Do you feel that you have great ideas but are unsure about how to share them at work? Maybe you feel your ideas aren’t getting heard or others are taking the praise for them? Here are a few ideas to help you get your ideas heard: Speak Up For many people, a big reason they don’t get their ideas heard at work is because they don’t share them. It can be daunting to share our ideas and put ourselves out there. We wonder if they are good enough, if people will laugh etc but the reality is that no one can know about your ideas if you don’t tell them. If this is the scenario you find yourself in, bite the bullet and commit to sharing those great ideas with others. Get Confident If you are having trouble sharing your ideas or getting yourself heard, it could be time to get to the bottom of your lack of confidence and give yourself a confidence booster. Working with a good coach can be a great way to see why and where you might be creating obstacles for yourself. … [Read more...] about How To Get Your Ideas Heard At Work
Career Advice Blog
9 Things Your Co-Workers Hate to Hear
“I can’t believe they said that!” This is something you don’t want your co-workers saying about you… but chances are, someone’s said it about you at one point or another. While many no-no’s at work are obvious (e.g. “You’re the worst boss ever!”) even seemingly harmless phrases can come back at you with a vengeance. Below are seven common phrases you should never, ever say at work… #1. “That’s not my job.” Ugh. You may as well say “I’m not going to help you unless I absolutely have to.” The truth is, people approach you for a reason: they either want your input or genuinely need your help. In either case, use this opportunity to show you’re ready to help. And who knows? They may return the favor down the line… #2. “How did they get promoted?” Even if your boss is worse than Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock, keep it to yourself. Spreading negative opinions about others make you look unprofessional and (even worse) bitter. However, you should mention their shortcomings during performance … [Read more...] about 9 Things Your Co-Workers Hate to Hear
Switching Careers Is Not Rocket Science
It is amazing how many people get stuck in a rut and think they have to stay in a career they are unhappy with. There are endless opportunities out there, why would you want to continue with one that makes you miserable day after day? Many stay with their current career because they assume switching is just too much of a pain. Really? Is the effort of switching careers more of a pain than the grief you are feeling every day? Should You Make a Change? The first thing you need to do is determine if you really need to make a change. Quite often, people start feeling unsatisfied, but really it is because they are suffering job burnout. Have you taken a vacation lately? Could you possibly just need to recharge your battery? It is important to determine this because the last thing you want to do is be unhappy with the change you make. Lifestyle Change – If you have been traveling with your career or manage a nightclub, and now you are married with a brand new baby, lifestyle changes may … [Read more...] about Switching Careers Is Not Rocket Science
Is Commuting the Most Stressful Aspect of Your Job?
The modern world of public transport and privately owned vehicles has made it possible to seek employment opportunities located further afield to your home than ever before. Whilst this is brilliant news for suburban dwellers whose local career opportunities may be limited to local shops and petrol stations, what price are you paying for your daily commute? I’m not talking about petrol, public transport passes and driving insurance; I’m talking about the price on your health and possibly your career progression. Yes, it sounds insane; how can a bus ride or 40 minutes at the wheel possibly impact your health or job prospects? Whilst that’s a perfectly valid question, I wouldn’t have written this post without providing you with a perfectly logical answer! Traffic Jams and Utter Frustration No one likes queuing for something, what a waste of time! That’s the reason behind why traffic jams drive some motorists completely insane. The long line of cars that wait idly whilst a pedestrian … [Read more...] about Is Commuting the Most Stressful Aspect of Your Job?
5 Ways a Personal Blog Can Boost Your Career
When I first graduated from business school, I leveraged our school's alumni network to seek advice on securing my first job. One successful businessperson I spoke to advised that starting a blog would be one of the best things I could do to advance in my career. Looking back, I completely agree with this advice. Building a blog is one of the best tools for getting started and advancing in your career field. If you don't have a personal blog yet, I hope to provide some concrete reasons in this article on why you must start one today. 1. Personal Branding The idea of the personal brand that was coined by Tom Peters in 1997 has been greatly accelerated by the Internet which connects everyone and provides a platform for easy self publishing of content that can be broadcast to a large audience for free. By producing great content on your blog, you will establish an online presence that will strengthen your personal brand. For example, Dan Schawbel created a blog called The Personal … [Read more...] about 5 Ways a Personal Blog Can Boost Your Career
Things to Leave Off a Resume
Most people get so wrapped up in what they should be putting on their resume that they don’t think about the things that should be left off. This is similar to preparing for an interview. You may have answers thought out that you have recited in your head, but they may be turning an employer off. Things that you think are hot buttons are not necessarily what employers are looking for. Updating Your Resume It is always a good time to update your resume. Most people wait until they are in a position that demands applying for a new job to even think about making changes. Unfortunately, when you are in a situation like this, you will likely spruce up a few words, add new experience and that’s about it, because you are in a hurry to get it out there. Ideally, you will take the time to update your resume on a regular basis. Look for Missing Skills – You may find that by looking over your resume, you will notice that something is missing. This could be a skill that you neglected to add, … [Read more...] about Things to Leave Off a Resume
Why Asking for Help Helps Your Career
Most people are under the impression that asking for help will make them look incompetent, or hurt their career in some way, but this is absolutely false. Of course, if you are constantly asking for help because you are lazy or lacking time management skills, this is a different story. However, if you are asking for help because you want to learn, or come up with solutions or improvements, requesting help will likely make you look like quite a valuable employee. When to Ask for Help If you are trying to impress your boss, you need to know when you should and should not ask for help. After all, it would be pretty embarrassing to have that new hire showing you how to change the toner in the copy machine. Your questions need to be appropriate, and timing is everything. Project Details – If you are not sure of project details, always ask for help. It shows that you are eager to make sure every aspect of the project is handled properly. However, if your boss took the time … [Read more...] about Why Asking for Help Helps Your Career
How to Shine on LinkedIn
As a professional, if you are not making use of LinkedIn, you are missing out. This is a powerful platform with more than 120 million members. If you just read that and instantly felt left out, that’s a perfectly natural reaction. It’s frustrating to know that millions of others may be getting a head while you are stuck in a rut, all because you are not making use of your resources. The good news is that whether you are just now joining LinkedIn or if you simply haven’t used the platform to its full potential, you can change this quite quickly. First Things First The most important thing you will do is take the time to fill in your profile as thoroughly as you possibly can. By doing this, you increase your visibility and provide the site with the information that it needs to make appropriate recommendations to you. This is also why being honest is crucial. This is a platform that will truly benefit your professional career, if you are honest about everything. Even if you are not … [Read more...] about How to Shine on LinkedIn
Don’t Hoard Vacation Days!
There are many people who still think that hoarding their vacation days is the best way to go. So, if this sounds like you, rest-assured tha you are not alone in your thinking. Unfortunately, just because a lot of people are doing it, does not make it right. It is estimated that billions of dollars are forfeited every year in vacation time because employees either quit or lose their time, they wait until the last minute when they can’t use them because others are on vacation, or they are scared of job security so they do take them. This just isn’t right. Plan Ahead One of the most important things you can do to avoid burnout and keep yourself healthy, is plan ahead for vacation. When you wait until the last minute, there is a good chance that you may not be able to take the time. If you plan on hoarding all your time to take over the holiday, you better hope you are not fighting everyone else for the same time off. There is nothing worse than forfeiting time because you waited too … [Read more...] about Don’t Hoard Vacation Days!
How to Sell Yourself and Land Your Dream Job
Whether you call it networking, schmoozing or just being personable, it all boils down to one thing when you’re applying for job: You have to sell yourself. And surprisingly, it’s not that different than selling any other product of service. You have to know what you’re selling, be confident that it can help the person, and know how to talk about it without coming across as bragging. In fact, applying for a job is one of the first opportunities that you’ll have to brush up on your selling skills because more likely than not, when you have that job, you’re going to have to sell something at one point or another. Now is the perfect time to hone your selling skills, and here are five steps you can use to land your dream job and get practice for your future career. Network This can’t be stressed enough. Looking good on paper is only going to get you so far. You have to know people. Use any contacts that you’ve made throughout school or previous jobs to be your extra eyes and ears in the … [Read more...] about How to Sell Yourself and Land Your Dream Job