Take the quiz Is it time for you to find a new job

Take the quiz Is it time for you to find a new job Here are some areas of your work that you should think about when deciding if its time to find another job. (Give yourself three points for an a, two points for a b, one point for a c.) 1. Your boss: How often do you have lunch alone with your boss? a. Every week at your favorite restaurant. b. A few times a year at your bosss favorite restaurant. c. Once a year when your boss is apologizing for missing your performance review. 2. Future prospects at the company: You get a big, very important assignment due in two weeks. You a. Get unsolicited coaching from your boss because she wants to make sure you succeed at the project and get a promotion. b. Put off the work until the last minute because you find it difficult to please your boss and you worry that you will fail. c. Work very, very hard, but generally have no idea what youre doing. In the end, the project is a colossal failure and your boss makes a point of taking no blame. 3. Sense of belonging: The theme of your company party is dress as your favorite movie star. You a. Tell your boss you resent stupidity at company parties. But you make the best of it and dress like James Dean so you can get a thrill from wearing jeans and a T-shirt to work. b. Lobbied for a come-as-you-are party and lost. So you show up to the party but dont dress up. You stick out like a sore thumb, or at least a sore loser, but your co-worker joins you, so good food can make things acceptable. c. Avoid the party in full because last year the CEO drank too much and started making passes at people in your demographic. 4. The publics perception: Your phone rings fifteen times in one hour. Whos on the phone? a. Headhunters, because you are so high profile in your job that people are starting to talk about your future in the field. b. Your friends because they know you make your evening plans in the afternoon, when work gets slow. c. Your mom because you told her if you dont get a new job soon youre going to kill yourself. 5. Personnel policies: You wake up with a throbbing boulder attached to your gum. You a. Leave a message for your boss that youll be at the dentist. Receive an email from your boss the next day expressing genuine concern. b. Call human resources to find out if you have a comp day left. When you find that you have none, declare that youre working from home and then go to the dentist. c. Go to work with blood dripping from your mouth. Wax nostalgic about the good old days when you had sick days at work and health insurance to pay for them. 6. Company stability: Your company is in the newspaper today. The company just a. Beat Wall St.s revenue expectations. b. Canned the CEO and hired a top turnaround specialist c. Laid off 50% of the staff and sent a list of the jilted to the press 7. Office stress: Your co-worker just got dumped by the guy she thought she would marry. Now she a. Asks you if you have any friends who are available. b. Cries all day, stopped doing her work and now you have to pick up the slack. c. Informs you that she stole a bunch of electronics from her ex and is storing the stash in her cube. She adds, If he comes by with a gun, dont worry. Hed never use it. 8. Office environment: Your office space is: a. Bright and sunny with nice carpet; you wish you could entertain your dates here instead of at your apartment. b. A claustrophobic cube but at least its ergonomically correct. c. Rotating. Theres one computer for two people and you use it when your co-worker goes to the bathroom. 9. Location, location, location Your company is located a. Three blocks from your dream house and you walk to work. b. In a state you promised yourself you would not live in for more than five years. c. A five-hour plane ride from the home where your three kids live. 10. The Starbucks factor: How many Starbucks cafes are within walking distance from your office? a. Five, because employees at your company are raking in the dough and everyone knows that where there are high salaries there are $4 cups of coffee. b. One, but the cafe has big, cushy seats for falling asleep in the middle of the day. c. None. To get through morning meetings you must resort to the No Doze pills of your college days. 11. Company perks. At the end of your midday workout you: a. Toss your sweaty clothes into the companys health club laundry and your clothes are laundered and in your locker by tomorrows workout. b. Go to the company cafeteria and load up on subsidized carbohydrates. c. Hit the bars; work is so slow that theres no reason to go back. 12. Salary During your performance review, your boss a. Gives you a map for the next five years that will rocket launch your career. b. Informs you there is a salary freeze for everyone not related to the CEO. c. Tells you that his own boss gave him a horrid performance review and asks if you would put in a good word for him. 13. During a business trip with the CEO a. He uses the time to mentor you about the ways of deal making and then sits back and watches you close the deal of your life. b. You book a flight on an obscure airline with two plane transfers to save money and find out the CEO is flying American, for twice the price, to get frequent flier miles. c. The CEO invites you back to his hotel room at midnight, and when you decline, he says hes insulted that you would think it was for anything but business. 14. You hold a team meeting in your office and a. They surprise you with a birthday cake even though you didnt tell them its your birthday. b. Everyone shows up late except for the person you have been trying to fire for a year; she showed up a day early. c. Your office is so small that the meeting has to be moved to a conference room, but there are none available because everyones office is too small so you cancel the meeting. Scoring yourself: 10- 14 points You are probably so upset about your job right now that you cant even pull it together to launch a hunt for a new one. So instead, invest in a therapist. Try to figure out why you have stayed in this job as long as you have. Figure out why you put up with so much crap in your life. On some level, you probably enjoy it, which is why you got yourself into this mess in the first place. You are probably bad at setting goals for yourself, because if you had any goals, youd realize youre not meeting them by staying in your current job. Make an honest assessment of what the two or three most important things in your life are. Figure out what you need to get them, and focus on that. Surely, part of your plan will entail getting rid of this current job. Its a bad economy, but for someone like you, that cant matter. You still need to find a new job. Think about taking a step down in salary and responsibility in order to get into a better working environment. Many of the people who score very low in this test will say that they keep this job in order send their kids to camp, buy a flat screen television, etc. But your kids need a role model who is happy in their job more than they need camp. Besides, you can find a discount camp once you settle for a discount salary. And for those of you who justify your awful job in the name of wonderful electronics, remember that you spend more time at your job each day than you do in front of your television. So you get more mileage out of a job that makes you happy than a job that makes you able to buy a TV. 15-24 points You are probably not the happiest worker in the world, but your job can be salvaged. You need goals and you need boundaries and once these are in place you will be able to put together a good job among mediocre opportunities. Get a clear image of what you would need at this company in order to be very happy. For most people, feeling challenged and appreciated are the most important aspects of their job. So take a look at those areas first. Then examine your long-term goals and make sure that what you are doing at work now is setting you up to achieve your goals in the future. Its a lot easier to put up with workplace BS if you know that your job meets your big- goals. As long as you deliver a little beyond what your boss asks of you, you will be free to request additional projects that interest you and perks that enable you to continue high-level output. Let your boss know what parts of your job you like, and what parts are difficult for you either because you hate them or because you need more coaching. Also, be sure to tell your boss how she can help you to succeed at work. Shell appreciate this request since the better you perform the better she looks. Reassess your situation in three or four months. If you score higher on this test next time you take it, then you are headed in the right direction. If your point spread stagnates, you need to start asking yourself some questions: Are you unable to create change because you are timid and unsure or because you are in a job that will never improve? If you think the truth lies in the latter then make a plan to jump ship. But remember that things are not so bad where you are, so look before you leap. Theres no point in jumping when theres no other ship in sight. 24-30 points You have a great job. The only problem you have is that you took the time to take this test. Did you not realize that you would score in the ranks of the happiest contingent? Do you not realize that you are in the worst economy in decades yet you have a great job at a great company? Before you get yourself into trouble, learn to evaluate situations with a sharper eye. To continue your career path in the direction of success, you will have to trust your instinct. Right now, your instinct is not great perhaps clouded by chronic self-doubt. For you, its important to be able to look optimistically at a situation that deserves optimism. You are probably too unsure about your current position to have expressed proper gratitude to your boss and co-workers. When you have a good situation at work you should let people know you appreciate them. And, you should let happiness about your job shine though during the day. Your office is a nice place to be, in part, because the people are happy. You should contribute to this atmosphere by letting people know that you are happy, too. Also, take time to learn from your boss, who seems to be very good at managing you. Few people get the chance to work for someone who cares about their career as much as your boss cares about yours. Watch what she does so that you can give people you manage the same level of support and respect. Finally, make sure you have a clear vision of where you want to go next. Youre in a good position to get what you want out of your career, but first you have to know what you want. One of the keys to ensuring a successful career is to have a mentor. So talk to your human resources department (or your boss, if its a small company) about hooking you up with a mentor. It sounds like you work at the sort of company that would be happy to provide this service.

How to Write a Resume For an Administrative Assistant

How to Write a Resume For an Administrative AssistantAn administrative assistant (or 'ad' as they are affectionately referred to) is a job title that helps managers in many different capacities. What's more, the position of administrative assistant can be very lucrative if you choose to go for a management training program.The administrative assistant is responsible for the running of a company's office as well as doing administrative tasks such as giving out orders, collecting information, managing accounts, and making sure employees are paid on time. They have to be a punctual employee, dedicated, self-motivated, and friendly. If you are a recruiter and want to understand how to write a resume for an administrative assistant, you must first understand the types of duties that an administrative assistant performs.In the United States, administrative assistants generally work in corporate settings where they manage workers and projects, which may include handling mail, issuing creden tials, writing reports, or tracking attendance. A supervisor might assign an administrative assistant to particular duties, such as getting mail from receptionist or keeping track of registration time. Depending on the company and the size of the office, the administrative assistant might also be responsible for stocking supplies, reporting on payroll, shipping materials, and taking orders from customers.An administrative assistant does not have to have any formal education. Instead, they receive training through an apprenticeship program, seminars or workshops, and various other strategies. They are highly educated and trained, which means they must be able to analyze data, solve problems, and keep a straight face. Because of their carefree nature, they can be quite difficult to work with.The position of administrative assistant requires a great deal of organization skills. They often must stay organized by keeping all deadlines in mind and coming up with creative solutions when pr oblems arise. These skills will serve the administrator well when working with clients. An administrative assistant needs to understand the fundamentals of marketing, finance, and bookkeeping, as well as computer networking and computer applications.When trying to write a resume for an administrative assistant, it helps to determine the specific responsibilities that an administrative assistant performs. You should look for listings such as 'punctuality,' 'communication skills,' and 'satisfaction.' By using these skills to your advantage, you will be able to best convey your qualifications and information to a potential employer.If you think that the position of administrative assistant is ideal for you, then start preparing a resume. You should make sure that the skills you possess are listed on your resume. Another key to success in the job market is to show that you have several years of experience, which means having proof of previous employment such as references, on your resum e. You may also want to include your goals for the future, if any, as well as whether you feel qualified to pursue certain types of positions.When trying to write a resume for an administrative assistant, there are no real rules that govern what should be included. As long as you have a real interest in the field, you will probably have many employers wanting to interview you.

4 ways to prepare for your job interview - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

4 ways to prepare for your job interview You might have been searching for a new job for months, or perhaps you’ve finally landed an interview for your dream job. Whatever your position right now, the pressure is on to nail that interview! When it comes to an interview, you can never be too prepared. Even if you have lots of experience in job interviews, you should never take one lightly and always apply the same planning and focus to each one you undertake. Don’t be fooled by those outlandish TV or film moments where the main character wings their interview and happens to land the job. It’s always best to stick to real life preparation and homework! Read on for 4 ways to prepare for your job interview. Have copies of your CV ready To have got to the interview stage itself, you no doubt will have written a killer CV, listing all your work history and responsibilities, your skills and ambitions. If you are asked to submit additional material after the first interview (such as a piece of academic resarch) make sure you cite any 3rd party text using an APA tool  like this.  In addition, although the prospective employer will have a copy, its always worth printing off a second version of your CV and taking it into your interview. Remember as well, youll probably be asked questions relating to your CV so make sure you read through it again and make yourself familiar with it. Research the company Any prospective employer will expect all candidates to have a basic grasp of what the company does and what their ethos is. Doing plenty of research shows your interviewer that you’ve done your homework and you’re really keen on working for the company. Consider facts such as how old the company is, how big it is, how many people it employs, who their customers are, who are their biggest competitors etc. Knowing these facts adds value to the conversation! Write things down Of course you won’t know what questions are going to come up. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take down some notes and take them into your interview with you. These notes might help you answer questions about your work experience, your skills and ambitions and times when you went above and beyond for a customer. You don’t have to rely on memorised answers, you won’t be penalised for having notes! Pick your outfit in advance It sounds silly but you’ll undoubtedly be so nervous on the interview day, the last thing you want is to be desperately searching for something to wear. Choose your outfit in advance. Wear it around the house for a few hours, sit, stand, move about. Make sure its comfortable in every position, the last thing you want to be worrying about is an uncomfortable blouse when you’re being asked questions on your work experience. I always layer up for interviews, so if I become to warm (stress sweating to the max here!) I can remove my blazer to feel more comfortable. Likewise, if it’s freezing cold you can keep warm and stay focused.

Physical activity increases office productivity - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Physical activity increases office productivity - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Felcher and Sons increased their productivity by 46% when they put a linebacker in their offices. Extremely funny! 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

How to answer crazy interview questions -

How to answer crazy interview questions - Its not bad enough that the job application was 10 pages long, and you waited three weeks to hear back from the employer. Now, you need to prepare for  crazy brainteaser interview questions, too? Not necessarily. Typically, employers focus on the run-of-the-mill questions youd expect to be asked; the kinds of questions you can  slam dunk. However, in case you ever do face an off-the-wall inquiry like one of the questions on  Glassdoor.coms Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions for 2014, how should you plan to reply? It might help to consider why employers may include these brainteasers in the first place. They want to know how easy is it to throw you off your game Its possible the point of the inquiry is to test how you respond in an unexpected situation or stressful situation, which is very  revealing. It actually makes a lot of sense for an employer to want to test your response to the unexpected, and an otherwise crazy interview question may be the best way they know how to do it without creating an actual trial situation. Your response: dont stress out; take things one step at a time. So, when Xerox asked,  Why is a tennis ball fuzzy?  they were probably anticipating youd be surprised by the question and hoped to see how you reacted. Your actual reply is not likely to be as important as your ability to take things in stride. Determining if you a creative problem solver is a top priority In theory, everyone wants to hire creative problem solvers, but its not always easy to determine exactly how creative you are in a pinch. Some of the questions on Glassdoors list likely fall in this category. Your response: think about how you can be resourceful, creative and detail oriented in an effort to solve the problem presented. If asked a questions such as  Bed, Bath Beyonds inquiry, If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why? take into account the type of job and try to come up with a response that fits. If the position involves style, design and color, answer by incorporating your interest in and passion for those topics as they relate to cereal. Are you comfortable asking questions? An employee who doesnt know how to ask questions at the right time will inevitably make bad choices. Perhaps the goal of some of these questions is to determine how likely you are to clarify the question or request additional information you will need to answer it. Dont invite the interviewer to make a negative  snap judgement  about you. Your response: at the very least, come up with a few details or items that you would need to know in order to tackle the question and ask some clarifying questions of your own. When Factual asked a  software engineer, How would you use Yelp to find the number of businesses in the U.S.? the engineer could approach the question by asking some clarifying information about the type of data he or she would need to use to answer the question. Are you a trouble-maker? If you question the value of the inquiry itself by responding, What does this have to do with the job? you might as well get up and walk out of the interview. (Unless they are looking for a contrary or difficult candidate, which is unlikely.) Youd be surprised, but some people will show these unattractive traits in an interview when pressed. Your response: just roll with the punches and do the best you can. If an employer asks, If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be? dont reply, Take the job and shove it if you want the position! Keep in mind a few key things if you need to reply to a brain teaser: Its okay to stop and think before you answer, and even to ask for clarification if there are any details you dont understand. The interviewer is trying to learn how you would act as an employee. Try to answer the question in a way that showcases the skills you have for the job. If the position is  mathematical, use math skills, if demonstrating your creative side is more important, go that route. Dont get rattled or give up or you  wont get the job. Do the best you can and keep a smile on your face. If the point of the question was to see how you handle a challenge, the employer may overlook the fact that you couldnt come up with a best-case answer if you can smooth over your reply despite not knowing what to say. Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.

Tips for Studying an HR University Writing Course

Tips for Studying an HR University Writing CourseIf you are one of the many people who were considering applying for a job at a federal government agency or any department, and also want to enhance your chances of being hired, it is highly recommended that you go through a HR University Writing Course before you apply for a job. This course will give you the tools that you need to easily impress the human resource management personnel.You will be able to start from scratch by knowing the basics about HR and knowing your own potentials. The course will guide you and show you how to know the correct process of HR management as well as other essential qualities that are required to be considered when making your resume or applying for a job.First, the course will give you an overview of the different types of people who are currently employed in various parts of the United States government and will help you decide whether you want to apply for a federal job or a private sector job. In this regard, the course will focus on the same things such as age, experience, and education levels that determine your own opportunities and also where you fit in the job market. Thus, you will have a more rounded view of the things that you should be focusing on in your application.A good part of the course will consist of lectures, group discussions, and research to help you understand the different roles and responsibilities of HR and what the training course is designed to teach you. At the end of the course, you will be given assignments to complete and you can also be required to get more information to help you make a good resume and also work as a solid candidate for the job. There are a number of institutions that offer such programs.It is highly recommended that you check with the HR department before applying for a federal job since you may be disqualified if you do not meet the qualifications. You can also check out the school in your area so that you know the pros and cons of the program. It will also be more beneficial for you to have an idea of the prices and the courses in that particular school.Now, what kind of HR writing course should you take if you want to improve your chances of being hired at your local government or departmental level? Ideally, you should take a class that will be close to your area or even at your area if possible.If you have decided to enroll for an HR university writing course, you can check out online for the available courses or register for the one that you have decided on. Once you have done all the preparation, just sit back and wait for the results. In this case, you may be eligible for the government jobs you desire or you may just be given a starting position in your current department, and it depends on you.

The Essentials of Resume Writing Unit You Will be Able to Learn From Starting Today

The Essentials of Resume Writing Unit You Will be Able to Learn From Starting Today The Fundamentals of Resume Writing Unit Revealed The level of your writing samples will determine to what degree your clients are eager to cover your articles. Finding a Resume Writing Sample is much less hard as you could think. Browsing for resume samples in your subject of expertise may also offer you a sense of the amount of pages that are generally expected in your area. If you're looking to stay in your present job field you may want to think about a Chronological resume. A functional resume might not incorporate an individual's work history in any way or might have a concise collection of prior jobs at the base of the document. Nevertheless, there's a difference and it's helpful to understand when to compose a CV vs resume. It truly isn't as hard as you may think. A Resume is the one which decides whether you get an interview call or not. In case the job involves a whole lot of pr ototyping, for instance, emphasize prototyping on your resume. Furthermore, the list also has a brief job description for each task listed on the resume. If you're caught during the initial interview process you won't get the job. There are a lot of standard kinds of resumes used to make an application for job openings. Since resumes are largely digitally sent, there's absolutely no need to have a printout and sign the resume. A standard cover letter template will steer you to include all the essential contact info, the employer's contact info, and direct you paragraph by paragraph to include all the required elements of a superior cover letter. Ideally, a resume needs to be one-page long so guarantee the sentences are crisp and well-written. A resume builder gives you the ability to display the structure of you resume in a friendly format, so as to select the best sections of the resume that you wish to publish. Getting your Resume made by a professional Resume Writing Se rvice is the ideal investment you may make while looking for a Dubai Job. Writing an attention-getting, interview-capturing resume is a daunting job, but one that pays off in the very long run with a work offer. Skills and accomplishments should be broken into specific regions of expertise. Writing resumes is frequently a subject that intimidates many folks. Writing cover letters that target the necessities of the job and demonstrate a wholesome comprehension of the organization and industry that you want to work in will greatly raise your prospects of getting an interview. Developing a good unit clerk resume can be an intimidating task in case you don't how to begin it. Any prior experience for a clerk or administrative staff in a hospital setting may be quite critical in convincing the hirer of your capacity to perform as a unit clerk. Moreover, the examples provided by professionals will offer you a strong idea of what things to expect, in the event you choose to turn to a resume writing service for expert help. Picking an incorrect kind of resume format will cause job loss. When you have written and organized your information according to the sort of resume you've chosen, make certain to format it according to typical professional standards. Picking the proper format for a job resume is among the most critical characteristics of building an effective resume. In the event the template isn't in the right format there is not any value of using it.