There's always tough competition for a good job. And sometimes, to beat out the competition, people do more than brush up their resumes. Some fabricate the facts to get in a better position for winning a job. But there's a way to sort out the facts from the fiction, says Michelle Taylor, PhD, of Taylor Consulting in Huntington Beach, CA, a company that provides psychological … [Read more...] about Just how truthful is that applicant’s resume? Here’s how to find out
Your career
Who tops the nation in vacation days?
Last year, Americans used 17.2 vacation days, the most since 2010 according to new research from Project: Time Off. Despite this marked improvement, 52 percent of employees reported leaving vacation days unused at the end of the year. The new report, Under-Vacationed America: A State-by-State Look at Time Off and Travel, provides a look at vacation behavior in all 50 states. … [Read more...] about Who tops the nation in vacation days?
To-Dos: Your August office checklist
The middle of summer is a great time for tackling projects that you can't get to during the rest of the year. Here are a few suggestions: Ensure that data security is covered in your employee handbook, employee training, and BYOD policy. Include computer files as part of your summer office clean-up. Start planning for the last quarter of the year in terms of collections … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your August office checklist
Why taking your vacation is worth the hassle
If you can't remember the last time you took a vacation, you're not alone. While American workers are stressed, they're not taking time away from work. According to a survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder, 3 in 5 workers (61 percent) say they are burned out in their current job, and 31 percent report high or extremely high levels of stress at work, yet only … [Read more...] about Why taking your vacation is worth the hassle
Should I stay or should I go? 3 signs you should keep your job and 3 signs you shouldn’t
By Holly Caplan bio Growing up I was taught by my parents to get a job and keep a job. Period. It was ingrained in me that once I graduated college, I needed to land at a good company and stay there. The big reward would be retirement at 40 years with a fancy company pen and pension. This was my mindset for years. It's what was expected of me, and it is what I … [Read more...] about Should I stay or should I go? 3 signs you should keep your job and 3 signs you shouldn’t
How simple technology solutions can make your job astonishingly easier
As a law office manager, there likely are many days when you are frantically running around trying to make plays, getting blindsided by distractions, and sometimes even losing track of the plays you should be making. However, with the proper application of technology and processes in your day, you can feel as though you are confidently running the ball, are in control, … [Read more...] about How simple technology solutions can make your job astonishingly easier
Effective mentoring helps minimize staff turnover woes
A well-designed and well-managed mentoring program can have a major positive impact upon the career development and retention of associates in law firms big and small, says Bianca Moreiras, a law firm consultant, coach and speaker, and CEO of Bianca Moreiras and Associates. "Over 45 percent of new associates leave their firms by their third year and the top 400 law firms lose … [Read more...] about Effective mentoring helps minimize staff turnover woes
How to be a better proofreader
When hours of work are spent crafting a compelling legal brief, contract, or report, it can be very disheartening, not to mention embarrassing, to have all credibility instantly erased with one misspelled word. Of course, typos happen. Human beings make mistakes. And we can't rely on technology to save us either, unfortunately. For example, spell check would not have … [Read more...] about How to be a better proofreader
Eight rules for running your office right, especially if it’s a small one
The smaller the office, the more the manager works under a microscope. Everybody sees everything that's going on and everything the manager does. For a new manager in that setting, the microscope gets even stronger because staff are watching to see who their new boss is. And if that new manager has been promoted from within, the scrutiny is unforgiving because it's coming … [Read more...] about Eight rules for running your office right, especially if it’s a small one
9 critical rules for managing former peers when you get promoted
Just promoted to administrator from within the ranks? Congratulations . . . and beware. It's not easy to manage former peers. Friendships have to change, and so do whatever hard feelings the new administrator had with other staffers. And relationships aside, about two thirds of the staff now reporting to the new administrator think they should have been given the job. Here … [Read more...] about 9 critical rules for managing former peers when you get promoted