communication ::

What Can You Do to Promote Gender Equality at Work?

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

In 1911, millions of men and women in Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany marched on rallies during the first International Woman’s Day. They fought for the right of every woman to work, hold public office, and vote. Today, we have come far in terms of women’s rights, but there’s still so much we can do to close the gap between…

Body Language Tricks to Succeed in a Job Interview

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

It’s not what you said, but how you said it. Sounds familiar? This is true for relationships and job interviews. As a job applicant, you need to remember that the way your body moves says a lot about you. Body language is one way people communicate without talking. If you want to get a job offer, you have to be…

Alert! Don’t Fall for these 3 Ego Traps that can Ruin Your Executive Career

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You’re on top of your game. You’re the boss and you have a corner office to prove it. Yes, it definitely took a lot of hard work to get to where you are now, but what got you to the top may not be enough to keep you in this position. Being the boss can make anyone prone to a…

Unexpected Succession Planning: What to Do if a Key Executive Unexpectedly Quits

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You may not be the CEO yet. But as a company executive, an executive’s unexpected resignation, termination, or even absence is cause for alarm. Best case scenario, you may be chosen by the board to serve as interim CEO or executive. On the flip side, you may lose your job or the company may go down in the dumps as…

How to Build a Strong Alliance of Supporters at Work

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

One of the secrets of succeeding in the workplace is building strong alliances. No matter how seemingly good and experienced you are, or even if you hold a top position in an organization, time will come that you’ll need someone else’s help. This is where building alliances comes in handy. Successful employees work hard to build themselves a network of…

When Office Friends Turn into Liabilities

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

In general, making friends at work make Monday mornings more bearable and over time work a little less stressful. Having friends at work can make an otherwise stressful environment enjoyable, but things can also go sour under different circumstances. In light of International Friendship Day on July 30, we look at the different situations where office friends can become a…

Why Comparing Your Career to Your Friends’ is Harmful

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You and your best friend have been through everything together. You’ve survived high school, experienced first loves and first heartbreaks, gone through college, found your first jobs and supported each other through loss. You shop together, have coffee together, and maybe have even roomed together. But while we celebrated Best Friends Day last June 8, we all know friendships aren’t…

Networking for Executives

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

These days, it’s not so much what you know as who you know. While you need experience and credentials to give you the know how to lead a team or run a company, it’s often the handshake of someone you know that will get your resume on the desk. Whether or not you think this is fair, networking is…

Networking for Millennials

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Millennials, as their reputation suggests, often do things differently. So it’s not surprising that they have their own strategies when it comes to networking. If you’re a shy millennial who would rather stay at home than mingle with your co-workers, or you’re a lost gen X-er who can’t figure out ‘the deal’ with millennials and their social habits, then this…

How to be a Good Neighbor in an Open Office

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Editor

So you have a new job – congratulations! It’s bound to be filled with all kinds of new challenges and tests – not the least of which is learning to get along with your new colleagues. This is not something to be taken lightly. How you get along with people will affect your social life and work performance at your…

How to Deal with Email Conflicts at the Office

Posted on February 24, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Ever since there was the written word, misunderstandings and misinterpretations have existed. Then email was invented, and miscommunications became more frequent. The nature of email today is that it is quicker than actual printed letters. People tend to treat email more casually than printed letters. Introductions are more casual and many times, they are not as carefully edited or their…

Introverts: Afraid of Mingling? Don’t Let That Impact Relationships with Co-Workers

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Editor

There are all kinds of people in a workplace… Outspoken, gregarious types, and shy, timid types. And that’s OK, everyone is different. The problem with that is, even though we’ve moved beyond high school, popularity contests still exist in real life. People still gravitate towards others who are outgoing, friendly, outspoken, and give off high energy because they are exciting…

4 Spot-On Strategies to Get Your Manager’s Trust

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Editor

When it comes to your career, there are a number of factors that can influence how quickly you get ahead, or if you get ahead at all, but none are as crucial as your boss. Yes, your manager can control when you get promoted – and if you get promoted at all – what projects you take on, where and…

5 Things to Never Say (or Admit Out Loud) to Your Boss

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Editor

In a perfect world, you’d be on good terms with your boss. You might not be the best of friends, trading holiday cookies, or hanging out and drinking beer after work, but at least your communication lines are always honest and open. But you don’t live in a perfect world — no matter how nice your boss is. Your boss…

The Best Way to Handle Inappropriate Co-worker Behavior without Stooping Down to their Level

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Editor

When a co-worker is unnecessarily mean, flirtatious, or inappropriate, it’s sometimes hard to know how to respond professionally. HOW you respond can literally mean your career. You don’t want to look like a stick-in-the-mud, but you also don’t want to feel uncomfortable at work. You don’t want to be seen as a complainer, but it’s just as important to stand…

“Sell Me this Pen:” 2 Ways to Answer this Popular Job Interview Question

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Editor

Sell me this pen. Sell me this cup. Sell me this bag. This question is a staple among job interviews, especially for sales positions. But it recently rose to fame again after Leonardo DiCaprio appeared as Jordan Belfort, the smooth-talking penny stock broker in the movie The Wolf of Wall Street. In the movie, Belfort’s cohort answers the question by…

Are Listening Skills—and Decent Customer Service—Lost in this Generation’s Fresh Graduates?

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Editor

Here’s a typical scene every time I go through a Dunkin Donuts drive-thru… Me: One medium hot latte with skim milk Crew: Okay, would you like it hot or cold? Me: Hot (okay…he’s too young to be deaf) Crew: Whole or skim milk? Me: Skim milk (getting impatient here…) Every. Single. Time. And that was just a single item order….

Practice for your interview… and get the job offer.

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Michelle Riklan

You finally received a call for a potential position that sounds perfect. Preparing, you make several crisp copies of your résumé, check the route to the office, clean your car, get your favorite interview outfit from the cleaners, and dress yourself appropriately. You’ve spent hours researching the company, understanding the position and getting a solid sense of how your talents…

They Can Hear You in Your Pajamas

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Michelle Riklan

(and taking the job search seriously) We live in a world today that brings a completely new meaning to “multitasking.” Potential employers call about our resume while we’re driving to the soccer field and deals are negotiated in the supermarket produce section. With virtual offices, tele-conferences, e-summits and Skype, we need to be aware of the types of messages that…

Riklan Resources Resume and Career Services

Body Language Tricks to Succeed in a Job Interview

Alert! Don’t Fall for these 3 Ego Traps that can Ruin Your Executive Career

Why Comparing Your Career to Your Friends’ is Harmful

How to be a Good Neighbor in an Open Office

How to Deal with Email Conflicts at the Office

Introverts: Afraid of Mingling? Don’t Let That Impact Relationships with Co-Workers

4 Spot-On Strategies to Get Your Manager’s Trust

5 Things to Never Say (or Admit Out Loud) to Your Boss

The Best Way to Handle Inappropriate Co-worker Behavior without Stooping Down to their Level

“Sell Me this Pen:” 2 Ways to Answer this Popular Job Interview Question

Are Listening Skills—and Decent Customer Service—Lost in this Generation’s Fresh Graduates?

Practice for your interview… and get the job offer.

They Can Hear You in Your Pajamas

Our Credentials, Awards and Affiliations

Discover the ultimate job search course

Riklan Resources Resume and Career Services