Before you know it, weeks—or even months—have passed, and it’s difficult to remember your biggest accomplishments, the projects you enjoyed most, or even the positive feedback you’ve received.

That’s where a work journal comes in.

Whether you’re hoping to earn a promotion, prepare for a performance review, feel more fulfilled at work, or simply become more intentional about your career, keeping a work journal can help you recognize patterns, celebrate wins, and make thoughtful decisions about your professional growth.

How to Keep a Work Journal

Think of a work journal the same way you think of a personal journal or diary. Instead of reflecting on your personal life, you’ll focus on your professional life.

Your journal doesn’t need to be polished or perfectly written. Simply open a notebook, document, or note-taking app and write about your day or week. Some people prefer journaling for a few minutes every afternoon, while others schedule time every Friday to reflect on the week.

You might write about an exciting new project, a challenge you’re trying to solve, a conversation with your manager, or something you’re proud to have accomplished.

If you’re not sure where to begin, consider reflecting on topics such as:

• Your short-term goals for the day or week
• Your accomplishments
• Challenges or frustrations you experienced
• Lessons you learned
• Your long-term goals for the month, quarter, or year
• Your overall job satisfaction and ways you can improve it
• Skills you’d like to develop
• Feedback you received from your manager or coworkers

Remember, your work journal is for you. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. The goal is simply to create a consistent habit of reflecting on your career.

Benefits of Keeping a Work Journal

Taking a few minutes to reflect on your work can have a surprisingly big impact over time. Instead of rushing from one task to the next, you’ll create space to recognize your accomplishments, identify opportunities for growth, and make more intentional career decisions.

Keeping a work journal can help you:

• Track accomplishments for performance reviews and promotions
• Remember positive feedback from your manager and coworkers
• Build stronger resume bullet points and interview examples when you’re job searching
• Recognize which projects energize you—and which leave you feeling drained
• Spot recurring challenges before they become bigger problems
• Reflect on your professional growth over time
• Set meaningful short-term and long-term career goals
• Celebrate small wins that are easy to overlook during busy weeks

Over time, your journal becomes a record of your career journey. When it’s time to update your resume, prepare for an interview, or write a self-evaluation, you’ll have examples of your accomplishments instead of trying to remember everything months later.

How Often Should You Keep a Work Journal?

One of the best things about keeping a work journal is that there’s no perfect schedule.

Some people enjoy spending five minutes reflecting at the end of each workday, while others prefer setting aside a little more time once a week. The key isn’t how often you write—it’s consistency.

Even one thoughtful journal entry every Friday can help you document accomplishments, identify patterns, and stay focused on your long-term career goals.

Choose a routine that works for your schedule and stick with it.

Daily Work Journal Template

If staring at a blank page feels overwhelming, use these questions as a starting point.

At the end of each workday, spend five minutes answering:

• What did I accomplish today?
• What challenged me today?
• What did I learn?
• What positive feedback did I receive?
• What should I focus on tomorrow?

Weekly Work Journal Template

At the end of the week, reflect on:

• My biggest accomplishment
• My biggest challenge
• The biggest lesson I learned
• Skills I strengthened
• Goals for next week

30 Work Journal Prompts

If you’re looking for more inspiration, here are 30 work journal prompts to help you reflect on your professional growth.

1. What is the biggest lesson I learned today?
2. What positive feedback did I receive this week?
3. What accomplishment am I most proud of?
4. How did I go above and beyond?
5. How did I help a coworker or my team?
6. What are my goals for this week, month, and quarter?
7. What resources or support do I need to reach my goals?
8. What new skill would I like to learn, and how can I learn it?
9. Which skill should I continue strengthening?
10. How satisfied am I with my job right now?
11. What can I do to improve my job satisfaction?
12. What changes from my manager or company would help me do my best work?
13. Which tasks give me the most energy?
14. Which tasks drain my energy?
15. What mistake taught me something valuable?
16. What compliment or positive feedback surprised me?
17. What am I avoiding, and why?
18. What opportunities are available for me to take on more responsibility?
19. What are three things I’m grateful for today?
20. How would my manager describe my strengths?
21. How would my coworkers describe me?
22. What can I do to feel more engaged in my day-to-day work?
23. Who inspires me professionally, and why?
24. What is the best career advice I’ve received recently?
25. Where do I see myself professionally in the next five years?
26. What can I do to strengthen my personal brand?
27. How did I demonstrate leadership today?
28. What professional relationship should I invest more time in?
29. If I had to summarize this week in one sentence, what would it be?
30. What would make next week even more successful?

Final Thoughts

A work journal doesn’t have to be lengthy or perfectly written to be effective. Spending just five or ten minutes reflecting on your day or week can help you recognize your progress, stay focused on your long-term goals, and become more intentional about your career.

Over time, you’ll create a valuable record of your accomplishments, professional growth, and lessons learned. Whether you’re preparing for your next performance review, interviewing for a new job, or simply trying to become more thoughtful about your career, you’ll be glad you took the time to document your journey.

The most important step is simply getting started. Pick a notebook or open a blank document, answer one prompt, and build the habit from there.

The post How to Keep a Work Journal (Plus 30 Work Journal Prompts) appeared first on Elana Lyn Gross.

“Managing up means to make your supervisor’s life easier and taking care of things in her professional life that will facilitate her job-related duties,” says Jason Patel, founder of the college and career coaching company Transizion.

By being dependable and proactive, you can make yourself indispensable to your boss, that goes a long way when it’s time for a promotion. “A good working relationship can accelerate your success—and a bad relationship can hinder your success,” says Mary Abbajay, co-founder and president of the professional development company Careerstone Group and author of Managing Up: How to Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss.

“Your boss has a lot of influence over the projects, people, and positioning that come your way; your relationship with her, and her experience with you, will determine the kinds of opportunities available to you in your organization,” according to Abbajay.

So how do you master managing up? I spoke to career experts to deliver the do’s and don’ts you need to know.

Do:  Become a mind reader

Spend time figuring out your boss’s likes and dislikes so you can anticipate her needs in advance and stay on her good side. “You need to put in some work with your supervisor before managing up because you need to know more about their needs, habits, schedule, and duties,” says Patel. “Going in cold turkey is a recipe for disaster. You need to know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Don’t: Overstep

There’s an art to managing up. Though your intentions are well-meaning, you must avoid overstepping any boundaries or making it seem like you’re vying for your boss’s position. “Most bosses don’t like when reports get too close because it decreases their authority, and it’s never good when a boss has to step in to enforce his boundaries of authority,” says Lucio Buffalmano, founder of the social dynamics resource The Power Moves.

“Show you see him as a normal human being, but that you also respect his authority position,” he says. Come up with ways to make your boss’s job easier, but ask first. You could say something like, “I know you have a lot to do to prepare for the big meeting next week. Would you like me to help design the presentation?”

Do: Provide value

Ask not what your boss can do for you, ask what you can do for your boss. “When you manage up, be sure to create value for your boss,” says Andrea Palten, founder of the Denver-based life and business coaching firm Success Coaching. For example, if your boss has a big presentation to give and you know she doesn’t like designing the slides, offer to create it for her, she says.

“Managing up is a big part of showing that you’re ready for the big time or a major step up in job duties,” says Patel. “If you’re able to handle duties or facilitate your supervisor’s life, it shows her, and others in the know, that you’re capable of putting on many hats and playing multiple pivotal roles.”

Don’t: Drop the ball

You have more work to manage when you manage up. Be honest with yourself about your workload so you don’t overextend yourself. You also may not have all the skills you need yet, and that’s okay. Taking on new assignments is a great way to learn, but don’t be afraid to ask for help from your manager.

“If human relationships are built on trust, managing up poorly is a great way to expose your weaknesses and have no one ask you for help in the future,” says Patel. “If you manage up, do it well and focus on putting your best foot forward. You don’t want to take on extra work or perform a role above your pay grade, only to do a bad job and have your superiors avoid letting you step up next time the team needs you.”

Do: Communicate

Unless it involves cake and balloons, bosses normally don’t like surprises. You don’t want to spend a month working on something you think your boss will love only to find out that it’s not something they want or need. Part of your boss’s job is managing you and how you spend your time, so make sure she approves your projects in advance.

“When managing up, it’s important to communicate before it’s absolutely necessary. Sometimes this means telling your boss your plans months in advance—whatever you need to do to set clear expectations and then exceed them,” says Alex Robinson, a human resources manager at Team Building Hero.

Don’t: Stress out

Remember that it’s okay if you aren’t the best at something immediately. “A good supervisor won’t hold it against you if you have a tough time managing up at first. You’re human. You make mistakes and don’t know everything, so it’s important to keep your head up and continue learning,” says Patel. If your boss is overly critical or you realize that despite your best efforts, you can’t impress them, then it’s time to manage your career and look for a new opportunity.

The post The Do’s and Don’ts of Managing Up at Work appeared first on Elana Lyn Gross.

When to use an elevator pitch: 

You can use your elevator pitch when interviewers ask you to “Tell me about yourself.” You can also use it when people inevitably ask you, “So, what do you do?”

If you don’t have an elevator pitch ready, you might be tempted to ramble about everything from where you grew up to a laundry list of your favorite hobbies. After you learn how to create an elevator pitch, you’ll be able to give a poised answer that makes a lasting impression. You’ll impress interviewers and people who might be able to make invaluable connections throughout your job search and career.

When interviewing or speaking to someone from a specific company, tailor your elevator pitch for the job and company. Otherwise, you can use the same general elevator pitch whether you’re at Thanksgiving dinner or a crowded networking event.

How to create your elevator pitch:

Now that you know the benefits of having an elevator pitch, you’re ready to make your own using our elevator pitch examples. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting an effective elevator pitch that will make a strong impression.

Step 1: Include one sentence about your background: Start with a brief introduction that provides a snapshot of your professional background. This helps to establish context and gives the listener an idea of who you are.

Example: “I’m the editor-in-chief of the popular professional and personal development site, Elana Lyn.” 

Step 2: Mention a big accomplishment: Highlight a significant achievement that showcases your capabilities and sets you apart. This will grab attention and demonstrate your ability to deliver results. It’s beneficial to include metrics to show your accomplishments.

Example: “I am proud that more than 100,000 people read Elana Lyn each month.” 

Step 3: Highlight a few of your top skills: Mention two to three key skills relevant to the position or field you’re interested in. These skills should align with the job you are seeking and reflect your strengths.

Example: “I excel at writing, editing, and search engine optimization.”

Step 4: Share what you’re looking for in your career: Clearly state your career goals and what you’re looking for in your next role. This helps the listener understand your aspirations.

Example: “I am excited to continue strengthening my skills as an editor at [Company Name].”

Step 5: Explain the value you’ll provide to a company: End by explaining how you can add value to the company. This should summarize why they should be interested in you and what you bring to the table.

Example: “I’m confident that I can use my writing, editing, and content marketing skills to create engaging content and increase traffic.”

After combining all the elements, your elevator pitch would be:

“I’m the editor-in-chief of the popular professional and personal development site, Elana Lyn. I am proud that more than 100,000 people read Elana Lyn each month. I excel at writing, editing, and search engine optimization. I am excited to continue strengthening my skills as an editor at [Company Name]. I’m confident that I can use my writing, editing, and content marketing skills to create engaging content and increase traffic.”

• Keep it short. Aim for about 30-60 seconds, or around 150-250 words.
• Be clear and specific. Avoid jargon and be straightforward about your achievements and goals.
• Practice. Rehearse your pitch until you can deliver it confidently.
• Adapt. Be ready to tailor your pitch to different audiences.

The post How to Create an Elevator Pitch That Actually Gets Attention appeared first on Elana Lyn Gross.

“A career manifesto is essentially a guiding principle that you use throughout your professional life,” says Terra Brown, an Arkansas-based writer for Earn Spend Live, a personal finance and career advice site. “When it comes to being successful, both long and short term, a career manifesto helps you first by giving you your own personal take on what being successful means.”

Visualize your ideal career:

It’s time for some major self-reflection. “A career manifesto is a combination of your personal mission, purpose, vocation, and passion,” explains Kendra Davies, founder of the Orlando-based life coaching firm Stellar Life Coaching. “It is an intentional and clear vision about your career goals, what matters most to you, what you want your life to look like, and how you want to feel.”

So, before you get there, you need to decide what your vision looks like. Since a manifesto is more about values than practical benefits or job descriptions, ask yourself some key questions that you can answer no matter what field you’re in: What brings you joy, peace, and satisfaction at work? What makes you happiest? Working with others? Being in nature? Hitting deadlines? Having personal freedom?

After asking yourself those broad questions, you may begin to have a better picture of what you want to do. That’s one way your career manifesto can help you to manifest your ideal job.

Create your career mission statement:

“The main benefit—both short-term and long-term—of having a career manifesto is that it is much easier to create a roadmap for success once you have identified your destination,” says Christina Austin, founder of the New York City-based career coaching and branding firm ExecBrands LLC. And a great place to start is by writing a career mission statement.

Your personal career mission statement should take into account your passion, your values, your definition of success, and your unique talent. For example, your mission statement could be something like: “My mission is to write content that helps women feel more confident in their personal and professional lives.” In this case, your definition of success isn’t about making six figures or getting promoted to partner at a law firm. It’s about the value you provide through the work you do.

Find your five words:

While a mission statement can help you focus on your values and goals, you can boil that down even further to the five keywords that define your career aspirations, says Kate Gremillion, founder of New Orleans-based career consulting firm Mavenly + Co.

“My mission statement is to help women design a career and lifestyle with purpose,” says Gremillion. She also says a great exercise to help you form your career manifesto is to come up with five words that you want people to associate with you like clarity, purpose, connection, design, and thoughtfulness so you can make sure to embody them daily. Put a sticky note on your bathroom mirror and keep a list of those words on your desk so you have a daily reminder of your career manifesto.

Use it as a litmus test:

A career manifesto enables you to be intentional about your career says Angelina Darrisaw, founder of the New York City-based career coaching firm C-Suite Coach. But only if you use it. When you are presented with an opportunity, be sure to refer back to your career manifesto to make sure it aligns with your goals and values.

“A career manifesto will help remind you of individual career needs and get you unstuck when those opportunities come about,” says Darrisaw. “You don’t want to look back and be clueless as to why you made the decisions you did and why are you here. Move with intention and you won’t be in that position.”

The post How to Write a Career Manifesto for Your Future appeared first on Elana Lyn Gross.

But experiencing depression at work isn’t exactly remarkable, right? Better learn to suck it up and deal, right? Not exactly. There’s a definite difference between regular ol’ workplace stress—a big presentation, a client’s disapproval, a heavy workload—and actual depression.

When you experience persistent, troubling feelings that won’t go away no matter what you do, and those feelings interfere with all areas of your life, it’s important to get support. You’d hardly be alone. According to a Monster survey of 1,000 full-time and part-time employees in the United States, many employees have experienced depression (24%) and physical illness (12%) as a result of their job; 34% said their job negatively affects their mental health.

Depression can be debilitating, so it’s not surprising that it can impact your experiences at work. A survey by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) asked people which aspects of their jobs were affected by anxiety and depression. The results:

• workplace performance (56%)
• relationship with co-workers and peers (51%)
• quality of work (50%)
• relationships with superiors (43%)

Mental illness is one of the top causes of worker disability in the U.S., with 62% of missed workdays attributed to mental health conditions. Of people working with mental illness, 66% have been diagnosed with depression.

The last thing you need is for your job stability or your boss’s perception of you to suffer when you are suffering. So if you’re feeling like depression is affecting your work and hindering your relationships with co-workers, try these coping strategies.

Start by talking to a mental health professional:

A therapist can help you develop a treatment plan, such as weekly talk therapy or medicine. But even looking for someone to see can be a tough first step when depression at work already has you in its grips. In that instance, participating in your company’s employee assistance program (EAP), if there is one, can help.

An EAP is a confidential, employer-sponsored program to address mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, stress, emotional wellness, bereavement, grief and loss, substance abuse and addiction, family and relationship issues, and other personal concerns. Employees typically have access to three to six free sessions—where the clinician offers assessment, short-term problem resolution, and referrals to additional resources.

If your company doesn’t have an EAP, you can find lots of resources online. For example, the ADAA has a ”find help” section of its site, and the National Institute of Mental Health is another great source of information on workplace depression.

Talk to your boss or HR:

Even though so many people say depression interferes with work performance, few disclose it to their employer. People likely don’t speak up and ask for help because there is still a stigma around it. Mental health discrimination at work unfortunately discourages open dialogue. People may be worried that they will be viewed as incapable of doing their job and could be let go as a result of asking for help. But depending upon the severity of your symptoms, you may want to make certain people at work aware of your situation.

If you need to take a mental health day here or there, you can use a sick day or paid time off without providing a detailed explanation about your reason. However, if your condition is starting to interfere with your ability to do your job, consider speaking with your boss (who has more of an impact on your work responsibilities than HR). If your conversation with your boss does not yield any results, you can then turn to HR.

For example, if you’re working on a particularly difficult project that is causing you to feel anxious or depressed, you might want to let your manager know you need help so that he/she can delegate some of the responsibilities to your co-workers. You might say, “I want to deliver excellent results, but I’m feeling overwhelmed. It would be very helpful if I could work on this project with a few more people. Who on our team do you think could be a good fit?”

If you need to take a leave of absence or accommodations to your workspace, a simple statement like, “I have a medical condition that requires an extended leave,” or, “I have a medical condition that requires I work in an area with natural sunlight,” should suffice for HR or management. Note that you may need to provide additional documentation from a doctor or clinician.

Create coping mechanisms for dealing with depression at work:

Taking care of yourself and developing coping mechanisms can help you throughout the workday. A professional can help you develop specific strategies for your symptoms.

Take short breaks during the workday—go for a walk and cry if you feel the need, call a friend or family member, or simply take some time to yourself. It’s also important not to isolate yourself, which is something depression can compel you to do. Reach out to co-workers and make a concerted effort to be engaged, rather than closing yourself off.

Maintaining healthy habits such as eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, and spending time with friends and family. Try to make plans three to four nights a week—even if it’s something as simple as a quick phone call—so that you always have someone to talk to after a draining day. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions can make it especially challenging to get through even the normal routines of a workday, but a strong support system—at home and work—can help you push through the tough times.

The post How to Manage Depression and Stress at Work appeared first on Elana Lyn Gross.

Pros of Job Hopping:

Job Satisfaction:

One of the main benefits of switching jobs is finding one where you can learn, grow, and be happy. If you’re miserable at a job, should you stay for more than two years? Think about what you liked and disliked about the job and use it to guide your choices moving forward. Don’t choose a new job without proactively analyzing whether the job is right for you. This will increase your chances of job satisfaction and the likelihood that you’ll stay for at least two years. 

Increase your salary: 

Another benefit of switching jobs is that you may make more money. According to a recent study, the median pay raise for 2014 was 3%. According to research from Wharton management professor, Matthew Bidwell, hiring managers will pay 10% to 20% more to hire people with a proven track record. If you negotiate your offer effectively, you could make significantly more at another company. 

Move up the ladder faster: 

There are a lot of companies that only offer reviews and promotions once or twice a year. This doesn’t allow for fast upward mobility. One way to increase your title (and pay) is to get hired at a new company. If there isn’t room for growth at your current company, switching jobs may be the best way to learn new skills, take on more responsibility, become a manager and, ultimately, advance your career. 

Cons of Job Hopping:

Reputation to future employers:

If you have a history of job hopping, future employers may think you’ll likely leave quickly, if hired. They may not want to invest time and resources into training if they think you won’t stay for long. Use your interview as a time to show that you’ll be committed to the company. Ask questions and say statements such as, “I’m passionate about [the company’s] mission and the role and would want to stay for a long time. What would advancement and growth look like for this position?” You’ll probably be asked why you left previous positions and why you are looking to leave your current one. Tell a story and explain your reasoning.

Learn skills at a company:

If you like your job, you’re learning, and there is room for growth, why leave? According to a paper by Wharton management professor, Matthew Bidwell, it takes external hires two years to build relationships and learn how to be effective at the organization. Bidwell also notes “If you like where you are, stay there. Or at least understand how hard it can be to take your skills with you. You think you can go to another job and perform well, but it takes a long time to build up to the same effectiveness that you had in your previous organization. You need to know that your skills are often much less portable than you think.” Bidwell also found that external hires have lower performance evaluations and “There is a much greater risk of being let go during those first few years, mainly because they may not develop the necessary skills and thus will not perform as well as expected. Then, too, they might decide to leave voluntarily.”

In conclusion: 

Before deciding if you should leave a job before the two-year mark, consider the pros and cons of job hopping. If you’re happy and learning, it may be worthwhile to stay. Advocate for yourself and try to get a promotion and raise. If you’re miserable or there is no room for growth, it’s okay to leave. Make sure to evaluate the new role and company to increase the chances that you’ll stay.

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Strong work relationships are key to getting ahead at work. You will have people who want to help you succeed and will give you advice, pitch in when you are in a pinch, and advocate for you. Whether it is virtual or IRL, the workday goes by faster and is more fun when you like and respect the people you work with and have a good working relationship with them. 

Communicate clearly and concisely:

Strengthen remote work relationships by making sure all of your communication is clear and concise. When you are emailing, use a new and descriptive subject line when it is necessary and know who to address the email to and who should be cc’d. Make your emails as readable as possible by formatting them with shorter paragraphs, bullets, or numbered lists, and always have a clear call to action if you need something from someone. Reread your emails for typos and errors like spelling people’s names correctly, having the right dates and times, and attaching the right documents. When you reread the email, make sure that there is enough context for someone less familiar with the subject matter. Just because you are typing quickly over Slack or another instant messaging tool, it doesn’t mean the conversation can be very casual. Read the messages over before hitting send and make sure your communication has a professional tone. If you are in a more formal office that wouldn’t normally send GIF and emoji responses, for example, don’t start now. Before calls and video meetings, think about what you want to share and prepare a few talking points in advance so you sound more confident and composed. It will make it easier to be more eloquent and to avoid verbal crutches like “um,” “you know” and “like.”

Be proactive and anticipate people’s needs: 

One of the best ways to strengthen remote work relationships is to anticipate people’s needs in advance. Will someone want a summary of the next steps after a meeting? Is there a way you could make things more efficient for yourself or make a bigger impact on the team? Be on the lookout for problems you can solve for your team, your boss, and your co-workers. It could be as big as offering to lead a marketing campaign or as small as offering to proofread a friend’s presentation before the team Zoom meeting later that day.

Be considerate about when and how you communicate:

This is a difficult time and people are likely more stressed than usual and may be having trouble focusing — especially if they are a working parent. Although you normally might not start your emails by asking how someone is doing or saying that you hope that they and their families are doing well, this isn’t a normal time. If you are close to someone, ask how they are doing. Otherwise, let them know you care without prying by simply saying that you hope they are doing well. Take notes in a meeting and send them to your co-worker so she doesn’t have to be on the call when she is also watching two kids under two years old. 

Avoid sending emails on the weekends or late at night when people are with their families and trying not to think about work. Be cognizant of people’s time by sending one email at the start of the day with what you need to move forward and any questions you may have instead of sending ten to twenty emails or chats throughout the day. If you know someone is home with kids (because you keep seeing or hearing them in the background of your meetings) try to stick to emails and chats instead of calling. If you are scheduling a meeting or are in a thread about a group meeting, ask what works best for them. You could message them separately and offer to take notes during the meeting and send the notes along.

Plan virtual catch-ups with co-workers: 

You used to eat lunch with your friends from work, get coffee together to beat the afternoon slump, or simply sit next to each other and chat periodically throughout the day. Instead, nurture remote work relationships by, planning virtual lunch, coffee, or video chat catch-ups with your coworker friends. If something exciting happens like someone gets promoted or gets recognition for a great job, send an email or message to congratulate them. While this is a great way to get together with the co-workers you are close to, it isn’t the time to try to network one-on-one with co-workers you don’t know (even virtually) because they are likely dealing with a lot personally and professionally. Instead, strengthen remote work relationships by getting to know the people who go to any virtual happy hours, workshops, or events your company is hosting digitally. 

The post How to Strengthen Remote Work Relationships appeared first on Elana Lyn Gross.

Understand expectations:

Whenever you start a remote job, it is a good idea to meet with your boss to learn her expectations, what success looks like for your role, and to set tangible goals you can work toward. Your boss might not be used to checking in and providing feedback when she doesn’t see you face-to-face in the office. Be proactive and ask to set up a short weekly one-on-one meeting to see what you are doing well and what you can work on and to share your progress and goals. Similarly, before starting a new project or assignment, understand what your boss expects and when it is due, and ask any clarifying questions. 

Get to know your team: 

When you are in the office, it is easier to observe the workplace culture, how your team works, and the goals and objectives of the organization. It is also easier to get to know your coworkers, but you can still establish strong working relationships when you are all working from home. If you have a small team, send an email to each person to introduce yourself and say that you are excited to work with them. Normally, you’d sit next to a peer, go to lunch together, or chat before or after your meetings. Recreate that by asking a few people on the same level as you if they have time for a 10-minute phone call,  videoconference, or a “virtual lunch.” You’ll get a chance to learn more about how the team operates like how people communicate remotely – is it all through email, through Slack, or do people pick up the phone and call? – and you’ll have someone to turn to when you inevitably have questions.  

Impress your coworkers at your remote job: 

The best way to make a good first impression at a remote job is to impress people by doing a great job and being great to work with. The soft skills that will impress people the most in the “remote work world” are communication, time management, independence, and prioritization. Reread all your emails and chat messages before sending them to see if there are ways you can organize the information more clearly like by having lists, bullet points, and action items. Check in with your manager and people you work closely with more often than you might otherwise keep them aware of what you are working on and what you’ve finished, and ask if there is anything else you can help with. Better yet, if you see projects that need to be done or ways something can improve, offer to tackle them. Your coworkers will be impressed by your organization, dedication, and proactivity.

The post How to Start a Remote Job appeared first on Elana Lyn Gross.

Why You Should Track Your Work Accomplishments:

You’ll get more responsibility, higher-profile projects, and eventually a promotion and raise if you consistently make sure your boss and higher-ups know about your accomplishments. Instead of waiting until your annual review and reflecting on months of work, take note of your accomplishments regularly, share them, and write them down so you have a list handy when it is time for your annual review or you are up for a promotion.

You’ll feel more confident and happier at work if you are taking time to notice and celebrate your own accomplishments and you can look at your list as a pick-me-up if you are having a bad day or feel burnt out. 

How to Keep Track of Your Work Accomplishments:

Take a few minutes every Friday to write in your work journal and reflect on the past week and write down any compliments you got from coworkers or clients, the work you are especially proud of, and any metrics you hit like a certain amount of traffic, sales, or events you planned. When you want to make the case for a promotion or a lateral move within the company, or if you decide to start your job search, you’ll be grateful you’ve kept track of the metrics because they clearly show the impact you’ve made.

Additionally, keep a “wins” folder on your computer with proposals and projects you are especially proud of and a “wins” folder on Gmail or Outlook with positive emails you get from coworkers and clients. 

How to Share Your Work Accomplishments: 

Share “wins” with your boss in one-on-one meetings and with other coworkers in team meetings. If it was a team effort, explain how the team was able to accomplish the goal and mention the individual team members and the impact they made. You’ll showcase the team’s accomplishments and make your coworkers feel seen and appreciated. Of course, there will be times when you accomplish things independently, especially as you get further in your career. Make sure to own it!

When you have big work accomplishments like winning an award, getting a promotion, press, or an update like a new job, mention it on LinkedIn and social media to let your wider professional network and people in your field know. Create a list of former bosses and coworkers, mentors, and other people who have supported you throughout your career send them an individual email with any major updates like a promotion or job change, and use it as an opportunity to check in if you haven’t connected recently. 

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