We work in a contemporary world. A world where things are changing — whether it's when and where employees are working, how employers are handling their human resources or the constantly changing trends — the world of work is moving and shifting. And as wacky as that world can be sometimes, it's also fascinating if you have the right guide.

This blog is designed to be just that — a companion on your journey through the changing world of work. Here you'll find tips, tools and information on topics as diverse as the workforce itself: the aging workforce, working women, professional etiquette, generational diversity, the talent crunch, and more. So whether you're an employer or an employee, and whether you're beginning or close to finishing your career, I hope you find the information here useful for navigating the contemporary world of work.

Thanks for reading and have fun!

Melanie

It’s part of our every day lives.  We ‘talk’ to it several times a day.  It can be a tremendous help and it can make us crazy.  I’m talking about voice-mail.

There was a good article on the Microsoft Small Business Center recently called 10 tips for effective voice-mail messages.  I agree with everything Jeff Wuorio wrote but I’d like to highlight a few of my pet peeves:

• He asks us not to repeat what the system already knows.  It makes me crazy when the caller takes up valuable time telling me the date and time he or she called.  The vast majority of voice-mail systems give you that information each time you call in for a message.
• Jeff also advises us when preparing our outgoing messages to ‘use humor and offbeat material with caution.’  I would strengthen that advice from ‘use it with caution’ to ‘don’t use it at all!’  Whether it is a business call or calling someone at home, I’m not really interested in listening to music, hearing poems or trying to interpret your baby’s gurgling.

 Now I’ll add a few of my own:

• Say your name, title and company clearly.  I hate it when I have to listen to a message over and over to understand who called.
• State your phone number slowly and clearly.  How many times have you had to listen to a message a second time to get the number right?

I don’t think we could live without voice-mail at this point — we’ve all been spoiled.  But I think we can make the experience better and more efficient by following Jeff Wuorio’s and my humble advice.

Here’s a loaded question?  Is it ever appropriate to ask a woman if she’s pregnant?

I say “no, no, 1000 times no!”  First, it’s none of your business.  And second, if she’s not you’ve just called her fat.

Be patient.  If she is, you’ll find out soon enough.

In January and February it was the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl.  This month it’s basketball that could adversely affect productivity in offices all over the country. 

In The (Overblown) Cost of March Madness on Forbes.com, it’s estimated that this productivity loss could amount to over $3.5 billion — yes, that’s billion with a ‘b!’  The article questions that huge number, but even if it is way off, productivity will be impacted.

Unlike the Super Bowl, NCAA tournament games are played during the work day.  And most will be available online for free.  Oops.  I probably shouldn’t have told you that, but if you’re a basketball fan, you knew it already, didn’t you?

But is it ethical to watch basketball games during work?  And, do you run the risk of getting caught?  I can’t resist repeating a quote from the Forbes.com article — a quote by Nancy Flynn, the Executive Director of the ePolicy Institute:

“Surf at your own risk.”

Take heed!

You’ve probably read my posts about the Talent Crunch — and about a potential IT talent shortage.  My comments have been based on demographics, Manpower research and on anecdotal evidence as I ask for a show of hands when speaking to large groups.

But lately I’ve been reading articles that oppose the shortage theory.  Most recently I read Is There Really an IT Labor Shortage? on Baselinemag.com.  Very interesting and worth reading.

To those who concur there is a shortage and to those who don’t, I agree with you both.  That’s because it depends.  It depends on where you are.  In some regions and in some cities, good IT talent is hard to come by.  And it depends on the specific skills you seek.  I would also argue that the economy has something to do with it.

But either way we should:

• Encourage the best and brightest to enter the IT field.
• Give IT talent the tools they need to keep their skills up to date.
• Make sure we’re balancing demand and supply.  Let’s not make too many only to face a glut that causes schools and students to pull back from the profession.

What do you think?  Is there a shortage?

There is an article posted on Workforce Blogs titled Demanding That Workers Take a Vacation — or Else.  The title caught my eye.

Turns out the post isn’t really taking about whether or not people should use up their earned vacation time — rather it’s about the CEO of Chrysler’s management style.  But it did get me thinking about the importance of time away from work.

We all say we want work/life balance — or work/life integration.  We all say we need a rest.  We all say we need to get away for a while.  But how many of us leave loads of vacation time on the table?  Is anyone really so important that we can’t leave our jobs for a week or two?

In the long run, it’s better for your employer if you take the time you’ve earned.  You’ll be happier and more productive when you’re actually in the office.  And your family will likely be happier, too.

Spring is here.  If you’re not taking a spring break, start planning your summer get-away now.  It will do everyone some good!

If you’re reading this you’re probably a computer lover.  I am — and it turns out that Charlie Rose risked life and limb to protect his.

I read in USA Today today (I’ve always wanted to write that!) that he tripped while walking in NYC and decided to protect his brand new MacBook Air — and landed on his face.  I think I feel that strongly about my MacBook Pro.  I won’t test the theory but it is something to think about.

What would you protect?  Your face?  Or your computer?

I was recently interviewed for an article on MSNBC.com called MBA not always key to landing a plum job.  The message in the article follows its title — an MBA is not a ticket to the C-Suite.

If you read what Eve wrote, you’ll see that I do have my MBA and I’m quite proud of it — but I got it after I’d climbed the corporate ladder about as far as I wanted.  For me it was about learning new things, meeting fabulous people, completing a rather difficult task and improving my confidence.

So matriculate if that’s what you want.  In fact I highly recommend it if you have the time (and money).  But don’t expect miracles on the job.

My friends and associates who don’t watch Celebrity Apprentice have been giving me grief about blogging each episode.  So no more!

But what did you think about this week’s episode?

And P.S., I’m really glad Trace — the gentle giant — made the cut.

It is a conundrum.  You’re currently working but you’re ready for a change.  How do you look for a job when you’re working full time?  Should you tell your supervisor you’re looking?

Lily Garcia, in her career news column in the Washington Post advises you to be careful.  In Should You Give Full Disclosure When Job Hunting? she admits that in a perfect world we would tell all, but there are likely to be reprisals if you do.

So I’ll ask the question again:  How do you look for a job when you’re working?  The answer is ‘very carefully.’  It could be considered unethical to use company time to post resumes, make phone calls and work on your search.  And if you’re taking time off work to interview, make sure it is unpaid time off and that you’re careful about saying why you’re taking time away.  All this sounds logical, right?

But according to statistics about when people actually use job boards:

• Nearly 80% of job searches are done during weekday business hours.
• Approximately 75% of all job applications are submitted during the business day.
• Workday registrations/applications peak on Wednesday and Thursday.
• On Saturday and Sunday the numbers are significantly lower.

So,  are we abusing our current employers?  Is it unethical to use company time to look for a new job?

What do you think?

In real life managers would (or should) step in to break up the tension (to put it mildly) between Piers and Omarosa.  But we all know that on Celebrity Apprentice it’s all about the ratings.  We can learn from this over-the-top, entertaining example of supposed teamwork.

• Managers step in if the fight gets in the way of getting the job done.
• Team members don’t take it personally — it’s just business.  But Piers actually admitted that for him it wasn’t business, it was personal!
• Having said that, don’t stifle competition – competition can lead to spectacular success as demonstrated by the over $100k win.
• Don’t ever — I repeat ever — make a personal accusation that is based on a hunch.  And whether or not Piers is gay is not an issue and shouldn’t have been implied much less stated outright!  And who actually cares?  That’s his business, not ours.

If you haven’t been watching, I apologise for making so many Celebrity Apprentice references over the past several weeks.  But do read the lessons learned.  They should make sense even if you haven’t been tuning in.

Oh!  And one more thing.  What’s up with Omarosa’s outfits?  I’m not the fashion police, but I can recognize what is unprofessional and too suggestive for the workplace.  Please — no one should emulate her outfits!