Professionalism in the Workplace Myth, Mystery or a Must

Professionalism in the Workplace Myth, Mystery or a Must True professionalism is an interesting phenomenon and seems to be vanishing as an office worker art. And it’s not just the fault of recent college graduates who are new to the workplace. If new workers don’t see professionalism in action it’s not likely that they’ll pick it up by accident or osmosis. Being professional doesn’t mean you acquire a façade of used car salesman falseness. It doesn’t require that you become an automatic yes-man or yes-woman either. Professionalism isn’t taught in university, but I’m starting to think it should be. Being professional at all times while still being willing to challenge the status quo requires nuance and subtlety. There is a fine line between innovation and insubordination. A comeback for Brooks Brothers suits and wingtips? In lieu of Professionalism 101, companies might do well to consider instituting a formal mentoring plan that could include older individuals with a good track record of professionalism instilling their insights into new employees over time. Things that most people consider basic common sense such as appropriate workplace manners and clothing choices could be part of a continuing emphasis on professionalism. I know that the trend toward casualness in the workplace isn’t going to change anytime soon and I’m not advocating a return to Brooks Brothers suits and wingtips…necessarily. But casualness can quickly descend into coarseness and before you know it the tramp stamps on display lead to inappropriate conversation talking points and HR is getting a deluge of complaints. The corporate uniform of the 1950’s and early 1960’s sure seems safer in comparison. Even the casual wear of the era looks good today. Dresscodes remind us of who we are The corporate uniforms of the past may be relegated quickly to the same forgotten dustbin of history as slide rules and dinosaurs. And if you feel this way, you may be right. I’ve been accused of being stuffy and I’m closer to dinosaur status than I am to my undergraduate years. But one thing that dress codes didâ€"even if they were unwrittenâ€"was to remind people of where they were. When you put on your suit and tie or dress and cardigan, it helped put you in a professional mindset. On a sub-conscious level, dressing professionally helped remind us that we weren’t in our living rooms. It helped us take ourselves seriously. And when you take yourself seriously you do good work. Clothes, not even PJs, do not make the man Your speech and actions are different when you’re dressed in a professional way than they are when you’re wearing ripped jeans and a stained t-shirt. It’s a logical extension of your persona. Which is, incidentally, exactly why I never wore pajamas to class in college, even when it was the preferred clothing choice of undergraduates everywhere. I never met a student who wore pajamas to class who regularly made the Dean’s list. But I digress. Clothes may not make the man. But dressing professionally can sure help a person act more professionally in the workplace. Mediocrity is the natural enemy of professionalism I would never argue that professionalism should require you to become a clotheshorse. But how many well-dressed individuals in your company do mediocre work? I bet not many. And mediocrity is seeping into corporate culture at an alarming rate. It may start with relaxed corporate clothing codes but it doesn’t stop there. It begins to infiltrate its way into water cooler conversation through ill-advised and inappropriate humor which has no place in a professional setting. Once on a roll, mediocrity â€" as the natural enemy of professionalism â€" can continue its march until positive professional attitudes devolve into defeatism and corporate culture corrodes from within. Final thoughts Arguing for a return to the corporate clothing cues of long ago may seem anachronistic or quixotic. But try dressing up every day for a week and see if you notice a difference in your work. Clothing may be a small part of professionalism but I think it’s an important part. And while you’re at it, if you find that wearing a pair of polished wingtips helps you take yourself seriously, break out the shoe polish and horsehair brush and get to it. For more professional tips, check out 7 Little Known Tips to Jump-Start Your Career. Author: Jesse Langley lives near Chicago. He divides his time among work, writing and family life. He writes on behalf of coloradotech.edu and has a keen interest in business blogging and social media. He also writes for www.professionalintern.com.

Working for a non-profit organisation

Working for a non-profit organisation Compassion for others is alive and well thank goodness, if the number of enquiries which Warwick Student Careers and Skills gets about working for an NGO is anything to go by. One common question we get asked is: How do you get in? This blog attempts to answer that question. In order to answer that question, there are some other questions to be thought about along the way. Typically when students refer to NGOs they are thinking of international development organisations, so this is what this blog focuses on. Why do you want to it? Honesty about this will help you to decide whether working an NGO is for you, and help you to be successful if it is. Compassion is important. If you have compassion without skills needed by an NGO however, then the most compassionate thing might be to set up a direct debit to help support an organisation employing those who do have the required skills. Curiosity and a sense of adventure are also fine things and may help in development work, but they are not enough to get you in, and may indeed be better catered for elsewhere. There are also some less practical, but nonetheless important, questions about the purpose of development. How would you respond to the suggestion that no-one from a wealthy country has the right to suggest how a poorer country ought to develop? Or if you were asked whose fault poverty is anyway? Clearly there are differing answers to these questions and NGOs will reflect different answers in how they approach their work â€" knowing your own mind on questions like this will help you with the application process and identify organisations whose values you support. Where do you want to do it? If your main aim is to live overseas, bear in mind that much international development work will take place in the country from which the development support is coming. Sending people overseas is more expensive than finding local people who can do the work. You can do very effective development work without having to go overseas, and there are of course a multitude of ways to go overseas without working in development. Does the idea of working in a place where your house has no internal plumbing and no electricity sound more like an interesting challenge than a harsh punishment? If this resonates with you it is something which would be regarded positively by NGOs. But it is relevant skills which they will be looking for first. What do you want to do? What can you offer? A very significant number of people working within international development have specialist skills. The long list includes engineering, agriculture, logistics, medicine and healthcare, economics, and education. If you have a qualification and experience in areas like these, then you are more likely to be able to find work in international development. Not everyone who works in international development will have started their career there. But this is not the same as suggesting that you cannot get in without these kinds of specific expertise. So, how do you get in? Hopefully by now some of the answer to this will be emerging. It’s all about relevant experience and skills. This can be easier to develop if you have a degree related to a particular profession (or a postgraduate qualification) and if you can use this to develop relevant skills and experience (which wouldn’t necessarily have to be in development to start with). But if you are a humanities or social science student whose degree is not related to a particular profession, then you do not need to despair. Instead, do some research to find NGOs and organisations involved in the kind of work you would like to do. For Warwick students,   this could be a  good place to start and this information is  accessible to everyone. Contact organisations directly by phone or e-mail ready to explain what you can offer (rather than focusing on what you want!) and hope that this will lead to an offer of an internship or similar experience. Persistence is likely to be required. There have also been students and graduates who have developed positive communication with someone already working in the area via Linked In or a university alumni network, which has got to the point where they can confidently ask for advice about gaining some kind of working experience within the sector. We are often asked about the value of a Master’s in Development. Within the UK context, a postgraduate qualification can enhance, but not replace, experience within the sector.   Considering which Master’s (if any) will be of most value after a few years of experience in the sector, is often of more value than embarking on a Master’s course without any prior experience in the sector. So, in a nutshell… If you feel you have or can Develop skills which NGOs need Demonstrate that you are sufficiently persuasive and patient to get that initial experience The confidence to develop skills and networks once you’ve started Combine your compassion with contributing to workable solutions in often difficult circumstances Then you have many good reasons to consider very seriously working for an NGO.

Positioning yourself - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Positioning yourself - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Positioning is a marketing term you may often be exposed to in business. The term actually ties in multiple concepts that factor into a competitive approach that you can use to your advantage. The word touches upon differentiation and mapping out where you or your company stands relative to competitors. The example above depicts a positioning map, where an employee is judged on both his or her technical skills and communication ability. The ideal goal an individual should have is to position him or herself in the upper right corner. Use this example to plot your fellow co-workers, whom also seek higher positions within your department. If they are closer to the upper right hand corner, than figure out what technical and communication skills are required to pull yourself up. Another key idea about positioning are differentiation strategies that allow you to stand out amongst your peers. Start brainstorming and researching which skills will suit your interests and what skills others do not hold. Position yourself as a hard worker, an intellectual and someone who can form relationships in order to be successful. With positioning, everything is relative and you will be graded relative to your peers, so be careful how you interact with them. You should try not to give away too much of your strategy, but learn to work with them to uncover some of theirs. It is my goal to educate you on these strategies because I live them each and every day. The object of each of these posts is to infuse your mind with knowledge and to get you THINKING. It may take years to position yourself effectively and to acquire the right skills through training sessions, but there is a high payoff. Positioning revolves around how you present yourself relative to those around you, so make sure you start paying attention to these conditions and research techniques to get ahead. Questions to ask yourself How do I position myself relative to the competition? What unique characteristics and/or technical abilities do I have? What are others doing that Im not doing? Where do I find the resources necessary to succeed? How far will I go to succeed?

Mark West California Pinot Noir

Mark West California Pinot Noir Summer is the perfect time to expand your wine palate, and while the season is usually reserved for crisp whites, a fruity Pinot Noir might be the wine you’ve been waiting for! Mark West Wines specialized in Pinot Noir, so it’s no surprise that they created a highly drinkable Pinot perfect for those just starting to explore the world of red wine. With fruit flavors front and center, those enjoying this pinot can expect a slightly spicy and light drinking experience. My favorite thing about trying new wines is finding the perfect food to pair with them. I knew this would be a light and fruit wine, so I wanted to compliment that with a fresh and light selection. I paired my glass with a Caprese salad with fresh basil picked right from my little urban garden. Because this wine is light bodied, it paired easily with this light and fresh summer snack.  The sweetness of the basil worked perfectly with the berry notes in the pinot. Is Mark West Pinot for You? Pros: Perfect introduction for a new red wine drinker Light and fruity Pairs well with a range of foods, from salmon to rich red meat Cons: Experienced Pinot drinkers might find the body a bit weak Semi-acidic for a Pinot Overall, if you’re looking for a light red wine to enjoy on your balcony after a long week, Mark West Pinot Noir will absolutely do the trick! While you can drink pinot any time of year, it was a refreshing treat during a hot summer night. Just be sure to drink responsibly, as it’s easy to pour glass after glass of this delish taste of California wine country. Where Can You Get It? Visit Mark West Wines to use their store locator to find the closest place where this gem is stocked. Also, if you’re a creature of habit and would prefer a crisp white, Mark West also makes an excellent Chardonnay. If you can’t decide, pick up both next time you’re perusing the wine aisles!

How Your Credit History May Affect Your Job Search CareerMetis.com

How Your Credit History May Affect Your Job Search â€" CareerMetis.com Photo credit â€" Pexels.comWas there a time in your life when you underwent a financial fiasco that you’d rather keep to yourself?When you barely had a grip on your monthly dues because of some overspending made in luxurious boutiques using many credit cards? When you juggled how to pay all the credit cards used that some reached bad credit status?Just when you thought these acts go unnoticed, you start applying for a new job or promotion and poof! You were asked about your credit history and you don’t know what to say. You hadn’t realized that bad credit records will affect your chances of a new job or yearned promotion.evalMost companies include the applicant’s credit history as a part of a background check.A simple explanation is that, how can they hire or promote a person whose job is to keep/manage other’s money or finances if he/she alone cannot discipline his/her own money handling. How can they trust an employee who suffers from financial distress over mismanaged fu nds? The question is â€" can you escape the ghosts from your past by not disclosing information about your credit history? Will it affect your career as well as my chances of getting a new job?Can we add a credit score to the list of pre-employment and employee criteria?No. Generally, credit bureaus aren’t allowed to disclose your credit score with an employer as subject to State Laws.However, they may seek your assistance to see your credit report which you may tend to cooperate if part of a pre-employment requirement. When you grant the request, the credit bureaus will send a filtered credit report specifically designed for the employer’s checking purposes. It means that they will not wholly divulge all the credit information but limit it to only the most useful information or a regular credit report.Where are my privacy rights?Yes, employers are allowed to do credit checkings protected by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, but, they cannot directly go to the credit bureaus and tr ansact.evalThey will first need your authority that you allow them to do so, usually in writing. Of course, you can refuse if you don’t want to, but take the risks of not getting the job or promotion you’re applying for.How can it affect me getting my dream job?If the employer’s checklist of requirements includes the credit background checking, you cannot do anything but comply if you badly wanted the job.On how will it affect you depends on your own credit history if it is responsibly handled or not. You need to understand how your credit scores are important for the dream job and position you want to land.a) Credit records show your management skillsevalHow you handle your finances reflects how responsible you are to handle duties and obligations. If bills are paid on time and finances are excellently handled, you appeal as an organized employee and therefore fit on managerial positions. This proves that you know how to plan and balance your daily living, and you are capable to meet and deliver jobs on the deadline.b) Trustworthiness is important for organizations evalHaving a good credit history is a way of showing your employer that you are a trustworthy person, especially if it reflects that you are capable of handling large finances such as being able to pay a large loan or mortgages.This trait is most important for human resources job positions where employees deal with the company’s confidential information. It’s because this job is responsible for safekeeping information about the employees’ salaries, medical files, personal information, and disciplinary actions.c) Credit problems can translate to personal problemsUn-organized credit handling could also reflect possible personal problems at home that may affect job performance. This is not to discriminate because we all know that everyone deals with personal problems at home, but financial matters do not come and go that easy, so it could seriously impact an employee’s productivity.For a n employer, it is a warning for potential future problems and dishonesty issues if you weren’t able to manage your finances that resulted in a negative credit report.d) Certain industries prefer not to get involvedThe good thing here is, the criteria of an employer with regards to your credit standing varies depending on the company industry. Some companies may not put much emphasis on credit histories as it has no direct effect on a job you will be assigned.However, some industries put much emphasis on your credit history as their criteria.Financing institutions are one of those highly sensitive to your credit records. It is an integrity issue if you have mismanaged funds under your credentials.Since financial institutions deal directly with money and funds, it is highly exposed to fraudulent financial activities. It’s hard to build your credibility that you will not be tempted to commit dishonesty in the future.Some banking institutions automatically reject you in the position once they discover poor or failed credit standing.To hire or not to hireevalAside from weighing you and other applicants in terms of your skills, educational attainment, abilities, and character, another deciding factor on who they will choose is who has a better-than-average-credit report.If your skills and personality matched with another applicant eyeing in the same position you pursue, the employer will look for other factors to justify who they will choose.And it’s possible that they feel safer in choosing the one with an acceptable/excellent credit history report as against the one with past or current financial struggles. So in the end, your credit history could be tie-breaker among other applicants.At the end

How to send a cover letter without a contact name - Sterling Career Concepts

How to send a cover letter without a contact name How to send a cover letter without a contact name A client recently emailed asking how to send a cover letter to a prospective company when you don’t have a contact name. Since finding a name is highly preferred, here are three strategies to consider using as you put your sleuthing cap on: Does the company have a website?   Look up management teams or information about divisional leadership. Names can also be found in press releases or other media items. Check the company out on LinkedIn and see if you can identify someone from there. Place a call in to the company and ask. You’d be surprised!   In some more tight-lipped companies, call in under the guise of mailing marketing materials to that individual and you need the proper spelling of their name. Whose name are you trying to identify in the first place? It’s best to identify a hiring manager title or the title of one level up from the ideal hiring manager. For a business development role, for example, the Director of Sales in a mid-sized company or the Chief Operations Officer in a smaller company. Avoid directing your resume to Director of Human Resources (unless of course, you are applying for a position within the HR department) as it can lead to your resume falling into a black hole. If all else fails and you are unable to identify a person by name, then use the title identified above in place of a proper name where you list the company address and then write the letter to the title as in Dear Director of Sales. This is much more preferable than using either the antiquated “Dear Sir or Madam” or the impersonal, form-letter sounding “To Whom It May Concern.” Need assistance  creating a cover letter that will entice the reader to call you? Laurie can help! She has written hundreds of cover letters that have had a positive effect on her clients impact with a hiring manager or recruiter. How to send a cover letter without a contact name How to send a cover letter without a contact name A client recently emailed asking how to send a cover letter to a prospective company when you don’t have a contact name. Since finding a name is highly preferred, here are three strategies to consider using as you put your sleuthing cap on: 1. Does the company have a website? Look up management teams or information about divisional leadership. Names can also be found in press releases or other media items. 2. Check the company out on LinkedIn and see if you can identify someone from there. 3. Place a call in to the company and ask. You’d be surprised! In some more tight-lipped companies, call in under the guise of mailing marketing materials to that individual and you need the proper spelling of their name. Whose name are you trying to identify in the first place? It’s best to identify a hiring manager title or the title of one level up from the ideal hiring manager. For a business development role, for example, the Director of Sales in a mid-sized company or the Chief Operations Officer in a smaller company. Avoid directing your resume to Director of Human Resources (unless of course, you are applying for a position within the HR department) as it can lead to your resume falling into a black hole. If all else fails and you are unable to identify a person by name, then use the title identified above in place of a proper name where you list the company address and then write the letter to the title as in Dear Director of Sales. This is much more preferable than using either the antiquated “Dear Sir or Madam” or the impersonal, form-letter sounding “To Whom It May Concern.”

Writing a Resume in Microsoft Word

Writing a Resume in Microsoft WordWhen writing a resume you are probably under a lot of pressure. You're trying to get a job and you really need to convince a potential employer that you are right for their business. One of the most common mistakes people make is putting a long resume on one page. The key is to break it up so it's easier to read.When writing a resume, how do I put lines across the whole page in Microsoft? How do I make my points really stand out? This article will teach you.If you are looking for a good resume template, I recommend taking a look at Microsoft Word. This is the number one way to format resumes.With Microsoft Word, it's as easy as dragging and dropping. At the top of the document you can put bold letters to highlight what you want to put across the whole page. Using bold and italics is a quick and easy way to break up your resume. You can also do this with other text on the page as well.There is a good layout that is easy to read and easy to use. You ca n put lines across the page and at the bottom of the page. If you have a long resume, or if you're just simply looking for a resume template, this layout will be perfect for you.If you do not want to write a resume with a good layout, you can still use them. In fact, if you are not interested in writing a resume at all, you can save yourself a lot of time by using one of these tools.This should help you take your resume from average to exceptional. Many people are under a lot of pressure to get a job, and they are using Microsoft Word and the right layout to show what they are really capable of.When writing a resume, how do I put lines across the whole page in Microsoft? With the right layout, and a little creativity, you can get a great resume that impresses any employer.