job

It starts at the top

February 15, 2012

I have been telling people for years that companies are only as healthy as the people that work in them. I also like to tell people that the health of the company is directly related to the health of the leadership. For example, if a CEO demonstrates low integrity, sarcasm, and lying, he will inspire very little positive energy and therefore positive work around him. Some of his reports will think it is ok for them to have questionable integrity, be sarcastic, and lie. Others may become distrustful, shy away from contributing for fear of being ridiculed or being skeptical of the information they receive since so much has been of questionable honesty in the past. The team is nothing short of dysfunctional. Now, lets say the CEO is a solid executive and good leader, but one of his direct reports demonstrates the above behavior in his department. Well, that means that while all of the other departments are operating well, the department of the lying executive will be “sick”. That department will be like the one spark plug in an engine that is bad. The car will keep on going, but it doesn’t have full power. It is important

What is networking and should I do it?

February 14, 2012

I remember first hearing the term networking as it applied to looking for a job. My company was being purchased and I was fortunate enough to have six months to look for work. Well, I called recruiters, answered some online ads, and sent my resume all over the planet, but with limited luck. I was bemoaning my plight to the janitor one day and he said “are you using your network?” I said “my what?” And he smugly smiled and said – “you know, all those big shots you know”. Well, I was a bit embarrassed at his exposure of my shortcoming since I was the educated, white collar professional and he was just the lowly janitor (arrogance acknowledged), but I realized he was so right. Hey sis, who’s your friend? Networking is like asking your sister if she will introduce you to that hot blond by the pool, and “oh yeah, tell her how great I am”. You see, you could walk right over to her yourself and strike up a conversation on your own, but you would have about three minutes to pass the first impression test or you have take that long walk of shame back from

Choosing the perfect job

February 10, 2012

As a career coach and senior executive, I can’t tell you how often I hear people say “I just don’t know what to do with my life. What do you think I should do?” It is a very tough question, and I am here to tell you that that question is not always coming from high school seniors either. Many of my clients, men and women in the 40′s and 50′s still express the same concern. Their dilemma is very understandable since we really receive little or no actual guidance on this subject in our youth. High school guidance counselors are geared more to making sure you get into college if that is what you want to do. Most people simply seem to either trip into their careers, or have their careers chosen for them by their parents. Choosing a job is not that hard. Anyone can do it. Just look around you and say “I want to be that when I grow up.” But, choosing a career that you will enjoy for a long time, if not the rest of your life is a true challenge. It does take a little planning on your part though. The plan will

Blaming your predecessor is a bad idea

February 8, 2012

I have been struck lately by how current politicians unceasingly never-ending blame their predecessors. I am not particularly interested in the politics of it all, but I don’t believe people should blame their predecessors much past the first six months in a new job. I am not saying you cannot say something was done before your arrival, but to drag out the blame game for more than 18 months, as the president is doing, smacks of sophomoric behavior. I didn’t do it! I took over a department once that was filled with problems. The previous guy managed very centrally and restricted decision making. His management style couldn’t be more different than mine. Quite often I would be in a meeting with my staff and they would trot out his name and blame him for decisions that he had made. I allowed it to go on for about six months until I announced “There will be no more blaming Jim for anything he or you have had a hand in. If it was a bad decision in your estimation, then take action to change course. You are responsible.” Everyone stared at me. It was obviously a blood sport blaming Jim, and I

Are You Unemployed – Take action – ANY action

February 4, 2012

Many years ago, the U.S. economy was suffering through a recession. It was not as bad as many previous recessions, but to be honest, if a recession has affected you, the size of it isn’t really important. Whether unemployment is 5%, 8%, or 10%, if you are unemployed, it is 100% for you. During that recession, I remember articles about the lengths unemployed people will go to to get jobs. I was impressed with the guy who volunteered at the YMCA a few hours a day to stay busy. I loved the guy that decided to help out at his church, or simply the woman who contacted her kids school to read to little children. The one story that really impressed me was the unemployed executive. This unemployed executive reportedly spent more than a million dollars of his savings to cover his and his family’s expenses while he was looking for work for more than a year. That million dollars represented all of his savings. When the article was written, he bemoaned the fact that if didn’t find a job in a month, he would be out of money, have to cut back, and put his house on the market.

The hidden secrets of applying online for jobs?

January 31, 2012

Many, many companies today have taken to accepting only on line job applications. It reduces paperwork, resume reading, and all the time it takes to decide whether or not you are qualified. It gives those wacky, overworked HR guys time to have a second cup of coffee, a quick smoke, follow-up on harassment complaints, reduce your benefits, and weed out lesser qualified candidates without ever having to read the application. I just love technology, don’t you? The On Line Application But there are some secret things you need to know about filling out an online app. The most important thing you need to know is to make sure you use important keywords in the application that are very particular to the position for which you are applying. You see, that great software not only creates a nice little online resume for you, but it looks for words in your application that it can match against a job description or position announcement in an effort to hook you up or kick you to the curb!! For example, if you want to work in a restaurant, make sure all the keywords pertaining to restaurant work are in the work history part of

Do you always live your values?

January 14, 2012

Do you always live your values? Now that is a difficult question to answer. What are your values? Wikipedia says that values can be defined as broad preferences concerning appropriate courses of action or outcomes. As such, values reflect a person’s sense of right and wrong or what “ought” to be. “Equal rights for all” and “People should be treated with respect and dignity” are representative of values. Values tend to influence attitudes and behavior. For example, if you value equal rights for all and you go to work for an organization that treats its managers much better than it does its workers, you may form the attitude that the company is an unfair place to work; consequently, you may not produce well or may perhaps leave the company. It is likely that if the company had had a more egalitarian policy, your attitude and behaviors would have been more positive. Many people have two sets of books where values are concerned. One set of books contains the values they live with their family, in front of their spouse, and their children. They are “God fearing” people who have a clear sense of right and wrong. They live in a

Take charge and don’t name drop

January 12, 2012

I have been in business for some time now. I love business and I love management. I have had my fair share of challenges, but I have learned something from each one. Some years ago, as a new manager, I had a bad tendency to drop my boss’s name anytime I had to deliver bad news. I used to say “Ken said we need to work overtime” or “Ken said that we need to improve our quality.” In my mind, I was not the bad guy, so that would make my staff love me. I never had a problem delivering good news, only bad. One day, after a particularly tough meeting, a meeting I probably dropped Ken’s name 15 or 20 times so to avoid being the bad guy, I had a visit to my office shortly after the meeting had ended. Tena came in, sat down and sheepishly asked if I had a minute. I had a good relationship with Tena, so her visits were normally pleasant and I invited her in. I could tell from her body language that this was not a normal visit. YOU are the boss! She began by telling me that she really liked me, and enjoyed working with me, but… A

I need a new job!!!

January 10, 2012

In recent weeks, several of my clients have asked my help in finding them a new job. They each have different reasons for wanting to change jobs. Some just want more money. A few are not comfortable with the financial health of their current employer. And, I have one entry level client and one recently “outplaced” client that just need help getting started. Finding a job is not necessarily that hard, but finding the right job does take a plan. There was a time in the recent past when people would just shotgun resumes or respond to every job ad they saw. That method does work, but it is a lot more painful in terms of time, and success. If you think about it, you need to hit the right company at the right time looking for your credentials. Odds seem a little against you. So, it is best to create a plan of attack, and to work your plan. The first rule of thumb that people need to know in the job search is that, as non-scientific it may be, you should expect to spend about one month per $10,000 of salary hunting for that new job. If you

Page 3 of 3

« 1 2 3

Career and Management

job