How to not let stress get the best of you
Stress rarely comes from a single cause. More often, it results from an accumulation of smaller pressures that compound over time.
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What students need to expect when choosing a future career
As college students across the country prepare to take their final exams, the reality of life after school may be different from what they expected.
The art of talking to people you don’t know
Everyone says you need to network, but are you afraid to talk to strangers? Here's how.
‘May I get you something to drink?’ and other social tests during a job interview
Even though you’re not aware that you’re being judged about certain behavioral quirks in a job interview, it helps to know that they might matter.
Let internships prepare you for the “real” world
An internship is a way to demystify the unknowns and what-ifs of working in an adult environment.
If your job is going nowhere, don’t get stuck
An exit plan forces you to listen to yourself and may even reignite your bigger dreams.
Don’t be alarmed if you can’t check that degree box
In many cases, a degree for a job should be a “nice to have” instead of a requirement, and companies could look instead for equivalent work experience.
When layoffs cause more pain than expected
Too often, layoffs in the private sector are done for short-term gain, and the cost savings are overshadowed by bad publicity, loss of knowledge, weakened engagement, higher voluntary turnover, and...
How to unlock the secrets of AI and get hired
Human resource departments are using artificial intelligence to evaluate a candidate’s personality and problem-solving abilities, and even to analyze video interviews.
Finding your gifts that let you dream big about your career
The worst reaction to switching jobs would be saying, “I don't know what I do want to do.” The second worst: “I’ll do anything.”
Deciding when it’s the right time to move on
Knowing who you are is essential to knowing what you want. And knowing what you want is essential to figuring out how to get it.
Where remote work falls short in ‘soft skills’
Put down your phone and start talking face-to-face with colleagues, friends, family and your children to hone those social skills.
When bragging about your job helps keep it
Never depend on your boss to all the wonderful things you’ve done over the last year. Come prepared to annual reviews with your best moments of the year.
When it comes to hybrid work, know all your options
If you’re determined to work hybrid, you should probably decline any job that requires only full-time, in-office, no exceptions.
Arguing politics has no place in workplace
We all need to leave our personal beliefs at home and work diligently to get along with each other.
Where and how to post when you’re a serious pro
Anyone who’s in the job market, currently working or not, needs to have positive visibility on LinkedIn.
How to outsmart those job-hiring robots
How to increase your chances of making it past AI screeners and into an interview with a real, live human.
Questions to ask when recruiters seek answers
Applicants should come prepared to ask questions during an interview and use the recruiter to their advantage.
When it comes to office recall, Amazon goes all-in
Back-to-office mandates are returning to the workplace.
Why hiring and retaining baby boomers is a critical strategy for employers
With baby boomers on your payroll, you have a reliable workforce that can help you with knowledge transfer and mentorships.
Knowing what and who to know about networking
If someone within a company recommends you interview for a job, your chances of getting that job are somewhere between four to seven times higher.
Making the most out of positive thinking in life and in work
Focus on the good, improve on the negative, and help others to be better versions of themselves.
When it comes to your resume, bragging counts
When writing your cover letter, and especially your resume, point out your skills and experience that will make money or save money for your future employer.
Looking for your next job? Be sure to dream big
The best thing about being forced to work on a career plan is that it’s all about you — taking control of your career and your future.
, it’s not only what you know, but who
By being genuine, following up consistently, and being patient and persistent, you can establish a strong professional network that will your career growth.
From start to finish, here’s how to get noticed in your job search
While including a cover letter and writing a thank-you note aren’t as much in vogue these days, both are essential opportunities that will set you apart
For recent college grads, there’s good news and not so good news
Fun time to be a Gen Z?Not so much.Many of this year’s college graduates started at the height of COVID-19’s remote learning and campus lockdowns. And many didn’t walk at...
Done well, internships offer both sides a win-win
When it comes to internships, the no-pay, boring, or grunt work internships that young people willingly accepted in past years are long gone.Meaningful internships are alive and well, even thriving....
Reality check for young workers: You need to earn your on-the-job value
A recent edition of The Wall Street Journal had an excellent column by Bonnie Hammer, vice chair of NBCUniversal.Under the headline, “‘Follow Your Dreams’ and Other Terrible Career Advice,” she...
Working fewer days for the same pay? Could happen
Two major work-related issues have been in the news recently.One is the feasibility of moving to a 32-hour, four-day work, while the other is how will artificial intelligence affect our...
You got a job offer but now the hard part begins: negotiating your
Most people consider getting a job offer as “the big win.”They worked hard at networking to get the final interview, made it through several rounds of interviews, maybe did a...
When you’re stuck in a job that is unfulfilling, what’s next?
I work with people in the middle of their working lives, in careers they no longer find fulfilling.Or they’re working for a company that’s going downhill fast or merging.William is...
The gender gap still exists, but it’s continuing to close
For years now, I’ve had questions about the often-quoted gender pay gap. Not necessarily doubts, but questions.The gap theory refers to a difference in men and women’s compensation for working...
Striking that uneasy balance between office, home or hybrid
It seems like everyone I talk to about a new job wants to work totally remote or, at the very least, hybrid.They think the words are interchangeable but, in reality,...
Here’s how to overcome those tricky generational gaps
According to Inc.com, a significant percentage of employees, specifically 60 percent, are contemplating leaving their current jobs.Surprisingly, the primary driver behind this trend isn't related strictly to compensation. Rather, it...
It’s time to consider the fading value of a college degree
Three generations of espousing “college for all” has left many families seeking alternatives to the traditional four-year college education.The Wall Street Journal’s Douglas Belkin recently pointed out that over the...
Unlock the keys to networking for career success
I agree with the statistic that 80% of jobs that get filled involve some level of networking. It only makes sense that people hire someone they know or someone who...
What to keep in mind if you’re in charge of HR
The New Year is well underway and I thought it would be interesting to share what HR folks are concerned about in 2024.We know that any company’s Human Resources department...
Find the jobs that need your skills and forget about your age
I recently read an interesting article about older workers becoming a growing share of the American workforce.I found this most interesting because probably the No. 1 question I hear from...
Looking for your next job? Dream like never before
In my last column, I talked about developing your “dream job” to use as guidance for your job search.After getting several questions from readers, it’s clear that I need to...
If you want the job of your dreams you have to dream big
I often get asked if I know a good headhunter that I can recommend. I must get a very quizzical look on my face because that word isn’t used much...
Career advice: 8 ways to boost your self-confidence and bring out your best
Does it seem like everyone around you is smarter, faster and more out-going? Do you feel like you’re working under a dark cloud?You’re not alone.A recent survey by Moneypenny, a...
Good luck comes to those who make it
I believe that much of what happens in our lives is the product of sheer chance, the result of larger, unpredictable forces colliding to create circumstances that shape and direct...
Good luck comes to those who make it
I believe that much of what happens in our lives is the product of sheer chance, the result of larger, unpredictable forces colliding to create circumstances that shape and direct...
How to answer questions that you’d better get right
Very few jobs are filled without first going through a sit-down or phone or Zoom interview, which very few applicants enjoy.Same goes for most HR directors, who dislike the process...
When it’s time to jump into the world of work
As anyone who knows me will attest, I love my play time and I take every advantage of it. But I’m equally happy to come back to the Manpower staffing...
Tourism may give you the opening you’re looking for
The San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) recently released its Tourism Workforce Study, produced by the SDTA research team along with the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center, led by...
How to make a lasting impression from the start
We’ve all heard that you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s especially true during job interviews.When I meet with you, do you stand up? Do...
Landing that coveted internship is just the beginning
In charting your career path, internships matter — a lot, no matter if they’re during summer break or in the academic school year. Research by the National Association of Colleges...
How to make sure your job interview does the job
As we move into the heat of summer, it’s still a very robust job market with hundreds of thousands of people being hired each month.But we’re also seeing wage increases...
Make your references make you the winner
Because job reference checking is so time-consuming, it’s usually done only for the final few candidates, and it’s often the tie-breaker on who gets the job offer.Knowing what goes on...
Talking about how talk to people you don’t know
This may not surprise those of you who know me, but I’m one of those people who enjoys short, impromptu conversations with people I don’t know.I especially like to chat...
Make the wonders of networking work for you
A few weeks ago, I wrote about middle and upper management ranks being thinned out as more and more companies prepare for what may be an economic slowdown.I heard from...
How to manage your future if you’re a middle manager
The month of May saw another massive, and surprising, upward surge in U.S. payroll gains, with employers adding 339,000 jobs versus the expected 195,000.The increases were widespread, with notable upticks...
By degrees, don’t make your college major an idle pursuit
Many years ago, I earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in the College of Business.One of my early electives was sociology, which I found very interesting and enjoyed...
Manners matter, especially when you don’t use them
A HR manager friend told me about an engineer prospect he was interviewing who kept his ear buds in when he sat down for the interview.Bad enough, but a few...
Grads, make sure you’re prepared to shine brightly
This is the time of year when college grads start to seriously interview for jobs.If they’ve listened to me, students should have a pretty clear idea of what area they...
Energy and attitude are must-have badges of honor
Recently, at a community college workforce meeting, a department head mentioned that he was recruiting for a department manager.This was a perfect networking time and appropriate that he share the...
Whatever your future brings, be ready for everything
How should you manage your career ahead of a soft or hard landing of the economy? There’s the alarm of one big U.S. bank closing, then another one going down. A...
Bracing for unknown challenging times ahead
Soft landing, hard landing or financial collapse.Hire like crazy or fire like crazy.Cut staff or hoard staff.What an interesting time to be in the employment field, and to be working...
The long and short of the ever-evolving work week
In the world of work, we’re seeing two interesting trends. There’s more and more chatter about pilot programs conducted by companies that are considering a shift to a four-day, 32-hour workweek. And...
Trying to make sense out of very low job rates
A few weeks ago, the chair of the Federal Reserve Bank, Jerome Powell, told us that he wants the labor market to slow down so he can more effectively fight...
Happiness just might be a walk on the mild side
A recent Time magazine cover story delved into the age-old search for happiness.According to the article, too many Americans struggle with that search. Surveys show that 25% say they are...
Guest Commentary: Veterans, spouses may now take their skills anywhere
I am happy to share some much-needed new legislation regarding the careers of our veterans and their families.It took 10 years, but active duty and military spouses, known as milspouses,...
Veterans, spouses may now take their skills anywhere
I am happy to share some much-needed new legislation regarding the careers of our veterans and their families.It took ten years, but active duty and military spouses, known as milspouses,...
Como conseguir nuevas oportunidades laborales? Aqui te lo mostramos.
Si estás trabajando actualmente, acabas de terminar otro año en tu actual empleo. Puede que incluso hayas conseguido una bonificación. ¿Pero te gusta el trabajo?O tal vez has decidido volver...
Here’s how to get linked into new opportunities
If you’re currently working, you’ve just finished another year at your current job. Maybe you even qualified for a bonus. But do you enjoy the work?Or maybe you’ve decided to...
Do you manage your career? Or does it manage you?
You may love your job, as I do.Or maybe you’re merely tolerating a currently less- than-fulfilling job, hopefully for a good reason.Either way, what you do for a living has...
When what matters most is the company you seek
As the New Year approaches, the employment picture continues to be very encouraging, while wages, though not escalating as fast as before, seem to be holding steady.The inflation furnace continues...
Interviewing for new job? It’s a good time to be positive
The ratio of open positions to candidates may have slipped from its historical high, but it’s still a very good job market. Don’t get too rattled by talk of layoffs...
Don’t be the stranger who never comes into the office
My business partner for 45 years, Mel Katz, and I try to carpool into the office whenever we can.Both our families live in Del Mar, which is convenient, though often...
When recruiters come calling, be ready to be happier
Despite concerns of an impending recession, the employees’ job market continues to be strong. There are still two job postings for every job seeker.It's still a very good time to...
It’s time to say so long to inflated wages
One headline warns about an impending crash landing of our economy. Another one predicts a probable soft landing.Yet another declares, “Job Openings Drop 10%.” But the drop was from the...
Make wandering around the office your managing style
I’m proud to say that Manpower has become a very large staffing operation. But we have no budgets, no mission statements, no objectives, and no sales goals.Our philosophy is simple:...
Maybe it’s time your next adventure took flight
Recently, on a plane to Anchorage, Alaska, I sat next to a woman who was on her way to a small fishing village in Alaska with a population of 400...
Thinking of ‘quiet-quitting’ your job? That’s nowhere to go
This may be the most confusing job market I’ve seen in my many years of being in the staffing business. I can imagine what you’re thinking.What happened to the old...
For students, a part-time job can be a life-changer
With summer now in full bloom, perhaps it’s too late for me to talk about the value of young people getting summer jobs.But applying for, getting, and keeping a job...
Maybe it’s time to change the color of your collar
As the labor market continues to readjust itself, more employees are taking hold of their careers.These upwardly mobile employees are moving into roles that, in most cases, involve some technology...
After you’ve hired them, how do you keep them?
Over the last 10 years, millennials have moved up from influencers in the workforce to almost being a majority. And that trend will continue until Gen Zers age in.So, what...
Whatever happens next, make sure you have options
A few short months ago, the job market was blazing, with HELP WANTED signs galore and not enough applicants to fill them.Now, not so much.High inflation is causing the Fed...
Enduring words of wisdom from my wise father
A few weeks ago, on the way to a vacation, my wife and I stopped to visit my 101-and-a-half-year-old father.He and his 95-year-old girlfriend live together in a small community...
Sizing up the ups and downs of small to mid-sized firms
Along with Jennie Brooks of Booz Allen and Hamilton, I’m proud to serve as co-chair of the economic development committee of the Regional San Diego Economic Development Corporation (EDC).That bulky...
Dealing with the swings of an uncertain future
Just about every day, I’ve been hearing from major employers who complain about feeling they’re being taken advantage of by current employees and applicants.They talk about too many applicants making...
Column: Make sure home is where your future shines brightly
We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the struggles of the middle class in America.The Brookings Institution defines a middle-class income as somewhere between $42,500 to $166,900, a wide range...
If a better job comes calling, will you know the right answers?
These days, it’s a wide-open employee’s market for both skilled and unskilled labor. You have lots of options.Let’s say you like your current job.What if a new job offer could...
It takes all kinds to be hired for the right job
There’s no doubt that the pandemic hit our diverse population much harder than those who are considered non-diverse.As a result, low-end wage earners were far more negatively impacted.Many lower-level jobs,...
It’s time to talk about boats and that rising tide
At all levels, the economy keeps thriving, jobs of all kinds are plentiful and, thank goodness, COVID appears to be a thing of the past.But what if you aren’t working...
When hiring becomes a matter of ‘build’ or ‘buy’
Executives and small business owners in virtually every industry have concerns about being able to hire enough ready and willing employees who also happen to be qualified.At the same time,...
Make sure your going-forward options are yours
Forget all the stats about the red-hot employment market.Instead, let’s talk about you, your current working situation, your life/work balance, your kids (if you have them) and day care, and...
For your employees’ sake, give the Golden Rule a twist
Dear Mr./Ms. Employer: Are you wondering why so many of your employees are so unhappy and leaving your company to go elsewhere or quit?Let me share what I’m hearing out...
Sick and tired of your job? Why not do something about it
What’s good about a pandemic? Not much. Except that, peering through my well-worn pair of rose-colored glasses, this continues to be an employee’s job market, with the forecast calling for...
Seize that nagging desire to do what you love
These days, millions of Americans are starting their own businesses, at the highest rate in many years. Kind of odd timing, but really not. We all found that during the...
Believe it or not, there were changes for the better
It’s been two years now since COVID first disrupted our lives. Its variants are still with us, with no apparent end in sight.Going back to 2020, who can forget the...
Tips for coping with yet another new year of uncertainty
Before we ring in the New Year with the din of noisemakers and "Auld Lang Syne," let’s agree that 2021 has been a stressful year.Let’s also agree that we’re not...
Unhappy with your job? Don’t worry, be happier elsewhere
I spent a recent weekend in Tecate with more than 140 fellow Rotarians, building seven small houses. The house I worked on was for a young family that was, until...
Those unfilled jobs may reflect unfulfilled past promises
Now that we need them, where have all the millennials gone?For one thing, many have reached their big 4-0 birthday.Along the way, they have survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks, two...
Maybe it’s time to resign yourself to either stay or quit
As we wait to see what the next “new normal” looks like, one thing’s for sure: We’re not going back to the pre-pandemic “normal.”Too much has changed for that to...
Desperate to hire? Cast a larger net than ever before
In our current economy, and continuing for the next few years at least, I predict a serious worker shortage.The demographics of an aging population, less immigration, and millions dropping out...
Don’t wait to be asked if you’ve done the right thing
As more companies consider establishing a vaccine mandate, here’s a new idea: At the top of your resume, put “FULLY VACCINATED.”For all the world to see.List it on applications, resumes,...
It’s time to rethink what ‘reopen’ looks like
The modern worker-office relationship was created after World War II on a military model. That was all we really knew back then.These strict hierarches were created by men for men,...