Someone once told me that that there are 3 main elements to adult life, and you can never have them all simultaneously, at least not for any sustained period of time:- Good Health- Happy Home Life- Work SatisfactionI'd like to think that we would all be blessed with these three items. After all, it doesn't seem like too much to ask! I'll take health and home happiness over work satisfaction any day of the week. But I have recently been wondering if I'm jinxed. Maybe you are too. I am a great employee. I don't say that to stroke my own ego, it's simply the truth. I work hard, play well with others and have the company's objectives in mind at all times. I balance creativity and business sense better than most. And when it comes to making my bosses look good, I shine.Yet despite being a model employee, I have NEVER been surprised with a raise, bonus or promotion. Everything I have received, I've had to scratch and claw for. It … [Read more...] about Hey St. Patrick…Where's My Good Luck at Work?
So Many Ideas, So Little Credit
“The key to every man is his thought." - Ralph Waldo EmersonTruth be told, many office workers merely want credit for their concepts and hard work, but the reality is, pats on the back are on the verge of extinction.Throughout my career, I've heard work colleagues gripe and vent on just about anything. From the smelly office fridge to the woman in HR who doesn't wash her hands after using the restroom. The grievances vary from job to job but there are some consistencies. None more obvious than workers' desire to be acknowledged for their work ideas.Workers simply want to hear, "It was your idea. Thank you."Not getting credit for concepts and solutions is unfair, but it's also a fact of office life. With most people hiding behind the "forgetful" defense, claiming ownership is a difficult and awkward case to present. That's why you need to let it go. Here's why.YOU GET PAID. It might not be in your official job description, but … [Read more...] about So Many Ideas, So Little Credit
Tapping Into Employees' Hidden Talents
Far too often I have seen employees' talents get underutilized in the workplace. Sometimes it's the fault of a modest worker; other times it's an uninformed boss. Since we are all experts at something, I believe it's important to tap into the skills of workers at all levels. Hidden talent benefits no one. The first step is to understand what each person is capable of. On the audio file below I talk about a possible solution to bring workers skills to the forefront. Direct Download … [Read more...] about Tapping Into Employees' Hidden Talents
Hey Boss, We're Not Illiterate!
There's something I've hated since the third grade, yet I've found it trailing me like a bloodhound over the past two decades. It's when a teacher hands out a syllabus or assignment and then preceeds to read the entire thing around. This is not teaching. This is not lecturing. It is laziness.This problem has seeped into many of the meetings I attend. Workers prepare reports and then read them alond - word for word. If we are having a meeting, isn't it fair to expect that we will verbally discuss and expand upon the information contained on the paper? These verbatim readers never see the attendees' eyes glazing over because they are too busy reading!Reading aloud might be effective for my wife's second grade class, but in the businessworld, you are embarassing your staff and yourself.Sorry for the rant. If you want to vent about work, leave a comment below and be sure to check out the Jobacle Master Lists of Work Vent Websites. … [Read more...] about Hey Boss, We're Not Illiterate!
Forced to Come to the Office in a Snowstorm?
Unless you earn a living as an emergency responder or snow-plow operator, there's no reason to report to work amidst a winter storm. Or, at least that's what logic and humanity seem to dictate. But who said cooler heads prevail at work?! Unfortunately for middle-of-the-ladder employees, we rarely get to see our bosses' "softer side." In the northeast, we have experienced some the worst snow conditions in 114 years--and even that didn't make employers change their rigid tune.Missing work when it snows is serious business. Read more from Andrew G.R. on "snowjobs" at U.S. News & World Report. … [Read more...] about Forced to Come to the Office in a Snowstorm?
How to Choose an “Emotional” Pitstop – Part II
Finding Help for Major Career IssuesThere are so many job issues facing us these days - threats of layoffs, no merit increases, toxic work environments or a bad job fit. But who is the best resource to consult for help when it’s more than you can handle? In Part I, I discussed using your personal support system (friends, family, parents & co-worker/friends). Today, I’m looking at the pros and cons of using a professional network, including your boss.BossPros:· A good supervisor knows (you hope!) your job specs. and has a more global view of the company than you do.· Your boss knows your strengths/weaknesses and might offer specific strategies or solutions to tackle your issue.Cons: * If your relationship with your boss is problematic, telling him you are having issues could put you at risk. * Your boss could pass the buck to … [Read more...] about How to Choose an “Emotional” Pitstop – Part II
How to Choose an “Emotional” Pitstop – Part 1
Finding Help for Major Career IssuesI can only recall one job that had no inherent stress: I worked in a small card shop while in grad school. I read funny cards, rang up a few sales and had plenty of time to study. The majority of people experience some level of stress or difficult issue at work and it helps to have a supportive, sympathetic ear when you need to talk it through. But sometimes it’s hard to know who would be the best fit when discussing major career issues. Do you talk to your co-workers, boss, a psychotherapist, friends, family or parents, etc.? When does it make more sense to consult a career coach?First, let’s look at the pros and cons of getting emotional support from the people in your personal life. (Co-workers fall in both personal and professional areas as they can also be good friends.)FriendsPros: * They know you well and are mostly tuned into what you need. * They also have some history with you and your work … [Read more...] about How to Choose an “Emotional” Pitstop – Part 1
Leaving a Job? 4 Ways to Brand Yourself Until the Very End
People are so wrapped up in finding job opportunities, that they often forget the importance of how to quit a job. If you’re not using the final weeks, months, days and hours at a job to reinforce your passion and expertise, you are missing out on a golden personal branding opportunity. The people you work with today, from the newly minted intern to the curmudgeon in clerical, could be the lead to a new job tomorrow. Work hard until the very last secondThe reality is that people WILL talk about you after you leave a job. They’ll likely blame you for things that you had nothing to do with. Imagine how nice it would be for someone to come to your aid, defending your honor, even after you’re gone. It is possible! Give people very little reason to bad mouth you. Not only do you need to work hard and tie up all loose ends when you come to the end of the road at a gig, but you need to be your own cheerleader too. Make it known that … [Read more...] about Leaving a Job? 4 Ways to Brand Yourself Until the Very End
Don't Let Daylight Saving Time Impact Your Work: 5 Ways to Offset the Clock Change
Remember that cool car Michael J. Fox drove in the movie, ‘Back to the Future’, that ultra-suave time machine that allowed him to not only look cool on screen, but also impact events in past and future? On Sunday, March 14 at 2 a.m., we’ll be wishing we looked that dapper. Daylight Saving Time has more of a bewildering effect on our organism than anything else. It is mini jet-lag at its best. Every year it’s the same old story. We switch the clocks, blink bleary-eyed out the window, and wonder why it’s still dark outside. We battle with our own instincts to curl up into the fetal position for one more round of sleep. Let’s look at it positively. It is the one moment of the year in which we get to jump forward an hour with a simple twist of the clock. A minor inconvenience of modern life, Daylight Saving Time is meant to save energy. While most of our lives is spent on some level of clock combat as we try to beat more into our schedules, Daylight … [Read more...] about Don't Let Daylight Saving Time Impact Your Work: 5 Ways to Offset the Clock Change
Working Podcast #98: Twitter Job Search Tips
Five Twitter job search tips from the authors of The Twitter Job Search Guide. Learn where to find 50,000 job postings you might not find on those SimplyHotMonsterBuilder sites. Direct Download … [Read more...] about Working Podcast #98: Twitter Job Search Tips