7 ways to make your job search less tedious

• 2-minute read •
Job searching may be at the bottom of your “fun things to do” list— but that might just be because you’ve hit the “job search wall.” It happens to the best of us, and it’s pretty common. But it can be reversed!

“Looking for a job is a universal source of anxiety,” says Steve Dalton, author of The 2-Hour Job Search: Using Technology to Get the Right Job Faster. It’s also intimidating, he says, given that there’s a seemingly endless number of job postings at your fingertips.

That’s the irony: while you have great access to job openings, having too many options can make the job-search process seem overwhelming. Monster asked career experts for their advice to avoid job-search burnout. Here’s what they said can turn those feelings of fatigue back into excitement.

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6 Genius Ways To Make Your Office A Better Place

• 2-minute read •
Picture this: Your office is actually a place you look forward to going to every day.

It would be beneficial to feel this way. Hating your workplace can be incredibly draining and can even contribute to a host of health problems, from gaining weight and losing sleep to interfering with your personal relationships.

Of course, it can be easy to feel excited about heading to work each day if you’re pursuing a vocation you truly love. But most of us will face mixed feelings about our jobs from time to time. When that happens, there are a few things you can do to get a bit more out of your workplace, according to research.

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7 ways to make a name for yourself in your industry

• 2-minute read •
Your name is your brand—and you’re anything but generic.
Take a minute to think about your favorite brands, whether that means wristwatches or canned soup. (Trust us, we have a point we’re trying to make.) What words or phrases spring to mind? “Sturdy” and “high-tech?” “Very affordable” or “consistently awesome?” Those positive associations are what endear you, the consumer, to a particular brand.

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6 Ways to Spot a Bad Employer Before it's Too Late

• 2-minute read •
Identify companies you don’t want to work for before you accept an offer.
Some bad employers wave red flags in your face, while others present more subtle signs. You should be ready to notice both.
Here are six ways to spot a bad employer before you take a job that will turn into a nightmare down the road.

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The right—and wrong—ways to sneak out for a job interview

When it comes to job searching, a little stealth can go a long way.
You’re on a top-secret mission: Get to a job interview without your current employer finding out.

Whether you’re just seeing what else is out there, or actively working to leave your current role ASAP, you definitely don’t want your boss to know.

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Eight Ways to Maximize Your Cover Letter's Power

Like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs, résumés and cover letters go hand-in-hand. Although both pieces are valuable on their own, they pack the most punch when served together. But while all job seekers know the importance of a well-organized résumé, many don't understand the power of a strong cover letter. In addition to reinforcing key skills and experience, a cover letter demonstrates your desire to work for the employer and the specific ways in which your expertise can benefit the firm. More importantly, it helps differentiate you from other job seekers and provides incentive to contact you for an interview. Even if composition isn't your forte, you can still create a killer cover letter.

Here's how:

1. Know your stuff. |
Before you begin writing, learn as much as you can about the potential employer. Visit the firm's Web site and scan industry publications to familiarize yourself with recent news about the company, such as quarterly earnings, and to learn about future plans, like expansion into new markets. The more you know about an organization, the better you can tailor your cover letter to the firm's needs.

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6 Ways To Handle Interruptions At Work

We all face interruptions at workplace. Which, most of the time, disturb our to-do-list and work schedule. Most of us are not very efficient in time management at work as by the end of the day; we realize that the time has sneaked away, leaving us with unmet deadlines. Some workplace interruptions may not be in our control and can disturb our schedule and productivity. Things like a colleague stopping by to have a chit chat or seeking help, unscheduled meeting with boss/colleague, phone calls, unsolicited enquiries /consultancy etc.

All these interruptions can disturb the focus or thought processes and ultimately the work schedules. Following are some tips which can be used to handle work interruptions.

•Prioritize – There may be 10 tasks to accomplish for the day. Divide them in the category of important and urgent and accordingly assign time. Try to finish the important tasks in the morning hours where the chances of interruptions are comparatively less.

•Create and Share your schedule- While creating timesheet for the day keep buffer time to accommodate unscheduled urgent business requirements such as unplanned meeting/work assigned by your boss. You can use google calendar or Microsoft outlook to share this schedule of yours so that your co-worker/boss knows when you are free.

•Learn to say NO – If you have to deliver a report in an hour’s time and someone walks to you for a casual chat or some favour and you know this may be something unimportant.  Hence, to meet the deadlines and keep your schedule in line sometimes you have to say ‘No’ to people or postpone a little bit. However you can choose a delicate way to say that.

•Keep a check on Email and phone calls – Instead of keeping your outlook/personal mail open and responding to every email instantaneously, keep a fixed time to check and respond to emails like twice or thrice a day. Same goes with calls also. You can avoid unknown calls on mobile to keep the momentum of work going on and respond to them during lunch hour, coffee break etc.

•I am in the middle of something – Don’t hesitate to say this whenever you get any interruption and you are working on something important. There is no problem in doing that. You also can add that I shall get back to you after this work or time. This way they won’t come and disturb you instead you can go to them whenever you have free time.

•Rescheduling – However after managing the interruptions efficiently by above points, still your schedule may get affected little bit. So you can always reschedule your work a little.
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Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in

Six Ways to Get Back in the Job Market

If you have been out of the job market for a while, you may feel intimidated by a job search. But don't be. Whether you have been comfortable in your current job for a long period and want a new challenge or even change career, or you are retuning to work after spending time away raising a family, you can make a smooth transition back into the into the job market. Here are some tips and tricks that will prepare you to look beyond the obvious when searching for a new job.

1. Have a plan The old adage "fail to plan, plan to fail" is as true today as it has ever been. Ensure you have a clear understanding of your career plans and ambitions. If you are just embarking on your career it is important to join an organisation noted for its training. Some organisations have built up reputations as excellent training providers or promoting from within, for example, and are industry-recognised as leaders in their field.

2. Become Internet savvy Most online job boards, offer job seekers the opportunity to register their details and CVs onto a database that can searched by potential employers, recruitment consultancies and head-hunting firms. This puts your details in the public domain and increases your visibility in your chosen marketplace. And, most job boards will allow you to block your current company from seeing your details, so you don't have to worry if your boss discovers that you are actively looking for another job. Create your own blog. Writing a blog gives you the opportunity to become a leading authority on your business. It also gives potential employers an insight into your character and -- if you keep it updated -- dedication. Blogs can act as a personal PR tool too because you can link your blog to other blogs to create a network and this will further enhance your credibility and profile.

3. Become an expert in your field One of the most effective ways of getting noticed quickly is by attracting media attention. I am not suggesting that you have to go the extremes of appearing on "60 Minutes" or "Newsnight." But, writing articles for your trade publications or running seminars and presentations to business leaders will position you as a leading authority. The media will know you and so will potential employers.

4. Put it about and open some doors The power of networking cannot be underestimated. Think of it like speed dating for workers -- self-promotion to impress a potential suitor (employer). Admittedly not everyone is comfortable schmoozzing with a room full of strangers. But, networking can enable you to gain access to the hidden job market and it can take place at industry functions, breakfast meetings, online or even at the bus stop. From a self-marketing point of view, networking can increase your chances of getting your next job by as much as 33 per cent, according to Richard Bolles, author of "What Color is Your Parachute?" Keep your conversations short to give yourself the opportunity to speak to as many people in the room as possible. The more business cards and contacts you make the better.

5. Ask questions If you are considering changing your career, ask someone who does the job that you want how they got where they are. People love to talk about themselves, it's human nature. And, the more people that you talk to, the more you will identify the key traits needed to achieve your ambition - and know what pitfalls to avoid.

6. Phone a friend Personal recommendation and word of mouth are one of the most effective forms of advertising. Some career analysts suggest that 80 per cent of vacancies are not advertised. After Y2K, a new school of marketing thought emerged that questioned the effectiveness of advertising in the modern age -- when did you last see Starbuck's advertising? They don't. But everyone has heard of Starbuck's. So, contact ex-colleagues to unearth potential opportunities, and get client testimonials to add to your CV. And, increase your chances of being found by posting your CV on the CareerBuilder.co.uk database and let potential employers find you. Paul MacKenzie-Cummins spent several years working within the online recruitment media. He is now a freelance writer specialising in all issues regarding careers, workplace issues, recruitment, interviews, and hiring trends.

6 Ways to Invest in Your Career

In uncertain economic times, you may hesitate to spend money to advance your career. But some investments -- of money and time -- can really pay off.

One of the main ways to invest in your career is through education.

"Don't think of it as going back to school, which sounds like you didn't get it right in the first place and doesn't feel good," said Libby Pannwitt, principal of the Work Life Design Group, in San Carlos, California. Instead, think of it as a way to broaden your knowledge.

Here are three ways to invest in you career through education, plus three other career investments to consider:

* Get a degree. Complete your bachelor's degree or get a master's degree, MBA or even a Ph.D.

"We're looking at global competition," said Patti Wilson, CEO of CareerCompany.com in Silicon Valley. An advanced degree can help you get promoted or move between industries.

Some people say workers in midcareer or later won't have time to recoup the cost of an advanced degree. It's a calculation that may push you toward a program that you can complete while working. But there are other factors to consider, Wilson said. An advanced degree can facilitate the move to consulting for an experienced worker, for example.

* Become certified. Technical fields, project management and human resources are just some fields in which certifications can help advance a career. Certifications are generally less time-consuming and expensive than degree programs.

* Learn cross-cultural communication skills. If you're working outside your native country and not speaking your native language, consider taking classes in accent reduction and American business etiquette.

How do you know if you need these classes? If you're lucky, your boss will tell you. But you may simply notice that you're not getting promoted to positions that require good communication skills.

For native English speakers who were raised in the United States, learning about the business culture of other countries can help further your career, Wilson said.

* Build your brand online. This requires more time than money, although some services may cost you.

Own your own domain name and create a Web page to showcase your work, Wilson said. Keep updated profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking sites. Monitor your online presence so that potential employers won't find anything derogatory about you.

"Being branded online may be on the cutting edge now, but it's going to be a given in five years," Wilson said.

* Find coaches and mentors. It's important to have people to help you make critical decisions in your career.

For some people, a paid career counselor or coach is the best approach. Others have one or more mentors who offer informal advice. Which approach is best may depend on how much in-depth help you need.

"Some you pay, and some are free," Wilson said.

* Raise your professional profile. Professional associations require both time and money, but they are a good way to meet people in your industry who work for other companies.

"By serving on a committee or a board, you will gain valuable, marketable leadership experience to parlay at your next job interview," Pannwitt said.

Are You Sabotaging Your Career? 5 Ways to Make Sure You Aren't

Though Alexandra Levit was a straight-A student, she freely admits her first job after college was a disaster.

"I had the attitude I had to be a VP by the age of 30, so at meetings I would talk and talk without deference to others," she says. "My first boss didn't like me, which made me visibly upset at work -- I'd burst into tears -- and I clashed with other colleagues."

But when Levit saw coworkers in the public relations agency with half her work ethic getting promoted ahead of her, she realized something was missing from her education foundation. She decided to take some personal development classes to improve her people skills.

"I thought it was all about the work you do, and wasn't concerned about the reputation I presented," said Levit, who credits a Dale Carnegie course her boss recommended with teaching her how to make a more positive impression and elicit more cooperation from others.

"It really did change my life," says Levit, author of "How'd You Score That Gig?" and "They Don't Teach Corporate in College," now a regular speaker at universities and corporations on workplace issues facing young employees. "This should be standard knowledge for every college senior."

Levit's early career mistakes -- overemphasizing technical proficiency at the expense of sales, strategic, people, and financial skills, and assuming she had already learned everything she needed to know to get ahead at work -- are just some of the many ways in which people unwittingly sabotage their career success. While she rebounded, others may not be so lucky.

Know Yourself

Self-awareness regarding your behavior and shortcomings is the most important challenge in any career development program -- without it, people keep their defenses and ignore helpful feedback, says Jason Seiden, president of Seiden & Associates, a coaching and management development firm, and author of "How to Self-Destruct: Making the Least of What's Left of Your Career," a tongue-in-cheek book on professional moves you shouldn't make.

Marginalizing yourself at work, boxing yourself into a job and shutting out opportunities to advance by making yourself indispensable, having an "entitlement complex," and using technology to your disadvantage -- like posting embarrassing photos of yourself or inappropriate comments about your employer or personal life online -- are all excellent ways to sabotage your career, notes Seiden, also an instructor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Accept Criticism

So is avoiding constructive criticism, which many workers disregard or misinterpret as insults or nastiness. When Seiden worked in his father-in-law's business some years ago, he came in eager to shake things up and told everyone what they were doing wrong. "I created a lot of friction. People were resisting me as I was pushing too hard and too fast. I got plenty of feedback but didn't interpret it right. We were talking past each other all the time."

Many people don't listen to criticism of their behavior from someone they have already typed as annoying, like a boss, but they believe remarks from someone they've already typed as worthwhile, such as a friend. Seiden says people behave this way because of the "fundamental attribution error," by which people explain behavior in terms of personality traits instead of the situation. "Because there is a tendency for humans to generalize about others from isolated observations, we are lousy judges of character," he says.

Keep Learning

The most destructive thing to do to your career is to think you're irreplaceable, says John McKee, a business coach in Los Angeles and author of "Career Wisdom."

"The ones who think they know all the answers become obsolete, as this usually means they're not keeping current with what they need to be successful in their industry."

Speak Up

Failure to self-promote is another career-killer, to which women are particularly susceptible, adds McKee, also author of "21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot."

"Women have a tendency to feel their work speaks for itself, while guys are likely to promote everything they do that's great. Thus, women are less likely to get promotions or raises, and if they get one, they accept it without a negotiation."

Get Out

Sometimes employees don't leave bad situations soon enough. The resulting stress takes a toll emotionally and physically, often infecting the person's ability to move on and perform well in interviews for new jobs, says Joni Carley, a business coach in Media, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, who cites an ad agency employee client who had trouble at work and was ultimately fired.

"If only she'd gotten her act together before she had too many wounds to lick," Carley notes. "She was always in state of discomfort, and those feelings just sabotaged her energy and her interest in life. She was bothered by all the cues but not acting on them, and it's self-sabotaging not to honor that."

Five Ways to Beat Workplace Stress

"After all the highways, and the trains, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive," said Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman."

Do you no longer feel that you are getting satisfaction from your job, or are you questioning whether you are in the right job? Are you contemplating looking for a new position? If so, you are probably suffering from burn-out and not necessarily from a bad job.

It is caused by the way that you react to both positive and negative stress in your job. Stress is part and parcel of any job, so it is important to be able to identify the stress -- causing factors and turn them into positive experiences.

Here are some suggestions on ways to eliminate burn-out and stress.

1. Remember the good times
Think of the times when you felt a sense of professional achievement and identify the factors that contributed to that success, such as selling the big deal you had been working on for so long, winning promotion or creating new ideas.

2. Avoid negativity
Henry Ford said: 'If you think you can or you think you can't, you're probably right'. Using positive language creates an image in our minds that the subconscious soaks up. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania interviewed 350,000 executives and discovered that the top 10 per cent performers held a higher sense of optimism.

So, instead of looking at your new sales target and saying, "That's unrealistic." It is better to say, "If I break this down into manageable, smaller targets I can see how I will achieve this."

Backbiting colleagues, gossips and office politics can, given time, have a negative effect on you. Counteract negativity by focusing on the positives aspects of your work -- the "neg-heads" will soon realise that you won't entertain their bemoaning.

3. Get out more
Allow time to get out of the office and go out for lunch or coffee instead of sitting at the desk where you spend so much of your day. Turn off your phone, Blackberry and laptop and take some "me-time" away from work. These may seem like frivolous acts but you will return to work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

4. Change your daily routine
The monotony of performing the same tasks daily can be frustrating. Take a different route to work, reorganise your desk or ask your boss for a new challenge -- perhaps taking on the responsibility of running the next team meeting or training new starters.

5. Finally, ask for help
There is no shame in asking for help, we are all human beings not human doings. All of us go through tough periods and you will earn the respect of your managers and peers if you ask for their advice and support. In my experience, what comes around goes around -- one day you may be the one that someone turns to for help.

To use a cliché, knowledge is power. Now you know what you can do when you are burnt-out and avoid letting things slip out of control like Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. It is not the situation that you are in now that matters; it's what you do about it.

Six Ways to Get Back in the Job Market

If you have been out of the job market for a while, you may feel intimidated by a job search. But don't be. Whether you have been comfortable in your current job for a long period and want a new challenge or even change career, or you are retuning to work after spending time away raising a family, you can make a smooth transition back into the into the job market.

Here are some tips and tricks that will prepare you to look beyond the obvious when searching for a new job.

1. Have a plan
The old adage "fail to plan, plan to fail" is as true today as it has ever been. Ensure you have a clear understanding of your career plans and ambitions.

If you are just embarking on your career it is important to join an organisation noted for its training. Some organisations have built up reputations as excellent training providers or promoting from within, for example, and are industry-recognised as leaders in their field.

2. Become Internet savvy
Most online job boards offer job seekers the opportunity to register their details and CVs onto a database that can searched by potential employers, recruitment consultancies and head-hunting firms.

This puts your details in the public domain and increases your visibility in your chosen marketplace. And, most job boards will allow you to block your current company from seeing your details, so you don't have to worry if your boss discovers that you are actively looking for another job.

Create your own blog. Writing a blog gives you the opportunity to become a leading authority on your business. It also gives potential employers an insight into your character and -- if you keep it updated -- dedication.

Blogs can act as a personal PR tool too because you can link your blog to other blogs to create a network and this will further enhance your credibility and profile.

3. Become an expert in your field
One of the most effective ways of getting noticed quickly is by attracting media attention.

I am not suggesting that you have to go the extremes of appearing on "60 Minutes" or "Newsnight." But, writing articles for your trade publications or running seminars and presentations to business leaders will position you as a leading authority. The media will know you and so will potential employers.

4. Put it about and open some doors
The power of networking cannot be underestimated. Think of it like speed dating for workers -- self-promotion to impress a potential suitor (employer). Admittedly not everyone is comfortable schmoozzing with a room full of strangers.

But, networking can enable you to gain access to the hidden job market and it can take place at industry functions, breakfast meetings, online or even at the bus stop.

From a self-marketing point of view, networking can increase your chances of getting your next job by as much as 33 per cent, according to Richard Bolles, author of "What Color is Your Parachute?"

Keep your conversations short to give yourself the opportunity to speak to as many people in the room as possible. The more business cards and contacts you make the better.

5. Ask questions
If you are considering changing your career, ask someone who does the job that you want how they got where they are. People love to talk about themselves, it's human nature. And, the more people that you talk to, the more you will identify the key traits needed to achieve your ambition - and know what pitfalls to avoid.

6. Phone a friend
Personal recommendation and word of mouth are one of the most effective forms of advertising. Some career analysts suggest that 80 per cent of vacancies are not advertised.

After Y2K, a new school of marketing thought emerged that questioned the effectiveness of advertising in the modern age -- when did you last see Starbuck's advertising? They don't. But everyone has heard of Starbuck's.

So, contact ex-colleagues to unearth potential opportunities, and get client testimonials to add to your CV. And, increase your chances of being found by posting your CV on the job sites and let potential employers find you.

Seven Ways to Brighten Your Office Day

On average, we spend more than a third of our waking hours at work and as many as 25 per cent of us put in up to sixty hours a week, making the British the hardest workers in Europe. Our desks become more than just a place to do work; they are used for eating, drinking and even sleeping. So take time out to brighten your day and make your office work for you.

Here are seven tips to put some ‘life’ back into your working day.

De-clutter your desk

A recent survey revealed that workers are falling victim to ‘Irritable Desk Syndrome’, with 40 per cent of office staff admitting that their desks were normally piled high with files, dirty mugs and scraps of paper, but most couldn’t be bothered to do anything about it.

Put aside some time in the morning to clear up your desk, organise your files and papers and give your computer screen and keyboard a wipe.

Be honest and ruthless with your re-organisation. As you pick up each item consider whether it really is useful to you. If not, then bin it. You will feel much more clearheaded and less distracted. Remember, everything has its place.

Get personal

According to the ancient Chinese science of feng shui, it is good to have something on your desk that reminds you of a non-work related part of your life such as a favourite picture of your children on holiday or Fido running after next door’s cat – anything that makes you smile and offers some light relief during stressful times at work.

Feng shui suggests that family pictures should be placed in the middle and top-right hand corners of your desk and other images, such as holiday’s snaps, need to be positioned on the left.

Get moving

The British Chiropractic Association recommends getting up from your desk every forty minutes to prevent joint pain, muscular tension and eye strain. Exercise in the middle of the day enables you to focus on something other than work and can leave you feeling re-energised and more productive for the rest of the day.

Allow time to get out of the office and go out for lunch or coffee instead of sitting at the desk where you spend so much of your day. Turn off your phone, Blackberry and laptop and take some ‘me-time’ away form work. These may seem like frivolous acts but you will return to work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Chill out

Take time out for yourself. If you are staying at your desk turn on your iPod or mp3 player and drown out the office noise with sounds you enjoy listening to. Better still, find a quiet part of the office, put your feet up, read a book or magazine, call a friend or take a different route to work.

Getting lost in an activity completely removed from your day to day duties is a great de-stressor and when you return to work you will be refreshed enough to take on the rest of the day.

Go green

…and give life to your desk by buying a plant. Research by the University of Surrey revealed that plants can decrease stress while enhancing productivity by 12%.

And, another study by Oxford Brookes University showed that indoor plants offer a guarantee of positively enhancing perception and contributing to the well being of office workers. Plants have even been proven to reduce the effects of office noise, too.

Avoid negativity and office politics

Staying out of office politics, avoiding backbiting colleagues and gossips can, given time, have a negative effect on you.

Using positive language creates an image in our minds that the subconscious soaks up. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania interviewed 350,000 executives and discovered that the top 10% performers held a higher sense of optimism.

Counteract negativity by focusing on the positives aspects of your work – the ‘neg-heads’ will soon realise that you won’t entertain their bemoaning. Where office politics are concerned, there are only losers and no winners.

Keep talking

It makes a huge difference to your working day if there is someone in your office that you have a personal connection with – not too personal, mind you, office affairs can end in tears and end careers. Someone you can go out for lunch with or have a drink with after work.

Workdays can be hectic and stressful, and without good people around you, the days can be difficult to get through. Sure, a company can create an atmosphere and work environment. But, when it comes down to it, if you don’t get along with your colleagues, you probably won’t enjoy your job. Plus, having friends at work helps your morale, and consequently the business.