Archive for the 'Hints and Tips' Category
When it comes time to quit a job you can’t just leave. You have to pass the torch to your replacement. Ensure that business will carry on as usual, and help ensure a positive recommendation from your employer.
Ask your supervisor
After giving your supervisor timely notice of your departure, ask what she needs from you. Show your willingness to help out and make the transition go smoothly.
Find out if your supervisor has specific needs or requests. Are there certain projects or tasks she needs finished? Is there a specific duty she is worried about your replacement handling?
The answers you get here are crucial for your final days at the company. They will help you properly focus your efforts and be truly effective.
Tie up loose ends
Wrapping up projects will be a huge help for your employer. This makes everyone’s job easier, since the new guy won’t have a pile of half-done things to finish.
Think of unfinished projects like a half-eaten sandwich. Would you like to start a new job, only to find a half-eaten sandwich on your desk? Probably not. That’s why should wrap up those projects, if possible.
Use bookmarks
You probably won’t finish every open project before you leave. This is inevitable, but you can still help your employer.
Leave a bookmark in your open projects. Make it clear where you left off and what should be done next. This helps the company keep moving forward. And it ensures that projects won’t fall in the gap.
Create documentation
You know how to do your job. But are there clear instructions for the next guy? This is the reason for documentation.
Think about the instructions you would need to do your job, if you were just starting. Write out basic steps for your different tasks. And also create an overview document that lists the things for which you are responsible.
Remain available
If possible, give your employer a method of contacting you after your departure. Depending upon the circumstances, this might not be needed or appropriate. But it’s something to consider.
This enables your employer to ask a quick question, if something comes up shortly after you leave. An email address would be sufficient. And it will help to make a smooth transition if a problem arises.
You probably use email throughout your work day. But how often do you consider the effects it can have on your career? An email mistake could forfeit your job. But if you arm yourself with these tips, you should be safe and more effective at work!
1. Think before you send.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Engage your mind before you put your mouth in gear.” The same applies to email. It’s so easy to type out an email and hit “Send.” Don’t fall into the trap of sending emails without first thinking about the contents.
Email taboos aren’t difficult to ascertain. Ask yourself, “Would I say this in person?” If not, don’t send it. For some other thoughts, check out an article by Penelope Trunk: 5 emails you should never write.
2. Remain professional.
Email has become a standard communication method. We email everything from job offers to stupid jokes. The trick is to remember that company email is for professional business only. Your company might allow some incidental personal email use, but don’t abuse it.
And most importantly, always remain professional in emails to colleagues. You don’t have to be stiff shirted, but give them (and the entire company) the respect they deserve.
3. Use proper grammar and spelling.
R u their? That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Your teenager may understand it in a text message from a buddy, but your coworker in Human Resources won’t. Proper grammar and spelling is essential to ensure people comprehend your emails.
More than that, this is part of being professional. If you don’t take the time to spell check an email or use complete sentences, what will your colleagues think about your work product?
4. Write good subject lines.
Email is supposed to help you get work done. How is Bob down the hall going to know what you need, if you don’t properly label your emails to him? It doesn’t help him be effective, and you probably won’t get a timely response needed for your job. Everyone suffers.
Instead, label all emails with a well-worded subject. Don’t leave it blank! Make it clear what project or task the email relates to, but keep it brief. For other ideas, check out How to Construct the Perfect Email Subject Line.
5. Don’t live in your email.
Email is a tool. If you spend all day rummaging around in your inbox, you won’t get your real work done. Sure, you might send and read a bunch of email, but what do you have to show for it? Unless your job is specifically about communications, email is just a way to help get other things accomplished.
A great way to tame the email addiction is to only check it periodically throughout the day. Try once per hour. You could probably even check it less often than that. And let your coworkers know that truly urgent matters warrant a phone call. This allows you to step out of the inbox, do your real work, and know that urgent things will get your attention when needed.
Master your email, before it masters you!
Most of our articles here at Job Tuition deal with getting a job. But what do you do if you need to leave a job? Fortunately, there are ways to be diplomatic and help ensure a graceful exit.
Give advance notice
This is one of the most important things to remember: give your employer notice. By giving notice to your employer, you’ll enable her to find a replacement and keep the company moving along. It also helps your chances of a strong reference in the future.
So it’s clear that you should give notice, but what does that entail? Consider these points:
- At least 2 weeks - You should at least notify your employer 2 weeks before you will be leaving. If your job is particularly specialized, you might even give more time.
- Be polite - Don’t tell your boss to “take this job and shove it.” Even if you’re not leaving on positive terms, be diplomatic and polite.
- Clarity helps - You don’t need to spell out everything behind your departure. But explain briefly why you’re leaving and when your final day will be. Of course, you can also negotiate that with your employer.
Help prepare your replacement
Even if you have a routine position, your employer might want you to help train your replacement. Be courteous and do your best here, if asked.
You likely have specialized knowledge of your company’s internal workings and what your job requires. You’re the best person to pass this info on to others.
Don’t burn bridges
You never know when you might need a reference from this employer. Or you might find yourself wanting another job at this company. Whatever the reason, don’t burn the bridge.
Do everything in your power to leave in a graceful way. Even if you are being forced out, leaving gracefully shows that you are a strong person.
If you have a polite exit, everyone will be better off.
While summer gets into full swing in the Northern hemisphere, most people are thinking about vacations. I implore you to consider your career. Whether you’re a university student or a veteran in the workforce, you can do something to enhance your career this summer.
Read some books
We’ll start off with an easy idea. While you’re relaxing poolside on a lazy Saturday afternoon, read a career book. There are lots of good ones you could grab at the local bookstore, or you could check one out from the library.
You could also consider reading something to enhance your specific knowledge base, like a book about a new technology in your industry. The different possibilities here are quite endless.
The coolest thing about this idea is that you can still enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon. A lounge chair, iced tea, and a good book. I wish I was there right now.
Take a class
This tip gets a bit more ambitious. Universities and community colleges usually offer a number of courses during the summer. Perhaps one of these would help your career. At the community college level, you can probably just enroll and take a single course of interest.
Summer classes are a bit different than regular university courses. You focus on a single subject for several hours per day, for only a couple weeks. If you’re working full-time, this would be a drain on your schedule. But it’s only a short time. The benefits to your career will last a lifetime.
Get a job
If you’re already working, this tip might seem crazy. In fact, it’s oriented toward students or people who might have the summer off (like teachers). But even full-time employees could take on a part-time job for a couple months.
Employers love having help. Even if you only work for someone for the summer, you can learn a lot and make a little money in the process.
The idea is to find a job that would enhance your resume. You don’t have to work just for the sake of working. But if you can land a job (even volunteering) that gives you important skills or networking connections, you’ll be better off in the end.
Your ideas?
There are probably many other things you could do for your career this summer. What would you add here? Let us know in the comments.
An important part of any job is being able to communicate with your boss. Talking efficiently with your boss can make or break your job. With that in mind, here are some things to consider.
Listen first
Good communication always begins with listening. If you don’t listen to your boss, it will be hard to perform your job. Actually, make that impossible.
Without listening to your boss, you can’t know what you need to do. Your projects will be a muddled mess.
On the other hand, if you listen attentively, you will catch most of what your boss tells you. Careful listening will tell you exactly what you need to do.
Ask questions
After you’ve listened carefully, it’s time to clarify your assignment. You’ll undoubtedly have questions about the task. Fortunately, you can easily ask your boss for clarification.
Here’s a few things that might be unclear:
- When is the deadline?
- What final product is expected?
- Are periodic status reports needed?
It’s important not to be shy about asking questions like this. Your boss won’t think your ignorant. In reality, he’ll appreciate your foresight and eagerly provide answers.
Send updates
Keep your boss in the loop. Just because she assigned a project to you does not mean that she knows what’s going on. It’s up to you to fill her in.
A good way to do this is with periodic status reports. Consider sending an email to your boss once a week, simply listing the status of your projects. This doesn’t have to be detailed. In fact, it should be a broad snapshot that your boss can quickly skim to see your progress and availability.
If you work remotely, status reports are even more important. It’s difficult for a supervisor to know what employees in other locations are doing. Remove the guesswork by periodically (and reliably) telling your boss what’s on your plate.
Get approval
My final thought on supervisor communication pertains to new projects. Always clear them with your supervisor.
In many jobs, other people in the company will come to you with tasks and things they need. But your supervisor may not want to devote time to these things. Thus, it’s crucial to be sure you are doing things that are important to your boss.
The rule of thumb: ask, if you’re not sure.
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