Work Notes
October 31, 2007
Not wanting to be the boss
Getting promoted is not what some workers dream about today. Being a middle manager may be viewed as a hard job with long hours and the same lack of the flexibility as their current job. As baby boomers head to retirement, companies are worried about where to find the next leaders. Some are taking steps to make middle-management jobs more attractive. Many employees continue to covet middle-management positions and thrive in them once achieved. Some, however, would rather spend more time at home.
Find your own mentor
Recent college graduates and new hires are often assigned a mentor, someone usually arbitrarily selected as guide to get them started in their jobs. Then two problems can come up. First, the mentor doesn’t have the time or inclination to give advice. Second, though mentors may have held the same job sometime in the past, the job is now different and their advice is meaningless. If the new worker looks around for a friendly face and tries out one or two, an unofficial mentor may be found who will be willing to answer questions and advise on projects.
‘Dirty Jobs’ brings a message
Mike Rowe, the host of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” show, will do any job his two million viewers ask him to do, like hauling garbage, cleaning solid-waste tanks, or crime scene cleanup. He recently did his 150th show, which attests to its popularity. Rowe says people think our lives have become too easy. But when a ditch digger finishes, there is a ditch. A guy at a desk just has his desk. People with dirty jobs have their own philosophy. He says:
“They have that quiet knowledge that comes from knowing that even though your contribution may not be understood or appreciated, it matters.” They feel secure in that.
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