How to Resign

How to Resign by Tom Bunkham OK, so youve got the job. Now its time to hand in your noticeBut before you rush to tell your boss, make sure you know how to handle what can be a pretty awkward situation. Its vital to consider all the different parts of the process from the initial conversation and written resignation, through to your notice period and your last day.Weve already covered some of the greatest resignations, but to help you say goodbye the right way, here are our top tips on how to resign.EtiquetteAs with any difficult situation, it’s always important to approach the subject with the right etiquette.Be gracious tell them how much you’ve enjoyed working with them and that youve learned a lot (if it hasn’t and you haven’t, be gracious anyway)Be cooperative let them know youll do all you can to make sure the handover is dealt with smoothlyDont burn your bridges make sure the company knows that if the right opportunity comes along, you would always consider working for th em againHow to survive an exit interview  Put it in writingOnce youve let your boss know verbally, the next step is to put your resignation in writing.At the very least, your letter should include the position youre resigning from and the date you intend to leaveAlthough not essential, you might want to thank your employer for the opportunities youve been given and offer your willingness to ensure a smooth handover etcWhilst constructive criticism is acceptable, dont get personal or youll risk your reference and your reputationResignation letter: What you need to knowResignation letter templatesThe counter offerIf youre a loyal employee and youve done a good job, the chances are your boss wont want to see you go.The most likely way an employer will try and make you stay is by offering you a pay rise either equal to or above what youve been offered in your new job.Make sure you understand the counter offer and avoid making a knee jerk decision. While the promise of promotion, increas ed responsibility and extra money may sound tempting, will it really make you want to stay for the next few years?Think carefully about whats been offered. And dont forget that youll be working in the same organisation, with the same people and probably under the same boss.Don’t be persuaded into staying simply because you’re scared of change.It can be tempting to accept the counter offer because you’re comfortable where you are. But is this a good enough reason for you to stay?How to negotiate a pay riseFive things to consider when you receive a counter offerYour notice periodWhatever the length of your notice period, youre legally obliged to work it, unless your employers willing to waive it.You should find details of your notice period in your contract, otherwise, you should normally allow between two weeks and a month.When seeing out your notice, make sure you stay alert. Whilst its easy to imagine your last few weeks as a time to relax and stop making an effort, this is s eldom the case.Whats more, being seen to make the effort right up until your last day will ensure your reputation as a professional and reliable employee remains intact.Finally, make sure you allow time to say goodbye to everyone and swap contact details with as many colleagues as you can.Moving jobs is a great way to extend your network and you may find you see some of your colleagues again sooner than you think.What is a notice period?Goodbye email templatesGardening leaveDepending on your role and the sector you work in, you may be asked by your employer to take gardening leave.This is where an employee has to stay away from work during their notice period, preventing them from gathering potentially sensitive commercial information, especially if theyre leaving to join a competitor.Employees on gardening leave continue to receive their normal pay and are covered by other normal contractual obligations until their leave ends.Feel goodLast of all, dont feel guilty about resigning. Feel good.Working is a business arrangement and moving jobs is part and parcel of that.Whilst others may think youre resigning from a perfectly good job, youre the one in control of your career and only you can decide which direction it should take.If resigning from your job will bring you closer to meeting your career goals, its a step worth taking.Eight of the greatest ways to resignReady to love Mondays?  View all of our current vacancies now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Career Development

Creative Writing Skills Resume Tips - Get the Shallow Truth Revealed

Creative Writing Skills Resume Tips - Get the Shallow Truth RevealedMost creative writing skills resume tips often seem a little 'shallow'. It's the secret ingredient to the perfect resume. What you don't know can hurt you.The secret is to make the secret interesting. You have the opportunity to add depth to your resume. How? Let's explore.In an email, when I was in college, my high school English teacher gave us a real education in resume-writing. We were studying to become writers. That meant that we were learning the secrets of the masters. He had us read, reread and rewrite their resumes. We had to draw out their inner writer and discover how they helped them achieve their goals.Our research unearthed many creative ways for the writers to break down the resume's story. So, they did. The result was a 'Rich, Stylish, Creative Resume'. That was one 'Shallow' secret. How do you solve the problem?There are several 'Deep Secrets' that you must know about yourself and the employer. To b e successful, you have to be an 'Extraordinary Resume Writer'. The skills you need include:So, you say you don't have those talents. Too bad. But, there are other things you must do. Take note:To discover this creative writing skills, you need to pay attention to the details. You have to learn about the 'shallow' truth about the job you are applying for. You can get clues from the way the employer describes themselves in their resume. Of course, they are often very creative.They don't have to be a great artist, but they can have a great eye for detail, even if it's not their most admired talent. But, what matters most is that you put all that talent into the right context.

How to End Your Email Time Suck For Good

How to End Your Email Time Suck For Good When it comes to email, Im the worst. Every time I open it, I feel like Im slaying a Hydra.   For every email I respond to, file, or delete, another two pop up in its place. Eventually, I am stuck with an inbox in the thousands, full of messages I need to do something with. Im just not motivated enough to do anything about it. But organization isnt the only problem I have with email, its time. I track the time I spend on my work tasks and found that writing, reading, and responding to email easily takes me an hour or more a day. Wouldnt it be nice to have something motivate us to get our email together? I dont think Im the only one who feels this way. Thats why Alexander Moore and his team at Baydin created The Email Game. How it Works   The Email Game does a good job of keeping it easy.  It works right off the site with Gmail, but you can sign up for their enterprise version to get it to work with Outlook as well. Once youve put in your email it pulls up a screen like this. Look familiar?  Its one of those Deal Emails you probably get a hundred of everyday. Now Im forced to make a decision on what Im going to do with it.  Otherwise that clock is going to go down to zero and then Ill get in trouble or lose. Anyways, I do need to get an oil change soon, but the last one of these I got was a pain.   The shop took 4 hrs to do my oil and I had to do it first thing in the morning on a Saturday.  Is it worth the risk trying it again? Luckily The Email Game makes it easy to see what my choices are. Right at the top, it gives you all the options you typically use for your email.  In this case Gmail. Reply, Forward, Label, and Skip were all pretty self explanatory, but there were a few new things this game taught me about email management that I didnt know. For example, I can boomerang a message so that it leaves my inbox for a set amount of time and then comes back to the top again at the time I set. Also, I was always afraid to archive before, but the game helped me understand that archiving allows me to get a message out of my inbox without deleting it, so I can still find it when I search. Once Ive decided what I want to do with my oil change email, it pulls up the next one. The more I make a decision and do something with the happier that little guy gets. Like this But if you get lazy and just skip a bunch of messagesthat little dude is going to have a problem with you. See. I keep doing actions until Ive gone through 30 messages. Then something magical happens. Okay, thats not a big deal, but they do give you some useful stats. You can see how much time you spend per email.   That can be scary when you multiply that by the number of emails you get a day. It also shows you the breakdown of what you did with each of the messages. Does it Actually Work? The application itself is fairly simple and straightforward, yet it did help me to take control of my monstrous inbox that I typically procrastinate working on. Having all the choices of what to do with my email all in one place at the top allows me to manage my email much quicker and the clock doesnt give me a chance to get distracted and waste time over thinking my email. They also do a good job of sending you reminder emails when you havent been using it, so I now tend to pull this up a few times a week and to get my email sorted out. I recommend giving it a try. Let me know what you thought in the comments below.

QUIZ What Job Would Suit You

QUIZ What Job Would Suit You If you’re on the lookout for a new job, why not take this quick fire quiz created by the specialists at Pertemps to discover what job would suit you in line with your personality, key skills, goals and many more personal qualities. The what job would suit you quiz is  designed as a bit of fun, but you never know you could end up being enlightened and finding the job of your dreams thanks to the results of this quiz. Give it a go and see what job best suits you; Let us know in the comments below which job was matched with you, your thoughts on the outcome and whether it’s a career you’d ever consider following. We look forward to hearing from you and thanks again to Pertemps for sharing. 19

The Purpose of Resume Builder Help Writing

The Purpose of Resume Builder Help WritingResume builder help writing will be worth it when you finally have a successful job interview. You will know the tricks of the trade and also make sure you never get caught up in such situations again. Being able to prepare yourself and your skills will help you achieve that better job.When you are searching for job skills, it is critical that you understand how job searches go, how and why they are conducted and what tools are available to you. These things can help you prepare yourself and get ready to provide what is asked. If you learn these things early, you can count on being able to provide what is needed.It is essential that you understand skills and abilities when you seek a job. There are a variety of things to check out and prepare for during a job search. You should take a look at the job description and learn about the responsibilities that are required of you.Other basic things to keep in mind when you are preparing for a job in clude learning about the company and their goals and what they are looking for. In general, the person who looks for jobs will use resume builder help writing to present themselves in the best possible light. They will do this in a way that shows their skills and qualifications.It is not a waste of time to utilize resume builder help writing as it can help you avoid mistakes that might prevent you from landing the job you desire. Remember, there is a chance that someone else will be in the same position as you at the same time. They may already be a member of the staff and may be working with the person who wrote the resume.Resume builder help writing is done to help set the stage so you can present yourself to the employer in the best light possible. The more prepared you are, the easier it will be for you to present yourself. The other person will have more confidence in you and will actually begin to like you for it.Another advantage to using resume builder help writing is the fa ct that you can learn a little bit about the company and what they expect of you. Then, when you have time, you can begin to write your own resume. This will save you some time as well and save you the frustration of not being accepted.It can be tempting to use resume builder help writing as a way to skirt around writing skills and skill sets. However, if you really want to get ahead in your career, you must learn to write and present yourself in the best possible light. By writing your resume the right way, you will find that you can get a higher level of job, promotion or offer to any person.

This is the ultimate university student packing checklist - Debut

This is the ultimate university student packing checklist - Debut Debuts Ultimate Uni Student Packing Checklist Its not Hogwarts, but its definitely home at least for the next nine months. Its that time of the year again! Whether youre a fresher or a finalist, weve made this extensive list of things you should really chuck in the boot. Download the printable version of this checklist here. Pro tip: packing isnt fun, but it is when you put this playlist on.   Debuts Ultimate Uni Student Packing Checklist Bedroom Image via Giphy Your uni room should be a sanctuary away from all the crazy, wonderful, overwhelming experiences youll no doubt have. Heres our list of things thatll turn your rented room into your home away from home. [one_half] Jersey sheets and duvet/comforter set. Trust us, theyre way comfier. Foam topper. This is to protect your mattress from any, uh, weird stains. (No judging!) Extra pillowcases One extra fluffy pillow An air mattress or a sleeping bag for any visiting home friends A fluffy throw Fairy lights Polaroids and photos for your bare, sad-looking bedroom wall A rug. It gets cold in the winter, yo. A squeegee this is ridiculously useful for getting rid of condensation, and therefore, any potential damp [/one_half] [one_half] Bulletin board/dry-erase board Push pins/magnets Whiteboard marker pens Desk/floor lamp Full-length mirror Clothes hangers (and plenty of them) Behind-the-door adhesive hooks Stackable shoe rack A bin Storage containers for under your bed A medium-sized fan (to air out your room in the winter, and to cool down in the summer) A secret mini-safe for your valuables  (we found this cool one on Ebay) [/one_half] [full_width]Kitchen[/full_width] Image via WeHeartIt Now, weve just gone for the basics. All you Insta-cooks will probably have your own extensive list, but this will definitely get you through a year without having to resort to Pot Noodles. [one_half] Large dishes Small dishes Cereal/pasta bowls Cutlery (forks, spoons, knives, chopsticks, whatever you fancy) Cups Mugs Oven mitts Tea towels Large oven tray Medium oven tray Muffin tin Kettle [/one_half] [one_half] Toaster Dustpan Tinfoil Clingfilm Tupperware (a few different sizes) Utensils (spatulas, ladles, tongs, kitchen scissors, kitchen knives, potato masher) Hand soap Disinfecting wipes Medium-size wok Medium-size saucepan Large saucepan (for soups and stews) Medium-size frying pan Pancake pan (for Pancake Day, obviously) [/one_half] [full_width]Laundry[/full_width] Image via Giphy No, keeping it all in your hamper and then bringing it back for your mum to do at Christmas is not the one. Laundry hamper Iron or portable steamer Ironing board Huge, economical box of detergent Drying rack (try not to dry your clothes in your room as this will increase damp in the winter) Bleach Fabric softener Emergency sewing kit Vanish or a similar stain remover Lingerie bag (so your delicates wont get holey in the wash) Bathroom Image via Giphy Well say this now: if you keep your stuff in the communal bathroom, they will get used. Well also say this now:  if you use other peoples stuff and finish them, karma will get ya if you dont replace it. [one_half] Two big bath towels Fuzzy bathrobe Bath rug / shower mat Hand towel Portable shower caddy for your toiletries Air freshener (trust us) Bathroom cleaning supplies (drain unblocker, toilet brush, toilet cleaner, shower cleaner, rubber cloths  and sponges) Toiletries Toothbrush Toothpaste Mouthwash Floss (we know, the benefits of flossing are unproven, but nothing makes you feel more with it than when you floss in the morning) Shower gel Shampoo Conditioner Face wash Face moisturiser Body lotion Sudocrem (for bumps, cuts and any stray spots) Lip balm Hand cream Deodorant Shaving cream Sunblock Makeup wipes or makeup remover Face/hair treatment masks (for those flatmate beauty bonding sessions. Yes boys. You too.) [/one_half] [one_half] Accessories Hair dryer Face mirror Brush/comb Contact lenses, solution and case Cotton buds Cotton balls Hair straighteners/curlers Hair ties (bring lots, they always go missing) Nail clippers / toenail clippers Nail file Tweezers Razor Tampons and pads Toilet paper (just in case) Bobby pins Headband [/one_half] [full_width]Clothes[/full_width] Image via Giphy Now, we thought about dividing this by boys girls, but that would be terribly gender-normative of us. So cross off all the ones that dont apply to you before you start packing! [one_half] Pyjamas Comfy pants Nicer, perhaps not so comfy pants Bras Sport bras Blue jeans Black jeans Day dresses Going out dresses Button-down shirts T-shirts (band shirts, your favourite movie, this is your chance to turn your top into a conversation starter.) Going out clothes (only you know what that means for yourself) Hoodies Rain/wind jacket Skirts [/one_half] [one_half] Shorts Tights/leggings Coats Professional clothing (blazers, nice slacks, that one dress that makes you feel like an adult) Sports socks Cartoon socks Slipper socks Workout  clothes Jumpers Tank tops Day trainers Sports shoes High heels (that you can realistically walk in) Winter boots Wellies A bag big enough to fit your laptop (one that youll affectionately say contains your entire life) Your going-out purse (that can fit your phone, ID and keys) [/one_half] [full_width]Tech[/full_width] Image via Giphy Weird things the author saw during her time at university: a guy who exclusively typed on a typewriter and carted it around during lectures. Keep typing away, typewriter guy. Laptop Phone Tablet (this will be particularly useful for lectures, especially if you have a portable small keyboard) Camera Camera SD card Chargers (phone, laptop, camera, etc.) USB drives An extra phone cable (they always break) HDMI cable (so you can put your Netflix on your flatmates big TV) A Microsoft Office subscription (your notes are going to look  so swish. But if not, Google Docs is pretty good too.) Bluetooth speakers Portable phone charger Printer Scanner Printer ink Printer paper Wireless mouse and keyboard Voice recorder for lectures (make sure you ask your lecturer for permission first!) Laptop case Laptop pro-up stand (to fix your terrible posture) Stationery Image via Giphy Ah. Nothing like the smell of fresh notebook paper in the morning. Ballpoint pens Pencils Erasers Highlighter pens (preferably scented, obvs) Desk calendar Postcards (to send home) Envelopes Scientific calculator Ruler (youll be surprised at how many times youll use this) Measuring tape Folders Plastic wallets for your folders Index cards Notebooks Sticky notes Permanent markers Stapler and staples Paperclips Clear sticky tape Masking tape Hole-punch Glue White-tac (not blue theyll stain your walls!) Desk fan Rubber bands Wrapping paper Emergency Image via Giphy Because youll inevitably have a few of those. Hayfever tablets Inhaler Aloe vera lotion Antiseptic lotion or wipes Bandages Contraception Cold and flu meds Lemsip Decongestant Eye drops First aid kit Insect repellent Prescription medicine Prescription information Painkillers Thermometer Iodine Rubbing alcohol Throat lozenges Throat spray Upset tummy medication Vaseline Ankle guard / knee guard (for any potential sprains) Pepper spray Mini  alarm / whistle Emergency contact list Spare phone (like an old Nokia) and charger Fire blanket Mini fire extinguisher Strong flashlight Party Image via Giphy Finally, she gets to the important stuff. Alright guys, I got there in the end. Its our job to tell you to drink responsibly, so, drink responsibly please! Fancy dress 1920s themed Anything-but-clothes Ancient Greek 80s-themed Halloween costume Something beginning with the first letter of your name Face paint Temporary hair colour spray Face glitter (this is mandatory) Recycled cardboard and acrylic paint Shot glasses Jelly moulds (for vodka jelly) Playing cards Cards Against Humanity Earplugs Flask Fishbowl (or large, clear bowl) Extra Bits Image via Her Campus Now, for the things youll definitely need but dont quite fit into our neat categories. Passport Drivers license Car registration and insurance information Copy of birth certificate Copy of National Insurance Credit card Debit card Uni enrolment documents Health/dental information Copy of house contract/lease Product warranties for your techy bits Student ID Folder for important documents Journal Picnic blanket Beach towel Bicycle Bicycle helmet Bicycle lock Musical instruments (yes, be that dude playing Wonderwall on the guitar) Sleep mask Suitcase Mini tool kit Mini vacuum cleaner Yoga mat Feature image © Erol Ahmed via Unsplash Download the Debut app and you could totally grab yourself a summer internship  way before anyone else. Follow Brenda on Twitter @brendaisarebel Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter  [/full_width]

Working Together

Working Together I had a really fun meeting yesterday morning with two wonderful women.   It was a great feeling.   I left the meeting with ideas running through my head, a renewed sense of purpose and feeling energized! What I have found is that when I collaborate and share with others, the results are often better than I could have come up with on my own.   The combined energy and brain power of three is much greater than one.   Not only did these wonderful women and I brainstorm a project together, they also provided me with suggestions, ideas and actions they wanted me to followup on for my business.   Selflessly.   Giving, not expecting anything return other than seeing me be successful.   For this I am incredibly grateful. As a job seeker, you may benefit from working together as well.   No, I know you will benefit!   Go find two or more people to work with on your search.   You need a push. You need fresh ideas.   You deserve to feel re-energized. Can you think of any reason not to work together with people?   Let me know.

Interview horror story -

Interview horror story - Yesterday, I shared an interview horror story from the employers perspective, and today, its the job seekers turn. Read on for a scary job seeker story and add your own to the comments! Today, thanks to Susan P. for some tidbits from her job searches: Where do I start? I have had so many weird job interviews. I have had two that both lasted 8 hours where I was interviewed by everyone in the department and students too. Both of these were at universities. I can’t say that I was scared but it was intimidating. For one position, I started at the University, was driven to another location, then over to another place and back to the original place. And they did not even give me lunch or ask if I wanted a break for lunch. The questions I was asked were pretty typical. I did not get the job. The other 8-hour interview had me speaking with professors, admin. assistants, students, and staff. I was given lunch, but was interviewed during the meal. I got this job but walked out (not my finest moment) after 4 months due to an extremely abusive supervisor. But probably the strangest interview was for a temporary admin. assistant position at yet another university. The job involved being the admin. support for 11 student organizations and the entire programs department, plus filling in as front desk receptionist and answering the phone. The first interview took place in a conference room with 6 people asking me questions. One guy asked me what I had made in my last several jobs. I was also given a written problem to solve during the interview. I was called back in a week later for another interview with 4 more people in the department. One asked what I thought one of my references would say about me in a recommendation. Another question was if the department head was told by someone in the department that I was overqualified for the job (which I was), how should she respond to this type of question. And on and on it went. All this for a $16/hour temporary position. The next day I called them to withdraw my name. Horror story or par for the course? Having worked at a university myself, I am not surprised by the, ummm “in depth” nature of the interviews, even for a very entry-level type of job. One good point to remember â€" if you are scheduling an interview â€" be sure to ask what to expect. Will it be an all-day affair? A half-hour meeting? Do you need to (literally) pack a lunch â€" or at least a snack â€" in your briefcase or purse? Asking what to expect makes you look like a planner and a detail-driven candidate. If you are in an extremely long (all-day) interview process, it is important to request breaks as you need them, even if it means a long restroom break. If you need a drink of water, for example, be sure to ask for one. It’s also a good idea to use the breaks to jot down some notes you may use when you write thank you notes. It may be difficult to keep track of everyone’s name and what you discussed, so having some reminders is helpful. How about the question about salary? Best to start out by avoiding stating a figure. “I am looking for a career opportunity, and salary is not my primary consideration.” If pushed, “I am sure you have a budget in mind for this position that would suitably compensate me for my skills and what I will contribute.” You get the picture!