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Shake off a bad first impression

Bad first impressions are hard to shake. Getting off on the wrong foot with a co-worker or a boss means it could take a while before they see you the way you want to be seen. Dorie Clark, writing in the Harvard Business Review, suggests ways to overcome a bad impression and change others’ perceptions of you.

Make welcoming a newbie a team effort

One of an admin team’s main responsibilities should be to act cooperatively as a welcoming committee for all new employees who join it. Assign everyone a small task for that purpose—one person is in charge of assembling a welcome folder, one person prepares their desk, one takes them to lunch or gives an unofficial tour, […]

5 things to do before a trip

For conscientious administrative professionals, the few days prior to a well-deserved vacation can be stressful and twice as hectic. Here are a few ideas beyond setting your out-of-office email message that might be useful.

Guidelines for using parentheses

Parentheses are one form of punctuation that can cause some confusion. Some people have trouble determining when to use them, while others may apply them without really knowing if parentheses are the most appropriate punctuation.

Brainstorming: Killing creativity?

How many times has your company or department held brainstorming sessions to generate fresh ideas? Guess what? That method is a creativity killer.

Scheduling tips for single parents

Q: “I’m a single mom who has been unemployed for about six months. In my previous position, I had a flexible schedule which allowed me to easily attend school events or schedule medical appointments for my two young children. I have now been offered a 9-to-5 job located about an hour from my home. Although I’m relieved to have found this position, I’m afraid that the time I need for my children’s activities may create problems at work. How should I handle this?” Solo Mom