One of the big questions professionals face today is whether or not to leave their job. The job market is tough, but finding happiness is often top priority. It’s always easier to find a job while you have a job, but sometimes you may wonder – is it really worth it?

There’s never been a more acceptable time to walk away without another offer in hand. Almost weekly, I hear about someone who has decided to quit, mid-career, and who plans to take time off to travel, go back to school, or just relax.

Have you hit the point of leaving? Different people have different tolerance levels. But, there are a few sure fire signs that it may be time to walk.

1. You are miserable every single day. In the morning, in the evening, and even on the weekend, you dread going in. In fact, Sunday is the worst. Your entire Sunday feels like torture as you wait for Monday morning to roll around.
2. Your self-esteem is suffering. You’ve forgotten who you are, and what makes you great. You’re starting to buy into the message that you’re not good enough or that something is wrong with you. You beat yourself up over small things.
3. Your boss crosses the line. Your boss is doing something that is, or should be, considered illegal. Whether that means physical advances, yelling, or throwing things, you no longer feel comfortable at work. In fact, sometimes you even feel unsafe.
4. The pressure makes you cry. Especially if you’re not normally an emotional person, if work is bringing you to tears, it may be time to consider hitting the road. This also goes for when your physical health is being impacted negatively in other ways.
5. Your boss is actively taking steps to show you they don’t value your work. For example, they may have cut your salary. They could have doubled your work load when a co-worker left with no end in sight. Maybe they insult you in front of your colleagues or belittle you in staff meetings. Whatever they’re doing – if they’re making a special effort to let you know you’re not valued, it may be time to move on. Just remember, someone else will value you and won’t treat you this way.

If you’re considering leaving your job before you have a new one, be sure you’ve thought through everything completely. Talk to a trusted source to get an unbiased opinion. The last thing you want is to react too quickly.

Take the time to review your personal finances. If you were out of work for six months to a year, would you survive? What if you had a major health or family complication? Is it more stressful to be financially uncertain or to continue to go to work at a job you loath?

If you decide to leave, keep your plans secret until you provide your notice to your boss. This will allow you to keep control over your personal situation for as long as you can.

When you give your notice, be sure you document everything in writing. This will ensure that you and your company are on the same page, and there are no misunderstandings.

Decide ahead of time how much notice you are willing to give. Standard notice before leaving a job is two weeks. In today’s work environment, many executives don’t even provide much more than this. Three or four weeks may be nice if your company begs you to stay longer. But, I caution against more than four weeks. Typically, employees who stay longer find that their last weeks were not properly used as a transition time. Eventually, they felt that they were becoming more of a team punching bag than anything else. Beware of this trap.

Whatever you decide to do, take care of yourself. Realize that nobody else can take care of your needs the way you can, and only you will know when you’ve hit your limit. Remember that you’re not alone – lots of people are going through what you are. And, by taking control over your situation, you will ensure it’s temporary.

I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.

Also, be sure to  subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

I have a confession to make: I’m terrible at remembering names. Can you relate to my dilemma? At parties and networking events, this can create big problems for you.

Many people take it personally if you don’t remember who they are, especially if they’ve met you more than once. This can present a challenge if you’re job searching, because in theory – you should be attending many networking events. And, networking means meeting new people – lots of them.

If you’re going to events that ask guests to wear nametags, this issue can be helped some. But, you will often meet people more than once. In a new context, it can be difficult to remember who’s who.

Below are my tips on how to remember names. If you follow these, people will think you’re a pro at remembering who they are.

1. Always carry business cards. Store them everywhere – in your bag, in your desk, and in your car. You never know when you might need one.  If you don’t have a business card from work, order your own online. They can be basic with just your name, phone number, and e-mail address.
2. Exchange business cards with everyone you meet at networking events. It can seem awkward at first, but in time it will seem natural. When you offer your business card, the person you meet will be prompted to give you theirs (without you having to ask).
3. Bring a pen. Keep a pen in your jacket. When you have a quiet moment, take notes on the back of every business card you receive. You should take note of the date, the event where you met them, and any memorable details that you spoke about.
4. Organize your cards. Create a system, so that when you return home, you can easily access the business cards you’ve collected. I recommend getting clear plastic sheets that are made for business cards. They fit into 3 ring binders, and will allow you to see both sides of each card.
5. Review your cards. Before you attend your next big networking event, flip through your binder of business cards. Review the notes on the back of each card. This will keep everyone fresh in your mind.

If you follow these five simple steps, people will think you’re a pro at remembering names. After struggling with this issue for years, I was once introduced as “this is Angela – she has an amazing memory for names!”

Give it a try. The stress of remembering names will melt away, and you’ll be able to focus on the networking event and your job search.

I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.

Also, be sure to  subscribe to my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

I spend hours each week working with job seekers on their career goals and aspirations. Often, what makes someone stand out from other candidates isn’t what you’d think.

It’s not their education or technical expertise. It’s rarely how many certifications they have. Successful job seekers work to become their best at a few key traits, including confidence, persistence, creativity, and positivity.

These traits don’t take tons of money to develop, but they do take time and effort. By honing thees traits, you will put yourself in front of the competition.

1. Confidence – Successful job seekers believe in themselves and their abilities. They are comfortable communicating why they are the best candidate for the job. And, even if they don’t have all of the qualifications preferred, they can easily explain how they will grow their skills. Bottom line, they are comfortable being their own sales person. They realize that their talents are the service they’re selling — and they realize they’re the best salesman for the job.
2. Persistence – Most people who consistently land good job after good job are very persistent. Just because they don’t get every interview or job offer, they keep moving. They also stay in touch with companies who have turned them down, in hopes of building a relationship for future opportunities. They know the right job could be around the very next corner, or the last corner. They don’t take things personally and they work to create lasting relationships.
3. Creativity – The best job seekers are also creative in their search. They may apply online for the jobs they’re interested, but they don’t stop there. They look for ways to connect to employers outside of the typical internet process. They understand that hundreds of people apply for every job online, and they want to find a way to stand out — and to connect offline. Look for these people at networking meetings, and researching employers on LinkedIn.
4. Positivity – Great job seekers experience disappointment, just like everyone else. They encounter lots of nos before they get a yes. And sometimes, they get offers they have to turn down. But, they keep moving forward and stay positive. They know that the right attitude will help to land them right right job.

As you can see, finding a job often has more to do with resilience than with job requirements.

Making up 100 reasons why you aren’t getting hired doesn’t help you. But, thinking of the 100 reasons you should get hired will. Stay focused on the positives and stay in the game.

Apply for jobs you know you can do, even if you don’t meet every requirement. Be ready to explain how you get overcome any knowledge gaps.

In addition, you shouldn’t expect your next job to happen immediately. It’s a process that takes time. It’s very rare for someone to find a job the day they decide they’d like one. Sometimes, it appears that this is happening because you don’t hear about someone’s new job until they announce it. In all likelihood though, they were working on getting hired for a long time.

Some might compare job searching to farming. You have to plan seeds, water them, and then be patient. Eventually, with the right nutrients, your plants will grow. Looking for a job is the same way. It takes hard work and persistence, but eventually you will find the job for you.

I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.

Also, please check out (and subscribe to) my Copeland Coaching Podcast on Apple Podcasts where I discuss career advice every Tuesday! If you’ve already heard the podcast and enjoy it, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. Thanks.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! The weather in much of the country has been beautiful the past few days. I hope you’ve had the opportunity to enjoy it.

If you missed my newsletter last week, please be sure to check it out here. I tried making a few adjustments to the that may have prevented you from receiving it. In it, I covered summer job search strategies and discussed my recent interview with job website Glassdoor.com’s Career Trends Analyst, Scott Dobroski. In particular, I show you how to research company salaries on Glassdoor.

This week, I want to know – What’s your exit strategy?

With the unstable economy we’ve been experiencing for years now, keeping an exit strategy in mind is a must. Do you have yours nailed down? If your exit strategy is dependent on hope and crossed fingers, it’s time to rethink things.

Ideally, you shouldn’t wait until signs of trouble to plan your next career move. But, at a minimum, when those signs appear, it’s time to move. In some industries, you may experience what’s known as a RPE – a “resume producing event.” It could come in the form of an intense company meeting, or other warning signs that your organization could be in trouble.

If you ignore these signs and wait, you become a sitting duck. You lose your power of negotiation because when you look for a new job, you have no choice but to find one. You’ve given up all your leverage.

Getting ahead of the game gives you increased negotiating power and the time to wait for the right opportunity.

Here are a few tips to create your very own exit strategy:

1. Always keep your resume up to date – You never know when the right opportunity could come along. Even if your job is great, wouldn’t you consider a job that offered twice the pay? You always want to be prepared because you never know what might happen. The other advantage is you don’t have to go back and remember important facts later. Keep track of them as they’re happening!
2. Always participate in LinkedIn – If you only update your LinkedIn profile when you’re looking for a job, it’s a dead give away that something’s up. Keeping your LinkedIn profile continuously fresh can help to quiet suspicions.
3. Keep it quiet – It can be so tempting to share that you’re looking for another job. Your best friend at work is sitting right next to you and they’re equally frustrated. You don’t want to leave your awesome boss in the lurch. Although you have good intentions, they can backfire. Even a manager who considers you to be a friend often feels obligated to tell their supervisor. Worst case scenario, you can be walked out of the building when your news leaks. This takes your power away and reduces your timeline, so keep your lips sealed.
4. Stay connected with your old coworkers – When you start searching, you’ll need references from your previous employers. It’s important to keep in touch with your former managers, coworkers, and employees, so you’ll have a bank of folks to offer when it’s time to do a background check.
5. Keep your certifications up to date – Don’t rely on your current employer to keep your education up to date. Attend courses, take webinars, and look for other opportunities to continue your learning. It will benefit you when you are interviewing for your next big opportunity.
6. Keep working and follow the rules – Keep delivering the same high quality of work you do every day. Follow company guidelines and rules. Although you may want to run from the building, this is the not the time to slack off. Show that you will produce the same high quality of work, regardless of the situation.
7. Take personal items home – Slowly and quietly, take some of your personal belongings home. The last thing you’ll want on your last day is to carry out boxes and boxes of things that have piled up at your desk over the years.
8. Research your company’s vacation policy – Many employers will reimburse you for the time you don’t take. Find out in advance what vacation you’ll be reimbursed for, if any.
9. Taken inventory of your finances – If worst came to worst, would you be prepared to be unemployed for six months? For many job seekers, this timeline is a reality. Look closely at your finances to ensure you’ll be able to survive if you had to.
10. Leave on good terms – When you do finally leave, do it in a positive way. Give at least two weeks notice and keep your word. Think very carefully before you bash your boss in an exit interview. Put in your best work until your very last day.

Leaving can be a tough process. Many people look at changing jobs like a breakup or divorce. Do your best to be prepared, so you can walk toward a better situation rather than just running from a bad one. It will help you keep your peace of mind and it will give you negotiating power in your interview process.

I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland

@CopelandCoach