The Trump Administration’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and its Director, Craig Leen, resurrected the Compliance Check – what’s known in some circles as a compliance evaluation “light.” A Compliance Check is a tool that OFCCP asserts it will use to determine whether a federal contractor or subcontractor has maintained required records related to affirmative action comp...

Every workplace is filled with interesting personalities — including frustrating ones. If you feel like you’re surrounded by difficult people at the office, take heart. You’re not alone. Studies have found that one in eight people leave a job due to problems with coworkers. Gossiping co-workers can be the most problematic of all. Not only do they distract you and drain your energy, but the negativity...

What is a headhunter, exactly? As a job search coach, this is one of the most common questions that I encounter. While recruiters (aka headhunters) all do similar things (sourcing, interviewing, and filling positions), there are differences, and many job seekers find this confusing. When you are looking for a new job or are determined to advance your career, you learn quickly that there are many tools at your disposal,...

You just spent time compiling, analyzing, and reviewing data for your Affirmative Action Plan (AAP). Your company also wants to report on broader diversity metrics – can you use your work in the AAP to fulfill the request? Diversity in the workplace means having employees who come from varied backgrounds – this might include any number of areas, such as race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and rel...

You’ve decided to change jobs. Or maybe you’re looking to reinvent your career completely. Whatever your motivation, you need to clearly articulate what you’re looking for in your next role. And you need to be specific. In my work with clients, I am amazed at how frequently many clients are unable to articulate what they want. I’ve got news for you. No company out there is looking for a Director o...

I hear a lot of unfounded ideas of how to find a job that is right for you. Nothing breaks my heart more than people accidentally getting in their own way! And that’s exactly what career myths are: lies we’ve been told that are keeping up from achieving happiness. So far I’ve dispelled several myths about careers: changing careers is risky, you can’t make a living doing what you love, you always...

I’ve seen it many times. After wrapping up one of my presentations, I’m approached by a Baby Boomer or Gen X manager who says, “My young employees just don’t have any common sense! How can I understand them?” Other times I hear more extreme responses like, “My Millennial employees are lazy and entitled. I regret hiring anyone under 35.” I am strongly against generational shami...

WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO MINDFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY PUT A NAME TO THE THEME FOR OUR 2020. One of the cultural touchstones that make the end of one year and the beginning of the next fun and interesting is the giving out of prizes for “[Whatever] of the Year.” Car and Driver picks the year’s 10 Best Cars, Time names Person of the Year, annual Nobel prizes are handed out, and the Merriam-Webster dictiona...

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the National Industry Liaison Group recently hosted a panel discussion regarding the agency’s practices for investigating potential compensation discrimination. The NILG is an association of federal contractors focused on collaborating with the OFCCP, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other agencies to facilitate effective communication between t...

Most people assume that if they dislike their jobs their only options are to leave and find a “better” opportunity within their field, or to change careers entirely. But there’s a thread of academic research around a third option called job crafting – the practice of making the most of the job you have. Pioneered by a team of psychology researchers and management experts, the concept aims to help...