Today, Urban Interns, the go-to site for part-time work and internships, interviewed me for their blog about being an entrepreneur and hiring part-time employees. When asked about what I look for in a job candidate, here’s what I had to say: “Eminently capable” is the term I use to describe what I’m looking for in an [...]
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Case Study: An Elevator Pitch “Aha” Moment
June 1, 2010 – 12:20 pm
Do you struggle to introduce yourself to new colleagues, make the rounds at your organization or just sound smart when you extend your hand to a client? The elevator pitch is a much-maligned but oh-so-useful tool to have in your back pocket for just those occasions. I wrote a post for HBR on nailing your elevator [...]
10 Great Career Books for Young Professionals
May 12, 2010 – 12:52 pm
Lindsey Pollak, Gen Y expert, best selling author (and a good friend) recently came up with a top-notch list of must-reads for young professionals. This is a great resource for everyone who’s looking for a little bit of guidance as they think about heading into the workforce for the first time (and even for the veterans [...]
How to Ask for a Reference Letter Part II
April 17, 2010 – 8:58 pm
Last week, I wrote a post on How to Ask for a Reference Letter which gave three steps for asking for (and getting!) a great letter of recommendation. The second, and arguably most important step, is to provide a template for your reviewer of what you’d like included in the letter. Recently, an elementary school teacher [...]
How to Ask for a Reference Letter
April 7, 2010 – 1:44 pm
In the 2009 film “Up in the Air,” Natalie Keener decides she can no longer stomach being part of a corporate firing squad and quits her firm. Her mentor, played by George Clooney, behaves as the magnanimous gent we all know him to be: he writes a glowing reference letter on her behalf, addressed simply [...]
How to confront someone else’s mistake: Quick Tip
February 8, 2010 – 3:39 pm
First and foremost, take it offline (don’t do it in front of anyone else). Second, do it in person. Third, as you approach your colleague or teammate, point out or question the facts of the mistake rather than directly blaming her. Don’t make it about “you did something wrong.” Instead, position [...]
How do you get feedback from your junior employees? Quick Tip
February 4, 2010 – 4:10 pm
In terms of managing upward, getting feedback from people junior to you can be tricky—you have to make the junior person feel comfortable sharing his/her thoughts. The best way to do this is to propose a mutual feedback session—let him know you’re interested in hearing about how you’re doing and at the same time offer [...]
Lessons Learned from the Letterman Crisis
October 15, 2009 – 1:28 pm
I’ve been captivated as of late by David Letterman and his walk of shame as he navigates the uncomfortable world of adultery, bribery and blackmail . By now, we all know the sordid details of Letterman’s adulterous affairs and the alleged blackmail scheme of a former CBS colleague. I’m struck, however, by the deftness with [...]