Career Advice

The water cooler is an office staple with many meanings. Some use it for refreshments while others use it as a meeting place to dish. Rumors fly around the office as easily as they do a playground in kindergarten. Even though some of us have an addiction to juicy gossip and drama, it can prove to be counter productive, especially when we are the subject of it. There are very few ways to avoid office gossip without avoiding everyone you work with, but there are ways to minimize gossip and its affects. Here are a few tips to keep the clucking hens as quiet as possible. Find them before they find you: Learning who the gossipers are before they reach you is imperative to defending yourself from the mud slinging. When you start at a new office, keep your eyes and ears open. The queens and kings of gossip are rarely hard to see. They enjoy being the center of attention as long as they aren’t the subject. They especially enjoy getting their beaks into the new guy. They may actually approach … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Office Gossip

Whether you are being forced into a career transition due to a job loss, or whether you are taking the next steps in your career and are excited about the next stage, there is likely to be some stress associated with the changes happening in your life. It’s important to manage this stress, though. You will recover better, and improve your overall situation if you keep your anxiety under control. Here are 5 tips for keeping the stress at bay during a career transition: 1. Focus on the Positive One of the best things you can do to alleviate any kind of stress in your life is to focus on the positive. Try to find the positive side to your career transition. If it’s something you have chosen, focus on why you are making the change. If you are the victim of lay-offs, look for the opportunities that the situation might afford. Try to find the silver lining. You’ll stay positive, feel less stress, and be more likely to succeed as you look for a new job or start a new endeavor. 2. Create a … [Read more...] about 5 Tips For Managing Career Transition Stress

The world of business is dominated and controlled by networking. Companies which have the relevant skills and abilities for successful networking are often those which are most successful. However, networking is not all about big business events and traditional lunches. Here are five great examples of alternative networking: 1. Organize your own mini conference Conferences are one of the primary forms of communication between different businesses and companies. They are typically hosted by larger establishments, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a go yourself. Organizing your own mini conference is a great way to help you network with other businesses. Mini conferences offer the perfect platform for meeting new businesses, especially from within your local area. Invite businesses and make sure that you create a professional yet welcoming atmosphere. 2. Network during your commute A good tip to remember is that business networking can occur at any time, in any place. … [Read more...] about Five Alternative Networking Ideas

If your office has a Halloween party, you are likely Googling costume ideas while you are at work. For the record, I am not a fan of office Halloween parties. In my experience, people use the holiday as an opportunity to show something off. It could be large biceps or ginormous breasts; if you've ever been to an office Halloween party, you know what I'm talking about. In general, it is best to keep your costume simple and generic.  I know that doesn't sound like much fun, but we are talking about your livelihood, and in these troubled economic times, now is not the time to risk your job to get a laugh. Here are several of the worst costume ideas you can wear to Halloween party at work. Nun/Priest/Crucified Jesus: Bringing religion into your place of work is never a bright idea, no matter how innocent or funny the idea may seem. Don't Bring Sexy Back: Turning Snow White or Cinderella into a tramp, or showing off your Pimp cane during the 9-to-5 is a loser idea. No Twins:  Never … [Read more...] about The Worst Halloween Costumes for the Office

Office Halloween parties are becoming as popular office Christmas parties. Even though it's a time to celebrate, you don't want it to become that story that everyone's whispering about for months (the kind where they stop whispering when you come in the room). All office parties are a great time to mingle with your boss and co-workers and to have a little fun, but you should remember to remain professional at all times. It may be a party, but you're still at work. Here are 5 tips for how to navigate the office Halloween party: Be Festive Parties are a great opportunity to relax and get to know your boss and co-workers on another level. Take the opportunity to show that you're a team player and someone that people want to know. Be a full participant in the festivities: wear a costume, get out on the dance floor, and talk to a wide variety of people that you don't already talk to every day. Don't be that person standing in the corner with your drink and not talking to anyone. Show … [Read more...] about 5 Tips for the Office Halloween Party

People who are interviewing potential employees always have one single overwhelming concern: that the person across the table is out and out lying to them.  There's little worse than sinking thousands of dollars in taxes, fees, training costs, and materials into an employee only to have them turn out to be a dud.  Fortunately, there are lots of ways to find out if an employee is trustworthy or not -- some obvious, some devious. Get Your Facts If the candidate has passed a few rounds of interviewing and looks quite promising, you can (and should) take the time to contact their previous employers.  Get every bit of information you can about how they were as employees, why they left, and so forth.  Also, call their references and ask for details that might be less than perfect about them.  Then, simply ask them about their previous work experience. If they don't give you a perfectly honest answer, that's OK -- everyone has a tendency to remember the good and forget the bad -- but if … [Read more...] about 3 Tips to Determine if Your (Future) Employees are Trustworthy

Although the workplace bonus performed a disappearing act in many companies during recent tough economic years, it’s making a comeback. While caution may still be required with your workplace bonuses until profits return to normal, you may be eager to reward employees for their loyalty and productivity during these uncertain times. Bonuses can be effective means of showing appreciation for employee efforts and for enhancing worker loyalty to a company. Unfortunately, many employers aren’t using their reward systems in the best possible manner. When employers offer the predictable holiday bonus at the same time each year, their employees come to expect this gesture, which takes the excitement and purpose out of it. The following are a few tips for spicing up this year’s bonuses to effectively show your appreciation for employees and enhance their corporate loyalty. Change It Up While predictability is essential for many workplace processes, it has no place with the employee bonus. By … [Read more...] about Workplace Bonuses: Tips and Ideas

One of the hardest things about moving to a new city is leaving a job you love. Yes, there really are people who love their jobs! It’s especially tough if you’ve been with a company for a while and have established yourself as a valued employee. Starting over with a new company after you move can feel rather daunting. Increase in Remote Workers Many companies are switching to a less centrally-located working platform and having employees not just telecommute from their nearby home offices, but also work from anywhere in the country. So maybe you have another option besides leaving your job when you move. Why not explore the idea of working for your company remotely after the move? Your Company’s Culture If your company expects nothing less than constant face time, meaning you must have your B.I.C. (Butt In Chair) at the office, you may have to say goodbye to your job. However, if your company already has a percentage of telecommuters and people working remotely from different … [Read more...] about Is It Possible to Work Remotely After Moving?

I've been blogging for a long time, but I'm not sure I've ever told you about the view from my office. My cubicle. I see 41 bricks.  And this makes me grateful. These bricks let me know when it's raining outside. Or when the sun is shining brightly.  It's a reminder that a world exists outside of these grayish-blue-cloth-lined walls. Would I rather be staring out across a meadow? An ocean? A city skyline?  Of course.  However, when I look at all of the people in the office building who have no window view whatsoever, I realize that I am one of the lucky ones. Here's why you should covet thy window: Connectedness. Whether you are a writer, a manufacturer, or a salesperson, a key element to success is keeping your audience/consumer in mind.  A window gives you a portal, a constant reminder that the world extends beyond the project you are working on. Outside Elements.  When the dark clouds gather and imminent danger presents itself, you'll be one of the first to know. This can help … [Read more...] about My Office View: 41 Bricks