Career Advice

BONSAI: A living plant transferred into a pot or tray that can continue to live semi-permanently. It is often said that there are four disciplines that must be mastered to successfully grow and care for a bonsai tree: horticultural, technical, artistic and philosophical.  I propose that the elements to perfect your career are really no different.  Here's how: Ongoing Relationship - Sure there's birth and death, just like there is hiring and firing.  However, the in between is an ongoing process that will always be in a state of flux.  Unlike other things that happen in your life, you must remember that pleasure in your career  will not come from completing work, but rather from the act of making it fruitful and worthwhile.  Just like the bonsai, your job is a "living sculpture." Nature vs. Nurture - Bonsai growers often develop a deep relationship with their tree.  Not only does this result in a great feeling of tranquility, but since you are in control of many of the elements, … [Read more...] about Your Career Is Like a Bonsai Tree

At it's simplest form, a recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth in real Gross Domestic Product. Basically, any period with a high rate of unemployment, inflation and poor wholesale-retail sales can arguably be considered a recession. The good news is that this economic trend is a bottoming-out period, only lasting around a year. Of course, if you've been laid off, that year could feel like an eternity. Duane Morin of Commute Smarter has written Survive the Layoff - Practical Wisdom for the Unwillingly Unemployed. From gaining a better understand of the philosophy of the transition to reaching out to references, if you've been laid off or feel that you are on the verge, this eBook can be a nice starting point. Here's an excerpt. The entire thing is downloadable below. ASAP is Not An Acceptable Timeline "Naturally you’re hoping to get a new job that starts the day after your current one ends. Barring that, “as soon as possible” has a nice ring to it. But … [Read more...] about Free e-Book: Survive the Layoff

These days, some employers feel it is acceptable to call in sick via e-mail. (Which really makes it e-mailing in sick). While we at Jobacle don't necessarily agree with the practice, we want to alert you about a new tool that could help you sleep late on these days you play hooky.LetterMeLater is a free service that allows you to write e-mails, using your existing e-mail address, and schedule delivery when you desire.  Just pick the day and time and your e-mail will be sent.Potential uses include:- E-mail your boss at 4am.  'I've been throwing up all night...'- Set up invoices to clients to auto send so you don't forget.- Schedule regular e-mails to staff members.Fear not.  The recipient has no way of knowing that the received message was scheduled.  Your e-mail address appears as the return address.This tool can eliminate the annoyance of setting your alarm early to contact the office.  Use with caution. Texting  and e-mailing sick into work can be shaky … [Read more...] about Calling In Sick? Schedule an E-Mail

Your morning commute is packed with many variables, most of which you can't control.  What you do have power over is when you wake up and when you leave your house.  Giving yourself a healthy time cushion to arrive at the office early has many benefits.You'll Be More Relaxed: Rushing to get to work on time starts your day off on a stressful note. Being able to get organized in the morning, plan your day and prepare for tasks that lie ahead are elements that will make you feel better prepared, thus reducing stress.Good Practice: Ever have that one friend who always shows up late? And every time they do, you get pissed off because it's a clear disrespect for your time. You never want to be viewed as 'that guy.' Not by friends, family or an employer. Showing up early sends a message that you value other people's time and it...Shows You Care: Aside from being a good human being and an example for others, coming in to work early everyday will set a consistent tone, a quality upper … [Read more...] about The Early Bird Gets Promoted

How to Leave a Job the Right WayAfter months of endless resume submissions, you finally aced that interview and scored a gig that pays you $9k more a year.  Good for you!  You're already dreaming about those final two weeks at your current job.  You'll tell people how you really feel.  And if they ask you to do something annoying, you'll be damned if you grin and bare it.Not smart.The final two weeks at a job are never easy.  There are many psychological issues at play - including detachment - coming from both you AND your colleagues. It never ceases to amaze me how differently people tend to act when you're on the way out. Be ready for it.Some folks will be genuinely happy for you.  Others will be downright jealous.  You must keep in mind that you had the courage/luck to get out of the trenches.  Those who are still there are reminded that they are "stuck."  Believe it or not, most people do not have the initiative to make a … [Read more...] about Rules for the Last Two Weeks of Work

We all know what a problem presenteeism is; Workers, unwilling to take sick days, show up at the office, spreading their germs. It's sharing, not caring.I want to talk about something that is less common but a problem nevertheless.  People who show up to work sick - very sick - and in the process, make everyone else around them terribly uncomfortable.  We're not talking about the common cold, flu or poison ivy.  I'm speaking of serious stuff.  Life-thretening type stuff.We received an e-mail about a high-level employee at a company who is ill.  He's recently missed a lot of work, and according to the reader, is visibly medicated.  The sickness is so intense that on occasion, the boss will double over in pain, lose his balance or just close his eyes in sheer misery.Despite these public displays of discomfort, the boss has never addressed the illness to workers, leading people to ignore it entirely.  Not because they don't care, but because it appears … [Read more...] about Sick Boss Makes the Office Uncomfortable

She's the slowest walker in the building, and more often than not, I get stuck behind her.  It's not a casual shuffle or a meandering stroll; it's a walk with a purpose. A slow-motion gait that makes a statement:"I'm in no rush...for anything."In a way, who can blame her?  For all I know this is her only 15-minute opportunity to stretch her legs and escape her cubicle.  What irks me is how she travels through the center of the hallway, forcing you to either slow to a crawl or awkwardly slip around her.  What she doesn't realize - or perhaps does - is that the way you walk the hall can be a peek into you as an employee.  Fair or not, you can and will be judged by the way you walk the halls.TOO SLOWYou haven't a care in the world.  If you're going to milk your public time, God only knows how you're passing the clock at your desk.TOO FASTPeople will be put off that you're "soooo busy." This walk can quickly reek of self-importance. It … [Read more...] about The Wrong Way to Walk at Work

"OUT SICK. CU2MORROW"Late last year a tile store sales clerk named Mark Morrison won over $14,000 after a court found he was wrongfully fired for calling in sick to work via text message.  I guess that would really make it 'texting into work sick.'The case found that the employee was unaware that the company's policy required an actual voice call.  He thought any ol' communication would do.At my full-time job it is acceptable to e-mail your director and let him/her know if you'll be out sick.  When I first started with this employer, the method sounded shaky, leaving too large a loophole for scheming employees.The first time I called in sick I opted to go the old school route, leaving a voicemail.  I know, how 1990's of me.  Upon my return, my boss called me into his office and questioned where I had been the previous day.  I explained that I left a voicemail on his personal office line.  We both glanced down at the phone and found an … [Read more...] about New Trend – Texting in Sick: Career Suicide?

What if you looked at your employer as a girlfriend?  Wouldn't you do everything you could to score?  Or at least round first base?With Valentine's Day around the corner, Shawn Graham, author of Courting Your Career and Randy Bitting, co-founder of InterviewStream, offer 10 ways to can romance your dream job:1.     Know your type. Self-awareness is critical to an effective job search because it enables you to determine what you want from your next opportunity. When you know what you’re looking for, you can target careers or organizations that fit your wants and needs.2.     Play the field. Reaching out to family, friends, alumni from your college or university, or others will allow you to gather information about a company of interest. Then you can reference them during the interview, in addition to sending a signal to the company that you’re ‘into them’.3.     Always get their number. When … [Read more...] about Romance Your Job This Valentine's Day