More on work and career
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Steer clear of making a hobby your full-time job to stop financial pressures from killing the joy you feel for the activity.
Monetizing a hobby can cause stress and burnout because of the obligation to perform.
- If you are passionate about something and can make a decent living doing it, some say you should give it a shot.
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- Seek employment that pays for your interests rather than trying to earn a living from your passion.6
- Keep your hobby separate from your livelihood to preserve the pleasure you derive from it.4
Expect to fail often and treat each failure as a chance to grow.
You learn more from failing than from succeeding.
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Offer to provide a draft or template for the recommender to tweak and sign.
It is much easier for them.
- Sending a draft can be seen as disrespectful to a professional manager.
- Some find it uncomfortable to sign a letter written by the candidate.
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Avoid hiding keywords in white text or invisible boxes on your resume.
Modern ATS systems and recruiters detect this as cheating and may blacklist the application.
- One person reported using this method many times without issues and landing interviews.
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- Avoid inserting keywords using white text or hidden characters.3
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Do not make yourself so essential to your current role that replacement is impossible, as this prevents advancement.
Employers hesitate to promote those they cannot afford to lose.
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Dismiss the idea that your workplace is kin. Do not feel bound to remain loyal to an entity that sees you merely as a revenue stream and can discard you without difficulty.
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Take a bite out of your lunch before storing it in the office fridge to deter theft.
The act makes the food unappealing to potential thieves.
- Some argue that lunch thieves are ruthless and will eat it regardless; others note it is difficult to tell if someone has taken a bite of pasta or salad.
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Test your new commute during typical rush hours before your first day to check travel duration, road conditions, and parking options.
This helps you gauge the actual time required, anticipate congestion, and locate parking spots, preventing stress from being late.
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Refrain from speaking ill of colleagues.
Others may assume you discuss them negatively in their absence.
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Choose a residence east of your workplace to avoid driving into the sun during morning and evening commutes.
Driving into the sun can cause blinding glare, especially on wet roads, making it dangerous and difficult to see lane lines.
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Choose a military job field that provides specific, high-demand civilian skills, such as aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, or IT, to ensure employability after service.
These roles have high-paying civilian counterparts or allow you to make more money after getting certifications.
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Write down instructions while someone demonstrates a task to you.
Note-takers outperform those relying on recall, preventing the need for repeated explanations.
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Walk quickly and look annoyed or frustrated to appear busy and productive.
People often interpret an annoyed expression as a sign of busyness.
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Exploit gossipers by feeding them information you want spread.
Gossipers will spread the information throughout the community or workplace quickly.
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Change the subject or physically walk away when gossip starts.
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Consider trade school, which is relatively inexpensive and quick, leading to available work and decent pay for manageable tasks.
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Use job agencies to get started if you are struggling to find work independently.
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Avoid sales jobs that require you to buy the company's products upfront with the promise of reselling them for profit.
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Find a hobby unrelated to work, such as woodworking, drawing, or volunteering, to enjoy your spare time.
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Notice what naturally attracts you, like specific interests or hobbies, and let those guide you toward a passion and future career.
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Manage workplace relationships carefully; even excellent performance may not prevent dismissal if you fail to get along with colleagues.
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Understand that Human Resources serves the company's protection rather than your assistance, so withhold your loyalty from them.
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Negotiate for additional vacation time or remote work options if salary increases are limited.
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Avoid opportunities that frame buying overpriced demo sets, knives, or supplements as an 'investment' in your own business.
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Refresh your resume right after taking a new role and keep it current as you advance, instead of waiting until you start looking for work.
This reduces stress when you eventually need to use the document.
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Maintain your resume as a backup plan by keeping it updated in case you lose your job suddenly.
It provides peace of mind if your current position becomes uncertain.
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Allow at least two weeks for a recommender to write the letter.
Giving less time may result in a recommender being miffed at you for poor organization.
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Record your successes and mistakes in a log on a weekly or monthly basis.
It keeps your resume updated with action/result data, aids annual performance evaluations, identifies weaknesses for training plans, and prepares you for job interviews.
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Quantify your achievements with specific metrics and numbers on your resume to make them more impressive.
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Mirror the specific terminology and keywords found in the job ad when customizing your resume.
Recruiters frequently filter large volumes of applications using keyword searches; missing these specific terms often prevents candidates from passing initial screening.
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Tailor your resume for each application by emphasizing relevant background and omitting irrelevant details.
A generic resume suggests disinterest; differentiating yourself increases your chances of being seen as a person rather than paper.
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Integrate job posting terms naturally into your resume's summary, objective, skills, and work history instead of concealing them.
Recruiters use these terms to filter out poor-quality or unrelated applications.
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After being hired, keep the job description from your application listing to serve as a base for resume duties.
The text is already professionally written and can be tailored to reflect your responsibilities.
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Show why you merit a higher salary by pointing out contributions that go beyond the basic job requirements.
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Schedule a monthly reminder to add significant professional or personal achievements to your resume.
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Look up professionals in your desired field on LinkedIn to observe their educational backgrounds and work history.
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Research specific company salary ranges using sites like Glassdoor before interviewing to know the lowest, average, and highest pay for the position.
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- Use resources like PayScale to justify your salary request during interviews.4
Purchase a cushioned lunch container featuring dual zippers and lock them together using a padlock.
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