June 2012

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Why?

June 27, 2012 in Uncategorized by newresource | 4 comments

I started blogging in March 2011. I wanted to revitalize and resurrect my career from a cold icy grave that I help to put there with complacency. I take full responsibility. I never stopped loving HR; I just had no network or resources. I had no lifeline.

I developed CostofWork with 2 goals in mind; 1. Display my expertise and skills, 2. Help people.

People need the help of HR, individually and collectively within organizations. I’ve worked with plenty of HR professionals, some of them are sharp as a tact, and others aren’t. It’s not all their fault, some went to major universities with bad curriculums. Others really just would rather be doing something else. The rank in file employees, they really need help because many of them do not know…do not realize how fast things have changed.

Blogging is a business. It is valuable.

You can get lost in the business of blogging if you do not understand the point of your blog.  Are you blogging for money, blogging4jobs (what’s up Jessica?), blogging for the love of blogging, or to connect with others?

There are so many great HR blogs out there; I won’t even begin to list them because that would ultimately exclude someone and that sucks.

I’m done with labels. You can’t categorize, compartmentalize or marginalize me for easy reference. I’m an HR professional with skills, experience and a Master’s degree who will do whatever it takes to be effective.

Welcome to CostofWork, where I discuss HUMAN RESOURCE related subject matter.

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Trust Your Network

June 25, 2012 in SHRM, Social Media by newresource | No comments

Well for those of you that’s don’t know, the big SHRM (Society of Human Resources Management) National conference is happening in Altanta this week. Twitter is popping with pics, comments and 140 character summations of lecture speeches. So close but yet so far.

Looks like a blast and I’m loving all the action. HR is a fun bunch but I’m learning that they are a caring, generous bunch. When I announced I was not going to be able to attend, Jessica Miller-Merrell of blogging4jobs.com stepped up to try to help me make it. Then I received an email from Ben Eubanks and Dave Ryan sent me a test. All offering to try to get me to Atlanta.

FYI, when I discovered I wasn’t able to go to the conference I made plans and schedule some meetings here at home. What I should have done is told my HR network 1st but that whole foolish pride thing.

At any rate. Jump on Twitter and use the hashtag #SHRM12 and enjoy the SHRMy goodness.

 

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The Resume Reviews Are In

June 20, 2012 in hr fundamentals, HR principles, SHRM by newresource | 3 comments

I always do my best when working on a project because ultimately it’s my name and reputation on the line.

I’ve tweeted and blogged about my Resume Crusade and the importance of having attention grabbing, credentials that get results. That’s what I do. I create awesome custom resumes (no templates) and I love exceeding expectations. With that being side, I want to share some comments, testimonies and feedback by my recent  customers.

Pat said “Wow, that’s a million dollar resume…”

VJ said “I can’t believe it. I was skeptical at first but this exceeded my expectations, I am amazed”

Terry said “I am excited. Now I have the confidence to submit my resume”

Ron said “Oh my God, this is 100 times better than I could have imagined.”

Karen said “This is great, you can expect some referrals.”

Here’s a couple from Twitter

From ‏@CMJones7

  • @new_resource This man creates amazing resumes. Works closely with his clients to produce a solid product. Consider using Chris!.”

From @sewere

“Spectacular…” G.Mulch from PA

“Wow, I am in shock” D.J. from AL

“I had tears of joy when I saw my resume..” E. Picket from PA

Who’s next?

contact me: chris@costofwork.com or on twitter @new_resource

 

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Sign O’ the Times

June 18, 2012 in Business, HR Advice, hr fundamentals, SHRM, Talent Management by newresource | 6 comments

I write about “change” quite a bit. The ability to change with the times and roll with punches. One of the things that bothers me most is when some tells me that I need to do this or that because they have over (x) number of years of experience. I know life is the greatest teacher and experiences help you deal with a variety of issues. I know experience matters, but experience is just that, experience. You are not born with it. Someone gives you an opportunity based on your passion, skills, education, looks, or friendships. All these folks that say that they have 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 years’ experience in the game, well guess what, you didn’t always have it and quite frankly I’d rather hear about your skills.

In addition to blogging on CostofWork, SmartRecruiters, Project Social and PerformanceIcreate, I do a little career coaching and one thing that I’m noticing is how drastically different the interview process is now. When I was a younger man, I remember being told to wear a suit, do not wear too much jewelry or cologne. Your suit should be navy or a nice neutral color. I was told men should not wear earrings, because that’s employment death. I was also told tattoos were a no-no too. All that is out the window now-a-days.

I had a client tell me that she went into an interview and she was greeted by a younger man that had visible tattoos and was cussing like Chris Rock.  Yeah she’s heard it all before but usually not until she’s had the job and gotten comfortable with the co-workers.  I had another person tell me that they showed up for an interview in a nice blue suit and was told “Wow, you are overdressed.”

I recently discovered a company that strongly suggests you do not wear a suit when interviewing with them.

America is more casual, doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, just new. It’s a changing of the guard. Times are different and you need to be able to adopt. Keep an opened mind. The new world CEO may or may not wear a suite anymore. Look at Mark Zuckerberg, he’s CEO of Facebook, Bitch! (that was on his business card; at least in the movie) He wore a hoodie as he met with Wall-Street executives which set off a firestorm of controversy. Suits vs. Hoodies the headlines read. It’s a different world.

Don’t judge! It’s just a Sign of the Times.

Let’s Get Dirty

June 13, 2012 in Business, discrimination, Diversity, HR Advice, hr fundamentals, HR principles, SHRM by newresource | 3 comments

I like to offer practical advice from time to time. Sure, there are folks with more experience but I have been through a few things myself and sometimes I wished someone had prepared me for the real deal. I often times remember something one of my professors said back in graduate school, like “You will see a difference between what is practiced and what is procedural (In HR)…”  Man was he ever correct.  It takes guts to be in HR. It ain’t no easy “win” for sure. There are going to be times when you’re going to have to get dirty.

Good n’Dirty

We probably need to be featured on “Dirty Jobs” with Mike Rowe because you can get filthy. There are different types of dirt in HR; good dirt and bad dirt. Good dirt falls under the category of analytics and statistics. We need to maintain accurate numbers on things like cost per hire, costs of job posting, EEOC and affirmative action metrics, you know the compliance stuff.  You should also keep a record of salary, sex, race and age figures just to ensure you are not unintentionally violating federal laws. Getting to the bottom of those figures takes time and usually the person in charge neglects them and it gets get to be too much to manage. And if you can’t prove otherwise you leave yourself open to law suit.

Bad Dirt

Then there is bad dirt, we have talked at length about sexual relationships, in appropriate hiring decisions and special favors. The organization and HR is implicit in these acts and unfortunately it takes a major embarrassment like with the former CEO of BEST BUY or former Head Football Coach of the University of Arkansas to get people to do the right thing. These guys didn’t carry on these affairs by themselves, many people enabled in their libidinous behavior. There’s also drug use. Workers are bringing their dirty habits into the office; smoking weed, using pills and even crack…sadly it happens. It’s scary I know, but you will encounter this type of dirt, and my best advice is to remember “The job of HR is to protect the company” and that means you must protect it from itself.

Clean Up

There are tough decisions to be made; people to terminate, layoffs or restructuring.  There are some aspects that we wish we didn’t have to worry about but that’s with any career. I love the fact that by and large we do our jobs (HR) so well that everyone thinks they can do it too. They rely on instinct but we know instincts alone will not make a successful HR practitioner.  You have to know the laws, weigh the pros and cons and get a little dirty sometimes; just don’t wallow in the muck like a slob.

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