Posts by Chris Gardner
“Insure” Your Career…Recruiters are Calling in Hot Job Market
Recruiters are calling… with more jobs than qualified candidates. Recruiters are calling… with high compensations, big titles, and flexible locations. Recruiters are calling… with big questions like “what is your ideal role?” Recruiters are calling…you. In an unprecedented hot job market. In fact, economists polled by Reuters forecast 10.4 million vacancies at the end of…
Read MoreThree Ways Micromanagers Make Employees Feel
“Micro” means extremely small. But in combination with “manager,” it means email updates, approval for decisions, and sideway glances over employee shoulders. Micro may mean small, but micromanaging is a big problem—leading to employees feeling disempowered and ready to quit. Just how do employees feel when micromanaged and what can micromanagers do to improve? #1…
Read MoreWhen a Counteroffer Tempts, Think of New Job Pros
As a recruiter, I see candidates struggle over the decision to accept a new job or take a strong counteroffer from their current company. While each case is unique, there are many pros to starting something new, even when that counteroffer tempts. The Pros of a New Job There is a REASON you sought out…
Read MoreFinding Purpose Over Money | Top Talent Motivated by Autonomy & Mastery
Dangling carrots like salary and bonuses may not be enough to capture the attention of the brightest, most dynamic talent. Instead, businesses should tap into intrinsic motivators like autonomy, mastery, and purpose, according to motivation expert Daniel Pink. Finding purpose over money will lead to more satisfaction. Pink goes as far as to say businesses…
Read MoreFill Employees’ “Buckets” to Wash Away Burnout
Mangers: It is possible to wash away burnout. Fill your employees’ buckets. Your comments made a difference today. A customer mentioned how well you listen, and I often hear great things about you. We appreciate the extra hours you put in. Employees need to hear praise. In fact, according to the US Department of Labor,…
Read MoreQuicker Decision Making Means its OK to Be Wrong
“Do you want the chicken or the burger?” “They both sound good honestly.” “Should we put the new couch here or there?” “Well, I like it under the window, but it works next to the TV too. I don’t know.” “Should we hire this person now or interview a few more candidates?” “Hmmm…. me think…
Read MoreThe Value of Being Present
You are introduced to someone and seconds later cannot remember their name. You are in a conversation with two people and come away from the group having no idea what was just said. You look out the window during a meeting. Your name is called to answer a question. You admit that you didn’t hear…
Read MoreThree Ways Understaffing Damages Business
The pandemic left many Americans unemployed and desperate for a job. But just over one year later, data shows that there are currently over ten million open jobs (Trading Economics). Help wanted signs, frazzled waiters, and long lines at grocery stores tell the tale of businesses desperate for help. Businesses need to acknowledge that understaffing…
Read MoreAtomic Habits: Tiny Habit Changes Domino into Big Results
“You have the power to change your beliefs about yourself. Your identity is not set in stone. You have a choice in every moment. You can choose the identity you want to reinforce today with the habits you choose today.” -James Clear, Atomic Habits. Author James Clear believes that tiny habit changes—changes at the level…
Read MoreThree Ways Employers Must Connect Personal Meaning to Work
During the pandemic, employees across the globe had plenty of time to think about the meaning of their work. And many concluded that their jobs are no longer fulfilling. Post-pandemic, employees are changing jobs rapidly. In fact, a recent Microsoft survey predicts that up to 40 percent of the global workforce may leave their jobs…
Read MoreYou Think You’re Invaluable, but Does Your Boss Agree?
You’re at that point in your career. You’re valuable. You’ve done the work. Put in the time. You have the education, the experience, the knowledge. People in the company come to you for answers and advice. You’re a little bit cocky, confident, settled— because you know the company would suffer if you ever left. You…
Read MorePractice Positivity to Optimize Your Career
Does being an optimistic person give you an edge in getting hired or being promoted? Research says yes. Optimists make more money, outsell their counterparts, and are less stressed (Gielan, Harvard Business Review). They also find jobs more easily and are more likely to be promoted, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (Forbes).…
Read MoreThe Secret to Overcoming Job Change Fears
“Change is the only constant in life” says Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Yet, fueled by fear, we fiercely resist it in all its forms. Whether it’s a change in organizational structure, change in company vision, or a change involving an entire career, it means losing control—and we really don’t like that. Overcoming job change fears can be daunting. So, what is…
Read MoreThree Ways to Own Your Career Gap
A career gap. For some, it’s a crack hardly noticed. For others, a year-long fracture. But for many, a gap is a multi-year chasm that seems insurmountable. Despite understandable reasons ranging from childcare to health crises to global pandemics, job seekers sell themselves short when explaining gaps to hiring managers. How can job seekers OWN…
Read MoreOffice, Remote, or Hybrid? How to Transition Back with Ease
Many American workers are facing yet another Covid-related transition: returning to a physical office. For some, this means heading back full-time after a year of remote work. For others, this means transitioning to a hybrid work environment. For those staying fully remote, this means continuing to navigate a work-from-home balance. Which model is best? How…
Read MoreMentoring Culture Retains Top Talent
“When you stop growing, you start dying,” says author William S. Burroughs. It’s true for life, and true for a career. Ask any recruiter: job seekers want high salaries, benefits, and good locations. But they ALSO want interesting jobs where they can grow and advance. To attract top talent, employers need to lay out a…
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