life@work

Networking How-To's You May Not Have Heard Much About

Many of my clients are confused by, scared of, or too busy for networking.

Is this you? Is simply saying the word "networking" enough to create a small (or large) feeling of dread?

Here's a great tips list by Debra Feldman on Career Hub about how to network purposefully. She offers specific and varied ideas - surely there is at least one of these you can put into play immediately.

I challenge you!

Heather Mundell
Dream Big Coaching Services
www.dreambigcoaching.com
heather@dreambigcoaching.com

What To Do When You're the Newbie

When you were a kid, were you ever the "new kid"?

When you were the new kid, did you immediately join in and assert yourself, or did you hang back for a bit to get the lay of the land?

Even if you never had to join a new 4th grade class in the middle of the year or change high schools after sophomore year, you've probably been the "new kid" at work many times.

How do you do "new" well? Sarah E. Needleman of CareerJournal.com has these tips:

Meet your peers in advance.

You get insights into the culture, discover how communication works, and show that you're interested in learning from your colleagues.

Don't be a know-it-all.

Even if you've been in this line of work for a bazillion years, you still have things to learn at this new job. Listen more than you talk - you'll learn more and you'll come across more favorably.

Be diplomatic about your prior employer.

You have no idea whose best friend is your former CEO's sister, so avoid criticizing your past employer or divulging proprietary information about them.

Sign up for extra projects - within reason.

Balance is key here. You want to differentiate yourself without going overboard.

Ask for feedback.

Start with once a week for the first month, then reduce that to one or twice a month. You want to stay in touch with your boss' expectations.

Build your network.

Get to know people throughout the company and search for a mentor. Don't forget to stay in touch with your existing contacts.

After 90 days, make longer term goals.

You've gotten the lay of the land and should set longer term goals and share them with your boss.

Heather Mundell
Dream Big Coaching Services
www.dreambigcoaching.com
heather@dreambigcoaching.com

Five Steps to a Graceful Resignation

This post is contributed by Heather Johnson, who regularly writes on the topic of career exploration. She invites your questions and writing job opportunities at her personal email address: heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.

Those of us who have been in the workforce for a while have certainly burnt a bridge or two. If you have in the past, let it go and try not to repeat the mistake. Resigning from a position should be done properly, as you certainly want the reference and you will never know how an ungraceful exit will come back to haunt your career.

Follow the five steps below and you should maintain your business contacts with dignity. 

   1. Make the choice

Congratulations, you have decided to quit your job! Or have you? Sometimes, we have bad weeks or even months at our jobs. You need to seriously consider whether or not this is the right decision. If you are miserable, a change is certainly in order. However, sometimes things temporarily seem worse than they are. If you are certain you want to leave, then proceed to the next step.

2. Hatch Your Escape Plan

For some of us, quitting a job really is an escape. However, just like escaping from prison, you need to time your resignation correctly. Do you have another job offer right now or the means to support yourself until you find another position? If you are supporting a family, then you will certainly want to line up some options before you leave.

3. Give Notice

Two weeks is the standard length for a resignation notice. You are certainly not obligated to work for longer than that, so do not allow your boss to bully you into staying longer than you intended. This notice should, however, be offered in the form of a typed resignation letter. Keep it classy and do not focus on any negative aspects of your job.

4. Ask for a Reference

If you have been graceful so far, your superior(s) should have no problem with offering you a letter of recommendation. It is best to have this in hand before you leave, as it looks great to future employers and your boss may not even remember you a year from now.

5. Settle Any Loose Ends

Do you have a key to the office or anything else you need to return? Perhaps you have a 401K or unused vacation time you can cash in on. Do not forget to settle up with human resources before you walk out the door for the last time.

By making a smooth and drama-free exit from your position, you will save yourself a lot of trouble in the long run. Even if you are leaving one of the worst jobs imaginable, you are doing yourself a disservice by burning a bridge and losing the reference. After all, you paid your debts to society and should reap the benefits by gracefully taking your leave.   

Career Change One Baby Step at a Time

Photo by bobmarley753

If you're feeling overwhelmed thinking about a career change, you're not alone.

You may be feeling pressure to find the "perfect" job, the one that is absolutely better than what you're doing now, the one that is completely aligned with your purpose on this planet.

You may be assuming that there is probably only one or possibly two of these jobs in existence, so you better get cracking, and you better make the right decision.

This is all in addition to the pressure you may be feeling about changing jobs during a recession.

I'd like to offer an alternative view. What if the next job only has to be a step closer to your purpose on the planet? What kind of relief from the pressure could you experience then?

Career change usually is achieved through a series of steps, such as education, volunteering, part-time work, freelancing, and/or full-time employment.

I like what career and life coach Annemarie Segaric has to say on the topic of your next job in this article: "It doesn't have to be perfect."

Losing the pressure to choose perfectly does introduce a new pressure, however - to do something. My basic philosophy on doing something:

Dream big. Yet plan very small steps to get there.

Heather Mundell
Dream Big Coaching Services
www.dreambigcoaching.com
heather@dreambigcoaching.com