SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT HANDING IN MY NOTICE?
THOUGHTS & OPINIONS
I don’t know why but often; we just can’t help but feel guilty and awkward about handing our notice in. It feels like we’re letting our employer down, saying thanks for the opportunity and your trust and investment in me but I’m afraid I’m leaving. What we tend to forget is the reason our employer invested in us in the first place. It certainly wasn’t for nothing.
TIPS ON HOW TO ASK FOR A PAY RISE
TIPS
You would be surprised about how many people shy away from asking for a raise, some haven’t had one for five or more years. They feel awkward about initiating the conversation or they are worried they might sound greedy and possibly even risk their position. Instead, they rely on their employer to notice their good work and offer them a pay rise - a strategy that can leave people earning far less than they would if they would just ask.
You must know that asking for a raise is absolutely normal. As long as you follow some guidelines, you will not look greedy or ungrateful (assuming you work for a reasonable employer). A simple conversation that could be as short as five minutes, can see you much happier and more motivated in your job.
FORMING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS - IMPROVING INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
GUIDANCE
Interpersonal skills are a much sought after skill. I would go so far as to say that it is an essential skill for most jobs, particularly if you want to thrive in your career. From securing a job through interview stage to getting a promotion up to management and leadership level, interpersonal skills are a key contributor. Good interpersonal skills can help you create better working relationships, manage conflict, motivate your colleagues, increase productivity, solve problems, network effectively and increase happiness and engagement at work. Did I mention that there are health benefits too? A 2017 article in the Harvard Business Review claimed that positive working relationships could help you avoid burnout, exhaustion and even loneliness.
9 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS AT WORK
GUIDANCE
I’m not sure about you but in my past jobs, I would always feel stressed and caught off-guard when my boss would casually ask me what I’d been working on all week. As I would start to recall my week, I would find that I didn’t actually have much to show for my own work, instead, I’d been only too willing to help others out with their work. With the stress and late nights that followed to actually complete my own work, I wish I had prioritised differently.
12 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WORK PERFORMANCE AND GET AHEAD
GUIDANCE
Many of us seek reassurance from our managers and those more senior to us as to whether we are performing well at work. However, in increasingly busy workplaces, it’s not always possible to obtain the guidance we often seek. Taking things into our own hands is perhaps the more proactive way of ensuring our continued development.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR ANNUAL REVIEW
GUIDANCE
An annual appraisal is a brilliant occasion to review your professional progress. However, one mistake many of us make is that we often wait, patiently, to find out what our boss thinks. We don't take time to appraise ourselves and reflect on how we feel we have performed and progressed, what we have achieved and what we would like to do going forward.
FLEXIBILITY - IS IT JUST A FAD?
THOUGHTS & OPINIONS
For many industries, including Architecture, one of the big questions this period has raised and possibly also helped to answer is one of flexibility - Is it really possible and is it beneficial? The jury is still out on this and views very much vary. One thing that is certain, more and more candidates not only want, but pretty much demand that they must have at least some work flexibility.
PORTFOLIO GUIDANCE - MAKE AN IMPRESSION
GUIDANCE
The way you put together your portfolio demonstrates not only your experience, presentation skills and attention to detail – but also your attitude. If you don't put time and effort in, it shows. Therefore making effort will pay off!
