Career Advancement Corporation periodically posts articles that will help job-seekers everywhere.
Posted on February 09, 2010
We’ve been talking for a few weeks about technology and the internet and how to take advantage of both without wasting time and money. Well, we’re back with another installment. This time it’s to help get that giant internet into something you can digest. We’re going to talk about Google, but rest assured that Yahoo is also capable of most of this, we’re just going to stick with Google.
When you go to google.com, you probably see the standard homepage, clever logo, search bar, that’s about it. But did you know that you can make this page SO MUCH MORE? By logging into google, you can create a custom home page which brings you the things you need. Live.
Rather than search for news, or go to a few different sites each day, you can have google bring you news specific to a single genre or industry. Stop spending time at both NYT and Perez Hilton, instead, have Google give you 3 headlines from “top news” and 3 from “entertainment.” You can also have search terms, so that when a news story pops up somewhere in the world about St. Louis’ old soccer team the Ambush, that story will be brought to you when it is posted.
Weather, stocks, and tons of other applications are at your fingertips. So check it out and whittle down your morning internet time by having it delivered to you just the way you like.
Posted on January 11, 2010
In today’s world, you may find yourself working from many different places. Work can often be done not only from an office, but from a local coffee shop, a hotel room or even from the home. An idea may strike you at any moment. Fortunately, the internet continues to provide tools, many of which are free, to accomodate people who may be working on different computers and in different circumstances. Here are some ideas to make you more productive wherever you are.
If you work from more then one computer, or would like to, looking to the internet to do your more basic work can be a lot more convenient than booting up a desktop application. The biggest upside is that you can edit them from any computer that has internet access. You don’t have to email them to yourself, and the computer you are using doesn’t have to have an Office suite on it. Another benefit is that most online documents are easy to share with others, and even collaborate. Online office suites make sure that people can be up to date with the latest version of a document without having to spam their inboxes with emails every time they are updated. Of course, the documents can be downloaded and saved to a computer circumstances that require an actual .doc file. Two of the most popular free online Office suites are Google Docs (docs.google.com) and ThinkFree (thinkfree.com)
Of course, it must be said that like all things online, there is a small possibility that your data may be compromised. Always be careful what you put online, and it’s probably best to keep your most sensitive data to yourself.
Ideas can strike when you are at your office, sitting on your couch watching TV, or pretty much any time. Fortunately for us, we almost always have our cellphones on us. Even if you don’t have a “smartphone” this technology can allow us to record our ideas for later. See something on TV that you want to learn more about later? Send a text to yourself. Just remembered that you have a meeting tomorrow that you are worried you might forget about? Set an alarm on your phone. Making a habit of of doing these type of things can boost your productivity and augment even the most forgetful among us.
All of that said, It’s important to note that safety and respect for those around you should be the primary concern. Don’t text and drive, no matter how good you think you are at it. It’s illegal in many states (including Illinois) and has statistically proven to be quite dangerous. If you’ve got a great idea that you think you’ll forget before you get home, pull in to a parking lot. Also remember that just because it’s safe to use your electronics, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is polite. Make sure that you aren’t buried in your laptop or cell phone when you should be paying attention to those around you.
With those warnings in mind, we encourage you to go out and explore all of the emerging possibilities that mobile productivity has to offer you!
Posted on January 06, 2010
It can be challenging for supervisors to keep tabs on their employees performance, and accurately generate feedback and incentives. Many times, a busy supervisor will only see the work on an employee in the form of occasional reports submitted, or presentations created, etc. Here are a few other tell-tale signs of good employees. These are just a few of the many, and they are just indicators, not something by which to hire or fire.
There is a saying: “Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.” This is a sign of a great work ethic. Someone who walks in the door at 9am, and then takes 10 minutes to hang their coat, get coffee, say hello, check their facebook, use the restroom, and then get down to business, may have a problem with their work ethic. Take note of employees who schedule in their own time for morning routines, so that they’re rolling when they’re supposed to start rolling.
There is no black-and-white rule here, but patterns can be indicators of habit. Someone who eats out everyday, or orders large expensive meals is a different person than the one who packs their lunch each day, or orders out for a sandwich or salad. Depending on your company, one method may be better than another, but take a look at your best employees. What are their lunch habits? Now, compare these habits to other employees? Do you see a correlation?
This one is all over the board, but some people work better with a radio on, others listen to it but are distracted. If one of your employees has just won their 4th radio call-in contest this month, it may be time to take a look at their other performance. Take note of how an employee creates their workspace environment, it, too, can be an indicator of work ethic and efficiency.
So remember, these are just guidelines and starting points, but they are often ignored pieces to evaluate. Take note and see if you gain any insight into what makes your office run smoothly.
Posted on December 14, 2009
It used to be the case that a cell phone in the workplace was a one-way ticket to write-ups and goodbyes. However, as our mobile lives become a bigger and bigger part of our businesses with traveling, clients on the go, email on our cell phones, twitter, and so on, we can’t deny the convenience. So what should the rules be on texting, phone calls, twitter, and the rest of ’em? Here are a few guidelines:
While personal calls, as always, should be kept to a minimum, cell phone usage by employees isn’t such a bad idea. Many clients prefer to reach their contact directly and a cell phone is a great way to do so. It’s a great personal connection, and a great way to show your clients that your service extends beyond the office. Traveling employees should especially embrace this practice, because nothing is more frustrating that habitually being put into voicemails or leaving messages. So, chat it up, just keep it work related.
Texting is a love/hate relationship. Some companies will fire employees for texting at work. Others encourage it. It’s like email, but faster and more direct. If you have just an “It’s a go!” or “lunch tomorrow” it can be much more effective than email. Personal texts are another story. Some companies hate it, but if it is used as an alternative to long personal calls, why not let a few texts slide? Happy employees are good employees.
Oh, twitter. How you’ve changed our lives. Now we think 140 characters at a time. Twitter CAN be a great tool to show personality within a company or to bring light to the day to day duties in an office. it can also be a terrific waste of time. Taking a few moments to guide all employees on what’s off limits and how to represent the company well can make a huge difference in how your company harnesses the power of the “blogosphere.”
Facebook. MySpace. LinkedIn. Surfing. Like most internet things, they can be a big productivity slayer, or if utilized properly, they can be a source of business and relationships. While sitting on facebook all day is never a good idea, allowing (or even encouraging) employees to spend a few minutes checking messages and clicking around can allow them to connect to old friends and network in ways that may produce new clients and revenue for your company. Blocking these sites entirely isn’t the greatest of ideas. Even offering a slight discount to people who connect with your employees though the net could prove effective.
So there are no great rules of thumb for internet and cell phone usage, but if used in moderation, they can be wonderful tools of innovation, business development, and customer service. Give ‘em a try and don’t be afraid to experiment with options. Most of these services are free or already paid for by employees, so the extra freedom won’t cost you too much. Give it a try!
Posted on November 11, 2009
With the economy still not amazing for business owners (or anyone, really), a business must be as efficient as possible to stay afloat. Bad computers, equipment, products or clients can make things very rough on a company, but nothing is as toxic as a bad employee. A lot like mercury, a single bad employee in a sea of good ones, can ruin the batch. The sad thing is that these tough economic times are also hard on employees, so it’s tough to keep everyone happy and working when everything around them seems to be struggling. However, if you have a bad employee all hope is not lost. Here are a few things that can help everyone win:
Your employees aren’t stupid. They know that the company may not be thriving right now. Before you approach a bad employee you have to realize that they may be thinking (perhaps even justifiably) that they could be laid off soon. Honest, open communication is the best tool to prevent this. Tell your employees that things aren’t where they need to be, but their jobs are safe so long as certain requirements are met. If you admit your ship has some water on it, but explain that it isn’t sinking, you may find many of your deckhands quick to start bailing water instead of jumping ship. Be honest, if you need a certain amount of new clients to be comfy, tell everyone and let them help, they have as much stake in the company as you. They’re relying on their jobs.
If you’ve been honest and an employee is still underperforming or harboring a bad attitude, it needs to be addressed. Never start the conversation with “You have a bad attitude, what’s up?” Find out what’s happening in their life. It may be work related, it may not be, either way, there may still be something you or HR could do to help. If an employee is struggling, a boss that seems high and mighty, fat and rich, may only infuriate them more. Being personable, relating to their problems (which you could very well be having, too), could form a friendship and loyalty which makes a huge difference.
If you’ve done your best to be honest, and relatable, and you’re still dealing with poor performance and attitude, it’s time to take action. After all, it’s still a business and they do have a job to do. A subtle, informal performance review (or a full-on formal HR one, your choice) could show an employee that they’re on the radar where they don’t want to be. It can be a wake-up call or a last straw for them, but either way it’s a solution moving you in the right direction: Either you have a new, happy employee, or you get to go find a new, happy employee. If it happens to be the 2nd option, give us a call, we’ll get you a happy well-matched employee in a flash. It’s what we do.
Internet Wrangling
February 09, 2010
Being Productive, On-The-Go!
January 11, 2010
Hey Bosses, check 'em out!
January 06, 2010
Cell Phone Etiquette v2.0: Times have changed
December 14, 2009
How to deal with a bad employee
November 11, 2009
Displaying articles 1 - 5 of 7 in total
Career Advancement Corporation
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St. Louis, MO 63132
info@caccorp.net
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Career Advancement Corporation is a full service staffing company nestled in the beautiful city of St. Louis, Missouri.
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