Career Advice

Growing up, you were likely told not to let little things get to you. If you are like most others, you missed that day in school when they actually taught you step-by-step, how to be successful at this. You can’t and shouldn’t turn your emotions off at work. After all, you are human! This is as ridiculous as expecting your dog to not wag his tail over a treat. It’s all natural instinct! What is Logic? You will often hear a lot about doing what is logical. Don’t make decisions when you are upset because it is not logical. Don’t react without thinking things through because it’s not local. Really, what exactly is logic, and what’s so great about it? Well, logic studies the principles of correct reasoning and valid interference. Doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? Where’s the passion? Where is the instinct? Most great moments in one’s career are made by reacting in a split second in a specific circumstance. Are you really supposed to step back, evaluate the situation and conjure up … [Read more...] about Don’t Ignore Your Emotions at Work!

At work, it’s great to get a little recognition now and then. However, being the center of attention is tough if your work team is comprised of over achievers or if you’re surrounded by employees who regularly claim the spotlight by pouting or freaking out about work projects. Since being recognized by management often paves the road for future raises and promotions, you must cleverly find a way to outshine other employees and claim the spotlight. Here are four effective ways to be the center of attention at work without having to freak out to get noticed. Claim Project Leads If the same team member always snatches project leads and claims the workplace spotlight, it’s time to end their reign. The next time a collaborative work project is announced, immediately consult with management regarding why you should take the lead. This is no time to play the waiting game because, while you’re working out a strategy, other employees will be pleading their cases. Send an email, pick up the … [Read more...] about How to Be the Center of Attention at Work (without freaking out!)

Ever get the feeling your J.O.B. is going to be the death of you? Well guess what- you might be on to something! By combining mounting evidence and common sense we finally have PROOF that holding down a steady 9-5 is the biggest risk you could ever take! Work kills. 1.       Lack of Control- It’s Worse Than You Think! Did you know feeling like you’re in control of your life is actually good for your health? It’s true! When you feel in control of your life your hormone balance changes, flooding your system with feel-good chemicals and a biological cocktail that encourages ambition and toughens up your immune system. Well, guess what? When you feel out of control the opposite happens! Your body cuts off those feel good hormones and downshifts your immune system! So- how often do you feel in control at work? 2.       Bad Jobs = Bad Health Habits Does your job stock its pantries and vending machines with health food or junk food? Do you get to exercise during the day, or are you … [Read more...] about 7 Ways Your Desk Job is Killing You

Many full-time professionals who work in the typical office environment spend more than 2000 hours a year in a cubicle. If you code or work for one of those tech firms the rest of us have been sending resumes to for the last 12 years, it's probably about twice that figure. If we can turn our thoroughly modern cubicles into positive workspaces, there's a good chance those 2000 hours will be far more productive. After some in-depth research, we've identified 7 solid ways to make your cubicle into a positive workspace. Some of these involve changing your cubicle furniture, some involve changing your attitude. 1. Feng Shui Your Cubicle The practice of feng shui dates back to 4000 BC. Its application to office cubicles and office cubicle furniture is a much later development. People spend their lives devoted to feng shui. We can't go into that kind of depth here, so let's just hit a couple of important ideas you can apply to your office cubicle. First, arrange your space so you can … [Read more...] about 7 Ways To Make Your Cubicle a Positive Workspace Without Using a Single Motivational Poster!

Negotiating can be a tricky business. Many of us don’t want to ask for what we want for the fear of being seen as pushy or ungrateful (or whatever label you might use). However, as the old saying goes “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”. Learning to negotiate can help you to achieve more satisfaction and boost your self esteem. Women have also been found to be much less likely to ask for a raise in the workplace. For example, men expect to earn 13% more than women during their first year of full-time work. It is clear that both men and women could benefit from being able to negotiate and ask for what they want and deserve. Here are some suggestions to help hone your negotiation skills... Do Your Job Well To negotiate well at work, make sure you are doing your job well. You will have more leverage in asking for what you want with a boss or colleague if you are on top of your job as much as possible. If the other person(s) can see you are trying your best, it is human nature that they … [Read more...] about How To Negotiate At Work

Bullying isn’t something that just happens to children; many adults are the victims of bullying and the workplace is often a place where it happens. Trust Yourself It can be hard to decide whether someone is bullying you, but if something doesn’t feel right about how someone is talking to you, about you or treating you, listen to those feelings. Many bully’s work by undermining the other person to make them doubt their own judgement. Be Direct Bully’s often get away with their treatment of others because no-one calls them on it. It is worth trying to deal with the issue directly in the first instance. If the other person isn’t aware of how their behavior is affecting you it gives them an opportunity to realize and stop it. If after being direct, it continues then it is worth looking at escalating the issue to your boss or HR department. Approaching the other person in a calm and assertive manner will help you maintain your professionalism and … [Read more...] about How To Deal With Bullying Behavior At Work

Dubbed ‘Generation Jobless’ by The Wall Street Journal, college graduates ages 24 and younger face an uncertain future and a competitive work landscape. An alarming 60 percent of college graduates in the United States cannot find a full-time job in their chosen profession. The main question job seekers must ask themselves is, “Do I have the skill set to land and meet the challenges of my desired position?” Holding an undergraduate degree is not always a sure-fire way to beat out the competition or quickly rise through the ranks at a company. If your undergraduate degree did not provide an applicable skill set for the job you are seeking, then you may need to think about a business graduate degree. An article posted on the Jobacle ‘Career News’ section discusses the rise of graduate degrees stating, “Professionals who only possess a bachelor's degree are falling behind the curve.” Gaining an Edge in Today’s Bleak Job Market A new trend is emerging among universities in the United … [Read more...] about The Rise of Faster, Less Expensive Business Graduate Degrees

Just as the ceiling fan in your home attracts an inch of dust and the cobwebs start to look like decorations in your cathedral ceilings, this is what your career often starts to look like too. Unfortunately, it’s not always as obvious, so you need to do some spring cleaning and shake the dust off, whether you think you need it or not. Dust Off Your Resume It is suggested that the potential employers decides whether they are interested in a candidate in 10 seconds or less, while reviewing a resume. That gives you next to no time at all to capture their attention and make an impression. Even if you currently have a job, it does not hurt to update your resume to keep it current. Make sure it has trigger words that employers look for in a resume. These are words that reach out from the page and offer a little poke. Clean Your Workspace Whether you are looking for a new job or a promotion or not, there is always a reason to clean your desk and organize your space. If those snacks in … [Read more...] about Springtime Cleaning Your Career

Do you remember the first few months at your new job? The excitement of a new environment, new co-workers, new projects, and the fact that your got hired in the first place gives way to boredom and job dissatisfaction. According to Right Management, people are so dissatisfied with their jobs that 84% of its respondents are looking for a new position in 2012. Here’s how to keep you happy, even if the “newness” of the job has long worn off… Think Yourself to Happiness A boring and repetitive job, an hour long commute, almost no vacation time, and being underpaid are not the recipe for happiness. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of your job, focus on the positive by making a list of the good things: You have a job, you are comfortable, you get some social interaction, you get to be creative, etc. Also, try smiling more, even when you don’t feel like it. You’ll find that you’ll start to feel happy just by forcing yourself to smile. Don’t believe it? Smile now and see what … [Read more...] about Is Your New Job Honeymoon Over? How to Get It Back