Career Advice

If you're like the Jobacle gang you're likely living paycheck to paycheck. What if we told you that there's a way to save money while you're at work. You'll hardly be able to retire young, but you can set yourself up for some financial wiggle room. Here are some helpful penny-pinching MoneyHacks: Buy In Bulk – The vending machine at work charges $1 for a bottle of water. For the price of three I can buy a 24-pack at the local supermarket. Water often goes on sale for $3.99 for two dozen. Even if you don't want to wait for a sale that standard price is usually $5.99. Either way, it's better than visiting the vending machine. It doesn't have to stop with water. Other good items to buy in bulk include cereal, tea or any other item you like to snack on. Never Order In – Aside from the obvious expense of tax and tip for the delivery person, it's commonplace to overpay for your food when a work group orders in. Bringing food from home will not only save you money, … [Read more...] about WorkHack: Save Money While at Work

When it comes to work, many of us have the same resolutions.  We figured we'd save you the time and type them up for you. If you truly want to get your career on the right track or just have a better attitude towards work, we recommend you start off slow, picking one or two of the items below and building from there.Set a Deadline on "Perfecting" Your ResumeThe longer you wait to send it out, the longer it will take you to land a new job. You need to get it error-free but not at the expense of never finishing it. Resumes are fluid. Do not be afraid to hit the send button.Narrow Down What You Want to DoJust saying that you want a new job is a temporary solution. You must ask yourself the hard questions. You also need to rely on family and friends to give you an unbiased view at what you are good (and not so good) at.Stop Reading This WebsiteOk. I really don't want you to give up your Jobacle addiction but I would like you to take more action and do less research. Trolling … [Read more...] about 13 Career Resolutions for YOU in 2008

 A new year is upon us and that means it's time for the Official Sick Day Calendar from your friends at Jobacle.  Get your excuses ready now!  Remember, only a sucker loses days at the end the year!BLACK Calendar   //  WHITE Calendar Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: You have a dream. And it's four straight days away from your boss's ugly mug and Microsoft Outlook. Call in sick on Friday, January 18 and Tuesday, January 22.  Winter's in full swing and the "flu" is hard to fight.  Make MLK proud!Valentine's Day: Romance has a price. You'll be oozing so much love that a full 24 hours to recover is in order. Get the sniffles so you can snuggle on Friday, February 15.President's Day: Honor thy country. Since you didn't even know Hayes and Tyler were presidents, you better take off Friday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 19 to study.  I sense a headache.And for those of you with big cajones, you can bridge Valentine's Day and President's Day … [Read more...] about Sick Day Calendar 2008

Are you buying a gift for your boss this holiday season?  I’m not.  And I actually like the guy. I am a big believer that employees should NOT buy their bosses holiday gifts. Every year we all wrestle with the issue of who to buy for at the office and what to get them.  Here are some rules and reminders that will hopefully alleviate some of the holiday pressure.DO IT PRIVATELY: If you plan to give a gift to your boss or a colleague it should be done privately.  Public displays of gift giving open you up to criticism and judgment.“Oh my God, did you see what a kiss ass Andrew is?”“He didn’t tell me he was giving XYZ a gift!”“That’s all he spent?”Gift giving is a personal choice that should come from your heart.  Do your best to keep it quiet and personal.LEARN THE CULTURE: The holidays can be particularly difficult if you’re the newbie at the office, as you have no idea what to expect.  Rookies … [Read more...] about Office Gift-Giving Rules and Reminders

The world's population is roughly 6.6 billion people according to Wikipedia. Despite the enormity of that number, there are a disproportionately lower number of outward personality traits one can display; i.e. - the wallflower, the overachiever, the comedian, the bully, etc.  Unless you work in an office of only three people, you likely work with people that encapsulate a good assortment of these characteristics.Out of these traits, the one that fascinates me the most is the over-opinionated know-it-all that loves to share his or her opinion as fact. You know the type.  They catch you in a break room and give you the lowdown on politics or the problem with today's music or the key to the Jets failed season.  Or, if you're really unlucky, they'll chew off your ear on a multitude of subjects. Their focus is usually on what they see as a problem, and their conviction often comes off as arrogance.Not only do they know everything, they also love to unload this … [Read more...] about How to Avoid a Know-It-All at Work

Thank God, it's the last dance!  The fifth season of Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) is finally over. I don't understand the success of much that's on TV, but this show is an absolute enigma to me.If at this point you're thinking, 'Andrew, if you hate the show so much, why the hell do you watch it?'  Fair point.  My only response is that it's difficult to avoid when you're wife is addicted to the show and you live in a one-bedroom apartment.Since I must purge my system of this dreadful show (at least until next season), please allow me to share with you several common themes I've noticed between Dancing With the Stars and working.The Fix Is InThe premise of the show is that non-dancers get teamed up with a professional to learn how to dance.  We all know that most of the contestants have had some training and/or instruction on the past - but for some unfathomable reason - over 20 million people a week choose to look the other way.  This season's runner up, Mel B. … [Read more...] about Career Lessons From Dancing With the Stars

Tell me if this sounds familiar...It's 7pm on a Sunday night. You've just finished dinner and you are starting to settle down for the evening. Normally this would be a relaxing time. Maybe you take this time to reflect on the past week, or perhaps settle into your latest Netflix arrival. But this night is somehow different. You suddenly become filled with a certain something.  You can't exactly but your finger on what it is.  Unfortunately, there's a good chance that it's anxiety. Rather than relax you actually begin to get worked up, even annoyed. It comes in waves and is an overall malaise. This is a serious indicator that you could be experiencing the early warning signs that it's time to leave your job. At some point most of us will reach this crossroad.  Maybe you're there now but just don't recognize it.   With that in mind here are five surefire signs that it may be time to change your job. Change in Appearance This can include weight gain or loss, … [Read more...] about 5 Signs It's Time to Quit Your Job

Throughout my career I've always been amazed at the lengths employees will go to to avoid talking to their supervisor or boss.  The result: The person in power feels like an outcast - a situation that benefits no one.  Especially you.  I've been on both sides of the fence and trust me, it's time you start chatting up your boss.  Here's why:Someone who likes you is more apt to help you... The best career advice is usually simple.  That's why I'll never understand why 10 new employment books come out every hour.  But I digress.  Ask yourself a simple question: Would you rather help someone you like or someone you don't?  If you want to get ahead in your career, you're going to need your boss's support at some level.  Whether it's submitting the paperwork to HR or submitting a proposal to the clowns upstairs, being nice to your boss today will make your life easier tomorrow.Makes your motives crystal clear...Chapter Four of the Manager's … [Read more...] about Why You Must Talk to Your Manager or Boss

Bosses at my first job referred to me as Clock #26 and required me to wear a red vest. Yes, friends, $6.05 an hour at Kmart was where I received my inaugural paycheck. Don't laugh, I learned a lot! In fact, I attribute portions of that job - even though it was about 15 years ago - for getting me into podcasting. I started innocently enough by collecting carts, ringing registers, and stocking the shelves. I don't know if it was the way I scanned or the way I bagged, but I was quickly moved up to the big time: Register Supervisor. Now, when someone ran out of quarters or needed a 15-minute break, they came to me, Clock #26, keeper of the keys and master of your bladder. Now you're probably wondering - what the heck does this have to do with podcasting? See, a register supervisor was allowed to play God in one other way - he or she had control over the store intercom. A long-necked, flexible microphone with a black button that only I could press. And when I did, my voice echoed … [Read more...] about Working at Kmart Taught Me How to Work