Archive for Career Work Environment
Enhance your career path with meaningful projects
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I had the privilege of being interviewed for an AARP article that will be coming out soon. The article is about the importance of choosing projects that are relevant to what you’re doing now in your career. This can help enhance your current career path OR it can help with your next one. You want to be part of projects that last a long enough time and provide enough depth to be worth it; projects that are meaty and not just sitting in an advisory meeting one time.
Here are some tips to help you choose projects that are worth your time:
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Work with people who are players in your company. People who you want to establish better relationships with or new ones. These people might be ‘the influencers’ in the company.
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Decide how much time you can devote to the project, but don’t just add it to the to-do list. Actually incorporate it into your existing schedule, for example on your lunch hour or your morning commute. Adding it to your to-do list can make it more overwhelming. Or it might just get pushed to the back burner.
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Don’t be afraid to suggest or create a project. You don’t have to just volunteer for an existing one. Talk to your boss about your project idea informally, because it doesn’t have to be a formal proposal. One example would be to mention it in a performance review. Or if you don’t want to wait that long, mention it in the hall or sometime when you’re already speaking. Mention that you’d like to enhance specific skills and volunteer for a certain project as a result. Don’t be afraid to speak up, employers typically like motivated and pro-active employees.
If you’d like more work performance help or you’d like help identifying your ideal career path, contact us today for a complimentary consultation.
Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach
P.S. Get one of the most information-rich career newsletters on the web delivered straight to your email inbox! Check out our Free Newsletter to help you along your career journey today!
Advice for seasoned professionals – Don’t try too hard to be hip
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out my latest YouTube video where I share three things that you need to be aware of, to not overstep your bounds and bring the best out of your younger employees. Are you having a hard time relating to the younger generation? Watch this video for advice on how to better work with your younger co-workers or employees.
Three tips for your holiday office party
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Check out this article about holiday party bloopers, HO HO ‘UH-OH’. It’s a fun article to read, but take it as advice and don’t let this be you!
Here are three tips for any office parties:
- Watch how much you drink
- Don’t over-share personal information
- Remember that you’re always “on”, it’s a party but still a work function.
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. Just don’t forget if you’re attending something work related, keep it professional!
Hallie Crawford
Career Performance Coach
P.S. How do you know if your resume is good? Take this Resume Quiz to find out how to keep your resume out of the trash can.
Watch what you say at work, but be yourself
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I was excited to be interviewed for this article a few weeks ago about talking politics at work, Political discretion advised. It has some good advice to check out from everyone interviewed that I think we should all keep in mind. It takes a balance between watching what you say at work, always remembering that you are ‘on’, and being yourself.
It’s critical to feel like you can be authentic at work, so don’t go to the other extreme. Just remember that you don’t have to let it ALL hang out. Some topics are better suited for your personal life, and some better for work. Others are sometimes acceptable. For example, political views, your recent divorce, or some other personal topic that you want to share, just don’t go too in depth about it.
Practice balancing your conversation topics in the workplace. This week at work, really attend to the image you’re projecting. What are you wearing, what’s your posture and body language and how much do you share about your personal life.
Hallie Crawford
Job Performance Coach
P.S. Do you want more help with your job search and networking? Check out our Free Resources Page today!
The importance of paying your dues in a new job
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out my latest YouTube Video where I share the importance of paying your dues once you’re in a new job. Part of why you are there is to prove to the person who hired you, that they made the right decision. Some people say that young professionals these days act as if that they don’t have to pay their dues in a new job. And that’s not the case! Learn why it’s important to keep this in mind when you’re in your new job.
Should you get fired for promoting political views?
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With the election wrapping up, it’s hard not to talk about politics, I know. I haven’t heard of anyone who has been fired for talking about politics in the workplace, and I would be appalled if I did. With that being said, don’t give them a reason to fire you. Political views expressed in the workplace should simply be expressed with caution. It depends on the workplace, your relationship with the people you’re speaking to, and how extreme your view is.
1) Remember politics can affect your image at work. Anything you’re talking about in the workplace is being evaluated in some way, shape or form. You’re always being evaluated – whether they will hire you, fire you, do more business with you based on anything you say, politics included. So be mindful of this.
2) Keep it light. Talking about it can be fun, especially during an election year. Talk about it to the point that it continues to be fun. If you do that, you’re still well within your safety zone. When it becomes more of a debate, that’s when you expose yourself. So talk about it in a lighthearted manner – Did you see the Saturday Night Live debate re-runs? That’s fun. When you start endorsing, campaigning and debating with people, then you’ve crossed the line.
The bottom line is, is it really THAT important to express your political views at work? Especially if they don’t have to do with your job or the task at hand? If they do, that’s one thing, but if they don’t then what’s the point? Now of course you want to be yourself at work, and don’t want to feel like you’re editing everything you say. That’s not what I’m suggesting. I simply recommend that you use good judgment when talking politics, or considering whether to do so at all. There is plenty else to talk about. Be smart about this.
Check out my recent YouTube Video on this subject, Talking politics at the workplace – Do? Or don’t?.
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
P.S. Are you in the ideal career for you? Find out if you’re in the right career with our Ideal Career Quiz.
Who can you lean on at work?
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I was honored to be featured in an article recently from BlackEnterprise.com, Fraternizing with Coworkers: Going Beyond the Water Cooler. I had a great conversation with the reporter, Jamie. She asked some great questions that made me think about other things I wanted to share with you.
You need to have solid relationships with co-workers no matter what what your job is. You spend a lot of time at work, and you want to have good connections with them because as humans we need connection and socialization. You need it so you can get things done as well. Having a poor relationship with co-workers won’t help you get your work done, especially when you need their assistance.
You want to make sure you have people around you to lean on at work when you’re in a pinch. You also want to consider how extroverted and introverted you are as well. Be mindful of how much communication and time with other people you need at work, versus what would be draining to you. Try to have a balance. Enough time with others that it feeds you, but also enough alone time so you can not only get work done, but if you’re more introverted you won’t get drained.
Keep all of this in mind when you’re considering how much you interact with co-workers. I hope this was helpful to you.
P.S. Get one of the most information-rich career newsletters on the web delivered straight to your email inbox! Check out our Free Newsletter to help you along your career journey today!
Inner or Outie? Know which one you are to define your ideal job
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One thing that everyone must consider when defining their ideal career direction is whether they are more introverted or more extroverted. This can be a make it or break it for whether or not your job is a fit for you. It is also a critical piece to figuring out the best work environment for you.
I had a job a long time ago that did not match with my more introverted nature. I was required to be extroverted for much of the day and I tell you, I was exhausted at the end of the day and wanted to go to bed every night at 8:00 pm! Not great for my personal life. So think about which way you lean. Are you more introverted or more extroverted? Remember we’re all a combination of both and you want to have the right balance of time with your peers at work and time alone. For example, I am 40/60 – 60% introverted and 40% extroverted so I can pose as an extrovert when I need to. But I require a lot of down, processing time during my day so working at home alone fits well for me.
What percentage are you? And does your current job match with that percentage, or are finding yourself drained at the end of the day?
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
P.S. Find out if for sure you’re in the right career. Is your dissatisfaction a passing phase or a sign it’s time to move on? Check out our Free Ideal Career Quiz!
