For the most part, I like my job. But working as a publishing sales rep isn’t exactly what I dreamed of doing as a kid, so there are days work seems like, well, work. Want to be happier at work? Here are some ideas: Continued

When I joined my present employer four years ago I encountered a new financial quandary: How do you plan for out-of-pocket work expenses until they are reimbursed?

Early in my career I was an eager young marketing rep and quickly volunteered for any business travel I could find. Today I travel more than ever, and love it. But back then, little did I know; business trips would throw a wrench in my finances. Continued

According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, about 8 million Americans work second jobs to make ends meet or pay debt and save money faster. Are you included? If so, beware, because moonlighting takes its toll. It’s mentally and physically exhausting and leads to stress at home and at work. But speaking from four years of experience working two jobs, here are some tips for surviving a second job. Continued

I’ve always had a tinge of entrepreneurial optimism, if not the business sense to back up my creativity. Though I always stopped short of schemes and scams, here the five most asinine ways I’ve tried to make a buck. What are yours? Continued

You can’t get rich quick, but follow these ten proven steps to success today and you will find wealth sooner than you think. It’s working for me, and it can work for you. Continued

As young workers and students we know that career advice is about as rare as sand in the Sahara. Good advice, however, can be as elusive as it is valuable. Continued

Afraid of getting fired? Unless your employer is in dire straights and on the brink of widespread downsizing, following these dos and don’ts should protect you from getting canned. Continued

Want an interview every time you apply for a job? You need a killer resume. Follow these simple steps to improve your resume today.

Keep it Short

The perfect resume conveys your education, experience as clearly and as quickly as possible. Hiring managers scan hundreds of resumes a day, so the faster they can glean the information they need, the better you will fare. If you have less than ten years of work experience, there is no need for a multi-page resume. Keep entries to two to three sentences.

Keep it Simple

Avoid over-formatting your resume. If applying for jobs online, your resume should be text only and included in the body of an email, not as an attachment. (To those managers reading hundreds of resumes, attachments take 10 seconds too long to open). If you must attach your resume, convert the file into an Adobe .pdf to ensure the formatting remains intact wherever the file is viewed. Adobe has a trial offer where you can create five free .pdfs online.

Sell Yourself

Great resumes don’t just list experience and accomplishments, they sell your abilities to prospective employers. Think of your resume as an advertisement for yourself. Advertisers don’t write dryly, nor should you. Always use expressive verbs and vivid details to describe your work experience. For example, instead of “Worked as office manager for a twenty-partner law firm,” try “Managed daily operations of a twenty-partner law firm”.

Focus on Performance

It’s not enough just to list what job you did, you need to convince prospect employers you did that job well. (But don’t lie, that’s what references are for!) Include snippets describing how you contributed to the success of your former employers. In sales, this could sound be “consistently exceeded quarterly contact and revenue quotas,” or in retail “received ongoing positive feedback from management and customers for creating a welcoming and satisfying shopping experience.”

Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

There is no excuse for an error on your resume. Even if you’re an ideal candidate for a job, a single misspelling could cost you an interview. Don’t rely on spell check. Have somebody else read your resume if you can, and print a hard copy to proof even if you are sending the resume. Our eyes catch mistakes on paper we miss on the screen.

Tell a Story

Your resume is an outline of your life story-at least your professional life. It should read like a story. There should be no gaps. If you took three months off to do some soul-searching, think of the most interesting thing you did for those three months, even if it was for just one day, and create an entry. Add brief entries for non-work achievements like volunteering or completing a marathon. Be as descriptive as possible.

Create Questions

The best resumes are like good novels, they leave the reader needing to know more about you. When describing your work and achievements, be suspenseful. Lead readers to ask questions so that they will have to pick up the phone and get to know you. (Hint: prepare answers to the questions you think your resume will lead managers to ask).

Organization

Contrary to what most think, there is no right or wrong way to organize a resume. Typically, if you are recently out of school and have little work experience, you will list your education first, followed by work experience and miscellaneous entries.

Summary

In a page or less, your resume should convey your professional life story as clearly and concisely as possible, but in a way that conveys your passions, goals, past successes, and in a way that leaves readers curious. Within just a week or two of applying for a handful of jobs, you will know if your resume is a winner. Get a call back on more than one job, your job is done. If not, head back to the drawing board.

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The Elements of Resume Style is the perfect reference for the dedicated resume artist.

Get hundreds of more tricks to the perfect resume with Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of the Professional Resume Writer, 2E

Whether you work in a cube farm with fellow recent grads or on the top floor among upper management, once you’re at work, the rules of etiquette change. It’s not hard to be on good behavior at the office, but your attention to details that coworkers overlook may be the ticket to a promotion.

Timing is Everything - Punctuality isn’t just good office etiquette, it can make or break your reputation. Upper management may not review everything you do, but you can be sure they notice who is at their desk at 8:30 and who the stragglers are. If you are even a few minutes late, need to take an extended lunch, or are otherwise out of the office for any period of time, let people know where you are. Leave a note on your desk and tell at least your boss. Nobody will judge you for your commitments, but they will if you go AWOL.

Time is Everything Else - In today’s workplace, everybody has too much to do and too little time. Office etiquette rule two? Do not waste your coworkers’ time. If you’re discussing business, leave the small talk for the lunchroom. Speak clearly and concisely at meetings and keep email brief (if an email is more than three sentences, pick up the phone). If you run a meeting, conference call, or webinar, leave at least fifteen minutes beforehand to ensure your equipment is running properly. If you have technical problems or a key contributor can’t attend, cancel. Better to reschedule on meeting than have the same meeting twice.

Workplace Respect - Remember the golden rule from kindergarten? It is no different at the office: treat others as you want to be treated. Respect other people’s space, belongings, and privacy. If your office has cubicles or an open workspace, remember that what’s on or in somebody’s desk or cube is their property. Don’t enter somebody’s cube without permission, and never use somebody’s computer without asking. With workers often hunched in concentration over their keyboards, somebody entering their cube can be startling. Say hello in a moderately loud voice as you approach somebody’s workplace. It’s a polite gesture that will go along way in making that person feel comfortable working with you.

Lunch Lessons - Food is often the source of workplace grudges. People have different eating habits, and some find certain habits, or the aroma of particular foods, vexing. While it’s healthier to change ergonomic positions and not eat hurriedly at your desk, be considerate if you do take a working lunch. Choose foods that are quiet and do not have strong aromas (save the onions, garlic, or fish for later). Avoid potato chips, cereals, and other “crunchy” foods. Finally, clean up after yourself! Don’t leave old yogurts in the refrigerator or a banana peel in the trash where everybody will smell it.

Gossip Sparingly - It can be easy to get caught up in the marathon watercolor gossip sessions about who has quit, who had cosmetic surgery, and who is next in line for vice president, but excessive gossiping can spell trouble. Some gossip may not be bad (studies have shown people trust and like other people who gossip). Still, be careful what you say. Keep gossip lighthearted. You never know who’s listening, or will become the next boss. If true feelings about a coworker are eating at you, confide in a friend outside of work, or confidentially and professionally express your concerns to your manager.

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The New Office Professional’s Handbook from Merriam Webster provides everything a new professional needs to know about fitting in and getting ahead.

Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People is a must-read for anybody entering the office world. Follow his simple rules to interpersonal communications and you will be the most well-liked person in the building.