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Giving a Helping Hand with Holiday Volunteering Can Give Back to You

By Jared Cole on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

With the holiday season in full swing, you may be busy getting all of your holiday planning together with seeing family, taking extra days off from work, and gift buying. What may not be on your mind is volunteering. With several charities and nonprofits needing extra help with holiday festivities and programs, the need for volunteers increases. Donating money will always be a welcome gift to any charity, but if money is tight and not in your budget, consider donating time for a cause you believe in.

It’s commonly known that volunteering has several benefits when looking for a job, but what you might not realize is that volunteering through work or while employed can have several benefits you may not realize. Here are some ways volunteering your time during the holidays can help your career while helping your community.

Stress Relief

More workers are feeling stressed at work than ever before. With sluggish hiring trends in the U.S., employees generally have to deal with more responsibilities without the help of co-workers and even more when employees go on vacation. Stress is notorious for being a health issue, but being stressed out the entire time is going to affect your productivity too.

You could release stress with a vacation or spa day, but even small vacations and simple spas can be expensive and take time to plan, which could add to the stress you’re trying to get rid of. However, you can relieve tension by volunteering your time and efforts. There’s something about the feeling you get from helping others. It allows you to release endorphins and you end up feeling as if you’ve just had a vacation, except you haven’t had to pay a penny for it.

Sharpen Your Skills

Earlier this year, a survey was conducted by the University of California San Diego Extension's Center for Global Volunteer Service where respondents showed that volunteering was beneficial for developing important skills in the workplace. 73% of respondents who had volunteered said it helped in their development as a leader at work, 61% reported it helped with their creativity and resourcefulness, and 73% felt it increased their intercultural awareness and sensitivity.

No matter who you volunteer for or what task you have agreed to do, there is a learning experience if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. Many local charities don’t have the resources to hire people, so look for opportunities to donate your job skills when volunteering. Not only will you practice your craft and skill, but you’re also helping out a worthwhile cause.

Can’t Get No Satisfaction

When you’re stuck in the daily grind, sometimes it’s hard to stay positive about your company or position. During the holiday season, it can be even harder when there’s extra work to be done, but not extra time to do it. Taking the time to volunteer will help you recharge your batteries and learn to appreciate your employer as a whole, especially if you can find holiday volunteer opportunities through your company.

Deloitte, an audit, financial advisory, tax, and consulting firm, published a volunteer impact survey this year. Deloitte found that 55% of employees who frequently participate in a company’s sponsored volunteer activities are likely to rate their corporate culture as very positive, compared with 36% of employees who don’t volunteer.

We all know volunteering is the right thing to do, but sometimes giving our time costs more than donating money. We often don’t think about the benefits that can come from offering a little time and energy. What kind of success stories have you had when volunteering through your employer or on your own?

At Work Cube Life Work/Life Balance

High Powered Foods to Buff up Your Breakfast

By Jared Cole on Friday, October 28, 2011

Finding time in the morning to cook and eat breakfast can be a difficult task. When living a busy and stressful work life, you need every minute you can get. Experts show breakfast is the most important meal of the day by relating skipping breakfast with type 2 diabetes. When you wake up, your body hasn’t consumed anything in more than eight hours and what you eat or don’t eat affects your metabolism and overall health.

Skipping breakfast can also lead to a lack of energy at work, which can impact your concentration and productivity. For many, settling for quick and easy items such as donuts, sugary cereals, and pastries on the way to work is normal, but those foods are unhealthy and can give you a short burst of energy with a sugar high that leaves you even more tired than before.

It’s important to have a mix of carbohydrates and proteins to not only give you a boost of energy, but also to help you maintain energy throughout your day. Most people know they need to eat better, but they may be tired of the same old bowl of oatmeal every morning. So here are some tasty breakfast ideas full of energy so your job performance can run on high-octane fuel.

Wonder Yogurt

Low-fat dairy products keep nervous systems going and can also keep you feeling full and satisfied. For extra nutrients, consider adding nuts or dried fruit to your yogurt. This can easily be put into a portable container and taken to work if time is of the essence. A quick way to add some variety and flavor to the healthier, but sometimes tasteless fiber rich bran cereal, is to replacing your milk with about eight ounces of lemon or vanilla yogurt.

If regular cereal doesn’t sound appealing, consider layering granola or weat germ, fruits and berries, and yogurt into a parfait. There are several varieties and mixes of fruits you can try.

Super Smoothies

If you want to expand on using fruits and other natural ingredients but are constantly on the go, consider taking advantage of the breakfast smoothie. Not only are they sweet and flavorsome, but they’re healthy and give you energy too. Antioxidants and other phytochemicals in fruits can improve brain function and give you the same energy from your office coffee mug of caffeine without the midday crash.

There are several different recipes and combinations of smoothies that utilize common and exotic fruit. You can drink them during your commute or enjoy one at the office without disrupting your fellow co-workers.

Even though sugar from fruits is much healthier than processed sugar used in most pastries, try to avoid sugary smoothies and focus more on protein based smoothies as often as possible.

Whole Grain Heroes

Sometimes you’ll be stuck at a desk or station for a very long time, and you won’t always have access to a snack. Having foods with high protein like nuts and seeds keeps your metabolism under control and will help you stay full while at work because small amounts of fat help maintain energy and keep hunger at bay.

One easy way to make sure you get your whole grains and protein is to bake and prepare breakfast foods ahead of time. Foods like almond-honey bars can last for days and are easy to grab when you are in a hurry.

Just because work occasionally demands more of your time doesn’t mean you should ignore your health. Your well-being and energy can directly affect your job productivity and routine. Enjoying a nutritious breakfast doesn’t have to be time consuming and can help you tackle your busy schedule head on. What have you had for breakfast that keeps you full of energy?

Career Advancement New Job Tips Work/Life Balance

Top Job Search Time Wasters And Tips to Avoid Them: Part 2

By Jared Cole on Wednesday, October 26, 2011

While there are many ways to make your job search more effective, there are little things that can slow down the job search too. You may feel like it will be easy to avoid getting distracted since you have a large amount of free time without a full-time job, but the newly found freedom can work against you. Sometimes, you could be slacking off in your search and not even realize it.

In part one of Top Job Search Time Wasters, we reviewed methods on how to avoid stress and the use of the internet to distract you from searching for a job. Here are a few more ways you could be wasting time during your job search and what you can do to avoid them.

Applying Anywhere

Aspiration during your job search is an important quality to have, but you also have to be realistic. Not only do you have to be ready to accept that maybe finding your dream job isn’t possible right after college or during this economy, but also know that being too broad in your job search can end up wasting your time.

If you’re not having much luck finding a job, it can get frustrating and you may resort to blasting your résumé for positions you may not be qualified for. Considering your résumé will more than likely only be seen by an automated keyword scanner that looks for specific words and phrases related to the job description, you’re hindering yourself. There are hundreds of frustrated job seekers doing the same thing, which is causing employers to be more selective of their candidates. The competition is too aggressive.

If you’re thinking about a role that requires a skillset that is different than your own or are wanting to switch careers, find out what training and education you’ll need to get first before making the switch.

Safety in Solitude

Social networking sites like LinkedIn have made it easier for job seekers to connect with employers all across the world. But, don’t fall into the trap of making the internet your only source of networking and job finding. It’s easy to be a hermit and check job boards, but in-person contact is also important.

Now is the time to reach out through your friends and family to find potential leads. Most people find a job through someone in their network. According to the New York Department of Labor, 70 – 80% of jobs are found through networking. Last year, we polled our readers they agreed that in-person networking is more efficient.

There are several places, sources, and methods for effective networking. When you meet new contacts in person, you can use social media tools to follow up and grow those connections into solid job leads.

Looking for employment can be difficult and a lot of hard work. Sometimes it’s good to stop working and relax your mind after a long period of searching and networking. But, with stressful times and increasing competition, it can be easy to give your mind a break and rest longer than you should. If you remember to avoid the traps that can keep you distracted, you can keep yourself ahead of the competition with your razor-sharp focus.

Career Advancement New Job Tips Work/Life Balance

Top Job Search Time Wasters And Tips to Avoid Them: Part 1

By Jared Cole on Friday, October 21, 2011

Looking for a job can be a full-time job in and of itself. Finding a job in today’s market is more than just posting a résumé and waiting for a call. It’s a combination of old-fashioned résumé sending, online brand building, and networking. There are many rules to remember when looking for a job and it’s important to remember your job search can’t be tackled in just a few hours.

If you’re unemployed, it can be easy to get distracted by so much that can drag down your productivity and progress during your job search. Here are a few common time wasters job seekers fall into and how you can crawl out.

Sweating the Small Stuff

The job market still isn’t the strongest and it can be easy to get frustrated when you aren’t finding any leads, but don’t fret over a transferable skill you forgot to highlight in your cover letter or the formatting and framing of your résumé. Worrying doesn’t achieve anything. It isn’t easy, but you can choose not to worry.

Worrying over what you have no control over only hurts your time, energy, and confidence, which you might need if you get called for an interview. Use the energy for something more productive by making sure your next letter or résumé is how you want it or prepare yourself for pointing out your neglected information in your interview.

Social Media Snare

We are more connected than ever thanks to social media networks like Facebook. At any given time, we can turn on our computer and chat with friends who could be on the other side of the world. Networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn are great tools for connecting and networking with individuals who can help you find a job, but it becomes tempting to chat with a friend from high school or answer an instant message from distant family instead of connecting with your local industry expert. Consider taking time out of your day to see your friends and family in person and keep some time on social media sites directly for searching job opportunities to your advantage. Recruiters are checking social sites for candidates, so show your industry that you are looking for and keep posts relevant to your job search.

Email Entrapment

Email can take too much of your time if abused. Checking your email every hour to see if an employer has responded is only slowing you down. The hiring process isn’t as fast as a simple email, and checking your account too often will make it easy for you to read other, less productive emails. Try to check your email about three times a day, once in the morning, at lunch, and at the end of the workday.

Web Surfing Syndrome

The Internet itself can become a major distraction as well. Having access to a source of almost limitless information can make it easy to research the origin of the waffle instead of researching the company you are applying to. Try copying or printing some job descriptions and go to a local coffee shop, library, or book store with no internet and work from there. You’d be surprised at how much you can finish without the temptation of distractions.

Remember these tips and tricks during your daily search or when you are about to start looking for a new job. Keep an eye out for part two where you’ll learn about avoiding time consuming mistakes that slow down your job search.

Benefits Work/Life Balance Workplace Relationships

Ghastly Tricks to Make the Office Halloween a Treat

By Jared Cole on Friday, October 7, 2011

Halloween may not be a federal holiday, but it’s still a highly popular and widely celebrated occasion. Americans spend more than $5 billion on Halloween merchandise every year, second only to Christmas in dollars spent, and Halloween celebrations continue to grow in the United States. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, more than one-third of American employers provide some sort of festivity in conjunction with Halloween.

For many, Halloween is what kicks off the holiday season and can greatly boost morale and interaction among co-workers. If you want to join the fun and spirit of this holiday while at the office, here are a few things you can do to make work a little more spooktacular.

Rules and Regulations

Before you turn your workspace into Halloween central, consider checking with your employer’s handbook, supervisors, or HR managers to learn company policies on Halloween celebrations. While there may not be any Halloween-specific guidelines for your company, there may be strict policies on attire and hair color you need to keep in mind when celebrating.

Dress for the Occasion

Be respectful of your managers and colleagues and keep in mind what you should and shouldn’t wear for Halloween. There is plenty of time after work and on weekends to wear your super scary costume, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to don some festive additions while working. Look for ways to put Halloween colors into your work attire. Find fun and easy ways to add a little flavor to your office look for Halloween like wearing an orange and black striped tie or blouse.

Desk Decor

Decorating your work area can be another great way to show your Halloween spirit. Spread some fake spider webs in a corner of your desk and scatter plastic spiders over it. Place a small Halloween-themed bowl or dish filled with candy next to the web for everyone to enjoy. There are several inexpensive paper Halloween decorations found at retail stores you can tape around your desk. Be mindful of those around you, keep the decorations festive, and shy away from anything too scary or gruesome.

Festive Foods

Many employees love to celebrate, especially when food is involved. There are several treats you can provide your co-workers that are cost effective and can bring you closer to those you work with. Bake a cake, put candy bugs or gummy worms in it, and place it in the office kitchen for everyone to eat. Goody bags full of assorted candies and novelty gifts like fake vampire teeth can also be used as festive Halloween treats. If you or your company is very health conscious, put fresh fruit in a plastic caldron and put it in a high-traffic area.

Despite your opinion of this holiday, respect those who do or don’t want to celebrate Halloween. You could be working with people with an array of different personal preferences, cultures, and beliefs. Starting conflicts over Halloween is missing the point of this occasion.

What interesting or different ideas have you done to celebrate Halloween at work?

New Job Tips The Daily Grind Work/Life Balance

Spice Up Your Commute With One Simple Thing

By Job Journey on Friday, September 23, 2011

For many, the commute to and from work isn’t always the most enjoyable experience. Sometimes it can be tedious, drawn-out, and create stress when trying to navigate through the heavy traffic when all you want to do is get home and relax after a hectic day at the office.

Commuting and Your Health

Gallup-Healthways released the 2010 Well-Being Index, an assessment of the health and well being of U.S. residents. Gallup-Healthways surveyed commuters on how they felt about their emotional and physical health, work environment, and life in general. The study showed that the longer the commute, the less happy and healthy commuters felt.

If you have a fairly long drive to work, and want to decrease your stress and increase your happiness, you may be interested knowing that a little aromatherapy can help in big ways. One simple trick can help make you feel better by spicing up your commute, literally!

A History of Spices and Spice Stimulants

Humans have been utilizing spices for preservatives, flavoring, embalming, and medicinal purposes as far back as 2800 B.C. Specifically, peppermint and cinnamon have been used in folklore and medicine because they were seen as having magical properties to ward off evil spirits. At about 1 A.D., the value of cinnamon was worth 15 times its parallel weight in silver, according to Roman author Pliny the Elder.

Scientists are still researching the effects of these spices today by studying how beneficial cinnamon may be to reducing blood sugar levels in diabetics. Researchers are also looking into the effects of how smelling spices can alter our attitudes and behaviors. Studies have shown that the presence of peppermint and cinnamon odors can enhance motivation, performance, and alertness, decrease fatigue, and serve as central nervous system stimulants in commuters.

So, if the stress and fatigue of your commute is becoming too much, grab a cinnamon or peppermint air freshener for your car and breathe it in. The aromas will help boost your mood and your attitude. Plus, as an additional bonus, it will keep your car smelling good when you have to give a coworker a ride, drive a carpool to work, or have sweaty children in the car after soccer practice.

Homemade Air Fresheners You Can Make on a Budget

Purchasing air fresheners for your car can get expensive, especially since some last longer than others. Budgets may be tight and you may not have the time to go out and grab some when you spend so much time commuting anyway. There are several recipes online that can help you make your own fresheners that may last longer than most found in common supermarkets.

To learn more about making your own cinnamon and peppermint scented car fresheners, you can follow some of these helpful links we’ve found to help you get started. These recipes are so easy, you don’t have to stick to just peppermint or cinnamon. You can use these for your house too. There’s nothing like coming home from a long and trying day at work to one of your favorite scents. If you are at your wits end and the drive to work is making your blood boil, go ahead and put a little spice in your life. You’d be amazed at how much better you feel.

Looking for more tips and tricks to add some pizzazz to your daily commute? Check out our Refresh Leadership blog to learn more. If you have a long commute, what other ideas have you come up with to help make it more bearable?

By Jared Cole

Benefits The Job Search Work/Life Balance

Health Care Options For Recently Unemployed

By Job Journey on Wednesday, September 21, 2011

In a previous article, you read about health insurance considerations for job seekers who’ve recently graduated from college. While it’s important for those starting out in the workforce to know their coverage options, those with years of experience who suddenly face cutbacks and layoffs can be just as overwhelmed. And, things can get even more complicated if there’s a family involved.

If you’ve been laid off from your job and are looking for work, there are several options to make sure your family is protected from life’s emergencies.

COBRA.

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 provides short term coverage for qualified workers, their spouses, and their dependents after leaving their employer. The duration of coverage is determined by each state. The plan provided closely matches an individual’s or family’s existing coverage, but may be too expensive given the need for the individual to pay insurance premiums in addition of any co-payments.

If you have any questions about COBRA, check with your former employer, or visit the Department of Labor. If COBRA isn’t a feasible option or your benefits are about to end, make sure you start looking for something else two months before the plan expires.

Use a spouse or family member plan.

This option may not be available to the majority of job seekers because most health insurance plans through employers can only add family members once a year during the open enrollment period. Some policies do offer exceptions in situations of marriage, birth, or a change in employment status. Check your family member’s employer insurance policy to see if being added would be a viable option. If it is, this may the preferred choice.

Benefits of trade associations.

Your trade association, or professional associations like the Public Relations Society of America, may offer health insurance. Some of the insurance offered through associations is comprehensive and some is limited, so be cautious in assessing these options. Again, start your research early and see what options are best for you.

Find your own.

If you’re on a budget, consider a plan with a high deductible and lower premiums that will cover you for a major illness or accident. There are several places that can help you choose the best option. Check with your state’s insurance department to see which companies offer local health insurance. Another great place to start is to talk with your doctors or friends about which companies they like best.

Insurance has been a hot topic of debate for the past few years. Finding coverage isn’t easy and can be very confusing and time consuming. But it is vital to your wellbeing and the health of your family to make sure they are covered from life’s unexpected accidents. Take the time to learn the ins and outs so you can stop worrying about health insurance and focus more on the job hunt.

By Jared Cole