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How to Make a Big, Impractical Career Change
Tweet Share on Facebook April 1, 2010 Comment (2)A reader writes:
I am a 35-year-old retail store manager realizing that I don't particularly like retailing. Its a little bit late in life to discover this now, particularly since the responsibilities of [being a] breadwinner to my wife and kids remains a given. If I could "swing a magic wand" I would love to do something completely different, like be a stockbroker, but how do I do practically make the transition from one career to the next?
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To Reach Your Career Goals, Take Stock of Your Friends
Tweet Share on Facebook April 1, 2010 Comment (2)Have you ever been excited about an idea, only to have a chronically skeptical friend puncture your enthusiasm? Have you ever started gathering a head of steam towards acting on a goal, only to have someone’s pessimistic perspective slow you down?
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How to Tell Your Boss You're Overworked
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2010 Comment (4)I recently detailed seven things you should never say to your boss, including this little gem: “I can only do one thing at a time.”
This led many intelligent, thoughtful readers to write and ask, “I’m doing the work of five people! Are you saying I have to just put up and shut up?”
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The Trouble With a Boss Who Cares
Tweet Share on Facebook March 30, 2010 CommentFrom time to time, my friends in HR will ask me, “How do I become more relevant at my job?” Or, “How can I increase my visibility and credibility with my boss?”
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Why You Never Badmouth Your Boss at a Job Interview
Tweet Share on Facebook March 29, 2010 Comment (18)A reader writes:
I was hoping you could answer a question I had about my most recent job interview.
I learned a little too late that it is considered a very bad thing to badmouth former employers at a job interview. But I was wondering whether you would automatically disqualify a candidate you were interviewing because of this or if you would still consider giving them the job?
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To Succeed at Your Job, Know When to Take the Initiative
Tweet Share on Facebook March 26, 2010 CommentOne of the most important things to determine in any job is the expected level of initiative. By “expected,” I don’t mean the level that management says it wants–many micro-managers can speak eloquently of the virtues of initiative–but instead, the level that is rewarded versus that which is discouraged.
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7 Things Your Boss Should Never Say to You
Tweet Share on Facebook March 24, 2010 Comment (64)Last week, I listed seven things employees should never say to bosses. A look at the various comment threads shows that a few bosses out there could also benefit from a review of the basics of good workplace relations--not to mention a quickie refresher of what constitutes good leadership.
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Why Employees Should be More Grateful for Perks
Tweet Share on Facebook March 23, 2010 Comment (1)It was right as the green bagels were circulating on St. Patrick's Day that I realized I should be more grateful for Human Resources' efforts to put together a fun and festive work event.
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Should You Send Your Resume in the Mail?
Tweet Share on Facebook March 22, 2010 Comment (5)A reader writes:
I have a job but have been looking for a change for about six months. I've gotten absolutely no responses, (except a few polite "no thanks" E-mails) to E-mailed and online application submissions.
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When Your Office is Like High School
Tweet Share on Facebook March 19, 2010 Comment (5)Kurt Vonnegut once observed that “Life is nothing but high school... .”
For those of us who hated high school, that comment is mildly depressing. In our eyes, high school serves as a handy benchmark of unpleasantness against which other experiences can be measured. A job may be bad, we reason, but at least it’s not high school. Things have improved.
