How to write a job search newsletter (1 of 2)

How to write a job search newsletter (1 of 2) Part 2 is here. I was asked by a JibberJobber user to explain the idea of the job search newsletter.  When I speak, its one of my points that I go over.  If someone asks for more info, I go deeper into it. Thats what were going to do today.  Go deeper into how to write a job search newsletter. Tomorrow Ill share how JibberJobber plays into this strategy. A job search newsletter is (normally) an email that you send to people who are interested in helping you with your job search.  Typically these are people who might ask you hows your job search going?  Family, friends, neighbors, people from church, etc. You would send this email out once a month.  Once a week might be okay, but once a month is non-invasive, and its easier to commit to a once-a-month project.  If you can do once a week, go for it. Before we talk about WHAT you write, let me make one point.  Your email newsletter has to be CONCISE.  That means, short, and to the point.  Keep it on-topic.  Heres what you put in: The companies Ive interviewed with, or applied to.  This is critical.  Some of your contacts think you are only interested in the type of company you left, or the 2 or 3 company names theyve heard you talk about.  Let them know where you are looking and expand their vision of how they can help you. The titles you apply for, or are interested in.  Again, this is critical, for the same reason I listed in number 1. Three companies I want to network into, asking the reader for introductions. Thats pretty much it.  Perhaps put in one sentence of personal stuff in I know you want to share more, but this isnt the communication to do it in (anyone disagree?).  Heres why I say that too often our message is a multi-message, which allows people to pick the sub-message they want focus on but you want them to focus on the only message, which is the purpose of this newsletter. Keep it concise, and focused.  And at the end, ASK for help (aka, introductions).  Dont sound desperate, and stay consistent. Oh yeah, you better have a killer email signature. Tomorrow Ill share how you use JibberJobber with your job search newsletter strategy. Part 2 is here. How to write a job search newsletter (1 of 2) Part 2 is here. I was asked by a JibberJobber user to explain the idea of the job search newsletter.  When I speak, its one of my points that I go over.  If someone asks for more info, I go deeper into it. Thats what were going to do today.  Go deeper into how to write a job search newsletter. Tomorrow Ill share how JibberJobber plays into this strategy. A job search newsletter is (normally) an email that you send to people who are interested in helping you with your job search.  Typically these are people who might ask you hows your job search going?  Family, friends, neighbors, people from church, etc. You would send this email out once a month.  Once a week might be okay, but once a month is non-invasive, and its easier to commit to a once-a-month project.  If you can do once a week, go for it. Before we talk about WHAT you write, let me make one point.  Your email newsletter has to be CONCISE.  That means, short, and to the point.  Keep it on-topic.  Heres what you put in: The companies Ive interviewed with, or applied to.  This is critical.  Some of your contacts think you are only interested in the type of company you left, or the 2 or 3 company names theyve heard you talk about.  Let them know where you are looking and expand their vision of how they can help you. The titles you apply for, or are interested in.  Again, this is critical, for the same reason I listed in number 1. Three companies I want to network into, asking the reader for introductions. Thats pretty much it.  Perhaps put in one sentence of personal stuff in I know you want to share more, but this isnt the communication to do it in (anyone disagree?).  Heres why I say that too often our message is a multi-message, which allows people to pick the sub-message they want focus on but you want them to focus on the only message, which is the purpose of this newsletter. Keep it concise, and focused.  And at the end, ASK for help (aka, introductions).  Dont sound desperate, and stay consistent. Oh yeah, you better have a killer email signature. Tomorrow Ill share how you use JibberJobber with your job search newsletter strategy. Part 2 is here. How to write a job search newsletter (1 of 2) Part 2 is here. I was asked by a JibberJobber user to explain the idea of the job search newsletter.  When I speak, its one of my points that I go over.  If someone asks for more info, I go deeper into it. Thats what were going to do today.  Go deeper into how to write a job search newsletter. Tomorrow Ill share how JibberJobber plays into this strategy. A job search newsletter is (normally) an email that you send to people who are interested in helping you with your job search.  Typically these are people who might ask you hows your job search going?  Family, friends, neighbors, people from church, etc. You would send this email out once a month.  Once a week might be okay, but once a month is non-invasive, and its easier to commit to a once-a-month project.  If you can do once a week, go for it. Before we talk about WHAT you write, let me make one point.  Your email newsletter has to be CONCISE.  That means, short, and to the point.  Keep it on-topic.  Heres what you put in: The companies Ive interviewed with, or applied to.  This is critical.  Some of your contacts think you are only interested in the type of company you left, or the 2 or 3 company names theyve heard you talk about.  Let them know where you are looking and expand their vision of how they can help you. The titles you apply for, or are interested in.  Again, this is critical, for the same reason I listed in number 1. Three companies I want to network into, asking the reader for introductions. Thats pretty much it.  Perhaps put in one sentence of personal stuff in I know you want to share more, but this isnt the communication to do it in (anyone disagree?).  Heres why I say that too often our message is a multi-message, which allows people to pick the sub-message they want focus on but you want them to focus on the only message, which is the purpose of this newsletter. Keep it concise, and focused.  And at the end, ASK for help (aka, introductions).  Dont sound desperate, and stay consistent. Oh yeah, you better have a killer email signature. Tomorrow Ill share how you use JibberJobber with your job search newsletter strategy. Part 2 is here.

Job Interviews Humor Do They Mix

Job Interviews Humor Do They Mix Interviewing for a new job is a serious matter. After all, your performance during the interview usually makes or breaks your chance at the position, which is why it’s vital you arrive prepared and act professional. But don’t forget that humor can also be a very useful tool in tough situations such as an interviewas long as you use it appropriately. Should you use humor in an interview? Remember, if you’re naturally someone who’s more of a straight shooter, don’t try to be someone you’re not by forcing yourself to make jokes. Humor can be tricky and using it depends on your personality and the personality of your interviewer. If you do choose to use humor, it’s essential you balance humorous statements with ones that show you’re a smart, driven professional. You don’t want to come across as the class clown, which can make employers think you don’t take your work seriously or are unreliable. Advice on humor in an interview scenario Humor can be used in a variety of situations. In the article Nojoke: Howtousehumorinajobinterview on CBS Moneywatch, career coach David Couper suggested downplaying any doubts about your work ability after long-term unemployment by saying the following: If I could start work in the afternoon, it would be better for me. I dont usually get up in the mornings! [Pause] Im kidding. I dont think it will be a problem. With my job search, volunteer work, and my work toward studying for my MBA, I was putting in a 50 to 60 hour week. Did I tell you I volunteered mentoring high school students in math? “The trick is to sell yourself, and the joke, with confidence,” he says. Dont overdo humor in an interview The bottom line is that you don’t need to be a stand-up comedian to use humor in an interview. Simply getting the hiring manager to smile and breaking the ice is enough. It can also help you come across as a likeable, engaged candidatewhich may result in a job offer! Have you used humor in a job interview? How did it go? Kat Krull is the Marketing Manager of  Resunate, a job application tool that tailors and optimizes your resume for a specific job, and MyCrappyResume, a place to share your humorous HR stories.   You can find Kat, Resunate, and MyCrappyResume on Facebook and Twitter. 11

Top Five Dos and Donts of Job Hunting

Top Five Dos and Donts of Job Hunting From time to time, each and every one of us gets into this position. Whether you are a student looking for a part-time job, you just finished college and you are looking for the job you’ve always dreamed of or you are looking for a change of scenery, job hunting is a process we’ve all been through. Just like any other process, if you do it the right way, it shouldn’t be so hard finding a suitable job for your personality, knowledge, and preferences. Even so,  many people tend to approach this process from a wrong angle.   Here are the top job search tips to remember: DO 1.     Define Your Preferences Before starting to search for a job you should know what job you are looking for. When I got out of my final college exam I asked myself:”Ok, Rachel, from what you’ve experienced so far, what do you like most? What’s the first job that comes to your mind?” The only answer that came to my mind was Marketing, Online Marketing to be more exact. That’s because I like statistics, being inventive, and trying to predict trends. Also, I know that technology is something for the future. 2.     Create the Best CV Out There Your CV is the first contact you have with your future employer. Make sure you stand out from the pack! Technology comes in handy at this point. There are lots and lots of tools you can you to create a CV that will stand out. I’d recommend you get rid of that dull and annoying template everyone’s using. Go one step further, choose an infographic as a template for your CV. It’ll be more attractive. 3.     Go Online Online means both social media networks destined for professionals, such as LinkedIn and job search engines, such as Jobs.Com. My LinkedIn profile is 100% complete, it offers exhaustive information regarding my professional background. In the past two weeks, I’ve been approached by 3 headhunters. That doesn’t happen quite often, but it’s a proof that a good LinkedIn profile will get you results. 4.     Set Up Automatic Search Criteria Job search engines are great for a push approach. You get to your future employers, not vice versa. Use search engines’ capabilities to do some thorough digging and find every job that might match your preferences. Also, you can use their search criteria and mementos to keep you up to date with the latest jobs matching your preferences. Job hunting it’s not a one-day operation, it takes time to find the suitable job. These options will make your life easier. 5.     Personalized Cover Letter According to Ryan Connor, a writer at EduGeeksClub suggests the following: “For your job application to be taken into consideration it should be customized for each job. Even though you might apply for the same job, requirements and skills might differ. Let’s just say you apply for a job as a designer, some companies might focus on one program of the Adobe Suite. One company might focus on Photoshop, while the other might focus on Premiere Pro because they edit videos quite often.” DON’T 1.     DON’T Lower Your Bar You might get disappointed because you still didn’t get the job you are looking for. You might be tempted to look for other industries or departments. I will tell you one thing, searching for a job it’s not an easy task. Stick to your preferences, don’t lower your bar. I got job offers from insurance companies, they wanted me to work as a sales agent for them. I also got offers from real estate companies, but I declined their offers. Why? Because Online Marketing is what I want and I might do it for the rest of my life. I don’t like doing something that I’m not confident that I will like. 2.     DON’T Network Just for Fun Next time you go to your regular pub to meet and chat with your friends, stop thinking about your next joke. Combine fun with necessities, ask them about their companies, open jobs they might know about. This is not just for this situation, this is an advice you should keep in mind for the rest of your life. Always try to make fun to be productive. Use it to relax, but try to combine it with something useful, such finding more information about a possible job opening. 3.     DON’T Use Only One Search Method Seeing a problem from one point of view alone won’t help you get over it in a timely manner. Use online methods, such as LinkedIn, Jobs.com, and other job search engines, they are very effective. Also, you should look for offline methods, as well. Career fairs are a method you should consider, they are a great place to find lots and lots of possible employers. 4.     DON’T Go to Interviews Barehanded Your job interview might be the first and only opportunity you have to impress your recruiter. Going to interview barehanded won’t get you that job. Do some digging, find out everything there is about your future employer. Number of Employees Company Data(sector, industry, sub-industry) Decision Factors Job Requirements 5.     DON’T Wait for Them to Answer, Be Proactive Remember, they might have multiple job openings, it might take a while for them to answer. Instead of waiting for weeks to get an answer, you should try to be proactive. Send them a feedback e-mail, ask them about your situation. You are not being rude, you just want to know if you should keep on searching or stop. Conclusion The job hunting process is quite exhausting. Regardless of your career level, it takes time and patience to get the expected result. Use these tips to ease your job hunting process and make sure you land the job you’ve always dreamed of. This guest post was authored by Justin Osborne Justin is a teacher from Leicester, UK. When not teaching his little students and rooting for Leicester FC, he loves to share his thoughts and opinions about education and self-improvement with other people on different blogs and forums. You can follow Justin on Facebook and Twitter.

Have all the good jobs gone already University of Manchester Careers Blog

Have all the good jobs gone already University of Manchester Careers Blog So, youre in your final year. You havent got a job lined up yet.   Have you blown any chance of getting a decent job sorted before you graduate? NO! With all the frantic activity of the autumn recruitment round and the graduate fairs, you would be forgiven if you thought all the good graduate jobs had already been scooped up and youd been left behind. However, thats just one of the many myths of the graduate recruitment market. Here are some facts To set your mind at rest To give you ammunition to ward off worried family and friends bugging you over the holidays To help you plan your next step. Employers recruit graduates all year round Heres what has happened, year after year, on CareersLink. This counts all the adverts we receive for full-time jobs, each month. Yes, this shows lots of adverts for jobs in September and October but the highest number of adverts each year is normally around May/June, just in time for all our finalists graduating. (Youll also be pleased to see that the number of jobs were asked to advertise to you has gone up every year since 2010 so much for no graduate jobs.) And dont believe any scare stories which sometimes appear in the media over Christmas, about the big fall in jobs being seen at universities er, its called Christmas. Only Santa recruits at Christmas! Everyone else waits until January (as the graph shows). But are they all graduate jobs? Well, they wouldnt be advertising at the University of Manchester if they didnt want graduates (these figures dont include all the part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities on CareersLink). To be fair though, a lot of the high profile corporate and public sector graduate schemes advertise in September and October for jobs which start the following year. If you havent applied for these yet, you may very well have missed out on some of the most competitive jobs for next year. However, although these fast track to management programmes are great jobs if thats what you want, its only a small part of the graduate job market. I reckon there are only about 30,000 of these schemes each year (not including vocational jobs like doctors, nurses, teachers etc) and there are over 300,000 new graduates produced in the UK each year. Most of these graduates go into other good jobs*, often with smaller organisations, or in one-off jobs with large employers which arent necessarily called a graduate scheme or training programme and these jobs get advertised all year round. * We know because every university has to ask its graduates what they are doing, 6 months after graduating. The government publishes these figures every year and in spite of what you might read in the press, most graduates are in managerial, technical or professional jobs at that point. What next? Dont feel downhearted if you havent got one of those 30,000 graduate scheme jobs already lined up. For starters, here are just a few of the jobs recently posted on CareersLink, all due to start after you graduate, many of them in autumn next year: a starter role in merchandising for Arcadia (any degree) a marketing research graduate to work in a fast-growing agency in Manchesters Northern Quarter (any degree) an engineering trainee with the BBC (relevant technical degree) technology and operations graduate post for a Hong Kong bank (any degree) an intelligence analyst in fraud investigations for HM Revenue and Customs (any degree) Head Office graduate role for Dixons Carphone (any degree) Diplomatic Service, HM Government (any degree) supply chain graduate at Warburtons (wide range of degrees dont know if you get to meet the Muppets though) Beyond CareersLink, try our Grad JobSearch for hundreds of other current job vacancies. Break it down into small steps Rather than panic about all the things you should have done, make it easier on yourself by having a look at our three essential actions for final year students. Weve broken it down into 3 phases, so start out with the December to May actions, though you can always back track and catch up with anything you might have missed out from September to November. You could still leave your degree with a job in hand and the prospect of the summer off, with a well paid job waiting at the end of your well-deserved holiday. All Graduate jobs Undergraduate graduate schemes job hunting jobs

ATs Resume Template - Tips For a Job-Ready Resume

ATs Resume Template - Tips For a Job-Ready ResumeThe ATs resume template can help you make your life easier if you are looking for a new job. With the help of an attractive resume that is professionally formatted, you are already half way to landing that dream job.First, you need to know what the right way is to get started. It may be hard at first but once you learn the ropes you will understand how the system works. If you get overwhelmed with all the tips and tricks and techniques, then it's best to just stick to a simple template.The best thing about it is that it helps you get rid of your fears of showing your expertise in a particular field of job hunting. You are not alone. Millions of people across the world are facing the same problem. So do yourself a favor and jump on this opportunity to get the right career.Another nice idea is to take a look at the resources available online. There are many websites and blogs that are dedicated to helping people improve their resumes and other resources.Always remember that this new resume will be your guide and help you reach the top. It's important to take a look at it daily and to follow it closely.It's time to start the job search. You may be able to get your feet wet by just submitting your resume on a job site. This is an easy way to start and you should consider it if you want to improve your chances.Now that you have your resume created, you need to go out and actively search for job openings. There are lots of options available and each one has its own benefits. When you submit your resume online, you may be competing with several other resumes from companies that will be submitting theirs as well.One great advice would be to build your resume around two or three key points. This will help you stand out among the rest and make your resume more professional.

The Best (and Worst) Way to Make Email Introductions

The Best (and Worst) Way to Make Email Introductions We all know that building a network of relationships is critical for your career success. And often, that involves connecting people in your network to each other through email introductions. But while email can be the quickest, easiest way forward, it can also be tricky to get right. So how do you make email introductions in a way that builds your relationships and makes everyone look and feel good? I’m going to share with you four things: How not to make email introductions â€" I call this the Ambush Email The best way to make email introductions The second-best way to do it, and The ninja move that saves you time while adding even more value to your network. How Not to Make an Email Introduction The way to not make an email introduction is to send what I think of as an “ambush email”. Many well-meaning people do this without realizing it. In fact, I received one of these recently from a friend. She sent one that said something like “You're both awesome women, you've both worked in banking, you both went to college in the same place, you ought to get to know each other. And by the way, May has great connections that would be really helpful to you and your career.” If this hadn’t come from such a close friend, I would have been pretty unhappy because I didn't ask to meet this other person (let’s call her Lisa). I really don't know much about Lisa and I certainly don't have a good reason to meet with her. I’m busy and having a few things in common isn’t as compelling as you might think, and doesn’t inject any urgency. In fact, it sounds like I'm going to be the one adding value to Lisa without getting any value back. In this case, the person who sent the email is a very good friend of mine. She knows that I would do this favor for her every day of the year, so it's not a big problem. But it's still an ambush email and I recommend that you don't use that, even with friends. When you send an ambush email, it can cause resentment from the person receiving it and that hurts your relationship, even if it’s just the equivalent of a paper cut. It also doesn’t help the other person get off to a good start. So what to do instead? The Best Way to Make an Email Introduction The best way is to start with thinking through why you want to make this introduction. Why does it make sense for both parties to connect with each other? Often you’ll have been asked by one party for an introduction. It could be “hey, do you know anybody in the fintech world?” In that case, one party already knows what's in it for them and your challenge is figuring out what's in it for that other party. This step is very important because if you can't sell yourself on why both parties should meet then you're not going to be able to sell them either. And if you can't convince yourself, then don't make the introduction. It's just going to make you look bad and feel bad. Once you've convinced yourself that “yes, it does make sense â€" I can see that there's something in it for each person”, then you want to get permission. This means you write to that other person before making the introduction and explain why you want to make the connection and ask if it’s okay to go ahead. So, my friend could have said, “I would love to introduce you to somebody I’m mentoring. Her name is Lisa. Would you do me a favor and just have a coffee with her?” And of course, I would. Then it’s no longer an ambush. Once you get permission, you can write the email to both parties and make the introduction. That email should set out the context and the reason for both people, even if you’ve told them independently. This process takes a little longer but it's the best way to make an email introduction and come out of it with even stronger relationships than when you started. Sometimes you don’t have enough lead time for that permission piece, or you’ve over-promised and can’t risk getting a “no” when you ask permission. What do you do then? The Irresistibly Intriguing Email Introduction When you're really crunched for time and truly believe that these two people would benefit from knowing each other, you can do the second-best thing, which is to write what I call an irresistibly intriguing email. The best way to write an irresistibly intriguing email is to go back through the why: Why are you introducing those two people? What in those two people's backgrounds would be compellingly useful and interesting to the other person? Why are they each extraordinarily special people? What do you most admire and respect about them? Make sure you tap into this as you write those two sections (addressed to each person) in your introductory email. This is what will make it irresistible and intriguing. Here’s an example of one I just wrote that was hugely successful: Subject:    Introducing two inspiring women Hi Sara, It was great to see you in Paris for the [ABC] Conference, and congratulations on another huge success. I’m writing to introduce you to someone who shares your desire to make an impact for women around the world, and who could be an inspiring speaker for future events. Her name is Uma and I have cc’ed her here. In terms of background: Shortly after your Paris event, I attended another event where I heard Uma speak and move an audience of 1000+ people. In fact, it was a competition and she won the top prize. But more importantly, she has a big mission: to empower 1 million women by 2025 so money is never a reason a woman is stuck in an abusive relationship. Uma has become a friend of mine, so I know she is driven by an amazing backstory, which took her from Africa to arriving in the US with $5 in her pocket to running a multi-million-dollar business. She is passionate and articulate, and people love her energy, authenticity and presence. Her speaker kit is attached below. Hi Uma, Congratulations again on winning the Speaker of the Year competition, especially against such stiff competition! I’d like to introduce you to my friend Sara, CEO of [XYZ] who I’ve cc’ed here. Sara has an amazing gift for creating events that move audiences to take action, working with executives to advance their thought leadership, and helping companies shape the debate on issues that matter. Sara is a thought leader when it comes to thought leadership and is the inspiration and driving force behind one of the finest events I’ve participated in the [ABC] Conference, which was attended by almost 2,000 people (men and women) last year. She is passionate about helping women around the world and brings excellence and innovation to everything she does. Both of you are amazing people who bring positive energy into the world, and I hope you enjoy connecting! Best,May Both parties wrote back to say they were excited about meeting each other and thanked me for a “thoughtful” and “lovely” introduction. The key is to make sure you clearly set out how they could be helpful to each other, and also say some genuinely nice things about both people. That way, everybody feels good and understands why they would want to meet. And you might get some brownie points too! The Ninja Move that Saves Time and Adds Even More Value Then there's the ninja move, which is about paving the way for making awesome introductions with permission already baked into the process. In essence, you’re getting pre-approval for making introductions as well as guidance on what kinds of people to introduce. The way it works is this: When you're going around and having conversations in the normal course of meeting people, whether you already know them or are meeting for the first time, make sure you ask them two questions. The first question is: “Who would you really like to connect with? What kind of people would be really interesting for you to get to know?” Maybe they want to meet people who are cyber security experts, or passionate about dance and theater, or some other specialty area. Once you’re clear on what kinds of people would be helpful for them to know, then you ask the second question: “Would it be useful to you if I made those introductions when I come across those people and just sent an email to you both?” If they say yes, then you've received “pre-approved” permission from that person. It’s like getting a pre-approved loan when you’re looking to buy a house. This streamlines the entire process and makes it easy to become a master builder of your network of relationships. That’s what makes it “ninja”. Use Email Introductions to Strengthen and Add Value to Relationships Your network of relationships is a key asset as you build your career. And connecting people within your network is an ideal way to strengthen those relationships and add value. Connecting people within your network strengthens relationships and adds value. Learn the best (and worst) way to make email introductions. To do it well, make sure you don't send ambush emails, get permission, create “irresistibly intriguing” emails, and ask the “ninja move” questions. So now, go forth with confidence as you make email introductions and build your network of relationships! In the meantime, leave me a comment about your experience of sending or receiving email introductions. I’d love to hear what’s worked for you.

How to find a job youll love - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

How to find a job youll love - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Is your new years resolution to find a new job? Congratulations, youre not alone! According to statistics, around 15% of the population switch jobs annually. At any given time, over half of the workforce are more or less actively looking for new work. This means that many, many people are facing an interesting question: How do I pick my next job? Which factors should matter? Which should I forget about? Many make the decision based mostly on salary, titles and responsibilities. Thats a mistake. Instead ask yourself this: Will your next job inspire you, energize you and allow you to do great work? Will you be working with nice, talented people and managers? Will your job help people out and make the world a better place? In short, make sure that your next job is one that will make you happy at work. Here are the steps you should take to make sure that your next job will be just that amazingly great! 1: Decide to switch sooner rather than later No one has ever told me I quit Company X in June, that was a mistake. I shouldve stuck around longer. The vast majority of people who quit, only wish theyd done it sooner. Its highly tempting to hang around in the old workplace waiting for things to get better. Dont! If its time to go make that decision and start actively looking for something else. The longer you stay in a bad job, the more it eats away the energy and self-confidence you need to find a new one. 2: Give yourself time to find your new job The very first job you look at may be just the right one or it may be the 20th. Give yourself time to actively look for something better and dont let economic pressure, peer pressure or uncertainty force your hand. 3: Focus on what you like at work, not on what you hate Many people switch jobs to get away from a bad situation. However, when youre picking a new job, its not enough to look at all the things you want to avoid. Partly because there are an infinite number of things to avoid. But mostly because even if you avoid every single bad thing, that can only guarantee that you wont be unhappy. To be happy at work, you also need good things, not just the absence of bad. The best way to find out what you want at work, is to look at what has previously made you love your job. Heres how you do it: Think back to some specific situations, where youve been happy at work. Ask yourself what made these situations possible. Find out what will give you more of these great experiences in the future. If you want to do examine this in more detail, page 3 of this workbook has a worksheet for doing just that. 4: Ignore salary Most people think that having a higher income would make them happier. They?re wrong! That is the conclusion of a study by Two Princeton professors, economist Alan B. Krueger and psychologist and Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman. They say this: The belief that high income is associated with good mood is widespread but mostly illusory. People with above-average income are relatively satisfied with their lives but are barely happier than others in moment-to-moment experience, tend to be more tense, and do not spend more time in particularly enjoyable activities. I dont mean to ignore the economic necessities we all face but they should not determine what work we take. What is a 25% raise worth, if it means being stressed, frustrated and unhappy 40/60/80 hours a week? 5: Ignore other irrelevant details Some people choose their new job because of: The title. They want to make me First Assistant Manager. Perks. Theyre giving me a new car and use of the executive bathroom. Status. I get 8 direct reports. Today I only have 5. Peer pressure. If I take this job my husband/wife/friends/dad will be really impressed. None of these factors will make you happy! Forget about them. 6: Ask for what you want Its a lot easier to get what you want if you actually ask for it. In your job interviews, let them know that being happy at work matters to you, and tell them what it takes to get you to love work. Its true that asking for these things may mean not getting the job, and thats precisely the point! If that job wont make you happy, you dont want it! 7: Make that job great Its up to you to find a good job, and then its up to you to make it a great job! You can sit passively on your butt and wait for your co-workers and your manager to make you happy but that means nothing will ever happen. Its your responsibility to: Know what makes you happy at work Tell others about it Do something about it 8: Make yourself free to leave A bad job is bad. A bad job that you cant get out of is excruciating. In fact, knowing that youre free to leave can make it easier to make a job great, as I wrote about in a previous post. Also, reducing your expenses can be a great way to give yourself more leeway at work. The upshot Forget about salary, perks, titles and status. Choose your next job based on one, single consideration: Will it make you happy? Will it make you go Yes, its Monday, I get to work! Do this and youre sure to enjoy your job more, enjoy life more AND be more successful at work. If you enjoyed this post, Im pretty sure youll also like these: Top 5 myths about workplace stress How to turn around a bad day The strongest force in business Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related