You’d think the last thing that you’d want to do, after spending eight or more hours at the office, is read about working at an office. But, much like that TV show everyone loves, representations of lives similar to ours--even if they’re satirized or dramatized--give us comfort. Empathy is a powerful emotion. And it’s a coping mechanism. The following are a short list of good books--by turns dark, funny, and evocative--that share with us in the joys and agonies of the workplace. 1. Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris Joshua Ferris’ celebrated novel about working at an advertisement agency has been compared to The Office, but I think the book is much funnier. Winner of the PEN/Hemingway award for best first novel and Time magazine’s 2nd ranked book of 2007, the novel is narrated in the first person plural--that is, “we” instead of “I”-- and it’s the voice of the agency’s paranoid employees who … [Read more...] about Three Good Novels About Work
Networking Pays Off
Sometimes it IS Who you KnowI stopped in a local art gallery (Hayley Gallery) yesterday to see the owner. I interviewed her for a magazine article last year and we hit it off. I hadn’t seen her or been in the gallery for quite awhile, but I had an ulterior motive - I wanted to tell her I was looking for a job. Prior to opening her gallery, Hayley worked in marketing and advertising and she knows people. And it’s not just because she is so personable, she’s amazing at networking.You always hear the majority of people get their jobs through a network of who they know. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, “Internal Hires, Referrals Were Most Hired in 2009,” by Sara Needleman cites some stats to back that up. She reports that, “Internal transfers and promotions accounted for an average of 51% of all full-time positions filled in 2009, up from 39% in 2008 and 34% in 2007, reports CareerXroads, a staffing-strategy consulting firm in Kendall Park, … [Read more...] about Networking Pays Off
Jobacle Survey Panel: March 2010
In order to provide readers with content they want, and to keep our finger on the pulse of everything work-related, Jobacle.com proudly presents our monthly survey series. Results are 100% anonymous and your personal information will NEVER be revealed. One participant each month (if you choose to share your e-mail address) will be selected to win a neat prize. View Survey View Survey … [Read more...] about Jobacle Survey Panel: March 2010
Where Does Your Resume Go?
Does it hook up with socks missing from the dryer?An article on CNNMoney.com, “Job Application Black Hole,” by Jessica Dickler started me thinking about the resume “black hole.” Where do they go? Dickler talks about frustrated job seekers not getting any feedback from prospective employers after submitting an application or resume for an opening. Back in the day, you would send your resume and cover letter via snail mail and hope that it at least landed on the desk of someone at the company. Now we just launch them into cyberspace. I’ve mentioned before that I’m finding the overall experience of job hunting online to be very exasperating. And If I respond to an ad I’m incredibly leery of sending my personal information to just anyone. Last week, when applying for a writing job, I messed up the attaching-the-resume part. It wasn’t until after the fact that I realized I didn’t want to send my Word doc version that … [Read more...] about Where Does Your Resume Go?
Fake Job Post of the Week
The latest fake job posting to hit the Jobacle inbox. From: letitiaswredrick@hotmail.com; stargell1417@comcast.netSubject: Find new work. ID809I’m representative of company TechnoSila.We have reviewed your profile in our work-database, and concluded you are the right person to become our employee!Requirements:1. Must be U.S. citizen.2. Adult (21 y.o.)If you meet the requirements, please kindly send your respond to nebwuyxm96@gmail.comThank you, hope you liked our offer! A Google search of "Technosila" turns up the following: Technosila currently operates 253 stores across 197 Russian regions. I don't know who they are, what they do, or who is behind this job post, but it sure smells fishy to me. … [Read more...] about Fake Job Post of the Week
Career Lifers Deserve Your Respect
To anyone who's ever seen an old black and white prison movie, the term "Lifer" is well known. Usually played by a grizzled and gnarled character actor, this is a jailhouse veteran, someone who hasn't seen the outside world for years, and never will. Invariably played with some sympathy, this is the 'go-to' guy for cigarettes, candy and a host of other goodies deemed contraband by the big and bad authorities. He also serves as a sort of advisor to the new convicts; a camp counselor, if you will, to the rebellious, the delinquent, the losers with nothing going for them except their youth. And because he lives in such a time warp, it's almost comedic as to how pathetically out of date, how clueless he really is to the modern world. Basically, lifers can also be defined, in the corporate or business world that we inhabit, as simple careerists; people who have decided, for better or worse, to remain with one organization for their entire work life. It's interesting that, as a … [Read more...] about Career Lifers Deserve Your Respect
Office Cell Phone Ban Needed?
Is there an appropriate place to talk on your cell phone at work? I've made several calls today, from several different locations, and have come to the answer - a resounding 'NO.' AT YOUR DESK: Using the business phone for 'personal business' is frowned upon, but using your cell at your desk is a tell-tale sign that you are not working. Worse yet, you're inclined to distract others from their work. Way to go team player! IN THE BATHROOM: Just plain creepy. The concept of the work bathroom (which should be upgraded) is simple: do your business, wash your hands, and move on. I work with a guy who texts while peeing, and that's just plain wrong. I'm no scientist, but the likelihood for some nasty germ transfer must be paramount. IN THE BREAKROOM: Look around. There are people eating, sleeping, reading and writing. Do you really think they want to spend the lousy few minutes of "me" time they get listening to you blab? IN THE HALLWAY: The human race … [Read more...] about Office Cell Phone Ban Needed?
HR4620: Will Bill Help Reduce Unemployment Rate?
Introduced into the House in early February, HR4620, aka, The Small Business Job Creation Act of 2010, will provide tax credits for small businesses who hire people who were previously unemployed. For a business to qualify, annual revenue must be less than $20 million and their staff must be under 200 full-time employees.The participating business benefits with a tax credit of 7.5 percent of wages earned by an employee in 2010, and 5 percent in 2011, applicable to the first $75,000 of an employee's salary. If the small business in in a county where the unemployment rate is higher than the national rate, a tax credit of 15 percent in 2010, and 10 percent in 2011, will be issued.The bill sounds like it could give small businesses the push they need to beef up staff. But don't celebrate yet. The bill still needs to pass a House and Senate vote, along with President Obama's signature to be signed into law. Do you think HR4620 will help reduce the unemployment … [Read more...] about HR4620: Will Bill Help Reduce Unemployment Rate?
Keeping Your Confidence Up While Job-Hunting
Find Ways to Bolster That Self-EsteemI can think of very few situations that can be as confidence-deflating as trying to find a job. It is particularly difficult to maintain a positive attitude in today’s especially tough, bleak employment market. Multiply by the number of months you’ve been looking for work or trying to move out of a bad job and your ego is taking a huge hit.Sales jobs aren’t my thing, but I have worked in that area and it is challenging work. You are selling a product - YOU, when applying and interviewing. And like a shark smelling blood, a skilled HR person can spot a candidate’s low self-confidence in the first few minutes of an interview. It’s almost impossible to stand out as a top contender when you obviously aren’t able to sell yourself.So how do you combat this eroding self-esteem and confidence? Here are a few things to try...* Too often we define ourselves only by what we do for a living. But you have many personas. Maybe … [Read more...] about Keeping Your Confidence Up While Job-Hunting
Share Anonymous Feedback With BetterMe: Q&A With CEO Sterling Mace
Biting my tongue. Walking on eggshells. Adjusting my filter. Whatever you call it, I'm constantly having to do it at work so I'm not telling people how I really feel. Cause if I did, I'd be living on $405 a week.Thankfully, there's a cure.Betterme.com, an online communication and self-improvement startup, allows you to solicit anonymous feedback on yourself. Or, scarier-yet, it allows people to send you unsolicited feedback.Send anonymous feedback by simply inputting the recipient's e-mail address, selecting a category (work, school, social, etc.) and letting the person know what's on your mind. All feedback you give is rated, resulting in a "My Usefulness Rating" (1 - 5).BetterMe Founder and CEO Sterling Mace gives Jobacle readers the skinny on anonymous feedback, and why it’s not as ‘ugly’ as you might think.Q: It doesn't take an MBA from Harvard Business School (and you have one!) to understand that open communication at work is a … [Read more...] about Share Anonymous Feedback With BetterMe: Q&A With CEO Sterling Mace