Get Ahead by Greening Your Company

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Green is not only mainstream, it's now considered a good business strategy, as companies large and small are pursuing sustainability and eco-friendly policies in a big way.

Whether or not "green" is among your job duties, you can boost your own career prospects by making the company look environmentally friendly and lightening its environmental footprint.

Ways to Effect Change

Experts point out four ways you can affect change on the job:

1. Take your green habits to work. At home, you may turn off lights when you leave a room, recycle religiously, and eschew Styrofoam, but does your behavior change in the office?

"Setting a good example is a first step toward encouraging eco-friendly policies at work," said Linda Sorrento of the U.S. Green Building Council.

2. Do the homework. Companies may want to do the right thing, but they're daunted by the amount of effort they think is required.

"If you can do the legwork for them -- and present a compelling case -- they're more likely to adopt changes," said Jennifer Hattam, green living editor for Sierra Magazine.

3. Quantify the benefits. "Because many of green policies have a direct cost benefit, share your ideas the person who's responsible for cutting costs," said Monique Tilford of the Center for the New American Dream.

4. Turn your job green. If you're in IT, you might be able to buy more efficient computers.

"If you're in purchasing, ask suppliers about the environmental impact of their products," said Gwen Ruta, director of corporate partnerships at Environmental Defense. "Just asking the questions makes a big difference."

Build Consensus at Work

Unless you're a department head or CEO, you probably can't affect big changes without getting buy-in, so the types of policies you want to implement will determine your approach:

• Talk to the office manager about changing printer paper to a brand with more recycled content and replacing printers with duplexers.
• See if your facilities manager will switch to CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) or put lights on a timer.
• Convince your IT department to set computers to go to sleep mode automatically.
• Notify HR about bike parking, carpooling, or telecommuting.
• Tell your department head about posting materials online (where they're easier to update as well) versus print copies.
• Ask the meeting planner whether they could buy reusable dishes and silverware.
• If your suggestions are implemented, tell the company's press or PR department; they'll be glad to position the company as eco-friendly.

If your ideas get a lukewarm reception, see if it's OK to circulate environmental tips to coworkers, or start an informal employee group. "Working with employees to brainstorm changes is an effective way to promote sustainability and also to find solutions for 'sick office syndrome,'" said Sorrento.

Experts agree that saving your company money and greening its reputation will put you in a good light. It can also build your initiative, creativity, and negotiation experience, among other skills.

Hattam adds that, since green business is a growth industry, "having some eco-action on your resume will make you a more attractive job candidate in the future."

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AARP Names Best Employers for Workers Over 50

by Tom Musbach, Yahoo! HotJobs


A leading advocacy group for older Americans has placed packaged goods company SC Johnson at the top of its 2007 list of 50 best employers for people over 50.

The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) began the annual list seven years ago in recognition that more people than ever before are working into their 60s and beyond. The group honors companies that support an aging workforce by providing flexible work schedules, health insurance options, and other benefits to retain and attract baby-boomer candidates.

"It is important that more employers -- both large and small -- recognize what tremendous assets 50 and over employees represent because of their experience and motivation," said AARP CEO Bill Novelli in announcing this year's winners.

The Honor Roll

The employers honored by the AARP in 2007 include Mercy Health System of Janesville, Wis.; Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa; West Virginia University Hospitals; Volkswagen of America Inc. in Auburn Hills, Mich.; John Deere of Moline, Ill.; and George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. (The complete list is available at AARP.org.)

SC Johnson, based in Racine, Wis. and known for brands like Shout and Windex, topped the list for its onsite medical center and wellness, fitness, and education programs. The AARP also saluted the company's comprehensive financial benefits and retirement planning tools for employees.

Health care and education were the most visible industries on the AARP list in 2007, which was similar to 2006. More than 110 companies participated in a comprehensive application process to be considered for the honor.

No Short Cuts

Roberta Chinsky Matuson, principal with Human Resource Solutions based in Massachusetts, cautioned that lists like the AARP's are only one type of resource that job-seekers over 50 should consult.

"Job seekers should keep in mind that many organizations have large public-relations departments that help their companies make it onto these lists," she said. "There are many great companies that never even apply."

She added that baby-boomer candidates should do their own research on companies and consult with friends and others in their network to get a sense if an employer is supportive of mature workers.

What Boomers Want

"Many workers over 50 have expressed interest in jobs to help improve the quality of life in their communities, jobs that connect them to their passion in life, a purpose bigger than themselves, and other people," said Stefanie Weiss, spokeswoman for Civic Ventures, a think tank devoted to boomers and their contributions to work and society.

Monique A. Dearth, president of Incite Strategies, an Atlanta-based human resources consulting firm, agrees that many employees over 50 have different priorities on the job.

"They are experienced employees who generally aren't looking to develop a high profile career," she said, "but rather want to leverage their past experience, feel valued in the organization, and contribute at a meaningful level."

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Is Your Job Putting on the Pounds?

by Robert DiGiacomo, for Yahoo HotJobs!


While your job can't be blamed directly for your putting on the pounds, the potent combination of too much work stress, too little sleep, and not enough physical activity can lead to weight gain.

The best offense against work-related flab, experts say, is the often-repeated mantra of exercising regularly and eating right. Start by understanding why you're at risk of gaining weight on the job, so you can take steps to avoid it.

The Stress Connection

Too much stress causes your body to produce more of a hormone called cortisol, which not only triggers your appetite but cues your body to store fat cells and produce less testosterone, which results in less muscle mass, according to Shawn M. Talbott, a nutritional biochemist, author and consultant.

"It's just as important to get the stress under control as the exercise and diet," says Talbott, author of "The Cortisol Connection -- Why Stress Makes You Fat and Ruins Your Health." He adds, "If people do each of those three, they get a lot better results than if they have one of the three."

A Practical Diet

The size of your hand can serve as a practical guide to how much you should eat, according to Talbott.

For each 500-calorie meal, your fist represents the desired amount of carbs and your palm is the amount of protein, while your hand opened up is the portion of fruits and veggies and the circle you make with the OK sign between thumb and forefinger is how much added fat you should take in.

"It's a way to count calories without counting calories," Talbott says.

Smart Snacks

Stay away from the vending machines by bringing to work your own healthy snacks, such as nuts, popcorn, or granola bars, in pre-portioned packages, according to Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

"The key is not to bring the entire box or package," Moore says. "If you bring the entire box, you're tempted to eat more than one."

Maximum Exercise, Minimum Time

For his busy corporate clients who find it hard to squeeze in a workout, Talbott recommends a three-times-a-week program of 28 minutes of interval training, combining intensive activities with cool-down periods.

"If time is the big issue, [this is] the shortest amount of time we can have someone exercise and see results," he says.

Healthy Riding

If you have a long commute, you can avoid having the car become a filling station by having breakfast before you leave for work, and a light snack prior to returning home.

"Everything looks good when you're hungry," Moore says. "You don't want to stop by a fast-food restaurant on the way to work or home, because you'll fill up with 1,200 calories before you know it."

Employer Assistance

Several companies, including General Mills, Florida Power and Light, and Pitney Bowes, are helping employees stay fit, says LuAnn Heinen, director of the Institute on the Costs and Health Effects of Obesity at the National Business Group on Health. Efforts include encouraging employee fitness, including adding walking paths to corporate campuses, making sure lunch meetings include salads and low-fat items, and giving discounts on salads and healthy items at the company cafeteria.

"These are employers who are consciously improving the environment to make it a downhill slide to stay healthy," Heinen says. "It's really about supporting the people who already have tried to be healthier."

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Stop the Gossip, Save Your Career

by Heather Boerner, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Getting ahead at work may hinge on resisting the urge to spread the latest news about your coworkers.

"You may think gossip is harmless, but you might just be shooting yourself in the foot as far as your credibility goes," said Rachel Weingarten, author of "Career and Corporate Cool: How to Look, Dress and Act the Part at Every Stage of Your Career." She continues, "Let your work speak for itself. You don't need to be the one making yourself look better by talking down someone else."

Consider the Damage

Sure, gossip can be almost too enticing to keep to ignore -- but consider these consequences:
You lose your reputation. "My reputation is my business," said Weingarten. "If someone says something bad about me, or I become known as a gossip, that could affect my entire career."
Coworkers avoid you. "If people view you as a gossip, they may stop sharing information with you," said April Callis, president of Gossip Stoppers, a program designed to create positive workplaces. "Then instead of being the one with all the power and information, you're out of the loop because no one trusts you."
Your work suffers. The negativity spread by gossip makes people hate their jobs. "They miss work, they get less done while they're there, and they feel unappreciated," says Callis. Suddenly, you're not giving your best, and your boss may notice.

There's a better way to deal with water cooler talk. First, and perhaps most obvious: Keep the information to yourself.

It's one thing to learn the office scoop -- it's another to share it. Even asking someone else at work to verify what you've just heard counts as gossip, said Callis. If it's something criminal, tell your boss. If not, let it drop.

Resist the Urge

Next, teach your coworkers not to gossip with you. Use these techniques:

• Replace gossip. Sometimes gossip is the only thing you have in common with coworkers, said Weingarten. So find something to replace it. Do you both knit? Are you both sports fans? If you must gossip, do it about movie stars or soap operas, she said. Just leave the office out of it.
• Set a timer. If a coworker or employee comes to you determined to gossip, set a timer for five minutes, and let the person spew. When the time's up, so is the gossip. You don't have to respond, said Callis. You can just listen.
• Write it down. When a coworker runs to your desk with the latest juicy gossip, get out a pad and pen. Writing down the facts serves two purposes: It shows the gossip that everything she says is being documented. And it helps you focus on facts instead of feelings.

What you may find is that you and those around you feel happier as they gossip less, says Callis.

"When I walk into a positive workplace, people are engaged and they feel valued," she says. "They stay."

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Tip to Pursue a Video Game Tester Career

If you love playing video games, you can earn money while doing so if you become a video game tester. The video game industry is growing, and experts say it will continue to do so for years to come. That means there will be many jobs available. However, you will need to make yourself stand out among your peers. Listed below are some tips for becoming a video game tester.

You may likely think that the only skill you need to be a tester is good hand/eye coordination. This is not the case, however. You will also need to have good writing and oral communications. As a tester, you will not only be testing the game, but you will also be reporting on errors and system crashes as well. The developers will need to be able to read and understand your comments fully.

These jobs are not typically posted in your local want ads or newspapers. A good rule of thumb is to check out the gaming company's website. Here they will list those jobs available in house and those that are telecommute. If you are an avid gamer, you are likely involved in many game networking sites. These will often list testing jobs as well.

It is important to keep in mind that these jobs are widely competed and will go fast. If you see one that you are interested in, apply for it immediately. Once you are in the industry, you will find that there are many growth opportunities available.

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Four Tips to Succeed With an Online Business

Starting up a home-based online business is one of the quickest and easiest ways to become an entrepreneur. Unfortunately most people think that getting a domain name and a website built is all that's required for a successful internet business. They couldn't be more wrong, as it requires much more than that.

A successful internet business doesn't differ much from an offline brick-and-mortar business.

In the first place, it requires self-discipline. Starting an online business with the idea that you no longer need to get up and work, or that you will earn a living sitting in front of a computer 2-3 hours a day or that you will only work when you feel like it, it's the fastest, surefire way to complete failure. An internet business, as with any other business, requires a large investment of time and hard work to become successful. Having the willingness to work as hard and as long as necessary to achieve the goals is vital for long term success of any online or offline business.

Second, it requires research, knowledge and planning. Many would-be entrepreneurs simply quit their jobs and plunge into an online business with no research, no knowledge, no preparation, no planning, no education. Although it is a lot simpler to set up an online business, this doesn't mean that one can bypass the basic business startup process. Market research, a brief study of the competition, an evaluation of the financial and technical resources required, a business plan, are simple but necessary steps to get started the right way.

Third, it requires having enough money available to not only start the business but also to maintain it until it becomes self- sustaining. Even though the costs of setting up an internet business are way lower than those of an offline enterprise this important step cannot be overlooked. Besides the initial capital to cover business expenses, a wise entrepreneur should set aside enough funds to provide his own personal needs for an extended period of time.

Last but not least, it requires continuous updating. The Internet is fast moving, fast changing. Not updating oneself means being left behind. Successful entrepreneurs will keep an eye on the latest trends, learn about new processes, invest in software to automate their business. One of the easiest ways to stay informed is by participating in online communities like boards, forums or discussion groups where one can interact with other business owners and share experiences. Many of these groups constitute a good source of information and free business advice.

Entrepreneurial success doesn't happen by accident. It is a consequence of basic business knowledge applied through consistent and planned hard work.

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Playing Against Type

Myers-Briggs Profiles Help You Assess Your Boss
by Deborah Geering, Porfolio.com


Recognizing the Myers-Briggs personality types of your boss or business partners can help you get what you want in your career.

Leaders are easy to recognize: They're TJs.

"The T is their preference for thinking that leads them to look at the logical consequences of all the alternatives that they face. The J, the judging, comes in and helps them get that organization to fulfill that decision -- to operationalize it and to implement it," says Allen Hammer, a consultant at Manfredo Curtis Associates, which advises companies on how to get the most out of their employees. For Hammer, helping others spot and work effectively with a TJ can mean the difference between an initiative's succeeding or failing.

Welcome to the coded world of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the system of identifying personality characteristics along four dimensions that can predict the choices people make and how they will interact with others. The types, scored with a letter and used in combinations of four, indicate various qualities, such as judging (J) and thinking (T). Knowing the personality type of a supervisor or a business partner can aid in securing a promotion, closing a deal, or inspiring the next great idea.

"It gives you a sort of advantage over others because you are able to flex your own style to interact with the other person," says executive coach Linda Burrs.

If you're faced with a fact-oriented, so-called sensing type (S), for example, your best move in selling an idea might be to create an impressive PowerPoint presentation. "Sensing types like to see all the facts and details concisely presented," says Betsy Styron, president and C.E.O. of the Center for Applications of Psychological Type in Gainesville, Florida. But the same presentation might fall flat with an intuitive type (N), who prefers to make decisions based on gut feelings.

Although there's no way to really know another person's MB type short of making them take the 93-question diagnostic test themselves, most successful executives tend to cluster around a few major personality types. And you can identify their weaknesses as well as their strengths. While TJs excel at important leadership tasks such as risk taking and goal setting, they're typically not as good at building consensus. "They sometimes come across as too cold, too logical, and too objective," says Hammer.

Fortunately, the business world tends to center on four of the 16 possible MB types. Here are the ones to know and how best to handle them.

ENTJ -- Donald Trump

Donald Trump is a classic example of an ENTJ (Extroverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Judging), which describes a leader who cuts a commanding profile. "Big picture" people, they have a vision that is results-oriented, and hold themselves and others to high standards. They are unforgiving about deadlines, make firm decisions, and see themselves as confident, innovative organizers. They are also prone to discuss ideas extensively or just think out loud -- but such statements shouldn't be mistaken for firm directives.

INTJ -- Bill Gates

Bill Gates is likely an INTJ (Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Judging), according to Ross Reinhold, a consultant who operates Personalitypathways.com. Innovative and independent, Gates and his ilk value competence and self-sufficiency. They have a knack for reducing complexities to their most basic, and for finding efficient ways to improve processes. Unlike ENTJs, INTJs come across as restrained, an image that often reflects their skepticism and lack of emotion in decisionmaking. Although open-minded, they quickly discard unworkable solutions -- sometimes with sarcasm.

ESTJ -- Martha Stewart

Analytical and systematic thinkers, ESTJs (Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) value order -- sometimes to the extreme. Martha Stewart, a natural ESTJ, has made a career of it. Like ENTJs, people of this type are also confident decision-makers, but unlike ENTJs, INTJs are more focused on process than vision. How you do something may matter more than what it's about.

ISTJ -- Warren Buffett

ISTJs (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) are excellent managers of facts and details. They thrive in hierarchical structures and value consistency and common sense. Although they appreciate hard workers, they can be impatient for results, and they tend to not value innovation as much as execution. Many consider Warren Buffett to be an archetypal ISTJ because of his conservative approach to investing. Thoroughly researched, written plans in which risks are identified and assessed are likely to be well-received by these managers.

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