Link: http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/aug2008/ca20080822_050187.htm

Kill the stultifying, dull corporate-speak—before it kills your chance to get an interview
by Liz Ryan for BusinessWeek.com

There are résumés that, from the first word, signal that the person behind the résumé is someone you'd like to know more about. These provocative résumés come in as many variations as the people whose backgrounds they describe, but they have one thing in common. A clever, well-written résumé does not begin with (or include) the words "results-oriented professional."

Sometime in the past 20 years, many or most of the white-collar workers in the U.S. fell into a torpid state where their résumés were concerned, using the same language that everyone else uses and stuffing as much stilted corporate-speak into the résumé as possible. How else could one explain why anyone would write "Versatile Business Professional skilled at multilevel, cross-functional project management utilizing excellent verbal and written communication skills"? Who talks like that?

It's hard to say whether we use trite, done-to-death corporate boilerplate in our résumés because doing so makes us feel businesslike, or because we're afraid to write a résumé in such a way that it would explain what we actually do, why we do it, and what difference it makes. Either way, a résumé that doesn't present you as the sharp, insightful person you are makes your job search harder. The more "you" you can inject into your marketing materials, the better.

keep reading...

Nothing too original... but an interesting presentation of the obvious. Always good to revisit this stuff...

Link: http://changethis.com/pdf/48.01.CorporateChange.pdf

by Mike Kanazawa for changethis.com

"Because so many of these [change] programs fail, some executives
and managers start to believe the old saying that 'people hate
change' must be true. That is not true.

[...]

People don't hate change; they hate corporate change programs.
How can we fix that?"

keep reading...

Link: http://acetalentnet.com.au/enews/newsletaug08.html

All too often we read about the need for workplaces to be flexible in work structure practices as one strategy to attract, retain and maintain Talent. However this is all too often just rhetoric with actual business practices not supporting this. There is a plethora of talented professionals ready and willing to commit to permanent part-time roles in business but sadly, not many roles exist.

aCE talentNET is always wary of recommending any one business or consultancy over another with any recommendation needing to consider the exact needs and requirements of the parties involved. However one particular business that aCE talentNET is happy to showcase in this months comments is Parttime Online ... a business dedicated to supporting businesses and professionals in the pursuit of flexible workplace practices as a strategy to address the Talent shortage.

Interestingly enough, the consulting and contracting market also experiences similar challenges (but to a lesser degree) with many consulting opportunities of a full-time nature. In many cases this limits the potential of businesses to access the highest quality consultants as most consultants have ongoing commitments with a loyal client base... with sometimes only 2-3 days spare capacity each week. Like the permanent job market businesses that can provide the most flexibility in work practices will most likely secure the best quality employees and consultants!

I challenge you to think about ways that you can tap into this exceptional resource market... food for thought!

Deirdre Gruiters
Corporate Talent Agent

Deirdre Gruiters is the Executive Director - Consulting for aCE talent NET, or in other words, aCE talent NET's Corporate Talent Agent. She is also an internationally published author as a result being featured in the July 08 edition of "Consulting Ahead" India (.pdf 5mb). So if looking for Organisational Development resources is what you're needing to do, then Deirdre and the team of aCE talent NET know how to find them. Ask anyone of our continually satisfied clients

keep reading...

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/aug2008/id20080822_832405.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_innovation+%2Bamp%3B+design

Indifference, hostility, and isolation are among the major obstacles to a healthy innovation environment

by Irving Wladawsky-Berger for Business Week

In most companies, just about all the cards are stacked against the nurturing of innovation, especially the kinds of new ideas and disruptive innovations that generally lead to major changes in the marketplace and within the business.

Fostering innovation is very hard, especially if the innovation is disruptive in nature. A spirit of innovation and collaboration does not come easily to an organization. For such a spirit to take hold, it must become an integral part of the company's culture. None of this is easy, but it is what a company must do if it truly wants to create a healthy environment in which innovation can flourish.

keep reading...

Link: http://survey.buseco.monash.edu/index.php?sid=92548&newtest=Y

May we have 5-10 minutes of your time please?

Independent Contractors of Australia has teamed up with Monash University to undertake research on independent contractors. We have a simple, quick online survey that we’d appreciate your filling out. It asks questions about using contractors and employees.

Here is the link:

http://survey.buseco.monash.edu/index.php?sid=92548&newtest=Y

(click the “Next” button at the right to initiate the survey)

Your assistance is much appreciated. The survey results will be published in October this year and we will let you know the outcomes. It's part of a larger research project involving Monash, Independent Contractors of Australia and Entity Solutions.

We're excited about the project because this is the next phase of understanding that needs to be developed to deal with important independent contractor issues.
With many thanks, in anticipation.

Ken Phillips
Executive Director
Independent Contractors of Australia