Open Enrollment 101
December 1, 2015
Does open enrollment seem to sneak up on you every year? Your human resources department sends out an email announcing the enrollment period and before you know it you’re scrambling to make your selections on the last day before the open enrollment deadline. You’re going to be stuck with most of these choices for a […]
Coasting at Work is Easy Because Working For a Promotion is Hard
May 4, 2015
A lot of people wonder why they get passed over promotions – why the promotion always seems to go to someone else. Sometimes the reason is office politics. But most times it’s because most people coast at work. They do that – often unconsciously – because coasting at work is easy. But working for a […]
Career Networking: Are You a Giver?
May 2, 2015
One of the things that always strikes me when I look for good advice on career networking is that a lot of the suggestions people make revolve around the idea that you need to be a giver first. This was also a theme I saw when helping put together a video about career networking using […]
6 Signs You Might Lose Your Job
February 24, 2015
One of the unfortunate realities of today’s workplace is that we’re usually not given advanced warning about an upcoming job loss. Many employers would have us tool along thinking everything is fine, right up until the day we’re asked to leave. But even if there is no formal notification that your job is in jeopardy, […]
5 Tips for Staying Happy at Work
December 22, 2014
No one likes his or her job all the time. Even if you have what you consider a “dream job,” chances are that there are some days that you just aren’t giving 100 percent, or days that you just don’t want to do the job. If you start to dwell on these downsides, you will eventually […]
15 Career Lessons from a Soccer Dad
December 17, 2014
Career tips are easy to come by but not always easy to follow. Here are some I’ve learned over the last several months from a motley crew of 8 year old boys – if they can do it, so can you! It all began last summer when I ran the tryouts for my son’s youth […]
How to Use Peer-to-Peer Sites to Borrow Money from Friends and Family After a Layoff
October 13, 2014
Borrowing is never recommended after a layoff. But sometimes you have to do what you have to do. There are a lot of not-so-smart ways to borrow money, particularly when you are in desperate need of funds. Title loans certainly come to mind. But there’s a high risk of losing your car in the process, […]
Should You Take Advantage of COBRA After a Layoff?
October 6, 2014
Next to the loss of your income, the biggest concern you’ll probably have following a layoff is the prospect of losing your health insurance. This is a rational concern. Not only will you not have sufficient income to deal with medical events, but the very fact that you’re unemployed can make you more vulnerable to accidents, […]
How to Convert Employer-Paid Insurance to an Individual Policy Upon Layoff
September 29, 2014
After you experience a layoff, there is a provision in federal law – known as COBRA – that will enable you to retain your employer-sponsored health insurance plan for up to 18 months or longer. But health insurance is hardly the only type of insurance coverage that you may have with your employer. There are other types of […]
How to Convert Your Layoff Into the Opportunity of a Lifetime
September 22, 2014
A layoff typically comes as a complete surprise. When it hits, you might even be in for a bit of a shock. There’s usually a combination of hurt, anger, fear, and anxiety. But once the initial shock wears off, you might want to try to apply a little bit of positive energy to the situation. […]