6 Office Makeover Tips

6 Office Makeover Tips The design and feel of your work space may take a back seat when it comes to  your priorities in the office, but it is actually much more important  than you may think. As soon as a potential client, customer or new employee walks into the office, judgements are being made about your business. From a new customer perspective, an impressive office can make  an excellent first impression. When it comes to potential new employees, the office is the place where they will be spending the majority of their time, so theyll be considering this when they first visit. It also reflects quite heavily about how management treat and care for their workers, which brings me to my next point.  As well as potential new customers and new employees, it also makes a huge difference to existing workers. The environment you work in can either make or break the motivation of your team. Keeping your office space fresh will ensure  being at work is as pleasant as possible. What should you really consider when you plan your makeover? 1. Light: keep it as natural as possible A recent study  discovered that windows were the number one determining factor of satisfaction in a building. This, of course, makes complete sense. Who would want to be shacked up in a dim office with no windows?! Sometimes, however, its not always possible to have windows which shed loads of natural light. Now most offices use cheap and harsh illuminated lighting in order to get maximum brightness, with a cost effective means of doing so. However its always worth spending a little more and getting better quality to light fittings. 2. Seating: mix  it up Unsure of how to set up your desks or departments? Why not start a new hot-desking style of working. Follow the example of some of the most creative brands such as Innocent drinks and LinkedIn mix up the seating arrangement for a truly collaborative and creative workforce. 3.  Budget: no need to  break the bank With a realistic budget and a collection of happy employees, you dont need millions of pounds to give the office a boost. Even small, cheaper options can make the office a nicer place to work. Think flowers, food, soda, coffee, new lamps, more storage none of which are particularly expensive. Invest in a new coffee machine, get everyone new stationeryafter all, its the little things that count and they make a big difference! 4. Music: it makes a difference When it comes to motivation, music can make a huge difference. You may not want to have it on constantly, but every so often its nice to have a few tunes blasting through the office. Why not set up a shared Spotify playlist so everyone can contribute a song or two? 5. Colour it in Colour can make a huge difference in the office. According to the Colour Affects  website, different colours induce different states of mind and feelings. Try and choose colours that reflect your business or brand, to  get your staff stimulated! Colour psychology is actually a pretty interesting topic, so its worth having a research before you get painting! Blue stimulates clear thought Yellow boosts creativity and lifts spirits Red physiologically affects the body and elevates one’s pulse Green creates a sense of calming balance Saturated, bright colours stimulate Softer, muted colours relax and soothe 6. Walls rock (no really, they do) If youve got limited space in your office, why not use the walls to your advantage? There are so many things you can do with a simple wall. You could buy a tin of blackboard paint and transform it into a giant drawing board. You could cover it with lego bricks and have a building wall. Why not hold a competition for your employees on what should go on the wall? What things do you do to make sure your office stays interesting? Let us know in the comments below. Main image credit: Shutterstock

Got Hacked 5 Tips To Prevent Phishing In Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Got Hacked 5 Tips To Prevent Phishing In Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career We all take a risk by having social media profiles, in that it is possible our personal information and credibility can be compromised. Phishing, or a way to collect information online, such as usernames, passwords, or any other personal information, is quite common on sites like Facebook and Twitter. You or someone you know may have been hacked by a phisher. Signs of a hacked account include the spreading advertisements and suspicious links onto your contacts, excessive activity, or even having your login information changed. Being hacked is not only dangerous for identity theft it can weaken your personal brand. Personal branding is all about building credibility and value about you. But, if hackers comprise your identity, it can drive away your contacts. After all, who wants to follow a person who sends them irrelevant links once a week? Ways to protect your accounts against hackers So how can you take control of your accounts and prevent getting hacked by phishers and scammers? Here are five tips below to combat potential hacks: 1. Use The Right Domain Name. Every time you log into your social media profile, make sure you’re on the correct domain name of the website. Some sites may have short-cut URL’s, but a good way to tell if a site is legitimate is if it ends in the site’s name (e.g. en-gb.facebook.com is the legitimate address for Facebook users in the UK). 2. Change Passwords Frequently. Changing your login password every few months (or more often if you want to be safer) will throw off almost any hacker on your trail. Passwords should be as long and complex as possible using both numbers and letters non-consecutively. Avoid reusing old passwords and predictable patterns when changing them, like adding the current month at the end. 3. Avoid Deceptive and Unfamiliar Links. Clicking deceptive and unfamiliar links or copying and pasting unfamiliar URL’s on your browser can automatically give hackers control over your account. If you don’t know what it is, even if it comes from a familiar or legitimate contact, don’t access it. 4. Choose Apps Wisely. Third-party apps for news, games, and other categories first request permission to access your account, but may do more when you’re not around. Remove apps you don’t use regularly to reduce the chances of it happening. 5. Update Your Browser. Popular online browsers, like Google Chrome or Internet Explorer, have built in security measures that enable phishing and malware protection. Though doing all these measures is never a guarantee, it’s the safest and best way to keep your online brand free of spam and full of the content you want. Do you agree that phishing can weaken a personal brand? Do you have any more tips to prevent phishing?   Author: Heather R.  Huhman  is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of  Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of  Lies, Damned Lies Internships  (2011),  #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle  (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for  numerous outlets.

Resistance is Futile Part Two

Resistance is Futile Part Two I wrote recently  about Daniel Pink’s Book To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth about Moving Others.  If you haven’t read that post, go back and take a look. I’ll wait. Pink writes that both in sales and ordinary human interactions, people aren’t likely to be persuaded by your reasons. No matter how compelling your argument, they essentially must persuade themselves to buy, change, or take action. So Pink has developed a 2-question technique that he says will move the needle for anyone when you use it. It’s the start of real persuasion if it’s used well. The technique consists of asking two questions. Assuming that there is an action that someone has not been willing to take in the past, you ask: “On a scale of 1 to 10, how ready are you to change this pattern (take this action, buy this product; whatever the discussion is about)?” The other person will pick a number that represents her readiness for change. Let’s say she picks 4 (it could be anything, including 1; more about that later.) Here’s your next question, “Thanks for being honest with me. You picked 4 on the scale of 1 â€" 10. You could have picked a 1.  Can you tell me why you didn’t pick a lower number?” When you ask this second question, it’s critical that you stop and listen. Really listen. Because the other person is going to start to give you reasons she might actually buy or change behavior. “I have been thinking about making this change for a while, but needed time to figure out a way to make it work.” “I would have changed earlier if I knew it bothered you so much â€" I want us to work together well.” “The product I use now requires lots of expensive upkeep, so I’d change if I could figure out how to pay for it.” “I’d do it if it didn’t take so much time to learn the new method.” Any and all of these reasons are pure gold, because they are her reasons for wanting to make the change, or her conditions for doing so. She’s in the act of persuading herself to make the change or take action. And she’s giving you insight into what matters to her â€" it’s your job to figure out how to help her make the change for the reasons that matter most to her. But what if she says: “On a scale of 1 â€" 10, I’m at one.” Obviously, that’s the lowest number she could pick. Do you just give up on persuasion? Not necessarily. Daniel Pink says that your next question in this case would be: “What can we do to get you to a 2?” You will probably get some of the same valuable feedback. “If it were more affordable, I’d probably consider it.” “If I knew my boss really needed it, I might go ahead and do it.” “If it made my job easier each month, I’d probably think about it.” This technique will wear thin if you use it every day; it will feel like manipulation. But it can be a powerful way to break through an impasse and really begin to understand your buyer, your family member, or your coworker’s motivation. Have you tried this technique? Did it work? Leave a comment and let me know.

Tips from a Grad School Student The Official Guide to the MBA

Tips from a Grad School Student The “Official Guide” to the MBA Quick note from Anna: Happy birthday to my dad!   Without my dads encouragement, I never would have went back to get my MBA.   Thanks dad!   If you are applying to business school this year or someday want to get your MBA, dont miss this post!   Prarthana Srikanth  is a Classy Career Girl reader and a soon to be a full time MBA student at the Rady School of Management at University of California, San Diego in the Fall.   Since I recently graduated from the Rady School, I was so happy to meet Prarthana for coffee one day.   She read my blog and reached out to me to get my advice on the MBA program.   Good luck Prarthana with your MBA and thank you for sharing your advice!   I always wanted to get an MBAbut resisted the thought for a long time because of my previous job. I worked in a laboratory in academia and my responsibilities did not entail handling budgets, sales or people. When I thought of how different I would be from the other people who would be applying, I simply wanted to scramble back to the PhD option.   But thanks to my family and the incredible amount of information that is available, I was able to move out of my comfort “researcher” zone and get admitted to a b-school of my choice.   Today, I want to share some my tips for making your MBA application process a successful one. 1. Choose wisely I was a Biomedical Science researcher and wanted to make the transition to the Biotechnology Industry. After exhaustive research, I found a few good schools that demonstrated a sincere interest in the advancement of the biotech industry. For instance, these schools encouraged applications from scientists and doctors (MD); they offered unique courses such as “Lab to Market” and were located close to biotech hubs.   After weighing the benefits, I decided to apply to only those schools that would provide me with industry-relevant advantages (networking opportunities, health-care related case studies, interaction with recruiters and speakers from the biotech industry, etc.). 2. Volunteer work I wanted some exposure to business development before I enrolled into an MBA program. Because of this, I joined a non-profit corporation and initiated a proposal to work on a business plan for the use of Clean/Alternative Energy in India.   Later, this volunteer-opportunity supported my MBA application tremendously because it demonstrated my inclination towards business and management and it also showed that I was interested in learning about other industries outside of my job. 3. Problem Essays Think about all the issues you had or have in your job and work from there. Identify and dissect the problemâ€" how did you resolve it, how did you handle the stress, what resources or skills did you use in the process, what lessons did you learn from it, were others involved, how did you communicate the problem to them, how did you reach out for help, how did you muster the courage to talk to your boss about a failure, was your passion the secret behind the success?   The success of your essay depends largely on the language, tone and also how well you know your school.   Read 2-3 sample essays but ultimately come back to what is your own. Find your way of generating ideas.   I always kept my iPhone next to me to jot down ideas so I wouldnt forget them (even if it was at 4am). 4. Get organized I used technology and cloud computing services to work efficiently. I used Google calendar to send me reminders and Google docs to write my essays.   This way I could access them from anywhere and edit them real-time with my essay reviewers. I downloaded all the necessary s/w such as PDF Merger, PDF Converter etc. (I was using an HP Mini) and kept a scanned version of all my documents (transcripts, passport, GMAT/TOEFL scores etc.) ready to go.   I saved and categorized every page I read of innovative programs, student achievements and admission events pertaining to the respective schools. I also used a Google spreadsheet (since I was applying to ~10 schools) to store contact numbers, email addresses, deadlines, columns for tracking recommender’s progress, URLs, login ids etc. 5. You dont have to spend a lot to get a lot I did not spend an extra dime on my GMAT other than the exam fee. I borrowed all the study material from the community library (they have the latest so get them early!).   I attended the World MBA Tour ($5 Registration Fee) and other similar MBA-fairs and got my application fee (approx. $150 each) waived for some schools. You can avail this by simply visiting the School’s booth at the event!   For formal clothes, I waited (with bated breath) for my first interview letter. Once I received it, I opened all the links on Deals-Sales that I had saved. I got formal shirts for $15 each (originally $45; Van Heusen), nice low-heeled (2 ¼â€) black leather pumps $30 (originally$45; DSW) and lovely formal black pants for $30 (originally $70; Groupon for Gap). 6. Ask Student Ambassadors and you shall receive They really help! A lot in fact. Their contact address is available on the School’s website and they respond to ALL your emails. So your satisfaction depends on your question. I asked very specific questions about specific courses and therefore got extremely focused answers (which I could even use in my essays!). I even asked for interview tips because it had been two years since I had last interviewed and my previous job didnt bust you if you wore worn-out-at-the-knee jeans to work!   Some of the advice I gotâ€" Look sharp, have a USP, carry a padfolio, wear a little bit of makeup (boysâ€" good haircut and mild cologne ?? and smile till the end! 7. Know thyself It is true, that you can accelerate through the essay-writing process if you really know yourself. And for this, extreme introspection is required. Be aware of your actions during the MBA application process and make a conscious note of your likes, dislikes, aspirations and pet-peeves (write down if necessary- a pen is always better than a good memory). 8. Acknowledge I was immensely benefited by all the free and useful information I found.. I acknowledged every info session, interview, phone call and email-exchanges with a sincere thank you note. I personalized it by highlighting one memorable/positive aspect about the interaction. One last thing, to show my seriousness about the MBA and to learn more about my target b-school, I attended every class visit opportunity available, spoke to as many students as possible and made contacts and friends. Every visit, follow-up and meeting made my confidence grow by leaps and bounds. Have you ever thought about heading back to school?   How did you manage the application process?

28 Habits That Block Your Happiness - CareerMetis.com

28 Habits That Block Your Happiness We wonder, we kill our own happiness and then blame fate for each and everything.Attaining happiness is no rocket science. You too can achieve it by bringing positive changes in your life. All you need is to tilt your way of seeing things. Life is a beautiful gift of Divine; there is no sanity in wasting it by feeling sorry for yourself.Hugging misery won’t give you anything at all. You are responsible for your miseries because nothing can harm you unless you allow that very thing to ruin your inner peace.evalA question for all of you; why do you allow this world to take control of your happiness? This is the biggest mistake a person makes.Things will change for good if you stop letting this world take control of your happiness. Don’t perceive happiness as a commodity that comes to you. You have to find it within yourself.A lot of people search for happiness in different things and people but not for a minute they try to search it within themselves. Unless you take charge of your happiness nothing can bring it to you.Why do you search for happiness and acceptance in different places when it is inside you? Live your life, just don’t spend it. You only get the life for once, don’t waste it in thinking about the least important things. Take charge of your happiness and never allow a person or anything to steal it.Putting your happiness in one plate isn’t a sane thing. Don’t depend on a person to bring you happiness neither depend on things for the happiness because the true contentment is there within you.Are you confused by all what we just said? Don’t worry; our infographic will give you the deep insights. In this infographic, you’ll find out how you are blocking your happiness. 28 habits block happiness to reach you. If you want to be happy, eliminate the negative habits from your life, soon you’ll see positive changes in your life.Key to happiness is that you stop complaining about things and take control of your life. Wait for no further and have a look at those habits that block your happiness.eval

How to increase your chances of getting a job offer - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to increase your chances of getting a job offer If you’re a job seeker and interviewing with many companies, you might be wondering: What does it actually take to get a job offer? Landing a job can be tough. Many companies have smaller budgets and when several people have an input into a hiring decision and they all focus on a significant ROI for new hires, Hiring Managers want to make sure they’re making the right choice. I’ve worked in recruitment for 11 years and I’ve been coaching people on their job search and interviewing technique for 9 years. Today I’d like to provide you with some insight into how hiring managers make decisions. When hiring managers need to decide which candidate gets a job offer, the decision isn’t based on your education, skills and experience alone. Sure, these are important but then why does someone who is clearly less qualified than you sometimes get a job offer instead of you? Many job seekers will spend time preparing their answers to the most common interview questions. And of course, you absolutely need to provide examples of what you’ve done in your career that would be relevant to the job you’re interviewing for. But the hiring managers also want to know who you are as a person â€" your attitude, your work ethic and style, your people skills, and whether or not you will fit in the work culture and add value to their organization. There were so many times in my recruitment career when I’ve seen 2 equally qualified candidates on a final interview stage.  Sometimes the person who got the job actually had less experience or less impressive qualifications but what they had was the passion, a great attitude and the drive to make things happen. I’ve seen candidates very impressive on paper being rejected as they seemed set in their ways, not a team player or like they wouldn’t take initiative to do more than required. How do you think hiring managers describe YOU? Soft skills are critical but it’s not enough to say you are positive of hardworking unless you can prove it. If you want to impress, hiring managers must be able to understand how you displayed those characteristics in the past. So how do you help a hiring manager get past any reservations and choose you? Here are my top tips: Show enthusiasm and energy in your voice â€" I sometimes  see candidates or clients who sound so monotonous and bored. You want to show excitement and be able to tell great stories about your specific accomplishments at prior companies. Provide information that illustrates strong and likable characteristics and provide some relevant examples of what you’ve done in your current job that would be relevant to the company you are interviewing with â€" something that shows how you’ve made positive impact. You want to WOW the hiring managers â€" not be someone they’ll forget a couple of days later. Be passionate and engaged. Various research and my personal experience in recruitment proves that candidates who show a genuine passion for the job tend to get the job over other applicants (you need to have the relevant skills of course, too!) The other key indicators for this are your “cultural fit,” personality, and style. Reduce their risk. Make sure you’re not a risky hire. Do a Google search on your name to learn what a hiring manager will see when he or she does the same. Review your profiles and shared content on social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. The Internet makes the hiring process more transparent, so your resume will never tell your entire story. Know in advance whether you’re a risky hire, and support your online brand with positive content. Want the job offer? Give that boss or hiring manager or recruiter all the right reasons to hire you. BRAND NEW 30-minute JOB SEARCH TROUBLE-SHOOTING session! Do you feel like you are trying everything but still not getting the results you want from your job search? Perhaps you’re not finding enough job leads, not getting enough interviews or not selling your value adequately in interviews. It is so frustrating, especially when you know you have skills and experience employers need! Yet, you don’t know what you’re doing wrong â€" you feel like you’re going round in circles. Let me help you make a breakthrough in your job search process with my brand new 30-minute trouble-shooting session. Troubleshooting your job search is the way to discover where your job search is stalled, and make fixes. In our 30-minute laser focused session, I’ll diagnose symptoms of your job search that are not at its best, and what you can do to make it better. Find out more here:  http://bit.ly/1QXu4td ___________________________________________________________________ Margaret Buj is an interview and career acceleration coach who specializes in helping professionals get hired, promoted and paid more. If you want to find out how recruiters read resumes, why you’re not getting hired, how to sell yourself successfully in a job interview and how to negotiate your best salary yet, you can download her free “You’re HIRED!” video course.

What Should I Do If I Get Rejected For a Retail Store Job?

What Should I Do If I Get Rejected For a Retail Store Job?While many job seekers have to put their all into crafting the perfect resume, there are other jobs that need much less effort from the employer. It is not surprising to hear of the frequent rejection of resumes from retail store positions, as even some supervisors are disinclined to hire new hires for such lowly positions.When it comes to being denied a new or job, most people will look for some easy way out of such simple jobs. Unfortunately, they usually look for jobs in retail sales where they are going to be dealing with very low levels of responsibility and possible lower wages as well. But, while applying for retail sales jobs, one needs to be more careful than applying for a mail-order store position.To find out if you should really apply for a retail store position, simply ask yourself the following questions. Are you sure that this job is right for you? Is this job one that you can manage effectively? Will you be abl e to give satisfactory performance at this job?Also, if you are a good candidate for this type of job, then you should try to get the interview as quickly as possible. But, if you do not think you have what it takes, you can get the information and submit your resume immediately. One thing you may also want to take note of is the fact that the internet can help you in this as well.The internet provides the potential employer with all kinds of information, which will include your CV. You can also use your profile on social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. This will provide you with a chance to expand your network and get some reference for the position.Another piece of information that will help you to fill in the profile is the fact that you can use your internet skills in answering questions about the customer service level of the company. This is a factor that is extremely important for any job seeker, as a bad customer service can easily spell the end of a job for y ou.The retail store job will require that you fill out a lot of forms. In order to expedite this process, you can use the web form tools available. This is a great tool which is both time efficient and lets you use your computer skills to answer any query that the potential employer may have about you.