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Avoid These New Job Pitfalls

August 5, 2010 By 4 Comments

new jobStarting a new job is exciting, but it’s also loaded with potential landmines. These tips will ensure you come across as professional from the very first day:

•    Be discreet. It’s good to disclose a little about yourself so your new co-workers and supervisor get to know you, but there’s a fine line between sharing and over-sharing. Divulging your love of chocolate is fine; telling them that you recently had to seek treatment for an eating disorder is too much too soon. Similarly, be cautious about disclosing too much about your previous jobs. It might surprise you to learn how many friends that horrible ex-boss you’re complaining about has in your new company.

•    Don’t hide in your cubicle. It’s tempting to hunker down and concentrate on learning your job rather than circulating and meeting new people. But the sooner you begin working your way through the organizational chart, the sooner you cultivate new contacts who can keep you informed about upcoming projects and important news.

•    Take information with a grain of salt. When you’re new, you have no way of knowing whether the information (otherwise known as “gossip”) you’re receiving about others is valid. Listen respectfully to what people say, but be sure to form your own opinion before you believe that John is a backstabber and Sue pilfers the petty cash.

•    Use downtime to learn. If you find yourself with brief periods of idleness during training, hop on the company web site and review orientation materials to soak up details. It’ll impress your boss when you begin a conversation with, “Since XYZ is our company’s official charity, I was thinking…”

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What to do on Your First Day of Employment

July 29, 2010 By 1 Comment

first dayYour first day at a new job can be an emotional rollercoaster that makes you feel excited and sick to your stomach all at the same time. While it is natural to be nervous you have to have confidence walking in, but you can’t be cocky. Confused yet?

On your first day of employment it will be much the same as your first day of a new school year. You really won’t be expected to accomplish a whole lot for the day other than to settle in and begin to find your groove.

This starts with meeting and greeting everyone who is going to be working around you. If they do not take the time to approach you then you can always be the one to extend the olive branch and introduce yourself. Knowing who you work with and a little about them will help you to ease into your new place of work and help your new co-workers to feel better about you as well.

Be sure to listen to all that is said to you on your first day of employment and carry a notebook and pen for taking notes. Take notes if you feel they will be a useful resource to look back on at a later date. Avoid saying, “I know, I know,” or, “At my last job,” as this can have you coming off a bit pretentious. Even if you are highly skilled at what you do, take the first day and listen more than you talk.

Of course you should ask questions, but keep them to a minimum. Find out dress codes, lunch breaks, and all the other mundane information that you will need to know for your day to day right off of the bat, but save the more in-depth questions for your future days of employment.

Above all else, breathe, relax, and try to have a good time. The more comfortable you can make yourself feel, the better off your second day of employment will go, and then your third, and so on.

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Finish What You Started Before You Begin a New Job

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Have you ever heard the old saying, “Don’t burn your bridges?” Well it rings so true when you are transitioning from one job to another.

Many people will give no consideration as to how they act on their final days of one job and instead sloth around until their new job begins. This is bad and not only shows a lack of respect, but a lack of professionalism as well.

To start with, you should always give your current employer the courtesy of at least two weeks’ notice before you high tale it to another job. Any employer who hires you will likely be sympathetic to this request as they no doubt would expect the same thing if you were leaving their employment. If you have a complex job that requires you to train someone else then you may want to offer to stay on a little longer than two weeks.

With the remaining time at your job you should conduct business as usual. Even if the job brought you little cheer while you worked there, you still need to be the bigger person and give all you can until you leave. This will leave your old employer to only have great things to say about you which is pretty good in the end.

The point is that you should always finish what you start and a job is no different. Give all the effort you can until the last hours and minutes of your employment and always leave by thanking your now past employer with a thank you.  After all, the corporate world is sometimes a small one and you don’t ever want to burn a bridge as you may need to cross it again sometime in the future.

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Education in Lieu of Experience in the Job Market

April 11, 2010 By 2 Comments

When searching for a job, it’s always a challenge to show your strengths and knowledge to an employer. Many times professionals will highlight their work experience when they lack educational experience. The same can be done if you are either new to the professional world or possibly switching industries. If you’re looking for a job, you can often highlight your educational background if you’re lacking experience.

If you need specific experience that you have not had in your work history, but may have had in class curriculum, either in college or some other form of training, be sure to include it in your resume. Also be sure to include it in your cover letter and relate it specifically to the job you’re applying for. Often education can make up for experience. Don’t be afraid to list things that you may not think are relevant, the potential employer may find that your educational experience is a bonus and may prove to be to their benefit. For recent college graduates, it’s a given that you won’t have the work experience that a seasoned professional would have. Don’t let that deter you; employers expect that you may not have work experience. Make sure you let them know what you have studied that is pertinent to the job for which you are applying. Don’t simply put your degree title, break down in your resume and cover letter exactly how it applies to the job and how it will help you meet their needs.

Highlighting your education when you’re lacking experience can give you an edge when job hunting that you may not otherwise have. Be sure to promote all of the skills you gained in school in the same way you would promote professional experience. Doing so may just land you the job!

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Preparing for the Recession-Induced Job Axe

March 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In view of the ongoing economic turmoil, it is projected that many employers will inevitably find themselves having to downsize. And in any given organization, there is really no knowing whose job will go and whose job will remain. People who have been involved in these things before will tell you that it is not always the worst performer who is shown the door first when axe starts swinging. This is to say that if your performance during the last appraisal was sterling, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will necessarily be the last person onboard. And it doesn’t either mean that the guy who got a ‘lackluster grade’ in the last appraisal will be the first one to go. It does mean that every needs to be prepared for the axe, so it doesn’t catch them unawares should it happen to fall on them.

You can take some steps to ensure that should the axe on you, it doesn’t at least catch you unawares. You can, for example take a fresh look at your resume, update it and revamp it. In preparing for axe, you can also start taking professional networking more seriously, and revive your network if it has died or cooled off. With the advent and growth of the Internet, nowadays it is relatively easy to start and get a network going soon. And while still at it, you might also consider brushing up your memory on interviewing skills. And finally, even as you prepare for any eventuality that might come your way, just don’t focus too much on the axe, lest it fall on you.

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How frequently should you change your job?

September 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

There is hardly an employee who has never felt the urge to quit his or her job right away. Yes, there are really nasty jobs you can’t and shouldn’t stand but changing your job frequently is not regarded as a good sign of your personal and professional skills. HR Managers don’t like people who change their jobs frequently but what does “frequently” mean?

If you are a serial job quitter – i.e. you change your job more often than once a year, this is bad for you because potential employers will look at you with suspicion. You might have good reasons to change your job – i.e. there were external factors, which made you quit but still for employers you look unreliable because the message they get is that you are easily pissed off and if they hire you, you might be gone in a couple of months or so – right after you have became useful for the company.

On the other hand, if you have been working for 5 or 10 years in an unrewarding job, this is also bad because it says that you either are no good and had no any other alternative and that’s why you have spent so much time in a nasty job, or that you have been getting more than you are giving – i.e. you don’t work hard but you are happy to get whatever cash you can for your lazy habits. Of course, this does not mean that people who have worked for 10 years for one company are worthless because if they have hold different positions throughout the years, this is different.

Now you might ask what to do. Changing your job frequently is as bad as changing your job once in a decade. So, as you guess, generally it is best if you change your job once in 2-4 years. To put it simply, 2 years is not a short period of time – i.e. you have done a lot for the company and 4 years is not too much – i.e. you haven’t become useless.

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Dress the Part

September 3, 2009 By 1 Comment

There’s a common saying out there – “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”  The comedic response has been, “So I dress as an astronaut everyday,” but there is something to take from this saying.

While it may be acceptable to dress in jeans and t-shirts at your workplace, it is not the best idea.  Even if your immediate coworkers don’t mind, there are others that will judge you.  Appearances mean a lot and dressing appropriately earns you certain amount of respect.

Here’s a true story – a candidate came into to interview very nicely dressed and impressed the all of us on the interviewing committee.  However, on his first day on the job he showed up in jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes.  Our new employee that we were eager to introduce to everyone made a terrible impression on his first day.  Dressing that casually, particularly when you are new to a job, sends the wrong signal.  He did not appear professional or qualified.  Some coworkers even commented that his attire gave the impression that he was not thankful for the position.

So, why do so many employees feel it’s acceptable to be lax in their attire once they have been at a company for a while?  Even though it may be acceptable, it’s never desirable.  You can present a positive, professional, clean appearance without wearing suits to work.  A nice pair of slacks and button up shirt is much more appropriate than jeans and a t-shirt.

Studies have even shown that when employees dress better, it has a positive impact on their job performance.  If your company practices casual Friday, then you probably can attest to the trend that casual attire contributes to a more relaxed work day.

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Quitting Your Job – Letter of Resignation

June 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

These days people quit jobs for all sorts of reasons such as more money or better hours. Whatever the case may be for you leaving your job, sometimes a letter of resignation is required. If it can be avoided then avoid it, but if you are under a legal or any other kind of obligation to give a letter of resignation do so in a professional and concise manner.

You are not the President, so the whole world doesn’t need to know what your plans are in the future and what specifically lead you to your decision to quit. When preparing the letter, just a simple thank you for employment and date that you will be leaving should suffice. Don’t get into specifics and don’t write a book. Keep it as short and sweet as you possibly can.

When leaving your job for whatever reason, never just drop the resignation letter on the boss’ desk or mail it to them. Take the time to go into the boss’ office and hand them the letter personally. When handing it to them, thank them for the opportunity they gave you and all that they have taught you in your time there. This may be awkward for you, but it is a necessary step to ensure that you leave on the best possible terms and it will allow you to walk out on your last day with your head held high. This will also ensure that you can get a good recommendation if you should need one down the road.

No one likes to quit, but if handled properly and professionally, it can be a lot less stressful than you think. Sometimes resignation letters are a way of corporate life, so deal with it like a pro and you will have nothing to feel bad about upon your departure.

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Your First Underling

April 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Who, me? A supervisor? It happens to most professionals at some point, even though a variety of “buts” may come to mind—“I’m too young” or “I’m too new.” I had both of those thoughts when, at the ripe old age of 22 and fresh out of college, I was given my first supervisory role. I was assigned interns who were only a year or two younger than I was, and I remember being in a state of panic. “I don’t even know what I’m doing,” I thought, “so how am I supposed to teach them anything?!”

When you’re assigned supervisory duties, your first step toward success is taking the job seriously. Remember that this isn’t all about you; your words and direction can have a very real impact on the person or group you’re managing. First-time managers often fall into two deadly traps: turning into the uppity, power-mad boss we all vow we’ll never become, or turning into your supervisees’ friend because you don’t think you have what it takes to be their boss. Neither is smart. Instead, think about what you would want (or have benefited from) in a manager. A few hints:

  • Be unflappable. No matter what you’re hit with, take a moment to reflect and decide on a course of action. If your employees see you start to lose it, their anxiety goes through the roof, and that’s not a recipe for a carefully-considered decision.
  • Be available. Newbies are in a huge learning curve, and they need your hands-on presence often. Teaching them well in the beginning will give you support in managing your workload and make you look like a champ to your managers.
  • Be forgiving. Everyone makes mistakes (right?), so expect them from your new charges. Use well-intentioned mistakes as learning opportunities, rather than reasons to assert your power.
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The Mentorship Puzzle

April 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Ask a successful business person what made the difference in her career, and you’re likely to hear a “who” rather than a “what.” Mentors are a great resource when you’re starting a career, changing careers, or attempting to move up the career ladder. The challenge is fitting the pieces together to form a perfect puzzle.

Most people don’t have a mentor because they don’t know where to look for one. But potential mentors are all around you: sitting across from you at a fundraiser luncheon, one floor up on the executive level at the office, or a client that you tried (and perhaps failed) to woo. The ideal mentor isn’t even necessarily someone in your industry. If you’re starting a manufacturing business, you might find that a successful retailer is a wonderful mentor for you. Perhaps your personalities just click, or he’s an effective teacher. And even though you’re in different sectors, he can reveal marketing techniques that worked for him, what efforts weren’t worth the time and money, and give you access to his valuable contacts.

And if the word “mentor” seems too dorky to utter out loud, simply say to your potential mentor that you admire her accomplishments and wondered if she could be a resource for you as you learn the ropes, change jobs, climb the ladder, etc. Most people will be flattered. Remember that this shouldn’t be a one-way-street relationship, however. Take her to lunch, ask what you can do for her, or just jump in and help. You might learn the most simply by going to work with her for the day and helping her tackle projects. And don’t forget to pay it forward by mentoring someone else one day.

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