How to Love the Job You Have
By Roberta Chinsky Matuson, for Yahoo! HotJobs
Before we entered into this historic recession, it was easy to leave a job you didn't love. All you had to do
was knock on the door of another employer and you could begin work the next week. Those days are gone
and most likely will not return anytime soon. But that doesn't mean you have to be miserable in the job
you have.
Here are some tips on how to love the job you have.
Be Realistic
No one's life is perfect. Not even the lives of people who star on those sitcoms you watch. It is OK to have
a bad day, week or even month at work. Just be sure the good days outweigh the bad.
Be Positive
Focus on what is going well at the office. Is your work still challenging? Could a promotion be in your
future? Do you enjoy the people you work with? A "yes" to any of these questions means you have
positive energy you can build upon.
Clear the Air
Sometimes it is one issue or person that makes a great job a not-so-great one. If this is the case, then it's
time to clear the air. Write down some examples of how this situation is impacting your ability to perform
at an optimal level. Then share your findings with the person or people involved.
Don't Believe Everything People Say
It is human nature to boast or exaggerate a bit. People around you may be saying they love their jobs,
but in reality they may be in the same position as you -- waiting for the next thing to come along. Take
what people are saying about their jobs with a grain of salt and focus on your own happiness.
This Doesn't Have to Be Forever
Right now it may feel like you have no choice but to keep this job forever. However, this won't be the case
if you play your cards right. Use this recession as an opportunity to increase your options. Enroll in
evening or online classes, volunteer to work on projects with high visibility and gain the experience you
will need to move to a new place in your career. Who knows? This may just be the spark you need to
reignite the flames of love again in the job you have.
Get a Life
Enjoying your work should only be one part of having a life that you love. If your job is the only thing that
brings joy to your life, then perhaps it's time to focus on having a life outside of work. Look for
opportunities to participate in activities that are of interest to you. Volunteer, take up a new sport or get a
hobby. These are all great ways to build a life that you can love.
Source: www.monster.com.hk
Articles for CUHK SCS AA (Newsletter Mar ’12 issue)
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Six Signs of Career Derailment
By Barbara Reinhold, Monster Contributing Writer
Getting bumped off the track on your way to the top is every high achiever's recurring nightmare. How
can you be sure it doesn't happen to you? Research by Michael Lombardo, principal of Lominger Limited,
uncovered six indicators of career derailment. If any of them describe you, you'll know what areas you
need to work on:
1. Disagreements with Higher Management
Obviously, this is a no-no, even if your point of view is correct. Those who would rather be right than
promoted almost always get their wish.
2. Problems with Team Building
You need to be good at spotting talent. Building diversity, developing talent and helping your people work
together effectively are also core capabilities that you can't do without for very long.
3. Problems Developing Working Relationships
If people don't want to be around you, your career is in trouble. Bullying, isolation and being out of the
loop in various ways all torpedo corporate careers.
4. Lack of Follow-Through
When you consistently forget to follow up on promises and don't attend to important details, people notice
and question the wisdom of handing you anything else to forget.
5. Problems Moving from a Technical to a Strategic Level
Here's where engineers and other highly technical people can stumble and find themselves unable to go
beyond what they know in order to formulate more complex strategies. If you're on your way up the
ladder from a highly technical role to a more managerial one, be sure to ask your boss for some feedback
as to whether your strategic skills need honing.
6. Assuming Something Other Than Your Own Hard Work Will Take You Where You Want to Go
Being overly dependent on a powerful boss or some other advocate, or even on your natural talent,
sometimes causes high-potential people to get a little lazy. "I know I'll make VP this spring, because all
the important people are on my side," a rising young star once said. Wrong -- he was passed on the inside
lane by somebody who had just made a great presentation to the senior VP. The only person who can get
you noticed and promoted is you.
Anything on that list sound familiar? If not, take a second look or consult a friend. Psychologists tell us
that self-evaluation is a terrible indicator of performance. To be on the safe side, ask somebody who
knows you well (and will tell you the truth) to have a look at the list and give you some objective
feedback.
When it comes to keeping your career on track, what you don't know about yourself could definitely hurt
you.
Source: www.monster.com.hk
Articles for CUHK SCS AA (Newsletter Mar ’12 issue)
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