It's an all too familiar scene. Your employed sets a "plan" for your career growth, and then somewhere along the way, after you've put in the time/work and made major sacrifices, the employer reneges on the deal.It might be Conan O'Brien's problem this week, but with the good fortune of fame and fortune, plus intelligence to spare, we think the tall boy will be AOK. You and I however, as regular working stiffs, would not be as lucky.You can read what I think about the Conan NBC departure at NBC. That's right, the folks at the peacock network have included some input from me in a recent article. Check it out here.We also urge Conan - and you - to pick up a copy of “The Exit Guide: How to Leave a Job the Right Way.”And Conan, if you're reading this, we'll give you one for free. You've been through enough. … [Read more...] about NBC.com Quotes Jobacle; Conan Needs Departure Advice
The Truth About Getting a Company Car
The olde axiom of 'never look a gift horse in the mouth' is never as true as when your company offers to provide you with some unexpected goody. A few years ago, I was able, after frankly much struggle, to get an internal company transfer. New duties, new title, and even a new work site-overall, a fresh start, for which I was desperate.To get prepped for 'The Day,' I called the guy whose slot I was taking (he was also being voluntarily transferred), and invited him to lunch. I thought that, especially since he was also going where he wanted, he'd be happy to provide some insights into the job, the players, and all the myriad of stuff we all want to know when opening new career doors. Very nice restaurant, real oak and subdued lighting, with great ambiance for confidential chats. Good food and large drinks. Everything seemed fine, except that this guy wasn't giving up a goddamned thing. I mean he was almost mute the entire time. No matter what tactic I tried, it all failed...so I … [Read more...] about The Truth About Getting a Company Car
Video: Finding a Scapegoat for the Bad Economy
This duo of VHS Rewinders look to blame their co-worker for poor sales. And they make him pay...with a head shot! … [Read more...] about Video: Finding a Scapegoat for the Bad Economy
Scam Alert: Fake Job Post of the Week
The latest scamish-looking job posting to hit the Jobacle inbox: From: Paulette MOOREmorrishyvimituk267@hotmail.comDGA Corporation offers rich, new consumer experiences that meet consumers' desire for wellness and pleasure, starting from our consumer insights and guided by our brand promise of "Sense and Simplicity". We are a highly consumer driven organization looking at the individual's interests in terms of their Space, their Mind, their Body, and their Appearance. Great opportunity for you at an intercontinental company DGA Corp., seeking a responsible individuals. Our company need US pang a responsible individuals to become professionals in processing packages with digital equipment and documents. SERVICE MANAGER: You will be processing incoming packages with digital equipment (or documents). This is a full-time stay-at-home job for people who don't have opportunity to work in office and like to have some extra-cash for their needs. Anyhow we need workers of maturity age, … [Read more...] about Scam Alert: Fake Job Post of the Week
Unemployment Claims Move Higher
The new decade is off to a shaky start in New York. My home state was one of 18 who saw unemployment claims rise by more than 1,000 for the week ending January 9. The bulk of the unemployed worked in the construction, service and transportation industries."For just one week, it's a tick in the wrong direction," said Tim Quinlan, an economic analyst at Wells Fargo. "But the four-week moving average, at its lowest level since fall of 2008, tells me that we're moving in the right direction."Read more at CNN. … [Read more...] about Unemployment Claims Move Higher
FAIL for NBC as an Employer, Ask Conan
NBC v. Leno v. O’BrienI won’t equivocate about who should get what time slot from NBC and the fate of “The Tonight Show” - I’m with Conan on this one. The network courted the guy five years ago with the promise of hosting "The Tonight Show" and gave it to him. Now they want to take it away. Instead of admitting that they made some poor choices, i.e., to put Jay on at 10 instead of the usual programming, they are blaming the hosts. Besides probably being contractually uncool, it’s just bad management.David Carr points out in The New York Time’s Media Decoder article, "NBC Broadcasts Itself As a Punchline," that the network who incessantly promotes itself is taking some hits, "…management can come in for a lot of wear and tear when your talent gets pushed around and gets into feelings. Talk-show hosts usually push back, because, after all, they’re the ones with the microphone and they have a new chance to maim you ever single … [Read more...] about FAIL for NBC as an Employer, Ask Conan
Donate 1% of Your Salary to Help Haiti?
These days employers can pretty much deduct anything from your pre-tax check. But despite working for some monster companies, I've never been offered the chance to donate part of my check to an "actionable" charitable cause. (meaning one that is timely)The 7.0 magnitude earthquake (with over 100 aftershocks!) has left catastrophic damage throughout the presidential republic of Haiti.The death toll looks like it will reach the thousands - and the economic impact will be in the billions.President Obama and the United States are scrambling to prepare an aid plan. My question for you: Would you donate 1% of your salary to help Haiti recover from this tragedy?Be honest. We're not looking to find out who is a Superman and who is a greedy bastard. I'm just curious if Americans would be quicker to reach into their pockets for a charitable cause if the money came directly out of their checks. … [Read more...] about Donate 1% of Your Salary to Help Haiti?
Long Meeting Survival 101
There’s More Than Office BingoMost folks have played or at least heard of Office Bingo - here’s Jobacle’s fun version from a couple years ago, "Bored at Work? Play Office BINGO!" It’s a great way to entertain your self in long, boring meetings. Recently reading about a company that uses water pistols in their meetings made me think of other ways we can make it through those interminable time-wasters.When I worked in a drug and alcohol treatment program, most of the staff were either in recovery from addiction or had experienced it in their families. So we used to play “How Many of Your Parents are Alcoholic?” This was a snarky upgrade of “I wonder if he has an alcoholic parent?” The game would be kick-started in response to someone trying way too hard to control the meeting (a typical issue for children of alcoholics is the need to control) or just really irritating behavior in general. Keep in mind no one ever said the words aloud, … [Read more...] about Long Meeting Survival 101
4 Reasons Why Retirement Scares the Living S#it Out of Me (and I could retire tomorrow!)
Until a few years ago, retirement was generally seen as a well-deserved reward for so many years of honorable service, and that a decent pension was the tangible goody you got, a veritable pot of gold attainable at the end of the career rainbow. The attitude being that they will now pay you not to lead, organize, or troubleshoot, but simply wake up each morning. Your new responsibility is to only in- and exhale. And so, in this paradigm, the old-timer could then walk, or crawl away into a sunset of complete, but comfortable, inertia. And irrelevance; or worse... Now more than ever, some-especially professionals and higher echelon corporate types- are increasingly reluctant to cash out when they reach retirement age. The reasons for this change in thinking have less to do with economic wants, and more to do with psychological needs. I should know because the haunting ambivalence of whether to stay or to go plagues me on a daily basis. Maybe, just maybe, I can stay lucky enough to, at … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons Why Retirement Scares the Living S#it Out of Me (and I could retire tomorrow!)
The Lost Art of Reading People and Situations
What Happened to Social Skills at Work?As Andrew eloquently put it in his post, “Violated at Work, The Death of Personal Space,”our personal space at work is shrinking and often encroached upon by co-workers. I’m lucky - I share an office with a cat (if he’s in the mood) and my spouse only works from home one day a week. I have a luxurious amount of space. But a related issue has come to my attention lately - lax or non-existent social skills in the workplace. Just as some people who aren’t very adept at respecting your personal space at work, they also are not be picking up on your facial expressions of “Can’t you see I’m busy?” annoyance, etc.Since I work as a therapist, I should mention categories of folks who have a legitimate diagnosis that inhibits or prevents healthy social interaction. People who have a social anxiety disorder, for instance, can have such a high level of anxiety when they are around co-workers, that … [Read more...] about The Lost Art of Reading People and Situations