I heard about this book today that not only was on an interesting topic, but it had such a catchy title:
Why Work Sucks and How To Fix It
Seriously, great title! How much more blunt can you be? If work flat-out sucks, this book promises to help you fix your job. But this book does more than just that. It discusses the concept of a ROWE, a results-only work environment. This means that employees shouldn't have schedules but should be empowered to work wherever, however and whenever they want so long as their business objectives are attained. They're trying to help large corporations and organizations implement this tactic. Now, I haven't gotten this book yet, but it certainly looks interesting. Still, the concept is a little reminiscent of the 4-Hour Workweek, a top-seller that I gravely disagree with.
In theory, the idea of working in a results-based way works great. Actually this is how I work. But I don't think it's a practical concept for recent grads. And for many people, to boot. Corporate America revolves around the 9-to-5 day, where, yes, sometimes you sit around in your cube and only work two hours out of the day. But that's just how Corporate America works.
While I love the idea of results-based work, I don't think it's practical for many new grads. You're probably just trying to get that first job and are eager for that 9-to-5 gig (and I don't blame you!) Chances are you want to work eight hours a day, and hopefully you will not be bored during that time.
So, what do you think? Can recent grads snag jobs that let them produce results only, or are your first years out of school destined to be wasted in an unproductive work environment? Is it all what you make of it, or do employers need to revise the way they expect employees to work?
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3 comments:
Hi Kristen!
First, I love your blog! Second - the question for me is not so much whether recent grads' jobs provide them with a substantial amount of results-oriented, effective, skill-growing work, but what people do to SUPPLEMENT the gaps in their first jobs out of school (considering most of us start with grunt-work at the very bottom of the ladder).
For example, lets say you land a job right out of college that is less than ideal. What skills, classes, books, etc can you pursue outside of that job to continue growing personally and professionally?
Keep up the great work!
Jenny (www.lifeaftercollege.org)
Thanks, Jenny---great points!
Kristen -
Thanks for the mention of our book...we appreciate it!
And - you and your readers will be glad to know that recent grads benefit in amazing ways from being in a ROWE. The 9 to 5 clock is completely blown away in a ROWE. People can literally do whatever they want, whenever they want, as long as they get the job done. If you're a salaried employee and you get your job done in 30 hours (which you would never know because you're not tracking your time as a salaried employee), more power to you.
And - productivity is up an average of 41%.
How cool is that?!
Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson
Authors of "Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It"
www.caliandjody.com/blog
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