How Can I Leave My Job Without Notice? September 2, 2008

Q: I have been accepted to a college course and I gave my letter of resignation in today. In my contract it states I have to give a months notice, but I enroll for college next thursday and start lessons the following Thursday. Lessons are only on thursdays and fridays, so i tried to compromise with my boss and said i would work my notice but would not be able to work those two days a week. He’s not having any of it. What do i do?

A: Actually since you already gave a resignation notice, you leave on the day you said would be your last day of work. If you gave a 3 day notice, leave on the third day…7 days, leave on the seventh day. Either way try not to burn any bridges, be professional and wrap up / pass on your work load so you do not leave any loose ends. On your last day just send your boss an email and thank him for the opportunity, let him know how you wrapped up your work load and blind copy your personal email address. This way you will have a copy. By remaining professional, if you need his recommendation in the future he will oblige and you will not damage your reputation by quiting without notice.

Should I Follow Up After an Interview? August 29, 2008

Q: So I had a phone interview yesterday for a company in California…I currently live in Arizona…I think the interview went well…They were 2 people conducting the interview…I did most of the talking…The person that was doing the interview said we can at least start by e-mailing you a job application…As of today I haven’t received anything…Should I call and ask or do I just wait?  ~Marali from Arizona

A: Make a follow up call. Sometimes recruiters get really busy, I would call to let them know you still have not received the application and to resend it. This also gives the recruiter the opportunity to give you an update if there is one. There is the possibility they are also interviewing other candidates, so it may be a week before yor receive a full update.

Managing the Difficult Co-Worker August 28, 2008

Q: I have a coworker who is loud, obnoxious and a slob. He is so messy that I need to rearrange my desk but he won’t move his stuff. My boss said for me to move it after he leaves. Will this create a conflict? ~ Dan from Colorado

A: Dan, if your boss said to move the desk while he is out, MOVE THE DESK. Just be extra messy before you actually move it; coffee cups, excess paper, lots of folders, purposely sloppy. When you make the move do your best to keep your coworkers stuff on top of his desk in the same order when you move it so it is less offensive for him. Then ONLY IF HE ASKS- you can say, ” I was just following xyz orders and cleaning up / reorganizing my office space so I can work more efficiently.” It makes it sound like you got into trouble- which you didn’t but if your co-worker has half a brain he will get the hint and possibly clean his own space.

Apparently you have a dominant coworker and if you act like a silent doormat he will walk all over you. Although you need to remain a team player, you can limit your exposure to him. When he leaves for the day move your desk like you were told but plan it out and have all your stuff ready to go. You may need to invest in a screen / divider, put it between your desk and his, make sure the desks are face to face and push them together to create some kind of divide. Buy a large but not too bushy plant to also place on the side of the desk to create a divide between your desk and his. Purchase a small stereo yourself with a headset- that way you can tune him out when he is being obnoxious and he can have his space AND you can have your space. Also, small fans or the free standing ones work wonders for eliminating excess noise and then you can blame it on being hot. In winter- get a heater. lol

Remain polite but BRIEF when speaking with him: Good Morning, Afternoon etc and then GET BUSY. Avoid having conversations with him at the cooler and the lunch room… GET BUSY. Even if you have to fake it. Excuse yourself, go to the bathroom, take a walk, put on your headphones but avoid him as much as possible. Only engage him over business, if he starts complaining cut him off and say ” I need to you to focus on xyz or speak with xyz directly to clean it up because all of your complaining does not solve anything.” Every time he complains- you either repeat the above phrase or excuse yourself and GET BUSY until it sinks in. If you really want to limit your exposure to him -but you have to work together on projects- then send him an email to set up a regular weekly touch base meeting, once a week for thirty minutes on Monday or Tuesday. This forces you two to focus on business only and limits your exposure to his negative chatter. Just remember, be polite, be a team player, keep your sense of humor, always be the diplomatic one- especially in front of the boss and GET BUSY. The less “personal conversation / gossip” time you have with him or spend listening to him, the better. By creating your own space, you can stop being concerned with “his poor performance” and focus on your own so you can get a raise or a promotion.

Promotion for a Pay Cut? August 27, 2008

Q: I was offered an entry-level management position but it pays $1.50 per hour less than what I was getting as a secretary. Does it make sense to take it? ~Albina

A: In essence it is a promotion, even if the salary is not ideal you are being offered an opportunity to move up out of your secretarial role into management. You need to focus on working to learn instead of working just to earn. Moving into management allows you an opportunity to learn a whole new set of skills that you can cash in on in the future. The problem is you are focused on short term thinking instead of long term goals. Also, when you go back to discuss whether or not you will take the position, ask if it is possible to make a lateral move at the same salary you are making now. The worst they can say is no but it does not hurt to try and if you are happy where you are at in your career, you can always stay there.

Kicking the Unemployment Blues August 26, 2008

Q: I was recently laid off and am a bit depressed, it there anything I can do to help kick the unemployment blues?  ~ Alex from California

A: Alex, one of the hardest adjustments to make from being employed to unemployed is the lack of having a set routine or schedule. The first few days sleeping in and laying around in your pj’s watching tv and playing video games may be fun but after awhile boredom sets in. One of the best things you can do for yourself and your sanity is to create a weekly and monthly schedule for yourself and stick to it. For example; Set your alarm to go off at 8:30 am, Get Up, Throw on your work out clothes on Mon-Wed-Thurs for a quick jog or speed walking around the park, come home, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and shoot for a goal of submitting at least 20 resumes a day to various job boards and job opportunities. On Tues-Fri-Sat switch up your routine a bit and go swimming or play tennis instead of running. Choose one day to work on your resume, another to sharpen your sales skills-because no matter what profession you are in you are always selling yourself and a day to take in a local event or seminar, work on a hobby, organize your closet, clear out the clutter or have lunch with your friends. If you suffer from needing a change of scenery, go plug your laptop into a local library just to get out of the house or Starbucks also makes a great portable office.  It is also really important to maintain a healthy diet; eat plenty of protein and veggies, but lay off the sugar and alcohol because of it’s rollercoaster effect on blood glucose which could lead to depression. Try substituting regular sodas for diet and sugar with stevia. Eating a healthy diet, rotating your schedule and plugging different activities into your day will keep your hands and mind busy. A simple and practical rule of thumb is to do one thing for your mind, one thing for your body and one thing for your spirit every day.  Doing so will help you maintain a balanced life until your next job comes along.

The Fabulous 4 Day Work Week August 25, 2008

Q: I am a business owner and am considering implementing a 4 Day work week, how is this going to effect employee productivity?  ~ John from Michigan

A: Well John, Utah just passed a state law making the 4 Day work week mandatory and other states are sure to follow suit soon. Instead of having an employee work a typical 5 day / 8 hour work week, employees work a 4 day / 10 hour work week, still equaling 40 hours. According to your business needs, employers can either have employees work Mon-Thurs or Tues-Fri shifts.  If your business needs Mon-Fri coverage, then you can just split your employees work hours to cover the entire work week. The 4 Day work week schedule allows employees to receive a three day weekend with; Fri, Sat and Sunday off or Sat, Sun, Mon off.  Studies have shown that switching to a 40 hour work week actually increases employee productivity because employees have more quality time with their family, it also cuts down on gas costs and can save a business up to 100k in annual energy costs.  Not bad for working only 4 days.

Sex with The Boss? August 22, 2008

Q:  My boss is really hot, we flirt with each other all the time and recently we kissed. Should I take it to the next level- how will it effect my career?   S from Virginia

A: Well S, as hot and steamy as your boss may be, lust is messy. In fact, one of my collegues had a hot boss too and one morning she went to grab him a cup of coffee. As she was walking back to her hot bosses office, a strange man was standing in his office doorway and gunshots went off. The hot boss was shot once in the chest and in the ear, as the bullet barely grazed his scalp.  My friend quiet naturally dropped her cup of coffee in shock, and passed out on the floor.   Upon awaking, investigators had pried open the hot bosses interoffice email. Apparently he, and a fellow female co-worker located in another department were involved in a steamy affair.  The lone gunman, was the womans husband.  

Moral of the story: The old adage of not mixing business and pleasure still stands.  Date people outside the office to promote career longevity, your reputation and possibly your life. Unless of course, your husband is your business partner. Even then, have offices on seperate ends of the building.

Getting Promoted August 20, 2008

Q: What is the best way to get a promotion?  ~Jake from Florida

A: Well Jake there is no cookie cutter answer to getting a job promotion. Employers look for particular qualities in employees that go beyond salary: hard worker, polite, team player, timely, considerate, good customer service, organized, leadership skills, compassion, driven, cost conscious, etc.  Depending on how your company rates performance determines how they advance their associates. Almost every company has an annual review for employees which is when your performance will be evaluated.  If you want to get noticed, in all seriousness, do your personal best. Do not just work for a paycheck, work to learn as much as you can and take pride in your job. Someone will eventually take notice, and other employees will talk about you positively. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing you did a job well done and your reputation for being a hard worker is worth it’s weight in gold. You might even get a raise for it.

Surge in Part Time Cuts, Preparing for Change August 19, 2008

There has been a surprising toll on today’s employees. In the past when there has been an economic downturn most corporations have mass layoffs, and then re-hire more employees when times are bright again. However, now it isn’t as beneficial to do business this way, it costs too much money to try and re-hire employees and to spend money on recruiters and agencies to find the employees in the first place.

In order to help with employee retention and to save money on the re-hiring process companies are now turning to cutting employee hours. 3.7 million jobs have been forcibly turned into part time from full time jobs, leaving many people without anywhere to turn, and without many choices to make. In cutting hours many employers also save on the benefits and health costs that they pay out to full time employees.

This is an interesting new practice that has been developing and has a lot to do with the unemployment rate. The current unemployment rate doesn’t reflect all those that are currently suffering because of lack of hours and insurance. So what do we do about it?

My suggestions are these: if you are currently in a position that is stable – do everything you can to maintain the status quo, it is probably not the best time to ask for a raise. If you are in a position that the hours have been cut, then the options you have are to; use what extra money you have to invest in something that will give you a good return on your money or find another part time job, preferably one with benefits. It is also a good idea to keep circulating your resume on job boards like Hotjobs, Careerbuilder and your local states Employment job board.

Quick Interview Tips to Create a Lasting Impression August 18, 2008

The first impression is always the most important, and that applies doubly when going to an interview. When being introduced to the recruiter or manager that is interviewing you make sure to smile, look them in the eyes confidently and give a good firm handshake while introducing yourself.

Here Are Few More Interview Tips:

-If possible, scout out the businesses local office that is interviewing you ahead of time to check out their employees style of dress. It will provide you with a clue to their office culture and dress tips for your interview.

-Be sure to have an updated hairstyle/appearence. If you look outdated those conducting the interview may assume your skill set is outdated as well. If you are getting your hair cut, have it done at least 3 days in advance so you don’t have the obvious ‘I just came from the salon’ look.

-Be well groomed. Iron your clothes or send them to a cleaner to be cleaned and pressed. Make sure your nails are clean and trim- no dirt under the nails. Polish your shoes. Clean the jewelry you are wearing. Looking ‘put together’ provides a favorable impression.

-Leave the flip flops, shorts and printed tees at home. It’s too casual for a first interview.

-Read up on the company’s website and become familiar with their history, products and services. Nothing is worse than going to an interview unfamiliar with the company brand.

-Proof Read your resume for errors. Make sure there are no typos or mispellings and that it is printed clearly. Double check the accuracy of your employer information and dates of employment. Also, have your resume printed on linen paper or a nice plain cream paper from Kinkos or a local office supply like Staples or Office Depot.

-During the interview, maintain good posture. Sit and stand up tall. Slumping will leave a bad impression and body language says more to recruiters than words.

-Answer questions confidently and honestly, even if you have to pause while thinking of the answer.  Give specific examples from your work or college experience that relate to the questions you are being asked.

-Be enthusiastic and passionate about what you offer as an employee, and they will become passionate about having you work for them.

Most importantly, be confident and comfortable in your skill set. If your confidence shows, you will have a fantastic interview.

What interview questions do you have?