Excelle

We've all heard stories about the nightmare of working for a toxic boss. Some of us have even had the unique displeasure of doing so ourselves. Red flags to such behavior often appear as early as the interview process. We've compiled 10 warning signs of a toxic boss. Watch for them in the interview and you might be able to avoid ...

Professional writers often worry that their work is unnecessary. After all, can't anyone with even a basic education write? The answer: no, they can't. Even college graduates don't seem to be learning composition basics. Of course not everyone is going to be the next Mark Twain, but career success does depend on looking professional. Sure, some clients, coworkers, or resume readers ...

Do you put off long- or short-term tasks at work? Does the last-minute dash to finish a report cause unwanted stress? Are you avoiding chores in your personal life that may be affecting your career? Whether it be laundry, grocery shopping, or even taxes, is procrastination getting in the way of what you need to get done? Relax, you’re only human! ...

Don't just sit there, basking in your continued employment... Phew. You survived the culling. Or maybe your company has managed to avoid a mass layoff. Either way, you're one of the lucky ones. Unlike so many of your friends and family, you won’t have to deal with the unemployment office or cancel your cable -- yet. But instead of sitting ...

If you are searching for funding, whether from venture capitalists, angel investors, bankers, or even friends and family, one of the first requests you'll receive is this: "Send along your business plan." Before you hang up the phone or acknowledge the e-mail, you may want to ask one question: What kind of business plan do you want me to send? Business ...

Do any of these sound familiar? • You have a great idea but you aren’t telling anyone because it still needs work. • You stay up late to redo the presentation you have already spent 20 hours on. • You won’t tell anyone about the job you have applied for, just in case you don’t get it. • You have more ...

Sometimes, a person will lose their job through no fault of their own. The whims of a psychotic boss, an economy in shambles, or a simple misunderstanding can have an otherwise satisfactory employee packing up his or her cubicle. Other times, a person will lose their job because they have done something so incredibly foolish, you wonder how they ever ...

You may look good on paper or in your suit, but if you're looking to nail your big interview, looks aren't everything. How you sound is often more important. But many job seekers let careless speech habits sink their chances of landing that plum job. The Bottom Line: You don't have to study elocution to speak well. Simply slow down, take ...

Did you know that forty percent—40 percent—of young people want to be their own boss someday? That’s a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs. Millions, in fact. Truth is, only a fraction of those people ever really start a business. Some get comfortable in a lifestyle that they can’t afford to give up. Others realize just how hard it is to be an ...

In your business life, you will be required to attend business meetings, formal and informal events, even interviews, that involve dining. Knowing what is expected of you as the guest or the hostess is very important, and this knowledge, or lack of, can make or break your business dealings. In this article, I will explain a few basic table manners that ...

Wow. As I thought about the past eight years and what it’s been like being an entrepreneur, I was struck by how many mistakes I’ve made. I was also struck by how great those mistakes have been for my business. If it were not for all those mistakes, my business would never have grown. I would never have written a book, ...

I love reading Sara Pennypacker’s “Clementine” books to my girls because I laugh out loud at the antics and musings of this spunky third grader. But while Clementine is amusing, I wasn’t expecting her perspective in “The Talented Clementine” to resonate with me. I mean, come on, it’s been 30 years since I’ve been a third grader! But in this book, ...

I never, ever, considered having my own business. Ever. But when I finally figured out what I wanted to be doing, it just so happened that starting my own business was the answer — helping others figure out what they want to be doing with their careers and lives. As I learned what it meant to be a coach, and learned ...

I was reading Twitter tweets this morning and I came across one that directed me to a story about the Ten Characteristics of Great Companies by a venture capital investor in Hoboken, N.J., named Fred Wilson. It was a solid list of virtues that make for solid companies, everything from “constantly innovating” to “having a global mindset.” But there was one ...

by Michelle Dumas Do you Tweet? If not, maybe you should. Perhaps it would be misleading to say that as a job searcher you MUST be on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social and business networking sites. But, assuming that you use social media in appropriate and professional ways, being connected and networking in these ways can only help. And, ...

In this economic climate, everyone wants to avoid getting laid off. The number one way to do this is to have a strong relationship with your immediate manager. Here are some strategies that have worked well for me over the years: Be humble. Don’t approach your boss with a sense of entitlement, as though he is personally responsible for furthering ...

We live in a world where speed is key. Everything has to be bigger, better, faster, and so on. Time is money, so no one can afford to wait for anything. Unfortunately this development has enabled email to become ridiculously over-used and abused. We all know that e-mail forwards can get you in trouble. Everyone has heard about the person who ...

The Beijing Olympics were a rousing success from every angle. Despite the controversy over the women’s gymnastics and the few athletes who were caught using banned substances, the spirit of competition and national pride of each country was wonderful to see. Here’s my take on some of the headlines and what they would mean if the Olympics was one big multi-national ...

Q: "I’m about to complete an internal audit internship for a rather large company. The company just offered me a full-time job with a salary of $45,000. Although the job is entry-level, I’ve gotten nothing but excellent reviews from a senior who is notorious for being bad with her reviews. I also have a stellar academic record, which includes a 4.0 ...

Whether you are currently working and are looking to make a change, or you’ve lost your job and are eager to get back into the workforce, this is a challenging economic climate. You can find a job, but you need to do things that your peers are not. Let me share with you four things that will help you stand out: ...