Why Independent Workers Don't Want W-2s
How amazing is the world that we live in today? Anyone with a smart phone can download one of hundreds of apps and begin working almost immediately. Thanks to technology and some savvy entrepreneurs, you can turn your own car into a taxi, use the tools in your shed to help landscape someone's property, put those television-mounting skills to use in other peoples' homes, walk a few dogs, or...
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The Importance of Showing Appreciation During the Dark Days of Winter
Now that 2016 has begun and we are facing those dark winter days – now that the weather is cold and there are no holidays in sight – it is time for leaders to take a hard look at how they can support and encourage their team members. This time of year is often difficult for workers – especially those who like the sunlight. These short, freezing days leave employees feeling "down" in...
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6 Skills You Need to Know For Professional Growth in 2016
Don't let a lack of time stop you from learning both the technical and the soft skills you need to boost your career. Check out these six tech skills that will help you boost your career and succeed in 2016. Each one is fairly easy to learn and will do wonders for your resume. 1. Project Management The meat of project management is ensuring that collaborative efforts are productive,...
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Supercharge Your Career in 2016 With These 3 Resolutions
Before we left the office in 2015, we gathered around our big oak table, drank some bubbly, ate something round (it's a thing!) and scribbled down our New Year's resolutions for 2016. We then passed around a pink and gold plastic cup, smashed our resolutions inside, and spent the last hour of the 2015 work week sharing our resolutions. Maren Hogan asked us to go around the table and share our...
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Actually, Your Email Signature Is a Big Deal – So Do It Right [Infographic]
Be honest: How much thought went into your email signature? Probably not much, right? Add your name, your job, your company, maybe a telephone number or two, and voila: a signature. Except there's more to it. As CloudM points out in its new infographic, "Conveying the right corporate image requires thought." If you haven't thought much about your email signature, then you may be...
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Why Employee Wellness Should Be on Your Mind Right Now [Infographic]
According to a new infographic from wellness-focused tech company Limeade, the cold weather of January and February often leads to more employees taking sick days (for obvious reasons). Of course, one or two sick employees isn't such a big deal, but when the flu knocks half your office on its collective butt, that's when the bottom line starts hurting. So, what's an employer to do? A...
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5 Tips to Help You Love Your Job Again
With 51 percent of employees disengaged and 17.5 percent actively disengaged, it is now quite normal for people to hate their jobs. You have to go back to the year 2000 – when Gallup first started measuring disengagement levels – to find a point at which employees were unhappier than they are now. So, what are the options for this disaffected generation of workers? Some of you...
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Being Liked Vs. Being Respected – You Don't Have to Pick Just One
This or that, black or white, yes or no, one or the other – not everything can be define in such simple terms. "Being liked" and "being respected" in the workplace are neither polar opposites nor absolutes. Unfortunately, we often guided to believe that you can only pick one. This is not entirely true. You can have both – perhaps not at the same level, but the fact remains that...
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Stop Sabotaging Your Career by Using This 5-Step Business Plan
Do you want to change careers, advance in your field, or find a better work environment? Is this a dream, wish, or goal? Planning is the critical element that differentiates between wishing, dreaming, and doing. "A dream without a goal is a wish; a goal without a plan is just a dream." - Larry Elder Managing your career is a job in itself. In fact, your career is basically a business,...
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Why Telecommuting Is No Day at the Beach
There was a time when I used to dream about being a remote worker. The thought usually arose while I was stuck in rush-hour traffic on the 405 (Note: Rush hour is approximately 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. in Southern California). I pictured myself on an outdoor chaise lounge, tropical drink in hand, as client after client called to tell me they were ready to sign on the dotted line. Pineapple slice? Don't...
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How to Quit Your Job – The Right Way
If you are reading this, you probably need to find a new job opportunity. Or perhaps you've already scored a great new gig and are now plotting your grand exit. But no matter how long you've dreamed of storming into your boss's office and quitting in a blaze of anger, it's important to leave your position gracefully. That's why we're here to offer five ways to quit your job with no...
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Careers Vs. Jobs: The Path to Personal Fulfillment
Are you a college graduate, a millennial, a military veteran looking to transition back to civilian life, or a seasoned professional unsatisfied with your current employment situation? If so, then the "job" versus "career" question is one you should consider, because the differences between the two can be crucial to your overall satisfaction. During your life, you'll spend a lot of time at...
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Why You Should Consider Taking a Sabbatical – and How to Get Your Boss to Agree
According to a white paper from SHRM, professionals who return from career sabbaticals are frequently reenergized, more focused, and more productive as a result of their time spent away from work. Even the most tired, jaded, and burnt-out employees were reinvigorated by sabbaticals, according to the paper. So, if you feel that you yourself are on the edge of sanity, why not take a...
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Practicing Gratitude at Work: Bring Something to the Table Every Day!
Thanksgiving is upon us – but perhaps you're having trouble being thankful year-round? Here are some great things to focus on to help you maintain a mindset of gratitude no matter what time of year it is: You Have Job Skills Everyone brings something to the table. Know your value, and see the value in those around you. For example, sales, marketing, and finance departments don't always...
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5 Questions You Shouldn't Be Afraid to Ask Your Boss
There is a fine line between being too permissive and being too demanding – and this is especially true in the workplace. On the one hand, if you simply accept the status quo without questioning anything, you might skate past everyone's notice. Your contributions, concerns, desires, and ambitions could go unrecognized, especially in the corporate environments that often reward demanding,...
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Why Is It So Hard to Ask for Help at Work?
The question invites a lot of semi-baseless pop-psychology theorizing, but it's one worth asking nonetheless: Why is it so hard to ask for help -- especially in the office? My hunch is that, in part, asking for help feels so difficult because of our American bootstraps culture, which perpetuates the nasty myth that the best way to get anything done is to do it by yourself, with as little...
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3 Tips for Bouncing Back After Failure
The ability to bounce back from failure is in the DNA of successful professionals and entrepreneurs, many of whose careers have been littered with setbacks at every stage. Failure is cyclical. It will happen again and again in your career -- even in the midst of successful projects -- and your ability to quickly accept and push on from failure will define your career. If you want to be...
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Is It a Good Idea to Be Friends With Your Boss?
Do we like our bosses? According to a recent survey from Spherion Staffing Services, the vast majority of us do: 74 percent of surveyed employees said their relationship with their boss was "excellent or good." But that doesn't mean our bosses are our friends. Spherion found that a slight majority (51 percent) of employees say that their bosses are not their friends, and that only 46...
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10 Productivity Tips to Improve Your Work Life
There's something really disheartening about reaching the end of a workday and feeling as if you didn't accomplish much. What many people fail to realize is that it is the little things you do -- or don't do -- each day that impact productivity more than any major crisis situation. If you would like to get more done on any given day, take a look out these ten productivity tips. 1. Be a...
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Can College Prepare Students for the Uncertainties of the 21st Century Economy?
In some circles -- populated by the kind of people who make totally-off-the-mark lists like "10 Worst College Degrees to Earn in 2015" -- the results of educational software company Instructure's latest study may be seen as a sort of vindication. These people have been saying for years now that colleges -- especially certain (usually liberal arts) degree programs -- don't adequately prepare...
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How Your Coworkers' Perceptions Affect Your Career
I often talk about the fact that other people's perceptions of us are, unfortunately, more important than our intentions. Today, I want to discuss the impact of those perceptions on your career. The truth of the matter is that your inner intentions are not known to the outside world -- unless you make an outward gesture. Even then, however, people can't see into your mind. How they perceive...
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Have You Just Been Laid Off? The Sky Is Now the Limit
A recent report from CNBC reveals that there has been a surge in layoffs in the U.S. This employment report showed a 43 percent increase in job cuts in September (58,877) from August (41,000). Thankfully, there don't seem to be any signs of an impending economic downturn. Even so, a significant number of Americans -- perhaps more than half a million every year -- will at some point find...
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Why Higher Education Still Matters
Education is powerful: the more knowledge a person has, the more they can earn, in terms of both money and social standing. However, in recent times, many have questioned the importance of higher education. The reasons for this doubt are varied: some are skeptical that higher education will do them much good in their careers, some are afraid of the costs involved, and some are not sure...
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The Law of Comparative Advantage and How It Can Benefit Your Life
At some point or another, you probably took a class in economics -- and there's a good chance that class left a bad taste in your mouth. Unfortunately, economics seems, to many of us, to be one of those subjects you either understand or you don't. But the fact of the matter is that, when economics is really broken down, everything is very logical and super applicable to everyday life. One...
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10 Steps to Getting a Raise
If you are afraid to ask for a raise, you are not alone. Most people, no matter how self-confident they are, feel quite anxious about this issue. But good work should be rewarded, and most companies know that great talent is hard to come by and that the cost of turnover is quite high. If you're doing an outstanding job, your bosses will do what it takes to keep you. All that you need is a...
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Do You Need a Coach, or Do You Need a Mentor? (Yes, There's a Difference)
1. "I am looking for new professional opportunities. I need a new job within the same company, more responsibilities, international mobility, or perhaps even a change of function. To meet these goals, I need the help of someone more experienced, someone who can listen to me, guide me, and advise me." 2. "I am feeling stuck and a bit lost. My competencies are not being fully used in my current...
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How to Get a Raise in 9 Days
You're a great worker. You contribute fresh ideas and utilize your skills to make a positive impact on your employer's bottom line. You've always met -- and often exceeded -- the goals that have been set for you. You work hard, stay late, and pick up slack whenever you need to. In short: You deserve a pay raise. To get one, you just need to ask, right? After all: You deserve it. Maybe...
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From the Mailroom to the Boardroom: Can It Still Be Done?
With university costs soaring, many people are looking at alternative routes into the corporate world. Of course, getting a job in the mailroom or as a temp has the potential to be a good start, but it's also possible to end up entombed there, constantly overtaken by high-fliers with flashy college degrees. Will you -- could you -- be able to start from the very bottom and make it to the...
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Get the Most Out of Your Time in School: 8 Tips for College Students
Welcome to Recruiter Q&A, where we pose employment-related questions to the experts and share their answers! Have a question you'd like to ask? Leave it in the comments, and you might just see it in the next installment of Recruiter Q&A! This Week's Question: There has been a lot of controversy in recent times regarding whether or not college is truly preparing students for the...
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How a Change in Lighting Can Make You More Productive at Work
You may not realize it, but color temperature plays a huge role in how we work. It's in our DNA to perform better in certain types of lighting, which is why the light in our office environments can have a huge impact on our productivity in the workplace. Color temperature, to put it simply, is a way of describing the characteristics of light. When we talk about "warm" or "cool" lighting,...
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4 Tips for Becoming a Better Team Player
Do you work well with others? Do you prioritize team success over your own? There is a reason these are common interview questions: all employers want employees who are team players. No one can achieve greatness completely on their own, and most companies are looking for employees who know this to be true. The best candidates are those who can highlight their own successes as well as...
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5 Easy Tips for Finding Your Perfect Mentor
While many people decide to wing it and learn the hard way when building their businesses, you should trust me when I say having a mentor in the form of somebody much more experienced and knowledgeable than you can drastically increase your likelihood of success. Having a mentor is good -- but having the right mentor is incredible. When you're putting together a list of successful people...
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4 Ways to Combat Negative Office Gossip
Research tells us that 9 out of 10 workplace conversations are gossip-related -- and, astoundingly, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Evidence suggests that gossip can play a positive role in the workplace. For example, Crelos found that show that office gossip is the fourth most common way that organizations gather feedback from workers. That being said, not all gossip is good. A...
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Professional Development Anywhere, Anytime: 5 Sales Podcasts for Your Morning Commute
Chances are you currently spend your morning commute listening to music on the train or staring off into the distance while trying to avoid uncomfortable eye contact with your fellow commuters. Or maybe you drive to work, in which case you probably spend a lot of time angrily honking at that car in front of you who just merged across two lanes without a blinker. Whatever the case, it's...
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8 Ways to Overcome Friction Between You and Your Boss
Welcome to Recruiter QA, where we pose employment-related questions to the experts and share their answers! Have a question you'd like to ask? Leave it in the comments, and you might just see it in the next installment of Recruiter QA! Today's Question: They say people don't quit their jobs -- they quit their bosses. But is that the only solution when there's friction...
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How to Take Calculated Business Risks to Advance Your Career
Some people find it energizing to take risks, but for others, the very thought of uncertainty can provoke serious panic. Our relationships with risk can play important roles in our careers. If, for example, a risk-averse executive ends up working in an industry that requires risk, that can be a recipe for career and personal disaster. That's why it makes sense for us to understand our own...
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9 Critical Pieces of Advice for People Who Find Themselves Managing Their Former Peers
Generally, getting a promotion is great. You'll face new challenges, gain a better status and, of course, make more money. But it's no all sunshine -- especially when you end up in charge of your teammates who were, up until yesterday, on equal footing with you. This situation can create feelings of jealousy, awkwardness, and even resentment among some team members. When you're promoted...
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Productivity Is Personal: How to Create a 'Productivity Manifesto'
What comes to mind when you hear the word "productive"? Do your thoughts jump immediately to those "always-on" types, the people who seem to be working from sunup to sundown? Those coworkers who start the day at the gym, jam in a 10-hour day, and spend their evenings answering client emails? According to Erin Wortham, people engagement manager at Insights Learning Development, that's...
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How to Survive Working for a Toxic Boss
Many employees (including supervisors, mid-level managers, and even executives) report they work for toxic leaders -- that is, someone who is mean, demanding, and unpredictable; someone who will use unscrupulous tactics to get what they want. A toxic leader is damaging to the health of those around them, both emotionally and physically. Here are some of the foundational traits of toxic bosses...
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Is Procrastination Holding You Back From Success?
If you've been dragging your feet on the job search or putting off taking the first step on a new career path, you might be surprised to discover the underlying reason for your procrastination. Procrastinators come from all walks of life and invent all kinds of excuses for their behavior. Some of us say we enjoy the thrill of beating a deadline, while others claim to work better under...
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5 Productivity Tips for Those Who Work From Home
The world took note a couple of years back when Marissa Mayer banned telecommuting at Yahoo. Until that point, we had all been watching what seemed to be the irresistible rise of working from home. Yahoo's ban may have signaled the end of the honeymoon. From then on, many employers adopted more critical views of telecommuting. We saw studies such as this one from Citrix, which found that...
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How to Make the Most of Your Internship
Internships are important stepping stones in your career path. In this day and age, internships are essential to securing full-time positions. Not only does your time spent interning enable you to personally determine what field you want to pursue a career in, but it also gives you an advantage when you're going through future recruitment processes. What you take away from an internship is...
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Why You Need to Get More Sleep [Infographic]
"You wouldn't go to work drunk, so why go to work tired?" asks a new infographic from U.K.-based bedding retailer SleepyPeople. According to SleepyPeople, sleeping less than five hours a night over the course of a few nights can leave a person just as cognitively impaired as a round of heavy drinking can. Funny thing is, our hyper-connected, always-on culture doesn't exactly encourage rest....
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How to Warm Up Cold Networking Contacts
Today's question comes from a busy professional: When you've let your relationships with some of the people in your professional network go cold -- no contact for several months or more -- how do you get back in touch and rebuild those relationships? Whether you are in the corporate environment or own your own business, you know how important business networking is for your advancement and...
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How to Have a High-Flying Career While Only Working Part-Time
Current notions of what it takes to reach the top in the business world are still firmly based in visions of long days full of hard, punishing work. Americans are terrified to take vacation time for fear of falling behind in their careers. One study found that just 25 percent of workers are currently using all of their paid time off days. As if that weren't bad enough, 61 percent of...
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6 Cheats to Help You Rocket Up the Corporate Ladder
Although the goal of being a manager is not as popular as it once was, studies show that 34 percent of workers still aspiring to leadership positions. Even though the not-so-ambitious are bailing out of the corporate rat race in swarms, it hasn't exactly become much easier for the remaining workers to climb the organizational ladder. There still remain millions of workers all over the world...
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Who Should You Work With? A Guide for Independent Contractors
Yesterday, in an article about the benefits of hiring independent contractors, I copped to my particular bugbear regarding independent contractor situations: I believe they can easily lead to employee exploitation. Lisa Zeeveld, CFO of eaHELP, knows this sort of thing can happen -- which is why she and eaHELP make it their business to help their virtual assistants and other independent...
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The 4 Least Productive Responses You Can Have When There's a Lot on Your Plate
The manager's dilemma is a phenomenon that affects roughly 80 percent of all managers. It is triggered when you fall into that precarious place where your demands and responsibilities increase, yet the resources you have available to meet them do not. The problem with this inverse equation is that, when the demands you face outpace the resources you have available to address them, you end up...
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