Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Posted: 11 May 2011 11:37 AM PDT

Andy wants a job as a signalman on the railways. He is told to meet the inspector at the signal box.

The inspector puts this question to him: “What would you do if you realized that 2 trains were heading for each other on the same track?” Andy says, “I would switch the points for one of the trains.”
“What if the lever broke?” asked the inspector. “Then I’d dash down out of the signal box,” said Andy, “and I’d use the manual lever over there.”
“What if that had been struck by lightning?” “Then,” Andy continues, “I’d run back into the signal box and phone the next signal box.”
“What if the phone was engaged?” “Well in that case,” persevered Andy, “I’d rush down out of the box and use the public emergency phone at the level crossing up there.”
“What if that was vandalized?” “Oh well then I’d run into the village and get my uncle Silas.”
This puzzles the inspector, so he asks, “Why would you do that?” Came the answer, “Because he’s never seen a train crash.”

Do You “Brown-Nose” The Boss?

Posted: 11 May 2011 06:46 AM PDT

We will not deny that some people get ahead by sucking up. Some bosses love that sort of behavior and reward it accordingly. If your boss is someone like that and you wish to stay working for this boss then you need to do what the boss likes, i.e. suck up.
It's utterly ridiculous when you know what a boss wants you to do and you don't do it and then you complain that you didn't get the reward you wanted. Is it fair or good for business? Of course not. Companies do a lot of things that aren't good for business. One of the reasons family owned businesses struggle is that the big boss (mom or dad or both) grant jobs based on DNA rather than ability. But hey, it's their business and they can do what they want.
But, are the vast majority of successful people successful because of their ability to tell the boss how great his golf swing is, or how brilliant her email regarding graphs in power point presentations was? No. Most companies are in the business of making money. Or rather, most want to be in the business of making money. Bosses recognize that they need the best people to do that.
You can certainly get a job through your smooth talking, con artist skills, but unless you bring value, that job won't last. But, there's another problem here and that's the problem of perception. You may say, "Steve only got that job because he's a brown-noser!" but if I said, "Oh really? What does Steve do?" there's frequently a long pause while the complainer thinks of an example. Some examples that I've heard:

She always come in early
He does these really fancy presentations
She always laughs at the boss's jokes
He writes these cheesy emails every day about what work he's doing. He's just showing off.

Well, people, let me tell you, it's not a bad thing to laugh at your boss's jokes, especially if they are even remotely funny. But often times the behavior that is perceived as "sucking up" really is just doing what the boss wants and doing it well. I call it "above and beyond" behavior.
It doesn't cause you to lose your dignity or virginity (not sure how that last part applies to most jobs, but no telling what industry my email writer works in) to do your work according to your boss's preferences. If your boss values people who have a lot of face time, make sure you're in the office early. I don't think this is the best way to manage–I'm a Results Oriented Work Environment (ROWE) person myself–but if your manager likes it, you reject it at your own peril.
If your boss likes plastic presentation folders, put your presentation in a plastic folder. If your boss likes daily status updates, write a daily status update. Now, if your boss wants you to engage in illegal or immoral activity, for goodness sakes stand up for yourself and report it.
I know that some of you will rightly point out that plastic folders are so 1993 and are totally unnecessary and stupid. But, you get to make those decisions when you are the boss, and you're not going to get to be the boss if the big boss likes plastic folders and you refuse to use them.
We all make choices. There are consequences to those choices. Most jobs are rewarded based on merit. Most of the time a highly qualified person gets the promotion. If you keep seeing people who you think are worse performers than you are leap frog over you, you need to evaluate what it is that they are doing that you're not. Because you need to make a change if you want different results.
And sometimes, important business takes place and important connections are made at lunch, and yes, if you're brown-bagging it with stinky cheese and anchovy sandwiches, you might miss out

The Work Buzz's Latest News: When and how to disclose a disability at work

When and how to disclose a disability at work

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 07:58 AM PDT

Editor’s note: Today we have a guest post from Sarah Laugtug, who is a writer, career consultant, and the executive editor of ilivewithadisability.com. Today’s post is part of an ongoing series about job searching and working with a disability. You can read the first installment, “Job seeking when you have a disability,” here.
Having a disability on the job is hard enough; having to decide whether to disclose a disability is even harder. The following suggestions are especially important for people with invisible disabilities, although it pertains to people with visible ones as well. We will look at some of the reasons why you would want to disclose. Examples will demonstrate how to be discrete when requesting a job adjustment. We will discuss examples of reasonable accommodations, as well as look at your rights if you feel you have been discriminated.
Why would you share your disability at work?
In some instances, disclosing a disability can be advantageous, for instance, if you work for an organization assisting people with disabilities. In the most probable scenario, however, it is necessary to disclose in order to get an accommodation so you can perform the functions of the job and be successful.
Before disclosing, get a game plan. You want to give this some thought, rather than jumping in headfirst. It is ideal to request assistance sooner, rather than later to prevent future disciplinary action. It is also useful to have an idea of what types of accommodations are available to you, so you can help yourself and your employer decide the best option. As much as we would like them to be, employers are not mind readers. Your employer needs to know why you need assistance on the job. If you do not inform your employer about your needs, she definitely cannot help you.
So, you have decided to disclose…
How does one ask for an accommodation? How much do you need to reveal about your disability? Well, you want to say as little as possible about your condition, while still providing an adequate reason for the modification. Be confident and direct: show you can do your job more effectively with the addition of an accommodation. For instance, "If I were able to have a tape recorder at our meetings, I could use it to remind me of what was requested of me."
To avoid possible complications, write a letter of your request. Include in the letter your need for an accommodation in accordance to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (You do not need to identify your disability; however, be aware that the law permits your employer to request medical documentation of your disability.) The ADA requires employers to provide a reasonable accommodation, unless doing so will create an "undue hardship." Also in that letter, it would be helpful to suggest accommodation ideas to your employer; after all, you know your disabilities better than anyone does.
Contrary to what some people believe, a reasonable accommodation does not permit employees to avoid doing their job; rather, it allows the opportunity for the person with the disability to be able to participate in employment activities, just as any other employee would. Telling an employer you need to come in late for work every day is not a reasonable request and your employer will most likely say no; in addition, it could trigger your employer's suspicions about why you need the time off. On the other hand, a reasonable request justifies your need for the accommodation, such as, coming into work later because a medication for a condition you have prevents you from being alert at 9am. Realize, you did not disclose your disability; instead, you stated, "Condition that requires medication." It is effective, yet tells the employer you have a disability (a condition requiring medication), and that you need an accommodation (the schedule adjustment).
There are limitless accommodation ideas available for various disabilities. For example, a woman who tires easily might request frequent breaks throughout her shift. A man with an attention deficit disorder may suggest purchasing a pair of noise-canceling headphones so he can minimize distractions. A man undergoing chemotherapy treatment may need to take a leave of absence. These are examples of reasonable accommodations; they allow the employee to perform the necessary job functions, but they do not cause undue hardship to the employer. Many accommodations are low or no cost. If you do not know what different accommodations are available to you, check out The Job Accommodation Network, or JAN. It may also be beneficial to pass this resource along to your supervisor since it contains information specifically for employers.
Discrimination is a reasonable concern for people who have disclosed their disabilities; however, the ADA helps to prevent this. The ADA was designed to provide people with disabilities the same opportunities as people without disabilities. Unfortunately, discrimination does still exist in the workplace. If you believe you have been discriminated, you have the option of contacting the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). The EEOC will investigate the claim and create recommendations based on the facts.
Disclosing a disability on the job is essential if you need an accommodation. Remember that you are your own disability expert. Do some research about accommodations and save your employer some time — he will appreciate it. You cannot get what you don't ask for, so if you need an accommodation, even if you don't know what it would be, make sure to speak up for yourself, your job success depends on it.
Have you had this conversation at work? Let us know how you’ve gone about it and what your experience was like.

7 Errors You Want to Avoid While Job Seeking

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 11:00 PM PDT

Job seeking is like working a job. So before you start searching again, consider the following seven job seeking errors you want to avoid.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

Does Your Profession Have the ‘Type and Temperament’ Standard?

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Do you have the type and temperament standard? Gain the knowledge and know whether you are competing in a profession in which you meet the standard.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

Learn the Career Path of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 10:00 PM PDT

Considered working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)? This interview will take you down the career path you can expect for this position.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.

New Webinar: 4 Ways to Break Through a Career Rut

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 09:30 PM PDT

CAREEREALISM TV is a social television network dedicated to providing job seekers with career advice for finding professional satisfaction.

To get this useful advice and many other helpful career resources, visit us now at CAREEREALISM.com.