HR & Hiring Manager Advice and Tips by JobDig

Recently I had the privilege of attending a workshop presented by Patricia Latham Ball, a principal at Management Northwest, which is a legal resource for employers. Ball is a former Ada County (Idaho) Deputy Prosecutor in employment law who determined it would be more noble to help companies steer clear of trouble rather than prosecute them for getting into it.

Can you really find a career you love? Is it really possible to wake up on a Monday morning and WANT to go to work?

If you're in a leadership role, you're never at a loss for problems to solve. But be careful about getting too involved in problems that don't really deserve your time and energy. Engaging in the wrong problem is like stepping in quicksand. Down you go!

Q: My boss was hired in 2005 and terminated two years later. Soon after she was hired she brought a friend to the company to do the same job I have been doing for 7 years. She has been given three raises since being hired and has zero experience in our field. I have a number of certifications and extensive training. How do I ask to be considered for the boss’s job without sounding like I'm whining?

Do you remember when the only body part that was pierced was women’s ears? How do you develop, maintain or use a “blog”? Did you participate in Vietnam War protests, or learn about them on the History Channel? A candidate says, “Working here would be really fly”; is that good or bad? Did you buy your first new car for under $18,000.00?

I am really in a bind as to how to deal with an employee, and I would appreciate your insight.  I am a team leader in a legal office.  One of the attorneys on my team, "Becky" has been in the office for over 12 years.  She is a good attorney, however, her temperament and personal life are greatly clouding her colleagues' view of her work performance.  She is very demanding in regard to getting time off when she wants it, and for long periods of time (she thinks nothing of expecting four weeks at a time, when no one else in the office expects that).  She will leave work unfinished as she is flying out the door for her vacations.  After her four week trip, I assigned her several cases.  She was so furious at me for giving her work when she was first back that she refused to speak to me for two weeks, treating me poorly in front of the other attorneys.  I talked to her about her behavior, but did not formally reprimand her.

If you’ve struggled getting people to embrace change, it’s probably because the methods used to implement it were contrary to how the human brain works. Companies that have struggled with change will want to take note: Recent discoveries in how the brain functions have resulted in new conclusions about implementing change. It’s time to rethink how we think.

Do you dread going to work on Monday morning? Are you one of those people who can't wait until Friday rolls around?

If you are a manager who takes the responsibility of doing performance reviews seriously you are probably frustrated with the process. It's far from a perfect science but one thing is certain, if promotions and other career decisions are based in part on the performance reviews of employees, it's important that managers are consistent in how they evaluate employees.

Why does HR need to think like a marketer, easy, marketers see the value chain from start to finish. Think about sales flyers or coupons you receive in the mail, or that “free” download via the Internet. They will most often have an event or incentive code that you need to enter in order to receive your free gift or discount. This is the tracking system marketing professionals use to identify the exposure, acceptance and ROI of the marketing campaign.

I believe it was Malcolm Forbes who said "If you have no critics you'll likely have no success." In an unstable economy, taking risks can be seen as hazardous. Some might say foolish. But success occurs only when people chances. And despite what critics you might encounter, now might be a great time to take a risk.

Networking; Why, How and Where? It's hard to be in business today, certainly in the professional services sector, without having heard the term 'networking'. Regarded by many as the Marmite of business, it is said that you either are a networker or you aren't. And if you think you aren't, you shouldn't even try to do it.

It seems almost everyone can use a little something extra to help them increase their effectiveness or give them a competitive edge.  Those in professional service firms are no exception; however, they do face unique challenges. With so much emphasis on billable hours for accountants and lawyers, how can they find the time to devote to personal development?  Could asking for help demonstrate needed initiative or threaten credibility?  Despite these challenges, more professionals are seeking mentors.

When it comes to coffee or tea, I'm a coffee guy. I'll occasionally get decadent and apply for a bank loan so I can get what my friends call a Froo-Froo Cappafluffa, a.k.a. Overly-Priced Coffee-Flavored-Milk, but most of the time I'm opting for a plain old cup-o-joe.

Membership and more importantly level of involvement in applicable professional associations is critical for Career Management/Progression. This article is elaboration on three concepts in The Street Smart Approach to Job Search; Directing Your Career; Some Assembly Required, The Other Side of Networking and Life-Long Learning.