Decoding Business Casual Dress Codes
Many things have changed across the business landscape of America over the last several years. The way we dress for the office is definitely one of them. For the ladies, gone are the days of the Linda Evans in Dynasty power suits with the football player shoulder pads. Guys are no longer forced into a three piece suit and tie. The phrase “business casual” is used a lot these days but what does that really mean? A few pointers:
Consider what day it is – If you are meeting with clients err on the conservative side as a mark of respect. Save the khakis for another day when you will be chained to your desk rather than in the spotlight.
Fighting Workplace Negativity
Over the last year or so a great many companies, large and small, have been forced to make some changes to keep their heads above water and ride out the recession. Unfortunately it often means inflicting a certain level of “pain” on employees. This can mean layoffs or reassigning duties, titles and tasks in order to try and keep the business on an even keel. Doing so can be a difficult balancing act for managers. The changes have to be made but you still need to keep the goodwill and loyalty of those staff that remain.
This is often where negative energy begins to creep into the work environment. It commonly displays itself in one of four ways:
- Sheer fear amongst employees that their jobs may be gone tomorrow, even this afternoon, and that fear becomes all they are focused upon.
- Employees feeling helpless because although they know how to do their jobs properly some of the resources they are used to have disappeared.
- As resources and staff are cut people on the team begin to fight with each over jobs not being done properly.
- People are unhappy in their jobs but feel they cannot leave because the poor economy limits their choices.
As a manager it is up to you to counteract this negativity so that the whole department/company/team stays together and pulls through the bad times in the best shape possible. Some tips:
Easy Ways To Get Yourself Fired
Most people head into a new job full of vigor and enthusiasm, not thinking about the job ending one day. Getting fired is not something that would happen to them. However, there are a lot more reasons for you to be shown the door than you might think. Here are some of the most commonly made mistakes that have employers rethinking their hiring decision.
Tax Time Tips for Job Hunters
Job hunting can be a strenuous and sometimes downright depressing but, it does have its advantages when it comes to tax season. Knowing what you can (and cannot) deduct when it comes to filing is important. Here are a few pointers:
Travel Expenses – Traveling to interviews can take a real bite out of your budget but, much of it can be claimed back on your taxes. There are some rather confusing IRS rules you have to keep in mind though. If the sole purpose of your trip is to obtain new employment then everything – flight, meals, hotel rooms – can be deducted. However, if you went to Hawaii on vacation and decided it was so wonderful you cannot imagine leaving and then decide to look for a job, none of the expenses are deductible. Reason being the original purpose of your trip was pleasurable in nature. However, you can still deduct the cost of actually getting to the interviews (bus, rental car, etc.)
New Year’s Resolutions For Job Hunters
It’s that time of year again; time to make New Year’s Resolutions. For those in the job market there might be more important things to add to the list than “I will give up chocolate”. A new year is a fresh beginning for everyone, and a great time for job seekers to re evaluate their game plan. Here are some resolutions that can really help.
- I will ask my friends and relatives to give me an honest critique of my resume and cover letter, and listen to their feedback, even if it stings.
- I will ask those same people to “mock interview” me, and ask them to be as critical as they can.
- When I find an attractive job opportunity I will apply immediately, no more procrastination.
- I will do more research about the industries I want to work in, and the companies that appeal to me.
- I will spend more time networking, both online and off.
- I will be brave enough to make that follow up call after I have interviewed for a position.
- I will open my mind to avenues beyond the obvious in an attempt to find the best and most interesting opportunities.
- I will really examine my finances and see if I can consider a lower paying position that could be a stepping stone to something bigger.
Tips for Happiness at Work
How happy you are at work depends largely how much you actually like your job. But even those who love what they do have a bad day once in a while. There are some simple things you can do to make each and every day a little brighter and more productive:
- Get a good desk chair and sit up straight – A comfortable place to sit can make a huge difference to your day and sitting up straight is an instant energizer and motivator.
- Get a headset – Yes, you may feel silly at first, especially if everyone else around you still cradles the receiver against one shoulder but within a few days you will wonder how you ever lived without it. Read more
Best Holiday Gifts to Give a Job Seeker
Most of us would love to say that we have all of our holiday gift shopping done by now but the fact is that most of us don’t. If there is a job seeker yet to be crossed off your shopping list why not consider giving them something that can be truly useful to them this year instead of just that jumbo tin of popcorn? Here are some great gift ideas, inexpensive and not so, for meaningful gifts to brighten a job seeker’s holiday season;
- A stylish briefcase or portfolio. Something that matches their style without being too outré.
- A serious, expensive looking watch. The keyword here is expensive looking. It does not have to be a Rolex, just a timepiece that looks like it means business. No more Mickey Mouse.
- A gift certificate for a hair salon and/or a spa. Pamper them and improve their image at the same time.
- An upscale looking pen. It makes a terrible impression on an interviewer when an otherwise impressive candidate fishes their sister’s well chewed Jonas Brothers pen out of their bag because it was all that they could find before leaving the house.
- A gift of an hour with a career coach, or a professional resume rewriting.
- An offer of a lunch date with you and a friend who happens to work in the very field that your gift recipient is in searching for a position in.
- Another invitation, simply the offer of a sympathetic open ear and a broad shoulder to cry on when the job hunting all gets too much. The holidays can be really rough on a job seeker, emotionally as well as financially and sometimes just knowing that they have people in their corner, cheering them on can be the best gift of all.
What Industries are the Most Vulnerable During a Recession?
As the economy is still looking bleak, what are the jobs that are historically the most at risk during rocky economical times? Certain industries fare far worse than others in a recession but, which professions are most likely to start laying off employees in a bid to ride out the rough times? Here are some of the most vulnerable:
Airlines and Transportation – In a slow economy less goods are bought and sold so there is a decreased need for commercial transportation, which often translates into job losses for drivers and other workers involved in the transportation industry. In the case of the airlines during a recession people tend to cut back their travel time – for both business and personal trips – to the bare minimum, often resulting in layoffs across the board.
An Easier Way to Search Twitter for Jobs?
Most jobseekers have read and heard a lot about the importance of social media in today’s employment search. One of the heavy hitters is Twitter, and now a beta program is making finding a job on the site easier and more efficient.
TwitterJobSeach.com allows you to enter simple search terms – executive assistant New York, marketing in Maine and so on and so forth – then displays all the posts found on Twitter that may contain the lead to the job you hunting for. But how effective a tool is it really? Savvy Talent staff decided to put the new search engine to the test.
Handling Holiday Time Off Requests
As the holidays roll around human resources departments have to invariably start dealing with an increased number of employee requests for time off. With all the hustle and bustle, all the shopping to be done and party arrangements to be made it is natural for workers to want to use their vacation days at this time of year.
Although you may feel that you should honor these requests in many cases doing so would leave the company critically understaffed. Here are a few hints for administering a holiday leave policy that is fair for all parties involved:
