Escaping the Boss From Hell: Three Steps to a Better Career

Nearly everyone has suffered this at least once in his career—the boss who makes each workday a living terror. You can find the Boss from Hell in any industry or occupation. Even the best companies slip up from time to time, allowing bullies to rise through the employment food chain to management.

If a national survey were taken to find out the reasons people change jobs, by far the number one reason for job dissatisfaction would be bad management. As a career coach, surprisingly, I’ve found that increased earning potential usually ranks far below the desire to leave a mean, unreasonable boss. If you wake up each day dreading the next eight to ten hours, your problem might be your supervisor.

You’re working for the Boss From Hell if:

· He (or she) bullies you and your coworkers with threats and temper tantrums.

· His unpredictable moods keeps the office environment constantly tense and second-guessing his next move.

· He sets unrealistic and unattainable goals.

· You live in constant fear of being fired.

Fear and intimidation never motivate employees to excel. Tyrannical supervisors create an atmosphere of distrust and isolation. If you work for someone like this, your confidence is probably not what it used to be. In fact, you are probably second-guessing your decisions on the job constantly. As long as you work for management that rules by fear, you’ll never reach your career and earning potential.

There are three steps to escape the Boss From Hell and move on to a happier, healthier work place.

1. Gain perspective to think rationally about your career options.

Fear in the workplace tends to leave people thinking they have no better options than to stick it out. Such thinking is a result of loss of confidence and the inability to see beyond the present distress. One way to gain perspective and see new options is to spend some time browsing job postings. The right direction might be within another department or division of your current employer, but away from your current boss. Or it might be somewhere else altogether. If you keep an open mind, you’ll see that there are many options for you outside of your current job.

One way to get the most out of this career reconnaissance is to search for job postings based on skills rather than job titles. Do a job-skills self-analysis to identify the tasks and activities you enjoy performing on your job. Use those skills as your search terms at online job boards. You may be surprised to see that you qualify for positions you had not thought of before.

2. Take inventory of your career accomplishments and contributions.

In order to get moving toward a new position you’ll need to regain your confidence. Think about, and then write down, situations of where you:

· Came up with an idea for saving time

· Helped your team reach a production goal

· Identified cost savings opportunities

· Solved a customer problem leading to increased customer satisfaction

As you think back on your accomplishments, you’ll begin to realize the value you have added to your company. Remember, other employers have similar problems to solve. They are looking for candidates who have experience in handling difficult situations. The more specific the examples of your accomplishments are, the more marketable you will be in the job market.

3. Update your resume.

Once you have your accomplishments listed, use them to update your resume. Think of your resume as your initial marketing tool; it should announce to potential employers your ability to help them reach their bottom-line corporate goals. For example, your resume should appeal to potential employers’ desire to increase efficiency, cut costs and improve productivity. When employers see what you can do for them, they’re sure to be impressed.

Your resume should also have a clear career focus. Updating your resume doesn’t mean simply adding your current work history to your old resume format. Without a careful resume strategy, your resume will begin to resemble an old house with too many tacked on additions. Make sure your resume presents a cohesive, well-thought out, professional front.

Additionally, if your career has taken several interesting turns, you’ll want to adjust your resume toward your current focus. Take the time to refocus your resume on your current job search. Highlight the items from your career that are relevant, and minimize the things that are no longer relevant.

Once you have invested the time to gain perspective on your career options, take inventory of your accomplishments, and update your resume, you’ll be mentally and emotionally ready to seek other employment opportunities, either within or outside your current company. You don’t have to remain in an unhappy job. You do have choices. Take the steps to help yourself—you’ll be glad you did!

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Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach

Read more career tips and see sample resumes at:

www.AlphaAdvantage.com

email: Deb@Alphaadvantage.com

Move Up In Your Career With a Resume That Says Can Do!

Do your career ambitions include a promotion to greater responsibilities? Are your efforts to move into management getting you no where in the job market? You are not alone. One of the most common career challenges is moving up the corporate ladder. As a career coach, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is “how can I make my resume convince employers I can do the job when I don't have management experience?” Let me share with you three tips for transforming your resume into a tool to help you move up in your career.

1. Emphasize strategic activities.

Transitioning into management generally means going from tactical responsibilities to strategic planning. Meaning those in management plan the work of others. Employers want to know how closely you have been involved with strategic activities. Perhaps you've worked with a team that came up with strategic solutions. Maybe you've assisted your boss in devising a better way of doing something. It could be that you took initiative to develop a more efficient system of operations. Use these examples in your resume to show that you understand what it takes to be a strategic thinker.

2. Emphasize your accomplishments.

Employers are always looking for individuals with drive and initiative to promote into management roles. What better way to illustrate your potential than through your accomplishments. Think back on the challenges you've met on the job. What problems did you fix? How did you contribute to corporate bottom-line objectives? Can you prove your worth by the time you've saved or the costs you've cut or procedures you've streamlined? How well have you contributed to the income or revenue growth of your company? These are issues on the minds of all hiring managers. Include accomplishments in your resume that illustrate your ability to solve the problems of potential employers.

3. Emphasize your leadership skills.

The hallmark of great management is the ability to lead others. You don't have to have had the role of manager to have opportunities to lead. Challenges represent opportunity to exercise leadership. Anytime you were able to motivate others, you practiced leadership. Mentoring is another example of leadership. Training others is yet another form of leading. Taking part in a team that solved significant problems is a great way to show your leadership potential.

So, you see, there are many ways to illustrate in your resume your ability, skills and drive toward management. Remember, employers look for potential as well as actual management experience. Write your resume with these three tips in mind and you'll soon see career growth opportunities knocking at your door.

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Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach

Read more career tips and see sample resumes at:

www.AlphaAdvantage.com

email: Deb@Alphaadvantage.com

The Warning Signs of Career Disaster

Many of us have recurring dreams. Mine is that I’m driving down the freeway and can’t read the road signs until I’ve missed an important exit. Fortunately, it’s just a dream. But many people have trouble reading signs—not road signs, but career warning signs.

A career warning sign is any change that indicates possible career disaster. While warning signs may vary according to employment situations, there are three basic warning signs to look for.

Warning Sign #1: Sales are down in your company.

While not everyone in an organization is involved with sales, all jobs are affected by sales levels. When revenues decrease, profits are held steady by cutting costs, which often means cutting jobs. Protect yourself by paying attention to your company’s sales.

While not all employees are privy to sales numbers, there are ways of finding pertinent financial information. Public companies must publish financial statements. And employees of non-public companies can also read the signs of declining sales, like:

• Work load decline

• Boss suddenly concerned about small costs, like pens and copy paper

• Sales manager was fired or sales department reorganized

Alert employees are sensitive to such indicators. They keep their resume updated at all times and cultivate a growing professional network for potential future job leads.

Warning Sign #2: Management changes.

Any management change has the potential to damage your corporate position. Be watchful during:

• Mergers and acquisitions

• Successive short-term management (e.g., three bosses in two years)

• Retirement or replacement of senior management

Wise employees listen closely to new-management rhetoric. Is he making dramatic promises? Does he have a reputation as a job cutter? The first announcement of new management is the time to prepare your resume and cautiously explore outside options.

Warning Sign #3: You’ve lost favor with your boss.

While “gut feelings” are often the first warning, some objective indicators are:

• A less-than-exemplary performance review

• No performance-based salary increase

• Smaller than expected year-end bonus

• Your input is not requested at planning meetings

• Your suggestions are ignored

If you sense your position on the corporate totem pole is falling, trust your gut. When jobs are at stake, yours will be one of the first sacrificed. Prepare your new career plan .

These warning signs may seem obvious, but they are often ignored by those who fear change. Rather than take action, they lean on false hope that loyalty to the employer will pay off in the end.

Those who practice career management never confuse company loyalty with aversion to change. When career warning signs appear on the horizon, read the signs clearly so that you’re ready for the next exit with a strong resume, career plan, and interview skills .

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Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach

Read more career tips and see sample resumes at:

www.AlphaAdvantage.com

email: Deb@Alphaadvantage.com