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  • Multi-tasking – Challenge or Triumph?

    Multi-tasking – Challenge or Triumph?

    Do you know people who seem so productive that you ever wonder if they ever get to sleep at all? These people go to school on time and never miss a day, have a steady part-time job, are involved in volunteer projects every week, are active in sports activities, and have a full social calendar to boot. Do you ever wonder how they do it?

    Well, having no gaps in one’s daily schedule means productivity levels are off the scale. Multitasking is indeed a skill that is to be admired, but sometimes there is such a thing as taking on too much. As such, below are tips for multitasking so you can avoid a crash and burn.

    Make a things-to-do list.

    It may sound old-fashioned, but it is one trick that will never fail you. If you make a list of your things to do, it will give your mind more clarity and actually make you more prepared and ready to take on the tasks at hand. If you don’t want to write with a pen and paper, then go use your smartphone or tablet. You can even find apps that give alarm sounds when it’s actually time to do the task.

    Prioritize and sacrifice.

    There are times when you want to do it all, but you will come to realize that Time won’t allow you to do it all. During these times, learn to prioritize and sacrifice. For instance, you are expected to turn in a school assignment by end of the week, and you have not done anything yet because you’ve put in extra hours of work in your part-time job. Unfortunately, your friends are inviting you to go at a pool party for the weekend. What to do? In this case, prioritize and sacrifice. You don’t want to end up with a big fat zero for your assignment, so explain to your friends that you will be taking a rain check for the time being.

    Focus.

    There will come a time when one aspect of your life will need more attention than the others. For instance, if your mom will be having surgery on the weekend, and you’re the only family member who can be there for her while she recuperates, take the time to focus on giving her the care she needs. Focusing on this task means you are giving it 100 percent effort.

    Take your time.

    Multitasking does not mean you have the right to do things halfheartedly. If you feel you need more time to complete the school assignment, take more time to do it rather than forcing yourself to speed things up so that you can move on to the next task at hand. Always remember the saying “jack of all trades but master of none.” You certainly don’t want to be a master of none.

    Juggling multiple tasks at the same time may sound easy, but it does take a lot of skill and discipline. Always remember though that you are not a superhuman. Accept your strengths and weaknesses as they are and always do your best in every task that comes your way.

    SOURCES:

    http://lifestyle.allwomenstalk.com/tips-for-better-multitasking

    http://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/Dont-Maximize-Your-Multitasking-Opt

    http://99u.com/articles/7135/layering-multitasking-that-actually-works

  • Am I Employable Yet?

    Am I Employable Yet?

    Taking on a post-secondary degree is an important decision that many students make. However, though this education is challenging and eye-opening, sometimes it can be difficult to translate what you learn in class to the workforce. This is particularly true of many university undergraduate degrees, which, due to their strict academic and theoretical nature, often prepare students for careers in research and academia, but sometimes do not provide much information on how to apply their skills in other fields.

    Since post-secondary is such a grand investment, you should have at least a rough idea of what kind of work you’d like to get into once you graduate. It’s important to consider whether you are building up the skills that will be necessary to secure and maintain a job in that field. Unfortunately, good grades don’t always guarantee an easy job hunt.

    Here are some employability skills that are transferable to many work environments, and what you can do now to start developing them.

    Critical thinking. Problem-solving, open-mindedness, and mental flexibility are all part of this skill, and all of these things can come in handy in the workforce. Having an employee who can always see the other side of an issue, and analyze any problem down to its core, is an asset in fields from law to business to engineering.

    What can I do now? Read and evaluate academic papers, solve logic puzzles, and voice your opinion in classroom discussions.

    Organization and time management. In many cases, large projects in the workforce no longer come with a “late-penalty” safety mechanism. That said, staying organized and on top of things is key to actually accomplishing those tasks. Procrastination may have worked in undergrad, but it won’t fly for long; think about how embarrassing it would be for a company project to fall because you didn’t hand in your work on time.

    What can I do now? Categorize your notes and course materials, plan ahead for deadlines, and keep a to-do list.

    Perseverance. Good employees don’t give up after their first try—in fact, they often keep going, trying to find alternative solutions, after a number of small failures. By doing this, you’re showing the employer that the work matters enough to keep trying. This is important in the workforce because you are often faced with competing projects and difficult group dynamics, obstacles you must work to overcome.

    What can I do now? Evaluate yourself when you make mistakes, push yourself to complete extra credit, and speak to your professors and teaching assistants for advice.

    Improvisation. The power to think on your feet is an absolutely underestimated skill. Presentations aren’t always going to go the way you want, or you might discover information that may compromise the value of the project you’re working on. Go with it. Employers will be impressed if you are able to make the best of any situation.

    What can I do now? Challenge yourself by asking “what if” questions, engage in debates, and broaden your knowledge by learning concepts from different fields.