Tips for Working While Traveling

As our workplaces become more and more dependent on technology, our business contacts increasingly expect us to always be productive no matter the circumstance – even while 30,000 feet in the air. Thanks to technology, we can continually be connected at the touch of a few buttons. There are almost always inconveniences that occur when working remotely, however. From my experience, I have gained some insight on how to increase productivity despite these inconveniences.

Here are three simple ways to make sure that you are prepared for any travel situation that comes your way:

·         Pack and Plan – Looking ahead at your next business trip, plan for those situations when you are waiting to board the airplane or waiting on your hotel to be available.  During these simple gap periods, you’d be surprised at how much you can accomplish. With these gap periods in mind, package together what you think you might need for different tasks.  Will you need an iPad and a notebook on the plane? Do you need to catch up on the professional development book you’ve been needing to read? Plan ahead and pack for these small but crucial situations. 

·         Prepare for no Wi-Fi and no power – Technology glitches are bound to happen.  And if you are like me, they tend to happen when you need technology the most. Plan for these moments and save a few key documents to your desktop instead of relying on Dropbox or Google Drive. You might also find it helpful to print out a few copies of documents also, just in case you find yourself without the luxury of Wi-Fi.

·         Find ideal work and food locations – Research ahead of time nearby coffee shops and local food spots with free Wi-Fi.  It’s much easier having places already mapped out by the time you arrive with tasty snacks readily available to make your work a little more enjoyable. 

Lastly, don’t expect to get everything you need done accomplished.  Working remotely can be time consuming.  Be mindful of that, and you will already be ahead of the game when you the business trip is booked for the near future.

    – Penny Kokkinides

 

Five Tips for LinkedIn Success

With over 400 million users, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. LinkedIn is primarily used by employers, employees and job-seekers as a business-networking social media platform. LinkedIn connects like-minded professionals all over the world, so whether you’re actively seeking a job or using the site to keep tabs on people in your industry, it’s important to keep your profile in tip-top shape.

Here are five tips for maintaining and enhancing your LinkedIn presence:

  1. Use a professional picture. Having a picture on your profile makes it 14 times more likely to be viewed. Your photograph should be professional, well-lit and you should be wearing what you would typically wear to work.
  2. Customize your URL. Customizing your public profile URL increases your chances of appearing in search results and makes it easy for people to find you.
  3. Write a meaningful summary. The summary section of your profile receives the most prominent spot on the page, and allows you to tell your story and provide context for how you plan to use the site.
  4. Post status updates.  Engage with your network in the form of status updates, which can be a comment or a question followed by a video, interesting article or website. It’s important to remember, though, LinkedIn is for professional use and the content you post should match that tone.
  5. Join relevant groups. LinkedIn Groups provide a way for professionals in the same industry to share content, answers questions and makes contacts. Once you join a group in your industry, start engaging with the group members by sharing relevant content and contributing to the discussion.

Six Travel Tips for the Holiday Season

It’s that time again!

No, I am not referring to the time of year for exciting family get-togethers and never-ending food. (Though it’s that time, too.) I am referring to that stressful time of year when anxiety takes over as you watch your bank account after shopping expenses and holiday travel costs have taken their toll.

Fortunately for all of us, it doesn’t have to be this way. Thanks to Harper’s Bazaar, we can all learn the best traveling tricks to help out our wallets.

These six travel hacks will be sure to save you money this holiday season:

  1. Book your trip 30 days out (or less). Hotels and airlines usually offer better prices closer to the dates in an effort to fill unsold rooms and seats. If you book too far ahead of time, you may overpay.
  2. Travel during the week. Plane tickets tend to be cheaper since many opt to travel on weekends.
  3. Book hotels and flights on Tuesday. Tuesday is reportedly the day to snag the lowest prices.
  4. Plan a city getaway for the holidays. Holidays are a slow time for bigger cities since many people are leaving. This could mean cheaper hotel rooms for you!
  5. Try out the unconventional tourist attractions. Exploring the smaller, less-crowded areas of cities could help you to save on your trip. Get to know the locals and their favorite hangs around the city!
  6. Book a Sunday night during your trip. While Friday and Saturday nights tend to be the busiest hotel nights for travelers, Sunday nights usually offer more availability and lower-priced rooms.

Simply follow these guidelines to travel smarter this year without having to dig too deep into your pockets. Holidays are meant to be a relaxing time spent with family and friends. Don’t let the cost of traveling bring down your holiday cheer!