Scared of Your First Day at Work 10 Easy Tips to Help You Not Blow It

Scared of Your First Day at Work 10 Easy Tips to Help You Not Blow ItScared of Your First Day at Work 10 Easy Tips to Help You Not Blow ItGet out there and shine on your first day at workTo drastically misquote Bob Dylan- How many times must a person experience a first day at work before it becomes less awkward?Nowadays, people change their jobs and careers as often as they change their underwear. You too are likely to go through many first days at work in your lifetime. The good news is, you can easily make it exciting instead of terrifying by following a few simple guidelines. We present to you 9 Awesome Tips to Help You Not Screw Up on Your First Day at Work.Intentionally or not, people are quick to judge others. According to Willis and Todorov, it only takes 1/10th of a second to make a first impression. Luckily, our experience says that you have at least the entirety of your first week to correct (or cement) that impression. Unless youre a police puppythat is, in which case youv e already mastered the art of impressing everyone your first day at work.If youre a planning freak like me, you might find this hour-by-hour survival guide handy. If youre not as easily stressed, 9 quick tips will more than suffice. Good luck1. Show on time and dress appropriatelyDont be late on your first day at work. If you arrive late, youve already left a bad first impression before you even had a aussicht to enter the room. To avoid this simple mistake, plan your commuteahead. Add extra time in case anything goes wrong. And trust me, its exactly on days like these that things are predestined to go south from the beginning.Know your companys dress code. If youre required to wear a uniform, keep in mind that restrictions apply to all accessories, hair, and makeup. If youre in doubt,contact your HR.2. Show diligence and avoid distractionsA foolproof recipe on how to screw up your first day at work is to slack off. Dont be that person. Stay professional and keep your phone away to avoid any distractions. Make sure to stick to your break times and limit the chit-chat.3. Learn and listen before you speakFamiliarize yourself with the job and the company. According to Robert Sofias advice, before you try to change the game, you must first learn how to play it. Take the first days to listen and learn about the company and their practices. Once youve built trust and proven yourself useful, youll have plenty of opportunities to be more bold and critical. For now, keep an open mind and observe your new work environment. Additionally, when starting a new job, be ready to take on a variety of tasks. Youll show your commitment and willingness to learn. Stayflexible andyoull soon get a complex grasp of the company.4. Ask questionsAt every company, first days at work look different. Either you spend them in training or they throw you right into the deep. Whatever the case, your first week at work is the time to listen and take in as much as you can. At the same time, if y ou have questions, dont be afraid to ask. Or even better, prepare a few questions beforehand. This will show your interest in the company, its strategies, and plans.5. Get to know the gruppeApproach your line manager and learn about the companys structure. This is also a good time to clarify any uncertainties about your job description. Chuck Cohn highlights that its critical to understand how you fit into the larger organization and what each part of the company actually does. Take the time to learn peoples position and specialization. Youll benefit down the line when you start collaborating on larger projects.6. Earn respectTo establish your position on a new team is no less challenging task than handling your new job itself. We have one simple, yet effective piece of advice for you. If you want to earn respect, be good at your job. If you prove to be useful in the first week, youll gain trust from your colleagues and management at the same time.7. Build relationshipsGood teamwork is crucial for a successful company. First days in a new job are an ideal opportunity to build relationships with your coworkers. You can either craft a group email or take a walk around the office and introduce yourself. Take some time to get to know your colleagues. Ask them where are they from, how long they have been with the company, and what their role is. By showing interest, youll break the ice and start building new relationships. Your new colleagues will also be curious about you.Quick tip Prepare an elevator pitch about yourself.8. Be yourself from day oneLynn Taylor, a workplace expert emphasized the importance of staying yourself in a new job. Its stressful to try to be someone else, so why bother? You want some consistency in who you are on day one and day 31. Youll soon have to engage with your co-workers on various tasks in a number of different environments. Staying honest about yourself will show that you are responsible and trustworthy.9. Set your personal bounda riesOn the one hand, you want to be close with your new coworkers, but when it comes to your personal life, be careful. Your first day isnt an appropriate time to share intimate information at work, even if you think it would help you bond with others. People love to gossip, especially when it concerns you as a new colleague, so make sure you stay professional.Regardless of whether your first day is a success or not try to stay positive. Remind yourself of what made you to get into that job in the first place.Get out there and shine on your first day at workNow that youre already getting used to your new job, sit back and take a look at those who never made the cut.SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveShare Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

DionData Solutions Work at Home Data Services

DionData Solutions Work at Home Data ServicesDionData Solutions Work at Home Data ServicesData management firm DionData Solutions uses home-based independent contractors to perform data entry from home. The company also uses in-house staff and promises a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week production environment to efficiently process data for clients in any time zone. Data entry typically involves transferring information from one source to aelendlageher. For example, a client may have paper records containing information they would like to be entered into an online database. Information might already be in digital format, but the key data needs to be entered into the proper fields in a separate program. Work-at-Home Opportunities Independent contractors with DionData enter data from images of documents, often applications or other handwritten forms. The work is compensated on a per-piece basis. In addition to using scanned images, DionData Solutions needs contractors to provide accurate dat a entry from Hard copiesHandwritten originalsTyped copiesOnline sources The company promises clients a 98.5 percent or better accuracy rate for data that is not considered highly sensitive by the client and a 99.995 percent accuracy rate for extremely critical data, which iskeyed in twice, each time by a different individual. The second operator does not see the data entered by the first operator. The system stops on keystroke mismatches, prompting corrections. Work-at-home contractors typically key data for Medical claimsCatalogsSurveysInventoriesWarranty cardsProduct registration cardsSubscription fulfillmentMailing lists Qualifications and Requirements DionData requires its independent contractors to be able to type 60 words per minute accurately, in addition to having basic computer skills, such as sending and receiving emails with attachments, using the internet, and uploading and downloading files. Contractors are expected to have excellent communication skills and to be a ble to work independently on multiple projects simultaneously. They also are expected to provide and maintain their own desktop computers- dual monitors are considered a plus- and high-speed internet connections. DSL or cable is preferred. Operators also must be able to prove they are legally able to work in the United States. Applying to DionData Solutions Even when DionDatas website says it is accepting applications, that doesnt necessarily mean the company is hiring. They are constantly looking for qualified candidates, though, and keeps a list of possible contractors and hires as needed. Applications are accepted by email only. You must download a Word document, fill it out and then return it byemail. It is a fairly standard job application, asking about your skills, education, and references. It asks for your availability in days of the week, about days you are not available, and your preferred times of day to work. You are asked about the type of computer you own, its ope rating system and about any other relevant office equipment. Although DionData says it cant respond to all applicants due to the high volume of applications, the company encourages applicants to resubmit after 90 days. Pay and Benefits All data entry agents are hired as independent contractors, which means there are no benefits and no guarantee of a minimum wage. Home data entry jobs often pay less than the minimum wage, especially at the beginning before the data entry worker has developed sufficient familiarity with the process to work quickly. DionData Solutions pays its data entry operators on a per-piece basis, which is typical. Data entry jobs in brick-and-mortar office settings pay an average of about $15 per hour, as of 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The per-piece pay system for work-at-home jobs makes it difficult to measure exact pay rates, but its rare for anyone to come close to that $15 per hour mark. Those capable of working fast and very e fficiently are most capable of earning decent money. Other Opportunities DionData is not the only company offering work-at-home data entry jobs. Like most work-at-home jobs, though, there are a lot of scams on the internet, so its important to be sure any companies you do work for are legitimate and do pay you for your work. behauptung are a few legitimate companies that offer work-at-home data-entry positions Great American Opportunities This is not exactly what people might think of when they think of data entry, but they do offer the work. This is a company that contracts with schools and other organizations to run fundraising campaigns. The data entry jobs involve keying in information from order forms. According to an online review of the position, efficient workers can expect to earn about $9 per hour doing this. But, again, this can vary greatly depending on how fast the work can be completed. Xerox The company occasionally offers full employment that includes the opportu nity to work from home. There are not an abundance of such positions available, but when they are available, they typically pay a little more than $10 per hour, according to Real Ways to Earn Money Online.Amazon Mechanical Turk This is Amazons foray into online freelancing, and it is not specific to data entry, but there are occasional jobs available that are related to data entry. On this site, businesses post tasks that they need to be completed, and workers can bid on those tasks.

Can Science on Bubbles Explain Why People Recklessly Apply t

Can Science on Bubbles Explain Why People Recklessly Apply tCan Science on Bubbles Explain Why People Recklessly Apply tWhether higher education is really a bubble or not I dont know. The often irrational belief some people have in the value of a degree is one sign, though. Its not that the degree isnt valuableit mostly is. What Im talking about has more to do with the underlying motivation, the quality of reason, which leads some people to rashly apply and obtain degrees. At lower-tier institutions, there are scores of people who dont belong in business school, dont belong in law school (and many, many that do). Yet even with all the media criticism of higher ed and the recent arm-waving at prospective studentsentreaties to do a little research, a little soul-searching and a lot of self-assessmentthe uniformed continue to wander into behauptung programs in search of security only to leave devastated with the lack of jobs or the return on investment. What they paid for welches more t han what it was worth.Jonah Lehrer recently wrote in Wired about the persistence of bubbles, why they are inevitable, why we can never seem to learn from them, if they can be prevented, and why they are like tulips in the early 1630s. His conclusions might be helpful to keep in mind during a consideration of the motivations for applying to business or law school.Recent bubbles in finance, housing, and the first dot-coms, Lehrer writes, resemble the hysteria that surrounded tulips after their introduction to the Netherlands by way of the Ottoman Empire in the 1630s. An explosion of tulip lust. Everyone wanted the tulips, tulips in white, orange, yellow, whatever. Then, speculation started when gardeners peddled in the winter months what only bloomed for a few weeks in the spring. A futures market was created, and in a few years, the price of a single tulip bulb skyrocketed to 10 times the salary of a skilled craftsman. When the tulip bubble burst in 1637, prices declinedsome rare bul bs more than 99 percentand speculators had a bunch of futures contracts they couldnt get rid of. A tulip was merely a tulip again. What lies behind this type of frenzy over an ordinary flower? Surely, there must be some reason why people dont seem to be able to learn from past mistakes. Lehrer saw some answers in research by neuroscientist Read Montague.Why are we so dumb? To better understand the source of our compulsive speculation, Read Montague, a neuroscientist now atVirginia Tech, has begun investigating the formation of bubbles from the perspective of the brain. He argues that the urge to speculate is rooted in our mental software. In particular, bubbles seem to depend on a unique human talent called fictive learning, which is the ability to learn from hypothetical scenarios and counterfactual questions. In other words, people dont just learn from mistakes theyve actually made, theyre able to learn from mistakes they might have made, if only theyd done something different.The problem is when fictive learning goes awry, it seems. Regret, for instance, is one of those times. When what-if? becomes If-only. Now, I might be wrong in applying this research to the intentions of applicants in the putative bubble of higher ed, but i think its worth exploring. Im sure that more than a few past law school applicants, deep in counterfactual thought, said to themselves something along the lines of If only I hadnt majored in philosophy in undergrad. If I had majored in econ or computer science, well, Id probably be sitting in my palace right now and not this two-room shanty, subsisting on rice and beans. If I had a second shot at things, I would study something that interests me, leads to an interesting job, provides financial security. Wait, studying and practicing law provides all that. And lawyers make tons of money. So, law school? Uhh, law school Of course, the reality is that most law grads arent making big bucks and the number of lawyering jobs has plummeted. And yet, in 2010, law schools experienced a record number of applicants. Were people only seeing successes while staying blind to failures? MBA candidates, though, are probably less likely to act out of regret. Social comparison might be more apt an influencer for wanting to get an MBA, even when the situation doesnt call for it. Montague is currently exploring that as well, according to Lehrer. Its called the country club effect.This is what happens when youre sitting around with your friends at the country club, and theyre all talking about how much money theyre making in the market, Montague told me. That casual conversation is going to change the way you think about investing. In a series of ongoing experiments, Montague has studied what happens when people compete against each other in an investment game. While the subjects are making decisions about the stock market, Montague monitors their brain activity in two different fMRI machines. The first thing Montague discovered is t hat making more money than someone else is extremely pleasurable. When subjects win the investment game, Montague observes a large increase in activity in the striatum, a brain area typically associated with the processing of pleasurable rewards. (Montague refers to this as cocaine brain, as the striatum is also associated with the euphoric high of illicit drugs.) Unfortunately, this same urge to outperform others can also lead people to take reckless risks.Going to business school, or law school, is right for a lot of people, if its for the right reasons. For many, its not the right move, and I suspect that Montagues research sheds a little light on the underlying motivations of many who apply unwisely.Keeping yourself from reacting to social comparisons, or engaging in counterfactual thinking, is of course not a possibility. What is a possibility is learning to be conscious of the fact that your decisionspotentially reckless decisions, particularlyare rooted in very basic neurolog ical processes. So remember to ask yourself Did the decision you made arise out of good, solid reasons or more impetuous motivations?Wired Like us on Facebook

How to Network With Friends and Family

How to Network With Friends and FamilyHow to Network With Friends and FamilyLets be honest. You probably dont need to read yet another article about the importance of networking. By now we all know how critical it is to career mobility, entrepreneurial growth and overall success. Thats why my coaching clients are so frustrated when they feel like it isnt working. They have attended networking events, made notes on the backs of business cards, done the appropriate follow-ups and had the coffee meetings. Yet the opportunities arent flowing. Usually the problem is that they havent spent enough time cultivating their network. Growing a fruitful network is a lot like gardening. It requires patience and consistent tending.So what can you do if you need opportunities NOW and your network is totenstill in the seedling stage? Make the best use of your strongest existing support system your friends and family. Not related to the Rockefellers? Dont worry. A contact doesnt need to be a business powerhouse in order to be valuable. You might be surprised the conversations that your loved ones have at their places of worship, PTA meetings, bowling leagues and volunteer events. However, just because people care about you doesnt mean that they are fully equipped to connect you with the right job leads or potential customers. You may need to do a little work to help them help you.Tell them what you need in plain EnglishIm not the smartest person in the world, but Ive got a couple of degrees under my belt, AND I work in the career industry. Yet I still occasionally see resumes where I dont fully understand what someone does for a living. Can you imagine what all of that jargon sounds like to your dear Aunt Edna or your best friend, the nurse? They dont need to understand the intimate details of your work. Try to give them a simple picture of your role and the type of assistance you would appreciate.Keep your request simpleThis one is usually a challenge for job seekers. You may b e flexible about the types of positions that you are willing to entertain, but that doesnt mean that you need to share all of your options with every networking contact. Sometimes we forget that our loved ones are human beings with other very important things on their minds. If your request is too complicated, then even if they are committed to your success they wont be able to recall your request when they meet someone or stumble across an opportunity that can benefit you. If your golf buddy doesnt work in the same industry, try to limit your request to one or two simple, memorable items.Ask them directlyYou spend a lot of time with friends and family. You high-five them at pick-up basketball games, toast drinks at your favorite bars and pass the gravy at holiday dinners. They know that you are looking for work. Maybe youve talked about your new business and how you need more customers. If they had any good contacts, wouldnt they have already shared them?Not necessarily. There are plenty of people in your immediate circle who will proactively open up their rolodexes and start figuring out how they can help. However, over time Ive noticed that there are just as many well-intentioned people who NEVER CONSIDER taking that next step. ansicht are not mean or selfish people. They will listen to your concerns or complaints and even offer advice. But unless you make a direct request, theyll leave the conversation satisfied that theyve done their duty as a good friend. Dont make assumptions. Ask.Be mindful of their personal riskWhenever a networking contact connects you with a person or opportunity, he is spending some of his personal social capital. If you act inappropriately or are unreliable, your contact suffers the risk to his reputation. This fact remains true even if you are one of their closest friends or family members. Before making a request, you must be very sure that you have demonstrated that you are worthy of the risk. Your cousin may trust you with her life yet still be hesitant about introducing you to her Type-A mentor. Do an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, and dont overreach. Your loved one may be less willing to help you in the future, or, worse, you may cause damage to an important relationship.Just because you implement these steps with your friends and family doesnt necessarily mean that you will immediately be inundated with job offers or new customers. However, you will be better positioned to continue growing your business network with the confidence that you have an army of your biggest fans making inroads on your behalf. And dont forget networking is a two-way street. At your next family affair or social gathering, make a commitment to be a better resource for the people you care about. If you do that consistently, youll soon be almost as popular as grandmas apple pie.

A Simple Trick for Chronological Resume Format Exposed

A Simple Trick for Chronological Resume Format Exposed The Rise of Chronological Resume Format A number of the info is subjective. There are several resume formats you may use to present info to employers. It is very important to offer a cell number. For your telephone number, a cell number is preferable. Ok, I Think I Understand Chronological Resume Format, Now Tell Me About Chronological Resume Format The general guideline is to continue to keep your resume to a single page for each decade of experience you possess but to incorporate no more than twenty years of experience. So, theres just ONE and SIMPLE rule to prevent situation above. At the close of the day, you wish to be sure you are likely to find the job. When youre working at your present job you arent stressed, seems like everything goes smooth and with no troubles. Theres no need to bring a subheading. When considering whether to add extra content to your resume, a fantastic guideline to follow is that in the event the info isnt related to the job which you want to know more about then it shouldnt be in your resume. You can select the layout that is most suitable for your personality when keeping up a professional appearance. For instance, you can select a text-based layout with a professional look that will allow you to highlight your work experience. The Importance of Chronological Resume Format Chronological resume format isnt good for candidates that are unemployed as of now. Chronological resume samples may be used for all levels of professional, in a multitude of sectors and adapted to the requirements of each candidate as the applicant must simply finish the sections that are suitable for them using their private information. The samples are a breeze to personalize and hence save a great verstndigung im strafverfahren of time of the user. Resume templates often include example sections and data for you to receive a better knowledge of the way to finish your personalized resu me. The resume template isnt just easy, its also readily available for free download. Utilizing exactly the saatkorn keywords will help you create clear that you have what the provider is on the lookout for when you make your resume. You would not have to keep altering the format when applying for different nations. Part of creating an effective resume is deciding on the most appropriate format to inform your private story. In general, the best method to choose which kind of resume format you should use is dependent on your experiences and the period of time youre prepared to put into each resume. There are sure items you shouldnt include in your resume. Also, because there are lots of examples of a chronological resume template available on the internet, it would never be difficult that you really authenticate the final resume. A chronological resume is among the most common resume formats. A chronological resume is among the 3 main resume formats. What to Expect From Chro nological Resume Format? Youre able to add Willing to relocate whether the position requires moving to a different city. There is an abundance of resources available to you once you embark on writing a resume. Educational information is included together with certifications and distinctive skills. 1 advantage for employers to internet resumes is the considerable cost saving in contrast to traditional hiring methods.All you include in your resume should deal with the necessities of the job which you are applying for. The Chronological Resume Examples are an essential document for folks who would like to land in with work. Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often theyre utilized to secure new employment. Since chronological resumes are an essential document, its essential to compose a nice and appropriate chronological resume that could assist the applicant to acquire the job theyve applied for.

Job interview question and answer What do you dislike about your current job

Job interview question and answer What do you dislike about your current job Job Interview Question And Answer What Do You Dislike About Your Current Job?Posted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun The purpose of this question is twofold to find out about your professional dislikes, and to gain some insight into why you are looking for another job. The interviewer will assume that there must be something you dislike about your current job, because otherwise you presumably wouldnt be looking for another one. Its always best to present yourself in the most positive light and not to whinge about your employer or workplace, but certain dislikes are legitimate and can even reflect well on you. For instance, if you say you dislike the inefficiency of certain systems in your office, that will tell the interviewer that you value efficiency and accuracy. But dont just stop there explain how you havesuggested ways of improving the systems or demonstrate what changes you have made to improve proces ses in your current workplace so you come across as being solution- rather than problem-oriented. If youre going for a job as a sales rep, it might be alright to admit that you dont love paperwork, while also emphasising that you understand its importance and are willing to do what is necessary. However, it might not be such a good idea to say you dont like paperwork if youre applying to be an office manager it could very well cost you the job. Similarly, a sales rep who says they dont like dealing with people probably wouldnt get very far. Whatever you say, try to frame your decision to leave your current role in positive terms. Instead of saying that you hate your job and just want a change, you could say that while you learned many valuable skills in your current position, you are now seeking a role that would challenge you and enable you to better use all your capabilities, in an environment in which you could really thrive and grow a win-win situation for both you and your po tential employer. You should also use this opportunity to demonstrate how well suited you are to the role you are applying for, as well as the company. For example, if you are applying for a job with a larger company, you could say that while you love your current job, you would welcome the opportunity to work with a larger organisation or anything else that explains why you would prefer to work for the company you are applying with. Positive reasons to switch to a different company could include its corporate culture, size, structure, industry, working conditions or schedule. Here is an example While I really enjoyed working at Carlton United, unfortunatelyit offered few opportunities for growth and development. I volunteered for multiple projects for other teams on my own time in order to grow my project management abilities, but behauptung were limited by the size of the company. At a larger company like Pacific, I believe that I would have the opportunity to make greater use of my team management experience, and continue to refine my project management skills. See our full list of interview questions and answers to help you in your next interview ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health they can help you maximise your potential and opportunities and help you navigate challenges and obstacles smoothly. Find out more about how a career coach could help you.

How to Get Through Bad Days at Work

How to Get Through Bad Days at WorkHow to Get Through Bad Days at WorkWhether your presentation doesnt go as planned, you learn that youre leid getting the raise you were hoping for, or your co-workers are in terrible spirits, tough days on the job are bound to happen every now and then. Its just the way it goes.But just how schwimmschwimmbad those days go can really depend on how you handle them. Though we all know how difficult powering through a challenging day at work can be, motivating yourself to stay positive when things arent going as planned is a real workplace superpower that can help you rise above the rest of the pack. Read on to learn how you can turn lemons into lemonade for yourself while building major morale for everyone around you, too.1. Stick to Your ScheduleThough unexpected events or information are often at the heart of a bad day, having a schedule in place can keep you focused on your goals and direction. In fact, starting in the early hours by implementing a solid morning routine is often cited as a smart tactic that can directly impact success. The reason why? Willpower has proven to be highest during AM hours, and powering through a productive morning can help you set the tone for the rest of the workday, no matter what should come your way.This can be especially important when your work involves engaging with other people, or if there are outside factors that can make you feel easily sidetracked. When I dont have a set schedule for my day, I tend to feel unproductive and unmotivated- no matter what happens. So, when I encounter a difficult gatekeeper, it takes a toll on my attitude, says Ben Garcia, an independent Agent with Aflac Insurance Company. If youre like me, setting a schedule will allow you to accomplish your tasks throughout the day and help you feel productive in every circumstance. You can also consider shifting your schedule to a format more conducive to riding the wave of a bad day. For example, start each morning by e ating your frog, a term coined by success coach Brian Tracy that represents your toughest, worst, or most procrastination-inducing task. The last thing youll want to do after an upsetting call with a customer or a bad meeting with your boss is that task youve been dreading, so make sure you get it out of the way before your day gets away from you. 2. Be Resilient (and Dont Take it Personally)Some days simply require a thicker skin. You might get turned away, turned down, told no- maybe even repeatedly. Refusing to quit isnt easy, but doing it can make a huge difference in reaching your goals. In fact, taking strides to become more resilient can help you overcome the toughest moments in your career. As Sheryl Sandberg poignantly shared in her powerful commencement speech, You are not born with a fixed amount of resilience. Like a muscle, you can build it up, draw on it when you need it. In that process you will figure out who you really are- and you just might become the very best ve rsion of yourself. Experts suggest that, though everyone is different, you can begin to build your resiliency muscle over time by viewing failures as opportunities to learn, maintaining a positive attitude, and being comfortable with not controlling everything. Andrew Zolli, who wrote a popular article about resilience for The New York Times, says you should build your muscle to the point that you can roll with the waves instead of trying to stop the ocean.If youre in a role that faces direct feedback and rejection, knowing how to roll with it and keep your head up can be extra important. Holly Johnson, an Aflac District Sales Coordinator, says she had to learn to be resilient right from the start in her role, where she spends day in and day out educating potential clients on how Aflac insurance policies can benefit them- and often getting the answer she doesnt want. She notes, Ive learned that no doesnt always mean no. Just because you got five nos doesnt mean the next one cant be a yes. A no might mean I dont know or even not now. Learn More About Sales Opportunities at Aflac3. Find PerspectiveBad days have a way of making it feel like the world is crashing down- in fact, its been proven that troubling experiences affect us much more strongly than positive ones do. An experiment conducted by Harvard Business School professor and co-author of The Progress Principle Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement and Creativity at Work Teresa M. Amabile showcases the power that a setback can have on how you feel about a day of work.In the study, as explained by The New York Times, 238 professionals working on 26 creative projects answered questions over a few months to share how they felt about their day. Turns out, employees who felt like they were prevented from making progress had the worst days at work. On the flip side, participants who felt that they were moving forward (even with just a small step toward their goals) recorded good days at work. The takeaway? Finding a way to remember and work toward your measurable, overall goals (despite upset or interruptions) actually can help prevent you from deeming the day a complete downer.For Julia Burns, a District Coordinator at Aflac, perspective is all about remembering why she took her role and why its important for her. My why and my vision board always help me re-discover my motivation during the most stressful of times, Burns says, Its the core of my geschftsleben and the reason I get up each day. It puts all of those happenings into perspective and reminds me exactly why I do what I do and why I love what I do.For others, remembering the big picture comes back to the idea of not letting little stressors or small mistakes get you down. Richard Carlson, author of Dont Sweat the Small Stuff, wisely wrote, Even though we often mess up, most of us are doing the best that we know how with the circumstances that surround us. In moments when everything seems to be going wrong, try to bring the things that have gone right to the front of your mind.4. Surround Yourself With PositivityAs the Harvard Business Review reports, positive work cultures are more productive. So if youre not getting good vibes from your team on a super challenging day, take a moment to remind yourself that setting the tone is your job too. Challenge yourself to find good things around you- and if they dont exist, create them yourself.To start, do your best to provide support to your teammates and treat them with respect, gratitude, trust, and integrity, no matter the circumstances. Harvard research shows that doing so can immediately affect workplace positivity, which in turn is contagious. If you need another incentive to treat the most miserable partie in the office well, its also been shown that demonstrating care for others can help lift your own spirits. Another option that might work? Burns suggests, Surround yourself with uplifting things. It could be motivational signs or quotes in your offi ce, self-help books, uplifting music, a beautiful picture of your happy place. Anything that motivates you to drive your business and keep the future on your horizon. When you feel frustrated, look at your board and remember what you are working toward.Figure out what works for you and nail down your personal go-to strategy for staying motivated during tough times on the job. It might take a little bit of practice, but once you know how to lift your spirits back up and keep your momentum going, youll be golden. Not to mention, an inspiration to everyone around you.Photo of woman working courtesy of Oscar Wong/Getty Images.

How to Recognize Youre in a Work Rut

How to Recognize Youre in a Work RutHow to Recognize Youre in a Work RutSometimes, it can be difficult to know if youre settled or if youve settled. While some workers may feel ready for a promotion every year or two, there are plenty of others who find themselves in a role they wouldnt mind doing for a long time. Whichever of these best describes you, weve found three ways to recognize whether youre in a work rut- and several ideas for how to get out of it1.Youre Not LearningIts common to hear that being bored means youre in a work rut. While this may be true, doing certain time-consuming tasks can also indicate youre in a work rut- and you might not realize it. If you come into work and find yourself doing a majority of mindless tasks, this can be an indicator that you arent being challenged enough and that your skills arent evolving at work- or even being used. And while some roles include more mundane work than others, if your skill set isnt growing, then its time to look for a c hange.A simple way to fix this problem is to determine which skills would make your job easier and then narrow them down to three or less. By identifying your areas for improvement, you can set yourself up to take initiative in your current role. Acquiring new skills will make you happier in your current role and help you build a stronger rsum that will aid in any future job searches.2.Theres a Lack of OpportunitiesConsider the type of projects you were assigned in the first couple of months in your role, and then compare them with the ones you are engaged in now. Are they the same or just slightly different? If the answer is yes, then its time to seek out new opportunities. Being assigned advanced projects is a sure sign that your supervisor trusts you and wants you to grow at the company. If this is lacking, then growth at the company might not be in your future.While it may be difficult to take on new opportunities- especially if you feel swamped with your current responsibilitie s- its important to look at ways in which the opportunities can engage you in new, more difficult work. If your manager presents opportunities in meetings or through emails, chime in and volunteer for ones that will help you grow in your job. However, if no volunteer opportunities crop up, then it could be time to sit down with your manager and express interest in being involved in more complex projects. Make sure to explain why you would do a great job and why you are interested in a given project.3. You Arent Applying to Open RolesStaying motivated to constantly grow at work can be exhausting- and its easy to see why we become unmotivated sometimes. Getting stuck in a comfort zone happens to many, especially if the pay, hours, amount of work, or lifestyle of the company suit your own. And while these are perfectly fair reasons to stay at a company, you should not stay in your current role if youre bored or unhappy. If the company suits you, then consider other roles there that you could apply for that will expand your career.If you dont wish to remain at your current company, then look at what you do in your current role and think about which direction might be next for you. Scan job titles that seem to be a level above yours and read job descriptions at companies of interest to you. Knowing which direction you wish to grow in will make your job application process easier and more straight-forward.

How to Choose the Best References for Your Job Search

How to Choose the Best References for Your Job SearchHow to Choose the Best References for Your Job SearchHow to Choose the Best References for Your Job SearchIts important to have an arsenal of references at the ready during your job search. Heres how to select the right ones.Who will give me a good recommendation? Will they mention those mistakes I made in the first week? Choosing the best references to place on your list is one of the most important decisions you will make during the job search.Most employers want a list of references to attest to your abilities, skills,and integrity. They also wish to speak to people who witness your work and can report on day-to-day career activities. Most importantly, they want to verify the information you provided is accurate. Some applicants, however, do notlagelage know who to put on their list or how many, as well as hot not to incorporate them into their resume writing.No in-laws, outlaws, or kin,pleaseThe first rule of thumb is to never, ever, place family members on your reference list. But rules are meant to be broken. If you worked as a carpenter for Uncle Bobs Table Repair Shop, of course, you list him. But this is the exception to the rule. Only list family who have directly supervised you and only for a job directly applicable to the one youre applying for.Toss the letters of recommendationAdmit it those generic letters are boring and annoying. After ten years with a company, wouldnt they write a better letter? Employers want to read specifics about your work, not some form letter prepopulated with fluff. When asking your former employer to write a recommendation, mention some of your attributes and contributions. Ask them to include those in the letter. Should they send a generic letter, toss it, and say thanks.There is a time and a place for everythingAnd resumes are not the place for references. A resume is used to show your best attributes, key skills, training and education, experience and summary of you r career. Do not list references at the bottom. Not only does this throw off the formatting, but references are used after the interview. Instead of including a list of references in your resume writing, type References available upon request at the end of the resume. This appears professional and doesnt assume anything.Be strategic, and dont overuse your sourcesChoosing references should be a careful process. Dont just list a group of people you think will speak positively on your behalf. Talk to those references. Ask them what they will say if contacted. Go over some of the information you think they will need to verify. Follow up with an email so you have a written confirmation. Select references who are legitimate. For example, dont ask the company secretary to attest to your computer proficiencies, unless you worked on a specific project.ConclusionOnce youve selected the references for your list, use a format similar to the resume. Select stationary and a header that not only i s professional but pleasant as well. Keep the list fresh, and check in with your references to refresh their memories and ensure they still want to be a reference. Some people decide later on not to recommend anyone for personal reasons. Most importantly, return the favor. Offer to recommend your references in the future. Take them out to lunch, and send thank you cards when they give you a positive recommendation. Remember, what goes around comes around.Let TopResume help you write your resume. Get started with a free resume review.Related Articles