Bad Mood? How To Snap Out Of It Fast

• By Miriam Salpeter  

If you let it, life can certainly get you down sometimes. Maybe your boss is on a war rampage or there's bad news coming out about your company that may cause layoffs. Perhaps you're in a permanently bad mood and you can't snap out of it. Unless you are clinically depressed and need to seek medical help, you may want to try some of these tips to see if they may help you feel happier at work.

1. Identify the cause of your bad mood and make a plan.
If you have a horrible boss or a miserable co-worker, it may be pretty easy to nail down the crux of your problem. When something in your life is causing you stress, there are only two ways to deal with it: eliminate the stress or change how you react to it. Don't ignore either option. If your boss is a bully or you have co-workers you wouldn't recommend to your worst enemy, it's a good idea to start planning an exit strategy. At the same time, keep in mind, you can decide not to let them irritate you. The jury may be out on if it is harder to find a new job or to adjust your reactions, but neither will happen until you get started. Make a plan to change things and write down the steps to get there.

2. Get some sleep.
If you're sleep deprived or generally don't get enough rest, it's easy to become irritable and moody at the least provocation. If you realize you haven't had a good night's rest in weeks, start to think about how you can do better. Avoid caffeine. Learn ways to relax before you go to bed and make sure to give yourself some down time between work and rest. Don't read or watch anything that will make you aggravated when it's bedtime. You may find getting some extra zzz's will help your mood.

3. Exercise.
Even if you're not a gym rat, moving around more can help put you in a better mood. Take frequent walks during the day, even if it's just up the stairs or around the office. Try to carve out some time outside of work to do something fun and active.

4. Meditate.
Some people swear by this technique that helps quiet the mind. Read up on different options and try adding a little mediation into your daily routine. You may find it helps you manage difficult times.

5. Create a bad mood busting playlist.
Music can certainly soothe even the most savage beast. Create a playlist of your favorite mood-enhancing songs and keep it handy for when you see a stressful period down the pike.

6. Figure out what makes you laugh.
Is there a movie or TV show that always makes you laugh? A friend who keeps you in stitches whenever you get on the phone? Take some time to do something relaxing, even if it is turning on your favorite sit com or calling an old pal who has a future in stand-up comedy.

7. Count your blessings.
Literally make a list of things you are grateful about. Hopefully, if you really think about it, you can think of many things to appreciate. If you try to focus on the good instead of honing in on what makes you miserable, it can shift your mood a little bit.

8. Volunteer
What causes do you care about? The quickest way to improve your mood is to use your skills and energies to help someone else. Whether you become active in a cause and volunteer on a regular basis with a formal organization, or perhaps do something special for someone who needs it occasionally, stepping outside of your normal routine to help another person can really help you feel better about yourself.

Don't underestimate the potential you have to change how you feel. Like most things, nothing changes until you decide to influence the change, so make a point to take some steps to get in a better mood before another day goes by.

Preparing for a speaking opportunity

• By Debra Auerbach 

 You’ve been invited to present at an upcoming conference or join a panel at an industry seminar. You’re excited to represent your company and speak to others in your field about a topic that’s important and interesting to you. But if this is your first time taking part in a speaking opportunity at an event, seminar or conference, you may be a little apprehensive. Even if you’re a good public speaker and you’ve had practice presenting at company or client meetings, doing something at this big a scale can be daunting.

Here to help are experts who have tips for preparing for a speaking opportunity – whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned veteran:

 Get to know the audience
“To get a clear picture of the audience, visualize someone you know in the audience who is typical of the group,” says communications strategist Laura Mecoy. “Or if you don’t know anyone who fits that description, create that person by asking yourself questions such as: How old is this person? What does this person do for a living? If you were sitting across the dinner table from this person, how would you communicate the messages you wish to convey?”

Deborah Wipf, president and founder of business coaching services company Velocity Management Group often participates in public speaking events in her role. She suggests speaking with the organizer and asking him about successful presentations in the past, the likes and dislikes of their audience and approximate demographics, as well as the outcomes the organizer would like to see from your presentation. “I also recommend checking out the organization’s website and social media channels to see what they’ve been talking about with their followers recently.”

Set a goal for the presentation
Once you have a better picture of the audience, set goals for what you want to achieve in your presentation. “Have a specific goal for each presentation, being clear in measurable terms what result you intend to achieve by giving this talk,” says Ronald Kaufman, who, for more than 15 years has been giving workshops on topics such as “Presentation Skills” and “Goal Setting/Motivation.” “Is it to change behaviors, sell something, inform, entertain, etc.? Why is it important for you to make this presentation?”

Make the presentation digestible
Likely one of the biggest fears people have about doing speaking opportunities is that they won’t be engaging and they’ll bore their audience. To avoid a dry, awkward presentation, ensure that what you’re presenting is digestible and organized in a way that’s most natural to you.

“Do not write out your presentation word for word and then plan on reading it,” says speaker, facilitator and consultant Roz Turner. “Participants like presenters who are authentic, genuine, know their topic and relate to them. Prepare by creating an outline and then take the time to practice what you will say out loud to give yourself confidence and an idea of whether or not you have too much information for the time available. If you are going to use a PowerPoint presentation, do not write everything you are saying on the slides. Use photos, use humor, use bullets to tell a ‘story.’ But use the PowerPoint presentation to guide your presentation — not to be your presentation.”

Practice in front of a mirror
“Oftentimes, particularly for newer speakers, people are not self-aware of the funny faces, robotic movements or hand gestures we make while speaking,” says Suzanne Garber, member of the National Speaker’s Association and Chief Networking Officer at International SOS. “Some ‘speak with their hands,’ which can be distracting, while others are frozen in their place — neither of which are appealing to audiences. Similarly, with practice comes perfection and you can become of aware of the ‘ums,’ ‘like,’ or ‘you know’ that pervades many beginners’ speeches.”

Make the timing and location work
While it may not always be a choice, Mecoy suggests doing what you can to control when and where you’ll be delivering your presentation. “Try to avoid the after-lunch and end-of-the-day slots when the audience is ready for a nap. Check the room ahead of time to be sure the sound system works. Eschew the podium, if possible, to actively engage the audience.”

Mecoy says that if you don’t have a choice on your timing and location, look for ways to liven things up. “At an end-of-the-day presentation at an association’s annual conference [that I was presenting at], the state lottery was among the topics to be discussed. So I distributed scratch-off lottery tickets to members of the audience who asked questions. No one won, but we had fun seeing if they did.”

Have fun
“This is easier said than done, and while it’s important to take your topic and your audience seriously, you shouldn’t take yourself too seriously,” Garber says. “Yes, you will make flubs at times, but make light of the moment or move past it quickly. Audiences want to be engaged with you, and the more fun you have, they will pick up on your vibe and follow your lead.”

How — and why — to improve your written communications

• By Guest Contributor

By Robert Half International 

What do the most effective résumés, memos, emails, blog posts and thank-you notes have in common?

Good writing.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a designer, accountant, paralegal or IT professional, you should also consider yourself a writer. In an information-driven world full of communication platforms, writing skills are a “must have,” not a “nice to have,” for any ambitious professional.

Sure, business writing isn’t the sexiest of topics. But knowing how to communicate clearly, concisely and convincingly can significantly aid your career. Whether you’re sending a cover letter to a hiring manager or an email to a prospective client, people’s first impressions of you are often based solely on your writing abilities — or lack thereof.

Crisp, focused and error-free writing signals that you’re a professional who’s organized, knowledgeable and detail-oriented. On the flip side, communications that are convoluted, imprecise or marred by typos will leave readers wondering if you’re equally careless in other areas of your work.

Writing not your forte? Consider adopting these winning habits:

Think before you type
First-rate writing doesn’t happen by accident. Before placing one finger on the keyboard, take a moment to organize your thoughts and identify the primary purpose of the communication. Who is your audience? And what do you want people to know or do when they finish reading? Keep the answers to these questions top of mind as you write.

Embrace plain English
You’ve no doubt noticed that many professionals weigh down their written communications with buzzwords, jargon and pretentious prose. This approach only muddles the message. (What does, “Let’s mindshare to align and synergize our deliverables” really mean anyway?)

Impress readers with your cogent thinking, not your mastery of corporate-speak. Nobody will miss the overused clichés and fussy five-dollar words.

Cut to the chase
“Don’t bury the lead” is one of the first warnings every journalism student receives. Translation: Provide the most important details upfront.

In an era of information overload, attention spans are getting shorter. You risk losing people if they have to endlessly sift or scroll to unearth your main message.

When crafting more involved documents, make the content easy to digest through formatting. Break up large blocks of text with bullet points or subheadings.

Proofread and polish
Think proper spelling, grammar and punctuation isn’t critical? Think again. In a Robert Half survey, 76 percent of managers said just one or two résumé errors would be enough to knock a job candidate out of contention. While the occasional misplaced comma in an everyday email isn’t going to hurt your career, frequently making sloppy mistakes will damage your credibility.

Review all your written communications — including social media updates — for typos, as well as tone and clarity. Sure, it requires a little extra effort, but proofreading guards against embarrassing goofs and time-wasting miscommunications.

Keep working at it
Employers expect solid writing abilities for an increasing number of roles. This means that shying away from writing responsibilities or remaining complacent with subpar skills is a risky career move.

Invest in yourself by taking a business-writing course through a local college or industry association. Explore some of the myriad writing workshops offered online and read some well-regarded books. (“On Writing Well” by William Zinsser and “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White are classics.)

Most importantly, push beyond your comfort zone and keep practicing. For example, you might volunteer to draft the meeting notes from your next staff meeting or contribute a piece to the company newsletter. Much like muscles, writing skills get stronger only if you use them.

How to answer: ‘Why did you leave your last job?’

• By Wendell Brenner

You’re currently employed and get a paycheck every other week. It’s a sure and steady income. Why, then, are you searching for a new job?

During an interview, a hiring manager is undoubtedly thinking this and almost certainly will ask about it. A “bad” answer can kill your chances at getting the job offer. A “good” answer can position you for success.

So how do you answer that question? You want to be authentic and diplomatic, steering clear of potential pitfalls, while still providing a genuine response that resonates for both you and the hiring manager.

Here are some ideas for how to do it.

1. Always praise your current employer. Before anything else, start by offering a little praise for your current employer just to show you’re not upset or jaded and to frame the answer positively. Try saying something like, “My current employer has given me some great opportunities and I’m sorry to leave. But I’m really excited about the future.” This statement isn’t overly flattering, and it lands right back at the here and now – your enthusiasm for what’s next. Hiring managers like to hear this, because it demonstrates your loyalty and respect for the company, even though they obviously know you’re not happy there. They see that you’re able to “play the game,” keep emotions out of it and protect the image of the company even if and when things don’t work out. Hiring managers view negative talk regarding your current employer as gossip. If you’re badmouthing your company, the hiring manager thinks you could easily turn around and do the same to his company in the future.

2. Avoid mentioning people. There are surveys that say the No.1 reason people leave a job is because of problems with other people at that job. Hiring managers know that, but they don’t want to hear it. Discussions regarding difficulties with people will lead the hiring manager to wonder what your role was in the conflict — and then you’re in the danger zone. The same holds true if a hiring manager asks you a question like, “What is one thing you don’t like about your current or last job?” Good answers revolve around things like outdated policies, inefficient processes, slow technology, etc. Great answers also focus on what you did to try to improve the situation.

3. It is about what you’re moving toward. Remember that the past was yesterday. The future is why you’re in that interview. Keep your discussion centered on the fact that you’re moving toward something new and exciting, not away from where you are. This might require a subtle shift in language, but the impact is enormous. For example, instead of saying, “There is little room for growth where I am,” try saying, “The opportunities for growth here seem unlimited.”

4. Always make it about self-improvement. Hiring managers love to know job candidates are interested in bettering themselves. It’s a trait that indicates you will be a long-term hire and, with the right support, you could be someone who grows with the company. It’s always a good idea to make your career move about your desire for self-improvement, whether you’re seeking career advancement opportunities or the chance to grow a new set of skills. Sure, there are times when you just need a change of pace. That’s human nature. But saying that’s the sole reason for your move suggests you might be easily bored or unable to create the experience that serves you best in the workplace.

The hiring manager wants to know that you’ll be capable of productively working through those kinds of “typical” challenges (like boredom and the feeling of being in a rut). Always let the hiring manager know that you did everything in your power to make it work with your current employer. You sought out new challenges, advanced as far as you can, etc. You don’t want to be perceived as someone who is ready to jump ship when things don’t immediately go your way. But there are certain things outside of your control, and those are the ones that keep you from staying where you are.

It’s almost guaranteed that your reason for leaving will be a topic in any job interview. Plan your response and practice it aloud a few times so you’re prepared. The conversation will move on quickly and you’ll be able to focus on other, more compelling topics.

12 Traits Of Valuable Employees

• By Miriam Salpeter  

The most successful people realize their actions and choices affect their ability to accomplish their goals. When you acknowledge that you have more control over your future than you realized, it can be very motivating and empowering. What habits can you adopt to help improve your chances to succeed at work?

1. Seek ways to enhance your marketability.
Be opportunistic. Don't just float through your day; keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to get involved in new projects. Employers value job seekers who show initiative and can demonstrate that they are always willing to take on new tasks and learn new things. When you volunteer for leadership roles and to contribute to special projects, you'll be setting yourself up to be more marketable later.

2. Be open to constructive criticism. Supervisors appreciate workers who comfortably receive criticism and take it to heart without appearing defensive or upset. We all know that not all bosses are capable of providing truly constructive critiques, but do your best to appear to have a good attitude when a superior provides advice about how to do better.

3. Request feedback. A step beyond being open to criticism, actually requesting feedback will make it clear that you are always hoping to improve your performance. Don't expect daily feedback or a pat on the back every time you meet a deadline, but do make it clear to your boss that you welcome his or her advice and assistance as you strive to do everything necessary for the team or department.

4. Get organized. Even if you have a "system," if your desk at work looks like a tornado just went through, your colleagues and supervisors probably assume you are disorganized and probably can't handle more responsibility. Make a point to appear as organized as you'd need to be to earn a promotion.

5. Find ways to learn new things. Perhaps your current job doesn't offer a lot of obvious opportunities to learn new skills. Make a point to find professional development opportunities that may be beyond your current work scope and ask for permission to enroll in them. Think about your career goals and recognize that no one cares more about them than you – it's your job to make sure you learn what you need to know to accomplish your plans. If you can't get permission for professional development, use your personal time to enhance your job skills.

6. Take responsibility. If you made a mistake, admit it and learn from the error. Even if you have to take some heat, it is much better than trying to pass blame. You'll earn respect from your peers when you have the gumption to say, "I was wrong, and I will know better next time."

7. Be persistent. We've all heard, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." The most successful professionals do not give up. Create goals and use every day as an opportunity to move in the right direction to achieve them. For example, if you want to move into a managerial role, even if you didn't get selected to be part of a cohort to train as managers this quarter, think of ways to improve your chances for next time.

In addition to requesting feedback about why you weren't selected, begin an independent research program to learn everything you can about how to manage. Read books by respected leaders in the field and seek out online resources to keep up-to-date on the topics that will help you be more competitive next time. Don't keep your extra work a secret; make sure your supervisors and colleagues know that you're taking responsibility for your own plans.

8. Be willing to take on new things and pitch in. Every office has the employee who quietly shirks work responsibilities and hopes no one notices. Clearly, the person who is always available to help and offers to do extra work is more likely to be first in line when it comes time for promotions and favored projects.

9. Get there early and stay late. Even though many employers are allowing employees to telecommute and have flex time, and some organizations don't focus on "face time" when it comes to evaluating employees, more traditional organizations still tend to appreciate the employee who shows up early and doesn't dash off at the stroke of 5:00. If your organization goes by the clock, make sure you are putting in your time and then some if you want to get noticed.

10. Learn when to delegate so you can move on. It's often easier to just do things yourself instead of taking the time to teach someone else to handle your responsibilities, but if you have an opportunity to delegate, do not waste it. If you never make the effort to teach a new person to handle your roles, you will be stuck doing the same job forever.

11. Dress the part you want to play. Even if your workplace is a casual environment, it doesn't mean you should wear flip-flops and cutoff shorts all summer. You should always dress so you'd be prepared to impress a supervisor, customer or client.

12. Build some relationships. While work is not all about making friends, research shows that friendships at work can positively affect profitability at work. Profitability is a good thing, and so is having a work friend to go for coffee or get lunch.

How To Get Hired Without A Degree

• By Marty Nemko  

Career coach and blogger Marty Nemko has been writing about the biggest career myths, such as "Do what you love," "Everyone should network," "Job seekers must sell themselves," and "Being your own boss is often wise." This post takes a look at the idea that getting a degree is always "worth it."

Conventional wisdom holds that getting a degree is worth it. Advocates cite the (misleading) statistic that college degree holders earn $1 million more. They also argue that getting a degree is a good way to wait out the lousy job market.

I used to believe that but I'm no longer as sure.

Why the $1 million stat is misleading
The pool of college graduates tends to be brighter, more motivated, and better connected than is the pool of non-graduates. You could lock college graduates in a closet for four years after high school and they would still earn much more. The million-dollar statistic is misleading also because it's retrospective to a time when only the best and brightest went to college and employers couldn't offshore jobs and so had to pay high salaries to college graduates. Alas, that's no longer true. In 1970, 40 percent of high school graduates went to college. Now over 70 percent attend college.

What's happening to today's degree holders
Studies of recent years' degree recipients' efforts to find work suggest that many career-minded people should consider spending the time and money on activities other than getting a degree:

An Associated Press analysis of data from 2011 found 54 percent of college graduates under 25 were unemployed or under-employed, meaning they were working in jobs they could have gotten out of high school. That's especially likely in fields that don't particularly impress employers such as sociology, art history, or American studies.

Alas, according to a 2012 Georgetown University study, even science and technology majors have, an unemployment rate higher than the national average of 7.6%. For example, major in science: the unemployment rate is 8.2% Mechanical engineering: 8.6% Information systems: 11.7%.

But what about graduate school as a way to improve employability? In March 2013, the ABA Journal reported that just over half of grads had full-time legal jobs. And doctorates? The National Science Foundation reports that fewer than 40% of new PhDs had a position waiting for them at graduation.

I have been unable to find national averages for that supposedly most marketable degree, the MBA. But according to a November 2012 Bloomberg/BusinessWeek report, 10% of Berkeley MBAs were unemployed three months after graduation and 23% of MBAs from USC were. One can only imagine the unemployment rate for graduates of less prestigious MBA programs.

True, education shouldn't just be about employability but about learning, for example, developing thinking skills. Alas, many degree holders have learned frighteningly little. The definitive book on how much learning occurs in college, Academically Adrift published by University of Chicago Press, found that 36 percent of college graduates didn't grow at all in writing and critical thinking!

Better Alternatives?
Of course, you don't need to convince anyone to hire you without degrees if you're self-employed. But self-employment is often more difficult even than many people imagine.

If you'd like a non-degree path to becoming well-employed by someone else, consider what I call You U.

At You U, you, perhaps with a mentor, pick career-boosting activities that may benefit you more than a degree. Instead of having to take a mass of often not-useful courses from one university, you can choose the most relevant courses and webinars taught anywhere, for example, from among the 70,000 courses from 300 sources aggregated on skilledup.com. You might also attend professional conferences, local chapter meetings of your professional association, do independent reading and watching of videos, and/or get a formal or informal internship or job at the elbow of a master.

Not only does You U allow you to learn what you need from the best people and do it more quickly, it costs a tiny fraction of a State U, let alone Private U degree.

Convincing Employers
But will employers hire a You U "graduate?" I have asked audiences if they'd consider an applicant who included the following in their job application letter over a degree holder. Eighty percent said yes:

Dear (Insert Name of Employer),
I suspect you'll be tempted to toss my application because I don't have the required degree. But having heard many degree holders complain that they didn't learn enough of practical value to justify the time and money, I decided to get my additional training as follows. (Insert all you did at You U.) But now comes the moment of truth. I chose to emphasize substance over form, but will you interview me? Hoping to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Wouldn't you consider hiring or promoting someone who attended You U?

Tips for workers who spend more time traveling than in the office

• By Susan Ricker

Traveling for business can seem glamorous to those who spend most of their time at work in one zip code. However, workers who regularly travel know the less attractive side of their role requirements: the large amount of time spent at the airport or in the car, missing fun events and co-workers who are in the office, time spent away from family and the technology issues that can stifle business.

When more of your time is spent traveling for work than in the office, you need tips and tricks for making your workday more efficient and staying connected to your manager and co-workers.

A number of resources and tools have been developed by www.workshifting.com (powered by Citrix) for workers who regularly work outside of the office. Here to weigh in on those resources and offer tips for workers who are more nomad than permanent resident in the office are Bernardo de Albergaria, vice president and general manager of SaaS Products and Markets at Citrix, and Gihan Perera, co-author of “Out of Office: Using the Internet for Greater Freedom in You Work Life.” 

Here are their seven “workshifting” tips for better collaboration:

1. Tell your team where you are.
Being out of sight and out of mind can be a benefit when you’re trying to get some work done, but it can be a drawback for collaboration. So make it easy for people to find you when they want to involve you in a discussion. You can do this in a variety of ways — for example, by sharing your calendar, agreeing to be available during certain fixed hours and days, checking messages regularly, forwarding phone and email when traveling and so on.

2. Look for opportunities to meet.
Don’t wait for other people to invite you to meetings and discussions. Take the opportunity to plan, invite and host them yourself. Of course, you shouldn’t create meetings just for the sake of it. But many workshifters become too comfortable working alone, and it’s a good idea to step out occasionally and be the person who calls the meeting, not just one of many who turn up.

3. Choose immediate (rather than deferred) channels.
Blogs, discussion groups, wikis and even email are deferred communication tools – because people don’t have to be there at the same time to collaborate. They are efficient, and you might like them because you can participate in your own time. But they don’t reflect the dynamics of immediate “in time” tools, such as teleconferences, video conferences, chat rooms and in-person meetings.

4. Choose the right collaboration medium.
If you have control of the tools you’ll be using, choose the right medium for the tone of the discussion. Video conferences can be more informal than teleconferences, webinars are better for presentations and text chatting works best for, well, chatting.

5. Contribute!
It goes without saying that you should participate and contribute. However, it’s worth making a special effort, because workshifters are often forgotten because they aren’t physically present. Make your presence known by the quality of your contributions.

6. Allow more time in meetings.
As a workshifter, you might be used to scheduling non-work activities around your work – for example, collecting children from school or meeting a friend for coffee. Keep in mind, though, that your non-workshifting colleagues usually don’t have such a tight schedule and don’t mind if meetings run over time. So allow extra time in meetings, especially important meetings.

7. Go outside your work team.
Finally, practice! Join a committee, collaborate on LinkedIn, start a Meetup group, whatever. Choose a mix of online and offline groups. Collaborating with new people sharpens your communication skills, and doing it in person reminds you how your non-workshifting colleagues work.

8 Easy Ways To Get Much More Done

• By Miriam Salpeter

In the workplace, it's all about getting it done faster and with less help. Employers, always looking to do more with less, expect workers to be efficient and effective. Sometimes, this means one person is assigned work that two people might have handled in the past.

How can you overcome these obstacles and walk out of the office without feeling like a chicken without a head? Follow these steps:

1. Get organized. You wouldn't travel to a new place without a map, a GPS or directions. Don't expect to be productive without a list of things to do and a workspace that is conducive to getting it done. Arrange your workspace so that you have everything that you need handy. Don't forget to straighten up your computer's desktop so it's easy to find files. You'll save yourself valuable time and a lot of aggravation when you plan ahead so that you can find things you'll need.

2. Be realistic. There's nothing worse than starting the day full of optimism and with a to-do list a mile long only to realize that you only had time to check off one or two items. Consider your day and the constraints on your time when you put together your list. You'll be more productive when you set out to complete a reasonable amount of tasks.

3. Don't multitask. Workplaces seem to encourage multi-tasking; don't we all seem to do more than one thing at all times? While you may think it makes sense to check email throughout the day while you're in the midst of other projects, for example, all you're doing is setting yourself up to fall down a potentially never-ending hole of things that will distract you from your important priorities. Make times during the day for all of your major activities, including returning phone calls and emails. You'll likely notice that you can get more done by the end of the day.

4. Figure out your most productive times. What are the best times for you to get your work done? Do you get your best work done first thing in the morning, or are you a true night owl? When possible, try to schedule your most challenging tasks for when you'll be at your best. In addition, consider the ebbs and flows of your workplace. If you know you'll be interrupted constantly in the mornings, you'll be more productive if you plan to complete short tasks during those times and save your projects that require more focus for quieter periods.

5. Don't waste time on the computer. Do you stare unproductively at your computer screen for extended periods, even if you know you aren't getting your work done? This is a big waste of time. You'll be more productive if you take a break. Take a walk, read something or clear your head and get back to the computer once you get re-inspired.

6. Just say no to meetings. You want to be a team player and volunteer for committees and to help with events at work, but be selective. Try to identify ways to help out that don't involve a lot of in-person meetings, which tend to be big time sucks. If you are in charge of a program or activity, limit the number of scheduled meetings and try to get things done via email or brief phone calls.

7. Use social media as a break. We all know how easy it is to get distracted when checking social media. One minute, you're checking out a friend's photo, an hour later, you're still posting comments and making updates. Unless you're incorporating social media as part of a professional strategy at work, it's probably best to save yourself a lot of time by only viewing social networking sites when you have free time outside of work. Also, your boss may notice if you are always updating your status during the work day, so it's best to avoid even scheduling posts during those times.

8. Identify ways to keep up with the news you need to know. While mindless social media use doesn't improve your productivity, when you use Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn and Facebook to help you stay abreast of the news you need to know, it can help you be more productive and in-the-know at work. Make a point to identify several great online resources who share details that help you get your work done and follow them closely. Select a time or two each day to review their updates and you'll be well prepared for your productive day at work.

6 Habits of Remarkably Successful People

• By Marty Nemko

I've had the privilege of being career coach to some of the world's most successful people: from college presidents to Fortune 50 C-level executives to world-class scientists. Here are commonalities among them:
They aim for world-best. They realize the excellent risk-reward ratio of trying to make each work product world-class. Even if one doesn't become that august, they and their employees will be more invigorated about having aimed high, and the project will have gone further than if their goal was merely to be good. As Jill McLemore wrote, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars."

They treat time as treasure. Most of those super-successful people recognize the truth of what Thomas Edison said, "Time is really the only capital that any human being has and the thing he can least afford to waste or lose." Before pursuing any activity, they consciously ask themselves, "Is this a good use of my time?" And as they're tackling each task, they ask themselves not, "Is this the best approach," nor "Is it the fastest approach?" but "Is it the most time-effective approach?"

And most of them believe that time beyond the standard workday is often more wisely spent on work than on recreation. Yes, they veg out but less often than do mere mortals. They believe that spending more time building their company or nonprofit, doing more research, or seeing another patient benefits society and themselves more than spending every evening with their kids. Most of them believe that good parenting is more a matter of quality than quantity time.

They laser-focus. Dabbling is fun: learn a little about this, a little about that, and then when, to get to the next level, you have to mess with difficult details, you just move on to dabble at something else. Alas, that's a formula for mediocrity if not termination.

That doesn't mean that megaproductive people stay with the same endeavor forever. It doesn't even mean that they tackle only one project at a time. But when they take on a project, they are driven, laser-focused on getting it done well. Super-performers take an idea and push it forward to a conclusion with the perseverance of a winning Iditarod sled dog.

They think 'probabilistically.' Before making any decision, even small ones, the super-successful, often at remarkable speed, consider the probabilities and import of all major positive and negative factors. For example, before investing time and money in an idea, they consider:

• All the factors affecting the probability of the idea becoming a success: the team, competition, time to market, cost and potential for running out of money.
• The opportunity costs: What could the resources otherwise be used for?
• How important would the success be to him/herself, the organization and society?
• How hurtful would a failure be to him/herself, the organization and to society?
• The side effects of taking on the project: Would tackling it be fun, toxic, etc.?

I attended a talk by Alan Webber, founder of Fast Company, who has interviewed most of Silicon Valley's heaviest hitters. He said that most of them operate from "Ready, fire, aim." They know they're more likely to succeed by getting started after only moderate deliberation and then revising as experience dictates.

They are storytellers. The remarkably successful recognize that while they are mainly persuaded by data and logic, most people are more influenced by story. So the hyper-successful take the time to develop powerful stories and the art of telling them well. They pepper their talks, meetings, sales pitches, and media appearances with such emotional appeals.

They never look back. They recognize that revisiting past failures and mistreatments has little value. It usually serves mainly to engender unproductive anger or depression. Indeed, my father, a Holocaust survivor, rarely talked about the experience. When I asked him why, he said, "The Nazis took five years from my life. I won't give them one minute more. Never look back, always take the next step forward." I can leave you with no better advice.

9 tips for staying productive during the summer months

• By Susan Ricker

Working during the summer comes with its own unique set of challenges. Co-workers are sharing plans, stories and pictures of their tropical vacations and weekend getaways. Commutes become hotter, longer and sweatier. Out-of-the-office email responses are more frequent, and there’s a near constant distraction of warm weather and the wish to get outside. When summer comes, are you left choosing whether you or your work suffers?

Laura Lee Rose, a business and efficiency coach, says, “The idea isn’t to ‘ignore’ or deny yourself [in order] to stay focused at work. The harder you work on blocking out summer — the more you feel distracted, disgruntled and penalized. The idea is to allow summer to be properly integrated into your work schedule.” She offers tips one through five to help you stay productive during the summer months:

1. Schedule and publish your vacation days to your managers several months in advance.
The best way is to schedule all your vacation at the start of the new year. This assures that you take the vacation days that you need to recharge. You may not know what you want to do during those vacation days — but you typically know what weeks are available with spouse, children and other family/friends. Publishing your dates well in advance allows your managers to manage project resources around your absence. Continually reminding your manager of upcoming vacation in your one-on-one manager meetings, reminds your manager the need to work around you during those dates. If you plan these things well in advance, there should be no reason for you to cancel your vacation because of work.

2. Take short breaks and walks outside during the work day.
Bring and set your timer to remind you to return to the office when the timer goes off.

3. Take advantage of the summer weekends.
Schedule some weekend hours with family in the outdoors or summer-related activities: take tours of your town, attend water parks or amusement parks in your area, bike ride and visit neighborhood parks, play tennis with friends, etc. Pack a summer activity during your time off. This fulfills the feeling that you just got back from a mini-vacation. Summer brings some rainy weekends — include family board games or other indoor games.

4. Bring summer into your office.
Bring summertime fruit juices and fruit, summertime lunch snacks; put on coconut hand lotion; wear colorful and light (office appropriate) outfits; do things that help you feel like you are relaxed and calm while you are doing your work.

5. Socialize near and outside of the office.
Schedule a long lunch at least every two weeks during the summer — and make plans to meet friends at a special outdoor restaurant.

Enjoying the perks of summer even while you’re at work are just some of the ways to keep your productivity up. Other important tips include a focus on your mental and physical well-being. Jackie Chu is a media and organic search specialist for the advertising agency TRAFFIK. She shares tips six through nine to help keep your mind and body focused and feeling well during warmer weather:

6. Stay cool.
Drink ice cold water throughout the day and keep the office at a reasonably cold level. It’s proven that being warm makes you sleepy and fatigued while being (slightly) cold keeps you more alert and awake

7. Stay hydrated.
Try to drink about 2.2 liters a day for women and 3.0 liters a day for men. For a more accurate measure, take your body weight in pounds, divide in half and drink that amount in fluid ounces. Most people are dehydrated, and this causes them to overeat, oversleep and have poor energy levels and digestion. If you drink enough water you’ll notice that you’ll eat less, be less groggy and be more alert throughout the day.

8. Schedule tasks when you’re most up to complete them.
I try to write in the morning when I’m more focused and alert. This is also when I complete tasks that involve strategy. After lunch — when you can be more sleepy — try to focus on things that are more time consuming but involve less mental exhaustion. This helps me use my day, time and energy effectively.

9. Make a schedule and to-do list.
I write in everything, from when I can go to the gym or yoga to every task that needs to be completed that day. By seeing a written list of what needs to be completed it helps me stay on task (and it feels awesome when I get to cross things off)!

9 Reasons You're Failing At Your Job

• By Miriam Salpeter 

It can be overwhelming keeping up with day-to-day responsibilities – at work and at home. Sometimes, it seems like everyone wants a little piece of you, and it's easy to forget your priorities, plans and targets.

If you want to stay on track and give yourself the best shot at being as successful as possible, avoid the following habits:

Do not worry about things you cannot control.

The economy, your nasty boss, the weather – you can't change them, so don't spend your time focusing on them. Instead, choose things you can control and focus on how to make changes to improve yourself. At the same time, don't be too quick to label what things are beyond your control.

For example, even though the economy isn't strong, you can influence how likely it is for you to land a new job if you are proactive about networking and create strong job search marketing materials.

Do not obsess about what otherwise insignificant people think about you.

While this negative habit may be most obvious and prevalent in young people, many of whom spend endless hours worrying about what others think about them, peer pressure does not end at high school graduation. If you find yourself concerned about what other people may say about your choices, your appearance or your habits, you'll save yourself a lot of time and aggravation by focusing on only the people you need to please. In most cases, that includes yourself, your boss and your family or close friends.

Do not procrastinate.

Another habit that affects you both at work and in your personal life, procrastinating can only hurt you in both places. When you avoid an important project or conversation, it takes up emotional energy you could be using to make positive changes in your life. Don't think that your boss won't notice if you can't get a project started or if you always wait until the last minute to finish something. No matter how difficult a project or challenge seems, you'll be better off taking care of it step-by-step instead of putting it off for another day.

Don't be careless.

You may be surprised by how even small careless mistakes can affect your professional reputation. If you consistently make spelling or grammar errors, for example, you may lose respect and potentially opportunities to advance at work. When you are disorganized and let things slip through the cracks at work, you will earn a reputation for being someone who can't get things done, so pay attention to even the smallest details.

Do not fall down an Internet rabbit hole.

It's easy to get distracted and realize you've just spent two hours reading banal status updates on Facebook instead of getting your work done. Be disciplined about your time. Have a goal in mind when you get online and be single-minded about achieving it. Some days, your goal will be to catch up with friends or share your vacation photos. However, if you know you need to accomplish something specific, such as researching a particular topic or subject, don't veer off task, or you'll never finish.

Do not badmouth people.

No doubt, gossiping with like-minded people can be a quick way to bond, both in and outside of work. However, when you're always looking for the latest dirt to share, you're likely souring your own reputation, and it can be very difficult to recover it.

Don't hold grudges.

You've heard this advice before; holding a grudge hurts you more than it affects the person you're trying to punish. Be the bigger person and move on; you'll be glad you did.

Don't complain constantly.

Every office has a whiner – the person you can count on to complain, no matter what changes come down the pike. Take a close look at yourself and make sure that person isn't you. If you must gripe and moan, consider relying on a pet as your audience. No matter what you do, avoid sharing your every frustration via social media. When you subject friends to all of your unhappy rants, it may make them hesitate to make an introduction or to help you network when you're looking for a new job or growing a business.

Do not obsess about the past.

If you're constantly looking in the rear view mirror you and focusing on past history, you'll miss opportunities just ahead. Instead of worrying about how you could have done things differently, make a pact with yourself to create positive changes. Of course, it isn't always as easy as simply deciding to make a change, but your attitude controls your actions. One step at a time, begin to focus on what changes you want to see in your future and you'll be that much closer to accomplishing them.

Listening skills are a ‘must-have’ for today’s IT staff

• By Guest Contributor

By Robert Half Technology

As an information technology professional, you probably think you’re good at listening to others. After all, people in the organization are always coming to you to discuss their technology problems. And if you didn’t hear what they were saying to you, you couldn’t help solve their issues, right?

It may not be that simple. There’s an act of listening but also an art of listening. Knowing the difference can have a significant impact on whether you get ahead in your career in IT.

This is especially true if your goal is a leadership position. Just read through the job descriptions in Robert Half Technology’s “Salary Guide,” and you’ll find that most positions, including the most senior level, specifically state the need for outstanding communication skills. This is largely because technology professionals are now required to interact directly with many different people, both inside and outside of the organization.

But the intensifying spotlight on communication skills has many IT pros feeling exposed. They’ve spent years refining their technical expertise because that’s what the business demanded and have thus given little time or effort to polishing their interpersonal skills.

If this describes you, how can you become a more effective listener? Here are some tips:

• Be present. Truly hearing what someone has to say requires your full attention. There are so many distractions in the office — many of them tech-related, ironically, such as instant messaging and email — that you almost can’t help but half-listen to anyone who speaks to you, whether it’s in person or by phone. But do what you can to bring yourself fully into the conversation so you can concentrate on the message that’s being imparted to you. (This includes meetings, too, when you may often be tempted to glance at your smartphone.)
• Empathize. Admit it: When the technology you use doesn’t work properly, you get frustrated. So, don’t be so quick to dismiss or become annoyed with others when they vent to you about their IT woes. You’re the person they need to contact for assistance, so they’re going to look to you to be their calm in the storm. Dealing with people who are not tech-savvy may require even more sensitivity, especially when they come to you with some sincere but odd requests.
• Notice the nuances. Understanding nonverbal cues is another part of effective listening: Good listeners will sense what is not being said as well as what is verbalized. Learning how to read physical cues, such as facial expressions, or catch subtle changes in a person’s speaking tone takes practice. But it’s a skill that will help you not only resolve problems faster but also diffuse situations before they take an unpleasant turn.
• Don’t interrupt and get clarification. Giving someone your undivided attention shows respect and can have a positive impact on your entire exchange. It also means you’re less likely to misunderstand, or simply miss, what the person is saying to you. Of course, it’s easy to become impatient when a customer is telling you about a problem you already know the solution for before he has finished speaking. But let the end user give you the full download before you respond. If the person does get a little long-winded, wait for an appropriate moment to interject. And if the problem requires further action on your part, make sure to repeat back what the person said to confirm you understand the issue and what you must do.
• Tune in to your teammates. IT departments are typically fast-paced with intense workloads, leaving little time for technology personnel to engage in meaningful dialogue with each other. However, make a point not to become so absorbed in your work that you constantly miss, or only half absorb, what others on your immediate team are saying. Otherwise, you may miss opportunities to learn valuable information that will allow you to work more efficiently, find solutions to problems quickly and perhaps even identify issues before they worsen.

Also remember that good listening skills apply when communicating with others beyond in-person or phone conversations. For more insight on proper protocols for communication tools such as email and text messages, check out “Business Etiquette: New Rules for a Digital Age.” Even the most tech-savvy people can benefit from learning how to keep the human factor in all of their business communications.

Your 2013 job-search guide: July through September

Susan Ricker,

It's already the second half of 2013, and if your goals for the year included finding a new job, consider this a call to action. At the beginning of the year, we created a 2013 job-search guide with a quarter-by-quarter plan to keep you focused in your search. Here's an overview of the timeline:

• Q1 (January through March): Devote the first few months of the year to getting organized: Organize your thoughts, organize your application materials and organize your contacts.
• Q2 (April through June): A few months in, you should be going full steam ahead with your job search. Your days should be filled with applying, following up, networking and (hopefully) going to interviews. If you're a college student, get a head start in your professional job search by tapping alumni, using your school's career resources and making initial contact with companies of interest.
• Q3 (July through September): At around the midyear mark, take a step back to review what's working and what's not in your job search. It's not too late to course-correct to ensure that you reach your goals during the back half of the year.
• Q4 (October through December): During the last few months of the year, take advantage of the season. Network at holiday parties, consider seasonal job opportunities and take the time to thank those who have helped you professionally throughout the year.

Q3: Conduct a self-review and make adjustments
At this point, you've gotten your application materials into good shape and you've been busy searching for and applying to jobs. Your next step is to review your progress and determine what's aided your search and what's held you back. Also review whether your career goals are the same or if you'd be willing to cast a wider net. Here's a closer look at what you should be doing in Q3:

• Change what's not working: By the midyear mark, you most likely know whether you're making progress or you're stuck in the same spot. The first item up for review is your résumé. Does it need a makeover? By changing its design or format, you may find new strengths to play up that you hadn't previously considered. Have your networking efforts fallen flat? Review the basics and make sure you're ready to mingle. Also assess your social-media strategy: Do you have one, and is it helping or hurting you? Finally, ask yourself if relocation is an option. Would you be willing to move for a job?
• Consider temporary or seasonal work to gain experience and contacts: They say it's easier to get a job when you already have one, but that really means employers want to see that you have industry experience. Temporary work is a way to get your foot in the door at a company, and seasonal work can add experience to your résumé. Focus on finding opportunities that boost your résumé's experience and skills section.
• Use advice and resources specific to your background and needs: You customize your résumé to each job you apply for, so you should also customize your search to fit your individual needs. Consider using niche sites to target specific industries or experience levels. If you have trouble fitting a job search into your busy schedule, mobile applications and resources may help you get to relevant opportunities more quickly.

Use July through September to apply strategies that are right for your job-search needs and you'll be in good shape heading into the end of the year.

6 Mistakes You Should Never Make On LinkedIn

• By Miriam Salpeter  

You've probably heard that social media, especially LinkedIn, can help you find a job. Whether you are currently employed and open to opportunities or between positions, statistics suggest LinkedIn is a useful tool. A survey of hiring managers by Bullhorn Reach says 97.3% of those surveyed used LinkedIn as a recruiting tool in 2012.

Having a profile is a great first step, but if you're like many professionals, you could probably leverage LinkedIn better to help you reach your career and job search goals.

Take a close look at your profile and how you use the network and make sure you aren't making these mistakes on LinkedIn.

1. Your profile isn't 100% complete.
You set up a profile, isn't that enough? Not exactly! Check your profile and make sure LinkedIn tells you it is "100% complete." If it's not, take the steps needed to fill it in. Perhaps you need to reach the required 50 contacts. Have you added your education and filled in some skills? Have you included your zip code, and filled in all of the sections? Do you have a Summary and have you described your work experiences? Don't forget to include a photo; people are much less likely to want to learn more about you if you don't add a picture to your profile. When your profile is not complete, you will be harder to find on LinkedIn, and you don't get the full benefit of the network.

2. Your profile lacks compelling details and keywords.
When recruiters or others search LinkedIn, they see many results listed. What will inspire them to select your profile? To start out, make sure you use a friendly, but professional looking photo. Create a headline (the information right under your name) that makes it clear why someone should want to learn more about you. Don't use your current job title as your headline; be descriptive and tell people why you're great at what you do. When you compose your descriptive headline, or pitch, be sure to include keywords, the words people are most likely to use when they search for someone with your background. Take advantage of the opportunity to tell your story in your LinkedIn profile.

3. You never modify your profile.
Social networks don't work as well when you "set it and forget it." Keep an eye on how often your profile comes up in search and how many people view your profile. (You can see this information when you view your profile - scroll down and look on the right side of your screen.) If the numbers are low, update your titles and your headline and tweak your descriptions to try to capture additional search traffic.

4. You haven't customized your LinkedIn URL.
The most obvious sign of a LinkedIn novice: a non-customized URL. When you edit your profile, look under your photo. If the URL listed is a series of random letters or numbers, be sure to edit it and select your name, or some version of your name if you aren't able to secure your name as a URL. Once you customize your URL, it makes it a lot easier to share it on your business cards and your resume.

5. You never post updates.
There's a reason LinkedIn is called a "social network." The point is to share insights and information with your network. You can do this via the "update" feature. What should you say? Share ideas, links to interesting articles, and pass along links people in your network share.

6. You're not following companies.
You can learn a lot by following a company on LinkedIn. Even if they don't consistently update their page, you can easily see people in your network who work for the company and use the data at your fingertips to see if the company promotes from within (check "Insights"), and where they tend to recruit. Of course, you'll also see any jobs they post, and have the opportunity to be one of the first to apply.

7 Easy Steps to a Freelance Life

Kate Lorenz,

Being a free agent is exciting, rewarding and gives you carte blanche to choose your own hours and assignments. But standing out from the more than the estimated 10 million independent contractors in the United States can be a challenge.

"Some workers freelance while they look for a traditional full-time job, but most are freelancing because they've made a conscious lifestyle choice," says Ben Jablow, Senior Business Development Director for Sologig.com, a Web site that connects consultants and freelance job seekers with more than 60,000 contract-based projects. "They want to better balance and integrate their life and work and to be able to control what they do, how many hours they work and how much money they make."

Hiring freelance workers is beneficial to employers, too, because it provides more latitude to conduct their operations. Employers can hire based on specific skill sets for individual projects and outsource more operations, ranging from design and marketing to IT. This allows businesses to easily augment or reduce staff levels based on workflow and control costs by dialing up or down payroll and minimizing benefits coverage.

Are you seeking the flexibility and autonomy of freelancing? Jablow offers seven ways to help build your client base and fatten your wallet:

1. Specialize in a Growing Niche
Examine your skills and background to identify the unique services and value you can offer. Then think of ways to apply them in an area that has high and growing demand - and not a lot of experts to do the work. For example, freelance writer Mary L. was having little luck finding travel and entertainment assignments, but after taking inventory of past projects, found several pieces she wrote for her former employer's IT department. Today, she has a flourishing technical writing practice and more work than she can handle.

2. Nurture Your Network Stay top-of-mind by regularly keeping in touch with your network. Go where the people who can hire you are -- attend the same conferences, join the same associations and read the same magazines and newsletters. Call your friends and colleagues and tell them what you are looking for and what you have to offer. Be sure to contact former bosses and co-workers, too. If you left the company on good terms, this can be an excellent way to get clients.

3. Join a Service There are many Web sites, like Sologig.com, that bridge the connection between independent contractors and employers. Unlike many freelance sites, Sologig.com is not a bidding platform. Job seekers are no longer required to register or log onto the site, and do not pay to post a profile or apply to projects. Instead, employers purchase project postings and access to the 1.1 million profiles and résumés in Sologig.com's database.

4. Build Referrals Referrals are one of the easiest and most effective ways to build your business. And, once you get rolling, they have a snowball effect. To encourage referrals, first be sure to take care of your existing customers in a way that will leave them absolutely thrilled with your services. When the kudos come in, ask for testimonials and referrals. One independent accountant even began his own "referral reward" program, where he sends a thank-you note along with a $25 gift certificate to those who send new clients to him.

5. Subcontracting
Subcontract your services out to other firms or independent professionals in your field. For example, a freelance graphic designer supplements her direct business by subcontracting with a large ad agency that uses her talent when it has more work than it can handle or can't do the task as efficiently or economically. The designer works behind the scenes and is paid by the agency - often at a lower rate than if she got the project on her own. But she says it's a win-win for both parties and has been a great way to build her portfolio!

6. More is Good The more qualified prospects you reach, the more clients you will have. Even if you can only handle several assignments at a time, a larger client base gives you the option of choosing the most exciting and rewarding projects. And isn't that why you became a free agent in the first place?

7. Establish Yourself as an Expert
Becoming known as an expert can be some of the best advertising you can get. Write articles in industry magazines, newsletters and trade journals and arrange to speak at professional or trade association conferences on topics related to your niche. Those who like your articles and speeches will contact you when they want more information, some may even become clients. Post your articles and speeches on your Web site, send "FYI" copies to your clients and associates, and include them in your marketing literature.

9 Ridiculously Easy Ways To Be More Productive

• By Young Entrepreneur Council

By Travis Steffen

As entrepreneurs, we're always busy. But where does it end? When you get more successful, do you think your schedule will magically get less busy and fill up with fewer obligations?

Think again. Instead, you'll have to get more done in less time. And unless you have a system, it may prove difficult.

Now, there are tons of apps, online tools and time management methods out there, but it wasn't until I began experimenting with more nontraditional, seemingly archaic means of managing my time that I truly began to harness the full power of time management. Everyone is different, and not all of the strategies that work for me work for everyone else. But here are 9 unconventional tips that have helped me manage my time far more effectively:

1. Ditch the smartphone and use a paper and pen. Just because a method is more technologically advanced does not necessarily make it more effective. In my opinion, nothing beats a good old-fashioned notebook and pen - it's clunky, annoying, inconvenient and therefore difficult to ignore. I could always place my smartphone in my pocket, and I often do. Unless I'm wearing some sort of MC Hammer-style parachute pants, I can't put my to-do list notebook in my pocket – nor should I. The annoyance factor is what makes it so powerful.

2. Use a to-do list template. Since your end goal is to manage your time more effectively, it would be ridiculous to spend a ton of time writing out your most common to-do list items each day. I created my own to-do list template which includes all of my daily tasks. This ensures I don't spend time writing them down, and I can schedule them in with my more unique tasks that I only have to perform today.

3. Include even the most menial tasks. On your list, you should include every single solitary thing you do during the day that takes up time. Seriously. I'm talking meals, working out, taking a shower and calling your mother. This is not a business task management list, this is a time management list. If you spend time on things you think you'll remember on your own, include it.

4. Prioritize your list items. The order in which you perform necessary tasks is where the magic happens. Think about the most optimal order in which you can accomplish your tasks - you can often squeeze three or four things into the same amount of time that it would otherwise take you to accomplish just one.

5. Start your list with 5 small, easy tasks. The Brian Tracy acolytes are going to hate on me for this one. I've never been a big fan of completing your largest task first. Or second. Or even third. Say I've got a long list of 35 items I need to perform on a given day (which is common). Then, let's assume my three largest list items take an hour each (which, again, is common.) That means three hours into my day, I look down at my list and I still have 32 list items that have yet to be completed. This becomes very intimidating and, in my experience, makes it far less likely that I'll complete everything on the list that day. However, if I decide to start my day with five quick, simple tasks before tackling my first large list item, I look down at my list about an hour later and I've already made a dent. I feel like I'm on a roll, and I'm more likely to ramp up my productivity for the day.

6. For every big list item, perform 3-4 small list items. As an extension of the previous tip, I advocate performing at least three or four simpler list items for every long, arduous one. This not only continues to release endorphins at a more rapid rate – which happens every time I check something off a list and boosts my mood – but it also makes it seem like I'm burning through a larger percentage of my list more rapidly.

7. Include a project management grid. Your to-do list not only serves as a way to manage your time during a specific day, but it also keeps you organized and productive across all your projects. If you're an entrepreneur, juggling multiple projects is often a challenge, and that's why most people assume it's more productive to focus on only one project at a time. I disagree with this assumption. I think that you can truly be more productive by juggling multiple projects - if you manage them all effectively. Include a grid on the back of your to-do list devoted to project management, displaying every project in terms of phases of development (i.e. brainstorming, outlining, development, testing, etc.). I prefer one with a similar structure and rules to what Eric Ries recommends in The Lean Startup, but feel free to experiment.

8. Use shorthand. I use my own form of shorthand to populate my to-do list. To a third party, nothing would make sense. But you're the only one who uses your list, so use whatever form of shorthand you like. It's quicker than writing everything out in full, and every second counts.

9. Make tomorrow's list before today ends. Before I sleep each night, I take a few minutes to make tomorrow's list. I'll take anything I didn't accomplish today and push it to tomorrow, and add new list items in where necessary, based on what tasks I need to perform next. I'll also then number my first dozen items so I have some direction on what to dive into first.

How to become an urban planner

• By Susan Ricker

Have you ever visited a new city and easily found your destination or noticed how well-organized a town’s directions and layout were? There’s probably a talented urban planner to thank for that. These professionals develop plans and programs for the use of land, and create communities, accommodate growth and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties and metropolitan areas.*

Behind every neighborhood, downtown area, expanding business and open lot, there’s likely an urban planner weighing in on how best to engage the community and work with the surroundings. If you’ve ever looked around your neighborhood and uttered the words, “You know what they should do?”, consider if becoming an urban planner is the right career for you.

The demand for urban planners
As the economy continues to recover and cities and neighborhoods redevelop, urban planners will be needed to accommodate growing populations and revitalize local communities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of urban and regional planners to grow 16 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as average for all occupations. Population growth and environmental concerns will drive employment growth for planners in cities, suburbs and other areas. Urban planners are also commonly employed by engineering and architecture firms for consultation services about land use, development and building.

According to the BLS, “Urban and regional planners identify community needs and develop short- and long-term plans to create, grow or revitalize a community or area. For example, planners may examine plans for proposed facilities, such as schools, to ensure that these facilities will meet the needs of a changing population. As an area grows or changes, planners help communities manage the related economic, social and environmental issues, such as planning a new park, sheltering the homeless or making the region more attractive to businesses.”

Urban planners may specialize in certain areas of development or planning. Suburbs are the fastest-growing communities in most metropolitan areas. As suburban areas become more heavily populated, municipalities will need planners to address changing housing needs and to improve transportation systems.

An increased focus on sustainable and environmentally-conscious development also will increase demand for planners. Issues such as storm water management, permits, environmental regulation, and historic preservation should drive employment growth.

Employment growth should be fastest in private engineering, architectural and consulting services. Engineering and architecture firms are increasingly using planners for land use, development and building. In addition, many real estate developers and governments will continue to contract out various planning services to these consulting firms, further driving employment growth.

Education and work experience
An advanced degree is required for most urban planning positions; usually a master’s degree from an accredited planning program is needed to qualify for professional positions. Many people who enter master’s degree programs have a bachelor’s degree in economics, geography, political science, or environmental design.

Depending on the school’s location and economic surroundings, course offerings and focuses may differ. For example, programs located in agricultural states may focus on rural planning and programs located in an area with high population density may focus on urban revitalization.

These jobs also often require several years of related work experience. Entry-level planners typically need one to two years of work experience in a related field, such as architecture, public policy or economic development. Many students get experience through real-world planning projects or part-time internships while enrolled in a planning program. They often complete summer internships during their master’s program. Mid- and senior-level planner positions usually require several years of work experience in planning or in a specific planning specialty.

Important qualities
While education and on-the-job experience are major factors in determining how qualified a candidate is to be hired as an urban planner, there are other important qualities that employers look for. Some of those qualities are:

• Analytical skills. Planners analyze information and data from a variety of sources, such as market research studies, censuses, and environmental impact studies.
• Collaboration skills. In making planning decisions, urban and regional planners must collaborate with a wide range of people. They often work with or receive input from public officials, engineers, architects, and interest groups.
• Decision-making skills. Planners must weigh all possible planning options and combine analysis, creativity and realism to choose the appropriate action or plan.
• Management skills. Planners must be able to manage projects, which may include overseeing tasks, planning assignments and making decisions.
• Speaking skills. Urban and regional planners must be able to communicate clearly and effectively because they often give presentations and meet with a wide variety of audiences, including public officials, interest groups and community members.
• Writing skills. Urban and regional planners need strong writing skills because they often prepare research reports, write grant proposals and correspond with colleagues and stakeholders.

Unemployed? Here's how to nab an interview

Alan Carniol,

If you're out of work, looking for a new job can be challenging, especially if you've been unemployed for an extended period of time. Here are some expert tips for staying on track and nabbing an interview:

 

Convey confidence
"Remember to be enthusiastic and interested throughout the interview, regardless of how frustrated you may be with your job search," says Lynne Sarikas, director of Northeastern University's MBA Career Center.

Yes, being unemployed isn't fun. Getting turned down from previous interviews can make the feeling even worse. Still, if you bring those feelings into your next interview, you might jeopardize your chances.

The antidote for this negativity? Focus on how you can still produce results on the job. "You are competing with current workers, so you have to show that you are still capable, knowledgeable and that you add value to the company in this position," Sarikas says.

Show you aren't rusty
Employers want workers who are up to date on their knowledge and skills. If you want to impress employers, review all the tools you used in past jobs, and make sure you're familiar with all the relevant industry language.

"Know the software you used in each role you've worked," says Sarah Connors, staffing manager in the human resources contracts division at WinterWyman. "Software is becoming a bigger item to help get you in the door, and those names should roll off your tongue like you used them yesterday. [Saying] 'Um' ... because you can't remember a name makes it seem like you don't remember the software, and if you don't remember the software, then it's not a value-add you're bringing to the next company."

Another way to prove your value? "Use your network: Connect with former co-workers and managers on LinkedIn to get a great referral that shows what a capable, valuable employee you can be," Connors says.

Prove your fit
"Fit is the most critical determination in hiring for both the hiring manager and the candidate," Sarikas says. "For the hiring manager, there are typically multiple candidates with the skills to do the job. The challenge is finding the best person for the job based on how they fit with the team and the culture of the organization."

So how do you communicate fit? Be yourself, says Kevin Ricklefs, senior vice president of talent management at CHG Healthcare. "Don't just answer the question; add some personality and passion into each response," Ricklefs says. "Your personality comes through when you convey enthusiasm for certain topics, you tell stories that explain your 'why's, and you ask questions of the interviewer in areas that interest you."

Explain any long-term unemployment
If you have not worked for a while, you may be asked about it in your interviews. Invest the time in creating a strong answer to this question.

"Being honest is always the best option," Connors says. "If there's something you feel is too personal to share, you'll want to talk to a recruiter, mentor or trusted friend about how to discuss it. Highlight any volunteer work, contract positions or classes you have taken that show you've been active and keeping your skills fresh. It's too competitive a market to not give yourself every advantage."