Are you moving forward or do you feel like you are stagnating at work? Not all jobs are created equal, and sometimes a job is just a way to pay the bills, however, if you have a continual feeling that you are stuck, maybe it is time to shake things up? Get a New Job Is it time for a new job? Only you can answer that question. Have a look and see if it is time to move on. You could list the pros and cons of your current job to see the best way forward for you. Leaving a job isn’t always the best option; it is sometimes possible to turn your current job around. Have a look and see if there is room to move forward in your current job. However, if the cons outweigh the pros, be honest with yourself and look at what you can do to change roles. Train and Develop Training is a great way to develop and learn new skills. Does your company offer training that could help you develop yourself? I recommend taking advantage of all the training and development your job offers. It is a … [Read more...] about Are You Moving Forward at Work or Are You Stagnating?
4 Ways to Fend Off Fundraising Coworkers
A coworker approaches. The glossy catalog and order form in his hand betray his intentions: He wants you to buy something for his kid’s fundraiser. What is it this time? Candy bars, candles, wrapping paper? Whatever it is, you’re sure of one thing: You don’t want it. Don’t wait until it’s too late to figure out how you’ll fend off a fundraising coworker. If you don’t know in advance how you’ll decline to buy, there’s a good chance you’ll get caught off guard and end up making a purchase. Consider the following as you prepare to repulse a coworkers’ sales pitch. 1. White Lie A white lie is the easiest way of getting out of buying what a workplace fundraiser is selling (or getting out of pretty much anything else, really). Create a plausible, simple story. For instance, say you already bought stuff from a neighbor’s kid and, sorry, one purchase is your limit. Or … money is tight right now, just don’t have the disposable income these days (and that’s not necessarily a fib given the … [Read more...] about 4 Ways to Fend Off Fundraising Coworkers
Job References: How to Get the Best Recommendations
Your resume is perfectly edited. You’ve bought the latest designer suit for upcoming job interviews. There’s only one problem; you don’t have any job references to offer potential employers. This is a common dilemma faced by job applicants either because they’re fresh college graduates or they aren’t sure who to list as references. Since you’ll likely need strong references to land an in-demand job, it’s essential to select individuals who you feel will provide the best recommendations. The following are tips for getting the best recommendations and how to ask for references with ease. Do Your Job The best way to accumulate solid references is by doing your job, whether that job is receiving high marks in college or working for an employer. No one will recommend you as an employee if you’ve failed to follow through on work projects or homework assignments. If you’ve shown strong work ethic and great character in the past, you’ll find it much easier to recruit recommendations. Don’t … [Read more...] about Job References: How to Get the Best Recommendations
Jobs in Math: Insurance and Actuary
The whole purpose of taking out an insurance policy is to prepare for the unexpected: from new drivers to new businesses, everyone needs a safety net in case something happens that they don’t have the resources to deal with alone. Some people look for options such as life insurance with A Bankers Life and Casualty Company. But insurance companies can’t afford to be unprepared – they need to know how likely an event is, and how large its impact is likely to be if it takes place. Since the 1600s, the use of censuses, statistics and formulas have played a huge role in determining what premiums are charged for companies and people looking to protect their interests. So, those who fancy a career where they can apply their mathematical qualifications should consider insurance jobs like Underwriting and Business Risk. Everyday, experienced mathematicians use calculations to estimate the likelihood of accidents, deaths and financial collapse in order to keep their customers and their … [Read more...] about Jobs in Math: Insurance and Actuary
How to Avoid Workplace Distractions (Is That a Cat Playing the Piano?)
Have you ever sat on your computer and noticed that ten minutes has passed and none of your work was even touched? Whether you’re a new employee or a veteran in the office, it may be hard for you to stay on track because of the endless amount of distractions online. If employers could reduce the time that employees spend on Facebook or YouTube watching cat videos, companies would probably experience unprecedented growth and productivity. But short of getting rid of all the cats in the world (and shame on you if you agree to this), it is likely that cat videos and other Internet distractions will be around for a while. Instead, employees and employers alike should take certain steps to reduce distractions in the workplace. Different Types of Distractions > Instant Messaging—Employees can use instant messaging programs to talk to their coworkers and friends about topics unrelated to work. Though instant messaging programs are a useful tool in the workplace, when used improperly, … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Workplace Distractions (Is That a Cat Playing the Piano?)
Should You Take a Travel Job During a Move?
Even in these times of organizations keeping tighter reins on the budget, there are still travel jobs. These aren’t just careers that require the occasional trip to meet with a client, but could mean actually living in another area for months at a time. But what if you’re moving, doing a job search and one of these jobs with travel is offered to you? Getting Your Bearings So, should you take this too-good-to-pass-up career opportunity in the midst of moving across country? Is it possible that might be too much change happening all at once? Okay, let’s walk through the scenario and weigh some pros and cons. I’m going to make some general assumptions here, but you’ll get the gist. • Put off the decision – Buy yourself as much time as possible to decide about the job. If you’re the perfect candidate, they will certainly respect that you need time and wait for you. • Amount and duration of travel – People say a lot of enticing things when offering you a job. Nail down the … [Read more...] about Should You Take a Travel Job During a Move?
The Spinach Approach to Finding a Job
Where do you look for jobs when it seems like no one’s hiring right now? Hunting for the kind of job you want requires more than the traditional tools most people use today—it requires tech savvy, flexibility, and a willingness to dig a little deeper to find what you want. Use the following tips to land the kind of job that you’ll be excited about every morning. Find out who’s hiring When you restrict your job search to a very specific position or to a job you had before your current job search, you won’t turn up much. So, start with a broad search for who’s hiring: which companies have posted job openings lately, or which companies or industries are growing in your area. The tech sector is growing quickly this year: along with renewable energy, industries like online publishing and the Internet are jumpstarting the job market. Depending on which region of the country you live in, those are the industries where you might want to look first for full-time employment. Mix and … [Read more...] about The Spinach Approach to Finding a Job
How to Tailor Your Resume for a Potential Job
Many of us find ourselves plunged into the job market dafter graduation from college, loss of employment, a deliberate career change or from returning to work after starting a family. The downturn in the economy has done some strange things to the job market, and while many people are struggling to find work in some sectors, others are finding doors opening up that used to be closed to them. Regardless of prospects and experience, all job seekers share the same struggle to tailor their resumes sufficiently to the jobs that they want. There are several ways to increase your appeal to recruiters and potential employers, and many of these have been well documented by career experts; however, there are also less obvious ways to make your resume more targeted to potential employers. After taking the initial steps to tailor your resume to a specific application, such as wording your objectives appropriately and emphasizing relevant experience, there are more subtle ways to ensure you send … [Read more...] about How to Tailor Your Resume for a Potential Job
Things to Consider Before Using Your Personal Vehicle for Work
Many of us work for a company or are small business owners that require we go above and beyond the normal show up, work, and go home routine. You may be asked to attend off property meetings, fundraisers, or events. For those instances, you are usually asked or have the need to use your personal vehicle to get to those places. In most cases, that is easy and doesn’t require anything other than gas. However, if your job entails the constant use of your personal vehicle for company errands, client meetings, or commute between company properties, you may need to take into consideration all that it entails. Insurance Requirements: If you are using your car for more than driving to and from work, there may be insurance requirements that you should consider to keep yourself out of trouble. Depending on the nature of use and amount of driving required, you may be required to carry commercial insurance. Your personal insurance with an added exception may be enough to cover light use of … [Read more...] about Things to Consider Before Using Your Personal Vehicle for Work
Mix up Your Daily Routine to Become More Productive at Work
Does your weekly work schedule look somewhat similar to the following? - Monday: Drive to work, fill up coffee cup, check emails, make calls, get more coffee… - Tuesday: Drive to work, fill up coffee cup, check emails, make calls, get more coffee… And so on until you retire….. If you can relate, I’m here to tell you that you’ve become a routine-driven worker. Most employees go through their days in auto-drive, so consumed with their engrained schedules they fail to see how monotonous and uninspiring they’ve become. Since you’ll be working for the next bazillion years, take a chance and mix things up, you’ll likely be inspired by the opportunities that abound when you do. Learn Something New Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of having to do things a certain way at work. Those types of employees are dull and uninspiring. Rather, challenge yourself to try new things. Take a different approach with your sales pitch, use a more upbeat tone with customers or discover new things … [Read more...] about Mix up Your Daily Routine to Become More Productive at Work