How Will You Spend Your 3 Percent Raise?

Rusty Weston — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:48:56 -0400

The dog days of summer are upon us - west coast skies are smoky and the east coast is humid and stormy. The economy is tanking, but if you stretch the concept of good news, employers are coming to the rescue with talk of small pay raises next year.

On the whole, I wouldn't spend that expected 3.5 percent pay hike in Bermuda or Hawaii. Suffice to say, that merit pay increase isn't keeping up with price of milk and sugar, much less gas.

Gen Y's Retention Deficit Syndrome

Rusty Weston — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:14:10 -0400

We recognize the signs. A young employee shows up late at work or for meetings, misses assignments or takes sick days when they're on top of their game.

As a boss your first instinct is to rattle their cage. But what will that accomplish?

What to Give a 2008 College Grad

Rusty Weston — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:14:58 -0400

Worried about what to give a college graduate who has everything but a job? Have you considered pummeling them with career guides?

Just a hunch, but I think they would prefer your money.

Still, I generally take the passive road and give them a book store gift certificate and let them choose a nifty career guide if they want one.

Pink's Whole New Approach to Career Guides

Rusty Weston — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:47:42 -0400

Daniel Pink's The Adventures of Johnny Bunko - The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need is anything but a simple comic book, even if it closely resembles one.

Will You Flip For Peter Sheahan?

Rusty Weston — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:23:52 -0400

When was the last time you learned something useful from someone a couple of decades younger than you? Overcoming age bias is all in a day's work for Peter Sheahan, a consultant and author of a book about Generation Y.

Is Social Networking a Career Safety Net?

Rusty Weston — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:18:27 -0400

There are endless reasons to build a strong network of professional contacts. But perhaps none is more compelling in 2008 than the goal of establishing a career safety net.

In a recession jobs are last to get hit, yet are the slowest part of business spending to recover. This is the time to develop or revise an escape plan to insulate you from possible downturns or unforeseen changes at work.

Updating Your Way to Higher Status

Rusty Weston — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:22:25 -0400

Do you ever get the feeling that you're writing graffiti in cyberspace?

I get this disconnected feeling when I post a status update on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. There's certainly an art to writing a one sentence blurb that expresses something about your life, perspective or the world around you. But is there a point to status updates? Is it merely a social convenience or could it advance your career?

Getting Paid for a Job Interview

Rusty Weston — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:28:14 -0500

Employers know the problem with great job candidates is that they usually have jobs and aren't actively seeking another one. And why should they? It's a hassle to send out resumes, shake the trees on a social network or chat-up recruiters.

Typically it's unhappy employees that seek new opportunities. Apart from these active job seekers, most employed workers are considered "passive" job candidates who may leave if the right opportunity finds them. Frankly, the grass is often greener elsewhere.