Attracting Productivity: Work Environments

Do you think of yourself as a productive person? Do you feel that you are happy at your job?

This has been on many people’s minds, since there are quite a lot of unhappy and disgruntled individuals who are just carrying on day after day at their job. They enjoy the career path that they’ve chosen, but still feel that they are not satisfied enough.

There are many reasons for this, such as not enough money, a crumby boss or a negative work environment. But trying to find your dream job can be possible. You just have to keep looking until you find yours! I found mine, but took quite a few jobs before this to get to where I was and a few thousand applications and faxing resumes later.

The point of this is that a person that usually is productive won’t be in a job that doesn’t satisfy them completely. Remember, money isn’t everything. I used to think this, until I got a big, fat raise at one of my previous jobs and realized 1 ½ years later, “Oh boy! What have I done? I need to quit!” I haven’t been happier in my life since I left. I also realized that my current job doesn’t provide as large of a raise as my previous one, but gives great benefits and a wonderful pension. The work environment is great and I have an amazing boss.

People that are content with their work will be more productive. Many studies have shown this.

If you feel that you aren’t in the “right job for you”, start thinking about what you really want to do and what type of environment you want to work in. There are also some links on the sidebar you can use to find some jobs, if you are searching or are interested in just taking a peek.

What are your thoughts on the connection between productivity and a healthy work environment?

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Administrative Jobs Decreasing?

Have you noticed that Administrative jobs have been more and more difficult to find? Have you been laid off in the last few years?

The bad news:

Administrative jobs have been decreasing over the past two years. I would gather that the reason behind this would be that the economy started to slow down, especially because of the US economy. Since we are the US’ main trading partner for almost everything, with the exception of China, we rely heavily on their economy to be strong and vice versa.

The good news:

As you can see by the graph below, the economy has been slowly shifting upwards and Administrative jobs have been taking an upswing along with it. It’s interesting to see that even with these types of jobs, people can be affected quite severely. You would think that higher paying jobs would be the first ones to go, since companies would be losing more money by keeping the executives on board.

You can find Administrative jobs in your area here.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

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Get A Job With A Thank You Letter

Did you just get out of an interview? Did you attend a few recently? Do you really want to get one of the jobs that you just applied for?

One of the simplest things you can do to help the manager of your dream firm decide if you are right for the job, is to send them a Thank You letter after the interview. Of course, you have to present yourself well, answer the interview questions properly, have the skills and knowledge of the position you are applying for and a few other factors that help you get the job.

But you would be surprised that a simple Thank You letter can win over the hiring manager. It shows that you are eager to help the firm grow by showing initiative and productivity. This is how I was able to get one of my past jobs.

The hiring manager told me that he was debating between hiring me and another person. We both had similar skills, education, etc. The only thing that helped me get the job was sending the Thank You letter.

Here's a sample Thank You letter that you can use to get that dream job you have been waiting for:

Your Name

Your Address

Your City, Province, Postal Code

Your Phone Number

Your Email

Date

Name

Title

Organization

Address

City, Province, Postal Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me about the Position Applied For with XXX Company. I appreciate your time and consideration in interviewing me for this position.

After speaking with you and the group, I believe that I would be a perfect candidate for this position, offering the quick learning and adaptability that is needed for a diversified position.

In addition to my enthusiasm for performing well, I would bring the technical and analytical skills necessary to get the job done.

I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you once the final decisions are made regarding this position.

Please feel free to contact me at anytime if further information is needed. My phone number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Your Typed Name

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Why be an Assistant When You Can be More?

One of my readers, Kristina, asked a question of how to let interviewers know that you want to be an assistant, even knowing that you have experience in higher positions.

 

Here’s what she wrote?

 

I'm searching for a job as an administrative/executive assistant. I have about 6 years experience as an assistant.  While supporting myself as an assistant I went back to school in the evenings for a 3 year program to be an interior designer and worked as a designer for about 6 years. I then went to a sales assistant position selling lighting to designers/architects and then moved to a job as project manager for a general contractor. This last job as a project manager has only been for about 6 months. It is very stressful and does not give me any free time.

 

My significant other and I have plans to start our own business one day. This means that I need my evenings and weekends free to pursue that avenue. My current job does not give me much free time or energy to fully utilize any free time I do get.  We understand that it can take years to get something off the ground, that can support us 100% without the need for a "full-time job" to sustain us.

 

Personally I love to organize, help others stay organized and I was great as an assistant.  I have the necessary computer skills, people skills etc. to be an assistant, perhaps even an executive assistant. I know that some good executive assistant jobs pay up to 60K a year.

 

So, to make my long story a bit shorter, my question is this: when applying for a job as an executive assistant and the interviewer asks me, "Why be an assistant when you have this type of background?  Why don't you pursue another interior design or project manager position?"  How do I explain this abrupt change in career choice without making it sound like, "I want a job that I can leave at the end of the day so I can go home and focus on my side business?"  How do I say, “I like being someone’s assistant, like keeping them focused, organized and running efficiently" without sounding like I'm taking a step backwards in my life's goals?

 

Even my boyfriend doesn't understand the appeal of being someone’s assistant. I don't see it as a step down at all.  I got real satisfaction when helping others and supporting them in their jobs. I just don't know how to explain this to anyone without sounding like a phoney.

  

My response to this was:

 

I actually was in this same predicament when I found my current job about 2 1/2 years ago.  I worked mainly in the financial field and was thinking about becoming an Investment Advisor.  I even completed my Canadian Securities Course, which was the first step towards this.

 

Half way through my course, I started to think to myself, "Is this what I really want to do with the rest of my life?"  The answer just sprung on me.  I was happy with being an Investment Advisor Assistant and really preferred the role of "Administrative Assistant" rather than being the advisor.

 

When I went to the interview of my current job, they asked me the same question.  I responded with:

 

I understand that I have been in parts of my career where I was in higher ranking positions.  I thought about what I truly want to do in my life and have realized that money isn't everything - happiness is.  What truly makes me happy is being able to help others and coming to work knowing that each day will be different, since there are always different tasks given to me from various people.

 Keep in mind that at this point, I was going to work for a staff of about 30, which included 6 managers.

 

This helped me win them over!

 

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Fight or Flight? Dealing with a Difficult Colleague!

Have you had or are in a situation where your colleague is making your life miserable? I have been in these types of jobs a few times in the past and let me tell you, it’s no laughing matter.

 

A reader recently asked me this question:

 

Saw your web page and felt that I want your take on my situation.

First of all I've worked for an organization as an admin asst for years and during this time I have seen many co-workers leave and have had to put up with a lot.  Currently there is a clerical staff person, sitting in a cubicle right across from me who has made my daily work experience miserable.  She has been here a little over 1 1/2 years and has recently been promoted to an Administrative Assistant.

 

This is a typical work day for her:

• She comes in late EVERYDAY (not just a few minutes, but 15-25 minutes with an excuse for WHY she's late - traffic - and she lives 10 minutes away).
• Then she spends at least the first hour discussing what she did the day before at home; cooking, cleaning, shopping, gossiping, what ever she did after she left work.
• Next she starts complaining about people around her, her friends, her spouse’s friends, kids, etc.
• Now it's time to begin the process of gossiping about co-workers, belittling co-workers, making snide comments about other staff.
• Then it's time to leave for lunch - a one hour lunch usually turns in to an hour and 15-20 minute lunch (usually with another person).
• Now that she's back from lunch then it's time to complain about the co-worker she had lunch with that day.
• As the clock ticks away, getting closer to quitting time, she decides to get busy and then claims overtime (when she mostly stands around and gossip after quitting time).

She is also the type of person who is "over friendly" face to face, but does not hesitate to tear that person apart once they have left the area.

 

I had voiced my concerns and complaints about her to HR, my supervisor, etc, and was told that there is nothing they can do about her. So I've had to bite my tongue, try to "tune" her out and do my job.

 

Really she makes my work day miserable and yet is rewarded for her bad behaviour, chronic tardiness and gossiping.  It amazes me why some people get away with this behaviour and others are penalized for it.

 

My response to this was:

 

Wow!  This really sounds like the type of colleague you don't want to have.  Well, here's my take on it:

1. Have you tried to talk to her directly about what has been going on?  This sometimes helps the situation, since they might not be aware of it (believe it or not).
2. You mentioned that you've spoken to your supervisor, HR, etc.  Did you take it up each level all the way to the top?
3. If all else fails, you might want to start considering what type of work environment you are in.  If the management at your organization doesn't care about what's going on, is this really a place that you want to be at? 

You can also check out an article I wrote on "4 Ways to Cope with Difficult Colleagues"

 

I hope that I've at least shed some light on your situation and hope that things can get resolved one way or another.  Don't drive yourself nuts about these things.  Life's too short to stress out!

 

If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to comment!

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Looking for a Job? Network with Personal Business Cards!

Are you in the process of finding a job? Do you want to expand your own small business or even a blog?

 

Networking has been one of the greatest tools for these types of opportunities. You meet someone in an elevator, start chatting for a bit and realize that they work for a large company and have hiring authority there. You can now pass on your personalized business card so they can contact you for an interview. What luck!

 

It's actually quite simple to create a personalized business card for networking purposes. Just drop by your local print shop or even a Staples/Business Depot and they can print some up for you for a small fee. But remember, this small fee will get you the job that you have been searching for.  Think of it as a resume that you can stuff in your pocket without getting it crumpled.

 

Just remember to include the following information on it:
 

• Full Name 

• Address 

• Phone/Fax/Cell Numbers 

• E-mail Address 

Also, make sure to follow up on any people that you meet with. This will definitely show them that you are serious about getting the job they are offering.

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Top Reasons for Working in Large and Small Companies

Do you work in a large company? A small company? Do you find that you prefer one over the other?

 

I have worked in several jobs where the firms were large and small. I personally have a preference for larger corporations, but do like the feel of a smaller business.

 

Here are my top reasons for working in each type of company.

 

Small Firm:

 

• You have more of a “second home” type of feel. 

• Your co-workers are more friendly, since you are more closely knit with each other. 

• It’s considered a more family friendly environment. 

• You get to have more one-on-one contact with your clients. 

• You can voice your opinion more so, since there are few executive personnel. 

Large Firms:

 

• Your job is more stable, since there are more funds reserved, due to larger profits. 

• You have access to more resources, such as better technology and online learning (which is usually provided by the company). 

• You are more options to stay within the firm, but to branch out to other jobs. 

• You can travel more, whether it be to visit clients locally or internationally. 

• Leadership potential is quite different, since you can move up within the company quite quickly, as opposed to a smaller firm, where it might be family run. 

No matter which type of firm you choose, make sure that it’s a perfect fit for you and your employer. You don’t want to end up looking for another job. Trust me, it can be very stressful!

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Cultural Differences in Jobs Around The World

Cultures and laws in different countries can vary quite largely. Here in North America, we have to abide by laws that do not discriminate against age, gender, race, etc. On the other hand, other parts of the world have different laws, where they do allow for this.

I recently saw an ad for a Male Office Assistant and Female Receptionist to work in Pakistan. I'm not familiar with the laws of that particular country, but this comes to show how diverse our world really is. I have created a screenshot of the ad, since the job will be filled and the website will no longer represent it:

I live in Canada, where cultural diversity is very strong, but still has certain rules and regulations that does not discriminate against certain criteria for hiring a person. I believe that as long as the person is qualified to do the job, they should be hired.

I understand that there are cultural differences, which varies from country to country. It just shows how differently businesses run around the world. Just some food for thought.

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Would You Relocate to Avoid Traffic Jams?

Do you find yourself getting stuck in traffic each morning and afternoon? Do you feel that people should relocate to a closer home or find a new job?

Here's an interesting article I found about how most employees would rather get stuck in traffic jams rather than relocate to a new home or job.

Most people would rather commute for a longer period of time due to family reasons. I personally would prefer the same, since I've moved around to 9 different homes, within 3 different countries.

Here's another article on working too much:

• Working to Live or Living to Work?

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Worried About Your Online Resume?

Are you worried about online identity theft online? Do you worry about your current employer finding out that you are looking for a new job?

Resume Rabbit will make all of this disappear. You can post up to 80 different job sites, such as Workopolis, Monster, CareerBuilder and many more, just with one submission. You have the option of keeping your identity confidential or if the particular job site doesn’t allow for this, Resume Rabbit will replace your personal information with something that’s not identifiable.

It only costs $59.99 USD, but is a one time fee and won’t have to pay for monthly charges like other sites make you.

So if you are in the market for a new job, a new career or just want to get away from your current boss (due to reasons of your own, which I won’t try to guess here), try out this site and make it work for you.

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The 4 Most Difficult Interview Questions

Are you going in for an interview for that dream job? Are you just looking for a job that can tie you over until you find that dream job?

Here are 4 of the most difficult interview questions that companies will ask and ways to tackle them:

1. Where do you see yourself in X number of years? Talk about what you feel is important to you in a professional manner and describe how you will meet these goals.

2. Why should we hire you? Discuss your skill set, experience and abilities in a confident manner.

3. If you get a question that doesn't relate to the job that you're applying for, this type of question is related to how well you work under pressure. Try to relay this type of question to some part of your past jobs.

4. What kind of salary are you looking for? Try to give a range, never give a fixed figure. At least with this, you have some wiggle room. Another suggestion is to find out the salary range that was posted for this job and use that.

Follow these simple four steps and you will find that you will pass these interviews with flying colours.

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Can't Find a Job?

Are you in the process of looking for a job? Do you need some helpful tips on how to get that dream job that you always wanted?

I actually had a short period in my career when I was unemployed. It was a difficult 6 months, especially near the end, when I kept thinking that no one wants to hire me. When I least expected it, the skies opened up and a job fell in my lap. It wasn’t the greatest job in the world (that's the one that I'm in now), but it made me realize that you have to take what you can get and build on that.

Here are 3 simple search tips that you can follow to get you through the rough patches:

1. If you feel stuck, as for help! You'd be surprised of how many people in your network are willing and able to help out. Ask them what they’ve done to get through their slumps.


2. If things change, roll with the punches. Change is inevitable. Try to make it work for you by adapting your attitude to a positive one. Keep in mind that things are not always going to be pleasant, but you will come out positive in the end. Keep trying and you will succeed!


3. Create a plan for yourself. Make sure to reward yourself with any new ground that you break, even if it's the smallest victory. You will realize that baby steps are the key to getting a job.

If you ever feel discouraged, just remember that there have been and are people out there just like you right now. You have to make yourself shine through the crowd.

Here are some more articles on job seeking tips. Check them out and see what else you can learn!

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Want to Write Office Trend Articles?

Would you like to voice your opinion? Do you like to write and make a name for yourself?

I am looking for anyone that is interested in getting work recognized and would like to guest post on my blog.

If this sounds like you, send me an e-mail and let me know if there are any topics in particular you would like to write about. If you already have something drafted up, send me an e-mail. You will get full credit for your work and a link to your website/blog.

In contrast, if you have a website/blog that you would like me to write some guest posts on, please let me know. You can review my work and tweak it as you wish, as long as you include a link to my blog. It’s a win-win situation!

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Main Job Priority - Poll

The first voting poll for this site has been completed. Here are the details:

Money was the number one reason of what people's main priority.

Other factors came in second, vacation time was third and no none was interested in benefits.

Benefits should actually be one of the more important aspects of work, second to money (of course). The reason behind this is that if you don't have your health, you won't be able to work. You can find more information on a recent post about insurance benefits through work.

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to click on the "comments" link below and leave some feedback.

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Former Colleagues - Good or Bad Contact?

Do you try to remain friends with colleagues that either resigned or got laid off? Do you think there would be tension between both of you?

This can be a touchy subject to delve into, since it really depends on you. You can remain friends or acquaintances if you wish, with that person, since it's a good idea to keep the contact going for networking purposes. Some of the great ways of doing this is using these sites:

• Facebook
• MySpace
• LinkedIn

If you are ever looking for a favour (provided that you kept your relationship on a positive level), they would be able to help out and vice versa.

Also, if you have common interests that are based outside of the workplace, there might be a chance that your friendship could continue.

On the other hand, if the person's relationship with your company was on a negative note, don't be surprised if they don't keep in contact with you. You might try to do this for a short period of time, but eventually, the relationship will dwindle away.

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to click on the "comments" link below and leave some feedback.

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Strangest Job Interview Pitches

Here is an interesting article that I found on the net about the strangest job interview pitches.

It basically talks about odd things that people have said in an interview that are quite different than what you would think of. Some of the comments mentioned here are quite funny. Just remember not to say any of these things mentioned.

Hope you enjoy a little laugh from this post.

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to click on the "comments" link below and leave some feedback.

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Want Your Resume to Stand Out?

Do you want to stand out in the crowd of resumes that get sent to millions and millions of firms? Do you send your resume to firm after firm, and get no response for most of them?

Here's a little tip on how to get your resume in front of the person you are sending it to. Fax it!

Most resumes get deleted if they are e-mailed, since most firms don't have the time to look at each one independently. If it's faxed, there is a more likely chance of it being delivered to the person that it's addressed to, since people who are in charge of faxes usually just deliver it directly to the recipient.

At this point, the person is, in a way, forced to look at what is given to them and will notice that they have your resume in front of them. They might glance at it or read it thoroughly. The end result is that it go in front of the person's eyes that you were sending it to.

So next time you want to take short cuts with e-mail, fax your resume instead, to make a point!

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to click on the "comments" link below and leave some feedback.

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Is Your Resume Truthful?

Have you ever lied on your resume? Here's an article that I recently found that would make you think twice about fibbing on your work experiences.

Even small businesses are jumping on the bandwagon to get information on what skills you have acquired, not just large corporations.

So next time you think you will get that job that you really want, make sure that you are honest with yourself and your resume.

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to click on the "comments" link below and leave some feedback.

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