• 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.
Showing posts with label make. Show all posts
Showing posts with label make. Show all posts
How you can make the most money as a nurse
• 2-minute read •
2016 was great for continued job growth in the health care sector. That’s not news at this point; in terms of job growth, the sector has been one of the top sectors in each monthly U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report of 2016.
But wait, that’s not all. This sector has not only seen job creation, but wage growth as well, according to the most recent monthly BLS employment report.
For nurses, though, this uptick in wages, in particular, has been going on for a couple years now. In nursing, salaries increased, on average, about 1.3% per year from 2008 to 2014, according to BLS data. But in the past two years, that rate has doubled, with nurses’ salaries increasing about 2.6% per year since then.
2016 was great for continued job growth in the health care sector. That’s not news at this point; in terms of job growth, the sector has been one of the top sectors in each monthly U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report of 2016.
But wait, that’s not all. This sector has not only seen job creation, but wage growth as well, according to the most recent monthly BLS employment report.
For nurses, though, this uptick in wages, in particular, has been going on for a couple years now. In nursing, salaries increased, on average, about 1.3% per year from 2008 to 2014, according to BLS data. But in the past two years, that rate has doubled, with nurses’ salaries increasing about 2.6% per year since then.
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.
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.
How to use numbers to make your resume seem more impressive
• 2-minute read •
Recruiters look at hundreds of resumes per day—sometimes for the same position. How can you make yours stand out? You could hire a pro or create a super creative infographic resume—or in about 10 minutes, you could add data and metrics to quantify your achievements, and upgrade your resume from amateur to amazing.
Don’t worry—it’s not as hard as it might sound. In fact, for a quick 90-second lesson on how to do it, check out our video below. Or, keep reading and we’ll share some pointers here.
Recruiters look at hundreds of resumes per day—sometimes for the same position. How can you make yours stand out? You could hire a pro or create a super creative infographic resume—or in about 10 minutes, you could add data and metrics to quantify your achievements, and upgrade your resume from amateur to amazing.
Don’t worry—it’s not as hard as it might sound. In fact, for a quick 90-second lesson on how to do it, check out our video below. Or, keep reading and we’ll share some pointers here.
Even People Who Hate Writing Can Make Their Cover Letter Stand Out
• 2-minute read •
Remember that course you had to take in college? The one in which the professor outlined an “appropriate” way to write a cover letter? Yes, that class. That weekly lecture that taught you how to use perfect sentence structure, one-inch margins (all the way around) and an incredibly stilted tone because all of that was professional. Appropriate. Correct.
Remember that?
Remember that course you had to take in college? The one in which the professor outlined an “appropriate” way to write a cover letter? Yes, that class. That weekly lecture that taught you how to use perfect sentence structure, one-inch margins (all the way around) and an incredibly stilted tone because all of that was professional. Appropriate. Correct.
Remember that?
Here's One Way To Make Everyone Happier At Work
• 2-minute read •
One of the most profound moments I’ve had was encountering a woman at a triathlon that I attended to cheer on a friend. The woman was alone and was cheering like there was no tomorrow. Not such an uncommon sight at a triathlon…but when I asked her who she was cheering for, I was amazed by her answer:
One of the most profound moments I’ve had was encountering a woman at a triathlon that I attended to cheer on a friend. The woman was alone and was cheering like there was no tomorrow. Not such an uncommon sight at a triathlon…but when I asked her who she was cheering for, I was amazed by her answer:
How To Make A Good Impression From The Start Of A Job Interview
• 2-minute read •
It takes just seconds to form a first impression, and a first impression at a job interview happens just as quickly. Since it’s so much easier when you start off strong, focus on making a good impression in those first few moments of the interview — while you’re waiting in the reception area, while you’re walking to the office or conference room, while you make small talk right before the first question. Here are five qualities you want to convey right from the start to make a good impression at a job interview:
It takes just seconds to form a first impression, and a first impression at a job interview happens just as quickly. Since it’s so much easier when you start off strong, focus on making a good impression in those first few moments of the interview — while you’re waiting in the reception area, while you’re walking to the office or conference room, while you make small talk right before the first question. Here are five qualities you want to convey right from the start to make a good impression at a job interview:
How To Easily Make Yourself The Most Obvious Fit For The Position
• 5-minute read •
The other day, I was scanning through resumes for one of my open positions when a co-worker dropped by to recommend a friend of hers who had applied. “He’s amazing,” she said, “and would be perfect for this role.” I went back to the applications and realized I had put him in the “probably not” pile. “I’ll talk to him,” I said, thinking that I’d have one conversation and pass.
Turns out, he was perfect for the position and made it to late stages in the interview process. So why did his resume almost get tossed? Because he had a bit of a different background than I was initially looking for for the role, and his application didn’t connect those dots quite so clearly.
Or frankly, maybe they did—and I was just powering through resumes as fast as I could and focusing on the ones that clearly looked like the best fit.
The other day, I was scanning through resumes for one of my open positions when a co-worker dropped by to recommend a friend of hers who had applied. “He’s amazing,” she said, “and would be perfect for this role.” I went back to the applications and realized I had put him in the “probably not” pile. “I’ll talk to him,” I said, thinking that I’d have one conversation and pass.
Turns out, he was perfect for the position and made it to late stages in the interview process. So why did his resume almost get tossed? Because he had a bit of a different background than I was initially looking for for the role, and his application didn’t connect those dots quite so clearly.
Or frankly, maybe they did—and I was just powering through resumes as fast as I could and focusing on the ones that clearly looked like the best fit.
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.
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.
The 5 people you need to make friends with at work
Knowing the right people can get you extra perks — and even put you on the path to a promotion.
When you start a new job, you’ll want to make the right connections as quickly as possible.
“After spending time and energy getting the role, the last thing you want to do is sabotage your success by getting in with the wrong crowd,” says TyAnn Osborn of Bellevue, Washington-based HR firm Osborn Consulting Group
How Your Social Media Profile Can Make Or Break Your Next Job Opportunity
Social networking is a recent invention that has the Internet still at the edge of its seat due to its popularity with people. This is mostly because it really is for the people. If you do not utilize any of the several forms of Social Media you risk falling behind your competitors who use Social Media. A survey conducted in the US last year revealed that close to 90% of employers either recruited, or were planning to recruit, through social media. According to the 2012 annual technology market survey conducted by Eurocom Worldwide, “Almost one in five technology industry executives say that a candidate’s social media profile has influenced their recruiting decision. Managing your social media profile has become even more important as it can make or break your chances of being hired.
Social media can give you an opportunity to hunt down the job of your dreams, but they won’t do it on their own. You need to be strategic and proactive in how you use them.
Here are some ways by which Social Media can be utilized:
• Highlight your professional self on social media: LinkedIn is undoubtedly a great tool to showcase your professional aspect as well as network with other professionals. Twitter can be used to talk about relevant subjects, follow industry experts and engage in conversations with them. You can also follow organizations that interest you and stay updated with their activities, in case you are planning to apply for them.
• Connect with Right People/Organization: Becoming friends with any company that you are looking to work for or already working for is another smart use of social media. It also becomes an added advantage if the HR Executive or CEO of the firm which you are thinking to apply is already in your network.
• Keep your Eyes Open: Don’t overlook any opportunity that may come across in any form. Be it a question, advice, Discussions etc. make sure you participate in all conversations that can fetch you eye balls.
• Create your professional profile on LinkedIn: Many recruiters now use LinkedIn as their primary tool for sourcing candidates, so having a well-written and keyword-rich LinkedIn profile is essential. Make sure your profile reflects your area of expertise.
•Build a recruiter-friendly Twitter bio: Twitter is a force to be reckoned with, and both employers and recruiters now use Twitter on a regular basis to search for candidates and advertise vacancies.
•Network: The great thing about social media is that they let you communicate with people you might not meet in real life. Create your own networks by making contact with people who work at companies you’re interested in. Building networks is a long-term process but it is worth investing the time. Interact with people, learn from them, and show what you can contribute. You can join LinkedIn groups or specialist forums and share knowledge, have conversations with like-minded people and build virtual relationships – in fact, this is often easier online than in person.
However, if you want to ensure a potential employer never rejects you, make sure your online social profile depicts the type of employee a company would want to hire.
Finally, if you plan to use social media as part of your job search, remember that recruiters regularly carry out internet searches on the names of potential employees. So, keep your personal life private and make sure that all your online content is positive and professional and it depicts you as the type of employee a company would want to hire.
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Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in
Five Ways to Make Starting a New Career Less Scary
If you believe most of the current magazines that profile successful entrepreneurs or others with high-profile careers, then you probably think that the best way to change careers is to close your eyes, max out your credit cards, and leap off the cliff. While that makes for a great story, the truth is quite different, and less risky. Most people that have changed careers successfully have done one or more of the following.
Here are five ways to make starting your new career less scary and more rewarding:
1. Planning And Clarity Make The Unknown Known...And Less Scary
What type of career change will meet your needs? Slow down and explore as many options as possible. Marci Taub, co-author of ³Work Smart: 250 Smart Moves Your Boss Already Knows,² notes that it is important to ³clarify whether you need a full career change, a career shift, or an industry or sector change before you leap.²
The more specific your plans, the less scary they are. Find out as much as you can about your prospective career. This could include: the number of working hours typical of that career, any specialized training you'll need, and if there's a lot of burnout in that field. Another reason to plan ahead: the higher the risk of your new venture, the more planning you need to do to increase your chances for success.
2. Talk To Others Who Have Changed Careers Lately
If you are working in a secure job for a large company, you are probably surrounded by others working in secure jobs for a large company. These are not the people who can give you advice about changing careers. Even worse is hanging around with disgruntled types because they support your ideas about leaving. Their unhappiness can be contagious. The fact that they are miserable but not willing to do anything about it but complain confirms that they have nothing to teach you.
On the other hand, if you talk to people who have just made the change to a career that is meaningful and satisfying to them, they have a wealth of information that will be useful and motivating. Find out what their concerns were, and how they've handled them. What would they do differently? What do they recommend for your situation? Talk to enough people that you get an overview of what it takes to make it in a new career.
3. Talk To Others Who Have Long-Since Changed Careers
Temper the enthusiasm and optimism of those who have just made the change, with the wisdom and depth of experience of those who see the big picture. When you talk to people who made a significant career change quite a while ago, you learn what works over the long-run, and what to do when the excitement wears off. Do they still like what they do? What challenges took them by surprise, and how did they respond? How much of their success was due to their own efforts as opposed to being in the right place at the right time? Keep asking different people until you notice patterns of how the process unfolds for most people.
4. Soul-Searching Prevents Making The Same Mistakes In New Career
Don't just use your intellect; use your intuition. To soul-search means to contemplate your situation based on what your SOUL cares about. That might include:
- your quality of life
- the meaning behind what you do
- spending time on what you care about
- understanding that your life has a deeper purpose than just making a living
Depending on your personality, you may need to do more or less soul-searching. If you tend to act impulsively, and seem to continually end up in similar problematic situations, you need to do MORE. Therapy or career coaching can help you better understand why you want to make a change, and can help you ensure that you aren¹t just running from one bad situation to one that¹s even worse.
But if you tend to agonize over every decision, large or small, and would much prefer to think through every detail until the opportunity is no longer available, you may need to do LESS contemplating and more doing.
True insight and curiosity about what makes you tick doesn't lead to endless procrastination. In fact, the better you know yourself, the less likely it is that you'll allow yourself to be tripped up with insecurities or needing to prove yourself to others.
5. Put Your Career In A Larger Context
If you define yourself by your job title, salary level, or other aspect of your career, making a change will feel like changing your identity. However, if you see your place in the universe defined by more than your job, you'll have a sense of simply taking a new step down your unique path.
How can you make your career change less scary? There are lots of ways. These are just a few. I hope they get you started on your ongoing journey. Let that journey include understanding yourself better all the time and making career choices that enhance ALL aspects of your life.
How You Can Confidently Make a Career Shift 10 questions to ask yourself before making a change
So, you’ve been thinking about changing your line of work?
Don’t worry; you’re not alone. In fact, more and more people are following this previously unpopular career path. In fact, it’s becoming much more common for men and women, especially those in their 30s and 40s to do just that.
Tragic world events have also contributed to this new phenomenon—people are reconsidering work/life balance issues, their legacy, and how they want to be contributing to this world in the here and now. Doctors, interested in work/life balance and greater safety, are nurturing their artistic interests. Corporate employees, desiring greater independence, are swapping suits for bathrobes and starting up home-based businesses.
You can change your line of work AND be successful
If you do your research and plan well, you’ll be able to make a confident, well-informed decision about making a career change. Knowing the answers to the following 10 questions will provide you with the information, motivation and confidence to move forward and choose the right new line of work for you.
1. What are your skills and competencies?
Make a list of your general (e.g. management, organization) and technical skills (e.g. specific software skills, other industry-specific skills). Don’t stop until you’ve exhausted your list. Refer to online career development sites for help.
2. Which of your skills are transferable?
Note where you are strong, average, and/or weak. Also note your preferred skill set—which responsibilities do you enjoy.
3. What key competencies are required to be successful in your new field of interest?
Talk to others in the line of work you wish to pursue—ask them to list the key competencies that enable them to be successful. Match these against your list.
4. How many of these key competencies do you currently have?
Are they your strongest skills? Where are the gaps?
5. If there are skills you don’t have, ask how you might build them.
6. Would school or a certificate program support you in making the transition?
If so, can you/do you want to pursue this option?
7. What would making the change entail?
Would there be a temporary setback in pay? If so, can you live with the temporary adjustments?
8. What are the costs/benefits of staying right where you are now?
Have you carefully considered and weighed the positives/negatives of your current situation? Determine whether or not the negatives can be improved by a change in environment. Or, do the negatives revolve around the work and a conflict with your interests?
9. What are the cost/benefits of making a change?
10. Which is more appealing to you?
Once you’ve weighed the positives and negatives to both options, what have you found?
Once you know the answers to these questions, a clear choice should emerge, and you should be armed with key information to help you find work in your new field. Having a list of your strengths and transferable skills, and a clear understanding of how this new field better fits with your lifestyle, interests, etc. can also help you present yourself in a compelling way to a prospective employer or business partner.
Moving ahead
If the benefits clearly outweigh the costs, or, if you’re completely adamant about making the change, then carry a list of the benefits/reasons why you want to make the change in your back pocket. Anytime a “doubting Thomas” thought pops up, squash it by reading the list aloud.
Still sounds good? Then keep going—you will achieve your goal!
7 Job-Search Mistakes New Grads Make
This year's crop of college seniors is, unfortunately, graduating to a soft job market. A weak economy means fewer opportunities -- and greater competition for every single opening.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, says, "In today's employment environment, there is less room for error when looking for your first career opportunity."
Don't let one of the following seven missteps cost you the career of your undergraduate dreams.
1. Keep It to Yourself
When you're looking for work, you want your burgeoning network to know it. Messmer, author of "Job Hunting for Dummies, 2nd Edition," advises, "Spread the word about your job hunt to everyone you know, including family members, friends, professors and former coworkers." Make use of online networking sites and reach out to your local business community and staffing firms.
2. Treat Every Opportunity Equally
One resume does not fit every job opening, so don't use the exact same document or cover letter when you apply to different companies. States Messmer, "Tailor each resume and cover letter to the particular opportunity, and try to obtain the name of the hiring manager so you can personalize your cover letter. A little detective work can go a long way in helping you stand out."
3. Make Careless Errors
Proofread. Proofread. Proofread. Every document you send to a potential employer must be error-free. Go through your resume, cover letter, emails, thank-you notes, and any communication with a fine-tooth comb to make certain they don't contain typos or grammatical errors. If you're not a grammar guru or lack an eagle eye, Messmer suggests, "Ask a detail-oriented friend to review all of your job-search materials."
4. Don't Do Your Due Diligence
When applying for a position, go beyond the job description to find out about the company as a whole. A little online research can go a long way, according to Messmer. He says, "Applicants who uncover beyond-the-basics knowledge of the job and the company are better able to communicate specific ways they can contribute to the organization's success."
5. Air Your Dirty Laundry
Before you meet someone in the flesh, online image is everything. Pictures of you goofing around with friends may seem funny, but they also may lead a recruiter to question your judgment, especially if they are salacious in nature or show you doing things that are illegal.
Messmer urges applicants, "Don't post anything that would appear unprofessional (think spring break photos, rants about a former employer, etc.) to a hiring manager or recruiter."
6. Act Casual
Once you begin your job search, make certain that you're acting like the professional you aspire to be. States Messmer, "Keep land line and cell phone voice-mail greetings clear, professional, and succinct. Likewise, avoid using off-color or overly cute email addresses or signatures."
7. Forget Your Manners
You probably won't get every job you pursue, but it is important to be gracious to everyone you encounter on your journey to employment. "Express appreciation to everyone who helps you in your job search, whether or not their efforts on your behalf are successful. Also be sure to send thank-you notes to every hiring manager you meet," he says.
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."
Make Working From Home Work for You
Most of us, at one time or another (usually on a dark, wet Monday morning), have probably thought how fantastic it would be to work from home. No cold commute, a slow start, no need to get out of your dressing-gown till lunchtime…But what’s the reality of working from home, and is it something that would really work for you? Here are our top tips for things to consider before you take the plunge:
Why Work from Home
First of all, get clear about exactly why you want to work from home. Legitimate reasons include helping you to juggle family commitments such as childcare, allowing yourself to work “smarter” by saving the time of a long journey to work, or allowing you to manage your time better if you spend a lot of time working independently, or often have to travel or work unsociable hours. If you’re self-employed or about to start up your own business, working from home is often a sensible way of keeping your overheads down.
Consider your Children
Employers are increasingly willing to allow employees to work at least part-time from home – it helps to keep their costs down and can be great for staff morale as it shows that your company trusts you to act responsibly. If you have children under the age of 6, your employer is legally required to give serious consideration to a reasonable request to work flexibly. However, that doesn’t mean they have to agree to your request. Increase your chances of a favourable response by setting out clearly the benefits to your employer as well as yourself.
It takes Discipline
Be honest with yourself about how well you are suited to home working. If you’re someone who loves a quick gossip with your colleagues over your morning coffee, you might find it lonely being stuck at home all day on your own. Be realistic about your ability to discipline yourself to get down to work when there’s no one there to “check up” on you: it can be all too easy to find a constant stream of chores and distractions to keep you away from the computer.
Do you have the Space
If you decide to go ahead and take the plunge, you’ll need to make sure that you have appropriate space and systems in place. The spare bedroom is the classic “home office” location, but if you’re short of space you may have to improvise a bit. The key thing is to make sure that you have dedicated workspace that is comfortable and practical. If that means the kitchen table, arrange things so that you can easily clear away at the end of the day – so that you have room to live, but also so that you can switch off from work.
Break Time
Drawing a boundary between work time and leisure time is often one of the most difficult problems for home workers. It’s all too easy just to check your email one more time or make one more phone call, and before you know it, it’s 10pm. Put a routine in place: start work at the same time every day if possible, plan proper breaks throughout the day, and be disciplined about your finishing time. Take a break for lunch and, if possible, get outside and get some fresh air, or at least take some time away from your desk to do something completely different. This will help to keep you fresh and focused.
Family & Friends
You’ll need to be strict with friends and family, too. When you work from home, people can fall into the trap of assuming that you’re always available to chat, go shopping, or help them out. If friends phone for a gossip, tell them that you’re working but you’ll call back when you have your lunch break/at the end of the day. Be prepared to be robust about this: one of the most frustrating things about working from home is that other people sometimes assume you don’t really have a “proper” job – don’t reinforce their prejudices by not taking your work time seriously.
Stay in Touch
Put in place systems to keep you in touch with the office. A daily phone call and/or a weekly meeting will help to keep you involved and make sure you don’t get forgotten about. Try to meet up with colleagues socially from time to time so that you’re kept on the inside track of the office politics and what’s really going on.
Working from home can bring enormous benefits, helping you to juggle other demands, work more efficiently and reduce the stress of commuting. The secret to making it work for you is to be clear about the potential benefits as well as the drawbacks, and to put in place systems and procedures to make sure that you can work as efficiently and effectively as you would in the office. Then all you have to do is work out what you’re going to do with all the time you save!
Why Work from Home
First of all, get clear about exactly why you want to work from home. Legitimate reasons include helping you to juggle family commitments such as childcare, allowing yourself to work “smarter” by saving the time of a long journey to work, or allowing you to manage your time better if you spend a lot of time working independently, or often have to travel or work unsociable hours. If you’re self-employed or about to start up your own business, working from home is often a sensible way of keeping your overheads down.
Consider your Children
Employers are increasingly willing to allow employees to work at least part-time from home – it helps to keep their costs down and can be great for staff morale as it shows that your company trusts you to act responsibly. If you have children under the age of 6, your employer is legally required to give serious consideration to a reasonable request to work flexibly. However, that doesn’t mean they have to agree to your request. Increase your chances of a favourable response by setting out clearly the benefits to your employer as well as yourself.
It takes Discipline
Be honest with yourself about how well you are suited to home working. If you’re someone who loves a quick gossip with your colleagues over your morning coffee, you might find it lonely being stuck at home all day on your own. Be realistic about your ability to discipline yourself to get down to work when there’s no one there to “check up” on you: it can be all too easy to find a constant stream of chores and distractions to keep you away from the computer.
Do you have the Space
If you decide to go ahead and take the plunge, you’ll need to make sure that you have appropriate space and systems in place. The spare bedroom is the classic “home office” location, but if you’re short of space you may have to improvise a bit. The key thing is to make sure that you have dedicated workspace that is comfortable and practical. If that means the kitchen table, arrange things so that you can easily clear away at the end of the day – so that you have room to live, but also so that you can switch off from work.
Break Time
Drawing a boundary between work time and leisure time is often one of the most difficult problems for home workers. It’s all too easy just to check your email one more time or make one more phone call, and before you know it, it’s 10pm. Put a routine in place: start work at the same time every day if possible, plan proper breaks throughout the day, and be disciplined about your finishing time. Take a break for lunch and, if possible, get outside and get some fresh air, or at least take some time away from your desk to do something completely different. This will help to keep you fresh and focused.
Family & Friends
You’ll need to be strict with friends and family, too. When you work from home, people can fall into the trap of assuming that you’re always available to chat, go shopping, or help them out. If friends phone for a gossip, tell them that you’re working but you’ll call back when you have your lunch break/at the end of the day. Be prepared to be robust about this: one of the most frustrating things about working from home is that other people sometimes assume you don’t really have a “proper” job – don’t reinforce their prejudices by not taking your work time seriously.
Stay in Touch
Put in place systems to keep you in touch with the office. A daily phone call and/or a weekly meeting will help to keep you involved and make sure you don’t get forgotten about. Try to meet up with colleagues socially from time to time so that you’re kept on the inside track of the office politics and what’s really going on.
Working from home can bring enormous benefits, helping you to juggle other demands, work more efficiently and reduce the stress of commuting. The secret to making it work for you is to be clear about the potential benefits as well as the drawbacks, and to put in place systems and procedures to make sure that you can work as efficiently and effectively as you would in the office. Then all you have to do is work out what you’re going to do with all the time you save!
How to make your workplace greener
Have you ever walked through a business district at night and wondered why there were so many lights on in the high-rise offices? In most cases it’s not down to an army of workaholics putting in a late shift – many companies make a conscious decision not to flick the switches when the last person leaves.
It may sound like a minor issue, but thousands of offices across the country running up unnecessary electricity bills on a daily basis will not only make the light bulb manufacturers very happy, but contribute heavily to the ever growing environmental issues we face.
Unless you’re an Office Manager, there’s little you can do personally to change this apart from mention it to whoever is responsible, but it does raise the issue of how you can reduce your workplace carbon footprint.
Technology has gone a long way to helping the paperless office become more of a possibility – emails, instant messages, PowerPoint presentations and USB sticks have made printers almost redundant. Many offices have even removed their fax machines in an effort to reduce paper use.
Even within Internet companies like Monster, there are still certain individuals who aren’t totally comfortable not having a printed record of their work.
To help those slightly less engrained in the electronic age, easily accessible recycling bins are a must and a whole industry has grown up around the issue. Many collection companies are so concerned about our wasteful nature they operate on a not-for profit basis to encourage companies to sign up for their service.
Another way to help out is to make sure you always shut your PC down fully. That includes switching off the monitor, not just leaving it to go onto standby mode.
According to the National Energy Foundation, “PC screen consumption can often represent a third of the electricity consumption in a modern office. Most of the wasted energy is given off as heat, and in an air-conditioned office, half as much energy again can be used in getting rid of this waste heat in summer.”
There is an argument that regularly switching your PC on and off actually uses more energy than leaving it on. It’s really just a question of frequency – downtime at evenings and weekends does have a benefit but there’s no need to turn off for your lunch hour or a long meeting.
So that covers what you can do at work, now let’s sort out your journey there and back.
Public transport is the obvious way of reducing individual impact, with car-pooling an ever more popular option. Choosing to cycle or walk will bring health benefits along with environmental brownie points.
And finally, it’s worth considering if you even need to go into your workplace at all. Many companies now encourage their employees to work from home, not necessarily for ‘green‘ reasons but it would certainly have an impact if millions of us could eliminate our commutes.
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