December 2004

HTP, interview

Auditions Are Not Tests

I had dinner recently with someone who said, “We put our candidates through the wringer. First we test them, then we interview them, then we give them another test.” I spoke with someone else whose manager wants an extensive role play to pit candidates against each other (sounds a little like The Apprentice to me). […]

HTP

Change in commenting system

I’m in the midst of changing commenting systems, so you can’t see all the old comments. I hope to import them shortly. In the meantime, please use this commenting system to comment.

blog, MPD

Moving to a new commenting system

Due to incredible volume of spam comments, I’m moving to a new commenting system. The new one is installed. I’m working on importing the old comments to this system. In the meantime, it’s ok to leave comments here.

HTP, job analysis

How Technical Does a Project Manager Have to Be?

I’m in Israel this week, teaching project management. In one class, a student asked, “How technical does a PM have to be?” The inevitable answer: it depends. A project manager needs to understand the dynamics behind the work of the project. I was teaching software (and hardware) project management today. A PM for a software

MPD, multitasking

Making the Problems of Multitasking Real

Clarke Ching’s Multitasking MAKES YOU STUPID is another great article. But when I teach PMs or coach managers, they say, “I need to multitask to get things done.” Or, they say, “I’m ok with multitasking.” Even smart people think they can do a couple of things at one time. Maybe they can. But the more

hiring strategy, HTP

Graphology is Not Useful

In Handwriting and Your Job Search, Maya refers to It’s All in the Handwriting. Maya, you’ve been had. I wrote about this on the Bostonworks HR blog, see Debunking Graphology.Graphologists (if you can even honor them with a scientific-sounding name) are selling snake oil. I bet your handwriting looks a lot like your mother’s, or

MPD

Visit to Israel

I’m teaching a few project management courses in Israel next week at Sela. If you’re in Israel, and would like to have dinner on Dec. 7, let Roy know. He’s arranging a dinner. Thank you, Roy!

MPD

How Many Process People?

  Yesterday, I was talking to a colleague about a new job he’s considering. It’s in a regulated industry, and he had some assumptions: that regulated industry auditors assume a waterfall lifecycle and that organizations require process people to improve the process. Regulated industries do not require a waterfall lifecycle. What they do require is

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