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Starting a new job can be a nerve racking experience. How do you survive your first day and make a good impression on your new colleagues and boss at the same time? Here are a few ideas: Be Punctual It might seem obvious, but do make sure that you leave plenty of time to get to work early for your first day. If you are taking a route to work that you haven’t taken before it might be worth doing a practice run before hand so you can be prepared as possible. Take a lunch break, but again it is worth making sure you are back punctually. Paying attention to the small details will help you settle in and make the best impression you can. Look Smart Choose what you are going to wear carefully to make the best first impression that you can. Think about practicalities – if you are working in an office but also need to go to a factory on site you might want to wear the more sensible heel for example! Thinking ahead will help you to prepare and feel as comfortable as possible … [Read more...] about First Day on the Job: How to Make a Good Impression

Focus is essential to success at work. Without the ability to knuckle down and stay with a task, we are like a feather in the wind, being pulled this way and that. Do you have trouble remaining focussed? If so, here are some tips to help you stay the course: Do One Thing at a Time Multitasking was hailed as the way to be productive for a long time, however it is now emerging that multi tasking can be detrimental to focus and productivity. To stay focussed, practice doing one thing at a time. Ideally, try to complete the task in hand before moving onto the next thing. Take Control Taking control over your day is essential to focus. Turning up to work each morning and just doing what is in front of you means that you are at the mercy of whatever happens that day. Create a simple plan  and stick to it. Make sure you complete the most important tasks first. Learn to Say No Learning to say no is very important in the art of becoming focussed. If you allow yourself to be distracted … [Read more...] about How To Stay Focused

Vacations are great, but they usually have to end at some point! How do we cope with those post-vacation blues when we return? Here are a few tips: 1. Make The Most Of Your Vacation Before you even return, make sure you make the most of your vacation time while you have it. Try to completely switch off from work and make sure you do something enjoyable and rejuvenating, whether that is at home or away. If you find it hard to switch off, it is worth looking at why that is and finding a way to get more of a balance in your life. 2. Ease Your Way In How can you make your first week back at work easier? Can you arrange for the first day back to be a catch up day, where you get a chance to find your feet again? Of course, this isn’t always possible but there is usually something you can do to make your re-entry to work easier.  3. Plan Your Next Break Having something exciting to look forward to can be motivating and help things seem more manageable. If you are feeling blue at … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Survive Returning to Work After Vacation

Getting feedback from your boss is important if you want to move ahead in your career. You have to know what your boss sees when you are at work each day. However, your boss may not always be honest and forthright with you. Luckily, there are strategies that you can employ to make sure that your boss gives you honest and critical feedback. Schedule A Private Meeting  Set up face-to-face meeting between you and your boss. It can be in his office, a local cafe or anywhere else where a meeting can be conducted. Make sure you schedule the meeting at a time when your boss can give you his full attention. There is nothing worse than getting feedback while he is also on his phone or preparing for a meeting he has in an hour. You want to create a situation where he is only focused on you. Otherwise, he may just tell you what you want to hear to get rid of you. Ask The Right Questions  Ask specific questions if you want to get specific feedback. Tell your boss about a situation that occurred … [Read more...] about 3 Ways to Get Constructive Employer Feedback

Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, you ought to set up a life you don’t need to escape from. Seth Godin Most people enjoy their holidays from work, but what about life in between? As the quote above indicates, if we are grinning and bearing our lives till the next holiday, we may need to make some changes to the way we are living. Work-life balance is a term that is used a lot these days, but how do we create real balance in our lives? How do we create a life we don’t need to escape from? Spend Less Whatever your job and pay is, I recommend good money management and saving some of your income. So many people fritter away their money on unnecessary things, which are in fact keeping them trapped in a life they don’t really enjoy. Of course, what is unnecessary is different from one person to the next, but what is necessary, is usually quite flexible. When you know exactly where all your money is going, you will feel more empowered. Not living paycheck to … [Read more...] about Creating Real Work-Life Balance

When you lose a job, there is a big distinction between whether it was due to a layoff or a firing. In cases where you were laid off, you have a better chance of explaining yourself to potential employers in regards to why you are out of work. If, however, the loss of the job was a result of a firing, carefully choosing your words to discuss the situation is imperative. While I have never been fired from a job over a 23-year career, I have been a layoff victim. The layoff eventually led me to considering starting a small business, however, I was eventually persuaded to realize the fact that having someone else take care of your checks and health insurance is not such a bad thing. As I pondered whether or not I would look for another job or go into business for myself, the idea of having to deal with the thought of getting a small business loan to start a business was also not overly appealing. Yes, the loss of a job stings in a number of ways, but a layoff is much easier to … [Read more...] about Is That Firing or Layoff Going to Cost Me My Next Job?

So, you’ve hit or even passed the big 4-0. You have life experience, professional experience, a certain amount of wisdom that comes with age and yet, you are still struggling to secure that new job.  You suspect that your age may have something to do with it. Unfortunately, you are probably right. As an older job seeker, you need to be aware of the mindset that you will encounter in interviews and be prepared to adapt and ask questions accordingly. Here’s a few things that will help the over 40s overcome potential barriers to that much sought after new job. 1:  Older People Are Stuck In Their Ways This is a common misconception among employers. There is a belief that the older you are, the more resistant to change you become. While it is certainly the case that there are people over 40 who do exhibit this characteristic, the truth of the matter is that older employees are actually better at coping with change as they have experience in adapting to changing circumstances, … [Read more...] about Tips For Getting Back Into Work For The Over 40s

Wage disputes can arise in almost any work environment, even productive and happy ones which operate smoothly and without incident. Employers sometimes may even be unaware that a violation has  occurred, which makes it all the more important that you as an employee have a strong understanding of employment law and your right to fair wages for the work you engage in. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), you are protected against an employer taking advantage of your good nature, lack of leverage, or ignorance of your rights to obtain unpaid labor from you. In many disputes, the issue can be quickly and amicably resolved in-house by simply taking the time to frankly and calmly address the problem with the HR department and make clear your expectations for compensation. Honest mistakes and errors are not entirely uncommon in payroll departments, and immediately assuming the worst can quickly lead to ill will between you and your superiors, possibly damaging your future prospects of … [Read more...] about Your Rights Regarding Wage Disputes