career advice

Ketchup? My Deliverables Don’t Need Any Ketchup!

Shawn Graham — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:58:51 -0500

I ordered a New York Strip steak at a restaurant called Recipes Remembered. After the server brought it to the table, she asked if I needed anything. And that’s when I made the mistake of asking for ketchup. At first, I wasn’t sure what our server was doing. She was waving her arms around frantically like she was swatting at a hive of killer bees flying around her head. But then I realized she was trying to convince me not to ask for ketchup.

Are You Building Your Career Pyramid?

Lindsey Pollak — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:23:23 -0400

I had the complete joy this past Sunday of having absolutely nothing to do. It was pouring rain, SeamlessWeb delivered bagels and coffee directly to my door, and my husband and his best friend had plans to watch nonstop football.

Why I Love My Gen Y Assistant

Lindsey Pollak — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:12:07 -0400

I recently hired a part-time assistant to help me get a bit more organized. As someone who studies generational relationships in the workplace, I was curious to learn how my personal experience as a Gen X-er managing a Gen Y-er would compare to other people's experiences. Though we've only worked together for a couple weeks, I couldn't be happier with the arrangement. Aside from the obvious advantages of working with someone younger (she tells me when I need to ramp up the cool factor in my speeches and blog posts), here are the top five reasons I love my Millennial employee:

Consider Being an Adult Intern

sunny Lurie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:21:40 -0400

Ever think about how to try out a new career? Why do only students get to work in internships? I encourage professionals at any age to seek an internship. Such as a short term project with a moderate salary to help a business or organization achieve a goal they’ve been wanting to complete. Offer your assistance and you get to test drive a new field -it’s great, everyone wins.

Working in Your Skivvies Might Be For You

Beth Lisogorsky — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:13:28 -0400

This month's Entrepreneur has an interesting article about starting a home-based franchise business.
While most of the franchises in their top 101 list seem to be cleaning
businesses and overall, the list did little entice me into
jump-starting my own franchise-specific savings account, it does beg
the question if working in your skivvies is ultimately what we're all
after.

Making the Most Out of a Rejection

Shawn Graham — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:24:51 -0400

168 people applied for the opening. We interviewed 5 which means, if you do the math, that we rejected 163. Our policy was to only notify those who were interviewed but not selected—potentially leaving those 163 in limbo as to their status for weeks and months to come. So instead, once we selected a candidate and that person accepted our offer, I pulled together a rejection letter, printed them off, signed them, and put them in the mail.

Survival Tips for Moving Back in with Mom and Dad

Lindsey Pollak — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:00:21 -0400

As the job market becomes more and more competitive, students and recent grads need to do everything they can to stand out from their peers. One great way to do this is by building your professional reputation, also known as your “personal brand.”

For advice on creating your personal brand – and using it to help you land a great job – I turned to Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Generation Y.

Gen Y Entrepreneurs: Here Are the First Steps to Starting Your Own Business

Lindsey Pollak — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:58:42 -0400

This Saturday’s New York Times featured a front-page story about how the recession is prompting some people to start their own businesses instead of looking for new jobs. It’s an encouraging story if you’ve ever considered the option of creating your own venture, large or small.

Calling it Quits

Shawn Graham — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:28:36 -0500

As a manager, it’s easy to fantasize about an idealized world where you build trust and rapport with your staff that leads to open and honest communication about their on-the-job frustrations and career ambitions (whether that means staying with your company or not).

Career Advice from Will Wright, Creator of Spore, SimCity and The Sims.

Noah Robischon — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:32:08 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend they do it?

The strongest thing they can come into the door with is a portfolio. Being able to look at an example of their work--it can be something as simple as a flash game--is enough. For a producer, it's going to be more about past experience, and their ability to manage complexity. For people trying to break into the industry, the best way to learn is to do it. And you don't have to work for a big company to do it.

Career Advice from Gary Flake, Director of Live Labs at Microsoft

Chuck Salter — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:10:41 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend he or she do it?

Career Advice from Chuck Jones, VP of Global Consumer Design at Whirlpool

Chuck Salter — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:38:53 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend he or she do it?

Personal references and a connection. The market is tight, so anyone within Whirlpool who is well regarded and recommends a potential hire to me automatically has the inside track. It's cost effective, low risk and tends to yield very high quality talent.

2. What is the best piece of career advice you've ever been given?

Is having a long work commute such a bad thing?

Shawn Graham — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:34:31 -0500

Career Advice from Fokko Wientjes, Sustainability Director of DSM

Jennifer Vilaga — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:25:54 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend he or she do it?

Career Advice from Eric Feng, Chief Technology Officer of Hulu

Chuck Salter — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:53:13 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend he or she do it?

We obsess about quality. We pay attention to every pixel on the site, every second of every video, every comment from every customer. We hope to find people who share a similar obsession about quality in everything that they do. If that's you, visit hulu.com/jobs or drop us a line at jobs@hulu.com.

2. What is the best piece of career advice you've ever been given, and who gave it?

Keeping Your Boss in the Loop Without Causing Information Overload

Shawn Graham — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:50:30 -0500

Career Advice from Jeff Hicks and Alex Bogusky, Crispin Porter + Bogusky

Danielle Sacks — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:00:00 -0500

Jeff Hicks, CEO of Crispin Porter + Bogusky

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend they do it?

Career Advice from Carisa Bianchi, President of TBWA\Chiat\Day

Danielle Sacks — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:00:00 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend they do it?

Get my attention. Be inventive. Be passionate. Come prepared to discuss provocative ideas and thinking. Stand out. Be someone that leaves a lasting impression. Be "sticky." Come prepared. Do your homework. Have a point of view on the company, the position, and what you will contribute. It’s all about having passion for ideas. Oh, yeah, did I mention passion.

Career Advice from Jack Kramer, Global Technology Leader of W. L. Gore

David Lidsky — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:00:00 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend they do it?

Top Jobs 2009

Fast Company staff — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:35:51 -0500

The Top Jobs for 2009

Career Advice from Rick Webb, Cofounder and COO of Barbarian Group

Danielle Sacks — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:17:04 -0500

1. If someone wanted to land a job at your company today, how would you recommend they do it?

By ignoring the existence of our company and plowing all of their energies into doing the most compelling, creative, positive things they can do, whether it's for a client, a charity, for art or themselves. Make something amazing. And be nice.

2. What is the best piece of career advice you've ever been given, and who gave it?

Managing Employee Vacation Days

Shawn Graham — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:45:47 -0500

Holidays and/or nice weather usually mean employees are going to schedule vacation days…and lots of them. And with that, it’s up to management to make sure the department is staffed accordingly and honor vacation requests in an equitable manner.

What Millennials Most Want to Know: 3 Questions for Entry-Level Recruiters

Lindsey Pollak — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:52:48 -0500

Millennials (a.k.a. Generation Y) have earned a less-than-stellar reputation in the recruiting community. You’re not alone if you’ve found young candidates to act “entitled” to jobs or not know basic rules of professional etiquette. As someone who spends a lot of time with college students and young professionals, I admit that I observe these traits fairly often.

Personal Branding Lessons from an Advertising Exec

Shawn Graham — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:57:43 -0500

One of the cool things about working at a university (and in particular a business school) is having a chance to sit in on presentations by business leaders from an almost limitless number of industries. Each has their own unique story and each leaves me with at least one takeaway.