I have to say, having worked in both law firms and corporate environments, I find the politics in law firms particularly more precarious. I was hoping to avoid the politics and just get on with things, but alas I received an early induction. (more…)
Workplace Etiquette
Resigning gracefully: 15 Dos and Don’ts for serving out your notice period
It’s a small world and with the widespread use of websites such as LinkedIn, it’s getting much smaller. It is therefore not advisable to drop the ball in terms of your behaviour as soon as you resign from a role, no matter what you think of your employer.
These are my tips on resigning gracefully and ensuring that your final weeks with your employer help, rather than hinder your career.
New Job? Make a Good Impression Before You Start
So you aced the interview and have accepted the job offer. Now’s not the time to drop the ball! The way that you interact with your new employer during your transition period can tell them a lot about the type of employee you will be. Further, the preparation that you undertake leading up to your start date will ensure that you hit the ground running.
Internal Promotions: My Manager Won’t Release Me
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I have been job hunting for the best part of a year and have been in my current role since July 2011. I came in to this role as an external recruit, after a failed attempt to fill the position internally. I recall my now Manager, offering me the position and in the next breath reassuring me about the many development opportunities that this organisation offered. I recall it vividly as I thought it was very strange that he was already mentioning the next possible role before I had even started. At the time I had replied ‘That’s good to know, but let me focus on doing well at this role first.‘ (more…)
Workplace Etiquette: Losing Your Temper At Work
I lost my temper at a colleague during a meeting today, it was the first time since, I don’t even know when. I have had the occasional (private) teary outburst or pang of annoyance, and if we’re being honest, drawn out bouts of annoyance,… however an angry outburst really isn’t like me at all and the situation rattled me for the rest of the day.
So I thought I should turn this negative into a positive by reflecting on losing my temper at work, how to avoid it from happening next time and how I should have reacted instead.
Workplace Etiquette: Meetings
I once sat in a 2 hour long meeting, having a vivid daydream about how great it would be if I started projectile vomiting. In my daydream, everybody cleared the meeting room in disgust and panic, thus I escaped the air-conditioned prison that is more commonly referred to as a bad meeting.
If you’d prefer to avoid having people daydreaming about escaping your meetings, these are some of my observations regarding ‘meeting etiquette’.
Workplace Etiquette: Emails
I’m hoping that if this post stops just one terrible email from going out, it could prevent just one stressed out employee from finally losing their marbles and stabbing their colleague through the neck with a Bic pen.
Copying half the company into your email
This should be avoided for many reasons. First of all, it could give the impression that you are incapable of discerning the appropriate audience for your communication. Or that you don’t value people’s time. Also, people could start ignoring your emails assuming that they’re irrelevant if you are a habitual over-CC-er. Yep, that’s a thing. Personally, the worst thing is when I’m suddenly copied into an email chain where I’ve had little or no prior involvement in the topic being discussed. Do you want me to action something? If I don’t respond am I taken to have been consulted? I’ll also sneak the good old ‘Reply-all’ into the category of ‘think before you hit that’, alongside people who go to night clubs regularly but don’t ever dance. (more…)
That Career Girl 