5 Tips for Successful Career Fair Networking

5 Tips for Successful Career Fair Networking Career fairs are not a sure fire way of getting hired, however for someone who is looking to take the next step in their career they can be very helpful. They allow you the opportunity to meet one on one with company representatives that could potentially be responsible for you getting hired. While going to a career fair can help you take that next step in your career, if you aren’t prepared to successfully network you could be wasting your time. Just showing up is not enough, you need to go out of your way to make sure that you find success when attending a career fair. Here are 5 tips on how to find that success: 1. Network, don’t interview Attending a career fair usually will give you direct access to the first point of contact of the companies hiring team. Whether it’s a recruiter, HR Rep, Hiring Manager or someone else; this person is usually the first point of contact to begin the interview process. Your goal should not be to try and get hired right on the spot. You want to introduce yourself to this person, tell them a little about your background and most importantly make sure to get their contact information. You want to look at being hired like building a house, it all starts with a strong foundation. The career fair is the opportunity to start that foundation. Once you meet that person you can then follow up with a call or email with your information and why you would like to be considered for their opening. Treat this meeting as an opening to discussions around your background and not the interview that lands you the job. 2. Be prepared You only get one chance at a first impression. When you attend a career fair you need to make sure you are well dressed, have plenty of copies of your resume on hand and are ready with a quick pitch of who you are and what you do. That last part seems self-explanatory, but believe me there have been times where I have met prospective candidates who need a little help on clearly explaining to me what they do. If my first impression of you is not a positive one that will reflect when it comes time to selecting you as a potential candidate. 3. Do your research While attending a career fair is a great way to learn about new companies, you should also be researching the companies in attendance beforehand. More times than not the organization hosting the career fair will release a list of companies in attendance prior to the event. Find the companies who will be attending and research them. The first thing you should do is go to their careers page on their company website and find out which companies are hiring in your field. These are the companies you should be spending your time networking with. Some career fairs can be very large scale and as a result you may not get to meet every company in attendance. You don’t want to miss out on a company who is hiring in your field because you spent too much time sorting through the companies that will never hire someone with your skills. 4. Be selective Along with doing your research you also must be able to identify the companies who hire in your field and those that don’t. If you go to a niche career fair this most likely will not be a problem. However a majority of career fairs are not specialized. If you are a Java programmer it doesn’t make sense for you to spend time at a nursing facilities booth. Don’t be afraid of walking away realizing you aren’t a fit for that company. Countless times I have had candidates try and explain to me how their background matches what I am looking for, when that is just not true. You should not feel like you need to be a fit with every company in attendance. Be comfortable with acknowledging when you are not a fit, thanking the person for their time and walking away. Your time is valuable and there are companies out there that better match your needs. 5. Stand out A company representative will see hundreds of potential candidates at just one career fair. As much as I hate to admit it, eventually it all becomes white noise. In fact, as I file away resumes I receive before getting to the next person I always wonder if candidates get worried that they are becoming faceless names in the crowd. You need to stand out in some way. Whether that is dressing nicer than the standard dress code asks for or highlighting career honors and awards before your resume. Whatever it may be you need to do something that helps you stand out from the crowd. The examples are all specific to your career, but just realize that you are probably one of a hundred computer programmers I will meet, what makes you stand out? Image credit:  COD Newsroom

Writing a Retail Manager Resume - Keys to Success

Writing a Retail Manager Resume - Keys to SuccessWriting a retail manager resume is the perfect opportunity to highlight your achievements in a positive light. It is one of the most difficult jobs you can get in a retail or business management position. These are the people who make the sales and the decision on how much the products sold.Knowing how to write a resume is one of the most critical factors in the business. Without a good one, you can expect yourself to be forgotten by other applicants. So the more attention you pay to this part of your job, the more that you stand out from the rest.Before even going to work in the sales department, you should have a goal as to what you want to achieve with your sales figures. This goal will come into play when you are writing your resume. It should include some specific goals you want to reach and write about the steps you have taken to reach them. You can use the key stats, like sales in dollars and sales per square foot, to show this. Your sales goals should be geared towards your customers. It's understandable if they don't know a lot about your product or their need. They might be making the purchase for the latest trend or they might just need a product because it's cheaper than something else that's available.Sales efforts are always an area to focus on. Most businesses put their sales in the right areas. Putting the right focus and knowledge will take you a long way to be considered an expert in the field. This is true whether you're filling the position as a retail manager or a general manager.With a general manager position, it is more demanding. It takes a lot of skills in marketing that you will learn through your time in the position. This will give you the edge over the rest of the competition if you have the training and interest.To learn how to write a retail manager resume you can take a few classes, or better yet, visit the local university and take a few courses about sales and leadership. There a re plenty of programs out there that can help you build your resume for you to fill in the appropriate position.Remember, the more you do a great job with the sales, the more you'll be promoted. In most retail managers' jobs, the manager actually works with the sales people. This gives you the ability to talk to the customers, ask questions and always strive to meet the highest standards of customer service.

Become an Expert. Share Your Expertise - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Become an Expert. Share Your Expertise - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When it comes to building a brand, a great deal of emphasis is put on credibility. To be credible, you need to know what you’re talking about and doing, which means you should be an expert. But in a crowded global marketplace, many people tout themselves as experts, who may not in fact be experts, in which case, they aren’t credible. Becoming an expert or retaining your expert status requires effort to stay in the know, as well as sharing your expertise with others. Here’s how: Become an expert (or maintain expert status) I’ve come across marketing “experts” that suggest you don’t need to be an expert to make money in your chosen field. Instead, they suggest you only need to know more than lay people. There is some truth to that, and yet at the same time, not knowing enough can jeopardize your business. Further, being an expert isn’t just about what you know now, but how well you keep up in the industry. Strategies to build or maintain your expertise include: Staying abreast of current trends and news through blogs, industry association newsletters, books and magazines. Attending industry seminars, conferences and events Networking online and off with industry leaders and newsmakers Putting your expertise into practice in your business Sharing your expertise You can be the most knowledgeable and best practitioner in your area of expertise, but if you don’t share it, you won’t be viewed as an expert by others. The more you share, the more others can see and experience your expertise, which results in your being viewed as an expert. Strategies to share your expertise include: Blogging and social media Writing for industry resources such as trade magazines and association newsletters Speaking at conferences, seminars and events in your industry Consulting or training others in your industry Publishing books, courses, videos and other materials Being an “expert” guest on or interviewed for media sources Building your expertise and establishing yourself as an expert is a never-ending process. Because trends change, you need to always be working to stay abreast of what’s new and changing in your business through reading, networking and attending conferences. At the same time, you need to always be promoting yourself as an expert through marketing tactics, such as blogging, writing, and speaking. It can take time to establish yourself as an expert, but if you continue to stay informed and share your expertise, a snowball effect can occur, where people talk about and refer to you as an expert, leading to more business and an increase your expert status.

Using Work Values To Guide Career Decisions - VocationVillage

Using Work Values To Guide Career Decisions - VocationVillage Work values determine which characteristics feel essential or important for you to have in the day-to-day activities you perform in your work. People are happier at work when their work values are aligned with their career/job.The first steps in evaluating your work values are to name them and to prioritize them. It is unlikely that you will get everything you want all at once, so you have to be willing to decide what is MOST important to you.Some values are mutually exclusive, meaning if you have one, you are unlikely to have another, at least during the same period of time. Examples of mutually exclusive value pairs are Fast Pace vs. Leisurely Pace, Privacy vs. Recognition, and Change vs. Predictability.Heres how to use this list. Skim the list once through. Quickly choose the FIVE values most important to you. Look for any contradictions between the values and reflect on what it means if you want two things that usually dont go together. Of the five you chose, rank them from most important to least important. Notice which value is MOST important to you. Keep these values in mind when you evaluate work opportunities.Achievement A definite feeling of accomplishment about the outcomeAdvancement Ability to continually move ahead in your career, gaining income, power, and/or status as you goAdventure Have unusual, exciting, and potentially risky experiences, usually in various geographic locationsAffiliation / Belonging Membership with a group of people with similar mission, values, and goalsArt Involvement in artistic endeavors in some wayAuthenticity The ability to be yourselfAutonomy / Freedom The freedom to do work in your own wayAuthority Being in a position to commandBeauty Work involving attractive people, places, or thingsCamaraderie / Friendship Spend lots of time making friends and socializing with co-workersChallenge Lots of difficult demands in terms of time, results, etc.Change Participating in frequently evolving and dynamic situationsCommunity Service Making the world a better place by helping individuals, groups, and/or the larger societyCompetition Situations in which you compare yourself with others in ways that result in clear wins and lossesCreative Self-Expression Ample opportunity to express yourself via new communication, programs, processes, etc.Employee Development A culture that values people and is committed to developing their talentsExpertise Be viewed as a person who is on the cutting edge of knowledge in some areaFame Being known to large numbers of peopleFast Pace Circumstances in which work must be done rapidlyFlexible Schedule Choosing your own work hoursFocus Ability to concentrate highly on one specific thing or area at a timeGlamour Being around attractive, exciting people or eventsGlobal Focus Work that has a global impactHands On Using manual dexterityHelping Providing assistance directly to individual persons or groupsHigh Income Earning a significant amount of moneyInfluence Changing and/or persuading peopleInnovation Being on the cutting edge of methods, ideas, products, etc.Integrity Honesty and upholding your moral/ethical principlesInitiative Using self-motivation and driveJustice Ensuring fairness for people and situationsKnowledge Acquiring information and wisdomLeadership Leading people or projects at the strategic visionary levelLearning Continually mastering new information or skillsLeisurely Pace Circumstances in which work can be done slowlyLocation Independence (Portability) Working from any geographic location of your choiceManagement of People Directing the work of othersMastery Knowing most of what there is to know about a subjectMeaning Doing work that feels like it mattersOrder Arranging or maintaining things in a particular sequence, pattern, or methodOutdoors / Nature Opportunity to be outdoors or in naturePeacefulness / Harmony Serene settings w/ an absence or minimum amount of conflictPhysicality Work that involves physical strength, speed, skill, etc.Power Official authority and/or strength to enforce policies, laws, etc.Precision Requiring detail and has measurable right-or-wrong componentsPredictability Certainty and reliability about what is coming nextPrivacy Being relatively anonymousProblem-Solving Solving complex problemsProject-Based Sequence of tasks with a definite beginning and endRecognition Getting positive feedback and credit for doing a good jobRoutine Predictable work with few surprisesScientific Pursuit Work that uses the scientific method to advances the knowledge in a particular fieldSecurity Stable, steady work that is relatively guaranteed to continueSimplicity Having straightforward tasks that are easy to understandSocializing Being highly interactive with other peopleSolitude Being alone a lotStatus Impressing other people because of high prestigeStructure Having highly systematized workTeamwork Working in groups rather than aloneTechnology Using computers or other types of technologyTransparency Open communication throughout an organization, from the top on downTravel Going to varying geographic locationsTrust Being able to trust managers, peers, and subordinates (and being trusted in return)Usefulness Accomplishing something necessary and valuableVariety Doing different things on an hourly, daily, weekly, or other basisWealth Building financial well-being beyond an annual incomeWork-Life Integration Having a personally optimal blend of personal and work pursuits

Help With Resume Writing Cumming Ga

Help With Resume Writing Cumming GaWhen it comes to helping with resume writing cumming ga, you have to keep in mind that your career goal will determine the type of professional resume writing you'll be doing. Some people want a casual style of resume, while others want it to reflect their career goals. They will also want to make sure that they hire someone who can write it in an informative and unique manner.In order to write a good professional resume, you will need to choose a specific area to focus on when writing one. There are several career areas that you can write a resume for. One of the areas includes employment opportunities within the community. You can think of this as being a little different than what a student or an adult will focus on.The next area is career goals. This type of resume will help a person to reflect his or her goals. He or she can write down goals like how they would like to do some fundraising to do something to help the community. They can also wri te down how they would like to open a nonprofit organization and assist those who are in need.These two styles of resumes are very similar. You will still have your career goals and a statement of community interest. However, the signature line of the resume will also differ depending on the resume writers. For example, if you hire a local writer, you can write it in a simple way and it will look professional.The next type of resume is a specialty job. If you want to become a construction project manager, you should write your resume in this specific style. In this way, your employer will think that you are experienced enough to handle the job. If you are planning to work for a construction company, you should note that this is exactly what you should do.The resume writers will have to take into consideration the type of resume that you will be submitting. You have to be careful about how you include your resume. A traditional resume will have to be written in a formal manner. This is the type of resume that a company or an employer will be looking for.If you want to have a more informal style of resume, you should choose the traditional resume format. However, you should try to add some freshness to it. For example, if you want to use a more creative approach to marketing, you can use your resume as a form of marketing for you.Be aware that there are specific types of resumes that will not be accepted by the company. Some of these types include a general application form and a service resume. If you know which type of resume you want to use, you can simply ask your recruiter for the list of formats that are acceptable to the company.

9 Signs Youre Ready For A Freelance Writing Career CareerMetis.com

9 Signs You're Ready For A Freelance Writing Career “The life of the professional writer â€" like that of any freelance, whether she be a plumber or a podiatrist â€" is predicated on willpower. Without it there simply wouldn’t be any remuneration, period.” â€" Will SelfThe gig economyis alive and thriving.If you’re hesitating to take the plunge, it’s actually a good sign. Freelancing takes a variety of skills and requires your constant attention and growth.evalBecoming a one-person industry isn’t easy! So how do you know when is the right moment? There are a few signs you have what it takes to succeed as a freelance writer. Check out our list and make your plans.1) You Have A Financial CushionevalLike it or not, starting a business is going to take money. Those first few freelancing jobs will be few and far between, and probably cheap.We all have big dreams, but starting a business, no matter your skillset takes time. Time to grow your client base, and get a regular string of work. Not to mention building up your skills en ough to impress higher-paying clients!It takes a certain doggedness to be able to do this work. So if you’re in a healthy financial position and you can afford to take the time, your business will start off on the right foot. Maybe you can get flexible hours at your steady job, or your partner has a decent enough income. This way, you don’t need to experience success right away, as you’ve got some backup.However you do it, make sure you’ve got a comfortable cushion to sustain you financially while you learn the ropes.2) You’re Able To Keep Your Own DeadlinesBeing self-motivated is a massive part of being a freelancer. Not only because you’re working mostly by yourself and unsupervised. Having a clear plan and goals from the beginning is helpful when you’re trying to grow a business.If you have discipline, focus, and a good grasp of time management, you’re going to be golden. Mastering the art of working at pace and avoiding burnout is a significant first step.3) You Have A Well-Developed NetworkevalThis doesn’t mean you have to be an expert at networking right from the beginning, but again, planning is essential.Do you know your strengths and areas of expertise?Specializing as a freelancer can earn you more in the long run, as clients tend to pay more for a specialist. Aim to write on particular topics of interest that you already have some experience with. It will increase your chance of success, as you probably already have a vast network of potential clients and contacts to draw from. So put yourself out there to the places that already know your name, face, and more importantly, work ethic!3) You’ve Been Itching To Take On New ChallengesIf your 9-5 office job has started to go stale, working remotely or building a freelance home business could be the answer. Working for yourself is an entirely different animal than working with others, even if the work itself is very similar. Don’t let yourself stagnate! Boredom can have a considerabl e impact on your productivity and your mindset.eval4) You Have Support From Friends and FamilyevalA network of potential clients and contacts is one thing. But do you have a supportive network of family and friends? We’ve already talked about the financial support you need to start up a freelance business. That’s not the only area your family can help.It’s an entirely different mindset to work on your own, meet your own deadlines, push yourself to fight for a fair fee, and more. But once you’re a freelancer, there’s no water cooler chatting. You’ll want a strong network of supportive family and friends. They can boost you up, function as beta readers when you’re choosing portfolio pieces, even help with marketing and branding.If your family and friends would love to see you working for yourself, it will make it much easier to “go it alone” moving forward.5) You’re Able To Take Time To Learn New SkillsHow difficult can writing be, right? Here’s the thing; when y ou’re starting up your freelance business, it’s not just about writing.Writing takes many forms, each of which might demand slightly different skills. They might be completely different from what you’re used to If you enter into the world of freelancing with vague notions of “working from home” and “creative freedom,” you’ll flounder a lot before you find your footing.7) You Have A Solid Portfolio of WorkThis one seems intimidating, but it’s quite easy to build a substantial body of work, even if your background isn’t in writing.Content sites are a great place for freelancers to learn the ropes. The pay starts out on the lower end of the scale. But with time, practice and a bit of strategy, you can cultivate a list of clients, and focus on the work you want to be doing.Pick through your best pieces, and you’ll have a portfolio that speaks for itself in no time.8) You’re Social Media SavvyThe world of freelance writing is, for the most part, online. Securing c lients, getting work, connecting with the writing community, and the bulk of your marketing will all be easier with an online presence.evalThe right social media marketing tactics can help net you better clients faster. It allows you to take advantage of an existing readership for everything from creating buzz, to beta-testing new ideas.If you’ve got an online presence and no idea where to start, don’t switch into marketing mode overnight. Add a link to your online portfolio on all of your social media profiles. Try not to cross-post too much. And link back to other writers in your field of expertise. It could open up an opportunity for guest posting and a whole new audience!9) Ready or Not: Just Keep SwimmingFreelancing isn’t just about the job itself. It’s the marketing, pitching, securing clients, building your brand… It’s a risky venture that requires a lot of dedication. If you’ve read this article and decided you’re not ready yet, keep moving toward that moment in small, consistent steps.Finally, make sure to check out the freelance writing blueprint for success by Careermetis. You’ll have a better idea of how to meet your goals and build that dream career.

NEW Metropolitan Police Competencies 2018 Update

NEW Metropolitan Police Competencies 2018 Update Recently, the Metropolitan Police and other policing units in the UK have been trialing a brand-new set of competencies and values. Designed to more accurately reflect the working life and responsibilities of a police officer, the Metropolitan police competencies are a way more accurate way of assessing candidates, and ensuring good policing is the norm. In our last blog, we discussed the brand new values and clusters. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the Metropolitan police competencies, and what they entail!There are three levels to each core competency, with the third level being the most advanced.The New Metropolitan Police CompetenciesEmotionally AwareIt’s very important for police officers to be emotionally aware. Not only do you need to be emotionally aware towards the needs and feelings of others, but you also need to be emotionally aware of yourself. You must be able to control your emotions when under high amounts of pressure, and exhibit strong levels of decision mak ing. Police work is highly stressful, and will push you to your limits. Therefore, it’s vital that police employees can stay calm and collected, and manage their emotions.Emotionally aware candidates must exhibit qualities such as:Implementing new ways of working, which can have a significant positive change on future working practice.Encouraging others to review their own performance through the lens of long-term policing.Playing a central role in developing a positive learning culture, taking steps to promote innovation and creativity.Taking OwnershipIn order to work as a police officer, it’s vital that you can take ownership and responsibility, and hold yourself accountable for your own actions. Part of this means accepting that sometimes minor mistakes will happen, but the way you deal with these is what is important. You must learn from your mistakes, and seek improvement-based feedback. Furthermore, it’s critical that you can take pride in your work, and recognise your o wn limitations. This is an incredibly important part of the Metropolitan police competencies.Candidates who take ownership must exhibit qualities such as:Embracing the idea of being a role model, and using mistakes and errors as a learning process and a chance for improvement.Helping to instigate measures that will allow others to take responsibility in a more effective and smooth fashion.Looking at issues from a wider police perspective, and how they will impact the reputation of the service as a whole.Being someone whom others can look up to, in order to see the excellent and all-encompassing standards and values of the UK police.Working CollaborativelyTeamwork is a fundamental part of working as a police officer, and the better you can work as part of a collaborative unit, the better level of service you can provide to the public. Good police work is about building partnerships, not just with your colleagues, but with members of the public too. You must be polite and respectful w ith every person that you meet, and show that the police value the ideals of teamwork, collaboration and social unity. This element of the Metropolitan police competencies is vital for passing.Candidates who can work collaboratively must exhibit qualities such as:Demonstrating political awareness, and an understanding of how politics can impact on the relationship between the police and their partnership agencies.Helping others to build relationships with external potential partnership organisations, which could be of benefit to the police and the general public.Setting the standard for the way in which partnership organisations interact with and work with the police service.Helping to create an environment that is conducive to partnership work.Deliver, Support and InspireIt’s imperative that police officers understand the wider vision of the police service. You must use the police’s values in your day-to-day work, and show a dedication to working in the best interests of the pu blic. Your positive contribution to the police is extremely important. Police officers must show an understanding of how their behaviour impacts on the reputation of the service, and strive to make a positive contribution to this at all times. You must be focused on helping your teammates to achieve high standards, whilst maintaining your own.Candidates who can deliver, support and inspire must exhibit qualities such as:Constantly challenging others to maintain the vision of the police service, to the highest possible standards.Making conscious efforts to demonstrate to your colleagues about how specific tasks and ideas link in with the wider vision of the police.Helping others to understand their individual goals, comprehensibly, and how these goals fit in with the wider vision of the police.Monitoring changes, both internally and externally, and take steps to guarantee positive outcomes.Thinking in a strategic and detailed fashion, demonstrating long-term planning and knowledge.An alyse CriticallyWorking as a police officer involves large amount of critical analysis. You’ll be presented with a wide variety of data, and will need to use all of this data to come to informed decisions. This is essentially what ‘taking an evidence-based approach’ means. It’s about using the evidence available to you effectively and efficiently, to gather as many facts and hard info as possible, before using this data in the most logical way.Candidates who can analyse critically must exhibit qualities such as:Balancing out the risks and benefits of all decisions, with consideration on the wider impact of said decisions.Understanding it’s appropriate to raise concerns or challenge decisions made by those in a senior position to you.Using your knowledge of the wider policing to inform your decisions.Being willing to make difficult decisions, even if these decisions could result in significant change.Innovative and Open MindedThe final competency challenges the mindset of t he candidate. It’s extremely important that you can take an open-minded approach to police work. Not everything is straightforward and ‘by the book’. There will always be problems which require an innovative and creative solution, and it’s your job to come up with this! Furthermore, it’s essential that you can take an open mind to new ways of working, and understand that continuous development is a necessity for any police officer.Innovative and open minded candidates must exhibit qualities such as:Implementing new ways of working, which can have a significant positive change on future working practice.Encouraging others to review their own performance through the lens of long-term policing.Playing a central role in developing a positive learning culture, taking steps to promote innovation and creativity.Taking part in creating new initiatives, with police partnership agencies.Taking accountability for improvement and change within the police force. This entry was posted i n Police. Bookmark the permalink. Jordan Cooke Metropolitan Police Selection Process 2018: Clusters and ValuesIn-Tray Tips â€" 3 More Tips for Passing Your Next In-Tray Exercise

11 Guilt-Free Habits to Reduce Stress - Career Advice Blog for Millennials

11 Guilt-Free Habits to Reduce Stress - Career Advice Blog for Millennials Stress builds up over the course of a long week, and it’s natural to go home, prop up your feet, eat a pint of ice cream and binge-watch a show. After a while that gets old, plus it kills your body. You’re not doing any favors for your overall health. You’re entitled to your guilty stress-relief pleasures, but when you step up to a slightly healthier choice, you allow yourself more kindnesses and longer-lasting peace of mind and heart. Here are 11 better habits to relieve work stress. 1. Exercise Reduce your couch potato time, and get out and stretch instead. Take time for a walk to decrease stress. Exercising pumps up your endorphins and can relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Try moderate levels of activity around 150 minutes per week to get the most out of the benefits. Exercise builds your confidence to handle issues and gives you more control over your mind and body. 2. Keep Coffee Intake Reasonable You wake up and start the day with coffee. You likely end the workday with coffee to push through the last workload and have enough energy to make dinner. Coffee, and other caffeine-containing drinks, may elevate blood pressure and stress hormones. Without overdoing it, coffee can reduce the risk for stroke and coronary heart disease, and there’s just something soothing about the ritual of brewing and pouring a hot cup of coffee, especially when you have it with a friend. Start your day with a tall glass of water before you move on to coffee. Brewers now produce a delicious mix of teas that resemble the taste of coffee, including herbal ingredients such as licorice and dandelion root. Switch to a mocha “coffee” tea blend toward the afternoon â€" the flavors will heighten your senses. Sometimes, it’s all in the ritual. 3. Get Obsessed With Ginger You know ginger as a powerful stomachache reliever, but ginger also calms stress and enhances brain function to make you more focused. You get a two-for-one special. Prepare more Chinese, Japanese and Indian dishes to make the most of the sensory experience of consuming ginger. Include it in your smoothies when you order at your favorite health food eatery. 4. Keep a Journal Research reveals journaling offers many benefits to your overall health, as you set aside time to invest in yourself and reflect on your day. While clarifying your thoughts, you also strengthen your immune cells when you journal. Writing keeps your left brain busy, which frees up your right brain to create and process emotions. You can integrate journaling into your morning and evening routine or even into your workday. Organize your journal any way you wish and write about any topic. Keep a gratitude or success journal to focus on the positive and propel your career. For example, keeping a success journal helps you track your work accomplishments. You can describe how you overcome pressures and exceeded employer expectations. These descriptions will help boost your confidence and lower your stress levels when on a deadline, and you’ll be organized when you pitch a project or campaign for a raise. 5. Avoid Processed Foods Resolve to eat more whole foods instead of processed foods. Foods rich in white flour and refined sugar spike insulin levels, which release stress hormones. So avoid fried foods, junk foods, preservatives and artificial sweeteners. 6. Listen to Calming Music Music has calming powers and makes you want to dance. You listen to music to focus on work and at the gym, so use it to calm your heart and mind as well. Music can relieve symptoms of depression and prevent burnout. Music therapy has improved the quality of life for many cancer patients, too. 7. Spend Time With Loved Ones You’re busy and don’t have as much time to spend with friends and family as you’d like. You need to make the time. When you’re all work and no play, the stress eats you up. Work-life balance occurs when you take the lead in your life and put your self-care first. Your relationships outside of work matter and keep you grounded. So, make a little extra time for all your tasks â€" or better yet, toss the ones you don’t need. Instead, spend time with your loved ones. Call your mom while in the grocery store and get a recipe while you’re at it. Tell her you want to learn how to cook a family favorite. 8. Take a Mental Health Day In the past, employers often told employees to suck it up and work â€" unless the time you requested off was for a dire emergency. Nowadays, employers are more understanding about how the effects of stress add up, and they know you’re a better and more productive worker if you get a day away. Many workers don’t take advantage of their vacation days or flextime. Talk to your employer about your options. 9. Practice Aromatherapy Many people rolled their eyes in the early ‘90s when people talked about aromatherapy, but the ‘90s are trending â€" and so is science. Aromatherapy has its merits, especially scents that contain essential oils over artificial ingredients. Essential oils react similarly to anti-anxiety medications with particular receptors, and the olfactory nerve connects directly to the brain to affect your moods and emotions. Dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and place them on your pulse points, or diffuse oils as you read a book. 10. Escape With Reading Books take you to whole other worlds. Reading slows your heart rate and can reduce stress by 68 percent. Studies reveal it works faster than a cup of tea and other relaxation methods in as little as 30 minutes. So, take a book with you to your coffee or lunch break. Use reading as a part of your wind-down time before bed to ease you into a better-quality sleep. 11. Invest in Doing Small Things You Love Doing small acts to lift your mood generates an upward spiral of positivity in your life. You may witness and conduct small acts of kindness toward others, but you should also invest in the little things you love to do each day, from singing in the shower to cuddling with your dog. Use these 11 habits to relieve your work stress and improve your everyday life at work and home. Guilty pleasures bring temporary relief, but an excess of indulgence in bad habits brings along more guilt in the end. Step up toward healthier habits, which doesn’t mean nixing things like coffee altogether. It just means observing moderation and appreciation in measure while making more room for newer, healthier habits. Subscribe to Punched Clocks for more tips on reducing stress, avoiding burnout and propelling your career. Keep the conversation going by commenting and sharing. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.