Employee Benefits and Health Care Reform Resources

Employee Benefits and Health Care Reform ResourcesEmployee Benefits and Health Care Reform Resources

Interview Tips for UX Designers

Interview Tips for UX DesignersInterview Tips for UX DesignersThe shortage of creative talent with interactive expertise is generating considerable demand for digital talent, especially user experience (UX) designers. Skilled UX designers often receive multiple job offers, and hiring managers are moving quickly to secure the best full-time and freelance candidates.To help enaya your best shot at the UX designer job you want, take note of these six interview tips for aspiring UX designers1. Expect the process to move quicklyBecause hiring managers are looking to fill UX designer roles at a rapid pace, you could be called for an interview fast. Be prepared not only for the first interview but also for the second to happen within a short time frame. Know what to expect from a second interview, and make koranvers you brush up on interview tips even before you submit your resume.2. Understand the scope of the UX designer jobHuman resources professionals who arent familiar with the nuances of your field may blur the lines between UX design and visual design. During the interview, be sure to clarify the responsibilities of the role and find out whether other team members - full time or freelance - will tackle related tasks. Make it clear whether you are a generalist who can handle everything from wireframes to user testing to visual design or if you have a more specialized skill set.3. Focus on process and results in your portfolioNo list of interview tips would be complete without mentioning your portfolio. Use it to share the process behind your work and explain why you made key decisions. Keep in mind that employers are looking for results-oriented employees. Provide any quantifiable information about each projects success in terms of audience engagement and client satisfaction.4. Let your soft skills shineCandidates for UX designer roles need to come to the table with solid technical skills. But dont be surprised to find hiring managers are also focused on build ing a great creative team thats adept at client communication, as well as communicating with other members of the team. Be sure to demonstrate that you have good communication, organization and time-management skills - and a collaborative attitude. You should be able to work alone as well as part of a team.5. Determine your salary rangeOf all our interview tips, be sure you remember this one Dont bring up compensation until the hiring manager does, but be prepared to talk money early on. A survey by Robert Half suggests employers are now more open to discussing salary early in the hiring process than they were in the past. According to The Creative Group 2019 Salary Guide, the midpoint salary for UX designers is $93,500. (You can use our Salary Calculator to find out what a UX designer can earn in your city.)GET THE SALARY GUIDE6. Get the inside scoopAspiring UX designers should also consider working with a specialized creative staffing agency. Recruiters who focus on the creative industry may have leads on jobs that arent even advertised. Specialized recruiters also have deep knowledge of the companies youre targeting and can offer interview tips and help you negotiate salary.Remember, even though UX designers are in high demand, you need to be prepared to demonstrate that youre the right candidate for the role. When interviewing, show that you can do the job, that you want the job and that youll fit in.UX designers are in strong demand across the United States. Check out a sampling of our open UX designer positions in these hot citiesUX designer jobs in Austin, TXUX designer jobs in New YorkUX designer jobs in San FranciscoUX designer jobs in Washington, D.C.This post has been updated to reflect more current information.

6 advantages Millennials have in the workplace

6 advantages Millennials have in the workplace6 advantages Millennials have in the workplaceFor being thelargest generationof working people in the United States, millennials get a lot of flack for being seeminglylazy and entitledin the office. While we could go on for hours telling you how that is simply not true, wed rather spend our time telling you how millennials actuallybenefitthe workplace. Here are six advantages millennials have in their careers - and how they help their companies run more smoothly.1. Were tech-savvyIts no surprise that millennials are thelargesttech-savvy generation in the workforce. Were used to adapting quickly to different forms of tech and computer systems. In a study conducted by Adobe,81 percentof survey participants said that state-of-the-art technology was paramount to an ideal working environment, and because were comfortable with tech, were more likely to work efficiently alongside technology - especially mobile.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more2. Were socialMillennials aredigital natives, meaning that theyve practically grown up with the rise of social media. As companies evolve to have a more online presence, millennials are already waiting on the other side of the schliff line, ready to use our social media expertise in the workplace.3. Were greenIn a 2017 Deloitte survey,59 percentof millennials said they felt accountable for protecting the environment. In another survey conducted by Cone Communications, a whopping83 percentof millennials claimed to prefer companies that allowed them to contribute to environmental issues. Since we prioritize green living, our workplaces are more likely to reflect it, too.4. Were educatedAside from making up the largest generation in the workforce, millennials also are themost educatedof all currently-employed generations. In particular, were most educated in history and in social i ssues (among tech, obviously), which means that were likely to be more socially and ethically aware in the workplace.5. Were non-traditionalAs a working group, millennials deviate from tradition in the workplace in that we aretransparentabout our salaries andmore likelyto ask for a raise than other generations. Were also more likely toseek mentorshipgenuinely and closely compared to older generations. And were redefining the workday by deviating from the previously-common9-to-5 career trackand replacing it withmore freelance work.6. Were brand-drivenEighty-six percentof millennial participants in a PricewaterhouseCoopers study reported that theyd consider leaving a company if its brand wasnt aligned with their own personal values and goals or if its brands reputation was compromised. In a Cone Communications survey,70 percentof millennials said that they invest more time and money engaging with brands they personally care about.This article first appeared on Swirled.

What to Do if You Cant Find a Job

What to Do if You Cant Find a JobWhat to Do if You Cant Find a JobYouve been sending out applications, building your network, cultivating an impressive online presence and everything else youve heard you should do in a job search, but what if you still cant find a job? That can be a terrifying spot to be in but dont panic. Here are five steps you can take if your job search isnt producing results.1. Temp. Temp agencies arent the reliable solution to being out of work that they used to be when the economy was better, but theyre still an option worth exploring. Your chances of getting temp work go up if you have open availability and are willing to do a wide range of work, so try to be as flexible with temp agencies as possible. If you get those first few jobs, you can demonstrate that youll show up reliably and cheerfully, which will make you more likely to start getting regular calls. Temping will, at a minimum, give you a paycheck and something to put on yourrsum, but it can also build connections thatcan help you find job leads down the road. Some temp roles are even temp-to-perm, which can give you an inside track on a more permanent position.2. Volunteer. Volunteering can keep your skills up-to-date, give you recent work to put on yourrsumwhere you mightotherwise have a period of no activity, expose you to new fields and expand your contacts. It can also give you early leads on upcoming openings and build your network of people who are able to vouch for your work. Volunteering can also be a great way to build a track record in a new area. For instance, if you want to do Web design but dont have any work experience in that area, you might find a small nonprofit that would welcome your skills allowing you to build your portfolio and point to real-life projects in interviews. (In general, if youre interested in substantive work, youll have more luck if you reach out to smaller organizations. These organizations usually have greater needs for volunteers a nd are more willing to take a chance on someone who might be untested.) Of course, its important to remember that volunteering isnt a guarantee of anything more, and you shouldnt volunteer if youll be upset that it doesnt lead to paid work. But if youre willing to put in the time because you support the organization where youre working, it can be rewarding in multiple ways.3. Revamp yourrsum.If youre not getting interviews, theres a good chance that your application materials are part of the problem and if youre like most job-seekers, revamping yourrsumcould make an enormous difference. Most jobcandidatesrsums simply list their job duties at each job theyve held (like maintained website or managed accountsreceivable). That only tells the hiring manager what your job description was it doesnt reveal what hiring managers care most about, which is how you performed at those jobs. Try revising yourrsumto focus on what you achieved at each job (such as increased Web traffic by 30 perce nt over 12 months or built reputation for working successfully with previously unhappy clients). 4. Revamp your titelblatt letter. If your deckblatt letter mainly summarizes the information in yourrsum, its not doing its job. Yourcover letter should add something new to your application about why youd be great at the job, not just summarize your employment history. Heres a trick Write your cover letter as if you were writing to a friend about why youd be great for the position. By adding some personality (and staying away from summarizing your work history), youre likely to grab an employers attention and get more interviews. 5. Apply for fewer openings, but spend more time customizing your application. When youre feeling desperate, its a natural impulse to apply for everything you can find. But while this sounds counterintuitive, you might actually be lowering your chances by doing that. Your chances of getting called for an interview go up significantly if you take the time to cus tomize your cover letter for each opening you apply for. But you cant write 15 truly customized cover letters a day which means that if youre applying for hundreds of jobs a month, youre sending applications that are overly generic. Try applying for fewer jobs and putting more time into your application for each, and see if you dont see a difference.Alison Greenwrites the popularAsk a Manager blog, where she dispenses advice on career, job search and management issues. Shes the author of How to Get a Job Secrets of a Hiring Manager, co-author of Managing to Change the World The Nonprofit Managers Guide to Getting Results and the former chief of staff of a successful nonprofit organization, where she oversaw day-to-day staff management.

When Is It Okay to Say #8216;No#8217; at Work

When Is It Okay to Say 8216No8217 at Work When Is It Okay to Say 8216No8217 at Work In todays installment of my column, Im going to tackle a question Recruiter.com hastouched on beforeWhen, if ever, is it okay to say no at work?This situation comes up in many different flavorsfor employees working for a company or corporationfor managers answeringtheiremployees requestsand for geschftliches miteinander owners answering to their clientsAlthough theabovelist is not exhaustive, it does give you the idea that regardless of what role you play inanorganization be it employee, manager, or owner you will always have someone that you need to answer to. And sometimes, that answer is going to be no. Were always worried about saying no at work, but its never the answer that gets us into trouble its how and why we give that answer that does us in. The great news about this is that we can always control the how, and sometimes even the why.The key is to be very clear about your overall goals and long-term plans. If the current situation does not support your overall goals or long-term plans,than it should be a candidate for one of the Four Ds delegation, deletion, delaying, or diminishing.Its Okay to Say No at Work When Youve Done These Things1.Co-created a professional business commitment plan with your manager.This is a documented that clearly states your career goals, your current roles and responsibilities, and your SMART goals that support your business commitment goals.2)Co-created an individual development plan with your manager.This document states your career path and career goals. It lists the skills that you need to develop and the things to need to accomplish toreach the next level of your career.3)Understood your managers business commitment plans and how your current role and responsibilities support both his and yourprofessional business commitment plans.Once you have done the above, you can intelligently decide if anyrequest in front of you supports the previously agreed upon road map. If the request doesnt match your goals, then you can work with your manager to find another solution (i.e., modify the request so that it does fit your goals delegate the taskto someone into whose professional business commitment planit does fitdetermine if the essence of the goal can be accomplished by some other means).The bottom line is to work with your manager or whomever it is you are answering to in order to find an alternative way to accomplish the essence of the goal if not the exact task itself.For more information on everything discussed here, including the Four Ds and professional business commitment plans, why dont we schedule an appointment, where I get to know more about your unique situation? I will be happy to make recommendations on what your best steps are moving forward.ContactLauraRoseRoseCoaching.info.

Why Everybody Is Dead Wrong Regarding Xfinity Smart Resume

Why Everybody Is Dead Wrong Regarding Xfinity Smart Resume Xfinity Smart Resume - What Is It? It was a move that has drastically altered the conversation around the way the internet can and ought to be regulated, and were only beginning to see the way that it will impact the industry as a whole. Today, a great deal of hiring managers utilize software tools to weed out resumes which dont fit a specific job vacancy. In spite of the ideal product on earth, your company is doomed to fail if nobody knows about it. For more on the best way to monitor your score, take a look at ourbusiness credit score guide.The variety of software devoted to writers is impressive. Every writer has unique requirements and desires. Its a succinct introduction, maybe not your whole history and so do not try to pay everything. Folks can use the resume examples to learn to create an overview of qualifications, and an individual paragraph that focuses on experience highlights. Most cable companies bund le internet with phone and television, though you can untether them. Not to mention how each streaming service lacks an important part of networks since theyre owned by companies competing against one another, but thats besides the point. The TVs are easy to set up and operate. Apps for writers have a tendency to be less costly than other types of software. To do that, they likely desire a companion mobile app to go together with their desktop computer software. This unfortunately suggests that theres little we can do to fix this feature if its not working correctly. Whether this feature is completely added to the X1 UI then we are going to be able to aid at that time if it doesnt function as designed. The War Against Xfinity Smart Resume I believe the main thing you can do in order to improve your probability of getting your resume read is it is tailored to job youre applying for and demonstrate how youll satisfy their need. Theres no doubt a good resume can generate enough interest to help you receive an interview. In case you will submit application to several companies, you should customize your resume for each firm by merely adding or removing details to create the full piece more pleasing. Each time I moved to a brand-new location, I managed to self-install just fine without the demand for somebody to appear and install it for me. Target important things the hiring manager is searching for in your very first paragraph and how youll meet them. The truth is that hiring managers search for certain patterns, and you are going to be better off if you take advantage of an organizational pattern thats both logical and simple to read. It is critical to summarize the variety of years that youve been practicing your profession and include it in the resume. Both can cause you to get exceptional but only one can allow you to land work. You should know which bit of malware has infected your laptop so you can look for removal instructions. Youll certain ly stand out if yours directly meets their requirements and fits what theyre looking for. A lot of people utilize a rescue disk like the ones from Comodo and Kaspersky. The following examples you will find in regards to resumes are the ones that request standard info, such as private information that includes your address and social security info. Your resume cover letter should be clicked professionally. If you do a resume example search, you can also find cover letter examples also. You should simply select the one which you should use and then use your resume example in order to make the ideal letter for your resume. You dont need to put anything in the topic box, but it might help when viewing and sorting email. The Upside to Xfinity Smart Resume Were sure theyll be distinctive and effective for todays smart homeowners. Lesson Summary Customer service is a succession of activities designed to boost the degree of customer satisfaction. The better you know your clients, t he simpler it is to contact them with a prospective offer. Most businesses decide to choose in-direct engagement such as FAQs.

5 Things a Candidate#8217;s Salary History Reveals about Their Personality

5 Things a Candidate8217s Salary History Reveals about Their Personality Two of the main reasonsfor asking for a candidates previous salary are to help you with your starting salary negotiation and to determine the size and scope of their role within their former/present organization. However, there is much mora information to be gleanedfrom a candidatessalary background if you can manage to get a clear salary history i.e., how their salary has progressed over the last 5-10 years of their career. This may be easier said than done, but if you can get the information, it can provide you with some useful insights into the candidates personality. I have outlined five such key insights that a candidates salary history can reveal about their personality. 1. Their Attitude toward RiskWhen gathering salary history, look at at a candidatessalary/bonus ratio. Is it 95/5, 80/20, or even 70/30? Clearly, the higher the ratio between salary and bonus e.g., 191 vs 41 or 73 the more risk-averse this candidate may be. This could suggest that they dont like taking risks and/or are leid that confident in their ability to deliver in a pay-for-performance environment.2. Willingness to Accept More Responsibility without an Immediate Pay RaiseNow, I am notsuggesting that people should be prepared to work at a less-than-fair wage. However, it shows a positive attitude, ambition, and an appreciation of the loss-leading strategy (for future gain) if a candidate can show periods in their career where they have accepted increased responsibility for a period of time even though they didnt get an immediate pay rise, either to help out, get more experience, or get ahead.3. Patient, Mildly Ambitious, and LoyalIf a candidates salary has shown steady but above-inflation salary growth of about 3-7 percentper year, then this indicates that you may be dealing with a reliable, patient sort of person with aver age levels of drive and ambition who is prepared to wait a reasonable amount of time for progression opportunities. There is a good chance of this type being a loyal, long-term worker.4. Impatient, Driven, High PotentialIf you are looking at a candidate whose salary growth has been anything from 10-30 percenta year, you are looking at a high-potential, highly driven individual. If you are not able to provide an environment which meets this individuals needs for sharp career progression and personal growth, this candidate may quickly becomebored and dissatisfied and look elsewhere for higher-paying, more challenging opportunities.5. DisengagedIf you are looking at a candidate whose salary has declined, with some sharp, continued, double-digit drops,this candidate could be disengaged and burned out. As a result, they may havestopped learning and developing, making them a less attractive candidate to employers. Of course, this career downshift may be a lifestyle choice, calculated to b ring better all-around balance to their life, but youd need to check this.Apersons salary history is onlyan indication of the type of character they may possess, and its vital that any deductions arising from it are considered alongside a range of assessment factors in the hiring process.

This is where underage kids are most likely buying their tobacco

This is where underage kids are most likely buying their tobaccoThis is where underage kids are most likely buying their tobaccoTheres always that one store in the neighborhood that will sell to underage patrons, but when it comes to tobacco, its coming from places that arent necessarily thought to.More and mora young people are able to get their hands on tobacco because certain shops - primarily smaller, heavily-advertised tobacco shops - arent carding them for a pack of smokes, according to new research.The study, which was published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, sent researchers between ages 20 and 21 to different shops that sold tobacco in Columbus, OH that had yet to implement new laws prohibiting sales to patrons under 21. Although some cashiers asked for identification, more than half didnt bother, according to the study.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreMo re than 60% of cashiers didnt ask for identification, and the study said that it happened mostly at smaller stores like tobacco shops and others plastered with ads promoting tobacco.Our findings suggest that certain types of stores - tobacco shops, convenience stores and those with a lot of tobacco advertising - are more likely to sell tobacco to a young person without checking his or her ID, said researcher Megan Roberts in a statement. One implication of this finding is that enforcement may benefit from targeted outreach and monitoring at ansicht locations.Under Columbus law, retailers are supposed to ID anyone who appears under 30. Researchers said it wasnt a shock to see these smaller-type stores looking the other way on the law, as they had a product to sell.It makes sense, if you think about it, that people who are plastering their windows with tobacco ads probably are trying to make a lot of money off those products and may be more likely to look the other way when selling to a young adult, added Niru Murali.

Six ways successful people stay calm in a crisis

Six ways successful people stay calm in a crisisSix ways successful people stay calm in a crisisIt happens to the best of us. Things go off the railsat work,you witness someone on yur team verbally explode because something isnt working out in their favor, or after too much frustration, you have a meltdown of your own.But before things go too far, heres how to stay calm on days like these.Dont lose itLosing your temper couldwreck your career. You risk losing the standing youve attained so far It tells your managers that you cant be trusted with responsibility, and it tells your peers that you dont have a handle on your own life. Plus, freaking out could make everything worse- not only for you, but also for your coworkers. When theres a crisis, everyone needs to focus on the underlying problem and row in the same direction to fix it - not cater to your mood.The hardest consequence Even if youre calm 99% of the time, people will always remember your one moment of losing control and i t will erase most of your goodwill with them. The person yelling in the office may make some people afraid, but it will also always earn a measure of contempt.So when you get wound up, acknowledge your emotion to yourself - I am upset right now, and I have every right to be - to get it out of the way and stop struggling with yourself. Then step back and think of your future, not just the present moment.One key thing that many wise people teach students of meditation if youre reacting to everything, you will get stuck in your life because you cant handle moving forward. If a simple challenge brings you to the brink of crying and fury, how do you plan to handle the larger challenges that go along with success? Start training yourself to meet challenges with aplomb instead of a tornado of emotion, and soon youll be moving forward to bigger and better opportunities.Donttry to take on others emotionsEmotions are as viral as illnesses. When we sit next to a happy person, were happy. Whe n we sit next to a drama queen, were tossed around in the chaos too. Handling our own emotions in addition to other peoples is too much of a heavy lift for most people, especially at work.While showing empathy and putting yourself in their shoes can help you put things into perspective and understand another point of view, assuming someone elses emotional burdencan hurt your productivity. It can be hard to set those boundaries, but its necessary we absorb each others feelings.Very often, when someone is upset about a work matter, there can be a tendency to want to cater to their distress. The best advice dont try to intervene if someone is lashing out while youre around. Its not your responsibility to fix someone elses emotional state - and in fact, it can do harm. Dont shrink from their anger, or cater to their ups and downs. If youre in the same workplace, it means theyre just like you grown adults who should be trusted to manage their own emotions and be in charge of their own l ives.Judith Orloff, M.D., provides strategies for getting away from others bad emotions from her book, Emotional Freedom Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life,in a HuffPost article.First, ask yourself Is the feeling mine or someone elses? It could be both. If the emotion such as fear or anger is yours, gently confront whats causing it on your own or with professional help. If not, try to pinpoint the obvious generator. For instance, if youve just watched a comedy, yet you came home from the movie theater feeling blue, you may have incorporated the depression of the people sitting beside you in close proximity, energy fields overlap. The same is true with going to a mall or packed concert, Orloff writes.Remember, its all in how you communicateWhen youre angry, there can be a tendency to be sarcastic for some people, or passive-aggressive for others. Be aware of the intentions and emotions youre directing at other people. Not everyone is - or should be - u nderstanding or accepting of anger, ranting, or silence. You dont want to burn any bridges, especially if you dont know the colleague well and they could carry reports of your behavior through the company.Jacqueline Whitmore writes about the thinking through what you have to say before communicating in an Entrepreneur article.Once something comes out of your mouth, you cant take it back. Saying hurtful or nasty things can be risky or dangerous to your professional reputation. It can also shatter your credibility. Watch what you say, how you say it, and where you say it. Its best to confront someone in private, whenever possible, Whitmore writes.The obvious implications dont send flame emails, nasty messages on Slack or other internal messaging programs, or confront someone publicly where they may be humiliated. It will make you look terrible. If someone confronts you that way, just acknowledge whats happening I see youre angry right now, so its probably not the best time to address things. Im heading out. Why dont we take this up tomorrow and talk through our concerns? Then walk away. When you stay in the presence of bad behavior, its can be taken as encouragement for it.Focus on your breathingMindfulness meditation isnt just about sitting in a room with your eyes closed. It can also take the form of walking or nearly any other activity. The only requirements are being present to your surrounding, calm breathing, and focus.The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley provides adviceon mindful breathing.Sometimes, especially when trying to calm yourself in a stressful moment, it might help to start by taking an exaggerated breath a deep inhale through your nostrils (3 seconds), hold your breath (2 seconds), and a long exhale through your mouth (4 seconds). Otherwise, simply observe each breath without trying to adjust it it may help to focus on the rise and fall of your chest or the sensation through your nostrils. As you do so, you may find that your mind wa nders, distracted by thoughts or bodily sensations. Thats OK. Just notice that this is happening and gently bring your attention back to your breath the site says.Remove yourself from the situationIf youre too heated, nothing good will happen. If youre around someone whos heated, its the same.Get away from the irritation as soon as you can (and do some of that breathing). Stepping outside and clearing your head on a walk, or just doing a lap around another floor, can help take your mind off things and get your muscles moving again. To calm down quickly, use this easy trick just think of the place where youre happiest, and picture what that feels like. It will put you in a different frame of mind. Youll be best when youre thinking clearly and not clouded by adrenaline.Think aboutwhat you can controlThe bottom line is that we get distressed when we are trying to control things we cant. Try not to waste too much of your precious time and energy worrying about things that are out of you r hands. You dont have to throw yourself in front of every work crisis with the idea of stopping it, or martyr yourself to a cause. Again, trust other people to do their part, and accept that they may do things differently than you do. The sooner you let go of what you cant control, the sooner you can move forward, and get focused again.

3 Things to Do Every Time a Co-worker Leaves

3 Things to Do Every Time a Co-worker Leaves3 Things to Do Every Time a Co-worker LeavesIf you stay at any company long enough, youll inevitably see a few co-workers leave for other opportunities. Often times, this can be a moment of stress for the whole office, while others, for certain people, it may actually be a big relief. Either way, a co-workers departure is always a good time to reinforce your professional relationships, build your network, and potentially take on new responsibilities within your company. Here are three actions you can take to make the best of (and potentially benefit from) a co-worker leaving the herd.1. Take NotesIf any of your departing co-workers responsibilities will be passed on to you (and, if you work together closely enough, they likely will be at least for a while), youll want to understand what her current projects are, what her goals have been, and where she left off. You shouldnt expect her to put in any amount of real work (her mind is probably already out the door), but you can gather some thoughts on what needs to happen next on all the projects shes leaving behind and what significant milestones need to be met soon. Even if youre not assigned to take on additional responsibilities, you may want to take 30 minutes to better understand what your co-workers role welches within the company and where you can potentially step in to help. This is especially true if she was involved in choice projects youd love to get your hands on. If you work quickly, you may be able to become the defacto domain expert, impress your boss, and claim those projects for your own.2. Write a LinkedIn Recommendation (and Ask for One)If youve enjoyed working with your colleague, you should tell him so in the form of a LinkedIn recommendation. It will only take five to ten minutes to write, but the thought counts a lot- everyone deeply appreciates a kind review of their work. Plus, you never know if or when youll interact with this co-worker in the f uture, so it never hurts to make a positive last impression. It is especially thoughtful and important to write a recommendation if the reason your co-worker is leaving is because he or she has been laid off. I once worked at a small startup that failed to secure more funding and underwent a couple rounds of lay-offs. (In the end, I was laid off as well.) It can be shocking, disappointing, and ultimately disheartening to be laid off, not to mention its incredibly stressful to be thrown into a job search without much warning. But receiving a nice recommendation from your colleagues can go a long way in making you feel appreciated and in more control of your career. On a similar note, now would be a good time to ask your colleague for a LinkedIn recommendation in return. Even if you are not currently looking for a new job, you may one day look for other opportunities, and LinkedIn recommendations can increase your visibility to potential future employers. Try, Weve worked together on so many project teams. Before you go, would you be willing to write me a recommendation about our time together?3. Go to LunchGood-bye lunches are a great way to show an old colleague youve appreciated his or her work, as well as hear all the details about the new gig. If it is a more intimate gathering, you may also get a chance to hear this persons real reason for leaving your company. Was there too much pressure? Did he feel he was passed over for promotions? Did she lose interest and need a change, or is she simply looking for a shorter commute? Of course, if this person is leaving under some duress, you may want to take his or her words with a grain of salt. But no matter what the reason, good-bye lunches or coffee dates can be a great opportunity to better understand your office culture and what projects, clients, or people to be wary of in the future.Saying goodbye to a colleague can be bittersweet and at times stressful. But it can also be an opportunity to take on new respo nsibilities, move your career forward, and forge stronger professional relationships. If you keep in mind some of the tips Ive outlined above, your former and current colleagues will appreciate your thoughtfulness and grace under pressure. Photo of empty office courtesy of Shutterstock.