Here are the latest ins and outs in the world of work:
Out in the open: Employers expect complete honesty from their workers, but when it comes to important business decisions, most of them are closelipped.
And that’s not a good idea, according to Richard E. Bristol of Aurora, Colo. Bristol, who has a doctorate in business administration, owns his own consulting firm and specializes in business operations in the service industry.
“I believe in the philosophy that employers should tell their workers the truth,” said Bristol, who has worked at the level of director and chief financial officer. “I have even left employers who insist on not disclosing information to employees.”
He says that his “personal experience is that open disclosure results in loyalty from employees and more of a buy-in toward corporate goals. Management must take the first step in building a relationship of trust.”
Ins and outs of the labor market: Does it really take such a long time to find a job today or does it just seem that way to you? The answer: It really does.
According to a survey of 800 DBM consultants worldwide, the global human resources firm headquartered in New York found that 94 percent reported the average time it takes to obtain re-employment is five months.
That may seem like a lifetime to many job seekers, but there are ways to make sure you’re successful. “Job seekers need to approach their job search with realistic expectations and a flexible attitude,” said Thomas Silveri, DBM president and CEO. “A salary reduction, relocation or industry change might be necessary.” And keep smiling.
Job fairs are in: In addition to heavy-duty networking, job fairs are an important aspect of the job hunt. And that’s why it’s important to be ready to sell yourself to prospective employers at the fairs.
“Time is limited at a job fair, so job seekers should prepare a short sales pitch about their skills and experience to present to employers,” said Karen Allen, director of the Career Center at DePaul University in Chicago. “The pitch should be developed ahead of time and touch on educational background, volunteer and work experience and career goals.” In another words, let employers know how good you are in a few brief words.
In and out of the closet: “Coming out at work [about your sexual orientation] can be liberating and terrifying,” according to Kirk Snyder, author of “Lavender Road to Success: The Career Guide for the Gay Community” (Ten Speed Press, $14.95). “People who make the decision to come out within a workplace determined to be welcoming … have overwhelmingly positive results. … When you feel good about who you are as an individual, you’re going to feel that you deserve to succeed as yourself.”
But Stephen Viscusi, author of “On the Job; How to Make it in the Real World of Work” (Three Rivers Press, $14), is more cautious: “There are a lot of things we should all do that would make us feel better about ourselves, but I simply don’t get how talking about your sex life at work is one of them,” Viscusi said. “It’s a distraction of who you are as an employee. You become `the gay guy’ or `the lesbian’ instead of the hard-working employee you may be.”
As a well-known career consultant, he adds: “Why distract from your qualifications?”
Ultimately, however, the decision is an individual one.
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Carol Kleiman’s columns also appear in Sunday’s and Tuesday’s Business sections. Hear her on WBBM Newsradio 780 at 6:21 p.m. and 10:22 p.m. Mondays and 11:20 a.m. Saturdays. Watch her “Career Coach” segments on CLTV. E-mail [email protected].