The Work Buzz

I’m a big fan of actor Ricky Gervais. I like his sarcastic, biting humor, and I thoroughly enjoy watching both the British version of “The Office” and its U.S. spinoff. Yet even I found myself turning red, unable to look directly at the TV, as he offended one A-list celebrity after another during last year’s Golden Globe awards. Continue reading

If you’re like me, there are days when you hit the snooze button on your alarm or phone at least 27 times. Eventually you get up, throw on some clothes without the pretense that it’s actually an outfit and slink into work, as if you’ve been there the last hour. Continue reading

Millennials have been nicknamed “The Facebook Generation.” So what better way to gain insight on the youngest members of the workforce than through the social media technology they’ve become synonymous with?

Millennial Branding, a Boston-based personal branding agency, has released a study of more than 50 million Facebook data points from Identified.com in the hopes of uncovering more about where Millennials work, what their job titles are and the role that social media play in their careers. Continue reading

Today, New Hampshire will host the nation’s first primary. As New Hampshire voters make their way to the polls, one issue surely to be top of mind when casting their votes is job creation.

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment dropped to 8.5 percent in December, and 200,000 jobs were added. Continue reading

There’s no question that job searching gets harder after 50. Although age discrimination is illegal, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Many employers have preconceived notions about older workers. Among the most common: Their salaries are high, their energy is low and they’re not up-to-date on the latest technologies. Continue reading

Finally, some great news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly employment report. Not only did unemployment drop to 8.5 percent last month – the lowest it’s been since February 2009 – but the economy added about 200,000 jobs in December, close to the monthly growth rate economists say is needed to begin bringing employment back to pre-recession levels. Continue reading

Recently, I was watching “What Not to Wear,” the TLC makeover show that ambushes unsuspecting, frumpy women in the hopes of swiftly taking them from mom jeans to Miranda Kerr.

In this particular episode, the makeover subject was nominated for the show by her co-workers, who thought her unprofessional style was hindering her career. Continue reading

If you’re on a quest to find a new job this year, you might want to start by searching for a temporary position.

While less than a quarter of employers reported plans to hire full-time employees in 2012, 36 percent said they planned to hire contract and temporary workers this year, a new survey from CareerBuilder and the American Staffing Association reports. Continue reading

You’ve probably made countless New Year’s resolutions in your lifetime. The ones you’ve followed through on, though, you can likely count on one hand.

Most of us start off the year with the best of intentions, promising ourselves things like, “I’m going to go back to school,” “I’m going to beat unemployment and find full-time work,” or “I’m going to get out of this thankless job once and for all,” only to find ourselves defeated a few months later. Continue reading