How to Successfully Navigate a Workplace Romance

How to Successfully Navigate a Workplace Romance Work is a place that a lot of adults spend the majority of their time. For this reason, it’s no surprise that an annual survey by CareerBuilder, found that 40% of people have dated a work colleague at some point. It’s easy to fall for a work colleague, as you’re likely to have common interests and goals, after all. This could create a foundation for a spark-filled romance. With that being said, it isn’t a crime to have a love interest at work, but it is important to understand the rules around it. This is especially true as a workplace romance doesnt always have a blissful ending.    Some even lead to lawsuits or a drop in workplace productivity.   On the brighter side, when boundaries are created and professional communication is maintained, it is possible to successfully date in the workplace! Establish a Reason The first thing you should do to successfully navigate a workplace romance is to establish the reason for the relationship. Try and uncover the motivations behind the person pursuing you (or who you personally are pursuing) so that you know the risks you’re taking are worthwhile. For instance, a colleague could be pursuing you for the purpose of advancing their career. This means you’d be risking your reputation and potentially have to put up with office gossip for someone with bad intentions. If you’re sure their intentions are pure, defining the nature of your relationships and ensuring that both of you consent to it is necessary. Doing so will ensure you’re on the same page moving forward. If you feel you’re being pressured or coerced into a relationship, set boundaries and ensure they’re reinforced â€" if lines are crossed, address the issue with HR immediately! Find Out Your Workplace Policy Before engaging in any kind of workplace romance, you should find out what the rules in your place of employment are. Every business has different policies when it comes to dating a work colleague, so find out what they are before proceeding. To find out this information, speak with your HR manager, as they should offer a safe space for you to discuss such matters. They should also be able to provide practical advice regarding protecting your professional image and informing superiors, in case things go south. An additional piece of advice is to learn about the policies and rules around disclosure. This could mean not sharing confidential information with your partner or breaching work confidences outside of the office. It can be easy to do as couples often talk and share intimate details of their day with one another. However, to avoid breaking workplace rules and jeopardizing your job, try and refrain from doing so. Understand Co-Workers When you have a workplace romance, a hurdle you’ll have to face is disclosing the news to co-workers. While you don’t have to make a public announcement in the office and inform everyone, there may be key people you have to tell. Think about how you’re going to deal with things like workplace gossip or people criticizing you because of your relationship, especially if you’re entering a relationship with a superior. Bear in mind that different generations have different rules and views about what they see as acceptable in the workplace. Being part of a multigenerational workforce means that you may have to accept the different opinions people may have about your relationship. The goal should be to not take anything personally.   Instead, focus on doing your job and keeping the relationship separate from work as much as possible. Create Healthy Boundaries Creating healthy boundaries is important when dating a colleague at work. Once you’re both well-informed about office policies and guidelines, set boundaries of your own. An example of a boundary could be refraining from things like kissing and holding hands in the office. This can make others uncomfortable and isn’t appropriate behavior for a workplace. As tempting as it may be, save your affection for after hours and off work premises. If you’ll be attending work events together, you can engage but be professional. Remember to use the right etiquette for workplace events such as upholding your office culture and behaving as though you’re in a business setting. Focus on Your Goals Before you started a romantic relationship at work, it’s likely you had personal goals you wanted to achieve. It could be anything from getting a promotion to developing your skills. If you’re a woman in business, especially, focusing on your goals is important as you may have to work harder to ensure you meet your targets. Remember to keep work and romance separate so that you aren’t distracted from achieving those goals. One way to do this would be for you to maintain and establish other healthy work relationships outside of just romantic ones. This means participating in team building activities and events as well as focusing on your personal development. Also, stay true to who you are and don’t behave in ways you wouldn’t usually just to appease your partner. Be Professional if the Relationship Ends Although it would be nice if all work romances had a fairytale ending, it isn’t always the case. In light of this, if your relationship does eventually come to an end, try and keep it professional. It can be incredibly challenging to still have to work with someone you’re no longer in a relationship with.   Especially if the relationship ended badly. However, keeping your ethics intact and not allowing it to affect your ability to deliver quality work is essential. If your ex is threatening or harassing you in the workplace, speak to HR about it to see how they can intervene. They should be well-equipped in dealing with workplace conflict and help you find a tangible solution. Working with a significant other is a dream come true for some, while it can prove tedious for others. Just be sure that if you do decide to engage in work romance, you follow the right protocol and learn to separate work from pleasure. This guest post was authored by Brooke Faulkner Brooke Faulkner is a writer, mom and adventurer in the Pacific Northwest. She spends her days pondering what makes a good leader. And then dreaming up ways to teach these virtues to her sons, without getting groans and eye rolls in response.

9 Different Types of Careers in the Courtroom - CareerMetis.com

9 Different Types of Careers in the Courtroom Source : Pixabay.comFor anyone interested in working in the legal field, the courtroom is full of exciting career opportunities.Although legal proceedings are not always as dramatic as they are sometimes depicted on television and in movies, they are an integral part of our justice system.Each of the following careers plays a different role in the courtroom:1. JudgeevalevalJudges are responsible for presiding over legal proceedings including pretrial conferences, hearings and trials. Judges interpret the law and make determinations and rulings.In criminal trials, the judge is responsible for sentencing defendants who are found guilty. In civil legal matters, the judge determines liability.Judges need juris doctor/doctorate The average salary for a defense attorney is approximately $110,000 per year.3. ProsecutorThe prosecuting attorney is responsible for arguing that defendants in criminal hearings and trials actually committed the crimes of which they’re accused.A prosecutor repre sents the state or jurisdiction that charged the defendant and seeks to prove the defendant’s guilt.As is the case with judges and defense attorneys, prosecutors need juris doctor/doctorate degrees.evalOn average, prosecutors earn approximately $110,000 per year.4. Court ReporterIt is important to have transcripts of legal proceedings. That’s where court reporters play an important role.The court reporter is responsible for using specialized equipment to create a legal transcription of proceedings, documenting everything that’s said.Court reporters generally need at least an associate degree and professional certification and can expect to earn an average salary of more than $51,000 per year.eval5. ParalegalParalegals are not attorneys themselves but work closely with them. Paralegals conduct legal research, looking for legal precedents that attorneys can use in their arguments and motions to strengthen their cases.To be a paralegal, you should have completed an associate degr ee. There are also specialized paralegal educational programs that may help you break into this career.On average, paralegals earn approximately $50,000 per year.6. Court ClerkCourt clerks are responsible for the administrative side of courtroom proceedings. Clerks often prepare and issue court orders and manage the court’s calendar and docket.If you want to be a court clerk, you will generally need to have earned professional certifications and at least an associate degree.evalThe average salary for a court clerk is approximately $33,000 per year.7. Court InterpreterWhen a defendant in a legal proceeding in the U.S. doesn’t speak English well enough to understand the proceedings, a court interpreter serves as a translator, so the defendant can participate.Court interpreters typically need bachelor’s degrees and professional certifications. They also must be able to demonstrate fluency and proficiency in the languageBailiffs also seek to keep juries safe from outside contact d uring trials, so their decisions are not tainted.To be a bailiff, you will likely need professional certifications and an associate degree.The average annual salary for bailiffs is more than $42,000.9. Corrections OfficerIn criminal legal matters, corrections officers escort defendants to and from the courtroom and monitor their behavior while they’re in holding cells.Corrections officers have generally completed associate degrees and professional certifications, earning an average annual salary of more than $42,000.As you can see, courtroom jobs consist of more than just judges and lawyers. These roles are all responsible for helping our justice system function well. Careers in the Courtroom provided by Litigation Services

How To Choose The Right LinkedIn Profile Picture

How To Choose The Right LinkedIn Profile Picture How To Choose The Right LinkedIn Profile Picture Job Search / LinkedIn Profiles Despite being a business networking tool, LinkedIn is still considered social media. The “social” in social media is why it’s essential to have a photo. While some people feel that including a profile photo might open them up to discrimination, there is no way to hide from a potential employer. Sadly, discrimination does exist. However, you can’t prevent an employer from thinking you are too old or too young or too whatever. The key is to have a recruiter- and employer-ready photo that shows you at your best, business self. Add Photo Do’s While a photo taken by a professional is nice to have, it’s not critical. A clean head shot, wearing appropriate attire, and preferably smiling is all that you need. While you may think that employers will respond to a serious look, studies show that likable people are more apt to be hired and promoted. In fact, a study from Harvard Business School found that being viewed at competent but not friendly can hurt your chance of landing a job according to an post by Photofeeler. Don’t forget to add a “background photo” to your profile as well. Leaving this area blank makes you appear that you’re not LinkedIn savvy. Avoid Photo Don’ts Given the fact that LinkedIn is primarily used for business, it’s surprising the number of inappropriate profile photos found there. Unsuitable photos include: group shots, couple shots, family shots, or solo shots where you were cut out of the picture. Always opt for appropriate business attire. While recruiting, I was stunned to stumble across a LinkedIn profile where the woman was wearing a wedding dress, including the veil. Although, she had some relevant qualifications, her choice of attire took her out of the running. Avoid photos where your attire is too casual, like shorts or a bathing suit, or too formal , like an evening gown or a tux. Get Objective Insights Most people ask their friends and family about their LinkedIn photo. Unfortunately, that won’t give you objective insights. While a coach may provide more objectivity it’s only one person’s opinion. A quick, and inexpensive, solution is to submit your photo to Photofeeler. Depending on the size of the sample you request, you can have your photo rated in terms of being Competent (Smart, Capable), Likable (Friendly, Kind), and Influential (Industry-Leading, Respected, Quoted) *. According to a study done by Photofeeler, the photos that scored highest on these traits had a few things in common. Here are three mentioned in the study: Unobstructed eyes. Eyes blocked by sunglasses, hair, glare, or shadows will bring your score on Competency and Influence. A smile with visible teeth scores well on Likability. However, a laughing smile brings down your ratings on Competency and Influence. Business attire was the most important factor in garnering high scores in Competence and Influence. You may not like it, but you need to dress the part. Although you may not want to be judged on your appearance, the truth is that we all are. While you may think that leaving a photo off of your profile will protect you from discrimination, the truth is it makes people wonder why. While LinkedIn is primarily used for business, it’s still regarded as social media. That means people reviewing your profile expect to see a photo. By following a few suggestions, you can easily choose a photo that conveys your best, business self. *More recently, Photofeeler added the ability to rate your photo for other purposes, like dating sites. If you choose the “dating” option your photo is rated on Smart, Trustworthy and Attractive.

5 things businesses should NEVER copy from sports - and 3 they should - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

5 things businesses should NEVER copy from sports - and 3 they should - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Many companies look to sports for cues on motivations and performance and star athletes and coaches and make big bucks as corporate speakers.?There is this?unquestioned assumption that if youre successful in sports, you can teach workplaces something that will make them more effective. Id like to challenge that assumption :) In fact, I believe there are so many fundamental differences between running a business and (say) coaching a football team that it becomes?almost impossible?to transfer any principles or practices. Here are?5 things businesses should definitely?not copy from sports: 5: Abrasive?coaches It seems like sports team coaches are given license to be complete jerks. They can throw tantrums, yell at referees, badmouth opposing players (or even their own players) in public and be celebrated for all of this because it shows passion. Nobody wants that kind of behavior from their manager at work.?Steve Ballmer tried this sort of thing as CEO of Microsoft and has been deservedly?ridiculed for it. 4: Adulation for star players Sports teams have a few stars and many supporting players.?In a workplace you need everyone to perform at their best. 3: Intense?competition Its a common belief that?competition?makes people perform better, but research shows that its actually the other way around competition makes people achieve worse results. 2: Rewards for results Athletes are almost always rewarded for results win that tournament and theres prize money. Again, research shows that bonuses in the workplace make people less productive on any task that requires creativity and independent thinking. 1: Focus only on the next game In sports, the focus is often only on the next game. In business, you need to be able to think long-term and create success not just for this week but for years in the future. Each of those 5 practices are very common in sports but just dont work in business. ?That being said, there are a few?practices in sports that businesses should?absolutely emulate. Here are three: 3:?Make time for training Athletes spend many more hours training for matches than actually in matches.?This gives them a chance to improve their skills and a risk-free environment where they can try out new approaches and plays and see how they work. In the workplace however, there is rarely a chance to try out new ideas without risking failure. Employees are always playing for points and never playing to learn. 2: Celebrate success Athletes are very good at celebrating?wins. They even celebrate partial progress towards a win when they score a goal or similar. In many?workplaces, success is met with a shrug and wins are rarely celebrated. 1: Include?restitution Every successful athlete know that you get stronger by training and THEN RESTING.?Without restitution, youre actually just continually weakening yourself. Workplaces on the other hand?consistently underestimate the need for restitution. Employees are worked hard constantly and breaks and time off work?are seen as a necessary evil. In fact,?employees are?implicitly told that they can show commitment by giving up weekends and vacations and working more hours. There is no?reason why we should try to follow the lead of athletes and coaches?in our efforts?to create better and more successful workplaces. Many of the practices from sports just wont work in a workplace you could even argue that many of them dont even work that well in sports. And dont even get me started on copying practices from the military :) Your take Has your company ever had a star coach or an athlete come in and speak? What did they say, that you found useful? What do you think workplaces should or shouldnt copy from sports? Write a comment and let me know your take. Related posts Top 5 reasons to celebrate mistakes at work Top 5 ways NOT to praise people at work Free time a forgotten dream Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Making a Good Impression Food Choices at Work - Hallie Crawford

Making a Good Impression Food Choices at Work This situation happens all the time to every professional, even if they are not in a client-facing role: You have to meet a colleague, your boss or a prospective customer for a meal. On the surface, it may not seem like a big deal. But we all know how awkward it can be to eat a messy meal like a burger in front of someone, where its almost impossible to look graceful. And how tough it is at a networking event to eat finger food and balance a drink in your other hand while trying to look professional and smooth networking with someone. There are other situations as well. Sometimes youre asked to recommend a dish, or you dont know whether its appropriate to order an alcoholic beverage or not. How do you know what to order? Whether you realize it or not, your meal choices can say a lot about you. And while you do want to respect your diet, whether you are vegetarian or gluten-free or love to eat meat, you can make choices that will make a good impression and avoid potentially embarrassing situations, or you can make bad ones. For example, continually taking clients to the same unimpressive, unclean bar and ordering wings, fried cheese sticks and nachos for business lunches can make a bad impression. If that type of food is typical for your group of friends, thats fine! And if its common in your industry, thats OK too. But for some professional arenas, that type of fare sends the wrong message. In Hallie’s US News article you will discover potential problems you could run into and how to avoid them. Read on here.

Life, Death, and Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing

Life, Death, and Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing For example, if you have an important employment gap since your final position, you might want to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one. It is by far the most important and unavoidable position in nearly all of the organizations. If you're lacking a good deal of qualified experience then it is even more critical you compose a flawless education section. Be certain to mention the position you want, and any appropriate education and certifications you've attained. Whatever They Told You About Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing Is Dead Wrong...And Here's Why A follow up call in a couple of days can present your SQL developer resume another chance. It is not always simple to do, but quantifying your professional experience will offer you an edge over a number of other applicants. As it's a mix of the two, it provides the most flexibility. While all resumes should offer information on your work and education experi ence, and your abilities and accomplishments, there are various ways to present this info. Hard skills are teachable abilities that can typically be quantified. Don't say you have good computer abilities. With hard abilities, be specific. It might also work nicely for you whether you're making the move to another career path, or have a particularly relevant skillset. A mistake which most people make is to prepare an exact great resume which does not capture any product that was indicated on the work description. Much like day-to-day life in the area, your resume must feature the exact same quantity of attention to detail. You want to reveal you're not like all of the rest. The Chronicles of Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing Before you begin on your resume, have a look at this high quality assurance resume sample to find a notion of what the best resumes look like. Some folks copy sample resumes but neglect to alter the hobbies and details. It will be so much simpler in ca se you construct your other sections initially, then circle back and summarize them. Locate a resume template which suits your taste. The Importance of Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing You must have at your fingertips important info about the provider. Use strong action verbs to outline just what you bring and the way you can add to the success of the hiring company. You have to make sure your resume summary statement concisely demonstrates why you're a perfect candidate for the particular job and business. Spice this up with action words. For a long-term career, the professionals may require in order to possess a wide variety of testing skills dependent on the project requirements and the form of industry you are working with. Whether you're a recent graduate, a mid-level manager, an executive with several years of experience, or merely someone seeking to change career paths, there's a resume format that may really make you appear great to a hiring manager. There are many jobs offered for QA professionals online, choose the one which is most appropriate for your abilities and prepare your resume as per job requirement. Browse some other relevant resumes below and locate your inspiration. The New Fuss About Qa Resume Sample on Sql Writing A Resume is the initial step when you get started looking for work. Make sure that you tailor your resume to the job you're applying for. After that, show you comprehend the job, and the way you are able to provide help. Find more in job features online.

Are You on Google Plus 3 Ways it Will Affect Your Job Search - Work It Daily

Are You on Google Plus 3 Ways it Will Affect Your Job Search - Work It Daily Google Plus has taken the Internet by storm. The latest numbers say 13% of U.S. adults have already signed up for the service and, in a year, that number could reach 22%; making Google Plus the number two social media network and leaving LinkedIn and Twitter behind. A lot of folks are excited about this platform, mostly because it addresses some of the flaws of existing social networksâ€"such as organizing your contacts, distributing content to the right audience, and allowing for group video chat, among other things. Recruiters, human resource professionals and hiring managers are particularly interested in figuring out Google Plus for sourcing job candidates. Unlike Facebook, Google Plus allows for searching and finding candidate whom they are not connected with, and the platform certainly has more to offer than LinkedIn thus far. Here are some things Google Plus offers that can have a substantial effect on your job search: Enhanced privacy settings. Not only can you share specific information with Circles of your choosing, but you can also opt to share information publiclyâ€"meaning potential employers or other influential connections (whom you’re not already connected with) can see it, too. Instead of worrying about privacy, you can use it to your advantage. More conversation. The platform encourages interaction through content sharing, status updates, online and video chats (Hangouts). Want to learn more about something a hiring manager posted? Ask about it! Interested in speaking face-to-face with a networking connection? Set up a chat to talk with them in more depth. Greater online visibility. If you choose to make your profile public, it will be easier than ever for you to be found online. Although the search capabilities of Google Plus don’t include some specifics yet, surely they will in the future. (So, be sure to complete your profile to help potential employers find you!) What else excites you about this new social networking platform? Will you use it in your job search or career? How? Image from 1000 Words/Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!