The 5 most-clicked links in SmartBrief on Workforce this past week:

Smart exec, dumb decision
Being honest about “overqualified” candidates
3 layoff mistakes to avoid
How to hire better people
Why incentives don’t work

Image credit, iStock

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Today’s guest poster is Jeff Brainard of Catch Your Limit, a strategic management and marketing firm in Tallahassee, Fla., where he also blogs regularly.
Are you a Boomer-AB? Maybe you’re a Gen X-I. Or are you a Red-Traditionalist?
Great. … I’ve learned that I hate details and have a constant need for praise. Now that I’ve [...]

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More than 146 SmartBrief on Workforce readers weighed in on last week’s SmartPulse question: What is your temperament style?

Worker – 64 votes, 44%
Thinker – 61 votes, 42%
Watcher – 15 votes, 10%
Walker – 6 votes, 4%

The vast majority of you classified yourself as either Workers or Thinkers, under the taxonomy created in John Boe’s [...]

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No one likes laying people off. It’s one of the least-pleasant responsibilities that managers have, which is why we’ve created so many euphemisms for it. Still, sometimes such cuts must  be made to save the organization. If you are in the unenviable position of having to let people go — and a lot of managers [...]

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Re-entering the workforce is always tough, but it can prove especially challenging during a recession. If that’s your situation and you are in the Washington area on Feb. 7, please consider joining me for a discussion on how to get back into the workforce during tough economic times. I’ll explain how to bolster your professional [...]

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The 5 most-clicked links in SmartBrief on Workforce this past week:

Pink-slip personalities
How to find a new job faster
What’s this year’s best job? Go figure …
Reviewing sick leave policies
The word(s) on job hunting

Image credit, iStock

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I asked Kate Neville, a career consultant who serves attorneys considering a professional transition, to share her advice on hiring a lawyer for a nonlegal job. She shared her advice in today’s and Tuesday’s posts.
What are the common problems that tend to crop up among former lawyers in new fields?

Being stereotyped as confrontational and stiff.
Frustration [...]

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Nearly 115 SmartBrief on Workforce readers weighed in on last week’s SmartPulse question: What tools are you using to improve workplace morale?

Involving employees – 29%
Increased disclosure – 19%
Recognition programs – 19%
None – 18%
Alternatives to layoffs – 12%
Other – 3%

There’s no doubt that stress is taking its toll in [...]

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I asked Kate Neville, a career consultant who serves attorneys who are considering a professional transition, to share her advice on hiring a lawyer for a nonlegal job. She shares her advice in today’s post and a followup on Thursday. Learn more about her at NevilleCareerConsulting.com.

What are the common advantages and disadvantages to hiring lawyers [...]

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Today’s guest post is written by a well-qualified, slightly perplexed 20-something job seeker. He has asked to remain anonymous.
A buyers’ market for workers right now means you can be choosy, but it can also make finding the perfect candidate that much harder. Careless errors brought on by interview fatigue can keep you from landing the [...]

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