Blog Posts by The Daily Muse

People in elevator
It's Thursday morning, you're in the elevator, and the CEO skates between closing doors to join you for a 30-floor ride.

You consider commenting on the unseasonably balmy weather, but inquire about her watch instead. You then exchange a series of jokes and, in perfect unison, toss your heads back in laughter. At the 25th floor, she insists that you join her in the company lounge for a bite to eat-she'd like to get to know you better. You take style points from Sandberg and lean in. Instant promotion.

Real life: Silence. You exit the elevator with pit stains and wonder if she heard you swallow that burp. Sound familiar? You're in good company-being trapped in a confined space with upper management is sure to send anyone into a tailspin. But, with some simple tactics on hand, you can navigate a terrifying situation with grace. Try on these life vests to avoid drowning like a conversation klutz.

The Trader Joe

Casual and approachable, Trader Joe's employees are known for their infectious Read More »from Caught in an Elevator with a CEO? 3 Conversation Starters

After nine long years, The Office is coming to a close tonight (sad!). And while there are plenty of things we'll miss-Jim and Dwight's pranks, Kevin's one-liners, and all the Andy drama-no one will ever replace the man who started it all.

So, in honor of the show's finale, we decided to review the management stylings of Michael Scott and share a few nuggets of workplace wisdom we've gained from him over the years. Sit back, relax, and learn from the World's Best Boss.

1. After sitting at your desk all day, sometimes you just need to move.

Source: What Should BC Call Us

2. Bring snacks, and you'll instantly make friends at the office.

Source: Daily Dose of Memo

3. Stick to your guns.

Source: Kitteh-is-kat

4. Inspire your employees with motivational quotes.

5. Make time for team bonding.

Source: Little Moments

6. Celebrate even the little wins.

Source: gifbin.com

7. Sometimes, you just have to wing it.

Source:

Read More »from 7 Management Lessons We've Learned from Michael Scott

Weeknight Dinners

After a day of work, we all run into the dinner conundrum: We don't want the same quick standbys we always eat, but we really don't want to expend the mental energy to scheme up something fabulous. Soon, this back and forth turns us from hungry to famished, and we end up scarfing down whatever's in the fridge or reverting to takeout.

But it doesn't have to be this way! We're obsessed with quick dinners, and, with a little bit of creative thinking, we've come up with some surprisingly simple dinners that will transform the weeknight meal from a hassle to a pleasure.

Whip up these recipes, and you'll still have plenty of time to relax after work, preferably with a glass of wine in hand.

1. Rigatoni With Easy Pork Ragu
Rigatoni with Pork Ragu

If you've never had a real ragu before (no, we're not talking Chef Boyardee), you're missing out. A rich, slow-simmered, meat-based sauce is served with pasta for a decadent-feeling meal. In our simple take on the classic, the finishing touch of salty

Read More »from 5 Gourmet (But Quick!) Weeknight Dinners

Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes

Here's a little secret: I'm known by my co-workers as Bubbly Muse. What can I say-I have a penchant for champagne!

Of course, my favorite way to consume champagne is straight up in a frosted flute, but I've been known to throw a little in pasta sauce or use a bit to deglaze a pan. It just gives any dish an extra boost of yum.

I've never baked with champagne, though. I wasn't even sure if it would work. But I wanted to make something extra special for all the moms (or in my case, mum) out there, so I figured I'd give it a go.

I decided to make a batch of deliciously fluffy, ever so airy cupcakes. But not just any cupcakes-these cupcakes are made with champagne, filled with a fresh strawberry buttercream, and then topped with even more buttercream on top. Yum! The champagne added an extra airiness to the batter, and the surprise pink filling took the cupcakes to the next level.

The best part? I made this recipe with a boxed cake mix, so you can whip up a batch in no

Read More »from Make This Weekend: Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes

Why Employees Leave Managers

When I was 17, in an attempt to save up for the gorgeous (but absurdly unaffordable) prom dress of my dreams, I picked up an after-school job at a cards and gift shop. My boss, the owner of the store, was a tall man with a short temper who spent most of the workday barking orders ("Hey you, cover the register!") and asking me to lie to customers ("Hey you, don't tell them that item is on sale!"). And, yes, he referred to me as "hey, you" for the entirety of my employment.

Needless to say, as soon as I saved up enough cash to purchase something halfway decent from the clearance rack at Lord & Taylor, I jumped ship and never looked back.

In short, my boss made my time at work unbearable-and that's obviously why I left. It turns out, I'm not alone-Florida State University conducted a comprehensive study to analyze the reasons why dissatisfied employees leave their jobs, and it revealed that most of the time, employees leave managers, not companies.

If you're a manager, you

Read More »from 3 Reasons Employees Leave Their Managers

Cover Letter Lost You the Job

When it comes to cover letters, I've seen-and tried-it all. I've written stiff, formal documents ("Dear Sir or Madame"), overly casual notes ("Hey guys! Cover letters suck, huh?"), and everything in between. One time, I even composed a cover letter entirely in rhyme. (Yes, I did. And no, I didn't get the job.)

Cover letters are a blessing and a curse. They give you some elbow room to discuss your qualifications, which is a welcome relief from the crunched bullet points of a resume. But because of that freedom (and that intimidating blank page to fill), it's easy to veer off in the wrong direction and make some common mistakes that can pretty much guarantee you're not getting a call back.

If you're in my cover-letter-writing boat, chances are you've made some of these blunders before. Read on to learn five of the most common cover letter mistakes-and how you can turn them into successes.

1. You Didn't Listen to Your Career Counselor

If you've ever set foot in a career resource center,

Read More »from 5 Ways Your Cover Letter Lost You the Job

Pursue a Friend Crush

Apparently, dudes aren't familiar with the concept of the friend crush.

Granted, my sample size is pretty small. My boyfriend was unaware of the term. When I asked him how he would befriend someone he didn't know very well, he said, "I'd play basketball with him, and we'd be friends."

At five foot eleven, this is not the first time I've found myself thinking that playing basketball probably would have been a good life choice.

My dad didn't know what a friend crush was, per se, but he did ask, "Is that like a man crush? Like in I Love You Man?" So I counted that for a win.

But talk to a girl about a friend crush, and there's no explanation needed. The term really resonates with women; all seem, at some point, to have pined after a platonic friendship with someone slightly unattainable. A friend of a friend, a fellow cubicle-dweller, the friendly neighbor who lives downstairs-we've friend crushed them all.

Why do we do it? As much as we discuss romantic

Read More »from How to Pursue a Friend Crush (Without Creeping Her Out)

Add experience to resume

So, you've spent the last couple of years at your gig honing your skills and getting great experience, and you've decided it's time to move on and look for something new.

But wait: What should you do with your resume now that you've got tons more knowledge and experience under your belt-but the same jam-packed 8.5x11" sheet of paper to work with?

Hint: The answer is not to add another page (in fact, most hiring managers I know would automatically disqualify you for doing so!). You'll want to employ the opposite strategy: If you're dusting off your resume for the first time in a while, you should reconsider what you include, and remove some things that don't make the cut. Here are a few strategies for trimming what you don't need so you can make room for the new.


Rule #1: Tell a Story

Your resume is a narrative, and it should tell a purposeful story. The chronology, headers, and action words on your resume don't matter nearly as much as your overall personal narrative does. No one

Read More »from How to Add Experience to Your Resume (Without Adding a Page)