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Why You Shouldn’t be a Job Hopper

Friday, April 30th, 2010

A recent debate has sprung up in the blogosphere concerning job hopping—changing jobs even more than the norm which is about every three years. We’re talking people who jump ship every year to year and a half. Job hoppers.

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The discussion was sparked by a Tweet from Internet entrepreneur and blogger, Jason Calacanis, saying that job-hoppers end up looking like flakes. And shortly after, the blogosphere erupts in this giant discussion on the sins or merits of job-hopping. If you look really hard through all the dust that’s settling you see that there are really two camps: those that view job-hopping as career suicide for Gen Y employees, and those that see it as more of a necessary evil of the times.

Both sides of the divide have sound arguments. Calacanis’ diatribe, originally appearing in an email newsletter, can be found on his site here. In it he decries the job-hopper’s lack of loyalty and long term vision, stating they’re only in the game for more money, now. Entrepreneur Mark Suster posted a well written piece defending Calacanis and explaining his own negative view of job-hopping. Lack of loyalty, integrity, commitment: three qualities that are unarguably sought after in job candidates across the board.

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In a more traditional job seeking setting (i.e. not the whirling world of startups or venture funded endeavors) having several jobs within a relatively short period of time can raise some eyebrows. This excellent article lays out a fairly balanced look at job hopping and what it can or cannot do for you. If you find yourself thrown into the job hopper camp, one of the suggestions is to make sure you can show results in your short stints at companies you’ve previously worked for. At the very least you should be prepared to answer some questions about the issue in an interview.

Job Hopping and the Role of Companies

It is interesting to point out that job hoppers might not inherently want to be job hoppers. Few people really want the stress of leaving a job and constantly being in the cycle of finding new jobs.

I’m not convinced that employees started the fire here. Another way of looking at the job hopping problem is that employees perceive companies differently than they used to. Perception has gone from a career for life to just a job, a concept that is supported by companies slashing their workforce, cutting benefits, and as a result have high turnover – sometimes in the name of trying to increase the bottom line. Companies as a whole aren’t showing the same level of commitment to their employees as in years past. What’s interesting about companies creating the “no job is secure” mindset is that this in turn leads employees and job seekers to maintain tighter connections to their network, hence the promulgation of networking sites as LinkedIn and crowdsourced job sites as our own ChumBonus.

Then you have companies that choose to be great – to their employees and the communities around them. While they obviously are also trying to make money like any other company, they are motivated to create extraordinary working environments where people don’t want to leave. If you’re a job hopper, you need to think about the team. Eventually, self-serving habits will give you a poor reputation and make it harder for you to find work. Stay tuned to the blog for our next post, where we’ll be reviewing Small Giants, by Bo Burlingham of Inc. Magazine. It’s good to see there are still companies out there that choose to be great – we should all take a lesson from them and feel invited to stay instead of hopping to the next opportunity.

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Tags: job hopping, job security
Posted in jobs | 2 Comments »

How to Deal With Difficult People at Work

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Unless your job requires you to work alone in a closed room with little contact with the outside world, you have probably, at one time or another, had to deal with a difficult coworker. They come in many forms, and wear many faces, from team members to cubicle-mates and bosses. Maybe they talk too much, keeping you from getting your work done, or they’re like an angry badger, lashing out at everyone and generally making people miserable. Regardless, we’ve done a little looking around and have collected a few links that provide some great insights into dealing with these troublesome office types. And in our search we’ve uncovered a few basic strategies commonly used against them.

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Step 1 – Try Talking to Them

When faced with a difficult coworker, regardless of type, many people chose to ignore the situation in the hopes that it will go away. Sometimes this works, especially if the problem person in question is merely the overly chatty type, but many times ignoring the problem will only cause it to fester like an infected scratch. It may seem like common sense to some, but approaching the coworker and discussing your issues with them can often solve the problem. Most people will probably respond well to a serious, yet non-aggressive conversation of a potential problem between you. Not only do you not have to involve anyone else (i.e. management) in the situation, if the person is being inadvertently difficult, you may spare them some embarrassment by keeping the problem between the two of you.

Step 2 – Avoid, Avoid, Avoid

Another potential pearl of common sense wisdom is simply try to avoid them. Remember when you were a kid and your Mom told you that if you didn’t bother the bee it wouldn’t bother you? Well, this is the same thing. Sometimes difficult people are just looking for an excuse. Don’t give it to them. Unless you are forced to work with them closely, it may be possible to steer clear of the thorn in your side. The avoidance may even—if you’re lucky and the individual is not overly dense and/or tenacious—send a passive message of your discomfort and they’ll leave you alone. Don’t stir the nest with a stick and you won’t get stung.

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Step 3 – Kick it up a Notch

If you’ve tried the other two most common approaches and still find you have an issue then it may be time to talk to your boss about the individual. If it comes to this it’s important not to come across as whining lest you be labeled a difficult person yourself. Gather your evidence, and calmly make your case against the coworker in a professional manner. If your boss is reasonable, and not the source of your worries in the first place, then they will probably be able to handle the situation and you can wash your hands of it altogether. When your own boss happens to be the problem, try Step 1 first and hope for the best. Step 2 will likely not be possible when it’s your own boss making your work life a living hell, so you may cautiously give some thought to talking to his/her superior about your issues, but proceed with caution.

Here are some links with further suggestions on dealing with difficult people in the workplace:

Learning to Deal With Difficult People

9 Useful Strategies for Dealing with Difficult People at Work

Rise Above the Fray

If you have any other suggestions for handling difficult coworkers share them in the comments section!

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Tags: annoying coworkers, difficult people, difficulties at work, office politics
Posted in jobs | 1 Comment »

StumbleUpon + $10,000 Bonus = Win

Friday, April 16th, 2010

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We all know that unemployment is high, just like the song by Stevie Ray, ‘money’s tight, nothing’s free’, but you can still make a little cash with very little effort just by referring your friends to jobs! Chumbonus has revolutionized job crowdsourcing, and it’s good to see that other companies are hopping onboard. We recently came across a real gem…

@GMC on Twitter

As you can see, several weeks ago, Garrett Camp, CEO of the social media site StumbleUpon—one of the top 200 sites on the web—put out a call for a high level programmer, offering an astounding $10,000 referral bonus! That’s a nice chunk of change if you know a good PHP Architect. And StumbleUpon seems like a really fun place to work – check out their Flickr photostream below:

Don’t know any PHP Architects? That’s ok—we’ve got oodles of other jobs that will also pay a handsome bonus – see for yourself with a job search.

Cash incentives are nothing new, but may be gaining in popularity. Taking a cue from social media, companies are tapping the power of the crowd for results. Check out this article from HR World listing 15 major companies that offer nice referral bonuses for helping them find talent. You might recognize a few of the names there, like: IBM, Nortel, Ernst & Young. According to Ed Brodie, Ernst & Young’s national director of recruiting, referrals tend to result in better employee retention and a better fit for the talent they bring in.

It’s not just about the money; these companies realize that hiring through referrals can result in a tighter sense of community and involvement in the work place, which benefits, not just the bottom line, but everybody.

Back to StumbleUpon – we’ve found that an average referral bonus is more around the $2,000 range. What do you think StumbleUpon’s $10,000 offer says about the position? Too high? Just right? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: crowdsourced jobs, stumbleupon
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Is it Time to Quit?

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Everyone thinks about quitting their job sometimes right? Have you ever thought about it, but just couldn’t seem to make a decision? Maybe you’re just in a slump and things will pick up. Or maybe it’s something more serious and there’s a fundamental problem between you and your job? Here are some signs that might indicate it’s time for you to just quit:

1. Can’t Stand It

All of have days when we can barely find the will to drag ourselves out of bed to head into work—case of the Mondays anyone? But what we’re talking about here goes a bit beyond that. Outright and sustained dread at the thought of another day on the job is a definite sign that something is wrong. It might be the work itself, or your coworkers, or worse, your boss. If you recognize signs of extreme joylessness in relation to your work then it’s time to start taking stock. Ask yourself some tough questions about what it is you want from your job, or even what kind of work you really want to do. If your present position isn’t filling any of these requirements then start making some changes.

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2. Burnout

A close relative of the dread discussed above is job burnout. The Mayo Clinic has an excellent article on burnout which it defines as “a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long-term exposure to demanding work situations. Burnout is the cumulative result of stress.” The article also states that burn out can manifest itself in many ways, but some of the major ones are: cynicism regarding the work, dread, lack of satisfaction and/or enthusiasm, and loss of joy. This is a serious issue which can have wide ranging effects on you and your health.

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3. Health

If the job begins to affect your health in negative ways, either physically or mentally and emotionally, it’s not good. Jobs can come and go, but your health is something you kind of need to stay on top of. Headaches, tension, stomach problems such as ulcers, and sleep problems are all potential indicators here, but the effects might not limit themselves to the physical. Mental and emotional health can be heavily impacted by a problematic work situation. All of us experience some stress and worry over our jobs sometimes, but a protracted state of worry, stress, or depression is sign of an unhealthy situation.

4. Rumors of Layoffs

Rumors of downsizing can start flying around like wild fire in a tough economy as companies tighten their belts across the board, so be careful about buying into them unquestioningly. Do some homework to find out if the rumors are founded. This can, of course, be more difficult than you think. Those members of management in the know are probably not just going to let something like that slip until the last minute, which may seem evil, but to be fair companies have to protect themselves and the old adage about loose lips sinking ships is very apt here; if solid information about pending layoffs is leaked, people will start jumping ship, further damaging the company’s efforts and business. If you think you have solid information on upcoming layoffs then by all means start looking elsewhere, but it goes without saying (actually it doesn’t) that you shouldn’t do anything rash. And hey, look on the bright side, if you hate the job then here’s your motivation to get moving.

5. You’re Being Sidelined

It might be time to go if you see signs of being left out of the loop. You’re not included in meetings, or you don’t receive important emails because you weren’t copied, or worse, you’ve had some of your responsibilities taken away from you. These are generally not good signs, and could be indicators that you’re slowly being pushed out the door. Again, don’t be rash, but also don’t give them the satisfaction of quietly making you obsolete or unnecessary. You’re in charge of your own destiny and you can leave on your own terms.

If you’ve been in a situation where you were left wondering if you should stay or go, let us know. What were the signs? And what finally helped you make your decision?

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Tags: quitting, quitting job, when to quit
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How to Avoid a Layoff

Friday, April 9th, 2010

Layoffs. Nothing can make workers cringe like that unholy little phrase, but it can happen to the best of us. More than likely it will happen to all of us at least once in our careers. It’s unpleasant, stressful, and a definite blow to the ego. Still, it’s not the end of the world and even may be avoidable if you play your cards right. Many of the common sense strategies for performing well at work can also help you avoid getting laid off.

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1 – Performance

A worker’s performance is a key factor in making a layoff decision, which is excellent for you the employee since this is something you have control over. In this economy, now is not the time to be sloppy. Ideally you should be doing your best all of the time, but if there’s a rumor going round of potential ‘downsizing’ then you definitely need to step up your efforts. No one can ask more of you than your best, and even if you get phased out in the end, you can walk away knowing you’ve done all you could do, and that’s important for your self esteem and valuable for your upcoming job search if the axe does fall in your direction.

2 – Value

Value, value, value. Show your employer that you are valuable to the company and that letting you go would be a mistake. Complete your projects on time—something you should be doing anyway—and when you finish them you might consider asking for more work, or to get involved in another project.

Also, and this isn’t something that most want to hear but stay late to finish up work. Offer to come in early and/or work some overtime to get done what needs to be done. This will show your boss the dedication you have for your work, and they’ll remember that.

3 – Exceed Expectations

Last week we talked about some bad work habits you might not be able to get away with, and one of them was skating by. Doing the minimum amount of work required by your job description is not going to win you any points with management when they start rolling out the layoffs. Go the extra mile and do a little more than what is expected of you and you’ll get noticed-getting noticed sets you apart from the pack!

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4 – Connect

Network! All the cool kids are doing it, so why aren’t you? Seriously though, networking is not just signing up for an account on LinkedIn, and it doesn’t just involve trying to make connections with people outside of where you work. You can network within your organization as well; it can put your finger on the pulse of your workplace and allow you to get to know some movers and shakers while increasing your visibility. The more visible you are, the more your hard work and value can pay off.

In the end, you may not be able to prevent yourself from a layoff ; sometimes there are too many factors beyond your control. But don’t think your efforts were wasted since you can take your hard work and several good recommendations with you, putting them to good use in your search for a new job.

What have you done in your career to avoid a layoff? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: avoiding layoffs, laid off, layoffs
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Is Your Workplace a Toxic Environment?

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Not everyone is fortunate enough to say that they absolutely love their jobs or the company they work for. More often than not—barring outright hatred— it’s just a relative indifference toward their work that usually manifests itself in the shrug of the shoulders and a statement to the effect that it pays the bills. Unfortunately many people find themselves in what can be considered a toxic work environment which can affect your health, both physical and mental, and most definitely your job performance.

One could define a toxic workplace as an environment where there is ‘total focus on the bottom line and its leadership has forgotten that though the bottom line is important, far more important is our humanity, our humanness, our spirit as individuals and as a collective. It is a workplace that has not learned to balance the need for profits with concern about the heart and soul of its people.’

This definition hits all the broad points that are characteristic of a toxic workplace, and neatly summarizes the concept. Here are some specific things to look out for if you suspect your workplace is heading down this road:

Low morale among the workforce.
Management disconnected from lower, and front-line workers. Many times visible in a harsh, uncaring attitude about workers’ thoughts, concerns and well-being.
Little or poor communication at all levels of the organization. The blame for this usually falls upon the employees with accusations of failing to do the job and/or misunderstanding instructions, which in reality, were not properly given in the first place.
Constantly running in crisis mode. Something is obviously wrong if there is an ever present crisis, but no steps are taken to find out why that may be.
Uncaring attitude in workers for the quality of the work and no attempts by management to improve this situation or engage the employees in helping to do so.
Little or no recognition for employees work regardless of level of commitment.
Management unaware and/or unwilling to accept responsibility for their part in creating and maintaining the problem.

A toxic work environment can arise anywhere really, and these tough economic times probably make it easier. But how do you deal with it should you find yourself in the midst of one?

Depending on who is contributing to the problem, a first step might be to talk to that individual directly and resolve the situation together. This suggestion is given by author Linnda Durré in her new book Surviving in the Toxic Workplace which was published in January. The book is filled with ideas on how to deal with a toxic workplace and its denizens. Durré also advises not simply accepting the situation, but to be proactive and take action.

Of course, if the direct approach doesn’t work, you might have to have a serious discussion with your boss about the problem. And if your boss is part of the problem then HR might be your next bet. The point is to at least try something before resorting to the final solution of leaving the job for greener and more pleasant pastures.

It may be however, that leaving is in the end your only option. A toxic work environment can be tough on the mind, body and soul. If you have any horror stories to share about an experience in a toxic workplace, or ideas on how to deal with one, let us know!

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Tags: toxic environment, toxic workplace, workplace
Posted in jobs | 1 Comment »

A Peek at the Job Market, and Hope From Washington

Monday, March 29th, 2010

According to a current Bureau of Labor and Statistics report the unemployment rate is still hovering around 10%. Even the harsh winter season is shouldering blame for the some of the recent negativity due to a significant amount of missed work. The construction and information sectors posted some losses while there was an increase in the temporary help industry. To break it down a bit further, February unemployment rates for people 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher held at around 5%, while rates for high school graduates in the same group increased from January’s 10.1% to 10.5%, and for those with less than a high school diploma also increasing slightly to 15.6%.

All in all the job market looks about the same as it has for the past several months, and it can be a little discouraging checking in on it, but as stated here recently, it’s important to stay positive during times like these as things are bound to improve. And it appears as though some improvements might be on the way if the recent news from Washington is any judge.

Two weeks ago the Senate passed the roughly 18 billion dollar jobs bill that had been making its round in Washington, and on Thursday, April 18, President Obama signed the bill into law. There is some doubt whether the bill will be effective in spurring the economy.

It is hoped that the new jobs bill will usher in a wave of hiring by giving employers significant tax breaks for hiring previously unemployed workers and credit if they can retain those employees for at least a year. Small businesses also stand to gain with tax incentives for new equipment. Another major facet of the bill, and one that is hoped will create many jobs is a provision for road and bridge construction projects, which will also encompass infrastructure and transportation improvements.

The President was quoted as saying that though the jobs bill, “is absolutely necessary, it is by no means enough. There is a lot more we need to do to spur hiring in the private sector and bring about a full economic recovery.” It is comforting to know that the President acknowledges that while there are some indications that the economy is beginning to climb out of recession, those effects may not yet be felt by average Americans.

Hopefully this bill will be just a part of a greater effort on the part of Washington and the Obama administration to help bring this economy back onto more solid ground.

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Tags: job market, jobs bill, unemployment
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Learning to Love Your Job

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

It would be nice if we could all say that we loved our jobs, but that is unfortunately not the case. Regardless of where we fall on the job love spectrum, we could all do with a little advise on learning to love what we do for a living. Here are a few suggestions.

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Passion and Personal Work Ethic

A job without passion is like a loveless marriage. Sometimes drumming up passion for our work can be as difficult as getting a straight answer out of a politician. Often though, it’s all a matter of attitude. You may not have the most glamorous job in the world, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done right, and done well. No matter how mundane, take pride in your work and set goals for yourself. Goals can give us a sense of purpose, not to mention accomplishment when we can say that we’ve met, or exceeded them.

Make Connections

Your boss and coworkers are people too, regardless of any deeply held suspicions you might have. Talk to the people at work, even if you don’t work with them directly. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation and make a connection with people, you never know when that workplace acquaintance might turn into a valuable contact, not to mention that you just might make a few friends.

Get Involved

Find what’s interesting in your job and learn more about it, you may find that you learn more about your company as well. See if you can get involved in a project that you find interesting. Often we can simply become bored with our work; you might talk to your boss about landing some more substantial projects. Not only will that potentially make your work more interesting, it might serve to demonstrate to your boss that you’re willing to…get involved. Everybody wins!

Pay Attention

Last week we talked about how mindfulness can help you at work by keeping you in the present moment, and trying to enjoy the process of your work instead of just the end results. By being fully present for all aspects of the project you happen to be working on you find that you have the time to take pride in what you’re doing, making the end result that much more satisfying. Also, don’t forget to breathe, nothing anchors us in the present moment like being aware of our breath.

Have a Life Outside of Work

Make sure that you’re not all work and no play. We recently discussed balancing our lives and our work, and much of that wisdom can help us to get more pleasure out of our day to day jobs, and our lives outside them. Be sure to unplug from the daily grind when you can. Take a vacation, even if it’s only for a day.

Of course it’s possible for you to try all of these things and more and still find yourself unfulfilled and wishing for more. If that’s the case then it may be time to face up to the possibility that it is indeed time to move on. And in that case it’s time to lay out a game plan and start taking the necessary steps toward work you enjoy.

Do you love your job? What are your strategies for bringing more joy and fulfillment to your work? Share them with us in the comments section!

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Tags: fulfillment, happy at work, job satisfaction, loving job
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Strategies for Balancing Work and Life

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

We’re hearing a lot today about balancing work and life, an historically divisive topic. On the one hand, we have staunch, old-school management types who feel that the only way to control the amount and quality of work they get from their employees is to have them right there in the office, ostensibly where they can keep an eye on them. On the other hand we have the next generation of younger workers who feel stifled in such a closed environment, especially knowing that the old model of working long hours and staying with a company for 30 years has gone the way of the Dodo.

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Just this week NPR began a series on this very subject exploring the ins and outs of more flexible schedules and looking at businesses that are allowing their employees more telecommuting options. According to the article Phyllis Moen, a University of Minnesota sociologist, thinks we may be in the middle of a ‘work time revolution’ as more employers are realizing the benefits of less rigidity when it comes to work schedules.

We thought we’d add to the discussion by collecting a few strategies that might help you balance your work and personal lives. If you’ve been struggling to find some equilibrium in your life and work we hope you’ll find something here to help.

Figure Out Your Priorities

Take some time to figure out what really matters to you in life, and find ways to put more focus on those things. Such an exercise often overwhelms people, but there are tons of aids and advice online for helping you do this and a Google search will provide you with plenty of options. Here are two links you might find helpful:

Protect Your Personal Time

One of the issues contributing to the current problem of balancing life and work is the level of connectivity in today’s world. With our smartphones, laptops, and netbooks we’re plugged in constantly. We try not to let personal matters impinge on our working hours, and by the same token we need to keep our personal time free of work. Stop checking email every 15 minutes. Don’t take work-related calls or texts. Learn to compartmentalize and enjoy your time.

Learn to Rely on Others

Work with your family, friends and/or partner to get things done. You don’t have to do it all alone. If you have children have your partner watch them while you take care of business, and be sure to do the same thing for him or her.

Plan Fun and Relaxation Time

Many people simply cannot function without a planner, calendar, or some type of organizational tool. They’re great for helping you remember your next meeting, or that new deadline, but they can also be useful for blocking out some time for fun. You Time. Try reserving a couple of hours in the evening to read a book, play with the kids, or watch a movie. It sure beats going over some mind numbingly dull report.

Manage Your Time Wisely

Planning for relaxation time is just a natural extension of time management done right. Block out time for specific tasks and stick to your schedule whether it be work or household chores. Split big jobs into smaller more manageable tasks. Delegate if possible.

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Learn to Let Go

You can’t do it all. Be willing to let some things go. Leave the dirty dishes for once, and try not worrying about the laundry. Sometimes projects at work come in overdue, sometimes you simply can’t take on one more bit of work. Do your best and get on with life.

Get Plenty of Sleep

We’ve all heard this time and time again, but it’s true. Getting an appropriate amount of sleep is essential to a healthy, well-balanced life. Make adjustments to bed time if necessary, but make sure you’re getting the rest your body and mind need.

If you have any other strategies you’d like to share on balancing life and work feel free to post them in the comments section!

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Tags: balance, work-life balance, working life
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10 Mind Blowing Infographic Resumes

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

With unemployment at nearly 10%, you need to do everything you can to stand out in a crowd.

Question is, how far should you (and are you willing) to go? One such suggestion we have, if you are artistically inclined, is to create an infographic based resume format.

Recruiters, hiring managers and the like need to plow through a pile of resumes that all have the same basic information, so why not kick things up a notch and wow them with some incredible visuals? That’s exactly what the following brave souls did.

It is important to note that:

You should know what you are doing graphically or have someone help you that knows what they are doing. Go first class all the way.
Consider the audience – a creative director position is probably a better fit for an infographic resume than a Vice President of a Bank
Consider the type of company – this tip is a bit of a toss up but it stands to reason that a start up may be a better fit than a fortune 500 for this type of resume.
If a hiring manager is using a program to scan for keywords in your resume and your infographic is completely image based, you may be tossed even before the visual effects could get you over the top.

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The black background makes this one really stand out, even among other infographic resumes! The downside on here would be a poor looking printout on a black and white printer:

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Jordan’s got a unique perspective, putting his experience out on a map of the United States. A potential downside here is that volunteer and short-term experience appears to have equal weight as longer-term work experience:

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The multidimensional view of this one is incredible, almost as if its a fusion of computer circuitry and resume in one:

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Tags: infographics, resume, resume infographics
Posted in jobs | 8 Comments »

ChumBonus: Who Do You Know?

Archive for the ‘jobs’ Category

Why You Shouldn’t be a Job Hopper

Job Hopping and the Role of Companies