4 Ways to Use Job Hopping to Your Advantage - The Muse

4 Ways to Use Job Hopping to Your Advantage - The Muse4 Ways to Use Job Hopping to Your AdvantageIts completely normal to change jobs every few years. The days when people clocked in and out at the same company for years (and years) on end are over- no one expects that anymore. In fact, you might even be judged if you stick around the same company for too long.And yes, with all this moving around, people dont develop the same kind of loyalty that comes with working at the same firm for 25 years. Again, thats OK. Whats not OK is bouncing around from position to position, leaving the job the second you get bored.Why? Because youll earn a reputation as a job hopper, and after you hop one too many times, employers will start to worry that youre not taking your career seriously. A 24-year-old exploring her options is fine. A 34-year-old whos had a different job every year since graduation, not so much.So, how can you prove youre committed to your career path without sticking around at you r current company forever? Well, there are four things you should do at every single job- for your own personal career growth, but also to prove to a hiring manager that youll make a positive impact on the company, regardless of long you stick around.1. Learn Something NewIf theres only one thing you can say to prove your time with a company was well spent, it should be that youve learned something you didnt know before. Maybe you had a marketing position and you mastered a new software application thatll help you harvest and apply data to drive successful campaigns. Maybe you did some cross-functional work between operations and sales to better understand customer requirements. Or, maybe you attended weekly strategy sessions and drew some innovative conclusions on the future direction of your industry.Whatever you do, be sure youre always learning and growing. Most employers will give you these development opportunities, but smart employees will find a way to seize them regardless. If no ones offering this learning experience to you, seek it out within the company or take classes elsewhere.2. Accomplish Something HardIts no secret that career growth demands progress, and progress requires accomplishments. Thats why its easy to spot the difference between those who switch jobs out of boredom and those who do so to further their careers. The former group will come across as flighty and indecisive, unable to point to any worthwhile endeavors on a resume. The latter, on the other hand, will have meaningful and specific obstacles theyve surmounted.When youve only got a few years with a company, you need to demonstrate and test your ability as often as you can. These displays of productivity show future employers that youre a person who gets cracking on day one, someone who thrives on setting and achieving his or her goals. If there are currently no challenges in your way, create one (by launching a new initiative, not by deleting the companys data server), and ove rcome it.3. Make Some Mistakes, Then Learn From ThemLook, nobodys perfect. Advancing your career is a process that often requires a few stumbles along the way- so before you leave a job, be sure to try and tackle something you arent completely certain you can do. If you make mistakes, then so be it. Youll show people youre not afraid to test a theory and see what happens. In fact, you might discover theres more value to extract from your current position, in which case it might not be time to leave yet. Or you might uncover some truths about what you truly enjoy at work and where you want to go in the future.The bottom line is that character and determination are built through trial and error. So, be sure that each position you hold is one in which you have to overcome a difficulty, take responsibility, and inevitably grow from the experience.4. Get- and Stay- ConnectedEveryone knows that the world of recruiting and referrals has been forever changed by social media. Its easier than ever to leverage networks like Twitter and LinkedIn to find new job opportunities, which is why you should establish connections with as many colleagues as you can while you are working with a company. You never know when youll be able to help them out with a referral down the road, or request a reference for yourself.Keep in mind that connecting- truly connecting- is about a lot more than just friending someone. Its about taking the time to get to know each person you add to your circle. While that can entail untersttzung or teaming up for a project, it can also be as simple as grabbing a cup of coffee.With the number of career opportunities available today, its no surprise that people want to move around. But before you leave one job for the next, be sure youve done everything possible to get the most value out of the experience. If you dont, your resume will eventually reflect what youve missed- and more importantly, youll have let a good opportunity go to waste.

Bosses dont find you likable Here are13 reasons why

Bosses dont find you likable Here are13 reasons whyBosses dont find you likable Here are13 reasons whyWhile you might wish those days wzu siche a popularity contest mattered are over, the hard, cold truth is that being liked by those above you may make or break your career. As New York career coach, Carlota Zimmerman explains, likability can determine your life. From shopping to dating, whetherbei its getting a good deal on your dream home, or student loans, getting upgraded on a plane, to receiving faster care at the ER, likable people tend to move to the front of the line, she says. You want your babo to like you since shes the one determining who will get the opportunities necessary to achieve their career potential, and goals. You want your babo to like you so that when shes planning to attend that huge industry conference in Shanghai, she picks you to join her in first class. You want your boss to like you, so that when sh*t gets real - as the young people say - she can go to bat for you.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraTo make sure youre putting your friendliest foot forward, avoid these blunders that might make your boss wish someone else was doing your job.You give your boss a lot to manageUnless youre at the top of the totem pole or standing atop that glass ceiling at your own company, part of your role will always mean making your managers life easier. And while asking questions is part of learning and advancing your career, the more time your boss has to spend holding your hand, the more frustrated he or she might become. Your boss has a lot on their plate, and they dont have time to constantly babysit you. Micromanaging is leid fun for anyone, and though most employees say they dont like being micro-managed, if youre a lot of work, your boss probably feels like they have to use this method to get work done, explains career coach Colene Elridge . Instead of constantly asking for reassurance, smart employees figure it out or come to the boss with a succinct description of the problem and potential solutions. If you find it tough to resist the urge to ping your boss several times a day, Elridge suggests finding a coach or a mentor outside of your office to build your confidence. Gain the skills you need to more effectively do your job. Then find a mentor that can help guide you through your career. Mentors are great at helping you grow and develop, Elridge says.You fake it and dont produce resultsCongrats You earned an awesome promotion or finally got the lead spot for a project you wanted to spear. But now, the pressure is on dropping the tanzabend after a career growth moment can quickly make your boss doubt his or her decision. Though faking-it-until-you-make-it can work in certain cases, if youre throwing around fancy terms and answers, without actually understanding your responsibilities, you might make a big mess for y our boss to clean up. I cant tell you the number of organizations Ive worked with who have employees who dont do their jobs. Meaning, they do everything but produce results. Some blame falls squarely on the organization for notlage properly engaging their employees, but some falls on the individual. When you make the choice to not do your job, you make your boss have to work harder, and thats a key way to make them not like you. You were hired to do a job. Whatever the job is, there are expected results, and when you dont produce those results, theres a problem, Elridge says. Many people can stagnate for years at this level of middle management because they never learn how to stop bossing people and start leading people. How do you start to grow as professional, in a meaningful, impactful way? Elridge says its a slippery slope that might require some soul-searching to figure out why youre working where youre working, and what might be keeping you from being less than motivated. From there, baby steps are key. If you dont like the work, consider a career change. If youre just in a bit of a slump, pull yourself together and set a deadline. Momentum changes things. When you see yourself complete a project or task, you build more momentum to do better work, she adds.Youre not straightforward about things that dont workNo matter if its your dream job or just a starter gig to get you to the company you truly want to work for, there are going to be issues that arrive in every workplace. Though ultimately, its your managers responsibility to address workflows, gruppes or programs that simply arent working, its also part of your role to flag miscommunication or difficulties youre having. Why? When something goes wrong, productivity is the first to suffer. Any good workplace knows how to handle conflict. A workplace without conflict resolution skills is a recipe for chaos. It is not uncommon that people lack conflict resolution skills. Avoidance is not a tactic. Conflic t will happen, and though it can be uncomfortable, its not always a schwimmbad thing. If youre the type of person who avoids conflict or stirs up conflict in your office, my guess is your boss may not like you, Elridge says. Heres where its essential to put your creative thinking hat on by figuring out whats causing the trouble and how you might suggest fixing the issue to your boss. Approach your manager with a solution not just a complaint and let them take the reins from there.You dont impress himUsually, the bosss least favorite people are the ones who punch in the clock and contribute no more than they have to. Or they ask for more responsibility, but when asked to see a project through to the end, make excuses as to why they cant. The bottom line Promotable employees go above and beyond. So if youre not taking ownership for your own career path, why would you expect your boss to guide you along a highlighted, trackable path? Worst of all, if your boss has stopped coming to y ou because he knows he cant count on you, youre definitely not going anywhere in the company.There are only so many hours in the workday, and if your boss starts rolling her eyes, since shes just done with your discussions about why a project isnt finished youre in trouble. You want your boss to identify you as someone who solves problems, whom she can count on, not as someone who makes her life harder, Zimmerman says. Working in an office, making deadlines, keeping a business on track is difficult enough. When you consider that people have their own lives, with partners, children, mortgages, parents, Netflix queues, you begin to realize that very few good managers want any unnecessary stress in the office.Instead of doing the bare minimum and offloading the rest to your boss, consider why youre feeling disconnected. Your issues may be legitimate, but if they are making it difficult to get work done, if theyre contributing to a tense corporate environment, you and your issues may n eed to look for a new job, Zimmerman suggests.You make it all about you Bosses have to oversee teams, and the employee who is always trying to focus attention on themselves is a distraction to cooperation. Derailing team discussions to talk about your own goals, dominating planning, and refusing to see the bigger picture of team progress rather than your own are all manifestations of this attitude. While this type of self-first behavior might make you feel like a powerful executive at first, it doesnt do much to build a relationship with your co-workers, or more importantly, your boss. This applies on a personal level too when other people are talking, listen. You might not be interested in hearing about their random trip to the Finger Lakes, but its in your best interest to listen, anyway, as a way to show respect for their experiences.Consider this people you work with have to spend a minimum of eight hours a day with you. Wouldnt they prefer someone who is pleasant to spend that time with?People want to work with people that they like, not just people who are competent. Make an effort to develop a good working relationship with your boss. This does not necessarily mean that you always have to go out to lunch together. But it does mean that you should try to create a spirit of camaraderie between you, Zimmerman adds.You refuse to do simple tasksMaking copies? Creating a spreadsheet? Sending notes post-budget-planning meeting? Under no circumstances should you break any ethical standards for a boss, but for routine requests, the answer should always be - as far as you can swing it - yes. You might not find all of his or her tasks to be necessary, but your role is helping your higher-ups to meet deadlines and goals, so its worth your effort. If you dont do it or do it poorly you not only make yourself look bad, but the team, too.Years ago, I had a client who, on the first day of her new job, was given a detail-oriented project. She didnt do it. Not only di d she not do the project, but she also spent time that could have been used to make her deadline, writing out a long letter of excuses and apologies. Needless to say, her management was furiousand within two months, that new job was only an old memory, Zimmerman says. You may not understand the reason for the deadline, you may disagree with it, but if youre really trying to climb the ladder, make the deadline.If youre actually strapped for time and cant do a deep-dive into data before 6 p.m.? Dont just cross your arms and refuse to do something. Show you can think strategically. Instead of saying, I cant do that, and expect the boss to fix it, point to facts and numbers and make a case for another way Because our budget cant cover this right now, its a challenge to get this project done. Have we considered hiring an intern or distributing the workload among other teams? Heres how that would work.You refuse to understand the struggle of bureaucracyIn very few cases does management re sponsibility mean snapping your fingers and getting what you want. Managing takes maneuvering. Being a boss is very often a matter of managing bureaucracy to get things done. Some bosses are good at it, and some are terrible. But whats never helpful is an employee whos constantly talking down the company or asking why something hasnt already happened by now, exactly the way that employee wants it.You can create major headaches for your boss and everyone else on the job if you dont understand bureaucracy. As frustrating as dealing with bureaucracy can be, there is a certain protocol that is expected, and if you try to bypass the workings of bureaucracy in order to get things done, you will ruffle feathers along the way, explains career coach Cheryl Palmer. Your boss will probably take the heat because of your bad decisions. This, in turn, will affect how the boss perceives you. The best thing to do is to learn how the bureaucracy works and work within the system.Not everyone is cut o ut for the corporate world though, Palmer notes. If you cant see yourself conforming to the bureaucracy, she suggests looking for a job in a small company where there isnt as much bureaucracy to deal with or working for yourself.You make your boss look badJust like you, bosses like to look good in front of their bosses. If you do a good job, they look good. But if you undermine your boss by badmouthing them unreasonably to teammates or their own bosses, they usually find out, and they see you as a problem. A few years ago, a friend of mine was going through a rough patch in her life. She confided in a friend of hers, an attorney who owned a successful small practice, and he hired her, on a part-time basis, to help him out in the office. Sounds great, right? It was, except my friend simply couldnt stop herself from biting the hand that fed her. Whatever the boss said, she had to correct him, or one-up him, or simply make it clear to him that he might be a well-to-do lawyer, but she had a Masters degree, and he owed her respect, Zimmerman shared. After two weeks, all his compassion had drained away, and the next time she corrected him, he came down came the ax.There might be times when you dont agree with your employer or you think you could do a better job than him or her, but as Zimmerman says your boss is the boss and he or she is in charge. If you cant bite your tongue, you might want to consider seeking another job, where you can be at the top, or a manager you vibe better with.This article was first published n July 17, 2017.

Tech Terms Crash Course 19 Terms to Know

Tech Terms Crash Course 19 Terms to KnowTech Terms Crash Course 19 Terms to KnowAs you start learning about all things tech, youll probably ansturm across so many new vocabulary words that you feel like youre back in high school studying for the SAT again. To get you started, heres a guide to basic ?tech terms everyone should know...even if youre a beginner. User Experience (UX) User Experience deals with the way a person experiences a product, especially in regards to websites or apps. UX is primarily concerned with ease of use and user satisfaction/enjoyment. Sitemap An outline of all the pages on a websiteUI User interface. Every part of a machine that users interact with counts things like displays, screens, keyboards, mouse/touchpads, etc.User research Observation and analysis conducted with the goal of understanding user needs and behaviors.Wireframe Sketch of what a website/web app will look like, includes key components on the site. Workflow Tools Hardware Tools that help increase your productivity and efficiency. Text editor Software used in coding and programming to write plain, unformatted text. Examples Sublime Text, Brackets, TextEdit, TextWrangler, NotepadIDE Integrated development environment. Helps people program more efficiently. Similar to a text editor, but has more features. Examples PyCharm, WebstormRouter A router is the step between a modem and a computer. When information arrives at a modem via broadband, the router deciphers and sends that data to your computer.Virtual machine (VM) A virtual machine is, essentially, software that behaves like hardware it has no physical presence but can run programs like a physical machine. The two types of VMs are system virtual machines (designed to run entire operating systems) and process virtual machines (designed to run only one program). Virtual Private Network (VPN) VPNs provide an additional layer of security to networks. They can be used for public or private networks, but are most co mmon in corporations that want to protect data.Version control Version control is a system that tracks changes to a file or set of files over time. It allows you to recall specific versions later if certain changes fail to work, saving you the trouble of undoing all the steps.Task manager Applications that make it possible to automate repetitive but necessary tasks, streamlining your work process. Examples Grunt, Gulp Front-end Development Also known as the client side, because its what users/clients will see on their computers. The front end of a website or app involves the display/design coded into it. HTML Hypertext Markup Language. The face of the internet. All websites have HTML. Web browsers read HTML files and convert them into the website you ultimately see.CSS Cascading Style Sheets. If HTML is the face, CSS is the makeup. It allows you to choose styles and add variety.JavaScript Runs in the client (one of the few programming languages that do). fruchtwein popular lang uage in web development. Now used on the back end, too. Back-end Development Often called server side, the back end is what happens behind the scenes to make a website or app run- the front end is the face, and the back end is the brain. Includes servers and databases. API Application Programming Interface. Used in software development to provide a set of rules and building blocks for a program.Database Collection of a web apps data.DevOps Software development method designed to help teams communicate and work together better. Unites developers with other IT workers with the end goal of increased production and efficiency.Framework Full term is web application framework. These trim the time that it takes to build a website/app by providing pre-coded templates and libraries, so you have a base to build on. Web server The primary purpose of a web server is to store content and deliver it to clients. It can be hardware (a web-accessible computer) or software (a program that detects and responds to server requests). Conclusion 19 tech terms down, only a couple hundred (or thousands) to go. Take it slow, dont get overwhelmed, and youll have them mastered in no time.