Comments on: Pay attention to your critics — at least some of them http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:42:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Don’t be a snob about career advice | Texas Wesleyan Career Services http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-216417 Don’t be a snob about career advice | Texas Wesleyan Career Services Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:33:41 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-216417 [...] Listen to people who dont like you. People ask me all the time how I put up with the level of criticism this blog draws. The interesting thing about taking advice from people who don’t like me is that sometimes, they’ll say things that other people wouldn’t say because it would hurt me. I rely on my gut in terms of whose criticism comes from caring and understanding and whose criticism comes from an obsessive need to take me down, but after I figure that out, I still pay attention to my critics.  [...] [...] Listen to people who dont like you. People ask me all the time how I put up with the level of criticism this blog draws. The interesting thing about taking advice from people who don't like me is that sometimes, they'll say things that other people wouldn't say because it would hurt me. I rely on my gut in terms of whose criticism comes from caring and understanding and whose criticism comes from an obsessive need to take me down, but after I figure that out, I still pay attention to my critics.  [...]

]]> By: Allison Williams http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-214223 Allison Williams Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:31:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-214223 I've been a theatre professor, and in advising students for auditions, I often say, "If you have a great monologue, and you feel it shows you well, and you've gotten good feedback on it from people you trust, trust your instincts. And if a director looks at you and says, 'Why did you pick that piece, it's terrible', then count your lucky stars that you're not going to end up working with someone who doesn't have the same aesthetic you do, and can't find a better way to inspire you about their aesthetic." Yes, we should absolutely pay attention to criticism, especially when it's someone who understands but doesn't agree, or when it's someone whose work we admire or respect. But both your work here and your column over at Yahoo suggest that for young people - or anyone who has initiative and ideas and drive - it can be just as valuable to weed out employers with fuddy-duddy habits as to get called in for an interview with a firm you're not a good match for. Is it harder to get a job when you're not playing by the old rules? Often, yes. But if you're truly motivated to do something new and fresh and different, it can be worth working harder to get the job you really want, who look at something like job-hopping and say, "What will you bring to us in your first 18 months, and how will you leave your successor clear instructions?" I've been a theatre professor, and in advising students for auditions, I often say, "If you have a great monologue, and you feel it shows you well, and you've gotten good feedback on it from people you trust, trust your instincts. And if a director looks at you and says, 'Why did you pick that piece, it's terrible', then count your lucky stars that you're not going to end up working with someone who doesn't have the same aesthetic you do, and can't find a better way to inspire you about their aesthetic."

Yes, we should absolutely pay attention to criticism, especially when it's someone who understands but doesn't agree, or when it's someone whose work we admire or respect. But both your work here and your column over at Yahoo suggest that for young people – or anyone who has initiative and ideas and drive – it can be just as valuable to weed out employers with fuddy-duddy habits as to get called in for an interview with a firm you're not a good match for.

Is it harder to get a job when you're not playing by the old rules? Often, yes. But if you're truly motivated to do something new and fresh and different, it can be worth working harder to get the job you really want, who look at something like job-hopping and say, "What will you bring to us in your first 18 months, and how will you leave your successor clear instructions?"

]]> By: How to Deal with Web Rage and Web Rudeness « Web Worker Daily http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-111594 How to Deal with Web Rage and Web Rudeness « Web Worker Daily Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:00:52 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-111594 [...] the best way to handle rudeness online? While you can learn something from your critics, when criticism tips over into personal insults that’s a good time to turn away. [...] [...] the best way to handle rudeness online? While you can learn something from your critics, when criticism tips over into personal insults that's a good time to turn away. [...]

]]> By: Pamela Slim http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-26380 Pamela Slim Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:49:46 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-26380 Penelope, you are a better woman than I am! I would have been curled up in a corner in a fetal position instead of objectively analyzing the merits of the comments. What irks me is not that people disagree, but how they choose to challenge and question the advice. I don't know why our society is so bent on saying things like "the worst advice EVER ... etc." instead of rationally pointing out where they disagree and respecting your opinions. All I can say is, THANK GOD I don't work in the halls of the corporations where 10 year job stints, no gap of more than 3 days between jobs and perfection at the cost of humanity is the norm. Yuck. Keep on trucking, and congratulations for setting a good example for dealing with criticism gracefully. Most would never take the risks that you do, and reach as many readers the world around. Penelope, you are a better woman than I am! I would have been curled up in a corner in a fetal position instead of objectively analyzing the merits of the comments.

What irks me is not that people disagree, but how they choose to challenge and question the advice. I don't know why our society is so bent on saying things like "the worst advice EVER … etc." instead of rationally pointing out where they disagree and respecting your opinions.

All I can say is, THANK GOD I don't work in the halls of the corporations where 10 year job stints, no gap of more than 3 days between jobs and perfection at the cost of humanity is the norm. Yuck.

Keep on trucking, and congratulations for setting a good example for dealing with criticism gracefully. Most would never take the risks that you do, and reach as many readers the world around.

]]> By: Tony http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-25971 Tony Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:43:59 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-25971 Ditto on your advice. As a late twenties male I still haven't decided what to be when I grow up. I guess the guys with the gold that make the rules haven't figured out that we are on to them. After twenty years with a company you have nothing to show for it. Folks get layed off for the sake of the bottom dollar. I happen to be in a job I love, after four years pay plans have changed and I am making less now than when I started. Forced to look for a new job.....enough ranting Great advice keep up the good work Tony Gonzales Ditto on your advice. As a late twenties male I still haven't decided what to be when I grow up. I guess the guys with the gold that make the rules haven't figured out that we are on to them. After twenty years with a company you have nothing to show for it. Folks get layed off for the sake of the bottom dollar. I happen to be in a job I love, after four years pay plans have changed and I am making less now than when I started. Forced to look for a new job…..enough ranting Great advice keep up the good work

Tony Gonzales

]]> By: Tim http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-25758 Tim Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:35:50 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-25758 I think what got people so riled up about your column is that they are frustrated when they run into people in the real world that seem to have followed your advice! I'm a corporate recruiter (yes, yes, I know) and I can't tell you how frustrating it is to look and look for that perfect candidate that has all the qualifications that the hiring manager is demanding and running into the kind of people that follow your advice. If I see a resume with the right kind of experience but that person hasn't stayed in any job for more than 18 months if drives me crazy because I know the hiring manager wouldn't ever consider that candidate. If they would just show a little commitment and professionalism they might get the job. I have even corrected spelling errors on resumes before passing them on to hiring manangers because I knew that they would otherwise get sent to the trash can. Most people seem to think that recruiters are grumpy gate keepers that deny you access to hiring managers that you are sure would love you. That is NOT the case. We are measured on how many people we hire. We WANT to hire you. Stop giving us reasons not to. I think what got people so riled up about your column is that they are frustrated when they run into people in the real world that seem to have followed your advice! I'm a corporate recruiter (yes, yes, I know) and I can't tell you how frustrating it is to look and look for that perfect candidate that has all the qualifications that the hiring manager is demanding and running into the kind of people that follow your advice. If I see a resume with the right kind of experience but that person hasn't stayed in any job for more than 18 months if drives me crazy because I know the hiring manager wouldn't ever consider that candidate. If they would just show a little commitment and professionalism they might get the job. I have even corrected spelling errors on resumes before passing them on to hiring manangers because I knew that they would otherwise get sent to the trash can. Most people seem to think that recruiters are grumpy gate keepers that deny you access to hiring managers that you are sure would love you. That is NOT the case. We are measured on how many people we hire. We WANT to hire you. Stop giving us reasons not to.

]]> By: Frank Knight http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-25745 Frank Knight Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:13:44 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-25745 I clicked through to your Yahoo! Finance article about career advice on a lark expecting to find the usual poor advice. I was amazed by your intuitive 'counterintuitive' writing. And yes, it is certainly generational. Older people are horrified by the lack of modern structure in the workplace. I was so disgusted with watching clock watchers get promoted by foresaking their families 14 hours every day. Penning people in together for 10 hour work days cuases such a waste of resources and lives but that will soon be a thing of the past. I left my corporate career to write a novel www.veilofeden.com [due out this June] and help with my wife's web business: www.h2studios.com as a result of the 'old rules' and the red tape involved with accomplishing simple tasks. One thing that you may wish to note is that change is the only constant and those able to adapt are happier and make more money than those who sweat the 'bad rules'. I clicked through to your Yahoo! Finance article about career advice on a lark expecting to find the usual poor advice. I was amazed by your intuitive 'counterintuitive' writing.

And yes, it is certainly generational. Older people are horrified by the lack of modern structure in the workplace.

I was so disgusted with watching clock watchers get promoted by foresaking their families 14 hours every day. Penning people in together for 10 hour work days cuases such a waste of resources and lives but that will soon be a thing of the past.

I left my corporate career to write a novel http://www.veilofeden.com [due out this June] and help with my wife's web business: http://www.h2studios.com as a result of the 'old rules' and the red tape involved with accomplishing simple tasks.

One thing that you may wish to note is that change is the only constant and those able to adapt are happier and make more money than those who sweat the 'bad rules'.

]]> By: Stefani Quane at Lawlady, Inc. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-23763 Stefani Quane at Lawlady, Inc. Mon, 05 Feb 2007 04:47:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-23763 I think your writing is fabulous. I think you are fresh and enjoyable to read. I guess you appeal to a 43 year old single female who struggles with finding the right voice for her blog. Yours makes me feel more comfortable with mine. Thank you. Stefani writing at lawlady.typepad.com. I think your writing is fabulous. I think you are fresh and enjoyable to read. I guess you appeal to a 43 year old single female who struggles with finding the right voice for her blog. Yours makes me feel more comfortable with mine. Thank you.

Stefani writing at lawlady.typepad.com.

]]> By: Sarah http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-23385 Sarah Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:53:17 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-23385 Tag... you're it! Tag… you're it!

]]> By: Liz http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/comment-page-1/#comment-23352 Liz Sun, 04 Feb 2007 12:20:01 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/02/02/pay-attention-to-your-critics-at-least-some-of-them/#comment-23352 I think that what people don't understand yet about your column on Yahoo is that you are giving advice not just to "get a job" but to get a career, and enjoy your career. That's why I enjoy your blog and now your columns. Case in point--the job hopper advice. Clearly someone interviewing you will think twice about you if they see a lot of job hopping. But what I understand from what you wrote is that jobhopping is very common so probably won't be the dealbreaker for the prospective employer, but makes the difference to you between finding the job you love and just a job. I do think that your column is more relevant at certain points of the career cycle (like starting out, or changing fields) than others (late career folks, retirement). And not everyone will be comfortable applying all your tips. At least they are thought-provoking. I think that what people don't understand yet about your column on Yahoo is that you are giving advice not just to "get a job" but to get a career, and enjoy your career. That's why I enjoy your blog and now your columns.
Case in point–the job hopper advice. Clearly someone interviewing you will think twice about you if they see a lot of job hopping. But what I understand from what you wrote is that jobhopping is very common so probably won't be the dealbreaker for the prospective employer, but makes the difference to you between finding the job you love and just a job.
I do think that your column is more relevant at certain points of the career cycle (like starting out, or changing fields) than others (late career folks, retirement). And not everyone will be comfortable applying all your tips. At least they are thought-provoking.

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