This column marks the beginning of my 7th year writing
about high-tech career issues for ComputorEdge. In those years
I have seen some things change, but, for better or worse, even more remains
the same. The Internet bubble burst and reminded us all that business, work
and career are about developing value over time, and not some mad sweepstakes
gamble. High-tech workers still struggle for respect despite their ability
to create new commercial markets out of nothing but their own creativity.
It seems that, despite the clear benefits of technology, and those that make
it work, high-tech workers have to justify their existence nearly every day
on nearly every job.
This month I am offering a look back on some important columns of the past
that have proven very popular with readers and/or still offer an important
message today. Let me know if you have your favorite column from the past
and why it was important to you. More importantly, drop me an email today
with your questions and comments about this column or your career. Your ideas
could become the source of columns for this 7th year.
The Right Way to Resign,
November 1998
The way you leave a job can be just as important as how you start. Don’t
burn bridges, but insure that you get everything that is owed to you. Here
are some important guidelines to remember when it is time to move on.
Is it really that bad?,
February 1998
Abuse in the workplace is a demon that almost everyone faces at some time
in their career. It can take many forms, from abuse of overtime and flaunting
of labor laws to outright mental and physical abuse. No one has to accept
such behavior in the workplace.
Career Compass,
January 1999
How do you know what career you want unless you do some very hard thinking
first? Once you have established a direction for your career (True North),
how do you make sure that everything you are doing – each job, each
task, each promotion – keeps you headed in the right direction?
Resumes, February
1999
Most of the conventional wisdom about resumes isn’t very conventional
anymore. If you want your resume to stand out, you need to tell a good story.
In fact, you need to tell quite a few. Your resume has one goal – to
entice the reader to bring you in for an interview. Telling a good story is
one of the best ways to accomplish this goal.
How to take a vacation,
May 1999
Part of developing a great career is in knowing when you need some time off.
Some companies can make it difficult, if not impossible for their workers
to take a stress-free vacation that allows them to recharge. It is possible,
though, and here are a few ways to make sure your vacation (and your return)
is the best possible.
How to make mistakes,
February 2, 2001
Mistakes happen. There is no way to avoid them. How you handle your mistakes,
though, can immediately and directly affect your job and career. Attempting
to cover-up your mistakes can lead directly to the loss of your job. Instead,
take ownership of your mistakes and fix them. Sometimes the way you fix a
mistake can enhance your career more than if you had never made the mistake
in the first place.
Keep it to yourself,
February 23, 2001
There are some stories that shouldn’t be shared with your co-workers
or your employer. Think about the image you are presenting before you start
telling everyone about that drunken weekend or office romance.
All as one, September
21, 2001
September 11th was an opportunity to re-dedicate ourselves to building a better
world, a better life and a better career. Have you actively tried to make
your world a better place?
Say Yes!,
February 14, 2003
The best way to enhance your relationship with a client is to actively find
ways of saying “Yes” more often. It is time to become less of
a “gatekeeper” and more of a facilitator to help your clients
get the most productivity from their technology.
As I read back over these columns, sometimes I surprise even myself. Everything
looks different over time, but I think in each of these columns is a kernel
of truth that still resonates today, long after it was originally written.
Book of the week: Building
Your Own Garage: Blueprints and Tools to Unleash Your Company’s Hidden
Creativity by Bernd H. Schmitt and Laura Brown
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here for Acrobat (PDF) Version of this column
about this column.
Douglas E. Welch is a freelance writer and computer consultant in Van Nuys,
California. Readers can discuss career issues with other readers by joining
the Career Opportunities Discussion on Douglas' web page at: http://www.welchwrite.com/dewelch/ce/
He can reached via email at douglas@welchwrite.com