DMs from the boss can stress out employees | How to proactively reach out to potential employers | Why IT careers are possible without a college degree
Why you want team members to criticize you Specific yet open-ended questions such as "What could I have done better?" can help teammates and reports give you honest feedback -- provided you reward constructive criticism, writes "Radical Candor" author Kim Scott. "Remind yourself going in that no matter how unfair the criticism, your first job is to listen with the intent to understand, not to defend yourself," Scott writes. Full Story: Radical Candor blog (7/21)
Communication platforms help managers reach their employees easily through texts and other direct messages, but overuse can blur professional boundaries and make employees feel like they're on the clock 24/7, says David D'Souza of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. "Organizations and individuals both need to reflect on what that does for the balance of work and life, and be clear on reasonable expectations," D'Souza says. Full Story: BBC (free registration) (7/20)
How to proactively reach out to potential employers A good job-searching strategy involves proactively contacting prospective employers right as they think they need to hire someone. To do this, you need to identify the right person at the company. Full Story: Lifehacker (7/20)
Why IT careers are possible without a college degree The idea that a university degree is necessary to pursue a career in IT "is a myth that needs busting," writes Jon Lang, CEO of DDLS, a training company in Australia. "We must recalibrate our understanding of education and move away from the traditional perspective that university degrees are the superior option." Full Story: Information Age (7/22)
Poll
Are you an extrovert or introvert?
Introvert
53.45%
Extrovert
11.21%
Both
35.34%
The Landscape
First-time unemployment claims post unexpected gain The US Department of Labor reported on Thursday that initial unemployment claims for the week ending July 17 totaled 419,000, up from 368,000 the week before. Continuing claims decreased by 29,000 to 3.24 million. Full Story: CNBC (7/22)
Reduced human element in hotel service spurs job fears Hotels insist that cost constraints and consumer preference dictate labor-saving moves such as contactless check-in and elimination of daily housekeeping, but employees and some experts say the job impact may be devastating. Workers' union Unite Here estimates that a halt to daily room cleaning will cost 180,000 jobs and $4.8 billion in wages, predominantly affecting women of color. Full Story: The New York Times (7/22)
This story looks at the sexism female surfers have endured throughout the years (and, sadly, still do). The nugget about Roxy dropping its sponsorship of Johanne Defay because she didn't "look" a certain way is particularly sad and highlights a Waimea Bay-sized double-standard. Full Story: The Christian Science Monitor (7/22)
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