Career Advice

I'm about to propose something that will make you want to smash my head with a stapler and then roll me over with a copy machine. What about a caffeine-free workplace? Whoa! I know, it sounds like I'm a militant nut. But come along for a ride in an alternative universe where caffeinated beverages are banned from the workplace. Picture a time where people are stashing thermoses filled with coffee in their desk drawers and keeping coffee beans in their cars. The fear of random drug tests keeps everybody on their toes. The best performing stocks belong to companies who have mastered the art of decaf and have found a way to distil other 'legal' energy boosters into hot drinks. It might not be plausible, but it also might not be impossible. I'll tell you straight up that if I ran a company (larger than Jobacle!) I wouldn't want my employees suffering from the myriad of problems caffeine brings with it. I'd even be willing to foot the bill to help them kick the habit. When you hire a … [Read more...] about Caffeine Banned From the Workplace

If you had to assign a percentage or scale of how much your career is attached to your self-identity, what number would you give it? Or let me put it this way. If you were fired or laid off tomorrow, would you be relieved or sink into a deep depression? People choose careers for a multitude of reasons. Some pick them solely for the money, some for the intrinsic satisfaction, and others work to keep busy. But regardless of which category you fit in, a part of you is wrapped up in the idea of your career.Leave out the fact that a job is a financial necessity or that it provides financial security. So I ask again - if you lost your job, which of these best describes how you would feel? Remember: Pretend money is NOT a factor.#1 (5-15% of self identity): Could care less. If you woke up tomorrow and got laid off you would simply walk over to the competitor and get a job there without a second glance back.#2 (15-30% of self identity): Mild annoyance or irritation would be the only emotions … [Read more...] about What Is Your Job Identity Percentage?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever exaggerated your proficiency level in a software program on your resume. Or if you have listed that you are fluent in Spanish since you once took a course in college or high school. Or worse, raise your hand if you have ever overstated your volunteer activities to appear more community-driven. If I had to guess, most of our readers would be raising their hands high. At the very least, they would be looking at their feet and shifting uncomfortably. How about during the interview? I can hear you now... “I am self-motivated, always on time, first to volunteer, a people person...” and the list of embellished qualities continues on. We all do it. Our main priority in the interview is to sell ourselves. But when does it cross the line from embellishment to just a flat out lie? Truth be told, if you are in the mix of job hunters, you understand how competitive the game is. It’s almost as if the job seekers are now the predators and the … [Read more...] about Resumes and Interviews: A Thin Line Between Embellishment and Lies

Christmas cookies line the tables at work. Holiday sales tempt you into buying not only presents, but that sweater you need for yourself (or at least you tell yourself you need it). Extra emails, phone calls and parties lure you away from work and your other obligations.Why are the holidays such a distraction from all priorities? Diets, budgets, work, free time...they all go out the door starting the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. While December is an all-consuming month filled with entertainment, it still serves as an interruption to completing any type of pre-planned goals.So how do you keep on track during this overwhelming season? To be blunt, you don’t! You will inevitably give in to those delicious sugar cookies, skip out of work for the extra happy hour, and spend some extra unplanned cash. However, you can still contain the December mess by following these tips (or at least one of them).1. Get your shopping done early. Make a list of what presents you have to buy and … [Read more...] about Holiday Distractions Are Unavoidable

For most of us, networking is something that operates in the background as we go about our everyday business. Personally, I often find myself having to push extra hard to make, keep and cultivate relationships. Those of us who sit on our networking laurels will often site the "six degrees of separation" law as an excuse. After all, if you subscribe to the theory, then you'll meet the connection you need "naturally."What if I told you that the six degrees of separation law is a myth, designed to create complacency while others get ahead? According to a new book, The 29% Solution, only 29 PERCENT of us are six degrees apart from everybody. And authors Ivan Misner and Michelle Donovan tell you how you can get into the 29%.The book is broken into 52 weekly networking success strategies and it can be read chronologically or you can pick and choose the chapters that apply to you. Each section ends with action items, making this reading exercise more than just a passive activity.From setting … [Read more...] about Networking Advice: The 29% Solution

The class went "oooh" and "ahhh" when the note came down from above."Andrew G.R., please report to the principal's office."Busted.The blood rushed from my face as I journeyed to meet my maker. I walked down the narrow, fluorescent-lit corridor with my mind racing. How did he find out?"Andrew," Principal Schulman said, sternly. "We have a problem."Fighting tears (this was fourth grade!), I stared down at my feet, unable to fill the silence with anything worthwhile. "It appears that you have next Friday off because of a family trip."Where is he going with this? I wondered."That is the day of the class trip to Yankee Stadium. And because I know they are your favorite team, we have decided to move the trip up a day. So, you will be able to attend, after all."What?! All of that buildup for good news?! And here I thought he knew about that incident in the girls' bathroom....The feeling of anxiety that often accompanies being called to the principal's office never leaves your side. The … [Read more...] about Why Bosses Call Us In to Their Offices

You are giving an update, doing a presentation, or even just observing your associates in their work environment. Yawns, texting, and computer screens displaying non-work activities (unless you work for Facebook) have all infiltrated your work space.How do you wake them up and regain their focus and attention?It is not an easy task, and consequently, there is no easy answer. Among many things, the solution depends on the primary age group, their personalities, and your culture at work. However, here are some questions to start asking yourself about your employees. 1. The most important question of all is the most obvious: why are they unfocused?- Do they have personal troubles going on in their life (i.e. a break-up, divorce, death in the family, money troubles, etc)? If you know the answer, this is a good start. They felt comfortable enough to share the problems going on in their life which likely means you have a decent working relationship.- Are they under or over challenged in … [Read more...] about Empathy Can Bring Back 'Lost' Employees

For anyone seeking a change in career, or post-retirement options for that matter, the new book by Samuel Greengard, 'Crash Course in Finding the Work You Love', is a veritable treasure trove of everything one might ever want or need in pursuing such a life sea-change.This is a highly readable book that offers a broad array of interesting facts, figures and case studies about career change. The author, who describes his own journeys along the personal self reinvention trail, is truthful and helpful. Unlike similar books, this author achieves his objectives without an iota of pretension. Given the many, many books already published that deal with this subject matter, Greengard is to be commended for both his candor and ability to distill and simplify the many complex issues entailed in such an endeavor. The number of people reinventing themselves at age 45 and beyond is growing into nothing less than a tidal surge, and AARP, armed with their wealth of knowledge and resources on second … [Read more...] about Crash Course in Finding the Work You Love