Provisional Blog

When you’re busy working, it’s easy to daydream about time off and all the ways you’d spend it. But if you actually have some time off from the working world – whether it’s due to a layoff or resignation – the last thing you’re probably doing is enjoying it.

Unfortunately, as one of the leading employment agencies in the Northwest, we know that many times unemployed individuals tend to go to one extreme or the other. On the one side, they’ll spend every waking minute on job boards or scouring the classifieds, searching relentlessly for Northwest jobs. On the other hand, they’ll procrastinate, and put off the job search, not wanting to deal with it or face reality. Neither approach is healthy and can cause a lot of stress in the process.

So how can you make the most of your search time, without driving yourself crazy? Here are some tips for spending your time wisely:

1. Create a “work” schedule.

Set a schedule similar to a schedule you’d have at work. Commit 30-40 hours each week to searching for new jobs. But when you’re done for the day, you’re done. Don’t keep going back to the computer every night to search for “just one more” job lead.

2. Set goals.

Set goals for yourself each day, such as the number of new leads to contact or the number of resumes you’re going to send out. That said, your goals shouldn’t be 100% focused on your job search. Now that you have the time, set a personal goal for yourself, as well. Always wanted to take a creative writing course? This is the perfect time to do it. Getting outside of your job search – and your comfort zone – can have a positive impact on your life overall and possibly even your job search directly.

3. Get moving.

Exercise not only benefits you physically, but emotionally and mentally, as well. One of the easiest ways to get moving is to find an activity that you like, whether it’s walking, biking, or basketball. You don’t have to join an expensive gym to reap the benefits of physical activity.

4. Get out there.

Don’t forget to make time for your family, friends, and social life. Now that you’ve got a more flexible schedule, meet up with friends for breakfast or lunch. Make plans to get together on the weekends. Not only will you boost your overall happiness, but you might hear about a new job lead in the process.

5. Keep perspective.

Whatever you do, try and do it with a sense of purpose, not out of stress and fear. This bad economy will eventually be behind us and soon enough you will find a job. And when that happens, you’ll probably be yearning for the days when you had more time on your hands!

If you’d like some assistance in finding a new job, give us a call. As one of the leading employment agencies in the Northwest, we can give you access to a variety of opportunities that may not be advertised elsewhere. Contact us today to learn more.

We’ve all had to deal with a difficult co-worker at one time or another. But what if that co-worker is actively trying to sabotage you at work? Trying to make you look bad, so they get promoted instead of you? Or worse yet, trying to get you fired?

If you have a co-worker who’s trying to hurt your career, here are some tips to deal with the situation – and help you come out ahead:

Confront your co-worker.

When confronting your co-worker, don’t operate on emotion. Be as diplomatic as possible, making an honest effort to communicate with them and trying to see their side of the situation. Your co-worker might ease up and shift focus; however, it’s possible you might instead be met with more accusations or even total denial.

If this happens, try to keep it professional. No matter how annoyed you are by their behavior or how tempting it can be to get into a verbal fistfight, it’s not productive and it may even put you in a negative light.

If you’re in a meeting and your co-worker says something untrue about you, attempting to cast doubt on your abilities, address it immediately. Respond with logic and facts, not emotion, by saying something like, “that’s simply not true. I actually completed this, this, and this.”

Communicate via email and document everything.

If your co-worker tells you something verbally about a project you’re working on together, then send them an email confirming what they said and ask for a response. This way you have a clear paper trail of your conversations, whether they’re in person or via email…and you have the documentation to back yourself up in case you need it.

Take it up with your boss.

Your boss is busy and likely doesn’t want to get involved in office politics. However, if there is a true smear campaign going on, then you need to defend yourself. When talking with your boss, be prepared to discuss specific behaviors of your co-worker and what you’ve done to try to deal with the situation.

Keep your boss in the loop on your progress.

Meet once a week or every other week with your boss to quickly discuss the status of your projects. This doesn’t need to be a long, in-depth meeting. You just want your boss to hear what you’re doing from you – not your co-worker.

Be positive and stay confident.

Don’t let a conspiring co-worker undermine your confidence. Try to stay positive; don’t whine and complain about your co-worker to anyone who will listen. Go on the offensive and take action. Go the extra mile and work hard. And keep demonstrating your value to your boss.

Hopefully, with the tips above, you can work to diffuse the situation and develop a mutually respectful work relationship. However, if that’s not possible, and you’re ready to move on in your career, check out our posting about conducting a secret job search.

If you’d like some hands-on assistance, Provisional can help there too. As one of the top employment agencies in the Northwest, we work with leading companies throughout the region and beyond, and can help you find an employer that best matches your skills and interests.

Contact us today to learn more!

So how can you tell if it’s time to move on from your current Seattle job? Here are some signs to look for:

1. Your job is beginning to impact your health.

You’re so stressed about work that you’re suffering from symptoms such as:

• Weight gain or loss
• Frequent illness
• Sleeplessness
• Depression
• Chronic fatigue

2. You feel bored and uninspired.

Everyone goes through natural cycles in their jobs where they may feel motivated and excited one week, and uninspired the next. However, if you feel consistently bored and unchallenged, you may have outgrown your position.

3. Your job is interfering with your family responsibilities.

Most companies, nowadays, understand that employees who lead balanced lives are ultimately happier and more productive. However, if your employer is not among this group, then it may be time to move on.

4. Your potential for advancement seems limited.

Your company’s management may have pigeon-holed you as an expert in one area, though you know your skill set exceeds that area. It’s therefore up to you to convince them that you can take on new tasks and responsibilities. If they’re not open to the idea, then you may want to start looking for a new job.

5. You keep thinking about changing jobs.

If the thought of changing jobs is always on your mind, then it’s time to start asking yourself some questions, such as:

• What don’t I like about my current job?
• Has something happened in my work environment that is causing my unhappiness, such as a change in management or industry downturn?
• Are there any steps I can take to make things better?