How to Overcome the Challenges of Telecommuting

How to Overcome the Challenges of TelecommutingHow to Overcome the Challenges of TelecommutingHave you had the opportunity to telecommute aka work from home?The idea is appealing and could be the answer to what to do when you have sick kids or a horrendous commute.But once it becomes part of your regular schedule you may discover a few disadvantages.So before you begin telecommuting consider these disadvantages so you can plan accordingly. The disadvantages of telecommuting are tied to the main advantage which is you dont have to go into an office every day. But while that sounds great, consider the downsides. Becoming Isolated Loneliness is the number one disadvantage of telecommuting. If youre working from home full-time, you may start to time your coffee break to the arrival of the mailman. To help battle this disadvantage look for ways to connect with the outside world other than your PC or phone.You can appreciate the conversation at the bus stop more or meet up with a neigh bor for a lunchtime walk or run.If you want to grow your career sign up for networking events and go out monthly to meet some new people.Find your tribe outside of your work to help grow a more fulfilling career. Missing out on Shop Talk Youre so much more productive when you telecommute because you dont waste time chit-chatting with co-workers. But the gossip serves an important purpose building relationships,allowing for casual brainstorming and information sharing. If you telecommute, make sure to regularly call or message colleagues and stop by the office to keep your network strong. Every month identify the important meetings and events youd like to attend in person and then let others know youll be there. You want to avoid being blindsided by layoffs, being unaware of a new corporate strategy or missing an opportunity to participate in high-profile projects. Becoming the Fallback Child Care Provider When youre working from home, people sometimes forget the working par t. You run the risk of neighbors, teachers and even your spouse taking for granted that you will be in the home working during work hours. While it may be simple to let a repair person in the house now and then, you dont want to be called on for multiple errands and childcare when youre supposed to be doing your job. Be sure to set your daily, weekly, and monthly work, family, and maybe house priorities.Then let others in your life know about these priorities to help set expectations of your availability.You can use a shared online calendar or whiteboard calendar so everyone knows where your schedule is at.Yes, this is one more piece of work you have to do, but it helps avoid confusion, hurt feelings, and aggravation. Battle the Feeling of Work-Family Conflict If you have young children at home, it can be hard for them to understand that although you are physically present you are unable to care for them. They may refuse consolation from their babysitter if they know youre only a few feet away. Older children and even spouses may fail to respect your work time and interrupt for just a quick question. To help with this conflict set boundaries.Create a home office where you stay in and they stay out.This means that when the workday starts you have everything you need for morning work.Yes, youll need to break out every once in a while but to help your child understand that you are mentally not around you could try physically not being there.Another option is to pretend to leave for work and sneak back into your home office As for the afternoon hours if you expect the kids and your husband to come home soon, put a do not disturb sign up when they absolutely cannot come in for that quick question.If you have a high priority task you must finish, set the boundary, either the night before or a note they can read when they come home, that you must have quiet to finish your work and then you are all theirs for the rest of the night. Edited by Elizabeth McGrory

Survey The taller you are, the more confident you feel at work

Survey The taller you are, the mora confident you feel at workSurvey The taller you are, the more confident you feel at workAs a petite person who works in a world of tall cabinets and high desks, I understand that the corporate world is not necessarily designed for people under 5?3. Not being the default is a small reminder that you do not belong at work, and these small reminders add up. A new survey from healthcare network BodyLogicMD of over 1,000 professionals found that our heights can influence how we feel about our work.The professional height advantageHeight appears to give employees a boost of self-esteem. The shorter you were in the survey, the less successful and confident you were likely to feel. Men who said they were tallerthan average men, or at least5?11, and taller than average women who were at least5?6 said they were taken more seriously at work, compared to theirshorter colleagues. The majority - 71% - of men and women who were taller than average also said the y were more confident at work than their shorter than average peers.We know we live in a society where physical appearance matters, not only because it shapes how people see us, but also how we see ourselves. Shorter professionals were also less confident about their earnings matching their worth. Forty-five percent of tall men said they earned what they deserved, while 33% of short men said the same.The suspicion of not being on equal footing may be right. One 2004 study found that an employee who is 6-feet tall would be predicted to earn nearly $166,000 more over the course of a 30-year career than someone who is 5?5, even after controlling for gender.Why do taller people get ahead at work? Researchers have come up with a variety of reasons for their advantage. Some believe it is a holdover of cavemen politics an evolutionary response to wanting taller, stronger people to help us protect and get food during our hunter-gatherer days. Others bring up the fact that taller people may have gotten more of the key social skills needed from being picked more during gym class. Researchers on height during adolescence found that, those who were relatively short when young are less likely to participate in social activities that may facilitate the accumulation of productive human capital such as social adaptability.I tend to believe that the height premium can also be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We are taught to see taller people as richer and successful, so they become that.As Malcolm Gladwell wrote in Blink No one ever says, dismissively, of a potential CEO candidate that hes too short. He notes thatwe have a sense, in our minds, of what a leader is supposed to look like.To move beyond the default of the ideal leader, we have to look beyond the surface of what success should look like. And that means learning not to just look up.

These are the best and worst states for personal income growth

These are the best and worst states for personal income growthThese are the best and worst states for personal income growthWith tax season in full swing right now, personal income is on everyones mind. But could your income be bigger if you lived in a different state?According to recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal income increased in all of the states last year except for North Dakota. The five states seeing the most growth are Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. As for the worst states, North Dakota came in last place and was the only state that saw a decrease in income. Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota filled out the rest of the states with the smallest growth.West is best, Plains feel painLed by Washington, the raum that has shown the most earnings income growth collectively is the Far West at 4.1% on average, despite Alaskas 0.4% growth. The Rocky Mountainstates of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming werent far behind with an avera ge of 4%.Florida,Georgia and North Carolina saw the highest increases outside of the Western U.S. with a 3.8% increase in income for each state. The Plains region (Iowa,Kansas,Minnesota, Nebraska, and The Dakotas) are seeing the slowest growth right now with the average rate of 1.4%, far below the national average of 3.1%. These states were hit particularly hard as commodity prices remain low following a fourth consecutive annual decrease in farm earnings.Different industries are impacting different states. Retail trade put Washington ahead of the pack, coming in 15.3%, substantially higher than the 2.9% across the rest of the nation. In Nevada, the construction industry was the main contributor at 13.2% compared with 5.2% for the rest of the U.S., and health care gave Arizona a boost with earnings coming in at 6.4% compared to 4.1% for the nation.

Tips on How to Write a Thank You Note

Tips on How to Write a Thank You musiknoteTips on How to Write a Thank You NoteIf someone does you a favor anything from buying your product to helping you get an appointment with a decision maker then a thank-you note is not only appropriate, it will also help you to maintain the relationship with the helpful person. Developing a regular thank-you note habit can yield impressive results. Joe Girard, the worlds greatest salesperson according to the Guinness Book of World Records, credits his success to his habit of sending handwritten cards every month to every one of his customers. Girard sent out over 16,000 cards per month, and as a result, he became the top car salesperson in the world for 12 years in a row, but you dont necessarily need to send thousands of cards every month to achieve an impressive result. Dont think that sending out an email or a gestalt letter will accomplish the same thing. The fact that so few people bother to send out handwritten letters and cards will m ake yours far more powerful. People notice handwritten letters whereas they tend to toss form letters straight into the recycling bin. Such letters dont need to be long, either. Girards famous handwritten cards said simply, I like you. It was the fact that he bothered to send those cards every month that impressed his customers, not fancy or complicated messaging. A thank-you note is a particularly powerful way to reach out to someone. You not only show your appreciation for what theyve done, but you also demonstrate that youre willing to take the time to write out the message yourself and send it over. For major favors, such as an introduction that led directly to a huge sale, including a small gift may be appropriate but its not a requirement. What to Include in Your Thank You Note Your notes should include a mention of what the person did for you and should stress the positive results of his actions. If you met the person at an event or an appointment, feel free to mention w hat a pleasure it was to encounter him. You can also bring up how much you appreciate the efforts this person went to in helping you. If youre not sure how to start, try opening your note with something like, I had to take a moment to thank you for your wonderful referral, introduction, etc.. Its a good idea to close by talking about how you look forward to future meetings or conversations with your benefactor. A more formal note or letter might close with Best wishes, Many thanks, or Regards, depending on how well you know the person youre writing. If youre jotting out a simple note or filling in a card, you dont need to use such a structured approach. When Someone Sends You a Gift When someone else sends you a gift for example, during the holidays you should certainly respond with a thank-you note. Its also a good idea to keep a list of people who gifted you so that you can reciprocate next year. Such thank-you notes should mention the specific gift you received, how happy y ou are to have it, and ideally how you plan to use it. For example, if a client sent you a gift card for a local restaurant, you might mention how much you love the food at that place and how you intend to take your husband there for a night away from the kids. Another great time for thank-you notes is a customers anniversary. If you have a customer whos been buying from you for a full year (or multiple years), be sure to send a note thanking him for being such a loyal customer. Such customers should be encouraged to stay loyal, and theyll certainly appreciate the fact that you noticed how long theyd been with you.

Avoid These Bad Habits and Behaviors in Your Job Search

Avoid These Bad Habits and Behaviors in Your Job SearchAvoid These Bad Habits and Behaviors in Your Job SearchBad habits can be sneaky. They often begin innocuously, and over time, can become a part of your personality. While some schwimmbad habits- like cracking gum or chewing your fingernails- might leid affect your everyday life too negatively, you may have formed some bad habits that are hindering your job hunt.Stay on top of your job search game by avoiding these bad habitsTardinessIts unlikely that youll hear an interviewer exclaim, Im so glad you were 20 minutes late for our interview Instead, you might have to reschedule, or worse, miss out on your interview opportunity altogether. So when it comes to time management skills, make sure yours are super sharp. Even if it means leaving your house a good half hour or more earlier than you need to, being on time is important for any job interview.LazinessWhether you think that your accomplishments speak for themselves (or youre a b it burned out from job searching for so long), submitting a ho-hum job application isnt going to go over big in a potential babo eyes. After all, your interviewer wants to feel your enthusiasm for the job and the company coming across in your job application.Writing a generic To whom it may concern on your cover letter, not explaining how your work experience makes you a solid match for the job, or not expressing your interest in working for (and growing with) the company can all count against you.ForgetfulnessDont forget deadlines. Dont forget names of key people during job interviews. Dont forget to ask questions. Dont forget all the reasons you were excited to start a new job search in the first place There are lots of things to remember and keep track of during your job search, so if youre known to be forgetful, come up with a system for preventing that. For instance, you may want to write everything down, or set calendar reminders. Figure out what works best for you.Bad-Mouthin g Your BossEven if youve had a previous boss-from-hell, its best to be tight-lipped when it comes to possibly saying something negative about him. If youre applying for a position within the same industry as your previous job, theres a fairly decent chance that your prospective boss may know him- and your ruthless remarks could cut your job interview short.If youre asked about why you left your former role (and it was mostly because of your boss), cite another reason, such as you outgrew your role, or you worked at the company for a long time and you want to try something new.Being Aggressive or ApatheticYou want to make a positive impression upon your interviewer, which means being polite, professional, and friendly. But chalk it up to a multitude of factors, such as nerves or being out of practice when it comes to interviewing, and your attitude could come off as something unintended.If youre hungry for the job, try to tone down your eagerness, which could possibly translate into an aggressive or brash personality. And at the other extreme, make sure to let your personality shine through in the job interview to avoid appearing apathetic or uninterested in the role. Be authentic during your job interview in order to make the best impression possible.

The Best System to Use for Server Resume Examples Revealed

The Best System to Use for Server Resume Examples Revealed Whispered Server Resume Examples Secrets If your resume is longer than 1 page, we suggest that you edit it down to a single page. Resumes may set the tone for your upcoming career. They are the most important part of getting a job when it comes to jobs related to serving such as a waiter, waitress, food servers when least number of technical skills is required. Sample Resumes create the very first impression, and if theyre professional and clean, the interviewer is very likely to favor you over others. A job interview is frequently the last step to employment. When you wish to land that ideal job then you must have a stellar resume. Your probability of getting the job can become very slim when it happens. Our resume builder makes it simple to create an in a couple of minutes. The great thing about a professional resume is it is clear concise and simple to comprehend. A restaurant server might be a guy or a woman, as its a gender-neutral term. Use the search box to find precisely what you are interested in. The Tried and True Method for Server Resume Examples in Step by Step Detail Our resume builder will provide you with tips and examples on the best way to compose your resume summary. There are several critical things that youre able to discover when you go over those samples just like how to decide on the best suited terms that you will utilize in the document. If so, there are a few instructions that you must follow for you to think of the best resume. You would like to use an example for a guide so youre able to begin writing your own covering letter (also called a motivation letter). Lies Youve Been Told About Server Resume Examples Its used to refer to the procedure for getting your data persisted into a database. Our Server resume sample has all of the ingredients to produce your application stick out from the rest. It is going to also demonstrate all items which were entered into the database. The database demands the capacity to efficiently compute the start pointer of an upcoming page. Remember that in the event that you have any certifications, including a Certification in Food Handling and Safety, you should put it at the peak of your resume. Thus, its understandable to have an extensive work experience for a Server. Before you try to apply for the job, look at an expert Server resume sample to make certain youve. The best servers usually make great suggestions, or so the competition for these jobs can be difficult. What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Server Resume Examples Additionally, youve got to demonstrate you can handle responsibility and arent reluctant to work with different folks to plan events and reach team objectives. Your final goal is going to be to offer high-quality service which will help us maintain and attract customers. Theres an unconditionally fine heritage that you have to wander in buchen to generate the most effe ctive realistic resume. Chess team might not be an excellent option for interest on a Server resume, but drama club may be The odds of being rejected by employers are high once youve got an unprofessional resume. Although professional experience is often preferred, there are different forms of experience that managers may think about when searching for servers. Naturally, high-energy people are inclined to thrive in food support. Next up is Kenny, that has been working in restaurants for over 12 decades, and would like to revise his resume to take advantage of chances to step up. Our resume examples offer inspiration, but more importantly guidance on the best way to structure and compose the elements. When creating a resume, it can be simple to become so focused on experience in prior jobs which other technical skills become neglected. These skills are fantastic tactics to engage your customer and offer positive impact to the restaurant.

Does Your Company Encourage Binge Working

Does Your Company Encourage Binge Working NBC recently reported on the tragic case of Mita Diran, the 24 year old copywriter who dropped dead toward the end of a debilitating 30-hour straight shift, just prior to Christmas shut-down. They also highlighted two other cases in the same year of employees dropping dead after similar cases of overworking, which is now being termed binge working. The first was Li Yuan from Olgivy and Mather in China and the second was Moritz Erhardt, anotlageher ad writer from Bank of Americas Merrill Lynch office in London. Now, these are extreme cases but they are real, and they do at least highlight the perils of binge working. Even though fruchtwein people may not suffer such extreme reactions to binge working, medical evidence shows that binge working has drastic health consequences. According to research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, these heal th complaints include increased rates of heart disease, diabetes, fatigue and depression and they also found that sustained binge working correlated with reduced cognitive functioning in middle age and later life dementia.With us now living in an increasingly health and lifestyle conscious world, it seems that many employers are behind the times with 56 percent of UK employees working over 40 hours a week, and the U.S. average workweek being 46 hours according, to research presented in this infographic byOnline MBA.So, the odds are that unless your company has a detailed work-life balance management system, binge working is likely to be occurring in your business and you need to do something about it today because its not only slowly killing your staff, its killing your profits as productivity decreases by half after 8 hours work.In fact, its likely that your business could be encouraging binge working (knowingly or unknowingly) by creating a top down culture of working long hours where employees feel that the only way that they can be recognized and get ahead is by pulling all nighters and burning the candle at both ends.If success is characterized by presenteeism and not results and if objectives are not realistically attainable within a 40-hour week, you will be encouraging a binge working culture.So, what steps can you take to discourage binge working?1. Lead from the top. Senior executives need to set an example by communicating the importance of leaving work on time regularly, not doing year-round overtime, not working through lunch, and taking vacation allowanceand actually be seen doing the above themselves.2. Start tracking overtime hours. Do this to understand the extent of the binge working problem. Investigate areas of concern and introduce remedies such as hiring more staff, more efficient working practices, etc.3. Discourage lunch time working. How often do employees work through lunch or cut lunch breaks short? Encourage employees to take lunch and eat healthily. Its actually the bad diet that comes as a result of binge working, which was responsible for many of the health issues.4. Check objectives are attainable. Honestly review objectives and assure that they are attainable within a 40-hour working week for a competent employee.5. Be open to promoting part-time workers and job sharers. If youre not open to this, you give the impression that shorter working employees are second class citizens, further encouraging long working hours.6. Allow flexible working or telecommuting. Flexible working conditions are especially if employees work in different time zones or face a long commute, to ease the pressure on working longer hours.7. Encourage employees to work smarter rather than harder. Do this by rewarding employees who come up with new, more efficient ways of working.Good luck with creating a healthy working culture