There are certain kinds of people who suck the life out of your day. On an airplane, a screaming child can ruin a flight for even the most seasoned traveler. Surly passengers and transit operators with negative attitudes won’t help get your day off on the right foot. In the work place, a coworker or…
As I reminded everyone last time out, we have a national election coming up in less than two months. And as a result, we are seeing a lot of personal opinions and arguments expressed about the various referendums, ballot measures and candidates running for office. Many of the views are provided by reliable and knowledgeable…
If you are employed, hopefully this Labor Day you are enjoying a day of leisure; a day off from your job. But you’re probably not giving a lot of thought to all those who must work today. Not just those who devote the working part of their lives to retail, emergency services like police and…
Periodically, just about everything needs a little tune-up. You know? Maintenance! Not necessarily a major overhaul, but the kind of routine attention that keeps systems working as optimally as possible. The first thing that requires a tune-up is our bodies so they can serve us for many years to come. Our cars and other transportation…
The ebb and flow of populations moving in and out of urban centers has a direct effect on the growth of our economies. It seems that at present, our cities are seeing an influx of people. Some folks move to the cities to find work, others for education, or to find better access to healthcare…
Every now and again, I get wanderlust. I feel the need to travel and explore new places. But it becomes apparent if you are lucky enough to travel far away from your home that no matter where you go these days, there are a lot of people out of work. Worldwide, the unemployment figures are…
There are times in your life that necessitate that sacrifices are made. The small act may not seem like a big deal at the time, especially if the right sacrifices is made, and is done with our hearts so we can demonstrate our compassion, our understanding and patience. Things like giving up your seat on…
When you are looking for work, you always face a lot of distracting temptations. But during the summer months, when the temperatures warm up, it becomes harder to concentrate. It seems that everyone else is doing fun stuff and there are so many places you’d rather be than in front of your computer looking for…
If you’re looking for a job, In addition to all the online social and real interpersonal networking, job boards, posting sites and direct applications, are you still attending job fairs? Are these events still worth your job search time? For a great many job seekers, the answer is, “Yes”! Attending job fairs is still a…
These days, when we hear the word “enabler” there is a negative connotation implied because too frequently it is used as a psychology term. Unfortunately, Enabler isn’t generally associated with all the positive traits exhibited by those who try to bring out the best in others. Too bad! Because among us are those rare, special…
Marco, a brilliant graphic designer has worked for the same advertising agency for nearly ten years and received a number of awards for his artwork. But recently, there were some issues at work that nearly cost him his job. If Marco had been familiar with his employer’s policies and procedures, he could have saved himself…
Back in the day, workers spent a lot more years with a single employer than they do today. We once thought we’d spend our entire careers with a single employer, but this is no longer the case. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly rare for employees to spend more than 5 years with a single employer. …
Was recently discussing customer service issues and experiences when the question came up: Would you feel guilty if an employee was fired because of the poor customer service you experienced? Obviously, the answer depends on the circumstances of the employee’s errors; the punishment should fit the crime. Customer service is the lifeblood of so many…
A recent story in the Wall Street Journal (links below) started a firestorm of reactions across the country from both employers and job seekers, as well as from legal corners and privacy rights groups. There is a growing trend by employers to demand that applicants provide their logins and security passwords to their Facebook and…
Let me know if any of this sounds familiar: You’ve been in contact with someone you’ve known for a long time, someone you know well who works in your chosen profession. You feel there is a genuine rapport, and honestly believe you like each other and trust each other. You also believe the other person…
Bob went for his interview at a major market radio station excited and grateful that he was being considered to fill a rare and much coveted on-air news position. He felt prepared to meet the station’s news director, and had done a lot of research about this station, its lengthy ratings dominance, its audience and…
Among the issues I get to frequently talk to job seekers about is how to transition from one career to another. For many shifting gears and their career focus, there is an almost natural progression that might emanate from the development of new skills or successfully tackling a progression of more difficult responsibilities. For others,…
You’ve probably heard the expression, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Well, when it comes to job search, and the self-promotion required to successfully obtain work, we’ve seen a tremendous evolution in the ways we apply for employment. Newspaper classifieds have given way to the online job boards, industry-specific sites and…
Last time out I wrote about the importance of clarity in work communication and its effects on job survival. While at the gigantic Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this month, I was continuously reminded of the importance of clarity in brevity, particularly when it comes to what we often refer to as…
Regardless of the kind of work you do, or where ever you are located, if you have or want a job, you will interact with other people! (Well “Duh!” That’s obvious!) Bear with me! The basic give-and-take of what is sometimes simple communication, is how we get through our day. Sometimes the information being…
