This is a guest blog from my sister, Lydia M.C. She has nothing to promote except for her disdain for the minutia of work.It’s on the lips of every interviewee and plaguing resumes across the land. A single word that is anything but single: multitasking.We’re probably all guilty of saying the words, “I’m an excellent multitasker,” but do we really want to list this as a job skill? A life skill?According to dictionary.com, the first definition that pops up is: The concurrent operation by one central processing unit of two or more processes. The definition is amended further down, stating Often used of humans in the same meaning it has for computers, to describe a person doing several things at once.So basically, multitasking was originally used to describe a computer - and we humans have taken it on as our own, intentionally mimicking the actions of a computer.I guess my brain just isn’t as equipped as a Pentium 7 or my husband's fancy … [Read more...] about The Argument Against Multitasking
Podcast: A Guide to Two Weeks Notice
Leaving a job is something many of us (thankfully) only have to do several times in our lives. Maybe that's why so many people botch it up. Exiting a job gracefully is an art form and episode #73 of the Working Podcast is here to make sure you do it right! Also, you'll learn about the hottest Web 2.0 companies that could help shift your career into high gear. Including, ActionThis, Brijit, WooMe and Ask500People. And last but not least, a top secret recording of the Happy Birthday song - straight from my office. There are three ways to listen: - Stream on our homepage (shows plays instantly) - Stream from the player below (about a 60 second load time) - Download direct … [Read more...] about Podcast: A Guide to Two Weeks Notice
Forward of the Week: Things I've Learned
You know the drill. Once a week we dip into our corporate e-mail account to fish out the most useful - 0r annoying - Forward of the Week. Keep 'em coming!Things I've LearnedI've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be some that can be loved. The rest is up to them.I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.I've learned hat you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something.I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do.I've learned that you can do some thing in an instant that will give you heartache for life.I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It … [Read more...] about Forward of the Week: Things I've Learned
Online Resumes Continue to Fail and Other Friday Junk
Happy Friday cubemates! Here are some random tidbits before we roll into the weekend in style. Explosive Jobacle Growth. November is upon us and we're getting ready for a fall - literally. October was such a huge month for us that it's absolutely impossible to maintain this level of growth. We'd love to - but we don't expect it. Thanks to some major buzz (and our ever-growing number of loyal readers) here's how October broke down:60,000 hits15,729 unique visitors181,000 Alexa rankWe more than doubled last month's number of unique visitors and shattered my goal of 10,000. We're on the other side of the spike, but we love the ride!Online Resumes Continue to Fail. Regibe Baisomo is 32 years old, single, and seeking a full-time, live-in domestic helper job in Hong Kong. She's good in Chinese & Western cooking, baby sitting, washing, car washing and ironing.I certainly can't justify hiring Regibe (sorry!) for my one-bedroom apartment. And … [Read more...] about Online Resumes Continue to Fail and Other Friday Junk
Democracy in the Work Place: A Project Killer!
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, democracy just doesn’t work”That is probably one of my all-time favorite Simpson’s quotes. Newscaster Kent Brockman expresses his disgust after Congress rejects a bill to save Springfield from a comet impact after one senator attaches a $30 million rider "to support the perverted arts."That very line often springs to mind when I’m at work. Usually during a meeting or after reading the 15th reply to a damn near company-wide e-mail regarding some decision that no one can seem make. As much as the line amuses me it is also something that I can’t help but feel is so true and so applicable to today’s workforce. Now I’m not sure about you, but in the world of media, the democratic process is taken to new heights. Maybe the hipper-than-thou, every-one-counts, way of running a business or conducting a meeting is more intrinsic to my line of work than others, but lately it seems to me that we spend more time dancing in circles and visiting and … [Read more...] about Democracy in the Work Place: A Project Killer!
Psychopaths Loose at the Office
He got his start laying pipe for the Atlas Water and Sewer company. Eventually, he climbed the ranks, becoming responsible for a staff of 800 and annual revenue exceeding $120 million. His name is Victor Kipling. This is his weekly column. If Halloween doesn't give you the creeps anymore, well then maybe you ought to think again. True, it's cool outside and leafless trees stab at night skies. And the usual slash-mouthed jack-o-lanterns seem to leer at you as they blink from behind darkened windows. Movie monsters like Michael Meyers, Jason and Freddy re-emerge for the annual TV horrorthons. Weilding bloody axes and knives, we mistakenly call them 'psychopaths.' If only it was that simple... Most of all, Halloween is all about masks; masks and disguises. And while we find this a bit of harmless fun once a year, the fact is that, hey, it's really Halloween at the office every day! Because many of our co-workers, and bosses, wear masks all of the time. Some … [Read more...] about Psychopaths Loose at the Office
Halloween at the Office
It never ceases to amaze me how many adults still look forward to getting all dressed up in a Halloween costume to wear to work. Call me a stick in the mud, but other than a costume party Halloween is a holiday for the children. In fact I stopped trick-or-treating long before many of my peers did; I was 12 the last time I participated in knocking on people's doors to ask for candy. No one forced me to stop. I guess I just lost interest. But another Halloween is upon us and while my wife takes the kids around the neighborhood I'll stay home and hand out the candy. I think maybe this year when a child at my door asks 'trick-or-treat' I'll go with the trick. See if these kids have anything planned. After all, why should candy be an automatic? You gave me the option. If you're unprepared don't dare say, "treat please."This blog, however, is not about how the Grinch Stole Halloween. No, I’m more interested in Halloween in the workplace. I so look forward to coming in and … [Read more...] about Halloween at the Office
How to Find Your Inner Self
There's an expression that has always been around, but recently, it's been inescapable: "Find your inner- _______." For example, if I was suffering from serious writer's block, a buddy might lean in and whisper, "Hey Andrew, just find your inner-blogger." Or if one of the Iron Chefs is stumped on what to do with octopus eyes, the Chairman might offer the following advice, "Find your inner-chef."Well here we are, at the beginning of another "full" work week. No holidays, no planned days off for my boss and nothing but a series of mind-numbing meetings ahead. Let's welcome a special guest to the Jobacle blog, Donald Trump. He's here (in spirit) with some helpful quotes to challenge you to find your inner-ANYTHING.Trump Quote: "Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully on canvas or write wonderful poetry. I like making big deals...That's how I get my kicks." How do you get your kicks? Before … [Read more...] about How to Find Your Inner Self
My Resignation as an Adult
Love 'em or hate 'em, e-mail forwards flood our inbox on a daily basis. You know our rule: if we suffer you suffer. So here is the Forward of the Week...I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of a 5 year old again.* I want to go to McDonald's and think that it is a four star restaurant.* I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples in a pond with rocks.* I want to think M&M's are better than money because you can eat them.* I want to lie under a big oak tree and watch the ants march up its trunk.* I want to run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.* I want to go fishing and care more about catching the minnows along the shore than the big bass in the lake.* I want to think the world is fair.* I want to return to a time when life was simple. When all I knew about were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes. When I didn't know what I know now. … [Read more...] about My Resignation as an Adult
The Office Has Murdered the Merit System
This could be painful for some of you, but I'd like to ask you to think back to grade school. Think about most of the teachers and how they would single out one kid behaving badly and then threaten to punish the entire class. Unfortunately, this is a poor practice that is running rampant at the workplace. Whether it's a product of fear or laziness - I don't know. But what I do know, as one of the "good" kids, it sucks to be punished for the actions of others.What ever happened to the merit system?They tell us it still exists but I happen to think that's a bunch of bullsh**.Ten vacation days. Five sick days. And the same lousy rules for everyone.Why are we all treated as equals when clearly some of us have earned more than others.Don't get me wrong. The office is also afflicted with a serious case of self-entitlementitis. However, there's a difference between those who EARN and those who feel they DESERVE.THE EXCUSE: "If I do it for you, I have to … [Read more...] about The Office Has Murdered the Merit System