Sunday, August 14, 2011

Rules of Intimacy for Social Media

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 11:00 PM PDT

Social media can be a real time-sink. And without a strategy, the danger of spending hours online and getting nothing accomplished is very real.

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

Social Media Means You Can’t Hide

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Anyone can smell a fish, especially on social media. Be upfront about your intentions with every interaction. You don't want to be THAT guy.

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

You Will Get Googled…Are You Afraid?

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 10:00 PM PDT

I tell my clients they will be Googled just as surely as it will rain in Portland. The latest survey revealed 81% of employers WILL Google candidates.

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

4 Tips for Connecting with a New Boss

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:30 PM PDT

If you don't take the time to build rapport, it may have deadly career consequences. Try using these four tips to build a connection with a new boss.

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

Managing Conflict to Save Your Career | Career Rocketeer

Link to Career Rocketeer - Career Search and Personal Branding Blog

Managing Conflict to Save Your Career

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 03:30 AM PDT

When you applied for that job, you probably read a description of the duties and qualifications. "Oh yes, that sounds like something I want to do, something I can do." You did some leg work on the company. "Yep, that is a place I'd like to work." Then you went through the interview process. Maybe you briefly met your co-workers, maybe you didn't.
Now that you've got the job, you realize that the challenging part of the job is not the work itself, but the people that you work with. We spend more time picking out a partner, someone we want to live with, but most of our waking lives are spent with those folks at work.
Differences are an inevitable part of any relationship. Those disagreements can provide fertile ground for healthy conversation, for growth, for progress. Or they can spin into negative energy that sucks the life out of working relationships. Managing the conflicts at work is essential to your career success.
Losing your temper is one of the fastest ways to alienate colleagues, coworkers, supervisors, and direct reports. People are scared and stand back from angry outbursts, wondering when you might erupt again. And if it becomes a habit, such flaming can torch a promising career. How can you deal with differences and disagreements in ways that will enhance your career opportunities, and not derail your future?
What to do to keep from going off:

Know your hot buttons. Become aware of the first physical feelings you have that you are getting upset. Maybe you feel your ears or your face getting hot, or you clench your jaw or your fists, or your stomach gets knotted up, or your shoulders tighten. Tune yourself to these subtle changes so that you can interrupt negative impulses.
In that moment, stop. Slow down. Breathe. Oxygen to the brain helps to dissipate the adrenalin that is beginning to surge through your system. That oxygen can also help you think more clearly. Don't engage in the heat of the moment, especially in a meeting or where others are present.
Step away from the fight. Give yourself time to think. What is important to me here? What do I want to have happen – in the long run as well as the short term?
Set up a time to talk to the other person, where both of you have enough time to talk and to listen and enough privacy for each of you to feel safe.
Express your positive intent: "It's important to me that we work together. I want to find a way forward that works for both of us."
Listen. Be curious. After a brief description of the moment from your point of view, ask the other person to explain how they see it. Put energy into understanding what they are experiencing, or what is important to them.

From there, build a solution. This may include apologies or forgiveness. After all, would you rather be right or happy? Sometimes letting go is in your own best interest.

Guest Expert:
Susan H. Shearhouse is the author of Conflict 101: A Manager's Guide to Resolving Problems So Everyone Can Get Back to Work (AMACOM 2011). She has over twenty years experience helping people resolve their differences, improve their organizations, and lead more effectively – on the job, at home and in the community. She served as Executive Director of the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution and on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. Her clients have included Lockheed Martin, Philip Morris, the IRS, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and many others. Find out more about Susan Shearouse and Conflict 101 here: http://www.amacombooks.org/book.cfm?isbn=9780814417119 or www.frameworksforagreement.com.

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The Work Buzz's Latest News: Who works the most?

Who works the most?

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:15 AM PDT

Time is a relative concept. Don't worry, we're not talking in an Einstein, speed-of-light kind of way. We mean in a practical, "time flies when you're having fun" kind of way.
Most of us feel like times when we're enjoying ourselves go by quicker, while times when we're unhappy, bored or stressed seem to drag on forever. This is why sometimes, when you're at work, you can feel like you've had the longest day of your life before you even take a lunch break.
Because everybody feels like they put in long hours on the job, we wanted to figure out which workers actually do work the longest hours. So, we dug up some statistics on who puts in the most time at work, below.
The industries that work the most
You'll probably be surprised to know that, at 44.2 hours per week, workers in mining and logging put in the most hours on the job, according to July 2011 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in mining and logging were followed by workers in:

Utilities	41.7
Durable goods	40.6
Manufacturing	40.3
Goods-producing	39.8
Nondurable goods	39.8
Wholesale trade	38.6
Transportation and warehousing	38.6
Construction	38.3
Financial activities	37.4
Information	36.6
Professional and business services	35.7
Trade, transportation, and utilities	34.5
Private service-providing	33.2
Education and health services	32.9
Retail trade	31.4
Leisure and hospitality	25.8

Since the weekly averages above encompass broad industries, though, employees in the jobs and subsectors within each industry may be required to put in far more time.
Doctors, for example, fall under the "education and health services" umbrella, but most work more than the industry average of 32.9 hours per week. According to BLS data, in 2008, 43 percent of physicians and surgeons worked 50 or more hours each week.
Similarly, those who work in investment banking, a subsector of the "financial activities" industry, also typically put in longer hours than the weekly average suggests.
According to Finbox.com, an online community for professionals in financial services, employees at large investment banks work closer to 60 hours per week. For example, employees at Piper Jaffray, the bank with the longest hours, work an average of 59.9 hours per week; while at both Credit Suisse and Macquarie, the two banks with the second-longest hours, workers averaged 57.8 hours per week.
The states that work the most
According to a 2010 report from the U.S. Labor Department, residents of Nevada put in the most time at work, averaging 37 hours per week. Rounding out the top-10 states with the longest workweeks were:

Wyoming 36.7
Louisiana 36.5
Texas 36.3
Kentucky 36.2
Alabama 36.0
District of Columbia 35.8
Mississippi 35.6
South Carolina 35.6
Oklahoma 35.5

Does this seem accurate to you? How many hours per week do you usually work? Let us know in the comments section, below.

OfficeTeam Reveals Five Hiring-Manager Secrets

The Monster Blog

OfficeTeam Reveals Five Hiring-Manager Secrets

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:07 AM PDT

What's going through a hiring manager's mind during a job interview? The answer may surprise you. OfficeTeam, a leading administrative staffing service, has identified five things job seekers should know about the interview process -- from the interviewer's point of view.

"Many job candidates may not recognize that hiring managers can be as anxious as they are during interviews because of the pressure to find just the right person," says Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Hiring mistakes are costly, in terms of the time and money invested and the toll on staff morale. Interviewers are looking for subtle clues the applicant has the right job skills and work ethic, and will fit in with new colleagues and the corporate culture."

Hosking adds, "Job seekers who do their homework and remain poised throughout the interview process will be able to engage in more productive, relevant conversations with prospective employers."

Here are five things most hiring managers may be thinking about the interview but won't tell you:
1. I haven't prepared in advance. You may have spent hours creating your resume, but there's a good chance the hiring manager doesn't remember exactly what's on it.

Advice: Always have an extra copy of your resume handy, and offer to walk the potential employer through the highlights, particularly if he or she seems at a loss for questions.
2. I'm wary of phonies. Think again before you claim that your greatest weakness is that you "work too hard." Most hiring managers have heard it all before. Inauthentic responses are a red flag to employers.

Advice: Come to the interview with several job-related anecdotes in mind that reveal the real you and speak to how your specific talents can help the business. Don't be afraid to show some personality.
(Read "What Are Your Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses?" for more tips.)

3. I love to talk about my company and myself. Interviewers are advised to let the candidate do most of the talking. But hiring managers are only human and enjoy discussing things they are passionate about, including their careers and interests.

Advice: Ask the prospective employer about his or her professional advancement within the company; this can yield valuable information about growth potential at the firm and get the conversation going. You don't have to wait until the end of the interview to ask questions.
4. I may intentionally make you uncomfortable. Job seekers often rush to fill in awkward pauses between interview questions. Hiring managers hope that if they keep you talking, you'll reveal more of yourself. They also may throw curve-ball questions to see how you react and to gain insight into your thought process.

Advice: Rather than rambling and potentially saying something you regret, keep your responses concise and on point. It's OK to stop and collect your ideas before you begin to speak. Don't be too concerned if you're stumped by a tough interview question. Showing your reasoning skills is often more important than finding the right answer.
(Read "100 Potential Interview Questions" for more advice.)

5. I'm going to ask my assistant about you. Six in ten executives surveyed by OfficeTeam said they consider their assistants' opinions important when evaluating new hires. It should go without saying, but make sure you treat everyone you meet with respect when you arrive for an interview. You never know who may be weighing in on the hiring decision.

Advice: If the administrative professional isn't busy, make polite small talk while you wait. Also, avoid irritating behaviors, such as loud cell phone conversations.

Should You Hire a Resume Writer? | Career Rocketeer

Should You Hire a Resume Writer?

Posted: 12 Aug 2011 03:30 AM PDT

Many job seekers struggle with one major aspect of the job search: selling themselves. It can feel weird to talk yourself up during an interview—and, to most, it feels like you're "bragging" about your accomplishments and past experiences, which can feel uncomfortable.
But an employer won't know how you'll benefit the company unless you tell them, which is why you must effectively sell yourself at the first chance you get: your resume.
No one really teaches you how to write a resume. Sure, your mom might have sat down with you during high school and helped you create one for a part-time job, but that resume won't suffice once you're looking for an internship or entry-level job.
Plus, there's conflicting advice out there about how to write your resume. Do you include an objective statement or not? Should you stick to one page, or can you go a little longer to show off your extensive experience? Do you use templates to organize the information, or are templates tacky? These questions can be daunting when you're competing with hundreds of other job candidates for each open position.
So, the question is: do you hire a resume writer to help you show a potential employer why you're the best candidate for the job? Here are a few things to keep in mind about resume writers:

Yes, they cost money. I realize that many job seekers don't think that they have an extra dime to spare on things like career coaching and resume writing. However, if you look at it as an investment in your future, you might feel that the money is worth it in order to land a paying job in your field. Would you rather be unemployed for six months, or spend a hundred bucks to land a job in two? The choice is up to you.
They can help you write about yourself. A good resume writer works with you to identify strengths, accomplishments and skills in order to show your fit for an open position. This is the most difficult part of resume writing for most job candidates—and it can help to have an outside opinion to help you put your best foot forward.
Not all resume writers are created equal. If you choose to hire a resume writer, do your research. While some folks know exactly what today's employers want, others might be out of touch with the latest resume trends. Look at their testimonials and reviews. Ask your network who they would recommend. You don't want to spend your money on someone who doesn't do you justice. You want a professional resume writer that can make you shine among other candidates vying for the job.

Have you used a resume writer before? What was your experience like?

Guest Expert:
Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of Lies, Damned Lies & Internships: The Truth About Getting from Classroom to Cubicle (2011), #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

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Sunday, August 14, 2011

Rules of Intimacy for Social Media

Rules of Intimacy for Social Media

Managing Conflict to Save Your Career | Career Rocketeer

Managing Conflict to Save Your Career | Career Rocketeer

The Work Buzz's Latest News: Who works the most?

The Work Buzz's Latest News: Who works the most?

OfficeTeam Reveals Five Hiring-Manager Secrets

The Monster Blog

Should You Hire a Resume Writer? | Career Rocketeer

Should You Hire a Resume Writer? | Career Rocketeer

Career Igniter