1. Get to know the people putting on the conference and trade show.

A trade show will either be run by the company or organization the show is named after, or this company will hire an organization “behind” a trade show.  These silent trade show companies are essentially event management companies that specialize in taking care of all of the planning logistics.  The people working for these companies have an incredibly stressful schedule in the weeks and months leading up to the show.  Identifying the key players in the conference or trade show is usually as easy as calling the trade show number, or looking through the contacts in an email. Once you  discover the originating email touch point, offer some kind of assistance (like offering to show up early to help check-in the first day) that will make their lives just a bit easier.  If you are exhibiting at a trade show, this kind of offer might just “buy” you a better booth location, or, at the least, will encourage trade show organizers to push people to your booth.  If attending, you’ll have the basis of a great relationship—a relationship that has relationships with every exhibitor and has contacts in every company attending.  Need a reference or professional connection?  These people are a great resource for those.

2. Focus on the right contacts.

There is so much going on in such a short time period at a conference and trade show that people often fail to focus, resulting in a diminished return for the effort of attendance.  You should attend the sessions that make the most sense to your specific career—do not get distracted by the sessions that sound “cool” or the ones that your co-workers/friends are going to because you don’t want to go alone.  When spending time interacting with others, focus on getting to know the thought leaders—those people leading discussion forums and classes.  A good way to do this is to send them a message after Day 1 of the conference on LinkedIn, telling them how much you loved their session/would love to meet them, and try to arrange to connect on Day 2 of the conference.

3. Visiting the right booths.

When walking around the trade show floor, don’t spend time in a booth that doesn’t add value.  The first thing to do after you register is to check the attendee roster, and make a list of booths you need to visit. Never spend more than 5-10 minutes in a booth, and hit as many booths as you can.  Hit the priority booths first, then hit the “maybes.”  At the end of the conference, spend time in the booths you hadn’t considered beforehand that might offer some value.  We recommend taking a small notebook, and making a few notes on each booth after your conversation with them.  You’d be surprised how much you forget after meeting 100 new people.

At our company, Khraze, we believe that LinkedIn is becoming the 24/7 trade show.  But for the next few years, trade shows will continue to be an integral part of business.  That is why we attend and exhibit at them, despite our new media brand.  By following these tips, you may discover that the 12 hour conference days actually supercharge your business development.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

A brick wall.

That’s right: In most colleges, there’s a brick wall looking you straight in the face. How do you choose to see it? Is it a nice architectural choice, or a metaphor for the separation you feel from your professors? Many students may feel that this wall prevents them from developing real relationships with their professors. This barrier may be a problem you face — but it’s one you have the power to fix.

The Ideal Relationship

As a professor, I am very satisfied to hear a student say,“I wanted to do well in your class because I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

Performance in a class shouldn’t be just about the grade. It’s also about establishing a connection, and these students didn’t want to do less than what I knew they were capable of. That’s the type of trust all professors and students should strive for.

Of course, that sentiment goes both ways: As a teacher, I want to perform well so I don’t disappoint my students, either. (I joke with my students that I want them to feel they got their money’s worth.) I want my students to feel they got what they needed out of my class — and hopefully received something they didn’t expect, but were glad to get.

Professors are doing their students a service when they allow students the opportunity and space to be leaders in the classroom. The best work comes from professors and students having equal footing as explorers, working together to discover something new. That’s the kind of relationship every student should build during an academic career: a shared partnership in intellectual curiosity.

Finding the Right Connection

It’s a professor’s job to diffuse a certain level of knowledge to the entire class. If a student wants to explore past that level of knowledge, he should certainly seek me out in my office. Students need to ask questions — after that, I can individualize their learning, without individualizing my syllabus.

If you’re trying to find a professor to connect with, first look at what each faculty member is interested in. Instead of just looking at grade distribution or reviewing a profile on “Rate My Professor,” look at what they research and what they’re active in, inside and outside of the classroom. Take a look at your professors’ LinkedIn profiles or Twitter accounts to see their backgrounds and get a taste of their personalities.

A Common Misconception Between Big vs. Small

There’s a common misconception that if you choose to go to a state school, all of your classes will be held in a 500-person auditorium, leaving students with no hope of connecting with a professor. That’s just not true. Just because a class isn’t held in the most intimate classroom setting doesn’t mean you can’t connect with your professor. You may simply have to work a little harder to get noticed.

When I worked at a small, private college, my office was Grand Central Station, thanks to its location and open door. At a larger college, it may be harder to create that atmosphere, but not impossible. Unfortunately, sometimes when students visit me, it’s common to hear “This is the first time I have been to a professor’s office” — from seniors. Obviously, this troubles me.

So, how can you engage with a professor at a larger school? It takes initiative, pure and simple. Even when you’re in that 500-person class, you can still make a connection. Start by introducing yourself or stopping by the professor’s office. I’m a professor who is interested in what my students are interested in, but they have to give me the opportunity to connect with them.

Benefits — Now and Later

Students are more confident when they have a mentorship with a professor. It’s easier to find professional networking opportunities, thanks to professors’ contacts in their industries — and that small difference can have exponential benefits throughout a student’s career. The result is a stronger web of connections for the rest of the university, too.

For example, one of my students recently chatted with me about her future opportunities, and because of a still-strong relationship with a former student employed by a promotion company in New York, I was able to connect the two. This has been the case with other students as well: Students who engage with me, and stay engaged, often create opportunities for my current students.

But it’s not just a professional boost; it’s an intellectual and interpersonal one, too. A strong student-professor connection is, in my opinion, an essential part of a college education. I don’t think you’ve truly experienced college unless you can still call up a former professor five years later and have that person know who you are. That’s a bond that can help you reap even more benefits from your education, right now and for years down the road.

It’s time to break down the brick wall. The best way to start: Check out your professor’s office hours, pop in, and say “hi.” Really, it’s that simple.

Charles W. Keene is an assistant teaching professor at the University of Missouri’s Trulaske College of Business. Charles has been nominated for, and honored with, numerous teaching and mentoring awards at both small private and large public institutions.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Without a clear path, you’ll meander aimlessly from one job to the next, and you could end up with no tangible direction or skills to carry you forward later in your career. By deciding the career trajectory you’re aiming for and developing a plan to get there, you increase your chances of success.

The Nuts and Bolts of the Plan

Now, before you get down to the nitty-gritty details of a development plan, think broadly in terms of a career plan first. What is your ultimate professional goal? Try to determine where you want to be in three- to five-year increments. The future can be difficult to plan out, especially professionally, but if you dig deep into the recesses of your dreams, you’ll probably find at least an inkling of what your “true north” might be. Once you’ve got it, run with it.

After you’ve figured out your general career plan, a development plan is the next step, and it’s an integral one. Most successful people I know have a career plan, as well as an aligned and detailed development plan to keep the career plan on track. A development plan maps out the skills, actions, and roles necessary to attain your next career goal. For example, if your career plan shows you’d like to get into human resources, you might start paying more attention to your co-workers as part of your development plan. Learn what their work goals are, and do what you can to help them succeed. This would be a tangible step on your road to HR.

To ensure success, you should review your development plan regularly and make any necessary tweaks, just like a business would. Naturally, if your career goal changes, your development plan will as well. If your job changes, review your development plan. It might help to think of it as a living document, like the U.S. Constitution is intended to be — except you’re the only one who has to approve an amendment.

You, the Brand

Success (or a lack thereof), and how you handle it, will play a role in your development plan. Obviously, if you’ve made a development plan, you’re at least somewhat motivated, so you’ll automatically want to push yourself toward success in any job. That’s great because you’re talking about your personal brand here, and if you don’t challenge yourself to do better, your brand will suffer — and you may not reach your next career goal.

To have a successful career, self-awareness is key. It’s important to be in touch with both how you are perceived and the quality of your work. Putting forth your best work speaks volumes about what you care about. It shows that you know how to do things right, and that you understand where your passions lie.

How you do your job creates your reputation, and you absolutely must keep the following in mind: When future employers or current managers are checking around about your suitability for your next role, they will definitely take into account what others say about your efforts. The thing people forget about success is that even if they weren’t successful in something, how they handled the situation is what people will remember.

Things happen in organizations. Dynamics change. This is often out of your control. But the fact that you made a great effort in a difficult situation will help you get ahead. Do your best; it will pay off. Remember, your brand is at stake, and that’s what will carry you throughout your career.

Laudable Leadership

Whether your goal is to be in management or not, demonstrating good leadership behaviors will help you move along your development plan. So let’s look at some qualities of really good leaders:

1)    They communicate. They do it on a regular basis with their employees, and they do it in a truthful manner.

2)    They follow the rule — the “platinum” rule: Forget about what you would want; treat others as they would wish to be treated. Research shows that really successful leaders are respectful of others’ values and how they prefer to be treated.

3)    They pay attention to their people. Great leaders don’t expect human resources to be the only people-focused department. They find out their employees’ aspirations and do what they can to help them reach their goals.

4)    They trust others. There’s a lot of ambiguity in this world, and good leaders know that they don’t have all the answers. When needed, they trust the judgment of those around them.

5)    They work at it every darn day. Being a leader is a privilege and demands substantial self-reflection. Much like your development plan, leaders frequently take the time to think about who they want to be and take the action to get there.

These are all traits which, once you’re conscious of them, you should be able to easily adopt.

If you’re going to achieve personal satisfaction from your work life and build your dream career, then there’s no time like the present to start thinking about the skills and experiences you need to get there. The most important thing to remember is that if you are passionate about what you do, then you will be successful! This is simply planning how to get there.

Dr. Linda D. Sharkey is Global Managing Director and Partner at Achieveblue, a boutique consultancy that specializes in leadership development, cultural transformation, and talent and organization development. Prior to joining Achieveblue, Linda was the Chief Talent Officer for HP and also held numerous Executive Human Resources roles at GE. Linda is co-author of “Winning with Transglobal Leadership,” which has been recognized as one of the Top 30 Best Business Books for 2012 by Executive Summaries. She has also co-authored a groundbreaking book on talent management, entitled “Optimizing Talent.” Linda is a widely sought-after executive coach and is a Founding Member of the Marshall Goldsmith Group. She can be reached at LSharkey@Achieveblue.com.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

When we first begin with these students, we have to break some of the bad habits that career counselors have bestowed upon them over the years.  While one would assume that career center heads really know their stuff, much of the information given to recent grads searching for jobs is inaccurate and sometimes harmful.

Here are 5 of those pieces of bad advice that career centers give to students:

1. Resumes don’t have to be only one page regardless of level.

There is no law that says a resume has to be one page.  In a sense, this is correct as a recent college graduate should not be presenting a 3 page resume.  However, what the career centers fail to see is that many of the students put their names in a large font, as well as their education and interest which takes up 1/2 of the Word document before they even get to the important information which, as a result must be truncated.

2. Career centers don’t grasp the fact that resumes are no longer printed out and read line by line.

Obviously, they are now read the same way this email is – on the computer screen.  90% of the recent college graduates we see don’t have bullet points, keywords, bolding, etc. to tailor the resume to someone who is quickly looking for a tidbit of information i.e. skills, not long paragraphs about their career ambitions which tell little to nothing about to what the job seeker can do for the employer.

3. The resume and cover letter should be written after the job description is read, rather than students having one or two resumes that they send out to the masses.

Each resume should have the skill sets that are asked for by the employer.  Yes, employers want leaders, they want an entrepreneurial feel, etc., but deep down, they want someone who can complete the required tasks in an autonomous and effective manner.

4. They also lack in the ability to deter students from jobs that seem alluring, pay little and are too competitive to get.

While some may try to present more career options, they don’t execute on getting through to the students. For instance, 85% of the recent college graduates whom we coach want to be in the media/PR, etc. not being told that every job in the media is not created equal and is highly dependent on the company that you work for.  We’ve seen was a single posting by Sony Entertainment for an entry-level administrative job receive 800 resumes within a week.

Al-Jazeera received over 8,000 resumes for roughly a 150 U.S. jobs they had open.

5. The college major does not hinder you from being successful or should not deter anyone from applying to a job.

Many students who are not in business are guided towards other careers when, in fact a good percentage of the most successful Americans majored in Liberal Arts.  It’s America, you can do anything you want to do and should never be apologetic about what you studied in college.

Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement, an executive recruitment agency specializing in sales and marketing recruitment.  Learn more about Ken and KAS here: http://www.kasplacement.com or follow Ken on Twitter @ken_sundheim

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

1)    Eat small snacks throughout the day, and when you do snack healthy

In addition to eating three large meals per day, you should be eating several snacks between those three core meals.  Small snacks will prevent you from pigging out at lunch and dinner (thereby reducing your portion size during those meals), and over time, your metabolism will speed up, meaning you will be more effective at processing the food you eat.    Before you leave the house in the morning, pack some snacks high in protein and fiber—they tend to be the most filling.  Oatmeal, apples, whole-grain bread, and hard boiled eggs are some of our favorite.  Don’t feel like waking up early to fill up some zip-lock bags with healthy food?  Sandy Thorton of VendEdge, an Atlanta based vending operator, says not to worry.  “Wellness in the workplace is of growing interest to human resource directors and management.  The vending industry has addressed this in a variety of ways by offering new and better tasting healthy products and portion size options,” she says.  “Some companies are even putting micro-markets in their buildings, which gives employees an opportunity to choose from even more healthy items.”  So next time you get those 2 PM hunger cramps, reach for the healthier food option available at your workplace, not the Cheetos.

 2)    Get up and get your blood circulating

Every few hours you should be getting up from your desk and taking a walk around the office.  Make an effort to push back from the desk—it is OK to take your eyes off your computer screen—and take a stroll through the office.   Bring a refillable water bottle to work, and when it is empty, get up and refill it. Use the time to catch up with co-workers on a project rather than sending them another email.  You can even use your stroll to build a relationship with your coworkers.  Inquire about what they did last weekend, how their family is doing, and where they plan to go on vacation.  Studies have shown that by taking “walk breaks” every few hours, you’re productivity will skyrocket.  And you’ll be less likely to dread waking up each morning to report to the office.

 3)    Keep your posture in line

Back pain is something that affects over 31 million Americans.  Much of that back pain can be attributed to horrible posture—something that is only made worse when you spend the full workday sitting at a desk.  Most computer screen monitors are too short to be viewed at the proper angle.  When we have to look down for so long, eventually we start to develop neck pain.  And when we sit for so long, we start to slouch, causing lower back pain.  Get to an office supply store and buy a stand that keeps your computer at eye level.  Good posture is body language that people attribute to confidence and competence.  Don’t let your office posture result in pain and affect how your co-workers think of you.

Only a few generations ago, Americans were active during their workdays.  We were building cars, machines, and the foundation of America.  Today, we are still building a foundation, but we are doing so from our desks.  Better yourself and your work by simply adding these three tips to your daily routine.  Your waistline can thank us later.

William L. Mehserle Jr. is co-founder and lead strategist at Khraze.com, a new media marketing company that creates custom marketing strategies for clients.  He is also co-founder of theExpressionary.com, a personalized gift company.  You can connect with him on Twitter at @WilliamMehserle or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mehserle.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Many of these careers still benefit from pursuing extra education after high school. However, there are a variety of options like trade schools, community college and other programs that are much cheaper than four-year college programs. The following are 10 great options if you are looking for alternative paths to a successful career.

1. Dental Hygienist

Income Average: $68,000

Dental Hygienist specialize in preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. Dental hygienist work together with dentist to contribute to a co-therapist environment. Dental hygienists in the United States must be graduates from a dental hygiene program. All dental hygienists in the United States must be licensed by the state in which they practice, after completing a minimum of two years of school and passing a written board as well as a clinical board exam.

2. Web Developer

Income Average: $76,000

Web developers can be found working in all types of organizations, including large corporations and governments, small and medium sized companies, or alone as freelancers. Some web developers work for one organization as a permanent full-time employee, while others may work as independent consultants, or as contractors for an employment agency. There are no formal educational or licensure requirements to become a web developer. However, many colleges and trade schools offer coursework in web development.

3. Medical Secretary

Income Average: $31,000

A medical audio typist usually types up clinical letters and notes from dictation of patients’ appointments, tests, operations and procedures and may work in a hospital or health centre for one or more clinician. A medical secretary is a secretary/personal assistant who manages the office and administrative matters of doctors, consultants and surgeons in a hospital or clinical setting. As well as a general secretarial qualifications a Medical Secretary/PA usually holds a medical secretarial diploma or other specialised qualifications.

4. Paralegal Assistant

Income Average: $47,000

A paralegal assistant is generally a secretary with a number of year of experience in a law firm and who therefore is familiar with the meaning and spelling of certain legal terminology.  They normally have no training or experience in conducting legal research or drafting legal documents

5. Architectural Drafter

Income Average: $46,000

Drafters’ drawings provide visual guidelines and show how to construct a product or structure. Drafters use technical handbooks, tables, calculators, and computers to complete their work. Employers prefer applicants who have also completed training after high school at a technical institute or community college. Many technical institutes offer 2-year associate degree programs, which are similar to, or part of, the programs offered by community colleges or State university systems.

6. Heating and Refrigeration Mechanic

Income Average: $43,000

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (referred to as HVAC or HVACR technicians) work on heating, ventilation, cooling, and refrigeration systems that control the air quality in many types of buildings. Formal training programs usually take 3-5 years to complete and often include paid, on-the-job training with classroom education.

7. Surveyor

Income Average: $55,000

Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them.  Licensing requirements vary by state, but they generally have components of education, experience and examinations. Usually experience gained through an apprenticeship, together with passing a series of state-administered examinations, was required to attain licensure.

8. Executive Assistant

Income Average: $44,000

Executive assistants work for a company officer, and possess the authority to make crucial decisions affecting the direction of such organizations. An executive assistant differs from an administrative assistant in that they are expected to possess a higher degree of business acumen. Four year degrees are common in this field however not required.

9. Industrial Machine Repairer

Income Average: $45,000

Industrial machinery mechanics keep machines that produce goods for consumers and businesses running. A two-year associate degree can provide knowledge about computers and programming that is becoming increasingly important for this type of repair.

10. Electrical Technician

Income Average: $56,000

Electrical technicians help design, develop, test, manufacture, install, and repair electrical and electronic equipment. Most employers prefer to hire electronics technicians with an associate degree or other post-secondary training in engineering technology. Training is available at technical institutes, at community colleges, at extension divisions of colleges and universities, at public and private vocational-technical schools, and in the Armed Forces.

Resources:

Don’t want to build up hundreds of thousands in student loans? One option is to receive affordable education with a devry university online degree.

1.     Be prepared for conflict.

When starting any job, be aware that each co-worker you meet has his or her own agenda.  It won’t take long to recognize who is ready to throw you under the metaphorical bus.  Talk to your co-workers; learn all you can about the various functions and positions.  They will appreciate you taking an interest in them—and, in turn, take an interest in you.   In addition, a boss may try to block advancement opportunities within the company.  “Being prepared” means exploring horizontal moves within the corporate ladder and developing connections to make those horizontal moves possible.  It means looking for opportunities to discuss your work with others, such as your boss’s boss, and invite their input.   If you are under 30, you represent the future of the company, and senior executives at some level will want to invest in you. Find them, grow your relationship with them, and be prompt to respond whenever they need help.

 2.     Shower your co-worker with kindness.

Perhaps you have heard the saying “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”  (That has been attributed to Machiavelli – but was borrowed from the Chinese general Sun-Tsu, and even, in modern day, Michael Coreleone!)

What this saying means is to keep your friends close because they are people you can trust and rely on.  And to be aware that there may be others who want to undermine your efforts.  You need to be aware of what they are doing.  One way is to “shower them with kindness.”  This is another adage that is relevant to your situation.  Be genuinely nice, but don’t be surprise if your kindness is not returned.  Just continue to be yourself – co-workers and your boss will notice, and chances are, you will be the one selected for the promotion.

3.     Protect all your documents.

One of the most common problems in corporate America is the misrepresentation of information.  Bosses taking credit for work, superiors changing work to make their employees look bad, co-workers stealing work and presenting it as their own—the problem abounds.  So, how can we combat this?  Well, first, make sure that in each document you correctly set the document properties, including author, date of last edit, and tags that include your name and title.  We also recommend that you PDF any documents being sent.  Make sure to make any Word or PDF documents “read-only.” This means people won’t be able to edit the document without your permission (you can change these settings when you are saving your documents in various programs).  If you don’t have the ability to do this and you suspect foul play, let a close co-worker know, and BCC them on any email with outgoing documents—this way you have two time stamps on the internal computer network—making “he said/she said” a complete non-issue if things ever hit the fan.

No one wants to deal with some of the people we have to interact with on a daily basis at our corporate jobs.  But let’s be honest, it is probably going to happen.  Make light of the situation: shower them with kindness, be prepared, and stick it out until you get to move on within the company. Don’t let someone else ruin your workday—or your career.  No one dictates your ability to succeed but you.

William L. Mehserle Jr. is co-founder and lead strategist at Khraze.com, a new media marketing company that creates custom marketing strategies for clients.  He also co-founded the personalized gift company theExpressionary.com.  You can connect with him on Twitter at @WilliamMehserle or on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mehserle

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Resources:

One way is to “shower them with kindness.” You can find great gifts for coworkers and bosses to help with this.

I decided to write a book. I got on a train and I started writing. I was sick of the BS that is corporate culture and the way that people get jobs—resumes are a joke. Everything is changing. And in the course of 48 hours, I wrote a book, it’s called “Stop With The BS,”—and I wanted to do it to call out a lot of the bullshit about business and career advice.

Some of the ideas are really simple. If you want to start a business or get better at what you do, for example. I thought I’d share some of the book here, focusing on how to fix some of the problems I see happening all over the workplace:

1. Limit Email

Email nowadays is like crack. It never ends and people just send, reply all, and reply for the sake of replying.

If your job starts to be just forwarding emails, we need to make it more efficient. We don’t realize how much time we waste on email.

Most of the emails we send don’t create anything.

It will kill you.

At my old job, after probably receiving 70% of emails that were complete BS in my first 6 months of working there, I decided to address this two ways:

If I ever forwarded an email I would reply and ask if there was a better way to get it to the person.

I took myself off all alias lists that were group lists. If I needed to know, someone would tell me.

2. Stop Worrying About Shit That Doesn’t Matter

I could write an entire book on this. People spend so much time worry about all the stuff – tedious stuff – that doesn’t matter.

What matters? The people in our lives.

What doesn’t matter? The list is endless. What matters is what we do in the future. Work on realigning your path rather than dwelling on the past. We have a short life on this earth, so let’s rock it now.

3. Boredom Kills Careers

I beileive that people and companies don’t kill careers. Boredom kills careers.

4. Starting A Business Is Easy

People make it way too complicated. If you have something that someone else wants, and they will pay for, then you have a business.

If you want to start a business, remember: it doesn’t have to be the next biggest thing in the world.

Every business starts with one product, one idea, and a first customer.

5. Learn From Prostitutes

Prostitutes can teach us business and career tips. It’s the oldest known business in the world. Here’s why:

You know where to find them.

You know who they are.

You know what they offer.

You know how much they cost and that you’ll have to pay more to get more.

Is this true for you and your business? Can people find you, like you, test you, and get more?

6. We live in a different world

Things are changing.

It is not about what you know. It’s about what you do, and what you can create.

Imagination is more important the knowledge.

Author: Shane Mac of Stop With The BS

This article originally appeared on Under30CEO

Get in Control

You’re the one with the mouse — which means you’re in control, not the Internet. Here are a few techniques for keeping the balance of power:

·      Turn off all push notifications. Don’t let things notify you. You can still check your email whenever you want, but without these notifications constantly popping up in your face, you’ll be able to focus much more easily.

·      Use auto filter. Auto filter your email messages into folders. Gmail is great for this. I have several folders, such as one for job applicants (yes, Magoosh is hiring!). This way, I can check the applications all at one time rather than being distracted each time an application comes in.

·      Employ accountability apps. If you really can’t control yourself when it comes to email, try Inbox Pause, an extension for Gmail that lets you stop new messages from coming in until you are ready. StayFocusd, a Chrome browser extension, is another good option. It restricts the amount of time you spend on time-wasting sites.

Plan, Plan, Plan

In the classroom, your teacher or professor gives you a syllabus or course calendar with important deadlines, milestones, and checkpoints. When you’re studying online, it’s your job to plan these things yourself. It can be tough to stay on track when you’re not accountable to someone else, but it is possible! Start by finding a pre-published plan or creating a timeline of your own. Then, stick to it! Be sure to communicate your goals and plans with others, too. It’s easy to make excuses, but if you have friends and family members who help you stay accountable for your progress, it will be easier to stay on track.

Stay Engaged

Studying can’t always be fun, but it’s important to find interactive methods that will keep you engaged and help the information stick. After you read about or watch a video on a certain topic, find ways to apply and reinforce the lesson — perhaps by answering questions or taking a short quiz. This will ensure you truly “get” a concept before you move on to the next topic. It will also give you a sense of accomplishment in the progress you’re making.

Keep It Consistent

If you are studying for a standardized test, try to take practice tests at the same time of day as your actual test. Develop a routine so that come test day, you’ll feel well prepared. For regular studying, just find a time that works well for you and be consistent, which will also help you stay focused. Rather than telling yourself you’ll  “do it sometime after class this week,” make it a point to study every Monday and Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. It will become a habit and a priority.

Online study materials can be phenomenal tools — but they can also come with a number of distractions. To keep yourself accountable, be sure to make a plan, stick with it, and convince yourself that yes — that notification can wait.

Bhavin Parikh is the CEO and co-founder of Magoosh, an online test prep company that provides video lessons and practice questions accessible anytime, anywhere for exams such as the GMAT, GRE, and SAT.

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Dress

We shouldn’t have to discuss this, but, unfortunately, we do.  Unless it is a tacky sweater Christmas party, the sweater your mom bought you in high school for Christmas probably isn’t what you want to wear.  Some Christmas parties might be black tie—and if so, dress that way—otherwise most are fairly casual affairs.  Men, wear a pair of slacks, a white button up, and a traditional V-neck sweater in either green or red.  No need for a sweater with Christmas trees.  Women, don’t go for that low cut revealing red dress.  This is a work event.  Save the seductive red number for a Christmas party with friends.  Your HR manager will thank you.

Avoid the advances of your superiors and co-workers

We’ve seen it in numerous movies, and at the Christmas party, it actually happens.  You may be shocked how “out of nowhere” these advance come.  The holidays do crazy things to bosses and fellow employees—just like full moons and budget cuts.  To avoid the advances of your co-workers, we recommend staying with a group when they are around.  Don’t go into their office with them alone. Don’t let your boss call you in to talk about “work” for a few minutes.  There are strengths in numbers, and you don’t want a one night mistake to turn into an ongoing awkward office situation.  Worse yet, you don’t want it to be the end of your job if something fishy gets reported to HR.

Help

Many companies go to great expense and effort to put on exceptional Christmas parties for their employees and clients.  Make a difference and get noticed by offering to help with some facet of the party that you are passionate about.  Do you aspire to someday learn to be a mixologist?  Offer to help with the drinks.  Love decorating and planning?  Volunteer to help decorate. Give a little without expecting something in return, and you could receive a lot.  Employers notice joyful employees who are willing to sacrifice a bit of their personal time to lend a helping hand.

Hydrate-hydrate-hydrate

There will, no doubt, be copious amounts of fine wine, punch, and champagne at your Holiday extravaganza.  It is important that you be fully functional the next day at work.  Many bosses evaluate the talent pool the day after a huge company event to see who bounces back best and who is most dedicated to their job.  Thus, it is key that you aren’t stuck with a huge headache and bad attitude the day after your party. At 6PM the evening before we recommend you start pounding water- 8  ounces every hour on the hour (with the exception of the hours you are sleeping, of course).  When you wake up continue the ritual—all the way up until the Christmas party.  This has worked for us—and it will work for you.  It is worth a few extra restroom breaks for the chance to be the most productive employee the next day.

Bring a creative gift for the host

Often, there is one person who has spent the most time organizing and orchestrating the party.  In a small business it might be owner.  In a larger company it might be someone in HR.  Buy that person something special and creative to show how much you appreciate what they’ve done.  A personalized gift like The Expressionary can go a long way to build your reputation and goodwill within an organization.

Bring an appropriate sex neutral Xecret Santa gift

Want to ruin a “blind” secret Santa gift exchange? Show up with a car wrench wrapped up.  Or a pink journal. Or a set of whiskey stones.  Save the gender specific (and age specific) gifts for a party where you are with friends.  One clever option is to make an ornament—a clear ball ornament, that you place ten or twenty dollars inside of (whatever the gift limit may be).  The ornament will cost one dollar, take the top off, place the money inside, and watch people fight for the ornament!

Learn the names of the clients at the party

If your holiday party involves clients you have a unique opportunity to stand out in their minds—which might have them talking about you at their next meeting at your company.  Get a list of the RSVP guests and do a bit of research on them. Find out how long they’ve been clients/customers and what they do and are passionate about. Be brave and start a conversation with them.  Who knows, it may be just the thing to get on the upward track within your company!

By following these little tips you’ll not only conquer, but come out on top, after your company’s holiday party!

William L. Mehserle Jr. is co-founder with Michael J. Flanigan of theExpressionary.com, a personalized gift site, and Khraze.com, a new media marketing company.  You can connect with him on Twitter at @WilliamMehserle or on LinkedIn

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