Office etiquette fails Share your stories

Office etiquette fails Share your stories by Michael Cheary How we behave at work can speak volumes about who we areMaintaining a good relationship with our colleagues not only helps our morale and our work/life balance, but it can also positively impact our work. However, even with the best will in the world, we cant please all of the people all of the time.You might not even be aware of what youre doing, but theres a chance that some of your behaviour could be viewed in a negative way by your co-workers. And when you work in close proximity to each other, it doesnt take long for things to start boiling over.But rather than speculate about your own irritating idiosyncrasies (we dont know you, but you seem perfectly nice), we want you tell us about other peoples.So whether its your co-workers terrible timekeeping, sharing an office with someone who has the worst ringtone in the world, or the fact they completely ignore every e-mail youve ever sent, we want to hear yours.Share your office etiquette fails and frustrati ons* in the comments section below. Or, if you prefer, tweet them to @reedcouk.Need some inspiration?Here are some of ours (mentioning no names from the reed.co.uk office):(Smelly) food at the workstationDesk clutterLoud musicInappropriate dress (flip-flops/exposed midriffs etc.)Obvious lack of bathing/personal hygieneCoughing/sneezing/sniffling all over everyone (just go home already)Noticeable lack of pleases and thank yousThe office know-it-all*Keeping names/obscenities to a minimum Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

All Natural! Whole Grain! Buy Me, Please!

All Natural! Whole Grain! Buy Me, Please! By, Michelle Pfennighaus No matter where you do your shopping, youve probably noticed all sorts of health related claims on food packaging. At a northeast supermarket chain called Stop Shop theyve even started an in-store program called Healthy Ideas to make shopping for your family, wellbrainless. But I tend to think if it were that easy we probably wouldnt have a nationwide obesity epidemic. And heart disease wouldnt be our #1 killer. Marketers know we want to be healthy. They spend a lot of time and money investigating our motives and lifestyle. But their sole objective is, of course, making a profit. Before becoming involved in the health profession, I worked in advertising for 8 years. I can tell you that marketers do not have your best interests in mind when they label a product All Natural or Heart Healthy. For example the term All Natural has no actual definition regulated by the FDA. Any product can make that claim it means nothing. But it sure works on consumers looking for more natural foods. Heres what I say: Dont believe anything you read on packaged items except the ingredient lists. There are many loopholes in the rules about what can and cant be said about a product. Some fancy headlines or graphics can make even the worst products sound quite healthy! So, what should we be looking for? Try whole foods that are not heavily marketed. These are foods that dont necessarily make the food industry a big profit but are the most natural, for sure. They are available at your local grocery store but dont rely on advertisements, labels or in-store promotions to necessarily help you find them. Here are 5 tips for buying truly healthy, nourishing foods for you and your family: 1. Freshen up Buy fresh produce carrots, spinach, whatever you like to eat. All fresh veggies are naturally low in fat and calories. You dont need a label needed to tell you that! Favor organic or locally grown produce whenever possible. 2. Walk in circles Do most of your shopping around the perimeter of the store. Eggs, yogurt, breads and of course, fruits and veggies. The interior aisles are usually the ones with shelves full of processed food items you want to avoid. 3. Go whole or go home Find whole grains. Not just the words whole grain but the actual, intact grains in their natural state. Brown rice is a whole grain. So are quinoa, barley and oats. At some stores you can buy these in bulk for less than $1.50 per pound. These are much preferable to the processed whole grains you might find in packaged foods. 4. Bring your reading glasses Read the ingredient list on packaged items. See if you can pronounce and understand each of the items listed before purchasing. If not, ask your self, What is this stuff? If youve never heard of it, chances are it isnt as natural as the label claims. 5. Have a master plan Ever have trouble deciding what to buy? Before you go grocery shopping, make a meal plan and write a shopping list. When you have a plan you will be more focused and less likely to be attracted to fancy packaging or impulse buys. Heres a recipe you can easily make using whole, natural ingredients. These breakfast bars are perfect in the morning or as a mid-day snack. Youll save money on granola and power bars and get the nourishment you need: Easy Peasey Breakfast Bars 2 ripe bananas 1 cup unsalted nuts 1 cup sunflower seeds 1 cup rolled oats (not instant) 1 cup unsweetened, dried coconut 2 Tbl. pure maple syrup or honey 2 eggs cinnamon (optional: raisins or other dried fruit) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 1. In a food processor, spin nuts and seeds down to a powder. Add oats and coconut, blend. Finally add bananas and maple syrup or honey (and dried fruit, optional). 2. Mix in eggs. Blend well. 3. Pour mixture into greased pie plate. Sprinkle with cinnamon. 4. Bake for about 30 minutes. Let cool, then slice into bars. Note: For gluten-free, eliminate oats (which may be cross-contaminated with other grains) and replace with an additional cup of nuts or seeds. Michelle Pfennighaus is a holistic health counselor and registered yoga instructor based in Boston, MA. For many years she suffered from debilitating anxiety and digestive disorders until finally healing herself through changes in diet and lifestyle. Michelle received training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is registered through Yoga Alliance. Currently, she works with clients all over the country to improve their health and happiness. She also offers cooking classes and workshops for groups. To learn more about Michelle, visit her website FindYourBalanceHealth.com.

How International Headhunters Can Open Up New Markets

How International Headhunters Can Open Up New Markets The essence of any headhunting project is to take on a challenging assignment and find difficult to locate people. If it was easy the client would be able to source perfect candidates without outside assistance. Often Headhunters are brought in to locate specific individuals to open up new markets or territories abroad. In some cases organisations sell on a small scale to a new International client abroad and they realise that there is huge potential if only they had local presence. Alternatively it may be that you are noticing a spike in demand from a new region or you have adapted a solution that’s perfect for a certain location. Perhaps it’s part of your global sales strategy to broaden your horizons and look outside of your domestic market. Whatever the reason for your international expansion a good International Headhunter will add immeasurable value and guidance to your growth plans. By retaining an International Headhunter to find a seasoned expert who is a local to your target market you can achieve so much and ensure a positive outcome in quick time. Hiring someone you already know may not always be the best solution because you have no means of comparison and the relationship may come with strings attached. Engaging in a professional search assignment can bring people to the table that you would not normally have access to, especially if they are already working for the competition. International Headhunters can open up a whole new world in so many ways.   Firstly entering into an executive hiring process gives you a window to the market. You will be interviewing a cross section of the region’s best people who can tell you about their experiences, client relationships and successful projects. As part of the later stages of the interview format you could ask candidates to create a Business Development strategy to enter this new market based on their local knowledge and understanding of the region. They should already be familiar with the right contacts within your client base, have a network or channel in place and also know the language, cultural style and approach necessary to win business. This of course will be evident by the success they have already achieved and the key relationships they can demonstrate. The best candidates will be local experts who are likely to be nationals of the country and will know how to set up a legal entity and which suppliers and advisors can be trusted. They will have the necessary access to a local infrastructure and inroads to the clients you need. Also they may be aware of funding, grants, trade agreements and with the help of high profile contacts â€" they can make things happen.  Good Headhunters will be able to identify and attract these executives in International markets as long as you can create an interesting enough proposition. Why should a high flier risk their current comfortable position? Well great candidates love a new challenge and many won’t be able to resist the chance to develop a start-up office in their market. They are motivated by the opportunity to bring something new to their network and they will want the prestige of creating a success and having the chance to perhaps hire a team. Your challenge should be selecting one of the fantastic shortlisted experts to help grow your business internationally.   Author: Ed Robertson is a seasoned Marketing Manager writing about a range of topics covering executive search, employment and education. MSC Headhunters is a retained executive search firm serving corporations around the world.

Sports Journalism Masterclass University of Manchester Careers Blog

Sports Journalism Masterclass University of Manchester Careers Blog The Sport Business are running a Sports Journalism Masterclass in Manchester later this month.   A fantastic opportunity to meet journalists with careers in this area and to network with other journalists, and future journalists, with an interest in this area. The Sport Businesss message is in full below. “We can now confirm the dates for the Sports Journalism Masterclass as 25th March 2013. The session is to be run by Mark Ogden of The Daily Telegraph and Dominic McGuinness of TalkSport. The session will take place on the evening (1800 â€" 2100) of 25th March in Manchester and should be a really interesting and valuable class with both presenters bringing considerable experience working for national media outlets and covering the biggest events in world sport. If you are interested please check out our webpage http://www.thesportbusiness.co.uk/ or contact us via email at info@thesportbusiness.co.uk or alternatively give us a ring on 0161 969 2242.” All Media

Keys to Writing a Great Resume

Keys to Writing a Great ResumeAnyone who is planning on a job interview is likely to have a lot of questions about the keys to writing a great resume. You can find yourself in a strange situation, as you are unsure of how to write a good resume, or unsure of what a good resume should be.For most people who want to have a career in a field that requires a lot of work, they have to put in a lot of time and effort when it comes to a job search. It can be overwhelming when you just do not know where to start or what to focus on first.With the right resume you can not only get a job but you can also land the position. It is important to know that it is not enough to put together a good resume. It is important to have a great resume and one that reflects your qualifications.If you do not know what the keys to writing a great resume are you may want to read this article for different tips. This will help you narrow down what you need to do so that you can begin writing your resume to stand out from the rest.Writing a resume is not something that you can just do overnight. The first thing you need to do is to choose what type of job you are looking for. This can be a very helpful way to help you focus on what is important so that you can create a well thought out resume that is going to be effective in getting the employer to take you seriously.Once you have a unique idea of what type of job you are looking for, you need to be prepared for a lot of preparation. It will take time to research some more, and if you are new to applying for jobs then you will have to go back to the drawing board for a few times. If you follow the steps that are outlined below you will be able to begin writing a resume.The next step to writing a resume is to write the first section. In this first section you will include any education you have received that shows you have the necessary skills to successfully complete the job. Always include the school name and course number, so that it is cl ear that the information is relevant.After this you will then come back and add a cover letter that describes your goals for the job. At this point you should be ready to write a job summary. It should be brief and concise as this is where your employer will be going back to, so it should not get in the way of the job.

Comparing Careers 300+ Options to Consider for Finding Your Path - CareerAlley

Comparing Careers 300+ Options to Consider for Finding Your Path - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Determining a career path to pursue can be a very difficult decision. And while it can and will get stressful at times, you should cherish the fact that you have the opportunity to make these choices. But with these choices comes responsibility. That is why it is important to do your research to determine which career is right for you. Today, job seekers just starting out have the ability to weigh their career options with statistical data a method that was unseen in previous generations. No longer do you have to choose a career based on title alone. Key factors you should consider when researching careers include: Your skills and interests Career growth and stability Location Competition Salary Education requirements With a little help and a few strokes of the keyboard and a couple clicks of the mouse you can be on your way to learning about different career fields and finding the right one for you. Below is a helpful interactive chart from Rasmussen College where you can compare and learn more about more than 300 different careers fields worth pursuing. The careers are grouped into four categories: Top Performers, Elite Player, A Good Bet and A Matter of Taste. All data was collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Getting started is simple: Simply select your category of interest or start clicking the dots to learn more how the career fields compare against each other. You can also review the key factors to consider that will help you identify which career has both potential and interests you the most. Click image to open interactive version (via Rasmussen College). Just remember, at the end of the day choosing a career to pursue is going to be a gut decision. So whether you have yet to decide on a career path or are looking to make a career change, you can use this tool to narrow down your employment options for finding a new career path. This guest post was provided by Grant Tilus. Grant is an Inbound Marketer for Rasmussen College and writes about career related topics for business management and marketing degree professionals. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook

Stand Out in a Crowd During a Job Fair

Stand Out in a Crowd During a Job Fair I just returned from the Women for Hire Job Fair in New York City where I was offering free resume critiques. In the sea of women that attended the event, I spotted one man. While some of the participants seemed to be looking at this gentleman with a how did he get in here attitude, or at least a somewhat bemused fascination, I thought this man was brilliant. What better way to get noticed at a crowded job fair, than to be the only person with a certain differentiating characteristic (in this case, gender). He was, Im sure, one of the most memorable attendees at the event.There are a lot of other ways to differentiate yourself in a group. Technology professionals with a specialty in financial services applications can attend an industry event for a financial services professional organization. A human resources executive interested in media companies can attend a workshop relevant to media professionals. A recent college graduate with an interest in attending nursing school can atten d a healthcare related professional event. By being the only one in a given field at an event, you are more likely to be remembered.If you are seeking a position in accounting, dont just network with other accountants. Diversify your network to include people from other professions. If you are in your early 20s dont only socialize with other people in their 20s. Network with people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond. You never know who other people are connected to. Do you tend to associate with people from the same socioeconomic or ethnic background? Make a conscious effort to meet and network with people from a variety of backgrounds to expand your social circle and your potential opportunities.Dare to be different and you will be remembered. If you can remain top of mind with the people in your network, you are more likely to secure a new and better job faster.