Battle of the sexes: How do men's and women's workplace needs differ?

By Mary Lorenz,

Workforce gender differences have always been a hot conversation topic: speculation over why women still earn less than men, the debate over which gender makes better leaders, inherent differences over workplace personas and even how their networking habits differ.

When it comes to what they're looking for in a potential employer, are men and women really all that different?

Not really, according to a recent CareerBuilder study on what job seekers value most about their current and potential employers. According to the survey, men and women showed little variation in what they prioritize for factors like compensation, benefits, training and development and culture.

The only areas that showed any difference were advancement opportunities, work/life balance and appreciation by management:

• Men are 25 percent more likely than women to value advancement in potential employers.


• Women are 20 percent more likely than men to focus on work/life balance and 15 percent more likely to focus on appreciation by their manager.

"The findings indicate that employers who promote career advancement as part of their brand message may have a slightly more masculine appeal, while brands built around the relationships and connections of the organization may have a slightly more feminine appeal, which can be differentiators if you're working to better diversify your organization," says Keith Hadley, director of employment branding at CareerBuilder.

Yet, while these findings show that differences between what men and women want exist in some areas, they may not be as significant as people might expect. Employers might be better off targeting their message by profession. Consider the following findings:

• Nurses (a female-dominated field) are more likely than all women to prioritize work/life balance.


• Engineers (a male-dominated field) are less likely than all men or women to prioritize advancement.

The findings further underscore the need for employers to define who their desired employee is, understand what that employee wants and create specific messages that speak to those wants. 

Source: careerbuilder

How your boss can help you be happier at your job

Justin Thompson,

Employees often benefit from the advice and mentorship of a great boss. If a worker is having an issue that prevents him from being completely satisfied with his job, a simple conversation with his boss could change things for the better. Yet bosses aren't always the most approachable people, and it can be intimidating to bring something other than good news to your manager's attention.

Job seekers were asked to identify ways their bosses could help them have higher job satisfaction. Here are the issues they identified, along with tips on how to broach each topic with your boss.

Issue: Career advancement
How to approach your boss: When it comes to career advancement, let your boss know that you want to acquire more skills through internal or external training. Research courses that will help you improve in your role or allow you to have more flexibility in moving up the corporate ladder. Typically, a company has money allotted for employee training, so it never hurts to ask. 

Issue: Incentives for good work
How to approach your boss: You have to prove your successes in order to earn kudos or monetary rewards. You can't expect recognition without proof that you achieved or surpassed your goals. To do so, benchmark success and keep your boss keyed in on how you're performing. If you have ideas on incentives, consider suggesting them to your boss. 

Issue: Lack of respect for your position
How to approach your boss: Sometimes a boss, especially one who was never in your position, may not understand what you do or may think you can't handle your tasks without supervision. To avoid a micromanager, be proactive in looping him in at every step along the way. Also be transparent about your tasks, and share your hurdles or successes so he is fully aware of the value you bring to the organization.

Issue: Absentee manager
How to approach your boss: Be willing to knock on your manager's door and ask for a few minutes to review your idea or to discuss a project on which you need more detailed direction. If your boss travels frequently and face-to-face time isn't possible, send a brief email that states exactly what you need feedback on and why you need it. 

Issue: Lack of support or camaraderie
How to approach your boss: Simply put, treat your boss the way you want to be treated. Be willing to say hello and ask how she is doing or whether she had a good weekend. Chances are she'll start to reciprocate. It doesn't take a lot to be courteous, but sometimes others need someone else to initiate it. Just be cognizant that managers usually need to maintain some distance from their employees in order to stay professional.

Issue: Feeling belittled or disrespected by your boss in front of clients
How to approach your boss: If you think your manager is "throwing you under the bus" in meetings, schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss how you're feeling. However, instead of making it personal, speak from a professional perspective -- having disagreements in front of clients is bad for business and may cost the company in the long run. Offer to set up time before meetings so that your boss can review and provide feedback on your materials.

Issue: Your boss doesn't trust you or let you do your job your way
How to approach your boss: If you have ideas on how you can be more effective or efficient at your job, present them to your boss. In most cases, you do have a choice in how to do your job, but unless you share your ideas with your boss, chances are he will have you do things his way. Meet to discuss what your manager's expectations are and if success can still be achieved through your methods. Or consider meeting him halfway. By showing your boss that you can be successful doing things your way, your boss will become more trusting of your capabilities. 

Source: careerbuilder

7 lessons learned from TV workplaces

Debra Auerbach,

People watch television for different reasons -- as an escape from their hectic lives, as a means of news and information or purely as a form of entertainment. While some shows (ahem, reality TV, which we fully admit to watching) don't offer much educational value, others can actually teach viewers a thing or two. And with so many shows set in a work environment, the career lessons to be learned are plentiful.

Here are seven lessons learned from some of TV's most recognizable workplaces:

Lesson No. 1: Nice guys can finish first
Show: "The Office"
After former boss Michael Scott left Scranton, Pa., paper company Dunder Mifflin, everyone wondered who would be picked as his replacement. Would it be Dwight Schrute, the scheming, often paranoid salesman who has long been eyeing the job? Or perhaps Jim Halpert, the office jokester, would become the Big Cheese? To the surprise of the office, it was Andy Bernard who took over as manager. While Andy has been known to have some anger-management issues, overall he's a nice guy who puts other people's feelings before his own. While in this day and age it may feel like you have to adopt a ruthless, take-no-prisoners attitude to get ahead at work, Andy teaches us that you can treat people well and win. 

Lesson No. 2: You can be a mom and a successful businesswoman
Show: "Up All Night"
NBC's new hit show "Up All Night" follows the lives of Reagan, her husband Chris and their baby Amy. Reagan is a high-powered producer at "Ava," a talk show hosted by her best friend. When it was time for either Reagan or Chris to head back to work post-baby, it was Reagan who decided she couldn't bear to leave her job. The show covers real topics that working mothers deal with every day -- the guilt of leaving their children, the stress of working a full-time job and coming home to their second job as wife and mother, and the issues parents deal with when one parent is working and one isn't. Yet the main lesson learned from the show is that you'll never be perfect at either -- nobody is -- but you can work at a job you love and still be a great parent. 

Lesson No. 3: Disagreeing is good for business
Show: "Private Practice"
Tune into "Private Practice" on any given Thursday, and chances are at some point during the episode two doctors will be arguing. A common cause for argument among the doctors at Oceanside Wellness is determining the best treatment for a patient. Each makes a case by stating his or her medical opinion, but oftentimes personal beliefs or experiences have some influence as well. While arguing for arguing sake is counterproductive, having a workplace discussion where not everyone agrees can be beneficial to your team and your clients. Hearing different perspectives than your own can help you make a more informed decision and often leads to a better end result. 

Lesson No. 4: It's OK to ask for help
Show: "Parks and Recreation"
The show's star, Leslie Knope, works in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Ind. Leslie is an ambitious workaholic who has dreams of one day being a high-powered politician. To help reach those dreams, Leslie runs for city council. As Leslie's campaign kicks into full gear, she tries to stay on top of her day job. Her boss, Ron Swanson, urges her to delegate work to others, but she thinks she can do it all. Yet as projects begin to slip through the cracks, Leslie realizes that it's OK to get help from others. The moral of the story: If you're feeling overworked, ask team members if they can pick up some of the slack. If you try to take on too much to prove your worth, you may end up making a costly mistake. 

Lesson No. 5: Bullying only gets you so far
Show: "Boss"
As mayor of Chicago, Tom Kayne rules with an iron fist. He uses bullying, intimidation and even violence to get what he wants and to keep his team in line. While his abuse of power does help him succeed in the workplace, it also fosters paranoia. Even if he is paranoid for good reason, he's often second-guessing his relationships, wondering if he can trust anyone from his wife to his advisers. Sure, bullying may get short-term results, but in the long run you'll burn bridges, damage relationships and always wonder if anyone is truly loyal to you.

Lesson No. 6: Lying, even with good intentions, will come back to haunt you
Show: "Grey's Anatomy"
Dr. Meredith Grey -- the show's star and narrator -- is close with Richard Webber, former chief of surgery at Seattle Grace Hospital. Richard's wife, Adele, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at around the same time Meredith began working on a clinical drug trial for the disease. Participating patients either get the drug or a placebo, but who gets what is kept confidential so the results are unbiased. Yet when Adele becomes one of the participants, Meredith breaks the rules and intervenes to ensure Adele gets the real treatment. Eventually, Meredith's secret is discovered, shutting down the clinical trial and putting her career in jeopardy. The lesson learned: Being deceitful or going behind your boss's back -- even if you think you're right -- will do more harm than good. Instead, be transparent with your boss and try to agree on an approach that benefits all parties involved. 

Lesson No. 7: Zero work/life balance is bad for your health
Show: "Homeland"
CIA agent Carrie Mathison is out to prove that former Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody, who was kept in enemy confinement for eight years, has been turned and is now a terrorist. Carrie becomes obsessed with finding out the truth and exposing Brody. Her work takes over her life, and she'll do whatever it takes to get answers, often breaking rules and ruining personal relationships. While this is an extreme example, it's not uncommon for workers to take work home with them, both literally and figuratively. If you count yourself as an overworked employee, make sure to find some balance by taking up hobbies, leaving your computer at home and shutting off your BlackBerry on the weekends. It may take some getting used to, but it'll do your body -- and your career -- good. 

Source: careerbuilder