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Beware of Post-Interview Impressions
Tweet Share on Facebook February 13, 2009 Comment (3)The interview went off without a hitch. All the questions were well-handled. Vibrations were positive. A couple of interview panel members even showed the candidate where his office would be and asked him which desk he’d prefer.
He left believing the job was his.
He never heard from them again.
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Working Overtime: Should You Put it Down on Your Timesheet?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 12, 2009 Comment (3)I am an office manager for a law firm. The job was posted full-time. Upon accepting the position, I negotiated a part-time schedule (32 hrs/ week). Although my work scheduled is 32 hrs/week, there are weeks when the work cannot be done in that amount of time and I have worked 36-39 hours in a week. I submit to our payroll company for all the hours worked. Am I correct in doing so?
Absolutely! In fact, you would be breaking the law if you did not submit all hours worked.
Sometimes employees feel like they are doing a favor for their employer by not recording all hours worked. Or, if they made mistakes during the day, feel it's only right that they not charge for the extra hours needed to fix it. While it can seem like the "right" or "fair" thing to do, it actually opens up your employer to huge fines for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.
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In Tough Times, Take Time to Fill the Well
Tweet Share on Facebook February 12, 2009 CommentOne of the most common themes I hear these days is the feeling of stress and anxiety. People are worried about the economy. They’re worried about their jobs, and whether or not they’ll still have them next month.
When that anxiety starts to build, it can be easy to just grit our teeth, hunker down, and try to make it through. Nothing wrong with that in the short-term, but so often that sets off a chain reaction where the tension ratchets up and, figuratively speaking, we forget to breathe. The more tension we feel, the more anxiety we feel. It’s a vicious circle.
Over time, that tension and anxiety is depleting. The longer you’re immersed in it, the more it drains your energy. And that has a negative effect on every aspect of your life, both work and personal.
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How to Be a Stand-out Job Candidate
Tweet Share on Facebook February 11, 2009 Comment (5)If you’ve looked in a newspaper lately you may have seen a photo of long lines of showered, coiffed, and dressed-for-success people clutching briefcases or laptops and looking very, very unhappy.
They are waiting in line at a job fair.
Their glumness is understandable. Now is not a great time to be out of work. But you know what? They shouldn't be scowling. They should be smiling.
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How to Write the Perfect Thank-You Note After the Interview
Tweet Share on Facebook February 10, 2009 Comment (12)I love Generation Y.
They cut to the chase, no matter the topic. If the career advice is all theoretical and nonspecific, they want to know exactly what you meant. Create a simple elevator pitch? Great, how would you do mine? I should do “thank you” letters after the interview? Great, what should it say?
Simply writing a thank-you note puts you in the top 10 percent of job seekers, since most applicants don’t bother. But here are five things that should be in the letter that follows a job interview:
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When Your Coworker is Fired
Tweet Share on Facebook February 9, 2009 Comment (7)A reader writes:
How do you deal with it when a coworker is fired? Today I was talking with my coworker and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He went into a meeting with our boss, and next thing I knew he was gone, and an E-mail was sent to the whole department saying that as of today he no longer works here. I don't know what happened, but it surprised me, worried me, and made me nervous about my job.
It's unnerving when a coworker is fired, especially when you don't know why it happened. If you didn't see it coming, does that mean that you could be fired out of the blue too?
First, keep in mind that just because the firing came as a surprise to you, it probably didn't come as a surprise to your coworker. It's extremely rare for someone to be fired without any warning (except in particularly egregious cases, like embezzling or, say, punching someone). In most cases, the employee has had numerous conversations with her manager about whatever the problem is and what needs to change. If the employer is at all responsible, the person has also been explicitly told that she could lose her job if the problems aren't fixed.
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Not All Jobs Can Be Fun
Tweet Share on Facebook February 6, 2009 Comment (3)I was once mildly chastised by another consultant for implying that work is not necessarily fun. He noted that all work is--or should be--fun.
Call me a pessimist, but I don’t buy that for all jobs. Some jobs are downright unpleasant. Any attempt to put a happy face on them only adds to the unpleasantness.
Some “all work is fun” advocates may argue that the job itself is not the problem. The difficulty lies in the way it is structured or staffed. If only the coworkers, supervision or responsibilities were changed, the workplace and specific positions would be much more enjoyable.
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Develop a Two-Way Help Habit
Tweet Share on Facebook February 5, 2009 Comment (4)I have written here before about the importance of the support of others on the path to your career dreams. This past week, I’ve had the message driven home--just how important that is, not only in our careers, but in our lives.
Since last Wednesday, I have been frustratingly incapacitated. I’ll spare you the details, but it has to do with complications from a kidney stone and multiple trips to the emergency room. I’ve been stuck at home, and reliant on the help of friends (and yes, I’m slowly feeling better, thanks).
For someone as fiercely independent as I tend to be, feeling so dependent--even temporarily--has been a challenge. But it has also been a learning opportunity that is focusing my attention on the importance of offering and accepting assistance.
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When Calling in Sick is the Only Way to Take a Vacation
Tweet Share on Facebook February 5, 2009 Comment (5)I work for a hospital that gives generous PTO (paid time off) benefits--they can be used for sick days, vacation days or personal days. Since I am rarely sick, I have several weeks saved up. However, I work in a department where coverage is an issue. Even though there are 30 of us, only 2 can be out at the same time. Additionally, requests for vacation are frequently denied and there are strict rules about who can take off when--and you can’t ask more than 60 days in advance, which means you may or may not get to attend your brother’s wedding.
As a result, people who call in “sick” (regardless of how sick they really are), get to use all their PTO. Those of us who try to schedule time off can rarely have it. Any way around this?
In the first place, I am not a fan of PTO plans. I prefer separate buckets for vacation, sick and personal days. (Although, honestly, what is the difference between vacation and personal? I’ve never quite understood the need to separate those things out.)
I’m also a huge fan of using vacation days—and having others use vacation days. You want employees that are happy. Employees who take vacation are happy. Happy employees are better workers. Honestly, they are.
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Can You Learn to Love Coworkers From Hell?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 4, 2009 Comment (4)Last week we talked about five ways to love--or at least like--a job you hate. But what if the problem isn’t the job, rather, it's the people you do the job with?
Awful coworkers can make your life at work ... awful. But you may need to stick with that work for now, so consider these questions:
Is the coworker needling you just to see you react? Your task, then, is to simply refuse to engage. For example, if he asks, “Didja get any last night?” fix him with a brief hard stare and then continue to work. Consistently behaving in an adult fashion makes the coworker look like the naughty child he, in fact, is.
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