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  • Serena Rizzo in Volunteering, Motivation, Self-development, Hr

    Earlier today I was reflecting on my volunteering experiences and I have realised that volunteering projects have the potential to bring out the best in me and this results in often performing very well when working as a volunteer.

    I am currently managing the accommodation service (also offered for free) for a London based Festival and I am amazed by both my work peers, who all volunteer, and all the people that have offered to host complete strangers.

    When I accepted to volunteer for the festival, I think I did it for different reasons:

    -friendship: I was asked by a very good friend of mine.
    -passion: It's a swing dance festival and I love the dance
    -doing "big things": I liked that the whole festival was non-profit and all the earnings are invested to make a better festival every year.


    I am fascinated by the reasons… Read morebehind this and I wondered how this can be transferred into organisations. Here is an article that illustrates some of the reasons behind volunteering and how organizations can apply these principles:

    http://files.asme.org/Events/LTC11/25029.pdf

    How about you? Do you volunteer?If yes, what motivates you?
    Show previous 2 comments
    • Jean McCormick
      Jean McCormick
      Serena-I learn so much from your comments. As I posted earlier, my volunteer activities have enriched my life. It is a case of getting so much more than I give.
    • Serena Rizzo
      Serena Rizzo
      Jean, it's always pleasantly surprising to find out what people do out of hours!
      I was really impressed by what you are doing and have much respect for it as it really does takes guts, but also, as we both said, it takes genuine motivation and sometimes, like in your case, love :).

      For those who haven't read it, here is Jean's comment to the question: What is your true north?
      "in my case, it is finding a cure for my nephew's illness, epidermolosis bellosa, a rare and life threatening skin … Read moredisease. It defines me, my professional journey and my personal activities. Because of my involvement with various related organizations, my life has become enriched through my association with the brave patients, the brilliant doctors and the heroic parents all united on one goal: finding the cure in time. I connected deeply to the examples in your article."
    • Ken Polotan
      Ken Polotan
      @Serena, this is actually Adam Grant's point: that people are more engaged when they are involved in a service that's of higher cause. It's not just financial remuneration but rather the idea that you're helping make a difference in somebody's life. And therefore, making a difference in the world.
    • Sanford Dickert
      Sanford Dickert
      @Serena - way to go. Keep up the lifes work...

    • Serena Rizzo in Career, Hr, Management, Leadership, Advice

      Have you ever heard of Ricardo Semler?

      Semler is the CEO of Semco, a Brazilian Company known for its form of "industrial democracy": most workers set their own working hours, they vote for the most important decisions and most of the management gets to set their own salary and bonuses.

      Here are some of Semler's mottos, taken from this piece he wrote for Harvard Business Review in 2000:
      http://www.resourceful-humans.com/Documents/digital_wout_strat.pdf

      - Never stop being a start-up
      - Don't be a nanny.
      - Let talent find its place.
      - Make decisions quickly and openly.
      - Partner promiscuously.

      His company is really successful and his style inspires and impresses others. However, can this management model work for all companies? And if it has proven to be so successful, I keep wondering: why hasn't it been adopted elsewhere?
      • WORKing for YOUth
        WORKing for YOUth
        When businesses recruit young people they are looking for fit as much as anything else. Applicants should also make the same judgements. The culture outlined in the article will not be everyone's 'cup of tea' : it is important to do your research on companies you are applying to.
      • Serena Rizzo
        Serena Rizzo
        Thanks guys, that's a good point. I also think that giving so much "freedom" of choice to the employee also means giving them a fair amount of responsibility.
        I think it would be really motivating for me but I do understand it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea as you said...

      • Serena Rizzo in Career, Hr, Psychology

        This article suggests tips on how to stay in a job that we don't enjoy.

        But do we really need tips to enjoy a job? Would it not be more logical to look for an opportunity that would make us happier and always try to improve?
        • How to Love a Job You Hate

          Learning to Love a Job You Hate The downturn of the last few years has left a number of scars on the psyche of the American worker. The Great Recession toppled a number of business giants; and while some were deemed "too big to fail" many titans of industry also went the way of the dodo.

        Show previous comment
        • Jean McCormick
          Jean McCormick
          Serena-Yes and no. There is the "grass is greener" syndrome. Often you will find the same challenges and realize that It's you and not the job! Individuals need to diagnose why they don't enjoy the job and fix what they can with themselves. Change also presents new challenges.

          However, if you have done all you can to fix yourself, the situation and you still hate your job, start looking!
        • Jean McCormick
          Jean McCormick
          Serena-Yes and no. There is the "grass is greener" syndrome. Often you will find the same challenges and realize that It's you and not the job! Individuals need to diagnose why they don't enjoy the job and fix what they can with themselves. Change also presents new challenges.

          However, if you have done all you can to fix yourself, the situation and you still hate your job, start looking!
        • Serena Rizzo
          Serena Rizzo
          Those are some very good considerations Jean. Thanks for sharing them!

        • Serena Rizzo in Hr, Recruitment, Advice, Leadership, Talent Managing

          Why do people leave their job?
          They don't leave companies, they leave you.

          A true story written by recruitment expert Greg Savage, that digs into the reasons why employees leave their jobs and how to make the most out of it.

          What I particularly loved is this:

          "A ‘company’ is just a legal entity. A ‘business’ is a collection of desks and computers. No one resigns because of that.

          It’s the decisions, the motivation, the atmosphere, the ethos, the support, the training, the vision, and the direction set by the leadership that they will follow."

          Thanks Darin for sharing this.

          Have a good week-end everyone!
          • People don't leave companies. They leave leaders! - The Savage Truth

            I have employed thousands of people over the years. And every time one resigned, a little part of me died. (OK, I lie. I have actually danced a celebratory jig around my desk on the odd occasion, but that's another blog!) Mostly, my natural reaction has always been a human one I suppose.

          Show previous 3 comments
          • Serena Rizzo
            Serena Rizzo
            Thanks Dimitri! It sounds like it is very similar as you said.

            I think what is stated about management and needs is very true. However I keep wondering, why do a lot of managers still fail in that?
            I feel like sometimes people who have experience in a profession do not necessarily have management skills. Does the management system fail because we hire managers based on their experience rather than managing skills?
          • Dimitris Havlidis
            Dimitris Havlidis
            I cannot talk for other fields but in Development and Design the big mistake comes from the employers who believe that seniority is actually a sign of the ability of someone fo manage/lead a team.

            Leadership and management skills have nothing to do with how good a developer or designer is, nevertheless employers still treat it as the natural career development ... junior - mid weight - senior - team lead - higher management, which by all accounts is just wrong.

          • Jean McCormick in Career, Hr, Organizational Structure

            Have you ever had or considered a job with two managers? I had one in an organization that was heavily matrixed. It actually worked well. However, the organization had put in a tremendous amount of time in making it all work.

            What do you think when you hear the term "dotted line reporting"? Does it make you nervous? Or actually feel better to know that your performance isn't in the control of one person?
            • Are You Considering a Job with Two Managers?
              Are You Considering a Job with Two Managers?

              If you are sitting in a job interview and hear the words "dotted line reporting," you have just encountered the world of matrix management. In these organizational structures, you typically have two bosses: a "straight-line" direct boss, who is the person who prepares your performance review and decides on your raise; and a "dotted-line" boss, who may also assign you work but has less control over your review.

            • Serena Rizzo in Career, Advice, Hr

              Is it ok/good or bad to contact the company about the status of your application?



              I would be interested to know both hiring managers point of view and everybody else's (we have all been applicants, haven't we) point of view on this.
              • Waiting to hear back about a job application? Use your time wisely
                Waiting to hear back about a job application? Use your time wisely

                It's an all-too-familiar routine for jobseekers: you find a great job advertisement, spend days carefully putting together the perfect covering letter, tailor your CV to match the job description as closely as possible and ask your mum to proofread it all. You even spent half an hour drafting and re-drafting a short accompanying email.

              Show previous 2 comments
              • Danjun Qian
                Danjun Qian
                Hi Serena! I was an HR for 3 months in a medium sized company and now I am trying to apply for a summer job. Therefore I think I can give some comments in terms of your request. To be honest, when I was a HR, I would prefer the applicants who actively contact the company. I would think this applicant is highly motivated or at least try his/her best to get the job. It would get annoyed sometimes by frequent questions, but it only happens when you are in bad mood or busy time.
                As an applicant, I … Read morestill consider contacting the company very carefully. Because it really depends on the HR personality, mood and his/her working situation. It is obviously that different business culture needs to be taken into consideration as well, especially when you apply jobs in the country which has a totally different business culture than your own country.
                All in all, try to be active, check out the rules of different companies and different business culture.
              • Jean McCormick
                Jean McCormick
                Serena : I love this! As I wrote in another post, I recently was oversaw the hire of dozens of people for a division. I had one candidate who literally stalked me. (Lunch? Coffee?) She did not get the job. On the other hand, you never want to be out of sight , out of mind. I always recommend setting a regular cadence and a reason for correspondence. Sharing content on new can be powerful.
              • Serena Rizzo
                Serena Rizzo
                Thanks Danjun and Jean for your comments.
                Danjun, I know you've said a lot already, but would you share more on when you think it is appropriate to be in touch or not? A
                s you said, part of it depends on the HR manager's personality, but aside for that, what else do we need to know?
                I find that start-ups appreciate an active job seeker more, but maybe that's just my own take.
                What else do you consider?
              • Danjun Qian
                Danjun Qian
                What you said is correct. There are more than personality needs to be taken into consideration. Such as, the company's recruiting system. If it is a start-up pr medium sized company, they definitely appreciate more active applicants. Even in giant corporations, it is still more effective to find out the right person to send application. The important thing is to carry out this action in an appropriate way and in a good mannar(obviously stalking is not a good way).

              • Serena Rizzo in Career, Hr, Advice

                Question of the day: what makes a good recruiter? How can companies make sure they choose the best for them?
                • Cristina Ispas
                  Cristina Ispas
                  A good recruiter (in my perspective and among other skills) is the one who knows how to highlight the potential of the candidates and knows how to turn it to account.
                • Serena Rizzo
                  Serena Rizzo
                  Cristina, sorry maybe I didn't explain myself well. I am curious about how a company would know how to chose a good recruiter. Or maybe that's a too broad question :)

                • Jocelyn Yip in Market, Research, Recruitment, Hr

                  Gaining market knowledge is important, but how? BNT, care to share some of your methods?
                  • Serena Rizzo
                    Serena Rizzo
                    Hey Jocelyn, what do you mean more specifically?
                  • Jocelyn Yip
                    Jocelyn Yip
                    For example market movements and trends. For us we should gather the movements in the job market, company culture of our clients....etc.

                  • BraveNewTalent in Hr, Management, Organizational Behavior

                    How does the best workplace on earth look like?

                    In this HBR article, emeritus professor of organizational behavior Rob Goffee reveals how a "dream organization" operates:

                    "it’s a company where individual differences are nurtured;
                    information is not suppressed or spun;
                    the company adds value to employees, rather than merely extracting it from them;
                    the organization stands for something meaningful;
                    the work itself is intrinsically rewarding;
                    and there are no stupid rules."

                    Do you agree with him? What else would you add?
                    • Creating the Best Workplace on Earth - Harvard Business Review
                      Creating the Best Workplace on Earth - Harvard Business Review

                      Stand for More Than Shareholder Value People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, something they can believe in. "I've worked in organizations where people try to brainwash me about the virtues of the brand," one seminar participant told us.

                    • Serena Rizzo in Career, It, Start-ups, Hr

                      Can you be too old to go digital?
                      • You're never too old to go digital
                        You're never too old to go digital

                        If there's one area of UK business that looks recession-proof right now, it's the digital sector. Against a backdrop of rising unemployment, digital media and marketing has grown into a multi-billion pound industry. Digital careers cross a range of sectors - from retail and professional services to not-for-profit and education.

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