At some point or another, we all go back on something we've said. Does that makes us "bad" people? No. But it does make us hypocrites. A hypocrite, according to Webster's Dictionary, is a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.I've always had a hard time with hypocrites. Perhaps it's because I hold myself to a ridiculously unachievable standard. Whatever the case, I know I'm not the only one gets ticked off when people go back on their word and step all over a previous sentiment. Just glance around the office and I'm sure you'll see plenty of offenders.Take Joan, for example. She always got along with her cubemate Tammy. But last month they started to experience a lot of tension. Joan ended up distancing herself a bit and started having lunch with Margaret. One random day, Joan and Tammy met up accidentally in the office cafeteria and exchanged a few laughs. At the time, Margaret happened to be strolling by.She was mad! After all of the smack Joan had … [Read more...] about How to Handle Hypocrites at Work
"Out of the Box" Job Search Advice
This is a guest post from Andy Robinson, CEO and Executive Coach at CRG Leadership Institute LLC.It’s Definitely Not “Business as Usual” in the Current Job Search Market. Today’s employment and job search market can easily strike fear in the heart of anyone who’s recently lost their job. Finding a job in this market IS a challenge .... No question. Jobs, however, ARE out there, firms and companies ARE hiring, key positions DO need to be filled .... The challenge is FINDING those jobs and SELLING YOURSELF.Common Mistakes Abound. So what are the things that most job seekers are doing that simply don’t work in this market? Consider these... * Failing to work within the framework of a structured and organized job search plan * Lack of clarity in definition of the position being sought * A poorly written resume that does not emphasize RESULTS and value you’ve added in previous positions * Failure to devote sufficient time to the job search process * … [Read more...] about "Out of the Box" Job Search Advice
How to Use Internships to Date Your Career
Guest post by The Résumé Girl (a.k.a. Lauren Randa Hasson)Everyone loves dating. Well, most people do, anyway. It’s exciting and fun, and a time when most people are discovering what it is they want out of life. You get to learn interesting things about other people and they get to learn about you. If it works out, that’s great. If it doesn’t, it just means that there’s something else out there that’s a better fit for you. The Power of Casual Career DatingFunnily enough, your career search can work much the same way. Adopting the mindset that you’re ‘dating’ your career can bring some excitement into the process and relieve some of the pressure. Sure, you won’t see flowers and candy along the way, even though those office parties can definitely be a challenge for your waistline! Dating your career can ensure that you stay in the game. The Perfect First Date: InternshipsIf you’re a junior in college, your career … [Read more...] about How to Use Internships to Date Your Career
Mythbusting: Recession Style
Should you try to get a job at a company going through a bankruptcy? Is following up on a job interview a bad thing? Should you accept a lower salary just because the economy is a little rough? Some of these recession myths are widely believed to be true, while others are a little more tricky to answer at first glance. An article by James Challenger from the California Job Journal site combats some of these ideas. Abandon Ship First on the list is the myth that companies that are cutting jobs or entering bankruptcy are not good places to work. This is an excellent opportunity for job seekers. Mr. Challenger says, "Contrary to what most jobseekers may believe, the company that is having difficulties, even announcing sizable layoffs, has a more urgent need for qualified people than companies which are more economically fit." I agree with his assessment. A local company has been going through some rough times in recent years. They were laying off a lot of older, … [Read more...] about Mythbusting: Recession Style
Work Lyrics: career opportunities are the ones that never knock
Never shy about taking on the establishment, English rock band The Clash take on the alienation of low-paid, boring jobs. The year might have been 1977, but would today's attack on the political and economic situation really be any different today?The offered me the office, offered me the shopThey said I'd better take anything they'd gotDo you wanna make tea at the BBC?Do you wanna be, do you really wanna be a cop?Career opportunities are the ones that never knockEvery job they offer you is to keep you out the dockCareer opportunity, the ones that never knockI hate the army an' I hate the R.A.F.I don't wanna go fighting in the tropical heatI hate the civil service rulesAnd I won't open letter bombs for youBus driver....ambulance man....ticket inspectorThey're gonna have to introduce conscriptionThey're gonna have to take away my prescriptionIf they wanna get me making toysIf they wanna get me, well, I got no choiceCareersCareersCareersAin't never gonna knock … [Read more...] about Work Lyrics: career opportunities are the ones that never knock
Working With Bananas
Ah, the reliable, infinitely safe and very healthy banana. It's bright yellow color radiates tropical warmth and sunshine, and its handy, almost zip-locked casing makes it a natural convenience snack. Yet, after seeing how bananas are harvested while on a recent eco- tour of Costa Rica, I don't think that I can ever eat another in the same take-it-for-granted way that I always have.I suppose that, when visiting the Chiquita plantation, I had expected to see a typical agribusiness operation, with modern technology used to at least do the crudest work. And, while I clearly did not expect to find happy and dancing peasants, what I did see was a level of back-breaking work that was surprising in its primitiveness. The only hint of modern, if you will, was that all the hanging banana clusters are encased in blue plastic bags to prevent bruising and over-ripening.Yet it was the overhead pulleys that really seemed, at first, so out of place in these sun-drenched fields. The vast networks of … [Read more...] about Working With Bananas
Dear Office Bathroom Hand-Washing Faker…
Dear Bathroom Hand-Washing Faker, I'm on to you. We're ALL on to you. You saunter into the bathroom, conduct your business, and then glance around... If you feel no one can identify you, you leave. No hand-washing. No manners. No hygiene. You might think you have us fooled, but consider the following: ** Most people glance under the stalls and can identify you by your shoes alone. Soooo...if you exit the stall when I’m at the urinal and leave the bathroom without running any water or activating the hand dryer, there’s a good chance I know who you are. Even if your footwear isn’t a dead giveaway, I can see your reflection in the shiny tiles or in the metallic piping of the toilet. ** Running the water for only two seconds is not enough time to wash anything. Plus, we all know to listen for the sound of the soap pump dispensing and the swishing noise of your hands rubbing together. ** If I enter the bathroom as you leave, and do not hear the hand dryer winding down, I … [Read more...] about Dear Office Bathroom Hand-Washing Faker…
Podcast: Are You About to Get Fired?
The world's #1 career podcast is back with episode #86. On the latest episode you will learn...pink slip warning signs; What to say after you say hello; WORK RANT: Bosses who can't make decisions; JobNob; mJob; Free Monster.com career fairs. Direct Download … [Read more...] about Podcast: Are You About to Get Fired?
Looking for Guest Career Bloggers
It is time to take a small break, my friends. Delivering the latest career advice, employment news and Website reviews can be a bit exhausting...especially if you also have a life. And by life I mean full-time job, a spouse, a house, a couple of good friends and 50 other ideas that are all semi-in-progress. One, in particular, that I have very high hopes for and need to spend some more time on.I'm undecided if I'll walk away for several weeks, days or hours. But one thing is certain: my absence presents an opportunity for other career bloggers. If you have something original and unique to say, we'd be more than happy to have you 'fill in' for me.If you are interested, please contact me and let me know what you'd like to write about and what makes the topic/post unique. It can be a single post, a series of posts, etc.Blogging for Jobacle will get your article and link out in front of thousands of people a month.Other thing you need to know:- Our traffic has been dramatically … [Read more...] about Looking for Guest Career Bloggers
What Do You Say After You Say Hello?
The title of this blog post comes from the 1960s self-help book written by Transactional Analysis (TA) pioneer Eric Berne. For many of us, office small talk is the bane of our existence. Not only is empty conversation annoying, it contributes to the hamster-on-the-wheel monotony our offices seem so good at delivering. Whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to these conversations, I'm curious to know what YOU say after "hello." Many hallway conversations go like this: Person A: "Hey, how's it going?" Person B: "I'm good. And you?" Person A: "Good, thanks." If we have that exchange every day for a year, and then on day no. 366 we extend the conversation with an additional "stroke," we're likely to raise the suspicion of the person we're talking to. Of course, if the conversation is regularly extended, people can move relationships beyond those of mere coworkers, and friendships can develop. Read more of my post at US News & World Report. … [Read more...] about What Do You Say After You Say Hello?