Advice

LIVE CHILLING AT WORK? Maybe not yet, but with approximately 80 million teens to young adults heading to the American workforce over the next decade, this may become a familiar work expression for leaving video chat apps open with friends or colleagues. Generation Z is a term used to describe people born between roughly 1996 and 2010. Not to be confused with their older, employed millennial colleagues, Gen Zers are either just entering the workforce or still in school. Here are four characteristics to look for in Gen Z interns, entry-level workers and future co-workers. READ MORE

SANDWICHED BETWEEN BABY boomers and millennials, Generation Xers were born between 1965 and 1980 and represented 53 million workers in 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A little-known fact is that the term Generation X came from a sociological book on American class structure titled “Class” by Paul Fussell. Gen Xers make up the second-largest portion of the current workforce and are known for an entrepreneurial mindset and work hard, play hard thinking. Given the volume of employees in this category, understanding Gen X in the workplace is a topic of great importance to their managers, their co-workers or entry-level employees who work under them. Here are four common Gen X characteristics. READ MORE

DOES THE EMPLOYMENT grass look greener elsewhere? Low unemployment, the need for higher compensation and a seemingly endless amount of career opportunities have led to an increase in employee turnover in new jobs. At the same time, this heightened competition for talent can lead to inflated compensation promises, glorified job descriptions and interview processes that aim to woo potential new hires more than give a realistic picture of the challenges of a specific role. And, sometimes, people just don’t pick a winner of a new job. READ MORE

ROLLING THE DICE ON your career when you could be playing cards instead? It is not that career selection and professional development should be taken as lightly as a game, but many people are at a loss for how to pursue meaningful career growth and satisfaction at work. This lack of clarity leads to “paralysis by analysis” (i.e., you think too much and do very little about it) or just taking whatever comes to you – instead of pursuing defined targets. READ MORE

“CONGRATS, YOU’RE hired!” When you hear these exciting words, you’ll likely also encounter a job offer letter.

An offer letter is typically a good faith effort by an employer to provide clarity regarding the position for which you just spent months interviewing. Yet it is wise to remember that this is a legaldocument, often designed to protect the interests of the employer.

It is very tempting to just get it signed so you can move forward with a new opportunity. However, you have the most power before an offer is signed, so it is imperative that you review and understand this employment agreement. READ MORE

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU remember Shalamar’s ’70s hit “The Second Time Around.” According to the lyrics, when it comes to romantic love, “the second time is so much better, baby.”

The same can be said of job interviews, too.

Modern companies should use multiple rounds of interviews in the hiring process, according to “Power Moves,” a book by psychologist Adam Grant, professor at the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. Second interviews help hiring managers discern whether job seekers are genuinely qualified instead of simply well rehearsed. Candidates with fake or hyperbolic answers will likely have a difficult time maintaining that façade over the course of several conversations. READ MORE