You’ve just begun your new job, and it feels a little like the first day of high school. You’ve had a couple awkward handshakes, some confusion as to where the best bathroom is, and worst of all, you don’t know who to eat lunch with. What if you end up eating alone in your cubicle or walking sadly to the most convenient (yet of course grossest) deli on the corner? Never fear. There are ways around this first-day plight. Some advice:
Initiate. Find out who’s on your level in the office hierarchy. Likely, your manager will introduce you around and you can then figure out who does what. Then ask them an intro question like, “What do you usually do for coffee around here?” Or, to address an earlier problem, “Where’s the best bathroom?” Once you’ve got your initial answer, ask, “What’s your typical lunch strategy?” Take it from there.
Offer suggestions. A little later in the week, offer your own two cents. “I read about this fantastic little Mexican place down the street from here. I can drive if you guys are interested in going.” You’re easily transitioning into a contributing member of the group.
Make other plans. If you don’t want to take the risk of getting left behind by your co-workers, make plans with others. Ask your sister if she wants to get a bite of sushi during your break, or volunteer to do the grocery shopping for your significant other. If no one asks, someone undesireable asks, or a cubicle-mate clearly takes pity on you, you can assert yourself as a capable being from the get-go. “Oh, I have plans today,” you can respond. “But want to have lunch tomorrow?” Now, lunches are on your terms.
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For some of us, it hits as you’re preparing for your 20th board meeting in as many days. For others, it’s gradual but inevitable conclusion: you’re no longer happy in your current job or career path.
All those furtive peeks at Monster during your lunch break have finally paid off. You have a job offer with another company and you can’t wait to pack up your desk and get the hell out of dodge. Before you march down to the boss’s office and give him an earful, consider this: if your new job doesn’t turn out quite the way you hoped, you may have to rely on your former bosses and co-workers to help you find another one. Stealing the stapler doesn’t seem like such a good idea now, does it?
In today’s tough job market, seeking out a new employer is difficult. People having a dearth of luck in their current search are increasingly turning back to places they used to work, hoping to get rehired to their previous position (or better). And why not? Assuming you left the company on good terms, there’s nothing to stop you from coming back. Indeed, most companies would be happy to have a former employee back on the job because it cuts down on costly training and adjustment time.
One job that is always in demand is cooking. Everyone has to eat, and most people love to do it. In this fast paced world, meals aren’t lovingly prepared at home like they used to be. People eat on the run, anaesthetized to the food they fill themselves up with. But everyone, in reflective moments, wants to eat a meal that is made with loving, nurturing energy.
Writing a cover letter is always a bit intimidating: The prospect of selling yourself to a company isn’t very appealing, but it is a necessary skill. Because it is a task that you don’t want to do, you probably seek out excuses for putting it off, and one of the easiest excuses is that you don’t know how to start. Should you use “Dear”? To whom should you address your letter? These are questions that most people face, and we’re here to provide some answers. There isn’t one tried-and-true way of starting a cover letter because different introductions work better in different situations.