SavvySugar

How-To: Step Up Your Game at Work

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:09 -0800

Spinning your wheels at the office might earn you a paycheck, but it's unlikely to put you in line for a raise or give you much satisfaction. Fulfilling your responsibilities is good; trying harder can make you great. Step up your work game by putting in more effort in subtle ways that may just get you noticed.

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Can Women Have It All?

TresSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:30:17 -0800

A successful career. A loving marriage. Well-loved and well-behaved children. The promise of women's liberation holds that women can have all of this if that's what they want. But one teacher wrote in the Daily Mail yesterday that telling a young girl that she can reach the top of the career ladder and raise a family is passing on nothing more than a fairy tale. This not-so-modern woman thinks:

"The young women we are sending out into the world believe they can have it all - and, if they don't, they will have failed. And what a tragedy that is, because the truth is that modern women can't have it all. They may succeed in their careers and they may succeed as mothers, but to do both at the same time? No, that is not possible without making huge sacrifices which many will find simply too much."

Obviously life is full of compromises and trade-offs, but I don't think that means women have to choose between success outside the home and success inside the home. With a little balance, I think women, just like men, can manage both. What do you think?
Photos courtesy of AMC

I'm Asking: Do You Take Career Risks or Play by the Rules?

SavvySugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:00:39 -0800

If there's one professional trait that I admire beyond bounds, it's an entrepreneurial spirit. It's hard not to be wowed by those who take charge, go out on their own, or create their own course when opportunity presents itself. That being said, taking career risks - whether a risky decision, move, or project - can be tricky and dangerous. Do you stick to the script at your job or in your professional endeavors, or are you a wild child when it comes to business?

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

Who Is Your Professional Idol?

SavvySugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:23 -0800

I finally dished out $10 (well, $24 if you count my popcorn, candy and soda!) to see This Is It, and while it was fascinating to see Michael Jackson's backstage persona on the job, I was particularly struck by the awe his backup dancers had for him. The documentary opens with an emotional scene of the crew sharing their audition tales - shot before MJ's death - and throughout the film we see the chosen few standing stage left grooving to Michael's sound checks. It's clear from their tears, stories, and smiles that the dancers worship his professional history. Do you look up to any one person in your work life for their talent, career, or success in your field?

Play Career Faceoff and Win a Monthly Prize!

SavvySugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:00:51 -0800

Remember when you used to dream about what you were going to be when you grew up? By age eight you probably knew exactly what you wanted to do with your life, but for many of you those career convictions changed quite a bit over the years. Since you've basically been weighing your job options since you can remember, you should know which job is cooler, right? Play our Which Career Is Cooler? game to find out!

How does it work? Each time you select the career with the higher "popularity" score based on readers' votes, you get points! Take a chance at winning the $1,000 a month prize!

8 Successful Companies That Are Still Hiring

SavvySugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:45:36 -0700

Personal experience and news reports might tell us that nobody is hiring right now, but Fortune says to think again. The magazine recently released its 40 Under 40 - a list of the hottest rising stars in business - and many of them are looking to expand their teams. To see who these entrepreneurs are and what they’re looking for, read more.

Ask Savvy: Six Answers For Your Co-Worker Conundrums

SavvySugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:31 -0700

Working closely with others has its challenges. Sure, teamwork is rewarding and it's helpful to have someone you can bounce ideas off of, but cubicles can get crowded quickly. You've asked me a series of smart and challenging questions about co-worker relations that I've had the pleasure of answering to the best of my ability. Here's hoping my advice will help you solve your current conundrums.

1. I Don't Want to Share My Office With a Co-Worker	2. How Do I Tell My Co-Worker Her Lunch Stinks?	3. My Lazy Co-Worker Is Affecting My Morale
4. My Co-Worker Has It in For Me!	5. Co-Worker Gives TMI About Sex Life	6. Relating to Work Friends

Submit a career or finance question for me to answer while giving other readers the opportunity to weigh in. Why rely on a Google search to satisfy your concerns when you can get help from your trusted community of Sugar friends? Ask away by posting your questions in my Ask Savvy group and I'll answer them on the site.

How Not to Behave: Career Questions From Mad Men

SavvySugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:00:40 -0700

When it comes to workplace drama, Mad Men has it all: high-stakes accounts, employees fighting for promotions and power, interoffice affairs, drinking on the job, and professional talent clouded by shenanigans, secrecy, and even sexual harassment. Whenever I watch the show I am both captivated by the saucy situations and characters and thankful for how far we have come as professionals since the 1960s. Obviously, the characters' antics spark all kinds of career questions for us modern women. I've shared my learnings from the show, but where do you stand on their behavior?

January Jones Wanted to Be a Storm Chaser - What About You?	Have You Felt Discriminated Against at Work?	Do You Attend Conventions For Work?
Did You Intentionally Choose Your Career Path?	Have You Ever Had a Drink While on the Clock?	Do You Know Which Co-Workers Smoke?

Performance Review Time: 5 Tips For Evaluating Yourself

SavvySugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:35 -0700

For many companies, holiday season is synonymous with performance-review season. And chances are, that process will include a self-evaluation. Filling out self-evaluations can be tricky (are you talking up your accomplishments enough? Will your boss agree with your assessment of your performance?), but they don’t have to be painful. Read on for five tips to help you shine on your self-evaluation.

Be realistic: Try to evaluate yourself as objectively as possible, and think about your performance in the context of your job description. Remember that simply fulfilling the requirements of your position doesn’t necessarily mean you’re blowing your boss’s expectations out of the water. At the same time, be sure to give yourself credit where credit is due; performance reviews aren’t the time for false modesty.

Be specific: Sweeping statements about your job performance won’t get you very far in a self-evaluation. For every accomplishment or strength you mention, have a specific example to back it up.

For three more tips on acing your review, keep reading.