Author Archives: Don Whiteside

Let’s say you’re looking at the company human resources website and see a posting for a supervisor or manager, a position you have been considering pursuing for a while now. How exciting! A promotion! Plus, the pay is better. Besides, you’ve always felt you could do a better job than many of the so-called leaders around here. Still, you wonder whether a management career is right for you. Should you apply? Suppose you were offered the job; would you accept it? It seems like this should be an easy decision, but suddenly, you feel torn.

Examine Your Motives

First, ask yourself why you want the job. For the money? If it is just for the money, forget about it. I often joke that sometimes the pay difference between a front-line worker and a first-line supervisor is probably not enough to pay for all the aspirin you’ll need for the headaches! Plus, at some companies, front-line workers may, at times, make more money than their supervisors because of extensive overtime, on-call pay, certain union/work rules, weekend/shift differentials, or other such factors. This may be especially true if the management position is salaried rather than hourly.

Also, for years, study after study has shown that money is, at best, only a short-term motivator.  Sure, the first few pay periods will seem pretty sweet. This may sound hard to believe, but after a while, it will be no big deal. However, all the responsibilities of being in charge will still be there long after the excitement of a bigger paycheck is gone.

Better Motives

OK, so maybe it’s not strictly money that attracts you to management. Perhaps some other, better motives make management appealing as a career path. Continue reading →

Individuals needing to revise their resumes often comment, “It hasn’t been updated in quite a while.” The need to modify their resumes usually occurs because something has come up, and now they need to locate those old, outdated resume files and give them a major tune-up. But why did they let their resumes get out of date in the first place? Maybe, up until now, they have been content with their current job and not actively looking to change, so why bother? Not surprisingly, it probably was just not a task anywhere near the top of their never-ending to-do list. Still, I always wonder why people let this happen. After all, there are at least five reasons to keep your resume always updated.

A Vacancy Could Suddenly Appear with Your Current Employer

The job landscape with your current employer can be very unpredictable. People may get promoted, leaving their old positions to be backfilled. What about that person who has been there forever, the one you were sure would never leave? They could surprise everyone by retiring unexpectedly or accepting a job at another firm. Unfortunately, vacancies can also occur due to terminations, health issues, or personal reasons. Tragically, unexpected deaths can also leave positions open that must be quickly filled. If a position suddenly becomes vacant for any of the above reasons and it is one you are interested in, you will need to have your resume ready.

A New Opportunity Might Arise Elsewhere

Perhaps you are not all that happy with your current employer or job. You might have thought more than once about looking elsewhere but never did anything about it. Then, suddenly, you learn about an opening for a position with another company that really catches your interest. Continue reading →