The temp industry is booming, with these workers filling essential roles in many organizations. From filling a spot left open by a mother on maternity leave to completing short-term projects, the organizational reliance on temps is evident. However, while many positive aspects surround this workforce, such as avoiding the payment of benefits by employers, a darker side often looms. Many employers and staffing agencies are struggling to keep highly educated temps motivated and on task in their workforce. Often, these temps, who should be the most competent and able employees, are those that fail to meet productivity standards and just aren’t with it when it comes to being part of an organization’s culture. So, is this workplace dilemma caused by highly educated temps not being as highly educated as employers assume? If only the answer was that easy. Rather, the reasons why highly educated employees often make the least desirable temps are slightly more complicated, as shown … [Read more...] about Why Highly Educated Employees Make the Worst Temps
10 Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Business
There have been several financial recessions in the last century or so. Some of these were localized to specific countries or areas of the world. Or others, like the current one, were far more global in nature. The one difference between this global recession and the last one is that anyone who has been downsized now has the Internet to use as a tool for finding a new job. And one of the most job-hunting specific Internet tools is the social network for business people - LinkedIn.LinkedIn is a wonderful way of connecting with potential employers and also for highlighting your skills in a way that any employer can easily digest. But your LinkedIn profile needs to be optimized to make that happen so we're giving you a set of 10 tips to help you make the most of your LinkedIn presence. 1. Completeness Simply make sure that every section of your profile has been completed and that there are no blank spaces or obvious gaps. Your LinkedIn profile is your online résumé so treat it with the … [Read more...] about 10 Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Business
4-Point Survival Guide for Adult Interns
You stormed the interview, got the internship, and feel like you are over the moon. Congrats! But the feeling of jubilation quickly wears off; the start day comes around and you suddenly feel sick at the thought of being asked to be the photocopying boy/ girl which you thought you had left behind at 17. Here are four tips to help you survive as an adult intern who is amidst a career transition. 1. Deal with feeling like an idiot You are going to feel an idiot and maybe even a frustrated idiot about being the oldest intern around. The first thing you need to recognize is that this is unavoidable. Acknowledge this fact, reassure yourself that even though it’s not brilliant, you will cope, and then put it to the side. Get over it and get stuck in to the opportunity in front of you. The key is to stay in the present moment…with one eye looking towards the future and the reason WHY you took the internship. 2. Don’t try too hard When you are in the office, you need to find a way … [Read more...] about 4-Point Survival Guide for Adult Interns
Making a Fresh Start in Your Current Job
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle When we start a new job we are often filled with good intentions; we might promise ourselves that we will get to work in plenty of time, really give 100% and make the best of the role we are in. It feels good to do our best and we look forward to the clean slate and opportunity to start afresh. However, as time goes by in a job, it can be easy to slip into bad habits. Bad habits can erode our sense of self esteem and even our enjoyment of our work and the worst thing about them, is that often we don’t realise we are doing them! Whether you work cleaning jobs or accountancy jobs, here are some ways to blank the slate and help yourself to grow and reach your potential at work. Assess Yourself Take the time to do an honest assessment of yourself at work; your strengths and weaknesses and your positive and negative habits. What are you good at? What do you struggle with? What habits support you and … [Read more...] about Making a Fresh Start in Your Current Job
How to Survive Being an Adult Intern
In recent years the business world has seen a rise in the phenomena of the adult internship. This is probably not surprising with the economy crashing, adding to the amount of people who have already discarded the idea that a job is for life. Internships are becoming an increasingly popular option as a way to break into a new career, as it offers actual work experience, a way to get yourself noticed, and even more importantly, a way to make sure that the new industry is going to suit you. Yet for many the idea of going back to being an intern is enough to make the stomach squirm. I mean, how does your ego survive being the oldest intern on the block? But before we get to that, how do you even secure the job when your competition is super knowledgeable, keen bean interns who don’t even look old enough to vote? Well if you have these questions, this two-part post is for you. Part one - How to get through the interview. Applying and being interviewed for a job that sometimes doesn’t … [Read more...] about How to Survive Being an Adult Intern
How to Spot an Aspiring Office Bully
We have all heard about the bully at work, but less talked about is their rise to the status. Often there are warning that this person is en route to becoming a bully. Many of us are programmed to try and understand people, to give the benefit of doubt, therefore letting the bullies of tomorrow off the hook. If they have been difficult we think maybe they are just having a rough time at home, or their car has broken down that morning and this makes you more tolerant to the odd remark or snap. The majority of time this is true, they may be having an off day. But beware! Your colleague might be starting the journey to becoming a bully. Three tests to determine if a coworker is on the path to become a bully. 1. The Crap Test An aspiring arse can create an atmosphere around him/her, either consciously or subconsciously. If you think this may be the case in your office, checkout the crap test. If you enter a room and you are feeling alright, but you come out feeling all sorts of … [Read more...] about How to Spot an Aspiring Office Bully
5 Ways to Handle a Hot Headed Manager
While Hollywood may put a comedic spin on the challenges of working for difficult employers with movies such as Horrible Bosses, the situation isn’t as humorous when it’s your daily reality. It seems some managers are still stuck in the toddler years, angering easily and sulking when not getting their way. Being employed by an unreasonable manager can cause immense stress and suck the fun out of working in an otherwise enjoyable career. If you work for an impossible employer but love your career path, you likely feel trapped in a Catch-22 type situation. As such, here are a few ways to successfully handle your hot headed manager or seek other options so you can continue working in a career field you enjoy. · Adopt the other viewpoint – While you may assume your boss is being unreasonable in certain situations, your first action should be to adopt the other viewpoint. At times, when employees view issues from their manager’s perspective, … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Handle a Hot Headed Manager
5 Ways To Be a More Thoughtful Colleague
We don’t always get to choose who we work with and as a result we might find ourselves sharing a workspace with colleagues whom we might not have much in common with or naturally get on with. However, although many people dream of having nicer colleagues, how do you fare up as a colleague yourself? If you would like a better relationship with your colleagues, it is important to look at your own behaviour first and see what you can bring to the table. Here are some ways that I have found to be a more thoughtful co-worker at work: 1. Encourage Encouraging your colleagues in their endeavors, rather than being in competition with them, is an inspiring way to be at work. We don’t have to be cut throat or out for ourselves to do well at work; encouraging and supporting your colleagues really does pay dividends and enhances your day to day experience of work to boot. Treat your colleagues as you would like to be treated. 2. Listen True listening is a real skill and … [Read more...] about 5 Ways To Be a More Thoughtful Colleague
Work Interrupted: How to Limit Distractions
Seventy-nine. That's how many times I was interrupted at work the other day. Even keeping the tally was a distraction, but the research was for a good cause.In the modern workplace, where we wear so many hats that our hats are wearing hats, interruptions are commonplace. From people stalking us immediately after hitting the send button ("Did you get my email?") to bosses calling us into their offices every hour on the hour, something has to give.[See Tips for Breaking Up With a Job.]After making several mistakes at work, I decided it was time to re-evaluate the way I was working. My conclusion: I am being interrupted far too frequently. Plagued by a similar problem? Try these quick fixes.Make yourself unavailable. Even at the turn of the century, doctors were letting us know whether they were in or out of the office with signs. The same way you wouldn't interrupt a radio deejay when the 'on air' light is illuminated, you should not address coworkers when they are clearly engrossed in … [Read more...] about Work Interrupted: How to Limit Distractions
Improving Self Esteem in Four Steps
The way we feel about ourselves goes a long way into defining the person we are and the person that we are becoming. People with positive self images are more adventuresome, confident, outgoing, hopeful, and have a stronger belief in their ability to realize all of their potentialities. Yet, a positive self-image is not a given for all of us. Some of us have to work on developing a positive self-image. You must be actively engaged in the process of improving your overall self-esteem. An effort must be made to recognize why your self-esteem may be faltering and then additional, prolonged effort must be made in an effort to reverse these patterns. I am a strong believer that major changes should be done in a piecemeal fashion. It is hoped the following suggestions will be implemented into your life and serve as a platform for more holistic changes in your life aimed at increasing the positive nature of your self-image. 1. Defining Self-Esteem - Before we can acquire a more positive … [Read more...] about Improving Self Esteem in Four Steps