Why Family Members Give Terrible Career Advice -The Muse

Why Family Members Give Terrible Career Advice -The MuseWhy Family Members Give Terrible Career Advice For most of us, our first experience with career advice comes from one source our parents. As we go through life, the people who have the most interest in the direction we take with our careers continue to be those who are closest to us, like our significant others, friends, mentors, and professors. Yet, in my experience as a career coach, I can tell you that the tips (and yes, pressure) that come from loved ones can be terrible career advice, particularly when it comes to that big picture question of What should I be doing with my life? Heres why1. They Project Their ExperiencesMy mom switched from teaching to accounting about a decade into her professional life. It welches a wonderful move for her, and she has had a high level of satisfaction and success with this second career path. Based on this experience, my well-intentioned parents pointed me toward accounting, with the idea that it would also be a great fit for me. (It wasnt.)Ive seen too many people experience something similar Someone they love keeps pouring on suggestions that have absolutely nothing to do with what they want for their careers. Why would you want to go back to work after having kids when you dont have to?Youll get bored of that subject matter after a yearWorking so many hours always leads to burnoutIn each case, the guidance had more to do with person providing it than the person receiving it. Just ask that new mom who truly wanted to get back to a job she loved, the social media marketer who still finds the work really compelling, or the individual who thrives on long hours at this point in his career. The truth is People are different. Maybe your parent or mentor or would personally hate whatever choice youre making- but that doesnt mean you will. If someone keeps questioning your choice or hammering his or her advice, its OK to say, I really appreciate you taking the time to shar e your personal experience with me. Ive carefully considered my options, and Im really excited about this choice. Id love to hear more about change the subject.2. Theyre Biased Toward Safe Career PathsMost people have a natural desire to protect the people they love. This instinct is highly beneficial around small children, who, if left to their own devices, could walk into traffic without looking or play with matches. But youre not a small child Youre an adult who is putting himself or herself out there. Developing a well-fitting career path often involves putting some skin in the game, being willing to face rejection or failure, making mistakes, and learning along the way. In other words, a great career path will mean getting hurt at times, so that you can learn important lesson. Advice that stems from an attempt to protect you from this natural (and sometimes painful) progression of career development is well-meaning, but ultimately flawed. It can wind up doing more harm than goo d.For example, one of my clients was instructed to pursue government work solely on the basis of the perceived stability of the positions. But she was someone who thrived on creativity and wilted at the idea of bureaucracy, so this was not the culture for her.One way to deal with this kind of advice is to thank your nearest and dearest for caring so deeply, and then remind him or her that no job is 100% safe. Moreover, if you work in a field you really have no interest in, youre less likely to want to put in the time and effort necessary to advance. Finally, remind him or her that even if you work somewhere that isnt right for you, youll still benefit from the experience.Its natural for those closest to us to have opinions about our career decisions. Just remember that at the end of the day its your life. Youre the one who actually deals with the consequences and benefits of any given career choice. With that in mind, your opinion is the one that matters most.

Blogging and Social Media Policy Sample

Blogging and Social Media Policy SampleBlogging and Social Media Policy SampleYur Company recognizes the importance of the Internet in shaping public thinking about yur company and our current and potential products, employees, partners, and customers. Your company also recognizes the importance of our employees joining in and helping shape industry conversation and direction through blogging and interaction in social media. So, your company is committed to supporting your right to interact knowledgeably and socially in the blogosphere and on the Internet through blogging and interaction in social media. Consequently, these guidelines in this blogging and social media policy will help you make appropriate decisions about your work-related blogging and the contents of your blogs, personal Web sites, postings on wikis and other interactive sites, postings on video or picture sharing sites, or in the comments that you make online on blogs, elsewhere on the public Internet, and in respon ding to comments from posters either publicly or via email. Our internal Internet and Email Policy remains in effect in our workplace. These guidelines will help you open up a respectful, knowledgeable interaction with people on the Internet. They also protect the privacy, confidentiality, and interests of your company and our current and potential products, employees, partners, customers, and competitors. Note that these policies and guidelines apply only to work-related sites and issues and are leid meant to infringe upon your personal interaction or commentary online. Guidelines for Interaction About Your Company on the Internet If you are developing a Web site or writing a blog that will mention your company and / or our current and potential products, employees, partners, customers, and competitors, identify that you are an employee of your company and that the views expressed on the blog or Web site are yours alone and do not represent the views of the company.Unless given permission by your manager, you are not authorized to speak on behalf of the company, nor to represent that you do so.If you are developing a site or writing a blog that will mention our company and/or our current and potential products, employees, partners, customers, and competitors, as a courtesy to the company, please let your manager know that you are writing them. Your manager may choose to visit from time to time to understand your point of view. Confidential Information Component of the Blogging Policy You may not share information that is confidential and proprietary about the company. This includes information about trademarks, upcoming product releases, sales, finances, number of products sold, number of employees, company strategy, and any other information that has not been publicly released by the company. These are given as examples only and do not cover the range of what the company considers confidential and proprietary. If you have any question about whether information has been released publicly or doubts of any kind, speak with your manager and the Public Relations department before releasing information that could potentially harm our company, or our current and potential products, employees, partners, and customers. You may also want to be aware of the points made in the non-disclosure agreement you signed when you joined our company. Your company logo and trademarks may not be used without explicit permission in writing from the company. This is to prevent the appearance that you speak for or represent the company officially. Respect and Privacy Rights Components of the Blogging Policy Speak respectfully about the company and our current and potential employees, customers, partners, and competitors. Do not engage in name-calling or behavior that will reflect negatively on your companys reputation.Note that the use of copyrighted materials, unfounded or derogatory statementsor misrepresentation is not viewed favorably by your co mpany and can result in disciplinary action up to and including employment termination.Your company encourages you to write knowledgeably, accurately and using appropriate professionalism. Despite disclaimers, your Web interaction can result in members of the public forming opinions about your company and its employees, partners, and products.Honor the privacy rights of our current employees by seeking their permission before writing about or displaying internal company happenings that might be considered to be a breach of their privacy and confidentiality. Competition Component of the Blogging Policy You may not sell any product or service that would compete with any of your companys products or services without permission in writing from the president. This includes, but is not limited to training, books, products, and freelance writing. If in doubt, talk with your manager and the president. Your Legal Liability Component of the Blogging Policy Recognize that you are legally liable for anything you write or present online. Employees can be disciplined by the company for commentary, content, or images that are defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing, libelous, or that can create a hostile work environment. You can also be sued by company employees, competitors, and any individual or company that views your commentary, content, or images as defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing, libelous or creating a hostile work environment. Media Contact Component of the Blogging Policy Media contacts about our company and our current and potential products, employees, partners, customers, and competitors should be referred for coordination and guidance to the Public Relations or Human Resources department. This does not specifically include your opinions, writing, and interviews on topics aside from our company and our current and potential products, employees, partners, customers, and competitors. DisclaimerSusan Heathfield makes every effort to offer accurate, common-sense, ethical Human Resources management, employer, and workplace advice both on this website, and linked to from this website, but she is not an attorney, and the content on the site, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality, and is not to be construed as legal advice. The site has a world-wide audience and employment laws and regulations vary from state to state and country to country, so the site cannot be definitive on all of them for your workplace. When in doubt, always seek legal counsel or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct. The information on this site is for guidance, ideas, and assistance only.

Maintenance Job Titles and Descriptions

Maintenance Job Titles and DescriptionsMaintenance Job Titles and DescriptionsThere are a wide variety of maintenance job titles. It is helpful to keep these in mind when searching for a job in maintenance. Maintenance workers handle a wide range of tasks that vary by industry and employer. They work in a variety of platzdeckchentings some work in a single building (such as a hotel or hospital), while others are responsible for multiple buildings (such as a college campus or housing complex). However, all maintenance jobs involve working to keep a facility operating smoothly, and they all require a number of the same maintenance skills. Maintenance Job Titles and Duties Below is an extensive list of maintenance job titles. You might use this list to encourage your employer to make sure the title of your standort fits your duties. For example, if you receive a promotion, you might want to request a job title change to match your new responsibilities. Matching your job title to you r responsibilities is important for your resume as you move through your career. Your title is an indicator of your skills and experience, and a way for employers to quickly understand where you might fit within their organization. Whether the company you work for is a single facility, a campus of buildings, or a city wide project, youll find many of the same job titles indicating specialization in a particular area. There are many other maintenance job titles, but this is a helpful list that can give you a sense of the diverse maintenance jobs out there. Repair Fixtures and EquipmentMaintenance workers have many of the same skills as people in construction. On any given day they may be painting a hallway, replacing a toilet, or fixing a sink. In a manufacturing plant they might be replacing a worn machinery part, and in an office they might be installing or fixing a lighting fixture. Maintenance workers have the basic skills of a carpenter, electrician, plumber, painter, mechanic, and HVAC technician all rolled into one. Its also their job to call on a licensed professional with proper expertise when needed. BrazerBricklayerCarpenterConcrete FinisherCutterElectric/Electronics TechnicianElectric Home Appliance and Power Tool RepairerElectric Meter Installer and RepairerElectric Motor AssemblerElectrical Powerline Installer/RepairerElectrical Utility Trouble ShooterElevator Installer/RepairerGrinderHVAC MechanicJig and Fixture BuilderLinemanLocksmithMasonMechanicMillwrightPainterPest Control TechnicianPipefitterPipeline DirectorPipeline Maintenance ManagerPipelines ManagerPipeline Operations ManagerPipeline Technician Powerhouse SupervisorResteel ironworkerSoldererSteamfitterStructural AssemblerStructural IronworkerWelder Routine MaintenanceMaintenance workers also perform a certain amount of upkeep, both to keep a building looking ship shape and to maintain a safe environment. This could involve anything from cleaning and replacing air conditioner filters to f ixing a broken tile or a light thats burned out. Building maintenance workers also perform inspections to figure out what issues need attention. In industrial work, maintenance workers might have set duties involving procedures to perform on machinery and equipment. Aviation Maintenance WorkerDairy Processing Equipment RepairerGeneral Maintenance WorkerGreenskeeperGrounds Maintenance WorkerGroundskeeperGroundskeeping WorkerHandymanIndustrial Machinery MechanicInterior Aircraft Assembly WorkerLandscaperLandscaping WorkerMachinery Maintenance WorkerMaintenance PainterMaintenance PlannerPesticide HandlerPrunerSafety TechnicianTree Trimmer and Pruner CleaningSome maintenance workers will have cleaning duties as part of their job. This might involve cleaning as needed as the result of an issue. For instance, if a pipe bursts, the maintenance worker would clean up the area after a flood or deal with damaged floors or carpeting. Additionally, the work may involve regular cleaning tasks lik e cleaning floors, windows, and carpets. Cleaning CrewConstruction PainterCustodianGeneral LaborerHousekeeperHousekeeping DispatcherIndustrial CleanerJanitorLaundry AttendantVehicle Washer/Equipment Cleaner Management and Executive RolesCompanies and businesses, especially those with larger or multiple facilities, will often offer the opportunity for management and executive roles in their maintenance department. There is a lot of potential for growth in a maintenance career, and ambition, experience, and hard work can result in a supervisory or management position. Assembly SupervisorBuilding and Grounds SupervisorBuilding Maintenance ManagerBuilder Operations ManagerCampus Maintenance ManagerClinical Facilities Planning ManagerCustodial ManagerDistrict Technical Service ManagerElectrical SuperintendentEstimating ManagerFacilities DirectorFacilities Management ExecutiveFacility ManagerFacilities PlannerFacilities SupervisorField Operations ExecutiveField OperatorField Service Coord inatorFloor TechnicianHead of HousekeepingHousekeeping ManagerHousekeeping Supervisor Installation Maintenance ExecutiveInstallation Maintenance Technician DirectorLawn Service ManagerMaintenance and Service ManagerMaintenance SupervisorOperations ManagerPipeline ExecutiveProduction SupervisorProperty ManagerSecurity DirectorSpares CoordinatorWaste Water Treatment Plant Manager