day in the life

Posted on by
Reply

hey hey hey. It’s about time we introduce you to ticklemybrain’s latest initiative –> day in the life.

Before we tell you about our idea, we want to let you know that it will be one of many to come on our website, www.ticklemybrain.com, as we encourage everyone to be a part of the process that makes ticklemybrain what it is: a youth driven, career resource portal; one that wants you to (1) transform your resume or cover letter with our writing service to increase your chances of securing your dream job. (2) join a network to connect with friends on a professional basis and make yourself visible to recruiters on the hunt for ambitious minds. (3) discover career advice on how to find, love and leave your job; be inspired by our book suggestions, quotes, images and more. (4) understand industries across global markets through our daily features.

why you: One of our website offers, under the understand industries branch, is a feature titled day in the life and serves a much needed purpose. Countless fresh graduates and young professionals seeking new employment opportunities live under a false illusion of what most jobs truly entail, mainly due to the lack of proper resources explaining otherwise. a day in the life of aims to clarify these pretenses in a creative way. This is where you come in.

tickle your brain: (1) Within the confines of a page, describe a typical work-filled day at your job. (2) What are your main roles? (3) What skills are needed in order for one to be successful at your job in your opinion? (4) What are the perks? (5) What are the disadvantages? (6) What is the preferred educational background for the position you hold? (7) Where can you go from here? By no means do we want you to put down your company, even if your personal sentiments differ from such, as you will be representing it on the ticklemybrain website. If featured, a sample article title would read as follows: a day in the life of Cookie Monster; Chief Executive Officer at Sesame Street. We’ll leave the rest of the details up to you.

maybe rich, surely famous: We hope you can provide us with your unique know how before the clock ticks 2012. Send it over to tellus@ticklemybrain.com. We will review and edit your article to match ticklemybrain standard requirements and provide you with a copy for your approval prior to publishing it online!

Think of us as the wikipedia of careers. Soon enough, our website will seek more of your knowledge, ideas and suggestions and cater it to benefit all that seek it. We are so excited to welcome you to the world of ticklemybrain and more importantly, to have you always be a part of our efforts to create and sustain a truly wonderful website.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

taking off,

ticklemybrain – where minds come to work

Sources –> Images: (2) www.weheartit.com – a day in your life (3) www.weheartit.com – eternal youth

a nightmare on wall street – part two

Posted on by
6

A downward spiral in stock markets witnessed around the world and a decline in global consumer wealth estimated in the trillions; the financial crisis definitely took its toll. ticklemybrain’s previous article, explained how deregulation led to the financial sector’s rise in power and allowed predatory lending to reach its peak. Following this, it somehow got a little more corrupt and little more complicated:

11. borrow to buy: Lenders were enticing borrowers to enter into unsafe secured loans for inappropriate purposes and investment banks were borrowing heavily, to buy more of these dangerous loans and create more CDOs, that in turn were being sold to investors all over the world. The ratio between borrowed money and a bank’s own money is called leverage. In 2004, Henry Paulson, CEO of Goldman Sachs, lobbied to lower limits on leverage, allowing banks to borrow more and more.

12. glory of insurance: AIG, the world’s largest insurance company, was selling derivatives, called credit default swaps to protect against CDOs if they went bad; a simple insurance policy. One could also buy credit default swaps from AIG in order to bet against CDOs they didn’t own! Concept of insurance we all understand: You can only insure something you own. You own a house, only you can insure it and you can only insure it once. Insurance for the crazy: You and your million friends can insure your house. If your house explodes however, not only will AIG have to pay you, owner of exploded home, back but they will also have to pay your million friends. Since credit default swaps were unregulated, AIG didn’t have to save any money in its piggy bank to cover potential massive losses.

13. mind on my money and money on my mind: The entire system was a bubble waiting to pop yet somehow, CEOs and high-ranking employees were raking in hundreds and hundreds of millions. With great money comes great responsibility; all levels of Wall Street types drowned in the world of alcohol, clubs, drugs, prostitution in addition to owning pent houses on Park Avenue, Hampton estates, private jets, art collections, jewelry and the list goes on…

14. goldman went gold: Borrowers had borrowed, on average, 99.3 percent the price of their houses. Goldman Sachs sold more than three billion dollars worth of CDOs in the first half of 2006. It then started betting against them at the same time it was telling customers that they were high-quality investments! By purchasing those insurance policies from AIG, Goldman Sachs could also bet against CDOs it didn’t own, and get paid when the CDOs failed. Then, believe it or not, it started selling CDOs specifically designed so that the more money their customers lost, the more money they made! As depicted in the documentary film, Inside Job, in April 2010 Goldman Sachs was forced to testify before congress. Senator Carl Levin: “What do you think about selling securities which your own people think are crap?  Does that bother you? When you heard that your employees, in these e-mails, said, god, what a shitty deal; god, what a piece of crap; do you feel anything?” CFO of Goldman Sachs: “I think that’s very unfortunate to have on e-mail.” And it wasn’t just them…

15. it’s just an opinion: On top of all this, the top three rating agencies made billions of dollars giving high ratings to risky securities. Hundreds of billions of dollars were being rated AAA and when it all came down the agencies defended themselves by saying that they were merely giving out an opinion.

16. and it all came down: In February 2006, Ben Bernanke became chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and despite the warnings, did nothing. By 2008, the securitization food chain fell to pieces.  Lenders could no longer sell their loans to investment banks as the loans went bad. In March 2008, the investment bank Bear Stearns, all out of money, was acquired for two dollars a share by JP Morgan Chase. In September 2008, Henry Paulson, having been appointed treasury secretary, announced the federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two monstrous sized mortgage lenders on the brink of destruction. (3) Lehman Brothers announced losses of more than three billion dollars. The British financial services firm, Barclays, considered saving Lehman Brother’s soul but the deal fell apart and it declared bankruptcy. The effect on the world’s market would be unfathomable. The crazy part, within days of being bailed out, all these institutions still had their A ratings!

17. action reaction: Lehman Brother‘s failure caused a collapse in the commercial paper market, which many companies depended on to pay for operating expenses, such as salaries. At the same time, AIG owed 13 billion dollars to holders of credit default swaps and the money to make these repayments was nowhere to be seen. Every single inch of the financial system ceased to operate. Nobody was going to borrow money now. In October 2008, President George W. Bush signed a 700-billion-dollar bailout bill.  The bailout did nothing but save the big players remaining in the game. It did nothing for world stock markets that continued to fall and unemployment in the United States and Europe that soared to 10 percent.

18. and they all walked away: The men who destroyed their own companies, and plunged the world into crisis, walked away from the wreckage swimming in green. Lehman Brothers gave its CEO, Richard Fuld, half a billion dollars at the peak of subprime lending, and when the firm went bankrupt he got to keep all his money. The CEO of Merrill Lynch, received 90 million dollars in 2006 and 2007 alone. When Merrill Lynch hit the floor, his board of directors allowed him to resign and, so he wouldn’t cry, collect 161 million dollars. President Barack Obama said “yes we can” and pressed for change, yet among his many inexplainable moves, he chose Timothy Geithner as his treasury secretary. Geithner was the president of the New York Federal Reserve during the crisis. He also appointed William C. Dudley as president of the Federal Reserve, the former chief economist of Goldman Sachs.

The world’s largest banks are now more powerful than ever. Between 1998 and 2008, the financial industry spent over 5 billion dollars on lobbying and campaign contributions to fight reform and since the crisis, they’re spending even more. Inequality of wealth in the world is now higher than ever. In 2009, as unemployment hit a new peak, Morgan Stanley paid its employees over 14 billion dollars; and Goldman Sachs paid out over 16 billion. Not a single senior executive has been criminally prosecuted. The rich became richer, the poor became poorer and in September 2011, a Reuters poll indicated that economists thought the probability of another recession was at 31%, up from 25% the month before.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) inside job – documentary film by charles ferguson (2) www.time.com – 25 people to blame for the financial crisis (3) www.imf.org – the thirty five most tumultuous years in monetary history: shocks and financial trauma (4) www.economist.com – bad, or worse (5) www.bloomberg.com – global recession risk grows as US damage spreads (6) www.reuters.com – three top economists agree 2009 worst financial crisis since great depression; risks increase if right steps are not taken (7) www.nytimes.com –financial crisis was avoidable, inquiry finds Images: (1) www.weheartit.com – enjoying the melt down together (2) www.weheartit.com – burning ciggy (3) www.weheartit.com – i love bubble wrap (4) www.weheartit.com – tired husband (5) www.weheartit.com – glasses break (6) www.weheartit.com – crisis bulb

a nightmare on wall street – part one

Posted on by
1

It’s about time we all knew who the bad guys were. In September of 2008, the bankruptcy of the US investment bank, Lehman Brothers, and the collapse of the largest insurance company on earth, American International Group (AIG), triggered a global economic recession that damaged financial institutions internationally, cost the world tens of trillions of dollars and left 30 million people unemployed. This larger than life conspiracy was no accident and is rooted in a deep history of unrestrained greed and an out of control industry. By reading ticklemybrain’s double feature on the story behind the crisis inspired by the remarkable, eye opening documentary film, Inside Job by director and producer Charles Ferguson, the next time you decide to blame the sloppy economy for your working woes, you’ll be able to narrow the blame down just a tad:

1. trip down memory lane: Following the Great Depression, a severe worldwide economic depression occurring between 1929 and 1940, the United States witnessed 40 years of economic prosperity in a regulated financial industry: (1) Commercial banks, where people stored their money, were local businesses that were not allowed to gamble with depositor savings. (2) Investment banks, which did not take deposits, handled stock and bond trading and operated as partnerships meaning that partners were putting up only their own money at risk.

2. going public: In the 1980s, everything changed as investment banks went public, giving them huge amounts of stockholder money and room for incredible growth.

3. deregulation and the first mini crisis: President Ronald Reagan’s administration began a 30-year period of financial deregulation: the removal of government regulations that constrained the operation of market forces. In 1982, saving and loan companies were deregulated allowing them to make risky investments with depositor savings. Eventually, all these companies failed costing innocent families more than 120 billions dollars, pennies compared to crisis looming in the near future. When one American financier, Charles Keating, was being investigated, he hired Alan Greenspan who informed regulators that he saw no harm in allowing Keating to invest the money of the people, oblivious to the harm being done. Keating eventually went to prison, but Greenspan was punished by becoming chairman of America’s central bank, the Federal Reserve.

4. citi wants to travel: In 1998, Citicorp and Travelers Group joined forces to form Citigroup, the largest financial services corporation in the world at the time. This merger directly violated the Glass Steagall Act, a law that separated bank types according to their business; it was literally illegal to make this acquisition. Yet one year later, under the reign of President Bill Clinton, the Gramm Leach Bliley Act was passed resulting in the removal of barriers in the market among banking, securities and insurance companies prohibiting one any one institution from acting as any combination of an investment bank, a commericial bank and an insurance company.

5. dot com mini crisis: Investment banks, between 1995 and 2000, caused a massive bubble of Internet stocks, which crashed in 2001 and caused five trillion dollars of investment losses. An investigation revealed that investment banks had promoted companies they knew would fail! Companies given the highest possible ratings to the public were referred to privately as pieces of junk.

6. cooking the books: It was also during this time that the worlds biggest financial firms were caught in finest forms of fraud. An example or two? Our friend, Citibank, helped funnel 100 million dollars of drug money out of Mexico. You’ve all seen Enron in your textbooks; maybe they failed to mention that Citibank, JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch all helped good old Enron conceal fraud.

7. weapons of mass destruction: Beginning in the 1990s, deregulation and technology advancements led to the invention of what one of the world’s richest men, Warren Buffet, referred to as weapons of mass destruction: complex financial products called derivatives. Trying to understand derivatives is like trying to understand how CEOs on Wall Street managed to walk away from the crisis with their fortunes intact, pointless. All you need to know is that derivatives allowed bankers to gamble on virtually anything: the rise or fall of prices, the success of a company and even the prospect of rain tomorrow.

8. anyone for a game of monopoly? By 2001, the thrones of the financial industry were occupied by five investment banks (1) Goldman Sachs (2) Morgan Stanley (3) Lehman Brothers (4) Merrill Lynch and (5) Bear Stearns, two financial conglomerates (1) Citigroup and (2) JP Morgan, three securities-insurance companies (1) AIG (2) MBIA and (3) AMBAC and three rating agencies (1) Moody’s (2) Standard and Poor’s and (3) Fitch.

9. loan milestone: You borrow money to buy yourself the new iPhone as you can’t imagine life without your personal assistant, Siri. The person who lends you the money expects you to pay him or her back and a result, is obviously careful when lending his or her own money, especially when the ball game changes from a $600 phone to a full fledged loan for a home. This explanation is the loan definition that most of us are accustomed to. But of course, beginning in the year 2000, the new loan structure that would govern the financial industry would be referred to as securitization and would be slightly more confusing: (1) Lenders would make loans, especially mortgages, and would then (2) sell them to investment banks. (3) Investment banks combined thousands of mortgages and other types of loans to create derivatives called collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). (4) The investment banks sold the CDOs to investors. (5) Now, when homeowners paid back their duly owned loans, the money went to investors all over the world, and not the original lender who practically forgot he or she made a loan. (6) To top it all off, investment banks paid rating agencies to evaluate CDOs, and most of them were given AAA ratings, basically, the equivalent of an A+ on your final exam.

10. who cares: (1) Lenders didn’t care anymore about whether a borrower could repay them, so they started making loans to whomever; the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker. The riskiest type of loan was called the subprime loan (more appropriately called the second-chance loan) and meant making loans to people who may have trouble paying it back! The subprime loan was the leading type being offered in loan world and the CDO’s created from such dangerous loans were still receiving the A+ stamp of approval. (2) The investment banks didn’t care; the more CDOs they sold, the higher their profits. (3) The rating agencies, paid by investment banks, had no liability if their ratings were wrong, so why would they care either.

Hundreds of billions of dollars were flowing through the securitization chain and the money rolled in… to the kind people that allowed practically a newborn child to take a loan, the kings and queens of Wall Street.

Read our second feature to see how and why the bubble exploded and its devastating consequence on the world’s economies.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) inside job – documentary film by charles ferguson (2) www.time.com – 25 people to blame for the financial crisis (3) www.imf.org – the thirty five most tumultuous years in monetary history: shocks and financial trauma (4) www.economist.com – bad, or worse (5) www.bloomberg.com – global recession risk grows as US damage spreads (6) www.reuters.com – three top economists agree 2009 worst financial crisis since great depression; risks increase if right steps are not taken (7) www.nytimes.com – financial crisis was avoidable, inquiry finds Images: (1) www.weheartit.com – binoculars (2) www.weheartit.com – fingerbull (3) www.anes-w.tumblr.com/ – don’t understand it (4) www.weheartit.com – dive down (5) www.weheartit.com – green (6) www.weheartit.com – only up

before you sign on the dotted line

Posted on by
Reply

That elusive condition referred to as happiness; a state of existence where you’re actually paid what you’re worth and no longer puzzled as to whether your credit card is a friend or foe. Every job offer, even at the entry level, is an opportunity to negotiate the most important number in your working life: your salary. Money isn’t everything, but for those of us struggling to establish our career paths, a suitable salary represents the mark of our independence and genuinely sought after financial freedom. If you’re prepared to negotiate for happiness, whether it’s for your first job offer, your next job, or following a performance review, then take to heart ticklemybrain’s nine step guide on what to do before you sign on the dotted line:

1. background story: Your relative power when sitting across from your prospective or current employer is dependent upon four major factors: (1) economy, (2) company, (3) hiring and (4) applicant factors. (1) Economy factors refer to the overall state of the economy and industry in which you plan to prosper, its unemployment rate and current demand for professionals of your caliber. (2) Company factors refer to the company’s profitability, position in the business cycle and size. The size of a company, for example, can give its negotiation more or less latitude; smaller companies are more likely to relent to your requests. (3) Hiring factors refer to how urgently the position needs to be filled and the company’s staffing budget. (4) Finally, applicant factors refer to the unique skill set required to successfully fill the position and the level of competition.

2. fortify: Preparing to negotiate is like playing a round of the strategic board game Risk. While the primary objective of Risk is “world domination”, the commonality is in being prepared. Going into the interview room without knowledge of your industry and average salary range offered in the region is similar to attacking countries with only a few soldiers. You need to obtain as much information as possible in an effort to map your skills against what a company considers valuable; this will be your armor. Try to get in touch with people who received offers from the company you’re applying to and its competitors. Ask the contact if and how he or she negotiated and whether it was successful. Establish your minimum requirements, which will depend on whether you have other offers pending, your financial status, how long you’ve been in the job search, and the state of the economy. Ask yourself the vital questions. How much do I need to pay my basic expenses such as rent, groceries, utilities, and transportation? What salary will I need to live a life superior to the one I’m living now? How much will I be saving?

3. dream candidate: To any successful organization, the dream candidate has many ideal qualities one of which is surely the ability to negotiate. It will want you to be a tough yet professional negotiator with its clients, so it expects you to set the same standards for yourself. Ideally, you should be able to demonstrate in monetary terms how the unique qualities you will bring add value to the company. Know how much your skills and experience are worth in the current marketplace and sell yourself. Also, don’t let your current salary limit your belief of what your earning potential should be.

4. you go first: You need to withhold your stance on what your salary should be for as long as possible. You go first and you’re down to three scenarios: (1) You’re low, they win. (2) You’re high, they think you’re arrogant and out of their price range. (3) You’re just right, and you’ll never know what could have been.  Employers often use such information as a fundamental strategy to screen candidates out of consideration and you don’t want to put yourself in the dark zone before you even get your foot in the door. If the question pops up on your job application, go for words such as “open”, “negotiable” or “competitive”. You are now in the interview room and asked directly, “What salary do you expect here at McDonalds?” You, Version 1:  “Well, what salary range is offered at your company to someone with my burger flipping and French frying experience?” You, Version 2: “Something comparable to the market rate, given my skills and capabilities.” You, Version 3: “I am flexible with my salary and I’m expecting to earn fair market value for the position.” You, Version 4: I’m sure that if I do receive an offer, it will be fair and reasonable”. You, Version 5: “I will consider any reasonable offer I receive”. Finally, if pushed to produce a number say: “I have researched this position by speaking to my peers at Burger King and Wendy’s, and for my position the range is $ to $. Is that what you have in mind?” Give a range making sure the bottom is the minimum you have decided you should take and the top being only a bit higher than your ideal. It might be relevant to you that you have payments and bills to make, but not to the company. Give business reasons only to back yourself up.

5. hmmm: Should the offer be made immediately after the salary inquiry then let the silence linger whether you like what you’re hearing or not. If the interviewer offers $50,000, a smart applicant will repeat the figure: “Fifty thousand,” you say while tilting your head back to investigate the ceiling tiles, “Hmmm.” You have set the stage to counter. Now it’s time to put your research to work. You should know the expected range for this job, and you can now begin to position yourself favorably within the range. You, Version 1: “My research has shown the range for this job to be up to $55,000 and I believe my experiences qualify me to come in at the top end of the range.” You, Version 2: “Taking my experience into consideration and knowing that I have the ability to jump right in and make a difference, I really feel strongly that a salary of $55,000 would be appropriate.” You, Version 3: “Based on my understanding of the job, the company’s needs, and the skills and experience I bring, I feel I’m worth $5,000 more than what you’re offering me.” If the thought of negotiating makes you queasy, remember that annual raises are usually a percentage of your salary. This one time negotiation will continue to pay you back.  You will clearly need to make a judgment about each situation as it arises however, but experts agree against giving up your salary history. Scary mean guy sitting across from you: “Well, we need to know your salary history so that we know whether we’re in the right ballpark.” You: “Well, what is the going rate in the industry for someone giving the unique contribution I can make?” If scary mean guy persists, then the best bet is to reveal, without lying, a number that represents your current total compensation including salary and benefits. On both topics, more often than not, the recruiter will move on and the issue of salary won’t come up again until you’ve been offered the job.

6. the critical hour: You have received a job offer. Should the average salary offered by the company not have been mentioned in the interview this is a second chance where you have the power and should negotiate your salary. Use the same methods mentioned above, either through an email or even better, face to face. Each case can be viewed slightly differently depending on the discussion in the interview. For example, had your prospective employer only mentioned a salary range, you are now aware of his or her negotiating parameters. Explain why your skill set places you on the upper end of his or her range.

7. slow and steady wins the race: Don’t rush to accept the offer, even if it was more than you expected. Ensure everything in the documentation adds up to what you were offered verbally. Aside from the obvious salary you have successfully negotiated for, details to look out for are the job title, department, location, reporting line, work hours, vacation entitlement, benefits and start date.

8. he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse: When you receive a job offer, it is important to consider the offer in its entirety. Pay attention to the company’s health insurance plan, vacation package, overtime pay, and other perks. Maybe the company is not meeting your salary requirements but is somehow able to make it up to you in other ways. Keep in mind that some offers are too good to refuse even if the money isn’t there. This is especially true for programs that will teach you unique skills. Some jobs are so prestigious that simply having them on your resume is enough.

9. agree on the future: Performance reviews and salary negotiations are a continuous processes. The last step of a salary negotiation should be the first step of the next. Set the groundwork for what performance objectives you need to achieve to receive a raise or promotion in the near future.

Negotiating a salary is something we are reluctant to do, especially as recent work force entrants. The economy leads us to believe we should be grateful just to be hired and we don’t want to rock the boat. While its lovely to be appreciative and enthusiastic, not only can you negotiate the salary of your first and next job, you should.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) www.salary.com - everything is negotiable/ your dream deal (2) www.careerbuilder.com – do’s and dont’s of negotiating a salary/ mishandling salary negotiations/ five steps for successful salary negotiation/ say hmmm to the first salary offer (3) www.askmen.com – eight tips to negotiating a higher salary (4) www.forbes.com – tips for negotiating your first salary Images: (1) www.vi.sualize.us - piggy bank (2) www.vi.sualize.us – in god we trust (3) www.stuffnoonetoldme.blogspot.com – how good i am (4) www.vi.sualize.us – walk the line

promotion potions

Posted on by
1

Your boss informs you that a promotion just won’t be happening this year. As you shrug your shoulders and walk away, you may be inclined to blame the recession for your woes. Well, with some companies rising from the dead to pursue growth, you might have to shift the blame to yourself: your disheveled look, consistently late strolls into the office, or overbearing attitude. Easier said than done, but professionals across the board agree that there is a way to make the short list of candidates chosen to climb the corporate ladder. In that regard, here are ticklemybrain’s ten step guide to reaching promotion island:

1. knowledge is power: The adage, knowledge is power, stands true here. You should constantly be reading about your industry and know what its leaders are doing in order to stay on top of your game. As you arm yourself with a waterfall of knowledge, you can become an asset your company perceives it cannot live without.

2. above and beyond: One of the best ways to gain notice is to be a solid performer and exceed your job expectations. Some employees view all work tasks as nothing other than tasks while the passionate bunch view them with enthusiasm. If you genuinely lack the love for your field of work, maybe its time you search for a new ladder to climb. Remember, in your quest to outperform, you need to make some noise and sell yourself. Don’t come off as a pompous self-promoter, but if you are doing a good job and it goes unnoticed then this counts as a missed opportunity.

3. discover the core: Identify the central function of the business you work in and play a role in it. As a consultant, for example, you understand that your business prospers by securing projects with large paychecks. You can be the employee that possesses the skills to work on a project once it is won by your firm or you can be the employee that goes beyond borders to eventually succeed in bringing business to your firm and consequently, ring those promotion bells in your manager’s head.

4. skills spice up: There is a good chance you are missing some of the necessary qualifications for the role you seek. Most companies have a list of requirements they like to call core competencies, listed for every employee level. When it comes time to assess your key performance indicators, your assessors will refer to the core competencies assigned to your position and decide whether you possess them or not. Be certain that you have achieved the competencies assigned to your level and that you are already on the road to acquiring the competencies of the role you seek.

5. find your replacement: How convenient that you have a quality replacement to take on the job you seek to move up from, trained and ready to report for duty, when promotion time comes rolling around the corner.

6. mentor with your mindset: Most companies require you to have a coach or mentor as part of business practice. Work your contacts around the office and seek a coach that you know will stand up and fight for you. You want your voice to be heard on promotion day, and if you work for a corporation that employs 1000, you’ll need a loud one.

7. manager chit chat: Who has a larger say in your chances of earning a promotion other than your manager? By no means should you assume that he or she is aware of your desire to rule the world. A good manager will assist you in evaluating yourself and prepare you for the opportunities on the horizon. You should ask for an objective assessment of your professional strengths and weaknesses and the steps required for you to smoothly assume your new role. The involvement of your manager from the start precludes he or she from telling you: “I didn’t know you were seeking promotion” when announcement day comes and your name is nowhere to be seen.

8. visibility booster: The glory of networking has its value worldwide but nowhere more than the Middle East do we realize its effects. Being connected at work, like it or not, has multiple benefits. (1) You could learn of opportunities you might not have otherwise heard of.  (2) When it comes time to discuss your promotion, your circle might be present in the room to speak well of you. (3) Networking with others allows you to boost your visibility in the company, and done properly, can only serve to flourish your career.

9. no no’s: (1) You’re unprepared and clueless. Always think about how you can improve the company’s bottom line. Don’t be an adequate employee; that will only be enough to help you keep your job. Arrive early, stay late, be innovative, and meet your deadlines. (2) You’re lazy. Slack off and people will forget your name when promotion discussions are brought up.  You stare at that photocopy machine, and say to yourself, “I didn’t take this job to photocopy 1000 pages 987,654,321 times.” You will never get your chance if you don’t pay your dues. (3) You don’t lead. It’s fantastic that you can take orders and do a great job, but can you lead others? Try to take on a project outside of your job duties, volunteer to lead a committee, organize a conference, or bring your company newsletter back to life. (4) You dress like an actual rock star. Casual Friday doesn’t mean prancing into work looking like the lead singer of KISS. (5) You have a domineering attitude. Be a team player, don’t make enemies, be positive, and most importantly, be yourself. Also, rather than only discussing your career and yourfuture make sure to mention how you are willing to do whatever it takes to make your company succeed and be the industry leader.

10. move up, move across, or move out: If you cannot move up in your area then consider moving across into a different area of the business so that you can learn new skills, make new contacts, and find another path upwards. Have a plan. If you are turned down for promotion, ask why, and if you no longer see an avenue of progress, look elsewhere.  There are plenty of opportunities for the ambitious.

When judgment day arrives, you will be assessed on your work performance, skills, attitude, and eagerness to learn among many other attributes. Your seniors will ask themselves the following questions: Does he or she… Volunteer for tough assignments? Handle change well? Focus on the future? Display a positive attitude? Work efficiently and effectively? Look for ways to grow? A promotion is not an all or nothing proposition. Remember that you are unlikely to soar across multiple rungs of the corporate ladder in a single move. So no matter what happens, keep your eye keen on the position you ultimately want to assume in this life, whether it is CEO of your corporation or dancing around your self owned bar in the Caribbean.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) www.careerbuilder.com - four things that can increase your chances of a promotion/ ten reasons you won’t get promoted/ you want a promotion but do you deserve one/ five secrets to climbing the ladder faster/ how to become the employee no one can afford to lose (2) www.lifehack.org - how to get promoted Images: (1) www.joannefaith.com – everything is marketing (2) www.ffffound.com – instant win (3) www.cllctr.com – talent killer (4) www.cakewithgiants.com – reach the moon

good bye and good luck

Posted on by
1

You’ve been told that any job is a good job in this downward spiraling economy. Your relentless ambition and search for greatness, however, have given you the strength to quit your job. Unlike when you were first employed, a time when you were full of hope and novel ideas, quitting time arrives when you are exhausted and ready to snap. There is a way, despite those unshakeable dreams where your boss is being run over with a truck, to walk out the door with grace. As you count down the days to tender your resignation, please follow ticklemybrain’s eleven step guide on how to quit your job with class:

1. before i announce: Prepare ahead of time for your grand announcement; think emotionally and practically. Start taking things home, like data you’re legally entitled to keep and a list of contacts you would like to save. Delete those personal files and emails and spare the IT department humor on your behalf. You need to be ready to have that large security guard hold your hand out the door, as some companies will require you to leave the moment you deliver your heartbreaking news. Other simple preparations include bringing key people onto important projects you are working on and not volunteering your services towards any new initiative.

2. quiet until i quit: Don’t ever leave your boss to find out you’re quitting from a third party. No need to mutter about the subject at every lunch or cigarette break; not only do you look foolish but you lower the morale of the friends you are leaving behind. You should follow this rule even after you’ve resigned, your boss might be a monster but he’s a monster that everyone else has to keep working for.

3. before i explode: The best way to leave a job is on a good note; don’t simmer until you’re lashing out at work. You’ve decided to leave: either because you’ve secured another position or simply because you just can’t take it anymore. ticklemybrain will dedicate other articles towards why and when you should quit your job, this article will focus on how. All that will be said is, while the ancient old saying “it’s easier to find a job when you have a job” holds true, once you have made your decision don’t hesitate and don’t look back.

 4. notice me, i’m leaving: Dig up that employment contract you once signed with a smile and read for the notice period requested. Given that you were a model employee, your boss is more likely to agree to your requested departure date. You should state to your new employer that your start date is dependant on giving your previous employer adequate notice; a sign of your moral standards.

 5. a love-hate relationship: While you prepare your “I quit” speech, be sure to emphasize that your decision is based on what is best for you and your future. You should at all costs be thankful for the opportunity and list the number of reasons why the next job will further your horizons and expand your skills. Rather than burn bridges, “I think you’re rude and stupid and I can’t stand working for you”, take the high road, “It has been a pleasure to work with you. I have learnt an incredible amount and will truly miss the entire team.” Never outline your reason for leaving in the context of what your boss or company isn’t and instead outline it in terms of what it is that you need: a place to grow and a chance to follow your dreams of ruling the world.

Aside from the dreaded conversation, the formal way to resign is through a resignation letter (or email). Put as much effort into leaving your company as you did trying to get in. Once again, it doesn’t matter if your boss is an embezzler out to ruin your life: “Dear Dr. Evil: Please accept this message as notification that I am leaving my position with Monsters Inc. effective January 25. I appreciate the opportunities I have been given at Monsters Inc. and your professional guidance and support. I wish you all the success in the future. Please let me know what to expect as far as my final work schedule and employee benefits. Thank you for your time.”

 6. counter offer: Most professionals agree that it’s best to state clearly that you intend to leave and will not consider remaining. This is because even if your employer offers to boost your compensation, you will likely lose out a year later, when everyone but you is receiving a raise. If they valued you enough, they should have paid you better in the first place.

 7. ain’t all about me: The first rule of quitting is that it isn’t all about you. Acting like you are better than your colleagues because you’ve found another source of employment is a sure-fire way to make enemies. Believe it or not, much of the success that allowed you to secure a new position would have probably not been accomplished without the help of your coworkers.

 8. imma stick it out until the end: You have your new job lined up, so you’re tempted to spend the final hours counting the tiles on the ceiling or taking five hour lunch breaks. Whatever the next step in your life is, don’t slack off, as that will be the lasting impression left of you in this company. Take this time to find out about employee benefits you are entitled to receive. Also, you may be asked to participate in an exit interview prior to your departure.

 9. my loose ends: Don’t make life hard for those you leave behind. (1) Offer the proper training to your replacement, (2) write down notes about the location of certain files and other information you deem pertinent, (3) let your client know that you will be leaving to avoid any further confusion, and (4) return all company property.

10. reference in hand: With time, it is easy to lose track of previous employers, so before your wave your hand goodbye, ask for a letter of recommendation from your manager. Written documentation of your credentials will come in handy when impressing prospective employers.

11. network time: Unless you have a compelling reason to slip off the radar, make sure everyone has your contact information; you can do so in your goodbye email. Let them know that you are moving on to a new position, starting a job search, or if you’re lucky, retiring. These people are a part of your history, and you never know what the future holds.

Put a smile on your face and work through your last few weeks knowing that everything you hate about your job: your boss’s ridiculous requests, those never ending late night hours eating noodles from the only restaurant open nearby, that odd cafeteria smell, and the broken photocopier; will soon be gone with the wind.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) www.careerbuilder.com - five tips for quitting with class (2) www.forbes.com – how to quit with class (3) www.jobsearch.about.com – resignation dos and donts/ how to resign from your job/ resignation email letter sample (4) www.lifehacker.com – how to quit your job with your contacts credentials and class intact Images: (1) www.pinterest.com – quit (2) www.cllctr.com – you can grow (3) www.flickr.com – quit your job and fall in love (4) www.cllctr.com – fly

embrace the word that could set you free

Posted on by
4

Disrespect and lack of appreciation; two sentiments anyone who has ever held a job has experienced. Before you live up to the standards of your title as people pleaser, whether its towards your coworker, your client, or even your boss; consider ticklemybrain’s six step guide to embrace the one word that could set you free: no.

1. the victim act: You feel like the office doormat. Research has shown that most office doormats have self inflicted their doormat status. Try to identify reasons that led to your current label; (1) you give in to people’s requests so as not to upset them, (2) you avoid confrontations or, (3) you let other people take credit for your work. Need help with your assessment?  Tale the Am I A Pushover Quiz?

(1) You’re collaborating with two colleagues on a presentation. The day before it’s due, both claim to be overwhelmed with family responsibilities to finish it afterhours. You: (a) Say that you understand. As the only unmarried member of the group, you certainly have more free time than them. Your laundry can wait another week (who needs clean socks anyway) and so can that episode of Criminal Minds you were dying to watch. (b) Politely explain that it’s not fair for you to shoulder all the responsibility and request that they meet you in the morning to finish it.

(2) You’re out to lunch with a work buddy when the bill arrives. To make matters simple your coworker informs the waiter to split the bill evenly even though his meal cost $20 more than yours. You: (a) Remain silent as speaking up would only draw attention to an awkward situation. You only paid for his lunch fives times this month and he did offer you some Sour Skittles the other day. (b) Pay only what you owe so that your coworker understands his meal clearly cost more than yours.

(3) You’re packing up for the day when your colleague asks you for her millionth favor this month; your help with her monthly expense reports. You: (a) Gladly accept her request and remain afterhours until the job is done. After all, she did save you a seat at the cafeteria the other day and her hair does smell like flowers. (b) Tell her that you’re running late for an engagement but would be happy to email her your expense report as a guide.

(4) For months, you have been looking forward to attending your company’s yearly conference in Jamaica. Two weeks before you’re scheduled to leave, your boss informs you that he’s sending your coworker in your place. You: (a) Accept your company’s decision and quietly cry at your desk. What’s so great about Jamaica anyway, you think to yourself. (b) Explain that you’ve been anticipating the conference for months and politely demand an explanation. If you answered more A’s than B’s, then take to heart the following tips as you continue reading.

2. enable not thy coworker: If the word no has already left your vocabulary book learn to say: “I wish I could help you out, but I’m overwhelmed with many tasks as is” or, “I would love to assist you but I have prior commitments.” Basic assertiveness can go a long way. If someone has gotten away with taking advantage of you in the past, without a doubt, they will try to do so again. You need to “position yourself so you cannot be taken advantage of” and communicate your limits through your words and actions.

3. command thy respect: Keeping the peace is important, but if you never speak up about anything you will never have influence. Step two might be a tactic you would brave with your coworker, but for most of us, the fear lies with the big boss on campus. You need to force yourself to have the tough conversations that contain the element of conflict or you will remain a doormat forever. Are you ridiculously underpaid? Make an appointment with your superior and bring research that shows the average salary ranges for employees at your level. Try to sandwich your concerns between positive statements: “I truly enjoy working with you (positive), but in our previous meeting with the client you asked me to step out to make photocopies and I felt demeaned (concern). I believe I can accomplish a great deal working under your wing (positive) and I appreciate the time you have taken to chat with me.”

4. simmer down: Over time, resentment can build to a nice boil and surprise surprise; most of us fail to communicate effectively when we are fuming with rage. If you are not normally an assertive person, starting to be one when you are angry will make you look nothing but irrational.

5. credit me: If someone has routinely been taking credit for your ideas, take them aside, and privately inform them that this is unacceptable. In addition, use status reports to ensure your boss knows what your contributions are and how your time has been spent.

6. compromise: While no one respects a pushover, being ridiculously selfish is not smiled upon either. Occasionally, the needs of other people should be taken into account and other times, going out of your way for somebody simply makes you feel good. You have to search for that balance and maintain it.

The greatest acts are those done by choice, you know what you are paid to do, not out of fear of being reprimanded or pure guilt. Conclusion to all the people pleasers out there, you would be surprised at what happens when you say no politely yet assertively. More times than not, people rarely take offense, and those who do are simply not worth pleasing.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) www.officearrow.com – the language of no: learning to be assertive/ oa quiz: are you a pushover? (2) www.career-advice.monster.com - eight ways not to be the office doormat Images: (1) www.cllctr.com – why me (2) www.cllctr.com – yes maybe no (3) www.cllctr.com – red balloons

email.etiquette@everyone.com

Posted on by
1

Spamming and spoofing aside, the average email user spends 30% of his or her time creating, organizing, reading, and responding to emails; a phenomenon that has forever altered communication in the workplace. Whether it is a request or a response, before you guide your cursor towards SEND, please consider ticklemybrain’s nine step guide to writing a comprehensible email:

1. subject: i don’t understand you: Most of us receive countless emails per day and while we would love to open them the moment they seep into our inbox, we just don’t have the time. Given that you know what it takes for you to open an unread email, consider your own subject header when the turn is yours. Rather than “air conditioning issue in meeting room three”, try “50 degrees Celsius in meeting room three, air conditioning assistance required”. Find the heart of your message, and state it in your subject.

2. i salute you: If the email is beginning to look like an ongoing conversation, you can skip the formal salutation. Please avoid Hey, Howdy, Heylo, and Yo. (a) If you know the person, Dear FirstName: and if you don’t, Dear Mr. Last Name: will do. Dear Mr. FirstName LastName: is not correct. (b) Use a colon (:) rather than a comma (,) for American business salutations, and never use a semicolon (;). (c) Use Ms. when the marital status of your writer is unknown or irrelevant. Mrs. is reserved for the married woman, while Miss. is reserved for the unmarried. Use Dr. if your recipient holds a doctorate level degree. (d) The hello is just as important as the goodbye; use your company’s automated signature format that at the minimum should include your full name, job title, company name, office number, mobile number, and email address.

3. email encyclopedia: (a) Readers, I introduce you to the bullet point, use it to get to the point. If you find yourself writing a novel, do so in a word document, and use the email as an introduction to your lengthy request. (b) If someone sends you an email with a list of questions, reply with each answer shown clearly under the corresponding question. (c) Emails, more often than not, are used to set meetings. Preferably, use the automated calendar invite. Include all the details: TGI Friday’s, Sheikh Z, Dubai, UAE –> Friday, February 6, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. When scheduling a global conference call, be sure to specify the time zone. Never ever assume the recipient knows exactly what you are referring to. Summary: “Be concise yet descriptive with actionable requests.”

4. attach me: (a) Keep attachments and their size to the minimum. (b) Don’t send an email with an attachment and no body. (c) Don’t send an email discussing an attachment and forget the attachment.

5. cut and paste: In your race against time, you cut and paste an email created for multiple recipients, and forgot to change the pertinent information. Your best bet, should this happen, is to admit your mistake and apologize.

6. spell me write: In the name of professionalism, proofread your email for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and incorrect or informal abbreviations. Remove all smileys and emoticons.

7. reply all: This disastrous button… Cynthia sent her “goodbye” email to an office of 600 employees, including Mark. Cynthia, along with everyone, found out that Mark would miss her dearly as she was surely the cutest girl in the office. Mark, along with everyone, also wondered whether Cynthia would accept his request to grab coffee sometime, now that they didn’t work together of course.

8. cutieforlife@growup.com: You left work early and had to send that final email from your personal computer. Make sure you’ve abandoned the email address you created back when Microsoft released Hotmail and consider: lastname.firstname and firstname.lastname.

9. but i deleted it: You should be aware that deleting an email does not delete it off of your hard drive. Keep your personal emails for “cutieforlife”. Ultimately, don’t lose sight of your e-manners, respond to all emails within 24 hours, and remember that if you write it, it’s there forever.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) www.itmanagement.earthweb.com – ten pet peeves about workplace emails (2) www.itmanagement.earthweb.com – a manager’s guide to email (3) www.careerbuilder.com – reply all and other email gaffes Images: (1) www.cllctr.com – typewriter (2) www.cllctr.com – type head (3) www.ilovedoodle.com – spam

i wanna speak like steve

Posted on by
1

Steve Jobs may not have been known for his Arab roots, he was born to a Syrian father, but his presentation skills certainly made their worldwide mark. He earned one dollar a year as CEO of Apple, but this inventor and business magnate had a net worth estimated at eight billion dollars. He must have been doing something right. Whether it’s a presentation or a client meeting, here are eight techniques Jobs was renowned for using:

1. i shall over prepare not over tell: Having extensive knowledge of the subject at hand is your best bet. While there is no need to share all you know (an effective presentation is one that understands the demands of its audience), you will notice the value of your extra research when addressing questions and concerns.

2. list me: Your outline needs to be clear to your audience and clear to you. In his presentations, (a) Jobs always announced how many ideas he would be sharing. He followed by verbally (b) opening and (c) closing each section and making clear (d) transitions in between. (a) “Today, I want to discuss three topics with you. (b) “First, I’d like to speak  to you about bananas. Bananas, grown in at least 107 countries, were likely first domesticated in Papua New Guinea. They come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, especially yellow, purple and red. The health benefits of a banana outweigh those of the apple because it contains many more nutrients than its round counterpart. (c) That’s what I have to say about bananas. (d) Lets move on to mangos and why they are also better than apples.”

3. and the moral of my story is: In the same way a theme unifies a story, it ties together your presentation. “There’s something in the air today”, said Jobs in order to set tone for his presentation that introduced the “oh so thin” MacBook Air. No need to deliver it at the start, but once you do (“bananas are good for you and should be loved by all”), repeat the theme in different ways several times throughout; “This high energy fruit provides potassium power.” “Eating two bananas will provide you with enough energy to exercise for an hour and a half.” “Bananas boost your brainpower.”

4. make me relevant: Place your numbers in context. Rather than telling your audience that “bananas are rich in vitamins and iron”, tell them “bananas have two times as many carbohydrates as an apple, five times as much vitamin A and iron and three times as much phosphorus.”

5. tone up: If you can’t be enthusiastic about your topic why would anyone else be. Jobs is known for using words such as amazing, extraordinary, and awesome. Lets not put our audience to sleep, rather, use our personalities to make our presentations unique. Make your audience go bananas for you.

6. technology is not my arsenal: You don’t want to overwhelm your audience with power point slides so detailed they are forced to squint. Be clean like Steve. His slides were limited to a few words and one or two bananas per slide. Technology might abandon you, so you need to be ready to face the crowd alone.

7. i shall learn by practice: His presentations may have appeared to be effortless, but nothing came easy. Jobs rehearsed his presentations for hours, out loud, even synchronizing his words to match the appearance of certain images.

8. simplicity is me: Your audience know what they want, and will find it difficult to focus, unless you feed their needs. Do so, however, with simplicity, confidence, and a smile.

There is a lot one can learn from Steve Jobs. Perhaps his greatest lesson was teaching us to stay hungry and stay foolish. Take a look at his Commencement Address to Stanford University graduates. RIP Steve Jobs.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) www.careerbuilder.com – six ways to make your next presentation outstanding (2) www.tuaw.com – how to present like steve jobs (3) www.businessweek.com – deliver a presentation like steve jobs (4) www.lifescript.com – fourteen banana health benefits you might not know about Images: (1) www.jokc.tumblr.com – bla bla (2) www.cllctr.com – balloons (3) www.ilovedoodle.com – communication issues

seven silly sins

Posted on by
Reply

All the worldly preparation can’t eliminate that increased heartbeat and those jittery nerves. Job interviews have evolved over the last decade; interviewers are more intimidating and the questions they pose, officially, have no limits. While the interview process may differ across companies, certain fundamentals never change. ticklemybrain took its pick of seven interview tips from the countless listed by career experts and psychologists alike:

1. only fools rush in: Being on time is the cardinal rule of interviews. ticklemybrain’s would-be excuses: (a) “My car was hit by a meteor” (b) “I was unfairly arrested” (c) “I was saving a damsel in distress” (d) “I was attacked by a wild animal.” Nothing could make a worse impression than being late. Studies show it can take 20 additional meetings to repair one substandard one. If there is even the slightest chance you won’t make it on time; you are not sure of the location, the weather might get in your way, there could be traffic (Attention Lebanon; there will be traffic); then leave your house absurdly early. This does not translate to presenting yourself at the reception an hour in advance, rather, sitting in a nearby coffee shop and arriving with a smile 10 minutes early.

2. drowning in cologne: If there was ever a time to remember the words, dress to impress, it would be now. Boys: It’s not that complicated; wear a well fitted, conservative colored suit, make sure the tie and socks match, and shine your shoes. Girls: Think about how much time you spend preparing yourself for a fancy night out, and offer just half that time dressing for your interview. A few days prior to the big day, give your outfit a try so that you have enough time to make any necessary purchases. How you look has a lot to do with how you’re seen and your interviewer can make this decision within minutes of meeting you. No need to drown in the aftershave or perfume, no need to smell like a cigarette either. A Fisherman’s Friend is also your friend right before an interview.

3. high five: When you meet them, when you leave them; a firm handshake will help win your interviewer’s heart by conveying a solid image of yourself. Think of all the people you’ve met in this lifetime who offered you their limp or sweaty handshake and a what a lasting impression that left on you.

4. do your homework: ticklemybrain will dedicate another article towards interview preparation “content wise”. Keeping in mind the staple interview questions; know about the company’s products or services, know why you want this job, know your resume, know your strengths and weaknesses all the while knowing you don’t want to sound rehearsed.

5. lets keep it professional: Occasionally, your interviewer will try to create a comfortable setting in order to put you at ease. Even if your interviewer concludes he or she met your father 10 years ago or shares your nationality, business decorum should remain in the room. Avoid the obvious giggling, humming, yawning, slouching, whistling, and chewing.

6. liar liar: Author and humorist Mark Twain once said, “if you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything”; bear this in mind before expressing your fluency in Russian and life changing experience trekking through Mount Kilimanjaro.

7. energizer bunny: Don’t lose your cool, don’t look at the clock, and whatever you do, don’t insult your last boss. Lose the arrogant personality, appear bright eyed and enthusiastic, and just be yourself. You will be destined for greatness somewhere, whether the person sitting across from you believes it or not.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources —> Content: (1) www.cnn.com – top 10 interview mistakes (2) www.finance.yahoo.com – 50 of the worst and most common job interview mistakes (3) www.fresnocitycollege.edu – the 25 worst job interview mistakes Images: (1) www.pinterest.com – blue door (2) www.cllctr.com – strange time (3) www.flickrsfinest.com – mary poppins by niki lynn

workplace warfare

Posted on by
Reply

It is as common as the flu; that one person we simply can’t tolerate at work. Such a sentiment may have stemmed from his sarcastic comments or her rude remarks, his inability to give proper instructions or her overbearing ego. Whatever the cause, you can’t shake the feeling. Regrettably, asking him or her to disappear is not an option at the workplace and neither is launching a hard object in their direction. Several studies on resolving work conflicts and an unforgettable personal experience led to ticklemybrain’s five step guide on how not to kill your colleague in a fit of rage:

1. assess the mess: There are two sides to every story so before bringing your opinions to light; self-examination is key. Be sure that your feelings are warranted and you are not being overly sensitive. If this person only seems to annoy you and if everything this person does annoys you, then you might be the one with the issues. Make sure it’s the condescending tone and not their accent or the way they blow their nose. It helps to consult an objective third party, someone not feeling your imminent rage.

2. pick your battles: You do not want to be known as the one who has issues with everybody. You have concluded that there is a real problem at hand but you might want to save your office battle for a problem that is worth it.

3. seek inner peace, find a new desk, attack with kindness: In the spirit of peace, let’s try the simple solutions first. Seek Inner Peace: Keep your cool. Is this person worth the anxiety he or she makes you feel? Focus on your work and try to realize that their behavior might not be a personal attack towards you. Find A New Desk: Keep a safe distance. If you don’t have to constantly work with this colleague, try to separate yourself when possible. Many of us work in companies with hot desks. If you can move away, do it. Attack With Kindness: A polite attitude goes a long way. Even though it takes a lot of strength to be nice to someone you dislike, consider this a step you took to mend the situation before resorting to confrontation.

4. time for coffee: Step three has failed you and the problem remains. It’s time for a confrontation. Just like you, no one likes to be attacked and told they are stupid, annoying, mean, or rude, especially in front of others. Take the person out for coffee and just be honest; nothing is more effective than giving specific examples of what is bothering you. It won’t be easy but prior to the confrontation remember this quote by Abraham Lincoln, “When I’m getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say — and two-thirds thinking about him and what he is going to say.”

5. rise above… literally: If addressing the problem directly does not work, then you have no choice but to speak to your supervisor. Make sure to explain the steps you took to mend the situation. It might seem like a big step, however, you do not want to be targeted as the troublemaker who has to go. Statistics show that this happens more than any company would ever admit.

At any cost, avoid workplace warfare. Your reputation for professionalism can go a long way in both your personal and professional growth. People always remember your downfalls. You scream at somebody, and you will be humiliating no one but yourself.

ticklemybrain will be taking off in January 2012. Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources –> Content: (1) www.singlemindedwomen.com – dealing with a difficult coworker (2) www.ehow.com – how to deal with a coworker you don’t like / how to handle someone who is disrespectful (3) www.careerbuilder.com - how to stand up to a rude coworker (4) www.workawesome.com – dealing with a difficult coworker 101 Images: (1) www.cllctr.com – what to do (2) www.etsy.com – pick your battles (3) www.allposters.com – keep calm and carry on


the ticklemybrain days

Posted on by
21

Hello, my name is Tara. Sometime in January 2012, www.ticklemybrain.com will be taking off. Before I tell you about it, I want to tell you about myself and the path my life has taken.

the early years: I was born in Beirut one 1987 February morning, but when I was one year old my parents, three siblings and I headed to Abu Dhabi where my father would be working. Memories: (1) I attended Choueifat; a school that made me believe it was the norm to have an exam every single day. (2) I spent most of my weekends combatting the heat waves at the beach and more importantly, helping Donkey Kong save Donkey Island from destruction at the hands of K. Rool. (3) Every so often, my father would take the family to the magical city of Dubai. It was there I had seen the tallest building in my life; none other than the Dubai World Trade Center standing mighty at 149 meters. We led a sheltered life as Abu Dhabi residents, but from what I remember, we were always happy.

the north american years: My bubble was interrupted in 1998 when my siblings and I were informed that we were moving to Canada and, within a span of weeks, I was enrolled in a Toronto middle school. Once I overcame my culture shock, I grew accustomed to my new life and in the process became a Canadian citizen. Four years later, my family members each took a different path: I moved with my sister to Montreal, my eldest sister remained in Toronto, my brother moved to Boston and my parents left for Beirut. I was granted an incredible amount of independence at a young age and suddenly faced many responsibilities. My experiences in both cities were so distinctive, yet both contributed to my growth in invaluable ways.

the fun years: My nomadic way of life seemed to persist. Around July of 2006, like any other summer, I visited Beirut. Unlike any other summer however, 24 hours after my arrival, a war erupted. Just a few days prior to the cease-fire I found myself on a ship, Princessa Marisa, being evacuated to Montreal via Cyprus. It was at this moment I realized I loved Lebanon so much, yet my knowledge of it was so limited. Two days after returning home to Montreal, one week before I was scheduled to start university and two weeks before the American University of Beirut’s fall semester began; I left everything I knew and moved to Beirut. Though the sudden move seemed overwhelming, I knew I had made the right decision. I rekindled friendships and made friends I know I’ll have for a lifetime. It was during this period in Beirut, where I experienced the best moments of my life.

the complicated years: Three years came and went and I was suddenly a graduate seeking employment. Life went from being simple to simply complicated. I had done well in university and I thought I knew what I wanted. I wrote cover letters for countless companies and completed various job applications. I failed miserably at some interviews and excelled at others. My best friend and I tried to get through this time together, conducting mock interviews with one another and traveling to Dubai to be closer to job opportunities, but nothing came easy as the recession was at its peak in 2009. I even experienced weeks where I convinced friends and family I was going to find my calling in Africa through humanitarian work. Finally, I found a job that I thought made sense: a job that was the culmination of finance (my subject of study in university) and law (a subject I am so passionate about and hope to pursue as a post graduate degree). I was hired as a Forensic Services Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dubai. Translation? I was the CSI of business crimes. Fraud, corruption, theft, you name it, my team and I investigated it. I learnt an incredible amount, became very close friends with a few coworkers, and more times than not loved my job. Nevertheless, I constantly felt uneasy wondering about my future and the decisions I had made. I was reminded of the struggle I faced seeking employment when friends would ask me to see whether their resumes had room for improvement. I sometimes considered finding a job in a different country but the hassle of the process and lack of resources available shied me away from it all. I had learnt so much while working in Dubai, a city that had transformed since my trade center bemusement days, invaluable information I wish I knew back when I was a fresh graduate. Life works in funny ways sometimes, because simple realizations as the ones I just mentioned was all it took for me.

the ticklemybrain days: A little research and a leap of faith gave me the strength to quit my job and start a career information and services website. ticklemybrain wants you to: (1) transform your resume or cover letter: increase the chances of securing your dream job with our resume and cover letter writing service, (2) join a network: connect with friends on a professional basis and make yourself visible to recruiters on the hunt for ambitious minds, (3) be informed: discover advice on how to find, love, and leave your job and (4) be knowledgeable: arm yourself with key industry intelligence and take in ticklemybrain’s daily feature; company/ person of the day.

My life to date has been a roller coaster ride. I’ve had amazing experiences and made many mistakes from which I’ve taken valuable lessons. I want to create a socially responsible organization I feel is needed in our region of the world. Specifically, I want to provide the tools that can help us all be stronger job candidates, find the jobs that truly suit us and most importantly, be the best employees we can be. I’ve diverted from a career path I’ve always had in mind in order to follow a recent dream I simply believe in and am bringing to life now.

Follow the feather by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Share us by clicking on the links right below. You can subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by providing us with your email address and clicking tickle me please. Thanks for the love.

Sources —> Images: (1) www.bleubirdvintage.typepad.com - the prettiest picnic  (2) www.cllctr.com - crossroads (3) www.cllctr.com – origami