RSS
Home
Recommended reading: Dig Your Job
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
G.L. Hoffman, author of “Dig Your Job: Keep It or Find a New One,” offers more than 200 “real world tested ideas for finding a better job, or protecting the one you have” in his new book. However, given the season, I particularly liked how he started off with 10 career-related New Year’s resolutions.
In a recent interview with Hoffman, he recommended seven resolutions for those just starting their careers.
1. Get to work on time. Nothing is simpler and nothing makes a statement more than being on time. The reason? Being consistently late to work, although no big deal in your mind, sends a negative message to your boss. Don’t give a simple reason for your boss to pick you in the next round of layoffs.
2. Stay positive. Within reason, don’t be all giddy and stupid positive acting. Just remain positive about your business, your company, your co-workers and your specific job. Again, it is a simple thing to do. Frankly, it is a minimum performance standard, a minimum expectation of you from almost any boss.
3. Learn something new every day and every week. Advancing your career is all about improving your own skills. No matter what your current job, you can learn a new skill. This one is up to you. Think small, incremental skill development like learning PowerPoint – not getting your master’s. What can you learn that will make you a better, more skilled worker-bee?
4. Do something nice for a co-worker or customer that is extraordinary. Expect nothing in return. In fact, extra points if you do not even mention that you did it. This is a huge adult growth moment here for you. Do something extra just for the internal pleasure it gives you. You learn to do this consistently, and you will be a workplace rock star.
5. One day a week, dress one level up from your normal dress code. In grade school, we used to call it ‘wearing your Sunday school clothes’ one day to school on dress-up day. We bosses have allowed workplace dress code to generate from business casual to business sloppy. We know, and you should too by now, that the better you look, the better you do. Start a trend at your job – dress sharp, be sharp.
6. Do 10 percent more. Simple and achievable. I am told that the difference between professional athletes and college players is only five percent. Skill levels are relatively equal even in the workplace. But, the person who does more with whatever skills they do learn or bring to work, nearly always wins.
7. Make this the year you lose the “cool” concept. Some of you newer workers are still acting like doing well at work will make you less cool. I think it is because you don’t want to “try” too hard and then fail. “How cool is that?” you are asking yourself. I have the answer: It is way-frickin’-cool.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
Faced with increased competition and fewer jobs, young jobseekers like you have zero room for error and must begin the search with a professional …
Mark Stelzner, founder of JobAngels, made a fantastic remark at Jason Seiden’s “Super Staying Power: What You Need to Become Valuable and …
- AfterCollege
- CampusCareerCenter.com
- CBcampus.com
- CollegeGrad.com
- CollegeJobBank.com
- CollegeRecruiter.com
- Experience, Inc.
- iHipo
- InternshipIN.com
- InternshipPrograms.com
- InternWeb.com
- InternZoo.com
- MonsterTRAK
- One Day, One Internship
- One Day, One Job
- Quarterlife
- ROCS College Student Staffing
- Think Intern
- YouIntern.com
- 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs
- 200 Best Jobs for College Graduates
- 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions
- Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots
- Bulletproof Your Job
- Campus Calm University
- Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?
- Career Boot Camp
- Career Building
- CAREEREALISM
- Claim That Job
- College Students: DO THIS! GET HIRED!
- Cover Letter Magic
- Dig Your Job
- First-Job Survival Guide
- From Graduation to Corporation
- Gen Y Meets the Workforce
- Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring
- Getting from College to Career
- Grad to Great
- Grindhopping
- Happy About My Resume
- Highly Effective Networking
- How'd You Score that Gig?
- Job Search Bloopers
- Launch!...Get That First Paycheck In 90 Days
- Me 2.0
- Monster Boss
- Navigating Newbie-ism
- No More Ramen
- Plugged In
- Ramen Noodles, Rent and Résumés
- Reality Check
- Smart Networking
- Start Your Own Business and Hire Yourself
- Tell Me About Yourself
- Ten Minutes to the Job Interview
- The Career Coward's Guide to Career Advancement
- The Career Coward's Guide to Interviewing
- The Career Coward's Guide to Job Searching
- The Career Coward's Guide to Resumes
- The College to Career Road Map
- The High Achiever's Secret Codebook
- The Job Coach for Young Professionals
- The Nonprofit Career Guide
- They Don't Teach Corporate in College
- When Reality Hits
- Work With Me
- Working for You Isn't Working for Me
- You're Hired
- Your Dream Job Game Plan
