As part of my job running Terraform Industries, I get to build an amazing team of super smart people, and that involves interviewing hundreds of people. Over time certain patterns have become obvious, but I remember when they weren’t obvious to me on the other side of the table! It has become clear to me … Continue reading Stuff You Should Have Been Taught In College But Weren’t
Tag: employment
Employment Society
"Healthcare in the United States is in the midst of a massive wave of consolidation. For example, fifty years ago, virtually all non-academic, non-government U.S. physicians had an ownership interest in their practices. Today, approximately 70% of U.S. physicians are employed by hospitals or other corporate entities. Likewise, mergers and acquisitions have landed more than … Continue reading Employment Society
The Employment Interview
https://twitter.com/businessbarista/status/1587098263034920961?s=20&t=LUuOPwlxzinlhlxBcrrCTw I was reading this tweet, and it reminded me that I used to use an interview template when interviewing people for positions. Still strikes me as a decent tool. I find it useful to have a framework for evaluating people, so you can focus on what's important to doing the job well and can … Continue reading The Employment Interview
Life Lesson: Notice & Exit Interviews
"After 14 years at Microsoft I turned in my resignation with 3.5 weeks of notice. No big deal. I was taught when I was younger it was classy. That it allows for a smooth transition and it’s the last thing people remember. I had some key turnovers I wanted to take care of. Again trying … Continue reading Life Lesson: Notice & Exit Interviews
Five Traps to Avoid When Working at Big Companies
https://mobile.twitter.com/arvanaghi/status/1504523654801022987 Being someone's lieutenantDeveloping expertise that only applies to that companyFalling for perksGet raises, not readjustments (top end, 7% increase a year)Lack of recognition h/t to Brandon Arvanaghi I'd probably shorten this list to two items: Be good at doing something many companies and/or people need.Get recognized for being good by being paid for it, … Continue reading Five Traps to Avoid When Working at Big Companies
A Boring Dystopia: Mouse Movers
"“The pandemic has proved to be a catalyst to saying no to the ‘9-to-5’ schedule. The tables have turned in favor of the Worker,” Rodriguez told me. “They are in power today. They value work flexibility. They are ambitious. They value work-life balance and are not afraid of saying no to employers who don’t share … Continue reading A Boring Dystopia: Mouse Movers
Communities vs. Transactions
My wife and I have different ways of looking at the world. It occurs to me today that the ambiguity of these two ways of looking at relationships is often exploited. I think my wife's understanding is typical. In her view, people do things for one another because they care about one another. Unless it … Continue reading Communities vs. Transactions
Four Hours of Work
"The real lesson – or one of them – is that it pays to use whatever freedom you do have over your schedule not to "maximise your time" or "optimise your day", in some vague way, but specifically to ringfence three or four hours of undisturbed focus (ideally when your energy levels are highest). Stop … Continue reading Four Hours of Work
Policy of Poverty
"The American economy runs on poverty, or at least the constant threat of it. Americans like their goods cheap and their services plentiful and the two of them, together, require a sprawling labor force willing to work tough jobs at crummy wages. On the right, the barest glimmer of worker power is treated as a … Continue reading Policy of Poverty
Play Your Own Game
1. Judge less.At least half the people doing things with money that you disagree with are playing a different game than you are. You probably look just as crazy in their eyes.2. Figure out what game you're playing, then play it (and only it).So few investors do this. Maybe they have a vague idea of … Continue reading Play Your Own Game
And What Do You Do? I Live Here.
"A monk walking through the woods came across a couple strolling and answered their greetings. 'And what do you do?' the woman asked. The monk replied, 'I don't do anything. I live here." She insisted. So did he. She thought of life in terms of what one does for a living, but the monk did … Continue reading And What Do You Do? I Live Here.
Weekly Review
"Every Friday afternoon, I’d send my boss a short email with three categories:* The work I had completed that week* What I was working on, including any deadlines that may have shifted or obstacles I’d encountered* What I was waiting on—that is, tasks that I’d completed, but require sign-off from my boss or contributions from … Continue reading Weekly Review
Meritocracy, Intelligence & Education
"...we need to dismantle meritocracy.DeBoer is skeptical of "equality of opportunity". Even if you solve racism, sexism, poverty, and many other things that DeBoer repeatedly reminds us have not been solved, you'll just get people succeeding or failing based on natural talent......One one level, the titular Cult Of Smart is just the belief that enough … Continue reading Meritocracy, Intelligence & Education
Job Descriptions
A good job description has the following: A clear, concise summary of what the company doesA clear, concise summary of what you would be doing in this jobClear, reasonable qualifications for the position / workClear, reasonable responsibilities listed for the positionNo mentions of traits or qualifications that are not concrete (e.g. sense of humor, perseverance, … Continue reading Job Descriptions
cafebedouin.org 