10 Tips on Career Advancement

Many career experts agree that the best time to look for a new job is while you are still comfortably in your old one. If you’re starting to feel unchallenged in your present position, you may be ready for a promotion to the next level. If there aren’t many career advancement opportunities where you work, the best next job may be waiting for you elsewhere.

Nowadays, it’s up to you to take control of your professional future and make sure that you are progressing wisely down the right career path. Here are 10 proven strategies to help you get started:


1. Talk to your boss. Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company’s goals. Share your own career goals with him or her. Your boss will respect this display of confidence and maturity.
2. Ask for more. Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed. It also puts a spotlight on your value to the business.
3. Volunteer for boards. If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular industry.
4. Sharpen your people skills. Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and coworkers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.
5. Be innovative. Never be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.
6. Find a mentor. Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.
7. Sell yourself. Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it — especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally. Let it be known that you are seeking a promotion or the next step up in your career.
8. Keep learning. A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.
9. Network. Strengthen your personal network and join professional organizations, attend industry conferences, or even volunteer. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.
10. Build your reputation. In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you own. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part by dressing professionally. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles.

Source:Internet

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How to Quit a job :5 steps and 2 warnings

On some level, it’s fun to quit a job. It’s fun to remind people that they don't own you. It’s fun to feel that burst of freedom as you walk out the door. But it’s no fun if you don’t quit right.

Before you quit, you need a semi-plan for what you’ll do next: You will either work or play. Pick one. You cannot pick sitting in front of the TV because it is lame and you will be sorry.

If you pick work, then get another job lined up before you quit, because getting a job while you have a job means that your company paid you to job hunt.

Before you quit you also need to make sure the job is the problem. Maybe you are the problem and you are blaming everything on the job so you don’t have to look at yourself.The Occupational Adventure offers a good way to take a look at your life to see what’s really holding you back. Do an honest assessment. If your job is not holding you back, then deal with what is, while you’re gainfully employed. Self-examination is always easier to do when you can pay your rent.

If you really do think quitting is the right decision, here’s how to tell your boss:

1. Be kind, even if you hate your boss, because your boss is not your boss anymore. She is part of your network. And some people who are jerks to work for are actually nice and fun outside of work. You don’t know until you try. So hedge your bets and be gracious on the way out, even if you don’t feel that way.

2. Make sure your boss knows that this is a good move for you. Even if you’re not sure if it’s a good move, tell your boss that it is. We all need to believe in ourselves, or else who will?

3. Put it in writing. Why are there 6000 exaples of resignation letters on the Internet? You are noy Wiston Churchill. You can write one sentence: “I’m leaving this company on [date].” If you want to tell your boss how much you hate her, see rule number one. If you want to nail your boss for illegal behavior, see a lawyer. Don’t tell the company how to fix itself. You are leaving. If they care about your input so much they can pay you as a consultant. Which they will not, because they do not care.

4. If you want a counter-offer, give your boss enough notice to come up with one before you leave. A counter-offer is much less likely to come after you’re gone.

5. Show gratitude for what your boss has done for you. A personal thank you note is a good way to leave because your boss can reread it all the time and remember only the good things about you. This will help when you call your boss for a favor – like when you need a reference.

Also, people who express gratitude are happier than those who don’t. One of the researchs say, “People who regularly practice grateful thinking reap emotional, physical and interpersonal benefits.” So find something nice to say about your boss and you’ll feel great as you walk out the door.

Source:Internet

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10 things about Good BOSSES

1. Praise the staff in public, correct them in private
Good bosses know it very well that praising and encouraging the staff is the key to have a positive atmosphere within the office and it helps to bring the best in them. If someone does something well, a good boss should recognize them for their efforts. People need to know when they are doing well and that they are appreciated. However, if someone is not doing so well, speak to them privately, instead of calling them out in front of a group.

2. Pay people what they are worth
While paying your staff, don't think you are losing in extra expense. Pay your staff what they're worth. While determining annual bonuses or profit-sharing for all employees, keep in mind that if you are paying them extra, you'll certainly gain in performance.

3. Allot responsibilities, not tasks
In order to attain professional growth, it is very important for the bosses that they give their employees responsibilities and not tasks. Dumping tasks on workers can never boost productivity. Bosses should always make sure that they hold people accountable.

4. Push, but back off
Sometimes employees want to be challenged to do their best, and if they like their work, they will strive to give that. Good bosses always keep in mind that. Therefore, like an ideal coach, the bosses should know when to push and when to back off in order to draw out the best from the team.

5. Empower the staff to take vital decisions
If the boss has done well in training his staff, he must have firm belief in them that they are doing their best to act in the company's interest. What if they make a wrong decision? Not a big deal. Don't shout at them. Instead, take it as yet another training opportunity. Listen to their reasons and figure out the flaws.

6. Share experiences and insights
Sharing experiences and giving insights is the best way a boss can make his employees learn. To be frank, they don't need a friend. What they need is a mentor who can teach them the best ways and at the same time shows enough generosity to share his own experiences.

7. Build team spirit
In any organization a good team spirit is always important for better performance. A great team can always do better than great individuals. Bosses should take suitable steps as to create and strengthen the team spirit among the employees.

8. Treat employees as they deserve
All employees should be respected and valued. But treating each and everyone as equals with same respect is not the right thing to do. Being a good boss, you should keep in mind that an employee must earn the respect he or she wants to be treated with.

9. Be open-minded and an effective listener
Someone in the team may come up with a new and different way of looking at a problem. You may not agree with that new idea, but first listen to that and make your people know that you are willing to hear out a new point of view. It will make people more responsible by making them feel that they are contributing to the project.

10. Don't play favorites
Human beings always like somebody better than others. It's natural. But this favoritism should not have any place in the office. Being a good boss, you should find common ground with every employee, regardless of employees' hometowns, ages or ethnicities.

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