When It Is Time To Change Job

 

Making the decision to change jobs or careers can be scary, especially in the current economy. But at times, it becomes necessary. You can be happy and fulfilled one day, but then circumstances and situations change and you're left wondering why everything suddenly seems to suck . 

If you’re in this situation, your first step should be to do everything you can to remedy your situation before seeking to jump ship. But if you've tried your best and are still unhappy, these signs may point to the fact that it’s time to find a new job.

1. You're Underpaid

Money isn't everything, but you do need to pay your bills. And moreover, you deserve to get adequately rewarded for the work that you do. When you’re just not making the money you need, it can be hard to put in the extra effort to really excel, and it can affect your motivation over the long haul—especially if it’s compounded by other less-than-ideal situations at work. So, if you know you’re being paid significantly less than you deserve—that can be a very good reason to start looking for new opportunities that’ll actually meet your salary needs.

Alternate Options: Do some research and see what people in similar positions are making (considering the cost of living in different locations). And if you truly feel you are due for a raise, ask for it. But if you’re not quite there yet, seek input and feedback from your boss or trusted co-workers on how you can further help the organization and increase your value. Then get to work.

2. You're Undervalued

Doing a great job when no one is there to appreciate it (or even recognize it) is terribly defeating. We all want to be patted on the back every now and then. And working somewhere where you aren’t getting proper recognition is kind of like being in a relationship without affection or attention—you’ll likely start to wonder if you’re valued or even liked. Not only is a place like that de-motivating—but if your boss refuses to acknowledge and commend your accomplishments, that can also be a sign that you’re not going to be promoted or given adequate opportunities to advance. If you truly aren’t appreciated at your current workplace—it may be time to go somewhere else where your contribution is valued.

Alternate Options: Seek to objectively assess your value to the organization. Are you doing work that matters to the functioning of the company? Are you doing it well? What could you be doing to make more of an impact? Look specifically for areas where you think you have special expertise, and consider if a position switch may be in order.

3. The Ship Is Sinking

When a ship starts to hit rocky seas for an extended period of time—it’s only natural to start worrying if it will stay afloat. And if you doubt the people steering the ship know what they’re doing, it may be time to get off at the next dock. In case you’re not following me here—if you think the company you’re working for may be failing and the senior leadership is driving it into the ground, it may be time to start preparing for your next step.

Alternate Options: Assess if the situation is truly dire, or if the office chatterbox is just being over-dramatic. Chum up to the accountant or bookkeeper, and be on the lookout for signs of serious distress from them or your boss to gauge the outlook. At a minimum, if you sense impending disaster, start putting your feelers out for new opportunities so you have a life raft ready. This means brushing up your contact list, LinkedIn profile, and resume.

4. You’re Not Given the Resources to Do Your Job Well

You know you could do so much more for the organization, but you simply don't have the tools, equipment, support, or opportunities to do so. This usually doesn't mean they don't see your potential, but it may mean that they can’t (or don’t want to) put in the time or money to help you help the company and therefore move forward in your career.

Alternate Options: Show how the cost of the resource you want will ultimately make your organization money. That's the real value to your boss. Will it save you hours of time, which you can use to do more projects? Will it help you deliver more, quality work that raises client satisfaction and retention?

5. You’re Not Learning and Growing

Just like not having the tools or resources to do your work can cause problems, so can having your growth stunted, stalled, or slowed down. If you're not challenged or given opportunities to learn and grow in your job, it may be time to seek employment in an organization that actually will support your personal and career growth.

Alternate Options: Learning something new is an investment in yourself and your career. If your employer isn't investing in your continued learning, take it upon yourself to find a mentor in your field, and ask them to share their expertise with you. You can also begin to teach yourself. Buy a Kindle (or dig up that library card) and start reading books recommended by thought leaders and respected colleagues in your field. You can also take classes, attend conferences, and go to workshops to continue your education on your own time and dime (or, better yet, see if your employer will help foot the bill for a conference you think will benefit the company).

6. It’s Not the Right Fit

Things change: bosses change, markets change, jobs change, and your life situation changes. What may have been the perfect job before, may not be working anymore . And that’s okay.

If you feel your job or career isn't aligning with your hopes, dreams, goals, and objectives for your life, it's time for a serious work-life evaluation (which could result in a job change).

Alternate Options: Before making a major decision like changing jobs, take some time off. Often, rest and distance are the best things you can do for yourself and your work. So put in a request to use some of your vacation time ASAP, and go get a little R&R. Afterward, ask yourself if your job truly is as bad as you thought, or were you simply overworked and overdue for some time off? 

Source: The Muse

7 Steps To Handle Criticism Positively

Many people get defensive or sad when they’re criticized at work. In many cases, the workplace has no feedback culture in place and people are not trained to give or receive criticism in a constructive manner. Giving and receiving negative feedback constructively takes a LOT of practice!

The best way to receive negative feedback well is to follow these 7 steps:

1: Listen.
Actually hear what’s being said. If necessary, ask questions to make sure you understand the criticism fully.

Here’s an example:

I reiterate what she said so she knows that I was really listening and since my boss likes to teach and is very detail-oriented, I’ll ask her if she can give me a few tips on how to perform the task better and throw in a few suggestions as well to get her feedback.

I end the conversation by asking where I’m doing well so I can keep up the good work which is my way of helping her to remember where I excel.

This also shows her that out of everything that I do, she’s got few complaints and gives her the confidence to give me more responsibilities.

2: Assume good intentions
Unless proven otherwise, assume good intentions. Don’t automatically jump to the conclusion that the person criticizing you is “out to get you.” Of course, sometimes they are. If so, see below.

3: Do not get defensive and start making excuses.
Instead you might say what you’ve learned and what you will do differently from now on.

4: Don’t take it personally
Remember that they’re criticizing your work, not you as a person. Never take negative feedback about your work as a criticism of you as a person.

5: See criticism as help
Remember that all constructive feedback (including negative feedback) is a sign of interest and a sign that people want to help you do better. It would be far worse for people to notice you doing bad work and not say a word.

6: Don’t be too hard on yourself
Remember that everyone makes mistakes and has things to learn. Yes, that includes you. There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes, but making the same mistakes over and over because you refuse to listen to criticism and learn is not going to help you.

7: Say thank you
Thank the person for their feedback.

Never put up with attacks in the workplace

However, note that these steps only apply to constructive, well-meant criticism. Unfair and overly negative feedback is also used as a tool by bad managers and workplace bullies to demean and control others.

The wrong kind of criticism can be:

• Overly negative
• Personal attacks
• Unfair criticism for something that is not your fault or outside of your control
• Delivered in an unpleasant way

Do NOT put up with this kind of attack. If you do it will persist.

Feedback can be a gift

All constructive feedback is valuable because it gives you a chance to improve and learn. Positive feedback is easier and more fun (and sadly undervalued in most workplaces) but negative feedback and criticism can be a fantastic thing as long as we do it right.

In fact, many employees I’ve talked to simply wish for more feedback of any kind. They feel like they work in a vacuum where no one ever notices their efforts, good or bad, and this makes it almost impossible to know whether or not they’re doing good work.

Source: The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Becoming Financially Independent

Most people aspire to become financially independent, but few actually think about or take the actions necessary to reach independence.

Financial independence means having sufficient financial resources to comfortably choose whether to work or not work, or perhaps work in a highly desirable job that otherwise couldn’t support your standard of living. It means being able to withstand the inevitable financial storms along the way. But what key steps does it take to achieve financial independence?

1) Set specific goals. Goals define what financial independence will look like for each of us. Goals, particularly specific goals written out with timetables, can motivate us to initiate and stick with the other keys to financial independence.
 

2) Consistently spend less than you earn. Yes, your mother probably taught you this when you were receiving an allowance as a youngster, but so many of us forget this basic principle. Unless you spend less than you earn, it’s impossible to become financially independent — short of winning the lottery. Consistent saving is even more important than the investment rate you might earn with that savings. Aim for saving at least ten percent of your pre-tax income. If you’re unable to save ten percent now, saving a smaller percentage will help you—especially if you start saving while you’re younger and can let the power of compounding work for you.

3) Create a spending plan. The key to spending less than you earn is to create and follow a spending plan. In general, if you subtract your expenses from your earnings, the amount left should be your savings. Another way to view your savings, though, is to treat savings as an expense item and put it at the top of your budget. Simply have the money deducted from your paycheck and deposited into your savings account. You won’t miss it, and you won’t be tempted to spend it.


4) Invest. To build financial independence, you’ll need to earn a reasonable return on your savings. A savings account alone is not enough. Invest in stocks, bonds, and other assets that involve an acceptable level of risk. Yes, there’s the risk of some loss of principal, but understand that investing is for long-term goals that are at least five years away. When you are closer to reaching your goals, shift the invested funds into those lower-earning but less risky savings accounts and money markets.
 
5) Stay invested. One of the big mistakes many investors make is waiting to invest until the market is really strong—and then bailing out when it sinks. In short, they buy high and sell low. Get in and stay in — and make adjustments if necessary. Keep in mind that the bulk of the returns of a bull market tend to come early in the upswing, and people often miss out on them because they’re waiting for the market to turn “hot.”


6) Diversify. It’s important to diversify your assets. Overloading on company stock, on stock in the industry in which you work, or on other higher-risk investments is an open invitation to trouble. By spreading your investment money among several asset categories, you minimize the impact of the downturns of a particular segment.


7) Use tax-favored accounts. Retirement plans and individual retirement accounts are the most efficient way to build toward financial independence because you get more bang for each invested buck, especially if your employer matches your contributions.
 
8) Bulletproof your independence. As you accumulate money for financial independence, you need to protect it. The primary way is insurance—not just life, health, auto and homeowner’s insurance—but disability and liability coverage. Disability insurance helps offset the loss of income if you can no longer work due to a disability, and liability coverage is a cushion against lawsuits. Another form of insurance is a cash-reserve emergency fund where dollars are kept in a savings or money market account to see you through emergencies or a stretch of unemployment, so you don’t have to dip into retirement accounts or other investments. 

Source: Financial Planning Association