Who isn’t dead scared by the prospect of unemployment? In these difficult times, the last thing anyone with a paying job needs is to be fired, laid off, or be considered “redundant”. If you want to guarantee you’ll be the last one your boss would let go even when the company goes bankrupt, make your boss think you’re indispensable to his business! We both know you’re not, but your boss doesn’t. Below are some ways to make your boss cling to you like business cards do to business card cases!

1. Arrive Early
Bosses arrive to work almost at the same time. Make sure you arrive earlier than your boss does. This makes you look keen to start the day. Your boss will remember you as The One who beats the clock every time, and you can justify those extra 15 minutes you won’t be paid for by amusing yourself on Facebook or Twitter, or painting your pocket business card holder hot pink later in the day.

2. Chirp “Good Morning!”
Do this in the most cheerful voice you can muster. Even though you’re grumpy, knackered, or hung over, calling out “Good morning!” with a huge smile on your face will put you in your boss’s good books immediately!

3. Volunteer Smartly
It’s suicide to put your hand up for every project that comes up, so volunteer with cunning. In other words, pick out the task that requires the least effort but generates maximum visibility.

4. Leave a Trail
An email trail, that is. Whether you’re working at home or in the office, make sure your boss receives at least one of the first emails you send out in the morning and the last email you send out at night. Who cares if you actually sent that first email while still in your jammies?

5. Say “Thank You”
Bosses often feel unappreciated, so make it a point to say “thanks” even if all you got was a word of unwelcome advice, instead of a pay raise. Grateful people make the best employees because for the price of a regular staff, your boss gets an instant fan, too!

Whether you’re after a promotion or simply want to stay on in your job, making your boss think you’re indispensable is one way to make sure you won’t have to change the company name and job description on the spanking brand new business cards inside your silver business card case
!

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Boss Think You're Indispensable is a post from: Free Career Advice

Would you like to receive a career promotion in your current job?

It may be easier than looking for another job.

Of course, getting a career promotion or, in fact, a promotion opportunity is not guaranteed.

However, there are some things that you can do to increase the likelihood that you will in fact receive the career promotion you are looking for, over your competitors.

The following are some guidelines and tips to help you to get that next career promotion.

Tip #1

Master the basics. Simple things like get to work on time, don’t leave until it’s time for you to leave, come back from your break and lunch on time, etc. Don’t be late for meetings. You will not be considered for additional responsibility and additional pay if you can’t even master your current responsibilities and do the basic things to perform more than satisfactory in your current job.

Tip #2

Volunteer and look for opportunities that allow you to complete work beyond your job description. If you stick to only doing things in your standard job description and you are not willing to do a little extra, it is guaranteed to ensure you stay in your current position.

If you want to get promoted, you need to look for opportunities to do more than what you are currently hired to do. For example, do you see additional tasks that need to be done, but no one is doing it? Ask your boss if it would be ok for you to do the task and when you have completed them, tell them about the difference it has made.

Tip #3

Talk to people who currently have the job grade and/or role you want. Ask them what they would recommend for you to do to get that job. There is no one better to tell you how to get promoted to the job you want than a person who has already reached the level you are looking to get to. Ask them how they got the job, what experience and positions they held prior to, etc. A simple question may provide you with a snippet of priceless information.

Tip #4

Find out how much emphasis your company puts on educational requirements for certain roles and job grades. Some companies insist you have a degree for certain levels and if you want promotion, you will need to meet the minimum educational requirements. Every company is different in terms of how they view educational requirements. Some companies won’t even consider your application if you don’t meet the minimum education requirements. Other companies will factor in relevant experience if the educational requirements aren’t met. Find out which approach your company takes and if you need to go back to evening school to get the necessary education, do it.

Tip #5

Apply for the position you want with another company. Sometimes your company simply doesn’t appreciate what you have to offer. Other times, your company may simply not have enough positions available in order for you to fill the position you want. In any case, it may be necessary for you to go to another company to get the position you want.

Follow these five tips and they will help increase the likelihood of you receiving that next promotion opportunity or career promotion.

Good luck!

5 Tips On How To Gain A Career Promotion In Your Current Job is a post from: Free Career Advice

“Resigning On A Postive Note”

By Michael Lee

If you’re entertaining thoughts of leaving your current office, you’d better learn how to write a resignation letter the right way. Even if you have one foot already out the door, it is no excuse to submit a shabby letter.

Learning how to write a resignation letter properly gives your boss the impression that you are professional until your last official day, and that you respect the company enough to make the effort.

This good impression could serve you well in the future, especially if you plan to list your current employer as a reference in your resume.

1) Keep it short.

The first thing you have to remember when learning how to write a resignation letter is that your message should be short.

You don’t need to elaborate on the why, when, how and all the other details your employer can’t be bothered with. Simply state that you wish to resign and when it is effective.

2) Keep it sweet.

Even if you have a lot of complaints and issues with the company, it is wise to keep your resignation letter positive. You don’t exactly want your next employer discovering your resignation letter full of hate and resentment now, do you?

Bear in mind that resignation letters are attached to your employment file. These documents do have the habit of turning up when you least want them to.

3) Thank your employer.

When writing a resignation letter, you must not forget to thank your employer or the company for giving you the opportunity to improve your skills or discover new things about yourself.

Putting all these things in your letter can help make the huge change easier for both you and the company. It’s easy to know how to write a resignation letter; just remember to keep it direct to the point, positive and grateful.

How To Write A Resignation Letter is a post from: Free Career Advice

Job Spa 12 Weeks to Refresh Refocus and Recommit to Your Career

Does your boss ignore you?
Is your career going nowhere?
Are you just going through the motions?

If so, you need a trip to the Job Spa. Inside, authors Milo Sindell and Thuy Sindell detail an easy-to-master program that shows you how to reengage with your work and approach your career with new levels of energy and enthusiasm. Doing so will enable you to:

• Gain the respect of your boss and colleagues
• Build valuable relationships in the workplace
• Reconnect with fellow employees
• Create and expand your professional network
• Improve your listening skills

Job Spa: Twelve Weeks to Refresh, Refocus, and Recommit to Your Career is all you need to get excited, get noticed, and get ahead-once and for all.

Buy/More Info

Job Spa 12 Weeks to Refresh Refocus and Recommit to Your Career is a post from: Free Career Advice

For anyone fortunate enough to still have a job in this downturn, the empty cubicles around you likely mean more responsibilities –?and a greater daily workload — to cover for positions that have been cut or won’t be filled anytime soon.

If you’re being asked to do the work of two — or more — workers, here are five ways to cope with the extra items on your list, without losing your cool or your sense of well-being.

Ask the Right Questions

Even if your work plate already is full, you really shouldn’t say no when the boss approaches with additional duties, advises executive coach Peggy Klaus.

Instead, engage your supervisor in a dialogue about the specifics of the situation, by asking questions about how long the new assignment will last and what will be expected.

“When we’re in this fear mode, we have a very difficult time asking for those parameters, and they’re really important,” says Klaus, author of “The Hard Truth About Soft Skills.”

“It doesn’t mean that you don’t want to do [the work], or won’t do it. But you need to have some structure around it.”

Prioritize and Organize

Once you understand the scope of your expanded job description, ask your manager to help prioritize what must get done on a daily basis –?and which projects can be deferred — and organize yourself accordingly, according to Paul Facella, CEO and president of Inside Management, a consulting firm.

“Clearly, in this situation, you have to prioritize –?you can’t afford to waste time,” says Facella, author of “Everything I Know about Business I Learned at McDonald’s.”

Be Your Own Publicist

Be sure to speak up, as you identify ways to streamline your department’s practices or improve the overall efficiency of company operations.

“It’s certainly not the time to be quiet and shy about anything you’re contributing that you believe will be more cost-saving and efficient,” Facella says. “Nobody wants a braggart, but the point is you keep [management] in the loop.”
Learning From the Experience

Volunteering to take a course to boost certain skills or gain a specialized certification can both ease your ability to complete unfamiliar chores and demonstrate your commitment to your company’s stability. The new skills set also will help if you’re part of the next round of job cuts.

“This economic environment clearly is going to be here for a few years,” Facella says. “The more prepared you are, the better off you are.”

Take a Break

As you find yourself logging much longer hours, you need to take more — not fewer — breaks. Every 90 minutes or so, you should at least get up from your desk and stretch. Or better yet, take a 10-minute walk, shoot some hoops, or grab coffee with a friend.

“We tend to think we have to be chained to our desks for 11 hours a day,” Klaus says. “It’s a self-care issue. We have to get up and take a break.”

Article source: http://ca.hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-do_more_with_less_the_new_normal_at_work-800

Do More With Less: The ‘New Normal’ at Work is a post from: Free Career Advice

The challenge of dealing with a promotion at work is almost as stressful as getting divorced, a survey has recently revealed.

A poll of 600 managers found over half had not been able to cope with stepping up from a junior post.

One said ‘It is more difficult to change how you work if you were successful in the previous career than not. Ironically, the promotion comes only if you are successful.’

It’s a familiar story. You work hard to get that promotion and you’re excited about your new role. Then suddenly, reality hits home: you are on your own, unsure of what is expected of you, missing aspects of your previous role that you had finally mastered, without your trusted network of colleagues, and politics rife amongst your new peer group whom you struggle to engage with.

Yet despite the familiarity of this story, the scale of personal change required is rarely acknowledge, let alone adequately supported, leading to ‘transition anxiety’.

One of the first things you should do is keep your boss happy and manage their expectations.

Ask them:

• What does your boss want from you?
• What does your boss love?
• What does your boss hate?
• What are their interests/hobbies?
  

I once worked for a boss who had a reputation for being ‘hard, demanding, fearful, and unapproachable’. The first time we met, I asked him the above questions. He:

• wanted me to deliver the planned projects as agreed (i.e. budget/time/benefits)
• wanted me to keep him informed of progress – the truth – exactly how it is
• loved projects to be jointly agreed and met
• hated surprises. If the project dates were going to be missed, he wanted me to let him know as soon as I knew and especially not at the progress meeting in front of other staff
• liked watching football and participated in marathons

This Manager turned out to be the best manager I have ever had the privilege of working for. He and I built a rapport straight away. We were open, honest and worked really well together. If things were not going well we would sit down and work things out. The reputation and perception were just totally wrong.

4 simple questions ensured rapport was built and I knew exactly how to manage my boss.

It’s simple but powerful.

What questions have you found to help your relationship with your boss?

Article source: http://www.greatmanagement.org/blogs/3/Promotion-almost-as-stressful-as-divorce.html

Promotion ‘almost as stressful as divorce’ is a post from: Free Career Advice

There are a lot of ways to try to make your job easier. You can re-engineer complete processes, install new IT systems, and reorganize your organization. But, do those really make life easier? And what if you aren’t the Grand Who-Hah who can launch those types of major initiatives…what do you do then?

One of the most often overlooked methods for making work easier, is to simply ask for help. Why is it that we find it so hard to simply ask for help? For some it is a concern that you will look deficient if you need to ask for help. But in not asking for help, you get overwhelmed, you under-deliver results, and end up looking deficient anyway. While the person who asks for help makes their job look effortless and sails on to victory after victory. Also, many of us get so hung up in delivering results on our own that we don’t ever think about who we would ask for help, we assume they might be too busy to help and don’t know what we would ask for even if we did attempt to get help.

Now, before you jump up from your desk and run down the hall to solicit help from your co-workers, boss, or colleagues there is an art to asking for help. Tune up on that first, and then go out.

3 Rules to Asking For Help

1. Build real relationships when you don’t need anything. Get to know people at a more personal level. Share something more about yourself than just your job title and task list. Develop a genuine interest in getting to know others so that you can be helpful to them. Don’t expect anything in return, but rather make meeting new and interesting people the benefit itself. To give you an idea of the personal things you can share with other business people, here is an example that Phil Gerbyshak tagged me to write on my blog recently as 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Michael Kanazawa.
2. Know What to Ask For: Get to know others well enough that you understand what they are interested in, where their strengths are, who they know and what they are trying to achieve. Not only can you then try to help them more, but you’ll also be able to understand how they might be able to help you.
3. Asking for Help is Resourcefulness, Not a Weakness: Go ahead and ask for introduction, connections, advice, or feedback on something. It is amazing the resources that people have if you just take the time to get to know them and simply ASK!

Most people are very happy to help others who simply ask, especially where there is a two way relationship. After checking out my blog and the 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Michael Kanazawa list, feel free to ask me for help on something that I might be able to do for you.

And my “ask” of you: I’m just launching a new book, BIG Ideas to BIG Results that will change your thinking about how to lead and manage with more impact. If you’re interested, please buy the book. If you are a manager, consider buying the book for your team. And, if you think your company can benefit from a speech or presentation, please have the right person contact the BrightSight Group speakers’ bureau.

There, that wasn’t so hard. And really, let me know if there is some way I can help you too, just ask.

Article source: http://www.bizzia.com/slackermanager/want-to-make-your-job-easier-just-ask/

Want to Make Your Job Easier? Just Ask! is a post from: Free Career Advice

Gillian, one of the individuals I mentor, recently asked me about ‘getting promoted’.

She asked ‘What is the quickest and easiest way to get promoted?’

As an employee, we all want that promotion, don’t we?

Isn’t it our ultimate goal to rise above the ranks and be somebody in the office? Great pay and great respect.

In order to answer Gillian, I changed the question around: “What is the quickest and easiest way NOT to get promoted?”

Many hindrances will hamper your chances to get that promotion you’ve always wanted.

You know you will never be promoted when…

1. You aren’t an efficient worker.

That means that at the end of the day, you aren’t able to finish all the tasks you were supposed to finish. You are easily distracted or spending too much time gossiping or on email or…

2. You are never punctual.

Tardiness is an indication that you aren’t sufficiently devoted to your work. Much worse, NOT providing what you have promised will also affect your chances of promotion.

3. You aren’t getting along with the work colleagues that matter.

It isn’t important that you make friends with everyone, but it is imperative that you be civil to everyone in the office. You must establish a healthy working relationship with all.

More importantly, you must have a good relationship with those who have a say in your promotion.

4. You complain a lot.

When you are complaining about everything, you are giving them more reasons not to promote you. It isn’t bad to complain. However, be sure your complaints are valid and you aren’t just sour-graping.

5. You are critical about the management.

Bosses tend to get even. If you are openly critical about the management, chances are that the company will take that up against you. Just control your desire to throw too much criticism about anything.

6. You are at odds with your boss.

There might be other personal reasons why you aren’t getting along with your superiors. The sad fact is that whether you like it or not, that kind of relationship with your boss could affect promotions for you. Face that fact that even if you and your boss are professionals, personal factors could still get in your way.

So here are 6 hindrances that will hamper your chances to get that promotion you’ve always wanted.

I asked, “Gillian, which one do you think is hampering you, in you aim for promotion?

“Number 6. My boss. I never know what he wants”

I shared a story with Gillian:

I once worked for a boss who had a reputation for being ‘hard, demanding, fearful and unapproachable’.

The first time we met, I asked him:

• What do you expect from me?

• What do you love?

• What do you hate?

• What are your interests/hobbies?

In reply, my boss said:

• He wanted me to deliver the planned projects as agreed (i.e. budget/time/benefits)

• He wanted me to keep him informed of progress – the truth – exactly how it is

• He loved projects to be jointly agreed and met

• He hated surprises. If the project dates were  going to be missed, he wanted me to let  him know as soon as I knew and especially  not at the progress meeting in front of other staff

• He liked watching football and participated in  marathons

This Manager turned out to be the best Manager I have ever had the privilege of working for. He and I built a rapport straight away. We were open, honest and worked really well together. If things were not going well, we would sit down and work things out.

His reputation and my perception of him were just totally wrong.

Four simple questions ensured rapport was built and I knew exactly how to manage my boss.

Give it a try – it’s simple but powerful.

By the way my First-Class Managers course has a complete section on ‘Managing Your Boss’ and shares with you the unique Relationship Builder Framework™ – one of the most useful frameworks you’ll ever get to use.

Article source: http://www.greatmanagement.org/blogs/152/You-Know-You-Will-Never-Be-Promoted-When.html

You Know You Will Never Be Promoted When… is a post from: Free Career Advice

If you are after a pay rise and career advancement it can be better if you decide to stay in your current employment and get promoted.

But don’t just sit there!

That’s not going to get you promoted.

Don’t expect your boss to come along and say ‘Hey you, I am promoting you to the next level. Here’s a 10% pay rise’.

You have to take action.

Being good at your job might get you a promotion eventually.

Get that job promotion faster by raising your profile and being seen.

So let’s assume you are good at your job, otherwise you have no chance of job promotion.

First task is to let your boss know you are looking for a job promotion.

Discuss it with them.

Be prepared to be told ‘you are not ready yet’.

If so, ask what you have to do, to have a chance of promotion.

Next, take on high profile tasks.

Bosses and companies like individuals who take on special projects. These individuals are often promoted on the back of the successful delivery of one project – make sure it’s you.

Network.

I recently detailed how you can get a job promotion through networking, right here at my good friend, Donald Latumahina’s blog:

Networking Can Get You A Job Promotion

When you have your one-to-one with the boss mention the projects you are involved in and the concrete results which have benefited the company, as a result.

Shout About It

When you have the opportunity, stand up in front of people and publicly speak about the special project you are working on and the benefits it will bring.

So if you want more income, go for promotion in your current job.

It can be easier than you think.
Article source: http://www.greatmanagement.org/blogs/160/How-to-Win-That-Job-Promotion.html

How to Win That Job Promotion is a post from: Free Career Advice

The interviewer asks you, “Do you have any questions for me?”

You say … “Yes!”

This is the easiest interview question out there. Always say yes.

Asking questions shows that you’re interested in the job. It also gives you a chance to show how knowledgeable you are about the position and the industry. Most important, it lets you highlight why you’re the perfect candidate.

You have to choose your questions carefully, though, depending on who’s doing the interviewing. An excellent question for a recruiter might be inappropriate for an executive. And you don’t want to ask your potential boss something that’s best suited for a future coworker.

Also, there are certain questions you should never ask early in the interview process — no matter whom you’re meeting. Don’t ask about salary, vacation, 401(k) or anything else that might make you seem more interested in the compensation than the company.

This article shares questions appropriate for every type of interviewer.

The Recruiter: The ‘Big Picture’ Person

It’s the recruiter’s job to identify strong candidates and guide them through the hiring process. Think of the recruiter as the “big picture” person. They can give you an overview of the company and the department as a whole. (Save very specific questions about the job for the hiring manager.) The recruiter is also the best person to answer questions about the hiring process.

Some questions to ask the recruiter:

• How would you describe the company culture?
• What type of employees tend to excel at this company?
• Can you tell me more about the interview process?

The Hiring Manager: Your Future Boss

The hiring manager will likely supervise you if you get the job. They’re the most knowledgeable people about the position and its requirements. You should direct specific questions about the job, its responsibilities and its challenges to them. You may also want to ask what kind of candidate they’re seeking.

Some questions to ask the hiring manager:

• What are the most important skills for the job?
• How would you describe your ideal candidate?
• What’s a common career path at the company for someone in this role?

The Executive: The Industry Expert

Senior managers and executives are likely to be most knowledgeable about the latest happenings in their industry. If you’ll be working closely with an executive, you can ask them some specifics about the job. But you should focus most of your questions on the future of the company and the industry. This is your chance to show off your industry knowledge!

Some questions to ask a senior manager or executive:

• How do you think this industry will change in the next five years?
• What do you think gives this company an edge over its competitors?
• What’s the company’s biggest challenge? How is it planning to meet that challenge?

The Coworker: The Straight-Talker

Some interviews will also include a meeting with a potential coworker — the interviewer most likely to “tell it how it is.” A potential colleague may be most candid about the job, its challenges and the work environment. However, don’t expect inside information — and certainly don’t ask for it.

Some questions to ask a potential coworker:

• What’s a typical day like in the department?
• How would you describe the work environment at the company?
• What’s the most enjoyable part of your job? What’s the most challenging part?

Article source :http://ca.hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-it_s_your_turn_what_to_ask_an_interviewer-748

It’s Your Turn: What to Ask an Interviewer is a post from: Free Career Advice