job & interview

3 Work Habits to Cultivate Now

When someone asks what you do, your natural reaction may be to list your job duties. Instead, make a habit of citing your accomplishments. </P><P>Our lives are a series of habits. Our brain craves habits, because it wants to be more efficient. We each have good and bad habits, and each one consists of the same loop: a cue, routine and reward.</P><P>You might have a stressful day at work (cue), only to come home, turn on the TV and eat a bag of potato chips (routine). That eating becomes your therapy (reward). Or you might get a paper assignment at school (cue) and then research, outline, write and edit the paper (routine). Then you feel great when you get an “A – Nice work!” when it’s returned (reward).</P><P>Our lives are comprised of hundreds of these habits a day: open the medicine cabinet (cue), brush your teeth (routine) and run your tongue along your pearly whites (reward). But while we often focus on habits to support personal development – like running, healthy eating and meditation habits – we stop short of using habits to support our professional development. But work habits do exist and are crucial to your success. </P><P>Here are three habits to cultivate at the office for increased respect, confidence and sanity:</P><P><B>1. The Accomplishment Habit.</B> When someone asks what you do (cue), whether at a conference or on a job application, cover letter or résumé, it’s natural to respond with a description of our job responsibilities (routine). While this is safe and within our comfort zone (reward), it’s much more effective to use accomplishments rather than descriptions. Try describing the outcome or results of the project you worked on instead of simply listing your responsibilities. Below are examples of how someone in marketing could edit their resume: </P><P>Old: "Managed social media campaigns across various platforms, including Facebook."<BR>New: "Managed social media campaign resulting in $120K gross online ticket sales."</P><P>Old: "Support client social media community management, including community moderation, engagement recommendations and strategy."<BR>New: "Increased community engagement on social media platforms by 30 percent."</P><P>When you think in terms of outcomes and are results-driven, you sell yourself, your skills and your worth better. The Accomplishment Habit also encourages you to keep a big-picture view of your contributions and purpose when you’re stuck in the weeds of day-to-day work. </P><P><B>2. The Negotiation Habit.</B> We often sit on the sidelines when it’s time for a negotiation. For example, we wait for an employer to initiate a raise conversation (cue) and hope for the best during the performance review with clammy hands (routine). Then we breathe a sigh of relief when it’s over (reward). But habits don’t have to rely on other people’s cues to begin their loop. You can create the cue and routine and reap a deeper reward when you’re proactive.</P><P>To start, try this script at the next meeting with your boss (cue): "I have one last item on the agenda. I've really enjoyed working here, and the XYZ project and ABC initiative have been particularly interesting and fun to contribute to and lead. I would love to meet in the next couple weeks to discuss my performance and a potential raise. After today’s meeting, I'll send an email to schedule a time that works for both of us.”</P><P>While many companies have specific mandates for performance reviews, you should also prepare your own document that shows your accomplishments, strengths, what you plan to work on, additional responsibilities you plan to take on and your proposed raise, along with any supporting research on salaries. This document makes it easier to get through a nerve-wracking and sweaty conversation (routine) and leads to confidence and a larger paycheck (reward). It doesn't hurt that it makes you look smart, thoughtful and prepared, too.</P><P>The Negotiation Habit can be used throughout your day, and it's not just useful for getting a raise. When you actively participate in a negotiation, whether it be to advocate for a new idea, lunch at your favorite spot for the third day in a row or close a sale, you take control of the direction of your career. </P><P><B>3. The Communication Habit. </B>When interacting with someone (cue), many of us are focusing on the task at hand (routine), rather than taking a moment to step back and really understand that person’s point of view. When you focus on the task and not the person, the project might get completed (reward), but you miss out on a large opportunity to build powerful relationships for your career. </P><P>The next time you start a team project (cue), try evaluating a colleague’s work and communication style (routine). Take notes if you need to! Is this person ambitious, competitive and strong-willed (directing)? Or are they methodical, empathetic and dislike conflict (meditating)? How about animated, outgoing and laugh easily (presenting)? Or perhaps diplomatic, systematic, and perfectionistic (analyzing)? </P><P>While most people will overlap with one or more styles, you should be able to identify a person’s dominant type with practice. CEOs tend to be the directing type, while a salesperson is presenting and a programmer leans more toward the analyzing type. Each style is necessary in an organization, and none is superior. Understanding another person’s style can make a major difference in your approach to people and how you interact. You probably don’t want to overload your CEO with details, for example, and instead stick to the high-level plan. </P><P>Good habits at work are just as important as good habits at home. When you can replace bad habits with those that are positive and proactive, you lay the foundation for a successful and rewarding career. </P><P><B>Rebecca Healy</B> is the founder of Kontrary, a different take on money and happiness that helps you take control of your work and life. She lives in Washington, DC. <BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/10/15/3-work-habits-to-cultivate-now" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

3 Work Habits to Cultivate Now

When someone asks what you do, your natural reaction may be to list your job duties. Instead, make a habit of citing your accomplishments. ...

Your Guide to Surviving a Career Mistake

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Your Guide to Surviving a Career Mistake</h1>
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It's possible to rehabilitate yourself from even the worst professional blunders.</h2>
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Everyone is prone to making the occasional gaffe, but if you're regarded as the office dunce, you need to do some serious self-reflection.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5;">Now you’ve done it.</span></div>
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You lost your temper at the wrong time with the wrong colleague. You sent an email you shouldn’t have, and now your entire address book has received information that was meant to be classified. You sent out a passive aggressive tweet complaining about your employer, but it wasn’t passive enough to miss your boss’s notice. Alexander Pope once said “to err is human; to forgive, divine,” but he might have been referring to lesser offenses – the type of boo boo you just made is so professionally damaging that it could cost you your job and cause your career to go careening into the wall.</div>
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Or so it seems. With patience and creativity it’s possible to rehabilitate yourself from even the worst career gaffes. “There are few goofs from which humans cannot recover,” says Jenny Foss, founder of the career blog JobJenny.com and author of "Ridiculously Awesome Resume Kit." "The real question is – will your employer allow you the recovery after a goof?"</div>
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Possibly, if you take these steps.</div>
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<b>[See: </b><a href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;"><b>The 100 Best Jobs</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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<b>Diagnose. </b>Do you believe in signs? Because your slip-up and the subsequent fallout could be a fluke, but it could also be indicative of a larger problem. Sarah Vermunt, founder of Careergasm, a Toronto-based career coaching company with a mission to help people create feel-good work, suggests soul searching. “Sometimes people need to look past the surface of a failure to realize their self-sabotage is perhaps a subconscious act to save some essential part of the self,” she says. Dig deeper and you might discover you were negligent because you’re overworked or not stimulated by your job responsibilities. Knowing the root of your mistake will also help you plan your next steps.</div>
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<b>Fess up and apologize. </b>A true career meltdown impacts you, your colleagues and clients, so apologize to all whom are affected by what you’ve done. “If you flub it up, you will need to mobilize swiftly on a plan to openly disclose the situation,” Foss says. “You need to take full responsibility for what just happened and offer up a solution on how you’ll fix the problem or move forward from there.” If you want to keep your job and you fear you’re on the brink of losing it, Hallie Crawford, certified career coach and founder of the Atlanta-based coaching firm Create Your Career Path, suggests you ask your supervisor for a six-month grace period to prove yourself.</div>
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<b>Keep communication flowing. </b>Give your manager regular progress reports on how you’re repairing the professional damage you’ve done. “People are hired and fired based on their soft skills,” Crawford says. “As the cliché goes, everyone makes mistakes. The way you handle them demonstrates character.”</div>
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Just don’t play the victim when keeping your boss in the loop. Foss says it’s important you quit moping about the past. “Show through your actions that you mean it about the recovery, that you’re worth keeping around and that you aren’t going to fall off an emotional cliff as a result of the error,” she says.</div>
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<b>[See: </b><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-things-to-do-immediately-after-being-fired" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;"><b>10 Things to Do Immediately After Being Fired</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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<b>Wait and watch. </b>Instead of firing you, your boss might put you on probation, which would be good. This is a time when your colleagues will evaluate how suitable it is for you to continue in the position, but you should evaluate that for yourself as well. “If it’s obvious that your boss and peers no longer trust you, then it’s best to quit,” Crawford says. “Or if your co-workers and boss give you a chance and trust you, but your reputation has been ruined with your clients, then it’s probably worth moving on.”</div>
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<b>Remain positive. </b>Learn how to spin this snafu and what you’ve learned positively. “The professionals who go the distance are those who can own up to their mistakes, correct them, move on and deliver great value to the companies they serve,” Foss says.</div>
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Note that the bigger of a career setback you’ve had, the easier it will be for future professional contacts – like, hiring managers – to uncover it. Take initiative and be forthcoming about past mistakes, but keep it short. “Practice your party line so that you don’t ramble, because rambling tends to get us in trouble,” Crawford says. “Follow a script of ‘This is the error I made, this is how I handled the mistake and the aftermath, this is what I learned and this is what I do differently today.’”</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/07/03/your-guide-to-surviving-a-career-mistake" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Your Guide to Surviving a Career Mistake

Your Guide to Surviving a Career Mistake It's possible to rehabilitate yourself from even the worst professional blunders. Every...

6 Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

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6 Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave</h1>
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Tidbits on planning your transition from new mom to working mom.</h2>
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When you come back to work after your maternity leave, you should remember to ease into the job.</div>
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<span class="item drawer_paddingTop" style="display: block; float: left; padding-top: 8px;">By <a href="http://money.usnews.com/topics/author/jada-a-graves" rel="author" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">Jada A. Graves</a></span><time class="t-small item drawer_marginTop" datetime="2014-05-09" itemprop="datePublished" style="border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; display: block; float: left; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 8px; padding-left: 20px;">May 9, 2014 | 12:00 p.m. EDT</time><span class="thumb-middled-right right t-small t-subdued drawer_trigger drawer_paddingTop" id="bylineSocialMore" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; float: right; line-height: 1.5; padding-left: 9px; padding-top: 8px;">+ More</span><ul class="right" id="bylineSocialIcons" style="float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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Motherhood really is a miracle. For all the work they do in their private lives to nurture their families, most moms also work hard outside the home. According to the Labor Department, 69.9 percent of mothers with children age 18 or younger were employed or looking for work in 2013. One concern they all share: How to juggle the demands of family life with professional obligations, starting from the day a child is born.</div>
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There’s a lot more to coordinating a return to work after welcoming a child than this article outlines, but here are top tips for planning maternity leave so you might have a more smooth transition back to professional life.</div>
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<b>[See: <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/20-work-life-balance-hacks" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">20 Work-Life Balance Hacks</a>.]</b></div>
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<b>Before Having Children …</b></div>
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<b>Look for jobs with robust benefits and perks. </b>If possible, sit down with human resources and your manager to discuss policies on family leave and workplace flexibility. Also keep in mind the varying policies different companies and states have and how you might use other leave, like short-term disability or unpaid leave time from the Family and Medical Leave Act, to supplement maternity leave. For instance, the state of California guarantees six weeks of paid maternity leave for many jobs, plus up to 28 unpaid weeks when combining both federal and state policies.</div>
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If you’re still searching for work, then weigh how an employer’s culture and benefits might complement your future plans. The best organizations offer competitive packages. "No matter what age you are or whether you’re searching for your first job or your fourth, you should give consideration to how inclusive an organization is," says Terri McClements, vice chair and U.S. human capital leader for the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. PwC is renowned for the benefits and programs it offers to support families, including up to 14 paid weeks off for parental leave, plus an additional two weeks of paid leave for welcoming more than one child (through birth or adoption) at the same time. According to McClements, your first stop for information is the employer’s website. "Companies with inclusive policies realize that those policies are selling points to the best job candidates and will make those policies easy to find," she says.</div>
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<b>[Read: <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/04/04/6-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-family-and-medical-leave-act" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">6 Things You Need to Know About the Family and Medical Leave Act</a>.]</b></div>
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<b>When You’re Expecting Children …</b></div>
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<b>Set an initial plan for how much leave you’ll take. </b>Plans are made to be broken. Still, it’s courteous and professional to give your boss and team members an idea of how many weeks or months off you think you’ll need when you welcome your child. Medical professionals stress that you should take all the time your organization and budget allows – preferably more than a month. "All women deserve far more [maternity leave] than they actually receive," says Monica McHenry Svets, an OB-GYN in the Cleveland Clinic's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. "It will take a minimum of six weeks to stop feeling physical pain, to adjust to the schedule of a new baby and just to feel human again."</div>
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<b>Decide how you’d like to come back. </b>You’ll have a new normal to consider while transitioning back into work and then thereafter. Think about what changes you foresee having to make to the way you work, and weigh what toll it will take on your manager and colleagues to accommodate you. Lisa Horn is co-leader of the Society for Human Resource Management’s Workplace Flexibility Initiative, a SHRM partnership with Families and Work Institute to educate businesses on the benefits of workplace flexibility. She suggests new moms read "When Work Works Workflex Employee Toolkit," a PDF guide from the initiative that outlines flexible work options and how to discuss them with your manager. If the change you’re anticipating is small, like needing to set a definitive start and end time for each work day, or larger, like hoping for a flextime or telecommuting schedule, Horn says to "frame your request by demonstrating how your work will continue to get done. Take into account the business concerns of your employer and the core hours that are essential for your job and workplace." You should also make this request as early as possible</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/05/09/6-tips-for-returning-to-work-after-maternity-leave" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

6 Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

6 Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave Tidbits on planning your transition from new mom to working mom. When you come ba...

Want to Bolster Professional Relationships? Ignore Social Media

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Want to Bolster Professional Relationships? Ignore Social Media</h1>
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Why a face-to-face discussion trumps a tweet.</h2>
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Unplug! Social media is important, but in-person interactions go a long way toward building meaningful connections.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Of course that got your attention. For a fleeting moment, let's imagine a world without Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. It's a predigital age, if you will, in which emails didn’t rule the roost, and fax machines – the type with shiny paper bound to curl after a fax was sent – were heavily relied upon. A world full of typewriter ribbons, Wite-Out and snail mail résumés sent to personnel departments …</span></div>
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OK, now let’s get to the <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/04/how-to-become-a-networking-superstar" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/04/how-to-become-a-networking-superstar">brass tactics of networking</a>! Emails and tweets are fine, but when you want to crank relationships up to several levels deeper and gain more meaningful connections for the long-term, nothing beats old-fashioned face time. Here are five strategies to accomplish this:</div>
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<b>1. Go offline.</b> Yes, you can and should still update your profile on LinkedIn and "like" relevant posts on Facebook. But if you’re relying entirely on technology for self-branding and networking, you’re missing the boat. Go offline, and attend industry events and professional mixers. Even if it’s not work-related, get out of the office, car or home and into the gym, place of worship or book club. Dust off those social skills, and get a sense for someone’s body language, energy and <i>joie de vivre.</i> And most importantly, get a sense of your own. Let’s repeat: Go offline.</div>
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While technology is excellent in many ways, it’s also a false sense of security regarding interaction. You may have connected with 20 people at the office before noon, only to realize you didn’t actually speak to anyone – including that co-worker in the next cubicle. And when there’s a disagreement about budgets, <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/03/19/10-annoying-email-habits-to-break-today" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/03/19/10-annoying-email-habits-to-break-today">squabbling over email</a> won’t nip it in the bud. Whether you want to propel relationships, look for a new job or resolve an outstanding issue, nothing beats speaking in-person or on the phone.</div>
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<b>2. Take initiative to meet.</b> Let’s say you connect with a new industry professional on Twitter who lives only 30 minutes away and is in the same line of work. You write: “We should grab coffee someday. It would be great to meet in person!”</div>
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Guess what? "Someday" is this month! Reach out and have a conversation, even if you’re not <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/27/how-to-get-the-job-by-thinking-like-a-hiring-manager" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/27/how-to-get-the-job-by-thinking-like-a-hiring-manager">looking for a job</a>. Extend that branch, make a new friend and expand upon your budding relationship. Building it can include social media, but in order to solidify a foundation, nothing should replace face time. And if geography is an issue, schedule a call via Skype or phone, so you at least connect a voice to the person’s name and avatar.</div>
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<b>3. Make a plan, and commit to it.</b> Whether it’s two coffee meetings per month or one lunch and two phone calls, it’s all good. Set realistic goals, and stick to them. Yes, we’re always busy, but the best time to build relationships and foster them is when we’re not frantically looking for a job. Simply check in to see how someone’s doing and how you can help him or her. Even if it’s reconnecting with a former boss internally, contact him or her to schedule a lunch date. It’s so easy and simple, and yet it's often overlooked.</div>
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<b>4. Set a timer.</b> It’s going to be challenging to ignore social media altogether, but you can always set limitations with a timer. Figure out what time of day you will go online, whether it’s a quick break <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/15-activities-to-try-on-your-lunch-break" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/15-activities-to-try-on-your-lunch-break">during lunchtime</a> or right before you head out of the office at night. Be consistent and fast. Devouring blogs for 15 minutes is one thing, but two hours and 15 minutes of it is quite another.</div>
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<b>5.</b> <b>Evaluate relationships.</b> If you and a former colleague consistently comment on each other’s Facebook updates and send each other articles on Twitter, ask yourself when you last had an actual conversation with that person. Even a text message to say "hello"? You don’t have to stop tweeting articles, but you do need to revive that relationship.</div>
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The best way to do so is on the phone or in person. Even if it’s just 15 minutes, check in with him or her. Evaluate your online relationships as they exist – or don't, in many cases – in offline situations. if you crossed paths on the street, would you recognize this person's face but not his or her name? You know what he or she reads and comments on, but do you know what he or she does <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">for a living</a> and how you can tap into his or her network? Be selective. You don’t have to connect with all 200 of your followers (and certainly not 2,000), but even two is a start in the right direction.</div>
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Yes, potential employers and you evaluate each other's online profiles. But typically, leaders decide to hire candidates after they met with them in person. They want to find out: Will you fit in with the team, do you have fire in your belly and do you lead by example?</div>
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A stellar LinkedIn profile and consistent social media branding will help boost your candidacy, but if you can’t communicate in person and develop personal relationships, it’s "game over" before it began.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/23/want-to-bolster-professional-relationships-ignore-social-media" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Want to Bolster Professional Relationships? Ignore Social Media

Want to Bolster Professional Relationships? Ignore Social Media Why a face-to-face discussion trumps a tweet. Unplug! Social media is ...

The Cardinal Rules of Properly Using Business Cards

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The Cardinal Rules of Properly Using Business Cards</h1>
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It's time to elevate business cards from being perfunctory to a true professional asset.</h2>
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When designing a business card it's a good idea to utilize the space on both sides, but you should avoid trying to get too cute.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Regardless of how advanced and digitized our networking and communication strategies become, the paper business card is still an effective ambassador of who we are professionally. This is a shame, because most of us unenthusiastically distribute bare and boring business cards that no one remembers while collecting similarly simple cards from others that we quickly misplace or never use.</span></div>
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<b><br /></b>It's time to elevate business cards from being perfunctory to a true professional asset. Consider these tips for how to choose and distribute a good business card:<br /><b><br />Remember your objective.</b> Stephanie Shore says business cards should be a statement of who you are and who you want to be. Shore is vice president of global marketing for MOO, a company that makes custom business cards. She describes her company's product as conversation starters. "We hope that when you hand someone your business card, you’re actually hoping to talk to him or her," she says. "Gone are the days when they were a tool to get out of a conversation."</div>
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<b>Make 'em memorable.</b> If you're thinking of the business card as an extension of you, then make sure "you" don't wind up in a trash bin. Ditch the same old, same old plain white paper with black scrawl – it's all right for the cards to be innovative, as long as they're also professional. "The size of the type, the color, the use of photographer, your logo, the quality of the materials, the paper – these are the tools that help you instantly share who you are and what you value," Shore says. "You want your card to reflect well on your business and on you. You want to make something you’re proud of. And it's important to look authentic."</div>
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<b>[See: <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">The 100 Best Jobs</a>.]</b></div>
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<b>Use both sides. </b>"What’s one of the first things people do when they receive a business card? They flip it over," says Lucy Rosen, president and chief solutions officer for SmartMarketing Communications. Leverage that instinct, and put useful information on both the front and back. One side should explain what you do and display your contact information, while the other could offer a snapshot of your skills and qualifications. Shore also suggests adding your Twitter handle and, if applicable, a discount code for people to trial a product you sell. "When someone looks at your business card a week after they've met you, the question is what do they remember about that meeting and about you," she says.</div>
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<b>Ditch the gimmicks.</b> You want to leave an impression on your card's recipient, but you don’t want to make extra work for him or her. If your too-cute font is also too-tiny to read, it doesn’t matter how great your qualifications are. Business cards that are also magnets or stickers might aesthetically appeal to some, but it'll annoy plenty others. Also beware of using QR codes, or the square-grid bar codes sometimes incorporated into brochures and pamphlets that users can scan to access additional information. Rosen says these are more fad than functional. "I can see how people might argue that they're appropriate for some industries, but they take up a lot of space and only appeal to a very small group of people." </div>
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<b>Quit being a cheapskate.</b> Many employers provide business cards for their staff, but you should have a different, separate stash you can use when job hunting. And if you're currently unemployed or self-employed then you definitely want to have your own cards. A printing company might offer free sample cards you could distribute, but those are better advertising for the company that made them – since its name is no doubt printed somewhere on the card – than they are for you. Use those samples as an idea of how you want your cards to look, then make arrangements to purchase the real deal.</div>
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<b>[Read: <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/09/20/is-your-career-bleeding-you-dry" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/09/20/is-your-career-bleeding-you-dry">Is Your Career Bleeding You Dry?</a>]</b></div>
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<b>Pay attention to the paper.</b> Speaking of cost, choose the very best paper you can afford, and consult with your printing company on the proper stock. Rosen suggests avoiding the shiny, glossy look, because those cards are difficult for the recipient to write on. Also, "your card should feel good to the touch, because the person is going to feel the card before they see it." she says.</div>
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Shore agrees cards that feel memorable will only help you. "A customer told us a few days back that she’d handed her card to someone at an event in a dark-lit room, and the first thing they did was take out their phone to look at it because they were amazed at the thickness of the paper," she says. </div>
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<b>Always ask permission.</b> Once your business cards are printed and perfect, it's time to put them to use. Rule No. 1: Never card-bomb, or hand over a card upon meeting someone face-to-face and before exchanging a greeting. The problem here isn't your intention, Rosen says, but your method. "You shouldn't give a business card out unless you ask first," she says. "It's courteous to ask permission in a world where no one asks permission, and it's a way of not being an imposition. Plus, I've never heard anyone say 'no.' Everyone will say 'yes' when asked this way.”</div>
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<b>[Read: <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/04/19/5-everyday-networking-opportunities-a-job-seeker-cant-miss" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/04/19/5-everyday-networking-opportunities-a-job-seeker-cant-miss">5 Everyday Networking Opportunities a Job-Seeker Can’t Miss</a>.]</b></div>
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<b>Stay away from guerrilla marketing. </b>Don't walk around a parking lot wedging your business card in car windows and windshield wipers. It violates the aforementioned rule of always asking permission first, plus you'll do more littering than generating new business. It's always best to place a business card in the palm of someone's hand. </div>
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<b>Ensure you have easy access</b>. Shore says a lot of MOO's customers opt for a custom case to carry the cards inside, and Rosen recommends keeping the cards – whether in a case, or otherwise – in a left-hand pocket. "You're free to take the card out with your left hand while you shake hands with your right," she explains. </div>
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<b>Return the favor</b>. It's good juju to treat others' business cards the way you'd want yours to be treated. "The worst thing you could do is put cards in a drawer and then have no idea what it's there for," Rosen says. Find an organization system that works for you, and promptly file new cards when you receive them. "Everyone has their own memory triggers," she adds. "The way I categorize is by type of business because that's how I'll remember the person.”</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/03/21/the-cardinal-rules-of-properly-using-business-cards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

The Cardinal Rules of Properly Using Business Cards

The Cardinal Rules of Properly Using Business Cards It's time to elevate business cards from being perfunctory to a true professiona...

The 9 Top Jobs for Work-Life Balance

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The 9 Top Jobs for Work-Life Balance</h1>
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It is possible to find a job and have a life as well.</h2>
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With below average stress and plenty of flexibility, massage therapists come in third on our list of jobs that offer excellent work-life balance.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Most employees and business owners are always on and always working. Are there any jobs where work life is really balanced?</span></div>
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Work-life balance is a major consideration when looking for work. The Best Jobs of 2014 list features some strenuous occupations, but there are also jobs that may allow you to telecommute, work shorter hours and provide time for your hobbies and family.</div>
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If work-life balance is your first priority, consider these nine professions. Our editors gave each of these picks a qualitative rating score of below average or low for stress level, and a score of above average or high for flexibility.</div>
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<b></b><b>[See: <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/20-work-life-balance-hacks" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/20-work-life-balance-hacks">20 Work-Life Balance Hacks</a>.]</b></div>
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<b>1. Bookkeeping, Accounting and Audit Clerk</b><br />Stress Level: Low<br />Flexibility: Above Average</div>
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These professionals produce financial records for corporations, institutions and clients. Flexibility is above average, but some seasons may require longer shifts. Different industries and work environments might also require overtime work. For instance, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says those in an office setting will work more hours during audits, tax season and at the end of the fiscal year. Bookkeeping, accounting and audit clerks who work in hotels, restaurants and stores may clock overtime hours during holiday and vacation seasons. The stress level is low because<i> </i>clerks work alone often and can meet deadlines at their own pace.</div>
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<b>2. Landscaping and Groundskeeper</b><br />Stress Level: Low<br />Flexibility: Above Average</div>
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It’s no surprise this job has a low stress level – what could be more relaxing than planting flowers, trees and shrubs? The BLS says most grounds maintenance jobs are seasonal, with the most job opportunities in the spring, summer and fall months. If you take this job, make sure to be careful using heavy machinery like lawn mowers and chainsaws. Instances of injury and illness are higher than usual in this line of the work, according to the BLS.</div>
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<b>3. Massage Therapist</b><br />Stress Level: Below Average<br />Flexibility: Above Average</div>
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These professionals promote wellness with every touch. They relieve pain and assist in rehabilitating injuries, improving circulation, reducing stress and increasing relaxation. The job's stress level is below average, but it may be higher for self-employed therapists who balance business tasks with seeing clients. Most massage therapists book appointments, which gives them the flexibility to choose their schedule.</div>
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<b>[Read: <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/11/27/the-best-cures-for-workplace-stress" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/11/27/the-best-cures-for-workplace-stress">The Best Cures for Workplace Stress</a>.]</b></div>
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<b>4. Office Clerk</b><br />Stress Level: Below Average<br />Flexibility: Above Average</div>
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Office clerks work across industries, fulfilling duties such as answering phone calls, scheduling, sorting and delivering mail, and preparing memos and communication. According to the BLS, tasks are very general – which results in a below-average stress level – but there is variety in everyday work, depending on the industry and environment. One plus: Office clerks rarely need to take their work home.</div>
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<b>5. Optician</b><br />Stress Level: Below Average<br />Flexibility: Above Average</div>
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Tasked with making sure glasses or contacts fit comfortably, opticians work in eyewear stores or departments, medical clinics and ophthalmologist and optometrist offices. Flexibility is above average because this is a job with abundant part-time openings, but keep in mind opticians in retail establishments may work evenings and weekends. The stress level is below average, as long as opticians don't have to deal with irritated or impatient customers.</div>
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<b>6. Physical Therapist</b><br />Stress Level: Below Average<br />Flexibility: Above Average</div>
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Physical therapists are responsible for helping patients rehabilitate from simple sprains and strains, plus more complex pain and injuries. The stress level is below average for therapists working in environments with support staff to handle administrative and general tasks. This job can be labor intensive, however, and PTs may feel tired after working on their feet all day and lifting or assisting patients. However, most physical therapists work normal business hours, so they get the evenings and weekends to rest.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/02/21/the-9-top-jobs-for-work-life-balance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

The 9 Top Jobs for Work-Life Balance

The 9 Top Jobs for Work-Life Balance It is possible to find a job and have a life as well. With below average stress and plenty of f...

The Do's and Don'ts of Job Searching While Employed

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The Do's and Don'ts of Job Searching While Employed</h1>
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The best practices for finding a new job without losing your current one.</h2>
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Wait until you're off the clock because trying to hide your job search at the office is not the best idea.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">When you start one job, it’s expected that sooner or later you’ll leave it to begin another. And yet, few people – or few practical people – leave an old job voluntarily before finding a new one. Most of us stealthily search for a new placement while still keeping up appearances at our old one. Well, "stealthily" is a stretch – in reality, we’re botching up our reputation while making a sloppy and obvious attempt to find new work.</span></div>
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Here are some do’s and don’ts for finding a new job when you still are working hard at your current gig.</div>
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<b>[See: </b><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-25-best-jobs-of-2014" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;"><b>The 25 Best Jobs of 2014</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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<b>Don’t take advantage of company resources. </b>You need to carve out personal time to job hunt, because using your time on the clock or any of your current job’s resources to look for new work is a huge no-no. This includes the obvious, like not sending job materials from your work email and not lurking on job boards using your company’s Wi-Fi, but it also extends to the less-than-apparent. “Sometimes you’ll have someone who has been with a company for a while, and so they’ve forgotten that their cellphone is company property, and then they use it for a phone interview,” says Martin Yate, author of the Knock ‘em Dead book series, including “Knock ‘em Dead Social Networking: For Job Search and Professional Success.” “Companies have ways of tracking use of their equipment, and if your employer finds out you’re using equipment to look for a job, it will not be a good day for you."</div>
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Susan Heathfield is a management consultant, co-owner of TechSmith Corporation and writer for the human resources section on About.com. She recalls a time when sending a paper résumé via snail mail was the only submission option. "These days everything is digital, and job hunting is no longer dependent on an 8 to 5 time frame," she says. "There's no excuse for misusing your employer's resources. Apply for jobs at home at 6 p.m. or 2 a.m., even."</div>
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<b>Do devote yourself to your current job. </b>“When we make the decision to move, we mentally and emotionally quit the job we’re doing,” Yate says. In reality, you should do the opposite: Work hard, meet and exceed expectations, and be an all-around upstanding employee during the time you have left. It's professional and reinforces your current job security. “Think about how a company handles layoffs,” Yate suggests. “Usually, there’s no sniff that a layoff is coming downwind. You should treat your handling of your current job the same.”</div>
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About eight months ago, Erik Devaney joined HubSpot, a marketing and sales software company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He landed his current position as a content strategist after a competitive job search and while working full time for a real estate marketing company. "You don't want to leave a company burning bridges," he says. "Don't discount that managers know other managers within your community. If you slack off at your current job, then news of you not being a top performer could spread to the company where you're seeking a new job."</div>
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<b>Don’t show your hand on social media. </b>You’ll have to network. And using LinkedIn is crucial – it’s “the big honey pot for recruiters,” according to Yate – but remember to be covert, lest your current boss becomes suspicious with an uptick in your activity. If you’re planning a massive renovation of your profile, then Yate suggests picking a lower traffic time, like late at night on a weekend. And most important: Modify your broadcast settings so your connections aren’t alerted of every LinkedIn update you make, regardless of day of the week or time of day. To do so, go to the Privacy & Settings page, and adjust the activity your connections can see and receive alerts about.</div>
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<b>[See: </b><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/16-things-youre-doing-all-wrong-on-linkedin" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;"><b>16 Things You’re Doing All Wrong on LinkedIn</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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<b>Do make smart connections early. </b>The time to build your list of references and referrals isn’t when you’re desperate to flee your current gig. “If you’re involved with these people ahead of time, they’re more likely to think of you when jobs are available,” Yate says. To do this, Yate recommends joining a few LinkedIn groups with people on the same professional level as you or people who are one or two stations higher. “Liking a comment just takes a moment, and then in a couple of days you can reach out privately to say, ‘I liked your comment and the point you made. Can we connect?’ You don’t need to introduce the notion that you’re looking for a job,” he says. “Instead, seek to increase your visibility.” Nurture a relationship with these people over time, and they'll think of you and refer you when an interesting opportunity comes along</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/07/10/the-dos-and-donts-of-job-searching-while-employed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

The Do's and Don'ts of Job Searching While Employed

The Do's and Don'ts of Job Searching While Employed The best practices for finding a new job without losing your current one. ...

3 Ways to Make Your Difficult Boss Love You

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3 Ways to Make Your Difficult Boss Love You</h1>
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How to build a more positive working relationship with your manager.</h2>
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Always own up to mistakes, and be open to feedback.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">When working with a</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-things-only-bad-bosses-say" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-things-only-bad-bosses-say">difficult boss</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">, it can seem like nothing is in your control and like you don’t have the power to effect positive change in your working relationship. But nothing could be further from the truth. Instead of being reactive or passive, use these three techniques to make your boss love you:</span></div>
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<b>1. Stop trying to prove yourself.</b> When you’re being put down or are not receiving the feedback you want, it’s tempting to try to show how good – no, great! – you are. Resist the temptation. And it’s hard, but try not to be defensive to your boss, even when you think his or her words are unfair. You don’t want to be at war when you’re on the same team.</div>
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Instead, change your mindset, and go from closed to open. Rather than retreating or advancing when things don’t go your way, try to stay present and put yourself in a learning mindset. Leadership – both managing up and managing down – is about empowering people to be their best. When you realize that, it takes a lot of pressure off and makes the adage “make your boss look good” much easier to execute. Every project or interaction can be an opportunity to expand your influence.</div>
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<b>2. Write sample scripts between you and your boss.</b> Always say the wrong thing? Wish you said something else? Can’t think of anything to say at all? When we’re put in difficult or <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/09/16/how-to-toughen-up-at-work/*" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">conflict-oriented situations</a>, it can be nerve-wracking to stay in control and ensure the conversation goes in a positive direction.</div>
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Use the script technique to imagine past and future conversations with your boss and ideal ways to respond. Start with writing down past conversations that you think didn’t go well, and then rewrite your response. Using your learning mindset, brainstorm ways to respond in a respectful and open manner. Here is an example script:</div>
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Boss: "You seem overly quiet in most meetings."</div>
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<i>Your past responses:</i></div>
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"OK … Um …" <i>Or: </i>"Really, it's just the meetings you are leading – because you are leading them. I do my best to learn from your example, then I use some of your <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/30/do-you-know-how-to-run-a-meeting" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/30/do-you-know-how-to-run-a-meeting">style in meetings</a> in which I am the lead or facilitator."</div>
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<i>Your new, better response:</i></div>
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"OK, that's good to know. I really appreciate the feedback, and I'd love to learn from these conversations. What are the best ways I can be responsive during the meetings?"</div>
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Do you see the difference? In the first response, you are retreating. In the second, you are advancing. In the final response, you are present and open to learning. Most of us think these types of negotiations have to be heavy-handed, but research shows the opposite is true. Positivity combined with a proactive approach is much more successful.</div>
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Once you’ve finished scripting past conversations, practice your proactive responses out loud, and see how you feel. Then repeat the process, imagining future conversations and what you would like to say. Practice out loud once again, and continue to do so until the words feel natural.</div>
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<b>3. Own up, and show up. </b>Own up to the fact that you don't know everything, and that's OK. Own up to yourself, to your team and to your boss. Own up to the fact that you will <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/27/4-mistakes-of-career-experts-and-what-you-can-learn-from-them" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">make mistakes</a>. Once again, write out a script to own up to something that’s been bothering you. Here’s a sample script from someone who is having trouble finding his or her confidence as a full-time employee after months of working on a consulting basis:</div>
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"I'm excited to be full-time and look forward to rocking out [xyz]. I'm still new at this and will be testing different ways of doing things. Some of those things will work out, and some won't. As we move forward, I'm excited to work together and get your feedback to make this project a success."</div>
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And then you show up and do the work. You show up. You don’t worry or hold back. You show up and work on what matters. If something goes wrong, own up again: </div>
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"Just wanted to let you know that I know that didn't go too well today, but I've already got a plan on how to do it better next time. If you have <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/07/11/how-am-i-doing-6-tips-for-getting-in-depth-performance-feedback" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">additional feedback</a>, let me know."</div>
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The "own up, and show up technique" puts into practice both your learning mindset and your sample scripts. As you move throughout your workday, you’ll practice being both positive and proactive.</div>
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Each technique on its own will produce powerful results, but when combined, you’ll find they'll give you a huge edge in dealing with your difficult boss and conflict-oriented situations. Instead of feeling powerless, you’ll regain confidence and enjoy work again.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/24/3-ways-to-make-your-difficult-boss-love-you" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

3 Ways to Make Your Difficult Boss Love You

3 Ways to Make Your Difficult Boss Love You How to build a more positive working relationship with your manager. Always own up to mist...