Career Advice

How to get more life out of less time.It’s ironic.It seems the more “time saving devices” we embrace as a progressive society, the less time we actually seem to have.Think about it.There’s microwave cooking, speed dating, emails, online shopping, online job searching, electronic books, online classes, and still many folks struggle to find more “me time” and a better quality of life. Still, one should never underestimate its importance.Time is a commodity.  It’s an investment.The way you “spend it” is just as valuable as your money decisions.Not having a handle on how time is used can lead to increased stress, poor work performance, and a feeling of being overwhelmed and undervalued. And who wants that? To help save your sanity, here are a few tips and strategies to help you to have more time, and work smarter, not harder!  1. Become Better Organized---This may seem a bit simplistic, yet it has a great R.O.I. (return on … [Read more...] about Time Management Tips for Today’s Worker Bees

How to work for “The Man” While Working on Your Dreams!Let’s face it; we work because we have to.Because it’s the “grown-up” thing to do.Because like many things in the grown up world, it’s a trade-off.We sell our “dreams” for the “reality” of monthly mortgage payments, insurance premiums, car notes and the privilege of keeping up with the Joneses. Given our druthers, most of us would much rather spend our days chilling out in our undies with a big bowl of cereal while surfing the Net, or reaching new tiers on our favorite video games, or vegging out in front of the boob tube, or “doing damage” at the local mall, or becoming beach bums, or building our own business, or almost anything else.  Almost anything else other than the slow death that is corporate America and working for the man! But all is not lost. Just because your career path has led you on the road to perdition, doesn’t mean you have … [Read more...] about Work Motivation: A Do-It-Yourself Project

Starting a new job is exciting and fun. Introducing the new hire around the office, not so much.Sure you are happy to have a fresh and willing new face around the office to help with the workload, but ushering them around the building, hoping that you don't forget an employee's name or botch a title, is a stressful endeavor.  Here are several introduction examples I've experienced and used.  Your feedback on each is encouraged. INDIVIDUAL INTRODUCTIONSThis is a meet and greet that involves the manager and the new employee 'making the rounds.'  The seemingly never-ending tour often begins with the people the new associate will be working closest with and fans out to the tertiary players.  With each stop you must ask employees if they have a minute.  Assuming they do, you will go through the 'speech' that includes the rookie's name, title and general job description.  You'll often hear that "Mike is the new Karen." Pros: Everyone feels special with a … [Read more...] about New Employee Introduction Options

Sometimes omitting your name behooves you. Ownership is overrated.  There's a segment of society that swears by that statement.  I'm still not sure which camp I sit with, but I do know that attempting to take ownership at work can have negative consequences.I've witnessed two examples of people attempting to take ownership of projects in an ill-conceived way over the past two days.  It should come as no surprise given how desperate employees are to get credit for their ideas and work.(Names have been changed to protect the guilty.)Situation #1Vito was tasked with putting together a book that features a one-page snapshot of the dozens of franchise locations that the company owns. Each location gets a "stat" page, similar to what you'd find on the backside of a baseball card.  From the number of restrooms to customer occupancy limits, each profile is rounded out with a Google streetview image and location information.The looseleaf that Vito packed with information … [Read more...] about Work Ownership Is Overrated

Recently, two people who work in very different industries discussed their performance reviews with me. Both reviews were in a similar format, but one used a one through five rating scale with five being “walks on water” and one being “get that resume updated.” The other review used the one through five scale in reverse order with one being the seldom-awarded highest score. Huh?Andrew offered an astute take on performance reviews with "6 Reasons Staff Evaluations Fail." The majority of folks I know, whether management is doing the review or employee receiving it, seem to loathe the process.So, with psych persona on, I decided to examine what makes it such a repugnant experience.1. Somebody who hates you will get to harpoon you - Used to be, your boss wrote your review, you agreed or not and signed it. Now, everyone from the reception temp. to a VP gets to give their two cents in a peer or colleague review section. What a great opp. for the person who dislikes … [Read more...] about Performance Reviews: Does a “5” Mean I Suck?!

Are employers who waive medical insurance coverage more valuable to employers?  Since you're saving the company money, you would think this could be used in negotiations for a raise or to entice a company to hire you.  Listen to the audio below and share your opinion. … [Read more...] about I Declined Medical Insurance at Work. Should I Be Rewarded?

We hear a lot about ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) these days. It used to be these diagnoses were only applied to bouncing-of-the-walls children. Now, just about every adult you talk to will say, “I’m SO ADD! I can’t stay focused on anything.” But is it really ADD/ADHD or just the modus operandi that describes how we currently function in our stressed-out work and home lives?In a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Mind Games: Attention Deficit Disorder Isn’t Just for Kids. Why Adults are Now Being Diagnosed, Too, Melinda Beck says, “How do you know you have ADHD, which experts compare to having a mind like a pinball, with thoughts flitting in multiple directions. Maybe you're just overcaffeinated and overworked?”If you can relate to “having a mind like a pinball,” how do you differentiate a real ADD/ADHD diagnosis from a chaotic work style or work environment? As … [Read more...] about Do You Have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)?

I’ve been looking for work lately and it’s bleak out there and because I’m a “glass half-empty” kind of gal, it started me thinking about rejection. I haven’t had the chance to be rejected (or accepted) since I’ve not been asked to interview for any positions to which I’ve applied. Rejection stirs up all kinds of bad feelings. No matter how confident you are, your self-esteem takes a hit.A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Before They were Titans, Moguls and Newsmakers, These People were…Rejected,” by Sue Shellenbarger examined how successful people, including Ted Turner, Tom Brokaw and Warren Buffet, responded to being rejected by their first college of choice. Often, after receiving that rejection, going to a different school led them to their eventual career path. In fact, some of their most impressive achievements can be traced back to that early rejection. Shellenbarger quotes Buffet, who was rejected by … [Read more...] about Is There Life After Rejection?

Sometimes the best way to get your foot in the door with a company is by accepting a part-time or temporary employment opportunity.  Here are four ways to turn a part-time job into full-time work.  THREAD YOURSELF INTO THE FABRIC OF THE ORGANIZATION. Aside from doing a kick-butt job and going above and beyond expectations, get involved in extra-circular activities.  Play on the corporate softball team, volunteer to assist with events, and show up at every single office birthday party. Bring that glowing personality and upbeat attitude with you at all times.   Appealing to an employer's emotional side is a smart play, after all, they're human too!  MAKE YOUR MOTIVE KNOWN FROM THE START.  Back when I was an intern for a radio station that I wanted to work full-time for, I would tell everyone who would listen that I wanted to work there upon graduation.  It became a running joke with upper-management, but eventually got me the gig.  Too many … [Read more...] about 4 Ways to Turn a Part-Time Job Into Full-Time Work

It was right as the green bagels were circulating on St. Patrick's Day that I realized I should be more grateful for Human Resources' efforts to put together a fun and festive work event.HR departments around the country spend thousands of hours planning corporate events that are designed to build morale and encourage communication. Some work well, others fail miserably. Regardless of the perceived outcome, here are the minimum requirements for attending HR-thrown events:[See the best careers for 2010.]As an employee, you should:Show your face. I don't care if you're swamped with work, sick to your stomach, or planning on leaving the job in three days, it's imperative that you attend--even if it's only for a few minutes. No-shows are quietly judged by both management and their peers, and no one likes someone who is "too good" or "too busy" to make an appearance.Act responsibly. From the food you take to the topic of conversation you choose, no matter how relaxed the event, you are … [Read more...] about Work Perks Are Only Perks if You Allow Them to Be Perks