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How to Save Face When You Make a Ghastly Mistake

By Job Journey on Tuesday, December 21, 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, various “Top 10” lists start making the news. Top 10 Headlines. Top 10 Influential People. Top 10 Sports Memories.

There is even a Top 10 Public Relations Blunders List issued by a prominent San Francisco PR firm that features botched product recalls, free speech fallout, and one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. These blunders indicate that ghastly mistakes happen on the job everyday and everywhere.

But what happens when you make a ghastly mistake at work? How will you recover, especially when you are the new kid on the block? When you make a mistake, here are four tips that will help you save face and possibly your job.

Admit your mistake. This might be the hardest step, but admitting you made a mistake is necessary. When you own up to your oversight, your co-workers are more likely to forgive you. They will probably even pitch in to help you correct your error. Blaming others won’t correct the situation nor will it make the problem go away. Instead, playing the blame game will only waste precious time and will most likely upset your co-workers.

Regain your composure. You won’t be able to logically correct your misstep until you regain your composure. Remain calm and try to retrace your steps. This will help you identify where things went wrong.

Tell your supervisor. It’s imperative to inform your supervisor of your mistake first. It is better that your supervisor hears the news from you than a co-worker or a customer.

Develop a corrective action plan. Work with your supervisor to develop a plan to help change or fix the situation. Despite your blunder, working on an action plan will demonstrate to your supervisor that he or she made the right decision in hiring you. Pay attention to details as you work through your action plan and offer to be responsible for carrying out the plan.

Because we’re all human, mistakes are bound to happen. The key is to take responsibility for the mistakes you make, and most importantly, learn and grow from them. As someone once said, “If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t doing anything.” So the next time you mess up at work, take it in stride and see it as the opportunity it is, to learn from the mistakes you make.

At Work Career Options New Job Tips The Daily Grind

From Seasonal Worker to Full-Time Staffer: A Guide to Get the Job

By Job Journey on Friday, November 12, 2010

If you’re on the job hunt this holiday season, there’s good news that can impact you now: according to SnagaJob.com’s third annual survey, overall seasonal hiring is expected to increase 26 % from last year.

The National Retail Federation forecasts increased sales in response to the economy’s recovery, as shoppers may be more willing to spend this year than in recent Christmases past. As a result of the predicted uptick, businesses will need extra workers to keep customers content in spite of the usual hustle and bustle. A seasonal job can be the perfect opportunity to show why you’d make a great full-time employee.

Make your own opportunity.

Positions like seasonal work that get your foot in the door are a great way to train quickly, learn about the business, and fill a need. Think of a seasonal job as an evaluative period to test your skills and prove that you’re up to any challenge. It’s also a chance for you to see if the organization is somewhere you’d like to work full-time. Making yourself indispensable is the key to being retained long after the garland and wreaths come down.

Tips to make any seasonal worker shine.

Be on time: Perhaps more during the holidays than ever, employers need workers to show up when they’re scheduled. Think of how being on time can positively impact others: it lets your co-workers get a break, prevents lines from forming, and reduces that harried ambience. More than that, punctuality shows that you’re responsible and can be trusted to effectively manage professional obligations in addition to your personal life.
Show genuine interest: If you don’t want this job to be just a temporary position, don’t treat it like one. Learn all you can about the company and how to perform tasks in an efficient, precise manner that’ll come in handy during crunch time, i.e., Black Friday, the days after Christmas, etc. You’ll show that you can adapt quickly and perform well under pressure.
Tap into holiday cheer: You may hear “Jingle Bells” played on repeat for the next several weeks, but do your best to push past that stagnancy by remembering what you love about the holidays. Surveys consistently list attitude as the best attribute of a seasonal worker. Stay motivated by focusing on the big picture: how to make yourself stand out.
Respect others: No matter how great the rush, show respect to customers, managers, and co-workers alike. There’s no excuse for surly service. Show that you’re the team member others can rely on to stay calm and helpful, no matter what comes your way.

Get that job or get a great reference.

The characteristics employers typically seek – being responsible, calm under pressure, and able to handle multiple tasks – can be demonstrated in an immediate way. Even if your manager can’t hire you full-time at the end of the season, he or she will likely be willing to write a glowing letter of recommendation. If you build your reputation from the first day, you may not soon see your last, so do your best to make that seasonal job count.

The Job Search

What Kind of Resume Do You Need? Take the Quiz!

By Job Journey on Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Everyone has different work histories and backgrounds. Do you know how to best portray yourself to potential employers with your resume format? Take this quiz to find out what kind of resume may best fit your needs!

Job Interviews Resumes and Cover Letters The Job Search

Five Common Words You Don’t Want On Your Résumé

By Job Journey on Wednesday, May 19, 2010

In this recovering economy, the job competition can be cutthroat, and job seekers are suiting up and bringing their A game to the fight. Employers are getting hundreds and hundreds of applications and résumés for every job posting. And, since most employers spend an average of only 20 to 30 seconds reviewing each résumé, it’s important to make sure yours doesn’t fall through the ropes.

A résumé that is concise, scanable, and still packed full of the right information is a great start to get you noticed as a top-notch contender. And, including power words can add a strong punch. But, adding the wrong words can be a knockout that leaves your résumé down for the count. So, make sure your résumé doesn’t have these commonly used words before you enter the job search ring.

Responsible. A job is defined as a duty, a function, or something that has to be done. Every job is a responsibility. So it’s understood if you’ve had previous job experience that you were responsible for something. Your résumé is about listing your accomplishments, not your responsibilities. So, instead of using a vague and common term to describe your work history, give specific and quantifiable facts and figures to impress your perspective employer. For example, instead of saying “responsible for office sales,” provide information like “sold X number of units and increased company sales by 46% in 2009.”

My. Or me, or I. These are first person pronouns and should not be used on your résumé. Since it’s understood that it’s “your” résumé, words like “I” are unnecessary and redundant. And, they can make your résumé appear unpolished, unprofessional, and even too “you” centered. So, make sure your résumé isn’t sucker punched by first person pronouns. Instead, begin sentences with action verbs like reduced, developed, programmed, etc.

Successful. If you weren’t successful at something, you certainly wouldn’t have it on your résumé. Perspective employers want to know how you can impact their bottom line and grow their business, so show them you’re a champion who can provide results by giving detailed and precise examples on your résumé. Don’t waste space saying you were successful. Give specific instances that prove you were.

Dependable. Like the word successful, using broad, overused terms, including dependable or reliable, won’t distinguish you from other job seekers. To set yourself apart, offer tangible examples of your work experience. Use numbers and data. And focus on results. Demonstrate your dependability by conveying how previous employers relied on you by sharing your achievements and growth.

Team player. Hiring a team player is important to every employer. But, the term is liberally used on most résumés and has essentially become a waste of space. Demonstrate your ability to work with others by describing the teams you worked with and what you achieved together. For example, instead of simply saying you’re a “team player who works well with others” explain how by using examples like “worked with IT, HR, and marketing departments to develop companywide leadership training initiative for 3,000 employees.”

With a limited amount of space on your résumé – only a page or two – to present your abilities and work history, it’s easy to get stuck on broad, commonly used words to convey your skills. But you can add the clout and punch your résumé needs by concentrating on communicating how you were responsible, why you were successful, and when you were a team player. Quantify and explain your qualities. By focusing on your accomplishments and avoiding overused terms, your competition won’t stand a fighting chance.

At Work Career Options

Before the Job Hop: First, Face Yourself (If You Dare)

By Job Journey on Thursday, January 21, 2010

Of late, the news is focused on low employee job satisfaction. The lagging economy and resulting layoffs have fueled that focus.

While job satisfaction appears to be at an all time low, the number is at a stand still. In 2008, best selling author Patrick Lencioni who wrote The Three Signs of a Miserable Job referenced a Gallup poll revealing that 75% of employees hated their jobs and 35% had checked out. Some of the most common reasons employees leave their jobs are:

Personality conflicts with their supervisor/co-workers
Salary and/or benefits package
No advancement opportunities
Lack of two-way communication between management and employees

Of course, due to pressures from the recession, many of these situations are likely to be more extreme than before. But, though 80% of people would consider job hopping, it’s highly unlikely that 80% of employees in the U.S. will actually change jobs this year.

So, if you’re feeling some dissatisfaction at work, it’s important to ask yourself what you’re going to do about it. Are you going to check out and stay on the clock, tanking your professionalism and reputation where you are? Are you going to look around for other opportunities (that may or may not be better than your current position)? Or, are you going to do something to create happiness in your current position?

While extreme life circumstances such as health issues or diagnoses of clinical depression affect happiness levels, your job situation may not be as extreme as it feels. If you’re unhappy in your job, perhaps a change in perspective could help change your outlook on your current job situation.

Author and speaker John Maxwell suggests that job satisfaction is largely based on your ability to lead yourself. In his book The 360 Degree Leader he devotes nine chapters to Lead-Up Principles. Within these chapters, he helps the reader discover ways to gain the respect of their boss and peers. When you feel respected, your job satisfaction will increase. If you want to be respected and valued for your contribution, often that is gained through the actions you take to achieve that level of respect.

A few of Maxwell’s principles include:

Be willing to do what others won’t.
Be prepared every time you take your leader’s time.
Know when to push and when to back off.
Become a go-to player.
Be better tomorrow than you were today.

Whatever you choose to do with your career in this recession, make sure you take time to consider the bigger picture first. And, if you do choose to leave, make sure you’re not just running away from something but you’re running towards a better opportunity.

by Jennifer Anderson, Guest Blogger
Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Express Employment Professionals

Job Interviews Resumes and Cover Letters Salary and Promotions The Daily Grind The Job Search

This Holiday, Do You Need a Second Job?

By Job Journey on Sunday, November 1, 2009

Every six months, we try to get a pulse on whether or not people are looking for second jobs. With the holiday season approaching and employers starting to ramp up hiring, we want to know if you plan on getting a second job.

poll by twiigs.com