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More U.S. employers using temp labor to vet new hires. By Nick Zieminski

Jennifer Cochran - Monday, March 12, 2012

More U.S. employers using temp labor to vet new hires. By Nick Zieminski

(Reuters) - Companies that provide temporary labor are seeing more contract workers hired as permanent employees, in a sign job gains may be broadening as U.S. employers gain confidence in the recovery, staffing executives said Friday.

Companies typically engage temporary workers before committing to permanent hires, so the staffing sector is seen as a leading indicator of broader hiring.

The sector added 45,000 jobs in February, while temp job gains in January and December were stronger than initially estimated, the government report showed on Friday. The job gains were part of a broader jobs report that showed 227,000 jobs added outside the farm sector.

The percentage of temps in the U.S. labor force, at 1.86 percent, marked the eighth straight monthly increase. Employment analysts expect that metric to pass its April 2000 peak above 2 percent as more employers embrace temporary labor in an uncertain economic climate.

Companies are using temps to try out candidates for permanent jobs, said Jeff Joerres, Chief Executive of ManpowerGroup.

"Our temporary to permanent conversions are very high," Joerres said. Taking on temp workers "is also is a way of being agile and cautious, so if something happens in the Middle East and demand goes down precipitously, (they) have a way to adjust without affecting the permanent workforce."

'ROBUST' DEMAND BUT FLAT WAGES

Small and mid-size companies are stepping up use of temporary workers as easier access to credit allows them to invest, said Randstad employment analyst Joanie Ruge, who said pharmaceutical companies are using more temps for research and other roles.

"It is robust," Ruge said. "Companies are going to look for more flexibility in their workforce. They will expand and contract as their demand fluctuates."

While demand for temps is strong, it is not necessarily accelerating, said Joel Capperella, vice president of Yoh, a Philadelphia-area staffing company that focuses of professional job categories such as technology. Wages are flat. A Yoh index of wages for skilled temporary workers found only a 1 percent gain over a year ago.

"Wages aren't really moving a whole lot," Capperella said. "Clients of our services are in the driver's seat. Things are good but you have to temper it."

Staffing stocks were higher across the board in U.S. and European trading and far outperformed the broader market on expectations that growth rates would pick up for the sector in coming months.

Manpower shares gained 2.3 percent in midday trading. Robert Half International rose 1.6 percent, Hudson Highland jumped 7 percent and TrueBlue Inc, which focuses on blue-collar jobs, was up 2.4 percent.

In European trading, Adecco, Randstad and Michael Page each gained more than 2 percent.
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How to Make a Great First Impression by Tonya Baker

Jennifer Cochran - Sunday, September 11, 2011

How to make a great first impression

 

Everyone knows that first impressions are important and even more during your job search. The first judgment an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing so it is always important to dress professionally for a job interview no matter how casual the work environment. Remember you don't have the job yet and the applicant dressed in a nice suit and tie or dress will make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Below are a few simply tips to make your interviews a success and help you shine.

 

Interview Attire for Men

  • Suit or dress slacks
  • Dress shirt
  • Belt
  • Tie especially for professional positions
  • Dark socks, with clean polished shoes
  • Clean shaven with little or no cologne
  • Neatly trimmed nails

Interview Attire for Women

        

  • Pant or skirt suit
  • Coordinated blouse
  • Conservative shoes (no flip-flops)
  • Limited jewelry
  • Neatly done hair
  • Neutral pantyhose
  • Light make-up and perfume
  • Neatly manicured clean nails

What Not to Bring to the Interview

  • Young Children (interviewer may assume that you have problems with child care.)
  • Gum
  • Cell phone
  • Ipads or MP3 players
  • Coffee or soda
  • If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home ( earrings only is a good rule)

 

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The 5 W's on Writing a Perfect Resume by Energi Personnel's Misty Jones

Jennifer Cochran - Tuesday, September 06, 2011

A recent article examined the styles of resumes and what catches a reader’s attention.  The focus was on how narrative style resumes are outdated, do not catch the reader’s attention quickly and can even convey a negative idea that something is trying to be hidden.  And most importantly, the time investment that a reader must devote to that resume. 

As a hiring manager, we want to glance at a resume and be able to tell you who they are, what they have done, where they attended school and been employed, when were they last employed, and what are they looking to do.  By stating the 5 W’s clearly, quickly and efficiently, readers are more apt to continue, as well as, read more in depth.   By addressing the keywords in a headline and major bullet points at first glance, the reader’s attention is caught and has raised the interest of the reader.  This is the strategy that newspapers and magazines use to catch reader’s eyes, raise interest, and result in the consumer buying that media to read the story in its entirety.  A resume using the same strategies will more often find their way into a hiring manager’s hands for a longer length of time.  

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Six Ways to Work Successfully with Energi Personnel by Tamera Ingram

Jennifer Cochran - Monday, September 05, 2011

Six Ways to Work Successfully With Energi Personnel

By Tamera Ingram, Energi Personnel Staff

 

Make an appointment: When you register with us make an appointment.  If you show up unexpectedly, we may be unable to fit you in.  It will take you at least 40 – 45 minutes to go through our process, so please dedicate that time to register.

Come dressed for an interview: You wouldn’t show up to church in shorts and a tank top, so dress appropriately for your interview.  Since we do live in West Texas, clean jeans, plain shirt and work boots are perfectly acceptable.  If you are applying for an office position, dress for the position you are applying for.  Slacks and nice shirt are fine.  Remember no spiked heels, short skirts, or heavy make-up and perfume.  Your first impression is very important, so let’s make it a good one. 

Bring References: One of the reasons people don’t get placed is lack of references.  You need to bring at least 4 and don’t forget the phone numbers.  These references should be from previous employers and co-workers.  If we call you for more references, please get them to us as quickly as you can.  For those who do not have a work history, teachers, long term family, friends, and clergy are acceptable.  Always pre screen your references.

Testing: For all light industrial applicants we will give you a safety test.  Please pay attention to the video, and answer the questions to the best of your ability.  If you are applying for an office position we will give you a number of on-line tests.  These tests can be completed in our office, or on your home computer.  Expect to spend 1-1/2 to 2 hours on these tests.  Completion of the tests will help us place and sell you to a prospective employer. 

Interview: Be as forthcoming as possible as we will ask you many questions.  Where we place you will depend on your answers.  We want to place you in the best job possible where you will be successful.  If you don’t have a skill, don’t say you do as we will find out quickly that you don’t. 

Follow Up: Always keep in touch with us and call in every 10 days.  When a position opens up, you want your name on the top of our list. If you find a position before we can place you, please let us know so we can keep your records accurate. We here at Energi Personnel is always interested in your search and your current employment. If are currently employed but still looking for that perfect opportunity keep us updated so we may assist you in your search.

Here are a few ways to make your application process go smoothly with Energi Personnel.  Up-date your resume.  You can go online and find resume applications, and some are free.  Current resumes help prospective employers in deciding if they want to interview you, and Energi Personnel to sell you.  Remember finding the right position may take time, but it is well worth the effort.  Energi Personnel is here to aid you in your search.  Good Luck!

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Bosses reveal worst wardrobe dont's by How Good Grows

Jennifer Cochran - Sunday, August 07, 2011

Bosses reveal worst wardrobe dont's

By Sarah B. Weir

Certified Image Consultant and Chair of the Association of Image Consultants International, Kelly Mashbitz worries about what messages some women today are sending with their office attire. “I’ve noticed that Casual Fridays have morphed into ‘Happy Hour’ Fridays -- you can tell who’s got a date that night by what they wear to the office that day.”

She points out that you only have 30-40 seconds to make a first impression on your boss or co-worker so what you wear is going to instantly signal how smart and competent you are, for better or worse. Kelly feels the more skin you show, the less power you project:  “If you are sitting next to a male colleague in a three-piece suit and you wearing a strappy dress, who do you think is going to command the respect?”

Kelly recommends that women have three separate wardrobes: one for the office, one for the weekend, and another for special occasions. While this might seem a little old school, she explains that fashion magazines like to mix casual and professional clothing, but the average person simply doesn’t have the eye or the experience to combine styles in one outfit.

We talked to some managers and executives around the country about the worst wardrobe blunders, and bosses agree that conservative professional attire is still relevant today. It seems that looks can kill…your job prospects.


“My personal secretary was a very presentable young woman, well educated, neat, and pulled together. After about a year on the job, her wardrobe fell off a cliff: she started showing up in men’s wool pants that looked like they had been pulled from a dumpster and moth-eaten sweaters. It was a crystal clear sign that she no longer cared about the work and needed to move on.”

--Alan, Senior Diplomat


 “Over the two decades I’ve been practicing law, I’ve noticed women going from professional suits (great) to lovely dresses (all good) to strappy sundresses and flip flops (pathetic)! Dressing this way for Court takes away from their credibility. Clothes in the office have gotten very casual, which is okay, I suppose, but there are certain venues that one needs to respect and dress appropriately for.”

--Anne, Law Partner


“Too much skin and too much perfume. One of my sales reps is just shy of inappropriate: Her clothes are stylish and made with quality fabrics, but the skirts are a couple of inches too short, the heels a couple of inches too high, and the camisoles a couple of shades too sheer. A strapless cocktail dress has appeared a few times. I’m not going to complain to HR, but with the party look and the perfume, she makes people uncomfortable.”

--Greg, Financial Services Head of Marketing

“When our company first established Casual Fridays, some of the employees took it too far with their Daisy Dukes—the cutoffs that ride very high. HR had to send out a dress code memo. One memorable rule was ‘no cleavage’ – toe cleavage, that is.”

--Stephanie, Money Manager


“My cosmetics studio is close to the beach. One day a young woman pranced in wearing a bikini and flip flops and asked for a job application. Needless to say, we were ‘out of applications’ that day.”

--Kara, Professional Make-up Artist

 

“One of our crazy reporters showed up in her wedding dress. And it looked like it had been quite a party—pretty grubby around the edges!”

--Leslie, Newspaper Publisher


“The charter school where I work strives for excellence and professionalism—from both students and teachers. Male teachers simply wear a tie, but for women the dress code is a little less clear, especially since many of them are right out of college and used to dressing in jeans. One woman is always straddling the line with her outfits and is the subject of regular teacher’s lounge debates about whether or not she has crossed it. Parent-teacher conference day rolled around and she appeared for breakfast in the cafeteria in black high-heeled boots, a tee-shirt mini dress with a keyhole back and a wide patent leather belt. I made a mental note to mention it to the principal before the parents came in the afternoon. At lunch I noticed the teacher wasn’t there—turns out the principal had already sent her home.”

--Abby, Assistant Principal

 

“A couple of years ago, we merged with a French company. The new HR representative came to do a workshop with my team—a bunch of young science geeks who build robots in their spare time. Well, she was wearing one of those clingy wrap dresses that was cut very low in front. The guys definitely had their minds on something aside from the presentation that day.”

--Mary, Biotech Vice President

 

“Our summer interns are notorious for their outfits. From bra straps hanging out to hot pants. Thank goodness the bare midriff style seems to have waned. They would wear a cropped top with low cut jeans and a thong peeking out the back! It’s one thing hanging out with your girlfriends, but at your workplace? Come on.” --Laurie, Film Producer
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Summer Job Search Tips by Kim Isaacs

Jennifer Cochran - Saturday, July 23, 2011

Sizzling Summer Job Search Tips

By Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

Are you taking a break from the job search and surrendering to the lazy days of summer? The conventional wisdom is that almost everyone is in vacation mode from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Consequently, many postpone job searching until September. 

Is this a mistake? Could you be missing opportunities if you take the summer off? We asked the career experts to find out.

Summer Job Searching -- Worthwhile or Waste of Time?

"I often hear job seekers say that they want to take the summer off," says Wendy Terwelp, career coach and president of Mequon, Wisconsin-based career management firm Opportunity Knocks. Terwelp says that by the time the summer ends, job seekers who took the summer off will be competing against even more job seekers who have followed the same strategy.

Anne-Marie Ditta, president of MyCareerCoach.net, agrees. "A fair number of job seekers think that recruiters and hiring managers are unavailable during the summer," Ditta says. Therefore, many believe it's a waste of time to job search from June through August.

Debunking the Summer Vacation Myth

"Few people take long vacations anymore, so for the corporate world it's business as usual in the summer," says Laura Berman Fortgang, a pioneer in the personal coaching field who has appeared on “Oprah” and “The CBS Early Show” and wrote Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction.

"It may take a little longer to get internal consensus on a hire because of staggered vacations, but why waste three months when you can move things forward during that time?" suggests Fortgang, who says that summertime can offer advantages to job seekers. "Sometimes, summer's quieter pace gives hiring managers a bit more 'brain space,' so they are more attentive to employment applications," she says.

Summer can be a prime hiring season for some employers. "Many projects hit the ground running in the fall, and employers want new people in place," Fortgang says.

Six Summer Job Search Tips

How do you keep your search moving forward in the summer? Our experts offer these tips:
  • Capitalize on Seasonal Events: "Summer is a terrific time to network," says Terwelp. "There are festivals, barbeques, weddings and other gatherings that can be a perfect time to connect." Fortgang says that using personal and social gatherings to let people know you are looking is an excellent strategy.
     
  • Don't Get Discouraged: Summer vacations may make reaching the right people more challenging, but don't use this as a reason to back off, Fortgang says. "Be patient and consistent, leave polite messages and continue due diligence," she says. Keep in mind that receptionists and other gatekeepers take vacations, too. "You might connect with that otherwise hard-to-reach hiring manager while your competitors are lolling around waiting until September," says Ditta.
     
  • Keep a Job Search Schedule: Yes, it's summer, but don't be lulled into laziness. "Even if it is just an hour a day, put structure in place to keep you going,” says Fortgang.
     
  • Build a Network: "Form a group of like-minded job seekers to keep your summer job search on track," Fortgang suggests. Meet regularly to share information on who's hiring. A job opportunity not right for you may be perfect for someone in your network, and vice versa.
     
  • Take Stock of Your Resume and Skills: Summer is the perfect time to assess and update your resume and skills. "Review your resume and add any new accomplishments or training," Terwelp says. Also, brush up on any skills that may be lagging. "Take a class or two in the summer. Not only will you be improving your skills, but you can network with your classmates."
     
  • Get Outside: Warm weather is the prime time for outdoor home improvement projects, and by helping your neighbors you can help your career at the same time. Walk around your neighborhood and offer to give someone a hand. While you're helping that neighbor, you can share that you're job hunting and tap into someone else's network. "This can lead to more connections, informational interviews and maybe even a new job," says Terwelp.
When it comes to your job search, summer doesn't have to mean slow. While that perfect swimsuit may remain elusive, you can use the summer months to find an ideal career fit. Your time and effort can reap big rewards and even land you a new job before autumn.
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Tax Deductible Job Search Expenses

Jennifer Cochran - Sunday, April 03, 2011

Your Job Search Expenses May Be Tax-Deductible

By John Rossheim, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Did you spend substantial amounts of money looking for a new position last year? You may be able to succeed where Nelson Rockefeller failed and take a tax deduction for many of your job search-related costs.

When New York Governor Rockefeller was appointed vice president in the '70s, he deducted expenses incurred in connection with his congressional confirmation hearings. Years later, the courts upheld the IRS's denial of the write-off, saying it violated a key rule on job search deductions: You must be looking for a job in the same trade or business as your previous position.

But fear not: The legitimacy of these deductions rarely gets decided in court. Armed with a bit of knowledge and some individualized professional tax advice, you may be able to reap savings by writing off a variety of job search costs.

Three Major Deduction Categories

Deductible job search expenses generally fall into three categories, according to IRS Publication 529:

  • Outplacement and Employee Agency Fees: If you pay for job counseling or to have an agency match you with an employment opportunity, this expense is generally deductible. Of course, if you are reimbursed by an employer or anyone else, you cannot deduct these fees. 
     
  • Resume Preparation, Mailing and Related Expenses: Paper, envelopes, portfolios, postage, phone calls and the like add up. To deduct them properly, you'll need to keep meticulous records, including receipts and notes on the purpose of purchases. 
     
  • Travel and Transportation Expenses: Whether you take the bus to an interview or fly across the country to pound the pavement, your job search-related travel and transportation expenses may be deductible. But remember: The amount of time you spend searching for a job versus engaging in personal activities during your journeys can be a factor. In other words, a three-week trip in February with one face-to-face informational interview thrown in isn't going to cut it. These deduction rules are complex; get professional advice.  

Before You Take That Deduction, Consider These Factors

Even though you now have an idea of what to deduct, you still need to jump through some hoops -- four, actually -- before plugging in those deductions:

  • You Must Be Looking for a Job in the Same Occupation: Career changers don't get a break from the IRS. "If a general manager of a food market goes out and looks for a job as a VP of an Internet company, that's not going to fly," says Bradford Hall, managing director of Hall & Co. CPAs.

    Distinctions between career fields can be arguable, so it pays to get professional advice. "I would go ahead and take the deduction if, say, you switch from journalism to marketing, because it's all communications," says Jim Dowling, senior tax manager for Weaver and Tidwell LLP.  

  • You Can't Take a ‘Substantial Break' Between Your Previous Job and Your Search: "There's no specific time frame provided by the IRS," Hall says. "But if a teacher becomes a stay-at-home mom, then years later decides she wants to go back, that's too long" to qualify for job search deductions. "The IRS wants to encourage people to get back on the horse and get back in the labor force."
     
  • You Can't Be Looking for Your First Job: High school and college students seeking their first real-world job cannot deduct search expenses -- you must be transitioning between career positions.
     
  • Job Search and Other Miscellaneous Deductions Must Exceed 2 Percent of Adjusted Gross Income: Major caveat: You can deduct job search costs only to the extent that they -- lumped together with all other miscellaneous deductions (such as unreimbursed employee expenses) -- exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income.

What if you're still looking? Relax -- you can write off well-documented job search expenses for the year just ended, even if they haven't yet paid off with a new job.
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When to Target a Lower Position

Jennifer Cochran - Tuesday, March 15, 2011

When to Target a Lower Position

By Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer

Does it ever make sense to take a step down the career ladder? If you can get past that nagging, inborn sense that "going lower" can only be a sign of downward career mobility, the answer is yes. Taking a lesser position can help move your career forward if the job fits into a larger long-term plan.

Read on to find out when a lower position might make sense, and how you can make such a transition successfully.

Know Why

What could drive you to consider a lower position? Here are some common circumstances:

  • Necessity: Economic conditions, your financial situation and lack of other alternatives may necessitate taking the best available option -- even if it's a step down. There's no shame in this, but be honest about how you got into this situation in the first place. I see too many people making this kind of career decision out of what was avoidable necessity. They were forced to take a lower-level job, because they didn't take charge of their careers. Do what you have to do, but learn from it.
     
  • To Change Careers: This is a completely valid reason to take a lower position, but remember: Changing professions doesn't automatically mean you start at the bottom. Look for transferable skills or specialized knowledge that could allow you to slide into something above an entry-level role. Also, changing industries is not the same as changing professions. When you change industries but not functions, target a lateral position, not a lower one. For example, a finance manager in a software company can occupy the same role in a biotech company.
     
  • To Broaden Your Horizons: A lower position in a different department can provide new experiences and enrich your career. But as with any career decision, think about the fit, your ability to be successful and how such a move figures into your larger career plan.
     
  • To Find Another Way to Advance: Imagine climbing a mountain and reaching a point where the route is blocked or requires climbing skill beyond your ability to pass it. You can give up or make a tactical decision to go back down a bit to look for another route up. Taking the right lower position can be a smart tactical move if you believe you can be successful in the lower role and know there's a defined path on which you can continue your ascent.

Sell Yourself

Once you've determined why taking a step down makes sense, prepare to sell yourself hard. You'll be up against more junior candidates, so you'll need to overcome the hiring manager's perceptions that you are overqualified and will get bored and leave.

To convince him otherwise, express a positive, compelling reason you want the job. For example: "I want to build a career in customer service. This job would allow me to apply what I know already and also develop best-practice skills starting from the operating level, which would help serve your customers better."

Avoid sending negative messages. In all of your communications, demonstrate you:

  • Possess the energy and enthusiasm to do the job and the flexibility, ability and willingness to learn quickly.
     
  • Will bring more value to the role based on your work experience than an untested junior candidate.
     
  • Will be content to do the job you are hired for and won't be making waves three months after you start about moving up.
     
  • Understand promotions will be based on merit.

In situations like this, it's human nature to feel superior to your junior coworkers. But acting superior will only torpedo your plans. Be mindful of your own development in the role, and manage your own performance. If you remember that the lower position is just one step in a long-term career strategy, you will perform well and with purpose.

By Ian Christie, Monster Contributing Writer

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What Are Your Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?

Jennifer Cochran - Sunday, March 06, 2011

What Are Your Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

Marie is about to interview two candidates for the customer service manager position. Her candidates are Francine and William. As always, she plans to ask about their strengths and weaknesses.

Francine answers the question, "What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?" with, "My strength is that I'm a hard worker. My weakness is that I get stressed when I miss a deadline because someone else dropped the ball."

This answer is unimaginative. Most people think of themselves as hard workers.

William has difficulty with the question. "I really can't think of a weakness," he begins. "Maybe I could be more focused. My strength is probably my ability to deal with people. I am pretty easygoing. I usually don't get upset easily."

This answer leads with a negative, and then moves to vague words: maybe, probably, pretty and usually.

So what is the best way to answer this question?

Assessing Your Strengths

Assess your skills, and you will identify your strengths. This is an exercise worth doing before any interview. Make a list of your skills, dividing them into three categories: 

  • Knowledge-Based Skills:  Acquired from education and experience (e.g., computer skills, languages, degrees, training and technical ability).
     
  • Transferable Skills: Your portable skills that you take from job to job (e.g., communication and people skills, analytical problem solving and planning skills)
     
  • Personal Traits: Your unique qualities (e.g., dependable, flexible, friendly, hard working, expressive, formal, punctual and being a team player).

When you complete this list, choose three to five of those strengths that match what the employer is seeking in the job posting. Make sure you can give specific examples to demonstrate why you say that is your strength if probed further.

Assessing Your Weaknesses

This is probably the most dreaded part of the question. Everyone has weaknesses, but who wants to admit to them, especially in an interview?

The best way to handle this question is to minimize the trait and emphasize the positive. Select a trait and come up with a solution to overcome your weakness. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate more on professional traits. For example: "I pride myself on being a 'big picture' guy. I have to admit I sometimes miss small details, but I always make sure I have someone who is detail-oriented on my team."

Scripting Your Answers

Write a positive statement you can say with confidence:

"My strength is my flexibility to handle change. As customer service manager at my last job, I was able to turn around a negative working environment and develop a very supportive team. As far as weaknesses, I feel that my management skills could be stronger, and I am constantly working to improve them."

When confronted with this question, remember the interviewer is looking for a fit. She is forming a picture of you based on your answers. A single answer will probably not keep you from getting the job, unless, of course, it is something blatant. Put your energy into your strengths statement -- what you have to offer. Then let the interviewer know that although you may not be perfect, you are working on any shortcomings you have.
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Resolve Office Conflicts by Beverly West, Monster Contributing Writer

Jennifer Cochran - Saturday, February 19, 2011

Resolve Office Conflicts by Beverly West, Monster Contributing Writer

When the going gets tough, your coworkers can be the first to get on your last nerve. Whether it's due to on-the-job pressures, stress at home, familiarity or just proximity, when you're feeling hot under the collar, it's often your coworkers who wind up feeling the heat -- whether they actually deserve it or not.

So the next time you're ready to explode because your cube neighbor did something that irritates you yet again, let these tips from business-harmony experts help you make peace rather than war.

Rethink Conflict

"What we think of as the usual way of resolving conflicts does not foster resolution," says ResolutionWorks founder Stewart Levine in his article "The Many Costs of Conflict," adapted from Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict into Collaboration. "Unfortunately, the operative premise that someone will win and someone will lose produces all losers, no matter who thinks they won. The dispute-resolution machinery often fuels the fire of conflict and impedes resolution."

Rather than throwing down the gauntlet next time you find yourself in coworker conflict, try to start a calm, productive dialogue, where you can collectively arrive at a situation that satisfies both parties. This way, you both come out winners.

Address the Underlying Problem, Not the Latest Symptom

The fact that the gal in the next cubicle just took another personal call when you need to meet with her is probably not really why you're so steamed. True, this is hardly considerate, and if it's a pattern, you may want to discuss it with her. However, it's rare one irritating act is the true source of conflict.

"Most conflict-resolution conversations do not foster resolutions that address the underlying sources of conflict -- breakdowns in relationships," says Levine in his article. So consider what's really getting under your skin before you address your coworker.

Exercise Emotional Intelligence

"When emotionally upset, people cannot remember, attend, learn or make decisions clearly," says Daniel Goleman in Emotional Intelligence. These three applications of emotional intelligence can be helpful in productively resolving office conflict:

  • Air Grievances Sensitively: Think about the effect your criticism will have on its recipient. If your words suggest the person is dim-witted, lazy or inconsiderate, you will get defensiveness and resentment in response. Talk to your coworker the way you would want to be spoken to, and aim for resolution, not revenge.
     
  • Consider Others' Working Styles: Try not to get irritated just because somebody's approach is different than yours. 
     
  • Learn to Negotiate Effectively: Focus on the desired outcome of a conversation with your coworker, and strategize the best possible way to achieve your result.

Manage Your Stress

Our own pressures can make us short-tempered. "The workplace holds a plethora of anxiety producers," says Gloria Dunn, president of management-consulting company Wiser Ways to Work. She suggests the following strategies for regaining a sense of control and managing your stress level:

  • Mark off daily time that you keep free of interruptions.
     
  • Learn to say no. Create realistic boundaries, and stick to them. That way, you won't feel walked on, and you will feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
     
  • Create a workspace that nurtures you (e.g., makes you feel both physically and emotionally comfortable). 
     
  • Exercise daily.

But the best way to avoid office drama is to refuse to engage in it. Nobody can cook up a full-scale conflict alone. If you can maintain a clear head, a good perspective on the issues, a sense of self-awareness and some compassion for your coworkers, you really can work in peace.

by Beverly West, Monster Contributing Writer

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