Archives for August 2012

Gone are the days when office real estate represented a sign of stature. According to Forbes, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg sits in a bullpen with his staff. Zappos Chief executive Tony Hsieh has a cubicle much like his colleagues in their Las Vegas headquarters. And most recently President and CEO Meg Whitman inspired egalitarian culture back into the HP office by moving out of her office and into a cubicle. Taking away walls and high cubicles can improve corporate culture, morale and productivity, while also reducing the costs and environmental impacts associated with an oversized real estate footprint. According to a survey on the Influence of Workplace Design and Practices, companies that employ open office layouts have observed increases in employee engagement and retention and decreases in employee misconduct. At Westfield, Sr. EVP of U.S. Human Resources and Global Head of Management Stan Duncan had similar success transitioning to open workspace plan in Australia and the … [Read more...] about Transitioning to an Open Workspace

There is nothing more annoying than having to spend time trying to find something online.  The Internet is huge, you know it’s there, you know Google has spent lots of time trying to get the best results to the top of your results pages, but guess what—it’s just not happening. Whether it be because you had a coffee free day that morning or just don’t feel like being on Google any longer, we’ve all been there. Unfortunately, most companies just don’t care. What many annoyed employees don’t know, however, is that there are things you can do to help make you Internet searching more successful and less tedious. By putting a focus on becoming a great Internet searcher, you can get back to social networking and chatting with your friends. I mean…doing all the other work your employer just sent your inbox. Top 5 Tips and Tricks to Help Improve Your Internet Searching Abilities There are tons of little tricks that you can use when working with Google. For example, you can use the search bar … [Read more...] about How to Search the Internet Faster and Easier

What makes someone an expert in his or her field? The criteria are amorphous at best. Some legitimate industry wonders toil away in relative obscurity while others hide flimsy resumes behind winning interpersonal skills that produce an undeserved sense of reverence. In many cases, the goal is not so much trying to become an expert as it is trying to build one's reputation in hopes of securing a coveted job. But the fast-growing word of social media has made it easier to calculate how and why people become experts in their respective field. Among the various measurements by which this is quantified is "influence," a metric that considers many different factors regarding your online following, interactions, value to your industry and quality of produced content relevant to that industry. By developing one's influence online, it is possible to become a more visible and prominent member of your field. Ideally, increased influence through social media should allow a professional to create … [Read more...] about Your Reputation Lives Online

Whether you’re a freelance writer or designer, being on top of your professional game at all times is a must. By continually pushing your creative limits and by giving everything on each project, you’re more likely to remain relevant in the competitive freelance industry. In trying to ever-expand your creative capacity, you may regularly consider attending conferences designed for creative professionals. Conferences can be great places to meet other freelancers and to connect with potential clients. These events can also develop your skills and expand your creative exposure. Unfortunately, they can also be expensive. If you have a limited freelancing budget, the following are four ways to decide if conferences are really necessary for you to attend. Do Your Research While in a creative slump, you may be tempted to register for and attend a freelance conference on a whim. Unfortunately, that type of impulse decision making will bring many expenses including registration fees, hotel … [Read more...] about Are Conferences Really Necessary for Freelancers to Attend?

In your eagerness to be liked at a new job, you’ll likely find every possible coworker on Facebook and befriend them. At first, you’ll learn a lot from each coworker’s profile - viewing their photos, browsing their past posts and reviewing their overall online demeanors. With most coworkers, your online relationships will likely remain civil, even subdued, with each silently stalking the updates of the other. However, if your in-office relationship with a coworker takes a negative turn, you may begin feeling the effects online. Often, coworkers view online conversations as outside the workplace realm and, as such, begin posting harassing comments towards those they don’t like in the office. Here are four ways to deal with the situation if you’ve recently been targeted by a coworker’s harassing comments on Facebook or other social networks. Take Screenshots The first harassing online comment you receive from a coworker will likely be followed by uncertainty, worry and anger. Whether … [Read more...] about How to Deal With a Harassing Coworker on Facebook

It finally happened - after months and months of scouring the web looking for jobs, fixing up your résumé until every last comma was in place, and applying to dozens of jobs of every type available, you finally got a dream job! But before you settle into your shiny new desk and relax in your brand new office chair, here are some things to know about your first day that you definitely shouldn't ignore. 1. Dress to Impress You know what they say: "shoes complete an outfit." On your first day however, you really need a sharp outfit and some sharp shoes to boot. This will be your first time interacting with the people you will spend the majority of your time with for the next (hopefully) long time, and you need to look great to make the best impression. That's why the weekend before, go out and buy some stellar new threads. You'll look confident, feel confident, and there's no way anyone will mistake that you mean business. 2. Prepare Questions You probably don't know anything yet. … [Read more...] about 4 Things You Need To Know On Your First Day of Work