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The Cubicle Isn’t Always Bigger on the Other Side

May 5, 2008 By

Patience. It’s a difficult trait to possess when you’re in the middle of a job search. This is especially true when you’re miserable in your current job. You think any job would be better than the one you’re in now. Caution: Tread carefully; you don’t want to make any decisions in haste and out of desperation. That can lead to an even less favorable job which will cause you to go through the whole job search process again…much sooner than you would have liked.

Make sure it’s a good fit for you

Have you ever read about an open position and got so excited over it that you could actually picture yourself in that job and moving up the career ladder with a fantastic company? Potential reality: You interview with the company and the culture doesn’t fit with your lifestyle, the people are not friendly and overtime is expected. Has that ever happened to you?

Save your judgment of the jobs you apply for until after your interview. Yes, you need enthusiasm but try not to get too invested in a particular job before you know much about it. It’s easy to sound great on paper but it’s much more difficult to win you over in person. Be very aware while you’re there and pick up on subtle clues as to the overall atmosphere. If it feels tense as a visitor it can be 100 times worse as an employee.

It’s All in Who You Know

It’s a well-known fact that many jobs aren’t advertised online, in the newspaper or elsewhere. How are jobs filled then? By networking. It’s all about keeping connected to people you know well, and even those you don’t know well.

An added benefit about networking is that you know more about the company beforehand. For example, Steve works at ABC Company. You tell him in passing that you’re looking for a job. He happens to know of an opening in his company that would be ‘perfect’ for you. Steve takes your resume and personally delivers it to the hiring manager.

However, before you even get that far, you need to have a very open and honest conversation with Steve. Ask him how the company operates and about corporate politics. Find out about their views on work-life balance. You can even inquire about vacation and benefits before you interview to see if it’s what you need and expect. All of this ‘inside’ information is invaluable.

Buyer’s regret

Job seeker remorse can be brutal if you jump into a new job without knowing much about the company. If you accept a job for the fact that it’s a small company and you’ve always wanted to work for a small company, then you don’t know what kind of surprises you may encounter. Be sure that you don’t overlook a lot of negatives simply for the fact that is has one huge positive.

Changing jobs can be a great experience and change your life for the better. Just make sure you know the facts before accepting the job. Once you turn in your two-week notice at your soon-to-be ex-employer, it’s too late to turn back.

Article by:
Recognized as a leading expert in the employment search industry, Heather Eagar is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Check out reviews of the top professional resume writers in the industry!

Filed Under: Work & Career Tagged With: ,

7 Tips For the Unoffical Leader In You

April 28, 2008 By

A leader can take many forms in many different business situations, often when a person isn’t even “the Boss”. If you find yourself in a group with a deadline with no leader in sight, you may have to be the one to take charge. When this happens, what should you do and NOT do?

When people normally think of a leader in business they think of the boss, but being a leader doesn’t require a fancy title, or even official recognition. Leadership simply needs one person to stand up, take charge, and achieve the goal. In an ad hoc or temporary group, others might not see someone as the leader, but that one person could still make sure the group operates as a team and accomplishes their goal.

How can someone who has not been anointed or appointed accomplish this? Here are some tips for those that find themselves in an unofficial leadership role.

Tread Lightly
The leader does not need to be the smartest – or the fastest, or best looking. It could be anyone, but since it’s you standing up to be the unofficial leader, realize that others in the group may not agree. Simply proclaiming that you are in charge will cause more harm than good. Subtly is your best friend in the beginning of the transition from mob to team. Often, a leader can be created in the other’s eyes by simply being the first one to say, “Ok, so what do we do first?”

Crawl Then Run
The first hurdle for an unofficial leader is to get the group talking. What are their ideas? What do they think is the best course to take? Of course if everyone agrees on one direction, then this stage is done, but that rarely happens. Most often there will be two different schools of thought. The leader should not take sides, but encourage discussion of opposing viewpoints and plans. Stay above the arguments to mediate and stimulate the flow of ideas. Soon, one course will become clear, or at least more feasible than the other. When this happens, you may be surprised to see everyone looking at you to give the final judgment on what to do. Already, you have become the lead person to go to in their subconscious minds.

Group Triage
An important step for a leader is to recognize all the various tasks that need to be done to accomplish the goal. Who is best at what? Who would be most effective where? Hopefully you will already know, but most of the time you will need to find out. So ask what they would be best at within the available tasks to accomplish? You’ll get honest answers, but sometimes the answer is not what they are best at, but what parts of the work they would rather do. If they are the only one to volunteer for a certain task, let them have it. If two or more chime in, then prompt them to discuss among themselves who would be better suited. If they figure it out, great, but usually they will look to you to make the final decision again. Pay attention to their arguments and pick the best one for the job.

Not an Island
Realize that you don’t have to come up with a plan or best course of action all by yourself. You just have to pick the direction and get your people there. Recognize the best plan, even if it isn’t your own. Pay attention to complaints, and problems, but make sure to spot your own flaws as well. For the benefit of the team, volunteer for the job you are best suited for, even if it is one you don’t want to do. Remember that it is not about you being a leader, but your team accomplishing their goal and you are but one part of that team.

Not Omnipotent
Since you have no official power, there is nothing to back you up. You can’t hire, fire, or discipline anyone, so why should they listen to you? Remember, you will earn your leader position by what you do, not who you are. Since being a leader is not about ordering people around, you will spend most of your time suggesting the best possible course, or coaxing the others in the right direction. Your best course is to get your people to do what they need to do without them realizing you’ve done anything.

Motivate
A group with clearly defined capabilities to match all the tasks at hand with an embraced purpose and definitive goal is ideal. That almost never happens in the real world unfortunately, but then if it did, the real world wouldn’t need leaders. Once your team is all facing the same way, you will probably find that some need to be moving faster than the others. An unofficial timeline, with specific deadlines is a nice subtle way to show where each person is at and where they should be. A quiet, private, chat with the problem group member might help as well, but make sure your persona is that of a fellow group member worried about the project and their own part in it, NOT as the unofficial leader. Group cheers and celebrations when one person or another accomplishes their part will help get the lagging member moving. Remember, “problems in private, praise in public.”

Following Your Lead
Nothing gets a bunch of people moving faster than someone heading off in the right direction. Ideally, the team moves forward together, but there’s almost always a winding up period. Set the example by attacking your part with enthusiasm, professionalism, and vigor. If they see you working hard, helping others, and generally doing everything you can to get the team to its goal, then they will follow suit. They will notice if you are cheerfully doing a job they know you don’t want to do. They will notice you listening to other team members, taking advice, and following directions. It will motivate them to do their part for the team and add to your role as unofficial leader.

The Good Follower
There is an ancient saying: “A good leader is a good follower.” This would be a simple paradox if not for the fact that most aspects of a leader involve following others. The leader will follow the best path for the team to take. The leader will follow the advice and direction of those in the team if they are better than the leader’s own. The leader must follow the leader’s own examples. If you look closely at the tips above, you’ll notice that each one requires the participation of the others in the team. A leader cannot lead without people to follow, but a leader can’t move forward without following the team.

Leading people is a privilege and an honor; both not to be abused. Being a leader makes you special, but you are not special because you are a leader. A leader is just a part of a team that together is working towards a goal. Accomplishing the goal… that’s the whole point to being a leader. It is not about you, your status, recognition, or the fancy title. It’s about making things happen. But, if you make things happen, then your status will rise, you will gain recognition, and, yes, get that fancy title. Always remember though, you can’t do it alone.

Article By:
Amy Linley gives practical and usable advice regarding communication and meetings at AccuConference. Find out more about our conference call, web conferencing and video conferencing services from AccuConference.

Keep up with what’s happening at Mom’s Talk Network, by clicking here.

Filed Under: Work & Career

Paralegal and Medical Coder Resource Guides Available

April 7, 2008 By

When you think of the term “work at home opportunities,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you think of scams or spending lots of wasted time answering survey questions?

Believe it or not, you can use your professional knowledge or background to work from home. A brand new guide called Paralegal Career Guide is available for free and it can help you understand what kind of jobs are available for paralegals and how to create a home business in this field.

This guide is perfect for those who might be considering a career as a paralegal. Before enrolling in a paralegal degree program, first read this report and decide if this career is the right choice for you. This guide leads you through an overview of the industry, ethical dilemmas, tips for choosing the right paralegal program, and what kind of certifications are necessary.

If you prefer a career in the healthcare industry, the Medical Coding Career Guide is another free resource that explains every facet of medical coding. Learn what this title means, how much coders can earn, what is HIPAA, what is the job market like, and what kind of certification is necessary.

Research is necessary no matter what field you choose and these two resources are packed with information and it’s all free.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Biz’s Guide that shows you How to Start a Medical Transcription Service.

Filed Under: Work & Career

After School Activities: Part Time Jobs For Your Teenager

August 26, 2007 By

During the teen years, your child may want and need more things. Allowing your child to have a part time job may be a good way to offset your expenses and teach your teenager the skills needed to manage money. The following information will help you decide how, when, and if you should encourage your teenager to get a part time job.

In order to learn responsibility, discipline, and establish a good work ethic, part time jobs for teens is a way to achieve all of these goals, which will be beneficial to them later in life.

It was recently reported that the job market for teens has risen, but that the number of teens applying for part time jobs has decreased. This is due in part to the fact that some teens do not want to work at menial jobs. As an incentive to increase the number of teens to apply for jobs, the current hourly wage has been raised to $7.50 an hour.

The report went on to suggest that teens are particularly looking for part time jobs in the technology and business sectors, but unless they have the acumen to handle these types of positions, they have to settle for less fulfilling ones.

For teens who are thinking about earning extra cash either after school or during summer vacation, there are a variety of positions available, including: tutoring, babysitting, working at well-known fast food chains or ice cream parlors, working for the city or working in an office.

No matter what positions are available, it would be advantageous for teens to begin working so they can learn about different industries, establish a good working record, and make connections with employers for future full time employment.

While the current wage may not seem like a great deal of money, a teen can make a nice sum over the summer months. It’s also a good idea to apply to different types of jobs to determine if it’s suitable. Teens learn early on that a good education will reap beneficial rewards when they graduate college. It is estimated that a college graduate with a degree in technology or economics can command over $100,000 in salary and benefits. That’s a hunk of change.

The advice to teens is not to be picky when applying for their first job. It can lead to other areas of interest and establish working relationships which can be fruitful in years to come.

To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids – Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.

Filed Under: Parenting, Work & Career

Questions for a Job Offer

August 11, 2007 By

Job offers and advertisements are seen in the newspaper and on the Web. In order to know if a job is a possible fit for you, questions need to be asked. This keeps you from wasting your time going through the application process if it is not right for you.

The Job Description

Some offers list the job title but not a description of the duties. All job titles are not self explanatory. Even if they are, different companies may have dissimilar ways of going about the particular position. Knowing your skill set, find out what the company expects from someone in this position.

Contact the person who is responsible for interviewing individuals for the position. This can be done by contacting human resources at the company. If the job offer was seen on the Internet, look for a telephone number. Even if it is an online offer, talking with a real person is the best way to receive clear and concise answers to your questions.

Another question to ask pertains to pay rate. You’d be surprised how many offers do not list a salary or per hour rate for their advertised jobs. Knowing ahead of time, what pay you are willing to work for can help eliminate any offer that comes in under that figure. There is no need to apply for a job that you will have to turn down later because it doesn’t pay enough money.

Does the job involve travel? How much? This is an important question. If you have young children, travel on a regular basis may not fit with your family’s schedule. If the travel is around the state, that may be more manageable than international travel.

Learning about health benefits is important. There are thousands of people who work but their health benefits are not up to par. A good employee plan can be a reason to take a job even if the pay is a bit lower than you expected. This comes into play more often if you have a family to provide for.

Dig up all of the facts you can find about the company that is offering the job. This information should include their rate of turnover in the position you are applying for and opportunities for advancement. The job may look great on paper, but if you are looking to make a career move, lack of advancement opportunities is not a plus.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of potential employers. Questions will make your job search more effective and less time consuming. Applying for a job that fits your unique skills and needs increases your chances of being considered for the position.

Grab your Mom’s Talk Guide to Organizing Your Life – Step-by-step guide to getting organized, increasing your free time and having way less stress.

Filed Under: Home Business & Telecommuting, Work & Career
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