June 29, 2006

Flip flops could harm your career
Posted by at 10:10 AM

Do you wear flip-flops to work? A Reuters story says that, though they are popular footwear in the summer, they may be unacceptable for the office.

"Style gurus warn that flip-flops, which are worn mainly by younger women, could be harmful to a career.'Shoes convey the mood of a woman. Wearing flip-flops conveys the mood that you are relaxed and on vacation. That's not a good message in the office,' said Meghan Cleary, a style commentator who wrote the book 'The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You.'"

Read the rest of the story here. What do you think? Share your thoughts on our message board.

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June 27, 2006

Massport gives $840,000 to summer jobs program
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 3:48 PM

You may want to move quickly to check out this summer jobs opportunity:

The Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan International Airport, the Boston seaport, and the Tobin Bridge, said it has committed more than $840,000 this year for summer jobs and college internships in communities where Massport operates transportation facilities. Massport chief executive Craig P. Coy said the funds will create up to 269 summer jobs and more than 50 college internships.

Learn more about Massport.

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June 22, 2006

Family-friendly Massachusetts
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 2:23 PM

Nearly 400 years after the Pilgrims set foot on shore and proceeded to build the "city upon the hill", all eyes are upon us once again as the state legislature considers pioneering legislation for paid family-time leave for all employees in the state:

The Massachusetts legislature plans to vote this week on a bill that would give all employees in the state 12 weeks of paid medical leave annually--100% of their pay up to $750 a week and a guarantee to hold their jobs--to care for newborns or sick relatives. If passed, the bill would mandate the most generous paid-leave policy in the U.S.; it is the first of 24 similar proposals pending this year.

Read the full piece from this week's TIME Magazine.

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Learning to chill
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:52 PM

Following on my recent post on vacation time (and Americans' ambivalent attitude toward it), here's a link to Po Bronson's essay, "Just Sit Back and Relax," from the latest TIME magazine:

Americans are allotted few vacation days (14 days, on average) compared with other industrialized countries, but ironically, we don't even use them. The average American will leave four vacation days on the table this year, which adds up to a whopping 574 million days of untaken vacation, collectively. Our relationship to relaxation seems contradictory. We spend more money than anyone else in the world on leisure--fully one-third of our income--and yet we are simultaneously No. 1 in the world at not taking vacations.

Learn more in Po Bronson's blog at PoBronson.com.

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Looking for something interesting to add to your resume?
Posted by at 8:44 AM

Today's Globe has a story by Globe Correspondent Alison Lobron about students volunteering in Third World countries. Apparently there has been an increase in the number of students opting to go this route, and college admissions officers are speculating that they're doing it to enhance their applications.

Over the past decade, community service trips to Third World countries have become a popular summer option for public-spirited students, especially those from affluent families. Some college admissions officers and advisers believe the recent proliferation of such programs, for which students typically spend $4,000 or more for a month of volunteer work, stems from students' perception that community service looks good on college applications and makes them seem like interesting people.

Whatever their motives, I see it as a positive thing when more students are opting to volunteer their time in places many people have never even heard of, rather than spending another summer working at the local country club. Read on to see what else Lobron has to say about it.

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June 21, 2006

When the product is you
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 3:03 PM

When you're out looking for a job, what are you trying to sell? That's right: yourself. When you're job hunting, the product is you.

And if you're a new college grad without much of a clue how to sell yourself in the professional job market, now there's help - if you've got the bucks:

For up to $3,000, D.A. Hayden and Michael Wilder, owners of a Boston marketing firm, say they can create personal "brands" for graduates that recruiters won't soon forget.

"When we say that we can package a graduate," says Wilder, "it means finding out the personal strengths of the graduates or seniors we're working with, and using those strengths to create a personal story that will be compelling to an employer."

Diane Lewis' article from yesterday's Globe correctly points out that this type of coaching and grooming is done throughout the business world, even with the highest level executives, so why not with those starting out at the lowest rung of the ladder?

There are, of course, alernatives, and cheaper ones at that. Many would argue that the college career services offices provide the same tools and advice, included in the already hefty ticket price.

But somehow one expects that two former senior-level ad execs would probably put, shall we say, a different spin on the product. And if the product is you, well, maybe it's worth it.

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June 20, 2006

Make the most of a new job
Posted by at 3:05 PM

Washington Post columnist Mary Ellen Slayter has some tips on how to make the best impression on higher-ups in a new position. Here's what she says:

Be mindful that while your company's lack of preparation for your arrival may seem disorganized or downright rude, they may be testing to see how you adapt. Do you proactively seek out the equipment you need or sit helplessly and twiddle your thumbs? Are you relaxed and accommodating, or do you throw a hissy fit because your (already) inundated colleagues didn't drop everything to make sure your work space was wrapped up for you in a pretty red bow?

Read what other tips Slayter has here.

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June 19, 2006

Vacation time
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 11:36 AM

The warm weather is at long last upon us, prompting thoughts of summer and being outdoors and. . .vacation.

But how many of us take the time to get away, kick back, and truly unwind? This week's "View from the Cube" contributor, Sue Dahling Sullivan, ponders our attitude toward vacation time:

I was shocked when I read an article in the Sunday Globe earlier this month about a series of surveys conducted for the online travel agency Expedia that showed around 30 percent of Americans give up some of their vacation time each year. I vowed long ago, with my left hand atop the employee handbook and my right hand raised over the time sheet, that for better or worse, I would always use the entirety of my accrued days. And I'm proud to say that I have lived through many a performance evaluation while remaining passionately committed to that creed.

With a house full of in-law Brits over the last couple of weeks, I am sensitized to the issue. The European attitude toward vacation is v-e-r-y different. Four weeks is a given, almost a birthright. Some take much more time, and when they get away, they really get away, for weeks at a time.

Sullivan picks up on the old saying that we work to live, not live to work. But Americans are often accused of the latter, while the Europeans embody the former. There is a cultural fear factor in there somewhere - geez, if I can be out of the office for four weeks at a time, maybe they'll realize they don't really need me after all!

But US employers also need to ask themselves what kind of employees they want around - tired, cranky, pasty, overworked? Or - at least once a year, anyway - relaxed, recharged, refreshed, maybe a little tanned, and ready to get back at it again, reinvigorated and with a fresh perspective from having been away?

I'm in Sullivan's camp. If you've earned the time off, take it. You're entitled, and you and everyone else around you - at home or in the office - will be better off for it.

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June 14, 2006

Interested in applying for a telecommute job?
Posted by at 3:11 PM

First be sure your telecommute resume is up to snuff. Read this article from cnn.com for pointers on how to create a telecommute resume that stands out from the crowd.

Recruiters and hiring managers are flooded with resumes when they post a telecommute job. I spoke to a recruiter who stated he gets between 750 and 1,000 resumes, each day, every time he posts a project. It starts to taper off a little after the third day.

So after just three days, he could easily have more than 2,000 resumes to sort through.

Because of this, you absolutely have to have a resume that stands apart from the crowd. I don't mean that you should add all kinds of clip art and colorful graphics. You should take time to make sure your information is presented in an easy to read and eye-pleasing format.

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Take a break, dads - with the family
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 9:40 AM

You work hard for the money and balance the demands of work with family on a daily basis. Are you a mother?

Well, you might be. But you could also be a dad. And this Sunday, Father's Day, you and your family can celebrate who and what you are by going to the annual "Dads Make A Difference" celebration:

The eighth annual "Dads Make a Difference: A Celebration of Fathering and Families" is a fun, free Father's Day celebration held on the Boston Common on Sunday, June 18, 2006 from 1 to 4 p.m. (rain or shine).

Find out more. And nice going, all you dads.

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June 12, 2006

Seeking nurses, schools move into hospitals
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 2:13 PM

Yes, Virginia, there is a nursing shortage.

And rather than sit around and wait till the healthcare industry gets so sick it can't recover, some area hospitals are taking matters into their own hands:

Lahey [Clinic] is among a host of Massachusetts hospitals responding to nursing shortages by making it easier and cheaper for lower-level employees to get nurse training and move up the ladder.

The hospital last year set up a satellite classroom and training simulator lab on the Lahey campus where up to 15 Lahey employees at a time can get instruction toward a Middlesex Community College associate's degree in nursing.

Read the entire piece from today's Globe.

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Here's your chance to work for Bean's
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 1:55 PM

How many people dream of working for L.L. Bean, the venerable outdoor and clothing retailer from Maine? They've got a reputation as a great employer, the merchandise is high quality and long-lasting, and it's all about fun and the outdoors. What's not to like?

And now, Bean's has announced that they're going to open two stores in suburban Boston between now and 2008:

FREEPORT, Maine --Outdoor apparel retailer L.L. Bean plans to open two new stores in Massachusetts in the next two years as part of its strategy to expand its presence across the Northeast.

The stores will be located in Mansfield and Dedham, and each will be about 30,000 square feet and employ about 125 people year-round, the company said.

No excuses now. This is your chance to land a job there - without even moving.

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Dualing career paths
Posted by at 9:40 AM

Northeastern journalism student/ lead singer of Cassavettes, the Boston Phoenix's pick for Best Local Band of 2006/ Globe co-op Glenn Yoder weighed in his thoughts on balancing two potential careers in the Globe this weekend:

Am I compromising headway in the journalism industry by currently devoting myself to music? Am I holding back the band by being committed to school and work, too? Right now, I've struck a flimsy balance between my obligations, but at some point, I'm going to have to pick one for keeps.

Anyone who's ever experienced the conflict between a practical career and a non-practical (but more appealing one) can relate. You can read the rest of the article here.

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June 11, 2006

Public actually means, you know, public
Posted by Jason Butler at 7:19 AM

Blogging and social-networking services should Mirandize all the college students when they sign up for these services, telling them "anything you post on the Internet can and will be used against you when you're looking for a real job."

As the New York Times tells us, your blunt-smoking prowess will not impress most HR folks.

Many companies that recruit on college campuses have been using search engines like Google and Yahoo to conduct background checks on seniors looking for their first job. But now, college career counselors and other experts say, some recruiters are looking up applicants on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Xanga and Friendster, where college students often post risqué or teasing photographs and provocative comments about drinking, recreational drug use and sexual exploits in what some mistakenly believe is relative privacy.

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June 8, 2006

Thoughts on summer jobs for teens
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 10:00 AM

Here's an interesting take on summer jobs for teens -- typically seen as a sacrosanct rite of passage -- from Globe "The Color of Money" columnist Michelle Singletary.

Singletary takes a broader view about teaching teens about money and the true value of financial management later in life. She even makes the case against summer jobs and for other activities, quoting Raising Money Smart Kids author Janet Bodnar:

If you're intent on teaching your child certain job-related skills, encourage them to volunteer, she [Bodnar] says. "Kids are often given more responsibility in these positions than in paying jobs, and they get exposure to a variety of careers and to slices of life that they might not normally come in contact with."

Bodnar isn't against teens working, particularly during the summer. But she says parents should keep control over how many hours they work -- especially when school is in -- and what they do with the money they earn.

Read the whole column.

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June 6, 2006

Is that a real job?
Posted by at 1:21 PM

Still trying to figure out the right career for you? Perhaps it's something you haven't even heard of yet. Just think, you could be destined to be a jellyfish farmer, or - better yet - a chewing gum removal specialist.

The Canton Journal recently printed an article about odd jobs in New England:

How about a "paleoscatologist," a fancy job title for "dinosaur dung inspector"? [These] careers are worth pursuing for the business cards alone. And they're among the 65 offbeat occupations celebrated by photographer Nancy Rica Schiff in her new coffee-table book, "Odder Jobs."

Think of your worst day at work, then think of the worst day for a breath odor inspector- you might want to reconsider leaving your cubicle.

Read on for more odd jobs.

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June 5, 2006

Does your employer give you gas?
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 4:54 PM

No, not that kind.

We're talking about the stuff you actually put in your tank, that makes your car go, that now costs upwards of $3.00/gallon and may set you back $30-50/week just to get back and forth to that lovely 25 square feet of cubicle space you spend most of your waking hours in (and that's if you're one of the lucky ones with a job).

Well, maybe relief is on the way. Check out what ABC News' workplace reporter Tory Johnson has to say:

Employers are doing big and small things to help their workers out. For example, just this week Methodist Hospital System in Houston announced that it was giving $250 gas gift cards to each of its nearly 10,000 employees.

Other employers are distributing free or subsidized mass transit passes. And some, like Yahoo!, reward employees for carpooling to work. Every day, employees who don't show up for work alone earn Yahoo! Commuter Bucks, redeemable for free lunches, movie passes, massages and other perks.

Read the full piece.

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Take a break
Posted by at 9:25 AM

Don’t think of it as unemployment, think of it as a “well-planned gap.” The Times Online (that’s from London, not New York) has a list of reasons why taking a six month or year long break, no matter your age or career level, can ultimately benefit you professionally. A few good reasons? If you’re unhappy in your current job, you can search for a new one, keeping in mind what you DON’T want.

WHETHER you take it before university, before you start work or part-way through your career, a well-planned gap year can add that little extra something to a CV. Or you could catch a nasty parasitic infection — who can tell?

3. You hated it? Then it was successful. Working out what you don’t want to do is all part of the process.

4. Make it count. If you want to work your way around the world, do it. “Don’t meander into it. Have clear objectives of what you want to achieve,” Bromley says.

Read on for more reasons.

From Mark Harbeke, of Winning Workplaces, in response to this post:

I work for Winning Workplaces, a nonprofit that helps small and midsized organizations create better work environments. I’ve been in contact with Doug Eisenhart on your blog, so maybe you’ve heard of us. Anyway, in addition to what you posted, our research has shown that if you come from the likes of a mid-level to executive position and have been laid off, it is also advised to “take a break” versus getting a “quick fix” job flipping burgers or working in a bookstore – something that will earn money, but will diminish one’s resume. Employers seeking mid- to senior-level employees will be more impressed that a worker took time off to really map out the next phase in his or her career and find just the right new position, versus getting back into the rat race immediately in what might be a sacrificial position. Of course, this assumes you’d have some savings built up to support a full-time job search…

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June 2, 2006

Keeping in touch with corporate alumni
Posted by at 11:26 AM

Liz Ryan, CEO of WorldWit, makes some good points about the benefits of corporate alumni groups.

Why is it worth the trouble to stay connected to these people (corporate alumni)? I can give you five reasons just for starters:

To reach out to your fellow alums as they change employers over time when you’re job hunting or prospecting for sales;
To locate another alum with whom you’ve lost touch by way of the larger alumni community (the more of you that you can gather, the more likely that someone will be in touch with the person you’re trying to reach);
To get expert advice from people you already know and trust;
To find out through the expanded group of contacts and eyes and ears your alumni group will represent what’s going on at a particular company; and
To gain visibility when you change jobs or launch a company among people who already know and (let’s hope) like you.
So what can you do if you like the idea of gathering the clan back together but don’t know where to start?

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$660m drug plant, 550 jobs for Mass.
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 10:22 AM

A major piece of good employment news hit the region yesterday:

Global drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has decided to build a $660 million manufacturing plant on the former Fort Devens US Army base, the company said yesterday, bringing as many as 550 jobs to Massachusetts and marking a milestone in the state's efforts to attract new businesses.
- - - - -
At a press conference called late yesterday afternoon, [Governor Mitt] Romney called the move "a big boost to manufacturing" and predicted it would seed yet more jobs for the state. "We have skilled labor, we have land available, and we have a state Legislature and an administration all working together," he said.

The plant is scheduled to open in 2009.

Read the full article.

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Join the discussion - today - on Boston's future
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 8:43 AM

Following on from my previous post on the WBUR series "Boston at the Crossroads," there is a special 1-hour call-in show today concluding the series:

The series takes a critical look at Boston's economic roots, the significant changes that have shaped the city and the challenges and opportunities facing Greater Boston at a time of transition.

The series will air during “Morning Edition” over a one week period, culminating. . .with a special one-hour call-in program on Friday June 2 at 3pm. “Morning Edition” anchor Bob Oakes will host the series.

So if you want to listen in or join the discussion, set your dial to 90.9 FM at 3:00 pm today. All the series segments are also available on the WBUR website.

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June 1, 2006

Start of summer slump?
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 10:07 AM

Well, it's June 1. Memorial Day has come and gone and the weather has finally turned warm. Summer is here. So if you're a job seeker, do you automatically shut down the PC, pack up the beach bag, and head out of town for the next couple of months?

Uh, no. You need to keep that search going. And summer is not a bad time to do it, partly because your competition is thinking like paragraph 1. To help you keep focused, take a visit to our sister site About.com, where job searching guide Alison Doyle asks:

Is your job search hitting a start of summer slump? It's tough to stay focused on job searching when the weather is nice, parks and beaches are crowded, and everyone else is having fun. They key to success is to spend a reasonable amount of time job searching and a similar amount of time enjoying yourself. Here's how:

Go to the About.com Job Searching page, then scroll down to the middle of the page to find links to articles with advice to help you stay on track and moving forward during the summer months. And good luck!

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Mass. economy at your fingertips
Posted by Douglas Eisenhart at 9:26 AM

Quick, what's the current unemployment rate in Massachusetts?

If you don't even know where to find the answer, then it's time you knew about a great online resource that many are not aware of, the website of the New England office of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Part of the Federal Department of Labor, this office keeps tabs on employment stats and trends in all the New England states.

Check out the Massachusetts section, which includes a "Massachusetts at a Glance" page with statistics and graphs of local industry hiring trends and much more.

Oh, the answer to the question? Well, it's on those pages, but here it is anyway: latest stat is for April, when it was 4.9%.

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