Is your reputation holding you back?

Quite a few of the sayings that you've heard during your lifetime contain truths or partial truths. For instance, have you ever heard of the adage, “You can judge a person by the company they keep?” Think about how hard you’ve worked to build a reputation of professionalism and integrity. Like it or not, who you chose to associate with, and what you attach your name to, can have damaging affects to your professional reputation.

So how can you avoid your close colleagues becoming a detriment? The fact that we spend the majority of our waking hours at work feeds the need to socialize and those that we work with often become close friends. You always have to keep in mind that you were hired to do a job and your job is your first priority. You simply can’t afford to allow friendships to deter you from your responsibilities. Think in terms of a public person and a private persona.

Begin any workplace friendship with ground rules for yourself. What’s the image that you wish to project publicly? If you don’t want to be known as a gossip then don’t get involved in office gossip. This may seem obvious but it is easy to get caught up in gossipy conversations especially when a co-worker is venting about someone that you yourself don’t like. Stick to the rule of not getting involved at the office. Even outside of work, going for dinner or a drink, be careful about what you say.

How about a really lovely co-worker with a fun personality that doesn’t seem to be able to do their job? It’s a difficult situation because the co-worker is highly likeable but basically incompetent. Associating with this person, at work, is going to reflect upon you.

If your job entails any type of public presence, you need to double up and lock down. Be mindful of social media sites and even your private associations.

It may seem calculating to pick and choose work friends. But if you remember that work is work, you were hired to do a job and the future of your career is at stake, does it still seem calculating?

©2009 Cultivating Careers

The 50 Best Careers of 2011

Here's the list of the 50 Best Careers of 2011 from US News And Yahoo! Finance -click each job to learn more:
Business Jobs:
--Accountant
--Actuary
--Financial adviser
--Financial analyst
--Logistician
--Meeting planner
--Public relations specialist
--Sales manager
--Training specialist

Creative and Service Jobs:
--Commercial pilot
--Curator
--Film and video editor
--Gaming manager
--Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technician
--Interpreter/Translator
--Multimedia artist
--Technical writer

Healthcare Jobs:
--Athletic trainer
--Dental hygienist
--Lab technician
--Massage therapist
--Occupational therapist
--Optometrist
--Physician assistant
--Physical therapist
--Physical therapist assistant
--Radiologic technologist
--Registered nurse
--School psychologist
--Veterinarian

Social Service Jobs:
--Clergy
--Court reporter
--Education administrator
--Emergency management specialist
--Firefighter
--Marriage and family therapist
--Mediator
--Medical and public health social worker
--Special-education teacher
--Urban planner

Technology Jobs:
--Biomedical engineer
--Civil engineer
--Computer software engineer
--Computer support specialist
--Computer systems analyst
--Environmental engineering technician
--Environmental science technician
--Hydrologist
--Meteorologist
--Network architect

©2010 Cultivating Careers 

10 Ways To Stay Employed

1. Stay current with the happenings in your industry:

Keeping informed of your industry standards and practices should be commonplace but not everyone does. Give yourself a leg-up by knowing what the current and upcoming industry trends are. Stay up to date with certifications and licensures too.

2. Remain discreet with company information:

If you wish to be viewed as trustworthy then be trustworthy. Client lists, meetings, salaries, and the like are not common knowledge within most organizations. If you are privy to this level of information, keep it to yourself.

3. Know where to draw the “social” line:

It’s a fact that we spend the majority of our waking hours with our coworkers, naturally when spending an enormous amount of time with the same people on a daily basis you’re going to form some level of a personal relationship. Although it’s important not to alienate those you work with, it is just as important to realize that you were hired to do a job and that needs to come first.

4. Don’t make things personal:

If your boss or a coworker is having a bad day, or you have a gossipy coworker, do not make these situations personal. Again, you were hired to do a job and doing your job in the most professional manner possible will reflect favorably upon you.

5. Understand criticism:

There will inevitably be times when you encounter coworkers or bosses that are critical for the sake of being critical. But more often than not you will receive critique. Understanding the differences between criticism and critique will only benefit you.

6. Be competent:

Competence is not only the ability to complete tasks and assignments it is also the ability to speak up when you do not understand a given task. A truly competent employee is one that completes assignments correctly; so do not be afraid to ask questions.

7. Be accountable:

If you were given a responsibility and failed to follow through, be accountable for it. You will find that your boss is going to appreciate honesty far more then a random excuse.

8. Be willing to bend and “pitch-in.”:

If a contract or project requires some overtime and possibly taking on tasks that are not a normal part of your job, rest assured you will not make any points by sitting back. Pitching in during a deadline or on a project will be remembered.

9. Cross-train:

It has become standard practice to cross-train employees but not every company does this with every employee. Do not be afraid to learn someone else’s responsibilities. That is not to say that you should attempt to “steal” a coworker’s job, it is more about learning the various responsibilities of your coworkers to become a well-rounded employee.

10. Drop the attitude:

You are the employee, hired by an employer. No matter how well you do your job, the length of time that you have been at a company, or how loyal you are, you are in fact replaceable.

©2010 Cultivating Careers

Cell Phone Etiquette

Realizing that this should be self evident, I also realize that it is not to some and I’m guilty of breaking a few rules of common courtesy.

Be aware of your voice level. People tend to talk louder on cell phones. My older son pointed this one out to me. I have a tendency to talk louder if I can’t hear the other person! How much sense does that make to raise the level of your voice when you can’t hear the other person? It doesn’t make your phone reception any better.

Keep private matters private. Certain subjects are completely inappropriate to discuss in public and I’m not just speaking about conversations with friends. Business calls and the conducting thereof should not be a subject that you want the entire world to hear.

Set your phone to silent. I have not turned my phone off in 7 years and I’m not likely to start now but that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be courteous to others by silencing the phone. It is beyond rude to have your cell phone ringing at the movies, the theatre, restaurants, meetings, and etcetera. With the prices of movie tickets, how selfish is it for you to disturb others who are trying to enjoy an evening out? As for meetings, if you’re interviewing how impressive do you think it is to the interviewer to have your cell ring? It’s disruptive and sends a message to the interviewer that you do not respect their time.

Don’t interrupt face-to-face conversations to take a phone call. This is one of the most rude and disrespectful actions that people do. Barring an emergency, the person in front of you deserves your undivided attention. If you must take the call, apologize and keep it brief.

Be careful which cell phone ring you choose. I know about this from personal experience. At one point I had “Welcome to the Jungle,” by Guns-N-Roses as my ring tone. Imagine how well that went over when I was in a meeting negotiating a deal! Err on the side of caution and choose a standard ring tone, save your self-expression for other venues.

Create a professional voicemail message. Understandably, not everyone is comfortable with a voicemail message stating their name and that is acceptable but at minimum, let the caller know what number they’ve reached.

©2010 Cultivating Careers

Are You Guilty Of TMI?

TMI – Too Much Information

We spend more time with our co-workers than with our own families. At work we often share lunches, dinner after late evening meetings and even an occasional after work cocktail. So it’s kind of difficult to avoid discussing some personal matters with colleagues. Our colleagues sometimes know about major life events before other people in our lives.

But, there are valid reasons for not sharing personal information with your co-workers. People will think nothing of repeating what you’ve told them and others with purposefully use that information with malice. Are you sure, which of co-worker’s can keep your personal life private?

If you have never experienced backlash from personal issues shared with the workplace, consider yourself fortunate. Keep in mind that when you chose to share personal information, especially information that shows your weaknesses, you may be exposing your Achilles heel. If you’re in a managerial position you’re going to lose the respect of your underlings and if want to get to a managerial position you may shoot yourself in the foot. It’s not rude or a lack of manners to forgo sharing your private life, its simply good judgment. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t exchange pleasantries, be social or share positive life events but learn the happy medium.

Beyond what you verbally share.

For those utilizing social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc., how much personal information is too much? To find out the answer, it might be a simple as Googling your own name.

My Google experience was a little shocking, not because of any scandalous content but I was very surprised to see everything that I’d ever posted on Twitter, show up on Google! Thankfully, I erred on the side of caution.

I have profiles on a few networking sites and people will still ask what I do for living. I’m okay with that because that let’s me know that I haven’t disclosed too much information. When you post things on the Internet it becomes part of cyber abyss. The Internet is not your backyard, it is worldwide, GOLBAL!

If you wouldn’t want something that you’ve said or done to be on the evening news, then why would you post it? I could cite all the places on the Internet that state employers are checking on you but it would take me longer to reference them then for you to look for yourself.

©2009 – 2010 Cultivating Careers

Taking Charge Of Your Career

Unless you’ve been living on a deserted island, you know that we are in an economic crises and the job market has been affected.

News Flash! The steps to taking charge of your career haven’t changed.

The first thing that you need to realize is that YOU are responsible for your career. It is all up to you to consider your objective, develop a plan and then follow through. In order to successfully reach your career goals, you have to take charge over them. Start to think of your career as your own private company and see yourself as the boss. As the boss, you make all of the decisions. On the route to building your “company” hopefully you will seek out the advice of people who have knowledge and experience. But, bottom-line, the decision and responsibility towards achieving your career goals is yours alone.

Right about now, you might be asking, “Where do I start?” (Unless my writing has bored you to sleep.) The answer is actually really simple. You start to begin creating a plan.

Take some time to think about your ultimate goal. At this stage, the most important thing that you need to realize is where you want to land. It may seem backwards but you can’t get to where you want to be until you know where that is. What do you want to achieve with your career? The answer to that question becomes your objective.

With your objective, you have now started your long-term plan. Take a pen to paper and write down your objective. Think about strategies towards achieving this goal. Do you need to overhaul your resume? Who do you know that is already established? Will you need to further your education? Incorporate those answers into your strategy. At this point you have your goal and direction towards it. Begin to set the priorities within your plan. As you move towards your goal, set time aside to review your plan. Review it regularly and prioritize your strategies.

Taking charge of your career is a job in itself. You have your plan to keep you on track but that alone isn’t going to get you to your objective. Remain informed of changes in your chosen career; maintain your professional self-presentation and network!

©2009 – 2010 Cultivating Careers

Marketing on a shoestring budget

“Word of mouth” is the number one avenue to market yourself and your business endeavor. In order to get clients/customers by “word of mouth,” you must have an established track record although it doesn’t necessarily have to be for your current endeavor.

For example, when I started my consulting company I didn’t have an established track record as a business consultant, but I did have a well-established track record for delivering results from an NPO that I had run. I informed my colleagues, in the non-profit community, that I was going into consulting. This led to “word of mouth” recommendations. I wasn’t inundated with clients but it gave me a great start.

Maintain your integrity with everything that you do, maintain contact with former colleagues, co-workers and employers and absolutely network with others in your chosen industry.

©2010 Cultivating Careers

Overcoming The Interview Jitters

I know lots of people, from all backgrounds, that get the interview “jitters.” All the interview tips on the planet will not help you unless you can first embrace your confidence. Take a look at your talents, be confident of your abilities and realize that the interview process is an issue of selling the prospective employer on your skills. No matter the format of the interview, e.g., one on one, panel or phone, preparation is a necessity.

Research
Start with researching yourself.Ask yourself:

• What tasks does this position require?
• Do I possess those skills?
• 
  
  Why am I a good candidate for this job?

The answers to these questions serve a three-fold purpose.

1. You’ll know whether or not you qualify for the position.
2. If it’s a field that you wish to pursue, you’ll realize that you may need more training.
3. When the questions are asked during the interview, you’ll already have the answers.

Research the company.

Learn about the background of the company. Is it family owned? Did the CEO start out in the mailroom or as the receptionist? How large is the company? Is the company public or private? The more that you know about the company will help you clearly convey why you’re a good candidate.

Inventory interview questions.

Think about the interview questions that scare you the most. Pinpoint the questions that have stumped you in the past and address them. Taking the time to do this before the interview will give you a multitude of answers to use during the interview, and you won’t be left speechless. Think of a few questions that you want to ask the interviewer(s). That way, if have the you a chance to ask them, you’ll be prepared and can show that you’ve done your research and are very interested in the position. Practice! Practice! Practice! Go over interview questions and practice responding to each one. Say your answers aloud to yourself or to someone who will listen.

©2009-2010 Cultivating Careers

5 Tips For Managing Stress At Work

1. Plan your activities
It is important to timetable responsibilities, both on a daily basis and long-term. Plan out the, what, why, how, when, and who will do the job.

2. Organize your time on a daily basis
Make a list of issues; give priority to the most important or the most pressing issues.
At the end of each day check what you’ve completed. If you find that certain tasks or issues are not being addressed, re-evaluate your list.

3. Don’t hesitate to ask

In the fast paced world of today’s workplace, tasks and responsibilities often change. It is hardly a black mark against you to ask a question if you are unsure. However, not getting clarification and failing to deliver, will be.

4. Contribute to a positive environment at work

Be open for discussions, have a good communication with others and do not be afraid of positive critique. Keep in mind individual differences, some people perform better under pressure, others need more time to organize their work. Knowing the work style of your colleagues is a positive when a project needs to be completed.


5. Take a break and delegate
Yes, you are allowed to take a breather. Break for a few minutes in the middle of the day. For any Type A personality, delegating responsibilities can be tricky. But learning to delegate responsibility is necessary unless you prefer burnout.

©2010 Cultivating Careers

Something To Think About

“You are now at a crossroads. This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make. Forget your past. Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don't think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully.” ~Anthony Robbins

©2010 Cultivating Careers

Personal Ethics in Business

Written by Mary Bignall

What is personal ethics? Ethics is defined as moral principles or practices. Therefore, to be ethical in our personal or professional life it is the practice or conformity to the moral norms and standards within society. How do we learn these moral norms and standards? Our parents teach us right from wrong as we are growing up, but is that really enough for our personal and professional lives in today’s society. Do we stand up for our moral principles within the work place when we see individuals stealing from the company or committing other acts that we know are wrong? Has there become a line between personal and professional ethics in today’s business world? Can we sacrifice our personal integrity for our professional integrity? Respect of others is the basis of all relationships and is a crucial element of our personal integrity and our professional as well. Therefore, this creates a world of difference between respectfully trying to change someone’s opinion by trying to impose our personal moral judgments on another who may not share our morals. Just because this person doesn’t share our moral perspective does it make them wrong?

Integrity in our personal and professional lives should be a choice rather than an obligation and convey to others our sense of wholeness and strength. As we are guided in our daily lives by the following principles or virtues of: compassion, dependability, loyalty, maturity, objectivity, respect, trust and wisdom it empowers us to behave consistently to the high standards which we set for ourselves. Our personal integrity is the basic foundation on which we build our professional lives allowing our words and deeds to align with the ethical standards of the organizations in which we work. Does this mean that we need to sacrifice our integrity for a business that does not practice their ethical standards? Many times it is challenging for organizations to maintain adherence to their own ethical standards due to the pressures of maintaining a profitable business. Does this condone acceptance of breaking our personal or professional ethics? We as professionals need to be aware of these actions against ethical practices and have the courage to act in that moment to hold out for the organization to come into alignment with the stated ethics policy for the good of the integrity of all involved.

Integrity in the business world will always be tested and in these challenging times we need the courage to ask the right questions to guide others toward the right answers. The indicators of integrity are as follows: open to feedback, accepts personal responsibility, balances one’s needs with the needs of others, practices understanding and compassion, seeks the advice of others, respectful of views that are different, acts with integrity even when it is inconvenient, keeps agreements, and knows the difference between humor and hostility. The use of ethical personal and professional behaviors within the organization helps our personal success and enhances the value of the organization in the process. The use of ethical behavior creates an environment in which all have respect and personal dignity.

As leaders to have others interact with us in an ethical manner, we need to have these qualities as well. Habits can be changed or modified to maintain a high ethical standard in our personal and professional lives. These habits are very simple actions such as: always being honest in all our relationships, be kind to everyone regardless of time, place, person or circumstances, generous and unselfish with everyone you come into association with, cheerful and optimistic under all circumstances, never slander another person for any reason, make sure all transactions have a benefit for all involved, practice the belief that love in stronger than hate, and right is more powerful than force. If all were to be honest with self and everyone else we would all have greater courage and self-confidence to live our personal codes of ethics in our professional lives. It would allow us to achieve greater success in our careers and personal lives as well.

©2010-Mary Bignall

Your Good Name?

Heads up!

Your reputation is the best asset you have!

An excellent reputation is not something that is achieved overnight. It is the product of consistently good behavior, over time, and it is earned. Whether you realize it or not, you started to lay the groundwork for your professional reputation the day you began your very first job. You began to build that reputation through your actions. A good reputation is important no matter what kind of career you have or are working toward. What people think about you is frequently based on what they have heard even before they have met you.

Opportunities can come as a result of establishing and maintaining a good reputation. Your good reputation can help you to receive a recommendation for a job you want or an introduction to those who can help advance your career. The bottom line is that most people want to help and be associated with those who have good reputations.

However, one major mistake can significantly damage your reputation, leading to missed opportunities and making it difficult to restore other people’s confidence in you. Why am I writing about something that seems so obvious? Because I have seen how basically decent people can suffer after making some poor, often uncharacteristic, decisions. These mistakes are damaging. It takes a significant amount of time to rebuild relationships and repair a damaged reputation. Being cognizant of the potential mistakes and attempting to avoid them is well worth the effort, versus wasted time on damage control.

Each and every person that you interact with, online or IRL, is an opportunity to enhance your professional reputation. Insure that your interactions with people, online and IRL, are professional and responsible. You will be remembered based upon those interactions. The connections you make now, if they are positive, can last throughout your career.

To avoid reputation-damaging actions, here are a few pitfalls to pay attention to:

Be Conscientious About Your Online Activities

You need to be diligent about maintaining your Internet profiles and online presence. We all have diverse backgrounds. Opinions and actions will differ, misunderstandings will happen, and debates will occur. I have seen discussions, particularly those in online forums, that go awry when people are passionate about a topic. I’ve also seen actions online that would insure that I would never associate with certain people. Your best bet is to steer clear of those situations. You never know who is lurking online. Even though they may never post a message, important contacts could be forming impressions about you as a result of your actions and posts.

Do your online profiles and actions convey what you want employers to know about you? Search your name on the Internet to find out what is out there. Search for information about yourself on Google. Take a look at what is posted and ask yourself, “Would I want an employer to see this?” Remember that every piece of information that you post or that someone else posts about you, on the Internet, can last in cyber-space forever and employers are checking up on you online! Invest in setting your social networking profiles to private!

Honor Your Obligations And Balance Them

Over-promising, overextending, overestimating and overdoing do not allow you to show your best to others. Live a balanced life, take care of yourself, and develop a positive professional identity. Carefully selecting your activities and opportunities is one of the most important skills to master. Saying “no” and respectfully declining enticing opportunities will serve you much better than taking on a project only to end up quitting and letting people down once you are involved.

Be Genuine, Trustworthy and Loyal

Genuine people are credible. Credibility breeds trust and trustworthy people are loyal. A credible person is an expert due to his or her experience, qualifications, intelligence and skill set. Someone who is trustworthy is honest, fair, unselfish and caring. Loyal people are valued because they are faithful to a cause, ideal, custom or institution. The possession of these characteristics will enhance your reputation, while exclusions of the same are observed and damaging.

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

Allowing others to shine when they’ve given you a helping-hand enhances your integrity. After all, nobody is successful without the assistance of others. It is important to acknowledge those who have had a part in your development and achievements. Reputable professionals understand that they never lose credit when they share the fame of their accomplishments with those who have helped them along the way.

In the end, a solid reputation cannot save you from your worst mistakes, but it can buy you understanding and time to respond properly so that others know that your mistake was out of the ordinary.

© 2009 YP Mazzulo

Online Networking Basics

Online networking is similar to face-to-face networking. Both situations have the same objective. They are simply executed differently.

In both situations the objective is to identify and approach individuals with whom you can cultivate beneficial professional relationships. Verbal communication and physical presence are the missing components in online networking. However, you still have the capacity to present yourself professionally. Furthermore, your network is not limited to a singular group of people. The prospects for your network reach across the globe.

The first step, even before you even begin to engage others, is to think about how to present yourself in the best professional manner. Begin with your profile! Sites such as BrightFuse, LinkedIn and Facebook, have tips to improve your profile. Keep in mind the people that you are looking to network with want to see the same professionalism from you. Be consistent on each individual site and watch the content of your tweets.

At this point, you will have your profile fairly well finished and you can begin to seek out members to invite into your network. Online networking is not always easy to start because it makes us vulnerable to others and pulls us out of our comfort zone. It doesn’t matter whether you are naturally outgoing or extremely shy. Acceptance and or rejection are as much a part of networking as is job interviewing.

As a beginner, you have lots of people to choose from. Be patient and be prepared to spend time developing your network. Set goals that work for you. You must realize that although most people will accept your contact request, not everyone will. Remember that it’s better to reach out to a handful of people than nobody at all. It’s better to focus on the quality of your network versus quantity.

As you build your network, you also need to maintain it. Keep in contact with those in your network and do not be afraid to disconnect with a member that doesn’t fit in with your goal. This is not a social situation! It is business! You need to conduct yourself as you would in a real life professional environment.

Groups are an excellent place to network and gather information. Before you join a group, ask yourself a few questions. Does the group fit in line with my career objective? Am I going to gain knowledge from this group? Will sharing my experiences be beneficial to the group?

Get rid of the “all about me” mindset and realize that there is no magical formula for finding a job. No matter how many people are willing to advise you or give you “leads”, the work towards achieving your goal is your responsibility.

Happy networking!

©2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Top 5 Job Search Mistakes

1. Limiting your job search to the Internet.

After all is said and done, it is people who hire people. In our current economic situation, you cannot afford to limit your efforts to any singular place. The newspaper still has a classified section and face-to-face networking allows you the opportunity to meet potential employers/clients.

2. Expecting someone else to do the work.

Okay, so you’ve signed up for every job site that you can find, signed with a recruiter, and registered at several temp agencies. You cannot expect that employers/clients will seek you out or that your recruiter will have you at the top of the list and neither will the temp agencies. You have to be 100% proactive each and everyday. Set a specific time each day to check the job sites, call your recruiter, and the temp agencies. Don’t forget to follow up on leads and send a thank you note after an interview.

3. Overlooking networking opportunities and not being prepared for them.

Wherever you go you, is a potential opportunity to network! Have you heard of the “elevator speech?” Don’t be shy about telling people that you are looking for work. You don’t have to be obnoxious or sound desperate. Work it into a conversation and convey it in a positive tone! If you mention the fact that you’re seeking employment and you get a response, have an “on the spot speech” ready. Be specific and say what it is you are looking for. Remember to always carry your résumé with you! If you don’t have a business card, make a “calling card.” If you have software like Microsoft Publisher, make a “calling card” that has your name, phone number and email address on it. If you don’t have publishing software, Vistaprint is an inexpensive way to get cards made. A “calling card” makes it very convenient to exchange your contact information.

4. Hitting the launch button on a massive scale.

Blindly sending out your résumé in hopes that someone, somewhere will see it and call you for an interview is to say least, illogical. Most job sites utilize ATS (applicant tracking software). Read here to find out how ATS works. The bottom line on this one is that your résumé will end up “pigeon holed.” Also, you cannot customize your résumé to a particular employer/client or job.

5. Sending the wrong message.

You’ve joined a networking site and made a profile. Congratulations! Your email address is hotbunny@xyz.com or migthymuscles@xyz.com, your bio reads that you’re a single parent, have a cat named Twinkie, you enjoy long walks on the beach… Try to remember that it is a professional networking site. Create an email account specifically for your job search and keep your personal information, personal!

©2010 YP Mazzulo

Maintaining Your Online Network & Professional Presence

Now that you’ve learned how to navigate an online business/social network site and you’ve begun to build contacts, how do maintain your online presence and relationships?

At the risk of being repetitive, be careful of what you post into cyberspace. Can this be said enough? I see seemingly intelligent professionals, post things online that I’m positive they would not want an employer or professional contact to read. If you are marketing your skills as a professional in a certain field then you need to stick to that objective and insure that your online actions reflect your objective.

The online connections that you make may run the gamut, as do mine. Each contact is important, even if the contact is not a member of your chosen profession. You’ve probably heard of the fictitious 6 degrees of separation theory, but it is not so far fetched. Make sure to take time to maintain your professional relationships and do not just let them sit there on your list. Send them a brief message and inquire about them. Do this on a consistent basis and cultivate those contacts.

©2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Basics of Professionalism

I believe that it would be fair to say that most of us were taught some form of manners when we were growing up. From “sir” and “ma’am” to “please and “thank you.” These are little bits of etiquette that are deemed essential for proper social behavior. Unfortunately, sometimes these manners are dropped as we age or worse, deemed unnecessary. This attitude has trickled up to the business world and it seems that adherence to a professional atmosphere is being abandoned in favor of relaxed standards. I have put together a few things that I believe lead to a more professional approach.

Be Punctual. Sure it may seem basic, but arriving on time is a way to show your employer, co-workers and yourself that your appreciate and respect your job.

Address With Respect. Always show those around you that you recognize their accomplishments and positions in the company. You can easily do this without being a suck up; it never hurts to notice other’s achievements.

Keep A Neat Work Area. It is easy to get caught up in the “organized chaos” mentality by telling others that your work area is fine and YOU know where everything is, but a neat desk shows that you take pride in your self-presentation.

Work On Pronunciation. It may sound odd, but improving your speaking skills is a great way to sound like you know what you are talking about. Communicating correct information poorly still sounds incorrect. Speak Clearly.

Be Confident. This one is big. Being confident doesn’t mean act like you know everything. Rather be confident. If you are unsure of information, you are sure that you can get it. “I will get you that information,” sounds better than, “Um, I don’t know for sure” or “It is this way I think.” Be sure to convey it in your voice as well.

Listen Attentively. When someone is taking time to speak to you, or you are being given instructions, give them full attention. Be it your boss or the custodian telling you to watch a slippery floor, do them the courtesy of simply paying attention.

Dress Properly. I could write a novel about this one! You should adhere to dress code; the outfit that you wore to the nightclub is not appropriate for the office. Make sure that your shirt is tucked, all button/snaps fastened, zippers zipped, and flaps secured. Looking sloppy and unkempt projects that you are a sloppy employee.

Embrace Constructive Criticism. Yes this one is tough for all of us, but learning from mistakes is the best teacher. Hearing that you have made a mistake from others is often harder. Remember though, if the opinion is only for your benefit, you’ve nothing to gain but success.

Remember, no one is going to take you seriously if you don’t!

© 2009-2010 YP Mazzulo

Office Party Etiquette

The annual office holiday party or any office party for that matter is a business function. In spite of a “holiday cheer” wrapping, the annual office party is still a business function and those rules apply. People who are observing your behavior at the party will remember your actions. If you use it is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to handle business situations of the social nature, you may be remembered when it’s time to choose someone to represent the company. You can just as easily use the annual office holiday party to advance your career as you can to cripple it. The number one way to ensure that you’ll be remembered in a highly negative light? Consume too much alcohol!

Be smart and take the opportunity to meet the owner or CEO and other executives within your company that you might not have met before, or have seldom had the opportunity to speak with. You don't have to spend all night at the event, but you do have to attend. Plan to arrive soon after the event is scheduled to start, everyone will be at the beginning and they won't have repeated the same small talk a million times yet.

First things first, find your host. Thank them and take advantage of the opportunity to chat, but don't monopolize their time. Socialize and introduce yourself to someone you don't know. It may turn out to be someone who can help you on that next project or just someone who turns out to be an interesting person. If you haven't eaten yet, go ahead and sample a few items from the buffet. Be sure to select things you can eat neatly, with one hand, while standing up. If you are consuming alcohol, choose foods high in starch and protein that will help slow the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. Be mindful of the amount of alcohol you consume! It is a business event first and a party second. If there is a particular individual that you’ve been interested in meeting, do your homework ahead of time so you can speak with them about their division's newest release, or their favorite sports team, or the play you saw last week. You can talk business, but don't "talk shop". After an appropriate interval, excuse yourself and move on.

When you have spoken to all or most of the bosses, coworkers, and new people you planned to, gracefully leave. As you leave, thank your host for the enjoyable evening.

Most importantly, if you made any verbal commitments to any of the people at the holiday party, make sure to follow up on them. Write them down as soon as you get in the car or taxi.

©2009 –YP Mazzulo

360° View Job Search

Financial issues aren’t the only ones that go along with unemployment. Feelings of frustration, inadequacy, isolation and depression can also begin to emerge. You can head off some of these emotional issues by being self-aware and proactive. As with any stressful life issue, it’s paramount to make sure that we surround ourselves with family and friends. It is also helpful to seek out others experiencing the same issue. Groups, such as the ones found on LinkedIn, are a good place for those dealing with unemployment and job searching.
The Internet is an excellent avenue in which to set a professional presence. Investing time in a professional profile and seeking online contacts set the stage but those things alone will not get you employment. You need to approach your job search from several sides.

First, take a look at yourself. Make sure that the licenses and certifications that you have are up to date. Do you have any transferable skills? What was applicable in your previous employment may not currently be useful. If you are seeking to brush up on or learn new skills, check out GFC Learn Free. Getting a little insight about your personality is also useful. Take a mini personality test.

Gather information from multiple sources. The Internet is good but what about reading the business section of the newspaper or listening to business programs? Companies that are hiring utilize multiple outlets and so should you. The newspaper and business programs will feature companies that are doing well and industries that have new ideas and projects.

Be prepared at all times. Don’t be shy about telling people that you are looking for work. Wherever you go you, tell people that you are seeking employment opportunities. Don’t say, “I’m looking for work right now.” Give it a spin, “I’m looking for my next best opportunity.” Work it into a conversation and convey it in a positive tone! If you mention the fact that you’re seeking employment and you get a response, have an “on the spot speech” ready. Be specific and say what it is you are looking for. Remember to always carry your resume with you! If you don’t have a business card, make a “calling card.” If you have software like Microsoft Publisher, make a “calling card” that has your name, phone number and email address on it. If you don’t have publishing software, Vistaprint is an inexpensive way to get cards made. A “calling card” makes it very convenient to exchange your contact information.

Networking is essential to job seeking and one’s career. I have done this throughout my career and am fortunate to have some awesome contacts to call upon. Take the time to make face-to-face connections. You’ll probably find a section that lists all sorts of groups in your local newspaper. Quite a few of them are business oriented. Meetup.com lists every type of group that you can imagine. Don’t limit your networking solely to business-focused groups. If you have a hobby, join a group. You may just meet someone who can lead to your next job.

Volunteer! It is so rewarding for both the volunteer and the recipient of service. Realizing that looking for a job can be a fulltime job in itself, making an effort to volunteer somewhere with in your community is multipurpose. You’re helping your community but you’re also receiving the benefit of sharing your skills and keeping those skills sharp. In regard to benefiting your employment, employers do look at your volunteer work and the availability to network through volunteering is huge.

Employers/Hiring Managers can receive hundreds of résumés for one position. This makes it difficult to get noticed. Get a little creative. Experiment with different styles of résumés and ways to deliver that résumé.

In a tough economy, no one can afford be passive about their job search. Our current job market is tight but not necessarily hopeless.

©2009 Cultivating Careers