Five reasons youre unhappy at work

Five reasons you’re unhappy at work by Amber Rolfe OK, so you might not enjoy every second of your job…But although there can be down days in any role, it’s absolutely vital to figure out exactly why you’re unhappy sooner rather than later. That way, you can see if the problem can be solved, or if the issues you’re having are the red flag you need to resign and find the right role for you elsewhere.To help you improve your day-to-day, here are five reasons you’re unhappy at work (and our advice on how to tackle them):  You’re taking things too personallySo you’ve spent hours on a project/assignment/presentation, only for your manager to point out that something’s not quite right. We know what you’re thinking; ‘why waste my time if the idea wasn’t going to work?’But don’t be so quick to react. Although criticism can feel like a personal attack, in most cases it’s actually given to help you improve. In fact, it may even be essential to your success.And once you understand the importanc e of negative feedback, you’ll be able to use it to turn your weaknesses into strengths. You could also get the insights you need to turn a good idea into a great idea.And if you still disagree with what’s been said? Dig deeper. By seeking out specific details, you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly where you went wrong, and come up with tangible solutions.How to take criticism at work  You haven’t set the right goals Let’s face it, life’s better when you have something to reach for â€" whether it’s learning something new, saving up for a holiday, or earning a promotion at work.So what happens when you don’t have any goals, or worse, you don’t have the right ones? Well, aside from suffering a lack of motivation, you could also be heading in the wrong direction â€" whether it’s because your goals are impossible to meet, or you set them without thinking about what you really want.Sure, Sharon from Sales might be want to be a manager, and the Finance team might be inter ested in exceeding their profit margins next month â€" but none of these goals have to be yours.So don’t set meaningless targets for the sake of it. Instead, ask yourself where you want to be professionally, and put together a career plan with small, doable steps to help you get there.Six reasons you haven’t met your goalsHow to stay motivated at workYou’re not being yourselfFeeling happy at work often comes down to how much you’re able to express yourself.And if your job involves doing things that don’t align themselves with the real you, you’re likely to feel far less comfortable doing it.But although there’s likely to be a certain status quo you’ll have to adhere to (leave the PJs at home), that doesn’t mean you can’t bring parts of your real self to your work. And doing so will make you a lot happier in the long run â€" and could lead to a much healthier work/life balance.Whether it’s through expressing your opinions in a meeting, standing up for your belie fs, or simply decorating your desk â€" being who you really are in the office could have a massive impact.If making these changes still doesn’t make a difference, it could be indicative of a wider issue. It’s all too easy to bring your unhappiness at home to work with you â€" so be honest with yourself if you think your personal life is negatively impacting your profession.How to speak confidently at workSix times saying sorry at work is a bad idea  Your achievements aren’t recognised Getting recognised for everything you do isn’t always easy â€" especially if you’re part of a large team.This means that you might feel like you put your all into every task that comes your way, only to be rewarded with…nothing.But before you jump to conclusions, ask yourself if you’re taking on more than you need to. It’s easy to say yes to everything in the hope that it’ll impress, but if it’s not absolutely essential or in line with your objectives, it might be worth delegating.B ecause let’s face it â€" your managers may not even have visibility on each task you carry out, especially if they can’t see the results.And if saying yes too often isn’t your problem? Try taking matters into your own hands. Keeping your manager in the loop is a great way to instigate positive feedback â€" by highlighting all of your major projects, successes, and results on a regular basis.Eight signs it’s time to resignSix tips to improve your workplace wellbeingYou’re being impatientWhats worse than having your idea rejected? Having it taken on board only to be forgotten about six months down the line.You know good things come to those who wait (sayings never lie), but it’s hard not to lose hope. Or worse, not feel confident putting your ideas forward again.But this doesn’t mean your manager didn’t genuinely love your proposal; it just means that they may be working on aligning a million other puzzle pieces that make up the business â€" many of which might need to be in place for your idea to come to fruition.Of course, no amount of ‘I’ll get to that ASAP’ is likely to reduce your frustration levels â€" but before you get too hung up on it, try to be as patient as possible. Rearranging your timelines could be all it takes to boost your motivation.And if not? Ask yourself if this is the only part of your job that’s getting you down. Because if your problems span wider than a long wait, it might be time for a change.How to deal with horrible bossesStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Development Life At Work

The Ingredients of a Successful Interview

The Ingredients of a Successful Interview What makes for a successful interview? A tough question. I recently had an interview experience that somehow opened my eyes as to when an interview goes well. During the interview and my conversation with the prospective employers, and through the feedback I received, I managed to pinpoint the factors that determine the outcome of an interview. I did not get the job, but at least now I know why, and will try to improve my interview technique in the future. CV You might think that the CV has nothing to do with the interview. In reality, your CV is crucial in determining whether you reach the interview stage in the first place. So make sure your CV really highlights your achievements and skills, in a way that is easy for employers to spot. Use sections dividers, bold the information that you’d like employers not to miss. Put the most important facts in strategic places. Spend some time in optimising the layout of your CV and it will pay off. A crucial tip, especially for those that have inconsistencies between their education and work experience, would be to highlight the information that relates most to your career goal, and give the most details about it. If you have a degree in, say, History, but would like to work in Business, list any relevant work experience you have first, and place your education qualifications after. This will show the employer that Business is your priority, and it will be easier for you to explain why you have done a degree that does not relate to your career aspirations. Cover Letter Your Cover Letter needs to be concise and well organised. Do not bore the reader with too much detail. State the facts, explain what you’ve done and achieved, and explain your career aspirations. This is a simple formula that will ensure you stay on track avoiding any irrelevant information. Always write a cover letter! Even if the job does not specifically require one, briefly mention your reasons for applying for that particular job to that particular company. Recruiters will appreciate the effort. Interview The interview is usually the last hurdle before being given a job, or receiving a rejection. Your interview performance needs to complement your CV and Cover Letter and prove to the company that they have made the right choice not only in inviting you for an interview, but also for filling their job opening. Be confident, assertive, and focused: do not hesitate in your answers. In order for this to happen, you need to be well prepared. Do your homework and research the company well! My Word For You Be approachable, polite and likeable by smiling. Even if you receive questions that surprise you or catch you unprepared, be positive and do not let the tone of the interview be affected by the fact you received such a question. If you keep your positive attitude, your interviewers will probably remember that too, rather than your response to the question. Prepare the common questions about why you have chosen this job, at this company, this industry; how it relates to your experience; where you see yourself in 5 years’ time, etc. Show determination and passion for the job. If you’re convinced that this is a job you can do well, and benefit them, the interviewers will see that too. At the end of the interview, thank your interviewers and express your hope to hear from them further. You could send an email and thank them once again â€" not many people will do that. It shows your appreciation for the efforts and time that your interviewers have put into interviewing you, and it will also help establish a positive rapport, that will show you’re dedicated to getting the job. Last but not least, if rejected, ask for feedback, take it, and embrace it with both hands. Feedback is crucial in helping you develop your interview technique and progress. If you still doubt the value of feedback, this post is a result of many interview mistakes made, and various job rejections received, so trust me on that one. Work on your CV, Cover Letters and Interviews and it won’t be long before you notice an improvement in the feedback you receive, and hopefully the outcomes of your job applications. Build a consistent image of yourself that highlights your strengths and achievements in your CV and Cover Letter, and during the Interview, complete that image by showing you’re the person with the right skills and abilities, but also with the right personality for the company and the job. Related articles

How to Start Your Cover Letter with a BANG!

How to Start Your Cover Letter with a BANG! Want to grab an employers undivided-attention? Use this little-known cover letter secret to land more quality job interviews immediately. A fantastic, must-read headline practically forces a hiring manager to keep reading right through to the end of your cover letter. BUT, headline placement is all-important so listen up… Put your show-stopping headline right above the cover letter body text. Use bold font so it stands out. Itll be the first thing the employer sees. Keep in mind that a knockout headline will do more for your cover letter than any other single ingredient. Why? Because it pulls the reader into your letter. And without that, your cover letter has an excellent chance of being completely overlooked and fed into the paper shredder. Reread the above headline in this article. How To Start Your Cover Letter With a BANG! Does it bring a smile, a question, a bit of curiosity? You can do the same for your readerâ€"â€"with your own sizzling headline. Why do well-written headlines work so well? The answer is simple: Advertisers, marketers and columnists have literally trained us to scan headlines in newspapers and magazines for decades. Well always stop and read more when a great headline attracts our attention. Its no different with a cover letter. Heres what to do… Directly above the greeting in your cover letter (Dear Ms. Smith), place your winning headline. To make it even more effective, use boldface print and center it on the page. (Two lines maximum). Here are 3 examples of excellent cover letter headlines: I would love the opportunity to interview for the position of [fill in job title here] I believe Im an excellent match for the position of [fill in job title here]. Prompt, Friendly and Results-Driven. May I interview for the position of [fill in job title here]? I would love the opportunity to meet with you in person. How can an employer pass that up? Remember, the first step of your job hunt is to land the job interview. Using a headline to attract the attention of a potential employer AND asking for the interview at the same time is incredibly powerful. Try one of these examples or create a winner of your own. Next, take a seat by the phone because its about to start ringing! Further reading at How To Make Your Cover Letter Grab the Employers Attention.

10 Tips on Building an Employer Brand

10 Tips on Building an Employer Brand Do you know what people think about your organisation as an employer? Building and maintaining an attractive employer brand is a powerful way for organisations to gain a competitive edge when it comes to recruiting and retaining high calibre employees. Here’s 10 top tips on shaping, communicating and nurturing an employer brand: 1. Discover what your employees are saying A confidential staff survey is a great way to understand more about what your employees think of your current employer brand. What would they say to a friend about the organisation? What do they think are the best things about working there? What makes your organisation different to other employers in the industry? What, if anything, would they like to improve? Use the feedback to help develop the messages you are looking to portray. Your employer brand should accentuate the positives, but it also needs to be realistic and the opinions of your current employees will help to shape this. 2. Make positive changes Look at the results from the staff survey and start to make any positive changes needed. Share the results and action plans openly with employees. Things won’t happen overnight, but if they can see developments taking place they are more likely to stay on the journey with you. This will help you to hold on to the talent you already have. A company with a high staff turnover is also one of the key things which is likely to raise concerns among potential recruits. 3. Find great employee stories Real life stories of people progressing and thriving in your organisation are one of the strongest assets to promoting an employer brand. Find the success stories of employees and create case studies on them. Look to highlight how they’ve progressed in the organisation, how they’ve developed as a person, their career ambitions, and how they play an essential part in the business. Promoting genuine examples demonstrates clear evidence of the types of opportunities available to other people and gives a real feel for what it is like to work for the organisation. 4. A picture tells a thousand words Don’t rely on stock photography to portray life in your organisation. Get a photographer in to capture some high-quality images of real people at work for your professional platforms such as your website and recruitment advertising. These can be complemented with candid shots taken by team members for the likes of social media. Images can really help to paint a picture of an organisation to a potential employee. They can bring to life the work environment, the dress code, the people they may be working with and the events and processes they may be involved in. 5. Update your website If you don’t already have a dedicated careers and recruitment section on your website, look to add a space for this and fill it with engaging content. Include your organisation’s values so people can see if they fit with their own. Outline how you like to work, the company culture and the organisational structure; these all help potential recruits to understand if they would fit in well. List reasons why people should consider working with you. What makes your organisation stand out? How do you reward employees? Don’t forget to use the case studies of the employee success stories you’ve created and to add details of the progression and training opportunities available. 6. Get social   People automatically expect an organisation to have a social media presence and this is likely to be one of the first places they visit when looking for information about a company. It’s a great opportunity to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the business. Review your social media activity to see if it reflects the culture of the organisation and whether it is used to full effect to highlight employee success stories and fun initiatives. Trust employee ambassadors to get involved with your social media activity and to add ‘real life’ voices to the conversation. 7. Test your candidate experience Try going through your recruitment process as if you were a candidate. People may have been attracted by the brand you’ve promoted, but if the recruitment process they go through doesn’t live up to this, they could still change their mind. How are applications responded to? How easy is it to apply? What information do they receive? What is the interview process like? What feedback is provided if candidates aren’t selected? 8. Embed the brand into everyday life To be most effective, an employer brand needs to become a way of life. The leadership and management team need to be committed to the brand and lead by example. Continually look for ways to remind employees why they bought into your company in the first place. Deliver on any promises made regarding recognition, reward and progression, and ensure your brand runs consistently throughout your approach to people management and internal communications. 9. Ongoing monitoring It is good practice to continue to ask employees for ongoing feedback. As new generations enter the workforce there may be a change in needs and a shift in perceptions. Regular employee surveys will help ensure your employer brand stays agile and remains attractive to new talent and to the current employees you worked hard to attract in the first place. 10. Get recognition If you’ve developed and nurtured an employee brand you are proud of, look for ways to gain recognition for it. Best employer related awards, which are judged by external assessors, are a great way to further enhance your employer brand.

How To Become A Freelance WordPress Developer - CareerMetis.com

How To Become A Freelance WordPress Developer It takes some doing to become a freelance WordPress developer. You need to spend a lot of time and energy getting the basics right as only then can you think of joining the domain.WordPress is a leading CMS Further, this CMS is now extensively used for high-end and powerful apps and websites and thus, people tend to tap into its potential and contribute to the society. But yes, you can’t become a top WordPress developer just by installing it or by reading a few tutorials. You need to know a lot more than just customizing a few themes.Why become a freelance WordPress developer?evalBecoming a freelancer is something that is catching popularity by the day. People have reasons to switch to this mode of working as it comes with several benefits.Here are some of reasons of becoming a freelance WordPress developer.Flexibility of timeOption to Work from homeExtra income together with doing a full-time jobHelps earn money without taking up full-time jobHone your skill as a developer and add value toyour careerHow to become a freelance WordPress developer?Well, you need to start learning more about WordPress. You need to keep pace with the guidelines and trends taking place with this CMS to keep boosting your knowledge.Here are some tips.You could enroll in WordPress UniversityRead blogs of other developersFollow others’ work and analyse their posts or content or worksFind and benefit from reference notes and programs on WordPressFollow famous blogs in the domain and read booksBoost your understanding about MySQL and PHPLearn more about WordPress APIsBe a regular participants in forumsTasks to perform as a Freelance WordPress developer Becoming a freelance WordPress developer comes with its own set of roles and responsibilities and tasks. Once you decide to become a freelancer, you should know those tasks expected of you.Clients may ask you to do WordPress developmentYou should know theme and template developmentProjects can require plugin tweaksYou should know how t o do new feature developmentYou should know WP set-up, configuration and plug-in installationYou need to incorporate HTML and CSS into WP themes and templatesYou may be asked to do PHP and HTML developmentYou should be aware of plugin / theme development and also about APIYour strong PHP development skills should be complemented by HTML, HTML5, JavaScript, JQuery, and CSSYou should know MySQL and also about the use of SQL commandsYou should know how to build HTML/CSS across the major browsersIn overall, becoming a freelance WordPress developer is full of benefits and you should benefit from that.

Life-Changing Attitude Adjustments from Dr. Wayne Dyer

Life-Changing Attitude Adjustments from Dr. Wayne Dyer The world lost an influential leader recently not one that appeared on the news or held a high position in government or businessbut one who shared inspiring ways to get what you want out of life.   Dr. Wayne Dyer was a best-selling author, speaker and teacher whos myriad of books, speeches and even his movie helped me and so many others have a healthy and productive mindset.To me, he was a mentor and my heart fell at the news of his passing.   I was at first surprised at how sad I felt.   Then it hit me.   Wayne Dyers teachings had influenced and empowered me to become the person I am today.   Many of the philosophies, attitudes, approaches and mindset techniques I employ in my life, I had picked up over the years from Wayne Dyer.I was introduced to Dr. Dyers book Your Erroneous Zones almost 20 years ago (It was written 20 years before that).   But the lessons are still so relevant today including how to let go of guilt and worry, how to stop approval seeking, etc..   The book was l ife changing for me and was a gift from my then boyfriend, now husband.   It helped he and I form a solid connection of beliefs about how life can be lived to the fullest.We saw Wayne Dyer speak in New York several times.   I remember taking copious notes and feeling a new a-ha ever few minutes.   I purchased his books including Ten Secrets for Success and Inner Peace and his CD on Meditations for Manifesting.Maybe youve never heard of Wayne Dyer before.   Maybe his lessons havent made their way into your life.   If so, its not too late to experience the insights he so freely shared.   Here are the top lessons (many I am still working on) I learned from Wayne Dyer. I share these as a tribute and thank you for the quality of life he continues to help me have to this day.Dont die with your music still inside you.   Your gifts are meant to be shared and shared now.   There are no guarantees.   We have no idea how long we have on this earth.   Its imperative that you remember you are mo rtal and each day is precious.   Dont spend your life playing by other peoples rules because thats what youre supposed to do.   On your death bed, you be at peace only when you become what you came here to be.Its better to be kind than right.     Our ego wants us to win the argument.   Yet in efforts to be right, we often damage our relationships with others.   Let go of your need to be the victor in every argument.   Instead, focus on the person or people you are speaking to and choose kindness.You cant get enough of what you dont need.   If there is a food, drink or activity that you cant stop yourself from getting more of, then its not good for you or your health.   Its a simple yet effective way to steer clear of damaging substances, people, situations, etc.When you squeeze an orange, what do you get?   Orange juice of course.   When you get squeezed in a tense situation, what comes out?   If anger, resentment, ugliness, violence, etc come out when youre squeezed, its a wonderfu l reminder to focus on letting go of all the negative and filling yourself with love and loving thoughts.   What a powerful reason to take great care of yourself and your own needs so that you can be   loving to others no matter what the circumstances.Believing is seeing.   Many of us wait for proof before well believe something.   Yet in the world of inspiration, its you who must first believe in something for it to become a reality.   I remember holding on tight to this mantra when my son was born 3 months premature.   I focused constantly on believing he would be alright.   It wasnt always easy but I knew to give my son the best chance, I had to believe in order to see him thrive.   Thankfully today he is a thriving four year old and that miracle I attribute to all the love and belief in his success that I and others held for him (and continue to).   And I definitely will encourage my son to read these two amazing childrens books by Dr. Dyer: Incredible You and Unstoppable Me.For more on Wayne Dyer, I encourage you to check out his Facebook page.   Reading the comments of those he impacted will also give you a sense for who he was.   I also want to leave you with one more sentiment.May you have all green lights.In life, we can feel thwarted at times by challenges or obstacles.   Thats why I love this visual, this metaphor of seeing all green lights.   As you move down the road of life, imagine that you see all green lights ahead of you and feel how peaceful and easy it is to move through your day.   It was something I remember Wayne Dyer wishing for his audiences, that we would have all green lights and it is a wish I pass onto you.

Poets Guide to Resume Writing Made Easy

Poets Guide to Resume Writing Made EasyThe Michigan Faculty Development and Professionalism Act were created by a Michigan court in order to create a better working environment for all the members of the Michigan campus. The act is geared towards creating an employment climate that will allow students, faculty, staff, and other members of the Michigan community to feel safe and secure when making decisions concerning their career or education.The MFA encourages faculty and staff to take a leadership role in creating a climate of openness and honesty in their workplace. This helps students and faculty understand how their decisions affect the entire school community. In addition, this encourages good decision-making for the entire campus community and strengthens the faculty members role as a leader in the community.One of the most basic principles of the MFA is to encourage open communication. Communication has two sides, which means the two sides are communication itself. This means to effectively communicate with your peers you must open up with them. If they cannot share their ideas openly, you will never be able to speak freely about your ideas, opinions, or beliefs.The MFA is also designed to promote a culture of openness and honesty on campus. If you choose to work within this culture and use the policy for your resume writing, it will serve as your inspiration and documentation for making sure you are being honest with all of your career-related decisions. It will help you build up trust with the community and yourself.The concept of the MFA was to make the faculty of the Michigan community more professional and improve the relationship between students and faculty on campus. However, one of the goals of the MFA was to show the rest of the country how a university can treat its employees. The MFA was created to make Michigan's reputation as a 'trustworthy' place to live, work, and study.Therefore, the first part of the MFA is to encourage all faculty to be positive with their students. Do not leave the faculty of the Michigan university feeling like they need to hide their ideas or opinions from their students. Maintain open communication with your students and treat all of your students with respect.The second part of the MFA is to ensure that faculty members will use the resources provided by the MFA to write resumes and cover letters that are effective and professional. This means they should use the MFA to write resumes and cover letters that properly identify them. The MFA allows you to search and retrieve information about the position that you are applying for and apply for a position that you meet the criteria for, such as GPA, age, experience, qualifications, education, and the type of position.The third part of the MFA is to remind the faculty that they are not restricted to using the Michigan faculty handbook to write their resumes and cover letters. You can hire someone to write your resume and cover letter that will me et the MFA standards. The best way to ensure that your graduate school will be respectful of your needs and desires is to use the Michigan faculty handbook as a basis for your own practice.