August 30, 2005

Diploma, done. Now what?
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 11:11 AM

The Boston Globe has got an interesting occasional series running from correspondent Benjamin Toff, a 2005 college grad who is waking up to the real world and the demands of getting a job:

These days, two months after getting my college diploma, I'm shocked if I can make up my mind about what I want to eat for lunch.

While it's not yet keeping me up at night, the anxiety surrounding that first job out of college has begun to spark more than a few existential questions. I was warned about this feeling -- the sudden fear of life's shapelessness, the terror of having no structure. For years, my choices have been confined to options neatly organized within the pages of a course catalogue. Now there is no book. The freedom has left me spinning.

You can read the two installments thus far and, if you want to, share your own thoughts in the online discussion board.

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August 29, 2005

The proper work-life balance
Posted by Jason Tuohey at 6:53 PM

How important is having the proper work-life balance for employees? Pretty important, according to this week's Balancing Acts:

80 percent of workers define their ideal job as one that includes a supervisor who responds to their personal concerns, according to a study released in July by Simmons College of Management and Bright Horizons Family Solutions.

Also check this week's stories for advice on dealing with difficult employees, the keys to job satisfaction, and the importance of workplace morale.

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August 25, 2005

Getting away from it all without leaving your desk
Posted by at 4:48 PM

For many of us, summer vacations and back-to-nature getaways are already a fading memory and we're gearing up for the busyness that fall traditionally brings. Read this piece by Ellen Britt, a stress resiliency consultant, for ideas on how to get nature working for you any time of the year. (An added bonus is a link to a great nature-based flash movie called "Lessons from Water.") Here's a brief excerpt from the article:

Here's a list of 10 simple things you can do to get nature working for you, without planning an expensive trip to the mountains of Jackson Hole or the lush greenery of Costa Rica:

1. Expose your face (without make-up or sunscreen) to five minutes of sunshine every morning before work. Studies show that just five minutes of natural light in the morning can improve your mood for the entire day. So take that steaming cup of coffee or tea out to the deck or balcony before you get ready for work. An improved mood can translate into more productivity and better relationships with co-workers.

2. Make tomorrow Bring a Plant to Work Day! And make that a natural plant, not plastic, please. Plants give off healthful oxygen, as well as absorb many of the toxins found in workplace air. Green plants give you a great psychological boost as well. Studies show that people who work in offices with plants are more productive and experience less stress than those people who work in an environment without plants.

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Cold Calls and Networking
Posted by at 3:23 PM

I advise both hiring managers and candidates to network. But I hate cold calls, and don't advise them (or cold emails). Louise said it best:

Keep in mind when reaching out to a new contact -- what used to be called "a perfect stranger" -- that this person is leading a perfectly happy life without you in it. Therefore, common sense dictates that when you extend an invitation for lunch or coffee, you must err on the side of courtesy.

So what's a networker to do?

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August 23, 2005

Using social networking in your job search
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 9:57 AM

A new class of web-based tools, including LinkedIn, Ryze, and others, has emerged over the last couple of years, allowing folks to expand their business network online. In this article, ViralCommerce.com President Sherry Schuller talks about how you can put these tools to work in your job search:

With at least 60% of job-seekers finding employment through networking, it’s no wonder that people are turning to their colleagues and acquaintances for advice and help in finding employment. The old adage, "It's not what you know, but who you know" rings true when it comes to sources of labor in today’s economy.

Read the piece from NYT sister site About.com.

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August 22, 2005

Going on vacation? Pack your business cards
Posted by Jason Tuohey at 4:24 PM

Do you spend your vacation time passing out business cards and making contacts with the people you meet? If so, you're part of a growing trend, according to this week's lead article on BostonWorks.

"Making business deals and creating opportunities with new business partners while on vacation is increasingly becoming common practice."

You can also read about salary negotiation tips, the bright side of unemployment, the importance of having time for hobbies, and how much time the average worker wastes.

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Telecommuting - Wrong or Evil?
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:49 AM

I admit it. I've been a telecommuter. I've worked from home in my pajamas, with my music pumping and my cats sleeping at my feet. I got a lot of work done -- often more than I did when I was physically in the office. I'm a fan of telecommuting.

BostonWorks contributor Mary Helen Gillespie is not a fan of telecommuting.

Does telecommuting really work? Right about now, I'd venture to say not. It's basically a boatload of trouble.

And as the novelty of managing remote employees becomes more mainstream, the more likely these negatives become embedded in the work culture. This holds true even if an organization has a formal fancy-schmancy policy outlining its Official Telecommuting Do's and Don'ts in exact, excruciating and legally defensible language. These black-and-white ground rules are great. The reality, of course, is execution and enforcement of said policy will be tangerine and fuchsia with a dash of magenta.

The discussion boards are live on this topic. Go put your two cents in.

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Ribbersnibbet
Posted by Jason Butler at 10:03 AM

Pretty please, with sugar on top, watch your ******* language.

Miles Templeman said that bad language in the office was usually a mistake. 'One should have good manners all the time, and while we wouldn't want to over-react, swearing, particularly with subordinates, would be very bad,' he told The Observer.

'Obviously there are moments when a person is extremely stressed and swears to let off steam, and people probably shouldn't worry very much about that, but even that shouldn't be too frequent.'

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August 18, 2005

Get a hobby!
Posted by at 6:31 PM

Spare-time activities not only provide a welcome break from the grind, but can also bolster work performance. So, the next time you feel guilty taking some time to enjoy an avocation, consider this:

Gina Dias, a controller who lives in San Jose, Calif., credits cycling with some of her success in business. An avid bike racer, she says her hobby has sharpened her negotiating skills and strengthened her discipline.

There is a lot of negotiation in bike racing, she explains. On a team, one person is picked to win. The others do everything they can to help, whether it is riding out front to break the wind, or cycling alongside as a shield against competitors who might crash into the racer. If the would-be winner's tire pops, the teammates give the racer one of theirs. But there is a give and take. The person tapped to win one race should step aside to let another teammate try to win the next one, Ms. Dias says. The other teammates also negotiate over who gets to try to win the shorter segments within the longer race.

Read this article from WSJ Career Journal that cites the unexpected benefits of pursuing your hobbies.

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Mass. gains 9,500 jobs
Posted by Jason Tuohey at 4:29 PM

Massachusetts created 9,500 jobs last month, the state's biggest increase in five years, as reported by the AP on Boston.com.

The growth in jobs marked the largest monthly increase since September 2000, and the 11th consecutive monthly gain.

The good news comes with a catch - the unemployment rate didn't change, as the number of unemployed Massachusetts residents also increased last month. Still, it's an impressive gain.

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The next phase of online recruitment?
Posted by Jason Tuohey at 12:16 PM

The Washington Post weighs in on how job sites like Indeed.com (which the New York Times Co. has invested in) and simplyhired.com are ushering in the next phase of online recruitment, one based on Google-like search capabilities and pay-per-click pricing.

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August 17, 2005

Down to earth strategy
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 2:53 PM

Today's Globe has a great piece on the type of career transition we might all dream of: leaving twenty-five years of desk jobs to return to your former days of college gridiron glory to coach the team you love:

. . .[Curt] Oberg, a former Dartmouth fullback and team cocaptain, is returning to, as Michael Jordan might say, scratch a lifetime itch. He will serve as a volunteer assistant coach and football operations director at his alma mater. Where it goes from there, he does not know. He does know that at age 49, he cannot remember being this excited about anything for a long, long time.

Tackle the whole piece.

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August 15, 2005

Are you a jetrosexual?
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:26 PM

. . .or is someone you know a likely nominee? Learn all about Virgin Atlantic Richard Branson's latest quest for top entrepreneurial talent in Boston and around the US by reading the eleven commandments of a jetrosexual:

Do you, or a friend or colleague abide by these commandments? Maybe they are part of the new jetsetters - the people that leave terra firma behind each day to move business and culture forward. We call them jetrosexuals and in honor of their achievements we have created our very own award for the most exceptional.

Sample commandments:

11. Thou shalt have thine passport ready to go at a moment's notice.
7. Thou shalt be able to order a beer in at least six different languages.

The nomination form is on the same page.

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August 11, 2005

Gray hair back in vogue?
Posted by at 6:43 PM

Hard to believe that the first of the baby boomers will be turning 60 next year. Even more sobering is the fact that twenty years from now, one in every four adult Americans will be over 65. "As a result, this way of evaluating older Americans by their gray hair will have to change," says Dr. Robert Butler, an expert on aging and chief executive officer of the International Longevity Center in New York.

Gray hair once was considered the ideal in business and politics — white or gray powdered wigs were all the rage in the 18th century among U.S. colonists, who gravitated to gray because they equated older age with respect, power and prosperity.

Today, gray hair is common for men at the CEO level. But whether other executives, rank-and-file employees or job applicants benefit from gray is another matter.

Read the entire article on abcnews.com.

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August 10, 2005

Building that resume early
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 9:46 AM

It's all links in a chain, right? What you do in your college years helps you land your first full-time job, and what you do during high school helps you get into college, maybe even your top choice.

As this article from the Boston Globe details, a growing number of teens - and their parents - are attracted to summer volunteer and community service activities as early career experiences and as a way to round out their academic credentials (but it comes with a price tag):

Community service has become the hot summer activity for today's pressured teens. Whether propelled by high school graduation requirements or by advisers pitching ways to burnish the college application, scores of parents plunk down big money each summer to give their children elaborate volunteer experiences.

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The view from her cube
Posted by Jason Butler at 7:21 AM

Jonelle responds to this week's View from the Cube, an article detailing how a commitment to play creates a rich working experience.

I've worked in fun, laid-back offices; I've worked in places with a more professional sheen. And while I think I prefer the former, I see the appeal of working in the grown-up business world. Some folks like the safety and rigidity of wearing a suit to work. They like playing by the rules of business ettiquete, because the rules of life ettiquete are so much more complicated and messy -- when you eliminate that from your work, you may be less creative but you may also get a lot more accomplished. Some people thrive in that kind of environment and would be totally catatonic if someone forced them to throw around a Nerf football and wear flip-flops to the office.

(via Universal Hub)

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August 9, 2005

We're #2!
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 10:25 AM

Here's a picture that's worth 1,000 words, a map depicting where the jobs are in the US. #1 is Silicon Valley (San Jose). #2? You guessed it: Boston. Data is based on aggregated job postings per 1,000 people for Q2 2005. Map courtesy of our new cousin site Indeed.com - see Jason's blog from yesterday re BostonWorks' parent firm NYT buying a stake in Indeed.

While you're at it, why not get even more granular and browse for jobs via BostonWorks region and town maps? Find the jobs in your town, on your commuting route, or anywhere in Greater Boston.

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August 8, 2005

One way to get the word out
Posted by Jason Butler at 4:46 PM

Advertise your availability on a T-shirt.

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The higher they go, the stupider they get
Posted by Jason Butler at 8:54 AM

It's sometimes hard to discern what drives your boss' thinking.

"What?!!? He said that? You're kidding. You're not kidding? He actually said we have to do that? Starting tomorrow? Does he realize what he's asking? Oh, of course not. What an idiot! That means I'm going to have to drop everything I've been working on for three weeks and start running full speed in the other direction! I can't believe it." 

This conversation, which takes place in millions of hallways across the world each business day, ends with everyone going back to their desks, carrying their cups of coffee, heads down, grumbling all the way. Because of something a manager or manager's manager said, employees are going to be working on something that doesn't make sense, something that will mess up everything else they're working on, something that will probably inconvenience customers--or, worse, make customers shake their heads in disgust and go find a company who has a clue about what they need and how they want to buy.

Kristin Zhivago, in the productmarketing.com magazine, gives it a try, laying out three core reasons why intelligent, well-meaning people make stupid decisions.

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August 6, 2005

US adds 207,000 jobs in July
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:06 PM

Well, this is good news for job seekers: the economy added more than 200,000 jobs in July, a very healthy figure. In fact the overall report from the Department of Labor was so good that an economist, no less, waxed nearly poetic:

''The economy has hit its cruising speed," said Bill Cheney, chief economist at John Hancock Financial Services Inc. ''The sun's shining; the top's down; and we're rolling merrily along with an open road ahead."

Yesterday's employment report confirms the view that the US expansion is entrenched and gaining momentum. In recent weeks, economic data has shown incomes growing, business and consumer spending rising, and the economy expanding at an above average rate.

With all those new jobs out there, surely there's one with your name on it. So stay focused and keep plugging. You'll get there if you aren't there yet. Above all else: maintain a positive attitude. You know it's a question of "when", not "if".

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August 5, 2005

'Unprecedented' diversity hiring
Posted by Jason Tuohey at 8:48 AM

Boston law firm Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo has hired minority lawyers at an unparalleled rate lately, The Boston Globe notes today. According to the article, the firm recently hired 11 minority attorneys for its Washington, D.C., office and plans to staff more in its Boston and New York businesses.

One diversity expert quoted in the article said:

"'I have been studying the careers of minority lawyers for 20 years now, and I have never heard of anything like this... It strikes me as a very bold and promising strategy.'"

Only time will tell if this move sets a trend, or is merely an isolated incident.

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August 4, 2005

Ten ways to higher pay for women
Posted by at 4:57 PM

Here's an article by award-winning author Warren Farrell, Ph.D. that captures some thought-provoking facts about women's pay and suggests career paths with decent earning potential:

The road to high pay is a toll road. The trick is discerning which tolls are worth it. The good news is that any woman who wishes to earn as much or more than a man can do it. Dr. Warren Farrell offers you ten specific ways women can out earn men.

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Ashbrook on jobs
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:29 PM

I like Tom Ashbrook's NPR radio show, On Point, because he gets great guests and digs deep into a subject. This show on jobs and careers is no exception.

Ashbrook's guests include Po Bronson, best-selling author of What Should I Do with My Life?; Tony Lee, Managing Editor of career site Careerjournal.com; and the career services director from Pomona College (Claremont, CA), among others. They all have fascinating insights to share, as do those calling in. Well worth the 50-minute listen.

To tune in, follow this link to the On Point site, then click on either of the media player icons to get the streaming audio.

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August 1, 2005

Teen talk: summer jobs
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:30 PM

You may be sitting at your desk reading this on a PC screen in air-conditioned comfort. But others in the workforce are out in the field - sometimes literally - working at their first jobs, just happy to be pulling down some cash:

One is knee-deep in grass clippings, another up to her arms in frozen yogurt.

And both are on the first rung of the job ladder.

As their parents look forward to time off, summer vacation offers teenagers their first real taste of the work world.

We asked five of them to tell us about their jobs.

Check out the piece from yesterday's Boston Sunday Globe.

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