Answering, ‘Do You Have A Minute?’ When You Really Don’t

You’re sitting at your desk, working hard on a project that has a strict timeline, when a co-worker walks up to you and asks, “Do you have a minute?”

Before you answer them, consider these suggestions from Edward Brown, author of The Time Bandit Solution, a book focused on workplace productivity and performance.

Here are Brown’s three strategies on answering, “Do you have a minute?”

1.  Be confident of your right to decline.

While you want to be able to help your co-worker, you simply don’t have the time to dedicate to them.

Your time at work is valuable! According to Brown, when an interruption throws you off task, you lose momentum due to the work stoppage and the time it takes to reorganize your thoughts and resources.

“You have to say to yourself, ‘I really don’t have a minute right now,’” said Brown. “If you don’t protect your time, you can’t expect other busy people to protect it for you.”

2. Get over the guilt of saying no.

When someone asks for your time, you might agree to help them (when you really don’t have the time to) because you don’t want to lose that person’s respect.

“If the interrupter is your boss, you’re afraid he or she will think you’re not responsive to any needs but your own or you can’t handle your workload,” said Brown. “If it’s a customer, you’re afraid they’ll take their business elsewhere, or if it’s a colleague, you’re afraid you won’t sound like a team player.”

Brown provided a great example of why you need to get over the guilt of saying no.

“If you have a budget with X dollars a month to spend on eating out, then there’s no agonizing over should you or shouldn’t you,” said Brown. “The dollars tell you yes or no; no argument, no drama.”

You can relate this back to the office by saying, if you have X number of hours each day to get X things accomplished, you’ll know exactly how much time you can dedicate to your tasks. If you don’t have the time to help someone, you simply don’t have the time, and that’s not something you should feel guilty about.

3. The opposite of ‘yes’ doesn’t have to be ‘no.’

If you know that you can’t help someone out because of time constraints, don’t just say ‘no’ and let the person walk away. Instead, Brown suggests you say something like this:

“I would like to give you my full attention. May I let you know when I can do that?”

Be sure to custom tailor this type of response depending on the situation and the person asking you. The answer you give your boss shouldn’t be the same as the answer you give your client.

“Even though you can’t give your time on the spot, you do have a valuable gift to offer: your full concentration and interest at a time of mutual convenience,” said Brown.

Hopefully, with these three simple strategies you’ll be able to answer your co-workers confidently, and with ease the next time they ask for your time.

5 Things To Ask In A Job Interview

“Do you have any questions for me?” This is typically the final question you will be asked in a job interview. Ask the wrong questions and you might look like a bad fit. Ask no questions and you might look indifferent, inexperienced, or uneducated about the position. Asking the right questions – aside from proving yourself to the hiring manager – is one of your best (and last) chances to determine whether the job and company are a good fit for you.

Here are five questions to get you started:

1. Why is the position vacant?

Jobs open up for a variety of reasons — some positive, some negative. Was the job created because the company is expanding? Was the previous person promoted? Or did he quit or get fired?

The employer’s answer will help you determine whether the job has strong room for growth or a high turnover rate.

2. What is a typical day like for this position?

Most job postings list the position’s responsibilities without saying how much time is allocated to each responsibility. You want to know this information for two reasons.

First, if your typical workday includes spending hours doing something you dislike, you may want to reconsider whether it’s the right job for you.

Second, by discovering which job functions are most important to the employer, you can tailor the remainder of your interview to those areas and include them in your interview follow-up.

3. How would you describe the company culture?

This is one of the single-most important questions to ask. The employer’s response will help you understand what it’s like working there day-to-day, what the company values, how colleagues interact with one another, and so on.

If you’re going to spend the majority of your waking hours on the job, you should make sure the company culture is a good fit.

4. What are the goals of the company over the next five years? How does this position and this department factor into those goals?

This question demonstrates your goal-oriented nature and suggests that you won’t job hop right away.

An informed response will give you insight into the organizational structure and how your position fits into it.

An uninformed response suggests the hiring manager is out of touch with the organization, the organization does a poor job communicating its goals to employees, or the organization is not thinking long-term. None of these are a good sign.

5. Do you like working here?

It’s unlikely the hiring manager will say “No,” but you can still infer a lot from his response.

A moment’s hesitation followed only by, “Uh… yeah… I do” might be a red flag. A smile and explanation of why he likes working there, on the other hand, signifies a more genuine response.

If you interview with multiple employees during your job interview, ask them each similar questions. This is particularly helpful when it comes to the subjective questions (e.g. “How would you describe the company culture?” and “Do you like working here?”).

Doing so will help you paint a more complete picture of the organization, which will help you make the best decision once you’re offered the job.

Pre-Interview Confidence Boosters

Sweaty palms.

Shaky voice.

Blank mind.

These symptoms of nervousness can seriously sabotage a job interview, no matter how prepared and qualified you are.

To quell these natural responses and help you muster more confidence in anxious situations, consider these quick pre-interview confidence boosters to help you perform better right before your next job interview — no energy drinks or cheesy motivational speeches required!

Pre-Interview Confidence Boosters

Amy Cuddy, social psychologist of Harvard Business School, talked about what people do while do while waiting for a job interview to start in a recent TedGlobal presentation.

“You’re sitting down. You’re looking at your iPhone or Android. You’re looking at your notes.”

This common waiting room behavior is not really ideal for maximizing your confidence right before an interview. Instead, the following activities will make you way more confident before meeting a potential boss:

1. Strike A Power Pose For Two Minutes

According to Cuddy, rather than hunching up and making yourself small in the waiting room chair as you scramble to soak up last minute notes or practice one final interview question, what you should actually find a private place to do what Cuddy calls a power pose.

There are a few different variations, but the Wonder Woman pose is really easy to remember. So, 10 minutes before your interview, go somewhere private, like the bathroom, and strike a strong pose where you take up as much space as possible.

In an interview with Inc. magazine, Cuddy talked about an experiment she did where she brought people into the lab and had them spit into a little vial to get baseline testosterone (the hormone associated with dominance) and cortisol (the hormone associated with stress).

Then, some people did a high-power pose for two minutes and others did low-power pose (hunched over). She tested their hormones to find that:

“The high-power pose caused a decrease in cortisol of about 25% and an increase in testosterone of about 19%,” Cuddy told Inc.

There you have it! Strike a power pose to prevent releasing those stress hormones!

2. Repeat A Positive Affirmation

“Repeating a positive affirmation can reduce production of cortisol and stress hormones by almost 50%, slow the mind, lower your blood pressure and heart rate and make you feel confident and powerful,” says Kathleen Hall, founder and CEO of The Mindful Living Network and the Stress Institute.

Hall offers the following examples: I am confident in all things. I have unlimited potential.

Joyce Marter, psychotherapist and CEO of Urban Balance, would agree and suggests deep breathing while you recite a positive mantra in your head “using language you will want to use in the interview, such as ‘I absolutely will succeed in this job if given the opportunity.’”

You might feel a little silly at first, but these words will help you emit a more positive appearance — and that sure beats a nervous one!

3. Read Over Nice Things People Have Said About You

Thinking back to a time when you were successful and confident is a great way to recreate that confidence right before an interview. A quick and easy way to do this is to print out and compile anything nice that someone has said about you.

Read old letters of recommendation, LinkedIn endorsements, letters or notes from colleagues or teachers that have boosted your confidence in the past.

If you’re not really feeling this method, “Quickly review your biggest accomplishments in your head before going into the interview,” says Katherine Walker, founder and executive director of Lifetime Behavioral Health. “This trip down memory lane will instantly create a sense of confidence and serve to get your brain thinking about items the interviewer will no doubt ask you about.”

It’s the best way to remind yourself that all of your previous experiences have helped shape you and prepare you to succeed in this job interview!

How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting Hired Abroad

So, you’ve had it with your current living situation and the desire to travel burns deep within your secret heart. Do you dare live out your dream of moving overseas and starting over?

If you’re to build a life or career in an entirely new part of the world, you’ll need to be proactive in the way you go about it. Here are a few tips that might help you increase your chances of getting hired abroad.

1. Do Your Research

There’s a few of you rolling your eyes right now but this is so important. Are you moving to a city? Learn about it. Online maps will help you get your bearings, so when you start applying for jobs in places you’ve never been before, you’ll have an idea as to their whereabouts. This will also allow you to figure out where these places are in relation to where you’re staying and extrapolate travel times from there.

2. The Internet Is Your Best Friend

Turn the Internet to your advantage, much like you would at home. Have you made travel arrangements? Do you know which airport you’re flying into? How much is the flight and lodging going to cost? Will you need a car when you get there? Sites like FCM Travel Solutions, Webjet, or Lastminutetravel.com will help you get there. Additionally, job search sites and online newspapers can be beneficial and go a long way to negating the distance issue. Is there an industry the city is known for? Cars? Tech? Fashion? Don’t be picky – tailor your applications to maximize your chances.

3. Be Transparent

Make sure your prospective employers are aware that you intend to move internationally. Also, let them know that you won’t require relocation assistance – you’ll appear far more motivated than someone who does and this could give you the edge you’re after when you’ve found a job you’re keen on.

4. “Be. Aggressive. Be. Be. Aggressive.”

This move will open up massive networking opportunities. While researching, you should be singling out the companies that you’d be keen to get on board with. Get proactive and touch base with their HR departments. Ensure your applications are submitted correctly. Introduce yourself and make connections. Even if this approach doesn’t land you a gig immediately, you’re still actively establishing a network of contacts that might lead you to more and better ones as you settle into your new digs.

5. Local Universities And Career Centers

Irrespective of your being a student or not, most community colleges and universities operate career centers that are of enormous benefit to people who are looking for work. Most will be more than happy to help you perfect your applications and line up interviews. They’ll be useful in helping you build that network of contacts, too.

These are but a handful of hints that will, with luck, make your search for a new job overseas a bit easier – particularly if you’re stuck in the planning stage. Perseverance and time are all that’s required here. Keep digging. Keep looking. Stay flexible and check in as often as you can.

Signs You Should Look For A New Job

In most cases, people don’t realize their job is in jeopardy or that it’s time to move on to something else. However, I understand that changing jobs can be scary, especially in the current economy. But at times, it’s necessary because you can be happy and fulfilled one day, then laid off and depressed the next.

Nothing can be worse than holding on to a job that will give you a headache in the end. Here are three signs you should look for new job:

1. You’re Underpaid

The main reason why you seek employment is to get paid, to be able to pay your bills, and meet other basic needs. Moreover, you deserve to be rewarded for the work you do. If you’re underpaid, it will be hard for you to put extra effort to really excel.

This is because, to most people, pay is the best motivator. If you’re not motivated, you may fail to perform as required and you may end up being fired. Therefore, if you’re not being paid or you’re paid significantly less than you deserve, this can be a good reason for you to look for a better job that meets your needs. You can talk to your boss about a raise first, but if he or she doesn’t recognize the value of your skills, then it’s about time you look for a new job.

2. You’re Undervalued

When you do spectacular work on a given project, but if no one appreciates or recognizes your effort, it’s terribly discouraging. A good company should give you a pat on the back for a job well done. Recognition is a very effective non-monetary motivator, but if no one recognizes your efforts, it’s like being in a relationship that has no affection.

If your boss refuses to acknowledge or commend your accomplishments, you’re less likely to be promoted or given any opportunity to advance on your career. There are no signs for future growth, more reasons for you to look for employment elsewhere. There are companies out there that can value your contribution. Don’t close your eyes and continue working for such organization. Start looking for a new job.

3. Your Company Has Financial Challenges

If your company is losing money, its future (and yours) looks grim. It would probably be wise for you to open your eyes wider for new job opportunities. It doesn’t matter how important or fulfilling your job is because the company may not be able to keep you in that position. You may find yourself jobless whether you like it or not.

In such a situation, the future is not guaranteed and you should play it safe. It’s better for you to be proactive and start looking for a new job at the first sign of trouble in your beloved company.

Whatever the case may be, if you see such signs and feel it’s about time you secure a job elsewhere, don’t discouraged by stories about tough job market. Just dust off you CV and put together several applications to test the water. This may be the start for a new chapter in your life. Your daily sanity and comfort at work depends on you. Start looking for a new job and don’t ignore the signs!

Tips To Ace Your Phone Interview

1. Be Prepared

Basic preparation steps include having your resume in front of you, making sure you are on a good phone line where there are no disturbances, and allocating enough time for the screening, even if it goes beyond what was scheduled.

2. Research The Company And The Interviewer

The first question I used to ask job seekers was, “What do you know about us?” If I did not think they had spent the time to do their homework, they were immediately downgraded. So, spend some time to check out their website and press releases, and see what employees say about them on Glassdoor.com.

Also, go to LinkedIn and review the background of the person conducting the interview. Check if the manager you will be reporting to participates in LinkedIn groups and discussions, and see if you have anything in common.

3. Exude Energy And Interest

The words you use account for only 15% of the effectiveness of your communications. Intonation and body language are most important, and since you are on the phone, you live and die by your intonation.

Put energy in your voice and demonstrate a high level of interest. An old telemarketing trick is to have a mirror in front of you and smile when you speak since that automatically affects your tone in a positive way.

4. Ask Questions And Build Rapport

People hire people they like, so it is important to turn the interview into a conversation by asking intelligent questions. Show off your expertise by following up their question with an insightful question of your own. Those who just answer questions and wait for the next question will lose here.

Use a conversational tone, as if you are having lunch with a friend, telling a story, instead of just responding to questions.

For example, here are two ways to respond to, “Can you tell me about your experience at Bank of America?”

“At Bank of America, I was hired to oversee the integration of systems that were the result from acquisitions.”

Or…

“You know, that was a really challenging experience because I had to integrate all the different systems that were the result of acquisitions. You can just imagine how tricky that would be since there were so many differences between them, and I had to research and document the trade-offs from an integration of each one.”

Which is more interesting?

I did some interview coaching with a highly accomplished technical manager at Intel who was getting interviews and no call backs. It was immediately clear that he was just responding to questions in a fairly monotone manner and was about as interesting as a memory chip. After some coaching on how to build rapport using the above technique, he had three offers in four weeks.

5. Ask The Most Important Question

Companies have a reason they are looking for talent and it is your job to find out what their chief source of “pain” is. Do this by asking:

“What is the biggest challenge someone will face in this job in the next six months?”

This lets you target your responses and demonstrate how you have successfully handled these challenges before.

6. See If They Have Any Concerns

Don’t just end the call wondering how you did, ask them. If you are going for a sales position, this is mandatory.

State something like:

“Based on what we discussed today, do you think I am a good candidate for this position?”

Now, when they respond, you can handle any concerns they may have.

Using these six simple techniques will make sure you have made a favorable impression with the employer.

Easy Steps To Speed Up Your Job Search

I got an email yesterday from a client wanting to know if I had any job search tips. Unfortunately, he had been recently laid off and found himself on the job market. Talking to him got me thinking… what really makes a job search successful?

The bad news is that there isn’t a magic formula. The good news is there are a number of very simple things you CAN do to improve your marketability. Here are four easy steps:

1. Update Your Resume As Soon As Possible

This might sound simple, but it is by far the most important (and first) step in a job search. You need to have your resume ready to roll at a moment’s notice. The way I see it, there are two kinds of job seekers. There is the job seeker that draws confidence from being prepared and then there is the kind of job seeker that gets blindsided by the unexpected. I know which kind I’d rather be. The best time to focus on your resume is when you don’t need it.

2. Figure Out Who Your Resume Is For

Is your resume for you or is it for prospective employers? The resume might have your data on it, but ultimately, the documents that make it past the ATS’s not only have the right amount of keywords peppered throughout, but also show, very clearly, what the applicant can do FOR the potential employer. When writing your resume, always keep potential employers in the forefront of your mind.

3. Realize It’s Not About You

Really. It’s not. The most successful job seekers understand that it’s about what you do for others, not about what they can do for you. This is a fundamental idea that for some, I hope turns the act of “networking” completely upside down. In every interaction, the most important thing is to demonstrate “how can I help YOU?”  It’s the folks that unselfishly look out for those around them that make opportunities happen. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

What connections can you help make?

Ask open ended questions. You may even choose to treat the conversation like an informational interview.

What professional needs does the other party have and how can you fill them?

4. Determine Your Target

This is such a simple concept, but is probably the biggest obstacle I see with many of my clients. You have to have a target. It is as easy as that. How can you expect to reach the goal of employment without aiming for a bulls-eye?

The first step is to clearly identify the job/profession/industry you are targeting. You may even have a company that you’ve always wanted to work at. Make sure that your goal aligns with your experience. Then (and only then) are you free to begin outlining a plan to achieve your goal.

Here’s an example:

I have an open door policy with my resume clients and I keep tabs on them throughout their job searches. Out of all the resumes and resume clients I’ve ever had, only one resume didn’t work. One. When I wrote the initial resume, my client was targeting retail sales positions. Then she called one day a couple of months into her job search wondering why she wasn’t getting any responses. I asked her to send me an example of the jobs she was applying for and guess what? All the online job applications she had filled out were for human resources positions. No wonder her resume didn’t work!

After rewriting her resume, she found work relatively quickly and it just goes to show how important it is to aim before you pull the trigger.

Know your audience, be proactive, and remember that it’s not about you.

How To Overcome Your Interview Anxiety

You’re familiar with the feeling. Your palms start sweating, you start to shake and for some reason, your mind goes completely blank. Sounds like a dreaded case of interview jitters! Nerves can bring even the most professional candidate to their knees, impeding their chances of securing the job, even if they’re the most qualified.

Related: 5 Easy Ways To Ease Your Nerves Before A Job Interview

If you know that you’re prone to nerves, make sure you take the necessary steps to control them; before you step into the interview room, not after. Here are a few helpful tips.

How to Overcome Interview Nerves:

1. Be prepared.

Nerves are often triggered by anxiety. It’s common to worry that you won’t know the answer to a particular question at interview, or that you won’t have the necessary knowledge to wow your prospective employer. You can help alleviate this concern by doing your research. Predict possible questions and make sure you know the answers. Feeling well prepared can help to calm your anxiety.

2. Sleep well.

It might be tempting to soothe your worries with several glasses of wine the night before. While this may feel good at the time, it certainly won’t the next day. Have a relaxing bath, avoid too much alcohol, eat well and get a good night’s sleep.

3. Think ahead.

To save yourself time worrying in the morning, lay out your best suit, make sure you’ve already purchased your train tickets or petrol, get some money out if you need to buy lunch, and make sure that all your time on the day is spent focusing on the important task – preparing for that interview.

4. Practice, practice, practice.

If you’re really anxious, ask a trusted friend or family member to perform a ‘test’ interview on you the day before. You’ll get a chance to practice your performance and also receive some valuable feedback.

5. Stay positive.

Remember, you can do this. You’re qualified for the job, you’ve got some great credentials and you’ve got the necessary experience. This company is just as lucky to be interviewing you as you are to be interviewed by them! Boost your self-confidence by telling yourself that it’s in your power to get this job. You can do it.

And in the Interview Itself…

If you feel your heart start to race and your forehead break out in a sweat, take a deep breath. Remember, the people interviewing you want you to succeed. They’re desperately seeking the right person to join their company, and they’re really hoping that you’re that person.

If you start to feel nerves getting the better of you, ask for a moment to pause and gather your thoughts. If necessary, be honest with your interviewers, and explain to them that you’re feeling nervous because the job matters a lot to you. It’s likely that they’ll understand; after all, they’re human too, and they’ve probably experienced nerves at some point in their lives.

Take it slow and steady and keep reminding yourself, this is your job. You can achieve it!

5 Ways To Ensure You’ll Perform Perfectly At An Online Interview

The internet has changed the way in which people do business, and it has also changed the face of recruitment. The traditional format of attending an interview in person is still the favored option, but online interviews via Skype and Join Me have become increasingly popular.

It’s not surprising that interviewing online is on the rise. It’s cheaper for employees, it saves time, plus it means greater scope for attracting candidates who live further away. If you’ve been invited to attend an online interview, here are the five ways you’ll achieve success.

Here are five tips to perfect your online interviews:

1. Set the scene.

You may be at home. But this doesn’t mean you should have kids shouting in the background, dogs barking or doorbells ringing. When you’re being interviewed, make sure there are no distractions. Leave a note on the front door, asking that people don’t disturb you. Take the home phone off the hook. Switch off your mobile. Remove any piles of laundry or clutter sitting behind you. In short, do whatever you can to ensure that you’re able to completely focus on the task at hand.

2. Double-check for faults.

Technology has a habit of letting you down when you need it most. Don’t let your interview become the victim of a faulty internet connection or a broken laptop. Double-check everything works a few hours before you’re due to be interviewed. This will give you enough time to resolve any problems that may arise.

3. Dress to impress.

This may be a remote interview, but it’s still an important process, and you need to create the right impression. If you’re being interviewed via Skype, you’ll be clearly visible, and sitting in an old t-shirt and jeans won’t impress your prospective employers. Even if you’re having an interview with the visuals switched off, dressing in office attire can help to get you in the right frame of mind.

4. Be prepared.

Don’t make the mistake of presuming that, because you’re at home, you can get away with being underprepared. Take every bit as much care as you would if you were attending the interview in person. Do your homework; get to know the company, its ethos and practices to ensure that you know what you’re talking about.

5. Make eye contact.

Sometimes, when conversing online, it’s easy to forget that you’re talking to a real person. However, it’s vital to remember throughout the entire process that you are in an interview. As a result, sneakily surfing the internet, sending a text to your mom or gazing out the window are not good ideas, if you want to give the impression that you’re paying full attention.

Whilst being interviewed in the comfort of your own house can take much of the nerves and stress out of the interview experience, it’s still important to treat the occasion with the respect it deserves, especially if you want to get the job. Your future employer may be sitting hundreds of miles away, but that doesn’t mean you can get away with giving less than 100 %!

How To Respectfully Stand Up To Your Boss When You’re Overworked

Lately, I’ve been hearing heard a common theme among many of the senior leaders I coach. They are tired, frustrated, overwhelmed, and overworked. Maybe it’s the time of year, but many of these leaders feel they have little control over how they spend and manage their time since they are regularly responding to “urgent requests” from their executive leadership team.

And, more often than not, these requests are not something they can delegate to their direct reports. As you may be able to understand, they are in fire-fighting mode more often than they want (or need) to be.

So, what can you do to stop the feeling of overwhelm, which leads to the tiredness and frustration? Do you stand up to your boss?

How To Respectfully Stand Up To Your Boss

There are two things you can do to alleviate this situation. First, you must prioritize. Clearly, there are only 24 hours in a day, so you have to be the leader who knows what the priorities are and decide what truly is urgent and what can wait for another time.

Chances are you effectively prioritize for your team, so why not do this for yourself as well. Yes, I know… your boss called and has a new urgent priority that now sits with the four other urgent tasks you were already working on, right? Not everything can be top priority urgent and something must fall below the most urgent of all the urgent priorities.

As the leader you must decide what must shift to make time for the new priority so everything can be done in a quality manner. This often means you need to pushback, which is the second thing you can do to alleviate the sense of overwhelm.

Yes, I said you must pushback on your boss (or whomever is handing out the urgent requests). I know that pushing back on someone at a higher level is not always an easy thing to do. It’s not always easy to confront your boss (or anyone at a higher level than you) when they assign you additional work or a new project; however, continuous urgent requests not only impact your ability to get work completed but also complete it in a quality fashion. So pushing back is often a necessity.

There are three things that you can do to effectively push back on your boss (or whomever is continuing to add urgent tasks to your list).

Choose Your Approach Based On The Person

Are they data-driven? Getting excessive pressures from their leadership? Dealing with their individual set of unrealistic requests? Knowing these things will help you know the best way to approach them.

Next, Use This Knowledge When You Approach Them

For example, if your boss loves data, present him or her with data that supports your need to challenge what he or she is requesting. At the same time, if they are getting excessive pressures from their leadership, present an alternative solution.

For example, perhaps your boss has given you the urgent task of investigating a customer issue. The time it will take for you or your team to handle this will remove resources from another strategic priority your team is working. While you share data that reinforces your limited resources, you can also present an alternative shift in your teams priorities that supports the latest request from your boss, or, ask your boss if the latest request can wait, based on the other urgent priorities your team is working.

The idea is to continue to show support for what your boss needs while at the same time remaining true to what you and your team can realistically accomplish.

Finally, Get Their Perspective While Holding Your Ground

After you present the facts to your boss, allow him or her to share their viewpoint on what you’ve presented. Often times it will take you pushing back a few times before they are able to see your perspective. Remember, they are also dealing with their own feelings of overwhelm so their initial reaction to your confrontation may simply be an acknowledgement but not a shift in the request. That’s why it’s important for you to hold your ground.

If you don’t and continue to take on more and more, eventually something will give and slip through the cracks. Too many times, it’s you and your own physical or emotional health that suffers because you didn’t pull in the reigns. As great a leader as you are, you are not supernatural (and neither is your boss).

Keep things in perspective and remember that success does not happen if you are buried under a pile of folders feeling exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Prioritize and push back to prevent this situation. By consistently doing this, eventually you begin to see your way out from beneath that never-ending list of urgent priorities.

6 Warning Signs That You’re In The Wrong Job

For some people, it is blatantly obvious they are in the wrong job. They just know that they hate their job, their company, their colleagues, or all of these aspects. In most cases, these people have either resigned themselves to a life or misery or they are actively seeking to change the situation.

For many people though, being in the wrong job is less clear cut. They might have a nagging doubt but it is likely that they have just pushed this to the back of their minds. If this sounds like you, then take a look at these warning signs that you’re in the wrong job and see how many you identify with.

1. YOU GET THAT HORRIBLE FEELING IN YOUR STOMACH ON SUNDAY EVENINGS.

Now, I know that most people don’t look forward to Monday mornings back in the office, but believe it or not, having a sick feeling in your stomach on Sunday evenings is not normal! Your body is trying to tell you something, so listen to it.

2. YOU ARE BECOMING A CLOCK WATCHER.

For you, time probably passes really slowly at work. An hour can seem like a day and you probably lose count of the number of times that you look at your watch or the big dreary clock on the office wall.

From time to time we may all get bored at work. In the main though, if we are in the right job, we are often engaged, motivated, and caught up in the moment. In fact, time can actually pass exceptionally quickly when you are really focused on a piece of work or job task. If you never experience this sensation, then what does this say about your job?

3. YOU ARE JEALOUS OF EVERY OTHER PERSON’S JOB.

When you are in the wrong job, you will start fantasising about being in other jobs. You will even start to imagine yourself in jobs that would normally seem deadly dull. It could be that you are envious of a delivery man’s freedom or maybe you are jealous of the opportunities staff have for creativity in your nearby coffee shop. This is understandable since the grass always seems greener on the other side, but would you really normally dream about doing these types of jobs if you weren’t so unhappy with your current situation?

4. YOU HAVE CLASSIC SIGNS OF ANXIETY THAT KEEP COMING BACK.

Being in the wrong job can be stressful and cause an emotional strain for our bodies. This is because everyone has a unique personality type that dictates behavior preferences, so when we have to carry out job duties that conflict with our ‘preferences,’ this conflict can create anxiety and stress. How this will manifest itself will depend but classic symptoms include headaches, stomach aches, tight chest, higher levels of perspiration, and difficulty sleeping well.

Take a good look at the responsibilities in your job – do you enjoy these or do you feel out of your depth? Do you have to perform duties that make you feel uncomfortable for a lot of the time? These are all signs that you are probably in a job that is not a good fit for your personality, and is therefore not the right job for you.

5. YOU CANNOT RELATE TO YOUR COLLEAGUES OR MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM.

Sometimes, people are in the wrong job. Other times, they are actually just in the wrong organisation. If your values are in conflict with the company culture, it is likely that you will find it increasingly difficult to relate to the ‘mantra’ that your colleagues believe in. Perhaps their suggestions seem morally or ethically wrong? Or is it that they seem to have their priorities the wrong way round?

If you feel in the minority, then this could be a sign that you are working in the wrong culture and need to get out and find a company that better aligns with your personal values.

6. EVEN IF THEY DOUBLED YOUR SALARY, YOU WOULD STILL WANT OUT.

If you are still left feeling cold about your job, even in a scenario where they offered to double your salary, then it is likely that you are severely lacking job satisfaction.  This takes many forms – sometimes it is a lack of work, too much work or just the wrong type of work. If you don’t get pleasure from the things you do at work and you allow this to continue, this can end up causing you unhappiness in your personal life as well.