TAPP Blog

Most jobs/industries require an ability to follow instructions and my industry, association management,  is no different. As the CEO of TAPP and The Guild Associates as well as the executive director of a number of associations, I have to carry out the directives of the board and members.

When I advertise for a new staff member, I request that a cover letter accompany the resume. A no brainer – right? Wrong. At least 20 percent of the resumes arrive with no cover letter or an email note saying something like “attached is my resume, please call me with more information.” These individuals are immediately eliminated. If they can’t follow instructions and include a cover letter, then most likely requests from members will not receive a response.

Aahh! Just picture it: the air shimmers through the heat rising off the hoods of a seemingly
infinite line of cars and trucks crawling along a crumbling expressway like a giant, exhausted inchworm. The steamy interior of a city bus on a rainy day – elbows, backpacks, and umbrellas jabbing you as your arm falls asleep while you hold on for dear life to a virus-ridden bar over your head. Squeezing your way onto a train car, the scent of body odor and who knows what else in your nostrils, while you futilely attempt to avoid being touched by too many strangers.

I've been hearing so much lately about how, in other countries, the culture around work hours and time off is quite different from what we are used to in the US. I was curious, so I did a little research. What I found out got me to wondering about how deep into our lifestyles these differences reach.

One of my co-workers happened upon an interesting blog post that discusses a "part-time revolution" in the UK, where 5.1 million people work part-time by choice. Apparently, part-timers in the UK are protected by legislation that states they should be treated no less favorably than full-time equivalent colleagues. Read more.

As more and more companies are reducing office space, it is important to take the time to think about what you would do if you were offered a job working from home.

Some people might quickly say, “I want to work from home!” The idea of having more flexibility and coming and going as you please may sway that decision. However, be careful to think about the long term: Does it make sense for you and the success of your career?

In some office cultures you find co-workers participating in group social activities, like fantasy sports leagues, book clubs, and health & fitness programs. Some of these activities are sanctioned by employers and some are arranged by individuals.

Thanking a potential employer for an interview is a MUST. An email note is all fine and good, but the handwritten note seems to be on its way to becoming a lost art. Think about how you feel when you receive in the mail a hand addressed envelope with a kind note inside. It’s special and it stands out over junk mail, bills and the emails that glut your inbox. Don’t you think the same applies for an interviewer? It’s a great way to make an impression.

One only needs to walk in my front door or glance into my car to know that I am not an organized person.  I love everything to be clean and in its place and though it’s how my mother raised us to be, I am just not capable of it.  My sister inherited the neat gene leaving me surrounded by dust and clutter.  I take offense at well meaning people and magazine articles that tell me I should just do this or that and everything would be so simple and so much better.  Just take 5 minutes a day to run a cloth over the furniture or convert empty shoeboxes into the most adorable toy holders.  If I had 5 extra minutes a day I would put it to better use – like showering, or cutting my children’s nails instead of letting them grind down naturally like rodents.  So, I’d like to take five minutes to tell you what I do to get by and stay sane with 3 small children and two jobs.  And it has nothing to do with shoeboxes.

I have a few more suggestions for keeping the peace at work...

That’s just plain annoying!

Many of us spend a good percentage of our lives in the workplace. Wouldn't it be great if all that time spent at the office could be pleasant and comfortable -- or at least non-toxic. Sadly though, in lots of cases, this is apparently too much to ask. So, I’ve reviewed the relevant literature, asked around, and done a little reflecting myself, and I’ve come up with a collection of pet peeves, gripes, and annoyances that threaten the delicate balance of workplace culture.  If you don't want to tick-off your co-workers, here are some rules of thumb:

Contemplating a return to work after a period of time off?  Re-entering the workforce takes time, energy and tactical planning. 

1. Self-Analysis: Consider your current circumstances.  What sort of work arrangement will best suit your lifestyle and income or benefit needs?
2. Get-Focused: What is the job market like in your geographic area?  Is your industry of interest hiring?  If you feel paralyzed by choices consider using the services of a career coach to get you on the right track.  There are also many free books and webinars that can assist you to identify your major areas of interest and develop your roadmap to success.
3. Update Your Skills: If you have had a gap in employment, whether by choice or as a result of a long term layoff you may need to refresh your skills.  Look for opportunities to inexpensively update your skills.  Great places to check out are local libraries, community colleges and Adult Learning Centers.  It may even be a good time to enroll in school and start completely fresh.  Take advantage of campus career centers and advisors to help you on your journey.
4. Volunteer: This can provide diverse, up-to-date experience that can be included on your resume.  Non-profit organizations provide the opportunity to contribute in a variety of ways, expand your knowledge base and support a worthy cause
5. Temporary Employment:  Short-term assignments can help to close the gap with related (or unrelated) work and help you to build your resume and transferrable skills.  Communicate with the placement agency and let them know you are looking for a permanent arrangement.  Even if it does not turn into a long-term position you are still building valuable contacts and references.
6. Develop Your Confidence: If you cannot promote yourself than who can?  Once you have defined your relaunch strategy, determined your goals and begin updating your skillset you have to get comfortable telling people that you are looking for work.
7. Build A Professional Network: If you have not maintained contact with past colleagues it is a good time to reach out to them and begin to build new relationships with people from your chosen industry.  Connect with people who know you, are familiar with your abilities and will speak positively about you.  Studies have shown that most people are likely to get a job through someone they know.
8. Take Your Networking to the Next Level: Use social media to your advantage- consider opening a free Linkedin.com account.  You can build a professional profile, join groups in your industry and reach out to former colleagues.  Get back up to date with the standards in your industry and have conversations about professional issues.  A great way to do this is to join a professional association in your field.
9. Be Prepared to Address Gaps: On your résumé, consider using a skills-based format that draws attention to your abilities rather than your employment timeline.  Calculate how you will answer questions in an interview.  Remember to focus on the positive and promote the many ways you have stayed current and are prepared for new challenges.
10. Informational Interviewing: As you build your network one way to gather additional information is to request an informational interview.  This provides a platform to learn more about your job of choice and the skills and qualifications hiring managers are looking for in applicants.  This can help you to refine your roadmap for career success.

Remember, you cannot expect to pick up where you left off.  Be prepared to re-build your skill set and reputation!

Flex time and work life balance are buzz words these days but what do they really mean? And how does part-time work fit into this mix? These days when I hear part-time on the news these days it is usually in connection with the unemployment rate and those who are underemployed… creating a negative connotation. Yet, there are many who choose to work part-time in order to take care of children or parents, go to school, ease into retirement, etc.  So yes, these individuals are seeking a work life balance but not in the way which may be considered typical.

I define a part-time employee as someone who works less than 30 hours per week or is working on a project basis for a company (e.g. edits documents as needed). A part-time employee is NOT always temporary and may not be hourly or junior level. It is possible to work on a part-time basis in most industries with some planning. I have seen jobs posted for part-time lawyers, doctors, marketing professionals, development directors, account analysts, accountants, etc.

I'm happy with free coffee, ergonomic chairs and the occasional office party, but the times they are a'changin'.