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How Millennial Employees Can Embrace Older Colleagues

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How Millennial Employees Can Embrace Older Colleagues</h1>
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These tips will help bring harmony to the trio of generations in your office.</h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">The presence of millennials in the U.S. workforce is set to rapidly increase, according to a 2012 study from the University of North Carolina. Next year, millennials, usually defined as those born between the early 1980s and 2001, will comprise 34 percent of workers. By 2020, that number will jump to 46 percent.</span></div>
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Working alongside millennials will be baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) and Generation Xers (usually defined as those born between the mid-60s to early 80s). While relations between the older and younger generations in some areas are healthy, in others, there's a real rift. For example, a recent study by The Hartford, a financial services group, showed that millennials resent some baby boomers for not retiring earlier, thus preventing millennials from getting hired or promoted. Meanwhile, the same survey showed 74 percent of Gen Xers agreed that the "entitlement generation" is an appropriate nickname for millennials.</div>
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While some resentment may last, there are ways millennials, also known as Generation Y, can grow from having a quality relationship with their senior co-workers. We've detailed some below.</div>
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<strong>Be a good listener. </strong>Lending your ear can pay dividends, especially if you've run into a problem that your knowledge can't resolve. Also, don't perceive seeking advice as an admission of weakness or inexperience. "It doesn't mean that you're not fully capable of executing on your own, but getting diverse perspectives at any age is always going to be valuable to your success," says Lindsey Pollak, a millennial generation expert and author of "Getting from College to Career."</div>
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<strong>[Read: <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/11/14/8-things-millennial-job-seekers-do-that-we-all-need-to-try" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">8 Things Millennial Job Seekers Do That We All Need to Try</a>.]</strong></div>
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<strong>Strike up a mentorship. </strong>Your company may have a mentorship program that matches up employees from different generations. Or you can take a less formal route and find one or two senior co-workers to regularly chat with over coffee or lunch. Through these interactions, millennials can get "a leg up in terms of the ability to learn about the culture of the company, the ins and outs of the politics that are going on [and] general business etiquette," says Lisa Orrell, a California-based consultant who specializes in generational dynamics in the workforce. Fortunately, many millennials like the idea of a mentor. MTV's 2012 "No Collar Workers" survey showed that three-fourths of millennials would like to have a mentor and eight out of 10 want feedback from their boss.</div>
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<strong>Recognize the experience older generations have on your peers.</strong> Orrell warns about the perils of only interacting with co-workers in your age bracket, or as she phrases it, staying in the "millennial cocoon." "You don't expand your horizons," she says. "It's hard to learn how to be an effective leader, manager, communicator [and] how to work in high-pressure situations if you're only making your workforce peer group people who are the same age as you." Increasingly, Gen Yers are aware and appreciative of the exhaustive résumé a more senior colleague may have. According to The Hartford survey, 90 percent of millennials agree that baby boomers bring substantial experience and knowledge to the workplace.</div>
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<strong>[See: <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/mutual-funds/slideshows/12-surprising-facts-about-boomer-retirement" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">12 Surprising Facts About Boomer Retirement</a>.]</strong></div>
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<strong>Appreciate the values of baby boomers.</strong> According to Meredith Wells-Lepley, director of research and consulting at the University of Kentucky's Institute for Workplace and Innovation, boomers "are known to be really hardworking and really loyal to their organization." EY, the professional services firm formerly known as Ernst & Young, conducted a generations survey of 1,215 company professionals throughout the U.S in June. The survey found that managers and non-managers from all three generations gave boomers high marks for being hardworking (73 percent) and team players (56 percent). By contrast, millennials scored highest in three out of four negative traits in the survey, including being most difficult to work with (36 percent) and entitled (68 percent).</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/11/07/how-millennial-employees-can-embrace-older-colleagues" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How Millennial Employees Can Embrace Older Colleagues

How Millennial Employees Can Embrace Older Colleagues These tips will help bring harmony to the trio of generations in your office. ...

9 Tips for Starting a Business While Working Full Time

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9 Tips for Starting a Business While Working Full Time</h1>
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There is a way to juggle your current responsibilities with your growing aspirations.</h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">With the Fourth of July this week, perhaps you’re thinking of your own independence. Have you considered</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-business-jobs" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: null">starting an entrepreneurial venture</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">? You would be in good company. Since 2011, the overall number of independent workers has grown more than 15 percent, to 17.7 million, according to a survey from the business services firm MBO Partners</span><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2014/0608/Rise-of-the-flex-economy" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2014/0608/Rise-of-the-flex-economy"></a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">. If you aren’t ready to leave your existing job (or salary) at this time, you’ll want to make some carefully considered plans to plot out your future move.</span></div>
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Karla Trotman, owner of BellyButtonBoutique.com, an online business with a global clientele, launched her business while working full time. Here are her tips to help you do the same:</div>
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<b>Keep track of your ideas</b>. Trotman suggests you carry a notebook to record your thoughts, ideas and inspirations. As your idea takes shape, you can refer back to the points from your brainstorming sessions. “My notebook became the basis of my business plan," she says. "I wrote in it <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 my lunch hour</a> or while waiting for the kids to finish their activities. The notebook lived in my purse and I would pull it out whenever I had to get an idea out of my head and onto paper.”</div>
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<b>Leverage your library</b>. “Google is great, but the library is awesome,” Trotman says. Visit a university or community college library, or see if your local system runs a business library. Ask the librarians to direct you to resources to find information pertinent to the business that you're about to start. “You will want to know who your competition is, what products and services are available but do not have wide spread distribution, what demographic is best to target, etc.," Trotman says. "Library professionals are trained in the art of utilizing databases that are not available to the masses. Hoovers and Mergent are great resources that you cannot access without a subscription, however many educational institutions and public libraries do provide access.”</div>
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<b>Read business books</b>. “When I launched my business, I devoured any and all books that had to do with online business, search engine optimization, social media and small business," Trotman explains. "Six years later, I'm still reading and its helped not only my business, but also my family's 28-year-old manufacturing firm. Knowledge is power and books are the key.”</div>
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<b>Avoid distractions</b>. When you’re planning your<b> </b><a class="" href="http://www.keppiecareers.com/start-business-side-working/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.keppiecareers.com/start-business-side-working/">business on the side</a><b></b>,<a href="http://www.keppiecareers.com/start-business-side-working/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.keppiecareers.com/start-business-side-working/"></a> it’s tempting to sit down in front of the TV or to spend hours aimlessly reading Facebook updates after working a full day. You’ll need discipline if you want to launch your own business, so don’t let yourself fall down the proverbial rabbit hole when it’s time to get some work done.</div>
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<b>Be selective when choosing confidants</b>. “There were people who pretty much laughed at me when I told them my idea for my online store," Trotman says. "Had I not been so driven, I would have quit.”</div>
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<b>Plan for launch</b>. Once you’ve researched your client base and competition, investigated all of the ins and outs of your business idea and decided that entrepreneurship is for you, put a launch date on your calendar and schedule your deliverables backward. Trotman explains that she wanted to launch her website on August 8, 2008. "My registration, website creation, supplier agreements, packaging, branding and everything required for the launch needed to be ready by that date," she says. "By establishing a hard finish, I kept the project from lingering. I got everything done from start to finish in four months.” It may take you more or less time, depending on your plans and schedule, but the important thing is to give yourself a deadline.</div>
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<b>Invest in professional-looking visuals</b>. “People want to know that you are a legitimate business.<a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/04/30/7-key-elements-of-a-great-personal-branding-statement" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/04/30/7-key-elements-of-a-great-personal-branding-statement">You can't pull that off</a> with a ClipArt logo and a website that looks like your seven-year old designed it,” Trotman says. She suggests exhibiting professionalism and polishing anything related to your brand or business.</div>
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<b>Seek and implement systems</b>. For example, if your business will require someone to answer the phone, make sure you set it up ahead of time so you aren’t stuck trying to respond to calls when you’re at work. “I use Solid Cactus as my call center," Trotman says. "They created a Wikipage for their staff and have answers to all of the most frequently asked questions. They can also access parts of my ordering system and will elevate any issues they cannot handle on their own. Utilizing this service, which only costs around $75 per month has given me more free time.”</div>
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<b>Network and attend conferences</b>. <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/09/04/the-secret-to-juggling-a-9-to-5-job-with-an-entrepreneurial-venture" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">It can be a challenge</a> to work all day, run your business and network, too. Conferences can be expensive for a startup owner. However, you never know what you can learn when you spend time with like-minded individuals who are driven similarly and dedicated to the growth of their businesses. Trotman also benefitted from connecting with a group of other women who were also starting businesses. “Most of my friends couldn't relate to my entrepreneurial vision, so it was nice to have a core group that understood my journey," she explains. "A few years later, members of the same group shared their media connections. One connection even helped me land a monthly feature on the evening news in my city.” When you network, make sure you make a point to give as much as you take.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/02/9-tips-for-starting-a-business-while-working-full-time" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

9 Tips for Starting a Business While Working Full Time

9 Tips for Starting a Business While Working Full Time There is a way to juggle your current responsibilities with your growing aspirati...

Don't Quit Your Job Until You’ve Accepted a New One

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Don't Quit Your Job Until You’ve Accepted a New One</h1>
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Yet to accept a formal job offer? Here are four reasons why you ought to stick around.</h2>
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Hold it! If you leave without a new job secured, you'll be at risk for prolonged unemployment.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Have you ever been tempted to quit your job even though you don’t have another one lined up yet? Maybe you’re sure you’re about to</span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;"> </span><a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/02/how-to-evaluate-a-job-offer" style="color: #005ea6; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/06/02/how-to-evaluate-a-job-offer">get an offer</a><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">, or maybe you just can’t stand working for your current boss. It can be tempting to give your notice on the spot, but it can also be an enormous mistake if you don’t have another job formally locked in yet.</span></div>
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Here’s why you should never resign from your job until you have an official job offer – one that you’ve finished negotiating and have accepted.</div>
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<b>1. It might take you a lot longer than you think to find a new job.</b> If you expect to find another job within a couple of months, think again. Finding another job can take a long time – often much longer than job seekers expect. In fact, in this market, it’s not uncommon for a <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/28/5-ways-to-modernize-your-job-search" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/07/28/5-ways-to-modernize-your-job-search">job search</a> to take a year or more. That means if you quit your job without first securing another, you might end up with a large gap on your resume, which can make it harder to get hired. It can also drain your savings and leave you in a precarious financial position – one where the pressure to find another job will quickly become greater than ever.</div>
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<b>2. It's much easier to get another job when you're still employed.</b> Rightly or wrongly, most employers prefer to hire people who are already employed. Many assume that people who quit their jobs without another lined up did so because they were either fired or about to be fired. Or they may think the candidate walked away when things got tough, which <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/21/9-ways-to-make-your-new-boss-regret-hiring-you" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/04/21/9-ways-to-make-your-new-boss-regret-hiring-you">worries managers</a>, because every job has challenges. That doesn’t mean it’s an instant deal-breaker, but it’s highly likely to raise questions from employers and potentially make your job search harder.</div>
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<b>3. The job offer you’re counting on might fall through.</b> Sometimes job seekers are so sure that an offer is forthcoming that they go ahead and give notice to their current employers. Sometimes this works out just fine, but other times it ends badly when the offer falls through. And if you’ve already given notice, your current employer may have already made plans to replace you, or they might not be willing to let you rescind your notice – which can leave you without the old or <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings">new job</a>. Because of that risk, you should never resign until you have an official offer in hand from your new employer – not a promise that an offer is coming, not very good signs that seem like they’re leading somewhere – but an actual, formal offer. Better yet, wait until you’ve <i>accepted</i> that formal offer, because otherwise it’s possible that your negotiations could fall apart.</div>
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<b>4. You might not pass the background check.</b> Sometimes an employer might tell you that a new job is a done deal, but you’ll notice fine print in the offer letter that says it’s contingent on you passing a background check or reference check. Even if you’re confident both of those will go fine, that’s never guaranteed. Sometimes mistakes are made in background checks, or a reference call doesn’t go quite the way you assumed it would. Until any contingencies like these are cleared, your offer could still hit a snag, which means you might not want to risk <a class="" href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/12/how-to-know-its-time-to-leave-your-job" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/02/12/how-to-know-its-time-to-leave-your-job">resigning your job</a> at this stage.</div>
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Perhaps a new employer pressures you to give notice while the offer still has contingencies attached to it. In that case, explain that while you don’t expect any problems with references or in the background check, you’re not comfortable giving notice until the offer is finalized. You can say something like, “As soon as the offer is firm and without contingencies, I’ll be able to give my employer two weeks notice. But I can’t resign my job until the new one is certain.”</div>
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<i>Are there any times when it’s OK to resign without a new job?</i></div>
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There are a few limited circumstances when it might make sense to quit your job before you’ve secured a new one: if you’re being subjected to egregiously abusive or harassing treatment, if your safety is being compromised or if you’re being pressured to do anything illegal, unethical or unsafe. But aside from those limited cases, you’re far better off job searching while you’re still employed.</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/11/dont-quit-your-job-until-youve-accepted-a-new-one" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Don't Quit Your Job Until You’ve Accepted a New One

Don't Quit Your Job Until You’ve Accepted a New One Yet to accept a formal job offer? Here are four reasons why you ought to stick a...

How the Holiday Season May Make You a Better Employee

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How the Holiday Season May Make You a Better Employee</h1>
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Close out the year on a productive and generous note.</h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">Between Thanksgiving and the New Year, the glacial-like work pace in some offices may cause employees to slack off. On the other hand, they may use the period to catch up on work that has long been on the backburner. According to a 2012 survey of 3,000 U.S. workers by Regus, an office space company, 58 of percent of business employees think staff will use the time over the holidays to catch up on unfinished tasks.</span></div>
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But your productivity doesn't have to taper off or be strictly relegated to overdue work. Rather, finding new projects that "require creative and deep thinking are perfect for this time of year," says Lynn Taylor, workplace expert and author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant."</div>
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By tapping into your holiday cheer, here are some ways you can become a more productive, thoughtful employee before the year closes.</div>
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<strong>Get close to your boss. </strong>Swamped with work, your boss may have passed on requests for one-on-one meetings during the year. But with both of your schedules opening up, you may finally have a chance to capture his or her attention. "Your availability during the holiday season can really be a rare opportunity to brainstorm [with your boss] about new initiatives or even gain traction on your existing ones," Taylor says.</div>
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<strong>[See: <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/10-things-only-bad-bosses-say" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">10 Things Only Bad Bosses Say</a>.]</strong></div>
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<strong>Establish ties with a mentor. </strong>If you can't get close to your boss, try to forge a bond with a seasoned co-worker whose work you've always admired. Since each of you have some spare time, book that coveted meeting to find out what you're doing right and what you can do better. "Get some feedback as to how they see your performance, and gain some ideas from somebody who you respect and get their take on what you might focus on in the next year," says Anna Ranieri, career counselor and co-author of "How Can I Help?"</div>
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<strong>Spread knowledge. </strong>If you're an avid reader of material surrounding current and future trends in your industry, pass along important links to your boss, colleagues and clients. According to Taylor, sharing substantive information "shows that you have leadership qualities because you can mentor others on what's happening." Moreover, your boss, preoccupied with meetings or frequent travel, will appreciate you sending articles he or she would never have time to dig up.</div>
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<strong>Carefully consider additional time off. </strong>With family coming from out of town or your kids having a swarm of school holiday activities during work hours, the opportunity to take days off will be inviting. But your employer should provide you with a fair amount of time off. According to a Bloomberg BNA survey from last year, 58 percent of 628 employers scheduled at least three paid days off for the 2012-2013 holiday season, up from 42 percent in 2011-2012 and 36 percent in 2010-2011. Before requesting additional time off, it's a good idea to consider staff needs and current projects.</div>
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<strong>[Read: <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/11/21/the-top-10-holiday-aggravations-at-work" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;">The Top 10 Holiday Aggravations at Work</a>.]</strong></div>
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<strong>Cover for a colleague.</strong> Inundated with personal activities, a co-worker may need some additional time off. If you're lacking personal obligations and don't mind putting in some extra hours, volunteer your services. "That's a great way to sort of build teamwork with people and gain further standing in the group by offering to do something for somebody who can't be there," Ranieri says.</div>
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<strong>Be flexible on your raise. </strong>Having put in some excellent work over the course of the year, you may be set on asking for a raise. But if the company you work for is in a financial slump and your personal finances are in good shape, you may want to hold off. Raise the issue with your boss and try to pinpoint when it will be financially feasible for the company to increase salaries. "Sometimes people have to moderate their own desires for the good of the team," Ranieri says.</div>
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<strong>Invite everyone to a holiday event. </strong>As the organizer of a potluck or a lunch out with co-workers, you may be tempted to exclude one or two colleagues you don't like. Instead, take the high road and invite everyone, and don't rule out the possibility of stirring up a conversation that mends fences. "By being inclusive, you might even start a new leaf with someone you've had conflict with throughout the year," Taylor says. "You can even use this as an opportunity to reach out to people who have been difficult to work with."</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/11/20/how-the-holiday-season-may-make-you-a-better-employee" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

How the Holiday Season May Make You a Better Employee

How the Holiday Season May Make You a Better Employee Close out the year on a productive and generous note. Between Thanksgiving an...

What's the Best Résumé Format for You?

The best résumé format for you depends on your work history and career goals.</P><P>Not all résumés are created equal – and they shouldn’t be. There are different formats out there that are accepted by recruiters. Consider your professional history carefully before deciding which one to use. Use the guide below to decide if you are using the right type of résumé for your background and career goals. </P><P><B>Chronological Format. </B>The traditional chronological résumé presents employment history from the perspective of time. This is the format to use if you have a consistent employment history without gaps, and you are trying to land a job similar to the one you have now. You can’t go wrong with a chronological résumé, since it’s the most common and widely accepted.</P><P>If you have a short period when you were a stay-at-home parent or went to graduate school, you should include that in the résumé rather than leaving a gap. Holes mean questions, and if the questions aren’t answered on the paper, it’s unlikely the recruiter will take the time to call you for an interview to find out why you weren’t working during a certain period. If you held many jobs for a short period and are worried about perceptions, you might consider including a brief and diplomatic explanation for why you left each company. </P><P><B>Functional Format. </B>If you have a minimal work history, gaps in employment or have frequently jumped around to different jobs types, this might be the right layout for you. It also works well for career changers. The functional format is set up to demonstrate your skills through your accomplishments. For example, if you’ve employed customer service skills at several jobs, you can use this as one of your skill headlines. Below the headline, include bullets that point to your key achievements related to that skill. It’s important to not use cliche phrases in your bullets, because your intention should be to show how you’ve exhibited the skill rather than tell. </P><P>You should also include a professional or work experience section, in which you list your place of employment, job title, location and dates. However, bullets with your achievements will fall under each skill headline at the top rather than below each job. </P><P><B>Combined Format. </B>The combined format can be useful for those who are switching careers, especially those in more senior positions or with longer career histories. As the name suggests, it is a blend of the functional and chronological résumé. This format allows you to translate your skills to the language of the new job or career field. You want to focus the recruiter’s attention on your skills relevant to the job at hand. </P><P>Below the skills and accomplishments, as with the functional résumé, you should include a professional experience portion where you list basic information for current and prior jobs. With this format, you can also include bullets below each position that reflect achievements that didn’t fit in to a specific skill category above. Even if you are a senior executive, you should still avoid including every single piece of information. Only use the most pertinent facts to keep it concise and readable. </P><P><B>Visual Résumés.</B> Nontraditional résumés have become popular recently. These types of résumés use graphics and other media to present information about the job applicant. While this is a way to stand out from the candidate crowd, many companies still want to see a traditional résumé. A story résumé might make sense for a person in a creative field, such as advertising, social media or communications – but probably not for an attorney. It’s worth researching a company’s culture before you send your résumé,  and it’s always a good idea to include a traditional version. </P><P>No matter which format you choose, make sure you include your name and how to get in contact with you. Education is another must. Other information, such as professional affiliations, volunteer work, languages and technical skills should be included if they are appropriate for the job you’re applying to. That information can also be helpful if you need to fill out your résumé more, like if you are an entry-level candidate. </P><P>In all cases, you should think about including a brief career summary at the top. This should be restricted to a few lines that tell the recruiter you fulfill the required (and possibly preferred) qualifications. The way to do this is to write how you meet the most essential credentials, which are usually listed first in a job description. </P><P>Choosing the right format is important, because your résumé is your chance to get your foot in the door. The traditional format might be hurting rather than helping you. If the person reading it cannot understand why you are applying to a job in the retail industry after spending 10 years in accounting, she is not going to take the time to reach out to you to find out why. Make sure it’s clear in your résumé why you are a good fit, which may require highlighting your skills up front instead of burying accomplishments under each job. </P><P><B><B>Marcelle Yeager</B></B> is the president of Career Valet, which delivers personalized career navigation services. Her goal is to enable people to recognize skills and job possibilities they didn’t know they had to make a career change or progress in their current career. She worked for more than 10 years as a strategic communications consultant, including four years overseas. Marcelle holds an MBA from the University of Maryland.<BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/04/whats-the-best-resume-format-for-you" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

What's the Best Résumé Format for You?

The best résumé format for you depends on your work history and career goals. Not all résumés are created equal – and they shouldn’t be. Th...

3 Keys to Finding Your Perfect Career

Jealous of people who are good at what they do and actually enjoy it, too? Follow their lead.</P><P>Are you in the right job for you? If not, you aren't alone. According to Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace report, 70 percent of American workers are either "not engaged" or "actively disengaged" in their work. The 2013 Philips Work/Life Survey states that 68 percent of working Americans would be willing to take a salary cut to work in a job that better applied their personal interests.</P><P>How can you find a role that is a good fit for you and your personality? With the advice to “do what you love” and “follow your passion” abounding online, many strive to match their vocations with their personal interests in an effort to be happier at work. Conventional wisdom suggests that people who are good at and enjoy what they do – while they may be in the minority – are happier and more successful in their jobs.</P><P>How can you be one of those people? Philip Hardin is the CEO of YouScience, a scientific, online profile that measures aptitudes and interests and helps students set a direction for their educations and careers. He believes the key to taking control of your career path is finding a career at the intersection of what you’re good at (aptitudes), what you love to do (interests) and what the market needs you to do (opportunity). These are his tips to help identify your path:</P><P><B>1. Understand your aptitudes. </B>Hardin defines aptitudes as the foundation for skill development. He asks: “Have you noticed how easy it is for you to acquire skills in certain areas, while in others – no matter how hard you try – you end up average?" Understanding your natural aptitudes allows you to play to your strengths and focus on those areas that will give you a true competitive advantage. “Everyone could use a competitive advantage in this tight job market, but every career requires a different blend of natural aptitudes.</P><P>It’s easy to assess your basic skills. For example, are you a strong communicator, or are you good at math? Read job descriptions carefully and map your skills to what the employers want. Some skills are a little less obvious. Do you think in 3D? (What are your spatial relations skills?) How quickly can you diagnose and critique a problem? (Do you have inductive reasoning capabilities?) Knowing your unique portfolio of aptitudes provides you with a foundation to help target your education, skill development and career.</P><P><B>2. Identify your interests. </B>Wouldn’t it be ideal if you could do what you love at work? Challenges to this proposition, which include not being very good at what you love and there being few prospects in the field you love, can make it tough to accomplish this goal. Hardin notes: “Doing what you love is one important piece of the career puzzle, but your interests are relative to your experience. Your interests evolve over time as you gain life experiences. They are important when considering a career, because they influence your choices and should direct how you apply your natural aptitudes.”</P><P><B>3. Find the opportunities. </B>The marketplace is constantly changing on an international, national and local level. Whether you are 18 or 50, before you focus on a particular career, it’s a good idea to assess the landscape and opportunities. “Is the tide coming in or out for a particular industry or occupation? You have a set of natural aptitudes and interests; it is your job to find out how best to apply them," Hardin says. "The job market is a moving target. If you are stagnant, it will hurt you.”</P><P>Don’t worry, you don’t need to get out your crystal ball or hone clairvoyant abilities to succeed. However, you do need to recognize when the world is changing. When you plan to invest in a career, take a long-term view. What does the job growth look like for a career 10 years from now, and what skills are required to compete? Keep your eyes open to trends, and read news in your industry. Ask people in fields that interest you what they believe to be the trends that will affect the industry and work.</P><P>Hardin suggests: “When doing your research, be sure to think globally, and try to understand how changing demographics and technology might affect your industry.” Position yourself to take advantage of opportunities as a result of new technology.</P><P>Awareness is a big step in the right career direction. Focus on your skills and how they fit the market that interests you, and you’ll be on a quicker path to job search success.</P><P><B>Miriam Salpeter</B>, owner of<B> </B>Keppie Careers, is often quoted in major media outlets for her job search and social media expertise. Author of three books and a sought-after speaker and coach, she leverages her extensive background and successes to teach job seekers and entrepreneurs how to easily use social media marketing<B> </B>to accomplish their career and business goals. Salpeter also provides strategic advice and support regarding interviewing, résumé writing and personal branding.<BR></P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/08/13/3-keys-to-finding-your-perfect-career" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

3 Keys to Finding Your Perfect Career

Jealous of people who are good at what they do and actually enjoy it, too? Follow their lead. Are you in the right job for you? If not, you...

How to Leave Your Internship Like a Boss

Before you hit the exits, spend some time gathering feedback and saying thank you.</P><P>Ah, the thankless job of an intern: lots of hustle with little glory and even less (if any) payment. For your next gig, do you want to be a full-time, paid employee instead of an intern? Act like you already are. As you leave your internship, show the confidence to make connections, humility to say thank you and pride to finish your work strong. This maturity and professionalism will leave a lasting impression on your co-workers, who will remember your name when opportunities crop up in the future. </P><P>In essence: Act like the boss you want to be. Here's how:</P><P><B>Don't slack off. </B>Maybe you're giddy about returning to campus. Or if you're out of school, maybe you're distracted with finding your next job or internship. But showing decreased enthusiasm at the end of your internship, or worse – leaving assignments incomplete – is a major no-no. Plus, you really don't want to slack off as you ask your boss to write a letter of recommendation, says Lauren Berger, CEO of InternQueen.com, a website that connects young people with internships and career advice, and author of "Welcome to the Real World." "Until the end of the last day of that internship, you need to put 100 percent effort forward," she says.</P><P><B>[See: The Top 10 Intern Mistakes.]</B></P><P><B>Do something noteworthy.</B> Go out with a bang, says Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert. She suggests creating a manual of your job responsibilities, along with a step-by-step workbook of your daily activities. This may help whoever inherits your duties and will leave a lasting impression with your boss, she says<STRIKE></STRIKE>, adding that you should make every effort to complete pending projects. Offer to answer questions about your duties after you've left, which Gottsman says will show your co-workers and boss that you genuinely care about the company and want everything to run smoothly.</P><P><B>Ask for feedback. </B>Exit evaluations are built into some internship programs, but if that's not the case for yours, have a 15-minute meeting with your boss before you leave. Ask about your performance and your strengths and weaknesses, suggests Yair Riemer, chief marketing officer at Internships.com. When discussing areas of improvement, thicken your skin and appreciate the value of the critique. "Constructive criticism is actually a good thing," Berger says. "It gives you something to work on, and it can help you really build your goals for your next professional experience." </P><P><B>Say thank you. </B>Berger suggests emailing co-workers to thank them for their involvement in your great internship experience. Provide your contact information, and snag their personal email addresses, in case they leave the company. Follow these emails with a handwritten note, which you should keep "short, sweet and to the point," she says. Thank them for their time, reference a special moment you shared and note that you'll be in touch. And then, of course, be in touch. Berger suggests shooting your colleagues a short note around the holidays and another in the spring, so they remember who you are and receive an update on your activities.</P><P><B>Express your interest in a future job (if you have such interest). </B>Don't assume this is a given. "You have to make sure your boss knows you want to work at that company," Berger says. "In a very polite and professional way, let the employer know that this is your dream job, and you're interested in pursuing a career at the company – if that's the case."</P><P><B>[See: The 25 Best Jobs of 2014.] </B></P><P><B>Secure a reference or two.</B> Listing references from this internship will show future employers that you were confident enough in your work to ask others to recommend you, Riemer says. But use some caution, he says, and confirm – don't assume – this person will happily vouch for you in the future. Always ask if he or she would feel comfortable serving as your reference first.</P><P><B>Ask for a letter of recommendation. </B>While a reference will speak on your behalf should a prospective employer call, a letter of recommendation is typically more useful for academic opportunities, like when applying to graduate schools, Riemer says. "I would really only save this for someone who you worked closely with," he says. "if it was a direct manager, and you worked with them everyday, and they told you were doing a good job and gave feedback, then I would definitely go for it."</P><P>The more time you can save this person as he or she composes your letter, the better. Send bullet points covering the work you've done or even a letter template, so he or she can fill in the gaps and sign it. Ask for the letter sooner rather than later, while you and your excellent achievements are fresh in the his or her mind. </P><P><B>Snag a LinkedIn endorsement. </B>While you're gathering affirmations of your hard work, make sure to get some LinkedIn love, too. Berger suggests first updating your profile to include your current internship. Then ask your boss to write a two- or three-sentence recommendation. Once again, the key is to make this task as quick and painless as possible for your boss. "Send them all the information," Berger says, mentioning hyperlinks and a sample recommendation. "So they have to make no more than like two or three clicks, and it's done." </P><P><B>[See: 16 Things You're Doing All Wrong on LinkedIn.]</B></P><P><B>After you leave, track your company.</B> Set up Google Alerts for your colleagues, company and company's clients, Berger suggests. That way you'll receive an email every time those names appear on the Web. Say the public relations firm you interned with works with Client Z, and you get an alert that Client Z was mentioned in The New York Times. Email your colleagues a congratulatory note on the client's good press. Or perhaps you're alerted when your former internship coordinator is promoted or quoted in a blog – another excuse to drop a line. Staying up to date "shows you're paying attention, you're doing your homework and still have great interest in the company," Berger says.</P><P><B>And finally, leave like a boss. </B>"Don't rush out of there in a hurry and leave like the building is on fire," Riemer says, pointing out that even if you're excited to go back to campus or begin new professional experiences, the internship shouldn't have just been a temp job or bullet on your résumé. The work you've done was, in part, to build a network. Leave your colleagues on a humble, thankful note. Gottsman adds, "before walking out the door, make one more round through the office and say a genuine goodbye. The extra effort will go a long way in building future goodwill."</P><br /><p><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/08/12/how-to-leave-your-internship-like-a-boss" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></p>

How to Leave Your Internship Like a Boss

Before you hit the exits, spend some time gathering feedback and saying thank you. Ah, the thankless job of an intern: lots of hustle with ...

Corporate Team-Building Activities: The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly

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Corporate Team-Building Activities: The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly</h1>
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Best practices so your office's team-building activity goes off without a hitch ... and a lawsuit.</h2>
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Effective team-building exercises should lead to new team skills and a sense of unity – not a trip to the emergency room.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">There are no i’s in team. There shouldn’t be broken bones, either.</span></div>
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But a company’s attempt to increase staff camaraderie by placing employees in out-of-the ordinary circumstances – blanketed under the pretense of team building – could do more team breaking. NPR’s "Morning Edition" recently reported on a Washington, D.C.-area company’s ill-begotten trip to a paintball range for a so-called team-building exercise – where the staff’s emotion and poor judgment took over. Many supervisors returned home having been pummeled with pellets and covered in welts.</div>
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If you’ve been charged with facilitating a team-building exercise for your department or company, you’ve got a tall task. These events now have a soiled reputation for being either too boring to make an impact or too extreme to come away unscathed, and managers with good intentions struggle to make the activity positive and meaningful. Lest your efforts become one more trust-fall-gone-wrong video on YouTube, take these tips to heart.</div>
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<b>[See: </b><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-best-team-building-exercises" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/slideshows/the-best-team-building-exercises"><b>The Best Team-Building Activities</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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First, you need a solid definition of what qualifies as team building. Shawn Dunning, director of the corporate team-building firm <a class="" href="http://www.adventureassoc.com/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.adventureassoc.com/">Adventure Associates Inc.,</a> in El Cerrito, California, says the term is extremely subjective. Still, there are core tenets: “A team-building activity is any positive, shared experience that reinforces positive, team skills,” says David Jacobson, founder of the New York City-based corporate entertainment and team-building company TrivWorks. “It has to have some form of structure and someone who has put it together with clearly defined goals.”</div>
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Are you hoping to improve employee relations, or do you want to help your staff develop a new skill? Decide your purpose and goals, and let them dictate the type of team building to try, Jacobson says. And while on the subject of type – unless your purpose is to endanger your colleagues, some activities are non grata.</div>
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For example, "there’s something called zorbing,” says Anne Thornley-Brown, founder and president of the Toronto-based management consulting firm <a class="" href="http://www.executiveoasis.com/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.executiveoasis.com/">Executive Oasis International</a>. “It’s this large clear ball that you can put one or two people inside and then push them down a hill. But there have been [recreational] instances where the ball has veered off course, and people have been killed.” Zorbing is a worst-case example, but generally team-building shouldn’t simulate violence, cause harm or humiliate participants.</div>
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<b>[Read: </b><a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/01/17/how-to-spot-bad-company-culture-" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/01/17/how-to-spot-bad-company-culture-"><b>How to Spot Bad Company Culture</b></a><b>.]</b></div>
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All physical activities aren’t off limits, though. Adventure Associates Inc. facilitates nationwide team-building activities, some of which get the blood pumping, like indoor rock climbing, geocaching and scavenger hunts. “We’re not doing picnic Olympics,” Dunning explains. “There isn’t a single activity in our repertoire that automatically leads to the most physically fit doing better than others.”</div>
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What’s important is that employees recognize the parallel between the activity and the workplace and that they’re appropriately challenged. “Every one of our programs includes a discussion with participants about their appropriate level of challenge,” Dunning says. “And challenge is important. Learning happens when you’re outside of your comfort zone.”</div>
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Jacobson’s company, <a class="" href="http://www.trivworks.com/" style="color: #005ea6; text-decoration: none;" title="Link: http://www.trivworks.com/">TrivWorks</a>, facilitates live trivia events for team building. This format fosters good-natured competition, a crucial component of effective team-building, according to Jacobson. His company’s events are also inclusive, even for employees who don't enjoy physical activity. “We offer live customized trivia for your group, your team goals and anyone can participate and engage,” he says.</div>
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Fun isn’t a dirty word, but remember team building isn’t strictly social. In other words, impromptu happy hours or the annual holiday party aren’t applicable. “Those are just nice add-ons,” Thornley-Brown explains. “It would be as if I invited you to dinner and served an appetizer or a dessert, but no actual meal.”</div>
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<a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/09/25/corporate-team-building-activities-the-good-the-bad-and-the-really-ugly/*" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the original article here</a></div>

Corporate Team-Building Activities: The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly

Corporate Team-Building Activities: The Good, the Bad and the Really Ugly Best practices so your office's team-building activity goe...