Advice

Etiquette. The word alone has the power to dredge up childhood memories of dinnertime reprimands: Elbows off the table! Napkin in your lap! Excuse yourself before leaving the table! Most of us likely have mastered table manners by now (or at least know not to talk with a full mouth)....

Career searching is a daunting task under the best of circumstances. Students and recent college graduates can be particularly vulnerable to the anxiety and stress that comes with searching for the ideal career. Lack of confidence and poor self-image can stop a job search or interview in its tracks.  By...

So, you’re the new office intern? The good news: You've got your foot in the door, congrats on scratching the surface. The bad news: You've just started a 3-month-long interview. But in this job market, the bad news is actually really good. A study by the National Association of Colleges...

In an economy where employees often feel pressure to demonstrate value, work-related matters can dominate life. Yet long hours and sacrificing personal time can backfire by leaving people feeling burned-out and resentful. Strike a better balance with these six tips: 1.  Set clear boundaries Ever notice how quickly colleagues who need...

Do you ever find yourself sucking down coffee, working late, bending over backwards and stressing out to check off items on a never-ending to-do list? You might be a hard worker -- and that’s great -- but if you set aside a few minutes to think about the way you...

At some point or another, you’re bound to feel frustration and stress at work. But when your job is stunting your career – and darkening your mood –  it may be time to make a drastic change. In the words of certified executive coach (and one of the 50 Best...

“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever” - Chinese Proverb Right now, there are about seven eligible applicants per job opening,* which means you really can’t afford to do anything but your best work. If...

Feeling down in the dumps as you stare at the same three walls day in and day out? Your desk décor could be partially to blame. There’s nothing like a disheveled and dull workspace to make you feel unmotivated. In fact, the average executive loses one hour of productivity per...

When it comes to bosses, demanding and bad are not synonymous. In fact, working for a demanding boss, as difficult as it may be, can be a great experience and a boon to your career. A demanding boss – we’re talking about a boss who has high expectations, not  a...

You’re a professional, right? You go to work and do your job – and you take pride in putting forth the effort to do it well. It’s a reality of the work world, however, that some people are content to coast. Watching a colleague dodge his duties can be aggravating....

A competitive spirit has its place in the office. It can be a positive force that pushes you to do your best work, thereby strengthening your company and increasing your job security and potential rewards. Some people, however, become possessed with the competitive spirit. They begin to view work as...

When you’re having a particularly high-stress day at work (or maybe that’s every day), sometimes you just have to take a minute to do something for yourself. It’s OK to stop and breathe. Deep down you might even  the chaos because, well, a job without a challenge can be terribly boring....

Having a micromanaging boss can make an employee feel like he is back in fourth-grade math class with a teacher looking over his shoulder expecting mistakes on a long-division problem. Whether such scrutiny is based on fear, a desire to be helpful or a natural inclination to control things, the result...

Lack of challenge is a leading cause of workplace boredom. Symptoms include: heavy sighing, clock-watching, tardiness, anger towards your boss, overeating and procrastination. Being bored at work can kill your motivation, cause dissatisfaction and stunt your career growth. And it affects more people than you might imagine. According to a recent...

You’ve cleaned out your desk and said good-bye to your colleagues. All that is left is an exit interview before heading out to your terrific new job -- and that’s only a formality nobody takes seriously. Right? Not so fast. Final impressions are lasting impressions. Rushing through an exit interview...

No employee wants to hear negative things about his performance. But while a poor evaluation can leave you feeling down, embarrassed and even fearful about your future with the company, it also can serve as a wake-up call to institute changes that will increase your value. Put the bad news...

Sports Psychology 101 teaches you that if you want the upper hand in a one-on-one challenge, you have to get inside your opponents’ head. Anticipate their every move and you’ll never be left stunned. Yeah, you guessed where this is going — the same type of strategy can apply if...

The holidays are your chance to leave other job seekers in the dust. Most of your competition is likely relaxing, vacationing, gorging on holiday feasts or maybe suffering from the holiday blues — all customary during the holidays. Don’t be one of them. Seize the moment! If you stay on top...

The whole concept of unemployment bias is reminiscent of job searching at 16, going door-to-door to every yogurt joint and coffee place to beg for a first job. “No experience? No thanks” was a theme among employers. It is circular logic: “How can I get experience if no one...

You have decided that it is time to move on from your current organization. For a variety of reasons, you just are not happy in your job and you need to find something that is more satisfying. But what exactly are you looking for? What would be satisfying? What would make...