How to appear busy at work when --- Nenu Cheseve

[rapchik]

[color=green]Sure, you’re job might s uck, but it’s a tough market out there and you need money to pay the bills. So until you find something better you need to make the most of what you’ve got and try not to get yourself fired or demoted
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And by using these tips you might even make yourself appear invaluable to the company and get promoted into a position that you enjoy

I’ve compiled this little guide to ensure that HR continue to send pay checks your way while you get on with doing what you want


                                                                                                            [b]1. Actually do some work[/b]

Okay, so I know this first point seems a bit counter-intuitive considering the thrust of this article, but you do actually need to hand in some work every now and then, otherwise your bosses might start to get a little suspicious and start looking into your general workload. The last thing you want to have happen is some manager giving you output targets and checking up on you daily.

The trick with appearing busy whilst not achieving much is all about the timing. Say you have two pieces of work that you need to complete. Well, finish the first one in as quick a time as you think is reasonable (not too fast, mind you). But be sure that when you do complete it your boss is around to hand it to right away. Think about working through your lunchtime to get it done so you can hand it to him or her as soon as they get back from their lunch break (and then go and take your lunch break – you’re not a slave you know).

Your boss will be so impressed with your productivity that you can take as long as you need with the other one – they’ll just figure that you found a problem with it or a complicated issue that needs to be resolved before you hand it back to them. In the meantime, you can get on with doing all those other things you want to do.



                                                                                    [b]2. Fill your work screen with open documents/windows[/b]




                                                                          [img]http://s3.hubimg.com/u/3971930_f260.jpg[/img]


Notice how busy people always seem to have a lot of stuff on the go? Well that’s how you want to have your computer screen to appear. But you need to be selective about what appears on your screen. No one is going to believe that the Facebook website is integral to your work, unless you are a social researcher



Instead, open your work email, and excel spreadsheet with a whole lot of numbered columns, a few folders and some word documents, depending on what programs you use daily. Use tabs in your internet browser and have your clicker finger at the ready or use Alt+Tab for returning to an innocuous screen as soon as your hear footsteps approaching your desk.


       
                                                                                            [b]3. Don’t have a clear desk[/b]


They say a cluttered desk indicates a cluttered mind; what then does an empty desk portray? By nature you might be an organized and efficient worker and like to keep your work environment clear and tidy. But an empty desk makes it appear that you don’t have enough to do and employees that appear superfluous will be the first to go.

By placing documents books and papers on your desk in a random yet organized fashion you are saying to people – “I am busy, yet organized.” This will have two effects – you will appear busy and people will be reluctant you disturb your system by putting extra work down on your desk.

Yes, but what if people just come and hand work to me, you ask? Well that takes us to the next point…


               
                                                                                          [b]4. Step away from your desk as much as possible[/b]


Busy people are always on the move so you need to be too. Try walking about the office with an arm full of papers. When passing colleagues in the hallway, try to smile with that “I’d stop and chat but am far too busy” look on your face. If you work in a large office this is a particularly effective way to maintain the appearance of looking busy. You could visit the stationary cupboard on the third floor, wander past the finance department on the fifth floor and then do a circuitous route back to your desk via human resources. You might even want to take a trip via the bosses’ section on the 10th floor – try walking purposefully past all those glass walled offices. Management is sure to notice your go-get-‘em attitude.

Work in a small office and worried all those trips to the bathroom might get people talking? Standing by the photocopier is a sure-fire way to look busy. Just remember not to leave those Facebook posters on the screen.



                                                                                                [b]5. Make “you” stuff look like “work” stuff[/b]


Filling out job applications? Updating your resume? Updating your blog or even writing an article for HubPages. Well just open up a WordDoc and just type away. Anyone passing will just think that you are working intently on your project and leave you be.


                                                                                        [b]6. Doing nothing is a full-time job[/b]
(Eg: Signature of SENS)

Otherwise known as don’t drop the act – ever. Sure it might seem innocuous to comment to your colleague in the break room about how you were making threads in santabanta for hours. But senior managers have spies everywhere – you don’t want your colleague mentioning how bored you are at work during an “innocent” conversation with the HR manager.

Instead, try sighing dramatically whilst making your fourth cup of tea for the morning and comment to your colleagues about how much work you’ve got to do. Avoid standing around gossiping with friends at work – if you need to talk ensure that you have a work-related comment to jump back to quickly if anyone comes by while you’re talking. Wave about those documents you’ve been wandering about with for further dramatic effect.