career development

Performance Review Dos and Don’ts

Performance reviews rarely rank high on the list of responsibilities managers enjoy. Giving feedback can be awkward and uncomfortable. Still, some things can make the experience more productive. Read on for advice about preparing for reviews and offering critiques that will be constructive for all.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
The Tech Industry's Problem with Ageism

Steve Berczuk writes that a hallmark of many tech companies, particularly those practicing agile, is being a flat organization with a company culture based on a meritocracy. When hiring, however, this meritocracy is inconsistent with the importance some companies place on a person's age.

Steve Berczuk's picture
Steve Berczuk
Overcoming Analysis Paralysis

Analysis paralysis is that situation when instead of making a decision and getting on with things, you keep overthinking the process and avoiding taking action. It’s often a mental block caused by a fear of doing something wrong, and it's a common workplace affliction. Here's how to deal with it.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Why Employees Leave Your Company

The average tenure of an employee in the United States is only a few years; some employees only stay as little as one year at even the top tech companies. So when employees leave your company, is it because this is the new trend, or is it because of something deeper and flawed within the company?

Cameron Philipp-Edmonds's picture
Cameron Philipp...
What If You Don’t Want to Be a Manager?

Management isn't for everyone, but many technical professionals worry that they’ll reach a dead end in terms of compensation and organizational clout if they don’t move into management. Read on to learn how to gracefully turn down an offer and how to excel in your career while remaining a techie.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Why Being Kind Will Make You a Better Leader

When you think about successful leaders, kindness is usually not among their first qualities. But kindness and compassion shouldn’t be equated with weakness. In fact, in organizations led by compassionate bosses, employees tend to be more loyal and dedicated. Here's why you should aim for kindness.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
Five Emerging Trends in Testing and QA

Customer expectations are higher than ever, so testing has become more important than ever. Quality assurance must evolve to keep up with changing software development requirements—and that involves adopting new approaches. Here are five emerging trends in testing and quality assurance for 2014.

Beth Romanik's picture
Beth Romanik
How to Deal with Poor Performers

Poor performance can take many forms, but in general, poor performers consistently don’t deliver the results you expect, make too many mistakes, and require too much time to manage. The key is not to let matters slide. The sooner you determine the causes and offer guidance, the better for everyone.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten