Career Advice

When you think of college students, you may imagine a group of high school graduates fresh out of school who spend their nights partying and their days sleeping through professorial lectures. And in a lot of cases, that's an accurate image. But there is another whole society of people who are getting up every day and facing the 9-to-5 drag and long commute who are also pursuing that highly sought-after diploma. Most of this group, however, are over 40, with a family to care for and a mortgage to pay. Sure, it's nice to think that we all jumped out of high school into a successful college experience. But for many of us, that just never happened. Either we couldn't afford it. Or we didn't think we needed it. Or we just didn't want to go to college. But now we realize how badly we need that online business degree to advance in our career or land a higher paying position. Knowledge alone just doesn't go as far as it used to. Today, we need the signature of a college dean stating that … [Read more...] about College Classes for the Rest of Us

Staff members are often inherited. So what do you do when you’re a manager and your staff is comprised of unmotivated lifers who lack educational experience and basic skills? Relieving them of their duties is not an option. You must find creative ways to motivate them, and at the same time, protect yourself so their performance is not a reflection on you.Here are several tips for dealing with “dead weight” in a politically correct world:Log EverythingNo one prides themselves on being a micromanager, but when it comes to working with dead weight—staffers who are an oppressive burden—it’s important to protect yourself at all times. Keep a running log of all staff interactions. From meeting minutes to attendance calendars, log every detail so that you have a job journal you can present to your boss to make a case for changes.Good managers are often brought down by bad staff. Don’t let it happen to you. Read more of my article at U.S. News & … [Read more...] about How to Protect Yourself When You Inherit an Incompetent Staff

Imagine a typical day where you commute to work, do some banking, grab a few groceries, and maybe pick up a video on the way home. How many humans did you interact with to help accomplish those everyday tasks? For a growing number of people, the answer to that question is zero. … [Read more...] about They Took Our Jobs! Computers vs. Humans

In the ever-evolving business environment of usernames and cloud storage, somehow the old-school practice of making and exchanging business cards endures. Getting your cards done is the first thing you do once you've made up your mind to start a business or a new job. You order the little talismans and say to yourself, I'm really doing this. Then you pass them out by hand in hopes that in 3 1/2 x 2 inches you've managed to convey that you're competent, talented, and attractive—the best and the brightest bad-ass in your field. And yet so many business cards end up almost instantly in the trash or on the floor of the car, stepped on for days on end before we finally put them out of their misery. Those are people's dreams we're stepping on. Could our cards be in the same peril? Keep these 10 must-avoid business card mistakes in mind to save your card: Clutter. A business card is not a storage unit you cram all of your stuff into any which way it will fit. Leave some white space so … [Read more...] about 10 Must-Avoid Business Card Designs (and How to Make Yours Rock!)

Confidence is one of the most important personal qualities for succeeding in the workplace.  Sometimes it doesn't matter how much you work or how skilled you are, it is how you project yourself that matters to co-workers and employers.  If you are not confident in yourself and your abilities, others will pick up on it.  If you don't think that what you are doing is worthwhile or of high quality, chances are no one else will think highly of it either.  What's worse, in a competitive environment like an office, others may try to use your lack of self confidence against you.  Whether it is fair or not, it is usually people who have the most self confidence that advance to a high point in their careers quickly.  People lacking this important quality have to struggle harder to get ahead, no matter what skills they may have. Here are some tips for gaining confidence in your professional abilities. Focus on your abilities.  You may feel totally unprepared for a job, but you undoubtedly … [Read more...] about Gaining Self-Confidence In the Workplace

Everyone requires a different set of circumstances to concentrate. And every job calls for a different level of communication. But why is it that the only sound emanating from many of today’s offices is the sleepy hum of electronic equipment?The demand by some companies for office silence is counter-productive, even Dickensian in its approach to basic human psychology. Silence can be deafening. A noisy office has its problems, too. But any boss who encourages a library-like atmosphere isn’t helping the employees or the company.A quiet office is bad because:1. Quiet effectively kills open communication. If you’re talking to a colleague or have an issue you need to discuss with someone, quiet will enable the world to hear your conversation. Being reduced to whispering is childish and stepping behind closed doors creates a climate of secrecy and suspicion, even fueling paranoia.2. A silent office makes people self-conscious.Knowing you have an unintended audience can … [Read more...] about Shhhhhh! Work Silence Is a Career Killer

I've worked for enough large organizations to see first hand how office politics and bureaucracy can kill creativity in its tracks.Only a sick and demented person would want to suck the color out of a rainbow, yet employers are doing it every single day.Today's post is short and sweet; surefire ways that bosses kill employee creativity:- Add as many steps to the approval process as possible.- Have everyone and their mother, irrespective of skill and experience, critique a project.- Do not give praise and/or credit for a concept, idea, or completed project.- Make changes for the sake of making changes (see comic below)- Hold long meetings - Require incessant status reports - Reward longevity instead of ideas and measured success- Rush every project- Be inconsistent with your requirements      … [Read more...] about 9 Ways Bosses Kill Creativity

What are the characteristics of a successful manager? It does not matter what type of business is being managed, there are certain attributes that are essential to the success of the business. A manager that is competent and can oversee operations and employees will govern the quality of the business. Becoming a leader requires certain skills that are not inherent; they must be learned. One of the most important characteristics of a successful manager is the enthusiasm they have for their job. A company or corporation's success is going to hinge on this enthusiasm. How many times have you been to a business and gotten the impression the employees would rather be anywhere else than at work? When a manager expresses enthusiasm, this motivates the employees to show enthusiasm as well. One of the basic characteristics of a successful manager is the ability to listen. This is one of the ways a manager earns the respect of employees. In addition, when a manager listens to the needs, concerns … [Read more...] about Characteristics of a Successful Manager

A well-provisioned break room can serve not only as a welcome retreat and a center for activity and discussion among employees, but also as an impromptu conference room for guests and visitors to the company. Below are some easy ways to make the perfect break room a reality. #1: Keep things tidy. Keeping a well-organized and attractive break room is beneficial to the company’s overall image as well as the morale of staff. Choosing the right office coffee solutions to stock the corporate break room can make a significant difference in the impression made on employees and guests. #2: Provide well-stocked shelves. While coffee, tea, and other hot beverages are mainstays of the corporate break room, other types of office refreshments should also be provided for staff and visitors to the company. Items like snacks, powdered drink mix packets, canisters, napkins, cups and plates are also important elements of a well-stocked staff break room. These supplies will ensure that everyone in the … [Read more...] about 5 Easy Ways to Make the Perfect Work Break Room a Reality