When you take up a job, the only intention is to earn money. Even if you don’t like it, and the work doesn’t motivate you at all, you do it, simply to earn money. However, something that you don’t like cannot be your career choice. Hence, you wouldn’t be probably working at your current job five years from now.

Career, however, is a continuous process. You may change many jobs, but your work would be similar throughout your life. During your initial years, you work towards developing your skills, and you change employment to get a high-paying job. Probably the difference would be much clearer after going through following points:

Job is simply to have some money in your pocket. Career, however, is a series of many jobs related to your area of interest, which will affect your future opportunities.

Job doesn’t provide many networking opportunities as you wouldn’t be working in this area for the rest of your life. However, network built at your career will help you time and again.

Job wouldn’t really affect your career path. However, you career is backbone of your life that provides you money skills, experience, and so on.

Advice About Jobs

You have taken up a job only to earn some money. So, the only thing you must be concerned about is your paycheck. Make sure you don’t annoy your boss, and behave properly with him. Finish your task on time, and learn as much as you can from the job.

However, you shouldn’t be emotionally attached with the job or the work. Simply complete your task and save energy for your career. If you job is killing you, simply quit it and find another one. That may be a bit difficult one in such an economy. But if money is what you are bothered about, you will get many jobs.

Advice About Career

You goal is not only to get your task done, but gain new skills, experience, network, relations, and so on. You would probably work in the same area for the rest of your life. So, the quicker specialize in your work, the more successful you would be.

You are not only working for money here. You work for satisfaction and enrichment. Hence, it’s okay to be emotionally attached with your company and work. Try to be loyal, get promotions and bonuses. You must actually go an extra mile, and do things that would generally exceed your boss’s expectations. You know you are at the right place, so fight harder, and don’t stop until you reach the desired level of success.

Conclusion

Many might not really understand whether or not their current job is a part of their career. Ask yourself do you want a promotion, or simply a paycheck every month. Figuring this out early in your life would save you lots of energy, money, and time.

Why I did I make such a decision? Here are some reasons. Individually, they might not be quite powerful, but they all balled together.

More Time to Family

Managing a full-time job, and few personal blogs had made my life quite hectic. And I simply wasn’t able to devote any time to my family, which my wife keeps grumbling about, all the while. Besides, I have two kids, whom I want to spend more time with.

More Time to Write

Every individual has personal preferences, or some hobbies. I love writing, whether it’s a personal blog, or book, or simply a letter. When you, however, don’t get much time to spend on your hobbies, it frustrates you. Lately, I have had some opportunities, which I missed, and I don’t want to miss them anymore.

Financial Stable

if you decide to quit your job for good, remember you must be financially stable. Besides, you must have planned for your retirement, children’s education, monthly expenses, and so on. If I wouldn’t have planned these things, I would have never thought of quitting. Besides, we don’t use credit cards, we don’t have any loans to repay, and we have investments.

Frugal Living

My family have been living frugally since last couple of years, which leaves us with much more money to spend on valuable things. And we have decided to continue. Apart from saving a considerable amount every month, it fun to notice how it helps boost our creativity.

Note: Frugal living is not depriving oneself of anything, it’s about using your money wisely.

Working From Home

With several years of experience in financial advising, I have many options to work from home. Besides, my passion for writing opens many doors. Working from home with provide me with additional income, and help spend some free time. And, best of all, I could do what I really love, whenever I want.

Also working from home is better than commuting 5 miles every day. Eating leftover is less expensive than spending on lunch, coffee, and gas every day.

Health Improvement

When you are employed, you hardly get time to exercise. Besides, you don’t really care about what you eat or drink. The only few things that you are bothered about are work, money, and fun. I have quit my job because I want to get back in nice shape once again. Lately, I have gained much, and if I continue to be so, I will set a bad example for my children.

Other Sources of Income

My wife is employed, and she has many more years before she retires. I can, therefore, rely on her for my monthly spending. Besides, I have:

• Many personal blogs, where good revenue is generated through Adsense
• Money invested in various products. I earn interest, dividends, and profits every month.
• Plans to publish a book by September this year.
• A Financial Advisory business from home

Early retirement is certainly a good option. However, there are several things (I cannot say disadvantages) that you need to mull about. Spending free time, boredom, loose communication with friends, shortage of money, inflation, health problems, and so on. Only if you have a plan that takes care of all these things, you can think about retiring early.

Be On Time

Being on time, not too early or too late is the first thing that impresses interviewers about you. It shows that you value yours as well as other’s time and that you’ll be punctual to office once you are appointed. Being too early shows that you have time to waste and being too late conveys disrespect for time and other people(interviewers). If you do happen to turn up late at the interview venue due to reasons that you really cannot help please convey that to the interviewers beforehand if possible, or at the venue politely.

Dress Appropriately

Dress formally for the job interview. Stylish casual clothes might look good on you but they are most appropriate for a holiday. Dress according to what you think best suits the environment. Even stylish fashionable clothes are appropriate for appearing for an interview in the glamour world of cinema or advertising. Inappropriate dress shows disrespect. Never dress shabbily for an interview.

Shake Hands Most Effectively

Your handshake conveys your personality. A firm brief handshake sets the tone right. A meek and soft handshake, a too tight grip of the hand and holding the hand for a long time are gestures that are going to make the other person unpleasant and develop a negative vibe between you.

Convey a Favorable Image

In an interview it is very important to impress your interviewer with a positive body image and language. There might be times when you might be asked difficult or uncomfortable questions. Keep calm under such situations. Always look your interviewer in the eye as it conveys trustworthiness. Slouching shows disrespect or indifference. Be alert and use non- aggressive gestures.

Don’t forget to thank the interviewers after the interview. Write a thank you note if possible and that too a printed one as it is a business note.

Thee common mistakes that people make during interviews are, going unprepared for the interview, insulting past employers, suppressing personal information and telling lies. Avoid these.

Before I emphasize on the significance of net worth, let me tell you have lucky you are to have a job. It has been predicted by most of the economist that the unemployment rate is bound to leap and stay soared for a long time. For precise information, make some efforts to explore your search engine and scroll through latest unemployment trends because this isn’t an unemployment article.

Employers will continue to terminate people because they can’t afford paying the same number of people as they did last year or year before. And they will definitely target someone who isn’t investing much in himself.

Net worth isn’t only about owning assets. It means your ability to earn money. It means how well can you improve and enhance the performance of the most useful funds-generating asset – You.

Here are ten simple things you need to do to improve your net worth, or at least save your job.

Know about the industry and location

The reason I didn’t mention the unemployment rate above is simply because I cannot. The rate is equivalent and unchanged across nation. It changes with a minute alteration in targeted area and profession. It’s around 5-6% in the financial sector, whereas 20% in construction industry. The unemployment rate is highest in Michigan, whereas lowest in North Dakota. Obviously, you didn’t know all this. Start knowing about your industry, your location, your designation. Update yourself on who is being fired, hired, down sized, or promoted. This will help you to get a new job or help you to decide when it’s to step down.

Your company’s sources of income

How does your company generate revenue? By selling mutual funds? May be you don’t know much about your organization. Because most of the companies have multiple sources of income. Maybe all are not equally rated, but remember, they do have many sources. Learn about the most important and be a fundamental part of it. Be person with real knowledge and genuine usage.

Do something to safeguard your job

On a Sunday, sit with a pen and paper and pretend to be the boss of your company. Decide who should get a raise and who should be thrown out of the firm, with strong reasons. Now look at your role. Are you worthy of a raise? Do you have the necessary skills that are needed for a promotion?

If you are a business owner, pretend to be a customer

Owning business means having many bosses. They can put you out of business quicker than a boss can fire an employee. Pretend to be a customer and think of things that you expect from a business like yours. Are you a satisfied customer?

Assess your skills

You ‘Net Worth’ as assessed by your boss isn’t the summation of your total assets. It is your ability to work, to generate results, to handle the pressure of targets and achieving them. Jot down all the skills that you have and those you will need to become the best. I am sure you have all the skills but are under-utilized. Work towards developing those skills. While in office, focus on the tasks that generate results. Eliminate wastage of time, efforts, and energy.

What if you are terminated tomorrow?

It’s a question we dread, hence we aren’t ever prepared for it. Think about the options that you have after being fired. Think about the achievements in your current job that you can list down in your resume. If you can’t think of any achievements, strive to get one. What is that you can do in your spare time that can add value to your resume? What is it that will increase your net worth?

Do it yourself

Increasing your net worth also means doing and knowing about things. What are the things that you don’t do and pay someone else to do it? Which among those tasks can be done by you? There are many things that you can learn and start doing yourself like taxes, repairs, or financial planning.

Take up a side job

Or start a side business. But try to earn some amount for other sources. Don’t rely merely on your current job income. This will help you to accumulate funds, learn new set of skills, or lead toward a new career.

Sharpen your social skills

Believe it or not, to succeed, you have to be social, pleasant, co-operative and likable. Okay, success also comes to those who are rude, arrogant, unhelpful, and ugly, but it becomes tougher for them. People help you, if you are helpful; people cooperate, if you are cooperative.

Is it your dream job?

You probably generate best results if you enjoy what you are doing. Do you think you current job is what you enjoy? Do you feel like quitting and taking up something else? May the current economy and severe market conditions wouldn’t allow you to take up what you like. However, with time, it will improve. So do your homework and be prepared for the right time.

Investing in stocks, bonds and mutual funds may be quite difficult for you due to the financial crunch. However, investing in something (you) that provides better returns, isn’t quite difficult. Start increasing your net worth before you are kicked out of your company.

Good Quality Leading To Increased Profits

As I said earlier, quality compromise is a myth that many US employers have about outsourced employment. Many of these foreign employees are very talented and are at par or higher when it comes to quality performance. Many Indians are known for their technical mettle in the US and have been honored by the government for their appreciable work. Even other third world people, like the Chinese, are professionally committed very much. As you know, quality work brings you good profits.

Opportunity to Invest Better In Core Activities

By outsourcing you save up on costs in a number of ways. You save up on employee wages, social security, insurance, medical care etc. You also save up quite a bit on the office equipment and infrastructure costs you’d have had to incur for onsite employees. So how do you intend to spend this saved up money? As the CEO, you could very well pocket it or you could spend on improving core activities. I’d opt for the latter because that is a step towards improving my business rather than my personal life. The results of an improved business are always worthy.

Better Risk Management

Outsourced employment usually tends to be project-oriented rather than company-oriented. So, if the product brings profits, you share it with the outsourced employees, but if it doesn’t sell well, you can always sack the employees without many hassles. Permanent in-house employment is different. Even if a product does not do well, the employees you cannot slash the salaries of the employees.

Outsourced Employment Requires a Simpler Office Structure

If you are startup company, you need to organize your office into logical and physical systems which may be time taking. You cannot start off your business immediately. You could outsource the business while you set up office. This will save you time.

Apart from the advantages mentioned, outsourcing enables you to select talent boundlessly. Otherwise you’d have to compromise with only your in-house staff which may or may not be all that good. A lot of trained and specialized talent is available in foreign countries for outsourced employment. Outsourcing helps in commodification for smaller companies which outsource their employment for business growth. Outsourcing makes the employees responsible for the product they deliver. The company can ask the outsourced employees to compensate for inferior quality work or delayed deadlines.

A couple of years ago, when we didn’t know what financial crises is, the unemployment percentage of overall American population was 6%. And as I expected, the percentage of unemployment among black people was 11%. And if I talk about youths i.e. below the age of 25, it was over 25%. Astounding, isn’t it?

As I mentioned, this depressing statistics were found two years ago by me. In today’s crisis situation, it is worse. Worse than what I expected it to be. The current unemployment rate of your nation is 10.2%. But for black people, it’s 30.5%. Sounds depressing, but there is more.

Ok. You may think there is nothing to shameful about. The statistic may be the result of their drawbacks. It may be just that black people are not capable of performing the job or are not as literate as whites are. However, you would want to alter your conclusions after I finish with my anthology of statistics and reports.

A recent survey conducted by Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University reveals another astonishing fact that young whites, especially the one that are poorer than blacks, got jobs quicker than blacks. The survey results also declared that the chances of getting a job to a white graduate is double than that of a black graduate. How racist.

Some study also says that many people don’t even like traditional black names. The probability that you will get an interview call just by sending resume is:
if you are a white – 72%
if you are a black – 36%
Almost double. Disgusting.

Again, the chances of getting a call back by the employer to the 36% black are half than what the remaining 72% whites can expect.

Things have been unchanged, rather worse, after we elected Mr. Barack Obama as our president. How can we expect him to do miraculous things or rather anything when he is also a black? They are so incapable, isn’t it?

If these statistics worsens or even persists, the economic condition in areas with high black population like Washington D.C. and Detroit will just exacerbate. Why are we still so biased and arrogant? What are we proud of? The color that didn’t help us to save our job?

Every second of this self-pity will lead to an hour of depression. So, don’t even let the thought of self-pity enter your mind and make you feel worse than the actual situation. The best and the most practical step after you lose your job is to find a new one, which is better than your previous one. Who says there aren’t any jobs in the market? If you have been noticing the recent economic trends, you must be well aware of the correction process taking place in all the industries. The economy is improving and there are jobs being generated gradually.

Wasting time in this situation is like wasting an opportunity. Get yourself on the fast-track and start applying for jobs. Check the newspapers and spend hours searching jobs online. There are probably hundreds of jobs matching your profile. Send your resume to every ad that is similar to your choice in any way. Do not, I repeat, do not even try to skip a single ad post that matches your profile. Who knows it may be the one you are looking for? Devote a week’s time to apply for all the jobs available for you in the market. I know, it’s quite hectic to send resumes to all the employers. However, the initial part will be done sooner than you can believe. What’s next? Prepare and wait for the interview calls.

Second best thing to do is expand your personal and professional network. Most of the times, you get the best jobs through networking. Now that you are unemployed, you have much spare time to meet people. Invite your friends, relatives, and colleagues for dinner or a quick coffee. Don’t feel shy to inform them that you are looking out for a new, interesting job and ask for a reference. I am sure each one will provide you with some contacts and relevant information that can help you get a job quickly. Make use of social networking sites like facebook or linkedin and let people know through these sites that you are finding a job.

This will help you only if you believe that you will get a job sooner or later if you keep trying. Lack of interest is a roadblock to your success. Some employers do not post their ads anywhere. They want people to approach them through networking. So, if a colleague of yours informs you about a vacancy that exactly suits your job profile and area of interest, don’t delay to call up the company. They won’t sue you if you are not the one they are looking for. There’s no harm trying it.

Alright. These were the basic things you need to do immediately after you lose your job. But what about the expenses? Remember that the inflow of funds is nil till you get a new job. Rework on your budget and cut down unnecessary expenses. You don’t really have to dine out every night or go shopping every weekend. You will run out of cash very soon if you do so and depression is inevitable then. Be wise and maintain your cash flow.

Being handed a pink slip is definitely depressing but you need to get going. No one, trust me on this, no one is going to approach you for help you don’t do something for yourself. It’s you who can make the difference in your life. Stay calm, be motivated, and keep fighting.

If you still feel what I said is useless, go back to your depression mode. But remember, you have bills to pay. Everyday, every month. The choice is yours.

The individuals in this category choose to complete the project instead of discussing how Jenny passed out last weekend. They choose to eat quickly instead of extending the lunch time for a leisurely smoke. They choose to grow instead of waiting. They choose ‘No.’

So why is it that people in first category avoid ‘No’? It’s so simple. Just keep saying ‘No.’

I hope it was that simple. But the power comes when you say ‘No’ at the right time and not all people can do it. Why? Why is it so difficult to ‘No.?’

1. Because you want to grow

   Your senior wants a suggestion on how to implement the new policy. You are the first one to advice him, acknowledge him, reciprocate him. Advising is brilliant, but after you are done with your work.Next, there is a meeting in your department the attendance of which is optional. You are always present because you want to know what’s happening with the department. You want to learn new things. Learning is strength, but after you are done with your work.

   Your boss wants you to get a gift for her wife because today is their first wedding anniversary. How can you miss a golden opportunity to impress your boss? Impressing will definitely help, but after you are done with your work.

   In all the cases, you want to grow in your company. You want to do everything else but work. You think you are helping you colleague, getting noticed, impressing, and eventually making a difference.

2. Because you are helpful

   You always want to help your colleagues because you cannot resist the trauma they are going through. You have this craving to be known as an affable and tough guy who cannot see people caught up with some intricate dilemma. You don’t really mind what your colleague would think on helping him even when he doesn’t want you. You just want to be the one on whom people can depend on; the one who saves the world like Will Smith in Independence Day. You feel great when you mentally imagine people relying on you. The feeling, the imagining, makes you feel like man. Thus, to become manlier, you jump in every possible situation, even if you are making it worse.

3. Because you want to avoid your task

   Do you still keep wondering why you work is always left undone, even when you are always occupied with some work? That’s because you are doing something else. C’mon, lets face it. Notice yourself every minute at the workplace and you will find the truth. Your colleague wants you to help him with his project. You already hate you work, hence you quickly but unconsciously focus on your coworker’s project. Thirty minutes later, you are refreshed and you can now focus on your tasks. An hour before leaving, you check your ‘to do list’ and keep ticking what’s done and what’s to be added for the next day. Hurray! End of the day.

Ok. That’s how people in first category operate. However, what is the benefit of saying ‘No?’

1. Optimum utilization of your time

   You are always busy doing something. But is that ‘something’ really your work or even adding value to your work? There are hundreds of things that are urgent and you want to finish those first before starting your actual work. However, if you keep getting engrossed in such trivial matters daily, when will you start the real work? Here is when you need the strength to deny. Deny to what’s useless, say no to anything that keeps you from achieving your goal, say no to the little self inside you that wants to get out nd save the world.

2. Encourage colleagues to value your time

   You might have heard many quotes on ‘time’. Is it all true? Is time very precious? Who cares? You can care about it or not, time itself is very valuable. You can choose to utilize your time doing something important or choose to waste it. But remember, whatever you do every minute, every second is constantly building your career, your personality. These seconds and minutes constitute a month, year and your lifetime. It all depends on how you use it. Bill Gates, Barack Obama, and every other man had equal minutes in an hour. What you do in these sixty minutes is all that makes a difference.

   Getting recognition is simple. Finish your small project, ask for more work. Definitely if you ask for it, you will get more work. Keep doing more, keep getting additional responsibilities, and keep getting the recognition. However, are you sure that everything you are doing is important? Not really. You will get heaps of work if you search for it but choose to do what’s worth your effort and precious time. Or your boss will start dumping every other thing on you.

3. Make a Difference

   Heard of Stephen Covey? The author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and First Things First explains that 80% of your work and time contributes to nearly 20% of your task. However, the remaining 20% is given to the most important work. Some critical tasks are very important and you cannot, at any cost, afford to avoid it. This is where you need to work hard. Say no to the 80% trivial things and spare some extra time to work on the critical aspects. Stop wasting your time and work to get results. Don’t bother to get noticed by attending some creepy meetings. Instead, be the best by making extra time for most important tasks. Who wouldn’t notice you if you are the best performer of the year? Your boss can throw you out even if you got a gift for a wife. But he cannot afford to let you go if you achieve your targets.

But how do you learn to say no?

Don’t, I repeat, don’t focus on anything that’s trying to distract you from your actual work. Or look at it like this when you find yourself occupied with anything. Is it helping me shape my career? If yes, continue. If no, say ‘No.’ Is it helping me to achieve my targets? Is it of any use? Can I avoid this for my improvement? What will be the consequences of avoiding trivial matters?

Observe discipline

Once you decide that you would not focus on anything less important, stick to it. It would as difficult as trying to quit smoking. One drag can bring you back to two packs per day. Let people badmouth about you, let people be jealous of you, let people know you are working and do not like to be disturbed. Say ‘No’ to anything and everything that distracts you.

Choose where you want to be. First category or Second category?

Investors need to be assured of profitable returns when making investments. The present unemployment scenario which is indicative of a still-vulnerable economy is hardly assuring for the investors. They are not prepared for making investments till the employment rates in the country improve. About 43 % of investors feel that an unemployment percentage of not more than 7% can motivate them to take the risk in making investments. If that looks quite improbable in the present scenario, hear it from  48 % investors who feel that the unemployment rates should touch 5 % or lower than that for them to feel confident that the recession is really over and economic recovery is on way.

When it comes to considering employment rates as the most important factor indicative of the recession recovery, both the rich and the poor are unanimous. 30 million households feel that employment rates are the primary indicative factors of the economic growth of the United States after the recent economic depression. Many of these people had made investments during the recession last year and had lost quite a lot of money during the crisis. On an average, investors lost about 30 % of their investments in the crisis. Those people who savings in banks had suffered more than those who did not have any. The financially well-off lost a lot of their assets in the crisis though their net worth was not affected much. But if you are an investor let not the plight of others affect you. Always assess your personal financial situation, the market pulse and the current employment percentage before thinking of making any investments. Always go as per your risk tolerance levels. Do not get carried away by the advice of others unless they are sufficiently knowledgeable and experienced. The rate of unemployment is expected to decrease in the coming months. You have to view the status of your investments when the rate of investments drops. As the rate of unemployment is still high in the recent times, you cannot expect investors to start making investments right away.

Employment rates indicate the spending capacity of company owners. If they do not have the capacity to hire people, they do not have enough finances and this does not reflect a good economic status.

Does Your Head Hunter Suck You?

Nowadays, head hunters suck their clients under the guise of offering a number of services. Career counseling services, which are one of the most popular services offered by them, cost a fortune. So be careful while opting for those services. Ask the rates for the services beforehand so that they don’t reveal hidden rates later to you. The enrollment fee, the fee on getting a job and for career counseling etc. should all be made clear before your registering for their services.

Did Your Head Hunter Talk to You about the Legal Implications?

When you switch over to a new job, you might face legal hassles if you don’t complete the formalities of the old organization before switching. Your appointment with the new company may be put on hold or dismissed altogether if you haven’t fulfilled the criterion for a job exit with your present employer.

Is Your Head Hunter Getting You The Perfect Corporate Fit?

If you are talented, there will be a lot of avenues for you because there will be a lot of employers waiting to hire you. Your head hunter should be able to show you the best corporate that suits your talents and reward expectations. But many times head hunters don’t put a lot of effort in choosing the best for you. They hastily try to accommodate you in any corporate that suits your basic requirements to save themselves time and effort. Watch out for such head hunters. Isn’t opting for online portals a much better proposal?

Are You Being Used As Filler By The Head Hunter?

Sometimes your head hunter might send you for a job interview even though you don’t perfectly fit the required profile because of his own reasons.  You are being used as filler then. He might even tweak your resume for that.

Your resume is circulated far and wide without your knowledge. Many recruitment firms get paid only when they successfully place a candidate. For this, even without your consent they might send your resume to bhundreds of employers in hope that you might like one of the jobs and settle for it. But this comes with negative  consequences especially if you’ve registered with a a lot of recruiters. Your resmue might even reach your current employer. Always tryu to limit your registration to a sinlge recutier of repute. With an online website, your resume goes to only those employers that you are interested in.

After considering employment via  head hunter and an online website , I’d vouch for online job portals because they don’t pose all the hassels that are posed by head hunters.