Archive for career tips
Turning lemons into lemonade
Posted by: | CommentsFinding your dream job sounds great right, but what if you can’t just jump ship? What if you’re stuck in your job for the time being because of financial reasons for example? I was talking to a client Anna about this the other day—sometimes we just have to make the best of where we are now. She can’t just quit her job; she’s in a dual income household that relies on her income. So for the moment at least, she has to make the best of it.
Watch this video to learn more:
How can you turn lemons into lemonade?
There are small things you can do that can have a big impact on your job satisfaction. How can you turn lemons into lemonade at your work? Make a list of the things that bother you at work (however long it is!) and start brainstorming. Do you need to take a break in the middle of the day-get outside and take a walk if you can, even for just 15 minutes? Taking a break can re-energize you. If you feel isolated in your work because you’re not getting enough interaction with others-schedule lunch and coffee dates with co-workers or friends. Find ways to get out of the office, or to socialize more within your office or office building. One of my clients simply wrote down a list of accomplishments at the end of her day-every day-and she felt so much more satisfied with her work simply because she had a clearer sense of what she’d achieved every day. It doesn’t have to be hard, try a few things and see what happens. It’s worth the effort when you just have to make the best of it.
Hallie Crawford
Job Help Coach
Helpful tips to keep your career in shape
Posted by: | CommentsWith today’s economy there is no such thing as job security. We can no longer sit back and assume we are getting a paycheck. Here’s how to keep your career in tip top shape:
- Manage your career. Realize it’s your best asset and be proactive.
- Set goals for where you want to be in 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years. Create an image of where you want to be.
- Communicate with peers and supervisor regularly so you know how you’re doing. Staff evaluations shouldn’t be a surprise because you’re staying in touch with them.
- Keep up with your skills and stay competitive. You have to understand and be mindful of what your peers are doing. Know what skills they have as well and learn how to stay competitive.
- Linkedin is a great way to do this and to stay connected. You can research what peers in your industry have in terms of expertise and experience that you don’t.
- Take classes, certification programs, and learn new software. Don’t get rusty, especially with technology. Community colleges are a great resource for adult education courses.
If you would like further career help, please contact us for a complimentary consultation today.
Hallie Crawford
Career Help Coach
Career Help: Civility in the workplace
Posted by: | CommentsCivility in the workplace: 3 mistakes recent college grads make on the job and how to avoid them. Protect your best asset, your career. As a young professional this is your chance to make the right first impression!
Here’s to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Job Help Coach
Are you stuck in your job search? Download my FREE REPORT: “Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities”
Is civility in the workplace dead?
Posted by: | CommentsThe Today show’s running a 3 part series on civility in general. It’s looking as if it’s dead in our society with reality TV shows showing people behaving badly, social media allowing us to be bolder with our thoughts than ever before, and what I view as a lack of personal responsibility for our behavior and general courtesy towards others.
Coaching a group client this week, she told me about a manager who was having an affair with an employee and because this client knew about it, she felt she was being subtly pushed out of her position. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and had to wonder – what are people thinking? The professional arena is the last place you want to behave badly; it can affect your career progression and therefore your financial stability, not to mention all of the other repercussions it can have. (In another blog post I talked about a related topic, how to handle office gossip.)
In an effort to restore civility in our lives, we must handle ourselves professionally at work. And especially for recent college grads-don’t think that the behavior being modeled on reality TV is the way to go. It’s nowhere near that.
Here are some quick tips:
- Don’t get involved in negative office gossip
- Watch how you handle yourself in meetings
- Be direct yet professional and respectful towards everyone regardless of their position or “rank” in the company
- Treat co-workers with courtesy and respect
- Say hello to everyone, take a moment to smile at them
I’ve worked with too many clients whose bosses have berated them in front of others, yelling at them and talking down to them. This is ridiculous and inappropriate to say the least. It creates a culture of disrespect and inappropriate behavior. Staff turnover will be high and productivity low as a result.
What do you think? Is civility in the workplace dead? I hope not! When you’re looking for your ideal career, remember that the culture of the organization is an important component to consider when choosing the right place for you.
Here’s to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
How to handle office gossip
Posted by: | CommentsWho doesn’t gossip? It’s one of our biggest past-times! So at what point does it become hazardous in the workplace?
I read an article recently on this topic, Office Gossip Girl from Little Pink Book. The article talks about the toxicity of gossip in the workplace and shows that many businesses have low tolerance for gossip. The key point in the article is how harmful office gossip can be. What starts as friendly conversation can easily lead to a dangerous rumor mill throughout the office.
“Eighty-four percent of executives cited gossip as a common activity at their offices, according to a recent survey. Furthermore, 64 percent of those executives agree that it has a negative effect on the workplace.”
Some of the actions businesses take to overcome gossip can be quite extreme. While the majority of businesses frown upon office gossip, some businesses go as far as banning it entirely. The measures these businesses take to end the gossip can be rather extreme. Do these extreme tactics even work? Is it really creating a better environment for the workplace?
I agree that office gossip can be very toxic but I think it’s unrealistic to think we can ban it or get rid of it completely.
Human beings like to connect in this way and connecting with co-workers is an important part of successful teamwork. The problem comes in when it becomes negative and no longer fun, but harmful. If a manager or workplace fosters an environment of respect, especially by modeling that behavior, that is one of the best first steps to take.
There are studies that show that water cooler talk can actually boost performance, for example when co-workers talk about a problem client they’re having, they come up with a solution by talking it out. So simply pay attention to the topic and tone of the conversation you’re having. We all know when conversation turns from productive to counter-productive; we just don’t always listen to that voice inside of us that’s telling us to stop. It’s just like lying on your resume; you know when you are crossing a line-don’t do it.
When it comes to office gossip, err on the side of caution. Stay away unless you know it’s a safe conversation.
Hallie Crawford
Career Performance Coach
Special Offer! – Create Your Career Membership Program – $1 30 Day Trial!Special Offer! – Create Your Career Membership Program – $1 30 Day Trial! www.halliecrawford.com/careermembershipprogram.html
Career Tips: In response to AJC Article – What We Can Learn From Cassie Gokey
Posted by: | CommentsListen to this message where I share with you why it’s vitally important to overcome the fears and negative thoughts in your head to move towards you dream job. This video is based on the following AJC article: http://www.ajc.com/business/jobs-the-quarter-life-620639.html. Be sure to read that as well.
Here’s to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Atlanta Career Coach
Are you stuck in your job search? Download my FREE REPORT: “Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities”
Are you wasting your money on grad school?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to a recent article in USA Today graduate school applications are commonplace when the economy is not doing well. A recent study showed that “the number of applications to U.S. graduate schools grew 8.3% from 2008 to 2009”.
More students are taking the GRE and it is estimated that this year might set record highs. Here’s an excerpt from the USA Today article discussing this trend. Read the full article: Considering Grad School? Advice In A Flat Job
Concern about the job market — and wanting to put off paying back student loans — were major factors for University of California-Davis senior Daniel Yeshiwas, who says he changed his plans to work for a few years before attending graduate school. He plans to apply for fall 2011.
“I don’t really know exactly what I want to do yet, but going to graduate school, it’s still moving me towards a career, and it’s something to further put off that question of what I’m gonna do for the rest of my life,” says Yeshiwas.
Grad school is a great investment in yourself. It does help you stand out and can also open up job opportunities that bachelor’s degrees don’t always provide. However a word of caution for current college students considering graduate school in the same viewpoint as Daniel. I have seen many people choose to go to graduate school for this reason. They don’t have any idea of what they want to do after four years of college. They don’t want that pressure of what are they going to do for the rest of their lives, and sometimes the are just intimated by the job market.
But here’s the problem… Read More→
Career Help: In response to AJC Article – What We Can Learn From Gretchen Cleveland
Posted by: | CommentsIn this video I will help you find out how your work environment is critical to your happiness on the job. I also share how you need to consider this as an essential piece to your search for the right career. Read this AJC article for more information: http://www.ajc.com/business/jobs-the-quarter-life-620639.html
Here’s to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Career Counseling Coach
If you are looking to hire a career coach, contact us for a complimentary phone consultation: www.halliecrawford.com/contact.html
