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Just Say NO to Multitasking!

Multitasking. We all do it. I bet you’re reading this right now while on the toilet aren’t you?!  Well, better than while driving... When I started at Hobson in 2006, we had a question on our reference check form that was “How would you rate this person’s ability to multi-task?” The idea was that a person needed to be efficient at multitasking in order to be successful in just about any job. However, studies have recently shown that multi-tasking is actually bad for your brain, which is also bad for business, your social life, your family, everything. 

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Organize Your Work Life!

Lately I’ve noticed that my work-related stress has pretty much always been tied due to a lack of organization. I have tried to implement more efficient ways to work, but ended up getting frustrated again and again. It was only when I created a realistic routine for myself that I felt better about my work ... It seems like the word “routine” is synonymous with the word “boring” in many people’s minds. What I’ve come to learn, however, is that creating and sticking to these patterns in a world where no one has any control over anything is a small, easy way to control what you DO have power over. This sense of boring, or repetition, will ultimately keep you motivated and productive, and seriously cut back the stress.

Here are the steps that have worked for me:

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Prospecting in the Wild!

I’m a big animal lover. I have a dog, a Cavalier King named Murphy, who is smart, good looking and can hunt down food like no one else… from tables, gym bags, backpacks, you name it. Murphy is most notably known for once devouring a whole five pound box of Godiva dark chocolates, wrappers and all, and lived! He is also an expert at pulling tablecloths down when no one is around.

Speaking of hunting, today my colleague discovered that a ‘critter’ has been eating his peanut butter crackers. The critter apparently completed said task twice this week, successfully getting into metal desk drawers and carefully creating a round hole in the package and feasting on his catch!

If Murphy or our office critter were in sales, they would KILL their quotas! They’re true hunters who “eat what they kill”.  

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CEOs: Your 2018 Top Hiring Challenges are HERE

It’s 2018… old news by now. Well, check out this news: companies today have a different set of challenges and risks, and I’m not referring to cyberattacks or industry competitors … As an experienced executive technology recruiter who specializes in placing senior and sales management, I’ve seen it ALL since 1999. Here’s my take on the top hiring issues that CEOs may be ignoring, and putting them and their companies in danger of failure.  

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Mind Your Manners: Bullying in Corporate America

What is a BULLY? ... When you hear the word, most likely an image pops into your mind of some troubled teen gleefully posting ugly names and encouraging others to further humiliate their target. Or perhaps a giant elementary school kid terrorizing a skinny, nerdy boy/girl by stealing their lunch money. However, in corporate America, a bully could very well be dressed in a tailored suit.

In all my years of recruiting, I can attest that many of the people calling me to find other employment are doing so because the balance of power has forced them to “deal” with a variety of bad behavior on the part of employers. While there are processes in place that are supposed to alleviate and give a voice to the abuse; these are for the most part ineffectual. Especially if the abuse can’t be linked to discrimination.

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5 Factors Impacting Hiring Trends in 2018

Glassdoor recently revealed five trends in the job market that will disrupt the way organizations attract, hire and retain employees in 2018, as well as the biggest job trends that impacted 2017 – from the power of whistleblowers to the demand for informed candidates. The list of major 2018 disruptions, include the impact of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), on HR and finance; the sectors that are driving job creation; and how mobile is changing the way people find and apply for jobs.

The U.S. economy experienced a landmark year, despite two major hurricanes and political challenges in Washington, D.C.  – 1.9 million new jobs were added in 11 months and stock markets reached an all-time record high. The nation’s unemployment rate plummeted to a 17-year low, fueling a talent war in tech, healthcare, e-commerce and professional services,” said Dr. Andrew Chamberlain, Glassdoor’s chief economist. “Although the nation’s labor market is strong heading into 2018, average wages for many remain stubbornly flat and a stark divide remains in who benefits from continued job growth, with tech skills earning a premium and many other jobs facing significant changes with the rise of AI and automation.”

Here are the trends you should keep your eye on in 2018:

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#GOALS: A Better You in 2018

Ready or not, 2017 is coming to an end (wasn’t it JUST summer?!)…This is usually the time of year for reflection and planning. Did you set good goals this past year, personal and/or professional? Did you reach them?

I don’t necessarily believe that New Year resolutions are all that effective. While I do believe that the effort to adopt resolution shows positive intent, a better alternative is to develop new goals for the future. Here are some ways you can get started:

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