http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/ en gossipsecretaries@ymail.com Copyright 2009 2009-12-24T15:29:55-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/happy_holidays/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/happy_holidays/#When:15:29:55Z Today is Christmas Eve, for some of us, including me, it means it is the last day to get that last minute shopping done.  Fortunately, I have a really cool boss, and so I got today off.  Now, I have no more excuses.  So, I will be off to the mall to battle with the rest of the masses, to get that one last perfect gift.  I will probably be stopping by the grocery store as well to pick up some more of that great tasting sparkling cider.  If some of you have families like mine, today is the last day for you to finish putting up your Christmas tree.  What! You say, you haven’t put the final touches on the tree as yet?  Yes, we are so last minute, we still have to finish putting the lights on the tree.  But, I promise it will be done by this evening, by the time Santa is ready to stop by and drop of his holiday booty. So, it is Christmas Eve, and we are all super busy, running around trying to finish up with the last minute details.  Surprisingly, I love the rush I get from the Christmas Eve hustle and bustle.  And tonight, when it gets quiet, and family and close friends gather around to see the tree finally light up, I’ll will probably get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that just feels so good.  Hope you feel the same way too. So, Merry Christmas to All and a Happy New Year. Got Some Free Time? 2009-12-24T15:29:55-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/christmas_present_dilemma/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/christmas_present_dilemma/#When:06:00:46Z The Christmas season is here again, and with it comes the traditional practice of gift giving. This got me to thinking about whether I was going to give gifts this year to my boss and colleagues at work.  In fact, I am feeling rather Scrooge-like this season.  I have been struck by the Bah, Humbugs, Scrooge-them-over attitude. Honestly, in the past I would get a small gift for my boss and one or two other close work colleagues.  But, this year things are tough financially, and I just cannot afford to spend the extra money on office gifts.  As I was mulling over what to do, I realized that there are probably a few other people out there in a similar situation.  So here are my suggestions: Send the boss a nice Christmas card this year, forget the gift. If you normally would exchange gifts with a few co-workers, this year suggest that you do a grab bag instead of giving gifts to individuals. This way, you pick a name and only have to purchase a present for one person.  You can as a group, also agree not to spend over a certain dollar amount on the grab bag presents. If you still want to give individual gifts, instead of going out and purchasing a gift, how about a home-made gift instead.  A home-made dessert would be just as appreciated, I would think! After all, it’s the thought that counts, right. If you don’t like any of these ideas, then share some of yours with us.     A Day in the Life of a GS 2009-12-14T06:00:46-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/a_christmas_song/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/a_christmas_song/#When:06:00:45Z It is the beginning of the Christmas season, so I thought that this song by Christina Aguilera was a great song to kick off Christmas and to to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. A Day in the Life of a GS 2009-12-10T06:00:45-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/holiday_party_etiquette/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/holiday_party_etiquette/#When:06:00:09Z Its the holiday season again, and guess what, you have the office holiday party to look forward to.  Yes, it is that time of the year when the boss and the company springs for that year-end get together and bash.  A word of caution, remember, even though you are at the holiday party, and everyone is in high spirits and a jolly good mood, this is not the time to forget your P’s and Q’s. So, to help you graciously navigate and avoid a possible holiday party disaster we have put together a few tips for you. Remember the cardinal rule, even though you are at the company holiday party, you are still at a business function.  So you must be aware that the bosses are also at the party and may be watching you and how you interact with everyone else. Eat and drink in moderation.  Remember you are at the party to network with your colleagues as well as with the higher up’s.  So don’t go off the deep end at the open bar. Dress code.  Find out before hand what is expected with regards to holiday party dress code, whether it is business causal or dressy, this will save you some awkward moments.  Also inquire as to whether you are allowed to bring a date or your spouse along to the party. If the company allows for an employee to bring a spouse or date to the party, update your date or spouse as to who is your boss and a few of the other important persons in your organization. If possible, educate them as to what should and should not be mentioned in conversation with those executives that they may happen to meet at the party. We recommend attending your office holiday party even if it means only staying for a short time.  Your absence could be a point of contention with your boss or upper management. If you have other suggestions and recommendations, please feel free to leave your comment below. Office Do's and Don't's, Professional Development 2009-12-07T06:00:09-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/happy_thanksgiving_day/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/happy_thanksgiving_day/#When:19:50:59Z Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone.  We hope that all of you are having a wonderful day.  We would like to say thank you to everyone who has been following the blog. A Day in the Life of a GS 2009-11-26T19:50:59-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/job_interviewing_tips_revisited/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/job_interviewing_tips_revisited/#When:06:39:20Z With the unemployment rate still at an all time high, I decided to review a few of our earlier posts on general tips with regards to job interviews.  These posts contain some good tips and relevant information which should be helpful to anyone out there that is currently looking for a new job or preparing for an interview.  It is our hope that you find the links to these posts useful. You Got The Interview Now What? Questions To Ask In Your Interview. Mistakes To Avoid In Your First Interview. The Elevator Pitch. Professional Development 2009-11-23T06:39:20-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/lunch_humor1/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/lunch_humor1/#When:06:00:04Z If you did not bring lunch, beware the thought of taking of with your colleagues’ lunch. Humor 2009-11-18T06:00:04-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/grammar_refresher/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/grammar_refresher/#When:06:33:05Z As part of our job, we sometimes have to write letters and memos.  If you are like me, I have a set of standard templates that I go to first before creating anything from scratch.  However, from time to time, I will look at a template and find something grammatically wrong.  Believe me, I am no grammar genius, and there are times when I will need to do a quick check of myself.  One great source that I have found helpful is a website called Grammar Girl.  It is a great site where you can get really cool refresher tips to spruce up your grammar and your writing.  With the help of Grammar Girl’s “quick and dirty tips” you will get immediately back on track.  Oh, and if feel as if you need a bit more in-depth grammar counseling, Grammar Girl also has her own grammar book to help you along.  So ladies, when you feel like a quick refresher on grammar, take a quick trip over to Grammar Girl. A Day in the Life of a GS 2009-11-17T06:33:05-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/laugh_out_loud/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/laugh_out_loud/#When:06:00:23Z Sometimes, in our jobs we encounter difficult days or situations, and sometimes you just need something to help you snap out of it.  As I thought a bit more, I remembered the old proverb which states that laughter is usually the best medicine for a tough situation.  So if you are having a tough Monday, I hope this is just the right medicine for you: Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large raging, violent river. Needing to get to the other side, the first man prayed, ‘God, please give me the strength to cross the river’.  Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs and he was able to swim across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice. After witnessing that, the second man prayed, ‘God, please give me strength and the tools to cross the river’.  Poof!  God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs and he was able to row across in about an hour after almost capsizing once. Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed, ‘God, please give me the strength, the tools and the intelligence to cross the river’. Poof!  He was turned in to a woman She checked the map, hiked one hundred yards up stream and walked across the bridge. Now, didn’t this one make you laugh out loud too? Humor 2009-11-16T06:00:23-05:00 http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/lunch_revenge/ http://www.gossipsecretaries.com/site/lunch_revenge/#When:06:31:55Z Beware you lunch grubbers, big brother has his eye on you! Humor 2009-11-02T06:31:55-05:00