The techies could do a lot more to make our life at work easier and more pleasant.
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Take the telephone, for example. I don't know about you, but there are several
things that bug me about talking on one of these confounded instruments.
First of all, there are those long-winded conversations. Personally, I would like to
see a device installed on all telephones whereby any business call that lasts over 10
minutes is cut off unless the person on the receiving end punches a default button.
The person who had placed the call originally would have to pay triple rates for
replacing the call.
Another thing, any time there is a dead silence on the line for more than 45
seconds, the machine would automatically hang up and the same rule for a recall
stated above would go into effect.
It would be helpful to have a pocket-sized instrument that deactivates the telephone
in the office of a prospect when one is poised to make the final sales pitch.
Techies Could Improve Meetings
The techies could do a lot to improve meetings.
To begin with, I would suggest that something like a vaporizer be placed in all
conference rooms. The machine would be activated by specific occurrences to emit
an invisible fog of an odorless chemical appropriate for the need.
One such chemical would be silently spread about the room when any presentation
lasts longer than 12 minutes, without interruption. It would cause the brains of the
listeners to switch off the rambling of the presenter and automatically tune over to
contemplate a day in spring, a favorite fishing hole or some other pleasantry. Of
course, it would have to work so that the eyes of the audience would appear to be
bright and focused as if they were intently interested.
The same effect would result when anyone declares they want to ask a question and
then make a self-serving statement lasting more than three minutes.
Oh, yes, the invisible fog would also cause a splitting headache for persons who
commit any one of the following transgressions:
o Hear an idea for the first time and immediately launch into a knee-jerk
explanation of why it won't work.
o Carry on a loud side conversation while the chairman is trying to conduct the
business of the meeting.
o Refuse to get serious when serious business is being discussed.
o Stray from the stated subject under discussion more than twice in any meeting.
Another helpful thing would be a tiny pill that one could take during meetings which
would allow one to go to sleep, with eyes open and neck and shoulders upright.
The techies could help with etiquette at work, too.
I am sure a device could be invented that would cause a raucous ringing in the ears
of anyone who fails to say "thank you" for a favor or a job well done. It would also
work on anyone who takes credit for someone else's' work. Those who habitually
walk into another person's office when he or she is on the telephone, sits down,
picks up a magazine and acts as if they are not listening would hear the same
unpleasant sound.
I would also like some little instrument that would cause extreme discomfort to
people who read things on other people's desks, even if they are reading them
upside down.
We also need a lot of tech help with travel on airplanes.
It would be nice to have a device to spray dye on any piece of luggage that is placed
on top of another person's carefully folded coat in the overhead compartment.
I am sure there would be a market for a chemical that one would apply to his
clothing that would cause seatmates to suffer uncomfortable eyestrain if they try to
read one's papers. The same spray would cause seatmates to have a mild case of
lockjaw if they repeatedly attempt to strike up unwanted conversations.
Some of these helpful gadgets might seem a bit far-fetched at first glance, but they
probably could be created if there is enough demand for them. Now's the time to
speak up.
Are you in the market for work? If you have been searching for weeks, you might stop and say in frustration "I just want a job, why can't I find one?" There are various components of a successful job search. One important component is the actual job search. If you have been saying to yourself "I just want a job, why can't I find one" see if you are making these common mistakes.
Not Looking in the Right Places
It is a well-known fact that it is easiest to find job listings online. Perform a simple search and within minutes you are connected with hundreds of jobs that meet your search criteria. Online searching isn't the only method you should try. Companies still post listings in newspaper employment sections, companies still place now hiring signs in windows, and some companies prefer to post job listings directly on their website (as opposed to a search site).
It is also important to note that there are thousands of career search sites online. We tend to think of Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com first, but more are out there. You need to search as many career sites as possible. Say Company 1 uses Monster.com; great because you search this site. But, say Company 2 uses Dice.com; you don't see the job listing if you don't examine the site.
Since it is time consuming to search hundreds of career search sites, it is advised that you use an application that enables you to search them all at once!
Not Job Searching Often Enough
There are some job seekers who spend a week job searching, don't have any luck and automatically admit defeat. Job searching isn't easy. Actually it is easy to find jobs to apply for. The hard part involves landing a job interview.
Job search sites and boards are filled with information that changes daily. For example, Monster.com regularly has new job listings posted hourly throughout the day! Searching the best job sites two to three times a day until you find a job is recommended. You cannot search once, apply for a couple of positions, and then be done.
Applying with Companies that Aren't Hiring
Let's say that you have always wanted to work at your local insurance office. So you apply for a job by submitting your resume. Are you applying for any job in particular? Are you responding to a job listing online? Or, are you just submitting your resume just because you want to?
Most companies have a get hired policy that states they will always accept job applications and resumes even if they aren't actively hiring. The goal is to have a stack of resumes ready for when they do need to hire. However, that can be in one month, six months, or one year.
If you just want a job now and don't want to wait one month to one year for a phone call, you should focus your job search on companies that are actively hiring right now. That means finding job listings online, searching your local help wanted ads, and responding to now hiring signs in business windows.