Career Building

Your Total Handbook for Finding a Job and Making It Work

Editors of CareerBuilder.com

• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books
• Year: 2009
• ISBN:
  9780061971129
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Careers

Your one-stop guide to finding a job, navigating the corporate ladder, and leaving when the time is right

Did you know that:

• 60% of hiring managers will offer a higher salary if asked?
• 14% of workers have used happy hour to get ahead?
• 66% of businesses monitor Internet use?
• 77% of workers feel burnout on the job?

From the experts at CareerBuilder.com, America's largest online job site, comes a complete handbook for career domination. Whether it's answering the questions the interviewers are really asking, making the most of your performance reviews, or quitting with great references and without burning bridges, Career Building explains it all. This book offers everything from job hunting basics to hiring manager secrets, office survival advice to career change suggestions, workplace statistics to sample resignation letters, and more. Whether you're looking for your first job or your fortieth, or you're just eager to move up the ranks at your current company, this is the one and only guide you need to create the career you've always wanted.

Section Two

TOUGH LOVE AT WORK—WORKPLACE FUNDAMENTALS

Whether it took you six days or six months, you’ve got the job. Now you need to make it work.

Gone are the days of private offices and martini lunches. These days work is all about the three Cs: cubicles, computers and collaboration. We’re working in tighter quarters, communicating non-stop with everything from texting to teleconferencing and having a whole lot of togetherness with longer work hours spanning into longer happy hours.

More than ever, the way you act affects not only your reputation as an employee and a co-worker, but also your career progression. Do you know what’s acceptable and what’s not? Should you really be fighting with your boyfriend (who’s also your co-worker) in the copy room? What would your boss say if she knew you were spending more time IM-ing your BFF than working on those weekly reports? And are you seriously wearing that to the office?

Perhaps you need an intro, a refresher or a major intervention. Cultivating your career and managing a positive, professional reputation depends on many things, so here’s a crash course in the most important.

Chapter 6

WORK 101

There are some things every worker should know. Unfortunately, many of these things—like keeping a somewhat orderly desk or turning off your ringtone during a meeting—are long forgotten after you’ve gotten comfortable in your new surroundings. Here’s a primer.

I. YOUR FIRST DAYS ON THE JOB

Now that the excitement of landing that coveted job has tempered a bit, you may be feeling some anxiety anticipating those first days. It’s only normal. After all, you’re jumping headfirst into new surroundings, meeting all new people and facing many new challenges. Follow these tips and you’ll lay the groundwork for success at your new job:

SHOW UP ON TIME. Don’t think because you are new you will just blend into the woodwork and no one will notice if you’re a little tardy. Nothing says, “I’m a slacker,” like arriving late for your first days on a new job. If you can, even show your face a little early.

DRESS APPROPRIATELY. First impressions can be lasting. Just because you’re not wowing them in the interview anymore, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dress to impress. Rather than have to work twice as hard to erase the image of the rumpled or dirty shirts you wore your first week, knock ’em dead with a clean, polished look. (Not to mention that many ID photos are often taken on the first day, so this will ensure a headshot you’ll be proud of.)

MEET YOUR CO-WORKERS. Make an effort to remember names. Nothing is more inviting than being greeted personally. Try to learn the names of your colleagues, including support staff, and you’ll make friends fast. A good trick is to repeat that person’s name when you meet him or her and associate the name with something familiar.

LISTEN. One of the best ways to learn is to listen. Consider yourself a blank slate and take note not only of information you hear in formal meetings, but also of the little nuggets shared during casual breaks or in the lunchroom.

ASK QUESTIONS. Not only does asking questions give you visibility at meetings and involve you in discussions, it’s a great way to learn and demonstrate your industry knowledge.

GET INVOLVED. Even if it’s just organizing a lunch meeting or a happy hour, head up a project to get your name out there and meet some of your co-workers.

COMMUNICATE. Communication is very important not only in your first few days, but every day. Just about every company has “unwritten rules,” so don’t be afraid to ask your co-workers for advice. And make sure you keep your boss apprised of your current projects and let her know if there is a particular project on which you’d like to work. You can’t expect people to read your mind.

AVOID GOSSIP. Don’t get sucked into the rumor mill. Because you’re new and still relatively unknown, some colleagues may feel more comfortable venting to you. Don’t respond or give unspoken credence to the barbs by laughing, nodding or displaying exaggerated facial expressions.

STAY PAST QUITTING TIME. Even though you may not have a lot of work to do yet, it couldn’t hurt to stay a few minutes after the whistle blows. Don’t shut down your computer at 4:59; rather stay 10 to 15 minutes after quitting time to show your commitment.

BE UPBEAT. These first days can be awkward, confusing and full of doubt. But don’t let it get you down. Begin and end each day with a smile and a cheerful greeting. Your positive attitude will brighten the office.

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POP QUIZ: What do hiring managers say is the biggest mistake new college grads make their first three months on the job?

A) Late to work

B) Negative attitude

C) Too much time on personal business

D) Not asking questions

ANSWER: ALL OF THE ABOVE. When asked what the biggest mistake a new grad can make on a new job, 12 percent of hiring managers said being late to work and another 12 percent said a negative attitude. Eleven percent said spending too much time on personal matters and 9 percent said not asking questions.

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II. CAREER POISON

You already know how long it can take to find the right job—yet it takes just days or weeks to lose it. There are some major deal-breakers in any workplace, whether in the boardroom or on the sales floor. Beginning on day one, here are the most important career killers to avoid.

Possessing poor people skills

A little likeability can go a long way. A study by the Harvard Business Review found that people consistently and overwhelmingly prefer to work with likeable, less-skilled co-workers than with highly competent jerks. Researchers found that if employees are disliked, it’s almost irrelevant whether they’re good at what they do, because other workers will avoid them.

Not being a team player

No one feels comfortable around a prima donna. And organizations have ways of dealing with employees who subvert the team. Just ask former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens, who was suspended for the 2005 season after repeatedly clashing with and taking public shots at his teammates and management. Show you’re a team player by making your boss look like a star and demonstrating that you’ve got the greater good of the organization at heart.

Missing deadlines

If the deadline is Wednesday, first thing Thursday won’t cut it. Organizations need people they can depend on. Missing deadlines is not only unprofessional, it can play havoc with schedules and make your boss look bad. When making commitments, it’s best to under-promise and over-deliver. Pull an all-nighter if you have to. It’s that important.

Conducting personal business on company time

Although there are going to be times when you have to spend a little more of your workday on personal matters, the company e-mail and phone systems are meant to be used for company business. Keep personal phone calls brief and few—and never take a call that will require a box of tissues to get through. Also, never type anything in an e-mail that you don’t want read by your boss; many systems save deleted messages to a master file. And we can’t tell you how many poor souls have gotten fired for hitting the “Reply All” button and disseminating off-color jokes—or worse yet—rants about their boss for all to see.

Isolating yourself

Don’t isolate yourself. Develop and use relationships with others in your company and profession. Those who network effectively have an inside track on resources and information and can more quickly cut through organizational politics. Research shows effective networkers tend to serve on more successful teams, get better performance reviews, receive more promotions and be more highly compensated. No-brainer, right?

Having a casual office fling

Office romances are tricky. On a good day, they end up as a long-term commitment; on a bad day, they can make tabloid editors blush. It’s best to keep these private because, once out in the open, there can be consequences. If you become involved with your boss, your accomplishments and promotions will be suspect; if you date a subordinate, you leave yourself open to charges of sexual harassment. And if it ends badly, you’re at risk of everyone knowing about it and witnessing the unpleasantness.

Fearing risk or failure

If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. Have a can-do attitude and take risks. Instead of saying, “I’ve never done that,” say, “I’ll learn how.” Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes. If you do mess up, admit it and move on. Above all, find the learning opportunities in every situation. Remember, over time, risk-aversion can be more hazardous to your career than error.

Having no goals

Failure doesn’t come from not reaching your goal, but in not having a goal to reach. Set objectives and plan your daily activities around achieving them. Eighty percent of your effectiveness comes from 20 percent of your activities. Manage your priorities and focus on those tasks that support your goals.

Neglecting your image

Fair or not, appearance counts. People draw all kinds of conclusions from the way you present yourself. So don’t come to work poorly groomed or in inappropriate attire. Be honest, use proper grammar and avoid slang and expletives. You want to project an image of competence, character and commitment.

Being indiscreet

Cubicles, hallways, elevators, bathrooms—even commuter trains—are not your private domain. Be careful where you hold conversations and what you say to whom. Don’t tell off-color jokes, reveal company secrets, gossip about co-workers or espouse your views on race, religion or the boss’s personality. Because while there is such a thing as free speech, ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Section One
• Section Two
• Section Three
• So Start Building!
• Searchable Terms
• About the Contributors
• Other Books by CareerBuilder.com
• Copyright
• About the Publisher