Ever check in to a hotel in Hawaii or Greece or some other paradise that does not receive an abundance of rain? The 'open-air' lobbies you find in certain regions are plucked right out of a dream. All of the services you'd expect from a front desk reception area without the stuffy indoors. Who needs a roof when you have azure skies and plentiful sunshine?So if these hospitality employees can conduct business outside why can't I? Being leashed to wires in the 21st century seems silly and unnecessary. Wi-Fi is prevalent, we all own cell phones, and office rents are astronomically high. It might be the perfect time to move the office outside.I'm serious. Why are you being so negative?! Allow me to quell your fears.WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER?I understand that an outdoor office environment will not work in certain places. For example our Jobacle readers in Mobile, Alabama, receive the most rain in the 48 contiguous United States (approx. 67 inches a year). Same goes for our career friends in … [Read more...] about The Argument for Outdoor Offices
Fake Job Offer of the Week
From: Christine WRIGGLESWORTHHello.We would like to offer you a position of a local manager of our company in your area. Presently we have 5 vacancies open for this position, and we offer you to take on one of them. But first we would like to tell you a bit about our company.Financial and construction group “NST Construction” was created as a solid structure that unites several large companies which successfully operate on the market, in order to coordinate their financial and technical cooperation.These days NST Construction is functioning as a contractor with 100% of work performed by the company. This includes the complete construction process, controlling terms and quality of constructing, development of construction schedule, regulating financing, providing supply of all necessary building materials and equipment.Since our company does not hold many branches we use a network of local managers worldwide. This allows us to stay atop the market in the present difficult … [Read more...] about Fake Job Offer of the Week
KODA – The Opportunity Community
Web 2.0 reviews take a lot of space on the Jobacle roster. This week, we’re covering KODA. KODA is a small tech startup that is making a name for itself in various unique ways. From the press release: KODA launched its beta site on May 27, 2009. More professional than Facebook but more personal than Linked In, KODA allows both sides of the hiring equation to get to know each other by establishing profiles on the KODA platform. The result is that both the talent and the employer make more informed career and hiring decisions. While many of us are looking for a job, we also want a company that is going to appreciate us for the unique skills and talents that we bring to the table. KODA allows users to set up a profile that goes beyond the normal “experience and education” on a traditional resume. In fact, in recent years, the trend has been to make the resume completely professional and remove all traces of a personal life. KODA differentiates itself by … [Read more...] about KODA – The Opportunity Community
Why Managers Should Care About Employee Loyalty
By Timothy Keiningham and Lerzan AksoyAuthors of Why Loyalty Matters: The Groundbreaking Approach to Rediscovering Happiness, Meaning and Lasting Fulfillment in Your Life and WorkThe landmark Ipsos Loyalty Study, the largest study of loyalty ever conducted, found less than 30 percent of US employees say they are loyal to their company. Only about 25 percent of US employees think their employer has earned their loyalty.The long-term success of any company depends heavily upon the quality and loyalty of its people. Few corporate executives would disagree with this idea conceptually. But it is also true that most treat the economic value of employees in enhancing customer relationships and company profits as "soft" numbers, unlike the "hard" numbers they use to manage their operations, such as the cost of labor.The problem with this is that when the going gets tough, managers focus on the hard numbers. And the reality is that at some point every company will go through tough times. That … [Read more...] about Why Managers Should Care About Employee Loyalty
A Cure for Faded Black Dress Socks…and other work fashion tips
Faded black socks; the story of my life. Since I am a corporate monkey who is required to wear a suit on a daily basis, I am forced into wearing black dress socks. The problem is, after several washings, no matter what method or detergent is used, the socks fade. And gray socks with a black suit can just kill the entire look.I often think too much is made about "dress for success" - but who am I to argue with the man who has revolutionized the fashion industry - and cured one of my greatest pet peeves. Meet the Blacksocks.com SOCKSCRIPTION: a fresh shipment of black socks shipped directly to your door several times a year.Samy Liechti, Blacksocks’ founder, shares career fashion tips to keep you looking smart from head to toe.1. Choose a conservative suit in black, navy or gray in solid or a small pinstripe. Remember—the quality of the fabric speaks as loud as the color. If the fabric could also be used on your grandmother’s sofa, chances are it’s not appropriate … [Read more...] about A Cure for Faded Black Dress Socks…and other work fashion tips
New Office Comedy Coming to America
When I think about work comedy, the last place that comes to mind is Iceland. But apparently our frosty friends in Reykjavík have a bonafied workplace comedy on their hands with "The Nightshift." And soon, my American friends, we'll have our very own adapted version right here in the U.S. of A.Think Kevin Smith's convenience store Clerks transplanted to a 24/7/365 gas station. Enter in wacky customers interfacing with eccentric employees and the stage is set for some wokplace funny.The show will be produced by Reveille, the same company that successfully adapted The Office. No American network has picked up the show yet, but stay tuned, it appears to be inevitable. … [Read more...] about New Office Comedy Coming to America
Why You Should Write Your Boss’ Eulogy
Don't hate me for saying this but being the boss isn't easy. As if playing corporate politics and making difficult decisions without a safety net weren't enough, the boss also has to take the brunt of your work frustrations. While most of this activity occurs behind his or her back, it can't be easy knowing that there are people who live to criticize you. All bosses, even the evil ones, have redeeming qualities. Some are fathers. Others are law-abiding, church-going citizens. A few of them might even be damn cool, albeit away from the fluorescent lights of work. Part of the problem is that we only get a fraction of the picture, and that slice is the one that tells us what to do and when to do it. We're trained to despise authority, so the boss rarely gets the benefit of the doubt. But what if your boss died? Suddenly. At his or her desk. I know it's a morbid thought, but this exercise has the potential to open your eyes to new possibilities, and maybe, just maybe, get you on … [Read more...] about Why You Should Write Your Boss’ Eulogy
Do You Suffer From Information Overload?
Too much information renders even the best employee useless. The folks at Xerox have created a viral campaign to help get the word out about the dangers of Information Overload. Learn more, share your thoughts on the epidemic and be sure to forward this link to my your boss. … [Read more...] about Do You Suffer From Information Overload?
Dear Coworkers, Stop Googling Me!
I phoned in this morning's blog post - literally. This audio blog is for you - yes you - the coworkers who keep Googling me! I know who you are, and I really wish you'd find something else to do with your time. All kidding aside, it is a fact that Googling everyone and everything is a 21st century way of life. But that doesn't make it any less irritating when people are barely know are uncovering every last detail about you. … [Read more...] about Dear Coworkers, Stop Googling Me!
Coworker Pet Peeves
We all work with someone who annoys us. It's a fact of life. And despite the fact that we'd like nothing more than to sic a horde of vampire bats on those annoying coworkers, we're pretty much helpless to act. However, because we all deal with some type of similar behavior, we can come together and laugh about the habits that drive us nuts. A little while back, I posed this question on Twitter: “What are some coworker habits that drive you absolutely crazy?” The responses came pretty quickly after the initial question, and they ranged from silly to disrespectful to gross. @RaiscaraAvalon said that "overpowering, gag a maggot perfume" was her pet peeve (and the guys sometimes aren’t any better with their cologne) @AliciaSanera carried the body odor conversation even further by asking, "What is harder to address: termination of employment or B.O.?" It’s very interesting what we learn from each other, and I bet you have something you’d like to add. The … [Read more...] about Coworker Pet Peeves