Six Reasons To Work With An Uncluttered Desk

On the off chance that one of your new year's resolutions was to be more composed, you ought to observe National Clean Off Your Desk Day on Monday, Jan. 12. It's the ideal time to recover control of your workspace and guarantee everything is in its place.

Being decently sorted out has an assemblage of points of interest. Here are a couple.

It makes you look more expert 

Having a clean work area ventures a picture of fitness, says proficient coordinator Seana Turner. Attempt to take a gander at your work area from a pariah's viewpoint and contemplate what it says in regards to you.

"A 2011 overview led by a free research firm with more than 500 HR supervisors at organizations with 20 or more workers found that 83 percent of respondents say the presence of a worker's workspace at any rate sort of influences their view of that individual's professionalism," Turner says.

It makes you more effective 

Knowing where things are keeps you large and in charge. "Individuals who heap paperwork frequently darken things underneath the stacks, bringing about squandered time attempting to discover what they are searching for," Turner says. Documenting things where they have a place makes less surface jumble — and guarantees you know where they're at when you require them.

It guarantees you have space to work 

Numerous undertakings oblige managing various things, for example, your logbook, telephone, reports, books, studies, et cetera, Turner says. "Indeed in the advanced age, quite a bit of our work is led through or with physical supplies. An utilitarian work area will have clear space where these things can be spread out and referenced." Disorganized representatives may even assume control normal spaces, for example, a table in a gathering room, in light of the fact that their work areas are so jumbled. Don't be that individual.

It helps keep delicate data safe 

On the off chance that you are managing delicate data, abandoning it lounging around your work area can put you or your organization at danger. "Stacks of noticeable papers cause protection concerns in numerous commercial enterprises, especially social insurance," says Melissa Gratias, holder of MBG Organizing Solutions. "One HIPAA infringement can cost you $50,000."

It keeps you on undertaking 

It's hard to organize your ventures in case you're not sorted out. A chaotic work area is overpowering and doesn't let you know where to begin, says proficient coordinator Thalia Poulos. "Utilizing paperwork strewn on the work area as an un-organized visual tickler record needs to be supplanted by an organized composed rundown as the guide for quiet benefit."

It keeps your supplies in one spot 

Any interference can divert you from your diversion, and in case you're continually getting up to discover something you need, its hard to focus on your activities, says proficient coordinator Amanda Leblanc. "There are numerous studies demonstrating that once an individual gets up from something they are dealing with to search for supplies, they are considerably more averse to come back to what they were taking a shot at when they cleared out. Acrylics containers or drawer coordinators are incredible for putting away supplies and keeping them effortlessly open and obvious

Career Change and the Seasoned Worker

"When you're finished changing, you're finished."

-- Benjamin Franklin

What would it be like to quit your job and start over in a more appealing career? If you are an older worker, you may think that a major career change would require overcoming too many obstacles to be worthwhile -- likeage discrimination, new technology or a salary cut. But according to Helen Harkness, author of Don't Stop the Career Clock, the real obstacles to a midlife career change may reside in your own mind. Harkness argues that several myths surrounding midlife career changes keep people from pursuing their dream job. Which myths do you subscribe to?

Myth #1: I'm too old to make a career change.

Reality: Without changing your perception of what you are capable of, you'll never make a successful career change. Unfortunately, while younger workers are often expected to explore different career paths, older workers are not encouraged to do so. And if you've progressed up the corporate ladder to an enviable position, friends and family may be shocked you would consider leaving success for uncharted waters. With this much pressure to stay put, it can be easy to allow your dream job to remain only a dream. As Harkness explains, some serious soul-searching is needed to understand how and why you want your career to change, so you'll have the conviction to stand up to others' disapproval.

Myth #2: If I make a career change, I'll be starting over at the bottom.

Reality: Not necessarily. You're not the newbie you were when you entered the workforce. You've gained an impressive array of skills, plus you have professional wisdom and perspective acquired only through time. The key to bypassing entry-level status is to market these assets in your next interview. The skills that made you successful may be transferable to your dream job. Believing and convincing yourself, and your interviewer, of this puts you leagues -- and salary grades -- ahead of younger competition.

Myth #3: This old dog can't learn new tricks.

Reality: Says who? Of course there will be a learning curve to any new career you try. But isn't having a new professional challenge part of why you seek this change? As Harkness says, the goal is to find a career that taps into your innate strengths and interests. As for the aspects of the job that may intimidate you (such as becoming tech savvy), accept that getting proficient in these skills may be frustrating and difficult, making mastery of these challenges more gratifying.

If these myths are stopping you from pursuing a career change in midlife, expand your thinking about your capabilities instead of focusing on what you see holding you back. Also consider that accepting these myths is easier than taking a risk.

What if you are ready to take the professional plunge into a new career? Harkness says, "Go for it," with these words of caution:

• Keep Your Expectations Realistic: If you've been fantasizing that your dream job will be the antidote to your personal and professional troubles, you may be glorifying what a new career can really do. Research the economic outlook and job duties for your new career, and how it will affect your lifestyle and relationships.
  
• Give It Time: Deciding to venture into a new career can mean changes in your work environment, coworkers, income and how you view yourself. Even if your new position is something you've always wanted to do, all these changes can be a shock. Before calling it quits, allow enough time to let the dust settle and adjust to your new profession.
  
• Know Yourself: It has been Harkness' experience that most people don't know what they're good at, but midlife is a good time to figure this out. You have a history of professional and personal experience to draw from when determining your natural strengths. Think about what you truly enjoy doing, what you do well and what you are proud of. Is there an underlying theme unifying these experiences that lends itself to a job description?

by Susan Bryant

8 Words and Phrases You Should Eliminate From Your Resume

They’ll make your resume stand out — but not in a good way.

By Catherine Conlan

Monster Contributing Writer

 

When you’re putting your resume together, you want to look professional, present the best image possible and find ways to stand out. There are several common words and phrases that many people think fit the bill, but aren’t as great as they seem. In fact, they make hiring managers and recruiters cringe.

 

Here are eight words and phrases you should eliminate from your resume.

Results-oriented

 

This term is one of the worst, HR experts say. “People use this term in lieu of telling giving me specifics,” says Liz D’Aloia, founder of HR Virtuoso.

 

Career consultant and data analyst Carl Forrest agrees, adding that the term itself is nebulous and doesn’t say anything. “It implies that the reader should just take your claim at face-value.”

 

Both D’Aloia and Forrest recommend focusing on specifics instead. “Give me a brief summary of the project that demonstrated your strong drive for results, how you achieved them, and most importantly, metrics so I understand the scale and impact of the results,” D’Aloia says. “This should be one of those stories that you want to share when I interview you.”

High technical aptitude

 

This phrase is especially grating on a marketing resume, says Wes Lieser, marketing recruiter at Versique Search and Consulting. “It's just not something that needs to be said. It actually makes me assume that you don't fully understand what you are doing. This is comparable to a baseball pitcher telling someone that he or she can throw a baseball. It goes without saying.” Instead, talk about the specific programs and applications you excel at using.

Ninja, rockstar and other quirky titles

 

You may see words like “ninja” or “rockstar” in a hiring ad, but if you don’t, definitely don’t use them in your resume. It makes you sound pretentious, says Josh Goldstein, co-founder of Underdog.io. “It demonstrates that the person doesn't get it and probably lacks creativity. Instead of saying you’re good at something, show it.”

Assisted

 

“Assisted” is one that workforce development consultant Frank Grossman doesn’t like. “If you assisted with something, there's something you actually did. For example, if you ‘assisted in

keeping the facility clean,’ what did you do to assist? Did you clean the kitchen? Did you sanitize 24 restrooms before opening each morning? If one of your accomplishments was to ‘assist the CEO,’ what did you do for her? Did you make her travel reservations, write her press releases, fly her jet or drive her car?” Use specifics to describe your experience.

Strong work ethic

 

This is the one phrase Kimberli Taylor hates. As the office manager for Conover & Grebe, she is the first person to read through resumes when the firm is hiring, and “strong work ethic” will not impress her. “I hate this because it is not a skill or an asset. It is an expectation of any employee. Listing it as a skill tells me that the candidate believes work ethic is optional for some jobs.” Frequently “strong work ethic” is simply a space-filler on resumes for people with no other skills to list.

Disruptive, cutting-edge and other trendy adjectives

 

Stick to plain English when describing your accomplishments, says Dennis Tupper, corporate recruiter atEliassen Group. “Do not try to impress the recruiter or hiring manager with words like 'disruptive,' 'cutting-edge' or 'ground-breaking.' You are not reinventing the wheel, but chances are you are accomplishing some great things. Keep it simple.”

Self-starter
 

You may think this term makes you look like a productive, eager employee, but it doesn’t necessarily come across that way. “‘Self-starter' is generic, and as an adult if we have to motivate you then you are probably not someone we want to bring into our organization,” Tupper says. Instead, list projects that show your leadership or initiative.

Detail-oriented

 

This is another term that should be thrown out, Tupper says.“We expect all people we hire to pay attention to detail,” he says. Again, find ways to show your skills in catching mistakes others miss or your extraordinary abilities to find problems in complex issues.