This video comes to me via Jennifer McClure via Web Ink Now.
I have a love of disruptive, loud, and angry music — and your company could benefit from an honest, raw, and unfiltered look at the way it hires and treats its employees.
You want some Punk Rock HR career advice? Have a strong and developed voice and presence. Even if you’ve been out of work for two years, be confident. I’ve always hired employees who are a little dangerous, outrageous, and didn’t look like they needed the job. Tell the employer about what makes you great, have a point-of-view, and don’t let the job get in the way of your personal mission.
And fuck ‘em if they don’t hire you.
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Talk about motivational, I watched the video and read your comment and immediately thought “hell yeah, lets do this thing!”
“don’t let the job get in the way of your personal mission” <–words to live by, 'nuf said.
Laurie,
I watched the whole video & was nodding in agreement the entire time. The analagoy is dead on. My take away personally is that if you had asked me a few minutes ago if I am “punk rock HR”, I would have said no, but Laurie is and I wish I could be. Now, I feel like HELL YEAH I’M PUNK ROCK TOO! I GET it now. It’s about creativity, being innovative, pushing the limits not for the sake of change but for positve movement forward of our industry. It’s definitely about not just having an opinion but getting it out there.
So, thanks to Jennifer for getting this to you. And thanks to you for sharing it with all of us. I AM punk rock HR. What about the rest of you?!?!?
Trish
I feel like I am punk rock HR myself; however, corp america does not like edgy people – especially in HR. Conformity is the name of the game. I worked for a company that considers themselves the poster child of a great pro-employee company, but after speaking out I was given a package and told that I was did not have the political savvyness to be successful at the organization.
It is easy to say F’em, but that does not pay the bills.
I’m with Logan. I think the punk rock analogy is *almost* spot on. But at the end of the day, I have a mortgage to pay. Frankly, I was (and still am) a huge New Wave fan (as I sit here wearing my Blondie t-shirt!). There’s nothing watered down about it, it’s just different, whether we’re talking music or workplace strategy. In order to achieve your goals within an organization, sometimes you have to practice subtle, not overt, subversiveness. It’s not watering anything down. It’s knowing your audience and applying your wit and strategy appropriately to achieve (or at least work towards) the goal. I actually think that becoming effective at working the system without the system actually realizing its being worked is a great skill. Vive la resistance, fo’shizzle!
Laurie- Awesome Video! Your words of Wisdom are what keeps me going. It can be such a struggle with this endless job search! I love your “Take it or Leave it Attitude” Let me know your ideas for How one can employ Hr, Social Media, and training exp.
Well Done! You Rock Awesome Girl!
Laurie, I like your blog but wish you wouldn’t drop the f-bomb so casually.
Many years ago I remember doing an interview and I didn’t want the job. Along came my ‘get out of jail card’, I was asked where do I see myself in 5 years time.
So I said that I saw myself in his job as he would have moved on to better things within the company. The interview ended shortly after that – ha ha.
I meant to check back after the 5 years to see if he had moved on to other (better) things.
I’m a punk from way back and although I’m grown up and “corporate”, I’ve always carried those punk ideals with me through life. As a fanzine writer back then, how we would have loved to have had the internet! But we met a need to give like minded people a voice and challenge the established thinking a bit. H Aria’s point is a good one – the subversiveness has to be subtle. Working the system without the system realising it’s being worked. Great video.
@adowling Okay, you’re hired.
@Trish You, too. Now we just have to make some money because even punks need to eat.
@Logan Corp America does not like edgy people, indeed. That’s why I got out. Fuck ‘em doesn’t pay the bills but you have some options. Have fewer bills — or don’t pay them. That’s the first step in breaking free. I haven’t had a vacation with Ken in over two years. I drive a 2000 Subaru. I finally bought new glasses after needing new lenses for over six months. Fuck ‘em, though. I’m not going back.
@H Aria I was just talking to @frannyO about what it means to be punk. I remember wearing doc martens and thinking I had the world in the palm of my hand, LOL. You know when I finally owned my life? When I could pay my bills and not ask anyone for help. Independence is very punk rock. PS – Vive la resistance, fo’shizzle! should be on a t-shirt!
@Shennee Thank you.
@Anon Sorry, my friend. I have a potty mouth.
@Tom You did the right thing! For the rest of you: just get up and walk out of that interview.
@NZ You & HAria are right — the subversiveness must be subtle and it must come from within. Don’t be a dick at work, but don’t just go with the flow. What did the genius philosopher Sarah Palin just say? Only dead fish go with the flow. (Might I add: horny salmon go with the flow, too.)
I can’t say that I was or am very Punk Rock (but definetly a rock and roller at heart) but I’ve always had an opinion and as I get older don’t have the same reservations about sharing it with others.
Your advice of “have a strong and developed voice and presence” is something I wish I had much earlier in my career. Now, I find that I don’t give a crap if I make waves with my opinions just because it’s outside the norm. The world of social media is something that large, conservative corporations need to hear and
engage in the conversation. For both their customers and employees sakes.
I agree with NZHRGuy about working it from within but am starting to feel that working outside the system maybe the better way to go (dear God did I just quote Sarah Palin too?!!!)
Laurie – don’t ever apologise for having a potty mouth. Punk was always about attitudes – not what you wore or what bands you liked. And so it is with social media. If people don’t like the message – fuck em. There’s plenty of good inoffesnive HR advice out there for the faint hearted.
I am punk rock HR at heart, but being out of a job since January has put somewhat of a damper on my spirit. I am who I am: somewhat outlandish, energetic, honest and not afraid to voice my opinion. But in the last 5 months, saying “fuck ‘em” because they didn’t hire me has not gotten me a job. The shoe is on the other foot: I’m going to be fucked if I don’t find something soon. I WILL NOT sell out, however, the economy is such that I can not afford to be too avant-garde. It’s a real dilema for me.
I have to agree with JoyOfHR . I am a very enthusiastic, outgoing, Happy Human Resources Professional. I too have been out of work since January. The hiring situation is pretty bad. When you are in the position of “hiring People” and then the shoe is on the other foot and you have to find yourself a job, It is a bit Humbling,,,, I love to work, and this is very difficult for me, when they tell you: You have great qualifications, you are well rounded, sorry, we just don’t have anything 4 u. Oh, and you have to love the You are Overqualified. Ok, that is all I wanted to say! Anyone have any leads in the Central Pa area, send me an email!
@HRJ OMG, Sarah Palin is a fountain of wisdom. Why not do both: pummel from within and be subversive from the outside? Fight a two-front war!
@NZHR It’s a disingenuous apology. I’m nice enough to apologize, but I’m not going to stop cussing. Just not gonna happen.
@JoyofHR Here’s what you can do: be authentic, be confident, and learn from every interview experience. Ultimately, if they don’t hire you, it’s their loss. That’s what I mean by FUCK EM. Learn, grow, and be confident. You’ll find something.
@Shennee Well here’s how I feel: humbling or not, bills need to be paid. A job is a job — not an extension of your soul — so if you’re not scoring on a traditional job search, it’s time to start thinking about other opportunities. I’m sure this is something you’ve been thinking about quite a bit.
I’m as Punk as anyone at work– and I told my boss to go fuck himself– he full well knew I was kidding. He said “If you say that again, I will fire you.” End of story.
Punk Rock’s about “Fuck You!”, Fuck the System, Anarchy, Nihilism– getting as far away from the Jones and the Man as possible— and getting as fucked up as you can get— with the music helping you get there. And if you die— who gives two shits anyway— Fuck All of You!!!
No offense, but your idea’s about “punk rock” are a bit on the fashionable side–
@MattyMat I’m self-employed and gave up my job – as a commitment to my lifestyle. So my ideas about punk rock? Not fully expressed here on the blog, but living on my own (without the infrastructure of a corporation or a boss) is pretty fucking punk rock, IMHO.
PS: I can get fucked up all day long — or never — and no one is the wiser. I can walk around drunk (sans underpants) and throw beer bottles at the TV. Or I can sleep until noon. Or I can just roll my eyes at the Johnny Rotten parody of Punk Rock and enjoy the music and be a productive member of society. Even Johnny Rotten has an accountant and an agent.
I don’t have the agent. I also am adding this video to my social media presentation.
@Laurie You just described my evening last night!! How did you know that??!! Get out of my Head!!!
I know (more or less– don’t quote me– memory being what it is) the beginning, middle, and end of the punk rock movement– and from the beginning it was an intentional fashion statement (McLaren) that turned into a (serious?) social movement, fueled by some great music and dedicated followers. I was a “punker”, all my friends were (and still are) serious punk and rock musicians– and unfortunately, I had to see alot of my friends die from being too immersed in this social scene.
But we had alot of fun doing it– and doing it again.
I do understand your point of being able to maintain a “lifestyle” without giving up responsibility for your life. Letting go at the bar on Sat. nite while listening to your favorite punk band is still cool.
btw–I like the idea of you walking around drunk (sans underpants) and throwing beer bottles at the TV— you wanna get married and do a whole Sid & Nancy thing??? You be Sid, I’ll be Nancy—
“She’s the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong.”
- Mae West
Hey— didn’t mean to be inappropriate— was just kidding and trying to be punk rock. I like your comments and won’t cross any lines— Thanks Laurie—
MattyMat We’re all good! No worries. I have a thick skin and I think “banter” is kind of cute.
Thanks Laurie– I knew you were a true punk bad-ass!!
btw– when I hit the links to your subscription emails, they keep 404′ing me (gnarly, dude)— could you re-subscribe me?? Maybe that might fix it— thx
@mat I shortened my URLs today so there are some errors. The dates are removed. Otherwise the URLs are intact. I can’t fix it. Boo!