Career Advice

Embrace Your Right-BrainI don’t often think of “creativity” and “business” in the same sentence. Of course there are businesses in the creative sector, but I’m talking about jobs in which most people toil day to day. These folks are rewarded for analytical thinking, decisive actions and level-headedness. Too much creativity might get you marginalized.But as an artist, business owner and corporate-world survivor, I think there’s a place for being creative in business. My feeling is that thinking creatively can unblock those stuck points. You know what I’m talking about - you have a presentation to give, a report to write and you’re drawing a blank. Here’s where you summon up that “right brain” stuff.There has been much research on use of our left and right sides of the brain. The left is said to control logic and rational thinking; the right side, the intuitive, creative thinking. A physics professor might be said … [Read more...] about Tapping Into Creativity at Work

The companies we work for are often so blinded by what we can do for them today, that they forget what we have done before.  With the understanding that each of us is hired to help a company achieve their goals (not our own), I still believe that forgetting the past and only looking towards the future is a mistake.The solution is simple.  Re-read employees resumes every six months.This exercise helps managers paint a more complete picture of the employees working for them.  If organizations ignore the past, I propose that it creates several problems which can be detrimental to the employee-employer relationship.Here's why...Valuble skills go unused.  Years ago I interviewed for a job running the Intranet for a major public relations firm.  With thousands of employees based around the world, they set up a database that profiled all of their workers skill sets.  If Bob in London was looking for a Tagalog-speaking graphic designer to help him with a problem … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons to Re-Read Resumes of Current Employees

Don’t Forget to Put Your Name on the ResumeI recently visited a friend in Chicago who is at the point in growing her one-woman business that she needs help. Her biz is in a creative field and she’s fortunate to be in a city with multiple art/creative schools. Hiring an intern from one of these places seemed like an ideal solution; she gets a creative, enthusiastic “employee” and the student gets to learn the biz. Win, win, right? Well…until she placed the ad.The ad stated very clear parameters - the experience preferred, general duties, hours/days, send a resume, etc. In a very short time, she had sixty responses. While she was able to cull some very favorable prospects from the group, there were some surprising clunkers. One person even forgot to put their name on the resume. Duh-oh.Now many of these folks are students at some of the most prestigious, well-respected art schools in the country and I’m sure the raw talent is mind-blowing. But do … [Read more...] about Internship Candidates…Listen Up!

I'm on the prowl for a part-time editorial assistant in the New York area at a major non-profit organization.  The job was posted two weeks ago and has yielded over 450 resumes.  What started out as an exciting task of expanding my skeleton staff has turned into a harsh reminder of how bleak things are out there in the (un)employment world - especially for people with a writing/communications/journalism background.Dozens of applicants have Ivy League educations.  Hundreds have advanced degrees. And almost every single person is over-qualified for the $16-an-hour gig.  The biggest challenge, from a hiring perspective, is finding someone who will stick around for at least six months.  Wading through a sea of applicants is tough work.  But three candidates made my life easy.  They gave me the opportunity to reject them instantly. Why?They each used the EXACT SAME COVER LETTER!B-U-S-T-E-DWhat tipped me off was that each started with a relatively … [Read more...] about 3 Candidates Submit the Same Cover Letter!

David Letterman’s recent escapades and his subsequent blackmailer’s attempt have put a spotlight on the office romance. By no means am I passing judgment on the work hook-up, but it just seems to me an overall really bad idea that most likely doesn’t end well.(As a therapist and wellness advocate, there are some “absolutely not” connections. Those involve abuse of power in a boss/subordinate relationship, sexual harassment and any behavior that makes co-workers feel very uncomfortable or even unsafe in the work environment. I won’t go into those here because most of you hopefully agree those are beyond uncool.)Can’t you hear all those HR personnel scurrying around to get an official “Office Fraternization Policy & Guidelines” in place? While working in Corporate World, I don’t remember anyone formally addressing the issue. I do, however, remember what it was like when co-workers were more than pals. In one company I worked … [Read more...] about Office Romance? Why Not Try a Different Dating Pool?

I'm finally getting around to tying up some loose ends, one of them being my long overdue take on the book "Be the Hero: Three Powerful Ways to Overcome Challenges in Work and Life" by Noah Blumenthal.I've often used the Jobacle soapbox to preach that you have the power to improve your work situation, despite the seemingly uncontrollable obstacles in your way.  Every day at work you have a choice to make it a 'good' day or a 'bad' day.  The same goes for being a victim or hero.  Which would you rather be?  The hero of course! (sans the tight spandex and silly cape).Written as a parable (succinct prose that illustrates a moral lesson, for those of you who forgot English 101), the breezy book tells the tale of EveryWorker Jeff, an office dweller who learns how to transition himself from zero to hero, gaining new perspective thanks to 'Hero Coach' Martin.What I like best about the book is that it outlines actionable ideas that anyone can implement instantly, resulting … [Read more...] about How to Be a Hero at Work

Work with me, Babee!In an earlier post, Conference Call Do’s and Don’ts, I mentioned my spouse works from home one day a week. This is different from my work, which I do at home every day. Working at home has unique challenges and contrary to popular belief, isn’t all about wearing your jammies and quitting every day by 4 p.m. to watch Oprah. So what happens when you mix two different personality and work styles in a small home office?In our case, it wasn’t pretty at first. I heard things like, “you can’t type while I’m on a call.” “Uh, well I have to type - I’m a WRITER,” was my dumbfounded response. Having a touch of adult ADD (hey, don’t we all?), my spouse was very easily distracted, so most anything I did would break his concentration. I admit his presence in what I considered to be my office kind of cramped my style, too. Hey, sometimes a girl has to take a break to shop on Nordstrom.com.I’m happy to … [Read more...] about “Co”-working With Your Co-habitant

The invention of the middle manager created a buffer that effectively keeps a company's 'elite' segregated from the 'clerical riff raff.'  It also falsely empowers those who strive for success by placating them with a promotion.  It's the illusion of more control.  And I am that middle manager.I'm not sure about your world at work, but in my experience, simple job tasks have become games of connect the dots.  There are 17 people involved when there should be two.  This leads to too many opinions, a lot of static noise and a hyper-connectivity, which in this blogger's humble opinion, leads to work of a lesser quality.Many middle management positions are redundant and should be eliminated. (Not mine of course! I am uber important).With the way we communicate becoming easier, more instantaneous and cheaper than ever before, the middle man can truly be cut from the equation.  But our jobs are safe for now, because the fat cat, golf playing upper crust folks … [Read more...] about Playing a Game of Telephone at Work