Career Advice

It’s 2011 and everyone does everything on their mobile phones. Alexander Graham Bell is rolling over in his grave…hey, maybe there’s an app for that. There might as well be because if you have an iPhone, there’s an app for just about everything. Some are free, some are not; regardless, there are 7 iPhone apps that are invaluable to those working abroad. Let’s take a look at the free iPhone apps where functionality and fun meets. 1) Google Maps I’m happy to report that this is one of the free iPhone apps.  Sooner or later while traveling in a foreign town, you are going to get lost. Face it. Since asking for directions may be an exercise in futility, being able to just jump onto your iPhone and find not only your location but where you need to go is an invaluable asset. This is something no self-respecting iPhone carrying traveler should be without. 2) TripIt       You can pull up your itinerary by emailing it to ‘TripIt’ and it will be saved and synced to your iPhone.  Even if … [Read more...] about Top 7 iPhone Apps for Working While Abroad

Recent graduates and entry-level employees often step into the workforce with an eye on moving into management. The thinking is that with a management title comes more money, respect, and power—but that’s not always the case. Being a middle manager comes with its own set of frustrations. Before setting your sights on the corner office, keep the following things about management in mind. 1. You realize how little power you really have. The majority of ideas that you wish to implement must be approved by your managers. An inordinate amount of time is spent selling top management on changes. This major hierarchical stumbling block sets you up with all of the responsibility without any of the authority. Plus, it’s a time drainer that takes you away from the work that has to get done. 2. You realize you still need to do your old job too. Many people push for a promotion so that they can earn more money, show advancement on their resume, and ultimately have more … [Read more...] about Being a Manager Sucks

March and April are two of the most difficult months to work through because there tends to be a lack of motivation; everyone wants time to fly so summer arrives and PTO’s happen every other week. However, it’s actually crucial for professionals to be productive during these two months because vacation season is fast approaching. The only way you are going to reach your work goals is if you use your time efficiently. This means avoiding unnecessary phone calls, distracting conversations, and chores around the office. If you let yourself get distracted every minute, then before you know it, its  7:00pm and you are still at the office finishing up work. Stay in "work mode" by applying these solutions to the following three common problems: The phone that never stops ringing You aren’t going to be able to get a lot of work done if your phone is constantly ringing. Aside from being annoying, your phone ringing every 2 seconds is also very distracting for you and your coworkers. … [Read more...] about Stop Wasting Your Time at Work

Anyone married or in a serious relationship recognizes The Look – it occurs when you get home from your crappy job (Should I Quit My Job?) and start to once again talk about your day. I wouldn’t exactly call it "the thousand-yard stare," but it speaks directly to how your partner is receiving this communication byte. Here’re some of my possible interpretations of what’s going on in the mind behind The Look: ·         "Oh, God, not again." ·         "Does HE ever ask what kind of day I had?" ·         "He is NOT quitting that job!" ·          "I wonder if ‘Ice Truckers’ is on tonight?" ·         "Did I finish all that red wine last night?" ·         "Maybe I should be putting on the ‘ahhh, honey, I’m sorry about your day’ face." Why the Tuning Out or Frustration? Don’t get me wrong, even if your spouse is having the above thoughts in response to your crappy day talk, don’t assume she doesn’t care. But even a loving, caring partner hearing you complain about your job constantly is … [Read more...] about How to Get Your Spouse's Support About Your Lousy Job

Admit it. On an unbearably slow work day, you would sign up for a pay-to-view of "Project Manager SMACKDOWN!" Instead of the semi-civilized, passive-aggressive wordplay you usually get from these two, they’d get it out of their system and you all could get on with your day. Not that I’m a proponent of violent fighting at work, but wouldn’t it be satisfying to watch?Work ConflictBut a serious conflict at work can be really tricky. It’s not quite like a spat with your spouse or friend, which has different rules because it’s a personal relationship. You have to work with this person every day and you can’t really avoid the issue and get your job done. So, what comes next? It depends on where the conflict was left, how much damage has been done and what you’re willing to do about it.Skill SetAs we often bemoan here on Jobacle, the workplace is made up of an unfortunatelly large percentage of buffoons, clods and the clueless. Oh yeah, there’s … [Read more...] about How to Backtrack From a Work Fight

It seems as if there’s always something just waiting to be put off. It could be the laundry, filing the income taxes or starting that PowerPoint presentation at work. Regardless of the task, Procrastination and its first cousin Lack of Motivation are usually in the wings just waiting for their close-ups. So how do you kick them off the stage and get down to business? It won’t be easy but it is possible. To get started, you’ll need paper, a pen, a month-at-a-glance calendar and a small reward. Identify the project Start by writing the overall goal and the deadline. For instance, you may have sales presentation that is due next week. Once you have a deadline you can work backward to create a timeline of smaller tasks with corresponding deadlines. What started out as a large project can be segmented into a list of smaller, more manageable steps. Break down the project into smaller tasks Once you have your overall goal, you need to start the day by writing down your goals. Think … [Read more...] about Four Ways to Overcome Procrastination

What happens when the one thing you do - and do well - gets taken away?  You adapt - of course. Such is the case of Doc Martin, the lead character in the British dramedy of the same name.  When the successful big-city surgeon succumbs to panic disorder at the sight of blood, he is forced to shift his life by becoming a general practitioner in a rural town.  The public perception is that he has fallen from grace; trading in big city life for the back country.As ironically far fetched and beautifully off the plot sounds, it's not all that uncommon. There are people who end up unable to do the very thing they once loved; something that was the backbone of their career happiness.It could be the baseball player who gets injured after the draft or the driving instructor who suddenly goes blind.  More realistically, it’s the sales executive who develops a fear of public speaking.  Or the swimmer who feels allergic to water.  Maybe even the blogger who … [Read more...] about Do You Have a Career Backup Plan?

Many employers are willing to pay to advance your education. Taking classes while working full time can be a tall order, but the best companies want their workers to thrive, grow, and feel challenged.Just because your company handbook makes no mention of tuition reimbursement doesn’t mean your boss won’t pay to send you back to school.Increase the odds of attending a (virtual) graduation ceremony on the company’s dime by being able to answer these seven questions:What’s in it for your employer? You already know what you’ll gain by advancing your education, but your strongest case is showing the employer what’s in it for them—specifically, what’s in it for your direct supervisor. Since this person will need to seek approval, you’ll need to get him on board by outlining what he’ll gain from helping your continue your education.What concerns will your boss have? Most companies will be concerned that you’ll use them to pay … [Read more...] about How to Convince Your Employer to Pay for School

My officemate is a slightly demented 3-year-old. Actually, he’s 15½ and a cat. When he wants something, like dinner, I get an earful of his yowling Siamese heritage. "I want it NOW!" A few minutes later he is likely to forget we’ve been there, done that. But I wouldn’t trade him for even your BFF human co-worker.Having your pet at work is one the best perks of working at home. But even in traditional workplaces, I’m noticing that an animal at work is becoming more acceptable. At the dentist awhile back, I could feel someone sniffing my foot. Since the hygienist was cleaning my teeth and I assumed the dentist wasn’t admiring my footwear, I wondered what was up. It was the resident Golden Retriever. He was a honey and I imagine having him there is very calming for patients.Why Not?I’ve heard all the arguments against having your pets at work; people are allergic, they’re distracting and some people are afraid of dogs/cats. Obviously, some … [Read more...] about Animals in the Workplace – No, Not Your Boss!