Choose a mentor by asking yourself where you'd like to be in the next 10 years and what strengths you need to acquire to get there, Hallie Crawford writes. Think about people you could reach out to in your company or in your external networks, and be open to having more than one mentor. U.S. News & World Report (4/3) Is it time to negotiate a raise? Ask yourself whether it's the right time to bring up a pay raise and consider whether you've been working at the company long enough to warrant it, writes Jane Hurst. If you have taken on extra work, put in overtime or made a significant contribution to your organization, it might be time to negotiate a bonus with your boss. Glassdoor (4/2)
Making the Connection
Make sure people pronounce your name correctly It's not out of line to add a way of pronouncing your name phonetically on your email signature or your Twitter handle if people often get it wrong, says career coach Alex Durand. "It shouldn't be an ask or seen as impolite to get somebody to call you how you should be addressed," Durand says. The Muse (3/31)How to build up a contact You might have more success making contacts by connecting with people on the same professional level as you, instead of someone more senior, writes career coach Ashley Stahl. Sending a short email asking for a time to meet is a good way to make an introduction. Forbes (3/29)
The Landscape
Nike aims to overhaul its workplace culture Nike will review HR practices and retrain managers in an effort to improve its workplace culture after a pattern of complaints and departures, including its former chief HR officer. "We are laser-focused on making Nike a more inclusive culture and accelerating diverse representation within our leadership teams," said CEO Mark Parker. Morningstar/Dow Jones Newswires (3/31)
Your Next Challenge
Go for the job even if you don't meet all requirements Don't be discouraged to apply if you do not meet all the criteria in a job description as long as you fulfill the essential requirements, writes Ximena Vengoechea. Try to fill in any "nice-to-have" gaps with other experiences. Fast Company online (3/28)
The Water Cooler
Car theft foiled due to thieves' inability to drive stick Two Florida boys were unable to steal a Domino's delivery man's car last week because neither could drive a vehicle with a manual transmission. When Issac Javier Ortez left his car to deliver a pizza to one of the boys' neighbors, the boys attempted to steal the car, only to find they were unable to drive it away. Fox News (4/1)
