Articles 1 to 10 of 35
Podcast: Message to New Grads and Career Changers -- You Can Land a Dream Job in a Down Economy
This spring's crop of college graduates are venturing forth into one of the most challenging job markets in decades. Michael Turner, who graduates from Arizona State University with a degree in communications this month, talked to classmates about their readiness -- or lack thereof -- to land that first post-college job. Kevin Burns, director of undergraduate career education at the W. P. Carey School of Business, offers great advice for new graduates -- and career changers -- about how to get a job in your field of dreams.
Survival of the Smartest: After the Layoffs, Manage for Long-Term Stability
If you're one of the millions of workers left behind after layoffs, sweating over an inflated workload, fretting that you might be next, you already know how demoralizing a "reduction in force" (RIF) can be. If you're managing layoff survivors, you have even more reason to worry. RIFs can clobber morale, erode loyalty, stymie creativity and set your firm up for a migration of talent that could hobble you long after the economy revives. Experts at the W. P. Carey School say that now is the time to manage employee angst and solidify relationships so that once you survive this recession, you'll be able to thrive in the recovery ahead.
Tired, Irritable, Restless? It May Be 'Boreout'
In the nation's hospitals, today's dread epidemics are Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile. At the office, the scary "bug" is boreout, according to a new book from Phillipe Rothlin and Peter Werder. It affects as many as a third of employees, killing their initiative, energy and enthusiasm and leaving those affected tired, depressed and generally dissatisfied, lacking a sense of purpose. The word "burnout" was coined decades ago to describe employees who are overworked and overstressed. In their book, "Boreout! Overcoming Workplace Demotivation," Rothlin and Werder claim that the phenomenon of boreout is just as widespread and damaging as burnout -- and strangely enough, the symptoms are often very similar.
Water Cooler Talk Keeps Organizational Culture Real
It is a ritual in offices around the country: the morning meet-up. Although employees may have already clocked in and should theoretically be hard at work, they meander over to the coffee pot, fill up a cup and kibitz. In many managers' eyes, such behavior is often filed under the heading of wasted time on the company's dime. "You're here to work. If you want to socialize, do it on your own time!" they might say. Yet, the irony of the situation, says W. P. Carey management Professor Blake Ashforth, is that these social butterflies may very well be adding value to the company. Rather than being grumbled about, such office klatches should be nurtured and encouraged.
Challenging Long-Held Assumptions about Workplace Friendships
You may have watched enough Oprah shows to realize that friendship is good for the soul. Now, the acclaimed Gallup research organization has found that friendships help you love your job. Tom Rath, who leads Gallup's Workplace and Leadership Consulting worldwide, has published years of research in a fascinating book, "Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without." Offering anecdotes of real-life subjects and statistics to back up the stories, Rath tells us that friends at work are not only nice to have -- they are essential to employees' happiness, engagement and productivity on the job.
Quitters Can Win: Avoiding the Pitfalls of 'The Dip'
Seth Godin, best-selling author of books and a popular marketing blog, discusses a sticky topic in his small but power-packed "The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)." The saying "Winners never quit and quitters never win" is a fallacy, according to Godin. In fact, there are times when quitting is the smartest tactic you can employ, as long as your long-term goal remains foremost in your mind.
Millennials in the Workplace: R U Ready?
The Millennials -- people aged 14 to 31 -- are streaming into the workplace. They have been called "entitled" and "tough to manage" because they need much direction and praise. On the other hand, they're tech-savvy, nimble, enthusiastic and achievement-oriented. Like all young people, they offer the corporate world enormous energy and talent. However, harnessing those positive attributes will take a patient, nurturing touch, say experts at the W. P. Carey School of Business.
My Job Is My Life: The Connection Between Meaningful Work and Personal Identity
Business researchers have long proposed that when employees find their work meaningful and fulfilling, they are more likely to do that work well, and, as a result, help their companies succeed. But recently, Kevin Corley and his colleague Heather Vough began to wonder if that may be a bit too simple. Corley, an assistant professor of management at the W. P. Carey School of Business, believes there's something more that drives an employee to endure an awful commute and put in an honest day's work at the office.
Podcast: The Art of Negotiating With Your Boss, Part Two
One of the most difficult tasks for a worker is negotiating with a boss. Whether it's getting a raise or a new assignment, or a simple request for more office supplies, asking a boss for anything can be nerve-wracking. Knowledge@W. P. Carey interviewed management professor Kevin Corley about the best way to negotiate with your boss. Part One of our two-part series on this topic addressed the matter of self interest -- yours, your boss's, and the organization's. Part Two discusses how knowing your boss's negotiating style can make all the difference between success and failure.
The New Hiring Standard: Adaptability
Most assessments of employability focus on traditional models that consider skills, work experience, education and personality traits. But today more than ever, organizations need employees who can adapt and are comfortable doing so. New research from the W. P. Carey School's Angelo Kinicki explores the traits that are most valuable to companies that are in the midst of change.
