Our Bad Behavior at Work

Millions of people admit to committing these workplace no-nos every day.

by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer


When is falling asleep or knocking back a stiff drink just not OK? When you do it at the office (or behind the wheel). But each day millions of people commit these workplace taboos--and even more-scandalous ones.

But not all workplace no-nos are created equal, in terms of seriousness or consequences, says executive recruiter and career counselor Bruce Hurwitz: "Some taboos can be forgiven or raise concerns about your well-being. Others can result in immediate dismissal."

A Harris Interactive Poll of 5,700 U.S. workers found people confessing to all sorts of questionable behavior at the office. Here are some of the top workplace taboos they admitted to:


1. Falling asleep at work (45 percent)
Need a personal barista to help you stay awake at work? Snoozing on the job looks downright unprofessional and is generally not appreciated by employers.

If you find yourself drifting off on a regular basis, it may mean that you need a more stimulating and engaging career. Take a free career test to find your ideal job.


2. Kissing a coworker (39 percent)
This number shouldn't come as a big surprise to anyone who has spent time in an office setting. According to a Valentine's Day survey of more than 8,000 workers, 40 percent have dated a coworker--about the same number that have kissed.


3. Stealing from the office (22 percent)
Ever wonder where people get the office supplies they use at home? Chances are pretty good they pilfer at least some of them from work. While the Harris survey indicates that only about one-fifth of workers take office supplies, an OfficeMax Workplace Uncovered survey reveals what's probably closer to the truth: a whopping 56 percent of workers confessed to taking office supplies home. Top items were pens, pencils, and highlighters.


4. Taking credit for someone else's work (2 percent)
Stealing pencils from the office is one thing. Stealing ideas from a colleague and passing them off as your own is quite another. Only 2 percent of employees in the Harris survey admitted doing this. But in a survey by OfficeTeam, nearly 30 percent of workers say they've had their ideas stolen at work. (The huge gulf between the figures may be because this is a pretty hard taboo to admit; it's easier to talk about when you're the victim.) Keeping your supervisor informed of your ideas and your progress is good preventative medicine, say career experts.


5. Spreading a rumor about a coworker (22 percent)
While some office gossip is relatively harmless, spreading a rumor can be damaging not only to the subject but also to the rumor-monger. In addition to making you seem untrustworthy or downright devious, spreading rumors can even lead to a lawsuit. Whether you publish a falsehood verbally, in writing, or on the Internet, you could end up faceing a pricey defamation suit.


6. Consuming alcoholic beverages while on the job (21 percent)
There was a time when keeping a bottle in your desk drawer was almost de rigueur in some professions. (Just watch any episode of "Mad Men.") Now most companies have a zero-tolerance policy for tippling in the office.

Still, more than one-fifth of the Harris survey respondents said they'd enjoyed booze while on the job. A recent TV news investigation found that drinking on the job was all too common among some New York City construction workers. One worker they witnessed knocked back six cocktails in 30 minutes!


7. Snooping (18 percent)
While it's legal for many managers to access employees' company emails and instant messages, not all office snoopers go through legitimate channels. Nearly one-fifth of survey respondents said they'd snooped around the office after hours.

The best way to foil these snoops? Log off your computer when you're not there, change passwords frequently, have a clean-desk policy so there's nothing to find, and use a paper shredder for anything you'd like to keep from prying eyes.


8. Lying about an academic background (4 percent)
It seems every time you turn around there's another story in the news about a power player tumbling off the corporate or academic ladder because of lying about education on a resume. Just recently a top Texas A&M University official resigned after it was revealed that he didn't have the doctorate his resume listed and that he hadn't been a Navy Seal.

If you are concerned that you don't have enough education to meet your career goals, earning a real degree is a far better bet than lying about one on your resume. Take an education test to find out if more schooling could help you to advance your career.

And don't be tempted to lie on your resume. Experts say at some point it will probably catch up with you. Instead use a resume builder for help creating an accurate, impressive resume that gets results.

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How to Make a Money as an Internet Writer

1. Step 1
   Step 1) With unemployment so high, many people are turning to internet writing as their sole source of income or as another source of income. I make about $500 a month writing on the internet for various sources--Here's how I do it. The first step in making money on the internet is WRITING AN ARTICLE A DAY FOR VARIOUS ONLINE JOURNALISM SITES. Make sure it's something somebody cares to read about. Write one article a day, 7 days a week for the following sites: ehow, firehow, bukisa, triond, and associated content. Before long, you will be making some money from the internet.
   
2. Step 2
   Step 2) The second step in making money from internet writing is WRITING AND SELLING AN EBOOK. Choose a topic that people want to read--how to start a small business in the recession, how to make ends meet, etc.--and write a 100 page ebook about it. Then promote it in various places including online journalism sites, craigslist.com, backpage.com, and ezine.com. Have links to your ebook on everything you write. Promote your ebook everyday 7 days a week for an hour at a time and before long you will be making money from the sell of your ebook online.
   
3. Step 3
   Step 3) The third step in making a living as an internet writer is CREATING A BLOG. Create your own blog with something that you are interested in and something that others are interested in and write one article daily for your blog. Have as many people as possible join your blog and have google ads placed on it. Hence, everytime somebody clicks on a blog link, you'll be paid a commission. This is a really good way to make a living as an internet writer that I am just now getting into.
   
4. Step 4
   Step 4) I hope this has been a helpful article on how to make money as an internet writer. Good luck!
   

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How to Be a Writer

Practice, Practice, Practice

1. Step 1
   Become a blog writer. Blog writing has quickly become a great way for new and experienced writers to keep doing what they love--writing! Also, some bloggers get sponsored and turn their hobby into a paid job.
   
2. Step 2
   Be a journal writer. Journal writing is a great way to practice organizing your thoughts without the added stress of trying to make up characters and events.
   
3. Step 3
   Be a email writer. Emails are opportunities to practice writing. Think about how your writing in emails expresses your personality. You can use similar styles when your write dialogue between characters.
   

Find Your Market

4. Step 1
   Decide what kind of writing you want to do.
   
5. Step 2
   Learn about what sells in your market. The best way to do this is by reading. If you are interested in mystery, pick up a couple of the most popular, recent mysteries. Figure out what makes a good mystery.
   
6. Step 3
   Figure out what kind of places would hire you and what kind of publishers would publish your work. The Writer's Market lists all of the publishers in America. It also gives tips on how to approach different publishers. If you want an office job, you can learn about different companies by looking on internet job boards.
   

Get in Through the Door

7. Step 1
   Introduce yourself to a couple publishers or companies. You can do this by asking someone you know to introduce you to an editor or by sending an email or letter.
   
8. Step 2
   Convince an editor that you and their company have the same goals. This only means that if a children's book publisher wants manuscripts that teach children right from wrong, you propose a book that discusses exactly what the publisher wants. This also means that you do not propose books or ideas the publisher does not want.
   
9. Step 3
   Consider getting an agent. This could help save you time on finding and courting the right market.
   

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How to End a Job Interview

The right closing can seal the deal and land the job.

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs



In preparing for a job interview, you've probably practiced a firm (but not too firm) handshake, rehearsed answers to tough questions about your background, and polished up your lucky interview shoes. But many job hunters overlook a crucial part of the interview process: the very end.

(Want tips on answering the trickiest interview questions? Read interview advice from career expert Liz Ryan.)

As you finish an interview, you have one last chance to sell the interviewer on your skills--and get the information you need in order to follow up. Experts offer these tips for successfully closing an interview:

Don't leave empty-handed. To be sure you can follow up later, don't leave the interview without getting the names, titles, and contact information of everyone you met. This includes people you may dismiss as unimportant. "You don't know who has pull," says Laura DeCarlo, president of Career Directors International, a global professional association of resume writers and career coaches.

Know the next steps. You should also ask what the next steps are in the process: Will the most-promising candidates be called back for another interview? Is the company about to make a hiring decision? How soon does the hiring manager expect to move to this next step?



"It's totally appropriate for a candidate to ask this," says Peggy McKee, founder of career-confidential.com.

Lay the groundwork for a follow-up. Once the interviewer explains how the process will unfold, DeCarlo explains, "you say, 'Thank you. Is it OK if I call you if I haven't heard from you?'" Although you don't need the interviewer's permission to follow up, having the interviewer say it's OK will likely make you less apprehensive if doing so becomes necessary.

Close the sale. After you thank the interviewer and briefly summarize why you think you're a good fit for the job, McKee suggests asking straight out, "Based on this interview, do you feel that I could be successful in this position? Will you move me forward in the interview process?"

A positive response doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get the job. But the interviewer will likely remember you as a stronger candidate. "When you answer yes, you cross a line mentally," McKee says.

What if the interviewer expresses reservations? "That's the big fear," McKee says. But even though it may be disappointing, it's better to know. "This is your only really strong opportunity to find out what her objections are, so you can overcome those objections."

For example, if the interviewer says you lack experience in a particular area, you may realize that didn't emphasize your relevant experience enough. You can now clarify, either on the spot or in a follow-up letter.

You may get a noncommittal answer--the interviewer may say simply that there are more candidates to interview, for example. If that happens, use this as an opportunity to ask for more information about how the hiring process will play out.

Remember the details. Your thank-you notes will be more effective if you can mention specifics about your interviews. The best way to do this, DeCarlo says, is to write down everything you remember--good and bad--as soon as you can after the interview.


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Tips for returning to work for the stay at home mom

Now that the kids are in school you need something to occupy your time and make you feel useful again. It's been awhile since you have been in the job market and your family is used to you being at home. Going back to work will not only be a change for you, but your entire household. How do you make this change so everyone can adapt and you can continue running your household smoothly?

The first thing you needed to do is sit down and talk with your family about the decision to go back to work. They needed to understand things will change because you won’t be available all the time like you were as a stay at home Mom. Everyone is going to have to work together and not depend souly on you to keep the household running. You as the parent will have to rearrange your schedule so you can still participate in your kids activities and maintain your new job. That’s going to be the hardest part of returning back to work, accommodating everyone and doing well at your new job also. Setting up a schedule for household chores and errands will allow you some time in the day to still attend the activities you needed to go to with your children. One of the biggest adjustments you will have to make is your time will not be as flexible as it was, when you were a stay at home Mom to participate in all the activities you did. Which could lead to you feeling guilty if you let it and that’s something you shouldn't let happen. Once you make the decision to return to work, it should be understood that things will change for you and your family. Don’t have guilty feelings about not being able to participate and go to different events with your children. Also accept some of your household duties will be neglected too. Returning back to work after not working for awhile is a adjustment to your body, mind and family. Everyone will have to accept this change and work with you until you get a routine that you are comfortable with and you are use to being back at the work scene. This will take some work on your part and your family to make things run as smoothly as possible. With everyone working together it can happen.

Going back to work after being a stay at home Mom is a big adjustment for everyone. You have to learn how to run your household differently and work-out a complete new schedule and routine to spend time with your family. It’s also a major adjustment for you to learn how to be somewhere everyday at a certain time, for a certain reason. All of these adjustments are hard in the beginning, but as time goes on everyone will adapt.

Your family will get use to your new lifestyle and so will you. Before you know it you will have forgotten about the good old days when you stayed at home being just a housewife and Mom.

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