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Finding the perfect gift for a coworker is a great way to earn brownie points in the office. Unfortunately, a landmine field of potential mistakes stands between you and giving that ideal gift. Do Organize Events This year, organize a gift exchange at the office. An organized gift exchange allows coworkers to opt in or out of giving and receiving holiday gifts at the office. The organized event also prevents you from creating awkwardness by giving gifts to coworkers who don’t observe the holiday season. Do Participate Unless your budget or religious affiliation prevents you from participating in holiday gift exchanges at the office, join in on the fun. Taking part in the festivities ensures you are viewed as a team player and is sure to lift your holiday spirits. Of course, avoid placing judgment on those coworkers who decide not to participate because the decision could have been made for a number of reasons such as for religious ones. Do Personalize Don’t buy generic, crappy … [Read more...] about Dos and Don’ts of Gifts for Coworkers

Downsizing. Outsourcing. Reshaping. These words sound bad coming out of the mouth of an employer and they could have even worse effects on your income. However, they might represent the opening in life you’ve been waiting for. Does it mean your dreams can come true when you hear you’re losing your job? If you handle this shift in your career the right way, it could mean just that. Prepping for the Inevitable Changes One reason you’ll feel caught off-guard when you are laid off is you haven’t been reading the proverbial writing on the wall. Have you seen managers get replaced? Has your office space been reduced by a floor or more? Are coworkers having hours cut or have employees begun working from home? When you start to see these telltale signs in your company, consider what might be ahead. Unfortunately, no one is irreplaceable and no one is invulnerable when a company faces a drastic drop-off in revenue. If you’ve dreamt about a freelance career or changing the work you do … [Read more...] about Freelancing: How to Turn Work Negatives into Life Positives

Many of us have been in a situation where one person with a very difficult personality can create a very unpleasant work environment. Sometimes a person may just have a strong, overbearing personality, while others might be introverted and unwilling to help carry a conversation. Your personality, though, is extremely important in the workplace because it is the foundation on which you build relationships. … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to (Professionally) Show Your Personality in the Workplace

After working in the same office for several years, it’s easy to settle in and begin viewing the workplace as an extension of your home. Unfortunately, regardless of how long you’ve worked for a company, the workplace isn’t your home and, therefore, should not be treated as such. If office etiquette has been lacking in your workplace as of late, here is a refresher course. Respect the Breakroom The breakroom is a sacred location in any office. Breakrooms are where employees go to escape a stressful day at work and are also where most bonds with coworkers begin. As such, have respect for this sacred space by following these tips:          Pick up after yourself - Reserve your slob-like tendencies for home. If your sandwich leaves crumbs on the breakroom table, be courteous to others by wiping them up. Also, if you notice a mess left by someone else who hasn’t yet taken a workplace etiquette course, clean the mess rather … [Read more...] about Workplace Etiquette 101 – Refresher Course!

Workplace burnout is becoming a more and more common phenomenon and can be a very stressful experience to go through. So, how do we avoid getting burnout at work? How to do we create a healthy relationship to our work? Set boundaries A lack of boundaries is often at the heart of work place burnout. When we consistently try and do too much or find it hard to say no to requests, the pressure and stress can build up to an experience of burnout. Often a lack of clear boundaries is evident in employees and the company they work for. If that's the case, start with yourself and get clear about what you can and can't do; the clearer you are, the easier it will be to make changes for yourself and for the company.  Get support Don't try and go it alone. If you are feeling unsupported, see who or where you can get support from. Most companies have a HR dept or something similar and that is often a good place to start. Asking for help is a sign of strength. Listen to your feelings and reach … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Workplace Burnout

Looking at the job figures from the last month, it's obvious there are still a lot of people out there hurting, and in need of every last idea or resource they can get to help them get back to work. The U.S. unemployment rate is essentially flat at 7.9%, and the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was also little changed at 5 million people. Finding a job by tracking down open positions, rewriting resumes and filling out online applications can be a draining task. If you are serious about it, it can almost be a full-time job by itself. Many times, it can be difficult to even find job postings or contact information for a job that looks perfect. There are many ways to look for your next job, but using an employment agency can amplify your efforts, plus cut down on a lot of the frustration and daily tedium of a traditional job search. No Leg Work While finding a job always requires dedication and determination, it’s not always possible to run down … [Read more...] about Opportunities for Job Hunters to Be More Resourceful