An Argument in Favor of the Office Popularity Game

Here's one article that says vying for office prom queen may not be such a bad thing. (In other words, getting people to like you may get you everywhere.)

Commuters Want Train from Flemington to NYC

Once upon a time (almost 50 years ago), there was daily train service to NYC from Flemington, New Jersey. Up to 55 trains per day, in fact. But that ended when most of the tracks were torn up to build condos.

But now, a task force of community leaders self-named "The Traveling Circus" is making a serious effort at encouraging the restoration of rail services to NYC.

How likely are they to succeed? Read more at NJ.com.

How to Turn Workplace Fear into Courage

If economic fear--of losing your job, retirement fund, and security--is starting to take a toll on your emotional health and workplace performance, there's good news. You can transform fear into its positive, antidote emotion--courage--much like you'd flip on a light switch. All it takes is a few tried-and-true techniques.

Check 'em out at the Minneapolis Workplace Examiner.

NJ Commuters Flocking to PATH, Abandoning Buses

If you ride the PATH train, this probably will come as no surprise: business on PATH is booming. Ridership is waaaaaay up, resulting in an overcrowded, inhumane experience for almost everyone. On the flip side, bus services are seeing a huge decline in business. (Anyone want a seat?)

Read more at The Montclair Times.

Beating the Afternoon Blahs

Feel your eyes glassing over in that dead zone between lunch and the end of the workday? This article from CNN will help you put a little oomph back into your afternoons.

Mock Funeral for G Subway Line

The MTA recently announced service cuts on the G subway line -- and in response, The Straphangers Campaign held a funeral for the G at the Coutr Square Station in Queens -- complete with bagpipes.

Find out what other lines are headed for the grave here. Will your commute be affected?

Beauty Secrets from the Secretarial Pool

A Just A Sec Exclusive!

These are serious times. But too much seriousness is just...well, too much seriousness. Our worries will still be there tomorrow, so let's give ourselves a break by turning our attention to something completely frivolous: our looks.

The winter can wreak havoc on our hair and skin, among other things. By the time February rolls around, many of us could use a little beauty TLC. And as much as we at Just A Sec believe it's what's on the inside that counts, there's no denying that when you look your best, it gives your whole outlook a boost.

Well, we weren't willing to wait for spring -- we wanted the glow of youth and renewal YESTERDAY. So we asked several secretaries to give up their personal beauty secrets. We wanted in on their discoveries -- things that really work and have a significant impact.

Here's the scoop:

Longer Lashes, Without a Prescription
RAPIDLASH EYELASH RENEWAL SERUM



"I would say, the one thing I've used that's made the biggest difference for me is RapidLash," confided Lisa in lower Manhattan. Rapidlash is an eyelash renewal serum that gives the appearance of longer, fuller lashes while nourishing your lashes to make them grow in thicker and healthier.

"Every night I put it on before bedtime, like the instructions recommend," said Lisa. "You use it just like liquid eyeliner. It goes on clear and you can use it on your upper or lower lashes. It doesn't sting, it doesn't irritate my eyes. It just feels like eyeliner, basically, until it dries."

"In about a month, I really did see a noticeable difference in my eyelashes. I have puny little eyelashes to begin with and after using RapidLash, not only were my lashes longer and there were more of them, but for some reason when I wore mascara, I got less clumping. It just seemed like my eyelashes defined themselves better individually. And that part happened for me right away. I didn't have to wait a month for that."

RapidLash claims to work by delivering essential proteins, vitamins, moisturizing and rejuvenating ingredients to replenish and strengthen the structure of lashes, while adding shine and elasticity. They also say it works just as well on eyebrows, although Lisa only uses RapidLash on her lashes.

Rapidlash sells for $49.95. For more information and to purchase, visit www.RapidLash.com.


Work Magic on Droopy Eyelids
REVITALEYES EYELID SERUM



"I don't have any problem with my face, no wrinkles yet and my complexion is usually pretty clear. But God, do I hate my eyelids," Noreen admitted. "My eyes are deep-set. It's a family trait, and we all have heavy eyelids to begin with. I feel like my droopy eyelids make me look old before my time, and it's worse when I'm tired or have a cold."

"I tried RevitalEyes and I was really surprised by how quickly it worked," Noreen told us. "Granted, if you want it to work all day, you do have to reapply it a couple of times. At least that's what I find. But it really will give your eyes an instant pick-up."

RevitalEyes Eyelid Serum by Reviva Labs is a lightweight, silky liquid that you apply to your eyelids. It's designed to improve the tone and appearance of the delicate skin above the eye that's so prone to sagging.

Noreen applies RevitalEyes on her eyelids, all the way to the brows, and gets the best results when she tugs the skin gently upwards with her fingertips, smoothing the serum up from eyelid-to-brow in delicate sweeps. "It seems to lift the eyelid skin and the serum somehow keeps it in place, more lifted. I get an instant more wide-eyed look. I don't know how it works, I just know it makes a difference. I don't feel like my eyes are buried deep inside a lump of eyelid skin anymore!"

Noreen added, "I keep the bottle with me at all times and when I feel like I need a perk, I just rub some more on."

RevitalEyes costs $23.00 a bottle and can be purchased at www.RevivaLabs.com.


THEE Cure for Itchy, Dry Winter Skin. Period.
OLAY IN-SHOWER BODY LOTION



"I can't say enough good things about Olay's In-Shower Body Lotion," said Julie, an administrative assistant near Rockefeller Center. "Every year starting around October, I get itching, burning skin on my legs. If you looked at the skin close-up, it looked like the cracked surface of a desert. Soon after that my arms, boobs and butt start itching like CRAZY. It's like the cold weather just sucks the moisture right out of my body."

Olay In-Shower Body Lotion works differently from regular lotions, because you apply it to your clean, wet skin while you're still in the shower. "It's very easy to use, and it saves a lot of time.," Julie told us. "You don't have to spend several minutes rubbing lotion into every inch of your body. It goes on so smooth in the shower, and spreads over your body in seconds."

"You put it on right before you get out of the shower, as a last step. And it's like it locks the moisture from your shower right into your body. It kind of feels like you've got this protective layer over your body, but not in a gross way. Your skin feels so amazing and smooth, and even when you dry off with a towel, it doesn't rub away the moisture."

"I can still feel the softness of my skin when I get in bed at night. It literally lasts all day. My skin feels amazing slipping between the sheets. And I love the way it smells, very clean, but not overpowering."

"Olay's In-Shower Body Lotion is probably the single most successful product I've ever used in my life. It takes care of your dry skin right away, and I mean completely cures it. I would recommend it to anybody."

Olay In-Shower Body Lotion is sold in the skin care or shower gel sections of most drug stores for about $6, or buy online at www.olay.com.


Put On a Happy Face
SOMME INSTITUTE SKINCARE REGIMEN



"I've never been the kind of person to get suckered into buying all those products in fancy skincare lines like they sell behind the counters in department stores," Leslie told us. "I never thought it was necessary to go through twenty different steps every morning and night to have good skin. But I will tell you, when I started using the Somme Institute stuff, I got so hooked on it, I never use anything else now."

So, does that mean Leslie sucked it up and goes through twenty paces? "No, it's not that many steps," she laughed. "It's actually only five. And they're all worth it!"

What makes Somme Institute products so remarkable is their patent pending MDT5 delivery system, which nourishes the skin on a deep, penetrating level with Vitamins A, B3, B5, C and E. According the Leslie, this system really works.

Somme has worked its groundbreaking technology into a line of skincare products, including the 5-step daily skincare regimen that Leslie follows, which includes a cleanser, "Transport" toner pads, a serum, "A-Bomb" moisturizer, and Double Defense, a protecting sunblock with SPF 30+. Somme also makes specialized applications for the eyes and neck.

"I wouldn't say I ever had problem skin," says Leslie, "but I will say that the Somme products make my skin look consistently really good. I have fewer break-outs before my period, and just on a day-to-day basis, my skin has a nice glow and a clarity to it. I guess it's hard to describe. It just looks healthy, not dull. I also noticed a reduction in freckles on my cheeks and forehead that I started to develop in my late 20s. I'm not kidding, they're lighter now than they've ever been since I started using these (Somme Institute) products."

"I hope they never stop making this line because I will never, ever want to use anything else!" Somme Institute gets high marks from Leslie!

Somme Institute skin products range in price from $40 to $82 individually, but you can land a great deal with their Mobile kit which includes the basic 5-steps products in small travel sizes for $85.00. For more information and how to buy, visit www.SommeInstitute.com.

Help for Hard Times from Just A Sec

Don't think we haven't noticed. These are scary times for a lot of people. We personally know some stellar, top-notch secretaries and admins who've been unavoidably laid off around these parts, and the rumors of more firings to come are running rampant.

Just A Sec feels for all of you -- the recently-axed, the workers on pins and needles.

We wish we could eliminate your concerns, give you all jobs or at least total peace of mind.

But the one thing we can do is point you towards some helpful information. So we've compiled a list of links to past posts that may help with some of the challenges you're facing now: recent lay-offs, threats of lay-offs, unexpected job searches, loss of benefits, financial stress. Knowledge is power, so stay informed. Start here:

IF YOU'VE BEEN FIRED

When You Get Fired: Important Advice



IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB

Interviewing for a Job? Think about this.
Is a Cover Letter Necessary with a Resume?
The Post-Job Interview Thank You Note
How to Request a Letter of Recommendation
Resume on Monster, Hot Jobs? Beware!
Even in a Recession, Keep your Job or Find a New One


LOST OR REDUCED BENEFITS?

Health Coverage after a Lay-Off
401K Matching Contribution Eliminated?


IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR JOB

Make Your Job Recession-Proof
Even in a Recession, Keep your Job or Find a New One
Is Job Hunting on the Job a No-No?
How to Prepare for a Lay-Off
Dealing with Workplace Changes


IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR SANITY

When You're Trapped in a Job You Hate
Dealing with Workplace Changes
Boost your Morale in Uncertain Times
Reduce Stress During Tough Financial Times


IF YOU NEED TO CUT SPENDING

Cut What You Spend During the Work Week

You're Not Alone: 800 Law Firm Jobs Lost in a Day

Yesterday, nearly 800 associates and legal staff across the United States lost their jobs -- further victims of the economic downturn.

Among the firms making the cuts were:

DLA Piper
Holland & Knight
Dechert
Bryan Cave
Epstein Becker & Green
Cozen O'Connor

For more details, read the full article in the National Law Journal.

Although not mentioned in NLJ's article, earlier this week intellectual property boutique Darby & Darby also laid off several attorneys and an array of support staff, including secretaries and paralegals, in its New York and Seattle offices.

Heads-Up! Free Dunkin' Donuts Gift Cards for Commuters!

OK, here's the deal. TODAY, Thursday, February 12th, Dunkin' Donuts "spies" will be roaming the New York metro area handing out loaded $5.00 gift cards to anyone they see holding a Dunkin' Donuts bag or cup on their morning commute. Four lucky commuters will be random recipients of $99 wildcard gift cards!!!

The "spies" will travel on foot, as well as on LIRR trains, the subway, New Jersey Transit and the Hoboken ferry in search of loyal customers at these locations:

Iselin
Secaucus
Hoboken
NYC

It's DD's version of on-the-spot customer appreciation.

By the way, if you've been trying to trim your luxury spending and have declared $6 lattes out of the question, listen to this: all Dunkin' stores in the tri-state area are now offering lattes for only 99 cents, costing you less than a normal cup of coffee. Dunkin' wants to help their customers indulge in high-quality espressobeverages without charging them a fortune like...well, you-know-who.

Thanks, Dunkin'!

Resume on Monster, Hot Jobs? Beware!

Have you posted your resume on job boards like Monster, HotJobs, or CareerBuilder?

BEWARE. There are unscrupulous headhunters out there who will pluck your resume right off the web and shop you to potential employers without your consent.

Before you say to youself, "Hey, the more places my resume goes, the better -- I don't care how it gets there," consider this: job recruiters may be crushing your reputation and destroying your hireability, and you might not even know it.

For starters, recruiters could be representing you in ways that would make you cringe.

Some recruiters are downright obnoxious -- loud, brash, overly aggressive. Some have the vocabulary of third graders and the grace of hungry warthogs. And their behavior does reflect upon you. A potential employer doesn't know you didn't personally select this person to represent you. If they suspect you did, what does that say about your judgment?

A recruiter's less-than-professional approach might turn off your potential employer and cause them to toss your resume or move it to the bottom of the pile. With possibly hundreds of resumes to consider, do you really want to give them any excuse to discount yours?

The HR director at your would-be workplace could be so irritated by a recruiter's approach, she might discard your resume just so she won't have to pay a commission to that buffoon headhunter who rubbed her the wrong way.

Unfortunately for the upstanding ones, recruiters are notorious for lying. They have no qualms about lying about your background, and many will shamelessly assign you "stories" to tell in your job interview. Play-by-play. Some of them are really quite creative.

I recently met with a recruiter who felt that some short-term gaps in my employment history were working against me. Even though the real reasons behind those gaps were nothing scandalous, the recruiter insisted on hiding them behind made-from-scratch scenarios. She wove a pair of fairy tales, which I was meant to memorize and repeat to my (maybe) future boss. In one, there was a failed attempt at buying the house of my dreams and a flurry of wedding plans with a non-existent ex. The other was an outrageous fib about a whirlwind trip around the world won in a sweepstakes, which, God forbid anyone should ask me "And how did you like Prague?", I'd never be able to fake my way through convincingly.

Silly me. I thought my boss dying of a brain tumor was a pretty good excuse for being jobless. I nodded, tight-lipped, through my "instructions", and then went into the interview and told the truth. If I was going to work with these people someday, what was I doing to do, spend the years covering up the lies I told in my interview? No thanks.

Recruiters won't think twice about tweaking your resume, either. They'll change job descriptions, dates of employment, etc. Anything to give you a perceived "edge", thereby increasing their chances of getting you hired and getting themselves paid.

And don't trust a recruiter to have good judgment, or to even be reasonably intelligent when making "adjustments" to your resume.

For instance, many headhunters don't understand the nuts and bolts of the jobs they're filling, and they're strangers to the terminology.

I work in an area of law called "patent prosecution", which falls under the heading of "intellectual property". One recruiter from Access Staffing called me and said, "I have the perfect job for you. It's patent and prosecution. And I think it has...wait, let me check...yes! It also includes just a little bit of intellectual property."

I admit it. I laughed right into the phone. Just a little intellectual property? That's like saying, "Doctor, I have an ideal opportunity for you. It's general, and it's medicine. With just a dash of healthcare."

This could mean that your unofficial reps-in-the-field are changing vocabulary on your resume incorrectly, making you look like you don't know your own field.

This happened to me, in front of my eyes, at a headhunter's desk at Gainor Staffing. She started marking up my resume, making inaccurate changes to patent-centric terminology. She even reversed some of my correct punctuation so it was incorrect!

These self-appointed agents could also be doing your reputation a giant injustice by flooding the job market with your resume. I became a victim of this recently. I didn't find out until a forthright recruiter (whom I willingly engaged) started calling his contacts at local law firms and told me, "Your resume is all over town!" He started naming firms I'd never even heard of who'd already received not one, but multiple copies of my resume.

I didn't give anyone permission to approach these firms on my behalf, to speak on my behalf, to pass on my name, address, phone number and employment history to other people. They just did it, casting around for a bite, exploiting my personal information with the hope of some future monetary gain.

I suddenly thought of a woman who called me one day -- an overbearing type, with a voice like an air raid siren. I'd never even heard of her before, but she informed me that Law Firm XY&Z loved my resume and wanted to see me for an interview as soon as possible.

"Who are you?" I asked. I wish I could remember her name so I could share it with you. This woman had actually led a big, respectable firm to believe she had a relationship with me -- familiar enough to coordinate an interview on my behalf.

I was livid and I told her so. She was desperate to make a sale, and was unbearably pushy about getting me to go through with the interview. I refused to make the appointment through her. Later that evening, her "supervisor" had the nerve to call me and, barking at me like a scolding parent, demanded to know why I didn't take the interview. Unbelievable.

I knew these were the kind of people who'd spread my resume indiscriminately "all over town", who were diluting my opportunities for decent employment at the city's more reputable patent firms.

As my favorite recruiter Robert Hadley explained, when a resume is received by an employer from multiple sources, it can, in a sense, curse the applicant. The employer doesn't know you didn't ask every recruiter in town to find you a job, and quick! But that's what it can look like when an employer is bombarded with your resume.

And what if different recruiters are altering your resume? How does it look to the employer to get several different versions of your career path, with suspicious changes in key information?

And what if these recruiters are lying about having met you? It makes it seem like you've made the rounds to every employment agency in town and boy, you must be desperate! Which naturally leads the employer to wonder -- what's wrong with this applicant that no one is hiring her? It's just too easy to drop a resume into the trash can. The smallest inkling of doubt can count you out.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

Web sites like Monster and Hot Jobs are still a great place for employers and recruiters with integrity to find you. Each individual has to weigh the pros and cons of uploading his or her resume on these sites. But here's something I did that I encourage you to try, because it may start a trend that unscrupulous recruiters will have to acknowledge and work around. Who knows, it may even lead to some much-needed legislation. At the top of my online resume, I have a statement which reads:

"NOTICE: Recruiters are welcome to respond to (Your Name), whose name appears at the top of this resume. However, by printing out this resume, downloading or saving this resume, or forwarding this resume via e-mail or other means, you agree that you will not present yourself as a representative of (Your Name) by any means, either verbally or otherwise, express or implied, to any employer or employer's representative, without the express advance written consent of (Your Name). Furthermore, by printing out this resume, downloading or saving this resume, or forwarding this resume via e-mail or other means, you agree that if you present yourself to any employer or employer's representative as a representative of (Your Name) or (Your Name's) resume, bearing or not bearing (Your Name's) name without the express advance written consent of (Your Name), you agree not to accept any monetary compensation for the successful placement of (Your Name) in any position of employment for which you submit the resume of (Your Name)."
OK, so maybe it wouldn't hold up in court, but it could serve as a deterrent.

You can also make it crystal clear to any recruiter who calls or e-mails you that they do not have your permission to represent you or your resume to employers. You can tell them you will consider giving them written permission in an e-mail to represent you for specific positions only. This is important. In this way, you can keep track of who's legitimately sending out your resume and where. Heads-up, though: most recruiters will do anything to avoid giving you the name of the company they want to sell you to. They're afraid if they tell you it's Law Firm ABC, you will apply to the Law Firm ABC directly, cutting them out of the deal. Be insistent. Refuse to give them carte blanche to send your resume anywhere they want. Dole out your permission on a job-by-job basis, and if they refuse to name companies, politely tell them you prefer to work with another recruiter. Headhunting is a highly competitive field. Recruiters know they have plenty of competition. They'll either cooperate with you or they won't – but if they don't, the loss is entirely theirs. Trust me – you will eventually hit on a recruiter who will name names. They're out there, I've worked with them.

When you do find one or two recruiters who name names and give you honest representation, reward their integrity by letting them earn their commission. Don't do what I described earlier: circumventing their efforts by applying to the firm yourself. That's almost as scummy as being a recruiter who steals resumes off the internet.

-- Kim Brittingham

The Post-Job Interview Thank You Note

Writing a thank you note after a job interview is not such a bad idea. It distinguishes you from the applicants who were too lazy to bother. It also serves to give your interviewer a nudge after you've gone that says, "Hey, remember me?" Staying in the forefront of his or her mind is a good thing. Don't let them forget you.

But if you are going to send a Thank You note, there are a few simple guidelines your should follow to get it right. Read about them at U.S. News.

Treated Like Crap Because Jobs are Scarce?

Are you a secretary, administrative assistant or executive assistant whose employers are getting away with treating you like crap, because they know you fear for your job in the current economy?

Are unscrupulous managers or supervisors having a field day terrorizing their staffs because they know you feel lucky just to have a job right now, even if it's torture?

Tell us about it. We want to hear your stories. Send them to justasecnyc@yahoo.com. We may print your story, but we won't use your real name.

The Congestion Pricing Plan, Revised.

Last spring, Mayor Bloomberg proposed an $8 "congestion fee" for drivers entering certain parts of Manhattan. But the plan had its flaws.

State Senator Daniel Squadron has stepped up and proposed a "smarter" version of congestion pricing, noting that similar programs are working with success in other cities around the world.

Find out how this plan is different, and reasons why you should support a congestion fee, in the Gotham Gazette.

Economic Stimulus Package: What's in it for NYC?

So if Obama's proposed economic stimulus package passes, how will it help people like us in NYC?

We're going to receive funds for improvement in transit, highways and bridges; tax cuts for workers earning less than $200,000 a year; funds for new job training and development, and much more.

Read all about it in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

5 French Hookers in Brooklyn Subway Station

Subway advertising is routinely reviewed for racy content. But this time, they let full-frontal nudity slide when five naked babes got hung in the spotlight at Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street subway stations. Find out why in the New York Times.

Think You're "Middle Class"? Not in NYC.

If you live within the five boroughs of New York City, this article may reveal to you for the first time exactly how much cheaper it is to live outside the city.

Friction Between Generations in the Office

One source of tension between office co-workers might just be a good old-fashioned generation gap.

Younger workers are more tech-savvy, while older workers stick with ways of doing things that are familiar and comfortable, but not necessarily the most efficient ways of getting things done.

Older workers sometimes resent younger workers for their use of certain technologies (which in the minds of mature workers equate to goofing off), and their relatively casual approach to things like dress code.

How might differences between the generations be causing tension in your office?

Sometimes a little perspective and understanding goes a long way. Read more here.

Girl Scout Cookie Rules for the Office

Remember when the girl scouts used to take cookie orders door-to-door? Maybe you even remember being one of them.

That era is long-gone, as parents worry about the safety of their kids approaching the homes of strangers. Instead, many parents of scouts are taking on the responsibility of selling their daughters' cookies themselves, and usually at work. But it can sometimes be a sticky situation.

What are the ethical issues of selling girl scout cookies in the office? Check out CNN before you buy -- or sell -- another box of Thin Mints.

Hate the Idea of Office "Cliques"?

Think you'd never see a clique again once you graduated from high school? For those of us who work in offices, the phenomenon continues. More than 85% of people say they see cliques in their workplace, and 66% say they feel left out of an office clique.

Arguments exist for and against cliques. Some actually say they can be a positive force in a work environment -- "team spirit", we suppose. But others argue that cliques only foster gossip and inevitably make the outsiders feel just that -- left out.

Does the thought of being considered part of an office clique make you sick? Would you much rather be seen as someone who's friendly with everyone?

Or, do you belong to an office clique and like it, but wish you could be seen in the most favorable light possible without departing from your circle of friends?

This article addresses how to avoid being cliquey, and how to be the nicest person in a clique if you insist on staying.

Yoga Enters the Office

If your employer has introduced an employee wellness program, or is just thinking about it, maybe you should encourage them to incorporate yoga.

They might be interested to know that yoga improves the immune system, which means fewer sick employees and fewer absences.

If you need more ammunition, check out this article. You might even send your boss to the link.

Revolutionize Your Office -- One Chat at a Time

From Minneapolis, we've discovered a great little list of advice on how to revolutionize your workplace one conversation at a time. Absolutely everyone should read this.

Tappan Zee Bridge Repairs to Continue

Use the Tappan Zee for your commute?

The New York State Thruway Authority announced that routine repairs on the Tappan Zee Bridge will continue today, Monday, February 2 through Friday, February 6, during off-peak travel times.

Get the whole story here.

Improving Fulton St. Station

Ever complain to yourself (or for that matter, someone else) that the Fulton Street subway station makes you feel like a rat in one of those cheese mazes?

Ah! But change is coming! Read it in the New York Times.