Effective Communication

When making important career choices we deliberate over a litany of questions that impact our careers and the overall quality of our lives. How much money does the job pay? Where is it located? How long is the commute? In addition to those questions, however, you should ask yourself another crucial question: Do I believe in this job?

Nobody likes working with grumpy, miserable people. Yes, we know that the office isn’t always a laugh a minute—and sometimes it can be a huge headache—but having a sense of humor can make things much better for you and everyone else in your office.

We all know that a big part of being an office professional is being able to get along with others. You are respectful, polite and reliable, yet inevitably you will encounter people at work who simply don’t like you for one reason or another. Don’t take it personally.

Like most working professionals, you probably have many things you’d love to tell your boss. If you are unhappy and frustrated with your job, some of those things may be unsuitable for public readership.

As this article states, this is also true in the reverse. There are many things your boss would love to tell you—including a few things they would like to confess—but they are forced to bite their tongue.

Ever since we were children our parents have tried to fill us with confidence. They told us we were great even when we came in last at that swimming contest. They told us we were awesome even when we kicked that soccer ball out of bounds instead of into the goal. They told us we won even when we lost at getting asked to the prom in high school. This is what good parents do, and for a good reason.

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You know what a brand is. You even know what a personal brand is. And from what you know, you have no idea who to build your own brand because, after all, is being you enough to be your own brand? Well, yes and no. Being you is certainly the center and soul of your personal brand. You have your own unique sense of humor, talents, quirks and outlook on life and its prevailing forces. John McEnroe has a brand. So does Zooey Deschanel. And President Obama.

As companies try to cut down on expenses related to bringing in candidates—and also want to streamline the interview process—phone interviews are becoming increasingly common.

For job seekers, phone interviews can have some pros and cons. On the plus side, you don’t need to travel. And there are no wardrobe decisions to make. You can also jot down notes in advance, so you remember your important points.

No matter how much you prepare or how well you know the rules of a job interview, sometimes things just don’t go well. We’ve all had at least one or two nightmare interview experiences, where we later wish we could rewind and have a do-over. Worse yet, we often get the most nervous at interviews for jobs we really want, which in turn can cause us to sabotage ourselves.

Office professionals are human beings and therefore they are likely—no, destined—to make mistakes. Eventually, you are going to upset a client. Eventually, you are going to disappoint your boss. Eventually, you are going to botch a project or presentation. And when mistakes happen it is important to keep your cool.