At one time or another, we've all had a coworker that got underneath our skin. OK, if I’m being honest, I’ve had colleagues I wanted to call a hit on just so I wouldn’t have to hear their whiny voices anymore. The unfortunate part about these situations is that it always affects your work- whether you are working on a project with the offender - or if they're just an interruption during your day. In some instances, there is potential for resolution. However, you may come across people in the workplace that you just plain can’t stand. There is no straightforward answer on how to deal with a coworker that you despise. I deal with them by using what I call the 3 P’s. *Patience: I know, patience is a virtue. Think of them as a small child; they don’t know any better, so be patient with them. *Professionalism: Remember, you are in a professional work environment. This isn’t Melrose Place, … [Read more...] about Hate a Coworker? Use the 3 P's!
Trade Skill Videos Deliver Good Insight
“You know, like nunchaku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills... girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.” These wise words from Napoleon Dynamite are the theme of the promoted video on the new Australian website skillsone.com.au. If Napoleon is right, it looks like I’m going to be single for a long time. Luckily for Australians, the Australian government has funded a program to increase interest in trade skills within the country. The funds back the Institute for Trade Skills Excellence. The first aim of the Institute is to “improve the profile and status of trades.” One of the ways they plan on achieving that goal is through the new video-based skillsone.com.au site. The site is actually pretty cool. The videos are broken down into eight different categories of trades such as Building and Construction, Automotive, and Manufacturing. Dozens of videos exist for each category, and most of the videos seem to be profiles of … [Read more...] about Trade Skill Videos Deliver Good Insight
The Worst Jobs in the World. Period.
As we humans creep towards a completely hedonistic society, we do not ask or request to be happy all of the time, we demand it. Accordingly, it is not surprising that we are constantly looking for a job that “defines us,” and will allow us not only to express ourselves both creatively and intellectually, but will also make us whistle as we work, whilst offering a very generous salary with health care and dental. This is probably the reason why, in the Western world, so many people job hop in order to achieve these goals. Well, let me tell you, you should count yourself lucky; you could have been stuck with one of these ridiculous, sometimes embarrassing, sometimes down right degrading jobs. Here are 5 of the worst jobs I could find in my meandering. 5. Inside of the ass cleaner I don’t know the technical name for this job, but they basically stuff a large plastic tube up a person’s ass into the deep, dark realm of the colon. Then they pump luke warm, … [Read more...] about The Worst Jobs in the World. Period.
Getting 'Snake Bit' at Work Could Be Your Fault
Snake bit: To be cursed, extremely unlucky or destined to fail at anything you try.Fear of snakes has always haunted mankind, and for at least some of us, it's too creepy a subject to even think about. After all, it's a phobia that we've carried with us, ever since we left the primeval ooze - and remains with us - even into the age of the cubicle. I don't know if you've ever heard the expression 'snake bit', but it's one of those primo descriptives that says a helluva lot, leanly and cleanly. The term refers to some poor sap (hey, it could well be you or me) who suffers from a virtual cascade of bad luck. Knowing no racial, gender, age, religious or other boundaries, real bad luck is, well, an equal opportunity inflictor. And it can slither into our lives and bite us. Despite our best efforts, we think that we can't shake it off.Sure, it can start slowly, like a guy cutting himself shaving, and the damned bleeding won't stop, even hours later. And it continues, even when the … [Read more...] about Getting 'Snake Bit' at Work Could Be Your Fault
New Media Hire Launches Job Board
If you're looking for new media job postings, there's a new job board you'll want to check out: NewMediaHire.com. Covering everything from blogging gigs to online video production, the Website promises the freshest leads in the rapidly-expanding digital technology niche.Jobseekers can apply for free, while job posters will pay $199 per posting ($25 per internship posting). Employers can also peruse anonymous resumes, only paying a nominal fee when the reach out to a potential candidate - and the person says they are interested.NewMediaHire lets you pinpoint your job search with RSS feeds that can be sent to your computer or mobile device.As a new media professional myself, I plan to upload my resume to explore the effectiveness of the system and the quality of the job leads.Discussion forums are promising for the new media field, though at this point, are lightly trafficked. During several different visits, I was the lone troller.Featured jobs scroll on by on … [Read more...] about New Media Hire Launches Job Board
Living Too Close to Work: A Problem?
As I continue to look for a house, I've realized that there is a good chance that I might end up living very close to the same area where I work. That means my commute, which right now is about 30 minutes, could actually drop down to under 10. Perhaps even five!At first you might think, 'wow, that's great!' You can go home for lunch - maybe even catch a quick nap. You'd bring siesta back to NYC baby! But upon further examination (because I must over think everything), I'm starting to wonder if it's possible to live too close to work. Among the negatives:1) No excuses. You will always be expected to be at work, regardless of the weather, irrespective of car trouble.2) The chosen one. Living close to work will likely increase the odds that you will be asked, or expected, to do something on the weekend or afterhours.3) Unwanted passenger. If your colleagues run into car trouble, and are forced to take public transportation, who will … [Read more...] about Living Too Close to Work: A Problem?
Is Workology the New Online Watercooler?
If you're not a part of a social network, you probably don't spend much time on the Internet. The phrase "social networking" has been around so long, it can't even be considered a buzzword anymore. Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn... they all take up a large portion of many people's lives. LinkedIn is an example of a site that attempts to link social networking with business networking. A new site called Workology takes a similar approach. I decided to give Workology a try. The site seemed easy enough to use, and they let me get started quickly, only asking for a name and e-mail address. Here are a few features that I found useful: 1. You get a personal "mini site" with your own URL. Here you can outline qualifications, experience, education and recommend other "experts" among other things. Mine is pretty bare right now, but you can check it out here. 2. The "Knowledge Market". It is a big discussion group where you can post jobs or ask … [Read more...] about Is Workology the New Online Watercooler?
WorkHack: Get Out of Work Free Card
I'm about to hand you a "break in case on emergency" button to add to your get-out-of-work arsenal. PhoneMyPhone does exactly what it promises, ringing your phone at a time you pre-designate. You can also tell the system how many times you want to be called consecutively (up to 10). Back to back to back calls reek of catastrophe, and should be a shoo-in to get you out of work with few questions. The calls keep coming until you pick up. Your IP address is captured and all calls are logged, so if you're thinking of driving that ex-girlfriend crazy, think before you click.As seen on RotorBlog. … [Read more...] about WorkHack: Get Out of Work Free Card
Are You Safe From the "R" Word?
Everyone seems to be talking about the “R” word lately. Although it’s a scary and extremely overused term these days, it unfortunately has become a reality that we are perhaps living in: a Recession. Who are the lucky people, you wonder, whose careers won’t be affected by this dirty word? Here is a list of “recession proof” industries: Security. Do you really think that crime will stop for a spiraling economy? If anything, we’ll probably need to beef up our police force. I’ve already contemplated just driving away at the gas pump a few times now. Energy. I will employ people to find alternative fuel options if necessary. Enough said.Education. Our children still need education, even if we hand them over a bankrupt country. Actually, education is probably more important than it has ever been since they will need to fix our problems that we created.International business. … [Read more...] about Are You Safe From the "R" Word?
Bring the Secret of Ho'ohana to Your Job
There's not one of us who, at least sometimes, doesn't find ourselves slodging through our daily cubicle continuums, leading lives of quiet desperation, oppressed by the seeming sameness of everything and everybody. Where the world just appears to us in monochromatic grey. Where everything tastes, feels and even smells metallic and stale. And, beyond all of the personal feelings of mega-blah, you also know that your work will at best be on automatic pilot. Yet for some, at least those of us who are blessed with an active fantasy life, there's always an escape- a slip through the portals of the mind, and there you are...the time and place totally up to you. And so, like with swearing as a tensional outlet, the daydreams that give you a refreshing break are (but not quite) almost as good as R&R. They're stimulating, refreshing and will help salvage your mind. It might even help your creative juices to begin flowing once again. Aloha, dear readers, upon my return from Hawaii. Though … [Read more...] about Bring the Secret of Ho'ohana to Your Job