Career Resources and Advice for Experienced Workers

By Alison Craig, author of “Hello, Job!”

What did you think of your last interviewer? Did you feel as if you were mortal enemies? Or were you on the same team? I know that can sound extreme, but many people view a job interview as a fight or a competition — a duel of wits. Actually, it’s just a conversation and collaboration to find the best candidate for the job.

So have you ever thought about the job interview process from the interviewer’s perspective? As a job seeker, you are more concerned about yourself and your personal needs. That is natural, but this selfish attitude could stop you from getting what you need and want: a job.

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By Selena Dehne, JIST Publishing

Don’t underestimate the power of a cover letter. When well-written, attractively designed and customized for the recipient, a cover letter is a powerful tool that can practically scream, “Interview this candidate immediately!”

But when they are thrown together using little to no consideration, personalization or creativity — as cover letters often are — letters are as ineffective in the job hunt as blank sheets of paper.

“This is a major misstep when job searching,” say Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark, co-authors of “Cover Letter Magic.” “You should take advantage of every opportunity there is to stand out from other candidates.”

Enelow and Kursmark also say that writing a cover letter can be more fun than job seekers realize. “With the right perspective and a positive attitude, you’ll find that it affords you great flexibility. There is no one set format in which they must be written. There is no one style in which they must be presented. In fact, there are very few rules at all, and because they are so flexible, cover letters allow you to positively present just those skills, qualifications, achievements and credentials you want to bring to the recipient’s immediate attention.”

There are a variety of ways job seekers can get creative with their cover letters and bring them to life in ways they never considered. In their book, Enelow and Kursmark suggest a few of these techniques:

1. Find out what your target employer’s slogan, catch phrase or mission statement is and brainstorm ways to include it in your cover letter’s introduction. This technique will quickly capture the reader’s attention, demonstrate that you are familiar with the employer and stand out from other candidates’ one-size-fits-all cover letters.

2. Add a table or two-column section that closely connects the employer’s requirements to your qualifications and professional achievements. This strategy will quickly provide the employer with concrete evidence that you’re a good fit for the job and worth learning more about.

3. Begin with a thought-provoking quote relevant to the position, the employer’s goals or your target industry. Many people love to read, share and ponder quotes. Including one in your cover letter can be a quick and effective way to engage the reader.

4. Feature a strong headline near the beginning of the cover letter. To keep it brief, yet powerful, address one of the employer’s key concerns or spotlight your expertise or an attribute that will be particularly appealing to the employer.

5. Develop your own slogan or mission statement and include it near the top of your cover letter. This technique will enhance your career brand and stand out much like a headline would. To draw even more attention to the phrase, place it inside a graphic element that is attractive and appropriate.

6. Add a “P.S.” to the end of your cover letter. Often, it’s the first thing a person will read.

7. Include testimonials about you in the body of your cover letter or in an attractive sidebar. Testimonials will emphasize your skills and achievements and support claims you make about your expertise and why you’re the best candidate for the job.

Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST’s Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/).

By Chris Brogan, author of “Social Media 101″

Writing e-mail seems to be a recurring topic of mine. I receive about 600 messages a day at present, and most of these require an answer. Some e-mails get a faster response, and some take days. Here’s why there’s a difference (plus a few more ideas).

One decision per e-mail

It seems counter to cutting down on e-mail to ask you to limit the decisions required in a message to one per e-mail, but I’ve seen it have the opposite effect. To make my point, think about choosing to go out to eat as an example:

The first message is, “What day is good for you?” and the second message is, “What type of food do you like?” and the third message is, “Should we invite Jay, even though he laughs a lot and makes it hard to concentrate?”

These three questions all require a certain level of decision making. The e-mail about which day (better solved by a phone call) is different from the one about what type of food, and both are different from the one about whether to invite Jay (also probably better solved by a phone call).

Don’t ever write, “Quick question”

I say this because what almost inevitably follows are five to nine paragraphs explaining why the question is being asked. It’s as if lots of context is needed. It’s almost always not. I’ve written to complete strangers and used fewer than 200 words to convey my needs and interests. In fact, I do that often.

Here’s an example of a quick question:

From: Chris Brogan

To: You

Subject: Will you register for PodCamp Boston 3?

I’d like for you to register for PodCamp Boston 3. It takes place July 19-20 at the Harvard Medical School. I think it will be the most powerful and transformative experience you’ve had with media in a long time.

Please consider it: http://podcampboston3.eventbrite.com

Main PodCamp Boston site: http://podcampboston.org

Let me know if you have any questions,

- Chris

Your signature file

I’m all for a slender signature file. I don’t want much hanging there below your name. Some people use this for a vast advertising plateau. Remember, more than one call to action often equates to none. Pick where you want me to go.

Good signatures:

· Ways to contact you online and offline (never presume your e-mail address is obvious, especially if your e-mail has been forwarded by others).

· Very brief descriptor of your title and company (if it’s a business e-mail).

· Link to your primary blog or website.

Bad signatures:

· All kinds of marketing at the bottom.

· Links to every social network where you belong.

That’s my opinion, but if you want to form your own, pay attention to signature files over the next several days. See what you pay attention to — and what you overlook.

Following up

With the volume of e-mail I receive, some messages get overlooked for a while. Some people follow up perfectly, thus ensuring that I will respond; others do something that will nearly guarantee that I don’t respond to the second e-mail. Here’s what’s useful in a follow-up message:

· Brevity. I probably know I haven’t responded to you, but your message might not be top-of-mind. Just seeing your name and the words “following up” in the body of the message over a forwarded copy of the last one you sent me will usually jar me into action.

· Simple summary. Maybe your last e-mail was huge and had lots of requirements to it. If you sum these up in a few short sentences, it might get me to complete the work.

· Reminder of deadlines. Lots of us work on all kinds of things at the same time. My job is challenging, so when you ask me for help with an interview or the like, a little reminder of when you need it usually gets me back on track (especially if you give me two or three days notice before the deadline).

Not just me

With more and more people overwhelmed, I’ m not writing these suggestions and advice to help myself, except insofar as I’m saying that I have the same problems as other people. You might see some advice in here that you wish others would follow on your behalf. If so, that’s great. Feel free to forward the information to your friends who need to follow this advice the most, with a loving and courteous message before the information.

What about you?

What are your ideas for how to improve the state of your inbox? How might you persuade people to write e-mails that will be answered faster?

Excerpted with permission of the publisher John Wiley and Sons from “Social Media 101: Tactics and Tips to Develop Your Business Online.”

Chris Brogan (www.chrisbrogan.com) is one of the top three bloggers on social media and business communication. He is the co-founder of PodCamp, the international new media conference series focused on the use of social media to build business and personal relationships. “Social Media 101″ (Wiley, $24.95) provides resources, techniques and tips on making the most of social media.

10 ways to maximize your ‘portfolio career’

By Paula Caligiuri, Ph.D., author of “Get a Life, Not a Job: Do What You Love and Let Your Talents Work for You”

Just as the riskiest financial investment strategy is to have all of your money in one place, the riskiest career management strategy is to have all of your income from one organization unless you are in a critical role and have skills that are difficult to find in the labor market.

To enjoy job security and professional fulfillment in this new employment reality, you should have a “portfolio career” that includes multiple and simultaneous income streams or “career acts.” Career acts can include an eBay business, part-time job, profitable hobby, nonexecutive board seat, franchise, authored book, affiliate links on your blog, weekend jazz trio, etc.

Here are 10 tips for managing career acts in a portfolio career:

Diversify
Start maximizing your talents to generate broad-based income streams. Some career acts can be slow and steady sources of income, while others can be higher-risk with higher potential reward. Professions such as nursing or teaching science are low-risk sources of guaranteed income, whereas starting a small business has a higher risk, with potential for a much higher reward.

Invest intelligently
To build income-generating career acts, you will need to invest in yourself, your business, your network and the like. You may need, for example, to return to school for a degree or training program, to invest in equipment or supplies, or to attend a conference or some other networking event. Manage the financial risk incurred by being realistic about your talents and abilities and making sure you have the tenacity and effectiveness to take full advantage of your investments.

Actively manage your portfolio
Your career acts will need different investments and have different trajectories for growth. Today’s careers are actively self-managed.

Invest prudently
Start protecting your time and your discretionary spending, as you may need both to start a new career act.

Maintain high ethical standards
Do not add career acts that would a reasonable supervisor wouldn’t consider or that would use company time or resources for your private gain. At the same time, remember that you did not take a vow of poverty when you became employed.

Sell high
Many people actively manage how they enter an organization but passively manage their exit, often waiting for a layoff, reorganization or something else to force their departure. If you work for an unsupportive supervisor, have no opportunities for growth or dislike what you are doing, start planning your exit while you still have an income stream.

Know your tolerance for risk
Entrepreneurship is not right for everyone. Find a mix of career acts that do not add anxiety to your life and that align with your talents.

Trust your hunches
Do not let anyone tell you that you lack focus or should get serious about one career. Careers today are moving further away from the traditional 40-hour-per-week employer to more self-directed opportunities for generating income.

Understand the data
Speak with multiple people who occupy any career act you would like to have. There are often different ways to achieve the same career goal. Some ways may take less time and less money but produce the same result.

Seek advice
Often people have a hard time understanding ways they can use their talents and abilities. Speak to trusted friends or advisers who know you well and want to see you succeed about what they see you doing. You will be surprised at how well others can spotlight your talents and give you ideas.

A well-managed portfolio career can provide greater income, personal fulfillment and professional security. What income-generating opportunity can you create for yourself that would use your talents and skills, in a way you would like to work? Make a plan and start growing your amazing portfolio career.

Paula Caligiuri, Ph.D. is the author of “Get a Life, Not a Job: Do What You Love and Let Your Talents Work for You” (FT Press, 2010). She is a work psychologist and Professor in the Human Resource Management Department at Rutgers University where she directs the Center for HR Strategy.

10 strategies for entrepreneurial success

By Renee Martin, co-author “The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success”

Few things can rattle your world more than the loss of a job. But faced with the resultant soul-searching, some recent pink-slip recipients are refusing to be casualties of the latest recession. Instead of quietly joining the ranks of the unemployed, they’re resolving to seize control over their career and become their own boss. They’re pursuing an entrepreneurial dream.

Is launching a business today a high-stakes risk? Of course. But it’s never been easy to build a successful business, in any era or in any economy.

The right business idea at the right time can overcome all manner of obstacles. An ordinary person today still has the potential to catapult a startup company into an industry leader. But reaching that goal requires tireless commitment and sound business strategies.

Here are 10 broad strategies that were used to build multimillion-dollar (in some cases, multibillion-dollar) businesses, taken from the entrepreneurs profiled in my book “The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success.”

1. Go on a treasure hunt and find an underserved niche
Identify and then cater to the particular needs of a market niche that competitors have neglected or ignored. Develop a specialty in which your business clearly excels. Remember, even a huge multibillion-dollar corporation can’t offer everything to everyone. Many niches are too small for them to consider.

2. Spot a new trend and pounce
Look for emerging consumer needs and desires arising from a shift in cultural, economic or technological trends that signal new market opportunities. Act quickly. Don’t be tentative.

3. Just start!
Stop the excuses. The “perfect” time for a business launch will never present itself. Don’t give would-be competitors the opportunity to beat you to the punch. Get moving. Set short-term goals and deadlines that bring you closer to opening for business.

4. Buck the conventional wisdom
Ignore those who say, “It won’t work” or “It’s never been done that way.” Veer away from established formulas and ways of thinking. Look at so-called industry best practices with a hypercritical eye. Dissect them, slice and dice them, contemplate different “what if” scenarios.

5. Exploit your competitors’ weakness and make it your strength
Take a critical look at your competition from the perspective of a customer. Listen closely to the needs and complaints of prospective customers during sales calls. This will help identify competitor vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Find ways to eliminate such deficiencies in your own customer service and products, then go a step further and make sure you excel in those areas.

6. Hit ‘em where they ain’t
Set your sights on areas that your competitors have neglected or ignored. Learn to anticipate new areas where there might be a demand for your services and position your business to be there ahead of your competitors.

7. Save your bucks and get noticed without expensive advertising
Get your creative juices percolating to come up with ways to expose your brand to the masses. Don’t be shy, be bold. Chutzpah often works. Brainstorm with colleagues, friends and family. Have a little fun with this strategy.

8. Trust your gut
Develop and learn to use your intuitive powers. They are valuable business skills, particularly when you’re about to enter uncharted waters and everyone is telling you to play it safe. When the pressure is high and chaos threatens, keep your composure and rely on your gut-level instincts.

9. Never let adversity or failure defeat you
Don’t accept the limits others or circumstances place on you. The ranks of successful entrepreneurs are filled with men and women who refused to stop believing in themselves. As an entrepreneur, you’ll surely experience stressful moments that will test your faith. Just remember, the antidotes are persistence and resiliency. Believe in your business idea and in your own commitment to seeing your business succeed.

10. Never stop reinventing your company
Continually look for ways to introduce new products and services for existing customers and for newly identified market niches. Think of complacency as a genuine threat to your long-term bottom line. Never let your guard down.

Renee Martin is co-author of “The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success” (Vanguard Press). This article is adapted from information in the book. Please visit www.RiskTakersBook.com for more information.

By Deborah A. Bailey, author of “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life”

If you’re thinking about entrepreneurship, you’ve probably heard that you should start your business before you quit your day job.

It’s good advice, but not always practical. Depending on how many hours you have to put in at work, you may have very little time left for your business. The catch is that if you want to be a full-time business owner, you have to build up your business so that you’ll still be able to pay your bills. It can be hard to give up the security of a regular paycheck to pursue your dream of being an entrepreneur.

How can you balance being an employee while you’re moonlighting?

For one thing, you might not want your boss to know that you have something else on the side. You don’t want to appear to be expendable or less dedicated. Keep your business under wraps as much as possible. That also means you shouldn’t conduct your business at work, no matter how tempted you may be to bring your side business to your workplace. And with computer use monitoring becoming more pervasive in the workplace, you probably won’t have much privacy if you’re using company equipment for personal use.

Moving from employee to entrepreneur

If your goal is to leave your job and run your business, here are some steps you should follow.

1. Pick a date for when you’d like to make the move into running your business full time. Be realistic when you look at the calendar. The date has to feel comfortable and be something that you think you can do.

2. Check your spending. How much money do you need for your business and for personal expenses? It may be tempting to continue to spend money because it’s regularly coming in, but once you’re no longer an employee, you won’t have that income.

3. Start paying down debt if you can. Set up a payment plan for your credit cards. Create a budget for business expenses as well.

4. Get ready to spend more time alone. If your business is home-based, you won’t have the office co-workers around. Start networking now so that you can have a support system before you leave your job.

5. Get a plan together for what you want to accomplish in your business. Whether you use a business plan or a mission statement, have a clear idea of what your business is about and why you’re doing it. It’s not enough to go into business because you don’t want to work for someone else. Know what you’re getting into before you leave your day job.

Keeping your side business on the side

For some people, having a side business is part of a long-term plan, not an interim step. If you aren’t looking to leave your regular job, it’s less about growing your business than maintaining it. Here are some ways to balance the moonlighting with the “daylighting.”

1. Set boundaries. Your clients may want more of your time, but your priority is your day job. Let them know what your business hours are and stick to them. If you end up working long nights, you won’t have the energy to accomplish what’s required on your job. You don’t want to put your steady paycheck into jeopardy because you’re not getting things done.

2. Be careful about how you use social media. In some cases, employers are checking up on what their employees are doing online. Depending on what type of business you have, promoting your side business on your social media profile may raise red flags. For instance, if what you do on the job is similar to what you’re doing in your business, you don’t want to appear to be in competition.

3. Extra money coming in from a side business can be a great supplement to your income. Resist the temptation to spend more because you’re making more money. Unless your business income is targeted for a specific purpose, you can end up spending it as fast as it comes in. Don’t put yourself in a position where the money is going out faster than it’s coming in — you may have to work harder at work and in your business to keep up the momentum.

Deborah A. Bailey is the author of “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life” and a sought-after expert to discuss today’s most pressing workplace issues. Bailey helps clients to shift their thinking and connect with their personal power in order to move forward in their transition from employee to entrepreneur. www.dbaileycoach.com.

By Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

A key rule in Writing 101 is that a writer should show, not tell. Don’t say, “She looked sad.” Describe your main character performing an action or speaking dialogue that proves to the reader how sad your protagonist is.

Admittedly, workplace advice often fails to live up to this guideline. You have undoubtedly read the following advice:

· Think outside the box.

· Be a self-starter.

· Dress for the corner office.

· Go to the boss with solutions, not problems.

Sure, the words make sense and you get the gist of the advice, but vague phrases don’t help you. When you’re planning your career or preparing for a performance review, you want specifics.

One piece of professional advice that falls into this trap is the one instructing you to “get out of your comfort zone.”

Great. Thanks for the help.

“There was a time when companies were responsible for pushing employees out of their comfort zones through development programs and job rotations,” says Kurt Weyerhauser, managing partner of international executive search firm Kensington Stone. “Instead, it’s now up to each of us to get outside our comfort zones if we are interested in moving our careers forward.” According to Weyerhauser, you need to identify your current areas of weakness and potential areas for development that will allow you to advance.

Of course, that brings us back to the question of what breaking out of your comfort zone means to you and to your boss.

“More often than not, the talk about getting out of the comfort zone is just management lingo for change,” says Vlad Zachary, CEO of CareerConceptZ.com. When bosses and employees sit down to discuss breaking out of the comfort zone, they often fail to get specific enough and the employee isn’t left with solid guidelines. The employee should ask for direction and not just guess. “Sometimes just being a little more proactive and creative would do it. Other times the boss might have a variety of very specific expectations,” Zachary says.

What you can do

Because getting outside of your comfort zone at work is beneficial to you and to your career, we want to give you some concrete examples. Even if you decide to follow Zachary’s advice and ask your boss for direction, you should approach the conversation with your own examples of broadening your current parameters. We asked experts to give their advice on how you can get out of your comfort zone so you can put their words into practice.

Here are some tips you can act on to push yourself out of your comfort zone and into a better professional situation:

“Working with your boss. Accept new projects that expand your skill sets, including your leadership and project management skills.” – Amy K Hutchens, business consultant and business strategist

“Getting out of your comfort zone could mean having lunch with new people, every now and then. One strategy that I recommend to my career-minded clients I call the 50 Lunch Launch. This challenges the worker to have lunch (or even coffee) with a new person once a week for a full year. Relationships are built. Career goals are shared. And the career engine is fueled.” – Marsha Egan, CEO of professional coaching firm The Egan Group Inc.

“Asking for help is not a career weakness. By having a conversation with your boss and letting him or her know that you could be interested in some new opportunities, you could be making your own path — one that takes you out of that routine.” Egan

“Take the time to assess your limitations. Many people have anxiety about public speaking, for example. Find ways to practice and improve this important skill. Offer to prepare the weekly update for staff meetings or become involved in organizations such as Toastmasters to hone those skills.” Scott Ragusa, president of the contract division at Winter, Wyman and Co.

“Learn how to speak up and hold conversations to unlock your potential for growth in the workplace. Separate people from the problem. Try to see others as reasonable, rational and decent human beings – even if they hold a view that you strongly oppose.” – Joseph Grenny, co-author of “Crucial Conversations”

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

By Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

During driver’s education courses, you learn what each road sign signifies. The two arrows converging means you need to merge. A squiggly arrow means the road winds. “Left Lane Ends” means, well, the left lane ends.

Sometimes you don’t even need the signs to know what to expect. If you see a flurry of red brake lights, you know traffic is not moving. In an ice storm, if the car in front of you is skidding from side to side, you can bet that the road is slippery.

Job hunts come with their own warning signs, but they’re not typically as blunt as the bright yellow and orange signs posted on the side of the road. Instead, you’re more likely to get context clues, like the brake lights. The interview process is full of uncertainty for a job seeker, and much of the power is in the interviewer’s hands. Sometimes you don’t know if the interview is going well. Other times you’re so nervous you don’t recognize the signs that this company isn’t right for you.

Therefore it behooves you to recognize the warning signs that your job interview is in trouble. Here are 11 warning signs to watch for when interviewing for a job:

1. You’re pretty sure you know how to get to the interview site, but you’re not positive.
Before you can even look for warning signs of a bad interview, you need to get there first. Lisa Fedrizzi-Hutchins is a human resources/compliance administrator who was heading to a job interview earlier this year. She trusted her GPS unit, but realized the directions were incorrect once she was en route. Fortunately she called the company and asked some clarifying questions so that she could arrive at the interview on time.

2. You’re talking more than the interviewer is.
Job seekers shouldn’t dominate more than 40 percent of the conversation, says John M. McKee, founder and CEO of Business Success.

“Because many job seekers are anxious to show that they are the best candidate for a job, they often dominate the conversation with things like never-ending answers or run-on sentences,” he explains. “The interview time may end before they’ve had adequate time to deal with all the questions the interviewer had prepared.”

3. The interviewer’s eyes are on the clock, not you.
As a managing partner at Winter, Wyman and Co., Mark Gleckman knows the importance of an interviewer’s body language.

“During an interview, be an active observer,” Gleckman advises. “Watch your interviewer’s body language — is she glancing at her watch or noticing who is walking by? These could be signs that the interview may not progress to the next phase.” He suggests asking the interviewer if you’ve provided all of the information she was hoping for or if you can offer anything else to get the most out of the interview.

4. The interviewer decides to take a phone call mid-interview.
An interviewer should treat you with the same respect he or she expects. Jennifer Mounce, executive coach and interview adviser for Coach Effect, has heard her share of bad interview stories. One manager stopped an interview to take a 20-minute phone call without warning the interviewee, who was told to stay in the room until it was over. When the call was over, the interviewer resumed with the questions, but his mind was obviously elsewhere.

“Candidates must ask themselves if they want to work for a person who can’t give them their full attention for a short period of time or who doesn’t have the communication and/or social skills necessary to put the candidate at ease, apologize or explain the necessity of the disruption,” Mounce says.

5. The interview feels like a test of endurance.
Mounce also warns of employers who hold marathon interviews that last seven hours. Applicants are not asked if they’d like a restroom break, snack or glass of water. Mounce advises you to think about what the job would be like if the interview is this bad.

6. No one wants to work here.
An insightful question that many job seekers fail to ask is why the position is available. Or, to frame it so that you sound focused on your future with the company, ask where the employee formerly in the position is today. JR Rodrigues, co-founder of JRBM Software, cautions job seekers to watch for companies with a revolving door.

“[If] the hiring manager complains to the interviewee about having had his last three hires quit after only a short term of employment, you should wonder about what is causing such turnover and whether this job is for you,” he says.

7. You’re participating in a questionnaire, not an interview.
Kris Alban, director of strategic partnerships for iGrad, keeps a list of questions in front of him when conducting an interview.

“During a good interview, I will go off-page as certain responses provoke additional questions or I may ask the interviewee to expand on something they said,” Alban says. “If you notice your interviewer just running down their list of questions, then you know that you need to engage them more. I definitely become more engaged when the interviewee accompanies their answer with a story that anchors it.”

8. You get snippy with the administrative assistant.
The interview begins the moment you are on the premises, so don’t save your best behavior for the meeting room. Monique A. Honaman, CEO of ISHR Group and a former HR manager, stresses the importance of good manners.

“I can’t tell you how many times I have heard of job seekers being dismissive to certain individuals, and I know hiring managers often ask the receptionist to provide input on the candidates as well as those more heavily involved in the job interview process,” Honaman says. “It’s not just about having the skills and abilities to do the job; the personality and respect elements are critical, too.”

9. You spend 10 minutes complaining about your last boss.
Honaman also cautions against going negative during an interview. “Job seekers must never talk negatively about a former co-worker or former boss, even if it seems like this negativity is being encouraged,” she warns. “Take the high road. It’s an incredibly small world out there and it’s amazing who knows who.”

10. The company is in financial trouble.
“[If] there is a loud argument in the office of the company you are interviewing at stemming from a creditor who has not received payment for his product or services that were purchased by the company, you need to consider whether this company will be able to pay you,” Rodrigues says.

11. The employer doesn’t keep his or her word.
Rodrigues also warns against employers who tell you one thing but do otherwise. Blatant lies are obvious warning signs, but other subtle ones also hint at trouble. If you were given a timetable during the interview but you haven’t heard anything since, Rodrigues says you might have fallen off of the interviewer’s radar and need to work your way back into his or her view.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

By Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

Hate is a strong word. We often say we hate something when we really just don’t like it. On the surface, the two attitudes might sound interchangeable, but they are different. Hate is venomous and suggests a displeasure that looms over your daily life. Disliking something isn’t typically that upsetting. For example, you might not like cheddar cheese, but the thought probably doesn’t keep you up at night. Does it?

When people discuss their jobs, hate is a common bond for them. They hate their jobs or the people with whom they work. Or so they say. If you catch yourself griping about your job, stop and ask yourself if you really hate the job or if you’re annoyed with it and can do something to change it.

Here are six common reasons people claim to hate their jobs and some possible solutions to the situations.

I hate my job because …

… I’m too [brilliant, experienced, innovative] to be here.

What it could mean: You should’ve moved on a long time ago.

What you can do about it: First off, congratulations on being awesome. Now, if you are capable of holding a job that is more challenging or has more responsibility, don’t stop looking for it. In the meantime, put forth your best effort where you are now because you still need recommendations and you need to not get fired. Volunteer for new assignments or try out new tasks so that you can add new skills to your résumé. Plus, your time at the company will pass more quickly if you’ve broken out of the routine.

… No one values me.

What it could mean: Your employer and colleagues are taking advantage of you.

What you can do about it: If your talents, efforts and time are taken for granted, you deserve a change. Walking into the boss’s office and saying, “You don’t appreciate me,” is not easy. If you have an opportunity to talk one-on-one with your boss, whether in a performance review or a scheduled discussion, explain that you’re worried you won’t ever advance in the company despite your achievements, and then give examples of your contributions. When you frame the issue as a professional concern and also illustrate how the company relies on you, the topic is more about improving business and less about you whining. No one hands out raises and promotions because they think it’s time. Employers respond to results, not a calendar.

… I don’t earn enough money.

What it could mean: You can’t wait around for someone to give you a raise.

What you can do about it: First off, it’s safe to say most people think they don’t earn enough money, so simply complaining to your boss that you want more cash won’t work. But if you look at your W-2 and wonder why the number isn’t bigger, start researching. Check the Bureau of Labor Statistics or CBSalary.com to find out what other professionals who share your experience, job title and location earn. If the number is low, bring it up at the appropriate time with your supervisor. Hopefully you can negotiate more, but realize that some companies don’t have wiggle room in their budgets and bosses can’t always give you a raise, even if you deserve it. Use your new found knowledge of your peers’ earnings to find a new job with competitive pay.

… I don’t care about it.

What it could mean: You’ve given up.

What you can do about it: Did you ever care about it? If you took this job to get a paycheck and kill time until something better came along, then you probably never will love it. But if you took the job because it offered you something — a chance to use your talents, learn something new, interact with people — then maybe you just need to remind yourself what it offers you. Will other positions at the company or elsewhere fulfill you in a way this one does not? If you know that other opportunities are better fits for you, start looking. If you become comfortable being bored, your work will suffer, your employer won’t be happy and you’ll be wasting each other’s time.

… I hate my boss.

What it could mean: You both need to meet in the middle.

What you can do about it: Dealing with a boss comes down to knowing what you can change and knowing what is permanent. For example, a micro manager might be receptive to your need for more freedom if you sit down and have a conversation about it. But you can’t expect someone to undergo a complete personality change just to please you. Instead, realize that some managers will listen to you and try to create a better work environment. Others can’t change their styles any more than you can change yours; therefore you need to assess what compromises you can make. If a happy medium exists, make the most of it. If your boss will never coalesce with your style, you need to either accept the fact or start looking for another job. Of course, if your boss is truly the problem and others agree, you can address the situation either with him or her, a supervisor or the human resources department in order to have your concerns heard.

… I hate my colleagues.

What it could mean: The culture no longer suits your personality.

What you can do about it: Not getting along with co-workers is similar to problems with a boss in that you can try to change them, and you should be willing to give in a little, too. Sometimes a simple conversation can clear up tension, but other times differences are irreconcilable. If you otherwise love your job, you can try to remove yourself from co-worker situations that cause you stress. Perhaps you’ve evolved and traits you once enjoyed in others are now annoying. Accept the fact that you could be the reason you no longer get along with your colleagues and decide where to go from there.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.