How to be Employee of the Month

Nowadays everyone seems to be either looking for a job or concerned they might lose the one they have. With unemployment at an all-time high, it’s no wonder. In the words of Cherry Valance from The Outsiders, “Things are tough all over.” (On a random note, anyone else cry when Johnny died? Sniff, sniff.)

So what should you do if you have a job and are worried it may not last? Here are my thoughts for what it’s worth:

· Work a full day. Don’t show up late, take long lunches, or leave early. If you think your boss won’t notice, he/she will. If not, I guarantee you someone will rat you out. Even if you are the top salesman/producer/whatever, it doesn’t matter. Business owners are looking to trim some fat and the folks who work the hardest and show the most loyalty rank almost as high as those bringing in the dough. There really is value in work ethics.

· Bring in the bacon. (In keeping with the food analogy) money definitely matters, too. If you aren’t paying for yourself and then some, your name will be on the chopping block at some point. No one wants to work a 60-hour week, but in days like these, you just might have to for a bit. So put the kids to bed, bring out your laptop, turn on some music, and get to work!

· Offer solutions. All companies have problems from time to time, and complaining about them does absolutely no good. But providing solutions … now that’s another story! Everyone loves someone who can help, so before you grumble to your boss, think of a solution that’s win-win for everyone.

· Volunteer. For internal projects, to write white papers, to mentor a junior associate, etc. You might think it’s brown-nosing, and it is to a point. But if you have the genuine desire to help, it’ll show through. By being your boss’s “right-hand man,” you can almost render yourself indispensible.

· Get educated. Now is a great time to expand your knowledge about your craft. Impress your boss with valuable input on your industry by discussing current events that may affect your company or share some great information from a recently read book (I mean one that applies to your industry, not the latest book by Stephen King).

· Network. This one serves two purposes. Sure, network for your company to help with sales, but also to promote yourself and get your name out there. The phrase, “It’s not what you know but who you know,” is incredibly true. Let me repeat that, it is incredibly true. Meet people, pass out your business card, connect on LinkedIn and at association meetings, send emails of congratulations to people who get promotions/awards, etc. In other words, become a face and name that everyone recognizes.

These are not sure-fire guarantees of course, but they certainly won’t hurt. And if your colleagues aren’t doing any of these, you WILL stand out. And hang in there. The economy is bound to turnaround one of these days, and when you’re in your boss’s mind come promotion time, it’ll all be worth it.

Empowerment Power

Almost sounds like a tongue twister doesn’t it?

I recently came upon a quite long but highly interesting article from the Harvard Business Review (HBR) on Empowerment. It talked about how empowered employees have created significant innovations in ways to serve their customers better. Most innovations have been facilitated by the use of technology that is readily available, easy to use, and for the most part, free – social media sites and online communities, cloud computing, online video, etc. Or the innovations are included in existing services that people already have, such as camera phones and mobile access everywhere. Using these same technologies, consumers are empowered as well: the article describes situations where consumers have had bad customer experiences and have shared with, in some cases, thousands of their Twitter followers.

So how is this relevant in the staffing and recruiting world? I believe just as relevant as it is on the consumer examples the article talks about. The fact is, empowered individuals come up with technological solutions they have access to. Any organization that empowers their employees to innovate, that provides access to the tools they need, will spur innovation from any area of a company – the administrative support staff, clerical staff, etc.

Be Your Own Boss!

Be your own boss! Set your own hours! Make as much money as you want to!

Ha, ha, ha, ha! Isn’t that funny? It’s a joke if I ever saw one.

Every new business owner knows that starting a business requires more time than you have ever worked before, and almost every dime has to stay in the company so you can keep it running. Starting out there is no work/life balance and certainly no windfall of cash for sunny vacations. Granted, there are exceptions to every rule, but more often than not, new business owners work their fingers to the bone and are forced to live as frugally as possible just to keep their business afloat. That’s why most businesses fail long before they ever hit the 5-year mark.

Let’s address the work/life balance dream. Unless you live in a place like Italy, you probably won’t have the opportunity for leisurely two-hour lunches and ending your work day at 3 p.m. Instead, you’ll rise long before your kids wake up so you can get some work done, have your lunches with potential clients or clients you’re desperate to keep (usually on your dime), and then work again after the kids go to bed. In fact, if you do have kids, you’ll probably find yourself trying to sneak peeks at your BlackBerry when they’re not looking so you don’t have to feel that guilt that always seems to come. (Or is that just me? Nah, come on, admit it. You do it, too!)

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Um ... You Stink.

How many times have we, as recruiters, interviewed someone who is fabulous on paper, but in person needs some, shall we say, career guidance? Perhaps the candidate wore a green suit, or shakes hands like a dead fish, or reeks of cigarette smoke. Whatever the situation is, it needs to be addressed prior to the client interview, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel.

Anyone who tells you presentation doesn’t matter is lying. No, we absolutely cannot and should not discriminate based on EEOC laws, but offering suggestions in other areas is not only helpful to the candidate, but the responsibility of the recruiter. Just be delicate and tactful.

Here are some issues you may encounter from time to time with your candidates:

Middle School All Over Again

I loathe bullies. To me, they’re just insecure jerks who like to torture people they consider weaker than themselves. Everyone remembers someone from their childhood who was a bully, and as I recall, no one really liked them. Sure, they had followers, but that was usually because the followers were scared of them and figured, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” As I watch my kids grow up, I’m astounded at how early bullying starts in the schools. And what’s even more astonishing is how many people remain bullies into adulthood. Instead of the playground, they use the workplace to find their targets.

It can be in-your-face or subtle, but workplace bullies tend to use belittling, manipulation or intimidation wherever they find an opportunity. According to KickBully.com, more than 30 million Americans have reported being bullied at work. Again, astounding! If you are one of those people, below are some tips to help. If you are one of the bullies: Grow up already!

Business Networking….is it for me?

On a plane ride last week I ran into a former colleague who had worked for the same company for 25 years, and then was laid off. His business network consisted mainly of his co-workers, many of them still in the company, and some had moved on. He shared with me that he never really thought about building a diverse network while working for this company because he did not need to, and he is now struggling for referrals to help him get a job.


The number one advice I have given people that I have coached or mentored has been to build, nurture and maintain a solid and diverse business network. This is true regardless of industry, experience, type of company, or line of work. This is especially true for small business owners and entrepreneurs. In fact, for many businesses, both large and small, their business network is the main, if not the only, source of leads and referrals. I have come across many business owners who do not do cold calling at all – they get all their business from referrals, which they get through their network.

The type of network I am talking about here is the old fashioned, face-to-face business network where you meet people and interact. Sure, there are great technology tools that help you be more efficient in communicating with your business network, such as LinkedIn. The lines blur a bit with social networking, and the use of social networking tools for business, but that is a subject for another day.