Office Romance: When Valentine Roses Come from the Next Cubicle

What do you do when Cupid goes corporate and crosses into your career?

Let’s face it, it’s bound to happen. You spend more than half of your waking hours at work. In fact, 58% of workers say they have been in an office romance! (Vault Survey, 2006). Less people are falling in love WITH work, and more people are falling in love AT work.

Twenty-one percent of employers have dating policies, and an overwhelming 95% of SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) members who were polled would choose to ban workplace romance because it could lead to sexual harassment claims!

According to one of the greatest love songs, love don’t cost a thing, but nowadays it could cost you your job.

With an office romance, can you really work happily ever after? I'll admit it, I met my wife at work, but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone.

So what do you think about workplace romances? Would you consider dating a co-worker? Why? Why not? What do you see as the pros and cons of office dating? Share your thoughts and stories!

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Set Small Goals - Get a Job!

For all of the college students out there, I thought I'd share some advice for achieving your ultimate goal of getting a job!

It's 2007! It's a new year, a new semester, and you are one step closer to graduation. In my travels, I often meet students who are a little worried about life after graduation and in the "real world." You've got pressures to land the perfect job in the perfect city for the perfect amount of money, vacation time, and benefits. You have to write an amazing resume, dazzle the interviewers, and network like crazy! Quite honestly, these demands can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, I have some tips to make getting a job a little easier. You can procrastinate and try to avoid your upcoming graduation date, but the truth is “Tomorrow Never Dies”, and you'll be accepting your diploma before you know it!

"I'll NEVER get a job!." Does this sound familiar? Never Say Never Again. Begin by breaking down your ultimate goal of getting a job into smaller steps. 1. Write your goals down.

To start, create a detailed, written description of each of your goals, using the SMART criteria as a guideline:

Specific. You can describe the details.
Measureable. You can measure the goal using either quantitative or qualitative assessments. Acheivable. You can achieve the goal.
Reachable. The goal is realistic given existing constraints, such as time and resources.
Time Bound. You must achieve the goal within a specified time frame.

Examples of SMART goals:

1. To complete my resume and have it proofread and critiqued by four people by February 17, 2007.

2. To give my resume to five alumni in my industry by February 27, 2007.

3. To set up and complete three informational interviews with three alumni members of my business association by March 1, 2007.

4. To attend four educational workshops sponsored by the career center by graduation.

5. To have three mock interviews before my job interview with IBM on March 17, 2007.

6. To create two resumes, one targeting Public Relations firms and the other targeting Advertising firms, before the university career fair on April 7, 2007.

7. To research my industry salary range, my city's cost of living, and standard benefits plans before my second round of interviews with IBM on March 27, 2007.

Set small goals, and you'll be gainfully employed before you know it!

www.jobbound.com