Best Computer Software Training Tutorials

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How to Resign from your Job: The Wrong Way

When changing careers, you never want to leave your current position in a compromising situation that leaves negative feelings between you and your boss. You want to build your own social network, not burn them. When quitting, make sure not to resign:

In the worst way: If you can help it, try not to leave under strenuous circumstances.

When the timing is bad: Do not leave your current position without another job lined up or if you are under a lot of financial obligations.

When you don’t have negotiating power: As mentioned before, do not leave your current position if you do not have another lined up. You have some negotiation powers during your departure. You may have the opportunity to work out better terms with your potential employer or may even consider counter offers.

[Learn How to Resign from Your Job Gracefully]

By ways of email, fax, phone or post-it note: No matter how much you hate your job, you still need to be polite. Do not notify your employer that you are quitting via email, fax, phone or post-it note because that is the fastest way you burn your bridges. Your boss definitely will not appreciate it and your chances for good references become non-existent.

In a dramatic exit: Quitting a job in a dramatic flair should be avoided. Not only is it unprofessional, but it’s an easy way to get blacklisted in an industry as a “challenging employee.”

Suddenly and without warning: Be respectful and courteous by offering a two week notice for your employer to find a replacement who can take over your responsibilities. Do not ditch your job without fair warning.

Taking company’s clients and workers: Although not uncommon in competitive industries, it is though, unethical. Choosing a new career is your decision, but don’t bring others into it.

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How to Resign from your Job

Terminating your employment takes ingenuity. Just saying “I quit” isn’t the end of your resignation. There are steps to be taken to ensure that your soon-to-be former colleagues, supervisors and managers are still part of your own social network—references for future endeavors. Resign professionally and gracefully following these simple rules:

Avoid being a job hopper: Carefully evaluate your reasons for your departure. Invest some time in self-reflection to determine what keeps you at a particular job or what keeps you from staying. Be advised though when creating a resume, most companies frown upon too many employment changes in your work history.

Have another job lined up first: When changing careers, make sure to have a written offer somewhere else before turning in your resignation. Cover all the bases before making any moves.

[Learn How Not to Resign the Wrong Way from Your Job]


Resign in person: Provide both oral and written resignation when you are quitting a job. Your resignation letter should incorporate the following information: intentions, the date you are resigning, the date you wish to leave, and your signature. Basic resignation letter would look as follow…

Today’s date

Company Address
HR Department

Dear (Hr Manager),

I am writing to inform you of my resignation from (position/company name). As per my contract, I am providing xxx weeks notice and my last day will be xxx.

Sincerely,

(Signature)

Your Name

Be honest and tactful: For social networking solutions, you want to leave with a good relationship intact. Be truthful to the reason behind your leave, but do not go into details. Do not bad mouth your former superiors; it could come back to you later on in your career. You’ll be also losing important references as well. Basically, don’t burn your bridges.

Offer two weeks notice: When quitting job, make sure to offer two weeks notice—time for your company/boss/team to find a replacement for you. Offering transition time ensures proper knowledge transfer, tie up loose ends, and your work responsibilities to others. Don’t stay longer than the standard length of time (two weeks) to protect yourself from unexpected changes in both your old and new company.

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5 Reasons to Quit a Job and Start Choosing a New Career

Yes, the U.S. economy is in an economic crisis and jobs are hard to come by, but is it enough reason to stay at your current job position that is making you dread the weekdays? Start considering a mid career change when you start to feel these five factors…

Dreading work: If you can’t stand the people you are working with or the job itself is causing you chronic headaches, loss of sleep, constantly feel stressed, than it’s time for a new career exploration. Your mental/physical health, overall well-being is more important than any one position. Do not compromise your health. Quit before the job burns you out.

Find yourself marginalized: Marginalization is another good reason to quit a job when your responsibilities are slowing taken away or downsized by the upper management. Career exploration is needed when supervisors are excluding you from important discussions, meetings etc.

You outgrew your job: It’s time for a new job search when there are no more advancement opportunities within an organization or field. You may have started your current position as a novice, but now you have a lot of experience—more than your current position requires. To move up in your career, you must at times, quit.

A better offer is on the table: Money is another big factor when it comes to staying or going. If you’ve been stuck at the same salary level for a while with no hope of a pay raise, then it’s time for you to leave your current job position. When changing careers, if there’s an offer you are find difficult to refuse with all other prospective being a good fit, give the offer serious consideration.

There is a breach of trust: Do not get caught constantly waiting on the promise of “next time.” Voice your displeasure if you find yourself in a situation where your supervisor shows a lack of good faith toward you by failing to follow through on his promises. Trust is an unspoken contract and a violation of such should include reparations of some sort. If you find yourself in a situation similar to this, it is time for you to start packing your bags and looking elsewhere.

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Green Jobs: 7 Exciting Green Collar Jobs

Are you a green conscious person? If you have a passion for the environment and wish to align your values into your work ethic and make a living out of it, a green career might be the right fit for you. According to SimplyHired.com, a vertical online job database company, green collar jobs increased 233 percent since October of 2008. Here are 7 top green jobs available in this fast growing field:

• Civil engineer: There is a demand for qualified civil engineers to oversee construction projects, such as water system, sewage facilities, and road pavements thanks to the influx of government stimuli cash. With infrastructure needs on the rise, this sector of the green market will grow 11 percent in the next few years, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). PayScale.com, an online salary database company, states the median salary for civil engineers is $67,000 per year.

• Environmental engineer: As environmental concerns rise around the world, environmental engineers are needed to solve issues on water pollution (i.e. BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico), air pollution, waste disposal, and public health issues. Environmental engineers can make more than $67,000 per year and is one of the many green careers that need green collar jobs training.

• Water-treatment specialist: A water-treatment specialist is one of those green collar jobs that have been around for as long as we’ve had running water in our homes and businesses. As alternative solutions are being asked for by the public at large in replace of bottled water, there is a high demand for these specialists to work on new sewage treatment rules etc. Unlike an environmental engineer, extensive education isn’t needed to be a water-treatment specialist. Workers with high school diploma and five years of experience can expect to earn over $40,000 per year.

You can turn a generalized job, refine it, and turn it into green collar jobs as well, such as:

• Surveyor: Often referred to as “the second oldest profession,” a surveyor is a professional who officially inspects for the purpose of ascertaining the right conditions, values on any given market/product/service. This profession can easily adapt to a green collar job as a land surveyor, redeveloping old industrial sites or reclaim contaminated properties. Expect $50,000 per year with a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience.

• Software developer: A developer can channel his/her technical expertise into a green career by applying software/database design skills into making solar energy more affordable. Median salary is $74,000 per year, but with advance green collar jobs training, certifications or advance degrees, there is the potentiality to raise your earning wage.

• Grant writer: Grant writers can also profit on the green movement by helping non-profit environmental foundations find and apply for government/private funds to protect our Earth’s ecosystem. Grant writers can expect to make about $48,000 per year.

• Sales and human resources: As with any market base, human resource and sales associates are needed to promote the eco-friendly products and services. Professional green career salespeople can expect to earn around $50,000 annually.

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Soft Skills Training: 3 Tips to Improve Soft Skills

Like anything else, soft skills can be learned. The importance of soft skills training cannot be stressed enough. The interpersonal skills you gain throughout life will not only equip you to excel in your professional life, but also in your personal life. Here are three simple ways to improve your soft skills:

Take communication skills courses—Soft skills training courses are mixing technology with areas such as effective written/verbal communication, teamwork, cultural understanding, and psychology. For example, there are speech classes, writing classes to boost your communication skills. Look for conflict resolution or “leadership skill” courses either online or at your local community college.

[Learn more about in-demand interpersonal skills]

Seek mentors—Mentors is another form of teamwork training. Approach potential mentors with the specific skills set you wish to learn from in a friendly, professional way. Ask them which effective soft skills got them ahead in their careers. Compliment that person with a specific example in which you've seen him or her practice that skill.

Volunteer—Brush up on many essential skills through volunteering (i.e. teamwork, decision-making strategies, management, communication skills, reporting, writing, public speaking etc.) Not only are you communication skills training, but a high profile volunteer work on your resume provides you with an opportunity to explain the knowledge and skills acquired to your potential employer.

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Soft Skills Training: 5 Most in Demand Interpersonal Skills

The importance of soft skills training should not be overlooked because to move ahead in your career, you need more than technical qualifications. Yes, technical skills may get you an interview, but it’s really your soft skills, also known as interpersonal skills, that land you the job. It’s also your soft skills that help you keep your job too. Here are six in demand “soft skill training” asked next to the demands of technical qualifications:

Communication Skills—Interviewers prefer job applicants with communication skills training. This does not mean they are looking for applicants who speaks or writes well specifically, but someone who can express themselves. For example, someone who can write a coherent memo, the ability to persuade others with a presentation, or just the ability to calmly explain to team members what he/she needs and wants.

Teamwork—Effective productivity in an organization depends on the constructive teamwork and collaboration of its workers. Teamwork training is a crucial desired soft skill that interviewers are looking for in candidates, someone who can play and work well with others. Companies look for someone who can take charge when the occasion calls for it, be a good follower, monitor the progress of a project, meet deadlines, work well with others across the company to achieve a common goal etc.

[More about how to learn soft skills]

Problem solving—Have you ever wondered why most interviewers ask you the question, “How did you turn a negative situation into a positive one?” This question is asked specifically to gauge the success of your assertiveness training. Be prepared for this question in any interview with several examples of what you did, how you approached a situation, how you involved others, and what the outcome was.

Critical observation— No interpersonal skills training would be complete without learning about the importance of critical observation. It’s not enough to just collect data and manipulate it, you must also have the ability to digest, analyze, and interpret the information. You should be asking yourself when viewing important facts, how does the data affect the company as a whole?

Conflict resolution—Ability to resolve a conflict should also be included in your soft skill training. Your ability to persuade, to negotiate, and resolve a conflict is momentous for your career advancement. Be ready to show your conflict resolution skills and when the time calls for it, to negotiate win-win solutions to serve the best interest of the company and individuals involved.

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