Overloaded? Burned Out? Can’t deal with some difficult co-workers? Those all might be tempting reasons to say, “I quit,” but before you do, carefully think through your situation and how those words might affect your future. Consider these factors before calling it quits.

Financial Risks and Timing

Quitting at the wrong time can affect your wallet. For instance, if you resign from your position during the holiday season, think about the lost money, according to human resources experts. They say you stand to benefit as most employers give as much paid time off over the holidays as possible, and thus, there are lots of opportunities for overtime.

Experts also say it’s easier to find a job when you have a job. When you’re unemployed, there will always be many questions surrounding your reasons for unemployment.

In addition, weigh in unemployment benefits. Your eligibility for unemployment insurance may be at risk if you voluntarily quit your job.

Job Stability Counts

Take note of your track record. Look at your marketability before quitting your present job. Some hiring managers say the first thing they look at on a resume is job stability. “Job jumpers are rarely good candidates for consideration.”

Negotiation Power

Having a job is to your advantage when it comes to salary negotiations. Prospective employers know that it’s very unlikely an employed person will leave one job to take another job that pays less. If you are unemployed, you lose your edge in salary negotiations.

Can This Relationship Be Saved?

If you’re reconsidering quitting after taking the above factors into account, think of ways to solve your current problems. It’s important to resolves issues as soon as you are aware of a problem. It will not go away if you ignore it. When it becomes personal, it becomes much harder to smooth over and may require an objective third party such as your HR rep.

If you are unable to work things out, talk about the situation with someone who is responsible for the overall organization and not just your division. If it’s just personality issues, you might be able to transfer to a different part of the company.

But it may be time to quit if you can’t work through an uncomfortable situation. But be sure to resolve the situation before you leave so you don’t cringe when you run into your ex-boss at the supermarket.

Give Ample Notice

Leaving someone high and dry is not proper and unprofessional. Although you may fantasize about that, don’t do it. Two weeks notice is common professional courtesy. Don’t burn bridges as you might want to come back.

Write It

Your resignation should be put in writing. Briefly explain your reason for leaving and state the last day you will be working. Thank your boss for his support during your employment, even if he was lacking a bit in this area, and wish the company well.

Now’s the time to start your job search. BeyondJob is here to help. We have thousands of company and salary reviews from all over the United States and the world to help you figure out what companies might be a good match for you. Email us if you have any questions or suggestions. Happy job hunting!

If you truly want to know how to properly manage and motivate your employees to excel at work, knowing a bit about Intrinsic Motivation may help you.

The shocking results of this research will show you how to instill in your staff passion to get the job done and make the business succeed.

Instantly, you may think monetary rewards and incentive programs would be key. I mean, what better way to propel employees to work harder than give them more money, right?

But in fact, that’s WRONG!

Yes, it may seem to defy logic, but several studies and incentive experiments prove that monetary rewards for better performance often used in companies do not always work.

To give you more insight on this fascinating topic, here’s a very interesting presentation from a talk by Dan Pink for RSA. It reveals the hidden truths that will really get your employees going.

If you don’t have time to view the video right now, take away these highlights:

- For simple, straight forward tasks, reward incentives work.
- For complicated tasks requiring conceptual and creative thinking, reward incentives do not work.

Money as motivator:
If you don’t pay enough, people won’t be motivated to work; BUT
You only have to pay people just enough so that money will not be an issue for them at work.

And of course, the most important lesson from the talk, the three factors that lead to better performance and personal satisfaction in people, which are:

1) Autonomy: the desire to be self-directed.

2) Mastery: the urge to get better at stuff; getting better at something is satisfying.

3)Purpose: having a transcendent purpose; companies that are flourishing are usually driven by purpose, such as helping others or some cause in the world.

To get a better idea of what it’s like to work at a particular company and see their approach to employee motivation and rewards, check out BeyondJob’s list of thousands of company reviews!
Contributing sources: Ready to be Rich & RSA

If you’re toying with the idea of switching careers, you’re not alone. Recent surveys reveal only 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs. Taking that leap of faith and trying something new may pay off big time and in the end, make you happier, richer and more satisfied.

Here are four signs that it’s time for you to make that change.

1. You’re not making as much as you’d like financially.
Be sure to research salaries for in-demand careers, before switching jobs based on pay. This can help guide you into the right, profitable career field. Salary information will also help you figure out your real market value.

2. You can’t find a job or you feel there’s no room for growth in your current job.
It’s important to keep your skills up-to-date in a world driven by constant technological change. Going back to school could be a stepping stone to your new career. Update your skills by earning a degree or certificate or even take a few classes to acquire new skills. Not a college grad? Search through thousands of online education opportunities to find the best program to help you move into a new career.

3. You’re going through a life change.
Such shifts could be a divorce, a spouse’s promotion to a new location, a need to care for a child or an aging parent. A life change may signal your need to pursue a new career that better fits your new situation. Your change could be lateral. For example, a hospital nurse could transition into an elementary school nurse with a less hectic schedule.

4. Your work doesn’t interest you.
Only 29 percent of the U.S. working population is engaged at work, according to a recent study by The Gallup Organization. Sadly, 16 percent are actively disengaged while 55 percent are just not engaged. If you spend your days counting down the minutes until you can leave, it may be time for you to consider a new career. A free career test can help you pinpoint the most satisfying careers for you, based on your values and interests.

Take note, the work environment at a company and the people who work there also play a huge role in your job satisfaction. Get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to work at a particular company by doing a company review search right here on BeyondJob.com. It’s fast, worthwhile and easy!

BeyondJobers, despite all our time-saving devices, many of us still find ourselves wondering, “where did the time go?” Here are some tips to help you increase your productivity at work.

1) Establish Your Technology Reliance Level

Laptops, cellphones and other technology are an asset. For example, a King Pharmaceuticals Market Researcher says when she and her husband were building their house, he took pictures of things with his iPhone so she could view them at her convenience and give him her feedback. That way, she didn’t have to go running to meet him at stores or on-site.

2) Re-Examine Your Teamwork Skills

If you’re at an upper level of the company ladder, be more open to delegation. Also, consider acting as a facilitator. For example, get the two immediately below you together and ask them to determine the priorities. That saves you from constantly making decisions and they are less likely to be asking their direct reports to handle an “urgent” project.

If you are the underling and your supervisors both drop “must-have” projects on your desk, ask for guidance and don’t see it as imposing on someone. Instead, look at it as finding better ways to manage your own work.

3) Create a Daily Plan – For Guidance

Make a list of daily tasks and long-term goals. But don’t let yourself get locked into that agenda. Then at the end of the day, determine what you need to carry over from your to-do list to the next day.

Also, schedule down time into your calendar and block out segments in your online calendar to signal co-workers when you’re unavailable. For one marketing manager and a mother of two, that means getting up at 5 a.m. for “her time” to re-coop or exercise.

4) Consider Trading Dollars for Time

Accept that sometimes, there just isn’t enough time to get everything done. For example, invest in a housekeeper to keep your home beautiful so you can get more work done. Or here’s a creative one: Consider hiring a car serve for certain occasions instead of driving yourself, so you can do some work on your laptop during the drive.

5) Go with the Flow

Life doesn’t stay organized. Sometimes things happen that change your plans. When something disruptive happens, most of us tend towards rigidity as a form of control. Instead, acknowledge the mess and deal with it. Be more flexible. If your child gets sick, grab your laptop and smartphone and work outside the office, if possible.

What work behavior makes your boss like you?  The following are not tips or tricks to hoodwink your superiors to like you.  Those tricks will only work for the short term but will hurt you in the long term.

This guide is meant to help you stand out naturally. If you have proper work behavior, you will impress your boss. However, you do need to be consistent with these behaviors. There are no results without hard work. That said, each of the behavior discussed is not difficult to practice.  And the hope is that our BeyondJob.com users will take this advice and excel in their workplace.

1. Be Attentive
Learn to be attentive at work. Your behavior at work should be one of attentiveness. To begin with, you need to be a good listener. Listen to the instructions that are given to you.

Make sure you understand what is being said and what is being asked. When you take the wrong instructions you make the unit you are working for inefficient. Attend to details. Make sure every work that you have your hand in is one of excellence. You know the results shine because you paid attention to the details. Never deliver shoddy work. Your shoddy work not just reflects on you but your boss too. When you are attentive at work, your boss will naturally notice you.

2. Be Bold
I know, this sounds scary. You are a junior at work but yet you need to be bold? Yes, be bold? Being bold means being able to face your fears. You are new and there are a lot of things that are new to you. You quite naturally fear some of the processes. Sometimes, you may even feel intimidated by some colleagues. In such instances, you need to be bold. There is nothing to fear as long as you know your working attitude is a positive one.

This also means you are willing to fail and learn from failure. When you accept this behavior you are willing to take risks and willing to do new things. Someone who is courageous enough to try new things, willing to fail and learn from failure will catch the boss’s attention.

3. Be Calm
If your personality is quite naturally a calm one, this working behavior is easy. If you have a tendency to panic or you have the tendency to be temperamental then you need to work harder. Be calm and composed at all times regardless of the work challenges in front of you.

Remember if something tough is for you to tackle, create a plan to solve it. Everything else short of solid action will be inefficient use of your energy. Your bosses want someone who can help to clean the mess. You shouldn’t be part of the mess. Remain calm and composed at all times. This behavior will have your boss take a second look at you. Soon you will become someone he can depend on.

4. Dependable
Which brings me to the next work behavior. When you become a competitive advantage for your boss, your boss will like you. He/she will become dependent on you. Strive to become someone your boss can depend. How do you make this work? For starters, be a good listener and be someone your boss can trust.

Do not be tempted to get involved in office politics. The best way to stay away from office politics is to shut up. Knowing when to keep your mouth shut should be your work behavior. Do not add to comments. Do not volunteer answers. When your boss can trust you and you have good working attitude, you will become someone your boss can depend on.

5. Show Energy
This work behavior isn’t just about physical energy. It also means mental energy. It also means infectious energy. This means you have a work behavior that can energize your unit. You are passionate about your work. People like working with you, as you seem to have endless energy. Ever noticed how a person in the office that has energy always gets the better assignments? That’s because their energy is the boss’s competitive advantage.

You may already posses these work behaviors. Choose one work behavior that you feel is the easiest to tackle now and work on it. Before long you would have mastered the A to E of how to make your boss like you.

Be sure to check our company reviews to find out if your behavior fits that of your employer.

– Courtesy: Careersuccessfornewbies

“Try”

“Try” is a weasel word. “Well, I’ll try,” some people say. It’s a cop-out. They’re just giving you lip service, when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask. Remember what Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars”: “Do or do not–there is no try.” Take Yoda’s advice. Give it your all when you do something. And if it doesn’t work, start over.

Put passion into your work, and give it your best effort, so you can know that you did all you could to make it happen. So if the outcome you were expecting didn’t come to fruition, it’s not because you didn’t do everything you could to make it happen. It just wasn’t the right time for it or it wasn’t meant to be.

“Whatever”
This word is a trusted favorite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say, or get rid of you quickly. “Whatever,” they will say as an all-purpose response to your earnest request. It’s an insult and a verbal slap in the face. It’s a way to respond to a person without actually responding. When you say “whatever” after another person has said his or her piece, you have essentially put up a wall between the two of you and halted any progress in communicating. It’s a word to avoid.

“Maybe” and “I don’t know”
People will sometimes avoid making a decision–and hide behind words and phrases like “maybe” and “I don’t know.” There’s a difference between legitimately not knowing something and using words like these as excuses. Sometimes during a confrontation, people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response “maybe,” just to avoid being put on the spot. If that seems to be the case, ask, “When do you think you will know?” or “How can you find out?” Don’t let the person off the hook so easily.

“I’ll get back to you”
When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project’s status, they will say, “I’ll get back to you,” and they usually never do. If people say they will get back to you, always clarify. Ask them when they will get back to you, and make sure they specify the day and time. If they don’t, then pin them down to a day and time and hold them to it. If they won’t give you a day or time, tell them you’ll call in a day or week and follow up. Make sure you call and get the information you need.

“If”
Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use “if” are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions, rather than assuming a successful outcome. People who rely on conditional responses are fortifying themselves against potential failure. They will say, “If Bob finishes his part, then I can do my part.” They’re laying the groundwork for a “no fault” excuse and for not finishing their work.

There are always alternatives, other routes, and ways to get the job done. Excuse makers usually have the energy of a slug and the spine of a jellyfish. You don’t want them on your team when you’re trying to climb Mt. Everest.

“Yes, but . . .”
This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions, and they come back to you with “Yes, but . . .” as a response. They don’t really want answers, help, or solutions. You need to call the “Yes, but . . .” people out on their avoidance tactic by saying something like “You know, Jackie, every time I offer you a suggestion you say, ‘Yes, but . . . ,’ which makes me think you don’t really want to solve this problem. That’s not going to work. If you want to play the victim, go right ahead, but I’m not going to allow you to keep this up.” After a response like that, you can be assured that the next words you hear will not be “Yes, but . . .”!

“I guess . . .”
This is usually said in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It’s another attempt to shirk responsibility–a phrase that is muttered only when people half agree with you but want to leave enough leeway to say, “Well, I didn’t really know. . . . I was only guessing.” If you use this phrase, cut it out of your vocabulary.

“We’ll see . . .”
How many times did we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation, or really saying no. It’s better to be decisive and honest by saying, “I need more information. Please present your case or send me the data–both pro and con–so I can make an informed decision.” That way, the interested parties will contribute to an in-depth, well-researched “verdict.”

– Courtesy:  Forbes, “Surviving the Toxic Workplace”

But some degrees will reap bigger rewards at least monetarily, as PayScale.com shows in its 2010 report on the earning power of bachelor’s degrees.

Engineering degrees continue to be top earners–and you have to go pretty far down the list before you see the liberal arts well represented.

But there’s more to choosing a major than comparing dollar amounts.  We salute and congratulate the graduates whose interests (and hard work) have led them to the following degrees–the lowest-earning degrees on PayScale’s list.

Looking for more salaries, bonus information? See more salaries

– Courtesy: Hotjobs

Are you looking to start on a new career in 2010, but not sure where to start?  Here is a list of some of the safest jobs that offer stability and pays well.

Cardiovascular technologist
Between the ongoing need for hospital workers and the aging baby boomer population, this is one career that isn’t going anywhere, says Laurence Shatkin, author of more than 20 books for job hunters, including “150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this job is expected to grow by 24 percent through the year 2018. As the BLS reports, most cardiovascular technologists in training earn at least a two-year technical degree. In addition, some get on-the-job training in the necessary equipment (for example, EKGs).

Median annual salary: $60,400 (See Kaiser Cardiovascular-Technologist salary)

Database administrator
Like health care, information technology remains a hot field with ample opportunity, says workplace expert Alexandra Levit, whose latest book is “New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career.” In other words, she says, “Everyone needs these people.” Whether you’ve acquired the necessary tech skills in the workplace or studied information technology or management information systems in college, a solid foundation in computing is essential, reports the BLS, adding that certifications can only make you more attractive to employers.

Median annual salary: $72,600 (See Verizon DBA salary)

Gas/electric/utilities strategic planning analyst
Working in the utilities sector remains a wise bet, no matter what the economy’s doing, Levit says. “They’re just not downsizing at the rate that some other industries are right now. People still have to heat their homes,” she explains. As a bonus, the BLS predicts turnover for utilities positions will be high in the coming decade as older workers retire (in 2008, 53 percent of the utilities workforce was age 45 or older). According to the BLS, of all utilities sector support staff, technology workers and analysts will find themselves best equipped to capitalize on job openings.

Median annual salary: $68,700 (See Honeywell Planning Manager salary)

Accountant
Do you enjoy crunching numbers but worry that the bulk of corporate accounting jobs were eliminated in the wake of the 2008 banking crisis? There’s no need, Levit says. In fact, the BLS estimates that accounting jobs will grow by 22 percent in the next decade. Plus, “Accountants make a good living, especially those who work with organizations that have been required to meet certain federal mandates,” Levit says.

Median annual salary: $63,130 (See Wells Fargo Accountant salary)

Marketing manager
With a product branding and business management background, you — and your bank account — can go far. Organizations from all walks of corporate America need creative folks who can write and analyze a marketing survey, position a product to consumers and the media, and collaborate with market researchers, product managers, and profit-minded accountants. What’s more, the BLS predicts that opportunities for marketing managers will increase by 13 percent through 2018.

Median annual salary: $60,200 (See Marketing manager salaries)

Dental hygienist
Of all the jobs that require a two-year technical degree, this one promises the most opportunity in the new decade, boasting a whopping 36 percent growth rate, Shatkin says. Why? Because “dentists try to shrug off more work to dental hygienists so they can see more patients,” he explains. As a bonus, Shatkin adds, many of these positions are part-time with flexible hours, making them ideal for parents with young children.

Median annual salary: $57,100 (See Dental hygienist salary)

Interior designer
Are you a design blog junkie? The friend everyone calls when they need help sprucing up their living room? Then why not put your artistic flair to work? Although you’ll need to invest in a design degree and acquire the necessary budgeting and software skills, the payoff is worth it, says Shatkin: Job opportunities are expected to grow by 19 percent through 2018.

Median annual salary: $46,100 (See Gensler salary)

Occupational therapist
Thanks to the country’s aging population, occupational therapy remains a high-growth field, with 26 percent more jobs predicted in the new decade, Shatkin says. If you’re the patient, nurturing sort who thrives on helping people, this could be the career for you. Occupational therapists help people who’ve been sick, injured, or otherwise impaired gain the necessary life skills (using a computer, cooking, dressing, and so on) to return to work or their own home. According to the BLS, nearly a third of occupational therapists work part-time, and a master’s degree and state license are usually required.

Median annual salary: $69,400 (See Banner salary)

Today’s culture is saturated with improper English.  Text messages, poorly written email and incoherent posts on Twitter or Facebook pass as writing.  But when it comes to writing on the job, don’t write like you talk.

SOME OF THE MORE COMMON “TEXT-SPEAK” OFFENDERS:

THE “u” instead of you

THE LETTERS “u-r” for your

THE NUMBER 2 instead of too or two… same with 4 instead of four.

College professors are trying to nip it in the you know what.  Several say they are trying to emphasize the negative effects casual language will have on students’ job searches.  Many students communicate constantly via text and instant messaging, so it can be difficult to leave the tech lingo behind in class.