"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
-Confucius
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
The "rules" of a new job....
When you’re new to a job, you’re subject to a whole different set of rules than you are once you’ve been there longer. Actions that might go unnoticed six months down the road can raise concerns about your work ethic, reliability and judgment. Here are eight things that you shouldn’t do when you’re new to the job – but might be OK to do later.
1. Asking for vacation time during your first few months.
In most cases, taking time off soon after starting a job will raise eyebrows. Exceptions to this are if a close family member is seriously ill or if you cleared the time off before accepting the job.
2. Complaining to your co-workers about your new boss.
Frankly, it’s not great to complain to your co-workers about your boss no matter how long you’re been at your job – but when you’re new, it comes across as especially tone-deaf.
3. Bad-mouthing your old job or old boss.
Once they know you better, your new co-workers might be thrilled to hear your war stories about your crazy former boss or your nightmare cubicle-mate at your old job. But if you share that stuff when you’re new, you’ll just come across as someone willing to bad-mouth colleagues.
4. Taking long lunches before you know the lunch culture of your new workplace.
This sometimes trips up people coming from a workplace where hour long lunches were the norm and are moving to an office where people take half an hour or simply eat at their desks. When you’re starting a new job, it’s smart to observe the lunch culture for a few days until you have a feel for your new office’s norms.
5. Pushing the envelope on business expenses.
As the new guy, there’s no faster way to torpedo your reputation than asking to stay at a more expensive hotel during business travel or rent a nicer car.
6. Using bawdy humor.
It might never be OK to do this in your workplace, but there are certainly some offices that have a higher tolerance for risqué humor than others. Wait until you have a much better feel for your new office’s culture before breaking out even borderline jokes. Even then always proceed with caution.
7. Spending time on Facebook or other social sites.
Once you’ve proven yourself as someone who works hard and produces high-quality work, it might be entirely fine to take the occasional Facebook break. But when you’re new on the job, being spotted on time-wasting sites is likely to make your co-workers – and especially your manager – worry about your work ethic. This behavior may not be acceptable later either, it’s always good to ask co-workers or watch their behavior before logging on.
8. Calling in sick during your first month, unless it’s truly dire.
Rightly or wrongly, if you call in sick while you’re new on the job, your manager is likely to worry that it’s going to be the start of pattern and that you’re not reliable.
1. Asking for vacation time during your first few months.
In most cases, taking time off soon after starting a job will raise eyebrows. Exceptions to this are if a close family member is seriously ill or if you cleared the time off before accepting the job.
2. Complaining to your co-workers about your new boss.
Frankly, it’s not great to complain to your co-workers about your boss no matter how long you’re been at your job – but when you’re new, it comes across as especially tone-deaf.
3. Bad-mouthing your old job or old boss.
Once they know you better, your new co-workers might be thrilled to hear your war stories about your crazy former boss or your nightmare cubicle-mate at your old job. But if you share that stuff when you’re new, you’ll just come across as someone willing to bad-mouth colleagues.
4. Taking long lunches before you know the lunch culture of your new workplace.
This sometimes trips up people coming from a workplace where hour long lunches were the norm and are moving to an office where people take half an hour or simply eat at their desks. When you’re starting a new job, it’s smart to observe the lunch culture for a few days until you have a feel for your new office’s norms.
5. Pushing the envelope on business expenses.
As the new guy, there’s no faster way to torpedo your reputation than asking to stay at a more expensive hotel during business travel or rent a nicer car.
6. Using bawdy humor.
It might never be OK to do this in your workplace, but there are certainly some offices that have a higher tolerance for risqué humor than others. Wait until you have a much better feel for your new office’s culture before breaking out even borderline jokes. Even then always proceed with caution.
7. Spending time on Facebook or other social sites.
Once you’ve proven yourself as someone who works hard and produces high-quality work, it might be entirely fine to take the occasional Facebook break. But when you’re new on the job, being spotted on time-wasting sites is likely to make your co-workers – and especially your manager – worry about your work ethic. This behavior may not be acceptable later either, it’s always good to ask co-workers or watch their behavior before logging on.
8. Calling in sick during your first month, unless it’s truly dire.
Rightly or wrongly, if you call in sick while you’re new on the job, your manager is likely to worry that it’s going to be the start of pattern and that you’re not reliable.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Best Stress Relievers
One thing that can help you get some relief, is the fact that no matter how many commitments, responsibilities, and unfinished jobs you may have, you can only do one thing at a time. The way to get many things done is, to focus on one at a time and relax for a while, before you start the next one. Here are some of the best workplace stress busters.
Talk it Out
Talking to somebody, especially a close confidante, helps you relax. Especially, if you both are in the same boat and are under the same levels of stress at work. Your worries get divided by two. Having company helps. Being alone, all the time, freaks you out, which heightens stress levels. Talk and laugh about your predicament and chill out with your buddy. If you are an entrepreneur and your own boss, you need some good advisers around you, who know things and make sense. If there are none such at the workplace, let there be someone at home, who is a friend, philosopher, and guide you can talk to.
Hit the Gym
Working out is a great way of relaxing. If your workplace has a gym, take a break from work and work out for a short while, in the gym. If you do not have a gym around, just go to the terrace, get some fresh air and do some push ups or sit ups. Punch the air around you and let it all out.
Meditate
No matter how much chaos reigns around you, there is a tranquility zone, which you can enter any time you want. It is within you and it can be reached through meditation. Take a break and find a place at work or outside, where you will not be disturbed. You can even do this right there in your cubicle. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let go of all thoughts and if you must have any, think about the best things in your life.
Let Music Calm your Nerves
Taking a break and listening to some of your favorite music is also a great stress buster. Music has the power to take you into a whole new world, away from your daily worries. It is a great way of chilling out.
Take A Walk
Stepping out of your workplace and taking a quiet walk, also helps. If there is a park around, go in there. Have some snacks sitting on a park bench. Move around, look at the world around you and forget your worries for a while. Let your legs get some exercise and mind some relief. A walk works for me, as it also clears my thoughts about things. You could listen to music while you are at it. Try it out.
Sleep Soundly
If you have had a sound sleep (at least 8 hours), you automatically reduce the stress that builds up from a tired and sleep-deprived brain. No matter what happens, get your eight hours of sleep. You will be fresh as a daisy when you wake up and ready to take on work and pretty much anything life throws at you. Having adequate sleep will surely help.
Let there Be Laughter
Where there is laughter, there is no stress. That is a very simple rule. Do not take life too seriously. Smile and be merry, that you are alive. Crack some jokes around in the workplace, once in a while. Smile, when you see people around. It spreads positive energy. Life is too short, enjoy it while you can.
Have a Life Beyond the Workplace
One of the prime reasons of stress at work is making work, your life. If you are going to think about nothing other than work all the time, there is bound to be stress. If you do not get a life beyond work, in which you can chill out, you will face a burnout problem, some years down the line. So, switch off thoughts about work after you leave office and get a life beyond it. Work hard, but party hard at times too. Have a social life and a work life, and keep them apart.
Talk it Out
Talking to somebody, especially a close confidante, helps you relax. Especially, if you both are in the same boat and are under the same levels of stress at work. Your worries get divided by two. Having company helps. Being alone, all the time, freaks you out, which heightens stress levels. Talk and laugh about your predicament and chill out with your buddy. If you are an entrepreneur and your own boss, you need some good advisers around you, who know things and make sense. If there are none such at the workplace, let there be someone at home, who is a friend, philosopher, and guide you can talk to.
Hit the Gym
Working out is a great way of relaxing. If your workplace has a gym, take a break from work and work out for a short while, in the gym. If you do not have a gym around, just go to the terrace, get some fresh air and do some push ups or sit ups. Punch the air around you and let it all out.
Meditate
No matter how much chaos reigns around you, there is a tranquility zone, which you can enter any time you want. It is within you and it can be reached through meditation. Take a break and find a place at work or outside, where you will not be disturbed. You can even do this right there in your cubicle. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let go of all thoughts and if you must have any, think about the best things in your life.
Let Music Calm your Nerves
Taking a break and listening to some of your favorite music is also a great stress buster. Music has the power to take you into a whole new world, away from your daily worries. It is a great way of chilling out.
Take A Walk
Stepping out of your workplace and taking a quiet walk, also helps. If there is a park around, go in there. Have some snacks sitting on a park bench. Move around, look at the world around you and forget your worries for a while. Let your legs get some exercise and mind some relief. A walk works for me, as it also clears my thoughts about things. You could listen to music while you are at it. Try it out.
Sleep Soundly
If you have had a sound sleep (at least 8 hours), you automatically reduce the stress that builds up from a tired and sleep-deprived brain. No matter what happens, get your eight hours of sleep. You will be fresh as a daisy when you wake up and ready to take on work and pretty much anything life throws at you. Having adequate sleep will surely help.
Let there Be Laughter
Where there is laughter, there is no stress. That is a very simple rule. Do not take life too seriously. Smile and be merry, that you are alive. Crack some jokes around in the workplace, once in a while. Smile, when you see people around. It spreads positive energy. Life is too short, enjoy it while you can.
Have a Life Beyond the Workplace
One of the prime reasons of stress at work is making work, your life. If you are going to think about nothing other than work all the time, there is bound to be stress. If you do not get a life beyond work, in which you can chill out, you will face a burnout problem, some years down the line. So, switch off thoughts about work after you leave office and get a life beyond it. Work hard, but party hard at times too. Have a social life and a work life, and keep them apart.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
The top 10 most affordable for renters:
Homeownership isn’t for everyone. Some, including many young adults, simply don’t have the money for a down payment on a house. Others covet the flexibility of renting, which makes it easy to move across town for a better apartment or cross-country for a better job.
Renting is an especially popular option in big cities, where career, social and educational opportunities tend to be clustered and populations tend to be more transient.
in a 2013 census, here are the top 10 cites most affordable to renters:
1: Raleigh, NC - Average monthly rent: $640
Renter population: 31.8% (132,947 out of 417,485 households)
Median household income for renters: $34,567
Cost of living: 7.4% below the national average
Rental vacancy rate: 11.7%
2: Las Vegas, NV - Average monthly rent: $776
3: Dallas, TX - Average monthly rent: $813
4: Tulsa, OK - Average monthly rent: $600
5: Birmingham, AL - Average monthly rent: $685
6: Austin, TX - Average monthly rent: $983
7: Memphis, TN - Average monthly rent: $711
8: Dayton, OH - Average monthly rent: $763
9: Omaha, Neb - Average monthly rent: $674
10: Richmond, VA - Average monthly rent: $883
Renting is an especially popular option in big cities, where career, social and educational opportunities tend to be clustered and populations tend to be more transient.
in a 2013 census, here are the top 10 cites most affordable to renters:
1: Raleigh, NC - Average monthly rent: $640
Renter population: 31.8% (132,947 out of 417,485 households)
Median household income for renters: $34,567
Cost of living: 7.4% below the national average
Rental vacancy rate: 11.7%
2: Las Vegas, NV - Average monthly rent: $776
3: Dallas, TX - Average monthly rent: $813
4: Tulsa, OK - Average monthly rent: $600
5: Birmingham, AL - Average monthly rent: $685
6: Austin, TX - Average monthly rent: $983
7: Memphis, TN - Average monthly rent: $711
8: Dayton, OH - Average monthly rent: $763
9: Omaha, Neb - Average monthly rent: $674
10: Richmond, VA - Average monthly rent: $883
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Is your job endagered? See the list below....
CareerCast posted its report on the 10 most endangered jobs for 2014, and the theme this year seems to be PAPER.
According to recent studies, a “dramatically lower demand for paper” is due to a number of factors, from people reading the news on their tablets and smart phones, to shopping catalogues moving online, and people using email and social media to stay in touch rather than writing letters. Going paperless doesn’t only affect printing workers, who can expect a -5% hiring outlook, but also lumberjacks and mail carriers, who have hiring outlooks of -9% and -28% respectively.
The 10 most endangered jobs were calculated using data from CareerCast’s 2014 Jobs Rated Report, and from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of the jobs are threatened by longer term trends, such as newspaper reporters, who have a hiring outlook of -13%. According to the report, “Layoffs and furloughs in the industry are commonplace.”
Please see the list below:
MAIL CARRIER
Median Salary: $53,100
Hiring Outlook: -28%
FARMER
Median Salary: $69,300
Hiring Outlook: -19%
METER READER
Median Salary: $36,410
Hiring Outlook: -19%
NEWSPAPER REPORTER
Median Salary: $37,090
Hiring Outlook: -13%
TRAVEL AGENT
Median Salary: $34,600
Hiring Outlook: -12%
LUMBERJACK
Median Salary: $24,340
Hiring Outlook: -9%
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Median Salary: $37,240
Hiring Outlook: -7%
DRILL-PRESS OPERATOR
Median Salary: $32,950
Hiring Outlook: -6%
PRINTING WORKER
Median Salary: $34,100
Hiring Outlook: -5%
TAX EXAMINER AND COLLECTOR
Median Salary: $50,440
Hiring Outlook: -4%
According to recent studies, a “dramatically lower demand for paper” is due to a number of factors, from people reading the news on their tablets and smart phones, to shopping catalogues moving online, and people using email and social media to stay in touch rather than writing letters. Going paperless doesn’t only affect printing workers, who can expect a -5% hiring outlook, but also lumberjacks and mail carriers, who have hiring outlooks of -9% and -28% respectively.
The 10 most endangered jobs were calculated using data from CareerCast’s 2014 Jobs Rated Report, and from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some of the jobs are threatened by longer term trends, such as newspaper reporters, who have a hiring outlook of -13%. According to the report, “Layoffs and furloughs in the industry are commonplace.”
Please see the list below:
MAIL CARRIER
Median Salary: $53,100
Hiring Outlook: -28%
FARMER
Median Salary: $69,300
Hiring Outlook: -19%
METER READER
Median Salary: $36,410
Hiring Outlook: -19%
NEWSPAPER REPORTER
Median Salary: $37,090
Hiring Outlook: -13%
TRAVEL AGENT
Median Salary: $34,600
Hiring Outlook: -12%
LUMBERJACK
Median Salary: $24,340
Hiring Outlook: -9%
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Median Salary: $37,240
Hiring Outlook: -7%
DRILL-PRESS OPERATOR
Median Salary: $32,950
Hiring Outlook: -6%
PRINTING WORKER
Median Salary: $34,100
Hiring Outlook: -5%
TAX EXAMINER AND COLLECTOR
Median Salary: $50,440
Hiring Outlook: -4%
Monday, July 7, 2014
If you’ve ever written a cover letter, you’re likely familiar with the pressure of trying to present yourself as the most professional, knowledgeable, qualified candidate in what will surely be a sea of competition.
By following a few fundamental rules and focusing on just a handful of key elements, you can make your letter (and by association, yourself) shine:
1. Remember, brevity wins
Often, in our eagerness to showcase our experience, skills and enthusiasm, we become long-winded. Avoid the temptation to expound upon every last detail that demonstrates how you’re the perfect fit for a particular job.
Instead, be brief. Seriously, two or three paragraphs are all that’s needed. Recruiters and hiring managers are ruthless skimmers, and verbose cover letters only communicate that you have no idea how their world works.
2. Display nuggets of knowledge
Understand your audience and write for the particular company you’re applying to. Again, with brevity in mind, let your reader know that you’ve done your research.
3. Keywords are key
It seems like the world is driven by keywords. Without littering your cover letter with jargon, include keywords in the natural flow of your writing.
4. Connect the dots
Cover letters exist simply as a means of introduction — a way for applicants to connect their experience and skills to the requirements of a position and thereby spark just enough interest to land an interview.
It’s important to make these connections explicit for the reader, especially if your qualifications may not be immediately clear. Briefly and concisely explain how what you’ve done in the past makes you uniquely qualified and immediately valuable.
5. Show yourself
Within the bounds of professionalism, it’s perfectly fine to convey a bit of personality in your cover letter. Without being too informal, write the way you speak, add a bit of humor, or include a relevant quote.
6. Proofread obsessively
I believe it was Dr. Seuss who said, “Proofread standing on your head. Proofread sitting down. Proofread in the country. Proofread all over town.” It’s so true. Proofing and editing what you’ve written is absolutely essential.
By following a few fundamental rules and focusing on just a handful of key elements, you can make your letter (and by association, yourself) shine:
1. Remember, brevity wins
Often, in our eagerness to showcase our experience, skills and enthusiasm, we become long-winded. Avoid the temptation to expound upon every last detail that demonstrates how you’re the perfect fit for a particular job.
Instead, be brief. Seriously, two or three paragraphs are all that’s needed. Recruiters and hiring managers are ruthless skimmers, and verbose cover letters only communicate that you have no idea how their world works.
2. Display nuggets of knowledge
Understand your audience and write for the particular company you’re applying to. Again, with brevity in mind, let your reader know that you’ve done your research.
3. Keywords are key
It seems like the world is driven by keywords. Without littering your cover letter with jargon, include keywords in the natural flow of your writing.
4. Connect the dots
Cover letters exist simply as a means of introduction — a way for applicants to connect their experience and skills to the requirements of a position and thereby spark just enough interest to land an interview.
It’s important to make these connections explicit for the reader, especially if your qualifications may not be immediately clear. Briefly and concisely explain how what you’ve done in the past makes you uniquely qualified and immediately valuable.
5. Show yourself
Within the bounds of professionalism, it’s perfectly fine to convey a bit of personality in your cover letter. Without being too informal, write the way you speak, add a bit of humor, or include a relevant quote.
6. Proofread obsessively
I believe it was Dr. Seuss who said, “Proofread standing on your head. Proofread sitting down. Proofread in the country. Proofread all over town.” It’s so true. Proofing and editing what you’ve written is absolutely essential.
6 Jobs That Pay Over $80K Per Year
Here are 6 of the hottest jobs out there now that pay over 80k per year:
Neonatologist
Median Annual Salary: $209,600
If you can envision yourself putting the tiniest premature babies on the road to a healthy childhood, a neonatologist may be the career for you, provided you have an aptitude for advanced math and science. Also be sure to account for four years of medical school and four years of residency before coming within shooting range of a salary like this.
Senior IT Project Manager
Median Annual Salary: $109,800
Senior IT project managers supervise all aspects of a computer system install: They must be fluent in the lingo of coders and engineers while capable of reassuring executives that the project will come in on time and within budget. Typically a bachelor’s degree is the minimum, as most IT project managers work their way up through the ranks, but certifications and master’s degrees will bolster a project manager’s prospects.
Magazine Publisher
Median Annual Salary: $105,100
Magazine publishers supervise every aspect of a publication: editorial, advertising, circulation and marketing. In this role you’ll need a mix of profit-minded business savvy and a passionate devotion to journalism and storytelling. While a bachelor’s or master’s degree can provide a strong grounding in the publishing business, most publishers work their way up through the ranks through the business or editorial sides of their magazines.
National Account Manager
Median Annual Salary: $89,900
Key players in the business-to-business realm, national accounts managers supervise the relationship between companies and their key clients, making sure products and services are delivered to the customer’s satisfaction. A bachelor’s degree is the base minimum, as years of proven experience are the key to becoming a national accounts manager, but an MBA might give a candidate a leg up for a hotly contested opening.
Product Marketing Manager
Median Annual Salary: $86,600
You’ll need a combination of innate creativity and an ability to supervise creative people to succeed as a product marketing manager, where you’ll coordinate advertising, public relations, marketing support and campaign budgets either for clients in an agency or a company marketing department. Bachelor’s and master’s degree are helpful, but this job also requires an intuitive ability nurtured over years in the marketing trenches.
Human Resources (HR) Director
Median Annual Salary: $86,600
Human resources directors are tasked with hiring new workers and supervising the pay, benefits and career prospects of existing employees. They’re usually also in charge of payroll and mediating disputes between workers and managers. In a union shop, they’re usually on the company’s bargaining team. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum but people with master’s degrees may have an edge in getting this job.
Find human resources director jobs.
Neonatologist
Median Annual Salary: $209,600
If you can envision yourself putting the tiniest premature babies on the road to a healthy childhood, a neonatologist may be the career for you, provided you have an aptitude for advanced math and science. Also be sure to account for four years of medical school and four years of residency before coming within shooting range of a salary like this.
Senior IT Project Manager
Median Annual Salary: $109,800
Senior IT project managers supervise all aspects of a computer system install: They must be fluent in the lingo of coders and engineers while capable of reassuring executives that the project will come in on time and within budget. Typically a bachelor’s degree is the minimum, as most IT project managers work their way up through the ranks, but certifications and master’s degrees will bolster a project manager’s prospects.
Magazine Publisher
Median Annual Salary: $105,100
Magazine publishers supervise every aspect of a publication: editorial, advertising, circulation and marketing. In this role you’ll need a mix of profit-minded business savvy and a passionate devotion to journalism and storytelling. While a bachelor’s or master’s degree can provide a strong grounding in the publishing business, most publishers work their way up through the ranks through the business or editorial sides of their magazines.
National Account Manager
Median Annual Salary: $89,900
Key players in the business-to-business realm, national accounts managers supervise the relationship between companies and their key clients, making sure products and services are delivered to the customer’s satisfaction. A bachelor’s degree is the base minimum, as years of proven experience are the key to becoming a national accounts manager, but an MBA might give a candidate a leg up for a hotly contested opening.
Product Marketing Manager
Median Annual Salary: $86,600
You’ll need a combination of innate creativity and an ability to supervise creative people to succeed as a product marketing manager, where you’ll coordinate advertising, public relations, marketing support and campaign budgets either for clients in an agency or a company marketing department. Bachelor’s and master’s degree are helpful, but this job also requires an intuitive ability nurtured over years in the marketing trenches.
Human Resources (HR) Director
Median Annual Salary: $86,600
Human resources directors are tasked with hiring new workers and supervising the pay, benefits and career prospects of existing employees. They’re usually also in charge of payroll and mediating disputes between workers and managers. In a union shop, they’re usually on the company’s bargaining team. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum but people with master’s degrees may have an edge in getting this job.
Find human resources director jobs.
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