(MoneyWatch) In an ideal world, the minute we step foot into our offices, we'd be laser-focused on the job at hand. But chaos in our personal lives, whether it be a sick child, a failing relationship or financial worries, can make that difficult. (It's worth noting, that the same can be said for happy distractions, like a new baby, pet or love.) "When your personal life is in tumult, a lot of emotional hijacking goes on. Emotions consume you and stress exhausts you," says Julie Morgenstern, author of Time Management From the Inside Out. Letting your emotions follow you from home to work will just prolong your work day, preventing you from getting home to deal with the fires that are burning there. But by ... Continue reading →
(MoneyWatch) Few things are more frustrating than an ugly typo. And fewer errors are more damning to your professional reputation. Careless mistakes in emails and memos aren't easy to avoid. It's like losing weight -- seems simple, but if everyone could turn on a switch and just do it, we'd all be thin. The problem? Our eyes "see" what they want to see, so proofreading is only a first step. "If we read the phrase, 'Once upon a ...,' our mind tells us that the next word is "time," even if, by mistake, we type 'tine,'" notes Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. Here are 5 better ways to make mistakes the very rare exception, not the norm: ... Continue reading →
(MoneyWatch) Few things are more frustrating than an ugly typo. And fewer errors are more damning to your professional reputation. Careless mistakes in emails and memos aren't easy to avoid. It's like losing weight -- seems simple, but if everyone could turn on a switch and just do it, we'd all be thin. The problem? Our eyes "see" what they want to see, so proofreading is only a first step. "If we read the phrase, 'Once upon a ...,' our mind tells us that the next word is "time," even if, by mistake, we type 'tine,'" notes Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. Here are 5 better ways to make mistakes the very rare exception, not the norm: ... Continue reading →
(MoneyWatch) Traditionally, internships are a potential pathway to an entry-level job. But according to a new study from Generation-Y consulting group Millennial Branding, over two-thirds of 225 employers surveyed hired 30 percent or fewer interns to assume permanent gigs. In addition, 91 percent of those same employers think that students should have at least one internship in order to be considered for post-graduation jobs. The good news? Internships are plentiful. According to job-search site Indeed.com, internship listings were higher in April than in any other month in history. For job-seekers, the key is turning one of these opportunities into a full-time position. Here's how: Know what you're getting into. You might be on the bottom rung of the ladder, but that doesn't mean you should ... Continue reading →
(MoneyWatch) Traditionally, internships are a potential pathway to an entry-level job. But according to a new study from Generation-Y consulting group Millennial Branding, over two-thirds of 225 employers surveyed hired 30 percent or fewer interns to assume permanent gigs. In addition, 91 percent of those same employers think that students should have at least one internship in order to be considered for post-graduation jobs. The good news? Internships are plentiful. According to job-search site Indeed.com, internship listings were higher in April than in any other month in history. For job-seekers, the key is turning one of these opportunities into a full-time position. Here's how: Know what you're getting into. You might be on the bottom rung of the ladder, but that doesn't mean you should ... Continue reading →
(MoneyWatch) Even the best bosses make mistakes -- and then learn from them. I spoke to 4 executives about their worst career regrets, including actions they wish they hadn't taken and words they wish they hadn't said. Perhaps they'll allow you to see your own boss in a different light, or re-consider certain management decisions you're facing. At a previous job as a sales manager, a colleague of mine once reported to me that she saw one of my salespeople on television; in the audience of the Oprah Winfrey show. Knowing that the show taped during weekday mornings, and having suspected for some time that she wasn't where she said she was on a given day, I confronted the rep. Turns out that the show ... Continue reading →
(MoneyWatch) Even the best bosses make mistakes -- and then learn from them. I spoke to 4 executives about their worst career regrets, including actions they wish they hadn't taken and words they wish they hadn't said. Perhaps they'll allow you to see your own boss in a different light, or re-consider certain management decisions you're facing. At a previous job as a sales manager, a colleague of mine once reported to me that she saw one of my salespeople on television; in the audience of the Oprah Winfrey show. Knowing that the show taped during weekday mornings, and having suspected for some time that she wasn't where she said she was on a given day, I confronted the rep. Turns out that the show ... Continue reading →
(MoneyWatch) In 2001, after years in the corporate world, mom-of-two Sara Stevens become an entrepreneur, starting a boutique candy business called Candy Care. In 2008, her daughter Rebecca, a recent college grad, joined the team. Her decision was brought on in part by her mom's diagnosis with ovarian cancer, as well as her own layoff from her first entry-level job. Along with the transition into a mother-daughter business, the company name changed to Ooh La La Candy to reflect the fashion-forward feel of the New York City-based brand, which focuses on chic, colorful cupcakes crafted out of candy and paired with greeting cards. In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, I spoke to Rebecca, 26, and Sara, 61, about their crash course in running a ... Continue reading →
