I am not sure exactly what causes it, but every year at the end of August or the beginning of September, I get the urge to go back to school. Perhaps it is the realization that summer is drawing to a close as the days get noticeably shorter and there are hints of autumn appearing […]
I re-learned a lesson the hard way this week. This summer I took a temporary job. When I was hired I was told the job had a definite term, and there would be no more work after the term was over. I accepted the job. There were several people who were hired to accomplish the […]
This week there was a lot buzz about Psychometrics and other job screening techniques. questionsIt is probably a sign of the times, as employers are flooded with applications for all available jobs. The idea of psychometric testing and correlating traits with aptitude and performance is becoming main stream. So how do you prepare for psychometric […]
This week there was a lot more bad news for the economic recovery. Although some companies reported huge profits, the overall conclusion is the U.S. economy is sputtering, and there could be even more lay offs. For those of us already unemployed the hopes of finding work seems to be fading even more, and those […]
The July – August edition of Psychology Today (psychologytoday.com) has an article on six office top gripes and how to fix them. The six topics chosen are: Procrastination; Difficult Boss; Really Difficult Boss; Projects not going well; Feeling Negative; and Working too many hours. I am not sure how they came up with the list. […]
Perhaps the best definition of closing a deal is when a commitment is made. The classic business definition is when money changes hands, but in our careers and life in general we make a lot of deals that do not involve money. Deals are a social concept where one side gives some thing in exchange […]
This is the Fourth of July weekend, and the day the United States celebrates its birth as an independent nation. This may be a good time to reflect on the state of the national and global economy, and its impact on your career. One of my favorite lines is from the beginning of the Tale […]
This week I responded to a question posted on answer.yahoo.com. The question read; “My new boss has told me and my other 2 colleagues that she is going to change our job titles as its not working for the private hospital we work in. Our titles are Team Leaders and she wants to change it […]
I recently received a request for advice on selecting a postgraduate course of study. My colleague, who I met though Yahoo.answers.com, has an under graduate degree in accounting and, is currently employed by a small accounting firm. Recently he enrolled in PGDIBO (Post graduate diploma in International Business Operation) at IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open […]
Last week I was talking with a 19 year old, about what he wants to do now he has been out of high school for a couple of years. He currently works with his uncle in construction part time; works pizza delivery, and is a temporary Census worker. He is bright guy with a good […]
In an attempt to keep a finger on the pulse of the workplace and honing my skill as a mentor, I participate in yahoo answers Yahoo Answers as the PracticaL Mentor. Perhaps it is the season for graduation, but there are a lot of people asking how to choose a career or advice of choosing […]
Good job with great benefits, nice place by the ocean, active social life with lots of friends, what more could you want? Isn’t it everyone’s dream to be financially secure, live in a nice house, and have lots friends? The term “golden handcuffs” is often used to describe a state where apparent benefits hold us […]
There are a lot of articles floating on the web questioning the value of a college degree. Several try to answer the question of the value of your degree based on earning power versus cost. The rational is that as the cost of attending college rises, the financial burden may negate the benefits of a […]