Communication

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

Leave a comment

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.

Leave a comment

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

Leave a comment

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.

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

Leave a comment

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.

10 Types Of Employees You Should Always Avoid Being

2 Comments

Hey There,

Today, we would be highlighting ten personalities we have around us in our work environment that we do not necessarily agree with their general work ethics, but we would say have grown on us over time or rather should we say you have grown to be tolerant with. If you identify with any of the personalities below, not only should you be cautious about your behaviors but also, you should make a conscious effort to change overall.

#1 The Boss’s Boss

We all know those employees that feel like they aren’t subject to the company’s code of conduct and rules from the Human Resource Management Desk. The ones who never show up on time and are always on the phone taking personal calls even when the company policy frown upon that? Yes. Those ones. Not only should you avoid these type of employees, be careful not to morph into one over time.

#2 The Ambitious (Yet Incompetent) Imaginary Ladder Climber.

We are usually genuinely happy for our fellow colleagues who work hard enough to climb up their career ladders at your organization. What we cannot stand however, are those employees that put in no work and generally feel they deserve a gold medal for lazying around. They are constantly complaining about how they deserve more than what they are paid; for what they do. While you sit there and silently think ‘’What work?”. Yup. Those ones. The worst part – They never understand the explanations as to why they are not yet due for promotion.

#3 Tattletales

They tend to be for the people, elected by themselves and they put more effort into being a tattletale than actually doing their work. Constantly recording the almost sexual harassments and the illegal behavior around the office. Dear Tattletales, allow the manager manage their own people. Get back to your desk and put that energy to good use by actually doing some of the work assigned to you that you actually get paid for.

#4 Employees With No Restrictions (Category One: TMI)

The whole office knows everything about this employee. Every single thing. Sometimes you feel the urge to remind them that you are at the office and not an AA meeting, and other times, you feel the urge to announce that we are in an office and not a sorority house. They tell you (and the whole office) every single detail from the fungus that grew on their left toe to their noisy neighbor who loves gardening.

#5 Employees With No Restrictions (Category Two: Constantly Calling)

Picture this. It’s 11pm on a Friday night and you get a phone call from this employee on your personal line. You convince yourself that this time, it is an emergency. You finally pick up the phone after it has gone to voicemail a couple times, and the employee clearly states that he has been calling to ensure you submitted the weekly reports (which were due for 12pm earlier in the day). Note that the employee had the option of asking you while at work, or waiting till the new week starts. Always ensure you consider your colleagues and their personal lives when making decisions.

#6 The Employee Who Hates HR

In general, most people tend to not like the HR manager very much because she does her job effectively. Constantly remember that it is totally not the HR manager’s fault that you work so hard yet you got a small raise (due to the company’s financial budget). Instead of hating on the HR manager, you could do some actual work instead.

#7 The Drama Queen

Note that this title is not limited by gender. This employee takes every single observation and correction from their boss as a cue that they are getting fired. Let us all calm down brethren; no one is getting fired, except you did something to warrant that level of discipline. These are the employees that would conclude that a co-worker parked on two spaces intentionally just so they can walk a longer way. Please. Kindly leave the drama at home.

#8 ‘It’s Not Part Of My Job Description’ Employee

We know them. We all do. These are the employees that would turn down a co-worker’s request to proof-read their article in their spare time simply because it is not in their job description. Come on! We all know that most contracts come with your specific job description, but other times you might have to take on the “other duties required” part of your contract. This does not mean you should overwork yourself by taking upon job duties you cannot handle. You could also consider having a meeting with your immediate superior to discuss re-evaluating your job position if your job duties become cumbersome.

#9 The Law

This employee constantly rants about civil rights and actions that would be taken when they aren’t given a raise (even before it’s due). They are quick to suggest taking legal action against the company and in drastic times, it could be because of their annual rating during appraisals. Note that in a reputable company, that approval rating has been double-checked and checked a third time just so they are sure. Do not prance around your office throwing empty threats around each time something pops up. Your employer and co-workers would find it hard to take you seriously over time.

#10 The Unbelieving Employee

This is the passive-aggressive employee who never listens or takes corrections. They then act as though they are taken by surprise when the company takes an improvement plan which results in them being laid off or in probation. They then find themselves in utmost shock and disapproval of the managements decision. Be open to constructive criticism, and also learn how manage the individual that gives out baseless criticism just so their voice is heard and their presence is acknowledged.

We sincerely hope you are not one of the employees described above, and if you are, adjust accordingly! That’s the beauty of being able to work on yourself constantly in your personal career journey.

Yours Sincerely,

PushCV Content Team.

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

Leave a comment

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.

8 Things You Should Do Before You Start Your Work Day

Leave a comment

Hey There,

We all have good and bad mornings. Some mornings start off with a spring in our step while some others, just don’t. For both good and not-so-good mornings, we would be highlighting a few things you could do that could help in making your day hassle free, and basically set the mood for the day ahead. The great part about these tips we are about to share is that not only can it become your daily mantra; it makes your work pace more realistic, and increases your productivity on the long run.

Let’s go ahead and highlight the tips:

#1 Meditate: Take time out to create a mental checklist for the things you need to do and in an order that would work out for you. Most of us would find ourselves putting the more difficult tasks earlier in the day, that is a really good idea. This is because no matter how efficient you are, most times, fatigue builds up during the course of the day.

#2 While you are creating your checklist, do some minor stretching. We do not advice that you go as far as meditating with your yoga mat right across the middle of your department, but we could suggest basic stretches while you are trying to create a mental and actual checklist. This helps you relax while you are creating the checklist, and prevents you from having minor panic attacks when you see the tasks that lie ahead of you on paper.

#3 Be Realistic. Do not put a ton of heavy tasks on your checklist and then end up disappointed if you do not achieve every single thing on the checklist when the day is over. Helloooo? You are not superman, and you will not be. So, take a more realistic approach while setting daily goals with the aid of your checklist, and leave room for contingency plans incase a certain task depends on another individual or a situation you cannot pre-determine.

#4 Have a Daily Goal that highlights the most important and the most urgent things on your checklist. Ensure that on all accounts, before the business day is over, you carry out these two tasks. This would give you a sense of fulfillment, and achieving them daily would give you an overall sense of growth in your career.

#5 Take Time Out For Chitchat. Before the day kicks off into full gear, take a stipulated amount of time out to relate with your co-workers. This should not be more than 10 – 15 minutes. You should also show gratitude and kindness if they helped you out earlier in the week. This gives you more time to work on more projects and achieving your goal on the long run, as you spend more time on your actual job than conflict resolution with several co-workers.

#6 Go Through The Important Websites. This is to keep you updated, this could be the daily news, the companies website, work related sites etc. After doing this, you would most likely have cleared the ‘morning ritual’ backlog that you usually have daily. This would reduce the amount of time you spend on doing things that are not work related.

#7 Hold Back On That Cup Of Coffee. Contrary to popular opinion, the morning is usually not the best time to drink coffee. This is because it could result in you being hyperactive and restless, which could affect your work patterns or it could lead to you feeling sleepy. So, hold up on that cup of coffee till you need it much later in the day for that adrenaline kick you need to finish up the day’s job.

#8 Take The Email Free Morning Challenge. It is as easy as it sounds. Do just what it says. You could consider skipping the task of going through you email and attending to every single issue in the mailbox. You could stall this task, and do it much later in the day after your lunch break. By this time, you would have sorted out most of the items on your checklist, and you would be feeling more settled while attending to the mails.

There you go. 8 great tips to make your workday more productive. You would find yourself walking into the parking lot with a smile rather than that grumpy look we all usually have on when the workday is over.

Regards,

PushCV Content Team.