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?

Where – Thanks to the internet you do not necessarily have to quit your job or even physically set foot on a college campus in order to earn an advanced degree like an MBA. There are some excellent online programs available but you do need to understand that going to school online takes a lot of discipline. You will have to be your own motivator and be able to turn off the TV to get your assignments done.

Finances – Even if you qualify for student loans the money will have to be paid back eventually. Getting an advanced degree anywhere is not cheap so you need to be fairly certain that 1) you will see the whole thing through and actually finish the degree and 2) paying back the loan in the future will not cripple you and your family financially.

This is a great scenario for the employer as they get to “test out” an employee before having to commit to investing in them, but often not so good for the employees involved. Before you agree to take a job on a “trial basis” there are some things you should consider:

Understand the terms up front – If you are being hired for a probationary period there are several questions you should get answers to. When will you be evaluated and who will be making those evaluations? Are you being offered a reduced salary during the probationary period and if so when would it increase? Have there been many people hired for a probationary period and then let go? Make sure you understand the job you are being offered and the terms of your probationary period before you say yes.

You will have to be willing to do more – During a probationary period you are trying to impress. It is quite usual that employers will expect you to work a little later, do tasks that you may not think are your job (making the mid-morning Starbucks run or changing the copy machine toner) and take on work not directly related to your “job description”. You are being tested in these situations, being asked to prove you are a team player and an asset to the company should they decide to keep you on. You will have to be willing to play ball (within reason.)

Know your rights – What if the person who will be responsible for your evaluation seems just not to like you, or is unfair? Before you accept employment with a probationary period attached ask the hiring manager what your rights would be if you disagreed with an evaluation.

The bottom line is do not rule out taking a position because it comes with these kinds of strings attached, just proceed with caution and your eyes wide open.

1. Spelling and grammar errors – Do not be careless enough to send out a resume with spelling errors and grammar faux pas. Attention to detail is essential!
2. Canned opening objectives – Using a generic objective will most likely be ignored – the hiring manager has seen it already.
3. Listing personal attributes – Some people still insist on including things like their height, weight and other personal information. Unless you are a model or an actress such things should never, ever be on your resume.
4. Interests and hobbies – Unless they pertain to the job you are being interviewed for leave these off.
5. The minute details of every job you ever had – Hiring managers are looking for a brief synopsis of your experience not a blow by blow account of your days as a cashier.
6. Too much bragging – Listing your accomplishments is important but if the wording goes over the top and starts to sound like you are bragging it can be a huge turn-off.
7. Outdated information – If it has been more than 15 years since you left a job you should might wan to leave it off your resume. Assuming it is not very relevant to the position you are seeking now.
8. False information – Stating you have a BS when it is really an Associate’s degree may seem like just a little white lie but making false statements on your resume can blow up in your face. Most employers these days do background checks and if you are exposed as a liar you can instantly kiss the job goodbye, even if you have already received an offer letter.
9. Unexplained gaps in work history – Many people have these but they are something that most hiring managers notice right away. Choose your words carefully in explaining them on paper though. The hiring manager does not need to know specifics right now. If you state “left for personal reasons” they can then ask for more detail later if they need to.
10. Lack of professionalism – Brightly colored or patterned paper, cutesy fonts and silly childish email addresses all turn hiring managers off right away. The chances of it getting read all the way through are slim.

On the Upside

Freedom – No boss looking over your shoulder, no one criticizing your choice of outfit today, no one is monitoring your coffee breaks.

Saving time – Gone is that 45 minute commute in heavy traffic and all the stress that comes along with it.

Saving Money – Working from home you make your own coffee in the morning instead of grabbing a $4 Starbucks latte every day and you are more likely to make yourself a sandwich for lunch than grab a fast food fix. Because there is no dress code in your home office your clothing budget is likely to decrease as well.

Flexibility – Have to take an afternoon off to attend your kids play? No problem if you work at home the missed time can be made up whenever you feel like it.

On the Downside

Self Discipline – It takes an awful lot of self discipline to work from home. If you do not have to be at your desk by 8 a.m. anymore it is easy to become lazy and distracted

Loneliness – No more 10 am coffee klatches and no more coworker camaraderie.

No Escape – You cannot escape all the pressures of the office by going home and forgetting about them, you are already there.

Working from home is certainly not for everyone but for some it is the perfect setup. You can do so quite successfully as long as you treat your time as time at the office. Do not work in your PJs, get properly dressed, you will feel more businesslike. The same holds true for the hours you work. Set them just like you used to when you worked in the “real world” and you will avoid not only lack of productivity but burn out as well.

If you are interested in telecommuting opportunities check out www.savvyvirtualjobs.com

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.

Ask first – Different companies have their own interpretation of the terms business casual and dress down Fridays. Many do not want to see jeans even on a dress down day and for others sneakers are still a no no. Check with your supervisor or HR before you turn up for work dressed for a barbeque.

Be consistent – If you dress fairly conservatively from Monday to Thursday resist the temptation to show up on a Friday dressed like you rolled out of bed. There are very few companies that will tolerate sweats and baggy tees even on the most casual of days. Besides, is that how you really want your co workers or worse still, clients to see you?

For women:

Pantsuits are great. They are trendy and can be dressed up or down as the occasion calls for. Pants with a bootleg cut are universally flattering as are dark neural shades of black, gray and navy. One of the most flattering dress styles for work is the classic sheath. They accentuate they figure without being too revealing and really never go out of fashion and if you stock up on variety of nice (not too low cut tops) you need only purchase a couple of pairs of dress pants to have a wardrobe versatile enough to gain you a reputation as the office fashionista.

For men:

A few good sports coats are the best additions you can make to your work wardrobe. They look great with wool pants, dress pants even khakis and are pulled together enough for client meetings and presentations. Linen slacks can be a good business casual look as well as long as they are not too Miami Vice. And one word guys – business casual does not mean that your clothes should be wrinkled, get that ironing board out.

This is often where negative energy begins to creep into the work environment. It commonly displays itself in one of four ways:

1. Sheer fear amongst employees that their jobs may be gone tomorrow, even this afternoon, and that fear becomes all they are focused upon.
2. Employees feeling helpless because although they know how to do their jobs properly some of the resources they are used to have disappeared.
3. As resources and staff are cut people on the team begin to fight with each over jobs not being done properly.
4. 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:

Increase Communications – You may have explained the reasons for the changes once but that is simply not enough. Employees need to understand what is “in it for them” to go through this pain and if you have to repeat yourself ten times a day to five different groups of people until the actions are understood that is  what has to be done.

Acknowledge Success – In times of crisis it is tempting to focus simply upon things that have to be improved or done better. But many things are still being done well and that needs to be acknowledged, even if it is just with a simple thank you.

Management has to be at its best – If employees are being asked to work harder for less, you as their manager need to be seen doing so as well. If you are asking an employee to undertake the work of two this is not the time for people to perceive that their leader is slacking off.

Padding your resume – Tell the truth from the start, right on your resume. In this day and age most employers do perform background checks but if a “little white lie” does slip through and you are hired if your embellishment may be discovered at a later date. This could result in the cleaning out your desk.

Too Many Personal Calls – Most employers will tolerate the occasional personal phone call, especially if you are a working parent. Do it too often though and you are probably going to end up being able to spend as much time chatting with your BFF as you like ..from home.

Too Much Web surfing – Spending hours updating your Facebook or twittering about how your day is going is a waste of your employer’s time. Most likely there will be consequences when they find out about it. While, this may not result in immediate termination visiting adult sites or other off limits web pages can result in separation.

Tardiness – Well its only 9:05 am, that doesn’t matter right? Perhaps not, if you only do it once in a while. But, if you regularly arrive at work after everyone is else is settled in or your lunch “hour” is usually 65 minutes, then you are putting yourself in the  position to never have to worry about getting to that office on time again.

Gossip – You may have stumbled upon the juiciest piece of information about the girl in the cubicle next to yours but, suppress the urge to share with your coffee crew and keep it to yourself. People may instinctively love to hear a juicy rumor or two but, no one ever wants to be fingered as the one who started it. Indulging in office gossip can quickly lose you the trust and admiration of your colleagues, including the boss who has the power to let you go.

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.)

Career Counseling, Resume Preparation – Any services you have paid for to help improve your chances of gaining employment should be tax deductible. You can also claim for the cost of “advertising your services” if you have paid for a membership to any job hunting websites or recruiting services.

Time Online – As long as you keep good records and track the amount of time you spend on the Internet searching for a job you should be able to deduct a portion of your internet service bill and in many cases some of your cell phone bill as well if you are using it in your job search.

Things you cannot claim include clothing purchased for interviews and their laundering. It is rare that a first time job seeker (ie a new college graduate) can deduct any of their job search expenses, unless they are transitioning from an unpaid internship to full time work. If you have been out of work for many months the number of job search deductions you can claim are significantly reduced as well.

To make sure you get all the deductions you are entitled to have your taxes professionally prepared or use a good tax preparation software like Turbotax. Job seekers tend to need to hang on to every penny they can, so don’t miss out on the breaks that Uncle Sam is offering you.

1. 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.
2. I will ask those same people to “mock interview” me, and ask them to be as critical as they can.
3. When I find an attractive job opportunity I will apply immediately, no more procrastination.
4. I will do more research about the industries I want to work in, and the companies that appeal to me.
5. I will spend more time networking, both online and off.
6. I will be brave enough to make that follow up call after I have interviewed for a position.
7. I will open my mind to avenues beyond the obvious in an attempt to find the best and most interesting opportunities.
8. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Tackle the difficult stuff first – If you have a difficult phone call to make or a tricky task to tackle get it out of the way when your day is beginning – procrastination will only make things worse.
4. Be honest about your time management – Do you constantly feel overwhelmed but you aren’t getting that much done? Examine where your time and energy is really going. How much time do you spend surfing the Web, looking for something you have lost or doing tasks that are really someone else’s job?
5. Tidy Up – Set aside a few minutes at least one a week to tidy up and sort through all that clutter on your desk. When you are finished the sense of accomplishment is wonderful.
6. Don’t Keep Treats Around – A candy dish on your desk is not a good idea. A handful of M&Ms a day could add up to an annual 10 pound weight gain, which does not make anybody happy.
7. Don’t Skip Lunch – On the other hand starving yourself and working through lunch doesn’t help either. By the afternoon your sugar levels will have dipped and concentrating will be a difficult task.

8.Get out of the Office – Try to spend at least 30 minutes a day out of the office, and if possible schedule a lunch date with a non co worker at least once a week to get a break from office gossip.