Tag: featured
Why Complaining Doesn’t Work
“I hate to be a kicker, I always long for peace, but the wheel that does the squeaking is the one that gets the grease.” The above is the actual quote (often commonly stated as “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”) attributed to American humorist Josh Billings. It’s from hisRead More
Taking a Real Life Practice Interview
I have been applying for jobs for the past eight months. I’ve redone my resume a couple of times and I’ve redone my cover letter more times than I can count. It has been a bit discouraging as no one has taken the bait. Well, let me rephrase that. I’veRead More
Bureaucratic Bellwethers & Barometers
Most of us would agree that our jobs are made less pleasant by all sorts of things we can’t control, from the fluorescent lights and gray cubicle felt to the cranky copier and the underpowered microwave. There are human problems, including bullies, liars, and people who watch soap operas on tinyRead More
Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
I hate this question. I hate when I hear it at an interview, and I hate thinking about it when I’m staring into space, pretending to think about work. It’s a ridiculous question. Anyone who has a clear sense of where their career will be in five years either hasRead More
Cut the Corporate Speak
Do your eyes glaze over with the vacant stare of a dairy cow when reading most company websites, brochures, case studies, and white papers? Once I interviewed with a company whose tag line was Trust. Value. Integrity. It took me forever to figure out what their business was. After scouringRead More
Grow Tall & Stand Out in Your Company
While watching BBC’s Planet Earth the other day, I drew a strong comparison between plants and humans. In areas with dense foliage, plants are in a constant race to grow taller than each other in order to gain their share of available light. The tallest plants leave the others behindRead More
How to Provide Placation While You Vacation
As I write this, I’m on vacation…hanging out with my family and getting a much-deserved rest. Taking a vacation is extremely important in maintaining a strong work ethic for the rest of the year. I know many workplaces allow for employees to take pay in lieu of time off—I wouldRead More