It’s tough to give criticism and even tougher to take it, but unfortunately it happens to the best of us.

Giving criticism can be difficult because you want to make sure that your message is received loud and clear, but you also don’t want that message to create animosity. Personally, I would avoid using the term, “don’t take it personally.” I don’t know how someone can be expected to put their heart into their work, but not take it personally. Let’s be honest, we spend more time here than anywhere else. Work is personal.

Avoid using pronouns.
Wrong: “The font you chose for the ad makes the product seem cheap”
Right: “Using a font that is less bubbly would portray the product as more luxurious.”

Focus on repairing the problem and, if possible, explain why.
Wrong: “We never use images from Google images”
Right: “Google images are often copyrighted, so we use stock images from iStockphoto. Otherwise, we could be sued for stealing someone else’s images.”

Avoid using questions. For one thing, this isn’t a discussion and if it becomes one, it’s more likely to create animosity. For another thing, you should be clear on the correct way.
Wrong: “Do you think it would be better if orange was used in the logo?”
Right: “Brighter logos are always better for this industry because it portrays a summery vibe.”

Move quickly. Be quick to point out the error, what you would prefer to happen in future and then let it go. Don’t bring other factors into the mix. Be succinct.
Wrong: “Listen, in the past, you and I have talked about sending out emails on Friday and I said not to do that. Last week you sent out an email on Friday once again. I don’t know if there is something in your ears, or maybe you had a momentary lapse of reason, but they should go out on Mondays…. “
Right: “Emails should only go out on Friday. Please make sure it happens this way from now on.”

If you should find yourself making a mistake and saying something you shouldn’t, or leading the conversation in a bad direction. Stop, apologize for not being succinct, and get back on track. Giving criticism can be tough, but getting it over and done with quickly and following these tips will allow everyone to move on quickly, and hopefully with best foot forward.

Taking criticism can be even tougher. Stay tuned for our next install that will teach you how to take criticism and build upon it.

A friend working for a large company recently lost her coworker to layoffs and was asked to take on the additional tasks that were left behind. Now managing the workload of two people, she felt so overwhelmed by all that needed to be completed in one day, that she spent half the day panicking about how to manage and left the office that night having completed nothing.

If you find yourself jumping from task to task without completing any, or if your to do list spans more than one page, it might be time to step back, take a deep breath and reassess.

First, stop beating yourself up about reading this blog! Cut yourself some slack. You can only do your best and sometimes that may mean some things don’t get finished until tomorrow. If you try to take on too much you could burn out fast; nothing is less productive than an unhappy employee so take a second to read this and you’ll be able to prepare for today and all the days to follow with a much lighter mindset.

We’re going to break down the list together by following these six simple steps:

1. Write down all of your tasks on a master list, regardless of how important they are or when they need to be done. If you’re mind is wandering to tasks you have to complete outside of work, make two lists, but don’t add your home tasks to your work list – you should always strive to keep the two separate. If any project will take more than a day or two, break it down into steps that are manageable in one day only.

2. Prioritize these tasks by writing A for top priorities, B for secondaries, etc. First, consider which have deadlines that need to be met. Second, are any of these tasks that you can delegate? If you can ask for help, then ask. Don’t be proud – a good manager will always know how to delegate. Third, do you need input from others to complete this task? Give them plenty of time by pushing this up higher on the priority list.

3. Plan your daily to do list.

a. Make sure you do this in peace. If this means coming in 10 minutes earlier, you’ll be happy you did – you’ll find yourself organized and productive all day as a result of a good task list. Choose six of the A tasks. No more, no less. Make sure you choose at least one that can be completed in one day, so that you leave feeling a sense of accomplishment every day. If you happen to complete all six and can take on another, then great, but do not, no matter what, start the day with more than six.

b. Consider any meetings you have today or tomorrow and any prep work that may need to be done for them.

c. Decide when you will read and answer your emails (3 or 4 times a day) and stick to that plan – don’t fall into the trap of reading emails as they arrive (turn off that pop up). Usually, checking email before planning your day, and fifteen minutes before you leave for the day will catch any urgent meetings or messages and once or twice throughout the day will give you time for a break between tasks.

4. Finish each task before moving on. This is probably the hardest part for most people. We get bored, we get frustrated, we start surfing the web, Joe from accounting drops by to talk about football. No matter what the distraction or annoyance you have to finish that task. By only accepting six tasks, you should have enough breathing room in your day to take a break, but you have to stay true to your list and get back to the task where you left off. If the task requires input from someone else, pass it on to that person and consider it done FOR NOW. I have a system of marking this task. I don’t cross it off the list because it will be coming back to me, and I may need to remind the other person, so I use an arrow with the recipient’s initials. Hopefully, you prioritized with plenty of time for others’ input, so you can now move this off today’s list.

5. If tasks come in throughout the day, add them to the Master list. You don’t need to assess the priority yet – you’ll do that tomorrow morning.

6. Finish your day by crossing off those tasks that are done from the master list– you should have at least one – and moving those that are not to tomorrow’s list. Now, tomorrow’s planning time should mean only picking the new tasks from the Master list and you can leave work with a sense of accomplishment.

Our last post taught you what should be in your resume; this time we focus on the layout of that resume.

In these changing times, your resume has to stand out and fit all manner of medium (meaning it has to look good printed, as well within email and on various websites). So, how do you ensure that yours stands out amongst all others? Take a look at any newspaper for direction. Not only do they have to fit all mediums, they now have to compete with blogs, opinions and keep both readers and advertisers happy on a daily basis.

First thing you should notice on the newspaper is the layout. I can take one quick look and know where to find what I need. Make sure your resume is clean and easy to navigate. It may be fun to create a funky resume, but don’t go too far – if you’re not a graphic designer, you could be asking your reader to work too hard to find your information.

The most important spot on any resume is the top left corner. We read pages, regardless of website or printed piece, from top to bottom and left to right. The top left spot on a newspaper usually includes the company logo and should showcase the most important piece of your resume: your contact information. When I am scanning resumes, I always look at contact info first to see if the person is located in the correct area (more often than not, I want somebody to start immediately, so I can’t consider someone looking to relocate). Don’t use fancy fonts for your name or address (Georgia is always a good choice, easy to read and available on all computers). Again, unless you are showcasing design skills, make reading the resume as simple as possible.
The second most important spot is the rest of the top bar. This should house your objective. Hopefully you know which specific job you are applying for, so you should tailor this one sentence to that job and answer the question, “Why are you the best fit for this job?” If you are posting to a site and not for one particular job, answer that question about your ideal job.

Next, the actual content. When journalists write they use the inverted pyramid, meaning the most important information is at the top with more minor, more detailed information at the bottom. This way, editors and readers can understand the entire story from the first few sentences. Below your objective and contact information, your qualifications are next on the list of importance. Start with your most recent job and work your way backwards. If you are fresh out of college, use any positions you may have had on student government, campus newspaper or within your fraternity. Try to show how this has enhanced your education. Did you win any awards, learn organizational skills, did you have to stick to strict deadlines or come up with fresh ideas? Put this info here.

The next thing I like to put actually steps away from the newspaper layout. Put your additional info next: any volunteer work, community groups, any articles printed. The reason I put it here is habit. It’s habit to expect a newspaper’s contact information in the footnotes and it’s habit to expect education to be at the bottom of a resume. There’s a good chance that a reader will read the top of your resume and then skim to the bottom to see your education.

So, last on the list is your education and any awards or accolades (restate them if you have them in the detail of your previous jobs). Start with the highest level.

Thinking of your resume like a journalist might think of an article or an editor might think of the newspaper puts you in that competitive mindset, which in these tough times you need. To get the job you want, your resume is your lead story – make it easy to read, interesting and intriguing.

Stay tuned, next we will discuss how to Search Engine Optimize your resume.

Cover letters can be a great way to get your foot in the door at a company that you want to work for.  A cover letter is usually sent in the body of your email with an attached resume when applying for a job.  They tend to be of great importance in this stage of your job search because it highlights your qualifications, skills, and why you would be an asset for the company.  Career Columnist Eve Tahmincioglu, says that cover letters are even more important for social media and tech job seekers. “Today companies want tech employees who are critical thinkers, well-rounded and do more than just tech speak, these things are hard to convey in a résumé.” 

Hiring managers prefer a customized cover letter for a position, because it shows that you are actually applying for thatposition.  Often, job seekers blindly send their resumes out , so taking the time to write a cover letter specific to the job you are applying for shows that you are truly interested in that position!  Also, a lot of times, the first person to see your application is a human resources manager, who may not know much about the computer programs and technical projects on your résumé.  The cover letter can be an opportunity to draw them in with a personal touch.

Cover letters are more important now than ever before because of all the social media platforms out there.  A study shows that 45% of employers are screening social media profiles, and another 11% plan to do the same in the near future.  According to this study, roughly 35% of candidates have not been hired due to content found on their social networking sites.  Due to these statistics, many career experts think sending a cover letter is a crucial step in landing a job these days. 

Mark O’Connor, staffing manager at oil company Tesoro, says he doesn’t read much into cover letters, particularly for tech jobs — but adds that it doesn’t mean applicants shouldn’t bother to send them. “They should be short functional summaries of their relevant experience,” he says.  O’Connor’s team of recruiters focuses on developing relationships with candidates via social networks.  From there, they’re more concerned about the details that lie within the résumé and try to learn more about their past experience.

Here are a few cover letter tips:

• Make sure it’s brief and to the point
• Tell all about your accomplishments
• Be creative and don’t just summarize your resume
• Your letter should serve as an introduction to your resume

In my opinion for all you job seekers, whether you are looking to get a job doing Social Media, IT, or in any other industry, it is important to set yourself apart from everyone else.  Although it’s not necessary to send a cover letter, I do think that is important that you sell yourself by sending a cover letter and tailor it to the specific job you are applying for.  A cover letter is still valuable and can help you by setting you apart from everyone else trying to get an interview for the same position.  Make sure you take the time to research writing a cover letter and do it the right way! 

 If you are interested in career opportunities, make sure to check out our website.

Sources:  http://mashable.com/2011/02/05/cover-letter-tech-jobs/#

                  http://mashable.com/2009/01/05/job-search-secrets/#

You shined in your interviews and landed a new job!  The interviews you went on were your first and only time to make a great first impression on important people at the company.  Since you were offered the job, they clearly had a great first impression of you!  Now it’s important that you maintain that.

Here are some tips for a successful first day:

-Get a good night’s sleep!  You want to have a clear mind because you are going to be learning a lot of new things and meeting a lot of new people.  You will want to be well rested!

-Make sure you leave your house with plenty of time to spare in case there is heavy traffic or an accident.  Nothing looks worse than showing up late on your very first day.  Here is good piece of advice to live by about being on time: Being early is on time, being on time is late, and being late is unacceptable.  Try to stick to this, not only your first day, but every day.

- Dress professionally and if you are not sure what to wear…ask!  There is nothing worse than walking in on your first day underdressed.  You want to make sure you fit in.  Take that first week or two to notice what everyone else wears and what is acceptable.

-Ask questions and ask for help!  It’s your first day; you’re not going to know how to do everything!  It might seem a bit overwhelming, which is understandable.  Make sure to be patient and take notes on everything.  Your trainer will understand what you are going through and how you feel, they have been in your shoes before.

-Smile, be polite, and make eye contact when you introduce yourself to your co-workers.  Try to remember their names.

-Learn as much as you can and more.  Read up on the industry and topics relating to your position.  It is important to stay on top and gain as much knowledge as much as you can.  There might be something new you learn that you can bring to the table.

The first day of work can be intimidating.  Each day will get easier and hopefully these tips will help you feel more relaxed and prepared for your first day!

Before you read this, I want you to stop and ask yourself the following questions:

-          Where do you want your career to be five years from now?

-          Five years ago, where did you see yourself today?

-          What do you love about your current job? What do you hate about it?

-          What would constitute your perfect job? What tasks would you do, what industry would you be in and what salary would you make (realistically!)?

-          Now, what are your ultimate career goals? If you could envision yourself at the height of your career, what industry, title and salary would you have?

If you’re able to answer most of those questions, congratulations! It seems that you’ve got yourself on track for meeting your career goals – keep on truckin’, my friend! Now, what about those of you out there who couldn’t answer these questions? Yes, I’m talking to you, and you and you… Guess what? It’s time to sit down, contemplate the answers to these questions, focus in on your goals and shape your career to what you want it to be!

At the most basic level, an interview is a conversation to decide if a candidate can be a potential fit within a company, both technically and culturally. Most studies show that 60% of hiring decisions are based on “soft skills” and the perceived notion of “how the fit” would be in the group. This creates a lot of thought provoking considerations, to say the least. Let’s consider this “fit” factor:

- How you dress
- Body language
- How much you’ve prepared
- Smile
- Communication (how questions will be addressed)
- The follow up

Thinking about all the components that go into each of the following can frankly get overwhelming… right? Okay, slow down, don’t start fretting here… let’s think about the biggest, and in my opinion, the most important component: communication!

If we go back to the first part of this post for a minute, we’ll remind ourselves that an interview is basically a conversation. Therefore, how we answer questions and communicate greatly affects the outcome of the interview. So, let’s dig down in the weeds and I’ll give you some helpful tips!

This year has been quite eventful. We’ve seen the economy plummet, then rise some, then fall and then rise some more. We’ve seen friends and colleagues get hired, then get fired, then get re-hired… or something like that. A tumultuous economic and hiring landscape has left everyone crossing their fingers, but one thing is for certain: it’s going to get better in 2011.

It’s also that time of year where many of us start thinking of New Year’s resolutions… maybe the goal is to lose weight, get involved in the community, make amends with an old enemy or be more compassionate. Whatever the list of resolutions includes, the common factor is usually to improve ourselves and part of that improvement includes considering your professional and career goals as well. Do you want to improve or change your career in 2011?

The first step to making career improvements in the New Year is to set aside some time to do research. Basically, find out who is hiring and who is firing. Look at which companies are seeing growth and which companies are downsizing. Knowing this information can be key to finding professional opportunities and change. A great way to get this kind of inside information would be talking to a recruiter. Part of a recruiter’s job is to do research every day. What kind of research? Recruiters need to understand the economic and hiring landscape better than any candidate out there. With the research and knowledge that they attain, they can then provide their candidates with the best opportunities available. Recruiters also work firsthand with clients and know which organizations and industries are the ones hiring and which aren’t. They also know what hiring managers are looking for and what they aren’t looking for. All of this information is like a recruiter’s bread and butter, so why not go to someone who can provide you expert advice on getting yourself on the better career path?

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the year again…holiday festivities are around the corner! Last year, we gave you several tips for corporate holiday soirées and we’ve got more to share this time around with additional tips for mingling at your holiday parties in 2010. Holiday etiquette at your next office fiesta can make or break you, so this is the time where you’ll want to be on your best behavior. It’s extremely important to make the right impression on your professional peers when celebrating the season at your company’s holiday function and slipping up could cost you respect, professionalism and even worse, your job.

Before you head out the door to your next corporate holiday get-together, here are some tips to help you be at your best as you celebrate the holidays:

Attendance

Do not pass up the holiday party invitation! Holiday parties present a great opportunity to mingle and talk with other individuals who work at your organization, particularly those with whom you don’t normally get a chance to interact with (such as executives). Remember, the office party is a business function and you are expected to attend.  Stay for 30 minutes at the very least, but also avoid staying too long (you don’t want to stick around if it gets too messy). Enjoy the atmosphere and when you have spoken with all of the bosses, coworkers and new people you planned to, graciously give your goodbyes and leave.

Gossip is a big NO during holiday parties.

Conversation

The holidays are a great time to brush up on your networking skills! The first step: don’t talk about work too much! Sure, you may have a common bond with your coworkers that revolves around your workplace (obviously), but it doesn’t mean your entire conversation needs to revolve around that alone.  Use this opportunity to learn more about your coworkers: ask about their interests, favorite hobbies, talk about their family… just keep it lighthearted!

Keep conversation upbeat and complimentary as you mingle, socialize and network. Some conversation tactics include:

-         Avoid gossiping at all costs! You do not want to gossip in the workplace and work parties are no place for it, either (trust me, the walls DO have ears at events like these).

-         Avoid awkward silence with good open-ended questions and you won’t have any trouble with conversations.

-         Limit your conversations to a few minutes to make sure you get a chance to speak with everyone.

Dress Code

If the event is immediately after work, business attire is appropriate. If it is later in the evening, your choices will vary. If you aren’t certain what to wear, check directly with your host or with coworkers whose taste and judgment you trust. Women should avoid revealing too much in their choices and men should consider wearing a button-down shirt and tie. Make sure that what you wear reflects well on you professionally.

Sometimes, there may be a theme. If there is, play along! You don’t want to be the wallflower in the corner who won’t be a team member.

Drinking

Avoid heavily drinking at office events! The biggest mistakes people make at work parties usually involve drinking too much. This could lead you to doing or saying things you’ll regret the next day and that’s the last thing you want to mix with work. Here’s a tried-and-true tip to use: if you must drink, limit your consumption of drinks with alcohol to a maximum of two. Instead of consuming these beverages all night, try drinking coffee, tea, soft drinks and water instead. Being smart about your drinking habits during the holiday party will pay off immensely when you step into the office the next morning.

If your office is anything like mine, you may have noticed a new co-worker has arrived early this holiday season: the cold and flu virus. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen a major pickup in the cold and flu season as it has crept its way into our office cubicles, common areas and is sweeping across the air.

The cold and flu season poses a major threat to businesses, big and small. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the flu alone costs U.S. companies $10.4 billion in direct costs including hospitalizations and outpatient visits. The CDC also estimates up to one-fifth of the U.S. population will get the flu in a given flu season, and more than 200,000 Americans will be hospitalized with seasonal, flu-related complications. Annually, it costs the average business about $1,320 per employee for absenteeism.

Image courtesy of allcareservices.ca

Businesses are striving to encourage healthier workplace habits, which include proper hand-washing techniques and the sanitizing of immediate work areas. If successful, businesses can significantly reduce the frequency with which germs are spread throughout the office.

How does the flu spread? Many experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu either cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. A person could also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose, but this is less frequently the case.