Monthly Archives: April 2015

The Power of Investing: Tips for Living a Peak Performer’s Life

walterbond_webThere is more to investments than just money. When it comes to your career, you can invest in your job search, your education, and your experience. And according to former professional basketball player and motivational speaker Walter Bond, solid investors understand that they have to be patient with their investments. Reaching your goals takes time and commitment, so do your homework and consider your options before you invest. Walter also advises not to invest all you have into one option. Finding a job takes effort and time, so make sure you’re investing your hard work into more than one opportunity. How much you put into your job search and career goals impacts how much you’ll take away in the end.

“There are two kinds of people we need to consider – there are producers and there are consumers. Producers are the people we call ‘haves.’ Consumers are the people we call ‘have-nots.’ So, ask yourself the question, ‘What group do I want to be in?’”

As part of his year-long series of motivational messages, Walter Bond discusses the importance of patience, solid investments, perseverance, and more. Check out the full message below.

How has the power of investing affected your career and job search? Let us know in the comments section below.

About Walter Bond
A former professional basketball player, Walter Bond’s NBA career included 153 games with the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons. Now, Walter takes what he learned from his life on the court and translates it into motivational and educational messages for thriving businesses and careers. With entertaining and dynamic messages, Walter has spoken to companies and associations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.

For more information about Walter Bond, visit WalterBond.com.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

5 Spring Cleaning Career Tips

spring_cleaning_webSpring has sprung, and with longer days, more sunshine, and warmer weather, it’s time to shake those winter blues! The best way to start embracing the new season is with some spring cleaning. It’s time to de-clutter, throw away, and organize for a more productive and efficient workday.

Whether you’re feeling less engaged with your job, looking for a new career, trying to advance to the next level, or just need a little push when it comes to tidiness, here are some tips everyone can use to add some pep to your step!

  1. Tidy up your workspace.
    Your desk or work environment is where you spend a lot of time, so tackle it first. Feeling swamped with papers? Create a filing system for your current projects, articles to read, invoices, and other documents. Organize them in a way that works best for you and set a day of the week to go through each folder and do maintenance. Also, keep in mind that less is more. Don’t clutter your desk with stuff you don’t use regularly. A clean and simple desk allows you quick and easy access to what you need.
  2. De-clutter your e-mail and desktop.
    Many people feel overwhelmed with their computer and email organization, or lack thereof. Instead of letting your inbox grow to an overwhelming amount, create a digital filing system. Categorize the emails you need to keep, and delete what you don’t. Also, it’s easy for your computer desktop to become a catchall for items you need fast access to. Try to organize these things into a reasonable amount of files. A clean computer will help prevent you from feeling panicked when you need to look for a file or important email.
  3. Pay attention to your calendar.
    Feel like you’re always on the go and never have enough hours in the day? If so, it’s time your calendar becomes a proactive tool in your life rather than an enemy. Look at your calendar daily to see what you’ve got going on. Be sure to not overload yourself to the point of exhaustion or burnout. Learn to say no to some requests that come your way or suggest a time that works better for you. Also, set reminders on your calendar to alert you before an event so you’re not rushing from one thing to the next.
  4. Clean up your social media accounts.
    This is a perfect time to go through your accounts like LinkedIn and Facebook. On LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to keep your profile current, even if you love your current job. Pay attention to any new people you should connect with or groups you should delete. The same rules apply to Facebook. Are there groups that are sending you way too many messages you don’t want? Do you have any pictures or posts you need to remove? Is there anyone you need to connect with? Although many people see social media as tools just for fun, they can have a big impact on your professional life too. Be mindful of what yours says about you.
  5. Perfect your resume.
    Spring is a great time to ensure your resume is up-to-date. Whether you are looking for a job, seeking a promotion, or applying for a volunteer position, it’s important to do regular maintenance on your resume. Add any new skills you’ve learned or projects you’ve taken on, ensure all dates are correct, and update your contact information if necessary. Also, do a quick look over your reference list. Is there someone listed that you haven’t talked to in a while? Give them a call or schedule a lunch to catch up. It’s important to keep these contacts current so you can take advantage of networking.

In addition to these tips, there are many other ways you can spring clean for your career. What are some of your favorites? Share them in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

4 Tips for a Stress-Free Interview

stress_free_interview_webNo matter how experienced or confident you are in your professional life, when you’re approaching a job interview, you feel the pressure. It’s stressful knowing that you have just a short while to impress an employer and convince them that you’re the best fit for the position. There are ways, though, to alleviate your stress. In fact, these four tips can put you on the path to a stress-free interview.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
You may have heard it a million times, but preparation is absolutely key for a successful interview. And, if you know you’ve done everything you can possibly do to set yourself up for a positive interview experience, then you’ll feel less pressure. So make sure you check-off each item on your interview to-do list and take time to think through some of the interview questions you expect to be asked. It’s also good to review what not to do during an interview so you can avoid the top three interview sins.

Burn Off the Jitters
Nothing blasts stress away like working up a sweat. The morning of your interview, schedule time to do at least 30 minutes of some form of exercise. Whether it’s taking a brisk walk, lifting weights, or doing yoga, this physical activity will burn off your jitters and help you relax. A recent article from Huffington Post revealed that exercise is not only good for your heart, but also boosts your mood, self-confidence, ability to cope with future stress, and brain function. If you don’t have time in the morning, then fit a workout in the evening before. This can also have the added benefit of helping you sleep better.

Ease Up On the Caffeine
While it may be tempting to down some caffeinated beverages before your interview, don’t do it! Ken Yeager, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at Ohio State University, told Huffington Post, “Caffeine is always going to make stress worse.” Plus, it will further compound your feelings of pressure and stress by impacting your sleep quality. So stay away from caffeinated coffee, tea, and soda, as well as chocolate, which is an often-overlooked caffeine source.

Get Some Shut-Eye
In case you haven’t caught on from the previous tips, sleep is important to the success of your interview! Nothing adds pressure to a situation like feeling tired, sleep-deprived, and out-of-sorts. And, as international neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart explained in a CNN report, “On top of the obvious health risks, when you have any sleep disturbance, your IQ drops by 5-8 points.” That means a good night’s rest can make the difference between impressing a future employer and bombing the interview.

Job interviews can be one of the most stressful situations you face in life. But, it is within your power to decrease your stress and alleviate the pressure so you’re able to walk into your interview ready to impress.

What has helped you cope with the stress of an upcoming interview? How do you ensure you’re at your best? Share your tips in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

The Results Are In: How Does Your Company Promote Health and Wellness?

results_are_in_health_and_wellness_at_work_webYour health is an important part of your life, and it’s something that matters both in and out of the workplace. In an effort to help you stay on track with your fitness goals, some companies offer health and wellness benefits, programs, and resources to help you stay healthy. To find out what kinds of programs your workplace offers, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how your company promotes health and wellness and the results were mixed.

What Readers Said
Only 6% of respondents stated that their company offers healthy snacks and beverages, 9% reported that wellness screenings are offered in their workplace, and 15% said that they have access to a workplace gym. Another 15% of respondents reported that their workplace offers health education, coaching, or training. Additionally, 21% of readers responded that their company offers all of the aforementioned health benefits.

While these results offer a positive outlook on what companies are doing to promote the health of their employees, 35% of readers, the most respondents to the poll, stated that their workplace does not offer any health incentives whatsoever.

What Employers Said
These statistics mirror the results of a similar poll on Refresh Leadership, the Express blog for business leaders. In that poll, 27% of company leaders responded that they do not have any wellness incentives in place. While 20% offer a gym or gym discounts, 16% offer discounts on health insurance for wellness program participants, 12% have healthy vending options, and 5% have sports clubs or exercise classes after work, the most prevalent response was that no health programs currently exist.

Since health is important and a good majority of an employee’s day is spent in the office or on the job site, it seems health and wellness incentives should be more prevalent in the workplace. How do you think companies can implement health programs and incentives? Let us know in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.