Preparing for a Performance Review
Do you remember when you were a kid how you felt when report card time came around? If it was good you could possibly look forward to praise from your parents and possibly a little treat. A bad one however probably meant more than a little trouble so there were butterflies in your stomach as you handed that envelope over to Mom and Dad.
A performance review at work can bring all of those memories and feelings flooding back. A good review could set your career on fire, a bad one who knows? So it’s just like being back in high school all over again.
In the case of performance reviews though there are certain things you can do to make sure that you are prepared for your workplace review and you are ready to handle whatever comes of it.
Self-evaluation is a good tool. Critique your recent job performance as honestly as you can. Are you really putting in 100% or have you been slacking off recently? If you are honest with yourself about the way you have been working then you will probably be better equipped to handle any criticism your boss might throw your way during the review.
Handle a Sabotaging Coworker Effectively
We would all like to get along with our colleagues. It makes for a better work environment and boosts the business as well. Sadly though, this is not always the case. Office politics can be a tricky business and it is not unusual to find yourself dealing with a coworker who seems out to sabotage you rather than help. If you are faced with this situation what should you do? Some tips:
Cover yourself – Taking precautions to protect yourself against a coworker with less than good intentions is a wise move. Keep written records for yourself of the work you do and the ideas you contribute. If a nefarious office mate should try to take the credit for something you did to get ahead, or worse tries to blame you for something you did not do, you have proof to back up your protests.
Will Going Back to School Really Help your Career?
College is four of five (or maybe even twenty) years in the past now but you have been thinking about returning to school to pursue an advanced degree to boost your earning potential even further. This however is a bigger decision than you might think and there are some points you should consider before you return to the academic world:
Why – Exactly what are your motivations for returning to school? Do you want to earn more money in your current profession or change gears altogether? Either option can be a good reason for resuming your education, as long as you have thought it through. If you are pursuing an advanced degree to further your current career make sure that the program you choose will actually translate into a real job in the future. Ask the admissions counselor about previous graduates, how many of them did land the kind of position you are looking for?
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.
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
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.
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:
What Not to Say at Work
By the time we reach adulthood most of us have figured out what not to say in our personal lives. Unless you are truly insensitive (or a glutton for punishment) you know that “yes that skirt does make you look fat” and “actually I think you are losing your hair” are just not wise words to speak aloud if you want to maintain peace and harmony.
People tend to be less careful about what they say in the workplace and fail to understand how much of an impact saying the wrong thing might have on their relationships. Here a few of the worst conversational faux pas that you can make at work
“It’s not my job” – If someone is approaching you with an issue they obviously have a reason. Sure it may not be your job to cover reception while the regular girl goes to the dentist but will it really kill you to do so? Using this phrase indicates to those who hear it that you are not a team player and this is a bad rep to get in any job.
