Maybe I should try harder not to care. When I don’t care, I’m quickly bored. But when I do care… I get into trouble. In May 2004, I got a job. A first, the best thing about it was that I was employed again after two years out of work. However, it quickly became obvious… Continue reading

Many years ago, in my first “real” (i.e. fulltime, salaried) job, my then-manager said to me: Vicki, you’re so good at what you do. Why can’t you be good at this? “This” was the position he wanted me in. He wanted me to become a Data Base Administrator. I was, at the time, writing utility… Continue reading

LONDON, England — Workers distracted by phone calls, e-mails and text messages suffer a greater loss of IQ than a person smoking marijuana, a British study shows. E-mails ‘hurt IQ more than pot’ — CNN.com World News, Friday, April 22 CNN certainly picked a provocative title. The constant interruptions reduce productivity and leave people feeling… Continue reading

The typical workplace cubicle environment is not conducive to productive work. There are too many people, for one thing. They walk past (frequently talking to other people or shouting into cell phones); they stop to talk (to you and to your cubicle neighbors). Telephones ring, impromptu meetings take place in the hallway, fluorescent lights flicker,… Continue reading

I think the workplace needs a new word. What’s a good, honest, descriptive word for the person to whom I report on the job? I tend to use “manager” but I don’t need “managing”. I won’t use “supervisor”, “boss”, or gods forfend, “superior”. I’ve used “client” (even when I’m not on contract) but sometimes, the… Continue reading

Career Epiphany Before you can do any thinking “outside the box” you need to realize that there is a box and that you’ve placed yourself within it. Continue reading

[ This is part 3 in a 3-part series; if you haven’t done so, you should start with part 1 and part 2 ] I recently had a job audition. It was for a programming job and yes, I did say “audition’. This was the most interesting (and unique) interview / pre-screening technique I’ve seen… Continue reading

This is part 2 in a 3-part series Continue reading

[This is part 1 in a 3-part series] If you’ve been reading this space, you may have formed the impression that I don’t hold the typical job interview process in my highest regard. 🙂 As a co-worker of my sister’s observed (and I discussed) a few months back, getting a job offer is in some… Continue reading