7 Ways NOT to Impress Your Boss

7 Ways NOT to Impress Your Boss Are you hoping to receive a raise, get a title promotion, or simply gain the respect of your boss? Take a moment to think back to the last time you spoke to your supervisor directly or did something that received a high level of recognition. Has it been a while? Also, do you feel stressed, angry, or tired while at work? If so,  your boss  probably can tell. It might be time to boost your self-awareness and reevaluate your actions in the workplace. If you aren’t actively working to impress your boss, there’s a pretty high chance you’re actually frustrating him. Don’t wait until it’s too late to leave a lasting impression on your manager. Here are seven ways you won’t impress your boss: 1) Gloat about your accomplishments: There’s a big difference between making sure your boss knows you’re meeting or exceeding your goals and shouting your contributions from the rooftop. Even if your manager doesn’t catch you gloating, no one likes a bragger â€" and you’re probably going to end up rubbing your co-workers the wrong way, which your boss  certainly  will  notice. Chances are, if you’re doing your job well, there is no need to share your victories so vocally. While it feels nice to give yourself a pat on the back every once in awhile, stick to the facts (Situation,  Action,  Results) and only inform those who could possibly take actions as a result that might impact your career. 2) Suck up via social media: It’s one thing to be a brown noser to your boss’s face, but doing it via social media will send you down a path of no return. (On the flip side, don’t complain about your boss there either!)  While the ability to communicate properly using social media is a must, using social platforms to constantly tweet at, retweet, comment, or share what your manager is saying will probably drive them crazy. There are many ways to build a  meaningful relationship  with your boss, but this isn’t one of them. Not to mention, no one likes that person at work who only knows how to communicate online. 3) Never interact with anyone at work: Building professional relationships with your co-workers is an absolute must for a healthy workplace culture. It would be a grave mistake to assume your boss doesn’t notice the lack of interaction you have with him and your co-workers. This doesn’t mean you need to pal around  with them  outside of work, but it does mean you need to take the time to develop a courteous and respectful two-way relationship. At a minimum, congratulate them on work well done and make small talk when the time is right. 4) Avoid face-to-face communication: While sending emails is necessary, it’s often a detrimental form of communication. You’re going to create an awkward situation if you continually avoid speaking directly to your boss. Certainly don’t run into his office every chance you get, but spend time developing a relationship with your manager that involves more communication offline. 5) Never relax: Tensing up  around an authority figure is common. You might not even notice you are doing it, but your boss certainly does. It’s essential you begin actively working on being more relaxed in his presence, or things will get awkward fast. Take the time to assess the tension you’re feeling and address it head on. 6) Never do your research: Whether you’re inquiring about a project or asking for a raise, a sure-fire way to anger your boss is by continually disregarding easily accessible facts. If you fail to research simple things before asking, you’ll end up wasting your manager’s valuable time. On the flip side, researching the right answers upfront  will impress your boss while putting him at ease. 7) Be as negative as humanly possible: Making a habit out of routinely venting your frustrations at work about your job or your personal life will not only anger your boss, but also could lead to you being fired. Even if your boss isn’t directly hearing your negativity, rumors of your attitude will certainly travel his way. The importance of a positive attitude cannot be overstated. As a long-time manager myself, I can’t afford to have one person bringing my entire team down â€" no matter how well you perform your job, if you’re causing other people to think twice about working for my company, it’s time for you to go. What are some easily overlooked ways to go the extra mile when trying to impress your boss? Related: How NOT to Ask for a Raise or Promotion.

Infographic Cost and Statistics of University Education

Infographic Cost and Statistics of University Education With the cost of university tuition fees almost tripling in the UK this year, the question of “Is a university education really worth it?” becomes more and more relevant. In this infographic we take a look at some of the important (and not so important!) factors needed to answer that question. Cost of UK University Education By Promotional Codes 34

Its Okay To Give Yourself a Break

Its Okay To Give Yourself a Break When work and deadlines are piling up, feeling overwhelmed can feel like a given. Sometimes it can feel as if we are expected to feel overloaded, that if we’re not rushing around at a million miles an hour and constantly glued to our phones then we’re not working hard enough, but this simply isn’t true. If things are feeling too much, read our tips on taking some down time, give yourself a break, and you’re sure to start to feel better. Too tired to tidy? When our heads aren’t feeling straight, cleaning is often the furthest thing from our minds. But this can lead to a vicious cycle beginning. You feel bad, the mess builds up and it makes you feel worse. But doing a few things here and there can help prevent you feeling bogged down in untidiness. If laundry day is here but you’re feeling drained, don’t pressure yourself to do a full house clean. Switch our your pillow cases and straighten your duvet. If the room is feeling musty, throw the window open and open your curtains. Simple things such as getting some fresh air into your room and letting in some sunshine are easy ways of clearing your mind and helping you to feel more refreshed. Not up to cooking? We all know how important it is to eat a healthy diet. Nutrition and physical health is a big part of keeping your mental health on track, and you’re guaranteed to be far more productive if your brain and body are healthy. That being said, there will be times when you’re not up to cooking or preparing a meal. Sometimes you’ll open the fridge and just feel overwhelmed, uninspired and able to face nothing more than throwing some bread in the toaster. So you know what, do it. Throw some bread in the toaster, grab a class of water and head to bed if you need to. Your body isn’t going to shut down after one unbalanced meal and a little bit of what you fancy never did anyone any harm. Not up to brushing your teeth? Oral hygiene is important, both for you and the people around you. But, as with sneaking in a bad meal every once in a blue moon, skipping brushing your pearly whites once isn’t the worst thing. To feel refreshed and take care of your teeth even when you can’t get out of bad, just use some floss. Easy to do even when you’re lying down and it will leave you feel even the tiniest bit refreshed. Afraid of your inbox? When you’re running behind, your email inbox can be a flashing reminder of everything you need to do. Deadline reminders, email follow ups, it’s easy to want to throw your phone into your underwear drawer and start communicating by carrier pigeon, but this is one of the situations where you need to face things head on. A simple ‘I will be in touch with any updates’ is all you need. Quick, clear and easy. Simply making people aware that you have received their message and they are on your to do list, but making it obvious that you will be in touch when you’re ready. Stressing yourself out and burying your head in the sand seldom helps in situations like these. Phone getting too much? If you’re finding yourself constantly checking social media or jumping 5 feet in the air whenever your phone rings, it might be time to take a night off. Our connection to the world through our phones is invaluable in so many situations, but can be detrimental in others. If you have people (like your parents) who will be concerned if they don’t hear from you for the evening and turn your phone off, simply give them a quick message saying you’re having a tech-free night and that you’ll check in the next day. It won’t hurt to give yourself some silence and peace, and time to yourself is good for helping your mind to calm down. When we’re feeling overwhelmed with work or deadlines it can be easy to let it slip into our everyday lives, but this has the potential to make us feel worse. Give yourself a break, take some time to yourself and the stress should start to ease. Jess Howard writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in finding candidates their perfect  internship. To browse our  graduate jobs London listings, visit our website.

Why the Right Equipment Is a Must in Any Industry

Why the Right Equipment Is a Must in Any Industry If you want to succeed in your industry, no matter what that industry is, then you must have the right equipment. You must have the right equipment because, anything less, and your ability to do your job will suffer. When that suffers, so does your stock. To see exactly why having the right equipment is a must, read on. You need the right equipment to do a correct job When a customer or client pays you for a service, the least they expect is for you to do the job they ask of you in a correct manner. At the absolute very least, they want to get their money’s worth from you. To ensure this is the case, you must have the right equipment. To the point, you must have a piece of equipment that’ll help you to do exactly what your customer or client asks of you. If you are a writer, for instance, and a client asks you to submit an article via the web, then you have to ensure your Internet equipment is up to the task of facilitating this uploading by finding the one that is best for you. Or, if you’re a fitness instructor, and a student of yours has asked to work a specific muscle group, then you have to bring a workout guide and the equipment needed to work that muscle out on that day. To do your job, that job being to keep those that pay you happy, in a correct manner, you must be working with the right equipment. If you don’t, you can guarantee that client won’t be seeking your services again in the future. Having the wrong equipment will see you fall behind If you don’t have the right equipment, then you can bet on the fact that your competitors will. What will happen then is, whilst you flounder with your inadequate equipment, or even your lack of it altogether, they’ll be way out ahead of you in the race for promotion or custom. To ensure you’re never falling behind because of equipment, study what others are using and then shadow their formula. Shadow their formula by seeing what type of equipment your competitors are using, how they are using it and what kinds of results they are getting from it. Then, with that knowledge in hand, put your own spin on your equipment usage. Doing so will get you unique results. A lack of equipment will see you fall short Sometimes, even having the right equipment is not enough. Sometimes, you’ll need a certain amount of this equipment at hand to stop you falling short. When it comes to deciding how much of this equipment is needed, you have to assess your specific needs. If you work in the recycling industry, for example, then you will need to ensure you are in contact with the best suppliers and equipment for all your waste products. This will include cardboard baling wire, which can be sourced from companies such as Baling Wire Direct. Or, if you’re a restaurant owner, and you haven’t got enough food to see all your customers happy, then you’re going to need to get on the phone to your supplier as soon as you can. You have to judge the need for the equipment you use or the product that you distribute to make sure your working day doesn’t face any hiccups. When you face too many hiccups day in, day out, you will fall behind in your industry. If you want to take strides forward in your industry, then working with the right equipment is a must. Anything less, and you’ll be taking strides backward.

The Light Side and the Dark Side of Cover Letters

The Light Side and the Dark Side of Cover Letters The Significance of Creating “Good” Cover LettersWithout a good cover letter, candidates are relying on their resume to make an impact. That’s asking a lot of prospective employers and drastically reduces the chances of you being called for an interview. From indicating your skills to keeping the follow-up ball in your court, a good cover letter is an indispensable tool for increasing your odds of landing an interview and strengthening your candidacy.However, where a good cover letter can help you stand out from the pack, a bad letter can make even the most promising candidates seem uncreative. Sadly, a majority of cover letters aren’t poorly written, often reading essentially the same, by repeating information. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the characteristics of good and bad cover letters and a few secrets on how you can make your letter stand out:Good vs. Bad Cover LettersevalGood Cover LettersBad Cover LettersStyle · Omit fluff and needless words · Cont ain concise and crisp sentences · Get to the point early in the first paragraph · Present accomplishments in bulleted format for easy reading · Lack of good vocabulary · Long and tiring-to-read sentences. Too many paragraphs · Hide skills/ accomplishments with needless sentences · Letter filled with useless sentences and wordsContent · Contain relevant keywords for the job position · Highlight the most appropriate qualifications/skills · Focus on how your skills align with recruiters need · Contain information that is not substantiated in the resume · Lack of relevant or appropriate keywords/phrases · Repeat details included in resumeLength · Include substantial space for note-taking and visual appeal · Fit perfectly and neatly into one page · Looks cramped with no room for notes and tine margins · Has a second page with just one or two linesErrors · Free from any spelling or grammatical errors · Has one or more spelling or grammatical errorsConclusion · Define when you will follow up · Emphasize strong interest in desired position · Express thanks to the reader · Doesn’t define when you will follow up · Leave the reader uncertain about your skills · Fail to acknowledge reader’s timeSecrets that can Help Your Cover Letter Stand OutevalIn today’s competitive job market, it is crucial for students to prepare for the job search process via eye-catching and dazzling cover letters. To help students master the process, here are a few secrets that can guarantee an interview:Understand the PurposeWhen it comes to writing a cover letter, it is crucial to understand what it is used for and why you need to write one. Based on the information above, you probably do know that cover letters are essential for creating an engaging personal introduction. Therefore, make it a habit to connect your unique qualifications to the specific requirements of the position.Don’t Repeat Your ResumeMany people write cover letters as if they are a paragraph form of resumes. This is a wrong approach for writing cover letters. Use the cover letter to show your interest, personality, and passion of working in the field you are applying for. So, be a little creative and sprinkle some cool facts and interesting news in your cover letter.Keep it ShortBear in mind that a cover letter is a brief description about why you are the perfect fit for a job. Therefore, avoid writing long sentences with needless words and focus on providing value to the employers. Less is more. So, don’t go beyond three paragraphs or the 1-page limit. Get to your point fast, as no employer has time to read 2 page long letters.Avoid Using Traditional PhrasesevalAvoid using the phrase “My name is ___, and I am applying for the position of ____” as it will only make you look unprofessional. Instead, go for something like “I am writing to apply for the role of (Job title) as advertised in the newspaper”.Last, but not the least, send the cover letter in PDF format. Too many conversions c an result in formatting errors. So, now that you are familiar with the tips mentioned above, creating a “good” cover letter won’t be a problem.

My take on the top 100 workplace list - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

My take on the top 100 workplace list - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I took a look at this years list of the 100 best US workplaces, and while I dont know many of the companies on there, many of the usual suspects are certainly included. Google, Container Store, Whole Foods, W.L. Gore, Starbucks, Nordstrom and others are certainly familiar cases from the books Ive read about happiness at work. Im not sure if this validates the top 100 list or the case literature. Or neither :o) However, we should remember that not every company competes here. In fact, only around 500 companies entered the competition, so making the top 100 list is not THAT impressive. Companies with less than 1000 employees can not participate even though many of them are probably better workplaces than the big organizations. Also, a companys score depends not only on what its employees say. Heres some info from the website: Two-thirds of a companys score is based on the survey, which is sent to a minimum of 400 randomly selected employees from each company and asks about things such as attitudes toward management, job satisfaction, and camaraderie. The remaining third of the score comes from our evaluation of each companys responses to the institutes Culture Audit, which includes detailed questions about demographic makeup, pay, and benefits programs, and open-ended questions about the company?s people-management philosophy, internal communications, opportunities, compensation practices, diversity programs, etc. All in all, Im sure that the companies on this list are all good places to work and Im equally sure that there are many even better ones out there that simply didnt compete in this particular contest. (A big thank you to Andrew Ferrier for asking the question that inspired this post). Previously: 10 seeeeeeriously cool workplaces Happiness at work at Google Perks gone wild: SAS Institute Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How to Write a Personal Resume

How to Write a Personal ResumeA personal resume, firstly, is a vital document that you have to prepare before seeking a job. Besides the resume being the central part of your job application, it serves as the key to find a suitable job and get hired. Therefore, when you see your personal resume, you should be certain that you have done all that you can to make it correct and convincing.Of course, you should be able to make your resume attractive to the employers who will eventually call you to interview, so that you will not only be successful in your career but also boost your self-esteem. To do that, you should take several things into consideration when writing a personal resume. For example, be sure that you're fully acquainted with the job skills that the company requires and that you're aware of the typical areas where you might excel.So, if you are someone who is good at writing, you will be a good candidate for certain jobs, but on the other hand, if you're terrible at writin g, you won't be capable of finding a job. Once you know what job position you are seeking, be sure to obtain all the information that you will need to apply for it. For example, if you are looking for an administrative assistant job, you must know the types of administrative assistants the company is looking for. This will allow you to give your resume a more professional look.You must include your personal resume in a professional manner. Your resume must contain a list of the job duties that you have completed and the educational accomplishments that you have acquired since you have graduated from school. Additionally, it should also contain the job experience that you have gained since you were employed, along with information on your knowledge on your area of expertise.If you have additional educational degrees, be sure to include them in your resume. The contents of your resume can only show how you think. A lot of employers now prefer to interview people who have a more formal way of presenting themselves; therefore, such information is included.Don't forget to keep in mind that every employer wants to hire people who can find them, so make sure that you put as much importance as possible on this point. Also, don't forget to update your resume at least once every two months. Of course, since this is a job application, you should also expect some questions.These will help you provide an explanation of your abilities and the proof that you're capable of doing the job that you're looking for. You must also be prepared to answer any queries the prospective employer may have.Of course, when your resume has been submitted, you should also be ready to present it to the hiring manager. Then, you will be free to discuss any job offers that may come your way. Moreover, it is highly advisable to take advantage of other benefits that may be offered to you to augment your chances of getting hired.