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Questions in Determining What Career is Best For You

May 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Choosing the best career path for yourself is very important and should be done with the utmost of care. The career you choose could ultimately be the only career or the last career you ever have so you should be sure that it is the perfect career for you.

When choosing a career, there are many considerations that you should make. Here are some questions that will help you determine which career is the best career for you:

•    What Are You Passionate About: Your passions should go a long way in determining what you want to do for your career. If you go into a career and have little to no passion for what it is you are doing, then you will be in for a long and unfulfilling career. If however you go with your passions, you will ultimately find that your career will be rewarding in both money and enjoyment.
•    What Are Your Skills: If you have certain skills that would make you a better fit for one career over another, then it is to your advantage to use those skills. Your skills, or talents, can help you not only find a rewarding career, but also help you really go far in that career field as your talents will help you reach the top faster than those who lack what you have skill wise.
•     What Are Your Goals: What do you want to get out of life? Do you aspire to be a Fortune 500 company CEO? Maybe you simply wish to work outdoors for the rest of your life. Whatever your overall life goals are, you should compliment those goals with the right career choice.
•    How Flexible are You: Sometimes this point is not considered when choosing a career, but it is an important point to think about. If you are not willing to pick up and move to a new city or state at the request of a company, then you need to be sure you are choosing a career that will not require you to do so. Even if there is only a slight chance that this could happen, if you are not willing to be flexible, don’t take a position with a company that requires otherwise.
•    How Much Money Do You Want: This should be the last point you cover as getting into a great paying career that you can’t stand will ultimately lead you to losing in other ways, like with your health. However, you should have some idea of what you intend on making over the course of your lifetime and if you are shooting high, then your career choice must allow you the opportunity to make what you desire.

Remember that you career can potentially last you a working lifetime. With all of the options that you have career wise, there is simply no reason to enter into a career that you will not enjoy on any level. By taking your time and considering your options carefully, the perfect career will likely present itself to you.

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Essential Qualities of a Team Player

March 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Everybody wants to work with a team player and the essential qualities of a team player are the reasons why. Being a team player means that you go above and beyond simply thinking about yourself and you instead focus on what is best for the team.

While there is no blue-print to follow in order to become a team player, there are certain steadfast essentials that you must possess including:

•    Adaptability: In order to be a true team player you must be able to adapt. Adapting to the situation at hand means that you are focusing on the best solution and not necessarily the quickest. As circumstances change, so too will your approach, but you will always be willing to shift if need be.
•    Strong Commitment: A true team player will stay committed to the team. If you are working with someone and they only put in effort during regular hours, what do you think of that person? A real team player remains committed to the team and any problems that may arise no matter what time of the day it may be.
•    Tenacious: To be a true team player you must have that, ‘never say never’ attitude. You can’t try one solution and simply throw your hands up in the air and quit if it doesn’t work. Instead, you must show your tenacity and your willingness to get the job done, no matter what it takes.
•    Sacrificing: Another essential quality of a team player is the ability to sacrifice for the good of the team. Sometimes, you have to be able to put the needs of the team before your own needs. Maybe that means a little extra work on your part or even a skipped meal here and there, but a true team player will make the sacrifice without any expectation of notice.
•    Cooperation: In order to be a real team player and find solutions to the many problems that may crop up, you have to be cooperative. You can’t be close minded with the other members of your team. You have to keep an open mind and work with your team, not against them.
•    Dependability: A true team player is the’ go to person’ on the team. In order to be that person you have to be dependable. That means being aware of what is happening on your team and also being available should something go haywire.
•    Always Prepared: A real team player is one that is always prepared, even for the worst. You have to approach ever instance with your team as though it will go off without a hitch, but also like you may face a million stumbling blocks along the way.

As the old saying goes, “There is no “I” in TEAM.” In order to be a true team player you have to be the one person who realizes this and puts it to practice along with all the other essential qualities of a team player. Everyone loves a winner and everyone loves working with a real team player.

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The Art of Firing Employees

September 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

We can all admit no one like to be fired and no one likes to fire someone. It seems to be a lose-lose situation for both parties, especially the employee. In today’s economy, statistics have shown that more than 16 million employees have been fired or let go in this year alone. This is an astonishing number. The term “fired” is now commonly replaced with “laid off”, which attempts to be an easier pill to swallow. Many business experts claim that there is a “right” way to fire people. Let’s look at the factors that go into the art of firing.

Get to the Point

The worst thing that a boss or manager can do is drag an employee into a 120 minute conversation about why the employee is just not a match for the company. A long-winded “you’re fired” speech will only open the door to the employee “not understanding” what is being said. If the employee then suggests that they can change, you have dug yourself into an even deeper hole. As hard as it may be, you need to get to the point. Think of it as telling your parents something they don’t want to hear. Shout it out and run to your room and lock it. Well, don’t exactly do that in the work environment- but you get the point. Put your final decision, in regards to the employee, into a direct and concise statement. Relaying the message in this manner will ensure that both parties are well aware of what is going to take place.

Understand What the Person is Going Through

There is nothing worse than getting fired by someone that displays no empathy, or even sympathy, for you as an employee. It is hard enough getting fired, but getting fired by someone that is chuckling is even worse. As an employer, you have the responsibility of taking the feelings and emotions of an employee as your own, even if they won’t be your employee for long. You have the ability to make the firing process so much more pleasant by expressing to the nearly fired employee that you feel for them and their situation. If you look as if you are on the employee’s side, in regard to emotion, the person might take the news a tad bit better. The worst thing you can do, as an employer, is give off a joyful vine when firing someone.

Have a Legitimate Reason

This element of firing an employee is quite self-explanatory. You must have a legitimate reason to fire an employee, as stated by the government. If you fire one of your employees for a bogus reason, you will find yourself in an even bigger problem. Employees that are wrongfully fired often go after the employer, with the government on their side.

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Job Search Networking: How to Make it Work for You

July 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Most people, when they think about their job search, think mainly in terms of browsing and responding to job ads.  Pinning all your hopes on this method damages your chances of getting a job, however.  The majority of jobs are never actually posted, and likewise, it is estimated that at least 60 percent of jobseekers actually find their new positions via their network.

There is something about the word “networking” that alarms many people.  Especially if you are shy or dislike asking anyone for help, the thought of asking everyone you know for a job may seem intimidating and distasteful.  Networking is much more than that, however.  Networking allows you to maintain professional connections and keep up on what is happening in your industry, as well as find out about job openings and get advice on companies you are considering working for.

Here are a few suggestions on how to make job search networking easy and painless.

1) First things first: Prepare your resume.

Nothing is more embarrassing than being handed a job opportunity, and having to ask them to wait while you get your resume ready.  This step should be done right away, before you even start calling around.  That way, when someone says, “Send me your resume and I’ll give it to my boss,” you have it all ready to go.  You will be more likely to make a good impression if you are prepared.

2) Start with the people you know best.

Family and close friends are your best resource, and therefore the best place to start.  They know you better than anyone, and can be your biggest advocate in helping you to find a job.  Even if they don’t know of any job openings at their company, they may know of someone else who could help.  They are also easier to talk to than complete strangers, and can serve as a gentle introduction to networking.

3) Reconnect with old co-workers.

Old co-workers and bosses, business acquaintances, and others you have had contact with over the years are a good next step to job search networking.  Make a list of every old co-worker or work acquaintance you can think of, and cross them off the list as you get in touch with each one.

Since you do know these people, even if it has been a while, it should be easy enough to get in touch again.  If you don’t still have contact information such as phone numbers, a little detective work may help — for instance, you can sometimes find their email on their employer’s company website, and even if you can’t find it you may be able to guess what it is, based on other people’s email addresses on the site.  Most companies follow a reliable pattern when assigning employee email addresses.

Once you get in touch with your old co-workers, you can start out by asking how they’ve been and getting caught up on their career advancements and family news.  When the conversation turns to you, simply mention that you are looking for a job, and ask if they know of any openings or anyone else who could help.  Don’t worry about feeling like you are imposing on them — you are simply asking for information, and you will be surprised how many people are eager to help when they can!

4) Follow up on any leads you are given in a timely manner.

Don’t hesitate to follow any leads you are given.  Most likely your friend or acquaintance will tell the person whose name they’ve given you to be expecting your call, so if you wait too long you may fail to make that positive first impression that is so crucial to your success.

Don’t forget to add any names you are given to your list of contacts.  Even if they can’t help you find a job now, they might be able to help you in the future.

5) Attend networking events.

In addition to the job fairs you attend, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for local networking events in your industry.  Although your attendance may not directly result in a job offer, you will be meeting others in the industry who might be able to eventually help you find work.

Because it involves talking with strangers, this is the part of networking that many people have the most trouble with.  It may help to remind yourself not to think of it as asking someone for a job.  You are merely making friends who have similar career paths to your own, and who might eventually be a source of job leads.

6) Maintain your network.

Once you have created your network, it is very important to maintain it, even after you have found a job.  Jobs don’t last forever, and no matter how good everything seems now, you never know when you will be looking for another one!

Maintaining your network doesn’t have to be difficult.  You can send out the occasional email to old co-workers and contacts you have met through your networking efforts, just to check in and see how they are doing.  They also might be able to give you pertinent information about what is going on at their company or in other parts of the industry.  Just because you have found a job doesn’t mean you no longer need your network!

The Key to Networking

The key to successful job search networking is persistence and maintenance.  Think of networking as almost organic in nature: Start slowly, with the people you already know, and gradually allow your network to grow by following leads and making new contacts.  Don’t forget to maintain the contacts you’ve already made — remember, they are not strangers unless you don’t keep in touch!

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Choose Between Several Job Offers

July 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It sounds like every job hunter’s dream: not only are you offered one job, but you’re offered multiple jobs—at the same time! But this dream can be a nightmare if you can’t decide which one is right for you and are paralyzed at the thought of missing out on something great if you choose wrong.

Evaluate what’s most important to you. This sounds easy until you actually try to do it. Too many people tell themselves that short work hours or a job within walking distance is their top priority, when really it’s something entirely different. Is it the position itself? Meaning, have you always dreamt of being an editor, and the position has finally been offered? Or maybe it’s important to you to be home by 5 p.m. every night so you can spend time with your family. Perhaps money is what drives you or the cache that comes with working for a certain company. Be brutally honest with yourself, even if your answer isn’t something you want to broadcast to others.

Thoroughly investigate the whole package. You need to be able to compare apples to apples. This means that you need to have full knowledge of your complete employment package: benefits, vacation time, sick leave, education reimbursements, etc. Just because they both offer health insurance doesn’t mean that it’s equal. One may have a significantly higher deductible or not include your chronically sick child’s specialist in its list of doctors. Also, if you’re torn between a job one mile away from home and one 30 minutes away—but are leaning toward the more distant job because it pays better—take some time to figure out the true cost. How much more would you spend on gas? On wear and tear to your car? Would you have to pay more in childcare because you’ll need babysitters longer? Go apples to apples in everything.

Make sure you understand the job itself. It’s hard to know exactly what you’re getting into until you begin working for a company, but there are ways to get a fairly complete picture. Make sure you know things like whether travel is involved. If it’s not involved right now, is there a chance that could change in the future? What is the path to promotion? How does the company feel about promotion from within? What is the culture of the company? Is it family-friendly, or do they pressure employees to work 12-hour days? The best way to find out about things like this—which typically aren’t in the employee manual—is to talk to others who work there. Ask your interviewer if you can speak to a few potential co-workers. If the answer is “no,” they may have something to hide.

Listen to your spouse. Sure, you’re the one who has to do the job every day, but your spouse’s opinion should count for a lot. If you’re thinking about accepting the position with a long commute, your spouse may object (and rightfully so) to the prospect of being responsible for childcare from morning ‘til night while you’re on the road. Or he may lobby for you to accept the highest paying offer because it could lead to you both being able to retire early and travel. It’s still your decision, but realize that if your spouse has valid concerns that you’re not listening to, you could be setting them up for resentment down the road and yourself up for a tense family dynamic.

Go after what you want. You’re probably not deciding between two or three absolutely perfect jobs. You’re probably deciding between “perfect except for…” jobs. There’s usually at least one detail that you wish were different, and when you have the security and freedom of multiple job offers in your lap, you may feel braver about negotiating for something better. If you’re drawn to the job “perfect except for” too little vacation time, ask for an extra week or two. If you’re drawn to the job “perfect except for” the salary, which you’d like to be about $5,000 higher, ask if the starting pay is flexible. The worst they can say is no, and that won’t hurt as badly if you have other options.

Maintain a solid relationship with the companies that you turn down. Always be professional, even when turning down a position. Thank them for their time and interest in you, compliment the company and your interviewer, and tell them that you would love to work for them at some point in the future. The work world can be unsteady, and you could come knocking on their door again sooner than you think; you want that door to remain ajar just in case.

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Career Contentment

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Stop waiting on employers to make you satisfied and learn how to recognize your own career contentment, and leverage it to have and enjoy the career you desire with or without job satisfaction. These one-of-a-kind learning materials are based on the revolutionary new book, Career Contentment: Don’t Settle For Anything Less, published by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). They were designed to help you, your employees or coaching clients to connect with your callings and recognize your career contentment. From developing the employment mindset and demonstrating staffing etiquette, to managing career flow and recognizing contentment, you’ll learn how to have and enjoy a more fulfilling life and career despite the frustrations associated with finding a job or the dissatisfaction which are inevitable to every job, career and employer.

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10 Tips For Starting A New Job

July 11, 2010 By 2 Comments

The importance of first impressions does not end once you have interviewed and been hired. That great first impression that you made at the interview needs to continue through your first few weeks and months on the job.

It is the initial starting period of the new job in which opinions are going to be formed about you and your work habits. Your boss and your coworkers will be considering your actions on the job during this time. If you are thought of as a lazy worker during your first weeks it will be hard to shake that reputation later on in your career. This holds true even if you deserve to have lost that reputation. However, if you really work hard and are successful during your first few weeks your boss and coworkers will think highly of you and it will be tough for others to pin you as a slacker. The following ten hints can help you to do your best at your new job.

1) Take Time Off Before Starting the New Job

If you do not take time off it might be difficult to lose the old habits and routines that went along with your old job. By taking time off it will be easier for you to adjust and adapt to the new routine.

This is especially true if your previous job was one that you held for an extended period of time and came to be an integral part of your life and routine. As little as a week off before starting your new job can be a refreshing time and will help you to do your best at the new position.

2) Research the Employer

Before going to the interview you probably spent some time learning about the company and the employer. While taking time off before starting the job do some more in-depth research about the employer. Having a good understanding of the job on your first day can do wonders for your overall success.

Find any materials about the company that are available. If you can find an employee handbook, use it. You want to know what the overall mission and goals of the company are and what your new position is within that overall structure. It will also help prepare you for what you can expect as an employee of the company. Use personal connections, too. Meet up with an employee that you know or that a friend knows to get their perspective on what life at the new job will be like for you.

3) Dress Professionally

Your appearance really does matter on the job. It is a reflection of how you work and your work ethic. At the beginning of the job, dress nicer than the others in the office. It is always a good idea to be the best-dressed person in the office for your first few weeks. After the initial period, though, you should be able to relax and not worry about how it will reflect on your work habits.

After spending some time researching the company, you should know their dress code. However, remember that it is always better to be dressed more professionally if you are still unsure.

4)Arrive Early, Leave Late

Though you may be more comfortable coming in once others are in the office and leaving with all of them at the end of the day, doing so can create the impression that you are not enthusiastic about your job. This can immediately set you back during your first few weeks at a new job.

Try to be a little bit early if you can, and do not be the first one to leave at the end of the day. Staying just a few minutes late will make you appear serious and ambitious. By arrive early, you will gain some leeway in the future if their ever is a real emergency and you do have to be late.

5) Get to Know Your Coworkers

The social aspect of a new job is an important part of making the first impression. You are going to spend most of your waking moments with your coworkers, and as such, getting along with them can make or break your experience at the company. Coworkers who are more established at the company may form opinions that can impact how your career progresses.

Try not to stick too much to socializing only with people from your old job. While you may feel more comfortable with them, this can create rifts between you and your new coworkers. It may make you seem like a snob or someone who is not interested in their new job. Try to ingratiate yourself into the social network at the new job as much as possible.

6)Ask for Help

It is not worth it to worry about seeming incompetent if you ask for help as you start a new job. In fact, by not asking for help you will seem more incompetent if you turn in a poorly or wrongly done project. Coworkers might also feel that you think you are better than them and think you do not need their help.

While asking for help is a good thing at first, be sure that you note down the answers you get so you do not ask the same questions repeatedly. Instead of being annoyed by constant questions, your coworkers and your boss will think of you as a dedicated and quick learner.

7) Take Initiative

When you first start a job it is likely that you will have less work to do than your coworkers as you settle in. It is up to you, then, to let your boss know as you are ready for more work. Your boss hired you because he expected you to fulfill expectations right away.

As you just start the job, be sure that every assignment you are given is done to the best of your ability. This will likely be the only time in your career you will have to dedicate so much time to every project. However, once you are close to completing a project or assignment let your supervisor know. They will be impressed at how quickly you are able to take on a full workload that is at par with the more experienced employees.

8) Make a Plan

By having a plan in mind of what your goals are during the beginning period of your job, you will have a concrete idea of what you are doing at work. Be sure that you prioritize your goals so that you are able to meet them in a way that is helpful to you. By having this list, you will be more motivated to work hard and succeed in everything you do initially.

Though it may seem a bit like brown-nosing, it might be a good idea to share these goals with your boss. He or she will see it as an example of your organization and ambition.

9)Communicate with Your Boss

Communicating with your boss is a good way to let them know that they were right in hiring you. They took a chance when they hired you, so keeping them abreast of your progress and adjustment can be a good way to make them understand that they made the right decision.

10) Maintain a Positive Outlook

If you have a negative, pessimistic energy about you as you start your job you will surely make a bad first impression. By demonstrating a positive energy and smiling at work you will be making a good first impression that will surely last. Smile when you pass people in the hallway, do not complain about assignments, and be sure that you do not take part in office gossip.

The Importance of Good Impressions

Nowadays, most Americans do not stay in a job more than four years. It is likely, then, that you will have more jobs in the future. Why should I care so much about the impression I make at this job, then? You ask.

Because this job can still have an effect on your career and your future. This job might be the stepping stone to your dream job, or it might lead to promotions within the company if you excel. It is also a source for references and networking opportunities if you are a successful employee.

The above ten tips are a great way to ensure that you are successful right form the beginning of your new job and will be able to continue successfully in your chosen career.

Additional Tips to Make the New Job Start As Painless As Possible

-Research the company before you start the job. Learn what they do, their mission, the employee hierarchy, the history of the company, the corporate culture, and whatever else you want to know. Try to meet a future coworker before your first day.

-Plan out your wardrobe for your entire first week of work. The first week you should wear conservative, very professional clothes. After you get the feel for the office routine, you can change your wardrobe accordingly. It is also important to get any ironing, tailoring, and dry cleaning done before starting the job.

-Know the route you will take to work, and have the time down exactly. Being late can be the worst thing you do to make a bad impression.

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Top 5 Tips for Making the Best First Impression With Recruiters

February 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A recruiter’s success is based on finding the right talent to help client companies hire the best person. Knowing how to help recruiters recruit you will go a long way in demonstrating that you are the best candidate!
This article presents key tips from executive recruiters Al Chase, David Teten and Michael Robinson on what recruiters expect from top-tier candidates. Make their job easier, and distinguish yourself in a positive way. The results could lead to your next opportunity.

1. Cookie-Cutter Resumes and Letters Don’t Cut It

Remember that you are unique. What accomplishments, experiences and personal qualities do you offer that will give you an edge over others with similar job titles, employment backgrounds and educational credentials? Communicate what makes you distinct.

Cookie-cutter documents communicate lack of creativity, and mass mailed or generalized materials are easy to spot by savvy recruiters. Avoid large untargeted resumes blasted to search firms who are not specialists in your field; they will likely be relegated to the unsolicited file never to see the light of day.

When responding to a recruiter’s ad, customize your cover letters and resumes to complement the specific requirements of each position. Addressing a letter to “Dear Recruiter” when the ad lists their name will not score points! Recruiters notice the details, so address your cover letter to the recruiter by name.

2. Only the Qualified Get Invited to the “Dance”

The Internet has dramatically changed how job searches are conducted. With the click of a mouse, you can distribute your resume to thousands of employers and search firms around the globe.

With search firms, however, it’s not a numbers game and never has been. The best way to gain credibility with recruiters is to apply only for positions for which you are qualified. Sorting through the large volume of unqualified resumes that recruiters receive takes precious time. Therefore, scrutinize each ad carefully for the list of qualifications. Ads for positions that are not a good match or only vaguely appeal to you won’t get you closer to your ultimate goal of landing a new position. Save your time, and respect the recruiters’ time, by concentrating on the ads for which you meet most, if not all, of the requirements.

3. Accept “No” For an Answer

Recruiters are not shy. If you’re a match for a search they are working on, you will be the first to know. By the same token, know when to accept a “no” and avoid calling repeatedly for months after a search is completed. If you do, this is one bridge you are likely to burn.

If you didn’t get the job because another candidate was more qualified, gracefully accept this decision. Conduct a productive search campaign by focusing your efforts on pursuing multiple opportunities simultaneously so that your entire search does rely on one particular position at a time. This can set you up for tremendous disappointment, not to mention a huge waste of time.

4. Call First and Wait For an Invite

Unemployed executives have been known to show up unannounced at recruiters’ offices expecting a short interview or conversation. Place yourself in their situation. Would you be willing to be interrupted to meet with some stranger? Even if they are available at that moment, they are not likely to see you. Wait for an invitation!

5. Digital Decorum and Distinction

When communicating by email, recruiters offer the following “digital dos and don’ts” tips for winning them over. Here’s how:

  • Avoid writing emails in ALL CAPS and inserting emoticons
  • Email your resume as an MS Word attachment (unless otherwise requested). Don’t send a PDF file; they are difficult to forward, need specific software and take too long to download. Don’t send a ZIP file because email cannot detect viruses common in ZIP files, so recruiters often don’t risk opening them. Don’t send MAC files. Time is of essence, and MS Word is the quick and easy business standard
  • Name your resume and cover letter file by LastnameFirstname2006Resume. For example: SmithJohn2006Resume. It’s easy to find, easy to file and easy to identify. Recruiters want to match you, but can’t possibly sort through hundreds of “resume.doc” files to locate your documents. Make yourself easy to find and easy to remember. This small professional touch can help make you stand out in the recruiter’s mind—and database.
  • Make your ASCII (text only) resume work for you. Avoid tables, columns, boxes and templates since they usually get garbled in translation. Recruiters recommend “taking your resume for a test drive”—check it out first by copying and pasting it into WordPad. Remember, not only does your resume need to be easily scanned, it also needs to be stored for future job matches.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it does highlight the virtually non-negotiable requirements recruiters look for in savvy candidates. Use these tips to effectively manage your search … they can make all the difference in getting recruiters to call YOU over the competition!

Louise Garver is the president of Career Directions LLC. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Career Coach with extensive experience in recruitment, outplacement and career management. Her articles have been featured on leading employment websites and her work has been published in numerous resume and cover letter books.

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When to Quit Your Job

November 3, 2009 By 1 Comment

For many people, the answer to the question, “Do you like your job?” changes depending on what day you ask. Maybe you can relate to this see-saw of emotions when it comes to your 9-to-5. So how does an employee know when it’s really, truly time to move on—and not a temporary sentiment that will pass tomorrow or next week? There are some guidelines, both internal (how you feel inside) and external (what feedback you’re getting from your interpersonal relationships) that provide clues. Keep in mind, however, that every situation is different, and you should ultimately make an informed choice that is best for yourself, your family, and your health.

You’re sick of it—literally. If you’re sick all the time, your body is saying, “Run—do not walk—to the nearest exit.” Your workplace could be making you sick in a number of ways. Your office may subtly (or not so subtly) discourage employees from using sick days. So everybody comes to work sick, and you spend half the year at the doctor’s office getting prescriptions for antibiotics. Or maybe you’re suffering from stress-related illnesses: constant headaches, body aches, fatigue that never goes away, sleeplessness, and even hair loss. Endless stress can manifest itself in the physical signs above, but it can also take a toll on your mental health, causing depression and other serious consequences. You should never be asked to sacrifice your health for the sake of your job.

There’s nowhere to go. If you mastered your job duties three years ago and haven’t been challenged since, you’re probably bored out of your mind all day. If you aren’t being given an opportunity to advance at your company—or if the only position above yours is “owner”—you may need to look outside your current organization.

You’re only paranoid if nobody’s out to get you. Sometimes the office can feel like high school all over the again: the cliques, the gossip, the jealousy. If poor relationships with co-workers are making you miserable or preventing you from doing your job effectively, the sad truth is that the situation is probably not going to improve significantly. If you’ve tried the usual HR routes to get a disagreement or personality conflict resolved and nothing has happened, you may want to investigate another job where the atmosphere is friendlier and more conducive to—gasp!—actually working.

Your boss isn’t crazy about you. Dealing with cruddy co-workers is one thing, but there’s nothing more demoralizing than feeling like your boss is out to get you. It’s possible that you’re just being overly sensitive, but if “sensitive” isn’t how most people would describe you, you may be onto something very real. Sometimes bosses lose confidence in employees for solid reasons: slipping performance, coming in late and leaving early, an overheard phone call or e-mail criticizing the company or boss, etc. But other times, there doesn’t seem to be a reason for the changing demeanor. If you’re being left out of meetings, your work load or job responsibilities are decreasing, and you’re just plain getting the cold shoulder, she may be trying to manipulate you into quitting or is planning to fire you soon. Before you do anything drastic, however, talk to your boss about your perception. If you’re not satisfied after that meeting, get out the “help wanted” section and start looking!

You’re not comfortable with your job duties. You should absolutely refuse to perform illegal activities for your boss—it’s better to be out of a job than to risk going to jail. But what about those gray areas somewhere below illegal? Some people may have the stomach for a job that requires unethical activity, but if you don’t, again, your boss probably won’t have an epiphany about ethics and change your job description. Better to look at opportunities in another organization.

Your family is being compromised. It could be the best job in the world, but if it’s wreaking havoc on your family life, you probably shouldn’t continue. Maybe you’re asked to put in grueling hours, have a long commute that puts you home after the kids are in bed, or travel extensively. Whatever the reason, if your spouse and/or kids are unhappy—and have been for some time—you may want to rethink your job.

You want to quit. This last item is a catch-all of reasons why you simply want to quit your job. Maybe you’ve been offered a better position elsewhere, or maybe you want to stay home with your kids. If your gut is telling you it’s time to quit, it’s a good idea to listen. And remember that nothing is forever. If you decide down the road that you made a mistake, you can always talk to your boss about coming back or explore possibilities elsewhere.

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LinkedIn Recruiting

August 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

LinkedIn.com is one of the fastest growing recruiting tools currently used by Headhunters and Professionals alike. If you are used to networking and taking advantage of business meet and greets, then you can expand your networks and your professional name by using LinkedIn. If you are still coming to grips with how to network or even what it is – then LinkedIn provides a great base on which you can build for your “offline” world. If you become savvy at using LinkedIn as a professional advancement tool then your opportunities are exponential.

Why use LinkedIn to get recruited?

Headhunters are now using LinkedIn as one of their primary tools to source new talent for Employers. Business Owners and Employers have also become aware of just how useful LinkedIn is to search for talented professionals to fill positions – cutting out the middle man and major advertising costs. Over 130,000 recruitment agents including representatives from all of the Fortune 500 Companies are using LinkedIn to source their future employees and contractors.

Professionals who have developed their LinkedIn Profiles and are working on their connections report on receiving at least a contact a week from either Headhunters or Employers who have found them through LinkedIn. This is a great tool to advertise your skills to a much larger audience and also provides opportunities for networking yourself into your Company of choice. As you familiarize yourself with LinkedIn you will start to realize how this site and your connections can provide a personal introduction to the right person at the right time.

How does LinkedIn work?

Heard of six degrees of separation? LinkedIn works on the principle that by you inviting your contacts to join you on LinkedIn, you also gain access to their contacts and so on and so forth. Firstly, this builds up membership as a lightening pace (over 25 million users currently). Secondly, this creates a huge community of people who can professionally assist each other. LinkedIn is a professional driven social networking site, so no video uploads of late night opinions or family pics – just professionals linking in to each other.

How do I get started using LinkedIn for Professional Advancement?

A Basic Membership on LinkedIn.com is free. You just need to join and fill in your profile. If you’re serious about using LinkedIn to get recruited, and then take the time to set up your profile properly, in the same vain you would offer your CV to a Recruitment Agent.

The next step is to start connecting! LinkedIn operates interactive tools that can upload your address book from various email programs including Outlook and web based mail programs. These tools automatically identify any members of your address book that are already LinkedIn members. Go through and carefully choose who you want to invite to become a connection. Note: Your Connections will be visible to the rest of your connections.

You can also reconnect with old classmates and colleagues by using the Colleague Reconnect and Classmate Reconnect tools. This is a great way to expand your connections and you never know who may be working for what potential employer. Profiles with over 20 connections have an increased chance of success.

TIP: Don’t just enter someone’s email address or business card into your contact manager – see if they are also on LinkedIn. A few minutes a month can provide you a huge network of connections that can access your profile.

How can I use LinkedIn to get recruited?

Here are a few fast tips on how to optimize your chances for being recruited through LinkedIn. They are relevant to both individuals who want professional advancement, freelancing or consulting professionals and business owners who want to expand their reach:

Don’t just sit on your profile – work your colleagues, former employers, clients and professional contacts for recommendations. Having recommendations on your LinkedIn profile is gold in terms of recruitment. You can also use your LinkedIn profile as a central repository for recommendations rather than having to re-contact your referees each time you apply for a job. Business can also use this as a tool to centralize their testimonials for prospective clients. You can then refer potential employers to your LinkedIn profile to view recommendations.

Use keywords when you are preparing your Profile, take advantage of search engine optimization wherever possible, while still ensuring your profile looks professional. For example systems analyst familiar with business intelligence software – work at getting the attention of your target audience. If you are running a professional or promotional blog, you can connect your blogs URL to your LinkedIn profile. Again – keywords – professional. You can also personalize your LinkedIn profile by customizing the URL to reflect your name and ensure you allow your full profile to be viewed by public users. LinkedIn is a friend of the major search engines – giving you the chance of a higher return on search results.

You can download the JobInsider toolbar from LinkedIn. If you are searching for open positions on many of the known jobsites, then the JobInsider toolbar gives you an inside track. When you view a listing, JobInsider will search for your inside connections in the prospective company. Using your connections you can gain inside information, advice and maybe even a helping recommendation.

Join relevant groups – you can join professional, alumni, industry and corporate alumni groups listed on LinkedIn. This is a great way to exhibit your profile and increase your connections. You can also create groups – bringing together your own major network of liked minded professionals.

People have had amazing results from just simply asking and answering questions using the Q & A tool on LinkedIn. Try for credibility rather than self promotion.

Take the few milliseconds to keep an eye on the LinkedIn notices that come into your inbox. It’s useful insider intelligence to watch who’s connecting to whom and what your friends, colleagues and former bosses are doing. Pretty soon with a large enough network you can start to build your connections in the right direction.

There are also mega connection boosting sites such as www.toplinked.com. Offering to help you expand your connections exponentially as long as you agree to some basic conditions, such as never declining an invitation to connect to someone referred by the site. Remember the more connections, the better opportunities for professional advancement and likelihood of getting recruited.

Get to know your “network statistics” under the People section of your Linkedin profile. This will give you a summary of the industries your connections are related to. By clicking on an industry of interest, you can view the connections and how many degrees of separation there are between you and them. Using your common connections as a base, you can introduce yourself to relevant people.

You can also choose to upgrade your account to Premium at a cost. This offers further features for recruitment on LinkedIn. Note: if you downgrade later on, you will lose all of your connections and profile and need to start again.

Last word on profiles – it’s not just about who you’re currently working for or what you are currently doing. Each time you update your profile with a former Employer or Qualification, LinkedIn will automatically search for other people who worked or went to classes during the same time period. Your ancient history could open up the door to tomorrow’s dream job!

Filed Under: Career Advice Tagged With: ,
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