workplace Archives - Midlife Career Strategy

Performance Reviews: Does your boss have an agenda?

CathyG — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 08:26:36 +0000

Nearly every company has a reward system that they can’t spell out. Often they’re not even aware of what they’re doing. Here are some questions to assess your boss’s agenda. Never ask these questions aloud. But listen for what your coworkers say…and don’t say. Does your company value sales and marketing more than support, tech, […]

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What To Do When You’re Asked To Do Something Illegal At Work

CathyG — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 10:42:58 +0000

Some time ago, someone wrote on a blog that’s since been discontinued: “…I can’t help but wonder if many jobs are designed to beat us all into idea submission. It just seems so much easier to show up, do what they want you to do, and go home. “ He’s got a point. Very few […]

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Office politics: Case of the insufferable colleague

CathyG — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:46:51 +0000

This post was inspired by a letter to the “Workologist,” an advice columnist who fields questions about office politics every week. Read the post here. First, there are many good reasons to consult a career consultant instead of writing to an advice column (even a workologist!) and the limits of seeking columnar advice will be […]

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“Bad Career Hair Story”

CathyG — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 02:02:26 +0000

Last Sunday’s New York Times included the story of a really Bad Hair Day. It’s the second story on this page. Here’s how it goes. A woman works in Hong Kong for a Paris-based fashion house. She dyes her hair bright red. She gets some compliments from her coworkers. But then a few months later […]

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Workplace Politics: Can This Career Be Saved?

CathyG — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 01:13:29 +0000

.This week I’m beginning an occasional series, “Can This Career Be Saved?” It’s named after the popularly magazine feature, “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” I’ll present a scenario and suggest my response. Then I’ll ask some questions and invite you to comment on the blog post. You are also invited to contribute questions that can […]

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When Career Change Means Crossing A Cultural Minefield

CathyG — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:16:31 +0000

Recently someone posted an email exchange between a professor and student, including the original email exchange and comments. The story draws strong opinions from many people and warns of cultural minefields that exist everywhere. Read the full story here. To summarize, the student (who isn’t named) is choosing which of three courses to take for […]

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Video: Career Strategy Tip: There’s a new boss in town

CathyG — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:15:55 +0000

In all those western b-movies, the gunslinger rides into town on a white horse, ready to take charge, fight off anyone who threatens him, and let’s everyone know he’s there. In the world of workplace politics, often you’ll feel this way when you get a new boss – or even worse, when your boss gets […]

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Have corporate values really changed?

CathyG — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:35:53 +0000

Today’s Wall Street Journal included a story about the firing of Jack Griffin as CEO of Time, Inc., after just 6 month on the job. You can read the story here. Among the reasons: Griffin wanted his name on the masthead, so he demanded a separate page – costing the company $5 million a year. […]

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Volunteer for a furlough? Think about it.

CathyG — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:21:18 +0000

The Wall Street Journal carried an article about companies who ask employees to volunteer for furloughs. They interviewed several advisors. Bottom line: Check out the political implications before you volunteer. Will you gain an advantage? Will your colleagues resent you? Frankly, I am opposed to asking workers to donate anything to a company. When you’re […]

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Career Advice: What happens at work…

CathyG — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:38:49 +0000

Another piece of advice from Penelope Trunk’s blog: Work is more fun when you have friends. True, a job is more fun when you have work friends: people to meet for lunch, people who add spice to meetings, and people who help you out when you’re overloaded. I would say, just don’t assume they’re friend-friends. […]

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