Change jobs

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Are job-hopping and career success related to each other? What is the effect of one on the other? How long is too long to stay at a company?

I must admit, the resumes that pass by my desk make me conclude that job-hopping is far too common.

Job-hoppers hop for various reasons. More often than not, they don't know what they are getting into. Sometimes it's because they don't know what they want, and therefore they are not ready for the challenges that lie ahead of them.

In my opinion, changing jobs often affects your career in a negative manner. Consider this: What signals are you sending to your potential employer if you are job-hopping too often?

Here are four effective steps to break your job-hopping habit:

1. Follow The Two-Year Rule

I have a two-year rule I tell my staff and potential employees. The two-year rule is this: You must be willing to mentally commit to spending at least two years in the company before you quit.

The reason? You need to deal with the learning curve. If you're job-hopping too often, you learn nothing substantial. In my opinion, it takes you at least a year to know the ins and outs of the company. Then another year before you can be truly productive in adding value to the company.

To see the true results of your contribution to the company, for me, it takes at least two years. So, if you are prone to changing jobs and career success is on your mind, then it is time to rethink.

2. Learn To Be Stable

Group of loyal employees working together during a team meeting

Many well-established companies have training programs. They are willing to invest in recent college graduates and newbies. However, in order for them to make that decision, they need to look at past track records.

Ask yourself, if you are a manager, who are you more likely to invest training time and money on: someone who's known for job-hopping, or someone who is stable?

Companies are more likely to invest in people who are stable. The reason is simple: they are able to contribute back to the company. Everybody wins. If you are constantly moving from one job to another, you send a signal that you are not ready to commit.

Companies like to invest in people who see their career goals align with their corporate goals. Job-hoppers usually cannot see their career path beyond the next year.

3. Know What You Want

Professional woman thinking about what she wants to achieve in her career

One of the best ways to quit job-hopping is to truly know what you want. Once you know that, you will have a singular focus in the pursuit of your career goals.

Of course, it is understandable that, as a fresh graduate or newbie at work, it is tough to know where you want your career to go. You may be interested in some other industries. If there are other fields that you are interested in, then make a plan to find out about them.

Start with the internet and then ask friends who may know people in those fields. Speak to them. Ask them about the expectations of the company and the position you are interested in. You may not get all the answers, but at least you'll have some idea.

This will decrease the chances of you job-hopping later on.

4. Make Learning A Key Objective

Senior employee trains a new employee to help her grow in her career

If you are new in the workforce and have been job-hopping quite a bit, my advice to you is this: truly find out what you want.

Once you know that, find a company that is willing to train their employees and willing to commit to their employees' careers in the long term. If they have structured training programs, join them. Make learning the relevant skills and knowledge in that industry your key objective.

The skills and knowledge that you learn will contribute to your career success in the long run. It is something that you can bring with you for the rest of your life.

Once you see the benefits of committing to a company that is willing to train you for more than two years, you, hopefully, won't be job-hopping often anymore.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship

4 Steps To Break Your Job-Hopping Habit

How To Leave A Job (Without Burning A Bridge)

Before you start your new job, you have to take care of business at your current one. Depending on your relationship with your employer, this can be a difficult conversation. But, it doesn't have to be.

Here's how you can leave your job without burning any bridges:

Before You Quit, Think About Your Colleagues (Especially Your Boss)

We all would like to have a good relationship with our boss. That's not always the reality, though.

Sometimes, we just have bad managers (which can sometimes explain the job change). But that doesn't mean you can give them anything less than two weeks' notice. Not only is it the polite thing to do but it might also be part of the company policy. And, even if you had a bad boss, maybe you loved your team and co-workers, so you should also consider them when deciding how much notice you give your employer.

For those who've been fortunate to have a respectful and trusting relationship with their boss, two weeks' notice probably isn't enough. It's important that you maintain that foundation of trust and respect even when you're leaving the job.

Unless your new job needs you to start in two weeks, it's probably best to let your boss know you're leaving a month in advance. If you have to start in two weeks, clearly explain your situation to your bossâand make sure you apologize for the short notice.

If You Decide To Quit, Break The News To Your Boss Like This...

Serious woman tells her boss she's leaving her job

Honesty is the best policy when you're breaking the news to your boss that you found another job. Walk them through your thought process to reduce the amount of misunderstandings. Have a good, open conversation. Communication is key here, like in so many other aspects of your professional and personal life.

Frame your conversation like a story to help your boss understand the situation. Talk about your career goals and how your next job is giving you an opportunity you can't pass up. If they're a good manager, they'll respect your decision without giving you any grief or uncomfortably trying to persuade you to stay.

When You Leave A Job, Don't Forget To Say This...

Man thanks his boss after quitting his job during a meeting

One of the most powerful forces in the universe is gratitude. Use it to your advantage when you're having this tough conversation with your boss. Communicate your appreciation for your boss's leadership and support. Make sure you say the words "thank you."

Also, communicate your appreciation for your colleagues. Remember, these people are a part of your professional network. Your kind words might reach the ear of the person you're complimenting, and they'll remember how you made them feel. When leaving, it's a good idea to be kinder than necessary.

And, most of all, thank your boss for the opportunity to work there! Without your boss, you wouldn't be where you are now.

Remember: Quitting The RIGHT Way Is Very Important For Your Career

Woman quits her job the right way and shakes hands with her boss before she leaves

If you don't really care how you leave your current job, it's important to realize that it's a very small world. Your actions at your current job could impact your job opportunities down the road. Word travels fast in an industry. You never know who your boss knows.

Don't go out with a bang unless you want your quitting story to be told in other places of employmentâwhere you may one day apply for a job. Brand or be branded!

When an employee leaves, it's a big transition for everyone involved. If you had a good experience working for your current employer, despite any difficulties with a boss or co-worker, it's in your best interest to do whatever you can to make the transition as smooth as possible.

And if you decide to go out with a bang, make it a positive one.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Leave A Job (Without Burning …

Why Youâre TERRIFIED To Find A New Job (Even If Youâre Completely Miserable)

You hate your job. You find yourself complaining about it daily to your family and friends. Every Sunday night, you tell yourself that you're finally going to quit and find a new job because you just can't take it anymore. But you don't.

Instead, you go to work, come home, complain, and start the whole cycle over again. You're completely miserable in your current job, but you're absolutely terrified to find a new job. Why?

You're Afraid Of The Unknown

Woman on laptop scared to find a new job

Yes, starting a new job can be scary. You have to adapt to a new work environment, make new work friends, and even learn some new skillsâand you don't know if you'll even like it after everything's said and done. What if it turns out to be worse than your last job? What if they don't like you? What if you don't fit in? What if you don't perform at the level they expected? It's similar to starting at a new school where you don't know anyone, where anything is, or how your teachers are going to be.

The truth is, starting a new job can be intimidating. You're walking into a new situation and you're not sure what to expect. The best thing you can do is get to know the company as much as you can before accepting a job offer there. Learn it inside and out, make an effort to get to know people you'd be working with over LinkedIn or coffee, and ask questions that can give you insight into the company culture.

You're Not Confident In What You Have To Offer

Don't feel like you've got what it takes to make it anywhere else? Afraid to find a new job because you don't want to look like an incompetent employee? If you think you're lacking the skills to succeed elsewhere, take an inventory of your skill sets. Then, compare them to the skill sets that are required for the jobs you're considering.

What are you missing? Where do you need to ramp up your skills? Do you have additional skills that could lend themselves to the job? Make a list of the skills you have and the ones you need to develop.

You're Not Really Sure What You Have To Offer

You need to understand what you have to offer so you can market yourself effectively to employers.

Again, go in and take a look at your skill sets. Think about past accomplishments at work. What have you achieved? What are you proud of? What problem do you solve at your current company? Make sure you quantify your work experience on your resume so employers know what you have to offer and can see the value you provide as a business-of-one.

You Don't Know What You Want To Do Next

Man on laptop stressed about finding a new job

You want to find a new job, but you have no idea what you want to do. All you know is that you hate your current job and you want out. If you're having trouble figuring out what you want to do next, you need to take some time to explore.

Research different jobs, industries, and companies. Talk to people about their workâwhy they like it, hate it, and what excites them about it. Take some time to figure out what interests you and what projects energize you.

You're Afraid Of The Financial Repercussions

What if you don't get the benefits you have at your current job? What if you have to take a pay cut? What if it takes too long to find a new job and you run out of money? Research competitive salary rates using Glassdoor's salary calculator before you look for a new job. Also, research the companies you're interested in to learn about what kinds of benefits they offer employees.

It's important to understand what your priorities and must-haves are in your new job. The last thing you want to do is accept a job knowing that it won't meet your needs because it will just result in you looking for a new job in a few months. However, understand that you might not necessarily make the same paycheck as your current job. Research so you know what to expect.

If you're terrified to find a new job, you're not alone. We hope that by identifying these fears and following the tips above, you'll have the confidence and courage to look for your next job. Remember: you'll never know what you can do until you try!

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship

Why Youâre TERRIFIED To Find A New …

When you begin the job application process, you need to make sure your resume is optimized and ready to be sent out to employers. The struggle isn't so much finding enough things to include on your resume. Rather, it's choosing what skills, experiences, and accomplishments to include on your resume to boost your likelihood of landing an interview.

Choosing the right skills to include on your resume is easier said than done. What skills will really stand out to recruiters and hiring managers? What skills demonstrate why you'd be a great fit for the position? What skills best represent what you bring to the table?

Fortunately, there's an easy process you can follow to ensure you're answering these questions and setting yourself up for job opportunities.

Here are four steps for choosing the right skills to include on your resume:

1. Decode Job Descriptions

Before you hit "apply" on a job posting, it's important to read through the job description and understand what the job actually entails.

What is this company really looking for in a candidate?
What responsibilities are listed?
What skills are they asking for?

You have to analyze the job description, then think about how you would fit into this "mold" of an employee that they have in mind for the position. Start to think about the core responsibilities you've had in your previous jobs.

Do your previous core responsibilities translate into skills that this job posting is asking forâskills that would make you a great fit for the position?

2. Ask Yourself "Can I Quantify That?"

Once you've decoded the job description and determined if you have the skills the employer is asking for, it's time to think about which skills you should include on your resume (because you can't include them all).

The key to getting your resume past the ATS is to include only hard skills on your resume.

Hard skills (skills that tie directly to core responsibilities) are what applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring managers want to see. They're quantifiable. If you can't quantify it, it's probably a soft skill. Soft skills DO NOT belong on your resume.

So, when deciding what skills you should include on your resume, ask yourself, "Can I quantify that?" If you can, it's a hard skill, and it belongs on your resume.

Both industry-specific and transferable hard skills can go on your resume. After decoding the job description, you will know which hard skills the employer is looking for.

3. Think About Your Brand

The next step in deciding which skills should go on your resume deals with personal branding. You want to make sure you are "branding" yourself correctly for job opportunities.

By that, we mean knowing what type of service you provide for a companyâand what skill sets support that service.

After all, here at Work It Daily, we know every job seeker is a business-of-one. Are you branding your business (yourself) correctly in order to attract customers (employers looking to invest in you)?

Know your brand, and own it!

4. Customize, Customize, Customize

The last step in deciding which skills should go on your resume is customization.

Customizing your resume is very important. You'll probably have to highlight different skills for the different jobs you apply for. That means customizing your resume for each job application.

What projects did you work on?
What expertise did you gain?
What skills should you be emphasizing?

If you ask yourself these questions for each job you apply for, your answers will most likely differ. That's how you'll know you're customizing your resume correctly and giving yourself the best chance to land an interview.

As you're thinking about your resume, remember you have more skills than you realize. Your job is to make it easy for employers to see the connection between your skill sets and the skill sets needed to do the job. When in doubt, ask yourself, "Can I quantify that?"

The goal at this stage in the job search process is to get an interview. You can only worry about getting the job after you know you're in the running. What skills are going to get you in the door?

Need more help with your job search?

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

As you're thinking about your resume, remember you have more skills than you realize. Your job is to make it easy for employers to see the connection between your skill sets and the skill sets needed to do the job. When in doubt, ask yourself, "Can I quantify that?"

The goal at this stage in the job search process is to get an interview. You can only worry about getting the job after you know you're in the running. What's going to get you in the door?

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship