Movin' On Up

What's Most Important to You in a Career?

Personal incomes were up 0.2% in July, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, which could in part stem from businesses reinstating salary increases and other benefits that were cut or frozen in 2009. As the economy improves and businesses look for more ways to increase employee engagement and retain their key workforce, we want to know what you value most in your job.

poll by twiigs.com

Is Job Hopping Back in Style?

In our January poll, we asked whether or not people would consider job hopping in 2010, and 82% of respondents said in our online poll they’d job hop if a better opportunity came along.

So, as the year progresses and the job market improves, we want to know if the great job hop has begun. Let us know your take by voting in our online poll.

The iPhone Versus Workplace Etiquette: Take the Poll

Smart phones are once again the talk at the water cooler as co-workers chat up the recently-launched iPhone 4's features (and bugs) and compare notes on the latest in smart phone technology – from Android to Blackberry to iPhone and beyond. According to a recent ComScore study, over 45 million people in the U.S. own smart phones, the largest-growing segment of the 234 million-strong U.S. mobile phone market.

Now that mobile phone technology has advanced to the stage that people are carrying small, hand-held computers around with them on a day-to-day basis, the culture is definitely changing. From impacting e-mail habits to altering the way our brain processes information to changing the intrapersonal communication styles of a generation, mobile technology plays an important role in the digital age.

So this month, we want to know how smart phones affect etiquette in the workplace. Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below:

How Bad Are Awful Co-Workers?

You’ve heard about bad bosses. They can stunt your career and make work miserable. But bad co-workers can do their damage in the workplace, too, by spreading gossip, causing drama, and piling work up on teammates.

So now we want to know, just how bad are bad co-workers?

Do you have a story of a bad employee that’s truly unbelievable?
We’re helping best-selling author Jim Stovall, who wrote 100 Worst Bosses, collect stories for his latest book, 100 Worst Employees. You can submit your story now – all names will be changed to protect the identity of those involved. If your story is selected for the book, you’ll receive a signed copy of the book when it’s released!

What’s the Worst Kind of Boss?

Chances are you’ve worked for many different types of bosses. There are four basic boss personalities you’ve probably encountered on the job: the tiger, the fox, the chameleon, and the ostrich. Each boss has their own style, and there are good and bad elements to each style. But, when a boss only uses the negative sides of their leadership instinct, it can make work miserable. So, we want to know what you think.

Want to know what kind of leader you’d be? Take our quiz and discover your leadership instinct style today!

• Online Quiz
• Facebook Quiz

Does Online or In-Person Networking Work Best? The Surprising Results of Poll

With so much focus on social networking and the job search, we wanted to know in our latest poll what you think works best – in person or online networking.

The results of the poll – posted and shared online – may be surprising.

A total of 477 readers responded to the poll, which asked “Which is most effective?”

A huge majority thought in-person networking works best.

Here’s how the results came back:

• 21.4 % selected “Networking online.”
• 78.6 % selected “Networking in person.”

But, as our readers shared, that’s not to say that networking online isn’t important. Their comments reinforced the value of balancing both in-person and online networking.

Networking Balance is Key

Reader Chuck Rice responded, “I don't know that you can do one or the other. Face to face will always continue to be important, however online networking is better for staying in touch and discussing a variety of topics to a larger audience. I've found that seeing a post or message from someone in the middle of my business day causes me to act immediately, as long as I've built some face to face relationship.”

Other commentators shared the value of networking online to expand your relationships beyond where time and travel costs allow with traditional networking.

When it comes to networking, it’s clear that balance is key. With all the focus and attention on social media and technology these days, don’t underestimate the value of meeting people face-to-face. Use both in-person and online networking tactics to get the best of both options. Putting all your eggs in one networking basket could limit your opportunities, so carefully plan time for each type of networking in your professional life.

What are your thoughts? Can you afford to rely on just one type of networking these days to build your personal brand, advance in your career, and find great opportunities?

The Networking Wars: Does Online or In Person Work Best?

With record high unemployment rates and the rapid adoption of social networking across generations, this past year there has been a big focus on using social networking for the job hunt. At the same time, people are going back to the basics of the job search as they attempt to uncover every avenue available to land the job.

Networking in general is one of the most important tools in the job seeker’s arsenal. And having a good mix of social networking and in-person networking is your best bet for a broad-reaching job search. But in today’s job market, we want to know what you think. Which works best?

poll by twiigs.com

Text Messages Crossing the Line?

Cell phone text messaging has changed the way we communicate, the way we operate, and even the way we do business. It’s direct and instantaneous. And, with more than a third of the world texting, it’s becoming a more prevalent and often preferred means of communication.

But, like most technological advances, text messaging can have some unintended consequences. According to experts, “textual” harassment or sexual harassment that occurs via text messages is on the rise in the workplace.

With text messaging becoming a part of everyday business more and more, is it affecting you at work?

poll by twiigs.com

Poll Indicates Optimism About Economy

The year of 2009 is behind us, and 2010 is charging full steam ahead. As the economy continues to show signs of improvement, economists are predicting it will only be a matter of time before businesses and jobs start ramping up again. In January, a total of 652 people responded to our survey, “Are You Optimistic About the Job Market?”

Of those who took the survey, 53.4% said they are optimistic about the job market this year, while 46.6% said they are not.

These numbers are an improvement over a similar poll that we took in March 2009. On that survey, more than 1,200 readers voted. Of those who took the survey, only 38.8% said they were optimistic about the economy over the next six months while 61.2% said they were not optimistic.

Overall, the outlook on the economy is looking up. Do you have any additional thoughts about the economy over the next six months? Share your thoughts here.

Are You Optimistic About the Job Market?

As the economy continues to improve, experts anticipate an increase in jobs this year. They are also forecasting issues with employee retention, as they believe many will job hop into a new opportunity.

What are your thoughts about the job market, whether you currently have a job or not? As we begin 2010, do you think the job market is going to be better in the next six months?

poll by twiigs.com