How to Make Your First Day at Work Great

Just got hired? I know you’re thrilled but you’re plagued with worries at the back of your head. Well, I can help you with that. Human resource books provided me with a great deal of information about my career and work life so it’s now time for me to share my two cents with you.

Here are 3 of the best things that you can do to combat that first day chills.

Clarify expectations. Before going on your first day, make sure to allow some time for clearing up your expectations. It is best to think of what you would like to accomplish in this new job. Are planning to focus on expanding your skills? Would you like to be promoted in a year or two? Providing honest answers to these questions can nudge you towards the right direction. Also, you have to clarify your expectations about your bosses and co-workers. You can never expect to be best buddies with your officemates right on the first minute. Be patient and bring in an open mind on your first day at work.

Arrive early. Getting in the office early should not only be on your first day. Make it a habit for the coming months or even for the entire duration of your stay in the company. Though waking up early is not always easy, think of the perks and benefits that you can get with this effort.

Arriving in the office earlier than everyone else gives you a little more time to prepare for the day ahead. It buys you some quiet time before the chaos begins. And don’t forget – being dubbed as the office “early bird” can do wonders for your image. This can show your colleagues and bosses the dedication you have for the job.

Observe quietly. It may be easy to bring your head up in the cloud once you’ve landed a coveted job. But remember that you can’t stay there forever. On your first day at work, you’d surely be faced with a lot of challenges not only about the tasks you’re expected to perform but also with the new work environment. Taking these challenges one at a time helps well in creating a sound footing in the company.

Conquering the unfamiliar work jungle you are in is necessary to for you to settle in well. Always remember that being overly aggressive early on can backfire on you. And of course, being nice and courteous can help you win friends in your new work place.

BONUS TIP: Go out with your colleagues. Whether it’s for lunch or drinks after 5, joining your new workmates is a great idea. Socializing outside the office plays a vital role in building relationships within the organization. Aside from being in a more relaxed environment, out of office interactions allow everyone to loosen up. Be confident and comfortable but don’t over do it on the first couple of times.

Had a great time in your first day of work? Tell me about your experiences by leaving a comment below.

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Back To School Blues: 4 Ways To Give Your Kids A Happy First Day In School

Summer may be over but parenting challenges are still on the rise. Making use of patio furniture covers can keep your furniture safe but who will save you from first day of school blues? Well, I’ve got a couple of practical tips for you. Here are 4 ways on how you can prepare your child well for preschool.

Back to School Tip # 1 Start preparing ahead of time Going back to school is a different. Children need all the energy they need to perform tasks and be productive during lessons. To avoid difficulty in getting up on school days, it is best to rework your child’s body clock weeks before school starts. This way, your child will be able to adjust well by following his or her own phase. You may also want to go shopping for school supplies earlier to get your tyke positively psyched up for the school year.

Back to School Tip # 2 Be an early bird On the first of day of school, encourage your child to wake up early. Doing so will allow both of you to enjoy quality time before classes actually begin. Starting preparations early also gives you a lot of time to answer any problem that may arise such as feeling sick or tantrums.

Arrive at school early and walk around to help your child settle in the new environment. This adjustment time can play a big role in coping up with changes. Make sure to pack essentials like snacks, extra sets of clothes and a comfort just in case your tyke will need a little help in adjusting.

Back to School Tip # 3 Relax and put on a happy face The first day of school is a big day for not only for kids but for parents as well. Though our little ones can’t articulate well how they feel, sensing emotions around them is one of their strongest points so make sure plaster that smiley even if you are filled with worries for them. Show them that you are calm and confident so they can draw strength from you.

Back to School Tip # 4 Teach your child the basics Children could play all day long. This is one of the reasons why they most definitely love summer vacations. Aside from getting to play all day, parents like you surely had all the reasons to all your kids to stay as late as they want especially during trips. And boy do I know how difficult it is to get them to bed while their energy is still at its peak. But you can certainly put this excess energy into good use.

While they are they are still hyped up, engage them reading or drawing to give them a feel of the structured learning environment in preschools. Teaching your little ones a couple of emergency numbers and your home address are helpful as well.

Got more tips? Share with me your most memorable or disastrous first day of school experience by leaving a comment below. Feel free to share this with your friends and other parents to get us all prepared every time our kids head back to school.

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5 Steps to Get to Career Nirvana

Stuck in a career dead end? There is definitely a way out. Planning your career at any point you may be is one of the best ways to resolve your dilemma. Human resource books offer a lot of insight on this matter. But to make things easier for you, here are 5 tested ways to get your career right back on track and rolling.

1. Reflect on where you want to go. Setting on a journey without a roadmap can get you nowhere. Early on in your career, take the initiative to find out where you’re heading for the next 5 years or so. Having a clear picture of what you want to achieve is never easy. It is best to try out several career paths or options until you find one that you’re comfortable with. Once you find the one, continuously explore various niches within in the field to find a suitable specialty for you.

2. Think of concrete steps to get there. Plans remain wishes until they are written down concretely. Once you know your end goal, identify the means that you’ll need in order to get there. Does it require you take post-graduate studies? Will getting a professional certification help enhance your career? With these considerations brought to light, you can allocate your time and financial resources among many others. Remember that proper planning will always work to your advantage. Also, make it a habit to continuously learn new things whether it’s for your career or personal pleasure. Keeping things varied is a great way to brighten your outlook and enhance various aspects of your life.

3. Make it a yearly habit: Track your progress. I know for a fact that many people have difficulty in looking at bigger picture - because I am one of them. Often times, I can’t bring myself to make long term plans because impermanence is a reality. And I’ve learned two things about it; one, this fact of life should never be used as an excuse to make advances in life. And second, there are tons of ways to combat this mentality. My preferred method is creating milestones to take note of my progress. They can be set on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly basis depending on what will work for you.

4. Satisfy your current job before going to the next. Jumping on every seemingly beautiful work opportunity can do more harm than good in your career. Remember that both growth and learning are time-consuming endeavors. Quality results rarely happen overnight so hold on to your current job unless there is a dire need to leave. Learn and accomplish as much as you can while awaiting your ripening.

5. Network, network, network. Making it big is not solely about talent or what you know – more often than not, it’s who you know and how you work with them to help you get somewhere. Do not isolate yourself in one corner of the workforce. Make it a point to mingle with people in your field. Doing so will not only gain you friends but it will also get you update and more rooted in your chosen career.

Visit soon for more career and workplace tips that will get you far.

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Fight and Flight: Letting Groups Thrive With Organizational Behavior

Organizational Behavior is a relatively new concept. But what do human resource books say about this field?

I’ll introduce you to one of the most relevant developments in managing people, groups and organizations today. Many of us are probably exposed to this area of developing an organization, but I’ll give you the low down on this discipline. My goal is to help you understand the roles and relationship of individuals within a group of people. Putting Organizational Behavior concepts into practice would definitely help business and organizations thrive as they stand out.

What is Organizational Behavior?

Organizational Behavior is also known as OB is mainly concerned with how individuals function and work together within groups including organizations and teams. This field of study takes a look at the relationship of individuals and their respective organizations by giving utmost consideration to each part that constitutes the whole.

In other words, the entirety of a person as well as that of the organization may be taken and examined side by side before evaluating the bigger group. This allows managers to get a complete and clear picture of the internal organizational system that affects many aspects of group and individual functionalities.

As an interdisciplinary field, it makes use of concepts from the following disciplines:

• Sociology
• Communication
• Psychology
•  Management
• Social
• Psychology
• Anthropology

This field of study solves or improves the following:

• Absenteeism 
• Employee Turnover 
• Job Satisfaction 
• Group Dynamics (Working in Groups) 
• Individual and Group Productivity 
• Human Resource Maximization

Here are 5 of the numerous advantages of studying and applying the concepts of Organizational Behavior:

1. This field helps an individual further develop interpersonal skills 
2. Insights on the field allows individuals to examine their organizational involvement which may facilitate personal growth 
3. Individual and organizational productivity can be improved 
4. The developed constructive group as well as organizational cultures encourages individual participation that delivers positive impact 
5. Management of individuals, groups and organizations take on a more interpersonal approach instead of the usual pure scientific or business-oriented. 

Want to know more about Organizational Behavior studies?

Let me in on your thoughts, insights or questions by leaving a comment below. Organizational Behavior is certainly gaining importance now more than ever. Make sure to be updated and involved to reap the numerous benefits it can offer your organization.

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The Procrastinator: How Time Management Can Help You to Start Living a Better Life Today

If human resource books could talk, they would probably ask you these questions:

Do you want to…

• Get more things done in less time?
•  Leave a great impression by being punctual in your professional meetings 
• Have a consistent motivation to always do your best
• Start achieving your goals today
• Minimize the risk of uncertainty in your career or academic life
• Reduce stress caused by deadlines that you just can’t seem to meet?
• Accomplish tasks that are really important?

If these questions resonate with your deepest desires then you are most likely suffering from procrastination. And your problem clearly stems from the lack of ability to manage your time well.

The ability to manage one’s daily life sums up the concept of time management. This productivity principle is characterized by a person’s capacity to set goals, put in place an appropriate action plan and carries them through to accomplishment. Being able to set realistic expectations and to firmly say “no” to things or circumstances that are not top priority should be done with time management. It is also important to keep a vibrant perspective on both short-term and long-term time horizons to be able to fully synchronize the achievements of today to the success of tomorrow.

But how can you jump into this track after being derailed by years of procrastinating on every single thing?

Here are 5 simple adjustments that you can do to break the ice. Integrate these steps to the way you live to get the better life you deserve.

1. Rest up and take care of your body. Time management is all about you. It’s all about your priorities, tasks, goals and dreams. Give these priorities the attention and energy they deserve from you by paying attention to yourself first. Remember that you are the prime mover of your plans.





2. Block distractions. Social networking sites, mobile phones and other unrelated tasks can compete really well with your attention if you allow them to. While working or performing an important task, turn them off until you’re finished with what you have to do. Allotting a specific time of your day to check your phone, email, update your FB status or post a tweet can work wonders. Just make sure to commit to these given times and don’t enjoy too much so you can get back to work.
3. Do one task at a time. This is very much related to the second adjustment that I’m recommending. Sneaking through your social accounts while working or studying will certainly not produce the best results for you. That’s because instead of giving a task your 100% focus, doing two at a time only gives each one of them 50% attention. You can do the math from there.
4. Take advantage of technology: automate when possible. Make use of the internet or other automated procedures like voicemails to organize your life. This will allow you to easier manage the various aspects of your life and blend them together seamlessly. Start paying your bills online, create an auto email responder and record a good voice mail message today to save your precious time.
5. Learn to say noIf you don’t like it, don’t do it. It’s simple as that. Though it would need much practice to perfect, you can do it. You just have to commit to saying no to anything or anyone that don’t matter as much.

Are you ready to change your life? Let me know how time management worked for you by writing it down below. Comments, suggestions and stories are also very much welcome.

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