Sometimes Snail Mail is the Way to GoI just received a nice, potential opportunity which resulted from networking - my friend recommended me to a CEO for a job. The CEO told the friend to have me email my info to her directly. Nice! But I said to my husband, “I should probably first ask her if she is OK with attachments.” He thought she wouldn’t have given out her email address if she wasn’t comfortable with me sending the requested documents. So I sent an email with attachments. Turned out that she would have preferred I send the resume text in the email, so I obliged. But it felt like a misstep.It made me long for the good, old snail mail days. No overthinking, just simply insert resume and cover letter in envelope and send. I realize I sound like a dinosaur, but some biz protocols were just no-brainers then.I also noticed as I look back that there was a high interview-to-hire ratio when I followed up an interview with a handwritten thank you note - on … [Read more...] about Could There Be Electronic Communication Backlash?
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CEOs Get 'Dirty' on CBS' Undercover Boss
The Real World, America's first true reality show, has asked us for over two decades, "What happens when people stop being polite and start acting real?"We know the answer. They become enamored with the possibility of fame and act like a-holes. We'll see if the same goes for the CEO next door.No hot tubs. No alcohol-fueled late nights. Just 'everyday' CEOs doing your job. That's the concept of a new CBS show, Undercover Boss, premiering in the coveted post-Super Bowl time slot. If you're wondering what's exciting about watching head honchos from White Castle, 7-Eleven, and Hooters step out from their corner offices to do 'real' work, we're with you. Don't expect any elimination challenges or a panel of berating judges. CBS is combatting the bore factor by attempting to pull at our heartstrings by profiling 'average' workers and their struggles. Aspirational? We'll see.In a perfect world, the person in charge would already have an … [Read more...] about CEOs Get 'Dirty' on CBS' Undercover Boss
Audio: Top 10 Fast Growing Employment Industries
With 85,000 jobs lost in December 2009 alone (source: Labor Department), employment is one of the nation’s biggest concerns. Industry research firm IBISWorld analyzed more than 700 U.S. industries to identify the top 10 fastest growing employment industries in the next five years: Listen to the Working Podcast #94 below and subscribe here. Direct Download … [Read more...] about Audio: Top 10 Fast Growing Employment Industries
Getting a Nice New Title Instead of a Raise
How Does “Your Serene Highness” Sound?Many articles have appeared recently about making your employees feel valued and retaining the good ones who might be tempted move on when the recession ends. Sarah E. Needleman’s Wall Street Journal article, “Business Owners Try to Motivate Employees” takes a look at these issues. One of the business owners interviewed recognized that after layoffs, increased workloads, no raises, etc. her employees “are stressed out and in need of extra attention.”Nice of her to notice; many bosses don’t get it. Another boss gave her employees shiny new titles.Often companies will dole out titles in lieu of raises. But why would that appease us? From a psych perspective, my thought is that we are hot-wired to give too much weight and status to a job title. We are also programmed to look at co-workers in a hierarchical system. The VP is always more important than the admin. assistant. (My personal opinion is that an … [Read more...] about Getting a Nice New Title Instead of a Raise
NBC.com Quotes Jobacle; Conan Needs Departure Advice
It's an all too familiar scene. Your employed sets a "plan" for your career growth, and then somewhere along the way, after you've put in the time/work and made major sacrifices, the employer reneges on the deal.It might be Conan O'Brien's problem this week, but with the good fortune of fame and fortune, plus intelligence to spare, we think the tall boy will be AOK. You and I however, as regular working stiffs, would not be as lucky.You can read what I think about the Conan NBC departure at NBC. That's right, the folks at the peacock network have included some input from me in a recent article. Check it out here.We also urge Conan - and you - to pick up a copy of “The Exit Guide: How to Leave a Job the Right Way.”And Conan, if you're reading this, we'll give you one for free. You've been through enough. … [Read more...] about NBC.com Quotes Jobacle; Conan Needs Departure Advice
The Truth About Getting a Company Car
The olde axiom of 'never look a gift horse in the mouth' is never as true as when your company offers to provide you with some unexpected goody. A few years ago, I was able, after frankly much struggle, to get an internal company transfer. New duties, new title, and even a new work site-overall, a fresh start, for which I was desperate.To get prepped for 'The Day,' I called the guy whose slot I was taking (he was also being voluntarily transferred), and invited him to lunch. I thought that, especially since he was also going where he wanted, he'd be happy to provide some insights into the job, the players, and all the myriad of stuff we all want to know when opening new career doors. Very nice restaurant, real oak and subdued lighting, with great ambiance for confidential chats. Good food and large drinks. Everything seemed fine, except that this guy wasn't giving up a goddamned thing. I mean he was almost mute the entire time. No matter what tactic I tried, it all failed...so I … [Read more...] about The Truth About Getting a Company Car
Video: Finding a Scapegoat for the Bad Economy
This duo of VHS Rewinders look to blame their co-worker for poor sales. And they make him pay...with a head shot! … [Read more...] about Video: Finding a Scapegoat for the Bad Economy
Scam Alert: Fake Job Post of the Week
The latest scamish-looking job posting to hit the Jobacle inbox: From: Paulette MOOREmorrishyvimituk267@hotmail.comDGA Corporation offers rich, new consumer experiences that meet consumers' desire for wellness and pleasure, starting from our consumer insights and guided by our brand promise of "Sense and Simplicity". We are a highly consumer driven organization looking at the individual's interests in terms of their Space, their Mind, their Body, and their Appearance. Great opportunity for you at an intercontinental company DGA Corp., seeking a responsible individuals. Our company need US pang a responsible individuals to become professionals in processing packages with digital equipment and documents. SERVICE MANAGER: You will be processing incoming packages with digital equipment (or documents). This is a full-time stay-at-home job for people who don't have opportunity to work in office and like to have some extra-cash for their needs. Anyhow we need workers of maturity age, … [Read more...] about Scam Alert: Fake Job Post of the Week
Unemployment Claims Move Higher
The new decade is off to a shaky start in New York. My home state was one of 18 who saw unemployment claims rise by more than 1,000 for the week ending January 9. The bulk of the unemployed worked in the construction, service and transportation industries."For just one week, it's a tick in the wrong direction," said Tim Quinlan, an economic analyst at Wells Fargo. "But the four-week moving average, at its lowest level since fall of 2008, tells me that we're moving in the right direction."Read more at CNN. … [Read more...] about Unemployment Claims Move Higher
FAIL for NBC as an Employer, Ask Conan
NBC v. Leno v. O’BrienI won’t equivocate about who should get what time slot from NBC and the fate of “The Tonight Show” - I’m with Conan on this one. The network courted the guy five years ago with the promise of hosting "The Tonight Show" and gave it to him. Now they want to take it away. Instead of admitting that they made some poor choices, i.e., to put Jay on at 10 instead of the usual programming, they are blaming the hosts. Besides probably being contractually uncool, it’s just bad management.David Carr points out in The New York Time’s Media Decoder article, "NBC Broadcasts Itself As a Punchline," that the network who incessantly promotes itself is taking some hits, "…management can come in for a lot of wear and tear when your talent gets pushed around and gets into feelings. Talk-show hosts usually push back, because, after all, they’re the ones with the microphone and they have a new chance to maim you ever single … [Read more...] about FAIL for NBC as an Employer, Ask Conan