People Management

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Career Development

The Ultimate Guide to Acquiring or Writing a Character Reference Letter

By Venus Gentile, Monster Contributor

Many employers ask candidates to provide a character reference letter so they can get a sense of who the person behind the resume really is. If you’ve been asked to write one for a friend, former colleague, or someone in your personal network, it can be flattering—but also daunting if you’ve never done it. Referring to an example of a character ...

Career Development

What Makes a Good Manager and Are You Ready to Take the Leap?

By Monster Contributor

Just got a promotion or want to step into a managerial role soon? Research indicates that 82% of managers aren’t cut out for the job and cost businesses billions of dollars each year. But by following our advice you don’t have to be like them. Avoid getting caught unprepared by learning what makes a good manager and how you can become one. The t...

Career Development

Why Job Security Matters to Both Workers and Business

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Having a job that you know you're not in danger of losing anytime soon is the definition of job security, and for some, that peace of mind is worth more than money. A few years ago, Monster ran a survey in the United States that asked: "Consider your current or most recent job. For you personally, how would you rate the importance of job securit...

Career Development

The Many Facets of Leadership Roles

By Kathleen Walder, Monster contributer

As your career develops, you might make several stops along your journey. In some professions, you may start as an intern, then become a specialist or coordinator, then manager, director, and perhaps on to executive roles including vice president or CEO. In all of these career progressions, you also need to take on various leadership roles. You do...

Career Development

7 Effective Ways Leaders Can Establish Credibility in the Workplace

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

We've all heard the term before, but just what is credibility? It's the quality of gaining legitimate trust, integrity, and dependability—a trait every leader should possess in the workplace. To establish credibility, you must be a trusted source of information and decision-making among your team members. But actions speak louder than words when de...

Career Development

Female CEOs Lead These Top Companies

By Monster Staff

Want to work for a winner? Some of the top companies are helmed by female CEOs—and they just so happen to hire on Monster. Why would you want to consider jobs at companies with female CEOs? There have been many studies on the benefits of gender diversity in the workplace—that includes the economic upsides of having women in high-ranking positions....

Career Development

How to Say Thank You to Coworkers

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

Merci. Gracias. Danke. Obrigado. Dhanyavaad. Arigato. Thank you. No matter what language you speak, you’re probably used to hearing and saying thank you in the workplace. But when was the last time you sent or received a written thank you? Finding the words to use and knowing when to put a thank you to coworkers into writing is not always easy. But...

Career Development

Tips to practice compassionate leadership

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

In a world of bottom lines, virtual meetings, and ever-changing technology, it's key to show your humanity, especially as a leader. Managers at all levels of businesses can use compassion to effectively lead. The philosophy of compassionate leadership was pioneered by psychologist Jon Kabat-Zinn, who found that pairing these two traits helps reduce...

Career Development

How to be successful in middle management

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

Middle management is a special kind of spot—you’re able to manage up and manage down and taking on this role requires some professional dexterity. It’s a critical place to be, especially in organizations today. “There aren’t big swatches of middle management in organizations anymore,” says Scott Miller, executive vice president of thought leader...

Career Development

Time-Management Tips to Boost Your Productivity

By Dillon Price, Monster Contributor

Feel in over your head with your to-do list? Learning some valuable time-management tips can save you a headache (and missed deadlines) in the long run. For many people, managing a slew of tasks is just part of the typical workday. But happens when a coworker calls out sick and you're asked to pick up the slack? What about urgent assignments sudden...

Career Development

Develop leadership skills in any job

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Business icons like Steve Jobs, Indra Nooyi, and Jeff Bezos certainly have one thing in common: They’re great leaders. But you don’t need to be a superstar to cultivate leadership skills. In fact, you can develop and refine effective leadership skills no matter where on the ladder you stand. Moreover, when you dig into leadership examples, you'll n...

Career Development

How to successfully manage people who are older than you

By Moira Lawler, Monster contributor

These days, it’s entirely possible for someone in their 30s to oversee people 10 or 20 years older. And although that scenario is increasingly common, it’s often met with tension. Effective leadership doesn't have a minimum age requirement, but tact is especially important in such situations. Although a survey of more than 1,000 workers by staffing...

Career Development

How to manage different personality types

By Moira Lawler, Monster contributor

We all have different personality types. A good leader recognizes that—and doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to management. “It’s critical that a manager adjust his or her style based on each individual employee,” says Todd Davis, Salt Lake City–based chief people officer for FranklinCovey and author of Get Better: 15 Proven Practices to Bu...

Career Development

When and how to intervene if your team doesn't get along

By Lee Price, Monster contributor

As the boss, one of your main goals is to create a workplace that fosters collaboration, encouragement, and unity. Sounds simple enough, right? But human beings are far from simple. Conflict in the workplace can make your job much more trying. Sometimes, despite your best efforts to ensure everyone works well together, there are employees who just ...

Career Development

The most discouraging phrases you need to avoid as a boss

By Lee Price, Monster contributor

No teachable moment should ever start with the phrase, “No offense, you probably weren’t even aware of this, but...” Regardless of what words come next, the speaker has already communicated a dismissive attitude. Nowhere is this gaffe more potentially destructive than at work. Words matter, especially when they’re coming from you, the boss. As a su...

Career Development

Tips to develop talented employees

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

Managing people takes a lot of finesse. Being in charge of employee development requires even more skill, but the payoff is worth it. Investing in and supporting employees tends to lead to higher productivity and more loyalty on the job—plus a better workforce overall. But helping your staff reach their potential is about more than just sending the...

Career Development

How to be an ethical role model in a corporate world

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

Are you an ethical leader? And does that really matter? According to one survey from corporate ethics and compliance firm LRN Corporation, it does. Eighty-three percent of respondents believe their companies would make better decisions if they followed the Golden Rule, and 59% think they’d be more successful at big challenges if their leadership ...

Career Development

The 5 new boss moves that will make you office poison

By Elana Lyn Gross, Monster contributor

Congratulations. You’re the boss! Feels pretty good, right? Now, you’ve got to figure out how not to eff it up. You might feel like the ultimate GOAT as you ride the elevator up to the first day of your new gig, but when Gallup surveyed U.S. adults, they found that 50 percent of employees left their job "to get away from their manager.” Don’t...

Career Development

Top ways to gain respect as a leader

By Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor

Respect. Aretha Franklin wants it, and so do you as a manager—and not just because you’re a human being worthy of cordial treatment from your direct reports. Respect is critical to a functional, healthy workplace. “Business is a team sport,” points out Jodi Glickman, communications expert and CEO of leadership development firm Great on the Job. ...

Career Development

What not to do when you have to fire an employee

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

Climbing the corporate ladder has its advantages—higher pay, more prestige—but there are some responsibilities that come with your job experience that are less fun. For instance, you may have to give someone the boot, which can be a tricky and delicate process. There are classy and appropriate ways to handle it—and then there are clumsy, unprofessi...

Career Development

How to give feedback your team can actually use

By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman, Monster contributor

All employees know that receiving feedback from their supervisors is necessary in order to succeed on the job. Problem is, not every manager is good at giving feedback and drafting a performance improvement plan and actually help employees boost their skills. If your employees walk away from their performance reviews with a quizzical look on the...

Career Development

5 ways to be a better leader

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

When it comes to leadership, some qualities are intangible. But others can be directly assessed. For instance, research has linked effective leadership to the amount of sleep executives are getting. (Not surprisingly, the more sleep they get, the more effectively they lead.) Another meta-analysis found that extroversion and conscientiousness were g...

Career Development

5 ways you may be setting a bad example as a boss

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

Lead by example—that’s the old adage. And why? Because the things you do are likely to be echoed by your workers, who are looking to you to set the tone. Unfortunately, you may be having an effect that you didn’t intend. For instance, you may think you’re being a trooper if you report to work even when you’re very ill. But instead, you’re sendin...

Career Development

6 body language mistakes managers make

By Moira Lawler, Monster contributor

You’ve mastered the firm handshake—congrats! But don’t stop there: Body language in the workplace goes way beyond that. Think about it: You can only get out so many words per minute (yes, even you fast talkers out there), but your body gives off thousands of messages in that same stretch of time, says Patti Wood, an Atlanta-based body language expe...

Career Development

How to show your employees you appreciate them

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

All employees want to feel appreciated—but not all managers know what really makes them happy. Hint: It’s more than bringing in donuts on Fridays. According to a report from O.C. Tanner, when employees feel appreciated, they experience greater levels of well-being, both inside and outside of work. And 89% of workers with high levels of well-b...

Career Development

How to talk to your staff about sexual harassment

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

Recently, there have been a lot of notable people—from politicians to news anchors to top-level executives—resigning or being fired after allegations of sexual harassment. It’s a national conversation, which means it’s a conversation in the workplace as well. Global outplacement and executive and business coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christm...

Career Development

5 things you should do as a first-time manager

By Jon Simmons, Monster contributor

Congrats! You’ve finally taken the step from “contributor” to manager. This is big news for your career—more responsibility, more exposure, and probably proof that your higher-ups think you can handle the challenge. But in addition to the career boost, being a first-time manager can also be scary. For the first time, you’re tasked with overseein...

Career Development

The keys to managing a new generation of workers

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

If you’ve been in the workplace for a decent number of years, you’re probably managing people by now. Many of them are likely younger and have a slightly different approach to their jobs than you’re used to seeing. That’s because the new generation of workers came of age during a different time than you did, and they are a little different from ...

Career Development

7 Tips for Mastering Remote Management

By Kathleen Walder, Monster Contributor

Managing remote teams has complicated the manager’s job. At one time, checking in with employees was easy. You could take a stroll around the office to say hello or ask someone to pop into your office for a quick chat. Back then, working from home was an uncommon perk. The workplace has evolved, and about 35% of all employees work at home full t...

Career Development

Ways to achieve best-boss-ever status

By Kate Ashford, Monster contributor

You know those "Best Boss Ever" mugs? Those don't come easy. Being a good boss isn’t just about delivering results or even producing award-winning work (although that’s nice too!). All the best bosses know it’s also about hitting an important corporate goal: employee retention. And for the people who work for you, it’s about having another reason t...

Career Development

Important retail manager skills needed to succeed

By Catherine Conlan, Monster contributor

Retail managers have to do it all: work with customers, manage sales associates, hit monthly store quotas, and pitch in whenever something needs to get done. That’s why employers in the retail industry are reviewing retail manager resumes, they often look for a blend of "diverse, transferable skills that are indicative of a versatile, well-round...

Career Development

9 ways to inspire your team to bring their A-game every day

By Dominique Rodgers, Monster contributor

As the boss, it’s your job to lead your team to greatness. This doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a day-by-day process, which can wear down even the most enterprising employees. (Hey, it’s not called “the grind” for nothing.) So how do you keep your team motivated to consistently perform at peak level. Monster asked nine career coaches for ways to...

Career Development

5 female leaders who changed the game for women at work

You may not have realized it—since it’s not marked on the calendar—but Wednesday, August 26 was Women's Equality Day, which serves to commemorate the date (August 26, 1920) when women in the United States were granted the right to vote. While it would be an understatement to say that women have made tremendous strides in the workplace since the ...

Career Development

How to give your team a break without losing momentum

By Mary Ellen Slayter, Monster Careers Expert

A lot of offices slow down during the summer, making it the perfect time for employees to take a break. But lazy summer days and dreams of vacation can sometimes be a distraction to those left back in the office. I’ve found that cracking the whip isn’t an effective way to get the most out of people. If your employees’ minds are wandering, it’s prob...

Career Development

6 ways to show employees their talents and contributions are appreciated

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Employees not only like to know when they’ve done good work for their employers, but they also value performance feedback — even if that comes in the form of a proverbial pat on the back. “The most practical reason to show employees appreciation for their good work is to let them know when they hit the mark,” says Michael Timms, president and fo...

Career Development

What HR can do to get everyone involved keeping the office clean

By Catherine Conlan, Monster Contributing Writer

Even if your office has a dedicated cleaning crew, it’s still up to employees to do their part to help keep the office tidy. So how do you get employees to pull their own weight? With National Clean Off Your Desk Day coming up on Monday, Jan. 12, it’s a great time for human resources and managers to look at how they can get everyone involved in kee...

Career Development

Employer holds the cards in most employee search instances

By Katie Loehrke

It’s not an uncommon scenario: Something goes missing in the workplace and the employer wants to search areas that an employee might consider private (such as his or her desk or locker). Employers can typically search company property, even if it’s used by an employee. Essentially, the employer owns the property, so the employee doesn’t have a r...

Career Development

5 Signs You'd Make a Great Boss

By Monster Contributor

By Catherine Conlan Monster Contributing Writer It takes a little something extra to be a manager, and not everybody has it. If you’re thinking about moving up the ladder at your organization, see if you have any of these five signs that you’d make a great boss. You’re there for people. If you feel you can stand up for your team, that can s...

Career Development

Doing Delegation Right in Retail

By Malcolm Fleschner, Monster Contributing Writer

It's a lesson straight from a beginning management textbook: To succeed as a manager, you must delegate effectively. Yet in retail, few managers receive much, if any, training in people development and virtually no instruction on how to delegate tasks to help employees grow and become comfortable taking on added responsibilities. Doug Fleener, auth...

Career Development

Take Time to Review

By Malcolm Fleschner, Monster Contributing Writer

Question: On days when employee performance reviews are scheduled, retail store managers can typically be found doing which of the following? Getting to work early, eager for the opportunity to sit down and talk with valued associates. Putting off the task, claiming to be too busy. Suddenly rushing off to an important root canal appointment the...

Career Development

Managers as Motivators: Understand the Guiding Principles

By Matt Krumrie, Monster Contributing Writer

Think the promise of promotion into management would motivate most employees? Not so, according to a survey by staffing firm The Creative Group, which found 71 percent of workers surveyed would not want their manager's job. "A manager needs to get to know his or her employees," says Carol E. Gilson, vice president of human resources and client serv...

Career Development

How to manage toxic employees

By Kate Ashford, Monster Contributing Writer

Mention the term “toxic employees,” and everyone has a story—about that one guy who sucks all the energy out of the room, or the woman who can’t seem to get anything done. It could be someone with anger management problems, someone who doesn’t keep any deadlines, or someone who openly views inappropriate content on his computer. (Yes, that happens....

Career Development

Managers and Employee Termination

By Matt Krumrie, Monster Contributing Writer

Letting an employee go is a difficult situation most managers want to avoid, but with the right preparation and professionalism, you can get through such a tough talk with your dignity -- and your employee's -- intact. Firing Best Practices Another manager or HR representative should always be present, especially if terminating a potentially hostil...

Career Development

Expert tips for first-time managers

By Matt Krumrie, Monster Contributing Writer

Some people fall into management positions, some people work their way up the ladder to get into management positions, and others are placed into management positions based on company need. It's a career path that varies like no other. "All industries need managers," says Joyce LeMay, who has more than 20 years' experience as a manager and is de...

Career Development

Tips for First-Time IT Managers

By Allan Hoffman, Monster Tech Jobs Expert

Managing people isn't easy. It's especially tough if you've never done it before. And it's harder still if you're a first-time IT manager. That's the opinion of psychologist Richard Hagberg, president of the Hagberg Consulting Group, a Foster City, California-based company that develops training programs for the high tech industry. Hagberg doesn't ...

Career Development

Recruit Through Professional Associations

By Louise Kursmark, Monster Contributing Writer

Talent management is a hot topic in HR today. With the government projecting total jobs to increase 10 percent between 2008 and 2018 while the workforce grows by only 8.2 percent, it is increasingly urgent for companies to develop strategies for continuous recruitment of talented workers. The shortage is expected to be particularly severe in servic...

Career Development

Managers as Motivators: Effective Motivational Tools

By Matt Krumrie, Monster Contributing Writer

Managers who understand what motivates each employee can tailor incentives accordingly. But your motivational toolbox should go beyond rewarding excellent work. Just as important to keeping workers engaged is a plan for encouraging, consoling and embracing them when they invariably slip off track. But how do you find the right balance between suppo...

Career Development

Be an effective retail manager

By Valerie Lipow, Monster Contributing Writer

How do retail managers learn to be effective? Unlike managers in some other industries, comparatively few retail managers have degrees in management. Nevertheless, they face a variety of challenges in a fast-paced, competitive environment, especially if they're working for one of retailers. Key challenges for retail managers A retail manager'...

Career Development

Bad Retail Management 101

By Malcolm Fleschner, Monster Contributing Writer

For the genuinely determined, there are a number of creative ways to be a downright awful retail manager. Some ideas include: Whenever you give employees a pat on the back, affix a "kick me" sign. Post a notice suggesting that employees interested in making scheduling requests should first look over the choice of Amway products for sale in ...

Career Development

Tips for Building Good Relationships with Your Retail Employees

By Malcolm Fleschner, Monster Contributing Writer

When Best Buy employee John Pershing graduated from college in 1996, he was fully prepared to unpin his employee ID tag for good and embark on a career in architecture. But that all changed after a talk with his store manager. "I had even given my two weeks' notice," he says. "But then my supervisor took me aside and said, ‘I'm not going to make a ...