Career Advice

Do you proudly sport your “I voted today!” sticker at work after voting day?  Is your car adorned with bumper sticker after bumper sticker proclaiming your love for the candidate of your choice?  Do you willingly engage in political debates at work?With the conventions beginning for both parties (Democratic has started, Republican is Sep 1-4) and veeps chosen or on the way to being picked, it seems inevitable for politics to be on our radar.  With the Olympics finally out of the picture, the media has picked up the pieces and filled the void by dominating the news with political story after political story. But this does pose a question that many of you have probably already faced: how appropriate is it to talk politics at work?  Does anything good come from discussing politics?Political talk is often referred to one of the “fearsome foursome”-sex, money, religion, and politics- that should be avoided at work.  Perhaps politics is the scariest of the four … [Read more...] about How to Handle Political Talk at the Office

You never know who’s a ‘heartbeat away.’ With every presidential election, the hype of the veepstakes seems to reach new heights.  Even though succession has only come into play nine times in America's history (barring a temporary pass of power), it is a pivotal issue on voter's mind in '08.  Is McCain's age a liability?  Is Obama a marked man because of his race?  Jobacle has no clue. What we do know is that important posts are vacated all of the time - most frequently, at your office.  The difference is you don't get the comfort of a line of succession.The president gets replaced by the vice president; then the Speaker of the House; then the president pro tempore of the Senate; then by the Secretary of State; and so on.  You and your boss?  You get replaced by ???While it's nothing you should put too much stock into, examining who could potentially fill your boss' role, or even a colleagues’, is a smart, forward-thinking play that is highly … [Read more...] about Line of Succession at Your Job

Oft ignored work rule: Do not contact a colleague when they're on vacation - unless there is a true emergency.One of the main reasons we take vacations is to escape work.  All of it. From the grinding commute to the day-to-day nonsense.  When I'm sitting poolside, sipping on a cocktail, the last thing I need is to hear from [insert name here] on anything work related.  I don’t need the latest personnel gossip or a status report on current projects.  It can all wait until I get back; trust me.The funny thing is, the offender often thinks they are doing you a favor.  They think it's a 'friendly' gesture.  After all, you guys joke about everything, all of the time, right?  Mom once told me that a true friend will never tell you anything to make you upset. (Those conversations usually start out like, 'Since we're close I thought you should know...')Some of the problem falls on you.  You must resist the urge to make contact.  We're given such a … [Read more...] about Leave Your Colleagues Alone (When They're On Vacation)

You glance longingly over to the empty cubicle next to yours. Nobody's home.Why is it that your cubicle neighbor is always there less than you?  It’s not because they are busy with important meetings or running errands for your boss, but because they are outside with their smoky treats.  They are determined and persistent, weathering not only the good days but the rainy and stormy days as well to feed the daily habit.Do not misunderstand; many smokers take only their two allotted 15 minutes break in addition to their lunch break.  However, those that take advantage of this system get under my skin.  Unfortunately for the work smokers (and I cannot deny that I was in that category at one point in a past stressful job), there are other consequences than just criticism for frequent smoke breaks.* Smoking can be a sign of weakness to management.    * It creates a certain perception at work.  Smoking is a controversial topic these days, and it depends … [Read more...] about The Perils of Smoking at Work

Ten years removed from college, and for the first time in a decade, I'm flirting with the idea of continuing my education. I'm honestly not sure where this newfound idea is rooted. Boredom? Ego? A challenge? Thirst for knowledge? The truth will shake out over the next few weeks as I begin to familiarize myself with the GMAT, online programs, and the positive/negatives of the endeavor. (My sneaking suspicion is that the MATH will ultimately keep me away.)Here are some questions that need to be answered before I move forward...Read more of my post at U.S. News & World Report. … [Read more...] about The Pros/Cons of an Online Masters

Summer hours are nearly over.  If you were fortunate enough to enjoy shortened workdays on Fridays, or a seasonally lax dress code, the gravy train is about to end.  The relaxed vibe of summer is about to expire, bringing forward a plethora of  patio furniture sales and the countdown to the winter holidays. Don't fret that all of those vacation days have been used up. There are a few small things to do to ease the transition between seasons.DO SOMETHING NOW.  The season is really nothing more than a series of calendar dates.  Don't put off what you can do today until next year. If that mountain bike expedition you promised you'd tackle never came to fruition, you still have several weeks left until the weather turns.USE STRATEGIC SICK DAYS.  I know the Jobacle Sick Day Calendar gives managers and HR professionals a serious headache, but let's be honest, only suckers lose days at the end of the year.  Use them scarcely, use them wisely, but above all, … [Read more...] about Coping With the End of Summer at Work

Recently I started a new job, and last week I was introduced to my boss, who happens to be an old school friend. Upon seeing him I felt happy about the whole situation, but then I started to get a bad feeling about working under someone whom I know quite well. There are a number of positives and negatives outlined below.  1. It’s nice to know that I have someone who I can trust, and someone who will have my back. Then again, it’s not fair on the new members of staff who can see the obvious benefits I am receiving.2. I am basically getting a free ride because I’m getting all the easy jobs that everyone else wants. I don’t mind this too much, but I can feel a tension building in the other members of staff, especially the ones who have to do the “newbie jobs” I should be doing.3. During work hours I am around my friend/boss a lot and we tend to joke around quite often and take lunches together. I do not want the other members of staff to think I am brown nosing all of the time, but … [Read more...] about A Moral Dilemma: My Boss Is My Friend

You're tan and relaxed, and your mind is a million miles from work.  The problem is, you ARE at work.  You've just returned from an amazing vacation where you did everything except think about the office.Changing mindsets is a difficult task.  This is why it is essential to give yourself every possible opportunity to ease back gracefully. Here are a few tips how...BE ORGANIZED BEFORE YOU LEAVESet your 'out of office' reminders well in advance.  Forgetting to take this step could result in a larger number of e-mail/calls to respond to when you return.Empty out your inbox by archiving all older messages.  This will help you feel less overwhelmed when the vacation ends and keep your mailbox from exceeding the size limit, since most companies have a low threshold.Give your desk and general office space a quick clean.  There's nothing like returning to a lemony-fresh workspace.ARRIVE EARLY UPON RETURNEfficient workers know that it's easier to get things done … [Read more...] about Returning From Vacation Sucks. 6 Ways to Ease the Pain.

Some of us hopped on the green train back with Al Gore, some of us bought a ticket in the early 2000’s, and the majority of us begged to get on once gas prices skyrocketed.  Regardless of when you realized that we all have an impact on the environment, it can prove difficult to translate your lifestyle changes to work.  Certain changes are individualistic, while other may require approval by the company to transform. Here are some quickie reminders:1. RECYCLE.  This can be done on both an individual and company level.  As an individual, you can recycle the cans or plastic bottles of pop you purchase from the vending machine (or steal from the fridge; if you do steal, see the blog entry “Mind Your P’s and Q’s At Work").  At a company level, encourage your employer to put out recycle bins for the employees, bins for paper, and encourage them to recycle computers as well.2. UNPLUG THE CHARGER.  Whether at home or work, if you use a cell phone charger, be sure … [Read more...] about Quick Ways to Be Green at Work