Before You Jump Ship, Try This

Does your job leave you frustrated and exhausted? So much so that you find yourself walking out the door at the end of the day, never wanting to walk back in?

Do you have imaginary confrontations in your mind’s eye that end with you slamming out of your boss’s office declaring, “I quit”? Alternatively, have you recently lost your passion for what you do?

Sometimes, a career change is necessary to preserve a healthy work-life balance. Often, however, a change in your current position is all that is needed to rediscover joy in what you do. So, if you find yourself at your limit and ready to abandon ship, before you do, consider trying these strategies:

#1 TAKE A STEP BACK

Proximity can skew perspective, and moving forward can often start with a step back. Are you taking life - or work - too seriously? Take a moment to revisit your values. Are you living these out? What about your strengths? Seek new opportunities to develop them. There is so much more to life than current troubles at work. Give yourself a moment to process, and make sure it has not gotten bigger than life.

#2 TALK TO YOUR BOSS OR HR

Suffering in silence is not a virtue. Let your boss or HR manager know what you are facing. They may be able to suggest or approve some changes that would make all the difference for you. Do you need more resources or personnel to get the job done well? Is a change in policy required to improve workflow? Maybe getting out of the office or a work-from-home day would increase productivity and morale for you or your team. These are all conversations best held with your boss or appropriate party. Schedule a meeting today!

#3 CONSIDER WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

Have you experienced an addition or loss in the family? How is your health? What is the state of your important relationships? Have you moved recently or run into financial troubles? There are times when frustrations at work have little to do with work itself and more to do with a culmination of life’s pressures. Take some time to assess the difference. It could be that a little intentional self-care could unravel a majority of your work troubles.

#4 REORGANIZE YOUR WEEK

Stuck in a rut? Try something different! Do you typically answer emails in the morning and make calls in the afternoon? Shake it up! You may find that conversation comes easier for you in the morning (results may vary, depending on the strength of your coffee). This is just one example of the little changes you can make that may have a significant impact. Routine can be an incredible asset, but lack of variety can also get stale. What’s one adjustment to the schedule you could make this week?

#5 USE YOUR PTO

Could burn-out be clouding your judgment? Before making a big career decision, take a break to get perspective. Sadly, Americans as a whole tend to leave vacation days on the table. This leads to some issues such as low performance, fewer promotions and raises, and worst of all, the unavoidable stress. On the upside, something as simple as a vacation can affect the opposite with higher morale, greater production, personal fulfillment and improved health.

#6 RE-ENGAGE YOUR HOBBY

What’s your hobby? When is the last time you enjoyed it? If you do not like your answer to either of those questions, this may be a chance to reprioritize your life to include a hobby. Merriam-Webster defines a hobby as “a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.” The value of hobbies include improved quality of life, health benefits, and wait for it—increased productivity and satisfaction at work.

#7 HIRE A COACH

An athlete at the top of his game and a world-class musician have two things in common: a moment when they wanted to give up and…a coach. Is success eluding you? Feel like quitting your job? It may be time to hire a career coach. A coach can help facilitate the fresh perspective, encouragement, and confidence you need to move from drudgery to delight in your work.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

As Earl Nightingale says, “We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we have established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile.”

Take a moment to picture your current attitude towards your work, colleagues, direct reports, and supervisor. Are you happy and fully engaged? Now picture how you would like your approach to be. What’s the difference? What’s one thing that you can do in the next 24 hours to move toward your preferred attitude?

Then, as Nike trademarked, “Just Do It.”

Can Google For Jobs Get You Hired?

Gone are the days when job seekers circled job listings in local newspapers. Applicants brought freshly printed resumes right to the door of the hiring manager. Connections and conversation took place with a smile and a firm handshake. The pathway to a job looks far different today. Getting hired now takes place over a digital highway. Instead of scanning newspaper ads, job seekers often end up navigating large network job boards and recruiting sites. Landing a job can feel like a never-ending maze of emails, uploads, and interviews for both employers and job seekers alike.

How can you leverage Google for Jobs in your career transition?

In recent months Google unveiled two new tools that simplify job acquisition for both for hunters and those looking to hire. Google for Jobs brings curated job opportunities right to the desktop or device of the searcher. Moreover, for recruiters, Google Hire streamlines communication process for companies to interface with quality talent. Take note of how you can leverage Google’s foray into recruitment in your job search strategy.

If you are hunting for a new position, a simple Google search will pull job postings from across the web. Just type “jobs” or “internship” in the Google search bar and a blue box labeled “jobs” will come up. You can combine this keyword with others such as “teaching jobs” “IT jobs in Atlanta,” “jobs near me” or similar job searches and immediately get listings from company sites and job boards like LinkedIn, Monster, CareerBuilder, and Glassdoor.

Instead of having to jump between dozens of sites, relevant positions are served up right from Google’s search analytics. Advanced features enable searches by job title, city, industry or employer to further identify top picks. You can also set up email alerts, so you are notified of new positions in your areas of interest. Google for Jobs conveniently connects job hunters with an array of opportunities through one search portal.

For more detailed instructions on how to use Google for Jobs, read this article.

How does Google Hire impact your need for a strong online brand?

Finding jobs just got easier, but what about getting hired? How many emails, memos, and interviews does it usually take? According to a study by Bersin by Deloitte, interviewing and assessing each candidate takes an average of 52 days and can cost a company up to $4000. These costs add up.

Enter Google Hire. This applicant tracking system (ATS) provides a streamlined way for small to mid-size companies to connect with quality candidates. HR managers can seamlessly search for candidates, interact over email and messages, record essential information, schedule interviews, and track progress all from the familiar interface of G suite. Storing data in this talent management system creates customized pipelines of top talent that recruiters can continue to access.

What’s important about the arrival of Google Hire for you? It means that more mid-sized companies will be using ATS technology to identify top candidates. A keyword rich resume and LinkedIn profile are what makes your brand stand out in this competitive environment. Communicating a strong personal brand demonstrates your value and connects with the deliverables that employers are looking for in the talent they want to recruit. Use your resume, LinkedIn profile, and social media to promote the value you bring consistently.

Want some help with your job search or online branding?

Regardless of what technology you use, a successful job search involves connecting with people. Networking, both online and offline, is what advances your career success. That could be interacting with professionals in your field, learning about trends in the industry, or interviewing key influencers.

If you would like help in strategically networking and building your brand, click here to schedule your free consultation.