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Maintaining an emotional bond while you travel

Many of us travel overseas as part of our work and sometimes, these travels take up a lot of time and separates us from our families. Our emotional disconnection from our families and loved ones can often affect us in many ways. Here are some helpful hints to stay connected with your home while you travel.

• If you have small children, take them with you in your mind. Ask them to select one of their small toys for you to keep in your luggage and carry with you. Before you leave, tape record a favorite story or a good night ritual which can be played to your children before they go to sleep.
• Send post cards home to each member of the family. You don't have to write long stories. It's more important to tell you that you are in touch with them - physically and tangibly - through something they can hold in their hands. And don't worry that you may be home before the postcard arrives. It's the thought that counts.
• Leave little endearing notes for your spouse under the pillow, behind the bathroom mirror, pinned to her clothes ... anywhere that they can be found later.
• Email them often from wherever you are.
• Take a photograph of your family with you on your travels.
• And the most obvious hint: call home to your spouse and children. It'll be worth the money spent.

                             

Comedy editor

Do you have a funny bone? Does it take much to set you off in giggles? If your answer to these questions is a YES, then maybe, maybe, you can qualify to be a Comedy Editor. Yes, indeed. There is such a post as a Comedy Editor.

Last year, ITV in the UK advertised for a Comedy Editor and they had the position filled quickly:

ITV has appointed its first comedy editor as part of its plan to boost its funny output.

Script editor Michaela Hennessy-Vass landed the job after eight years working on such shows as Benidorm and The Bad Mother's Handbook.

Her job will be to help ITV’s entertainment and comedy director Paul Jackson commission and develop new programmes.

Jackson said: ‘Michaela has a wealth of experience in the comedy field and has played a vital role in ITV's recent comedy success. We are making huge strides forward in this genre and I'm certain that she is the right person to take on this new role.’

Soft skills

I once saw someone trying to make a list of 60 soft skills. How many of them can you identify with?

Math
Safety
Courtesy
Honesty
Grammar
Reliability
Flexibility
Team skills
Eye contact
Cooperation
Adaptability
Follow rules
Self-directed
Good attitude
Writing skills
Driver's license
Dependability
Advanced math
Self-supervising
Good references
Being drug free
Good attendance
Personal energy
Work experience
Ability to measure
Personal integrity
Good work history
Positive work ethic
Interpersonal skills
Motivational skills
Valuing education
Personal chemistry
Willingness to learn
Common sense
Critical thinking skills
Knowledge of fractions
Reporting to work on time
Use of rulers and calculators
Good personal appearance
Wanting to do a good job
Basic spelling and grammar
Reading and comprehension
Ability to follow regulations
Willingness to be accountable
Ability to fill out a job application
Ability to make production quotas
Basic manufacturing skills training
Awareness of how business works
Staying on the job until it is finished
Ability to read and follow instructions
Willingness to work second and third shifts
Caring about seeing the company succeed
Understanding what the world is all about
Ability to listen and document what you have heard
Commitment to continued training and learning
Willingness to take instruction and responsibility
Ability to relate to coworkers in a close environment
Not expecting to become a supervisor in the first six months
Willingness to be a good worker and go beyond the traditional eight-hour day

Facebook? MySpace? Be careful of what you write!

Here's an interesting extract from a story that appeared recently on Reader's Digest:

If you're on MySpace or Facebook, so is your potential boss. Time to make some changes?

Here's an interesting fact: Every American has, at some point, appeared naked, drunk, unconscious, rude, crude or felonious online.

Okay, maybe not everyone, but surf the Net and that's the impression you'll get. On social networks like MySpace and Facebook, you can find pages only a hedonist would love: "Thirty Reasons Girls Should Call It a Night," "Beer Pong Dream Team," … you get the idea.

There's a photo of a young man named Carl on yet another page. He's fast asleep -- passed out, actually -- and his friends have sketched scars, a mustache and graffiti on his face. (By the way, we deleted his last name, but it's right there on the site.) Katie is there too. She's wasted and naked and has her head resting on a toilet seat. Her photo comment? "Not my finest hour ... what a classy chick!"

Click here to read the rest of this story.

Passion or Practicality?

Passion or Practicality?
…Passion. Or, perhaps, a balance.

So, which is it?

Back in the carefree days of childhood, most of us carried excited dreams of growing up and of becoming an astronaut, a veterinarian, an actor, an artist, or a [fill in dream occupation-of-choice]. Back then, there was this absolute certainty that these dreams would be fulfilled, that we would become whatever we wanted to become and do things we were passionate about as we grew older.

Fast forward twenty or thirty some-odd years…and those childhood dreams are rarely fulfilled. Why? What happened during the course of those years? What happens to all our young dreams? As we all grow older, the realization of the realities of life and its responsibilities dawns on us, and many choose to give up their passions for the safety of practicality. Sure, practicality is nice. It’s safe. But, is it fun? Is it enjoyable? People who choose careers solely based on practicality have a greater chance of feeling bored and discontent with what they are doing day-in and day-out, as compared to people who are constantly driven and motivated to succeed in their careers by their passions.

In an ideal world, every individual would be working their dream job, reaping in a good salary, and would be completely content. In fact, there are already people living in this ideal world. The question is, are you? Take a look at the snapshot of your life, and ask yourself: Are you doing something you enjoy? Are you happy? If your answer turns out to be: “Yes! I’m truly, truly happy!”, then, you have already realized the importance of passion and have already found the balance between passion and practicality. If your answer is more of a: “It could be better…I could be happier, but hey, I’ve got to make a living”, then, perhaps you should revaluate your career and reconsider going back to your passion. You could be the next person to achieve the right balance of passion and practicality.

For those whose answers match the latter (or who are in the process of searching for a job), here are some things to keep in mind.

• Though working may be absolutely necessary for people to survive in today’s world, don’t opt for just any type of work that you find. If possible, try to find a job that is a perfect fit to your talents and your interests–You’ll definitely have a much happier work life.
• Money is an absolute must in order to live life the way we want to. But, money cannot buy you happiness. So, wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were the other way around, if you were paid to do something you loved to do?
• Passion is the one thing that makes you different from others. Passion gives you happiness. If you lose your passion, then you forget what is truly important to you.
• Working on things that you are passionate about can lead to greater success, as you are being spurred on by curiosity and interest. And, all the while, you are having fun!
• Nowadays, it is commonplace for people to enter career fields that have absolutely nothing to do with their degrees. As such, it is never too late to make a change for the better.
• Most important of all, remember that successful people (both in the past and present) have become successful mainly because they did the things they loved to do. They were constantly being motivated by their interests and passion, so there was never a dull moment.

“I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.”
~Thomas Edison, Inventor

Where do you go from here? How do you find the dream job that is waiting for you out there? How do you incorporate your passion into your daily life?

• Start off by determining what causes you to be truly happy, what strikes you as most interesting, and what intrigues you. Do these things fall under a certain category or share something in common?
• Make the most of JobStreet.com’s extensive listing of jobs in a variety of specializations to search for potential jobs.
• Attend career fairs to browse around and get an idea of the type of jobs available in today’s job market. Collect information on companies that have job openings in a field that interests you.
• Take career or personality assessment tests to help you understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie, as well as to determine job suitability.

[For those around the KL area, JobStreet.com is having a Resume and Career Clinic this weekend, and on top of that, there will be FREE personality tests. Be sure to drop by and check it out. What are you waiting for? RSVP today! More details here]

• Talk to your family, friends, and other contacts in your network about possibilities for work in a field that you enjoy. Networking could help you find that dream job.
• Be flexible and keep all possibilities open. Take your time to consider what you truly want to do with your life. And, after that, try not to rush with your job search. Taking a longer time on the job search process will help ensure that the jobs you have selected to apply for are truly the ones you will enjoy.
• Just remember, finding the perfect job is part of a lifelong process; as such, your career choices may change from time to time. And, that’s okay.

If you are not keen on changing careers, definitely do try to return to your passion! Take it up again as a pastime, as something to help you relieve stress. Doing so will help you to revitalize your life and to keep every moment interesting.

So, which is it? What’s the answer to that age-old debate of "Passion vs. Practicality'?

You already know my answer. Now, it’s up to you to decide. Every individual’s opinions and circumstances are different. At the end of the day, the one conducting the job search is you. The one working at that practical job is you. You are the one who has to make a decision regarding the importance of passion or the importance of practicality for yourself. But always remember the words of Eve Sawyer, “never underestimate the power of passion.” And, never forget its importance.

“Choose the job that you love and you will never have to work for a day in your life.”
~Unknown

“Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.”
~Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Philosopher

“Don't ask yourself what the world needs–ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
~Harold Thurman Whitman, Philosopher

“If you have ever felt such tremendous enthusiasm and desire for something that you would gladly spend all your waking hours working on it, that you would happily do without pay, then you have found your passion.”
~Sharon Cook and Graciela Sholander, Authors

“Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night.”
~Glade Byron Addams

[This article was written by Tian Jing Ong from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who is currently interning with JobStreet.com]

Managing bad bosses, Part 4

(Editor's Note: This is the final instalment of a four-part article by Heera Singh, called Managing Bad Bosses.)

Three more effective ways to handle bad bosses

Ganging Up
This might seem to be an unorthodox solution, but it has its strengths. If several people from the same department voice similar views or frustrations, then there is a chance that the head of department might take heed. This voicing of opinions can take place individually or else at a meeting where everyone is present. If it is the latter, then it has to be handled sensitively, as you do not want to create the impression that there is a mutiny in the department. At the same time, be aware of the fact that there may be some people in the department who might try to gain political mileage out of this situation by being the odd one out of the ‘gang’ to gain favor. The good thing about ‘ganging up’ is that it is very difficult for a boss to take the situation lightly as the number of messengers is high, and all carry the same message. Do not however expect the boss to change immediately.

Ask for a Transfer or Resign
If none of these strategies work, then you have two choices. If you really love your job because you are learning a lot and you like the people you're working with, then you will just have to ‘bite the bullet’ and accept your boss as best you can. Or, if all else fails, ask to be transferred to another department or finally simply hand in your resignation letter. Only you know your own worth, and if you don't feel respected and motivated then just move on. This is a difficult course of action, but one that you must always have as an option. Remember however that the other side may not necessarily be ‘greener’.

Conclusion
Managing ‘bad’ bosses is a very difficult and sensitive exercise. Always remember that finding a perfect boss/employee match is almost impossible. There will always be grounds for conflict in any working relationship. You have to try to work on each other's flaws and strong points to complement your work methods. The onus is on you as the subordinate to adapt to your boss’s style of management.

A final piece of advice and that is, when dealing with bad bosses the worst thing you can do is simply to do nothing, hoping the problems will get resolved. No job, boss, or company is worth losing your health, sanity, or self-esteem. If you can’t find a way to resolve these issues and your boss simply will never change his behavior, then you should immediately start looking for a new job, within or outside the organization. But before you do this, please do carry out an objective performance appraisal on yourself. It might change your mind.

Read Part 3 here

Read Part 2 here

Read Part 1 here

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(This article is reproduced with permission from Heera Singh who is the Principal Consultant for his own firm,

JobStreet's Resume and Career Clinic in KL

Good news! Now you can take charge of your career by speaking to our  experts at  the JobStreet’s Resume and Career Clinic. The event details are as follow:

Date:   2nd August 2008, Saturday
Venue: Wisma JobStreet.com, Kuala Lumpur   
Time:    9am – 12pm

This is an event that is not-to-be-missed as our experienced career consultants will further fine tune and sharpen your job hunting skills so that you can achieve greater career prospects. We will also be conducting FREE personality test (worth RM 118) where you can find out what type of job is suitable for you.

Consultation is based on a first come, first served basis, so make sure you come early as this might be the best investment you can put in launching your career future.

Please email marketing-my@jobstreet.com or call 03-2176 0333 for Sun (ext.402) or Raymond (ext.419) to RSVP so that we can serve you better. Thank you.

Do spread the news to your friends!

This JobStreet’s Resume and Career Clinic is brought to you by JobStreet.com. 

Managing bad bosses, Part 3

(Editor's Note: This is the third instalment of a four-part article by Heera Singh, called Managing Bad Bosses.)

Three effective ways to handle bad bosses

Do a reality check on yourself
The first solution in handling a bad boss is an honest analysis of your actions and behavior. Are you a good subordinate? Have you been handling yourself and your job well? If you aren’t’ then perhaps it is not your boss who is the problem but you. Please also remember that all bosses have their own ways to do work and like it or not, it is the subordinates who will have to adapt to their ways. They will be quite reluctant to adapt to yours.

Formal Communication
Regardless of what type of boss you have, an important option you have is to communicate formally with them. Sometimes they may not be aware of their behavior and the aim of the communication process is to let him see your side of the work equation. In the formal meeting, make sure that you talk of the specific behavior in question and tell him how it makes you feel. Leave your emotions at the door, but be prepared for your boss to have an emotional reaction.

Do not make generalized statements like, “you are always nasty” or “everyone in the office does not like the way you manage”. Soften your comments and avoid defensiveness by allowing your boss to save face. Praise him if needed initially (obviously he must have his strengths too), so that his defenses may be lowered. When talking about the problem, use statements like "You may not be aware . . ." or "You may not realize . . .". It’s possible that your boss is unaware of his/her actions, and this meeting could be very positive for all involved. At the same time, you may realize that you might have made many assumptions about his style of management which may not necessarily be right.

Formal communication may not necessarily solve the problem, but at least you will be sure your boss has been informed of your views, feelings and frustrations. There is no guarantee of success, however, and you need to be aware that your Malaysian boss from a cultural perspective might misinterpret your ‘confrontation’ as pushy or aggressive behavior. This might lead to an escalation of your conflict with him.

Informal Communication
Most of the time, the recommended action with a bad boss is to take him or her to lunch or a drink after work to discuss the problem in a non-confrontational way. This type of informal encounter will serve to overcome the problem better as the non-work environment may lessen the tension and thus make it more amicable for a more fruitful discussion. Always thank him for taking the time to have the discussion and impress upon him that your only interest in this discussion is to have a more healthy working relationship.

To be continued....

Read Part 2 here

Read Part 1 here

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(This article is reproduced with permission from Heera Singh who is the Principal Consultant for his own firm, HEERA Training and Management Consultancy.)

Managing bad bosses, Part 2

(Editor's Note: This is the second instalment of a four-part article by Heera Singh, called Managing Bad Bosses.)

Types of bad bosses

The key to getting on with a boss is to manage him by understanding his underlying motivations, which may be different from what you think. I will take the liberty here to state some of the different types of ‘bad’ bosses that I have met. If you're a manager, look for yourself in some of these descriptions. Obviously, all the characteristics of bad managers cannot be covered. However I am most certain that many will be very familiar with the ones covered here.

The autocratic manager
This dinosaur type manager sadly still exists in current organizations. They have a belief that since they are the managers, they are the ones who are the intelligent ones, they are the only ones who can make decisions and they are the only ones who can ‘think’ in the organization. In that sense, they are like carpenters who only have a hammer in their tool box. Every problem is a nail and therefore the hammer has to be used all the time. They are not aware of other management tools and they don’t even bother trying to find out.

The clueless manager
Some managers simply don't have a clue as to what they're doing. This kind of boss may seem like a dream at first, but lack of substance will tell in the long run and you get frustrated as you are not given enough guidance in your job. You go to him with one problem to solve and you go out of his room with an additional two problems.

The weak manager
These are the types of managers who won't stand up for you. They just toe the party line. They avoid risks and give you vague instructions. When things go well, they take credit and when things go bad, they pounce on you for not adhering to instructions. The word flexibility does not exist in their vocabulary.

The micro-manager
These are the types of managers who do not trust you at all. They want to check and counter check everything that you do. No matter how much detail you give him/her, or how many times you do redo a piece of work, it's still not right. In the process they forget the big picture. They are more interested in the font and the style of presentation of a report rather than the substance of the report.

The hard task master
This is the type of manager who thinks that working late is the hall mark of a good manager. He doesn't have a life, and doesn't expect you to either. As he works late everyday, he expects you to do so too. He is more interested in the symbolic manifestations of work i.e. working late, bringing home work, having lots of meetings etc, rather than the ‘real’ work output. When you finish a piece of work, which you think you have done well, he tears it apart, so that ‘you will have some work to do’. Strangely, after modifying your work a few times, the one that emerges finally is an exact replica of the very first one that you submitted!!

To be continued....

Read Part 1 here

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(This article is reproduced with permission from Heera Singh who is the Principal Consultant for his own firm, HEERA Training and Management Consultancy.)

Managing bad bosses, Part 1

(Editor's Note: This is the first instalment of a four-part article by Heera Singh, called Managing Bad Bosses.)

Are you in a situation where you are stressed considerably because you can't stand your boss? Do you hate your job because of him/her? Have you been in a situation where you would just like to ‘tell your boss to go fly kites’ and walk out of your job? If all the above is true, then I suppose you are part of the many employees in Malaysia who work for this group of people who are called ‘bad bosses’ i.e. bosses who are strict, unappreciative, hot-tempered, rude and nasty. In the course of my work as a training consultant, this is definitely the number one problem that my participants bring up to me to try to get my advice.

Bad bosses have always been part of the work landscape. Today, however, we are seeing more of them as a result of the greater pressures and stress that come with any managerial position. Managers in general are over-extended in terms of work as a result of ‘leaner’ structures in organizations. They have to do more with less. As they are not able to cope, they take it out on their subordinates, consciously or unconsciously. And this makes the situation worse as subordinates who are subject to ‘unnecessary stress’ by their bosses are de-motivated and usually retaliate with lower quantity and quality of work, which serves to continue the vicious circle.

But what is a bad boss? Often, a bad boss is all in the eyes of the beholder. One person's boss from hell may be another person's boss from heaven. If you are the type of person who needs regular direction, for example, then you will love a boss who is a micro-manager. On the other hand, if you have strong needs for autonomy you will hate this same boss as you can’t work with somebody looking over your shoulder all the time.

To be continued....

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(This article is reproduced with permission from Heera Singh who is the Principal Consultant for his own firm, HEERA Training and Management Consultancy.)