Even in this tough economy, there are many recent college graduates who either have jobs or are about to start jobs. However, many of them will be making some mistakes that can be avoided. Here they are, in no particular order:
1. Not dressing appropriately. What's the first thing that people notice about you when you go to work? Probably the way you're dressed. Take the lead from upper management and don't follow your peers when it comes to the dress code at work. Dress appropriately. If you work in a corporate environment, a business suit is probably the norm and if you work for Google, it will be a lot more casual.
2. Criticizing the way things are done. When you're first starting out, I'm sure you want things to be done the way you're used to having them done but it's best to defer to the way your bosses want things done. I once had a new employee who was very smart and well-educated. They proceeded to criticize a big project my bosses and I were working on. We were very successful with that project and all this employee did was alienate themselves from their supervisors. Establish a great work reputation first before trying to change things.
3. Expecting a promotion after one week on the job. I was giving a college lecture recently when one of the students mentioned that her boyfriend couldn't understand why he hasn't gotten a promotion after being on the job for 3 months. BE PATIENT! It doesn't do you any good to quickly get a promotion if you're not ready for one. Once you have a great work aptitude and the experience that is required, you will move up the ladder but don't be in a rush.
4. Coming in late to work. You may have gotten used to coming in late to class but that won't cut it in the workplace. If you want to tick your boss off first thing in the morning, then by all means come in late but I wouldn't recommend it. When you arrive late to work or to a meeting, you're basically saying that your time is more valuable than everyone else's-it isn't. Set your alarm clock earlier and you'll be fine.
5. Spending too much time on the phone or Internet. You never want to be known as the person who "is always on the phone" or "is always on the Internet" for personal reasons. It shows your boss that you have too much time on your hands. Some departments keep a log of phone calls for their employees and many companies keep track of your Internet usage so avoid those porn sites at work!
6. Drinking too much at company functions. You may be used to partying at school but partying too hard at a work function can cost you a job or career. It's that one extra drink that can hurt you. I've seen employees say very inappropriate things to bosses and co-workers, some got hurt physically, some have gotten DUI's, and some just make asses out of themselves. If you must drink at a work function, have one drink and nurse it.
7. Inappropriate material on social networking websites. You may have hit the right privacy functions on Facebook or did you? Just assume that your employer or prospective employer can see your Facebook or MySpace page. Don't post any photos of you drinking/partying or in a revealing bathing suit. Definitely don't say anything negative about anyone at work because many people who have done so have been fired.
8. Not asking the right questions. When you're new to a job, it's not only important to ask questions but to ask the right questions. If you ask too many your boss might get frustrated but too few and you won't learn what you need to learn. Think about the most important questions you have and ask them. A former boss once told me that the person asking the questions is the one in power.
9. Sending inappropriate emails at work. You have to be very careful about the content of your work emails. They should all be professional and don't assume it's o.k. to use shorthand like you would in a text message. Importantly, if you are upset with someone, take a step back, wait 30 minutes, and then edit your email. Once you send a nasty email, you're at the point of no return and I've seen employees get fired for one negative email.
10. Not accepting constructive criticism. Younger employees have been brought up by parents, teachers, and sports coaches with a lot of praise which means a lack of criticism. Don't worry-your boss will probably make up for a lifetime of praise with a lot of criticism. Don't take it personally. Everyone gets criticized. Listen to what the boss says and if they're right, tell them you will do a better job in that area. If you disagree with your boss's criticism, it's o.k. to tell them that but make sure you have examples of why they're wrong.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Top 10 LinkedIn Mistakes
I always recommend that people, especially college students, join LinkedIn, a free professional networking website with over 65 million members. I think it's a great tool which makes it easier for prospective employers to see your work history and background. Once you become "linked in" to someone, you then have access to all of their professional contacts. However, many people make some common mistakes on LinkedIn:
1. Waiting until they are unemployed before they join. If you wait until you're out of a job (or are looking for your first job) to join LinkedIn, you'll be in panic mode-trying to get as many contacts as possible in a short amount of time. It's best to join when you still have a job so that you can take your time posting your resume, making contacts, and getting recommendations.
2. Lack of a photo or having a non-professional photo. The first thing that people notice about you is your photo. Unlike Facebook or MySpace, you are only allowed one photo to be posted so make it count. Have a professional headshot in business attire taken of you.
A lot of people who are on LinkedIn don't have a photo (half of my contacts don't). Perhaps they're afraid that it will bring unwanted attention to them and that their bosses may suspect they're looking for a job. With so many members on LinkedIn, I think it's generally accepted that being on LinkedIn doesn't mean you're looking for a job. There's also many people who have a photo of themselves in casual dress with a swimming pool or baseball field in the background. As I said, business attire only.
Another reason that some people may not have a photo posted is that LinkedIn has a 4MB photo size limit. If your camera takes photos that are larger than this, you should edit and downsize them so that they can be downloaded on the site.
3. Posting an incomplete resume. When you post your resume on LinkedIn, you have to post it in different sections so make sure you don't leave out a section. Everything should be in chronological order and don't leave out dates-employers want to follow your career path from beginning to present.
4. Lack of a clear, specific objective. At the top of your profile you have an opportunity to list an update. This is the perfect space to state your job objective. You can also state it in the "Summary" section. Just like on any resume, a specific job objective goes a lot further than a general job objective. Unlike a resume, you can't keep changing your resume objective to match a specific job since you don't know who is looking at your profile.
5. Lack of a personal greeting when trying to get "linked in" with someone. Personally, when someone tries to "link in" with me, especially someone I know, I prefer that they send me a personal message and not the auto message that says "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." I think you have a better chance of getting someone to be "linked in" with you, especially someone you don't know, if you include a brief personal message.
6. Lack of recommendations. When potential employers look at your LinkedIn profile, they will be looking at how many recommendations you have. The more you have, the better chance you have of getting noticed. Get them from supervisors, co-workers, employees, professors, and fellow students.
7. Contacting your contact's contacts without a mutual introduction. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that once you are "linked in" with someone, you then have the ability to access all of their contacts, some of whom may be able to help you get a job. However, I would recommend not trying to contact them directly. First, ask your mutual contact if they can introduce you via email to the person you want to be "linked in" with. Now, you're no longer a stranger. If your contact is unable or unwilling to do so, then contact the person you want to be "linked in" with directly. However, don't tell them you think they can help you. A better approach would be to introduce yourself, tell them your objective, let them know you admire what they're doing, and tell them you would really appreciate it if they can take the time to speak with you in the future.
8. Not joining LinkedIn groups. There are many LinkedIn groups you can join and all it requires is doing a search, then clicking on a link. To start with, join your college's alumni association. Join a group that is associated with the field you're in. The more groups you join, the more diversified you become and you now have something in common with many other LinkedIn members.
9. Not using the search function. Once you join LinkedIn, you can do a search for jobs, people, groups, and companies. Don't forget to utilize this function.
10. Not using LinkedIn once you get a job. Networking doesn't stop once you get a job. You should always try to increase the number of contacts you have and continue to add recommendations. In this economy, this is no such thing as job security so always be prepared for the next job by constantly updating your LinkedIn profile.
1. Waiting until they are unemployed before they join. If you wait until you're out of a job (or are looking for your first job) to join LinkedIn, you'll be in panic mode-trying to get as many contacts as possible in a short amount of time. It's best to join when you still have a job so that you can take your time posting your resume, making contacts, and getting recommendations.
2. Lack of a photo or having a non-professional photo. The first thing that people notice about you is your photo. Unlike Facebook or MySpace, you are only allowed one photo to be posted so make it count. Have a professional headshot in business attire taken of you.
A lot of people who are on LinkedIn don't have a photo (half of my contacts don't). Perhaps they're afraid that it will bring unwanted attention to them and that their bosses may suspect they're looking for a job. With so many members on LinkedIn, I think it's generally accepted that being on LinkedIn doesn't mean you're looking for a job. There's also many people who have a photo of themselves in casual dress with a swimming pool or baseball field in the background. As I said, business attire only.
Another reason that some people may not have a photo posted is that LinkedIn has a 4MB photo size limit. If your camera takes photos that are larger than this, you should edit and downsize them so that they can be downloaded on the site.
3. Posting an incomplete resume. When you post your resume on LinkedIn, you have to post it in different sections so make sure you don't leave out a section. Everything should be in chronological order and don't leave out dates-employers want to follow your career path from beginning to present.
4. Lack of a clear, specific objective. At the top of your profile you have an opportunity to list an update. This is the perfect space to state your job objective. You can also state it in the "Summary" section. Just like on any resume, a specific job objective goes a lot further than a general job objective. Unlike a resume, you can't keep changing your resume objective to match a specific job since you don't know who is looking at your profile.
5. Lack of a personal greeting when trying to get "linked in" with someone. Personally, when someone tries to "link in" with me, especially someone I know, I prefer that they send me a personal message and not the auto message that says "I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn." I think you have a better chance of getting someone to be "linked in" with you, especially someone you don't know, if you include a brief personal message.
6. Lack of recommendations. When potential employers look at your LinkedIn profile, they will be looking at how many recommendations you have. The more you have, the better chance you have of getting noticed. Get them from supervisors, co-workers, employees, professors, and fellow students.
7. Contacting your contact's contacts without a mutual introduction. One of the great things about LinkedIn is that once you are "linked in" with someone, you then have the ability to access all of their contacts, some of whom may be able to help you get a job. However, I would recommend not trying to contact them directly. First, ask your mutual contact if they can introduce you via email to the person you want to be "linked in" with. Now, you're no longer a stranger. If your contact is unable or unwilling to do so, then contact the person you want to be "linked in" with directly. However, don't tell them you think they can help you. A better approach would be to introduce yourself, tell them your objective, let them know you admire what they're doing, and tell them you would really appreciate it if they can take the time to speak with you in the future.
8. Not joining LinkedIn groups. There are many LinkedIn groups you can join and all it requires is doing a search, then clicking on a link. To start with, join your college's alumni association. Join a group that is associated with the field you're in. The more groups you join, the more diversified you become and you now have something in common with many other LinkedIn members.
9. Not using the search function. Once you join LinkedIn, you can do a search for jobs, people, groups, and companies. Don't forget to utilize this function.
10. Not using LinkedIn once you get a job. Networking doesn't stop once you get a job. You should always try to increase the number of contacts you have and continue to add recommendations. In this economy, this is no such thing as job security so always be prepared for the next job by constantly updating your LinkedIn profile.
Friday, April 9, 2010
How to Ace the Informational Interview
The informational interview is different from a typical job interview because technically you are not interviewing for a job. You are there to make a great impression and to get as much information as possible from the person you are talking to while at the same time, promoting yourself. Your goal is to get them to voluntarily refer you to someone else that can more directly help you get a job or if you're lucky, has a job opening.
There are two types of informational interviews-those you've set up through people you know and those you've set up with people you don't know. I highly recommend asking your parents to contact their friends and asking your friends to contact their parents for you. Visit as many as these contacts as you can in their work environment, even if it's in a field you're not interested in. By experiencing several different work environments, you can really get a good feel for what's out there. Plus, you never know who they know. Importantly, you can ask as many questions as you want and there's less pressure on you because you're not interviewing for a job. However, dress as you would for a job interview because you want to make a great impression.
The other type of informational interview involves cold calling-calling up a company without any introduction. Find two or three companies you'd like to work for. You can start in the Human Resources Department or call the department you want to work in directly. Tell them what college you're going to or are graduating from and that you realize that there may not be a job available at the moment but you would love to work for their company (do your research on the company so you can tell them why) and do they have a few minutes to meet you and talk with you. If they say no, keep trying. Try someone else in that department or call another department until you get a yes.
Once you get an informational interview, dress up very conservatively and arrive early. Smile at the person you're speaking with and give them a firm handshake. Don't be nervous because you are not there to get a job but to gather information and impress the person you're speaking with. Thank them for their time and ask them plenty of questions like-what is the environment like here?, what are the hours?, what are the qualities of the people who get promotions?, what is the reputation of employees my age who work here?, what is the office politics like?, tell me about your career path, what do you like and dislike about working here? Tell them about your background and strengths. See if they know anyone in your potential field if they haven't already volunteered that information.
When you leave, make sure you take their business card. Keep a computer record of your interviews, especially the questions you asked and the answers you received. Finally, always send a thank-you note. The more informational interviews you have, the better chance you have of finding a job so don't give up and good luck.
There are two types of informational interviews-those you've set up through people you know and those you've set up with people you don't know. I highly recommend asking your parents to contact their friends and asking your friends to contact their parents for you. Visit as many as these contacts as you can in their work environment, even if it's in a field you're not interested in. By experiencing several different work environments, you can really get a good feel for what's out there. Plus, you never know who they know. Importantly, you can ask as many questions as you want and there's less pressure on you because you're not interviewing for a job. However, dress as you would for a job interview because you want to make a great impression.
The other type of informational interview involves cold calling-calling up a company without any introduction. Find two or three companies you'd like to work for. You can start in the Human Resources Department or call the department you want to work in directly. Tell them what college you're going to or are graduating from and that you realize that there may not be a job available at the moment but you would love to work for their company (do your research on the company so you can tell them why) and do they have a few minutes to meet you and talk with you. If they say no, keep trying. Try someone else in that department or call another department until you get a yes.
Once you get an informational interview, dress up very conservatively and arrive early. Smile at the person you're speaking with and give them a firm handshake. Don't be nervous because you are not there to get a job but to gather information and impress the person you're speaking with. Thank them for their time and ask them plenty of questions like-what is the environment like here?, what are the hours?, what are the qualities of the people who get promotions?, what is the reputation of employees my age who work here?, what is the office politics like?, tell me about your career path, what do you like and dislike about working here? Tell them about your background and strengths. See if they know anyone in your potential field if they haven't already volunteered that information.
When you leave, make sure you take their business card. Keep a computer record of your interviews, especially the questions you asked and the answers you received. Finally, always send a thank-you note. The more informational interviews you have, the better chance you have of finding a job so don't give up and good luck.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Why College Students Should Use Twitter
Since I first started lecturing at colleges about a year ago, I always ask the students if they use Twitter. I continue to be amazed by how few of them raise their hands. In fact, I believe that only about 10% of college students use Twitter. I wrongly assumed that members of Gen Y (The Millennials) would be all over Twitter because it was another social networking website like Facebook and MySpace. However, this was the very reason why they don't use Twitter. They can let their friends and family know what's going on at the top of their Facebook and MySpace pages so Twitter is just redundant to them.
Some people feel that Twitter is all about following celebrities or giving people an opportunity to tell you what they're doing every waking hour. However, it does serve a much more valuable purpose by providing career advice. Yes, providing career advice. If you type in keywords like career advice, resume tips, interview tips, etc., you will find a plethora of information on how to find a job. There are many people on Twitter who not only give career advice (including myself at times-andyteach is my Twitter name), but many people utilize attachments to articles with career tips and job postings.
There are many great tools out there to help you get a job so think of Twitter as just another tool. Give it a try. You don't have to post anything if you don't want to. You can just follow the people who give the best career advice. Continue to use Facebook and MySpace to let your contacts know that you are looking for a job but if you add Twitter to your toolbox, you'll increase your chances of finding a job. Oh yes, while you're on Twitter, if you like to waste some time following celebrities, be my guest, but I don't think they will help you find a job!
Some people feel that Twitter is all about following celebrities or giving people an opportunity to tell you what they're doing every waking hour. However, it does serve a much more valuable purpose by providing career advice. Yes, providing career advice. If you type in keywords like career advice, resume tips, interview tips, etc., you will find a plethora of information on how to find a job. There are many people on Twitter who not only give career advice (including myself at times-andyteach is my Twitter name), but many people utilize attachments to articles with career tips and job postings.
There are many great tools out there to help you get a job so think of Twitter as just another tool. Give it a try. You don't have to post anything if you don't want to. You can just follow the people who give the best career advice. Continue to use Facebook and MySpace to let your contacts know that you are looking for a job but if you add Twitter to your toolbox, you'll increase your chances of finding a job. Oh yes, while you're on Twitter, if you like to waste some time following celebrities, be my guest, but I don't think they will help you find a job!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Company Layoffs-Just An Excuse to Save Money?
I have many friends who recently joined the ranks of the unemployed. Some of them suspected it was coming but all of them were basically given no notice-they were called into a conference room and told it was their last day. So much for company loyalty.
It got me thinking. Why were they and others let go? I believe there are two reasons. First, when companies need to save money, they terminate higher-level employees who are earning a lot of money. Sometimes the employees have been with their company for 15, 20, or 30 years but company loyalty is irrelevant during tough economic times. Second, company layoffs are used as an excuse for supervisors to get rid of employees they either don't like or who are not doing a good job.
If your company is contemplating layoffs and you are making a lot of money in your position, you may have a difficult time escaping the ax. However, you may be able to prevent the second reason for layoffs if you have a great relationship with your boss and if you do a great job. Notice I said a "great" job, not a "good" job. Put yourself in your supervisor's position. They have to trim their staff so how do they decide? It may very well be based on how much the boss likes you so make sure you have a solid relationship with your boss. If you don't like them, pretend you like them. Constantly communicate with them. As far as the work is concerned, do whatever it takes to get the job done. Volunteer to do things that aren't asked of you. Become a star at work and maybe, just maybe, you can avoid getting the ax.
It got me thinking. Why were they and others let go? I believe there are two reasons. First, when companies need to save money, they terminate higher-level employees who are earning a lot of money. Sometimes the employees have been with their company for 15, 20, or 30 years but company loyalty is irrelevant during tough economic times. Second, company layoffs are used as an excuse for supervisors to get rid of employees they either don't like or who are not doing a good job.
If your company is contemplating layoffs and you are making a lot of money in your position, you may have a difficult time escaping the ax. However, you may be able to prevent the second reason for layoffs if you have a great relationship with your boss and if you do a great job. Notice I said a "great" job, not a "good" job. Put yourself in your supervisor's position. They have to trim their staff so how do they decide? It may very well be based on how much the boss likes you so make sure you have a solid relationship with your boss. If you don't like them, pretend you like them. Constantly communicate with them. As far as the work is concerned, do whatever it takes to get the job done. Volunteer to do things that aren't asked of you. Become a star at work and maybe, just maybe, you can avoid getting the ax.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Press Release Regarding Andy Teach College Lecture Tour
FROM GRADUATION TO CORPORATION Author Continues Successful College Lecture Tour
Career advice author Andy Teach's college lecture tour teaches students how to get a job and keep it in today's tough economy.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 27, 2009 – Andy Teach, a 27-year corporate veteran and author of the career advice book FROM GRADUATION TO CORPORATION: THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER ONE RUNG AT A TIME, continues his successful college lecture tour in the 2009-2010 school year. Working closely with Career Centers and student organizations, he has spoken at several universities and colleges including California Lutheran University, Cal State Northridge, The Claremont Colleges, Loyola Marymount University, Point Loma Nazarene University, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, USC Annenberg, and Whittier College. He is also scheduled to speak at several schools in 2010.
Teach covers several topics in his lecture, ranging from good vs. bad résumés, job interviewing, networking, dealing with difficult bosses and co-workers, dress codes, staying organized, office romance, standing up to the boss, and the generation gap at work. Teach also discusses some of his 72 corporate commandments, including: keep your supervisor informed of your progress, remember that one of your main jobs is to make the boss's job easier, it doesn’t matter how smart you are if you miss a deadline, and do whatever it takes to get the job done.
"I wrote this book, in part, as a vehicle which would allow me to have direct contact with my audience. There is no substitute for face-to-face communication and it gives me great pleasure when I can speak directly with college students. When they come up to me after a lecture and thank me for my time and for helping them in their job search, it makes it all worthwhile."
What makes this book and lecture unique is that its author not only gives us his candid account of his climb up the corporate ladder, but he also discusses the factors behind his fall from the top rungs, so that young people can learn from his long practical experience.
Teach’s college lecture tour has been well received by Career Center staff and students.
From Career Center staff:
"Thank you for presenting such an engaging and informative presentation. From cross-generational dynamics to office etiquette, you really provided valuable advice.”
"It was my pleasure to host you on campus and I know that students benefited tremendously from your career advice.”
"The ‘thank you’ goes to you for giving of your time to speak to our students and providing them with great advice. It certainly reflects your commitment and value for helping others. I particularly enjoyed hearing about your career path and the lessons that you learned along the way."
From Students:
"Very informative. A wake up call."
"The tips on closing the generation gap were very helpful. I liked the advice about networking and getting to know the people you are working with."
"Very down-to-earth with personal experiences. Enjoyed the types of bosses and employees discussion."
"The personal stories made the lecture more engaging. The resume and cover letter tips were especially useful and had parts that I had not known before."
"Andy Teach touches on many areas of the workplace that are a mystery for college students. The most helpful was his advice on office etiquette."
About Author Andy Teach
Teach graduated from Rutgers College with B.A. degrees in Business Administration and Human Communications. After working for two New York ad agencies and a Los Angeles television production company, he worked at a major television and motion picture studio in the research department for 23 years, earning six promotions from clerk to vice-president.
Teach has appeared as a guest and commentator on the nationally syndicated Cable Radio Network and also on the popular late-night syndicated radio show hosted by Michael Dresser "Dresser After Dark." He also serves the television industry as a research consultant. He is a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).
If you are interested in having Andy Teach speak at your school, email him at teachandyt@aol.com with “Career Advice Lecture” in the subject line.
For more information about the author, please go to his website at http://www.onerungatatime.com
From Graduation to Corporation 284-page paperback: $17.95
Published by AuthorHouse
Available for purchase on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/GRADUATION-CORPORATION-PRACTICAL-C ... and barnesandnoble.com: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/From-Graduation-to-Corp ... ISBN-10: 1-4389-3063-1; ISBN-13: 978-1-4389-3063-3
Career advice author Andy Teach's college lecture tour teaches students how to get a job and keep it in today's tough economy.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 27, 2009 – Andy Teach, a 27-year corporate veteran and author of the career advice book FROM GRADUATION TO CORPORATION: THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER ONE RUNG AT A TIME, continues his successful college lecture tour in the 2009-2010 school year. Working closely with Career Centers and student organizations, he has spoken at several universities and colleges including California Lutheran University, Cal State Northridge, The Claremont Colleges, Loyola Marymount University, Point Loma Nazarene University, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, USC Annenberg, and Whittier College. He is also scheduled to speak at several schools in 2010.
Teach covers several topics in his lecture, ranging from good vs. bad résumés, job interviewing, networking, dealing with difficult bosses and co-workers, dress codes, staying organized, office romance, standing up to the boss, and the generation gap at work. Teach also discusses some of his 72 corporate commandments, including: keep your supervisor informed of your progress, remember that one of your main jobs is to make the boss's job easier, it doesn’t matter how smart you are if you miss a deadline, and do whatever it takes to get the job done.
"I wrote this book, in part, as a vehicle which would allow me to have direct contact with my audience. There is no substitute for face-to-face communication and it gives me great pleasure when I can speak directly with college students. When they come up to me after a lecture and thank me for my time and for helping them in their job search, it makes it all worthwhile."
What makes this book and lecture unique is that its author not only gives us his candid account of his climb up the corporate ladder, but he also discusses the factors behind his fall from the top rungs, so that young people can learn from his long practical experience.
Teach’s college lecture tour has been well received by Career Center staff and students.
From Career Center staff:
"Thank you for presenting such an engaging and informative presentation. From cross-generational dynamics to office etiquette, you really provided valuable advice.”
"It was my pleasure to host you on campus and I know that students benefited tremendously from your career advice.”
"The ‘thank you’ goes to you for giving of your time to speak to our students and providing them with great advice. It certainly reflects your commitment and value for helping others. I particularly enjoyed hearing about your career path and the lessons that you learned along the way."
From Students:
"Very informative. A wake up call."
"The tips on closing the generation gap were very helpful. I liked the advice about networking and getting to know the people you are working with."
"Very down-to-earth with personal experiences. Enjoyed the types of bosses and employees discussion."
"The personal stories made the lecture more engaging. The resume and cover letter tips were especially useful and had parts that I had not known before."
"Andy Teach touches on many areas of the workplace that are a mystery for college students. The most helpful was his advice on office etiquette."
About Author Andy Teach
Teach graduated from Rutgers College with B.A. degrees in Business Administration and Human Communications. After working for two New York ad agencies and a Los Angeles television production company, he worked at a major television and motion picture studio in the research department for 23 years, earning six promotions from clerk to vice-president.
Teach has appeared as a guest and commentator on the nationally syndicated Cable Radio Network and also on the popular late-night syndicated radio show hosted by Michael Dresser "Dresser After Dark." He also serves the television industry as a research consultant. He is a member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).
If you are interested in having Andy Teach speak at your school, email him at teachandyt@aol.com with “Career Advice Lecture” in the subject line.
For more information about the author, please go to his website at http://www.onerungatatime.com
From Graduation to Corporation 284-page paperback: $17.95
Published by AuthorHouse
Available for purchase on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/GRADUATION-CORPORATION-PRACTICAL-C ... and barnesandnoble.com: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/From-Graduation-to-Corp ... ISBN-10: 1-4389-3063-1; ISBN-13: 978-1-4389-3063-3
Thursday, July 30, 2009
This guest blog is reprinted from www.talkingaboutgenerations.com/
THE GENERATION GAP AT WORK
By Andy Teach
It’s funny how sometimes we miss the most obvious things in the workplace. I was an executive in the entertainment industry for over 25 years. As a Baby Boomer, I managed many members of Generation Y during that time. If I had any difficulties managing a Gen Y’er, I always assumed that it was because of gender or cultural differences. It was only after I began writing my Gen Y career advice book that I realized that some of the difficulties arose because of generational differences.
In most workplaces, there are three or even four different generations working together, or at least trying to work together. I’ve seen studies indicating that many members of each generation simply don’t respect, understand, or communicate with members of other generations and this obviously hurts productivity. I believe one way of overcoming this obstacle is simply to try and understand where each generation is coming from in terms of how they were brought up, the historical events that affected them, and what their priorities are.
Members of the oldest generation, known as The Matures or the Radio generation (some grew up before television was invented), are about 65 years old or older and they grew up during tough times-The Great Depression and WWII. They have a very strong work ethic, are loyal to their employer, and expect the same from their employees. The Baby Boomers (there was a big baby boom right after WWII) range in age from their mid-forties to mid-sixties and grew up during the 1950’s Cold War and the turbulent 1960’s. We have a very strong work ethic and sometimes judge our success by how many hours we work each week. We are also very loyal to our employer. Generation X (also known as the MTV generation) is between approximately30 and 44 years old and grew up during the Reagan years and the Gulf War. They were the first generation to avoid the do-or-die Baby Boomer work ethic and are more loyal to the person and not the employer. The youngest generation is Generation Y (also known as The Millennials) and its members are between 9 and 29 years old. They grew up during the New Millennium which included the events of 9/11. Gen Y is the most technologically advanced generation ever but has a reputation for being entitlement focused, for switching jobs often, and for wanting a balance between work and life.
Speaking of technology, I grew up with slide rulers instead of calculators, big black and white television sets instead of sleek high-definition color TV’s, AM radio and record players instead of iPods, typewriters instead of computers, and no fax machines, internet, cell phones or Blackberry’s. Yes, times have changed and for the better and I for one don’t take things like the internet for granted because it wasn’t around for a good part of my career.
One example of generational differences occurred when I gave one of my Gen Y employees their yearly performance review. It was a very positive review but I did have some criticisms of the employee and I found out that a year later, this employee was still dwelling on the criticisms. At first, I thought that they were just being too sensitive and then I realized that many members of Gen Y are brought up with a lot of praise from parents, teachers, and sports coaches. Many Millennials got sports or school trophies for just participating (hence, they are also known as The Trophy Generation) while my generation had to actually win something to get a trophy! Some Millennials are just not used to being criticized and when they are, they don’t know how to react. My advice to Millennials is not to take criticism at work personally-everyone gets criticized. Listen carefully to your boss’s criticism and if you agree with it, tell your boss that. If you don’t, you can respectfully disagree. Your boss is not only looking to see if you are going to improve but also to see how you react to the criticism.
My point is that every generation is brought up differently and has different ideas and expectations of what their jobs are going to be like. If you are a member of Gen Y or Gen X and you work for a Baby Boomer and they’re all about making work their first priority, then you should know that they will most likely expect the same from you. It is equally important for Baby Boomers to understand where Gen Y and Gen X employees are coming from and try and take their needs into account. Don’t let age differences get in the way at work-embrace them instead. Get to know people from other generations by observing them, speaking with them, and learning from them. You’ll be glad you did.
Andy Teach is the author of the new career advice book, From Graduation To Corporation.
THE GENERATION GAP AT WORK
By Andy Teach
It’s funny how sometimes we miss the most obvious things in the workplace. I was an executive in the entertainment industry for over 25 years. As a Baby Boomer, I managed many members of Generation Y during that time. If I had any difficulties managing a Gen Y’er, I always assumed that it was because of gender or cultural differences. It was only after I began writing my Gen Y career advice book that I realized that some of the difficulties arose because of generational differences.
In most workplaces, there are three or even four different generations working together, or at least trying to work together. I’ve seen studies indicating that many members of each generation simply don’t respect, understand, or communicate with members of other generations and this obviously hurts productivity. I believe one way of overcoming this obstacle is simply to try and understand where each generation is coming from in terms of how they were brought up, the historical events that affected them, and what their priorities are.
Members of the oldest generation, known as The Matures or the Radio generation (some grew up before television was invented), are about 65 years old or older and they grew up during tough times-The Great Depression and WWII. They have a very strong work ethic, are loyal to their employer, and expect the same from their employees. The Baby Boomers (there was a big baby boom right after WWII) range in age from their mid-forties to mid-sixties and grew up during the 1950’s Cold War and the turbulent 1960’s. We have a very strong work ethic and sometimes judge our success by how many hours we work each week. We are also very loyal to our employer. Generation X (also known as the MTV generation) is between approximately30 and 44 years old and grew up during the Reagan years and the Gulf War. They were the first generation to avoid the do-or-die Baby Boomer work ethic and are more loyal to the person and not the employer. The youngest generation is Generation Y (also known as The Millennials) and its members are between 9 and 29 years old. They grew up during the New Millennium which included the events of 9/11. Gen Y is the most technologically advanced generation ever but has a reputation for being entitlement focused, for switching jobs often, and for wanting a balance between work and life.
Speaking of technology, I grew up with slide rulers instead of calculators, big black and white television sets instead of sleek high-definition color TV’s, AM radio and record players instead of iPods, typewriters instead of computers, and no fax machines, internet, cell phones or Blackberry’s. Yes, times have changed and for the better and I for one don’t take things like the internet for granted because it wasn’t around for a good part of my career.
One example of generational differences occurred when I gave one of my Gen Y employees their yearly performance review. It was a very positive review but I did have some criticisms of the employee and I found out that a year later, this employee was still dwelling on the criticisms. At first, I thought that they were just being too sensitive and then I realized that many members of Gen Y are brought up with a lot of praise from parents, teachers, and sports coaches. Many Millennials got sports or school trophies for just participating (hence, they are also known as The Trophy Generation) while my generation had to actually win something to get a trophy! Some Millennials are just not used to being criticized and when they are, they don’t know how to react. My advice to Millennials is not to take criticism at work personally-everyone gets criticized. Listen carefully to your boss’s criticism and if you agree with it, tell your boss that. If you don’t, you can respectfully disagree. Your boss is not only looking to see if you are going to improve but also to see how you react to the criticism.
My point is that every generation is brought up differently and has different ideas and expectations of what their jobs are going to be like. If you are a member of Gen Y or Gen X and you work for a Baby Boomer and they’re all about making work their first priority, then you should know that they will most likely expect the same from you. It is equally important for Baby Boomers to understand where Gen Y and Gen X employees are coming from and try and take their needs into account. Don’t let age differences get in the way at work-embrace them instead. Get to know people from other generations by observing them, speaking with them, and learning from them. You’ll be glad you did.
Andy Teach is the author of the new career advice book, From Graduation To Corporation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
