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Year: 2009

6 online job-hunting faux pas to avoid

Hiring managers tell National Public Radio that they’re steering clear of candidates who make digital job-seeking faux pas. For starters: not having an updated profile, with recommendations, on social media sites like LinkedIn.

WIIFM—What’s In It For Me?

Though work mates care about you, they pay more attention to messages that show there’s something in it for them, says Susan Mason, a principal of Vital Visions Consultants. So, for example, if you want something from your boss—whether it’s approval on a new printer purchase or a more flexible schedule—figure out what benefit she will realize. Figure out “What’s In It For Me?” from her perspective.

Event planning checklist: tracking and timelines

Size matters when it comes to planning events. For smaller events, you can go solo. But for larger ones, it takes a committee, a nod from management and a zinger of a spreadsheet for keeping tasks and timelines on track. To help you track the details, try this sample checklist below adapted from Midwest Meetings:

Overcoming workplace saboteurs

Question: “My manager asked me to take over a very difficult position for which I had no background or training. He has been pleased with my progress. However, a group of guys from another department seem determined to make me fail. They ignore my requests, withhold information and argue about everything. My male predecessor left because of their behavior, so my being a woman is not the only problem. I tried making peace by offering to help with their work, but that only made things worse. Apparently, they viewed my olive branch as a sign of surrender. Recently, my boss and their manager decided that all communication between us must go through the two of them. This worries me, because it looks like I can’t handle the situation. Any suggestions?” — Not One of the Guys

Business writing and grammar: Is the colon in the salutation passé?

Question: “I’ve just learned the mail merge application on Microsoft Office/Word 2003. After the salutation, the software automatically inserts a comma (i.e., Dear Mr. Jones,). I was taught to use a colon rather than a comma.  Now that we are in the 21st century has the colon been dropped in favor of the comma? My mail merge will not let me substitute a colon for a comma.” — Anonymous

Any pointers on ‘filing etiquette’?

Question: “I supervise a clerical worker in my department. She has difficulty knowing where to file folders with only initials or those that begin with a numeral, e.g., CPP or 3M.  She mixes them in anywhere. I have tried to explain “filing etiquette,” but she tells me she knows how to file. Can you give me pointers?  Is there a new acceptable way to file?” — Robin