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The Most Important Thing You Can Do for Your Career in the New Year
Tweet Share on Facebook December 31, 2008 Comment (2)You're probably seeing a lot of articles this week with headlines like "Ten Best Career Resolutions for 2009."
"Update your résumé," they'll advise. "Acquire a new skill." "Do more networking." "Work smarter, not harder."
Good ideas. But here's a better one: Have a Plan B .
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Will Oprah Hire VP of Book Selections?
Tweet Share on Facebook December 30, 2008 Comment (6)Here is my confident prediction for 2009: Oprah will hire a vice president of book selections for her show. This is a new position and one that you will not find on any job board. You may apply here in the comments, if you want.
It was revealed yesterday that another of her guests fabricated some of his book, just like James Frey before him. It made the news, and you can read more over at my home blog at www.whatwoulddadsay.com. If one mistake is an accident, then two must be a trend, and a potential third mistake for Oprah and Harpo cannot be good. Oprah cannot go on recommending authors who are allegedly fabricators and prevaricators. Trust and credibility and all that . . . Nielsen.
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5 Small Things That Annoy Interviewers
Tweet Share on Facebook December 29, 2008 Comment (12)Last week, I wrote about ways to ruin a job interview. This week, here's a list of things that will secretly annoy your interviewer--none of these are necessarily deal-breakers, but they're all things that your interviewer won't appreciate.
1. Showing up way too early. It's good to plan to arrive early so you have a buffer against being late--but kill those last 20 minutes at a nearby coffee shop, not in the company's reception area. Many interviewers are annoyed when candidates show up more than five or ten minutes early, since they may feel obligated to interrupt what they're doing and go out to greet the person, and some (like me) feel vaguely guilty leaving someone sitting in their reception area that long. Aim to walk in five minutes early, but no more than that.
2. Underdressing. It doesn't matter if the office where you're interviewing is business casual; you still need to put on a suit and look professional. It signals that you take the job seriously. Sure, you might get hired if you wear a sweater and pants instead--I've hired people who wore that to the interview. But why wouldn't you want to play it safe and wear a suit? You can wear business casual when you're working there, after you impress them in the interview where you wear a suit. -
The Accusations Employers Avoid
Tweet Share on Facebook December 26, 2008 Comment (2)Stay in the workplace long enough and you're sure to hear these accusations. Sometimes they are true and sometimes the accusers fail to consider how management may be striving to avoid the opposing accusation.
"You sent me to the training workshop because you don't want me in the office" versus "You refused to send me to the training workshop because you don't want to develop my skills."
"You gave me special assignments because you wanted to set me up for failure" versus "You gave special assignments to others so they'll have more experience when a promotional opportunity arises." -
Give to Get: Altruism Makes You Happier and Healthier
Tweet Share on Facebook December 25, 2008 CommentWhether Christmas is your holiday of choice or not, Merry Christmas! In keeping with the spirit of the season, I want to talk about giving. Not the consumer-driven variety we tend to associate with this holiday, but one that is more altruism-based.
Question: Is giving part of your life strategy?
If it’s not, it should be. I don’t say that from a finger-wagging, “Thou Shalt Give” perspective. I say it from a personal benefit point of view. Study after study on altruism has shown that giving in its many forms can strengthen both physical and psychological health, contributing to your happiness, health, positive relationships, and more.
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How to Cheer Up This Holiday
Tweet Share on Facebook December 24, 2008 CommentDoes this feel to you like the gloomiest holiday since, well, forever?
You’d be forgiven for feeling that Winter 2008 offers us little to celebrate. The economy’s in the tank. We taxpayers have to pay for the errors of people who should’ve known better. Corruption in high places has reached new lows. Even the weather, in many parts of the country, is kinda crummy, if not downright life-threatening.
Working Girl has been trying to think of something optimistic to say in this winter of our discontent. She doesn’t want to bring a sneer to your face by being annoyingly Pollyanna-like. People are facing real problems.
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I'm Just Sayin': Holiday Musings From the Chairman
Tweet Share on Facebook December 23, 2008 Comment. . . Over the holidays, a lot of job talk will be going on, with 85 percent of you worrying way too much about your résumé. Résumé work is No. 5 on the priority list.
. . . Reworking your résumé as a first step is like spending too much money in your start-up on logos and business cards.
. . . If your adult kids are home for the holidays, resist giving them advice all the time. Just enjoy their presence.
. . . Sometimes kids just want you to listen. No advice, please.
. . . If you really hate your job, don't go on and on about it at home. I don't care if it makes you feel good to "vent."
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Give Kindness to the Workforce This Season
Tweet Share on Facebook December 22, 2008 Comment (3)I did something last Friday night that I've never done before.
I answered survey questions from a telemarketer.
When the phone initially rang, my instinct told me to ignore it--or worse yet--pick it up and give the caller a piece of my mind.
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9 Ways to Ruin a Job Interview
Tweet Share on Facebook December 22, 2008 Comment (6)1. Answer your cell phone. If you forget to turn it off and it rings, turn it off immediately, apologize profusely and look mortified.
2. Ask questions about the company that could have easily been answered with a modicum of research. I've had candidates say, "So what exactly do you guys do?"
3. Badmouth an old boss. I'll assume that'll be me you're talking about some day. -
Why I’m Recounting the Kindness of Colleagues
Tweet Share on Facebook December 19, 2008 CommentToo often we can readily recount those times when we encountered cruel or thoughtless behavior in the workplace. That is why a periodic review of the kindness that has shaped and boosted our careers is important.
I recall:
