Have you ever dealt with an unempathetic leader at work? It can be difficult to work with a manager who doesn’t understand their employees. They may be less than willing to allow employees time to spend with their families or understand how a death in the family or sick relative might affect employee work performance. This can result in a tense work atmosphere. However, there are a few things you can do to cope. (more…)
We shared an infographic with you in March that broke down the five scenarios for asking for a raise. This month, we have another “how to” for you. Many of us have career-related questions that we need answered.
Questions arise on the job. The key to asking great questions is to make them clear and effective so that they can be properly answered.
NetCredit provides several ways to get your great questions answered at work. Check out the infographic below for a list of work situations and the types of questions you can ask to get the most helpful response. (more…)
No one wants to experience a layoff, but recent layoff announcements from well-known companies have sparked concern among workers who are unsure whether their jobs are also in jeopardy or not. If you were recently laid off or know someone who has, it can be a confidence killer, but it doesn’t have to be.
Here are three proactive steps to keep your career on track and remain diligent for the next opportunity. (more…)
At first it might not feel like your career has much in common with videogames. After all, you’re not a superpowered plumber or a Pokémon Master. But think about it: when you first start out, you’re level one, then you gain experience, and eventually get access to new areas and better opportunities. That sounds pretty videogame-y, right? Turns out there are plenty of career tips to glean from classic videogames. Let’s press start! (more…)
Your first day at a new job can be one of the most stressful. Sure, a new job is exciting, but it can also be incredibly nerve-wracking when you don’t know anyone and aren’t sure what the office culture is like, or what your job will entail. All of that combined with a shiny new workload.
So what can you do?
Ask Questions
Most problems that pop up early in a job are due to lack of communication. Maybe you assumed something worked the way it did at your last job, or your boss forgot to add you to an email list and you missed an important deadline.
Avoid these problems by asking questions. Don’t pester your co-workers needlessly, but do politely ask for help when needed. If they seem busy, send them an email asking if you can schedule a time to ask questions. The company is new to you—nobody expects you to know where everything is and how the company systems work on day one.
Prepare
It’s much easier to handle the stress of a new job when you’re ready for it. So start preparing the night before. Pack a lunch and pick out an outfit (make sure you know the dress code) before you hit the hay. If your job requires equipment or safety gear, prepare that ahead of time as well. That way you won’t be in a rush looking for a favorite pair of socks minutes before the workday begins. Think about packing a healthy snack too—you don’t want a growling stomach to annoy your coworkers.
Go to bed early. A healthy eight hours of sleep ensures that you’ll be bright and eager to work on day one. A good night’s sleep also makes it easier to get to work a few minutes before you’re scheduled to arrive. That can give you a bit of time to mentally prepare for the coming day.
Plan
You should already have a good idea of what the company is like after your initial research and interviews, but take a few hours before that first day to research even further. Make sure to at least know the basics of the products or services the company is selling. Bonus points if you can obtain an organizational chart for the department so that you know who the players are. If the chart has pictures, get started on memorizing those faces.
Make Friends
Imagine you’re back in first grade. What did Mom say when she handed you your lunchbox outside the classroom? “Make friends!” Or maybe “play nice!” That advice applies to your working life too.
After you’ve been given the tour and filled out any needed forms, seek out your coworkers. Introduce yourself, and get to know them. A new job can be much more manageable when there are work friends to support you when the workload gets tough.
Feeling proactive? You can also try to coordinate a pre-first day lunch or coffee meeting with the boss and the team. That can make breaking the ice on your first day much easier.
