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What to Expect When Across-the-Board Layoffs are Coming
Tweet Share on Facebook November 5, 2009 Comment (2)My company just announced "across the board" layoffs. Does that really mean that 5 percent of every department will be cut? The announcement said the entire company will be affected.
Not knowing the inner workings of your company, I can't say for sure what the management has planned. However, in general, it's unlikely that the same percentage will be cut from each department.
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How to Survive a Bad Boss
Tweet Share on Facebook November 4, 2009 Comment (11)Have you heard the one about the boss who made his assistant check his sandwich every day to be sure it didn’t contain tomatoes? Or the boss who always worked weekends and put dated notes on everyone’s desk saying, “I was here. Where were you?”
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20 'Rules for Radicals'
Tweet Share on Facebook November 3, 2009 Comment (4)My friend Nicholas Bate is a visiting lecturer at Warwick Business School in England. His minibooks are classics. His 14 Rules for Radicals
was a nice jumping off point for me, and I wanted to point you toward his "rules." (Aside: Here in America, Nick, we always need a round number like 20, so I've added six. I just had to make some parenthetical comments, too.)
[See 20 temptations to fight at work.]
This is Nick's introduction:
Be different. Be distinct. Be radical. It's good for you, it's good for your business. It's good for your kids. Be a radical. And now would be a perfect time.
. . . When I was at secondary school, the deputy headmaster demanded to see me. Apparently my school trousers broke school uniform regulations. They broke the rules. There were "too radical." That was the start of something. . . .
These are the radicals' rules, according to Nick:
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6 Things You Learn at the Job Interview
Tweet Share on Facebook November 2, 2009 Comment (8)I preach all the time about how the small stuff matters in a job search, because employers are drawing conclusions about you based on little things. The reverse is also true. As a candidate, you can learn a ton about a prospective employer by watching how they handle little things during the hiring process. Here are six:
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When a Résumé Should Take Risks
Tweet Share on Facebook October 30, 2009 Comment (4)There has long been a debate among human resources professionals over whether a job applicant is wise to include a section pertaining to personal interests on a résumé.
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4 Myths About Career Passion
Tweet Share on Facebook October 29, 2009 Comment (7)I make my living helping people figure out how to create careers that light them up, so I end up having a lot of random conversations about career passion. While the idea is appealing to everyone (because who wouldn't want to love their work?), it can also kick up a fair amount of skepticism.
[See how to change the world and your work.]
No doubt some of that skepticism is fueled by an overdose of happy-thought gurus who are long on fluff and short on realistic implementation. But a big part of it is also tied to an all too common misperception that pursuing passion is little more than unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky dreaming. That misperception is fed by a number of widespread myths. Here are four of the most common myths that prevent people from stepping into their potential.
Myth No. 1: Pursuing your passion is selfish and self-indulgent. Too many people fall prey to the notion that if it's fun, it must be selfish. And of course we can't have that! Better to stick our noses to the grindstone and grit our teeth. (What's up with that?) Is creating a career where you feel energized and engaged in your own best interest? Of course! But finding work you love is also one of the best things you could ever do for your loved ones.
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Why New Hires Need a Culture Lesson
Tweet Share on Facebook October 29, 2009 Comment (2)A month ago, we signed a new apartment lease. As part of the paperwork, we had to indicate the names we wanted on our mailbox. Today a man appeared at my door with the mailbox nameplate—and a bill for nearly $50.
Now, I admit the engraved nameplate is nice, but for $50 I'd rather just keep the handwritten sign that was there before. I brought this up with some friends, and the consensus was that this was absolutely normal in Switzerland and everybody knows that they'll get charged that much.
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7 Tips for Chatting With Your Job Interviewer
Tweet Share on Facebook October 28, 2009 Comment (4)One of the hard truths about job hunting is that jobs don’t always go to the best candidates. They go to the candidates employers like the best.
Yup, it’s about chemistry. And a big part of chemistry comes from that time-honored social lubricant: small talk. Most adults know the basics of chitchat, but, let’s face it, some of us are better at it than others. So, whether you are an introvert or extrovert, here are seven tips for being a small talk pro:
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Why the Airline Pilots' Excuses Aren't Cute
Tweet Share on Facebook October 27, 2009 CommentDo you have a grandparent like this? A middle aged friend of mine recently visited her 90-year-old grandma in a local nursing home. “Oh my God, Joan,” Grandma said. “What happened to you? You are so fat.”
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5 Reasons to Turn Down a Job Offer
Tweet Share on Facebook October 26, 2009 Comment (26)In this economy, it's easy to feel like you should jump at any job offer that comes along. But doing that could land you in a job that would make you miserable and could even harm you professionally. Here are five reasons to consider turning down a job offer:
