My job is already feeling stagnant (and I haven’t been here that long), how do you make a job feel fresh again?

The first step is to get crystal clear on what gives you a sense of fulfillment. Think back to the honeymoon period of your job. What was fresh and exciting about it? What made you look forward to coming into work in the morning? If you are drawing a blank, ask yourself these three powerful questions:

1. Which of my strengths do I enjoy using most?
2. What type of work can I do that will peak my interest?
3. What is important to me at this stage in my life?

Answering these questions will help you to re-connect with yourself. Then you can identify ways of getting more of this type of work. Take the initiative to identify projects or opportunities that will keep you engaged and excited.

Research has shown that when you use your strengths and do work that you find interesting, you will be happier and more successful in your career. Knowing what you want will help you to define the action that you need to take.

Getting laid off or even fired can be a shocking and upsetting experience. Being prepared can help cushion the blow so take our quiz to find out if your job could be on the chopping block next.

Whether it is due to tough economic times or poor work performance, find out where you stand in the working world:

1. No matter what you have still waiting to be done on your desk, you leave the office:
a. Not until everything is done, you hate leaving with work still waiting.
b. Probably an hour late, you don’t want your desk to look too messy.
c. Right at 5:00, you do have a personal life after all.

2. During staff meetings you:
a. Take careful notes and often send out meeting minutes for those who didn’t follow as carefully as you did.
b. Sip your coffee trying to stay awake, jotting down the occasional thing that filters through your mind.
c. Barely cover your yawns with your hand, what happened to your note pad anyway?

3. When given a big new project to tackle you:
a. Jump in feet first, you love a new challenge.
b. Moan and groan a bit to your friends and colleagues, but start working away.
c. Procrastinate until the deadline is approaching. You work better under pressure anyways.

4. The frequency of personal emails to your inbox could be described as:
a. Absolutely none. Your friends know you are at work to work.
b. A couple every day, some things just can’t wait.
c. Frightening, and you hope your boss never finds out. But everyone does this, right?

5. When you read about your company in the news it is usually about:
a. One of the top employers in Canada again!
b. A few rumblings about possible layoffs, but nothing in your division.
c. How your main client is no longer signed with your company.

6. When your co-workers start planning an office get together you think:
a. Of course! And is there anything I should bring?
b. An hour tops, and then I need to get out of here.
c. Spend time outside of work with them?!

7. Your office has just acquired a new computer system. The first thing you notice is:
a. How much faster you can get everything done now.
b. No more long waiting times for the Internet to connect!
c. That it does your job for you. Hold on…

8. The product your company produces is:
a. Cutting edge and priced accordingly.
b. A little slower, but a lot cheaper than its competition.
c. Recently recalled.

9. You use your sick days:
a. As sparingly as possible, you never get sick.
b. Now and again when you’re sick or feeling ‶under the weather″ on a Monday morning.
c. As much as possible, who needs to wait until they’re sick to have a day off!

10. When you have completed a big project your boss:
a. Thanks you with words of encouragement and mentions your work to those higher up.
b. Nods their appreciation and moves on.
c. Doesn’t acknowledge your contribution at all, in fact, they barely know who you are.

Mostly A’s: You’re in the clear.

Take a breath and relax, you’re in the clear! The star of your workplace, you are the model employee. While you may not love your job, you realize that hard work and professionalism are the keys to not only keeping it, but getting ahead as well. Well rounded, you realize that hard work and good teamwork are essential to a productive workplace for you. Surranna Sandy, President and Editorial Director of Resume Solutions, a Toronto-based career coaching and career management company, notes that people who are both strong performers and strong team players are the ones who will remain when people need to go.

Mostly B’s: You could potentially get laid off.

While not quite out the door, you may have one foot over the threshold. While you do go that extra inch, it’s not quite the extra mile your employer may be looking for. One way to get back onto the path to success – communicate with your manager, set goals and prioritize what is critical to getting your job done. In addition to your own work, work on strong working relationships, as they can help you succeed. “People should build workable relationships that enable them to meet their goals,” says Surranna Sandy, President and Editorial Director of Resume Solutions. Even if you don’t like someone, remind yourself, this is my job, and they are essential to helping me get my job done.

Mostly C’s: You need to start looking for a new job.

Completely unproductive and uninterested in your job, it’s only a matter of time before you’re out the door. If you leaving is due to your company’s decline, what you can do at this point is prepare for leaving says Surranna Sandy, President and Editorial Director of Resume Solutions. She advises taking stock of what you have done in your role to launch your job search and begin networking. “If you prepare, you can adapt,” says Sandy. If you leaving is due to your own performance, start looking at why it’s not the right fit for you before it affects your overall reputation.

We’ve all thought at one point that we would like to write a book. So let’s take some advice from the professionals. Here are six tips for success as a writer from the author of Stuck in Downward Dog and Love Struck, Chantel Simmons.

What advice would you give to someone who is hoping to become an author?

1.Write, write, write. It sounds too simple to be true, but it is true. The theory is that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to be good at any given task, so the best way to become a better writer is to get in that practice time!

2.Make an outline. It’s so much easier to write the next chapter if you already know what’s going to happen! A lot of times I hear writers say, “But I don’t know what’s going to happen next.” If you don’t know before you start writing, how are you ever going to know? Writing the outline is hard work, but once it’s done, it allows you to write any chapter in the book, because you know that you’ve already decided you need it.

3.Writer’s block is just an excuse. If a scene isn’t working, get rid of the scene – there’s a good chance you don’t actually need it in the novel. And if you write the whole book and realize you do actually need the scene, well, you can always  go back and add it in later.

4.Write the whole novel. It’s rare that an agent would sign you without reading your whole book. They have to know that you can write the whole thing, and how the story ends so they can sell it.

5.Send in your very best work. You only get one chance to make a good first impression on an agent.

6.Being an author is a job, and you have to treat it like one. You don’t get a book written by getting pedicures or drinks with your friends. That’s what you do as a reward once you finish putting in your day’s work.

Inspired? Me too! Well, lucky for you Chantel also teaches workshops on How to Write Your First Book and How to Get Published.

Networking is about getting support in our professional lives. Many people tend to shy away from networking because they have a misconception about what networking is. The belief that networking is about schmoozing or being inauthentic makes them uncomfortable.

If you want your career to thrive, start looking at networking from a fresh perspective. Just as in our personal lives, we need the support of our friends and family, we also need professional support in our work lives.

We can expect to change jobs many times in the life of our careers. It is important to take the time to cultivate relationships with people whom we can count on for help and to people who we can lend a helping hand to.

To be more confident, reach out in a way that suits your personal style! Some people may thrive while attending a large networking event such as a conference or social event. Others may prefer meeting a colleague for coffee: both help you to build a strong network. Many people wait until they are out of work and need connections to start building a network. If you are in this situation, you may be surprised how many people are willing to help. Regardless, don’t wait any longer, exchange one business card today!

How can you tell what is appropriate and inappropriate office attire when starting a new job?

Once you have made a first impression, it sticks. We all have an individual style we express through our clothing and overall image. What you wear can also have a big impact on how you feel at work. Wearing clothes you love and that flatter you can give your confidence a big boost.

Most importantly, ask yourself what image you want to project at work and how you want to feel. I asked one of my clients, Ashley, to answer this question. She said, “the image that I want to project through my style is professional but not too conservative. I interface with lots of people and want to be seen as approachable and friendly. At work, I want to feel confident, stylish, comfortable and beautiful.” The answers to these questions helped Ashley to tweak her work wardrobe. She started with her pant suits and traded her collared shirts for softer necklines. Then she added style with accessories in this season’s most popular colors.

When starting a new job, use the official policy as a starting point. It can be tempting to throw on your favorite pair of jeans on Thursday, even if jeans are only permitted on casual Fridays.  Start conservative and take a week or so to look around and see what the majority of other people are wearing. This will help you assess what you can get away with!

Lastly, take into consideration the workplace culture. You may be able to get away with wearing the chunky African-inspired jewelery if you work at a creative advertising agency. If you work in a conservative investment firm, you may not feel so comfortable wearing the same accessories.

With her new look, Ashley felt much more confident and stylish at work. Here are some questions to help you get the same results.

When deciding which outfits are work worthy ask yourself:

1. Does this outfit project the image that I want?

2. Do I feel fabulous, confident and beautiful when I wear this to work?

3. Is it in good condition?

4. Does it fit well?

Taking some time to pull together a work wardrobe that fits your unique style will free up your time and energy to focus on making the contribution that you want to make at work without worrying about how you look.

You don’t have to sit at a desk from 9-to-5 to make a living. Finding a job you love is all about following your passions. Here’s how one man went from chef to mind reader.

How would you describe mentalism?

Mentalism is the art of using five senses to create the idea of six. These techniques require years of experience to master and are the very same techniques used for centuries to fool people into believing psychic powers existed in the first place. It’s a branch of magic. It really is the last frontier of magic, where people think, ‘that possibly could be real.’

How did you get interested/started in the business of mentalism?

I always had an interest in the paranormal and all things bizarre. I was interested in the Amazing Kreskin and mind reading when I was a young child and from there I learned the basics of mentalism and hand magic.

Did you ever do anything else besides mentalism?

I am a trained chef, but I began to get into magic more. I wasn’t doing anything theatrical, and the mentalism just started to click and shine through more and more.

Is it all about mentalism now?

I’m an exclusive entertainer; I do about 300 shows a year. Mysterion is my creative character, based on what I like such as monsters, science fiction, and wrestling (Mysterion moonlights as a professional wrestling manager under the moniker The Grand Wizard 2). I do corporate events, bar mitzvahs, weddings, private parties, galas, theatre stage shows, you name it, I’m all over the place. Around Halloween (Mysterion’s birthday, naturally!) I perform Victorian ghost séances, both at Theatres and re-occuring at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

What is a typical day for you?

A typical day starts with the tasks of morning phone calls, emails, updating Facebook, and the day-to-day domestic chores. Later on I usually have a gig to do, or I’m working at promoting a gig. If I don’t have an event and I’m at home I usually watch a movie or read ( 2 books a week) and I always make sure I have a good dinner. I’m a vegetarian and take pretty good care in what I eat. I’m a pretty average guy though, I don’t live in a castle or a dungeon as some would assume although I wouldn’t mind (laughs).

What has your most interesting show been?

I did a show in the Bahamas and they loved me. I was featured on their local news and some locals thought I was a witch from Canada. I’ve been pretty lucky in that I have no real crazy tails of being on the road. My strangest local gig – I was hired by a dominatrix to do events at their dungeon on customer appreciation day (which is ironic). In one day I’ve managed to do a children’s party, a corporate event, a bar mitzvah and then a show for 300 bikers, I really had to adapt to the environment I was in and it was then I realized that I can entertain any crowd.

What reception did you get from family/friends when you decided to make mentalism your career?

I got a lot of people saying I was throwing away my career, but I knew it was going to work. I had to pound the pavement and paper the city with notices about gigs, and people began to realize that I wasn’t stopping. I’ve had people say, ‘you’re a fake, you’re a quack,’ and I’ve had people say ‘I just don’t believe.’ I bring them into a world where spoons bend and you can communicate by thought. People are just people and people are still kids. It’s just for entertainment and I don’t claim it’s legitimate like others do.  Once people realized this they caught on, even if they were being fooled.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to try becoming a mentalist?

There is nothing more important than understanding people. You have to be a people person and be able to really interact with them. You need the desire to make people smile and just have a good time. Then, get out and do as many gigs as possible, do shows for everyone. I’ve done a show for blind people that I made all about description and thought provoking. Mentalism takes years and it’s not about a few cool effects, but based on a psychology on how to get into peoples patterns and play with perception.

For more information, or to find out where Mysterion will be performing next, check him out at www.mysterionthemindreader.com

Asking for a pay raise when the economy is on the fritz is not an easy thing to do, but here are some tips to help you approach the situation with tact and research.

So you’ve done it: you got the job, and you’ve worked your butt off getting there. But what happens when staff numbers start to shrink, work piles grow, and it becomes obvious that you are genuinely underpaid for the amount of hard work you are putting in? What is the best way to go about asking for a raise during a recession? We spoke to Shirin Khamisa, a certified career coach and founder of coaching company Careers by Design. Here are her tips for negotiating a pay raise in one of the toughest economies.

Be aware

“It is important to know your industry and how your organization has been affected by the economic situation,” says Khamisa. If there have been layoffs or pay cuts within your company and a pay hike is unlikely it is important to consider other benefits you could request in lieu of a monetary raise. “It is important to ask yourself the question, ‘what do I want?’…you must consider what is most important for you in life, maybe that is time off or working from home a few days a week.” Khamisa also suggests requesting opportunities that could take you to the next level within your company such as working more closely with your boss to gain leadership experience or seeking out directional change within your field to broaden your work experience.

Know your value

Knowing your value within the broader scope of your career field is essential. “Early on in our career we’re often thinking about how much we’ve contributed,” says Khamisa. “It is important to give yourself a reality check and to move from being internally focused to seeing what is going on in the marketplace.”

Get your hands on salary surveys, both from within your company and from within your field in general – this will help make comparisons between how much you are making and how much others with similar experience are making elsewhere.

Know your contribution

Clearly knowing what you have accomplished during your time with your company is one of the most important factors when approaching your boss for a raise. Khamisa suggests looking over old performance reviews and noting what it is you have been measured on and then judge how well you believe you have been doing in each area. If you’re not good at critiquing yourself try approaching your co-workers or other managers within the company and asking them to point out some of your strengths and contributions. Also, “collect all the feedback that has been given to you throughout the years and keep it. It will help you remember what you have contributed,” says Khamisa, who adds that the process is also a great self-esteem builder.

Have no fear

“Sometimes we may not ask for what we want because of our perception of our bosses,” says Khamisa. This especially rings true when money gets tight and people are frightened to disrupt the hierarchy of their company in fear of losing their jobs. In fact, says Khamisa, discussing raises or other benefits can actually do the exact opposite. “Knowing your value and seeing what the company can offer you is a great way to build a relationship between yourself and your boss because it lets them know you are not afraid to ask for what you want.”

Be prepared

Before entering the room on your big day, organize yourself. Have all your papers and documents available including duplicate copies for your boss. “Know your arguments, prove them logically, and end with a positive summary of what you believe your contribution to the company has been,” says Mike, the vice-president of a Toronto-based media company who is responsible for negotiating and organizing the pay packages of every employee within the company. More importantly, he says, let them know what your contribution will be in the future and be clear when laying out what you believe your new compensation package should be.

Come in peace

If this is not the first time you have requested a raise, and if you have been rejected before, it is important not to walk into your interview with any resentment or negative emotions, says Khamisa. “Some people go in with that energy and it is not good, it will not allow you to come to a compromise between you and your boss.” And maybe this time around the answer will again be a no, but it is essential to remember that it is not personal. Try leaving the door open, she says, instead of turning the experience into a negative one, ask that your request be reconsidered in three or six months.

Shirin Khamisa is a certified coach and counsellor who empowers people to create more happiness in their lives and work. To find out about how coaching can help you visit www.careersbydesign.ca or call Shirin at 416-519-8408 for a complimentary consultation.

Navigating the corporate landscape can be confusing.  Each company has its own culture, expectations of their employees, and management style.  The key thing to remember is that there are two factors to excel in your career – performing your job well, and relationship management.  So the connection between you and your boss is paramount to your success, here are 10 easy ways to impress your boss.

1. Communicate your expectations

Early on in your job, sit down with your boss and explain to them what you are hoping to gain from your role. This gives them the perception that you are focused, have a direction and motivation. Doing this will encourage them to plan out a career path with you to help you get there.

2. Learn your job

Understand your role, job shadow, and ask questions. Also identify where your job fits within the company. Donna Marie Antoniadis, Chief Operating Officer of ShesConnected Multimedia Corp., suggests that employees “understand their roles and how they contribute to the overall structure of the company, identify the relationship between themselves and the success of the company.” If you identify areas of the job where you lack experience and need more training, call it out and get extra help to bring you up to speed. Antoniadis advises that it is “admirable when [employees] tell me what they need help in because that tells me they are eager to learn and to do their job right.”

3. Project executive presence

This means following corporate policies, dress codes and codes of conduct, as set out by the company. The workplace is not meant to be a catwalk at a fashion show, or a venue to behave like the head of a high school clique. Carrying yourself in a professional manner shows your boss that you have leadership abilities, and behavioural traits that are in line with the organization’s beliefs.

4. Be on time

There is no excuse for not coming into work on time, on a regular basis. Not knowing when you are going to show up translates into you being unreliable. “I get the impression that people do not take their jobs seriously when they come into work habitually late, regardless of their performance,” Antoniadis points out. By showing up late, it conveys to your boss – and others – that you believe your time is more valuable than theirs. Be punctual and ready to work, every single day.

5. Be organized

It seems so obvious and simple. However, in today’s corporate world of consecutive due dates, simultaneous meetings, and multiple fires to be put out, managing your schedule is harder than it sounds. Being organized means understanding what is a priority, being prepared for meetings, and achieving deadlines. The last thing your boss wants to do is babysit you. By demonstrating that you are able to be proactive and manage your own time efficiently and effectively, your boss will have comfort in trusting you and delegating more responsibility to you.

6. Be positive

We all run into trying times and looking on the bright side of things is not necessarily our first reaction. However, managing how you respond to complicated situations can serve to either enhance or worsen your boss’ perception of your capabilities. Companies are looking for their employees to “extract and promote positive character and business traits,” advises Diane Norman Locke, a career consultant and owner of Diane Norman Locke Consulting. Having a “can do” attitude, not being known as a “no” person, and having the reputation of being willing to help is a quality that you want to portray. People are always more willing to work with a positive person.

7. Be a team player

A successful company must work as a cohesive unit towards the same goals and objectives. It is important that you not only work as a unified team with your boss and other direct co-workers, but that you also demonstrate your ability and willingness to collaborate with others.

8. Find a solution

At some point in your career, setbacks are going to arise. Difficult decisions have to be made. Your boss will appreciate it if you can approach them with either a solution that will remedy the situation, or an analysis and recommendation. This shows that you are willing to take the initiative to solve a problem, rather than deferring to your boss for the answer.

9. Take responsibility for your mistakes

We all make mistakes, especially if we are new to our jobs. When you find yourself in this situation, confess. Acknowledge that a faux pas occurred. Emphasize that you understand why the slip-up happened, and what steps you are taking to correct it. Covering your tracks and pointing fingers at other people tells your boss that you are not ready to accept accountability for tasks, and paints you as dishonest. Accepting and admitting your mistake opens the door for your boss to help you understand where you went wrong and give you insight into how to correctly execute the task in the future.

10. Ask for feedback

Requesting feedback from your boss is an important indicator to them that you are constantly striving to better yourself and your performance. It allows you to understand what you are doing well and should continue to do, and opportunities for improvement. Your boss is giving you their suggestions to help you succeed in your role.

1. Gossip

Of course, socializing is an important part of making the workplace enjoyable. However, there is a difference between casual mingling with coworkers and engaging in inter-office gossip. Getting caught up in rumours of office soap operas are not productive to your job and gives your boss the perception that you are distracted from the tasks at hand.

2. Be afraid to ask questions

Your boss expects you to ask questions, particularly if you are new to your role. “Take the initiative to clarify requirements of assigned tasks with me so that I know you are on the right track” advises Donna Marie Antoniadis, Chief Operating Officer of ShesConnected Multimedia Corp.. Inquiring further about vague areas of a project and seeking clarification serves to improve your ability to perform your job well.

3. Be a “Yes” man/woman

Constantly agreeing with your boss gives them the impression that you are unable to think for yourself. If you have a difference of opinion, express it politely. This will open up your boss’ eyes to where you may have some strengths or insight into a particular area of the business. You may find that they will ask for your views on more issues, in order to get helpful feedback.

4. Whine

Chronic complaining about petty issues drives not only your boss crazy, but also everyone else within earshot. Not everyone will agree with your thoughts. Your boss is likely dealing with projects that have weighty responsibilities. They may find your complaints trivial, and not relevant to the business. There are times when drawing attention to issues is warranted. However, constantly going on and bellyaching about it becomes whining – and irritating.

5. Kiss up

A boss can sense when their employee is kissing up to them, and it can be awkward. In addition, you are simultaneously creating a reputation for yourself as the office brown-noser. This is not how you want to build your personal brand. Your boss will wonder why you are putting so much effort into kissing up to them, and not as much into doing your job.

6. Play the blame game

Constantly blaming others, and not accepting responsibility when things go awry translates into you not wanting the accountability of important tasks. No one wants to work with someone who is not mature enough to recognize the error of their ways, and step up to the plate to fix it.

7. Step on your boss’ toes

Taking initiative is a trait that bosses appreciate in their employees. Stepping on their toes is not. Always run your ideas, solutions, questions, and proposals by your boss first, and ask for next steps. Going above their heads or behind their backs gives the impression that you are trying to step into their role, or believe that you can do their job better than them. Keeping your boss out of the loop on what you are doing, and treading into tasks that are in their territory without telling them may leave them feeling threatened and offended.

8. Run personal errands

There never seems to be enough hours in the day to take care of private affairs. Understandably, from time to time you will have to leave early for an appointment, call in to check up with your financial planner, etc. However, these behaviours should be limited to the bare minimum. You are not being paid to do your own personal banking online. Your boss hired you to do your job. They will notice that you are taking care of personal business during work hours, and will view it as a negative trait when assessing your performance. Try to manage personal errands outside of work hours as much as possible, so as to not leave your boss with the impression that you are easily distracted by your private life.

9. Be offended by constructive criticism

Your boss gives you constructive criticism to assist you in becoming a stronger employee. View them as tools to help you improve yourself and understand what you can do better and how. Your boss wants you to strive to be the best that you can be in your job. Their critique of how you are managing your role and tasks are suggestions to help you achieve your goals.

10. Take on more than you can handle

Spreading yourself too thin may result in you not being able to focus on the tasks at hand. Raise the red flag and alert your boss to situations where you need more resources, are burdened with too much, and learn to say “no” when you realize that the workload is unmanageable. Many times, they are unaware of what your threshold is. The last thing you want is for your work to suffer because you didn’t have enough time or help to get the job done right. Notifying them when you are reaching your capacity demonstrates maturity to your boss, and shows them that you know your limits.