SavvySugar

What's the Most Realistic Work-Based TV Show of 2009?

SavvySugar — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:04 -0800

I love a good workplace TV show. Between the crazy comedy and the drama that can occur in our real-life offices, you've gotta admit, some aspects of these shows aren't totally off base. So, while I'm hoping no one out there really has to deal with a co-worker like The Office's Dwight, I'm sure someone has to put up with the antics of a similar character in her own workplace. Even if that's not that case, we want to know your pick for the most realistic work-based show. What gets your vote for the most believable work scenario on TV?

Wanna see what else wowed us this year? Check out some of the biggest headlines of 2009 and cast your votes in my Best of 2009 polls!

Brilliant or Baffling? Decreased Productivity Firefox Add-On

SavvySugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:10:07 -0800

Policies on recreationally surfing the web vary from workplace to workplace, but the truth is that (almost) all of us do it. But that doesn’t mean we want everyone around us to see exactly how much time we’re spending browsing, say, the PopSugar Network, does it? A new Firefox add-on called Decreased Productivity could be the solution. The program adds a small button to the bottom of your browser screen that when clicked turns your flashy, graphics-filled web page (below left) into a bland, imageless page filled with black and blue text (below right).

This add-on could be useful, especially if you work in an office that imposes unfair, strict Internet rules. On the other hand, if you feel the need to hide what you’re looking at, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it anyway. What do you think?

Is Your Job Busier During the Holidays?

SavvySugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Now that Thanksgiving is almost here, it’s official - the holidays have begun. Whether you plan to take advantage of Black Friday deals and start your shopping now or you tend to wait until the last minute, your post-work schedule is bound to ramp up for the next several weeks.

But, what about your work life? Some industries - retail, for one! - get exponentially busier during the holidays, while others tend to slow down until after the New Year. Which category does your job fall into?

Does Your Occupation Fit Your Personality?

SavvySugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:45:04 -0800

Chances are you’ve taken a personality test at some point in your life - a Myers-Briggs for fun, a Caliper or other employment test for a new job - but have you ever thought about how the results might impact your career choices?

Nancy Ancowitz, author of Self-Promotion For Introverts, recently wrote an article in the New York Times about how her introverted personality affected her career path. Ancowitz had always assumed her need to work alone and her aversion to large meetings were character flaws. But once she realized they were just aspects of her personality, she was able to make them work to her advantage and find a career that better suited her.

I definitely consider myself an introvert. I love being around people and I can turn on my social side when I need to, but I really do my best work and feel the most recharged when I’m alone. My job, happily, strikes the perfect balance for me. How about you? Does your role at work mesh with your personality? If you’re curious as to what your personality type is, check out this simplified Myers-Briggs test.

Photo courtesy of NBC

Overworked and Underpaid: 7 of the Most Stressful Jobs

SavvySugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:31 -0800

I quizzed you a couple weeks ago on Money magazine’s list of the least stressful jobs. Now CNN Money has compiled another list - this time of the most stressful and most underpaid jobs out there, according to their survey.

The results are based on median salary and the percentage of respondents that rated their jobs as stressful. Unfortunately, these positions sound a lot more like the jobs most of my friends and family have than the ones on the least stressful list did! To see a sampling of the most overworked and underpaid positions, read more.

Cool Job: Nina LaCour, Author

SavvySugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:00:27 -0700

Whether you love heading into work every day or dread the alarm each morning, hearing about people who love what they do is always inspiring. In our new Savvy series, Cool Jobs, we’ll talk to real women who have turned their passion into a very cool career.

Oakland native Nina LaCour always knew she wanted to be a writer, but over the past two years, she’s made that dream a reality. Nina’s debut young adult novel, Hold Still, was released by Dutton (a division of Penguin) last week, and she’s already signed on for a second novel.

Tell us what a typical day looks like for you.
I teach high school in the mornings, so my workday begins at 7:45. For a few hours, I sit around a big table with between 10 and 14 students per class and talk about books. When I get home I need a little while to wind down from teaching, so I use that time to answer interview questions for YA bloggers and get in touch with my agent or the people at Penguin about book stuff. They are all in New York, and I'm in California, so these calls have to take place early in my day.

No matter how often I do it, it takes me a little while to settle into writing. Usually I'll begin by reading over my newer scenes or notes. I also keep an ever-changing outline up on my wall, so I keep track of what I've written and what I need to write, and I'll cross scenes out if I decide that I'm taking a different direction. And then, finally, I start typing. I'm a slow writer, so on a good day I'll get one or two pages written. On a slow day I might just end up revising existing scenes or writing a bunch of notes, or working forever on one important paragraph.

To hear more about Nina's cool job, keep reading

Where Do Workers Receive the Most Vacation Days?

SavvySugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:30:41 -0700

Ah, vacation. There never seems to be enough time away from it all, but that's not necessarily the case for workers everywhere. In some places there's no pining for days off because they are plentiful. Wondering where they're most generous with days off? Take the quiz!

Take the quiz

Do You Have Manic Mondays?

SavvySugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:14:13 -0700

One Way to Put a Stop to Your Perpetual Lateness

SavvySugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:04 -0700

How many times have you resolved to become someone who's known for her punctuality, instead of her perpetual lateness? If those mini Monday or monthly resolutions haven't resulted in a new, prompt you, then maybe you need to motivate yourself differently.

Money magazine writer Tyler Cowen suggests that penalties might be more effective than rewards if lateness is one of your little flaws. Cowen thinks it's best to invite someone in on your penalty plan to keep your on-time makeover in check, like telling your friend/partner/spouse that you'll do dishes for the next month if you fall off track.

Would you benefit from the penalty system?

What Nonmonetary Perks Does Your Employer Offer?

SavvySugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:30:36 -0700

With salary and hiring freezes that have most employees doing more work for less money, little extras can make a big difference. Some employers are known for unique work perks that keep workers from wishing they were someplace else.

Here's an example of an employer with perks: Daxko, a Birmingham-based software vendor, keeps its employees happy by providing a work/play lounge equipped with a Wii and 52-inch plasma TV, offering free YMCA memberships, giving workers $1,500 annually to spend on any kind of professional enrichment, and supplying a weekly free lunch.

What work perks does your employer boast?

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