Job Hunt

10 Questions to Help Decide if It’s Time to Leave a Job

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All of us fantasize about leaving our jobs at some point. Before doing anything rash, it’s a good idea to think why you want to make a change. Here are 10 things to think about before deciding to call it quits:

  1. Is it really our job that’s the problem or something else? There are ways to improve your relationships and/or situation at work that do not require you to up and leave.
  2. Are you required to do something you can no longer do? For example, traveling 3 weeks out of 4 might have been fine when you were younger, but it’s wearing on you now
  3. Can you see yourself still doing your job for the next several years? Or does it fill you with dread?
  4. Is the job making you physically ill? Are you being bullied? Harassed? Something else? Yes, you could stay and fight but there is definitely a psychic cost to that.
  5. Are you overwhelmed all the time? Can you no longer handle the responsibilities or volume of work expected? Is this a temporary situation or one likely to go on for the foreseeable future? No job is worth making yourself sick over.
  6. Are you appreciated by your bosses and/or peers at least some of the time? Do you like the people you work with? Or is your work thankless? This is not just about money…thank you’s are nice too!
  7. Are you staying in the job because you’re afraid to change? If so you may want to discuss this with someone you trust.
  8. Are your skills being used? If not, is there the potential for your skills to be used at some point? Is that possibility enough?
  9. Is there new leadership or a new boss? Are you aligned with their vision? Have you given it time to actually decide?
  10. Do you have a Plan B? If you need to work, do you have another job? Are your career documents up to date? Its always better to look for a new job when you have one.

If any of the above apply to you, its time to think about your next steps; you need to update your career documents and start networking! Begin to think about what you want in your next job or career. Write it down and hold yourself accountable. Make sure that you moving toward something better and not just running away from your current situation.

Do I Really Need a Cover Letter?

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Back in the days of “snail mail,” the use of a cover letter was standard. Applicants mailed their resumes and included a cover letter to introduce themselves and highlight their qualifications. Nowadays, no one actually mails their resume to anyone; so the obvious question is whether cover letters are still needed.

Here are some thoughts to consider:

  • Does the job posting ask for a cover letter? If so, you definitely want to include one. If nothing else, it shows that you can follow instructions (always a plus for an employer!).
  • Is there a place to upload a cover letter? Many private sector Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) do not provide space to upload a cover letter. If you find yourself in this situation, it is clear that the organization does not want a cover letter.
  • Most private sector recruiters (over 60% according to some studies) do not read them. Of course, that means that approximately 40% of resume reviewers and recruiters do review cover letters.
  • In the federal arena, the first thing that is reviewed is basic qualifications and then the questionnaire; next is the resume. An applicant has no way of knowing whether the Human Resources Specialist reads your letter—or even more importantly, passes it along to the hiring manager.
  • A cover letter that simply says “here is my resume for the ABC position is always worse than no cover letter at all. If you are going to prepare a cover letter, you should make it meaningful. There are still no guarantees that it will be read or considered but if it is, it will at least say something.

If you do decide to prepare a cover letter, here are best practices:

  • Customize your cover letter, including addressing it to a real person and properly noting the job and organization. There is no excuse for “to whom it may concern.” All federal job postings list a contact person. And for private sector positions, use LinkedIn and other sources to find the hiring manager.
  • Make it different than your resume. A cover letter should not just repeat what’s in your resume—highlight your key qualifications and accomplishments vis-à-vis the posting and tell your story, while making it personal. You can and should use “I” in your cover letter.
  • If you are emailing your resume to someone, you should put your “cover letter” in the body of the email, rather than making it a second attachment for someone to open. Keep it short; emails are typically shorter than letters. If you’re putting your resume and cover letter into a system, be sure to put it in the right place.
  • Keep it short and sweet; your cover letter should not exceed one page and paragraphs should be kept to 4-5 sentences.
  • Ensure perfection. Make sure your cover letter is well written and includes no typos or grammatical errors. Ask a friend, family member, or colleague to proof it for you.

While in many cases, a cover letter is no longer needed, if you are going to prepare and submit one, make sure it is worth the reader’s time and attention!

Top 10 Jobseeker Mistakes

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Are you making mistakes in your job search? Chances are, you’re making at least one or two — if not more! Run through this list and identify which mistakes you’re currently making — and then follow the suggestions to learn how to stop making that mistake!

Top 10 Job Seeker Mistakes

  1. Looking for a Job vs. a Career. Wait, I shouldn’t look for a job? Don’t just look for a job — look for a career. A calling. What are you meant to do? How can you use your skills, education, and experience for maximum benefit? You may not see that position advertised in a job posting. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. What kinds of problems could you solve for an organization? What kind of organization needs those problems solved? Investigate how you could solve that problem for that kind of organization.
  2. Not Targeting Your Job Search. What kinds of jobs are you interested in? What kind of organization do you want to work for? If your answer is, “I don’t care, I just need a job,” your job search is less likely to be successful than if you spend some time thinking about where you want to work, and what you want to do (and how to get there!).
  3. Not Making It Easy for an Employer to See How You’d Fit In. Generic resumes don’t attract employer attention. Instead, you need to show an employer how you can add value to their organization. You need to customize your tool for the job. You wouldn’t use a hammer to tighten a screw, would you? You can’t use the same resume to apply for vastly different jobs — for example, an Information Technology (IT) position and a job as a budget assistant. Figure out what the key components of the job are, and then showcase how you can do those things in your resume.
  4. Confusing Activity With Action. Are you confusing “busywork” with progress? Are you spending a lot of time researching jobs online and applying for lots of positions? While it’s recommended that you spend at least an hour a day on your job search if you are currently employed (and two to three times that if you are currently unemployed), make sure you are tracking how much time you are spending, and what you are spending it on. Spend your time on high value tasks — like identifying and researching organizations you’d like to work for, and trying to connect directly with hiring managers, and having coffee with someone who works for the organization you’re applying at — and not just simply spending time in front of your computer.
  5. Paying Attention to Other People’s Opinions. “You have to do this,” “Never do that,” “My cousin’s best friend got a job by standing out in front of the organization wearing a sandwich board.” Everyone’s got an opinion about how to conduct a job search. Some of it is confusing, some of it is just plain wrong. Your friends and family can be wrong about how the job search works, and it might hurt your chances to get your dream job. Trust your instincts. Don’t believe everything you read online, and remember that one person’s opinion is just that — one person’s opinion.
  6. Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results. “I applied for six jobs and haven’t heard anything back.” Well, then something’s not working. Either stop applying for advertised positions, start following up on the applications you’ve already put in, or figure out a different way to connect with your dream job. It’s been said that “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If what you’re doing isn’t working, do something different!
  7. Not Paying Attention to What Worked For You Before in Your Job Search. This is the opposite of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This time, we want you to achieve the same result as before — a great job. So look at what worked for you the last time you landed the job you wanted. Were you networking at a professional association meeting? At your child’s basketball game and struck up a conversation with the person next to you? Or did you apply on an agency’s website? Consider doing more of what worked for you last time and see if it works for you again.
  8. Putting All Your Eggs In One Basket. “But this is my dream job!” While that may be true, you will have a better chance of getting a better job if you don’t rely on a single opportunity. Wouldn’t it be great to have two or three job offers to choose from? That’s only going to happen if you diversify your job search. Apply for multiple positions — even a couple you think you wouldn’t necessarily accept. You never know — you might learn in the interview process that it really is your dream job.
  9. Not Spending Enough Time on Your Job Search. You’ve probably heard it said that looking for a job is a job in itself. That’s partially true. Yes, some people will hear about an opportunity from a friend and get hired (sometimes without even applying). But for the vast majority of jobseekers, you’ll have to invest time in getting your resume prepared, applying for positions, following up, and more.
  10. Spending Too Much Time on Your Job Search. On the other hand, it is possible to spend too much time on your job search. It’s easy to get wrapped up in your job search and, the next thing you know, it’s 1 a.m. Remember, one of the best ways to find your next job is talking to people you know. So give yourself permission to “stop working” on your job search and hang out with your friends. (And maybe make some new friends while you’re at it!)

Also, don’t overlook the following common mistakes:

  • Networking The Wrong Way. Second only to not using your network at all is using it incorrectly. Your network is comprised of all the people that you know and also all the people that they know. Don’t just think that because you don’t personally know anyone who works for Organization ABC that you’re out of luck using your network. Ask the people you know who they know. But remember that networking requires relationship building and relationship management. If you haven’t talked to someone for five years, don’t let your first contact with them be, “Hey, can you help me get a job at your organization?” Author Harvey Mackay has a great book on this: “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.”
  • Being Unprepared For Your Job Search. You need tools to help you succeed in your job search. An updated, targeted resume. A “complete” LinkedIn profile with at least 150 connections. Cover letters. Thank you letters. Answers to the top 20 interview questions you might be expected to answer. You wouldn’t go into battle unarmed; don’t go into a job search unprepared.
  • Not Thanking People Who Have Helped You Along The Way. Once you’ve successfully landed your new job, don’t forget to go back and thank those people who helped you with your job search. That will help ensure they’re willing to help you the next time you’re looking to make a move.