Career Tools

This cast describes the first of our recommendations about calendar management.

This cast reveals the most important concept a laid off manager must know: Finances Rule. it is the first in a series designed to help both prepare for and navigate through a layoff. Most of us fear being laid off. It’s a good fear to have, frankly - being laid off is a difficult [...]

This cast describes how to leave an effective voicemail. If you’ve ever gotten a voicemail which sounded like, “[your name], this is [their name], call me,” you know why we’re doing this cast. Phone manners have been steadily decreasing for decades. When boys used to call for Mark’s daughter Kate, they would slouch verbally through, “Is [...]

In this cast, we describe how to be effective in everyday conversations.

This cast describes how to answer the interviewing question, “Describe Your Leadership Style.” This is perhaps the third most important interviewing question, after, “Tell me about yourself,” and behavioral questions. It can be a tough one if you haven’t done some thinking about how you lead and motivate others, and why others perform well when [...]

Today, we cover the 2nd in a two-part series on Horstman’s Wager. Last week we covered the basics as to why “Playing the Game” doesn’t work … today we get into the details of the dreaded Horstman’s Wager MATRIX. During the show, we refer to the printed matrix included in the slides for [...]

This cast is about interview preparation, and the need for ethics and candor during the process. We’ve been pleased by the demand for our interviewing product - close to 1,000 purchases so far, and the early feedback has been quite powerful. If you would like to read what folks are saying, you can see that [...]

More and more, companies are using psychological and behavioral tests as pre-employment screening devices. They supplement their interviewing processes in order to ensure less false-positives.This is wise, in our judgment, based on what we see of interviewing. Too many companies don’t screen rigorously enough, and have started enlisting more cerebral and/or technical techniques [...]

This cast describes an effective way to take notes. If you go to meetings all the time… no, wait. BECAUSE you go to meetings all the time, you need an effective way to take notes. There are certainly a LOT of different ways to do so, but if you ask a hundred or so executives, [...]

Today, we finish up our two part series on writing effectively.

This cast teaches how to improve your writing quickly.

We’ve talked about thank you notes hundreds of times. They are fast becoming a nearly lost art. That’s too bad, because they are always appreciated. We know too many managers and professionals who keep them for years! Mark often talks about the basket under his desk full of cards, which [...]

Mark recently blogged about the crazy advice being given - by the Wall Street Journal! - about how to handle the perennial interviewing question, “Tell me about a weakness.” He was stunned by how wrong some of the suggestions were, as well as the implication that a clever interviewee could trick the interviewing manager [...]

We’ve talked about the importance of interpersonal skills before, with casts on handshakes and meal etiquette. While for many, they might not sound like managerial subjects, the fact is that career management skills are part of the modern manager’s repertoire. And, as surely you’ve read, business gets done at dinner, at parties, at [...]

Well, once again, we’re barely getting this out in time to call it an October cast. But, I think you’ll find it worth the wait. This month, Mark and I want to share a cast from our upcoming Interviewing techniques product. This particular cast is one out of 14 casts on Interviewing. [...]

You’re a manager, and that makes you human. You’re human, and that makes you mess up. You mess up, and that means you apologize. It’s really that simple. So how come no one seems to apologize anymore? Unfortunately, for all kinds of reasons, the art of apologizing has fallen from favor. We [...]

In a previous cast, we talked about how many managers don’t understand the importance of taking recruiters’ calls, and walked through step by step (hey, this is Manager Tools) how to handle those calls. What to say, and what to learn, and how to proceed. But there’s another side to the recruiting relationship, isn’t [...]

Most folks just don't realize HOW important resumes are, and not just as pieces of paper. In our Resume Cast (Your Resume Stinks), we talked about the PURPOSE of resumes: to create an interview. Now just imagine...wouldn't it be great if its value didn't end there? It doesn't! yes, the resume itself gets you the chance to sell yourself, but buried in the resume are the PERFECT seeds of success, if you've followed our guidance. Listen in to an interesting cast about how your resume and your interviews can be perfectly connected.

Can there possibly be anything more to say about business meal etiquette? Yep! Today we conclude our 2-part series on Meal Etiquette.

Good business practice demands good relationships - with customers, suppliers, team members, and bosses. And good relationships usually means breaking bread together. So, are you up to speed on how to have a business meal? Or even worse, HOST the meal yourself?You are? GOOD! Then you already know when to start talking business, and whether it's different at breakfast, lunch and dinner. You know how much alcohol to drink, and how many glasses of wine there are in a bottle. And the ideal way to pay for a meal, or what to do when the check comes. If you know all THAT, then we bet you also know where to seat your guests, and yourself, whether there are 2 or three of you. And, of course, what to order, and what NOT to order. Soup, you say? NO.And if you're not sure... that's why there's a Manager Tools podcast covering all that and more.