Jobacle Mishmash

The old saying, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" is a very truthful and revealing statement.   But in today's economy it might be better read as "Frugality is the Mother of Survival".   During hard economic times people will resort to all sorts of ways to save money and spend less.  One of the areas often targeted is the food budget. Simply buying less and therefore eating less may be a good thing for those trying to lose weight, but it can also be unnecessary.  There are many ways a person can eat well without sacrificing the quality of food.   Here are a few tips:1.  Look For CouponsTypically, every week the major newspaper in your town will come out with all the weekly ads and coupons for local stores and businesses.   Take the time each week to look through every coupon and cut out any items which you might be in need of - either at the present moment or the future.  Even if there is no present need for a food item, … [Read more...] about 5 Money-Saving Tips for Your Food Budget

Weddings usually suck, unless it's your own.  Sorry ladies, that's just the way it is.  But every now and then you attend a wedding that stands out from the rest.  Unfortunately, it's often for all the wrong reasons.  Bad food, a sh*tty DJ and horrendous service are all part of the equation, but there was one thing missing from the affair that I attended that made it a total disaster...THERE WAS NO Maître d'!That means there was no coordination; an event without a face.  No one to deliver orders to the staff; no one to be held accountable.  Without someone driving the bus the sequence of wedding events is broken, creating a feeling of chaos - and holy matrimony and chaos should never be uttered in the same sentence - there's a whole lifetime for that!So what does this have to do with work and your career?  Today we want to tip our cap to the Maître d' and give him/her the respect that they deserve.Who is the Maître d' at your job? … [Read more...] about The Worst Wedding I've Ever Been To

Ever Tempted to "JetBlue-Over-and-Out?"Who knew a flight attendant having a meltdown at work would draw so much media and public attention? If you’re under a rock and missed it, a JetBlue employee unleashed an expletive-ridden tirade at passengers, quit and exited via the emergency chute. This Wall Street Journal article by Sean Gardiner, "Flight Attendant Grabs Two Beers, Slides Down the Emergency Shute" describes what happened. Steve Slater, the flight attendant, was arrested on several charges and faces a possible seven-year prison sentence.What’s really interesting to me as a mental health professional is how much Steve Slater’s actions are resonating with the public - and that the reactions are weighted heavily in his favor. Here’s a sample comment on the WSJ article, “I think the only way this story could’ve been better is if the guy cracked both beers and did the Stone Cold Steve Austin pre-wraslin’ beer chug before he peaced … [Read more...] about JetBlue Meltdown: Do You Salute or Shun Steven Slater?

I have seen the office of the future, and it makes me believe that cubicle thermostat wars might be coming to an end.   The headquarters of the Syracuse Center of Excellence (SCOE), a conglomerate of partners who aim to bring jobs and sustainability to New York State through research and education, have recently unveiled their new building – and it is nothing short of impressive.  I don’t care if you carry cloth bags to the supermarket or bury your plastics under the rest of your trash, a single viewing of this structure and you’ll start to believe that you WILL commute on a hoverboard fueled by water – in this lifetime.  And I thought my previous office buildings were dumps before this visit! But being eco-friendly is not cheap.  It took $41M to build the five story, 55,000 square foot building.  So hold your breath if you’re looking for your company to upgrade.  Even if they are killing you slowly. The Syracuse building is Platinum LEED Certified, that’s as “green” as a building … [Read more...] about The Green Office Building of Tomorrow Is Here Today

The Resume Hunter has come out of retirement to critique the resume of terror suspect Faisal Shahzad.  Never meant to be taken personally, the advice doled out by our resident resume guru is designed so that the masses can learn from the mistakes of an individual.  1) Longer Than the Qur'an.  No 30-year-old on the planet, or anyone for that matter, should have a three-page resume.  In fact no one should probably go beyond two pages.  2) Career Highlights.  This section rambles on like a missive from the Unabomber.  I think anyone looking at this resume would agree that Faisal is claiming experience in far too many areas.  "Good team player" and "results oriented" are a waste of text, not true “highlights,” and in this case, blatant lies.3) Attention to Detail.  It’s the little things that kept that Pathfinder from blowing up and wreaking havoc in NYC, so thankfully for us, Mr. Shahzad was not bit on dotting his I’s … [Read more...] about A Terrorist's Resume Examined. Would You Have Hired Faisal?

The Resume Hunter has come out of retirement to critique the resume of terror suspect Faisal Shahzad.  Never meant to be taken personally, the advice doled out by our resident resume guru is designed so that the masses can learn from the mistakes of an individual.  1) Longer Than the Qur'an.  No 30-year-old on the planet, or anyone for that matter, should have a three-page resume.  In fact no one should probably go beyond two pages.  2) Career Highlights.  This section rambles on like a missive from the Unabomber.  I think anyone looking at this resume would agree that Faisal is claiming experience in far too many areas.  "Good team player" and "results oriented" are a waste of text, not true “highlights,” and in this case, blatant lies.3) Attention to Detail.  It’s the little things that kept that Pathfinder from blowing up and wreaking havoc in NYC, so thankfully for us, Mr. Shahzad was not bit on dotting his I’s … [Read more...] about A Terrorist’s Resume Examined. Would You Have Hired Faisal?

I've told you before about my biggest workplace fashion pet peeve: faded black socks.  Samy Liechti, the Swiss entrepreneur behind Blacksocks.com, the international “sockscription” sensation now sweeping into North America, offers his tips on running a successful e-retail business below. Success Lies in the Small DetailsWhat has been your most memorable career moment? I started my career as a marketing executive. One day, I was invited to dinner with Japanese business associates. The dinner was a great success, and afterwards we moved to a Japanese tea house where, following tradition, everyone removed their shoes. I looked down, and I had two different socks on – one with a hole in the big toe. I sat cross-legged for an entire evening, trying to hide my foot. It was then that Blacksocks was born.How has your business grown since its founding?  I knew from the beginning that I wanted to make the Internet the linchpin of my business. This was in 1999, … [Read more...] about Q&A With the Founder of Innovative 'Sockscription' Service

Google has launched the “Search Stories Video Creator,“ a quickie tool where  you can create your own commercial for Google.  Remember that nifty ad they ran during the Super Bowl.  It looks just like that.   Just insert seven search terms, select a soundtrack and the video will automagically get uploaded to YouTube.What a swell idea. They've got hard working people like you and me spending time spreading their message for free!  But maybe we can turn the tables and use it to promote ourselves.Here's my Sunday morning crack at it... … [Read more...] about Create Your Own Google Search Stories

Someone once told me that that there are 3 main elements to adult life, and you can never have them all simultaneously, at least not for any sustained period of time:- Good Health- Happy Home Life- Work SatisfactionI'd like to think that we would all be blessed with these three items.  After all, it doesn't seem like too much to ask! I'll take health and home happiness over work satisfaction any day of the week.  But I have recently been wondering if I'm jinxed.  Maybe you are too.  I am a great employee.  I don't say that to stroke my own ego, it's simply the truth.  I work hard, play well with others and have the company's objectives in mind at all times.  I balance creativity and business sense better than most.  And when it comes to making my bosses look good, I shine.Yet despite being a model employee, I have NEVER been surprised with a raise, bonus or promotion.  Everything I have received, I've had to scratch and claw for.  It … [Read more...] about Hey St. Patrick…Where's My Good Luck at Work?