Online Career Tips

There are times to put your nose in other people’s business, and times to know when to mind your own business. In the career marketplace as it is now things are very competitive; if you aren’t growing you’re just standing still. If you want to get promoted down the line or get better projects try inserting yourself into them. Promotions may come later as a result of your hard work and efforts to show that you’re an asset to your company. To get there you need to get involved as much as you can.

If in a team meeting your colleagues are talking about the launch of a new blog or website, if it’s something you’re interested having a stake in then raise your hand and offer your services. You may not get the lead or managing role, but your overall commitment and expertise can start to add up.

It’s never too early to help and not too late to get involved. Put your stamp on your role, and make a good name for yourself.

By J. Mason
Online Career Tips Staff

Make sure to have at least one hand covering your face if you find yourself ready to spar at work.

Now of course this isn’t literal, since fighting in the workplace can have worse consequences than a black eye or a bloody nose. Think of the reference to being on your toes and at the ready at all times. This can be with witty banter, a pitch that improves on your co-workers last effort, or maybe it’s consistently meeting all your deadlines on time; unlike your peers.

Maintaining a healthy level of competition can keep things lively in what could otherwise be a drone-like environment. You don’t want to think of work simply as a paycheck, so don’t view a challenge as something cut-throat or the “be all end all”.

Recently we had a writing contest at work. Everyone had an opportunity to submit work that would be judged by peers, and with the few that participated witter banter and competition ensued. As long as your comments don’t get too aggressive it’s perfectly fine to tease a co-worker, but it would be best to follow up the joke or tease with a compliment on their work. Be supportive of their efforts, and they may do the same. Unless you’re a one person island it helps to have people working around you that believe in you and would stick out their neck for you.

With that said, competitiveness can extend to job promotions, project assignments, or even favoritism. In something as sensitive as a job promotion it would serve you well to put your best foot forward. Throwing your “rival” under the bus may help change the way the boss views them, but it could also alter how they see you in a negative way. In this case you should mind your own business, and let your hard work and innovation do the talking for you.

[When in doubt, keep it to yourself.]

Even with being in cut-throat fields like writing, marketing, advertising, and medicine you should be mindful of when it’s time to take the gloves off. Just because you feel like someone is being unfairly promoted or getting preferential treatment don’t broadcast your feelings to a big audience. For all you know what you’re running on is emotion, not facts. Unless you can prove that this person is not doing their job and dumping work off on other people than you should stay out of the ring and in your cube, or office. Just remember what you came to work to do that day, not who you came to work to “destroy.”

Before you even consider clicking the send button on your work e-mail, make sure you double check who you’re sending it out to.

[See what others are learning by earning a Certificate in Web 2.0]

A good rule of thumb is to not put anyone in the “to” field of the e-mail until you’ve proofread it first. If you attach a list before you’re done you may send it early leaving out valuable information and possibly attaching the wrong list. This error will hurt you more if you’re sending to a client list, the entire staff at your company, or any large group. You don’t want to leak sensitive information to the wrong party, and you certainly don’t want to reveal any project too soon without approval.

[Top 10 Traits Desired by Employers]

There is no “check” for sending that information in the e-mail to the right people, that responsibility is up to you. And if you really want to make a good impression, make sure you use spell check every time you send. Even if it’s a two line e-mail to your boss it always looks better that you took the time to get your context and grammar right.

Even though having regular on-on-one conversations with your boss can feel a bit daunting, it is absolutely necessary in order to focus your career track and keep moving forward.

Many employees think that their bosses know they are working their behinds off and doing a good job. They think this is enough to get them noticed and to put them in a good position for future advancement. The truth is if you go around quietly doing your job, you can get lost in the shuffle. Continue Reading