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You probably use email throughout your work day. But how often do you consider the effects it can have on your career? An email mistake could forfeit your job. But if you arm yourself with these tips, you should be safe and more effective at work!
1. Think before you send.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Engage your mind before you put your mouth in gear.” The same applies to email. It’s so easy to type out an email and hit “Send.” Don’t fall into the trap of sending emails without first thinking about the contents.
Email taboos aren’t difficult to ascertain. Ask yourself, “Would I say this in person?” If not, don’t send it. For some other thoughts, check out an article by Penelope Trunk: 5 emails you should never write.
2. Remain professional.
Email has become a standard communication method. We email everything from job offers to stupid jokes. The trick is to remember that company email is for professional business only. Your company might allow some incidental personal email use, but don’t abuse it.
And most importantly, always remain professional in emails to colleagues. You don’t have to be stiff shirted, but give them (and the entire company) the respect they deserve.
3. Use proper grammar and spelling.
R u their? That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Your teenager may understand it in a text message from a buddy, but your coworker in Human Resources won’t. Proper grammar and spelling is essential to ensure people comprehend your emails.
More than that, this is part of being professional. If you don’t take the time to spell check an email or use complete sentences, what will your colleagues think about your work product?
4. Write good subject lines.
Email is supposed to help you get work done. How is Bob down the hall going to know what you need, if you don’t properly label your emails to him? It doesn’t help him be effective, and you probably won’t get a timely response needed for your job. Everyone suffers.
Instead, label all emails with a well-worded subject. Don’t leave it blank! Make it clear what project or task the email relates to, but keep it brief. For other ideas, check out How to Construct the Perfect Email Subject Line.
5. Don’t live in your email.
Email is a tool. If you spend all day rummaging around in your inbox, you won’t get your real work done. Sure, you might send and read a bunch of email, but what do you have to show for it? Unless your job is specifically about communications, email is just a way to help get other things accomplished.
A great way to tame the email addiction is to only check it periodically throughout the day. Try once per hour. You could probably even check it less often than that. And let your coworkers know that truly urgent matters warrant a phone call. This allows you to step out of the inbox, do your real work, and know that urgent things will get your attention when needed.
Master your email, before it masters you!
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of mentoring in the workplace, we’ll talk about a way to setup a mentor relationship.
Evaluate your needs
You can’t jump into a mentorship blindly. First you need to decide what exactly you need.
Are you looking for a casual relationship, or something more formal? Do you seek a long term mentor, or just someone to help you through a certain phase, such as beginning a new position?
Also, consider whether or not you want a mentor in your specific department. It might feel natural to be mentored by someone whose job is similar to your own. However, you could gain a valuable viewpoint by connecting with a person whose job is different.
There’s really no right answer to these questions. Just consider things like this, so you can know what you’re looking for.
Ask around
This first idea might seem obvious. But you might be surprised how far you’ll get just by asking.
But what do I mean by that? I’m not suggesting (yet) that you approach someone and directly propose a mentorship. Instead, ask coworkers or friends if they know of anyone who is willing to mentor. Try asking people if they had a mentor at any time.
You could also just ask people who they respect. Find out who the natural leaders are. Figure out who has the necessary time to be your mentor.
The main point here is just to gather information about your “mentor pool.” Determine the general prospects.
Be direct
Once you know what you’re looking for and who might be receptive to the idea, it’s time to be direct.
A great way to do this is to simply explain that you’re looking for someone to learn from. Tell the possible-mentor that you respect him/her and that you’d like to gain insights into the work world.
You don’t have to make this approach in person, although it might be best. You could try email or telephone, but that removes a bit of the personal environment that you’re seeking to foster. Whatever route you take, be polite.
If the person you approach isn’t receptive to the idea, don’t worry. He’s probably just busy with other demands on his time. Find someone else to ask. Better yet, ask if he could recommend someone. 
Make it easier for others
Once you find a mentor, you can now share your experience with others. By telling other people how you found a mentor, you’ll help them find their own mentor. You sort-of become a mentor yourself!
This is Part 1 in a two-part series on mentoring in the workplace. Watch for Part 2 soon.
Workplace mentoring is an important concept for employers and employees to understand. It’s more than a performance review or task feedback. To understand what it is, why it helps everyone, and how to setup a mentor relationship, we’re writing a two-part series on the subject.
A solid history
Mentoring isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s the way most trades used to be passed down from one generation to the next.
What is an apprenticeship? It’s a mentor relationship. The experienced artisan or tradesman teaches the novice how to succeed in the field.
Interestingly, most apprenticeships went far beyond the trade itself, with the apprentice learning about life and society generally.
Present day example
The benefits of mentoring have been brought into many occupations today. However, one great example is the medical field.
Doctors attend medical school and earn an advanced degree in their field. But before they actually practice on their own, they work under the supervision of another doctor. This is a classic mentor relationship. The experienced doctor teaches the novice about the field and helps the new doctor learn more.
This real-world training, combined with classroom education helps ensure that doctors enter practice on their own with a full skill set.
Great benefits
By now, some of the benefits from mentoring are hopefully clear. But let’s go over more of them:
- Get on the job training
- Foster deeper personal relationships
- Have a person to talk with confidentially
- Get feedback on projects
The cool thing about mentoring is that both parties get great benefits. The mentored employee gets to learn a lot about the profession, and the the mentor also gets to learn and make a new networking connection.
In Part 2, we’ll get down to brass tacks and look at actually setting up a mentor relationship.
Most of our articles here at Job Tuition deal with getting a job. But what do you do if you need to leave a job? Fortunately, there are ways to be diplomatic and help ensure a graceful exit.
Give advance notice
This is one of the most important things to remember: give your employer notice. By giving notice to your employer, you’ll enable her to find a replacement and keep the company moving along. It also helps your chances of a strong reference in the future.
So it’s clear that you should give notice, but what does that entail? Consider these points:
- At least 2 weeks - You should at least notify your employer 2 weeks before you will be leaving. If your job is particularly specialized, you might even give more time.
- Be polite - Don’t tell your boss to “take this job and shove it.” Even if you’re not leaving on positive terms, be diplomatic and polite.
- Clarity helps - You don’t need to spell out everything behind your departure. But explain briefly why you’re leaving and when your final day will be. Of course, you can also negotiate that with your employer.
Help prepare your replacement
Even if you have a routine position, your employer might want you to help train your replacement. Be courteous and do your best here, if asked.
You likely have specialized knowledge of your company’s internal workings and what your job requires. You’re the best person to pass this info on to others.
Don’t burn bridges
You never know when you might need a reference from this employer. Or you might find yourself wanting another job at this company. Whatever the reason, don’t burn the bridge.
Do everything in your power to leave in a graceful way. Even if you are being forced out, leaving gracefully shows that you are a strong person.
If you have a polite exit, everyone will be better off.
How many jobs have you applied for and not even received an interview? Maybe your resume goes straight in the trash. But how would you know? Here are a few good indicators that your resume is garbage. Now’s the time to clean it up.
1. Crummy paper. You don’t need incredibly fancy resume paper. But don’t print your resume on regular copy paper either. Go to your local office supply store and buy a box of resume paper. This will set you back $10-12, but it’s critical. And make sure the paper stays crisp; no wrinkles or creases allowed (except for mailing, of course).
2. Poor font choice. Stellar credentials don’t mean squat if your font is unreadable. And most business owners don’t want to see Wing-Dings on a resume. Pick a neutral font like Times New Roman or Arial. Make most of the text 10-12 point. Use some variations like bold and italics, but don’t go overboard. Simple is good.
3. No whitespace. Two kinds of whitespace are important on a resume: margins and lines. Decent margins (at least .75″) frame your resume and focus the eye on the content. Blank lines between sections help give the eye a break and prepare the reader for the next blurb. People just won’t read a page chocked full of text.
4. Too long. Don’t overload the reader with information. If you have a post-graduate degree, do you really need to put your high school activities on your resume? You shouldn’t even list every college activity. Focus on the highlights, the really good talking points, and the things you’re most proud of. If you list everything on the resume, what’s left to talk about in the interview?
5. Typos. Does this one even require an explanation? Spell check, check again, and triple check. Get a friend to read it. Get two friends to read it. See if your school’s career counselor will proofread and critique it. There’s no excuse for a typo on a resume.
6. Too good to be true. Everyone frames their resume in a positive light. A little embellishment is normal. But don’t go overboard. If you can’t back up what’s on the page and discuss it in person, don’t write it.
7. It’s incomplete. The traditional rule is that you shouldn’t have gaps in your resume. This is becoming a bit outdated, but you still don’t want gaping holes. If you didn’t work or go to school for more than a few months, you should include what you did do. Did you have a volunteer position? Did you travel? This might just go under “Other Activities” or something, but don’t leave out important things like this.
8. No focus. If your resume has nothing to do with the job for which you’re applying, it’s pretty useless to the employer. If you are interested in multiple fields, why not compose more than one resume? You can highlight different parts of your education and experience, so each employer sees crucial tidbits that fit with their opening. Just don’t get your versions mixed up.
9. Passive and boring. Would you rather read a book that is action-packed and exciting, or would you like one that is boring? Resumes are no different. Explain your accomplishments and experience using action verbs. Instead of saying “was the manager,” say “managed employee team.” It’s a subtle difference, but it’s important.
Hopefully your resume passed all these tests with flying colors. If not, you better revise it!
First impressions are the most important. Humans are impressed the most by what we see first. So make your first impression count. Create a powerful resume that doesn’t end up in the trash.
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