23 Things Not To Say To Your Coworkers

23 Things Not To Say To Your CoworkersIts important to get along with your coworkers. You dont have to be best friends, but you do have to make sure you dont alienate or offend anyone you never know when you might need a favor or a contact or a helping hand. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are 23 things you should absolutely avoid doing or saying at all costs. Keep your conversation non-contentious and keep your work life drama free.1. How much do you make?This is an awkward and unprofessional thing to ask. Even if your motives arent jealous and competitive, it puts everyone in an awkward position. If you really need to find out, there are probably other ways.2. Can I borrow some money?Okay, so you forgot your wallet in your car or in your other purse. Every once in a very little while its okay to ask someone to spot you, provided you pay them back the next day at the latest. But if youre often misplacing your wallet, dont be surpri sed if you never get invited out for lunches or happy hours anymore.3. HonestlyThis little word can do a surprising amount of damage. If you feel the need to say it, people might wonder why. Are you bedrngnis always speaking honestly?4. Did you hear about?Just dont gossip. It will only reflect badly on you in the long run. Especially if its a negative comment about a coworker. Keep your mouth shut and stay above the fray.5. Those pants look great on youCompliments are always nice, right? Just keep them neutral, and not based on someones appearance or physique. You never want to be accused of sexual harassment. Compliment someones earrings or briefcase instead.6. You people alwaysAny complaint that lumps people togetherbreastfeeding moms, religious people, political partiesis best never said out loud in the workplace. These kinds of comments can also get you in trouble for harassment.7. When are you due?If you havent explicitly been told by a woman that she is pregnant, dont mention itno matter how obvious you think it is. When she decides to share with you about her pregnancy, then (and only then) you can comment. This will save you from awkward moments when you make assumptions that dont turn out to be true.8. Im sorry to bother you.Why? If youre really sorry, you wont do whatever it is youre going to do. Chances are, you have nothing to be sorry about. Try Pardon me do you have a sec? instead.9. Im outta hereIf youre looking for another job, resist the temptation to ask your coworkers if they have any leads. At best, theyll start writing you off as all but gone. And at worst, theyll spill it to your boss.10. Look at this rash.Even if you think you have a fascinating medical problem, nobody at work really wants to be involved. It will probably just gross people out. Feel free to share if you have a headache, but not a boil or wart.11. I thinkDont preface everything with I think, particularly if you arent trying to express being unsure. If you know what youre talking about, go ahead and say it directly.12. Wow, I didnt think youd get thatWhether its a big project or promotion, youll win nothing expressing surprise that a coworker got chosen over you. The only acceptable answer here is Congratulations. Keep your shock to yourself.13. When Im in insert fancy vacation spotIf youre lucky enough to be taking trips to fancy places, try not to brag. While Im away is just fine for work purposes.14. Am I invited?Everyone is heading out to lunch and youre still at your desk. Chances are, you werent invited. Dont make things awkward. Give them a chance to ask you along, but if they dont, then dont make a scene.15. Hook upEven if youre just innocently asking someone if they want to grab coffee over the weekend or after work, dont use the words hook up. Get together will do just fine and spares you the weird sexual overtones.16. They wont miss theseYou pocket some goodies from the snack room to take home to your roommates. All well and good unless y ou get caughta fire-able offense. Never mind the fact that you shouldnt steal from work talking about it will only increase your chances of being caught.17. My boyfriend blah blah blahConstantly indulging personal details is not going to win you many work pals. Its okay to talk about this with your actual pals, but keep your mouth shut when unsure of the company. You dont want to be the TMI coworker voted mostly likely to overshare.18. She took all the credit for my ideaEven if its true, youll look like a sore loser if you say it out loud. Keep it to yourself, or address the credit-stealer individually in a more appropriate circumstance.19. Can I borrow your personal toiletry?No coworker is close enough to share deodorant. Just dont ask. If you need some, go buy it in your lunch break.20. Im suing.Dont make empty threats. If you have a legitimate grievance, talk to your lawyer about it, not your coworkers. Dont compromise your case by blabbing off.21. Your kid doesnt seemJust say no to ever making critical comments about your coworkers children. If you dont have something nice to say about them, keep your mouth shutor lose the popularity contest before youve even begun.22. Maybe you should join a gymUnless youve been asked directly for fitness or diet advice, dont broach this subject with anyone. Even if you think a bit of exercise could help them. They will almost always be hurt.23. When are you retiring anyway?Answer NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. Plus, its very unwise to make assumptions about a coworkers age.

Unconscious Bias Why We Need to Address It Now

Unconscious Bias Why We Need to Address It Now In 2012, Ellen Pao filed a gender discrimination suit against the venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers. In zu sich lawsuit, she alleged that the firm had terminated her abruptly in retaliation for an affair with a junior partner, as well as other behaviors for which she had been criticized and male colleagues had been praised. The suit shed light on already prevalent pervasive biases and gender discrimination throughout Silicon Valley, where men greatly outnumber women. In fact, just 11 percent of executive positions at Silicon Valley companies are held by women according to The Observer.Unconscious biases negatively impact diversity across nearly every industry, and can result in discrimination against certain races, ethnic groups, religions, sexual orientations, ages, and other minorities.What is unconscious bias?The two major types of biases are conscious and unconscious bias. While both types result in stereotypes abo ut and prejudices against a certain group or groups of people, conscious bias is, as it sounds, a belief that is explicit, meaning the individual is aware of her bias, while an unconscious bias is implicit, meaning the individuals belief is outside of her conscious awareness.Unconscious biases may beand often arein conflict with an individuals values and beliefs. Behavior that results from unconscious bias generally doesnt stem from a place of ill intent. Its something thats been bred in usyes, most, if not all of usover years of repeated exposure to certain phrases, social norms, media depictions, and other influences.Unfortunately, because we may be unaware of our stereotypes and prejudices, they can affect our actions and decisions in and out of the workplace. Unconscious biases can come into play in numerous business scenarios hiring decisions, promotions, meetings (in terms of to whom youre listening and with whom youre agreeing), and many other situations.What are the types of unconscious bias?There are many types of unconscious biases, which makes the issue all the more complex and difficult to overcome.Conformity bias leads an individual to replace her own opinion in favor of that of the larger group.Confirmation bias is the inclination to look for and focus on characteristics that confirm an individuals preconceptions.Affinity bias is based on the notion that we want to surround ourselves with people like us.Halo effect occurs when we focus on a particular positive fact about a person to the point at which we ignore other, potentially negative characteristics about her.Horns or hoof effect is the opposite of the halo effect We let one perceived negative attribute of a person cloud our judgement about the rest of her characteristics.How can we address unconscious bias in the workplace?Unconscious bias can affect everyone. From hiring practices to retention efforts toAs of late, some employers are attempting to tackle bias in the workplace head on. One method is unconscious bias training. While this training remains popular, theres some question as to its efficacy, because the practice seems to have little effect on increasing diversity in workplaces. In fact, the practice can even be harmful, since evidence demonstrating that people rely on stereotypes can perpetuate and normalize the very stereotypes organizations are trying to combat.However, if done well, unconscious bias training can have a positive effect on workplace culture. According to Joelle Emerson of Paradigm, striking a balance between avoiding being overly defensive about biasesexplaining that these behaviors dont occur because were bad peopleand communicating the importance of managing our biases is one key practice in training that can lead to a more inclusive workplace. In the Harvard Business Review, she also writes that structuring trainings around specific workplace behaviors, rather than more global research, and pairing theory with strategies for managing bi ases yielded stronger results at Paradigm.Another tool, the Implicit Association Test, helps reveal peoples implicit biases by measuring associations between concepts in their minds. The idea is that recognizing our own perceptions will better enable us to address them. Critics have voiced concerns about the test, arguing that the IAT isnt very reliable and doesnt present a strong enough link between unconscious bias and behavior. The test needs more research, but could raise awareness about the need for recognizing and addressing our behaviors.What next?Its clear that in order to address implicit biases and promote a culture of diversity an inclusion, employers need to prioritize identifying how these biases and behaviors are impacting their workplaces and help their employees understand and recognize how they influence their decision-making processes. Awareness is the first step to creating and embracing a new mindset.

Hiring Mistakes Employers Often Make - Spark Hire

Hiring Mistakes Employers Often Make - Spark HireIts true that as a hiring manager, it is easy to pick out the mistakes that the candidates you are interviewing make. After all, you are interviewing for fit, skills and general personality in the hiring process. You want to make sure you are hiring the right person and are on the look out for tell-tale signs that show you this candidate is not the right fit. However, as a hiring manager there are many mistakes that you can make as well. A while back we covered a couple of the reasons why job seekers dislike employers in the job search. In the interest of constantly improving and making our processes better though, lets expand upon that and look at some of the hiring mistakes employers often make.Evaluate Based on PersonalityTrue, you need to be interviewing job seekers to see if they fit in with your company culture, and part of that involves personality. However, as a hiring manager if you are evaluating job seekers solely on their personality you are missing out on a great pool of talent. As About.com states, its easy for employers to want to hire job seekers that are mostly like them. They figure theyll get along better with these candidates and work will be much smoother. Perhaps this is true, but in order for a company to thrive there needs to be diversity in opinions, thoughts and execution. A mora diverse company will likely succeed over a company that employs workers that all think alike. As a hiring manager, you need to look at the full package and that means looking beyond just personality.You Only Ask QuestionsYes, the bulk of the interview will be asking questions, evaluating the answers and conversing, but there should be more to your hiring process. As we discussed in the 4 ways to hire the best talent like Steve Jobs, taking your candidates on a walk to learn more about their personality can really help determine the best fit. Depending on the job, you may even want to have the candidates actuall y put their skills to work as part of your hiring process. For instance, I once interviewed for a PR writing position and the employer had me write up a press release onsite in 30 minutes. Theres no better way for employers to see that you have the skills to get the job done.That is why video interviews are such a great tool to use in the hiring process. You can ask the general interview questions in a one-way interview and weed out candidates from the get-go. Then when you have these job seekers actually come into the office for an in-person interview, you can spend time on more important things.Only Use an Applicant Tracking SystemResume tracking software can be really useful in the hiring process. It can find a bulk of job seekers that are on point with what you need by scanning resumes and cover letters for important keywords. However, if this is the only way you gather resumes to skim through you are probably missing out on prime talent. Use a resume tracking software in your h iring process, but sift through the resumes of job seekers on your own as well when you have the time. That way you can pick up on the talent you may be missing out on.IMAGE Courtesy of Flickr by doobybrain

How improv comedy training can help you succeed at the office

How improv comedy training can help you succeed at the officeHow improv comedy training can help you succeed at the officeImprov comedy has a lot of skills that can help you in your career and even in your personal life. It can teach and emphasize listening, supporting your gruppemates ideas, being comfortable with the uncomfortable and thinking on your feet. Ladders sat down with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theaters Chelsea Clarke to discuss.UCB teaches classes for people interested in becoming an improv performer as well as corporate workshops, which can begreat team building exercises. If youre interested in doing it yourself, check them out here.

Entry Level Cafeteria and Food Service Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Entry Level Cafeteria and Food Service Resume Template 2018s Top FormatEntry Level Cafeteria and Food Service Resume Template - 2018s Top FormatCafeteria and food tafelgeschirr entry level stttes can be found all over the US. However, the outlook for this field is brightest in California, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and Ohio, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The best way to break into this field is to prepare for the interview. A strong resume is a smart first step.Cafeteria and food tafelgeschirr employers need workers who are flexible and able to multitask. Many people start in this career without prior experience. Since this is a customer service job, personality and integrity are also important highlight work experience in similar fields or volunteer work that shows off these skills. If you have education or training in food preparation, you will stand out in this career.Use this cafeteria food service entry-level resume sample to help you konzeption your own winning d ocument. Create ResumeStanton Scott100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019Home (555) 322-7337Cell (555) 322-7337example-emailexample.comProfessional SummaryFood service worker with exceptional interpersonal skills. Reliable, punctual and works well under pressure. Crew Member offering a positive attitude and flexible. Works well independently or with others as a team. Dedicated food service worker proficient in customer service, food handling, preparation and Point of Sale (POS) transactions. Seeking restaurant lokalitt with opportunities for advancement in management. Outgoing line server/ food prep familiar with cash and food handling procedures. Possesses strong communication and time management skills.SkillsQuick learnerOrganized multi-taskerCustomer-orientedFriendly and helpfulFast and efficient service workerDedicated team playerCateringWork HistoryLine server, food prep. , 08/2009 to 02/2012Bon appetite 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland, ORConsistently provided friendly guest servic e and heartfelt hospitality.Demonstrated integrity and honesty while interacting with guests, team members and managers.Greeted customers and provided excellent customer service.Pleasantly and courteously interacted with customers.Maintained high standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations.Built loyal clientele through friendly interactions and consistent appreciation.Prepared specialty foods such as pizzas and sandwiches, following specific methods that required quick prep time.Verified that prepared food met all standards for quality and quantity.Prepared a variety of foods according to customers orders or supervisors instructions, following approved procedures.Handled currency and credit transactions quickly and accurately.Followed food safety procedures according to company policies and health and sanitation regulations.Prepared quality products while maintaining proper food safety practices, portion control and presentation within service goal times. Stored food in designated containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage or cross-contamination.Maintained clean and safe environment, including in the kitchen, bathrooms, building exterior, parking lot, dumpster and sidewalk.Reported to all shifts wearing a neat, clean and unwrinkled uniform.Performed all position responsibilities accurately and in a timely manner.EducationGED 2011Portland community college 2305 SE 82nd and Division, Portland, ORCustomize ResumeDo you want a resume just like this one? With a little help from Resume-Now, you can create a picture-perfect resume and watch the interview requests pour in. Our resume builder makes it easy to create a well-written resume in a matter of minutes. No matter your job title or experience level, youll get hired faster and earn the salary you deserveCafeteria Food Service Entry-Level Resume Questions1. Whats the best format for a resume PDF, MS Word, or txt?Normally, you want to use MS Word when you send in a resume. This for mat tends to be better because it is more compatible with Applicant Tracking System, a computer program used by many employers to analyze resumes. As you look at the cafeteria food service entry-level resume sample, its easy to see how much information a hiring manager or ATS system will have to search through, which is why using the right format is so important.Also, not everyone will have the program needed to open and read a PDF file, while almost everyone has MS Word. Txt usually wont work because your document will lose its design elements and can become hard to read.2. How do you write about your hobbies on your resume?Hobbies dont always belong on a resume. The cafeteria food service entry-level resume sample does not mention any type of hobbies. As an entry-level employee, you may not have a lot to put on your resume. You can include hobbies and interests if they relate to the food service job youre trying to get or if they provide insight into your positive personality trai ts. If you do decide that including hobbies is right for you, you should create a separate section for it on your resume. Remember to avoid including anything too religious or political.3. What is the best design for a cafeteria food service resume?Because you have little experience, you may want to add some flash to your document to make it stand out. However, most employers prefer substance over a flashy design. Keep your resume simple and put your most important details at the top of the document, as is dont in the cafeteria food service entry-level resume sample. As a first-time jobseeker, your education likely has more importance than your experience.4. What do you put on a cafeteria food service resume for your first job?If you have no professional experience, writing a resume may seem impossible. After all, one of the most important sections of a resume, the experience section, is going to be eerily empty on your document. Looking over the cafeteria food service entry-level r esume sample may help you figure out what to include on your own document. You can also turn to a resume builder to get step-by-step help crafting your first resume.As an inexperienced jobseeker, you may want to focus on your skills, interests, and education rather than your experience. You can include a professional summary that explains what you hope to achieve in this new position. You can also include volunteer experience and menial jobs in the experience section.5. How do you list references on a cafeteria food service resume?As you look over the cafeteria food service entry-level resume sample, you may notice that there is no mention of references on the document. Typically, you dont have to include this information on your resume. Most employers will ask for a separate reference list if they want one.However, that doesnt mean you always have to omit references. If you have an impressive reference, like the director of a cafeteria, it may help set you apart from your peers. Ma ke sure you warn any references they may be getting contacted by a potential employer if you choose to include this information.How to Write a Cafeteria and Food Service Resume1. List your accomplishmentsTake a piece of scratch paper. Make a list of your achievements.2. View Cafeteria and Food Service resume samples to get startedChoose from our extensive assortment of resume samples to find one that helps you craft your own.3. Craft a compelling header at the top of your Cafeteria and Food Service resumeYour header should include your name, phone number, email address, and personal website (if you have one). Make it professional, but attractive.4. Create a compelling summary ansichtCompose a summary statement that showcases your skills, accomplishments, and your overall professional character. Make sure that it aligns with the needs expressed in the job description.5. Include your skills in a qualifications or areas of expertise sectionRead the Cafeteria and Food Service job descri ption carefully. Note the preferred and required skills. If you have any of the appointed abilities, include them in this section.6. Spell out your experience in a work history section on your job title resumeInclude your relevant past jobs. Provide the company names, your dates of employment, and your title.7. Go deeper into your Cafeteria and Food Service work historyIn bullet point form, detail your duties and achievements, at each job. Use the list you made in step one as a guide. Make sure your points are applicable to the job description.8. Add an education sectionCover the highest degree you earned, where you obtained it, and what year you finished (or will finish).More Food and Beverage Resume Templates

The Costanza opposite strategy to win friends, influence people

The Costanza opposite strategy to win friends, influence peopleThe Costanza opposite strategy to win friends, influence peopleDuring one of the most famous episodes (The Opposite) of the TV show Seinfeld, loveless and unemployable character, George Costanza decides to stop following his instincts and do the opposite of what hes always done.George My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to eat Its often wrong.Jerry If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.Seinfeld, The Opposite (1994)This light switch moment meant that Costanza would be honest, confront his fears and go after what he wants in life.Heres a clip of George Costanza doing the opposite of what he would do.George Costanza The Opposite from SeinfeldClearly, this is a sitcom and not real life, but, there are valuable life lessons we can learn from Costanzas opposite strategy.A few year s ago, I did the exact saatkorn thing in a different context and it completely changed my life.Heres how How doing the opposite could help you win friends and influence peopleIt welches a typical afternoon lunch break. Id leave my desk at 1 p.m. and walk across the road from my office to the local food cafe.2 minutes later Id handpick a sandwich - typically a chicken and lettuce baguette - a packet of crisps and green smoothie.Then, Id join the queue waiting for the cashier to take my payment. When my turn to pay came around, I would hand over the food items to the cashier, whip out my card to pay and walk back to the office with my lunch.I didnt think. I didnt talk. I wasnt aware of my surroundings, the names of the cashiers and so on.It was a daily mindless routine that repeated itself for several months.One day, whilst mindlessly standing on the queue to pay for my lunch, one of the customers got into an argument with one of the cashiers.From what I could see, the cashier had c harged the customer the wrong amount of money by mistake.But, the customer wasnt in the mode for forgiveness.The customer shouted at the cashier, threatened to call his manager and told him that shed never come back to the cafe again.Towards the end of this fiasco, the customer stormed outside the cafe and the cashier stood frozen, with a look as if he was about to burst into tears.For the first time in many months of visiting this cafe on a daily basis, I finally snapped out of my zombie state.In my mind at the time, I had two options to pick from.Option 1 Do what I usually do. Give the cashier my food, pay for food and exit fast. No time for chit-chat or friendly eye contact.Option 2 Do the opposite. Instead of rushing away with my food, I could speak to the cashier to cheer him up, check up on him and give him a tip.In case youre wondering, I went with Option 2.I spoke to the cashier- lets call him Jose- and talked briefly about what had happened, where he was from and so on.Noth ing too special in my eyes, just showing genuine interest and getting to know him as a person.Before I knew it, the other cashiers abfluged to join the conversation, laugh and smile again.It seemed like my decision to do the opposite of what I usually did, helped to bring back a positive mood in the cafe.After saying my goodbyes to the staff at the cafe, the senior manager of the cashiers turned around and said to me something along these linesI always see you around here, but you never said hi until now. But, thats normal I guess in this city. Everyones always in a rush and they never take the time to get to know the people who serve them. Youre the first customer whos shown a genuine interest in getting to know the team in a while. Thank you, have a nice day and please come back soon.I thanked the manager and walked outside the cafe with a beaming smile. It had been a while since I felt so happy about my life.For the rest of the week, I would speak to, laugh with and get to know t he workers who I never noticed but served me on a daily basis.These were the bus drivers, the cleaners, cashiers, receptionists, security guards and so on, I lived the opposite all the way through.By the end of the first week, I knew their names by heart. I knew their dreams and passions, the names of their children, their hobbies and plans for the future.I was no longer a stranger to them, I became their friend.After a couple of weeks, these friends would show up for me in times of need or crisis.Remember Jose, the cashier who got shouted at? Jose became the senior manager of the local cafe that I visited on a daily basis.Coincidentally, I already started to develop a friendship with Jose from the very first day I tried to do the opposite.On the days I forgot to bring cash to pay for food, Jose would insist on paying for me.On more than a handful of occasions, hed even prepare a free lunch for me and let me skip the queue on very busy days.And thats only Jose.Ive had some of my fri ends who are bus drivers and security guards, let me on the bus for a free ride whenever I lost my bus pass or skip the queue for free entry into special events.Over time I built this habit of doing the opposite and being friendly with the staff of any venue I go to, and it paid off.I would get free invites to exclusive events, opportunities for geschftsleben partnerships, discounts at restaurants and so on.I never asked for anything in return, but they all insisted on giving me something in return for showing a genuine interest in them.Some people call this the law of reciprocity, and others may say I learned these secrets from Dale Carnegies book, How to Win Friends and Influence People (Audiobook).But, I believe that the reason is simple I treated them in a different way than everyone else they had encountered on a daily basis.In other words, I did the opposite, just like George Costanza in the Seinfeld episode The Opposite, and you can do the same thing too.Your life in opposite sThe definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.Albert EinsteinWhat would your life look like if you did the opposite of what you would normally do, or what everyone else seems to be doing?Instead of letting fear of failure or rejection hold you back from progress, what if you took a chance to build that dream relationship, ask your boss for a pay rise, travel to another country, start a blog, start a company and so on?If your life hasnt been working out the way you want it to, it wont cost you much to try the opposite as an experiment for a couple of weeks.You wouldnt be reading this right now, if I hadnt taken a chance to do the opposite and launch this platform.My preference would have been to remain anonymous and keep my ideas in my private journal. But, I chose the opposite and you can do the same today.When in doubt, just remember the words of Jerry from the Seinfeld episode If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.Mayo Oshin writes atMayoOshin.com, where he shares practical self-improvement ideas and proven science for better health, productivity and creativity.To get practical ideas on how to stop procrastinating and build healthy habits, you can join his free weekly newsletterhere.A version of thisarticleoriginally appeared atmayooshin.comas The Costanza Opposite Strategy to Win Friends and Influence People.

3 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting a Raise for 2019

3 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting a Raise for 20193 Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting a Raise for 2019 We all want to make more money at work , and the start of a new year often coincides with a boost in income. That said, raises are by no means guaranteed, and just because your friends and peers might be getting an increase doesnt mean you should automatically expect the same. If you really want to score a raise for 2019, here are some steps you should take.You might think that asking for a raise would lower your chances of getting one, since youll risk coming off as too bold or greedy. But actually, 70 percent of workers who request more money are successful to some degree. Just as importantly, 39 percent of those who ask for raises get the exact boost theyre looking for, which is why it pays to not just state that youd like more money, but rather, give your anfhrer a hard figure to work with.That said, you dont want to put off the raise discussio n much longer, because the closer you get to the end of the year, the more likely itll be that your company will have mapped out its 2019 budget. And if theres no room in that budget for the number youre asking for, you might get denied on the basis of bad timing.Maybe you have an idea of what most people in your industry make. But wouldnt it be better to have precise figures? The more salary data you dig up and present to your manager when asking for a raise, the stronger a case youll ultimately build. There are dozens of sites you can use to access this information, such as Glassdoor, which has a Know Your Worth tool that lets you research salary data by industry, job title, geographic location & more.That last point is important, because while sites like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics might give you salary averages on a national level, it pays to get more granular when making the case for a raise. After all, if you live in New York City and have the same job title as someo ne in rural Georgia, your salary should be higher by virtue of the higher cost of living youre exposed to. Therefore, be aya to find research that accounts for geographic differences when making your case.Just because the average person in your area with your job description makes $60,000 doesnt mean you deserve to be earning that much. If you really want to sway your boss to give you a boost, earn it. Take a class to improve your skills, volunteer for a new project that no one else seems to want to own or push yourself to finish up a major task you know your manager has been waiting on. Its one thing to tell your boss youll do an even better job in 2019, but its another thing to take steps today to prove that youll be able to make good on that promise.A raise wont necessarily just land in your lap. If you want your earnings to increase in the new year, youll need to be proactive in making that happen - even if it means working harder and stepping outside of your comfort zone.Thi s article was originally published on The Motley Fool . It is reprinted with permission.