Every business site has articles about managing up or managing your boss, but they’re usually a bunch of lightweight tricks for manipulating weak-minded people. And while there are plenty of dysfunctional managers who might fall for that stuff, the vast majority are at least moderately savvy and capable.

In other words, not only do they not need to be managed, tricked, or manipulated, they’ll likely see right through your transparent games. More importantly, they won’t be very pleased with you.

So, if you want to screw up your chances of getting somewhere, by all means, play all the games and tricks you like. Come to think of it, you may get somewhere. Canned.

If, on the other hand, you want to learn how to really manage up, keep reading. You see, where I come from - the real management world - managing up means two things, as we discussed in 10 Things That Good Bosses Do:

• Keep management off employee’s backs. Most people don’t get this, but the most important aspect of that is giving management what they need to do their jobs. That’s what keeps management happy … and away from you.
• Take the heat and share the praise. It takes courage to take the heat and humility to share the praise. That comes naturally to great bosses; the rest of us have to pick it up as we go.

Now, if you want to avoid pissing off your boss and being perceived as a complete waste of cubicle space, benefits, and headcount, you’d better pay attention to these …

10 Ways Not to Manage Up

1. Try to manage his expectations. As an executive, nothing annoyed me more than knowing that an employee was trying to manage my expectations. All your manager wants is your genuine assessment of the situation: how much it’ll cost, how long it’ll take, the probability of success. He’ll take it from there.
2. BS or sugarcoat the truth. Same as the above.
3. Promise the impossible. Opposite problem as above, same result. If you make promises your management knows you can’t deliver on, it’ll destroy your credibility and that’ll be the end of your potential.
4. Tell him what you think he wants to hear. That may work for a time, but in the end, you’ll fail to deliver, the truth will come out, and the game will be over. Managing an organization or leading a company is a long-term deal; Band Aids and quick fixes don’t work.
5. Make everything about you. Business is about beating the competition, winning customers, and keeping them happy. Business is about business. If you take the drama queen route and try to make it about you, management will write you off as a PITA.
6. Make excuses. Nobody cares. Nobody wants to hear it. Whining is annoying and doesn’t age well. Don’t do it.
7. Try to get chummy. Sure, sharing a personal anecdote or two is fine; most managers enjoy getting to know their people. Just don’t overdo it by trying to “get in bed” with the boss. Nobody likes being manipulated.
8. Kiss her you-know-what. I don’t care what anybody says; good managers and executives do not want their butts kissed. They want people to do their jobs and help them do theirs. That’s pretty much it.
9. Waste her time. These days, everybody’s overloaded, everybody’s on 24×7, everybody gets too much information. Time is everybody’s most precious commodity. Don’t waste hers.
10. Say, “trust me.” “Trust me,” “believe me,” “listen to me,” here’s the problem with that. If your boss really does trust you, he’ll wonder why you keep saying that and probably stop trusting you. If he doesn’t trust you yet, you can’t compel him to. You have to build credibility over time. Either way, it’s bad.

Look, you might be able to manipulate a really dysfunctional boss with a giant-sized ego that’ll lap up any BS you shovel his way. But the vast majority of managers and executives are just trying to run a business or an organization; they’re not interested in playing games or being managed. Not even a little. So don’t do it.

Source: BNET

“My job search is stuck in the mud. I know I need to fix it, but I’m feeling overwhelmed and I’ve got no energy left. I’ve tried everything, and nothing seems to work.” Does this ring true for you?

The simple truth is: hunting for a job can be tiring, demoralizing, and frustrating. I often encounter people who have internalized their inability to find work as a sign of personal failure. Confidence and self-image suffer. As that happens, it becomes increasingly difficult to present the optimistic, energetic “can do” persona that employers seek.

We all hear the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to get work. One of the reasons for this is employers are looking for you, Mr. / Ms. Jobhunter not to be jaded, tired, and “down.” And, they fear that the longer you are out of work, the more likely it is you won’t have the vim and vigor they seek.

There are things you can do to [r]energize your job hunt. This list is hardly exhaustive, but it is a good start:

1. Remember getting a job — is a job. Treat it with the same sense of professionalism that you would bring to any employment. Show up on time every day. And, at the end of the day don’t feel guilty about packing the work up, and transitioning to “personal” or “family” mode. As with any job, it is important to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

2. Clarify your goals and envision success. Imagine yourself in the surroundings of your next job, and then embrace the job hunt as the necessary process to get you there. Make the effort to understand where you are most likely to add value to a potential employer. What are your strongest achievements, areas of expertise, and personal qualities? Think about not just what you would like to do, but about the kinds of jobs and corporate/work culture that are most akin to your background. These are all elements of defining your target. Once your goals are clearly defined, you can begin to move ahead in a purposeful and meaningful fashion.

3. Recognize and confront your self-imposed roadblocks. Are you frozen in place by a fear of possible future failure? Many people have experienced so much rejection that they are afraid to have any more piled on. Such feelings are real, and they need to be acknowledged. Sometimes inaction can be a psychological defense mechanism. It is important, however, to understand that inaction is a certain road to the status quo. Try to move forward every day – even if you only do one or two small “baby step” things that can help to build up your self-confidence.

4. Break out of your isolation, maintain “people contact,” and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Figure out who are the members of your support system – your family, friends, other job hunters you meet at networking groups, members of your church or synagogue and so on. Talk to them on a regular basis. Tell them what you’ve been up to, what seems to be working, and what seems to be frustrating you. Make them part of your team. Ask for their feedback and advice. Help them to help you by creating a context of “us” instead of “me.” And of course: seek a good job hunting coach who can understand and relate to you, and provide both guidance and the occasional “kick in the pants” when it is called for.

5. Balance your job hunting activities. You can’t be everywhere, all the time. Strive to create a balance over the course of a week or two in a cycle. If you think of your search for work as a job hunt, then imagine each tool or tactic as one arrow in your quiver. You need a variety of arrows including: informational interviewing; attending professional meetings and seminars; social networking utilizing LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter; writing your blog, etc., etc. However important online activity has become, remember that social networks are but the means to the end of building personal relationships. Nurture your relationships both in the real and virtual worlds.

6. Stay focused and use your time wisely. People who work out of their homes often say that one of the biggest challenges they face is managing their time. It’s easy to be distracted by kids, pets, housework, TV, internet, computer games, and so much else! Organize your day and week in advance. Create an hourly schedule and stick to it by setting alarms on your computer calendar or wherever they will best be seen and heard.

7. Practice, practice, and practice some more! Rehearse out loud your elevator speech and prepare answers to interview questions which you can anticipate. For example, don’t allow yourself to be flummoxed by opening queries like, “Tell me about yourself.” Did you know Larry Bird, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, shot 1,000 baskets EVERY DAY! He was great because he understood the need for constant repetition and skill building.

8. Maintain your mental & physical health. Eat healthy. Exercise at least 3 times each week. If it’s been a while since you exercised with any regularity, start slow and gradually build yourself back up. Get those endorphins flowing and you will look better, have more energy, and feel better about yourself.

Source: careerealism.com

Most people start their jobs with the best of intentions, never thinking they could be fired. After all, that’s a fate reserved primarily for incompetents and workers caught with their hand in the company till, right? Wrong. You might not realize just how slippery the slope out the door can be.

To guard your job security, be sure to avoid the 10 common pitfalls on this checklist from Jennifer Star, a New York City-based corporate recruiter and trainer:

1. Lying on Your Job Application or Resume

Tell the truth from the start, because you will be held responsible for the information you provide — and your employer will check it. Generally, educational background checks can take up to a month after hire. “I recently had a candidate fired from a large financial company after being there for a month, because she lied about her educational background,” Star says. “This woman did not need a degree for her editorial assistant position but said that she has one anyway — and one month later when the cat was out of the bag, she was immediately let go.”

2. Being Indiscreet About Your Job Hunt

If you are in the market for a new job, don’t send your resume from your office computer, which most likely is monitored by IT. Assume your instant messages (IMs) and emails are fair game as well.

3. Gossiping

You never know who is listening, and in cubeland, walls really do have ears. The safest bet? Keep gossip to yourself, and never repeat anything you hear. Winding up on the wrong side of the rumor mill can cost you more than somebody’s trust; it can mean your job.

4. Taking Too Many Personal Calls

Spending much of your work time orchestrating your own personal business usually results in being given an opportunity to spend all of your time on the phone on personal business — looking for a new job, Star warns.

5. Drinking at Work

One of the quickest ways to be shown the door is drinking too much at lunch and walking into a wall. Maintaining your own clarity is extremely important. Staying on top of the mountain of details that go into making a business run smoothly requires focus — and sobriety.

6. Surfing the Web Excessively

Spending much of your workday cruising around cyberspace puts you just a point-and-click away from unemployment. And checking adult-oriented Web sites on the job is a definite no-no.

7. Becoming Romantically Involved with the Boss

While it may make for great water-cooler discussion, a boss/direct-report romance can easily end with someone out of a job. (Hint: It’s usually not the boss.)

8. Forgetting to Double-Check Your Figures

When working with numbers, scrutinize your work carefully. One stray zero could make the difference between being employed and unemployed, advises Star.

9. Alienating Your Coworkers

To do your job effectively, you’ll need the cooperation, support and good will of those around you. Becoming detached from those you work with could get you replaced with someone who can work well with others.

10. Pointing the Finger at Everyone but Yourself

Take ownership of your job. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Don’t try to sweep your mistakes under the carpet — or worse yet, blame somebody else — because the truth will usually come back to bite you on the bottom line. And nobody wants to trust or employ a liar, says Star.

Source: career-advice.monster.com

Many employers have found a new way to save time screening applicants. Today, more employers are first resorting to a telephone interview before inviting a job candidate to an in-person meeting. With more applicants available for each opening, employers do not have the time to invest in a meeting for every candidate that simply looks good on paper, so the telephone interview is used to screen a candidate and determine if he sounds as good as he looks on paper.

Some of these phone interviews may include standard questions that ask about facts, such as your experience and any specific skills you have. However, there are also employers who dive right into some of the most challenging questions, such as giving you a scenario and asking for your response and plan to handle the situation described.

As a job applicant, there are benefits and disadvantages to a phone interview. Some people are well-spoken and are great on the phone, but in person, their nervousness gets to them. Some are more comfortable speaking in-person and lack personality on the phone. Under both situations, it can be a challenge when you don’t have feedback that may typically appear through face-to-face contact.

Regardless of the situation, you need to put your best voice forward to leave the employer with a good impression. This may be the only shot you have at getting a step closer to securing a job offer with them. Remember that the employer may change their mind about inviting you in for an interview if you fall short of their expectations or leave a negative impression on the phone.

Note that in a phone interview, your intonation is most important in how you come across, so you should be energetic and enthusiastic and change your tone to better engage the interviewer. You should also be prepared to ask some basic questions, although save the big ones for a formal interview.

Take the tips offered here to help put your best voice forward and further advance on an opportunity to a job offer.

• Treat every call you receive as an interview. Phone interviews may not always be scheduled. An employer may call you to respond to your submitted cover letter and resume, and the moment you pick up the phone an interview may occur right then. Most employers will be courteous to first ask you if this is a good time, but that does not always happen. So, if you believe there is a chance an employer may be calling, be prepared by providing a professional greeting on your voicemail or when you pick up. Also be conscious of what the caller may hear in the background if you pick up the phone. If it’s not an appropriate time or place to talk, let it go to voicemail, but try to call back immediately when it is more appropriate for you to talk.
• Talk enthusiastically. Since the interviewer will not see your face, all they have to work off of is the voice you present, so make sure it sounds enthusiastic and energized with confidence. Try keeping a smile on your face as you talk and be aware of your tone and pitch so you do not come off sounding monotone.
• Watch your words. Keep a “can do” attitude when you talk. It will leave a more positive impression than if an employer were to hear, “I can’t,” “I don’t,” or “I haven’t.” Also be conscious of how you speak, to avoid the “ahs,” “errs” and “ums.” You can come across as unsure of yourself and lacking in confidence.
• Use a clear line. Many people list their cell phone number on job applications, cover letters and resumes, which is fine, as long as when the phone is answered you are under good reception. If you are the one initiating the phone call, use a landline to avoid static or dropped calls. Also important is finding a quiet location where you will not be disturbed or distracted.
• Be prepared as you would when you attend an interview in person. Keep in mind points that you can use to help explain how your previous experiences or skills make you a good fit for the open position. Also, always have questions in mind to ask during the interview that show your interest and desire to work with the company. Don’t forget to also keep your resume, a sheet of paper and pen on hand. You’ll need these items for reference or to take notes while on the call.
• Find out next steps. Interviews, whether in-person or over the phone, should end with an understanding of what the next steps are. If it was not covered, be sure to ask. The employer may also view this question in a positive way that you care about this opportunity and have a desire for it.

Remember, phone interviews deserve a follow up thank you note or e-mail to the individual(s) you spoke with – just as you would do after an in-person interview.

Treat phone interviews as important as a face-to-face interview. The impression you make on the phone will also be taken in to consideration when the employer is trying to decide between you and another candidate for the position.

Source: CAREEREALISM.com

The best nonprofits to work for exhibit similar characteristics — the same ones that people look for when they decide to find a nonprofit job. These are the core qualities of great nonprofit organizations.

The NonProfit Times publishes an annual list of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For, and Opportunity Knocks publishes an annual list of those nonprofits that garnered its Best Nonprofit to Work For Awards.

Looking through both lists and the accompanying reports I found some key characteristics of those nonprofits that ranked high. I’ve compiled a list of the qualities that the employees of these nonprofits value about their organizations, and a list of the employee benefits that are cited most often. It is clear to me that these nonprofits are examples of the best workplace environments.

How Great Nonprofits Make Work Meaningful and Fun for Their Employees

• Open and transparent; strong and focused corporate culture.
• Employees have confidence in the leadership of their organizations.
• Employees believe that they have enough authority to do their job,s and that they have a stake in their work.
• Foster a sense of mutual respect.
• Build a sense of community and family among staff.
• Help employees experience the joy in helping others.
• Communicate how each employee’s contribution makes the work of the organization possible.
• Provide opportunities to relax and socialize. Examples include retreats, potluck dinners, recognition awards, holiday parties, athletic tournaments.
• Make the work environment competitive yet fun.
• Foster work/family balance and make employees feels cared for.
• Environment results in employees willing to give extra effort to help the organization succeed.
• Environment has a distinct personality or spirit that invigorates employees.
• Encourage new ideas, solicit ideas, reward ideas.
• An emphasis on learning.

Typical Benefits to Employees Who Work at Great Nonprofits

• A sabbatical system.
• Dental plans
• Retirement plans such as 401(k) and 403(b).
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Onsite fitness facilities or help with memberships at outside facilities; on site weight loss classes; walking clubs; free blood screenings and flu shots.
• Healthcare insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Flexible scheduling of work hours; opportunities to work from home; carpooling services.
• Family care time off.
• In-house hiring and promotions.
• Short and long-term disability programs.
• Generous vacation time.
• Bonuses that can be added to salary or used for professional resources.

Check out the lists of best nonprofits to work for. Some might be in your area. Even if they are not, the attributes that make these nonprofits attractive can serve as a template for evaluating any nonprofit that you might consider as a future employer.

Source: About.com Nonprofit Charitable Orgs

Preparing for an interview can be a nerve wracking experience. Fortunately, there are some ways to prep for it which will let you ace the interview. While these may seem like strange pre-interview routines, they actually do work and will help you to land the job of your dreams:

Look at Facebook

This is actually two strategies in one. First of all, check your Facebook profile out and make sure that your own profile is set to private and there are no embarrassing photos of you tagged on the site. If there are, untag yourself from those photos and ask your friends if they would please refrain from tagging you. If possible, get the photos taken down. Double check as well that status updates you’ve posted aren’t embarrassing. If they are, delete them.

While this won’t completely remove the record of those photos, it does make it harder to find. That in turn means if you ace the interview, your interviewer is less likely to find embarrassing material online which will make them think twice about calling you back for a second interview.

The second half of this technique is to find out the name of the person who will be interviewing you and look up their Facebook profile. Get as much information as you can about the person since this will be helpful to you to throw into the conversation when you are meeting with them. Showing an interest in something the person is interested in is a sure way to get yourself remembered out of the hundreds of interviews the hiring manager has to conduct.

Prepare a Folder to Fiddle With

Yeah, it sounds strange, but this is a great pre-interview technique that can come in handy. Often, you will be asked to wait for a few minutes before your interview. Most times, it’s just because the person interviewing you is busy or wants to make you feel as if you aren’t the most important person for them to meet. However, on occasion, this is actually a test. They will secretly observe you to see what you do when you are waiting to be interviewed. If you have a folder with your papers in it, you can spend the time appearing to organize yourself so you ace that test.

Put Water Behind Your Ears & On Your Wrists

This is actually something to do just before the interview. Duck into the bathroom and dab a few drops of water behind the ears and on your wrists. These are areas where you have major arteries and some experts claim by putting water in those locations you can help to calm your nerves by cooling down quickly.

Write a List

This one is actually not such a strange pre-interview routine, but it does work wonders. You’ll inevitably be asked to tell the interviewer about your proudest achievements, your best qualities and your worst qualities. Most people just wing it when they walk into the interview. However, since you know these things are likely to come up, pre-empt them by making yourself a list of things you can answer. Just make sure to pause for a moment when answering so it appears natural and not rehearsed. Speaking of that…

Rehearse in Front of a Mirror

While a common pre-interview routine is to rehearse by having a friend or family member go through a mock interview with you, a strange pre-interview technique which actually does work wonders is to rehearse on your own in front of a mirror. Your face will often speak louder than your words, so you want to take the time to make sure when you answer questions, you don’t telegraph you aren’t comfortable answering those questions. By rehearsing in front of a mirror, you can avoid that problem completely.

Source: CAREEREALISM

Career experts share winning strategies that many workers overlook.

By Chris Kyle

Want to get ahead in your career?

Tired of treading water at work?

Looking for professional success?

To help you find your stride at work, we asked career experts to share their best tips on getting to the top.

Keep reading to learn more about successful strategies that many workers overlook…

Career Tip #1 - Slow Down

Instant messenger, iPhone, Twitter. These are tools to help us get what we want, whenever we want it.

As much as we’d like to tell you otherwise, a successful career plan isn’t a quick click, tweet, or phone call away. It takes time and patience to develop the proper blueprint.

Deborah Brown-Volkman, a certified career coach in Long Island, New York, says that most people are speeding up in today’s fast-paced world when they should be slowing down.

“Many people feel like they want something new and they want it now,” Brown-Volkman says. “They hop. They go to a new job and it’s no good so when a recruiter calls, they go to another new job.”

Brown-Volkman tells clients that they need to take a step back and figure out their long-term vision.

In other words, slow down and take a deep breath. That’s our first tip and it’s also the first step to putting together a successful career strategy.

Career Tip #2 - Unmask Yourself

Curt Rosengren, a Seattle-based career coach and author of “101 Ways to Get Wild About Work,” says that any successful strategy starts from within.

“If you look at the percentage of people who are truly engaged and happy with their work, the statistics are pretty meager,” Rosengren says. “For too many people, getting up and going to work is putting on a mask. It’s putting on a costume.”

Rosengren tells his clients that their long-term success is tied to finding and pursuing their true talent.

“When you are trying to do something that isn’t what you’re naturally built to do, you may be able to do it well but you’re not going to be able to sustain it for nearly as long,” Rosengren says. “The quality of your experience is going to be significantly less than something that is in line with who you really are.”

“Bottom line: you can never be anyone else half as well as you can be you,” Rosengren says.

Career Tip #3 - Focus

In archery there’s no way you can hit your target without focusing on it first.

Every other pursuit in life is the same, whether it’s archery, accounting, or web design.

This is the stage where you need to focus, says Brown-Volkman. “You need to get clear on what you want.”

“It involves some work and perspective and it’s not always comfortable to look at yourself, but without having a destination or asking yourself what you want, your plan is not going to be effective.”

Brown-Volkman says the number one mistake people make is skipping this step.

When identifying your goals, don’t be afraid to get greedy. Think of it as a career wish list.

Already know what you want? Good. You’re ready to move on to our next career tip…

Career Tip #4 - Start Planning

Once you understand where it is that you want to go, it’s time to plan how to get there.

Rosengren says this may involve taking a class, reading a book, or asking friends and co-workers for advice.

For people experiencing financial hardship, Rosengren recommends pursuing a parallel track.

“I’m not a fan of saying that everything is daisies and tulips and sunshine when things are hard,” Rosengren says. “But I’m also not a fan of saying that things are tough now so I have to focus 100 percent of my attention on how to get through this.”

Rosengren tells clients to strike the right balance for their plan. “Maybe the vast majority of your time should be focused on getting that next paycheck and there is a percentage of time - maybe it’s just 10 percent - that you can use to start moving in the direction that you want to go. That’s okay.”

Going back to school, whether it’s part-time, at night or online, may be a good option for people who want to pursue a new career or promotion without giving up their day job.

Finding the right school or degree program involves the same tips we’ve talked about. Figure out what you want and then plan how to get there.

Career #5 - Go For It

Congratulations are in order! Yes, yes. We know. You’re not at the finish line quite yet, but you’ve come a long way and there is reason to celebrate getting this far.

You figured out what you want and you put together a plan. Now you need to go for it.

“Here you need to talk to people and network,” Brown-Volkman says. “Even if your goal is a promotion, you need to talk to your boss and your co-workers. Ask them how you are coming across. Find out what you need to differently.”

If you’re introverted or afraid, this step requires a leap of faith.

“Many people have a perception of what other people are going to say,” she says. “That holds them back. Most people are their own worst critics.”

Just keep in mind that the most important part of this last step is your commitment to seeing it through.

“Don’t stop and don’t give up,” Brown-Volkman says. “Most people don’t get what they want because they stop and a lot of times what stops them are their thoughts. But if you have a clear vision and a clear plan and you are implementing your plan on a regular basis, you will be successful and you will get what you want.”

Source: YAHOO! Education