Nine to Thrive

When the boss cries in front of you

Crying at work is back in the news. This time, it's because Dick Cheney suggests in his new memoir that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is a bit of an on-the-job sobber. Much can be said about how those who let the waterworks flow in front of bosses, coworkers, or customers risk looking weak, unable to control their emotions, even manipulative. But what about when the boss is the one with tears in their eyes? Are they judged any differently for weeping? Yes, and no. Let me illustrate with two examples from my own work history. Example one: Like many hopeful writers, I did time as a publishing assistant in my early twenties. My boss, who ran the company's two-person publicity department, was a couple years older than me and only slightly less naïve about the ways of the workplace. When delivering the disappointing news that she wasn't able

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What to do when your company gets a new leader

Now that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has stepped down, it's natural that employees might feel anxious about the company's future and their place in it, despite the fact that replacement Tim Cook has a long history with Apple. [Flickr photo by acaben] Surely most workers who've gone through a leadership change can relate. Even if the new boss is well-versed in the company mission and culture, he or she still isn't the old boss. He might have a different management style, different expectations, or different priorities. He might even decide to clean house and bring in his own people. For suggestions on how to best weather a change in management at your own job, I spoke with Michael Crom, executive vice president of Dale Carnegie Training, which helps companies improve employee performance. Here's what he recommends: Take stock of what you have to offer. The new leader, who might have very large

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HR to job seekers: We're not looking at your Facebook page

A fresh study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management found that when it comes to evaluating new hires, HR professionals rarely factor a candidate's Facebook, Twitter, or other social media accounts into the equation. There are several reasons for this: Perceived legal risk. Federal law prevents companies from discriminating against job applicants and employees based on race, religion, age, sexual preference, disability, and so on. To play it safe, HR would rather not learn about these characteristics through your Facebook profile. In fact, seven in 10 of the 541 HR professionals polled in this survey expressed this concern. Inability to verify social media posts. Social media sites are riddled with multiple people sharing the same name. Likewise, hacking and technology glitches can and do happen. Rather than risk rewarding or penalizing a candidate for social media activity that may not even be theirs, nearly one-half of HR pros polled said

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Making the most of trick interview questions

Making the most of trick interview questions

Glassdoor had a fun blog post yesterday on the peculiar interview questions new job seekers sometimes find themselves faced with. Among the questions on Glassdoor's list: "How do you rob a bank?" "What was your first AOL screen name?" "How much do women in America spend on haircuts each year?" "Would you say you learn a lot about a little, or a little about a lot?" [Flickr photo by cdrummbks] But it's not just interns and entry-level workers given these brain teasers and otherwise unconventional interview questions. Some I've heard from local employers over the years: "Who's your favorite author and why?" "How many gas stations are there in America?" "How do you organize your sock drawer?" Those who've never encountered such unconventional interview questions might find them intimidating. But interviewers don't ask unusual questions like these to stump you. They do it to learn what makes you tick,

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Forget plan C -- what new entrepreneurs need is a reality check

I'm still miffed about an article from Sunday's New York Times. Called "Maybe It's Time for Plan C," the story highlights a number of recession-casualties-turned-entrepreneur who decided to follow their proverbial bliss and open a bakery/clothing boutique/bed and breakfast, only to find that self-employment isn't all unicorns and rainbows and three-hour lunches with friends. [Flickr photo by velkr0] Color me insensitive, but what were these people expecting? The mythical four-hour workweek? That their taxes and filing and prospecting would automagically take care of themselves? Among the gripes made by the rookie business owners the Times interviewed: "I work wayyyy more than I did when I had an office job." "I feel more like a janitor than a shopkeeper." "There's no one but me to answer the phone/update the spreadsheets/pay for my sick days." "The amount of time I actually spend making crafts/baking cookies/planning weddings is a fraction of the time I

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Michelle Goodman Freelance writer Michelle Goodman is the author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide." E-mail Michelle

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