On The Job

JANUARY 11, 2008

It’s no secret that many of us are doing twice -- if not three or four times -- the amount of work we were doing a few years ago. Downsizings and layoffs and the reliance on teams have caused organizations to ask each individual to perform a multitude of tasks, many of them simultaneously. And, of course, with all that works comes a lot of stress. Trying to find enough hours in the day to complete demanding projects while trying to please bosses and customers is a daunting task.

Management 114

Management Management Performance IT 114

On The Job

JANUARY 31, 2008

I've never had a discussion about mentoring without someone offering a story about the mentor from hell. Stories of micromanagement, hostility, uninvolvment or just plain weirdness are some of the tales of woe from the mentees. The most difficult situation is when the mentee can't find a way to put an end to the relationship. Finding a way to be diplomatic and not totally sabatoging a career while ditching a mentor at the first opportunity can be tough.

Mentor 100

Mentor Credentials Career IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 30, 2008

The last time you gave a presentation did you claim that the reason the audience dozed off was because of a stuffy room, too much lunch, or perhaps some weird sleep disorder? If you did, perhaps it’s time to go to the true source of the audience snores -- you. One of the biggest mistakes people make when putting together a presentation is that they sit down at their computer and begin writing a speech with long sentences and big words.

Communication 100

Communication Solution Career IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 29, 2008

I'm still waiting on the Kennedy family to endorse this blog, but until then, let's see what I can round up for this Tidbit Tuesday: * That will teach you to go on vacation: If you want to see the ultimate cubicle prank, check out this posting from the folks at TechRepublic. Personally, it's my idea of a great place to work -- I think everyone is going to want the same thing. * Where's my sweater?

Motivation 100

Motivation Communication IT 100

Advertiser: Paycor

Great leadership development is the key to sustainable business growth. Are you ready to design an effective program? HR can use Paycor’s framework to: Set achievable goals. Align employee and company needs. Support different learning styles. Empower the next generation of leaders. Invest in your company’s future with a strong leadership development program.

Leadership Development

On The Job

JANUARY 28, 2008

Today, I put five nickels in my pocket. Now, you may be thinking that five nickels (25 cents) won't do me much good. After all, there is hardly anything that can be purchased for that amount, not even a stamp. But I believe my five nickels are going to buy me a lot. I believe that 25 cents, which I found rattling around at the bottom of my purse, will by the end of the day have a) made me feel good; b) be a great investment in my career; and c) perhaps help someone else do great things.

Career 100

Career Management Management IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 24, 2008

If you were good with numbers when you were in high school, a career guidance counselor or teacher probably steered you toward becoming an accounting major in college. Or, if you showed a flair for working with children, perhaps a counselor recommended a career in teaching. But you may be discovering as you advance in your career that you have been steered down the wrong path.

Career 100

Career Accounting IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 22, 2008

One of the great things about being a journalist is that you get to ask a lot of questions and people (generally) don't get annoyed with you. Since I've been covering the workplace for more than 15 years, I've spent a lot of time asking some very smart and wise people about a wide variety of issues, ranging from how to get a promotion to how to handle a bully boss to how to get along with co-workers.

Career 100

Career IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 21, 2008

As we celebrate and remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, I want to share with you some insight I received from an author and diversity expert I once interviewed. R. Roosevelt Thomas Jr. explained to me me that many people believe that a workplace has become diverse when people of color or women are present at different organizational levels.

IT 100

IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 18, 2008

I've spent the last week talking to a lot of people about the economy, and their predictions about where the job market is headed in the next few months. The general agreement seems to be this: we're not officially in a recession, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be looking for ways to protect your job. While I'll get to some of the suggestions in a minute, one of the things that bothers me the most about these conversations is the emphasis on the fact that the worst time to be looking for a

Retail 100

Retail Finance Recruitment Networking 100

On The Job

JANUARY 16, 2008

Shawn Graham is an associate director with the MBA Career Management Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills' Kenan-Flagler Business School. He is also author of "Courting Your Career: Match Yourself with the Perfect Job". I recently asked him some questions regarding young workers: You are on the front lines of helping college graduates and young professionals find a job.

Training Program 100

Training Program Career Networking Education 100

Speaker: Chandra McCormack, CPA, MBA, NACD.DC

Technical degrees might open doors—but it’s the soft skills that keep them open. In the face of disruption, evolving workplace dynamics, and rising expectations of leadership, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and presence have become core business essentials—not nice-to-haves. Inspired by stories from her father coupled with her own career journey, seasoned executive Chandra McCormack breaks down how to lead with impact, connect with purpose, and cultivate a workplace cult

CP

On The Job

JANUARY 15, 2008

Here's some breaking news: This Tidbit Tuesday post has absolutely nothing to do with Britney Spears. There's no footage of her visiting Starbucks, Taco Bell or a gas station. But there is a little Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock today, but I swear it has to do with the workplace. * Romancing Romo: There's been some discussion about whether celebrity/pop star/hair extension mogul Jessica Simpson had anything to do with the loss of the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday's game against

Performance 100

Performance Career IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 14, 2008

After this last weekend, I knew I couldn't put off writing about this any longer. I need to write about politics. Well, more specifically, about what's being said in politics these days and what will be said in the months to come. As the presidential races heat up, the talk is getting a bit harsher from all involved. Race and gender biases by various candidates are being subtly -- and not so subtly -- bandied about.

Government 100

Government Media Career IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 10, 2008

There has been plenty of advice these days about how each of us is responsible for our own careers and our own success, but there is one aspect that has been overlooked when counseling such a strategy: It’s lonely. And scary. It is not a weakness to admit you’d like to have someone in your corner as you plot your next move. You may feel isolated because everyone else is so intent plotting their own job strategies, or you may just be totally in the dark about what exactly a “next step” means.

Mentor 100

Mentor Career Path Career Accomplishment 100

On The Job

JANUARY 9, 2008

I remember the first time I heard the word "headhunter" in connection with employment. I had visions of some wild-eyed, wild-haired person running around with a spear in one hand and a cooking pot in the other, looking for unsuspecting job candidates to have for lunch. Of course, after decades of writing about the workplace I use the term "headhunter" without worrying about shrunken heads and boiling water, but there still needs to be some education about what headhunters do, and how they can he

Recruitment 100

Recruitment Accomplishment Communication Education 100

Speaker: Speakers:

Workplace violence prevention laws are rapidly evolving, with California’s SB-553 and New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act (S-8358B) leading the way. Join WILL’s experts for a nationwide webinar covering compliance requirements, with a special focus on these key state mandates. We’ll guide you through developing and implementing effective prevention policies, building a compliant plan, and delivering the required annual interactive training.

Retail

On The Job

JANUARY 8, 2008

I spent part of my afternoon yesterday sitting in my basement as the tornado sirens sounded, so I had plenty of time to contemplate what I wanted to put in this Tidbit Tuesday as I asked myself why I have four broken kitchen chairs, a screen door from a house we had 15 years ago and a lawnmower that hasn't run since Jimmy Carter was president. Baby on board: In the never-ending debate about balancing work and family demands, Time magazine has a story on some offices that allow parents to bring t

IT 100

IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 4, 2008

I was able to spend some time over the holidays visiting blogs that were new to me, as well as checking in with those I read on a regular basis. I found some really good stuff out there, some so-so stuff -- and some stuff that just downright scared me. Here's some postings I found worthwhile and thought I would share with you: There have been some really interesting responses to the Chief Happiness Officer's question: "What do you do for a living?

Recruitment 100

Recruitment Career Education Solution 100

On The Job

JANUARY 3, 2008

When interviewing for a job, most people get a little nervous. And if you’ve recently been laid off or fired from your last position, that fear may escalate since recruiters and companies tend to avoid anyone who seems even the least bit desperate. But there is a way to help set aside those prejudices and put a positive spin on the fact that even though you're currently without work, you're still a viable candidate for a position.

Education 100

Education Recruitment Management Management 100

On The Job

JANUARY 2, 2008

Since I began doing my syndicated workplace column more than 15 years ago, I've often interviewed Gerald Celente, founder of The Trends Research Institute , about workplace trends in the coming year. When I spoke with him recently, he told me that a large newspaper that normally also interviews him wouldn't be doing so this year. The reason: the reporter who usually did the story had taken a buyout package and the newspaper was now too short-staffed to have someone talk with him and do the story

Medical 100

Medical Utilities Government Career Change 100

Speaker: Frank Taliano

Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.

Solution

On The Job

JANUARY 17, 2008

Many of us spend a lot of time thinking about how to reach our career goals. From the time we enter the workforce, we are told by those more experienced to always keep our goals in minds, and work on the strategies we need to meet them. But as the more experienced, job savvy workers begin to retire, it appears they may not be following the advice they've been so keen on giving younger workers.

Creative Process 100

Creative Process Finance Career Goals Strategy 100

On The Job

JANUARY 7, 2008

I recently was sent an article by Mother Jones magazine, which touted the headline: "WE'RE ALL #1!" The article included a list of the ways we have become a nation of navel-gazers, continually telling ourselves and our children that we're all terrific. Really terrific. For example: * An analysis of 16,000 students' results on the Narcissistic Personality Profile concluded that undergads are 30 percent more self-absorbed that they were in 1982. * Last march, a West Virginia high school sophomore

Consulting 100

Consulting IT 100

On The Job

JANUARY 24, 2008

I had not planned on posting again today, but when I got tagged by The Career Encourager , I couldn't resist. Seems there's a fun little game going on among the bloggers, where you are "tagged," by a fellow blogger and asked to tag three more. Since this may be the most exercise I get all day, and I have a little bit of a competitive streak, I thought I'd join right in.

Retail 100

Retail Management Management Career 100