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International Networking Week – 10 Tips to Maximize Networking Success

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Ford R. Myers, career coach, speaker and author of “Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring”, advocates that networking is the number one way job seekers get hired, regardless of the economic climate.

International Networking Week will be held February 6-10, 2012.  An initiative of BNI, International Networking Week(R) recognizes the key role that networking plays in the development and success of businesses across the world.

“Networking is not about ‘schmoozing,’ or selling someone on the idea of hiring you. Rather, it’s about purposefully and gracefully asking peers for help, advice, input and contacts – and offering real value in return. Networking boosts job seekers’ self-esteem and helps them connect people with opportunities – especially when those opportunities are hard to come by,” says Myers.

Myers suggests the following 10 ways job seekers can maximize career networking in a today’s  market:

1.  Schedule face-to-face meetings with your top tier contact list – “centers of influence” who believe in you, understand your value, and are in the best position to help you.
2.  Schedule phone meetings with other people who might lead you to key industry influencers.
3.  Get at least 3-5 names from each person with whom you speak.
4.  Be confident and purposeful.
5.  Bring a prepared list of questions and ask if it’s okay to jot down notes during the meeting.
6.  Establish good rapport by getting the other person to talk about himself/herself.
7.  Don’t use the word “fired.” Keep the conversation positive and focus on the future, not the past.
8.  Don’t make excuses or sound apologetic for your current career situation.
9.  Come from generosity – look for opportunities to offer something of value in return for the other person’s help and support.
10. Always send a “thank you” note immediately after your networking meeting.

“When done properly, at the end of every networking meeting, the other person should feel genuinely glad you contacted them, and feel enriched by the experience. Networking always pays big dividends in the long run,” adds Myers.

 

Reprinted by permission of Ford R. Myers, a nationally-known Career Coach and author of “Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring.” Download your free bonuses now at http://www.careerbookbonuses.com. 

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5 Tips that help you Take Off from the Career Plateau

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What is a Career Plateau?

A career plateau is the point in your career where / when you do not feel any additional upward mobility because there are fewer positions which are either not open or there are more people vying for it. Other reasons could be absence of challenging and satisfying work, or de-motivation due to unfulfilled career expectations.

If you feel stuck at your present job, the time is now to begin the process to get unstuck. Here’s how:

 

Elementary, Watson – It’s the Process

The first step to carving out a niche path and to jump off the plateau is to plan a coordinated career planning process. You won’t get there if you don’t know where you want to go and how to get there. Spend some time to find out what you want and where you want to go before you jump off (or quit your present job). It is all part of the process – that helps make any transition easier.

Alice: Oh, no, no. I was just wondering if you could help me find my way.
Cheshire Cat: Well that depends on where you want to get to.
Alice: Oh, it really doesn’t matter.
Cheshire Cat: Then it really doesn’t matter which way you go.

The first step in this process is planning the path which gets you closer to your career success or goals. Take a few minutes or even hours to write down the answers to these important questions:

  • Why do I feel stuck in this job?
  • What are the ways I can possibly get unstuck?
  • Are there any alternatives which I have not thought of and someone else can help?
  • Do these clash with my current priorities?
  • How much risk can I or am I willing to take?
  • What if I just took off – what are the possibilities?

Once you answer these questions the mist clears and the path seems more defined than ever before.

 

What’s in your wallet? What can or must you buy?

Your skills are your most valuable asset. Which skills are in your wallet? You can get/buy as much as you in there.  Time for some careful skills assessment will help accelerate your getting unstuck. Will you need more schooling? Take, for example, a scenario in which you wanted to be a social worker because you love helping people. One simply just doesn’t jump into social work. No, quite the contrary, they have to become certified and perhaps attend school to obtain a degree in social work or some other viable certification. Use your current interests, skills, accomplishments and goals to progress toward greater or new responsibilities.

Awareness of your present and required skill-set and the need to build additional expertise are the two essential steps at this stage. Don’t underestimate either of these – it may be a time consuming exercise to honestly figure out what you have and what needs to be done but it’s all worth the effort.

If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. ~Henry Ford

 

Got Career Focus?

What’s your career focus now? Has it changed or you just feel the need to move on to a role of better responsibility or ‘moving up the ladder’?

 

Focus on what your current tasks are and how you feel a more challenging or competent job description would satisfy your career aspirations.

Write down your career focus and short-term and long-term career success projection.

Complete these  four statements now to add more about yourself:

  • I am ………
  • I can ……….
  • I want ………
  • I need ………


Be the Change you want to see in your org

Your opportunities for growth are not restricted to promotions; in a highly competitive world it is important to create new positions or opportunities within your organization. That’s upward and outward movement. Don’t rely only on the traditional career paths laid out by your organization, redefining success and creating new opportunities offers you the exciting capacity to new growth potential – something lacking in the day to day routine and the constant weight on your mind that you have reached a plateau! Don’t plan an escape route, define new goals and benchmarks which maximize your contribution to your organization and enrich and best utilize your skills and talent.

Reach out the movers and shakers of your org and put forward any new plans or trends that can make your company more profitable or competitive in today’s market – show them that this what your new role can offer. Examples say more than a 500 page report – get out there and be the change.

If you run you stand a chance of losing, but if you don’t run you’ve already lost. ~ Barack Obama

 

ASK and you shall GET

Getting out of a plateau often needs some motivation or inspiration. This is the step where some mentoring might benefit you.  Know any ‘been-there-done-that’s, your career idols or those you inspire you? Seek them out ask for advice – it’s often the best way to KNOW how they did that and how their experience can inspire you to do better.

Career experts, coaches and counselors can be an excellent companion on your way to a career transition since they can offer some unbiased assistance that can accelerate your career progression.

If it’s free, it’s advice; if you pay for it, it’s counseling; if you can use either one, it’s a miracle. ~ Jack Adams

 

If you do not change, you can become extinct

Don’t be on the plateau for too long, in this competitive world remaining stagnant is not an option, you either move on or you’re shoved off. “Movement in new direction helps find new cheese.” If you find no other way that you can feel satisfied – laterally or upwards – it is time to move on. Knowing when to move can be a smart move if you do not see your goals being fulfilled in the present organization. However give it a fair try before you do so. You might want to do your fair share of research in current and evolving industries in your area of expertise.

Hone your informational interviews skills, and reach out to those in your network who are there where you want to be. Your expectations of a particular position might not match with the reality – informational interviews offer this very insight before you make a decision. Tapping your network efficiently is essential to know how to get there.

 

“What would you do if you weren’t’ afraid?” ― Spencer Johnson in Who Moved My Cheese?

 

Note to the Employers:

What is needed that organizations must have an ongoing versatile career management program which offers assistance on various levels – career plateau is one of the most frustrating and de-motivating time in one’s career and if you want to retain top talent to – get a genuine strategy in place which works for employees at various levels.

 

Question: Have you been on a career plateau or felt stuck in a job? What helped you overcome and get unstuck?

 

 

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6 Indications that the Job is Not Right for You

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Very few people honestly love their jobs. The majority of us attend work because it is required in order to maintain a certain level of comfort. However, you should not hate your job. We’re spending more than half of our lives at work – it better be something that makes us happy not miserable!

Here are 6 signs that a new place of employment might be what you need now:

You do not Care about Work

One of the most telling signs that the job may not be right for you is feelings of apathy. This is because the mind is telling the body, “what’s the point? Why should we care about the work we do?” Apathy not only affects your work, but your overall psychological disposition. No one wants to be around a Debbie Downer. This is a sign to watch for that may be indicative of a need for new employment.

 

Your Efforts Go Unappreciated

Another indication that you may need to find a new job is when your efforts go unappreciated. While it may be foolish to think that every time you do something good, the boss will give you a gold star, a simple, “thank you,” can go a very long way. No one likes to feel like they are being taken advantage of.

Remember, it is important to keep in mind that your boss may be under a lot of stress and is not intentionally ignoring you. I have quit jobs in the past when I felt my efforts were unappreciated, only to find out the boss did not understand that I had a problem to begin with. Before acting rashly, try communicating your displeasure directly to your supervisor and ask for feedback with your efforts and performance.
 

There is no Chance for Advancement

Elaborating on the previous point, working in a job where there is no chance for advancement can be another sign that the job is not a right fit. Promotions and salary raises indicate good performance, loyalty and tenacity. Without a chance for advancement, why would anyone try their hardest? Efforts should be reciprocated with ample rewards.

 

You Would Rather be Doing Something Else

Frequently day dreaming about something other than work may also be a sign that the job is not right for you. Do you have a feasible idea that could be accomplished with hard work and some small investments? Maybe consider becoming an entrepreneur. The point is that your mind should be dedicated to your job when you are at work. By doing something that you love to do, you will be rewarding yourself more so than any amount of money could ever equally compensate.

 

You do not Like Any of your Co-Workers

It is foolish to think that every single person will get along with everyone else and you will likely have some co-workers that you would rather not have to work with. However, it should not be the case that you dislike working with everyone at your job. This is a strong indication that you may not fit the psychological profile for the best sort of employee for the job.

 

You Look for Any Excuse to be Absent

Finally, looking for any reason not to attend work strongly indicates that a change in employer may be the wisest decision. You should not prefer being sick rather than being at work. Furthermore, it is not fair to the employer who has trusted you to fulfill their need for a worker at certain times during the week.

In today’s society, it is important to remember that many people are unemployed and willing to do just about anything for a check. Do not quit your job unless you have something else lined up immediately. This cannot be stressed enough. However, if you are extremely unsatisfied with your current job, it may be wisest to look for new employment for overall psychological well-being.

 

About the guest author:

Isaac writes for AON Hewitt specialists in Total Rewards and human capital consulting, Isaac enjoys cycling and going to the theatre. Check out my recent article about Android apps for jobseekers!

 

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How to Not Ruin Your First Day On The Job

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When you first start a new job there’s a lot going on in your head: stress over impressing your employers, jitters over learning new software or administration procedures, a new sleep schedule, etc. It can be hard to think rationally about how to approach the first day or two, but this is your best time to learn about the company and your place within it. This is when you can find out how your employers treat the staff and what you can expect from them instructionally. For example, do they host seminars? Hiring a business speaker can impart a lot of valuable information to attentive employees. If you’re new at a company, keep your ears peel for perks such as in-house workshops, benefits and other incentives. Beyond that, pay close attention to details.

Here’s a quick list of things to do and things not do on your first day:

The Dos:

Learn the pecking order of your superiors.

Find out who has the ability to fire you and, more importantly, who has the ability to fire them. Once you know the pecking order you will be in a better position to evaluate what you should do when multiple assignments come in at once. One supervisor’s “I need you to do this” may be considerably more important than the other. It is good to know who you are reporting to and what is the general overall org structure in the company. The HR would be glad to offer this info or it might be online on the intranet.

Ask lots of questions.

This is the day when no question is stupid. In fact, whoever is training you will probably say that “there is no stupid question.” Take advantage of this levity by finding out as much as you can about the company and the kinds of assignments you’ll be tasked with. Ideally, you should carry around a notebook and record the answers to these questions. Not only does this make you look like a diligent employee, you’ll benefit from not having to pester your co-workers with incessant questions later on down the road.

Not only your co-workers must talk to the HR on all necessary paperwork that could be required from a new hire. You would have already done so but it is a good idea to double check and go through the important papers that need your immediate attention.

Query your co-workers about aspects of the job.

Don’t be too nosy about it, but you should take advantage of your status as the new guy to find out what people really think about the job. People open up to new workers, either to vent or to impart knowledge. Either can benefit you in the long run.

It is a day to observe and get to know the team you would be working with. Take it easy though not everything can be done in a day but a good start adds a lot to your confidence and diligence.

 

The Don’ts:

Don’t confuse your desk and computer as your personal work station.

Remember that everything you view on your computer may very well be monitored. Don’t use it to watch YouTube videos, check your personal email or space out on Facebook. In general, until you know your company’s policy on down time you should do whatever you can to not slack off.

Don’t speak too casually or inappropriately with your co-workers.

No matter how nice or jovial your co-workers seem, no matter how good of a sense of humor they have or how openly they talk about their private lives, when you’re first starting a job DO NOT make inappropriate jokes or reveal racy details about your life. Not only is this unprofessional, it may be illegal. Talking about dating, for example, can be construed as sexual harassment. This is rare, of course, but why take a chance on a new job?

Don’t put up a shabby appearance.

Yes, you’ve got the job, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to let yourself go. How you present yourself makes a huge impact on your employers and colleagues. Most people dress well when they start a new job. This should also extend to behavior and demeanor. You want to come across as both well-groomed and psychologically healthy.

These are just a few tips for how to approach your first day on the job. The basic motivating trope here is to be professional, intake as much information as possible, and learn as much as you can about how the company is structured.

 

What has been your experience on the first day at a new job?

 

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Higher Paying Job Or Better Company Culture

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This is a guest post by Susanna Cha.

This is the question that I had been asking myself once I received three job offers after an extensive job hunt. Before going into this, I’d like to share the techniques that I used in finding a job.

 

My Background

I’m a recent MSc Marketing graduate and I therefore thought it was of importance to find a job whereby I can turn all of the theory I had learned, into practice. I knew that I wasn’t going to find a job that could offer me all aspects of marketing, so I decided on what I believed I liked the most and was the most interesting; direct and digital marketing. I decided to do an extra course next to my Masters education and received a certificate. The reason why I did this was because I knew this would have a positive effect on my CV. Having just a plain CV with your education isn’t that special, but listing extra educational achievements might make it stand more out I believed. I was taught during career courses that it is all about your unique selling point and it is important to know what your unique selling point is, otherwise you can’t “sell” yourself. I knew that along with the three languages I speak and the extra educational achievements, my CV would stand out a bit more than the general CV’s.

 

My Job Hunt

Once I graduated, the job hunt began. I was unsure if I wanted to stay in the UK or go to the Netherlands so I started applying in both countries. I subscribed myself to recruitment websites in the Netherlands and applied for three companies. Although I was invited for three job interviews at digital marketing agencies in the Netherlands, I unfortunately did not make it through to the next stage. I think this was because of my lack in confidence as I remember being so nervous.

 

Tip

I therefore believe that it is good to apply for many jobs at the same time even if you don’t necessarily want to work for company X. Gaining the interview experience will boost your confidence significantly so just use them as practise material.

 

After three rejections I got a bit nervous as I was unsure how long it would take me until I would have a job, but important here is to carry on hunting and not to let it get to you. I continued my search by using recruitment websites such as Guardian Jobs and also searched for digital marketing agency lists in the area where I knew I wanted to be.

 

Tip

If you know the type of role you’d like have and the sort of industry you want to work in, use recruitment websites and upload your CV. Also, use search engines and type in the kind of industry or companies and the area you prefer to work in. In my case this was “digital marketing agencies Leeds”. This is a good method to use for job hunting, as some companies don’t advertise their vacancies outside of their own website.

 

Then I looked on their websites to see if any of them were listing vacancies. This approach really helped as I had send out five applications and received three interviews. The interviews went well as I was more prepared for the kind of questions they would ask me due to the other interviews that I had in The Netherlands.  Surprisingly, all three companies wanted to hire me so I had a tough choice to make.

 

The Deciding Factor

From the three companies that offered the role, it was easy to rule out company X as this company only offered me £15.000 per annum. Then I needed to decide upon company Y and Z. When I walked into company Y, I did not feel very welcome as the atmosphere was quite neutral. The interview itself also wasn’t great as both gentlemen who interviewed me seemed very serious and strict, whereas the people who interviewed me at company Z were laughing, making jokes, and showed some expression in their faces.

 

Company Y offered me £17.000 per annum plus bonuses and company Z offered me £16.000 annum. Also company Y was only a 10 minute walk whereas company Z was a 30 minute bus drive. On top of that, I knew that if I would chose company Z I would need to pay an £80 per month for bus tickets. The choice was not easy but I eventually decided to go with company Z due to the company atmosphere. Right when I walked in, the receptionist was very kind, make a quick social talk with me and offered me coffee, unlike company Y where I was not spoken to by anyone accept for the interviewers. This eventually made me decide to take the job offer from company Z.

 

Tip

If you find yourself in a similar situation and unless the salary differences are huge, I would suggest you to take a company’s atmosphere into consideration. Even if you receive £50 more per month, it is so important to feel welcome and to be happy when going to work. I believe I made the right decision as we are growing significantly with new people coming in every month. I hope my story will help you in the process of choosing one company over the other. Good luck with the job hunt!

 

About the author of this post:

This guest post was written by Susanna Cha who writes for Guardian Jobs including graduate and internship job opportunities in sectors including charity, finance, retail, local government, teaching and retail.

 

If you had a choice to choose between a better paying job or a better company culture – what would you choose and why?

 

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Effective Learning Programs Crucial to Top Performers Retention

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Never become so much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise. View life as a continuous learning experience. ~ Denis Waitley

Your most productive investment lies in employee development. In a highly competitive workforce, it is important to attract, engage and retain skilled professionals. You don’t usually see bored, highly skilled employees in your cubicles because they’ve already moved to an exciting or more nurturing company – organizations which favor employee development as part of their company culture are the choice of the new generation of workers.

Research indicates that workers have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company. ~ Zig Ziglar

If you’re starting a new company or going through a re-org, make sure you keep enough funds for employee learning and development to retain and attract talent – the most valuable asset.

 

Use Learning Management Systems for Training Employees

With the average age of your employees below 30, it is quite evident that technology based learning would be more appreciated and well received.

A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting of training programs, classroom and online events, e-learning programs, and training content. A robust LMS should be able to do the following:

  • centralize and automate administration
  • use self-service and self-guided services
  • assemble and deliver learning content rapidly
  • consolidate training initiatives on a scalable web-based platform
  • support portability and standards
  • personalize content and enable knowledge reuse.

[Source: Wikipedia]

LMS s usually provide access to discussion forums where the instructors and employees can post messages and have access to chat rooms and webinar tools.

Virtual classrooms offer interactive learning and can get as creative as you are in designing the learning modules.

 

Benefits of E-Learning

Reduces travel time, improved performance and learning, training at your own pace empowers and motivates employees. It is critical and essential in the competitive times of fast evolving tech front that learning and career development must be a well set process which adds to your current skill set and improves your productivity at work.

Investing in learning and development is reinforced in growth oriented companies. Management of many Fortune 500 companies have seen that providing coaching, training support and efficient learning has resulted in employees excelling at their work and many sales reps surpassed their goals by as much as 30 percent.

 

Best Practices to get the best out of the E-Learning Programs

  • Introducing gaming and other motivational strategies that suit your audience is an excellent way to engage your employees in e-learning or self-learning programs. Gaming style- short instructional video with more interaction is often preferred by learners and the key to sustain the learning process.
  • Giving a customized solution is not easy but that’s where the true effectiveness of any solution or learning begins. All your employees are not at the same performance level; they have different skill set and expertise – and that’s exactly why they cannot be on the same level of learning and development.
  • Seeing how their learning can be applied to the actual workplace scenario by examples and case studies offers better results in learning acceptance. Share best practices that are being incorporated in your company culture – employees love to see the bigger picture, how their long term goals match up to the company’s vision.
  • Foster collaboration and interaction, self-learning for longer lengths of time can be boring and de-motivating making it a social experience can take it to a different level.
  • The learning process must be a part of your career development and performance evaluation system to make it more accountable and result oriented. Not something to be checked off a checklist but seen as a process that grows on a continuous rhythm or learning on different levels.
  • Instructors must often assign work assignments, tests on every module or level of progress. It’s important to know where the learner is struggling and which topics seem easy or less relevant.
  • Regular feedback on the e-learning sessions is a must. Your goal is to keep the learner positively engaged in the learning experience.
  • Extend these e-learning sessions to the next level of earning certifications. Clearing through a few levels of learning the learners can be offered to pass a proficiency exam to proceed to another level or earn a certification. Rewards and recognitions are motivating.
  • Be versatile and get your e-learning modules mobile. Can your employee access all information on the web, smartphones or tablets? Use the new tools to get ahead of the game, in fact in the fast changing landscape soon enough it would be the only way to get on demand learning exciting to your employees. Many universities (especially business schools) across the globe are launching iPad pilot programs extending their learning programs beyond the classrooms and enterprising companies would not be far behind.

 

Using Effective Social Media Learning Techniques

According to the CARA Group:

Despite concerns that expertise through social media is hard to verify, security is challenging to maintain and risks of distraction are high, social media’s strength and popularity continues to grow. In fact, this resilience despite marketplace concerns is often the hallmark of technology adoption. With the very large and influential millennial generation joining the workforce in a marketplace rife with social media tools and technologies, employers cannot afford to ignore its influence in the workplace and on employee habits and skills.
To make the most of social media-sponsored informal learning, CARA advises employers to consider the following strategies.

Strategy One: Choose Your Tools


Identify the social media tools you feel are most beneficial to your enterprise and endorse them as workplacefriendly learning resources. If employees know that LinkedIn is considered a work-friendly workplace tool, but not Facebook, they have guidelines for their informal learning choices. Some businesses—especially those with heavy regulatory restrictions—will choose to create internal collaboration and social media applications that allow for the rich networking and information-sharing abilities while minimizing security and confidentiality risks. Others will align social media sites and tools with their industry and guide employees to the resources that offer the most learning potential.

 

Strategy Two: Begin to Build a Code of Conduct for Social Media


Employees, like employers, are still learning their way around social media. Recent court cases regarding what can and can’t be said via social networks are just one piece of evidence that this is very new workplace territory. CARA advises businesses to work in partnership with employees to define how social media can and should be used in the workplace for learning purposes. For every organization, this process will be different so it is important to incorporate learning teams, employees and management into the collaboration process.

Rather than looking at this from a Draconian perspective—what cannot be done, what rules should be in place, what punishments should be—CARA encourages businesses to embrace the knowledge opportunity.  Find out from employees how social media are enhancing their productivity. Find out how to encourage more self-directed learning and ideas for maintaining focus and security integrity.

 

Strategy Three: Social Media Lunch and Learn


Consider hosting some lunch and learn sessions via an internal social media tool. For example, every third lunch and learn could occur via webcast as a way to include colleagues from many geographies and increase the use of new media workers across all generations. This approach will not only help workers across generations increase their comfort with web-based collaborative learning, but will also give learning leaders ways to analyze the pros and cons of in-person versus online informal learning events.

 

The source for the social media information is an amazing survey report by the CARA group.

 

What Learning Management Systems have you found most effective for employee development?

 

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Tips to Stay Healthy and Safe at your Workplace

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There is clear legislation in place regarding the responsibilities that employers have when it comes to health and safety in the workplace and those who are in breach of these guidelines can be liable for work accident compensation claims to be made against their businesses for negligence should either a member of the public, or a member of staff, suffer injury on the business premises as a result of this. Therefore it is vital that businesses not wanting to find themselves on the wrong end of expensive negligence claims undertake risk assessments and put in place comprehensive policies based the findings. These are some of the main health areas that employers can look into.

 

Temperatures and Ventilation

For those working indoors, prolonged exposure to excessive levels of humidity can create health problems. Therefore it is important that work premises are adequately ventilated, both through windows, but also from properly maintained air-conditioning systems.

Measures for those working in extreme cold or heat
For those working in temperatures outside of the norm, there are greater attendant health risks which you must address in any risk assessment.

  • Amongst the measures that you may choose to implement are the introduction of heat measures, improved ventilation and the covering of windows.
  • For issues of extreme cold, you can provide appropriate protective clothing and provide suitable rest breaks in an environment with a more normal temperature level.

 

Workstations

These should provide lighting and ventilation to a comfortable level. It is also essential that equipment such as seating is of a standard that provides the necessary support for the lower back, to ensure that employees do not suffer lumbar problems as a result of lengthy periods utilising them. Working on the computer for long hours without break is one of the major causes for aches pains and finally injuries for many workers in the cubicles. Read some here good tips on Guidelines on Computer Workstation – Computer Ergonomics.

Other tips:

  • Use plants and greenery around your workspace to naturally cleanse the air.
  • Stretch and flex your feet and hands often. Look away from the computer for some time at a distant place to soothe eye strain. Use anti-glares screens for your monitor.
  • If possible conduct ‘walking meetings’ this is possible with one or two people at the most not more. Just go out for a walk with a colleague if you can discuss some project plans without the use of writing boards or presentations.
  • Take regular quick breaks to keep up on your productivity and avoid burn-outs.

 

Furthermore the room should be of a size that it is suitable for the number of people occupying it on a regular basis, so that there are no issues of overcrowding.

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5 Stress Buster Tips for Business Travelers

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Efficient Planning for Packing

If you travel often it is a good idea to keep aside at least two suits that you would not use for your daily office wear. When you know it is time to travel on a short notice, deciding what to pack should be the least of your worries (easier said than practiced though!). Pack light, travel light and pack an extra backpack – just in case you buy something else later on and ensuring you can carry it along with you if needed.

Eating Well

A heavy or unhealthy meal often lowers your alertness and makes you feel drowsy, something which you would rather avoid since you would rather want to make your travel a pleasure than a drag. What foods make you feel lighter yet full? Focus on those, fruits and healthy smoothies often are the make-u-feel-good snacks. While travelling you can make healthy choices now since most airports have salad bars and healthy eating joints.

Save Time

You’d already be doing so but make sure you check in ‘digitally’ before you get to the airport. Inform your pick-up service or friend the right time of flight so they can get to there before time. You can avail the messaging services of the airlines to inform you via phone or email on any delays on your flight.

Relax – You’ll get to Work when you get there

Almost 90 percent of business travelers are on their laptops or phones at the airports, buses or taxis, trying to ‘get work done’. It’s OK to be away for few hours and you’ll eventually be working when you get there! So why not listen to your favorite music, read a nice book that you’ve always wanted to read but never got to due to your always busy schedule, or just look around and make new friends! Making business travel a continuous work stream often results in burn-out.

Exercise Walk Around

Exercise and deep breathing are instant stress busters. Don’t be shy to stretch around and practice deep breathing while waiting for the flight or in-flight. It is gets your nerves calmed and mind relaxed it’s more than worth it!

 

What other tips would you like to share with us?

And here is a nice infographic highlighting the best airports for business travelers in the US;

What Are the Best Airports for Business Travelers?
Via: Online MBA News

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You Hate Your Job; Is There Something You Can Do about It?

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We have all been there at one time or another in our careers.

You go to a job simply because you need the paycheck, yet you cannot wait to leave at the end of each and every day.

I can say the last time I was in this position was many years ago; recent jobs have been actually enjoyable to go to.

We all have different coping skills in order to get through the rigors of a difficult employment situation. Those skills can include:

  • Thinking of positive things in life while at work;
  • Reminding oneself that this job will not last forever;
  • Being happy to be gainfully employed in a tough economy;
  • Obtaining more skills for the resume.

Given that it is and will continue to be for the foreseeable future an employer’s market, it is wise for employees to go to work with as positive an attitude as possible, knowing that this present job doesn’t have to be a lifetime occupation.

When the work day seems like 16 hours instead of eight, try including some of these thoughts in your game plan:

  • Better to be working than unemployed – While this sentiment may get old really quickly, it is the truth. Too many people sit at home or elsewhere wishing they had a job to go to each day. You are one of the lucky ones (even though it may not seem like it) who can go earn a paycheck week by week. Yes, you do not like your job, but would you rather be unemployed and worrying about where your next meal is coming from?
  • Pinpoint the reason for the unhappiness – There has to be a central theme for why you’re unhappy at work. Is it a co-worker? Is it your boss? Are you feeling overworked and/or not appreciated? Get to the bottom of the reason for the problem so that you can try and fix it. Granted, you may not entirely correct the problem, but you can lessen the angst you have in going to work each day.
  • Talk to co-workers – One thing that oftentimes happens with the unhappy worker is that they go into a shell and simply show up for work, do their job and go home. Take the time to engage with co-workers, some of whom may also have some bad feelings towards their positions. You may actually be pleasantly surprised to learn it isn’t just you who is feeling unhappiness toward their work.
  • Increase your job search – I have known a number of people over the years who complain about their jobs, only to do nothing about it. If you are truly unhappy in your present position, then do something about it. Sitting there all day complaining about it will do no one any good, especially you. While the job market is tight, there are other jobs out there if you take the time to look for them. Set aside an hour a day on your own time or time over the weekends to polish up your resume, apply for open positions, and interview when possible. Having another potential job to look forward to can make a world of difference in your attitude going to your present employment.
  • This isn’t prison – While it may feel like you’re behind bars sometimes in your present job, remember that you are essentially free to get up and leave at any time. Yes, the loss of salary would most likely be an issue, but you would walk away from the anxiety and frustration it is causing you. The majority of jobs are at-will positions, meaning you or the employer can change the scenario at any point and time.

 

In today’s continuing struggling economy, take a few minutes to reflect on your present job and show appreciation for the fact that you have it in the first place.

Trust me; there are plenty of individuals out there who would like to sit in that chair that you call work.

 

This is   guest contribution by Dave Thomas.

Dave Thomas, who covers among other items business proposals and small business loans, writes extensively for Business.com, an online resource destination for businesses of all sizes to research, find, and compare the products and services they need to run their businesses.

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Three Essential Tips to Negotiate a Better Salary

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The poor economy has left many people searching for ways to increase their income, eliminate their debt and save money. While paying down debt is always a good idea, there comes a point in every family budget when there is really nothing left to cut. Thus, it’s easy to see why saving money would be a much simpler process if there were more money to work with. So aside from taking on a part-time job, what can be done to increase overall earnings? Perhaps it’s time to consider asking for a raise.

 

1. Provide Tangible Evidence of Your Value to Your Employer

 

This is perhaps the single most important determining factor in whether you will be able to get a raise or not. You’ll need to have documented evidence that you have provided extraordinary value to the company that has either saved or made them money in order for your boss to justify spending more money on you. Remember to see it from the company’s perspective: you are a business asset as well as an expense.

To aid in documenting your value to the company in a tangible way, start keeping track of everything you do each day. This will inevitably raise your confidence as the list grows, and allow you to see how much you accomplish in just a year’s time. Before you ask for a raise, pick out a few of your biggest accomplishments and find numbers to back them up. For instance if you helped improve your department’s productivity by completing a particular task, explain to your boss how your project or idea increased productivity by whatever percent, saving the company money in the long run.

 

2. Do Your Research

 

When asking for a raise, it’s extremely important that you prepare yourself for negotiations prior to scheduling a meeting with your boss. If you do not know what other professionals in your field are making on average, how will you know the difference between a reasonable request and a laughable pipe dream? Be sure to take into account what other companies, similar to the one you work for, are paying their employees. Larger companies tend to pay more, and different industries often have different salary standards for the same position.

In order to find what to ask for, use a reputable source, like Salary.com, to find out what the industry standard salary is for your position. This will allow you to see the high, low, and median pay in companies similar to where you work, giving you a good starting point for negotiations. You may also want to check the Bureau of Labor Statistics to get a better idea of what industries and careers are in demand versus positions that are in decline. If yours is in decline, it may be more difficult to negotiate higher pay.

 

3. Improve your skills and qualifications.

 

This might seem like a “no-brainer,” but improving your skills, and showing your employer why the improvement is an asset to the company can have a huge impact on your ability to get a raise. As you continue your education, or certify your credentials, employers often feel obligated to pay more. Search for any available technical certifications in your field and go get them. You may want to explore the master’s and PhD programs available as well. The real gem here is that if you are unable to negotiate a better salary with your current employer, you have just improved yourself with skills you can take elsewhere, to a company who will pay for highly skilled employees.

Take a look at the formal position description you were hopefully given when you started. Is there any function you might be able to certify, or get additional training for? Consider taking online or evening classes. Many colleges and universities have become increasingly flexible so that working adults can continue their education. Ultimately, the goal is to find ways to improve your value as an employee by industry.

These three crucial tips are imperative to success when negotiating a salary. By proving proof of your value, knowing your industry and position, and improving or formally certifying your existing skills, you are making a strong case to any employer that you are worth the money you are seeking. Be bold, be confident, and remember; the worst thing you can hear is a simple, “no.”

 

This is a guest post by Brittany Lyons.

Brittany Lyons aspires a life in teaching, but decided to take some time off from earning her online doctorate to help people learn to navigate the academic lifestyle. She currently lives in Spokane, Washington, where she spends her time reading science fiction and walking her dog.

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