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Use Your Resume to Help You Move up the Corporate Ladder

So, you’ve been working in the same position for several years and now feel the time is right to elevate your level of responsibility along with your title and salary. However, with this being your first time attempting to move into a more prominent role, you have no idea where to start.

Many people are in your position and also wonder what steps they should take to move up the corporate ladder. One thing you can do is stay on top of current trends and educational requirements in your field. But once you’ve fulfilled these tasks and are ready to apply for a job, you’ll need a great resume to get your foot in the door. Let’s look at some ways to create the right resume to match your accelerated career goals.

Try a Functional Resume Style

One recommended way to create a resume that appeals to higher-level recruiters and hiring managers is to shine a light on the skills you’ve acquired. You can get this done by using a functional resume format.

For example, if you were to use a functional format to describe your skills as an IT tech, instead of listing each job you’ve had year after year, you would focus on specific skills. By creating headings for each skill (ex. Software Development) you would be able to describe in detail all of the software you’ve developed for each company you’ve worked for. Using a functional resume in this way can help you expand on each skill you possess and show the employer your versatility as an employee.

Highlight Your Outside Achievements and Awards

Another great way to make your resume appeal to upper-level recruiters and hiring managers is by using a section to highlight anything you’ve achieved outside of your hired role. This works especially well if you focus on roles that have required you to act as a supervisor or manager of others.

For example, let’s say at your current company you have worked as a training coordinator for 5 years. However, in your spare time you founded and led a diversity awareness group that consisted of 10 volunteer employees. With this group, you used presentations and focus groups to demonstrate the need for diversity awareness in a work setting. By noting such a huge accomplishment on your resume, you show the hiring manager that you’re able to successfully develop and manage projects outside of your hired role.

Staying at Your Current Employer?

If you want to move up the corporate ladder while remaining at your current employer, it is a good idea to create a resume similar to one you would create for an outside employer. Why? Because it is very likely that the hiring manager won’t have any idea what you’ve accomplished on the job. But don’t feel bad about this duty as there are benefits to applying in-house, including being able to use respected employees for recommendations, and noting in-house training programs that are very relevant to the company.

Working your way up the corporate ladder can be an exciting ride – especially when you come equipped with the right tools. By showing up with a great resume and even better attitude, you’ll see in no time that your ride to the top will move smoother than you could ever imagine.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume writing services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com

The Next Time You See a Firefighter

Give him a kiss. Well, if you’re a man, a handshake will do. Think about it. You don’t call 911 unless you’re having a bad day. Unless it’s a law enforcement issue, you’ll be connected to the fire department and, whatever your problem, you’ll expect them to help you. Unless it’s something really stupid, in fact even if it is something really stupid, they will be on their way ASAP.

Firefighters have an amazing amount of training, an incredible range of skills, and a level of physical conditioning, which no one ever thinks about.

Twenty-five years ago, 80% of calls to the fire department were about fire. Today, approximately 10% are about fire and the rest are about health problems, traffic accidents, construction accidents, explosions, spills, trapped hikers, people in rivers. The list goes on and on.

The L.A. County Fire Department receives as many as 1,500 911 calls a day, and that excludes calls to L.A, City Fire. If you have fallen off your roof, cut off your finger, or spilled hot grease on yourself in the kitchen, you should hope a paramedic shows up (he will). If you are trapped in an automobile accident, you should hope they know how to use the Jaws of Life or a K2 Rotary Saw (they do). If you get zapped on a high power line, you should hope someone will know how to get you down (they will). If you are trapped in a structure fire, you should hope they understand what kind of fire it is (electrical, flammable liquid, gas, or just plain combustible materials), understand how to fight it, know where to cut ventilation holes, how to revive you, and how to keep you alive until medical help arrives (they do).

If you are being swept away in a flash flood, or have fallen down the side of a mountain, you should hope they know their ropes and knots and remember their rappelling skills (they do) and that they are not afraid to come after you (they are not). If a wildfire is coming to your neighborhood, you should hope they understand weather patterns, fuel models, humidity indices (they do) and that they are ready to be dropped from helicopters onto mountain sides to cut fire lines to stop the blaze (they are).

The physical demands are incredible. Full turnout gear and respirators can weigh 50 pounds. Try climbing up a two-story ladder wearing that. Try dragging an additional 50 pounds of (empty!) fire hose. Try holding onto a fire hose pumping 150 gallons per minute. Try carrying someone the size of a football player out of an inferno.

When firefighters ask, “How can I help you?” they really mean it. That’s how they get their kicks. This is a group of positive thinking, “can do” men (and a few women). When the tone sounds in the firehouse, it’s an opportunity to go out and get killed or injured. They don’t stop to consider whether they should respond, or to find someone else to handle the problem. When the tone sounds, they are on their way, that’s what “first-responder” means, and they will rely on all of their training and skills and physical endurance to help you. Need them at 2:00 in the afternoon? No problem. Need them at 2:00 in the morning? Still no problem. Cat up a tree? No problem.

Firefighters never stop training and learning and one of them could someday save you in one of a hundred different ways. For a firefighter it’s not a job, it’s a life. An old firefighter’s phrase says, “Let no firefighter’s ghost return to say his training let him down.”

Finally, just so you know, here’s the history of the Maltese Cross, which is the badge of a firefighter. When a group of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John fought the Saracens in the holy land, they were faced with a new weapon unknown in the West. When the Knights moved to the walls of Jerusalem, they were hit by glass bombs containing naphtha. The Saracens then dropped burning torches on them, burning them alive. The surviving Knights were awarded a cross similar to the ones worn by firefighters today. The Knights of St John lived on the island of Malta, and the cross became known as the Maltese Cross. Today it is our symbol of protection.

So, next time you see a firefighter, give him a kiss, or shake his hand.

Kurt Kamm writes novels about fires and firefighters. A resident of Malibu, he has lived through several wildland fires. He is a regular visitor at the fire camps, stations and training academies of L.A. County Fire Department and CalFire. To learn more about his novels, One Foot in the Black, and Red Flag Warning, visit Kurt Kamm.

Top Ten Things You Need to Know to Become a Celebrity Personal Assistant

When someone meets me for the first time, the top two questions I can guarantee I will be asked are: “What’s your celebrity really like?” and “What do you need to know to become a celebrity personal assistant?” If you have no interest in those questions, I want to meet you! Please email me. Let’s have lunch. (I digress.)

Seriously, dear reader, you and I know the obsession with celebrities and their assistants won’t be dying down anytime soon. So we might as well take a look at the skills needed to become a personal assistant. Having worked for almost ten years as an assistant, and having met and worked with many assistants for much longer than that, I believe you must have the following skills to make it:

1. A college education. This seems like a no-brainer but you’d be amazed how many kids right out of high school come to Hollywood or New York hoping to land a job as the right hand to a famous star, yet they have neither the life experience nor know-how required to represent a celebrity in the real world. College allows a student to experience many different ethnicities, age groups and philosophies during the course of a year.

2. A command of the English language. And if you are bi- or even tri-lingual that can be a huge advantage for you in the work place. I know the assistants to some very well known Spanish A-list actors and the assistants’ knowledge of Spanish has definitely been an added plus. You must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. All students out there take note. Those writing assignments you had to do in English 101 really will pay off at last.

3. The ability to listen and take direction. It may seem that I’m stating the obvious, but you’d be surprised how often a person given a series of tasks to complete has to ask again and again for direction. Listen and get it right the first time. If you truly missed one of the ten items on a list, ask another person in your work area (if that’s possible) for help. If that doesn’t work, read #5 on this list.

4. Know how to handle typical office equipment, ie, the computer, fax machine, copy machine, scanner and various types of communication devices, such as cell phones and Blackberries. The majority of assistants I know spend the majority of their time in a home office environment. Are you Bluetooth savvy?

5. The ability to laugh at yourself and not take things too seriously. Mistakes are a normal part of life, and you will make some mistakes in any job. But, what’s the worst thing that can happen if do make a mistake and you tell the truth? My advice is, if you do something wrong — break something, double-book an auditorium, or simply forget an item on the list — tell your employer immediately and ask for help to fix the situation.

6. The ability to take charge. Once you feel comfortable in your working environment, take the lead and complete tasks before they’re even asked of you! The more you can take command of your responsibilities, the easier your working relationship with the celebrity will become. They will begin to entrust you with more and more interesting work, not to mention letting you into their private lives. Both of you will see more of each other in a week than you see of your own friends and family in a month.

7. The ability to speak up for yourself. Ask for what you need and accept that you deserve it. I wouldn’t suggest asking for a raise when you’ve only been on the job for two weeks, but do let them know if you have something on your mind. I know an assistant who never established his working days with his celebrity. He just assumed it would be Mondays through Fridays, however at the end of his first Friday night at work, the celebrity said, “Great! See you tomorrow morning.” Not wanting to lose his job, the assistant showed up on Saturday and worked a full day. At the end of that day, the celebrity again said, “Great! See you tomorrow!” On a Sunday? This went on for a month before the assistant finally spoke up. Dear reader, promise me you won’t wait a month to speak up!

8. The ability to leave the job at the office. We need to play more and focus less on work! Start with a hobby or something that makes you happy and focus on that. I suggest starting small. Take a walk at lunchtime, or buy a magazine that you normally wouldn’t buy and read it cover to cover without interruption. Once you discover that the world isn’t crumbling around you because you took a few minutes off, then aim for higher rewards. This may seem like a minor irritation — to actually have to think about yourself and not work — but it’s very therapeutic to direct one’s attention to something other than work for a few minutes every day.

9.The ability to be discreet. The celebrity is always right, except when they aren’t, but your job will be to always profess in public your undying devotion to them and how fabulous they are. It might appear to be easier to learn a foreign language (see #2 above), but this is part of the job description for personal assistants. Of course if you observe something illegal or obviously unethical, such as illegal drug use, I assume you’ll get help handling that by bringing in the proper authorities. Asking people around the celebrity like the spouse, adult children, or business manager, to help is always a good idea. Don’t try to do anything on your own!

10. Have a support group. Nothing is more frustrating in the world of the celebrity personal assistant than to feel all alone. Once you begin working as a personal assistant, make friends with as many other assistants as you can. There are other people out there dealing with this unique job experience too. Network!

Oh, by the way, to answer the first question: “What’s your celebrity really like?” She’s fabulous!

Shelley G. Anderson is the personal assistant to self-help author Louise L. Hay, and writes the column Dear Miss Know It All. She is the author of Dealing With Divas: A Survivor’s Kit for the Celebrity Personal Assistant (or Anyone with a Pushy Boss). To learn more about her, visit Dealing with Divas.

Does Your Company Need an Accountant?

The world’s most successful companies have hundreds of accountants and chartered financial analysts working in their accounts departments. Isn’t that reason enough why your company needs an accountant too, if not an entire accounts team / department? Well, the answer is no. There’s more to it than just following the global business leaders. However, your company needs an accountant, and here’s why.

Your business runs with the motive to earn money, and you need to keep the cash flowing in and out to keep your business alive. A lot of transactions happen on a daily basis in your company. An accountant helps keep track of them all, even if the transaction was worth just a cent. Your earnings, savings, expenditure and other monetary transactions, and their details are recorded by an accountant. Hence, in order to know where your business would stand after a year, it’s advisable that you hire an accountant today.

While you might say that you’re good at accounting and/or have computer software to help manage company accounts, the big question is – is that what you specialize in? If you’re reading this page, then chances are high that you’re not. You sure know to manage and promote your business and its products / services well, but it becomes very difficult to keep track of all the transactions besides handling other business activities.

An accountant is an expert in dealing with money and recording what a company does with it. With that said, the accountant, or a chartered accountant, sometimes called a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)comes with sufficient knowledge of managing your company’s tax structure and liabilities. He will be in a better position to tell you which expenses can lead to more tax savings for the company and its employees; apart from advising you on whom to levy certain commercial taxes on, and in what circumstances.

Also, while making certain big purchases like commercial property or media time and space, an accountant will probably be in the best position to help you setup step-by-step procedures. You might want to pay fairly to your employees, but can your company afford it while it isn’t making enough profits? Not sure? Talk to your company’s accountant. He will help you fix a viable pay structure.

If your company hasn’t hit the breakeven point in business yet, an accountant, in coordination with a Finance Manager, can assist you in formulating financial time-lines, which will help you forecast (to a great extent) what you would be doing after a year.

If you can’t afford an accountant on a full time basis as an employee consider hiring an accounting firm. The firm can provide advice on an hourly basis. The per hour fee will be much higher than what you would pay an employee but you will only have to pay for a specified number of hours. The accounting firm can oversee your accounting system, answer questions, prepare your tax documents, and provide advice.

Interview the accountant or accounting firm so you’re comfortable with their experience level and personality. Check references and talk to previous clients. Hiring an accountant or accounting firm is an important step for your business.

Corey Landis contributes articles on business and Internet marketing, and credit card and debt management Find out more about accountants

Contingency Planning – Top Ten

However solid your business plan, there is no way to predict the future, but what you can do is to plan for unforeseen circumstances. There are a whole host of factors that can have a financial impact on a small business, and in times of economic uncertainty, it is a sad fact that many small businesses that encounter a major disaster never resume trading.

Steve Jennings from Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank has the following advice to help businesses to plan for the future to prevent the unpredictable from becoming the unmanageable:

1. Keep a business diary. New legislation can have a major impact on your margins, so make a note of dates when legislation or tax changes come into force so that you can prepare well ahead of important deadlines.

2. Market changes. Your market can change in a number of ways from new competitors through to changing initiatives within your industry. By keeping abreast of any changes you can make appropriate adjustments to your business plan, and prepare for the impact of any major market changes.

3. Monitor interest rates. Business banking interest rates can change quickly, and are announced on a monthly basis. A rise can have a big impact on your outgoings and income, so if you are borrowing money, look for a fixed rate, as this will allow you to budget more effectively.

4. Be prepared for disasters. Every business needs a continuity plan that outlines key members of staff along with specific tasks, this will allow a swift recovery and a quick return to normal business operations. If your business makes use of a computer system, off site storage and back ups should be incorporated into it to ensure that IT problems are minimized in the event of an emergency.

5. Reduce your outgoings. By looking at regular costs such as utilities and bank charges, you may well be able to find many savings. According to research, a UK small business can save around £3,500 each year on their banking costs by shopping around for the best possible deal.

6. Deal with bad debts. Late payments can be crippling, especially if they account for a large proportion of your business’ income, so credit check new customers, and dedicate some time each month to chase outstanding money.

7. Create a contingency fund. You need to have a financial buffer in the event of an emergency, so don’t leave surplus funds sitting unused. Set aside regular sums in a high-interest business deposit account. Interest earned on this money can be used to pay for your quarterly VAT or annual tax expenses.

8. Update your business plan. Changes to your situation can cause your business plan and budget to go out of date relatively quickly. By keeping a record of actual figures against predictions, you can spot variations quickly, and amend your forecasts to take them into account.

9. Insure yourself. Ensure that you have the right type of cover for your business. By finding a flexible insurance policy with business interruption, as this will provide for you under circumstances that could otherwise result in loss of earnings.

10. Arrange an overdraft. With a business overdraft, you can get access to short term finance. Unlike a loan, an overdraft will only charge interest on the money that you need, and can be arranged easily as a service from your business current account provider.

Alistair Leckie provides expert information about business banking particularly if looking to open a business current account or a business deposit account.

Health and Safety Risk Assessment: A Must For Your Business

In the litigious society we live in, risk assessments have become as necessary for businesses as remembering to stock up on pens. Every business is liable from multi-billion pound corporations to ‘mom and pop’ outfits.

Smaller companies often choose to do these risk assessments themselves although larger companies often choose to outsource it to Health and Safety experts to minimise any potential risks.

In this kind of situations being the smallest company can be extremely hazardous. Even though you stand a much lower risk of being at the receiving end of litigation it can be very hard to be able to be objective and look through a critical eye at a workplace.

A businesses obligation as far as health and safety goes is not necessarily to remove all element of risk but to protect you, employees and members of the public as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’.

A basic risk assessment has 3 major stages:

Identifying the hazards and who is at risk from them.

Decide what course of action is required depending on the degree of risk.

Implement any necessary precautions and make a record.

Once these are complete a regular review is required to ensure that the original assessment was correct and to account for any changes in the workplace.

There are 3 main divisions of hazards:

Environmental hazards: such as pollutions i.e. smoke, grit or dust.

Activity hazards: a hazard that may result from a activity a worker must perform i.e. repetitive strain injury.

Workplace hazards: a hazard resulting from the location or layout of the workplace.

There are thousands of potential workplace hazards, a list of the easy to overlook ones include:

The adequate storage, handling and disposal of potentially hazardous chemicals

Faulty electrical equipment

Loose cabling

Insufficient rest breaks

Wet, slippery, unclean or badly surfaced floors

Poorly lit areas

Inadequate Ventilation

Poorly designed workstations

Inappropriate training or procedures

To help identify all potential hazards in a small company it is useful to get all staff members involved to help to get a range of views on the risks they may face in their day to day jobs.

Once risks are identified classify them as low, medium or high risk. High and Medium risk problems will need to be dealt with immediately. While low risk may require the implementation of new training, procedures or possibly no action at all if current safety precautions are adequate.

Taking steps to minimise the risk of workplace injury may include replacing old equipment, introducing new procedures, modernising training etc. Any hazardous materials that have been identified may be reduced as a risk by replacing it with a less hazardous substance, using it in lower quantities, introducing protective equipment/ clothing or reducing the amount of time people are exposed to it.

In a company with fewer than 5 employees it is not a legal requirement to have a written risk assessment, however it may be beneficial in many circumstances to ensure liability is kept to a minimum and that any future risk assessments have a previous basis to work on. It is a good idea to do an annual review to ensure any new equipment, personnel, procedures or premises changes are accounted for.

Often companies will carry out risk assessments after an accident to ensure that it is not a hazard for which they are liable or that could be a danger to another employee or member of the public.

Risk assessments should be a vital part of your business practices regardless of whether you are going it alone or hiring in a professional Health and Safety company. They protect you as a company in the short term, in the case of litigation and, in the long term, by protecting the health and well being of everyone who steps foot in your businesses workplace.

Done properly, they can nip a problem in the bud. Done badly, they can leave you open to a variety of problems. In a choice between a comprehensive risk assessment or the cost of hiring a good solicitor to sort out all the problems created; the assessment will always be the money better spent.

Richard James works for HSE Services, where UK companies can receive quotes from up to 4 reliable health and safety consultants. Visit http://www.hseservices.co.uk for details.

Life’s Precious Moments

Learning to fully live during tough times…

“Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ken’s asleep now. It’s been a big couple of days. Seems like a life time has come and gone; perhaps it has. Surgery for the new melanoma was Wednesday morning—early. Ten hours later, it was over. Four hours later he was out of recovery and into the next phase of life, learning to survive cancer. My work with the men at the Oregon State Correctional Institution gave me gave me an appreciation for freedom. Ken’s rollercoaster ride with cancer has given me a whole new appreciation for life and a deep understanding of the preciousness of each of life’s moments.

I know now why people close down and create walls around themselves for protection. Being open is painful when what is present is filled with sadness and suffering, but that is my commitment, to not close down in any way so here I sit wide open, allowing it all to be what it is, without story, without running or hiding. The love of everyone is so present here too. One would miss that if they closed down. You have to accept it all, to remain open to it all, or you miss the joy inherent in the sorrow, you miss the deep connection that lies amidst the pain.

The natural instinct of self-preservation creates walls easily, automatically, lending itself well to fight or flight, and misses the opportunity of being present. It would be nice if we could partition off the good from the bad and experience only happiness and joy, but we can’t. When we partition off the unacceptable, we partition ourselves off from life. We build walls that prevent us from experiencing all of life. Rather than experiencing life, being truly alive, we unconsciously tone down our experience to one we deem more acceptable. Unfortunately what we get is a mental experience rather than the entire experience, one that leaves us feeling disconnected and lost.

“Every life has dark tracts and long stretches of somber tint, and no representation is true to fact which dips its pencil only in light, and flings no shadows on the canvas.” Alexander Maclaren

A picture is worth a thousand words, so let me draw one. When we build a wall, it is as if we create a shell around ourselves. Consider yourself an egg inside an egg shell. Without the shell the egg slides all over the place…including into the frying pan…erase that…good for a picture but the analogy, while accurate, will most likely add more fear rather than opening an opportunity to shed it.

Let’s try again with a trip down memory lane. Back in 1976 John Travolta starred in a movie called, “Boy in the Plastic Bubble”, a film about a boy who was forced to live in a plastic isolation chamber because he was born with a non-functioning immune system, leaving him vulnerable to even the most common everyday viruses. The bubble is a great analogy for what we do to ourselves when we say ‘no’ to any aspect of our lives. In “The Grand Experiment” we call it the crystalline shell. Rather than being forced to live inside the bubble, though, we choose it, believing it to be safer than this painful experience of life. The virus we are vulnerable to is fear. When something good comes along, we don’t drop the layers and step free of the bubble. If we did that, the painful energy might find us, so instead, we engage life, the good and the bad from inside the bubble.

None of this is conscious, and though it may sound contradictory, it is a choice. It becomes a choice when we realize what is happening. At that point, we choose either to stay safely inside the bubble or choose to crack it, dissolve it, dismantle it…whatever it takes to live freely. Even knowing, we may continue to choose what appears to be safety, at least until the pain of being ensconced within the bubble exceeds the pain we perceive to be on the outside. In the movie, John Travolta’s character fell in love with the girl next door. He decided that life on the outside, even if it meant his death, was better than a long, safe life, disconnected from the ability to fully love—a true coming of age story.

Coming of age…what does that mean? It usually means growing up and entering into adulthood. Consider using it to mean growing into a true human, into our humanity, into our full compassion, fully aware of what it means to be human and that includes the good and the bad, the suffering and the pain. We are not meant to find the golden bucket at the end of the rainbow. There is no prince on a white horse. We cannot and should not choose only the apparent good in life. If we do we miss out on life…messy life…complex life…real life. We miss out on the ability to engage life. We miss out on the ability to live life fully present—present and accounted for! We look through the bubble and wonder why it feels as if we are missing out on something, why we feel so disconnected, why life just doesn’t satisfy. Inside the bubble we have the appearance of safety, but it is killing us slowly, roasting us one dream at a time. Outside is painful. Outside is joyful. Outside is all full! Outside is life. Inside is mind’s version, mind’s game, mind’s diversion from life.

Live now. None of us know how long we have here or how long the people we love will be with us. These moments are precious. They are God’s gift to each of us when we choose to fully experience life. Hell is inside the bubble of mind’s making. Heaven is filled with sorrow and suffering, joy and ecstatic, full-on living and it is here, outside the bubble. Come out and play.

“Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.” Albert Schweitzer

Gayle Gregory, co-author of The Grand Experiment, an Expedition of Self-Discovery, is a coach and consultant dedicated to radically transforming humanity’s interactions, personally, locally and globally. Freedom from fear is not only possible, it is our birthright! Her coaching business is Pure Possibility and is affiliated with WE, Workplace Evolution.

Computer Office Desks: Purchasing First-Class Computer Desks For Your Work Area

Many of us spend so much time focusing on finding the best ergonomic task chair, but never seem to stop to consider our computer office desks - which are half the equation. Before you buy your next computer desk, read on for what to look for in a quality desk and suggestions on some of the better ergonomic desk solutions available today.

Cable Storage

If you own a computer, you know that all the wires and cables running from your peripherals to the actual computer can be a major eyesore, disorganized mess, and walking hazard. Good computer office desks provide a solution for this - a few holes in the back of the desk that are designed for weaving cables through, to direct them back and up through the desk rather than scattered across your work surface. So, avoid a tangle of wires and look for a desk with pre-designed cabling solutions.

Tuck it Away

Rather than having your desktop tower, CDs, printers and other peripheral devices all out in the open and cluttering your workspace, seek a computer desk that has the storage capacity to tuck it all away. While an open-concept desk may seem like a good idea, you’ll soon find your work surface overrun with wiring, papers, files and print cartridges. To keep a clean desk, look for a desk with specific computer and file storage drawers or cabinets.

Posture Perfect

The most important factor when purchasing a new computer desk is to make sure that it properly fits for your planned usage. To be ergonomically correct, you should be able to sit at the desk with your feet flat on the floor and reach the work surface area comfortable. If you like to occasionally cross your legs (which you shouldn’t do), make sure you have room to do so. Plan ahead and bring your ideal desk measurements with you before you go shopping.

Desks That Fit the Bill

The “Sit to Stand Desk” - Made by Relax the Back

The Sit to Stand Desk is expensive (almost $1700), but may be well worth it for those suffering from back pain caused by hunching over their desks all day. This desk has a built-in motor and easy controls that allow you to raise or lower it from 25 to 52 inches - making it great for shorter individuals who want to sit or very tall individuals who prefer to stand. By standing for part of your workday, you take stress off your back and alleviate those painful work muscles. This desk also comes with cable passes and optional storage cabinets.

Airtouch - Made by Steelcase

The Airtouch is another of the computer office desks designed as a light workstation solution that’s height adjustable. However, it lacks storage, making it either a great desk for a laptop user or someone willing to invest in additional storage. The desk is reasonably priced, well-designed and is also certified for indoor air quality - that means the glues and materials used in its construction are carcinogen-free.

For insightful information on home furniture options, see www.furniturehometips.com, a popular site about handy furnishing pieces, such as the Big Man Chair, cheap computer desks, and many more!

Responding To Career Setbacks & Job Loss

While career setbacks are often unavoidable, they are not insurmountable or irreparable: with a good mix of planning, networking and optimism, you can find yourself a new position or find a way to circumvent obstacles to growth in your current role.

In order to regain your momentum (and earning potential), you will need to think strategically and assess your situation objectively. Below, we outline some things you should think about if you are currently facing employment problems, or just want to be prepared.

UNDERSTAND YOUR SKILLS

The first crucial step when planning a career change or pursuing new employment is to take stock of what you know and what weaknesses you have. For example, if you are a great analyst but a poor communicator, then look for a role where you can utilize your analytical skills but won’t have to give many presentations. At the same time, if you know your presentation and writing skills need work, start looking for opportunities to speak more. Informal meet-ups of peers and professional organization events are both great ways to build your speaking skills (and network).

We all have areas that we excel in and those that, despite training and experience, we still struggle with. Understanding both sides of your skill set lets you focus your efforts on roles where you will achieve the best results.

GET TALKING

Perhaps the most important and most poorly utilized asset any professional has is their network. When you are looking for a change or need new employment, it’s the people you know that will be your best source of insight and leads. If you think about your relationships – friends, family, and colleagues – and make the effort to touch base with them, you will be amazed how many new opportunities can appear. Of course, this assumes that you have remained in contact and have been a resource to them in the past (whether personal or professional).

Many times, our pride stops us from asking for an introduction or a recommendation, but the truth is that the people around you want to help you. Not only will it make them feel good to lend a hand, but its also good business: while you may be in need now; who can say when the positions may be reversed? By helping you out now, they strengthen their own network and create new possibilities for their own advancement. It’s a win-win situation.

BE AWARE

Even the most conservative industries experience change: maybe it’s a tool that streamlines processes and makes people redundant, or, a new initiative that brings specialized-skills into demand. Either way, there will be winners and losers from the changes.

The trick to being a winner is knowing what’s coming. Of course, you are not psychic and often company decisions are opaque; but you should always be looking for information about your industry, company, and clients:

1. Perhaps you’ve noticed that more and more customer service is being shipped offshore?

2. Perhaps a previously non-critical business division is suddenly a major revenue generator?

3. Perhaps one of your peers has been recruited by another firm due to skills and experience you also possess?

4. Perhaps a client is looking for additional services that your company provides, but no one has put together a clean proposal to capture the additional business?

These are just some of the scenarios that occur in every industry. If you are paying attention, you may be able to capitalize on any of them.

1. If off-shoring is occurring, look for the niches that are less transferable or start preparing for a job search.

2. If a division is getting mentioned more, see if you can work on a joint project that will gain you visibility or see if they could use your skill set.

3. If you have transferable skills and experience, then why not look at other industries. Getting outside your comfort zone can offer a huge benefit – especially, if your skills are in short supply in a younger industry (or an older one experiencing a shift).

4. Don’t assume someone else will make the pitch. Maybe you aren’t the one to close the deal, but if you put the idea in front of the client you can gain a new contact and pickup some recognition for ‘going beyond the call of duty’. Taking initiative is crucial to your success.

CONCLUSION

Your job might depend on a company, but your career is your responsibility. Hopefully, you will take some of the ideas discussed above and incorporate them into your career strategy. If you are in a dead-end job, then now is the time to take stock and find a way out. If you are currently looking for a job, then make sure you are searching efficiently and looking at the right opportunities.

Either way, you will need to keep your eyes on your skills, your voice in conversations, and your ear to the ground.

Good luck.

Diversified Recruitment, Inc. (DRI) is an online resource for MBAs and other professionals. The Staff Writers have created a collection of hundreds of articles on a wide range of business and career topics. Visit www.dricareers.com for more great articles.

The Significance of Self Adhesive Address Labels

Self adhesive address label is now gleaned as one of the most widely used labeling form giving a lot more comfortable way in sending correspondence and parcel. This is considered a favorable means of providing a specific letter with a different kind of look and personal touch.

Mail return address is gleaned essential in sending mails to people from all across the globe. If there will be cases of lost letters, affixing an address label is a crucial facet in locating a person’s whereabouts if there will be unforeseen cases of lost documents. Therefore, choosing the finest self adhesive address label is imperative in providing oneself with a certain kind of functional and useable label.

The use of self adhesive address label also sets a different kind of mood and character on a mail. This augments a sense of formality and professionalism in all correspondence that is particularly vital to business dealings and transactions. If you are establishing a new business and would want to get in touch with your business partners and clients, sending mails is one of the best options to take in generating further link and good rapport. With this, the use of a formal address label will set the mode of good partnership and a form of marketing strategy as well. Who would formulate a positive perception to a company with professional and presentable address label incorporated on any of its correspondence? If your company has this, then you will be assured to entice possible clienteles and loyal consumers as they put on their confidence in your capabilities and services.

A good image is definitely at stake as one of the main factors that a person can take advantage of in employing self adhesive address label. All the letters you send to business partners, clients and even friends is a total reflection of the kind of personality you possess. This also speaks in your entirety creating first and lasting impression. As this becomes a beneficial aspect in a business, you can also try to incorporate other sales details on your address label such as your business hotline and order details to make further progress to your business.

A self adhesive address label can also be utilized if you are on a job search. Resume can be sent to different companies with a personal label attached to it. Making good impressions to future employers should start off with a satisfactory introduction of oneself through the use of a good resume and a pleasing address label that will all do wonders. You will provide your prospective company with a good impression of being organize and a systematic applicant suited for the job.

A self adhesive address label is also created to last and its durability can endure frequent letter handling. As this is a well-made label, its capacity to stay in place is deemed reliable. Letters are transported and handled from almost all parts of the world therefore; you can be assured that it will reach your recipient as it should be.

Find more information and tips about address labels by visiting Address Labels

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