Work, success, and meaning at every stage of your career
If you have a disability or medical condition that is not evident to an employer, you may be worried about disclosing your issue in this competitive job market. It can be tempting to maintain your privacy and hope that the condition does not affect your performance on the job.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. The Act opened up opportunities for millions of Americans to access opportunities and request accommodations to be able to perform work they are otherwise qualified to do.
Over the decades, more and more conditions have been classified as disabilities, and both workers and employers are sometimes confused as to what constitutes a disability under the law.
The beginning of the calendar year is a natural time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished and what you’d rather change about yourself. Here are some questions to ask about your personal brand.
Karyn from Fleming Island, Florida wrote to us with this question:
Q: “I took the WorkKeys assessment this week and I am wondering how this can be sent to a potential employer?”
I’m not an economist. They are generally really smart people who do lots of math. They are also the people who make predictions about economic recovery. In this, they have a track record that is roughly the equivalent of mine with winning lottery numbers.
Jenna Fischer’s story is closer to what it takes to be “discovered” as a jobseeker today. We all hope that our resume is like Lana Turner; so gorgeous that we can just sit on a stool and someone will walk by and offer to change our life forever. But most of us would do better to follow Jenna Fischer’s path.
Being tuned in to other people’s emotions – and taking steps to make them feel better about themselves – will help you become more likeable. Lowndes says that people will associate you – and the memory of you – with the emotion they experienced when they met you. If you make someone uncomfortable, she’ll avoid you. Make him feel warm and appreciated, and he’ll get a warm feeling whenever he thinks about you.
A stunning survey of workers by Monster.com shows that 98% of workers are not [completely] satisfied with their jobs and plan to look for work in 2011. Are you one of them?
If you are one of the working class who’s planning to make a break for it as soon as the economy heats up, here are some things to consider as you plan a move.
Leil Lowndes is a management consultant and speaker and author of How to Instantly Connect with Anyone: 96 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships. Her book helps you understand the basics of making other people feel comfortable and, well, good around you. Her theory is that if you make someone feel good about themselves, they will get a warm, Pavlovian feeling every time they see you. Conversely, if you make people uncomfortable, that sense of unease follows whenever they see you.
If you’re a big-picture, inspirational leader, you may rely heavily on your charisma and persuasive skills to win over skeptics. That’s fine, until you encounter a data-driven analytical type who cares more about whether you’ve done your homework than how fine your words are.
