The Temp Life, Spherion's original web-based series, contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some viewers... especially temps! In this episode, Laura lands the temp job of her dreams, a 3-week stint at Microsoft. Never in a million years did she think her dream of working for the "House that Bill Gates Built" would involve assembling the furniture! Don't forget to tune in for the next Temp Life episode on December 8th!
Want to catch up on other Temp Life episodes? Click here to access the Temp Life channel.
When employees quit a job, they are typically ready to finish their last day and get out. After all, there are reasons why workers quit and when the time comes many just want to leave the experience behind.
But if the company requests you provide an exit interview, I encourage workers to participate. Exit interviews provide HR departments the important feedback needed to address management or process issues that may be the cause of hostility for other employees as well.
The following article offers a couple of tips to help guide workers through the exit interview process. But the most important tip I can offer is to remember to be constructive when providing feedback.
If workers are angry, they will not be giving constructive feedback on their work experience. But what employees do not realize is that the exit interview is their opportunity to have the last world.
Exit interviews are the time for workers to purge themselves of the positive and negative experiences of their work environment. Whether it's a management style or department structure, letting HR know why you are leaving without bad-mouthing anyone or anything will make workers part of the solutions instead of adding to the problems.
It probably won't come as a surprise that many employers are canceling holiday celebrations this year due to the current state of the economy. In many workplaces, once-upon-a-time luxuries such as open bars and elaborate entertainment acts are now a thing of the past.
While it is not unreasonable for companies to become a bit more conservative this year, it is still important that workplace morale still exist.
In many situations, perception is just as important as reality. The same goes for a company's year-end celebrations. As a member of the working world, you likely aren't living in a bubble, immune to the realities of our uncertain economic times. I encourage you all celebrate the holidays this year in a more modest fashion.
While the holiday party decisions made by your employer aren't in your control, here are a few things you can do as an employee to ensure this holiday season is just as festive as ever:
- Substitute sit-down dinners with your colleagues for lunch or light appetizers
- Instead of hiring outside caterers, prepare the food internally
- Stick to beer and wine versus an open bar
- Distribute hand-made cards and small gifts
- Instead of giving out individual gifts, participate in a White Elephant gift exchange
- Pool the office together to do an in-house talent show versus hiring outside entertainment
The Temp Life, Spherion's original web-based series, contains subject matter that may be disturbing to some viewers... especially temps! In this episode, it's Mark's first temp job at the new Commodity Staffing. He quickly realizes that his temp gig as an "actor on Broadway" isn't quite the "toe-tapping, finger-snapping" career-booster he thought it would be. Don't forget to tune in for the next Temp Life episode on November 24th!
Want to catch up on other Temp Life episodes? Click here to access the Temp Life channel.
The last installment of our series on "Recession Proofing Your Career" is here. Our last tip is to make yourself transferable. The current labor and economic environment has helped to slowly erode the traditional "vertical" career path, where workers often feel stuck in or required to begin and end in the same industry or profession. Now, workers are free to pursue a more acceptable zig-zag approach to building their career.
At the same time, employers are looking for workers who can make the greatest impact on the job. That means, can they deliver value to a wide range of initiatives or departments? Do they have skills that can be transferred across the organization? If you desire more job security, building your transferable skills will help accomplish that goal.
Here are four broad areas of transferable skills you should develop:
Communicating. Take writing or speech classes, or join a debate club. The better you are at communicating with people, the more valuable you'll become.
Evaluating and planning. Improve your ability to identify and solve problems, through research, allocating appropriate resources, creating innovative solutions, etc.
Interpersonal Skills. This is different than communicating with others. Honing your interpersonal skills means you've mastered the art of conflict resolution, motivating others, and generally knowing how to listen and support people around you.
Leadership. Effective managers are hard to find. The ability to supervise and mentor others is extremely valuable. Work on building your delegation, coaching and management skills.
Check out Employee Factor for additional advice on building transferable skills.
During this time of economic and job uncertainty, workers are not necessarily feeling confident in their personal situations. But today, I came across a rare article about workers who are genuinely happy with their careers, even during rough times.
So which professions do these content employees work for? The article I found mentioned a top 10 list of the following:
Talk about running the gamut of industries! But what I find most interesting is the that a couple of the professions listed may be perceived as difficult (special ed teacher) or dangerous (firefighters). With this article, however, is proof that these careers are not only viable options, but the reality is that those who work in these fields are satisfied with their job choices.
I am curious to know how our Big Time readers feel about their career field (not necessarily employer....there's a big difference), but their career field. Let us know if your industry isn't listed above, and whether you consider yourself happy. And, for those considering a new career, check out some of the suggestions above, you might just find your calling, and find contentment at the same time.
This latest tip in our series on "Recession Proofing Your Career" is all about how to become a thought leader. What exactly do we mean by that? Well, a thought leader is someone who infuses new ideas into old processes or old beliefs. He or she is known for applying new or innovative approaches whenever possible. And, these forward-thinking workers are highly valued and sought after by today's employers. So how can you begin to establish yourself as a thought leader? Read our tips below, and visit Employee Factor for even more sage advice...
Be patient. The basis for thought leadership comes from experience, so be aware that for some workers, it can take some time to establish yourself. Try focusing on your ability to speed up the learning curve.
Change the company you keep. Establish new friendships and professional relationships with other thought leaders. Find people who enjoy brainstorming, discussing developing trends, pursuing innovation.
Read and Write. Begin by reading materials about becoming a thought leader. Then, start reading as much as you can on your subject of interest or profession. Make sure you write down your thoughts, reactions and insights about what you've read. Try blogging, submitting byline articles to media outlets, or starting a book. Capturing your ideas by writing is the foundation for becoming a thought leader.
Try your hand at speaking. Seek out opportunities to speak at trade shows, conferences, professional association events, or at your local chamber. When you learn to effectively share your point of views or philosophies, you will start to establish yourself as a thought leader.
Building a reputation as a thought leader or visionary within your organization, may be the most effective way to recession-proof your career.
The third in our series on "Recession Proofing Your Career" is an often overlooked and undervalued strategy - managing your boss. Unless you hold a CEO position at a private company or you are your own boss, you're likely being managed by somebody. And if you are like most workers, you probably think this is a one-way street... they are the boss and therefore, they manage you. However, it is possible to effectively manage your boss and increase job success. Here are some valuable tips on "managing up"...
Manage your boss' time. If you consistently require a lot of time from your boss, he or she will be more inclined to view you as a detriment, rather than an asset. Make sure your time is largely dedicated to supporting them, not the other way around.
Point out solutions, not problems. There is nothing more refreshing for a boss than an employee who knows when to alert them to an issue and in the same breath offers several solutions. Putting thought into how to solve a problem before addressing it with your boss demonstrates that you look at things from their perspective and makes you highly valuable in their eyes.
Become trustworthy by avoiding surprises. Trust develops when a person's behavior and results are consistent and predictable. Make sure your boss views you as trustworthy by regularly delivering on promises you've made and not surprising them with bad news. If you feel you can't deliver on a project, discuss it with your boss as soon as possible to reprioritize or set a new achievable timeline.
Remember, bosses need to be managed too. Doing so can have tremendous results in not only protecting, but ensuring, your career success.
"Feel like your boss is always missing in action? You're not alone. Many workers struggle with a boss who's too hands off, leaving them with little or no direction."
With companies asking workers to "do more with less," these days, chances are you already work hard. But are you working smarter? Our blog partner on this series, The Employee Factor, has weighed in on just how to do this, so check it out. We too have outlined several strategies and skills you can put to work to boost your productivity. All of which will go a long way in protecting your job.
- Work on highly visible assignments. Volunteer to work on assignments that are attracting attention from those who count at your organization.
- Be an efficiency champion. Suggest changes to improve efficiency and help figure out how to make those changes happen. Essentially, be an agent of change, not an obstacle to it.
- Improve your multi-tasking skills. The key to effective multi-tasking is organization. Try prioritizing your to-do lists. Before leaving work at the end of the day, list all the tasks that need to be accomplished the next day so you can hit the ground running in the morning. Use tools such as a desk organizer to keep track of deadlines. Use a speakerphone or phone headset to free your hands to do other things while you talk.
- Work on time management. Net surfing, reading emails, co-workers who pop in to chat or making personal calls are time bandits. Save net surfing for after hours. For emails, set blocks of time specifically to manage email messages. Let co-workers know that unless their needs are an emergency, you'll speak with them later during a break in the day. Reduce distractions that absorb your time.
- Know the time of day you are at your best. Use those better periods of the day to spend on the toughest tasks you need to accomplish. Leave the easier ones for the times when you are less energetic. For example, if you are a morning person, try to knock of your most challenging items on your to do list.
Q: Dear Seymour, I have a new boss; how do we start off on the right foot?
- Submitted by Jackie Merrier, Asheville, North Carolina
A: Dear Jackie,
New beginnings can be very exciting, but they can also cause some anxiety. It's good that you're looking ahead and already thinking about how to begin in the best way possible. Here are some tips to help you start out right.
Give your boss a chance. Remember to keep an open mind when you meet your new boss and when you start to work with him or her. You might get along right away, but if you don't, try to be patient and focus on the positive.
Remember that everyone loves encouragement (even your boss). Your boss might feel just as strange about the transition as you do, and a kind word can go a long way. After you have worked with your boss for a few weeks, it's a good idea to give them a hand-written note and perhaps a small token to say that you've enjoyed getting to know them and working for them. You can even point out a particular situation that you thought they handled well or something they did that you appreciated.
Forget the past, move to the future. New ways of doing things are usually difficult to adjust to, and it might be easy for you to look back to the way your former boss did business. However, it's important to keep an open mind. You might be surprised at what you'll learn.
Be constructive, not critical. If there are things your old boss used to do that you just can't let go of, you could schedule a meeting to politely suggest the positive aspects of how certain things used to be done. Remember to be constructive, not critical.
Focus on doing a great job no matter who you work for. No matter who your supervisor is, make sure you always do your best. Having the right attitude and knowing you are doing a great job is its own reward, and even if you and your new boss don't see eye to eye on everything, great work rarely goes unnoticed.
Remember that the boss is the boss. Even if you don't love everything about your boss, it's important to remember to always be professional and respectful. They are in a position of authority, and they also do your performance reviews. Being disrespectful could ruin your career.
I'm sure you and your new supervisor will get started on the right foot. Just remember to keep an open mind!
It's no surprise that in today's competitive workplace rampant with layoffs and restructurings, hard work or keeping your nose to the grindstone is no longer enough to remain recession-proof. You have to make sure your employer knows you are working hard.
The people who breathe a little easier now-a-days are the ones who find ways to be seen and heard. They don't wait to be noticed. Here are some tips on how you can become visible at work, for all the right reasons. And when you're done here, check out Employee Factor for more expert advice...
1. Decide the image you'd like to portray. Ask yourself how you want to be perceived by your colleagues and boss. Don't be noticed for negative reasons. There is a difference between people who become visible for the right reasons and those who do anything to draw attention to them. How do you want to be perceived come promotion or restructuring time?
2. Speak Up! Communicate clearly and directly. When in meetings, contribute to the conversation. If you have a good idea, share it, and make sure you get the credit for it. Just by asking smart, meaningful questions you can improve visibility.
3. Build Connections. Become a person people want to work with - both within and outside your current organization. Network, volunteer, attend industry functions and trade association meetings. Enter the world of social networking such as Facebook, LinkedIn and the like.
Remember, the more visible you are, the more valuable you are to the company.
We're doing something new here on the Spherion Career Blog this month. In our own version of a "blog swap" - call it a blog swap with a twist - we've partnered with a compelling and respected blog, The Employee Factor, to address a timely and important topic for today's workers.
Together, we've compiled a list of five key tactics to "Recession-Proof Your Career." Over the next two weeks, each blog will post its own advice and guidance for each of the five strategies:
1. Make Your Value Visible
2. Work Smarter
3. Learn to Manage Your Boss
4. Become a Thought Leader
5. Make Yourself/Your Skills Transferable
Readers will benefit from two varying perspectives, and the expert insight from two of the industry's thought leaders. Stay tuned for the first in this series of exciting and valuable posts...
The nightmarish temp job ... we've all had them. Now you can relive every awkward, cringing moment with My Temporary Life, Spherion's original Web series based upon YOUR worst temping stories.
Spherion is an employer of choice to 300,000 individuals. We've been finding rewarding career opportunities and job experiences that prove a great match for individuals' skills and expertise for 60+ years.
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