Career Advice

It's early in the new year, and that means that well-intentioned, business-minded folks will be looking to better themselves. One way that is accomplished is by continuing education.My employer offers a pretty generous benefits package, but unfortunately, tuition reimbursement is not among the perks. I've been thinking about how to approach management to make a case for myself. Here's what I have so far. Any other ideas?Ways to lobby for tuition reimbursement...Read the rest of my post at US News & World Report. … [Read more...] about How to Get Your Company to Pay for College

While communication moves quicker than ever before, the presentation has digressed. We can send an email in a flash, post a blog up in less than a minute, and send text messages without even looking at our phones. The convenience of it all has taken away from the quality. And when it comes to workplace communication, the inferiority of our messages can cost us respect or worst of all, sometimes our job. Although they have been reviewed before, a 2009 refresher couldn’t hurt. Avoid these top 10 email mistakes at work... 1. Cursing or using inappropriate slang in email. Even if you think it makes you look cool, it doesn’t: Just unprofessional. 2. Forwarding chain letters. You really think your coworkers want the make a wish, send to 10 people you know, and the wish will come true email? 3. Leaving the subject line blank. Let people know what you want. That way they can decide to automatically delete it, or just a quick once-over. 4. Don’t be too lazy for spell check. It … [Read more...] about Top 10 Work Email Mistakes

I think it's fair to say I was pessimistic from the start; a career advice book written by a sports agent? Once I put my Jerry Maguire stereotype aside, I was pleased to find Your Dream Job Game Plan, by female sports agent Molly Fletcher, a pleasant surprise.The book is a solid reminder of many of those Career 101 lessons that we take for granted. You will also find some unique advice peppered throughout.Sports fans will find this book of particular interest. The premise of the book is based around becoming a 'five-tool player.' In baseball, this means you can...- Hit for power- Hit for average- Have superior fielding ability- Are lightening fast - Have superior throwing abilityThe five tools the book will teach you are to discover...- Your passionate style- Your fearlessness- Your game plan- Your flawless execution- Your managing choicesAlso covered are the intangibles. A great example is Derek Jeter. He might not have all of the five tools, but he certainly is a proven winner and … [Read more...] about A Dream Job Game Plan

Happy 2009 everybody!  Odds are you are settling back into your work routine; the end-of-year holiday memories already fading fast.  Start the new year off right by printing out the free 2009 Sick Day Calendar. Get the Calendar (PDF) Download the Podcast Here's the official release... Free 2009 Sick Day Calendar Released By Career Blog Jobacle.comRapidly-growing career blog and podcast releases its third annual downloadable sick day calendar.New York, NY (PRWEB)  -- Rapidly growing career blog and employment news podcast, Jobacle.com, has released its third annual Official Sick Day Calendar. Available as a free download, the 2009 calendar highlights days that have "optimal sick day potential." Notably, days that bridge standard holidays into longer leaves of absence."With close to 600 million vacation days lost by American workers each year, it's quite likely that the number of wasted sick days is even greater," says Andrew G.R., creator of the calendar and the … [Read more...] about Press Release: Free 2009 Sick Day Calendar

When it comes to work, many of us have the same resolutions. We figured we'd save you the time and type them up for you. If you truly want to get your career on the right track or just have a better attitude towards work, we recommend you start off slow, picking one or two of the items below and building from there.Set a Deadline on "Perfecting" Your ResumeThe longer you wait to send it out, the longer it will take you to land a new job. You need to get it error-free but not at the expense of never finishing it. Resumes are fluid. Do not be afraid to hit the send button.Narrow Down What You Want to DoJust saying that you want a new job is a temporary solution. You must ask yourself the hard questions. You also need to rely on family and friends to give you an unbiased view at what you are good (and not so good) at.Stop Reading This WebsiteOk. I really don't want you to give up your Jobacle addiction but I would like you to take more action and do less research. Trolling 15 career … [Read more...] about We Wrote 13 Career Resolutions for YOU

I did something last Friday night that I've never done before.I answered survey questions from a telemarketer.When the phone initially rang, my instinct told me to ignore it--or worse yet--pick it up and give the caller a piece of my mind.But then something happened: A wave of compassion came over me and I decided to play along. After all, the voice on the other end of the line is only trying to do his job, and who am I to stand in the way of a job well done? Read more of my blog entry at US News & World Report. … [Read more...] about Give Kindness to the Workforce This Season

Given the spate of highly negative (and justified) press that the financial world has recently received, and that bureaucracies always get, I thought it ironic that I would be assigned to review a new book titled 'Creating the Intrapreneur,' by Victoria DePaul. I mean, hey-we're finally realizing the tremendous damage that uncontrolled entrapreneurs can cause us. We are seeing, in the final analysis, that these thieves, crooks and assorted con men are, once their patina of affluence is stripped away, nothing but common criminals.Worse yet, the subtitle 'the search for leadership excellence,' seemed to be but just another in a (too) long series of books offering advice and counsel on how to become the king or queen of your own proverbial hill. After all, almost all celebrities, politicos, and the like have sought to capitalize on the public quest for more knowledge in what's really quite an illusory area.Yet, this is a book that is not only highly readable, but very thought provoking as … [Read more...] about How to Become an INTRApreneur

Before I head out to Wal-Mart or any other large retailers during the holidays, I come up with a game plan. What do I need to purchase from each store? Which store has the best deals for what I need? Do I have enough snacks and caffeine to stop me from snapping at the unaccommodating cashier?   It then occurred to me on my last hellish shopping endeavor (as I always have Jobacle on the brain) that I should approach my career in 2009 the same way I navigate through the mall during holidays: with a game plan and some patience.   *Just as you might map out the stores you need stop at, map out what goals need to be accomplished and how to accomplish them in 2009. Coincidentally, some of your career goals may actually be achieved easier than finding a parking spot at Best Buy.   *No pushing or shoving in the mall, and no pushing and shoving in the workplace- literally and figuratively. Although many businesses operate in a cutthroat environment, it always will benefit you to … [Read more...] about Navigate Your Career Like Shopping at Wal-Mart

You pass Susie in the hall, greet her with the typical pleasantries, and move on your way. Not more than 5 minutes later on the way to the copier, you see her again. What do you do? You could always sport the head nod, throw a polite smile her way, or you could go all out and say hello again. This may seem like a silly nuance, but it is certainly a small aggravation of mine at work. The office I manage is located inside a gym and I frequently pass the sales managers and front desk staff multiple times a day. The first hello is a given. However, the second and third times I run into the same people, I start to feel that my greetings are inadequate. Alright, if I’m being honest, they feel unnecessary and more like an obligation. Do I need to start writing down scripts of things to say? I don’t want to have to pull a Michael Scott and write down different jokes to try out. Here are some of the options I try out when I really feel like avoiding the small talk: * Read a paper … [Read more...] about Hallway Etiquette: To Nod or Not to Nod?

The new year is almost upon us and that means it's time for the Official Sick Day Calendar from your friends at Jobacle. Get your excuses ready now! Remember, only a sucker loses days at the end the year!Official Jobacle.com Sick Day Calendar 2009 (PDF)LISTEN to the Sick Day Podcast: Direct DownloadThis calendar is designed so you can strategically plan your sick days (or vacation time) in order to maximize time away from the office.  Here are the 2009 dates...Friday, January 2: You’ve already spent your non-existent bonus. Why not celebrate the end of holiday torture by starting the new year in style? Besides, who in their right mind would show up focused on a Friday after a party?Friday, January 16 & Tuesday, January 20: You have a dream. And it's five straight days away from your boss's ugly mug and Microsoft Outlook. Call in sick on Friday, January 16 and Tuesday, January 20. Winter's in full swing and the "flu" is hard to fight. Make MLK proud!Friday, February 13: … [Read more...] about Free 2009 Sick Day Calendar