Did you know that workplace stress is as bad for you as second-hand smoke?

by Angela Copeland | Sep 7, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

Happy Labor Day!

Sometimes called “second-hand stress,” the stress you are exposed to at work really makes a difference. Researchers at Harvard and Stanford recently completed a study to analyze the impact of workplace stress on your health.

The study, conducted by Joel Goh, Jeffrey Pfeffer, and Stefanos Zenios, analyzed the findings of 228 scientific studies. They found that stress from work can be as bad for you as second-hand smoke. In fact, 120,000 deaths each year, and $190 billion in healthcare costs are linked to it.

That’s a big deal!

So, what should you be on the lookout for? These are the 10 workplace stressors the study considered:

• Work family conflict
• Job insecurity
• Shift work
• Long working hours
• Low levels of fairness at work
• Low levels of control at work
• High job demands
• Lack of employer provided healthcare
• Layoffs and unemployment
• Low social support at work

You’re probably wondering — what does this mean for you? First of all, if you’re interviewing for a job, be on the lookout for these signs. If you spot too many of them, it may not be the job for you.

If you’re already working someplace that has a high level of workplace stress, there are things you can do. It’s important to focus your energy on what you can control, as many of the things on the list are outside of your control. Remember that even when the environment isn’t great (and other people are jerks), you can control your own behavior. Take the time to be kind to those around you.

Another thing that can make a big difference is your financial safety net. Often, work stress is compounded when you know that if anything happened to your job, you’d be toast. It can make you feel like you can’t leave, and that feeling makes everything worse. It takes time, but try to build a six to twelve month emergency fund. This is a fund that stays in a savings account and is separate from your retirement. That way, when the stock market fluctuates, you’ll be safe.

Beyond creating a financial cushion, you should also take the time to take care of YOU. Below are tips for self-care that can help to reduce your overall stress level.

• Get enough sleep. We often underestimate the power of eight hours of solid sleep.
• Practice healthy eating and drinking habits. Fast food or binge drinking will only contribute to your stress. Be conscious of what you’re feeding your body.
• Exercise, or take a walk. Working out has benefits to both your body and your mind.
• Practice yoga or meditation. It can help to calm your mind, and help your entire body to feel better.
• Talk to your loved ones. Having social support is one of the most important components of dealing with work stress.
• Set personal goals. You may not be able to control your workplace today, but you can certainly control your future.

Successfully managing your stress is just as important as any other part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth. If you take the time to take care of you, you’ll be happier and healthier, even when things at work are stressful.

However, if you find yourself waking up each day with dread, or crying at work, it may be time to look for something new. The same applies to a work environment with a boss who makes you feel unsafe, or who is being a bully toward you. If you find yourself in one of these dead end situations, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to help.

To learn more on this topic, check out my recent interview on WREG’s Live @ 9 here.

I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.

Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach

The Top 10 LinkedIn Mistakes You’re Making Right Now

by Angela Copeland | Aug 31, 2015 | Advice, Newsletter

LinkedIn has become a critical tool in the job search process. Using LinkedIn, you can find jobs, get recommendations, and even reach out to hiring managers.

But, in order for LinkedIn to be effective, you can’t wait until you’re looking. There are steps you should be taking right now to prepare yourself for the future.

When it comes to LinkedIn, here are a few of the mistakes you may very well be making right now.

1. Not having a LinkedIn account at all – Before you do anything else, sign up for a LinkedIn account. If you’ve had doubts (as many people do), you should know this. LinkedIn is actually helpful. People do find real jobs through LinkedIn. Recruiters do find candidates using LinkedIn. Really. So, if you’ve been putting it off, today’s the day!
2. No photo – This is the next biggest mistake people make. It’s critical you have a photo. Otherwise, how does anyone know it’s you? For example, from what I can tell, there are around 300 people with the name “Angela Copeland” in the U.S. If I didn’t have a photo on LinkedIn, how would you find me? When you select a photo, pick one that shows your face clearly. The photo should look like you look now (not years ago with a different hairstyle). The photo doesn’t need to be an expensive headshot, but it should look professional. You should be the only person in the photo. There should be no pets, no children, no spouse, no significant other, no hobbies. You get the idea. The goal is a photo of your face that looks like you look now – ideally, you’ll be smiling.
3. Multiple LinkedIn accounts for one person – This drives me a little crazy. When you have more than one account, how can anyone decide which one to send a request to? If you’re wondering how this happens, you’re not alone. Multiple accounts can accidentally be created when you don’t put all of your e-mail addresses into one account. For example, you have a work e-mail and a personal e-mail. You’ve been using your personal e-mail for LinkedIn. One day, your coworker sends you a LinkedIn connection request to your work e-mail. You accept. Suddenly, you have two LinkedIn accounts. To prevent this from happening, add all of the e-mail addresses you use to your settings. That way, all requests will go to the same place, no matter which e-mail is used.
4. Not turning off notifications – Do you ever get those LinkedIn e-mails that say, “Congratulate Bob on his new job!”? When you want everyone to know what’s going on, these messages can be great. But, often when you start looking for a job, the first thing you do is update your LinkedIn profile. You may have been promoted, or you want to update your title to something a little more impressive. The last thing you want is for your boss to get e-mails showing you’re making updates. What an awkward conversation that will be! To prevent this from  happening, check your notification settings.
5. Not connecting to your network – This may sound silly, but part of what makes LinkedIn work is the connections. The number of connections you have is displayed on your profile. Once you hit 500 connections, your profile will say “500+” whether you have 500 or 5,000. Having under 500 connections makes you look a little disconnected, and not well liked in your field. Clearly, this isn’t true. So at a minimum, work to get the number of connections you have above 500. You can do this fairly quickly by downloading the LinkedIn app on your smart phone. It allows you to search through your phone’s contacts and quickly add those you know who are already on LinkedIn.
6. Not customizing your headline – Your headline is such a great place to highlight who you are. It’s a big part of your personal brand. But, if you don’t fill it out, it will automatically populate your current job title.
7. Sharing things better left to social media – LinkedIn is not the same as Facebook. Don’t share things you would normally share on social media with your friends and family. Participating is great! But, look for things like business articles, or pertinent studies.
8. Including religious or political beliefs – This goes along with #7, but it deserves its own point. You may be very proud of your religious and political beliefs, but do you want them to prevent you from getting a job? The only time it’s appropriate to share these beliefs on LinkedIn is if you work for a religious or political organization – or you want to work for one in the future. Otherwise, save these details for your private life.
9. Sharing publicly that you’re looking, while you’re still employed – Ouch! This mistake can really hurt. Remember that your boss may be able to see your LinkedIn page – whether you’re directly connected, your page is public, or you have a mutual connection who shows the page to your boss. And, in many places within the U.S., you can be fired for no reason at all. When you’re looking, it’s important to be very, very careful to keep your search a secret.
10. Making it tough to get in touch with you – If you’re looking for a job, you want new people to be able to get in touch with you. I often see job seekers who have their privacy settings so tight that I can only send a connection request if I know their e-mail address. And, there e-mail is nowhere to be found on their profile. If you’re actively looking, make it easy to connect to you.

As it’s probably obvious, LinkedIn isn’t something you setup once and walk away from. It’s another form of social media that needs nurturing and care. And, when you continuously update it, nobody will wonder if you’re looking for a job when you do!

I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.

Also, be sure to subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach