Career Tools

We wish we didn’t have to do casts like this, but angry and demeaning bosses are a fact of life. And, for most of us, it doesn’t matter how great a boss WE are if we WORK FOR someone who is angry, demeaning, and generally unprofessional. Despite our recommendations to focus on your team, because that’s where the leverage is, OUR boss still exists. And if she’s a jerk, we’ve got to adapt. Here’s how.

February 12, 2009 4:49pm

New Job Day One - Do It Yourself

This cast recommends a simple approach to speed up your fitting in to a new organization and role.

February 05, 2009 8:25pm

An Especially Important Relationship In A Downturn

This cast explains how to improve an especially important relationship during economic downturns: your boss's peers.

January 29, 2009 2:58pm

Gossip Avoidance

This cast explains how to handle gossip in the workplace.

January 21, 2009 11:51pm

The Dangle

This cast describes a recruiting “technique” called the “Dangle”, and how to combat it.

January 15, 2009 5:03pm

The 2nd Rule of Effective Project Team Members

This cast explains the SECOND most important behavior or habit to ensure your success as a project team member.

It’s one thing to manage a project. But far more of us are ON projects, not managing them. How can we do this while still getting “all of our real work done”?

We have a series of recommendations – this is the second one. ;-)

January 08, 2009 5:44pm

Maintaining Recruiter Relationships

This cast explains an effective way to maintain relationships with professional recruiters.

In today’s slow economy, we don’t want to NEED a recruiter and then discover none of them remember us. Almost no one but smart senior executives reach out proactively – but you can do it too. Here’s how.

January 02, 2009 6:13pm

The Downturn Rite of Passage

This cast describes the reasons why leaving your company or industry in a downturn CAN be a bad idea, and recommends options to consider in those situations.

Too many professionals fail to realize that leaving their company or industry during a downturn has a long-term consequence – executives are expected to have experience navigating all the way through a slowdown.

December 29, 2008 5:21pm

Career Tools Cast #3: What Do You Want To Do?

This cast explains an important career search question, and how to answer it: "What do you want to do, and where do you want to do it?" You're going to be asked this question, and you have to know how to answer it, without limiting yourself. It's one of those fleeting career moments whose outcome is defined likely BEFORE the moment arrives.

December 18, 2008 7:33pm

Career Tools Cast #2: The First Rule of Higher Education - Get Good Grades

This cast makes the case for the most important thing you do at the beginning of your professional life: get good grades in College/University.

This is the first in a series of what surely will be many Career Tools casts about college and university as preparation for one’s professional adult life. As with so many other things in one’s career, too often we find out what’s important AFTER we can do anything about it. And if you’ve graduated, think about having your children listen. ;‐)

December 10, 2008 8:23pm

Career Tools Cast #1: How to Handle Location in an Interview

This cast describes a simple way to handle the interviewing question, “What’s your location preference?”

November 09, 2008 7:45am

Boss One-on-Ones - Professional Updates

This cast describes a way to approximate One on Ones (O3s) with your boss.

October 05, 2008 9:28pm

Career Crisis Email

This cast describes your initial communications with a friend or associate whose career is at risk, for whatever reason.

We read in the Wall Street Journal this week about a bank failure in the US due to the mortgage/debt crisis the markets are facing. As it turns out, we have several Manager Tools members there, one of whom is a good friend of ours. Mark sent a quick email to this executive.

When Mark mentioned to another member that he had done so, the member said, “I didn’t want to intrude, so I didn...

October 04, 2008 12:45am

FREE Career Crisis Skills Conference - NYC, 18 October

Manager Tools will present a FREE, one day Career Crisis Skills Conference, on 18 October, to help those affected by the financial and credit market troubles.

We will conduct the training/seminar at the Marriott East Side in Manhattan (map, sw corner 49th and Lex), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be room for 300 attendees on a first come, first served basis. We apologize for the limitations, but we couldn’t get bigger space for a reasonable price fast enough.

This conference will be FREE. We won’t be trying to sell anyt...

September 21, 2008 9:16pm

I Hate My New Job

This cast describes steps to take when you realize early in a job that you don’t like it.

One of the things that has changed as individuals have had to take over their own career management is more mistakes made by younger professionals. Years ago, larger organizations had a more complete HR approach, and managed their employees’ careers. No longer. Now, younger associates don’t have an HR advisor to turn to, or if they do the advisor is unlikely to have solid recommendations for them (or worse, they tell several people of the problem). More experi...

September 14, 2008 4:32pm

Feel, Felt, Found

This cast describes a simple verbal tool for addressing tension, conflict or other ineffective emotions in the workplace.

Mark has finally gotten around to writing this cast down! Every time Mark teaches this technique to an executive or manager, he turns to Mike and says, “we gotta make this a cast.” And then he doesn’t. When you see this work the first time, you’ll be surprised. In almost any situation, you’ll see a noticeable lessening of the tension. You’ll probably also feel better at moving forward PAST the frustration or difficulties that are being discus...

August 03, 2008 4:00pm

Business Travel - Packing

For years pundits have been predicting that technology (videoconferencing, etc.) will lead to the decline and death of business travel. We here at Manager Tools don’t agree. We're human, and humans do better with face to face connections to ensure a complex project does well.

July 28, 2008 11:01pm

John Lucht Interview - Part 3 of 3

In this cast, we cover part 3 of our conversation with John Lucht, premier executive recruiter and author of "Rites of Passage".

July 21, 2008 9:53am

John Lucht Interview - Part 2 of 3

In this cast, we cover part 2 of our conversation with John Lucht, premier executive recruiter and author of “Rites of Passage”.

Note: John’s website can be found here: RiteSite.com

July 19, 2008 12:45pm

The MySpace Cast - Part 2 of 2

In today’s cast, we conclude our conversation on Myspace and social networks. As always, if you’re new to Manager Tools and haven’t listened to the first part, you may wish to go back and listen to that first.

July 15, 2008 8:56pm

John Lucht Interview - Part 1 of 3

We have a special treat for you … as a matter of fact, today we’re publishing the very first podcast with someone other than Mark and Mike. Mark and Mike recently had an opportunity to meet with John Lucht. In this show, you get to hear the first part of the 90 minute interview.

If you aren’t familiar with John’s work, you’re missing something special. John Lucht, the author of Rites of Passage, has been an executive recruiter for the past three decades. And when it comes to advice on the ins and outs of job search...

July 14, 2008 1:13am

The MySpace Cast - Part 1 of 2

This cast gives guidance for managers’ use of Social Networking Sites like MySpace and FaceBook.

If you’re one of our younger listeners, members, or premium subscribers, with less than 5 years in the workforce, chances are you have a MySpace or a FaceBook page. You stay in touch with friends, let people know what you’re doing, share photos, put yourself out there.

And you may have trouble, too.

OR … you’re a manager with one of those people working for you.

And you may have trouble too.

Learn how to get...

July 06, 2008 5:39pm

Sharing Your References

This cast tells you how to handle requests for your references when engaged in a job search.

Even though “References Available Upon Request” is no longer a good idea, reference CHECKING is on the rise and will only increase in the coming years. It seems like since resumes don’t include the age-old line — the why of which we’ll share — somehow far too many job seekers are caught off-guard by reference requests. Ahh, Horstman’s Christmas Rule!

We’ll tell you how to manage and share your references in this cast. And hey, if you’re maintaini...

May 26, 2008 5:29pm

Effective Meetings Behavior Part 5 - Posture

We’re all in meetings all the time, right? So how come there’s not an instruction manual? We all complain about them. But no one seems able or willing to do something about it. We will.

We shared - 3 years ago - our recommendations on how to RUN an Effective Meeting. What about our recommendations for how to behave when you’re NOT running the meeting?

We have a series of recommendations, because meetings take up so much of our professional lives. In this cast, #5 in a series we’ll build up over time, we talk...

May 12, 2008 12:00am

How to Remember Names

This show describes a couple of simple techniques to help you remember people’s names.

Whether we like it or not, other people are part of our professional lives. And, as Dale Carnegie sagely noted, “A person’s name, to that person, is the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

But how to remember them? It vexes the best of us.

And one of the keys: you really don’t have to.

PLEASE NOTE: If you downloaded this show and got part 2 of the Meal Interviews series, I’m sorry...

May 04, 2008 5:59pm

Meal Interviews (Part 2 of 2)

This podcast is the second of two on the subtleties associated with being interviewed during a meal.

April 27, 2008 5:31pm

Meal Interviews (Part 1 of 2)

This podcast details all the subtleties associated with being interviewed during a meal.

We have NO EXCUSE for why we didn’t do this podcast 2 years ago. We get this question all the time, so much so that we’re making it part of the standard weekly show rather than restricting it to the interview tool. Meal interviews are becoming more and more common, even as they become ever less intelligent as a tool.

The cast is really just a long list of small tips – there is very little overarching strategy to share. The STRATEGY is cle...

April 20, 2008 8:57pm

Resume Update 2008

This cast updates one of our most popular casts Your Resume Stinks [October 31, 2005] with learnings from our community and some timely recommendations regarding recent trends.

And, in this cast, we make a very exciting New Product Announcement!

The Link: Manager Tools Resume Service Description

February 10, 2008 6:57pm

How to Introduce People

This cast explains how to introduce one person to another in social and business settings.

We surprised some of our members a couple of years ago when we included podcasts on how to attend a party, and how to introduce oneself to someone else. Some saw this as “etiquette”, which the modern business world had, in a sense, done away with. And certainly the world of commerce has changed how people interact, making much of our lives less formal than perhaps they were before.

But at the same time, we’ve also noticed that the blurri...

January 27, 2008 3:00pm

The Annual Layoff Immunization (Part 2 of 2)

This week, we conclude our conversation on the Manager Tools Annual Layoff Immunization Guidelines.

January 20, 2008 3:00pm

The Annual Layoff Immunization (Part 1 of 2)

We received lots of comments and email regarding our show regarding the first rule of layoffs. While our recommendation struck some folks the wrong way - “finances rule??” - those who HAD been laid off told us we were dead solid perfect.

The fact is, we did not expect three years ago to get such positive responses to our casts and advice on careers and career management. We SHOULD have seen it, but we didn’t (and you’ll learn why in this week’s cast). But we are listening, and thus this week’s cast.

In the sam...

December 09, 2007 11:45pm

How to Handle a Group Interview

This cast describes a simple way to handle a group interview.

Interviewing is one of the real tragedies in most companies. It’s so easy to do it well (once you get over the Horstman Curve), but so few are willing to take the time. Oh, sure, everyone wants to complain about lousy output (low retention, poor performance, attitude difficulties, etc.), but no one seems to be willing to think systemically about the problems.

Come to think of it, there are thousands of companies who never get to the idea that turnover, low mo...

December 02, 2007 10:12pm

The Basics of Calendar Management (Part 2 of 2)

This is the second of our casts that describe our recommendations about calendar management.

November 26, 2007 1:16am

The Basics of Calendar Management (Part 1 of 2)

This cast describes the first of our recommendations about calendar management.

November 19, 2007 1:50am

Getting Laid Off - Finances Rule

This cast reveals the most important concept a laid off manager must know: Finances Rule. it is the first in a series designed to help both prepare for and navigate through a layoff.

Most of us fear being laid off. It’s a good fear to have, frankly - being laid off is a difficult passage for anyone. The fear of being re-employed, the fear of loss of status, the loss of income, risk to one’s family. All good reasons to be scared.

And yet, those who have been laid off express very different emot...

October 15, 2007 2:17am

How to Leave a Voicemail

This cast describes how to leave an effective voicemail.

If you’ve ever gotten a voicemail which sounded like, “[your name], this is [their name], call me,” you know why we’re doing this cast.

Phone manners have been steadily decreasing for decades. When boys used to call for Mark’s daughter Kate, they would slouch verbally through, “Is Kate there?” and Mark would answer, “Yes,” and hang up. He safely assumed that any person who asked that question was a boy, and not enough of a gentleman to be allowed to speak with her. (At first she rolle...

October 01, 2007 8:02am

How to be Effective in Everyday Conversations

In this cast, we describe how to be effective in everyday conversations.

September 27, 2007 12:25pm

How to Answer the Leadership Style Question

This cast describes how to answer the interviewing question, “Describe Your Leadership Style.”

This is perhaps the third most important interviewing question, after, “Tell me about yourself,” and behavioral questions. It can be a tough one if you haven’t done some thinking about how you lead and motivate others, and why others perform well when you are leading them.

In this cast, we walk through how to prepare to answer, and how to deliver an impressive answer. Finally, at the end of the show, we share a crucial test that your answer must pass. While you...

September 24, 2007 1:42am

Horstman’s Wager (Part 2 of 2)

Today, we cover the 2nd in a two-part series on Horstman’s Wager.

Last week we covered the basics as to why “Playing the Game” doesn’t work … today we get into the details of the dreaded Horstman’s Wager MATRIX.

During the show, we refer to the printed matrix included in the slides for this series. Although the slides are typically only available to premium members, given how much easier having the slides can make following this particular podcast, we’ve made this week’s slides available to everyone … enjoy!

September 16, 2007 11:01pm

Horstman’s Wager (Part 1 of 2)

This cast is about interview preparation, and the need for ethics and candor during the process.

We’ve been pleased by the demand for our interviewing product - close to 1,000 purchases so far, and the early feedback has been quite powerful. If you would like to read what folks are saying, you can see that here. And, if you’d like to order, you can do that here.

One of the tenets that distinguishes the casts is its emphasis on preparation. One of the Forum posts actually suggests that folks buy before they think they need...

August 26, 2007 11:21pm

How to Handle Pre-employment Testing

More and more, companies are using psychological and behavioral tests as pre-employment screening devices. They supplement their interviewing processes in order to ensure less false-positives.This is wise, in our judgment, based on what we see of interviewing. Too many companies don’t screen rigorously enough, and have started enlisting more cerebral and/or technical techniques to be certain of new hires.

Even if you haven’t experienced one yet, it’s becoming more and more likely.

What does this mean for you? What’s the best way to approach and be successful at pre-employment tests...

July 01, 2007 11:01pm

How to Take Notes

This cast describes an effective way to take notes.

If you go to meetings all the time… no, wait. BECAUSE you go to meetings all the time, you need an effective way to take notes. There are certainly a LOT of different ways to do so, but if you ask a hundred or so executives, some common themes emerge about what works and why. For most of us, we write too much, and get too little value, for all the wrong reasons.

We figure, at 10 meetings a week - and we KNOW you go to mo...

April 15, 2007 11:01pm

Write More Effectively (Part 2 of 2)

Today, we finish up our two part series on writing effectively.

April 09, 2007 1:32am

Write More Effectively (Part 1 of 2)

This cast teaches how to improve your writing quickly.

March 25, 2007 11:01pm

How to Write a Thank You Note

We’ve talked about thank you notes hundreds of times. They are fast becoming a nearly lost art. That’s too bad, because they are always appreciated. We know too many managers and professionals who keep them for years! Mark often talks about the basket under his desk full of cards, which he reads when he’s having a bad day. It reminds him things are not so bad.

“Many a friendship — long, loyal, and self-sacrificing — rested at first upon no thicker a foundation than a kind word.”

Frederick W. Faber

We consider thank you note...

January 21, 2007 6:38pm

How to Handle the Interview Weakness Question

Mark recently blogged about the crazy advice being given - by the Wall Street Journal! - about how to handle the perennial interviewing question, “Tell me about a weakness.” He was stunned by how wrong some of the suggestions were, as well as the implication that a clever interviewee could trick the interviewing manager into accepting a non-responsive answer. We think it’s funny how many folks think that “they” can fool “their” interviewer, but of course, if “they” were the one “interviewing”, why, “that would be different”.

Yeah right.

In this cast, we share one of the best interviewi...

November 13, 2006 1:11am

How to Politely Become Part of a Group

We’ve talked about the importance of interpersonal skills before, with casts on handshakes and meal etiquette. While for many, they might not sound like managerial subjects, the fact is that career management skills are part of the modern manager’s repertoire. And, as surely you’ve read, business gets done at dinner, at parties, at conferences, at conventions, at product launch events, at annual meetings, on the golf course, and at non-profit fund raisers.

So what do you when you walk into a party and you don’t seem to know anyone there?

In this cas...

October 30, 2006 10:01pm

Interviews - The Introduction

Well, once again, we’re barely getting this out in time to call it an October cast. But, I think you’ll find it worth the wait. This month, Mark and I want to share a cast from our upcoming Interviewing techniques product. This particular cast is one out of 14 casts on Interviewing.

In this cast, you’ll learn how to handle the crucial first five to ten minutes of any interview - Introductions. It is absolutely true that this is a critical part of the interview - first impressions are being formed, and I’d bet 75% of inter...

October 09, 2006 12:21am

Do YOU Need to Apologize?

You’re a manager, and that makes you human. You’re human, and that makes you mess up. You mess up, and that means you apologize.

It’s really that simple. So how come no one seems to apologize anymore?

Unfortunately, for all kinds of reasons, the art of apologizing has fallen from favor. We think the primary reason is about power - most people mistakenly believe that when they apologize, they’re admitting weakness. In fact, an apology is almost considered to be an incredible show of strength. If you’re apologizing, then you and the re...

October 02, 2006 2:40am

Contacting Recruiters

In a previous cast, we talked about how many managers don’t understand the importance of taking recruiters’ calls, and walked through step by step (hey, this is Manager Tools) how to handle those calls. What to say, and what to learn, and how to proceed.

But there’s another side to the recruiting relationship, isn’t there? What if you want to contact a recruiter, without waiting for them to call you? Maybe you’re recognizing a change in opportunities where you are, or you want to move in a different direction, or perhaps it’s as simple as...

September 19, 2006 11:01pm

Accomplishments - Connecting Resumes and Interviews

Most folks just don’t realize HOW important resumes are, and not just as pieces of paper.

In our Resume Cast, we talked about the PURPOSE of resumes: to create an interview. Now just imagine…wouldn’t it be great if its value didn’t end there? It doesn’t! yes, the resume itself gets you the chance to sell yourself, but buried in the resume are the PERFECT seeds of success, if you’ve followed our guidance.

Listen in to an interesting cast about how your resume and your interviews can be perfectly connected.

September 11, 2006 12:24am

Meal Etiquette (Part 2 of 2)

Can there possibly be anything more to say about business meal etiquette?

Yep! Today we conclude our 2-part series on Meal Etiquette.

September 04, 2006 12:16am

Meal Etiquette (Part 1 of 2)

Good business practice demands good relationships - with customers, suppliers, team members, and bosses. And good relationships usually means breaking bread together. So, are you up to speed on how to have a business meal? Or even worse, HOST the meal yourself?

You are? GOOD! Then you already know when to start talking business, and whether it’s different at breakfast, lunch and dinner. You know how much alcohol to drink, and how many glasses of wine there are in a bottle. And the ideal way to pay for a meal, or what to do when the ch...

August 10, 2006 1:42pm

Preparing For Your Review (Part 2 of 2)

Today we cover the 2nd part of our series on Preparing For Your Review. After you’ve listened to the podcast, I think you’ll agree that if you follow this simple process you will be in a position to not only get the best possible review possible this year, you will also have all the information you need to improve your performance (and your next review!) over the coming year.

And, as a reminder, you’ll find a number of documents to assist you in this process in the Tools section under Preparing for Your Review Docume...

August 06, 2006 3:22pm

How to Resign (Part 3 of 3)

Today’s show is the third and final part of our series on resigning. If you have to resign, distinguish yourself my resigning professionally. With the completion of this series, you now know how!

July 31, 2006 9:46am

Preparing for YOUR Review (Part 1 of 2)

We spent a lot of time at the end of last year talking about how to write someone else’s review.

What should you do to prepare for your own?

Think of it this way. Suppose you had three folks working for you, and one of the three spent a couple of hours over the previous months preparing for their time with you. They had reviewed the entire year, prepared better information for you for their review, and had taken their time writing their self-evaluation, including specific data to support their points.

Wouldn’t th...

July 30, 2006 10:49pm

How to Resign (Part 2 of 3)

Today, we follow-up with part 2 of our 3-part series on Resigning. Usually not a lot of fun contemplating, and certainly no more fun executing. However, IF you have to do it, there IS a professional way to resign. You CAN leave your job and feel good about HOW you did it, AND leave a great impression on the way out. Now, how often does that happen in your workplace today?

July 23, 2006 11:01pm

How to Resign (Part 1 of 3)

Today’s show is an interesting one … At least once in your career, and perhaps as many as five times, you’re going to have to resign from a position. And this is another one of those tasks or responsibilities that no one talks about, no one knows how to do, and therefore many do it poorly.

It’s not hard to do well, and in this series of casts, we make it a simple step by step process. If you’re thinking that you already know how, consider that we recommend you need SIX WEEKS to do it well...

June 26, 2006 3:04am

Basics of Mentoring - Part 2 of 2

Today we cover the second in our 2-part series on mentoring. As a reminder, our 7 simple guidelines for mentoring are:

Whom Should I Ask? How Long Should It Last? You Make the Ask How Does It Work? You Run It The First Meeting is Critical - Script It Be Ready For Feedback

Also, June 26th represents the 1-year Anniversary of Manager Tools. We previously discussed having a special second part of today’s podcast where we would discuss our thoughts about this last year, as well as discuss our plans for the coming year. Unfortunately, the “discussion” was an...

June 19, 2006 3:55am

Basics of Mentoring - Part 1 of 2

Every week, we get questions about people’s resumes on the discussion boards. Our resume casts are some of the most wanted of all our work. It’s pretty obvious that more and more folks are tuned into their own careers, and how to manage them. That’s a good thing, as we’ve said before, because no one else is managing it for you. And, because so few people manage their careers at all, it only takes a little to get a competitive advantage.

We thought we’d address a career management topic that also leverages our recent...

May 21, 2006 10:01pm

Time Management (Part 2 of 2)

Today, we cover the second in a two-part series of podcasts on Time Management.

May 14, 2006 11:52pm

Time Management (Part 1 of 2)

The first of two podcasts on Time management.

May 09, 2006 1:15am

Building a Network

If you’re a manager, don’t think for a moment that someone else is managing your career. Those days are long gone. YOU are managing your career. What you do - not only in job skills, but also in what we call “Transition Skills” - will be the primary determinant of your career success. You’re not going to have the richest, most rewarding series of roles and opportunities by allowing someone in HR to know enough about you to get you where you need to be. And succession planning won’t save you either.

And one of the m...

April 16, 2006 11:34pm

Secrets of a Great Handshake

The hand shake is the most important professional greetings in the world today. There are many cultures in the world, and there are places to bow, and places to hug, and places where cheek-kissing is perfectly appropriate. The handshake, though is the preferred greeting for most of our audience.

If you’re going to do business in the world, or if you’re a manager at a multi-national corporation, you need to know how to shake hands. This cast will teach you in excruciating (grin) detail.

The Ten Steps to a Great Handshake

Make Eye...

February 12, 2006 11:55pm

Micro-Communications - Part 2

Last week, we discussed the "Listening" side of communications. This week, we cover the other side, the "Responding" side. Of course, responding when you're in agreement is the easy part. However, how do you respond when you disagree or there is potential conflict? That, my friend, is what this week's podcast is about!

February 05, 2006 5:00pm

Micro-Communications

We talked recently about managerial communications, looking at the various ways you as a manager can deliver your message and the organization's messages to your team. There's more to talk about there, but we're going to tackle a different type of communication this time.

November 11, 2005 6:56pm

Self Development

In this special podcast for our registered subscribers, we're going to share our first set of recommendations in self-development. We believe that you cannot consider yourself an effective, professional manager unless you engage in regular reading. To that end, we have a suite of recommended reading, both periodicals and books, and some suggestions on how to fit them into your schedule.

October 30, 2005 7:49am