Tag Archive for 'job advice'

Keeping the Gig You’ve Got

Published by jsilman on March 4, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

By now there’s a really good chance you’ve blown the diet, found 500 excuses for skipping the gym and returned to that favorite vice. All those best intentioned New Years’ Resolutions have come and gone. Another common resolution is to search for a new job in the new year. And you can find tons of advice on looking for a new job here on our site and all over the internet. But what about those of us who actually like the jobs we have now? How can we make sure we keep the gigs we’ve got?

In an article written a couple of years ago by Charles Hopkins, he proposed five basic keys to keeping the job you have:Communicate Effectively First, you need to be able to communicate well. As one of the Proverbs says, “When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears it, that is foolishness on his part…” That means that listening closely to your employer and to your co-workers can prevent misunderstandings and keep you from making foolish mistakes that could cause you problems and unnecessary stress.

Also, you need to speak so that you can be heard and understood. You need to speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard, but not too loud so as to appear that you are angry or trying to show authority over your co-workers. If you do this, it is more likely that you will be understood, and others, including your employer, will have more respect for you and more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Get Along With Others

Second, you need to get along with others. You spend more time at your workplace than you do at home, so you might become very close friends with some of your work mates. You also might not like some of them. This could lead to complaining or gossiping about some of your co-workers, or worse yet, your job and your employer. A piece of advise, “..make it your aim to live quietly and to mind your own business.” This not only makes for better working conditions but you will avoid wasting your employer’s time and possibly causing needless friction with your co-workers.

Go the Extra Mile 

Thirdly, do more than is expected. if you want to keep your job, you can set yourself apart from the “pack” by doing each task assigned the very best you can. The greatest man who ever lived said, “If someone under authority impresses you into service for a mile, go with him two miles.” If you have a reputation of being a hard worker–one who will go the extra mile–you will be more likely to keep your job, even if others may lose theirs.

Be Honest

Fourth, be honest. In a survey of over 1,400 companies, the majority of employers “ranked honesty and integrity as qualities that impress them most in job candidates.” Of course that would include the obvious things like not stealing money or materials from the job. But even more important is not stealing your employer’s time. An employment agency conducted a study that revealed that time theft averaged over four hours per employee per week. These employees tended to be late, leave early, and socialized with other employees while they should have been working.

Even if your boss is not looking, chances are someone is, and that person just might be your next supervisor or a person in a position to decide if you keep your job. If you have a reputation for working well–even when not supervised–you are an employee to be trusted, and one the company will want to keep.

Be Organized

Fifth, be organized. If you are organized and keep your workspace neat, you are less likely to lose time looking for things you need, or more importantly the things your employer might need. A neat workspace is a time saver and saves your company money. And you can be sure others will notice. Besides, if you organized and know how to quickly locate things, you will have less stress and enjoy your work more.

Bottom Line

Things change quickly. Mergers and mismanagement cause businesses to close every day. Other companies, due to economic downturns, are forced to reduce their number of employees either temporarily or possibly even permanently. Then your employer will be forced to decide who will go and who will stay. If you have made the above suggestions your personal habits as an employee, you are more likely to be one  of the ones your employer considers to be a “keeper.” When pay increases are considered, these same habits will bring you more increases than others with your same job skills

So, enjoy your work and use it to build a reputation as the one your employer can always count on to take direction, work well with others, be organized and not a time-waster. That will make your day at work much more enjoyable and help you keep your job when others are losing theirs.
                        

 

 

 

 

Love long walks on the beach, puppies and Elvis memorabilia

Published by jsilman on March 4, 2008 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

Have you ever been searching for one thing on the internet and end up reading an article on something completely different and two hours later not been able to figure out where you are on the world wide web–how you got there and where to go from here? Happened to me just a few minutes ago. And, somewhere I lost a good two hours. But in all that I stumbled upon an article (darned if I’d be able to track back and give credit where credit is due!). Anyway, this article argued the virtues of putting personal information on your resume. Personal stuff like your ferret racing hobby, your rank in the Klingon navy or your special interest in guns…that kind of thing. 

 I suppose I could have posted a comment there and called it a day, but decided to come back to our home site and share my opinion on the subject. My thoughts are pretty basic. In general… don’t. Real estate on your resume is fairly precious and should be used for items that directly demonstrate your value to your potential employer–how you can save them money or make them money. And,  I’m just not sure how your new-found interest in bullfighting is going to make you a better candidate for any position I’d ever have.

That said, I could make an exception and encourage the mention of your hobby if it would directly translate to the position for which you’re applying. If your hobby or interest clearly demonstrates relevant knowledge, skills, abilities or accomplishments, it’s only right to include. For instance were you an applicant for a position in training/development and you had written articles published on training-related topics, you should list your writing hobby and the associated accomplishments because of their relevance to the job.

But, in general, your resume isn’t your myspace profile. This is about business and unless the content is business related, it doesn’t really belong. Save your love of travel tand trips abroad for the interview icebreaker.