3 Signs You Should Definitely Quit Your Job

3 Signs You Should Definitely Quit Your Job3 Signs You Should Definitely Quit Your JobSo, youve recently realized that you and your current job just arent a great fit. But youre notlage quite sure what to do with that realization. Should you quit? Tough it out and try to improve your situation? Coast for now so you can put your energy into finding something better?These questions arent easy, and weighing their endless implications and consequences can be emotionally exhausting.Well, let me settle your mind a bit.There are three situations in which you should definitely quit your job. Not necessarily right away- the details of how and when Ill leave to you. But as for that nagging question of whether or not you should leave, this list will give you some peace of mind about that.If any of the following apply, you can start planning your exit strategy.1. It Just Isnt SustainableIf you find yourself in a situation in which it is emotionally, physically, or mentally draining (or worse) fo r you even to show up to work, let alone get excited and perform at a high level- you need to leave. It might be due to unsupportive co-workers, an unattentive supervisor, a commute that is destroying all of your personal time, or an unfair workload that is impossible to handle. But whatever the cause, realize that professional development and confidence compound over time- so its critical to keep your career momentum moving, rather than getting stuck in a bad situation.This also includes being systematically underpaid. If you are slowly (but definitively) running out of runway because you have a job that doesnt pay you well enough, you dont want to wait until that runway dissolves entirely, at which point it will be much more difficult to move on.In many situations, there are ways to change behauptung factors- transferring to a new department, picking up a new project, or asking for a raise, for example. But assuming youve tried to make the best of the situation and those attempts havent been successful, dont feel bad about doing what you have to do to take care of yourself.2. It Isnt Furthering Your Professional DevelopmentA job shouldnt just provide you with a paycheck- it should be helping you gain skills, experiences, knowledge, and training that will help youfurther your career. So if you find yourself in a situation in which you are falling unacceptably behind in your professional development, its time to move on.It can be hard to recognize when youre in this situation, but its typically accompanied by a feeling of unmet potential, restlessness, or being stuck. More specifically, a job is not contributing to your professional development if it isnt letting you do at least one of the following things (and ideally several or all of them) Gain new skills, networks, expertise, or certifications by working on new projects. Save money so that you can make further investments in yourself. Invest in yourself directly by paying for your education or professional development experiences like conferences, courses, and trainings. Have the time to explore other job duties, organizations, and fields. Build relationships with influential people within and outside of your organization, particularly people who might be in a position to help you get promoted or find another job when the time is right. Receive mentorship from people who are more experienced than you. Find intellectual stimulation in your work. Take risks, so that you have the chance to fail, succeed, and learn from those experiences.Great companies make sure youre able to do all of the above, because they know thats the way to attract and develop top talent. The fewer of these opportunities your job is affording you, the sooner you should be looking to move on.3. Something Else (Way Better) Comes AlongEvery now and then, as youre slogging away at the path youve laid out for yourself, the stars will align and a too-good-to-be-true opportunity will show itself. You wont see it coming, but youll be at a dinner party and someone will turn to you and say Hey, Ive got a friend at Dream Company and hes looking for an XYZ- I feel like youd be perfect And just like that, youre two phone calls and an unofficial interview away from an amazing job opportunity.This one sounds like a no-brainer, but Ive seen a lot of people consider passing on these types of opportunities because of fear, loyalty, or self-doubt. But remember At the end of the day, you dont owe your company more than you owe yourself in furthering your own development and growth. If youve been offered a job that will offer you much more in the way of career development, responsibility, or happiness- unless you would be causing catastrophic failure at your current employer- you should take it.Admittedly, these situations arent always as black and white as Ive depicted here. In almost every situation, there is some facet of your job that makes it worth staying at. But be honest with yourself about why youre no t happy. And if theres something you want to change or gain- some skill, some side project, something that gives you valuable traits that you didnt have before- dont be afraid to ask for these things. Good managers will appreciate your interest in keeping yourself sharp and growing, and theyll help to get you the right opportunities.And if youve tried, and your organization isnt receptive to your heartfelt requests, take a deep breath and lay your plans. Its time to find something bigger and better.Photo of man courtesy of Unsplash.

2 Times You Must Answer an Email in 24 Hours- The Muse

2 Times You Must Answer an Email in 24 Hours- The Muse2 Times You Must Answer an Email in 24 Hours- The MuseYou know you need to get back to someone as soon as possible when he or she sends an email labeled urgent. You can imagine the otherbei person staring at his screen, unblinking, or obsessively refreshing his inbox, because hes waiting on you for the final numbers, the approval, the go-ahead, the answer, or the next steps.But did you know thats leid the only time you need to prioritize writing back? Its true If you let a katechese sit a few days in either of the following scenarios, you risk looking pretty insensitive or unprofessional. Its a tough balance for sure, because in each instance, you also want to say the right thing. But its important to the take the time to reply.1. When Youve Punted BeforeAre you familiar with punting an email to manage your inbox? As Muse co-founder and COO Alex Cavoulacos explains Send a short Thanks for thinking of me- Im booked up this month bu t if you reach out in some time in the future, Id love to help however I can. Many people will never follow up at all- either because they forgot or because they dont need your time and advice anymore- so you can rest assured that the people who follow up are the ones who most need your help.While this strategy will save you from answering all of the people who never reach back, the trade off is that if someone does as you ask- waits however long and then follows up- you really owe it to her to send a response. Shes being respectful by contacting you at a later time, and so you want to show her the same courtesy.Of course, you may still be too busy to help out (and thats OK). But you shouldnt be too busy to send a helpful response- even if its giving a short answer, pointing her toward someone else, or providing a link to a resource- and within 24 hours if possible. Additionally, composing a real reply saves you from starting a never-ending Ill get back to you later email chain, whi chll be seen as leading the other person on. 2. When Youre Told Something PersonalMany people find it difficult to share personal information with their co-workers. So, if someone takes the time to share upsetting news with you over email, writing back quickly is always called for.It doesnt have to be a lengthy reply, and its OK if youre elend 100% sure of the right thing to say. You can almost always lead with Im so sorry to hear Then, thoughtfully address whatever action item was in the email (assuming there was one, which there usually is) with something like, Please take your time or Feel free to reach back when you return. And if there is a time-sensitive issue that requires you to ask for something tangible, take a few minutes to figure out the most minimal ask before responding. For example, this is how you could respond to a co-worker who tells you that he wont be able to finish the hauptplatine presentation due this week because of a death in the familyDear Jeannette,Im so sorry to hear that your grandfather passed away. I, of course, understand that youll be flying home to Pittsburgh, and I hope that time with family brings you comfort.Please dont worry about the board presentation. If you could just point me to where what youd been working on is on the shared drive, Id be more than happy to finish it.I hope youll feel free to list me as a point of contact on your out of office message, and let me know if theres anything else I can do.With Condolences,SteveEven when you dont have the exact right words- and no one does- replying quickly shows that you care. It makes your concern feel more genuine, and makes it clear you didnt breeze past this news or add it to a list as you would with any other message.Yes, were all fighting the good fight to reach inbox zero and I completely understand the urge to want to put off answering that one hard email because you could answer 10 basic ones in the same amount of time. But its not worth making someone else feel unimportant- or risking your reputation as a considerate person. So, take the time to reply to a message in either of these categories Youre not the only one wholl be glad you did. Photo of person on phone courtesy of Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty Images.

7 Tips to Get Hired Fast

7 Tips to Get Hired Fast7 Tips to Get Hired FastWhen youre looking for a job, your goal is likelyto get hired sooner rather than later. But with so many variables seemingly out of your control, it might feel like youre at the mercy of the job search gods to get a gig. Fortunately, there are ways to potentially speed up the process and get hired nahe daran sein.Here are seven tips that can help you get hiredfast1. Be selective.Logically, it might seem that the more jobs you apply for, the better your chances would be of getting called in for an interview, but thats not necessarily the case. When you focus on quantity (and not quality), your job applications could just be generic and not pack the punch necessary to impress a potential employer.Instead, try to be selective in the number of job listings you apply to, and then make sure that your resume and cover letter are tailored with the job descriptions in mind.2. Do some volunteering.With bills piling up during your job search, the last thing you might want to do is work for free. Thing is, volunteering is a great way to get hired fast Not only can volunteering give you new skills, but it can also be listed on your resume as solid work experience (which is good when youre trying to cover up some employment gaps on your resume).Plus, the new networking contacts you can potentially make while volunteering just might connect you to an employer thatis hiring3. Try temping.Much like volunteering, temping can put you on the fast track towards getting a job. Temping is a good option for those looking to earn some money while still focusing on their job search. A temp job can be listed as work experience on your resume, and your boss can also give you a fresh reference as well.Temping is particularly good for career changers who are looking to test out the waters of a new career field without making a full commitment. Plus, being able to get your foot in the door might possibly lead to future job opportunities within the company.4. Prepare for the lokalitt.Although it might seem like youre putting the cart before the horse if you prepare for a position that youve yet to be hired for, youre not. If youre looking to get hired fast, you can adopt the mentality that youve already accepted a job offer. That means preparing yourself- both mentally and physically- for the job, especially if its a remote position.Whether you plan to work from a home office or become a digital nomad, make sure you have what you need in order to work remotely successfully. That means having the space, equipment, and other necessary tools and programs that will allow you to work at your peak.5. Use. Big job search boards can be akin to a buffet- lots of choices, but most arent what youre looking for, anyway. If you want a flexible job, you can save time by not having to weed through lots of job listings that arent relevant to your needs, and use a credible, niche job search board- like- instead.Since every job is hand-scre ened for legitimacy, you can be assured that there are no job scams, and that each position has some level of work flexibility.6. Spread the word.Sure, you spend your days focused on looking at job listings, but dont forget to reach out and let people know that youre actively pursuing work options, too While you can (and should) go to networking events, let friends, family, and former colleagues and bosses know that youre looking for a job. Be as specific as possible, since well-meaning connections might try to pair you up for a position that you have absolutely no interest in.You can say, Im looking for a mid-level marketing job, and then give them a brief synopsis of your skills and/or employers youve worked for so your contacts can hopefully create quality leads.7. Be flexible. Lets say that youre looking for a full-time remote job. If you want to get hired fast- and your job search has been going on longer than you had hoped- it might be time to rethink your job search parameter s. You might opt for a part-time remote job, or perhaps a few freelancing jobs, or a combination of flexible jobs.Being flexible can provide some much-needed income, additional experience for your resume, and depending on the work flex your job offers, the additional time to continue your original job search while working simultaneously, too.Start Your Job SearchPhotoCredit bigstockphoto.com