We pride ourselves here at Jobacle for doing a lot with very little. My resources consist of a computer and $327 in my checking account. That's why when I see big business spend a ton of dough on DOA concepts, it makes my stomach hurt.Back in November, Healthy Choice (the food in the green box people) teamed up with MSN to launch "The Working Lunch," a streaming live video program that is "directed by visitors."The improvised show is formatted like a corporate meeting. You can watch live on air days between 12p - 4pm ET. Shows are also archived.I quickly toggled through about a dozen shows. I kept thinking that the funny was taking too long to get to. So I kept watching. And waiting. Unfortunately, the funny rarely came. One thing did smack me over the head like frozen dinner: this concept is trying way too hard. With no career crap to sell, you know you always get the straight truth from Jobacle. As much as we'd love to recommend this video series, we simply can't. Check it out for … [Read more...] about "The Working Lunch" Made Me Barf
Archives for January 2009
Working Podcast #84: Caffeine, Four-Way Stops and Resolutions
The Working Podcast, the #1 Web radio show featuring career advice and employment news, is pleased to announce the release of episode #84. On the show you'll hear... A look into the future: What if caffeine was banned from work? If you think it's not possible, think again! Commuter Corner: Rules of the four-way stop! 2009 career resolutions for written especially YOU. Find the "best" employers at GreatPlaceJobs and rant and rave about your job with Telonu. Get the details in the Career Filter. Direct Download … [Read more...] about Working Podcast #84: Caffeine, Four-Way Stops and Resolutions
Cough! Belgians Love Sick Leave.
We always wondered why the Jobacle Sick Day Calendar was such a hit in Europe. They don't even have most of the same holidays, yet they've been downloading the thing like mad.The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article today on an epidemic in Belgium: sick leave abuse. Ah, now it's starting to make sense!Belgians, like many Europeans, are entitled to extensive or even unlimited sick leave -- and they tend to stretch the definition of the word. One study showed government employees in droves were calling in sick to pack before vacations and to sleep off holiday hangovers. Some government departments were averaging 35 days of paid sick leave per employee each year, more than twice the national rate and seven times the U.S. average. Read more here. … [Read more...] about Cough! Belgians Love Sick Leave.
Are Your Work Benefits Equal and Fair?
It's a cardinal sin at work. Even though you know what the person in the cubicle next to you is earning annually, you can never use that information when negotiating a higher salary for yourself.But does the same rule apply to benefits?We're brought up with the workplace mentality that it's 'every person for themselves.' We each have the power to negotiate a better situation: more days off, special hours, and so on. However, I pose the question of whether or not this is fair. Shouldn't it be a level playing field for all? 'What's good for the goose is good for the gander?'(I never realized that a gander is just a male goose, meaning that what's good for the woman is good for the man.)If Judy is getting tuition reimbursement, shouldn't you?If Luke is given time off to study, shouldn't you get it too?When one department leaves early, why can't yours?We're not here to whine or cry about how everyone else is getting major perks while others suffer. Rather, we'd like to gauge how YOU feel … [Read more...] about Are Your Work Benefits Equal and Fair?
New Job Search Portal CareerCast Launches
It's a busy day here at Jobacle HQ. We'll be reviewing CareerCast in the near future, so please subscribe now. In the meantime, here's the news release:Carlsbad, CA (January 8, 2009) – Adicio, the leading developer of web-based classified advertising solutions, today announced the launch of a new job-search portal, CareerCast.com, containing extensive job listings from Adicio client websites across the U.S. and Canada. Unlike most national career portals, CareerCast.com enables job seekers to drill down to access job opportunities from the leading career sites in their local area or region, while also providing employers and recruiters with a quick and easy way to post listings to more than 500 newspaper, broadcast, trade publishing and niche sites in a single transaction.On CareerCast.com, job seekers can create accounts and use their resumes to apply for jobs on any participating website. Then t he portal automatically logs them onto the corresponding client website and uploads … [Read more...] about New Job Search Portal CareerCast Launches
Do You Work With Mr. Forceful?
One of the most interesting aspects of blogging about careers and the workplace, is the 'people watching.' Everyone has their own unique style. One style, which I personally find quite irritating, I've coined as is 'Mr. Forceful.' You know the type. In fact, there's a good chance he's sitting next to you.He thinks imposing his will on you will help his 'career progress.' He thinks he's slick, but his actions are easily identifiable. Tactics used by this guy are more transparent than he'll ever know. Talking Loud: Particularly at meetings and in groups. As if the louder the decibel the greater the influence.Controlling All Information. You ask for a report and get the runaround. Even the simplest request gets stonewalled.Inability to Assign Tasks. Mr. Forceful has a staff, but you wonder what they're doing. He also likes to surround himself with passive people.Finger In All Pies. He tries to be involved in everything, yet is a master of none. Mr. F doesn't understand boundaries and ends … [Read more...] about Do You Work With Mr. Forceful?
How to Get Your Company to Pay for College
It's early in the new year, and that means that well-intentioned, business-minded folks will be looking to better themselves. One way that is accomplished is by continuing education.My employer offers a pretty generous benefits package, but unfortunately, tuition reimbursement is not among the perks. I've been thinking about how to approach management to make a case for myself. Here's what I have so far. Any other ideas?Ways to lobby for tuition reimbursement...Read the rest of my post at US News & World Report. … [Read more...] about How to Get Your Company to Pay for College
Top 10 Work Email Mistakes
While communication moves quicker than ever before, the presentation has digressed. We can send an email in a flash, post a blog up in less than a minute, and send text messages without even looking at our phones. The convenience of it all has taken away from the quality. And when it comes to workplace communication, the inferiority of our messages can cost us respect or worst of all, sometimes our job. Although they have been reviewed before, a 2009 refresher couldn’t hurt. Avoid these top 10 email mistakes at work... 1. Cursing or using inappropriate slang in email. Even if you think it makes you look cool, it doesn’t: Just unprofessional. 2. Forwarding chain letters. You really think your coworkers want the make a wish, send to 10 people you know, and the wish will come true email? 3. Leaving the subject line blank. Let people know what you want. That way they can decide to automatically delete it, or just a quick once-over. 4. Don’t be too lazy for spell check. It … [Read more...] about Top 10 Work Email Mistakes
A Dream Job Game Plan
I think it's fair to say I was pessimistic from the start; a career advice book written by a sports agent? Once I put my Jerry Maguire stereotype aside, I was pleased to find Your Dream Job Game Plan, by female sports agent Molly Fletcher, a pleasant surprise.The book is a solid reminder of many of those Career 101 lessons that we take for granted. You will also find some unique advice peppered throughout.Sports fans will find this book of particular interest. The premise of the book is based around becoming a 'five-tool player.' In baseball, this means you can...- Hit for power- Hit for average- Have superior fielding ability- Are lightening fast - Have superior throwing abilityThe five tools the book will teach you are to discover...- Your passionate style- Your fearlessness- Your game plan- Your flawless execution- Your managing choicesAlso covered are the intangibles. A great example is Derek Jeter. He might not have all of the five tools, but he certainly is a proven winner and … [Read more...] about A Dream Job Game Plan
Press Release: Free 2009 Sick Day Calendar
Happy 2009 everybody! Odds are you are settling back into your work routine; the end-of-year holiday memories already fading fast. Start the new year off right by printing out the free 2009 Sick Day Calendar. Get the Calendar (PDF) Download the Podcast Here's the official release... Free 2009 Sick Day Calendar Released By Career Blog Jobacle.comRapidly-growing career blog and podcast releases its third annual downloadable sick day calendar.New York, NY (PRWEB) -- Rapidly growing career blog and employment news podcast, Jobacle.com, has released its third annual Official Sick Day Calendar. Available as a free download, the 2009 calendar highlights days that have "optimal sick day potential." Notably, days that bridge standard holidays into longer leaves of absence."With close to 600 million vacation days lost by American workers each year, it's quite likely that the number of wasted sick days is even greater," says Andrew G.R., creator of the calendar and the … [Read more...] about Press Release: Free 2009 Sick Day Calendar