Top Job Thursday

Top jobs for 2012 and beyond

 

What careers and industries are in demand? Find out where experts say you can find the opportunities.

It’s gloomy out there — and we’re not talking about the weather. Every day we hear about how hard it is for this or that generation to find good opportunities in today’s competitive job market. Worse yet, experts don’t expect the situation to change much for the next few years.
At the same time, some companies can’t get enough skilled employees to meet their needs, and some sectors anticipate further shortages when the glut of baby boomers do retire. (The declining birth rate won’t help either.) Despite record unemployment levels, many people don’t have the right qualifications to fill the gap.
So where are the opportunities hiding? Experts in Canada and the U.S. point to these top careers for a start.

Information technology
Computer, smart phones, tablets… Technology seems to be everywhere these days so it’s hardly shocking there’s a demand for the people behind the devices and software we use. Canada has a thriving tech industry with many big names (like Google and RIM) as well as startups bringing new innovations to the market. (Deloitte has a list of the top 50 , but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.) Invest in Canada reports that the country is particularly strong in areas like wireless, software and digital media (especially games).
While many areas are vying for the title of “Silicone Valley North”, you don’t have to work in the high tech industry to be part of this trend. Many companies need IT personnel to evaluate, purchase, train and troubleshoot the technology and applications that bring value to their business.

Health care professionals
The “silver tsunami” will fuel demand for health care and health-related services in the coming years, but aging boomers aren’t the only factor. Overall, we’re living longer and more people are living with diseases that were deadly only decades ago. We’re also becoming more proactive about our health — using services and technology to stay ahead of problems.
It isn’t just doctors and nurses who will be in demand: experts say many specialties will be in demand, among them physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dentists and optometrists. To find out more about these careers, check with the professional organization that governs them and schools that offer the training.

Health care management and support staff
Likewise, it isn’t just the people who work directly with patients who are in demand. After all, running clinics, hospitals or health care-related companies requires employees across a variety of departments — including accounting, human resources and marketing.
If you’re looking for a “safe” industry to ply your skills and expertise, this one may be worth a look in the coming years. Not surprisingly, health care is second only to technology on CNNMoney Fortune‘s list of top careers.

Life sciences and biotechnology
Prefer to be on the cutting edge of research and innovation? These industries are predicted to grow thanks to demand for new treatments, new devices, new vaccines and new diagnostic tools. Don’t want to work for “Big Pharma”? Don’t worry: experts say startups will be hiring too.
Of course, the fields aren’t just about medicine. These umbrella terms include careers like biofuels and agriculture — and are a major part of some of Canada’s top industries. Biotech programs are available through colleges and universities across Canada. (Read more about this industry from Health Canada and the Council for Biotechnology Information .)

Engineers
It may not be a profession easily picked up in midlife, but experts say it’s one sector where new graduates can readily find a job in North America. According to a report from Engineers Canada , demand for engineers across many fields (including civic, mechanical, electrical, petroleum and computers) is already strong and set to increase through 2018. (Download a PDF of the report here .) Whether it’s replacing crumbling infrastructure, searching for oil or developing new technology, you’ll find engineers at the helm.
While tuition is often higher for engineering programs than other faculties, experts say it’s a good return on investment. Canadian programs boast a high employment rate within six months of graduation, and starting salaries often range a generous $45,000 to $59,000, according to a survey from TalentEgg.ca .

Industrial skills and trades
Parents used to dream of sending their offspring to university followed by a white-collar job, but the bias against the skilled trades has lead to a shortage of workers. In 2010, experts say there was already a shortage of 50,000 workers in Canada — and this number is expect to rise sharply in the coming decades. Some of Canada’s top industries like food services, automotive and manufacturing rely on the trades.
What about compensation? Contrary to popular belief, many people in the trades earn above average salaries, says Skills Canada — plus they complete their training without the burden of massive student debt. In fact, the government offers grants of up to $4000 for completing an apprenticeship.
If you’re already skilled in one of these areas, be on the look out for teaching opportunities. Colleges are looking to hire skilled instructors, and more high schools are offering courses in the trades. (Some faculties of education offer training programs for people in the trades, and teaching salaries can include credit for years worked in the field.)
For more information on careers in the trades, see Skills Canada , Careersintrades.ca , and the Ellis Chart .

Accounting and finance
Good news for people who are good with numbers: the state of the economy has individuals and companies alike paying more attention to their money. Experts like accountants, financial planners and money managers are needed not just in North America, but also around the world. Forensic accountants — who audit and investigate — and compliance specialists will also be in demand as companies continue to focus on accountability.
Another boon for Canada: our banking industry receives top marks from international organizations. We also get kudos for having some top-notch business schools, though tuition won’t come cheap.
According to CNNMoney, private equity firms are also on the hunt — proving there’s room for opportunities for seasoned veterans too.

Salespeople
Did we mention those economic woes? Companies need income and the people who bring in the clients and the cash will always be needed. (In fact, some experts say a career in sales is as close to being a recession-proof job as we get!) If you’ve got the skills and charisma, this arena can be quite lucrative when commissions and cash incentives are involved.
What if your interests turn to retail instead? Those big discount retail chains are where to look, says CNNMoney. As they continue to grow, they’re reportedly looking for managers as well as customer service staff and clerks.
Of course, not everyone is interested in (or suitable for) careers in these sectors, and no one really knows what’s going to happen in the future. Demand can also vary according to location — as can the expected salary and compensation.
What’s the take home lesson? Regardless of where your interests and ambitions lie, experts recommend doing some research before diving in.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Witty Wednesday

Funny Jobs

1. Extreme AC Repairman
No matter how much my job sucks, I'm thankful not to have to hang off balconies to fix other people's AC units. Regardless, the dedication of these repairmen is admirable.

2. Sandwich Artist

As if making them wasn't enough... now subway serves up $5 dollar art... your way.

 

3. Organ Grinder

Usually requires a monkey and tin cup.

 

4. Scullery Maid

The lowest rung on the ladder of Great House help; often preoccupied with plucking fowl and scaling fish.

 

5. Snake Milker

Someone who extracts the venom from snakes.

 

6. Drifter

Abandon your belongings and lead a nomadic lifestyle.

 

7. Releaser of the Hounds

 

8. Knocker-up

Before the invention of alarm clocks, inns located in Ireland hired people to take note of guests awakening time and then knock on their room door to wake them up.

 

9. Tonsorial Artist

Sounds like a fun name for Doctor of Internal Medicine (which could use a fun name), but it’s actually another way to say Hair Stylist.

 

10. Boner

Person who de-bones chickens and various poultry for consumption.

 

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday

How to Land A Job BEFORE You even Graduate - 34 Tips and Resources

1) Figure it out. The first step in landing that job is figuring out what it is that you want to do! It may seem heavy, but you got to start somewhere. If you're already in school, you have a sense of what industry you'd like to work in (or your hopelessly lost!). Start with that and explore what options you'll have working in that industry at the entry level position.
2) Know the job. After you figure out the kind of job you want, you need to know what the job entails. Learn as much as possible about the job so you can focus on learning and obtaining the skills needed to fulfill the duties required. If know exactly what an employer will be looking for, then it'll be much easier to have it come interview time.
3) Make sure you're qualified. Now that you know what the duties are, it's time to assess your skills. Do you have what it takes to get the job done? Will you be qualified at the time you graduate for this position? There's no point in preparing yourself for a job you can't even get. Know what you're capable of doing and find a job that fits.
4) Take the right classes. The earlier you figure out what kind of job you want, you'll have the opportunity to take the right kinds of classes while in college. It's never a good idea to spend tens of thousands of dollars on your education if it's not focused on a specific end. Plan in advance and take courses that fit into your job description.
5) Take your education seriously. Again, don't waste your money on education if it's not going to be put to use. While you're there, pay attention as much as possible to what you are learning; it not only will prepare you for the job you'll soon have but also give you a taste of what you'll be doing, and will show when you start your career.

Work Experience
6) Get a part-time job. Employers will want to see at least some experience. Even if mommy and daddy are taking care of you like the spoiled little brat that you are, consider having a part time job while in school. The pay might not be great, but at least you'll show some responsibility to any future employers.
7) Make it relevant. Now that you've decided to get off your butt and get a job, think about getting a job that will teach you skills you can use in the future. Don't get a job working in a warehouse doing physical labor if you plan on having a career in sales. Know what basic job principals you need work on and find a job to help strengthen them.
8) Don't get fired. It's bad enough that you only have so little experience up to this point. What's even worse is not having good responsible experience. Getting fired from a job that anyone can do (including a monkey) just shows how irresponsible and immature you are. If you're going to get a job, take it as seriously as possible.
9) Leave a impression. Be the best you can be! Every part time job you have, no matter how insignificant it may seem, plays an integral role in how you develop as a worker and employee. As you succeed in small doses, you grow more confident in your abilities which in turn makes you do an even better job. The cycle of confidence will show later on in the job hunt.

References 
10) Get to know your teachers. Leaving an impression with your teachers is just the same as making nice with an employer. Teachers are experts in their field, and if you can get in on your teacher's good side (or even befriend one), they'll prove to be a great personal reference later in the hiring process.
11) Find a mentor. Take the time to seek out those in your community who share similar interests or even more so work in the same industry that you are trying to get into. You're bound to find someone who you can grab coffee with here and there who's willing to share some tips and information on how to get your foot in the door.
12) Connect with your peers. Make sure your fellow students and friends are aware of your job plans. You might connect with a few that are interested in getting a similar job and can assist you in the process. While you my face some competition, use it to your advantage by keeping an eye on their moves; you can learn a lot from them.
13) Network with everybody. That being said, get out there and start networking! It's kind of a sad truth, but much of life is not based on how smart you are or what it is you know; it's who you know that gets you the good job. Locate places where people of similar interests hang out (happy hours are a good start) and make your face a familiar one.

Activities
14) Have a hobby. You've got to do something with yourself other that working and sleeping that you enjoy (and no getting drunk is not a hobby as much as we all tell ourselves it is!). Try to take your hobby to the next level and compare it to the job or industry you're getting into. Can you find any similarities?
15) Join an organization. There are many organizations and associations located in your area. Find one that you can enjoy being a part of or better yet, find a club that people with influence frequent. Use these events to find common ground with people and plant the seeds for possible job opportunities in the future.
16) Play sports. Almost any job you'll ever get will deal heavily with your ability to work with others. What better way to showcase these abilities than to excel at a team sport? You don't have to be some amazing athlete to play in a sport, and don't always worry about being the all-star. Become an unsung-hero type and it will build character.
17) Share Your Talents. Are you an artist or musician? What kind of gifts do you have to bestow upon the world? Put your artwork in galleries or play a concert at the local coffee house. It will shine on your resume the next time you have an interview, and show potential employers that you have multiple talents and aren't afraid to use them.

Reputation Management
18) Know your criminal record. Have you had any tickets or violations in the past? Know what your criminal record is in case someone checks you out and brings it up in front of you. Never try to hide from any law-breaking you may have committed, but rather be aware of your past and prepared to discuss any details should someone bring them up.
19) Use Google Alerts. A great way to keep on top of what is being said about you online is to use Google Alerts. What happens is, anytime someone blogs about you or mentions your name, Google will know about it. They'll send you emails once they find something! It's also a great way to keep updated about news and events in your industry.
20) Be aware of social networks. We all have MySpace and Facebook accounts; be wary of what pictures of you there are or anything else that may prohibit you from getting hired at a future job. Most of these networks have options to close pages off so only "friends" can view your personal profiles.
21) Get Published. A fantastic way to show your expertise in your industry is to get published either online or in a magazine. Do some research and find out who hires freelance writers; or, you may be able to get published by donating an article. Either way, it's a great tool that any employer would be impressed with.
22) Pay Your Bills. Many employers don't run credit checks on you, but in today's day and age, there's bound to be all kinds of snooping around into your personal life. Make sure you don't have any outstanding tax liens or collections agencies chasing you down for debts you haven't paid.

Self Promotion
23) Build a website. Trust me, if you start a website now that describes your career and accomplishments, you'll definitely reap the benefits once interview time comes around. Many employers are using the web to do background checks on prospects; use your website to make a name for yourself online.
24) Blog as much as possible. Add a blog or use blogging software to maintain updates on your website. Discuss your targeted industry as much as possible. Provide helpful information or talk about how a certain task could be done better or in a different way. This will prove your passion for the job in addition to your knowledge.
25) Create a podcast. Record a podcast every now and then that takes your discussion further. Much like getting published, you could have your podcast published on other sites and blogs and keep track of how many times the podcast was downloaded. Interviews with others in your industry provide great content for a podcast.
26) Shoot a video. Grab a friend and a video camera and shoot a quick introduction to yourself and your website. Amid the hundreds if not thousands of paper resumes an employer has to go through in their lifetime, you're bound to make a big impression by hosting a welcome video on your site.
27) Have business cards. Remember those networking events we discussed earlier? Joined an organization? Have a friend of a friend who knows someone at the place you're trying to work at? Get some business cards printed with your contact information and web address to show everybody you mean business.
28) Run and advertisement. Take the business card to the next level and purchase a small advertisement in your local paper. You could offer a service that plays into the career you're about to get into and maybe even get some freelance work you can use to build up your resume.
29) Use pay-per-click. Anyone can run an affordable advertisement using Google or Yahoo. Target specific keywords that are used often in your target industry and raise some eyebrows online. You could even target your ads geographically if you had different locations in mind.

Find the Job
30) Join Linked-in. Think MySpace for professionals. The more people you meet using Linked-in that already have a presence in your industry, the more chances you have to landing that dream job right off the bat. Simply another way the Internet is changing the way employees get found and hired.
31) Search Online. Start using Monster.com and other online job search services. Post your resume with your targeted graduation date. You never know when a potential employer could be out looking for you, and it doesn't mean they won't give you a shot just because school's not over with.
32) Grab the Yellow Pages. Search the Yellow Pages for companies in your area that you'd consider working for. Contact them and send the your resume, letting them know what your intentions are in the future. They might offer you an internship which you can turn into a full time gig once you graduate.
33) Check out Craigslist. New job listings are posted every day on Craigslist; take advantage of it. Try to find opportunities whenever you can, just to see if someone will bite. Try to get as many interviews as possible; even if you don't get hired, each one will prepare you for the next.
34) Pick up the paper. Lots of employers still use the classifieds to find employees. Don't rule it out when looking for a job opportunity. Get out there, pick up the phone, and get that big job before you even graduate!

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Making it Big Monday

How to Find Employment Before College Graduation

If you are about to graduate from college, you may be a little apprehensive about entering the work force. After all you have been a student for several years and it is now time to enter the real world. Landing a college grad job does not have to be a challenge. There are some things that you can do prior to graduation to get you on the fast track to getting a job as a college graduate.          

 

**Set a goal**

First, you will have to set a goal for yourself and figure out what you are going to do when you do graduate college. Do not just settle on anything just because it generates the most income. However, you do want to get a job that requires a college degree also known as a college degree job. With that said, you should pursue a career field that you are passionate about.

**Complete internships**
Complete internships before you graduate college. This will increase your chances of getting a college degree job in your field. It is good if you could do multiple internships with companies in your field. For instance if your field is accounting, see if you could intern in the payroll department of a company.

**Produce a strong resume**
Once you have in mind the job you want to pursue start by circulating your resume to companies that you have a desire to work for. Make sure that you have a polished resume with your most strongest information about yourself at the top. If you can follow up with these companies with an informal meeting, do so. That way they can actually have a picture of who you are instead of just reading everything from your resume. Remember sometimes competition is fierce so you will want to stick out in the crowd.

**Attend job fairs**
Go to job fairs as often as you can. Sometimes employers will interview prospective employees on the spot.

**Send resumes to non-advertisers**
Send your resume to places even if they are not advertising for a job. When a position does come up, you could be one of the key people that the employer interviews. This has happened to people before and they subsequently get the job because they are not competing with a lot of people for one position.

**Do your research**

Research the company prior to going to an interview. Come to the interview on time. Have a few questions prepared to ask the interviewer.

**Network**

Lastly, make sure you get the word out that you are looking for a job and that you will be a college grad soon. Go to your college career center. They are a valuable resource on resume building, interview advice, and job seeking strategies.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Top Job Thursday

25 Well-Paying Jobs that Most People Overlook (and Why)

(PART 2)

Here are certain jobs that nobody dreams of doing when they grow up. “Somebody’s gotta do it”, but that doesn’t stop people from praying that “someone” won’t be them. What’s surprising, however, is how much money some of these stigmatized jobs actually pay people who man up and do them. So if you’re on the fence about where your financial future is headed, stop and consider any of the shockingly lucrative jobs that follow.

[NOTE: We realize that there are, technically, people who do want these jobs. The point is to spotlight jobs with stigmas attached to them that pay more than the typical person would think.]

12. Soldier

The U.S. military is suffering one of its biggest recruitment crunches ever, in spite of more money and higher perks people who join. According to MSN, new volunteers are eligible to collect sign-up bonuses of $10,000 (up from $8,000 previously), while soldiers with college aspirations will find up to $70,000 waiting for them at the end of their term. Combine that with PX privileges and the potential for life-long pension and health insurance, and the military might not seem like such a raw deal, but if you don’t live long enough to enjoy that money, or have to discard your principles, it’s simply not worth it for most people.

11. Construction Worker

The life of a construction worker is a constant disaster waiting to happen. Whether you are working beside highway traffic, laying out a bridge across a huge body of water or operating equipment that could saw off a human limb, the threat of danger is always present. When you consider that construction workers do all of this year round, in blazing sun or bone-chilling cold, it’s not difficult to see why people shy away from such work. It does, however, offer an average starting salary of $49,517, according to PayScale.com.

10. Toll booth collector

According to Businessweek’s article “Worst Jobs With The Best Pay”, toll booth collectors earn an average salar of $45,000. If you’re not scared off by the prospect of spending your night in a booth smaller than a jail cell as you take money from people passing through to somewhere fun, it’s not a bad living. BusinessWeek also notes that toll collectors are union employees with good benefits packages and overtime pay that would make non-union workers salivate with jealousy.

9. Highway patrol worker

Most people don’t relish the prospect of patrolling the interstate during early morning hours, but the highway patrol is a pretty decent-paying gig. Salary.com lists the median expected salary for a highway patrol officer at $43,112 with room for advancement. If you can withstand being sworn at and despised by every rush-hour motorist on the road, this might be worth looking into.

8. Plumber

Plumbing the shadowy depths of a stranger’s toilet bowl may not be the stuff dreams are made of, but it might be the path to a decent-sized bank account. The average salary for a journeyman plumber is $41,000 per year, according to Indeed.com’s estimates. This is just a starting point, however, as plumbers are known to charge more and more as they become known and referred around their local area.

7. Hazmat worker

It is the job of hazardous materials workers to neutralize and otherwise deal with dangerous substances or outbreaks. In a typical day, a hazmat worker might find himself handling asbestos, spent oil or fuel, lead-based paint, transmission fluid, mold, toxins, contaminated soil or even radioactive waste. All of this must be dealt with by following strict, federal government mandated regulations and procedures, not to mention intense scrutiny from anyone who happens to be nearby. Beginning hazmat workers can expect to earn roughly $40,000 per year (more in heavily populated metro areas like New York City.)

6. Sports agent

Contrary to popular myth, the life of a beginning sports agent is almost nothing like “Jerry McGuire”. Instead, the book “License To Deal” tells a much different story. Tommy Tanzer, a now-prominent agent, got his start by turning his van into a mobile home and going into debt in order to travel and sign players. Another agent is said to have spent his early days backpacking through South America, sleeping in tents while attempting to sign players from that area. If you are willing to endure this type of struggle, who knows? You just might hang around long enough to negotiate multi-million dollar contracts for sports megastars.

5. Unionized deli clerk

Most people don’t use the words “deli clerk” and “high paying” in the same sentence, but with a little persistence, it can be done. Because the larger grocery chains are heavily unionized, deli clerks who work at those stores are not only guaranteed annual raises, but also constant employment. As anyone who has ever worked at a deli knows, unions will put their weight behind even the most lazy, unproductive employees to ensure that they are not fired. By sticking around long enough, you can eventually take home as much as $40,000 a year for little more than standing in front of a slicer and cutting meat.

4. Embalmer

If you’re interested in job opportunities that pay $34,000 and up, requiring no more than a high school diploma and a training course, the embalming of dead people might be right up your alley! While you will need a license, embalming is a textbook example of a job the world will always need that most people will not want. This walks readers through both the nature of the work and the process of actually getting into the field.

3. Dog walker

Dogs can be scary enough without putting several of them on leashes and hoping they’ll behave for a complete stranger as you walk them around town. However, the undesirability of the job is precisely what makes it high-paying. In a busy metro area, a reputable dog walker can rake it in to the tune of $50 per hour. As one article points out, “that’s more than the average salary of a mid-level manager.”

2. Lab rat

Every day, research labs across the nation are offering money to people who agree to have new drugs or procedures tested on them. If you are willing to ingest new and unproven substances into your bloodstream, there’s virtually no end to the money you can bring in! Simply peruse the Sunday classified ads or keep your eyes peeled for “Test Subjects Wanted” ads on the community bulletin board and you can be taking home as much as $3,000 or more per month.

1. Proctologist

Known ubiquitously as “the butt doctor”, a proctologist is charged with diagnosing and treating problems with the rectum or anus. Using your trusty proctoscope, you will examine patients for such problems as anal tears, fecal incontinence, severe constipation, and even (in rare cases) anal cancer. You will be more or less despised by your patients, but there’s a $226,000/yr salary at the end of the tunnel if you manage to stick with it for a couple years!

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Witty Wednesday

Ways to Confuse Your

Co-Workers

(use at your own risk)

• Put a chair facing a printer, sit there all day and tell people you’re waiting for your document.
• Arrive at a meeting late, say you’re sorry, but you didn’t have time for lunch, and you’re going to be nibbling during the meeting. During the meeting eat 5 entire raw potatoes.
• Insist that your e-mail address be “zena_goddess_of_fire@companyname.com” (or “thor_god_of_thunder@companyname.com”)
• Every time someone asks you to do something, ask them to sign a waiver.
• Every time someone asks you to do something, ask them if they want fries with that.
• Send email to yourself engaging yourself in an intelligent debate about the direction of one of your company’s products. Forward the mail to a co-worker and ask her to settle the disagreement.
• Page yourself over the intercom. (Don’t disguise your voice.)
• Name all your pens and insist that meetings can’t begin until they’re all present.
• Come to work in your pajamas.
• Put a picture of your mother on your business card.
• Find out where your boss shops and buy exactly the same outfits. Always wear them one day after your boss does. (This is especially effective if your boss is a different gender than you are.)
• Make up nicknames for all your coworkers and refer to them only by these names. “That’s a good point Sparky.” “No I’m sorry I’m going to have to disagree with you there, Chachi.”
• Suggest that beer be put in the soda machine.
• Include a piece of your children’s artwork as a cover page for all reports that you write. (If you don’t have children, draw stick figures yourself.)
• Schedule meetings for 4:14 pm.
• Encourage your colleagues to join you in a little synchronized chair dancing.
• Agree to organize the company Christmas party. Hold it at McDonald’s Playland. Charge everyone $15 each.
• Send email to the rest of the company telling them what you’re doing. For example “If anyone needs me I’ll be in the bathroom.”
• No matter what anyone asks you, reply “Okay.”
• Put your garbage can on your desk. Label it “IN.”
• Grow mold in your coffee cup.
• Build models of the Seven Wonders of the World using empty soda cans.
• Put on your headphones on whenever the boss comes into the office. Talk in a loud voice. Remove your headphones when he or she leaves.
• When in conversation, no matter where you are in the office, mutter, “I think my phone is ringing” and leave. Go get a coffee.
• Determine how many cups of coffee is “too many.”
• Develop an unnatural fear of staplers.
• Compose all your e-mail in rhyming couplets.
• Install a set of buttons and lights in the arm of your chair. Talk into your daytimer.
• “Hi-lite” your shoes. Tell people that you haven’t lost your shoes since you did this.
• Hang mistletoe over your desk.
• Bring in dishes that you tried to cook but didn’t turn out quite right as special treats for your co-workers.
• While sitting at your desk, soak your fingers in “Palmolive”.
• Put up mosquito netting around your cubicle.
• Decorate your office with pictures of Cindy Brady and Danny Partridge. Try to pass them off as your children.
• For a relaxing break, get away from it all with a mask and snorkel in the fish tank. If no one notices, take out your snorkel and see how many you can catch in your mouth.
• Send e-mail messages saying free pizza, free donuts etc… in the lunchroom, when people complain that there was none… Just lean back, pat your stomach, and say, “Oh you’ve got to be faster than that.” See how long it takes until the last person stops believing you. Then start planting pizzas.
• Put decaf in the coffeemaker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
• Put those hole reinforcing circles on the center of you eyeglasses. Now go to that executive meeting.
• Put shaving foam on your bosses telephone earpiece. Dial the number. When he/she answers, say “Sqwish.”
• Subscribe your coworkers to those free trade journals. Give them wacky middle names. Example: Bobby “Pud” McNeel.
• Change the message on the company voice mail system. Get “Creative”.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday

Are your friends at work hurting your career?

 

Many studies over the past few years have shown that workplace friendships increase productivity, team morale and workers' overall job satisfaction; and since friends provide us with support, comic relief and a sense of belonging, it seems only natural that having friends at the office makes work more pleasant.
Yet despite the many benefits, experts advise that workplace friendships should be handled with care, given that they combine workers' personal and professional lives.

"Workplace friendships can be a double-edged sword," says Irene Levine, a professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and author of TheFriendshipBlog.com.

"Whether they are good or bad depends on the individuals and their roles. While relationships with colleagues can enhance creativity and job satisfaction, they should be approached with some caution. Some friendships fall apart and can make it very difficult to face your ex-friend each time you pass in the hall."

Who you associate yourself with in the workplace will also affect how your superiors and co-workers perceive you, says Helen Cooke, owner of Cooke Consulting, a human resources and organizational development firm.

"We're all judged by the company we keep for better or worse," Cooke says.

Yet despite any potential pitfalls, it is possible to reap the benefits of having friends at work without wreaking havoc on your career. Here's how to set boundaries for your workplace friendships:

Keep your guard up, at least in the beginning

Though you may form an instant bond with a co-worker, resist the urge to share too much personal information right off the bat.

"Approach a new friendship on the job slowly, being cautious to not get too involved too soon," Levine says. "You want to give yourself sufficient time to build trust and really get to know your co-worker before you spill intimate details of your life. So, for example, you might want to start out sharing coffee breaks or lunches before you spend a long weekend prowling bars together. Or you may want to talk about sports and politics before you talk about your personal life."

Levine also cautions workers who are new to a job: "This is a time when you need to keep up your guard up a little bit, because you may be getting too cozy with the office buffoon," she says. "While you should be friendly, keep your relationships on a superficial level until you get to know the workplace and the cast of characters."

Keep the in-office socializing to a minimum

It's fine for the two of you to take lunch breaks together, sit together in a meeting, or go for mid-afternoon coffee once in a while, but don't spend an hour a day sitting on each other's desks and rehashing the weekend gossip.

"If friends get too involved in workplace dramas -- for example, an office crush, a mean boss, ganging up on a co-worker -- this can undermine productivity," says Susan Shapiro Barash, author of "Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships."

Indeed, says career and etiquette expert Sandra Lamb.

"Office friendships are a balancing act. To properly maintain them, it's best to keep them fairly low-profile, and agree with your work friend to do most of your get-togethers outside the work environment," she says. "That prevents the accusation that you're involved in too much socializing at work -- a reflection on your productivity. My advice is to keep [the friendship] primarily out of the office."

Be careful with reporting relationships

If you count your boss as one of your best friends, take note: "When there's a reporting relationship between two individuals, it's particularly important to build in agreed-upon boundaries so that others don't feel there's any unfairness or preferential treatment," says Helen Cooke, owner of Cooke Consulting, a human resources and organizational development firm.

Even if your boss was the best man at your wedding, try not to flaunt your close relationship in the office. When it comes time for recognition or a promotion of your own, you don't want your co-workers thinking it was all due to your friendship with the higher-ups.

Additionally, says Cooke, if you and a work friend started out as peers and one of you gets promoted, new boundaries must be set that reflect the reporting relationship.

"For example," she says "You and I were peers on a team of five and known to be 'tight.' Now you've been promoted. While you can still be yourself with me and we can talk about our hobbies and weekends, you need to not complain to me about another member of the team -- even if that IS how you would have behaved in the past. While we're all entitled to having a trusted colleague with whom we can vent, if that trusted colleague is one of your direct reports that is unfair and dysfunctional."

The bottom line, Levine says, is to "never forget that you're primary focus has to be on your work, which means you may need to set boundaries with your co-workers about how much time you can spend schmoozing.

"Just as importantly," she says, "You need to respect the boundaries drawn by your co-workers, even if they aren't explicit. For example, if you see someone turning to their computer or looking at her watch while you are talking about your date last night, they may be signaling that they really want to get back to work and you've outworn your welcome."

 

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Making it Big Monday

10 Things Extraordinary People Say Every Day

They're small things, but each has the power to dramatically change someone's day. Including yours.

Want to make a huge difference in someone's life? Here are things you should say every day to your employees, colleagues, family members, friends, and everyone you care about:

"Here's what I'm thinking."
You're in charge, but that doesn't mean you're smarter, savvier, or more insightful than everyone else. Back up your statements and decisions. Give reasons. Justify with logic, not with position or authority.
Though taking the time to explain your decisions opens those decisions up to discussion or criticism, it also opens up your decisions to improvement.
Authority can make you "right," but collaboration makes everyone right--and makes everyone pull together.

"I was wrong."
I once came up with what I thought was an awesome plan to improve overall productivity by moving a crew to a different shift on an open production line. The inconvenience to the crew was considerable, but the payoff seemed worth it. On paper, it was perfect.
In practice, it wasn't.
So, a few weeks later, I met with the crew and said, "I know you didn't think this would work, and you were right. I was wrong. Let's move you back to your original shift."
I felt terrible. I felt stupid. I was sure I'd lost any respect they had for me.
It turns out I was wrong about that, too. Later one employee said, "I didn't really know you, but the fact you were willing to admit you were wrong told me everything I needed to know."
When you're wrong, say you're wrong. You won't lose respect--you'll gain it.

"That was awesome."
No one gets enough praise. No one. Pick someone--pick anyone--who does or did something well and say, "Wow, that was great how you..."
And feel free to go back in time. Saying "Earlier, I was thinking about how you handled that employee issue last month..." can make just as positive an impact today as it would have then. (It could even make a bigger impact, because it shows you still remember what happened last month, and you still think about it.)
Praise is a gift that costs the giver nothing but is priceless to the recipient. Start praising. The people around you will love you for it--and you'll like yourself a little better, too.

"You're welcome."
Think about a time you gave a gift and the recipient seemed uncomfortable or awkward. Their reaction took away a little of the fun for you, right?
The same thing can happen when you are thanked or complimented or praised. Don't spoil the moment or the fun for the other person. The spotlight may make you feel uneasy or insecure, but all you have to do is make eye contact and say, "Thank you." Or make eye contact and say, "You're welcome. I was glad to do it."
Don't let thanks, congratulations, or praise be all about you. Make it about the other person, too.

"Can you help me?"
When you need help, regardless of the type of help you need or the person you need it from, just say, sincerely and humbly, "Can you help me?"
I promise you'll get help. And in the process you'll show vulnerability, respect, and a willingness to listen--which, by the way, are all qualities of a great leader.
And are all qualities of a great friend.

"I'm sorry."
We all make mistakes, so we all have things we need to apologize for: words, actions, omissions, failing to step up, step in, show support...
Say you're sorry.
But never follow an apology with a disclaimer like "But I was really mad, because..." or "But I did think you were..." or any statement that in any way places even the smallest amount of blame back on the other person.
Say you're sorry, say why you're sorry, and take all the blame. No less. No more.
Then you both get to make the freshest of fresh starts.

"Can you show me?"
Advice is temporary; knowledge is forever. Knowing what to do helps, but knowing how or why to do it means everything.
When you ask to be taught or shown, several things happen: You implicitly show you respect the person giving the advice; you show you trust his or her experience, skill, and insight; and you get to better assess the value of the advice.
Don't just ask for input. Ask to be taught or trained or shown.
Then you both win.

"Let me give you a hand."
Many people see asking for help as a sign of weakness. So, many people hesitate to ask for help.
But everyone needs help.
Don't just say, "Is there anything I can help you with?" Most people will give you a version of the reflexive "No, I'm just looking" reply to sales clerks and say, "No, I'm all right."
Be specific. Find something you can help with. Say "I've got a few minutes. Can I help you finish that?" Offer in a way that feels collaborative, not patronizing or gratuitous. Model the behavior you want your employees to display.
Then actually roll up your sleeves and help.

"I love you."
No, not at work, but everywhere you mean it--and every time you feel it.

Nothing.
Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. If you're upset, frustrated, or angry, stay quiet. You may think venting will make you feel better, but it never does.
That's especially true where your employees are concerned. Results come and go, but feelings are forever. Criticize an employee in a group setting and it will seem like he eventually got over it, but inside, he never will.
Before you speak, spend more time considering how employees will think and feel than you do evaluating whether the decision makes objective sense. You can easily recover from a mistake made because of faulty data or inaccurate projections.
You'll never recover from the damage you inflict on an employee's self-esteem.
Be quiet until you know exactly what to say--and exactly what affect your words will have.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Top Job Thursday

25 Well-Paying Jobs that Most People Overlook (and Why)

(spread out over 2 week period, check next Thursday for the next installment)

 

 

Here are certain jobs that nobody dreams of doing when they grow up. “Somebody’s gotta do it”, but that doesn’t stop people from praying that “someone” won’t be them. What’s surprising, however, is how much money some of these stigmatized jobs actually pay people who man up and do them. So if you’re on the fence about where your financial future is headed, stop and consider any of the shockingly lucrative jobs that follow.

 

[NOTE: We realize that there are, technically, people who do want these jobs. The point is to spotlight jobs with stigmas attached to them that pay more than the typical person would think.]

 

25. Crab fisherman

Featured on the Discovery Channel’s hit TV series “Deadliest Catch”, the job of crab fisherman is often called the most dangerous in America. Fishing in frigid Alaskan waters, these brave spirits weather stormy seas, below-freezing temperatures, and the heartache of being away from home for months. The short crab season makes it imperative that they catch as many crabs as possible during that short window. However, this can become astonishingly lucrative once one gets the hang of of it. According to one estimate, even a somewhat experienced crab fisherman can catch as many as $50,000 worth of crabs in an 8 week period.

24. Gastroenterologist

Gastroenterologists are seen by almost every patient they treat as a necessary evil. This is unlikely to change, as virtually no one gets excited about going in for a colonoscopy or an invasive prostate exam. Worse yet, almost all of a gastroenterologist’s time is spent performing these same, routine, unchanging procedures that everyone dreads having. The only saving grace appears to be the eye-popping salary. According to Salary.com, a gastroenterologist can earn as much as $269,500 per year.



 

23. Podiatrist

Podiatry is another lucrative yet otherwise unappealing wing of medicine available to the open-minded job seeker. While Salary.com clocks the annual earnings potential of a podiatrist at $149,527, it will come at a steep price. Should you undertake this career, your days will be spent on such enthralling, rewarding tasks as dealing with ingrown toenails, bunions, and ulcers. As if that weren’t enough, you will also be snickered at by the elite “real doctors” (ie, those with MD degrees) while you toil away as a lowly DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.)

22. Accountant

Often stereotyped as “bean counters”, the accountant is seen as the prototypical “boring” person. Spending the workday digging through hordes of numbers, in a cramped office, under buzzing flourescent lights is just not what most people bargained for. Fortunately, this creates a massive opportunity for those who don’t mind such things! If you’re the kind of person who loves numbers and the quiet peace of being left alone, accounting could be a great fit. The average starting salary for an accountant is roughly $41,000, while the best and most experienced are known to pull down salaries of $200,000 or more.

21. Commissioned salesperson

90% of the job-seeking public have zero interest in jobs without a base salary. “Why would I work somewhere that doesn’t even guarantee me a paycheck?” is the common refrain. However, those who are bold and confident enough to take on a commissioned sales job can make an extremely comfortable living by doing so. The most successful salespeople at car dealerships, electronics stores, and investment banks, for example, regularly drum up $100,000 or more per year in commission.

20. IT Employee

The term “IT employee” is a broad catch-all that encompasses programmers, network administrators, database engineers, and virtually any other job function pertaining to the use of technology. The demand for those skills has steadily risen since the 90′s and there seems to be no end in sight! Fortunately, there may not be as much competition for these jobs as you might think. Despite the average $103,400 salary, many people simply do not want to spend the day in an office cubicle.

19. Roughneck

For an average salary of $46,867, a roughneck can look forward to 12 hour days spent beneath an enormous oil drilling rig. There, they will find the work environment so noisy that they only communicate using hand signals, the air filled with swirling toxins and chemicals, and the most dangerous, backbreaking labor saved especially for them. A typical roughneck might find himself changing scalding hot drill pits or connecting new sections of pipe to one another. Those who can prove themselves capable of these tasks can rise to earn as much as $100,000 for specialized “supervisor” positions.

18. Crop duster pilot

Most people get their pilot’s license to realize their lifelong dreams of taking to the air and soaring high above the lowly ground below. Crop duster pilots, on the other hand, are a slightly different breed. Instead of cruising through the clouds, a crop duster pilot must skillfully navigate his small craft at a dangerously low level, making sure to avoid power lines and fence posts along the way. If he can survive this and continued exposure to toxic chemicals, an experienced crop duster can rake in up to $80,000 per year

17. Iraq private security contractor

“Private security” makes most people think of the rent-a-cops who used to bother them as kids at the local shopping mall. In Iraq, however, the job description takes on a totally different (and dangerous) meaning. As a private security contractor in that area, people are literally asked to shield traveling diplomats and politicians from hostile enemy fire. And despite hundreds of private contractor deaths since the beginning of combat actions, people are still signing up in droves to collect the $10,000 per month fees. If you are willing to become a human shield to make a decent living for a while, this could be the opportunity you have been waiting for!

16. Trash collector

Being a trash man is a “somebody’s gotta do it” job if ever there was one, but depending on where you live, it can be a very high-paying gig. WikiAnswers.com clocks the starting salary of a New York City trash collector at a very respectable $80,000. The salary seems to decline the further south you go, bottoming out at $35,000 in Pensacola, Florida. Still, $35,000 right off the bat is nothing to sneeze at for emptying trash cans into a big truck.

15. Truck driver

Driving a truck might be the only job on this list that is actually proven to shave 10-15 years the average male’s life. The combination of constant driving, sleep deprivation, and fatty convenience foods take a hefty toll on a truck driver’s body and mind alike. The upside is the pay and job security. The average truck driver earns $43,200 without the need for a college degree or extensive training. As drivers become more experienced and establish good safety records, salaries as high as $85,000 are possible.

14. Crime scene cleaner

While the hit show “CSI” has kindled interest in this career path, serious potential applicants should know a few more things about their “dream field.” In addition to mopping up blood, the day of a crime scene cleaner can also include ripping up carpet and floorboards, working in extremely tight spaces, and unearthing bodily fluids and evidence from asbestos-filled buildings. Crime scene cleaners who are lucky enough to get called into a drug lab will get the extra joy of gingerly handling combustible chemicals and compounds while they strive to do their jobs. If none of this phases you, however, an average salary of $50,400 is yours for the taking.

13. Sewer inspector

The unpleasant nature of this job should need no explaining, but suffice it to say that sewer inspectors should expect to work in dark, damp, cramped spaces filled with rats, cockroaches, and a never-ending flood of human refuse. It is through this maze of filth that sewer inspectors crawl in efforts to find and repair cracked, clogged pipes or passageways. While the starting salary for this position is not very high ($34,960), salaries as high as $61,000 have been doled out to people who are brave enough to stick with it and become skilled.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Witty Wednesday

99 Excuses for Skipping out of Work

Everyone needs a bit of extra time of occasionally, and all manner of outlandish excuses are given. Here is a list of 99 (mostly funny) excuses for getting out of work.

1. My kids are locked outside.
2. My kids are locked inside.
3. My kids are stuck in the door.
4. I have to pick on my kids.
5. I have to help my grandmother bake cookies.
6. I have to help my Aunt Flo in Omaha make cookies. She’s much better now and she wants to send thank-you cookies to everyone who came to see her when she thought she was dying.
7. The water company has to read my meter once a year and this was the only time they would come.
8. The gas company has to read my meter once a year and this was the only time they would come.
9. The water meter guy and the gas meter guy were both leaving cards on my door about me not being home, and they got into a fight about whose meter was better, and I have to go home and clean up.
10. My daughter is graduating from high school and I’d like to go to the ceremony.
11. My daughter is receiving a Nobel Prize and I’d like to go to the ceremony. (Do not use within one month of #9).
12. I have to pick up my car at the shop. If I don’t get there in half an hour it’ll be locked up all weekend.
13. I have to get my car to the shop. If I don’t get it there in half an hour it’ll be locked out all weekend. (Don’t use if boss seems wide awake).
14. My dog has a rash all over, and the vet closes early today.
15. My cat has a rash all over, and the vet closes early today.
16. My kid has a rash all over, and the vet closes early today.
17. My truss snapped.
18. My support hose popped.
19. I got my fingers stuck together with Krazy Glue.
20. I’m arranging financing for a house.
21. I’m arranging financing for a car.
22. I’m arranging financing for a beef roast.
23. The couch I ordered umpteen weeks ago has arrived and this was the only time they could deliver it.
24. The refrigerator I ordered umpteen weeks ago has arrived and this was the only time they could deliver it.
25. The baby we arranged for nine months ago is arriving, and I think this is the time it’s being delivered. (Note: This is an excuse that can’t be used by just anybody. But if it’s close to accurate, it’s extremely effective.
26. I have been asked to serve on a presidential advisory panel.
27. I’m being sent to the moon by NASA.
28. It’s Dayton’s Warehouse Sale.
29. My back aches.
30. My stomach aches.
31. My hair aches. (This is more acceptable than “I have a hangover,” especially if offered in the early afternoon.)
32. My biological clock is ticking.
33. I have to take my biological clock in for service.
34. My furnace won’t stop running, and the goldfish are getting poached.
35. My central air conditioning won’t stop running, and the goldfish are getting freezer burn.
36. Both my furnace and my central air conditioning won’t stop running. The goldfish are fine but my basement is about to explode.
37. I have to go to the airport to pick up my mother.
38. I have to go to the airport to pick up my minister.
39. I have to go to the airport to pick up my minister’s mother.
40. I have to take my mother to the doctor.
41. I have to take my minister to the doctor.
42. I have to take my doctor to my minister.
43. I think I left the iron on.
44. I think I left the water on.
45. I think I left the refrigerator on.46. I’m getting married, and I have to go pick out rings.
47. I’m getting married, and I have to take a blood test.
48. I’m getting married, and I have to figure out to whom.
49. I have to have my waistband let out.
50. I have to have my watchband let out.
51. I have to have my son’s rock band let out.
52. I’m having my eyes checked this noon, and they put drops in them so I won’t be able to work afterwards.
53. I’m having my ears checked this noon, and they put drops in them so I won’t be able to work afterwards.
54. I’m having my hats checked this noon, and I’ll be having a drop or two so I won’t be able to work afterwards.
55. I’m having a root canal.
56. I’m having a tax audit.
57. I’m going on a date with a sadomasochistic necrophile. (Is that beating a dead horse?)
58. My broker needs to talk with me about diversification.
59. I have to rearrange my savings so that there is no more than $100,000 in any one federally insured institution.
60. I need to break into my kid’s piggy bank while he’s not home.
61. I have to renew my driver’s license.
62. I have to get new license plates.
63. I have to stand in a long line for no good reason, while petty bureaucrats take inordinate amounts of time to work out the tiny problems that they detect in perfectly routine transactions. THEN I have to breeze by and renew my driver’s license and get new license plates.
64. I’ve got an urgent session with my therapist.
65. I’ve got a really urgent session with my therapist.
66. I’ve … I … I’m not … I don’t … I CAN’T COPE WITH THIS!!
67. I have to get my contact lenses fitted.
68. I have to get my hearing aid adjusted.
69. I have to get my big toe calibrated.
70. Hey, hey! The Monkees could be coming to our town.
71. My rheumatism is acting up. There’s going to be a terrible tornado.
72. My arthritis is acting up. There’s going to be a terrible blizzard.
73. The pharaoh is acting up. There’s going to be a terrible rain of frogs.
74. I need to give blood.
75. I need to give evidence.
76. I need to give up.
77. I’m going to my best friend’s engagement party.
78. I’m going to my best friend’s wedding.
79. I’m going to my best friend’s divorce. (We all knew it wouldn’t last. At the wedding, everybody threw Minute Rice.)
80. I have a seriously overdue library book that I have to return.
81. I have a bunch of old parking tickets, and if I don’t pay them I’m going to be arrested.
82. The police are at the back door. Cover me.
83. I’m having my nails done.
84. I’m having my colors done.
85. I’m having my head examined.
86. I’m going to the bank.
87. I’m going to sleep.
88. I’m going over the edge.
89. A friend of mine is dying and I have to go to the hospital.
90. A friend of mine has died and I have to go to the funeral parlor.
91. A friend of mine is being reincarnated and I have to go to the zoo.
92. I need to check out the hole in the ozone layer.
93. I need to check into a rest home.
94. I’m breaking in my shoes.
95. I’m breaking up with my boyfriend.
96. I’m breaking out.
97. I have to pick up my dry cleaning.
98. I have to pick out a car.
99. Salmon Rushdie is coming in to talk about his idea for a book on Christian fundamentalists. I thought I’d go to a ball game instead.

To view original article CLICK HERE

Tip Tuesday

10 Tips for Dealing With Difficult People at Work

Difficult coworkers. In every workplace, you will have difficult coworkers. Dealing with difficult coworkers, bosses, customers, clients, and friends is an art worth perfecting. Dealing with difficult situations at work is challenging, yet rewarding. You can increase your skill at dealing with the difficult people who surround you in your work world. These tips will help you in dealing with difficult people at work.

 

1. Rise Above the Fray: Dealing With Difficult People at Work

Difficult people do exist at work. Difficult people come in every variety and no workplace is without them. How difficult a person is for you to deal with depends on your self-esteem, your self-confidence and your professional courage. Dealing with difficult people is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior affects more than one person. Dealing with difficult people is much tougher when they are attacking you or undermining your professional contribution.

2. How to Deal With a Bully at Work

Think you work with a bully? Do you regularly feel intimidated, dread to work anywhere near a particular coworker, or you’re yelled at, insulted, and put down? Does a coworker talk over you at meetings, criticize your performance, or steal credit for your work? If you answer yes to these questions, chances are good that you’re one of 54 million Americans, who have been attacked by a bully at work. Learn about dealing with difficult people at work.

 

3. How to Deal With a Negative Coworker

Some people exude negativity. They don’t like their jobs or they don’t like their company. Their bosses are always jerks and they are always treated unfairly. The company is always going down the tube and customers are worthless. You know these negative Neds and Nellies – every organization has some. Here are tips for dealing with difficult, negative coworkers.

 

4. Overcome Your Fear of Confrontation and Conflict

Meaningful confrontation is never easy but conflict is often necessary if you want to stick up for your rights at work. Whether the confrontation is over shared credit, irritating coworker habits and approaches, or about how to keep a project on track, sometimes you need to hold a confrontation with a coworker. The good news is that while confrontation is almost never your first choice, you can become better and more comfortable with necessary conflict. Find out how dealing with difficult conflicts at work is easier and more positive with these steps.

 

5. Play Well With Others: Develop Effective Work Relationships

You can submarine your job and career by the relationships you form at work. No matter your education, experience, or title, if you can't play well with others, you won't succeed. Effective relationships create success and satisfaction on the job. Learn more about seven effective work relationship musts. Combat dealing with difficult people with these work relationship musts.

 

6. How to Hold a Difficult Conversation 

Have you encountered any of these examples of dealing with difficult people at work? They're just samples of the types of behavior that cry out for responsible feedback. These steps will help you hold difficult conversations when people need professional feedback. Dealing with a difficult conversation can have positive outcomes.

 

7. What Coworker Behavior Drives You Crazy?

Most people have pet peeves about their coworkers. And, why not? Even relatively sane and likeable people do things that can drive their coworkers to distraction. Vote in my poll about what coworker behavior drives you crazy. Share your tips for dealing with difficult coworkers. Or, share your coworker's behavior that lights your fuse.

 

8. Dealing With Difficult Bosses

Nothing is more destructive in the workplace than difficult bosses. Every employee has a series of bosses over their working career. Hopefully, most of your bosses are competent, kind, and even, worthy of your trust and respect. Unfortunately, too often, employees have difficult bosses who impact their desire to engage and contribute at work. Learn how dealing with difficult bosses is a skill you can develop.

9. Team Building With Coworkers

You want to be well known and liked among the people the company regards as super stars, allies who have power and will speak up for you. (In fact, you can achieve job security if you are viewed as a super star.) Building alliances at work is smart, effective for developing positive coworker relationships, and crucial for dealing with difficult or destructive coworker behavior in the workplace.

 

10. How to Manage Gossip

Gossip is rampant in most workplaces. Sometimes, it seems as if people have nothing better to do than gossip about each other. They gossip about the company, their coworkers, and their managers. They frequently take a partial truth and turn it into a whole speculative truth. Dealing with difficult situations involving gossip occurs in every workplace. Find out how dealing with difficult gossip is a must-do and a can-do. Obliterate gossip from your work place.

 

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Making it Big Monday

Retail: How to deal with rude customers

We all know that customer: The one who talks on their phone incessantly while you try to serve them. They may smack their gum, or they may roll their eyes while purveying their distinct brand of ungraciousness. We know them better by their true name—The Rude Customer. Your first instinct might be to turn into a green rage monster, but before you go destroying everything within arm's reach, we have five tips for dealing with rude customers that might just help you out while working in retail.

Stay calm
“The first thing that I would tell someone to do is stay calm,” says Jason Nedelkos, a barista at Starbucks Coffee. “I’ve learned to keep a respectful tone if somebody has an issue. If someone is rude or shouting at you, there’s no need to sink to their level.” An added benefit of this strategy is that it might force the customer to tone down their unreasonableness. “It’s hard to be rude to someone who is being calm and collected,” Nedelkos shrugs.

“Kill them with kindness”
Sarah Erwin, a cashier at Shoppers Drug Mart, has similar advice. “For me, what works best is to kill them with kindness, so to speak.” Erwin graduated from University of Toronto and has been working at Shoppers Drug Mart for the past year while job hunting. “Never stop being overly polite. The meaner they get, the nicer you get in response.” This technique always feels like a personal win, and you still get to be as great at your job as ever.

Put the power in their hands (and get them off your back)
“As a barista, the small complaints I usually get are about mixed up drink orders, which are pretty easy to resolve.” Nedelkos explains. “The really rude people are upset about things that I can’t fix. Like why we don’t have cups in a certain colour or something.” Erwin agrees that most of her angry customers are upset with things she has no control over. “The two things that cause customers to yell at me are long lines and prices.” Nedelkos offers a solution to this situation. “I usually explain to them that I personally can’t change this, but I invite them to fill out a comment form or talk to a superior and say ‘They will listen to you over me’.” Not only does this get them out of your hair, but puts the power in their hands to resolve their own problem.

Maintain a neutral tone of voice and body language
As rude as the customer is being, you represent the entire store and organization. So as rude as they are, any hint of snideness or confrontation on your part will exacerbate the situation. “A rude customer feels threatened already, you make one false move and they will get madder,” Nedelkos laughs. Really, just stay calm, be as kind as you can, apologize profusely and keep a neutral tone of voice. You should make it through in one piece.

Don’t take things personally!
We know, easier said than done! But having a rude customer can really ruin your day, and make you feel bad long after you’ve left work. Instead, choose to remember the good times at work when you are decompressing after a long shift. “Rude customers are rude customers,” Nedelkos remarks. “But if you choose to remember the person who left you a great tip, or the one who was really nice, you’ll have a much better outlook.”

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Top Job Thursday

These employers back Green Team initiatives

 

How they were picked

As Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2012 evolve steadily toward sustainability, there are remarkable bursts of creativity along the way. Initiatives such as the YMCA of Greater Toronto attaching electrical generators to its exercise bikes or the Town of Ladysmith, B.C., changing its building code to encourage solar hot water systems demonstrate an innovative approach to becoming ever greener.

 

The Mediacorp editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers judged organizations on: 1) their unique initiatives and programs; 2) how successful they’ve been in reducing their own environmental footprint; 3) the degree employees are involved and 4) the extent that their initiatives have become linked to their public identity and whether they attract new people.

 

Richard Yerema, managing editor of Mediacorp Canada, notes that “once organizations venture down the portage of sustainability, it simply becomes how they operate and plan to operate in the future.”

Top Employers

Bayer Inc., Toronto. Pharmaceutical manufacturing; 704 employees. Constructed 10,000 square feet of green roof space at head office.

 

BC Hydro, Vancouver. Hydroelectric power generation: 5,911 employees. Has more than 300 Green Team members who volunteer at locations across the province.

 

BC Public Service, Victoria. Government support; 25,042 employees. Invests in Web-conferencing technologies with more than 130 equipped sites available for employees across the province, resulting in a significant decrease in travel-related emissions.

 

Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary. Medical laboratories; 989 employees. Allows employees to use their flexible spending benefits toward the purchase of environmental products and services.

 

Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, Burnaby, B.C. Professional organizations; 148 employees. The kitchen area sinks feature in-line filtration systems to lessen the need for disposable plastic water bottles.

 

Compass Group Canada, Mississauga, Ont. Food service contractors; 11,091 employees. Has become a major purchaser of Fair Trade Certified coffee.

 

Corus Entertainment Inc., Toronto. Television broadcasting; 1,478 employees. Every month, the company receives waste diversion reports focused on carbon dioxide emissions, water conservation as well as waste and recycling efforts.

 

Enbridge Inc., Calgary. Natural gas distribution; 4,224 employees. Has invested in alternative energy generation, including six wind farm projects in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, an 80 megawatt solar array in Sarnia, Ont., and a geothermal power facility in Oregon.

 

Enmax Corp., Calgary. Electric power distribution; 1,655 employees. Encourages employees to install alternative energy systems in their homes through an eco-rebate program.

 

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Toronto. Hotels; 8,612 employees. Implements energy and water conservation policies at properties worldwide.

 

Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Toronto. Lawyers; 1,232 employees. Participates in Pollution Probe’s Clean Air Commute campaign, which encourages employees to walk, bike, telecommute or take public transit to work.

 

Georgian College, Barrie, Ont. Colleges and universities; 744 employees. Has implemented aggressive strategies to reduce use of paper.

 

Hewlett-Packard Canada Co., Mississauga, Ont. Electronic computer manufacturing; 7,100 employees. Encourages employees to leave their cars at home by staying home themselves through a long-standing commitment to telecommuting.

 

Home Depot Canada, Toronto. Hardware stores; 13,079 employees. Has more than 2,400 environmentally responsible product choices for its customers through its Eco Options program.

 

Hydro Ottawa Ltd., Ottawa. Electric power distribution; 604 employees. Has an in-house conservation team that heads out into the community to spread the conservation word.

 

IKEA Canada LP, Burlington, Ont. Home furnishings stores; 1,540 employees. Maintains recycling depots at Canadian store locations where customers can drop off compact fluorescent light bulbs, halogen bulbs and old batteries free of charge.

 

Information Services Corp., Regina. Title abstract and settlement offices; 322 employees. Each board member is equipped with a “Board Book,” a smart tablet which has access to all board materials electronically, significantly reducing the amount of paper typically used.

 

KPMG LLP, Toronto. Offices of certified public accountants; 5,413 employees. KPMG’s Global Green Initiative commits the firm to reduce its international carbon footprint by 25 per cent (compared to 2007) through energy conservation and use of renewable energy.

 

Ladysmith, Town of, British Columbia. Legislative bodies; 49 employees. Is currently developing a Community Energy Plan designed to reduce long-term energy consumption.

 

Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Brampton, Ont. Supermarkets and grocery stores; 30,472 employees. Recently installed rooftop solar panel arrays on two store locations in Ontario as part of the province’s feed-in-tariff program.

 

LoyaltyOne Inc., Toronto. Marketing consulting services; 1,159 employees. Has formally monitored its carbon footprint since 2008.

 

Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg. Hydroelectric power generation; 5,959 employees. Is greening its fleet through the purchase of 28 hybrid vehicles for employees to use for business purposes.

 

McGill University Health Centre, Montreal. General medical and surgical hospitals; 11,500 employees. Employees have organized departmental employee-led green teams, such as the “Nursing Green Team” to help champion waste reduction and recycling initiatives.

 

Mountain Equipment Co-op, Vancouver. Sporting goods stores; 629 employees. Each retail location offers secure bicycle storage and showers to encourage its employees to ride their bikes to work.

 

National Capital Commission, Ottawa. Urban planning and community and rural development; 495 employees. Its “Back to the Tap” program encourages the reduction of plastic water bottles used by employees and visitors.

 

Nature’s Path Foods Inc., Richmond, B.C. Breakfast cereal manufacturing; 129 employees. Is working toward 99 per cent waste diversion from the landfill by 2014 and has already achieved diversion rates ranging from 84 to 93 per cent.

 

Ontario Public Service, Toronto. Government support; 65,423 employees. Maintains a unique re-use and re-deployment program for everything from furniture to computers to paper to heavy machinery to laboratory equipment.

 

Ottawa, City of. Legislative bodies, 11,931 employees. Implemented a “Green Building Policy for the Construction of Corporate Buildings.”

 

Perkins+Will Canada Corp., Vancouver. Architectural services; 52 employees. Has committed itself to the “2030 Challenge,” pledging that all of its projects will be designed as carbon neutral by the year 2030.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Toronto. Certified public accountants; 6,255 employees. Sponsors a national “Green Week” to promote environmental awareness both at the workplace and at home.

 

Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver. General medical and surgical hospitals; 7,181 employees. Has implemented a series of environmental initiatives in response to employee feedback.

 

Red River College, Winnipeg. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 1,246 employees. Operates a sophisticated biodiesel processing facility that converts used kitchen oil from its Food Services and Culinary Arts program, and blends it with diesel fuel to power the college’s maintenance vehicles.

 

Rescan Environmental Services Ltd., Vancouver. Environmental consulting; 132 employees. Employee-led committee is working toward the goal of diverting 95 per cent of its in-house waste from the landfill.

 

Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto. Banking; 53,100 employees. Introduced a new “Responsible Procurement Policy” that incorporates environmental and social considerations into all purchases made by the bank.

 

SAS Institute (Canada) Inc., Toronto. Computer programming; 240 employees. Constructed the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified commercial office building in Canada.

 

SaskTel, Regina, Telecommunications carriers; 3,190 employees. Launched the “Switch Off and Save” campaign on Earth Day 2008 to encourage employees to switch off all unnecessary electronics, vehicles and gas heaters.

 

Siemens Canada Ltd., Burlington, Ont. Engineering, 4,770 employees. Employees recently volunteered their time to repair used company laptops and donated more than 100 refurbished units to a local charitable organization.

 

Sodexo Canada Ltd., Burlington, Ont. Food service contractors; 10,091 employees. Has committed to sourcing local, seasonal or sustainably grown and raised food products for its food service operations.

 

Stantec Consulting Ltd., Edmonton. Engineering; 5,371 employees. Purchases paper with post-consumer recycled content for copier paper and printed materials.

 

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto. Hospitals; 4,922 employees. Has partnered with the “Smart Commute” program creating an online carpool service to make it easier for employees to find a workable carpool.

 

Symcor Inc., Mississauga, Ont. Financial processing; 2,589 employees. Encourages employee carpooling by providing reserved parking spaces for those who carpool and an intranet portal to help employees find a carpool group.

 

Toronto-Dominion Bank, Toronto. Banking; 41,360 employees. Was the first Canadian bank to hire a Chief Environment Officer.

 

Telus Corp., Vancouver. Wired telecommunications carriers; 23,400 employees. Aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent and total energy consumption by 10 per cent by the year 2020.

 

Toronto Hydro Corp., Toronto. Electric power distribution; 1,729 employees. Maintains one of the city’s first solar panel arrays at its head office, which features more than 189 panels.

 

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc., Cambridge, Ont., Automobile manufacturing; 6,937 employees. Strongly supports Earth Day every year, which is a month-long event at the company.

 

Union Gas Ltd., Chatham-Kent, Ont. Natural gas distribution; 2,155 employees. By simply introducing two-sided printing as a default across its operations, the company has reduced its paper usage by more than 14 per cent from 2009 to 2010.

 

University of Alberta, Edmonton. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 8,340 employees. Recently launched the “ecoREP” program to reach out to employees, faculty and students to become sustainability champions.

 

University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 10,612 employees. Encourages students to reduce waste and conserve water and energy through its “Sustainability in Rez” program.

 

University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 594 employees. Recently opened a Green University Centre staffed by two full-time employees who work on green initiatives on campus.

 

University of Toronto. Colleges and universities; 8,458 employees. Operates a unique “Swap Shop” at its St. George campus where members of the university community can drop off and pick up items such as furniture and office equipment.

 

Vancouver City Savings Credit Union (Vancity), Vancouver. Credit unions; 1,778 employees. Strongly supports annual “Bike to Work Week” with employees competing against other workplaces for the most bike commutes, hours logged and kilometres travelled.

 

Vancouver, City of. Legislative bodies; 6,858 employees. Recently launched a “Green Condo Retrofit Pilot” project that provides low interest and long-term loans to condo associations for major energy saving renovations.

 

Veridian Corp., Ajax, Ont. Electric power distribution; 215 employees. Provides employees with interest-free loans for the purchase of energy-efficient appliances for their homes.

 

Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler, B.C. Hotels and motels; 2,747 employees. Operates a new $32-million micro-hydroelectric plant inside the ski area that produces enough clean electricity for its entire operations.

 

YMCA of Greater Toronto, Toronto. Individual and family services; 1,286 employees. Maintains a green fund that is dedicated to funding environmentally beneficial initiatives.

 

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