Equip Your Office for Success

Great, transformative things happen in my office. My love and appreciation for beautiful spaces shows clearly here. My office flows just perfectly for me and makes me smile when I walk in. I can work for twelve hours, unaware of time passing by, because I am so comfortable.
It’s obvious: you need the right tools and environment to do your best work, perhaps even more so when you are trying to find a job. The question remains: where to start? Everyone has their own specific situation, flexibility, and budget to work with so my advice is to think about what will make a difference for you and invest in those things. One person may spend hundreds for an ergonomic chair; someone else may only need a seat cushion for support. If your home doesn’t give you space for an office, and your “office” is Starbucks or the library or your car, then the supplies you need to be successful will be different.
Find out how you can equip yourself with the necessary tools to get things done effectively. I’ve included some suggestions below for you to keep in mind as you create your best space.

Keep in mind the space you work in affects your mood and physical wellbeing, which in turn affects your productivity and success. You also need to make sure you have spent time setting up the best space to present yourself for video calls and interviews. Any space you have deemed to be perfect for your work can be transformed into your office.
Paying attention to any or all the following can put you in a better position to succeed:

You must have good technology; this is non-negotiable. It can be very difficult to get anything done without it. Whether you are job searching or working remotely, there is no way to be seen as a professional if you are frozen on video, dropped off a call because of a dead battery, or run out of ink when you really need to print. 

Office supplies is a big term that includes everything from furniture to pencils. Paper, pens, notebooks, organizers, thank you cards, highlighters, stapler, paper clips, notebooks, sticky notes – these are some of the basic supplies for a desk or office, useful anytime and especially during your job search. You may have no preference about these kinds of things, and that’s fine. Again, the “right tool for the job” is reason number one but using supplies that also make you happy because they are your favorite color is a good reason too. A good mood has a positive effect on your creativity, productivity, and overall success. If a gel pen or beautiful pencil makes your heart smile (like me!), make sure to stock up on a few packs. 

Blackwing pencils, gel pens, leather journals from Barnes & Noble, calendars and planners from Paper Source. Pottery Barn desk and filing cabinet with matching shelf, Apple desktop and laptop, HP Printer. Gorgeous frames, art décor, mirror, white board, flip chart, sticky pads, and journals. Photos of loved ones, pets, friends.

Your Office

Your Technology

Suggestions

Your Traditional Supplies

Leah’s Favorites

Want more career insight and knowledge? Check out our courses.