When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!
Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.
1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs
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Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.
2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car
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Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.
3. Plan An Office Outing
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Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!
4. Organize Group Walks
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Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.
5. Eat Lunch At The Park
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When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.
6. Organize Office Sports
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Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.
7. Join A Professional Group
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During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.
8. Have An Office BBQ
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Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.
9. Wake Up Early
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Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!
10. Strategically Use Your Time Off
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Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.
11. Bike To Work
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If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!
There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!
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She had the resume to land a job as the contributing editor for an international business magazine, but her lack of business knowledge almost got her fired. A complete understanding of a job's requirements is an essential component for successful employment. Here's her true story:
I was thrilled when I landed the position of contributing editor for an internationally-known online business magazine. It had taken longer than a year of searching the Internet and local resources before I found this job, and it was practically a miracle that such a position was advertised in my own home town newspaper.
My background had been in proofreading and professional web writing. I was careful to stress my relevant experience during the interview and on my resume, and those valuable skills were immediately recognized by the magazine's publisher. I had the chops to impress my employer-to-be, and I was hired over multiple applicants from around the U.S.
Unfortunately, I had failed to realize my unfamiliarity with the business world in general would prevent me from immediate success. It was a foolish oversight on both the part of myself and of my employer, and my ignorance quickly put my job in jeopardy.
Although I had been hired under the title of contributing editor, I was demoted to the position of staff writer within the first few days. I practically had to start from the ground up because of my business naiveté, and it was only because the office needed help that I was able to maintain my position at all. It took me months to earn the respect of the publisher and become a trusted member of his editorial team. I kept kicking myself because I should have boned up on online commerce before I even applied for the job.
The reason I think I found this job at all is because I was persistent in the job search. I bookmarked a large number of writing job websites on my computer, and checked them often for updated listings. I applied for any jobs that seemed to fit my skills, and sent follow-up letters if I was particularly interested. The competition for jobs is stiff across the country, so I knew persistence would be vital.
Another job search trick I used was social media. Social platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook helped me to connect with writers and journalists in my field, many of whom were happy to assist me in finding employment. Not that social media actually worked for me, but the more people you know in business, the more opportunities come your way.
Finally, I would tell other job seekers to be realistic about your knowledge and abilities. Believing in yourself and projecting confidence can definitely help you land a position, but an employee who lacks the proper skills for a job quickly becomes apparent. My advice would be, if the job is worth applying for, determine if you truly have the skills necessary to do it properly. If not, get those skills before applying.
JustJobs.com is a job search engine that finds job listings from company career pages, other job boards, newspapers and associations. With one search, they help you find the job with your name on it.Read more » articles by this approved business partner | Click here » if you’re a business Image from Jozsef Szasz-Fabian/Shutterstock
