Career advice

Are You A Workaholic? [Quiz]

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Hey There,

Working too much can become very harmful – Like every other addiction. We could be tempted to drift into working till we become workaholics simply because society recognizes and praises hard workers, those who go the extra mile. The ones who come to work early and close 3 hours after the official closing time. However, you could be a smart worker rather than putting so much pressure and strain on yourself by being a workaholic.

Often times, we do not realize that we have become workaholics, up until the habit becomes so deep and we start suffering in other aspects of our lives such as our health and relationships.

So how do we solve this problem before it becomes the end of us? First and foremost, recognize the problem. This is the first and most important step.

Wrike has created a simple 10-question quiz to evaluate just how much of a work addict you are. Take a few minutes to complete the quiz. Then, if the results divulge this shocking revelation that you are a workaholic (actually, not so shocking); take the next few minutes to schedule a vacation or, at the very least, a day off. Then find a way to adjust your schedule to accommodate other important things and people. You should also learn to take a break when you are meant to and when you body tells you it is time to do so.

Yours Sincerely,

PushCV Content Team.

How To Decide When It’s Time To Quit Your Job

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Hey There,

At some point in your career, you most likely have been tempted to quit your job. That little inner voice that nudges you at odd times and says, “Quit” or “It’s Not Worth It being here anymore” . Like the rest of us, you would most likely ignore the voice and justify your decision by telling yourself to manage the situation you have found yourself in, as there are no jobs out there, the economy is bad, the replacement job might be worse etc.

The truth is you are most likely not doing anyone a favor by holding on to that job. This is because over time, due to your weaning interest in the job, you become less efficient over time. This would affect your overall ranking and reputation. Believe it or not, your company would be just fine without you.

Are you at crossroads making a decision to quit or to stay? If you identify with one or more of the warning signs below, it’s time for you to start that job search now, while you are still employed. What are you waiting for?

1.Your Job Is A Pain In Your Neck

Every morning when you wake up, you grumble and sigh, simply because the mere thought of going to work and surviving the day is unbearable although, you survived the previous day, and the day before that. You consider calling in sick for the slightest thing. This simply means you really dislike your job.

2. Your Office Is Not What It Used To Be

When you starting working at this company, it was the place to be. You were super excited working for this company, and people around you were pretty envious that you were working there. Over the years, the company changed due to either new management or their vision has changes. Basically, the company has lost its edge; and your excitement.

3. You Are Overworking Yourself

As every year passes by, you discover that you are taking on more and more work to stay above water. You feel like your drowning even though you work for over 40 hours a week, and even on weekends.

4. You Want More Money

You work very hard, and your pay doesn’t do justice to the work you do for the company. Apart from that, you keep getting passed up on that promotion or opportunity in the company.

5. You Are Witnessing Illegal Behavior

Let us face the truth; if the company goes down and you go down with it, you could tarnish your reputation for quite a long time depending on how bad the behavior was.

6. Boss From Hell Just Got Hired

New management has been hired, and you feel he/she will slowly destroy the company or drive you crazy, whichever comes first. The new boss just doesn’t understand the company’s vision or the employees that work there—actually he or she really doesn’t seem to care—and after several months, there appears to be little hope of that ever changing.

7. You Find Yourself Creating Retirement Graphs

You still have many years to go before you can retire, but find yourself spending far too much time dreaming of that house on a tropical beach and charting out how much money you need to save monthly in order to retire much, much sooner.

8. Strange Habits Are Forming

You begin waking up in the middle of the night completely stressed out because of your job. Complaining about your job becomes your new hobby. You are calling in sick—again!

9. You Find Yourself Daydreaming a Lot at Work

Are you bored at work? Can’t find the passion and drive you used to have when you first started working for your company? When at work do you find yourself searching the Internet more often or searching the job listings religiously?

10. You’re Not Playing Well Together Any Longer

Sometimes, the office dynamics change with a few new hires. All of a sudden, you find yourself arguing on a daily basis with your co-workers and feeling as if you’re being scrutinized at every turn.

If any of these hints apply to you, it’s pretty much time for you to search for a new job, while at your current job.

Regards,

PushCV Content Team.

Top 15 Ways To Say “Thanks But No Thanks” To Taking On More Work.

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Hey There,

In the bid to be efficient and productive, we tend to take on more work that we can manage effectively. Fore some of us, the issue lies in rejecting the task from our superiors (who dish them out as orders rather than suggestions.) Today, we are suggesting 15 phrases that would assist you in dodging the bullet.

Disclaimer: These phrases are to be used ONLY and we mean ONLY when you have taken up more than you can handle or if the task you are being asked to take up affects your efficiency at work and your entire schedule as a whole. 

Thank Us Later!

#1 “No, but thanks for asking!”

#2 “Thank you, but let me get back to you.”

#3 “Sorry not now, maybe some other time.”

#4 “I simply just cannot say yes, I hope you understand.”

#5 “Thank you, but I am not the right person to be asking. Let me make some suggestions.”

#6 “Let me check a few things, but it would be best to plan on working without me.”

#7 “Before I can say yes, I would have to be very clear about what is expected.”

#8 “I’m sorry, I won’t be able to do it—but let me help you find someone who can.”

#9 “I can’t take on the whole task, but maybe I can help you with part of what you need.”

#10 “I seriously would love to help but I am unable to at this time.”

#11 “I’m sorry but there is already too much on my plate.”

#12 “Thank you for thinking of me, but unfortunately I will have to pass.”

#13 “I am not taking on any new commitments right now.”

#14 “I’m so sorry, I just cannot make it work.”

#15 “I wish I could help, but at the moment I just can’t.”

You have to learn to say these phrases confidently and respectfully as appropriate. Always remember that often times, saying no to someone, is saying yes to yourself!

Regards,

PushCV Content Team.

PushCV Guide To Nailing Your First Interview

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Hey There,

After going through a rigorous process while applying for that job, You finally get mail. You have been invited for a job interview. Your very first reaction is excitement; finally you have gotten this far. For some of you, the excitement wears out and quickly turns into fear, for others they remain in that excitement stage and do not take time out to think through the essentials for their interview day. We are here to save both parties from their extremities.

Here are 10 tips that would carry you through your first interview.

#1: Research (Do Your Homework): Make sure you research on the company before you go for the interview. When you do this, you are more confident, and your approach towards answering questions is different. You would be able to ask more coherent and applicable questions when you are given the opportunity to do so.

#2: Take Out Time To Practice: Prior to your interview day, you should take time out to practice. You could ask a friend to assist you. Find research questions that you could use and might be applicable to the role you are applying for. Although, your interviewer might not ask you any of the questions, you would feel more confident as you have practiced using several other questions.

#3: Dress appropriately: It is often said that you should dress the way you want to be addressed. Do not go over the top, such that you are uncomfortable. Neither should you dress down so much that you do not remotely look the part. You should also read up on the company culture, this is a guide to what appropriate dressing might be to the hiring manager.

#4: Be Punctual: As a candidate, you would give the interviewer a very poor impression about you if you show up late to the interview. To avoid this disaster, make sure you know the exact location the interview is taking place. You should also have a good understanding of the parking lots and bus routes. This saves you time and stress. You definitely do not want to arrive at your interview late and sweaty.

#5: First Impressions Matter: Making a good impression at your interview is very important. This cannot be over emphasized. The interviewer is going to judge you in the first minutes of meeting you. The secret to creating a great first impression is simple. Be yourself, but be the best version of you. Basically, be on your best behavior but do not go out of your way to be somebody that you are not.

#6: Presentation Matters: Present yourself well. This is the next step to take after conquering making a good first impression. Ensure you come across as being well mannered and cultured. Above all, relax and speak clearly. Also maintain eye contact with the interviewer, and smile as appropriate.

#7: Contacts: If you know someone at the company, you can mention to the employer at the appropriate time. The employer could then meet the employee you know to have a clearer picture of who you actually are, what your work ethics are, and your personality.

#8: Body Language: Learn to build a relationship with your interviewer. This way, you are distinguished from the other candidates, and also your interview would be a memorable experience for you and your interviewer. Make sure you smile and have a decent demeanor. Your body should show that you feel relaxed and you are a confident, friendly person.

#9: Your Exit: When your interview is coming to a close, make sure it ends on a good note. Smile and shake the interviewer’s hand. You could also extend short pleasant gestures about the interview. This leaves a last impression that is as good as your first impression.

#10: Follow-Up: After your interview, you could send the interviewer a hand written note saying thank you. You could choose to send a mail to your interviewer in addition to the handwritten note. This would help the interviewer remember your name and face.

Passing an interview is a very critical stage in your job application. With the right preparation and practice, your interview is sure to be a success. These tips would guide you through your first interview and even beyond.

Regards,

PushCV Content Team.

15 Time Wasters Highly Successful People Avoid

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Hey There,

As we all know, as humans we have access to the same 24 hours as the next individual. But we often find ourselves pondering on this same question over and again, “How come he/she is more productive than I am?” The answer is simple. The difference lies in how you spend or invest your time. It is usually tempting to sit around and waste time doing nothing, coupled with the fact that our brains are biologically inclined to procrastination. We cannot deny that certain people around us are yet still very efficient with their time and they invest it rather than spend it. This infographic sourced from muse could help you realize how you spend your time rather than investing it. Takes cues from it. Enjoy!

Regards,

PushCV Content Team.

What To Put On Your Resume When You Don’t Have Relevant Work Experience

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Hey There,

For the recent graduates, and those of us that have never been formally employed, we often ask what we are meant to put on our resume when crafting it out. You might see a job post, and when you are about to apply, you remember you have no work experience whatsoever and you begin to fret. There is no need to.

Whether you are a career changer or a recent graduate with no work experience, there are a few different things you can put on your resume as well as some basic formatting tricks that would present you in a good light. They are as follows:

  • Relevant and Transferable Skills

Most resumes begin by highlighting work experience, but as a recent graduate, highlight your educational history first. This is because at the moment, it is basically all you have. Instead of confusing the recruiter, you can start your CV by highlighting your relevant skills after your educational history. Ensure that they are relevant to the position you are applying for and also do not exaggerate the truth by presenting skills you do not possess. For those of you that think you do not have any skills, think through it and give a reason you feel you can do the job. For career changers, you could try tying your skills together and presenting them in the summary section of you CV.

  • Related Side and Academic Projects

Highlight all the projects you have worked on that are relevant to the position you are applying to; both academic and non-academic. Create a project section in your resume, and present all relevant projects you have worked on from the most recent to the first. Think through all the projects that you have worked on that helped you realize your passion and career interests. Format this information in a way that helps the recruiter understand that the experience is valid and should be evaluated when considering your candidacy for the position you are applying to.

  • An Enthusiastic and Specific Cover Letter

Although this is not part of your resume, you could couple your resume with a strong cover letter. This is more important when you do not have an work experience. You should find a way to connect your passions and life experiences with the company you are applying to, and explain how that assists you in being an effective worker once you are hired. Keep it moderate and official, but make sure you make an impact and your point is passed across.

We are aware that breaking grounds and starting your new career is hard work. Especially in an age where most employers ask for two to three years experience before you can apply for an opening. The trick to overcoming this is by teasing out those details like relevant skills and relevant side projects. Combining this with a carefully crafted cover letter and effective networking should give you some head way, and soon enough you would be sure to pique the interest of a hiring manager.

Yours Truly,

PushCV Content Team.

5 Questions That Determine What Stays And What Goes On Your Resumé

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Hey There,

We have all had that moment where after carefully crafting our CV, it is still above the required number of pages. We begin to brainstorm and think of ways we can present all this “awesomeness” into one single document. We then begin to introduce templates and formats that assist in presenting more than enough data than the hiring manager can scan through to get key details under two minutes. Yup. You have been doing it wrong all this while.

You might then ask yourself, what is the right thing to do? Other than asking yourself the questions we are going to highlight in this post, the very first step could be remembering that your CV should NOT be longer than 2 pages.

According to the Hiring Manager at Google who has reviewed over 20,000 resumés,

“For Every 10 years you’ve been working, you can add one page to your resume”

The five key questions to ask yourself to decide what to keep on your CV, and what to delete are as follows:

#1 Does This Relate To The Position I’m Applying For?

A simple tactic that can be employed to determine what is relevant and what is not so relevant is printing out your resume, and then highlighting every single role and description that relates to the position you are applying for. If it’s highlighted, then it stays, if it’s not; then it goes. It’s that simple. You have to be honest and objective while carrying out this task, otherwise you might find yourself stuck on this task, longer than you should.

#2 Was This A Big Responsibility Within The Role?

When you have more experience, you have more substantial information on your CV. You can then replace the not so substantial information that was previously on your CV with the more relevant duties you have carried out. Replace not Merge, that’s the second rule in shortening your resume without presenting an incompetent version of yourself to the hiring manager. Also remember, sometimes less is more.

#3 Have I Shown This Somewhere Else On My Resume?

You do not need to highlight the same piece of information under all the sub sections in your CV disguised in various forms. You do not want to come across as being redundant. Since you are trying to maximize your space, you don’t need to include two entirely different job descriptions under the same department when you can simply merge them or chose the more superior job description that would be a better representative so to say.

#4 Could I Do Something Similar In The Next Role?

Sometimes, your work experience is not completely relevant but is worth including. For example, you’re currently in recruiting and trying to transition into sales. In your current job, you consistently hit or exceeded your recruiting goals. Not only is that impressive, but it also shows you know how to sell a product (in this case, your company!). There’s no doubt it should be on your resume.

To make the connection really obvious to the hiring manager, include a line in your cover letter that says, “I would apply the skills I learned in attracting top talent to acquiring valuable clients for your company.”

But the bullet you’ve included about conducting in-depth phone screens with job candidates? Well, since you’re not going to be interviewing candidates as a sales rep, that should probably be omitted.

#5 How Impressive Is This Point?

There are some achievements and awards that you should keep on your resumé simply because they make you look really really good. However, some achievements that we have seen on some resumés just simply make us wonder. For example, except you are applying to be a coach or a sports teacher, we do not see why you should add the fact that you were the winner of the 100m dash in Year 11. Simply put, do not put achievements that might come across as totally off point to the hiring manager while reviewing your CV.

In Conclusion, If something on your resume does not make you answer a yes to one or more of these five questions, it is time to let it go. In return, you would have a more professional CV that would be more impressive and also easier for the hiring manager to review.

Yours Truly,

PushCV Content Team.