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Danger Signs
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DANGER SIGNS TOPICS
Although no magic formula exists for predicting job security, this Quick Quiz can help you consider various factors that may determine whether you wind up on a layoff list. Although some things are out of your control, many are not. For job security advice, check out How to Avoid Losing Your Job.
Are you a “difficult employee”? Your answer to that question is probably a resounding “no” – but would your manager agree? You may assume that you would know if your boss held this view, but managers often fail to tell employees what they’re thinking. However, they may freely share their opinions with others. Getting a reputation for being “hard to manage” can definitely limit your career.
To succeed in any job, you must be able to get along with management. So take a minute to look at things from your boss’s point of view. See if you’re guilty of any of these “unmanageable” behaviors.
Imagine that a layoff is in the works. The HR Director and executive management team are reviewing employee rosters to decide who will be included. What are your odds of escaping the layoff list?
To save your job, you have to think like a manager. Managers cut employees the way that you might cut expenses. To trim your personal budget, you might consider three expense categories: Lifelines, Essentials, and Extras.
“Lifelines” are items necessary for survival, like power and water. “Essentials” are less critical, but hard to do without, like cable television or your cell phone. “Extras” can be sacrificed with much less pain. Concerts, gourmet coffees, and that extra pair of shoes could fall into this category.
During a layoff, which category would you be in?
The answer depends on three factors: Results, Relationships, and Reputation.
Want that promotion? Here are nine things to avoid doing at your workplace to help your chances.
Some organizations are poisonous, and they can infect everyone who works there. But if you have been in a toxic workplace too long, you may have come to accept sick behavior as normal. And you may even start to think that there’s something wrong with you.
So here are some clues to watch for – and if you spot even one or two of these signs, you might want to start polishing up your resume and looking for a healthier place to work.
On almost any list of dreaded activities, “job search” is near the top. So what’s worse than looking for a new job? Staying in a bad one. Here are some signs that it may be time for you to go:
More and more people are working with colleagues that they never see. In a recent study of U.S companies having more than 5000 employees, Brandman University surveyed 135 key managers about their use of virtual teams (http://www.brandman.edu/research/), finding that 40% of the companies already use them extensively and 56% expect their use to increase.
Instead of communicating face-to-face, these widely distributed employees are collaborating computer-to-computer, creating some predictable challenges. The following tips for making virtual teams work include suggestions from Susan Gerke, adjunct professor at Brandman and author of “Working Remotely”.
The advice for employees is followed by suggestions for their managers.
Most people spend at least 40% of their waking hours at work, so it’s no wonder that many romantic relationships begin at the office. Not only do coworkers spend a great deal of time together, but they also share goals, frustrations, disappointments, and many other experiences. Every workplace is a little world unto itself, so the inhabitants naturally develop close associations. If you’re looking for love, work can be a great place to search. But there are some romantic entanglements you would be wise to avoid.
Some long-ago sage wisely coined the phrase “don’t get your honey where you get your money”. The best approach to office romance is probably to avoid it altogether. Most workplace love affairs leave a trail of resentments, hurt feelings, and shattered working relationships in their wake. But if you believe that you have found the one true love of your life in the neighboring cubicle, that advice isn’t likely to keep you apart. So here are some suggestions for managing the situation and minimizing potential damage to your career.
The only thing certain in life is change, and people react to change in different ways. But since change is a constant at work, the wrong reaction can sometimes be a career-killer. Can you spot your “change personality” in these five descriptions? See if you are an Optimist, a Follower, a Worrier, a Resister, or an Advocate.
Career success involves managing the image that you present at work. To be viewed in a professional light, you must give some thought to the way you are perceived. Here are eight topics that you would be smart to avoid.
The cultural differences described below are often observed in organizations. Since these are stereotyped descriptions, many organizations will exhibit characteristics of more than one type.
What do we mean by “trust” at work? Think about a specific colleague, past or present, that you completely trust. Now try to figure out why you selected that person. What does the person do (or not do) that has created such a trusting relationship? When participants in collaboration workshops are asked that question, here are some answers they frequently give.
Office parties represent both opportunity and risk. On the one hand, you can develop better relationships with your colleagues and get to know people that you would never meet otherwise. Some people use parties for serious strategic networking.
At the same time, however, uninhibited party behavior can destroy your career. Just ask the guy who decided to moon everyone from the top of a staircase. Or the one who wrote “F**k the company!” on a handy whiteboard. Or, much more seriously, the woman who killed two people while drunkenly attempting to drive home.
So whether you view your office party as a career building opportunity or simply a time to relax and have fun with your colleagues, remember that this is not just a social occasion. You may be partying, but you’re still at work.
Getting fired is everyone’s worst work nightmare. Some slackers and crooks deserve to have their employment terminated, but many people lose their jobs for much more arbitrary reasons. If you find yourself facing this dreaded event, you need to keep your wits about you. The two things that you probably want to do – run out the door or start screaming – are absolutely the worst choices. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind if you ever find yourself in this uncomfortable position.
Secrets to Winning at Office Politics
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