Eight signs its time to resign

Eight signs its time to resign by Michael Cheary Undervalued and underpaid? It might be time to change that…If you’re not feeling appreciated at work, deciding to take the plunge and make a new start might feel like an easy decision. But it’s not just the size of your pay packet that can leave you feeling unloved. You might have lost the passion for your position, without even knowing it.To help you uncover your own career happiness, here are eight signs it might be time to move on:You’re boredMaybe you’ve stopped being challenged. Or maybe your role has changed over time. Maybe you’re just so used to doing the job that the autopilot approach is all you know.Whatever the reason you’ve lost that loving feeling, it doesn’t really matter. Being bored or unchallenged by your job is a key sign that things aren’t right.You may think you’re content sitting on social media or silently staring out of the window for eight hours a day, but trust us. If your day is filled with ever more ingenious w ays to waste time, walking away may be the only option.You’re constantly complainingTo your colleagues. To your friends. To that poor person in the street that made the mistake of stopping you to ask for directions, and is now frantically searching for an exit to the conversation as you’ve lost yourself in another tirade about Carol from accounts.Everyone’s entitled to a bit of a grumble once in a while. But if you’re venting your frustrations so much that you’ve started punctuating your sentences with #RantOver/people have started avoiding you in the kitchenette, it’s probably not a good sign.#RantOverYou’re looking aroundWish you were somewhere else?There’s nothing wrong with seeing what else is out there. In fact, it can be a great way to make sure you know what you’re worth in the current market. The only problem is when you’re spending every available minute searching for a new start that any new role seems appealing.If you’re seriously thinking about movi ng on, sometimes the only way to make a fresh start is to pluck up enough courage to take the plunge.You think  you’re developing an allergy to the officeHow long have you had that cough? Five, maybe six minutes? Certainly enough time to warrant a spell away from work.However, there are only so many sickness days you can take before you realise the real root of the problem: you just don’t want to be there.Or, even worse than a psychological case of the shivers, the job might actually be making you ill. If that’s the case, resigning might be your only viable option.Because no job is worth risking your health or happiness for.You’re comfort eatingFor some people, the best thing to do when they’re unfulfilled is fill their plate.In moderation, this tactic works fine. Unfortunately, it’s far from a sustainable option. There’s nothing wrong with a spot of elevenses, but Lunch 1, 2 3 are probably an indication that you’re unhappier than you’re like to admit.Step away fr om the snacks â€" it’s for your own good.You’re being left outIt’s Thursday again. You hate Thursdays.That’s because in your office Thursday can only mean one thing: karaoke night. The karaoke night you’ve never officially been invited to. Even though it’s quite clearly on your way home. You don’t even like Karaoke. But it isn’t about the karaoke anymore. No, this is personal.Being left out never feels fun. It might be an indication that you don’t fit the company culture. You might just work with jerks. Who knows? Whatever the reason, don’t choose to suffer in silence.You can’t switch offWake up. Go to work. Get home. Do a little more work. Go to sleep. Do some more work. Repeat.Hard work and dedication are great, but some roles take things a little too far. Being overworked can lead to stress, a poor work/life balance or worse. So if working nine till five seems like a luxury to you, reassess the real reasons why you can’t switch offYou don’t love MondaysB ecause, let’s face it, if you’re working for the weekend, you’re doing it wrong.Honourable mentions: You can’t stand your boss, you can’t stand your colleagues, you can’t remember the last time you did anything meaningful, all of the above.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

5 Things Thatll Prevent Recruiters Jumping Ship

5 Things Thatll Prevent Recruiters Jumping Ship There is a lot of movement in the jobs market (across the board) at the turn of each new year. Its not too hard to understand why, either. People  spend a whole year grafting away at their jobs, and want a new challenge. Specifically for third party recruiters, December is  a fun but long month. With sales / placements down, and Q1 commission payments looking a little underwhelming, it makes sense to suss out what their options are. Theyre likely exhausted, too; well and truly ready for their Christmas break. When they finally finish up, put their work to bed and leave the office, recruiters (who work notoriously long hours) launch  themselves into spending a lot more time with friends and family, and start to reconnect with themselves, feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated as each day goes by. This is when the self-reflection starts. Theyll think about all the things they loved and hated about the year theyve had. What made them angry and what made them feel great. Then New Years Eve comes around and all anyone can talk about is how great this new year is going to be, together with idealistic  plans and resolutions. Ambitious recruitment consultants will be thinking about the year ahead, and many will want to keep looking that way. Theyll realise they dont want to go back to the same workplace; to the same market that had frustratingly slowed down for weeks before Christmas Eve. Instead theyll want make some changes, start fresh somewhere. Thats when theyll fix up their CV and start  brow sing competitors career pages,  and responding to relevant rec 2 recs on LinkedIn.  Recruiters will leave their jobs, meaning new jobs will hit the market.  The market will start to buzz and become buoyant. I guess it comes down to this: if  a recruitment consultant makes up their mind to resign, its already too late theyre a lost cause. They are professionals when it comes to coaching people through career moves every day, and it goes without saying theyve done the same for themselves. They wont look back. They know accepting counter offers is dangerous. The key is top stop your recruitment consultants from considering the move in the first place by being a top notch employer and  bid them farewell over the holidays, only to have them itching to come back. Based on my experience working in an agency recruitment environment, there are some things managers can do  to make recruiters want to come back. These are 6 crucial things that will help with retention: 1. A  proper end-of-year review A proper  review and debrief of the year that was is totally necessary to get consultants thinking about the journey theyve had and the work theyve put in. Being an amazing recruiter is something that slowly snowballs, day in, day out, and requires a lot of effort over a long period of time.  Reminding consultants about all the ground work and market-mapping theyve executed will help them stay focussed and eager to build on this in the new year. 2. Reasons to come back Even if December was a really bad month for sales and Q1 commission payouts will suffer as a result, recruitment consultants need compelling reasons to come back. What does next year hold for them, and the company as well? Why should they stick around? What will the personal rewards and challenges be? If you have the feeling a recruiter is getting a little restless where they are, dont let them be snapped up by a competitor. why not outline options for internal moves? Sure, you might lose them to a different team, but the company as a whole will benefit form having that person still an employee. 3.  A January plan of attack Booking in client meetings for January is a great place to start. Having  actual work to crack on with when they come back from holidays is extremely important. If December was a quiet month, January needs to be absolutely jam-packed with activity to reignite passion for the industry and their role! 4.  Appreciation Its amazing how simple it is to show a bit of appreciation, but how often managers overlook the importance of it. Getting employees a personalised card and a thoughtful gift might seem a little trivial and meaningless, but it really is the thought that counts. When people feel appreciated and valued, they want to do good work and add more value. Simple. 5.  Social activities When sales are down in December, moods need to be lifted. Using the final month of the year to celebrate the year and foster company culture is imperative to getting consultants to finish up the year on a positive note. If people have great relationships with their colleagues and have a lot of chances to have a bit of fun and bond with each other, it will make for a much more comfortable, enjoyable workplace, and one that would be missed dearly. At the end of the day, you cant stop people from moving jobs its a natural part of the career lifecycle. What can  be stopped, is great people leaving  because no one ever really tried that hard to keep them.  Do everything you can to keep great people from resigning after the holidays. And remember, prevention is better than cure.

How to be brave in your choice of career

How to be brave in your choice of career Summertime is when all the music teachers and students disperse to various music camps, institutes, and conferences. The music teaching world is very local. The summer music world is location-independent. We are in Claremont, Calif. right now, for the National Cello Institute, which is more international than national and my son has so many friends from Australia that hes  started talking with their accent. As he plays his solo here, everyone assumes he wants to be a professional cellist. We all know that being a professional musician is  a goal against long odds. And as Seth Godin wrote a whole book  to explain (one of my favorites), the only things worth doing are things that are so hard you almost cant stand the odds. Because  Im a career coach, I think things like what if he loses a finger? What if he joins the Peace Corps? What if he just simply changes his mind? I want him to be ready. Sometimes he tests me, What if I want to stop playing cello? I know the correct answer, so I say it: You can stop whenever you want. I only want you to play cello if thats what you want to do. I love you no matter what you choose. I think he asks me that to make sure he has a choice. So I add explicit options and  tell him that he could sell anything. My older son says, Mom, dont tell him that. Hell be a drug dealer. My husband says, I know you think hed be good at sales, but sometimes I wonder. The only thing I see him selling right now  is himself. So I had an idea. I decided well do a sales aptitude test so that both my son and I can relax a little bit about cello. He will still practice piano and cello four  hours a day. He will still travel all over the country for lessons and performances. But all that will feel less risky because we will know he can fall back on sales. I tell him, We are taking a field trip to  Staples in Los Angeles. Dude! I love the Lakers. No. The store. Staples is a store. Why? You are going to sell office supplies. He complains but then he  stops complaining when he sees  that Im going to be paying a lot of attention to him and it will be like a performance. We bring the cello into the store. Its two hundred years old and it is very sensitive to changes in temperature so we never leave it in the car. You know that experiment people did in school where kids  carry around an egg as if its a baby in order to understand how much work it is to have a baby? Thats what I feel like we do with  the cello. But its more like we have quadruplets. We go to phone chargers. I tell my son hes selling the Dual Device Rapid Car charger. He says he wants to sell one to me because he wants one for our car. I tell him Ill buy him one if he can make a sale to someone else.  Find someone looking at chargers and tell them why this one is great. People tell me that my son is a great cellist because hes fearless. I cant tell what that means in music, but I can see it here. He walks up to a woman my age and he tells her she should buy the charger. This will make your kids love you, he says. Also, my mom told me if I could get someone to buy one of these then shed buy me one. The woman looks over at me. I am dying. I am pretty much the worst sales person ever. Selling is about making a connection with people, which means you have to care about them. This is why sales is impossible for me but my son is incredible. The woman bought the charger. Well, at least she put it in her shopping cart. I gave my son credit for that. I told him his next mission is to sell a chair. He says no. I tell him he can pick any game he wants if he sells a chair. I give him a choice of chairs. I tell him, You do best selling when you sell something you like. He picks a pretty gross looking blue swivel,  gives it a whirl and waits for someone to approach. He learns another lesson in sales which is that its much harder to sell a product with no leads than if you have a sales funnel in place.  He summarizes this lesson during a spin: Mom, no one is buying chairs right now. I need something else. So we go to the pens. I  hand him a 6-pack of pen style highlighters, saying, Sell these and Ill give you any game you want. He examines them and says, Ill buy these. Sold. Now you buy me a game. I like his spunk. I like that he sort of cheated because its something I would do.  Cutting corners is a great career skill. Its a sign of a winner. I make him buy the pens. Then we pick out a game. And in the game aisle, someone approaches him. Is that your cello? Yeah. I used to play cello. How long have you been playing?  Dragging a cello with you is a great conversation starterI recommend it if you feel shy at parties. My son chats a bit more and then explains that Im making him sell stuff to ensure he has a backup career if cello doesnt work out. The guy loves the story. He says, Ill buy something. Another sales lesson: people buy stuff because they like you. My son says, Can you buy these highlighters? The guy says sure, and without even asking me about how this affects our deal, my son picks out a second game. I buy it. Later, I fish the empty game box out of the garbage and  put it on my nightstand. Itll be a great reminder that its fine for him to go after his cello dreams because he has a backup plan as well.

5 Best Apps For Women On The Go - Classy Career Girl

5 Best Apps For Women On The Go No matter what career you have, managing everything with perfection is strenuous and tiresome. Are you trying to be Superwoman and working your butt off in all areas of your life? While you manage your home, children, and budget, you also have to go to work and look your best. Aaarrrgghh! In a day of 24 hours, that seems unrealistic. But, I’ve got a few ideas to  make life a little easier. Here are a few mobile apps that will expedite and ease your everyday tasks from cooking to looking good, and the best, without spending a buck! These apps will help you shop, cook, and even help you find a restroom while you’re out and about having fun during your time off. The apps mentioned below are must-haves for the women-on-the-go. The 5 Best Apps For Women 1.ShopSavvy Discounts are such a relief for all of you shopaholics out there, aren’t they? So for the shopaholics, ShopSavvy is no less than a savior. Whether it is books, clothes, cosmetics, or any other home product, this app has it all. It lets you check and compare prices, search stores, and get discounts, at your fingertips. You can buy your ‘favorites’ without burning a hole in your pocket. Free Download: iPhones, Android, and Windows phone. 2. Grocery Gadget Who doesnt want to save time and money. Be organized at home and the supermarket. The tagline says it all. Grocery Gadget app saves you from the tedious task of preparing a shopping list. It includes features like syncing your grocery list with your family members, reviewing pictures of the products you want, free cloud backup, and e-coupons to simplify your grocery management. So, the next time you want your husband  to buy the right items, just share this list with him. Free Download: iPhones and Android phones. For Windows phones, it’s a paid app. [RELATED: 10 Best Productivity Apps To Use] 3. AllRecipes Dinner Spinner Want to cook something extraordinary tonight? Or, is there a dish that you want to cook but just don’t know how? Allrecipes Dinner Spinner is what you need. It gives you access to thousands of recipes. You can search for your favorite recipes right away on your phone. Plus, if you become a member, you can add your recipes like the others to their app and become a chef. ?? Free download: iPhones, Android, and Windows phones. 4. SitOrSquat SitOrSquat is the first restroom finder app or as they say, ‘The world’s first Wiki for recording and accessing restrooms information globally.’ So, next time you step out for a road trip or a vacation in an unfamiliar location, you don’t have to worry about finding a clean restroom. You can get to know the nearest restrooms and even look at pictures, reviews, and other relevant information. Free Download: iPhones and Android phones. 5. SnapGuide Whether it’s gardening, cooking, arts crafts, fashion, technology, or any other life hack, if you want to become a pro, download this app ASAP. It’s an answer to all your ‘How-to’ questions. It provides step-by-step instructions to help you learn better. Also, users can share their project pictures and videos with other community members. Free Download: iPhones. Which app are you downloading first?

How to Deal with Negativity in the Work Place

How to Deal with Negativity in the Work Place Photo Credit â€" hrinasia.comNegative behaviour in the workplace does nothing but forecast doom and gloom in the workplace. It could be a whole department who is constantly spreading a negative vibe or it could be just one person.Negativity brings out the worst out of each employee it comes into contact with daily. The worst part is that there is no way of knowing immanently before speaking to someone whether or not they maintain a negative attitude or behaviour.It gets even worse when it is a supervisor who is the one who is constantly spreading negativity. The question arises, how do we deal with negative behaviour?Identifying Negative People and BehaviourevalevalEvery office environment has a level of negativity which may be considered normal in today’s world. At the same time, there might also be that one person who is so negative that it affects the whole department’s performance, from the time he arrives to work. It might become difficult to determine from where all this ne gativity originated.Even with all the employee benefits each staff member is getting if someone is still negative, it is imperative to be able to identify what caused the negativity.Here are few easily identifiable signs that unnecessarily excessive negativity persists:Focus on WHY things CAN’T be doneIntense denial of realityExcessive demand to control each activityUncompromising and inflexible approach to problem solvingConstant complainingReluctance to accept change, even if it is productiveConstant expression of discontent and disappointment without logical reasonHarbouring contrary to management passionAll these indications are a sign that this may well be an unnecessarily excessive hostile office environment. The next step is how to deal with all this pessimism without getting sucked in to the negativity and aggravating yourself.Confronting Negative People and BehaviourAlways remember, negative people thrive on the fact that they will be confronted. They know very well that their actions will make any sane person who is writing an assignment or working feel aggravated. If you confront this person, there are more chances of a Mexican standoff. In the end you will not be able to prove your point because the other person is relentless in their opposition, no matter what the circumstances. So how do you deal with such demeanour?Here are some things which you should always keep in mind and some things that you should never do.ALWAYS: be aware of being drawn into their pessimism with a bad temper. Take notice of the other person’s proclamation but don’t get angry just because they crush and belittle you every time they talk.ALWAYS: be aware of getting into a disagreement or controversy. Do exactly the opposite of what they want you to do and point out the common ground.ALWAYS: be prepared to make difficult decisions. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. You don’t need to get involved in to every little scuffle.ALWAYS: think of the consequences you are getting yourself in to before reacting or responding to their pessimistic attitude with your own slight misconduct.ALWAYS: try to get to the starting point of the problem by interrogating the other person. With specific answers, chances are that there might not have been such a big deal of a problem to begin with.ALWAYS: say “I” more than you say “YOU”. This way YOU will not perceived of as a bully trying to get your point across by hook or by crook. You will be looked at as someone who is trying to express their own opinion.In addition, also consider theseNEVER: shower pessimists with praise and attention. If you do, you are just proving to the rest of the employees that this sort of behaviour is productive.NEVER: stop asking them to help out just because they are rude. You don’t need to disturb others just because this person is a little boisterous. If you do, you’ll only be punishing other less vocal people with more work.NEVER: lower your expectations of work or results. A pessimistic attitude does not necessarily mean poor worker. Each employee adheres to the standards of academic services set by the HR department and they should be able to perform accordingly. Otherwise corrective steps can be takenNEVER: stop correcting them each time just to avoid dealing with a conflict. Somebody will have to guide them. Don’t expect somebody to change for the better without being told to do so.NEVER: allow negative employees to grumble and complain without interference. Managers and co-workers must all strive to prevent negativity from flourishing and maintain positivity within the office, at all times.NEVER: give excessive idle-time to employees at work. A negative attitude and rumours develop easily when employees have nothing to do. Don’t give unnecessary leverage to any employees.Confronting Negative Departments and BossesevalBe prepared to deal with the negativity of complete departments or bosses if you don’t nip negativity in the bud when it starts. Rumours and negativity can easily turn a whole department in to acting vengefully towards a single department or person if not properly monitored. Here are some policies which can help reduce negativity at the workplace.Interact on a Regular Basis: Let it be known to your employees and superiors that you have an “open door” policy at all times. If at any time an employee or superior wants to speak to you about anything, that they can approach you at any time. This will help you to contend with negative behaviour as it initiates.Incorporate Everyone: Include all of the employees in the decision-making and goal-setting processes using tools such as surveys and questionnaires. Once everybody is involved in the decision-making and goal-setting processes, it will be very difficult for them to complain.Inculcate Standards: Make sure that employees know what sort of performance and behaviour will be rewarded by the company and which will be reprimanded. Make it crystal clear to each a nd every employee. It should be in written form and displayed in a prominent place so that everyone can review it daily. If this is not possible then get help from an assignment writing service provider. Make sure that there is no room for ambiguity.Rigorous Training: Make sure that you are hiring the right person for the job. It should become evidently clear during the interview whether or not a person has a negative attitude. At the same time, just to make sure that there are no loopholes in the process let it be known to new employees that there is a training period. Inform them that in the training period they can be fired on short notice.Life is always about choices. With every circumstance and situation there are choices. We are the ones who decide whether a certain situation will help to make us more positive or negative. The bottom line is, how you live your life is your choice. You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be negative. The choice is yours.

Secrets To Nailing That Job Interview - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Secrets To Nailing That Job Interview Going for a new job is a tough test of character. Having your skills, previous experience and general image judged and picked apart by a panel of people â€" it’s a minefield. You want to impress your potential employers and when the nerves kick in, it can feel impossible. Remember; the hardest part is actually over. The world is full of too many people and not enough jobs, so to have received the phone call offering you an interview over all the other candidates â€" the hard bit is over. You only get a small bit of time to convince the panel that you are absolutely the right person for the job. It’s stressful, but it’s doable and all it takes is a little practice and right professional attitude to make it happen. Your education from high school, to college, to that online masters with Maryville University will be talked about. They’ll ask you why you chose certain courses and what you hope to gain from them. Your employment history will also be discussed in great detail, so ensuring your resume is in perfect shape is your first job. You’ll have the chance to talk about any goals you have alongside your past experiences. With these tips, you can nail that job interview you’ve been so worried about. Research. Companies love to ask you what you know about them. If you have done your research before you attend the interview, you can wow them with your knowledge of their awards, accolades and where their business seems to be going. They want to know you care enough about their company to have looked them up beforehand. Rehearse. There are hundreds of job coaching websites that can give you some job specific interview questions to practice. You want to rehearse your answers but not sound too rehearsed upon interview. You only need to practice enough for your words to sound clear, concise and confident. Chat. Interviews are about more than what the employers think of you. Remember that you are interviewing them, too. You need to ensure that the company is the right one for you to work for. Between questions, you need to indulge in a little small talk, even about the weather! Return. Return every question you get with one you’d like to learn about the business. As we’ve said, you’re not just being interviewed; you’re interviewing them. You need to know that they fit your goals for the future and they can offer you what you need to progress. Confidence. Fake it ‘til you make it if you have to, but your confidence is key in your interview. Look at these body language tips for that professional image that you want to project during the interview. Don’t forget, your interviewers are just people! They’re not monsters ready to bite your head off. Treat them as equals and they’ll respect that. Your interview technique can take some time to hone, but with enough practice and work, you can nail any job interview with confidence and poise.

Writing a Retail Resume - Easy Tips

Writing a Retail Resume - Easy TipsWriting a retail resume is a really simple process. The tips here will help you write a retail resume with the highest levels of professionalism. These tips are all important, as is the ability to write a high quality resume.* Be professional- Of course you need to be professionally trained in this area if you are looking for a job. You will need to come off as professional. A few easy techniques are to take notes while you are talking, write down all your information at the end of the day and always include your name, address and phone number on the first page of your resume. The last thing you want to do is create a situation where a potential employer will think twice about calling you back.* Always write a professional title- You should always be using a professional title when writing a retail resume. Always use a formal, professional sounding title that says exactly what you do. You should always try to have some words between the title and th e content that can make it sound professional.* Always list your job history- When writing a retail resume you need to include everything about your career that you have done. Whether you started at the bottom or you have had a variety of jobs through the years, you need to include all of the information here. You should list all of your job titles, your duties, all of your assignments, and you should also list all of your experience.* Always use the right format- The best format for a retail resume is going to be as well formatted as possible. You should never use standard paper and pencil and you should always use a high quality writing utensil such as a fountain pen. This will ensure that your message is crystal clear.* List your experience- One of the most common mistakes people make when writing a retail resume is to list their experience when they actually don't have any. If you have any experience, then list it here. Always use titles or sub-headings to make your resume easy to read.* Write your experience- All of the important things- the highlights, the great stories, and the important facts- are what you should be focusing on. You need to clearly explain what you have done in order to get your job. You should also avoid using any fluff words such as 'expertise'leadership.'* Don't simply list your job- If you don't list your job then you are making a big mistake- be very specific about what you do and why you are the best person for the job. The first paragraph should be devoted to explaining your experiences so that the reader knows exactly what you do.