10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work

10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work10 Ways to Be More Confident at Work Whether a bad days got you down, you dont love speaking up, or youre constantly playing the comparison game, chances are good that you could use an added dose of confidence at work.In some cases, decision-makers in any job setting put mora stock in confidence than competence when theyre making picks for a promotion or filling out a performance review. Dont get overlooked or undervalued because youre elend projecting your best.Try these ten bits of advice on how to effectively communicate, counter negativity, and generally how to gain confidence in the office and beyond.You know that nagging sense that youre bedrngnis as good as the people around you and you got to where you are through luck or timing? Hopefully, you dont. But if you do, its called imposter syndrome and its extremely detrimental. Its especially common for women and minorities in largely male- and white-dominated industries, but no matter who you are, giving in to the feeling that youre not good enough is a surefire way to hold yourself back.To nip the terrible disease of imposter syndrome in the bud, catch yourself when you think those damaging thoughts, and counter each one with a compliment to yourself. When people give you praise, accept it politely, and dont doubt whether you deserve it. Act confident, and be confident.Demonstrating a positive attitude- even if your pet just died- and showing resilience- even if you just got yelled at- are two ways to come across well among people you work with. And heres a secret projecting positivity and showing that nothing gets to you are great ways to become more positive and actually not let anything get to you.Pay attention to how youre coming across in interactions with coworkers and especially bosses. Try to control your facial expressions, body language , the words you use, even your tone of voice. Some blend of polite, engaged, motivated, willing to help, and interested in the conversation should add up to a strong vibe of confidence.If you mentally take a step back from time to time and observe your behavior, you can make adjustments to make sure youre coming across just how you want to.Speak in a clear and level voice and choose your words deliberately. Company buzzwords are a good bet, but avoid irritating workplace no-nos . Body language is important, too posture, polite head nods, and other ways of showing youre engaged.We think eliminating likes and ums goes without saying, but there, we just said it. Now you have no excuse.When youre trying to boost your confidence game, if you take it a step too far, you could wind up in cocky territory. Shades of difference are key here when you get praise, respond with a humble thank you the team worked really hard, not I knew my ideas would pay off. The difference between confidence and arrogance can be a fine line, but once you see someone doing the latter, youll know its not a good look.A d aily to-do list can help you keep track of what you accomplish on an everyday basis. A list of big projects (and even minor wins) can remind you of those successes- which, incidentally, will also come in handy if you need to update your resume or apply for a new job.If you identify your strengths, its harder to get bogged down thinking about your weaknesses. Having an extra dismal day? List the skills you know set you apart (or better yet, make the list on a day when everythings going your way so you can return to it when things arent so bright). After all, even if the project youre working on seems like it cant be solved by those abilities, or if youre in a really low state of mind, reminding yourself of your past accomplishments and top skills should both boost your mindset and get you on track.Yeah, we just said to focus on your strengths and not get bogged down thinking about your weaknesses. However, if you identify areas for improvement, you can be aware of qualifikation issue s and areas where you might need to ask for help. Work to get better in those areas so that you can turn them into strengths.Build on the strengths list from tip No. 7. Use it for a reminder of the big projects youve completed. Create a file (some call it a kudos doc) of emails, performance reviews, and emails or notes from others referring to things you achieved.Or, create tactics to cheer yourself up, like a favorite song, animal picture, or music video of Christopher Walken dancing like a maniac (and occasionally flying). Hey, hes not the best dancer, but you cant deny hes got confidence. Channel that.The good little things, that is. If you let a passive aggressive email ruin your day, well, you clearly need to go back and read this from the beginning. But if someone passes you in the hall and says nice presentation yesterday, hold onto the good feeling you get from that all day. If you allow the little bits of positive feedback- whether from others or your own sense of a job well done- to grow into something big, then youll gain the confidence you deserve bit by bit.And in the end, the more you act confident, the more youll be confident . So go out, paste on a smile, fix your posture, kill any negative thought that pops into your head, and constantly tell yourself that youve got this. Try it out by the end of the day, youll realize that you really do.This article was originally published on Grammarly . It is reprinted with permission.

Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018

Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018Three Cheers for the Military Spouse Employment Act of 2018 President, www.resume-place.comMarch 19, 2018Resume Place, inc. online forum and message board for discussion of issues in the field of resume writing, career development and federal employment.REGISTER FOR ur FEDERAL JOBS WEBINAR, Mar. 22, 2018CLICK HEREAs any military spouse will tell you, being married to the military with moving up to 10 times in 20 years, can make it almost impossible to have a career for the spouse As any military spouse will tell you, being married to the military is like living the life of a gypsy family? Moving every 2 to 4 years, new location, new state, new country and NEW JOB OR NEW VOLUNTEER JOB at every location.MilitarySpouseAppreciationDay milspouse MilitaryAppreciationMonthMILITARY SPOUSES HAVE 12 TO 24 PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENTAnd for too many spouses, maintaining even the semb lance of a career is a bridge too far. Roughly 12 percent to 24 percent of military spouses want to work but are unemployed, compared to 4.1 percent of American workers overall. Thats a shameful inequality.MILITARY SPOUSE PROGRAMSThe leaders of our Armed Forces have long recognized the hardships of military family life, and theyre very concerned about the effects on retention of career servicemen and women. Existing responses to the problem are only very partial solutions. Theres the spouse hiring preference available through Executive Order 13473 and Program S, and the financial support of MyCAA, the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program. But sad to say, awareness of these programs is sorely lacking. Many military spouses dont even know that they exist.2018 MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 2018, TIM KAINE, D-VirginiaNow, in 2018, there is new hope for better solutions for our ambitious military spouses and their families. That hope is embodied by the Military Spous e Employment Act of 2018, a bill sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, co-chair of the Senate Military Family Caucus and father of a Marine. The proposed legislation is co-sponsored by two U.S. senators who are mothers Kristen Gillibrand of New York and Patty Murray of Washington. Kaine anticipates that the bill will eventually become part of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.NEW PROVISIONS OF THE BILLA key provision of the bill would give federal organizations more authority to fast-track the hiring of military spouses. Its often the case that federal jobs are the best career opportunities on or near a military kusine.The legislation, if enacted, would improve military spouses access to career training and scholarships and provide transition counseling, while also boosting professional training of career counselors at military installations.The law would support spouses efforts to achieve professional recertification when they move from state to state this would inc lude financial assistance with professional recertification and credentialing exams.Its no small thing that the law would also promote greater access to child care, a key career enabler for military spouses with kids at home.The bill mandates that the Defense Department study the feasibility of allowing spouses to run their own businesses on base and enabling those businesses to operate without paying excessive fees.Finally, the bill directs the Defense Department to expand awareness of these programs with publicity measures such as an online advertising campaign.You can track the progress of the Military Spouse Employment Act here.GET HELP WITH YOUR FEDERAL RESUMEGET A FEDERAL RESUME QUOTEFor comprehensive information on federal employment opportunities and programs for spouses, see my book, The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses. Or contact The Resume Place.The Stars Are Lined Up for Military SpousesFIRST-EVER BOOK FOR MILITARY SPOUSES AND FEDERAL CAREERSWhy a federal career for Military Spouses?Great salaries, promotion potential, family friendly, family leave, training and MORE

5 Lifestyle Issues to Consider Before Working in IT

5 Lifestyle Issues to Consider Before Working in IT5 Lifestyle Issues to Consider Before Working in ITWhen it comes to working in information technology, some aspects of the lifestyle are exactly what you expect, while others are very different from what you expect. Below are five lifestyle issues to consider before deciding to work in IT.1. Irregular SchedulesMany jobs in IT require you to work nonstandard hours. For example, if you work for a large or international company that develops technology, it will likely have shifts, as in developers who work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., programmers who work from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and then overseas testers who work the next eight hours. That way, the developers come to work the next morning and the things they designed and planned for are programmed, tested, and ready for the next cycle. If you work in IT for a company that just uses technology, youll be expected to be always available, whether by phone, text, or e-mail (integrated into the saa tkorn device these days anyway). Even in nonemergency situations, youll still have to work some weekends or nights, which is when IT staff tend to test new products or perform major system upgrades. (That way, it doesnt interfere with the regular course of business.)2. StressWorking in IT can be a crash course in diplomacy and precious people skills. Many of your colleagues will approach technological challenges differently. For some people, the bottom line is to get technology to work, no matter how ugly the solution (known as a kludge). Other people wont rest until theyve solved an IT problem elegantly. Still others wont rest unless the solution is efficient and provides cost savings. Dealing with stress is a big part of any IT job, whether your role is junior desktop support or CTO. The so-called IT fires occur constantly. People run to you, call you, e-mail you, or text-message you, commonly interrupting your vacations.3. HealthAside from merely annoying daily tension, IT stress can result in physical injury. This is a serious issue that made ergonomics a household word. Spending too much intense time using a computer can cause injury to your back, eyesight, fingers, and neck (along with your heart and waistline, given that stressful IT positions often result in quick and unhealthy snacking in lieu of real lunches.) The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers advice and resources, as does the Mayo Clinic. Sites like HealthyComputing also provide useful information. Using even more technology can help, too, as there are many products on the market designed to help you sit, type, and view in healthier and more ergonomic ways. There are even professional associations (such as the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society). Ergonomics and human safety also feature in the study of human-computer interaction, better known as HCI. HCI also has its share of companies and conferences. A good place to learn more is at the User Exper ience Professional Association.4. Culture and StereotypesTechnology is more of a meritocracy than fruchtwein other industries. And while spirited debates on technology subjects (known in the industry as holy wars) inevitably occur, most employers discourage this kind of contention, especially at major companies in which large and disparate computing systems must literally work together. So try to keep this in mind when you show up for your new IT job.Unfortunately, IT suffers from more gender stereotyping than many other industries. Women are employed at all levels of the IT industry and have been for many years, and some industry leaders are female (although their percentage remains quite low). Yet pockets of political incorrectness persist among men in the field. Examples range from men who wouldnt intentionally offend people but who simply lack good social skills, to men who feel that only they can do solid IT work. There is also the serious issue of sexual harassment in the work place. Thats not to say that the IT industry tolerates inappropriate behavior any more than other fields, but its impossible to deny that inappropriate beliefs about women (and behaviors) persist among some male workers. The good news is that this is slowly changing, largely due to the influx of women entering the industry during the Internet boom, renewed attention on the serious issues of sexual harassment by the MeToo Movement and IT organizations such as Women in Technology, and the attrition (by age and layoffs) of the he-man-women-haters club.Off-hours labor and the sporadic eating habits this precipitates are factors more specific to IT. There is a stereotype of the single male IT worker surrounded by empty bottles of Coke and half-eaten Twinkies. There are many cases where this is absolutely true. But there are just as many cases where its completely false. Yes, there are scores of real nerds, but there are also health nuts, family men, women, and fitness enthusiasts. Many I T companies have taken steps to offer their employees access to healthful food in company cafeterias and access to corporate gyms for regular exercise.5. Salaries, Benefits, and Job SatisfactionAlthough the work environment can sometimes be challenging, good pay and strong benefits at many IT firms offset these drawbacks. Those employed in computer and mathematical careers earned mean annual salaries of $89,810 (according to the U.S. Department of Labor in May 2017). This is much higher than the mean salary for all occupations, $50,620. Robert Half Technology reports that salaries for chief technology managers, chief information officers, chief security officers, directors of technology, and other high-level executives can exceed $200,000.Fringe benefits are generous at many tech companies and other employers of IT workers. According to Robert Half Technologys 2018 Salary Guide for Technology Professionals95 percent of companies offer medical insurance88 percent offer dental insuran ce62 percent offer flexible work schedules34 percent offer telecommuting options.Job satisfaction is high in the IT industry. Seventy-nine percent of IT professionals surveyed by CompTIA AITA in 2017 reported being satisfied with their jobs- up 6 percent from 2015. And 73 percent of respondents reported that their jobs provided them with a sense of personal accomplishment.This deutsche bundespost was excerpted from the new Vault Career Guide to Information Technology.