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2013: Year of The Unappreciated Job Seeker

Without being asked Freddie decorated the office, and attempted to foster the Christmas spirit among coworkers. There were decorations everywhere but her cheerful yet quelled spirit responded to the lack of recognition. The following year she refused to participate or promote the Christmas spirit the following year. Freddie is looking considering leaving without job leads.

John had talked to his wife about leaving his IT Project Management position because of the stress and strife faced daily. It had taken a toll on his health to the point his wife a professional counselor suggested he hand in his resignation sooner than later. John’s boss took exception to his two week resignation and escorted off the premises.

Appreciated? NOT!

Everyone’s lack of appreciation threshold of intolerance is different. Everyone wants to be appreciated and understood. When neither occurs, quitting is the next step unless there is radical gratitude being offered by supervisors, managers, or anyone in authority. Recent studies and observations suggest that people are starting to make career changes. Some of my recent and former clients are overwhelmed from work resulting from long-time unfulfilled vacancies. They feel, well, under appreciated.

I can see this year as the fed up will move out and start more business. Others will seek out another shot of audacity and venture out without having another gig without preparation or strategy. Those of you who know better should opt out for planning your exit.

Do you fear change?

This economy has caused many employed to fear change for several years. Piled on responsibilities often gone unnoticed, without gratitude and compensation.

A recent article, Feeling Chronically Unappreciated Can Lead to Burnout, cited the following burnout signs:

Every day is a bad day

Caring seems like a total waste of energy

You’re exhausted

Most of your time at work is spent on tasks either boring or overwhelming

You feel nothing you do makes a difference

Last spring, USA Today reported that employees quitting their current position outnumbered those fired. One could make the case that this is good for our economy, and inspire a plethora of bold job seekers to venture. This would cause unemployment to spike but lead to happily employed job seekers.

This is the year of the unappreciated job seekers!

Not that you should have a personal parade or a drink, but this will serve some well. Job seekers with fewer skills face challenges because of the lack of job skills currently possessed. I want to suggest the following to you get on track:

1) Before quitting, assess the relevancy of your skills

2) Take the emotion out of your decision

3) Where is your anger placed? People (your boss is a person)? The job duties? The process?

4) Does your frustration include the lack of abilities you demonstrate or the lack of ability?

Wrestle with these questions and discuss them with someone you trust possessing good career judgment. I’m available to help you and feel free to unload your concerns and comments below.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

6 Job Tips to Teach Your Future Self

The first post that I published last year addressed what seem to resonate with job seekers the conversation your future self needs to tell your present person. Did you include career goals along with your life goals before January 1? Do you have a clear path going forward? What do you need to tell your future self?

What would you tell your future self about today’s job market? Would you emphasize how hard it is? Or share how you overcame the challenges of changing your mindset?

1. Be a perpetual learner for life as a way of life, not just to get a job

When I travel, I get nervous if there are no signs telling me what is coming nor where I am going. It is likely that I will get lost. When you are not perfecting your craft, profession, or career, you don’t have direction.

Taking a certification class gives your career direction of where it’s heading. Employers immediately recognize that a job seeker is serious about his or her career. People who find professional training useful for his or her lifestyle inspiring become motivated to grow. Does your career possess professional growth?

2. No online presence, or an undesirable online presence is a liability

A job seeker’s competition has at least a static website with their name as their domain title http://igotthisman.com. It is not the approach that I subscribe or counsel, but many job seekers attempt to enhance his or her online profiles. I recommend a blog that you can update at least once a month displaying your experience and skills.

The blog essentially can replace your resume and demonstrate the power of your skills. What keeps you from developing an online presence? Without one it‘s hard to get noticed. An undesirable online presence that displays your social negative exploits disqualifies you. It’s easier in most cases to get out front with a positive one.

3. Competition is fierce battle. Love the battle!

If you want to stand out, why not enter professional competitions in your industry? Contests are valuable learning experiences and tests your skill sets. Success in these competitions provides separation between you and most job interview candidates. This adds standout skill sets to your resume and possibly validate your career expert status. Do you compete in career related contests? Does competing in contests enhance your career?

4. Research the job and the job promotion you desire

Career experts agree that finding information about the culture, job duties, and the company is a sound competitive strategy. The next step is understanding how to get there will give you a competitive advantage. Employers like when professionals are self-motivated by challenges, resilience, learning, and everything else beyond the paycheck.

5. Soft Skills still rules and matters at every level

Soft skills are underrated yet so highly valued among high-profiled CEOs and managers. Soft skills directly affect the way customers and team collaboration functionality. Present these skills evident in your soft skill arsenal, and employers will take notice.

69% percent of all first-time hires were losing their jobs because of a lack of soft skills.
–Georgia Department of Labor. Workforce Solutions Team, 2012

6. Job Search + First 90 days after hire= A complete job search

The eagerness and urgency place while looking for a job is the space he or she needs to occupy in the brain after hire. Primarily remain in perpetual learning motion and contribute as a result of applying strengths your employer saw in the interview.

Even after the first 90 days you may not be an ideal fit for the position. This is a pivotal time when everyone is watching and deciding how much to engage your presence as part of the team. Similarly to the interview, doing more than treading water is essential to leaving a positive impression the first three months of the new gig.

In rare situations, the new hire will need to abort if the new job doesn’t fit. That is why that 90-day period is also there for the new employee. There are times when an employee misrepresents a position described during the interview/hiring process. Addressing this issue will be to the new hire’s advantage using tact and respect.

What else would you tell your future self? Please share in the comments below.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

4 Key Things To Do When Quitting Your Job

Editors note: Jason Sanders from Ivy Exec wrote the original article at IvyExec.com. Ivy Exec is a content partner with The Voice of Jobseekers.

A number of years ago, I had an employee who became dissatisfied. I think he became frustrated with his compensation, but he also hadn’t accomplished what he needed to earn an additional bonus. Undoubtedly, he had other issues on his mind as well.

He finally decided that he needed to leave our firm, so he decided to interview with other companies. After securing a new position, he came to me to ask for a bonus one last time. He asked. I answered, no. He said, “In that case, I quit!” I felt burned, and lied to, and inadequate all at the same time.

Informing your boss that you will be leaving your company is rarely and easy or enjoyable. Most people face this situation several times over the course of their careers, and have the opportunity to keep or destroy relationships in the process. You may be able to ease anxiety around this process by keeping a few clear principles in mind as you resign your position.

There are four fundamental things to keep in mind when giving notice:

Be certain of your decision, and clear in your delivery of the news.
Select who should hear directly from you, and in what order.
Treat people the way you would want to be treated.
Prepare.

The first thing you need to do before giving notice is to be absolutely sure you want to leave the firm, and understand why you have made this decision. Everyone has their own tricks for making important decisions. I knew a person, who flipped a coin to decide between two options. He checked his reaction, and if he was happy with the coin flip, he followed it. If, on the other hand, he was disappointed, then his emotional reaction steered him against the flip.

Personally, I like to talk with my wife, an advisor, or even talk with myself about important choices. Vocalization is very important to me because I will hear whether the reasons for my decision are substantial or just rationalizations. Some people prefer the plus/minus column method. Whatever you choose, make sure you understand your reasoning, so that you will convey an unambiguous conclusion.

Clarity and decisiveness help people understand your state of mind, and help them begin to process their own reaction to your decision. Recognize the importance of the initial presentation, and handle its delivery care. I find it helpful to talk for a while after delivering bad news. This gives people a chance to process the news before offering a response. Start out in a clear, definitive way, “Unfortunately, I need to tell you that I have decided to leave the company…” Afterwards, you should plan to spend at least a couple of minutes talking without looking for any input from your boss. This will give him the time to absorb your news, and adjust his mind set to the conversation you are about to have. Once you see that the news has clicked in, you can begin to have a dialog.

You should try to make the conversation as short as possible, while remaining professional and respectful. Ask for a 30-minute window, but plan for a 10 to 15 minute dialog. This time frame allows time for the news to sink in, without forcing a hasty discussion about next steps. The additional 15 minutes gives your boss time to adjust to the news before his next piece of business for the day.

During the conversation with your boss, the topic of transition may arise. You should try to delay this discussion because you will both need time to process your emotional reactions. Take your time and let the situation unfold. Don’t try to force your way through it just to get past the bad feelings.

Bring a signed resignation letter with you to your meeting. You should keep this safely hidden away until the end of your conversation. Beginning the conversation by placing a letter on someone’s desk shows insecurity, and perhaps a lack of respect. Placing it there at the end signifies finality. A brief resignation letter brings the conversation to a close for you and for your boss. Also, you will feel much better typing it before your discussion, rather than afterwards.

Travel schedules may interfere with giving notice face to face. If this is the case, plan for a phone call. Avoid giving notice by email, and avoid sending your letter of resignation in electronic form. A written letter conveys substance, thought and finality, where emails may be taken more lightly, and may be shared more easily. You want to keep that document in as few hands as possible.

During discussions with you boss, one possible reaction is to try to keep you in the company. If you do not present your decision clearly, you leave room for the possibility of a counteroffer. You should consider the possibility of a counteroffer and what its impact could be upon you before giving notice. If you have any hesitation, then you are really in a salary negotiation, not a departure. You can find a separate article about the dangers of counteroffers here: http://www.executivesearchinsider.com/2009/01/counteroffers.html

Once you have told your boss, try to relax and get away from the office. You need to let things settle and get ready for transition discussions and notifying your colleagues. If possible, the best time to give notice is on Friday. This will give you and your boss time to absorb the impact before re-engaging.

If possible, revisit the discussion with your boss before notifying colleagues and clients. This demonstrates respect for your supervisor and the business interests of the company. Once you feel comfortable with his reaction, you need to inform your co-workers.

Think about the order of whom you will tell, and whether you need to talk with them face-to-face or over the phone. You should try to move quickly through these conversations to exercise some measure of control over the flow of information. You may also want to ask for a short period of confidentiality with the first people you notify. This will give you time to begin to set up important relationships for the future. You may use email or voicemail to ask colleagues to speak with you, but never leave notice that way. If they are not important enough to tell personally, then let them find out through someone else.

Situations with co-workers vary so much that that it is difficult to offer specific advice about individual conversations. In general, you should take your time to consider who to talk with, try to have these conversations all on one day, and give the news in the way that you would want to receive it.

Giving notice comes down to preserving relationships. If you didn’t need any connections, you could just walk out of the building and never come back. Your actions in this situation reveal your character and your ability to create sustainable connections. The best guide is a very old piece of advice, treat others the way you would want to be treated. With a little preparation and sensitivity, you will find your own path.