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!

Here are some no-no’s straight from the recruiters’ mouths:

1. Asking about salary in the initial interview (for an otherwise great interview, some will excuse this if it happens during the Q&A at the end).

2. Speaking about scheduling limitations or prospective reasons to leave the position right off the bat.

3. Acting impolitely or speaking down to any person in our office (receptionists or secretaries included).

4. Telling me that dealing with people is your biggest challenge/weakness or least favorite thing. Very few jobs let you work without other people.

5. Consistently answering questions other than those I asked.

Often, the little things set a good candidate apart from a bad candidate, so pay attention to details!

Some deal breakers straight from hiring managers mouths:

- An immature cell phone ring-back such as a hip hop song

- Once a candidate didn’t know what company they were applying for. The job posting didn’t note the company name, but the root domain of the manager’s e-mail should have given away the company’s Web address, and they were looking for someone that was tech-savvy for the job.

- Lying on a resume. For example, when dates of jobs listed on a new and previous resume do not match up.

- Arrogance. An overly confident candidate can seem to have a sense of entitlement, which is not what an employer wants to deal with. Be sure to be gracious to everyone you meet during the job search process. Remember, being humble will get you farther than being conceited.

Still trying to decide where to apply? Read up on what it’s really like to work at companies in the U.S. and around the world on BeyondJob’s company reviews section. They’re written anonymously by real employees. Of if you’ve already landed your dream job, write up a company review of your own! BeyondJob appreciates your time and contributions!

1. Have a Positive Attitude
2. Dress Professionally/Blend in With Co-Workers
3. Show Your Team Spirit (always give credit to the team)
4. Learn Co-Workers’ Names Quickly
5. Ask Questions/Ask for Help
6. Take Notes/Go to Orientation
7. Be a Self-Starter; Take Initiative (ask for work/projects)
8. Discover Everything About Your New Employer
9. Work Full Days
10. Establish a Good Attendance Record
11. Avoid Office Politics and Gossip
12. Keep Personal Business on Company Time to a Minimum
13. Take Advantage of After-Hours Activities (eg. company softball team)
14. Listen More than Talk
15. Track Accomplishments
16. Show Appreciation
17. Find a Mentor
18. Get and Stay Organized/Set Goals
19. Keep Your Boss Informed — of Everything
20. Meet and Network with Key People in Organization & Profession

Read company, salary and recruiter reviews to help you refine your job search, or just learn more about your industry and what your peers are saying.

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

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!

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 would you recommend I do to finish this excruciatingly long search and finally land a job?

~Mr. Still Looking

—-

Dear “Mr. Still Looking”,

First off, SL, let’s remember that we’re in a severe recession and only just pulling out of it. It began officially in December 2007.

Although this seems to escape some employers, who act as though no one should have been unemployed as long as you have, most are aware. When you are conducting a job search don’t forget about the art of social networking. Not too many people realize that the actual definition of networking is “interacting with people for mutual benefit”. There are unlimited reasons to network, and luckily for you, one of them is for your job search.

When networking, You — SL — need to let people know you are available and looking for new opportunities. You want to be on as many radar screens as possible. You also want to explore the “hidden job market”, those positions that are filled before they even get posted. Networking will help you to get more referrals, open more channels of communication and increase your chances of finding a great job.

So SL, you may ask WHO makes up your network and how do you grow it? Just about everyone you interact with. Your friends, colleagues, and business associates, your fellow church members, your spouse’s colleagues, doctors, lawyers, former classmates, air/bus passengers, and even the parents of your children friends.

While some people are better at networking than others, LinkedNow is more valuable because you can reach working professionals directly via private messaging or by sending a compliment.

The hard part, SL, is maintaining your network. Staying in touch takes time and effort for it to pay off. You have to develop a rapport if you want to be able to reach out for a new job. If you have difficulties re-establishing relationships or asking for a favor, or if you become discouraged, or if you feel embarrassed about approaching a colleague for advice, try these tips:

1. Sharing an industry article or interesting, non-gossipy buzz about a mutual friend or colleague can be a great start.

2. Be inquisitive about them professionally and personally and always be prepared to offer your assistance prior to you telling them the reason you are reaching out to them.

3. Follow-up is equally critical, so do send a quick thank-you email regardless if your network contacts were able to help you or not.

4. Stay in touch with your network on an ongoing basis, not just when you need something. Put them on your holiday card list, email them when you hear of their new promotion. Or simply organize a get together at your local Starbucks.

A: In BeyondJob staff’s experience there is no accepted definition of business casual wear. Furthermore, its interpretation differs widely among organizations and is often a cause of confusion.

Women:
A reasonable length skirt (not mini-skirt) or full-length trousers of a non-jeans material combined with a top (such as a dress shirt, polo, or sweater set) is considered acceptable. An informal dress with appropriate skirt length is also acceptable.

Men:
A combination of collared shirt (such as a dress shirt or polo shirt), cotton trousers (such as khakis or dress jeans) belt or no belt, and dress shoes (such as loafers) with socks is generally acceptable.

Unacceptable for either gender:
Gym clothes, fleece jackets, rumpled or ripped clothing, miniskirts, underwear as outerwear, inappropriately revealing attire such as bare midriffs, and flip-flops. Many corporations also frown upon open-toed shoes and any shorts.
Neckties and cufflinks are not required for business casual dress. Only the position that are customer facing, business casual should accommodate a tie if needed. Otherwise, a tie is not expected (software engineer, hw engineer or others).

To find out what your company culture is like, please visit company reviews.

~Sabotaged

—-

Dear “Sabotaged”,

You are not alone. According to research conducted by Judith Briles, who explored workplace sabotage among professional women, two thirds of the 30,000 to 50,000 surveyed had reported to be “discredited” by another woman.

When a boss or colleague attempts to sabotage your career, or you feel you’re being sabotaged, you’re in the hard spot. Complain, and you’re no longer considered a team player or become accused of imagining the situation. Do nothing, and risk ruining your career.

Saboteurs are most likely to attack in a weak job market says Wendy A. Rothman, president of Wenroth Group, a consortium of business psychologists in New York. “When the market is bad, there is real insecurity because there are fewer jobs and more people competing for them,” she says. “You have a pretty good recipe for potential backstabbing.”

Start by keeping your cool. Showing a temper will erode your professionalism.

Don’t confront the saboteur. First, carefully consider the unpleasant possibility that your perceptions of the individual are wrong. List all events that led you to suspect sabotage. Does a colleague blame you for something you didn’t do, steals credit for your work, conducts meetings in your area of expertise without including you; fails to pass on messages, shares private information about you, and finally, discredits your personality in public. If you answered yes to one of these questions your suspicion maybe right. If you’re still uncertain, consult with a trusted colleague or mentor.

Now that you’ve confirmed and identified the extent of the problem, discuss your observations with your boss in private. After all, your boss’ opinion of you is the one that really matters and can positively [or negatively] affect your career advancement.

If your boss accuses you of imagining the situation, confronting the offending co-worker maybe the next step. Many of us feel uncomfortable when it comes to confrontation. Don’t feel bad. Remember, those who engage into this negative job behavior are always the least confident, secure people. They are bullies who attack those who will allow it. Once you remove yourself from their list, your destructive co-worker will likely move on to another victim.

Finally, before confronting your saboteur prepare yourself. Be sure to be able to state the issue in two non-emotional, factual based sentences. And, do it in the open at the precise moment when the sabotage is occurring or when you being made aware of it. In person, on the spot. Sounds scary? Of course. However, your failure to address this toxic behavior and confront your saboteur early on is likely to make your predicament only worse.

Common Signs of Office Sabotage

Here are the warning signs to watch out for:
1. If your manager starts to question you more often on things about your work performance or private life that he would normally not know.
2. If someone is forgetting to notify you about a meeting
3. If a co-worker gets you to agree with an inflammatory opinion then makes it look like it was your idea.
4. If someone digs into your personal life and speculates about it in the office.

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