Dealing with Frustration at Work

Let's face it, we all have had those moments when we wanted to have a meltdown at work. It's how we chose to deal with it that counts. For example- you may be working on a project under deadline and your printer won't work. Perhaps with you just had a heated exchange with a co-worker you can't seem to see eye-to-eye with.

Before your problem grows any bigger with a bad reaction, take a few deep breaths. Take a step back for a minute and let yourself cool down.

Share how you recover from tense situations like these!

Private sector adds jobs; still not enough

According to the latest report from the Labor Department, the private sector added 71,000 jobs last month. While any growth is appreciated, the number is still much lower than the number needed (216,000) to reach pre-recession levels from 2007.

The unemployment rate held steady at 9.5% but when you add in the underemployed (those who are either working part-time or are working “under” their previous position), the rate jumps to 16.5%.

Unemployment rates for the metropolitan areas will be coming out at the end of the month… stay tuned!

Milwaukee Ranks 13th Best Place for Working Moms

Moms take note:

According to a new list from ForbesWoman, Milwaukee ranked 13th for "Best Cities for Working Mothers."

The magazine took into consideration the cost of living, health care, school systems, crime rates, and  unemployment rates, amongst others.

How to Avoid the Summer Job Search Meltdown

It's very easy to get distracted by the sun, hot weather and seemly endless summer events. Smart job seekers know that finding employment is a full-time job, and while you can give yourself a "mini-vacation" for a day or two, you need to remain dedicated. Here are a few tips to keep your search strong in the summer months:


Network, network, network: You don't have to be at an organized networking event to meet new people. Take advantage of the different festivals and events around town to expand your contacts and volunteer to beef up your resume. You never know who you could meet that can help your job hunt in the future.

Use job board alerts: Most online jobs boards allow you to use an RSS feed or another method of notifying you when new positions are posted. Take advantage of this tool to give you a leg up on other job seekers who might not be searching daily.

Practice makes perfect: You can never have too much practice when it comes to interviews. Have a friend prepare a few questions and do a mock interview. Don't review the questions ahead of time and answer as if you were in an actual interview. This will help ease your nerves the next time you interview with a hiring manager.

Keep a job hunt journal: Keep a written list of positions you've applied for that you can monitor, following up on open positions and updating your list when positions have been filled. You can also use this list to target companies that are in similar industries and would have similar positions.

Be proactive: If you find a company that you admire but they are not hiring, send them your resume and a cover letter detailing what attracted you to the company. Ask that they keep your information on file for the next open position they have. Connect with the hiring manager on LinkedIn and keep tabs on any company news.

Love Your Job Enough to Get A Logo Tattoo?

Talk about a loyal employee!

A receptionist from a Chicago business recently had the company logo tattooed on her chest. Danyel Triplett (who already had five other tattoos) says that she would feel no regret if she was to be laid off.

You can view the full article from Crain's Chicago Business here.

Would you ever put a work logo on your body?

Pittsburgh Pirates fire mascot over Facebook posting

Another day, another example of how NOT to use Facebook.

According to a Yahoo story, a 24 year old Pittsburgh man who was employed as a racing pierogi (Milwaukee Brewer fans, think racing sausages) was fired after he posted a sarcastic status update about the contract extensions of the team's general manager and manager.

I've said it before; do not say negative things about your work on social media channels! These comments can come back to bite you, and can even cost you your job!

MLB's Latest Controversy- from a work standpoint

It's human nature to make mistakes. Since we spend much of our daily lives at work, it's only natural that we will make mistakes there too. When I'm at work and I make a mistake, not many people find out about it. The same can't be said for Jim Joyce, a Major League Baseball umpire, whose split-second decision has possibly cost him his work reputation for life.

Armando Galarraga, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, was trying to get his last out during what had been a perfect game, when Joyce mistakenly called the runner safe at first base when he was clearly out. After the game was over, the 21 year MLB umpire apologized to Galarraga, acknowledging that he "had cost the kid a perfect game."

The moral of this story is that Jim Joyce has done what many of us do when we make a mistake at work; we apologize to those we've hurt, and we have to go on working every day. It's hard to make mistakes in the public eye and hopefully MLB fans can keep that in mind.

As a side note, Bud Selig, if you're reading this, you can still reverse the call and give Armando Galarraga his rightful place in baseball history. And while you're at it, consider more replays during games. It would make the people involved sleep a lot better at night.