Careers: The Workplace

Introduction When people lose their jobs, the first question is usually, “How long can I make it without a paycheck?” Most of us begin by calculating how many weeks or months our savings will cover our bills. That’s an important place to start, but it rarely tells the whole story. I’ve learned that a job

Introduction One of the greatest fears employees have is being punished for reporting unlawful treatment at work. Federal employment laws prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who report discrimination, harassment, or other protected workplace violations. Yet proving retaliation is often difficult because employers may justify their actions with reasons that appear legitimate on the surface.

Introduction Many people assume that poor managers simply lack intelligence or technical ability. In reality, some of the least effective leaders are highly skilled professionals who struggle with one important transition. They know how to do the work, but they have not learned how to lead people. Managing others requires a very different set of

Introduction Finding a job today is far more complicated than it used to be. Years ago, most people submitted a résumé, went through one or two interviews, and waited to hear the final decision. Now the hiring process can feel like a full-time job all by itself. Many employers require several rounds of interviews before

Introduction Few experiences are more frustrating than leaving a job interview feeling confident, only to hear nothing afterward. Days turn into weeks with no phone call, no email, and no explanation, leaving many applicants wondering what went wrong. It’s natural to assume you said the wrong thing or weren’t qualified enough, but that is not

Introduction I learned one of the most valuable lessons of my career shortly after I began working in human resources. At first, I believed that getting close to my coworkers would make the job easier and create a better work environment. Being friendly was important, but I soon realized there was a difference between being

Introduction The speaker argues that many employees misunderstand the purpose of annual performance reviews. Some believe the review meeting is when their manager decides whether they deserve a raise, promotion, or new opportunity. According to the speaker, however, those decisions have often been forming long before the meeting begins. Managers usually evaluate performance throughout the