Can Your Favorite Color Predict Your Perfect Job?

According to Careerbuilder.com, your favorite colors and which colors you prefer most to least, can help you figure out which career is best for you. Your color choices can reveal how you approach work, handle tasks and what types of workplaces is right for you.

First you pick the color you prefer most...red, yellow or blue. Then you choose the colors you prefer second...green, purple or orange and then achromatic colors...black, white or brown.

Your preferred color choice determines your talents and how you go about tasks. This color choice can also indicate what you overdo.

Here are some examples of what certain choices may reveal:

If you prefer: yellow, purple and white: You're the communicator.
Careers in corporate communications, marketing or religious occupations work best.

If you prefer: red, green and black: You're the investor.
Careers in finance, accounting, banking, manufacturing, property management, production analysis, investment, money management, consulting, product sales or teaching.

If you prefer: blue, orange and brown: You're the activist.
Careers in engineering, building, or developing new programs, companies or products. Also consider law enforcement, firefighting, social or government work.

For your own free career evaluation, visit:

http://www.careerpath.com/careerassessmentquiz/colorcareercounselor.aspx and find out your results.

Could This Be?

The Generation Gap in the Office

Have you ever wondered if how your co-workers communicate can be due by their generation?

The technological revolution may cause conflict in the office due to the pace in which change has occurred. Baby boomers and Traditionalists think about picking up the phone first, Generation X'ers tend to use email and Millenials may use texting.

If a business plan regarding etiquette is not in place, this can cause conflict among the 4 generations. If a company is solely concerned about the appropriate communication and is dominated by one generation, it may be time to re-evaluate and consider what the client wants instead.

Embracing the differences between the generations, you will find opportunity...it's not about right or wrong, or better or worse.

The 4 Generations: Which one are you?

Traditionalists:
(ages 63 plus - 5% of today's workforce)
* loyal, have faith in institutions
* value logic ad discipline
* slow to embrace new technologies
* want to build a legacy

Baby Boomers:
(ages 44-62 - 43% of today's workforce)
* Idealistic, question authority
* Competitive, seek out titles and recognition
* wary, but open to adapting new skills
* want to build a stellar career

Generation Xers:
(ages 28-43 - 42% of today's workforce)
* skeptical, distrustful of institutions
* resourceful and self-reliant
* highly adaptive to change
* want to build a portable career

Millenials:
(ages up to 28 - 10% of today's workforce)
* realistic, value-diversity and change
* globally concerned
* have fully incorporated tech tools into life
* want to build a meaningful career

According to PriorityMagazine.com, a 2007 study found that 65% of all business executives generally prefer to communicate via email, up from 34%
just 10 years ago

Source: PrioityMagazine.com

Dealing With Difficult People

Do you find yourself dealing with a difficult person at work? I believe every workplace has drama...a difficult person or two that just makes being in the office exhausting.

You may find a difficult person acts in many different ways. They may just be generally obnoxious, affect more than one person, might attack you or undermine your reputation at work. Some talk constantly, the never ending gossiper that brings other people into the situation. Maybe they don't keep their work commitments and in turn, affect you. Do they make false allegations against you to a manager, just to gain a boss's positive opinion or are they fighting for more power or privilege?

Some difficult people always undermine you, which makes you feel as though you constantly have to watch your back. Some form cliques and leave you out, wanting you to feel as though you are powerless and alone.

Whatever situation a difficult person is creating, I think it needs to be addressed and not be ignored. If you chose to let it be, the constant conflict at work will not get better...it will only get worse.

If you find yourself in continual conflict and unable to handle the situation, you may be the one labeled as the difficult person. If you constantly just complain, your boss may see you as the one that is unprofessional and not able to handle a difficult situation, so he may consider replacing you.

Some ways to deal with a difficult person:

Ask yourself if you are the one who may be overreacting to the situation. Are you taking things too personal?
Make sure you are focusing on the person's actions, not on the person themselves.

Ask a trusted friend or co-worker to look at the situation from an objective view. Sometimes we can't see things clear while in an emotional situation. Ask for help to find ways to address the problem you are facing.

Ask the person to have a private conversation and discuss the experience. Starting each sentence with "I"...I feel this way...or I feel like... if starting the discussion with "YOU", it may come across as an attack. It may turn out the other person didn't realize how he or she was coming across or how you were interpreting the experience. Try to reach a positive agreement and move forward.

If you've made an attempt and did all you felt you could, then you can consider going to your boss. This will escalate the situation, but if you have had no success, this may be the next step. Stick to the issues at hand. Do not bring up personal issues you have with this person. Keep notes

You can also try to limit yourself from this person. Protect yourself, but protect the needs of the business.Do not hurt yourself in the process, but avoidance is an option.

If all else fails, you can consider leaving your position. You may ask WHY? I wasn't the problem, but you have to weigh the good with the bad. If the bad wins, leaving your present employment might be the only solution in terms of success and well being.

Have you come across a difficult person in your office? How did you handle the situation?

WAH Watchdog is on our side...

How many times have you heard or read… you can make tons of money on the Internet with this program or that program OR you will become rich by using this work at home program?

Are you aware of the many different scams out there or the programs that request you pay an up front registration fee before you can get access to their program (this fee is on top of the product cost), only to find out their promises were just lies? We all know you can’t get rich overnight…okay, if one was to win the lottery….maybe, but the real truth is there are programs available that you can make money from if you take the time, put in the effort and follow their program.

I’m finding the biggest hyped up product these days is the rebate processing work at home program. The emails I have been getting lately, promise the world. After clicking on the link provided in the email (I’m always curious), it brings you to a landing page full of hype.

I have come across a review site (Wah Watchdog) that strictly reviews work at home programs and/or affiliate type programs. Before you get scammed or shell out your hard earned money for a program, take a good look at this review site. Each product is scored with an A, B, C, D or F. What I liked about review site is the scores are given by actual users of these programs and then casting their own votes. Some other review sites are somewhat biased and are not scoring these programs with the users in mind. There are other motives. You’ll find both positive and negative opinions/votes based upon the users experience. You can scan down the list of over 100 programs and locate the programs given an A or A-, B or B+ and read the details. These are the programs you would most likely want to purchase rather than the programs with grades C, D or F.

So….if you are considering a work at home program that will enable you to make some additional monthly income, use this review site first before getting scammed.

And, don’t forget to cast your own vote if you have had any experience with any of the products listed, so you can help others.

Repetitive Stress Injury: Hand/Wrist

Over 60 percent of all workplace aliments are repettive stress injuries. They can be healed with early diagnosis. If you expereine constant pain in the hands, wrist or forearms, you may want to see a physician for advice.

Hand and wrist warm-up and stretching exercises are beneficial in preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and relieving chronic and intermittent pain. If you use the computer for most of the day, these exercises can help and should be done before starting work.

Typist Warm-up:
Make a fist with both hands, then relax. Repeat this 5 or 6 times. Wiggle your fingers up and down. Rub your hands together as if you were putting hand lotion on.

Finger Stretch:
With both hands, extend and flex your fingers, sprending them apart as you do.

Thumb Stretch:
Raise your hands to should height with your palms facing outwards. Move your thumbs into the center of your palms. Hold for a few seconds then relax.

Wrist Stretch:
Hold your arms out in front of your body with the palms outwards and fingers pointing up. Allow your fingers to relax and drop to horizontal. Bend the wrists down. Hold for a count of 5 and then return your hands to horizontal position. Hold for 5

Palm Press:
Make a loose fist, palm up. Gently press your other hand against the fist. Resist the force for 5 seconds, keeping your wrist straight. Repeat with other hand.

Praying Hands:
Put the palms of your hands together as though in prayer. Elbows out and wrists bent at right angles. Press your palms together, aloowing no movement in either directin. Hold for 5 to 10 seconds, feeling the push in your wrists. Repeat several times. Do not hold your breath as you push your hands together.

Concerns Regarding Diacetyl Exposure

There has been a rising concern about Diacetyl exposure in the workplace. Diacetyl, also called butanedione or 2,3 butanedione is used in microwave popcorn butter flavoring and has been associated with serious lung aliments.

This compound is also synthesized by chemical manufactures and gives butter and certain food flavorings a buttery flavor and aroma. This product is also used in snack foods, pet foods, candies, baked goods and other food products.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is taking action by initiating a safety and health information bulletin on health effects and exposure control. In April, the agency announced a national emphasis program under which it is focusing on the health hazards of the compound.

To receive the bulletin and guidance or find out the side effects and illnesses associated with exposure, CLICK HERE

Source: OSHA Compliance Advisor

Newest Health Hazard ?

The printer in your office may be the newest health hazard. The International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at Australia's Queensland University of Technology did a study that finds the air quality may be affected by your choice of office printers.

The study looked at particulates and emissions and found that only 60% of the 62 printers assessed were 'nonemitting'

Researchers were looking for what is known as PM 2.5 or fine particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. These are so tiny and said to pose the greatest health risk as they can lodge deeply into the lungs.

Those considered 'high emitting' include several Hewlett Packard printers and one made by Tshiba.

To reduce the risk, researchers suggest ensuring that offices are well ventilated to allow airborne particles to disperse.

Source: Osha Compliance advisor

Technology Impacts Real Estate and the Workplace

The changing nature of how and where people work is transforming corporate real estate. Nearly 40% of employers expect their knowledge workers - those who contribute intellectually to a business, rather than manually - to work remotely by 2010.

Advancing technologies that allow workers to accomplish tasks from anywhere has spurred major employers to rethink the real estate paradigm. Many companies feel that a majority of their infrastructure that supports mobility.

As an example, Sun Microsystems, needed a solution to a slowing work product problem as a result of heavy traffic tie-ups in the San Francisco Bay Area. This was remedied by creating a network of small "drop-in centers" enabling employees to work from various accessible locations.

Employees simply log in at remote work kiosks. Incoming phone calls are routed from a main call center to their temporary workstation.

This new multi-office system has eliminated 7,000 workstations. One employee station now serves 1.5 employees. This has resulted in a reduction of about 1 million, saving $71 million in excess real estate costs in the last year.

(Source: National Real Estate Investor)