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Read This Before You Accept That Promotion
Tweet Share on Facebook May 20, 2008 Comment (1)I'm often amazed at how the majority of workers have an autopilot mind-set of: "I want a promotion." While most of us want to earn more, it's important to understand that it's not always worth the trip. I'm not suggesting you take the path of least resistance; I'm merely asking you to think it through from every angle.
Is the next step up worth it as far as money, mobility, and résumé-building? Also, what are the short- and long-term implications for your career? Not to mention the dozens of intangibles, all of which can leave you desperate to get out.
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You've Made a Mistake at Work. Now What?
Tweet Share on Facebook May 19, 2008 Comment (15)When you make a mistake at work, how you handle its immediate aftermath can often overshadow the mistake itself.
First, here's what not to do:
1. Don't hope that if you act like it wasn't a big deal, your boss might think it wasn't a big deal either. This strategy will actually compound the damage: Your boss will be far more alarmed that you don't really care that you made a mistake than she will be by the mistake itself. Rather than making the mistake less noticeable, what will really stand out is that you're not taking responsibility for it.
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3 Questions Posed in Every Job Interview
Tweet Share on Facebook May 16, 2008 CommentThere are three questions that applicants must put to rest in every job interview:
- Can I trust this person?
- Will this person embarrass me?
- Will this person fit in?
These questions might not be asked, but the concerns behind them are the interview's backdrop. The applicant who reassures the employer on each point will be far ahead of those who do not. Let's consider the components:
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3 Steps to Jump-Starting Your Job Dreams
Tweet Share on Facebook May 15, 2008 Comment (1)In response to my post last week about dreaming, Earl from New York said:
I am so busy with work during the day and family at night that I have no idea what I want to do but I know I need a change. Do you have any advice about how to start dreaming again?
That's such a common experience, the answer merits a post of its own. So here are three steps to jump-start your dream discovery:
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Confidence Makes a Leader
Tweet Share on Facebook May 14, 2008 Comment (4)Of course, it's important to have the skills, but that's only a portion of the pie chart. The most important characteristic of leadership is confidence.
Many people will argue that confidence is gained through failure and success. That may be true in some instances—it may even help you become a leader.
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Employers Still Want You, Just for Less Money
Tweet Share on Facebook May 14, 2008 Comment (1)New graduates and experienced job seekers alike in the fields of technology, project management, governmental contracting, and finance may encounter a change in how companies are willing to compensate them for their services. As the economy continues to face a downturn, businesses are faced with a dilemma in hiring for these positions.
JobFox gave the latest outlook for these professions with their latest May 2008 release of the "most wanted U.S. job candidates."
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Sales Is Not a Dirty Word
Tweet Share on Facebook May 13, 2008 Comment (8)"There ain't hardly no business done what ain't went after."
Too homespun? Aw shucks, then Trace Adkins should write it in a country song.
In my companies, I have been identified as—even accused of—being too close to, or enamored with, "sales." Whatever "sales" wants, I want, they say.
Yep.
Which is why it makes me cringe when I hear young people act like sales is, like, dude, the worst possible place. Few schools even teach it, preferring to teach "marketing." Why? Because they can't teach sales, that's why. Can you just see it now? Some pissant college sophomore asking, "So, professor, how did you do in sales?"
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The Job Interview Starts From the First E-mail
Tweet Share on Facebook May 12, 2008 Comment (17)I frequently see job candidates acting as if only "official" contacts—like interviews and formal writing samples—count during the hiring process. They'll send flawlessly edited cover letters and writing samples and then check up on their applications with sloppily written E-mails with spelling errors. Or they'll be charming and polite to me but rude to an assistant.
If you're job searching, remember that employers are gathering information about you at every interaction, not just in the interview itself. For example:
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4 Ways to Beat Office Stress Before It Starts
Tweet Share on Facebook May 12, 2008 Comment (1)You know the drill. It's a quiet day at work and you're looking forward to paying your bills online and catching up on your favorite blogs. Then it happens...
It could be an E-mail with a red exclamation point or the ring of a phone. Your boss needs something—and needs it now.
The blood rushes to your face and the office suddenly feels like a furnace. If this sounds like you, fear not, there is a cure. Here are some pre-emptive tips for confronting a stressful assignment before it's issued:
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Dear Employee: Unwritten Resignation Accepted
Tweet Share on Facebook May 9, 2008 Comment (7)Dear Disgruntled Employee,
We have received your letter of resignation. Of course, it was not a written one, using paper and ink, and you may be surprised that we are ending our employment relationship. We've finally caught on, however, to what your conduct has been saying on a daily basis: "I've resigned."
The beginning paragraph of your unwritten resignation was when you missed the deadline on submitting an important report to the executive board. Although a dedicated employee—to use an old-fashioned term—would have been apologetic, you just shrugged, walked back to your desk, and improved your Solitaire skills. We were surprised you gave no sign of embarrassment, but at that point, of course, we didn't understand: In order to be embarrassed, one must first care.
