Posts by Amy Chulik 

I recently talked with Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster, co-authors of “Working for You Isn’t Working for Me: The Ultimate Guide to Managing Your Boss.” Katherine, a Harvard-trained psychotherapist, and Kathi, a management consultant, run K Squared Enterprises in NYC, running lectures and workshops and consulting with managers and executives about workplace relationships. “Working for You Isn’t Working for Me” serves as a handbook for employees struggling to deal with a difficult boss–but there is much that bosses can learn from this book, too.

During our conversation, we covered everything from boss attitudes in our current economy, to recognizing and understanding employee coping tactics, to the severe lack of communication in today’s workplace, to the one thing bosses need to do right now to become better employers–and more. Read on for interview Part I (of three):

• Posted by: Amy Chulik on October 14, 2009
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• Categories: Economy, Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, Employer Advice, Leadership Development

We’ve been struggling through a recession, and over the past year, many things have changed. One thing, however, remains the same: Employees will call in sick, and they will sometimes not really be sick. Yes, I’m talking about that unspeakable action: They will lie. CareerBuilder has just released 2009’s survey about the most unusual excuses for missing work, which included more than 4,700 workers and 3,100 employers. Turns out nearly one-third of the workers surveyed have called in sick to work when they were well at least once.

As in 2008’s most unusual sick excuses, this year’s list is spotted with strange animal injuries, other bouts with nature or pedestrians, and questionable friendships, as well many head-shakers, like “I accidentally hit a nun with my motorcycle.” In a new twist, however, this year’s survey results are reflective of the effect of our tough economic climate, as 28 percent of employers think more employees have been absent with fake excuses due to increased stress and burnout due to the recession.

Here are 2009’s Most Unusual Excuses for Missing Work:

• Posted by: Amy Chulik on October 8, 2009
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• Categories: Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, Survey Results

CareerBuilder and USA TODAY’s Q4 2009 Job Forecast shows that, while employers are feeling more optimistic about the economy and job market, the majority plan to keep their staff levels the same for the remainder of the year. Continued moderation in job loss and a hesitant approach to hiring is expected for the fourth quarter. Compensation trends in the fourth quarter are expected to mirror those of the last two quarters, as half of employers (51 percent) anticipate no change in salaries for full-time, permanent employees in the next three months.

The survey of more than 2,900 hiring managers and human resource professionals across various industries was conducted by Harris Interactive® from August 20 to September 9, 2009.

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• Posted by: Amy Chulik on October 1, 2009
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• Categories: Economy

Life is full of clichés — but your interviews shouldn’t fall victim to them. The interview process is constantly evolving, and with it, you too must review your process — and yes, evolve. Don’t forget –  just as you are screening job seekers through an interview, they are also screening you.

Companies expect candidates to continuously advance their skills, be cognizant of industry news, and surpass expectations. It should come as no surprise, then, that candidates expect the same of the companies with which they’re interviewing. When is the last time you thought about the questions you ask candidates in an interview? Or changed them to stay current or reflect the changing attitudes and needs of the job seekers in today’s market? We’ve rounded up some of the most cliché interview questions, courtesy of the experts: job seekers themselves. Underneath each cliché, we’ve added a new twist on the old standard.

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• Posted by: Amy Chulik on September 30, 2009
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• Categories: Employee Attraction, Employer Advice, Interviewing

Have you been overhearing your employees talking about living on ramen (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and refreshing the computer screen a hundred times a day to spot the exact moment that paycheck deposits? That may not come as a huge shock, but current worker struggles may be deeper and more common than you realize.

As we continue to experience the effects of a sluggish economy, many workers are struggling with household budgets. A whopping 61 percent of workers report they always or usually live paycheck to paycheck just to make ends meet, up from 49 percent last year and 43 percent in 2007, according to a new nationwide survey of more than 4,400 workers by CareerBuilder. Thirty percent of workers with salaries of $100,000 or more report that they too live paycheck to paycheck, up from 21 percent in 2008.

So, how are workers getting by?

• Posted by: Amy Chulik on September 22, 2009
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• Categories: Economy, Employee Retention, Survey Results

An interesting discussion started to develop the other day on our Twitter stream after we tweeted about a blog post regarding which information a candidate should include on his or her resume — and which should be ditched with yesterday’s “Top Chef” contestant.

Some of you think an objective is a necessary component of a resume, pointing out that it can provide an expanded view of a candidate’s experience as well as detail a candidate’s drive and vision — while others dismissed it as clutter or vague filler. Many of you were divided on whether candidates should send a resume to you in a Word document or in a PDF.

As evidenced by a CareerBuilder survey earlier this year, over a third (38 percent) of HR managers spend just one to two minutes reviewing a candidate’s resume before making some kind of decision about it. That’s not a lot of time for a candidate to put his or her best foot forward and make a strong impression. So how, exactly, should candidates make a (good) impression on you, employers?

In a recent CNN article, CareerBuilder’s vice president of corporate marketing, Jason Ferrara, offered five tips for job seekers to make their resume stand out:

1. Include a career summary at the top of a resume
2. Keep it up to date
3. Incorporate keywords
4. Use a functional resume
5. Include all relevant experience

And in an article on MSN careers, CareerBuilder writer Rachel Zupek, gives 10 resume tips for candidates to get a better response from employers. They include having a less-selfish objective, focusing on accomplishments rather than duties, and filling in any unemployment gaps.

Of course, resume information may also include things like social media info (a candidate’s Twitter handle or professional networking profile), volunteer work, awards, certification and training, work history, references (or stating “References available upon request.”

But the real question is, What information do you want to see in a candidate’s resume — and what are they better off leaving out like former Top Chef contestant Mattin’s undercooked ceviche?

• Posted by: Amy Chulik on September 17, 2009
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• Categories: Employee Attraction, Employer Advice