5 Good Reasons to Quit Your Job

We all experience tough days on the job. There are ups, and there are downs. There are days when our job duties are frustrating, stressful, and even boring. Then, there are days when everything is just unbearable, and we start to consider quitting altogether. It’s a tough judgment call.

So, how do you know when it’s really time to move on? If you find yourself asking this very question, it’s time to evaluate your work situation and consider the following. Believe it or not, there are actually good reasons to leave a miserable job. Here are a few:

Have you lost interest in your work? It may be from lack of growth or just sheer boredom. Whatever the case, you’ve lost all energy, work ethic, creativity and innovation, and now you’re just going through the motions. If you’ve completely mentally checked out, it may be time to move on.  

Have you lost the ability to grow? Whether you’ve experienced movement in your position or not, if you’re not continually challenged, you can’t learn or expand your skills.    

Have you expended all advancement opportunities? Most people go into a job with the goal of advancing to the next level. They want to grow and gain more responsibility, seek out new challenges and position themselves for more income. But, if advancement is not an option, it’s time to re-evaluate your career path.

Have you lost job security? While nothing is ever a sure thing, if your company is operating on uncertainty, then it may be time to update your resume. Perhaps the company is being sold, or they are continually downsizing. No matter the case, if uncertainty is affecting the work culture, you’re going to be carrying an unnecessarily enormous amount of stress.

Is your job affecting your health? If your job is causing you stress to the point that it is affecting your well-being, it’s time to leave! Stress hugely impacts our health, so ask yourself – is it really worth my life?

No matter what you’re facing, you do have options. Sure, many will tell you to just stick it out, it will get better. However, it is up to you to really evaluate your situation and ask yourself, “Is this the path I want to take?”

Tips for Handling Workplace Harrassment

Harassment of any kind can be difficult to handle, but it can be even trickier when it’s happening on the job. Unfortunately, workplace harassment happens all too often, so you must be equipped with ways in which to handle it in an appropriate and professional manner.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of tips and tactics to help you handle these tough situations, should you ever find yourself in need.

• Document Incidents. Whenever you are faced with harassment or bullying, always write the incident down. Keep details of exactly what occurred, when, where, with whom, what was said, etc.

• List Witnesses. If anyone else - a co-worker, a manager, even a janitor - witnesses the incident, write their names down as well. You never know just how far things may go, and you may want to be able to have more than one account on your side should it come to a ‘he said she said’.

• Stay Level-Headed. In situations of harassment or bullying, it can be tempting to rise to the perpetrator’s level and react, but keep your calm as much as possible. Often, they’re looking to get a rise out of you, but it only adds fuel to the fire.

• Say Something to the Offender. Don’t be afraid to speak up, and tell the person that their behavior is absolutely unacceptable.

• Ask for Help. If it comes to it, seek help from your supervisor.

• Seek Out Company Resources. Find out if your company can provide a mediator or harassment advisor. Many have employee assistance programs that can offer help in resolving situations as well as provide means for coping with harassment after the fact.

Harassment and bullying in the workplace is a very serious situation that should not go unresolved. Should you find yourself in a harmful or stressful position, use these tips to better navigate an amicable resolution.

5 Things That Make People Want to Work for You

When it comes to recruiting, the process really is a two-way street. The best recruiters go about the process specifically with candidates, and their futures, in mind. They can answer the question – “Why would someone want to work here?”

Hiring managers already face intense competition when it comes to nabbing top talent, so make it easier on everyone, and give them a reason to choose you. Take your cue from these five elements that make prospective candidates want to work for you:  

Lay Out a Career Plan

Provide a clear career trajectory. These days, most employees don’t expect to stay in the same position long-term; they expect motion. So, lay it out for them, and tell them what they can expect both now and in their future.

Paint the Picture

Walk candidates through a typical day on the job. Explain how a particular position and company differs from another. What sets them apart? How is their work culture different? After all, you can be a copywriter anywhere. So why work for this company? Provide details that clearly paint the picture so that candidates can imagine themselves in the position.

Detail the Expected Workload

All candidates want to know exactly what they can expect once on the job. Provide details about their day-to-day workload to help them understand what will be required of them.

Provide Real-Life Testimonies

Sometimes, a job description simply won’t cut it, so find a way to connect prospective candidates with employees who are in similar positions. Employee perspective can provide real-time insight into a company, a position and a work culture.

Be Engaging

If you’re not interested in discussing the job, prospective candidates won’t be either. Your attitude matters just as much as the candidate’s. They are looking to you to form their own opinions and expectations of a given company, so keep the conversation engaging.

Recruiters who ultimately win over top talent understand that prospective candidates are also evaluating them, so move toward a candidate-friendly process that will both strengthen relationships and improve experiences.

Skills That are Essential to Any Career

Today's workforce is incredibly demanding! The competition is fierce, and once you have a position you love, you really want to do everything possible to keep it. There is a certain skillset that can help you do exactly that, and it applies no matter what profession you are in. Here are five skills that no modern worker should ever be without:

The ability to establish boundaries and maintain them. If you think that giving up your entire personal life is going to win hearts at the office, think again. Instead, learn how to set boundaries for yourself, and your boss, coworkers, and customers will respect you more for it.

The ability to manage your time wisely. No matter what task you take on, you should have an idea of how long it will take and how that fits into your overall schedule for your day. The same applies when you're looking ahead to next week or next month. Where your work day is concerned, any time that you waste on irrelevant tasks is just going to create obstacles for you later.

Strong written and oral communication. The way you write an email can make or break the underlying message. Your word choice when speaking can be the difference between coming across as a thought leader vs. coming across as an arrogant know-it-all. Most importantly, a firm grasp on spelling and grammar is essential in every field, no exception.

The capacity to think one step ahead of the game. Being a forward thinker not only improves your job performance, but it enhances your ability to get the jobs you want. You should always be thinking about the next task or what you can do to receive a promotion in the next 3, 6, or 12 months.

The ability to "play nice" with others. Even if you choose the most secluded line of work and you work as a freelancer for most of your career, there is no avoiding the fact that you are going to have to interact with others. So, hone your ability to play nice! It will serve you well for many years to come.

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