10 Signs That You Actually Have a Great Boss - Cubicle Chic

10 Signs That You Actually Have a Great Boss - Cubicle Chic 10 Signs That You Actually Have a Great Boss Career, Corporate Life January 30, 2018 12 CommentsTop: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-BagHorrible Bosses Are EverywhereIn the corporate world, there is one person that has the power to make your work experience a living paradise or living hell. This person is your manager or ze boss (cue weird foreign accent) as I’d like to say.   We’ve probably all heard horror stories involving a sadistic, lazy, incompetent and all the while demanding boss that ruined someone’s life at work, or their life period. We don’t nearly hear enough stories about the great bosses.   In fact, between 13-36% of American workers report that they have a dysfunctional (abusive, inept, malicious, etc) manager.  Honestly, I can probably write a book based on my own experiences and all my friends and families’ stories combined. But that wouldn’t be news to anyone, would it? The truth is, it’s easy to be a bad manager and very difficult  to be a great boss. I sometimes think that perhaps by default, if we don’t try hard, we are all bad managers. After all, we all have what it takes to be a little self-centered, or insecure, or lazy, or just not giving a shit sometimes, amirite?Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-BagGreat Bosses Are Rarely Talked AboutThis is what brings me to today’s post â€" let’s talk about the qualities that actually make a great boss! In my 10 years of corporate career, I’ve had my share of bad as well as great bosses. But almost every single one of my manager has qualities that I respected and appreciated. I reflected on my experience working with all these managers  (and perhaps wondered what they wished I’d known but they wouldn’t tell me…) and came up with 10 signs that indicate you actually have a great boss at work.How many of these great boss qualities does your current manager have?Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-BagDisclaimer: I use the pronoun SHE because I like the way it sounds. In my career, I’ve had exactly 6 male and 6 female bosses so far but the ones that have impacted me most deeply happen to be female. That’s also why I am using the pronoun She. Some of these characteristics actually belonged to my male bosses.1. She asks you for your opinion in your area of expertise and values your expertiseIt’s an incredibly empowering thing when your manager defers to you in areas of your expertise.   This great boss of mine always managed to do this to give me opportunities to shine and to have the chance to make an impact instead of telling me what to do.2. She expects a lot from you and trusts in your ability to complete thingsIt’s not that she is simply laisser-faire and doesn’t like to interfere with your day-to-day. A great boss actually expects a lot from you. She knows that you will put 100% into everything you do and that you will deliver on time. A great boss doesn’t need to constantly check in with you, ask if you ’re making progress, or monitor how you’re doing things. She simply trusts you to deliver when the results are due.3. She protects her people from outside criticism but delivers it individually and tactically when neededThis is an important character in a manager if she wants a loyal team with members that trust her. She shields her team from others who have directly negative feedback or criticism to her team’s performance. But this protectiveness doesn’t’ mean she would never deliver criticism. A great boss will still let you know where you need to improve, but her feedback is delivered tactfully, purposefully, and with context.4. She respects her employee’s timeThis is a big one for me, personally. A great boss is a good time manager and respects everyone’s time around her. She shows up to meetings on time, doesn’t set up excessively long meetings, and always has an agenda for her meetings. She also shields her team from outside projects that are time-sucks or with unclear/indefinite timelines.5. You look forward to your 1:1 meetingsAs an extension of sign #5 â€" a great boss makes sure your 1:1 meetings are productive and your time together is well utilized. This means when you have questions, she has solutions or at least suggestions. This means she is an insightful and intentional person and that she respects your time.Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-Bag6. She makes it a point to always talk about your development goals and how you are progressing toward themIf there is one quality that all of the great bosses have, it’s this one. At the end of the day, managers manage people, and people need the motivation to keep performing, improving, and evolving. A great boss works with her employees to craft ways to be motivated, i.e. set up development goals. Even when you’re not 100% clear on what your career goals are, a great boss would guide your thinking and help you find your goals.7. She creates an environmen t such that the team can thrive inA great boss creates a strong team. She knows how to provide social glue and bring people together. She brings people closer, not farther apart.8. She always makes time for you and is there when you need her within a reasonable timeframe (this requires them to be a good time manager herself)A great boss doesn’t push your meetings off indefinitely or tell you “I don’t have time” without hearing you first. A great boss is there for her employee in times of need whether be it a meeting or a simple phone call. This, however, requires that she is a good manager of her own time, to begin with.9. She supports your career moves even if it means you move away from her teamThis isn’t about being selfless, or caring and empathetic about others’ goals. A great boss knows that her ultimate job is to develop a person as a whole, and not just to develop a member of her team. Any person’s development, if it goes well, will surely extend beyond what he r team’s function requires of any person on her team. If she sees this, she will be supportive and happy for you when you one day tell her that you have to pursue bigger or different goals or simply goals that don’t fall within her team.Top: Equipment Embroidered Stripe Blouse // Handbag: Palla A-Bag10. She asks for a 30-60-90 day plan at the beginning of a new jobWhen you are starting a new job, the impact of a great boss is immeasurable. She has the power to set you up to have a thriving future at this new company. An average manager appreciates a 30-60-90 day plan, but a great manager asks for one. Either way, you should always be prepared to do one, but know that if your manager asks for one, it’s likely that she will turn into a great boss.Does reading this list make you appreciate your current boss more? Did you just realize you have a pretty decent boss yourself? Tell me more below in the comments section!All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ StylenfuseP.S. If you’re wondering why this bag looks so familiar, it’s because you saw it in my last post... except it was the pink side showing. This is a reversible, genuine leather bag!  Palla Handbag is the company that makes this bag and has generously agreed to give me a unique discount code for Cubicle Chic readers “@cubicle_chic” â€" use it to get  15% off  if you wind up purchasing one of the Palla bags.Handbag:  Palla A-Bag  use my 15% off code “Cubicle_chic” (P.S. They’re also available on Amazon!)

What Not to Wear to the Interview

What Not to Wear to the Interview Every year after the big celebrity awards shows, the pundits weigh in on the best and worst dressed of the evening and Sunday nights  Golden Globe Awards  was no exception. Many of the popular style columns and blogs are already dissing Renee Zelweggers dress, Susan Sarandons sunglasses, and Beyonces poorly contained cleavage. And while an interview isnt quite the same as a walk down the red carpet, hiring authorities are paying attention to what candidates wear to job interviews. Here are some of the biggest fashion mistakes I see job seekers make.Women  Long fingernails with bright or distracting nail polish. Nails should be clipped short and it is recommended that you wear clear or light polish.Short skirts. Make sure you can sit and cross your legs comfortably. If your teenage daughter thinks your skirt is the right length, it is probably too short.Too much jewelry. Multiple bangle bracelets can be noisy and distracting during an interview. Only wear one pair of earings (and only in your ears).Too much perfume. An overpowering scent can quickly turn a one hour interview into a 20 minute interview. Go easy on the perfume or skip it altogether.Inappropriate footwear. It is fine to wear a shoe with a heel, but stay away from stilletos and open-toed shoes.Big Hair. If you plan to wear your hair down, try to keep it off your face. Otherwise opt for a neat style that pulls the hair away from your face.MenUnruly facial hair. Clean shaven is preferred. If you have a moustache or a beard, get a trim before the interview.Long Hair. Off the face and ears is best.Unkempt fingernails. Nails should be trimmed and clean.Too much cologne. Same reasons as stated for women.Unpolished Shoes. Its not just about having a nice suit. Clean, polished shoes complete the look.Lose Change. Jostling change in your pocket can be noisy and distracting. Clear out your pockets before the interview.During an interview you want to be remembered for what you said, not what you wore. By chosi ng styles that are appropriate for your age, industry, and professional brand you can ensure that your candidacy is judged on your accomplishments, rather than what you wear to the interview.

CRAVE NYC (aka Im in a real live book!)

CRAVE NYC (aka Im in a real live book!) Wanna hear the coolest? Im in a real live book! CRAVE NYC is the NYC version of the super-popular Urban Girls Guide thats available in major bookstores. From CRAVEs mouth: CRAVE new york city innovatively connects urban gals to the sassiest, gutsiest, most inspiring people they need to know in NYC. Our modern marketplace of soirees, gatherings and online networking serves as your ambassador to everything there is to CRAVE about the Big Apple. What I love about CRAVE as a company and why Im extra thrilled to be included in the pages of its very first NYC edition is that they only feature local, female entrepreneurs. Girl power at its finest. Its also a super gorgeous book with shiny paper and pop-y photos and its founder, Melody Biringer, is the bomb diggity. Whats that? You wanna see my spread? Well, OK!: And big fat kudos to Erin Wigger for taking such a beautiful photo, and for making it such a good time, too! If you want your own CRAVE NYC guide, I got a few that Im happy to sell for $12 (it usually retails for $19.95)  including shipping. Just contact me with your info and Ill make sure a pretty lil CRAVE guide gets into your pretty little hands! ____________________________________________________________________

The Basic Facts of Retail Resume Skills

The Basic Facts of Retail Resume Skills If you're a recent graduate or career changer free of experience in retail sales, you are going to want to compose a sales resume objective. It is possible to also discuss your work description if you're a leader of a retail sales team. As a manager, you're likely to be accountable for training sales associates in addition to inspiring them to increase their sales numbers. The work description of the group leader accountable for retail sales is centered on maximizing sales in the organization. Our resume builder gives you tips and examples on how best to compose your resume summary. You may receive a fantastic idea of keywords from the work description. In the aforementioned download, you will discover examples of what skills to train on and ideas for how to train your team. To make an eye-catching retail sales associate resume, you will need to incorporate a few vital components. A sales associate can help customers in making the b est choices should they have good understanding of the merchandise and services they're selling. Retail workers must really understand the company they work for, the products they sell, and the kinds of consumers who purchase their goods. When you impress your clients and become a product expert, they are more inclined to purchase from your organization. Retail employees must discover the balance that likewise fits their nature and style. For instance, suppose the work description asks for somebody who's highly motivated and a self-starter. In the retail business, it's all about showing up. What You Should Do to Find Out About Retail Resume Skills Before You're Left Behind Employers wish to observe how your efforts influence a corporation's business. Retail representatives want to supply a plethora of resources for the consumers. Some retail representatives can overwhelm a customer while some cannot speak to customers in any way. On the flip side, working in the retail s ector allows you to obtain experience and extremely transferable skills that you are able to utilize as you move between industries. Every industry will present you with situations that need you to manage several tasks simultaneously. You should take action to advance your customer service skills by learning how to anticipate customer responses. Retail sales training shouldn't have to be a strenuous course of action. The 30-Second Trick for Retail Resume Skills The retail business is only projected to grow, so now is the ideal time to apply! You may not think of them as skills, but they might be learned, and should you highlight them in the hiring procedure, you'll be more inclined to find the job. You want to have that retail job. Only if you would like the greatest retail jobs. Understanding Retail Resume Skills Skill requirements will be different depending on the job for which you're applying, so make sure to read the work description carefully and review our list of s kills listed by job and sort of skill. Because the retail business is transactional nature, it is simple to consist of numerical quantification to project competence. You ought to have the requisite skills to be successful in sales. In case you're asked about strengths and weaknesses at the exact same time, speak about your weakness first so which you can end on a positive note.

Questions to Ask when Writing a Resume - an in Depth Anaylsis on What Works and What Doesnt

Questions to Ask when Writing a Resume - an in Depth Anaylsis on What Works and What Doesn't People today have a tendency to underestimate what they are able to accomplish. Resumes have developed quite a bit since that time. Getting assistance from others Next, it's a very good concept to talk about and ask questions about what you've come across in your research. One of the very first questions I ask is for somebody to describe themselves. You might also want to think about asking a former co-worker to examine your resume. For instance, if you've never written a personal statement, attempt to come across some examples you are able to study. The reader should be in a position to tell in a fast glance what you would like to do and what you would be useful at. In case you decide you want expert support, it's time to come across writers. Your writer has to literally be you so as to make an effective resume that's distinctive and branded. Without a transparent target, an expert writer can't cause you to shine. The 30-Second Trick for Questions to Ask when Writing a Resume Your resume should be constructed around your perfect position. When you determine the sort of job which you are seeking, perso nalize your resume. Our occupation is to make a polished and skilled bit of writing. Each job ought to be a stepping stone towards your perfect career. Second, remember there's a difference between a resume and work application. You also ought to benefit from online assessments and job search preparation programs provided by your military transition center. If you presently have work, I would strongly suggest measuring your historical and present output. Make certain your USP for the job that you are applying for is presented clearly.

How to Build Your Reputation at Work

How to Build Your Reputation at WorkHaving a good reputation at work is not only important to get along well with your colleagues, a less than pleasant reputation can follow you to future jobs and hold you back. If youve been too gossipy, difficult, testy or unreliable with your coworkers, it isnt too late to change their perception of you by doing a little damage control. A few tips can get you started on the way to becoming an employee with a good reputation and these tips work for all types of jobs, whether in a health care job, at a desk or outdoors in construction. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Keep DeadlinesYour reputation can be injured if you are one of those people who promises faithfully to have your work finished on time but cant seem to hit that deadline. While you might be the nicest person in the sekretariat, bringing in homemade brownies and remembering everyones birthday with a card, that wont count for much if you dont get your work done on time. Make a serious effort to get your work in on time, and your reputation as a reliable employee will increase.Make Your Office the No Whining ZoneEvery business environment has an employee who complains and is negative all the time. Instead of complaining and rehashing a complaint to everyone at work, if you have an objection to some issue or way of doing something, just say it and move on. When you do have an objection to something, try and say it tactfully and perhaps offer a suggestion that might be an improvement.Stay Away From GossipAll workplaces seem to have a gossip, and gossiping and spreading tales is a good way to get a damaged reputation. Ignore the office negativity and never spread rumors because it might come back to you in a bad way. If you feel the need to talk to someone, make it a friend outside the office environment. Gossiping at work can create hard feelings among other employees and cause you to lose their trust.Learn to Prioritize a nd Be PreparedEveryone in a business setting knows at least one individual who doesnt carry his or her load and is unprepared. This is a big way you can damage your reputation. It can make you look uninterested, lazy or flighty, even though you have the best of intentions. Use a calendar or planner to organize your work, include notations, deadlines and other information that can help you get the job done. Dont take on more work than you know you can do. While you might want to be perceived as a super worker in the office, that can backfire if you cant get the work done on time. Spend a little time to prepare for meetings in advance. Showing up at a meeting appearing as though you are the only one who doesnt know what is going on can not only be embarrassing, but it can make others wonder why you are there.Offer an ApologyIf you do something wrong or offend someone at work, apologize for it. A sincere apology can do a lot to raise yourself in the eyes of others. If you are late gett ing your work done or were in a hurry and brusque with someone, an apology can go a long way toward making amends.How Long It Takes to Change a ReputationThe amount of time it takes to raise a reputation can depend on what the offenses were and how long your reputation has been suffering. Just remember that once you begin to change that pattern, the faster you will reach your goal. People tend to be forgiving, especially when they see that someone is trying to improve themselves.Building a good reputation is important in any work environment because it makes the job more pleasurable. In addition, it may affect your future employment if you decide to check out the classified job ads to move up or just because you want a change. TheJobNetwork can help you by searching job ads for you and sending alerts to your email when those jobs come on the market. All you do is fill out a form with your qualifications and job preferences to start the search. Sign up with TheJobNetwork now to get s tarted.

No Amount of Books or Advice Can Prepare You For These 4 Aspects of Management

No Amount of Books or Advice Can Prepare You For These 4 Aspects of Management Dont get me wrong. Im elend knocking leadership books (I would never). Theres so much leadership and management content in the world, and a lot of it is immensely valuable. But, at the end of the day, reading, listening to podcasts or watching TED talks alone in your office wont matter if you dont try or test out some of the approaches youre reading about.Many of us learn by doing especially when it comes to interacting with others and leading a team. Strict formulas may be hard to follow when it comes to our fellow humans, but being willing to try can go a long way. Heres what you can expect when you take the leap and try things out1. You will screw up.Sorry to say it, friend, but its true. You can be the best of the best in your craft and an amazing leader, but youre still human. You will put your foot in your mouth or forget to communicate something. It is inevitable. Your goal is to do your best and o wn it when you botch things up. A genuine Im sorry. I really missed the mark on that goes a very long way when building trust with your employees. Along with, obviously, not missing the mark on the same exact thing next time, if at all possible Youre human. You know it and they know it. Your willingness to admit it shows them that its safe to own up when they too miss the mark on occasion. Speaking of which2. Your team will screw up.Your team is also human, and that means theyll inevitably drop the ball on something. Its hard when that happens for them and for you. No one likes to admit when they were wrong, but its important for you to evolve and learn from your mistakes. Thats only possible if you admit and explore them. Sitting down with someone on your team to talk about how they made an error isnt necessarily a comfortable conversation to have for anyone. However, if you do so openly, honestly and with the intent to help them grow, they will hopefully appreciate it and improve their wertzuwachs next time around. Ignoring mistakes is not ok. After all, this team is a reflection of you and your skills. You owe it to them to be brave enough to start uncomfortable conversations.3. Its always a work in progress.Leading a team is one of those roles where youre never really done learning. The workplace changes, roles change, generations and the world around us are always evolving... and how you approach or greifhandle your role will change as well. Its not like you read one book or take one course and relax. Its an ongoing education. Put yourself out there and enjoy the ride Ongoing learning is a part of the fun.4. It can be incredibly rewarding.You are impacting lives You have the opportunity to aid in shaping someones future. Helping your team evolve is an amazing experience. Knowing that youve had a hand in someones career evolution gives you good feels and reminds you of why you started in this work to begin with. These days, so many of us talk about the im pact of our work, but not everyone realizes the impact that we have day-to-day on the lives of our teams. Honor the opportunity youve got and give it your all.A big part of being a leader is leaning into your own humanity. And for some of us, thats an incredibly uncomfortable thing to do. Unfortunately, textbooks and formulas cant account for the unique snowflakes that we humans are. All the more reason to put yourself out there and try. That vulnerability is scary, but absolutely worth it in the long run.--Kelly is a human resources pro and coach who helps people find and achieve what they want career-wise and beyond. Coaching, training, recruiting if you name it in the world of HR, shes done it in a variety of industries. Her advice has been featured on The Muse, Career Contessa, Levo, Workology, among others. Learn more by scoping her out atwww.kellypoulson.com.