We’ve all been there at least once in our life. Caught in a job that just wasn’t the right fit for us (it may have been not such a good fit for anyone else either).
A number of people have pointed me toward this manifesto, and I just got around to starting it. I had to stop once I read the section on managers, because I was giggling too hard. I’ve encountered Manager 3 (or variations upon) more times than I can count. In fact, I now keep a log of my own activities at any job I take just to have some kind of back-up.
I’ll probably work on reading the rest of the manifesto this weekend, and maybe I’ll have something intelligent to say on the whole thing.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers at 8:22 AM EST
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After two weeks of battling sinusitis, I have now succumbed to the flu. Since I have little better todo than sit here quietly drinking horrid-tasting flu medicine and watching movies, I thought I’d work on some projects, like reading through my backstore of links that potentially need to be blogged.
It’s kind of funny. When I started blogging last year, I just wanted to through information somewhere where i could find it, and where others who might find it intersting could find it. I never really expected much of an audience. Then, I started thinking about wanting to try to start a business along one of my lines of knowledge, and then I wanted my blogs to be a part of that, playing a supporting role. Since then, i’ve had the worst time trying to find my voice and shape it to go the direction I think I want to go.
I was rather comforted last week as I was catching up on some reading to discover that I’m not the only one feeling this way. I don’t have anywhere near the readership she does, but knowing that there are others thinking about the same things kind of gives a strange sense of strength and support.
Posted by Rebecca as Freelancing at 10:20 AM EST
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I’m of the opinion that a woman needs to have her own personal people for certain things. So far, my list includes a hairdresser (which I need to find here in my new town of residence), a travel agent (not an online one, but one who can find you that great hidden discount on a trip to Greece in the middle of the summer. This would also be someone I need to find for my own personal circle), a masseuse (I need to find one of these, too.)
I have toyed in the past with adding a headhunter or agent to the lsit, and now I think I’m ready to. Combing the internet job boards has turned up little, and my friends understand my skills very vaguely so they end up findig job openings and asking me if I think I would fit (and yes, I am very grateful to have friends who try so hard to help me find my right fit in the business world). The happy thing in all of this is that I have foound some places who have looked at my reusme, seen it as being full of great experience and potential, but not being able to make it fit within their own company’s culture.
I spent some time this weekend looking at some of the resume distribution services recommended by some of the job boards and career newsletters I like to read to see if any of them might be useful. The first problem I ran into with the three I was researching was a lack of outside information on the three. I could find where places have said, "This is a resume distribution service. They paid for us to put their ad here," but I couldn’t find anything beyond that. I found one review for one of them, but it was two years old. My faith is non-existent.
I have tried to contact the local staffing agency that focuses on education, but they have ignored every phone message and email. I’m thinking it may be time to brush up my resume, grab my portfolio, and march myself right into their office.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers at 8:27 AM EST
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In a number of my readings, I keep seeing advice for entrepreneurs to create a workspace in their home. The advice is nearly always the same: Create a home version of your old office, complete with a closeable door. Entrepreneurs are advised to have a desk with a computer, a phone with a separate line, and to keep 8-5 business hours where they are not allowed to deal with anything work-related.
That’s great if you’re the type of person who can work in that kind of structure, but what happens if you are someone who left the corporate world to be able to work in a non-office structure? This replicated office would drive you just as insane as the corporate office did, and the chances are good you’d be just as unhappy.
I’m one of those who has never been comfortable stuck behind a desk. It probably stems from years of doing homework sprawled out on a bed or the floor and watching cartoons or listening to music. So when i create my own personal workspace, the chances are good that there’s a small desk tucked away to one side and there’s a lot of space to spread out and work in. I like to keep some kind of noise and scent going, too. It completely flies in the face of all this advice, but it’s amazing how much more I get accomplished hunched over a wire jig on a coffee table while watching a movie than I do in a cubicle straining desperately to make my chair stay at the height I need to be at to view my computer screen without straining with no more noise around me than the chatter of other cubicle prisoners or office equipment.
I think a number of people leave the corporate world because they find the physical structure suffocating, but come across this advice and create a replica of the workspace that contributed to their initial unhappiness. Fine. Follow the recommendations and create this space initially, but don’t be afraid to make changes to the space to help facilitate your productivity. You might be surprised to find that you work best sitting on a bean bag at a coffee table, back against a wall, light jazz playing softly in the background, and working only 30 hours a week.
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 10:17 AM EST
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From MAPP
Here’s the paradox: networking is by far the best way to learn about other
companies and new job opportunities, but few job seekers want to do it.
The main reasons include:
- Shyness
- Introversion
- Being uncomfortable talking to strangers
If you can relate to any of these reasons, then I have a tip for you: Play to
your strengths. Chances are you’re a good listener. Capitalize on that.
Develop a strategy that gets the other person talking while you listen. You
can do that by creating and memorizing five good questions.
These questions can’t be answered with a Yes or No. They are questions that
everyone has an answer to, and allow the other person to talk easily about
themselves. Here are some examples:
- What kind of work do you do?
- How did you get into that field?
- What do you like most about it?
- What do you find most challenging?
- What would make your job easier?
- What are the big challenges facing your company in the next two years?
By having these questions memorized you will not feel like you will run out
of things to talk about, because your conversation partner will do most of
the talking, and you can use your listening skills. Periodically reflect
back to them what you hear, and ask follow up questions. If you do, two
things will happen.
First, the more they talk, the more they think you are terrific. Second,
they will invariably ask how they can help you. That’s the graceful opening
that allows you to ask about companies or job openings.
Posted by Rebecca as Networking at 6:10 PM EST
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Today at lunch, a new chef in our "cafe" was handing out cookies to anyone wiling to fill out a survey for her. Actually, you got the cookie regardless (or in one gentleman’s case, an apple).
Her pitch was really caught my attention, though. I was just offered free cookies for Valentine’s Day and then she asked if I’d mind filling out the survey. I took it. smailed graciously, and paid for my food. To the person behind me, though, she opened with, "Do you have a few minutes for honesty?"
It just struck me because one of my biggest complaints with my current job is the lack of honesty present. This is a job where trust is crucial and honesty the best answer to any problem, yet we are asked to avoid or minimize the truth wherever possible. By our leads. By our managers. We are asked to disassociate ourselves from the truth. I’m a rebel, I still apply as much honesty as possible, even though it has made me an outcast from my team. But you know what, at least I can face my reflection in the mirror at the end of the day.
A little dash of tactful honesty can resolve so much. Do you have a few minutes for honesty?
Posted by Rebecca as Responsibility at 1:01 PM EST
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I was initially going to dismiss this manifesto on managing smart people, but I had a lull at work today, so I decided to read it.
I was so surprised and glad that i had decided to read it. This “manifesto” is full of great information on managing people to get the best level of productivity and creative thought. I found myself wishing I had managers who had read this and put it to use. So much of what Scott Berkun has to say is so very, very true.
If you don’t subscribe to the Change This newsletter, you might consider it. Some of the manifestos are a bit out there, but some of them, like this one, are actually worth reading.
Posted by Rebecca as Skill building at 7:28 AM EST
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We’ve all done it at least once in our professional lives, but there is no faster way to screw up an interview opportunity for yourself than to arrive unprepared. Depending on the interview, I typically look for information on the company right after I set up the interview (provided I didn’t do it before I sent in my resume), arrive fifteen to thirty minutes before my interview time, and bring my resume and/or portfolio. (Without a printer, bringing a resume anywhere has not been possible.)
In fact, it’s often amazed me how many times the interviewer has been upwards of thirty minutes late and had a stack of papers that included everything but my resume.
This great post from Subtraction really does a great job of making a point of the impression you make when you come prepared, and includes a list to help you prepare for your next interview.
I’m even becoming better at the follow-up, even for those interviews that went absolutely horridly.
Posted by Rebecca as Changing careers at 6:35 AM EST
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Between the demands on my time and energy at work and fighting off various illnesses over the past week, I either haven’t been posting or have been posting very briefly. I hope that will change this week as I fight off the last bits of a sinus infection.
Being so sick and stressed out lately has actually been kind of nice in that it has given me some time to think over some entrepreneurial ventures I’ve had rolling around in my head for a while, and to work on some projects that I just haven’t had the time to work on. I’ve even had time to needle people who have pledged to help me in some fashion or another into making good on those agreements.
Anyway, in looking through some of my entrepreneur resources, I came across this list of great tips from Entrepreneur.com. I’ll be keeping this handy while I’m working on these ventures.
Found via Dane Carlson
Posted by Rebecca as Entrepreneurship at 12:11 PM EST
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Some of you may remember that I collect interesting business names, something I haven’t been able to work on lately due to the demands on my time and energy. Apparently, I’m not the only one who likes to engage in this past time. The lovely folks over at MYOB have compiled a list of business names that have successfully accomplished their intended goals. I’m rather fond of My Family’s Nuts, but I suspect that’s just because it reminds me of home.
Posted by Rebecca as Naming at 11:52 AM EST
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