Investor extraordinaire Warren Buffet, with his estimated net worth of $62.0 billion, will be featured on Nightly Business Report tonight as part of the program’s 30th anniversary. While American workers have their collective eye on President Obama, waiting to see how he'll restore the jobs they lost and secure the ones they have, Mr. Buffet might be able to offer a glimpse into the future. Here's a sample of what to expect from the interview tonight. Find your local PBS station.SUSIE GHARIB, ANCHOR, NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT: Are we overly optimistic about what President Obama can do?WARREN BUFFETT, CHAIRMAN, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY: Well I think if you think that he can turn things around in a month or three months or six months and there’s going to be some magical transformation since he took office on the 20th that can’t happen and wouldn’t happen. So you don’t want to get into Superman-type expectations. On the other hand, I don’t think there’s … [Read more...] about Warren Buffett Makes Himself Available to President Obama
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The Man With Two Offices
The office. No, not the terribly overrated NBC version of the BBC TV show. The actual walled cube where many of us spend 1,700 hours a year. Designed to give you privacy and quiet as you do your job, the office is also the ultimate work status symbol. I've talked before about how offices are harder to come by than ever before. Years ago, the prospect of a young professional earning a larger workspace was an incentive to put his/her nose to the grindstone. Work hard. Get promoted. Get an office. But somewhere along the way, this carrot was replaced with a big corporate stick. All companies operate differently, but as the workforce has grown, and employers continue to cut corners, offices have become a premium. Has sheer supply and demand raised the esteem of having an office in society? Perhaps. The nicer the office, the greater the symbolism. Many Jobacle readers and Working Podcast listeners have often told us that they don't work in offices. Even the upper managers these days … [Read more...] about The Man With Two Offices
End Wasted Talent
Last month I was approached by the PR folks for Kaplan University asking if they could republish some Jobacle posts on a new Web site. Their pitch:"The overall mission of this Kaplan-sponsored site is to highlight content and opinion from thought leaders in education and personal development - and provide a wealth of information to help people make smart decisions about their education."I figured why the heck not. I know nothing about their academic offerings, but their PR campaign and messaging has balls."Just because a university has been around for 200 years doesn't mean it can prepare you for the next 20."We couldn't agree more.And in one of those ironic moments when something that you've never thought about grabs your attention and then you see it again... I caught an ad on TV this afternoon that impressed the hell out of me. It almost gave me goosebumps. What was it for? A spot for Kaplan, of course. Check it out below, and if they've got your interest, help them 'End Wasted … [Read more...] about End Wasted Talent
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work
I have read several of the "Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook" guides in the past, and I have always enjoyed them. The other books in the series (based on travel, golf, college, dating, life, etc.) are humorous, yet serious enough to make you think, "What if I DO have to jump out of that airplane without a chute?" For example, this book teaches readers how to, among other things, handle a job interview turned bad, sneak out of a meeting, survive a necktie-caught-in-the-copier accident, and retrieve an item stuck in the vending machine.While some of them seem crazy (like the tollbooth survival tips), many of these tutorials can be helpful for us at work. Whether it's a hot and heavy interoffice romance problem or being stuck in a cubicle (AUDIO LINK) with a chatterbox, all of us have to deal with some strange aspect of life while at work. Wouldn't it help if, instead of being helpless, you could learn how to get around those situations that pain all of us in our work lives daily?The … [Read more...] about The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work
Interviewing 101: Intro to Landing a Job
No, this isn’t a class offered at your local community college. Interviewing-101 is a Website dedicated to helping you land a position. They provide a section with tips from a headhunter, provide an option to contact a headhunter to help you with your job search, and links to job boards categorized by specific job functions. While some of the resources are free to check out, most require a one-time annual payment of $20. At first I felt that was a bit overpriced. Where is the return on investment? Then I read the introduction to one of the articles- “The ‘REAL’ Way to Write a Resume- and I was actually disappointed to learn that I couldn’t continue to read on without logging in (which obviously requires that payment). Not to mention that there is a daily lampoon section that brightens up the bleak employment search with a few interviewing jokes. All in all, if you are truly dedicated to finding a position, this Website may just be … [Read more...] about Interviewing 101: Intro to Landing a Job
The Price of the Uncalled for Reprimand
Upper management has the uncanny ability to make us instantly feel like crap. A little snipe on their end can do more damage than they'll ever realize.After completing an internship where I put in 40-plus hour weeks for no pay and no credit (and excelled!), I was sniped on my last day of work.Upon a tiny mistake..."Andrew's letting it all go to s*it on his last day."The 'boss' will never know how much that comment stung. I take pride in everything I do; from Day 1 to endgame.In theory, we're all supposed to let these meaningless comments bounce off of us. (I'm rubber you're glue, everything you say sticks back to you). Reality check: very few people forget. REMINDERS FOR EMPLOYEES:Don't take these uncalled for reprimands personally. The negative comment could simply be the result of a 'bad day.' You have no idea what your boss is wrestling with personally, so try to give him/her the benefit of the doubt. This is assuming these comments are few and far between. If these types of … [Read more...] about The Price of the Uncalled for Reprimand
Career Advice From the Founding Fathers
While career advice is a hot topic these days, it probably was quite a bit different back in the 1700's. Can you imagine what a helpful career tip would look like back then? Maybe "Don't shoe an angry horse," or "Make sure your barber bleeds you often," or how about "Make sure you carry your firearm to work, because you never know when the British will attack."While those may be a bit silly, here are a few pieces of "career advice" from the Founding Fathers that could actually be useful today.Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. -John Adams-Let's get a show of hands. Who out there really wants to sit in a cubicle in front of a computer screen all day? Anybody? Nobody? That's what I thought. Now I want everyone to do something difficult, maybe even painful. Think about what you really want to do in life. Is that life goal a focus of your everyday actions? Read the above quote again. If the freedom to choose a better career and life for yourself is passed up, then the opportunity may … [Read more...] about Career Advice From the Founding Fathers
Rant, Rave and Vent About Work…Again
There are now offcially too many outlets where employees can anonymously rate their workplace. With so many factors affecting each person's work expeirence, the information on these boards are only a tiny slice of the pie, not the whole picture.Getting some of that workplace frustration off your chest can be very theraputic, just be sure to not let the angry exercise become routine.Last year we put together the Jobacle Master List of Job Vent sites. The latest to come to our attention is Jobeehive. What differentiates the site from the pack is that you must submit information about your employer before February 11, 2009 in order to help determine their overall score for 2008.Ratings are 100% anonymous. The majority of companies posted are either U.S. or India-based.Be sure to visit the full list of job rant sites and leave your favorites in the comments section. … [Read more...] about Rant, Rave and Vent About Work…Again
How Running an Ultramarathon Changed My Work Life
Just about everyone has heard of a 5k, 10k, or marathon. However, ultramarathons are a relatively unknown segment of the running world. In November 2007, I joined the ranks of those dedicated (and slightly crazy) runners when I completed the Dizzy Fifties 50k in Huntsville, AL. For those of us that aren't interested in the metric system, the total distance was 31 miles. Since completing the race, I have looked back and seen the different ways it helped me in my work life.Take a Bold StepI used to be very quiet at work. I sat quietly and worked without interacting with anyone else. When I decided to start training for the race, I started talking with others and becoming more verbose. My supervisor noticed my change in behavior, and I began to ask for more difficult assignments. I took the initiative to increase my value at work.Never Give UpSome of those assignments were difficult. Very difficult. Keeping-me-up-at-night difficult. However, working on a project at work is a lot less … [Read more...] about How Running an Ultramarathon Changed My Work Life
Q&A With 'Unemploymentality'
I'll be honest. After reviewing so many career-related Websites, they all start to look the same. So when I was tasked with yet another Career 2.0 review, I can't say I was necessarily thrilled to pieces. But this one was different.Unemploymentality.com is quick-witted, entertaining- and most importantly - a helpful Website for those who are unfortunately a member of the unemployed club or about to be inducted.To give Jobacle readers a better look at the Website, I conducted an email interview with the founders, John Henion and Tania Khadder.Q: What led you guys to start up this Website besides the lay-offs? In other words, is this:a.boredomb.misery loves companyc.truly an attempt at helping the unemployedd.all of the abovee. none of the aboveA: (John) I would say none of the above: After we were both laid off we found ourselves obsessing over the details of what had happened. Tania and I were g-chatting and she mentioned how she wasn't really inspired to write anymore. So we sort of … [Read more...] about Q&A With 'Unemploymentality'