At work, it’s great to get a little recognition now and then. However, being the center of attention is tough if your work team is comprised of over achievers or if you’re surrounded by employees who regularly claim the spotlight by pouting or freaking out about work projects. Since being recognized by management often paves the road for future raises and promotions, you must cleverly find a way to outshine other employees and claim the spotlight. Here are four effective ways to be the center of attention at work without having to freak out to get noticed. Claim Project Leads If the same team member always snatches project leads and claims the workplace spotlight, it’s time to end their reign. The next time a collaborative work project is announced, immediately consult with management regarding why you should take the lead. This is no time to play the waiting game because, while you’re working out a strategy, other employees will be pleading their cases. Send an email, pick up the … [Read more...] about How to Be the Center of Attention at Work (without freaking out!)
7 Ways Your Desk Job is Killing You
Ever get the feeling your J.O.B. is going to be the death of you? Well guess what- you might be on to something! By combining mounting evidence and common sense we finally have PROOF that holding down a steady 9-5 is the biggest risk you could ever take! Work kills. 1. Lack of Control- It’s Worse Than You Think! Did you know feeling like you’re in control of your life is actually good for your health? It’s true! When you feel in control of your life your hormone balance changes, flooding your system with feel-good chemicals and a biological cocktail that encourages ambition and toughens up your immune system. Well, guess what? When you feel out of control the opposite happens! Your body cuts off those feel good hormones and downshifts your immune system! So- how often do you feel in control at work? 2. Bad Jobs = Bad Health Habits Does your job stock its pantries and vending machines with health food or junk food? Do you get to exercise during the day, or are you … [Read more...] about 7 Ways Your Desk Job is Killing You
7 Ways To Make Your Cubicle a Positive Workspace Without Using a Single Motivational Poster!
Many full-time professionals who work in the typical office environment spend more than 2000 hours a year in a cubicle. If you code or work for one of those tech firms the rest of us have been sending resumes to for the last 12 years, it's probably about twice that figure. If we can turn our thoroughly modern cubicles into positive workspaces, there's a good chance those 2000 hours will be far more productive. After some in-depth research, we've identified 7 solid ways to make your cubicle into a positive workspace. Some of these involve changing your cubicle furniture, some involve changing your attitude. 1. Feng Shui Your Cubicle The practice of feng shui dates back to 4000 BC. Its application to office cubicles and office cubicle furniture is a much later development. People spend their lives devoted to feng shui. We can't go into that kind of depth here, so let's just hit a couple of important ideas you can apply to your office cubicle. First, arrange your space so you can … [Read more...] about 7 Ways To Make Your Cubicle a Positive Workspace Without Using a Single Motivational Poster!
Cautions to Take While Freelancing and Working Full-time
With many things in this world, you must walk before you can run. When aspiring to become a full-time freelancer, you typically must slowly begin building your freelance venture while still working full time for an employer. This may not be the ideal situation but it provides steady income until your freelance business is successful enough to go full time. However, while freelancing and working full time, use caution on how you fit both demands into your schedule and how the topic of freelancing is approached with your boss. By taking caution with these topics, you’ll avoid burning bridges with the employer and ruining both ventures. Don’t Double Dip Your employer likely won’t have kind words to say after catching you using company time and resources to work on freelance projects. Resist the temptation to double dip your time by completing freelance tasks while on the employer’s time clock. Sure, this may lead to late nights and long weekends finishing freelance tasks. … [Read more...] about Cautions to Take While Freelancing and Working Full-time
How To Negotiate At Work
Negotiating can be a tricky business. Many of us don’t want to ask for what we want for the fear of being seen as pushy or ungrateful (or whatever label you might use). However, as the old saying goes “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”. Learning to negotiate can help you to achieve more satisfaction and boost your self esteem. Women have also been found to be much less likely to ask for a raise in the workplace. For example, men expect to earn 13% more than women during their first year of full-time work. It is clear that both men and women could benefit from being able to negotiate and ask for what they want and deserve. Here are some suggestions to help hone your negotiation skills... Do Your Job Well To negotiate well at work, make sure you are doing your job well. You will have more leverage in asking for what you want with a boss or colleague if you are on top of your job as much as possible. If the other person(s) can see you are trying your best, it is human nature that they … [Read more...] about How To Negotiate At Work
What Job Seekers Need to Know About Today's Digital Market
If you are looking for a job, you need to understand that the job market is highly digital now. Indeed, a number of companies have begun using social media as a way to recruit, as well as research potential employees. A survey conducted by MSU indicates that more and more companies look online for information about potential hires. Someone serious about finding a job in the current market needs to know how to conduct himself or herself online. Drew offers a few things to keep in mind as you search for a job in the digital market: You Need a Social Media Profile The very first thing you need to do is establish an online presence. Recruiters will look online to find out if you have social media profile – and the type of expertise you show in your social media interactions. Create a profile that is consistent across social media networks. You don’t need to be online everywhere, but it helps to have Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. Also, find out if there is a niche social … [Read more...] about What Job Seekers Need to Know About Today's Digital Market
How To Deal With Bullying Behavior At Work
Bullying isn’t something that just happens to children; many adults are the victims of bullying and the workplace is often a place where it happens. Trust Yourself It can be hard to decide whether someone is bullying you, but if something doesn’t feel right about how someone is talking to you, about you or treating you, listen to those feelings. Many bully’s work by undermining the other person to make them doubt their own judgement. Be Direct Bully’s often get away with their treatment of others because no-one calls them on it. It is worth trying to deal with the issue directly in the first instance. If the other person isn’t aware of how their behavior is affecting you it gives them an opportunity to realize and stop it. If after being direct, it continues then it is worth looking at escalating the issue to your boss or HR department. Approaching the other person in a calm and assertive manner will help you maintain your professionalism and … [Read more...] about How To Deal With Bullying Behavior At Work
The Rise of Faster, Less Expensive Business Graduate Degrees
Dubbed ‘Generation Jobless’ by The Wall Street Journal, college graduates ages 24 and younger face an uncertain future and a competitive work landscape. An alarming 60 percent of college graduates in the United States cannot find a full-time job in their chosen profession. The main question job seekers must ask themselves is, “Do I have the skill set to land and meet the challenges of my desired position?” Holding an undergraduate degree is not always a sure-fire way to beat out the competition or quickly rise through the ranks at a company. If your undergraduate degree did not provide an applicable skill set for the job you are seeking, then you may need to think about a business graduate degree. An article posted on the Jobacle ‘Career News’ section discusses the rise of graduate degrees stating, “Professionals who only possess a bachelor's degree are falling behind the curve.” Gaining an Edge in Today’s Bleak Job Market A new trend is emerging among universities in the United … [Read more...] about The Rise of Faster, Less Expensive Business Graduate Degrees
The Groupon Effect – From a Business and Individual Point of View
"Save $51.75 for a 12-Month National Geographic Magazine Subscription. Eighty per cent off teeth whitening treatment. Sixty-three per cent off a getaway to the Surfers Paradise Hilton." Groupon is an effective marketing platform that targets small business with difficulty in accessing larger subscribers' networks. The application gives businesses an opportunity to access and capitalize a larger market base of potential buyers. The application is a platform for reeling in customers. Once the customers are in, it is the role of a business owner to maintain customers. This is by availing quality products and services that would captivate the customers to return. Many businesses that have subscribed in this network have witnessed an upsurge growth in their customer base and thus increased growth in profits. The Dot Com Success Story Groupon is a term derived from group and coupon words. Its main purpose is to offer online potential customers with great products and services discounts. … [Read more...] about The Groupon Effect – From a Business and Individual Point of View
Apprenticeships vs. University
It’s an overwhelming problem that many teens face when approaching end of High school trying to figure out what you want to do in the future, whether you want to go to college then University or join an education program which will help you find student jobs and guides which will help you in an apprenticeship while working. Sceptically, Apprenticeships were falsely seen as the route to take for those that hadn't always achieved fantastic grades or commonly thought of as plumbers, electricians and engineers but now it seems there are a number of apprenticeships out there which can lead to a specialised job such as care assistance and is usually a cheaper and more valuable option than University. While a student studies at University for 3 – 4 years, an apprentice would have gained 3 – 4 years hands on experience within an industry and NVQ qualifications which can be approximate equivalent to the following. • NVQ 1 = foundation GNVQ, three to four GCSEs at grades D-E, Business … [Read more...] about Apprenticeships vs. University