Monday, May 18, 2020

5 Ways to Demand Respect in the Corporate World

5 Ways to Demand Respect in the Corporate World It’s an experience which is all too common within the office and corporate environment. Do your opinions, solutions and comments sometimes  fall on deaf ears? When you ask someone to pull their weight, is your  request ignored?  The question you ask yourself is, “where am I going wrong”? You know you’re intelligent; a model employee who’s always there for your  colleagues. So why don’t you get the respect you deserve? Below I’ve put together 5 ways in which you can help raise your status amongst your peers and make them realise that you are a valuable team member who deserves respect. 1. Ensure you get credit for what you do If you’ve completed an impressive, laborious piece of work, try to make  key people are aware of what you’ve done. If youre ocnstantly down-playing your abilities or being too humble, you might be shooting yourself in the foot. No one likes a bragger, but being too humble in a professional setting can sometimes backfire and discredit your effort. One thing you can try is  carbon copying managers  into your emails if you can (but don’t spam, be tactful and  only copy them into things which show you in a good light and actual  relevance to them). Subconsciously they will recognise your contribution, your value,  ultimately resulting in more respect. 2. Quality not quantity In any meeting don’t be the first to speak, take your time and ensure that what you say is meaningful and has value. If all you’re doing is adding is your 5 cents worth, it’s better to control the urge to speak and stay silent because in these situations less is more. If you’re asked to participate, a good approach is to say the following “I thought everyone raised some valid points …”  followed by highlighting one or two points which you liked. Ensure that you name the individuals and give them credit,  then close with “I have nothing more to add”.   3. Add weight to what you say in meetings Start off with “like Steve said” or “I agree with Jen”. Always mention someone else’s name before making your own point  and giving your opinion. When you’re in agreement with someone who has greater influence than you, your point will carry more weight! Also, those individuals will appreciate the credit they’ve received from you and therefore, subconsciously will be more supportive of what you have to say. 4. Deal with the users It’s very likely that if you’re not respected it’s partly down to people taking advantage of your good nature and this has to stop! Every organisation has its fair share of lazy, corner-cutting  â€œusers”, who get others to do their work whilst taking the credit. Any healthy relationship is a two-way street. So if you feel you’re being used, test your relationships.   Ask them to do something for you (related to their work) and see if they’ll do it. If they don’t (after repeated requests), it’s time to put them on your “Users” List. Next time they ask for help,  just say “Sorry I’m too busy ask so and so”. They will come back but by continuously  and politely rejecting their approaches they will soon get the hint and find someone else. 5. Deal with the office bully Not every office has one but  if you do you probably know. Their humour  is like a hate filled jam donut, doughy banter filled  with passive aggression;  and just like a school bully, they pick on easy targets. PsychologyToday talks about how humans have  pack mentality; how  this person will set the tone for the way others treat you. Deal with the bully and you’ll deal with the rest. So how do you do it? Firstly It’s important not to be passive aggressive back. Don’t give them the feedback or the reaction that they crave.   My personal, simple advice is to call them out on what they say! Call a spade a spade. If they say something demeaning, let them know that what they said is demeaning and not very nice or professional. Now things might get worse before they get better (because it’s likely they’ll push for a reaction that they’re used to getting). However, by not buckling under the pressure they’ll soon realise that you’re not a soft target and they’ll eventually move on. The human subconscious is by far the biggest driver in forming our opinions of others. By using these soft techniques, you will hopefully see improvements and find that co-workers and your boss are more interested in what you say, appreciate what you do and give you the respect you truly deserve.   About the author: Farhan Raja is a career coach, former recruiter and founder of Jobinterviewology.com.

Friday, May 15, 2020

Qualities that Make a Good Doctor

Qualities that Make a Good Doctor Source â€" WikimediaCareers in medicine are some of the most prestigious out there. I’m sure there’s nothing quite as satisfying as reading “Dr” as the prefix on all your mail, or seeing a family’s relief at someone’s recovery.However, the life of a doctor isn’t completely glamorous! If you’re thinking of pursuing this career, take a moment for some self-appraisal.Here are some of the qualities you’ll need to be a good doctor.1. COMPOSUREevalPhoto CreditevalThis is something which a lot of people overlook as an essential quality for a doctor. However, it’s one of the most important traits you can have in the medical field. Working as a doctor is tough to put it lightly. You’re going to be dealing with many of high-pressure situations, and possibly a lot of gore depending on your specialty. Patients and their relatives will also be feeling the strain. It’s not uncommon for doctors to receive verbal abuse or even physical attacks.At the very worst, you may have to inform someone about their loved one’s passing. If you don’t think you could handle this as your nine to five, then it’s time to reconsider!2. DISCIPLINE AND INDUSTRIOUSNESSPhoto Credit â€" Flickr These are important traits for a doctor. I’m sure you’ve heard before that doctors never run out of work. Well, it’s true! No matter the time of day or point in the year, you can be sure that someone will always need healthcare.As a doctor, your workload is never really going to thin out, and can be massively unpredictable.fIf your hospital or practice is understaffed, you may be called in at a moment’s notice. The stresses pile on even more if you open your own practice. Here, you’ll have to operate both as a physician and a business owner. From medical loans to balancing books and even marketing, private doctors have a lot on their plate. If you’re going to pursue a doctorate, make sure you’re industrious enough first.3. EMPATHYPhoto CreditOkay, this isn’t really essential. I know there are doctors out there who are highly professional, but help their patients the way a mechanic works on a car! While it’s possible to be both competent and callous as a doctor, empathy can help you a lot. Countless studies have shown that patients feel much more comfortable when the doctor shows empathy.Most of us If you’ve got these three traits, then I’m sure the medical profession will be a great field for you. Being a doctor is often frantic and fast-paced. However, for the right person, the rewards make it all worthwhile.

Monday, May 11, 2020

Working time through the ages - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Working time through the ages - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Wikipedia delivers again, this time with a great overview of working time from the stone age to today. A few nuggets from the article: early hunter-gatherer societies enjoyed more leisure time than is permitted by capitalist and agrarian societies;[5][6] For instance, one camp of !Kung Bushmen was estimated to work two-and-a-half days per week, at around 6 hours a day.[7] Aggregated comparisons show that on average the working day was less than five hours.[5] The automobile manufacturer, Henry Ford, was an ardent proponent of shorter work hours, which he introduced unilaterally in his own factories. Recent studies[9][10] supporting a four-day week have shown that reduced work hours not only increase consumption and invigorate the economy Because of the pressure of working, time is increasingly viewed as a commodity.[26] This trend, as well as the amount of working time being found to affect gender roles, has been notably researched by Sociology professor Dr. Stephen C. Smith.[27] In 2006, the average man employed full-time worked 8.4 hours per work day, and the average woman employed full-time worked 7.7 hours per work day.[28] Good stuff. Theres loads more go read the whole thing. Related posts Bring back the 40-hour work week. Dont let The Cult of Overwork ruin your work life. The top 5 new rules of productivity. How to procrastinate effectively. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Friday, May 8, 2020

How To Get Ahead In Your Medical Career

How To Get Ahead In Your Medical Career Most people, when they choose a career, commit to it, work hard, and then they’re off; the progress takes care of itself. When it comes to the medical industry, however, these rules don’t really apply. That world is so large, so diverse, reasonably competitive, and challenging, that it’s difficult to know how you can get ahead. So we’re here to help. Below, we’ve put together some useful tips that’ll help you advance in your career. Think Ahead Now, we know that you’ve got a lot on your plate when it comes to your job. The medical industry is not the option for people who want a relaxed, easy-going job. If you’re going to enter this field, then you’re going to work! Still, though you’re going to be busy, it’s worth keeping one eye on the future, and where you might want to go. Even if you don’t have all of the answers right now, by at least beginning to ask these questions, you can begin to put the pieces in position to help you get there. Be The Best At What You Do There’s no substitute for hard work. The cream always rises to the top. If you want to be considered for promotions, then it’s imperative that you work hard, and try to be the very best at what you do. This is about more than just knowledge; it’s about passion and commitment. It’s about going the extra mile, making yourself available to work when it’s needed, and so on. If you make yourself indispensable to your organization, then you’re much more likely to be rewarded with promotions and advancement. While you should have one eye on the future, make sure you’re not dropping the ball when it comes to the here and now. Top Up Your Qualifications The medical industry is always advancing. And indeed, whether you’re a doctor or a nurse, much of what you learned during your formal schooling will be obsolete within a matter of years. As such, it’s important that you carry on learning. You can do this in two ways. One, by having a generally open attitude and picking things up as you go along; and two, by topping up your skills with more qualifications, such as studying for an online msn degree. You know that you’re suitable for more advanced positions, and with a qualification by your side, you’ll have the proof to back it up to your superiors, too. Network for New Opportunities Like any other industry, from time to time it’ll be less about what you know, more about who you know. If you’re able to successfully network with the movers and shakers who things happen, then you’ll be more likely to be aware of and ultimately offered the opportunities that they’re aware of. Assume The Role of Leader A confident person never stays at the bottom. Assume a leadership role, take on extra responsibility, and be involved with the decision making, and you’ll be primed to lead from the front one day.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Need a mentor How to find (and keep) one -

Need a mentor How to find (and keep) one - When you hear about someone looking for a mentor, you probably think about young people seeking an older and wiser, senior person to show them the ropes. Today, the definition of mentorship includes people at all ages and experience levels; mentors arent just for twenty-somethings anymore. If youre in your 40s, can a mentor help you? University of Georgia professor of industrial-organizational psychology, Lillian Eby, Ph.D, noted, Obtaining a mentor is an important career development experience for individuals. Research indicates that mentored individuals perform better on the job, advance more rapidly within the organization, and report more job and career satisfaction. No matter your age, it cant hurt to find someone who will encourage and you in your professional goals, help build your confidence, remind you what youre good at and suggest ways for you to improve. How can you find a mentor in mid-career? Unlike young interns, fresh out of school, youll probably need to do a little more work to identify the right mentor for you. Follow these tips to get on the right path to a positive mentoring relationship: 1. Identify your goals and mentoring needs. You dont want to be the lost soul seeking guidance and direction. At this stage of your career, youll want to narrow down your targets and decide what you want next. Until you wrap your mind about your goals, it will be difficult to identify a mentor who can successfully help you accomplish them. 2. Know what you offer. You should know a thing or two about what you offer. A mentoring relationship should be mutually productive, or even reciprocal. You have something to offer a mentor in return for his or her ideas; make sure to solidify this in your mind before you seek someone to partner with you. 3. Create a plan. Before you ask someone to meet with you on a regular basis, plan out some discussion topics. While people tend to enjoy talking about themselves and sharing their own expertise, be sure to make it clear you envision the meetings and relationship will be a two-way street, with each party learning and contributing. 4. Dont limit yourself to mentors inside your organization. While it would be great to learn from a mentor in your workplace, consider working with someone who is outside the four walls of your office. Be sure to cast a wide net for your ideal mentor. Try to find someone who will energize you with ideas and be able to help you realize your own potential. Dont forget to check with your alumni association. Sometimes colleges and universities have formal mentoring programs, and you may be able to sign up to be matched with a suitable contact. 5. Recognize that mentors come in all ages. When you identify topics where you need mentoring, you may realize that you will benefit from a mentoring relationship with someone younger than you. This type of mentorship has become very common. The Wall Street Journal reported that companies institute programs to pair their more senior workers with younger employees who understand technology, social media and the latest workplace trends. Spending time with younger workers may be just the thing to help energize you with new viewpoints and new skills. 6. Ramp up your networking. If finding a mentor isnt a slam dunk, be sure to increase your networking efforts, both in person and online. If you havent been attending professional meetings or mixers, now is the time to start. If youve been thinking of volunteering for a cause you believe in, get started! These opportunities to meet people in person could expand your pool of potential mentors. However, dont forget virtual networking is a great way to meet new people, too. Consider jumping into social networking if you havent already done so. You may be surprised by how generous your networking contacts who dont even know you in person can be when it comes to providing support, encouragement and mentoring. With Skype and online technology, your mentor can be halfway around the world, or in your own neighborhood. Remember, we are all busy. If you want to work with someone, you need to follow up. Its up to you to keep in touch, schedule (or re-schedule) meetings and make times to touch base to discuss topics of interest to both mentor and mentee. 7. Give back. Look for opportunities to serve as a mentor to other people. Its a great way to continue to learn and grow, and it is always nice to take a leadership role and to help someone else succeed. 8. Be appreciative. While most people who agree to advise you and boost your career are not looking for trinkets or gifts, it cant hurt to consider donating to your mentors favorite charity, sponsoring him or her if hes raising money for a cause, or agreeing to volunteer with him or her at a charitable event. Most people will appreciate these gestures.

Friday, April 17, 2020

The Upside to Technical Skills Resume

The Upside to Technical Skills Resume Understanding Technical Skills Resume Sure, there probably are some recruiters and hiring managers around who will discover that it's funny or charming. Below, you will discover more info about the kind of computer skills employers commonly start looking for in job applicants. Show the employer you have the skills the business requirements. Computer skills comprise the great majority of hard skills that companies desire away from their employees. Soft abilities, on the flip side, aren't simple to quantify. They are a bit more vague and open to interpretation. In the majority of instances, your soft skills can boost your hard skills. Job-specific skills vary dependent on the position. Where to Find Technical Skills Resume Below you'll discover lists of basic computer abilities. Accounting computer software skills are important if you're applying for positions in the finance or company sectors. Alongside basic understanding of spre adsheets, having data visualization skills might also be useful in a data-heavy function. A good way to ascertain the most essential software skills for a resume is to peruse the work description. So if you're an administrative assistant then you're probably doing multitasking in your day-to-day life. To begin with, if you're seeing a great deal of hard skills that you just don't have, it can be far better move on to the next position. Hard skills can be classified in various ways, depending upon your job title. A Key Skills section, on the flip side, is listed on top of a resume. Writing skills are also critical for many diverse jobs. Hardware skills permit you to physically operate a computer. If you don't have basic computer skills then it is going to be difficult for you to find work. You don't have the fundamental computer skills you will need to receive the job that you desire. In addition to the practical demand for developers in just about any company, programming skills demonstrate advanced problem solving skills that could donate to a well-rounded professional. That means you should specify telephonic skills as one of the significant skill set you need to acquire administrative assistant job in any organization.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

The Best Advice For A Career Change - Work It Daily

The Best Advice For A Career Change - Work It Daily If you’ve been out of work for a while, you may decide what you need is a career change. The success of that approach depends on your answers to five important questions. Related: Resume Tips For A Career Change First, are you considering a change because you do not like your current work situation? It may make more sense to look for another work situation than to leave your career. The Best Advice For A Career Change As a Coach and Professional Resume Writer for more than 10 years, I have found many folks who confuse unhappiness with their current situation as unhappiness with their career choice. There is a difference. I can help you determine which change is right for you. Second, if you have any doubts about a career change, are you sure you have exhausted every avenue to advance in your current career? Third, if you are determined on a change, are you moving into a career you can feel passionate about? If you are depressed about the prospect of changeâ€"for example, if you are leaving behind the only work that gives you joyâ€"you cannot present yourself well at interviews. Your lack of passion shows. That type of career change makes your job search harder, not easier. Fourth are your skills transferrable? If you need help presenting your skills and achievements in their best light, get help from a professional. Fifth, if you do not have the current skills to make the final career change you want, do you know what steps to take to qualify for the career you want? A career change should be exciting and fulfilling... not stressful. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 15 Questions To Ask Before Making A Career Change 3 Signs It’s Time For A Career Change 3 Very Real Reasons You Should Make A Career Shift Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today! The Best Advice For A Career Change - Work It Daily If you’ve been out of work for a while, you may decide what you need is a career change. The success of that approach depends on your answers to five important questions. Related: Resume Tips For A Career Change First, are you considering a change because you do not like your current work situation? It may make more sense to look for another work situation than to leave your career. The Best Advice For A Career Change As a Coach and Professional Resume Writer for more than 10 years, I have found many folks who confuse unhappiness with their current situation as unhappiness with their career choice. There is a difference. I can help you determine which change is right for you. Second, if you have any doubts about a career change, are you sure you have exhausted every avenue to advance in your current career? Third, if you are determined on a change, are you moving into a career you can feel passionate about? If you are depressed about the prospect of changeâ€"for example, if you are leaving behind the only work that gives you joyâ€"you cannot present yourself well at interviews. Your lack of passion shows. That type of career change makes your job search harder, not easier. Fourth are your skills transferable? If you need help presenting your skills and achievements in their best light, get help from a professional. Fifth, if you do not have the current skills to make the final career change you want, do you know what steps to take to qualify for the career you want? A career change should be exciting and fulfilling... not stressful. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 15 Questions To Ask Before Making A Career Change 3 Signs It’s Time For A Career Change 3 Very Real Reasons You Should Make A Career Shift Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!