05 Aug 10 “Looking for the Job that is right for you”

Finding the best job that suits your personality and your lifestyle is never easy.  It’s actually a full time job itself.  To better understand your needs and increase your chance of succeeding in your chosen field, you need to conduct a personal evaluation.  Is this the career you want?  Is there room for growth?  Are the salary and benefits good?

You can’t really evaluate a position unless you do the research.  From a recent survey in the U.S., graduate degree holders earn an average of 35 to 50 percent more than just bachelor’s degree holders.  This is a reason why more and more are taking their Masters.  There could be an offer or two, all you have to do is make a concrete decision to ensure the right job for you in the present job market.

Know what you want

Knowing what kind of personality you have and your interests gives you an idea how you would like to spend your day on a job.  The activities you’d like to get involved in plays a great role in keeping you motivated.  You could make a list of the kinds of people you would like to be working with.  Say, people who like being told what to do or authoritative types; how about loud people or quiet types; and would you like a place where people love socializing or not?  There are different sizes of companies as well, there are small, medium, large, overseas, local, and regional.

The Internet is a valuable tool that assists online job seekers in looking for a job they could fit in.  Trim down the choices depending on your needs and wants to get the more possible pool of companies you can try submitting resumes.

Below are the common job search techniques:

Percentage of
Job hunters                  Search Technique                             Effectiveness

66.0%                                Direct application                                 47.71%
50.8                                Referral from friends’ work                   22.1
41.8                                Asking friends from other places     11.9
28.4                                Asking family about the company
they work for                                 19.3
27.3                                Asking relatives about jobs from
other places                                   7.4
45.9                                Newspaper posts                                  23.9
21.0                                Career centers                                  24.2
12.5                                School organizations/clubs                    21.4
15.3                                Civil Service Exams                    12.5
10.4                                Referrals from mentors                    12.1
1.6                                Local ads                                  12.9
6.0                                Cooperative programs                    22.2

*Percentage results obtained from dividing the technique by the total number of job hunters who tried to use the method, successful or not.

Your major strengths and weaknesses will help indicate how well you will perform in the work you have chosen.  Your progress dictates your maturity and enthusiasm at work.  Finding the best job for you is a full time job itself.  It requires time and passion to get positive results.  No matter what you choose, it should always be a place where you can identify yourself and remain happy.

Tags: Bachelor, Choices, Degree Holders, Full Time Job, Graduate Degree, Job Fit, Job Search, Job Seekers, Looking For A Job, Masters, Personal Evaluation, Personality, Place Where People, Pool Companies, Resumes Search, Right Job, Salary, Search Technique, Search Techniques, Valuable Tool

10 Apr 09 Take This Job and Shove It is a Country Song NOT a Best Practice

Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.”
-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Sometimes it’s an easy choice to leave a company. However, one of the most important choices that you can make in your career is to leave your current employer in the right way. Like any other relationship, there are faults and virtues with every company. At the end of a relationship, people tend to focus on the faults.

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
When you leave a company, it is like breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Regardless of how you do it, there will still be emotions. The longer the relationship, the deeper the feelings. Keep this in mind during the separation. People express their emotions in different ways so be prepared to respond with compassion.

IT’S A SMALL WORLD
I’ve learned first hand not to burn bridges. In fact, I was hired by my former boss within two years of leaving the company. He had moved onto a bigger job with another company and thought of me when a position came open in his department. Since we already had a great relationship, the interview process was both short and painless. Also, the job was a significant step up for me both professionally and financially.

TO DO OR NOT TO DO?
Here are a few do’s and don’ts that may help make the transition a little easier for everyone.

DO write and give a simple resignation letter to your immediate boss and, perhaps, your Human Resources Director, if appropriate. By putting a few key items in writing, it memorializes your intention to leave the company. It also gives you a chance to pre-play the discussion with your boss. The letter should include the following: your last day on the job, open items that you need to complete prior to leaving, and any work that you will need to pass off to someone else.

DON’T say anything negative about the company or anyone working for the company. While this is a good policy to employ at all times, it is even more critical when you are leaving. Disgruntled employees may seek you out during this time to air their negative feelings about the company or people working for the company. Resist the temptation to entertain these conversations. It is likely that your comments will be shared with others.

DO give as much advance notice as possible to allow for a smooth transition. Typically, this is two to four weeks. Use your best judgment to decide how long you will need to give keeping in mind what’s best for the company. Be aware that is also possible that the company will ask you to leave immediately, especially if you’re going to work for a competitor. This is nothing personal and should not be considered an insult.

DO work hard until you leave. It’s perfectly natural to get “short-timer’s disease” as you have already mentally moved onto the new position. Whether discussing movies, books, or relationships; people generally remember the beginning and end more than the middle.

DON’T take anything that is not yours. Whether it’s a stapler, a book that belongs to the company, copy paper, or paper clips; leave them behind. While you’re at it, tidy up a bit.

DO make yourself available for your replacement. If the company hires your replacement before you leave, offer to train them. Even after you have departed, it’s a good idea to leave a phone number where you can be reach with times that it is acceptable to call.

DON’T abuse e-mail, the telephone, or the internet during your last days. Be sure to keep your communication as professional as you have during your tenure.

There’s no reason that you still can’t be friends when it’s over. If you are careful to maintain a good reputation with the company, their suppliers, their customers, and employees; it will pay off considerably. It may not happen right away, but your paths will cross again.

Tags: Achievement, Boss, Bridges, career, Choices, Compassion, Different Ways, Easy Choice, Emotions, Faults, Feelings, Girlfriend, Great Relationship, H Jackson Brown, H Jackson Brown Jr, Human Resources Director, Intention, job, Life Management, Resignation Letter, Success, Transition, Virtues