You Can Do Both Whether you’re joining a staff of twenty or just two, it’s simply expected that you will act as a team player when you’re hired. And for the most part, you don’t mind working with others—as long as you are also able to be independent. The thing is, sometimes it’s hard to keep your independent working style when you’re forced to work in a group. Here are some ways to join the team—but still be true to yourself and get ahead at work.4. Respectfully Voice Your Opinions It can be easy to lose your train of thought -- as well as your voice -- when you are in a meet... view article details

Your Desk Speaks for You -- Even When You're Not There It speaks for you even when you're out of the office doing your thing to make the company wildly successful. Positive words? We hope. But it can also interrupt and speak out of turn, relaying completely unauthorized messages.Your desk. What does it say about you? Does it convey the message 'Respect the owner of this hallowed professional space?' or 'Attention: creativity in progress?' Or does it warn 'Caution: finding that file is going to take a while?'Your positive words & actions still speak loudest, but they'll have less impac... view article details

You - "Reader" - are a up-and-coming professional in a growing business. You work hard and get along well with co-workers, but find the office life to be monotonous and unexciting. Most of the other employees seem to be enthusiastic about something beyond the paycheck. Little do you know, you are about to be visited by three wise co-workers who will help you find your purpose. But first, you receive an annoying email. Prologue: The Passive-Aggressive Email Dear Reader, Hope you’re having a great day. Just to let you know, the carpool spreadsheet for the mid-level professionals’ retreat wa... view article details

Volunteering Has Many Benefits Millennials love to volunteer. Why? In short, it makes them happy. But surprisingly, college students and young professionals also lead the pack in volunteerism as a means of developing themselves professionally.In fact, an employer’s involvement in causes was cited in the 2014 Millennial Impact Report as the third most important factor when determining whether to apply for a job. And a Deloitte study found that Millennials who frequently participated in workplace volunteer activities were more likely to be proud, loyal, and satisfied employees.Millennia... view article details

Dear Annette, One of my colleagues stutters. How should I handle this with him in the office? What if we are making a presentation together or doing an important conference call? Hesitant Dear Hesitant, For all you know, your coworker may be staying late at the office, composing his own letter to Me, far more worried about your discomfort than about his level of fluency. If my People were that ... view article details

It’s your cubicle. You even have a nameplate. So it’s your personal space, right? Not really. It’s more like a seat at the dinner table than a room in the house.In other words, any sense of privacy is an illusion. Treat your office space with respect if you want to be taken seriously in the workplace. You want to keep your job? Avoid doing any of these 15 inexcusable activities at your desk.Personal grooming As annoying as that little snag in your fingernail or chip in your polish may be, resist the temptation for an on-the-spot fix. Oh sure, it will just take a moment. But before you... view article details

Jackie and Tom are members of a software development team. The team is focused on a new application that is to be rolled out next month. Jackie is the senior member and feels responsible for the team’s reputation. She believes the current version doesn’t have enough bells and whistles. Tom believes their reputation will be more affected by the number of bugs still in the software, and thinks they should eliminate those before adding new features.If you were Jackie, which of the following would you say to Tom?'Tom, if you brainstorm with me, we’ll be able to quickly figure out the best features... view article details

Growing up in the 1980s provided me a very interesting take on life in the businessworld. Rather than looking at work as dull and pointless, I've learned to view it like a video game. Projects are nothing more than quests. Office supplies are, well, supplies. The key to succeeding in the work place is realizing you have complete control over how you interact with the environment. You simply have to find the right strategy guide and you're on your way to winning!Look at your work like a video game and you'll master it in no time.DRESS FOR SUCCESSMario has a suit for every job. When he needs to ... view article details

There is nothing more John Muscarello loves than bringing people together and having great conversation -- with or without food.As the founder of the website EndlessJobOffers.com, the 27-year old marketing manager from New York enjoys learning new ways to effectively create strong business relationships to enhance your career, and sharing those tips with others.But when he wrote his first post as a LinkedIn Influencer on a seemingly innocuous topic, he never imagined the way the conversation would turn.Growing up in Glen Head, NY, John’s dad was a French Pastry Chef and owner of a restaurant/b... view article details

If you are like most people in the midst of a job search, you probably haven’t given your references much thought. You’ve likely spent more time on your resume, cover letter and networking activities. But references can have a significant impact on the final hiring decision. You need to be ready at a moment’s notice to provide potential employers with at least three solid references. Human resource managers almost always ask for references when they are seriously considering someone for a position. You want to make sure that you provide a list of individuals that will speak about you in a pos... view article details