Making Work Work
Whether you’re currently working, or in an intense job search, being organized and feeling organized (which, by the way, are two different things) should become a priority for you.
Category: Professional Development
Building skills on the job
What You See May Not Be What You Get
The term heuristic, which Wikipedia says comes from the Greek word for ‘find’ or ‘discover,’ “refers to experience-based techniques for problem solving, learning, and discovery. Where an exhaustive search is impractical, heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution.” We call heuristic approaches “intuition” and “guessing” as well. We all use this part of the brain – imagine how hard it would be to have to think about every choice we make, to reason through every decision. Our brains would be overloaded. So nature allows us to use heuristics for many common tasks.
Guest Post: 5 Websites for Finding Awesome Internship Opportunities
Internships can provide entry into dream jobs, adding experience and references to an inexperienced person’s résumé, but finding them can be challenging – especially in a down economy. As with all job searches, the Internet is an invaluable resource for locating the best opportunities. Whether you’re a recent graduate, embarking on a new career, or a student required to take an internship for class credit, the web can lead you to an internship that will give you the experience you need. Here are five great websites for tracking down the best internship.
Are You Creative?
If you think of your career goals as a problem to be solved, then creativity would be a wonderful asset to have. Indeed, being considered “creative” has a wonderful ring to it and beings up all kinds of positive associations. Yet only a small percentage of people would describe themselves as creative. Why?
How Andrew Luck Can Become Peyton Manning
Just as Luck was promoted to Manning’s coveted spot, many professionals find themselves faced with the intimidating responsibility of filling the shoes of an all-star employee who moved up or out. This former employee was popular, respected, and (incidentally) great at his job. Although you may have been the king (or queen) of your old department, the fact remains that you are you, not the other guy who used to do the same job. Just not being him can be a liability, no matter how good you are.
Why We Drive Each Other Crazy
The other day, I was in a small committee meeting with people I know, I like, and with whom I’ve worked for quite a while. Halfway through the meeting, and I found myself wanting to smack them all. The meeting had degenerated into a series of one way discussions, with neither side actually listening to the other. We were driving each other crazy, and the project we were discussing was probably doomed. How could reasonable, friendly people get so far apart in such a short time?
Your Evil Twin
Geisler cites an example: suppose you’re a manager who believes in rolling up your sleeves and working alongside the staff. You happily pitch in on a project and give helpful feedback along the way. You see this as an egalitarian ‘Boss of the Year’ moment; your staff sees micromanaging interference. I’ve seen it myself; a boss who thinks he’s being deliberate and judicious in his decision making is perceived as dithering and indecisive by his staff. What’s a leader to do?
The Intern Queen Speaks
Lauren Berger bills herself as the Intern Queen, and her book All Work, No Pay: Finding an Internship, BuildingYour Resume, Making Connections, and Gaining Job Experience is a practical guide to how and why to get an internship. In her experience, only about 20 percent of students pursue internships in and right after college. Here are the five benefits she attributes to internships, and why you should pursue on if you’re a student.
Mind Your Manners
Carolle Vargas will be speaking at the WorkSource Professional Network on Thursday June 28.
Boundaries and Standards
In the chapter entitled “Increase your Natural Power,” her advice includes how to set boundaries for yourself. “Boundaries, “ she writes,” are simply the things that people can’t do to you, lines that will protect you and allow you to be your best.” We all need them, but it can be hard to set them and stick to them, especially if you like to think of yourself as a nice person.
