• 2-minute read •
Don’t take this personally, but more likely than not, you’re not giving 100% at your job. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’re reading this while at work.
If so, you’re not alone. A recent Gallup study revealed a startling statistic: 70% of U.S. employees are not engaged at work.
A major cause for this disconnect is that people tend to be really, really bad at communicating their wants and needs. Learn to do that, and you’ll stand a much better chance of staying calm and resentment-free, and possibly even landing the kind of assignments you’ve been longing for.
Monster asked career experts for tips to help you improve your communication skills, so you can go from feeling disengaged to practically ecstatic about your job.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Interruptions At Work Are Killing Your Productivity
• 2-minute read •
If you’re like most people, you get interrupted way too much at work. Over the past two months, more than 6,000 people have taken the online quiz “How Do Your Time Management Skills Stack Up?” As I’ve been analyzing the results, one of the most striking findings has been just how many people suffer from interruptions throughout their workday. In the chart below you can see that 71% of people report frequent interruptions when they’re working. Meanwhile, only 29% say that they can block out everything else while working.
If you’re like most people, you get interrupted way too much at work. Over the past two months, more than 6,000 people have taken the online quiz “How Do Your Time Management Skills Stack Up?” As I’ve been analyzing the results, one of the most striking findings has been just how many people suffer from interruptions throughout their workday. In the chart below you can see that 71% of people report frequent interruptions when they’re working. Meanwhile, only 29% say that they can block out everything else while working.
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:
Is It True That You Must Choose Only Three Of The Following: Work, Sleep, Family, Fitness, Friends?
• 2-minute read •
Randi Zuckerberg’s entrepreneur dilemma rings true for most people. She stated that entrepreneurs must choose between work, sleep, family, fitness, or friends. Her contentment is that you can only have three of the five options if your goal is to build a great company. For most people in the business world, this is true.
Randi Zuckerberg’s entrepreneur dilemma rings true for most people. She stated that entrepreneurs must choose between work, sleep, family, fitness, or friends. Her contentment is that you can only have three of the five options if your goal is to build a great company. For most people in the business world, this is true.
6 Steps to Take When You're Not Feeling Engaged at Work
• 2-minute read •
Boost your productivity and job satisfaction through these tips.
To me, feeling engaged means you feel like your work really matters, that you’re making progress toward bigger goals. It’s a state of flow, where the work almost doesn’t feel like “work” a lot of the time. When you’re feeling engaged, you can work really hard, and it feels satisfying, even when it’s exhausting.
Boost your productivity and job satisfaction through these tips.
To me, feeling engaged means you feel like your work really matters, that you’re making progress toward bigger goals. It’s a state of flow, where the work almost doesn’t feel like “work” a lot of the time. When you’re feeling engaged, you can work really hard, and it feels satisfying, even when it’s exhausting.
5 ways to manage your work-related stress
• 2-minute read •
Identify what’s stressing you out, then find ways to manage it.
Stress is a natural part of life, and in moderation it can help improve our work performance. However, too much stress can lead to physical ailments such as headache and stomach aches, and chronic stress can cause serious health problems such as depression and heart disease, according to the American Psychological Association. April is Stress Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to examine the level of work-related stress you’re experiencing and explore ways to better manage it.
Identify what’s stressing you out, then find ways to manage it.
Stress is a natural part of life, and in moderation it can help improve our work performance. However, too much stress can lead to physical ailments such as headache and stomach aches, and chronic stress can cause serious health problems such as depression and heart disease, according to the American Psychological Association. April is Stress Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to examine the level of work-related stress you’re experiencing and explore ways to better manage it.
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 to answer the question 'Why do you want to work here?'
You may think this question is all about you, but it’s not.
During a job interview, you may be caught off-guard if you’re asked, “Why do you want to work here?” After all, you’ve taken the time to apply and come in for an interview—isn’t your interest obvious? But it’s highly likely you’re going to come across this question at some point in your interview.
During a job interview, you may be caught off-guard if you’re asked, “Why do you want to work here?” After all, you’ve taken the time to apply and come in for an interview—isn’t your interest obvious? But it’s highly likely you’re going to come across this question at some point in your interview.
Handle Your Work Hiatus On Your Resume
Whether it's been six months or 10 years, searching for a job after a workforce absence can be daunting. The work world somehow continued without you, and you may feel like you've been left behind.
The good news is that you can reenter the workforce armed with a dynamic resume and an aggressive job search plan. Whether you've been unemployed and looking for work, on sabbatical, raising a family, caring for an ill family member, attending school, on disability or in retirement, follow these tips to create your resume.
Before You Write Your Resume
Assess Your Skills and Experience: Research your job target to learn what hiring managers now find desirable in ideal candidates. Write a list of your matching skills, experience, training, and personal attributes. How would an employer benefit from hiring you?
Refresh Your Skills: Your research might have shown that some of your skills need to be updated. Because you are competing with job seekers who have been on steady career tracks, do what is necessary to compete successfully. Enroll in courses, study independently, and practice your skills whenever possible. This will boost your confidence and get you back in the game.
Maintain Ties to the Working World: Besides being a great opportunity to network, immersing yourself in professional activities will give you relevant, recent experience to add to your resume. Do volunteer work, join a professional organization, attend conferences, complete freelance and consulting projects, and accept temporary assignments.
When Writing Your Resume
Pick the Right Format: Many people returning to work assume they need a functional resume to hide the gap. But be careful about selecting this format, because hiring managers might suspect you're trying to hide something. You might do better with a combination resume, which is a reverse-chronological resume that leads with a Qualifications Summary. The summary emphasizes your most related credentials so hiring managers readily see your qualifications. Consider a functional format only if you've been out of work for many years and you need to emphasize your functional skill set.
Accentuate the Positive: Organize your resume so your key selling points are immediately evident. The top third of page one is the most important part of your resume, so include your most marketable skills and experience there. If you are concerned about your time gap, think about creative ways to obscure it. Maybe you traveled internationally and can mention your exposure to different cultures and languages. Perhaps you led or participated in a fund-raising event for a charity. Continuing education, volunteer work, professional development, and independent study are all valid uses of your time while out of the workforce. Try to tie in how your experience relates to your career goal. Convince employers that you still have what it takes to contribute to organizational goals despite your workforce absence.
Don't Call Attention to Dates: Try not to emphasize dates when formatting your resume. Avoid surrounding dates with white space, which will draw the eye. Instead, place them in parentheses next to your job titles.
Put Your Cover Letter to Work: Use your cover letter to explain why you temporarily stepped away from your career, emphasizing that you're now available and excited about pursuing employment. Let your enthusiasm for reentering the workforce shine through your letter.
Remember, you will need to work harder at job searching than colleagues with recent work experience do. Keep an open mind and positive attitude. You might need to take a pay cut or accept a position at a lower level than the one you had before you left. It might be a blow to the ego, but the reality is that employers like to hire workers with a recent track record. If you accept a position at a lower level than desired, use it as an opportunity to prove yourself and you'll soon work your way back up the ladder.
How to Stay Happy at Work
How often do you get the Sunday evening blues? Every now and again, or every week without fail? If it�s the latter, maybe you should think about moving on� But lots of people find themselves in the situation where they�re not ready to move jobs just yet � perhaps because they�ve only been in the role a short time, or because they want to gain more experience. So if you find yourself in the situation where you�re in a job that is okay but not brilliant, or that you really need to see through for a period of time, what can you do to make it more interesting and - dare we say it � more fun?
Here are some suggestions:
Positive Thinking
Focus on the positives � what do you really like about your job (come on, there must be something)? How could you incorporate more of that into your working day? Remind yourself of the other positive aspects of your work � your friends and colleagues, for instance.
Challenge Yourself
Find new challenges. One of the reasons that we can get restless in our job is, quite simply, boredom. Think about ways in which you could make your role more interesting. Perhaps you could volunteer to mentor new staff, or spend some time every week shadowing people in other departments to get a broader perspective on the business? Discuss your ideas with your manager.
Flexible Working
Is there scope for you to work more flexibly? Working from home one day a week, for example, could give you more variety. This is not an excuse to get up late and lie around watching daytime TV, though � you�ll need to be able to show some output for your time away from the office! Again, discuss the options with your manager.
Learn More
If you feel you�re not being stimulated enough mentally, consider doing some training or a course that is work-related: it will give you new insights, help to keep you fresh, and will be a useful addition to your CV when you are ready to move on.
Network
Network more. If meeting new people is not already part of your role, find ways to incorporate it. Meeting people and getting fresh perspectives can help you to keep yourself interested and interesting. If there don�t seem to be many networking opportunities where you are, create some! Organize a team outing, or arrange for you and your colleagues to meet up with staff from another part of the company.
Have Some Fun
Inject a bit of fun into your workplace. That could be as simple as croissants on a Monday morning or a team drink on Friday afternoon. Or it could be a more structured social event. Your work colleagues don�t have to be your bosom buddies, but you�ll enjoy your working day much more if there�s a bit of banter and humour around. Just because your work is a serious business doesn�t mean you can�t have fun while you do it!
Improve Your Social Life
Make an effort to do more interesting things outside of work. If your working week consists of getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, having dinner, slumping in front of the TV and then going to bed, your job is going to have a disproportionate impact on your overall mood. Try to fit a couple of social engagements into your week � a dancing class or an art exhibition, perhaps, or just a catch-up with friends you haven�t seen for a while. Having something to look forward to during the week will help to make it more bearable.
Prioritise Your Workload
If you find that your problem is you�re working such long hours that you don�t have time to have fun outside work, let alone in the office, you need to tackle this. Get used to prioritizing your workload � negotiate extensions to deadlines if necessary � and make yourself leave the office on time at least 3 nights a week. Most of us have periods when we�re extra-busy and end up working long hours, but if this is happening to you routinely, you need to get out of that rut.
How to Stay Happy at Work
How often do you get the Sunday evening blues? Every now and again, or every week without fail? If it’s the latter, maybe you should think about moving on… But lots of people find themselves in the situation where they’re not ready to move jobs just yet – perhaps because they’ve only been in the role a short time, or because they want to gain more experience. So if you find yourself in the situation where you’re in a job that is okay but not brilliant, or that you really need to see through for a period of time, what can you do to make it more interesting and - dare we say it – more fun?
Here are some suggestions:
Positive Thinking
Focus on the positives – what do you really like about your job (come on, there must be something)? How could you incorporate more of that into your working day? Remind yourself of the other positive aspects of your work – your friends and colleagues, for instance.
Challenge Yourself
Find new challenges. One of the reasons that we can get restless in our job is, quite simply, boredom. Think about ways in which you could make your role more interesting. Perhaps you could volunteer to mentor new staff, or spend some time every week shadowing people in other departments to get a broader perspective on the business? Discuss your ideas with your manager.
Flexible Working
Is there scope for you to work more flexibly? Working from home one day a week, for example, could give you more variety. This is not an excuse to get up late and lie around watching daytime TV, though you’ll need to be able to show some output for your time away from the office! Again, discuss the options with your manager.
Learn More
If you feel you’re not being stimulated enough mentally, consider doing some training or a course that is work-related: it will give you new insights, help to keep you fresh, and will be a useful addition to your CV when you are ready to move on.
Network
Network more. If meeting new people is not already part of your role, find ways to incorporate it. Meeting people and getting fresh perspectives can help you to keep yourself interested and interesting. If there don’t seem to be many networking opportunities where you are, create some! Organize a team outing, or arrange for you and your colleagues to meet up with staff from another part of the company.
Have Some Fun
Inject a bit of fun into your workplace. That could be as simple as croissants on a Monday morning or a team drink on Friday afternoon. Or it could be a more structured social event. Your work colleagues don’t have to be your bosom buddies, but you’ll enjoy your working day much more if there’s a bit of banter and humour around. Just because your work is a serious business doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while you do it!
Improve Your Social Life
Make an effort to do more interesting things outside of work. If your working week consists of getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, having dinner, slumping in front of the TV and then going to bed, your job is going to have a disproportionate impact on your overall mood. Try to fit a couple of social engagements into your week – a dancing class or an art exhibition, perhaps, or just a catch-up with friends you haven’t seen for a while. Having something to look forward to during the week will help to make it more bearable.
Prioritise Your Workload
If you find that your problem is you’re working such long hours that you don’t have time to have fun outside work, let alone in the office, you need to tackle this. Get used to prioritizing your workload – negotiate extensions to deadlines if necessary – and make yourself leave the office on time at least 3 nights a week. Most of us have periods when we’re extra-busy and end up working long hours, but if this is happening to you routinely, you need to get out of that rut.
Apply Now - Resume or CV with Job Post Title
Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in
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.
Apply Now - Resume or CV with Job Post Title
Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in
Explaining work gaps and job hops in the interview
Work gaps or quick job hops sets the alarm bells ringing for a recruiter; so what can you do if you are caught in such a situation? Here are some tips to prepare you face the interview grill on your work gaps or job hops.
In today’s fast-paced life, many of us take a sabbatical from work for various reasons and some of us unwittingly get into a job hop cycle, while searching for the right job opportunity. Though you may have perfectly understandable reasons, a resume with work gaps or quick job hops sets the alarm bells ringing for a recruiter. So what can you do if you are caught in such a situation. Here are some tips on how best to handle the situation.
Handling Job Hops
Get the reason right: This is not an easy one to handle and most people try to fumble an explanation on how the boss or the company’s attitude forced them to change. This is not a good line to take, even if it is a true one. Never portray your past company in a negative light, as this reflects poorly on you, and leaves the recruiter wondering if you would be saying the same once you leave them. However if the reasons are something beyond your control eg the financial situation of the company or a merger with layoffs, then honesty is the best policy.
Take action early: If you have a list of job hops in quick succession, it is best to minimize your image as a job hopper at the resume stage itself. For example if you have a history that reads like this:
Mar 2008 – Oct 2008 / Company A
Nov 2009 – Jan 2009 / Company B
Feb 2009 – Jul 2009 / Company C
You could possibly leave out the months and mention just the years, reducing it to:
2008 / Company A
2009 / Company C
Once you reach the interview stage, you need to convince the recruiter of your desire for permanence.
Describe the positives: Describe the learnings from your job-hops and how they are a part of your career building path. Never be defensive or apologetic of the changes. Rather briefly talk about what motivated you to take up the job and what you learnt.
Talk of permanence: Then move on to a job where you stayed for a long stint and talk enthusiastically of that. Draw a similarity between that place and the present in either work profile, company profile, work culture, whatever your research has shown draws maximum parallel with the present company or job, and mention that you are looking for a similar workplace/company/job. This will help convince the recruiter of your long term commitment.
Explaining Work Gaps
Opportunities gained: If you have a gap in your resume – whatever be the reason – a sabbatical or lay-off, be honest about why there is a break. Then don’t in anyway be defensive or say that it was a wrong decision. Take a positive stand - whatever happens is for the best and talk about the opportunities the break provided you. More family time you had been missing out on, time to pursue a long forgotten hobby or just time to chill out and take a break so you can come back fully charged to take on your next career jump.
A conscious decision: Even if you were laid off, let the recruiter know that you have taken a conscious decision to take a longer break, as you wanted to carefully scan all your opportunities before making your next career move. You did not want to take up anything that came your way, even though you were laid off, as you wanted to think through your next career move and take up only what you keenly desire to do and then identify those companies you would want to work in. This shows you as a career conscious individual while reiterating your commitment to the job at hand.
Of course, you could add that with the recession the search has perhaps taken a little longer, but you are convinced that when you take up a job it will be right one and so both you and the company stand to gain.
Finally be convinced of your reasons in your own mind first and have a positive attitude as it will inevitably reflect in your demeanour and language. An interview is, at the end of the day not just about giving the right answers but getting your attitude right.
Apply Now - Resume or CV with Job Post Title
Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in
7 tips to make trainings work
Regular trainings are important for continuous employee development and improved productivity. More so, in these troubled times of recession. What can you do to make your trainings work for the organisation?
With recession impacting almost all the organisations, there is a focus on improving the effectiveness of the employees resulting in lower costs and higher productivity. When it comes to improving performance, nothing works like proper training. However, we have all known cases where trainings have failed to make the impact that they were expected to make. For a training to work, it is necessary to plan it properly and implement it well. Here are some tips that will help you plan and implement trainings in your organization in a better manner.
Assess needs carefully: Plan your trainings based on a careful needs analysis. Try to assess the kind of skills that the organisation will need for successful completion of its projects and see where the employees stand in terms of skills. Then, understand what kind of trainings the employees think will be required to take them to the required level.
Clearly define objectives: After analysing the needs carefully, design the objectives of the training. The objectives should try to take into consideration all the points derived from the needs analysis. They should define the starting point and the end objective of the training and everything in between. This helps in ensuring that the training in targeted and never loses focus.
Create context and set expectations: Inform the employees in advance about the training and why the company thinks it is important for them. Tell them the expected outcome of the trainings and what kind of performance improvement would be expected out of them after the training. Ensure that you let the employees know that the training is their own responsibility and the knowledge addition will help them in their career growth.
Provide pre-training material and be ready with post-training material: The pre-training material can act as a refresher on the current skills for the employees. It can also be used to transfer new knowledge so that the trainees know what to expect and be prepared with their queries and doubts. Moreover, you can also use pre-training questionnaires to gauge the current situation and plan the training accordingly. Also, create post-training reading material so that the trainees can refer to them, when required.
Assess the trainees and give feedback: Assess the trainees to know how effective the training has been. The assessment method could range from play-acting, multiple choice answers to case studies. Based on the assessment, give feedback to the trainees about improvement and focus areas. The assessment results would provide useful insights towards what was good and what needs improvement.
Take feedback: Take feedback from the attendees about the positives and negatives of the training. This will help you understand what went well and what did not, and based on the feedback, you can look at making the next training better.
Assess real life training effectiveness: Enable and entrust the supervisors the responsibility to check the difference the training has made on the employee performance. Check if the training has brought about any changes in the work behaviour and productivity. This will help you understand the effectiveness of the trainings in real life and make improvements, if required.
Improved productivity and work quality is the key to handling the current situation. Ensure that the employees are properly trained to handle crisis and come out of it smiling through improved skill sets and higher quality of work.
Apply Now - Resume or CV with Job Post Title
Email: jobs@aarenconsultants.in
How to reduce stress at work
Imagine working only four hours a day, nine months a year and earning all the money you need to do exactly what you want with all your free time. Does that sound like your life?
That's the life a futurist of the early 20th Century predicted the average worker would be living by the 21st century.
Yet despite the introduction of many labour-saving devices in the workplace and home, Harvard University Economist Juliet Schor found by the 1990s people were working the equivalent of one month a year more than they did at the end of World War II.
As an example, Schor explained in her book Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure how the introduction of automatic washers and dryers resulted in an increase in time spent doing laundry. Laundry that had previously been sent out now stayed home, and standards of cleanliness went up.
Laundry isn't the only task that has grown over the last century.
It seems that whenever a significant new "labour saving" product or service is developed we use it so much our workload actually increases.
After all, wasn't our work supposed to be made easier by voice mail, fax machines, cell phones and email? On the contrary, many of us find we are constantly on-call, frequently interrupted, and overwhelmed with communications that people expect to receive immediate responses to.
That's on top of the already heavy workload existing in most organizations. For an employee, the consequences of this overload can be stress, burnout, and illness. For an employer, it can result in high turnover and poor performance.
Addressing the problem of overwork can help companies keep good employees.
A recent study by AON Consulting found that management recognition of an employee's need to balance work with personal life is one of the top five drivers of employee commitment to a company.
To help overworked employees, managers should be trained to notice signs that employees are overburdened. Such signs include consistently working late, working through lunch, coming to work even when sick, taking work home, rushing to meet very tight deadlines, expressing frustration, and not taking vacations.
Employees who are overwhelmed with work may not always tell you how they feel so make the effort to ask how they are doing. For some employees, having the opportunity to express their concerns and hearing appreciation for their extra effort may help alleviate stress during a temporarily busy period.
If an employee's heavy workload is more than temporary, you can assist them in brainstorming solutions to relieve their situation. And if you are the one who is overworked, you can try some of these solutions yourself. Here are some steps you can take to get your workload under control:
Spend your time working on things that are important.
This may sound obvious, but many of us are tempted to work on easy tasks first so we can have a sense of accomplishment. Time spent on those "easy" tasks can quickly add up, creating even more stress when there does not appear to be enough time left for the important work.
To find out what your time is being spent on, start keeping an "activity log". Every time you start and end a new activity, including taking a break, make note of the time. Most workers who charge by the hour have learned to do this automatically.
If you are not used to tracking your time it may be a bit of an adjustment, but within a few days you should be able to notice any time-wasters you might not have been aware of.
Set daily goals.
When scheduling your time, assume that something unexpected will come up and build in a cushion of time to deal with it. To minimize the stress of meeting self-imposed deadlines, avoid making promises about when tasks will be completed. If you must commit to a date, be conservative. If you consistently under promise and over deliver you could earn a great reputation while reducing your stress.
Aim to meet or even exceed expectations, but don't try to achieve perfection. Wherever possible, delegate routine tasks even if you think you can do them better than someone else.
Unless you are expected to be on call, work on eliminating interruptions. Select a time of day when you will return phone calls and emails. During other times, let your voice mail take messages for you. You can also create an auto reply for your email to let people know their message has been received. If your email says you will respond within 24 hours if a reply is required, it may deter someone from repeatedly trying to contact you in the meantime.
Avoid letting other people's problems become yours.
As Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work, says "If someone throws you the ball you don't have to catch it." Some managers find themselves solving their employees' problems instead of empowering employees to find solutions themselves. When someone comes to you with a problem that isn't yours, try limiting your contribution to advice instead of taking on the task yourself.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, say so. Companies want to keep good employees so most bosses will want to know when you are having difficulty. However, instead of saying "I can't do it," offer some possible solutions.
For example, if you won't be able to get a major report completed by a particular deadline, perhaps you could tell the boss you can either complete a condensed version of the report by the deadline, complete the entire report by a later date, or meet the deadline if you get some help from co-workers or temporary staff.
These techniques probably won't help you enjoy the life of leisure envisioned by those early futurists. But they can cut down on your stress and may make your work both more manageable and more enjoyable.
Getting some work experience
But you can’t get the work experience without a job, right?
Well, I’m afraid it’s time to pay your dues!
The very least you want to do is find a job in the industry of area that you want to work in – even if it’s a crap job.
Crap jobs can be a means to an end.
A few tips on how to get work experience from crap jobs and other sources
1. Find out about the industry you are working in. I temped for 3 years in various areas that are all largely irrelevant to me now, but helped broaden my knowledge base. It may seem that the ins and outs of the administration of an office are irrelevant to your ambition to be a rocket scientist, but valuable interpersonal skills can be learned, as well as some industry knowledge.
2. Ask for more work (no I’m not mad!). If you can suggest something to your manager that would be of use to the company / department and also be of interest to you, then you will gain valuable experience from it. You can go along to your next interview and say, “Well, yeah this was my job (and it was quite dull), but I also did this…”. This will show initiative and make you look like a damn good worker.
3. Use these dull jobs to hone your computer skills. Boring admin jobs can be good practice for working with databases, email, corporate intranets and other information systems. And like anything else, your keyboard skills and IT literacy will improve with experience.
4. Try voluntary work. It shows commitment and initiative (even if you aren’t doing anything to mentally taxing) and, again, you can increase your industry knowledge and may discover a new career path that you hadn’t thought of before. It also bulks out your CV (oh, and yeah, it helps other people). Voluntary work can be online editor positions, charity work, or I’m sure any number of other things.
Well, I’m afraid it’s time to pay your dues!
The very least you want to do is find a job in the industry of area that you want to work in – even if it’s a crap job.
Crap jobs can be a means to an end.
A few tips on how to get work experience from crap jobs and other sources
1. Find out about the industry you are working in. I temped for 3 years in various areas that are all largely irrelevant to me now, but helped broaden my knowledge base. It may seem that the ins and outs of the administration of an office are irrelevant to your ambition to be a rocket scientist, but valuable interpersonal skills can be learned, as well as some industry knowledge.
2. Ask for more work (no I’m not mad!). If you can suggest something to your manager that would be of use to the company / department and also be of interest to you, then you will gain valuable experience from it. You can go along to your next interview and say, “Well, yeah this was my job (and it was quite dull), but I also did this…”. This will show initiative and make you look like a damn good worker.
3. Use these dull jobs to hone your computer skills. Boring admin jobs can be good practice for working with databases, email, corporate intranets and other information systems. And like anything else, your keyboard skills and IT literacy will improve with experience.
4. Try voluntary work. It shows commitment and initiative (even if you aren’t doing anything to mentally taxing) and, again, you can increase your industry knowledge and may discover a new career path that you hadn’t thought of before. It also bulks out your CV (oh, and yeah, it helps other people). Voluntary work can be online editor positions, charity work, or I’m sure any number of other things.
Top 10 Reasons Your Job Search Isn't Working
You don't get it: You've scoured the Internet for jobs. You've blanketed the market with your résumé. You've sent a basic cover letter with every application. Why isn't anything happening? While simply submitting your application materials and waiting for an opportunity to fall in your lap might have been enough to land a job at one point in time, the frustrating reality of today's job market makes that type of job search impossible. Instead, today's job seekers must go above and beyond if they want to stand a chance at landing a great opportunity. Competing for work is a process that requires full engagement but generates significant momentum, says Jim Villwock, author of "Whacked Again! Secrets to Getting Back on the Executive Saddle." But, many job seekers get distracted in their searches and get frustrated when they don't see results right away. "Initially, it is overconfidence that the process will be easy and [that] time should be carved out for family, sports and other activities that were neglected when working. The opposite is true. Getting a job is usually more work than being employed," Villwock says. "The core mistake is not procrastination, not working on a résumé or not going to a networking meeting. It is not knowing the process and working the plan to get the job that you deserve." Here are 10 reasons your job search might not be succeeding: 1. You aren't networking No one can help you find a job if you they don't know you need it. Your friends, family and previous employers all know someone who knows someone, so utilize their knowledge and connections as you look for work. Additionally, make yourself (and your job search) visible on social and professional networking sites like BrightFuse, Facebook or LinkedIn. According to a survey by Robert Half International, 62 percent of executives think professional networking sites will be useful while searching for candidates in the next few years. Thirty-five percent of respondents said they would use social networking sites as a recruitment resource. 2. You're skipping the cover letter online For some reason, people can't get used to the idea of how to submit a cover letter online, so they just skip the step altogether. Wrong move, people. Your cover letter is your chance to make a good first impression or address any inconsistencies on your résumé. When sending your application via e-mail, your cover letter serves as the body of the e-mail and your résumé is attached. 3. Your cover letter is generic Now that we know you have to send a cover letter, the next step is making sure that it's not generic. You need to tailor each letter to a specific job and person, while clearly identifying the aspects of your background that meet the employer's needs, says Ane Powers, managing partner at The White Hawk Group, a career management firm. "Your cover letter is your ticket to the interview. The ticket is voided and placed in the 'thanks, but no thanks' pile if it doesn't scream 'I am a perfect fit for this position,'" she says. 4. You're procrastinating Oftentimes, when we don't see the results we want, we get frustrated and worried. After applying to so many jobs without hearing anything, you just don't have the energy to update your résumé, write a targeted cover letter or follow up with a hiring manager, so you put it off until tomorrow, then the next day and the next day. But why put off tomorrow what can be done today? Your dream job is not going to fall from the sky, so continue to endure and be proactive in your search. 5. You're only searching for jobs on the Internet While job boards and company Web sites are a great starting place to find a job, the majority of open positions are never advertised, Powers says. Communicate with people who can help you: human resource managers, recruiters and successful professionals will all be key in discovering new opportunities. 6. You're not doing your research This might be the most basic piece of job advice out there, yet some people still choose not to follow it. Executives polled by RHI said 25 percent of candidates didn't have any knowledge of the company or industry to which they're applying. Things change every day in business, especially in today's market. It's important to know of any changes going on at the company where you're applying. If you are applying for work in a new industry, do some research to prove that you can be a valuable addition to that field. 7. You're blanketing the market with your résumé "Attractive candidates demonstrate strategic marketing. Blanketing the market with your résumé demonstrates desperation and lack of strategic thinking," Powers says. Don't send résumés to every single job opening out there. Identify the organizations that meet your requirements and go from there. 8. You're not following up Too many job seekers assume that if they haven't heard back from an employer, it's because they've been shot down for the position. While that may be true, there is also every possibility that your résumé never made it to its final destination or it got lost in the flood of submissions. Eighty-two percent of executives say candidates should contact hiring managers via e-mail, phone or personalized letter within two weeks of submitting their résumés, according to RHI. Just contact the hiring manager to say that you wanted to confirm your application was received and ask if there is anything else they need from you. 9. You have too many distractions Try to focus on only your job search for a couple hours each day -- don't check your personal e-mail, make phone calls or surf the Internet (unless it's for jobs). "Conducting a job campaign is a full-time job. As with any job, to achieve results, one needs to set goals and develop an action plan to achieve the goals," Powers says. 10. You don't ask for the job Many candidates are shy about being to outspoken or upfront about their desire for the job, but many hiring managers will be impressed with your candor. "Employers are looking for candidates who are excited about the position," Powers says. Be forward and ask for the position by telling the interviewer why it is a good fit for you and the organization.
Take Pay Hike with Your Head Held High
HOME-WORK BEFORE A RAISE.
IT'S that time of the year again - filling out appraisal forms, tackling performance management tools and the nagging thought of a raise. If you want a bigger performance bonus or a fat pay hike, now is the time to start working on it. Here are five simple steps to help you break out of the 5% increment rut:
TIMING
Most companies start making performance decisions months before they dole out raises, which means you better start self-promotion right away. You might hate to brag, but the boss should know you have been working all year long. Take advantage of opportunities to highlight your accomplishments. If you receive a complimentary letter from a client or a co-worker, forward it to key decision makers with a note saying you wanted to share the good news.
BUILD YOUR CASE
Many firms settle on a set range of pay raises beforehand. Start by knowing what the market is paying for your position. Work out how much to ask and then build a solid case for yourself. You must prove to your boss that you are worth the money. As raises become tied to performance, be sure to promote yourself. Keep a diary of accomplishments and talk up the most impressive ones. Focus on the value of the contributions you have made in your position. Speak about the impact you have had on the organisation. Emphasize on your proven commitment, enthusiasm and future contributions. Think strategically - how much money have you saved for the company, or how much revenue have you generated?
OFFER-COUNTEROFFER
One of the quickest ways to try to get a hike is to get a competing job offer. But playing that card, of course, means you had better be willing to jump ship. Recruiters caution against doing this without thinking about consequences first. Don't say you're thinking about leaving unless you mean it, because your boss might call your bluff and the whole thing might backfire on you!
TIMING ONCE AGAIN
Don't ask for a pay hike when your company is financially hurt. This is easier if you work for a publicly-held company but for a private company; rely on your network and investigative skills. If the boss says budgets are tight and money isn't available, you might want to try some creative repartees like: "Would you like me to work fewer hours until the company's financial situation improves? Will you give me the raise next quarter?"
ALTERNATIVES
If you can't negotiate a better pay, experts suggest proposing non-cash benefits to puff up your pay package. Things like working flexi-time; working from home, increased vacation or ending your Friday a few hours earlier are all chips to bargain over. Consider creative options, phased salary hike and other benefits to improve the case. Before talking to your boss, know what your back-up plan is so that you can approach negotiation with confidence and not back yourself into a corner.
IT'S that time of the year again - filling out appraisal forms, tackling performance management tools and the nagging thought of a raise. If you want a bigger performance bonus or a fat pay hike, now is the time to start working on it. Here are five simple steps to help you break out of the 5% increment rut:
TIMING
Most companies start making performance decisions months before they dole out raises, which means you better start self-promotion right away. You might hate to brag, but the boss should know you have been working all year long. Take advantage of opportunities to highlight your accomplishments. If you receive a complimentary letter from a client or a co-worker, forward it to key decision makers with a note saying you wanted to share the good news.
BUILD YOUR CASE
Many firms settle on a set range of pay raises beforehand. Start by knowing what the market is paying for your position. Work out how much to ask and then build a solid case for yourself. You must prove to your boss that you are worth the money. As raises become tied to performance, be sure to promote yourself. Keep a diary of accomplishments and talk up the most impressive ones. Focus on the value of the contributions you have made in your position. Speak about the impact you have had on the organisation. Emphasize on your proven commitment, enthusiasm and future contributions. Think strategically - how much money have you saved for the company, or how much revenue have you generated?
OFFER-COUNTEROFFER
One of the quickest ways to try to get a hike is to get a competing job offer. But playing that card, of course, means you had better be willing to jump ship. Recruiters caution against doing this without thinking about consequences first. Don't say you're thinking about leaving unless you mean it, because your boss might call your bluff and the whole thing might backfire on you!
TIMING ONCE AGAIN
Don't ask for a pay hike when your company is financially hurt. This is easier if you work for a publicly-held company but for a private company; rely on your network and investigative skills. If the boss says budgets are tight and money isn't available, you might want to try some creative repartees like: "Would you like me to work fewer hours until the company's financial situation improves? Will you give me the raise next quarter?"
ALTERNATIVES
If you can't negotiate a better pay, experts suggest proposing non-cash benefits to puff up your pay package. Things like working flexi-time; working from home, increased vacation or ending your Friday a few hours earlier are all chips to bargain over. Consider creative options, phased salary hike and other benefits to improve the case. Before talking to your boss, know what your back-up plan is so that you can approach negotiation with confidence and not back yourself into a corner.
IS IT JUST ABOUT MONEY?
Well, if it is, consider a career as a financial planner, computer techie or epidemiologist according to Fast Company because those are just three of the top 25 jobs as the top-paying professions in the future.
For some, it is all about the money and the great toys it buys. Cool cars, surround sound and two cell phones (16% of cell phone users carry two). Indeed, money, the quality of life and financial independence are great motivators to get up and go to work everyday. But for some, the toys don't matter as much, financial independence isn't even a consideration and quality of life isn't measured in an asset portfolio.
There are lots of people making lots of money who go to work everyday to a job they hate. There are just as many people who go to work everyday to a low-paying job that they love. They love it because the job provides so much more than dollars. Teachers, nurses, law enforcement and emergency rescue personnel don't make the kind of money a CEO makes, but most of them wouldn't change careers for a bigger salary. To these people, it's more important to receive the emotional rewards a career provides.
We define each other by the work we do...
High on the list are college professors (must be very smart), doctors (modern day wizards), religious leaders (good hearts) and school teachers (large buckets of patience).Low on the status list are politicians (all crooks), used car salespeople (all crooks), stock brokers (sales hype), telemarketers (annoying) and the folks who scrape up road kill (Yuck!).
But notice that status isn't related to earning power. Most religious leaders don't make huge salaries, but still hold high-status positions in our society. Conversely, successful stock brokers usually clear six figures annually, but most of their clients would consider brokers a necessary evil. Status isn't related to salary. But it is related to your self-esteem.
If you have high self-esteem, you think you're doing okay in the world. If you have low self-esteem, you can't figure out why your career lacks traction. You aren't getting anywhere, you don't like your job, you don't like your life and you don't like yourself or your pet or your apartment.
The fact is, that not only do we define others by how they earn a living, we also define ourselves by the work we do. Our professions and careers become woven into the fabric of our self-image--the way we see ourselves and believe that others see us, as well. And Over the years, our society has attempted to increase the self-esteem factor by changing job titles and Descriptions.
Who doesn't care for Flex-time, an in-house day care, summers off, a great health plan, company car - there's more to most jobs than the bottom line, especially in this hectic work-a-day world in which time has more value than cold, hard cash. Most parents will swap flex time and telecommuting for a bigger paycheck because those benefits also improve quality of life. More senior employees will seek out good health plans. New hires seek opportunities to advance. There are as many reasons for taking a job as there are people who take them.
It doesn't matter if you're just starting out in a career or thinking about a mid-life career change. If you focus solely on the salary, you're limiting your options and your chances to really improve the overall quality of life.
Weigh the other factors - benefits, job status, self-esteem and the emotional and psychological benefits - that a job offers. You'll expand your career horizons and you'll more likely find true happiness on the job.
And that's the most important consideration of all.
For some, it is all about the money and the great toys it buys. Cool cars, surround sound and two cell phones (16% of cell phone users carry two). Indeed, money, the quality of life and financial independence are great motivators to get up and go to work everyday. But for some, the toys don't matter as much, financial independence isn't even a consideration and quality of life isn't measured in an asset portfolio.
There are lots of people making lots of money who go to work everyday to a job they hate. There are just as many people who go to work everyday to a low-paying job that they love. They love it because the job provides so much more than dollars. Teachers, nurses, law enforcement and emergency rescue personnel don't make the kind of money a CEO makes, but most of them wouldn't change careers for a bigger salary. To these people, it's more important to receive the emotional rewards a career provides.
We define each other by the work we do...
High on the list are college professors (must be very smart), doctors (modern day wizards), religious leaders (good hearts) and school teachers (large buckets of patience).Low on the status list are politicians (all crooks), used car salespeople (all crooks), stock brokers (sales hype), telemarketers (annoying) and the folks who scrape up road kill (Yuck!).
But notice that status isn't related to earning power. Most religious leaders don't make huge salaries, but still hold high-status positions in our society. Conversely, successful stock brokers usually clear six figures annually, but most of their clients would consider brokers a necessary evil. Status isn't related to salary. But it is related to your self-esteem.
If you have high self-esteem, you think you're doing okay in the world. If you have low self-esteem, you can't figure out why your career lacks traction. You aren't getting anywhere, you don't like your job, you don't like your life and you don't like yourself or your pet or your apartment.
The fact is, that not only do we define others by how they earn a living, we also define ourselves by the work we do. Our professions and careers become woven into the fabric of our self-image--the way we see ourselves and believe that others see us, as well. And Over the years, our society has attempted to increase the self-esteem factor by changing job titles and Descriptions.
Who doesn't care for Flex-time, an in-house day care, summers off, a great health plan, company car - there's more to most jobs than the bottom line, especially in this hectic work-a-day world in which time has more value than cold, hard cash. Most parents will swap flex time and telecommuting for a bigger paycheck because those benefits also improve quality of life. More senior employees will seek out good health plans. New hires seek opportunities to advance. There are as many reasons for taking a job as there are people who take them.
It doesn't matter if you're just starting out in a career or thinking about a mid-life career change. If you focus solely on the salary, you're limiting your options and your chances to really improve the overall quality of life.
Weigh the other factors - benefits, job status, self-esteem and the emotional and psychological benefits - that a job offers. You'll expand your career horizons and you'll more likely find true happiness on the job.
And that's the most important consideration of all.
Terms of Engagement
TOP CORPORATE executives weren't too pleased when The Gallup Organization first started using friendships as one of 12 key measures of employee engagement. Do you have a best friend at work? What a childish question, they said. But Gallup persisted, and after conducting its Q12 survey among 4.5 million employees working with 332 clients in 112 countries, it has indeed established a correlation between "having a best friend at work" and levels of employee satisfaction, productivity and retention.
Tom Rath, who leads Gallup's Workplace Research and Leadership Consulting worldwide, has recently authored Vital Friends, a book that focuses on this key parameter of engagement. In it, Rath looks at eight vital roles that friends play - builders (those who motivate you to achieve more), champions (those loyalists who stand up for you), collaborators (those with similar interests), companion (those classic friends who you call first with
your news), connectors (those who introduce you to others), energizers (those who give you a boost when you're down), mind-openers (those who expand your horizons) and navigators (those who you go to for advice) .
Why has Gallup's question on workplace friendships been so controversial?
The problem was mainly with senior executives. Even the watered down version of 'do you have a friend at work', seemed to raise hackles there. They didn't like to be asked that question and some even said they didn't want employees to have a best friend at work. On the other hand, younger people - computer programmers, those on the shop floor - thought it was an important issue. Age does have something to do with it. In the initial stages of their career, fresh out of college, people are used to spending 40% of their time with friends. But this goes down to 10% or less later on. As people move up through the ranks, they tend to isolate themselves within their own small area. At the top level, they have to compete with their peers and this creates tensions. Workplace friendships are not the best maintained. They tend to come and go.
Then why are friendships at work so important?
Friendships come and go, but they're still important while they're there. It's especially important while inducting new people. Organizations need to help employees build friendships in the first six months. Without a best friend at work, the chances of you being engaged in your job are 1 in 12. Our research suggests that people without a friend at work all but eliminate their chances of being engaged during the workday. But overall, just 30% of the employees we've surveyed report having a best friend at work, and only 20% dedicate time to developing friendships on the job. Friendships are vital to happiness and achievement on the job, but individuals and organizations are still falling short
Tom Rath, who leads Gallup's Workplace Research and Leadership Consulting worldwide, has recently authored Vital Friends, a book that focuses on this key parameter of engagement. In it, Rath looks at eight vital roles that friends play - builders (those who motivate you to achieve more), champions (those loyalists who stand up for you), collaborators (those with similar interests), companion (those classic friends who you call first with
your news), connectors (those who introduce you to others), energizers (those who give you a boost when you're down), mind-openers (those who expand your horizons) and navigators (those who you go to for advice) .
Why has Gallup's question on workplace friendships been so controversial?
The problem was mainly with senior executives. Even the watered down version of 'do you have a friend at work', seemed to raise hackles there. They didn't like to be asked that question and some even said they didn't want employees to have a best friend at work. On the other hand, younger people - computer programmers, those on the shop floor - thought it was an important issue. Age does have something to do with it. In the initial stages of their career, fresh out of college, people are used to spending 40% of their time with friends. But this goes down to 10% or less later on. As people move up through the ranks, they tend to isolate themselves within their own small area. At the top level, they have to compete with their peers and this creates tensions. Workplace friendships are not the best maintained. They tend to come and go.
Then why are friendships at work so important?
Friendships come and go, but they're still important while they're there. It's especially important while inducting new people. Organizations need to help employees build friendships in the first six months. Without a best friend at work, the chances of you being engaged in your job are 1 in 12. Our research suggests that people without a friend at work all but eliminate their chances of being engaged during the workday. But overall, just 30% of the employees we've surveyed report having a best friend at work, and only 20% dedicate time to developing friendships on the job. Friendships are vital to happiness and achievement on the job, but individuals and organizations are still falling short
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