25 Creative Office Ideas To Make The Coolest Workplaces

25 Creative Office Ideas To Make The Coolest Workplaces 1K Get inspired daily in your work or job search by using some of the most creative office tools and gadgets that designers could come up with. Photo Credit: Taiyo FUJII What if someone took all the objects in your office and exchanged them for designer versions? Have the coolest work area Pacman staplereval Who doesn't want one? eval Pencil tree Even if you used regular lead pencils, this would still look neat. Delete key eraser Gets the job done, just like on your screen. Blackboard memo board Small enough to take with you. Connected fountain pen This pen would take notes, then email them or send them as text messages. Block of sticky notes Literally. Kakuzai via swissmiss Easy use waste bin Never need to use your hands again. Seat cushion Feels like you're sitting on a baby's bottom. Critbuns.com via swissmiss DIY wall clock Make a clock out of whatever you want. World time desk clock Tells you what time it is in 24 timezones. Hook and pinboard-in-one Use it for reminders not to leave anything on the hook. Hook and Pinboard via swissmiss Box of tissues Sprout vase Or maybe you prefer… Mini terrarium people Domsai via swissmiss Bookmark Marks which page and line you were on. Coffee mug This coffee mug switches to “ON” when hot. On Off Mug via Oddee Flexible lamp Wrap it around anything you like. Isolation chair When you just need time to think. Computer desk “…features Speakers, USB and Audio Hub, Monitor Stand, iPod Dock, Power Strip, Cable Channeling, Keyboard Mouse, Laptop/A3 Paper Drawer, Drawing Utensil Drawer and Electrical Equipment Drawer.” USB hub I haven't seen a better looking USB hub yet. Fred Flare via swissmiss All-in-one gadget charger Great space and plug saver. Callpod via Fubiz Solar-powered battery recharger Click through to see how you could stick it to a window. Digital picture frame camera Take a picture and have it framed instantly. Puck-like mouse Takes scrolling to new lengths heights. Rollup computer I love how the whole system is basically one big touchscreen. This article is part of Design Droplets' Industrial Design Group Writing Project that I discovered on Group Writing Projects.

How to Write a Colored Resume That Can Help Get You Noticed

How to Write a Colored Resume That Can Help Get You NoticedIf you are looking for a way to improve your chances of getting a job interview, then there is no better way to do so than to write a colorful resume. However, there are many people who are not aware of the benefits that can be gained from this effective tool. This article will look at the advantages of a colorful resume and some of the ways in which you can use it to your advantage.The first thing that you should know is that you will have a good chance of getting a job if you are able to highlight your skills and talents. The best way to do this is to write a colorful resume that will make it easy for potential employers to pick you out of the crowd. In the current market there are many people applying for the same job, but the only way they will be seen is if you are able to stand out and get noticed. Therefore, if you want to stand out as a candidate then you need to be able to write a good resume.The first thing that the potential employer will notice is the summary of your qualifications and skills. Therefore, the better the summary the better your chances of getting a job.One of the most important things that you should remember is that you should always spell out your name. Your employer will not take you seriously if you do not do this.Your resume should be easy to read and write. This means that you should avoid using too many words and should focus on the points that are being covered in the main parts of the document. There is no point in wasting the employer's time by spending a lot of time listing out your skills.You also need to remember that the resume has been written before. Therefore, the information that you want to emphasize should be highlighted. If you want to convince the employer that you are a good choice for the job then it is essential that you highlight these things in your resume.Another thing that you need to remember is that you do not need to over-specialize in any area. Instead, you should choose a career that will allow you to excel in many different aspects. This will give you a much better chance of getting the job.Finally, remember that there is no need to repeat yourself. If you do not know what you are talking about then avoid using long sentences as they may give you a poor impression.

Taking Care of Your Health at Work

Taking Care of Your Health at Work Assuming that you work the average 40 hours a week, you likely spend most of your day commuting to work as well as in the office. This means that many of the healthy or unhealthy habits that you develop will be practiced in the workplace. If you are thinking about leading a healthier life, you should evaluate what a day in the office looks like and how you can better care for your health. It’s usually the small habits that you don’t notice that make a world of difference. Below, you’re going to find out how you can better look after your health at work. Bring Healthy Snacks Most people tend to snack at work as a way of passing the time or satisfying hunger pangs. It can be tempting to overeat on empty calorie snacks or whatever is in your reach to grab. Instead, why not opt to bring healthier snacks along with you to work so that they’re the first thing you see when you feel like you want to nibble? A great snack idea is carrot sticks and hummus, which is filled with protein, healthy fat, vitamin A, and fiber. Also, apples and peanut butter are a great combo as it’s filling and you get a good dose of fiber. Make Movement Priority People can sit and stare at their screens for hours on end thanks to the convenience of technology. However, this isn’t the best thing for your eyes or body, so make movement a priority. Do so by setting daily reminders that enable you to get up and take a walk. Instead of working through your breaks, remember you need them to reboot your mind and keep blood flowing through your body. Too much sitting could trigger obesity, increased blood sugar, and in some cases, abnormal cholesterol levels. Take Caution The workplace has its fair share of hazards, so be conscious when you’re moving around. It could be anything from items stacked on the shelves falling over on you or a slip and fall because of an object in the way. If you do have a workplace accident, knowing what to do should make the process easier. Firstly, you’d need to report it to your employer and be sure they make a note of it and report to the right authorities. If the accident wasn’t your fault, The Compensation Experts could help with getting you compensation, that could go towards medical bills and covering you financially until you are back at work. Maintain Good Posture Your posture is another thing that matters when it comes to taking care of your health at work. If you spend time sitting, try and remember to sit the right way and avoid bending and slouching often. A tip for good posture is to avoid slouching as it stresses your spine. Also, stand tall and stretch your neck when you’re checking messages. Investing in ergonomic chairs which help support good posture could help too. If you can’t get one for yourself, speak to your employer about investing in a few for your office.

Ready to travel the world with your career University of Manchester Careers Blog

Ready to travel the world with your career University of Manchester Careers Blog If youre determined to travel the world with your job, did you know that a small number of sought-after graduate schemes allow you to experience international placements as part of your initial training. Some go further and are the springboard for a future career traveling the globe. Yes, they’re competitive, some have challenging entry requirements (language capability, Masters, experience of living outside your home country) but think of the rewards. All packed and ready to go? Heres our list of some of the schemes we’ve found â€" many are general management schemes, so don’t limit yourself by the type of industry/sector. Some of these schemes have odd, short opening times, so check them out as soon as you can youll need to be ready as soon as they open for applications. Not looking for a job this year? Tip: If youre in the early years of a degree, its definitely worth looking at this sort of scheme a year or more before your want to get a job, so youre well prepared. Transport / Logistics sector / Commodities Damco DB Schenker Swire Bombardier Gearbulk   Louis Dreyfus Commodities Travel / Hospitality sector Intercontinental Hotels TUI Finance / Insurance / Professional Services sector Societe Generale Allianz Novo Nordisk (healthcare) ING Aon (global risk consulting stream) Aviva Grosvenor (NB recruit only through summer internships get in early!) Industry / Technology sector BAe Systems Siemens Astra Zeneca (operations) Volvo EON ABB RWE Infineon Veolia CDK Global GKN Zeiss Merck (in house consulting) Consumer products / Food / Alcohol sector Diageo Heineken Beiersdorf Nestle Adidas BSH Carlsberg Unilever RB Chivas Brothers All Postgraduate applications China graduate schemes international jobs Internships job hunting

Resume Writing Singapore Service Providers

Resume Writing Singapore Service ProvidersMany Singapore service providers are looking for overseas clients living abroad. In this regard, many service providers have taken advantage of the internet to market their services. Today, many employers in Singapore and abroad look for these online services for the purpose of search for qualified and trained personnel.A number of the Singapore service providers have also taken advantage of the Internet marketing to market their services to international clients. Thus, you can find out a number of such providers on the net. By browsing through the internet, you will come across a number of Singapore-based websites that offer to create and send your resume. This is a great service to have and by doing so, you will be able to avoid wasting your precious time.You will get a resume template, an overview of your credentials and skills. You may also specify your specific requirements for the job you are looking for. The service provider will send the completed resume on your behalf and at your address. This will help you save a lot of time. By doing so, you will not have to spend much on travelling to various locations just to have this resume drafted and sent to the relevant persons.You can save yourself some time and money by choosing Singapore service providers to provide you this service. You may choose one of the service providers of your choice. However, it is always good to use some of the best service providers available in the Singapore market. You will find various service providers on the Net today.There are various testimonials and reviews of these service providers on the net. You may consider using a variety of services provided by such Singapore-based organizations. However, you must do some research and go through the website and read the written feedback of the service providers present on the site. By going through the comments and feedback, you will get a fair idea about the quality of the service. By gett ing an insight about the service provider, you will know whether they are providing quality services or not.Some of the service providers have also published their contacts on their website. You may use this information while choosing a particular service provider. It will help you connect with them better if you find the right contact information and contact them. However, there are some Singapore service providers who provide you the service through their own websites without asking for any upfront fees.Some of the service providers have a wide range of products and services to offer to international clients. In this regard, it is not necessary that only you can find one such service provider. You can also choose from among the various types of services offered by different service providers.If you don't waste your precious time, you will get excellent results from your efforts. So, start looking for good resume writing Singapore service providers today.

How to Format Your Bullet Points on a Resume

How to Format Your Bullet Points on a ResumeWriting bullets on a resume can be confusing. But once you get the hang of it, you will be able to format it to your needs. You may also want to add a little more information to them and modify the formatting to make them easy to read.It can be hard to read a long paper, especially one that is a bit long. Therefore, it is best to have bullet points at the top of a page. If you do not have bullet points, start with a one or two sentence summary and then list your qualifications in bullet form. Remember to emphasize the skills you have and what you can offer your potential employer.You should also consider placing a bullet point under each skill in a paragraph or two. For example, list the different skills you have under leadership, management, organizational skills, etc. this will help you focus on just one skill per paragraph. This will allow you to add a little more detail to your bullets. You can still go into more detail for skills you d o not list if you choose to do so.Start the bullet points at the top and read it from left to right, down to the bottom. Keep the writing simple, using short sentences and short paragraphs. The way you write a bullet point should be based on your particular situation. Use your situation as your guide and make it flow easier.Consider the flow of your resume when writing bullet points. It is important to keep your resume in the top portion of the page. When the resume is to the left of the top of the page, it is more difficult to scan quickly so you will be able to get more information out of the bullet points.Your bullets should not be to long. The best rule of thumb is to keep them under three lines of text and use less than seven bullets per page. For example, you would use four bullet points for one skill.Always use bullet points as a guide, but make sure you get more details out of them and not simply repeat your qualification. You may consider adding more information about yours elf or about your organization. This can be done by using indentations within the bullet points.Always think in terms of qualifications that are relevant to your job openings. Use them as a tool to show the skills you possess and to express them clearly. Write your bullet points quickly and concisely, so they will not be ignored.

Survival tips for your companys workforce reduction

Survival tips for your companys workforce reduction One of my hi-tech clients wanted to share his story of surviving both sides of a corporate reorganization. -Coach Wolfgang Youre hearing rumors the big layoff is coming. Will you be impacted? Will you stay or will you go? Whats the severance package? You have so many questions but they are just details. I think the real questions are: How will I survive? How will I thrive? Surviving a re-org When I say surviving I dont mean figuring out a way to remain at your company. What I mean is maintaining peace of mind throughout the process, viewing all the possible outcomes with confidence and preparing yourself for any scenario. Why am I writing about this? Ive been impacted by a reduction in force (RIF) twice in my career and staring at a potential third time. In case you guessed yes, Im in hi-tech. Lets first deal with this fact: by the time there are rumors of a re-org, the remaining org has already been decided. If you arent one of the ones deciding who stays then someone else is doing it and you arent going to know until the day arrives. Rumor stage Therefore surviving isnt about trying to cram, like you did for final exams. The decision has been made. Your compensation, manager reviews, skill set and 6-month track record are the main factors in choosing if you stay or go. My advice for the rumor stage is to maintain your job but prepare for being let go. START YOUR JOB SEARCH as soon as you are reasonably sure there is more than a 20% chance of being let go. Dont make the mistake of thinking you wont be let go because you probably 1) have no idea what their criteria is and 2) you dont understand their vision for the future structure of the org. So take time each day to build your network, check job postings, polish your resume and LinkedIn and practice interviewing. You also need to set your expectations with your job search: you are not going to land a new job in a few short weeks. Personally, I would spend very little time imaging the financial windfall from getting a new job before your severance pay runs out! As soon as these rumors start, you will see a lot more distraction and a lot less work. Limit your time on the distractions and the gossiping. Instead, use that new found extra time to prepare for either being impacted or keeping your job. During the rumor stage is when you put yourself in a position to thrive no matter what the outcome. You are impacted I remember standing up from my cube on Monday morning, looking across my area and waiting to see if managers came out and went over to cubes, pulling people into conference rooms and then shutting the door. As I stood there, eating my yogurt, I didnt even notice MY MANAGER coming up next to me. Can we see you in the conference room?, he asked. At that moment I knew I was being let go. It stung! My ego was deflated in an instant. I was embarrassed and felt terrible because I was no longer needed for the company to continue. The night before I convinced myself that I was too valuable to leave and that my projects were far more important than the projects of my co-workers. I was wrong. Unfortunately, I wasnt prepared. I remember standing in my apartment later that morning, staring outside, and holding my savings account statement showing that I earned $2.36 that month in interest. Not quite enough to pay my rent! So there I was, in shock and paralyzed by that shock. But if you follow my advice in the rumor stage then you have some irons in the fire, so to speak. Treat your job search like it was your job put your attention and effort into it. Youll feel a rush from getting started. Ride that rush to become prepared for a long job search. Get opinions on your resume, book some networking meetings and get a feel for what jobs are out there. That last step is important. Its important to look at a lot of companies and job descriptions and have conversations/interviews whenever possible so you can find out first-hand what types of opportunities are out there and what candidates companies want. Youll get a feel for the relevance of your skills and the way youll need to position yourself as a candidate. There is a silver lining to being laid off. You have the rest of your life to work. Thats what my dad said to me after my first lay off. He worked at one building for the bulk of his 42 year career. He always wanted a break. Recharging your batteries is a good thing. I wouldnt advise you leave your job to do so, but take advantage of your downtime. Yes, income is important but, theres more to life than just work. Everyones life situation is unique but review your financial obligations and, if possible, take some time off to re-charge. All those pesky projects and all of those tasks that you didnt like well they are instantly gone! It feels good to get that monkey off your back. So de-stress yourself and enjoy the burden that has been lifted. This is also a good way to write down what tasks you didnt like and assess what you want (and dont want) in your next job. You may be relieved to get away from your job. Hopefully, you got a severance package and you can collect unemployment when that runs out. In other words, you have some pay coming in which can cover you while you explore. Grabbing the first job that presents itself is fine but it, potentially, takes away from experimenting and trying different things. Try not to worry or panic when you lose your job; instead feel confident that youll find a job that fits your personality, values and interests better! You can thrive during this time by realizing that its an opportunity to focus on you clear you mind, find out what you want, prepare to get it and approach each day with confidence. Dont just go through the motions and dont let fear, uncertainty and doubt take away from thinking deeply about your career and life. You keep your job Keeping your job should make you feel some relief and even feel good. A lot of other people werent considered necessary but YOU WERE. It boosts your ego, a bit, and keeps your income consistent which tends to keep your anxiety low. You have the challenging task of helping a new team get organized while maintaining the current expectations while adjusting to the shifting that will take place over the next few weeks. This is your chance to dive in and help. Show your team or new boss that you are proactive, flexible and able to help in ways that he or she wasnt aware of. Its also important not to take your eye off the task that is still in front of you. Keep doing meaningful work. If you arent sure what that new work should be, then keep doing your current work until it is figured out. Let me repeat that: DO NOT STOP WORKING while your executive team is trying to figure everything out. Yes, you may get a new role and, yes, you may be put on all new strategic directives but you havent been yet! You can thrive by taking this transition time to solidify your value to the organization and continue your job search. Yes continue your job search! Remaining in your organization after a massive layoff, I feel, is the hardest scenario to deal with. The change and disorder you now face can be daunting. You also need to watch out for changes to your role that affect your marketability to other employers. My heart goes out to people who put in one or two decades at a single company and, one day, are let go. Oftentimes, those people were put in very focused roles and werent required to keep their skills up-to-date. They are smart and talented people but now have outdated skills and have to explain how 10+ years at a single company is desirable experience. Watch out for this happening to you. A re-org is the perfect time for you to become distracted by everything going on and neglecting to realize the affect on your career path. Thus, keep your job search going. Its a good time to inventory your skills and see how you need to adjust to be more marketable. Beware of the next round and the revolving door Unfortunately, a re-org is a move to help companies survive or correct mistakes. Your organization is not out of the woods yet. The three times Ive been affected by a mass layoff, the companies were: Losing ground to a dominant competitor and having to resort to low-profit product sales. They couldnt compete at the higher-end of the technology race and couldnt reap those high profits. The recession in 2008 hit and the services work at my consulting company dried up. It was happening all over the place and people were impacted in every industry just about. The technology landscape began changing by leaps and bounds. My large organization with multiple, disjointed lines of business was inefficient and too unfocused to be competitive and maintain high profit margins. Therefore, they were spinning off non-core products and business lines, completing a number of spin-merges. These three situations were my particular journey. Staying at your company means you have made it past this round. What are the rounds you ask? During my first layoff, here are the waves/rounds of layoffs I saw: The first round was to let all of the contractors and vendors go. Major projects got scrapped in an instant. People who you thought were employees were suddenly no longer there. Many of the people who helped with your job were no longer available. Only full-time employees (FTEs) were left. The second round came 2-4 months later and impacted FTEs who worked on non-core products and nice-to-have internal services. In many cases, departments were told to cut a certain percentage off their headcount. Managers literally had to choose a specific number of people to let go, regardless of their importance or the impact losing them would have. The third round finally got me. This is when the real re-org happens. Groups are merged, teams are dismantled, people are re-purposed or moved into an entirely new line of business. Additional tweaking will be done but this is usually the biggest round of FTE layoffs. Subsequent rounds are small and involve specific groups tweaking their teams. In most cases, teams look at what they have, figure out what they need to do and see if theres any fat to trim. These rounds may be planned or not. Were also in a time of an unprecedented mergers, spin-offs and even spin-mergers in the technology world. The biggest of them all is the Dell and EMC merger. In the end, there will be a 60 billion dollar organization. As is the case for any merger, redundant positions will inevitably be rectified. Who will keep their job: mid-level manager at company A or the mid-level manager at company B? Even if you are confident that you will keep your position and the other guy wont, dont forget about the possibilities that neither of you are needed or neither of your departments are needed. If your company who goes through a re-org or a merger, be aware of the risks that your company has which now become your risks. Relying on one employer for the bulk of your income is inherently risky. Look how quickly CEOs come and go these days. It is a sign of the risk that the entire corporate structure is exposed to. Companies make headlines when they announce they are laying off a large percentage of their workforce. They dont make headlines when they let a small percentage go a few months later. In large companies, that small percentage can still be a few thousand people. So be ready and dont assume you are safer after a massive layoff. You can thrive in these later rounds by adding value in new ways, raising your hand for new opportunities or trying to develop your own role based on a need you see. Despite all the shuffling, pockets of opportunities are opening quite a bit. Land of opportunity Personally, Im not convinced that organizations value their contractors, agencies and employers like they should. In 1981, Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers and that changed the way employers viewed their employees. There are certainly executives that treat their workers like family, however, it seems that share holder value is the ultimate concern of executive teams and their boards. When I graduated college in the mid-1990s and took my first job, my dads advice was to let your company take care of you. He said they would look out for me and I didnt have to play those games of negotiating my salary and jumping around from company to company. Before the end of the decade, he changed his tune completely. He said that, apparently, the way to advance in the corporate world is to move from company to company working your way up the ladder with each step. Whether that is true or not, the lesson is that you cant assume that someone else is watching out for you. Im saddened to put things this way. At the very least, many industries are fast-moving and ultra-competitive. Changes are needed across the board and oftentimes those changes are sweeping. I wish corporate leaders would bring humanity back to the workplace. Its a shift that is starting to happen but in pockets. I often said, I bleed green and black. They were the main colors of my companys brand. I was a big fan and wanted to see them succeed. Unfortunately, the feeling wasnt reciprocal and I learned that I needed to be prepared to accept their will at a moments notice. Thus, my advice is not just to survive but thrive by preparing for change, moving on quickly when change comes and maintaining a state of readiness. The United States IS the land of opportunity but it is up to each of us to understand the ups and downs of these opportunities and be prepared for them.

Tough (Question) Tuesday What are you declaring your independence from - When I Grow Up

Tough (Question) Tuesday What are you declaring your independence from - When I Grow Up #253 from things we forget Happy, um, 5th of July everyone! Hope my fellow Americans had a great time celebrating our Independence (aka eating burgers, drinkin brews and watchin fireworks and, in the case of NYC, legalizing gay marriage! hooray!) I know that I did! But its not only the country thats free you are, too! Think of that one commitment/ person/ structure thats been weighing you down, and let us know in the comments: What are you declaring your independence from? _______________________________________ Its the last day to enter my giveaway at Kind Over Matter, so click here to find a career that’ll flatter (you)!