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The Truth About the Remote-Work Trend
Tweet Share on Facebook April 18, 2011 Comment (25)Common sense and multiple surveys tell us that a majority of workers believe they can do their jobs from home. Even President Obama often extols the virtues of remote work. We know that at-home workers have greater flexibility, in theory, improving their work-life balance. Add in the money employees save on commuting costs and the money companies save on skyrocketing utilities, and it equals a big win for Mother Nature.
But there’s a dirty little secret that corporate America doesn’t want you to know. The reality is, most employers are not supportive of remote working. In an attempt to appear progressive, they pretend that flexible schedules are more of an option than they really are.
Here are the reasons your boss wants to make sure your butt is at the office on a daily basis:
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What to Do When You Hate Your Job
Tweet Share on Facebook April 18, 2011 Comment (22)At some point in your career, you’re highly likely to run into a difficult boss, toxic co-workers, or an unpleasant work culture.
Whatever the problem, the ultimate solution is generally the same: Step back, remove your emotions from the equation, and try to figure out what you can and can’t change. Decide what you’re willing to live with, and where your bottom line falls.
Easier said than done, right? So let’s break this down:
1. Step back and remove your emotions from the equation.
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8 New Websites for Your Resume
Tweet Share on Facebook April 15, 2011 Comment (20)Multiple experts predict the death of the resume in favor of the online profile in the near future. But on the flip side, resumes will always be needed at some point during the hiring process for official company records.
As a result, new websites are popping up to help you with both sides of the equation. (Three tools—RÉSUNATE, One-Page Proposal, and Hello There—were mentioned in a previous article, 11 New Websites for Your Job Search.)
Here are eight new sites to help you bring your resume online:
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The Smarter Way to Change Careers
Tweet Share on Facebook April 14, 2011 Comment (3)I frequently talk to people who have lost their jobs and are giving serious thought to tackling something new. They realize the path they’ve been on isn’t one they want to follow—or, more often, they’ve been oh-too-aware of that for years—and they want to make a change.
The trouble comes when they shift out of the fantasy and into reality. And the reality typically boils down to this: “I need a job!” When you feel the pressure of being unemployed, it’s typically not the ideal time to reinvent yourself and change careers. Most people don’t have that luxury. They need a paycheck coming in sooner, not later.
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Why You’re Not Getting Hired
Tweet Share on Facebook April 13, 2011 Comment (16)If you’re trying hard to land an interview and nothing seems to work, you likely have a lot of ideas about why no one is giving you a chance.
Maybe it’s ageism (you’re too old or too young). Or the economy; your industry isn’t hiring (except for your colleague who got the job you should have had). You don’t want to relocate; all the jobs are in a different part of the country. You took time off to stay home with your children; there’s a gap in your work history. You’re a realtor, and everyone knows as soon as the housing market bounces back, you’ll quit your job to go back to selling homes.
Sometimes these reasons affect your lack of interview opportunities. But often, other obstacles are keeping you from landing the job you want.
Before you blame any of the factors above, make sure you’re not making some classic mistakes. These could be the reasons you’re not getting hired:
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Why You Should Never Turn Down an Interview
Tweet Share on Facebook April 12, 2011 Comment (5)Whether you are fresh out of college or a seasoned professional, you should always embrace the opportunity to interview for a job. It doesn’t matter if the timing is bad or if you started a new job yesterday—accepting an invitation to interview is always a wise move.
Here are five reasons why you should never turn down an interview:
It’s good practice. There’s a reason so many people are scared to fly on airplanes: We have no way to practice and most of us do it infrequently. The more we do something, the better we get at it, and interviewing is no exception. Sure you can hold mock interviews with family and friends, but nothing will prepare you like real-world experience. Since the opportunity to interview doesn’t arise frequently, embrace it when you get the chance.
[In Pictures: 12 Common Work Email Mistakes.]
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10 Tips for Negotiating a Raise
Tweet Share on Facebook April 11, 2011 Comment (3)When’s the last time you asked for a raise?
If you’re like most people, it’s been a while—in large part because it’s an intimidating conversation to have.
Here are 10 things you should and shouldn’t do to make the conversation go smoothly:
1. Pick your timing carefully. Check out these right and wrong times to ask for a raise.
2. Understand what your manager is likely going to be thinking. And what is in a manager’s head when a staff member asks for more money? Typically, it’s this: “Is this reasonable? Am I going to lose this employee if I say no? Where would this put her salary in the larger context of our overall salary structure? And most importantly, how valuable is this employee?” Managers are much more willing to go out of their way to accommodate someone fantastic who they don't want to lose—and much less likely when the request comes from someone they're lukewarm about.
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How to Use Quora to Advance Your Career
Tweet Share on Facebook April 8, 2011 Comment (2)Quora has recently emerged as a helpful resource for your job search and career. Although Q&A websites have existed for some time now (think Yahoo! Answers or Formspring), people are flocking to Quora because of the social aspect of the site—not just the answers.
With so many professionals and thought leaders participating on the social Q&A site, it can certainly be another tool to develop your online presence and share your expertise in your industry.
Get started on Quora by creating an account and doing the following:
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How Positivity Opens Doors in Your Career
Tweet Share on Facebook April 7, 2011 Comment (5)I write frequently about how what’s happening between your ears plays a big role in your career potential. A change in how you view the world—as a place of limits or a place of possibility—literally shrinks or expands the options available to you. And I don’t mean that from a metaphysical “manifestation” perspective. I mean it from a common sense, logical perspective.
As humans, we are pattern-seeking creatures. It’s what we do. Something happens, and our brain decides what box it fits in. When you see the world through a lens of lack and limit, that sets the pattern your brain is looking to match. So when negative things happen, it reinforces that worldview. And when positive things happen, they are both minimized in importance and truncated by waiting for the other shoe to drop. A perspective of possibility and potential, on the other hand, does the opposite.
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When to Say No to a Job
Tweet Share on Facebook April 7, 2011 Comment (8)Interviews aren’t solely for the sake of the company—they’re intended to help the job seeker figure out whether the company is a match for them, too. And while most of us can’t afford to be too picky in this economy, if you interview for an opportunity that doesn’t feel right, listen to your gut.
Here are a few tell-tale warning signs about a potential job, ones that might set off that gut reaction:
1. The position has been filled multiple times and nobody has lasted more than 18 months. High turnover is a sign of multiple issues. It could be poor compensation, a negative work environment, little opportunity for growth, or often times, a bad manager. If you’re spending eight or more hours a day at work, you need to like most of the people you work with.
