I just fried my second computer in just over a month. My computer guy and good friend tells me I am not treating them correctly. I do think what he is saying has a lot of validity, but that is not the subject of my column.
Act Now! Activate a FREE three days trial to InformationTechnologyCrossing.com, because you know how important it is to know about all the jobs.
When I train other recruiters, I tell them to use the telephone more and not to get hung up on getting every single detail recorded on the computer.
I want to talk about the addiction to technology. I am sure many of us have seen the term “crackberry” for Blackberry and have heard how it is destroying couples’ intimate relations. In fact I am the co-director of a networking organization, and my right hand lady is just as addicted as I am. When she was going in the hospital 15 months ago to deliver her second daughter, we were teasing her about taking her laptop so she could get out the newsletter. If she could have figured out how, I bet she would have done it. I wouldn’t have wanted to see the hospital bill for the power strip and sterilization of the laptop, though. Any accountants out there who think this might have been a legitimate tax write off?
Anyway, I lost my computer just after killing its predecessor. I do have access to another computer in the house, though it doesn’t have my stuff downloaded from Mozy backup and a bunch of libraries. But I want that sucker 24-7. (By the way, if you are wondering, I am typing this article in the wonderful world of Yahoo by virtue of the fact that my Prodigy account is mirrored in it.) The last time I lost my computer, I went through withdrawal for 48 hours. This time it was just a few hours.
My first thought was, “How am I going to recruit”? Then I remembered I had my best years of recruiting without using a computer, and the information that I need I still have fairly available access to. The ironic thing is that my boss, in about 1999, had to make me start using the computer. Here I am eight years later addicted. No, I don’t carry a Blackberry, but I do own a PDA that I feel lost without when I don’t have it with me. Now mind you, I have only had it for 18 months or so, and I only started using it to port the address book and calendar between two computers in different locations.
So where am I going with all this maniacal rambling? We have become a society addicted to technology. I know that’s big news to most of you. I realize we are more productive with it, but is there a point where we become less productive, where we reach the law of diminishing returns?
How many people that receive this column realize that a telephone call today to someone might make you unique and different in the business world? I am not kidding. I know recruiters who rely almost totally on email. There is not a personal touch in that. When I train other recruiters, I tell them to use the telephone more and not to get hung up on getting every single detail recorded on the computer. Eventually the whole point of your business becomes lost for the details.
Last summer, I was listening to an interview with Chris Spielman, the former All American and All Pro linebacker. As some of you may know, he has done a “reality” TV show during the last two summers, where he has taken a number of athletes from different colleges and put them together in a house to see how they would interact. When they first put them together, there was almost no interaction. That is because they all had cell phones, Gameboys and iPods. When Chris figured out what was going on, he took all those devices away. It was amazing how they interacted after that.
Now I know there are all kinds of organizational coaches and gurus who will teach you to check your email two to three times a day and how and what to do with all those emails. Who are they kidding? I’m addicted. Would you tell an alcoholic to drink a glass of wine with dinner three times a week and stop? Get real. We are dealing with a serious problem here. And then add in the easy access to news and blogs worldwide. I am overwhelmed. No wonder I can’t get any work done.
I will end with this story. A few years ago, my wife and I attended a Friday night Shabbat (Sabbath) meal at a friends’ home, where a conservative Rabbi taught about the “Sabbath Rest”. He said he didn’t believe it was totally possible to leave the world behind for 12 to 24 hours because of all the distractions. You know me. I asked, why not?
I am not teaching a religious lesson. But isn’t it time we took back control, made business fun again, actually had a few meaningful, more-than-10-word business conversations, and had a life outside of work? No, this is not another “bring back the dress code” rant. Just, I would like to have fun in business again.
By the way, my computer guy who is a tech wiz and has every gadget known to man can go for hours without answering a message on his cell phone or returning an email. What’s up with that? Has he achieved nirvana and not the rock band?
About the Author
Bill Gaffney has spent the last 17 years as an executive recruiter and career coach. Bill can be reached at 937-567-5267 or wmgaffney@prodigy.net. Please submit questions to askamaxa@yahoo.com.
Derek , Philadelphia, PA
I got a job, thanks to EmploymentCrossing. It is the best service in the world.
Andrew , Columbus, GA
The best part about EmploymentCrossing is the simplicity of the site. It is a very user friendly website.
Jamie , Pueblo West, CO
EmploymentCrossing is a very user friendly website and has a fantastic search engine. I always got quick responses to my search criteria.
Keith , Staten Island, NY
EmploymentCrossing's search engine is excellent. You can search jobs on the basis of specific locations and practice areas.
Carolyn , Harrisburg, PA
I would definitely like to join EmploymentCrossing again if I need to switch my job in future. It was a lot more helpful compared to other websites.
To compare InformationTechnologyCrossing with other job sites
Bring Order and Structure to Your IT Job Search
You have perseverance and can accomplish anything you put your mind to and finding the ideal IT job is no exception. We have a tradition of helping our members accomplish anything they set their mind to. With complete information about every IT job in the market at your fingertips you are going to go far.
You have very high standards for the sort of employer you are working for and also for yourself. You are not afraid to work hard to fulfill your duties because you value security and peaceful living. We give you the tools to pursue your dreams for you and your family.
Become part of a tradition of research excellence that has elevated the careers of countless IT professionals just like you.
Complete the sign up process today and become part of our site today.
Tell us where to send your access instructions:
Total Jobs on InformationTechnologyCrossing
276,402
New Information Technology Jobs This Week
76,045
Jobs on EmploymentCrossing Network Available to Our Members
Adjunct Faculty - Computer Information Systems and United States-WV-Beckley
Adjunct Faculty - Computer Information Systems and/or Information Technology
QUALIFICATIONS:
Mountain State University, Martinsburg Campus, needs a...
Information technology operation positions consist of services as well as processes such as monitoring servers, file transfers, securing data, and a host of other duties as required by each company. There are many IT operations jobs, IT operations work, and information technology careers available but you have to know where to look for the position...
EmploymentCrossing always helped me stay updated with the jobs available in the
market. The daily news on the site was also very informative. I like to read the different archives and the life
style column on EmploymentCrossing.
Aaron , Denver, CO
InformationTechnologyCrossing has a search engine that is really fast. It saves a lot of time.
Melissa , New York, NY
I am very happy with the services provided by InformationTechnologyCrossing. I will surely use it again in future.
See Every Information Technology Job We Can Find on the Internet!
Unlike other sites, InformationTechnologyCrossing works for you and does not charge employers to post jobs and actually goes out and researches jobs for you. The jobs you see are the jobs we find for you and not the ones employers are paying us to post.
To compare InformationTechnologyCrossing with other job sites
Start doing things the way they should be done.
Make objective career decisions with unbiased research, facts and information about IT jobs. Your perseverance, follow through and dependability will all pay off when you have access to:
IT jobs from every company employer career webpage we can find.
IT jobs from every professional job source we can find.
IT jobs from every job board we can find.
IT jobs from every newspaper classified ad we can find.
IT jobs from every specialized IT publication we can find.
IT jobs from every federal, state and local government career page we can find.
IT jobs from every public interest, nonprofit and other career page we can find.
Tell us where to send your access instructions:
Today at InformationTechnologyCrossing
19,883 - Jobs found in last 24 Hours76,045 - Jobs found in last 7 Days276,402 - Total Jobs Found
Your privacy is guaranteed. We will never give out, lease, or sell your personal information.
InformationTechnologyCrossing - #1 Job Aggregation and Private Job-Opening Research Service — The Most Quality Jobs Anywhere
InformationTechnologyCrossing is the first job consolidation service in the employment industry to seek to include every job that exists and not charge employers to post jobs on its site.
InformationTechnologyCrossing uses sophisticated technology and manual work to comb employer websites and other job boards for jobs and bring them all to its site.
