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It’s been shown time and time again that the #1 most critical factor in employee retention is a good relationship with your boss. More than money or length of commute, or anything else. People are willing to stay in jobs that pay less if they have a good relationship with their boss. That’s powerful.

It’s actually been said that people don’t leave jobs, they leave bosses. If you don’t have trust and communication with the people you work with, your engagement and performance will decline.

But what makes a boss bad?  A bad boss would be characterized as micro-managing, unsupportive, and aggressive even. They call you out in front of everyone else, they breathe down your neck, they criticize your work, they impose impossible deadlines and so on. Why do they do this?

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SPECIAL GUEST ARTICLE 

by Amanda Babineau LaRose of We Care Management

Few things zap your energy the way a stressful day can. Stress is known to reduce our levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that play an important role in our mood, energy and motivation. After a difficult day, you might be tempted to lounge on the couch watching TV until it’s time to go to bed. Although it might feel good in the moment, it won’t give you the mood and energy lift you need after a rough day. Here are five simple ways you can recharge yourself.

1. Unplug

After a stress-filled day, you need to unwind—and that means turning off your phone for some much-needed “me” time. It can be tempting to sit on the ...

If you're a member of my email and social media community, you may know that I’ve been alluding to a big announcement. It’s finally here.

One year ago, this month, I began a podcast, Career UpRising. It’s been more than a podcast though. It’s been a labor of love and an enormous creative outlet for me. It was also an opportunity for me to expand upon the tactical job search advice and move towards big picture thinking and broader life coaching.

Shortly after launching the show, I saw a glimpse of the future. The name “Career UpRising” inspires all of the feelings that my coaching practice is about. Rising up. Expanding. Growing. (And it’s a nice play on my last name, right?)

I knew early on that I would eventually merge the two ...

How many of you out there have actually negotiated more money? Many people shy away from asking for more money because of the fear of rejection.

What if they say no?

What if it makes it awkward with your boss?

Well, I’m here to tell you that you can do this. It’s actually a very normal thing to do and it may not be completely comfortable, but it doesn’t have to make things awkward. I’ve done it myself and got the raise.  If you want to learn how to confidently and successfully ask for a raise, this article is for you. I will share three practical strategies and some dialogue for your next negotiation.

Do your research. It goes without saying that you need to know ...

I recently received a question from one of my blog followers, Cindi, about how to beat an internal candidate in a job interview.  I've never been asked this before but I think its a great question!

Cindi says: “I have read and will continue to read, your columns and articles on your website and I find them informative and useful (Thanks, Cindi!). I work full-time as an Administrative Assistant and I have been looking to switch to a different employer – into the community college area – still as an Executive Assistant. I have had two interviews, called back for a second interview and even had that third follow-up phone call. I am one of the final two candidates; however, the internal candidate always wins out at the end. The employer’s only reason is “the internal candidate will make the transition easier”. How ...

What is the secret to getting ahead at work?

Why do some people get promoted over others?

I’ve managed, trained and promoted dozens of people in my career. In fact, my first management position was when I was just 19. No doubt, it's frustrating and de-motivating when you don’t get picked for the job, especially when the person who did get the promotion has been with the company less time or has less experience. This happens! It’s happened to me.

First, we need to clear up a big misconception about what it takes to get promoted. A lot of people think that getting promoted is about doing really well in the current role. If you're a star performer and get a perfect score on your reviews, you'll surely get promoted. Well, maybe. ...

It's a new year and for many...that means a new career or job search. If that's you, you're in good company. This is one of the most popular times to job search. As I coach whose worked with 200+ clients, I see job seekers with various levels of knowledge and comfort when it comes to how to navigate the modern job search. I see the differences between those are successful and those who just complain and bad mouth recruiters all day and wonder why they aren't employed.

If you are planning to change jobs this year, consider what's changed in the last few years.

The 2019 job search is...

Digital. We all know how much online job boards have the changed the search process. But the onset of this technology doesn't give you carte blanche ...

It used to be the standard advice that you should stay with one employer as long as you can and be happy that you have a job. I know this because I work with mid and late career job seekers, people who grew up in world where it was normal to stay somewhere for 20 or 30 years and retire. We all know that those days are long gone, but is that a bad thing?

If you want to stay current in your skills, make more money and be happier with your career, then no, it's not a bad thing. Believe it or not, there are significant benefits to changing jobs more frequently. And by frequently, I mean about every five to seven years. I don't mean every one to two years. That’s a little quick and then you are going to look ...

You hear a lot about the mid-life crisis. When you reach the midpoint of any journey, It’s natural to feel some restless and to want to re-evaluate your progress. Is this direction still working for me? Do I different priorities now than I did when I was younger?

These feeling of uncertainty extends to our careers as well, resulting in a mid-career crisis for many in their 40s and 50s. As a career coach, I work extensively with mid and late career professionals and this is a common concern.

Reality often sets in that you’re not 25 anymore, but your competition is.  You’re not early career, but you’re not ready to retire either. Where does that leave you? You still need to be seen as relevant and competitive, but you don’t know how to ...

Do you struggle with how to “sell” yourself to employers? Do job interviews make you nervous? This is a common struggle those who are looking for a better job. However, I believe that the best interview is the authentic interview. Rather than selling yourself, you need to just be yourself. Confidence and authenticity are key to positioning yourself for the job that you deserve.

First, we have to acknowledge that most interview questions are complete garbage. Truly, they are.

Where do you see yourself in five years?” (Is anyone going to answer that honestly and do they even know??)

Or, how about this one: “If you were an animal, what would you be?” (This is a REAL interview question!)

Most interviewers are not trained in interviewing. They are busy with ...