Movin' On Up: 3 Areas to Improve your Health at Work

If you notice you feel stressed, bored, weak, or tired in the workplace, you may be experiencing the effects of your health habits. If this sounds like you, it may be time to boost your energy on the job. Follow these tips to improve your health in the workplace to help you feel energized, focused, and ready for whatever the day brings.

1. Eating Habits. Whether you’re looking to lose weight or just maintain good health, your eating habits can have a strong impact on your wellness and health. Before you head out to your favorite joint for lunch, keep these tips in mind for a happier, healthier you.

• Don’t skip breakfast. Many of us skip breakfast because we don’t schedule enough time to eat in the morning. Eating a healthy breakfast can help you start the day right and avoid getting hungry before lunch. Also, it can help you stay focused and energized. Some great ideas for quick and easy breakfasts include: peanut butter and waffles, oatmeal, fruit and cheese, yogurt, or a strawberry smoothie. Making time for a healthy breakfast is also a great way to stay satisfied and avoid the usual office doughnuts.

• Pack a healthy lunch and avoid eating out. Although eating out can be fun, only do it once in a while, and save the opportunity for a special occasion like catching up with a friend or celebrating a colleague’s birthday. On other days, pack your own lunch for work. Doing so allows you to pack healthy food options. Pick foods like salads and fruits that are packed with nutrients to help you function well in the workplace and not leave you feeling heavy and sleepy. And, as an added bonus, packing your own lunch can help you save money!

• Snack healthy. Snacking doesn’t have to be bad, as long as you’re eating the right things. Be careful to avoid vending machine snacks at work. Although they are tasty and easily accessible, they are usually full of sugar and saturated fats. If you like to munch on food while you work, bring healthy foods from home. Nuts are a great choice because they contain unsaturated fats that help decrease bad cholesterol levels. And, if you do give in to the vending machine’ call, look for the healthier choices like animal crackers instead of chips.

• Drink plenty of water. Drinking plenty of water will keep you feeling hydrated and refreshed. It will also help regulate your body temperature and avoid harmful effects from dehydration like headaches, dizziness, and tiredness. Many experts recommend drinking six cups of water daily.
  

2. Mental Health. The way we think can determine the way we function. When you’re stressed at work, it can be hard to concentrate on the task at hand. So, help relax your mind with these tips.

• Get enough sleep. How much sleep you get can determine how your body and mind perform throughout the day. So, get enough rest to help you function at your best. Experts recommend that adults get seven to eight hours of sleep each day.

• Listen to music. Listening to music can have a soothing effect and can enhance your mood at any given time. So, plug in your headphones and listen to your favorite tunes to help you focus and block out any distractions. Music that is uplifting and relaxing is a better alternative than music that evokes anger and stress or makes you feel sleepy. Also, be sure to use headphones so the music itself doesn’t distract those around you or prevent you from hearing a phone ringing or someone asking you a question.

• Read a motivating quote. Quotes can be inspirational, wise, or even funny. Pick a quote a day and reflect on it. It may just change your outlook on things!

• Use your vacation time. Make use of your vacation days when you can. If you have the time and your work schedule allows, take a break from work to do something fun or relaxing. This will enable you to come back to work feeling energized and refreshed.

3. Personal Health. According to a survey by the University of Arizona, the average desktop has more bacteria than any bathroom surface. And, when working with others, you’re sure to come in contact with germs. Guard against sickness like the common cold or flu with this advice.

• Wash your hands and use hand sanitizers. Your computer mouse, keyboard, and phone can harbor huge numbers of germs. Protect yourself and others by washing your hands and using hand sanitizers in the workplace. This will help eliminate germs that can make you sick.

• Clean your work area. Although many companies hire custodians to clean office space, take the responsibility to also clean your desk and pick up after yourself. If you don’t take the necessary precautions to clean your work area regularly, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Use disinfectant wipes to wipe the surface of your desk, keyboard, monitor, telephone, and anything else you may use while you work.

• Take vitamins. Multi-vitamins rich in Vitamins C and D can help build your immune system. If you’re not sure what to take, ask your doctor which one is suitable for you.

When work and life get busy, it’s easy to get your health off track. But by following these easy tips you just may even outlast the energizer bunny to keep going and going at work.

Disclaimer: These general guidelines do not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a physician to determine best health practices for your needs.

via blog.expresspersonnel.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Social Media Etiquette For Students | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

As a college student, I never really thought much about social media and its effects until I started my internship. Though a lot of it is common sense, students don’t always think before they post. As one of the lucky ones who got firsthand experience in what to do and what not to do, I feel it is my duty to help other students out there who just don’t get how to use social media the right way.

Party in the USA

Student life undoubtedly includes the party scene, meaning some sketchy situations can arise. Everyone wants to document their college experience, and what better photo op than a killer party with blasting music and a booze free for all. Well, just because you take the pictures, doesn’t mean you should post them. A picture with a beer in hand, especially when underage, is just a recipe for disaster. Even if you’re a hardcore partier, a potential employer definitely shouldn’t know that side of you—unless it’s a problem that will interfere with your work, but that’s a different conversation entirely. Keep the partying scene off the Internet, unless it really is an innocent photo. It’ll pay off in the long run.

F*&@! S%#&!!!

Swearing on the Web is a problem that will likely never go away. Twitter sees countless swears daily, Facebook witnesses thousands of swears between status updates and wall posts. If your profiles are set to private, then the occasional swear likely won’t hurt you much. That being said, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Truly, what does swearing in every status update do? Make you look tough, make whatever you’re saying have more warrant or sound funnier? It’s not worth your networking time and energy to promote yourself as someone who can’t filter what you’re saying, or at least how you say it. You’re not expected to be perfect, but you should be keeping your language in check.

Like, I just Love Him So Much!!! Yay, I’m about to go shopping, text me!

No offense to anyone, but status updates about every little thing you do and your love life isn’t always the best foot forward for your online reputation. While it’s all well and good things are going well with your significant other and that you don’t mind everyone knowing what you’re up to 24/7, the facts are simple: it’s annoying, people often just don’t really care, and you may come off as a spammer. Though of course you can use your Facebook to brag about your boyfriend every now and then, or maybe send a tweet here and there about your fabulous hang out with friends, don’t limit your social media profiles to all personal updates all the time. Try linking to interesting articles and update your status on occasion with important moments in your life or thoughtful quotes. Show a dynamic side to yourself and set yourself apart from the high schoolers and other young teens using these networking sites.

You’re an Adult, so Act Like One

Your whole life you wanted to be treated like an adult, able to make your own decisions and take care of yourself. Now, as a college student, is the time to really take full reign and act like the adult you always wanted to be. Be smart in what you post on Facebook and Twitter and other social networking sites. Act as someone already in the professional world would on their accounts. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, you can’t post an oddball picture here and there. Just think through what you’re posting and monitor yourself on the Internet, and there’s one less strike against you in a potential employer’s book.

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Extreme job change: One woman’s story | CareerEnlightenment.net

Guest Post by: Mary E. Sevinsky
Author’s Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-20518-Wilmington-Career-Transition-Examiner

A 53-year-old female client, Rhonda, was just offered her dream job. Not too surprising until you hear that the job she was offered was with the FBI. She thought she was wasting her time, she said — the FBI hired only young (male) college students.

She had an associate’s degree in administrative science (read secretary) she’d earned 30 years ago, with experience in administrative and IT positions. Most recently, she’d worked in a commission-only interior decorating sales position. That is where our work together started.

Initially, she emailed me to explain that because of the unstable economy, she just wasn’t making enough money to earn a living. In short, she assessed her career potential and decided to make a change.

She took inventory of her interests and skills. Rhonda loved being responsible for her own schedule, the interaction with customers, and the creativity involved in targeting appropriate accessories to sell them. The bulk of her IT and much of her clerical experience was with health and medical-related companies: insurance and case management.

Rhonda sent me a copy of her résumé, which had a lot of information, but was not focused. She was using a chronological template that did nothing to highlight her skills or abilities, let alone interests! After some brief consultations, she decided that she would like to return to a more stable environment, perhaps tapping into her IT skills and insurance knowledge.

However, she was quick to point out that her computer skills were not up to date. She agreed to brush up on her computer skills on her own as much as possible and would research some classes she might be able to take that would make her more marketable in a short timeframe. I was able to tweak her résumé somewhat just by presenting her major skill areas in a functional résumé format. A temporary measure.

Rhonda noted that she did still have her sales job and would continue to work in this capacity until she found something that would bring a more steady income — and which she enjoyed. She was fortunate that her home was paid for and her children grown – she had a bit of time to find her focus and work to land a job that she really wanted after accepting jobs that just came along from time to time.

At one point during our communications, I came across a pseudo-governmental position related to healthcare that required IT, clerical, and research skills. She became very excited by this prospect and, when she thought about it, realized that the most enjoyable part of all of her jobs had been researching….

Rhonda loved researching issues, finding better ways to process and track information, and understanding how and why. She put these skills to use learning more about this position and the agency. She fashioned a fine cover letter and even was able to secure references from local politicians she knew. We tweaked her résumé to ensure that anyone could immediately see that she was an excellent match for the position.

She continued in her sales position and searched and applied for other positions. Rhonda also followed up with the contact for the pseudo-governmental position. Unfortunately, she was never able to get a return call, let alone an invitation for an interview.

Her spirits were dampened. She became increasingly frustrated by the lack of sales she was able to secure in interior decorating. She wasn’t identifying any other opportunities that seemed interesting to her. I suggested a career counseling session to firm up a career plan for her.

She was 52 at the time – she didn’t need a career plan, she needed a job! I didn’t argue with her, but suggested we spend an hour or so discussing her likes, dislikes, and short- and long-term life goals. This, I explained could help us make a career plan that would give her the focus she needed to be successful in her job search.

We met at a restaurant she knew near her beach home. Somewhat skeptical about how I could help, but eager to be helped just the same, she arrived with a notebook and pen in hand. Rhonda was thoughtful, forthcoming, and ready to make a change.

We talked about all the jobs she had held. What did she like about them? Again, the research came up. Computers, of course, she enjoyed working with — and people. She liked working autonomously, but was comfortable working in an office at a desk as well. As we talked, something just clicked and a thought struck me: I recommended she consider working as a private detective.

She stopped and looked at me with her mouth open for just a moment and exclaimed that she had considered this in the past and had even been offered a position with an acquaintance to work as a private investigator for insurance claims. However, her husband had just died and she had two boys to raise. A part-time job in an untested field would not work for her.

Although she loved the idea of this type of work at the time, she accepted a position in a much more conventional role as an administrative assistant. It wasn’t bad, she explained.

She was promoted from her clerical position to an IT position when she showed an aptitude for this. She had springboarded from that to eventually work as a supervisor in IT until the death of a relative led her to leave that to take over the family business selling interior decorating accessories.

A big smile spread over her face. Working as a private detective! She had worked for years in a career path that fate had handed her. My client had not given any thought to what she might like to do and/or how to obtain a job she liked.

She became very animated. She had been taking notes the whole time she talked and looked at much of what she wrote and thought about this revelation — then asked if I would help her find a job as a private investigator.

It just so happened that because of my experience in the Workers’ Compensation field,I did have contacts with several agencies to whom I could refer her. We planned how to change her résumé even further to make her more attractive to this specific job target.

We discussed social networking and various websites that she could use as a resource:

• Careerealism Expert Help Now!
• Delaware Job Network
• Examiner.com – Career Transition
• Non-traditional and work at home opportunities
• A National List of Career Fairs
• Action Verbs for Cover Letters and Resumes
• America’s Career Info Net
• Best Industry Job Boards
• Career Builder
• Indeed
• More Resources

She was able to secure several interviews with my contacts (some of whom were not hiring at that time) and some with her own research. She was well received and thought she might be offered a position in the spring, when some of the companies indicated they would be actively hiring.

My client continued her job search as she still didn’t have a bird in her hand. She came across an ad for the FBI and it intrigued her. She read and reread it and went to the library to check out a few books about the FBI. She surfed the internet and learned everything she could while she worked on her application.

Rhonda called me while she was finalizing her application and laughed when she told me she couldn’t believe it: She was going to apply for an analyst position with the FBI – it sounded perfect! But, she had concerns.

They stated they wanted to hire someone with a bachelor’s degree and she went on to note that they hired college kids and, she believed, probably mainly male college students. By now she had turned 53. She had no business applying to the FBI. Was she nuts, she questioned?

I counseled that the federal positions most often considered experience in lieu of education in a formulaic manner and that, no, they did not hire only young people straight out of college. If she was interested in the position and felt that she was able to present the knowledge, skills, and abilities they were looking for, then she should apply. What did she have to lose?

She was called for an interview not long after submitting her application and continued to research her new potential employer. Rhonda reported that the interview was brutal – several people in suits with serious faces grilled her in an empty white “interview” room. Although she was nervous, she reported she felt confident and that she had done well.

Rhonda was calling to let me know that I was the first person she was calling — to let me know she was OFFERED the position with the FBI. She was ecstatic and incredulous. Needless to say, it made my day, week, and maybe month.

It is very encouraging to see people that not only are able to find employment, but able to secure positions that they would have never considered a few short months ago and in which they will find happiness. As adults, we spend a large part of our lives working – why not plan to enjoy it?

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

via careerenlightenment.net

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Questions about Resume, Interviews - The Career Doctor Blog

Randy writes:

I have several questions about my current job search:

1. Due to my age, I am only going back 15 years on my resume — some say 10 — but should I leave all those jobs completely or just list them without dates?
2. Currently I list months/years on my jobs, which is fine overall except for my previous job, where I worked approx 8 months because I was terminated for not bringing in enough business. During interviews I’m not sure to to address any questions about the short stint.
3. I left off my age on my education.
4. I keep revising my resume and need a compelling cover letter. Do you think it is worth the investment to have them professionally written? Some services charge up to $300-700, and I can’t make that investment right now.

---

The Career Doctor responds:

1. List the jobs in a section called Previous Professional Experience without dates.
2. Yes, you may need to explain the short job stint. It’s best to say something generic like you didn’t fit into the company culture.
3. Good. Age should never be listed on a resume.
4. I absolutely, 100 percent endorse the use of a professional resume writer. Yes, it’s not cheap — but you are talking about your next job, your future. You can’t afford NOT to make this investment.

via careerdoctor.org

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Mobile Recruitment: Use Your Smartphone to Land a Job - Careers Articles

By Barbara Safani, Posted Aug 5th 2010 @ 7:25PM

As more job seekers use their mobile devices to get their daily information feeds, more will also use their smartphones to search for job leads. Many job boards are now Web-enabled, which means that they can interact with mobile users very easily. According to Gary Zukowski, Founder of Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

TweetMyJOBS.com, "employers get the early-bird advantage by using mobile technology strategies since they can potentially reach active and passive candidates well before traditional recruiting methods. Potential candidates can be instantly notified of job leads regardless of where they are."

There's little doubt that smartphone use is on the rise and that the implications for recruiting are enormous. Consider these statistics on cell phone use, according to The Atomic Marketing Blog.

• In 2009, U.S. cell phone subscribers sent and received on average 390 text messages per month, compared to making 230 voice calls a month, according to the Mobile Business Statistics.

Those ages of 12-45 will send 60 percent more text messages than make voice calls.

Currently 1/3 of the world has mobile Internet access -- which is twice as many as the number of Internet-connected PCs.

60 percent of the world's population is expected to have access to the Internet through a mobile device in one year!

Mobile web technologies allow us to provide location-specific resources to users.

Two thirds of mobile phone users are subscribers of SMS text messaging. What does that translate to? Approximately 2.1 billion people are actively text messaging today (according to mobile statistics 2009).

There are two times as many active SMS users as are active users of e-mail.

In the United States alone, over 450 billion SMS text messages were sent in 2009.

On average, text messages are read within four minutes, compared to 48 hours with e-mail.

While 65 percent of e-mail is spam, less than 10 percent of SMS is spam.

62 percent say they use text messaging to communicate with friends.

According to Zukowski, mobile recruiting can apply to any industry, but he has seen the greatest fit for retail, hospitality, sales, temp workers, and health care.

via jobs.aol.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Staying work-focused during the summer - Career blog - Position Ignition - taking you to the next step in your career

Summer's here and many people face the challenge of staying focused at work. They'd rather be on the golf course, at the pool, just sitting on their porch, or anywhere but at the office. We all know the work can't stop just because it's nice outside, so consider these tips to make sure you continue to excel and stay focused during the summer.

1. Bring summer into the office

Can't get outside during the day to enjoy the summer months? Try bringing the season inside. Cut some fresh flowers and put them on your desk. Change your screen saver to show a beach or other outdoor scene. Bring in some happy summer-inspired music to play in your office. Open your window, turn on a fan, take off your shoes and wiggle your toes! If you can bring a taste of the warm weather inside, it might just keep you from yearning for the outdoors.

2. Make the most of your lunch hour

One mistake office workers make that often leads to burn out is not allowing themselves to take a break during the day. Take whatever kind of break your company gives you and make the most of it. Make your lunch, find a nearby park, and treat yourself to a business day picnic. Find a cafe with outdoor seating and enjoy the sunshine for a few minutes. If you work close enough, go home for lunch and sit out on your patio. Getting that break during the middle of your day will be sure to help you make it through the rest of the afternoon.

3. Take your work outside

Depending on the flexibility of your company, you may be able to spend some of your work day outdoors. See if you can move a meeting outside. You may have to work a little harder to keep the meeting on task, but chances are it will end up being just as productive -- or more so -- than another meeting in the stuffy boardroom. The same tactic could be used for your own work. If you don't already have a laptop, see if your company has one you could use. Then try to steal some quiet moments outdoors with just you and your computer.

4. Look into flex time

Some companies allow employees to be a little more flexible with their work schedules during the summer months. See if your company will consider a flexible arrangement. This could mean working longer Monday through Thursday in order to leave early on Friday afternoon, or coming in earlier so you can leave earlier to enjoy the extended daylight. If you can demonstrate that you will still get your work done, your company should be able to see the benefit of this flexibility.

5. Get your exercise

One of the best ways to stay energized and motivated during the summer months is exercising. Enlist some of your co-workers to join in your exercise plan. Start a walking club at your office that meets either before or after work or during lunch. There are countless road races during the summer -- put a sign-up sheet on your office bulletin board. Then train for and run the race together. Swimming is one of the activities that people enjoy the most in the summer. Join a pool and get in a swim before or after work, or even during your lunch hour. The cool, refreshing water will give you the rejuvenation you need to make it through the rest of the day indoors.

6. Give yourself a break

Even if you're very busy and can't really afford to take a holiday, commit to using at least part of your leave time during the summer. If you don't have enough money to take a week-long vacation, take a three- or four-day weekend getaway. If you can't take time off, at least make sure you take advantage of your weekends. Get your projects done during the week so you can have a good rest on Saturday and Sunday. That means leaving your laptop at the office and leaving the e-mail and voice mail until Monday. The most important thing is to treat yourself to a real break in order to recharge your batteries. Doing so will make you more productive in the long run.

From: CareerBuilder.co.uk

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Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Career Advice by Career Expert Heather Huhman : CAREEREALISM

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Heather Huhman

When people bring up Gen Y stereotypes, one of my favorite stories to tell is I had no idea how to send a text message until my intern taught me last summer. You read that correctly: a member of Gen Y who didn’t know how to text instinctively. Oddly enough, she was teaching me how to text so I could reach my baby boomer boss when she was on Capitol Hill during the day and I needed an executive decision. Not all stereotypes are true. In fact, I would argue most aren’t.

Unfortunately, there are always the few who ruin it for the many. Take, for example, the survey results I recently received via e-mail from textPlus:

When it comes to college kids and recent grads (18-24 years old):

- 11% think it’s appropriate to ask for a raise via text
- 32% say it’s okay to “call in sick” to work via text (22% have actually done it)
- 11% think it’s alright to quit a job via text

Ugh. Seriously? What 18- to 24-year-old in their right mind thinks it’s okay to quit a job via text?

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I have come to love texting (thanks, Ashley!), but it’s certainly not right for all situations. Just like e-mail isn’t right for all situations. Or phone, for that matter. To quote one of my favorite movies, A League of Their Own, “use that lump three feet above your ass” every once in a while to figure out the best method of communicating the message at hand.

When it comes to communicating with your boss and co-workers, it’s best to ask on an individual basis what method they prefer. I actually prefer e-mail above text messages, unless I am out of the office and the message needs a fast response. My boss (the baby boomer), on the other hand, prefers text messages even when she’s in the office — but it had better be important! Otherwise, you should be scheduling a face-to-face with her through her secretary.

Have you ever texted your boss? What was the reason and how was the action received?

Did you find this article interesting? You can read more articles by this expert here. Also, check out all of our free webinars!

CAREEREALISM Expert, Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder & president of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. She is also the national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.

The photo for this article is provided by Shutterstock.

via careerealism.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal