MBToolBox

Fools get respect and flexibility

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:51:08 -0600

No it's not an error in the title, fools really do get respect and flexibility at this multi-media company in Alexandria, Virginia. The Motley Fool's benefits are the epitome of a great way to attract qualified candidates to their company. We already know of companies like google which provide great perks to employees, but it's The Motley Fool's ability to describe these excellent benefits in their job listings that lure candidates to the site. I often get calls from employers who aren't receiving a good amount of resumes to their listings, and I notice a common issue with these ads: lack of company information. This can range from description of the actual field the company works in (type of company, clients, past awards, links to projects,etc.), to listing benefits and rewards for employees. Aside from Xbox, yoga, indoor soccer, free parking, pizza day, massage therapy, camping trip, and omelet & waffle day, The Motley Fool also offers flexible work schedule, matching 401K, and a NO vacation policy! Of course not all companies can provide such great benefits to staff members, but the point is to highlight any special compensation packages for employees. Even if a job title may seem like a great fit for a job seeker, it's just as important to find incentive to join a company and become a full-time member.

Image courtesy of Jupiterimages

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Last Last Chance = Hot First Novel for Fiona Maazel

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0600

Last Last Chance, the first novel from mediabistro.com instructor Fiona Maazel, is getting scads of attention. A recent Time Out New York article tracks the genesis of the novel along with its narrative threads, including a kosher chicken plant, a "superplague" infection and quarantine, addiction and rehab, and, P.S., reincarnation. This is the apocalyptic/hilarious yarn you'll be seeing people reading on the subway all summer.

We were at the book party last week, where Fiona's foreign mom, making a toast that provoked daughterly squirms of embarrassment, showed that she could also turn a phrase. Recounting how surprised she was to learn so much from her child's book, she exclaimed, "It is like the eggs teaching the chickens!"

Blurb alert: Newsday said great things about the book last Sunday, concluding that Fiona "has pulled off a remarkable feat of the imagination."

UPDATE: Glowing review in Sunday's NYT Book Review. "Last Last Chance isn't your average novel, thanks in no small part to Maazel's funny, lacerating prose."

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Not feeling too swell? Take the day off!

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:38:53 -0600

We've all done it, we still come into work even when feeling sluggish or stuffed up from cold medicine. Many of us want to "save" our sick days for dire emergencies or those perfect sunny days in the summer, but the productivity of work from employees under the weather can be negative AND more expensive for the company than frequent absences. It's called "presenteeism", and although employees are physically present at the office, the efficiency of work isn't up to par - not to mention the chance of a contagious virus spreading to other co-workers.

Presenteeism is now associated with workplace-related stress. According to Dr. Ballard from the American Psychological Association, one-third of Americans are living with extreme stress, with 74% of respondents saying work was the main cited source of this stress - 15% above last year's results. Some large companies like GlaxoSmithKline and PricewaterhouseCoopers provide health assessments and discussion groups to alleviate struggles involved with workplace stress. Although these efforts can definitely help overall performance, taking a day off when necessary doesn't seem like such a bad option. After all, it IS better off for the company as a whole, isn't it?

*Image courtesy of Jupiterimages

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Hottest Places to Find a Job

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:47:54 -0600

It really is a bear market out there. The news this past weekend strengthened people's fear of a recession taking place, when JPMorgan purchased Bear Stearns. What was once considered one of the largest global investment and securities firm in the world, has now sold each share for $2 - a year ago it was $170 a share. There is still a lot of trepidation for further losses related to mortgage investments and people are preparing for any negative effects due to this, especially in job cuts. One great piece from ABCNews provides the five hottest places to find a job in America despite the slowing economy. Texas took 3rd and 5th place with booming job growth in Austin and Fort Worth for teaching, construction, and technology. Atlanta, GA and Wichita, KS also made it to the list for jobs in accounting, aircraft/petroleum, and health care, but Salt Lake City, UT was placed as the #1 hottest place to find a job, with many positions in nursing, education, and banking. It doesn't hurt to be have a backup plan in case there are blows to the economy, especially to those unfortunate ones who might have placed all their eggs in one basket.

*Image courtesy of Jupiterimages

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Web 2.0 - New Features for Recruiting

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:26:39 -0600

We all know how stressful job hunting can be, settling for any mediocre job doesn't seem to cut it in the long run. Hiring an individual for a company is not an easy task as well. Although attractive on paper, a candidate may not be the best fit once you meet him in person. A simple search for job titles and criteria does not mean that the position may suit you the best. As popular online sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn started helping recruiters find top talent, there are improved recruiting tools now offered, which can change the way companies hire potential job seekers. Kevin Wheeler from ere.net lists the hottest trends for 2008, including interactive websites that allow companies of any size, the chance to build a great recruiting website. Standout Jobs created Reception, a suite of web-based tools to power companies' online recruiting efforts. A company can showcase its culture and team through videos, blogs, pictures, and other applications. Aside from marketing jobs and company profile, Reception also features an applicant tracking system. Instead of sending a resume to a database, an intimate relationship is built between you and the job seeker.

Image courtesy of Jupiterimages.

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A Guide to Layoff Survival

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:41:53 -0600

Although America witnessed one of the greatest games in Super Bowl history, it seems like that's the only thing looking up in our country's morale. The crisis in the sub-prime mortgage industry as well as a downward trend in the employment index resulted in quite a few layoffs in all sectors of the economy. According to the Monster Employment Index, January Index for Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Occupations was down 15% vs. January 2007, and down 9% vs. December of 2007. So how do you survive an unexpected job cut and get back on your feet to find employment? Fastcompany.com provides a guide to layoff survival, from dealing with the job loss to getting back in the game of job hunting, the article breaks down the essentials of turning a tragedy into an opportunity.

Image courtesy of Jupiterimages

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Finding the Best Method for High Retention

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:39:38 -0600

"People don't leave companies; they leave managers." This was a statement that 55% of survey respondents agreed to on Yahoo! HotJobs annual job satisfaction survey Additional studies from the survey indicate that 43% of workers would take a new job in 2008 due to a dislike in a boss' performance. So how can companies create a better boss/employee relationship? The job satisfaction survey lists strategies that can improve communication and thus higher retention rates. According to Greg Smith, President of Chart Your Course International, part of creating a retention strategy within a company is to train managers or higher level executives on how to develop and provide performance improvement coaching. Questions or surveys to each employee can provide the best feedback and individual attention. If you're in need of a little guidance, Smith also provides a free retention course that may help boost employee confidence and provide great tips on creating the best model for high retention within your company.

Image courtesy of Jupiterimages

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A Little White Lie Can Harm Your Career

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:13:25 -0600

It's a competitive job market out there, and it comes as no surprise that resumes sent from job applicants may at times be slightly embellished or exaggerated. This may include listing certain skills you don't have or listing past experiences that may not have occurred. Although it's easy for an employer to miss them amid the massive pile of resumes in a database, there are more managers who actually catch these lies and end up dismissing the prospective candidate because of it. Careerbuilder conducted a survey that resulted in 57% of hiring managers finding a lie on a candidate's application, while 93% of managers who caught an applicant lying on his/her resume did not hire that person. An article from The Christian Science Monitor states that many employers do actually investigate whether or not an applicant received a bachelor's or master's degree. If there is faulty information in a resume, the article says that managers should give applicants the opportunity to respond to any discrepancies. The main advice given to job seekers was to be honest because lying can come back to haunt you.

Image courtesy of Jupiterimages

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The Next Process for Recruitment

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:50:54 -0600

Although resumes on print/web are still the standard means of applying for a job, video resumes don't seem too far behind. Sites such as YouTube allow people to post video resumes for the public to view. Video resumes have become a great tool for job seekers and employers alike, providing another way for individuals to include a creative touch when applying for a position. Career related websites such as CareerTV also post employer videos along with video resumes so that potential candidates can go online to learn about the actual company that they are interested in applying to.
A concise but informative video stating one's experience and background can be the pre-screening process before actually considering a face-to-face interview. But not everyone agrees that video resumes are the best source to find new recruits. A TIME article states that some employers are worried that legal issues might interfere with using video resumes as a recruiting platform, candidates may claim bias based on race, gender or age. While there are valid arguments to support such a case, video resume creation is just another step towards the online culture we live in today. It's a matter of adjusting to a new method that may completely take over the hiring procedures of most companies some time in the future, and paper resumes will seem like something from the past.

Image courtesy of Jupiterimages

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Social Networking 101 for Recruiters

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:17:41 -0600

Online networking sites aren't just for social use anymore. Internet applications such as Facebook offers users to advertise a company or product. People can even become a "fan" of your page, allowing your users to view updates, photos, videos, etc. Facebook also offers social ads, where users can connect with a brand or business and target a specific audience. Employers can use this tool to advertise for a position and keywords can be used to drive traffic to the right demographic. You can also view the actual numbers behind the traffic, performance metrics are offered in Facebook Insights

mediabistro's page on facebook

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mb instructor Lizzie Simon (Detour) on Memoir, Mental Illness, and MTV

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:47:57 -0600

This summer, I took a mediabistro class. My writing had been on hold for too long, and I needed to see if I still had it in me. I settled on a memoir course taught by Lizzie Simon, whose book Detour I had read and loved.

One week into class, I realized that writing a memoir was no easy task. The experience was raw and emotional, but I knew I was in safe hands right away. "I want everyone to know that I am not a therapist," Lizzie told us. "I am a writing coach who will help you in any way I can, but I am not here to diagnose you or judge you. I am here to make you feel safe and be a better writer."

I had a chance to ask Lizzie about her writing process and what it was like to tackle a difficult subject.

What made you want to write a book about bipolar disorder?

When I was diagnosed at the age of seventeen, there weren't any books available that came from a youth perspective and that communicated that you could not only survive mental illness, but also lead a healthy life. Mine was the first memoir about bipolar disorder by anyone under forty. I was 23 when I wrote it.

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mb Instructor Alan Cross Breaks into Adult Movies

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:30:00 -0600

Generally we try to keep it clean(ish) here in blogville, but we're making an exception. mediabistro.com instructor Alan Cross is a writer and producer for the TV pilot Video Shmideo, the all-American tale of adult video store owner Alan Zick. The pilot was a hit at the New York TV Festival, where leading man Ali Farahnakian won Best Actor for his performance. Ali was one of the founding members of the Upright Citizen's Brigade, and owns The People's Improv Theater (aka The Pit).

The pilot is here. You can also view new episodes on Channel 102. Every month, a lineup of shows submit episodes; a live audience votes to renew some, and the rest get the axe.

Currently, Alan is writing and producing a syndicated radio program for Paul Shaffer from The Late Show with David Letterman.

Alan can help you write funny-clean or funny-dirty. His TV Writing: Sketch Comedy class starts Tuesday, November 6.

RELATED:

TV Writing: Sketch Comedy - starts Tuesday, November 6 (New York)

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Your Comments on Commenting using Disqus

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:27:04 -0600

Y Combinator's Disqus launched today. The form to add your comment below is constructed using Disqus. How do you like it?

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Ed2010 Tells You How to Get the Promotion You Deserve

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:06:42 -0600

You got your job on mediabistro.com. Now Ed2010 tells you how to get promoted.

EdSchool Presents: Get the Promotion You Deserve

Want to know how you can get your boss to see you in a higher position -- maybe even promote you into that spot? Come find out how. Betsy Stephens, health and relationships editor at All You magazine (formerly of Fitness, Ladies' Home Journal, and Cosmopolitan) has been promoted five times in her career. She'll tell you how you can get out of that assistant editor role.

Part 1 (Nov. 6): What's Holding You Back?
You could be making career mistakes without even knowing it. Find out what you shouldn't be doing and how to recover from it if you are.

Part 2 (Nov. 13): 10 Tricks for Getting Ahead
Set yourself apart from the rest of the pack with these 10 simple tips!

Part 3 (Nov. 20): Salary Negotiation and Workshop
Getting a higher title, or even more money, is easy, we'll tell you what to say and when. You'll also be able to ask questions about your specific situation in this final session.

When: Tuesdays: November 6, 13 and 20 from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Where: We'll send you the address when you sign up.
How much: $200

Who it's for: Assistant editors wanting to move into the associate editor role, or anyone who wants to get ahead!

How to sign up: RSVP REQUIRED. Write to edschool@ed2010.com with the subject line PROMOTION CLASS. Tell us where you work, your position and how long you've been working there. You'll get an email back with the PayPal URL.

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Deborah Kanafani, Author of Unveiled and mb Instructor, on Writing Controversial Nonfiction vs. Controversial Memoir

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:16:53 -0600

Getting your nonfiction book published is hard. Getting it published when it deals with one of the most controversial topics of our time is even harder. Deborah Kanafani never intended to tell her own story. Instead, she set out to tell the story of the wives of Middle Eastern leaders in her upcoming book Unveiled, a first-hand look inside Middle East politics and culture that has already been hailed by critics as a must-read.

As a witness to the peace efforts between Israel and Palestine, Deborah was nervous about writing a book of this magnitude. "[In this book] I am trying to show peace efforts and present the path of peace as opposed to trying to point a finger," she says.

Deborah also knew that the many years she spent in the Middle East would allow her to present the human -- rather than political -- side of these often-overlooked women.

"My ex-husband was a high ranking diplomat, and I had spent many years with the wives of leaders, and I thought they had amazing stories to tell. No one knows what the women go through. I decided to tell their stories."

Like many authors, Deborah struggled with deciding whether to write a nonfiction book or a memoir. "I wanted to write about other people, but the publishers pushed for my own story to be the narrative thread, as an American that the reader could relate to. It was a difficult process -- I had to tell many different stories and incorporate various themes."

Deborah Kanafani will be teaching Nonfiction Book Writing in New York beginning October 25.

-- Dorit Feith

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