Nine Things That Make You Unproductive At Work

You have eight hours a day, sometimes even nine, and you still cannot finish half of the tasks you need to get done. What is making you unproductive at work? Let us get to the nitty-gritty and nip in the bud the things that are hindering you from being a productive professional.

The absence of a to-do list. If you have a list of the things you need to accomplish in a day, you will be more focused. You will have a clearer direction for the rest of the day.

Emails, emails, emails. Checking your inbox every 10 minutes will make you an expert in sending emails and replying to messages fast. However, you will not be able to achieve anything else other than that. Designate a time when you will reply to emails, and stick to it. Resist the urge to reply to messages for the rest of the day.

Zero breaks. If you think that you will be able to accomplish more when you choose to stay at your desk the whole day, you’re mistaken. Regular breaks help you refuel and refocus, and they boost your efficiency.

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Are Salaries Really Negotiable?

When you receive a job offer and you’re offered a salary, do you feel that you deserve more? If so, do you negotiate for a higher salary? And what if you already feel satisfied with the salary given? Will you settle and accept the job offer, or can you still negotiate?

The biggest truth you need to know about salary is that it is negotiable, but only within a certain range. In fact, in most cases, the first amount that you will be offered is the lowest the company can give you. How can you make sure that you’re negotiating for the right amount? How can you set your salary expectations right?

Mid-level and executive positions are more negotiable than entry-level positions. This should bring you more confidence in knowing that you can discuss your salary and pitch for a higher value, given your skills and competencies. The higher the position, the more opportunity for you to negotiate.

There is a certain salary range that companies are wiling to work around.There is a low limit and a ceiling for a salary range. If you negotiate for a salary too low, the employer might think that you have very little idea about the position and that you may be less competent than how much they think you’re worth. On the other hand, negotiating for a salary that is too high might throw you out of the position you want to get.

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