Hiring managers are just people, and people are naturally curious. That means at some point during the interview, you’re going to get the question, “So, why are you leaving your current job?”

Obviously, you want to be honest in an interview. You’re leaving your job for a reason. But you should really try your best to refrain from being negative. Focus on what you have to look forward to, not what you’re leaving behind. To give you an idea of what I mean, here are four fairly blunt reasons why you might be job searching, and how to translate them into tactful responses.

1. You Want to Make More Money

Who doesn’t wish they were paid more? It’s a completely normal thing, but perhaps not the best to bring up during an interview —at least not until the hiring manager is more invested in you.

Here’s what to say instead:

2. Your Boss Is a Jerk

There’s no other way to put it: You have a terrible boss. Mention briefly and neutrally that you two are on separate tracks and move on. Wrap it up with something positive about the company.

Here’s how to phrase it:

3. You Want to Get Promoted

This is probably the tamest reason to be job searching. In fact, even the blunt version is more or less fine. But, if you want to go into a bit more detail, you can definitely put a positive spin on the answer.

Here’s how to say it:

4. Your Job Is Just Generally Crappy

Sugarcoat a turd, and it’s still a turd. Rather than try to make your job sound less awful than it is, focus instead on the one or two things that drew you to that position, how it was ultimately a bad fit, and what you look forward to in a new role.

Here’s how to put it politely:

Notice how all of these responses have at least one thing that’s positive about the interviewee’s previous role? You don’t get any points for recounting each and every flaw of your last supervisor. Your best bet is to take the high road and look to the future.

Credit : themuse.com

Do you know what I’ve always wanted to get my greedy little hands on? A crystal ball.

Why? Quite simply, I’m a planner. And as far as I’m concerned, there’s no better way to avoid missteps and blunders now, than by seeing exactly how things will play out in the future. After all, hindsight is 20/20, right? Looking years down the road would be a surefire way to avoid any major regrets.

But, that’s not the way life works. We all have certain misgivings we have to live with. Some of them take us by total surprise—situations you felt so sure of in the moment wind up leaving you scratching your head and wondering what on earth went wrong.

And, others? Well, you should’ve seen them coming—crystal ball or not.

I can’t wave my hands around like some mystical fortuneteller in a dark sideshow tent and tell you what the future holds. However, I can do you one better and share seven career decisions you’ll—without a doubt—always regret.

So, come one, come all and prepare to be amazed. While you may not be able to see into the future, you’ll know enough to avoid these common regrettable choices.

1. Participating in Office Gossip

When’s the last time you heard someone say something like, “I’m so glad I participated in that snarky whisper session about Joe’s closed door meeting with the boss! That really took my career to the next level!”?

Probably never. Believe me, partaking in that pesky (and all too tempting) office gossip will only bring you down. So, stay far away from it and instead opt to channel that energy into your work. It’ll be much better for you in the long run.

2. Burning Bridges

Yes, there are those rare occasions when you need to cut ties with a contact for your own sanity and personal well-being. But, most of the time, burning bridges isn’t advisable.

Make your best effort to leave a positive impression on everyone you meet. It may sound cliché, but it’s true: You never quite know who you’ll cross paths with in the future.

3. Compromising Your Core Values

Being adaptable can be a positive quality. But, you never want to be so accommodating that you wind up consistently brushing your own beliefs and convictions aside.

Whether your boss asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, you see something that you think needs to be reported to HR, or a company doesn’t seem to mesh with your own vision and priorities, always remember to stay true to your own core values. If you don’t respect them, you definitely can’t expect anybody else to.

4. Chasing Only Money

There’s no denying that a paycheck is important. But, it’s also important to remember that it doesn’t make up the entirety of your career, your success, or your happiness.

No, I won’t blame you for pursuing pay increases—it’s understandable and in many situations, something you should do.. However, if you spend your entire career chasing those next few dollars (while completely disregarding other important factors like growth opportunities and company culture), you’ll likely only end up disappointed in the end.

5. Holding Yourself Back

Turning down that exciting opportunity, simply because it takes you outside of your comfort zone. Refusing to toss your hat into the ring for that promotion, because you’re far too terrified of rejection. Not even bothering to submit your information for that job that sounds perfect, because you’re already certain you’ll never land an interview.

Sure, they might seem like effective ways to stay safe and preserve your own ego. But, trust me, those will be the “what if?” scenarios that will haunt you well into your old age.

6. Shifting Blame

I know how tempting it can be to point fingers in the heat of the moment. After all, owning your own mistakes can be tough. However, you already know that this approach typically just ends up backfiring.

So, resist that temptation and instead accept responsibility right off the bat—no matter how mortifying your mistake.

7. Settling For Mediocrity

Life gets crazy sometimes, and coasting by with the bare minimum can seem like a good idea. But, you don’t hear of too many people (or any, really) who got exactly what they wanted out of their careers by simply accepting the status quo. No, you need to push yourself to take charge of your own growth and career development. Skating by might seem easier, but it will always be unsatisfying.

Yes, having a crystal ball would be handy for helping you stave off those pesky decisions you only live to regret. But, unfortunately, it’s not a realistic possibility quite yet (come on, science).

Even though you can’t see clearly into the future, there are a few career decisions that will always be lamentable. Stay far, far away from these seven, and you can live life with far fewer regrets—even without a crystal ball.

Credit : themuse.com

You’re prepped and ready to totally nail this job interview. You’ve rehearsed your elevator pitch—in front of the mirror, even. You’ve committed the entire job description to memory. Heck, you even drove a practice route to the interview location to make sure you knew exactly where to park.

So, when the meeting finally rolls around, you’re feeling cool, calm, and collected. That is, until the interviewer jumps right in with the dreaded, “Tell me about a time when…”

Suddenly your mouth is dry, your mind is blank, and you have a mental facepalm moment. Why, oh why, didn’t you think to prepare for these types of prompts?

Yes, those requests for real-world examples—also known as behavioral interview questions—are frustrating. But, they’re also an extremely common part of the interview process.

Your best bet is to have a few stories prepared and ready to go for your next interview. Here are the six big ones you should make sure to have in your arsenal. They’re general enough that they can be used for a variety of questions, but specific enough that the person asking will feel like he or she’s getting a good, solid, detail-filled response.

1. When You Solved a Problem

You’ve likely seen the term “problem solver” listed as a desired skill in almost every job description you’ve read. But, anybody can simply slap that key phrase on his or her resume. The proof is in the pudding, so you need to be prepared to explain a time when you actually exercised this skill.

Did you once resolve a conflict between two team members you worked closely with? Was there a time when you managed to find a last-minute conference speaker after the original one backed out in the eleventh hour?

Dig back through your history to find an example that shows you’re a creative, resourceful, and self-motivated problem solver who’s always there in a pinch. No, your interviewer likely won’t be impressed by the fact that you moved closer to the office simply so you could sleep later. Is that a solution to your problem? Sure. But, you’re probably better off keeping that tidbit to yourself.

2. When You Overcame a Challenge

The workplace can be full of obstacles. Whether you need to navigate a tricky relationship with your manager or you get stuck with an overwhelmingly difficult project, it’s important to show that you aren’t quick to back down from a challenge.

There are so many inspiring stories out there that it can be tempting to rack your brain until you come up with a tear-jerking example of how you overcame adversity. But, you don’t need to lie about how you climbed Mount Kilimanjaro or pulled yourself out of homelessness. Interviewers aren’t looking for a movie plot.

Instead, come up with a real-life instance of when something stood in your way and you did everything you could to get around it. For example, maybe you worked two part-time jobs in order to pay for your college tuition. Or maybe you turned around a huge work project on an impossibly tight deadline. Those are great stories to share about how you took initiative in order to climb over roadblocks.

3. When You Made a Mistake

We’ve all heard it before—nobody’s perfect. People make mistakes, and interviewers know that you’re no exception. But, what’s important to them is how you react to your slip-ups. Do you sweep them under the rug, or do you address them head on?

Mistakes are common, so you probably won’t have a tough time thinking of a wide array of blunders to choose from. But, you want to be somewhat selective about the one you choose to share. After all, you definitely don’t want to tell the interviewer about the time you accidentally sent a scathing email about your boss to the entire company.

Instead, think of a more minor mistake that you made in the workplace (e.g., not something like leaking internal documents to the press). Briefly explain the situation, and then talk about everything you did to remedy the issue. Remember that the emphasis of this story shouldn’t be on the actual mistake you made—it should be on the steps you immediately took to fix it, and then what you learned from it.

4. When You Worked as a Leader

“Leadership” is another one of those job interview buzzwords. And, if you’re applying for a management position, you want to be sure to have at least a few solid examples of your leadership skills in your back pocket.

Perhaps you previously led your team to achieve the highest sales numbers on record. Maybe you coordinated a wildly successful company-wide event. Or, perhaps you chaperoned and directed your niece’s Girl Scout troupe on a three-day camping trip.

If you can come up with a time when you successfully took charge and saw positive results, you’ll be prepared to wow your interviewer with your incredible leadership know-how.

5. When You Worked With a Team

You know the saying—teamwork makes the dream work. And, as you know by now, collaborating with others in the workplace is pretty much inevitable. So, you need to demonstrate that you know how to play nice in the sandbox.

What sorts of examples can you bring up? Pretty much any time that you effectively teamed up with people will fit the bill! You can talk about a huge project that you were a part of or explain your volunteer position as one of the board members of a local nonprofit. As long as your example shows that you understand not just how to collaborate, but why it’s so valuable (all the heads are better than one)—you’ll be in good shape.

So, pick a time when you worked with others—more importantly, when you worked well with others—and give your interviewer the details.

6. When You Did Something Interesting

Yes, interviews place most of the emphasis on your job-related qualifications and competencies. But, if the hiring manager has a decent handle on your background and thinks you’re a potential good fit, he or she might be interested in finding out more about you personally—not just professionally.

You definitely don’t want to meet the person with a blank stare when he or she concludes the interview with, “So, tell me something about what you like to do outside of work.”

Whether you’re currently training for your first marathon or you’re in the process of doing a DIY renovation on your kitchen, you should be armed and ready with a few noteworthy tidbits. Not only will you answer the interviewer’s question, but you’ll also leave the hiring manager with something memorable to associate with your name!

Those tricky behavioral interview questions are enough to immediately make your palms clammy. But, they’re also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a great fit for the position. Have these six stories at the ready, and you’re sure to ace your next interview!

Credit : themuse.com

In the current job market, technology tends to play a very big part in landing that great job. Apart from networking, social media often gives job seekers a platform where they can market themselves to potential employers.

According to Melody Mwendwa, a Career Advisor & Professional CV Writer for Corporate Staffing Services, most job seekers lose out on jobs because of what they post, without even knowing it.

“You should be very careful about what you post on the internet as this could have a major impact on your job search,”she says.
You have to remember that the interview process involves many stages. These include; shortlisting, the actual interview and reference checks. Nowadays, employers go the extra mile to use social media pages as points of referrals. This will mean that it is very possible for a job seeker to miss out on a job opportunity because of something they have posted online.

Why Employers Check Out Your Profile On Social Media Platforms

According to Muthoni Ndegwa, a Client Service Manager at Corporate Staffing Services, more and more employers are checking out the social media pages of potential hires. This is because they want to know you wholly before making that final decision.

Here are some of the reasons they prefer to go on social media to get information about you;

To gauge what kind of a person you are
Truth be told, people tend to be more themselves when they are on social media platforms. This is mostly because they assume that the profiles are private property and they sometimes just want to show off to their friends. As such, they share photos, crazy status updates and share some of the most detailed (sometimes graphic) videos.

To gauge your level of maturity
In a case where the management of a company is looking to hire for a senior position, they will sometimes visit your profile whether on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn to see what level of maturity you are at. Chances are that if you have posted nude photos or photos of you partying with friends, you may end up missing out on the job because you will not be taken seriously by potential employers.

To It is part of due diligence
For most employers, checking out potential hires on social media platforms is usually the last step to finally make the decision whether to pick a certain candidate or not. The recruitment process takes place in several stages and for modern day employers, reference checks usually include social media pages.

How Your Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin Pages Are Destroying Your Interview

1.You have the wrong network of people
You may have the perfect social media profile and your photos are clean and show who you are. But, what are your 400 friends posting and tagging you in? All it takes is one friend tagging you in an offensive post to rip apart your credibility and professionalism.
If a potential employer sees a questionable photo in which you’re tagged, he won’t care if it’s your photo or a friend’s photo. It will create a doubt in their minds that may well make them deny you that job, even if you have the perfect credentials.
Be careful about the kind of people that you associate with online. Go beyond wanting to have over a certain number of friends and focus instead on what they say about you. Be cautious when making connections and it could mean the difference in your next interview.

2.You have too many privacy filters
There is a danger of not putting up filters, especially when you go online. This is because of the constant dangers of hacking and spammers who are always looking for weak links. However, this could be a hindrance to you being successful in your next interview.
Social media recruiting is becoming more and more important for employers, it is a cost effective, convenient way to find talent and to pre-screen candidates. As such, an employer is more likely to interview a candidate that has a fun, interesting profile than someone who has maximum privacy filters turned on and doesn’t allow employers to get to know them.
Make your profiles more accessible and keep them brief and to the point. Let them speak of your professionalism and positive outlook on life. Be sure to make them as natural as possible because if they appear staged, it could be a turn off for potential employers.

The next time you are networking online, you have to remember that you leave behind digital footprints which can always be traced back to you. Think of your online presence like an international CV that will potentially market you in the online job platform.

Wishing you all the best as you prepare for your next interview.

When I first stepped onto Cal Poly’s campus, I felt completely lost. The school wasn’t my first choice—in fact, it wasn’t even in my top 10. Of the 13 colleges I’d applied to, I’d gotten rejected from all but my three safeties.

It’s not like I was an under-achiever: I’d applied with a 4.4 GPA, tons of extracurriculars and charity work, great recommendations, and solid essays. But these rejections showed me following the “traditional” path didn’t always work. If I wanted to be successful (which I did, more than ever), I needed to do something different.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve known I wanted to be a writer. So, I decided that I couldn’t count on a four-year education to get me there. If I wanted a guarantee that things would work out the way I wanted, I’d have to go after it myself.

So, during the first month of freshman year, I started applying for writing gigs—despite having no professional experience. While the student paper seemed liked the natural place to start, they weren’t looking for contributors. Instead, I began applying for all the college advice sites I’d read in preparation for coming to Cal Poly. Most of these never got back to me, but I kept trying. Finally, a few did.

Lesson 1: Don’t Let the First “Nos” Stop You

By October, I was an unpaid contributor for four publications. Plus, after continually checking in with the editor of the newspaper, he finally agreed to let me write for a new section.

My writing clips started piling up. However, even though this aspect of my career seemed to be going well, I’d already started looking toward the next step in my career: getting an internship.

Lesson 2: Keep Setting New Goals

None of the people in my classes were talking about internships yet, and I only knew getting one was important because all the sites I was writing for kept mentioning them.

It made sense to apply as an intern for one of these very sites: Her Campus. If I’d have known the company got hundreds of applications per year for less than 10 spots, I might’ve aimed a little lower. But I didn’t, so I didn’t—and thanks to all the writing samples I now had, I got the job.

Lesson 3: Learn From the People Around You

That Her Campus internship ended up being a game-changer. I was the youngest intern by far, and being around a bunch of older women taught me so much about workplace communication and behavior. Plus, I was working on articles all day long and working with two great editors, so my writing improved more in three months than it had all year.

Since I was learning so much, I decided to start emailing random professionals in the city and asking to buy them coffee. I had no idea these meet-ups were usually called “informational interviews,” I just knew people usually liked helping students and giving advice.

This strategy totally paid off. When I flew back home at the end of the summer, I’d gotten together with award-winning journalists, freelance writers, editors, startup founders, PR reps, and marketers. I didn’t know it, but I’d begun building my network.

Lesson 4: Say Thank You

I’d also left a personalized letter on the desk of every Her Campus employee. Although it took an entire afternoon to write them, it was so worth it—I got a bunch of emails thanking me for my thoughtfulness. That showed me the power of handwritten notes. I started sending letters to strangers I admired once a week—which led to connections with some really influential people.

Lesson 5: Apply Through a Connection

I was doing pretty well for a college sophomore. Not only was I writing for 10 sites by this time, but some of those sites started paying me. In addition, I had a pretty far-reaching network of people I could call on for advice, support, and job referrals.

That’s how I got the internship with The Muse. I’d been writing for The Prospect, a higher-education website created by Lily Herman. Herman seemed to love her internship with the Muse, so when she tweeted the link to the company’s editorial internship, I asked her to pass along my name.

She did, and I landed it.

Lesson 6: Look for Creative Solutions

For the first month or two, I spent most of my time getting articles ready for publishing and finding cool infographics and videos. These tasks were fun (really!), but I wanted to write. Only problem?

I was still only 19—not exactly a career expert. Erin Greenawald, my fantastic editor, helped me find a workaround: I’d use my real-life experiences at work and in school to discuss topics anyone could find useful, like successful morning routines. I told her my goal was to be syndicated on Forbes. Three weeks later, I was. And before long, my articles were breaking Muse records for number of views.

Lesson 7: Be Humble Enough to Keep Trying

The more success I had writing for The Muse, the easier it was to get other clients. I kept a running list of publications I wanted to write for and would pitch them aggressively; every time I got a no, I asked for feedback and would use that to make my next pitch even better.

Lesson 8: Maximize Your Opportunities

Since my writing career had really started to heat up, I didn’t have much trouble landing another internship—but unlike my last one, this position came up with a salary. Even better? It was in NYC. I penciled in coffee dates for almost every morning that summer, meeting with professionals from all my dream companies: Refinery 29, Squarespace, Contently, The Economist, and more.

Lesson 9: Sometimes, You’re Just Lucky

One day, while I was in the middle of writing a sponsored article for PayPal (which felt pinch-me cool) when I got a phone call from an unknown number.

It was a man from a multi-national tech company. They needed a “great writer” to work in their San Jose office for the next couple months. The salary was $5,000 a month, and I’d get to be involved in partnerships with Google and Tesla. Was I interested?

“Yes!” I said. “Wait. How did you find me?”

He’d read my work online.

Lesson 10: Keep Your Ultimate Goals in Mind

Despite taking three months off to intern in Silicon Valley, I was still on track to graduate in three years. At this point, I wasn’t pitching anyone anymore—I got requests from potential clients around three times a week. That also meant I was making enough money to become self-supporting.

I briefly considered graduating and becoming a full-time freelancer. If I was generating enough income to pay for everything while also going to school, I could definitely do it once I’d left school. Then I thought of why I’d started working so hard in the first place. It wasn’t so I could sit in coffee shops all day and write for 20 different clients a month. I wanted a job—and not just any job, but a position where I could soak up knowledge and take my skills to the next level.

Lesson 11: Hard Work Pays Off

I looked around and found five companies that I’d be absolutely thrilled to work for. The application processes were pretty easy; at this point, I’d gone on so many coffee dates that talking to my interviewers felt familiar, not scary. Between my internships and freelancing, I also had a ton of experiences to reference in my answers.

I received offers from four of the five companies. Three other companies ended up reaching out to offer me jobs as well—like the tech company, they’d stumbled across my personal site.

Having seven opportunities to choose from felt amazing (and a little stressful!) Luckily, I had my network to call on for advice and insight.

As I head back to Cal Poly for my last quarter, post-grad job locked down, it’s hard to believe I’m the same person who walked onto campus three years ago confused, sad, and scared. Through a combination of hard work, luck, resilience, and outside help, I’ve managed to chart my own path. So, the final lesson I’ve learned, success is within your reach—you just have to actually reach for it.

credit : themuse.com

We all want to be liked, yes. But—perhaps more importantly in the workplace—we all want to be respected.

Respect is so important when it comes to your career development. It comes into play when the higher-ups are considering your ideas, when they’re choosing people to participate in projects, and—yes—when they’re thinking about who’s getting promotions or raises.

But too often people associate earning respect with, well, not being very nice. We’re here to tell you that’s not often the right approach. Instead, try some of the ways below that you can make sure your colleagues like and respect you. You’ll be on your way to being seen as a leader in no time.

1. Do Your Job and Do It Well

The most basic way to get respect? Don’t spend your time worrying about getting respect, and instead spend that time doing your job really, really well. Get a reputation for being really good at what you do, and word will surely get around. As career expert Jennifer Winter explains, “It’s hard to ignore results, and when you’re striving for the respect of your colleagues, one of the best things you can do is show you’ve got the right stuff.”

2. Never Be Late or Miss a Deadline

Along similar lines, get a reputation for being incredibly dependable. That means, any promise you make—be it a date to finish a project, an appointment, or anything else—you keep.

3. Dress Up (the Right Amount)

You know the whole “dress for the job you want” spiel? While, yes, you should dress a little nicer than you’re expected to, don’t dress up so much that you look out of place or like you don’t fit into the culture. So if your company has a casual dress code? Avoid the sweats, but avoid the suit, too.

4. Treat Everyone With Respect

In order to get respect, you have to give it—and not just to the higher-ups. People will pick up if you’re nice to the bosses but mean to the receptionist or delivery guy, and think you’re a brown-noser rather than a genuinely good person. Aim for the latter.

5. Make Friends With the Right People

Seek out relationships with others in your organization who are well-respected and well-liked. And we’re not just talking about higher-ups here—think anyone who has a great reputation around the office.

6. Be a Connector

Know someone at another company who may be able to help with a problem a co-worker is facing, a friend who may be a great sales lead, or anyone else who you think could move the company forward? Introduce them! Doing this shows off that you have an impressive network—but also that you’re willing to share it in order to help others.

7. Invite People Along

If you got an invite to a snazzy event or are planning on networking after work one day, consider inviting along someone from work who you think might enjoy it. She’ll be thrilled you thought of her, and you’ll get a chance to get to know one of your colleagues a little better.

8. Use “I” Less

Studies have shown that people tend to use the word “I” more frequently when communicating with people they feel are more powerful than them. Want to level the playing field? Monitor your use of “I.” The people you’re speaking with will view you as more powerful without ever knowing why.

9. Ask for Help

While many people may think asking for help hints that you don’t know what you’re doing—earning you less respect—it can actually work in your favor in several ways (if done right). First, it shows the person you’re asking that you respect his or her opinion. Second, it will show that you’re productive enough not to waste tons of time trying to figure it out yourself. Finally, it shows that you care about your work (and your professional growth) enough to admit when you don’t know something—and then learn from it. For more on how to do this right, check out Winter’s advice.

10. Take Something Off a Colleague’s Plate

Have a little extra time? Ask your boss or another colleague if there’s anything you can help out with or take over for them. They’ll appreciate the lighter load, and your proactive willingness to help will not go unnoticed.

11. Listen—Really Listen

Nothing will make people lose respect for you quicker than if they feel like your focus is always somewhere else when they’re talking to you. So next time you’re in a conversation, make sure you’re really engaged. Adopt open body language, don’t let other things distract you, and ask validating or clarifying questions to show you’re paying attention. For more on upping your listening skills, check out career coach Lea McLeod’s advice.

12. Ask People “How Are You?”

Being all business all the time won’t make you very well liked. So take the time to ask people about their lives as well! You’d be amazed how good a simple “How are you?” can make someone feel.

13. Remember Things About People

Taking note of small details about people—their spouse and kid’s names, what they’re doing over the weekend, their hobbies, where they’re planning to vacation, and the like—and then asking them questions about those things or referencing them in conversation can be a surefire way to up your brownie points. It shows that you really listed, took the time to remember, and overall care about them as people. Have a terrible memory? Try Muse COO and productivity expert Alex Cavoulacos’ trick for remembering anything about anyone.

14. Own Up to Your Mistakes

Explains Winter: “I know, it sounds a bit counterintuitive, given you want your clients to think you’re a genius, but trust me: They know nobody is perfect. In fact, your clients will probably get a bit suspicious if you never, ever, make a single mistake. Admitting when you do, however, shows them you’re confident (and humble) enough to face the music. In my experience, that’s a trait most people respect.” (Hint: This applies to your boss and co-workers, too!)

15. …And Then Explain How You’re Going to Fix Them

That being said, simply saying you messed up and then not doing anything about it isn’t going to garner you much respect. Instead, when you ’fess up, make sure to come with a plan for how you’re going to fix things. And if you’re not sure what to do? Try to at least come up with a few options and then ask the person you’re talking to for his or her thoughts on the best course of action (see point #9).

16. Seek Out Feedback

Show that you know you’re not perfect and are constantly looking to improve and grow yourself by regularly seeking out feedback from everyone around you. And this isn’t just something for your annual performance review: Try setting up monthly meetings with your boss, team members, and even direct reports where you can solicit open and honest feedback from them about what you can be doing better.

17. Give Feedback, Too!

It doesn’t hurt to dole out some feedback from time to time, too. Obviously, you don’t want to become the office critic, but giving colleagues the occasional dose of constructive criticism shows that you’re committed to helping everyone around you grow and be the best professionals they can be. Here are a few tips on how to give this advice without seeming like a jerk.

18. Never Say “It’s Not My Job”

Notice the trash is overflowing? Take it out. See your colleague struggling to carry all the stuff for the conference booth? Grab a bag. Showing that you’re willing to pitch in on small things—even if they’re not part of your job description and may be beneath your capabilities—shows that you don’t think too highly of yourself and that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to help the company succeed. And that’s something that people can respect.

19. Anticipate Needs

“‘I’ve actually already started on that’ is music to your manager’s ears,” explains Muse career expert Katie Douthwaite, “It means that instead of waiting for him or her to ask you to do something, you’ve already thought of it and taken action.” You obviously can’t anticipate everything, but thinking of things your boss commonly asks for or that will make his or her life way easier is a good place to start.

20. Do Small Nice Things for People

Whether it’s grabbing an extra coffee on your way to work for your boss (or your intern!) or getting some flowers for your colleague’s desk when you know she’s had a rough day, small gestures like this can speak wonders to your character.

21. Say “No” More Often

Really! While you may think jumping at every opportunity is the way to gain more respect, the opposite is actually more often true—especially when you don’t have time to do what you’re being asked to do right. “When you become known for having the guts to speak your mind, put a stake in the ground for the sake of everyone’s success and find better ways to navigate the rough waters, you’ll land as a person people respect, a leader,” explain leadership trainers Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin. So when you don’t have time, show that you respect your time and the quality of your work too much to agree. Other people will follow suit. Nervous to say it? Try these strategies for turning people down nicely.

22. Have an Opinion

Agreeing with everything everybody says won’t make people think of you as a leader. Instead, have a well-thought-out opinion on things, and don’t be afraid to bring it to the table. Whether it’s an idea about a new product or service or a thought on how a process can work better, people will appreciate you thinking of ways to help the organization improve.

23. Respect Other Viewpoints

Caveat: Don’t dig your heels in the ground too much when it comes to your ideas. Instead, consider other people’s viewpoints, too, and be willing to compromise and work together to reach a solution that works for as many people as possible.

24. Speak Up

Nothing shows lack of confidence in yourself like mumbling. So speak up! PR professional Ashley Colbert explains, “To be taken seriously in a meeting, speak clearly, firmly, and loudly enough so that people can hear you. And avoid trailing off at the end of a sentence or using fluffy language like ‘I hope to have this done’ or ‘I think it will get results.’”

25. Avoid the Gossip Mill

If you’re known for regularly putting down other people, people will start thinking down on you. So don’t waste your time speculating about the lives of others. Instead, spend your time by the water cooler genuinely getting to know your colleagues—you’ll still be involved in the social side of the office, without tarnishing your reputation.

26. Never Waste Anyone’s Time

Get more respect by showing people you respect their valuable time. What does this mean? Don’t ask questions you can answer yourself, don’t plan meetings that you don’t need, and don’t take forever getting back to people. You get the idea.

27. Make Your Meetings Worthwhile

People are pretty skeptical of meetings, and so will likely think less of you if they think your meetings are a waste of time. Make sure you’re following the 21 unwritten rules of meetings to have meetings that people seriously find valuable.

28. Figure it Out Yourself

Instead of always running to your boss for help when faced with a problem, do everything you can to figure it out yourself. Even if you ultimately need approval before moving forward with a solution, it’s better to come to your manager with a plan for him or her to give an OK to than to come asking “what should we do?”

29. Never Say “I Don’t Know”

At least, not on its own. Simply saying “I don’t know” leaves the person asking you a question at a dead end and doesn’t make you seem very willing to help. Instead, offer to help figure it out, get more information, or direct him or her to the right person to help out. See leadership coach Jo Miller’s suggestions for better responses when you’re really not sure.

30. Become a Stellar Public Speaker

Learning to speak well will gain you respect in many ways. First, you’ll have the ability to present more confidently in meetings. Second, you’ll be comfortable speaking at industry events, giving you credit as a leader in your field. But finally, all this practice and training will give you a more powerful speaking presence even in day-to-day conversations.

31. Work on Communicating Both Warmth and Authority

Body language expert Amy Cuddy explains: “When we judge others—especially our leaders—we look first at two characteristics: how lovable they are (their warmth, communion, or trustworthiness) and how fearsome they are (their strength, agency, or competence).” This is a fine line to balance, but Miller has some ideas for how to do it.

32. Have Clear Work-Life Boundaries

People are likely to connect with you more if you understand the importance of not working all the time. So set clear work-life boundaries—and then stick to them! Whether it’s that you never check email on the weekends or you leave work by 6 to eat dinner with your family, if you’re upfront about your boundaries, people should respect them—and you.

33. Don’t Leave Right at 5 PM

That being said, don’t jet out of the office every day when the clock strikes five, especially if there’s work that really needs to get done. Have boundaries, but show that you’re willing to pull extra weight when it’s really important.

34. Learn Your Colleagues’ Working Preferences—and Follow Them

Have a chat with the people you work most closely with about how they work best, and find ways to help them achieve that. Maybe one prefers conversations to emails and will appreciate you coming over to her desk rather than sending a lengthy message. Maybe another needs quiet working time in the morning and will notice if you stop scheduling meetings during that time.

35. Be a Teacher

When a teammate or direct report is having trouble or does something wrong, instead of getting angry, get helpful. Walk him or her through how to do it. You’ll get better employees, and they’ll respect you for helping them grow.

36. Be a Mentor

Take junior employees under your wing—even if they don’t report to you—and help advise them on everything from company politics to career growth. Not only will the employees you’re advising gain more respect for you, but others will notice the gesture, too.

37. Help Out Newbies

When someone new joins the company, make sure to say hello and let him know you’re there if he has any questions or needs help—even if he’s not in your department. People all over the company will start seeing you as a leader in the company from day one.

38. Champion Your Employees

Have direct reports you’re proud of? Understand their goals—and do what’s in your power to help them achieve them! Whether that’s setting up a meeting with your boss because you know they want to grow at the company or helping them find opportunities to grow important skills, look for ways to help them succeed.

39. Manage Upward

By simply waiting around to be told what to do by your higher-ups, you seem like a follower—not a respectable leader. Instead, learn to tell your boss what you need to get your job done well. You’ll improve your performance and command your boss’ respect. Check out some tips for learning this elusive skill here.

40. Don’t Complain

Are you tired after a long day, and still have more to do? Are you sick of one menial task you seem to be stuck with? Never whine about it, at least not in the workplace. Having a positive attitude about your work is critical to making other people think highly of you. And if you really have a problem with something? See if you can come up with a proactive way to solve it.

41. Get Out in the World

People will hold you in higher regard if you don’t just do your job in a vacuum. So make sure to stay up with the latest and greatest in your industry. Go to events and conferences, and report back on what you learned. Get meetings with experts, and maybe even bring them in to talk to your team. Read relevant articles and share them around to help others.

42. Question Yourself

Great leaders are good at self-reflection. Check on yourself regularly with questions like these and always be looking for ways to be better.

Credit : themuse.com

The typical workday is long enough as it is, and technology is making it even longer. When you do finally get home from a full day at the office, your mobile phone rings off the hook, and emails drop into your inbox from people who expect immediate responses.

While most people claim to disconnect as soon as they get home, recent research says otherwise. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that more than 50% of us check work email before and after work hours, throughout the weekend, and even when we’re sick. Even worse, 44% of us check work email while on vacation.

A Northern Illinois University study that came out this summer shows just how bad this level of connection really is. The study found that the expectation that people need to respond to emails during off-work hours produces a prolonged stress response, which the researchers named “telepressure.” Telepressure ensures that you are never able to relax and truly disengage from work. This prolonged state of stress is terrible for your health. Besides increasing your risk of heart disease, depression, and obesity, stress decreases your cognitive performance.

We need to establish boundaries between our personal and professional lives. When we don’t, our work, our health, and our personal lives suffer.

Responding to emails during off-work hours isn’t the only area in which you need to set boundaries. You need to make the critical distinction between what belongs to your employer and what belongs to you and you only. The items that follow are yours. If you don’t set boundaries around them and learn to say no to your boss, you’re giving away something with immeasurable value.

1. Your Health

It’s difficult to know when to set boundaries around your health at work because the decline is so gradual. Allowing stress to build up, losing sleep, and sitting all day without exercising all add up. Before you know it, you’re rubbing your aching back with one hand and your zombie-like eyes with the other, and you’re looking down at your newly acquired belly. The key here is to not let things sneak up on you, and the way you do that is by keeping a consistent routine. Think about what you need to do to keep yourself healthy (taking walks during lunch, not working weekends, taking your vacations as scheduled), make a plan, and stick to it no matter what. If you don’t, you’re allowing your work to overstep its bounds.

2. Your Family

It’s easy to let your family suffer for your work. Many of us do this because we see our jobs as a means of maintaining our families. We have thoughts such as “I need to make more money so that my kids can go to college debt-free.” Though these thoughts are well-intentioned, they can burden your family with the biggest debt of all—a lack of quality time with you. When you’re on your deathbed, you won’t remember how much money you made for your spouse and kids. You’ll remember the memories you created with them.

3. Your Sanity

While we all have our own levels of this to begin with, you don’t owe a shred of it to your employer. A job that takes even a small portion of your sanity is taking more than it’s entitled to. Your sanity is something that’s difficult for your boss to keep track of. You have to monitor it on your own and set good limits to keep yourself healthy. Often, it’s your life outside of work that keeps you sane. When you’ve already put in a good day’s (or week’s) worth of work and your boss wants more, the most productive thing you can do is say no, and then go and enjoy your friends and hobbies. This way, you return to work refreshed and de-stressed. You certainly can work extra hours if you want to, but it’s important to be able to say no to your boss when you need time away from work.

4. Your Identity

While your work is an important part of your identity, it’s dangerous to allow your work to become your whole identity. You know you’ve allowed this to go too far when you reflect on what’s important to you and work is all that (or most of what) comes to mind. Having an identity outside of work is about more than just having fun. It also helps you relieve stress, grow as a person, and avoid burnout.

5. Your Contacts

While you do owe your employer your best effort, you certainly don’t owe him or her the contacts you’ve developed over the course of your career. Your contacts are a product of your hard work and effort, and while you might share them with your company, they belong to you.

6. Your Integrity

Sacrificing your integrity causes you to experience massive amounts of stress. Once you realize that your actions and beliefs are no longer in alignment, it’s time to make it clear to your employer that you’re not willing to do things his or her way. If that’s a problem for your boss, it might be time to part ways.

Bringing it All Together

Success and fulfillment often depend upon your ability to set good boundaries. Once you can do this, everything else just falls into place.

Source : themuse.com