-
When Gen Y Just Doesn't Fit In
Tweet Share on Facebook May 19, 2009 Comment (5)What do government agencies, nonprofits, and unionized entities have in common?
Dinosaurs. (And I mean that affectionately.)
While many career blogs and job-related social networks would have you believe otherwise, there are still many baby boomers in our workforce. Don't let their weaker eyesight and slower response times fool you--these folks are not going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Many of them are still damn good at what they do.
-
Are You Making These Job Reference Mistakes?
Tweet Share on Facebook May 18, 2009 Comment (11)It turns out that it's possible for your references to diminish your chances of getting the job without even saying a word. Here's a recent experience I had when checking the references of two candidates I was torn between.
Candidate no. 1 gave me the phone numbers of three former managers. I reached each of them easily and their references were strong.
Candidate no. 2 also gave me a list of references. One featured a phone number which, when I called it, turned out to be disconnected. Another featured a number that was answered by someone else, not even at the same company. I had to contact the candidate several times to get correct numbers. This raised red flags about the candidate's attention to detail and whether she doesn't tend to check things out before handing over potentially wrong information. In the position she was applying for, that could be disastrous.
-
10 Ways to Handle a Crisis
Tweet Share on Facebook May 15, 2009 Comment (1)At some point, you may have to deal with a workplace crisis. Here are some actions your team should consider:
1. Prevent it. This is a pre-crisis step, of course, and it requires the ability to visualize how things could go wrong. Although seemingly a basic skill, those who fall in love with a project or plan may have difficulty spotting the vulnerable areas.
2. Stabilize the situation. The crisis has arrived. Now you need to assert control, isolate the crisis, and minimize the damage.
3. Notify your boss. Pronto. The bad news will not improve with age.
-
When The Boss's Wife is The HR Department
Tweet Share on Facebook May 14, 2009 Comment (8)I worked for a small, husband and wife- owned company. The husband was my boss and also the President of the company. His wife? The entire HR Department. Isn't this, oh, I don't know, a conflict of interest? There were several instances where I had a problem with the way my boss treated my coworkers and me, but didn't really feel comfortable talking about it with his wife. Is it the type of situation where having your wife as HR is a bad idea, but there are no rules against it?
There are lots of things that are bad ideas, but businesses do them anyway. Now, is it a good idea or a bad idea to have the boss's wife in charge of HR? Well, that depends on the people involved. If she's a competent HR person, then I'm all for it. If she was hired because shes the boss's wife, well then, that's a whole different ball of wax. Remember, the point of HR is to help the business succeed, not to play referee between employees and management.
I think your concern is that if you go to HR (the wife) and say, "Your husband is treating me like dirt," she'll be defensive and she'll take his side. This is highly likely. What's even more likely is that regardless of the relationship between the president and HR, HR will take the president's side. Why? Because I have never seen a company where HR didn't have to report to the president.
-
Put Away The Magic Wand And Work
Tweet Share on Facebook May 14, 2009 CommentIf the article titles on magazine covers are to be believed, we’re all just a hair’s breadth away from whatever our hearts desire. “Three easy steps to ______,” they shout. “Achieve _____ in only 20 minutes a day!” And we eat it up. We can’t get enough of those quick fixes that promise maximum results for a minimal time investment. And what’s not to love about that?
Well, potentially plenty. While it’s theoretically possible that we’ll come across just the idea that will let us make ultragigantihumongous change in our lives in short order, for the most part the quick and easy route doesn’t stick. Real, substantive change in your life tends to come in slow, measured doses.
It’s like creating a new habit. Have you ever resolved to create a new positive habit? Something like, “OK, now I’m going to exercise regularly,” or, “I’m going to read every night now instead of watching TV.” If you have, you have probably also experienced a well-intended habit spiraling downward into oblivion.
-
Ignore The Numbers. Get a Job.
Tweet Share on Facebook May 13, 2009 Comment (3)You can’t pick up a paper, thumb through a magazine, listen to the radio, watch TV, or log on these days without being pummeled by the relentless news: Unemployment is up. The economy is down. The sky is falling and it's aimed right for your head.
As if looking for a job wasn’t hard enough.
You’re tempted to just stop consuming news. You’re tempted to just give up the job hunt. But you need to keep up with the world, and you need to find a job.
-
Should Extra Duties Equal More Pay?
Tweet Share on Facebook May 11, 2009 Comment (11)A reader writes:
I am currently a secretary, with a degree in computer engineering. My employer now wants me to be the back-up I.T. person in the office, which is not a part of a support staff position. Is it unprofessional to expect or to ask to be compensated for this addition of extra duties? Can you please tell me the best way to ask for compensation and the appropriate time to ask?
Are they asking you to work more hours? Take on work that you strongly prefer not to do? Or is your only objection that it's outside of your regular job description?
If the latter, asking for more money isn't likely to go over well. You'll risk being seen as difficult and not particularly committed to the company or your own performance.
-
How to Make Enemies
Tweet Share on Facebook May 8, 2009 Comment (16)There are at least 30 ways to make enemies in the workplace:
- Always correct others when they are wrong.
- Avoid “win-win” outcomes and instead rub in an opponent’s loss.
- Surprise people with bad news.
- Overpromise.
- Underperform.
- Let others rely upon your word, and then renege on your commitment.
- Use sarcasm.
- Spread rumors.
- Boast.
- Lie.
- Belittle people.
- Respond promptly whenever you are angry.
- Routinely question the motives of others.
- Be too busy for others.
- Don’t respect their time.
- Make loose allegations.
- Be uncaring.
- Ignore common courtesies.
- Don’t return letters, calls or email.
- Engage in personal attacks.
- Exhibit cruel and senseless prejudices.
- Openly enjoy the discomfort of others.
- Embarrass people.
- Don’t keep confidences.
- Claim undue credit.
- Be hypercritical.
- Be indiscreet.
- Be crude.
- Look down on people.
- Kiss up and kick down.
-
The Dream-Killing "No" is Often Illogical
Tweet Share on Facebook May 7, 2009 Comment (2)Want a simple tip to increase the likelihood that you will find a career that lights you up? One that is easy to implement and involves no risk whatsoever?
Resist the urge to say “No” prematurely.
Easy, huh? But too often I hear the glimmer of a dream start to show up, only to be followed immediately by some variation of “That will never work,” or, “That’s not realistic.”
-
How to Look Smarter Than You Are
Tweet Share on Facebook May 6, 2009 Comment (12)Times are tough and everybody’s looking for an edge. So here’s an easy, and ethical, tip for looking smarter than you really are at work:
Talk more.
Yup, that’s it. Research shows that people who speak up more often in groups are viewed as more competent and more instrumental to a group’s overall success. Maybe they aren’t the smartest people in the room, and maybe what they have to say isn’t always 100 percent right on, but talkative people are perceived as more dominant. And, for better or for worse, dominant people are perceived as competent people.
