. She treats patients with myeloma, a type of bone-marrow cancer.

Shadowing Cecilio was challenging, as I was not allowed to interfere with patient care. I couldn't see Cecilio discuss patient treatment, a main part of her job. But I did notice that Cecilio was on her feet most of the day assisting patients, and she was constantly getting asked questions by the oncologist, secretary, patients, and other nurses.

I learned that not only did Cecilio have to know the ins and outs of myeloma treatment for her patients, she was constantly managing interpersonal relationships around the clinic. And because one of the drugs needed in the treatment is facing a national shortage, Cecilio spends a lot of time on the phone with manufacturers and drug providers.

Here's what it's like to be a registered nurse at a cancer clinic in New York City. 

SEE ALSO: THEN AND NOW: Here's how being a nurse has changed in the last 50 years

DON'T MISS: Nurses reveal 10 things they wish they could tell patients, but can't

This is Czarina Cecilio, a registered nurse at the Multiple Myeloma Center at Weill Cornell Medicine in Manhattan. Cecilio has been working there since 2008, starting as a med tech and working her way to become the center's clinical nurse liaison.

At first, Cecilio avoided the job because of "the whole stereotype of if you're Filipino, you must be a nurse," as she told Business Insider. She got her undergraduate degree in anthropology and went into medical research. 

She eventually got a spot as a medical technician, an entry-level nurse job. While she enjoyed her work as a med tech, she found herself unable to answer many of her patients' questions regarding treatment. She went to nursing school to get a more thorough medical education.

As clinical nurse liaison, Cecilio performs the traditional duties of a registered nurse, while also helping manage the office, ensure patient medication has arrived, and assisting the clinic's main physician, Dr. Ruben Niesvizky.

Cecilio is the head RN of the practice, and her main responsibilities include educating patients on their therapy regimen and helping them get medication, supervising medical technicians, and keeping the clinic workflow organized.

Her day starts at around 7:30 am, when she drops off her son Ezio at daycare. The daycare has a partnership with the Weill hospital system, so many working parents drop their kids there, too.

Cecilio is typically one of the first to arrive at the office. She uses the extra time to catch up on emails and make sure the medication is confirmed for all the patients.

Cecilio helps administer lifesaving medicine to myeloma patients. Myeloma is a type of cancer that affects cells in bone marrow. Cecilio says while the cancer isn't curable, it's treatable.

Before meeting with patients, Cecilio goes over the patient schedule with Dr. Ruben Niesvizky, an oncologist and the director of the myeloma center, and Stephen Veefkind, an infusion nurse. She meets with them at around 8 am. (Niesvizky is wearing the white coat, Veefkind wears the red scrubs.)

Infusion nurses are a type of RN with a license to inject medicine into myeloma patients with an intravenous line. Injecting medicine into patients can be tricky, especially if their veins are thin. A patient told me sometimes it can take her 20 minutes to get injected. 

Cecilio then starts meeting with patients. She brings them to the exam room to take their weight and blood pressure, among other vitals.

Cecilio is sometimes assisted by med techs in the exam room. A med tech is an entry-level nursing assistant position. Responsibilities include making sure patient information is documented on the electronic medical system, and assisting registered nurses.

While Cecilio keeps track of her patients' status, she sometimes still needs reference books to help make sense of some of the conditions and medications.

Cecilio also uses a color-coordinated notebook to keep her patient information organized.

Cecilio says a lot of her job involves "pushing paper" — or coordinating schedules and medicines — along with actually interacting with patients. 

Cecilio then meets with her patients to talk about their treatment, along with Niesvizky. Cecilio has close relationships with her patients, including Mary Jane Reilly (pictured).

Reilly was the only patient who consented to being photographed. She has been a regular patient with Cecilio, and the two text each other and talk about their kids.

Reilly and the nurse had been texting earlier in the day to discuss some issues with her treatment. There is a nationwide shortage of the drug that treats myeloma, which has complicated Cecilio's job.

The medicine, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), treats myeloma patients by raising their body's antibodies, or cells that fight infection. 

Recently, the production for medicine slowed, causing a nationwide shortage, due to "insufficient production capacity, manufacturing-quality problems and quirks in the reimbursement system for some drugs," according to The Wall Street Journal. Demand for IVIG has also risen due to increased uses for the drug.

Due to the shortage, Cecilio spends more time on the phone with manufacturers and drug providers in an effort to secure the treatment.

After Cecilio and Reilly discuss her medicine, she brings the patient into the treatment room where she gets injected. Reilly says she spends her treatment hours catching up with friends and family, as well as reading.

Because myeloma patients tend to need long-term treatment, Cecilio says a lot of them become friends with each other at the clinic.

One of the main reasons why Cecilio chose to work as a nurse in a myeloma clinic was because of the bond she forms with patients. While ER nurses, for instance, only see people for hours at a time, cancer nurses see their patients during long-term treatment. 

Cecilio said losing patients can be hard for her, but she enjoys developing close relationships with their friends and family.

"With myeloma, it's an incurable disease, [but] it's treatable, so that's why we see these patients all the time," Cecilio said. "You get to build a relationship with these patients."

In between seeing patients, Cecilio takes more calls from medicine providers, manages patient schedules, and deals with day-to-day issues around the clinic. Cecilio said the biggest part of her job is making sure Niesvizky's day runs smoothly.

Niesvizky said he and Cecilio have a close bond, as they've known each other since she was a med tech in 2008. Niesvizky said the qualities he looks for in a nurse are organizational skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

Cecilio said the hardest part of her job is making sure everybody's happy. "Not from just a patient's view, but also with the physicians and overall practice — a positive morale," Cecilio said. "Why is that so challenging? Because sometimes patients can be a little bit needy."

To take a break from her job, Cecilio goes to the daycare at 3 pm each day to meet her husband while he picks up Ezio. 

Many nursing organizations encourge professionals to take breaks to avoid burnout, one of the biggest problems facing the job right now.

During the day I shadowed her, patients would sometimes interrupt her workday to ask questions, which Cecilio calmly answered. Receptionists, secretaries, and med techs also frequently came up to Cecilio asking questions regarding patients and Niesvizky's schedule.

Cecilio said the best thing about being a nurse is the career flexibility. While an oncologist can't easily become a neurosurgeon, registered nurses can easily hop between specialties by taking a course or two.

In the photo, Cecilio sends blood sample up to another floor via a special delivery tube.

Cecilio said her long-term plan is to become a nurse practitioner. NPs can open their own clinics and administer treatments, but they have less flexibility in switching between specialties than RNs do, Cecilio said.

There are three major types of nurses: licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and nurse practitioners. 

LPNs perform basic caretaking tasks like dressing wounds, taking blood pressure, and bathing patients. LPNs must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and are supervised by RNs. The role only requires a high school degree in most cases, according to NursingLicensure.org.

RNs tend to work in hospitals, and while they can provide care without supervision (unlike LPs), they cannot diagnose patients or prescribe them with medication. RNs must hold at least a bachelor's or associate degree, and pass the NCLEX-RN.

NPs must have a master's degree. NPs can diagnose and prescribe medication, on top of performing the duties of an RN. They typically work in private practices or community health clinics, according to Jacksonville University. They also earn the most money: NPs make over six-figures on average, the Bureau of Labor Statistics finds, while RNs make about $70,000 and LPNs make $46,000 a year.

Cecilio said she currently makes $4,000 a month.

Cecilio's day ends around 6 pm. Her husband, Ralph, had already picked up her son from daycare around 3 pm, so she meets them both at their home in Queens.

Cecilio sometimes catches up on paperwork after clocking out. She has a home office where she responds to emails.

At around 8 pm, Cecilio puts her son to bed, and gets ready to call it a night herself.

"[Nurses] can go in any division: I can go to ER nursing as long as I get my certification," Cecilio said. "I don't have to stay where I am, but I do only because I like the people I work with, I like the patients I interact with."

• I first attended college in the mid-1980s before pursuing pre-law. 
• After 25 years, I went back to school to get my bachelor's degree in psychology from Rhode Island College. This fall, I'll be attending the University of Connecticut to get my Ph.D. in social psychology.
• Here are the most surprising things I had to adjust to as a 50-year-old college student.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When I first attended college in the mid-1980s, I was interested in psychology but switched to pre-law as a more practical career path for supporting my young family. 

In 2016, after practicing law for nearly 25 years, I returned to school at Rhode Island College to finally get my degree in psychology. After obtaining my bachelor's degree, I continued on and obtained my master's, and this fall, I'll be pursuing my Ph.D. in social psychology at the University of Connecticut.

Read more: 9 ways college is different for millennials than it was for previous generations

My first classes in college as an adult, or "non-traditional student," as my school might say, were equal parts terrifying and exciting. Terrifying because of the uncertainty of changing careers, knowing that I was likely to be the oldest person in the class, and wondering how or whether I would fit in. And exciting because of the thrill of embracing new experiences, meeting new people, and learning new subjects and theories. 

I wouldn't be honest if I said the adjustments were easy, but they weren't as difficult as I expected, and the effort was more than rewarding. 

Here are the most surprising things I had to adjust to as a 50-year-old college student:

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Learning new technology is hard — but it can be done

As a 50-year-old college student, I needed to adapt to new technology.

I had to become proficient in PowerPoint, Excel, Blackboard, and the various online tools required for communicating with professors and other students. I initially felt like a fish out of water, especially since most of today's college students were raised on technology and find it so much easier to navigate. 

I found there was an extra layer of difficulty as someone accustomed to working on Macs, not PCs: In one class, when the professor was speeding through statistical data entry, I was compelled to ask the nearest student, "What the heck is a right-click?"

On the positive side, once I mustered the nerve to ask for help, help was always there (after some good-natured kidding) when I needed it from other students. It may take me a bit longer to put together a polished PowerPoint, but now I can do it.

I stood out in class — in a good way

As we get older, we like to think we still "look and feel like we are 20." Being around actual twenty-somethings all day blows that illusion to pieces.

As an older student, you need to let go of the fear of not fitting in and embrace your life experience as an asset you bring to class discussions and group projects. Speak up, ask questions, make comments — after all, the point of college is not merely to learn from books and professors, but to learn from each other. 

One student asked me if there was Google when I first went to college, to which I responded that there wasn't even an internet. Rather than feeling like an ancient relic from the Stone Age, I felt respected for my perspective. 

Cognitive processing does slow down as we get older — and cramming won't work anymore

Like it or not, the speed at which our brains process information declines as we get older, and this decline begins in our thirties. Studying and memorizing new information was certainly harder than I remember from the first time I went to college, and it was a lot tougher to pull all-nighters on a regular basis. 

On the other hand, life experience enhances a person's crystallized intelligence — the skills, abilities, and knowledge that is over-learned, well-practiced, and familiar. For example, I already had excellent time-management skills honed during my legal career, and being a mom at the same time I was in school and working helped me to cope with multiple assignments, projects, and exams.

Many of my professors were younger than me — and easier to communicate with

At times it felt weird to be taught by professors who were younger than my son. However, all of my professors responded to emails, had open office hours, patiently described theories and concepts I found hard to grasp, and treated me no differently than other students.

Ironically, because I was more comfortable asking questions and seeking clarifications from professors than my peers, I often was sought out by the other students when they were nervous about speaking up. 

After one exam, for example, some students were unhappy with how one of the questions was graded, and they turned to me to voice their concerns. After I made a successful argument on the class's behalf, the professor outed me, stating, "Aren't you all lucky to have an attorney to appoint as your representative?" — which actually strengthened my relationship with the other students in the class. 

I learned as much from my fellow students as I did from my professors

To get the most from your college experience, you must go all in. Resist the urge to retreat or get on with the rest of your day when class is over. Make time to study with other students, chat in the hallways, and sit with students in the dining hall.

And if you're asked to socialize after school with your classmates, say yes! One of my best times at school was a night out at an arcade bar playing retro video games, filled with unrestrained laughter and silly competition playing DDR and Ms. Pac-Man. I would have missed out on a good time and new connections if I had not stepped out of my comfort zone. These connections opened the door for discussions about my classmates' LGBTQ experiences, being first-generation students, working through past traumas and other stressors and anxieties.

As I work toward furthering my education in psychology, these informal chats with fellow students — who I now consider friends —  gave me invaluable insights to younger generations, teaching me greater empathy for the different world that they have grown up in.

Pushing my boundaries of thought, learning, and relationships was a challenge that went beyond simply attending classes. It is a challenge I would recommend for anyone wondering "What if I went back to college?"

• Read more:
• 10 of the biggest cultural differences between the Midwest and the East Coast, from someone who's lived in both regions
• We asked pro résumé coaches to name one thing they wish everyone knew
• My boyfriend and I make $55,000 in one of the most expensive cities in the US — here's how we live and what we spend money on
• The first jobs of 14 of the biggest tech executives

• As regulation and privacy laws start to take shape, marketers are turning to advertising and marketing companies to help them prepare.
• These companies are selling marketers software and other tools that help collect, store, and use first-party data.
• Business Insider asked advertising agencies and investors to identify the leading companies helping marketers navigate the new privacy landscape.
• The 10 we list include startups, established security companies, and data firms belonging to major holding companies.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Regulators are starting to rattle the advertising industry.

A year after the European Union rolled out the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR — the sweeping law that regulates how marketers collect and use people's data — similar rules are coming to the United States.

The California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, is set to roll out in January, and similar proposed laws in Nevada, New York, and Washington state would clamp down on how marketers use people's data, particularly third-party data sources.

The proposed laws would require marketers to collect consumers' consent to use their data for marketing and advertising, and encourage marketers to beef up their first-party data from email, loyalty programs, and transactions.

Digital giants Facebook and Google also are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny and cracking down on advertisers' ability to use third parties on their platforms. Facebook is rolling out a tool called "off-Facebook activity" that lets consumers wipe data that Facebook collects from other websites for ad targeting.

Google plans to introduce new privacy tools that limit how advertisers use third-party data within its Chrome browser. And Apple is pitching its new "Sign in With Apple" tool as a privacy-friendly tool that would severely limit how advertisers retarget people with ads on its devices.

Read more:Google's looming privacy changes could shake up ad retargeting, and advertisers are scrambling to find alternatives

Startups are capitalizing on marketers' need to prepare for coming privacy regulations. Scores of advertising and marketing technology firms say they are regulation-proof and pitching marketers on software and services that promise to keep them safe too.

"Marketers are woefully under-prepared — many have taken a laissez-faire attitude towards privacy," said Ben Barokas, CEO of ad-tech firm Sourcepoint, which provides software for digital publishers to collect first-party data.

The catch is that tech firms are hesitant to take on too much legal responsibility, Jason Koye, VP and general counsel of North America and global privacy lead at Omnicom Media Group, added.

"The tools might be compliant, but no responsible vendor is saying, 'By virtue of using our tool, you will be compliant,'" he said. "What these regulations have done is create legal risk allocation that's constantly evolving where everyone is trying to push liability onto someone else."

For that reason, he said agencies need to be conservative about the number of vendors they work with.

Business Insider asked a handful of advertising agencies and investors which companies marketers are working with. They named startups like Zeotap, Perksy, and mParticle that help marketers organize and use first-party data for marketing and advertising, along with established firms like TrustArc, which specializes in security technology.

Below are 10 companies, listed alphabetically, that are helping marketers prepare for the new wave of privacy and regulation. We listed companies' financial information depending on their stage of development. For startups, we indicated how much funding they've received to date; for public companies, we tracked their revenue; and for acquired companies, we listed their sale price.

Acxiom says it wants to help marketers develop plans for regulation.

Acquired by Interpublic Group for $2.3 billion in July 2018

As regulators start to clamp down on how marketers use people's data, big holding companies are making huge bets on data brokers that help marketers manage and store privacy-friendly first-party data.

InterPublic Group acquired Acxiom last year in such a gamble. Arun Kumar, IPG's chief data and technology officer, recently told Business Insider that Acxiom has an opportunity to help clients build data products and practices that go beyond ad campaigns.

Still, critics — including rival holding companies — have questioned if IPG's acquisition creates a conflict of interest by limiting clients' options for data companies.

Acxiom provides hour-long or half-day workshops in CCPA requirements for marketers and helps them plan for regulation. The firm also sells them identity graph software that stitches together digital and offline data and a data-management platform to organize and track data.

Leslie Price, senior product manager at Acxiom, said 40% to 70% of Acxiom's clients have gone through the assessment process and have a plan in place for CCPA compliance, while another 20% of clients are wrapping up regulation work. She estimated that Acxiom has met with 100 clients about CCPA, in some cases holding multiple meetings.

Some marketers rushed out privacy efforts ahead of GDPR in May 2018, unclear what the law would entail until the last minute. Some marketers are finding themselves in the same situation with the CCPA, but Price said marketers are better off this time around.

"Our interpretation is that more of the law is concrete than what's going to be fixed in the amendment process," she said.

BritePool says it wants to pool publishers' privacy-safe data for advertisers.

Total funding to date: N/A

Led by former 24/7 Real Media CEO David J. Moore and former Pizza Hut CMO Bob Perkins, BritePool wants to help publishers transition from relying on third-party data to first-party data for advertising.

BritePool said publishers would increasingly collect consumer consent for advertising purposes as regulation gains importance. In September, it plans to launch free software to help publishers collect IDs based on readers' browsing habits that advertisers can use as an alternative to Facebook's and Google's first-party data. BritePool plans to make money by selling advertisers its aggregate ID audiences.

In exchange for sharing their data with publishers, consumers earn points to redeem items like gift cards and discounts. They can set preferences for which types of ads they would like to see.

"We believe the ad-tech system is fundamentally broken," Moore said. "Our objective is to level the playing field for ad-supported websites to effectively compete for ad revenues with social media and e-commerce sites."

In exchange for the technology, publishers are encouraged to promote BritePool and will receive a cut of the company's equity. BritePool is allocating 20% of its equity to publishers that sign up the first 80 million users, according to Moore.

CBS, Publishers Clearing House, and ad-tech company PubMatic are among BritePool's initial clients using the technology. Through ad-tech partners like MediaMath and Sonobi, BritePool claims to have access to 250 million US identities.

Other industry alliances like Digital Content Next's TrustX and the Pangea Alliance also aggregate publishers' data to fend off Facebook and Google's growing ad businesses.

Epsilon says it wants to help marketers capture and run ads using first-party data.

Acquired by Publicis Group for $4.4 billion in April 2019

In the holding company's largest acquisition to date, Publicis Group agreed in April to acquire Alliance Data's Epsilon for $4.4 billion to help clients prepare for regulation like CCPA.

Epsilon has a database of more than 250 million US consumers. The firm helps marketers collect and manage their own first-party data from email and loyalty programs. It can then layer third-party aggregated data like transaction and behavioral data on top of marketers' own data to create audiences. Epsilon's ad-tech arm, Conversant, then runs ads using the data.

For example, the firm created personalized emails for fashion brand Coach by matching customers' profiles with demographic, behavioral and transactional data. Using machine learning, Coach sent consumers personalized recommendations. Epsilon reported that the efforts increased Coach's site visits by 9.5% and sales by 3.1%.

Publicis has faced skepticism from industry observers that it can integrate Epsilon successfully into its network of agencies including big players like Leo Burnett, Digitas, and Zenith. Similar to IPG's acquisition of Acxiom, questions have recently swirled about potential conflicts of interest from agencies owning data brokers and whether Publicis will be able to handle possible security and privacy issues from Epsilon's past, including a significant data hack in 2011 that affected millions of consumers.

Jebbit says it wants to help marketers collect mobile first-party data.

Total funding to date: $22.2 million

Startup Jebbit helps retail and consumer-packaged-goods clients like eBay and Express collect first-party data outside their own websites and mobile apps.

Jebbit's president Jonathan Lacoste said marketers use its software to link to quizzes, videos, and photos. For example, advertisers can attach mobile landing pages to Instagram Stories campaigns to collect first-party data like email addresses. Marketers can then push that data to marketing firms like Salesforce that advertisers use to manage campaigns.

Jebbit in April raised $12 million in Series B funding that was led by K1 Investment Management. Advertising execs and entrepreneurs Eric Roza and Jonah Goodhart also participated in the round.

The concern marketer have with first-party data is that it's less plentiful than third-party data that targets ads based on consumers' interests. For this reason, Lacoste said he expects marketers to keep using third-party data to acquire customers. 

But over time he expects advertisers to use first-party data to make recommendations that get more personalized, like Netflix's recommendation algorithm does. For example, a retailer can email people products similar to ones they clicked on in a previous email.

LiveRamp says it wants to power publishers' consent forms.

2019 fiscal year revenue: $286 million

LiveRamp helps advertisers onboard their own data like store purchase and loyalty card information to run targeted digital advertising.

In April, the company acquired Faktor, a small Dutch tech firm that sells consent management software to publishers. The software shows web surfers a box that they have to interact with to access a site's content. The box typically lists a publisher's privacy policy and lets consumers choose what data they give to publishers.

LiveRamp's pitch to US brands and publishers is that its consent-management tool will help them avoid the headaches that publishers faced in using their own technology to capture people's data ahead of GDPR, said Anneka Gupta, LiveRamp's president and head of products and platforms.

"It's a lot of work to maintain your own homegrown solutions," she said. "Now publishers are saying, 'Hey, we need a real solution for ourselves.'"

Gupta said LiveRamp is in the early stages of developing products with security and other ad-tech firms. For example, LiveRamp could team up with a company that helps marketers with the documentation process of collecting data.

MParticle says it wants to challenge the marketing clouds in handling data.

Total funding to date: $76.3 million

Privacy regulations encourage marketers to build up first-party data by getting consumers' consent from mobile apps, websites, loyalty cards, and email.

Firms like mParticle sell software that helps marketers aggregate all that data. The firm is one of a growing number of "consumer data platforms," or CDPs, that help brands including Starbucks, Burger King, and Airbnb use that data for ad targeting, emails, and push notifications.

Marketing clouds such as Adobe and Salesforce provide similar tools for advertisers. Startups such as mParticle pitch themselves as an alternatives for marketers that want to create custom tech stacks.

Agency sources said that while mParticle typically works directly with brands, agencies are increasingly being asked to help clients vet vendors. Andrew Katz, mParticle's cofounder and CTO, attributed the increase to agencies competing more with consultancies that offer similar services.

"The work with agencies is typically more narrow in scope since there is an exclusive focus on marketing and, more specifically, paid advertising," he said. "However, we see agencies becoming more involved in personalization efforts as they battle with consultancies."

Perksy says it wants to gamify market research.

Total funding to date: $4.5 million

Think of Perksy as a mobile equivalent to big traditional market research firms like Kantar and Nielsen.

Consumers download Perksy's mobile app to answer marketers' questions. Clients like Pepsi, Target, Smuckers, and Nickelodeon use Perksy's platform to test ideas and gather sentiment data. For example, a coffee chain could ask about a new drink flavor it's trying out. In exchange, consumers earn points that can be exchanged for gift cards to brands like Nike, Nordstrom, and Uber.

Nadia Masri, founder and CEO of Perksy, said she founded the company as a way for brands to collect anonymous and compliant data and that she is increasingly seeing brands create their own internal task forces that handle privacy. She wouldn't specify the size of the company's panel but said it contains "hundreds of thousands" of users.

"People should have the ability to choose whether or not they want to participate in research, and they should be rewarded for it," she said.

In February, Perksy raised $4 million in a seed round led by Bain Capital Ventures that included funding from MDC Ventures, the corporate venture-capital arm of agency holding company MDC Partners. The company has worked with MDC agencies including Assembly, Forsman & Bodenfors, and YML.

"With increasing consumer concerns over privacy, brands have a responsibility to disclose the type of customer data they have access to, how it was collected, the permissible uses of that data, and the value it will provide," Jessica Peltz-Zatulove, a partner at MDC Ventures, said. "Brands must balance trust while still creating a personalized experience; emerging startups like Perksy are capitalizing on this trend."

Sourcepoint says it wants to help publishers handle regulation.

Total funding to date: $26 million

Sourcepoint helped European publishers navigate GDPR, and now it's trying to do the same with US publishers.

The company sells consent-management software for publishers. It recently rolled out a tool that allows publishers to store its subscribers or registered users' privacy preferences. The tool links a publisher's properties so users can consent once to have their data stored across all those properties.

Sourcepoint's pitch is that the tool makes it easier for publishers to manage the IDs that they are required to collect under regulation like GDPR and CCPA. SourcePoint said it has two publishers using the tool, which it wouldn't name.

Ben Barokas, CEO of Sourcepoint, said that as US publishers try to balance privacy compliance with business goals, Sourcepoint can help them create a pool of opted-in users to sell advertising against.

"We're just starting to see publishers set up [for regulation]," he said. "Publishers have seen it on the horizon but have been more focused on the bottom line than compliance."

TrustArc says it wants to help marketers manage hundreds of privacy regulations.

Total funding to date: $107 million

Formerly known as Truste, TrustArc is a compliance and security company that has helped companies like AT&T, The Trade Desk, and Nascar comply with privacy-related laws and regulations since the 1990s.

Its technology helps marketers manage consent, ad-targeting preferences and individual laws like Europe's right to be forgotten. TrustArc's SVP of marketing, Dave Deasy, said the company's work with legal departments and marketers alike shows how marketers are leaning on their legal departments to keep up with regulations.

"The average marketer is not investing the time and energy to study the laws and regulations — we find with most companies that [talks] start with the legal department," he said.

According to a TrustArc survey of 250 US privacy professionals in February, 88% of companies need help complying with CCPA. 71% of respondents said they expect to spend at least $100,000 to become compliant while another 19% said that CCPA will cost them more than $1 million.

In July, TrustArc raised $70 million in Series D funding to build out new technology for companies.

Zeotap says it wants to challenge LiveRamp in Europe.

Total funding to date: $20.5 million

A European equivalent to LiveRamp, Zeotap helps brands use their first-party data for ad targeting. Zeotap then gives anonymized data back to brands for marketing and analytics.

Zeotap works with advertisers and agencies like Omnicom and Havas Group. In one case, Zeotap analyzed a bank's customer data to understand credit card churn.

The firm matches advertisers' first-party data with third-party data from 80 sources, including 10 European telecom companies as well as publishers and e-commerce sites. Advertisers can then run ads using vetted, compliant, third-party data to broaden their reach, according to Zeotap.

The firm is seeking to raise Series C funding by the end of the year.

Heer said one of Zeotap's advantages over LiveRamp is that as a Germany-based company, Zeotap has to operate under stricter regulation than do US-based companies.

"If you're a large, multi-national brand, you want to have the same service level across markets," he said. "We're going to raise money to become the strong No. 2 in the US after LiveRamp and continue to be the No. 1 in Europe."

• The Cleveland Clinic, an academic medical center in Ohio, set up a center focused on AI technology earlier this year. 
• Now, it's also adding the tech to its medical school curriculum, says Dr. Aziz Nazha, who leads the AI center.
• The course will teach doctors-to-be how to code and build models that are specific for healthcare, targeting a shortage of talent able to take advantage of AI. 
• We named Nazha to our list of the 30 people under 40 who are transforming healthcare. Click here to see the full list.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

Doctors in the US have long used medical codes to bill for their work. 

Now, doctors-in-training at the Cleveland Clinic's medical school will pick up a different kind of coding, as part of a new course focused on integrating artificial intelligence technology into the curriculum. 

The course aims to teach coding and model-building skills that are specific to the healthcare industry, and it will be optional this year for the school's student body, according to Dr. Aziz Nazha, director of the Cleveland Clinic Center of Clinical Artificial Intelligence.

"I think we have to face it: it's part of our work, whether we like it or not," he said.

The class represents a new direction for Cleveland Clinic, which initially took about a year of convincing to even set up the AI-focused center, Nazha told Business Insider. AI has become a new focus in the healthcare industry as well as at medical schools, which are increasingly orienting their students towards the new technology and being asked to use it more effectively.

That's where Nazha comes in. The 35-year-old was born and raised in Syria, where he went to medical school and later came to the US. All the while, Nazha retained a longtime love of computers, which he today melds with his work as a hematologist and medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

He sees AI as a new tool that can help physicians advance medical research, but one that's limited by a lack of talent that understands both healthcare and technology. 

"I think computer scientists and statisticians don't speak physicians' languages, and vice versa," Nazha told Business Insider. 

In recognition of Nazha's work, Business Insider just named him one of the 30 young leaders transforming the healthcare industry.

Read more:Top young leaders at 23andMe, One Medical, and Oscar Health reveal their best advice for transforming the $3.5 trillion healthcare industry

AI in Cleveland Clinic's medical school and beyond

Nazha has big ambitions for AI.

The idea is to expand this concept to other medical schools, which have struggled to integrate the tech into their curriculums, he says. And he's also interested in building courses to teach computer scientists how to work with healthcare data, which has different sensitivities and challenges than, say, the world of finance.

Looking at Nazha and his center's work at the Cleveland Clinic gives some perspective on what future doctor-programmers might do. 

At Cleveland Clinic, about 20 AI projects are ongoing, both in the hospital generally as well as ones more focused on cancer treatments.

They examine topics such as how long patients stay in the hospital, why patients who're discharged may later return to the hospital, and predicting the patients for whom a given chemotherapy will work.

In Nazha's practice as a physician, he's been frustrated by the trial-and-error process of using chemotherapy, since there's no way to know which patients will respond best to which treatment option, he said

"If we really want to transform medicine, we will not have to continuously improve. We have to completely change how we think about medicine," Nazha said. "You really have to start from medical school and go all the way up." 

• Read more:
• A scientist who's working to transform cancer treatments at a $4 billion biotech shares why you should ditch the 'CEO of a company by age 35' mentality
• A new prescription drug made from CBD has been groundbreaking for kids with epilepsy. We talked to their parents about the good, the bad and the ugly of what it's been like to take it.
• A top US health insurer has saved $4 million in one year by making a simple change, and it could be a lesson for others on how to transform a system from the inside out
• A VP at a $2.5 billion startup reveals exactly how she asked her boss for a big promotion at just 33 years old — and got it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The surprising differences between giving birth in your 20s versus your 30s

The sheer number of books contained in Satya Nadella's corner office highlight how much he reads — both pages and screens are indispensable parts of his life. 

The CEO of Microsoft, the most valuable company in the world, grounds himself and Microsoft's culture on ideas he's learned thanks to his reading habit. The principles he derived from psychological and historical titles like "Mindset" by Carol Dweck continue to define his tenure as CEO. 

"I read a few pages here or a few pages there," Nadella told Fast Company. "There are a few books, of course, that you read end-to-end. But without books I can't live."

Nadella's time as CEO was initially shaped by Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication, which he asked his top executives to read. This was the first indicator to senior leadership that Nadella would not operate like his predecessors. In his second earnings call, Nadella borrowed a phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche by saying that investors could expect "courage in the face of reality" from Microsoft. 

We've compiled in the following list for anyone who wants to start reading, or quoting literature, like Satya Nadella. 

SEE ALSO: 15 books billionaire Ray Dalio says you should read to understand today's world — and have a fulfilling life

"Little Gidding" by T. S. Eliot

In Nadella's first press briefing on March 2014, he memorably quoted a line from prolific 20th-century poet T.S. Eliot's "Little Gidding." Nadella used this in the context of explaining how even though he had spent 22 years at Microsoft, he saw things in a different perspective from his new position as CEO.

"I think TS Elliot captured it best when he said that you should never cease from exploration, and at the end of all exploring you arrive where you started and know the place for the very first time," Nadella said. "And for me that has been more true than ever before."

"Little Gidding" was actually Eliot's last great work. As one analysis suggests, "it is a poem about traditions in the present, and a present-day poem that absorbs past traditions."  

Read it here >>

"Nonviolent Communication" by Marshall Rosenberg

Nonviolent communication integrates qualities like compassion, and effective communication to allow for better leadership.

Dr. Rosenberg writes from a position of experience and research: He has started peace programs in places throughout the world that have experienced the effects of war, including Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Serbia, and Ireland. This book outlines the principles of peaceful conflict resolution. It's interesting to note that one of the concepts involves sharing power with others instead of using power over others. 

Nadella recommended it to his leadership team, symbolically differentiating his expectations from that of his predecessors. Reports have found that Microsoft used to have a conflict-heavy culture under Steve Ballmer — now there's nonviolent communication coming from the top of the house.

Find it here >>

"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck

Dweck, a Stanford psychology professor, popularized her research into mindsets with this book. Instead of assuming that your abilities are stuck in place— signaling a "fixed mindset" — Dweck encourages people to view skills as learnable, flexible, growable, or a "a growth mindset." 

Her research shows that mindset is an predictor of achievement across fields, from education to negotiations to performance evaluation to motivation to international conflict to how likely people are to stereotype others.

Nadella has pointed to growth mindset as the essential ingredient of the change he's driven at Microsoft. 

Read more:Satya Nadella says this book gave him the 'intuition' he needed to revamp Microsoft

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"The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown

Daniel James Brown's writing focus is "bringing compelling historical events to life," which he strives to do in this book. He worked at Microsoft for over a decade and has taught writing at Stanford and San Jose University.

Nadella referred to this book in an email about senior leadership changes early in his time as CEO. He specifically refers to a description within the book about the "swing" of the boat, or the rarely found rhythm where the entire crew team's movement is in synchrony.

"As a company, as a leadership team, as individuals, that is our goal – to find our swing," Nadella wrote. "As an SLT and across the company we are on our way."

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"The Book of Three" By Lloyd Alexander

Nadella hasn't outright recommended this children's fantasy novel as much as he has quoted from it: From Chapter One, to be specific.

It's from a scene in which the protagonist, Taran expresses frustration at his position as an assistant pig-keeper. He wants to be like the prince, but the wise enchanter Dallben says that this is "entirely out of the question." When Taran asks why, Dallben says, "we learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself."

Lloyd Alexander wrote this into the first book, "The Book of Three," in the award-winning series "The Chronicles of Prydain." He wrote over 40 fantasy books over his lifetime.  

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"An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth" by Col. Chris Hadfield

Astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield has spent over 4,000 hours in space and spent thousands of hours more training to get there. His bestselling book gives readers a space-eye view of Hadfield's adventures and may change the way they think about their lives on earth. 

Nadella tweeted out a quote from this book, "Focus on the journey, not on arriving at a certain destination," along with "Great read!"

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"The Great Convergence" by Richard Baldwin

Richard Baldwin, an international economics professor in Geneva, explains that new technologies could allow ideas to quickly span the globe: Telepresence and telerobotics could change the way people work and communicate — and corporations and countries will have to adjust accordingly.

Baldwin obtained his PhD at MIT under the guidance of Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman.

Nadella sees similarities between the ideas in this book and technology like Microsoft's HoloLens headset, which allows for idea sharing and collaboration regardless of geographic distance.

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"The Great Transformation" by Karl Polanyi

Per Fast Company, Nadella's father recommended this 1944 book to him "long ago." The book takes the stance that society should propel economic change, and looks at the progress of England's market economy. 

Polanyi was a Hungarian-American political economist who proposed the idea of substantivism with this book. The idea applies culture to economic theory to arrive at a twofold meaning of the word "economics": the first is the formal definition of economics as the choices that are made considering scarcity, and the second is how people meet their material needs by interacting with the social and physical worlds. 

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"The Rise and Fall of American Growth" by Robert J. Gordon

Author Robert Gordon is a professor in social sciences at Northwestern University and a Bloomberg influential thinker of 2016. This book received a number of accolades and made the New York Times Bestseller list. 

Nadella recounted to the book in a speech at the company's 2018 Build developer conference: 

And so I was thinking about the historical parallel where there was this much change, this kind of opportunity, this kind of tumultuous discussion, and I was reminded of a book that I read maybe three years ago by Robert Gordon, 'The Rise and Fall of American Growth.'

And in there he, in fact, talks about the Industrial Revolution and even contrasts it with the Digital Revolution. He gives the PC credit for the last time digital technology showed up in our productivity stats, which is nice, but in general he sort of talks about what an amazing revolution the Industrial Revolution was in terms of its broad sectoral impact in productivity and growth.

Gordon argues that the ongoing digital revolution is in fact much less profound than the industrial one the preceded it, and particular the "Great Inventions" that transformed America into the modernity it knows today — like electricity, pharmaceuticals, urban sanitation, modern communication, and the internal combustion engine. 

But, as Paul Krugman noted in his review, maybe transformative technology is again around the corner — like with artificial intelligence, or, more to Nadella's point of view, cloud computing.

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"Deep Learning" by Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio, and Aaron Courville

This is a text-book on one of the most important technologies of our time, written by formative figures in the field.

Co-author Yoshua Bengio became an adviser at Microsoft after this book was published, and with good reason— he and his co-authors are pioneers in the growing field of machine learning.

Ian Goodfellow is well-known as the inventor of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs),  now a widely-used class of algorithms.

Aaron Courville is an assistant professor at the Department of Computer Science and Operations Research (DIRO) at the University of Montreal and his research interests include developing new machine learning models and methods.

Elon Musk and Facebook AI chief Yann LeCun have also said good things about this textbook. 

Find it here >>

• 35% of employees reported having called in sick to work when they felt totally fine. Some reasons for taking the day off, however, sound more realistic than others. 
• These strange and outlandish excuses for calling in sick to work may get you the day off, but they'll also raise a few eyebrows.
• Here are 19 funny and ridiculous excuses people have used to call in sick.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Hi, boss. I can't come into work today. My grandmother poisoned me with ham."

While that may sound like a completely ridiculous excuse, an employee actually used it, according to a survey released by CareerBuilder.

The survey, which was conducted online in 2016, found that 35% of employees said they have called in sick when they were feeling well.

Read more:'I just don't call out sick anymore at all': New report says Walmart punishes employees for taking sick days

Here are 19 ridiculous excuses people have actually used to call in sick, according to past surveys from CareerBuilder.

SEE ALSO: 23 signs nobody trusts you at work

Employee said the meal he cooked for a department potluck didn’t turn out well.

About 35% of workers surveyed by CareerBuilder said they have called in to work sick when they were actually feeling fine.

Employee said her cat was stuck inside the dashboard of her car.

When asked why they called in "sick," 28% said they "just didn't feel like going in to work."

Employee said they were kicked by a llama and suffered a broken leg as a result.

Another 27% of those surveyed said took the day off to attend a doctor's appointment. 

Employee said his girlfriend threw a pan of hot grits in his face.

Meanwhile, 24% said they just needed a day to relax.

Employee said their parakeet had the flu and needed to be taken care of.

About 18% said they needed to catch up on sleep. 

Employee said her roots were showing and she had to keep her hair appointment because she looked like a mess.

And 11% said took the day off to run personal errands.

Employee said he broke his arm reaching to grab a falling sandwich.

The CareerBuilder survey asked hiring managers and HR professionals to share the most suspicious excuses employees have given for needing to miss a day of work.

Employee’s pressure cooker had exploded and scared her sister, so she had to stay home.

"In some companies, people don't feel comfortable telling their managers they need personal time off, so they will think of an elaborate excuse to get out of work," said Rosemary Haefner, CareerBuilder's former vice president of human resources.

Employee said they were stuck under the bed.

"The more flexible the work environment, and the more open and honest the communication is across the company, and the less likely it is employees will feel the need to lie," Haefner added.

Employee said the universe was telling him to take a day off.

The excuses below aren't necessarily lies — but most are certainly odd and sound suspicious.

Employee said his wife found out he was cheating, so he had to spend the day retrieving his belongings from the dumpster.

If you do need to take a day off, your best bet is to be honest, but not share too many details with your manager, Haefner told Business Insider.

Employee claimed his grandmother poisoned him with ham.

"Many employers are more flexible in their definition of a sick day and will allow employees to use them to recharge and take care of personal needs," Haefner said.

Employee said she poked herself in the eye while combing her hair.

If you choose to fib to get out of going to work, beware: While the majority of employers give their employees the benefit of the doubt, 33% said they have checked to see if an employee was telling the truth.

Employee said they chugged a bottle of mouthwash thinking it was Powerade and was sick as a result.

About 22% of those surveyed said they have fired an employee once discovering they had lied and given a fake excuse.

Employee said his wife put all his underwear in the washer.

"It never fails to surprise me what they say employees have revealed to them in order to get out of work," Haefner said.

Employee said she was going to the beach because the doctor said she needed more vitamin D.

"The excuses have become increasingly creative over the years," Haefner said.

Employee ate cat food instead of tuna and was deathly ill.

The CareerBuilder study found that nearly half (47%) of employers do not have a flexible PTO policy, where sick days, vacation days and personal days are all lumped in together. 

Employee said she wasn’t sick but her llama was.

CareerBuilder says this type of inflexible scheduling "may put an employee in the position of having to fake a cold and take an entire day off when he or she only needed a few hours to take an elderly parent to a doctor's appointment."

Employee ate too much birthday cake.

Remember: the next time you're tempted to call in sick when you are actually feeling fine, you're better off being honest about why you need a day off.

• Read more:
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• Target employees share the 6 funniest things they've seen on the job
• Costco, Walmart, and Target workers handle some ridiculous returns, from entire lawn sets to used toilets
• 27 of the wildest office holiday party stories we've ever heard

• Moving from a small town in Connecticut to New York City came with its challenges.
• I soon began to realize that there were things I really missed (and didn't miss at all) about small-town life.
• Here are 9 things I do and don't miss about living in a small town, compared to living in New York City.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

After growing up in the rural town of Woodstock, Connecticut, where the population is approximately 8,000 people, I admittedly couldn't wait to move to New York City, the most populous city in the country. I looked forward to everything living in a big city has to offer in the realm of food, entertainment, nightlife, job prospects, and more.

Moving from a town of 8,000 people to a city of 8 million residents did, however, come with its challenges.

I soon realized that there were certain things I missed about small-town life — and other things that made me never want to go back.

Read more:I'm a Midwesterner living in New York City. Here are the most surprising differences between the two.

Here are 9 things I do and don't miss about small-town life after moving to New York City.

SEE ALSO: The 29 coolest small US cities to visit in 2018

I miss not having to rely on public transportation or Uber

If there's one thing I miss about small-town life, it's the simple luxury of walking out your front door, getting into your car, and driving to your destination. Once you're done, just hop back in and be back at your front door in no time. 

In New York City, going anywhere more than a mile away can be an operation. Grocery shopping, especially, has proven extremely inconvenient. When I lived in a small town, I simply parked right in front of the grocery store and only had to carry my bags to and from my car. In New York, I have to carry my heavy grocery bags multiple blocks to the subway, and then even further from the subway stop up to my third-floor apartment. 

When doing my weekly shop, I have to take into account whether I can lug multiple heavy items like pasta sauce or milk gallons back with me, or if I'll have to split it into separate trips. Oftentimes, I'm restricted to two or three grocery bags — in the country, I could fill my car with bags and have no worries at all, knowing I could make multiple trips to and from my car if I needed to.

I don’t miss not being able to walk anywhere

One upside of living in a bustling city like New York is that a lot of what you need is right outside your door. Delis, bodegas, convenience stores, coffee shops, and more are oftentimes never more than a block or two away.

When I lived in a small town, the nearest Dunkin' or McDonald's was at least a 20-minute drive away. You could roughly drive halfway across Manhattan in that same time span, and pass probably hundreds of McDonald's and coffee shops. 

I miss everything being so much less expensive

It's true what they say — living in New York City can be extremely expensive. Restaurants are noticeably more expensive than the ones back home, and don't even get me started on the housing market. However, I've found ways to cut corners that can save me money on food and rent.

Living with multiple roommates and taking advantage of New York City's cheap eats will save you money while living in one of the most expensive cities in the country. 

I don’t miss the lack of options for food and entertainment

A lot of restaurants in New York may be expensive, but there's so many more to choose from. In New York City, we truly are spoiled for choice. There's so much to see, do, and eat, it can be overwhelming at times. 

When I lived in a small town, I'd go to the same restaurants over and over again — and none of them were half as good as the places I've been to here in New York. 

I miss being close to the people I grew up with and my family

I'm about a 3-hour journey from home, which makes it hard to see my family and friends from home on a regular basis. My whole life, other than when I went away to college, I was extremely close to my family and the people I went to school with. I do miss being able to see them more often, but I know I'm only a train ride away.

More than anything, though, I do miss having my mother's home-cooked meals more often — I've yet to find a spaghetti bolognese in the city that can compete with hers.

I don’t miss how everyone in my town knew everybody else’s business

One downside of being in super close proximity to your family, neighbors, and the people who live in your town? Everybody gossips about everybody, and everybody knows everybody else's business.

News travels fast in a small town — both good and bad.

In New York City, you're practically anonymous. No one knows anything about you unless you directly tell them — they're way too busy worrying about their own busy lives to talk about yours.

I miss the quietness — especially at night

I do miss the days when I wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of sirens or car alarms going off. Whenever I go home to Connecticut, one of the first things I always notice is how quiet it is around my house. We have no immediate neighbors, so the only sounds I can hear at night are the faint cries of coyotes in the woods behind our property or the chirping of crickets. 

I don’t miss the lack of racial or religious diversity in my town

One side effect of growing up in a small, New England town is that there can sometimes be a serious lack of religious and racial diversity. My hometown is admittedly comprised of mostly white people. Now that I live in New York City, one of the most diverse cities in the country, the difference is really striking. I love being in a place where diversity is celebrated.

I miss the natural beauty of New England

New England may have its problems, but the seasons in that part of the country are truly unrivaled. Living on a farm, I always enjoyed the natural beauty of my house and my neighborhood. Summers were hot, but I never had to stand on a crowded, dirty subway platform sweating in places I never wanted to sweat. Driving through my hometown in the fall is nothing less than breathtaking. Growing up, I could pass a roadside lemonade or apple cider stand, historic landmarks, and multiple apple orchards on my way home from school. 

My hometown may not be a cultural epicenter like New York City, and that does have its drawbacks. However, I've come to have an appreciation for the quaint, picturesque, and neighborly lifestyle that is small-town life in New England. 

• Read more:
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• Wealthy New Yorkers are hunting for weekend homes close to the city, and it's changing the way people think of the suburbs
• I moved from LA to a town of 2,300 people — here were the biggest culture shocks I faced in small-town America

• Awkward silences can work to your benefit in salary negotiations, according to Melissa Dahl's book, "Cringeworthy."
• Too many people make the mistake of talking too much — and sabotaging their chances of success — when they're nervous.
• The media exec Joanna Coles has said she uses the awkward-silence strategy to win negotiations.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Psychologists often talk about the supposed benefits of embracing discomfort. The idea is that by leaning in to feelings like anxiety and anger instead of resisting them you'll take away their power to consume you whole.

This idea has always held a lot of appeal for me, but I haven't always been sure how to put it into practice.

So I had a lightbulb moment toward the end of Melissa Dahl's book, "Cringeworthy," in which she describes a practical strategy for acknowledging your discomfort and giving it a big ol' hug.

Read more:Your 30-step plan for getting the promotion you want and deserve

Dahl writes specifically about embracing the inherent awkwardness during a salary negotiation. She quotes Katie Donovan, the founder of the consultancy firm Equal Pay Negotiations, saying that the first step in a negotiation "is to be silent, hush up, or SHUT UP!"

Donovan said that if you're offered a starting salary that's lower than what you know is the median salary for the position, you can say something like: "Thank you for the offer. I'm a little surprised about the salary, though. Based on my research I would have expected it to be in the [X] range."

Even if the hiring manager raises his or her eyebrows or gasps in horror, don't backpedal — and definitely don't run your mouth out of nervousness.

As Dahl writes, the hiring manager "might not be able to reach the number you're asking for, but let them tell you that; don't undercut yourself by saying that for them."

A top executive says she uses the awkward-silence strategy to win negotiations

Alison Green, the woman behind the popular "Ask a Manager" advice column, has said something similar. On an episode of the "Ask a Manager" podcast, Green tells a confused caller to ask, "Any chance you can go up to X?" and then stop talking.

Green said: "Wait for an answer. It might take them a minute, there might be a pause there. That's totally OK. Sometimes people get really nervous when there's a pause there and they start talking again to fill in the silence, and then they end up undercutting themselves and kind of backtracking. Say the words and then wait."

Note that this strategy isn't used exclusively by knock-kneed entry-level employees. It's also used by the likes of Joanna Coles, who was the chief content officer at Hearst Magazines and has served as editor-in-chief of both Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan magazines.

Read more:13 6-figure jobs for people who value stability and career growth

On an episode of Business Insider's podcast "This is Success," Coles shared with Business Insider's US editor-in-chief, Alyson Shontell, her best strategy for winning a negotiation: silence.

"In any kind of negotiation, silence is often your best friend because you don't want to give too much away," Coles told Shontell. "I'm always amazed when I'm negotiating with people from the other side of the desk, how people will rattle on and not stop talking. People talk a lot when they're nervous."

Dahl quotes Green, the "Ask a Manager" columnist, in "Cringeworthy," too. "My advice is that you should embrace it," Green said of awkwardness at work, "and find the humor in it."

SEE ALSO: The art of a bad deal: A negotiations expert breaks down the everyday lessons we can learn from Trump's messy trade war with China

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Slack and Flickr, says 2 beliefs have brought him the greatest success in life

• The 10,000-hour rule popularized by Malcolm Gladwell roughly says if you practice one skill for 10,000 hours, you'll have a good chance at becoming an expert at it.
• As the Guardian reports, new research indicates the 10,000-hour rule alone doesn't account for mastery in a given skill, like playing the violin.
• Aside from deliberate practice, differences in each person account for skill level, according to psychologist Brooke Macnamara, who co-authored the study.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

We've all heard that age-old saying: Practice makes perfect.

According to new research, however, that's not necessarily the case.

As the Guardian reports, the adage was given a scientific basis when journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell wrote about the 10,000-hour rule in his 2008 bestseller, "Outliers." The rule is simple: mastery comes after someone practices one skill — like playing the violin — for 10,000 hours. 

As Gladwell writes in "Outliers," the key to mastering a skill is practice, and "ten thousand hours is the magic number of greatness." His book chronicles how greats like Bill Gates and the Beatles toiled away for thousands of hours before becoming experts in their fields.

To prove his point, Gladwell cited a 1993 study which indicated that increased practice led to playing the violin like a virtuoso. Anders Ericsson, the psychologist behind the rule, became something of a celebrity in his field after Gladwell's smash hit, and the related idea of "deliberate practice" — or pushing your skills over long hours — became a popular subject with the LinkedIn-y world of thought leadership. 

But according to a new study published in Royal Society: Open Science that attempted to replicate the findings of the original, practice alone doesn't account for mastery. In the study, deliberate practice only accounted for a quarter percentage of the skills difference, which doesn't account for what makes someone an expert.

Brooke Macnamara, a psychologist at Case Western Reserve University, and researcher Megha Maitra interviewed three groups of 13 violinists, each rated as less accomplished, good, and best. The violinists were told to keep a diary to log practice hours, and those hours were then tallied. While the less accomplished violinists had logged an estimated 6,000 hours by age 20, the good and best had both logged around 11,000 hours.

That is to say: The good and best violinists saw no huge difference, as opposed to the not so good violinists, who didn't practice as much. The implication: practice didn't account for all the differences in performance.

"I think a lot of people like the idea that with hard work and determination anyone can become an expert at anything," Macnamara told Business Insider.

"It's very 'American Dream,'" she added. "However, it is an oversimplification. Of course you will almost undoubtedly improve with practice, but more practice does not necessarily mean you'll be better than someone else with less practice."

Macnamara said that a lot more goes into mastering a skill than practice. "Even the greatest in the world are not perfect, but to become great, it is likely a number of factors, depending on the task," she said. "A combination of genetic factors, environmental factors, and their interactions, make us who we are and what we accomplish. This includes what we think of as talent, motivation, practice, and opportunity."

One of the original study's coauthors, Ralf Krampe, a psychologist at the Catholic University of Leuven, told the Guardian that the new findings about deliberate practice don't disprove his own. The 1993 study he coauthored never concluded that the number of hours spent on a skill guarantees mastery.  "But I still consider deliberate practice to be by far the most important factor," he said.

SEE ALSO: Forget retirement: Senior citizens are founding small businesses, and research shows more of them are likely to succeed than young entrepreneurs

Join the conversation about this story »

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