Job Search Success
Check out our new wage calculator that converts an hourly wage into weekly, monthly, or annual salary. Actually you can use it to convert your wage in any time frame to any other time frame. If you only know how much you make per month, for example, enter that amount into the calculator to see how much you make per hour and per year.
Aside from having a boss that makes you feel chronically depressed on a regular basis and a gnawing acknowledgement that after 20 years, you may have chosen the wrong vocation, dealing with irritating co-workers is the next worst thing about working for an organization. According to psychologists, once a group of people are placed in an office environment, there are a number of different behavioral types exhibited by them. The reason why comic strip Dilbert and TV show The Office are so popular is because they accurately reflect a real working environment. Workers from all over the world can relate to the travails of these not so fictional characters. Although annoying co-workers will always make work even harder than it should be, here are some tips to deal with certain types of office pests.
Job Haters
There are generally two types of people who hate their job, the person who complains and does no work and the individual who works but also moans incessantly. In the case of the person who whines about their job and doesn’t contribute to the workplace, counter their anger by volunteering your opinion on how great the organization is. A worker like this is just looking for someone to agree with them. Throw them off by acting like a model employee. This hater of everything in the office will soon search for someone who shares their opinions.
The person who complains but actually does their job is probably depressed. Avoid agreeing or disagreeing with them. The last thing you want is to be sucked into their loveless, lifeless, hollow existence. If they insult you during the course of their daily rant, be sure to rebuke them sternly but professionally. This should keep them away from you for a while.
Mr. Oblivious
Every office has at least one employee who irritates everyone in the workplace in a number of different ways. They might have bad breath, reek of cheap aftershave or continually break wind in the office. These people are not deliberately trying to annoy you, that’s just the way they are. In some cases, it is best to be completely honest. Explain to this person that their personal hygiene leaves a lot to be desired and is making them something of a pariah at the office. If you want to spare their feelings, perhaps leave subtle hints lying on their desk. For example, if it’s cheap aftershave that’s the issue, have the note which explains that someone in the office is allergic to it. Use tact when dealing with these people whenever possible because they are not going out of their way to be an irritant.
Bullies
As tempting as it is to tackle a workplace bully with a swift punch or kick, it is not worth getting fired for their continued transgressions. Instead, take a professional and intelligent course of action. Document their bullying behavior. Include the times, dates and details of their actions and get statements from office witnesses. Once you have a solid body of evidence, go to a supervisor and launch an official complaint. If the bully’s behavior is extremely disruptive, they may get the boot or at least be relocated.
Annoying co-workers can make the best jobs a trial and a job you already dislike pure hell on Earth. Don’t tolerate workers that make your life a misery. Find professional and clever ways of dealing with them. Don’t accept being bullied or having your day ruined by someone who leads an unhappy life. If your co-workers are too irritating to handle, seek alternative employment.
Exerting influence at work is a crucial component to a successful and satisfying career. Though it sounds manipulative (and can certainly be used that way), influence is best used not only to benefit yourself, but the company as well. Here’s how to do it effectively:
Brainstorm talking points. Anticipate any “buts” you’ll receive and come up with solutions. Perhaps your colleague will say he’s too busy to complete the report by noon; offer to help him on another project so he can concentrate on the report you need. Your boss could have doubts that you’re experienced enough to manage a campaign; come prepared with a system of checks and balances to ensure she’s in the loop throughout the project.
Between lengthy to-do lists and endless staff meetings, proper etiquette probably isn’t most employees’ top priority. But good manners can help build relationships and avoid conflict—both of which make the workday more enjoyable. Here are a few tips:
Starting a new job is a wonderful opportunity for you to display your talents and begin your climb up the ladder of success. However, there are some things that you should avoid like the plague when you start your new job and many of the points are obvious, but often overlooked.
Here are some big mistakes that you should avoid when you are starting a new job:
Really it all comes down to respect for yourself and those you will be working with. If you lack it then you are likely to run into problems with your new job, but if you go with the flow and do your best to respect everyone you will work with and the company you are going to work for then you have a great chance of getting ahead.
When your boss gets fired, you might panic that you are the next victim but sometimes having your boss fired, especially if he or she wasn’t a pro, is the best thing that could happen to you (and to the company as a whole).
When a manager is given the sack, this usually suggests that not everything has been going on smoothly. It depends on the company, but generally managers are not fired for things such as not wearing a suit, or arriving 5 minutes late every day but for more serious sins like lack of results, bad managerial skills, abuse of power, etc. Of course, there are exceptions and it is not unlikely that a top manager is fired because of the intrigues inside the company and if this is the case, this should ring a bell that this company is not good and you should try to escape from there as soon as possible.
However, I am not discussing the situation when a top manager gets fired because of intrigues. I am discussing the situation when a poor manager is finally shown the door. If this is the case, you should jump with joy because getting rid of such a boss is a wise step and it can help your company achieve better results. When one more top parasite is kicked out, this is good for all the pros who are in.
There’s a common saying out there – “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” The comedic response has been, “So I dress as an astronaut everyday,” but there is something to take from this saying.
While it may be acceptable to dress in jeans and t-shirts at your workplace, it is not the best idea. Even if your immediate coworkers don’t mind, there are others that will judge you. Appearances mean a lot and dressing appropriately earns you certain amount of respect.
Here’s a true story – a candidate came into to interview very nicely dressed and impressed the all of us on the interviewing committee. However, on his first day on the job he showed up in jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. Our new employee that we were eager to introduce to everyone made a terrible impression on his first day. Dressing that casually, particularly when you are new to a job, sends the wrong signal. He did not appear professional or qualified. Some coworkers even commented that his attire gave the impression that he was not thankful for the position.
So, why do so many employees feel it’s acceptable to be lax in their attire once they have been at a company for a while? Even though it may be acceptable, it’s never desirable. You can present a positive, professional, clean appearance without wearing suits to work. A nice pair of slacks and button up shirt is much more appropriate than jeans and a t-shirt.
Studies have even shown that when employees dress better, it has a positive impact on their job performance. If your company practices casual Friday, then you probably can attest to the trend that casual attire contributes to a more relaxed work day.
Procrastination is one of those nouns that are never good. Rarely does anyone say that they are glad they procrastinated about getting some task done or how happy they are that someone else delayed doing something that they were supposed to do.
Procrastination is simply delaying a task that can be done now. When you put off doing things, your work will pile up and you will find yourself under the gun for time. You may rationalize this by saying that you work best under pressure, however, in today’s work environment; the employees who enjoy the most job security are those who get the most done. If you procrastinate with your own tasks you are never available to take on extra work. This limits the opportunities you have to make your supervisors see how indispensable you are.
The other drawback with procrastination is that it creates a vicious cycle. You get overwhelmed with the work that has piled up and you don’t know where to start so you put off starting, thereby intensifying the problem. Such actions create a physical accumulation of documents, files and paperwork, making your workspace untidy and intimidating. If your work is mostly online, procrastination can lead to an inbox that is clogged and intimidating.
Conquer your procrastination habit by setting mini-goals for yourself and eliminating distractions. Tackle one area at a time and before you know it, you will be on your way to getting out from under the backlog of work piling up in your office.
As more and more cuts are made to the workforce of practically every industry, firms are left with smaller teams to do the same amount of work and sometimes even more. Sales teams have to work harder than ever in many companies to get the contracts that are out there. Competition is high and many businesses are finding that it takes a lot more effort to secure the work necessary to keep their doors open. In addition, as employees are being let go, someone needs to take on the tasks the exiting person was doing. What this means is lots of work for fewer people.
The number one tip for anyone out there who is still working at a company where there have been cuts is to work harder than ever to keep your name off the list for the next round of cuts. If you are the first person to ask where you can help out when your own tasks are finished, you’ll be sending the message to management that you are a hard worker and can pull more than your own weight. Never gripe about being overworked. Instead, be thankful that you still have a job and a paycheck. Don’t use up all your sick leave and vacation time, you may need it later and doing so leaves a bad impression with others who are working extra hard. Finally, don’t be the first one out the door when your day ends. Stay later and work through lunch hours without extra pay. It’s a great way to show that you are one of those employees your company just can’t do without.
You’re probably tired of hearing about how the recession is affecting so many things, especially the job market. If you have a job and even if you feel pretty secure in it, you may still want to take notice to some common-sense type tips of things not to do at the office.
In today’s tight economy, any number of factors can contribute to you being included in those at your workplace who are being let go. However, if you take care to be pleasant to work with, as productive as possible and a good deal for the wage your company pays you, your job will be secure and you won’t have to join the ranks of those searching for a new job during a recession.
Loading ...