Now that the scores are in, can you still recover from a bad performance review?  Here are ways you can use a poor performance score and turn it around this year:

See it as an opportunity.
If you examine your performance review closely, you’ll find that it’s simply a summary of your strengths and weaknesses.  Look at the weak areas that pulled your score down.  What are these and why did they happen?  Were you always late in turning in reports?  Did you fail in your sales quota?  Did you lose a client due to negligence?  Have your skills failed to improve over the last 12 months?  Were you insubordinate? 

Instead of seeing these comments or low marks as an attack against you as a person, why not consider carefully where they’re coming from.  Try to view your report as objectively as you can by imagining yourself as your employer. 

If the poor performance rating is indeed deserved, instead of going into a mini-depression and blaming other stuff for what you clearly did (bad traffic jams, distracting office music, distracting officemates who are goodlooking, the boss’ new car, etc.), look at the comments as opportunities to improve yourself.  Nobody’s perfect, you know — not even your boss.  And he/she probably got to where he/she is because he/she treated his performance review as a wake up call.

Ask what you need to improve.
The common knee-jerk reaction among employees once they receive a low performance rating is surprise, followed by anger and disappointment.  If you feel that way, it’s normal.  But maybe this year you need to wake up and smell the paper.  Instead of harboring violent thoughts towards your super or manager, ask to discuss your review with them.  They’ll probably do this, anyway, which is an opportunity for you to find out why you got the rating you had.

Ask them why they thought you deserved such-and-such rating.  When they do speak, listen — don’t argue yet — just listen.  Chances are, they have a legitimate reason for giving you a low score.  Your performance last year could be lagging behind others in your department, you could have missed certain opportunities to make improvements or, in spite of every resource given you, you still failed to deliver.

The reason why you should listen is simple: your supervisor or manager will be communicating important clues as to their expectations of your work and performance.  If there are issues you don’t agree with, simply present your case.  Be businesslike in your approach.  Being too assertive about what you feel should be your rating will make you seem defensive or maybe — just maybe — out of touch. 

Ask for clarification.
If there are issues that seem vague to you, ask your boss to clarify or maybe present an example.  This will help set matters straight — either to make you realize that you do indeed need improvement or that your boss needs some clarification himself.  If the example is incorrect or unfair, calmly state an example of your own to counter it.  If it is correct, simply nod and take note of it as an area of improvement.

Make a list of your pluses and minuses.
Your performance review can be an excellent source of information regarding your strengths and weaknesses.  Identify areas where you show great potential and areas where you need a lot of improvement.  If you want that promotion or salary increase this year, you better have a clear understanding of what it is you can do and what else you can offer in the future.

Use your boss’ inputs.
If your boss gives you advice, listen to it and take note.  You might be able to use it to your advantage in the future.

Have a plan of action.
Never leave a discussion of your performance review without presenting a concrete course of action.  Talk to your supervisor about ways and means you can use to help you improve your performance this year.  If there are problems outlined in your appraisal, counter them with solutions instead of protests.  This makes it known that you are taking responsibility for your performance and are quite aware and capable of producing positive results in the end.

Have a deadline.
Now that you know the key areas you need to improve on, make a schedule of the steps you need to take so you can implement your plan of action.  The more concrete the steps, the better because they are easier to measure and assess.  Once you’ve implemented these, document them and then ask for a mini-assessment from your boss a month or two later.

A performance review/rating/appraisal can make anyone feel queasy and uncomfortable but it can be a very useful tool for you to improve yourself as a professional and increase your productivity in the workplace.  So use it wisely.

Are you a meanie?  If so, has your career improved because of it?  Why not start changing your tactic this year?   Here are simple ways how:

Don’t be rude to applicants.
I heard this conversation a long time ago and until now, it never ceases to amaze me:

Mean girl 1: Hey, remember Ronnie?  I met him a couple of days ago. 
Mean girl 2: Yeah… Ronnie.  Do you know that he applied for a job at my company?  (Let me clarify that when Mean girl 2 said ‘my company’, she meant the company she worked for, not the company she owned).
Mean girl 1: Really!  Ewwww…  How pathetic.  What made him think he’ll fit in?
Mean girl 2: Yeah… He came up to me and asked if there were any open positions.
Mean girl 1: So what did you say?
Mean girl 2: I looked at him and said, ‘Yes, we have a job vacancy.  Why?  You need a job?’

Cue in meaningless laughter and high-pitched giggling at this point.

Okay… so maybe I’m just a little slow or stupid but what gives?  Here’s Mean girl 2 who worked for a company that needed someone to fill in a job vacancy.  And here comes poor Ronnie who needed a job and wanted to apply.  What’s wrong with the picture?  If you were Mean girl 2, shouldn’t you be happy that there’s a candidate for a job that your company obviously needed someone for?  Furthermore, shouldn’t you be glad that someone actually wants to work for a company even if you’re already there mucking the view?

C’mon, now meanies… people need jobs.  That’s why they send in their applications, make phone calls to inquire or send e-mail attachments.  No need to treat them so shabbily.  For one, you don’t own the place.  You’re just one of the employees at that company.  It just so happened that you got hired first.

Second, you’ve been in the shoes of ‘pathetic’ Ronnie and the likes of him before yourself.  Remember the time when you pounded the pavement looking for a job — any job — and sucking up to the snobby receptionist just so she would put your resume on the active file?  Remember the time when you sat nervously at the reception area clutching your bag and fiddling your fingers, eyeing 20 or 50 other applicants like you, trying to assess what your chances of getting hired were?

Remember the time when you prayed so desperately for someone to call and tell you you passed the exam/initial interview/final interview?  Remember the time when you stood in line for God knows how many hours just so you could get your name in and submit the resume that has nearly turned soggy in your damp hands?

What are you being mean for, anyway?  Your company is not your empire… it’s your employer and you’re just part of the paid labor.  Are you scared that the newbie has a better looking resume than you and might steal your thunder? 

Stop the meanness, already.  Next time an applicant comes around, smile, thank them for bothering to apply, let them pass through the process of recruitment and then let it go.  After all, you might not even be involved in their hiring because… uh, you don’t really have the authority to be involved.

You know, you’re better than that.  A lot of things at work are just temporary, including your position and even your job.  Wouldn’t it be better to try to be nice and fair about your relationships and your job than to be a mean bastard?  After all, with this kind of economy, you probably don’t have a strong grip on that job anyway and could lose it at any time. 

Don’t let whatever ‘power’ you might have corrupt you. 
Authority is vested upon you because you can be trusted and because you probably deserve it but it doesn’t come with a clause stating that you have the right to make other people’s lives miserable. 

After all, you probably don’t know these people well enough to treat them so shabbily.  You never know… they could be the one person that could help your company recover and save your jobs from extinction or they could bring excellent qualifications with them and could actually help your office come out of the present rut it is in.  Or, they could very well be your next boss.  You never know…

Unless you are authorized to assess and screen these applicants, you have no right to be mean to them.  So just get back to your job and be thankful you still have a paycheck coming.

That’s right — training.  More education, as in going to classes or seminars to learn.  This year, if you want to make something of yourself and improve your chances at having a better career, getting trained could be the best decision you’ll make.  Here are reasons why:

- Training keeps your knowledge base updated
- Training opens up your mind to better ways of doing your job
- Training gives you a better shot at getting better job opportunities at work
- Training gives you a better chance at getting a promotion
- Training could be a way to have better pay
- Training improves your employability (so in case you lose your job, you’re still attractive to other employers)

Where to find training

In-house
Ask your company or the HR department what types of trainings are available for you and the people in your department.  To save money, many medium- to large-sized companies choose to offer trainings in-house instead of sending their employees off to third party seminars. 

In general, the HR/Training Department often prepares a list of trainings at the end of the year.  These trainings are scheduled for the next year.  By the first week of January, you can probably find this listing made available to employees. 

If you find a few that seems a fit for you, sign up or go to your supervisor or manager and express your interest. 

Advantages:
- Cheap and convenient
- Your comfort level is high because you will train with people you know
- You don’t need to leave the office

Disadvantages:
- You might not take the training seriously because it’s in-house (although you do so at your own risk)
- You might be distracted by work or tempted to leave the training room to check stuff on your desk or computer
- You don’t need to leave the office so lakwatsa is out of the question.  If there’s a huge sale at the mall, you can’t ‘drop by’ for a look-see.

Third party trainings
If there are trainings that are not available in-house, you can find them through professional trainers.  There are many companies that offer seminars and courses for professionals, which is perfect for your continuing education goals. 

How to get it: Most of the time, your company will ask you to go to these types of trainings.  They make their decisions based on your qualifications (or the lack of it), the type of work you do and the type of responsibilities that they see you doing in the future. 

However, you could also ask if you’re qualified to go.  Not every employer will say yes if you waved a training brochure and tell them you want in but that doesn’t mean they can’t be persuaded.  Just make sure that the training is relevant to your work, can contribute to your professional skills, worth the cost and most of all, will contribute to the company’s bottomline.

Advantages:
- Conducted by trained professionals
- You have a wide range of choices in terms of training type, subject matter, location and cost
- You get to network with other participants
- Free of cost to you since the company will shoulder the fees
- You get to leave the office

Disadvantages:
- Might be costly, which means that the company might require you to offset it with a specific length of service with them.  If company policy dictates that any training above P20,000 will mean that you can’t resign for the next 12 months, then you’re stuck with the company for that period.  Even if a better opportunity comes along, you can’t pack your things and go.
- You might have to spend for the training if the company won’t pay for it.
- You could spend a significant amount of time away from work.

Online training
Online training is becoming more popular because it’s so convenient and reasonably priced.  You could choose this route if the training is appropriate for your needs and you don’t have the time or opportunity to spend work hours sitting in a chair in a convention hall.

Advantages:
- Very convenient.  Most online trainings allow you to learn at your own pace and at your own time.  Courses are e-mailed to you and you can work on them at any time you like.  You do have to watch out for deadlines, though.
- You get a good range of choices in terms of subject — almost unlimited, actually.
- You can get international training.  You don’t have to be physically present at a university in the U.S., Japan or the U.K. to get certified for any courses. 
- Relatively cheap

Disadvantages:
- You might not have the self-discipline to complete a course.
- In case your employer won’t pay for your training, you’ll have to shell out the dough to do it.
- You have to be extra careful about the institution offering the training — they could be scams.
- The training might not be accredited in your country.

Training can be a very effective means to get a leg up the corporate ladder.  Whether it’s an associate degree, a certificate, a Master’s or a Doctorate, consider improving your chances of becoming a better professional, no matter what type of work you do.  It’s your future after all and you’ve got a good 12 months ahead to do it.

Know the dress code.
Office parties can be informal affairs, which means wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt is probably acceptable.  However, there are those that require you to wear something fancier or at least, dressier — something that fits the festive occasion.  If you’re unsure, ask someone, such as a close colleague or the organizers.  That way, you don’t come to the office party in a gold lame shirt while your colleagues dressed in their office/business suits look on in amusement.  You wouldn’t want to feel out of place, right?  If you truly don’t care, that’s all right too.

Don’t eat too much.
The loaded buffet table and the open bar are not enough excuses for you to gorge yourself.  There’s really no need to heap food onto your plate like there’s no tomorrow.  Besides, if there’s a lot on your plate, you’ll be forced to finish it — bad news if you’re already full.  Just imagine having to sit in front of a half-finished plate with table scraps that could feed two Dobermans and a Rottweiler.

If you have a really good appetite, try getting just enough and finishing your plate.  You can then come back for seconds. 

To avoid overeating (and possibly getting a potentially embarassing stomach upset), get a snack a few hours before the party.

Know how much drink you can handle.
One thing that never ceases to amaze (and annoy) me is the fact that people who are already so drunk that they could barely stand up straight still find it difficult to refuse another glass of alcohol.  They then end up acting like fools during the party, embarrassing their colleagues and themselves.

If you’re the type who gets drunk easily, refrain from drinking.  If you like your drink, don’t view your office party as an opportunity to gulp down free booze.  Great if you can handle your drink and really horrible if you can’t.  If you’re not sure how you’ll behave with a little drink (such as if you’ve never drunk alcoholic beverages before), do the mature thing and stick to non-alcoholic drinks.  If somebody offers you a drink, refuse politely and make some excuse such as, ‘I get gastrointestinal problems if I drink.  I could do that now but I don’t really want to ruin the party in case my stomach goes berserk.’ or ‘I got high blood pressure.’ or ‘I will be chauffeuring people later.  Don’t drink and drive.’

Going easy on the drinks could also save your career.  Imagine being so drunk that in spite of your better judgment, you go straight to your cute boss and say, ‘I’ve always thought of you as the hottest guy/girl I’ve ever laid my eyes on.’  Then imagine how you’ll feel next Monday.

Maintain your composure.
Yes, it’s time to get down and have fun but it’s still an office party.  Don’t gossip — about anyone, say thank you, be polite during food queues or make off-color jokes that could offend someone.  Have fun, yes but don’t lose your manners.

Know your utensils.
Most office parties let you use a fork and spoon and that’s it.  Depending on the stuff that gets served, you might even be a knife may even be included.  If the party is a sit-down lunch or dinner, then expect some sort of table arrangement to be present. 

The utensils that get set down before you can seem overwhelming, particularly if you’re not used to more formal table arrangements.  However, don’t let yourself be intimidated.  Just remember that when it comes to using the utensils, it’s always from the outside in.  That means using those which are located to your extreme left or extreme right first.  As the dinner progresses and the dishes change, simply switch to the next utensil.  If you’re unsure, just do as the rest of the people in your table do. 

Having problems using the fork?  Understand its mysteries here.

To give you an idea of what a formal table setting looks like, here’s a link you might find useful.

Should you bring a guest?
That will depend on the type of party your company is hosting.  To be on the safe side, ask the organizers.  If your company is hosting a sit-down dinner, it’s usually a semi-formal or formal affair.  Bringing Junior along may not be a good idea.  Imagine sitting through a lovely dinner and having your kid squirm and demand to go ‘wee-wee’.

Furthermore, if office the party is a catered affair, it’s likely to be on a per-head basis.  The budget may not include employee guests.  To avoid unnecessary embarrassment or some awkward situations, ask before having someone tag along.

As an employee, you are protected against sexual harassment from co-workers, visitors and yes, even your boss, no matter how high his/her rank is in the organization.  So just because YOU are protected doesn’t mean others aren’t.  If you’re incredibly careless and tactless about the way words leave your tongue or the way you deal with others physically, you could be on the receiving end of a sexual harassment charge. 

Getting slapped by a sexual harassment claim can be very embarrassing and troublesome, depending on the seriousness of the situation.  It could brand you for a really long time, get you kicked out of a good job, ruin your relationships with your colleagues and superiors and even cause trouble in your family.

Let’s clear up a few things about sexual harassment:

#1, the perception of sexual harassment can be relative.  To some people, someone coming up to them and saying, ‘Ang sexy mo naman.’ may not mean anything at all, but to some, it may sound offensive.  So it doesn’t only matter how you say it but also to whom you say it.

#2, some people are really plain palabiro but that doesn’t mean other people should just grin and bear it.  Some people can take their jokes too far, including you.  Just because you’re a self-confessed jokester doesn’t give you the right to drop a dirty punchline now and again to every unsuspecting co-worker.

#3, some people can’t help looking good and many of them might even go through certain pains just to achieve a certain look.  However, their bodies are nobody’s business, including yours.  If you think they’re sexy/appealing/hot, go ahead and look – but shut your piehole and don’t touch.

#4, there are still people who are very sensitive when it comes to the subject of sex.  It could be their upbringing, their environment, personal values or maybe even their religious affiliation.  Whatever it is, it’s something that will affect how well they can take a sexually-tinged joke or statement.

#5, the kind of office culture or environment you work in will also factor in the complaint.  Some offices are very strict and businesslike while others allow certain employee behaviors.

What happens if you do get charged with sexual harassment?
That really depends on the next step that the person you have ‘offended’ will take.  They could:

a) Talk to you in private and ask you to stop.
b) Avoid you like the plague and don’t speak to you directly.
c) Talk about you behind your back.
d) Go to your supervisor/manager to complain.
e) Go to their supervisor/manager to complain.
f) Go directly to HR to complain.

If an investigation follows, you could expect to either receive a formal invitation through a notice regarding the complaint or be asked for a personal meeting with the complainant, their witnesses and the HR head.  In some cases, particularly during the second phase of the complaint process, your higher ups will be involved.

So what’s the punishment like in case the sexual harassment case against you is proven?  That would depend on the severity of the offense and on the company policies that are already in place.  You could:

- get an oral reprimand
- get suspended
- get fired

And what about privacy issues regarding the complaint?  When it comes to HR, you could rely on these people to keep the details of the case confidential.  But don’t count on something like a sexual harassment complaint staying under the office radar for so long.  Word could get out (if it hasn’t already) and it could spread like wildfire. 

So how do you protect yourself from sexual harassment claims?  Click on this link for some tips.

Know company policies.
Don’t sleep or daydream through the HR orientation.  Most offices and workplaces have policies covering sexual harassment.  If a talk or presentation is being given, pay attention.  Find out what constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace — your workplace.  Claiming ignorance later won’t excuse you.

Don’t use your position as an excuse.
Many complaints regarding sexual harassment involve a superior and a subordinate.  If you happen to be the boss, don’t use your power or authority to encourage sexual innuendos.  Even if you are a natural-born dirty mouth, please refrain from going too far, particularly with people who seem to be sensitive or prudish.  In this day and age, there are still people who get so offended by the slightest thing that they probably don’t watch movies on HBO just so they wouldn’t hear the words ‘sh*t’, ‘d*mn’ and even ‘b*tch’.

Don’t ask for sexual favors in exchange for something.
If you are in a position of authority and have a low level of self-respect, it will be very easy for you to use whatever power it is you think you have to abuse someone else.  One of the ways you can do this is to ask someone for sexual favors.  If they fight back, expect to be on the receiving end of a sexual harassment complaint.

Don’t single out.
So maybe there’s this one person at the office who’s your favorite for some reason.  If you must truly tell a dirty joke or story, don’t single out a single person – unless of course, you’re good friends and know each other very well. 

Consider your environment.
There are some offices or workplaces that are so filled with sexual innuendos that it’s almost impossible to go through one workday without hearing a single green joke.  This is usually okay, as long as people know and respect other people’s boundaries. 

If you work in an office where people don’t care about green jokes and sexual insinuations too much, blurting out a dirty punchline once in a while shouldn’t be much of an issue.  But should you overdo?  My advice is no because being the source of the dirty jokes may not always be flattering.  You wouldn’t want to be cast as a stereotype at the office, would you? 

Keep the jokes impersonal.
If you absolutely must tell a dirty or sexy joke or story, you might want to use the third person.  Don’t single out someone, say offensive or derogatory stuff about them, their friends or family.  Don’t compliment a curvy colleague by saying, ‘You must have gotten those from your mama, right?’  It may not mean anything to you but the recipient of your… er, compliment might find it offensive.  Besides, it’s lame and cheap.

Keep your eyes (and hands) off the wrong spots.
In the workplace, certain areas of the body are just simply off limits.  This is especially true if you are not very good friends with the other person.  Avoid staring at someone’s cleavage, butt, crotch or legs.  When they’re talking, look them in the eye and don’t fix your eyeballs on their mouths — even if they remind you of Angelina Jolie’s or Brad Pitt’s lips.

It would also help if you could keep your hands to yourself.  Being touchy-feeling by nature does not excuse you from allowing your hands to land on someone else’s hand, arm, back, chest, shoulder, thighs or legs.  ‘But I’m just naturally malambing!’ you protest?  That may not always work in your favor in case someone does complain.  In a professional environment such as the workplace, it’s absolutely okay to keep your distance.

Have a dirty joke?  Keep it in your dirty mind.
There will always be a place in the world for dirty jokes.  Why?  They appeal to our most basic needs to laugh, be silly and take a peek at something the rest of cultured society holds sacred.  So if you’re the type who likes to tip the taboo basket just to spill the beans, hold it.  Not every person you meet will appreciate your jokes.  There are people who would rather keep things a little tamer. 

If they don’t react to your x-rated punchlines in a manner that you expected, don’t prod them.  Remember that if the joke is funny, people WILL get it.  If it isn’t, then it isn’t.  Leave it at that.  Don’t follow these people around asking them why they didn’t find it funny or go teasing them about what you perceive as their uptightness.  People have the right to their own opinions and you shouldn’t forget that.  Besides, if you continue to pester them, they could insult you or worse, slap you with a sexual harassment complaint.

Never spend more time than is necessary with someone you like who doesn’t reciprocate your feelings.
Admiration is one thing.  Stalking is another.  If there’s someone at the office you really like and would love to know better, it’s probably okay to let your intentions known, provided the coast is clear (he/she is single and unattached).  However, if they refuse you, don’t insist that they made a mistake by turning you down.  They have their reasons.

If you have a crush on someone and they do not reciprocate your feelings, don’t feel too bad.  It’s their loss, not yours.  If you get turned down, move on.  Plenty of other fish in the sea.  Besides, if it’s a known fact that you like someone, extra attention on your part could, in case you overdo it, be construed as some form of sexual harassment.

Learn from your job.
Never leave or get kicked out of a job without learning anything from it.  Just imagine applying for your next job and being asked what kind of skills you’re bringing with you and all you could say is, ‘Um… nothing.  I’m hoping to learn them here.’ 

Once you’ve been employed before, employers expect you to bring something to the table for your next job.  It could be industry-specific work experience, skills in operating a particular machinery or even just better communication skills with customers — as long as you have something better to offer than other applicants, you have a better chance of finding another employment opportunity.

Update your network.
If you’ll be jobless in a few weeks, it’s time to take a good look at your network of contacts and keep it solid.  Having a good network is an excellent way to keep updated about the industry you belong to.  It’s also a great way to land your next job.

Check on the people you communicate with at work — your colleagues, members and officers of your professional and social associations or clubs and friends who work for a company you’ve always had your eye on.  The power of networking was very helpful for me when I found myself stuck in a deadend job with few prospects.  It was an old college friend who referred me to an opportunity that offered more in terms of work responsibilities and advancement.  It didn’t offer much in terms of salary but the rewards came much later.

So whether or not you still have your job, keep your network active.  This network will come in handy when it’s time to look for greener pastures and new opportunities.  This early, make sure it’s updated and the people on that list actually know and recognize you and your expertise.  If you know you’ll be losing your job or have already been given your walking papers, it’s time to give the people on this list a call.

Brush up on your skills.
Being jobless means not waking up early in the morning just to get to work on time.  That amount of time gives you a choice: a) spend it doing nothing or b) identify the skills you already have and update them. 

Look for seminars and short courses that could help you advance in your industry later and keep your skills fresh.  If you can afford them, sign up for these courses.  These should set you back from a few hundred to a few thousand pesos, depending on the nature of the course or topic and who the speaker is.  Most publicly available seminars are very affordable, so try and check them out.

You could also turn to clubs and associations you may be professionally affiliated with.  Many of them offer short courses at huge discounts to members.  Some may even let you participate for free.  The advantage here is two-fold: you get to update your skills and build your network of contacts. 

Learn new skills.
So maybe you’re tired of the same old job description and want something else… something better?  After all, you don’t want to be stuck working as a clerk, data encoder, staff or assistant for the next 10 years or so, right?  When it comes to building your career, ambition can be a good thing.  So why not nudge fate in your direction and be proactive about your future?  You’re jobless anyway, so what have you got to lose?

First, identify the kind of things you want to do in your career.  Maybe you were part of the staff in your last job and had always dreamt of working as an assistant editor.  Determine the kind of background and work experience you’ll need to qualify for that job.  Is a specific college degree required?  If not, what kind of trainings can you undergo to make you a candidate for that position in the next 12 or 24 months?  Are there specific skills required in terms of communications? 

Go ahead and sign up for trainings, short courses and seminars.  If you absolutely need it and if you have the resources, enroll in advanced courses or another degree.  If you know your destination, it’s critical that you also know how to get there. 

Volunteer.
Sure, volunteering means giving your time and services for free.  But just because you don’t get paid for it doesn’t mean it’s totally worthless for your career.  Are you a teacher who just recently lost your job?  Volunteer to teach for a local orphanage or a special program for low-income students.  Did you use to work for the accounting department?  Why not help out your local cottage industry coop make sense of their income tax returns?  Employers like prospective employees who show some commitment and altruism.  Social responsibility is a big part of many company’s mission and values and if you show some generosity in this department, you could be a good fit for the organization.

If you have nothing else to do, go ahead and volunteer.  It’s a great way to spend your free time, learn something new, help others, contribute to society in your own way and make you a desirable job candidate.

Go freelance.
With so many freelancing opportunities today, there really is no excuse why you shouldn’t try freelancing.  It’s an excellent part-time job and could also be something you could fall back on in case you find yourself jobless.  Take your special skills and training and use them to make life easier for other people.  So in case you land an interview with a promising job prospect and you get asked the question, ‘So what have you been doing since your last job?’, you’ll have something to talk about confidently and proudly.

Decide on your career direction.
Now that you’re jobless, you might want to take the time you have for some serious self-searching.  Do you really like the career path you’re on or is there something else you truly want to do?  Maybe you’re an accountant who really wants to make great pastries or a systems analyst who really wants to design toys.  Losing your job may just be the opportunity you need to find that true voice inside you.  Who knows?  By being jobless, you could just discover the perfect career for yourself.

It’s just a little over a thousand hits and it’s been just under 5 months, I know but I’m shallow that way.  Thanks again, guys!

So how can a cover letter help you?  Here are things you should understand about the cover letter:
What exactly is a cover letter?
In the olden days, it was called the application letter, frequently attached to a bio-data, resume or CV.  The cover letter serves as a short introductory piece about you, your skills, work experience, education and training.  It could also be used to include a very short summary of your qualifications. 

So why do you need a cover letter when everything the employer needs to know about you can be found on your resume?  Actually, most employers do not like the idea of going through each and every bio-data, CV or resume that lands on their desk. 

Resumes do not exactly contain the same format and many applicants prefer to use their own unique style in presenting information about themselves.  If you have ever gone through several resumes from at least 10 different people, you’ll understand why it can be boring and time-consuming for any employer to browse all information contained in these resumes.

With a cover letter, an employer can simply take a look at all the important information you can provide and decide within at least 60 seconds if you have the potential or not.

Writing the cover letter
Here are some important things to remember when writing your cover letter:

Customize.
Don’t send a generic cover letter.  Of course, you could save time and printing cost by simply writing a one-size-fits-all letter and then mass mailing it to prospective employers.  However, from the point of view of an employer, you’ll seem like a person who has little or no purpose. 

If you customize your cover letters, you’ll look like you have a goal in mind and are not simply throwing your application to any employer unlucky enough to receive it.  Do this and you’ll leave a lot of things to chance.

What to do: always check the exact designation or title of the job you’re applying for and then use that on your cover letter.  If not, then target a specific department or job that you think will be a match to your qualifications. 

Focus on your skills and qualifications and find out which ones will fit the job opening perfectly.  If you’re applying as a writer for an ad agency, for example, you might want to emphasize your skills in persuasive and creative copy.  If you’re applying for a job as a technical or educational writer, you might want to focus on your mastery of technical writing skills, correct grammar and mastery of certain writing styles instead.

Personalize.
If you can help it, avoid using ‘Dear Sir or Madam’ or ‘To Whom It May Concern’ as your salutation.  Always find out whom to send the letter to and then spell their name right.  If the information is not available on the website or ad, call the company and ask.  You need to do this to make sure that your cover letter AND attached resume reaches the right person.

Be truthful.
Do not promise what you can’t keep or prove.  Use your cover letter to highlight the things you can do and not those you HOPE you can do.  Furthermore, don’t make false claims on your cover letter.  You’ll be found out.

Keep the letter short.
A cover letter is a one-pager, so make sure all the information you need to say fits in the 8 ½” x 11″ space.  Keep it focused and don’t try to impress with verbal gymnastics and verbose.  Just make sure that you use correct grammar and spelling.

Sending a cover letter through e-mail
Since many of you will probably be getting in touch with prospective employers online, you might think that there’s no need to send a cover letter.  Wrong.  It would help if you write a cover letter for the e-mail message and then use your resume as an attachment.

Create a budget.
Yuck!  The ‘B’ word!  Ewwww… Sorry but if you want your money to last, this is a surefire way to do it.  A budget is simply a list of stuff you need to spend on and stuff you want to spend on.  It will also let you know how much you have, how much money you’re spending (or throwing away) and how much money you can save.

Here’s how to start:

Monitor your expenses.  Write down all the monthly expenses you have.  Directly opposite, write down how much you spend.  Include food, transportation, gas, phone charges, etc.  Include miscellaneous expenses so you could list down all those extra expenses you incur.

Try to itemize everything so at the end of each month, you won’t be scratching your head wondering where all that money went.  Do this everyday.  By the end of one month, you’ll have a pretty good idea how much money you’re spending and how much money you could save, simply by cutting your expenses on certain items. 

Starbucks latte thrice a week?  Try Nescafe 3-in-1.  You’ll not only get your caffeine fix, you’ll also get to save a lot of money in just 30 days.  A few hundred bucks for a taxi?  Try public transportation for a change or hitch a ride with a friendly officemate. 

Do your budget.  Now that you have a good idea of how much you REALLY need to spend on a daily or weekly basis, create a budget.  Once that’s done, stick to it.  At the end of the year, you’ll be very glad you did.

Bring food to work.
Ever wondered why food at the cafeteria costs more than it should?  Simple.  The concessionaire has to cover for the rental of the space with the prices that they charge.  So instead of paying just 20 bucks for a slice of pie, you pay around 35 or 40. 

If you want to save money at work, make a sandwich or bring lunch.  Pack some healthful snacks as well.  Try to maintain a variety of choices so you never get tempted to buy from the cafeteria.

If you can, walk to work.
Thousands of people walk to work, so why don’t you?  If the weather is good, the air is cool and you have comfortable shoes on, use your legs to get to your office building.  A 10- to 15-minute walk will do wonders for your legs, thighs and butt… and your wallet.

Extra tip: don’t exert too much effort in walking or you’ll be drenched in sweat when you arrive at the office.  Wear walking shoes or flats.  Keep your work shoes at the office (in a drawer or a locker) so you can change.

Stay away from visiting vendors.
Someone selling something will always come a-visiting.  Items for sale can vary – jewelry, books, food, shoes, even lingerie.  They’re very tempting because they allow you to pay in terms, which gives you the illusion that the items are pretty cheap.  They’re not.  They’re probably more expensive than the stuff you find in malls and shops. 

Avoid frequent socializing.
This is probably the biggest expense you’ll ever incur when you’re working.  The once or twice weekly ‘gimmick’ will seem harmless enough but if you look at your tab, you’ll find that it will set you back by… well, a lot.  You could easily blow your month’s budget just by going out with the guys a couple of times each week. 

However, that doesn’t mean you should shun your friends and co-workers altogether.  Go ahead and join them for drinks or movies or whatever but make sure you truly have the money for it.  Do this once or twice a month or only on special occasions. 

It would also help if you save money specifically for gimmick – say, 50-100 bucks each week.  So when the opportunity presents itself, you’ll have money to spend.  The advantage is that you can blow it all in one go and you won’t feel like you got mugged.