Movin' On Up: Frustrated at Work? Find an Outlet to Relieve Workplace Aggravation

Does this sound familiar?

The alarm clock sounds, and once again you’re faced with another day at the office – another dreaded day. With some effort, you manage to make it out of bed and get to work, where you count down the hours until you’re free again. You count the hours till your lunch break. You count the hours till you can go home. And the next day – which comes too quickly – you start counting all over again. You long for the weekends. You dream of a vacation.

If so, you are probably suffering from workplace discontent.

A variety of factors like company environment and culture, lack of meaningful work, difficult co-workers, and the management style of supervisors can lead to unhappiness at work. And those factors can really add up. When you’re frustrated at work, even the smallest problems can feel like the biggest nightmares. But, there are numerous solutions that can help improve your job satisfaction and create happiness in your work life.

If your job dissatisfaction is consuming your life at work and at home, before you explode or jump ship, try finding an outlet you can enjoy in your spare time to help relieve your workplace anxiety and stress, and help provide the passion and purpose you’re looking for in life. Need an outlet from workplace stress?  Relieve your anxiety at work in your time outside the office. 

Discover a hobby you enjoy. Find something you enjoy outside of work to improve your outlook on life and the workday. Pick something you’re interested in or passionate about like pottery, cooking, sports, dancing, writing, or gardening. Try something new. Be adventurous. Challenge yourself. Whether it’s learning a new language or spending your weekends enjoying extreme sports, find something you love to spend time doing.

Learn all about it. Once you’ve found an outlet you enjoy, learn everything you can about it. Read books. Take classes. Research and collect information from the internet. And, practice, practice, practice. Become an expert at what you love. The more you know about it, the more satisfaction it can give you.

Find others who share your passion.  As you get more involved with your hobby, find people who share your passion. Building relationships on your common interests can add motivation and meaning to your outlet. To meet people, join a network, club, or group of those passionate about your interests or hobbies. Read and comment on blogs that pertain to your interests to help build your online relationships and gain knowledge in the area.

Finding a hobby that adds meaning, passion, and happiness to your life can help relieve your workplace frustration and change your outlook and attitude at work. And who knows, when the time is right, the outlet you love could even lead to an exit from a job that has you watching the clock.

via blog.expresspersonnel.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Top 5 This Week | Brand-Yourself.com Blog

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Here is the Top 5 This Week – @andywergedal

Getting a job is easy! That’s right, you heard me! It is easy. Get your skills in front of the person who is willing to pay for them and you have a job. The hard part is defining your skills and displaying them in front of the right person, at the right time. Don’t despair, keep going, don’t give up. The light is just around the corner.

Here is the Top 5 This Week

1. http://careeralley.com/careers/jobs-out-of-the-blue/" target="_blank">Jobs Out of The Blue – [CareerAlley]

Rarely does anyone become an overnight sensation or find a job overnight. But the point is, you never know where your next break will come from so the best bet is to look at every opportunity no matter how remote the chance.

2. How To Prepare For A Career Or Job Fair – [Tims Strategy]

I’ve written a few other posts on career and job fairs. As I’ve written them, my mind turns to the old school aspects. They are from a prior age. Before meetups, tweetups and other more modern networking events.

3. Job Search Over a 100k – The Options – [EmploymentDigest.net]

If you’re considering doing a job search over a 100K, then you need to think beyond the little green pieces of paper. After all, even if you have all the right qualifications for a 100K job, do you have what it takes?

4. 30 Strong Action Verbs To Spice Up Your Resume – [Career Rocketeer]

These phrases are boring and repetitive because most every job seeker uses them. Hiring managers need words that jump off the page and captivate them.

5. The hidden trend in the monthly jobs report — and what it means for yous – [Paula Caliguiri]

Unemployment is high (9.7%) and private sector job growth is weak. On the same day, stocks fell to their 4-month low, with concerns that high unemployment forecasts lower consumer spending. From Wall Street’s perspective, this makes sense. Main Street, however, might have a different interpretation.

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Andy’s primary professional role is the communication bridge between technology and executive staff. An expert in project management methodologies Andy excels as the agent of change. In his spare time, he has a passion for helping people find jobs. Checkout his blog at 40×50.com and on twitter @andywergedal.

Other posts to check out:

• How to Write a Bio – And Why You Should!
• The Hidden Job Market
• MSNBC Completely Misunderstands Twitter Job Search
• How HR Views Personal Branding
• The Alter Ego: Superman’s Personal Brand Lessons

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via blog.brand-yourself.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Personal Brands: Answer This | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

I imagine there’s some lunatic that we’re calling a “thought-leader,” who is passing out some horrific job-interview ending advice, including:

“Never answer a question about compensation.”

I did not hire five people in the last week because they would not answer this question:

“What are your expectations for salary, bonuses, and other compensation as an employee of our company?”

I am hiring up for one of my firm’s business units. It should be easy to find great people, because this economy has unfairly displaced thousands of quality employees – including those with the specific technical skills my firm requires.

It is easy to get resumes in my email box, but nearly impossible to get answers in the actual interviews.

When I ask this very important test of their character: “What are your expectations for salary, bonuses and other compensation as an employee of our company?”

They “respond” by telling me how motivated they are. They tell me they want to “contribute” to our organization. They say, “What is the salary range?”

This is all I need to know about their personal brand. Evasion is one of the brand’s defining qualities.

Build trust

Don’t be stupid. This is not only a question about the money you expect to earn, your participation in profits, or your desire for particular benefits. It’s a question that reveals how you are going to conduct yourself during the many difficult moments that are a part of a growing, revenue-generating, and profitable business.

Here’s the thing. I’m not a waiter with a menu. I’m not presenting you with choices so you can decide who you are for purposes of this interview. I’m a potential colleague who wants to work with people who can be trusted and who are sincere, while they also have skills and experience to do the jobs that are yet unfilled.

Before you meet me, you have seen the job description and requirements.

I’m going to ask you questions that lead me to understand if you have the qualities my firm requires: good character, self-motivation, and the ability to collaborate with others. Those are qualities of the personal brands that sync with my business one.

Be straightforward

The one paramount brand identity I require isn’t something you can “customize” for the job interview.

I want to work with people who are straightforward.

I don’t play cat and mouse. I want people whom I can trust for a truthful, accurate, and reliable answer to all the questions I’ll have in the months and years ahead as we grow this business unit. I need people who will ask the hard questions that reveal our weaknesses so we can build what we now lack.

So, just answer the questions we are asking in job interviews. Don’t use diversion tactics. Don’t take fifty words when five will do. Show what type of person you are.

Think of prospective employers as a personal brand polygraph test. If you are a person who is typically evasive, loathe committing, or are generally dishonest, it’s clear from your discernible dry mouth and sweaty hands.

While you’re destroying your chances with your workaround responses, you are doing one person a favor. The trials of meeting bad candidates make a good candidate glow.

Let it glow.

Author:

Nance Rosen is the author of Speak Up! & Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name: nancerosen.

via personalbrandingblog.com

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Returning to Work after a Gap – Part 2 to Your Career - Career blog - Position Ignition - taking you to the next step in your career

There can be many reasons for people of all ages to spend some time out of the office and off their personal career ladder. In these more enlightened times both men and women have the chance to take time to be at home with children and nurture the younger generation – or indeed their parents. It can truly be a most marvellous experience while it lasts. But, like many things it is often only ‘for a season’ and eventually the question is begged : now what ? What next?

For some, the decision is easy when returning to work:- an agreed career break with a large company ends, there is a role to go back to with people who are known like old friends within a familiar corporate structure. Alternatively, the skill set is highly marketable, opportunities are abundant and hours of work broadly complementary: think nursing or teaching for example.  

But, for a great many others, the prospect of a return to working life is fraught with difficulties – some real, some simply more imagined. So - what next?

Where technology has changed, industry sectors have metamorphosed, companies have merged or disappeared, contacts have retired or otherwise seemingly ‘evaporated’: then one can be left feeling very alone. Even where one is sure of one’s skills and abilities it can feel like an uphill struggle to convince recruiters and organisations that one is ‘the one’.

The start of ‘part two’ is often the moment when thoughts of self employment come to the fore, based either on the prospect of trading on existing skills and offering support to a specific niche - or branching out in an entirely new direction to embrace the future with all possible energy and enthusiasm for a passion which can now be unleashed.

The key to success at this point is clear awareness of direction, specific short and medium term goals to aim for and understanding of the market which one seeks to enter. With all of this, returning to work can be a smooth transition and you will be successful.

In addition to all these things, and perhaps the most important of all, is the existence of a support structure.  Partnering with a qualified, experienced career guide can be one of the most effective elements of the scaffolding which you provide for yourself as you ‘scale the building’ throughout a period of change and development which can hardly even be guessed at before it is experienced.

Help yourself to some objective and empowering support for returning to work, by partnering with a Position Ignition Career Guide (Meet the team). Ready to answer what next? - contact a career guide now: enquiries@positionignition.com

Author: Mary Cope

via positionignition.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Job Search Advice Worth Repeating - Secrets of the Job Hunt Career Podcast

As I dig through blogs and filter through tweets I am looking for original ideas. How can I put a fresh spin on something that's been said one thousand times by hundreds of experts? The answer certainly
isn't easy. Maybe it is enough to just repeat the message. They say
that an adult learner needs to hear something about seven times before
they actually hear it.

But perhaps there is a lesson in this. Job seekers should remember this too.

HOT POTATO

The news about your quest for a new job shouldn't be treated like a hot potato. In other words, don't blast the message out just once and think you've done your part. Just because you've told your network once what you are looking for, doesn't mean they'll remember it.

KAMIKAZE NETWORKING

If you've created a target list of people and companies to connect with, dive-bombing to meet with them once isn't enough. Maintain contact. Pepper them with meaningful followup. Be a nurturer.

TESTING 1, 2, 3

Near the end of the interview make sure they know you are qualified. Ask the interviewer if there is anything on your resume that they have questions about or if there is anything they think you may be lacking to be seen a a top candidate for the position.

LATHER RINSE REPEAT

When leaving a voice mail message clearly state your name at the beginning and remind the listener at the end by repeating your name and telephone number.

via secretsofthejobhunt.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

What Are Your Job Search Tools? - Secrets of the Job Hunt Career Podcast

Reposted from CareerAlley

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail." - Abraham Maslow

So what tools are you using for your job search? I ask this question all of the time and I'm constantly amazed at how many people leverage so few of the tools available to them. Now this is not to be confused with my Job Search Marketing Toolkit (which we can revisit some other time), the tools I'm talking about are your lists of recruiters, job search sites, company career sites, friends and family. So, if you're not using a full range of tools, now's the time to get a bigger toolbox.

Recruiters - Where to find them:

• Online Recruiters Directory - This is a really neat site, offered by Online Recruiters Directory. There are a number of approaches you can take. Click Job Seeker from the tab at the top of the page, this will take you directly to the recruiters search box. Three steps - select your category (industry), job type (temp, perm, etc.) and state. Click "search recruiters" and you have your list with all of the contact information you need. You can also click the links on the right hand side of the page under "I am a Job Seeker".

• Find a Recruiter - From findarecruiter.com, provides another search engine for you. You can select from the featured recruiters on the left-center side of the page or the search box from the right hand side. Simply select you field of interest followed by the region and then click "go find a recruiter". This will return a list of recruiters. Click on any recruiter for the contact information.

Job Search Sites - One of many lists:

• The 20 Best Job Search Web Sites - A small list, but a good start. There is an overview, followed by a list of job search sites. Follow through with these and you will have an excellent start on your list of job search sites. Don't forget to set-up search agents (with automated emails if you want), this will save time when you revisit the sites. If you set-up the search agents correctly, this may help minimizing how often you need to return to the website. One more word of advice, update your resume on a periodic basis so that you appear as a "new" user - this will attract more attention to you (otherwise you appear as "stale").

• Large Job Banks & Recruiting Sites - A very large list from The Riley Guide, start working your way through the list and you will expand your coverage. Don't use every site (who has the time), focus on the largest sites which appear to cover your industry and functional role. Each listing has a brief overview (read this first). Add one of these a day and you will be amazed at the number of leads you get over an extended period.

Company Career Sites - More Lists, more Tools:

• Company Career Sites - What better place to start than my list of company career sites. Click on any of the companies and you will be led to their career site. Once there, search first for where they are located and what types of jobs they have. Once you narrow down the list, start your search. On each site, register, upload your resume and cover letter and fill in any forms which may help in identifying you as a prime candidate.

• Job Listing Sites - All of the credit goes to Berkeley University of California for putting up this post. This is more like a variety center for various types of job resources (rather than a specific list). Top of the site has links by field (accounting, chemistry, etc.). This is followed by a list of searchable databases and then the individual resources by each of the functional categories.

Good luck in your search.

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via secretsofthejobhunt.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal

Career Change At 50: Change is Coming - Career blog - Position Ignition - taking you to the next step in your career

Are you looking for a career change? Perhaps you’re looking for a career change at 50 or over? This is the second of three blogs where we go through career challenges faced at 50…

At fifty, many of us feel we finally know what we are doing professionally, have a lot to offer others, and are wiser than ever before. On the other hand, we may also be sensing that this is our last chance to make our mark on the world; that our energy, while strong, is beginning to wane; and that others – amazingly – see us as ‘old’. If this is your situation, how do you think about your career?

Broadly, you are likely to be in one of three situations.  We have some thoughts on each: 

1) In a job, but feeling unfulfilled, and perhaps beginning to be bored.

2) In a job, but feel that changes are coming, and you may not be there much longer

3) Out of work.

In each situation, the key to is take control of your career by putting yourself through a process of thinking about your options, and then taking action.

Now we will explore the option of a career change:

Change is Coming

The truth is, it’s easier to find a job, when you are in a job, and it’s better to move of your own volition, than wait for the axe to fall. If you feel that you may be in this situation, try asking yourself:

What are the options? You need to think as broadly as you can. It is easy to close down our thoughts if we have been doing the same thing for a long time. Routine can deaden our abilities to find new and clear ways to look at ourselves.

Appreciating what we are capable of is always the best first step.  It is not easy to do that on our own and we always suggest you do this with someone else.  When you hear yourself talking about your life and your accomplishments, you might surprise yourself!

Given where you are in life now, what is going to make you most energised, satisfied, and happiest? What is the best use of your remaining work life? Is it to do a full time job: several part time ones; contract or interim work? Is it to set something up, or join an existing organisation? Work freelance, or be employed?

You have choices.  Even if you can’t see them, they do exist and you deserve the time and thought to examine them.  Making a career change at 50 may seem daunting and isn’t the easiest of tasks but it is possible if that is what you want. You need to take the time to think about the right thing for you. The alternative is that issues outside or your control can transpire to put you in a difficult position which may not be good for you and your health.

New leaders will always see the same organisation through new eyes and will be determined to make changes.  They will want to show who is in charge.  They may want to change the old guard.  If you can see this coming and you feel that it will affect you, take control and do something now.

Author: Simon North

via positionignition.com

Posted via web from AndyWergedal