Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Prioritizing Your Work


Ever look at all the work on your desk and feel overwhelmed? Do you have trouble locating important papers? Do you find yourself trying to remember what you were doing and what you are supposed to do next? Do you ever wonder how your boss keeps up with all his ideas and how he could ever expect you to keep up with all the assignments he throws your way?

It’s time for a bit of organization and prioritizing. The first step is organization – so you’ll know what you are working with and what your tasks are. Then you can figure out which are most important and demand the majority of your attention and energy.

Risk-Matrix

First, assemble all of your work in one place. You may discover that it’s strewn between the office, home, your car, and other coworker’s desks. Beginning right now, keep a blank notepad nearby. You may want to begin by jotting down a list of all the responsibilities and projects. This will be your checklist for your paperwork and it will also be your starting place for organizing a usable filing system. Other important tools include a day planner / calendar and post-it notes or a scratch pad. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel just picking out and assembling these simple tools. Your capability and faith will soar almost immediately.

Now that you’ve got a running list of all your tasks and responsibilities and all your paperwork in one place, you’ll want to begin creating file folders and computer folders. Being organized is half the battle. Use your list to create folders. Once all your paperwork is delegated to its appropriate place, the clutter will stop draining your energy. Take a break and come back refreshed for the next step.

The next step is creating a daily, weekly, and monthly task chart for yourself. Refer to your list of responsibilities on your notepad and note any and all deadlines or quotas. Now break down those deadlines and quotas into weekly and daily goals. You will want to figure out which assignments need daily attention and designate an amount of time to devote to each one. Determine which is the utmost important and assign it the number one. Work your way through until all of your tasks have been assigned a numerical importance.

At this point, you should begin to feel more relaxed and capable of managing the earlier catastrophe. However, if you have allocated all the hours of the workweek and still find it hard to fit in every task and responsibility, its time to have a serious talk with your boss or a reconsideration of your strategy if you are self-employed. Overworked and stressed employees are not productive employees. You might want to approach your boss about redistributing the workload or hiring some extra help. There may be duties that can be outsourced. Be sure to plan out what you will say and take along your task sheets and calendar to show that you are on top of your game.

7:33 PM | Labels: | 0 Comments



How to pick the best career for the future


When choosing a career, it is important to evaluate your occupational choices based on your talents, experience, and hopes for the future. Whether you want to land a new job, work from home, or start your own business, this article will get you headed in the right direction.

Selecting the perfect career can be as simple as just doing what you love or as strategic as obtaining the appropriate education in an area that you are interested in and working your way up the ladder. What counts most is that you are sincere in identifying those activities that bring you the most joy. What gets you excited? When you think about how much time the average people spends at work, it’s not hard to imagine the importance of making a good fit a priority. Don’t just seek the big paycheck. If you hate getting up and going in each day, you won’t be an inspired worker and you will ultimately wind up being unfulfilled. Having an intrinsic motivation for your line of work can bring you more satisfaction and will undoubtedly enable you to be more efficient and successful at what you do.

In all career pursuits, do your research and self-educate as much as you can. Read up on industry trends in government annuals or the web. Seek out local companies, professional organizations, and contacts in that industry that can give you more insight into the particulars. If possible, secure a mentor for advice, encouragement and direction. Be informed and make an honest assessment of whether or not it’s something you would enjoy doing.

Think of it this way. If you had the choice of doing anything in the world, what is the one thing that you wouldn’t mind doing all day? Some people have successfully turned their love of candle and potpourri making, creative knack for making greeting cards, or their sewing skills into their own small business. Look for ways to fuel your own passion and give yourself personal satisfaction. Every great business started somewhere. A little ingenuity can take you far.

Most importantly, identify your key strengths, talents and tangible skills. The more diverse your skills, the more value you can bring to an organization. Are you good with people? Do you have a love of being in the spotlight? You might want to consider a career in sales where you can serve others by offering your expertise and building relationships. Or perhaps you have a knack for problem solving? Across all industries, there is a need for bright people with the ability to find creative and speedy resolutions to problems in management, human resources, core business functions, and in customer service. Marketable skills are those that companies have to have filled by the right talent. In essence, they are skills that companies will pay for. An ideal skill is one that is also transferable between industries because it gives you more flexibility and options. Also identify your areas for improvement and begin the process of getting the proper training, development and education necessary to help you get where you want to be. Having a portfolio of skills such as proficiencies with computers, public speaking, time management/multi-tasking, team building and coordination, or project planning goes a long way. Your resume is your calling card and the interview is your foot in the door. Sell yourself based on your past accomplishments and strengths. Be confident and don’t shy away from tooting your own horn.

7:22 PM | Labels: | 2 Comments



How can I find the right job for me


You are working a nine to five job. You get a paycheck every week, but that is about all that you get from this job. You wish there were a better way to make a decent living, but you feel trapped. You don't want to risk yours and your family's futures by losing your only source of income, so you have just keep quiet and drag through each work day, praying feverishly for the weekend to get here faster.

There are more people than you probably realize who find themselves smack dab in the middle of the above scenario. If you are one of these people, then read on and find how you can set yourself free and find the happiness you deserve!

First, sit down and make a list of all of the assets you have to offer. Include any education that you have, hands on experience, and any other skills that you have. These skills might include personal strengths such as good organization, an eye for details, good mathematical skills, you are able to work by yourself with little supervision, you are a self-starter, etc.

Next, think about what you like to do or what you would like to do and make a list. Your list might include taking care of animals, working outdoors, working with numbers and figures, cooking food, baking, cleaning, fishing, woodworking, etc.

Next, equipped with your list of possible jobs, you will need to research some jobs and find out what they entail. You can check with your high guidance counselor and gain valuable information on how to research some job areas that you are interested in. Check with your local public librarian too. And don't forget to search the Internet. Find out and write down some common job titles and their general responsibilities. Different companies will have different job descriptions, but this will give you at least a general idea to go on. Decide on two or three jobs that you would be interested in and then search further to find out what the prerequisites are for the jobs. Do you currently have education in this area? Do you have previous experience? Could you possibly get a job that interests you and then learn on-the-job and receive the necessary training that way?

Finally, ask friends and family members who work in the fields that you have chosen. Find out where they work, what they do, and how they got the job. Check with area colleges and technical centers to find out what kind of classes they offer for a job you are interested in that requires an educational background. Some companies will hire a person, and then allow the person to attend night classes to receive the education that they need. Some companies will even pay for a part or all of the costs of the courses.

Whatever field you decide to get into, do not wait another day to find out what else the world has to offer outside of the walls that you are currently in.

6:54 PM | Labels: | 0 Comments



Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Learn To Love Your Job


Remember why you joined your company

There was something about your company that appealed to you when you first joined. Was it the product, the people, or the environment? If the reason why you joined is no longer there, what can you do to rekindle it?

Keep your company's reputation

Many individuals are very proud of the company they work for. The company is prestigious in the community, a leader in its industry, or treats its employees well. Keeping these things in mind will help keep you mentally afloat when times get tough.

Appreciate your co-workers

Going to work everyday is about more than just doing a job and getting a paycheck. You also should be building relationships with your co-workers; these are people you spend 1/3 of your day with. Learn about their families.

Polish your skills

If you've been at your job for any length of time, you've learned a few things that you didn't know when you got there. When you open your mind, you would be amazed at all the things you can still learn. You can always learn more about the business, customer service, relationships, technology and slew of other things if you keep your eyes open to opportunities.

Listen to what your friends are saying

There are a lot worse places to work than where you currently are. People always think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but they forget it still needs to be mowed (and weeded, and watered). There are some people out there who would envy where you work and what you do.

7:33 PM | Labels: | 0 Comments

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