The day I told him his affair was affecting his professional decisions, is the day my torture began…  After a while I was constantly putting myself and my professional ability under a huge question mark… Until the day I had enough… I analysed the situation, balanced what I was losing, practiced damage control and …went for it.
Picture this: Me and him in an empty stinky conference room. I played all my cards, spit out all the venom and I was as calm as the Blue Lagoon in a sunny spring day. He was dressed in his usual brown super smart suit and I was wearing a large fluffy T-shirt, with gangsta jeans and comfy trainers.
I could see him talking, but all that I could hear was bla bla bla.
“Alex, I was not expecting such a behaviour from you. You are a machiavellic bitch!
Oh, well, if you say so boss… I guess I am. Do you have a problem with that? Sorry but I have a flight to catch!”.

I stood up and started laughing like a maniac, whilst he was boiling like a lobster. Yes, I realized at that point I was being machiavelic, as he called me, but I was definitely not a bitch; so… I left the poor animal and rushed to the airport for a well-deserved three weeks holiday in Greece.

Years went by and I got wiser.
Trust me, the best way to win from a conflict is to avoid it! But if you had enough and all the cells in your body tell you that you must react, DO IT!
Long story short you have three ways to engage in a conflict with your line manager.

1.    The run.
Leave. Just leave or hit and run. Just say what you have to say and resign. Generally, in this position you are a looser. Yes, it is true, you do not have to stand your boss every given day, but you loose not only your job but also your colleagues and eventually your self-esteem.
Yes, leaving a company is like a divorce. People take sides and since you are the one leaving, though initially they might be on your side, they end up by supporting your line manager.
Cherry on top, once you left, you cannot control the gossip anymore and you might end up being classed as a “bad employee”.
The only way you could actually win from such a strategy is by being ready to start another job just the day after you left. But even so, are you sure you can completely turn the page and concentrate on a new beginning?

2.    The network.
Engage in a direct conflict. Say what you have to say, but do not resign. Be ready to support the consequences.
If you speak up in a wise way he/she might actually listen to you and change their behaviour, hence you must understand that this change is generally not long term. This means you will constantly have to fight and speak up until the day you either have enough or you become an “inconvenient asset”.
My advice is to make sure that you have enough influential persons ready to die for you before you engage in any kind of direct conflict. If you do not have enough long term influence they may do.

3.    The puppy dog.
Just don’t engage in any direct conflict. Say as they say do as you want and whenever it comes to having great results because of your wise decisions… praise them not yourself. If your line manager is wise enough he/she will realise you were right and they were wrong. In this case they may decide to trust you and give you peace or consider you as a threat as you are smarter than him/her. If you feel they start seeing you as a threat, then apply one of the first two solutions.

All this being said…. Just remember :  “Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” William James

As you already know, next Olympics games are to be organised in London in 2012. Preparation started ages ago and though we still have one year until the big event, you can already feel the Olympic scent in the air.
Most of us know the Olympics story, what they stand for, sports, great fun and fireworks, but guess what… there is a big army behind it all.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is charged with staging the Games in 2012.
LOCOG is also responsible for staging a series of test events before the Games; recruiting and training volunteers; and overseeing the Cultural Olympiad leading up to the Games.
Roles in the organisation range from Sports Competition Managers and Project Planners, to Cultural Curators and Functional Specialists.
Recruited started sometime in 2005, with 50 positions and increased in 2008 Beijing games . By the time of the 2012 Opening Ceremony they recon  around 170,000 people will be working on the Games, including up to 6,000 full-time and temporary staff.
The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) needs to recruit up to 3,500 people to help put on the greatest show on earth in summer 2012. Recruitment already started and will end in June 2012.

It is an international event and anyone can apply for a position. Just think about it, this might be your chance to share a moment of history – not just in the UK, but on a global stage.

Some interesting  FAQs
When will recruitment for Games time begin?
Recruitment for Games-time roles has begun and will continue into 2012. Unless otherwise specified, roles will be carried out during the London 2012 Games:
Olympic Games: 27 July – 12 August
Paralympic Games: 29 August – 9 September

Will accommodation will be provided for Games-time staff?
No, given the numbers involved and difficulties in guaranteeing standards, it will be up to the individuals concerned to make their own arrangements.
As a person with disabilities, will I be able to work alongside my support worker/personal assistant?
We are committed to ensuring that everybody has equal access at the London 2012 Games. This means that if you require a reasonable adjustment to carry out your Games-time role as a result of your disability, we will make every attempt to provide this.

Will there be training for Games-time staff?
Yes. Training will be team-specific.

More info on http://www.london2012.com/

Not yet intrigued? Check the latest job adverts:
Press Officer
We are looking to recruit a Press Officer to work within our Media and PR team. This role will focus on specific areas of London 2012’s work including ticketing, its commercial programme, procurement and contractors, catering, transport and sustainability. Salary: Competitive
VMA Workforce Manager
The Venue Management Workforce Delivery Manager is responsible for planning and resourcing the venue management teams at each venue. The Venue Management Workforce Delivery Manager will work closely with HR, Recruitment, Finance and the Head of Venue Management to develop a staffing plan that meets the needs of all stakeholders including existing venue operators. The Venue Management Workforce Delivery Manager will oversee the smooth implementation of the plan. Salary: Competitive

For more jobs check LOCOG rectuitment website. To upload your CV register here.

Oh well, if such a thing exists, I do not know about you, my dear reader, but I have not found it yet. But I did not lose my hope! I remember my happy days in Axigen and I realise how close we were to get what we wanted.
Oh yeah, I remember my first day and my colleagues Google searching me to find out all dirt they could possibly find. I remember all the frustrating days trying to convince the development manager to collaborate and the race to find the perfect candidate, the kick arse arguments with my line manager and the office backstabbing, but still…. I also remember our Friday brunches and Axi parties, when at least for half an hour I was working in the perfect company, with perfect colleagues, perfect work environment and perfect line manager where I was pursuing my perfect career.

When I arrived in the company they were still communicating on messenger,  though all 60 employees were in an open space. Our first Friday brunch was enormous. No one knew what to say, why they were there or why did we have croissants and hot cocoa in the middle of the afternoon. It was not a bad communication campaign, but just the send effects of a bad habit called reading in diagonal. One could breathe the management pressure and though this was supposed to be a communication event everyone was measuring their words.
This required a force intervention and that is how Axi parties were born. Pool, darts and bowling championships meant to distress the Axi employees and allow them to consume their over competitiveness.

Should I also mention that at the last party, 3am I the morning the MD sent me to buy another bottle of whisky? Oups, I just dis! Don’t think we were encouraging alcohol consumption, but once in a blue moon it is recommended.
And… I went to buy the whisky. Dressed up as a sheriff, with all my guns loaded, I walked in a petrol station asking for the top shelf whisky bottle. They looked really suspicious at mysupersized black hat, but… oh well, at the end of the day I was a customer.
Took the bottle… jumped into the car and waved royally to the police man eating their 3am bagels.
Tino nino, 5m after … guess what … they pulled me over.
“Good morning lady…blab la bla… did you have any alcohol?” Who, me? (trying to push the whisky under the passenger seat) Do I really look like someone who just drinks ad drives? ” “No offence, but yes, do you mind if we do a check?”…  10 min later they left very amused and disappointed in the same time. I passed the alcohol test! (of course I did, I never have alcohol, but that is another story).

In time, as I said, we managed to relax and enjoy those few moments of perfection. I felt friendship was on its way and with it a better communication within the Company.

With my goal achieved and my line manager very happy a twist of fate opened a new door for me. Destiny was calling me somewhere else in this very very big world… and I left.

We kept in touch and every time I could, I would visit them and bring them Toblerone or hot pretzels, as I always used to when I was their colleague. I was particularly impressed to see that one year after I left they still had the “Axigen wild wild west party” poster displayed at the entrance board.  I guess old habits die hard.

Last week, precisely two years and six months after I left, we met again. It felt like an illegal “Axigen Friday Zbruch”. I say illegal as though we were 25, only 2 or 3 of us were still working for Axi. We all deserted, but somehow we were still part of it. This was proof that once a bound between colleagues is made, no matter how cruel the company can be or where the destiny throws us, the bound or its reminiscences resist through time.

It was only at this point that I realised how addicted to Axigen we were. Some of us cured this addiction with a more challenging project, but some others got stuck in time almost as an obligation to suffer along with the Axigen mail server.
One way or the other we all had a craving for exchanging and communicating, but not as we used to when we were in the company. This time we actually had fun with no restriction, no management pressure (ok, some managers were there… but they were in disguise), no obligation to sell, no clock ticking until the new version and no evil eyes between development and testing…
All the sudden… we were perfect.

Lesson to all managers: Stop stressing your employees! Once in a while let them abuse the company, bond and distress and once it is done, you will see not only happy employees but also productive employees. When employees communicate efficiently, though sometimes they might seem to be losing precious time, projects go faster and smoother!

Last but not least, thank you Axi team for allowing me to dream!

Sorry for not being very active lately, but I have a good excuse. I just got married and I guess my blog got lost in between ceremony arrangements and pre and post honeymoon.
But I am back and that’s what matters!
Though I have been silent on the blog, I have been really active, met a lot a people, travelled, shared experiences.
I taught and I have been taught and now, little by little, I will enlighten you as well.
Let’s start by having fun! I searched the net to see what cv formats are out there. Let’s say I was just curious to see what the new fashion is.
I found a pleasantly surprising site proposing 30 “outrageous” cv templates. They rock! To be sincere with you I would be delighted to see more of those!
You know how crazy I am about out of the box cvs and cv designs and this site really made me happy.
Enjoy some samples and do not hesitate to visit webdesignerdepot.com.

The Programme’s objectives are first, to support the development of quality lifelong learning (a reference to the first paragraphs of Articles 149 and 150 of the Treaty of Rome, which establish the European Union’s duties in education and training in those terms); and thereafter to help Member States develop their own education and training systems. Although the objectives are expressed in somewhat abstract terms, they are underpinned by actions which concentrate on the creation of links between people, institutions and countries in education and training – what the programme describes as the “European Dimension” of education and training.

It has six sub-programmes:

* The Comenius project, supporting actions for schools (from pre-primary schools to upper secondary or equivalent)

* The ERASMUS programme, supporting exchanges of students in higher education, as well as cooperation between universities and colleges, etc;

* The Leonardo da Vinci programme, supporting actions in initial and continuing vocational education and training (including student and apprentice exchanges, cooperation between colleges, etc)

* The Grundtvig programme, supporting actions in the field of adult education

* The Transversal programme covering activities in four themed areas across all sectors of education and training: policy cooperation and innovation in education and training; foreign language teaching; development of ICT-based content and services; and dissemination of results of the programme;

* The Jean Monnet Programme, supporting institutions and actions in favour of European integration.

You can find more information here.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

* A wide range of assignments

The missions are diverse and determined by the companies’ needs: market research, technical support to local teams, administrative and sales assistance, etc.

* Highly skilled and motivated candidates

60,000+ resumes are available in the UBIFRANCE database. 70% of the candidates have 5+ years of higher education. 50%+ are graduates from an engineering or business school.

* Flexible & simplified management

There is no contractual link between the company and the candidate. UBIFRANCE handles the administrative aspects of the program, so companies can focus on their operational activities. .

* Strong support in the recruitment process

Companies are able to recruit candidates through the UBIFRANCE resume database. Talent sourcing and HR matching by a dedicated team at UBIFRANCE is also available to identify specific candidate profiles.

* Attractive and affordable cost structure

The French company is responsible for the cost of the V.I.E and therefore benefits from tax exemption. The V.I.E program is an excellent alternative to expatriation.

You can find more information on: www.ubifrance.fr www.ubifrance.com www.civiweb.com (enter the program)

Lets find your luck!

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Seneca

As I was telling you before, and I will probably tell you 100 times, knowledge is power. Get out of bed and get informed. Learn everything you can, any time you can from anyone you can. Spot the right moment and act!

Time and location as opportunities are crucial in fulfilling your goal. You can have all the motivation, talent and skill in the world, but if you do not use them at the right place and at the right moment, your chances for a brilliant career are reduced or nil. That is why you have to always pay attention to everything surrounding you. Be an eagle!

What are those opportunities and where to find them?
It depends on the stage that you are in your life. It could include, academic settings, extracurricular activities, entry-level jobs, internships, scholarships, international exchange programs, job shadowing, coaching, mentoring, job placement and last but not least industry contacts.

They are everywhere and you just have to look more carefully and take the chance. The earlier you begin, the better it is going to be for you.

For instance, as a student, extracurricular activities can help a lot in the job hunt. Evidence of clubs, sports, can prove leadership and ability to work in groups. Studies show that individuals with many extracurricular activities tend to get a job in sales or eduction easier than other individuals.

If you are a mature person, coaching, mentoring, job placement and industry contact will definitely help you. For as sad as it can seem, sometimes the key of your success is not what you know, but who you know. So go socialise, make as many friends as you can digest.

Careful, opportunities can depend upon economic cycles! What is a great opportunity today may completely detour the paths of your career choices tomorrow.  Make sure you aware of such factors and their implications regarding opportunities.

Analyse and take the opportunity that better suites you. If you feel that a certain opportunity is not worth the time and effort at the stated time, do not bin it. Just shelve it in lieu, for a better timing and choose the one with a better return.

Now, just like last time, take a piece of paper. Write down all the professionals you know and how they could help you.
Write down about all opportunities you know. Are they enough? Are you sure?
Where else can you find them, where can you get information from?

Tip. One of the keys of my success were my mentors. In Uni my mentor was the faculty director, during my master, an international professor, ex counsellor of a well known Prime Minister. I then entered in the real professional world and my coach was a French Diplomat. Now my coach is a writer.
I keep in touch with all of them and I think a lifetime would not be enough to thank them.

I know it sounds poch, but you can do it as well. I met those people at different social events and all I had to do was to ask. You would be surprised how flattered and happy they were to become my mentors.

Dear Staff,

It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary.
If we see you wearing Prada trainers & carrying a Gucci bag we assume you are doing well financially and therefore you do not need a pay rise
If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes and therefore you do not need a pay rise
If you dress in-between, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a pay rise.

SICK DAYS:
We will no longer accept a doctor statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

SURGERY:
Operations are now banned. As long as you are an employee here, you need all your organs. You should not consider removing anything. We hired you intact. To have something removed constitutes a breach of employment.

PERSONAL DAYS:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

HOLIDAYS:
All employees will take their vacation at the same time every year. The holidays are as follows: January 1 & December 25

TOILET USE:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilets. In the future, we will follow the practice of going in alphabetical Order. For instance, all employees whose names begin with ‘ A’ will go from 8:00 to 8:20, employees whose names begin with ‘ B’ will go from 8:20 to 8:40 and so on. If you’re unable to go at your allotted time, it will be necessary to wait until the next day when your turn comes again.
In extreme emergencies, employees may swap their time with a co-worker. Both employees’ supervisors must approve this exchange in writing. In addition, there is now a strict 3-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the ‘ trap’ door will open and a picture will be taken.
After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the ‘ Chronic Offenders’ category.

LUNCH BREAK:
Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure. Fat people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that’s all the time needed to drink a Slim Fast and take a diet pill.
Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplation, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

Regards,

The HR BIIIG Boss

source: www.guy-sports.com

The sooner you understand how and why those factors influence your decisions, the closer you are to a career plan.

Grab a pen, have a coffee and let’s analyse them together. Remember, it is all about you, your environment, personalty, opportunities and your perception on them. I am here to guide you in discovering what really matters for you.

Ready?

1. Your environment

Throughout a career, an individual seeks to accommodate the environment with one’s goals, while at the same time being incorporated into the environment (Kroll, Dinklage, Lee, Morley, & Wilson, 1970).

It is all about understanding what the society expects from you and you can do that by gathering as much information as possible. Beware of society myths such as woman are expected to be good teachers and man are expected to be good plumbers. So, read as much as you can, inform yourself – for as lame as it may seem knowledge really is power.

Once you’ve got the bigger picture, think about what people in your close environment expect from you. Parents, teachers, friends and others.

At the end of the day your career is about them as well. What would be the point of being a great tailor, dentist or teacher if you leave on a desert island and there is no one to see, to care, to gossip….

Take a piece a paper and write down what you think society expects from you.  Now split it into three columns. In the first one write down the persons that influence your environment. In the second, for every person write down what you think they expect from you.

As it is quite difficult to verify your assumption about what society expects from you, rely on the people in the first column. Ask them straight forward what do they expect. Do not cheat, do not influence them just for the sake of hearing what you want to hear!

Go, go, go!