Now’s NOT the Time to Wear a Scarlet “E”

“First it’s the free lunches, next it’s office supplies, and before you know it, they’ll be canceling the birthday gift cards too,” I overheard one employee complaining to several of his co-workers while they sipped their lattes in a local coffee shop this week. My immediate thought: Yep, he’s wearing a Scarlet E – be careful buddy.

Yes, according to Matthew Boyle’s article in BusinessWeek, companies of all sizes are cutting perks right now. Why? Because they are less drastic than what’s next. Goldman Sachs cut dinner allowances by five bucks, while Alcatel-Lucent grounded three Gulfstream jets. The article says even Google has cut hours at it’s free cafeteria and has cancelled afternoon tea. (I’m not kidding!)

The article goes on to say that companies actually have to assess what perks to cut based on how it will be perceived by the employees. Based on what I heard above, I guess they are right.

For all those workers who feel the way the coffee shop guy does, I caution you: Read more

Technorati Tags: BusinessWeek, CAREEREALISM, CareerJournal, careerrealism, perks, Scarlet E

Are You FUNGIBLE? (Hint: You Don’t Want to Be in Today’s Labor Market)

NOTE: This article was originally posted in September ’08. But given the amount of lay-offs occurring, we thought it worth re-posting.)

I just finished reading Business Week’s article entitled, “Management by the Numbers,” in which they review how IBM has been building mathematical models of its own employees with an aim to improve productivity and automate management.

I’ll let you read it and draw your own conclusions, but I have to mention a new workplace term I learned that they’re using over at IBM these days. Fungible is a word used to describe workers who are “virtually indistinguishable from others” in terms of the value of their contributions in the workplace. Read more

Technorati Tags: career advice, career identity, fungible, IBM, job search, management, numerati, organizational development, personal brand

CAREEREALISM TV – Job Searching in a Recession

This week, author, career strategist and nationally syndicated advice columnist, J.T. O’Donnell, and her co-host, UNH senior, Greg Barrette, discuss the hard reality of finding a job in a recession.

ATTENTION College Students and Recent Grads: College teaches you everything EXCEPT how to get the job. This program is for anyone who wants to learn how to find career success in today’s troubled economy.

Here are some of the things they discuss:

Reality Check – Things you should NEVER do in an interview.

Special vs. Unique – Why you aren’t the first, but you are the second.

Trickle-down Effect – How older workers are taking jobs from younger workers.

Credit Card Debt – Dos & Don’ts – When to invest in yourself using plastic.

Internships - The one thing that can get you a job in a bad economy.

How to Make People Think You Don’t Deserve Your College Degree (Common Rookie Mistake)

Jim was a typical college grad today. Smart, resourceful, and pretty savvy on the computer. He was enthusiastic and eager to learn. Everyone who interviewed him at his current employer had agreed he was the right candidate for the job. His first few months at his new job were great. He found the work interesting and his co-workers and manager encouraged him to share his thoughts and provide ideas and input for improving their projects. In Jim’s mind, his career was starting off nicely. But then…. Read more

Technorati Tags: advice, career, CAREEREALISM, job, professional, promotion, search, work, Workplace Advice

Don’t Want Management’s Job? That’s Okay, They Don’t Think You’re Right for It

Two weeks ago, BusinessWeek, offered some interesting survey results in reference to Bosses Day which was celebrated nationwide on October 16th. (What, you didn’t get the memo?) One was from national staffing firm, Adecco, which says 69% of 1500 employees surveyed said they wouldn’t want their boss’ job if offered to them. The reason why? The ‘pressure to have all the answers’ was listed as a main concern, but I’m here to tell you the real reason – and more importantly, why your boss might not want to offer you a management position anyways. Read more

Technorati Tags: adecco, advice, boss, bosses day, career, job, management, randstad, strategy, work, Workplace Advice

Great Mentors: Get Inside their Heads

One of the career columns I enjoy is Heather Huhman’s Entry-level Career Examiner. Heather does some serious homework on all sorts of career development and job search topics. Her style is smart and direct – it’s definitely worth reading regularly.

Her article, Tweeting Your Way to a Job (or Internship), is a great follow-up read to our video S.H.O.T. on how to use Twitter to get mentors.

CLICK HERE to learn how Read more

Technorati Tags: advice, career, internship, job search, mentor, T.A.P. (Twitter Advice Project), work