Career Advice

Have you ever sat on your computer and noticed that ten minutes has passed and none of your work was even touched? Whether you’re a new employee or a veteran in the office, it may be hard for you to stay on track because of the endless amount of distractions online. If employers could reduce the time that employees spend on Facebook or YouTube watching cat videos, companies would probably experience unprecedented growth and productivity. But short of getting rid of all the cats in the world (and shame on you if you agree to this), it is likely that cat videos and other Internet distractions will be around for a while. Instead, employees and employers alike should take certain steps to reduce distractions in the workplace. Different Types of Distractions >  Instant Messaging—Employees can use instant messaging programs to talk to their coworkers and friends about topics unrelated to work. Though instant messaging programs are a useful tool in the workplace, when used improperly, … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Workplace Distractions (Is That a Cat Playing the Piano?)

Even in these times of organizations keeping tighter reins on the budget, there are still travel jobs. These aren’t just careers that require the occasional trip to meet with a client, but could mean actually living in another area for months at a time. But what if you’re moving, doing a job search and one of these jobs with travel is offered to you? Getting Your Bearings So, should you take this too-good-to-pass-up career opportunity in the midst of moving across country? Is it possible that might be too much change happening all at once? Okay, let’s walk through the scenario and weigh some pros and cons. I’m going to make some general assumptions here, but you’ll get the gist. •    Put off the decision – Buy yourself as much time as possible to decide about the job. If you’re the perfect candidate, they will certainly respect that you need time and wait for you. •    Amount and duration of travel – People say a lot of enticing things when offering you a job. Nail down the … [Read more...] about Should You Take a Travel Job During a Move?

Many of us work for a company or are small business owners that require we go above and beyond the normal show up, work, and go home routine. You may be asked to attend off property meetings, fundraisers, or events. For those instances, you are usually asked or have the need to use your personal vehicle to get to those places. In most cases, that is easy and doesn’t require anything other than gas. However, if your job entails the constant use of your personal vehicle for company errands, client meetings, or commute between company properties, you may need to take into consideration all that it entails. Insurance Requirements: If you are using your car for more than driving to and from work, there may be insurance requirements that you should consider to keep yourself out of trouble. Depending on the nature of use and amount of driving required, you may be required to carry commercial insurance.  Your personal insurance with an added exception may be enough to cover light use of … [Read more...] about Things to Consider Before Using Your Personal Vehicle for Work

Does your weekly work schedule look somewhat similar to the following? - Monday: Drive to work, fill up coffee cup, check emails, make calls, get more coffee… - Tuesday: Drive to work, fill up coffee cup, check emails, make calls, get more coffee… And so on until you retire….. If you can relate, I’m here to tell you that you’ve become a routine-driven worker. Most employees go through their days in auto-drive, so consumed with their engrained schedules they fail to see how monotonous and uninspiring they’ve become. Since you’ll be working for the next bazillion years, take a chance and mix things up, you’ll likely be inspired by the opportunities that abound when you do. Learn Something New Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of having to do things a certain way at work. Those types of employees are dull and uninspiring. Rather, challenge yourself to try new things. Take a different approach with your sales pitch, use a more upbeat tone with customers or discover new things … [Read more...] about Mix up Your Daily Routine to Become More Productive at Work

Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are approaching autumn/fall and heading for winter. I recently talked about ways to stay healthy at work and wanted to talk today about ways to stay healthy at work in the winter, which can be more of a challenge! Get Outside (Even If It’s Cold!) It can be tempting to spend more time indoors as the days start to draw in in but getting fresh air and sunlight is vital for good wellbeing even in the winter. If your job involves being inside all day or in front of the computer, schedule time into your day to get out into the elements. Eat Healthily In colder weather it can be easy to comfort eat, especially when there is less need to worry about your ‘beach body’ but it pays to eat healthily and well. You will be glad you ate healthily in the winter when next summer comes around! Slow cookers are one great way to prepare quick and healthy meals in the winter. They are great for soups, stews and much more! You can literally throw everything in a … [Read more...] about Healthy Working in the Winter

Working 8-10 hours a day (and then some…) can really get you feeling like all you want to do is veg out as soon as you finish your work day.  The problem is that couch potato mentality won’t do anything for your glutes and hamstrings, especially if you’ve been sitting for the majority of your workday already. Feel motivated to work out like Demi Moore back when she starred as G.I. Jane or want a ripped body like Brad Pitt in Fight Club? Then bring out the inner exercise guru in you and apply these creative, doable exercises at work.  Whether that means you only have ten minutes to spare on your morning break or during your lunch break, you can exercise during the most sedentary of jobs. Why Get Exercise at Work, Anyways? Does a quick 10 minute workout really boost up your metabolism or help you to lose those calories consumed from your extra value meal you had at lunch? No, but it can revitalize your mind so that however bored and repetitive you feel your job is, you can have an … [Read more...] about Forget the Gym! Staying Fit at Work

The resume of the future isn't coming. Sorry. I know this will disappoint the technologically-savvy, eco-friendly among you, but it's the truth. Before you rip my head off and start singing the praises of one of the many new resume-building tools available, I suggest you bookmark this post and come back to it every few years to see that I was right. Audio resumes? No chance. Video resumes? Nope. Never. Image resumes. A mere blip on the radar. Some things are just meant to be tangible. And sorry guys, a sexy infographic won't get it done either - at least not in most fields. Don't shoot the messenger. Personally, I think the entire resume thing is a joke to begin with.  Your entire professional life on a single piece of paper? Pul-lease. So for the time being, the debate rages on... Should I include a photo? An objective? Should I print it on funky-looking paper? Social media has changed the game slightly, but the majority of positions still call for a resume.  A … [Read more...] about The Resume of the Future is DOA

When you move away from your city, it’s tough saying goodbye to friends, neighbors and nearby family members. But it’s also difficult to leave your co-workers. After all, you spend as much or more time with them than you do your own family! Our relationships with our colleagues have sustained us through those bad Mondays and crazy deadlines. Sure, you pledge to keep in touch via social media and email, but that’s not the same as seeing them every day. Because your work pals are important to you, don’t forget to focus some of that energy you’re putting into moving on the workplace. Even if you’re relocating to a branch office of the company, it’s still important to maintain those ties. The following are some tips that might make these goodbyes and your transition easier. -  Let co-workers know as soon as possible – People need time to acclimate to unexpected news. If your colleagues know they have some time to say goodbye, it’s less stressful. - Carry your weight – Even though you … [Read more...] about Saying Goodbye to Co-Workers When You Move