Ask the Experts: Answering Great Questions from Job Seekers
One of the pleasures of managing a team of talented, dedicated employees is seeing one of their ideas take root and flourish. Case in point: content coordinator Candice Arnold recommended that we resurrect our Ask the Experts questions and answers feature using our blogging software and integrating it with our customer relationship management software, Salesforce.com.
Candice's vision was quite an upgrade over how we used to do it: email the questions to the couple of dozen experts, receive their answers back in the bodies of their emails and sometimes attachments, copy and paste their answers into html templates, and upload the web pages. The entire process took hours for our staff and the experts. The new process has saved everyone a ton of time and led to a ton of great answers by the experts who choose to address the questions being asked by students searching for internships, recent graduates hunting for entry-level jobs, alumni, and employers.
Each week, Candice sends out an email through Salesforce to the experts who have agreed to answer questions. None answer all of them. Some answer a lot and others answer a few. The choice is theirs. Here's the email that Candice sent earlier today:
I hope you're doing well. Thank you for contributing to CollegeRecruiter.com's Ask the Experts blog. Below, I have listed the five links and questions that I have posted for this week.1. My company offers a telecommuting option and I'd like to try it. What do I need to know about working from home that will help me make a successful go of it?
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/ask-the-experts/general/successful-telecommuting/index.php
2. I have two employees who argue with each other constantly, yet the nature of their jobs requires that they work together sometimes. What can I do to resolve this?
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/ask-the-experts/general/no-bickering-allowed/index.php
3. I work in a hospital that is a little short staffed, so occasionally someone needs to work double shifts to cover for co-workers who call off or go on vacation. Lately, it seems as if I'm the only one working double shifts. I'm single and don't have any children so any time our supervisor asks for someone to volunteer to work a double shift, I step up if no one else does. After six months of this, I'm starting to feel resentful. Should I just start looking for another job or have a heart-to-heart with my supervisor first?
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/ask-the-experts/general/overworked-and-overwrought/index.php
4. I just got hired to work for a company that requires its sales associates to be "open to a little traveling now and then." What I didn't know is that a "little traveling" meant two or three trips oversees for anywhere from 3-12 weeks at a time. When I asked about this during the interview, the hiring manager actually said, "Oh, you'll only be required to travel two or three times a year ... on average." (a technically true statement) He said that some years I wouldn't have to travel at all, so I thought it would be all right. Now, I feel duped and stupid. Is there any way that I can fix this without going out to look for another job? I don't like the idea of being away from my family for two or three months at one time.
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/ask-the-experts/general/too-much-business-travel/index.php
5. What are some things I can do to save money on college expenses? I have already applied for FAFSA and scholarships and other financial aid; I want to know what I can do to save on the overall cost, please.
http://www.collegerecruiter.com/ask-the-experts/general/is-there-a-way-to-lower-colleg/index.php
Please feel free to answer as many questions as you like. There is no time limit, so it's all right if you answer within two minutes or two months.
If you want your name to serve as a link back to your Web site or blog, you can do so by filling in the URL field above the comments form. If you would like your title or company name to appear with your name, please include it in the name field and it will look like the following example: Candice Arnold CollegeRecruiter.com.
If this is your first contribution, be aware that your comment will have to be approved before it appears on the blog. There is no need to log in. Simply click on comment anonymously, fill out the fields above the comments box, then post your response.
You will receive a new set of links and questions each week. If at any time you feel that you are no longer interested in or capable of participating, just let me know and I will remove your name from the mailing list.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me should you have any questions, concerns or difficulties. It's my pleasure to help in any way I can.
Sincerely,
Candice M. Arnold | Content Coordinator
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CollegeRecruiter.com | College Career Connector
Selected by WEDDLE's as a Top Job Board 2007, 2008 and 2009"
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Web: http://www.CollegeRecruiter.com
Email: Candice@CollegeRecruiter.com
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If you'd like to participate in our Ask the Experts feature, please contact Candice. You'll love working with her.
As a home-based career coach and writer for 25 years, I have learned some life lessons, which may be helpful.
1. Have a plan for your computer and other equipment, in case it's not working. In most organizations, there is someone to take care of it. Who will your support team be for your in-home office? I figured out that it was helpful to have my own "Geek" squad (in my case, husband who's an IT guy and a local IT "shop"). I also purchased a backup laptop, have two monitors, two printers, etc. The point is to make sure that if things aren't working you're not out of commission. Backups is another good idea.
2. Watch distractions. Now, it may sound funny, but it's not! I literally work 2 feet away from a refrigerator. There were days when spurts of writers' block or frustration from a business challenge took me to that fridge. 15 pounds heavier I got it. I now make sure I get up and move every hour, even if it's only for 5 minutes. I work a walk or some other 30-60 minute exercise in during my day. This is my job and although flexible, I have set work hours and set breaks. I'm maintaining my goal weight and feel great! AND I'm focused on the tasks at hand!
3. #2 brings up #3. I struggled with work life balance for years. I worked at home on my own hours. I think you can be harder on yourself than others are. I found myself working literally from 4 a.m. to midnight during some of those years. AND I thought I should be the mom on the school field trip, volunteering on committees, etc. You have to set boundaries. Pick some priorities outside of work that don't pull you too far away in too many directions. Try hard to have family dinners or family times. Make a date night with your spouse or significant other. Exercise. Set times when you're not allowed to answer your phone or look at your Blackberry. And stick to it!
4. Depending on your situation, working from home can get lonely. Make sure you have people interaction. Perhaps you can go in to the brick and mortar office at designated times. Pick up a file; show your face. I worked totally solo and had customer interaction, but no colleague interaction. My solution was to become active in industry organizations, go to conferences, share on e-lists, contribute where I could etc. It will be different for everyone. But it's back to a healthy balance that includes self-care and interaction. The interaction is also important to push your envelope. Sharing ideas, being challenged, etc. will help you stay current on your industry's best practices. You will stay competitive.
Best wishes with whatever you decide!