Summer Jobs 2011

Summer Jobs 2011: "

If you're interested in finding a summer job, it's time to get started on your job search.   Now is the time to be looking for a job for this summer, if you haven't already got one lined up. 

...

Read Full Post

"

The Work Buzz's Latest News: 5 jobs that pay you to play on Facebook

---

5 jobs that pay you to play on Facebook Posted: 25 Mar 2011 10:30 AM PDT People love social media … and what’s not to love? Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn provide an easy way to communicate, connect with long-lost friends and see what those exes are up to (you know you’ve peeked!). With more than 500 million active users on Facebook (who, on average, create 90 pieces of content per month), 175 million people on Twitter (who send out 95 million tweets per day) and 100 million accounts on LinkedIn (and one million company pages), it's safe to say that social networks have become a craze. Unfortunately, though, employers don't necessarily share this enthusiasm for social networking. A quick analysis of the volume of content produced on these platforms tells us that there's a large probability some of it is produced during the workday — causing many employers to implement stricter social media policies. According to a 2010 survey by Robert Half Technology, 38 percent of chief information officers reported that they tightened their social media rules last year, and a separate survey by the same group revealed that 55 percent of companies completely ban social networking on the job. So what's a Facebook-friendly employee to do? Instead of putting your job on the line by spending your days Tweeting from your phone, or watching your back hoping that you don't get caught playing Mafia Wars, you might want to consider a job that practically forces you to be “LinkedIn” to social networks. Check out the following jobs, all of which let you play on social media all day: 1. Social media strategist: Duh. This one is pretty obvious, but for that reason, we had to include it. Social media strategists work in-house for corporations, at public relations agencies, or as independent contractors to analyze and plan a company's social media strategy. Tasks may include monitoring and increasing fan count and interaction, and creating content for various social media channels. Average salary: Since the job is still relatively new, concrete salary information hasn't exactly been nailed down. According to a report by Social Media Influence called "The State of Social Media Jobs," social media strategists typically earn between $40,000 and $60,000 per year. 2. Recruiter: Social media is becoming a huge tool for recruiters, who often search LinkedIn and Facebook profiles in order to find suitable candidates for job openings. This practice is now so prevalent that a recent survey by OfficeTeam found that more than a third of HR managers feel that social media profiles will replace résumés in the future. Average salary: According to CBsalary.com, recruiters earn an average annual salary of $61,343. 3. Game/application developer: Someone had to create Farmville. Product developers create and build the applications and games we love from the ground up. Average salary: The SMI research reports that social media product developers earn an average annual salary of $75,000 – $100,000 per year. 4. Marketing/public relations manager: For companies that don't have dedicated social media specialists, the job of representing a company in these areas usually falls on the shoulders of marketing and public relations teams.   Average salary: Marketing managers earn an average of $108,580 per year, according to the BLS. Public relations managers, $89,430. 5. Customer service rep: Social media gives customers direct and immediate access to brands. Thus, consumers often post complaints, questions or compliments about a brand directly to its social media pages. Customer service reps must be on hand to swiftly respond to customer queries. Average salary: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average hourly salary for customer service reps is $14.36. Does your company allow you to Facebook at work? Would you be interested in a social media-friendly job? Let us know in the comments section, below.

You are subscribed to email updates from The Work Buzz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

The Work Buzz's Latest News: Women think they earn less than their male co-workers — and they’re right

---

Women think they earn less than their male co-workers — and they’re right Posted: 24 Mar 2011 01:36 PM PDT Do your co-workers earn more money than you? How you answer probably depends on your gender. And the accuracy of that answer also depends on your gender. In a recent CareerBuilder survey, employers asked workers if they thought their colleagues of the opposite sex earned more or less than them and how they viewed their opportunities for advancement. From the women's perspective: -38 percent feel they earn less than their male counterparts -39 percent believe men have more opportunities to advance their career -36 percent believe men receive more recognition for accomplishments -35 percent believe their decision not to rub elbows with upper management (while the men are doing it) is the reason for the pay and advancement disparity -22 percent cited favoritism toward men as the reason for the income and advancement differences From the men's perspective: -84 percent believe males and females with the same qualifications are paid the same -72 percent believe opportunities for advancement are the same for both genders -6 percent believe they are paid less than their female counterparts -17 percent believe women have more opportunities for advancement -18 percent say women receive more kudos for accomplishment Salary reality You might look at those survey results and think it's a case of the grass being greener on the other side, but in this case that's not so. If you're a female in the workplace, the paycheck is significantly greener on the other side of the cubicle wall. The survey finds that income disparity between the genders is a very real issue: Of surveyed female workers: -40 percent earn $35,000 or less -25 percent earn $50,000 or more -3 percent earn $100,000 or more -21 percent hold a management position -49 percent hold a clinical or administrative position Of surveyed male workers: -24 percent earn $35,000 or less -45 percent earn $50,000 or more -10 percent earn $100,000 or more -20 percent hold a management position -25 percent are in a clinical or administrative role President Obama released a statement on Women's History Month, celebrated throughout March, in which he explained the many ways gender inequality needs to be addressed. And the professional disparity is complicated and can't be fixed in one quick action. For example, in a recent post on interview questions, many women — far more than we could include in the story — experienced hiring managers illegally asking about their children or plans to have children. The typical reason is that some employers are hesitant to hire a women who could take maternity leave or who need to take the occasional day off to handle family issues. It's not hard to see that this is one way women can be held back professionally. And yet, in another article, working mothers explained that, even if they are part of a household with two working parents, they are expected to handle the child-care duties. Some explained that their husbands earn more, and that's why they are the ones to miss work more often. Again, this move could hinder their professional advancement, and yet it could be one of the very reasons their husbands earn more. So it's a circular issue, and only one of many that women face in the workplace, including old-fashioned favoritism. Tell us if this news surprises you or if it's exactly what you'd expect. Are you sitting there thinking, "Sounds about right?" Are you one of the 84 percent of men who don't think there's a disparity?

You are subscribed to email updates from The Work Buzz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

The Work Buzz's Latest News: Dealing with a workplace bully

---

Dealing with a workplace bully Posted: 23 Mar 2011 12:20 PM PDT Unfortunately, workplace bullying has been a hot topic these days. A recent survey conducted by Zogby International for the Workplace Bullying Institute found that 35 percent of American workers — or 54 million people — have faced harassment at work, while another 15 percent have witnessed it happening. And, sparked by the tragic endings of a string of bullying cases over the past few years, the Healthy Workplace Bill — legislation that aims to provide legal protection to those who feel they have been physically or psychologically abused at work — has recently picked up speed in states like New York, Nevada, Massachusetts, Vermont and Illinois. The issue of workplace bullying is, indeed, one that many workers face on a daily basis. But if you find yourself in an abusive situation at work, there are ways to get out of it. Here, four workers share the stories of their bullying, and what they ultimately did to end it.  1. "I've dealt with a few managerial bullies, but the worst was Mike. I heard him bragging once that every waitress who had ever worked for him had cried because of him at least once. He thought it made him tough. One night, I was making desserts during an extremely busy shift. Mike approached me after I had delivered the desserts and began to berate me about how I had not yet cleaned up my mess — I just nodded. Later, I approached him. I told him that although I was very busy and afraid that the ice cream would melt, it is part of our job to clean up spills as soon as they occur and it wouldn’t have taken that much more time. I apologized, and told him it would not happen again. I thought that by showing him I wasn't going to be pushed over, but that I was also mature and responsible, I would come out ahead. Mike turned and walked away without a word. I eventually complained to our district manager about his rudeness and bullying, and she said that she knew he could be 'a bit difficult sometimes' but that he produced great results. She promised to have a talk with him. Then, two weeks later, a customer made a complaint against me. My manager at the time told me that her complaint was completely unfounded, and both of us had worked together to try to please her. My manager told me not to take it personally. The next day the woman came back while Mike was on shift, and as soon as she mentioned my name, he took her to a booth and sat her down for a talk. The claims this time were more wild than the night before, and I can only believe that he goaded her on. He then left work to visit the owner, presented the complaint and asked that I be fired. I suppose I could have fought for my job, and probably won. The owner didn't know my name, but he knew my face because I’d served him before, and he'd never had reason to complain. It was also my first and only complaint from a customer ever in over a year of employment. But the other managers were too cowed to stick up for me on their own, and I decided I would rather not work with Mike anymore as it was. When he sat me down to fire me, I calmly told him I quit, then took my final paycheck and left. His face, so happy when I sat down, was red with anger, and he glares at me whenever I happen to choose to eat there. He never made me cry, but it was miserable working under him, and most of my fellow waitresses would agree." – Dionne*; Hollister, California 2. "I had this experience while working on an academic journal at a university. My boss had a faculty position, which she viewed as a carte blanche for verbally beating up on her subordinates. And I wasn’t the only one who experienced her peel-the-paint-off-the-wall tirades. However, I was the only one to quit my job without having another one to go to. Not only that, I also left the city in which the journal was located. I caught a one-way flight across the country, got on my bicycle, and pedaled more than 3,600 miles in three months. It was as positive an experience as working for this boss was a negative. If I could ever talk with that lady again — and quite frankly, I’m not really interested in doing so — I would thank her. Because quitting that job and leaving that city were two of the most positive things I have ever done in my life." – Martha; Arizona 3. "My first employer was a bullying, sadistic manipulator. The workplace was a 10 person ad agency, run by a husband and wife team, who always played good cop bad cop. My position was as an entry level copywriter. During my eight months at this horrible place, I was physically threatened, made to go pick up dry cleaning, wash the boss’s car and other humiliating tasks. I later learned that our phone lines were tapped, when I discovered a recorder attached to the phone box in a hidden supply closet. The owner would lie to us about our co-workers, so we wouldn’t make friends and 'plot against the agency.' I was 'fired' eight times — each time the wife would play good cop and make sure I didn’t lose my job. He often said 'I like my employees young, married and in debt, because then I own them.' Most of the people I worked with, my art director partner and a couple of younger account executives were all very close and we relied on each other. We all talked outside of work and relayed stories. We all understood the game and counted on each other for honesty and support. Since the owner’s wife also oversaw the HR function, there was no court of appeal. In reality, we actually were all young and in debt and needed work at a time when entry level positions were very hard to find. But I still ended up quitting. It was the only way out. To this day, it bothers me to talk about many of the things we endured." – Bill; St. Louis, Missouri 4. "I had a very bizarre bullying experience, when I was a university student. I worked for a small alarm company and I thought the relationship I had with my manager was a good one. We used to have lunch together, coffee, etc. One night, she asked me to go shopping with her. I was chatting with a saleswoman, asking for a smaller size in a skirt. When I turned around, my manager was behind me, with a weird look on her face (later, I surmised it was because she was upset that I had a smaller dress size than she did — I know, super weird, but it’s been the only explanation I can think of). After that night, my work environment became almost intolerable. She became very rude and snappish, angry if the clients asked for me (instead of her). As soon as I would walk into the office, she would stand up, go into the boss’s office and lobby for him to fire me. I endured — what else could I do? I couldn’t leave because of school — I needed the job. So, I tried to ignore her, but that didn’t help the embarrassment/anger I felt every time she criticized me. Eventually, I found out she was leaving and thought, 'thank God, I only have to endure this for a little longer.' I was promoted and given her title, so her behavior worsened. Then, during a staff meeting my boss said they would have to let me go because my job and school hours conflicted. After the meeting, he called me into his office and said, 'Look, what I said in there, it’s not true. We’re just going to let [the manager] believe this. She’ll be gone in a couple of weeks, and after that you can come back. We’ll work around your schedule.' But it was too much for me. I had endured this woman’s rude comments, nitpicking over my work, snide remarks about my clothing — and now, my boss was taking her side and asking me to submit to a fake firing — a totally humiliating act — just to appease her. We got into an argument — he acknowledged her bad behavior, but just excused it. I guess I thought if I’d ever brought it up to him, he would have taken my side. To know he’d known all along and excused her behavior was too much. I gave my two weeks and left. If I had to do it over again, I would have schooled myself on my rights as an employee and I would have documented everything she did. Employees really do need to know what their rights are." — Natasha; Edmonton, Alberta, CA Most of the workers that we talked to who faced a workplace bully ultimately left the abusive environment, which is often the best decision in an extreme situation (your mental and physical health should always be your top priority). However, there are other options if you really feel that you can't quit your job, or if you think the situation can be bettered. Check out the Workplace Bullying Institute for more information on dealing with on-the-job harassment. *Last names have been omitted to protect privacy

You are subscribed to email updates from The Work Buzz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

The Work Buzz's Latest News: Companies hiring this week

---

Companies hiring this week Posted: 22 Mar 2011 10:16 AM PDT And here we are, Tuesday, the second day of spring and a brief respite from the excitement of March Madness. (How are your brackets doing, by the way?) Tuesday also means it’s time for our weekly list of companies hiring. We won’t bore you with a long intro because we know you’re not here for conversation, you’re here for jobs. So let’s get to it: Tata Consultancy Services Industry: Consultant Sample job titles: Oracle ERP developer Aarons Sales and Lease Industry: Transportation and delivery Sample job titles: Sales manager AMC Entertainment Industry: Customer service Sample job titles: Director of risk management Kimberly-Clark Industry: Health care Sample job titles: Procurement operations associate Nigel Frank International Industry: Technology Sample job titles: Microsfot Dynamics AX trainer Furniture Row Companies Industry: Furniture retail Sample job titles: Retail salesperson LexisNexis Industry: Data and research Sample job titles: Tele account executive PepsiCo Industry: Marketing Sample job titles: Mail/supply clerk, sales representative Accountemps Industry: Accounting, finance Sample job titles: Bookkeeper Omnicare Industry: Pharmaceutical Sample job titles: Pharmacy order entry technician

You are subscribed to email updates from The Work Buzz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

The Work Buzz's Latest News: How your career can benefit from Jay-Z

---

How your career can benefit from Jay-Z Posted: 21 Mar 2011 02:38 PM PDT I recently came across Zack O'Malley Greenburg's book "Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office." I have to admit that I didn't know if a hip-hop icon had much to teach me (aka a regular worker) about succeeding in our respective fields. But seeing as career books often begin to sound alike when you read the summaries on the flap, I couldn’t pass up this interesting angle. Plus, he’s just a good artist. I didn't doubt Jay-Z was a prime example of success. His picture might as well be next to the Wikipedia entry on "living the dream." Whether or not you're a fan of his music — and between "Empire State of Mind" and "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," you have to like at least one of his tracks — you can't deny that the man has been able to achieve and exceed his goals. Jay-Z (née Shawn Corey Carter) has countless hits, co-founded Rocawear clothing, co-owns a basketball team, and was an executive of two different record labels. Oh, and Oprah picked his book to be one of her favorite things, which is about as coveted an endorsement as you can hope for. But after reading Greenburg's book, I have to admit I understand why he makes a superb guide for your career, even if you are looking to be an investment banker or grocery store manager instead of a hip hop legend. If you look at what Jay-Z has done with his career, you might realize that what made him successful is what makes many great leaders successful. Below are five lessons that I think we can all learn from Jay-Z's career: 1. Find something your passionate about and make it part of your life What Jay Z did: Jay-Z is a sports enthusiast. He's a proud Yankees fan and he's been a courtside fixture at NBA games for years for The Cavaliers, Knicks and Lakers. Not content with just being a fan, Jay-Z assembled a team (that included Lebron James) in 2003 to play in Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) and then became a co-owner of the New Jersey Nets. What you can do: Many of us are sports fans, but few of us have the bank account and business savvy to own an NBA team. However, we can find a way to make one of our passions part of our everyday life, even if your interest doesn't fit within your current job. For example, if you are obsessed with politics but you work at a clothing store, you should leave your opinion of Congress at home. But that doesn't mean you can't start your own political blog or become a contributor to another one. That way you can immerse yourself in a subject you love and still improve your analytical and writing skills. You never know what will become of your side venture — maybe a new business opportunity. Maybe nothing will happen beyond gaining readership, but at least you'll have space where you can indulge your passions. 2. Market yourself What Jay-Z did: One of the other reasons Jay-Z decided to assemble that basketball team in the EBC? He knew it was great marketing. He branded a bus with the image of a sneaker he designed for Reebok, had the team tour in it, all while his music blared. And then they'd celebrate at the club he owned in New York. It was his project from top to bottom and he wasn’t afraid to promote it. What you can do: The odds are slim that somebody will walk up to you and say, "Wow, all that great work you do? Unbelievable! Let me offer you this high-paying job that is perfect for you." Instead, make sure you let your boss know when you perform well. Don't brag, but forward any positive feedback you get from clients or colleagues If you're looking for a job, piece together an impressive portfolio or résumé. Think about the awards you've won, leadership positions you've held, and references who will speak glowingly about you. Don't play meek when it comes to finding a new job because employers don't have time to beg you to talk about yourself. Impress them from the beginning. (And if you can afford to plaster your face on the side of a bus, go ahead.) 3. Know when to move on What Jay-Z did: In 2003, at the peak of his career (up to that point), he decided to retire. Barely 34, Jay-Z felt he couldn't top himself, so he decided to walk away. (That said, he un-retired a few years later, which is something we have criticized before, too. So don't cry "wolf" either.") What you can do: Jay-Z retired, but most of us don't have that luxury right now. However, if you're just going through the motions and the excitement and passion you once had are lacking, then don't be afraid to look around. Maybe you need to talk to your boss, find a new job or get into a new industry. Whatever is right for you, make that move. If you're spending 40 hours each week doing a job that bores you, then you're wasting a lot of your life. You’ll be so much happier and more productive if you’re interested in what you do. 4. Be willing to shake things up What Jay-Z did: When Jay-Z took over Def Jam records in 2005, he couldn't believe that the business model hadn't changed for decades, and employees had no incentive to work hard. He wanted to see people trying new things — taking risks and competing to be more innovative than the other. So he held a retreat with the employees, told them what he wanted, and then began to transform the organization. Greenburg notes how people were intrigued by the fact that Jay-Z wanted to learn as much as he could about the business. What you can do: When you're not the boss, you can't revamp the organization. But workers can get the attention of the boss and other leadership by coming forward with new ideas. If you're the person interacting with customers every day, you know when the process can be improved and what would make your job more efficient and maybe bring the company more money. Always be respectful, but don't be afraid to be bold once in a while. It can be the only way you stand out sometimes. 5. Manage your private life What Jay-Z did: Jay-Z and Beyoncé are basically music royalty, and when they began quietly dating, everybody wanted to know about it. Yet, they wouldn't comment on their romance, and even to this day the married couple is tight-lipped about any personal information. Therefore you hear more about his and her music than about their personal lives, unlike some famous people. What you can do: You don't need to keep your marriage a secret from your manager, unless you want to, but your weekend partying or marital bickering don't belong at work. Often, professionals decide to post Facebook photos of their drunken adventures or get into a big fight with a spouse over the phone so that the entire office hears. Suddenly your personal drama overshadows your hard work. Remember that your professional reputation is a significant factor in promotions, raises and even layoffs. Don't let a killer keg stand undo your years of hard work. Of course, there are a lot of other things Jay-Z's done right in his career, so I suggest checking out "Empire State of Mind." It's especially refreshing if you're a music fan and/or someone who's not keen on the typical career guides. Do you have any other surprising career role models that inspire you? Let us know.

You are subscribed to email updates from The Work Buzz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

The Work Buzz's Latest News: The Q&A session you always wanted to have with your boss

---

The Q&A session you always wanted to have with your boss Posted: 18 Mar 2011 11:47 AM PDT I’ve seen my share of holiday office parties and happy hours, where everybody has had a few cocktails, and suddenly the entire department is hugging and singing “Sweet Caroline.” For those few hours everybody thinks they’re friends with everybody else, and the normal facade of professionalism drops. And people are more honest than usual. Perhaps more honest than they should be. (“I never liked Glen from technology, but I really like you, Felicia. I really, really do.”)  And then the next day everybody goes back to being their buttoned-up selves. Now, the one good thing about those kinds of gatherings are that people are saying things that they’ve been holding back. You get a better sense of people and see that they have their own opinions about the company and its policies. It’s a breath of fresh air! But experiencing that type of honesty isn’t always easy or common.  For the sake of your career, we’ve got a guest blogger today who is that honest.  Author Hank Gilman calls himself an accidental manager, meaning that he’s someone who rose through the ranks of his profession without setting out to be the boss. That’s why he knows the mindset of everyday workers like us and also understands the quandaries new mangers find themselves in. Fortunately, he’s answering the questions many workers have but can’t ask. So skip the appletinis at the next happy hour and listen to Gilman’s advice instead. I've been a boss in the media business for more than two decades now. It's kind of simple job in the sense that there are only a few basics involved in doing it well. (Other than not being a sociopath.) You give feedback. You hire. You fire. You dole out raises — or you don't. It's a great gig, really. The pay is good and your troops pretend, for the most part, that they like you. Unfortunately, employees don't have it so easy. They have no clue, much of the time, what makes their supervisors tick. And, as a result, they worry too much about what the heck their bosses want from them.  I recently wrote a book called "You Can't Fire Everyone: And Other Lessons from an Accidental  Manager." The few people that read an early version—the ones that report to me anyway — said pretty much the same thing about various parts of the book. That is: "I didn't know you thought THAT!" I had no idea I was so mysterious. But, in that spirit, here are some questions, and answers, from me that will help you tap the inner-mind of your boss and, hopefully, manage your career a little better as a result. Feedback: Should I ask my boss for more? Yes.  But proceed with caution. Just between us, I'm not the biggest hand-holding guy on earth. I guess that's because, back in the day, I never liked spending much time with my bosses. I figured the less I was around, the lower the odds were they'd stick me with projects I wasn't keen on. (It's the out-of-sight-out-of-mind thing.) Here's the way I looked at it: I came up with ideas, did the research, and wrote the stories. If they were published and I got raises, that was enough feedback for me — thank you very much. That said, there are a few things you should know. First, many bosses are spineless and actively avoid confrontation. Nor do they like to deliver bad news. It's human nature. Basically, your supervisor won't feel compelled to give you feedback unless you've done a terrific job or totally choked. (The later because they really have to.) Unfortunately, it's the stuff in the middle that you need help with.  So, you're going to have to ask. Nothing wrong with finding out how you could have done a better job on a specific project. Tossing around ideas is always great fun. The caveat?  Don't be whiny and needy on a frequent basis. Many years back, I had a writer who felt compelled, every other day it felt like, to walk into my office and ask why he wasn't getting enough feedback on his work. I think I finally cracked and said something like,  "Ok, here's some feedback. You don't come up with many good ideas. And when you do the stories aren't good enough to publish." Well…he asked. Can you be friends with your boss? Maybe. In an old episode of the TV show, “The Office,” Steve Carell's character, Michael, said to a new employee, and I paraphrase, "My number one job is being your friend." If only. Sure, people who spend a lot of time working together become friends, even if it's a boss-employee thing. That's the way it is. But there's a silent code of conduct: You should not expect a raise because of the friendship; you should never take advantage of that friendship for better assignments or a promotion (or expect either); you shouldn't anticipate employment in perpetuity. If you follow the code, you'll be OK. For you corporate ladder-climbers out there, the bigger problem is when you become the boss and have to supervise your friends. Back in the 80s, when rock bands like Huey Lewis and the News ruled the airwaves for some reason, I was named the business editor of the Sunday Boston Globe. My pals in the newsroom seemed like they were ready to throw a party. Come to work late? Check. Longer lunches? Check. Softer deadlines — or any deadlines? Check. Well, I'm exaggerating a little, but not much. Some of them actually thought those things. I was tested immediately. A close friend turned in a poorly-written story that she must have wrote on the subway on the way to work. I figured out pretty quickly that if I didn't fix it, it was my job that would be on the line.  So, I re-wrote the story and she bitterly complained to my boss. I think she said, among other nasty things, that I was an idiot. But as far as my boss was concerned, I passed my first test. (Note to future bosses: It's either you or them, and it might as well be you.) There's kind of a happy ending to all this, by the way. We remained kind-of-friendly. She invited me to her wedding. I think I ended up at the "cousins" table, though. As Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton once said, "Loneliness is the Penalty for Leadership." Yup. He was right. Do bosses get angry when you ask for a raise and resent you forever? No. Not the good ones anyway. This is one of the great myths of the boss-employee relationship. Now, I'll confess, I never asked for a raise in my 35-year work-life. Partly because I was always afraid of getting fired– and partly because I always felt lucky to be paid to write about people who were actually doing more important things than I was doing. But that's just me. No one is going to think badly of you or have you escorted from the building. You'll get the raise because you deserve one and your boss wants to keep you happy; or your boss might tell you that money is tight and be patient, which is often true. Or, in an act of ultimate feedback, she'll just say "no," wave you off and quickly take a phone call. (Even when the phone's not ringing.) Then you'll know it's not a raise you should be worried about. If you get a job offer– and tell your boss you're considering it– should you polish up your Linked-In profile? No. That's another myth. It's certainly a pain in the rear when one of your employees comes in with a job offer in hand. But it's a little flattering in a way. (I know a few of our competitors that nobody will recruit from.) It also lets us, the bosses, figure out how much we really want you.  And it helps you figure out how much you really want us. Just don't do it on a serial basis if you really do like where you work.  Because if it is an "I can get a raise out of this" trick, it works only a few times. And only if you're a bona fide star. And, before I forget, don't ever tell your boss about a job offer and not be prepared to [accept] it. There's a good chance you might not like the response. Like: "What a great opportunity! Keep in touch." They might not view you as an "A" player or may not like you or both. Or they had their eye on someone on the outside and you just helped them, as they say in the National Football League, clear out some cap space. Just pointing that out. Hank Gilman is the deputy managing editor of Fortune. This blog is inspired by his book, "You Can't Fire Everyone: and Other Lessons From an Accidental Manager." (Portfolio / Penguin) On sale now.

You are subscribed to email updates from The Work Buzz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610