Great Tips for Graduates Entering the Workforce

As a newbie to the workforce there are some important strategies to execute to insure your success. I am presenting 5 things you can do to help jump start your career.

1. Observe the Chain of Command - The chain of command is the order you should follow to get a problem solved. Going over your bosses head will not help you. Moreover, it will probably lead you to being labeled as a troublemaker.

2. Learn to Ride the Wave - The waves or challenges within any organization can change by the minute or by the day. There are few perfect jobs and even fewer perfect companies. This is a lesson that many seasoned workers haven't fully grasped. Show your adaptability and flexibility by handling the changes that may accompany your job. A good boss will appreciate your attitude.

3. Strive to Make An Early Positive Impact - There is nothing better than early success in your new job. Start everyday by breaking it down into smaller parts in which you will thrive. Take good notes so you can retain key information. After you master that strive to achieve success on a daily basis. Meanwhile monitor all the activities that lead to your success. Once you achieve success it is key that you realize what the formula is so that you can repeat it.

4. Keep Being a Student - Oftentimes after graduating from school people want to separate themselves from habits such as studying and learning. Being a good student in the workplace could allow you to learn product information. Product knowledge is key in a sales position. You may not get a formal test in the workplace but rest assured that your work progress is being measured. Instead of getting a report card you will receive a performance appraisal.

5. Don't Burn Any Bridges - As with life you want to be careful not to burn any bridges. You can burn bridges by bad mouthing your company on social networking websites. You could also burn bridges by quitting without giving adequate notice or by underachieving on the job. Remember that you may need your current employer to provide you with a reference in the future.

Money Matters So Know Your Worth

I spoke to a client recently that said that she needed a job so badly that she would accept a wage less than what she was worth just to be employed. I am not criticizing this logic, but I do want to discuss the impact of this decision making.

First of all, I do not advise such tactics and I will explain why. If you low ball yourself initially it may take years for you to regain the salary that you have sacrificed. Most jobs give either semi-annual or annual raises. The standard raise you should expect while staying in the same position is usually limited to 3 to 4 percent.

If you accept a wage of $9.00 per hour and feel that your experience would dictate that you earn $14.00 per hour, lets see how that will effect you financially after one year. A raise is not guaranteed considering the state of the economy. But in my example we are going say that you work for a generous employer that will give you two semi-annual raises during the course of the year. If you earn two 3 percent raises after accepting a wage of $9.00 during one year you will still be earning less than $10.00 per hour after one year.

Finally, I believe that accepting a job for less pay than you worth will haunt you whenever things go wrong at the job. You will start to think that you are only getting paid X dollars and for X dollars your company can only expect a certain effort. Your salary needs will not be your manager's focus. Your manager will be focused on getting the overall job done. If you don't figure in that equation your limited salary or wage may no longer be a concern for anyone. I suggest that you utilize a salary calculator to determine your worth if you are unsure. You can find a salary calculator on careerbuilder or by doing an online search. Do your homework so that you can get the wage or salary that you deserve.

For more career tips check out my website: www.resumesolutionsllc.com

Five Bad Habits to Avoid At Your New Job

Congratulations, you have found a new job and you want to do well. Here is my quick list of bad habits to avoid.

1. Making personal telephone calls
If you have to make telephone calls do it on your break. If you have a peculiar situation going on at home speak to your supervisor about your situation so they are aware of what is going on.

2. Failure to retain information
Take good notes so that you don't have to ask the same questions repeatedly. This will allow you to function independently of your supervisor or co-workers. You must remember they have a job to take care too.

3. Unauthorized internet use
Many companies have the capability of tracking your computer activity so stay off of MySpace, Facebook, your personal e-mail, and other non-work related websites that you may frequent. Remember you are at work to work not to be entertained.

4. Late or Tardy Arrivals
Don't start your new job with an attendance issue. Being late may suggest that you don't care or take your job seriously. Arriving early to your job gives you a chance to prepare for your work day. You can finish up previous assignments and make a to-do list for the current day. As a new employee you don't want to stand out to management as the person who can't make it to work on time.

5. Unwillingness to accept company policy and procedures
Even if you have industry experience be open to doing things the way that your new company wants them. Implement your ideas and creativity gradually. Your new company may not be receptive to you changing or altering established procedures.

For more career tips go to my website www.resumesolutionsllc.com.

The Aftermath of Being Fired Part III

In this final installment of "The Aftermath of Being Fired", I will explain the necessity of learning how to explain why you were fired.

In the first place, I would not volunteer telling an interviewer that you were fired. However, I would not lie about your reason for separation if asked. Honesty is always the best policy and telling a lie could be grounds for termination if it is discovered. You may not be asked about your reason for separation from an employer that you list on your resume or job application in an initial interview. To be sure in a second or third interview you should be prepared to answer a variety of questions relating to your employment history.

Secondly, if the conversation of you being fired comes up you must learn to effectively communicate what happened without blaming the employer. This can be especially difficult if the firing was recent or if you feel like you were wrongfully terminated. Additionally state what you learned from the situation and how you would handle similar situations in the future. Employers will appreciate the fact that you have learned from your past.

In conclusion remember that being fired is not uncommon. As a matter fact being fired is one of just a few ways that you will separate from an employer. The other common ways people leave employers include: retirement, voluntary termination (quitting), and permanent layoffs.

The Aftermath of Being Fired Part II

As a part of the healing process following a firing you must determine why you were fired. If you don't share the reason with anyone else you should at least have the answer for yourself. Why is it important to answer this question? You may be thinking that you just want to move on with your life. The reason this answer is important is that it will likely impact your future.

If you think you were wrongfully terminated you may want to seek legal assistance. Don't let the thought of not being able to afford a lawyer stop you from pursuing one. There are lawyers that work pro bono and lawyers that work on contingency. Lawyers that work pro bono generally take cases without charging their clients. Lawyers that work on contingency will receive their payment from the proceeds of a settlement.

If you determine that your company fired you with just cause then you will have to think about how you will explain that to a future employer. Most people would not recommend you sharing that you were fired. However, I suggest that you be careful before you follow that line of thinking. You may be told that a previous employer can not tell anyone that you were fired. That statement is partially true as long as you don't sign a consent to conduct a complete background check. If you sign a consent to conduct a background check a potential employer can ask your previous employer specific details relating to your separation from your previous employer. If it is discovered that you lied about being fired you could be immediately terminated again. In Part III of the Aftermath of Being Fired, I will discuss how you should address being fired to future employers.

For more career tips go to www.resumesolutionsllc.com.

The Aftermath of Being Fired Part I

Losing your job because you have been fired can be a traumatic experience. In many cases the firing will cost you to lose your primary source of income. While in other scenarios the firing may cause you to temporarily lose your identity. Many people especially men tie their identity to their job.

Furthermore, getting fired can be difficult to deal with because it seems to suggest that you did something wrong or that you didn't meet the expectations of your previous employer. The most important thing to do after a firing is to allow yourself time to heal. As with any traumatic event you must give yourself time to heal before you move on. Your healing time should be at least a day or two initially.

After you have completed your initial healing you need to apply for unemployment benefits, make a budget, and immediately start your new job search. Applying for unemployment benefits immediately will position you to receive income as soon as possible while you begin your job search. It is equally important that you make a budget or monitor your spending closely if you are unsure of where your next dollar may come from. In Part II of The Aftermath of Being Fired, I will discuss the next steps you must take to move forward.

For more career tips visit: www.resumesolutionsllc.com .