Career Talk JDR

Archive for 2009

Leading technical employees while inspiring commitment and engagement without the guarantees of job security, raises or promotions in the near term, may seem like a daunting prospect.  However, great leaders accomplish this all the time.   Keeping technical people energized and focused can be challenging, even in the best of times; right now it’s imperative to [...]

These days, the news is filled with negative stories about the economy and employment.  You hear a lot about the less than 10% of people out of work, but very little focus on the 90% who have jobs.  The media also reports often about the companies with mass layoffs, but rarely mention companies who are [...]

The recent economy has resulted in a nationwide “tightening” of budgets for people of all financial levels.  We all understand that elimination of unnecessary expenses, like going to the movies or out-to-eat, is essential to many during these tough times.  But what if you are unemployed or are struggling beyond cutting out the “extras”?  Here [...]

As many know these days, maintaining a top resume can mean the difference between snagging an interview and ending up in the trash can.  However, what if you have been unemployed for a period of time and that is the first thing seen on your chronological resume?  There are a few ways of handling your [...]

Today, there is a large focus on the environment that has crossed over into business, with major companies around the world participating in new efforts to decrease waste and extra power usage.  Here at JDR, located in the International Paper Towers, we have started participating ourselves, with recycling receptacles for cans, plastic and paper throughout [...]

During a recession, it is inevitable that companies start looking to cut costs.  Oftentimes, when senior executives begin to get nervous, IT investments end up on the cutting board.  This economic anxiety has resulted in what we currently see, with mass layoffs within many organizations and major business changes.  However, few departments have the impact [...]

The first day on a new job can be very nerve racking, but it is important to remember that your first impressions can be lasting ones.  So how do you cool your nerves and ace that first day on the job?   First off, if you can, take a little time off before starting the new job [...]

We thought that this was a great compilation of 2009 research for IT professionals, so we wanted to share it.    This slideshow was published by www.networkworld.com and the original information can be found at http://www.networkworld.com/slideshows/2009/010509-salary-hiring.html. This information on www.networkworld.com also includes an interactive map where you can Get a regional view of hot skills and salaries here:  http://www.networkworld.com/slideshows/2009/010509-salary-hiring.html#slide8 Original source [...]

I had just graduated high school and was working at a small home improvement store running the cash register.  At this point, I really wanted to work in an office, answering phones, typing and filing Monday through Friday…no weekends for me since I was young and wanted the weekends free.  I asked a friend if [...]

I have job seekers on a regular basis approach me, asking if they should redo their resume. After a careful review, I’m impressed at how well they’ve put together the resume: aesthetically pleasing, solid hook, right level of detail supporting the hook, no gaps in employment history, etc. (By the way, if your resume is [...]