And any mistreatment you received when you were an intern is passed down to your interns.

It’s sort of like if you were in a fraternity or sorority in college. When you pledge you’re forced to do all sorts of dumb, and sometimes humiliating, tasks. And you vow that when you’re in, you’ll never treat new pledges the way you were treated.

Yup, definitely want an intern.

But you totally do.

I was lucky enough to have some great internships at the start of my career. I interned at a magazine where I got to write and edit articles. I interned at a book publishing company where I got to essentially ghost write a novel.

But I also had to answer phones, make copies, take dictation…

So, do you have any interns in your office? I don’t. But if I did, I would totally make him (and in my mind, he looks like Brad Pitt, circa Thelma and Louise) do all the tasks that I find monotonous. Brad would have to photocopy. Brad would have to fact check. And Brad would certainly have to reach for that binder all the way on the top shelf over there (if only so I could see him stretch). But of course, I would give him real assignments too, so he could grow and gain skills for the future.

Were you ever an intern? And if so, how were you treated? Were you more of a “go get me coffee, fax these contracts, pick up my laundry” type intern, or were you given real tasks?

Actually, it’s summer, and I’m feeling light hearted. Let’s get some horror stories in the comments section. What were some of the worst tasks you or your friends were ever asked to perform as interns? What’s the worst thing you’ve ever made your own intern do (of course, you only made her do it so she could grow in her career and learn about the “real world,” and you obviously felt insanely guilty after)?

By Jessica Livingston

While there will always be a place for the face-to-face interview, webcam job interviews are becoming increasingly more popular. Here’s five reasons why you should conduct your interviews via Skype.

5 Positives About Webcam and Skype Interviews

It is cheap! Say your company is in Milwaukee (I don’t know why I picked that–it just has a Dr. Seussian ring to it that I like), and you found this top-notch job candidate in Timbuktu. If you fly this job candidate out to Milwaukee for an interview and the person ends up not being a good fit for the position, well, you’re out about a million dollars (give or take), and you still have no one for the position. Do the interview over webcam, and it costs you pretty much nothing.

You can see the person’s reactions to your questions. Over the phone, you can’t tell if the job candidate is rolling her eyes or looks completely freaked out over one of your questions. When it’s on camera you can see the person’s reactions.

It puts the job candidate at ease. When you’re relaxed, you’ll probably be more comfortable during the interview and be able to provide better, well-thought-out answers. And which do you think is more comfortable for the interviewee, getting put through a full-body search by your front desk security and waiting in the empty lobby pretending to read through her resume before sitting two feet away from you on a wobbly chair balancing her brief case precariously on her lap, or sitting in front of her computer in her home office?

It tests the job candidate’s computer literacy. Sure, his resume might say he’s an expert computer whiz. You probably can’t even discern if the person is lying when you’re talking to him face-to-face. But let’s see him put his money where his mouth is. Can he figure out how to set up his webcam interview?

No pants, baby! Yes, for interviews we all have to dress to impress–after all, first impressions count for a lot, for both the interviewer and the interviewee. But for Skype interviews you only see the top half of the person. Enough said!

So what do you think about webcam interviews? How do they measure up to in-person interviews? What are some negatives to interviews via Skype?

By Jessica Livingston

Because of the tanking economy, most companies cut back on them. But, now, they seem to be making a comeback. Clearly I don’t have one–I can get everything I need in the office–but does your company offer the all mighty expense account?

I’m committing company fraud. Yabba dabba do!

When we think of those with expense accounts, we often picture CEOs and presidents; the high-powered editor being driven around the city in the fancy town car, the VP banker schmoozing up clients with $400 bottles of wine and steaks the size of your refrigerator.

Of course, they’re not the only ones who have, or should have, corporate expense accounts.

When my fiance was just starting out his career as a lowly production assistant at his television company, he had to rent all the cameras for the shoots, the lights, the costumes. (Not to mention all the coffee I’m sure he was tasked to buy everyone.) He needed that expense account so he wouldn’t go broke spending his own money on work stuff.

But, of course, whether it’s people who need the expense account to impress clients or need the expense account to get essentials for the job, there are bound to be some who abuse their accounts.

Seriously, you didn’t think that iPad/flat screen TV/pair of Jimmy Choos was really a business expense, did you?

Maybe it was. Maybe they were needed for a photoshoot for a magazine, or to film a commercial. Or to…cross things off on your Christmas list. There’s a thin line between using the expense account and abusing it.

So, what’s your policy when you suspect someone is abusing the expense account? Do you demand to see receipts? a detailed explanation of each purchase? to be taken out for your own refrigerator steak?

Hey, a girl’s gotta eat. No judgments.

Have you ever caught someone abusing their expense account? What did you do?

By Jessica Livingston

Now, admittedly, my only knowledge of Steinbrenner comes from the caricature portrayed of him in old Seinfeld episodes. But, I figured there must have been something extraordinary about Steinbrenner’s leadership style if sports fans across the country all refer to him as The Boss.

Steinbrenner: He could stare right into your soul.

Upon further research, it seems that George Steinbrenner managed the Yankees with an iron fist, and took no crap from no one. A lot of people were afraid of him–apparently rightly so, because he was quick to fire managers, and was known for being extremely petty. Yet he owned the most successful baseball franchise in history, and was also known for being a philanthropist. And he was certainly respected.

Obviously we can learn a few things from Steinbrenner’s leadership.

4 of Steinbrenner’s Leadership Practices You Should Emulate

Which of George Steinbrenner’s leadership practices should we emulate? Which should go out the window? And what is your favorite Seinfeld episode featuring “George Steinbrenner”?

By Jessica Livingston

Now it’s Monday. And I have no idea how I’m supposed to concentrate at work.

And this is just the first day. What happens when there are vendors to call? bands to book? napkins that absolutely must coordinate with the flowers that need to match the invitations? There are only so many hours in a day, and most peoples’ business hours are the same. Which of course means a lot of this will need to be taken care of during the work day.

Gah! I’m terrible with directions. Where’s the GPS?

I’m sure you’ve been in the same situation at some point, whether you had to plan a wedding, buy a house, move, plan your child’s bar mitzvah or baptism, book your vacation…

Work sure is an inconvenience sometimes, isn’t it?

So then, the question is, how appropriate is it to do plan all these things at work?

Obviously, the best answer is to try to take care of your personal matters during your lunch hour. That’s your personal time, after all. But sometimes that just doesn’t work out. Maybe you can consolidate all your appointments to one afternoon, and use one of your vacation days to take care of these things.

But regardless, you might have to take care of things at your desk during office hours. And I think managers and bosses are pretty forgiving…up to a point. I mean, we’re all people, after all, not robots. It’s pretty much impossible to be completely single-minded and focused on work every single minute of every single day at the office (and, yes, I’m talking to you, guy who’s shaking his head no while surreptitiously hiding his Facebook profile behind a spreadsheet).

As long as your work gets done and your deadlines are met, is there really any harm done if you also take care of some personal business?

I’m throwing it to you. What do you think about dealing with personal matters while at work?
A. Not cool. Work is for work. Do your personal stuff at home!
B. Generally, you should only do personal stuff at home or during lunch breaks. But if you have no other option, once in awhile is OK.
C. As long as all your assignments are completed in a timely fashion, what’s the harm?
D. Work? Who can think of work at a time like…[glances down at ring] ooh, shiny…

By Jessica Livingston

Or, maybe you have the opposite problem in the scorching summer months in the office: Maybe your office AC is cranked so high that even though it’s July you’re taking refuge in your puff jacket and Ugg boots (but seriously, dude, what is this, 2005?).

I don’t care if they keep you warm. You still look like an idiot.

Many offices have their thermostats regulated. Meaning, “Hands off, buster!”

Why? Partially because you can’t please everyone all the time. Some people are always hot and want the office temperature set at arctic levels. Some of us, ahem, need to carry a light sweater everywhere no matter what the temperature. (And those some of us are realizing that we are indeed turning into our mothers. Sigh.)

Of course, temperature isn’t the only thing that splits the office into warring factions. For some, leaving lunch in the office refrigerator all week makes sense. After all, if they went out to eat for a day or two, why waste a perfectly good egg salad. However, this drives others bananas. They’re in the “throw out everything in the fridge every day” camp.

What about playing music at a low volume at your desk vs. listening via headphones? or taking a few personal calls in your cube vs. stepping out every time you have to make a one-minute call?

So, I’m throwing it out to you. What do you when your coworker is doing something that is bugging you? Is there a polite way to request the temperature be turned up, or your coworker clean up his mess, or for your cubemate to stop blabbing on with her mother every five minutes?

And, back on the temperature issue, guys, I’m especially curious about you, since (and I may be generalizing) you’re usually the ones who are too hot. We gals can wear dresses to beat the heat, and often have no qualms in bundling up if we’re too cold. How do you keep cool while keeping the peace?

By Jessica Livingston

No one is advocating bragging about your salary. But there is a problem with not talking about money: negotiating a salary.

Every career article and every job expert recommends that people negotiate their salary when they’re being offered a job. Why? Because the hiring manager isn’t looking out for your best interest. The hiring manager is looking to hire the best person for the least amount of money.

I don’t want to talk about it!

But if you feel awkward talking about money, how are you supposed to negotiate your salary?

As mentioned, there are plenty of articles about salary negotiations. Here’s one from yahoo.com that I read recently.

And all the articles give good advice: research your industry so you know the average salary, don’t be the first one to mention salary, and if all else fails, try to negotiate for more vacation time.

That’s all well and good. But that doesn’t really help. What are you supposed to say to squeeze out more money?

5 Tips for Negotiating a Better Salary

1. Set the tone. When the hiring manager starts talking numbers, be confident. If you fidget or avoid eye contact when you’re discussing money, you’re not going to be taken seriously. However…

2. …Don’t be overconfident. No one is going to give you more money if you’re talking down to them, or if you’re a jerk about it. Give a hiring manager attitude, and you not only won’t get the raise in salary, you might not even get the job offer.

3. Give reasons why you should be paid more than the offer, but don’t give excuses. Talk about the skills you have, the extra degrees or certifications, your experience managing people, whatever you got. Make yourself an asset to this company. Don’t tell the hiring manager you’ve been out of work for awhile and you need more money to care for a sick relative or to pay rent or to help cover your mortgage. The hiring manager doesn’t care.

4. Give a range you’d be actually happy with–or higher. Don’t tell the hiring manager you’d be happy with a certain range if you’re going to be miserable with the lowest salary in that range. Because that’s what you’ll get. You can even try asking for a range higher than what you’d settle for. That way if you say you’d be happy with $50k-$55k, but all along would have been happy with $45k, the hiring manager might say, “That’s a little more than what we were willing to give for the position, but we can do $47k. And there you go, $2k more than you were expecting. If you say you want $40k-$45k, the hiring manager will probably offer you $40k. Or $37k. Good luck trying to get it back up to $47k from that!

5. Don’t settle. Yes, the economy is bad. But if you are offered a salary, and there is no way the hiring manager will raise it, you might want to walk away. You’re going to be stuck with that salary a while, and you’ll have to base your future negotiations for raises off of that. If it’s your dream job, where you know you’ll be happy, then maybe. But if you’re going to be miserable with that salary, tell the hiring manager that you just aren’t comfortable with that range, and try going back to step 3, listing why you deserve more money. If you’re still not comfortable with the offered salary, you might want to walk away. But, that’s up to you of course.

What do you recommend for people who are trying to negotiate their salaries?

Well, despite our urges to sometimes want to throttle our boss (come on, you know you have those urges sometimes…or more than sometimes), it’s important to play nice at work.

Don’t say it!

7 Reasons You Must Never Bad Mouth Past or Current Coworkers

If you say bad things about your coworkers, it’ll come back to haunt you. I’m sure by now you’ve read about General McChrystal’s Rolling Stone interview, where he badmouthed several civilian colleagues, including…the vice president of the United States. At the time this blog was written, Gen. McChrystal has to meet with President Obama, who is going to decide the general’s career fate. Don’t let an off-hand comment about a coworker lead you to the unemployment line.

You never know when you’re going to need a reference. Got an awesome job interview lined up? Who do you think the hiring manager is going to call for references? Sure, maybe you’ll get lucky and the hiring manager won’t call any references–or will call your best friend, your boyfriend, and your mom (all of whom you’ve listed on the reference list). But maybe that hiring manager is going to call your former boss. Hope you didn’t call him an idiot to his face…

Be nice. It’ll make your job easier. People like working with pleasant coworkers. If you’re nice, it’ll be easier to connect with people, and they’ll be more likely to cover for you if you’re running late, help you out during presentations or troubleshoot with you when things go wrong. If you’re condescending to the IT guy, good luck getting your computer to turn back to English when it mysteriously starts typing in Swahili.

No one trusts the company gossip. “Oh my god, did you hear that Mary from accounting is having an affair with Tyler from legal? Which is surprising, because she’s totally been packing on the pounds lately–probably because she’s depressed about the raise she didn’t get.” People will definitely flock to you for the latest gossip, but after awhile, it’s going to get old. And then no one will trust you with their secrets. Then what will you do for fun?

It’s a red flag during an interview if you bad mouth your former boss or coworkers. You’ve heard it a million times, and I’m sure when you conduct your own interviews you’re on the look out for this. If you bad mouth a past employee in an interview, you will look like you’re not a team player. Being branded as someone who won’t work well with others is the kiss of death during an interview.

Your hairdresser is totally your boss’ sister-in-law’s best friend.  It’s not just an annoying ride in Disney World–it really is just a small world after all. You never know who knows whom. And the proliferation of social media makes the world even smaller. Be careful what you say, and whom you say it to. There’s only so much backpedaling you can do before your legs get tired and you’re falling off the cliff.

That guy in the mail room who keeps losing your letters might be your future boss. Maybe the kid takes forever to sort the mail or loses some letters, so you decide to let him have it. Or maybe you were having a bad day, and he’s the nearest punching bag. Whatever, he’s just the mail room guy, right? Well, he can also be the plucky kid from Harvard who’s working his way through college–and up the company ladder. In a few years, he could be your boss. And who do you think is going to be the one stuck sorting the mail then? 

Sure, Hayward has been working hard to clean up the spill. I’m sure none of us can even begin to imagine the stress he’s under right now. And people should be able to recharge their batteries so that they can come back relaxed and with fresh eyes so that they can tackle that problem.

Of course, none of us thought that when we heard Hayward was taking some time to himself this weekend. No, we envisioned him sitting on his personal yacht, sipping pina coladas, tanning, and briefly breaking up the monotony by swimming in his millions of dollars (like Scrooge McDuck). Essentially flipping the bird to all us little people who are concerned about the oil spill.

Perception is everything.

How Do Your Employees See You?

As a leader, everything you do is analyzed and picked through with a fine-tooth comb by your employees.

Maybe you aced a meeting with an important client after months of preparation. If you treat yourself to a slightly longer lunch when the usual break is an hour, your employees will think you think you’re above the rules.

Maybe your husband just won the lottery and buys you a Ferrari. If you drive to work in that baby the day after you were forced to conduct massive layoffs, you’re going to look insensitive at best. At worst, you could look like you were intentionally misallocating funds.

Whether it’s fair or not, as a leader, everything you do is going to be scrutinized, and judged. So, if your employees aren’t allowed on Facebook, make sure you close your office door when you’re updating your status. If you have to leave early to pick up your kids from daycare, let your employees know that you come in early to make up the time.

And if you’re the head of a company responsible for causing a huge environmental disaster, don’t go for a spin on your yacht during the weekend. And if you do, maybe don’t tell the press about it.

By Jessica Livingston

So, say you’re a lucky one and you just scored yourself a new job. Careful, though. Do you remember how to make a good impression at a new job?

You might want to avoid these.

Got my new dress shirt. I’m ready for work!

6 Ways to Make a Bad Impression at a New Job

Bring your lunch. Maybe you’re saving money or something. But you don’t know what your new company’s lunch culture is yet. What if there isn’t a kitchenette, but just a microwave in the middle of the office, so everyone has to be subjected to your garlic and onions vinegar fish? Plus, what if your team wants to take you out on your first day so that you can meet everyone? You don’t want to be the guy who politely declines because he doesn’t want to waste his wife’s special salami sandwich. Or worse, the guy who sneaks in Tupperware to a restaurant. Seriously, don’t be that guy.

Know that your way is the right way. Yup, you know everything. And the way you used to do it is the only way. Just make sure you insist that your new coworkers change the way they file their reports or run meetings the way that you used to at your old company. Everyone loves that.

Dress however you want. Sure, for the interview, dress a little conservatively. But, when you were brought in for the interview you should have gotten a sense of how everyone else dresses. So if you see everyone dressed in business casual, maybe hold off on wearing your short shorts and mesh t-shirt. At least for the first week.

Fool around. I know that Bloomingdales doesn’t have a sale just every day. But wait until you get home to do your online shopping. That goes double for your Facebook updates (unless you have a social media job or something. Then go on Facebook double time). You’re supposed to be learning and training. So, just, be a little more discreet or something.

Show up late and leave early. OK, maybe you have to take two trains and a bus to get to your new job. So leave your house at 4 in the morning and deal with getting home at midnight. It’s great to get attention from your new coworkers, but not because they want to know why you’re already getting special treatment.

Text during meetings. There’s nothing more irritating than leading a meeting and seeing that no one is paying attention. Your time is not more valuable than anyone else’s. Give them some respect. They did just give you a job, after all. (Actually, don’t text during meetings even if you’re a seasoned employee. It’s just not cool.)

What are some other ways to make a bad impression at a new job?

By Jessica Livingston