The truth is, most New Year’s Resolutions go to the wayside within the first couple months of the year. People get busy. They forget. They decide they want to achieve a different goal instead. They reprioritize. Or maybe they just get lazy. Whatever the reasons may be, New Year’s Resolutions fail more often than not. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have one at all. In fact, studies show that people who write down their goals are 10x more likely to accomplish them. So, why not try something different this year? Set an overarching goal for the year and monthly goals to keep you on track... and write them down in your calendar! For example, your New Year’s Resolution for 2020 may be to save more money. Set a goal for January to reduce unnecessary spending. In February set a goal [...]

This is the time of year when many people request time off work for the holidays. It can be difficult to manage end of year demands at work and taking time off of work for family travel and celebrations. Here's a few tips to help you manage your holiday time off work. Plan ahead. Make sure to get as much work done as possible before heading out of the office, and develop a plan for how to tackle your responsibilities when you return to the office. Also, make sure to have a solid out of office plan. Who will be your backup, what items must be completed when you are out of the office, and who will be in charge of taking those responsibilities? Make sure to get your out of office contacts' agreement to help in advance to make sure [...]

This is the time of year when we pull out Grandma's famous dessert recipes. Everyone has those tried and true recipes that when followed exactly produce an amazing result. Well, there is a secret recipe for success too.  Just like any secret recipe, the key is in the ingredients. Here are 3 key ingredients you need to succeed in any job: Ingredients: Consistency – Anyone can perform well every once in a while, but the key is performing well consistently. It’s like going to the gym. If you go to the gym once or twice, you won’t see any results. When you go to the gym on a regular basis, that is when you see actual results. There’s no magic number of how many times you have to work out, or how few times you can work out and still see [...]

As end of the year reviews are fast approaching, it’s important to find ways to stand out in order to get a great review. There are many employees who come in to work, do their job, and leave. However, in order to be a stand out employee, you have to look for ways to go above and beyond your typical job responsibilities. This is what makes the difference between an average employee and a stand-out employee. Here’s a few ways to stand-out in your current position: Find ways to contribute in a meaningful way. Think of ways to improve processes and procedures. With ever-changing technology, there’s almost always a more efficient way to do things by implementing a new program or process. Find ways to get things done more efficiently, and then speak up! Suggest ideas in meetings and offer up [...]

It’s a common misconception that businesses aren’t hiring during holiday season. Don’t stop searching for jobs just because the end of the year is approaching. A simple job search on LinkedIn, Monster, or Dice, will show you that business are actually still hiring this time of year. It’s true that hiring used to be more seasonal, but in current times, most companies are hiring as needed. Use this common misconception to your advantage. Plus, most people are so busy during the holidays that you will have less competition. The candidate pool will be less competitive because many people wait until the Spring to make a job transition. Use this time of the year for networking. This is the time of the year for social and business holiday functions during November and December when you can connect with people who can help. [...]

The holiday season is just around the corner, which means it’s busy season for most businesses. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed this time of year with competing interests of family and work, and it can be hard to find a balance. So, it’s important to keep these 5 things in mind to prepare for the busiest season of the year. Prioritize Deadlines – Give yourself time at the beginning of the week to prioritize your key tasks, deadlines, and goals. Focus on one activity or project at a time, working on top priority tasks with the closest deadline first. Multitasking on projects can be stressful, overwhelming, and is ultimately not productive. If you need help meeting a deadline, delegate tasks and ask your team for help. Keep your Outlook Positive – If you have a bad attitude and feel overwhelmed with [...]

In almost every interview you will be asked “Are you a team player?” It’s obviously the right answer to say “yes,” to this question in naarly all cases. Interviewers want to make sure that you will be able to help support a team atmosphere and that you work well with others. However, try to think about yourself objectively before the interview, so that you can answer this question thoroughly and honestly. When you answer this question, try to think of a recent example about a time you contributed in a team environment. Explain how you added value and demonstrated a capacity to get along well with others. Use these questions to self-reflect in order to describe the ways in which you distribute a team player mentality. Are you friendly? Do you enjoy collaborating with others and bouncing ideas off your co-workers? [...]

It's your last day at a dead end job. You are so happy to leave, and you despise your boss. Yes, it might be tempting to send a strongly worded email on your last day, letting everyone know how happy you are to be quitting. But, think twice before you burn any bridges in the workforce. The business world is smaller than you think and word travels fast. Don’t ruin your reputation by stomping off on your last day. You never know who you will work with or work for someday. I now work with many people who I worked with at a different company 15 years ago! I never thought I would see those people again, but I am so glad I never burned any bridges with them. If you plan to stay in the same industry or the same [...]

Yes, it’s perfectly normal to experience stress in the workplace. Only in a perfect, utopian world would employees be happy at work every minute of their eight hour shift. But, if you find yourself wanting to pull our your hair at work, there are things that you can do to reduce stress and increase your happiness in the workplace. Your mental and emotional health at work is one of the most important factors to your success, so don't neglect it. So, what aspects of this stressful American work-life can you control? Ask your manager and/or team for support when you need it. Many people tend to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and have a hard time asking for help. However, asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of emotional intelligence and humility. Let [...]

If you were a breakfast cereal, which one would you be and why? How many square feet of pizza are eaten in the U.S. every year? If you were a crayon color, which color would you be and why? If you were a pizza delivery man, how would you benefit from scissors? If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be? These are just some of the “left-field” questions that interviewers may ask to throw candidates off guard. This helps the interviewers to see how quickly you are able to think on your toes, your ability to improvise, and to witness how you handle pressure. These questions are designed to learn more about your personality and your personal thought processes. So, how do you prepare for the unexpected questions in an interview? If you’re asked an unexpected [...]