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August 02, 2006 | Comments: (0)
Looking for an employer with good principles
Dear Bob,
I am currently looking for a job and was wondering if you could list 5-10 companies that you have been really impressed with. Companies that make correct principles a part of their culture.
So that you know a little more about me, for the past 10 years I have worked as the only computer guy for a company that has grown from just over 100 employees to about 400 employees. The company does therapy and education for troubled youth. I have repaired all the computers and laptops, installed and configured all the software, setup and configured the file servers, networked the computers, managed the email server and a few other things.
Being the only computer guy, I feel like I have missed out on some great opportunities to learn from my peers. I also think that I need some help developing my interpersonal and communication skills.
Any help you can provide would be very much appreciated.
- Interest in principle
Dear Principled ...
I'm afraid I can't help you with your first question, for a few reasons. First, there's no such thing as a company that fits what everyone is looking for, so what impresses me won't necessarily impress you. Second, I don't have much in the way of inside information about any company other than my clients. Certainly, a company's "Values Statement" isn't going to help, since I'm pretty sure there is an inverse correlation (albeit not a perfect one - I'd estimate the correlation coefficient to be approximately .5326) between printing a Values Statement and adhering to actual values.
And third, the last I looked, 70% of all hiring is done by companies that don't make the Fortune list - ones I'll never have heard of. So if you want to leave the non-profit world, there is no substitute for old-fashioned research. For any company you think you might want to work for, search for news stories and current legal actions that could give you a hint (but note that there are plenty of bottom-feeding law firms that file nuisance suits, so these are far from perfect indicators).
When you interview, remember that you're interviewing the company, too: Explain to the hiring manager that a company's principles are important to you, and ask for examples of situations where the company made a hard choice because its leaders considered it to be the proper course of action.
If I were in your situation, though, I think I'd head down to the nearest United Way headquarters, explain my situation, and ask if they know of any agencies that fit what you're looking for: An IT organization that's more than just two or three people, but that needs an IT professional experienced in working for a non-profit.
Or, recognize that not everyone is capable of being a one-person show, and take advantage of it: Ask if they know of any agencies that are looking for what you, and not that many others, can do.
- Bob
Posted by Bob Lewis on August 2, 2006 04:53 AM
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Lord... this is probably "wrong" for any number of reasons, but I'd highly suggest taking a look at Starwood Hotels & Resorts (the Westin, St. Regis, W, Four Points, Luxury Collection, Sheraton, and Le Meridien). I've worked for them for about a year and a half, and although hotel IT is an entirely separate animal, I've always been very impressed with the comraderie and support I've received from my peers and upper management. Assuming you can deal with the occasionally hectic pace, you should do well, and we can definitely use qualified IT folks. Don't know what openings are available, but I encourage you to apply:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/corporate/careers/index.html
Posted by: George Mattson at August 2, 2006 11:00 AMAnother place to look for you - mid-sized law firms - you have experience with all aspects of IT, they can show you the unique aspects of IT in a law firm. You'll have a small staff to work with. As Bob suggested, talk to the United Way, they'll know some attorneys who've worked with them, and those attorneys will know what firms you should approach.
Posted by: Fred Wagner at August 2, 2006 11:26 AMBob,
In addition, he might want to talk with friends, neighbors and relatives who are happy with the companies for which they work. As an executive, referrals from current, satisfied employees are frequently the best new hires!
One advantage to the not for profit sector is that they are not trying to make a profit. (At least most aren't) So they are not in competition (or at least a lot of them are not) This means that you can work with the IT people of other organizations.
Form a not-for-profit users group and work together.
Posted by: Ray Stevens at August 2, 2006 07:17 PMTo suggest that the United Way would be a good source of principled businesses is misguided.
For many companies, their contribution rate to UW is a matter of status and definitely not a matter of charity. I wonder what Enron's contributions were?
Ah, according to this: http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/aol-metropolitan/97/07/24/search.2-0.html
their '97 campaign goal was over 2.5 million.
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Three books. Three ways to change the world, your life, or at least Bob Lewis' bank account. Leading IT: The Toughest Job in the World distills the world of IT leadership into eight learnable skills and gives you concrete, practical techniques for each one of them. Bare Bones Project Management: What you can't not do makes project management manageable, even for first-time project managers with no formal training in the discipline. ManagementSpeak: What managers say/What they mean … well, it won't help your career, and won't make you a better manager. Mostly, it will make you chuckle, guffaw, and maybe even chortle. Make friends - it's the perfect gift for anyone who has ever suffered through one of those meetings. Order your copies today! |
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