Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips Appearances are often deceiving. As managers, we know this, but… A long, long time ago, I was sitting in a chair against the wall in a meeting. The important persons were huddled around the meeting table discussing what important persons discuss around meeting tables. To this day, I have no idea what […]

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by Dwayne Phillips Please don’t ask job seekers to do something for you. That is work that has monetary value. we all know what it is to give someone money before they do their job…bribery. The recruiter or hiring manager asks, “Please write a one-page essay (short computer program, simple design, webpage for fictitious company, […]

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by Dwayne Phillips Employers often ask job seekers for stolen property. Please don’t do that. It happens frequently. The employer’s recruiter or hiring manager asks the job seeker, “Can you show us some source code (proposals, web pages, white papers, designs, etc.) that you’ve done previously?” That’s an innocent request. That’s a good request. Let’s […]

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by Dwayne Phillips Shortage of qualified applicants? A myth. Here is one of the explanations. Sorry if this exposes what you wear under your kilt. There is a shortage of… qualified programmers qualified analysts qualified engineers qualified qualifiers that is why we want more fill-in-the-blank-with-magical-government-magic. Listen to what companies say: “We can’t find qualified fill-in-the-blank-persons.” […]

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by Dwayne Phillips I have seen this in people often, especially when looking in the mirror. Not off to a good start, but let’s try to pull something useful from this. We all tend to do what we like and avoid what we don’t like. Not surprising. I like ice cream. I hate paper cuts. […]

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by Dwayne Phillips About to be replaced by a machine? We must add value. In some cases, employers must allow us to add value. Amazon recently made news with a grocery store that has no cashiers. Wow. How convenient for the shoppers. Wow. There go a bunch of jobs as all the cashiers who weren’t […]

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by Dwayne Phillips The first explanation of what “not a good fit means.” I apply for a job. I interview face-t0-face with a team of persons. Several days later I receive the form email stating, “sorry, you are not a good fit.” What does that mean? I have two main explanations. This post will give […]

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by Dwayne Phillips Okay, I’m an old man. Nevertheless, can persons in the workplace show some respect to one another? As I write this, I remain unemployed. There is always hope for a 50-something with a few job skills (advanced degrees, certifications, books published, etc.), but it is tough. One request for those interviewing the […]

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by Dwayne Phillips I am again disappointed in job titles, but at least I learn some new lingo. Architecture = Design (noun) Architect (noun, person) = Designer (noun, person) Solutions Architect = Solutions Designer (well, that else would you design but a solution?) Then we have the verb form… to architect =  to design (verb) […]

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by Dwayne Phillips I have been interviewed for jobs several dozen times in the last three years. Most “interviews” became free consulting sessions. The past three years have not been good for me and working at paying jobs. I am over age and over qualified. At least I soothe my feelings by telling myself these […]

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