Boost Your Job Satisfaction and Boost Your Morale: Tips for Disgruntled Employees

So you dread going to work when you’re scheduled to be there because you don’t like your job nor do you like the current circumstances surrounding your job. But do you realize that your adamant dislike for your job can have a negative impact on your performance?  Job dissatisfaction can also affect the way you interact with your co-workers as well as the customers. So what are you unhappy about in the first place?  Is it your boss? Is it your co-workers? Is it your salary? Or is it the job itself? You should keep in mind that you have the power to change the way you feel about your job thus improve your spirit overall.  What changes would you like to see in your current job?  You should also take time to examine yourself.  Don’t wait for everyone else and everything around you to change, but instead you should proactively look for ways to boost your job satisfaction. Because you spend a great deal of time at your job…review these tips to find out how you can boost your job satisfaction starting today.
1. Acquire new job skills- if you are dissatisfied with your current career path you should improve your job skills by making a career transition, or take advantage of your company’s training programs, or sharpen your current skill set by taking pertinent classes on-line or on school site.  When you acquire new skills you will increase your marketability and obtain more opportunities to advance in the workplace.
2. Ask for more challenging work- once you make the move to improve your skills you should inform your manager. Let your manager know of your interest to take on more challenging work assignments. View this as an opportunity to grow.
3. Set Goals for yourself -now it’s time to set goals for yourself.  What would you like to accomplish within the next year or two? How do you plan to accomplish those goals?  Bear in mind that you must proactively pursue desired goals.
4. Focus on your strengths- surely you must have some valuable skills that are needed to help achieve goals and objectives in your company or you would not be there. Even though you have not yet acquired desired new skills, you are still an asset for your company in other ways. Focus on your current skills and utilize them to the fullest extent. When you focus on your strengths and you will boost your esteem.
5. Keep a positive attitude -think about the positive aspects of your job, even if this means, just being grateful that you have a job.  With so many qualified individuals out of work, you should be thankful that you have a job. Do you realize how many unemployed job seekers would love to have your job? Also, what things do you like most about your job?  Try to focus on the things that you like most about your job rather than focusing on the things you dislike about it.
6. Avoid office gossip - you should avoid hanging out with co-workers who love to spread gossip and rumors about other workers and the company overall.  These individuals will only cause you to feel more dissatisfied about the company than you already are.  Don’t allow these pessimistic individuals to influence your feelings about your company, your boss, or your co-workers. Understandably, you will have to interact with these individuals at some point while at work, just make sure that you keep it professional and work-related.
7. De-clutter your work area - remove all unnecessary items from your desk as well as your immediate work area.  Arrange your work in a neat and orderly fashion. Clutter will only cause you to become overwhelmed and more frustrated about your job.  
 8. Keep outside issues outside of the office - sometimes it’s not the job that a person is dissatisfied with but it’s the outside issues that they bring to work.  When you bring negative issues from home or other places to the job- it decreases your morale and you’re not as productive as you could be. Do yourself and others a favor, leave outside issues outside! 
9. Take time away from the job - take your vacation time, PTO time, and floating holiday time when you feel the need to do so.  Make plans to get away, relax, and enjoy your time away from the job.  And don’t bring the pressures and burdens from your job with you while you are away. You should also take your breaks and lunches while at work as much as possible.  Getting away from the job for just a short period of time will rejuvenate your mental and physical state.
Wrapping up, once you improve yourself, your attitude will change for the betterment of your job, the company, and your team members. A happy employee is a productive employee!

Job Requirements: The Importance of Hard Skills and Soft Skills in the Worplace

Both hard and soft skills are equally important criteria in the resume screening process.  Employment recruiters carefully screen resumes for specific job requirements, industry-related keywords, and to basically determine whether or not the interested candidate is the right match for a job. High tech electronic scanners can detect specific key words in a resume in a matter of seconds. It’s imperative that you include the right keywords and the required job skills in your resume as to grab the reader’s attention. Once your resume passes the screening process you could get a call from the hiring manger to move forward.  Only qualified applicants will be considered further for an interview. So you will need to tailor your resume to the employer and the position you are targeting to be considered.  You will need to find out…what specific hard skills are required for the job you are interested in?  What are the soft skill requirements?  Be sure to list these skills in your resume if you meet the job requirements. You might ask…do I need to list both hard skills and soft skills?  That simply depends upon what is listed in the job description and you also want to present an impressive resume displaying all of your skills. So the answer is, yes.

The Importance of Hard Skills

What are hard skills?  Your hard skills are your primary skills (technical, administrative, professional) that are needed to perform a particular job. They are tangible, observable and easily measurable.  Hard skills are acquired through training and education.  What type of training and experience do you have?  What discipline is your college degree in? You will need to compare your hard skills with that of the job you are targeting because there are specific hard skills that the hiring manger looks for when screening resumes. If you find that your hard skills listed in your resume do not match that of the job description then you are not qualified for that particular job. Some examples of hard skills are: customer service, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial analyst, data entry, library science, scientist, counselor, computer technician, executive, CEO, manager, supervisor, programmer, teacher, nurse, sales forecasting, writer, project management, recruitment, and administrative assistant. Hard skills also include your academic degrees, pertinent licenses, certifications, and computer lingo.  Naturally, there will always be a need for hard skills in the job market.

The Importance of Soft Skills

What are soft skills? Your soft skills include your personality traits or character traits, your interpersonal skills and your social skills. They are intangible, less measurable, and not so easy to observe. However, you can detect soft skills in an individual by observing their behavior, how well they interact with others, and their ability to effectively lead others. Do you have good people skills?  Do you have good leaderships skills?  How about communication skills?  Some examples of soft skills are: communication skills, problem solving skills, analytical skills, facilitation skills, leadership skills, coaching skills, motivation skills, adaptability, articulate, innovative, patient, and competitive spirit.   Hiring managers will specifically list the required soft skills in the job description if determined needed to perform a particular job.

Concluding, you will find that an employer will generally list hard skills in a job description.  Why? Because when a hiring manager is looking to fill a certain job request, they must describe and list the particular skill needed as to grab the attention of interested candidates. However, that does not mean that they don’t require that you have any soft skills. And in other instances an employer may list soft skill requirements in the job description to attract only certain candidates and narrow the search.  Bear in mind that your soft skills are as equally important as your hard skills in the workplace.  No doubt, your hard skills may land you the job but your soft skills will help you attain future advancements and promotions in your chosen profession.  Good people skills are essential in attracting and retaining loyal clientele that will ultimately increase company profitability.

Workplace Communication, The Generation Gap: How to Commuicate Effectively

What is communication?  Communication is the exchanging of information via words, thoughts, writing, and by other forms of modern technology. Communication modes can be formal, informal, verbal or non-verbal.  Nonetheless, in order for communication to be effective, the sender of the message must be able to successfully transfer the information so that the intended message is received.  Effective communication is vitally important to the success of an organization overall. Employees at every level should be able to communicate effectively in the workplace.  When a company lacks effective communication, whether upward, downward, or parallel, it will encounter uncertainty and possibly conflict amongst workers followed by decreased productivity.  Nowadays, companies are made up of baby boomers, generations X’s, and generation Y’s. This gap in itself sometimes causes conflict and poor communication because each generation is distinct and prefers its own mode for communicating.  However, when employees learn to work together as a team, they just might be able to close the communication gap in the workplace.

Face-to-face

When communicating face-to-face with someone in the workplace, it’s imperative that the sender of the message convey comprehensive thoughts so that the receiver(s) understands the intended message.  Don’t cause someone to second-guess or form his or her own interpretation of what is being communicated. But instead, make direct eye contact with the receiver(s) and clearly enunciate complete thoughts.

Be a good listener

Communication is a two-way process when done face-to-face.  Therefore, it’s equally important that the receiver(s) of the message pay close attention to what is being articulated.  This means that the sender of the message will need the undivided attention of those who are receiving the message in order for the communication to be effective. The receiver(s) should avoid daydreaming and using selective listening when communicating face-to-face. It’s also crucial that the receiver not talk while the speaker is speaking. Should you have a question about what is being articulated, wait until the person is done speaking, and then ask your question. Understandably this might take a great deal of discipline for some individuals. The truth is, you simply cannot talk while someone else is speaking; first, you won’t fully comprehend what is being spoken and second, it’s plain rude.

In writing

When communicating in writing in the workplace one must know how to express his or her thoughts intellectually and professionally. If you find that you have difficulties expressing yourself in writing you will need to practice your writing skills. Bear in mind that your writings are a reflection of you. Also, when communicating in writing you should proofread your content… check for grammatical and typographical errors.  You should also thoroughly reread your memo, letter, e-mail, correspondence, etc. for proper sentence structure, clarity, and cohesiveness before you send it to those you want read it.  Always use proper e-mail etiquette when communicating via e-mail. Avoid using jargons, slang, and word abbreviations in your e-mails…this is very unprofessional and will only generate confusion for some readers. This is especially true for generation Y who are accustomed to using choppy sentences, acronyms, and text abbreviations in text messages and e-mails.

Solicit Feedback

In order for communication to be effective, the person responsible for delivering the information- should check with the receiver(s) to find out whether or not the intended message was received or if they have relevant questions about the topic. Recommend that you don’t wait too long to obtain feedback.

Get clarification

Don’t hesitate to ask for clarity whenever you’re in doubt about the intended message the sender was attempting to convey.  Whether the communication was done in writing, by phone, email, or face-to-face, you will need to get proper clarification immediately.

Communication technology

The correspondent may choose to use modern technology to transfer a message- such as e-mail, call conference, electronic meeting, voicemail, or via the company intranet.   Just make sure you speak clearly and coherently when using voice technology and should also include important dates and times and other pertinent information when communicating via writing.  Also, it’s important that every employee know how to use modern technology. Companies should provide training for its employees who lack skills or who want to brush up on current skills.  Employees should also consider taking classes outside the company to acquire new technological skills.

The generation gap- build trust and show respect

Two of the most important things in the workplace are to show respect for each other and to build trust. Baby boomers should have more patience with the younger workers who may work differently from them. Some boomers tend to be more resistant to change than the X’ and the Y’s and may not be as technology savvy. The boomers are not as flexible as the X’s and the Y’s and are more likely to stay at a company for several years. The younger workers should also have patience with the older, more experienced workers who are also accustomed to working a certain way. Unlike the boomers, the X’s and the Y’s tend to adapt to change more easily, are more comfortable with modern technology, and most are college graduates. They are less likely to commit to staying at one company for years but seek to change jobs and careers every three to five years. The Y’s, in particular, are most likely to except and work well with racially diverse groups and is least likely to discriminate. Bottom line, some older workers will need to return to school to acquire new skills and learn new technology in order to communicate more effectively in today’s workforce.  Overall, it’s imperative that all find a common ground in which to communicate effectively. 

Meet with staff members regularly

And finally, managers should make it a point to meet regularly with your staff to communicate goals and objectives and articulate reasonable timeframes in which to achieve them. Find out how you can help improve communication in your department and in your company overall. This is also a good time to ask for suggestions and feedback from your subordinates. Managers should also engage their employees in the overall operations of the business. Have an open-door-policy in which your employees will feel comfortable communicating with you should they need help or encounter work-related problems. It’s simply a matter of effectively communicating with your staff to keep them abreast of the business and to also motivate them to work more efficiently and effectively.   Foster a team environment in your department to help promote good camaraderie and trust amongst the group members.

Group Formation: The Five Stages of Group Development

According to Bruce W. Tuckman, there are four developmental stages that most groups and teams go through.  Tuckman describes these stages as forming, storming, norming, and performing. (Tuckman, 1965). In 1977, Tuckman teamed up with Mary Ann Jensen to add an additional stage, adjourning.  Tuckman’s model suggests that when new groups and teams form for the first time, they must successfully go through the first four stages before they can reach the fifth and final stage, adjourning. 

Stage I

Forming: This is the orientation stage. The root word of forming is form.  And that’s exactly what happens during this stage. Individuals get together to form a group.  This is the beginning and the group members are getting acquainted with one another.  Members are going through the honeymoon phase.  People are usually very polite and respectful toward one another because everyone is excited about the group’s future.  This stage is also the security stage because the group members purposely try to avoid conflict. But instead, they are more focused on the positive aspects of the group members and the group overall.

Stage II

Storming: Now this is when things begin to heat up!  Tempers begin to flare up as conflict arises among the group members. The honeymoon is over! The root word for storming is storm.  And this is what takes place during this stage; the members go through a stormy phase.  During this stage members are in disagreement about who should lead the group and the roles of the other team members. Some members become resistant to assertive group members who feel they have leadership ability and are not shy about letting it be known. This stage is also testing time for some members, as some members will opt to leave while some will stay put.  In essence, this is a very critical stage. Why?  Because some new groups never make it pass this stage simply because they cannot come to an agreement about anything.

Stage III

Norming: Whew! At this stage the group members are able to resolve their differences and are ready to move forward.  The root word of norming is, norm. That’s right; things are back to norm.  The group members have survived the storm and things are looking bright for the future. The group has taken on a cohesive structure and the members are committed to team goals.  By now, members have agreed upon who should lead the group, duties are assigned and members are appointed to various responsibilities.  The group has good camaraderie and works toward achieving goals.

Stage IV

Performing: By this time the group’s morale is high and the members are loyal to one another. The root word of performing is, perform. This is the stage where the group reaches its performance expectations. Members are interdependent and feel that they can trust each other at this point. This is also the comfort stage because the members are comfortable with each other, are highly motivated, and are making good progress.  However, the group must successfully make it through the first three stages before they can reach this stage.

Stage V

Adjourning: Lastly, the final stage is adjourning.  Adjourn in this stage means to end.  Roles and responsibilities have been completed and the members have become less dependent.  Members will become disengaged from their teams members, their task, and the group overall. At this point, the group members are mourning because they find it difficult to accept the fact that the group has been or will be dissolved.  Members are sad because they have developed a close relationship with their team members and view the termination of the group a great loss.

Concluding, believe it or not, the five stages of group development are quite normal.  If you’re in doubt, the next time you get together with others to form a new group you should take the time to observe as these five stages manifest.  Or better yet, think about the time(s) when you got together with others to form a new group.  Do you recall going through these stages? What was your role and responsibilities in the group?  Did your group(s) make it past the storming stage?  If yes, did you feel a sense of loss when your group(s) dissolved at the adjourning stage?

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Working for a Temporary Agency

During the recession period, many individuals had lost their jobs due to the tremendous slow down in the economy.  Even though the economy is slowly bouncing back, it's still rather difficult for some to find suitable work due to intense competition in the job market. For this reason, many dislocated and displaced workers have turned to temporary agencies to help them get back into the workforce. Even after signing with several agencies some individuals still remain unemployed- simply because the agencies don’t have the volume of temp jobs they once had.  Why?  Because many companies have outsourced work and downsized and don’t have the need for more workers or the funds to pay a temp agency. And for those who have found work by going through a temp agency are glad to have some income coming in, yet not totally satisfied with working for an agency.  Thus, there are some advantages and some disadvantages in working for a temporary agency. If you have never worked for a temporary agency before there are some things that you should be aware of.  Lets take a look at some advantages and disadvantages in working for a temporary service.

ADVANTAGES

Option to apply online

Nowadays you can conveniently apply online with most temporary services.  You will need to call the agency you’re interested in working for to find out whether or not you can apply online.  They should call you to set up an interview once they have received your application and determine that you are a suitable match for a job(s). By completing the application process online, you could minimize the time that you would spend interviewing.

Temp to perm

One great advantage in working for a temporary agency is that you can start out working temporary but end up working permanently. Keep in mind that you will need to prove your ability to deliver excellent work results before an employer will consider hiring you permanently.

Learn new skills

Another advantage in working for a temp agency is that you will have an opportunity to learn new skills and you can add your newly acquired skills to your resume.

Earn while looking for permanent work

You can still look for a permanent job while you are yet working for the agency and earning wages. Bear in mind that you are working on a temporary basis and you should continue to actively look for a suitable job opportunity while you are in between jobs.

Showcase your talents

Working temporary for various companies will give you the opportunity to showcase your remarkable talents.  You just might have the skills and expertise that is needed to help a company that you are temping for achieve its goals.  The employer might see you as a valuable asset to the company and could offer you a permanent position should an opening become available.

Include work experience on your resume

When you have worked with the temp agency for six months or more you can list this as work experience in your resume as to justify employment gaps in your work history. Be sure to list your major accomplishments and core skills that you acquired while working for the agency.

Networking opportunity

This is an excellent time in which to network with other individuals who share the same career interest as you.  Perhaps they can give you some advice as to how you can land a job with the company they are employed with or advise you of other career opportunities elsewhere.

Can file for unemployment

You can apply for your unemployment benefits once you have worked for a period of time provided that the agency was unable to find you work later on.  However, this can be tricky.  For some agencies will try to block your unemployment…stating, refusal to work on your part. This can cause your claim to be denied. Make sure that you are able to prove your case.

Prefer to work temporary

And finally, some individuals prefer to work on a temporary basis for various reasons and choose not to commit to one company permanently.  These individuals are appeased at knowing they won’t be penalized for choosing to only work when it’s convenient for them to do so. They can notify the agency as to when they are seeking temporary work and when they are not available to work.

DISADVANTAGES

Short-term assignments

A major disadvantage in working for a temporary agency is that you cannot predict the length of your job assignments.  You can request long-term assignments but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get long-term assignments.  Some companies might request a temp for two days, or two weeks, or one month, or indefinitely…it simply depends upon the need of the company. This can be quite frustrating for individuals who need steady income to meet their expenses, which is most of us.

No work available

Another major disadvantage is…you might call looking for work only to learn that there is no work available at that particular time.  In fact, you might call for several weeks or months only to learn that the agency has no work.  This is so frustrating for most. This is why some job seekers sign up for several agencies in hopes of landing a job through one of them.

No benefits

Unfortunately, some agencies do not offer benefits to their workers.   However, some agencies offer benefits only after you have worked a certain amount of hours but the benefits are limited and can be very costly to you.  You should inquire about the benefits before you register with a temporary agency.

Lower pay

Another disadvantage is that you will not receive the pay that you were accustomed to making when you worked permanently.  The agency charges the companies a certain rate for your services and you will only be paid a percentage of the bill rate.  You will need to negotiate a pay rate before you accept a job assignment. You might also politely ask what percentage of the bill rate you are being paid by the agency.  You should also note that not every assignment pays the same.  It’s up to you whether or not you choose to accept or refuse an assignment.  However, you don’t want to turn down too many assignments, because they might stop calling you and select to call individuals who don’t hesitate to accept job assignments.

Feel like an outcast

When you work for various companies on a temporary basis you might find that some individuals will not embrace you because you are not technically part of the company. You might be excluded from parties, lunch outings, etc. because you are basically an outsider working temporarily. Some employees might also refer to you as "the temp" instead of making a conscious effort to memorize your name...and that's pretty sad.

The blame game

Oftentimes permanent employees want to avoid reprimand from their managers and to cover themselves, will blame the temp(s) (unbeknownst to them) for job errors they’ve caused in the workplace.  They know that the temp will only be there temporarily and may never find out that they’ve been accused for something they did not do.  On the contrary, they may take the credit for work that the temp did as well.

Misleading job assignments

Scenario: You get an offer from your agency to work a particular job and you opt to accept the assignment based upon the job description the recruiter articulated to you.  However, on your first day on the job you discover that the duties are not what you expected.  You were told one thing by the agency but the company gave you something else to do.  For example, the recruiter might tell you that you will be doing strictly accounting work, but you were instructed by the company manger that your duties are to distribute mail and file instead.  How disappointing! Sometimes this is a matter of miscommunication.  And in some instances the agency staff person failed to give you the complete job description or an updated job description.  Nonetheless, you have the option of calling the agency to explain the situation and to request a different job assignment.  These type incidents will inconvenience you, the company, and the agency.

Conclusion, despite the disadvantages in working for an agency, the bottom line is that a temporary agency is a useful service and can be very instrumental in getting the unemployed back into the workforce.

Career Change: Knowing When to Make the Move

Making a decision to change careers requires careful planning, adequate finances, and determination.  When is the best time to make a career transition? Well, that simply depends upon the individual’s current job situation and what they’d like to be doing in the future.  People seek career changes for various reasons.  Changes in technology, changes in family status, and loss of job are all possible reasons that an individual might seek a career change.  Nonetheless, it’s imperative that you don’t let the opportunity slip away when you have time on your side and all the right resources available to you to make it happen. Here are some of the best times as to when you might consider making a career change.

 Laid off from work

If you have been laid off from work for more than six months you might consider changing your current career.  Don’t be afraid to explore all of your options.  Take the time to discover what you are most passionate about.  If you are still unsure about what it is you would like to do, you should take a career assessment test.  After you have discovered your passion you should research your career choice(s) to ensure that these particular job(s) are in demand.

 Low job prospects for current job

Some jobs are in less demand than others because technology is constantly changing and also because some companies have outsourced some of its job functions. If you find it difficult to find work in your current profession because the job prospects are limited -you will need to change your occupation. Effective planning is crucial. Take time to plan how you want to go about changing your career. 

 Bored with current job

If you are bored with your current job and have encountered limited growth opportunities don’t hesitate to pursue a career change.  You will need to take the necessary steps to make your dream job a reality. Aforementioned, you should choose a career that you are most passionate about. 

 Family status has changed

A change in family status is a good reason to make a career transition.  For example, if you were once a two-income family and is now a single income family, you might want to choose a career that pays you more money to help make up for the difference.  Research to find out which jobs pay more and are in high demand before you select your major.

 Have adequate funds to finance your education

If you have been awarded adequate funds to finance your education, whether it be tuition reimbursement, grants, loans, or cash…you should take advantage of the opportunity.  Don’t waste time or money but move with haste to apply to a college of your choice or other learning institution to pursue your new career interest.

 After you have received your college degree

Just because you have received your college degree, don’t let that prevent you from returning to school to earn another degree or certificate in another discipline.  If you find that you need to make a career change…by all means pursue your goals.

Records Management (RM): What Every Business Should Know

Let's first start out by defining what records management is.  Records management is basically responsible for receiving and disposing of records and other important documents in accordance with the companies’ guidelines whether stationed in-house or off-site.  Furthermore, records management is accountable for ensuring that all stored records are kept confidential and in tack when in an active status and could possibly include categorization as well.  Every business should have a records management program in place to manage its personal documents and should take extra precaution as to who should access the material. Simply put, records management is a very important aspect of the business operations.  Some companies may opt to hire an outside records management program to manage its records due to lack of space and/or adequate manpower.  And in other cases, companies may use a warehouse located somewhere near the facility to store its records, while other companies have sufficient space to store its records in-house. 

 Physical records could be in the form of paper, tapes, films, files, books, archives, recordings, or other documents. Examples of records are medical information, employee records, birth certificates, office data, charts, medical x-rays and other important information.  Every record should be stored in such a way as to prevent environmental damage such as moisture and abrasive temperature. When records are no longer needed- the company should properly dispose of them.  Proper disposal would be shredding or burning. Companies should never discard whole or partial records directly in a garbage bin. Doing so would violate client/ customer privacy and confidentiality rights.

There are several good reasons as to why a company should implement a records management system. One good reason is to securely store records as to protect confidential material in order to avoid potential lawsuits.  Companies must stay in compliant with the laws where it concerns the privacy rights of customers, clients, employees, and patients.  By setting a good records management system in place a company can lessen its risk of litigation.  Another reason for a company to use a records management system is to de-clutter the office and maintain the records in an orderly fashion. When records are accurately labeled and categorized this will help simplify the retrieval of records when needed. And yet another reason is preserve active records up until the time of disposal.  Records management should never dispose of any records until given proper authorization by the company. Most companies keep records in storage until a certain period of time.  Records management will need to adhere to the company’s guidelines regarding the disposal of records.
 
In conclusion, it’s imperative that every company takes the time to put a good records management system in place regardless of the size of the company.  Just think how you would feel if you went to your health care facility to get copies of an x-ray that you had done several years ago, only to learn that the record had been destroyed by moisture or that they could not locate it.  What would your reaction be?  Would you take legal action against the company?