5 Ways to Optimize Your Office

5 Ways to Optimize Your Office The key to a productive workday is to 1) fuel yourself with coffee and 2) work in a bright and clean environment. Whether you work from a small office at home or work in an office with other colleagues, its essential to create a space where you can be productive and make the most of every minute of your working day. Making an effort to create a workspace which is positive and free from distractions can be a huge factor in your success. Below are multiple ways you can optimize your office and turn your working space into a calm, positive and productive zone. 1. Pretty Decor To optimize your office, you need to make your space look great so that you actually want to work there. For a home office, you may want to add some pretty decor. A minimal look comprising of neutral walls and necessary office furniture is a perfect place to start. With a home office, you have more control over how you want it to look. Inject some of your personality into your office with a bright feature wall. You could display all of your achievements and favorite quotes on this feature wall for motivation as you work. If you work in a big office with other people, you may want to stick to more whites and greys to create a bright and clean space. 2. Add Flowers and Plants Another great way to add a bit of color to your office is with plants. The more greenery, the better! The addition of flowers and plants will make your office feel more homely and its also a great way of adding a pop of color. Plants also create a nice and calming atmosphere which is what you want when youre busy with lots of deadlines. Dont forget to water the plants regularly and put them in pretty pots to make the office look super stylish. 3. Create a Bright Environment No-one wants to sit in a dull room while they work. Sitting in poor lighting will make you feel unmotivated and tired and youll also find it hard to concentrate. If you have great natural lighting, then make the most of that. If you dont, its worth investing in decent lighting. Brighter bulbs, lamps on desks anything goes. Even fairy lights would be a nice touch. A bright environment will make you feel more awake and productive. 4. Have a Social Area Everyone needs a break. Having a social area in the office is a great idea. This is a place where people can take a break or simply refresh their minds for a couple of minutes. The social area should be a warm, relaxing and inviting area so when decorating, think of calming colors like blue. Provide comfortable sofas for people to sit on and space where people can grab a drink. Water dispensers, a coffee machine, and a mini snacks bar would all be great additions to the social area. 5. Clean space, clear mind No-one can work in an environment thats messy. One way of creating less clutter is by having a good clear out. Get rid of pens that dont work, documents that arent needed and random bits that have somehow ended up in your cupboards. Store all important things together with clear labels so that you know where to look when you need to find them. Having a clean and tidy office will make you mind clearer so you can concentrate on getting all of your daily tasks done.

A Good Workout Your Key to Success at Work! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

A Good Workout Your Key to Success at Work! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career We’ve all heard the catch phrase, “get a competitive edge at work” but what about KEEPING your competitive edge once you have a job!   One of the best ways to stay competitive is to maintain your energy level so you can meet the challenges at work.   I suggest to anyone who feels overwhelmed by their work load and tired from constant stress of meeting deadlines, that you find some time each day (if possible before work or during a lunch break) to quiet your mind, refresh your spirit and renew your energy. One way to achieve this goal is to commit yourself to participate in some vigorous exercise that you can do at least 3-5 days per week.   Releasing endorphins can help you stay mentally tough. Studies show that combining a good nights sleep with a balanced diet and regular exercise improves job performance, time management and mental sharpness. A study by Jim McKenna from the University of Bristol showed that after exercising, participants returned to work more tolerant of themselves and more forgiving of their colleagues.  Peoples mood significantly improves after exercising.  People who exercise on work days are more productive, happier and suffer less stress than on non-gym days, scientists revealed today.  University of Bristol researchers found that employees who enjoyed a workout before going to work or exercised during lunch breaks were better equipped to handle whatever the day threw at them. It also found that peoples general mood improved on days of exercise but they became less calm on non-exercise days. The research, published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, is the first of its kind to prove that exercise during work hours has mental, as well as physical benefits. Jo Coulson, Research Associate in the Universitys Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, said: Our statistical results were very important. On exercise days, peoples mood significantly improved after exercising. Mood stayed about the same on days they didnt, with the exception of peoples sense of calm which deteriorated. Critically, workers performed significantly better on exercise days and across all three areas we measured, known as mental-interpersonal, output and time demands. The key findings were: Seventy two per cent reported improvements in time management on exercise days compared to non-exercise days. Seventy nine per cent said mental and interpersonal performance was better on days they exercised. Seventy four per cent said they managed their workload better. The questionnaire scores were 27 per cent higher on exercise days in categories such as dealing calmly with stress and 41 per cent higher for feeling motivated to work. Those who exercised were also 21 per cent higher for concentration on work, 25 per cent for working without unscheduled breaks and 22 per cent higher for finishing work on time. Feedback from focus groups found that people who built exercise into their workday were re-energised, calmer and more able to solve problems. Ms Coulson added: Its generally well-known now that there are many physical and mental health benefits that can be gained from regular exercise Read more: People Who Exercise on Workdays are Happier, Suffer Less Stress and are more Productive Based on the increasing demands for companies to cut costs and for workers to increase their productivity, basic competency at ones job wont be enough to keep your job. Employers want their staff to contribute more to their team (often with fewer resources) while expecting employees to maintain the high-standards for the quality of their output.  Considering the must-have skills listed below, I suggest workers have more pressure on them than ever to perform at a high level in order to stay employed. Workers can choose from one of two approaches: First, you could ignore the reality that work is stressful and stick with a familiar routine because it’s comfortable.   The problem here is that the status quo for your daily regimen is likely to involve no exercise, an unhealthy diet and over time could lead to compromising your health. The Second choice is you could become intellectually honest about your situation and seek ways to manage your stress; Find  realistic solutions to boost your sense of wellness so you can function optimally at work and at home.  In my view, exercise can no longer be viewed as a luxury for those elite, disciplined people who want to stay lean and fit. In todays competitive work environment, its a survival strategy that may determine who can endure and who will crumble under the stress. In Ruth Mantell’s recent WSJ article, Must-Have Job Skills in 23, she asserts that employers want workers to show greater skills and results. In 2013, she says, workers who want to remain competitive and desirable to their employers will need to do several things better than their co-workers:  For employers who want to get ahead, “basic competency won’t be enough.”   To win a promotion or land a job next year, expert say there are four must-have job skills: 1. Clear Communications “…is the ability to clearly articulate your point of view and the ability to create a connection through communication, says Holly Paul, U.S. recruiting leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accounting and consulting firm based in New York. For job seekers in particular, clear communication can provide a snapshot of their work style to employers. 2. Personal branding Human-resources executives scour blogs, Twitter and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn when researching candidates, and its important that they like what they find. Thats your brand, thats how you represent yourself, says Peter Handal, CEO of Dale Carnegie Training, a Hauppauge, N.Y., provider of workplace-training services. If you post something that comes back to haunt you, people will see that. Workers also should make sure their personal brand is attractive and reflects well on employers. More and more employers are looking for employees to tweet on their behalf, to blog on their behalf, to build an audience and write compelling, snappy posts, says Meredith Haberfeld, an executive and career coach in New York. 3. Flexibility The ability to quickly respond to an employers changing needs will be important next year as organizations try to respond nimbly to customers. A lot of companies want us to work with their employees about how to get out of their comfort zone, how to adapt, says Mr. Handal. Somebodys job today may not be the same as next year. The ability to learn new skills is of top importance, says George Boué, human-resources vice president for Stiles, a real-estate services company in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. We want to know that if we roll out a new program or new tools that the folks we have on board are going to be open to learning, he says. 4. Productivity improvement In 2013, workers should find new ways to increase productivity, experts say. Executives are looking for a 20% improvement in employee performance next year from current levels, according to a recent survey by the Corporate Executive Board, an Arlington, Va., business research and advisory firm. When you are at your job, do you volunteer for projects? Are you looking for creative ways to help your organization, Mr. McDonald says. The way to really differentiate yourself is to be proactive. Companies that are considering adding workers in coming years want current employees to operate in growth mode now. My clients are looking for employees that have a great ability to understand what is wanted and needed, rather than needing to be told, Ms. Haberfeld says. Even hiring managers need to work on certain skills as organizations consider expanding next year. This report reinforces that in today’s competitive workplace there is more pressure than ever to stay focused, creative, flexible, and productive; the work environment can be intense and requires more energy and output from the average employee.  Its not surprising that if these increased demands are left unmanaged, they could lead to burnout and stress related illness.  The savvy worker will acknowledge that in order to get a competitive edge at work and maintain your “personal brand” as a top producer you’ll need to take better care of your physical health. With an increased demand for top performance in all areas at work, employees need to take a fresh look at their life habits to maintain mental toughness and a positive attitude.   In today’s fiercely competitive workplace, having a consistent exercise regimen, eating healthfully and getting enough sleep is no longer a luxury but it will make the difference between those who can stay on top of their game at work and those who get swallowed up or worse drown from all the stress. There is considerable evidence that upper management is also concerned with employees’ health habits as it affects their overall costs and productivity.   A new study that will be published in the Journal Population Health Management shows that eating unhealthily is linked with a 66 percent increased risk of loss of productivity, while rare exercise is linked with a 50 percent increased risk of low productivity. And smoking is linked with a 28 percent increased risk of loss of productivity, researchers found. Total  health related employee activity  loss accounts for 77 percent of all such loss and costs employers two to three times more than annual healthcare expenses.  Employers have become more cost conscious, (retaining fewer employees and demanding the same output from this group as they had from a larger pool of workers) and thereby are creating a corporate culture where only the “fittest” can survive and thrive. With increased pressure on employees to increase productivity, workers will need to adopt strategies and new behaviors to reduce stress while increasing overall strength and mental agility in order to manage the ever-intensifying demands placed on them.   In order for your mind to operate at its best, your body needs to be nourished and conditioned as stress builds, the mind becomes cluttered with thoughts and assignments and worries and there is little room left for fresh insights. There is no quick fix to increasing your physical stamina and mental acumen. Sticking to a healthy diet with occasional splurges and a steady exercise routine will pay off in the long run in reducing your stress, enabling you to stay focused, and can reduce your anxiety when faced with challenging people. A good workout can do wonders for clearing your mind and can raise you out of a mental rut.   The challenge for those who don’t have a regular exercise regimen is getting started with one.   It can help to have an exercise buddy but your buddy’s schedule may conflict with yours allowing for an excuse to skip exercising.   Follow Nike’s advice and Just Do It! Trust the word on the street and the medical research that indicates the multiple benefits of exercise.   We all have heard this ad nauseam but now the need for developing a consistent exercise regimen takes on new importance.   It’s not only good for your health but also good for your career! During your workout, try to find at least 20-30 minutes when you have no other distractions such as music, TV. Etc.   Use that time to allow the exhilaration to stimulate your senses, clear your thoughts and allow room in your head for new creative thoughts.   It’s amazing how many times I’ve been able to resolve conflicts in my mind with novel thoughts while running in the park that I couldn’t possibly have achieved even if I focused hours on the same challenge at my desk. Author: Beth is Founder and President of Get Hired, LLC.   She advises students on how to bridge the gap from school to career.  Beth is the co-author of  From Diploma to Dream Job: Five Overlooked Steps to a Successful Career.  Her coaching assists students and career changers to successfully match their needs, interests, passions, skills, and personal goals with the needs of a sustainable industry in a sustainable location.  She is a resource for print and online media and offers workshops for University Career Service Departments, Executive Recruiters, Outplacement Services, College Guidance Counselors and College Alumni Associations. See website for more details about Beth’s services  www.fromdiploma2dreamjob.com.    Beth’s Webinar was sponsored by George Washington Universitys Career Services Dept. for their worldwide alumni association:  Leverage Your College Diploma,  You can follow Beth on twitter @BethKuhel

How To Get Into the Fashion Industry Interview with Jen Worman

How To Get Into the Fashion Industry Interview with Jen Worman Today in my networking challenge I am interviewing Jen Worman.   Jen has a long career in the fashion industry with years of experience as a Merchandiser for big name brands. Jen and her sister started a jewelry design company called T+J designs. Jen also blogs at Red Soles and Red Wine. Thanks so much for sharing your tips, Jen! (PS. Sorry about the poundingapparently someone decided to work on my roof that day! ?? In case you are reading this at work and can’t watch the video, you can read all of the great advice below instead! 1) What is the best part of having your own business? The best part of having my own business is the fact that everything I do I feel rewarded by and I love what I do. Part of loving what I do is that I work with my family. I love that I get to see what happens when I make decisions and I learn a ton every day. Owning your own business is definitely an adventure but so far it has been excellent. Everything I have learned in my previous job I have been able to move forward with owning my own business. We launched in August and worked on the collections before that. We gave ourselves a timeline 3-4 months to see how it went and it has been going so well. We are extremely happy with our supporters and our customers 2) How did you make the decision to leave your job as a Merchandiser and start your own business? I think everything happens for a reason and I lived in New York and my husband got an opportunity to come back to Chicago. When I moved to Chicago, I wasnt really sure what I was going to do. I loved being a merchandiser and I was a merchandiser for 8 years. But, I couldnt find anything that was a perfect fit here. I think after working in several companies you know that you want a job that is a good fit for you and you wont just take anything that comes to you. A lot of the jobs were quite far away for traveling with the traffic and my dad is an entrepreneur. It was the best opportunity for me to think what do I really want to do.  And I thought why dont I do something on my own? My sister has had her own blog for three years and with my background in the  fashion industry and her expertise in blogging we came together. Ww both love fashion and jewelry and it just all came together. 3) How can job searchers get into the fashion industry? There are a lot of people in the fashion industry and, of course, people say that you need to move to New York or LA. There are a ton of retailers out there right now. I think a good education is important. I definitely think going to a University is important and having a good background. Some people ask me, do I need to go to an art school? And you dont necessarily have to go to an art school to learn design or merchandising. I think having a good background in business is fundamental if you want to get into merchandising. But, a big thing is networking.  I think you see that in blogging. Getting to know people and it is word of mouth. Same thing in fashion, there is a small fashion community. Taking opportunities and using them to the best that you can.  I did a lot of internships where I didnt get paid but I learned a ton. Having experience is important even from sales or doing PR or volunteering for fashion shows. Those things are out there. LinkedIn is an important community as well as a resource. A lot of recruiters find me from there. Really investigating what is out there instead of thinking it is just going to come to you. 4) How do you find the time to volunteer with a full-time job? I think that even if you do have a job and you are looking for something else, you should look at the pursuit as a job in itself. If it is something that you are really passionate about, you should take the time and plan out when you do it. It is like blogging, blogging is a second job because you have to plan out your regular schedule and when you are going to post things. And you have to love what you do.  I loved the fashion industry and merchandising and I think that is what really pushed me to succeed.  Everything I did, didnt feel like work. 5) How did your previous job experience prepare you to start your own business? Being a merchandiser, you really control your own business. I worked on a $80 million business and I had to have quarterly plans.  I worked with designers and traveled to Paris and London. It is very similar to owning your own business. I presented my retail plan and designs and how I was purchasing them to the executive team four times a year. It really prepared me to plan out my production cycle as well as think about why you are buying something. You are not buying something because you love it, you are buying it because you see opportunity in where it can go and what your customer loves. We also look at our analytics and figure out what do people love and what they are not loving. 6) What are your tips for surviving work travel trips? Have a plan. Plan what you are going to do every day. Sleeping is very important. I am a big fan of sleep because if you dont sleep you are not going to be able to work. Also, plan out what you wear so that you can pack light because you dont want to haul around a bunch of stuff. 7) How do you find work-life balance? I think for life balance is important especially now that I am going to have a kid. I think even more planning and figuring out what my schedule is going to look like. Of course, there is going to be some changes. But realizing that nothing is an emergency and things will always get done. Take time out of your day to do something for yourself. This is very important if you work for yourself since you could work 24 hours a day.  ake time to do out and take a walk. Take a break like a lunch break. If you are sitting at your desk all day long sometimes you are less efficient.  You get sidetracked or bogged down. I am also a huge list maker which also helps you time out your day because you can figure out your priorities. 8 ) How do you manage your time to fit everything you need to do in during the day? I am the organizer. What I love about technology these days is you  have Skype and Facebook and Twitter and the phone. We are easily accessible even if we arent next to each other. The best technology for us has been Skype because you can see the jewelry and each other. 9) What do you wish you would have known when you were a young professional woman just starting out in her career? You need to promote yourself. You are going to have great bosses and bosses your dont love but  the only person that will speak to yourself and your goals and expectations and how well you are doing is you yourself. Really use your voice to show people that you know what you are doing and promoting yourself within the company and networking. Because no one else is going to do that for you.  Have that confidence to say hey, I do a good job. I think sometimes people expect other people to do that for them but YOU need to push yourself. 10) If people want to learn more about you where can they find you online? Our jewelry website is www.tplusjdesigns.com and my personal style blog is Red Soles and Red Wine.

Travel Agent Job Description Sample - Algrim.co

Travel Agent Job Description Sample - Algrim.co Travel Agent Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs. Related Hiring Resources 5+ Best Travel Agent Interview Questions Answers

Best Ways and Places to Research Your Target Employers - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Best Ways and Places to Research Your Target Employers

What Does Your Wallet Say About You During an Interview

What Does Your Wallet Say About You During an Interview My male clients often ask me questions about appropriate interview dress. Most know to wear a suit and tie and polish their shoes. But I recently read a great post by Ann Lindsay of Style of Success, an image consulting firm specializing in men, titled What Does Your Wallet Say About You? If you think about it, your wallet is a huge part of your interview attire.You may need to pull it out during the interview so you can give out your business card or accept cards from others. So what does your wallet say about you?According to Lindsay, the wallet is often the weak link in a mans professional interview attire. A worn, overstuffed wallet says:Im not organized.Details dont matter.I dont care that the lines of my clothing are being distorted.I put myself last.Yikes! Certainly not the impression you want to convey during an interview. You can read the full post here for advice on how to select a great wallet and keep it neat and organized. And if you are interested in working on your int erview attire, check out our partnership with Lindsay via Career Solvers image consulting services.

Resume Writing Service - Working With the Best Writers For Your Needs

Resume Writing Service - Working With the Best Writers For Your NeedsResume writing service may be of great help to those who want to land a good job or increase their salary. The way they write and use their knowledge of the technicalities and procedures makes them a very desirable choice for many businesses. Therefore, if you are looking for this kind of help you should first ask your friend or your colleagues who have the same needs as you.This will ensure that the best writers for your needs are in front of you when you need them. Some service providers provide a variety of services that include writing, editing, professional editing, management of drafts, management of documents, creation of letters, preparing bullet points, introductions, footers, or titles. They also offer customization services and have a team of experts available to assist you with all these activities.For those who want to become more productive in the office or are self-employed marketing personnel, these professionals can do it for you. The level of services offered depend on the level of difficulty. These professionals have their own academic degrees or years of training and experience to help them with everything from business documents to presentation.The advantages of a resume writing service are many and include: they can bring fresh ideas and the right touch to your files that can bring about a major change in the visibility of your business. Moreover, they can help to promote your business in the market. If you have a website then this could turn your site to the top search engine results.Even if you have been in the market for quite some time and have been using the same design process for many years, but still your organization is not doing well then this may be the perfect solution for you. A qualified writer can take care of the content for you and will edit your file for the best presentation. This is a good idea for those who have a short deadline.Writers who work for r esume writing service can easily go to the top ranks and help make a difference for your company. In return, they would be able to enjoy a lot of work which would definitely have a major impact on the performance of your company. As a result of this, they would be able to increase the profits in your company because they would be paid for their service through commission.This kind of company is highly competitive because they aim at giving the best results and building a personal brand. With the help of this service, your name would be recognized among the rest and this would lead to greater revenues and profits. This can also help you enjoy the benefits that are associated with the internet as you would be able to get into the top ranking in search engines.Such a writer could also help you build a professional network and expand your influence in the market. Such writers can also be very helpful to you in terms of getting tips on how to better handle your promotional campaigns. Wit h the help of this service, you can definitely develop your networking skills and will be able to develop your online business.