First Hired, Last Fired: How to Make Yourself Indispensable in an Age of Downsizing, Mergers, and Restructuring

Customer Reviews:

Are You Indispensable?.......2004-09-20

"First Hired, Last Fired" is a book designed to help one make him or herself indispensable in today's professional environment, where layoffs due to mergers or downswings in the economy are far too common, and the idea of lifetime employment is the thing of the past. The first section of the book contains useful information on the qualities of mind and personal characteristics that people who are considered indispensable in the workplace appear to possess. The second section helps your measure yourself against those characteristics and plan your own program for becoming indispensable. The third section deals with helping you develop those characteristics and qualities that you feel are missing from your repertoire.

I picked up this book just as I started a new job, figuring that I might as well use all the help I can get in setting off on the right foot in my new career. A natural quesiton might arise: why not just work hard, do the job you're supposed to do, meet all the deadlines, etc.? The author argues (and I agree with him) that simple hard work and dedication are no longer enough to make you indispensable. They are just the pre-requisites. After all, how many such hard-working and dedicated people do you know that are either not treated well by their employers or are let go while somebody seemingly much less deserving gets promoted? This is where this book comes in handy, as it spells out exactly which qualities will make you indispensable (and they may not be what you think!).

What I also like about this book is that it's interactive. For example, it provides an opportunity to evaluate yourself on the 18 dimensions of indispensability. Having done that, you get a much clearer picture where you need to do the most work. The book also helps you prioritize your efforts, so that you do not spread yourself too thin by working on too many things at once. Then, it guides you through a series of targeted exercises and recommendations, aimed at ehnancing specific indispensability attributes.

Overall, I found this book to be extremely practical and useful. Although I got my copy at the library, I've already renewed it twice and am now thinking of actually purchasing one for myself - so that I would have it handy for easy reference!

I liked this book.......2000-02-10

Successful books usually confirm what we know to be true. I felt that about this book. The authors have over twenty-five years of consulting to companies and observing people in the workplace. They know what they are talking about and it shows clearly. For this book they interviewed more than sixty bosses and coworkers of "indispensable" employees. These "first hired, last fired" people each have at least two but usually more of these six characteristics.

·They see the whole system behind the problem. They don't oversimplify complex issues.

·They don't stick narrowly to their own job but take responsibility for success of the whole enterprise. They act like "owners".

·They are ready to interact with and help others but only in limited ways and only when needed.

·They are cooperative, not competitive with others inside the company. They are relatively free from company politics, tensions and conflicts.

·They have a can-do attitude.

·They are adaptable to change.

In the books first section-"What indispensable People Are Like"-the authors quote liberally from their interviews, painting vivid pictures of the six qualities and how individuals showed them in their daily work. The rest of the book, and its main part, guides readers in "Becoming an Indispensable Person" with many suggestions, exercises and questionnaires to help you become the kind of person others need and like to work with.

But for me the book is a guide enjoying any job. Trying just a few of the suggestions should increase anyone's satisfaction with their work life. The book is down to earth and makes sense. I enjoyed it.

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Affirmative Action Versus Seniority: Last Hired, First Fired
Herbert Hill , Linda Jenness , and Willie M. Reid
Manufacturer: Pathfinder Press (NY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Discrimination & Racism | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0873483758

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Last Hired First Fired: Women and the Canadian Work Force
Patricia Connelly
Manufacturer: Canadian Scholars Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Women & Business | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Labor & Industrial Relations | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Labor & Industrial Relations | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0889610444

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The distribution of the unemployment burden: Are the last hired fired first?
Robert H Frank
Manufacturer: Dept. of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Unemployment | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000719O5E

Book Description

This is an ethnographic study of predominantly Puerto Rican low-income people on the Lower East Side of Manhattan who have been involved in the rehabilitation of abandoned buildings through sweat-equity urban homesteading from 1978 to 1993. The study combines a portrait of homesteading in a contemporary urban environment with an analysis of homesteading in the context of economic and political developments at the local, state, and national levels. As participant-observer of the rehabilitation efforts, von Hassell was impressed with the ingenuity and initiative of poor and working-class people. She came to the conclusion that housing as a central factor in poverty amelioration must be interpreted with other factors such as labor, education, and health care, and that despite internal conflicts the project could have been more successful if it had received local political, governmental, and social services support.

Homesteading in New York City, 1978-1993: The Divided Heart of Loisaida. (book reviews): An article from: Social Work

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Homesteading in New York City, 1978-1993: The Divided Heart of Loisaida. (book reviews): An article from: Social Work
Sharon M. Keigher
Manufacturer: National Association of Social Workers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Social Work, published by National Association of Social Workers on January 1, 1998. The length of the article is 522 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Homesteading in New York City, 1978-1993: The Divided Heart of Loisaida. (book reviews)
Author: Sharon M. Keigher
Publication: Social Work (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 1998
Publisher: National Association of Social Workers
Volume: v43 Issue: n1 Page: p92(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Giving a broad view of biological evolution the topics discussed here range from the history of the development of evolutionary thought, through current problems in molecular evolution and the evolution of whole organisms, to evolution of behaviour, sociobiology and man’s place in evolution.

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Evolution from Molecules to Men -
Editor - D. Bendall
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press-
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O07LBW

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Evolution From Molecules To Men

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000EFBBPE

Product Description

A "wide-range view of the present state of Darwinism" through papers presented at the "Evolution of Molecules and Men" conference held at Darwin College in the summer of 1982. Contents includes: A. F. Huxley's "Prologue," "Evolutionary History" (E. Mayr, M. J. S. Hodge), "Molecular and cellular evolution" (M. Eigen, E. Jacob, D. C. Phillips, M. J. E. Sternberg, B. J. Sutton, A. J. Jeffreys, S. Harris, and others), "Evolution of whole organisms" (R. C. Lewontin, E. Nevo, J. L. Harper, S. J. Gould, A. Allam, F J. Ayala, R. Dawkins. R. W. Birkhardt, J. Maynard Smith, T. H. Clutton-Brock, and others), with an Epilogue by J. Passmore. Photograph of Charles Darwin in 1854 on book jacket.

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Evolution from Molecules to Men
D. S. (editor) Bendall
Manufacturer: Cambridge UP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RB2QYK

Book Description

Multiresolution Time Domain Scheme for Electromagnetic Engineering examines the multiresolution time domain (MRTD) scheme and shows how it can be used to satisfy a variety of technical needs. This comprehensive resource presents a combination of theoretically advanced mathematical topics and their application in time domain Maxwell solution techniques. These topics include concepts of signal space, the multiresolution analysis (MRA), and scaling and wavelet functions; construction of MRA families; interconnection among the MRTD, finite difference time domain (FDTD), and MoM; MRTD boundary truncations; MRTD plane wave incidence, near-to-far-field transform, and scattering analysis; MRTD applications on microwave and millimeter wave integrated circuits; and generalized differential matrix operators (GDMOs). This text offers an invaluable, stand-alone reference for scientists, engineers, and students in a wide range of fields.

Book Description

In spite of the increasing importance of microcavities, device physics or the observable phenomena in optical microcavities such as enhanced or inhibited spontaneous emission and its relation with the laser oscillation has not been systematically well-described-until now. Spontaneous Emission and Laser Oscillation in Microcavities presents the basics of optical microcavities. The volume is divided into ten chapters, each written by respected authorities in their areas. The book surveys several methods describing free space spontaneous emission and discusses changes in the feature due to the presence of a cavity. The effect of dephasing of vacuum fields on spontaneous emission in a microcavity and the effects of atomic broadening on spontaneous emission in an optical microcavity are examined. The book details the splitting in transmission peaks of planar microcavities containing semiconductor quantum wells. A simple but useful way to consider the change in the spontaneous emission rate from the viewpoint of mode density alteration by wavelength-sized cavities is provided. Authors also discuss the spontaneous emission in dielectric planar microcavities. Spontaneous emission in microcavity surface emitting lasers is covered, as are the effects of electron confinement in semiconductor quantum wells, wires, and boxes also given. The volume extends the controlling spontaneous emission phenomenon to laser oscillation. Starting from the Fermi golden rule, the microcavity laser rate equations are derived, and the oscillation characteristics are analyzed. Recent progress in optical microcavity experiments is summarized, and the applicability in massively optical parallel processing systems and demands for the device performance are explored. This volume is extremely useful as a textbook for graduate and postgraduate students and works well as a unique reference for researchers beginning to study in the field.

Optical Microcavities (Advanced Series in Applied Physics)

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Optical Microcavities (Advanced Series in Applied Physics)

Manufacturer: World Scientific Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Quantum Theory | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Optics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 9812387757

Book Description

Optical microcavities are structures that enable confinement of light to microscale volumes. The universal importance of these structures has made them indispensable to a wide range of fields. This important book describes the many applications and the related physics, providing both a review and a tutorial of key subjects by leading researchers from each field. The topics include cavity QED and quantum information, nanophotonics and nanostructure interactions, wavelength switching and modulation in optical communications, optical chaos and biosensors.

Numerical Study of Optical Delay in Semiconductor Multilayer Distributed Bragg Reflector and Tunable Microcavity Structures

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Numerical Study of Optical Delay in Semiconductor Multilayer Distributed Bragg Reflector and Tunable Microcavity Structures

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423528719

Product Description

This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSONAFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A300293. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: The Air Force has a growing need for the greater bandwidth, speed, and flexibility offered by optical communication links. Future space systems and airborne platforms will most likely use optical signals for efficient power transmission and to minimize the possibility of spoofing and eavesdropping. Tunable optical delays play an important role in the implementation of free space optical communication links. The primary challenge in implementing these systems is the active maintenance of coherent wave fronts across the system's optical aperture. For space applications, this aperture may he hundreds of meters in diameter. Spatial segmentation of a large aperture into smaller elements is one approach that can be used to solve the problem of coherent waveform maintenance. In this research I explore three methods of achieving electrically tunable optical delay in a semiconductor structure. My first approach entails the use of multiple quantum wells inserted within the high index layers of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) to produce tunable optical delay when a transverse electric field is applied across the DBR. The second approach uses a cantilever mounted on top of a DBR structure. The cantilever is also a DBR and is used to vary the thickness of an air gap within the structure. A third approach relies on changing the angle of incidence of light on a DBR structure to produce a delay. All three methods produce acceptable results.

Optical and Etching Studies of Native Aluminum Oxide Layers for Use in Microcavity Photonic Devices

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Optical and Etching Studies of Native Aluminum Oxide Layers for Use in Microcavity Photonic Devices

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423528743

Product Description

This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSONAFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A000293. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: Optical communication and computing systems are required to meet future information transfer and processing needs. Microcavity devices serve as an enabling technology to implement and integrate optoelectronic systems. It is important to understand the optical and mechanical properties of materials utilize within microcavity devices. Only then is it possible to accurately model and analyze structures. Microcavity structures incorporating a high aluminum content AlGaAs layers are designed, grown, processed, and measured. The processing of these devices includes the conversion of high aluminum-content AlGaAs layers to native aluminum oxide (AlO) layers through the process of thermal oxidation. This selective conversion of microcavity layers provides for the necessary electrical and optical confinement required to produce a plethora of microphotonic devices. The optical properties of hydrolyzed AlO layers within a monolithic microcavity structure are experimentally determined. Also examined is the induced AlO layer stress, a result of volumetric shrinkage. Additional mechanical properties of GaAs/AlAs multilayer Fabry-Perot etalon structures are explored through the process of chemical etching. A suitable chemical solution to selectively etch converted AlO layers within a microcavity structure is developed. This research provides the foundation for future III-V MEMS technology development.

Optical Physics of Microcavity Surface Emitting Lasers

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Optical Physics of Microcavity Surface Emitting Lasers

Manufacturer: Storming Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 1423562127

Product Description

This is a AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSONAFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A652443. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: This dissertation consists of an in-depth theoretical analysis of the optical impact of transverse index confinement on the lasing modes of microcavity surface emitting lasers. Two different variational techniques were employed to calculate the relevant optical laser parameters: (1) modal resonance, field profile, (2) confinement factor, and (3) threshold gain. Through a semianalytic field analysis, two new confinement related effects were discovered: (1) a polarization dependent change in mirror reflectance with aperture radius, and (2) a mode dependent blueshift. Through a numerical field analysis, the physical mechanisms governing diffraction were ascertained. These are: (1) the transverse confinement of the optical mode, the degree of tilt of the mode propagation vector away from normal to the mirror surfaces, and (2) the density of parasitic modes in the spectral vicinity of the lasing mode. Based on these results, a new semianalytic technique was derived for estimating diffraction loss via rigorous coupling to the parasitic modes. Finally, this model was combined with a gain model and a new mode density model to compute spontaneous emission rate, light verses current, threshold current, and spontaneous emission factors for a low threshold oxide-apertured device.

Optical Processes in Microcavities (Advanced Series in Applied Physics)

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Optical Processes in Microcavities (Advanced Series in Applied Physics)

Manufacturer: World Scientific Pub Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

Optics | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 9810223447

Book Description

The dielectric microstructures act as ultrahigh Q factors optical cavities, which modify the spontaneous emission rates and alter the spatial distributions of the input and output radiation. The editors have selected leading scientists who have made seminal contributions in different aspects of optical processes in microcavities. Every attempt has been made to unify the underlying physics pertaining to microcavities of various shapes. This book begins with a chapter on the role of microcavity modes with additional chapters on how these microcavity modes affect the spontaneous and stimulated emission rates, enhance nonlinear optical processes, used in cavity-QED and chemical physics experiments, aid in single-molecule detection, influence the design of microdisk semiconductor lasers, and how deformed cavities can be treated with classical chaos theory.

Customer Reviews:

C'est MAGNIFIQUE!.......2000-06-30

I had to read this book for French class and found it to be the best French book I'd ever read. The play is wonderful with its use of flashbacks and the ending is just wonderful even though its not how it was in history. It makes the whole story seem hopeful, as it should be and not sad, which is how most people perceive the story of Jeanne d'Arc. I highly recommend this book!

Quotable Quotes.......1999-12-31

This was a very excellent book! It is about Joan of Arc, told in dialogue as a character reenactment. The book is filled with passages of great insight spouted by this young girl while she is on trial for heresy. She says much concerning religion and God and also of fear and loyalty. There is some humor as well. The end, although not completely historically accurate, is made so on purpose, demonstrating the author's existentialist beliefs. He believes it is better to die for one's cause than live without a cause.

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L'ALOUETTE
Jean Anouilh
Manufacturer: Paris Book Center Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NUQU9M

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L'Alouette
Jean Anouilh
Manufacturer: French & European Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0828836183

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L'ALOUETTE

Manufacturer: Appleton-Century
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CJGA0

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L'Alouette (French)
Jean. Anouilh
Manufacturer: Appleton-Century-Crofts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000L27QDQ

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