The Protean Career

 For as long as I can remember, the most ideal life events of an American adult consists of: graduating from high school, attending college and landing an amazing job in some big firm with great benefits and a consistent work schedule. But in today's workplace this is no longer the case. Longevity and loyalty have unfortunately taken a backseat, thanks to the protean career movement!

The protean career means that nothing is forever. A protean career is "is a process which the person, not the organization, is managing. It consists of all of the person's varied experiences in education, training, work in several organizations, changes in occupational field, etc. The protean person's own personal career choices and search for self-fulfillment are the unifying or integrative elements in his or her life."

Technology is one element that has helped to eliminate many of the jobs previously held by human beings. Things are now computer-generated and technologically controlled. People are no longer necessary for many jobs that once ceased to exist without our participation. What a person used to be able to do, a computer can now do better and faster. Afterall, time is money. Therefore, companies make money by taking jobs from people and giving them to computers.

No career is forever with the exception of three: A clergy position,  government position, or a tenure position. So, if you would like to be either a priest or nun (clergy position), a USPS worker (government position) or a teacher (tenure) then you will have a lifelong career. However, for the rest of the people in the world who wish to do something else this is not the case. The only possible promise that can be made is that unemployment rates may continue to rise. However, I am not saying that a person who does not hold one of the three protean careers cannot hold a lifelong position. The odds are just very unlikely.

Although, there are some ways to increase your chances of holding one position for a lifetime. First of all, try to be realisitc. If your employer is not doing well then you may not have a job for much longer. Be flexible. Do what it takes to stay employed. Last but not least, adapt. There will be times when it is necessary to try something new, or take a courses to further your education, so be willing to take the extra step.

If the above suggestions do not work then the last point I would like to add is to take a look at Protean Careers where 6 tips are listed to thrive or read the tips below....

        THE 6 TIPS:

1. Reduce television time and spend an hour a day contemplating the future and where you fit in. You can’t change anything tomorrow with the same thoughts you have today.
2. Don’t put all your financial eggs in one basket; consider multiple sources of income.
3. Bring more value to the marketplace tomorrow than you did today; invest in lifelong education and increase your worth, so you are compensated accordingly.
4. Create your own job. You don’t have to invest big bucks to start a business. Just seek out opportunities and go for it! Become a painter, a cook, an electrician, a subcontractor, or form a web-based business. Be resourceful and identify ways to self-generate income.
5. Downsize your life and live within your means. The federal government is broke and most states are as well. All of society must become fiscally responsible.
6. Invest in good health. No one can build a thriving future with poor health, no energy, and a negative mindset. We all must work as hard on ourselves as we do on our careers.

***information for this blog was gathered from Jayblock

The Importance of Networking

Networking is a crucial part of business. It is a way to establish connections and maintain those connections. These days, it's all about who you know.

 

So...what is networking and why is it so important? Networking is a professional, social media gathering of friends and connections that could help further one's career. An essential part of networking invloves making a great first impression. During my previous employment, I was responsible for numerous positions, including: management and bookkeeping. The company brought in a trainer to work with me for a week to instruct me on how to be a successful bookkeeper. As it turned out, my trainer happened to be the Head of her department. My trainer frequently complimenting me on my skills and had even gone so far as to say that I was the best trainee that she ever instructed. I was flattered by the compliments and felt that if ever I chose to move up in the company, she could potentially become a very valuable resource.

 

A few years went by and I had decided that I wanted to major in business, which involved accounting and other bookkeeping aspects as well as management techniques. I joined a site called LinkedIn, and immediately began to build up my connections. I found my previous trainer and decided to add her as a connection. For those who don’t know what I mean by a connection on LinkedIn, I simply mean that I add people that I know who could help further my career.  I have added past trainers, business major classmates, college instructors and even the head of the business department at my university. Any of these people could essentially assist me in getting a job in the future and by knowing them I may end up receiving a position over another person, who may even be more qualified than myself. For instance, my past trainer could help me, if I ever chose to get a higher-ranking position with my previous employer. By connecting with her on LinkedIn, I have established a relationship and maintain a good rapport with her. If ever there is a position that opens up in the company, she may reflect upon our training sessions and reccommend me for the position. I could ultimately land a new, challenging, and better-paying position.

 

Networking can also be important when it comes to the everyday operations of a business. There are going to be many events which are mandatory for employees to attend. These events could also be attended by other companies. You are more likely to build relationships by meeting and talking with new and like-minded people. In doing so, there is a potential for partnering up with a separate company to achieve goals greater than both companies could have done separately. This is definitely one great benefit of networking!

 

Great sites for networking:

1)      LinkedIn                                                                                     

2)      Facebook

3)      Twitter

 

Tips for networking:

1)      Be professional

2)      Establish relationships and follow through (call connection after to show that you are interested in working with them)

 

 
Resources for more information about networking:

1)      Social Networking Sites

2)      Networking Tips

 

3)   Networking Conference Sites

 

 


 

 

Business Ethics

Ethics. What are they? How do they relate to Business? I have been thinking a lot about these questions due to the fact that it is "Business Ethics" week at my school, San Francisco State University.

After reviewing several sites, I discovered that there are different definitions of ethics. There is "ethics" and then there is "business ethics". “Ethics can be defined as the critical, structured examination of how we should behave- in particular, how we should constrain the pursuit of self-interest when our actions affect others" (Business Ethics Blog). “Business Ethics can be defined as the critical, structured examination of how people & institutions should behave in the world of commerce. In particular, it involves examining appropriate constraints on the pursuit of self-interest, or (for firms) profits, when the actions of individuals or firms affects others" (Business Ethics Blog). However, both definitions agree that ethical choices are well thought out choices made after considering how they will effect others.

In the world of Business it would appear that ethics can sometimes be difficult to judge. What is ethical in one country may not be ethical in another. Different cultures place different importance on certain aspects of business. For example, in the US, it is unethical to work children under a certain age; however, in certain Asian cultures this type of practice would not be considered unethical due to cultural beliefs, practices, and laws. Neither culture is wrong. Every country has its own way of conducting business. As a result, when dealing with different countries and cultures it is important to know what is considered right and wrong so that you do not offend anyone and therefore make appropriate ethical choices.

In business, there are a number of ethical topics that are constantly under scrutiny. EthicsWeb, is an ethics website that lists many different topics concerning ethics. Here readers can choose from a number of ethical topics that they are curious about. While reviewing "Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers" on EthicsWeb, I discovered a list of Business Ethics Myths that I found to be very interesting. The 10 most common myths that helped me to better my understand about business ethics, is listed here on Management Help:
      
                     1) Business ethics is more a matter of religion than management.
                     2) Our employees are ethical so we don't need attention to business ethics.
                     3) Business ethics is a discipline best led by philosophers, academics and 
                         theologians.
                     4) Business ethics is superfluous -- it only asserts the obvious: "do good!"
                     5) Business ethics is a matter of the good guys preaching to the bad guys.
                     6) Business ethics in the new policeperson on the block.
                     7) Ethics can't be managed.
                     8) Business ethics and social responsibility are the same thing.
                     9) Our organization is not in trouble with the law, so we're ethical.
                   10) Managing ethics in the workplace has little practical relevance.

What really stood out about these common myths is that I previously believed that many of them were true. For example, myth #9 states that "One can often be unethical, yet operate within the limits of the law" (Management Help). If I had not discovered that this was untrue, I would never have known that an organization could be unethical without breaking the law. However, what really made me see that this myth was in fact a myth, was when the author stated that "breaking the law often starts with unethical behavior that has gone unnoticed" (Management Help). This makes sense, in my opinion. There are many instances within business organizations when the company is unaware that they are being unethical in certain situations or ignore unethical behavior until it is too late.

So how can this ethical dilemma be corrected? Management Help, has a list of 8 guidelines to follow that can help businesses to manage ethics within their companies. The full list can be seen on the site above, under the heading "8 Guidelines for Managing Ethics in the Workplace". One topic however, that I feel is worth mentioning, is to handle ethical dilemmas to avoid them. If unethical problems can be dealt with either before they occur or before they become a huge problem for an organization then this is the best solution to strive for. If a person is unsure whether something is unethical, the best way to make that determination is to trust your body. This may sound ridiculous, but if a person is feeling stressed about something; guilty, uncomfortable with a decision, embarrassed, or fearful of being caught- then chances are something unethical is occurring. Remember, an ethical decision should be one that makes a person feel that they have truly done the right thing. Santa Clara University has a great site that lists many different ways to make ethical decisions. If you are unsure of a decision- whether in business or life, checking out this site may be a great resource in decision- making.

How To Become A Business Manager

Business Management as a major is a very broad topic. The list of classes that a person must take in order to successfully complete school ranges from accounting to business calculus all the way to business and management classes. As a business management major, I have found that there are many different careers I could pursue based on the knowledge that I have aquired thus far.

Choosing a school is the first step when pursuing a job in business management because it gives a person all of the tools that they need in order to be successful. If transferring is the best option then a great site to go to in order to see if you are on the right path for a business management major is assist.org. Here you can select your current school, the school you wish to transfer to, as well as your major. (My Assist.org Transfer Requirements) The site lists the classes that are needed in order for you to transfer. Once transferred, the next step would be to review your school's personal requirements. For SFSU, this site lists not only the general education requirements but also the major concentration requirements -----> (SFSU). A very important thing to remember while attending school is to network. A huge part of Business is based around who you know. People that are in your classes may one day be the CEO of a very successful company that you are trying to land a deal with. Therefore, it is a great idea to meet people before you try to do business with them so that you have established a good rapport. Once finished with school, the next step is to find a job.

When choosing a career I think the best thing to do is to decide what type of manager you wish to be. There are three levels of management: top, middle, and low-level management. Top-level management involves delegating, executive coaching, and empowerment of lower-level employees. A middle manager solves problems delegated by top management, help development talent, and oversees employee performance. Low- level management is in charge of coaching performance and generally deals with all of the lower level employees personally. This site lists more information about each type of manager --> (Management) A fun task to do when choosing is to take quizzes to test your level or leadership and management skills. Some fun types quizzes are: Leadership, Personality, Management Type, and Management Skills. After deciding which type of manager is best for you, the next step would be to choose a position that sounds interesting to you based on education, skills, and prior job knowledge.

Some of the positions that a business management major would be able to choose from are: "sales managers, marketing managers, purchasing managers, production managers, finance managers, cost accountants, IT managers, human resource managers, product development managers, and personnel managers" (Pierre). This is only a small fraction of jobs available to business managers. Selecting a career is ultimately based on all of the knowledge that you have aquired up until this point. Education, skills, knowledge, and personal networks can ultimately play a crucial part in your success.

Some extra things to consider when pursuing a career in business management are to have resume, cover letter, and even portfolio ready. This way everything that you could possibly need in order to get the job and be successful is readily available at your fingertips.

Class Reviews of A Business Major

As a Business major there are many classes that students are required to take and there are many that count as general classes. The general classes usually don’t have anything to do with a person’s major but instead are classes like Science, English, Algebra and History which all students are required to take. While they may be relevant if you are actually a science or history major, if you are a business or accounting major, chances are they are not a part of the core curriculum. As a senior with only a semester left of school, I have taken my fair share of classes, a lot of which I feel I will never use again but had to take in order to graduate. I have also taken my fair share of core classes which are specifically for me, such as Management courses.

There were some classes that I believe will benefit me greatly that I have taken. Some were core classes and some were beneficial just because of the teacher and the environment I was put into. Here I will talk about the three classes that I think were the most relevant and beneficial to my future career.

The first class was English 214. This class had absolutely nothing to do with my major and was in fact a requirement for graduation but the environment in this class was what I really enjoyed. In this class, everyone was separated into a groups and a major portion of class success was based on group work. We were taught to give constructive criticism as well as how to build portfolios of our writing. I feel that the group work we did was AMAZING! This class was the first class that I have ever taken where I learned how to interact with group members in a positive and beneficial way. In the business world, there are times when group work will be crucial to a person’s job. Knowing how to interact with people can mean the difference between a project succeeding or failing. Having the chance to sit with my group members every week and help each other to grow as writers was an essential part of our personal success.

It is very common to have group settings such as these, but what made this specific class so great was that our professor allowed us a sufficient amount of time to become aquainted with one another. She did not just force us into a group and create an awkward situation where everyone just stared at eachother. Instead, she had us chat with eachother and had us write about things that were interesting to us and that had to do with our personal lives. As a result, we were able to learn a great deal about eachother and discuss things that we could relate to. If my group was put into a situation where we had to create a project or meet a deadline,  we worked extremely well together and overcame any obstacle that we may have encountered. If you want to know more about why group work is so important here are a few sites to visit that discuss the importance of group work in general, Group Work In Companies, and the importance of group work in business, Group Work in Business.

The next class that I feel was extremely beneficial for my future success in business was my IBUS 330 class which was conducted online. For those who don't know, IBUS 330 is an international business class. What made this class so beneficial was that the teacher created strict guidelines for completing all of the work. Even though the class was online, the teacher expected students to hand in work on time. He also expected students to be keeping up with the classes and doing the readings on assigned days. Due to the fact that this was an online class, the teacher was actually able to monitor when students were logging on, when they were viewing the reading and for how long they were viewing it. He could also monitor who was watching his lectures and where and how many students were completing their quizzes in the same area. He did this as a measure to prevent students from cheating. The reason that all of this was a great experience was that it was like a real world business experience. In my future job, I expect that my boss will assign me many deadlines. Also, unlike with other online classes, I won't always have a week to complete something. I may only be given a few hours or a day to get my work done. By having the teacher give strict deadlines for each day of the week, I learned self-discipline and how to meet deadlines.

The final class that I am going to review is a class that I am currently enrolled in. It is Management 605. In the class I am learning all about how to be a successful manager and how to give presentations. One assignment that I felt was really beneficial was when my group and I had to create a 20-minute presentation based on a video that we had selected that had to do with a topic assigned to us from our textbook. We had a strict set of guidelines, and a certain timeframe to complete it in. We had to create a power point and dress professionally as part of the assignment as well. In this class we have had to do many group presentations like this. In the business world, I know that I will have to prepare and present many presentations. Having the experience that I have gained from this class will allow me to succeed in anything that my boss gives me. There is no room for mistakes when it comes to presenting something to a client that could be worth a multi-million dollar contract. One mistake could cost a company everything. Knowing how to do everything from making connections with a textbook to knowing how to dress that part is crucial for success. Roger Darlington, a man from a website that I visited, has listed many key things to be aware of while presenting. I used these steps to help prepare for my Management class. Here is the link -----> Roger.

 

Reading and Writing

 

Reading and writing are an essential part of life. People write for school, work, and for fun. Reading can be used in the office or out of the office. Both reading and writing are crucial skills that a person must possess in order to succeed in the world of business management, among other areas. For Terry, a man that I previously interviewed regarding his career in management, reading and writing are essential. When I first conducted the interview, I thought that because he was the owner of a major motel that he had someone to assist him with his legal affairs. I also figured that the only things that he wrote were schedules and reprimands. To my surprise, Terry insists that he handle his own affiars, no matter how big or how small.

On any given day, Terry reviews and responds to multiple emails. One would think that there is not much to reading an email or even to sending one. However, as I have recently discovered there are rules for both. Terry does not just review emails, he also has to know how to respond to them. When I say respond to them, I don’t mean emailing the person back either. As we all know, there are people out there who do not know the do’s and don’ts of sending emails which can also be found here -----> Source. Some people like to send emails without proofreading them or while they are in a bad mood. Reading emails means to first read and then to decide how you feel about what has just been stated. If the email does not offend you then it is safe to reply back. However, if it is offensive than the best thing to do is to wait a while, read it again, and then reply. Never reply back and try to offend the other person or tell them that you were offended because this will only make things worse and everyone could end up being offended.

As for replying, Terry must try to be as professional as he can be. As I have just learned from my teacher in one of my Management classes, it is always proper to address the person by name or title at the beginning of the email and then to state your name at the end. Another professor of management also stated that the wording should sound professional and if it is not, he won’t reply back. Learning to send and receive emails is an important part of being a manager and owning a business. Terry is not able to simply read an email and respond however he chooses because that is not the professional thing to do and it could be very costly if he offends someone.

The next type of reading that Terry does everyday is to review comments that are written by customers. Here is a website that has some reviews on it, (this site has nothing to do with Terry, his motel, or the company), Source. As an owner of a motel it is important to know what your customers think about everything from the service to the room and even the parking and food situation around the motel. If Terry reads that a customer is unhappy with some part of the service they received it is important to address those issues. Customer reviews are very important also because if the customers are not happy then they will not want to return. If nobody wants to return, then Terry is out of business and does not make any money.

As a customer, I also know that reviews are an important decision maker when I am choosing a place to stay. If I see a bad review I will choose not to stay somewhere and the same goes for if the place has a good review. I think that all managers and owners should try to read reviews from their customers. If Terry can read a review, address it, and let the customer know the changes that have been made, then the customer may be willing to write a new review and return to the motel again.

Some other things that a business owner of a motel may have to write would be the employees work schedules and notes for the manager to read. Some other reading material that a business owner of a motel may have to read would be rules and regulations that govern their field. An example of this would be the rules and regulations about the rights of handicapped guests that stay at their motel. Some rules to consider can be found here -----> Source. Labor laws, minimum wage costs, and safety regulations are also some other things that an owner of a motel would need to research.

 

A Day in the Life Of

 For my “Day in the Life Of” interview, I chose to interview an owner of a motel. This motel is a part of a very large motel chain that is also part of a network of a few different motels. The interview was conducted using the average day in the life of Terry.

Terry first acquired the motel by investment. He, and a group of fellow investors bought the property because they believed that it would be a good investment to put a motel and restaurant together on the parcel. As it turns out, it was a great investment!

On any given day, Terry wakes up at about 5am. He begins his day by drinking a cup of coffee and reading the daily newspaper.  He then checks his emails for any messages from other partners of the motel that he co-owns. A good portion of his morning is spent reading reviews from the customers that have recently stayed at the motel. This is done to ensure that the needs of the customers are being met in order to keep the business running smoothly. Afterall, happy customers equals loyal customers. After reading reviews and checking emails, Terry then does some yard work, watches the news and relaxes for a while before continuing with his motel duties.

Later on in the day, Terry hops into his car to drive over to the motel to check on how it is running for the day. While there, Terry checks on the occupancy, rates, and appearance of the property. Two main factors of occupancy, besides the season, are the rates per room and how the property looks. If the rates are too high, no one will want to stay. However, if the rates are too low- the motel won't make a profit. After reviewing these things,Terry deals with any problems that may be occurring at the motel. Some day-to-day problems that can occur are: maids not showing up to work, maids not cleaning the rooms in the allotted time frame or not doing so efficiently, a front-desk clerk showing up late, or the parking lot being fuller than the number of guests registered at the motel.

When any problems do occur, Terry has to try to find a solution. As a way to try to be proactive, Terry will on some days drive to the motel early in the morning and count vehicles to ensure that the parking lot is only being used by registered guests. He also checks in with the desk manager to make sure that they are patrolling the parking lot as well. As for maids not showing up to work, Terry tries to hire employees who are trustworthy and value other's time and money. If a maid is late or a no- show Terry tries to find a maid to come into work or get the remaining maids to clean a few extra rooms each. If problems with the same employees are recurring, there can be few days where Terry will have to let an employee go.  

Some of the other challenges that can occur for Terry are dealing with competing prices, advertising, keeping a good manager employed, hiring reliable maids, and keeping the property up-to-date. If there is not enough advertising being done, this could also hurt business for obvious reasons. As for the employees, it is important for any business to have reliable employees because if they are late, steal, do a poor job, or are just plain lazy, all of this can have a negative effect on the overall success of motel. Also, a good manager can be the difference between how much time Terry must spend at the motel as well as the level of morale of the employees and the service that the customers are receiving.

Being a co-owner, on the average day, Terry spends about 25% of his day at the motel or dealing with problems that occur. As a management major, I think that this is a relatively small amount of time to spend at the motel but this is not a bad thing. Due to his own management skills, Terry must be hiring the right employees, training the staff properly, and assigning smaller duties to employees who are capable of completing them. Overall, Terry loves his job and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.