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job market

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Using a Rival Offer for Leverage? Be Careful

A worker with an enjoyable job at a good company feels underpaid, especially now that someone else is offering more money. Here’s how to proceed without getting caught in a bluff.

July 6, 2018

Job Market

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A Protégé Behaves Badly. Should You Remain His Mentor?

A colleague you have been guiding at work suddenly behaves unprofessionally and disappoints you. Should you give up or stick with him, despite misgivings?

June 1, 2018

Job Market

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Your Job Is More Intense. Your Pay and Title Haven’t Kept Up.

You’ve been asked to take on a higher-level role. But any decision about a formal promotion has to wait “a few months.” Here’s how to start that conversation right away.

May 25, 2018

Job Market

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Casual Office Chatter Gets a Colleague in Trouble. Now What?

An employee’s conversation about a colleague’s vacation accidentally put both of them in a sticky disciplinary situation. Here’s how to minimize the damage.

May 12, 2018

Job Market

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A Pilot Who Has Broken 2 Glass Ceilings

Stephanie Johnson is the first black woman with the rank of captain at two major airlines, Northwest and Delta, her current employer.

March 16, 2018

Job Market

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Finding Art in the Gut, and Other Unexpected Places

As the curator at the Esther Klein Gallery in Philadelphia, Angela McQuillan creates exhibitions that connect visual art with science and technology.

March 2, 2018

Job Market

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When to Mention the Kids

A job seeker worries about whether to disclose that she has two young children. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here is the best way to think about the decision.

February 23, 2018

Job Market

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Keeping a Bag at the Ready for When She Gets the Call

As a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, T. Bella Dinh-Zarr visits accident sites to try to prevent future mishaps.

February 9, 2018

Job Market

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Software that Crunches Numbers Needs Personality, Too

He loved doodling as a child. Now he creates animated squirrels and other images for an accounting software company.

February 9, 2018

Job Market

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Protecting Your Reputation When You’re Ready to Go

A top manager is preparing to leave an organization she set on a good course. What if her successors foul things up and blame her?

February 2, 2018

Job Market

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Between Mosquito Bites, Getting the Lay of the Land

Tara Hartson, a surveyor in Ellsworth, Me., battles bugs in the spring and freezing winds in the winter to make sure properties are correctly defined.

January 27, 2018

Job Market

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Curating Band-Aids, Both Modern and Vintage

As chief historian for Johnson & Johnson, Margaret Gurowitz organizes and maintains its museums, physical and virtual.

January 19, 2018

Job Market

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Based at Home, and Excluded from the Action in the Office

A work-from-home gig for an expanding company seemed like a great opportunity, until a new manager started leaving remote employees out of team meetings. Now what?

January 19, 2018

Job Market

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Bringing Ballet Pros Relief, Down to the Tips of Their Toes

An entrepreneur turned to Instagram to market shoe inserts to principal dancers at the New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.

January 12, 2018

Job Market

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When You Take a Promotion, but Still Want to Move On

Just when you were gearing up to switch to another field, colleagues persuade you to stay on in a fancier role. Big mistake? Now what do you do?

January 5, 2018

Job Market

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Keeping People Safe in New York City Emergencies

When official alerts from the city arrive via Twitter, text, email or mobile app, Taylor Winkler is often the one sending them.

January 4, 2018

Job Market

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The Trouble With Anonymous Feedback

Including critiques from unidentified colleagues into the annual performance review process can make that dreaded ritual even worse.

December 8, 2017

Job Market

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Please Don’t Make Me Ask for Another Recommendation

Soliciting recommendation letters is an archaic way of assessing character and accomplishment. We can do better.

December 1, 2017

Job Market

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A Boss Wonders: Have You Prayed About That?

A manager’s inquiry about praying over an office situation raises concerns about personal boundaries and religious rights in the workplace.

November 24, 2017

Job Market

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Milling 66 Acres of Oats (Every Hour) Without a Hitch

With the help of a “run right” board and a conveyor for traveling between floors, a shift lead keeps processes at Quaker Oats running smoothly.

November 17, 2017

Job Market

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The Fine Art of Tuning a Corvette’s Sound

The purr and the roar of a powerful car doesn’t just happen. It is a composition, a combination of art and engineering.

October 13, 2017

Job Market

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Despite Challenges, Holding Down a Job at McDonald’s

He had a brain injury when he was 8 but has come a long way. He works happily, walks to his job by himself and lives in an apartment with a co-worker.

September 29, 2017

Job Market

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Richelieu Dennis of Sundial Brands on Building a Business vs. a Career

The chief executive of a beauty products company says an organization can’t be constructed by focusing on titles and promotions.

September 22, 2017

Job Market

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Serving the Community, Working for Microsoft

A community development specialist employed by Microsoft tries to help people, especially children, while using the company’s products.

September 15, 2017

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How to Plan for a Major Career Change

Sometimes deciding to quit is the easy part. But then what?

September 15, 2017

Job Market

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Kenneth Ziegler of Logicworks on Embracing Dysfunction

The chief executive of a cloud-management company says that as long as people don’t think they’re more important than the team, he can work them.

September 15, 2017

Job Market

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Daniel S. Schwartz of Restaurant Brands International on the Value of Hard Work

The C.E.O. who runs Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes says he is looking for a specific answer when he asks, “Are you smart or do you work hard?”

September 8, 2017

Job Market

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When Colleagues Won’t Stop Talking Politics

What to do when political chatter at the office stresses you out.

September 1, 2017

Job Market

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Jason Fried of Basecamp on the Importance of Writing Skills

The chief executive of a project-management software firm says that a priority in his hiring process is determining whether a candidate can write well.

September 1, 2017

Job Market

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Bringing Information Technology to Construction Job Sites

A digital app is bringing blueprints to the phones and tablets of construction workers. On-site training makes the transition easier.

August 31, 2017

Job Market

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Cotton, Cigars and Copy: Southern Style in the ‘Garden & Gun’ Office

A magazine’s chief executive shows a flair for design and makes her guests feel welcome.

August 25, 2017

Job Market

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Restoring the Furniture at the St. Regis

His father began teaching him the trade at 12 in the Dominican Republic. Now, he’s the staff upholsterer at an elegant New York hotel.

August 18, 2017

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Deciding When a Mentor Is a Mentor

Is your boss less than helpful? Cultivate a manager who gives helpful feedback that the boss doesn’t.

August 18, 2017

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Engineering Happiness at Zappos

His job is to design activities that keep employees smiling — and loyal to the company.

August 4, 2017

Job Market

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A Mobile Office for Farm-Based Dinners Travels the Country

An artist and chef finds a way to indulge both his passions, with the help of a crew and an old bus.

July 28, 2017

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Overcoming an Embarrassing Slipup From Years Ago

You believe you’re being punished for a past mistake. But you can fix it.

July 21, 2017

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An Office Built Around Hip-Hop

Steven Victor, senior vice president for artists and repertoire at Universal Music, has set up his office with a nod to the recording industry’s past.

July 14, 2017

Job Market

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Roaming the Desert, in Search of Rare Plants

A botanist explores the Great Basin and Mojave deserts of Nevada.

July 7, 2017

Job Market

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Everything Old Is New Again, and Vice Versa

The co-founder of a marketing and advertising agency blends media memorabilia with contemporary technology, while a steam train whistles outside.

June 30, 2017

Job Market

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How to Turn Challenges Like Deafness Into Gifts

For many people with challenges like deafness, Down syndrome, autism and schizophrenia, finding a job and succeeding at it isn’t always easy. But it’s possible.

June 23, 2017

Job Market

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When You’d Rather Not Be a Reference

A friend re-entering the work force wants your endorsement, but your feelings are mixed, at best. Here’s how to proceed.

June 23, 2017

Job Market

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A Sleek Manhattan Office, Softened by Family Mementos

High above Bryant Park, plenty of personal touches and reminders of craftsmanship from the past make a stark space more homey.

June 16, 2017

Job Market

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Stuck in the Middle (With Good Ideas)

Friendships at work are wonderful, but they can cause problems when you feel obligated to solve issues that aren’t your responsibility.

June 8, 2017

Job Market

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Working While Traveling Around the World

Combining wanderlust and a steady job can be done for a year, with planning, permission and at a cost.

June 8, 2017

Job Market

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Why I Wrote This Article on Malcolm Gladwell’s Keyboard

Lucky objects can help us perform better if we are fond enough of them. The author’s computer keyboard seemed to fit the bill.

June 2, 2017

Job Market

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Using Economics to Address Inequality and Poverty

Economics informs and guides policy making. One practitioner says, “Don’t give up your idealism, and try to find the best way to promote your ideas.”

June 2, 2017

Job Market

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Finding Meaning in Health Crises

A hospital chaplain counsels people in the throes of medical emergencies, unexpected diagnoses and end-of-life decisions.

May 25, 2017

Job Market

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Welcome Aboard! And by the Way: I Quit

A manager wonders about the ethics of recruiting new workers while simultaneously pursuing a job elsewhere.

May 25, 2017

Job Market

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The Zen of Dying

A nurse at the Zen Hospice Project tries to offer a higher level of quality and attention, helping dying people live fully right up to the end.

May 19, 2017

Job Market

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When Power Makes Leaders More Sensitive

Control doesn’t always corrupt. With cultivation, it can make leaders more compassionate.

May 19, 2017

Job Market

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Cows, Horses and Forklifts

The assistant farm manager does a little bit of everything: allocating assignments, vaccinating cows and driving trucks, along with riding horses for fun.

May 12, 2017

Job Market

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What to Do When They Won’t Email Back

An author is promised information to help with book research, but doesn’t get a response after repeated emails. What to do?

May 12, 2017

Job Market

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In a Law Office, Coping With a Boss’s Toxic Trail

She worked for a powerful lawyer who could be charming when he chose, but who also inspired dread.

May 5, 2017

Job Market

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Boring Job? Not to Him

When you’re a social butterfly, punching buttons in a windowless box can actually be fun.

April 28, 2017

Job Market

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Seeing Signs that a Career Detour Was the Right Choice

An aspiring writer comes to realize that a largely unrewarding stint in retail was actually meant to be.

April 21, 2017

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Cracking the Language Code

A software engineer originally wanted to be a doctor, but fell in love with coding when she took a course in it at Princeton.

April 14, 2017

Job Market

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When a Potential Employer Seems Unnervingly Nosy

A job applicant wonders whether to sign a document giving a company permission to to seek information on his past work habits and salary.

April 14, 2017

Job Market

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I’m Not Texting. I’m Taking Notes.

Generations are different, and for digital natives, what looks like wasting time may actually be doing research or something else productive.

April 7, 2017

Job Market

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Lots of Room to Write About Self-Storage

A blog editor follows trends in his industry and communicates them through things like articles, listicles, quizzes and videos.

April 7, 2017

Job Market

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Bringing Industrial Artistry to His Work

A machinist who develops fixtures says his job involves both creativity and efficiency.

March 31, 2017

Job Market

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Providing a Haven for the Homeless

A counselor in New York offers assistance to troubled L.G.B.T. youth, many of whom are estranged from their families.

March 24, 2017

Job Market

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At a Therapeutic Ranch, No Payday Until Later

As a troubled teenager, he wondered: Why are my parents paying a big bill for me to perform hard labor?

March 24, 2017

Job Market

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Life With Dad, the Funeral Director

Before the age of 12, he had seen about a dozen dead bodies. Not the usual childhood, but he had learned early on what lies ahead for all of us.

March 10, 2017

Job Market

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An Ethnographer of Cancer Care for IBM Watson

A researcher for IBM analyzes interactions among medical professionals and cancer patients.

February 24, 2017

Job Market

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Healing the Health Professional

An addiction counselor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation says her job allows for creativity and spontaneity.

January 27, 2017

Job Market

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Instead of Leaving a Job, Why Not Take a Pause?

More companies should allow unpaid leaves so workers can take stock of their career path, a Google employee argues.

January 27, 2017

Job Market

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Talent Scout for Cadences

Need a raspy male voice? A female French accent? A voice-over casting director can help.

January 20, 2017

Job Market

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In Choosing a Job, Focus on the Fun

Research shows that people place too much importance on salary and promotion when making career choices.

January 13, 2017

Job Market

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Running Focus Groups for Berries

A sensory analyst at Driscoll’s explains that getting people to buy fruit is about much more than taste.

January 12, 2017

Job Market

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The Cosmetics Creator: Blending Art and Commerce

Charlotte Tilbury created her company after working with the makeup artist Mary Greenwell and developing products for Armani and Alexander McQueen.

January 6, 2017

Job Market

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When a Writing Opportunity Knocks, Answer

A budding novelist learns the wisdom of taking a chance on wacky opportunities.

December 16, 2016

Job Market

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A Treehouse Builder Who’s Having a Ball in the Branches

Joe Davino, of Tree Top Builders, says he appreciates having a construction job where he can climb maples and oaks and work suspended from ropes.

December 9, 2016

Job Market

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Don’t Quit Social Media. Put It to Work for Your Career Instead.

Patrick Gillooly of Monster takes issue with Cal Newport, who recently urged professionals to quit social media. Mr. Gillooly says the career benefits far outweigh the pitfalls.

December 3, 2016

Job Market

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A Women’s Advocate Who’s Passionate About Progress

Natalie Gonnella-Platts heads the Women’s Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, which promotes access to education, health care and economic opportunities.

December 3, 2016

Job Market

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Keeping the Electricity Grid One Step Ahead of the Storm

A senior preparedness administrator for Baltimore Gas & Electric plans out how to get the lights back on after wind, snow, rain and ice have done their worst.

November 26, 2016

Job Market

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Quit Social Media. Your Career May Depend on It.

Our increasing addiction to the constant stimulus of updates, likes and posts is damaging our ability to concentrate deeply and focus on work that matters.

November 19, 2016

Job Market

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Serving the Hungry Where Al Capone Once Served Bootleg Cocktails

Paul Henrys, the chief financial officer of Feeding America in Chicago, works in the Jewelers Building, which once had a speakeasy in its cupola.

November 12, 2016

Job Market

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Putting Together the Engines That Help Big Birds Take Wing

Jessica Duke is a jet engine mechanic at Pratt & Whitney in Connecticut. An aunt who worked for Delta Air Lines encouraged her early interest in aviation.

November 12, 2016

Job Market

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Preventing Factory Explosions by (Safely) Blowing Stuff Up

Jenny Chao, who tinkered in the garage as a child, is a mechanical engineer specializing in industrial explosions for a commercial property insurance company.

November 5, 2016

Job Market

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Want Co-Workers to Vote Your Way? Then Stop Pestering Them

Studies have shown that people tend to consider unsolicited advice as a threat to their free will, and they will often protest by doing the opposite.

November 4, 2016

Job Market

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Bossy vs. Buddy: Two Leadership Styles, Each With Its Place

Some managers lead by dominating employees; others try to win them over. But the most effective leaders deploy the style best suited to the situation.

October 29, 2016

Job Market

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Antique Teddy Bears and an Artist’s Trash: An ‘Art Dork’ in Her Element

Emily Weiss earned an art degree, but instead of becoming a starving artist, she got an insurance broker’s license and assesses works by major art world figures.

October 29, 2016

Job Market

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High School Pushover No More: The Power of the Polo Shirt

A heavy, awkward girl dressed in the uniform of her summer job at a convenience store overcomes her shyness to stand up to a wealthy, cool classmate.

October 22, 2016

Job Market

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A Film Technician Who Discovers Gems in the Outtakes

Willem Barneveld, a film technician and curator at Pro-Tek Vaults in Burbank, Calif., sometimes comes across footage that no one has seen in 80 years.

October 22, 2016

Job Market

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What Went Awry at Wells Fargo? The Beaten Path of a Toxic Culture

Employees at the bank and other companies that have been involved in scandals get their cues from what management signals, not what it says.

October 8, 2016

Job Market

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A Ship Inspector Who Brings a Bit of the Barre to the Bilge

Helen Gault, an apprentice inspector who reviews the welds in submarines and aircraft carriers, has found similarities between shipbuilding and ballet.

October 8, 2016

Job Market

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Conflict at Work? Empathy Can Smooth Ruffled Feathers

Researchers found that forgiveness was more likely to occur when a victim actively empathized with the person who inflicted the perceived harm.

October 8, 2016

Job Market

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Between the White House and the Capitol, a Slice of California

Edith Ramirez, chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, has brought hints of her West Coast background to an office with views of the Capitol dome.

October 1, 2016

Job Market

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The Curative Power of Water, Waders and a Fly Rod

A lifelong fly fisherman who finds tranquillity when he wades into a stream shares his elixir with visitors to a wilderness resort lodge in Colorado.

September 24, 2016

Job Market

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What I Learned From a Stroke at 26: Make Time to Untangle

After a stroke at work, an employee at a venture-backed start-up learns to adjust his professional priorities and take a break from the daily sprint.

September 24, 2016

Job Market

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A Linguist Helping Apps Learn to Speak Millennial

Marsal Gavalda, director of machine intelligence at the social network Yik Yak, works on a system that analyzes users’ posts for patterns and emotions.

September 10, 2016

Job Market

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A Robot May Be Training to Do Your Job. Don’t Panic.

Robots that can recognize emotions are in development, and they could someday move into roles reserved for humans. But it’s an opportunity, not a threat.

September 10, 2016

Job Market

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Peter Naylor: A Sun-Drenched Cubicle, but Hardly the French Riviera

Mr. Naylor, senior vice president for sales at Hulu, the television streaming service, often travels for work and this year went to a festival in Cannes, France.

September 3, 2016

Job Market

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A Warrior Against Junk Mail at Yahoo Looks Out for Mom, Too

An anti-spam architect helps define the design and structure of Yahoo’s email system to root out spam without blocking any emails from your mother.

September 3, 2016

Job Market

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Discipline, Detail and Devices That Work the Way They Should

Raul Matias is a quality assurance engineer for Wink, which makes an app that allows people to monitor and control devices in their home.

August 27, 2016

Job Market

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Putting John Deere Mowers to the Test

Terry Reed, a field test manager at John Deere, tests grounds equipment, including residential and commercial riding lawn mowers.

August 20, 2016

Job Market

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A Caregiver for New Books About Nursing

Margaret Zuccarini, a publisher for Springer Publishing, draws on her years of experience as a nurse to find qualified authors and market their work.

August 13, 2016

Job Market

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Sisterhood Is Not Enough: Why Workplace Equality Needs Men, Too

Some leaders have moved past women-only conferences and motivational speeches aimed at improving the status of women in business and are now engaging men in the effort.

August 13, 2016

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Bjoern Fischer of Stihl: Chain Saws and the ‘Sound of Freedom’

Mr. Fischer, president of Stihl, which makes saws, trimmers and leaf blowers, says he doesn’t mind the roar of jets from a military base near his office.

August 6, 2016

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A Rabbi Who Keeps Things Kosher at Manischewitz

Rabbi Aron Yonah Hayum, plant manager and rabbinical supervisor at Manischewitz in Newark, makes sure that food adheres to Jewish dietary requirements.

August 6, 2016

Job Market

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A Fund-Raiser Planting Seeds to Improve Young Patients’ Lives

Rachel Wobschall builds relationships with donors to Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare to help fund treatment for children, teens and young adults.

July 30, 2016

Job Market

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How to Deal With a Foreign Colleague Who Can’t Say No

In some countries, saying no is rude, so you may not be able to count on a co-worker’s “yes.” Communicating globally requires adapting to such differences.

July 30, 2016

Job Market

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A Health Advocate in the Aisles of a Supermarket

Samantha Mark, a registered dietitian at ShopRite, gives tours of the store and works with customers to help them achieve their wellness goals.

July 23, 2016

Job Market

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A Secret Life With the Misfit Toys

A high school sophomore’s part-time job at an offbeat toy store taught her how to embrace life’s strange characters, leading to a career in journalism.

July 16, 2016

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A Lifelong Tinkerer Who’s Taking Robots to the People

Chetan Kapoor, director of technology for Yaskawa Innovation, is helping make industrial robots that accept simple commands instead of complex code.

July 16, 2016

Job Market

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At the Grand Canyon, a Mechanic’s Love Affair With Locomotives

Eric Hadder turned a childhood fascination with trains into a career maintaining a vegetable-oil-powered steam engine for the Grand Canyon Railway.

July 9, 2016

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The Power of ‘Why?’ and ‘What If?’

Knowing the answers used to be one of the rules of success, but companies are discovering that asking questions can help generate innovative ideas.

July 2, 2016

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Training a Team of Students to Tap Into the Public Mind

Brian McDonald, associate director of the High Point University Survey Research Center, and his staff poll North Carolina residents about various issues.

July 2, 2016

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A Patagonia Gear Developer Who’s Saving Lives in the Big Surf

Andrew Reinhart is helping Patagonia create a self-inflating vest that keeps big-wave surfers from being thrashed around underwater when they wipe out.

June 25, 2016

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Stephanie Hill: Wings, Wigs, Silk Roses and a Little Heavy Artillery

Ms. Hill, the president and general manager of ship and aviation systems for Lockheed Martin, livens her office with mementos and bits of technology.

June 12, 2016

Job Market

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A Knife Sharpener Who Went From the Garage to the Grindstone

Curt West uses grinders and polishers to put a razor-sharp edge on about 200 pocketknives a day. He says his eye for detail came from fixing auto bodies.

June 11, 2016

Job Market

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A Breast Cancer Patient Who Also Wears a White Coat

After a double mastectomy three years ago, Dr. Lori Wilson, a cancer surgeon and researcher gained a new insight on what she was asking of her patients.

June 4, 2016

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As a Special Effects Expert, He Blows Things Up Carefully

When a television show calls for a car, or anything else, to blow up, Mike Myers finds the best and least dangerous way to make it happen.

May 28, 2016

Job Market

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In Desperate Pursuit of the Zero-Stress Job

Stress had always seemed to be the lifeblood of a fruitful career, but a hormone condition rendered it a threatening trigger to be avoided at all costs.

May 21, 2016

Job Market

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Testing the Bounds of Faith in Little Yemen

A Bible-school dropout faces doubts in a job teaching English as a second language to Muslim women in an immigrant enclave of Dearborn, Mich.

May 7, 2016

Job Market

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A Young Logger With Deep Roots in the California Timberlands

A newly graduated forestry technician enjoys the sense of continuity that comes from playing his part in the business his family started 70 years ago.

April 30, 2016

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Achieving Mindfulness at Work, No Meditation Cushion Required

An author explains how seeing problems from a different perspective may have a similar outcome as the Eastern approach of suspending thought.

April 23, 2016

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An Etsy Product Manager’s Do-It-Yourself Career Path

Hard work and a willingness to learn help an English major succeed at a tech start-up that helps artisans sell handcrafted goods online.

April 23, 2016

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Wielding a Soldering Gun to Give Panes Their Brains

Candy Urch installs wiring in windowpanes that adjust to various tint levels to allow customers to control sunlight without using blinds or shades.

April 16, 2016

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The Art and Science of Nit-Picking

A retired school nurse, recalling the chore of dealing with head lice, considers a second career at a growing number of salons dedicated to the problem.

April 9, 2016

Job Market

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Scouring the Dark Web to Keep Tabs on Terrorists

Alex Kassirer, an analyst at Flashpoint in New York, helps government agencies and corporations by monitoring jihadists and criminals in hidden corners of the web.

April 9, 2016

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Putting Virtual Reality to Work at the Tribeca Film Festival

Loren Hammonds, an associate programmer for the festival, helps select the event’s feature-length films and multimedia virtual reality projects.

March 26, 2016

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Ellen Richey: Falcons Out the Window and the Whole World on a Screen

Ellen Richey, a Visa executive, works in a serene office where she can watch the wildlife of San Francisco Bay as she helps oversee a global financial system.

March 19, 2016

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Brad Weston of Petco: A Haven for Frogs, Snakes, Lizards and Plenty of Dogs

At Petco headquarters, about a third of the employees take their pets to work, including the president, Brad Weston, who has two French bulldogs.

March 5, 2016

Job Market

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Counseling Organ Donors to Make the Perfect Match

Ms. McDonough, a nurse for 38 years, works with live kidney and liver donors, assessing their suitability, educating them and coordinating the process.

March 5, 2016

Job Market

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Abdifatah Mohamud: Captain of the Call Center

As a customer care supervisor, Abdifatah Mohamud mentors employees at Alliance Data Systems, which manages companies’ credit card and loyalty programs.

February 27, 2016

Job Market

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360 Reviews Often Lead to Cruel, Not Constructive, Criticism

The reviews, which solicit anonymous feedback from colleagues, are often poisoned by grievances that have nothing to do with job performance.

February 26, 2016

Job Market

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Building a Better Bidding War

Kyle Blaney is a logistics agent at Proxibid in Omaha, making sure online auctions go well, from posting photos for an inventory list to handling bidding for many buyers.

February 20, 2016

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Mark Dunkerley: Where You Can See Airplanes and the Aloha Spirit

Mr. Dunkerley, the president and chief executive of Hawaiian Airlines, uses his binoculars and other old-fashioned tools to stay on top of his work.

February 13, 2016

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Rafael Bosch: Sweets as Strength Training

As a candy maker for Hillside Candy, Mr. Bosch, 22, regularly lifts 145-pound batches of soon-to-be treats.

February 6, 2016

Job Market

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Leadership Means Learning to Look Behind the Mask

Encouraging employees to give you honest, even critical, feedback can help you develop new skills and be a better boss.

January 30, 2016

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Cordy Williamson: In Charge of the Branches

Mr. Williamson, an arborist at Duke Energy Corporation, identifies trees near transmission lines that need to be either trimmed or removed.

January 23, 2016

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The Unluckiest Captain in China

Playing a role as the voice of ships in distress for nautical trainees gives an American living in China a sense of absurdity, and acceptance.

January 16, 2016

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Drawing on Experience to Teach Independent Living Skills

An assistant program coordinator at the Helen Keller National Center teaches people who are deaf and blind to take care of their needs.

January 9, 2016

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Matt Borman of Harry & David: Putting His Heart Into the Harvest

The director of orchards at the fruit and gift retailer, who is responsible for the holiday pears, says he is drawn to growing things and to the people who work in agriculture.

December 26, 2015

Job Market

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James Blumenfeld of the Met Opera: The Delight Is in the Details

As property master for the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Blumenfeld oversees a huge range of stage objects, from settees to swords.

December 19, 2015

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Dennison Tsosie: Bearing the Torch, and Using It, Too

Mr. Tsosie, a silversmith, learned the trade from his grandfather and now makes jewelry and custom items, and paints. He lives in Alpine, Ariz.

December 12, 2015

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Anh Nguy: Research Is Her Recipe

Ms. Nguy creates food concepts for food companies and restaurants as a culinologist, or research chef, at Ingredion. She works in Bridgewater, N.J.

November 28, 2015

Job Market

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Bored to Tears by a Do-Nothing Dream Job

An overworked newspaper editor has his daydream fulfilled: eight hours a day at a desk, with nothing to do. But that dream turns into a nightmare.

November 21, 2015

Job Market

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Lexie Sachs: A Sentry for the Good Housekeeping Seal

In a lab, Ms. Sachs tests textiles, paper and plastics for manufacturers who seek the Good Housekeeping magazine seal of approval.

November 14, 2015

Job Market

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Coming Full Circle to Help Her Elders

A career filled with tough cases transforms a lawyer into a champion for the elderly, just like her mother.

November 7, 2015

Job Market

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Johnnie Riley: Spot Remover to the Stars

Celebrities and museums rely on Mr. Riley and his 40 years of experience in dry cleaning to keep their expensive clothing pristine.

October 31, 2015

Job Market

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Giving More Corporate Chiefs the Steve Jobs Treatment

C.E.O.s might lead differently if they believed that their achievements could land them in the history books or, as with Mr. Jobs, on the movie screen.

October 24, 2015

Job Market

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Dione Mason: All Work and Some Play

Mr. Mason handles administrative work for a child care provider by day, and coaches basketball for a nonprofit youth program in the evening.

October 17, 2015

Job Market

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An Alpine Antidote to Working Weekends

A job in Switzerland allowed a copywriter to put the life back in work-life balance but made it difficult for her to readjust to the American workplace.

October 10, 2015

Job Market

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Jeff Petersen Jr.: Rising to the Occasion

Mr. Petersen, 27, is an installation foreman for American Signcrafters in Islip, N.Y.

October 3, 2015

Job Market

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How Not to Be a Networking Leech: Tips for Seeking Professional Advice

If you want free career or business advice, show appreciation for the time that an industry professional gives you, and be prepared for your meeting.

September 26, 2015

Job Market

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Edie Jackson: Signer With the Band

Ms. Jackson performs alongside Widespread Panic and a few other bands interpreting lyrics and music for fans who are deaf or hard of hearing.

September 26, 2015

Job Market

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Terry Bowen: A Utility Player for the Elderly

As as senior center concierge, a former semipro football player takes on a range of logistical tasks to help make the residents’ days safer and happier.

September 19, 2015

Job Market

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Jenna Miller: Demystifier of Genetic Disorders

As a genetic counselor, Jenna Miller helps individuals and couples discover and come to terms with genetic traits that may affect their offspring.

September 12, 2015

Job Market

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Playing the Confidence Game

We take it as a truism that confidence is a prerequisite for success, and we struggle to look confident even when we are not.

September 12, 2015

Job Market

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Galloping Away to a Place Beyond Words

Every Thursday, a Spanish interpreter leaves the bustling city behind to spend an afternoon volunteering as a mounted National Park Service patroller.

August 29, 2015

Job Market

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Michelle DeFeo of Laurent-Perrier: A Toast to France in a Queens Loft

Ms. DeFeo, the president of Laurent-Perrier U.S., keeps hints of the champagne maker’s parent company and country of origin in the office.

August 29, 2015

Job Market

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Donal O’Conghaile: Shepherd of Free Samples

As an online community manager at Social Media Link, a marketing agency in New York, Mr. O’Conghaile oversees a group of Internet users who review clients’ products.

August 22, 2015

Job Market

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Jessica Jones: Sizing Up the Latest Fashions

Ms. Jones, 31, a fit model with True Model Management in New York, tells designers, among other things, whether brides could dance in their gowns.

August 15, 2015

Job Market

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Andrew Zirm: An Astrophysicist With a Down-to-Earth Calling

Andrew Zirm, 41, is a data scientist at Greenhouse Software, which sells a tool that allows companies to interview and analyze job applicants.

August 8, 2015

Job Market

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Dr. Stephen Klasko: Where Einstein, Jobs and Yoda Join Strategy Sessions

The president and chief executive of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, brings a passion for science fiction to his brainstorming.

August 1, 2015

Job Market

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Providing the Soundtrack for Life’s Last Moments

A harpist makes it her mission to use the strains of beautiful music to ease the strain of the final days for the dying and their loved ones.

August 1, 2015

Job Market

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Stephanie Pinto: Investing in Personal Growth

Ms. Pinto works as a fund administrator at the State Street Corporation in Boston.

July 25, 2015

Job Market

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It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Professional Foreigner!

An American who takes a job in China tries to play the hero for his frustrated colleagues and learns a lesson in changing company culture.

July 18, 2015

Job Market

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Mike Giannattasio of Montblanc North America: Finding Tranquility in an Urban Jungle

Mr. Giannattasio, the chief executive and president of Montblanc North America, says he collects pens because “the act of putting pen to paper conveys to recipients how important they are.”

July 11, 2015

Job Market

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Abigael Hoeschler: A Real Balancing Act

Ms. Hoeschler teaches logrolling in Minneapolis.

July 11, 2015

Job Market

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Nakia Letang: Inspiring by Example

Ms. Letang educates parents and prospective students about the college and admissions process at Fairfield University.

July 4, 2015

Job Market

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Baffled by Office Buzzwords

After an absence of a few years from the business world, a communications specialist confronts an unexpected and bemusing language barrier.

July 4, 2015

Job Market

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Joginder Kandola: Guardian of the Power Grid

Mr. Kandola installs, maintains and troubleshoots equipment in electrical switching stations and responds to bring back power in the case of a failure.

June 27, 2015

Job Market

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Teresa White of Aflac: Perseverance and Pachyderms, in the Tallest Building in Town

Ms. White, the insurance company’s president for United States operations, collects elephant artworks for good luck in her Columbus, Ga., office.

June 20, 2015

Job Market

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Support for Holocaust Survivors

Temmi Merlis, 27, tells of being a social worker with the Blue Card, a New York-based organization that assists Holocaust survivors.

June 13, 2015

Job Market

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Susan Axelrod of Finra: An Eye in the Sky Keeping Watch on Wall Street

Ms. Axelrod keeps the financial industry following the rules from her office on the 48th floor of a building in Lower Manhattan.

June 6, 2015

Job Market

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Keeping Shoppers Happy

Juan Carlos Linares, the general manager of an outlet mall in National Harbor, Md., on attracting customers to stores and then coping with parking.

May 30, 2015

Job Market

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Stitching Up Fuzzy Friends

As the “bear doctor” at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Nancy Robert takes care of the stuffed animals mailed in for repairs.

May 16, 2015

Job Market

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Scrutinizing an Employee’s Suspicious Sick Day

A supervisor questions a direct report for calling in sick on the day she was asked to make a presentation in the supervisor’s place.

May 14, 2015

Job Market

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Veterans Battle for Jobs on the Home Front

Outdated résumés and misconceptions about mental health issues are some of the hurdles former service members face when they’re looking for work.

May 9, 2015

Job Market

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The Sweet Science of Syrup

Paul Weyant of Crown Maple in Dover Plains, N.Y., helps maintain a complex system of taps, pipes and tubes used in producing maple syrup.

May 9, 2015

Job Market

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Making Machines Work

Sean Hopkins, 26, is a reliability engineer at the design and manufacturing company Dyson. He is based in Chicago.

May 2, 2015

Job Market

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Colleagues Addicted to Tech

New co-workers surf the Internet up to half of the workday, but what looks like slacking could be part of some people’s natural process to help them think through problems.

April 16, 2015

Job Market

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A Crash Course in Two-Wheeled Survival

A bike courier in Manhattan finds a community of other cyclists and service workers in the city’s swarming and occasionally slippery streets.

April 11, 2015

Job Market

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Taking On Vertical Challenges

Jonathan Temple, an elevator mechanic for the Liberty Elevator Corporation in Paterson, N.J., talks about how he got into the field.

April 4, 2015

Job Market

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Make Way for Generation Z

Born from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s, its members are independent, curious, mature, driven and ready to change the world.

March 28, 2015

Job Market

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A Maven of Money Law

Obrea Poindexter advises companies on tech matters such as mobile payments, virtual currency, data security, privacy and electronic signatures.

March 21, 2015

Job Market

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Auditioning for the Role of Young Professional

How a year of moonlighting as an actress turned an entry-level office worker into a survivor.

March 14, 2015

Job Market

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A Cable (and Girder) Guy

David Flores is a bridge inspection assistant team leader in New York.

March 7, 2015

Job Market

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Hiring a Coach to Spark the Job Hunt

The wife of an out-of-work executive seeks help finding her husband a coach to motivate his job search.

March 7, 2015

Job Market

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Attack of the Student Hairdressers

Re-entering the workplace after 20 years, a homemaker wages an uphill battle trying to teach anatomy and physiology to students in a beauty class.

February 28, 2015

Job Market

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An Officer and a Thespian

Jinho Ferreira is a sheriff’s deputy and performer in Alameda County, Calif.

February 21, 2015

Job Market

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Making a Promise to Stay Silent

How far can companies go in requiring employees sign a confidentiality/nondisclosure agreement? Also, a follow-up on toxic references.

February 21, 2015

Job Market

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Challenging the Comfort Zone

Nolan Kombol is a course designer and director of innovation for Tough Mudder, a 10- to 12-mile, military-style obstacle course.

February 14, 2015

Job Market

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The Tyranny of the Forced Smile

Though many employers expect workers to profess true love for their jobs, being thrilled about one’s occupation isn’t a universal standard.

February 14, 2015

Job Market

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Wheels for the Short Haul

Ronald Dunbar, 65, a manufacturing operator for the Ames Companies, talks of his work on an assembly line that packs parts for wheelbarrows.

February 7, 2015

Job Market

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Savoring the Sweet Taste of Acceptance

A Soviet Jew bound for the United States finds a way to make the most of a temporary job as a translator in Italy.

January 17, 2015

Job Market

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Watching Their Every Step

Stacy Steffen, a biomechanist at the Brooks Running Company, studies athletes’ motion and physiology to build a better running shoe.

January 10, 2015

Job Market

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A Hands-On Experience

An exhibition and collection assistant at the Tacoma Art Museum in Washington State finds that the job means wearing many hats.

December 27, 2014

Job Market

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Standing Out, Uncomfortably, in a First Job

The night shift at a deli gave a young New York transplant a look at a grittier side of life.

December 20, 2014

Job Market

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When to Pop the Pay Question

An employer wants a job candidate to complete a long homework assignment before it offers a face-to-face interview. Is the candidate justified in first asking about salary?

December 13, 2014

Job Market

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Cleaning Up With Falcons

A falconer works with the birds at airports and landfills to rid them of gulls and other birds that pose environmental threats.

December 6, 2014

Job Market

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Hearing Every Voice in the Room

Bringing the best ideas to the fore means encouraging everyone to speak up.

December 6, 2014

Job Market

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On the Other Side of the Glass

A display artist at Bergdorf Goodman says the planning for its holiday windows usually starts a year in advance, and “we try to one-up ourselves every year.”

November 29, 2014

Job Market

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Self-Promotion, but With Self-Respect

How to ensure — without bragging — that management understands your accomplishments? The answer may lie in adjusting your mind-set.

November 14, 2014

Job Market

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Reinventing Themselves, Without a Net

Would you quit one job before finding the next? Amid upheaval in many industries, many millennials are saying yes.

November 8, 2014

Job Market

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No Burden Too Heavy

A longtime forklift driver has not let kidney disease alter his career path. The job, he says, “gives me a sense of purpose.”

November 8, 2014

Job Market

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The Call of the Wild, Partly Answered

Summer jobs with the Forest Service taught a young woman the joys, and the limitations, of the great outdoors.

October 25, 2014

Job Market

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On the Lookout for Ebola

A nurse who works in infection prevention describes her hospital’s precautions against the risk of Ebola. The experience, she says, has taught her “to constantly be ready.”

October 18, 2014

Job Market

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Drowning in Dishes, but Finding a Home

A job at Pizza Hut offered a sense of family, all because of a caring boss and his simple message: Work hard and do things right, and you will succeed.

October 11, 2014

Job Market

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Taking Stock After a Disaster

Michael Pelonero brings personal experience to his job of conducting home inventories after natural disasters. He lost his own home in Hurricane Ike in 2008.

October 4, 2014

Job Market

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Pearls of Career Wisdom, Found in the Trash

Michael Cascio, a media consultant and former television executive, says nothing prepared him better for work and life than a summer job as a janitor.

September 27, 2014

Job Market

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Looking Another Culture in the Eye

How to communicate in a global workplace? It takes skill — and an abundance of flexibility.

September 13, 2014

Job Market

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An Early Spark of Interest

A fire captain for California’s forestry department says his interest in firefighting began early.

September 6, 2014

Job Market

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For a Career Guide, 42 Years of Soft Landings

The writer of the popular career guide, first commercially published in 1972, updates the book each year, but some of its original points are still true.

August 30, 2014

Job Market

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How to Polish a Baseball Diamond

The director of field operations for the San Diego Padres says his job involves both art and science.

August 23, 2014

Job Market

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Declining a Work Assignment, With Finesse

A government worker on short-term duty with a different agency asks the Workologist how to tell the supervisor that an assigned task is one too many.

August 21, 2014

Job Market

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Thrills, Chills and Memories

Raheem Echols, who grew up in Coney Island, is now a supervising ride operator at Luna Park there.

August 9, 2014

Job Market

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An Appeal to Our Inner Judge

Bias may be as natural to humans as breathing. But learning to manage it can lead to better personal and business decisions.

August 2, 2014

Job Market

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Up on the Roof

Rocio Farias says it’s satisfying to turn a solar panel system on and show people their electric meter going backward, sending power to the grid.

August 2, 2014

Job Market

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The Boss Who Asks Too Much

A reader asks how to deal with a manager who wants staff members to drive him to meetings or to the airport, thus taking them away from their projects.

July 25, 2014

Job Market

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Offering the Gift of Comfort

Kei Okada, a spiritual care counselor for the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, says his role is to help people find “meaning in, and peace with, life’s final chapter.”

July 12, 2014

Job Market

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Giving Back to Teenagers

Nathaniel Cole of Urban Alliance, a nonprofit that trains high school seniors for the workplace, realized he wanted to work with young people after being in the program himself.

June 28, 2014

Job Market

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Again at the Office, I’m a Player Without a Team

Sports talk in the workplace, whether about the World Cup or the World Series, can exclude and alienate some employees.

June 21, 2014

Job Market

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In Digital Marketing, the Sociology of the Sale

In her work, a digital marketer sees herself as a social-behavior analyst — wanting to learn how she can anticipate the needs of the customer.

June 21, 2014

Job Market

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On the Steamboat, and Striking Up the Calliope

Travis Vasconcelos, a historian and lecturer with the American Queen Steamboat Company, started working on riverboats at the age of 12.

June 14, 2014

Job Market

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Catching Their Every Word

A real-time broadcast captioner says her job “is a bit like a musician playing “Flight of the Bumblebee” — one has to be extremely fast to do the work well.

May 31, 2014

Job Market

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A Custodian of Kauai’s Secrets

Robert Miguel has an ideal occupation, introducing visitors and residents to the treasures of his Hawaiian island. “What I do for a living,” he says, “is what I would do if I did not have a job.”

May 24, 2014

Job Market

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Strikes, Spares and Bruised Shins

Pin boys once kept the game rolling at bowling alleys nationwide. But as a former one recently discovered, the job isn’t yet extinct.

May 24, 2014

Job Market

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Invasion of the Nail Clippers, and Other Office Dangers

The Workologist ruminates further on listeners’ questions on a radio program — including one about a co-worker’s Facebook posts and another about fingernail-clipping at the office.

May 17, 2014

Job Market

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Taking the Earth’s Temperature

A meteorologist at the National Weather Service specializes in atmospheric modeling — gathering billions of bits of information that others use in weather forecasts.

May 17, 2014

Job Market

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The Flavor of a Family Business

Eric Bassett, 20, says he has learned the value of working in a family business — in his case, Bassetts Ice Cream, started by his great-great-great grandfather.

May 3, 2014

Job Market

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A Friday Night of Bartending, Without the Lights

To a 22-year-old actor, a job at a popular Manhattan bar sounded enticing — and lucrative. But a degenerative eye disease quickly got in her way.

April 26, 2014

Job Market

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Weeding Out the Bad Reference

A job applicant rejected because of a less-than-enthusiastic reference from a former boss asks how to avoid similar situations in the future.

April 19, 2014

Job Market

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Inspired by an Eclipse

Rubina Isaac, who works at Adler Planetarium in Chicago, says a solar eclipse she saw as a girl in India inspired her interest in astronomy.

April 19, 2014

Job Market

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Want Teamwork? Encourage Free Speech

By seeking — and appreciating — the views of the entire group, a manager can turn dubious followers into active participants in the task at hand.

April 12, 2014

Job Market

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From the Vision to the Gallery

A curator at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta describes the many detailed challenges of making an exhibition happen.

April 12, 2014

Job Market

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Paid for Playing Games

At 28, a game app developer is the oldest member of his work group. He says he loves his job partly because “you get to define a world and how a player interacts with it.”

April 5, 2014

Job Market

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A Communal Space, but Still My Own

Co-working sites offer independent professionals a place to ply their trade creatively, and to find support.

March 29, 2014

Job Market

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W-2s, 1040s and Long Hours

This is the busiest time of year for a tax preparer — but, she says, she still tries not to work on Sundays.

March 22, 2014

Job Market

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A Man, a Truck and a Load of Stuffed Shrimp

A summer job felt like a weird and hilarious game to a college student. Until it didn’t.

March 15, 2014

Job Market

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Reaching Out, via the Kitchen

A former Army cook now uses his training to feed the homeless in Bethesda, Md.

March 8, 2014

Job Market

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Where Sounds Have No Barrier

In today’s open work spaces, even small noises can prove distracting and annoying.

March 1, 2014

Job Market

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The Education of a Craftsman

An apprentice machinist, 31, says he’s glad he made the move from construction work to manufacturing. “There will always be a need for skilled craftsmen,” he says.

March 1, 2014

Job Market

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Writing Her Own Story

Thuy Vu describes her journey as a Vietnamese immigrant finding a career in broadcast journalism in San Francisco.

February 22, 2014

Job Market

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Where the Fish Swims, Ideas Fly

With the help of an incandescent fish hanging above his work space, an executive at a design consulting firm finds ways to inspire creativity among his co-workers.

February 15, 2014

Job Market

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Patrolling a Bruised City

A Detroit police officer fights crime while worrying about what the city’s bankruptcy will do to his pay and pension.

February 15, 2014

Job Market

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On the Trail of a Scent

A perfumer at International Flavors & Fragrances says it can take from three months to seven years to develop a perfume.

February 8, 2014

Job Market

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The Work Before the Parachute Jump

An Army sergeant who packs parachutes for the military’s use says the work is intensive — involving up to 12 safety checks.

February 1, 2014

Job Market

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Reopening an Employment Door to the Young

Many employers lament recent graduates’ lack of specialized skills. But a management consultant says these young people still offer much potential for a company’s future.

February 1, 2014

Job Market

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I’ll Be Your Billboard

Jason Sadler appears on social media, wearing corporate T-shirts for a fee.

January 25, 2014

Job Market

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How to Suppress the Apology Reflex

In the workplace, standing up for yourself may mean having to overcome some of your cultural upbringing.

January 18, 2014

Job Market

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Orchestrating the Orecchiette

A pasta chef at a Manhattan restaurant works alone on the night shift, and loves the lack of distractions.

January 18, 2014

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Don’t Snow on His Parade

A snowplow operator says that even in subzero temperatures, he “drives with the window open so I can hear if the truck makes a funny noise.”

January 11, 2014

Job Market

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Finding Her Teaching Voice

An assistant principal says the “teacher-student evangelical style” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, which she learned at an early age, became “the foundation of my teaching ability later in life.”

January 4, 2014

Job Market

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How a First Career Enhanced a Second

A financial planner sees differences, but also various similarities, between his current work and his earlier years as a medical doctor.

January 4, 2014

Job Market

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Animal Welfare, as Mission

At the A.S.P.C.A., the former director of the animal-relocation project has moved to what she sees as more important work: running the group’s national spay/neuter program.

December 28, 2013

Job Market

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The Not-a-Scientist’s Assistant

How to give away a revolutionary idea? For one college student in the late 1990s, it would take a lot of work.

December 21, 2013

Job Market

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Speaking Their Language

Farah Elahi once practiced law in Pakistan. Now she lives in Wisconsin, using her language skills as an interpreter in the state court system.

December 14, 2013

Job Market

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Listening Skills, Reapplied

Susan Scharfman of Portland, Ore., finds that the communication skills she honed over many years as a chef apply well to her new work as a psychotherapist.

December 7, 2013

Job Market

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Healing With His Hands

En route to becoming a massage therapist, Manny Granillo always remembered a Spanish expression: Si, se puede. (Yes, you can.)

November 30, 2013

Job Market

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Finding Greener Pastures for a Career

An alpaca farmer on Martha’s Vineyard says: “My heart belongs to this island and these animals. They are home to me.”

November 23, 2013

Job Market

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Invasion of the Annual Reviews

Some companies are turning to more rigid evaluations of their employees, though others are shunning formal reviews entirely.

November 23, 2013

Job Market

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Child’s Play in a Day’s Work

A quality assurance supervisor for Radio Flyer, the toy company, says he completed his first design project at the age of 6, working with a basketball hoop in his home.

November 16, 2013

Job Market

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Goodbyes With Respect

A retired police lieutenant from New Jersey founded a company that conducts burials at sea.

November 9, 2013

Job Market

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Embracing the Millennials’ Mind-Set at Work

With its emphasis on free-flowing information, the millennial generation is highly innovative — and thus has much to offer to corporate culture.

November 9, 2013

Job Market

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Earning Less, but at Home

A technical consultant traded in his old job — and long air-travel commutes — for a new one that has meant 20 percent less pay but lets him work from home.

November 2, 2013

Job Market

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For a Traveling Nurse, Freedom to Roam

Becoming a traveling nurse — with good pay, a varied work environment and no office politics — has been a good career choice for Monica Parks, 43, of South Carolina.

October 26, 2013

Job Market

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The Horse Sense That Builds Trust

Horses are natural peacemakers, and their herd dynamic can be a model for human group behavior in the workplace.

October 26, 2013

Job Market

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Hearing an Irresistible Beat

Why Alex Cecil, 28, decided to become a D.J. after five years as a product manager at a bank.

October 19, 2013

Job Market

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When Debate Stalls, Try Your Paintbrush

An I.B.M. Research manager describes how a divided group reached consensus on a major computer project: by breaking down its disagreement into its essential “colors.”

October 12, 2013

Job Market

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Modern Offices, Chock-Full of Offenses

A new book from Judith Martin, known as Miss Manners, and her son is both a sad and hilarious commentary on the state of the modern, open-space workplace.

September 28, 2013

Job Market

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Embrace Your Age, and Conquer the World

As baby boomers grow older, they finally have the numbers to tackle popular misconceptions about older workers.

September 14, 2013

Job Market

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Trek Bicycle’s Chief, on Lessons of the Night Shift

The chief executive of Trek Bicycle says a summer in a plastics factory during his college years taught him the value of hard work.

August 31, 2013

Job Market

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Unpaid Interns: Silent No More

The author of “Intern Nation” says that in fighting to be paid for their work, interns are taking their case beyond the nation’s courtrooms.

July 20, 2013

Job Market

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How to Conquer Your To-Do List

Planned and executed wisely, the humble to-do list can be a goad to productivity. But don’t let wishful thinking govern its length.

July 13, 2013

Job Market

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How Audubon Society’s Chief Took Wing From Journalism

The president and C.E.O. of the National Audubon Society describes his career journey, which included many years at The San Jose Mercury News.

June 29, 2013

Job Market

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Have a Great Vacation (if It’s Approved)

Before leaving on vacation, employees need to pave the way for those who fill in for them. But first, it’s up to the boss to set vacation policies that are fair.

June 29, 2013

Job Market

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Messages Galore, but No Time to Think

As more technologies join e-mail in office communication, many workers may be losing the ability to concentrate. Experts offer ways to sort out when to use what.

June 15, 2013

Job Market

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Seeing the World as Your Stage

To enhance their global competence in business, Americans need to become much more familiar with other nations’ work cultures.

June 8, 2013

Job Market

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Hone the Job You Have Into One You Love

A senior scientist for Gallup says that people who love their work also have bosses “who inspire them, get the most out of them and truly care about them.”

May 25, 2013

Job Market

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Coffee Rites, and the Stories They Tell

Beyond providing fuel for the workday, our daily coffee rituals can say much about our personal finances and attitudes.

May 18, 2013

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A Life of Science Was in the Cards

Anjelica Gonzalez says lessons from her mother, a Las Vegas blackjack dealer, helped her succeed as a scientist.

May 11, 2013

Job Market

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Need Motivation? Declare a Deadline

If you’re a procrastinator, consider setting deadlines for yourself that have tough consequences if you miss them.

April 20, 2013

Job Market

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Mentors Are Good. Sponsors Are Better.

A two-year study suggests that if women want to move beyond the vast pool of middle management, they need to acquire a sponsor — a powerfully positioned champion.

April 13, 2013

Job Market

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Why Innovators Get Better With Age

The most common image of an innovator is of a kid developing a great idea in a garage. But that is the exception to the rule.

March 30, 2013

Job Market

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Grand Exits That Never Earn Applause

Most workers have fantasized about dramatically quitting their jobs. But employment experts note the many reasons that it’s a good idea to think twice.

March 23, 2013

Job Market

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Why Five Days in the Office Is Too Many

Yahoo has banned employees from working from home. But an executive at Smule Inc., an app company, disagrees with the idea that workers are always most productive when in the office.

March 2, 2013

Job Market

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How Offices Become Complaint Departments

Experts in workplace psychology say that some of the inevitable complaining by employees is helpful, even necessary, but that it can also become toxic.

February 23, 2013

Job Market

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When You’ve Had One Meeting Too Many

A management consultant argues that too many meetings consume too much time with too few tangible results — and that it’s time to revolt against them.

February 16, 2013

Job Market

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Maybe Management Isn’t Your Style

Not everyone is cut out to be a supervisor, the author writes. When offered a management position, make sure that you really want it.

February 2, 2013

Job Market

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How to Say ‘Look at Me!’ to an Online Recruiter

Some employers aren’t posting jobs these days, choosing instead to search online for the right candidate. So job seekers may need to ask themselves “How searchable am I?”

January 26, 2013

Job Market

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The Art of Adding by Taking Away

The author of “The Laws of Subtraction” says that success often comes from knowing what to leave out of a project or situation.

January 19, 2013

Job Market

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Knowing Every Breath You Take

The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society is aiming to show how meditation techniques can bolster productivity and creativity in organizations.

January 5, 2013

Job Market

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A Switch at Midlife, to Make a Difference

Many people who have spent 30 years in one career are deciding to undertake the difficult task of changing jobs to do something they find more rewarding.

December 8, 2012

Job Market

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When the H.R. Office Leaves the Building

More companies have been outsourcing their human resources functions, often to a range of vendors that specialize in particular areas.

December 1, 2012

Job Market

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How to Bridge the Hiring Gap

Many C.E.O.’s lament that recent college graduates lack specific, technical skills, but these employers should realize that a broad education has benefits, too.

November 10, 2012

Job Market

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She Went for Broke, and Found a Job

Undecided about her future, a recent college graduate e-mailed a favorite author for advice. The result was a dream job in New York.

October 27, 2012

Job Market

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Assistants, Yes, but They Can Do It All

While administrative assistants have taken on more responsibility in the workplace, they still tend to have influence without authority, which can make their jobs tricky.

October 6, 2012

Job Market

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Follow a Career Passion? Let It Follow You

When it comes to careers, young people are often advised to find their true calling. But for many, the sense of fulfillment grows only over time, as they become better at their jobs.

September 29, 2012

Job Market

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How to Solve a Career Cliffhanger

A former soap-opera writer finds a new line of work — as a writing coach for high school students applying to colleges.

September 15, 2012

Job Market

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In Defense of the Power of Paper

Though surrounded by computer terminals, many office workers still have practical reasons for using pen and paper in their daily tasks.

September 8, 2012

Job Market

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Thank You for Sharing. But Why at the Office?

Whether recounting drunken exploits or their searches for new jobs, 20-somethings and others may offer too much information in the workplace.

August 18, 2012

Job Market

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The Power of Music, Tapped in a Cubicle

Listening to music at work can often help people become more productive and creative. But it’s best to set some boundaries.

August 11, 2012

Job Market

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The Jobless Won’t Forget Your Help

By responding to an unemployed person’s call or e-mail, or following through on a promise, we can help ourselves, too, a consultant says.

July 21, 2012

Job Market

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Communal Breaks: A Chance to Bond

Creating the time and space for employees to take breaks as a group can improve morale and raise productivity.

July 14, 2012

Job Market

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To Stay on Schedule, Take a Break

Making time in your workday for a few minutes of daydreaming or a walk around the block can help you improve your productivity and avoid stress.

June 16, 2012

Job Market

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Watch Where You Turn Up the Volume

In places like a stock exchange, shouting is expected. But it can be a detriment in many other work environments.

May 26, 2012

Job Market

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The Pros and Cons of Hiring Outsiders

A new study finds that people hired from outside a company tend to make more money than internal employees in similar jobs. But outsiders also tend to perform less well in their first two years.

April 21, 2012

Job Market

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The Rise of the Independent Work Force

Given today’s economic uncertainties, many traditional corporate employees could benefit from learning the ropes of self-employment.

April 14, 2012

Job Market

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Overseas Internships Can Benefit, for a Price

For students, international internship programs offer a window to a different business culture — and perhaps the chance to earn college credit, if not any money.

March 24, 2012

Job Market

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Driven to Worry, and to Procrastinate

You’re always putting things off at work. But experts say there are ways to overcome the habit, even in an age of more expectations, less time and fewer resources.

February 25, 2012

Job Market

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A Chance to See Disabilities as Assets

In the job market, people with disabilities bring vast experience in coping and adapting — qualities that help them become valuable employees.

February 4, 2012

Job Market

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Building a Bridge to a Lonely Colleague

Researchers have found that workplace loneliness hurts both individuals and the entire organization.

January 28, 2012

Job Market

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Her Key to Efficiency: Arrive Late, Leave Early

A professor finds that she is more effective as a parent and at work by shortening her day at the office.

January 21, 2012

Job Market

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The Year of the Multitaskers’ Revenge

Technology’s continuing onslaught, and employees’ responses to it, will be central issues for the American workplace of 2012.

December 31, 2011

Job Market

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Help Graduates Find Their Footing

Many young people have lost confidence in the American workplace, but there are ways to help them regain it, says Robert W. Goldfarb, a management consultant.

December 10, 2011

Job Market

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Don’t Just Sit There, Work Out at Your Desk

Sitting for long periods isn’t good for your health, so some companies are giving employees a chance to exercise while working — with innovations like treadmills attached to desks.

December 4, 2011

Job Market

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Starting a Business: The Romance vs. the Reality

Entrepreneurship holds perils far different from those of working in the corporate world.

November 26, 2011

Job Market

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Matching Volunteers to the Right Missions

In times of reduced budgets and increased need, nonprofits can benefit from using volunteers to make projects more efficient.

November 12, 2011

Job Market

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Less ‘He Said, She Said’ in Sex Harassment Cases

The numbers and types of accusations of sexual harassment have shifted greatly in the last 20 years.

November 5, 2011

Job Market

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How Insults Spur Success

Peggy Payne wasn’t chosen to attend a camp for brainy teenagers when she was 16. But that rejection has long motivated her to excel in her career.

October 15, 2011

Job Market

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For Women, Parity Is Still a Subtly Steep Climb

The number of senior executive women has hardly budged in recent years. And an expert says one cause may be an “entrenched sexism” that is largely unconscious.

October 8, 2011

Job Market

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Dreams of Perfection Don’t Float

An amateur boat builder finds that dreams of perfect craftsmanship inevitably collide with a flawed reality.

September 17, 2011

Job Market

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So Many Gadgets, So Many Aches

As people communicate on more electronic devices in more situations, they may be putting themselves at greater risk of injury, ergonomics experts say.

September 10, 2011

Job Market

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Working at Making the Most of Your Vacation

When employees and their companies plan correctly, vacation time can be beneficial for everyone, workplace experts say.

August 13, 2011

Job Market

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Daring to Stumble on the Road to Discovery

Whether you’re an artist or an entrepreneur, success depends on placing many small bets.

August 6, 2011

Job Market

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The Personal Energy Crisis

Time is finite, says the author Tony Schwartz, so “we need to learn to manage our energy rather than our time.”

July 23, 2011

Job Market

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Working Separately, Together

In search of the camaraderie and structure found in organizations, some small and independent operators work alongside one another in a shared office.

July 16, 2011

Job Market

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Don’t Fret. Just Ask for What You Need.

Women should ask directly for what they want in the workplace — and build their case around what matters most to their employers: the bottom line.

July 9, 2011

Job Market

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The Big Switch, One Step at a Time

Before changing careers, experts say, ask yourself some basic questions. For example, are your current skills obsolete, or will they soon be back in demand?

June 18, 2011

Job Market

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Taking Your Feelings to Work

People have long brought home emotions they can’t express at work. But now home life, with all its emotional currents, is inextricably woven into the workplace.

June 11, 2011

Job Market

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A Venture Born in the Kitchen

Kara Goldin, chief executive of the water company Hint, discovered an opportunity after adding fruit to water for her children.

May 28, 2011

Job Market

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Talk About Pay Today, or Suffer Tomorrow

Because most pay raises are percentage increases, failing to negotiate your salary from the outset can mean a career of regrets.

May 21, 2011

Job Market

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When Fear Stifles Initiative

Many workers say they are so afraid of making a mistake in today’s economy that they are holding back on innovative ideas.

May 14, 2011

Job Market

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The Shifting Definition of Worker Loyalty

When it comes to careers, one expert says, many people are now engaging in serial monogamy.

April 23, 2011

Job Market

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Stockroom to Boardroom

After working for a department store chain and as a secretary, Marcia Miller started using the entrepreneurial spirit she says she inherited from her father.

April 9, 2011

Job Market

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The Internship as Inside Track

More employers are using internships as a recruiting tool. They offer a low-risk way for companies and potential employees to test-drive each other.

March 26, 2011

Job Market

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Tipping the Hat to Dad

Christopher Koch, who leads his family’s New Era Cap Company, worked in every department there before becoming president in 1993.

March 19, 2011

Job Market

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The Critic Returns, as the Performer

In becoming a musician again, Tom Moon faces this question: After reviewing so many artists for so many years, how will they review him?

March 19, 2011

Job Market

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Cracking the Male Code of Office Behavior

Men’s unspoken perceptions can affect women at work and at home, an author says.

February 5, 2011

Job Market

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A Sign of Hope for More Hiring

Job postings show a rising demand for workers, though not for all industries or skill sets.

January 29, 2011

Job Market

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I’m Making a Living From My Hobbies

A North Carolina man has turned seven avocations — sculpture, stonemasonry, woodworking, gardening, photography, writing and politics — into a career.

January 8, 2011

Job Market

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Offering Help (Carefully) to Jobless Friends

Experts say there can be a fine line between aiding and offending an unemployed person. First, go easy on the pity.

January 1, 2011

Job Market

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Losing a Job, Mourning a Lifestyle

The newly jobless in Hollywood face a harsh reality that often includes a lack of health insurance and a need for mental health care.

December 11, 2010

Job Market

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When a Career Path Leads Abroad

International work is not for everyone, and those considering it need to be realistic and strategic.

December 4, 2010

Job Market

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How Bad Apples Infect the Tree

Meanness in the workplace increases costs and undermines performance by driving out good employees at alarming rates.

November 27, 2010

Job Market

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How Portable Is Your Life?

In a slow economy, a geographical leap to a new job may look especially tempting. But it isn’t necessarily easy.

November 6, 2010

Job Market

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Here Comes a Turnover Storm

Turnover carries direct and indirect costs that weigh on a company’s performance.

October 16, 2010

Job Market

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Is Your Online Identity Spoiling Your Chances?

If you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see your Facebook page, change it.

October 9, 2010

Job Market

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Building Towers, Razing Sexism

Opportunities are growing for women in the construction industry, but some sexist views have lingered.

September 18, 2010

Job Market

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Job Satisfaction vs. a Big Paycheck

According to a study released by the National Academy of Sciences, there is a kind of magic number when it comes to income and happiness.

September 11, 2010

Job Market

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The Restless Soul in the Bathroom Mirror

When Lee Weinstein realized his 15th anniversary at work was upon him, it prompted him to address how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

September 4, 2010

Job Market

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The Healing Power of Construction Work

A carpenter finds that his line of work is welcoming to those who don’t fit the corporate mold.

August 21, 2010

Job Market

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Finding a Bridge Over the Void

A temporary job — even if outside your area of expertise — can ease the pain of long-term unemployment.

August 14, 2010

Job Market

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The True Calling That Wasn’t

Many young people can be steered into careers and discover much later that the choice was wrong.

July 17, 2010

Job Market

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An Entrepreneur Who Took a Chance on Herself

Prerna Gupta, C.E.O. of Khush Inc. — the creator of an iPhone app called LaDiDa — discusses her journey to entrepreneurship.

July 10, 2010

Job Market

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Taking the Leap to Self-Employment

Yes, you’ll have more freedom as your own boss. But you may also face longer hours — and a degree of loneliness.

June 19, 2010

Job Market

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The Tough Match of Young Workers and Insurance

How can long-established industries like insurance find ways to bridge the age gap — and thus attract younger, tech-savvy workers?

June 12, 2010

Job Market

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Graduates’ First Job: Marketing Themselves

In a job market that has improved but is still bleak, a top notch résumé and cover letter, and strong interviewing skills are essential.

May 22, 2010

Job Market

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Sending a Message That You Don’t Care

If you send text messages during meetings, are you really multitasking? Or just being rude?

May 15, 2010

Job Market

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Rays of Hope for Job Hunters

Job postings are climbing, and baby boomers are retiring. Can an employment turnaround be near?

April 25, 2010

Job Market

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Coming to Terms With My Sabbatical

The respite from the humdrum can be fun and liberating, but it may be hard to accomplish all that’s on your wish list.

April 3, 2010

Job Market

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From a Step Back, a Leap Forward

Sometimes, a calculated move to a lower-status or lower-paying job can advance your career.

March 27, 2010

Job Market

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Neither Men Nor Mice

Women make up half of today’s work force, but they must still deal with a well-entrenched double standard when it comes to gender-acceptable behavior.

March 6, 2010

Job Market

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Writing a Résumé That Shouts ‘Hire Me’

An effective résumé is clear, concise and relevant to the job you want.

February 27, 2010

Job Market

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A Family’s Vision

Ricardo Poma credits his relatives and his family history with inspiring him professionally.

February 27, 2010

Job Market

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Correction

February 22, 2010

Job Market

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Back to School, as an Adjunct

Should you consider part-time teaching as a way to improve your finances and expand your career opportunities?

January 30, 2010

Job Market

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Finding an Answer to Rough Seas

Building a boat at home may offer no paycheck, but it teaches much about the values of work.

January 9, 2010

Job Market

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Getting Back in Shape for the Job Chase

In an ultracompetitive market, neglecting or mishandling just one element of your search could keep you from getting a job.

January 2, 2010

Job Market

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Don’t Stop Looking During the Holidays

At this time of year, the hiring managers who are in the office tend to be more accessible, more relaxed and less busy than usual.

December 17, 2009

Job Market

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Making Flex Time a Win-Win

If there’s a silver lining to the recession, it’s that smart companies are turning flex time into a tool to attract, retain and engage high-performing talent of both sexes.

December 12, 2009

Job Market

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How to Turn Downtime Into Job Offers

If there is one thing that most unemployed job seekers have in abundance, it is time. And yet many of them misuse it.

December 5, 2009

Job Market

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Over 60, and Proud to Join the Digerati

James R. Gaines, editor in chief of the online publication FLYP, says he often learns more than he teaches at a job where most workers are decades younger.

November 28, 2009

Job Market

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Degree Required, but You Don’t Have One

When you don’t quite have that college diploma, networking can help open doors in your hunt for employment.

November 7, 2009

Job Market

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Success Isn’t Only for the Extroverts

Learning that you are an introvert, and the strengths and challenges that come with it, can be a first step in achieving career success.

October 31, 2009

Job Market

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Networks Too Big for Their Own Good

There is one area in business where much emphasis is still placed on who you know rather than what you’ve done. And that’s recruiting.

October 17, 2009

Job Market

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How a Good Candidate Clears the H.R. Hurdles

How do you persuade a company to hire you if you are underqualified or overqualified, and the job market is against you?

October 10, 2009

Job Market

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On the Discovery Trail

“In this business, if you don’t innovate, someone else will,” says John C. Martin, the C.E.O. of Gilead Sciences.

October 10, 2009

Job Market

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Subtle Cues Can Tell an Interviewer ‘Pick Me’

Courtesy, knowledge of the company and intuition can play big roles in whether a job seeker is successful.

September 12, 2009

Job Market

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To Counteract Job Search Blues, Volunteer

Doing volunteer work can offer an unemployed person much-needed structure and social interaction.

September 10, 2009

Job Market

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When Publishing Had Scents and Sounds

In scarcely 30 years, technology has transformed the office archaeology of the book business.

September 5, 2009

Job Market

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No Response After an Interview? What to Do.

Steps you can take when you don't get a response after a face-to-face interview.

August 25, 2009

Job Market

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Quenching a Thirst for Learning

An adjunct professor fights lack of job security and pay for the joy of teaching.

August 22, 2009

Job Market

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Accentuating the Positive After a Layoff

Desperation, hopelessness, depression, anger — these are not useful feelings to bring to a job search. Yet after a layoff, it is normal to experience some or all of them.

August 15, 2009

Job Market

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The Authority That’s Not on Any Chart

If you don’t have the authority to make a decision, you can still steer its outcome.

August 8, 2009

Job Market

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Where, Oh Where, Has My Application Gone?

You and 1,000 other people have applied online for the same job. How to be noticed?

July 18, 2009

Job Market

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Summer Must-Read? Try Career Advice

Books offering job-hunting strategies and inspiration are making a strong showing as people seek an edge in the tightest job market in decades.

July 11, 2009

Job Market

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Helping Patients Get Back on All Four Feet

Despite the recession, animal health care technicians continue to be in high demand.

July 5, 2009

Job Market

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I Find You Annoying, but I Can Cope

What to do when a co-worker’s bad behavior makes you climb the cubicle wall.

June 20, 2009

Job Market

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In Simulation Work, the Demand Is Real

Computer modeling and simulation have changed research in various fields.

June 13, 2009

Job Market

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Finding New Employees, via Social Networks

New Web services allow a company’s employees to refer friends for jobs.

May 30, 2009

Job Market

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Be Nice to Job Seekers. (They’re Shoppers, Too.)

A consultant’s advice to companies: Treat applicants as you’d wish to be treated yourself.

May 30, 2009

Job Market

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Please, No Board Shorts in the Boardroom

If you dressed casually throughout college, you may need to rethink your approach, and the transition from college to career may require some trips to the mall.

May 23, 2009

Job Market

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Losing the Income, and the Camaraderie

A layoff can take away a sense of belonging and the day-to-day camaraderie of a particularly close group of colleagues.

May 16, 2009

Job Market

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Rebooting a Career, at a Technical School

With the downturn gobbling up jobs, more people appear to be turning to vocational education.

April 25, 2009

Job Market

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Is This the Time to Chase a Career Dream?

Widespread financial panic has unleashed a giant wave of creative yearnings.

April 18, 2009

Job Market

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Connecting the Dots of Medicine and Data

The push for electronic health records is causing demand to surge for “health informatics specialists.”

April 11, 2009

Job Market

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Lining Up Interviews Is Just the Beginning

Be prepared for the tough questions, and for rejections, and keep refining your strategies.

March 28, 2009

Job Market

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A Help-Wanted Sign for Fraud Investigators

As the financial crisis has continued to unfold, new suspicions of fraud have been emerging — and with them a need to find whether there is evidence of wrongdoing.

March 21, 2009

Job Market

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Stay Out of the Bunker

Managers are in charge for a reason, and it is essential that they put aside their own concerns and help their employees cope with this frightening new environment.

March 21, 2009

Job Market

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From Employer to Employee (It’s a Process)

After a founder of a company sells to a larger company and becomes an employee, some adjustments are necessary.

March 7, 2009

Job Market

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These Nurses Are Taking Their Show on the Road

Traveling nurses typically make at least as much money as their more conventional counterparts, but there are drawbacks.

March 7, 2009

Job Market

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Can an Employer’s Past Follow Its Workers?

The taint of a company under suspicion can affect the profile of its former workers.

February 21, 2009

Job Market

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Smoothing the Way to Self-Employment

In harder times like these, self-employment can seem a tempting option for many laid-off workers.

February 21, 2009

Job Market

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You’re Scared. But Don’t Shift Into Reverse.

Changing jobs out of fear or desperation can ruin many careers.

February 21, 2009

Job Market

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A Cover Letter Is Not Expendable

Cover letters are still necessary, and in a competitive market they can give you a serious edge.

February 14, 2009

Job Market

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My Retail Job, Crazy as It Is, Keeps Me Sane

A freelance writer took a sales job at a clothing store out of desperation. Two years later, she’s still there.

February 14, 2009

Job Market

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A Hollywood Sequel for Michigan Workers

A new jobs program in Michigan is training those laid off to work in the film industry, which is experiencing a huge growth spurt.

February 7, 2009

Job Market

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Digital Archivists, Now in Demand

The organizing and protecting of digital files has become a new career field.

February 7, 2009

Job Market

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Can Volunteers Be a Lifeline for Nonprofit Groups?

Professionals who find themselves unemployed may be a rich talent pool for charitable groups.

January 24, 2009

Job Market

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A Corporate Perk for a Stressful Time

With so many people out of work, the number of calls to employee assistance programs have skyrocketed.

January 17, 2009

Job Market

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Meetings Are a Matter of Precious Time

It is certain that every organization has too many meetings, and far too many poorly designed ones.

January 17, 2009

Job Market

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Making the Most of Your Workplace Mistakes

Acknowledging and correcting errors, rather than denying and concealing them, can prevent a bad situation from becoming worse.

January 17, 2009

Job Market

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A Sisterhood of Workplace Infighting

One of the last remaining obstacles for women in the workplace is how they treat one another.

January 10, 2009

Job Market

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Improve Morale by Knowing Your Employees

After months of economic trauma, team-building exercises and other morale boosters can come into play.

December 27, 2008

Job Market

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A Baby and a Book, and a New Definition of Success

When Alexandra Levit realized her unofficial maternity leave would not materialize, she got creative.

December 13, 2008

Job Market

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In Hard Times, Fear Can Impair Decision-Making

Anxiety can discourage exploratory activity and risk-taking — and prolong a financial downturn.

December 6, 2008

Job Market

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The Upside of a Job Done Well Enough

All employees want to make the boss happy. Which means you want to do your best. But at what cost?

November 22, 2008

Job Market

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Why Should Recession Stop the Recruiters?

The reality for employers is that pulling back from new recruiting can lead to problems down the road.

November 22, 2008

Job Market

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Out of a Job, and Realizing Change Is Good

After a senior investment banker lost her Wall Street job, she realized that she would prefer to work at a nonprofit.

October 25, 2008

Job Market

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Maybe Everyone Will Be a C.E.O.

More title inflation may be at hand, because managers often dole out bigger titles in times of economic weakness as a substitute for raises and bonuses.

October 25, 2008

Job Market

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How to Quell Financial Anxiety

At the office, worries about the economy can be as contagious as the common cold.

October 18, 2008

Job Market

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The Anywhere, Anytime Office

In industries from technology to finance to sales, nonassigned work spaces — also known as nonterritorial work spaces, mobile platforms and hot desks — are gaining popularity.

September 27, 2008

Job Market

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A Soap Actor’s Life: As the World Turns, So May a Career

I’m not a bartender, but I play one on TV. For over a decade I’ve been mixing drinks and serving up small talk on the CBS soap opera “As the World Turns.”

September 20, 2008

Job Market

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How to Protect Your Job in a Stormy Industry

Gather as much information as you can about your company and your industry; that will calm you and give you a sense of control amid uncertainty.

September 20, 2008

Job Market

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Drawing Your Own Map to Working From Home

With increases in fuel and other energy costs, more employers and individuals will undoubtedly be exploring their work-from-home options.

September 13, 2008

Job Market

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After a Downsizing, How to Motivate?

Managers can become so consumed by the prospect of firing people that they fail to adequately reassure and remotivate the employees who remain.

August 23, 2008

Job Market

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Seeking a Detour Around Wall Street

A question about jobs in investment banking and finance in the face of the current downturn.

August 16, 2008

Job Market

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Moving Mountains on Your Desk

If you’re prone to delaying decisions, you may be allowing paper to pile up, too.

August 16, 2008

Job Market

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Yes, the P.A. Will See You Now

With the demand for health care services rising rapidly, it’s not necessary to go to medical school anymore to become a primary care provider.

August 10, 2008

Job Market

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Working Long Hours, and Paying a Price

We might feel like we want or have to work longer hours, but it takes a toll on our work and on our lives.

July 27, 2008

Job Market

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Another Meeting? Say It Isn’t So

You’re expected to attend many meetings at your company, and most of them are a big waste of time. It’s excruciating. Can anything be done?

July 20, 2008

Job Market

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Overcoming the ‘Sway’ in Professional Life

Rom Brafman co-wrote “Sway,” a book on the psychological forces that lead us to behave in irrational ways.

July 15, 2008

Job Market

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Expressing Passions (Just Not Your Own)

When I mention that I’m writing a book for a doctor or an executive, I sense a certain discomfort, as if I’d said that I write term papers for a living.

July 13, 2008

Job Market

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When Ex-Employees Vent, or Reinvent

People may attract the wrath of a former employer for a variety of reasons, but how easy is it for a company to succeed in a legal challenge against a former employee?

July 6, 2008

Job Market

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Need Help Finding Your Bliss? Hire a Coach

There are as many flavors of career counselors as there are careers.

July 5, 2008

Job Market

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I Freed Myself From E-Mail’s Grip

To reclaim productivity lost to responding to e-mail, an I.B.M. employee shifted his means of communication to other tools.

June 29, 2008

Job Market

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When the Office Gives You Chills

The issue and the politics of air-conditioning in office buildings leave no one cold.

June 29, 2008

Job Market

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Waistlines Expand Into a Workplace Issue

Nearly two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, a condition for which employers, in their capacity as health insurance providers, pay heavily.

June 22, 2008

Job Market

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Drawing a Map for the Later Years

Geriatric care managers help connect families with services and options for elder care.

June 8, 2008

Job Market

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Do You Love the Job, or Just the Paycheck?

A big salary might have too much of an emotional price and the fear of losing it may stand in the way of what could be meaningful success.

June 1, 2008

Job Market

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Diversity at the Office: Policy vs. Reality

A discussion about how employers can create and sustain diversity in the workplace.

May 25, 2008

Job Market

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For the Chief, a Little Skepticism Can Go a Long Way

Managers and corporate leaders sometimes lack the essential skill of skepticism because, among other reasons, they do not get the information they need.

May 25, 2008

Job Market

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Typing (and Knowing) Every Last Word

Being a professional media transcriptionist, the latter term not being accepted by a spell checker, nevertheless remains a real job.

May 18, 2008

Job Market

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No Internship Yet? There’s Still Time

Small to midsize companies, especially, may still have summer openings.

May 18, 2008

Job Market

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Leisure’s Starring Role in a Complete Life

While leisure is not a topic that typically emerges as a workplace concern, it has a direct effect on how we handle and view our working life.

May 11, 2008

Job Market

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When the Share Price Is a Factor in Pay

This year, stock-based pay — and the piles of company shares that many employees have accumulated as a result — is looking unappealing.

April 27, 2008

Job Market

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Help for Those Seeking a Job and a Home

Many of those attending an employment assistance program of the Praxis Housing Initiatives need to work on elementary job-seeking skills before they enter the work force.

April 27, 2008

Job Market

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The Economy Changes, So Change With It

During a downturn, you may need to work harder and longer to find a job, and be more flexible and creative in assessing your options.

April 20, 2008

Job Market

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Shrinking the World, or at Least Your Corner

“Downsizing specialist” is a term for a job that combines organizing, psychology and plain old hand-holding.

April 13, 2008

Job Market

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Behind the Builder, a Skilled Coordinator

When most people think of construction jobs, they do not usually think of people operating computers to ensure that materials and workers will be at the construction sites when they are needed.

April 13, 2008

Job Market

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Women, Repeat This: Don’t Ask, Don’t Get

Time and again, I saw women accept the status quo, take what they were offered and wait for someone else to decide what they deserved.

April 6, 2008

Job Market

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Imaginary Hors d’Oeuvres, but Real Job Skills

Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow offers job training exercises to help the unemployed develop or improve career skills.

March 30, 2008

Job Market

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The Adroit Speaker Doesn’t Wing It

Concentrate on the audience — who they are and what will interest them — and not on yourself.

March 30, 2008

Job Market

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The Tension Builds (It’s Almost Monday)

The most commonly cited source of stress by respondents in a recent survey was work. Since stress is a drag on productivity, why don’t more employers face the topic?

March 23, 2008

Job Market

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Departing Foster Care, Arriving at Independence

New Yorkers for Children is helping young adults leaving the state’s foster care system learn about career paths.

March 16, 2008

Job Market

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The Faculty Is Remote, but Not Detached

Technology like Web streaming has made online learning more like a real classroom experience.

March 9, 2008

Job Market

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Toppling Stereotypes, Past and Present

The New York Tolerance Center offers a series of programs exploring the character and consequences of racial, ethnic, religious and sexual bias.

March 2, 2008

Job Market

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Working All Corners in a Global Talent Hunt

In some developing countries, onrushing capitalism is colliding with educational systems and culture and there are simply not enough qualified candidates to go around.

February 24, 2008

Job Market

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Determined to Find a New Beginning

The Center for Employment Opportunities provides former convicts living in New York City with temporary jobs.

February 17, 2008

Job Market

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That Boring Job Should Sound an Alarm

People who are bored need to create more challenges and find more meaning in their work lives.

February 17, 2008

Job Market

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Discovering Second Acts in Sustained Working Lives

A chat with Marc Freedman about the growing phenomenon of encore careers and the obstacles facing older workers.

February 11, 2008

Job Market

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A Store Where Profit Comes Not in Dollars

A high-end children’s clothing and toy store in Manhattan helps support the Children’s Aid Society, not only with money but also with job training.

February 3, 2008

Job Market

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When English Is the Rule at Work

Insistence on an official language means complications for a diverse work force.

January 27, 2008

Job Market

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A Helping Hand in Technical Training

A program is helping assess the value of academic and counseling support services for low-income people who show potential to work in high-growth jobs.

January 20, 2008

Job Market

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Coaches Wanted in the Game of Life

As personal advisers proliferate, credentialing varies.

January 13, 2008

Job Market

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For a Franchise, Success Is in the Hiring

In an industry known for its high turnover of employees, Dave Melton, a Domino’s Pizza franchisee in Manhattan, has built a work force with unusual longevity.

January 6, 2008

Job Market

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Anxious? You Should Be. It’s Good for Business.

Just enough worry can spur people to make changes.

December 30, 2007

Job Market

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A New Corporate Path to Disaster Relief

Corporate donations often rise to the occasion, but a lack of coordination hinders relief.

December 23, 2007

Job Market

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Training for a New Life Through a New Trade

A group called Brooklyn Woods seeks to provide a more promising path to people who are chronically unemployed.

December 23, 2007

Job Market

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How to Defang Scary Technology

In learning new software, focus on the concept more than the sequence of keystrokes.

December 16, 2007

Job Market

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On the Crest of a Food Wave

It is a good time to be a barbecue expert in New York, when a master cook can go from selling pulled pork from a food cart to a salary approaching six figures in months.

December 9, 2007

Job Market

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A Field That Interprets the Language of Genes

Genetic counselors can bridge science and health care.

December 9, 2007

Job Market

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School Renovation as a Learning Experience

A group of New York City architects and designers gives high school students a taste of the work that these professionals do.

November 25, 2007

Job Market

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The Office Party, as a Tightrope Walk

Planning holiday festivities at the workplace is complicated enough to make some managers wish that the Grinch had succeeded after all.

November 25, 2007

Job Market

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Every Workday Needs a Game Plan

Start with an important task, and avoid trivial distractions (including Web surfing).

November 18, 2007

Job Market

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The Garage Guy Dons a Lab Coat

It’s a world of electronics under the hood, so the mechanic becomes a technician.

November 11, 2007

Job Market

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Climbing Some Steps on the Pay Ladder

A pilot program helps workers aim toward promotions.

November 11, 2007

Job Market

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Strife at Home Affects the Office, Too

Employers are learning that victims of violence are often reluctant to seek help.

October 28, 2007

Job Market

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From the Toy Box to the Streets

Outlandish garb earns smiles, and hazard pay, for actors willing to dress up as foodstuffs, cartoon characters and power tools.

October 28, 2007

Job Market

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When Hard Work Becomes Overwork

How can you tell if you are a workaholic?

October 21, 2007

Job Market

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On the Trail of Digital Secrets

Documents that can untangle a criminal case are no longer confined to paper.

October 14, 2007

Job Market

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A Little Mexican Cafe, Built on Persistence

When banks said no to a $20,000 loan, a nonprofit said yes.

October 14, 2007

Job Market

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The Search for Holiday Help Starts Early

In the human resources department at Tiffany & Company, the jewelry giant, it has been looking a lot like Christmas since the day after Memorial Day.

September 30, 2007

Job Market

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Where Mentors Guide Young Filmmakers

High school students learn the art of the documentary in a program run by a Manhattan nonprofit organization.

September 30, 2007

Job Market

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Construction Abounds, but Managers Are Few

Construction may be slowing in some parts of the country, but it is booming in New York City, creating a seemingly insatiable demand for people with expertise in construction management.

September 30, 2007

Job Market

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In Mission Statements, Bizspeak and Bromides

Companies’ goals are put on paper, but are sometimes lost in translation.

September 23, 2007

Job Market

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Once Jobless With AIDS, She Now Helps Others

Barbara Cassis, whose AIDS diagnosis once compelled her to leave her job, found a new job after getting help from Gay Men’s Health Crisis in Manhattan.

September 16, 2007

Job Market

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The Not-So-Simple Art of the Blood Test

Only a few states require licensing for phlebotomists — it’s mainly on-the-job training.

September 9, 2007

Job Market

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Ready for Anything (That’s Their Job)

Emergency management has emerged as a formal career path.

September 9, 2007

Job Market

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Revivals That Embrace Comforts of the Kitchen

A shelter means a roof, but sometimes much more.

September 2, 2007

Job Market

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The Care and Feeding of References

How can you ensure that your references help your chances of getting the job instead of hurting them?

September 2, 2007

Job Market

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Some Web Job Sites Put Out ‘Gray Hair Welcome’ Signs

Job boards catering to the mature worker are emerging on the Internet, and least one new entry is focusing on job seekers who are 40 and over.

January 14, 2007

Job Market

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Private Equity Deals? Join the Club

In the new wave of buyouts, more buyers, more equity and bigger targets.

January 14, 2007

Job Market

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A Time to Grieve, and to Forge a Bond

One would think that even in the absence of a legal requirement, human decency would demand simple kindness toward employees mourning a loss.

January 14, 2007

Job Market

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A Teacher After All

"I was proud that both my parents were teachers, and I always wanted to emulate them."

January 7, 2007

Job Market

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Bridging the Worlds of Commerce and the Arts

Great Performances awards grants that are intended to bring the worlds of the arts and commerce together.

January 7, 2007

Job Market

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Those Low Grades in College May Haunt Your Job Search

A young applicant’s G.P.A. is the best single predictor of job performance in the first few years of employment.

December 31, 2006

Job Market

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Resolved: To Go Easy on the Resolutions

There is something cleansing about reflecting on the year that was, the turning onto a fresh page. There is also something vaguely depressing about it.

December 31, 2006

Job Market

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For Better Care, Work Across Lines

On one level, high-quality health care is all about convenience and access.

December 31, 2006

Job Market

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One Degree in Fine Arts, and One in Plumbing

Elaine Ward is one of a small number of women who work as plumbers in New York City.

December 24, 2006

Job Market

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How to Untangle the Power Grid, Digitally

A smarter grid could mean new efficiency, and thus less need to build power plants.

December 17, 2006

Job Market

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Flex Time for the Rest of Us

The future of the workplace will be determined by the feasibility of flexibility. Workers have been clear that they want it.

December 17, 2006

Job Market

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Trading Up to Careers in the Operating Room

As with health-related occupations generally, surgical technology is expected to be a source of solid job growth in the coming decades.

December 10, 2006

Job Market

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And Now a Syllabus for the Service Economy

To help prepare university students for the new services-based economy, I.B.M. wants colleges to teach services as a science.

December 3, 2006

Job Market

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Correction

The Career Couch column on Nov. 12, about preparing job applications, misstated advice for listing previous jobs on résumés. Those jobs should be presented in reverse chronological order, not chronological order, according to Anna Ivey, a career counselor. She said she had inadvertently abbreviated her advice in an interview for the column.

December 3, 2006

Job Market