On Careers

When HR Fails to Do Its Job

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July 9, 2010 Comment (4)

The supervisor felt trapped. Upper management didn’t seem to care, possibly because they didn’t have to work with the employee who was rude, abusive, and insubordinate. Besides, they deferred to the lawyers.

Tags:: careers

9 Ways to Prep Now for a Career Change Later

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By Curt Rosengren

July 8, 2010 Comment (1)

Making a career change can be a challenging endeavor in the best of times, so this economy certainly doesn’t help. Sadly, a lot of people (a majority, I would say) allow that to keep them frustrated and stuck--not just for the present moment, but for the long haul. They think about making a change, decide they can’t do it, and stick their dissatisfied noses right back down to the same disheartening grindstone. They will repeat the process the next year, and the year after that.

Tags:: careers

How Small Businesses Can "Hit it Big"

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By G.L. Hoffman

July 6, 2010 Comment

Every small-business owner I know wants to “hit it big.” If you ask the owners what they mean by this, you hear something like, “You know, more customers.” If you drill a bit deeper, they will admit that more customers equals more money for them (and their employees, of course).

[See 22 ways to be a better boss.]

Tags:: careers

Why the Boss's Presence (or Absence) Matters So Much

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By Michael S. Wade

July 2, 2010 Comment (8)

An old minister once summed up the fine qualities of one of his relatives by observing, “She was the one who walked in when everyone else walked out.” He was referring to the woman’s willingness to help people, in part, by being present when others were seeking distance.

Tags:: careers

4 Questions to Ask When You Want to Quit Your Job

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By Curt Rosengren

July 1, 2010 Comment (4)

When you’re up to your eyeballs in frustrations with a job you don’t like, it can be tempting to give the whole thing the heave ho, and go running from the building. But as Alison Green noted in her recent post, "5 Things to Consider Before You Quit Your Job," quitting in the heat of the moment is probably not in your best long-term interests. So what do you do?

Tags:: careers

How to Return to the Workforce in This Economy

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By Suzanne Lucas

July 1, 2010 Comment (2)

Returning to the workforce after taking time off to raise children is a big challenge. But, it can be done. It just takes tenacity and good marketing skills.

[See 11 insider tips from the HR department.]

A reader recently wrote: "I am 55 and have been raising my children for the past 12 years. Previously, I was a management consultant with an MBA from London Business School. I have done professional volunteer work, qualified as a Master Gardener and attended an executive education program at Harvard Business School. My industry experience is wide but not deep in any particular sector. I still have responsibilities relating to my three teenage children. Is it realistic to be think that I can be hired for a middle/senior management job?"