In today's electronic world, personal (although sometimes seemingly archaic) communication is a key way to demonstrate professional capacity beyond our young years. Thank you notes and other handwritten communications are considered to many as an essential element of good etiquette and relationship-building. For many of us, writing a quick email, Facebook note, or tweet may seem like an ideal way to stay in touch, however, learning some basic note-writing tips will be helpful at least until the day the computer replaces paper completely.While I wouldn't suggest handwritten notes for all occasions (according to an Emily Post Institute study, 70 percent of those surveyed said an email thank you was appropriate, especially for small gestures or gifts.). When you do decide to write something with pen and paper, consider the following few tips:- Make time to write the note as soon as possible following the event (24 hours preferrably).
- Always write on personalized stationary, or finely-made paper or letterhead.
- Stick to the point, and write simply (thank you notes are usually on small notecards for a reason).
- Make specific references in the note to the person and event/experience you are thanking them for.
- Proofread or even draft your note before hand.
Aside from the tips above, some years ago, USA Today ran a story about setting yourself up for a great professional thank you note. You can read the article here.
Contributing: Chris Giovarelli
Photo: Dominik Gwarek
For those of us who sit at a desk some (or all) of the day, snacking can become an issue. When cravings hit, consider making healthy choices which will prevent you from gaining weight and losing energy. Eating a hearty breakfast and a nutritious lunch that's low in carbs can also help you make it through the day without a terrible afternoon slump.Some choose to break their morning and noon meals into smaller portions that they eat every few hours. This system keeps the metabolism going strong all day, which in turn keeps calorie-burning steady throughout the day.For those who don't plan to dine every few hours, Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, has an interesting article on WebMD which you can read here. She lists a number of snacks and beverages that can help fill your tummy between major meals, without making you feel unhealthy.One of the largest issues with office snacking, is "mindless eating" or eating because you are bored. Magee's article suggests that those who eat while doing other work, or just for the sake of eating, tend to eat just a much at their next meal as when they don't have a snack, thus potentially adding hundreds of superfluous calories to their diet. Now that's some food for thought.Happy snacking!Contributing: Chris Giovarelli
Image: Ben Lau
Here are five quick tips to improving your resume. Even if you aren't interviewing for a job right now, keeping your resume up-to-date is an important exercise that should be done regularly. You never know when you will have a spur-of-the-moment opportunity to interview for a job (either formally or informally). For young professionals, being ready to pitch your skills and abilities through a regularly updated resume, can be an invaluable tool for some great opportunities.- Prioritize your resume. Don't just put things in chronological order. When applying for a job, you want potential employers to see what you've done that's more important and pertinent to them. Consider using a slighly larger font for more important entries.
- Quantify your accomplishments. Intangible accomplishments, no matter how large they seem, are rarely as impressive as actual numbers, facts and figures. Find ways to measure your accomplishments and report those numbers--but don't embellish!
- Use key industry words. Speak the language of the potential job, or overall industry you are working in. Potential employers are looking for straight forward verbiage that speaks their language. This is one case where jargon can be a good thing, as long as everyone concerned knows its significance.
- Match yours skills with industry needs. Don't treat your resume like a menu of a la carte options your potential employer may or may not want; sell your skills! Match the things you do well with the current needs of you potential employer or industry. Make sure to show how you have the ability to fill the needs that your potential employer may have.
- Make it visually simple . You're not creating a colorful piece of art. Keep your headers and titles simple. Make the resume a vertical piece. Someone should be able to peruse it quickly, noting short bullets that catch their attention. Don't go for a novel, go for short, action-oriented phrases.
Happy resume building!Contributing: Chris Giovarelli
Image: Henk L.
When the economy begins to go south, graduate program applications skyrocket. There could be two reasons for this 1) people lose their jobs, so they decide that rather than fighting for a new one, they'll advance their education for a while, or 2) a master's makes people more competitive and valuable to their current or prospective employers.I'd say it's pretty obvious which one of those we're going to discuss today.A master's degree (or other advanced degree) does just what it implies: mastery. These degrees are usually more specific and specialized than an undergraduate degree. For those of you looking to get a let-up on the competition, a master's in a field relevant to your career may be just the thing you need to not only boost your credentials, but also to advance your know-how.According to Wikipedia (an excellent source of information no matter what your professors in school may have said), there are approximately 75 master's degree programs to choose from. You could get a Master of Sacred Music, Customs Administration, or European Law if any of those fit you fancy, or you could go for a more general degree such as an MBA or an MPA. Whether you decide to get a discipline-specific degree, or one that may help in a variety a fields, you are probably setting yourself up to make some more money and increase your job security.MSN, in conjunction with CareerBuilder, published some interesting findings here which show the base-line salary increases for those who have master's versus only a bachelor's.
Not all jobs highly value another degree, but in all cases, careers are built by continual training and skills-improvement. Whether for you that comes from a week-long seminar, a master's degree, or an apprenticeship, by sharpening your skills, you can become an invaluable asset to your team.
Contributing: Chris Giovarelli
Image: Rore D.
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In today's electronic world, personal (although sometimes seemingly archaic) communication is a key way to demonstrate professional capacity beyond our young years. Thank you notes and other handwritten communications are considered to many as an essential element of good etiquette and relationship-building. For many of us, writing a quick email, Facebook note, or tweet may seem like an ideal way to stay in touch, however, learning some basic note-writing tips will be helpful at least until the day the computer replaces paper completely.
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