Realizing your professional strengths can help you maximize your workplace potential. One way to determine your strengths is to conduct a SWOT analysis: a look at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. When developing a SWOT analysis to assess your professional strengths, consider the following characteristics and achievements that you hold: 1. Educational Background – What college degree(s) do you hold? What degree is necessary for eligibility for a promotion within your field? What college did you attend? Is the college reputable? These criteria can help frame your position in the job market. 2. Work Experience – Do you have years of progressive experience in your field? Is your work experience easily transferrable to your desired field of interest? Your work experience may help you land a job in another field if your skills are transferrable. 3. Skills and Abilities – What software or hardware can you use? What specialized/niche skills set(s) do … [Read more...] about SWOT Analysis: Determine Your Workplace Forte
Your First Business Trip: Essential Travel Tips Every Employee Should Know
Traveling for work is a luxury few employees experience. If you’ve been selected as one of the lucky few to leave their offices behind for the open road, you’re likely quite excited about the possibilities. However, with the freedom of traveling jobs also come the responsibilities of upholding a company’s image and mission. The following are tips you should know before taking a first business trip to bypass the common mistakes others have made. Stick to Spending Limits Unless you work for a mega corporation that allows you to wine and dine clients in luxury, you’re likely restricted by a travel spending limit. Companies typically limit the amount employees can spend on everything from meals to fuel. Before taking your first business trip, review your company’s policy and make note of any spending limits. Exceeding spending limits during your business travels will raise a red flag with the accounting department and may prevent you from being selected for future trips. Rather, by … [Read more...] about Your First Business Trip: Essential Travel Tips Every Employee Should Know
Take a Break and Get Outta That Office!
When I worked in Corporate World, my office was downtown and I loved working in the city. It was great to meet people for lunch at cool spots, go to the Rally in the Alley on Friday nights and just do the city thing. (I recall one time my pal Lynda and I met for lunch and stayed all day till happy hour! Oops.) I was lucky and found a small park near a church where I would retreat on a break or lunch. It was the best place to unwind for a few. But this was many years ago when people actually took real lunch breaks and your dedication to the job wasn’t questioned if you left the office for a quick breather. What happened to the lunch crowd? Lunch Bunch Most people now grab a bite at their desks or a break room. To me, that’s not getting away from the job. I bet if you leave your desk, you take your phone and check it repeatedly or text. Am I wrong? But have you tried going out to lunch recently? It’s almost impossible to get in and out of a restaurant in an hour, especially during … [Read more...] about Take a Break and Get Outta That Office!
7 Things Very Few People Do That Can Land You a Job
Want to be in the 1% of all job seekers?! Use these tips to get a leg up on the job search competition. Make a Website Google some of your Facebook friends and see what you can find. In nearly all cases you’ll find their Facebook page, a few unrelated webpages, and not much else. Creating a website, in which you share your expertise, will give you an advantage over your competition because employers will inevitably search your name on Google. If you happen to share the same name with many other people, creating a website, with a few sites linking back to it, will clear up any ambiguity when an employer searches for you online. Write You say in your resume that you have experience in so and so. Why not show off your expertise by guest posting on blogs that are related to your niche? If you want to be a personal financial advisor, offer blogs your content. Your articles will not only rank for your name, when a potential employer searches for you on Google, but may get you some … [Read more...] about 7 Things Very Few People Do That Can Land You a Job
Make-Up Tips for a Job Interview
In today's tough economy, jobs can be difficult to find. Therefore, it is important that you make a great first impression in the interview. One way to make sure that you make a great first impression is to wear natural looking make-up that fits the job you are applying for in the interview. Here are some make-up tips to take into consideration for making a great first impression. Foundation Start with a base of foundation that matches your natural skin color. The foundation needs to be blended well. If it isn't blended well, you will have an unsightly line where the make-up ends on your jaw line. For a polished professional look that says you pay attention to small details, blend this line, so it isn't visible. Also, remember that a lot of people sweat during the interview process because they are nervous. Applying minimal foundation may be the best way to ensure your make-up doesn't run in case you sweat too. Loose Powder To set the look of the foundation, apply a loose powder over … [Read more...] about Make-Up Tips for a Job Interview
Tiny Prints Business Cards Are Awesome
Since 2003 Tiny Prints has been creating chic-looking, celebrity-endorsed invitations, stationery, and other printed materials. Even though I have heard the name countless times, I never had a reason to use their services, mainly because I didn’t know that they also specialized in business cards! I have written before about how important it is to have a business card that is professional yet unique – something that is not always easy to accomplish. Well thanks to the array of interesting business card templates available at Tiny Prints, any professional, irrespective of their artistic fortitude, can now create high quality, artsy looking cards. Since I already have enough cards to support Jobacle and my freelance writing endeavors, I decided to come up with cards for my latest project: Lonely Chair. The concept of the site is simple. I take photos of chairs that are out of there element, most frequently, chairs and couches that have been discarded. Since the project is really just a … [Read more...] about Tiny Prints Business Cards Are Awesome
What NOT to Do at the Office Potluck
The office potluck is an occasion to change up monotonous lunchtime routines and showcase your cooking skills to coworkers during the holiday season. Offices everywhere regularly host potlucks as excuses to take extended lunch breaks. While potlucks can be prime opportunities to relax and chat with coworkers (or call in sick!), the mood can quickly be broken by those who aren’t aware of the unspoken etiquette rules. The following are four examples of what not to do at an office potluck to ensure you’re never the one to break the rules. Bring Opened Food Products If you can’t afford to purchase a new bag of chips for an office potluck, don’t partake in the festivities. Employees who bring already-opened food products are voluntarily casting themselves to the ‘oddball’ table in the office break room. Whether you’ve signed up to bring potato chips or ketchup, always bring new and sealed products to avoid awkward chuckles in the potluck line. Double Dip Please, never double dip … [Read more...] about What NOT to Do at the Office Potluck
Boss Strong-Arms Wrapping Paper Purchase
They come in the night without warning. No, I’m not talking about vampires or zombies. They might actually be easier to deal with than the neighbor kid selling wrapping paper for his school. I live in the country and people very rarely call before dropping by. So the other night the kid who sometime mows for me came by selling “fruit” for his school. I declined. He’ll probably plant explosive devices in my yard next summer to get even. The Not-So-Subtle Office Pitch I’m lucky I work at home. I don’t have Bill in accounting asking if I’ll buy a cheese basket from his kid so their class can go to Aruba. This series of intrusions usually occurs at the holidays and then Girl Scout cookie time in early spring. I feel ya. It’s especially hard to say “no” to the boss at work. And let’s be honest – isn’t most of the stuff crappy? Some of the wrapping paper is nice, but there’s only a foot and a half on a roll. Coincidentally, the Wall Street Journal recenty had an article about this. It was … [Read more...] about Boss Strong-Arms Wrapping Paper Purchase
Office Christmas Party – Do’s and Don’t’s!
The office Christmas party is one of those things that can be heaven or hell! Here are a few ideas for dealing with the office Christmas party: Don't Feel Obliged Unless your party is within work time, don’t feel obliged to go. You can politely decline. Office Christmas parties are not everyone’s idea of fun so don’t feel that you have to go, or give in to pressure; just let people know you are not available. Go Steady On The Alcohol Alcohol is one of the biggest reasons for red faces and embarrassment the day after an office Christmas party. Make sure you eat well before or during the party and limit your drinks. In the excitement of the moment it can be tempting to drink and be merry but you don’t want to be that member of staff throwing up in the corner or hitting on their boss! Spreading your drinks over the course of the night and having a limit will enable you to call the shots, have fun but not end up doing something you wish you hadn’t! We … [Read more...] about Office Christmas Party – Do’s and Don’t’s!
Throw Your Own Office Xmas Bingo Charity Ball
Christmas is a stressful time, especially for the poor sap(s) that drew the short straw on organizing the office Christmas party. For example, I go to these just to put in face-time with the higher-ups and I suspect many people’s motivations are similar. But this year the party planning has falling into my (in)capable hands. I know booze gets butts in seats—but this year I want to up the ante from standing around getting buzzed in the same place I already spend 30% of my life. Bingo has been gaining popularity the last few years due in large to the rise of online bingo. I mean, my grandmothers do it and for the last 5 years they have been pretty reliable bellwethers of taste (see: knitting, records, fondue, horrible sweaters, large glasses, etc.). I hope this is the case anyway; my party is going to be a Bingo Charity Ball. The Basics When: The rule is that no office party should take place after the first two weeks of December. It’s like wearing white after Labor Day— just don’t do … [Read more...] about Throw Your Own Office Xmas Bingo Charity Ball