Reduce Job Search Anxiety

While job searching can cause a great deal of anxiety, managing your stress can make the process easier. By turning it into a positive experience, you can be in a better mood and make you excited about the prospect of new employment.

Focus on what you can control. Don't focus on just one opportunity, pursue several at the same time. Focus on any tasks that need to be done by a certain time. Write a customizable resume and associated cover letter containing 'your story', then work in the opportunities' requirements.

Find 18 tips to help reduce your anxiety here.

Staying May Not Be Good

Consider the stress level at work, and not having the proper balance in life. Once someone is burned out, there is no turning back. A vacation or even a sabbatical may not fix the problem. You may have to quit.

Burnout sneaks up, it is not easy to measure. There are other more specific situations. Not getting paid the market rate is fairly easy. Lack of supervisor support, a changing role and lack of upward mobility are others.

See a more complete discussion here.

Jobs for a Midlife Career Change

Changing jobs is expected but, people are changing careers in their 30s or 40s. Changing a career is a significant change. It takes careful research, consideration, and strategy.

While there may be external factors that necessitate a change, the more important factors need to be personal. The personal issues can not be knee jerk reactions, they must be calculated.

See five questions to ask yourself here.

Legitimate Online Jobs

Recently a so-called “gig economy” has emerged. These jobs involve workers making a living via contract work. These work-from-home jobs could see increased interest. With economic conditions, significant contract work takes place online.

This class of work has applications across varied professions, you may have the ability to perform this kind of work regardless of your background. Prospective gig workers have a choice of numerous online jobs encompassing a diverse set of backgrounds.
 
See a sample list of opportunities here.

Consider a Volunteer Position

While your full time 'Job' is obtaining a new one, consider the benefits of a volunteer position. This new non-paying opportunity shouldn't be full time but it will give you a break in your routine. You will need to rework your resume to point out the skills you can bring to the position. In the resume editing process you might see some improvements you can make.

Consider the volunteer job as temporary. Gaining the benefits of a change of pace, you may develop skills or discover additional exposure that can be included in your ongoing master resume.

For tips on writing a cover letter or e-mail see more here.

Identify and Utilize Transferable Skills

In a career transition, whether job or industry, leverage your transferrable skills. Transferable skills include both the hard and soft skills that are applicable in your current role and the job you’re seeking.

A resume is absolutely required. Additionally a cover letter gives you a chance verbalize your skills, talents and experience. This is especially important in a lateral move or in an industry change.

See how to identify and demonstrate transferrable skills here

Find and Make the Most of a Mentor

Having a career mentor can be the secret sauce to career success. A mentor is someone who’s in your corner and wants to help you succeed professionally. This is most successful when you both spend time coming up with a strategy for success and have a clear understanding of the long-term goals of the relationship.

A career mentor helps you figure out how to achieve your career goals. They can help you make decisions that move your career forward, offer advice and insight when you face challenges, and provide general feedback about your goals and plans.

See how to use a mentor in your job quest here.

Essential Skills for the Post-Pandemic Workplace

The pandemic has created enormous changes in the workplace. Regardless of their jobs, employees needed to adapt rapidly to massive changes ranging from working remotely to changes in operations and fulfillment.

As organizations continue to operate in a pandemic and plan for the future, some of the essential skills that most employees will need have been identified.

See 6 skills for a competitive advantage here.

Leaving? How to Handle the Exit Interview

You’ve given your notice and it’s time for your exit interview, you may not know how to proceed. Your former employer wants to know why you’re leaving. They’re trying to see what they can do going forward to keep other employees from leaving.

Instead of being apprehensive about the interview, view the interview as an opportunity to think critically about your experience. What was learned, how might the company improve?

See how to handle your exit gracefully, honestly, and professionally here.

Things to Do When Your Boss Quits

It can come as a surprise when your boss quits their job. No matter how or why your boss leaves, you’ll want to collect yourself and make sure that regardless of what happens, you’re set up for success. Pay attention and be aware, figure out what happens next.

While you may worry about your next boss, continue to be the professional you are and remember that the one thing that’s constant in life (including your work life) is change.

Find eight things you should (and shouldn’t) do here.

Education vs Experience: What Do Employers Want?

 Given that college costs are on the rise, many people question the wisdom of pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Does it make sense to spend time and money getting your degree when you could be working and gaining practical work experience?

While there is something to be said for that argument, what really matters when it comes to getting a job is what employers think. How do they feel about education versus work experience on a resume? The resume gets you the interview.

See a discussion of the value of education and experience here.

Working for Large Companies vs Small Businesses

Choosing whether to work for a large or small company can impact the quality of your life. 

Choose a large company, and you may have endless opportunities for advancement. But, you may have to try hard to be noticed. Work for a small company, and there may be a greater sense of community and “family,” but you may stay “stuck” in the same position year after year.

Find the pros and cons of company size here.

Preparing for a Layoff

Being prepared for a layoff is good advice even when the economy is robust. Keeping you resume up to date and watching for shifts in your industry should be on-going activities. Whether you know layoffs are coming or you just suspect it, there are some steps you can take to prepare for a layoff before it happens.

Preparing now will allow you to have a solid plan in place. Just know that getting laid off and getting fired are two different things. The former isn’t because of bad performance, that’s important to remember.

See 14 things to consider here.

Tips for Finding a New Job

Finding a new job can be a challenging and frustrating experience. You can make the job search a bit easier on yourself if you use proactive strategies for finding a new job.  

There are steps, specific considerations and strategies applicable to all jobseekers, from those just starting out to experienced candidates who need a quick refresher.

Find 14 tips for finding a new job here.

Choose a Career That Pays Off

Early education decisions are critical to future career success. There’s a good reason for that: Without choosing the right courses in ninth grade, students may not get into the right courses in the next three years. Without those credits on their record, they may not get into the right degree program. 

Pay attention to the foundation of aptitude and skills to make the most of an early education strategy.  

Explore five considerations for choosing a field here.

Stable Job but Reasons to Leave

Even with a currently stable job, it  is sometimes necessary to escape a  hostile working environment. If you are dreading going to work every day, then the anxiety may have deleterious effects on your productivity and health. 

Hopefully by evaluating some common situations, you will be able to carefully reevaluate your position and make a sound decision. 

See five situations here.

How to Leave a Job on Good Terms

When considering leaving your job or have already been offered a new position, it is important to leave your job on good terms. Leaving a job on good terms will increase your chances of getting a favorable reference in the future. Also, it increases the odds that your employer may consider rehiring you if given the opportunity.

Consider the following:

1.  Announcing your departure

2.  The resignation letter

3.  The exit interview

For in depth details on these topics, click here.

When Recruiters Start Texting You:

Texting is now a common way to communicate and has become an essential part of life. More recruiters are now turning to text messaging as a means to engage with potential job candidates. Do not feel an obligation to text with a recruiter. If concerned, just explain you would prefer to be reached by email and provide your address. 

However, recruiters are there to help you find a job – this is a professional interaction. You should be thinking about texting with a recruiter as just a more efficient way of communicating. 

For further details see the article here.

Move up when your boss moves out

When your boss leaves, you have a chance to advance your career. It requires strategy, a little prior planning, a lot of self-confidence and the timing is essential.

There are four key elements to pay attention to: get in position, showcase yourself, ask for what you want and use caution.

For details on these considerations see the article here.

Rules for Resignation

Resigning from a job is a necessary evil of being employed. The average American job tenure lasts 4.2 years. It's expected most of us will part ways with an employer 10 or more times during our career. 

How you exit says a lot about you and can play a big role in securing references and networking opportunities for future jobs. This is no time to abruptly ghost or cut corners. 

To leave a lasting positive impression when you resign, find the article here.