How to Stay Organised When Working from Home

How to Stay Organised When Working from Home There are lots of pros and cons of working from home, whereas  employees may feel more relaxed in their own environment, without the stress of having to commute each day, being away from an office setting can lead to distractions and a lack of organisation. In order for work to be achieved to a good standard from home, its important to maintain an element of structure to your day and to keep your workload organised. You can achieve this by making sure that you have a tidy, quiet environment to work in and look after your general wellbeing. Here are a few tips for staying organised when working from home, courtesy of Omni Papers. Keep your environment  tidy Clear any clutter and keep only the essential items on your desk. A cluttered environment makes for a cluttered mind! A source of natural light will keep you energised and for extra light use a desk lamp. Keeping the room well light will avoid straining your eyes when using the computer or reading small text. A 4000 Kelvin light is best for stimulating your brain. Keep a desk plant. Not only do they look pretty and make your environment more pleasant, they also clean the air and boost spirits. Working in a room with blue or green decor is best for productivity and focus. Organise your work Use sticky notes as reminders and to jot down notes. You can stick these to your screen or notebook for future reference and to use them as visible prompts while youre working. File your work away and store on shelves or a filing cabinet, to save cluttering your desk. Storing your work virtually on the computer will save space for storing hard copy documents. Make sure your are comfortable and healthy Bad posture can create back pain, so make sure you have a comfy chair and sit up straight while you are at your desk. Standing up while working can also help to improve your posture and prevent back problems. Try to get regular exercise when you can and take short breaks from work when needed. Drinking green tea during work hours can help to improve brain function and boost productivity.

Hints for a Successful Job Search - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Hints for a Successful Job Search - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career This week, I will give you general hints that will expedite your job search process. 1.  Never underestimate the importance of networking (including face-to-face networking and social media networking): You should never underestimate the importance of networking, including face-to-face networking and social media networking. Many people get job offers by going to job fairs and information sessions. LinkedIn is a great tool for job searching as well. Once, I got a job offer from a company through LinkedIn. Thus, you should always use social media and face-to-face networking. 2.  Know when the companies you are targeting recruit: You should know when your target companies are recruiting, because some companies recruit year-round and some recruit seasonally. For example, accounting firms usually recruit more people during fall because it is their busy season so they need more staff. Retail companies recruit more during holiday season. 3.  Make sure your resume is only one page long unless you are a PhD or someone with at least eight to nine years’ work experience: Make sure your resume is only one page long unless you are a PhD or someone with at least eight to nine years of experience, because, recruiters and hiring managers have short attention spans. If your resume is longer than one page, they may get lost in details and put your resume aside even if you are a perfect candidate for the position. 4.  Be relevant to the company you are interviewing with. Always be relevant to the company you are interviewing with. Dont forget that your background has to match the needs of the company you are interviewing with, and that you should not brag about yourself or try to oversell yourself in any interview. Most of us generally tend to think that any of our accomplishments is valuable. It is valuable for you, but it may not always be valuable for others. 5.  Learn what employers would like to hear from you in interviews and answer accordingly. During interviews, employers do not always want to learn about you but they want to learn about what you are going to bring to the table. I noticed that most people talk about what they want to do in their careers and how they would like to proceed and what they want to learn, but no one states what they are actually bringing to the company. You should also emphasize what values you are going to bring to the organization and not just talk about your career goals and interests.

The Identity Transparency Conundrum

The ‘Identity Transparency’ Conundrum By, Ashley Crimaldi As I was applying for summer internships this past spring, I had a lot of difficulty determining what to include on my resume. My first thought? Everything! But on second thought, I wondered if including everything Im involved with might have cost me an opportunity. I call this ‘Identity Transparency. As a woman heavily involved in many social justice issues on my campus, advocacy, awareness raising and diversity groups, Im pretty clearly marked, dare I say, with a ‘Feminist, ideology. I theorized that such activities would exude a passionate drive to make the world a better place to potential employers. Im the type of college student who cares about her community, right? Well, maybe. After absent calls from several business and journalistic entities Id applied to, I realized listing, ‘Feminist Student Union President and ‘The Vagina Monologues Performance on my resume may not have been such great idea. Of course, the progressive non-profit publication I work for currently saw those activities as an asset to their team, but apparently not everyone had the same reaction. Depending on the company, it may be better to appear a bit ‘apolitical or ‘uninformed (sad right?). According to advice Ive been given by a PR professional, only list activities and leadership positions that are directly relevant to the position in which you are applying to, and be ready to discuss how so in an interview. Im not suggesting that you leave your identity or political interests at the door- but do be mindful of what you are including on a resume, and how it may appear to potential employers. In the end (if you got an interview), if they like you and youre good at your job what you do in your free time shouldnt matter. However, in industries like journalism, its ideal to appear as ‘objective as possible. For some people hiding your identity would be merely impossible in an Internet age. Personally, my feminist identity is one that I cant hide, and if someone doesnt want to hire me because of that, I probably wouldnt want to work there anyway. What do you think of ‘identity transparency? Have you ever experienced a similar situation? How have you handled keeping work on the side separate from your day job? Tell us what you think!

Career Change Success From Hospitality To Nonprofit - VocationVillage

Career Change Success From Hospitality To Nonprofit - VocationVillage If you are considering a career change, one of the smartest things you can do is study the actions taken by people who are career change success stories. Recently I interviewed Leah Krieger, Executive Director of the Centerpoint Institute for Life and Career Renewal in Seattle. Krieger made a career change from hospitality into nonprofit management. She took some big career risks that paid off. Here is my interview with her: You moved from being a Spa Director in the hospitality industry to being Executive Director of a nonprofit that helps people with career and life renewal. Please share with us how that shift happened.When I left my Spa Director job, I took a sabbatical that lasted several months. I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do next but I knew I needed to leave the job I was in. I was lucky that I had a little bit of savings to last through the summer and I had a supportive spouse who was willing to make financial sacrifices if it helped me get to a better place.I thought by doing daily yoga and getting quiet, the career answers would come and I could get some energy and focus back, but that didnt happen. While it was purifying to walk away from my first career, I still didnt know what to do next.The whole summer passed and things were getting to the point that I was considering whether I needed to go get a job at Target stocking shelves or something, just to bring in some income. I k new I had a purpose, but I hadnt found it yet.My father-in-law was very concerned. He thought I was taking too much risk and that I should go back to school. I had gone straight from high school into the hospitality industry and worked my way up for 15 years. I didnt have a college degree so he thought maybe I should go get one.I had insecurity about lacking a college degree but I also felt that I had learned more through real world experience than I would in an education setting.My father-in-law is a trauma counselor who refers people to Centerpoint for career counseling so he suggested I sign up for their career decision-making classes. I went to the orientation and I was in awe that a place like Centerpoint existed in my city but I didn’t even know about it before. I loved their mission and the group format of their offerings.I signed up for classes and planned to start them when I came back from a three week trip. After I returned but before I started the classes, I received t he Centerpoint newsletter and saw that they had a job opening for a Front Desk Manager. I applied and landed the job. It was way below my skill level and previous income but I decided to do it, anyway.How did the job go?It was humbling that I wasnt earning the same amount as before. At night  I parked cars when I needed extra money.I got paid to get exercise because when you park cars, running is part of the job. I also got to drive some really awesome cars.Some days I would park cars until 1 am and then come in to work at Centerpoint that same morning. I put my pride on the shelf and did what I had to do with the prize in mind of finding my true purpose.I made mistakes learning a new career but I accepted that as part of the process. I took on more responsibility and evolved the Front Desk job into a Client Services Manager position but I knew I was capable of more. Within a year, I told Carol Vecchio, the founder of Centerpoint, I either need to start excelling here or I will have to go do something else. Vecchio replied, I’m glad you brought this up because I’d like to talk about the possibility of you growing into the Executive Director role.” Vecchio had been serving as the Executive Director for many years but wanted to focus instead on public relations for Centerpoint.What are your favorite parts about being an Executive Director? What are the most challenging parts?Centerpoint has been open for 22 years but everything needed a revamp and rebranding. I treat this job as a start up. Ive  reevaluated the marketing, staffing, and operations of the organization.I absolutely love this job. The creative process is my favorite part. If the organization had already been a well-oiled machine, it wouldn’t be nearly so fun. I  love being challenged and creating something.I have a 5-10 year plan for Centerpoint. I  would love to franchise.My biggest challenge was to change the way I  think. I came from a corporate mentality and it took the first year of wor king with Carol  Vecchio  to strip that corporate mentality away. It is freeing to not be so corporate now. I dont have deep pockets on which to draw. I have  to be careful and effective with any investments made and funds spent.But you know what? I love to go to Happy Hour with hospitality friends and feel gratitude for how different my career and life are now.What were some of the cultural changes you noticed about going from a for-profit to a nonprofit work environment?In my corporate life, I focused on making someone else money. In my  nonprofit life, I focus  on mission, accessibility, impact, and keeping the doors open.Community is huge in the nonprofit world. Many corporate environments don’t have a strong sense of community because people are pitted against each other in competition. In many corporate environments, lip service is paid to teamwork, but then the compensation structure encourages backstabbing and blaming.By contrast, in the nonprofit world, people help each o ther. I created a new Board for Centerpoint. First I spent six months reading everything I could about boards and best practices. Then I started talking to other Executive Directors, even people I didnt know. I called them up and said, You dont know me but Im a new ED and I would love to talk to you if you are willing.Without exception, the other EDs were lovely and informative. Some of them became true mentors and a huge source of support, giving me tons of information and help.Nonprofit is a truly different world.Youre probably convincing a lot of my readers! In your opinion, what are the best ways to seek nonprofit jobs?There are recruiting firms that specialize in helping people find nonprofit jobs and if they are sourcing for something for which your background and skills are a good fit, that might be one way. Hagel Executive Search is an example of this type of firm.Also, volunteering is a phenomenal way to explore possibilities and make connections.What advice do you give peo ple who want to change careers and are considering working for a nonprofit but they have no idea where to start?You won’t have a full picture until you live through the change. You just have to get started. I took risks and it really paid off.  I am the happiest I have ever been. I love my job and I am madly in love with Seattle: the diversity, culture, people, music, and food.When you change careers, you are walking away from something and you could end up in greener pastures but you could also crash and burn. If that happens, you pick yourself up and keep going. Find your fit. I lived in Scottsdale, AZ, and Orange County, CA, before I moved to Seattle and the fit is much better for me in Seattle.99% of my family and friends thought I was insane to leave my corporate career, but I was determined. I said in my exit interview, “I would rather bag groceries than not take the risk to find my happiness.”At Centerpoint we tell people, Take a B job to get to your A job.Get support f rom somewhere…if not from your family. Find a group of supportive people like we offer at Centerpoint. Negative feedback from family and friends can hold you hostage.Even if you have only a vague idea of what you want to do, research, read, and talk to people. You won’t know in the beginning what the outcome will be but start exploring.The two components needed are research and community. The career transition is all about how brave you are.Are there any common themes you see in people who successfully change careers vs. people who dont succeed?I have a front row seat in watching hundreds of people go through a transitional process. They physically look different when they walk in versus when they walk out. I do the free introductory orientations where I talk about the program. When they walk in, they are lost, confused, and depressed. Their self-esteem might be really low, they seem defeated, and this feels like the last resort. I see anger and tears.We create a very safe envir onment so people feel heard and understood. People sign up for one day or eight week programs or individual programs.When they walk out, their head is up, they are making eye contact and their eyes are clear, they look more confident, and they are excited and energetic and ready to tackle the world.I don’t meet many people who aren’t successful. The hard part is putting the action steps in place and implementing them. If people aren’t successful, it is often because they are trying to make progress in isolation, with no accountability. It is easy to get stuck or give up if you don’t find resources to help you. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, we don’t turn anyone away. You just have to be ready for it because it takes work.In your experience, how long does it take for most career changers to transition from one path to the next?The bigger the first career, the longer the transition. This can take years. These are the people who need support the most.Some changes ar e quicker but people should be prepared for it to take awhile.Centerpoint says, We will help you find your passion and purpose. But you might not be able to find either of these until you have grieved what you are leaving.Our Navigating Change workshop is very good.April 7 is the day I left my first career. Now I celebrate it like a second birthday.Any other advice or observations you want to share with us?Visit Centerpoint on the Web if you are interested in our services.Thank you, Leah. Congratulations on your new career and for all the great advice in this interview.  If you found this article helpful, please share it!

Things to Consider in Writing a Resume

Things to Consider in Writing a ResumeWriting a resume is not that easy, and in order to be able to make use of it effectively, you have to be able to think of all the important things to consider in writing a resume. The first thing you should do is to do some research on your own, if you think that you may be able to write one, because the majority of job seekers do not know what to put in their resumes.Since the job seeker is not going to be employed soon, they will need to get all the necessary information in the resume. Before you can go about writing a resume, you will need to start by determining what your goals are. After you have done this, you can then start thinking of the things that you want to put in your resume.Nowadays, the job search has become quite competitive and it is not possible for every person to get an interview with the company in question. A big part of the job search is based on how well you can write a resume. This means that you need to write it in such a way that it will catch the attention of the hiring manager. So make sure that you will include all the necessary details that will help in determining if the hiring manager will be interested in you or not.One of the most important things to consider when writing a resume is to ensure that it is of the best quality possible. You have to put your best foot forward by following a certain format that would really stand out. If you do not want to end up with a negative feedback from your employer, you need to pay attention to detail.As far as the formatting of your resume is concerned, you also need to be aware of the things to consider in writing a resume. Since your resume is a representation of your skills and abilities, you should not be too informal and must not be formal. You need to try and make the resume interesting and compelling enough to make the hiring manager appreciate your talents.The resume is just like any other document you give to someone; you should be careful of your words. The most common error that job seekers commit is that they tend to write in a very general way, thus making it look as if they have little or no experience. It is very important to describe yourself in such a way that it would give the hiring manager a clearer idea on why he is looking for a particular candidate.Do not be afraid to include the skills that you have in your resume. The resume is not meant to be a list of qualifications that you have. The recruiter will need this information in order to tell if you are capable of doing the job that needs to be done. In this case, the skills you include will determine whether or not you will be hired or rejected.You can definitely expect a big chunk of your time in the job search to be spent in reviewing the resume that you have written. This is a very important part of the process because it will help in making the hiring manager see that you are the right candidate for the job. If the recruiter can see that you have the a bility to do the job, then you will definitely be able to get the job that you want.

Clean And Declutter For A Fresh New Outlook

Clean And Declutter For A Fresh New Outlook Youve had a long winter.   Youre tired of being cooped up in the house and seeing the same old surroundings. Maybe it is time for a mini-facelift for your home. A little cleaning and decluttering might just be what you need to get your mojo back. I just got done with a little work of this kind and it is amazing how it improves your mood and productivity. But just because you’re on a budget is no reason to neglect your home. Making home improvements can make your home a far more enjoyable place to live, as well as increase market value. If you’re stuck for ideas and still want to make improvements on your home, here are some you can make specifically on a shoestring budget. Clean And Declutter One of the most simple things to do when you’re on a budget? Clean and declutter your space. This will make your job easier too, as you’ll get a better idea of what truly needs to be done. You only want to spend your budget on the essentials! Set aside a few days to have a proper clear out. Be vigilant and get rid of things you haven’t used in a while if you haven’t used something in 6 months it’s unlikely you’re going to use it again. Try to make as much space as you can and your home should feel light and fresh. You could even sell some items and make more money for your home improvements. Photo by Terje Sollie from Pexels Add A Fresh Coat Of Paint A fresh coat of paint is an affordable, fast way to make your home look brand new. You can use a new color if you like, but simply going over a wall with the same color can freshen up your space. Change Up Your Hardware Changing your hardware is simple. You can change your drawer handles, your light fittings,  and anything else you think could be improved. It’s super easy to do yourself and can give you a brand new looking room in a flash. Try it in your kitchen or bedroom and see how you feel! Improve Your Curb Appeal You can’t neglect the outside of your home when making home improvements, and there’s no shortage of things you can do on a budget. You could paint your front door a friendly color to give it a little bit of oomph and make a good impression. Dont forget to mow your lawn and get rid of weeds, and if you’re doing this because you’re selling your home, wash your car, too. You want to give off a subconscious message to potential buyers! If you have more serious improvements to make to the outside of your home, you could look at this Lendkey review to get an idea of whether taking out a loan could be the right idea for you. Your curb appeal is one of the most important things you can work on when improving your home. Know Where To Shop Sometimes, knowing where to shop is the easiest way to save money on things you need in your home. Yard sales and thrift stores can be goldmines for stuff, so try there and see if you find any hidden treasure. Always look second hand before looking to buy new! You dont need to do anything drastic or expensive to improve your home. Simply opening the curtains and adding fresh flowers could make a huge difference!

Richard Branson celebrates employees - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Richard Branson celebrates employees - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Richard Branson recently blogged about the Virgin Stars of the Year Awards and I gotta say it looks like a fun affair :o) Sir Richard sums up his philosophy in this way: I have always believed that the way you treat your employees is the way they will treat your customers, and that people flourish if they?re praised. These are people who have gone above and beyond in their everyday jobs to make a real difference. I was delighted to meet so many interesting and outstanding individuals and reward them for their hard work. The event is always one of the highlights in the Virgin Group calendar and a chance to highlight what we are doing right and also learn how we can improve in the future. This is exactly what businesses need more of and its a consistent practice of happy workplaces that they celebrate the people who do something extra. Weve seen this at workplaces like Disney, Souhtwest Airlines, Zappos, Google and many others. Unfortunately, many workplaces simply dont notice when people do stellar work. In other words, if you do great work you wont hear a word but the moment you screw up or dont perform adequately, you may be punished. Of course we should fix mistakes and help people who are underperforming in the workplace, but we can learn as much (or more) from our successes victories. And thats why celebrating great performance and great people is one of the hallmarks of happy workplaces. Your take How does you workplace celebrate great performance or great people? Do you do it at all? What would you say is the ratio between fixing the bad and celebrating the good? What ratio would you prefer? 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