I am fortunate to have a warm and receptive boss that cares about my future and goes above and beyond to provide me with the tools and resources to gain the necessary skills to grow and work in a very satisfying environment.

With her cheerleader persona, focus on rewards and recognition and balanced workflow, she is a role model for the qualities that we look for in a “cool” boss.  On a daily basis, I witness a leader that:

• Fosters innovation
• Promotes strong…

Continue

Continue

Be honest or keep quiet? Image via StreetFly JZ.

Criticising a colleague or ex-colleague during an interview has always been considered a massive no-no in the recruitment world. However, this year has seen the rule being broken numerous times on quite a public scale. From Greg Smith’s infamous resignation letter in the New York Times to the latest resignation letter to go viral in which the …

Continue

Whether you are applying for a job at the local mini-mart or as a top executive for a small or large business, being able to sell yourself is critically important.

So, on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being poor and 10 being great), how would you consider your selling skills when it comes to the job hunt?

While some job applicants find the interviewing process a piece of cake, others sweat their way through it, oftentimes doing something along the way that eliminates them from the…

Continue

There’s a business trip coming up.  You’ve been planning for weeks, booking your airfare, hotel, rental car and meetings.  Then, something happens that completely throws you off-guard.  The boss informs you that they’ll be traveling with you!  What??!!  The first thing that pops into your head is, “oh, no.  Am I in trouble?  Am I being checked out?”  All the articles… Continue

I hear that you hate your job and are ready to leave! You got in touch with a recruiter who found you an amazing position and the phrase “peace out” is roaring in your head. Those bridges are ready to be burned, but hold up a minute. People are always afraid of change. They focus so much on just leaving the job that they forget that the way they do so is very important. Keeping connections with your old employer is crucial!

You want to know why? Well, think about it for a second. If…

Continue

Continue

If you're like me, you've had quite a few bosses over the years. Some were good, some were bad, some were great, and some you'd rather forget. So what makes a great boss? Now I'm completely aware that the challenges I've faced with my bosses over the years say at least as much about me as it does about them. That being said, let's take a look at the hypothetical best boss I never had.

• The best boss I never had is extremely loyal to the team.
• The best…

Continue

Ever had an awful boss? I'll bet he or she had some or maybe most of these bad traits:



Control Junkie: Has a tough time truly delegating or letting go. Has an opinion about everything.



Being Right: Even if your boss is usually right, it feels bad to think that you are generally wrong.



Rude: Bosses too often fail to say please and thank you, and they don't take the time for basic politeness.



Gives Blame / Takes Credit: Bad… Continue

What kind of a culture do you want to create? Many organizations talk about workplace culture but I wonder how many really know what kind of a culture they truly have.

Unfortunately, the leaders of an organization are often out of touch with what happens on the ‘shop floor’ as it were and I’ll bet they’d be surprised at what they’d learn if they came into the organization as a new worker.

There is a new TV reality show (in all honesty, I have yet to see it) called Undercover Boss… Continue

From: Hiring Manager

To: Corporate Recruiter…

Continue

Bill and Richard over at their Contented Cows blog write about being choosy about your next boss. Ask your potential manager some pointed questions then be prepared to drill down into their answers:



* What’s your proudest moment thus far as a manager? Listen carefully for “I answers” as opposed to “we answers.” Is this person a narcissist (a legend in their own mind), or someone who… Continue