On Careers
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Extreme Adventure: What Erden Eruc Teaches Us About Work
Continue reading… 0 CommentsOf all the ways I fuel my career journey, one of the most important is with the energy I get from people who inspire me. One huge source of inspiration is my friend Erden Eruc.
Erden is in the midst of a human-powered circumnavigation of the globe, with summit attempts on the highest peak on six continents thrown in for good measure (more on that at around-n-over.org). Recently, he spent 312 days crossing the Pacific in his ocean-rowing boat. Before that, his efforts included a solo row across the Atlantic and bicycling from Seattle to Alaska in the winter to climb Mount McKinley.
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When a New Hire Gets the Cold Shoulder
Continue reading… 2 CommentsI used to own my own business, and I worked solo. Now I am part of a company and having real difficulty fitting in. I come from another culture, not ethnically. I have never been good with groups as there seems to be a hierarchical pecking order. I have been told I am efficient and respectful in work and other contexts. I am empathetic (I remember birthdays and listen, for example) and am not a pushover. The fact that my boss likes me is causing me problems with the coworkers, and I am starting to sabotage myself and shrink into the woodwork. The office politics and the favoritism are making me think of leaving.
The most frustrating part about junior high is that even though everyone physically leaves it behind, some people cling to the behavior their entire lives. It's all about being popular and sitting with the cool kids at lunch.
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Halloween: Gen Y Cares About More Than Costumes
Continue reading… 0 CommentsWe are in the midst of our local United Way campaign here. There's no easier and better place to give a bit back to the local community.
We are a company of mostly 20-somethings—a group some seem to think would define "charity" as buying friends a round of drinks. Wrong. This is a generation that not only believes but acts. Did I say they like to have fun? And did you know that according to the recent DonorTrends Survey, gen X-ers and Y's give MORE than baby boomers? Truth.
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10 Things Not to Do the Day After You're Laid Off
Continue reading… 6 CommentsNow that you know the 10 Things to Do the Day After You're Laid Off, here's what not to do:
1. Don't be ashamed. One thing is certain: In this economy, no one will assume that being laid off was your fault.
2. Don't lose your cool. Feel like E-mailing an angry rant to your boss/coworkers? Of course you do. But, no. Not a good idea.
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Job Search: Don't Stalk the Hiring Manager
Continue reading… 20 CommentsWhen you're searching for a job, enthusiasm is a good thing. But some job applicants cross the line from enthusiastic and proactive to obnoxiously aggressive—and, in doing so, kill their chances at a job offer.
You have crossed the line if you are doing any of the following:
- Checking on the status of your application daily.
- Phone stalking: Calling, hanging up when you get voice mail, and then trying again half an hour later, and repeating this cycle over and over in the hopes of getting a live person on the other end of the phone.
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Is Workplace Competition Good for You?
Continue reading… 0 CommentsIt's often said that competition brings the best out in people. This might be true in a boxing match, on a football field, or during a Monopoly throwdown, but what does a head-to-head battle yield in the workplace?
Let's look at each of the four parties involved:
YOU
- Pressure can lead to stress. Just the right amount can be a beautiful thing (i.e., the butterflies in your stomach when you first kissed the girl/guy). But when your competitor turns up the heat and forces you to engage when you're not interested, the stress can become too much. And stress is good friends with anger, which can lead to...
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Artful Dodgers: How Some Keep the Boss Happy
Continue reading… 1 CommentI recall a story about an FBI agent who learned that J. Edgar Hoover was coming to his field station. The news initially frightened the man because Hoover had launched a fitness program for agents and this agent was, to put it delicately, a person of size. The man dieted and exercised, but as the day of the visit approached, he was nowhere near the appearance expected by the Director of Directors.
Then, inspiration struck. The agent went out and purchased a suit several sizes too big. When he finally got to meet J. Edgar, he apologized for his baggy outfit and noted that darned fitness program was going to force him to get a new wardrobe. Hoover beamed and congratulated him on his progress.
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Why a Formal Warning Is No Cue to Act Tough
Continue reading… 2 CommentsI do a great job at work. In fact, I perform at a higher level than my coworkers. However, my boss just gave me a formal warning for coming in late. I'm an exempt employee. I put in more than 50 hours each week.If my work is good and getting done, why does it matter if I'm there by 8:30 every morning?
It matters because it matters to your boss.
Now, we'll set aside the fact that we are often the worst judges of our own performance. What you think is spectacular, your boss may think is mediocre. (And while bad performance is easier to spot in a coworker, superior performance can be hard to gauge from the side view.) But I'll accept that you are a stellar performer.
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Why Successful People Need Help
Continue reading… 1 CommentWant to make the most of your career? Reach out and ask for help.
Sure, we live in a culture that celebrates rugged self-sufficiency, but it's a mistake to think you can do it all alone. You may have talent and determination, but if you insist on clinging to a lone-wolf mentality, you're likely to fall far short of your potential.
Over the years, I have interviewed a bazillion (or so) people who were highly successful in their careers. From extreme athletes to entrepreneurs, from photographers to CEOs, they all shared one common response when I asked about the keys to that success: "I couldn't have done it alone."
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10 Things to Do the Day After You're Laid Off
Continue reading… 14 Comments1. Get up early, and exercise. Run, walk, ride your bike, dance to a video. Move your body. Sweat.
2. Shower. Wash hair. Put on makeup if you wear makeup. Put on your favorite outfit. Eat a healthful and tasty breakfast.
3. Write a thank-you note to your former boss. Also to the people you worked with. It's classy. Plus, they will be more likely to remember you if they hear of any other opportunities (so include your contact info).
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Petters Case: Confessions of Fraud, Stupidity, and Rationalized Behavior
Continue reading… 8 CommentsI recently wrote about an entrepreneur and his company here in Minneapolis that are accused of running the biggest Ponzi scheme since, well, Ponzi. You can read my take here in my home blog of What Would Dad Say. Very little about this story has been covered by national media, yet.
The short version of the federal prosecutors' case is that this guy Tom Petters would allegedly dummy up invoices showing a sale to Costco or Sam's Club of electronics products. He's accused of then taking these fake paper invoices to investors, hedge funds, individuals, and even nonprofits with some song and dance about needing short-term cash until the invoices could be paid. If the allegations are true, then some smart people saw dollar signs—"24 percent interest, fer cripes' sake!"—and may end up losing their money, shirt, and rep. We're talking billions of dollars.
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How to Get Feedback When You're Rejected
Continue reading… 9 CommentsSo you thought the position was a perfect fit and your interview seemed to go well, but in the end, you didn't get the job. You could speculate about why you weren't hired, but if you're really curious, why not try to actually find out by asking for some feedback from the hiring manager? Here's how to do it:
First, I recommend using E-mail for this, not the phone. E-mail allows the hiring manager to respond at her own convenience and to put some thought into her response. Say something like, "I appreciate your time speaking with me about the position, and I hope you'll keep me in mind if something opens up that you think would be a good fit. I also wonder if you might be willing to give me some advice for the future: Are there things you could share with me about what I could have done to be a stronger candidate and that I could do to be a stronger candidate in the future?"
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Why Slow Means Success
Continue reading… 2 CommentsAn African leader once admonished his followers that they must go slowly because they were in a hurry. President Dwight Eisenhower used to tell his cabinet: "Let's not be a hurry to make our mistakes." A mantra often used in the military is "Fast is slow, slow is fast."
All of this guidance goes against the rush, rush, faster, faster tone of many workplaces. Few issues require an immediate response. The notion that faster is inherently better deserves to be challenged.
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Career Change: Timing Isn't Everything
Continue reading… 0 CommentsHave you ever found yourself saying something like this: "I really need to make a change, but the time just isn't right"?
That one short phrase—"the time isn't right"—has the potential to keep you trapped in the wrong situation indefinitely. I see that all the time when people look at potential career changes. One day slides into the next. One week slides into the next. One month slides into...well, you get the picture.
Someone who says, "It's not the right time," typically means one of two things:
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Cheap Ways to Get a Great Résumé
Continue reading… 2 CommentsMany career professionals claim that résumé writing is only for, well, the professionals—meaning that if you need a résumé, you've got to pony up a few hundred bucks to get one done by a pro.
But in case you haven't noticed, a lot of folks don't have as much money as they thought they had, oh, just last month. These same folks may, incidentally, be needing a new résumé. If that's you, here are some tips for how to create a résumé on the cheap:
• Do you have a mentor? (You should.) One of the things a mentor can help with is résumés. Ask.
• If you're a current or recent student, your college's career center may offer free résumé help.
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7 Mistakes Recent Grads Make at Work
Continue reading… 9 CommentsI like working with recent grads. There's something really fulfilling about watching people as they learn their way around the working world for the first time and start getting the experience that will let them advance professionally. But I've also seen quite a few stumble in similar ways. Some of these are fatal, some just unwise, but all are ways that recent grads unintentionally sabotage themselves at work.
1. Ignoring the office culture. Culture is the invisible force that guides the thousands of things that happen in any office each day, down to how phones are answered or how meetings are run. By observing how others in the office act, you'll pick up on some very powerful messages about "how we do things here." For instance, do people modulate their voices when others are on the phone? Are they compulsively on time for meetings? There are lots of little things like this that will help you appear professional by simply observing and mirroring what you see.
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Office Inflation: the Boss Who Gives Lots of Praise
Continue reading… 3 CommentsConsider two bosses:
Boss A is reserved, rarely gives praise, demands that people meet production and quality standards, has increasingly high expectations, and gets rid of people who cannot do the job. Boss A will tell you in words of one syllable if there is a problem with your performance. Boss A does not suffer fools gladly but, if you are performing well, you'll be left alone.
Boss B is friendly, gives lots of praise, is flexible on production and vague on quality standards, has comfortable expectations, and rarely fires poor performers. Boss B dislikes confrontation and expects you to read the indirect signals of displeasure if there is a problem with your performance. While Boss B will never make you uneasy, there is a lot of management by crisis.
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The First Impression: What's the Big Deal?
Continue reading… 1 CommentEveryone's always pounding into job candidates' heads that first impressions during a job interview are critical. Are they really? I've interviewed people before and often changed my first impressions of them (either positively or negatively) once they started answering questions. Surely, I'm not the only one who won't let a candidate's wimpy handshake, terrific smile, ugly tie, nervous hiccups, or tailored suit completely cloud my judgment about his/her ability to do the job! Is it possible that most of that first impression advice out there is bogus?
Here's the thing with a first impression: You only get one shot at it. (Sorry—old, lame cliché.) Absolutely, I think a bad first impression can be overcome. It's just that it's easier if you don't have one to overcome in the first place.
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Don’t Buy Another Self-Help Book
Continue reading… 5 CommentsIs there a positive change you want to make in your life? Maybe a new career, or improved sales skills, or getting more organized? Have you bought books on the subject already?
Here's a radical self-help idea. DON'T BUY ANOTHER ONE. At least not yet.
How many half-read, marginally implemented personal growth books do you have on your bookshelf? You had the best of intentions when you bought them, but somehow the wisdom in the words never quite made it into your real world.
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Is Sexual Harassment a Laughing Matter?
Continue reading… 3 CommentsI got some blowback from last week's post on laughter as a weapon against sexual harassment.
Some commenters thought that Working Girl was advising "laughing off" sexual harassment. Others concluded that WG proposes laughter as the one and only response to all forms of sexual harassment. She does not, on both counts, and is sorry to anyone who thought so.
Laughter is a tool you might choose to try if your situation meets two criteria: (1) it fits the level of the crime, and (2) you are the snarky type of person who can carry it off. (Ridicule and scorn are powerful weapons. Why deprive ourselves of them?)
