On Careers
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6 Things You Learn at the Job Interview
Continue reading… 8 CommentsI preach all the time about how the small stuff matters in a job search, because employers are drawing conclusions about you based on little things. The reverse is also true. As a candidate, you can learn a ton about a prospective employer by watching how they handle little things during the hiring process. Here are six:
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When a Résumé Should Take Risks
Continue reading… 4 CommentsThere has long been a debate among human resources professionals over whether a job applicant is wise to include a section pertaining to personal interests on a résumé.
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4 Myths About Career Passion
Continue reading… 5 CommentsI make my living helping people figure out how to create careers that light them up, so I end up having a lot of random conversations about career passion. While the idea is appealing to everyone (because who wouldn't want to love their work?), it can also kick up a fair amount of skepticism.
[See how to change the world and your work.]
No doubt some of that skepticism is fueled by an overdose of happy-thought gurus who are long on fluff and short on realistic implementation. But a big part of it is also tied to an all too common misperception that pursuing passion is little more than unrealistic, pie-in-the-sky dreaming. That misperception is fed by a number of widespread myths. Here are four of the most common myths that prevent people from stepping into their potential.
Myth No. 1: Pursuing your passion is selfish and self-indulgent. Too many people fall prey to the notion that if it's fun, it must be selfish. And of course we can't have that! Better to stick our noses to the grindstone and grit our teeth. (What's up with that?) Is creating a career where you feel energized and engaged in your own best interest? Of course! But finding work you love is also one of the best things you could ever do for your loved ones.
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Why New Hires Need a Culture Lesson
Continue reading… 2 CommentsA month ago, we signed a new apartment lease. As part of the paperwork, we had to indicate the names we wanted on our mailbox. Today a man appeared at my door with the mailbox nameplate—and a bill for nearly $50.
Now, I admit the engraved nameplate is nice, but for $50 I'd rather just keep the handwritten sign that was there before. I brought this up with some friends, and the consensus was that this was absolutely normal in Switzerland and everybody knows that they'll get charged that much.
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7 Tips for Chatting With Your Job Interviewer
Continue reading… 4 CommentsOne of the hard truths about job hunting is that jobs don’t always go to the best candidates. They go to the candidates employers like the best.
Yup, it’s about chemistry. And a big part of chemistry comes from that time-honored social lubricant: small talk. Most adults know the basics of chitchat, but, let’s face it, some of us are better at it than others. So, whether you are an introvert or extrovert, here are seven tips for being a small talk pro:
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Why the Airline Pilots' Excuses Aren't Cute
Continue reading… 0 CommentsDo you have a grandparent like this? A middle aged friend of mine recently visited her 90-year-old grandma in a local nursing home. “Oh my God, Joan,” Grandma said. “What happened to you? You are so fat.”
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5 Reasons to Turn Down a Job Offer
Continue reading… 10 CommentsIn this economy, it's easy to feel like you should jump at any job offer that comes along. But doing that could land you in a job that would make you miserable and could even harm you professionally. Here are five reasons to consider turning down a job offer:
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5 Management Books for a Deserted Island
Continue reading… 2 CommentsOK. The ship is going down and you're paddling toward a small island, while hanging onto a mysterious trunk. When you get to the beach, you search in vain for other survivors and realize that it may be some time before you’re rescued. You remember the trunk. You haul it under a palm tree, slowly open the latch, and discover there are 10 books inside. Five of them are management books and five are not.
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How to Change the World and Your Work
Continue reading… 6 CommentsOne of the great untapped resources we have today is our individual potential to make a difference. Imagine if everyone woke up and asked themselves, "What difference do I feel called to make today?" What kind of positive impact could that have?
I'm excited by the possible cumulative result of people incorporating that question into their decisions. But what really lights me up is that the answer to that question can actually be a source of energy in our careers, and in our lives in general. Far from being solely saintly and altruistic, it can have a significant positive impact on how we experience our own lives. It's the ultimate win/win.
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How to Address Your Layoff in Your Job Search
Continue reading… 2 CommentsI was recently economically separated from my former employer. Should that information be included on a resume or cover letter? Should it wait for the interview?
Your resume is what you use to market yourself. Think of it as advertising. Everything you put on your resume must be true. Under no circumstances should you lie on your resume. If you do, you'll get caught and it will be much worse for you.
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5 Ways Volunteering Can Save Your Job Search
Continue reading… 6 CommentsYou know, of course, that volunteering is good for your community. You may even know that it’s good for you personally. Research has shown that people who volunteer tend to live longer, have lower rates of depression, enjoy better physical health, have more friends, and are more self-confident.
What you may not know is that volunteering can help you get a job, too. Here are five reasons you should carve some time out of your job-hunting schedule to “work for free," along with a bonus tip:
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20 Temptations To Fight at Work
Continue reading… 0 CommentsIt’s so tempting ...
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How to Handle Defensive Coworkers
Continue reading… 10 CommentsIf you've ever worked with anyone who is chronically defensive, then you know how difficult it can be to talk to these individuals about practically anything. They argue, they don't hear what you're saying, and, sometimes, they even lash out at you or others. As a result, most people end up avoiding them entirely, since interactions can be so unpleasant. That means problems go unaddressed, and the people around them feel like they can't get their voices heard.
But there's a secret to defusing someone's defensiveness and having a less difficult and less emotionally charged conversation.
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10 Things to Do While You're Unemployed
Continue reading… 3 CommentsSure, while you're unemployed, job No. 1 is to look for another job. However, job hunting should not be the only thing you do while out of work.
You should also devote a bit of time and energy to doing something interesting that you can talk about at job interviews. Ideally, this "something interesting" should (1) enhance your employability and (2) keep up your spirits. Some ideas:
Start a blog. Writing a blog will make you smarter (hence, more employable) because you'll be doing all sorts of researching, reading, and thinking. A blog provides a showcase for said researching, reading, and thinking, plus it makes an impressive landing page for potential employers who are Googling you. You may also make some helpful contacts in the blogosphere.
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9 Tips For Being Happier at Work
Continue reading… 4 CommentsYou’d think that anyone who still has a job in this economy would be necessarily happy. But, guess what? It’s still possible to be miserable in your job, even if you are grateful to have it.
Since most of us spend a sizable portion of our waking hours at work it’s important to try to optimize that time, happiness-wise. Here are nine tips:
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5 Ways Managers Fail at Delegating
Continue reading… 3 CommentsDelegating effectively is one of the most important things you can do as a manager, and it's also one of the most difficult.
Here are some of the most common ways managers fail at delegating:
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What Kind of Maverick Are You?
Continue reading… 1 CommentThere are positive mavericks and negative mavericks.
Positive mavericks courteously challenge policies and practices and propose reasonable alternatives. If they lose, they keep trying to string together the arguments and alliances that will permit them to win. Negative mavericks are discourteous, propose unrealistic alternatives, and then denounce anyone who fails to support their proposals.
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Why You Need to Know the Difference Between HR and an MD
Continue reading… 3 CommentsI recently answered a question about a man who fell asleep on the job over at my blog. Over the years, I've answered several questions about how to handle employee bad behavior, and I frequently get comments suggesting that the manager, or someone in HR, should have assumed a medical problem caused the behavior.
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Try Doing What Doesn't Come Naturally
Continue reading… 1 CommentIf you had to choose, which would feel more comfortable to you, a structured life or a fluid life? Would you prefer a sense of order, or a sense of flow?
Most of us gravitate to one or the other. Unfortunately, too many of us get stuck there. Why? Because we’re too lopsided in our approach. Just like we sometimes need to incorporate more action or more dreaming to move toward success, we need some degree of balance between structure and fluidity.
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Chronological vs. Functional Resumes
Continue reading… 4 CommentsEvery job hunter knows: If you have gaps in your work history, if you are trying to change careers, if you’ve had too many jobs, or you've got too much experience, all you have to do is organize your resume according to skills rather than dates of employment. This is the “functional,” as opposed to the “chronological,” resume.
