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May 24, 2012
Jeff Jacoby: The peace process battered Israel's reputation
Michael Muskal: 'Pro-choice' position hits record low, according to poll
Chris Farrell: Are We in a Tech Bubble?
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS --- hold the steak!
May 23, 2012
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
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Jewish World Review
Oct. 24, 2008
/ 25 Tishrei 5769
A Career Survival Kit: What to do when the economy is slowing
By
Marty Nemko
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The stock price of most major financial firms have plummeted and Fannie Mae,
Freddie Mac, Bear Stearns, Lehman, AIG, and Merrill Lynch have tanked
altogether. As of this writing (10/23/08) The S&P 500 is down almost 30%
from just one month ago.
The impacts, alas, extend from Wall Street to Main Street. How can you
protect your career in increasingly shaky times?
Want to hold onto your current job?
If you're working for an organization you like, the rules for staying
employed don't change in tough times; they just becomes more critical:
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Are you as good as you think? Most people live in Garrison Keillor's
Lake Woebegone, where everyone feels above average. Alas, they're not. And
don't count on your annual performance review to reveal what you need to
know. Those reviews are often misleadingly positive if your boss believes
that bad evaluations demotivate.
Instead, get a 360-degree evaluation: Tell the following to a few people: a
co-worker, a boss, a customer, a vendor, etc: "Like all good professionals,
I'm trying to keep growing, so I periodically ask for feedback from people I
work with and respect. So would you anonymously mail me a bit of feedback: a
strength or two, a weakness or two, and an overall evaluation: excellent,
good, fair, or poor. To ensure your anonymity, just write the note in a
standard font and drop it on my desk or in the U.S. mail with no return
address."
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Be as much a profit source as possible. That usually means being
line rather than staff: for example, sales rather than human relations,
product manager rather than public relations manager. But it also means
keeping your antennae out for ways for building the bottom line. Be sure you
get credit for your ideas. For example, email a draft of your ideas to the
staff for feedback and so everyone knows it's yours.
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Be indispensable. When Keating, the boss in The Fountainhead,
complained of too much work, Howard Roark offered to do some for him.
Keating became addicted to Roark's help, which made Roark indispensable to
Keating.
Other ways to be indispensable: become an expert at something critical to
the organization. Sure it can be something obvious like being the guru on
the new software your employer just bought, but it can be more subtle. One
of my clients is a middle manager in a government agency in which there is
ongoing racial strife. She became the bridge-builder between the feuding
factions, making her indispensable. That was especially so because, in a
government agency, it's most difficult to fire even a very aggravating
employee.
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Do things to make your boss look good. Of course, in meetings give
the boss credit as often as ethically possible, but also consider less
obvious approaches. For example, write an article for a trade publication in
which you describe the innovation your boss initiated. Or give a workshop on
that innovation at a professional conference.
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Hitch yourself to a star. Is your boss a crashing meteorite? See if
you can effect a transfer to a shooting star. For example, if you see a star
in the break room, say something like, "I've heard great things about you.
If you ever need a little help on some crunch-time project, I'd be happy to
help out."
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Become beloved. Even if you're not the greatest performer, if you're
popular among your co-workers, most bosses will likely keep you to avoid
dispiriting the others.
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Don't be expensive. In tough times, even if you deserve a raise and
think you can get it, consider holding off. That way, if the organization
later feels it needs to cut costs, you won't stick out as expensive and thus
ripe for cutting.
Looking for a job?
In a weak economy, nonprofits will suffer: people donate less when times are
tough. Private companies will be ever more aggressive in cutting jobs:
automating, part-timing, temping, and offshoring as many positions as
possible. So, I believe the smartest choices are to:
Work for the government. If you're not a self-starter, I believe the
smartest choice is government employment, especially in health care, energy,
fiscal oversight, racial and immigration initiatives, the IRS, and in
education (special education and community colleges should grow most.) Those
are political untouchables--they'll always get funded and probably expanded
under the Obama administration and liberal congress.
Start your own low-risk business. Examples: a small chain of food carts,
parking-lot-based oil changing, and even my own career: career coaching.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Marty Nemko writes the career column on Kiplinger.com and is Contributing Editor for career matters at U.S. News & World Report. 500+ of Dr. Nemko's published writings are on www.martynemko.com. Comment by clicking here.
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© 2008, Dr. Marty Nemko
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