SavvySugar

How-To: Show Your Gratitude at the Office

Angelica Marden — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:02:10 PDT

Showing appreciation for co-workers should be as easy as saying, "Thanks, buddy!" But somehow, those two words can sneak through the cracks or come off as disingenuous if they are uttered too often. Office politics, nonstop schedules and confusing etiquette can make thanking your co-workers and boss nerve-racking. Use this simple guide to give gracias to your office mates and when in doubt, just say thanks.

8 Gifts Job Hunters Would Love

SavvySugar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:05:41 PST

There's probably someone in your life who's looking for a job right now, whether it be someone about to graduate, someone recently laid off, or somebody who quit her job as a step toward taking up her dream career. Looking for a job can be really stressful, so consider getting some of these gifts for the job hunter in your life to brighten things up a little.

5 Tips For Getting the Most From Your Performance Review

SavvySugar — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:05:15 PST

Doing what you can to prepare for a performance review puts you in the best position possible for a smooth experience, but unexpected bumps can certainly arise. If you and your boss haven't been communicating well, that leaves an open door for surprise comments that could shake your confidence. Don't let these minor moments distract you from getting the most from your review. Check out these tips for handling potentially sticky situations.

Ask questions: Your boss may assume that you know what she's talking about when she tells you you're doing a good job. Ask what stands out about your job performance, and if she's dissatisfied with the job you've been doing, ask for specific examples and how you could do better next time.
Tell your story: If you think your boss's negativity stems from a misunderstanding, ask her, "I have a different perspective on this situation. Would you like to hear it?" Steer clear of defending everything your boss brings up. Sometimes, it's more appropriate to say, "I hadn't looked at it that way. I'd like to try that next time."

See three more tips for your review when you read on.

6 Famous Statements That Hurt Careers

Emily Co — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:00:23 PDT

Do you ever have one of those moments when you wished you kept your mouth shut? It's one thing if what you said embarrassed you in front of your friends, but it's another thing when that statement caused havoc in your career. Check out examples of famous people who made verbal gaffes that lead to career hiccups.

6 Ways to Take the Work Out of Work

SavvySugar — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 05:00:30 PDT

The work week can feel like a total drag if you don't have habits to make your job feel a little less like work. Make work less laborious with my six ideas.

7 Ways to Make Your Résumé Rock

SavvySugar — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:12:59 PDT

Most of us have at least a few days off coming up, so why not take some of that free time and do something productive - like fixing up your résumé? Making a few improvements here and there could be what it takes to bring your résumé from presentable to professional. Start the slideshow to see seven ways to make your résumé rock.

A Simple Way to Organize Your Job Search

SavvySugar — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:33:39 PDT

Shooting out so many job applications that you're not spending time catering your résumé and cover letter to each position is simply counterproductive. However, an efficient job search includes dedicating several hours each day to the employment cause, and ideally this means applying for a handful of jobs each day. Keep track of your daily job search by creating log. Maintain a spreadsheet with the following details and update it at the end of each day.

Applications sent: name of positions and companies.
Where you found the job.
Followup status.
A section listing the job sites you visited that day.

Organizing your job search will ensure that none of your efforts slip through the cracks, and looking at your full spreadsheet will make you feel accomplished.

What Kind of Employee Are You?

Mandy Harris — Tue, 17 May 2011 01:05:20 PDT

It takes all kinds to make up a workplace. Do you know what type of employee you are, and how that might be affecting those around you? Take my quiz to find out!

Photo courtesy of NBC

Your boss mentions a new idea in your weekly staff meeting that’s obviously flawed, and no one is speaking up. You:

a) Make a joke to break the tension, and suggest the team revisit the idea over drinks later.

b) Bite the bullet and say what everyone is thinking, outlining the plan’s drawbacks to your boss.

c) Try to say what you think your boss wants to hear and be supportive. You know there will be problems with your boss’s new plan, but you’re pretty sure you can just deal with them as they arise.

Monday is a particularly slow day at work, and around mid-afternoon, you find yourself with nothing left to do. To pass the time, you:

a) Begin entertaining your nearby co-workers with anecdotes about your wild weekend.

b) Openly express your concern about how the company is really doing. Mondays are never slow, and you’re sure this doesn’t bode well.

c) Ask around to see if anyone else needs extra help. Sure, you could take the rare opportunity to catch up on your favorite blogs, but you don’t want anyone to think you’re slacking.

Your company hired several new employees this week, and you’ve been asked to show one of them around. You:

a) Walk her through the office with a running commentary. You’re getting a couple annoyed glances as you detail the quirks of each of your co-workers, but hey, the new girl’s laughing, isn’t she?

b) Show her around politely, but aren’t thrilled about doing so. She doesn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the shed, and in this economy, she might not last long.

c) Give her a thorough tour of the office, then offer to help with her first few projects. You know you’re not her supervisor, but you want to make sure she knows she can come to you if she needs anything.

One of your co-workers is having serious issues with her boyfriend, and has had a hard time focusing at work. When she comes to you to vent, you respond by:

a) Commiserating with her, relating a similar experience you had with your ex-boyfriend to make her laugh, and inviting her out for drinks after work.

b) Listening carefully, and then giving it to her straight. It doesn’t sound like this guy is right for her, and you’d hate to see her waste any more time on him.

c) Letting her get it off her chest, and then asking how you can help. If taking some of her workload as she deals with this would make her feel better, you’re all for it.

Your company is launching a new product, and your boss is looking for people to join the team that manages the rollout. When she asks if you have room in your schedule, you:

a) Agree immediately. It’ll be a great chance to get away from your desk and add a little more social interaction to your day. And besides, so far the only team you’ve offered to join is the party planning committee, so this will look good.

b) Tell her that you’re willing to join the team, but that you’d like to meet with her first. You’ve already noticed a few problems with the new product, and are wondering if the company should hold off on the launch.

c) Hesitate for a moment - you’re absolutely slammed as it is, and you did just take on an extra project last week. But you don’t want to let your boss down, so you agree.

6 Outrageous Interview Questions

Emily Co — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:15:45 PDT

It's too bad that I have only had disappointingly normal job interviews in the past, or I would have some juicy stories to share with you! I've heard of some employers asking pretty outlandish questions, and I guess it's just another way for them to reduce the numbers and find someone who will mesh with their company culture. I can see how some of these questions test critical thinking skills and the ability to think on the spot, so it might be a fun practice to ask yourself how you would answer them.

Glassdoor.com compiled a list of oddball interview questions in the last 15 months, which were submitted by interviewees. Here are some of my favorites:

“What is the philosophy of Martial Arts?” - Aflac
“If you could be any superhero, who would it be?” - AT&T
"Using a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how weird you are." - Capital One
"Explain to me what has happened in this country during the last 10 years." - Boston Consulting
"How many bricks are there in Shanghai? Consider only residential buildings." - Deloitte Consulting
"If you were shrunk to the size of a pencil and put in a blender, how would you get out?" - Goldman Sachs

No Job Is Better Than a Job You Hate, Research Finds

Emily Co — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:30:53 PDT

When times are bad, quitting your job (even if you hate it) isn't an option. After all, how are you going to pay off your bills without income? Even though a steady pay will ease some of the stress in your life, an Australian study found that the mental health of people working "bad jobs" is worse or on par with those who are unemployed.

A factor that contributes to job dissatisfaction is feeling insecure about your job position, according to family and community medicine professor Joseph Grzywacz, who teaches at the Wake Forest Medical School. We've seen how rough the life of temping can be through the adventures of SavvySugar Community member lilmissjobhunter. She recently faced a tough blow when she discovered that her employer didn't even consider hiring her full-time although she put a lot of hope and energy into her temp job. Going forward, job insecurity is going to be more prevalent as most of the new jobs being added are for temp work.

If a company wants to work to create a happier work environment, it should create more flexible leave policies, says Grzywacz. And as an employee, it doesn't hurt to ask for more vacation days if you need a break - read my tips on how to negotiate for more PTO.

If you hate your job, do you find it weighing down on you mentally? And how do you deal with it?