Managing Your Crises with Ease

I'm sure many of you have, at one point or another, had to deal with a crisis. Crises are inevitable; whether a small fire that gets put out quickly or an all consuming blaze that requires days to handle, crises always seem to crop up, often at the most inconvenient times. It is important to plan ahead and know how to manage crises so that when they occur, you are prepared and can resolve the issue quickly and effectively.

Crisis management is different from time management. It requires a different mindset. The danger with crisis management is that it can become so time consuming that you never get to anything else. The crisis management immediately jumps to the top of the priority list. You don't want to be doing crisis management all the time, so if you find that you are spending all of your time managing crises, it's time to get a manager to step in and start problem solving. You don't want to manage in crisis mode.

One way to help avoid spending all your time managing crises is to realize that not everything is a crisis. Think like a manager and assess whether or not a situation is really a crisis, or just poor planning. If you have strong planning and communication, you can eliminate and prevent crises.

How to determine if it's a crisis:

Are people and property in danger?

Will not acting immediately cause harm and money loss down the road?

If you answered no to both questions, then it is not a crisis. If no one is in danger, take the time to assess the situation fairly. Remember, problem solving usually involves research, and one reason people get stuck in crisis management is because they don't sit down to do the research in the first place. The more planning you do upfront, the less likely you are to be hit with a crisis that derails you. Here are ten great steps for a successful crisis management plan.

The best use of time is spent doing problem solving, rather than reacting in the moment to a different situation. Sometimes in a situation, people may look to you for direction and ask a lot of questions. Remember, it's okay to take a step back when people are being demanding and say "I want to take a moment and think this through."

Managing crisis is an essential skill for being successful in your career. For additional information on crisis management and for more tips on building a successful career, check out our new course on Career Success Strategies and take advantage of the first three FREE previews.

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Start Your Journey by Learning Another Language

Are you travelling somewhere this holiday season? Planning on a more exotic Thanksgiving dinner, say in Italy or Spain? Well, now is a great time to start learning a foreign language! As the days get shorter and colder, curl up at home and practice your pronunciation. Give yourself an exciting goal to work towards to get through the long winter months.



Building in Old Prague

Maybe you are having Christmas in Paris. Or maybe you're planning for that summer backpacking trip through Asia. Whatever the occasion, now is the perfect time to learn the basics.

Visit our courses on Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Russian, and English to begin your discovery of a new place and culture. Our courses are broken up into easy-to-understand lessons, beginning with all the basics you'll need to get around smoothly in a foreign country.

Whether learning for the first time or brushing up on vocabulary, these courses will take you on the first step of your exciting journey.

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The Art of Negotiation: Common Mistakes and Helpful Tips

Negotiating is a useful skill to have in many situations, from purchasing a car to negotiating a pay raise. Below is a list of the common negotiation mistakes, along with some helpful tips for negotiating successfully.

Common Negotiation Mistakes:

1. Poor planning and preparation
2. Ignoring potential conflict
3. Arguing instead of trying to influence
4. Losing one's temper
5. Showing impatience
6. Using intimidating behavior
7. Misunderstanding/not understanding nonverbal messages

Tips for Negotiating:

1. Make sure that you understand the needs and goals of both parties going into the negotiations.
2. Establish dominance by being friendly, dressing for success, and, if possible, choosing the place to negotiate. Helpful hint: if the other party remains standing, you remain standing too.
3. Always have the other party first establish the floor and/or the ceiling.
4. Adding on to the above point, also always negotiate outside the bracket (the minimum and maximum).
5. Get information—remember, information is power.
6. Don't be afraid to use silence as a tactic!
7. Try to answer a question with a question. For example, a salesperson asks: "How much are you willing to pay for this item?" You respond: "How much do you need for this item?"
8. Be willing to walk away.

For more tips and techniques like these, join our excellent instructor, Professor Robert J. Ash, for the Art of Negotiation, and be sure to take advantage of the first three FREE video tutorials!

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How to Create an Access Query with an And Condition

Creating a query with an And condition allows you to search for information in your database with multiple criteria. Here's how:

1. Click on the Create ribbon at the top of the Access window.

2. Click on Query Design.

3. Choose the table or query you would like to search (see the picture below).

4. Close the Show Table once you've selected your table or query.

5. Choose what you want to place in the query grid at the bottom of the screen. You can select, drag, and drop individual categories from the table you've selected, or you can double click on the table name (in the picture below, EmployeeInfo) to highlight all the fields in the table and drag them down to the query grid. Simply drag the highlighted information to the first grid column.

6. Fill in your criteria. By filling in criteria along the same criteria line, you are asking an And condition. In the example below, the query will pull results for a person who is both in the Sales Department and a Clerk.

It's as easy as that! You can also create queries with Or conditions to bring in information that is different from one another at the same time (for example, people who are in the Sales Department or a Clerk). For demonstrations on how to use Access, check out our courses on Access 2010 Introduction, Advanced, and New Features, and be sure to take advantage of the first 3 FREE previews of each.

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New Courses Posted: Access 2010

To go along with the rest of the new Microsoft Suite, we are pleased to announce that our new set of courses on Access 2010 is posted. In step-by-step demonstrations, Instructor Irasema Perrot guides beginning to advanced users through the features of Access 2010. Access is such a useful program: it allows you to organize your data into neat, easy-to-use databases. You can find specific information in your database by creating and running searches called queries. If you've already started using the program and want more information, here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding Access 2010. Also, make sure to take advantage of our free previews on how to get started using Access.

Tip: If you're using Access to store people's information, such as addresses, running a query can be a great way to pull up information for people you want to send holiday cards to. It's easy to make labels from your query results—say goodbye to hours of sorting through your client/contacts/family info and handwriting or typing up labels. With Access, you've already got the information set up and ready to use whenever you may need it.

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The Social Media Beast

Social media is taking over—from opinion blogs to social networking websites, even viable news sources are now utilizing these tools to communicate information instantly to millions upon millions of people. Where else can you reach such a large audience so easily? And, with most social media and networking sites, for free!

Businesses can now tweet about their products, company events, and organizations that the company is involved in, such as conferences and charities, to send information instantly to their consumer market. Customers can connect to businesses in a new way through websites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and blog sites like Blogspot, LiveJournal, and WordPress. Through becoming an organization's "friend" on Facebook, customers can have a direct link to that company, establishing communication. Businesses can also utilize these sites to not only increase interest in their company, but also to gauge customer satisfaction with their product and gain valuable feedback.

The problem with social media is the very thing that makes it so appealing: its ability to reach so many people and draw interest. Social media can become a hungry monster, a wild beast; fueled by the public's opinions and interests, it can turn on a company just as easily as it can hoist a business up. The ability to post information that can be read instantaneously by millions of people, and subsequently influence other's opinions, makes it a potentially powerful marketing machine, or the Public Relations Department's worst nightmare. Remember, not everyone does the research to find out whether information on the Internet is true, which means that even if information is negative and false, people might still believe it. Jumping into social media is like grabbing a bull by the horns (although if you're careful and aware of the possible pitfalls, your company has the potential to profit exponentially from using these tools).

For those of you who have used social media tools to market yourselves or a business, we want to hear from you! How do you use social media to communicate with your consumer base? Do you find this to be a successful method of accurately representing and promoting your business? Have you had any negative experiences using social media as a promotional technique?

Check out our courses on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter to get started utilizing social media!

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What's Your Learning Style?

In our jobs, we are constantly bombarded with all types of information in the form of reports, presentations, emails, memos, verbal exchanges, and more. In order to absorb all of this information in a quick and comprehensive way, and be more productive and efficient, you must know your learning style.

Start by identifying your primary mode of learning. Are you a visual, auditory, or tactile learner?

• Visual learners process information first by what they see. These learners like to watch demonstrations, and then usually try it out for themselves.
• Auditory learners prefer to listen first and have information explained to them in a step-by-step process.
• Tactile learners have to try it out themselves, and learn best by doing.

There are many advantages to knowing your learning style. Being aware of your learning style will allow you to comprehend information faster, and will give you more opportunities to participate as you understand material more easily. You will have better overall communication when you know how you best receive information. Most schools and businesses now use a number of different media to communicate information, including video, PowerPoint, and written and verbal presentations. Be proactive. Actively seek out information presented in the style that works best for you.

Keep in mind that it's a good idea to be aware of the learning styles of the people around you. What style is your boss? How do your team members learn? Try to present information in a way that helps more people understand your message. This can mean including different modes of communication when you make a report or presentation. At the very least, provide a written copy of your report. If possible, include a PowerPoint and verbal explanation.

Our new course on Career Success Strategies has additional helpful tips on various career-related topics, such as business ethics, conflict in the workplace, how to read reports and compare data, how to find your career strengths, additional insight into learning styles, and much more. Make sure to check out the first 3 FREE previews of this essential, in-depth course!
In addition, be sure to watch the free previews of our courses on PowerPoint and Business Writing for helpful tips on preparing presentations and reports.

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Create Your Own Festive Greeting Cards

Halloween is coming soon! Rather than spending a fortune on holiday greeting cards (which can cost up to $5 a card!), why not design your own?

Programs like InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Publisher, Word, and even PowerPoint allow you to create your own high-quality cards that are customizable with personal images and messages. You can even create customized labels for your card envelopes. Click here for our blog post on design and layout tips.

Tip: Remember, paper makes all the difference in the look of your card, so be sure to pick out a good quality or paper stock. Try printing out your card first on plain paper, to make sure everything looks okay and will fold the way you want it to. If you're using a card template, make sure to note the size of paper the template is using (these typically use the 8.5x11in. paper size). Envelopes can be purchased at a department or crafts store. A 6x9 envelope is a good size to use for a half fold card using 8.5x11in. paper.

People will appreciate the personal touch of a handmade card just as much, if not more, than a store bought card. Plus, family photos are a great touch when sending cards to relatives and friends.

Need help navigating the Microsoft and Adobe programs? No problem! We offer video training tutorials in both suites, complete with in-depth examples to really help you understand how to work with the available tools. Check out the first 3 FREE lessons of each course to get a feel for the programs!

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The 7X7 Rule for Presenting Information (and other handy tips)

When creating slides in Microsoft PowerPoint, a good tip for presenting information is to have no more than 7 points on a slide, with no more than 7 words per point.

This slide utilizes the 7X7 rule.

Why do this? The 7X7 format ensures that you aren't presenting too much information at once, which could overwhelm your audience. It also ensures that your information is readable, especially if you are presenting to a large audience, where members may be some distance away from the presentation screen.

Presenting, especially live presentations, can be scary. Here are a few tips to help you out with presenting and speaking publicly:

• Include visuals in your presentation, as well as handouts to supplement the material being shown. PowerPoint 2010 allows you to print out handouts of your slide show, with room for your audience to take notes.
• Use the introduction to capture interest and set the tone of the presentation. Strong introductions may use statistics, quotes, or narrative history, ask a question, or refer to a common event.
• Focus on the back of the room to project your voice.
• Speak a little too fast rather than too slow (aim for about 145-180 words per minute). Adjust your speed depending on your material and audience.

For more tips on presenting, stay tuned for our course on Public Speaking, coming soon. Also make sure to explore our new course on Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 for additional insights into creating dynamic presentations. Remember, the first 3 tutorials are FREE!

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The ABC Strategy for Getting Organized

Ever have a day, week, or month where you just feel so overwhelmed you can't seem to get anything done? It can feel like important tasks are slipping through the cracks when you can't keep track of all you have to do! Well, here is a quick, easy-to-use strategy for organizing your tasks and taking the first step toward accomplishing everything you need to do and more.

Try this:

Set priorities. This strategy takes the To Do list one step further. Write everything you need to do onto post-its, with one task per post-it (this will make it easier to move tasks around). Then categorize these into three sections: A, B, and C. Note: it may help to use three different colors of post-its, especially if you are a visual person.

In category A place all the tasks that are absolutely critical. These can be the most important tasks that need to get done, the ones that are the most time sensitive, tasks you want to finish by the end of the day.

In category B place all the tasks that are important, but not as time critical. These can be tasks that you want to get done by the end of the week.

In category C place all the tasks that can be postponed, ignored, or avoided completely.

Here's a helpful hint for your C tasks: Put your C tasks into a Don't Do list. In doing this, you are giving yourself permission to NOT do a task. Instead of thinking about how much you didn't get done that day, and spending a lot of time and energy worrying about tasks that you still need to do, give yourself permission to procrastinate. Eventually, you can move items from your Don't Do list onto your To Do list.

This strategy can be done for all sorts of To Do items, including telephone calls! This can be used for both professional work and in your personal life.

Discover more great organizational strategies here, as well as learn about the various ways in which we waste time. Be sure to check out our new course on Time Management, and take advantage of the first 3 FREE tutorials on how to manage time more effectively.

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Ways to Use Excel

1. Create a budget to track your personal finance. This is a great way to see where your money is going in order to cut back on unnecessary spending. The benefit of a spreadsheet includes the ability to make formulas and work out complex sums easily, making financial planning that much easier. 

Medieval palace in Segovia, Spain
Start preparing your trip to Spain by
learning the basics of the Spanish language.

2. If you are planning on travelling, you can create a spreadsheet outlining your vacation, including where you will stay, how you will get to each place, and how many days you will be at each location (this will greatly reduce stress if you are travelling to multiple places during one vacation, especially if it's your first visit).

3. Create a spreadsheet to track household chores, where you can include categories like daily, weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly chores. Be sure to leave a checkbox next to each entry!

4. Use spreadsheets for To Do lists—these can cover the week and be broken down into days. Include both weekly and daily tasks. Checkboxes on each task are helpful here too, and can give you a sense of accomplishment when you get to check off a completed task.

5. Create a spreadsheet to evaluate items you are considering purchasing, such as a new car.

6. Create a spreadsheet to track inventory if you have a business, or even if you just want to keep track of all your personal possessions.

These are just a few examples of how you could use Excel—the possibilities are endless. So now we're curious, what do you use Excel for?

Remember to check out the first 3 FREE tutorials for some great insight on how to use Excel 2010, the newest version of Excel. We also have both introductory and advanced courses available in earlier versions of Excel.

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Feeling Burned Out? Revitalize Your Job!

Once you've been in the same job for a long time, you might start to feel a little bored or burned out. However, you probably don't just want to quit and look for a new job, especially in this current economy. So what can you do to stay motivated?

Try implementing one or all of these three techniques to regain your passion for your job.

Job Enlargement Restructure your job by restoring the wholeness of the job. This means that you take your job and fit it into the bigger picture of the organization.

Maybe you've been working on one particular part of a project. Ask to see the other sections of the project in order to see how everything, including your part, fits together. It's motivational when you can see the bigger picture, or the finished product, rather than just your individual part in it. Recognizing how your work fits into the whole will also help you to understand the value of your job, and recognize the areas where you can improve or expand on to better fit the organization.

Job Enrichment Increase your personal responsibility for your work. Increase your authority (the right to act, decide, and command) to make decisions about your job, and make sure to participate in the planning process. This can give your position more value, helping you to reinvest yourself in the work.

Job Rotation Learn the job of another employee. If you and another employee are both burning out, then switch jobs! This allows you to challenge yourself and stay interested by learning all about a new position. Plus, you increase your own versatility by increasing your knowledge of the organization. In familiarizing yourself with other jobs, you also learn how your work relates to other positions in the organization.

For more tips on how to stay motivated, check out our fun new course on the Art of Motivation, and be sure to take advantage of the first 3 FREE tutorials!

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Online Learning: Is it for YOU?

Just type "online education" or "online learning" into your Internet search browser and you'll see the same conclusion pop up everywhere: the number of people taking online courses is increasing.

This makes sense, considering our current economy where universities and colleges are cutting back on staff and increasing tuition costs. Why pay all that money to get expertise you can find elsewhere (and for lower cost)? (Granted, many people are enrolling in online programs through their universities, so costs are still high, although students are able to enjoy the benefits of learning online).

If you aren't looking to obtain a degree, or you're thinking of taking a few courses to supplement your degree, or even just want to enjoy learning about a specific topic that you've always been interested in, then learning online outside of the university structure may just be the perfect fit for you.

Besides low cost, one of the great benefits of taking a course online is the ability to learn individually and at your own pace. This is difficult to achieve in a classroom setting, where teachers instruct 30, 60, or even 100 students or more in some university courses, all with varying levels of proficiency.

How many times have you been frustrated by a teacher who is moving through the material way too fast? Or bored by an instructor who stays on the same concept for hours, one that you are already familiar with?

Plus, online courses outside of the university allow you to leave a course and come back to it, days, weeks, or even months later (and you can retake sections as well—that's right, rewind, pause, and fast forward your learning). No time constraints! You are accountable only to yourself.

So keeping all that in mind: What do you think of learning online? Is online education right for you?

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Designing Dynamic Layouts

Have you ever come across a magazine, website, or article layout that really captured your interest with its creativity and design? Such a layout might seem complicated or difficult to create, but that's not the case at all! There are several easy-to-use resources and tips to help you design your own exciting layout.

One element to think about first when designing is structure. Start by deciding where you want your focal point to be:

1. Look at your page and break it up into sections (3 is a good place to start). If you want more than 3 sections, just remember: keep the number odd! This makes a better design layout.



2. Look at where the sections intersect with each other. These places make strong focal points—you can place your main focus here, to create interest.

One thing to note: items placed directly in the center of the page do not create as much interest as items that are off center.

Other elements to consider when designing are balance, white space (this helps with balance, as well as directs the viewer's eye), proximity (the distance between items and how they are placed), alignment (which affects readability of the page), consistency (which helps the reader know where to find things), and the types of images you choose to use.

A fantastic program to use for creating rich, interactive layouts for both print and online publication is Adobe InDesign. InDesign CS5 is the newest version of this program, and features all sorts of exciting tools perfect for creating a high-quality layout.

Great Tip! On the Adobe website, you can download a free trial version of InDesign CS5, which allows you to play with and explore the program for a whole 30 days! In order to make the most of this program, and to start designing your own layouts, check out our fun courses on all the features InDesign has to offer. We have both beginning and advanced courses, as well as a course on InDesign CS5's new features if you are already familiar with InDesign CS4.

For more tips on the elements of design, check out our courses on Design & Layout, Graphic Design Principles, and Typography with InDesign, and make sure to take advantage of the first three FREE training tutorials!

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The Do's and Don'ts of Resume Writing

Don't do this: Have one generic resume that you give to all prospective employers.
The thinking here: I can show the employer all of my experience, ensuring that I don't leave anything out.

Do this instead: Target each resume toward the job description and company you are applying for. A marketing position doesn't need to hear about your experience as, say, a cashier (unless you can find a way to relate cashiering to marketing. For example, cashiering provided you with a first hand knowledge of what customers buy). Look at each piece of information in your resume and ask yourself: Does this relate to the job I'm applying for?

Don't do this: Cram a ton of information into your resume.
The thinking here: The more information they know about me, the better.

Do this instead: Emphasize only the most relevant experience and skills on your resume. This frees up more space to develop the skills that are important to selling yourself to the employer. From a design standpoint, having some white space on the page is a good idea as well, to avoid that cluttered, squished look.

Don't do this: Use vague, generic language. For example: I used strong communication skills.

The thinking here: I can list the skills I know are important to employers, showing them I have the skills they need for the job.

Do this instead: Be direct and to the point. Tell facts. Describe what you did, how you did it, and how that benefitted your previous employer. Example: I used strong communication skills to negotiate a contract between the company and our customers, resulting in increased sales for the company over X amount of time. Get specific! Prove that you used your skills by backing up your assertions with concrete evidence.

Don't do this: Use a resume template.

The thinking here: The template-makers know what they're doing—I can just plug in my information and have a professional-looking resume.

Do this instead: Create your own unique look to your resume! Think of it this way—everyone has access to the same templates in word processing programs. What if someone else shows up with a resume formatted the same as yours? Now your resume is no longer original, and will not stand out as much from other candidates.

Note: If you don't feel comfortable designing your own template, do something to change a pre-formatted template. Maybe change the font on the headings, or align your name to the left instead of the center. Play around with the look and feel of your resume, and have fun with it! Remember, your resume is supposed to represent you.

Don't do this: Print your resume on colorful paper.

The thinking here: This will make me stand out from the other, plain, resumes.

Do this instead: Keep it professional. Print your resume on nice white paper. That way, the focus remains on your experience and skills.

For more tips on how to write your resume, check out our course on Building Your Resume, where we offer three FREE tutorials to get you started. We also have courses on Employment Search, Working to Get Hired, and Job Interview Success, all to get you on your way toward finding and landing your dream job!

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Easy-to-Use Methods for Problem Solving

Ever have a problem that you just could not figure out how to solve? Maybe it was work related—you and a coworker just couldn't seem to get along—or maybe the problem had to do with your personal life. Well now you can get some great insight and tips on how to resolve your problems, and reduce a little stress along the way.

Start by learning all about the different sources of conflict (I'm sure you can think of a few!). We offer three FREE tutorials to get you off and running toward solving those difficult problems that always seem to crop up in our daily lives.

Click on the picture for some great tips on problem solving.

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Tips for Building Successful Teams

Here are some great tips for working smoothly in teams (and getting past that pesky Storming phase!):

• Assign roles and tasks to make sure each team member has something to do and that everyone participates in achieving the overall goal.
• Generate a plan: Where are you today? Where do you want to be tomorrow? How are you going to get there?
• Keep the team small: Small teams have better communication, and it's easier to make sure everyone stays on task.
• Know the team norms: Teams will establish acceptable and unacceptable behavior. It's important for every team member to be aware of these guides and know the consequences for unacceptable behavior.
• Emphasize common characteristics and interests to foster team unity.
• Praise and compliment your team members for jobs well done.
• And remember, make sure to have FUN!

Get more tips on how to build successful teams here at KnowledgeCity.com, plus enjoy three FREE video tutorials on The Art of Team Building!

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The Five Phases of Teams

Many of us have experienced working in teams—in fact, when you consider playing games as a child, creating group presentations in school, or collaborating on the job, all of us have been a part of a team at one time or another.

When I think of the process a team goes through, I immediately think of three stages:

1. Assembling the team
2. Working together on the project
3. Disbanding once the project is finished

But did you know that there are actually five phases that teams go through? That may sound like a lot, but each phase is important and moves the team forward towards becoming a strong, successful unit.

The five phases are:

1. Forming: Where the team is created—people may be excited or anxious about the upcoming task.

2. Storming: I’m sure many of us have experienced this stage—this is where the team deals with conflict, confrontation, defensiveness, and competition. Unfortunately, many teams never get past this phase!

3. Norming: Where the team really develops a sense of unity and each person is able to express criticism constructively (sounds ideal, doesn’t it?).

4. Performing: Here, the team is able to collaborate productively. Members are satisfied with the team’s progress and have the ability to work through problems. Go Team!

5. Adjourning: Where we bid farewell to our team. Hopefully, you will have pride in your team’s success as you say goodbye.

For more insights on teams, and for an in-depth look at each of these phases, check out our exciting new course on The Art of Team Building and enjoy three FREE video tutorials to get you started towards building a successful team.

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Welcome, Word 2010!

After a three year wait, the newest version of Microsoft Word is finally here! Discover the new layout of Word 2010, with the return of the File tab (which you may remember from Word 2003) in place of the 2007 Office button.

With this newest version of Word, you can create professional, high quality documents, perfect for personal and business use. Word 2010 has all sorts of new and improved tools to enhance your documents, including:

• The ability to add formatting effects like gradient fills and reflections directly to your document text (the same effects you may have previously used for pictures, charts, and SmartArt graphics)

• New picture editing tools, including advanced color and cropping tools to perfect your document pictures

• Customizable Office themes to ensure the look of your document is consistent—you can even add your personal or business brand to your theme, giving your documents that much more of a professional edge

• A wide selection of SmartArt graphics, including additional layouts for charts and picture diagrams, to add an extra visual effect to your message

Word’s improved layout makes it even easier to navigate the program. You can recover draft versions of files that you closed without saving—that’s right, no more panic over losing a document!—and you can work with others on documents and projects with new co-authoring capabilities.

Get familiar with these new features and more at KnowledgeCity.com—we have training tutorials for beginning and advanced users, so you can learn all about how to use Word 2010. Coming soon are more of the new Office Suite, including PowerPoint 2010 and Access 2010.

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Best Computer Software Training Tutorials

http://www.knowledgecity.com/ is getting better and better by the day. With a large number of computer software training tutorials, Knowledge City is helping both businesses and individuals advance their careers by understanding the short cuts of programs such as Excel, Photoshop, PowerPoint, QuickBooks, Dreamweaver, Word, and much more.

If you would like to try http://www.knowledgecity.com/ absolutely free for one month, sign up for a single user using the coupon code: knowledge. You will gain full access to the entire website library of Business Skills and Computer Software training tutorials.

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How to Resign from your Job: The Wrong Way

When changing careers, you never want to leave your current position in a compromising situation that leaves negative feelings between you and your boss. You want to build your own social network, not burn them. When quitting, make sure not to resign:

In the worst way: If you can help it, try not to leave under strenuous circumstances.

When the timing is bad: Do not leave your current position without another job lined up or if you are under a lot of financial obligations.

When you don’t have negotiating power: As mentioned before, do not leave your current position if you do not have another lined up. You have some negotiation powers during your departure. You may have the opportunity to work out better terms with your potential employer or may even consider counter offers.

[Learn How to Resign from Your Job Gracefully]

By ways of email, fax, phone or post-it note: No matter how much you hate your job, you still need to be polite. Do not notify your employer that you are quitting via email, fax, phone or post-it note because that is the fastest way you burn your bridges. Your boss definitely will not appreciate it and your chances for good references become non-existent.

In a dramatic exit: Quitting a job in a dramatic flair should be avoided. Not only is it unprofessional, but it’s an easy way to get blacklisted in an industry as a “challenging employee.”

Suddenly and without warning: Be respectful and courteous by offering a two week notice for your employer to find a replacement who can take over your responsibilities. Do not ditch your job without fair warning.

Taking company’s clients and workers: Although not uncommon in competitive industries, it is though, unethical. Choosing a new career is your decision, but don’t bring others into it.

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How to Resign from your Job

Terminating your employment takes ingenuity. Just saying “I quit” isn’t the end of your resignation. There are steps to be taken to ensure that your soon-to-be former colleagues, supervisors and managers are still part of your own social network—references for future endeavors. Resign professionally and gracefully following these simple rules:

Avoid being a job hopper: Carefully evaluate your reasons for your departure. Invest some time in self-reflection to determine what keeps you at a particular job or what keeps you from staying. Be advised though when creating a resume, most companies frown upon too many employment changes in your work history.

Have another job lined up first: When changing careers, make sure to have a written offer somewhere else before turning in your resignation. Cover all the bases before making any moves.

[Learn How Not to Resign the Wrong Way from Your Job]


Resign in person: Provide both oral and written resignation when you are quitting a job. Your resignation letter should incorporate the following information: intentions, the date you are resigning, the date you wish to leave, and your signature. Basic resignation letter would look as follow…

Today’s date

Company Address
HR Department

Dear (Hr Manager),

I am writing to inform you of my resignation from (position/company name). As per my contract, I am providing xxx weeks notice and my last day will be xxx.

Sincerely,

(Signature)

Your Name

Be honest and tactful: For social networking solutions, you want to leave with a good relationship intact. Be truthful to the reason behind your leave, but do not go into details. Do not bad mouth your former superiors; it could come back to you later on in your career. You’ll be also losing important references as well. Basically, don’t burn your bridges.

Offer two weeks notice: When quitting job, make sure to offer two weeks notice—time for your company/boss/team to find a replacement for you. Offering transition time ensures proper knowledge transfer, tie up loose ends, and your work responsibilities to others. Don’t stay longer than the standard length of time (two weeks) to protect yourself from unexpected changes in both your old and new company.

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5 Reasons to Quit a Job and Start Choosing a New Career

Yes, the U.S. economy is in an economic crisis and jobs are hard to come by, but is it enough reason to stay at your current job position that is making you dread the weekdays? Start considering a mid career change when you start to feel these five factors…

Dreading work: If you can’t stand the people you are working with or the job itself is causing you chronic headaches, loss of sleep, constantly feel stressed, than it’s time for a new career exploration. Your mental/physical health, overall well-being is more important than any one position. Do not compromise your health. Quit before the job burns you out.

Find yourself marginalized: Marginalization is another good reason to quit a job when your responsibilities are slowing taken away or downsized by the upper management. Career exploration is needed when supervisors are excluding you from important discussions, meetings etc.

You outgrew your job: It’s time for a new job search when there are no more advancement opportunities within an organization or field. You may have started your current position as a novice, but now you have a lot of experience—more than your current position requires. To move up in your career, you must at times, quit.

A better offer is on the table: Money is another big factor when it comes to staying or going. If you’ve been stuck at the same salary level for a while with no hope of a pay raise, then it’s time for you to leave your current job position. When changing careers, if there’s an offer you are find difficult to refuse with all other prospective being a good fit, give the offer serious consideration.

There is a breach of trust: Do not get caught constantly waiting on the promise of “next time.” Voice your displeasure if you find yourself in a situation where your supervisor shows a lack of good faith toward you by failing to follow through on his promises. Trust is an unspoken contract and a violation of such should include reparations of some sort. If you find yourself in a situation similar to this, it is time for you to start packing your bags and looking elsewhere.

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Green Jobs: 7 Exciting Green Collar Jobs

Are you a green conscious person? If you have a passion for the environment and wish to align your values into your work ethic and make a living out of it, a green career might be the right fit for you. According to SimplyHired.com, a vertical online job database company, green collar jobs increased 233 percent since October of 2008. Here are 7 top green jobs available in this fast growing field:

• Civil engineer: There is a demand for qualified civil engineers to oversee construction projects, such as water system, sewage facilities, and road pavements thanks to the influx of government stimuli cash. With infrastructure needs on the rise, this sector of the green market will grow 11 percent in the next few years, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). PayScale.com, an online salary database company, states the median salary for civil engineers is $67,000 per year.

• Environmental engineer: As environmental concerns rise around the world, environmental engineers are needed to solve issues on water pollution (i.e. BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico), air pollution, waste disposal, and public health issues. Environmental engineers can make more than $67,000 per year and is one of the many green careers that need green collar jobs training.

• Water-treatment specialist: A water-treatment specialist is one of those green collar jobs that have been around for as long as we’ve had running water in our homes and businesses. As alternative solutions are being asked for by the public at large in replace of bottled water, there is a high demand for these specialists to work on new sewage treatment rules etc. Unlike an environmental engineer, extensive education isn’t needed to be a water-treatment specialist. Workers with high school diploma and five years of experience can expect to earn over $40,000 per year.

You can turn a generalized job, refine it, and turn it into green collar jobs as well, such as:

• Surveyor: Often referred to as “the second oldest profession,” a surveyor is a professional who officially inspects for the purpose of ascertaining the right conditions, values on any given market/product/service. This profession can easily adapt to a green collar job as a land surveyor, redeveloping old industrial sites or reclaim contaminated properties. Expect $50,000 per year with a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience.

• Software developer: A developer can channel his/her technical expertise into a green career by applying software/database design skills into making solar energy more affordable. Median salary is $74,000 per year, but with advance green collar jobs training, certifications or advance degrees, there is the potentiality to raise your earning wage.

• Grant writer: Grant writers can also profit on the green movement by helping non-profit environmental foundations find and apply for government/private funds to protect our Earth’s ecosystem. Grant writers can expect to make about $48,000 per year.

• Sales and human resources: As with any market base, human resource and sales associates are needed to promote the eco-friendly products and services. Professional green career salespeople can expect to earn around $50,000 annually.

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Soft Skills Training: 3 Tips to Improve Soft Skills

Like anything else, soft skills can be learned. The importance of soft skills training cannot be stressed enough. The interpersonal skills you gain throughout life will not only equip you to excel in your professional life, but also in your personal life. Here are three simple ways to improve your soft skills:

Take communication skills courses—Soft skills training courses are mixing technology with areas such as effective written/verbal communication, teamwork, cultural understanding, and psychology. For example, there are speech classes, writing classes to boost your communication skills. Look for conflict resolution or “leadership skill” courses either online or at your local community college.

[Learn more about in-demand interpersonal skills]

Seek mentors—Mentors is another form of teamwork training. Approach potential mentors with the specific skills set you wish to learn from in a friendly, professional way. Ask them which effective soft skills got them ahead in their careers. Compliment that person with a specific example in which you've seen him or her practice that skill.

Volunteer—Brush up on many essential skills through volunteering (i.e. teamwork, decision-making strategies, management, communication skills, reporting, writing, public speaking etc.) Not only are you communication skills training, but a high profile volunteer work on your resume provides you with an opportunity to explain the knowledge and skills acquired to your potential employer.

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Soft Skills Training: 5 Most in Demand Interpersonal Skills

The importance of soft skills training should not be overlooked because to move ahead in your career, you need more than technical qualifications. Yes, technical skills may get you an interview, but it’s really your soft skills, also known as interpersonal skills, that land you the job. It’s also your soft skills that help you keep your job too. Here are six in demand “soft skill training” asked next to the demands of technical qualifications:

Communication Skills—Interviewers prefer job applicants with communication skills training. This does not mean they are looking for applicants who speaks or writes well specifically, but someone who can express themselves. For example, someone who can write a coherent memo, the ability to persuade others with a presentation, or just the ability to calmly explain to team members what he/she needs and wants.

Teamwork—Effective productivity in an organization depends on the constructive teamwork and collaboration of its workers. Teamwork training is a crucial desired soft skill that interviewers are looking for in candidates, someone who can play and work well with others. Companies look for someone who can take charge when the occasion calls for it, be a good follower, monitor the progress of a project, meet deadlines, work well with others across the company to achieve a common goal etc.

[More about how to learn soft skills]

Problem solving—Have you ever wondered why most interviewers ask you the question, “How did you turn a negative situation into a positive one?” This question is asked specifically to gauge the success of your assertiveness training. Be prepared for this question in any interview with several examples of what you did, how you approached a situation, how you involved others, and what the outcome was.

Critical observation— No interpersonal skills training would be complete without learning about the importance of critical observation. It’s not enough to just collect data and manipulate it, you must also have the ability to digest, analyze, and interpret the information. You should be asking yourself when viewing important facts, how does the data affect the company as a whole?

Conflict resolution—Ability to resolve a conflict should also be included in your soft skill training. Your ability to persuade, to negotiate, and resolve a conflict is momentous for your career advancement. Be ready to show your conflict resolution skills and when the time calls for it, to negotiate win-win solutions to serve the best interest of the company and individuals involved.

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