Author: Anne Holub

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Amazon Is Hiring 100,000 Workers Right Now. Here Are More Companies Hiring During the Coronavirus

The coronavirus is changing work as we know it, sending folks home to work remotely, but also shuttering some businesses deemed “non-essential.” Many even temporarily closed businesses are laying off workers they can no longer afford to pay. If you’re looking for work during this time, you may want to check some...

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How to Work With Anxiety During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Millions of computer-bound professionals have suddenly found themselves working from home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, either by company mandate or through chosen social distancing. We’re all dealing with a “new normal” that can make our worries and anxieties go through the roof. So how do you find your focus, get things...

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Use Color Theory to Make Your Job Amazing

Feeling blah at work? Maybe your decor is the problem. Use color theory to help you feel calmer, more focused and more productive. You don’t have to be an artist to understand how certain colors can inspire feelings and emotions. Some hues make us feel calm and centered; others, anxious and scattered....

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You’re Probably Making Email Mistakes — and You’re Not Alone

Do you panic after you hit “send” on a work email? There are so many different kinds of email mistakes out there, from unfortunate typos to confusing messaging. Worst of all, there’s the sinking feeling that you’re spending too much of your valuable time writing drafts and not enough time getting your...

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How to Protect Your Privacy While You’re Job Searching

When you’re looking for a new job, you already have enough items on your to-do list. Protect your privacy and make sure coping with identity theft isn’t one of them. Why are you particularly vulnerable to privacy issues during a job search? In short, it’s because you’re putting a lot of data...

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How to Get That Job With a Robot-Proof Resume

Have you applied online for jobs recently? If so, you’ve (perhaps unknowingly) interacted with the resume robots. By one estimate, 40% of employers use applicant tracking systems to gather, process and sort job applications. If you don’t have a robot-proof resume, your candidacy might slip through the cracks. “Applicant tracking systems act...

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How to Have the Best Decade of Your Career in the Roaring ’20s

Are you ready for the roaring ’20s? You’ve only got a few weeks left of this decade to prepare. Plan now, and make it the most awesome decade of your career so far. A hundred years ago, the 1920s gave us the rise of jazz, the Harlem Renaissance, the ratification of the...

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Are Robot Farmers Coming for Agriculture Jobs?

Robot farmers are changing how humans grow food. The question is: will they merely make agriculture more efficient … or displace their human overlords completely? Of course, technology has always had a place on the farm. Starting with the wheel and hoe and moving to the harvest combine and rototiller, humankind sought...

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5 Beer-Related Jobs That Aren’t Brewer or Bartender

You love beer, but you don’t necessarily want to sling pints behind the bar. Good news: selling beer by the glass isn’t the only way to earn a living from hops. Here are some happy, hoppy beer jobs for anyone who wants a beer career. Become a Beer Expert With a Cicerone...

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7 Jobs You Can Do to Support Your PhD

Most people assume that while you’re getting a PhD, you’ll be teaching on the side — and heating up cans of beans by candlelight at night. But you don’t have to be a starving student while you’re studying. There are jobs out there that not only pay a real wage, but also...

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Angry at Work? Here Is How to Resist Hulking Out

Do you ever feel angry at work? If so, congratulations — you’re human. Just about everyone has felt their temper go into the red zone at the office. If you’re passionate about your work, it’s almost unavoidable. And even if you’re only working to pay the bills, it can be tough to...

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How Can We Make Paternity Leave Better?

Paternity leave benefits — those that provide time off for new fathers — vary across the globe. In the U.S. there are no standard laws or guidelines for companies to provide paid time off for fathers (or mothers, for that matter). But with a society so focused on wellness and the family...

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Do These 7 Things to Boost Your Morning Productivity

True confession: I am not a morning person. I’m often sleepy, groggy, grumpy and downright a lousy person to talk to first thing in the morning. But it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m unproductive. I actually like getting things accomplished in the early in the day. And I love looking back on a...

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How to Get Recruited on Social Media

You’re likely already on your Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat all the time anyway. So, why not let social media work for you to get recruited? When you’re looking for a new job, you can make a good (or bad) impression online. But not to fear, there are also great ways you can...

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Could a 9-Hour Workweek Save Humanity?

You read that right. Nine hours. That’s likely a little bit more that a full day’s worth of work on your current schedule. But according to one new study, we need to dramatically shorten the workweek. Why? To avert climate crisis. Here’s how the amount of time we spend (or waste) at...

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Why You Should Eat the Same Work Lunch Every Day

Want to get more productive at work? Make fewer decisions, starting with your work lunch. Turns out, decision-making can be a real drain on our overloaded brains. Instead, we can gain some control over our schedule starting in a simple place: food. When you’re planning your work lunch, you also can be...

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How Do Professional Athletes Pay Their Rent?

You can’t open a sports page without reading about an NFL or NBA player’s multimillion-dollar deal. But not every athlete makes the big bucks. Some professional athletes’ salaries are less than you might think. How exactly does the above-average swimmer or runner pay their bills? It’s not always about the big paycheck....

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How to Ruin Your Personal Brand

Even if you’ve never said the words “personal brand” out loud, guess what? You have one. In short, your personal brand is the image you present to the world. Just as consumers have associations with product brands like Coca-Cola or Nike, hiring managers have associations with you. That’s good news, as long...

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9 Smart Things to Do Before Your Next Job Interview

If you’re preparing for an interview, you’ve probably encountered a sea of advice on how to succeed. But which job interview tips are worth following — and which are a waste of your precious time? When it comes down to it, job interview prep is pretty simple: know who you’re talking to,...

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Is Your Job Making You Lonely? Here’s How to Cope

Are you lonely at work? Some people buzz around the office, high-fiving and laughing at inside jokes all day. But many of us don’t. Sometimes, that’s a matter of preference. Introverts and creative types who thrive on working alone might like their relative isolation. But if you’d prefer to connect with others...

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What to Do When Your Office Has Bedbugs

Maybe you’ve been feeling a little itchy lately, or you’ve found a few bites. Perhaps you’ve spotted a few apple seed-like insects around your desk. Or maybe your supervisor has emailed the team to let you all know, for sure, that your office has bedbugs. No matter why you’re researching these itchy...

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Here’s Another Reason Not to Work on the Weekend

If “everybody’s working for the weekend,” then what happens if you work through the weekend, too? A new study shows that skipping that break can cause more harm than you’d think. Turns out, you could be working yourself into real mental health problems. Here’s how you can do better at setting those...

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7 Ways to Stay Focused at Work Even When You’re Feeling Super Distracted

We all could stand to be more productive, right? Even while I’m typing this, I’m thinking about what to do for dinner, how my dogs are feeling and if the weather is going to clear up this weekend for a day of hiking outside. But here’s the problem: while I’m thinking about...

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How to Follow Up After a Job Interview

Congratulations! You’ve made it through all those potential road blocks in the job application process and scored yourself an interview for a job you really want. But once the interview is over, what should you do while you play the waiting game? How do you follow up after a job interview without...

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7 Easy Ways to Renew Your Career Right Now

Spring means a time of rebirth and starting over. If your career feels like it’s been frozen under a snowbank for way too long, here are some great tips for renewing your job prospects. Ready to put a few new buds and branches on your career journey? It require a little bit...

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What is it Like to Work in the Legal Cannabis Industry?

Ever wanted to work in the cannabis industry? Now that medical cannabis is legal in 33 states and recreational cannabis is legal in 10 states and D.C., you might wonder just how easy it is. Is it like working for your cousin’s bar, but cooler? Is it illegal? Do you have to...

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Are You a Bad Manager?

You’re rolling along at work, thinking you’re doing fine, when you realize your team is unhappy. What brought this on? You’ve always prided yourself on being a superb leader, a pinnacle of office fortitude and the bossest boss — but your team is still struggling. The problem might be you. Reality Check:...

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How Much Sleep Is Enough to Keep You Interested in Your Job?

Sleep can be a wonderful thing. New moms and dads miss it. Teenagers are addicted to it. Small children don’t know what they’re missing. But when it comes to your career, have you considered how much sleep is affecting your job satisfaction? A new survey shows a link between lack of sleep...

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LinkedIn: These Are the Skills Companies Need Right Now

Recently, LinkedIn released a report, The Skills Companies Need Most in 2019 — and the ones that made the list may surprise you. It turns out, employers are looking for soft skills in their potential hires. So if you want to land the job of your dreams — or move up the...

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How to Ruin a Recruiter`s Day

Low unemployment and a booming job market mean that there are lots of options for those looking for work. Recruiters can help you find a good fit … if you know how to work with them. Recruiters and headhunters can get access to jobs that aren’t listed to the public. What’s the...

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You Hate Your Boss. Now What?

Chances are that at some point in your life, you’re going to have issues with your boss. Could be in your first job or your last, but it’s probably going to happen sooner or later. This isn’t to say your manager is necessarily bad (though they could be). Sometimes you just don’t...

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Why a 4-Day Workweek Might Be the Cure for Burnout

All over the world, employers are trying out a four-day workweek. The goal isn’t just to provide their employees with a nice perk. These companies are also trying to boost productivity while reducing burnout. Yes, you read that right: in order to get more done, these employers are asking their people to...

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Workaholics Are Bad for Team Morale

Burning the candle at both ends can seem exhilarating. But, if you think working all the time means doing your best work, you’re flat out wrong. Workaholics aren’t the most productive members of most teams. A recent study of 5,000 workers found that the top performers at nearly any job were the...

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How to Get a Tech Job (Even When You Don’t Know How to Code)

No matter whether you’re starting out or looking for a new direction, it’s hard to change to a new career path. A job in tech could lead to a bigger paycheck, but how do you cross over? Getting a tech job isn’t hard for those who have a background in computers or...

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A Surprising Gender Pay Gap Story From the World of Classical Music

Artists, writers and musicians often have trouble crossing over from side gig to full-time job. They make ends meet by working as waiters, office workers, delivery people, etc. But for those lucky enough to use their artistic talents at a full-time job, it’s still hard to earn enough to make a living....

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Are You Worried About Failing … or Succeeding?

I have a small metal block on my desk with an inspirational sentence: “What would you attempt to do if you could not fail?” It’s certainly a question many of us might ponder in the darkness of uncertainty at work. It’s also one with no easy answer. Do we hesitate because we...

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5 Ways to Get Fit at Work

In a perfect world, you’d have access to a gym at the office … and time to use it. In reality, you’re probably lucky if you can grab some lunch in between meetings. But that doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your health for your job. You can get fit while...

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10+ Healthy Lunch Ideas You Won’t Give Up in the New Year

Need an idea for a New Year’s resolution? Make a commitment to eating healthier at work. You’re tired of low energy, sleepy afternoons and evenings during which you can’t bear to think the word “gym.” Instead of biting off more than you can chew (pun intended), try a resolution that’s easy to...

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Resolve to Get Hired in 2019. Here’s How.

New Year’s resolutions can be a useful tool. They can inspire you to set new goals and motivate you to focus your intention. When it comes to big resolutions, however, it’s important to set up a plan to succeed. If your goal in 2019 is to land a new job, then let’s...

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Live in the Suburbs? Geographic Bias Might Keep You From Getting Hired

That long commute might be having an impact on more than just your beauty sleep. According to a recent study, it might keep you from landing a new job. The study was published in the Journal of Human Resources in August 2018. Researchers lead by David Phillips, an associate professor of economics...

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Is Lack of Sleep Pressing Snooze on Your Career?

How many times have you heard a coworker brag about how little sleep they get? At some workplaces, it’s a badge of honor to do without rest. There’s just one problem: not sleeping enough is about the worst thing you can do for your career. While a few cups of coffee might...

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Are Your Coworkers Judging Your Taste in Music?

You get a little bounce in your step when that funky beat comes on the radio. But that doesn’t mean your coworkers want to hear your personal playlist. A new survey conducted by Cloudcover Music found that the majority of respondents (voluntarily) listened to music at work. Over 1,000 employees and employers...

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How to Handle Job Rejection Like a Champ

You didn’t get the job you wanted, and you’re super bummed. You rage, you throw things, you curse into your phone with some very specific emojis. As long as you’re doing all that with family and friends, and not around the boss, there’s no problem. A little private venting is A-OK when...

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What Matters to Job Seekers? Hint: Not Perks.

Young and old workers unite! You’re both searching for the same things when it comes to a good job. Is it a place you can bring your dog, your baby, your ping pong skillz? It turns out, not so much. Millennials and boomers both just want a good base salary, darn it...

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How to Get the Credit You Deserve at Work

Ever feel like you never really left the group-project phase of your life behind? Work has this in common with your school days: in most jobs, much of what you accomplish will be a team effort. And while this can lead to more creative ideas and more effective solutions, it’s also an...

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Is That Perk Too Good to Be True?

Your job enticed you with promises of a relaxed Friday dress code, unlimited bowls of cereal in the break room, or free dry cleaning. But are these offerings really to your benefit? It depends on the fine print and how they fit into your work life. Perks definitely vary by industry, company...

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Are You Bailing Out Too Early on Online Job Applications?

How long do you stick with an online job application before giving up? If you’re like one in five employees, the answer is less than 10 minutes. A recent survey from CareerBuilder and SilkRoad showed that 20 percent of job seekers give up on a job application if it takes too long....

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Amazon Eyes Two Cities for HQ2

In possibly the least romantic reality show ever, Amazon seems to be winding down its search for a second headquarters. But this tale isn’t without a special twist at the end. Instead of choosing just one city in which to open a second location, Amazon is reportedly picking two cities. The big...

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Even Teachers Have Imposter Syndrome

Since the first caveman (or cavewoman) first painted their hand on a cave wall and then thought, “My hand is no apt representation of my inner turmoil — why bother painting my hand on this wall at all?” there has been imposter syndrome. Actually, “imposter syndrome” — that feeling of inadequacy in...

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5 Hidden Ways Your Job Is Hurting You

You ache at the end of a long workday. But it’s not like you lift heavy things or haul cumbersome loads — you work in an office all day. So why does your body hurt all of a sudden? Aches and pains can accumulate, even if you’re an office worker. And those...

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How Even Busy People Find Their ‘Off’ Button at Work

Pop Quiz: Your phone is blowing up at midnight, and it might be your boss emailing — do you check it? A: Of course! B: No way! C: It depends. D: I can’t hear my phone alerts over the music at the club. Also, I never connected my personal phone to my...

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Make November Into the Best-Ever Month for Your Career (Really!)

November is a tough month, motivation-wise. The days grow shorter, the clocks fall back and the holiday craziness starts up. Getting anything done at work can feel like an uphill battle. But it doesn’t have to be. After all, 30 days hath November — and you can use every one of them...

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Self-Care for Job Seekers

You’re looking for a new job, and it’s stressing you out to the point of collapse. You have to learn some self-care so you don’t implode. Remember, if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. via GIPHY You’re in the Top Five If you’re looking for work because you lost...

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Amazon Fires Sexist Resume Robot

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the future, right? It’s behind more intuitive software, “learning” virtual assistants and even can kick some butt at Jeopardy!. But what happens when we discover that AI is just as flawed as we are? Last year, Amazon discontinued use of an AI recruiting tool that showed bias against...

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10 Office Halloween Costumes and What They Say About Your Coworkers

Whether you spend six months planning how to get spoopy like David S. Pumpkins or just slap a bow on your head and call yourself Minnie, the Halloween costume party is a must-do in some offices. Sorting out how costumes reflect on a coworker’s personality can be tricky, but if you’re lucky,...

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3 Horror Stories About Workers’ Worst First Day of Work

Heading into your first day at a new job? If you’re like most brand-new employees, you’re probably just hoping it all goes smoothly. A lot can go wrong on your first day, from late trains to spilled coffee. But when the disasters are big — and we mean BIG — it can...

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Declutter Your Inbox Today With These 3 Steps (Even If Your ‘Inbox’ Is Slack)

Does fighting with your inbox feel like trying to drink the ocean, one sip at a time? If you’re feeling overwhelmed and you need to declutter that inbox, fear no more. Help is here. Getting to a pristine inbox, even across multiple message platforms, is doable. And you can approach it as...

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5 Signs You Need to Quit Your Job Right Now

Unemployment is at a near 50-year low. Quits are up, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And many employers still give 3 percent raises on average. It all adds up to an environment that encourages workers to think about greener pastures. But is it time for you to quit your job?...

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Why Some Marijuana Users Can’t Get Legal Pot Jobs

When it comes to breaking into the growing marijuana industry (see what I did there?), it’s one thing to be a part of the team, and another to be a partier on the team. The legal cannabis industry gains ground in more states every election cycle. As of June 2018, there are nine...

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Is Your Workplace Wellness Program an Invasion of Your Privacy?

It starts with a few changes to the company wellness perks: a new gym benefit, some smoking cessation programs you could join. Then there’s a free step tracker and a staff distance goal for the week. Then you learn that if you sign up for all of the wellness program you get...

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Here’s How to Work From Home and Actually Get Stuff Done

Working from home can make you more productive than ever before … or become an excuse to catch up on your Netflix when you should be doing your job. As a work-from-home writer and editor, I know a thing or two about making telecommuting work. If you’ve been lucky enough to convince...

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Is Bitcoin Mining Replacing Fossil Fuel Jobs?

Tech taking over blue collar jobs isn’t a new idea. It’s been happening to the auto industry for decades via automation. Now, bitcoin mining offers promise for areas where fossil fuel jobs once dominated the economy. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are based on blockchain technology. What is blockchain, again? “Blockchain” refers to the encoded...

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Surfing Closes the Gender Prize Money Gap

Women earn 77.9 cents for every dollar earned by men. When it comes to fixing that disparity, not all heroes wear capes. Some of them carry surfboards. Surfing is the latest professional sport to award equal prize money to male and female competitors. The World Surf League recently announced that starting in...

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10 Healthy Snacks That Fight the Afternoon Slump

The clock is ticking, but it’s still hours until you go home. You’re getting sleepy … sleeeeeeepy. WAKE UP! Instead of adding another cup of coffee or a mess of sugar to your day — and risking a crash later on — try a healthy snack to perk yourself up. Bonus: it...

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Take a Walk, Find a Job With This New CareerBuilder App

CareerBuilder has jumped from online job searching to on-the-street job searches. Their new free mobile app, CareerBuilder Job Search, launched today on iOS. (Android version coming soon.) The app plugs in to your surroundings, helping you see who’s hiring in your neighborhood. Jobs: Gotta Catch Them All AR/AI (augmented reality/artificial intelligence) apps...

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Job Shaming: Geoffrey Owens Reminds Us That Every Job Is Worthwhile

Last week, several news outlets reported that former Cosby Show actor, Geoffrey Owens, was spotted working at a New Jersey Trader Joe’s. The underlying message of most coverage: what a shame that Owens was working behind a cash register. Others rightly argued that there’s nothing wrong with having a job. “Owens was...

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The Gender Temp Gap: Even Politicians Fight Over the Thermostat

Primary election season is heating up, but unless you’re registered to vote in New York, you might’ve missed a recent news story about two politicians fighting over the temperature — literally. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and actor-turned-activist Cynthia Nixon are competing for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming New York gubernatorial primary. On...

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5 Union Jobs That Aren’t What You’d Expect

When you think of “organized labor,” you might think of old news footage of steel workers — or at least an image of Sally Field as Norma Rae holding up her scrawled “UNION” sign on a loud textile factory floor. But unions aren’t just for factory workers. via GIPHY Unions have a...

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3 Ways Getting in Shape Can Make You More Successful at Work

Being a good worker is about more than just showing up every day and putting in your time. Ultimately, it’s about how well you work, and that in turn can be a direct result of how well you work out. So what can getting in shape do for your career? You’d be...

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What Dogs Can Teach Us About Networking

Your pooch is more than your best friend. He or she is also one of the best teachers you can have for showing you how to be an awesome person when you network in the office. So what can you learn about good networking from that fuzzball (besides how to blame that...

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3 Bad Habits That Can Get You Promoted (and What to Do Instead)

You might think that the ideal employee is the one without any vices. Then, you look at who’s getting promoted. The sad truth is, some bad habits can be an advantage when it comes to getting ahead at work. But that doesn’t mean you have to change for the worse. Just be...

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4 Work-From-Home Jobs That Aren’t Data Entry or Customer Service

Work-from-home jobs are on the rise, and when you telecommute, it doesn’t have to mean data entry. Jobs that let you be creative or use an advanced degree — and yes, even pay you a decent paycheck — are real. See if these jobs get your wheels turning: 1. Voice-Over Talent In...

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Is Your Work Cubicle the New Tiny House?

If you’ve been watching a lot of home improvement reality shows — no judgments here — you’ve probably exclaimed more than once, “I’d never have a tiny house!” But consider this: if you work in an office, you sort of have one already. Your cubicle is like a tiny house, and you...

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Pro Tip: Try This Resume Trick and Never Forget Your Skills Again

*Ping!* You’ve got a new message! It’s your dream job and you better apply RIGHT NOW! How can you have your resume ready for any and all possible job opportunities? Try this simple method for keeping it all together, no matter what the job entails. 1. The Master Resume File Keep a...

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How to Get Fit When You Work Too Much

You understand that it’s important to make time for exercise. Your boss, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo. When your workday lasts all day, it’s tempting to resign yourself to that couch potato lifestyle. But there are some ways you can easily integrate fitness into your workday,...

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5 Podcasts to Listen to at Work

Can a simple podcast mean a vacation away from your work troubles? Sure can! Podcasts can even teach you a thing or two that will make you better at your job. It sounds counter-intuitive, but to be more productive, you have to take breaks. Occupying your mind with something other than work...

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Can You Dress Up Too Much for Work?

When it comes to picking out an outfit to wear to work, you might think that the only wrong move is to wear Saturday’s jean shorts to Monday’s meeting. But it’s also possible to err in the other direction. You can dress too fancy for a workplace — and that mistake can...

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Think You’re Ready to Quit Your Job? Ask These 3 Questions First

Getting fed up with your job? If the phrase “I should just quit” keeps flashing through your brain, hold on and take a minute before you start flipping tables. You want to make sure that when you choose to walk out that door, you’re truly ready to deal with what’s on the...

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When Everyone’s on Vacation Except You, Here’s How to Get Stuff Done

How can you get stuff done when the office is a big echo chamber and everyone’s off splashing in some warm sea or another? There are ways you can stay motivated, and dare I say it, even advance your cause a bit while your coworkers are out having a break. That’s time...

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7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

Brace yourself. You’ve just been laid off. So… what now? How do you survive a layoff? As much as employers try to candy coat the layoff process (or throw an amenable George-Clooney type at you) it still hurts. You’re emotional, panicked, ticked off and not a little bit worried about the future....

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3 Surefire Ways to Deal With a High-Stress Job

You’re in that job for any number of reasons: the challenge, the paycheck, the chance to prove yourself…but you’re starting to feel the tiny cracks that your high-stress job is forming in your body and mind. If you’re in a high-stress job of some kind, like a doctor, a CEO, a police...

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5 Tips for Better One-on-One Meetings

You look at your Outlook calendar and wince; the dreaded one-on-one with your boss is coming up. Instead of avoiding this rare moment of reflection, you should embrace a chance to get feedback at regular intervals, and get that valuable face time with those in charge. If you’re struggling to make the...

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Get Over Your Fear of Failure

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Or don’t. Fear of failure has both benefits and detriments, and it can be overcome. Having some fear of failure is ok! Really! But moving past it is what’s going to help you along in the world. Here are some ways to overcome your fear of failure:...

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How to Burn Bridges When You Quit Your Job

Welcome to Choose Your Own Adventure! Scenario: You’re ready to quit your job. Should you burn bridges, or should you be professional and polite? So, you’re ready to quit. Whether it’s because you have something great lined up or you just can’t take one more day, you’ve got one foot out that...

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Love Animals? Try One of These Pet-Loving Jobs!

You love dogs, cats, and everything in between. Why not take your love of animals up a notch and work in a field that’s animal friendly, too? You don’t have to be a dog catcher to see a lot of cute, fuzzy faces every day (and we’re not even talking NHL playoffs...

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Yes, You Really Need a Vacation!

Work is important. But so is time off. In fact, studies show you need a vacation once in a while to be at your best when you’re in the office. Workaholic that you are, you take pride in your perfect attendance record, your daily presence, the thought that this place definitely couldn’t...

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Do You Need to Accept a Job Offer Right Away?

They made you a job offer! Awesome! But do you have to accept immediately? And what happens if you don’t? You’ve been lucky enough to be extended a job offer. Maybe you’re still deciding on if the position is right, or maybe you’re waiting to hear back from another opportunity you might...

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Correct These Bad Habits to Get Out of Your Own Way at Work

Sometimes, your worst enemy is…you. Are your bad habits sabotaging your career? Getting sloppy, being a bit too slack or not keeping your eye on the ball are all ways you could be damaging your career. What habits are keeping you from greatness? And could you fix them? You bet! 1. You’re Late...

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What’s a Mentor (and How Do You Get One)?

You need a mentor. At least, that’s what you’re always hearing, right? But what is a mentor? And how do you get one? In your career, sometimes it would be nice to have some sort of guide or sounding board, to get advice from or simply to talk to as a neutral...

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Are You in the Right Career?

No matter if you’ve been on your career path five minutes or five years, you might at some point wonder if you’re doing the right thing for yourself. Doubting your choice of career is OK! Many people change careers throughout their lifetime. In fact, a 2017 study showed that more than 40...

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How to Give a Great Presentation to a Tough Room

Palms sweating, head blurring, notes lost — standing up in front of a room of your colleagues can be one of the most stressful parts of your job. When public speaking gives you the shakes, keep in mind a few tips to keep your presentation in the “famous” category, not the “infamous”...

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Get Tough! Don’t Make These Mistakes at Work

Tempting as it may be, putting your head down on your desk and making some whimpering sounds at the first sign of trouble isn’t going to solve any of your problems (though it might feel kind of cathartic for a few minutes). When we’re faced with difficult situations, the most mentally tough...

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Should Nonsmoking Employees Get More Vacation Time Than Smokers?

Have you ever been the office odd man out when you didn’t join in for an activity that everyone seemed to sneak off to do together? When your coworkers are smokers, and you’re not, it can feel a little weird, and maybe even unfair that someone’s getting a break several times a...

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Dress Codes Are Dumb…Or Are They?

The idea of a dress code at a place of business – staffed by adults – might seem rather antiquated and juvenile. Or it might seem like the best idea ever. It kind of depends. Most dress codes ensure that Jimmy in sixth grade doesn’t roll up to school wearing a Joe...

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How to Keep From Picking the Wrong Career

What do you want to be when you grow up? Is it the same dream you had when you were 10? Or even 10 years ago? The reality of the modern world is that we tend to change careers faster than we change our minds about fashion (high-waisted jeans anyone?). If you...

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The Weird Truth About Sharing Your Salary With Your Significant Other

We share a lot with the people we love — hopes, dreams, secrets. But, it turns out, many of you out there wait a really long time before you tell your significant other about your salary. Do you keep your salary secret from everyone, even your loved ones? Here’s what the latest...

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The Surprising Effect of Air Pollution on Your Career

Haze, smoke, ozone and smog. There are a lot of ways to talk about air pollution, but you usually don’t think about it when you’re sitting at your desk. Turns out, air pollution you can see outside can definitely affect your ability to work inside, where you might have figured it doesn’t...

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3 Resume Tips for Changing Careers

Nobody said you have to keep the same career for your whole life. In fact, studies show that on average, people change jobs very frequently — as many as four times before you’re even 32 years old! So how do you tweak your resume when you’re looking to make a change in jobs...

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Is Guilt Making You a Better Employee?

Are feelings of guilt driving you to show up to work on that first nice day of spring or when a friend comes in town with surprise tickets to a baseball game? If you’re letting the perfectly human feelings of guilt drive your work ethic, you might be that real “go-getter” at...

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Should Your Employer Pay Off Your Student Loans?

With so many people taking on student loan debt to get a degree — reports put it at 70% of college graduates — it’s no wonder that many of us are looking at some ways to get out from under the weight of all that which is owed. “Over 44 million Americans...

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Career Lessons from Star Wars: May the Fourth Be With You (GIFs Aplenty!)

You may not work with a wookie, but the Star Wars franchise has a lot to offer when it comes to life lessons in the workplace. So on May the Fourth, let’s take a look at what we can learn from some Jedi mind tricks and a couple droids. Learn When to...

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Daydream Your Way to a Better Career

Ever zone out at work? Turns out, daydreaming might actually be good for you, and for your future. Did you used to gaze out the window while you were supposed to be completing math problems in school? Instead of being absent minded – as your teachers may have told you – you...

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How to Leave Work on Time

Are you always the last one out the door at the end of the day, turning out the lights and saying hello to the overnight cleaning staff? If you wish you could just stop working and head home on a regular basis, but don’t know how to get started, read on. Stop...

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Don’t Become the “Office Mom”

There are lots of ways to be a good coworker, but letting your selfless nature be taken advantage of isn’t one of them — or at least it shouldn’t be. So many “women of a certain age” bring their mom skills right to the office. Why? Because it seems that their skills...

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10 Ways to Boost Your Productivity in 10 Minutes (or Less)

The time for productivity is…just after this one thing. Kidding! Sometimes we need a kick in the pants when it comes to getting a project moving towards completion. These quick productivity tips aren’t complicated, and they may be the fix you need to get yourself in gear. 1. Meditate In just 10...

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10 Things You Should Never Say at Work

Emotions can run high in the workplace, but that doesn’t mean you should just blurt out anything to your workers at times of high stress. While we’re all under pressure from time to time, it definitely pays to think before you speak. Here are ten cringe-worthy lines that you’ll want to avoid...

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How to Be Funny at Work

Is this thing on? When you’re trying to make an impression at work, you might be tempted to do some impressions, and maybe try a sight gag or two. But being “funny” in the workplace doesn’t have to mean you put on a wig and big red nose. Getting a few laughs...

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Why You Should Doodle at Work

Whether you’re bored at a meeting or just daydreaming at your desk, doodling with a pen and paper can be just the creative release your brain needs during a hectic workday. Not only that, studies show that doodling can actually help you remember valuable information. Doodling is as old as time itself;...

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3 Ways Remote Workers Always Outperform Office Workers

Looking for research? View PayScale’s Research and Strategy Guide on How to Set Pay for Remote Workers   Employees who work remotely, even just some of the time, fire up the burners on productivity on the job. In fact, studies show that remote workers might be the highest performing workers out there. When it...

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Stay-at-Home Stigma: Employers More Likely to Hire Laid-Off Workers Than SAHMs

In the “terrible things we kind of hoped weren’t true” category, it seems that employers really do tend to look past stay-at-home-moms (SAHMs) when it comes to hiring. Kate Weisshaar, associate professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina has made a career of studying gender inequality in the labor force....

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The Green Effect: How Legal Cannabis Affects Other Industries

PayScale’s latest report, Jobs in Emerging Industries, shows that legalizing cannabis across the country could create over a million new jobs in the U.S. by 2020. But even at current levels of legalization, cannabis is big business. It isn’t just the sale of cannabis that gets a boost when it’s legalized. Many...

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Maddonisms: How the Cubs’ Mellow Management Translates Off the Field

No matter which team you root for – or don’t – everyone can agree that the Chicago Cubs have done pretty well for themselves over the last few seasons. By winning their first World Series in over 100 years in 2016, they took the final step in completely turning around a team that...

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5 Weird Places to Work That Aren’t Your Home or Office

Desks can be boring, even if you’re standing. So why not change things up with some odd places to work that could inspire your creativity and productivity? Here are some places to consider when you need a new outlook on work (and have a boss who’s cool with occasional telecommuting): 1. The...

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Here’s What to Put in Your Office Bug-Out Bag

You might have an emergency kit in your car or home, but do you have one for work? Think about what you’d need to pull together if you had to clear out in a hurry. Here’s how to plan for an emergency at work that sends you home in a hurry, with...

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Will Blockchain Change Your Career?

Buzzworthy, it may be, but is “blockchain” a thing you should be paying attention to? Probably. While tech advances can come and go like the latest fad, some of them can be real game changers. To learn more about blockchain, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin and how it all could affect your livelihood, read on....

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Yes, You Need a Spring Break (Even If You Graduated Long Ago)

Taking a vacation in the early days of spring isn’t just an idea for college kids and students — it should be a part of your adult plan for self care. What does a spring break give you, the working professional and alleged grownup, that a regular old vacation doesn’t? Plenty. 1....

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Should You Cover Your Laptop Camera?

If you’re reading this on a laptop, you’re probably sitting right in front of a little dot at the top of your machine — the camera. You may not even use it that much, if you’re not in the habit of video conferencing to connect with colleagues elsewhere. But could your camera...

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What Your Desk Says About Your Work Style

From their position in the office (if we have a choice) to the items we choose to display on them, our desks speak volumes. Have you ever wondered what your desk says about you? Lily Bernheimer, an environmental psychologist and director at UK-based Space Works Consulting, developed an evidence-based approach to desk...

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Forget Your IQ. Concentrate on This Instead.

Even if you don’t know your true IQ score, you probably still spend time trying to “get smarter.” But what you might not realize is that to be better at your job, you don’t need to boost your IQ. At work, it’s your EQ that counts. What the heck is EQ? EQ...

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Is Your Smartphone Addiction Hurting Your Career?

Beeping, buzzing, constantly tempting — smartphones are always nearby, wanting our attention. But if you’re finding yourself checking your phone too much, you might be risking more than your attention span. Employers won’t take kindly to a worker who can’t keep their eyes off their phone during working hours (and outside them,...

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Do This One Thing Before Bedtime and Boost Productivity

If you’re tired of being tired at work, it could have something to do with not being able to fall asleep. You can fix those exhausted feelings by giving your brain a break at night, which can enable you to get to sleep faster and on your way to a solid recharge....

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Boost Your Memory and Become a Great Leader

If you frequently find yourself forgetting to answer that email or show up on time to that meeting, your memory might need a boost. Why is a good memory so important? For one thing, it’s what separates great leaders from the pack. Leaders lead with their memory When you’re at the top...

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Is Your Job Title Making You Miserable at Work?

Do you have title-envy at work? Your job title (or lack thereof) could be influencing your level of job satisfaction. When you’re just starting out, having a job title that includes monikers like “junior,” “assistant” or “entry-level” is very common, and to be expected. As your career develops, however, you hope your...

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Millennials, Watch Your Back: Gen Z Wants Your Job

While Generation X rockets towards their retirement years and millennials start to age into more advanced management roles, Generation Z has just graduated college and entered the workforce. What do you know about these youngest of your coworkers? What they bring to the table might surprise you. 1. They Use Tech Everything...

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5 Real (and 100 Percent Legal) Cannabis Jobs

As of early 2018, nine states plus Washington D.C. have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. In 30 states, residents can use cannabis to treat certain medical conditions. Twelve more states considering either recreational or medicinal legalization of marijuana in the coming year. The question is: how can you get in on...

So You Hate Your Job. Now What?

This is not just the Sunday Night Blues — you feel rotten every time you remember that tomorrow is a workday. You count the minutes in meetings and watch the clock while you’re working at your desk. There’s no doubt about it: you absolutely hate your job. So how can you fix...

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How Jessica Chastain Negotiated Equal Pay for Octavia Spencer

In their contract and wage negotiations, employees often operate in a vacuum — not knowing what their coworkers are asking for (or receiving). Hollywood is no different, which can lead to appalling pay gaps between actors and actresses. But when Jessica Chastain recently came to the table to talk salary for an...

Is Your Office Literally Making You Sick?

We’re currently in one of the widespread flu seasons on record, and the dominant flu strain, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is one of the nastiest. The H3N2 strain is able to “change more quickly to get around the human body’s immune system,” explains Lena H. Sun in the Washington...

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Don’t Let Business Travel Stress You Out

The first time I had a work trip, I found myself waiting on a busy street in Chicago, cursing the lack of cabs during rush hour. After nearly barfing up my spleen running for my flight, I swore that I’d never volunteer to cross time zones for a job again. There are...

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4 Ways to Find Your Side Hustle and Change Your Career

There are lots of reason to have a side hustle these days, and many people do. A 2016 survey released by Upwork and the Freelancers Union showed that 33 percent of the American workforce either freelance or work as contractors. Two-thirds of those freelancers chose to work that way because of their...

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What Your Body Language Tells Your Coworkers About You

No one wants to be judged prematurely, but it’s sometimes hard to avoid making assumptions about coworkers. It’s not too surprising. You sit in high-stress meetings together, make small-talk in elevators together, and reheat tiny meals side-by-side, but you don’t really know each other. That’s why your body language, as much as...

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Should You Cycle…at Your Desk?

Getting to the gym can be hard and riding your bike in the snow and cold means having to deal with…snow and cold. So to keep up with your exercise resolutions, you might look to new ways to keep fit while you work. From treadmill desks to workplace yoga, you’ve probably tried...

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3 Golden Globes Wage Gap Stories You Might Have Missed

From Oprah ovations to a #blackout on the red carpet, the 2018 Golden Globe Awards was a show for the record books, possibly marking a sea change in Hollywood. This year’s Golden Globes was about more than cheering on our favorite shows (or lamenting snubs to movies we thought rocked). It was...

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Learn to Love Failure and Be a Success

Every career suffers from setbacks. If you’re like many, you try to recover as quickly as possible … and then forget the bad times even quicker than that. But what if instead of forgetting about failure, you used these reversals as valuable lessons? The Swedish Museum of Failure is touring the globe...

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How to Bring Good Energy to Your Office

Winter is here and much of the country is under ice and snow. It’s hard to get excited about going to the office when it’s dark and cold out. So how can you bring good vibes to your desk every day? There are some easy ways not to fake happiness, but to...

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Let Wendy’s Awesome Twitter Feed Teach You to Be a Social Media Star

You don’t have to be a major brand’s Twitter guru in order to be better at running your own social media accounts, especially when you’re looking for work. There are a few things that the biggest brands and the most viral of tweeters get right with every post, and they’re not even...

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3 Techniques for Getting Organized in the New Year

The new year is almost here, and you’re determined to keep at least one resolution: To be better organized at work (and possibly in life, too). The potential payoffs are huge. Get organized, and you’ll be more productive, more creative and even appear more “with it” to your coworkers. Want to try...

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5 Ways to Perk Up a Boring Workweek

You might be stuck working during a typically low-energy week between Christmas and New Year’s, but that doesn’t mean you should spend your time goofing off.   You can make great strides in your career, your mental game and even your flu-fighting efforts with minimal fuss. Here’s how to get your productivity...

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Hiring Managers Want Applicants to Play Games (Video Games)

Companies want to hire skilled applicants and keep them around, but traditional interviewing processes can only tell them so much. To find workers who have what it takes to be a success at their organization, many employers are turning to non-traditional recruiting methods — for example, asking applicants to play video games...

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The Future of American Jobs Is Renewable Energy

The Trump administration has promised to bring back coal jobs, but the future of work won’t be fossil fuels. No, renewable energy is where it’s at, if you’re looking for a job in the energy industry.   Sound intriguing? If so, it might be a good idea to learn some skills related...

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How to Avoid the Flu at Work this Year

The flu is a serious sickness that many pass off as just a rite of passage for the winter. In reality, it still kills thousands of people in the U.S. each year, and hospitalizes thousands more, according to the CDC. Even scarier: the CDC predicts that this influenza season is going to...

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What to Do When You’re Sexually Harassed at Work

As you read this article, your news feeds are no doubt filling up with high-profile stories about sexual harassment. Recently, hashtag campaigns and subsequent magazine covers have brought harassment into the spotlight. But that doesn’t mean that it’s any easier for the average professional to speak up, when they find themselves the...

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Too Many Workers Are Still Scared to Change Jobs

Gone are the days when workers could hope to stay at one company for their entire career, retiring with a gold watch (and maybe even a pension). But that doesn’t mean that workers have become as fickle as employers — no matter what you’ve heard about millennials and their alleged job-hopping ways....

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This Is the Single Worst Trait That a Leader Can Have

You think of yourself as a tough boss. You take a hard line with every decision, treat every request for a sick day with skepticism, and think “personal time” is a sign of weakness and inefficiency. In a word, you’re a cynic. And simply put, cynicism is going to be a disaster...

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5 High-Paying Jobs That Are Growing Right Now

Looking to make some serious cash in your next career? Hope you like STEM. CareerCast’s recent list of high-salary-potential jobs includes several occupations with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math. Good news for tech types: not only do these jobs pay well today, but they’re projected to grow well over...

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Could Apprenticeships Save the American Workforce?

When you’re job searching, it can feel like there are hundreds of applicants for every open position, but some companies are struggling to fill jobs. Business Insider noted over 263,000 open positions in tech, as of February 2017. If companies could improve their pipeline of trained employees, they just might be able...

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5 Skills You Need to Be Ready for the Jobs of Tomorrow

Think the world is changing quickly? You’re right — and it’s only going to speed up from here. In the next five years, 35 percent of essential workforce skills will change, according to a recent report from the World Economic Forum. That means, no matter where you started out, you’ll need to...

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Shorter Commutes Make Happier Workers

When you’re considering a new job — or a new place to live — you should spend a moment thinking about how your commute might impact your quality of life. It turns out that long commutes can not only make you really unhappy, but can also affect your health, too. See why...

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5 Weird Jobs Perfect for Art Majors

If you studied the creative arts in school, you might be wondering how to earn money but still feed your artistic side. Don’t fret! Even if you’re not getting paid to, say, paint portraits for a wealthy patron, you can still feel artistically fulfilled in your work … and not just sit...

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What Sephora Can Teach Your Employer About Hiring Women in Tech

When it comes to gender equity, Sephora has tech giants like Apple and Facebook beat. In fact, as The Wall Street Journal recently noted, 62 percent of Sephora’s tech roles are held by women. By comparison, in the industry as a whole, women hold about 26 percent of tech jobs. In Silicon...

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Do You Take Your Tuba to the Office?

Art students often wind up in careers unrelated to their education. Many resign themselves to “uncreative” jobs, while others bring their creativity to whatever they do. A lot depends on workers’ identities — in other words, how they consider the relationship between their creativity and their work. A new study conducted by...

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Homer and Marge: A Tale of the Gender Pay Gap in Springfield

It’s hard to find an animated show (or any show) as iconic as The Simpsons. The show’s in its 29th season, and has aired over 600 episodes, but longevity alone can’t account for its appeal. Most likely, we love it because it seems familiar — blue beehives and bright-yellow underbites notwithstanding. As...

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Yes, Dads Are Entitled to FMLA Leave

When it comes to family leave, the focus is often on new moms. But, dads are also entitled to (unpaid) leave from work as a part of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Per the Department of Labor: Under the regulations, a mother can use 12 weeks of FMLA leave for the...

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5 Ways to Look Smarter at Work

Want to get ahead at work? Simply being good at your job isn’t enough. You have to help people notice your skills. You don’t have to wear Tina Fey specs to be thought of as a smartypants (or Bossypants) at work. There are, however, certain ways that you can shrug off your...

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This Tool Will Tell Your Employer How Much Sleep Deprivation Is Costing Them

Feeling a little tired today? Maybe you’re on the night shift or a split schedule, or maybe like 70 percent of the U.S. workforce, you’re just getting insufficient sleep. The National Safety Council’s new online Fatigue Cost Calculator is available free for employers (and employees) to figure out how much sleep-deprivation is costing their...

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Hate Your Job? Here’s How to Find a Career You’re Passionate About

When your job is wearing you down and you can’t quite seem to find your pep, you sometimes daydream about doing something (anything) different. But what if you did change jobs — or even careers? What would you choose to do, if you did something different? There are ways that you can...

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10 Spooky Halloween Jobs Worthy of David S. Pumpkins

It’s finally Halloween season: time to think about what costume you’re going to wear, what cubicle decorations you’re going to make, how much candy you’re going to eat, and how late you’re going to stay out … and, oh yeah, what your kids are going to do that night. If you’re so...

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How to Fake Confidence (and Eventually Develop It for Real)

Confidence can help you close a deal, make a sale, or land the job of your dreams. But, it doesn’t necessarily come naturally to all of us, especially at the beginning of our careers or during a big transition. The good news is that you can appear more confident — and eventually...

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How to Work Abroad and Feed Your Wanderlust

Are you drooling over your friends’ travel snaps on Instagram while you toil away in a cube farm? If you want to see more of the world, but still need to make a decent paycheck every month, don’t sweat it … there are ways to do both! Whether you’re looking to be...

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Are You Brave Enough to Send These Risky Cover Letters?

You’ve just found that perfect job opportunity. You’re networked your way to a contact person, brushed off your portfolio and polished up your resume. Now, it’s time to create the perfect cover letter. You’re torn between a desire to come off as professional and employable, and a need to stand out from...

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5 Reasons Why Volunteering Can Help Your Career

Volunteering is good for your community, and it feels pretty good, too. But did you know that it’s also good for your career? It’s true. Whether your day job is a dream job or a nightmare, volunteering can help you make the connections and build the skills that make you successful at...

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5 Meditation Apps to Get You Through Your Hectic Workday

Your shoulders are making their way up toward your ears. Your back is curled tighter than a snail shell. Your breathing is ragged and your head hurts. Clearly, you’re stressed out. Instead of losing your cool with your coworkers, try one of these easy meditation apps to find an oasis in the...

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No Bachelor’s Degree? No Problem! These Jobs Don’t Require One

College is expensive, but worth it (provided you choose the right school and major). College graduates routinely out-earn those with just a high school diploma. However, sometimes life has other plans. Whether you’re just not interested in spending four more years in school or you’re looking for a career change that won’t...

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How to Deal With That Coworker You Hate

You don’t need to be friends with everyone on your team, but you do need to get along — at least well enough to work together. But sometimes, there’s that one coworker who just rubs you the wrong way. Maybe they’re a complainer or a chronic obstructionist; maybe they’re lazy, or inconsiderate...

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6 Fun Jobs You’ll Wish Were Yours

Do you jump out of bed in the morning, smiling and eager to face another day at the office? If not, you’re far from alone. As the saying goes, they call it work for a reason. That said, some jobs are less work-y than others. If you had one of these fun...

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Miserable at Work? Here Are 5 Ways to Deal

Maybe you’ve been at your terrible job for two weeks, or maybe two years, but either way, work is the worst part of your day. When you’re faced with a job that not only doesn’t make you happy, but actively makes you miserable, it can be hard to see any way out...

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Technology Might Kill the Open Office (and That’s Good News)

Yes, Mad Men is over, but when you look at those early seasons, what’s the first thing you see when you walk in the doors of Sterling Cooper? It’s those ordered rows of desks in the typing pool. Look again — do those desks seem familiar? If you work in an open...

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Want Salary Transparency? Move to Norway!

Salary transparency can mean making all salaries visible to all employees — but it doesn’t have to. Some organizations will choose to do that, while others will make some aspects of their compensation planning more transparent. Whether or not your employer reveals all the details of your pay, having more information about...

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3 Body Language Tips From Steve Jobs, Oprah and More

Has anyone ever told you that “it’s not what you say, but how you say it?” They were totally right. (Thanks, mom!) And it’s not just your tone of voice you need to keep an eye on — it’s your body language, too. The most successful people in business are memorable and,...

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How to Find Your Career Path Again

Once upon a time, you knew what you wanted to be when you grew up. Then you grew up, and things got complicated. Maybe the job market in your industry took a turn for the worse, or maybe your role evolved in ways that made it a bad fit for you. Maybe...

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‘New-Collar’ Is the New Hope for the Jobless

You’ve likely heard of white-collar jobs and blue-collar jobs, but you might not have heard of “new-collar” jobs — at least, not yet. Otherwise known as “middle-skill” jobs, these occupations are open to workers with technical skills but without a traditional, four-year college degree. Getting a Break The New York Times profiled...

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Having Work-Life Balance Will Make You a Better Employee. Here’s How to Get It.

Are you a work martyr? You might feel like you’re a model employee, staying late at the office and then logging on from home long after work should have wrapped up for the day. But the fact is that working all the time makes you less productive, not more. Beyond that, if...

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5 Easy Productivity Hacks That Anyone Can Use to Succeed

Let’s face it, being productive is hard no matter what you’re doing and what’s going on around you. You could be 50 feet below ground, in a bunker with no windows, noise-canceling headphones on tight … and still waste time googling when you should be taking care of business. So how do...

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Manufacturing: Where Jobs Are and Workers Aren’t

Politicians on both sides of the aisle point fingers about the decline of the manufacturing industry, and job reports seem to reflect a dearth of employment opportunity in the sector. But employers across the country tell a different story: they have manufacturing jobs, they say, but no qualified workers to fill the...

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Are Summer Jobs Still a Thing?

It used to be that a summer job was a teenage rite of passage. Slinging ice cream, tearing tickets at the movies, and working a grocery store checkout were all gigs that were easy to get for a few months’ worth of cash. But recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor...

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Driverless Buses: Are Robots Coming for Your Bus Driver’s Job?

While waiting for a long-delayed bus to arrive, you might worry about the traffic or the weather — or grumble about the bus driver’s obvious lack of concern for your morning meeting schedule. But do you ever worry that a robot could be behind the wheel? You might need to start. The...

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Why You Didn’t Get That Job Offer (and How to Get the Next One)

You battled the application bots, made your resume stand out to a live human, and passed the first round of “should we meet with this person” scrutiny. Now you’ve had an interview, and you’re nervously waiting and waiting and waiting for that job offer to come through. But lately, it seems like they...

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The Nicolas Cage File Name Error and 3 Other Job Application Mistakes to Avoid

In a perfect world, every resume would be typo-free, every cover letter pristine. In reality, well, sometimes job seekers are in a hurry and make mistakes. Some folks are brave enough to share their application sads online, and we’re happy that they did, because they’re really entertaining. Here are just a few:...

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New Grads: Don’t Make These 5 Job Search Mistakes

The hiring outlook for new grads is brighter this year, but it’s still a full-time job to find a full-time job. If you haven’t landed your first post-college gig, it’s possible that you just haven’t found the right fit yet … but it’s equally possible that you’re getting in your own way....

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Why the Minimum Wage Is Everyone’s Problem

You might think that just because you’re educated and trained, you’ll automatically get a job that pays well. What plenty of evidence, including our own PayScale Salary Survey, can show you is that it simply isn’t always the case. A lot of skilled professionals make salaries that are barely above minimum wage...

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5 Seasonal Jobs You Can Do Remotely

Ah, you’re living the dream: working in the summertime, but you get the benefit of picking your office. Instead of being tethered to a dreary desk, pick one of these temporary (i.e., “seasonal”) summer jobs that have the added benefit of being remote. Clack poolside or from the woods…anywhere you can get...

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These 7 Jobs May Be Hazardous to Your Health

You might think your inside job isn’t as hazardous as, say, a high-rise construction worker, but you might be wrong. There’s a lot about everyday jobs that can be bad for your health. Either you’re subject to lots of germs, lots of potentially life-threatening situations, lots of (ugh) standing all day, or...

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Don’t Get Burned by High Cost of Living

We used to imagine that a six-figure salary would be the pinnacle of success in the adult workforce, but now we know that getting that big a paycheck doesn’t necessarily mean a one-way ticket to Easy Street. In fact, $100,000, depending on where you live, might not get you very much at...

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What Not to Do During Your First Weeks in Your New Job

Congratulations: you have a new gig! You’re going to be traveling to a new office, trying to learn everyone’s name, and getting a whole new routine down. But what you should also be doing is making sure you don’t make any of these mistakes. After all, you only get one chance to...

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Avoid the Salary History Trap: 3 Times They’ll Try to Get You to Name Your Price

Salary negotiation is the part of the interview process that many job seekers dread the most. Ask for too little, and you could wind up underpaid and resentful. Ask for too much, and you might wind up out of the running entirely. Of course, doing salary research ahead of time is the...

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5 Jobs Perfect for History Majors (That You Probably Haven’t Thought Of)

When you start thinking about jobs that you might get with your degree, some majors are easier to pair with careers than others. For example, a chemistry major will likely end up in the lab, and a nursing major, well, you get the idea. But a history major … you can do...

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Why You Should Stop Eating at Your Desk

There are lots of reasons why you might be in the habit of eating at your desk. Maybe your workday is jam-packed full of meetings, and lunch time is the only part of your day you feel you can “catch up” on emails. Maybe you’re working on a deadline, and you feel...

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Should You Work for a Company That Cares?

This year’s People Magazine’s list of Companies That Care includes 50 companies with top ratings from the research firm A Great Place to Work. These companies all have 1,000 or more employees and range from the retail industry to oil and gas. While they’re all very different, they each have proved their...

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Study: Hiring Managers Discriminate Against Candidates With Asian Last Names

In the category of “why haven’t we gotten better about this,” a recent study shows that hiring managers could be discriminating against you, based on your last name. Researchers from the University of Toronto and Ryerson University analyzed data from an earlier study based on nearly 13,000 computer-generated resumes, which were sent...

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Working Overtime? 4 Reasons to Stop

Working overtime might pad your bank account in the short run and/or get the boss on your side, but too much of a good thing isn’t great for your career. You’ve probably pulled an all-nighter or two in your day, and while that energetic loopy feeling the next morning might get you...

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7 ‘Creative’ Interview Questions That Make You Imagine an Easier Way to Get Hired

Everyone acknowledges that imagination is important. Without it, innovation doesn’t exist. Ditto truly effective problem-solving. But having to demonstrate your abilities to make believe during an interview is stressful at best. That’s part of the plan, of course — hiring managers ask these interview questions in the hopes that they’ll force you...

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This UK Insurance Company Will Retrain Workers Who Admit Robots Could Do Their Jobs Better

Many of us have fears that a steely-eyed robot will make our jobs obsolete, but some are more at risk than others. Office workers, like those in insurance, might feel safer than folks in the auto industry, for example. But insurance workers’ often-predictable tasks of data analysis might be the ones that...

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STEM Education in 2017: Are Today’s Kids Prepared to Be the Future of Silicon Valley?

Even if you don’t have kids, you should care about STEM education in schools. After all, our future depends on today’s students becoming tomorrow’s innovators and business leaders, and that means getting a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math — no matter what field they enter. Dr. Melanie LaForce, Principal...

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Beer and Dogs: The Introduction of Paw-ternity Leave at a UK Brewery

In the past few years, it’s become more common for companies to offer pet-related perks. For example, some organizations let employees bring their dogs to work on set days. But one brewery is taking it to another level entirely. The BrewDog brewery is based in Scotland and breaking ground in the U.S....

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How Work Stress Can Hurt You in a Big Way

Everyone has experienced some level of stress caused by work. Whether you’re anxious over deadlines, or positively run ragged by fears over losing your health insurance, your high level of stress can have big repercussions. Not only can work stress affect your ability to do your job, it can impact your physical...

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Why You Really Need to Take a Lunch Break

Think that you can’t get out of your work slump because you don’t have enough time? Maybe you’re not tapping into the mid-day break we all have (but many of us neglect): lunchtime. There’s a half hour to an hour every day that everybody gets, but you might not be utilizing to...

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‘Women’s Work’ Pays Less, and Keeps Poor Women Poor

You might think that if you have a job, even a full-time job, you couldn’t possibly still be classified as “poor.” But you’d be wrong. Often women in the workforce are caught in a trap of working for wages that can’t possibly bring them up out of poverty, even if they’re putting...

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Why You Shouldn’t Sacrifice Pay for Perks

From an HR manager’s perspective, swapping out a few digits on a paycheck and replacing them with perks might seem to make perfect sense. Bagels and ping-pong tables cost money, after all — if significantly less money than they’re likely to save. Plus, corporate culture is important, right? Sure, unless you’re the...

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Why You Should Never Check Work Email at Night

Checking email at night can be bad for your health, did you know? And this isn’t about clicking the “nightshift” button on your iPhone for some (supposedly better) orange tones on your screen, it’s about boundaries. Just like when you silence your ringer in movie theaters, or turn off your device for...

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3 Times It’s OK to Listen to Office Gossip

You’re usually told to avoid participating in office gossip. Loose lips can sink careers, and anyway, you have work to do. But sometimes, you just can’t help but hear something through the grapevine. The trick is to know when you should just Keep Calm and Carry On and when it’s OK to...

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For Many, Removing Tattoos Means a Fresh Start at Getting a Job

Tattoos are pretty mainstream now. But some employers are more forgiving than others, and some tattoos are a tougher sell with hiring managers. While laser tattoo removal can be costly and time-consuming, thankfully there are many programs out there that are helping those hardest hit by pre-employment judgment: men and women in...

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Should You Wear an Activity Tracker at Work?

As more workplaces offer or incentivize wearing activity trackers, is the workplace becoming too much Big Brother and not enough, maybe, friendly cousin you spend time with in the summer? Sometimes wearables can be helpful, starting with the step-counter on your wrist, and sometimes, they can be downright creepy. But where’s the...

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Can Your Employer Make You Work Out?

Lots of employers offer health plans that give you some financial incentive for making healthy lifestyle choices, like quitting smoking or joining a gym. These are sometimes considered perks, touted as great reasons to choose Company A over Company B. Sure, we get it. But what happens when a company mandates that...

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How to Tell If Someone Is Lying to You at Work

Everyone lies, and every workplace has its fair share of liars. It’s sometimes hard to find the whole truth at work, no matter if you’re a new employee or a seasoned veteran. Wondering if you’re getting half-truths (or “alternative facts“) in your workday? Here are some ways to tell if you’re getting...

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Finding Robots Where You Least Expect Them … in the Food Industry

What, do you think that your job is safe just because you deliver food to hungry mouths? Since the days of the automat, people haven’t cared much about who is making their food — as long as the grub is good. Yes, one day we may wax nostalgic about when we dealt...

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Natalie Portman Speaks Out Against the Gender Pay Gap

It seemed like 2016 was the year that you saw Natalie Portman in movie trailers every three seconds. She is starring in the emotional drama Jackie, about the last days of the Kennedy presidency, in the western Jane Got a Gun, and the drama Planetarium, all released last year. Now, it appears...

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Why Working at a Startup Is the Best (and the Worst)

Even post-dot com bubble burst, there are lots of startup opportunities in almost every industry imaginable. You don’t have to live in Silicon Valley to work at one, either. A startup can be any young company just making the leap from one-(wo)man show to …. more than one. But while the highs...

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5 Industries Making Virtual Reality an Actual Reality at Work

You might think that virtual reality is just a party trick with some cardboard and your phone, but it has real utility in the workplace, too, and not just at the science factory. VR and augmented reality (AR) have applications you wouldn’t have imagined a few years ago. First, a quick primer:...

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Some Services Let Job Seekers Borrow Ties, Interview Outfits … Even Cars

If you’re out of a job, or maybe in transition and underemployed, you’re pinching pennies. The problem is that interviewing can be expensive. You have to look the part, which sometimes means buying new clothes, and getting to interviews isn’t cheap either. Depending on where you live, however, there might be a...

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Mars Jobs: How You Could Earn a Living on the Red Planet

It’s easy to dismiss talk about Mars and the space race as mere science fiction. After all, we’re living in the new century 16 years already, and nowhere does it look like the living room at the Jetson’s condo. However, with major players like Boeing and SpaceX setting their sights on Mars...

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Some Restaurants Are Doing Away With Tipping. Is That Good for Workers?

You might not have noticed it, but many restaurants across the U.S. have been doing away with the practice of tipping. One American Express Restaurant Trade survey from the spring showed that as many as 29 percent of restaurants in the U.S. plan to adopt a no-tipping model. Of course, this is...

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5 Apps That Make the Gig Economy Work

The way we work is changing. According to one study, “contingent workers” will make up as much as 40 percent of the American workforce by 2020. Whether or not this is a good thing for workers is up for debate. If you’re currently participating in the gig economy, your immediate concern is...

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6 Ways to Quit Your Job

It’s nearly the end of the year, and maybe you’re ready to start 2017 with a new resolution: A new job. First things first, though: you’re going to have to figure out how you want to quit your current job. Do you do it in a blaze of glory, or by the...

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Is the Gig Economy Good for Workers?

The gig economy is growing. Researchers at the Brookings Institution say that the number of independent contractors who work on a gig basis has increased by 27 percent more than regular, full-time employees over the past 20 years. But is working this way good for workers — or just a way for...

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New Tech for the Workplace of the Future

We might still be a few years away from using virtual reality to get to work from our comfy, comfy beds (dang) but technology is still changing how we work in ways we might not even realize. See how tech might take some of the work off your plate in the future....

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Which Jobs Should You Leave Off Your Resume?

While email and online resumes have somewhat outdated the one-page limit your guidance counselors once enforced, it’s still in your best interests to keep your resume snappy. Recruiters spend all of six seconds scanning a CV before moving it to the yes pile — or the trash. You want to grab their...

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How Will Self-Driving Trucks Change Our Lives (and Jobs)?

If you’re a truck driver, the short answer is “a lot.” But even if you’re not a Jerry Reed-type, you’ll still feel the winds of change coming off a semi with nobody behind the wheel. Just this fall, Anheuser-Busch Inbev sponsored the first test of a self-driving semi-truck in Colorado, with great...

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Where Are All the Women Conference Speakers?

In a world with roughly even numbers of men and women, you’d think conference planners would want to evenly represent the genders on panels. But the lack of gender diversity is a pretty common complaint of conference goers these days. In fact, it’s not rare for conferences and events to book no...

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Paid Sick Days Are Important, Especially for Women

The United States is one of only 22 developed nations that doesn’t offer mandatory paid sick days to all workers. This means that workers often can’t afford to take time off when they’re ill, need to see the doctor, or have to care for a sick family member. Some states and municipalities...

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One Janitor Made $271k Last Year (and Here’s the Real Reason That’s Bad News)

A janitor in San Francisco pulled in over $271,000 in pay and benefits last year … and six-figure salaries the three years before that. No, it wasn’t his starting salary, no matter how crazy San Francisco rents have gotten. He works for BART, the Bay Area Rapid Transit organization, for a salary...

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Are You Hurting Your Future By Taking a Career Break?

If you’re thinking of taking a break from your career for a few years, say, to raise family or to take care of an aging parent, then nobody can doubt your compassion. But if you expect your time away from your career track not to have long-lasting results, then you’d definitely be...

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The 7-Figure Part-Time Job You’ll Probably Never Get

What’s a great way to get paid a ton for a job that might take as little as five hours per week? Get on a board of directors. These jobs may not be as tony as they used to be, but they still pay a shocking amount to a handful of lucky...

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How to Deal With Gender Inequality in Tech (When You’re Just Starting Your Career)

We’ve written a lot about what individuals and employers need to do to fix the leaky STEM pipeline and make tech more accessible for talented female candidates, but what if you’re female, working in STEM, and not running a company just yet? It turns out, there’s still a lot you can do...

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The Newest Covetable Job Perk: Parental Leave Coaching

Can you take afford to take time off when when you become a parent? It probably depends on your employer. Maternity and paternity leave policies vary widely across the American workplace, depending on your job and industry. And if your employer doesn’t feel like offering paid leave, you won’t get it: The...

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Are Robots Coming for Your Job? Probably.

It doesn’t take Robby the Robot flailing his arms around — or even some shrewd intern nipping at your heels — to signal that your job might be in jeopardy. The biggest threat to your job is how easily it could be done by a machine who doesn’t require bathroom breaks or...

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Blue Steel Undervalued? Male Models and the Gender Pay Gap

It might not surprise you to hear that there’s inequality in professional modeling, but did you think it was going to be in male modeling? In a recent BBC article, a top British modeling agent remarks on how pay inequity plagues men in the modeling world. In a career where your value...

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4 Kickstarter Projects That Will Make Your Workday Awesome

Sometimes the best ideas are new ideas. See the latest on Kickstarter and you’ll read about doodads and thingamajigs that will make your head spin. But when it comes to work, past the kooky stressball or two, what are really the best ways to improve your day? We think these four might...

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What Good Is a College Career Center These Days?

While you may think that college career centers have gone the way of the Dodo (or maybe, to use a more apt metaphor, the way of MySpace), they actually still are quite helpful. With graduates increasingly struggling to land well-paid work in their fields after classes end, it pays (get it?) to...

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5 Tips to Get the Boss to Let You Work From Home

Do you think you’re disciplined enough to work from home? Even just a day or so of working remotely can mean a loss of work momentum if you’re not really on the ball, and your boss knows that. On the other hand, if you’re organized and motivated, cutting out the commute and...

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Optimist or Pessimist, Your Perspective Is Valuable at Work

Optimists see the glass as half full. Pessimists see the glass as half empty. And, realists want to know why we’re spending so much time talking about glasses, when there are projects to finish and bills to pay. The reality is that whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist, you’re likely to...

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Be Really Glad You Didn’t Make These 9 Work Mistakes

Look, everybody makes mistakes. Most of them are minor, possibly cringe-worthy, but recoverable. Sometimes, however, they’re mistakes that haunt our dreams, or possibly just make for great cocktail party conversations. Here are a few of the more memorable stories of workplace mistakes we’ve read lately. Wise advice: “Measure twice, cut once.” “A...

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Don’t Stress About Stress

Stress is the worst, right? But, it always seems a bit inevitable if you want to be an adult person. Instead of letting the pressure get the better of you, know that it can actually help improve how you function in the world. Harness the power of stress to work for you!...

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4 Ways to Ruin a Conversation at Work

There are plenty of ways to come off as a jerk at work: clipping your toenails at your desk, stealing lunches, or even wearing too much cologne or perfume. But you can avoid all those things and still come off as terrible if you’re not a good conversationalist. After all, we’re in...

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What Makes a Great Boss, Well, Great?

No one loves their boss all the time. That’s OK: good managers should care more about getting results and supporting their team than making their reports into their new best friends. Of course, the question is, do you have a good manager, or is your boss standing in your way instead of...

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Let’s Fix These 4 Awful Open Office Problems

Open offices are the worst, right? Even though some signs point to them going away as a trend, most of us are still stuck in a giant former warehouse with some half-high cube walls. So if you’re still looking to find some peace in a sea of humanity, here are some hopefully...

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Use the Power of Your 5 Senses to Boost Productivity

If you’re like most workers, you don’t have much say over the larger aspects of your work environment. You don’t get to choose whether to work in a cubicle or an open-plan office, for example, or whether to sit near people who talk on the phone all day as part of their...

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How to Talk the Talk of Salary Negotiation

Many people find salary negotiation a stressful experience. For job seekers, it’s an especially unusual situation: you’ve only just met this person, and now you’re asking them for money. Even tougher, you have to build a case to prove that you deserve it. Whether you’re negotiating with a hiring manager or a...

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Make New Habits (That Will Help You Succeed at Work)

Let’s say you’re desperate to become a better employee — at least when it comes to how others see you. Right now, you’re always late, you never remember to bring lunch, you’re constantly misplacing important things, and you stay up too late each night so you’re constantly sleep-deprived. Not to worry. Your...

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Would You Walk 16 Miles a Day to Go to Work? This Guy Did

Just a few weeks ago, Kyle Bigler wore holes in his shoes walking to his two minimum-wage jobs. He didn’t have a car, and he felt lucky to have the work at a gas station and Dunkin Donuts (somewhat) near his Gilford, New Hampshire home. But what he wasn’t expecting, as he...

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Is Technology Hurting or Helping Your Work-Life Balance?

Technology, the great work unifier! We all have email, cellphones, apps, computers, WiFi, voicemail, video chat, and smart watches to keep us connected day and night. It’s fantastic! When tech becomes a problem is when work doesn’t stop at 5 p.m., but just follows you out the door, down the street, and into...

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How to Be More Likable (Really)

It’s easy to forget the subtleties of currying favor with your co-workers, your boss, or even strangers at a networking event. But, if you’re likable, you’re also likely more memorable to those you encounter at work and beyond, which could come in handy, the next time you’re job searching or angling for...

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These 5 Tiny Resume Mistakes Are Keeping You From Getting Hired

Writing a resume is time-consuming and, let’s face it, a bit of a chore, even for those who can string a few good words together on occasion. It’s never easy talking about yourself, or recounting all your life’s work (literally) in about a page. So, once you’re done writing, before you print...

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7 Steps to Beating Job Interview Nerves

Think of the worst first date you’ve ever had, then top it with the added pressure of a potential paycheck (and a distinct lack of cocktails and good lighting) and you’ve got yourself an anxiety super-storm. Before you reach for that paper bag to breathe into, take a few moments to get...

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How to Survive the Workplace Without Caffeine

Coffee is such a common part of our modern workplace, it’s hard to imagine a company breakroom without a pot of free joe. But sometimes, for some reason, you find yourself unable or unwilling to partake. When that happens, you have to figure out how to motivate without caffeine to give you...

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4 Tips for Finding a New Job After 40

After a lifetime of work, with one job flowing seamlessly into another, it might seem (in hindsight) like it was always easy to get a new gig. Unfortunately, the reality is that finding a new job can be harder as you get older. But not to fear! It's possible to find a...

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How to Attend a Networking Event Solo

Attending social events solo can feel awkward and icky, even for extroverted types. Networking events are especially tough, since there’s a lot riding on your ability to make a good impression. But, you don’t have to skip out on a great career opportunity, just because you don’t have a plus-one on your...

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5 Team-Building Ideas That Don’t Suck

There’s a reason why you find those t-shirts at thrift stores that read “Team Building ’94!” or “Company Outing 2007” — their previous owners wanted them out of their sight. Often team building is almost as pleasant as a root canal: it’s required but it makes you talk funny for a few...

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How to Deal With Summer Break (When You Work a 9-to-5)

You’ve probably already lined up babysitters, summer camps, and sibling “nannies” for your little ones this summer, but how do you save your sanity when your kids are home all day and you’re at work? Whether you work from home or from a cube farm, there are ways to feel good about...

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How Neatness Counts at Work (Even For Creative Types)

Does your desk look like an organized, well-oiled machine? Or does it look like rats are making a nest and you’re just biding your time, waiting for them to bring you something nice? How you keep your desk can say a lot about how you operate in the workplace, and can even...

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4 Fictional Company Picnics You’ll Be Glad You Didn’t Attend

The rites of spring are many, but after a long winter, employers often look to the company picnic as the cure for the office blues. While some ventures into the great outdoors with friends can be both fun and memorable, oftentimes the company picnic (with mandatory attendance) can feel as awkward as...

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How to Get Away With Sandals at Work

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer, even in the dreariest and coldest reaches this side of the equator, and you’re feeling like you can finally ditch the heavy boots and give your feet some breathing room. So how can you let your tootsies out in the open without getting the...

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10 Songs to Get You Through a Terrible Workday

We’ve all been there: a no-good, terrible, very bad day at work and it’s only 11 a.m. What can you do (besides running for the door screaming) but put on your earphones, crank the volume, and keep your head down while you blast through some TPS reports like nobody’s business? Here are...

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What Not to Do During Salary Negotiations

You’re about to go in and ask someone for more money. It’s a conversation that hasn’t been easy since you were asking for an increase in your allowance. There are some ways you can make it easier on yourself, simply by avoiding some common pitfalls. After all, how you negotiate a raise...

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3 Bad Bosses Everyone Has at Some Point in Their Career

It’s only a matter of time before you get a bad boss. You might have your dream job with your ideal employer, but a bad manager can make you zoom for the door. When that relationship starts to break down, it can lead to dissension, not only between you and your boss,...

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Why Is There Still Such a Thing as ‘Late to Work’?

There’s being late, and then there’s dropping the ball. A workplace isn’t high school (even though it can feel that way), and bells shouldn’t rule your life as an adult. What’s infuriating about old-fashioned workplace “late policies” is that they treat you like you like you’re not an adult or that you...

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Here’s Why Your Employer Should Be Promoting More Women

A new study released by the Peterson Institute for International Economics and EY, the audit firm formerly known as Ernst & Young, shined an interesting light on the diversity problem in modern companies. First, they found a lack of women in the top seats at companies. Second, they found where that where...

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How Samantha Bee Got Such a Diverse Writing Staff

The latest entry into the late-night talk show ring is none other than Daily Show alum Samantha Bee and her new show, Full Frontal. She’s a remarkable newcomer for a few reasons. First, she’s a woman in a sea of dudes behind desks (a literal representation of this was recently published by...

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3 Habits of Successful Interns (and Internship Programs)

Internship programs can seem daunting, especially when they’re new. It’s a good idea to think about what you’re getting into, whether you’re a manager overseeing a new program or a prospective intern looking for an opportunity of a lifetime. A little preparation can make sure that everyone gets what they want out...

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Could a Little FOMO Be a Good Thing for Your Career?

FOMO (or fear of missing out) is a very real feeling that your friends are having fun without you. When that fear creeps into our work lives from our personal lives, it takes the form of envy: somewhere out there, someone’s career is advancing faster than your own. But could those (let’s...

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Is It Ever OK to Tell the Boss You’re Looking for a New Job?

The employee/boss relationship is a tricky thing to nail down. You might think that everything’s friendly, but things could change on a dime once you announce that you’ve got one foot out the door. What should you do to keep that friendly vibe going (and ensure you get a good recommendation in...

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Are ‘Gigs’ Really That Great?

Being a freelancer is anything but free. Sorry to be a downer, but it’s true. If you don’t plan for the unexpected, you might be shocked when you overdraw from your bank account or spend way more than 40 hours a week at this job you thought was going to be a...

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Plan Your Interview ‘Go Bag’

Getting word that you have an interview is an exciting thing … so much so that you might just lose your head a bit. What you need to do is be prepared, so that if an interview comes up at a moment’s notice, all you have to do is grab your “interview...

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‘Feed the Cat First’: How to Prioritize Your To-Do List

If you started reading this, you’re probably taking a break from dealing with a pretty long to-do list. Whether you have a system in place or not, gaining more control over your list is always a great benefit to your productivity. Here are some basic touchpoints you can use to make sure...

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How to Protect Yourself When Your Boss Is Dishonest

You’ve likely had a bad boss or two in your past, but have you ever had one that was corrupt, or who wanted you to act dishonestly? It can be quite the rock-and-a-hard-place situation, when the person who approves your timecards is asking you to break the rules (or the law). So...

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What Not to Do in an Interview

Every time you get an interview, it seems like you have no idea how to go about it. You fuss over what to wear, what to say, even what to eat that morning. When you seek out advice, you get all manner of opinions, and often they conflict with each other. So...

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Stop Getting in Your Own Way

Have you ever heard that you are your own worst enemy? It’s true. Lots of time when we’re not getting anywhere, career-wise, it turns out that we can only blame ourselves. But, before you throw those hands up in the air in frustration, learn about these ways in which you might be...

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4 Tips to Get Your Boss to Do Something They Don’t Want to Do

Being the bearer of bad news is never easy. Worse is when you have to try and break something to your boss, or maybe even ask them to do something they really don’t want to do. Here are some tips for how to make that conversation less awkward, and more awesome.  ...

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Why You Should be Networking … at Work

The best place for you to get your networking on might be the last place you’d imagine: at your current job. Whether you’re just getting started at a new place or you’ve been there for years, the connections you make at work can benefit your career for years to come. With a...

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5 Work Snacks That Won’t Derail Your Resolutions

Isn’t January the worst? You’ve gotten a few weeks into the New Year, and all you want to do is eat your feelings while you browse travel sites for beach getaways that won’t break the bank. Instead of all that, try focusing on the here and now (and, fine, work). This year,...

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5 Movies to Inspire You at Work

The winter doldrums might have set in, but we always will have the escape of the cinema, right? Here are some movies you can check out that will help light the fire under you in the office. The good news? Not all of them take place in a cube farm that might...

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How to Recognize a Toxic Worker Before They Do Their Worst

A recent working paper from Harvard Business School has gone deep into the icky world of the dreaded toxic worker. Yep, they’ve done the dirty work, exploring 50,000 workers at 11 companies to learn all they can about the worst of the worst. What they found about spotting toxic workers on the...

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How to Work Two Jobs, But Keep Your Head

Second jobs can be everything from part-time opportunities in an emerging field or personal projects that you’d like to make into a reality. Maybe you want to tackle something that your workplace can’t offer you, or that can’t sustain you, financially. Either way, a second job can be a great help to...

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3 Reasons to Switch Careers, Even When You’re ‘Too Old’

You may be thinking that an old dog can’t learn new tricks (or find someone to pay them for learning of said tricks), but it simply isn’t true. Even if you’re an “older” member of the workforce, you can (and maybe should) think about switching careers. New jobs and different responsibilities can...

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The Most Germ-Filled Parts of Your Commute (and How to Deal With Them)

Your hands might be clean when you leave your front door, but think about all the things you touch along the way to work every day. Whether you ride public transit and hang from the bus straps, or get in your car that’s also the grade-school carpool wagon, you’re bound to hit...

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Is Lack of Sleep Killing Your Career?

A recent survey of over 20,000 people around the world found that not only are we not sleeping all that well at night, but come sunrise, we’re calling in sick to work. The average person missed 7.4 days of work per year due to bad sleep! That’s over a working week lost...

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How the Working World Has Changed Since the ’70s

Let’s face it, if you were sitting in an office in the ’70s, imagining what the working world would be like in 2016, I doubt you’d conceive of the changes that would take place in just 40 years. Before we even begin to talk about the internet, let’s talk about clothes, job...

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5 Ways to Build a Better Meeting

We’ve all had our time wasted attending or even running a meeting at work. So often, we walk out of a conference room wondering, “What the heck just happened in there? How did everything spiral out of control so fast and furiously?” The next time you’re planning a meeting, think about these...

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Air Quality and Work Smarts: It’s Not All in Your Head

While we don’t all live in places with visible smog, poor air quality is something that can sneak up on you. Bad air can come from sources including vehicles, utilities, heating and cooling machinery, and even climate change, according to the American Lung Association. Not all of us are so hard up...

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For Some Workers, Bad Smells in the Office Are More Than Just Annoying

One of the first offices I worked in had a sign by the floor microwave: “No fish!,” it said. While I laughed this off at the time as being a bit picky, it wasn’t until I worked close to another office’s kitchen that I realized how pervasive reheated mahi-mahi could be. While...

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6 Jobs Where You Can Fly a Drone

While lawmakers may spend the better part of the next year (or longer) debating who rules the drone-filled skies of America, those on the ground will be jockeying for position at the remotes. Drones of all types, but mostly those equipped with cameras, have become increasingly popular as a cheap mode of...

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4 Questions You Should Ask Before You Take That Job

Once you get past the “grill the prospective employee” part of the interview process, it’s time to turn the tables on your potential new employer. The New York Times thinks that questions about work culture are the key to company insights. We agree! Hopefully, sometime during the process, you’re able to talk...

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4 Terrible Pieces of Advice for Public Speakers

Seems like everyone out there has a piece of advice when you’re doing something as scary as speaking in front of a group. Instead of listening to your Aunt Mildred’s terrible advice, try to keep in mind what you definitely shouldn’t do when you’re giving a presentation.   (Photo Credit: www.audio-luci-store.it/Flickr) 1....

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The Career Lessons of Tough Love, aka ‘Radical Candor’

Former Google and Apple University employee Kim Scott is making waves with her approach toward clearing the air at work. Much like Festivus’ “airing of grievances,” her theory of “radical candor” can be a saving grace when you’re out to make a co-worker or report a better and happier employee. While we’re...

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Is It Harder to Get Hired If You’re Handsome?

There have been many scientific studies (not just anecdotal evidence) that being attractive can land you a job, promotion, or raise. But did you know that a new study has shown it can actually work against you? Some jobs might just favor the “average Joe” over the “devilishly handsome Joe.” (Photo Credit:...

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Yes, You Can Learn Something From Getting Fired

There’s nothing good about getting fired … or is there? We think there are actual life lessons to be learned when you get the boot, and if you take them to heart, you’ll likely be a stronger, better, more attractive person (or maybe just the first two). Either way, there are good...

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6 Ways to Ruin Salary Negotiations

Asking for a raise or negotiating salary for a new job are some of the ickiest things we have to do as working adults. But there are plenty of ways you can ruin your chances at a good salary before you even get the meeting started. Here are a few things to...

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What You Can Learn From the Highest-Paid Women in Music

Even though most of us can’t compare to the highest-paid women in the music industry in 2015, we can still learn something from their business savvy and success. Forbes has details on the top earners, and we offer some tips on what some of them have done so well in 2015, even...

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Let’s Stop Complaining About Millennials

Whether you’re a baby boomer, a Gen-Xer, or somewhere in between, you’re facing some harsh truths when it comes to the millennial workforce. The fact of the matter is, they’re growing up, and no longer the interns loitering around the office. Millennials might even start to be … gasp … your bosses....

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Should You Choose a Big Name Over a Big Salary?

You’re waist-deep in your job search and there it is: the job of your dreams at an even dreamier company. But, when you look at the salary, it’s lower than you should be paid. What do you do: go after the big-name job for the sake of your long-term prospects? Or seek...

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5 Ways to Work Out at the Office

Before your New Year’s resolutions get pushed to the side, here’s a chance to combat your winter sloth, without a gym membership! There are plenty of ways to incorporate a fitness routine into your workday that won’t alarm your co-workers and won’t break the bank, either. Try a few of these quick...

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Could Crying at Work Get You What You Want?

We all know there’s no crying in baseball, but could getting emotional at work actually work to your advantage? Politicians have been known to get a little verklempt at times, to make them seem more human and relatable and less like robots (or maybe they were really sad). It could stand to...

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5 Gifts Your Co-Workers Want More Than That Junk

If you’re stuck in a holiday shopping frenzy, it’s time to reel it back like so many tiny reindeer. This time of year, mere moments before Christmas, lots of us get in the “OMG, I need to buy … something for ______.” And then you start impulse-buying glitter photo frames in the...

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How to Get the Job If You’re Overqualified

Even when jobs aren’t scarce, you might find yourself pining for a position that is more hands-on and less middle management. When you’re submitting a resume, however, hiring managers might get the wrong idea of you “taking a step back” for the open position. But, you can still make your case and...

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4 Ways to Change Your Career for the Better in 2016

Time to make those New Year’s resolutions! How are you going to make the coming year great for you and your career? We have some tips to help you make big changes by setting totally attainable goals. Before one year ends, get your game plan set for the next (great) year for...

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5 Things Your Work Group Needs to Be Successful, According to Google

They say variety is the spice of life, but when it comes to your work team, it actually matters more how you work together than who you’re working together with. Survey numbers in from Google show that teams need a little more than a smart guy, a tech guy, and a few...

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5 Ways to Winterize Your Cubicle

Even with global warming, your cube is somehow the coldest point on the planet. And since you can’t just start a fire in your trashcan (it’s frowned upon), you’re going to have to figure out a way to stay warm and happy at work this winter. Before you go ask Mr. Scrooge...

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9 Ways to Ruin Your Career at the Holiday Party

We’ve all seen it: the trainwreck of a work event when you mix co-workers, booze, and an encouragement to “let your hair down.” If you don’t want to spend the holidays looking for a new job, nip these mistakes in the bud before that party gets started. (Photo Credit: Sue Richards/Flickr) Uh...

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Why Over Half of US Workers Are Looking for a New Job

Are you looking for a new job? If so, you’re not alone. According to the new Gallup Workforce Panel study, 51 percent of workers are currently looking elsewhere for employment. Here’s why so many are looking for greener pastures.   (Photo Credit: Image Catalog/Flickr) 1. We Want to Bring Our “A” Game...

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To Gift or Not to Gift at the Holidays

It’s the season of giving, or so the television says, but should you always or never give something to your co-workers, or your boss? We weigh the options for keeping yourself on the Nice List and out of trouble with HR — way more important than staying on Santa’s good side when...

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How to Get Stuff Done at Work During the Holiday Season

It’s getting closer and closer to the holidays, and you might feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions. Do you have presents to shop for? A house to decorate? Food to cook (and eat)? Friends and family to visit with? Oh yeah, and a job to do? Here are...

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The 8 Worst Things About the Job Search

Looking for a job is a painful, humiliating experience akin to some kind of Hunger Game or Maze Run. Will you make it out alive? Maybe. (Photo Credit: Pinterest) 1. Online Application Forms (After You’ve Already Uploaded Your Resume). Why? WHY do I need to sit here and copy and paste my...

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How to Fight Seasonal Affective Disorder

Cold dark days and colder darker nights bring on the “winter blues” or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) for an estimated 25 million Americans every year. While it’s somewhat of a mystery, the condition is serious and manifests a lot like depression, which luckily means there are some established ways to treat it....

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Mark Zuckerberg’s Big Gift to Daughter: A Better World

New parents Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have some big news for their wee daughter Max: they’re going to make the world she grows up in a better place. And no, it’s not with a nursery covered in Pinterest projects. In a lengthy letter posted, naturally, to Facebook, Zuckerberg explained in detail...

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The Top 5 Dangerous Jobs in the US

You might think that jobs involving training animals, working on highways, or fighting crime might be the most dangerous of all, but it’s not true. A recent Forbes article sifted through 2014 data just released from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It ranked the top jobs in America for job-related fatalities...

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When Can You Talk About Salary?

Recently, Bradley Cooper made headlines when he stood up for fellow actor Jennifer Lawrence, who was paid significantly less than her male costars on a movie project. He pledged to start talking to his co-workers about what he was making, in an effort to help them negotiate better contracts, telling Reuters: “Usually...

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Work-Life Balance Matters for Child-Free Folks, Too

American opinions toward family and work are changing. Mothers are choosing to lean in, men are taking time off to rear their children, and some workers are choosing not to have kids at all. So why do we talk about work-life balance mostly in the context of raising a family and maintaining...

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Religious Diversity in the Workplace: How to Be More Inclusive

A recent survey by the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding showed that as workplaces are growing in size, they’re also growing in social diversity. With diversity comes a responsibility to keep offices in an inclusive mode, not exclusive — even when it comes to personal beliefs, like religion. If you’re flummoxed by...

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How to Not Be a Grinch at Work (When You’re Tired of Christmas Already)

As we slide into December, we resign ourselves to seeing signs of Christmas when we’re in the mall, at the car dealership, or even just trying to watch a little TV. But when you’re at work, it’s sometimes hard to deal with all the “stuff” that comes with Christmas when you don’t...

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Would You Work Better Lying Down?

A new company called Altwork thinks you need to recline to really concentrate at the computer. Their forthcoming Altwork Station is designed to allow you to sit, stand, recline, and more, but the nearly-$6,000 price tag might give you pause.   (Photo Credit: Altwork.com) What’s the deal? If you’ve ever envied the...

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Just What Does a 6-Figure Salary Get You?

Once the definition of success, earning $100,000 or more per year doesn’t automatically mean you’ve made it to easy street these days. As kids in the ’80s (or earlier), we might have thought that amount was akin to a million dollars, but now, a six-figure income doesn’t mean as much as it...

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Should You Tip More at the Holidays?

While many people still quibble about how much to tip their server at a waitress (psst, it’s generally 15-20 percent for good to outstanding service) there’s even more debate around what to tip at the year’s end. Even if you don’t celebrate a winter holiday, the end of the year is nigh,...

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Why Pay Transparency Is a Good Thing

Would you feel better about your less-than-market salary if your boss talked to you about how the company structures pay? Maybe. PayScale survey data from 71,000 U.S. employees show that workers who are paid less than the market rate for their jobs were more satisfied if their employer was transparent about their...

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Should You Work on Black Friday?

Even if you don’t work retail, your office might be open on the day after Thanksgiving (lots of places are). Ever since the creation of the holiday, it’s fallen on a Thursday, and while we celebrate it as a federal holiday, the day after isn’t a given paid day off. So, if...

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Not Getting Hired Online? Blame the Robots

If you’ve been applying online for jobs you know you’re perfect for and not getting anywhere, sadly, you’re not alone. With the move by many HR departments big and small toward Applicant Tracking Systems (a.k.a. ATS applications), your application might be getting lost in the computer shuffle. Here’s how to get around...

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Why It’s a Great Idea to Work From Home

While some might say that telecommuting is the absolute worst, there are plenty of employees (and employers) who love it. Not everything wonderful about working from home involves your pajamas, but let’s start there, shall we? (Photo Credit: DDFic/Flickr)  1. You can work in your pajamas! This is kind of the most...

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Why It’s a Terrible Idea to Work From Home

While telecommuting might be a great cost savings for companies who want to save on real estate and utilities by making you effectively pay for them at your house, it’s not perfect. As much as it pains me to say it, here are some downsides to the working-from-home scenario. (Photo Credit: liquene/Flickr)...

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When Setbacks Happen, Stay Strong Like an Animal

The next time adversity strikes your work plan, don’t crumble — take some inspiration from the animal world and make the best of things. Whether your spirit beast is a tiny ant or a clever bird, you can use these animals as guides on your journey to being a more awesome human....

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Is Your Resume Invisible to Recruiters? Fix it By Removing These 5 Things

Has your resume been falling flat? You might be telling too much and losing points before you even get a chance to answer awkward interview questions. Here are five items you might have on your resume that you should remove immediately. (Photo Credit: Flazingo, via flazingo_photos/Flickr) 1. An Unprofessional Email While your email...

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Sick of Your Job? Get Inspired by These 8 Great TED Talks

It’s dark, getting colder, and your next day off is still weeks away. If you’re getting down at work, try a few minutes break with one of these inspirational TED talks. You just might find some answers without ever leaving your computer. (Photo Credit: Gisela Giardino/Flickr) I was inspired by this great...

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How to Make Money on Instagram

It may seem strange, but regular Joe and Joannes are out there making money off of their selfies. How, you ask? Instagram, I say. Just when you thought you should cut back on your screen time, here are a few reasons why you’ll want to up the posts and the clicks to...

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What’s to Be Done About All This Candy?

When we were younger, we used to be able to gorge on candy after trick-or-treating and pretty much feel fine. Now that we’re older, and maybe a tad bit more health conscious, the biggest threat to our healthy eating habits is often the office candy bowl. That’s bad enough on a regular...

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Get a Flu Shot, for Your Co-Workers’ Sake

First things first: yes, there are some people who shouldn’t get the flu shot. If you think you might be one of them, check with your doctor. For everyone else, getting the yearly flu vaccine is still the best way to keep yourself healthy, productive, and on your co-workers’ good side during...

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You Probably Sit Too Much. Here’s What to Do About It.

Is it possible that sitting all day creates a whole host of health issues? Likely. Can you do something about it? Yes. Will you? Maybe. No matter what the latest science might say, moving more is good for you, and we probably need to ditch the chair (at least a little bit)...

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How Can I Take My Dog to Work?

Maybe your office doesn’t have a dog policy, but there’s no rule against it, either. Of course, you can’t just show up with Fido in tow and announce that he’s the new intern. You need your boss and co-workers to approve of your plan first. Here are some tips to getting your...

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Are You Here for Microwave Cookery? 15+ Recipes You Can Make at Work

You may be stuck at work, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat like a chump. Here are ways you can use that office microwave to turn out some seriously delicious chow, any time of the day. Just don’t be that guy nuking leftover fish. (Photo Credit: mamamockingbird77/Flickr) Breakfast: The most...

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What You Tweet Reflects Your Income, Emotions, and More

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently released a first-of-its-kind study that shows that they can reliably link twitter feeds to income, based on the content of the tweets. Why you should be concerned? Your next empl