Tag Archives: career

Guest Post by Author and Entrepreneur Robert Tuchman: Embracing Entrepreneurship

7 Jul

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Graduation from college carries such ironic emotion: you have spent four years yearning to graduation, but as soon as you do, you spend your remaining days nostalgic about your school days.  College is a great time, but with graduation comes reality.  You are now armed with all that you need: you are the fuse and your diploma is the match.  Let the fireworks begin!

Many leave college and send out applications to tens of corporations looking for a job. But there are others who take a bit more of a risk: they seek entrepreneurial pursuits.  Know that what lay behind you and what lay in front of you is trivial compared to what lay within you.  Have courage.

If it is entrepreneurship you desire post graduation, there are several thing you must consider.

An entrepreneur needs to be someone who can both visualize and actualize.  He needs to be able to visualize something—and once he has that “something”, he needs to see exactly how to make it happen.  In order to make it happen, there are several steps that you as an entrepreneur must take on your way to entrepreneurial success.  Do not just enhance what is, but advance towards what will be: keep the long term in sight.

It is essential that you are able to marry your work and what you love. When in sales, there is no right or wrong way to sell: all you need is passion and enthusiasm for your product. This passion will ignite the minds of your potential client, facilitating connections, and connections between will be made.  Your passion and enthusiasm for your product will be what encourages the sale—not the rote duplication of someone else’s selling system. It takes courage to grow up, form your own philosophy, and become who you really are. What you do to sell and promote your business has to be a reflection of what you are already willing to stay up late for and get up early for.  It has to connect to your “why” and be a part of your own experience.

Second, you must start working your plan, whether you are ready nor not.  Know the four good things that you are about to do: first, that your business is going to be built on a great idea; second, that great idea is going to connect you to a market; third, that you will create a plan based on what you learn, on an ongoing basis, about that market; fourth, that you will adjust that plan over time.

After you have visualized your plan, find the right partner… and avoid the wrong one!  You will have a significant advantage over one-man businesses if you come together with another person regularly to make important decisions.  Find someone with whom you have good chemistry, someone who fills your blind spots.  Successful partnerships are based on the idea of taking different perspectives in a discussion and having different talents.

Once the groundwork has been established, set priorities for the absolutely crucial first year. Concentrate on why you are doing something—not how.  Your “why” will keep you closely connected to your company and your product.  As soon as you lose sight of “why,” you will also lose sight of your driving force and your motivation.

Through your first year and beyond, court clients—and keep them coming back! In order that you become a successful entrepreneur, it is essential that you are the person who is willing to pick up the phone and call people to talk about making deals and doing business. When you make this phone call, make sure you are absolutely certain about the product that you are selling.  With this certainty, you can use confidence to build up a network of contacts.  The network cannot be established overnight—it is going to take a lot of phone calls.  You cannot just wave your magic wand over a corporation and change them into a profitable client.

In order to keep your client base, you need a great team to work with.  Make sure that your company has shared values, that there are rewards for quality improvements, and that there are strong internal and external relationships.  Empower the best, lose the rest!

Inevitably, there will be failure.  You must learn from failure: use it as a stepping-stone.  Do not forget what mistakes you have made, but do not allow yourself to dwell on them.  Take from your failure: take the lesson learned—do not let it take anything from you: not your energy, not your time and not your space.

Finally, in order to keep your company going and keep your clients happy, maintain good relations with your vendors.  It is essential that you support the people who support you.  If you are making a big commitment to a client, make sure you have a solid relationship with your vendor.

In the end, take energy from taking risks.  Live in the spirit of the entrepreneur!

Robert Tuchman is living as an entrepreneur and has recently published his first book Young Guns where he gives young people guidance on taking your dreams and making them into a reality in this step by step book that will arm you with the tools you need to take your idea and make it a career.Check out Robert’s website: http://youngbusinessexecutives.com/

The Importance of Showing Gratitude

2 Jun

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I was out to lunch with coworkers last week, and everyone was telling funny work-related stories. Someone told one about how her boss had left his work bag on the train, and when they by some miracle found it- she sent a dozen roses to the person who did. I couldn’t help but be proud that this was my coworker, but also ashamed at myself at the same time. I would never have thought to do this! Then I started thinking, about how many people that have helped me, and in return I had only given them a quick “thank you.”

This incident wasn’t the first time I had thought about how my gratitude meter at work (and outside of work) needed a boost. Since I’ve started working at my new job two weeks ago, I’ve learned many many things, but the biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of encouraging and thanking the people you work with. We have this online tool, where you send “love” to anyone who deserves it- whether that is going out of their way to help you with something, making improvements, or doing a great job on a project. You might think this sounds odd, but really what it is- is taking one step further than a quick “thank you” to show people how appreciative you are- which sadly, we don’t often do. In fact the word “thank you” has become so common place that it has about the same weight as “sorry”. It’s better than saying nothing, but the word alone isn’t enough when people go out of their way to be a great friend, family member or coworker.

If you take 5 minutes each day- literally just 5 minutes, and send a thank you email or text or flowers or card basically any form of thank you to anyone that helps you, it will drastically improve relationships. Honestly, when was the last time you thanked the IT guy or girl at your work for helping fix your computer, your Dad for reminding you to get an oil change on your car, your coworker for getting you lunch, or your friends for just being awesome? Chances are, (if you are like me) it’s been awhile. And it doesn’t have to be in written form- picking up an extra coffee for your coworker in the morning, or grabbing a reeses for your friend if they are having a bad day- are all easy ways of showing gratitude. Is this the same as kissing as*? Nope unless you are doing it with expectations of something in return which shouldn’t be the case. All you need in return, is knowing that you are showing people what it means to be a good coworker, or friend and they’ll pass that on to someone else who needs it.

As Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

“Seek Week” on LinkedIn

23 Apr

If you aren’t a subscriber to the LinkedIn Blog, you will be after you check out their excellent series “Seek Week.” This two week series (as of this past Monday) focuses on helping Recent Graduates in today’s Economy, with advice from students and professionals. They discuss a variety of topics from using LinkedIN to find Internships,  adding more “oomph” to your job search,  paying back your college loans and Do’s and Don’ts for 09 Grads.

LinkedIn is an incredible networking tool, that if used correctly, can connect you with the right people. My good friend got a notification the other day that he had a message on LinkedIn, and was joking about how it was probably just spam and he never really used it. That was until he found out the message was from someone that graduated from his University and Fraternity and owned a successful company in the Bay Area in the field he specialized (and was job searching in!) A similar story is told on this series by a recent college grad, who landed an incredible position at Microsoft through LinkedIn.

Go to LinkedIn’s blog, to check out this excellent series. This is a great resource, not just for recent grads, but for everyone interested in expanding their Network.

Resume Tips from Career and Resume Expert, Cliff Flamer

9 Apr

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Imagine standing in line with over 500 other people, trying to get noticed. How would you stand out? I know a crazy costume or megaphone comes to mind, but what if you were all wearing black and white? As crazy as this seems, it’s what’s happening everyday when we apply for jobs. With the unemployment rate at an all-time high, more and more people are competing for the few positions out there. But before you can even get into have an interview, you have to pass the resume test, so how do you make yours stand out from the rest of the stack?

After asking around in person, Facebook, and Twitter, I found that most of us have the same major questions when it comes to Resumes.  Lucky for us, Cliff Flamer, resume writer, job search coach, and Executive Director of BrightSide Resumes agreed to answer these questions. With a masters degree in Career and College Counseling, and a previous recruiter in the Silicon Valley, he has indisputable knowledge to share:

Let’s start with the most common Resume question: Should the resume fit on 1 page or go to 2?

[Cliff Flamer] Ah yes…the eternal question. For recent grads to mid-level professionals I suggest 1 page. Also, career changers often benefit from a 1-pager; it helps them to avoid seeming overqualified with all the wrong qualifications. If you must go for 2 pages (and some recent grads certainly have the experience to warrant this), make sure page 1 is enough to sell you in itself. (Check out his post on this topic here)

What is your biggest resume pet-peeve?

[Cliff Flamer] Flowery language that doesn’t say anything. Here’s an example: Multifaceted business professional well-versed in developing influential relationships with key decision-makers integral to the inner workings of the prosperity of multi-million dollar organizations that…Blah blah blah. Even professional résumé writers turn out this kind of rigamarole. It may be impressive to English majors but not to hiring managers. (I’m an English major by the way.)

What is the biggest mistake you see on resumes?

[Cliff Flamer] Including generic job descriptions instead of quantified accomplishment statements. If you’ve read even one book on résumé writing, you’ve heard this before but it’s still where most people err. You’re unique, so too should be your résumé. The easiest way to accomplish this is to show the impact of what you do. In other words, what do you see happening as a result of your efforts. For example, anyone can Market products but how successful are YOU at doing this and what approach do YOU take?

With the millions of people applying for the few jobs that are out there, how can you make your resume stand out from the rest?

[Cliff Flamer] You’re going to hate the answer to this but…it depends. There is no silver bullet with résumés but following the above advice about accomplishment statements is a good beginning. That and a clean, sharp format. Never, never underestimate an easy-to-read format. White space is your friend.

A question that has come up a lot is, whether or not you should put your objective on your resume, and change for each position you apply to. Do you think you should?

[Cliff Flamer] I’ve definitely heard this one before. Personally, I think Objective Statements are outdated, just like serif fonts and aol accounts. That said, you absolutely must make 2 things crystal clear within the first 5-10 lines of the résumé:

-What job/industry/functional area of company are you shooting for; and
-Why are you qualified to do it

This can be handled in tons of ways, depending on what experience you have. For recent grads, you can start with your Education. For people currently doing the work they want to do in their next position, you can get right into experience, especially if the job titles match. For someone with a lot of experience or irrelevant recent experience, consider building an introductory section that highlights you relevant skills outside the context of the job you used them in. In Résumé Speak, this is called using a combination format; it’s by the far the most popular format of all professional résumé writers. The word “combination” refers to combining a lengthy skills summary with a subsequent (detailed) chronological work history.

With, a few years of actual experience out of college, how many jobs should you put on your resume (ie. highschool/college part time jobs)? How far back would you recommend going?

[Cliff Flamer] I just worked with a client today who has her Spelling Bee Championship from Middle School on her résumé. And you know what? It’s a darn good idea. As long as it’s not the centerpiece of her résumé (or education section), this award could serve as a hook in that your interviewers might want to “use it” to break the ice or start a “get to know you question.” The other benefit is by saying she was in the spelling bee, you can infer that she had a pretty good work ethic way way back. I mean, how many spelling bee renegades do you know?

The point of my story is go back as far as you need to to dig up relevant or interesting work experience. And don’t be shy about coming out and saying you did something in high school or during the summer before Freshman year of college. Give the accomplishment context so it’s clear you’re not trying to over inflate. Also, it’s always impressive to mention that you worked your way through college or held a part-time retail gig while in school.

In terms of the number of jobs you should put, I’d only limit the amount if you have tons of short-lived positions in your work history. Pick out the jobs you liked or that are most relevant to your new target job, being careful about leaving gaps of more than 6 months between positions.

What about job gaps? Would you recommend taking something small, in the meantime and if so should you include this on your resume?

[Cliff Flamer] The criteria for a job gap is changing. I think it’s okay to have “job gaps” of 3-6 months on your résumé. Honestly, that’s how long a job search can take! But once you’re out of school and out in the workforce, anything over 6 months and especially over a year needs to be addressed.

Again, take the direct route. I worked on a résumé a few days ago for an Operations Manager who took off about a year and a half handling family crises. During this time, she picked up a very simple office manager job (just a few hours here and there). Our solution to this “gap” was to be open and honest about why she took the cut in responsibility. Here is the exact quote from her résumé:

“Accepted temporary office position to keep skills polished while handling a string of family emergencies, offering ongoing support and counsel to each of the partners at this niche-market real estate firm.”

We went easy on the bullet points and just moved on to the next job. That way, we filled the gap and she still comes out smelling like roses. Seriously, who’s going to fault someone for continuing to work while taking care of their family?

What advice would you give to recent grads as they start their job search?
[Cliff Flamer] Create your own luck. Acknowledge the fact that even the best planned job search is no match for happenstance. I got a job at a community college career center from going to an Oakland As game. Make opportunities like this happen to you by getting out there in anyway you can: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook will hook you up online but also consider volunteering, attending a conference, emailing a book author, going to church, interviewing a friend of a friend….Build a space where opportunity can flourish.

We appreciate Cliff taking the time to answer these questions for us! Be sure to check out his company, BrightSide Resumes, and award-winning blog for more expert advice.

What I’ve Learned Lately about Job Searching…

18 Mar

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First thing I’ve learned? It sucks.  I always dreamt of what I’d do on days off and how wonderful it would be- I’d go to a coffee shop, for a walk around the city, shopping, and maybe to a museum. Little did I know that when I actually had all the time off in the world I’d want nothing more than to be at my desk with a million coffee cups around me and papers piled to the ceiling. Every time someone says they’re jealous of all my free time I cringe a little inside, but then I realize I was once that person that held a day off in the same light as a chocolate milk fountain. Overall, job searching is a full time job that requires complete devotion and sacrifices. And just like with a job, you make some mistakes and learn valuable lessons along the way.

Here’s some valuable lessons I’ve learned recently about the job search that are worth sharing:

Make Monetary sacrifices: It can be very tempting to buy the Vegas ticket with your best friends, or go out for drinks and appetizers on a Saturday, but remind yourself that these are luxuries that  come with a paycheck.  It may upset you at first to miss out on some of these things, but remind yourself that your situation is temporary, and that saving the money for rent, utilities and groceries is much more important.

Be honest with your friends and family: Acting a little more frazzled than usual? Missing some gatherings you used to attend? If you let people know your situation, your good friends and family will understand and want to help you during this time. Not telling them and keeping your stress to yourself will cause strain in your relationships. And letting them know you are on the job search may turn up some exciting job opportunities!

Be patient: When I first started applying to jobs, my roommates looked at my like I was crazy when I asked them why I hadn’t heard back from anyone in a couple days- and rightfully so! With the overwhelming amount of people applying, it might take the employers longer than usual to get back to you. Stay patient and keep applying to other jobs that you are interested in.

Keep a record of the places you apply: You have to be ready at anytime for the employers to call you and ask you some questions about yourself. If you have a list of the places you apply, along with the version of the resume/cover letter you sent as well, you will be more than prepared when this happens. I recommend keeping a spreadsheet and appropriately labeling your documents to refer to later.

Keep your old routine: Applying to jobs is a 9-5 job. But along with a 9-5 job (if you are lucky) comes a lunch break and end point when you go home and relax with your friends and family. Make sure to take a break, walk around a bit, eat lunch and do the same routine you had when you were employed (exercise, read, write, and play). I have a rule with myself now that I don’t bring my computer into my room at night. If I do- I fall into the trap of job searching until the wee hours of the morning. Set a limit for yourself on the working, and keep doing the things you enjoy.

Don’t apply to anything and everything: When you first get laid off or quit, it can be tempting to apply to every job you see on job boards. However, doing this will only lead you to a job that you aren’t completely happy with and waste your time better spent applying to a job that you love. Take time to think what you really want to do and read the job description carefully to make sure you are are qualified and really interested in it.

What Dating and Interviewing Have in Common

19 Feb

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Let’s face it, interviews and dates have a lot in common. Whether you go on 1, 2 3 or 4 they’re all about getting to know the other person and seeing if you are the right fit for each other. Here’s ten questions I feel you should be prepared to answer for both: 

1. Why are you applying? (Why are you on the date?): When you go on the first date, both people usually try to get a sense of what the other person is there for. Do they just want to hookup? Meet a new friend? Have a long-term relationship? This is similar to a job interview when employers are looking to determine exactly why you are applying for the position. Are you looking for a short-term job, or in it for the long-haul? Either way, make sure that you are honest and clear about your reasoning- this is your chance to reassure them you are there for the right reasons!

2. Why are you/did you leave your last position/relationship?  This might not be something brought up on the first date, but either way both parties want to know it. Were you too needy? Was infidelity involved? Knowing this gives insight into the type of person they are looking for in the next relationship. Similarly, a job wants to know this as well- in fact this was the first question asked in my most recent interviews. If you are leaving because there was too much attention to detail required and multiple projects and deadlines, this might be a red-flag to them if this is what the new position requires. This question can be a deal breaker- you don’t want to give away too much information about yourself and talk poorly about your past relationships/job. You do want to give them just enough detail so that they know you left for the right reasons, and that the other party is missing out.

3. Are you applying other places? (dating other people?) Unless you’re on the Bachelor, no one wants to date someone that is dating a bunch of other people at the same time as you. There’s too many others out there that would be interested in dating only you. This question has also come up in every single one of my interviews to date. Some may advise to be honest, but I personally think your answer should always be no. You wouldn’t want to hire someone that applied to every open position on Craigslist, and either do they.

4. Tell us a little about yourself: When you answer this intro on a date or in a interview, always keep the answer short and sweet. Stick with where you went to school, where you live and current job. On a date you can be a little more creative, but no one likes a rambler.

5. What do you know about the person/company? I reference the Bachelor again here, but nothing made me cringe more than hearing one contestant spout off everything on his Myspace page. There is one word for that and the police like to call it stalking. If you are introduced from a mutual friend or family member it doesn’t hurt to know one or two things about them like a common friend or where they went to school- great conversation starter. With a job, you should have researched extensively. You don’t have to memorize their whole web site- anyone can do that. But you should read articles in the news (be sure they are credible sources) and info that proves you went above and beyond what is expected. They don’t want someone that read the “About us section” but they do want someone who has a deep understanding of the company.

6. What are your salary (lifestyle) requirements? I doubt anyone on a first date is going to ask what the other person makes. But I can guarantee that both people are trying to figure out what the other persons lifestyle requirements are. Are you someone that is high maintenance, likes everything bought for you and only settles for steak dinners? Or are you perfectly happy renting a movie and making dinner? Always be prepared to answer this in an interview as well. Look up the base amount for the job you are applying for and let them know you understand it is dependent on your experience and the job requirements. You don’t want to sound greedy, but you also don’t want to underestimate your worth and ask for less than they’d pay.

7. Do you have any questions for us? This the deal breaker for dates and interviews. The worst date you’ve been on probably goes like this: guy/girl talks about themselves for hours while you think of exit strategies and filing taxes. It shows they are more interested in themselves than you. In an interview, if you ask questions it shows you are paying attention. I wouldn’t even come with questions prepared, just listen attentively to what they say and ask them to expand on them in the end. One question I would recommend asking is, “What qualities are you looking for in someone to fill this position?”

8. What are your future goals? What was that? You want to be the world greatest Wii champion and live off of your spouse? Enter text from friend here, that needs my help in an undisclosed location immediately. Also, If your goals are completely off, say if you see yourself traveling the world in 10 years with no children and the other wants to be married with children, that is also a red-flag. Showing that you have ambition, passions and goals that are somewhat in common with the other person is a good sign. In an interview, they also want to know you have goals that are in line with the company’s. If you “have no idea where you want to be in ten years” or “see yourself working as a stewardess if you are applying for a finance job”, you probably won’t get the position. If you see yourself working at their company, let them know that! They’d love to hear it and it proves you would be dedicated to the company and position.

9. What experience do you have that may help at the current position/relationship? If you haven’t had any longterm relationships this may be a sign that you are not good at commitment. If you’ve never done research you may not be the best match for a marketing research position. Make sure to relate past experiences in the best way possible to the prospect. For example, ” I haven’t had any long-term relationships because I haven’t found the right person” or, ” I dont’ have experience in this specific program, but I am a fast learner and have taught myself how to use other complicated programs such as x.”

10. What are your strengths and weaknesses? In this situation my best advice is to “Avoid the cliche.” Any guy that says, ” I’m really romantic, love to take long walks on the beach and hand you the remote even when I’m watching football” clearly Googled “perfect lines to say at a date.” Similarly anyone that says “proactive, reliable and creative” can expect the interviewers to sigh in their heads of boredom. Instead, be honest about both and tailor them to the position you are applying for. Saying you can ” Effectively handle multiple projects and deadlines” at an administrative or project management position would be better than just saying “creative.” On both dates and interviews you want to get to know the other person first before you say your weakness. If you say ” I’m really messy” when they’ve announced several times they are obsessively clean may send the other person running. Saying ” I’m really bad at math” at a position that requires formulas and data entry might not be a great choice as well. No matter what you say, end on a positive with how you are working on it. After, you can reevaluate if you are the best fit for the position.

Starting off on the right foot

5 Feb

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As you may have noticed I have been slacking with my posts recently.

The reason for this is that I recently started a new job. As this is always an intimidating experience there are some important things to remember so that you aren’t in over you head on the first day.

1. Show up early. Probably the most important thing is showing up on time, my roommate Jon reminded me of the saying “If you are ten minutes early you are on time, if you are on time you are late, and if you are late you are dead!” Yes, a bit exteme but nothing shows like you are not serious about a job like showing up late, so be early and ready to work!

2. Do your homework. Yes you know you already got the job but when you go in on your first day and have a one on one with the CEO you will probably want to know a little history about the origin of the company and come with questions so you can get any immediate questions you may have answered and out of the way.

3. Come over dressed. At the job I just started they told me jeans are not an uncommon site, nevertheless I plan on being dressed up for a while. It never hurts to step up your professionalism and let your co-workers know that you take the job seriously.

4. Take initiative. The first few days of a new job are very much a transition time and your boss needs to continue their job while figuring out how to train you and make you become self -efficient. If you find yourself with some empty time it never hurts to shoot an email to you boss asking how you can help them, or begin working on a project you know needs to get done eventually. They will appreciate and recognize this initiative.

5. Don’t be shy. You are going to meet everyone at some point whether your boss introduces you to someone or not. While making your way through your new office your first day remember to say hi to everyone you encounter and make an effort of understanding their role in the company, for all you know you could be working with them on a daily basis.

6. Be Inquisitive. Do not be afraid of asking questions about anything and everything. Not only will this benefit you but it will also reiterate the fact that you are very interested in getting to know the company inside out.

Remember transitioning into a new job and role takes time. By using these tips and demonstrating a strong work ethic you will be on the right path to a prosperous new career!

How To Relieve Stress At Work

29 Jan

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I was on a meeting with my co-worker the other day, when he said to me ” Believe it or not, as the project manager  you should be more stressed out than anyone- stress is a good thing!” To which I replied in my head- “What? Since when is stress a good thing? If I am stressed out, doesn’t that mean I don’t have all the projects under control?”

I’ve always been a calm, quiet person, and when I’m stressed, I don’t typically run around flailing my arms, yelling obscenities and sweating from head to toe. My stress episodes usually involve getting even quieter, until I feel the tears coming and retreat to my car to scream and vent to my mom for an hour. Now that I think of it- sort of reminds me of my first day of Kindergarten. Anyways, because of this I’m pretty sure my Boss thinks he needs to do anything it takes to make me more visibly “stressed out,” but I refuse to give in. Here’s some tactics I’ve been using lately that have kept me from pulling a Scarface in Half Baked:

1. Take a break: whether it’s walk outside or reading the news online, taking your mind off of the stressful situation helps. I prefer walking outside and getting some fresh air- it’s an instant relief.

2. Think before you say anything: Under stress it can be easy to blurt out whatever is on your mind. Ten minutes later, telling your boss ” I did not get a degree in picking up sandwiches!” will not seem like the best idea.

3. Delegate: don’t be afraid to ask for help- trying to juggle all of the tasks yourself will make you more stressed and less productive.

4. Exercise: Honestly this is the best stress-reliever. Whether it’s going to the gym or taking a walk or run outside, it will clear your mind and blow off steam.

5. Clear your desk and desktop: As the saying goes, ” A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind.” When your desk and computer are in disarray and you’re constantly searching for lost papers and files, it can be even more stressful. Make a folder that says ” to file” on your desktop and put all of the scattered files in there for later organizing. And even if it takes sacrificing a lunch break, file all of your papers.

6. Only focus on one thing at once: Even if you have ten projects to do in an hour, take a breath and devote a little time to only thinking and working on one project. Be honest, and if you cannot accomplish everything let your boss and clients know ahead of time.

7. Get a little Rowdy after work: No I don’t mean have ten beers and punch in windows. Watch a sports game with friends, join a community sports league, go to a concert, even watch the Bachelor (guilty)- any situation where it’s sociably acceptable to scream and yell in public or at your tv.

8. Be realistic: If you have 5 arms and 2 brains skip this one, but if not realize that you are only one person and can do so much. Don’t stress yourself out by over-promising. Break things into smaller, reasonable tasks that can be accomplished.

9: Try relaxation techniques: Breath deeply and count to ten (or 100 depending on how stressful you are) and Transport yourself to a happier place where there are no 10 hour work days or micro-managing bosses. Try drinking a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea.

10.  My favorite mantra which I say over and over to myself when I’m stressed is a quote I heard from The Secret: “Life isn’t nearly as serious as my mind makes it out to be.” Realistically the world isn’t going to end if I send an email ten minutes late, or forget to send something to a client (once not 500 times mind you). Yes, it will have repercussions and both parties will be mad but my life and theirs will not be over over one slip up. We will persevere…

Now back to my cup of tea and happy place.

Millennials Impact on the Workplace

15 Jan

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I came across an interesting article about how millennials are changing the work environment by Tom Davenport the President’s Chair in Information Technology and Management at Babson College, where he also leads the Process Management and Working Knowledge Research Centers. His article can be found here about his opinion regarding millennials and the workplace.

After reading his 2 cents I became curious thinking about this subject. Reviewing the kinds of jobs that people my age have these days and the type of multi million dollar companies millennials are creating every days gives this argument a lot of validity.

Do the stringent dress codes and 9-5 work hours really matter? Most people I know do not have a dress code or 9-5 but with that being said they are usually working much more than 8 hours a day.  So what matters most in the workplace to the employer? I would think that productivity and performance would be at the top and if these can be accomplished if your employees are wearing converse and rolling in at 10am then do those things really matter?

Keeping the employees content and making sure they are enjoying their job and environment has a direct affect on productivity and therefore increase it tenfold.

Obviously if you choose to work for a young employer at a dot com versus a prestigious law firm there are definitely going to be differences in the way things are run, so ultimately this too influences the environment and the amount of impact that millennials can have on their workplace.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you think we have the power to completely revamp the way the working world runs business?

Gradspot’s 30 Job Hunting Tips

12 Jan

jobsearchnewspaper-pola

This exciting new feature on Gradspot graced our inbox today, and we are more than thrilled to share it with you! Each day, over the  course of 30 days they will have a new tip for job hunting in 09. If you are a recent grad worried about finding a job in the current recession, professional out of work on the job hunt, or anyone (probably all of us) staying prepared in this economy, this is an excellent resource. Check out some of the ones they currently have up: Don’t get discouraged, Move to an industry hub, earn some cash in the meantime and Learn which industries are doing well. 

I absolutely love their tip on “Reading the news to find your passion” (courtesy of Lindsay Pollack). They propose that next time you pick up the newspaper, pay attention to which sections you gravitate to. The paper covers a broad range of topics from international news, to politics, sports, style and business, and whatever section you enjoy reading says a lot about your passions and interests (and is therefore a great career field!). I also enjoyed their industry hub tip, which has the main industries of focus in different cities. If you are interested in a particular field, moving to a city where it is popular (i.e. fashion in nyc, technology in San Francisco) will definitely help your career search. 

Here is the link to the articles on Gradspot. Happy reading!

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