cannyben

Email etiquette is a delicate art, and one that’s important to master, considering the average worker spends 28% of their day checking email. But, when you use poor judgment in an email to your boss, co-worker, or client, you’ve created a digital record of your mistake that could come back to bite you. Another reason why the stakes are high: Emails can be forwarded to anyone; they can even be posted on the Internet for the public to see. While typos are one thing, there are some egregious mistakes people make when writing work emails. These 13 things should never show up in a professional email. ‘Does that make sense?’ This seemingly harmless question can come off as condescending .  Instead, if you need to address complex topics in an email, type: “If you have any questions, let’s discuss this on the phone.” ‘Obviously’ Using this word can also make you appear condescending.   Also, if something were truly  obvious , why would you be sending an email about ...

You work hard, get noticed and are rewarded with a big, fat raise on an annual basis. That’s how it goes, right? So what's with this wage stagnation holding you down? You work hard—as in  really  hard, as in holding-a-sandwich-in-your-left-hand-as-you-type-with-your-right-hand-during-lunchtime hard. And even so, when annual review time rolls around, you only receive the customary annual salary increase—if you get a raise at all. Maybe it’s time to make a move to a better employer and more lucrative salary. If you recognize one or more of the following scenarios, it’s time to start looking for a job. You’re paid less than your peers who work at other employers You can combat wage stagnation by always knowing what you’re worth and facing reality. Go ahead, do some digging. Talk with your peers you feel comfortable discussing money with to find out what they are earning at other companies You haven’t had a raise in over 18 months Technically, two years could be...

Since you’ve been gainfully employed for a good stretch of time, an updated resume might seem low on your to-do list. We get it: It’s no longer a priority. But if you let your resume turn stale, you put yourself at a disadvantage. For many people, updating their resume feels like going to the dentist—they avoid it at all costs, but there are benchmarks in your career when your resume needs a tune-up. When you start a new job The best resumes highlight quantifiable achievements—not job responsibilities. But when you’re a new employee, you don’t have any real accomplishments yet. Instead of copying and pasting snippets from the job posting onto your resume, tell the story of why you were hired. Now is also the time to update your career summary section. Coming off the job search circuit, you should tweak this part of your resume while your value proposition is fresh in your mind. When you get promoted Take the opportunity to celebrate, but don’t forget to update your re...

Older workers, you have solid advantages when it comes time to find a job (years of amazing experience), but it can also be a challenge—especially if you haven’t had an interview for a job in a very long time. It is a very different landscape than it was even 10 years ago, and for many in that demographic, it has been longer than 10 years, The key is to make sure that you are presenting yourself for today's market. There are those who think finding a job is the same as it was in the 1980s. With 55% of workers saying they plan to work past age 65, according to a recent  Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies survey , that’s all the more reason to keep your job interviews fresh so you can keep striving for new career goals in your 50s and beyond. Here’s what you need to know: Stay on point In a  behavioral interview format , older workers likely to have many experiences to discuss. The key is to answer these questions in a very tight and clear format. You must re...

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a dream as "a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep." Everyone dreams. Some dreams we remember, but most are lost to us once we wake up, or perhaps remain dormant within us, awaiting future recollection. Fleeting and unconscious though dreams may be, they possess immense importance in cultures around the world. Prophetic or revelatory dreams play pivotal roles in ancient literary and religious texts, from Mesopotamia's Epic of Gilgamesh; to the Old Norse Poetic Edda; to Homer's ancient Greek Odyssey; to Imperial China's Journey to the West and Dream of the Red Chamber; to the Middle High German Nibelungenlied; to the holy books of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. And yet, when seeking to understand that which surpasses everyday experience – whether in ancient manuscripts, shamanic rituals, or purported dream telepathy – it can prove difficult to distinguish between dreams and visions, between sensati...

Everyone eats, yet cultures around the world have developed strikingly different traditions surrounding food and drinks, ranging from customs, concerning the slaughtering of animals to food preparation, snacks, meals, and toasts. Foodways may be localised, but they have also long been globalised, with trading routes transporting both staple and luxury ingredients and produce between far-flung destinations: Bronze Age salt roads, ancient intercontinental spice routes, the Classical Mediterranean's wine and garum trades, and the introduction of New World produce into Old World kitchens all evidence of the historical significance of food and drink for economies and societies. Eating and drinking customs continue to travel, intermingle, and influence one another to this day through the increased ease with which people and their food and drinks can be transported around the world. At the same time, however, people are embracing elements of their traditional foodways as a means of rein...

A manager binds himself to the nitty-gritty of job specifications for the position he holds. He will have specific inputs and resources to deliver specific results within certain constraints. The delivery parameter is all that he works for and this is his goal. Organizational culture with such a focus and discipline is good, but not sustainable for the business because of impending challenges, viz., market competition, technology up-gradation and employee motivation and retention. And to meet such challenges, business need leaders, not managers, who will have a long term vision for growth and ability to foresee threats. The leader is neither symbolic nor designated a leader. He comes from the ranks of managers and is a manager himself, but  by virtue of his leadership qualities he stands taller than the rest. Here are some noticeable differences between leaders and managers. Leaders have a vision that transcends organization’s boundaries whereas managers limit themselves t...

The landscape for job seekers today can be difficult. In other words, if you want a job today, the hard work starts when you  prepare for the interview . That means not just nailing the  interview questions  you are asked, but actually knowing which questions to ask in an interview. Your questions should be designed to make the interviewer sit up and take notice. Your questions must demonstrate that you did your homework on the job itself, have a set of values that are shared with the company, and understand where the industry is headed. Bonus: These questions could also help you  avoid a bad boss  before it's too late. Don’t squander an opportunity to shine by asking mundane questions the interviewer has heard before. Your goal is to make a statement in the form of a question. The statement is designed to: ·          Highlight your qualifications. ·         ...

Being part of a company that believes workplace wellness can mean the difference between a job you love and one you, well, don't love. Healthy workplaces tend to exhibit a common set of traits that foster excellence and productivity. Here are 10 characteristics of workplace wellness. 1. Positive values A positive mission statement outlines the goals and demonstrative behavior that exemplify the highest commitment to quality and service to each other, the company, customers and shareholders. The company sets out to achieve its goals in ethical, honest ways with an elevated sense of purpose to improving the planet and humanity. 2. Relaxed and productive atmosphere People enjoy coming to work and feel appreciated, acknowledged and rewarded. Signs of fear, domination,  bullying ,  sexual harassment , and intimidation are absent.  Creativity , productivity, and thinking outside the box flourish. 3. Commitment to excellence Employees give 200%. They str...