Be Empowered
Below are insightful articles for your career development: 'The Company You Work For Is Not Your Friend' on self-advocacy, the importance of networking in job hunting, gender disparities in job applications, managing non-promotable tasks, strategies for job applications in a selective market, and tips for strategic career transitions. For more info, contact arturo@goamaru.com.
Job Seeker Articles
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Discover the stark reality of the corporate world: your employer is not your ally, but a business where you're merely a resource. Learn the crucial art of self-advocacy and the importance of always seeking new opportunities. Embrace the power of a robust professional network and recognize when it's time to move on for better career growth
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This article highlights the critical role of networking in the job market, where up to 70% of jobs are filled through connections rather than public listings. It underscores the importance of social capital, especially for young people, in navigating a shifting labor market and overcoming inequalities in professional networks. The piece also explores initiatives like mentoring and technology platforms that are bridging the network gap, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds to access better career opportunities and advice.
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This article addresses the common belief that women only apply for jobs when they meet 100% of the qualifications, a contrast to men who apply at 60%. Research indicates this disparity is not due to a lack of confidence, but rather a misperception about the hiring process and adherence to job qualifications. The article suggests that women, often more rule-abiding due to socialization, may benefit more from understanding the flexibility of hiring criteria and the importance of networking and advocacy in job applications.
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Though non-promotable tasks (NPTs) are often crucial to an organization’s success, they rarely contribute to an employee’s career progression. Women are not only 48% more likely to volunteer for these jobs, but they are disproportionately assigned them. Next time you’re asked to do an NPT, give yourself some time, and use it to carefully evaluate the consequences of taking on the work.
Consider the “implicit no” of saying yes. When you agree to help another team streamline their workflow, for example, you are implicitly saying no to another, potentially more visible, project or activity.
Weigh the urgency of the task. A task with a short deadline will trump a task with a longer one, no matter how insignificant it is. Taking on too many NPTs with with short time horizons, however, will likely distract you from longer-term initiatives that are more valued by your organization.
Evaluate the indirect benefits of the NPT. Some NPTs are good to take on, as they might help you gain knowledge, develop skills, or connections that you can leverage later on.
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This article delves into the current difficulties faced by job seekers, where some find themselves submitting over 500 résumés without success. It highlights the shift from the Great Resignation era to a more employer-centric market, with companies being more selective and extending the hiring process. The piece advises job seekers to reassess their approach, refine their résumés and LinkedIn profiles, and adopt a more targeted application strategy rather than a scattershot approach, to increase their chances of securing a job.
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Career transitions are tough. Many of us have trouble imagining a new role that’s dramatically different from the one we have. And once we make a move, it’s hard to do so smoothly. Herminia Ibarra is here to help. The London Business School professor has come to realize just how challenging career moves are, and she has ideas on how to improve the odds. Ibarra was our guest on an episode of HBR’s “The New World of Work.” A native of Cuba, she earned her MA and PhD at Yale. She was a faculty member at Harvard Business School and INSEAD before taking on her current role, as a professor of organizational behavior at LBS. The conversation focused on career transitions, which she believes have a far better chance of working out when people are strategic about them. Also discussed: networking and her somewhat controversial take on “authenticity” in the workplace.
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In the United States, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a job applicant because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, national origin, citizenship status, or disability. There are federal and state laws in place to prevent discriminatory employment practices. The following are some illegal interview questions along with related questions that are legal and a discussion of how to respond to them.