CareerMysteries

Here it is already, time to do another self-appraisal.  This time, do it right.  

Generally speaking, the self-appraisal is a way for the supervisor to pull together relevant data on work accomplishments for the prior year (saving him some time). Approaching this process with a constructive attitude is vital to an effective result. Here are some points to remember -

The primary purpose of the performance appraisal is to mold employee behavior. For most employees, this means a good deal of positive reinforcement of those things they are doing well on the job.

A good system will also provide honest feedback on at least one or two areas of potential development for the future, often in the form of goals.  The act of requesting the employee’s direct assistance by way of completing a self-appraisal has a twofold purpose. It allows the supervisor to gather the detailed information and documentation on annual accomplishments for each person. But more fundamentally, it allows the person being reviewed to feel at least some measure of personal influence over the review process itself.

This makes the job more personal and a significant part of your self-concept.  Learn more at

http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/mstherese

 And have a terrific and inspired day.

Every so often, it makes good sense to re-examine your career status, goals and issues.  This need not be an extensive self-appraisal, but you should have a good idea in your own head on where you would like to be in the years to come and how you plan to do the ground work to get there.

The first big question is, do you have an updated resume?  This is not just the document, but a close examination of back up information, contact numbers for references, new company addresses if they have moved, etc.  Don’t wait until there is a problem contacting one of your key references to look into this.  You would hate to lose out on a job offer because you were sloppy.

Another critical question is concerning where you want to be now, a year from now, five years in the future and at the terminal position in your career.  What credentials do you need to get there?  Do you need classes, certifications, etc?  When will you obtain these things, how, with what funding?

Do you have a career or life mission statement to guide you through time?  If you have not taken the time to do this, now is as good a time as any.  Write yourself an essay on what you want to achieve in life, be it career goals, financial goals, family, friends, charities, volunteer contributions or anything else that you want to achieve.  You will be happy you took the time to do this.  You can revise it anytime you want and it is only for your benefit.  Why not do it today?

At one time, I was the quintessential workaholic.  I would work and work and never take lunch or breaks during the day.  By the time I left the office, I was stressed to the max and often had a miserable ride home, which took about an hour or so.

That is all behind me.  I gradually learned that if you don’t stop and take frequent breaks throughout the day, you will eventually burn out and be less effective on the job.  So, get out of your chair, out of the office and stretch your legs.  Go outside and sit on a park bench for thirty minutes and listen to the birds sing.  Breathe in the fresh air and let the sun beat on your shoulders for just a little while.

You will be a better person for it, and a better worker for the rest of the day.  If you can combine a break with a little walking, so much the better.  Stop and smell the roses when you can. 

Do Your Research - There are several reputable sources of information on the internet that can tell you what salary range applies to a particular job in your area. If you are unsure how to find this information, professional organizations in your field are a great resource.

Be Assertive - Taking the lead in the salary negotiations is often appreciated by the company representative. When you interview for the position, be assertive enough to ask for the salary range up front. If it much less than what you hope to make in the job, say so at the initial meeting so they know where you stand.

Be Realistic - Expecting to make a salary that is significantly greater than the market will bear in your area is unrealistic. There is some wiggle room, but unless you have unusual skills that are very hard to find, the company will hire someone else at the customary rate of pay.

Don’t Take the First Offer - Unless, of course, it is much higher than you thought it would be and you are thrilled with it. And for the rest of us - remember that there is a very fine line between declining an offer and not accepting it. Be careful what words you use at this point. You can say that the offer is lower than you expected and that you will have to think about it.

Come Back With A Counter Offer - There is nothing wrong with saying something like, “I was hoping for more than forty six. If you could increase the offer to fifty thousand, I would say yes right now.” You can talk about commuting costs, more money that you will have to pay for benefits, and other logical arguments.

Extras - You can ask for extra vacation days, a six month salary review with an increase or other perks. Some companies have the flexibility to offer a third vacation week to an experienced hire, for example.

Be Tactful - Be firm but tactful during the negotiation process. You will score more points with the people if you are polite, savvy and firm when it comes to the bottom line. Decide what amount you will be willing to accept ahead of time.

Negotiate the job offer from a position of power.  That’s the right way.

You want to be the best boss?  Read on and read:

http://human-resources-management.suite101.com/article.cfm/be_the_best_boss 

Managers need to be connected to one another. Make a daily practice of talking to each other manager at your level about what is going on in his area. You will garner good information and build rapport with others. Sure it is fine to talk about non-work stuff too, and socialize if you have things in common.

Treat everyone on the job with respect and courtesy at all times. This does not apply just to other managers. You need to set the example for everyone else. You need not be best buddies, but give others their due.

You should have meetings with your people on a regular basis and in some cases, where time sensitivity is paramount, daily meetings to ensure that everyone’s priorities are in line. Encourage questions and be courteous in answering them so as to encourage others to come forward if they don’t understand.

Learn to give out tasks to each of the people you manage. Some of them, like the older gent who has been there for 10 years, may not need close supervision and can be trusted to meet his quotas and deadlines. Still others, especially new people will need to be monitored periodically to ensure that they know what to do and how to do it.

Keep everyone in your group aware of the priorities and the order of priorities so they will do first things first. Avoid telling one employee and expecting him to communicate it to his work mates, unless he is a qualified lead person. This presents the impression of favoritism, which you want to avoid at all costs.

Allow each to talk about problems to you and be sympathetic. Giving them a hearing once in a while is good, and shows you are understanding. If the same person has personal problems all the time, however, beware. You may have a problem employee on your hands.

New employees often come to the company from other places where they have been trained to do work in a superior way. Take note and learn from these new folks. You might have a chance to do things better or faster than before. Be open and flexible.

Getting along well with others in the workplace is a vital precursor to potential promotability.  All to often, an employee is discounted as having management potential because they are difficult or tend to be on the bad side of conflict situations too often.

What does it take to have the kind of harmony you need to demonstrate?  For one, it takes patience with others and a big picture view of your job.  One of the main causes of workplace disagreements is when people clash with one another because they care too much about little things like turf, status, titles and small differences in wages.

Get past the pettiness at work.  Try to be objective, logical and level headed in all your interactions.  You don’t need to become best buddies with your work mates, but you need to treat them with common courtesy and respect.  Hopefully, they will treat you with more of the same. 

If you are faced with an unreasonable person and have no recourse besides conflict, take your supervisor into your confidence and explain the problem.  Working together with them to resolve issues is better than trying to go it alone and risk being misunderstood.

So We Decided to Walk

by Therese Haberman

So we decided to walk

Running hasn’t been an option

Since the nineties or so

Not for me.

Not with a broken heart

Sputtering like an old

Sewing machine stuck

On baste.

Grey flannel  fabric strut

No color, no spunk

Just a utilitarian stroll

Down the middle of my life.

We walked and talked

Of daffodils still stalled

Green sprouts dead headed

In the shades

 of spring

in my step

The yellow would hurt my eyes,

Scatter my thoughts and

Trip me up.

Tongue tied, we walked on

And I fell

In step.

So many companies are having trouble surviving and this is even more difficult in places like the northeast, where manufacturing is floundering and taxes as well as wages are very high.

How do you know if your firm is financially struggling?  If they are having trouble paying their bills, often word of this does get out to the employees.  If there are any payroll “glitches” and paychecks cannot be cashed as normal, this could be a sign of very tight cash flow.

A company that is usually communicative with employees and suddenly gets real quiet, may be in a financial downturn.  When the business slows to a crawl and calls are not coming in, sales people are not making their numbers, you should be concerned.Save some money now, for a rainy day that may come sooner than you thought.  You may also want to get your resume up to speed.

Want more on this?

http://workplaceculture.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_tell_if_a_company_is_in_financial_trouble

Winning the resume battle is not as complex as you might imagine.  Think of it as a self-promotion flyer or a sales brochure and you will get the right angle.  Just be very careful to be truthful and don’t err on the side of too much exaggeration or boastfulness.

Start off with the basics of contact information and be simple and straightforward.  No need for fancy colors, typestyles or textures.  That is not to say that you should be boring or looking to write a fact sheet.  You want to bring out your personality and maybe a little spunk in your resume.

Talk about the things you did that went beyond the call of duty on the job.  Point to the major accomplishments that left some sort of legacy when you finished the job and moved on.  Did you write a new procedure manual?  Did you start up or convert to a new system or program?  What percentage of sales increase did your department attain as a result of implementing some new ideas you came up with as part of a sales team?  You get the idea.

After you document all your work history (that applies to what job you are seeking, that is) go on to talk about your training and education.  Finish up with other tidbits that speak to your skill sets of managing people, running computer programs, overseeing projects or whatever you have done outside of the job that makes sense to include here.

You are on your way to winning a new job with a terrific resume. 

Fuchsia

by Therese Haberman

Open buds of fuchsia plants

Bring curious hummingbirds

Hover inches from succulent centers

Dip their tiny beaks

Drink thirsty droplets

Honey nectar of avian delight

~ 

Fuchsia dress

With white polka dots

A little matching bonnet

Shades spring sunshine

She toddles and zigs

Through grasses and daisies

~ 

Intent on catching

One drinking birdy

Or another

Giggling in pinkish glee.

photo courtesy of janruss at Flickr.com