Why Your Google Reputation Can Hurt Your Career

"More and more recruiters are turning to Google as part of their due diligence efforts for hiring decisions. The article quotes a couple of incidents where potential employers backed away from offering a job, once they Googled the candidate.

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. Hiring managers might find something positive about you..."

Read the rest at marketingpilgrim.com

Inc.com: "Are You a Bad Boss?"

From inc.com: "Seven signs that your employees detest you. (By you, of course, we mean some other boss.)"



"There's a reason Dilbert, The Office, and their ilk are so popular. Satire gets old fast, but the appeal of realism endures. And the real world, sadly, is full of lousy bosses. Someone ought to do a study on where these louts come from. Were they abused by their own bosses? Did they toss overboard the ballast of human kindness to hasten the ascent of their career balloons? Or is this an example of absolute power corrupting absolutely? Such research might also demonstrate how ubiquitous miserable managers are. The proliferation of boss-bashing screeds with titles like When You Work for a Bully, Nasty Bosses, and How To Work for an Idiot suggests a plague..."

The article outlines "seven signs that you are a bad boss". Here's our favorite excerpt:

"Sign # 4: Your 360-degree evaluations come back short and full of generically positive comments, with one very mild criticism ("Sometimes she works too damn hard for her own good") thrown in for credibility's sake..."

This is exactly why Coworkers.com Reviews are a more effective solution to providing and receiving unbiased feedback!

Understanding Office Politics

dumblittleman.com: "Many people say they hate their job because they don't like office politics. Not all office politics are bad and my assumption is that they don't like is negative office politics, such as gossip or sabotage... once you understand that politics within an office is unavoidable, instead of wasting your time "hating office politics," why not, instead, learn the rules that will make it work for you?"

Here's a summary of the key suggestions this article has for "gaming" office politics:

• Cozy Up to Detractors
• Don't Gossip
• Always Be Positive About Others
• Play Dumb and Busy to Keep Out of Toxic Conversations
• If You Want People to Help You, Understand Their Needs First
• Before Engaging in Political Battle, Know How Much Power You Have
• Grow Your Power Base Strategically Over Time
• Work Hard, But Look for Ways to Partner with Others
• Don't Look for Immediate Reciprocation
• Integrity: Be Positive, Be Kind, Be Honest, Be Realistic, Be Professional
  

Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software

timesonline: "Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence...

The system could also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”. Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker’s weight, age and health. If the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he needed help."

All your biometric are belong to us!

(article found thanks to techcrunch.com)

"Ask About My Co-Workers" Cartoon

via talentzoo.com: This cartoon by 'Brandtoonist' Gary Kopervas gave us a good chuckle...



Coworkers.com would like to remind you that there are indeed more subtle & informative ways to share your opinion ;-)

Boss fires staff for not smoking

Those wacky Germans!

Telecommuters cause resentment?

When a number of their co-workers toil away from the office by using
computers, cell-phones or other electronic equipment, those who do not
telecommute are more likely to be dissatisfied with their job and leave the
company, said Timothy Golden, a management professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute.

Three words: "deal with it". Telecommuting ain't going away, in fact just the opposite. Companies need to provide other perks in compensation to those who make the trek to the office.

Toking Up in the Office

Interesting article here about a coworker coming to work on something stronger than coffee. I would say this is something that few of us ever deal with directly, or if we do, our attitude is like "yeah, and...?" So I found it interesting that the columnist recommended that the coworker be confronted and "dealt with", without any context whatsoever. If a forklift operator is wasted, there's no question he should be canned. But how about a writer for Saturday Night Live? How about the guy who collects your tickets at the movie theater? How about someone in chronic pain? Like most workplace situations, this is something that requires consideration of the circumstances, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

Building Credibility: 11 Ways to Show You’re a Professional

Here's an interesting article from freelanceswitch.com:

"When it comes down to the wire, your potential clients are trying to figure out which category you fall into: the good or the bad.

So how can you show that you’re an honest and hard-working freelancer? A lot of the time it’s the little things that count the most..."

Here's a summary of their key points:

1. Have an established pricing structure
2. Create a clean and professional brand
3. Pay for a professional telephone service
4. Show Professional Endorsements
5. Proudly display your previous work
6. Proudly display client testimonials and comments
   
7. Dress appropriately for client meetings
8. Always be well-groomed
9. Have lots of detailed information on your website
10. Maintain a confident voice in your industry
11. Always be willing to say no

Of course, you can address points 4 and 6 by Requesting Reviews via Coworkers.com...

Happy 2008

We're hard at work and look forward to an exciting year for the Coworkers.com community. Keep your eye out for more updates!