Human Resources ::

Is Your Boss Endangering Your Career Advancement?

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Michelle Riklan

There are good bosses and bad bosses, but sometimes you’re not so lucky. Your boss is a key figure in your career advancement so, like it or not, he or she will play a major role in your life. What happens if your boss is far from ideal? How do you deal with him or her? The Five “Bad” Bosses…

How to Create a Career Back-up Plan

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Your career is okay, then without a warning, the economy goes down or the once-stable company that you work for is facing bankruptcy. Before you realize it, you’re ordered to start packing because it’s your last day of employment. Sudden unemployment will force you to deal with the challenges that come with losing a job. Dozens of questions and worries…

What Can You Do to Promote Gender Equality at Work?

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

In 1911, millions of men and women in Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany marched on rallies during the first International Woman’s Day. They fought for the right of every woman to work, hold public office, and vote. Today, we have come far in terms of women’s rights, but there’s still so much we can do to close the gap between…

Unexpected Succession Planning: What to Do if a Key Executive Unexpectedly Quits

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You may not be the CEO yet. But as a company executive, an executive’s unexpected resignation, termination, or even absence is cause for alarm. Best case scenario, you may be chosen by the board to serve as interim CEO or executive. On the flip side, you may lose your job or the company may go down in the dumps as…

How to Build a Strong Alliance of Supporters at Work

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

One of the secrets of succeeding in the workplace is building strong alliances. No matter how seemingly good and experienced you are, or even if you hold a top position in an organization, time will come that you’ll need someone else’s help. This is where building alliances comes in handy. Successful employees work hard to build themselves a network of…

When Office Friends Turn into Liabilities

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

In general, making friends at work make Monday mornings more bearable and over time work a little less stressful. Having friends at work can make an otherwise stressful environment enjoyable, but things can also go sour under different circumstances. In light of International Friendship Day on July 30, we look at the different situations where office friends can become a…

Get Your Children Off the Couch – Radio Interview with Ed Tyll

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

What an honor it was to be invited on the Ed Tyll show on Starcom Radio! The topic was How to Get Your Children off the Couch and Into the Workplace. I am pleased to share the audio (please click here) as well as the entire transcript. Ed was a gracious host with thoughtful and insightful questions and it…

The Common Questions Applicants Ask Their Would-Be Bosses on Interviews

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Are you a manager or executive interviewing someone for a job? Don’t expect that you’ll be the only one asking questions. Expect good candidates to raise their own questions during the job interview. They want to impress you and make themselves more memorable compared to other candidates. Here are the top four questions you can expect to get from a…

Do’s and Don’ts to Survive ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

It’s not designed to be the most productive day of the year work-wise – but the implications of ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’ go beyond the day. It could shape a child’s future career, or even a life. The purpose of ‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’ is to expose kids to what their parent,…

Six Tips for Proofreading Your Resume

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

Your resume is still a vital component to getting you the interview to the job of your dreams. It’s one of the first impressions that a hiring manager will have when you apply to a new job or position, and one of the biggest determinants about whether or not you will get called for an interview. While you can upgrade…

Executive Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Michelle Riklan

You’re an executive, and you’ve been contacted by a recruiter about an opportunity for a well-known firm in your industry. Congratulations! Although you’re excited about this position, you’re understandably nervous about the upcoming interview. Of course, the interview isn’t the be-all end-all to getting the job – there are also references to follow up with, and portfolios and numbers…

From Salaried to Hourly: How to Tell Employees about the Upcoming Transition

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Editor

As an employer, manager, or human resources staffer, you’ve probably already heard the news that there’s a new Federal Department of Labor salary rule taking effect on December 1. The minimum salary to qualify for exemption will increase from $455 a week or $23,660 annually, to $913 a week, which will put the overtime threshold at $47,476 annually. How will…

How to Deal With Unethical Behavior in the Workplace

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Editor

Workplaces are complicated. There isn’t a lot of black and white most of the time, so it’s normal for employees to deal with issues of ethics at some point. Whether they’re asked to do something they don’t think is quite right, against the general morals of the workplace or society at large, or hide something, the guilty feeling in the…

How to Administer Exit Interviews to Laid Off Employees

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Editor

When you’re the boss, one of the hardest things you’ll have to do is tell an employee that they no longer have a job, sometimes through no fault of their own. When an employee loses a job through termination, layoffs, firing, downsizing or reduction in force, the manager or supervisor should complete an exit interview. That might be the second-hardest…

A Primer for Compassionately Dealing with the Emotions of Laid Off Employees

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Editor

It’s the hardest part about being the boss – you will inevitably have to lay off one or more employees at one point in your career. If you haven’t had to do it before, you might wonder: Why is it so hard to lay off an employee? After all, it’s not your fault – you had no say in the…

Lessen the Guilt You Feel After Giving the Pink Slip to an Employee

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Editor

Many managers have experienced it at one time or another; an employee just didn’t work out or fit into the workplace culture. But even when it’s the employee’s fault – a history of tardiness, no-call or no-show behavior, or performance issues at work – it’s hard to let go of someone. It’s hard, even with the knowledge that it is…

Lessons Learned after Firing Someone

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Editor

Being the manager or the boss definitely has its perks. Honing your leadership skills, having a say in the direction of the company, and the satisfaction of leading a stellar team are just some of its advantages. Unfortunately, being the boss has its downside, too. One of the hardest things that you may have to do at some point as…

Employee Recognition: How to Celebrate the Dad’s and Father Figures at Work

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Editor

As a manager or supervisor at your workplace, you’re responsible for more than managing the workload, assigning duties, and giving feedback to your team. You’re also responsible, at least in part, for their well-being. Why? A happy staff member is a productive staff member, and one who will call in sick less often, take fewer personal days, and be more…

4 Wrong Ways to Announce a Layoff

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Editor

It’s the hardest part about being a boss – delivering the bad news nobody wants to hear. With a global economic downturn comes cutbacks, and they are happening all over the country. Companies are slimming their budgets and making some difficult cuts. If this includes your company, you might find yourself having to deliver some rather difficult news. Nobody likes…

Don’t Accept that Management Job UNTIL You Ask Yourself these Questions

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Editor

For many people, getting a management role seems like the most obvious option in climbing their career ladder. While it’s true that nobody aspires to work at an entry-level job for the rest of their lives, the truth is that a leadership role isn’t for everyone. No, I don’t mean that you have to be born with it. Having a…

6 Reasons Your Presentation Didn’t Go as Well as You Imagined

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Editor

You’re accustomed to giving presentations. You felt well prepared, you knew your notes well enough not to have to read from them, and you weren’t nervous. Your voice was confident, and you checked to make sure that it carried across the room. Yet, you feel the presentation could have been better. As you glanced around the room, you noticed that…

5 Layoff Alternatives that will Save You Money without Reducing Your Workforce

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Editor

Companies are laying off people again and some financial experts say we might experience another financial downturn because of China’s slowing economy. Before you start listing employees to layoff, consider how much a restructuring can cost your business, especially in the long run. Aside from severance pay, and the risk of litigation, your business will also suffer from the low…

Suspicious Tactics Companies Use to Get Rid of Older Employees

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Editor

Just last month, two friends told me how their colleagues lost their jobs under dubious pretenses. The five people who were laid off were skilled and tenured professionals in their early 50s. They haven’t had any attendance or performance issues, as far as my friends could tell. That’s why everyone in their office was shocked. Is this the newest tactic…

3 Step Guide to Building Employee Morale after a Layoff

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Editor

Layoffs serve to prevent a struggling company from capsizing. But if not done properly, a layoff may damage the company more than it saves it. Layoffs affect the company in terms of lost workforce and massive restructuring but that’s just the surface. Deep down, it traumatizes surviving employees even if they don’t want to admit it. Whatever circumstances surrounding the…

The Best Way to Handle Inappropriate Co-worker Behavior without Stooping Down to their Level

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Editor

When a co-worker is unnecessarily mean, flirtatious, or inappropriate, it’s sometimes hard to know how to respond professionally. HOW you respond can literally mean your career. You don’t want to look like a stick-in-the-mud, but you also don’t want to feel uncomfortable at work. You don’t want to be seen as a complainer, but it’s just as important to stand…

Five Myths and Facts about Layoffs

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Editor

If your business is undergoing a layoff, you must understand what’s really going to happen. Don’t be misled by myths of what you think is supposed to happen. Myth 1: Reducing “people costs” will result in an indirect organizational productivity gain the next week. Reality: The surviving employees will not be more productive, in most cases. Don’t hope for the…

Layoff Survivors: How Employees Change After a Layoff

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Editor

Century Link, one of the biggest companies in Louisiana, is restructuring to the tune of 1,000 employees. Yes, it’s just a small dent to their 44K global workforce, but to the surviving employees, the change is bound to affect them — whether they admit it or not. No One Relaxes After a Layoff No employee, not even the star performer,…

Layoff Checklist: The What, When, Where, and Everything a Company Needs During a Downsizing

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Editor

All employers big and small will eventually need to do a layoff or company restructuring. The process can be daunting. If done wrong, it could bring even more trouble to an already struggling organization. Feeling overwhelmed is normal. You have so many decisions to make, and not enough time, or resources, to make sure everything gets done right. This checklist…

How does Executive Outplacement Work?

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Editor

As of August 2014, about 119 CEOs announced their resignation, the highest recorded number since 2008, according to an article published in Chief Executive Magazine. Executives know that figuring out the next phase of their career isn’t as simple as submitting a resume. Transitioning from one C-level job to another, after all, requires a lot of upfront work. Business owners,…

5 Tips for Creating a Severance Policy That is Fair to Everyone Involved

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Editor

According to a recent study from RiseSmart, about 40% of companies don’t have a severance package for employees. That’s ironic, considering how many companies keep touting their dedication to their employee’s well-being and motivation. Many states don’t require companies to provide a severance package to displaced employees, but from a long-term stand point, it makes sense to do so. Protecting your public…

Should Outplacement Benefits be provided AFTER an Employee Signs a Release Agreement?

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Editor

People ask me this a lot, and that’s understandable. It’s a tricky question with no right and wrong answer. Since the 1970s, many employees have been required to sign a release agreement before they were provided outplacement services. Keep in mind, though, that this was a time when outplacement was generally reserved to senior executives and layoffs were rare. Outplacement…

Riklan Resources Resume and Career Services

Is Your Boss Endangering Your Career Advancement?

How to Create a Career Back-up Plan

Get Your Children Off the Couch – Radio Interview with Ed Tyll

The Common Questions Applicants Ask Their Would-Be Bosses on Interviews

Six Tips for Proofreading Your Resume

Executive Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

From Salaried to Hourly: How to Tell Employees about the Upcoming Transition

How to Deal With Unethical Behavior in the Workplace

How to Administer Exit Interviews to Laid Off Employees

A Primer for Compassionately Dealing with the Emotions of Laid Off Employees

Lessen the Guilt You Feel After Giving the Pink Slip to an Employee

Lessons Learned after Firing Someone

Employee Recognition: How to Celebrate the Dad’s and Father Figures at Work

4 Wrong Ways to Announce a Layoff

Don’t Accept that Management Job UNTIL You Ask Yourself these Questions

6 Reasons Your Presentation Didn’t Go as Well as You Imagined

5 Layoff Alternatives that will Save You Money without Reducing Your Workforce

Suspicious Tactics Companies Use to Get Rid of Older Employees

3 Step Guide to Building Employee Morale after a Layoff

The Best Way to Handle Inappropriate Co-worker Behavior without Stooping Down to their Level

Five Myths and Facts about Layoffs

Layoff Survivors: How Employees Change After a Layoff

Layoff Checklist: The What, When, Where, and Everything a Company Needs During a Downsizing

How does Executive Outplacement Work?

5 Tips for Creating a Severance Policy That is Fair to Everyone Involved

Should Outplacement Benefits be provided AFTER an Employee Signs a Release Agreement?

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