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9 things to avoid when negotiating a salary

I came across this article the other day. It gives some helpful tips about negotiating your salary. 



You’re 96% sure that you’re ready to schedule a meeting with your boss to ask for a raise. Or perhaps you’re nearing the end of the job interview process and an offer is in sight. However, if you’re like me, you have definitely put your foot in your mouth a time or two saying the wrong thing at the absolute worst moment. Doh!

Don’t mess up. Don’t mess up. No matter how many times you rehearse what to say, there’s always that risk of fumbling right at the five-yard line. Instead of panicking, get prepared.

To coach us along in the salary negotiation process, we turned to Josh Doody, author of Fearless Salary Negotiation. “A salary negotiation is a collaboration, and a key ingredient of a successful collaboration is good communication,” says Doody. “It’s important to be very clear with what you communicate to avoid ambiguity, which could complicate things and slow the negotiation process.”

Instead of Doody simply sharing the things you should say, he’s here to warn you about the potential negotiation landmines to avoid when angling for the salary you deserve. Here are nine things to never say in a salary negotiation:

1. “I’M CURRENTLY MAKING . . .”

The most common question recruiters will ask a candidate is something like, “So where are you right now in terms of salary, and what are you looking for if you make this move?” Don’t fall for it.

Instead of asking for “more” salary or “more” vacation, this is your time to get specific.
“I call this the ‘dreaded salary question,’ and it’s tricky because it usually comes up early in the interview process, and most candidates don’t think of it as part of a salary negotiation even though it is,” says Doody.

“Answering this question by disclosing numbers can make it very difficult to negotiate effectively later on because it can box the candidate in. Once they disclose current or desired salary, the offers they get are very likely to be tied to those numbers. That can be very expensive if the company might have offered them a much higher salary than they disclosed.”

2. “MY DESIRED SALARY IS . . .”

Don’t disclose your current or desired salary! “Recovering from this mistake can be tricky and each situation is unique. But one way to untether from those original numbers is to review the benefits package for deficiencies,” says Doody. “If the health insurance offering, paid vacation, target bonus, or other aspects of the benefits package are underwhelming, the candidate can use those as reasons to ask for a higher salary to compensate.”

Instead, try something like:

I’m not comfortable sharing my current salary. I would prefer to focus on the value I can add to this company rather than what I’m paid at my current job. I don’t have a specific number in mind for a desired salary, and you know better than I do what value my skillset and experience could bring to your company. I want this move to be a big step forward for me in terms of both responsibility and compensation.

3. “SORRY”

According to Doody, “negotiating is uncomfortable, and our natural tendency is to try to smooth the edges on a difficult conversation. Saying sorry could signal to the recruiter or hiring manager that you might be willing to back down, and that could be expensive. Don’t apologize for negotiating.”

4. “NO”

“You want to continuously improve your situation throughout the negotiation and you do that by avoiding negative language and focusing on positive language. Instead of “No, that doesn’t work for me” (two negative words), you can say, “I would be more comfortable with . . .” (a more positive expression).

“Saying sorry could signal to the recruiter or hiring manager that you might be willing to back down . . . Don’t apologize for negotiating.”

Negative words slow things down and may put up walls that make collaboration difficult. Using only positive words is difficult at first, but you’ll get better with practice.”

5. “YES”

While this may sound like the exact word to use when speaking to an HR recruiter, Doody insists it should be used with caution. “You’ll often get a job offer that seems really appealing, and it might be far more than you expected. Your instinct in that case might be to just accept the offer because it’s so good.”

But is it too good?

“It’s possible you underestimated your value in this situation. Instead of “Yes,” formulate a counteroffer to see how much you can improve it. The negotiation should end with the company saying “Yes” to you. Once they say “Yes” to you, or you run out of things to ask for, then you are finished negotiating.”

6. “LATER”

As in, “I can deal with that after I start.” Procrastinators, this one’s for you. “Sometimes it’s easier to avoid uncomfortable parts of a negotiation by deferring those parts of the conversation until after you’re hired. That can be a very expensive mistake because you won’t have the same latitude to negotiate and improve your position once you’re in the door. Push through the discomfort and get the best possible result now.”

7. “TRY”

In expressions like, “Can we try . . .?” “’try’ is a passive word that leaves a lot of wiggle room, and you don’t want that,” insists Doody. “It’s easy for someone to say—honestly or not—”We’ll try…” and reply with, “We tried and it just didn’t work out.” Don’t ask them to “try” to do something. Instead, use more positive language like “I would be more comfortable with…”.”

8. “MORE”

While this word seems counter intuitive because you are negotiating to get more, it’s a word that is too general for a successful negotiation. Instead of asking for “more” salary or “more” vacation, this is your time to get specific.

“Don’t leave things to the imagination once you’re negotiating. Instead of “Could you budge on the salary?” say, ‘I would be more comfortable with a base salary of $105,000.’”

9. “WANT”

Lastly, the word “want” can tank negotiations. Using it can undercut the entire premise of your argument that you deserve to be paid more and you deserve a more competitive salary. Go into a negotiation with facts and figures, making a compelling case. Start with printing out your results using a tool like Glassdoor’s personal salary estimator, Know Your Worth. See what you base salary should be and see what the industry norms are.

“You could talk about what you want, which just isn’t all that important. Or you could talk about what the company wants, which is not as potent as talking about what the company needs, which are the most important thing,” adds Doody. “Focus on the company’s needs and how you can help meet those needs so they can easily see your value and work to compensate you for it.”

Get your money. It's not about what you are worth...it's about what you can negotiate. 

top 12 soft skills employers seek

here's a pretty good article that i found on thebalance.com. Very helpful tips...

Depending on the organization or business, employers are seeking key skills and experience for each job. But even though these skills are extremely important, there are certain “soft skills” that employers also look for when hiring people for their organization. Research has shown that a person’s “soft skills” can be just as good of an indicator of a person’s job performance as the hard skills that they possess.

What Are Soft Skills?

Soft skills relate to a set of skills that individuals possess, which makes them good employees no matter where they work or what they do. When we think of soft skills, we are thinking of personal qualities, attitudes, verbal and nonverbal behavior, and personal habits that make an individual pleasant to work with, and a valuable member of any team. Individuals with impeccable manners and an ability to be understanding, fair and compassionate are the type of people most of us would like to work with. It is also someone who possesses a strong work ethic and will do what it takes to get the work done, that organizations like to hire and employees want to welcome as a new member of their team. We all know people who we like or love as friends or family; but when it comes to actually working with that person on a daily basis, our positive feelings may go out the window and we may find that it’s almost impossible to work alongside them in a job situation.

12 Soft Skills Employers Look for When Hiring for Jobs:

1. Positive Attitude

A positive attitude can do wonders in turning a department or company around. Having employees who possess a positive attitude can also be contagious; and for employers, it’s important for them to seek that kind of energy since it only takes a few negative people to bring down a department or even the organization as a whole.

2. Strong Work Ethic

Hiring people that possess a strong work ethic is key to the success of any employer. First off, a strong work ethic cannot be taught. When individuals begin working in a new organization they either have it or they don’t. There are many contributing factors that go into making a strong work ethic like how a person grows up to the value they place on doing an excellent job. These innate attributes are totally out of the control of an employer no matter what type of training they provide or the type of supervision an employee gets.

3. Excellent Communication and Interpersonal Skills

The ability to be a good communicator cannot be overrated. To succeed in the workforce, employees need to know how to communicate as well as listen in order to work effectively with supervisors, co-workers and clients.

4. Problem-Solving Skills

Since problems are inevitable, employees who are able to find solutions to daily challenges that arise are most valuable to an organization. Employees who are unable to find a solution to a specific problem but are willing to seek out the advice of others, also makes for a competent and trusted employee.

5. Time Management Skills

As a results-oriented employee, good time management skills are key to getting assignments accomplished and finishing them on time.

6. Flexibility
The way company's do business in today’s competitive marketplace, is changing all the time. It is the ability to remain adaptable that helps an organization move forward and stay with the current times.

7. Work Well in a Team Environment

In the past employees would oftentimes seek jobs that aligned with their desire to either work independently or work in a team environment. In today’s workforce, much of the work is often done on teams; but there is also a need for employees to work independently in order to get the daily work accomplished.

8. Computer/Technological Skills

Almost all jobs today require basic computer skills and technological knowledge. Whether it be for record-keeping, spreadsheets, detailed notes, or presentations, employers will want to know a candidate’s level of computer and technological knowledge to establish if they can do the basics of any job.

9. Project Management Skills

Individuals going about the daily routine of their job will need to know how to prioritize and plan each activity to be able to get the best job done in the least amount of time.

10. Self-Confidence

Self-confident employees are able to detach themselves personally from any challenges that they experience on the job. Self-confidence gives employees a sense of strength as they pursue their personal goals as well as those of an organization.

11. Ability to Accept Constructive Criticism

There is always room for everyone to grow and learn and the employee that is able to take constructive criticism and use it to improve their performance will be seen as a valuable team member to any organization.

12. Strong Research Skills

With strong computer and technological skills being one of the top 12 soft skills employers seek, employees who are able to do the basic research and have the ability to gather important information for projects, and identify how and what competitors are doing to make themselves successful, is a sought after skill that many organizations want.

PODCAST : the office boo

Have you ever dated or been intimately involved with someone that you’ve worked with? Have you ever considered doing it? There are positives and negatives to getting involved with someone that you work with.

Listen to the latest podcast as I give you the “do’s and don’ts” when it comes to getting an OFFICE BOO.

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how to get more done at WORK

here's another article that should help you dedicated workers LOL...



Ever have those workdays when you know by 10 a.m. that you won’t be making it home for dinner? Instead of resolving to work after hours, tap into these seven surprising secrets for boosting your productivity. 

1. Work for 52 Minutes, Break for 17

That’s the schedule that super-productive people follow, according to a study conducted by DeskTime, a time-tracking app that monitors your work efficiency. The app analyzed its top 10 percent most productive users and found that on average, they took 17-minute breaks throughout the day. 

That aligns with previous research touting the stress-busting benefits of breaks. One Australian study found that employees who took a short walk at lunchtime felt more enthusiastic and more relaxed in the afternoon than those who didn’t head outdoors.

But breaking every 17 minutes all day long isn’t exactly realistic—according to this formula, you’d be on a break for 2 full hours of your day. Consider saving this strategy for when you’re working on something particularly complicated or draining. 

Research from Singapore also shows that brief “cyberloafing”—i.e. watching funny YouTube videos—provides an instant recovery from the humdrum of day-to-day work, helping people stay productive for longer amounts of time. 

2. Drown Out Chatter with the Right Soundtrack 

When you need to churn out work on a tight deadline, the last thing you want to hear is your chatty cube mate shooting the bull. 

Putting in earbuds to drown him out seems like the obvious fix, but blasting your favorite tunes can actually be counterproductive. Research in Applied Cognitive Psychology found that listening to pop music with lyrics while performing memory and reading comprehension tests led to lower recall and poorer comprehension than doing the tasks in silence. 

But another study from the Acoustical Society of America found that listening to natural sounds, like flowing water, could boost your mood and productivity. 

3. Hide Your Phone 

Sure, you know that browsing Instagram probably won’t help your work performance. But research from the University of Southern Maine found that simply having your cell phone on your desk distracts you during complex tasks.

Is answering the occasional text really all that bad? Science says yes. In a study at Michigan State University, people who were interrupted from a task for just 2.8 seconds made twice as many mistakes when they returned to it—and a 4.2-second disruption led to three times as many flubs. 

4. Find Your Zone

There are certain times of the day where you’re totally in the zone, like after your morning cup of coffee, or maybe right after your lunchtime run. Keeping track of when you’re at your best and capitalizing on that time will help you knock out top to-do list items, says Kathryn McKinnon, Harvard Business School Executive Coach and author of Triple Your Time Today. 

“If you’re spending your most productive time of day doing email or other tasks that aren’t your true priorities, you won’t get your best work done,” says McKinnon. Save the important stuff for when your mind is sharp and your energy is high. 

5. Break Free from Email

One of McKinnon’s clients was drowning in emails and came to her for help. After assessing the guy’s workday, McKinnon found that he was spending an average of 4 hours a day just on email, and 60 percent of the messages weren’t related to his highest priorities. 

It’s 2015—there’s no getting around a digital inbox. But highly productive executives follow the 6-12-6 rule, says McKinnon: They scan their email early in the morning, (6 a.m.), again at lunch (12 p.m.) and at the end of the day (6 p.m.). 

If someone has a really pressing message for you, they’ll give you a call or swing by your office. Otherwise, all emails can wait. 

6. Get a Head Start on Tomorrow 

Prep tomorrow’s to-do list before you head home today, suggests productivity coach Cathy Sexton, founder of TheProductivityExperts.com. 

When you’re already in work mode, it’s only going to take you a few minutes to assess what you really need to get done first thing in the morning. So taking an extra 15 minutes at the end of the day to strategize might save you up to an hour tomorrow A.M., says Sexton. 

Keep your list organized by splitting it in two: Have a master list with tasks you can complete at a comfortable pace, and a must-do list with no more than three top priority items on it, Sexton suggests. 

7. Analyze Your Distractions

Just when you’re making progress on a tricky task, your coworker knocks on your office door. If daily distractions often throw off your workflow, consider the source, says Sexton.

Do an experiment: Every time you’re interrupted, jot down who it was and what it was about. You might find that it’s the same person always interrupting, or the same issue that repeatedly occurs.


In that case, you may be able to nip common problems in the bud before they become distractions, says Sexton. 

Overcoming Family Financial Habits

While doing some reading on finances, I came across this article. I think you might get something from it.


Whether you realize it or not, your parents likely had a major influence on your financial habits. Studies, including the recently published
"Habit Formation and Learning in Young Children," show that the ideas about money you pick up during childhood tend to stick with you for life, whether you grow up just like mom and dad or have made choices in reaction to them.

"Most of our beliefs and habits take shape well before the age of 12, and that includes money habits," says Keith Whitaker, Senior Family Dynamics Consultant with Abbot Downing. "Most people may not want to believe that, but they know in their heart that it's true."

If your parents didn't talk about money, for example, you also probably feel uncomfortable when the subject comes up. If your family was always trying to keep up with the Joneses, you may equate money with success, and you may feel like you can never have enough.

If you strongly disagreed with your parents' financial habits, you may have reacted by choosing to take the opposite approach. But that too can be harmful when taken to extremes. For example, some people who grew up poor, or whose parents were extreme penny-pinchers, hated feeling deprived, so they may spoil their own children by giving them too much.

• Potential harmful money habits you may have picked up from your parents include:
• Overspending to show love
• Extreme penny-pinching
• Believing that money is the cause of world problems
• Equating money with success and happiness
• Associating money with personal conflict
• Reluctance to talk about money

Whatever your money baggage, fortunately, you aren't stuck with it forever. "It is possible to change," Whitaker says, "but it takes a lot of work." He recommends these five steps:

1. Reflect on your behaviors and feelings about money. Think back to your childhood and your parents' attitudes about money. Were they constantly fighting over money? Did they overspend and go into debt? Or were they extremely frugal? Try to recognize both the positive and negative lessons you learned from your parents, and how they affected your beliefs and feelings about money. "The first step in changing bad financial habits is becoming aware of your deep-seated beliefs about money and where they come from," Whitaker says.
2. Focus forward and don't blame. While it's important to recognize your parents' influence, it's equally important not to assign blame, Whitaker says. "Blaming others won't help you move forward," he says. "Try to empathize with your parents and accept that they probably did the best they could do and, like all of us, they had their limitations. Show yourself grace, too."
3. Clarify your goals. After you identify any bad financial habits that come from your upbringing, make a conscious decision to change. "Ask yourself, 'What are some other ways I can act?'" Whitaker says. If you tend to spoil your spouse and your children with monetary gifts, commit to spending time and having experiences with them instead. "Maybe you suddenly realize that you've been spending all this money on your child, but he's acting like a spoiled brat," Whitaker says. "It may be time to stop giving materially and start giving emotionally."
4. Break big changes into small steps.  Rather than trying to change all at once, commit to taking a series of small steps in the right direction, Whitaker advises. If you're reluctant to create a budget with your spouse because your parents fought about money, start with one small piece of a budget. "Maybe you can do a better job of tracking your spending on just one type of expense, or saving for something specific," Whitaker says. "Instead of taking it all on at once, take on a manageable piece." If sharing specific numbers — such as the size of your estate — makes you queasy, you can start by talking about your estate in a more general way, without the dollar signs.
5. Get help. Connect with people who can help you talk through your money issues and help hold you accountable. Friends, professional colleagues, counselors, or members of shared interest groups can help reinforce your desired behaviors and give constructive, positive feedback. And, of course, your relationship manager is probably your best resource on making good financial decisions. "As hard as it is, you can do something about your beliefs and your behaviors," Whitaker says. "I've seen it happen."

20 words you should never put on your résumé

I came across this article on Business Insider. I think it's some good information that I think you might find useful...

While many large companies use automated résumé screener software to cut down the initial pool of job applicants, loading your résumé with meaningless buzzwords is not the smartest way to get noticed.

"Nearly everyone is guilty of using buzzwords from time to time, but professionals are evaluated increasingly on their ability to communicate," says Paul McDonald, senior executive director for professional placement firm Robert Half.

One of the major problems with using buzzwords and terms, according to Mary Lorenz, a corporate communications manager at CareerBuilder, is they have become so overused that they've lost all meaning. Another issue, she explains, is that many of these words don't differentiate the job seeker from other candidates because they're so generic.

Instead, Lorenz says job seekers should speak in terms of accomplishments and show rather than tell.

"Avoiding overused terms can help job seekers convey their message and stand out from the crowd," McDonald says. Here's what you should avoid:


20 words you should never put on your résumé


1. 'Best of breed'

When CareerBuilder surveyed more than 2,200 hiring managers last year, it found "best of breed" to be the most irritating term to be seen on a résumé.

"Anyone can say they are 'best of breed,' a 'go-getter,' a 'hard worker,' or a 'strategic thinker,'" Lorenz says. "Employers want to know what makes the job seekers unique, and how they will add value to the specific organization for which they're applying."

2. 'Phone'

Career coach Eli Amdur says there is no reason to put the word "phone" in front of the actual number."It's pretty silly. They know it's your phone number." The same rule applies to email.

3. 'Results-driven'

"Instead of simply saying that you're results-driven, write about what you did to actually drive results — and what those results were," Lorenz suggests.

4. 'Responsible for'

Superfluous words like "responsible for," "oversight of," and "duties included," unnecessarily complicate and hide your experience says Alyssa Gelbard, founder and president of Résumé Strategists.

"Be direct, concise, and use active verbs to describe your accomplishments," she suggests. Instead of writing, "Responsible for training interns ...," simply write, "Train interns ..."

5. 'Highly qualified'

McDonald saying using terms like "highly qualified" or "extensive experience" won't make you seem better-suited for the job — in fact, it could have the opposite effect. Instead, he suggests you focus on the skills, accomplishments, and credentials you bring to the role.

6. 'Seasoned'

"Not only does this word conjure up images of curly fries," says Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based career coach, "it is well-recognized as a code word for 'much, much older.'"

7. 'References available by request'

This outdated phrase will unnecessarily age you, Gelbard says. "If you progress through the interviewing process, you will be asked for personal and professional references."

8. 'NYSE'

Vicky Oliver, author of "Power Sales Words" and "301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions," says you should spell out any acronyms first and put the initials in parentheses. For example, "NYSE" would read "New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)."

"For starters, acronyms are capitalized, and all caps are harder to read than upper and lower case," she explains. "It's also really difficult to wade through a piece of paper that resembles alphabet soup."

9. 'Team player'

"Who doesn't want to be a team player? If you’re not a team player, you’re probably not going to get the job," McDonald says.

But using this term isn't going to make you stand out from other candidates. "Instead, use an example of how you saved a company time, money, and resources on a team project or in collaboration with others."

10. 'Ambitious'

"Of course you would never say you're 'lazy' either, but calling yourself ambitious doesn't make any sense on a resume," Friedman says.

"It can imply that you're targeting this job now, but will quickly be looking to move up in the company because you won't be satisfied in the role, leaving the employer stuck with doing a new job search in the very near future."

11. 'Microsoft Word'

Yea, you and everyone else.

It's assumed that you have a basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, Gelbard says. Unless you have expert proficiency, there's no need to include it on your résumé.

12. 'Interfaced'

"Words like this make you sound like an automaton," Oliver says. "Most recruiters would rather meet with a human being. Keep your verbs simple and streamlined."

13. 'Hard worker'

It's true that a company is less likely to consider you if you haven't worked hard or don't come across as someone who will put in what it takes to get the job done, but that doesn't mean writing "hard worker" will convince hiring managers of your efforts.

"Give concrete examples of how you’ve gone the extra mile, rather than using a non-memorable cliché," McDonald suggests.

14. 'Honest'

Honesty is one of those things you have to show, not tell, Friedman says.

"It's not as if there are some other candidates out there vying for the job who are describing themselves as 'duplicitous' or 'dishonest.'"

15. 'Punctual'

Being punctual is great, but it's also pretty basic to holding down a job. Don't waste the space on your résumé.

16. '@'

Unless it's in your email address, avoid casual texting language like @.

"A resume is a formal document and is often the first impression a potential employer has of you," Gelbard stresses. "Business language should be used to reinforce that first impression and text-style or casual words should be avoided."

17. 'People person'

Cliches like "people person" are impossible to prove, Oliver says, and recruiters have heard these phrases so many times they're likely to feel their eyes glaze over as soon as they see them.

18. 'Hit the ground running'

"This one is a pet peeve of mine," McDonald says. "The expression is unnecessary and doesn't add value. A recruiter isn't going to be able to place you if you're not eager to start the job and you aren't committed."

19. 'I'

Avoid using personal pronouns like I, me, my, we, or our, Gelbard says.

"A person reviewing your resume knows that you're talking about your skills, experience, and expertise or something related to the company for which you worked, so you don't need to include pronouns."

20. 'Successfully'

"It's generally assumed that you were successful at whatever you are including on your resume," Gelbard says. "There is no need to say that you successfully managed a marketing campaign or successfully led annual budget planning."





http://www.businessinsider.com/words-to-never-put-on-your-resume-2015-7?op=1#ixzz3fjP0wztg

8 Reasons You Should Turn Down That Job Offer

here's a very interesting article that I found at salary.com

Just Because You Got the Offer Doesn't Mean You Should Accept It

The good news is you got the job. Which, in this still-reeling economy, is quite an accomplishment. But the bad news is you're worried you might be settling for a position that isn't the right fit for you. So where do you go from here?

Look, the honest truth is there are times when you'll have to take any job you can get, even if you know it's a bad fit. Maybe your house is about to be foreclosed on, you can't make rent, or you have a family depending on you for income. We completely understand there will be times when finding ANY job is a priority over the PERFECT job.

But then there's the flip side of that coin, which is taking a job just for the sake of having a job even if you have the luxury of holding out for something better. Maybe you're frustrated because your job search has taken far longer than expected, or you graduated college and you're the last of your friends to find steady employment. Those situations aren't ideal, but neither is taking a "filler" job that won't really benefit your career.

To help guide you, here are some very valid reasons to reject a job offer.

8. When It's a Dead-End, Not a Detour

Sometimes we travel a broken career road, but that's not all bad. Many success stories include colorful chapters where the hero bravely works his way up to corporate glory. But what about the sad dramas where the heroine ends up pausing her career indefinitely in a so-so job that moves her off-target and out-of-sight of her hopes and dreams?

Consider: Will the circuitous route still allow some sort of progress in your chosen direction? Or will the filler job effectively block the path to your desired destination? The best filler job will still allow you to grow skills and experiences that are resume-worthy, and easily applied at your next position. The worst ones can spiral you into a black hole from which you gain no additional skills or experience, essentially trapping you with no hope of escape.

7. When It Costs You Opportunities

Most jobs are found through networking. A job organizing office supplies in a backroom or basement will offer you few opportunities to rub elbows with anyone save the occasional lost soul seeking a restroom. On the other hand, a retail job selling business apparel might give you the inside scoop on unposted job listings. Remember, the clear majority of today’s employment opportunities are unadvertised.

Consider: If volunteer work or community service puts you in touch with a growing number of business contacts, it might be worth fueling that momentum rather than cutting yourself off with a short-term, bill-paying position. Obviously, if you’re in debt and behind on your bills, you may not have the luxury of timing. However, be certain that wherever you spend your 9 to 5, you remain in the vicinity of connections to your chosen career goals.

6. When It Hurts Your Professional Reputation

On the other hand, while assembling sandwiches in a company cafeteria will likely put you in contact with key decision-makers (even CEOs have to eat lunch), do you want to be remembered for a cheddar cheese mishap when you finally land that interview?

Consider: It’s one thing to wait tables as a new college graduate in search of that elusive first job. However, a displaced IT manager refilling iced teas is doing nothing to enhance that image of technical prowess. There is nothing wrong with honest labor. But aim for labor that won’t contradict your status and reputation as a professional. To wit, waiting tables would be consistent with a hospitality manager looking for her next gig. Web design work might be a better fit for the on-hold IT manager. 

5. When It's Soul-Crushing

How tough is your spirit? Can you retain essential hope and focus while working in the potential filler job? Some people own the sort of resilience that will not be trampled by janitorial duties or irate customers at a fast food establishment. Others have a tendency to link identity to work and their self-worth will deflate like a leaky balloon.

Consider: Know thyself. The purpose of a temporary job is to equip you -- financially and possibly experientially -- for the real deal. If a filler job is likely to grind down your self-image, perhaps you need to look a little longer. Find employment that will pay your bills without costing you your confidence and breaking your spirit.

4. When It Goes Against Your Morals & Values

The nature of your temporary work shouldn't make you feel like you're compromising who you are or your beliefs. Obviously you should avoid anything illegal, but beyond that black and white is a lot of grey. For instance, a vegetarian meat-packer, an environmentalist working for big oil, or a personal privacy advocate making telemarketing calls. These are scenarios that will pit self against self.

Consider: You will be ineffective and personally miserable in any position that requires you to ignore core values. Selling something that is personally disagreeable is a blow to your integrity. How will you sell the professionalism of someone willing to turn a blind eye to his own convictions?

3. When It Costs You Your Family

A great paycheck that takes you out-of-town -- or out of family life by nature of the sheer number of hours required -- may be a risk to your family connections. Yes, getting behind on your mortgage payment could strain family loyalties as well, but be sure you and your spouse (or significant other) are on the same page regarding expectations.

Consider: How "temporary" will temporary be? Are there other options that might provide a better balance to the financial vs. family stability equation? An indefinitely timed strain on familial relationships (and connections to your support system) should be approached with caution. Do you work to live or live to work? Just remember, no one on a deathbed ever wished they spent more time at work.

2. When the Money Isn't Good Enough

Sometimes, it really is all about the money.

Most of us work to live. We have mortgages, rent, utilities, car payments, daycare and more to pay for, and we're working to foot the bills. So if you're presented with a job that doesn't even come close to making all the ends meet, it might be worth holding out for something more lucrative if that's feasible.

Consider: Be clear about pay structures and costs of employment -- especially for commission-based work -- before grabbing a temporary position. The word "temporary" can ascribe less value to the details tied to these jobs. These details should matter, however, because you are making a trade of your job search time. Be sure it’s a worthwhile exchange.

1. When the Money Is TOO Good

Whoosh. That’s the soul-sucking sound of a lucrative paycheck pulling talent from a long-term goal. It happens. The pay is so good you stay on a little longer. And a little longer after that. Next thing you know you're completely hooked on your fat paycheck, 10 years have gone by, and you’ve forgotten you used to have other dreams.

Consider: If you’re a "work to live" personality with a goal of retirement, this may not be a deal-breaker. But if your goals are for professional achievement, be wary of temporary jobs that could lull you into career complacency. "Umm, I got busy and forgot" isn’t going to sit well with a bored, stagnated version of yourself, wondering about the untapped potential of your youth.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

"Any" job is often better than no job, but not necessarily. Measure "filler" jobs against your overall career plan. Be wary of any side gig that holds the power to hamstring you into a permanent sideline position.

Our career paths are rarely straight lines. Sometimes the route to a coveted sales position goes through the mailroom. And there are times that outside pressures and financial considerations force us to pause professional progress completely. These challenges are surmountable and may even provide valuable perspective, as long as hitting the pause button doesn't cause our motivation to idle as well.

Know What You're Worth

Regardless of whether or not you actually accept the job you're offered, the important thing is that you're prepared to negotiate salary if you do want it. The first thing you should do is research, so you're able to come to the table armed with the knowledge of what your job is worth. 

3 principles

There are three principles of business that I think are key to ANY successful business

1. Treat people with dignity and respect.

This goes a long way. It doesn't matter if you are dealing with the Vice President of your company or the kid in the mail room. Treat people well. They will always remember it and appreciate it.

2. Never be too "big" to do something.

Far too often...people will say "I'm not doing that. It's not in my job description. Let somebody else to it." If I'm the CEO and I see that the trash needs to be taken out of the building, then I'll do it. People respect you even more when they see you go the extra mile.

3. Make work fun

Nobody works for free. Most people spend 8 hrs a day at work. Help people ENJOY their time at work. You've gotta be there...so you might as well have fun while you're there.

I've worked in corporate America for 15 yrs. I've learned a lot and seen a lot, too. One day...sooner than later...I'll transition to run my own company.

I'll be taking these principles with me.

Hip Hop - The Aging and Profitable Art Form...12 RADIO SHOW

Tune in to the 12 RADIO SHOW tonight at 9 pm EST. The 12 RADIO SHOW is the most innovative and interactive show on BlogTalkRadio. 

Tonight's Topic - Hip Hop - The Aging & Profitable Art Form

co-hosted by Rawdawgbuffalo

Join us as we discuss business side of hip hop, the origin of hip hop, and where it is headed. Don't miss it!

(347)215-7162 LIVE CALL IN NUMBER

www.blogtalkradio.com/12kyle

you BLACK, maybe?

I'm Pro-Black

Pro-Black doesn't mean anti-white. When I say I'm pro-black, it means that I'm about my people. I'm a proud black man. You'll know that by reading my blog. I am not always proud of how SOME of my people act from time to time. But I still got love for em. I will try my best to support my people. Especially when it comes to black owned businesses. I try to support them whenever I can.

But sometimes you gotta draw a line in the sand. And the line has been drawn

Case in point...I recently had 2 experiences that helped me draw the line in the sand.

One experience was a recent trip to Gladys (Knight) and Ron's Chicken and Waffle. I decided to take the family there because I've always enjoyed the food and it's a always atmosphere. Well...it used to be nice. As soon as we were seated, the soothing soul music had given way to the DJ who was tucked away in the corner of the restaurant. You'd think that a nice place like Gladys and Ron's would have a DJ playing music that would be fitting of the name of the restaurant. WRONG! Not only did the DJ play rap & r/b songs that you would hear on the radio, he proceeded to BLAST the music. The music was so loud that I had raise my voice just so that my wife could hear me. We looked around to see if the mangers were ok with the music and it being THAT loud. Not only were they ok with it, they were singing right along to every song that was being played. WTH? To make matters worse, there was a group of about 20 teens that were sitting not far from our table. The teens were there as a group but their "chaperone's" didn't seem to care what they were doing or how they were acting

The DJ played a song by Usher and the kids began to get up and dance. Huh? Does this happen at TGI Fridays or Applebees? I don't think so. As I looked around, we weren't the ones who were offended. The DJ turned the music down but it was still LOUD. Things really got out of hand when he played some song and the first word I heard was "BITCH". Are you kiddin me? You're gonna play that kinda music and I got my sons with me? We had eaten our food but by now I'm totally disgusted with the service. Was this a restaurant or was this Joe's sports bar?

The manager came over and asked how was the food. I told him the food was fine but I didn't know that I was "coming to Club Gladys and Ron's." I told him that I had an issue with the DJ...the loud music...and the profanity. He apologized for the profanity. He said that it was "the owner's idea" to bring the DJ in. I told him that he should remind the owner that this USED to be a nice restaurant. If you're gonna make it a hip hop spot, you'd better be mindful of the clientele that you'll attract. The bill came to $55. I had a gift card for $50. So I paid $5 (no tip). That's about all that experience was worth. Five freakin bucks.
That was my last trip there.

Second issue...the barbershop. I made the trip to the barbershop reluctantly. Normally, I'll cut the boys' hair myself. I didn't feel like it this time. I cut my own hair so I'm not a dude that goes to the barbershop for anything. This visit to the barbershop proved to be an eye opener. When we got there, one of the barbers greeted us outside. He was on his cell phone. There were only 2 barbers working despite they had been open for 20 mins. The barber who greeted us left in his car and returned an hour later. We waited...and waited. Finally...one by one...each barber strolled in. They all were an hour late. I would have walked out but I was pressed for time and I had to get the boys a haircut.

One barber walked in. His buddy walked in 2 mins later and hopped in the chair. Huh? So, he gets to skip those who have been waiting for nearly an hour? One of the barbers later tell me that the dude "had an appointment." Huh? So is that how it works? If that was the case, I would've made an appointment. I'm from the old school where a trip to the barbershop was on a "first come...first serve basis." I'm not gonna wait an hour and a half after you DECIDE to come to work and then you let people go ahead of me. I won't be going back to that spot. To hell with you and your barbershop.

The moral of these stories is that I wanna support my people but I will NOT support bs. You can complain about it and do nothing. Or you can be proactive. I've chosen the latter. Black businesses, like any other business, must be held accountable. Period. In this recession, one of the things that every business has to separate themselves from others is their customer service. As a consumer, I will hold you accountable. You want my money...you've got to earn it. The line has been drawn

You can't piss on me and then tell me that it's raining.

PD-101

PD-101

That's how the course was listed on the syllabus. I had no idea what the course was about but I knew that it was a required course for all freshman like me at South Carolina State University.

The course was called Professional Development-101. The course is the most important course that I ever took in college. The course taught me principles that I still carry with me to this day...being professional, how to dress/conduct my self on an interview, how to use the correct silverware at a business dinner, etc.

I wish everybody could take that course. In fact, we had to come to class (held once a week), dressed up! If you didn't come in a shirt and tie...no dice. You couldn't get in the classroom.

The reason I'm telling y'all about PD-101 is because I went to a job fair yesterday. The job fair was hosted by the minority professional group. 90% of the people who showed up... were dressed nice and looked good. But the other 10%...*sigh*...they looked horrible. Lemme recap what I saw...

a dude with a Chad Johnson football jersey on...

a chick with her arms exposed with the word "SEXY" tattoo'd on her forearm...(And she wasn't even sexy)...

a dude with a Braves hat AND a doo rag...

a chick with 8 inch pumps...looks like she borrowed the shoes from a stripper...

a dude with a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants...

a chick who brought her 2 year old child with her...

there were countless others in jeans and sneakers.

C'mon black people.

A job fair/interview is the time that you have to sell yourself! You can't sell yourself to a company if you look a fool!

PSA from 12kyle...

1. Throw on a suit, pantsuit, or some other business attire

2. Make sure that your hair is groomed. Personally, I would recommend cutting dreads and beard but that's up to you.

3. No short skirts

4. No kids

5. Look like the CEO and you'll say a lot about yourself

6. Greet everyone with a firm handshake

7. Make eye contact, smile, nod your head.

8. If you get a business card, follow up with a thank you letter or card.

Everybody didn't take PD-101. I feel blessed that I did. I'd be remiss if I didn't pass on my info on to my people. I know that most of you reading this know where I'm coming from.

I hated seeing that 10% today.

We've gotta do better than that.

Say Whut????

I had to pause for a second. Did he just say what I think he said??? Here I am...cooler than a spring day in Antarctica...custom made from head to toe...fly suit and tie...fresh Burberry cologne...headed to work. I came in contact with a young, white boy in a store. He couldn't have been any older than 25. We made eye contact. He says..."Whussup, bro???"

Pause...

*crickets*...

Excuse me? I am in my corporate gear...armed and ready to take on the world and that's how I'm greeted as I walk into a place of business? If I were in my jeans and Timbs, I probably would have let it slide. But not that day. Oh no! I'm suited up in my grown man gear. You will address me as "sir", especially when you consider the fact that YOU need MY business. Actually, he should do that regardless to what I was wearing out of respect for me. But I had to school the sukka. My response was..."Excuse me?" I looked around as if he was talking to someone else. He then changed his response..."Can I help you, sir?"

Ahhhh. That's betta. You will give me my respect! I command it and I'll give it to you. The moral of the story is that we can't let other people say "whateva they feel like saying" to us. I digress...

http://www.diversityinc.com/public/3372.cfm

"Fried chicken anyone?" "You speak really well." "Is that your real hair?"

In 2008, you'd think the taboo subjects and phrases would be clearly outlined and understood by all when it comes to what is and is not acceptable to say to a Black colleague. But that's far from the case. Here are 10 things you never want to say to a Black coworker or boss.

1) You're so articulate
You're so … articulate? Smart? Different? Yes, the speaker may intend a compliment, but what may be meant as praise instead comes across as being condescending. It implies the person being complimented is an exception to the rule and is exhibiting behavior atypical of others of his or her ethnic background.

"I haven't had it said to me, maybe I'm not articulate enough, but I've heard a number of Blacks say they've had it said to them … you're so articulate or you're so smart or intelligent," says Berlinda Fontenot-Jamerson, former director of diversity at Disney ABC Television Group. In her many years in the diversity industry, Fontenot-Jamerson has seen and heard it all. Some of it still makes her cringe.

"I feel like education and awareness is my mission, so I try to be kind when I check people to help them understand what they just said," she says. "I might make a joke to help them understand that it was a faux pas, and hopefully I have good enough relationships with them to have further conversations with them."

2) Is That Your Real Hair?
Danielle Robinson, director of diversity, talent and organizational design at Diageo, a wine, beer and spirits company, said she was amazed when she got this question from a colleague. But instead of getting angry, Robinson explained to her coworker why the question was inappropriate.

"There are a number of ways to respond. But I told the person they had no idea if they might be asking that question to someone suffering from a medical condition [such as] someone recovering from cancer treatment," she says. "I wound up giving this one woman a little lesson because you never know what the situation might be of the person you're asking a question."

3) "You" people
"I've heard this one several times," says Fontenot-Jamerson. Who exactly are "You people," and how do they differ from regular people? Use this poorly chosen phrase at your own risk.

4) Do you eat a lot of … (plug in the offending stereotype here)
Some stereotypes simply refuse to die. There's nothing wrong with natural curiosity about the ethnic eating habits of some of your coworkers. The problem lies in focusing on stereotypical Black fare such as fried chicken, watermelon, etc. It reveals the speaker has a very limited and narrow perception of Black culture and cuisine.

"One of my young relatives told me when they go out on interviews they may get queries about fried chicken and the stereotypes about the food that we like to eat," says Fontenot-Jamerson.

5) Why are you so angry?
This one is more often directed at Black males, thanks in large part to the media, which often portrays Black men as being angry and/or criminals.

6) Why are you acting white?
Consider this a relative of "You're so articulate." Why would exhibiting proper behavior, manners or dialect be categorized as acting white? If that's the case, what does it mean to act Black?

7) You don't sound Black over the phone.
What does Black sound like?

8) I don't think of you as Black.
DiversityInc Partner and Cofounder Luke Visconti received a letter from a reader who was presented with this particular compliment. He responded, "What you are experiencing is the first instance of a person accepting another person who is outside of their 'tribe.' Although the words and the sentiment are insulting, the person expressing them is (usually) not consciously trying to insult you. In their backward and ignorant way, they are actually trying to give you a compliment."

9) You graduated from where?
This particular offense came to our attention directly from one of our readers, Beatriz Mallory, who wrote, "In a career of nearly 30 years, I've heard them all. I am both African American and Hispanic, so I get it from both sides, on top of being a female. In trying to recall the worst, I'd have to nominate this one. It is the unguarded question "YOU went to CORNELL? WOW!" The implication is that in their mind, someone like me isn't automatically worthy of such an accomplishment. I never express my annoyance."

10) The N-word
The ultimate faux pas. Just because you've seen repeats of Dave Chapelle's show where the word is used liberally, that doesn't give you--or anyone--license to make conversational use of the word. To read more on the debate, read Double Standard: Can You Use the N-Word? in the Jan./Feb. 2008 issue of DiversityInc.

And don't fall into the trap of thinking substituting an "A" for the "er" makes the word acceptable. Fontenot-Jamerson believes it's a word used far too casually among youths, both white and Black.

"The new generation uses the N-word very loosely [and] the white kids do it too," she says. "I've been in the company where the youngsters have been using the word because they don't understand the history that comes with it."

Like Fontenot-Jamerson, Robinson looks at each misspoken phrase as an opportunity to teach and educate. "A lot of the questions are usually out of ignorance or genuine curiosity. So I always look at opportunities like these as a chance to educate," says Robinson. "Instead of getting angry, you don't want them to make this mistake with someone else. There are ways to ask a question more inquisitively that won't offend."

Has this ever happened to you? Your thoughts...