3Gen

The End.

2009-12-15T17:07:00.006-05:00

By Kate Levinson

It’s the season for endings, I suppose.

I just turned in my last paper and did my last presentation of the semester.

In just over two weeks, I’ll have to cross out and correct the “2009” I’m sure I’ll still be writing on things long after the year is over.

And 3Gen will be taking a little vacay. (Don’t cry.)

Sometimes endings are good (see No. 1, above). Sometimes they’re bad. Usually they lead to some kind of beginnings. But no matter what, I try not to ignore them. Because as nice as it sometimes is to make transitions seamlessly, I think it’s pretty darn important to pause and reflect and plan and just think.

So I’m challenging you to take a few minutes – after finals, please – to think about where you’ve been and where you’re headed. (And don’t forget where you are now!)

I know I’ll be doing it. Because I want to remember that this semester was the busiest, most exhausting, most challenging and most educational of my life—and that I didn’t have a single throw-my-hands-up-and-melt-down moment (shockingly).

I want to remember that 2009 was a blur of a year packed to the brim with learning about public health and journalism and government and life.

I want to recognize that I now have a much-needed few weeks to relax, regroup and be thankful (oh, and go on a Caribbean cruise – should be mandatory for all Minnesotans). To spend time with family and friends. To feel all warm and fuzzy and bake cookies and dip stuff in chocolate. To get my money’s worth from Netflix.

And I want to be excited about the BIG stuff not so far ahead of me: a thesis, a capstone project, just a few more classes. And, my god, 2010 is the year I graduate from grad school. It’s the year I have to find a big-girl job. It’s the year I might move away from Minnesota, or stay and buy a home or run away to Fiji. No matter what, it’s going be a big, crazy, exciting year, and I want to just sit on the edge of that and squeal with delight (and, undoubtedly, stress) before it all unfolds.

Yeah, I might make some New Year’s resolutions and all that good stuff, too, just because it seems like I should. But sometimes I think taking a few breaths and doing some good old general reflection where ends and beginnings crash into each other is the best strategy there is. Try it.

Good luck with finals, everyone, and have a great winter break! (Don’t those of you in the Real World so miss that?)

Happy holidays, and a big, fat CHEERS to 2010!

Photo by donabelandewen

My secret: How I found THREE jobs

2009-12-08T10:03:00.007-05:00

By Ken Siegal

Don't stop me if you've already heard this. It's all about how I got hired -- three times. And maybe it'll work for you.

In my senior year in college (as a journalism major), one of my classmates was interning at a small weekly newspaper. She came begging one day, because she was responsible for filling the pages with content -- any content -- and wouldn't be choosy about what it was.

Several of us pitched in, dashed off some stories, features, columns (I wrote one poking fun at the governor and lieutenant governor -- really easy targets) -- whatever we could think of. They were all published (desperation breeds insanity), and she was off the hook.

A few weeks later, she came back to class and handed me a letter sent to the newspaper from the Lt. Governor's office. Gulp!

It turns out that this was one politician with a good sense of humor, and he wanted to congratulate me for writing such a great column. And he wrote it on official, gold-embossed stationery.

After graduation, when my job-hunt finally led to an interview, the hiring manager opened my portfolio of clips and looked at the top one -- a letter of congratulations from the lieutenant governor on official stationery. And guess who ended up getting the job? That was job #1.

I worked there for several years, learned a lot, made a lot of friends. And guess what -- I heard from one of them about a better position at another company. He arranged an interview, and guess who ended up getting the job? That was job #2.

So for several years, I worked, learned, friended, and guess what? (Is this getting boring for you?) A former colleague told me about an opening for a better job at his new company. Applied, interviewed, got the job.

OK, so I was really lucky, no question. But it wasn't all about luck -- it was actually all about networking. Colleagues and friends recommended me, and I recommended them. The network you build starting out grows and grows, and opportunities grow with them. At least I think so.

And why am I telling you this now? Because it's the holiday season, and there's probably no better time to network and renew relationships.

Does holiday networking make sense to you, or should that wait until next year, when you're back on the job-hunting clock?

Photo by Kevin Marks

Just when you think you can apply in your sleep...

2009-12-04T12:28:00.011-05:00

By Kate Levinson

It’s not my favorite way to spend an evening, but I’ve cranked out enough cover letter-résumé-(sometimes) references combos in my day that I have it more or less down to a science.

So imagine the shock to the system when I come across application instructions that switch out the cover letter for things like skills inventories and accomplishment record narratives. Come again?

In my field (fields?) of public health and/or communication, this type of thing is pretty wacky for a straight-up job. But to apply for fellowship, internship or other special programs, it’s much more common. Especially, I’m learning, in government agencies.

And I’m also learning that I do not have this part of applying for stuff down to a science. I find it much easier to talk about my experiences and what they’ve taught me than I do to straight-up write about my skills. To me, it feels awkward and has been incredibly humbling…as in, I feel completely unqualified and stupid for even applying by the time I get to the end of the application!

Maybe that’s the point? They’re trying to weed out the weak? :-)

Have you had experience with these somewhat atypical (to me) application formats? Are they common in your field? How do you plow through them successfully—without bursting into tears?

It's just not the way we've always done it

2009-12-01T10:09:00.008-05:00

By Ken Siegal

Who hates progress? Your company, of course! And just about every other company, too. Here's how I know this:

When CD drives first became available on PCs, many companies refused to buy them -- concerned that employees would become less productive (listening to music), and what practical purpose could a CD serve, anyway? Internet connections -- same thing. Playground stuff.

So does this sound a lot like (some) companies don't trust their trusted employees? That's nothing, though. I used to work at a company where the managers were required to walk around at 9 am to verify that every employee was in place, and at 5:15 p.m. a security guard started walking around, flicking off the overhead lights. I really miss those days (sigh!).

What were they thinking? For one thing, it was clear that micromanagement was ruling their employee strategy. If you were sitting at your desk from 9 to 5 every day with no distractions, then your superiors could be sure you were doing a good job. Or were you?

On the flip side, I worked for a company that had totally flexible hours and days of work. There were days for scheduling meetings, and days (and nights) for straight-on work, no meetings. Success was measured by outcomes -- if you and your team delivered, you were successful. Issues were expected to crop up as part of the project, and were tackled without any high drama.

Now if this isn't what your workplace is like, and it probably isn't, there's a lot of room for change. One possibility is to work out a small team pilot program to tackle one or two projects in a different way. It may help if you're able to provide your manager with ongoing written status updates -- it'll make it easier for your manger to manage upwards. Beyond that, you have to build your own program with your own rules.

But be confident, as I am, that the workplace of tomorrow will look nothing like the workplace of yesterday. And wouldn't you prefer to be building, rather than maintaining?

What's your workplace like? And what would you like it be?

photo by wili hybrid

Survivor 2010: Next challenge -- itchy feet

2009-11-24T13:39:00.004-05:00

By Ken Siegal

Humor me for a minute. Let's say:

a) we're able to see the beginning of the end of the recession (you promised you wouldn't laugh). Now let's say

b) you work for a company which has had to tighten its belt over the past year or so -- laying people off, freezing hiring, freezing pay raises and bonuses, freezing promotions.

Does any part of this sound familiar to you? OK, next let's do some algebra: a+b=c, where "c" equals you wanting to be doing something other than what you're currently doing. Is "c" a mathematical possibility for you?

It certainly is for a lot of people, and a Wall Street Journal article raised this same question -- from the other perspective, of course. What can businesses do to keep their best people (that's you!) from leaving once there are new opportunities available? The article points out that many companies weeded out their "weaker players" during the hard times. Now they're concerned about losing the survivors.

And they should be (concerned)! Historically, it's not unusual for top performers in any company to jump ship sooner, rather than later, as the job climate shifts back to (almost) normal. They see the opportunities sooner and clearer -- that's why they're the top performers.

OK, but maybe you're not a risk-taker, and you're not ready to do anything just yet. But what will happen when you see more movement -- both in your company, and others as well? Will you start getting itchy to move? What will it take to push you over the edge?

And what would it take to make you stay where you are?

Poll Update: We asked "What would keep you in your current job?" Results were evenly split between a raise and a promotion. Nobody mentioned company loyalty, and there was one vote for "Nothing on this earth".

photo by Sam Judson

Mastering the art of the backup plan

2009-11-20T18:00:00.005-05:00

By Kate Levinson

I fully admit to tending toward a type-A personality, but I really think there’s something to be said for having a plan B (and C, and maybe D, E and F, too) in work, school and life. I realize it can be a lot of planning for nothing if The Plan goes great the first time around—and, of course, I always hope it does—but if it doesn’t, which we know is pretty darn common, the lack of a backup plan can cause unnecessary panic, scrambling and allover stress.

And I’ve had a lot of chances for practice lately:

The Plan: To do my MPH master’s project (basically my thesis) on a very specific topic with a very specific connection and a pretty specific data collection and analysis plan.

The Problem: Logistics. Communication problems. Time, time, time. The fact that despite my fabulous school allows seven years for an MPH program, I would like to get out of there as soon as possible (read: I have senioritis).

Plan B: When things on my original project started smelling fishy, I started looking for other options. What I’m working toward now, fingers crossed, will end up to be a better, more manageable project that just happens to sit at the exact intersection of my interests.

The Verdict: TGFPB (thank god for plan B).

-----

The Plan: To get a way-cool part-time job at a way-cool company that just might have some way-way-way-cool full-time positions up for grabs right around the time I’ll be donning the ol’ cap-n-gown.

The Problem: Great conversations, great sort-of interviews, great (I thought) cover letter. Thinks looked good…until the company decided not to fill the position right now, for a good reason.

Plan B: After clicking “submit” on the application, I came up with all of the things I would do if I didn’t get the job—the most important of which cranking out a bunch of credits in the spring and finishing up both of my master’s programs and projects earlier than I’d planned.

The Verdict: TGFPB.

-----

The Plan: To run the Twin Cities Marathon like a champ (or, well, just to finish)!

The Problem: Injury. Which you may remember. ‘Nuff said.

Plan B: None. I was going to run, and I was going to finish, and it was going to be the best moment of my life. Duh.

The Verdict: I bawled. And moped. And moved on. And starting practicing a heck of a lot of yoga. And survived. But it was miserable for a while there—and I should have had a backup plan, even if it was a mental one.

-----

So I’m currently planning what to do if: another master’s project falls through, I can’t find a job after graduation, my right hip decides it only likes me if I’m not running—and about a million other things. Maybe it makes me crazy, maybe it makes me smart, maybe it’s a combination of the two. But having a Plan B always makes me feel better, especially when I end up using it.

Photo by gingiber

Walking the talk

2009-11-12T18:09:00.005-05:00

By Kate Levinson

I got all pumped up to blog – about something totally different than what follows – and brought a bag of jumbo marshmallows to the couch with me. As I popped a big fluffy thing in my mouth, then another, I realized how funny this scene would probably be to my public health classmates and professors, my running buddies, my fellow yogis, the 548 people who follow health_nutty on Twitter.

And, probably, you. (No judging on the marshmallows, by the way. I blame my mother for my strange sweet tooth. Hi, Mom.) But as I starting thinking – and laughing out loud – at the disconnect between someone who studies, lives and breathes health stuff shoveling marshmallows directly from bag to mouth, I realized it’s actually pretty common to not walk the talk.

Let’s face it: We know accountants with all kinds of credit card debt, hair stylists with terrible hair, event planners who can’t schedule their afternoon and public health students who eat marshmallows. Why can’t – or don’t – we practice what we preach?

I’m going to guess it’s because we’re burned out. Now I’m no financial planner, but I’m guessing if I was one the last thing I’d want to look at when I got home from work is my own bank statement. We put the vast majority of our energy into our careers, so when it comes down to it, we don’t have much left for ourselves. And I think it’s really sad that I could work my butt off all day trying to get people living in poverty the resources and education they need to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and then come home and have a frozen pizza for dinner.

Luckily, I think there are exceptions, and I had the immense pleasure of living one for a summer during college when I interned at a health and lifestyle magazine. We had a free gym and were encouraged to use it and ate in a mostly local, organic, highly subsidized cafeteria. We wrote about health and talked about health and lived health, and for some reason, all I wanted when I got home from work was to go for a long run and eat a big salad.

Do you walk your professional talk? What would make it easier?

Photo by Vali...

Interview fears and opportunities

2009-11-09T17:14:00.005-05:00

By Ken Siegal

First, and really encouraging -- several people I know who have been job-hunting have been landing interviews lately. Hopeful for these folks, hopeful sign for the economy.

But the question of how to "ace" an interview always comes up, especially because there are so many types of interviews and interviewers. There's a lot of good interview advice available, but let's start with some important, but easy things you can do:

1. Prep, prep, prep. You really need to know everything about the company that you're interviewing with -- who they are, what they do, how they do it. Anything you can't easily find out, consider that a question you should pop at the interviewer.

2. Defend without being defensive. If there's anything in your resume that's at all out of the ordinary, be prepared to talk about it. Maybe it's a question about being laid off, or a question a big project you said you coordinated. Again, prep, prep, prep.

3. Consider the opportunity. The questions (from a good interviewer, at least) will be designed to expose your strengths or weaknesses -- what have you been doing since the layoffs, other than job-hunting? Did the big project overwhelm you? Your answers will say something about how motivated you are, and your body language (as you digest and answer the question) will say a lot more about attitude.

A while back, after being caught up in some massive layoffs in the tech industry, I was in a second round of interviews with an interesting tech company. As we finished up, the interviewer told me something which stuck with me. He said that -- unlike most of the interviews he had been conducting with folks who had been laid off -- there was no tension, bad body language, no deer-caught-in-headlights feeling in the room. He said it felt like a couple of people just sitting there, talking normally, and it made him feel very comfortable (not a bad thing in an interview).

4. Leave an impression. Usually I hear that you're supposed to get the interviewer to talk as much as possible during an interview, which makes sense up to a point. Yes, you want to get a better feel for the job, the manager, the company, and yes, you want the interviewer to feel as comfortable as possible (who doesn't feel comfortable talking about one's self?) But the key is still to leaving an impression (hopefully positive).

If you don't make the hiring manager understand who you are and how you're different from all the other applicants, then you've likely missed your chance to get the job.

Keeping up when you're run down

2009-11-04T19:55:00.007-05:00

By Kate Levinson

Sorry to be MIA – I’ve spent the last week-and-a-half in a fog. Like that commercial where the (cartoon) woman has medicine head and her head lifts off like a balloon. Yep, whatever evil, nasty cold that’s been going around finally caught me. And it was as described.

And while my Minnesota it-could-be-worse mentality still peeked through to some degree, I can think of few things less pleasant than basically not having a functional head for a week-and-a-half of grad schooling, working and Halloweening.

But there’s good news! I made note of my brilliant coping strategies to help you survive what’s bound to be a gross cold/flu/etc. season. Good luck (and wash your hands)!

Take advantage of couch time. I spent a whole lot of time chillin’ in my PJs, on the couch, with a box of Kleenex within arm’s reach—but my laptop wasn’t any farther away. Because I didn’t want to leave the house (felt like crap AND didn’t want to be a germ-spreading machine), I finally had the time and motivation…sort of…to just sit down and get all the tedious homework things I’d been avoiding done.

Be nice, and take one for the team. Especially with the H1N1 freak-outs going on, I found that people were very understanding of anything I had to cancel, miss, reschedule or adjust. My best strategy was being very nice and apologetic and really, really stressing the fact that I don’t want to get anyone else sick. Once people picture themselves in your shoes (see description above), they’re usually pretty quick to let you off the hook.

Suck it up. Now I realize resting is ideal, but sometimes that’s just not possible. So I—a usually super anti-medicine person—took my DayQuil every four hours, drank a lot of water and just pretended I wasn’t sick when I had to get something done. I admit to having a relatively miserable day at work, class and lab, but I did what I had to do and felt much less stressed out later knowing I didn’t miss anything.

But know when to let go. While I do believe in sucking it up to some degree, there are times you’ve just gotta let your body take over. For me, that meant sleeping a good 12 hours one day…then going back to bed a few hours later. It’s hard for me to let myself do it, but sleeping, relaxing and not trying to push a recovery can be the best medicine.

[Update on our user poll -- as expected, stay away from friends and family to avoid getting sick. And twice as many of you said work or school were the most likely sources of contagion.

[Unfortunately for you if you're reading this, an equal number picked "reading this blog" as the most probable way to contract the flu. Sorry! ]

Photo by blisschan

Is your future in the palm of your hand?

2009-10-29T11:54:00.003-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Do you hate or fear change? Most everybody does, it seems, unless they get to decide what changes. As a witness to change the other day, I was amazed to watch it happen. Here's what I saw:

I wandered into a small store when the store owner received a call from a customer. He and his wife had been shopping there several months earlier, spotted something they (meaning his wife) really liked and he wanted to buy it as a surprise.

Problem 1 -- he was in Tennessee, the store was in Maine. Problem 2 -- he had been in the store several months earlier, and it was kind of a stretch to believe that the shopkeeper would remember him, or what he was looking for. Problem 3 -- he was trying to describe the item over the phone, and the store owner had a number of similar items.

The shop owner's solution? She took a few close-up photos with her iPhone, e-mailed them to the customer. He looked at the photos, decided which one he wanted. They talked, they haggled, they negotiated a price over the phone. She took care of the credit card transaction online, and promised the gift would be shipped out that afternoon.

Now a couple of things came to mind immediately. First, once you see it done, it seems like such an obvious solution. But the reality is that this shop owner was really smart. She was willing to push herself to find new ways to make the transaction actually happen. And it did work. And it was the first time she had ever done it, she told me afterward.

Second, she discovered a creative solution that could generate (there's that word again) a whole new way of doing business. Watching her, I was struck by what she did -- so easily -- and how difficult it is for many of us to make that leap. I'm not just talking about technology, but about learning how to adapt.

Every time I've ever changed schools or jobs or cities, there have been new problems, new challenges, but also new opportunities. Obviously this shop owner learned something about how to problem-solve in a new way.

What about you -- what's changed for you lately?

photo by Pink Sherbert Photography

Learning to take it down a notch

2009-10-23T12:54:00.003-04:00

By Kate Levinson

Kate, what are you going to do with yourself when you're not in school/not so busy/not juggling so darn much stuff?

I've heard that question a lot lately -- mostly in a more-or-less-joking way -- and I have to admit it's kind of nice to daydream of a day, seven months from now (OK, OK, probably more than that with the big "T" -- thesis) when I will have no commitments whatsoever. Other than maybe a job, but that's no biggie.

At the same time, I usually pop out of the daydream and break into a cold sweat when I think about not having a mile-long to-do list every single day, to not use every last second from the time I wake up (too early) to the time I go to bed (too late).

And then I find myself counting, adding: Well, if I get home from a job around 6 p.m., I could go work out until 7. Make dinner, eat it, it's at least 8. Watch some TV, I guess, until 9 or 9:30. Then maybe some Internet time until 10. Then play with the dog? Have a snack? Wait for a respectable time to go to bed? Will I be bored out of my mind? And god forbid I have no plans for the weekends!

This is going to be one heck of a transition for me. Good thing I have plenty of time before it happens...

What do you do with your non-work time? How did you learn to relax after college, grad school, a million-hours-a-week job?

Gen Y doesn't really exist, Gen X, either -- here's why

2009-10-19T14:55:00.031-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Trying to stay out of the debate about different generations in the workplace (or anywhere!) is like trying to walk out of quicksand. I stepped in it again the other day. So here's my considered response -- Gen Y: there's no such thing. Gen X: a myth. Baby Boomers: a blip.

Really -- do you want to hang your identity on a label that somebody slapped on your back when you weren't looking? If you do, here are some of the common traits attributed to Gen Y:

trend-conscious
Idealistic, optimistic, and flexible
Socially responsible; particularly concerned about the environment
Very comfortable with technology; like to multi-task
Have a hunger for feedback and rewards

Likewise, for Gen X, you'll see none of those characteristics. Instead, substitute:

Cynical,
Media savvy
Individualistic and self-reliant
grew up during economic downturn
work ethic

So let's dump the term "generation" -- just for a minute. Let's say instead that you've been out of school for 2 years. OK, do you have that picture?

Now, let's think 12 years out of school. What's changed? Do you still frequent Taco Bell for your dinner? Do you still make the same mistakes on the job, and off the job?

All right, leap through time another 10 or 20 years.
Do you have a longer view of careers, family, politics, work ethic, important technology vs. gadgets?

I'm betting you do, and that it has continued to change and mature you, and will continue to do so. I'm also betting that this difference in maturity levels is what causes generational friction. Sometimes, you want to learn from other people's mistakes, and not repeat them. And sometimes you want to make your own mistakes.

I say again -- Gen Y doesn't exist. People do exist at a different level of maturity, people who have learned different things, perhaps, from others' mistakes. Perhaps from yours.

You can agree with me if you wish. But if you disagree, you run the risk that I'll decide that you don't exist, either.

Tell me off, if you think I'm wrong.

Photo by Ha-wee

P.S. Speaking of levels of maturity, I was fascinated by some major trending topics on Twitter this past weekend -- #balloonboy and #Sue Sylvester (look it up!) as well as #bostonisbetter. Doesn't this sound like "normal" times?

Another jobless face...well, two

2009-10-16T11:34:00.003-04:00

By Kate Levinson

Did anyone happen to see this story in the New York Times a week ago? It's a long, detailed piece about a set of twins who are living in NYC and -- surprise, surprise -- having a helluva time finding jobs.

They're not dumb girls. They have journalism degrees, went to Rutgers. They work their social and professional networks and try to make their applications memorable. They spend all hours of the day and night searching for jobs.

But they graduated 17 months ago, have applied for 150 jobs and have had, you guessed it, zero interviews. One twin works as a bartender a few nights a week, the other picks up random work, like filling in for a dog-walker. It sounds pretty rough -- and typical.

What did y'all think about the profile? Seem pretty accurate to those of you job-hunters? What else do you try when you think you've tried everything?

Vampire Resumes, and other career advice

2009-10-13T09:55:00.006-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Sharing some Twitter conversations (in my Twitter alias -- ExperienceLive) with resume experts from around the country lately has been illuminating for me, since the topic of what makes or unmakes a great resume is like a bad traffic accident -- you just can't turn away.

Some of the "controversial" resume advice that I saw:

one-page vs. two-page resumes (it depends)
functional vs. chronological resume (it depends)
objective vs. personal brand statement (it depends)
not enough vs. too much information (it depends)
hard skills vs. soft skills (both)
keywords (yes)
expertise, not responsibilities (yes)
love of iguanas (no -- please, no!)

A few things are pretty clear -- there's a lot of confusion and a lot of differing opinions out there about resumes, how they should look, what should be included or excluded. How do I know this, personally?

True story -- I met with some members of a respected outplacement firm a while back, and they analyzed and helped me revise my own resume. Here's the kicker, though. After the first meeting with one analyst, I revised my resume exactly as she suggested.

The next day, I met with a second analyst, who also recommended that I revise a number of items. Fascinating, since I showed him the version with the changes I had made based on the first analyst's advice. More fascinating, since many of his recommendations involved deleting or changing some of the items suggested by analyst #1. (Note: afterwards, I went back to my original resume -- sometimes you just have to trust yourself!)

OK, aside from the question of who is really an expert, here's an alternate question: how much do you really know about good resume writing? After a lot of conversations about resumes and other things, I've concluded that most people -- regardless of the amount of career experience -- know more about Vampires than about resumes. And, despite its lack of depth in career guidance, you're probably far more interested in seeing a new vampire movie (Vampire's Assistant opens next weekend) than a webinar on resume writing.

What about you, where do you get your resume advice from? Career experts or Vampires?

[Vampire Poll update -- friends and experts tied for sources of resume advice. Twitter came in next, and Vampires did score 1 vote (let us know how you did with a Vampire-approved resume, OK?)]

photo by wonderferret

Distractions across generations

2009-10-09T00:53:00.005-04:00

By Kate Levinson

I [usually] do [more or less] my best to stay focused on work when I'm at work--but I'm gonna go ahead and admit that it happens with varying degrees of success. (And I say a silent little prayer of thanks each day that Facebook is blocked; if it wasn't I'm sure my record would be worse.)

There are a million distractions out there, calling to me. I'm a student, a volunteer, an athlete, a blogger, a daughter, friend, girlfriend, dog mom, so who knows when I might get an important email, right? So Gmail often hangs out open on my computer, just in case. With Gmail comes the awful temptation of Gchat. And then there's Twitter, which I can justify as a source of news and information, as I do follow a ton of public health and government agencies that are legitimately relevant to my job. I'm taking a couple of online classes this semester, and I sometimes do homework over lunch--but of course then I sneak a little peek at the discussion boards now and then to see if anyone's responded to my posts. And the list goes on.

Don't get me wrong--I get my work done, well, on time. I would never sacrifice the quality or promptness of my work so I could shop for shoes online.

And, please, employers, don't get upset with me for saying this, but I actually think taking a few minutes here and there for non-work-related stuff makes me more productive. I swear. My brain honest to god burns out after staring at the same page for an hour. If I take three minutes to check my email and Twitter and then go back to it, I'm usually way better off than if I'd powered through with a drained brain.

So my question: Is this a Gen Y thing? We've grown up with the technology of distraction, and we're used to multitasking and juggling and wrapping together work and play until we don't even know what's what anymore.

But, in a generally "older" workplace, I sometimes feel like the young, dumb, slacker intern who can't do her work because she's checking to see if maybe, just maybe, IT screwed something up and accidentally unblocked Facebook for the day. Or maybe I just don't know what everyone else is up to when they appear to be working feverishly for eight hours straight.

Do Gen Xers welcome these little distractions, too? If so, are they in the same form?

Boomers, how about you?

Am I going to get fired?

Photo by Gauldo

Who's looking at your wall?

2009-10-06T09:21:00.006-04:00

By Ken Siegal

A classic Facebook question -- addressed in a NY Times blog post -- asked the question, what to do if your boss sends you a FB friend request. It's awkward, because you want to keep your private space, well, private. But, this post asks, what to do if you also don't want to offend your boss (never a good idea, particularly these days) by declining?

Good, no, GREAT question. The blog suggested several things. One of these was setting up specific privacy lists on Facebook to control who sees what. Other ideas ranged from sending a polite note while declining the invitation to the idea of suggesting LinkedIn to your boss as a more professional alternative.

Are all these ideas good solutions? Yes, but I think they don't address the bigger issues. Social networks have evolved so quickly that most people have to struggle to deal. The first big site -- Friendster (anyone remember that?) just made its presence known about six or seven years ago. Now, people struggle to juggle FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace and Skype in their private lives. As more businesses try to reach a certain demographic, their use of all of these (well, maybe not Friendster -- sorry Friendster fans) is increasing.

We're constantly writing about being careful what you have on your social network pages -- especially if you're job-hunting. Prospective employers are always interested in the person behind the resume, and are smart enough to check your network pages to find out what you're really like.

A lot of people are outraged by this, and understandably so. One of our posts last year addressed this very issue. But I suspect some things have changed.

Yes, online networking has become such an integral part of our society, and especially the workplace (or the work hunt), that it has turned into a real dilemma -- both ethically and functionally. I think that there continues to be a gray line between work and private life (which I think is the same line you cross every time you work late, or on a weekend, or check email on vacation).

Should your employer stay off your wall?

Photo by avlxyz

Rockin' the 'rents' basement

2009-09-29T17:21:00.002-04:00

By Kate Levinson

The 18th birthday used to commemorate a separation from our families and an expectation of self-sufficiency. As more people began to attend college, that became a similar marker of adulthood.

Now, when we graduate from college, I think most of us (and our parents!) hope that we'll be able to get a decent-paying job that will at least allow us to have some kind of housing, get started on those student loans and maybe--maybe--finally let Dad off the hook with the cell phone bill. (Yeah...I'm still workin' on that one...) But does that really happen?

More and more often, the answer is a resounding no. And the economy sure doesn't make it any more likely--or even remotely possible for recent college grads struggling to find jobs in their fields in this crappy job market.

Basically, we're worse off than we were a decade ago, according to a recent study on young workers (18-34) commissioned by a federation of labor unions.

Check out the highlights:

1 in 3 young workers lives with his or her parents
1 in 3 is uninsured
1 in 4 earn less than their monthly bills; only 1 in 3 earn enough to pay pills and save some
1 in 2 doesn't have a retirement plan

Just over half of respondents are hopeful about their economic future--compared to three-quarters ten years ago.

What do you think? Are you hopeful, nervous or both? Are things as bad as this makes them sound? How are your friends doing in these crappy times?

Photo: Lara604

Giving Up or Giving In or Moving On or Why I Spent Saturday Face-Down on the Living Room Floor

2009-09-24T08:45:00.008-04:00

By Kate Levinson

I think, by now, you get the idea that I'm a Very Busy Girl. If you think I wake up early, juggle work and school and life constantly all day, go to bed late and start all over the next morning, you would be correct. And I like to think I make it look easy--or, at the very least, not nearly as hard as it is. So if I had you fooled, great! :)

But I want to be honest about two things: 1) Sometimes it really sucks. And 2) Usually No. 1 doesn't really matter. I've done a lot of thinking--and unintentional learning--about the importance of moving forward lately. The more crucial it feels to me, the more anti-human-nature I think it is.

Now we can debate all day about the pros and cons of growing up with a psychologist for a father, but overall, I didn't find it too scarring. Except for one thing that I still hear in my head, in his voice, that used to absolutely drive me up the wall: Press the 'clear' button. "Kate, just press the 'clear' button and move on." Don't necessarily forgive or forget--or maybe do--but for god's sake move on from this, and do it quickly.

Fast forward, like, 15 years to this past Saturday. (I wish I had a picture of this to share.) I'm in my running clothes, lying face-down on the living-room floor, my face smashed into the carpet. Wailing. All. Day. Long. Yes, I'm serious. I had just returned from a very painful, approximately 23-second run, which had just sealed the deal: The marathon I'd been training for for months, my first marathon ever, the one that was just two weeks away, was not going to happen. At least not if my hip had anything to do with it...and, unfortunately, it does.

I spent a few hours on the floor. Then a few more standing like a cow, staring at nothing. Then some more wailing, a 9-1-1 call to my dad--who, thank god, did not say a word about the damn "clear" button. Luckily, I eventually got to it myself. I told myself all the very logical reasons why not running a marathon at the moment is a reasonable, smart decision that doesn't make what I've already accomplished any less valuable or rewarding, yadda, yadda, yadda. And then I moved on. Really. Just like that.

I've gotten a lot better at it over the past few years (unfortunately, from experience). Maybe it's just because I don't have the sheer time to deal with things that won't really matter a week or a month or a year from now. But for whatever reason, I can make a mistake at work, apologize profusely with a big smile and get on with making up for it. Or I can get chewed out for someone else's mistake and basically do the same thing. In school, I can bomb an assignment and focus on the next one. And, in life in general, I'm figuring out how to see mistakes for what they are, figure out how to make sure they don't happen again, then move the heck on.

Is it a survival skill? Maybe. For my sanity? Definitely. And, with my schedule, a time-saver more than anything? Absolutely. Moving forward is much more efficient than staying put or looking back. How's that for a line on the ol' resumé?

Photo: Mykl Roventine

Wait! Who are you calling a job-hopper?

2009-09-22T15:20:00.009-04:00

By Ken Siegal

How old is old? Apparently, not all that old, according to a friend. The bad part, though, is that it apparently makes you a bad risk.

[UPDATE: In a quick poll about employer attitudes to "overqualified candidates" you've told us -- 6 to 1 -- that you've seen this stereotyping happen before.]

Let me back up. A friend is "exploring new career directions" and was interviewing for a job in a different field, but one that was more junior in required experience. OK, but she was starting over, and was perfectly willing to do what it takes.

Cut to the interview. The hiring manager asked a few routine questions -- "why did you leave your last job?" (because they laid off half the staff?) And then asked the zinger -- "Why are you looking for something that you're overqualified for? Won't you just leave when the job market improves?"

So my friend is facing long-term unemployment in a field that's shrinking. She's interested in moving onto something new. She has a flawless track record, staying at each of her previous employers for several years. And she's staring across the desk at a hiring manager who equates her desire to bring HER work ethic to HIS company to that of a newbie, with no track record of loyalty. Sorry, but I really don't get it.

Until the job market tightened up, many young professionals saw job-hopping as the route to follow to sure-fire career success. Work for a year, maybe year-and-half at the absolute most, then jump to the next rung on the ladder. The HM (hiring manager) was ready to pass on my experienced friend (who had never jumped after a year) to hire a totally untested recent grad.

And that's what he did.

We're still shaking our heads, not comprehending the logic. (And we're trying to figure out where the line for age discrimination really lies). This, by the way is not the first time I've heard stories like this. So if anyone can enlighten me on how this makes sense, here I am. Please tell me. I'm not unsympathetic to recent grads, I assure you, but some hiring practices baffle me.

Photo by joi

Gimme back my brand! Now, please

2009-09-18T13:46:00.003-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Anybody else ever lose their brand? Did it hurt?

We lost our Twitter brand temporarily, thanks to some twhackers who made many people's avatars disappear, to be replaced by the default l'il tweety bird. Not the worst thing, but our ExperienceLive symbol is pretty distinctive, and we're proud of it (not to mention all the great info that gets tweeted every day -- check it out!), and want it back.

In a greater sense, though, brands -- whether corporate or personal -- have become pretty important in our marketing-driven society. So what, you say? What it means for you is that without your own personal brand, you could easily get passed over for a job or a promotion.

Simple example -- you're looking for a new job. Your resume shows off the brand you've built through things you've accomplished in work, organizations that you belong to, causes you've volunteered for, places you've gone and things you've studied. Doesn't matter if you're a recent grad or less recent. The point is that you can craft your resume and cover letter to show consistency, and to show why your brand makes you distinctive.

Or not. I've spoken with many recruiters over time, and they all say the same thing -- they're looking for someone who stands out from the crowd, not the play-it-safe, non-descript candidate. They're looking for somebody with a real brand.

I'm not telling you to make things up, and I'm not advocating that you present a shallow marketing image. If you don't think you need to sell yourself as somebody unique, somebody extraordinary, who can make a difference, then go ahead -- tell me I'm wrong! But you better have a good counter-argument ready for me if you do.

On a somewhat related note, congratulations to Jenna, a former contributor to this blog, who has just landed a new job at a new company with the title all marketing people secretly covet -- she's going to become the Director of Buzz. Yes!

Effing up

2009-09-14T17:44:00.001-04:00

By Kate Levinson

I got an interesting mass email last week from the coordinator of my summer internship program with The Government. She told The Interns, most of us in our 20s, about a conversation she had with a professor of public policy about generational differences in the workplace.

He, a baby boomer, argued that Gen Y-ers are terrified to make mistakes. As in, so scared we’ll avoid giving our opinions or going out on any sort of limb…or maybe even going near the tree.

She, a Gen X-er, argued that maybe it’s because boomers aren’t very tolerant of mistakes, that they don’t give the Y-ers the freedom—and forgiveness—to make mistakes freely in the name of learning and growth.

She asked our opinion, and I found it difficult to answer.

My gut reaction was to defend my generation. No! Of course we’re not scared of making mistakes! Then I thought, hmm, maybe it’s not a terrible thing to be scared of making mistakes. Yes! We are scared! And, definitely, those mean, mean baby boomers are being big and scary! Yeah!

But when I really thought about it, I realized that a) I don’t know if it’s as much a generational difference as a difference in where people are in their careers, and b) that I made too darn many mistakes to be classified as a scared-of-mistakes kind of person.

Don’t get me wrong—I hate screwing up. Like really, really hate it. Like beat-myself-up-over-it-forever hate it. Like play-everything-back-in-my-mind-and-list-all-the-moments-I-could-have-avoided-screwing-up-but-didn’t hate it. But I like to think that as I move forward in my career, two things will happen: I’ll eventually screw up less (I hope), and neither I nor anyone else will care as much if I do.

I don’t know that it matters so much that we’re Gen X or Y or Z—isn’t everyone just starting out their careers eager to please and in need of some good references?

More on my actual mistake-making to come. That’s much more exciting, I know. :)

Four Days, 40 Hours -- or 50 or 60?

2009-09-10T10:14:00.003-04:00

By Ken Siegal

I haven't been on vacation this week, but I am feeling the aftereffects of Labor Day. Which brings up a pretty popular topic -- four-day work weeks.

First, a definition (or at least my definition -- you do what you want). A four-day work week crams five or more days into four, with no reduction in total hours or loss of productivity.

For some companies, actually closing one day a week can mean an energy savings (we've talked about this before). For some employees, a savings in commuting time (PLUS a three-day weekend every week). The craziness starts as you decide whether a company stays open, but splits the fifth day among employees (e.g., some work on Friday, some on Monday). Then, employees -- are you used to working 10-hour days?

A little perspective -- I've worked four-day weeks in the past (also 3-day weeks and 6-day weeks, but those are stories for another time). I loved it, would love to do it again. But there is a concern now that didn't exist before -- a big concern in these days of fewer people working longer hours to increase productivity. How do you accommodate an increased workload as needed when you're already working 10 hours?

When we talk about transitioning to a flexible workplace (yes, it came up at a Labor Day barbecue), four-day weeks always pop up in the conversation. I don't know that it's really all that simple. And if you add in a season's worth of H1N1 virus decimating the workforce, we could be in for a lot of mixed ideas about how to keep a company going.

What's your best idea?

photo by tziralis

Day & Night

2009-09-08T22:38:00.005-04:00

By Kate Levinson

Yes, I realize 3Gen is dedicated to the working world.

No, I didn't get lost and end up on the wrong blog.

But, as you know, I was recently blessed with two weeks off from all that is the workplace -- and it was fabulous. (The vacay is soon-to-be over, though...as in, I'll be sitting at my desk in 11 hours.)

I...

- attended the Minnesota State Fair. Twice. And ate deep fried pickles-n-cream cheese. They were delicious.

- hosted some fabulous friends from Boston, who had much to learn about Minnesota culture and quirks.

- took many a great yoga class. Conquered crow pose. Sweated. A lot.

- ran 17 miles without stopping (and spent the rest of the day in shock).

- managed to totally avoid preparing for school in any way, shape or form.

- and did a lot of errands, lounging, dog-snuggling and bad-TV watching.

And it was lovely.

Now I'm headed back to school for one helluva semester (as usual), complete with 14 credits and starting a thesis. Courses on tap:

- Applied Research Methods

- Public Health Policy as a Prevention Strategy

- Ethics: Public Health Practice and Policy

- Community Building and Health

- Refugee Health: Trauma, Stress and Coping

- Online Media Creation and Design

- Population-Focused Assessment and Intervention (maybe! maybe not)

Sooo, there's a bit of a difference between those two lists, huh? A difference that's definitely feeding my regularly scheduled pre-semester meltdown, as I like to call it. A difference that made me wonder why I even bothered taking a couple weeks to chill out -- would it have been better to just power through? To not taste relaxation at all?

And then I think of those deep-fried pickles and realize I needed that calm before the storm. Bad.

I'll be back soon with more tales from the office...

My new Rolodex

2009-09-02T08:20:00.009-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Here's another one of those old technology tales. Once upon a time I had a clunky metal bin filled with index cards.You may remember them, some of you even owned one -- they were called Rolodexes. (No, not Rolex, Rolodex!)

The cards had all the pertinent business and/or personal information of everybody I had any reason to contact -- ever. The cards were attached to a spindle, arranged alphabetically and I could thumb through an entire life's history of people I knew from work, from home, the plumber, the plumber's kids' names, the DMV. If you had the private phone numbers of some of these people, they were worth their weight in gold.

At one point I had hundreds of cards, all neatly spindled. And then cheap electronic data came along, in the form of a Palm Pilot. I could take it anywhere, I could beam my info to another Palm user -- all kinds of cool things. Well, that evolved into my cell phone -- it doesn't have much in terms of people's work backgrounds, but I can always try to call folks I worked with six or seven years ago, and maybe they'll still have the same number. Maybe not.

In the past few weeks, the process of reconnecting with a lot of friends and former colleagues has made me realize -- isn't LinkedIn the new Rolodex? Not with phone numbers, but with so much else.

I can send email anytime from anywhere, and be sure they receive it. I can ask a lot of people at once for advice or other connections. I can see where the've worked or are working or went to school (much like the online Portfolio offered by our company, Experience.com). I can keep up with what people are doing, or what conferences they are attending, without having to wade through the Facebook adventures of the family dog.

So when people talk about LinkedIn becoming the online network for professionals, yes they're right. But I'm just happy to no longer carry around an 8-pound Rolodex.

What's your preference for staying organized -- Facebook or LinkedIn? Or a Rolodex?

Photo by TOKY Branding and Design

Balance, part two (or "How Gold Lamè Saved My Life")

2009-08-25T13:52:00.014-04:00

By Kate Levinson

Last week, I wrote about balance -- and I can't let it go quite yet. Right now, I'm conducting the ultimate experiment in balance. Or, maybe, the ultimate challenge. Or, I suppose, the ultimate balance boot camp.

Whatever it is, it's big: I have two weeks off. Like, really off.

No classes, no work. No major commitments. Just two weeks to organize, think and -- I hope -- relax (before all hell breaks loose and I'm back in school full time, working half-- you know, let's ignore that for now).

Granted, there's the mega to-do list I've been creating all summer in preparation for these two weeks. And the out-of-town visitors coming in to play. And the many, many miles waiting for me to run in the six weeks leading up to the Twin Cities Marathon.

But, for the most part, I have to wake up every morning and ask myself what I'd like to do with my day -- and trust me, that's hard to do when you're out of practice with it! So far, I apparently want to get things crossed off the to-do list, cook and run. Yoga is coming soon. Maybe (OK, probably) some chick flicks. An afternoon nap might be nice. I think I'll try being vegan?

My mind is so empty! It's amazing! Eventually I know I'll have to tackle some of the big thinking, decision-making, etc. that needs to happen in the next couple of weeks, but for now, it's so refreshing just to lounge around in a little bit of me-time.

And, of course, to have a mind-clearing adventure or two -- which I recommend to anyone whose plate is a little over-full. Mine, strangely, was in the form of an overstuffed Suburban, no sleep and some good ol' gold lamè.

Don't ask me why, but I spent the weekend running [my 20.6-mile share of] 195 miles through Wisconsin and Minnesota with a 12-person Ragnar Relay team. I learned a lot about running, stress and myself -- so behold, my ultimate stress-relief prescription:

Run 6.6 miles in a gold miniskirt around 2 p.m. in small-town Wisconsin...

Then run 6.8 miles, alone, at about 1 a.m. on a deserted Wisconsin road... And top it off with 7.2 very hot, hilly miles right around noon in Minnesota...

Do it all in '80s gear -- and put your friends in mullet wigs.
Cram everyone and everything into a Suburban.
Don't sleep for 40+ hours.
Buckle up and settle in for the ride.

Trust me, when you get back (and sleep) everything will look a little less stressful, more manageable and overall clearer.

Balance comes in all forms. What's yours?

Can you see me now?

2009-08-21T09:14:00.003-04:00

By Ken Siegal

I've been thinking about working remotely. No, no, don't give away my desk just yet, I'm actually talking about working with people who are nowhere nearby, which is an ever-growing trend these days.

We talk about this a lot, sometimes even face-to-face. In our office, we have a core group that shows up pretty much every day. But if Amy or Prashant or Katrina instant-message me, I don't always know whether they're at their desks one floor down, or at their desks at home. If Brian needs to attend a meeting, but is on the road, we'll Skype-video him in, and see/talk with him at his laptop "office".

Even my good buddy Kate, who I've known for a couple of years now, shares thoughts on email, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Yet she is a colleague who lives half the country away -- and we've never met, never even spoken on the phone.

Now I'm not going to go all retro on you, insisting that in the good old days (2007??) there was less remote interaction, and work/life was better. Nor am I going to say that the new version of the "virtual" workplace is ideal (have you ever phoned into a large meeting/conference call?) Things have changed, and we are all continuing to adjust in many ways -- partially because of the economy, partially because it's just a newer way of working.

I love that people are embracing some new ideas, and that others are working very hard at figuring out better ways to stay in touch -- at work, in the education community, so very many places. How you are figuring it out? Get in touch, let us know.

Photo by Kristin Wolff

In the bloghouse.

2009-08-18T16:32:00.003-04:00

By Kate Levinson

I got a one-liner email today from the one-and-only Ken, who 3Gen readers know well:

“Miss your 3Gen writings …. :)”

My first thought: Wow, I do, too!
My second thought: Crap.
My third thought: Ken is so nice. Who else would say get-your-blogging-butt-in-gear in such a nice way…with a smiley face?!

So first, to take care of No. 2 and No. 3 – I’m very sorry to readers and The Boss for slacking. It will never happen again (well, until the next time I have jobs, classes, training, life, etc. all piled up on top of me…which will probably be soon…but I will try much harder next time to stick a hand out of the top of the pile and type out a post…I promise). :)

Now, No. 1. I love writing for 3Gen – and I hate letting it slip through the cracks. But with my crazy-busy life, I’ve found things slip a lot more often than I’d like. Which brings me to a topic I’ve been thinking a lot about lately: BALANCE.

I’m most certainly a multi-tasker. And a go-getter. And a can’t-say-no-er. Which makes for a nasty combination when I’m trying to, like, relax. Or focus. Or just finish one darn thing without being distracted by another. Maybe because I’ve been living this way for years now – probably since middle or high school, constantly – I’m starting to feel the beginnings of burn out and, thus, am craving a little more balance up in here.

During my year “off” between college and grad school, I worked a 9-to-5 nonprofit office job though the AmeriCorps VISTA program – and having few other real commitments was a total shock to my system. Likewise, when I started two fulltime master’s programs, two jobs (one fulltime and one parttime), marathon training and the exciting role of dog-mom, my system was shocked again.

And although I’ve learned to juggle all of those things over the past year, I’m definitely an amateur juggler who can barely toss three scarves up and catch two. You won’t catch me with 10 flaming things in the air anytime soon – but I’ll probably try (and perhaps accidentally catch on fire).

So I’m trying to streamline.
To make connections between what I’m doing personally, academically and professionally so that my brain doesn’t have to switch gears 180 degrees many times a day.
To not bite off more than a hundred of me can chew.
To take a few minutes each day to breathe, practice yoga, watch some trashy TV, whatever.
And, of course, to blog religiously.

Are you pulled in a gazillion different directions daily? How do you cope? How do you take it down from a gazillion things to maybe just a million or two?
[Update: In the course of writing this post, I had a great phone conversation in which I turned down a fabulous professional opportunity in order to focus on the fabulous opportunities I'm already knee-deep in. I might be making progress!]

Thanks to NCinDC for the great photo -- I gotta learn me some moves!

Will the real Online Generation please stand?

2009-08-12T08:29:00.009-04:00

By Ken Siegal

For a couple of years now, the most prevalent workplace generation gap issue I hear about is the "Tech Gap". It goes like this -- if you're a Gen Y'er, you're always struggling to help Baby Boomers understand how to use technology. If you're a Baby Boomer, you can't get GY'ers to use technology for serious business.

A report this week from the Pew Research Center finds otherwise. Yes, GY'ers may live online, but other generations are adapting their own online lifestyles. How? The report says that Gen X does much of its shopping and banking online, while Baby Boomers focus on travel reservations.

How does this translate to the workplace? It looks to me like there is a wholesale shift to technology that's taking place across the three generations that share office space. Remote users everywhere. Everybody has an iPhone, nobody wears a watch anymore. Lots of changes as everybody learns to deal with each other, with business problems and solutions. If this is happening using online resources, that's a game changer.

Imagine a company -- your company? -- sharing and collaborating online, and then moving on to solving marketing gaps with social media. They can be remote users, they can be using new media, they can be using shared spreadsheets. Doesn't matter, because each generation is bringing its own special tech knowledge to the table.

Who knows, if that keeps up, maybe we won't even be talking about generation gaps any more -- is that possible? What do you think?

Photo by Wili Hybrid

Are the unemployed becoming the new hot-shot i-bankers?

2009-08-06T17:57:00.008-04:00

By Kate Levinson

Now I'm the first one to gush about how thankful I am to have a job -- a good job -- but as unemployment seems to be the norm these days among my 20-something friends, I daresay it's becoming...glamorous.

Really. Sure, the unemployed Twitterers I follow complain about cover-letter writing and pulling together interview outfits, but they also talk about rolling out of bed at 11 a.m.. Walking around their neighborhood in search of a leisurely lunch. Getting a nice, long workout in at the gym before the after-work crowd rolls in. Jetting off for a long weekend to visit a friend. The list goes on.

And the more jobless there are, the more they can do these fabulous things together.

Like shop all day. (Not sure how that one works out monetarily, but it sounds fun to me.)

And I can't help but wonder whether recent grads -- such as those profiled in a recent New York Times piece -- are being picky about jobs because they like, or at least don't mind, the idea of the unemployed life.

As someone who works a fulltime job and a parttime job, is a fulltime student in two master's programs and is training for a marathon, I can't lie -- it intrigues me.

But, of course, the grass is always greener, and I'd undoubtedly stay on the side with the, um, actual green. Props, though, to those making the best of an unfortunate situation!

Are you unemployed? Are you loving the vacay or antsy to get back in the game?

Love your school, sue your school?

2009-08-04T12:39:00.009-04:00

By Ken Siegal

It's not totally a laughing matter, but we can't really help ourselves sometimes. This week it's been the lawsuit filed by a 27-year-old unemployed graduate of Monroe College. Her claim? She paid the college $70,000 in tuition and she says she hasn't received the job leads that she feels she was promised by the school.

Knowing how tight the job market is, it's surprising this hasn't happened before. For many students and alumni, the frustration of not finding a good job in a bad economy has them worked up. Maybe it's all about blaming someone, or in this case, maybe it's about recovering some money from the school to keep the job-seeker afloat for a while.

Couple of questions here.

First question -- schools, are you in the business of making claims that you will find jobs for grads, or are you in the business of educating them -- not only in academics, but also in the "science" of careers? Simply having a career center on campus is not the same as getting the students (and alumni!) involved on a REQUIRED basis.

Second, for grads, are you still assuming that old (from 2 years ago) myth that a degree is a guaranteed ticket to a job? Wouldn't the reality be something different -- more like, it took me years of work to learn the basic skills to prepare me for my chosen career field. Why should the process of finding a career be more intuitive?

So I wish the suing graduate all the luck in the world finding a career, but not necessarily in pursuing a lawsuit. I do hope that they can take advantage of all the career resources available -- such as those Experience.com provides, as well as those provided by their schools.

And maybe we've all learned a lesson or two from this. What do you think?

Photo by Diego Cupolo

Out of Office Reply

2009-07-29T12:39:00.005-04:00

By Kate Levinson

This morning, I took a deep breath, held it, and walked through security at work after three days (and a weekend) of vacation in toasty, toasty Texas.

I'm back. To the grind.

And I was bracing for it to be baaad. But much to my surprise, I sat down, listened to some voicemails, sifted through my inbox, made a to-do list, then headed off to a meeting relatively calmly and more or less collected.

Now this is not normally how I come back from vacation. It's usually more akin to a tornado-hurricane-tsunami with a shirt on inside-out and backwards and mismatching socks. But today, I think I pinpointed the difference: I didn't do any work on vacation. I actually -- gasp! -- took a vacation! And, what do you know, I'm feeling pretty refreshed.

The agency I work for is strict with telecommuting stuff, and my supervisor and I decided it wasn't worth the hassle to get me remote email or server access for a three-day vacation. So I sort of crossed my fingers that nothing would come up and hiked out of here on Thursday afternoon -- and honestly hardly thought about work at all because there was nothing I could do about it anyway.

I know that's not possible for many people in many positions, but boy, would I recommend it.

Do you really take vacations, or are you glued to your email/phone/'berry on the beach?

Thanks to Nils Geylen for the photo. Yeehaw!

Facebooking only on company time?

2009-07-22T14:45:00.009-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Not to turn this into another never-ending social media analysis diatribe blog, but when this study popped up the other day, it turned some heads.

What did it say? Simply, that 77 percent of office workers in the study had Facebook accounts, and of those, two-thirds accessed Facebook for at least 15 minutes a day during working hours.

Has Facebook's foundation really been built during work? Has it become huge as the result of a zillion users jumping on it during work/school hours, and in work/school settings?

Equally provocative, the study found that Facebook is used as an alternative messaging and collaboration platform (instead of Outlook, Gmail and other tools). Which puts it outside the protection of traditional office tools, and their security software safeguards. So you have people on FB instead of working 1.5% of their work time, and using it without any protection (Safe Social-networking, anyone?) Whose worst nightmare is this, anyway?

If you constantly hear, as I do, that companies are scrambling to find ways to establish a presence on Facebook, and Twitter, and other SocNet sites -- then something's upside down here.

Should we all take care of our FB updates and Tweets during work, and assume that we're doing exactly what companies really, really want. I think so, don't you?

photo by Jacob Botter

I always keep a pack in my desk drawer.

2009-07-21T05:27:00.001-04:00

By Kate Levinson

Of thank-you cards, that is.

One day, I went to Target, bought a 50-pack of cute little cherry-blossomed letterpress thank-you cards intended for a budget wedding and promptly shoved it in the corner of my desk drawer, convinced it would probably remain there, unopened, until I pack everything up at the end of my summer internship and take it home again.

I was so wrong.

Those little buggers have been oh-so-handy in the past few weeks. Now I’m not a huge suck-up gushy person, and I’ve always felt weird about some of the super-traditional tips I’ve heard about job searching and networking. That being said, I’m also a nice person, and I do think people should be thanked for going above and beyond what they’re paid to do (and, of course, the sucking-up quality of it couldn’t hurt).

My summer internship is part of a real internship program—one that “strongly recommends” we take major advantage of the networking opportunities within a large state agency. At the beginning of the summer, each intern got a binder full of names and contact information and instructions to do at least 25 informational interviews with interesting people. Now last I checked, no one had even made it to ten, and I certainly don’t plan to hit the target.

But I’m in the midst of these meetings right now, and I have to say they’re fascinating, educational and definitely good for my career. Some have been within my own department, some in totally different areas of the agency and a few not within my agency at all (think other state agencies, counties, etc.). They’ve already produced some job and master’s thesis leads, which is fabulous. They’ve helped me understand what’s out there, what I might want to dabble in someday, what I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. And they’re helping me build my network—something that just seems more and more important every day.

And, really, how could I not thank a person for that? I have no idea whether anyone will remember my precious little cherry blossom thank-you card the next time they have a job opening in their department, but it couldn’t hurt—and is probably the right thing to do career-wise and person-wise.
Thanks to Fern R. for the thank-you card photo (I daresay they might be cuter than mine...)

Monday morning chatter

2009-07-20T11:06:00.004-04:00

By Ken Siegal

I think we're back into the generational thing again, comparing the media coverage of the passings of two "celebrities" -- Michael Jackson and Walter Cronkite. We were talking about it in the office this morning.

Over the past weekend, you couldn't find a newscast (local or national) that didn't contain multiple tributes to Cronkite, and his lasting effect on news, on television, and even on the U.S. as a whole -- e.g., President Johnson's lament that if he'd "lost Cronkite('s support for the Vietnam War), then he'd lost the country. President Obama talking about all of us losing a great friend.

But I suspect that the eulogies will end pretty quickly -- now that the weekend is over, and the funeral will not be a televised marathon. Compare that to the frenzy over Jackson's death, running non-stop for days, with the "live" televised funeral services bumping regular TV programming.

Did Jackson have that much more of an impact than Cronkite? Or was it only a demographic thing, where Cronkite is remembered pretty much only by Baby Boomers (or pre-Boomers). In fact, considering those demographics, would there have even been as much to-do about Cronkite if Jackson's hoopla hadn't set the stage (sorry!) for it?

I think not, and I think that there's a definite reflection of values transitioning from one generation to the next. So if 1969 was a watershed year for the Boomers (moon landing, Woodstock), then this year might mark the closure of their era.

What do you think, are Baby Boomers officially a past-their-prime generation? Do they realize it yet?

Can you really tweet your way to a job?

2009-07-16T17:47:00.004-04:00

By Kate Levinson

Right now, the media loves two things: unemployment and social networking technology. Combine the two, and they really go nuts. LinkedIn will score you a job. If not, Twitter definitely will. No? Well, Facebook or YouTube will totally nail it.

[UPDATE: Check out this list of the top employers recruiting on Twitter. Very interesting. Thanks, Ken!]

I keep seeing these stories in the news, and sure, I think it’s cool that we have these new-ish tools at our disposable, especially in such a crappy time to try to find a job. But I’m a little skeptical. Are people really getting jobs through Facebook?

I thought I’d try it out. There’s a specific company that just might be the keeper of my dream job, so I sent a tweet out into cyberspace to see if anyone who follows me on Twitter might have a friend whose boyfriend has an uncle who has an ex-girlfriend who went to middle school with the CEO or anything. I just wanted a connection for an informational interview – not even a real job or interview – and I got nothing.

Social networking is cool. It’s trendy. And it seems like a great idea to apply it to the job search. But I don’t know anyone who’s gone from sad and jobless to ecstatic and employed because of a tweet or two.

Has anyone out there had job-search luck in the social media world?

Funny thing happened on my way to vacation

2009-07-16T12:46:00.008-04:00

By Ken Siegal

You probably have your own idea for a favorite summer vacation, everybody does. One of those paradoxes of the workplace is that when you need a vacation, you have to work twice as hard as usual to get yourself ready to go. If you didn't need one before, you need it now. Here's why:

First, there's the whole thing about looking into the future. Let's just say that I'm planning to go on vacation (yes, I am, as a matter of fact, in a couple of weeks!) I have some things that need to be ready for production the week that I'm away. So before I can leave, I'll need to have those complete. Before I can complete those things, I may need some information from other people (warning -- I probably will!), and then they'll need to have it available for me as well. Sorry.

Directly related to that, I have to reach out to every person in my work universe who could possibly be affected by my absence, and insure that they understand that I will be out for a week. I may need to get some of them to sign a sworn affidavit acknowledging that they understand. I'll send out another reminder a couple of days in advance, for any last-minute questions.

A funny sidelight -- a couple of people misread my first note yesterday, and sent me some "urgent" things that needed to be dealt with before I go, not realizing I won't be going anywhere for another week. Fell right into my trap.

Which brings us up to the very last minute. Almost every time I've ever gone on vacation, despite warnings, I've been hit with a barrage of questions, problems and projects that need to be handled before I can leave.

Up to a point, you can count on pre-vacation adrenaline to see you through, but after that point, enough is really enough. So if it's really last minute, it may not happen for a couple of weeks. Consider yourself warned. You know who you are.

photo by epSos.de

Presentations -- why less can be more

2009-07-14T09:09:00.014-04:00

By Ken Siegal

It's a nice week for show-and-tell, don't you think?

Several of us will be doing a presentation this week at a conference -- always an interesting experience. Why? Because there are so many different styles and theories of presentations, and it's pretty amazing how people get set in their ways.

Maybe you recognize some of them. Maybe you are one of them.

Some of the folks infuse massive amounts of detail into a slideshow, with information substantiated by more data. Their mission is to make a presentation so complete that viewers could walk away with a copy of the presentation and feel confident they've seen and heard everything there is to know about a topic. It's the equivalent of an online, visual, and extremely thorough book.

A second school of thought is focused on workflows -- diagrams and charts detailing exactly how things work, and what needs to happen for the next thing to happen, and how the very first thing happened to begin with. It can be very technical -- but very practical and illuminating -- in outlining theories and next steps.

Third (and I'm sure there are many others) is a bit of a combination of tactics, and it's the one I use. Part of it I attribute to a presentation I saw four or five years ago, given by Guy Kawasaki. He suggested a couple of things -- first of all, the 10/20/30 rule.

What's that all about? If you haven't heard of it before, it says that in a one-hour presentation, you should have a maximum of 10 slides, the presentation itself should run for only 20 minutes, and all slides should have text that's at least 30 points in size.

Ten slides (which you can even announce in advance, if you want to show off) sets expectations for the audience, and even if they hate your presentation, they'll stick with you because they can count down to the end.

Twenty minutes is an attempt to bow to reality. To explain, in an hour presentation, you can expect to spend (waste) time getting set up, and getting everybody to settle down. Then, you should have time for questions, and then you start packing up, to make room for the next presenter.

Thirty-point type (minimum size) accomplishes two things -- it takes care of the problem of people squinting to read everything on the slide, and also forces you to be frugal with the amount of info placed on each one.

Now, what about the presentation itself? Heavy use of graphics and light use of text is another way to go. That forces the audience to listen to you, rather than focusing on reading the slide (i.e., reading along with you reading the slide). If you know your material well, this can be a really effective and dramatic way to go.

So my presentation? It'll follow the third pattern. It's only a half hour time slot, so I'm doing four slides and a link to a website. If I can get people to talk back to me, rather than my talking to them for the entire time, I'll be thrilled.

What's your favorite presentation style? And what's your favorite presentation story?

Yay or nay: Networking in spandex

2009-07-10T13:51:00.005-04:00

By Kate Levinson

The summer I spent working at a major men’s health and lifestyle magazine which shall go unnamed was the summer I got over the fear of seeing my coworkers in spandex. (And, yes, vice versa.) At least I thought it was.

That’s not to say I particularly enjoyed jogging on a treadmill at the office gym next to a dripping, grunting, 11-miles-per-hour-sprinting editor who, an hour later, would hand me one of my stories covered in red pen.

But in an office where health is business, both personally and professionally, and where overhearing reporters on the phone with urologists discussing certain apparatuses that may or may not enlarge certain parts of one’s anatomy was "normal", I sort of got used to it. We worked health, and we lived health. And spandex = health.

Fast forward a few years. I now work at a large state government agency. We like healthy people, but it’s not our only focus. Most of my coworkers are my parents’ age. The ladies ooh and ahh over my “fabulous,” “adorable,” “those-can-NOT-be-comfortable” shoes as they look down at their those-are-definitely-comfortable soles.

When the ad for yoga classes popped up on our internal Web site, of course I jumped at the chance to take an hour-long relaxation/exercise (read: bliss) break once a week. It wasn’t until I signed on the dotted line that I started to get a little nervous.

Do I really want to stand behind someone bending over in yoga pants one minute and sit in a meeting with him/her the next? And, more importantly, does he/she want to have a front-row seat of my downward-facing dog…and then edit my press release?

Especially in an atmosphere where we don’t eat, sleep and breathe health and fitness (or, unfortunately, taste-test protein shakes, ride little bikes around the office and have Nerf machine gun fights), I’m getting a little nervous for Thursday yoga to begin.

My strategy will be this: Choose baggy pants, stare straight ahead and use it as a networking opportunity as I try to do with everything around here.

Question is whether anyone will want to hire me after they see my sad, sad chaturanga.

How do you feel about working out with coworkers? Good idea? Bad idea? There must be some good stories out there!

Thanks to Andrea Fregnani for the fab photo (which I hope was taken at work).

Happy Birthday, but watch out!

2009-07-07T12:12:00.001-04:00

By Ken Siegal

A co-worker had a birthday the other day (Happy birthday to-o-o-o you-u-u!) and was clearly a little off-balance as a result of the impact of aging (over-30, home, new baby). I tried to give comfort by telling him that "31 is the new 50", but that didn't appear to work.

Growing into new roles is a process that many people seem to struggle with. There's the mid-life crisis, the quarter-life crisis, the aging boomer crisis, the Gen Y crisis -- and of course, the Gen X / middle child crisis. The rolling effect of these crises is that roles in the workplace continue to be elusive. Mentors are as tough to come by as apprentices.

In the midst of all this personal turbulence, how do you find an appropriate path to teamwork? A lot of the old, gold standards for lines of authority and responsibility are getting fuzzy -- and yes, you can point to the economy for that one as well. If a thinned-out organization is going to function effectively without classic structure based on generational hierarchy, how will that all come together?

We're just guessing here, but our guess is that flexible, cross-functional teams will straddle departmental organizations. They'll tackle strategic objectives and attack tactical needs as well. And don't discount the intervention of outside contractors to bolster some of these.

The traditional departments will feel much of the pain, and there'll be a lot of juggling going on. And figuring out how and where those people fit best will be the biggest challenge of them all.

See what happens when just one person has a birthday?

Don't you have an iPhone yet? No, really!

2009-07-06T11:23:00.009-04:00

By Ken Siegal

When we last looked, the Blackberry was the "official" unofficial office tool. Everybody had one, everybody connected to work email, some work applications, and work pals, bosses and underlings.

This summer, that's changed. In my office area, there's only one holdout with a 'berry -- everybody else has gone iPhone on us. There's mail, there's Twitter, there's messaging, there's GPS built in. And we won't even talk about all the non-work stuff, ranging from pedometers to measuring devices.

Morning conversations have "evolved" from discussing the progress of specific strategic projects with expected outcomes to ... does it feel funny typing on an iPhone touch screen?

Now I know it's new and cool, and I know that just about everybody who doesn't already have one will be getting one for Christmas this year. But I'm not really seeing it as an investment in productivity for most people. Companies often bought many employees a Blackberry to extend the tether (the role that used to be filled by a beeper). Particularly in these economic times, I can't see most companies switching to iPhones instead. Anybody know any company -- outside of Apple -- that has done so? Please let us know.

So will it become as ubiquitous as an iPod, or even a 'berry? At that price, and without corporate support? And with no meaningful professional functions to boost productivity?

I guess I'd have to say "yes", it can't possibly miss. Am I wrong?

Are holidays just a myth in your company?

2009-07-02T08:19:00.003-04:00

By Ken Siegal

I kind of hate holidays, or at least love-hate holidays, for a bunch of reasons. Even the 4th of July.

In one previous life (I've had several), I worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and as a state employee had 10 holidays a year -- one almost every month -- and it provided a great break. Most private companies only have half that many holidays, and that often comes with an asterisk.

Speaking to someone on the way to work today, I heard that he's off for a long weekend, except that he's probably going to need to work almost a full day from home to catch up. Not the first time I've heard this story, especially with lean staffing in many companies these days.

If it were actually a vacation, he'd be off the hook -- not as many people are willing to give up their personal holidays and work, as opposed to the company/public holidays. But here is my point (at last!).

Some people are protective of their personal time, others less so. But if there's a corporate expectation that holidays are a gray area between personal time and company work-release time, then something's definitely wrong. And that's my holiday thing -- I only want to be thinking about whether it'll be too wet for the fireworks display, not about whether we can figure out which Drupal modules will work best (some of you will know).

What are you looking forward to this summer?

Q: How many calories can I consume between 9 and 5?

2009-06-29T18:17:00.005-04:00

A: A lot.

[UPDATED to add: I'm just going to go ahead and admit that I got up in the middle of writing this post to stuff my face with two big gummy things from a coworker's desk.]

By Kate Levinson

At the beginning of every internship or job I start, I tap my foot through the mundane details of orientation, waiting not-so-patiently to ask The Question: Where’s the fridge?

I’m slightly obsessed with food. Not like I always have to have it in my mouth, or that I eat five pizzas when I’m stressed. Not that I eat a ton of food or bad-for-me-food or even ultra-good-for-me food (I try). But any friend or family member can tell you that I’m not happy unless I know what I get to eat next and when I get to eat it.

So starting a new job with a new schedule and a new office culture obviously messes with my Food Plan. And here are the problems:

The candy jar knows my name – and is calling it. One could consider me lucky for sitting in direct sight of a desk with two fully stocked candy jars (and usually a package of some kind of treat). But really, it’s torture. Especially at about 3:00 every afternoon.

My lunchbox is working overtime (but I’m not). In an attempt to live on an intern salary and relatively healthily, I’m a big lunch-packer. But I’m an even bigger people-person, so I’ve definitely been known to bring a lunch then save it for a day or two when better lunch plans come up. Who can turn down heading out with a group of interns or a good chat with a supervisor – especially for a Lean Cuisine?

Sharing with coworkers is good. Sharing with oneself is better. It’s a fact of work life: Office dwellers love treats, and whatever anyone brings in and puts in the break room will disappear. And the bringer of the treats gets major points. I brought in a loaf of banana bread the other day, 1) because The Intern could always stand to impress some people, and 2) because I didn’t want to eat the whole thing myself. Lo and behold, just because I made it didn’t stop me from getting sucked into the treats-in-the-kitchen excitement. I sat there and ate a big slice. And then another one. And realized I should have left the thing at home.

Anyone else have any office food challenges?

Do you cave to the candy dish every afternoon?

Do you trade in your cheap, healthy chow for a networking lunch out?

Do you have any good, um, self-control tips for a hungry, social foodie who’s a health nut (with a major sweet tooth) at heart?

Thanks to ReneS for the drool-worthy donut photo.

Does prelancing make any sense?

2009-06-25T08:59:00.004-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Interesting article in the Wall St. Journal on prelancing. What's prelancing, you ask (don't be embarrassed, I asked)?

Prelancing probably ought to be called freelancing, but that's taken already (blame those knights of old). It's an arrangement in which you -- smart, talented, and looking for work -- agree to work a limited number hours a week (5-10, usually) for a company for free, especially a company with no paying jobs available, but a need for somebody to help get some work done.

In return, you gain some additional work experience, some possibility of additional work references, and -- a longshot -- some chance of a job if and when the company does start hiring.

Yes, at 5 hours a week, you could probably take on a couple of "prelance" jobs, and still have plenty of time left over for actual job hunting (the article brings up Unemployment Assistance rules, but that's another issue). So I guess I have mixed feelings about it as a strategy.

It gets you out of the house, it potentially has the ability to accomplish some great things (meeting people, gaining experience and references, etc.). It does mean that you're essentially donating your time to help somebody else's business (I'm fine with volunteering for non-profits, of course, but this is different). Are you being taken advantage of, or are you being smart?

Anybody else know the answer? Or have a different answer?

Mystery of Twitter vs Facebook: Is it an age thing?

2009-06-24T09:16:00.008-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Seems like the surveys keep rolling out proclaiming Gen Y the sole owners of Facebook and Baby Boomers (or at least early Gen Xers) the Twitterers. Carol Phillips, a marketing prof at Notre Dame, joined the conversation when she listed "Three Reasons Gen Y Doesn't Get Twitter"

The reasons? Twitter is unnecessary, they say -- FB, text messaging fill all the gaps, plus FB enables messaging updates, calendars, contact books, videos, photos, etc., all in one place. What's the point of Twitter, Phillips quotes.

I certainly can't speak for Gen Y, but I can speak to what's the point. Twitter works for some of us on a whole variety of other levels, not really approached by FB. Anybody ever watch TV and see a stream of headlines and updates crawl across the bottom of the screen? Anybody ever listen to news being broadcast live from an event. For that matter, anybody ever see a quick reference to an interesting or funny story/blog/article/news update? I have, and always appreciated them. And now I see all of those every day on Twitter.

And that's not even counting the number of new "friends" I've made on this marvelous new network. Yes, most of them are professional contacts, rather then buddies, but a network is priceless (as people in the careers business always say).

If I were to give advice (which I hate to do) to anybody wondering "What's The Point", I'd say try this: Start keeping a Twitter track of things you do that are interesting, funny, sad, serious. Not just "I hate getting up for work in the morning". Things that you do and see and think about are what make you unique.

Then go to Twitter and start following a lot of diverse people. Not just college friends and not just Ashton or Oprah (who will never follow you back), but different people. Do a search on a topic, and then follow some of the people who have commented on a topic. Then do the same thing for a different topic, and then another. Build your custom network, and keep pushing out your own Tweets all the while.

So do I really care if you use Twitter versus Facebook? No, not really. Is it an age thing? No, not really. What I do care about is that you find more ways to stretch your network, and help you become a more diverse person, and eventually, be more prepared to have a successful career.

In the meantime, follow us at ExperienceLive.

Email in the Workplace (or Email in the Age of...Age)

2009-06-23T12:12:00.005-04:00

By Kate Levinson

At almost 24, I barely remember the days of not having a computer at home – so while I do have some fuzzy memories of that sad, sad time, I more or less consider myself a digital native.

Wait – who am I anyway? I’m a student, an intern, a runner and a dedicated dog mom with about a buffet’s worth of stuff on my plate at any given time. A joint master’s (public health and health journalism/communications) student at the University of Minnesota, I dabble in a little of this and a little of that, mostly in the health and do-gooder arenas. I just moved over to 3Gen from Experience’s health care blog, Health Nuts, which describes me fairly well if I do say so myself.

And, as I said, a digital native, which I increasingly embrace. Especially when it comes to working with those who are not.

This summer, I’m working full time as an intern at a large state government agency where 42 percent of employees are over the age of 50. Nearly 70 percent are over 40. Needless to say, communicating electronically is not natural to many of them, and trust me, they’re still learning.

I’ve worked, volunteered and interned at quite a few organizations, and they all have different cultures in general, which extends to email etiquette. But, forgive me, this place is just weird. And it seems to me that many of its oddities have to do with these digital aliens.

We have some written rules, some unwritten, many spoken, a few you just have to figure out. But the rules are a little strange to a blogging, Twittering, Facebooking student who will panic if she doesn’t check her email at least hourly (and that’s pushing it).

Rule 1: Thou Shalt Not Let An Email Go Unrequited.
Really, I was told this. I’m hyper-sensitive to email overload, so I’m not used to sending a “Thank you,” “Will do” or “Rock on” response to every single email I get. I think it’s fair, in this technological age, to assume that one received an email unless you hear otherwise. That being said, I must reply to all emails here, which you can imagine gets a little awkward when both parties have been told to always reply. Typical email exchange:

Me: Thanks for the information, Bob. I will look it over.
Bob: Great. Thank you for reading it.
Me: Yes, I will read it. Thank you again for sending it.
Bob: Sure. I’m happy to provide it.
Me: Thank you.
Bob: No, thank you.
Me: Have a great weekend.
Bob: You too.
Me: What’s your favorite kind of pizza?

You get the idea. But if you don’t reply, even to an FYI-type message, many people default to thinking it must have disappeared somewhere in that darn cyberspace and just have to send another or call to follow up.

Rule 2: Thou Must Make A Follow-up Call (But I Will Have To Call You Back).
Speaking of following up, I think it’s necessary in many cases – especially when someone breaks the reply-to-everything-rule. I’ve been told phone calls are best in any situation. And also that they’re only good for follow-up. So I started with the phone, but most people who answered seemed frazzled to be interrupted. So I switched to email, with a consequent phone call if no response:

[ring, ring]
Me: Hi, Bob, just wanted to follow up on that email I sent on Friday.
Bob: Oh, you sent me an email?
Me: Yes, I sent it on Friday morning. It was about X, Y and Z.
Bob: Hmm. [clicking]
Me: Well, it said—
Bob: Oh, I see it. You sent me an email! On Friday! It’s right here!
Me: Yes.
Bob: Hold on, let me read it. [reading out loud] Oh, yes I did read this on Friday.
Me: Great, I just wanted to—
Bob: I did read this! I have no idea why I didn’t send you an email back.
Me: It’s no problem. Maybe we could talk—
Bob: Can I call you back? I need to read this again.
Me: [head to palm]

Rule 3: Thou Must Use All Tools At Your Disposal. And The Tools Rule.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Outlook meeting invites as much as the next cubicle dweller, I’ve just always had the idea that one should at least discuss the fact that a meeting might happen before sending out a meet-me-at-this-time email. But here, people use meeting invites as the entire message.

Bob: Date: Wednesday, June 24 / Time: 10:30-11:30 / Meet with Kate
Me: ???

I may or may not know Bob, and we probably haven’t even discussed the need for a meeting. But if the time in my calendar doesn’t have anything else on it, it’s free game – and considered semi-rude to decline a meeting request when there’s not a conflicting appointment on one’s calendar. So I find myself blocking out lunch, work time for specific projects, pretty soon bathroom breaks.

It seems people get so excited that they are able to see my calendar and send me a meeting invitation that will go directly to their calendar, the actual content of the meeting is a total second (if ever) thought.

I know it’s rough to learn this stuff from scratch. Especially in an agency with fabulous people who get along well and would just as soon hang over each other’s cubicles and chat like they have for years.

As a champion Chatty Cathy, I sympathize. I suck it up. I play by the rules.

But I still think it’s weird.

Thanks to Flickr's summitcheese for the great photo!

Motivation: is it always a downer, or is there an upside?

2009-06-02T13:26:00.005-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Motivation is always a downer -- it always infers that somebody (else) needs to be more motivated to do something (work harder, play harder, lose weight, drop the price on their house, whatever) than they currently are.

The word popped up in several commentaries and a few editorials I've seen over the past couple of weeks, all pointing at how the current crop of college grads needs to be more motivated to become successful.

OK, I have a few problems with this. First, when I graduated, the school officials and guest speakers were all gushing about how we were the hope for the future, and entrusted us to be able to translate ideas and ideals into great deeds.

So what happened -- are today's grads just chopped liver? Are things different, and the new crew can't be trusted?

Second, let's look at those folks making these harsh, negative judgments. Are they doing so well with the economy and ethics and world peace and the environment that they can spot losers from a mile away?

Sorry about being skeptical, but I'm just not motivated to see it their way. Are you?

Teaching: A new safety net?

2009-05-28T16:49:00.005-04:00

By Ken Siegal

This is a follow-up to the last post about former public service workers retiring with pensions after years of work. Today's news item indicates that new grads are looking hard at some "traditional" (rewarding in a non-financial sense) careers.

According to the article, applicants for the Teach For America program far exceeded the number of openings, although the program administrators said they'd love to have more funding for more positions.

If the administration has its way, that might happen. In the meantime, there are lots of other opportunities -- not just in teaching butin a variety of public service options as well -- just waiting for talented and enthusiastic people to step up.

And I'm guessing that the Boomers who are getting ready to retire will welcome the sight of new blood ready to fill their shoes.

The other side of public service jobs

2009-05-26T10:58:00.007-04:00

By Ken Siegal

Went off to the beach for an extended long weekend, and found sun, sand and some interesting career conversations.

Along with the assortments of families and tweens and teens (not many working folk), I ran into a number of what used to be called "pensioners". These are people who worked long enough to earn a pension, one that would be paid to them monthly when they retired.

So how relevant is that to current and future workers? It seems like every day the news is filled with auto companies and newspapers cutting employees, cutting pensions, thinning out unions. The slant is almost always a negative one -- the inference that pensions are a drain on the economy, contributing heavily to the current recession.

I asked the "pensioners" what they thought, and they all gagged on my questions. Turns out that they weren't living off huge corporate pensions at all. These were folks who had been "underpaid" teachers and civilian government employees and ex-military (National Guard).

They put in 30 years or more in some form of public service with no employer-subsidized 401(k), and just looked ahead to the day (today) when they could retire and get by on their pensions. They were proud of their career choices, but happy they had something to look forward to after those careers were over. Something like going to the beach during the week.

P.S. If these folks are retiring to collect their pensions, where do you think some job openings will be starting to happen?

Exploring the differences between community and 'elite' colleges

2009-04-22T09:43:00.002-04:00

By Allison Jones

My mother is currently going back to school to get her BA. Recently she and I have been having wonderful conversations about our experiences as students in two very different educational settings at very different periods in our lives: I enrolled at Haverford College right after high school, and she enrolling at New York City Technical College after raising 5 kids, with a newborn in the middle of her career. Of course there are many different kinds of schools and nothing is ever black-white, however in our experiences as students and full time employees we’ve seen some trends. Below are some of the key differences we have noticed:

Columbia University in New York City

The role and value of real world experience: I remember sitting in a class with a bunch of other 17 and 18 year olds who had left home for the first time. In many classes the professors’ way of getting us experience was to have us do volunteer work or internships. The goal was to combine book learning and hands-on learning in a meaningful way. This is in stark contrast my mom’s classes which not only have “traditional” students but also older students, parents, and professionals mid career. My mother says that the students have too much experience, so much so that it is hard for them to understand anything that doesn’t match with what they’ve been through. Experience in this case is a barrier to classroom learning whereas when I was a student it was built upon as a tool to enhance classroom learning.

A sense of entitlement versus hard work: I’m not exaggerating when I say my alma mater threw money at us to do things. Start a club, travel abroad, volunteer…you name it, there was money for it. Of course, this lent itself to a sense of entitlement among students. Once I started working and dealing with volunteers, many of my supervisors and other coordinators lamented working with students from elite schools because not only did they expect everything to be handed to them but also they thought they knew everything, not paying attention the culture of the organization and the people they served. On the other hand, my mother—as a student and employee—states that since so many students at the community college have limited resources they are more likely to do well seeing any and all opportunities as crucial.

Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY, New York City

Ability to communicate on the job: When my mom comes to me for career advice it is always about how to talk to her supervisors. Her supervisors went to schools like my alma mater and she often feels as though she can’t articulate her thoughts and concerns well enough for them to be taken seriously or understood properly. Of course, in my view, there are two people in that conversation and she should not be the only one making an effort for understanding. However my mother brings up an interesting point: people with similar educational backgrounds tend to talk to each other even if the office itself is diverse and the ways in which they talk are perceived as different.

The presence of diversity: As much as colleges like mine may try, they very rarely reach the diversity of community colleges. Many of the students at Haverford, including myself, were groomed to be there: prep schools, test prep programs, and family members that attended. We were given many of the tools necessary to thrive and the professors there knew how to teach us. This is very different from community colleges which draw immigrants, students who are the first to attend college, parents, professionals, younger students, older students, and people of different ethnic backgrounds. Classroom dynamics are different: I very rarely saw heated debates in the classroom while my mother says they happen all of the time, making students the educators while frustrating teachers who are often ill prepared to handle such differences.

Interestingly none of our discussions focused on the texts or subjects we learned and enjoyed. Instead we were exploring how school is really about the transfer and acquisition of social and cultural capital: the invisible but important manifestations of class and education. Speech, interests, mannerisms, style of dress, and aspirations all are shaped by the kind of institution you attend and shape people’s perceptions of you.

During our discussions we had a variety of questions and would love to get your input:

Is there an inherent inequality in the way these two institutions are set up or are the differences merely a reflection of different educational needs and aspirations?

How much do these manifestations of class and education matter in an economy that is increasingly global and connected where people adopt different ways of doing things all of the time?

What role does the quality of teaching play in how students acquire capital? Are there other factors ed and not ed related?

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Strengthening Your Network: Lessons from Obama's Party Style

2009-03-03T09:40:00.004-05:00

By Allison Jones

I came across this great article from Politico via Michelle Obama Watch about how the Obama’s frequently host informal gatherings with simple foods and limited discussions about politics in an attempt to “make sure organic relationships trump political maneuvering.”

When it comes to building your network, I very rarely hear discussions about the importance of developing genuine friendships. The emphasis is usually on seeing what resources you can each provide for each other. However, in reflecting on Obama’s approach to strengthening his circle, I wonder what are the professional benefits to developing organic friendships?

Your relationship will last longer: When you establish a common bond your relationship will have a solid foundation and will evolve over time. The best mentors and allies are those who make a commitment to you and your overall growth which takes time.

People learn more about your style: While we may try to separate work and life, in many ways work can be a reflection of who we are. In a genuine relationship you learn about how people work and what environments would be best to suit their talents. As a result when advice is given it can better match your talents and style.

You are forced to think about your goals: People who know you and are invested in you are more likely to hold you accountable and push you. No idea goes unchallenged or unquestioned so you always know you’re moving in the right direction.

How else can genuine friendships help you professionally?

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Facebook & me: BFF or just a fling?

2009-02-09T14:10:00.012-05:00

I'm not a technophobe, really not! But a new-found old friend accused me of being exactly that.

I've been on LinkedIn for a couple of years, belong to several other networks (love ning.com for really instant networking); got on, then off MySpace. Facebook was my major holdout.

I'd been avoiding fb because 1) it felt a little "young" and 2) never-ending reports of security concerns made me pretty wary in these days of identity theft. I had an fb account, but never used it.

OK, so the "young" comment makes me a marked man -- you can probably see the scarlet letter ("O" as in Over 30) on me. But I don't feel I need to drink Red Bull every day, either.

Until last week, when a former colleague tracked me down, invited me to become a friend, and then proceeded to throw the anti-technology comment at me. Me, of all people!

So here's the dilemma -- do I really belong on Facebook because people say I should be there? Should I just let it go, and stick to regular email to keep track of people? Is it really the future of communicating, or just tomorrow's trivia?

Photo by coda

Take the office out for coffee

2009-02-06T09:35:00.008-05:00

As some newspaper columnists are just now discovering that lots of people use coffee shops as offices, I think they're 1) missing the point, and 2) coming awfully late to the game.

For at least 8 years, I've talked to people who do much of their business in Starbucks or Peets or Au Bon Pain. They needed the space to work, sometimes close to where their next appointment might be, and when Wi-Fi became pretty commonplace, it was a no-brainer.

More recently, I've stopped into an ABP, laptop in hand, and had trouble finding a quiet corner. Why? Because one large section was taken by a knitting club -- yes, a group of about 15, sitting there knitting away (and occasionally sipping away on their coffees).

In the center, a small group started to gather, becoming a larger group, and then they broke out into song. They were members of some barbershop quartets (look it up in wikipedia) who were practicing. Not rock band loud, but you couldn't really ignore them, either.

The point? Maybe the ABPs and Starbucks stores are becoming the offices AND libraries and community centers of today and tomorrow. As office workers become more mobile, maybe a lot of offices are being deprecated (look it up), and work is changing to accommodate that.

I know working remotely is happening everywhere, and I'm not seeing many people talking about the downside (who do I buy my Girl Scout cookies from?) Would you mind working out of the office most of the time? Should companies stop providing office space for you if you do?

Photo by timothy b. buckwalter

Jobs available -- where are the job-seekers?

2009-02-03T09:49:00.007-05:00

Job-seekers are funny people (yes, even you!) Here's why:

1. I recently read a story about people applying for jobs, then not showing up for the scheduled interview. Not calling, not writing -- just not showing. The recruiters suggested that because so much of the hiring process has become automated and impersonal, some candidates don't feel they need to bother if something else comes up.

Wow! -- that's all I can say. Unemployment is well over 7% and you get a job interview, and then don't show up for it?

2. Sort of related, we had an opening, received an application, but the applicant asked to delay the interview for a week because of a previously-planned vacation. After the "vacation", received a note saying how much she was looking forward to meeting us that week.

The very next day, received a note saying she had accepted another offer. I love being played, don't you?

Obviously I'm not understanding how the rules of respect and consideration have changed. Am I the only one? What up?

Old job, new things

2009-01-26T11:05:00.004-05:00

Sometimes jobs feel repetitive, and you know you'd like to learn new things -- but how?

Well once in a while, it's as simple as recognizing the opportunity. Here's an example:

A couple of weeks ago, we hosted a users' conference (sorry if you weren't invited). It wasn't a huge thing with hundreds of thousands of attendees in Las Vegas -- it was a couple of hundred people coming to Boston (yes, Boston in January -- now that's commitment!).

So to pull it together, then to pull it off, required a lot of people doing a lot of planning and work. Or, you could call it opportunity.

As a company, of course, the conference was a hit. But as individuals, a lot of people learned a lot of thing about planning and organization, especially the whole field of event planning and conference organization.

It was a great opportunity for a lot of us to do a lot of things, and especially to learn about what goes into a successful event (it's a lot harder than you might think!). And some people who lent special skills (first-class photography or event organizing, for instance) really got to shine.

I bet things happen at your company all the time that provide similar opportunities. If they do, tell us!

Obama and the promises of racial equality

2009-01-23T12:22:00.000-05:00

By Allison Jones

The words “history,” “change,” and “hope” have made their rounds in virtually every media outlet around the world in an attempt to describe President Obama. We feel good as a country knowing that we have made a huge step forward. It takes a lot for a nation to elect someone from a group that it has for so long despised and abused. His election should not be taken lightly in that regard yet it should not be taken as a signal that we are now a completely equal society. I have loved his campaign, his election, and his swearing in because of the conversations that have been sparked.

So I’ll say right off the bat that I have several problems with the idea of a color blind nation. The main one being that the notion is insulting. There is nothing wrong with the color of my skin and the identity attached to it. It is not a burden or something to overcome. Additionally the task of creating such a society is frequently thrust upon people of color. Obama has made no such promises of closing the racial gap that places black Americans at or near the bottom of every measure of social progress yet somehow we expect him to. How many white presidents have had such a lofty task?

Yet for better or worse, the black American experience is now front-and-center of the American experience. Which issues will come to light? Will discussions of critical issues stop being labeled as “airing dirty laundry” and finally be seen as necessary for progress? Every time I hear the phrase “dirty laundry” I have to remind people that perfection is not and should never be a requisite for fair treatment under the law and that policies should never be crafted under the guise that a group has no agency.

With that said, we need to realize that change is about the process not just the product. It is not about creating a color blind society; it is about acknowledging the fact that problems exist and committing ourselves to addressing them. What I think many black leaders fought for and continue to fight for is the recognition that the issues facing black Americans are real, urgent, and unequivocally American, not sideline issues and not simply examples of cultural failure.

So as we begin the Obama administration, I hope we continue these conversations and encourage new ones.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

The Dos and Don'ts of Working with Generation Y

2009-01-13T09:46:00.002-05:00

By Allison Jones

Let me make this clear right from the beginning: [organizations] cannot afford to ignore Generation Y. Period. Our numbers and our skills are so large and so necessary that to pretend as though our existence is a fad will only be detrimental.

With that said, I also realize that given the diversity and size of the sector some organizations may be better poised for gen y integration than others. Some may have a budget large enough to offer perks such as loan forgiveness while others are operating with a “all-hands-on-deck!” mentality simply taking any labor that they can and not really rewarding it. This is not about dismissing people or being self important–it’s about integration and sustainability.

This list is inspired by the numerous discussions I have had with my peers and the research I continue to do as one of the founding partners for OnlyUp.org, a start-up non-profit dedicated to supporting non-profit employees under 30.

Do:

Discuss differences: The different expectations of employees is sometimes laughed off: those silly Millennials wanting the world to stop for them and…those silly Boomers wanting the world to stop for them. However, those jokes easily translate into tension as employees resent each other for what they may view as unearned or undeserved praise. So why not sit down and ask “What should we know about your generation?” Rosetta Thurman did this kind of activity and uncovered some powerful feelings that really shape how an organization operates.
Let them start a project: I’ve started two projects that have required no money and have gotten us lots of publicity. It helps to have fresh eyes at the organization who see issues differently. Set some guidelines and just let them be creative! If they succeed more publicity and praise for the organization. If they fail, pick up and try again. The sector wouldnt exist without taking risks.
Provide time for professional development: If you cant pay for it at least allow them time to participate in seminars, workshops, and conferences.
Give flexible hours: Work/life balance is a major issue for our generation and consequently a major deterrent for entering the non-profit sector. So if we have to work a Saturday, how about leaving early Friday or a day off the following week? Or coming in early at the beginning of the week (when everyone is busiest) and later towards the end of the week (when work dies down)?
Hire more than one person under 30: The one thing I love about my job last year is that I was able to connect with other young non-profit employees. No, I didnt become friends with every person under 30 but it did make the working environment better to not be the only young person in the office. Little differences like kids, health, and work life can make conversations difficult. A friend eases the tension.

Don’t

Treat them like cheap labor: Treat us as valuable employees who are giving an important service.
Talk down to them: Every time I hear the phrase “Well you’re young so…” I shut down. I completely stop listening. Already my presence has been devalued and I have been dismissed. This only creates tension.
Segregate them: To address the issue of youth involvement, separate groups are formed for them. We are put in charge of small side projects, very rarely meeting with anyone outside of our gen y circle. While this can be valuable for its networking and community purposes, as a solution it is not enough–you cannot bring change by operating in a bubble, nor will you be sufficiently challenged. Full generational integration in every aspect of the organization should be the goal. How many young employees do you have? How many young employees on your board? How many sitting at the decision making table?
Ignore their concerns: Firstly, try asking for their concerns! When we sign on to work for an organization we have a sense of what the culture is like so more often than not our concerns are small that could have a huge impact.
Forget that we all want the same things: Not just in terms of social change but also in terms of work. Sometimes I am astonished at the attitudes some people have toward the requests of younger employees. You mean YOU dont want more flexible hours? YOU dont want a nice work environment where everyone feels respected? YOU dont want professional development or mentoring to improve your performance? Of course you do! How does fulfilling the desires of younger employees hurt?

Updates: I’m glad to see the conversation on this topic is growing. Bea Field, co-author of Millennial Leaders has added some excellent tips to this list. My favorites:

Do provide mentoring and coaching and reverse mentoring/coaching is better than one way mentoring. Get your Gen Ys involved in an interactive form of mentoring (let them coach you as well!)

Don’t focus on money or increase in salary as a perk. While this is important, Gen Y is much more inclined to stick with your company if you are giving them meaningful work, flexible work hours and free time to do what they love.

What else would you add?

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Is the White House reflective of a more diverse workplace?

2009-01-12T10:16:00.003-05:00

The inauguration of President Barack Obama has prompted endless discussions on how far along we’ve come as a country addressing the issue of diversity.

On a national front, that may be valid, but is it equally valid in companies and on college campuses? What's your opinion -- let us know...

Photo by marcn

Life in a recession for me and for you

2008-12-23T13:26:00.009-05:00

First, let me say, recessions are as much a part of the cycle of life as the Red Sox winning the World Series – these things happen.

What does it mean for you, and your future? It will affect you, probably has already started affecting you. As with a World Series win, it’s something you’ll always live with (if you’re a Boston fan).

Since the early 1950s they (recessions, not baseball) have occurred more frequently, tied to various, familiar-sounding causes (oil prices, banks, stock market).

Right now, we seem to be following the path of a reset – moving prices on some things back several years, while putting a big crimp in some industries (financials, real estate, stocks, manufacturing).

Here’s what it means for me, then for you. For me, it means that making careful choices is the way to go. In past recessions, I’ve faced some substantial decisions, such as foregoing grad school because the return on that investment wasn’t enough to make it worthwhile in a reasonable amount of time.

Same goes for career moves – I decided to pass on a move to California (50 degrees in San Francisco, 14 degrees in Boston today) during an earlier recession because a weakening economy made that kind of move even more risky than usual.

For you, it means that playing it safe is a useful strategy, but it won’t set you up for the future. If you’re working, sure, stay at that job for now. But can you do more? Yes, you can take advantage of this time to learn more. At work, be creative, hone your problem-solving skills. This could be a critical survival skill anyway, because there’ll probably be fewer of you doing more work.

Outside of your office, or if you’re not currently working, use your “stability” as a time to take on new skills. Learn more, take courses that could help you do more (project management or consulting are among the most portable skills around). Investigate more organizations – either professional, hobby, or volunteer-related. Your skills will increase, your network will grow, and you’ll be in a great position once we start moving out of the recession.

You could even start a small business on the side (and I mean Keep It Small). If you have some limited success, it may be a path for you as things start looking better.

OK, that’s the big view from my perspective. What do you think, is this workable?

Photo by nerovivo

Holiday gift giving at work

2008-12-10T10:45:00.007-05:00

As you're doing your holiday shopping this year, you may consider buying something for your coworkers. Boston.com featured an article highlighting 20 cheap gift ideas for the cube dweller.

As the article says, "Help brighten up a friend, family member, or co-worker's small space this holiday season with these 20 unique (and cheap) gifts."

My personal favorites:

the penguin water dispenser (to avoid multiple trips to the water cooler)
the USB heating gloves (for those cold days in the office)
the mini business card filing cabinet (because where else are you going to store all those cards?)
the executive decision maker and paperweight (for those tough decisions and loose papers)

So spread the holiday cheer and brighten up a co-worker's work space. Maybe they'll even let you borrow the USB missile launcher when you're having a bad day.

Complaining about Your Job May be a Good Thing

2008-12-04T09:21:00.001-05:00

By Allison Jones

Every time I complain about my job I feel a little twinge of guilt. We are being told that the economy is sinking and that unemployment is rising so how could I complain? I should be thankful that I even have a job.

Gratitude is a double edged sword in times like this. On the one hand, it can force you reevaluate your ambitions and appreciate what you have. Perhaps you have been chasing dreams or opportunities because you feel you should, not because you genuinely want to. On the other hand, gratitude can paralyze you. You take fewer risks and invest less in yourself. You just start coasting.

The trick to staying sane in a weak economy is to harness both aspects of gratitude: appreciate what you have but compliment it by still going for what you want.

I still push myself and others in small but significant ways. My organization is paralyzed; we don’t want to spend too much money or move too fast. However, if there is one thing I have learned in fundraising is that people do not save sinking ships—they want to help build castles. So I have started numerous pet projects that have low cost but directly involve the students for greater visibility and impact like my blogging project and the school’s student council. These projects have required me to strengthen my own skills and reach out to others for guidance and support. Anything new is a challenge!

Whatever my job lacks I make up for in other career enhancing activities and I try to bridge the two as much as possible. Outside of the office I am a board member, writer, volunteer, and nerd  I brought my love of blogging to the students and I share volunteer opportunities with the school. My job is just one aspect of my professional development so I compliment it with other things that are both helpful and fun.

I stay on top of changes in my field and try to implement what I learn. I subscribe to key websites (free!) that deal with fundraising and marketing. For example a recent article Nonprofit Communications regarding good interview questions for newsletter profiles has me planning my next interview for our spring newsletter! Additionally, the more knowledgeable you are of what is happening and how you the better you will be able to adapt.

Also, complaining is OK. Things don’t stop being difficult because the economy is worse! Just don’t let the negativity affect your path and that it motivates you to take action.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

What are you thankful for?

2008-11-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving two days away it seems everyone is expressing their gratitude for something. While friends and family probably come to mind first, we can't overlook our coworkers. In the spirit of giving, this Huffington Post article offers five ways to show your appreciation at work this Thanksgiving season. Because the more you give, the better off you'll be... and we can all certainly use a happier and more productive workplace.

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Experience!

Note to self: Don’t leave Vacation Request form(s) until the last minute

2008-11-19T10:58:00.028-05:00

Call it mid-to-late November: You’re either looking forward to a relaxing (and filling) Thanksgiving “break” next week… or panicking about the fact that Starbucks already had their red, Holiday cups out weeks ago! (Yikes, this must mean that I’d better get a move-on, checking off my gift list). But more importantly, this means that we need to talk Holiday Vacation Requests.

Thankfully, my current company is very organized and requires that we request all of our Holiday vacation days-off, early (by a specific date) – so, I’m not speaking from a horror-story here.

Although, at one of my previous employers I did request a day off around the Holidays ahead of time, but once one of my higher-up colleagues did the same thing, it trumped my request (leaving me to drive back into work on the day after Christmas, everybody say “aww”). But instead of getting overly upset about the situation, I realized that I wasn’t in college anymore (no more full-weeks off), and I simply worked it out with my boss to come in later that day, so that I could still enjoy the morning off!

However, whether or not your current (or future) employer asks that you give them a “head’s-up” of your vacation-day wishes far in advance, it is a very wise idea to do so anyway. This will allow for your team, manager, and company to plan for the rest of the calendar-year, possibly even quarter (depending on how your co. works) – and will usually ensure the fact that you will be allotted those exact days off… unless of course you are asking for something unreasonable.

Long-blog-short, requesting your Holiday vacation days ahead of time, will bring cheer all around!

“'Tis the season for those last-minute requests for time off—complete with pleading, tears, and sometimes anger from the petitioning employees. One more thing to add to a manager's holiday stress list," writes Amy Joyce, of The Washington Post – in her article, Oh, Those Last-Minute Time Off Requests.

Joyce even gives employers the advice to: “Make rules, be flexible and hang on for the bumpy ride. Everyone sets up holiday vacation schedules to avoid conflicts at this time of year, but inevitably, they go awry as the last-minute requests (or, in some cases, demands) pop up.”
(Read full-article here)

Some other great advice, provided by Susan M. Heathfield and written by Thomas F. O'Leary, of About.com: “No one should feel guilty about taking vacation time, and yet, sometimes, people feel as though their holiday time is an imposition to their company. It is important for people to get away and re-charge their batteries, and managers should be encouraged to show support for their team members' plans. With team support and encouragement, people will look forward to returning to the office after some time off.” (Read full article here)

And, when you do successfully request your Holiday vacation days off… here are a few more things to do, before heading out the door. (Read more tips in: You Should Really Take a Vacation (No, Really))

* Update your voicemail and email messages
* Take care of all/any tasks that cannot wait until your return
* Stay focused on the job at hand, until your vacation actually starts

Stick to these guidelines, and your dream vacation OR staycation should go off without a hitch. Talk to your Supervisor today!

Photo by: Zesmerelda

Getting a Handle on Entry Level Living

2008-11-18T12:18:00.004-05:00

By Allison Jones

Entry Level Living doesn't just refer to my professional position–it refers to my financial one as well. While I have always had to watch my spending, it was usually in relation to a) what my mom wanted me to do with my money b) what fun stuff I wanted to do with my money. This is my first time working full time, having to pay bills and deal with financial consequences if I do not manage my money properly.

However, I am surrounded by people my age who simply don't want to talk about money. Doing so is boring and in a city like New York there is great pressure to do everything and spend lots of money. After all, we just want to be free and have fun. Freedom is often seen as the ability to not think–to do as you wish without really having to think about the consequences, or to just follow along with what everyone else is doing. To be “normal.”

What we don't realize is that this kind of characterization is detrimental to our well being. Being critical doesn't mean being shackled–it simply means being aware of the messages, attitudes, and behaviors that are damaging to your self worth and self determination. Once we become aware of those shackles, then we are free.

So there is nothing wrong with having fun, but I damn sure am not going into debt to keep up appearances. Here are some tips that help keep me in check:

1. Talk about money: A great privilege I have right now is that my best friend is in the same fellowship that I am. I’m a development director at a school in Manhattan while she does the same in the Bronx. We both make the same amount of money. So when we hang out we feel no shame in asking about each other’s spending habits.

It isn't rude, it’s necessary. When we realize that everyone struggles and that keeping up with the “Joneses” is nonsensical it makes being responsible easier. If you are fresh out of college, chances are you aren't making much money and neither are your friends. Just be real about it.

2. Read about money: The greatest blessing of our current economy is that people can no longer keep their heads buried in the sand. You can't get away from financial articles, once buried in the back pages of newspapers next to stock quotes, now prominently featured on the front page. I just learned that the New York City government has an Office of Financial Empowerment that provides resources and support for people who need guidance with money management. Take advantage of these kinds of opportunities.

3. Why do you buy? I hate to admit this but I feel like crap after reading a woman’s magazine. I feel like there is so much that I don't have, so much that I’m lacking when truth is I have plenty. No, this doesn't mean that I go out and buy a whole new wardrobe after reading Glamour, but it does mean I am less likely to think before I buy. In this case, a low self esteem is the culprit for unnecessary spending and I work hard to deal with it (I need my gossip, but oh gosh the fashion pages!) What pushes you to buy?

Financial newbies–what are your tips?

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Put your nerves at ease when you're public speaking...

2008-11-13T23:36:00.001-05:00

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but since I've returned from China I've had a number of speaking opportunities. I've discussed the individual freedoms of China vs. the U.S. at a panel discussion, gave an overview of my time in Beijing to Emerson's Board of Trustees, and most recently I gave a presentation to my graduate program about my perspective on marketing in Beijing. And these are all in addition to the dozens of presentations I've given in various classes over the course of my graduate and undergraduate careers. Just because I'm now somewhat of a veteran when it comes to speaking in front of audiences, it doesn't mean it comes easy for me.

In fact, public speaking can be extremely frightening even to the most experienced speakers. By no means am I an expert, but here are some useful tips for feeling more at ease before and during a presentation:

Practice. Remember that old saying, "practice makes perfect." Well it may not make your speech run perfectly, but it will certainly help you feel more comfortable with your topic and how you present it. This will also enable you to work out any unforeseen kinks.
Rehearse in front of an audience. I always find it helpful to practice my presentation in front of an audience. Whether your audience is your friends or family, it's great for feedback and getting you comfortable talking in front of others.
Get familiar with the presentation facilities. Knowing the venue-- classroom, conference room, auditorium, etc.-- helps you present more smoothly. You can work out any audio-visual needs and it gives you a better insight into the overall environment (will you be sitting? standing? behind a podium? will there be an echo? etc.)
Don't feel like you need to memorize. I prefer not to rely on note cards during a presentation, but I still have them with me just in case I need to reference them. It makes me feel at ease knowing I have them there as a cushion in case I draw a complete blank.
Adapt based on your anxiety. If you find your hands shake every time you present, keep them clasped together or at your sides. Maybe you tend to sweat or experience hot flashes before a presentation, the simple solution here is to wear lighter clothing.

How does all of this tie into the workplace? Well, you'd be surprised how many employers value public speaking skills and how many positions rely on public speaking of some sort. If you haven't already, I'm willing to bet in the near future you will find yourself conducting a meeting, giving a presentation, or just speaking in front of a large audience as part of your job. And when you do, maybe you'll feel a little more at ease using these tips.

‘Tis the season… to hop on the bandwagon!

2008-11-12T16:56:00.026-05:00

Volunteerism: The willingness of people to work on behalf of others without being motivated by financial or material gain. -Wikipedia

It may be difficult to think about carrying out the definition/role above (especially when it literally includes the words “without financial gain”); however, even during our current time of great economic distress, it’s still as important as ever (if not more) to do our part as a community. This includes volunteering. And, this means you.

“Those who choose to volunteer are given unique opportunities to develop leadership, communication, interpersonal, organizational skills, etc.” - writes Penny Loretto, of About.com. “Volunteering creates a sense of personal fulfillment and accomplishment not usually achieved in a typical work environment as well as offering the many personal rewards that occur when one decides to make a positive contribution in the lives of others.” (Read full article here). Can we say resume-builder, anyone? (Bueller?)

Gen Y’ers (the most popular target group among employers, within recent years) are especially interested and/or already active within the volunteer “world” – recognizing the demand for contribution and change.

What Gen Y Really Wants, states that “Gen Y's search for meaning makes support for volunteering among the benefits it values most. More than half of workers in their 20s prefer employment at companies that provide volunteer opportunities.” (See what else writer, Penelope Trunk has to say here).

So, it’s a win-win situation for you:

Find a local organization that you wish to volunteer at. (Examples: a pet shelter, domestic violence shelter, art museum, children’s camp and/or food bank).
Contact them online, by phone, or stop-by. (You will probably need to fill-out a volunteer application first, before you start working).
Gather some friends, family, or co-workers to join you for this worth-while experience. (Don’t forget to plan ahead & let the organization know how many people will be coming). Also, find out if your current employer or school offers any volunteer programs already?
Enjoy your time volunteering, wherever you choose! (Remember volunteers are needed at all times throughout the year, at various organizations - not just during the Holidays).
Give your time or $$. Even if you don’t have a few extra hours a week to donate, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give a lot of money either. (Every bit counts!)
Document your volunteer-experience on your resume, even if you are not actively searching for a job. (This will show current & future employers your dedication to volunteerism & community – a BIG gold-star for you!)

So pack those turkeys, wrap those gifts, or serve those hot holiday meals!

What are your thoughts on volunteering? Dish it! (I’ll admit, that pun was intended).

Photo by: sterlingpr

Reflecting on Obama’s Win

2008-11-12T10:05:00.005-05:00

By Allison Jones

A week after Obama’s win and I have to admit that I am still ambivalent. Yes, I voted for Obama but I couldn’t participate in the wild excitement that swept over the country. The excitement, while legitimate, focused way too much on the promise of racial reconciliation as if by his very existence racism is dead. However, anyone following the vitriol spewing from LGBT leaders in response to the news that 70% of black American voters in California supported Prop 8 will tell you that racism is far from dead.

Even looking beyond the wide-eyed dreams of race being a thing of the past, it has been difficult to muster up a conversation on what policies he will implement to address the economic crisis. The optimism is encouraging but it seems devastatingly blind as though Obama, once again by his very existence will change the world. In fact I would be very happy to never hear the words “change” or “hope” again.

Perhaps there is silence because the day-to-day issues affecting us are so pressing: Prop 8 in California, banning of affirmative action in Nebraska, and budget cuts in social services in New York to come into effect by the end of this month. We want to come together but for every bit of outrage we may exhibit towards a change in law or finance, there is someone else rejoicing.

Can people really come together in spite of their differences? Is that even necessary? The diversity conversation too often denigrates to the importance of friendships as if by being friends with someone different from me I suddenly have greater rights. It ignores one basic principal of diversity: we all don’t see things the same way. As a result we look to the government not only as the securer of inclusion but also as a supporter of exclusion.

So when Obama talks about bringing people together, he needs to emphasize the sacrifices that will need to be made and acknowledge that people view the world through various lenses that make coming together difficult. He alone can’t do much if people aren’t willing to stop passing the blame or being hateful when things aren’t going their way.

Obama has set a remarkable tone for what we can accomplish. Voting for him—an intellectual, a black man, a community organizer, an urbanite—while symbolic and I’m sure challenge for many was merely one step in a long journey toward economic and social recovery. It’s critical that we get more involved. We shouldn’t just be reading about his promises for the economy; rather we should be reading critical texts about economics in general. We shouldn’t just be looking to him for frank discussions about race; rather we should come face to face with our own prejudices and what fuels them.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Let’s Move from Sector Divisions to Sector Collaborations

2008-11-05T12:30:00.002-05:00

By Allison Jones

Last week I was interviewed by the Chronicle of Philanthropy about how non-profits and Generation Y can do well in a weak economy. After the interview I realized that while non-profits will certainly reach out to each other, too often we view the private sector and public sector as so far apart that we speak as though they are at war–fighting not only for employees but also for audiences and publicity.

Both sectors fulfill needs and serve a purpose. They are both equally diverse and this division makes it difficult for each sector to harness and share what makes them unique. Thus we must be aware that most businesses are not Lehman Brothers or Bank of America and most non-profits are not ACORN or Harvard. Most nonprofits and businesses are small and local resulting in a greater connection to the communities they serve and a greater need for cross-sector partnerships.

So let’s be collaborators and consultants to each other instead of competitors.

Private Sector:

Help nonprofits develop independent sources of revenue.
Partner on a project for the community that you both may serve–like a school and a bank offering financial literacy and homeowner workshops.
Give employees incentives to donate money and time–like matching donations or days off for community service.

Public Sector:

Encourage businesses to be transparent about their prices and products.
Create neighborhood guides for new businesses highlighting needs and areas for collaboration.
Invite business owners to community meetings and ensure that they feel like shareholders.

Both:

Stay abreast of political changes and how they affect giving.
Make collaborating part of your overall development strategy.

In the context of a weakening economy, more than money is at stake. Trust seems to evaporate as promises are broken and money is lost. When we collaborate and consult we act as stakeholders in each other’s operations and keep each other in check.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

All work and no play? Not at Experience.

2008-10-29T13:45:00.013-04:00

It seems there are several reasons to celebrate here in our office this week. Tuesday we celebrated a birthday, yesterday we said goodbye to a coworker and today we're opening our doors to family and friends for a Halloween party.

While we take our work very seriously, we do acknowledge that it is important to celebrate certain milestones and holidays. Don't worry, we don't get carried away with our celebrations. But after a long morning of work, it's nice to take a short break and share some cake in honor of a coworker's birthday.

What do you think? Is there room for celebrations in the workplace? Does your workplace celebrate birthdays? Holidays? Other milestones? How so?

Image by ProCorbis

Is green the answer?

2008-10-21T13:53:00.004-04:00

With the economy in its current state we are constantly hearing about job cuts. From GM to Yahoo to Ebay, it seems every industry is affected by the downturn. But an article in today’s Boston Globe reasons that there is hope for the future. And this hope comes in the form of green jobs.

Using California as an example, David Roland-Holst, author of the University of California at Berkeley’s study, explained that the state’s new mandates to curb greenhouse gases and further efficiency measures will increase jobs. In fact, the increase is estimated at 400,000 additional jobs, $48 billion in household income, and $76 billion in the state’s domestic product by 2020.

“If the country can follow California's example, it will have a dramatic effect on our future emissions and energy independence,” Roland-Holst said.

Several attempts have been made to project how many green jobs can be generated in the upcoming years. The US Conference of Mayors estimates that by shifting 40% of our electricity to wind, solar, biomass and other fuels 4.2 million green jobs could be created by 2038. Other estimates vary, but range between 2.5 and 4.2 million.

It sounds promising to me. But what do you think? Are green jobs our only hope?

Photo by greenjobsnow

A lesson from the Chinese...

2008-10-02T12:35:00.002-04:00

After spending two months working in China, I think there is definitely one thing we can learn from the Chinese (that is, aside from the whole ‘rest’ thing). Unlike their American counterparts, being a collectivist society, the Chinese are always operating with a ‘group first’ mentality.

This proved interesting when I first started working. When met with a challenge, I am quick to solve it. This did not go over well with my Chinese coworkers. The first time a journalist came to me with a problem, I solved it without hesitation. The second time it happened, my supervisor approached me. She told me that in the future I should consult the team before solving a problem. But what if I knew how to handle it on my own? I had to bite my tongue and turn to the group.

Now can you see how this could be somewhat frustrating? But once I accepted it, it was quite easy to adjust. I found myself constantly consulting my coworkers and figuring out better ways to address situations. I think I may have even improved my group communication. Turns out there are several ways to solve problems and I only realized this when I consulted the group and learned how each person tackles a situation. When everyone is making suggestions, you really can decide the best possible solution.

So while sometimes it’s just easier to do things on your own, it’s also worth consulting a group or team. Two, three or four brains are always better than one.

Photo by deSKOLtrolado

Chinese work culture: my observations

2008-09-18T14:17:00.006-04:00

As I said in my last post, during my time in Beijing this summer I worked at the Main Press Center with very few foreign volunteers. Because of this, I worked and interacted with mostly Chinese volunteers/workers. This made it very easy to pick up on the differences between our cultures, especially in the work environment.

The biggest difference between Chinese work culture and American work culture is found in the work ethic. I think I'm a pretty hard worker, but the Chinese have a different idea of being a hard worker. They work long hours, often shifts of 12 hours or more. I became friends with a couple of entrepreneurs who started a jewelry business. They claimed to work 12-hour days, seven days a week. I spoke to a few executives at CCTV who laughed when I told them most Americans work Monday thru Friday 9am-5pm. Even some Chinese people I met working in the hospitality industry admitted to working 60+ hours a week on average. And their excessive workloads were confirmed in my experiences with the Olympics. I worked 12-hour shifts every other day, and worked less than anyone in the MPC. My supervisors worked as many as 36 hours straight!

And not only do they work a lot of hours, but they work hard. One day I was working with five Chinese volunteers. Our supervisor came over and asked us to do something (first in Chinese and then in English). As I was waiting for the English translation, I was nearly a victim of a stampede as the Chinese volunteers ran by me in a full sprint. I thought maybe the instructions were to prepare for a fire drill, until my supervisor turned to me and gave me the menial task of putting stickers on the workstations. I simply said OK and WALKED (albeit fast) away to perform the task.

The Chinese work so hard that they need to take a rest afterwards. In fact, rest plays a critical role in the work day. After I completed a task, I was not asked, but ordered to "have a rest." Throughout the course of the day, it is quite common to see tons of Chinese workers having a rest. We even had beds in our back office. But bed or no bed, the Chinese workers find a place to rest.

And this didn’t just happen in our Olympic venue. I asked my friends and part of their 'work' day was spent sleeping! And even beyond the Olympics, I saw security guards, receptionists, and even taxi drivers (not driving) having a rest on the job.

Trust me, I am definitely not opposed to napping, but it seems strange getting some shut-eye at work. But I guess when you’re working as hard as they seem to be, you deserve a rest—even if it is on the job. Maybe corporate American should incorporate this into the workday, could you imagine the increase in productivity?

Community organizing is the one thing we ALL can support

2008-09-17T10:02:00.004-04:00

By Allison Jones

While I couldn't care less about Palin, Guiliani, or McCain, their comments regarding Obama’s experience as a community organizer got my fellow nonprofit employees fuming.

Aside from the fact that they will praise each other for their community involvement, (thus making their insults at Obama blatantly hypocritical) I have always assumed that the act of people taking their lives into their own hands and strengthening their neighborhoods was the one thing people across the political spectrum could agree on.

In fact community members and community organizers are the few people who tend to draw on public and private resources, disdaining dependence while demanding acknowledgment for their own activism and agency.

Community organizers are diverse, embodied by pastors who do what they can to feed those in need, to teachers who go out of their way to get parents involved in their children’s education, to tenants casting aside their fears and demanding fair treatment from their landlords. Community organizers and community members are the bedrock of this country.

I realize that their comments were merely cheap shots at Obama, but unfortunately those comments attack an identity that so many people –moved by frustration, injustice, or a genuine love of their neighborhood –take on with limited resources and experiences. At its core it reveals a disconnect from communities across the country and a disregard for how this country evolved in the first place.

However, what I do like about these comments is that they often require people to think about what community organizing means, what it looks like, and what it entails. These comments prompt reflection and hopefully will motivate people to support community organizing rather than tossing it around like an insult and dirty word.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Despite economy, student loans loosening up

2008-09-17T09:32:00.006-04:00

Seems like we keep sharing good news and not-so-good news on Student Loans. Here's the latest installment.

In Massachusetts, the state's Educational Financing Authority has come back from a summer hiatus, and will once again be able to provide students with loans. The agency had been negotiating for several months before getting approval to float a bond issue, which in turn will enable loans to proceed normally for the remainder of the 2008-2009 academic year.

On a federal level, the House has passed a bill (now going to the Senate) extending the education department's authority to shore up the federal guaranteed loan program to meet demand.

There has not been as much progress, unfortunately, with Sallie Mae, the corporation that has traditionally processed most student loans. They are still locked in a dispute over bidding for additional loans, and that is tying up a lot of would-be borrowers.

Guess who's back?

2008-09-11T16:23:00.005-04:00

Hey there. Remember me? I used to contribute fun and exciting posts to 3Gen. Well I’m back here at Experience, ready to start writing. But first I wanted to fill you in on what I’ve been up to during my hiatus.

I spent an incredible two months in Beijing this summer volunteering for the Olympics. Seriously. Thirty-three students from my school, Emerson College, were selected to participate. Twenty Emerson students were assigned to the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) as flash quote reporters for the Olympic News Service. Ten students covered different sports including softball, cycling, basketball, baseball and boxing. Lastly, three students were assigned to the Main Press Center (MPC), home to all the international and national journalists and photographers. I was in the last group, and initially wasn’t very happy about it.

What I originally chalked up as unfortunate luck turned out to be a blessing. The three of us were the only foreigners among 300+ Chinese volunteers working at the MPC. After the first week, we had alternating schedules which meant we never worked together. Instead, I worked every shift with a team of 8-10 Chinese volunteers.

Some of the benefits of my assignment (aside from the free tickets to events and the closing ceremonies) were my insights into the Chinese culture and work ethic. Stay tuned to read more about my experiences in China, specifically my observations about the Chinese work culture and environment.

How I made it through college in 3 days

2008-09-05T09:47:00.007-04:00

In my last semester of my senior year of college, I managed to schedule classes from 9 to noon, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. See, I thought I was just getting a great schedule which allowed time for school, work, and hmmm, non-work.

What I didn't realize was that I was actually way ahead of the times. How so? Well a number of schools are now adopting 4-day weeks to save on energy costs. Forget about the fringe benefits of no classes on Fridays, it means all those heating, air-conditioning and electrical costs are cut back dramatically.

A recent CNN story on Brevard Community College in Florida pointed out that the 4-day week saved the school $267,000 in energy costs over a one-year period. Translate that into both a more energy-efficient operation from a Green standpoint, and also savings for the college that could be redirected to classes and student programs.

The trend, and it certainly seems to be a trend, is spreading to schools across the country, and also moving "downward" to high schools and elementary schools, particularly in the northern areas of the country, where it's often done only during the coldest winter months.

Of course, what we need to work on next is convincing more schools AND workplaces to adopt those altered workweeks. Love to be able to recreate something close to my senior year schedule, wouldn't you? TGIF! No, really, TGIF!

If your school or your company has gone to this kind of revised schedule, tell us about it, OK?

Photo by pvera

It's time for colleges and universities to work together

2008-09-02T13:02:00.010-04:00

By Allison Jones

I was upset by this article in a Yahoo Column discussing the impact that the overwhelming amount of debt that college students are taking out has on their psychological and physical well being. On the on hand, many colleges have taken the lead on this issue and have greatly reduced the amount of loans they place on students. Harvard is the most famous of the universities taking such steps and I am incredibly proud that my alma mater, Haverford College, has also taken the lead among small liberal arts colleges to address this issue.

At the same time I have realized that the ability to give away millions of dollars to students is a privilege in and of itself that seems to only be occurring among elite schools. Interestingly these are also the colleges where graduates make the most money. Additionally, a sad reality is that these colleges often have strict admissions guidelines leaving out many students, often impoverished, who have not had the education and networks necessary to be admitted to these schools.

So instead of simply celebrating the slow yet necessary direction elite colleges and universities are taking to educate, why not move the discussion towards the the importance of colleges and universities reaching out to other colleges and universities?

Students and the country overall have a lot to gain from such collaborations.

1. The population served by colleges and universities is incredibly large and diverse resulting in greater impact: Some schools count a large number of students who are the first in their family to attend college while others reap in big money from legacy admissions. Given the diversity of constituency it is imperative that we are always aware of best practices and have access to the best resources so that everyone is capable of being healthy productive citizens.

2. The role of colleges and universities in society may be questioned, yet they are a necessity: As the economy fluctuates people will always question whether it is worth it to go to college. No matter which direction the debate goes, the importance of colleges and universities to society will always be critical. Scientific and social research is powered by colleges. Universities are places of personal and professional discovery and the power wielded by some schools truly knows no bounds. Some colleges set up high schools for teens while others have free health programs.

3. Pooling together resources means more resources to share: At the end of the day no matter how much money my school or schools like it promise to give, the economic diversity of these schools is low. That shouldn’t automatically result in poor access to education. Rather, it should result in more resources being shared to ensure that students have what they need to be successful. As mentioned above, what they offer to communities is incredibly valuable so it seens logical to extend these benefits to ther colleges that may be lacking them.

I’d like to start brainstorming actual steps colleges could take to working more with other colleges in an effort to reduce costs and making a better college experience for potential students. What are some examples of colleges working together well with other colleges? What have the results of such collaborations been? What are the drawbacks of this kind of relationship? How can we get schools interested in having this conversation put on the table?

However, colleges and universities appear exempt from this suggestion often doing what they can to make themselves stronger and more competitive than the next school. But as students take on more loans and hardly make enough money to pay back those loans, there has never been a greater time for colleges and universities to work together to educate our country. My biggest push for non profit organizations is for them to realize the importance of collaborations. In order to increase our resources and strengthen our ability to help others we can’t operate as though we live on an island and are the only ones who can address a particular issue.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Work to learn, work to earn

2008-08-26T12:56:00.012-04:00

Do you work? Do you also go to school? If your answer is yes to both questions, welcome to the majority.

According to a survey quoted in Newsday, 66 percent of college seniors last year said they worked while in school, compared with 59 percent in 2006. Those numbers, provided by the National Survey of Student Engagement, are only likely to rise this year along with increased tuition and other living costs. Another survey, from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, yielded nearly identical results, so for once the surveys are pretty consistent.

In our workplace, we have several interns who work to learn, but also work to earn. This is not a new tradition, but it's certainly becoming more entrenched as a part of school -- both undergrad and grad school.

On my way to a degree, I spent too many evenings doing things like turning out photos for people who dropped their film off at convenience stores to be developed and printed. (To this day, I still can't stand seeing photos of dogs dressed up in little hats and outfits, sorry!)

A relatively small number of institutions have really extensive work-study programs, and those are primarily for undergrads. For grad students, and for alumni (who often try to fit in courses around the jobs that pay the bills), you're probably on your own.

It'd be way too easy to say that student loans are the entire basis for this problem, or maybe the price of gas. Truth is, working while in school becomes a choice, a rite of passage. College should be accessible, but not easy, most people would agree. Making the tough decisions about working and paying as you go along, versus paying later, is part of the educational process.

Unless, of course, a close and loving family member hits Mega Millions.

Do you resent having to go to school AND work?

Image by Wildcard403. Original photo by foTommEn.

9 to 5: The workplace movie needs a new script

2008-08-20T09:17:00.006-04:00

Is a traditional 9 to 5 job a thing of the past? (They're turning the old workplace movie, 9 to 5, into a Broadway musical, so you may get a chance to see what life used to be like). Sorry if you're stuck in one of those jobs, or maybe congratulations. But it certainly is no longer the only way to work.

We talk a lot about changes in the workplace, with flextime and telecommuting becoming at least a significant part of how we work in and out of offices today, if not actually taking over as the norm. One problem seems to be that many of the changes are coming from the bottom up, with employees getting permission to be the exception, and to work a schedule that's not 9 to 5, Monday through Friday.

I used to work at a company that finished its workday promptly at 5 p.m., regardless. To enforce this, a security guard started walking through the open office spaces at 5:15, shutting off the lights (yes, really!).

Now this may have been done for the benefit of the employee, but for many of us who were trying to be more productive and finish our projects rather than punching out, it was weird, and a little demoralizing.

Values are relative, I guess, but it would be interesting to officially open up the possibilities a little more, letting project groups decide how best to get things done. And not have to get individual permission for finding creative ways to be more productive.

If you're in HR, have you tried to institute any changes like that? Do you think it's a good idea, regardless of whether you're in HR?

Casual Communication

2008-08-14T09:18:00.012-04:00

Hi, 'Potential Employer'-
I saw ur Asst. position available in The Boston Globe & wanted 2 let u know that i am def. interested in applying!! :) I would luv 2 send u my resume & cover letter… & am ready 2 come in 4 an interview asap. I have included my contact info. below. Plz let me know if u have ne questions.
-Thanx!
Jane Doe
janieloveseverybody@zoobuh.com

Can anyone spot something wrong (to say the least) about the pre-cover-letter email above? Or rather, spot the multiple errors? And no, this isn’t a photo-hunt game, no prizes… my apologies. If you were in the shoes of Mr./Mrs. 'Potential Employer' up there, would you ever in a million years hire this gal, Jane Doe? I think not. And unfortunately, it may not be because she lacks the smarts, ambition, or enthusiasm for her future role in the workplace – but more likely because she has been caught in the evil web of CASUAL communication. And oh how sticky it can be!

This problem seems to exist because of some of the many wonderful (?) advances in technology that we enjoy today: emails, text messages, and online social “networking” sites – such as Facebook and MySpace (it’s a hard-knock life, Gen Y). The problem also seems to exist because of pure laziness on behalf of the students and candidates applying… and quite simply, bad manners.

Sarah E. Needleman, of The Wall Street Journal discusses these exact issues in her article: Thx for the IView! I Wud ♥ to Work 4 U!! ;).

She reports how:

"An increasing number of job hunters are just too casual when it comes to communicating about career opportunities in cyberspace and on mobile devices. Thank yous on paper aren't necessary, but some applicants are writing emails that contain shorthand language and decorative symbols, while others are sending hasty and poorly thought-out messages to and from mobile devices. Incidents typically involve college students and recent graduates, and recruiters say such faux pas can be instant candidacy killers because they hint at immaturity and questionable judgment."

Nancy R. Mitchell, founder of The Etiquette Advocate lists twelve practical steps to follow for EZ Email Etiquette – part of her bi-weekly column on our website.

So I beg you, please put down your cell phones, close out any websites other than your email service and the one of the company that you are applying to (for research purposes), and write a complete sentence for crying out loud. Remember, you are not writing to your “BFF”, you are writing to your potential employer (if you keep your game-face on). *wink*

And call me old-fashioned, but am I the only one who sends hand-written thank you notes anymore? Perhaps that’s a question for another day.

Photo by: eron_gpsfs

Manners Matter

2008-08-13T09:46:00.008-04:00

By Allison Jameson

It wasn't until this past fall, when I attended a business etiquette training dinner that I fully understood how important manners and etiquette are. Jodi Smith, of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, came to Emerson to do a presentation on business dinner etiquette for our graduate program (Integrated Marketing Communication), and it was a great experience.

I was very impressed with everything that Mrs. Smith taught us, and all of what I learned can be applied to any business situation I find myself in, whether it be a lunch conference, or a fancy dinner with the bigwigs of a company.

During the presentation, we sat down to a three course meal and were guided through the dinner with specific tips on every aspect along the way. We learned how to fold and use the napkin, how to properly hold the silverware and eat each type of food, what and what not to order when out at a business dinner, how to pass the salt, and many other things.

All of these seem like manners one would learn growing up, but there are many technical aspects that I was unaware of until the presentation. You can easily get away with cutting your chicken wrong, or ordering a messy pasta dish when out with the family, but while at a professional dinner event or meeting, you won’t make it out alive with bad manners.

It is always important to be aware of how you are portraying yourself and the company you work for, so it is never too late to learn more on manners and etiquette. Check out this article from Experience on business etiquette, and start brushing up on your skills today!

Anyone have any bad manner horror stories?? Please share!

Photo by SdPanek

Green jobs, careers take top spot in survey

2008-08-13T09:26:00.007-04:00

A job is a job, as long as it's green.

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, but a survey this month by Experience, Inc., found that young professionals as well as students would rather work for companies that are more conscious of environmental concerns.

An overwhelming majority of Gen Y'ers surveyed -- 84 percent -- said they see the green movement as a major influence in their lifestyle and career choices. Other survey findings include:

81% say it is important to work for a green company -- meaning they are either green-friendly, green-conscious or green-certified
79% report that they would be more likely to accept a job offer at a green company over another company, when evaluating two similar job offers
16% currently work or intern at a green company

Millennials are the new face of today's workforce," according to Jenny Floren, founder and CEO of Experience. "Companies should clearly communicate their environmental commitments and socially responsible practices throughout all recruiting programs to attract the best talent."

Would you extend your next job search until you found a green job or green companies?

Get your heads out of your past!

2008-08-11T12:04:00.009-04:00

Knowing full well that Gen Y is more tech-savvy than any generation that's come before it, why do so many companies ignore that resource?

A couple of weeks ago, Allison wrote in this space about the advantages GY'ers (especially GY women) can offer because of their lifelong tech and social networking skills. So what happens when they hit the business world?

They're shoehorned into doing thing only in a certain, well-prescribed way, even though that "way" may be ignoring all the newer possibilities. If Facebook has opened socialization to go beyond networking, but now includes sharing technology and tech knowledge, why not take advantage of it? (Side note: that's exactly what the internet was originally designed to do -- share technical knowledge).

In a recent CNET article, Tony Speakman of database company Filemaker said, ""We've all got e-mail, and we've all got access to the Internet, and so we probably tend to think we're completely up to date.

"But what we've tended to do in many businesses is we've automated a paper process rather than necessarily look at the capability of the technology that you have and ask if there are even more efficient ways to use it," he said."

So what can be done? Companies can get their heads out of the 20th Century and start thinking creatively about how employee skills can help. They can do regular employee check-ins of what skills are available and how they may be used. And then they can take make a priority out of finding ways to let employees -- especially GY'ers, but not limited to them -- use those skills as part of their jobs. Maybe it would even help the employees feel more valued, and help with employee retention.

Go on, I want to hear some legitimate arguments as to why that can't be done. Or shouldn't be done. Go on, tell me why...

Photo by DMBFreakNo41

Student loans -- crunch, crunch!

2008-08-08T10:27:00.005-04:00

For several months student loans have continued to mirror other types of loans, with less money available to fewer people. Over the past couple of months, we've seen privately-issued loans from companies such as Wachovia and Bank of America, disappear.

At the same time, an increasing number of state-funded loan programs such as New Hampshire and Massachusetts have simply dried up.

Realizing the need to provide loans to insure education remains accessible in these times of sky-high tuitions, there's a lot of action going on to help alleviate the situation. In Massachusetts, bonds are being issued to fund undergrad loans. To help make the bonds successful, and to make money immediately available, the governor is seeking investments in these bonds from groups as diverse as the state pension fund and Harvard University.

And schools are scurrying to provide information to students and parents about other sources of money, such as federally subsidized loans.

So the news is not all good, but it's very clear that people in government and education are working to alleviate some of these issues as quickly as possible. For more information, see the federal student loans website.

Early retirement – for women only?

2008-08-05T13:30:00.007-04:00

Along with all the other side effects of an economy gone bad, add women’s jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of women in the workforce has been decreasing steadily over the past several years.

At first this was chalked up to social reasons such as delayed motherhood, but a recent NY Times article quoted Congressional economists who changed their minds and tied the downturn directly to the economy.

Dealing with layoffs and job “restructuring” is always difficult for anyone. For women (some of whom are the first generation in the workplace), it’s particularly discouraging – especially if they had to fight for job or wage equality in the first place.

Rather than backsliding to entry-level or service jobs, many women seem to choose the option of dropping out. This is particularly true for women who find the only jobs available in the current economy won’t handle the high costs of day care providers.

This gets really intense for all the economic borderline sectors such as single women (with or without children), older women, and women in those blue-collar communities heavily affected by the bad times. Even families – facing higher living costs overall and skyrocketing college tuitions – are struggling with the loss of a large portion of income as women are dropping out.

Economists are good at looking in their rear view mirrors, but looking ahead? Not so much. If this “trend” continues, I’ll make a prediction – diverse workplaces will take the biggest hit of all, by far. And it'll affect you and me.

What’s your prediction?

Photo: Library of Congress

Putting your best face (?) forward

2008-07-31T14:48:00.012-04:00

So, imagine that it’s the day of your job interview (dun dun dun). You’re anxious, excited… possibly even sweating! You’ve done all that you can to prepare, including having sent your resume and cover letter to your future (wink) employer ahead of time – and most likely they’ve already reviewed it thoroughly, because that’s why you’ve even made it this far. But you’re thinking, “I’m so nervous! If only there was a way besides the dreaded first interview that I could represent myself? – A more relaxed environment, where I could still display my professional skills, all rolled up in to one.”

Enter the idea of a Video Resume. Although 2008 is not the official birth of this debated innovation (having been available through some websites for over a year now), it is certainly getting more attention lately, as once again Generation Y has entered the work scene with a bang. Gen Y’ers not only seem to have new technology running through their blood, but the desire for potential employers to offer, as well as accept every tech-savvy advancement available on the market.

FutureResume.com markets themselves as “the future of first impressions.” I’m not convinced though, that this is the ideal way to put your best foot forward. Take this video resume for example. Sure, at first I started to view it with an open mind… but as soon as the “show and tell” session began, and six minutes later ended with a short dance (with music), I had to assume that this was NOT the best way to approach potential employers (not to mention the fact that it has been posted on YouTube).

John Zappe’s article reviews FutureResume’s website launch, and their hard sell on video resumes, saying:

“FutureResume will accept do-it-yourself candidate and employer videos, or jobseekers in the Los Angeles area can come in to the FutureResume office to have a video shot there for $100. Employers can have FutureResume make a video for them for $500, plus monthly posting charges.”

Perhaps a better money-making tool than self-marketing tool? You decide…

Just keep this in mind… if you do decide that creating your own video resume is the path that you want to explore when applying for your next job, check out these tips on Video Resume Etiquette.

For more tips and tools on how to create a more traditional resume, click here!

Photo by: SOCIALisBETTER

Generation “bursty"?

2008-07-29T16:54:00.013-04:00

When I first read that Gen Y’ers (like myself) may now be referred to as “bursty” workers, I wasn’t sure whether to feel proud or offended? The term still makes me raise an eyebrow, while at the same time feel explosive… like I’m BURSTING on to the work scene (or perhaps it could be the Red Bull that I’m currently enjoying).

In any sense, Holly Hoffman’s smart article, Generation Y: Not Slackers, Just Sprinters. You Know, “Bursty” analyzes a modern presentation by Stephen Collins, I Am Knowledge Worker 2.0, where he defines both “bursty” and “busy” workers – and all that they encompass.

Hoffman rephrases Collins’ thoughts:

“Bursty workers are what we often define ourselves as in the Gen Y set. We may not look like we’re doing work, but we are. We might be at a café, chatting with coworkers in other departments, on Twitter… all the while, we are collecting information in our minds. We’re generating ideas; we’re rolling them around in our heads, working out the kinks.”

So, does this confirm that I shouldn’t feel like a slacker because I’m currently checking my personal email, scouring YouTube for some potential blog video links, networking through my LinkedIn account, eating a piece of cake from a surprise Birthday party that we just had… while at the same time trying to produce a somewhat cohesive blog here? I think that I look/sound pretty busy, actually!

Hoffman goes on to write…

“Bursty workers are called such because they tend to have highly productive bursts in which the majority of their work gets accomplished. They don’t want to be at a desk very often. They can often do in 30 hours what a busy worker will accomplish in 40. They surf the Web, they don’t keep normal office hours, they place importance on connecting with other departments and companies outside of their own, and they don’t mind failure.”

So, the real question here is, will “bursty” and “busy” workers ever truly understand eachother? (Can’t we all just get along?) More importantly, I, along with Hoffman both came to the realization that our work “styles” have now been identified, and can hopefully be accepted as well as valued. I'd suggest that you strive for the same! Because at the end of the day (or at midnight, when you are still staring at your computer screen because your work just isn’t finished yet) – it is really key to complete your work, complete it successfully and with you best effort… and to balance your work-style with that of those around you (whether you deem yourself “bursty”, “busy” or “other”).

On that note, I’ll leave you with this statement from Holly Hoffman:

“A problem with Gen Y’s work ethic? It’s not Gen Y. And it’s not a problem.”

For more insightful articles about the work-place, careers, as well as other industry tips and tools – check out Experience’s section on Office Culture!

Photo by: David Sifry

Yes, Jenna is Alive!!

2008-07-29T15:16:00.008-04:00

As you may or may not know, fellow intern and blogger, Jenna has been in

China

since the beginning of July. Jenna went along with 34 other Emerson College students to work side-by-side with professional staff to cover Olympic events, to provide background information to the media on athletes and competitions and to create materials for the international press.

Jenna has been very busy, but did find time to update us on what she has been up to so far while in China. Here’s what she’s done (sounds awesome!):

Visited the Forbidden City
Visited Tiananmen Square
Climbed the Great Wall
Eaten at the most famous Peking Duck restaurant in Beijing
Walked around the Ming Tombs and the Summer Palace
Seen a Beijing Opera
Blogged for Emerson, for her hometown newspaper, and for the Tampa Tribune
Found some awesome coffee shops in Beijing that totally put Starbucks to shame.

She starts working full-time this week, working two 12-hour days in a row, then having one off, and then two on again until the end of August.

Jenna is missed here at Experience, but we are all very excited and happy for her to be in Beijing!

Image by

Trying to brainstorm in a bubble

2008-07-28T06:55:00.007-04:00

By Allison Jones

Since working at a school I have had to deal with the lack of access to the internet and social media tools. The bans on websites and downloads are put in place mainly to ensure that students using the computers don't visit inappropriate websites and download items that can be harmful to the computer and to the entire system. However, it is making it difficult for me to work since I have spent a great deal of time integrating social media into my work.

For example, I can't use delicious to bookmark and categorize websites that give great ideas for lesson plans, outreach, and fundraising, nor can I search other people’s bookmarks and see what they have come up with. All blogs are banned which means I can't keep up-to-date on what my favorite bloggers in the nonprofit and education sectors are doing. I can't download google desktop to help me search, take notes, and set tasks. Even if a website’s address is too long, I’m unable to open it.

While these are minor inconveniences for some, they make working difficult for me. Over the past year the internet and social media have provided the following benefits:

a. I can share what I discover: Not just with other people over the internet, but also with coworkers. By sending them a link with great information or having everyone set up a google calendar, we can all be on the same page and better exchange ideas.

b. I can access information from anywhere: If I need to leave my office for some reason, I can access what I have been working on via the internet, thus making it accessible from any computer.

c. I can learn more: The internet has changed my approach to learning; I can research terms and bounce ideas off of people making learning something that can occur at any time in any place that has access to the world wide web.

Essentially the change in internet access has required me to change my work style, which has not been easy. Brainstorming in a bubble is not nearly as useful as brainstorming in an online community. And bookmarking in IE (since I can't download Firefox) while as simple as pressing two buttons is not as easy to organize and is impossible to share.

In many ways, my work has become localized. The benefit of this is that it is easier for me to create boundaries between work and personal life now that my work cant follow me around on the information super highway. On the other hand, having to use several word documents and pen and paper to organize my notes is taking more time than I anticipated. Yet while my porductivity may be suffering my creativity is being given the boost it needs. Limited internet it has forced me to:

a. Reevaluate how I will get certain projects done that I have been planning (like my “Why I love My School” Project done completely with different types of media showcased online);

b. Realize that many people simply don't use to internet as much as I do, requiring me to reach them differently;

c. Take my time completing projects since their completion and presentation requires the usage of hard copy resources that are hard to come by in a money strapped school.

In other words, I have had to reapproach my work. The job I do inherently requires creativity and resourcefulness–not just in terms of what kind of work I do, but how I do my work. So while work may take longer, the quality may also be better overall.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Onboarding: Sink or swim in the office pool?

2008-07-24T11:23:00.008-04:00

When starting a new job, remember that you’re not the only one making a first impression… because, your new company should be stepping up to the pressure plate as well.

Employee “onboarding” or orientation as we used to call in the olden days, has become a major responsibility in most Human Resources departments – and for some very good reasons. Not only are more and more Gen Y’ers breaking on to the work scene (who ahem, seem to require the red carpet to be rolled out – don’t look at me!) but more simply – the faster, more welcomed and well-prepared new employees are from day one, the more successful the company will be!

If you’d like to get your own on a more successful employee onboarding plan, even if you are an employee yourself – here are a few tips:

· The Cocktail Hour: Have all new employees meet and shake hands with every current employee at the company (to put a face to the name).

· Make sure that when going back to the cubicle, that there is a printed-out list of the very same people, with their titles (and perhaps even a brief description of their department & job as well). This will ensure that after a week or so, the new employee feels quite comfortable with their new co-workers (because we wouldn’t want to confuse the CEO with someone else while making small-talk at the water-cooler, now would we?!)

· The Observation Deck: Some employers tend to think that having new employees sit in on daily/weekly meetings might be a waste of time (since they are not totally onboard yet). I believe that this is foolish, and that from day two all new employees should just jump right into all meetings. It will help to make them feel like a part of the team, but even more so – to hear what projects are in the works.

· Just Say No to Binders: So, I realize that when starting in any new position, there is plenty-o-documentation to review, deep into the night. Even though a lot of it will not even register in your brain until the third read, save it someplace (hence, the point of a new employee handbook or documentation binder). I would caution against too many binders or too many documents for a new employee to review, so it won’t turn into paper overload! Even better, go over the documentation with the new employee, instead of just sending them to read it by themselves. It’s called one-on-one contact!

· Eat, (don’t drink) & Be Merry: For my last tip, I would simply suggest something fun and more personal… such as going out to lunch with the new employee as a team or department. This can be a great way to get to know each other on a basis outside of your work-lives (think back to college orientation ice-breakers), and usually provides a more relaxed and enjoyable environment to laugh and share stories with – both personally and professionally. After all, we’re all human, right?!

But don’t just take my word for it (and certainly DO NOT take Michael Scott’s lead). Instead, here is a great employee onboarding checklist that I found, available on money-zine.com. Check it out – and jump right into that new office pool with confidence (or at least make sure that you’re getting everything that you need, as the new kid).

Photo by: patrick dentler

Don't waste your college degree

2008-07-21T09:02:00.000-04:00

Jobs, economy, career issues -- always on my mind, and probably yours as well. But a show-stopper I saw this week was a WSJ article on "The Declining Value of Your College Degree."

There are no guarantees in life, everybody knows that. And a college degree (and beyond) tremendously increases your lifetime earnings -- everybody knows that, too. But knowing that simply having a degree won't insure a steadily rising income -- or even a job for you -- is tough to swallow.

This is not to say you'll never face a layoff (you probably will!) or be forced to take a job for less money (equally possible). During the dot-com bust a few years ago, I joined the tens of thousands of college-educated professionals who had to deal with those realities. What did I do? I took those skills and changed industries -- same job, different sector.

Self-defense, as outlined in the WSJ article, is key -- diversify, as they say in the investment world. When applying for a new job, it's not unusual to hear a prospective employer ask how you've kept up your skill levels (and you MUST have an answer for this question).

It's easier to do if you start now, while you are still employed, and the rules are pretty basic. First, network like crazy. Join professional organizations, social organizations, take new courses, keep current or learn additional skills. Would it make sense for you to try out a little freelance work, a volunteer gig, maybe even a (very) small business venture? Absolutely!

Now you'll have a plan, now you'll have more confidence in your ability to stretch, and now you'll be better able to withstand tough times -- making the most out of that college degree of yours.
Photo by CarbonNYC

Happy workplaces II

2008-07-18T09:54:00.004-04:00

Several weeks back, we asked you whether your workplace was a happy one. While most said yes, many of you suggested it could be better.

My parents always said that if you feel good, the people around you will, also. Can that translate into a happier workplace, and how?

Socialization is number one -- the more common activities you share, the better people tend to feel. Celebrating birthdays and other personal or professional milestone events is not a new concept, but it's one of those small things that makes a difference. Form a committee, help organize other group activities, start up a new (or work on an existing) internal newsletter -- department, division or company. Suggest and solicit other team-building ideas -- everybody has at least one.

But "what about me?" you say (it always comes back to you, doesn't it). Lots of possibilities here. First, can you do anything about your schedule -- start work earlier or later to avoid commuting hassles? Is telecommuting on a regular or semi-regular basis a possibility for you?

Speaking of commuting, can you walk at least part of the way to work -- possibly from a train station that's not as close to your workplace? You'll get some fresh air and exercise, feel better, and maybe you and a few colleagues could walk together -- which will be something else to share.

What do you do to make your workplace a happier place?

Generation Y Women at Their Best

2008-07-17T10:00:00.001-04:00

By Allison Jameson

Today, women of generation Y (yes, that’s me!) who can bring our social networking skills and technology-friendly attitudes into a workplace definitely have an advantage. Many organizations today are looking for people who are tech savvy and who know how to utilize social websites to the company’s advantage.

Being a woman of Gen Y, I have a definite edge over some older workers who don’t have the computer knowledge and technology exposure that I do when looking for a job.

Growing up, technology was all around me and each day there was something new to try or to have. This wasn’t the case for older generations as there weren’t social networking sites, iPods, or even high tech cell phones.

I know many baby boomers and even some generation X'ers (I won’t mention any names, but you know who you are) who barely know how to use a computer, and the idea of text messaging baffles them. Now it’s not their fault, they just weren’t exposed to these kinds of technologies growing up, so it wasn’t the norm for them.

The new norm is that companies are using social networking and collaboration tools as standard business strategies. This allows us Gen Y women to use our social and tech skills to build software applications and work together with colleagues across the country, even if we aren’t IT majors.

Social networking and Internet communication is also effecting how Gen Y women hear about and find jobs. During my internship search for this summer I found many internship postings through my school website and on the Internet.

In fact, I heard about this internship through a classmate who sent me a message on Facebook. I corresponded with her through Facebook, and then finally sent an e-mail with my resume attached to Ken (my boss) and was e-mailed back to come in for an interview. The rest is history!

Image by: lightfusio

Getting off to a good start at a nonprofit

2008-07-16T14:32:00.003-04:00

By Allison Jones

Last Monday I started my position as Development Director at a catholic school in Manhattan. My first week has been absolutely amazing. My focus this summer will be on advertising and recruitment for the school so I have been thinking of creative ways to do to outreach. The great thing is that since I work at a school, the hours are shorter during the summer and the work load is lighter, so I have had the opportunity to get adjusted at a comfortable pace.

To make the first week productive and exciting I made sure to do a few things that would allow me to become as involved as possible in my nonprofit organization:

1. Get to know the neighborhood: What stores, organizations, and resources are nearby? If you work in a nonprofit like I do, you know the critical value of partnerships and coalitions in an effort to not only save money but also increase access to resources. Build community by getting to know the community.

2. The key people aren’t just the managers: In all of the discussions about turn over in the nonprofit world, rarely is it highlighted how maintenance and administrative staff members tend to stick around for long periods of time. They will be the ones to give you insight on where to go and who to talk to if you need something.

3. The secretary runs the building: You know this as soon as you walk in or talk to your immediate supervisor. Any time you have a question, the secretary will be the one to answer it as they have access to everything and, as mentioned before, they tend have been around longer than the managers so can be more helpful in getting you adjusted to the organization and the neighborhood.

4. Learn someone else’s job: One of the benefits of working at a small nonprofit is that I have access to everyone. Last year at my old job, I walked over to the development office to introduce myself and asked people what their responsibilities were (since I had no clue what “development” meant). Their descriptions intrigued me so I learned more about the field, pushing me deeper into nonprofit work and the various opportunities available. I would have never learned this had I sat at my desk in my department. Now I work with the principal and am always asking her questions about her responsibilities and what her days are like.

5. Come with questions: One thing I have learned in the past year is that we can't always expect for there to be work for us to do. Our supervisors, while expecting us on a particular day may be so consumed with their won work that they forget to give us some introductory tasks to get us used to the organization. So come with questions that will help guide you in planning your work week, aside from getting to know people and the area. A good one is “What are some pressing needs that I can address?” Asking questions that assess the needs of an organization allow you brainstorm better solutions.

Allison Jones graduated from Haverford College in 2007. She chronicles her life as a newbie in the professional world at Entry Level Living.

Finding my niche

2008-07-14T16:15:00.001-04:00

By Tasha Naatz

The other day as I flashed around one of my fancy new business cards, which reads Tasha Naatz … Entrepreneurial Associate, I thought “Wow, I’m pretty impressive!” But then, (with the help of a sharp jab to my ribs, from the oblivious man standing next to me on the train), the reality of what I'm doing came crashing in.

Experience’s Entrepreneurial Associate’s Program is a truly unique opportunity for recent college graduates or young professionals (ahem, such as myself), to develop business skills - by working in every division of the company and creating different independent projects with the guidance of mentors. The EA then moves on to find their “niche” within…and pursues that dream happily ever after! (well, you get the gist).

Considering that our company’s mission is to help students explore careers, why wouldn’t we have a program that helps promote the future careers of some of our own employees internally. Brilliant idea, right? I concur.

And, apparently so did the folks at ABC Nightline News as well! So they came over to our “place” and filmed a story on Jon Cifuentes, a recent graduate applying for another open position within this very program. Check out this segment for an extraordinary look at how he interviewed for the job.

Jenny Floren, CEO and Founder of Experience, holds this program in very a special light herself.

“The EA program brings the mission of Experience to life, which is why it’s so important to me on a personal level. The ability to allow new grads the opportunity to explore various career paths and discover the direction that offers the best fit is the mission of our company – and I love that we have demonstrated that we can do that while at the same time creating enormous value for our business by incorporating their perspectives and contributions to important projects all across our company.

"Additionally, I think this program will serve as a breakthrough model for other employers to follow because it demonstrates a way companies can truly optimize the performance and contribution of entry-level hires.”

So, I’m pleased to say that I’ll be the next product of this characteristic program… and you’ll just have to keep tabs on me to see where I land next!

Tasha Naatz is an Entrepreneurial Associate at Experience, trying to find her "true calling". She has defined herself as a true anglophile, for she studied and worked abroad in London, though she has also ventured to eight other countries! Tasha's goal for the summer? To have a "good" hair day after her daily, overheated/overcrowded "T" commutes.

Empty cubes and the 300-pound gorilla

2008-07-09T16:19:00.008-04:00

Call it AltWork. Alternative working conditions, especially telecommuting, seem to be the hot topic this week (and I say that knowing that it's cooled down to 88 degrees outside).

The obvious disconnect between gas prices and the reality of new ways of working keeps resurfacing, and a lot of people seem to be looking in their proverbial rear-view mirrors to predict the future of the workplace. Not us.

Offices are not what they were 20 or 30 years ago, nor should they be. Telecommuting (along with accompanying practices such as flextime, project-based work, and virtual communities) really seems to be what's evolving.

Now the 300-pound gorilla is about to enter the room. The U.S. House of Representatives just passed a Telework bill a few weeks ago, and that's a huge step. (The Senate still has to work out more details, but there's no real opposition, apparently!)

If you don't think this is important, think again. If the federal government institutionalizes a telework policy for its employees, you can absolutely take it for granted that private industry will follow. That means us, and that means a lot of changes possible over the next few years.

What's truly amazing about all this is the timetable -- just a few years ago, only a relative handful of technology firms really elevated telecommuting to a standard practice. Now, it's us.

Is your company likely to implement telecommuting any time soon. Are you already doing it regularly (and how is it going)?

Dear Boss, I have an appointment with life

2008-07-08T09:27:00.007-04:00

By Tasha Naatz

It happens to all of us… a doctor’s appointment, dentist appointment – LIFE appointment! And recently having to go to the RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles), I pondered and experienced first-hand the question of “How to balance a personal life during normal, 9-5 business hours… and oh, a job too?!”

As hard as we try, we just can’t take care of all of our personal appointments during weeknights and weekends, especially when most of the businesses we are dealing with close right at the same time we finish work! These so-called “errands” become chores that spill over into our workweeks… where we somehow now have to find and ask for the time from our bosses and busy schedules for “permission.”

So, the other day as I Iooked down at my RMV waiting-line ticket, that read, “56 people before you” -– I thought, 1) This is going to take hours until I get back to work, and 2) If I am already getting the time off to take care of one personal appointment, how am I going to convince my boss that I also have to go to my doctor next week?!

I came up with this, not-so-shabby list of suggestions: (Because let’s face it, I had plenty of time)

1. COMMUNICATE! Talk to your HR department, other colleagues and yes, even (and especially) your supervisor, about how to best go about taking some time off, before the day actually comes. This way everybody’s expectations are clear, and there are no surprises when you’re looking for the time off.

2. Do your best to take care of any and all personal appointments outside of work. I know, my whole premise has been that off-hour appointments are basically not possible. But attempting to do this will only ensure that your time to have to ask off from work will be limited.

3. If and when you do need some time off, whether it’s a few hours, an extended lunch-hour, or a whole day – prove to your boss that you’re not just looking to get off easy and try to make up those hours somewhere else. Or, depending on what you found out in suggestion #1… perhaps even use a “personal/vacation” day off, if needed.

4. RELAX! Most employers are definitely more open to letting their employees take some time off here and there to take care of personal appointments than we might think, after all, they usually need to do the same things. So, don’t fret – just don’t make it a habit. Life happens!

Lauren, a wise colleague, offered a few great thoughts on the subject, as well: “As long as you remember to be as organized as you can, really communicative to your teammates and boss, as well as reasonable - I think every person in the 9-5 work environment realizes how important it is to take the time needed for personal matters as they arise. Productivity and contentment in your personal life is absolutely related to, and carries over to your productivity and contentment at work.”

Let’s face it, if you’re counting on a paycheck, the work is never going to end… and unless you’re a superhero, most likely you’re going to eventually have to ask for some time off from work for a personal appointment or two. So, it’s just about finding a nice, harmonious work-life balance (or, a personal assistant). And as for me, I may have tackled the RMV this time… but now it’s on to City Hall!

Tasha Naatz is an Entrepreneurial Associate at Experience, trying to find her "true calling". She has defined herself as a true anglophile, for she studied and worked abroad in London, though she has also ventured to eight other countries! Tasha's goal for the summer? To have a “good” hair day after her daily, overheated/overcrowded “T” commutes.