When Your Personal Life Affects Your Work Life

There's something going on in your personal life that is starting to impact your work.  You are having financial difficulties, you're taking care of a sick parent, you're fighting with your significant other, or your child is having problems at school.  Whatever your particular issue is, you're having trouble containing it, and now it's starting to affect your performance at work.  What do you do?

Assess.  How is the issue impacting your work life?  Is it causing you to miss work days?  Is it keeping you up at night?  Is it making it difficult for you to focus?  By understanding how the problem is affecting your work, you will have a better idea of how to address it.

Compartmentalize.  (if possible)  Try to see the different parts of your life as air-tight compartments.  When you are at work, don't let anything else enter your mind.  When you are at home, don't think about work.  By being totally focused on one thing at a time, you will decrease the stress associated with role conflict. 

Communicate.  What you communicate to your employer will depend on your relationship with your manager, and on the organizational culture.  In some situations, you may be inclined to tell your manager the whole story, while in others, you will keep it all to yourself.  You know your work situation best, so do whatever makes you feel comfortable.  Ideally it is best to communicate with your manager if you can, because if they are aware of your situation, they will be more willing to make allowances for you.

Take some time off.  Would it be possible for you to take a few days off to deal with your situation?  Would it help to modify your schedule?  Even if you are coming in to work everyday, you may be guilty of presenteeism, which means that you are in the office, but your mind is not focused on your work.  It is better for you to take the time off to deal with your problem, so that you are refreshed and focused when you return.

Go the extra mile.  It is always a good idea to put a little extra effort into your work, but it is particularly important when you have been distracted with personal matters.  Find a way to show your manager that you're committed to the organization, and that even though you are a little distracted right now, you are still a valuable member of the team.

Your manager understands that you're human and that everyone has bad days.  However, you do owe it to your employer to put in your best possible effort.   When your personal life impacts your work life, it is doubly hard because you're upset about your personal problem, and you also worry about your work performance.  Hang in there, as the proverb goes, "This too shall pass."

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Why You Need to Stay Positive During Your Job Search

Looking for a job is difficult, and every job seeker loses their confidence sometimes.  However, when you're looking for a job, you can't afford to have a negative attitude.  Here's why: 

The employer can detect your mind-set.  Your attitude, whether positive or negative, radiates from you.  Hiring managers are trained to detect and assess your frame of mind.  Just by having a more positive outlook, you make yourself more attractive to employers.      

Negative thoughts slow down your progress.  When your thoughts are negative, it's like you're carrying around a heavy weight everywhere you go.  It slows you down, and it limits what you can do.  You don't send out as many applications, and you don't put as much effort into the ones that you do send out.  If you weren't weighed down by those negative thoughts, think of all of the extra energy you would have for your job search.  

When your thoughts are positive, you're more innovative and creative, and you can see more opportunities.  When you approach your job search with enthusiasm, you see opportunities everywhere you go, but when your thoughts are negative, all you can see are obstacles and barriers.  Optimism opens doors that you may have otherwise not even seen. 

Optimists are better able to weather the natural ups and downs of the job search process.  Job searching is not for the faint of heart.  You will have good days and bad ones.  To be successful, you need to be able to endure the bad days, and not let them shake your confidence.  It is much easier to have this resiliency if your thoughts are positive. 

There is a school of thought that believes that your thoughts dictate your outcome; if you have positive thoughts, you will have positive outcomes, and if you have negative thoughts, you will have negative outcomes.  Even if you don't don't believe in that theory, there are lots of reasons to stay positive during your job search.  Remember Henry Ford's words, "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." --Henry Ford



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The Value of International Experience

Is some of your experience from outside of Canada?  Do you wonder if Canadian employers will see the worth in your international experience?  The truth is that employers will not see the value in any of your experience unless you spell it out to them.  It is your job to clearly outline how your international experience makes you an excellent fit for the position.  Here are some of the points that you can cover when making the argument to employers:

Flexibility.  Working in different countries demands flexibility.  Your international experience shows that you are able to successfully adapt to new environments.  Since organizations are now forced to evolve more quickly than ever before, they are looking for employees who are willing to embrace change.  

Communication skills.  Working in different countries shows that you are able to interact in a multicultural environment.  This is essential in Canada, because customers may be coming from all over the world.  The employer will be particularly impressed if you can speak a second or a third language, because it will help them better serve their customers.   

A broader perspective.  Working in another country opens your mind to new ways of doing things.  It changes your perspective and allows you to approach situations in a different way.  Your fresh ideas will be useful to employers as you will be able to come up with creative and unique solutions to problems.  

An interesting story.  International experience helps to make you a more interesting person.  People love to learn about different countries and cultures.  When you've spent some time abroad, you always have a story to tell. 

Employers may have no idea of how your international experience can add value to their organization.  It is your job to show them.  Clearly articulate what you learned while working abroad, and how you will apply that knowledge to this position. Like any other asset or skill, international experience is only valuable when you can clearly show its worth to employers.


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How to Lose a Job Offer at the Final Stages

Your resume was outstanding, you breezed through the interview, and the employer decided that you're the best fit for the job.  So now your work is done, and you can breathe a sigh of relief, right?  Not quite.  There are still plenty of potential pitfalls in the final stages of the screening process that can cause that job to slip through your fingers.  Here are some examples of where you can go wrong:

It is difficult to get in touch with you.  Do you return all of your calls within a few hours, or do you wait a day or two?  Is your voicemail set up?  Is your outgoing message professional?  Do you clear out your old messages so that your mailbox doesn't get full?  Have you given the employer an alternative phone number in case they aren't able to reach you on your main line?  There is nothing more frustrating to an employer than not being able to get in contact with the candidate that they want to hire.  Keep in mind that the employer could be on a tight deadline, and may be forced to move on to the next candidate if they can't reach you.  Also, if it is difficult to get in touch with you, the employer may start to have doubts about your reliability. 

There is a problem with your references.  How many references have you provided to the employer?  It is best if you can give them at least four.  Most employers will be required to actually speak to at least two references, so if one of your references is unavailable, it helps if you have an alternative.  How confident are you with your references?  Are you sure that they are supportive of you, and that they will only say positive things to an employer?  If you have any doubts, try to find another reference.  Few employers will risk hiring you if your reference gives anything but a glowing review of your work.

You didn't send a thank you note.  Imagine that you are a manager and you've just finished interviewing candidates for an administrative assistant position.  You have narrowed it down to two candidates, but you're having a difficult time choosing because they are evenly matched.  One of the candidates sends you a well written thank you letter expressing their interest in the position, and the other does not.  Who would you choose to hire?  Sometimes a thank you letter gives you the extra nudge that you need to put you ahead of the pack.

Being too pushy.  After you send your thank you note, you need to let it go and wait for the manager's decision.  It does not help to pester the manager, and it may make the manager change their mind and decide that they want nothing to do with you.  It is a good idea for you to follow up, but also be respectful of the manager's time.

Making demands too soon.  Some job seekers will start trying to book their vacation and look for other perks before they even sign on the dotted line.  It is not an appropriate time for these requests because the manager is still trying to evaluate your commitment to the organization.  If they perceive that you are only interested in the benefits that they are offering, they may lose interest in you.

Being rude to anybody at the organization.  Since everybody is on their best behaviour at the interview, the employer may be even more interested in how you conduct yourself when you think that nobody is paying attention.  Some job seekers will be rude to the receptionist, and then be the essence of professionalism when they are in the office with the manager.  Most managers listen to the opinions of their employees, and no manager wants to introduce potential problems.  If you are rude to anyone in the organization, it is a red flag that you may be someone who will create conflict with the other employees.

No matter how well you do on the interview, no job is a sure thing.  The employer is evaluating your behaviour from when you submit your application, until you pass probation (and even after that).  Make sure that you don't do anything that will cause the employer to doubt your professionalism or your commitment.  You worked hard and performed well on the interview; don't undermine that effort by making a silly mistake now that you're on the home stretch. 

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Are You Guilty of these Social Networking Crimes?

You've invested time into social networking, but so far it hasn't produced any results.  Is social networking a waste of time?  It is if you don't do it properly.  Take a look these mistakes that can sabotage your best social networking efforts:  

Being inconsistent with posts:  Most people save their social networking for when they have a little extra time.  Since we are all busy, this strategy makes sense.  However, if it translates into an erratic posting schedule, such as posting nothing for ten days and then adding twelve posts within three hours, then it will not be effective.  People want to check your sites to see what's new, and if you disappoint them with no updates, they won't bother coming back. 

Posts are not interesting or relevant:  Before you post anything on social networking sites, think about your audience and ask yourself, "Would they be interested in this post?"  For example, if you are posting on a marketing professionals' networking group, you would probably not post an article about best practices in accounting.  When your updates are not interesting or relevant, people will stop reading anything that has your name attached to it. 

Shameless self promotion:  Do you use social networking sites exclusively to market yourself and your work?  Are you openly asking for a job?  This is actually a misuse of social networking sites.  Of course, these sites are designed for networking and career development, but when you start to sound like a commercial, people will lose interest in your posts (and in you).

Not strategic about making connections:  If you are using social networking sites to advance your career, then it is important that you be strategic about it.  Make a plan.  Who do you need to connect with to achieve your goals?  Do you need to make contact with people from a particular industry?  If so, then join relevant industry groups.  Are you hoping to connect with people from a specific company?  Use the search functions to find the right people.  Don't just set up your profiles and wait for the magic to happen. 

Profiles not effectively marketing your skills:  Do your profiles showcase your most marketable skills and experience?  Do they include the keywords that employers use to search for new hires?  Do they clearly indicate the type of position that you're looking for?  If not, then you are not using them effectively as a marketing tool. 

There is something that is unprofessional on your sites:  Is there a deal breaker lurking on your social networking sites?  Is an unflattering photo or an inappropriate e-mail address sabotaging all of your social networking efforts?  Take a close look at all of your sites, and ask a friend to be your second set of eyes.  Some problems can be well hidden, but still very damaging. 

Not having a photo on your sites:  While there are many legitimate reasons not to post your photos online, you will find that people will be more receptive to you if you have a profile picture.  One clear head shot will make you appear more open and friendly, and will make people more willing to connect with you. 

Being all take and no give.  Social networking depends on a give and take; you assist people when you can, and ask for help when you need it.  If you always ask your network for support and never offer anything in return, people will not want to be connected to you.  Ask yourself, what can I offer my network?  Am I aware of an available job?  Have I recently read an article that may interest them?  Make an effort to give to your network as often as you can. 

With social networking, it's not about how much time you spend on it, it's about the way that you spend that time.  Review what you've recently posted on social networking sites and try to determine the perception that potential employers may have of you.  Do whatever you can to make sure that you are making a positive impression.




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I Just Started a New Job and I Hate it!

You found a job, started the work, and very quickly discovered that you hate it!  What do you do?  The following steps can help you make good decisions and prevent you from burning bridges:

Give yourself time:  Before you do anything, give it a little time (at least three weeks would be ideal).  This provides you with the opportunity to get to know some of your co-workers, and it allows you to become more comfortable with the job.  Also, after you've been there for a few weeks, you are in a better position to see potential opportunities. 

Assess:  Try to get a clear picture of exactly what you don't like about the job.  Is it the people, the working conditions, the schedule, the organizational culture, or the job itself?  Keep in mind that the training may not be a good indication of how the job will actually be.   

Communicate:  Before you make a decision to quit your job, talk to your manager about your concerns.  Let them know what is difficult for you, and see if there is any way to make it work.  For example, if the problem is that the working hours are too late, see if you can work an earlier shift.  If the problem is that you are hurting your back when you lift boxes, see if you can be reassigned to another task.  The manager may be more than willing to make these accommodations in order to keep you on the job; sometimes all you have to do is ask.       

Use it as an opportunity to learn about yourself:  Try to determine what you like about the position.  There must be something that you like about it, otherwise you wouldn't have applied for the job.  Is it possible that you will have more opportunities to do the tasks that you enjoy as you become experienced in the job?  Even if you do decide to quit, identifying the type of work that you like will help you find a position that is a better fit.  

Be professional:  Remember that they chose to hire you over the other applicants.  Don't make them regret that decision.  If you decide to quit the job, tell the manager in person; don't just fail to show up.  Give them proper notice, and leave on good terms.  When you act unprofessionally, it reflects poorly on your references and on anyone else who helped you get the job.  Remember that the world can be painfully small, and that your past behaviour can come back to haunt you. 

It is difficult to start anything new, and a new job is no exception.  You don't know anybody, you are unfamiliar with your surroundings, and the work itself can be overwhelming.  It can be tempting to just give up.  While in some cases the job may be a poor fit, often you just need to give yourself a little more time.  Never leave a job unless you're sure that you can't make it work. 

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Careers that Help People

Are you content just getting a paycheck, or do you need to feel that the work you are doing is actually helping people?  Is it important to you to find a job where you are making a difference in the world?  Here is a list of ten careers that will allow you to make a meaningful contribution to the community while you're at work:

Social Services:  There are countless non-profit organizations in the community that are working to make life easier for people who are struggling.  There are organizations focused on youth, employment, literacy and skill development, health, animal welfare, the environment, poverty, social justice, and many other causes.  These organizations make a difference in the community and are always in need of more committed people. 

Personal Support Worker:  PSWs help people who need assistance with everyday tasks.  This could include personal care, such as bathing or dressing; home care, such as shopping, housework, and preparing meals; as well as helping the client participate in social or recreational activities.  A compassionate PSW can significantly improve the quality of life of a disabled person or a senior citizen. 

Guidance Counsellor:  Many students struggle with setting goals and making the necessary decisions to achieve those goals.  A good guidance counsellor can help students to identify their strengths and interests at a young age, and get them on the right track for the future. 

Firefighter/Paramedic/Police Officer:  Imagine how scared you would be if you were in a car accident.  Now think about the people who come to help you; the firefighters who remove you from the car safely, the police who protect you from traffic and try to get an accurate picture of what happened, and the paramedics who take care of your injuries.  These emergency responders work to safely get us through the most difficult times in our lives. 

Teacher:  Do you remember the teachers who took the time to make you feel special?  There are always a few that stand out.  Teachers have the opportunity to instruct, engage, motivate, and inspire their students.  A caring teacher can easily change the course of a student's life.  There are lots of different opportunities to teach.  You could teach at high school or primary school, college, or an ESL school.  You could also be a facilitator at a community organization, a driving instructor, or even a trainer within a corporation.  Depending on your education, experience, and interests, there are many different opportunities to teach.

Health Care:  We are all particularly vulnerable when we are having a problem with our health.  We are scared, uncomfortable, and often in pain.  When health care workers are competent and compassionate, it makes this difficult situation a little more bearable.

Special Education:  There is always a need for special education teachers.  These teachers help their students (who may otherwise fall through the cracks) to succeed and achieve their goals. 

Childcare:  Childcare workers are entrusted with the most vulnerable and precious members of our community, our children.  When childcare workers do their job well, it puts the parents at ease, and gives the children a positive social experience.   

Human Resources:  The HR department has the opportunity to make a significant difference in the experience that employees have at the organization.  When HR is warm and pleasant, it makes applicants feel welcome.  Once new employees start work, HR is there to help them address any problems.  HR can put a friendly face to the policies of the organization, which can sometimes feel cold and unsympathetic. 

Green Jobs:  We are all impacted by the environment, and we all benefit from steps that are taken to protect it.  Green jobs include any position that promotes or contributes to environmental sustainability.  This could be a job within the environmental sector, or it could be a position outside of the sector, that aims to conserve water, prevent pollution, reduce waste, or protect the environment in any other way.  When you work in a green job, you are helping everyone!

While these jobs offer you many opportunities to help people, you can make a difference doing any job.  If you genuinely care about people and are willing to go the extra mile to help them, you will always find an opportunity to brighten somebody's day.

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