Using Your Wardrobe as a Weapon in the Workplace

Using Your Wardrobe as a Weapon in the Workplace When colleagues are being laid off and promotions are scarce; when the office environment is cut-throat and competitive; or when you’re stuck in a rut under an incompetent manager and feel like your hands are tied, what you choose to wear to work can actually be used as your greatest weapon. The energy that you put into creating your daily ensemble can and will come back to work for you â€" but it’s your choice as to what you would like your office attire to accomplish. Is it a new client or a pay raise, more attention from your boss or more respect from your superiors? Then try using your arsenal of clothing and accessories to speak on your behalf. photo credit: Mista.Boos Assert your dominance Fashion is not just a basic necessity; it’s an accessory that acts as a symbol of status and power. What you wear reflects how you view yourself, and that in turn acts as a direction for how others should view you. If you march into the office in ballet flats or nice sandals, it is assumed that you do what is expected of you. If you strut through in a pair of kitten heels or sensible pumps like these, you’ve transformed suddenly into an imposing force that stands a few inches taller with straighter posture; a business professional to be reckoned with. The same goes for men â€" a department store suit quietly explains that you know your place on the corporate ladder. However, a man with a well-tailored suit exclaims that he not only knows what he’s doing in this business, but where he plans to go from there. Stand out from the crowd Especially when your office dress code differs from what you would otherwise choose to wear, it is important to fully utilize your ensemble to reflect not just your business title and industry, but your personality. An easy way to do this is through accessories: stunning jewelry or a simple scarf will breathe new life into your ensembles, and having a few watches to choose from, like affordable options from Invicta found here, will ensure that you look both sophisticated and stylish. On the same note, formal attire does not have to be straight-laced and boring to look polished and professional. Discover an interesting cut, style or color for your suits, and mix up your palate with skirts and dresses or bold patterned button-ups often. However, avoid colors that are characteristically seen as being overly youthful, like pinks, pastels or harsh neon tones. Be taken seriously When it comes to your career, there is no greater asset than the mindfulness of your own self-worth. It gives clout to your relationships, propels you to greater problem-solving and risk-taking opportunities, and gives you the confidence to ask (or even demand) for what you want. It so happens that the easiest way to express that consciousness is through how you present yourself. When you take the time to put together a crisp, clean, and attention-grabbing ensemble, it shows. Colleagues will see that you don’t just meet deadlines and wrangle up important clients and transactions â€" you wake up early to select the perfect outfit and also manage to get enough sleep (so says your flawless complexion). It implies that you have the time to shop for the latest fashions, and leave after a successful day at the office for a drink or date. Putting real effort into your appearance announces that you are a multi-faceted individual, not a clock-punching office snooze, and have a lot to offer both in and outside of the workroom. Control emotions with color psychology Carrying arms is not part of the dress code.Photo credit: Dunechaser You’ve likely heard that different colored hues can affect your emotion and mood; why not use this information to your advantage in the workplace? If you want to be seen as authoritative, interject more black into your wardrobe. To encourage conversation with others and be seen as outgoing, orange’s natural gregariousness will be helpful. Wear red to appear more proactive and energized â€" but not when you’re looking to make negotiations or are faced with a confrontation, as you’ll risk coming off as overly aggressive. Instead, in those situations that require you to gain the trust of others, sport blue, a pigment we innately associate with loyalty and stability. Do a bit of research to find out what the colors you wear say about you, and how you can use that knowledge to your advantage. If you want to modify your character to be seen as someone who is approachable, truthful, calm and collected, or well-appointed, there’s a perfect color for it. Fashion is not only a means for expressing who you are, but it’s an invaluable tool to use in getting what you want. As they say for interviews, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have”; the same can be said at all points during your career. Select an ensemble that speaks to how you want to be perceived, and so long as you are dressed appropriately and professionally, it will always work in your favor. 10

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Quit a Job Properly

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Quit a Job Properly No one talks much these days about quitting a job. After all, with an unemployment rate heading towards 10 percent, most of the focus has been on how to get a job and keep a job.Still, you know that if a great opportunity came along, you might jump at it. It could be because it offered more money, but it also might be because you felt it gives you a chance to do something you feel passionate about, or perhaps because you feel it's a more stable position. Whatever the reason, it's more important than ever that you make sure you make a stellar exit.Keep in mind that how you leave a position is often how you are remembered most by colleagues and your boss. And, as we all know, the world is often a small one so quitting a job poorly may come back to haunt you for years to come, perhaps even adversely affecting other job opportunities. This lesson, unfortunately, is one that many people in this job market have not come to understand until it's too late.So, how do you leave a job properly and make such a good impression on co-workers and the boss that they will have nothing but positive things to say about you? You need to: Prepare. Before you tell the boss, understand your companys policy about employees who quit. Some require you to be removed immediately. If this is the case, make sure you have all your personal files removed from your computer and have cleared away any questionable material from your desk. Make it legal. Your resignation letter to your boss should be professional (no sarcasm, hateful comments, etc.) and state clearly your intentions. Include: the date the letter is written, your official last day (two weeks is the common courtesy) and your legal name, along with your signature. This is the letter that will go in your personnel file so theres no need to be long-winded. If you cant think of anything nice to say, think Richard Nixon. He resigned in just seven words, but we all got the point quite clearly. Practice. Rehearse what you plan to say to co-workers and the boss when you decide to quit. Make sure you dont make any disparaging comments about the business, or say something like how not working with such losers anymore will be so nice. Also, dont offer too much information about your future plans, since its not good form to talk about all the exciting opportunities that await you and how youre going to be making loads of money and working with great people, blah, blah, blah. None of that helps your boss or your co-workers, and just makes them sort of, well, hate you. Be a pro until the end. Dont start slacking off on your duties. In fact, you might have to put in some extra time getting files in order; briefing others where you stand on projects; informing your customers who to contact after you leave; leaving notes on where to find information that will be needed; and meeting with the boss to let him know youre trying to dot all the is and cross all the ts before you leave. And, for goodness sake, dont take your depart ure as a sign to start loading up the backpack with goodies from the supply cabinet. Be absolutely sure you dont take anything that doesnt belong to you, not even a pencil. Check at home to make sure you dont have any company property, and if you do, return it promptly. Exit gracefully. If you have an exit interview, dont use it as a chance to vent any hard feelings. Again, this will get back to the boss, and sink your reputation in his eyes and in others. Remember, bosses talk to other bosses, and human resource people talk to other human resource people. Being seen as difficult and vengeful and taking potshots on your way out the door will not help your career. Also, remember that if you criticize a co-worker today, that same person may just turn out to be a future boss tomorrow. Leaving with a firm handshake and a smile will serve you well in the long run.What are some other ways to make sure your exit is a professional one?Social Bookmarking

Why Hiring Managers Screen Your Calls

Why Hiring Managers Screen Your Calls **Disclaimer: this post is probably an unfair mass generalisation of all hiring managers, based on one or two isolated and extremely annoying experiences.** Considering agency recruiters  have been  brought in to fill their urgent roles  as quick as  yesterday, hiring managers can make doing your job  particularly difficult at times. They cancel interviews last minute, go on leave without notice, erratically change their minds and feedback less  than an acoustic guitar. Most annoyingly, they screen your calls. You might get lucky with the odd email reply, but they just wont pick up their darn  phone. I guess its worth remembering  that hiring managers are normal  people who have day jobs to crack on with and bosses to answer to. They probably die inside when they hear their alarm clock in the morning. They have annoying colleagues, are  frustrated by unrealistic deadlines  and occasionally think about quitting just like the rest of us. Sure,  they  might  somehow inherit the hiring manager title by default, but it doesnt automatically mean they get what it will take  to  secure them new  talent. Is it only them with a major commitment issue? Perhaps not maybe theres something youre doing thats annoying them?  Instead of banging your head against the wall screamingWhat the hell?? when they bump your call, perhaps its worth hazarding a guess as to  why they dont want  to talk. Youre one of  a million Your mum and maybe even your boss will tell you youre one in a million,  but when it comes to  recruitment as a competitive industry, youre often one of a huge bunch. Their phone is constantly ringing off its hook (doesnt havent the same effect given cordless technology) and they just need to focus on their day jobs. HR is on their case Especially in large, heavily regulated organisations, the HR function is supposed to be the middle man between agencies and the business. That means keeping hiring managers and recruiters at arms length from each other. Fearful of losing their headcount or getting a slap on the wrist for giving away too much information, hiring managers will often refer all correspondence to HR to be on the safe side. Its likely  theyve been burnt before You keep asking the same thing For whatever reason, they think they know what youre calling about and dont want to deal with it.  It could be for a number of reasons, but  either they have the information you are looking for and cant/dont want to tell you, or they actually dont have an update for you and theyre sick of saying it. Theres only so many times they can say the same thing, even when youve got a candidate waiting on them to make a decision. You take too long to get to your point Hiring managers know that when you  get on the phone, you spend way too long going through the niceties and small talk,  delaying  asking the questions you really want to know the answer to. They know youre trying to be their friend, but not because you actually want to be their friend, but because being their friend will benefit  your business. They might just prefer to keep business as business. Theyre too busy They bump everyones calls,  not just yours. It might help your self esteem knowing they dont just hate you and only you,  but it doesnt make it any less frustrating. Some people just like working over emails. They  need to have  something  in writing in order to  drag  it into their to do folder before actioning it. You call at the wrong time Every time you call, theyre either running to a meeting, in a meeting or planning for one. Or theyre  on lunch, about to pack up for the day or busy responding to morning deadlines. Hiring managers do have full on jobs to do, and their calendars dont always stop for recruitment. Where to now? To overcome a hiring manager who bumps your calls, try using short, friendly and to-the-point emails. If that doesnt work, re-route through your HR contacts and keep trying its all you can do! Image: Shutterstock

Resume Writing Service - Writing a Resume For Yourself

Resume Writing Service - Writing a Resume For YourselfWriting a resume is one of the most critical parts of the job search process. Unless you are doing something very interesting and you know that your resume will land you an interview call, then you need to understand the importance of resume writing.This is especially true for positions in which you will be looking for a great recruiter to help you get your foot in the door of the company. So how do you go about writing a resume to fit the needs of your prospective employer?The first thing to keep in mind when you are planning your resume is that this is a good part of the job search. A resume should have all of the information you need so that your prospective employer can make a good decision about your skills, abilities, and qualifications for the position.If you don't think your resume is doing the job of pointing out all of the qualities you have that would make you an ideal candidate for the job, then you should continue rea ding. You can use resume writing as a tool to make a better impression on an employer, but only if you are aware of what you are doing and what to include in your resume.In the past, people were allowed to add as much information as they wanted to in their resumes. They were not limited as to how much they could add to the resume as long as it made sense to the employer. As time passed, the demands on the resume grew and the employers were able to demand more information on the resume of every applicant.This drove people to find a way to communicate with the employer so that they understood how the material in their resume was related to the job opening, especially if it was written by a resume writer. Resume writers and recruiters realized that they needed to create an outline of their resume so that the employer would understand exactly what was needed to be included. This approach helped to eliminate a lot of filler from resumes.It is common practice to offer examples of resumes in the footer of the resume. While this is not required, it can really help to give a prospective employer an idea of what the resume is all about. There are many websites that offer sample resumes and examples that can be used for an outline of the resume.The next step to creating a resume is to include a resume writing service that offers resume writing explanation and assistance. The resume writing service will help you build your resume from the ground up, offering advice and showing you how to construct it the right way so that it looks the best to the potential employer. With the tips and guidelines offered by this type of resume writing service, you can take a first draft and turn it into a comprehensive, well-written resume that will stand out as the best representation of you as a candidate.

Video What to do After a Networking Event

Video What to do After a Networking Event What to do After a Networking Event I hope many of you are going to face-to-face network events as part of your job search. Im Dana Manciagli, author of Cut the Crap, Get a Job! Drive the Follow Up Process with Precision: the A,B,Cs: a. When you get home: Open up your computer and do the following: i. Start an Outlook Contact group with a color-code called X Industry Event_(date) ii. Enter every person you met, even if you just got their e-mail address. iii. In the notes section of the contact, write down the date you met them, the event name and anything about the conversation you remember. b. The next day: i. Send an individual, personal e-mail to the people you met. The first sentence should reference the event the night before. It was a pleasure meeting you at the X Industry Event last night. I was the one who shared my goal of securing a senior buyer position at Nordstrom or Macys here in Seattle. Additionally, I offered to help you with _____. ii. Ask for the next step. May I set up a phone call or meeting with you to ask you some additional questions that may help me secure my dream job? Here are three options of times so you can just reply back with one that is most convenient for you. (List 3 half-hour slots in the next 2-5 days: one on the next day, one the day after, one the day after that). Or, feel free to select another block of time and I will move things around to call you. c. Once you secure a time from them, send them a meeting request via Outlook to lock it in. Put Jack Jones connecting with Ms. Jackson in the subject and cut and paste your entire e-mail conversation in the body of the e-mail. Always put your cell in case they have to move the meeting.

Hottest Jobs, Highest Paying Companies and Fastest Growing Industries in 2016

Hottest Jobs, Highest Paying Companies and Fastest Growing Industries in 2016 Hottest Jobs, Highest Paying Companies and Fastest Growing Industries in 2016 Hottest Jobs, Highest Paying Companies and Fastest Growing Industries in 2016 February 13, 2016 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas 1 Comment Wow, Im so thrilled!  I just received some really exciting news!  Arriana Huffington sent me a personal note inviting me to be a Huffington Post career columnist so Im writing to share with you my recently published article, Hottest Jobs, Highest Paying Companies and Fastest Growing Industries of 2016. Daydreaming of a new job? With the unemployment rate hovering at 5 percent, and companies hiring an average of 284,000 employees per month over the past 3 months (the best 3-month pace in a year) there couldnt be a better time to shoot for the moon and land your dream job. But what if youre not certain what that dream job is? For a little help, check out US News Moneys 100 Best Jobs list based on employment opportunity, salary, work/life balance and job security, and Forbes list of 10 Toughest Jobs to Fill for 2016 for jobs that are in high-demand and have have less competition, higher salaries and more market demand. If your niche is banking or finance, then you may want to check out Wall Streets 10 Most In-Demand Jobs for 2016 published by Bloomberg Business. Which jobs are trending in 2016? I love Glassdoors current trends web page which allows you to view hot trends by location, industry and job title. Also, this special report by US News Money, 5 Trends for Job Seekers in 2016 provides some excellent tips to help you get your foot in the door including how to best leverage a talent community in your niche. Want a beefier paycheck? Then check out 30 Highest Paying Jobs in America by Business Insider which features data compiled by the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates survey. Ka-ching! Click here to read my full article on Huffington Post

How to Avoid Your Plan B Career (in 3 Easy Steps!) - When I Grow Up

How to Avoid Your Plan B Career (in 3 Easy Steps!) - When I Grow Up When youre getting ready to take the leap into being a full-time Woman of the World (aka entrepreneur), then coming up with a Plan B career (Id rather call it a stop-gap) is usually a comfort. But when you  are  a full-time Woman of the World, seriously thinking of having to fall back on Plan B can be really scary and disheartening. Click Play below to get 3 easy ways to avoid the Plan B career or get you back on track if youre getting close to pulling that emergency cord!  (And dont forget to check out the free/low-cost resources after the jump!) Some resources to help with these 3 steps: Mint  is a great (free!) resource to keep your eye on the money coming in and out of your business, and comes complete with right-brain friendly, colorful pie charts and graphs! Mailchimp  is an amazeballs newsletter provider that offers free accounts for up to 2,000 subscribers. Create a larger safety net pre-entrepreurial leap with my  Effective Escape workbook Do a search of  logo designers on Etsyor click around to the designers that speak to you thatre mentionedhere. Elance  is a great way to post what youre looking for and get bids back for the work Join  a community of other like-minded entrepreneurs  for brain trusts, support, and accountability. Put one together yourself, join a local  Meetup  group, or consider paid membership sites like the  Puttytribe  or  my Clubhouse.