Posts Tagged ‘useful’

Job Security

Are you worried about keeping hold of your job through the recession?  Are you finding that you are constantly worried about getting fired because the economic downturn is forcing your business to make cut backs?

Well, now you shouldn’t have to worry anymore.  Despite the recession there are some sure fire ways to make sure that you get to keep your job while others get the chop.

Making Or Saving

There are two types of employees that will definitely be in the same job when the recession goes away - those that save money for their business and those that make money for their business.  If you fit into one of these categories then you’re golden!

Even if you aren’t in a position to save big bucks for the business then you should still think about how you can do things on a small scale for the business.  For example if you can save money on printing you will get noticed and when it comes to time to get rid of someone on your level you will be that much safer.

Be Indispensible

Don’t hide away from the office, embrace it!  You need to tackle things head on when it comes to projects and activities.  You need to be the one employee who is indispensible so that when it comes time to getting rid of people, you are immediately made safe.

Think about transferring to a more critical area where you can make a difference.  Try and get involved with serious projects where you can take more responsibility.  Do anything to get stuck in…

Are You In The Best Position

Although it might sound like a good opportunity to go from a production role to a junior management role you should stand back and take a look at the economic climate.

If you decide to take the job as a junior manager you may suddenly find that you are getting all the blame for the company going under due to the recession - that’s hardly classed as a successful promotion.

Education

You should think about getting more education under your belt to increase your profit value - by having many more skills in your cap you may have what it takes to beat off the others when it comes to redundancy time.

If you are lucky your company may even have a policy in place of reimbursing employees when it comes to education so check it out.  You won’t be losing anything, you’ll be gaining an employable skill!

Friends

There is nothing more important than your friends when it comes to trying to stay in a job.  You should find out who you haven’t spoken to in a while and then make it an aim to speak to them again.  This way you are staying fresh in everyone’s mind and when you do need a favour you won’t just be springing on them out of the blue.

Keeping your job?

Are you going to be in a job this time next year?  Are you worried?  Let us know…

Raise Time?

Although you may not see it happening in a recession, you should always be thinking about how to ask for a raise.  You might be hoping to keep your job now, but around the corner, when the recession has left our doorsteps, you should be prepared with a few weapons that will help you get more money.

Start thinking about it now and be prepared to take action as soon as your business starts to look positive again - read on to find out the best way to squeeze more money out of your business and into your monthly pay pack…

Building Up An Argument

If you want more money from your business then you need to provide a valid reason to your boss.  You can’t approach them with the argument that you can’t afford the 25 bottles of champagne you want each month, the reason needs to be valid.

You need to prove that you are deserving of a raise - to do this you need to build up a case that proves that you deserve more money.  Explain all of the responsibilities you have held while in the job and explain how you have managed to aid the business in achieving its goals.

Don’t use vague words and use specific data relevant to your job that shows how you have earned a larger pay packet.  You need your employer to be aware that you are a valuable asset in the business.

Research

You should make sure that you are aware of the average pay packet for people in your position around the country and area with similar qualifications and experience to you.

By doing this you can be sure that you aren’t asking for way below or above what you deserve and you have more of a chance of being taken seriously.

Build A Record

It is a good idea to build a record of your work over time - think about creating a weekly record of your achievements that you can present to your boss proving that you are deserving of a raise.

Nothing will be able to show how well you are performing than a record of your achievements and consistent performance.  Make sure you have as much proof as possible.

Time Is The Key

Don’t just decide to go for a raise and broach the matter with your boss with nothing to back up your request.  You should think about timing and go for it after completing a tricky assignment or important project.

This way you will be asking for a raise with a fresh achievement on your back, which will bolster your chances.  Also, as previously mentioned, don’t think about it in a recession, instead take the time to build up your case!

Gasping For A Raise?

Are you hoping to get a raise as soon as the recession goes away?  Have you found our advice useful?  Leave us a comment and let us know…

How To Get The Sack

When you’re battling through a recession it’s not that hard to lose your job - many businesses are now asking employees to either leave or take a drastic pay cut - while these options are not very nice, sometimes there’s no other way to turn.

However, if you are going to lose your job, you want to make sure you don’t do it in one of the following idiotic ways!  Below is a list of some of the easiest ways available to lose your job so if you are thinking about keeping it try avoiding everything on the list;

Deadline?  What deadline?

Deadlines are in place for a reason - they aren’t guidelines, they are deadlines…if you are given a deadline make sure you don’t fall on the wrong side of it.

Other people, including your boss most likely, are depending on you to get your work in on time so if you let them down you will find your place securely in your bad books.  Once you get a reputation for bad punctuality then you might as well leave…

Surfin’ The Net?

Granted, there is nothing wrong with checking your personal emails now and again throughout the work day - however, social networking has become the latest addiction ripping society apart and some people can’t help but check their Facebook accounts every 3 minutes.

You are being employed to do work, not to Poke your mates when they don’t reply to your status’s.  You should be able to spend a suitable amount of time online for your personal business but don’t let it creep into your work time.

What Should I Do?

You are being hired to fulfil a specific role in the business - if you don’t know what the role is then how can you work properly.  Obviously you are allowed some time to fit in to the role in the beginning of your time in the office, but after a while you should be clear on what is expected from you.

If you find yourself lost in your job after a year then you are definitely doing something wrong - you won’t be able to do your job properly and you will effectively be deemed useless if found out which of course you will be in no time.

How Good Am I?

If you constantly need to be told that you have done a good job and that you are on the right track then you aren’t in the right job…you should really go back to school.

A craving for the limelight shows your boss that you are far more interested in boosting your own career and less interested in being part of a team - what better way to turn your employee off of you?

Looking to stay hired?

Are you hoping to keep your job?  Have you found our advice useful?  Do you do any of the issues listed above?  Let us know…

Keep Your Mouth Shut

No matter whether you like to chatter all the hours of the day or you like to keep yourself to yourself then you should remember that there are certain things that should be kept private in the workplace.

Talking too much about the wrong thing will not only give away too much about your private life, but you could also alienate your co-workers who probably didn’t want all the details anyway.  Below are some of the main things you should keep to yourself in the office if you want to stay happy…

Medical History - Although you have to tell doctors and your human resources colleagues your medical history you shouldn’t be telling anyone else.  If you have a medical issue you should remember to keep it to yourself.  If you’re looking for sympathy do it in the park or the café, not the office - people might treat you differently and you can regret you ever mentioned it.

Office Information - Stay away from rumours, they won’t do you any good.  If you get caught spreading an on-going rumour then you will not only look immature but you’ll also look like a bit of a deceptive person and you might even get the sack…

Quitting - Even if you’re thinking about quitting, you should never mention it to anyone.  If your boss finds out that you are searching for another job then they will know that your loyalties for the company are gone and they might get rid of you.  Even worse you can be quietly pushed out by co-workers turning their backs on you and you end up getting no work handed your way - ouch!

Social Networking - Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace have gotten employees in trouble recently.  Some airline employees slagged off passengers through the networking site while other employees from business have been caught spreading gossip and bad words about bosses and other workers.  Don’t get caught doing this or you’ll be shown the door like the others caught before you!

Heart Ache - As soon as you come in to the office with tears streaming down your face your work life will change - for the worse.  Your private love life isn’t of any interest for anyone else in the office and the only thing you will achieve by including them in it will be to scare them off…

Politics - Leave political debates where they are supposed to be…at home behind closed doors.  Having a political debate with your co-workers will either end up in tears or a fight.  At least you will have a strong dislike with everyone afterwards because they don’t agree with you and vice versa - leave politics out of the workplace.

Keeping your business private?

Are you managing to keep your personal business private?  Have you found our advice useful?  Let us know…

Alone Time

You don’t have to deny it…if you like to spend time on your own then there is no need to worry about it.  There are jobs available for everyone out there, and there are even jobs out there for people that just like to be on their own and not chat the day away.

If socialising just isn’t your thing then you need not worry - the following list shows a few of the jobs your can take up where you don’t have to worry about impressing people, chatting or even talking with anyone else;

Mechanic

Mechanics spend most of their time inside the engines of cars - if they didn’t then they wouldn’t be doing a very good job.  Spending most of your day either in a car or under it doesn’t leave much time for chit chat - if you like to fix things then this is the job for you…you can get things fixed without having to chat it up…

Cost Estimator

Cost estimators tend to spend their time alone because they are too busy trying to go through paperwork like blueprints and proposals to decide how much projects will cost from the beginning to the end.  Cost estimators need to be on their own so they can concentrate - they don’t have the time or the need to engage in any conversation!

Librarian

If you have ever been told to “shhhh” in a library then you will understand how this job would suit someone who wants to keep quiet!  You can spend your days organising books that don’t talk back and you will very sparsely asked for advice or help because everything is automated these days.

Survey Researcher

A survey researcher goes about finding out what people think - they don’t interview people, instead they create surveys over the Internet and create questionnaires that can be mailed for example.  This cuts down any conversation time to nothing!  Survey researchers spend their time alone because they don’t actually need to be with anyone else when they are creating and preparing the questionnaires.

Translator

If you like being quiet then you don’t want to do any talking translating - you want to translate content from one language into another, usually from a newspaper or other text format.  You need to spend your time reading, researching, etc…  You can even have the chance to work from home as do nearly a quarter of translators around the globe.

Undertaker

A quieter job couldn’t exist - you are dealing with the departed, and they don’t talk.  You rarely have to deal with families for long and then you’re back with the dead people that don’t want to talk much either.  Be alone in the silence whenever you want to be.

Searching For Silence?

Are you looking for a career where you can work in silence?  Has any of the jobs listed above taken your fancy?  Let us know…

Cool Jobs

You can be pretty sure that there are cooler jobs out there than the one that you are in right now - especially if you are facing a cubicle wall right now!  Some jobs were created to just make everyone else jealous it would seem…don’t you wish you had a cool job?

You will at the end of this list - the following is a few of the coolest jobs out there that you can change to if you really want to - perhaps after reading this list you’ll email in to quit your job and change career…

Foley Artist

Foley artists spend their days looking for ways to make cool sounding sounds that they can record and then sell to film makers and production houses.  Every time you hear footsteps, thunder, rain or whatever it has most likely been created by a Foley artist.

Food Critic

This position is perfect for anyone who loves their food - if you have even gone into a restaurant and had an opinion about the food you have been served then you already have the training you need to be a food critic!

The best part of the job is that you’ll be fed for free - it’s like you are being provided with the means to both a happy existence and a happy career all in one!

Pet Psychologist

Who’s going to know if the pet psychologist is doing a real job or not?  Does your pet cry itself to sleep at night or does it have an eating disorder?  If you think it does then you need a Pet Psychologist to come in and sort its problems out.

However, don’t mistake the position for that of a pet trainer - to become a pet trainer you need to go through a large amount of training yourself to have the skills needed to teach animals how to follow your lead.

Shoe Designer

Millions of people around the world love only one thing - feet.  Feet fetishes are a big thing around the world so you can imagine how many people would be happy designing the homes for shoes on a daily basis.

Be responsible for what the celebs are putting on their feet down the red carpet - worst case scenario you’ll be designing Abidabs or some other knock off but you’ll still be having fun in the process.

Storm Chaser

Imagine spending your life living on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next tornado to swoop past you so you can drive after it and study their behaviour - yes these exciting jobs do indeed exist and you can get one!  Don’t forget that it’s a pretty dangerous job and people have died in the process - think hard before sending in your applications…

Going Cool?

Are you thinking about ditching your boring job for one that gives you a reason to get up in the morning once again?  Can you see yourself in one of these jobs?  Leave us a comment and let us know…

Job Searching Across The Globe

There is most certainly no rule that states that you have to look for a job in the same old city or town that you have lived in your whole life - by all means there is a wide world out there ready to invite you over…

You can apply for a job in the next city, in the next country or on the other side of the world.  It’s up to you to make the first step.  In a recession you may find that the jobs in your area are totally depleted and there has never been a better time to make the move.

Below are a few tips your should keep in mind when looking or a new job across the country, or abroad, to make the whole process a little easier;

Focus

The world is pretty big - the Internet can help you get a job almost anywhere in the world, but perhaps before you get too deep in a search you should focus your ideas and search to more of a specific place.

To help you trim down your options you should think about the cost of living in different countries and cities, interesting places and places where you have family and friends for example.  These factors will help you make a stronger decision.

Also think about the professional factors involved - which cities have the best prospects, is there any demand, what is the pay like?

Clarity

Be clear to your potential employers about your reasons for wanting to leave your current home town - explain your reasons clearly and honestly as they will most likely be attractive selling points.

Your reasons for leaving might show that you are strong and willing to take risks.

Phone Interview

Be prepared and ready for the possibility of a telephone interview - you probably won’t be able to get out to the new city or country for an interview and so you will have to work even harder over the telephone where you can’t win people over with your winner smile or smart dress sense.

Make sure you conduct the phone interview in a quite place and try and make sure you are relaxed throughout - try not to conduct the interview using your mobile phone as you can never guarantee quality of sound, and when speaking remember to smile as it will come over in your tone.

Flexibility

When looking to take a job in a new city or country you should remember that your best chance of doing so is by remaining flexible - this means you should think about working around your potential employers schedule when it comes to organising telephone calls and remember that you will probably have to pay for your own travel expenses, etc…You will have to be flexible to get what you want.

Moving?

Are you thinking about looking abroad for work?  Perhaps another city?  Let us know…

Jobs - Not Every Job Is The Best Job

Especially in a recession jobs can be great things to have - economic downturns such as these make us appreciate just how special having a job can be.  The main thing to remember though is that just because you have a job it doesn’t mean that it is necessarily a good job.

There are a few signs to keep your eyes open for when either starting out at a new job or even in a job you’ve been in for years - it is all right to understand that not every path you go down is going to be a correct one and once you come to terms with the fact that you are actually in a pretty lame job then you can go about looking for a new one.

Word Of Mouth

You should listen to people if they are warning you off working for the company you got a job with - so many times people hear from friends that they either heard of people working there or had worked there themselves and the whole process was a nightmare.

You might not want to listen to everyone that gives you advice but it’s a good idea to keep the warnings in mind - if you get into the job and have your fears reinforced then you can always leave.

Professional?

There is nothing more important than the boss taking control by leading by example - professionalism is one of the most important aspects of the workplace and if anyone has any hope of maintaining a professional attitude the boss needs to do so too.

If you find that the boss is the least professional person in the office then you can be sure that no one else is going to be professional either.  This will mean that the attitude to work will be unprofessional and you will find that your workload will be unpredictable and heavy.

Money

You should be aware of the money worries of your company - the company that you work for should be able to be in a position to look after the employees they have working for them…if they don’t then it’s time to bail!

There is nothing worse than getting a cheque at the end of the month only to have it bounce with little hope of getting paid at all.  If a company isn’t in a position to even pay you then the situation isn’t going to get much better in the future - you should keep your eyes open for any signs that the company might be struggling to pay the bills and if they are then you should look for another job fast!

In A Lame Job?

Are you stuck in a job that isn’t doing anything for you?  Are you draining yourself everyday going to work in a dodgy job?  Let us know your experiences by leaving a comment…

Holiday Hell?

The summer is here and more and more of us are taking the opportunity to leave our offices and our workloads to hit the beaches across not only the country but the world.

Unfortunately the black cloud hanging over all of our heads while on holiday is the workload waiting on our desks for our return - we all love going on holiday but you can never really switch off because you know it’s going to be a nightmare upon your return.

However, don’t let this stress turn you off holidays altogether - there are a few methods you should think about to make the transition from beach to cubicle a lot easier!

Plan

Not enough can be said for planning - if you can manage to plan before and after you leave for your holiday then the whole thing will run so much smoother.  Make sure to get specific work done before you leave for your trip and guestimate what will be waiting for you upon your return so you won’t be shocked when you arrive.

Work with those around you and you might be able to delegate some of the work you will be missing so you aren’t greeted with a mountain of paperwork on your desk when you get back.  You should also try and get ahead with your work before you leave so that it doesn’t seem like you are just starting from scratch when you get back.

From The Plane To The Office

It is much easier to make sure you give yourself at least a day at home before going back to the office - this is a great way to get back into the mindset of home living and break away from tropical ‘you’ that you met on the beach.

Use the time to unpack, feel comfortable at home again, catch up on any jet-lag and missed sleep, catch up on emails and give yourself a good home cooked meal if you’ve been eating out a lot recently.

Refresh Yourself

You may have lost touch with the work that you were doing before you left - a good idea is to spend the first couple of hours back in the office reading through the work to make sure you are back in the know about the work.

If possible have meetings with team mates to make sure you are fully sub-merged into the work and you are in the right mind set.  Once you are clued up once again you can then spend some time prioritising work and focusing on the more important work that requires your attention.  The key is to find your way around the office again slowly but surely.

Not Looking Forward To Coming Back?

Are you going on holiday this summer?  Do you struggle with relaxing because you’re worried about going back to the office?  Leave us a comment and let us know…

Honesty is the best policy!

When in an interview, anyone will tell you that the worst thing you can do, after passing out or throwing up, is to tell a lie.  You really don’t want to tell a lie to your interviewer no matter what the circumstances are.

You may have a few skeletons in your closet, everyone does at the end of the day - whether it’s jail time, a firing or anything else the best policy is to always be honest and truthful even if you don’t want to be.

We feel that we have to lie to impress potential employers and to keep them away from our secrets - in reality the truth will eventually surface and you will just come across as a liar.  Employers will often appreciate honesty.  Read on to find out how you can be honest in many situations;

Fired?

It’s not a great feeling to be fired - people get fired for any number of reasons but once you’re fired you feel that you are being thrown together in a big melting pot of naughty employees.

You shouldn’t feel that you can’t tell your potential employer the truth - you should tell your potential employer what really happened.  You could have been completely innocent in the whole process and were fired for the wrong reasons.  If anything, in this situation, a potential employer will feel more compelled to hire you.

Police Record?

People get arrested and get into trouble - it can feel like the end of the world and you’ll spend the rest of your days working in McDonalds or on building sites (although there’s nothing wrong with that at all).  You will feel that you want to hide the truth but in reality you should be totally honest and tell everything.

The potential employer will most likely either know about this previous struggle with the law or at least they will once they hire you - almost every company will do a background check and if you have held back important information then you will most probably get a sacking on the spot.

Honesty proves that you have served your time and learnt from the mistake making the whole process a great learning curve.

Bad References?

If you have just gotten out of a difficult job and you don’t think that you’re previous employer will give you a stunning reference then you should be honest with your potential employer and outline your worries.

You should approach the matter by saying that you are worried about the reference your previous employer will supply and that you would appreciate being kept aware of whatever had been said during the check.

You can’t hide the reference but you can try to minimise any damage!

Itching to tell a lie?

Have you found it difficult to tell the truth in an interview?  Do you agree that honesty is the best policy?  Leave us a comment and let us know…