Career Advice

It seems no occupation is truly safe these days. With major corporations from almost every financial sector reducing their workforce to survive the recession, it’s best to keep your ear to the ground to avoid getting caught off guard. Official budget cuts, business mergers and sharp drops in stocks are all obvious precursors of corporate downsizing, but there are more subtle indications that your job may be in danger. The following clues can send a variety of signals, but in the current economic climate they constitute warning signs that you’re about to be laid off.There are rumors of impending layoffsManagers typically try to hide the decision to cull their workforce for as long as possible so as not to affect employee morale and risk having their better staff members jump ship prematurely. However, secrets can be hard to keep in an office. That’s why it’s important to heed any talk of company downsizing and consider the rumor one of the signs you’re … [Read more...] about 5 Signs That You're About to Get a Pink Slip

If you have been reading my latest blogs, you know that I have recently started a new job. And with a new job at a large institution or corporation comes a new hire orientation.As I was spacing out during the most recent video installment of this particular institution’s history, it dawned on me that orientation is not necessarily the most effective way to integrate a new employee to a company’s culture. It is certainly a nice gesture for the executives and top management to speak to the group about customer service and how great the company/institution is to work at.But c’mon. Can you really capture a company’s work ethic, culture, positives, negatives, and more in a few hours or days (depending on how much time is allocated)? The answer is no. The majority of new hire orientation is spent droning on about benefits, retirement, and why this is the best company you will ever work for.Which begs the question: Why are companies desperately seeking approval from … [Read more...] about New Hire Orientation – Waste of Time?

The journey from my desk started innocently enough. I was on the prowl for a bottle of water and something sweet. As I traversed the fluorescent-lit hallways, debating between Twizzlers and a granola bar, I couldn't help but notice all of the closed doors.This was no coincidence. EVERY door was shut--indiscernible voices leaking through the door jams.Something was up.My first inclination is normally to be thankful that I am not behind closed doors. But in this instance, I felt like the kid left off the dodgeball team. What the heck is everybody talking about?Perhaps this is a symbol of the new, weakened economy.Read more of Andrew G.R.'s blog post at US News & World Report. … [Read more...] about Paranoia on the Way to the Vending Machine

Today, I'm a flashlight. No, I don't give off light and have batteries stuffed who-knows-where. I am demonstrating the qualities of a flashlight in the way that I work. It's actually a simple concept to grasp. A flashlight emits a wide, dim beam that illuminates a large area but doesn't do much else. A laser is a tightly focused beam that can be used as a signal or a tool for precise work. (By the way, why do we let children have small, handheld devices that can sear their corneas irreparably? Not the best idea for a toy.) I had to ask myself that question after seeing how my day went. I got to work early because I had a lot of things to take care of. However, instead of getting the things done that I had planned, I did a little of this and a little of that, frittering away my time until I ended up spending most of my day planning to get started on something else.  Some others at Jobacle know how that goes. I think that a lot of us spend our time as flashlights. We are low-intensity, … [Read more...] about Do You Work Like a Flashlight or a Laser?

This is no time to be slacking off at work, but if you're tired of your coworkers and boss peering over your shoulder to see what's on your monitor, you might need Double Vision. The free download allows you to browse the Web using a 'transparent' screen.Other features include:* Web video viewer* Click through video* Transparent web* Quick Hide* Auto Mute on Quick Hide* Double Vision Mode* Custom transparency levelsProceed at your own risk. Now get back to work! … [Read more...] about Hide Your Computer Screen From Your Boss

After getting laid off, I entered my own personal “Unemploymentality”. And unfortunately, I didn’t immediately find the silver lining. Instead I retreated to the biggest pity party I had ever thrown myself. What finally woke me up from my coma?An impromptu phone interview that resulted in an in-person interview (remember I almost acted desperate on my first interview?). This ultimately transpired into...a JOB!I wish that I could give you some grand story about how I left my last job embracing the pink slip in hand, smiling and skipping into a fierce and determined frenzy that culminated into a newer, shinier, and prettier occupation.Instead, it was the hard work I did in the few weeks prior to the actual layoff. Once I entered the world of unemployment, I pretty much fit the stereotype down to the bath robed drone staring off into the television.So what beautiful words of wisdom do I have to leave my fellow pink-slippers? What magic key is there to unlock the door to … [Read more...] about How I Found My Job During the Recession

Those ever-so-popular executive compensation packages have been in the news quite a bit lately thanks to President Obama's decision to force companies to limit the amount of money they give to bank executives if that bank gets a bailout check. I think it's a bad idea for companies or the government to limit executive pay (although I may be the only one), and here's why.So Long, SuckersThink about this. Imagine that you are one of those highly-paid executives, and your company suddenly adopts a plan that will limit your pay. Now you have a choice. You can either stay at your current job and get less pay, or you can move to a company down the road that would love to get your skills working for them (and they will be paying a premium for your services). What are you going to do? We both know that you're going to move to the new company for more pay. Why would you expect an executive to do anything different?You Get What You Pay ForIf you want a good, top-shelf executive to run your … [Read more...] about Why the Obama Salary Cap Is Lame

It holds all the same signs. Sweaty palms, rambling stories, nervous laughter, and in some unfortunate situations, begging and pleading.Sounds like a desperate first date, right?Sadly, I found myself precariously on the brink of desperation during my first interview since joining the Pink Slip Brigade. With job security and stability suddenly at its highest premium to me, I was practically salivating at this managerial position working for a state-funded university.As I sat in the front office awaiting a turn to impress my future bosses, I realized that I quickly needed to calm myself down. Here is how I turned from desperate to playing hard to get.1. Interviews are about confidence and highlighting your attributes as they relate to the intended position. Trying to convince your boss that “you’ll do anything necessary to get the job done” sounds desperate and somewhat slutty in comparison to telling them exactly what you think needs to be changed to get the job done … [Read more...] about Just Like a First Date, Leave Desperation Out of a First Interview