Books are a great gift for coworkers. Even the worst book has something to offer, as it opens up our horizons and make us reflect on things we haven't thought before. There are books that even people who are not particularly fond of reading will enjoy. The key, when you are looking for a book to offer as a gift, is to find one that is well-written, relevant to your colleague's interests, easy to read in terms of font and short enough to be thorough and interesting but not too heavy. Following you will find a list of the best career books for coworker gifts. These books are motivational, inspirational and practical and they can help people improve their career, work-life balance and level of fulfillment at the workplace. When you get one for your coworker, don't forget to pick a copy for yourself as well! The 4-hour workweek by Timothy Ferriss Tim is an exceptional young man who, after going to Princeton, managed to start his own health supplement company and run it with the help of … [Read more...] about The Best Career Books for Coworker Gifts
Archives for October 2013
The Longest Aussies Stay With a Job
Australians, like most other people, do not usually stay at one job—or even in one field—for the entirety of their working lives. But, as one might expect, the time spent in the same job varies from person to person, generation to generation, and age group to age group, among other things. This variation within factors is fascinating to observe, and thanks to Valued Opinions™ online surveys in Australia, we can see some trends. Here's what you need to know about job longevity for Australians. Initial Jobs The job landscape has altered dramatically over the previous years and decades in Australia. Australian workers decades ago would usually enter the workforce in a field that they hoped to build a career in. Slowly, over time—and due largely to innovation, technology, and the infinitely more diverse modern market—first jobs became more about getting your foot in the door, making connections, and saving money, and less about landing your long term job on the first shot. … [Read more...] about The Longest Aussies Stay With a Job
How to Increase Your Productivity at Work – 10 Daily Activities
Wondering how to increase your productivity at work? You're in the right place. Think about it, your workplace is where you spend the majority of your waking hours. You wake up, head into the office or job site, spend 8-10 hours physically and mentally devoted to the tasks at hand and head home for a few hours of free time with your family or friends before sleeping and restarting the process. It’s a necessary routine. However, sometimes routines can be troublesome. They can become mundane and tiring causing negative thoughts and a lack of productivity. This can make the daily routine seem more like a chore than something you’d like to devote your time and commit to. Below are actions you can take today to make your work days more enjoyable and boost your productivity. … [Read more...] about How to Increase Your Productivity at Work – 10 Daily Activities
Practice What You Preach: Good Money-Management for Finance Students
There are certain expectations that come with life and one is the ability to manage personal finances a little better than your peers. Surely someone studying finance should know how to balance their own books better than a history, engineering or drama student? Well, when it comes to money management, book smarts don’t always translate into street smarts. Those opting for an undergraduate major in finance are just as capable of running into a personal budget crisis as anyone else. If you’re thinking of choosing finance course or already belong to this group, here are a few ways you can apply your macro knowledge on a micro scale. Determine Your Income As your finance professors will teach you, an income statement is one of the essential tools for determining a company’s financial health. There’s no reason you can’t apply this to your own life. Keep track of all your incoming funds - your monthly salary from that part-time pub gig, money from mum and dad, etc. - and balance … [Read more...] about Practice What You Preach: Good Money-Management for Finance Students
Should You Get a Master’s Degree While Working?
At some point in your career, you may begin to wonder if it is a good idea to get a master's degree. A master's degree can open up a lot of new career possibilities, allowing you to go significantly further in your career. However, earning a master's degree requires a lot of time, effort and money, and it can be a very challenging task for people who are holding a full-time job. If you are considering whether it is worthwhile to pursue a master's degree while working, the following information may be helpful to you. Pros of Getting a Master's Degree While Working Career Advancement If you have a master's degree, you will be eligible for a higher-level position in your company or elsewhere. Such a position is usually more financially and professionally rewarding. Getting a promotion will increase your decision-making power and make you a more important asset to your company. … [Read more...] about Should You Get a Master’s Degree While Working?
Alternative Career Paths for the Undecided
It should come as no surprise that people deciding what they want to do for the rest of their life, picking a career path, are met with some indecisiveness. Although some people out there are fortunate enough to have it all figured out, there are many others who aren’t so lucky. So, if you or anyone you know has ever suffered from being unsure about your professional life, an alternative career path could be the place for you. Travelling Careers Travelling careers can be some of the most fun, and most demanding, jobs available. Positions and pay vary, but there are many fruitful opportunities for employment within the industry. If you’re not into the 9-to-5 scene, and are constantly yearning for different scenery, a traveling career can break you out of the office routine and expose you to an array of new experiences. Consider this when weighing your options for a travelling career path. … [Read more...] about Alternative Career Paths for the Undecided
7 Bad Work Habits To Avoid
As our daily work routines become the norm, we develop habits that help us progress through the day. Many of these habits are beneficial to our work but some can be detrimental and often we may not be aware of, or do little to correct them. This in time can have a negative effect on our experience of work, lessen the possibilities for career development, and can even risk our employment. 1. Poor Planning Poor or lack of planning will result in disorganized working patterns. This can lead to missed deadlines, incomplete work and can create unnecessary stress. Simple measures such as planning a schedule for outstanding work in order of priority will create more efficient, productive and less stressful working conditions. 2. Putting Personal Life Before Work At times we all have to take time off work for unavoidable personal appointments that occur during working hours, and the occasional personal phone call or time spent on social media is overlooked by most employers. However, this … [Read more...] about 7 Bad Work Habits To Avoid
Organizing the Work Halloween Party
Halloween has been a popular celebration for children for many years, particularly in the United States, and in recent years has crossed over to adults and even become a good excuse for a work Halloween party! Done right, celebrating this occasion at work can be a great staff morale booster and team building experience, you'll get to see a different side to your colleagues, get to interact with staff members you would otherwise have little chance to meet on a regular working day, and an opportunity to show a side of yourself, away from your work persona. It's also a chance to demonstrate talents such as organizing, planning and creative skills, as well maybe hidden skills such as story and joking telling! Do and don'ts Do encourage creativity Part of the joy of Halloween is showing off your creative costume ideas. Do arrange games Choose games appropriate for your working environment. These could be judging the most creative or original costume idea, awards for best decorated … [Read more...] about Organizing the Work Halloween Party
Five Ways Job Hunting Has Changed Since You Last Looked
The world has changed so much over the past 10 years as more of our lives have been transferred from offline routines to online duties -- that includes job hunting. There are few of us who have not ordered shopping online, caught up on TV shows or used a social network. A consequence of this shift to the digital is how we apply for new jobs. Go back ten or twenty years, and the weekly or monthly newspaper, the job centre and even the local newsagent’s announcement board was the main source of jobs. Now the world of searching for a new job is a mixture of online job boards, social media and browsing potential websites. E-mails have taken the place of postal applications as the recruitment process has been slimmed down. … [Read more...] about Five Ways Job Hunting Has Changed Since You Last Looked
How to "Refresh" Your Current Job
In an ideal world, once you become bored with your current job, you search and apply for others, have a few interviews, and then pick your preferred choice from the offerings. Unfortunately, it seldom works like that. Financial commitments, lack of employment in your area, and lack of skills and available training often mean the only choice is staying in your current employment. However, if you can't change your job, the next best thing is to refresh it! Ask for a pay rise Not many things can ignite new enthusiasm for a job than a healthy increase in your salary. Work towards a promotion Look and apply for progression in your job if there are career prospects available. Stretching your mind and developing your skills and abilities will stop you getting bored and will help develop a sense of accomplishment in your job. … [Read more...] about How to "Refresh" Your Current Job