Providing excellent customer service  should be a top priority for every organization. It is your job to ensure that customers have a positive image of the company. Here are some important principles to know when providing excellent customer service. First , because you are the face of the company, it is good to make sure you greet each customer politely. A smile on your face goes a long way. In fact, even over the phone a person can distinguish if the representative is pleasant by their tone of voice and a smile on your face. Secondly , having a good rapport with a customer creates a level of trust and understanding. Always follow through with any promises that was made during all communication whether on the phone or face to face. It is important to communicate in a positive manner at ALL time especially when a customer becomes irate. You may be wondering, how I can diffuse someone who is angry and have a complaint. Check out these tips that will he...

Internships are a particularly useful way to build experience while still in college.  Here are a few key reasons to do an internship: Gain experience and skills .    Internships should be designed to give you the training and exposure to skills often desired for ‘entry-level’ work in the field.   This is the primary resume builder for those without prior related experience. Find out about the realities of a field or profession .   In immersing yourself in the field and work environment, you can make a clearer decision about whether this type of career suits you.  Your placement as an intern allows you to observe and learn from those in the profession who are more senior.  Ask yourself if you could see yourself in any of the various roles in that company/organization and field.   Build references and a network .   Employers report that they turn an average of 52 percent of interns into full-time employees, accord...

As of the end of 2017, Glassdoor reported a record 6.1 million open jobs in the U.S.   The good news is that labor market is strong and growing, yet there are major changes ahead.   Impact of workforce automation With growth in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, many jobs will be replaced in the next 10 years (Motley Fool, USA Today, Forbes).  From ordering kiosks to chatbots, AI will continue to be a feature in the workplace.   This has the potential to replace positions in retail and customer service. Some of these trends are already visible in the workplace, while others will take some time to be apparent.   Things to keep in mind as a college student If you are still deciding about your career path, consider careers that are not readily replaced by technology.  These include many jobs in healthcare and labor-intensive roles  (Motley Fool), or sciences, human services and other professional s...

                                                                Resumes are Important by Maryam Jhangir It is almost impossible to get a job without a resume. A resume is needed to show past work history, education, volunteer work and, and certifications an individual has. Everything that goes into a resume needs to look neat and easy to read. To start the top should have your name and common information to reach you like phone and email. If you are applying for a job outside the area where you live you might even include your address. Next you would put your past work history in order from the most recent job also including the company name, position, time frame you worked there and, a few details about the responsibilities you had. Next, you would put education with the institution you went to, degree with the major ...

  The stigma that has long been associated with mental health in the workplace is turning a corner.  Finally, some human resources departments are taking steps to offer support to employees who have mental health issues such as depression, ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or other conditions.  Statistics show that such conditions account for missed work days and can reduce productivity  (Forbes 2017).     There is still a long way to go for employers across different organizations. “We are in a knowledge economy. Our jobs require us to execute at peak mental performance. When an athlete is injured they sit on the bench and recover. Let’s get rid of the idea that somehow the brain is different” - The Medium, 2017.   In addition, self-care can contribute to the wellness of each employee.  Harvard Business Review offers basic tips on self care in the workplace: --Take 15 minutes to write down the top 3 things you want to acc...

Aaqib Tariq SD11 Winter 2018 Time management means how you use time, planning everything, how and when you will do that. Proper use of time is an art form that makes you successful and you can achieve unbelievable heights by this. When you use time in proper way then it will develop good habits in you that will make you more successful. If you want to achieve something in your life, you need to use your time properly and do not waste your time in useless things.      Benefits of time management Some benefits of time management: It will take fewer efforts to complete your work and you can do your work easily and properly. You can divide your work and you can do multiple things on the same day. For example, if you are a student and you have many things to study for, you should divide your things and set a different time for everything. By this, you can complete your whole work on the same day. Reduce stress...

“An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.” –unknown. Self-care is a vital part of your recipe to success and longevity. One of the ways you can start practicing self-care is having good personal hygiene habits, especially within the workplace. Personal hygiene may be described as the principle of maintaining cleanliness and grooming of the external body. Failure to keep up a standard of hygiene can have many implications. Not only is there an increased risk of getting an infection or illness, but there are many social and psychological aspects that can be affected. If you want to minimize your risk of infection and also enhance your overall health, follow these basic personal hygiene habits: Having a clean and refreshing appearance shows others that you really take care of yourself. This can be observed by how clean you appear, how you smell and how your clothes look.  It is important to shower at least once dai...

Nailing what to wear to work is tough any time of year, but come winter it's especially difficult.  The struggle each morning is how to dress warm and yet be polished in the workplace. Here are a few tips to consider of how to dress for success in the winter time. Layered looks are super trendy and for the winter it is essential because when it’s chilly these layers will help you not to freeze.     There are so many different ways to create chic layering looks.   Consider the following styles when layering your outfits. 1. BUTTON-DOWN + SWEATER + CROPPED PANTS + MIDI BOOT is a classic combonation but yet fresh for the work place. 2. Cold-proof any tunic with a turtleneck layered underneath, and then belt it over a sleek pencil skirt for an instant office-friendly outfit Complete your look with black fleece-lined tights and heeled Chelsea boots. 3. Really love that dress from the summer? No problem! Go for an easy, shift silhouette...