On the Job Archive

Business Lessons from the Tuskegee Airmen

I recently watched the movie, Red Tails, about the Tuskegee Airmen's triumph over racism, poor equipment, and under-utilization during the air war over the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. I really came away impressed not just of the character, performance, and professionalism of the Tuskegee Airmen, but also of the high number of transferable military-to-business skill sets the movie offers. This movie was a great exa... more

Five Traps to Avoid on Your First Job

Military.com

If you recently landed your first real job after military service, you're probably on a high right now. But your challenge is just beginning, because getting that first job is one thing, and thriving at it is quite another. How can you succeed in your new position? By avoiding first-job traps like these: Gossip It's practically impossible to avoid office gossip, but you don't have to take part in it. Indeed, becoming a participant is al... more

Meet Your New Uniform

Men's Wearhouse

What to Look for in a Suit Welcome home! As you join the rank and file of civilian life, one of your first moves will be to refresh those suits you mothballed when you enlisted. Or, if you joined the services out of high school, you'll start building a business wardrobe for the first time. When you go shopping for suits, you may notice that styles have changed in the past few years. The most significant change for suits is the emergence of t... more

Competent Jerks and Lovable Fools

The Likeability Factor at Work Do your coworkers like you? Or do they avoid you like day-old conference-room bagels? Does it matter, as long as you're getting the job done? You betcha, says a Harvard Business Review report on "Competent Jerks, Lovable Fools, and the Formation of Social Networks" by Tiziana Casciaro and Miguel Sousa Lobo. Like it or not, likeability matters. The study identified four workplace personality types: Lovab... more

7 Deadly Sins for New Hires

Military.com

Congratulations, you landed the job! The hard part is over, right? Not exactly. Your first few weeks in a new company are crucial -- they can determine whether your future is paradise or purgatory. And we're not talking only about mastering the technical aspects of your new job. How you behave in your new work environment is just as important -- if not more so. So when you start a job at a new company, avoid these seven deadly (or at least ... more