News for today's 2018: 09/03/09

Day 6: Still here

9:07 PM Tukiyooo 0

I'm taking the day off from posting. I realized today I've been a little too much into myself lately and I've fallen behind on reading all my favorite blogs. My goal tonight is to catch up on everyone else. I'll be back soon. A few pictures from my walk today: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6R_hL4uxWqWpAVitJaIQGt5E4N-TSCnATdILMc4qL51sfeDscd1J7mttLwt38kw-ty7CJIyN1KKMKxvfr6nz0EMvskxeYAZGiexCKEA0IxfrEO1DerTCOBWHaURpamajPcC6xPT-SfCx/s1600-h/Sept+2009+021.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377467713593746082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6R_hL4uxWqWpAVitJaIQGt5E4N-TSCnATdILMc4qL51sfeDscd1J7mttLwt38kw-ty7CJIyN1KKMKxvfr6nz0EMvskxeYAZGiexCKEA0IxfrEO1DerTCOBWHaURpamajPcC6xPT-SfCx/s400/Sept+2009+021.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgq7JvSMKJU8zV-v2w1v4rO5nJPr2qms-rtHNcCiv_yDhhkqCaIL5nxzswBI5u6-_rzEgr0NU-8lq5WKmXbBM8TDMXRVbi-Kxl-qfcZM5csbeFCXC0anFrOGtc22GYpmLzGvMsFe4l9uk/s1600-h/Sept+2009+002.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377466113120872114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgq7JvSMKJU8zV-v2w1v4rO5nJPr2qms-rtHNcCiv_yDhhkqCaIL5nxzswBI5u6-_rzEgr0NU-8lq5WKmXbBM8TDMXRVbi-Kxl-qfcZM5csbeFCXC0anFrOGtc22GYpmLzGvMsFe4l9uk/s400/Sept+2009+002.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2GkQ0YAhvmwfeFhay807ZycnLrsKbTLcQ08eAoOLzZxej6_CJvvFNPu7_0yVWCr_jg0a9il6xpNvWMtk1c1KKGIDbeM7prQiO9hNxniSJibi62qrh1eiOV-rS92uzhLrcGZDDftPnDFu/s1600-h/Sept+2009+014.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377463472172986530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2GkQ0YAhvmwfeFhay807ZycnLrsKbTLcQ08eAoOLzZxej6_CJvvFNPu7_0yVWCr_jg0a9il6xpNvWMtk1c1KKGIDbeM7prQiO9hNxniSJibi62qrh1eiOV-rS92uzhLrcGZDDftPnDFu/s400/Sept+2009+014.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> This one made me turn around and go back to my car. I was starting to feel lost when I saw this, and I was by myself. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV9wppjTsZMJughIDtCqCDKueKidXGXfjkQS-ITYcKvlsB_sUInfMtOfNv_PoFssYu9RNZ15I9iKw0EURjYXIbOeQMnodTRdz_FhE4mhe7mlqzN0U8tvgLXqd3AaT6AlRFEx4ya7HA9ag/s1600-h/Sept+2009+008.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377464863525304082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFV9wppjTsZMJughIDtCqCDKueKidXGXfjkQS-ITYcKvlsB_sUInfMtOfNv_PoFssYu9RNZ15I9iKw0EURjYXIbOeQMnodTRdz_FhE4mhe7mlqzN0U8tvgLXqd3AaT6AlRFEx4ya7HA9ag/s400/Sept+2009+008.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>

Day 6: Still here

I'm taking the day off from posting. I realized today I've been a little too much into myself lately and I've fallen behind on r...

10 Signs Your Interview Went Well

4:00 PM Anonymous 0

You did it. You landed an interview, dressed to impress, had great conversation and you think you might actually have a shot at getting a job offer. But is there any way to actually know if the interview was in your favor? Many times, job seekers are so focused on what they did wrong in an interview that they don't think about the many things they did right. While no signs are 100 percent foolproof, there are definitely some indicators that you have won over your interviewer. Justin Honaman, director of customer intelligence at Coca-Cola Customer Business Solutions, says that although you may think you've executed well in the interview don't stop the process there. Even if all signs point to a job offer, you should follow-up effectively to complete your career transition. Here are 10 signs that indicate you rocked your interview: 1. Round two The easiest way to gauge short-term success is if the interviewer asks you to return for another round of interviews. If he wasn't interested, he would be evasive as whether or not you could expect to hear back from someone. "The hiring manager does not want to waste any more time interviewing you if you are not a fit," Honaman assures. "Invitation to the next round is a win!" 2. References please Why would you be asked for references unless someone cared to learn more about you? "A firm will not spend the time to do background checks and talk with references if you are out of the candidate pool," Honaman says. "Provide specific, knowledgeable references and bring those to the interview." 3. Meet the team It's a good sign when the hiring manager chooses to introduce you to the team on the spot, or mentions that there are some people she would like you to meet. If she wasn't interested, again, she wouldn't take the time in making acquaintances. "Leaders are protective of their team and will not risk introducing a candidate if they are not a potential fit to join the organization," Honaman says. Remember that the hiring manager may request feedback from the team on their first impressions of you, so be nice to anyone you meet. 4. What are the transition steps? When a company is interested in you, you'll be asked things like the amount of time needed for a transition or what non-competes might be in place, Honaman says. "If the hiring manager is interested in moving forward with an offer, they will typically ask what steps need to be taken for your departure from your current organization so that you can assume the new role," he says. 5. Dollars and sense Depending on what stage of the interview process you're in, it could be a good thing if you're asked about salary expectations. It demonstrates that the company might be willing to invest in you. Honaman suggests answering this question with caution: "You can have the absolute best interview ever and be dead in the water if you answer this question incorrectly," he says. "The question comes in two forms: 'What are your salary expectations?' or 'What is your current compensation?' Arrive at any interview with current compensation details written down for your own reference -- if asked -- and have an idea of how you will answer this question." 6. HR smiles The human resources representative or recruiter is generally a good indication of how things went in the interview process. Take note of his or comments after the interview; they are your No.1 contact during the process and are often a guide to the projected outcome, Honaman says. 7. Your turn When the interviewer spends a lot of time answering your questions, it's a signal that the he wants to sell you on the business, the team and position rather than you continuing to pursue the role, Honaman says. "In most interviews, the hiring manager will ask if you have any questions as standard procedure, but spend less time with questions and answers if the interview has not gone well in their mind." 8. Let's keep rolling If hiring managers are uninterested, they typically look for ways to wrap up the interview. "At times, interviews will go well beyond the allotted time as the hiring manager or interview team wants to know more about you, or share with you more about the organization and role," Honaman says. If they are not interested in your candidacy, they won't drag out the interview. 9. Non-verbals speak Non-verbal signals are often a good predictor of interview performance. Pay close attention to the interviewer(s) and observe such non-verbal cues as taking notes, smiles, head-nods or asking probing questions, Honaman says. "At the same time, if an interviewer is taking few notes, looking at their watch repeatedly [or] not asking detailed questions, the interview may not be going well." 10. Cultural fit The more a hiring manager talks about how you'll fit into the mold at a company, the better. "Most leaders are looking for candidates that can easily fit into a team environment or operate well as an individual contributor," Honaman says. "If the hiring manager is interested in your taking the position, they will share additional details about the culture and shift into 'sales' mode on the organization." Again, none of these are surefire signals that you've gotten the job. Plus, even though you did everything right, there is always the chance that someone else did, too. But if you continually see a couple of the above signals you'll know you've at least got a shot. By Rachel Zupek writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBwriterRZ. Search more than 100,000 Jobs by <a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM">CLICKING HERE!</a>

10 Signs Your Interview Went Well

You did it. You landed an interview, dressed to impress, had great conversation and you think you might actually have a shot at getting a jo...

More Employers Screening Candidates via Social Networking Sites

2:00 PM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/wh/ar5c22872sj123pd9dwh.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/wh/ar5c22872sj123pd9dwh.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>Five tips for creating a positive online image Gone are the days when all job seekers had to worry about was their résumés and cover letters. Today, those documents remain a staple of the job-search process, but they are joined by a growing phenomenon: social networking. Forty-five percent of employers reported in a June 2009 CareerBuilder survey that they use social networking sites to screen potential employees, compared to only 22 percent of employers last year. Eleven percent of employers plan to start using social networking sites for the screening process. More than 2,600 hiring managers participated in the survey. Of those who conduct online searches/background checks of job candidates, 29 percent use Facebook, 26 percent use LinkedIn and 21 percent use MySpace. One-in-ten (11 percent) search blogs while 7 percent follow candidates on Twitter. Additionally, 16 percent of workers have used similar social networking sites as part of their job search. "In this difficult job market, online networking is an important piece of the puzzle for workers wishing to build professional relationships, and ultimately, connect with their next great job," said Liz Harvey, senior director of online products for CareerBuilder, which just launched its own online community BrightFuse. "With more than 1.6 million users, BrightFuse.com has become a thriving professional community. Workers of all levels can use BrightFuse.com to have that important open dialogue -- while promoting themselves and recommending others." While social networking is a great way to make connections with potential job opportunities and promote one's personal brand, job seekers must ensure they are using these sites to their advantage by conveying a professional image and underscoring their qualifications. Many job seekers seem to be doing this, as 18 percent of employers said they found content on social networking sites that encouraged them to hire the candidate. Some examples include: · Profile provided a good feel for the candidate's personality and fit within the organization -- 50 percent · Profile supported candidate's professional qualifications -- 39 percent · Candidate was creative -- 38 percent · Candidate showed solid communication skills -- 35 percent · Candidate was well-rounded -- 33 percent · Other people posted good references about the candidate -- 19 percent · Candidate received awards and accolades -- 15 percent Many job seekers, however, are doing the opposite and not being mindful at all of the content they're posting online. Why employers disregard candidates after screening online Thirty-five percent of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate, including: · Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information -- 53 percent · Candidate posted content about them drinking or using drugs -- 44 percent · Candidate bad-mouthed their previous employer, co-workers or clients -- 35 percent · Candidate showed poor communication skills -- 29 percent · Candidate made discriminatory comments -- 26 percent · Candidate lied about qualifications -- 24 percent · Candidate shared confidential information from previous employer -- 20 percent Here are five tips for job seekers to keep a positive image online: 1. Clean up digital dirt before you begin your job search. Remove any photos, content and links that can work against you in an employer's eyes. 2. Consider creating your own professional group on sites like Facebook or BrightFuse.com. It's a great way to establish relationships with leaders, recruiters and potential referrals. 3. Keep gripes offline. Keep the content you post focused on positive things, whether it's related to professional or personal information. Make sure to highlight specific accomplishments inside and outside of work. 4. Be selective about whom you accept as friends. Don't forget others can see your friends when they search for you. Monitor comments made by others and consider using the "block comments" feature. Even better, set your profile to "private" so only designated friends can view it. 5. If you're still employed, don't mention your job search in your Tweets or status updates. There are multiple examples of people who have gotten fired as a result of doing this. In addition, a potential employer might assume that if you're willing to search for a new job on your current company's time, why wouldn't you do so on theirs? By Rosemary Haefner Vice President of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com. She is an expert in recruitment trends and tactics, job seeker behavior, workplace issues, employee attitudes and HR initiatives. </div><div> </div><div>Search more than 100,000 Jobs by <a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM">CLICKING HERE!</a> </div>

More Employers Screening Candidates via Social Networking Sites

Five tips for creating a positive online image Gone are the days when all job seekers had to worry about was their résumés and cover letters...

Employers Preparing for Post-Recession Job Market

12:00 PM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/25/ar5b1ll63kqx1bv43z25.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/25/ar5b1ll63kqx1bv43z25.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>The past year has undoubtedly brought many changes and challenges to both employers and employees. Layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs have been widespread, thus contributing to a job market saturated with qualified candidates competing for fewer jobs. Despite this steep competition among candidates, employers struggle to find professionals with in-demand skill sets. Along with these continued battles, employers face a new challenge: ensuring their companies are prepared when the economy does make an inevitable turnaround, which will give them a competitive advantage. A new survey, the 2009 EDGE Report from Robert Half International and CareerBuilder, provides answers to many of the lingering questions surrounding today's economy and job market: Where will jobs be added first in the recovery? What challenges will employers face in recruitment? How will compensation be impacted? And how will employers retain the talent they've preserved during this difficult time? To take advantage of an improving economy, employers that cut staffing levels extensively are taking a close look at the core skills needed in new hires in order to rebuild their rosters once the economic recovery takes hold. Fifty-three percent of employers said they plan to hire full-time employees in the next 12 months, while 39 percent will add part-time employees, according to a new survey. Forty percent will hire contract, temporary or project professionals. Here are several key other findings from the report: Where jobs will be added first Hiring managers currently consider customer service as the most critical to the company's success, followed by sales, marketing/creative and technology. Public relations/communication, business development and accounting/finance round out the list. When the economy does start to rebound, respondents said technology, customer service and sales departments will add positions first, followed by marketing/creative, business development, human resources and accounting/finance. In the meantime, hiring managers continue to appreciate employees who can perform multiple functions. Employers cited multitasking, initiative and creative problem-solving as the most valuable characteristics in ideal new hires. Retaining talent Although many business leaders have plans to add new employees to their organizations in the coming months, they also have to consider how their decisions during the financial crisis have impacted job satisfaction and loyalty of their current staff. Fifty-five percent of workers polled have plans to change careers, find a new employer or go back to school once the economy recovers. Forty-nine percent said that the most effective way to keep them on board will be with pay increases; in fact, 28 percent plan to ask for a raise. Employers are aware that competitive pay and benefits will play a critical role in retaining talent. Forty percent of employers said that they plan to increase pay when the economy improves and 20 percent said they hope for better benefits and perks. Continued challenges in recruitment Although there is a greater pool of available talent among job seekers, employers are still having trouble finding qualified professionals for open positions: 47 percent of employers cited under-qualified applicants as their most common hiring challenge. Employers said that, on average, 44 percent of the résumés they receive are from unqualified candidates. As a result, employers are open to paying for great talent; 61 percent said their companies are willing to negotiate a higher salary for qualified candidates. A common complaint from job seekers is the amount of time the hiring process takes; however, this is one area where employers won't budge. The average time it takes to recruit a new full-time hire is 4.5 to 14.4 weeks. Employers say that in order to avoid costly hiring mistakes, it's necessary to take their time reviewing and screening a high volume of résumés, and also to carefully evaluate those invited for interviews. Matt Ferguson is the CEO of CareerBuilder.com. He is an expert in the state of the job market, employment trends, hiring practices and workplace issues. Search more than 100,000 Jobs by <a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM">CLICKING HERE!</a></div>

Employers Preparing for Post-Recession Job Market

The past year has undoubtedly brought many changes and challenges to both employers and employees. Layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs have been...

10 Signs It's Time to Quit

10:00 AM Anonymous 0

"I like what I do. I just don't like where I work." Sound familiar? From unbearable co-workers to depressing work environments, there things that can make even the best job a living hell. Here are some signs it's time to look for a new job. Sign No. 1: Your co-workers are annoying. Obnoxious people can invade your work life. Let's face it, not everyone gets along perfectly. But you need to have some sort of harmonious relationship with fellow employees to get the job done. How are you supposed to get any work done when these guys keep getting in the way? They are distracting and impede productivity. Most offices have a Gossip, that one person who has the "scoop" all the time and is not afraid to share it. Misery loves company, and finds it often in the Whiner, who isn't afraid to complain and bellyache. And everyone has the Neighbor whose noisy distractions include his cellular ringtone, speakerphone and radio. Sign No. 2: The environment is toxic. Everyone experiences job highs and lows, but discontent could also be a sign of a chronically depressing work environment or even a company in peril. A bad work environment is reflective of the culture of an entire business. Do you work in a less-than-nurturing atmosphere? Is morale constantly low? Have you been complaining for two solid years? It could be an organizational problem that applying feng shui to your cube just won't fix. Sign No. 3: You're mentally exhausted by the end of the day. Stress can cause low morale, decreased productivity and apathy towards work. Plus, it can spill into your personal life and even have a negative effect on your health. Today there are fewer people who are taking on more and more work. American workers experience burnout at an alarming rate. According to CareerBuilder, 68 percent of workers feel burnout at work, and 45 percent said their workloads are too heavy. Yes, we all have to pick up some slack and "take one for the team" from time to time. But if there's no end in sight, do yourself and your health a favor and dust off your résumé. Sign No. 4: Your boss is a nightmare. Even though this person is your boss, it doesn't give him license to do anything he wants. If you have a lousy boss, even the best job in the world can make life a living hell. Your relationship with your supervisor plays a big role in your overall professional happiness and success. Fighting to have your boss removed or waiting for your boss to change or get fired are rarely successful tactics. If you are working for someone who is always absent, unavailable, self-absorbed or untrustworthy, it's time to look for a better supervisor and a better opportunity. Sign No. 5: You're watching the clock... every 10 minutes. Though you might not like to work, it's even worse when you are bored while you're there. One can only watch so many videos on YouTube or bid on unneeded things on eBay. If you aren't feeling challenged, that's a sign that you need additional responsibilities or a change roles. And be warned, if you don't have any responsibility or find yourself with nothing to do, management might be trying to phase you out and you might be in danger of losing your job. Sign No. 6: You get no respect. Does any of this sound familiar? Your ideas aren't taken seriously; there are no opportunities for advancement; the boss ignores you; co-workers alienate you; you're discouraged from improving skills with a course or seminar; you're passed over for a promotion -- again; or you're excluded from key projects and strategizing sessions. So why are you still giving this organization your time, energy and great ideas? Sign No. 7: Your co-workers act like animals. They live for themselves and only themselves. They irritate you. They offend you. They have no manners or ethics. And you work with them all. There's the Office Thief who steals your ideas. The Shirker arrives late, leaves early and disappears whenever work is near. The Buck-passer unloads her work onto everyone else and blames others for her mistakes. The Procrastinator delays things until the last possible minute, slowing you down by not having the information you need to meet your deadlines. The Interrupter stops by your cubicle 10 times a day to chat about her latest boyfriend despite your ringing telephone and pressing deadlines. And don't forget the infamous Elevator Person who rides up only one floor instead of taking the stairs. Sign No. 8: Nobody communicates. Although we live in a world of e-mail, cell phones, instant messages, Blackberries, WiFi and, yes, even face-to-face conversation, there can still be a complete lack of communication. Whether it's a co-worker who's not returning your voice mail or the CEO not conveying a company's goals and accomplishments, the breakdown of communication can be frustrating and detrimental to your job. It can cost you an account, make you to miss a deadline, cause you to lose a client, and even get you fired. Sign No. 9: You're not valued. Forty-three percent of workers do not feel appreciated, and one-fourth of workers feel that they are just a "number" within their organization. You need to realize that you deserve credit for your successes. Recognition is important, and good companies implement programs to let employees know they are valued. Is your company doing anything to reward your efforts? Do you ever receive bonuses, perks or positive feedback? If your boss has never heard of positive reinforcement verbal or otherwise, find a company that will value your talents. Sign No. 10: You feel stifled. What kind of quality of life do you have? Is your 40-hour week turning into a 24/7 grind? While salary may seem like the end all and be all, your quality of life determines your overall happiness. How much time you spend on the job, working conditions, supervisors and subordinates can positively and negatively impact your job outlook. If you dread the time you spent at work, it should be a clear indicator that it's time to break free. A job shouldn't stifle you creatively, mentally or physically. Bottom line: Considering what you don't like about your current situation should give you insight into what you are seeking in future endeavors. If you know what your priorities and preferences are and actively seek them, work can be an enjoyable experience. By Kate Lorenz article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Search more than 100,000 Jobs by <a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM">CLICKING HERE!</a>

10 Signs It's Time to Quit

"I like what I do. I just don't like where I work." Sound familiar? From unbearable co-workers to depressing work environments...

Playing Games at Work - How office politics sabotage the workplace

8:00 AM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gc/ar5b6dk72b7k38bnc0gc.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/gc/ar5b6dk72b7k38bnc0gc.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>Have you ever found yourself wondering why there is so much politics in the office? And how this wrecks both value-creation and many a career? For example: Brendan, a smart new hire with an MBA, was the most junior member of a team that was put together to analyze growth possibilities for the company. Sensing a threat, others on the team "forgot" to brief Brendan before a key meeting, delegated to him time-consuming and low-level tasks, or picked his ideas to death. Eventually he threw in the towel -- and took his good ideas to a competitor. When we lift the lid on office politics, what we find are "games." The game that was played with Brendan we call the "Marginalize" game: subtle exclusion, cutting people out of decision-making loops, for personal or political reasons. But there are many more games that are played at work and over time they sabotage the workplace by destroying trust, stifling innovation, preventing learning and diverting time from customers to internal bickering. Examples of games: Gotcha: identifying and communicating others' mistakes to the boss. The Boss Said: invoking the name of a senior executive to imply that what they are saying is gospel. Big Splash Career Hopper: starting a new job with a great "big idea" that seems bold and requires massive change, marketing the heck out of it to senior managers, and then getting promoted quickly enough that you don't have to live with the consequences of the mess you have caused. Kill the Messenger: destroying the people bringing you bad news, so that soon you are isolated from the truth and surrounded by "yes men." Sandbagging: deliberately low-balling your sales estimates to impact your bonus. Games flourish in certain environments, and you need to factor this into your choice of employer and workplace. Telltale signs of game-playing at work: · Large egos that are unmanaged · High levels of paranoia about others · Intense pressure for short-term results or else · High level of virtual environment combined with e-mail communication · Low levels of trust, high levels of finger pointing · People bad-mouthing their bosses or peers in front of their teams · Extreme hierarchy What really sucks about game playing is that in addition to creating a workplace that is toxic, it is also bad for business. And if it is bad for business, it is bad for longer-term employment also. It is bad for business because it distorts and sabotages some of these major functions that need to be carried out in a business: Decision making How can you make good decisions when people are playing "Old War Hero," a game where someone who has "seen it all" downplays all new ideas? Or when bosses play "Token Involvement," a game in which they pretend they want input but have already made up their mind? Budgeting How can you plan for the company's financial future when people are playing "Slush Fund," a game where a manager squirrels away and mislabels a special part of the budget for a rainy day? Or someone is playing "Channel Stuffing," a game where sales are "created" by feeding the distribution channels to meet a year-end goal, while distorting the real sales picture in the process? Objective setting and performance management How can you set goals and measure performance when people are playing "Marginalize" or "No Bad Feedback," a game where the boss suppresses negative feedback to the employee to avoid uncomfortable discussions, thus preventing the employee from having a chance to improve? Or when "Entitlement" is played (where a long-standing relationship causes soft goal-setting and subjective evaluations)? Driving change How can you drive change when people are playing "Let's Not Rock the Boat" or "Gray Zone" (a game where the boss creates deliberate ambiguity to avoid direct confrontations)? Games seem to fulfill basic human needs for control, for security, for attention. But ultimately, playing games is playing to lose. Companies where games are played a lot collapse in on themselves eventually. If you want to have a long and successful career, start by picking a company where it´s not so much about players, but really about colleagues. By Philip Read and Mauricio Goldstein authors of "Games at Work: How to Recognize and Reduce Office Politics" published by Jossey-Bass. For more information visit: www.games-at-work.com. </div> <div></div> <div>Search more than 100,000 Jobs by <a href="http://jobs.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobResults.aspx?SB%3Asbkw=&SB%3As_freeloc=&SB%3Asbfr=30&sbsbmt=Find+Jobs+%C2%BB&lr=cbrockl&cid=US&excrit=QID%3DA3852768340946%3Bst%3DA%3Buse%3DALL%3BCID%3DUS%3BSID%3D%3F%3BTID%3D0%3BENR%3DNO%3BDTP%3DDRNS%3BYDI%3DYES%3BIND%3DALL%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPDQ%3DAll%3BPAYL%3D0%3BPAYH%3DGT120%3BPOY%3DNO%3BETD%3DALL%3BRE%3DALL%3BMGT%3DDC%3BSUP%3DDC%3BFRE%3D1%3BCHL%3DAL%3BQS%3DSID_UNKNOWN%3BSS%3DNO%3BTITL%3D0%3BOB%3D-modifiedint%3BJQT%3DRAD%3BJDV%3DFalse&IPath=ILM">CLICKING HERE!</a> </div>

Playing Games at Work - How office politics sabotage the workplace

Have you ever found yourself wondering why there is so much politics in the office? And how this wrecks both value-creation and many a caree...

Professional Etiquette You Don't Think About

6:00 AM Anonymous 0

<a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/cs/ar5c15f5wpfn5d13xtcs.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/cs/ar5c15f5wpfn5d13xtcs.gif" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <div>In theory, etiquette is a way for everyone to express mutual respect for one another. In practice, it's a confusing set of arbitrary guidelines not everyone follows. For instance, the next time you're eating at a restaurant or even at home, notice how many people put their elbows on the table. For some diners, an all-arms-on-deck approach to eating is an unforgivable transgression. To others, you'd look stuffy if you didn't lean in to engage in conversation because you were more concerned with your posture. Once you leave the comfort of your home, whether or not other people will conform to your expectations on various types of etiquette is out of your control. You might think "sir" and "ma'am" are passé ways to address people, while others might think you're rude if you don't. And who knows if anyone still cares about where your elbows are when you eat? Etiquette and manners still matter at work, but it's not as cut and dried as not licking your knife while enjoying a steak dinner. The workplace etiquette you need to think about is more about consideration than it is about tradition. Sometimes we don't notice little things that irk other people. Here are some times throughout the day when you might want to stop and think about whether or not you're being a good co-worker: Waiting for the elevator... Don't push the Up button when elevator doors are about to close just so you can make everyone wait while you squeeze in. Do hold the elevator doors open if someone's only a few seconds behind you. In the elevator ... Don't stand uncomfortably close to someone, especially if there is plenty of space. Forcing yourself onto a packed elevator, thereby smooshing yourself up against someone, is just as bad. Do cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. (Not just in elevators, but anywhere, really.) You might think this one is obvious, but no ... it's not. In the lunch area ... Don't forget about the apple you left in the fridge two months ago. Sure, lunchroom nitpicking is the epitome of workplace banality, but the break room is one of the few places everyone shares. In the mail room ... Don't forget that the mail staff is part of the company, too. If you walk in, get your mail and leave as if it magically appeared and those people working in the room had nothing to do with it, you're being rude. Do say "thank you" to workers throughout your building. From the maintenance staff to the security guards and cafeteria workers, several people are making your daily grind easier. Whether it's a quick "thanks" or small talk in the elevator, talk to the people outside of your work bubble. On the phone ... Don't call someone, call back an hour later, call a third time in the afternoon to leave a voice mail, then send an e-mail, then call again to see if he got the e-mail. Not everyone is available when you need them to be, so give them some time to respond to you. Give people a day or a week (depending on the urgency of the issue) before following up. In the hallway ... Don't ambush someone with a question. If you've been waiting for your boss to answer a question you had and you run into her as she's rushing off to a meeting, don't corner her to get an answer. For one thing, you don't know if she has a pressing engagement. Also, her answer might be more complicated than a simple yes or no, and she doesn't want to give you a Cliff's Notes version while heading to the elevator. In a meeting ... Do keep the snarky comments to a minimum. Sure, meetings can be boring and some people are way too excited about them, but snickering with your co-workers is rude to whomever's talking and to the people trying to pay attention. Plus, your negativity won't go unnoticed by the boss. In the restroom ... Do wash your hands. If you leave the restroom without washing your hands and someone sees, you will be the germy person of the office. Frankly, it grosses people out and makes them not want to ever get near your desk or you. At your desk ... Don't complain about the weather, your workload, the boss, your pay and everything else that you encounter. Sure, blowing off steam is what people do, but a constant flow of negativity gets bothersome for those around you. Pretty soon everyone around you will be listening to their headphones to avoid listening to you. (Keep this in mind when you're in the elevator, too. No one wants to ride down 10 floors with a crabby colleague.) By Anthony Balderrama writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama. </div>

Professional Etiquette You Don't Think About

In theory, etiquette is a way for everyone to express mutual respect for one another. In practice, it's a confusing set of arbitrary gui...

Day 5: I fell off the horse

2:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

After all my "look at me, I'm doing this!", I messed up last night. Actually, it was officially Wednesday morning at 12:30 a.m. (Day 5). I woke up and was ravenous. My positive attitude suddenly disappeared. After a 20-Point binge (which I calculated this morning), which included Light Redi-Whip straight out of the can, I went back to bed. It was almost like it was a bad dream (more like a nightmare) . To make matters worse, when I went to the gym this morning I decided after 20 minutes to use my "free pass". This is something I came up with when I started Weight Watchers eighteen months ago. My free pass works like this: if I really do not want to go workout, for whatever reason, I have a deal with myself. Go to the gym and after five minutes on a piece of cardio equipment if I simply can't stand being there, I give myself permission to leave. It's a mind game I play with myself (I sound slightly psycho). It really works. I'm just like anyone else and have days when the thought of forcing my body to move is unbearable. I have never used my "free pass", even though many times on my way to the gym I said I was going to turn around and go home after five minutes. This morning I used my free pass. I lasted 20 minutes and just couldn't do another minute. Between last night's late workout and the binge, my body wasn't up to it. But all is not lost! I made up for the workout tonight by leaving work early at 3 p.m. and headed to the gym. I did 45 minutes of hard cardio on Sadie and 40 minutes of strength. I also ate very carefully today, and I'm right at 24 Points. My heart rate monitor said I burned 496 calories. It's okay. I'm not perfect. I mess up sometimes. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. The real test is if I recover gracefully. So, as gracefully as I can, I'm climbing back up on that horse and I'll keep going.