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Changing Jobs? 5 Tips for a Smooth Job Transition

Changing Jobs? 5 Tips for a Smooth Job Transition

by | Dec 16, 2016 | Career, Job Offers, Managing Yourself, Resignation, World of Work

If you’ve made up your mind to change jobs, the transitional period between quitting and looking for a new job, or joining a new job you may already have landed, can be quite unsettling. But remember, “this too shall pass”. In this post, we suggest 5 tips to help you with a smooth job transition.

Think it through

Is your decision to quit a well thought out one or an impulsive one? If impulsive, then think it through once again. Career decisions need to be gradual and well researched, not sudden and abrupt. Of course, we agree that you do need to take risks at some point in your career if you really believe it is for the best. However, diving headlong into something you have absolutely no idea about, leaving behind a secure job and pay, can be a tad too risky.

Do a SWOT Analysis

A SWOT Analysis is a Strengths Weakness Opportunity and Threats Analysis. Use this opportunity to assess yourself along SWOT lines. Think about your new job and relate your Strengths and Weaknesses to it. Think about the Opportunities and avenues that the new venture will open up for you. At the same time, assess the potential Threats to your career if you decide on changing jobs. Write these down for clarity and talk to a senior colleague or friend who’s been working for some time and has an idea about the high and low tides of the job market. It is seldom wise to make such decisions in isolation. Talking always helps.

Make peace with your decision to quit

If you haven’t been impulsive and have thought this job transition through, you need to put behind any feelings of guilt you might be experiencing. Be loyal to yourself first, and then the company. You may have had a long and fruitful association with the organization, however, if you have realized there is no more scope for you to grow as a professional and that you desire more from your career, resigning is the best thing to do.

End Well

If you’ve been reading our previous posts, you must have noticed the stress we have been laying on this particular point. We are going to repeat it for you anyway. No matter what the reason for your resignation is, you must end your relationship with your current organization gracefully. It is more important for you to end well than start well, if you’ve landed a job with another company, you’ve quite obviously already made an impression! Ending on good terms, despite differences, sets you apart as a thorough professional.

Handover

The notice period will be your last few working days at the organization before your job transition. Winding up can be an exhausting process. Give the organization what you owe it and, make sure you receive what the organization owes you. Discuss this with the HR to avoid any last minute confusion regarding your cumulative pay at the end of your notice period, and/or any bonuses, benefits, insurance, share values you should receive.

Bonus Tip : Keep Calm and  Chant  “this too shall pass” – the odds of faith in the face of doubt! 🙂

Be #HappyInTheNow 🙂

ERROR #404: File Not Found! – Importance of Organizing your Documents

ERROR #404: File Not Found! – Importance of Organizing your Documents

by | Oct 8, 2016 | Career, Interview, Job Offers, Managing Yourself, Productivity, World of Work

Organizing your documents could seem tedious at first. Until you realize the benefits it has. What is the one common thing about everything that our modern day lives revolve around; be it seeking rental accommodation, admissions into university, or applying for jobs? It is the several documents that form the proof of our legal and social existence. While they are important for almost everything else, they are especially important during your recruitment process. The process of recruitment is inevitably slowed down because of the time prospective employees usually take to produce the required documents. This time can be very easily conserved, and hence help speed up the process of recruitment, and also the efficiency of the same. What are the documents that you need to keep handy? And what are the ways which will help you access them whenever you need to, no matter where you are? Here are three simple and comprehensive steps to help you get this right.

Step 1 of Organizing Your Documents: The Must Haves

The documents that you would absolutely need to keep handy are:
1. Your birth certificate
2. Your Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card (India) and Tax Returns
3. Your Voters ID/Aadhar Card (India)
4. Your Bank details (Passbook/Cheque book/Account Statements)
5. Your current Identity card (student/employee)
6. Your 10th, 12th, and College/Degree mark sheets AND pass certificates
7. Your Passport
8. Proof of Residence – Electricity bill/ rental agreement.
9. Certificates or letters to support anything you may have mentioned on your recent resume (internships, previous work experience, volunteering experiences, competitions/contests)
10. A bunch of passport and stamp sized photographs

Step 2 of Organizing Your Documents: Print and Scan

It is not advisable to keep originals of most of these documents with you. It is much safer to have them kept at your permanent residence, or any other place of safety. As a viable alternative, scans and copies of these documents are widely accepted. Scan each of these documents to always have a soft copy with you. Apart from scanning them, make photocopies (preferably color where required) of the same to keep ready when required.

Step 3 of Organizing Your Documents: Access

The most important part of doing this exercise to make you have access to any or all of the above documents whenever and wherever you may need them. Keep the hard copies in a separate folder after labeling it appropriately. Apart from ensuring you have access to the tangible copies, make sure soft copies of all these documents are accessible to you virtually. The best way to go about it is to store it in multiple places. Make a folder on desktop, copy them onto your pen drive and your hard drive, upload them on to your Google drive and also email them to yourself. That way, you have access to them in every possible scenario.

You might think, you don’t even need to go through the effort of organizing your documents right away. Even if you cannot foresee a situation which will require you to access these documents in the near future, it is advisable to do this exercise nonetheless. In fact, the best time to do it is when there is no pressure. This helps you organize in an even better way. We’ve tried our best to make this list as comprehensive as possible. What is something you would add to this list, to make it even more comprehensive? Comment below!
Did this post help you? Help others too, by passing it on!

Unprofessional Behaviour in the workplace – 5 Qualities to Watch out for!

Unprofessional Behaviour in the workplace – 5 Qualities to Watch out for!

by | Sep 19, 2016 | Career, Managing Yourself, Office Etiquette, World of Work

Every so often, one gets to hear this word in our fast paced corporate lives – “unprofessional.”  There has been, and continues to be a whole lot of debates and discussions about what qualifies as professional and what qualifies as unprofessional behaviour in the workplace. However, no matter what side you are on in the debate, you will agree with us when we say there are certain non-negotiables when it comes to the world of work. We believe that at the very least, these five qualities definitely embody unprofessional behaviour in the workplace and must be avoided at all costs.

1. The Late Kate/Ken –

One of the most severely unprofessional qualities is not having respect for punctuality. “Being late” is shockingly acceptable in our society, and work culture. Not turning up on time, more than anything else reflects your absolute lack of respect for the other person’s time. No matter what your reason is, when you end up being late, you communicate your express disrespect for the other person’s time and interest. If you are running late, make sure you communicate the reason and your Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) as early as you can.

2. The Gossip Monger –

It is definitely not alright to discuss anything remotely connected to your colleagues’ private lives, at the workplace. Neither is it acceptable to propagate false and unfounded tales about anyone. This is mostly an attention seeking technique used by some. What they often fail to realize is, by being this person, they do more harm to themselves than anybody else. Also, they may pretend to like you (read: the gossip monger), but you may actually end up being very lonely.

3. The Tell-tale –

If you know something concerning another colleague, who is not comfortable about the information being made public, respect him/her enough to keep it to yourself. Understand that you have access to the said information either through an act of trust, or by accident. In both cases, you have no right to share the information with anyone who isn’t supposed to have knowledge about the same. Bite your tongue if you have to, but keep it to yourself. Another attribute of this personality is also to avoid confrontation in case of conflict, but talk about it to people who are not concerned. The best way, is to follow a method of proactive conflict resolution.

4. The Know-it-All –

Remember Hermione from Harry Potter? Yes she was a hero and all, but let’s face it, she could be kind of annoying with her “know-it-all”, attitude. Be humble about the knowledge you possess, and willing to share it freely and openly with people who would benefit from it. You can do so by making an effort to be approachable, yet modest. Knowledge is power ? That’s passé now.

5. The Dominator –

Is it always your way or the highway? The quality of dominating, or being a bully doesn’t suit anyone at the work place. Not even your boss or you as a boss. Suggest, don’t impose. There is great merit in learning the value of team work, and doing so in a peaceful and inclusive manner. You dominate when you assume that you know the best way. By doing so you not only create discord, but also inhibit your own learning process.

One could debate that there is a lot more to this list. Of course, the point of view is thoroughly subjective. We suggest taking a long hard look at the mirror too (we do that periodically ourselves!) and see if you are guilty as well of any of the above examples of unprofessional behaviour.  Acknowledge that there are some things that you haven’t been doing in the best way you can, and that is the first step to change. Engage in proactive methods to bring out the best you have to offer, at your work place, and beyond. Dialogue, awareness and openness to constructive criticism are some of the best ways to go about it! Understand that by changing yourself, you create a lot of positive change for yourself as a person, and also for your organization.

What else do you think qualifies as unprofessional behaviour at the workplace ? What do you do when you see these qualities around you ? Fight or flight ? We would love to hear back and learn from you.

5 Unconventional Career Tracks Women are Making it Big In

5 Unconventional Career Tracks Women are Making it Big In

by | Aug 25, 2016 | Career, Feminism, Motivation, World of Work

Professional spaces today continue to be defined along gendered lines. This means that there are some employment sectors that continue to be dominated by persons of specific genders. For example, the gender balance in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields has traditionally favoured men. On the other hand, jobs such as those in Healthcare and Early Education seem to be dominated worldwide by women. These are sometimes patronisingly referred to as ‘pink-collar’ jobs.

Women over the last few decades have done a lot to overcome these barriers, and the struggle continues. Women making it big in men dominated fields also at times face varied degrees of sexism and this fact is well recorded. If it is not this, then it is the societal pressure on working women to get married, become mothers and shoulder much of the domestic burden, while at the same time taking care of their professional responsibilities. Despite resistance they have had to face, women are increasingly breaking gender stereotypes and making it big in these sectors. Our list of unconventional career tracks women have chosen and have succeeded in, covers a few of these.

Documentary Filmmaking

Male film directors define the norm in our film industry, just as it is in the film industries of any other country.  No doubt, women filmmakers have left a mark on audience’s preferences, but there are too few of them. Of those who have entered the profession, not many of them go on to make a lot of movies.

Gladly, the scenario is much better in the Indian documentary filmmaking space. The commercial documentary filmmaking scene is itself nascent in India and women documentary makers have captured an equal share of the distribution pie. Some of the movies that got theatrical distribution over the last few years have been helmed by women filmmakers. To name few, Supermen of Malegaon, The Rat Race, Gulabi Gang, The World Before Her, When Hari Got Married, Katiyabaaz. It is perhaps something about the independence documentary filmmaking afford women, that they find themselves on the cutting edge. If commercial fiction film industry were to dismantle its oppressive glass ceilings, women filmmakers will enrich it, just as they have done for the documentary industry.

Public Transport

This year, the Indian Air Force inducted its first female fighter pilots. A proud moment as it was, countless women on the ground have been making equally remarkable headway into driving transport vehicles. Defeating that stereotype of women being poor drivers, thousands of women are taking up driving and owning their own taxis. Women-only taxi services (of which both the drivers and the customers are women) run in most of India’s major towns. These include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and also the State of Goa.

The services offer not just a chance to be self-reliant to the women drivers, they also provide a secure ferrying service to its women customers who have found themselves not infrequently at the ends of harassment by male drivers. Many of these services are supported by NGOs that help train women, most in need of work. These women taxi services have struggled to scale up largely owing to the lack of investors’ interest, but for the good that they do both in terms of economy and security, it is important to give this sector some push. Apart from women-only taxi services, women have also occupied the driving seats of auto rickshaws and city transport buses.

Space/Defence Research and Development

Like mentioned earlier, STEM fields see women under-represented. However, it is interesting to note that women in India may be doing better than those in the US and the UK. As the Guardian piece notes, 30% of the programmers in India are women compared to around 21% in the US.

Amongst those in STEM fields, India’s women space scientists have recently been in news. One photo taken right after ISRO’s Mars Orbiter successfully entered Mars’ orbit became the defining moment of both the mission and women scientists in India and was published and republished several times.

While women make up only 21% the workforce at ISRO, the number is growing. Just like NASA is the largest employer of women STEM professionals in USA, ISRO will do well to perform this role here in India. Government sector has in fact made some strides in making space for women scientists.  Department of Science and Technology of the Central Government rolled out the Knowledge Involvement Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) Programme to induct more women scientist in research and development areas designed specifically to improve the gender balance (http://dst.gov.in/pressrelease/women-scientists). Another welcome news came in the form of the appointment of J. Manjula as the first women Director General at Defence Research and Development Organisation, leading one of its clusters.

Private Detective Work

This has to sound like one of the more unconventional job choices for women, largely because how pervasive the portrayal of a male sleuth is in popular culture. However, unconventional sounding doesn’t mean that women haven’t done well in the business.

A large proportion of the detective work in India involves investigating into marital problems. Women run a large number of the 3,500 private agencies in Delhi alone that carry out this work. While the exact number is not available, many female detectives have seen their share of spotlight. Bhavna Palival, Malathy B.E. (who is said to run the first women’s detective agency in South India) and Rajni Pandit are superstars of the detective scene in their own right and have been written about extensively by host of national and international newspapers, perhaps more than any male counterpart. Rajni Pandit also has some of her more dangerous cases including those of murders written about. Many of the women detectives claim they score better on men in investigating particularly matters related to love! This growing force has also come to be represented in our cinema recently such as in the Vidya Balan starrer ‘Bobby Jasoos’.

Mining Operations

Women-run cooperative societies have had a big impact in financially equipping rural women. A large amount of dairy production takes place through these cooperatives. Similarly, cooperatives like these are present in the garment, handicrafts and other sectors which have historically involved women in production. Today, important banking services to women are also carried out through a similar set up.

Still, women’s cooperatives’ managing mining operations is a feat in itself. While women do work in the production of minerals, commonly in the surface stone and sand mines, taking the management of the mines in their hands involved overcoming the strong and often violent quarry owners’ lobby.

We came across two such examples of this. Around 4000 women came to control various stone quarries in the Pudakottai district of Tamil Nadu. These were the same quarries in which they had worked as bonded labourers. The result – the standard of living for the families improved in both dignity and income, and the State saw an increase in the revenues, which had been bleeding due to the misappropriation committed by former quarry owners. The more recent example is that of the sand mining operations carried out by the all women cooperatives in Andhra Pradesh at more than 300 locations. The women are responsible for dredging, mining and selling the produce and giving its share of the revenue to the State. Just like in the previous example, the women miners of AP are up against the strong sand mafia.

What is an excellent way of increasing the incomes (which went up from around Rs. 60 a day to over Rs. 360 a day) is also a strategy for dealing with illegal mining. The cooperatives are not just accountable in the ways individual male sand mine owners were not previously, but the mining operations are now equally conscious about sustainability and environmental concerns. What a remarkable change right at the ground-level where it matters the most!

We hope this post proves to be as enlightening for you as it was for us while we were working on it! We were just blown away by all the small, yet really significant examples of unconventional career tracks, women – amazingly strong and resilient – are making their way through, slowly, yet steadily! Shattering the glass ceilings one sector at a time. Know any such awesome women? Tag them here!

Navigating a Career Crossroad – 5 Things No One Tells Us

Navigating a Career Crossroad – 5 Things No One Tells Us

by | Jul 26, 2016 | Career, First Job, Job Offers, Life, Managing Yourself

To be at a career crossroad, no matter at what stage of your career you are in, can be a truly unsettling feeling. To say that it is only normal for you to feel anxious and scared, might sound like we are belittling what you feel, but we only say so because we’ve been where you are. And though it may not seem so at the moment, it always passes. You may find a lot of advice coming your way, some solicited, but mostly unsolicited, and not know how to filter all of it. The purpose of this post is not to impose more advice on you, but to share with you things we wish someone had told us, which would surely have made navigating the career crossroad easy.

  1. It is alright to change your mind

    At times, we may think we want something, but along comes something else which we feel we may like better. During times like this, what we are usually told is to focus single mindedly on what we first looked forward to, and that changing your mind about a career option is not a wise move, but a fickle one. We would say, if you have thought it through and if there are other things that drive you more than what you initially were about to settle for, go for it.

  1. It is alright to not know what you want

    It is a typically Indian problem to have no say in what education we want to pursue, and hence what career we aspire to have. Crucial factors such as these are quite unfortunately socially determined. To realize that you do not know what you want, is one step towards progress. It is a step towards the fact that you are questioning the roles you are ‘expected’ to fill in. To not know what you want, is the first step towards finding out what you want.

  1. It is alright for you to take a break

    Taking a break at any point of time during your education, or your career, is almost considered a taboo in the Indian context, since it works against the established flow of the rat race we have all been a part of. Remember that taking a break only helps you think through things with more clarity and to truly discover what your calling is. And once you have discovered that, think about the “how” – remember that wisdom – a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step ? Use the time to break down your journey to  the stepping-stones you need to take to reach your calling.

  1. It is alright for you to not listen to anyone

    Like we said, most of the advice that would come your way during a career crossroad is unsolicited. You have every right to hear them but choose to not listen. Talking helps, sure, but choose the people talking to who calms you and makes you think clearly, instead of people who make you more anxious. This is where you need to open your Rolodex and get in touch with your team of trusted career advisors.

  1. It is alright for you to believe in your plan, even if no one else does

    At times, it becomes tough to even find a single person who believes in your plans for yourself.

    Even though they may love you, they may not have confidence in your plans, which will only pull you down. However, if you have thought it through and are sure about what you want (even if not 100%), put on blinkers and charge on. Go, make something happen!

Knowing these five things can truly make a difference to your stress levels when you are at a career crossroad – to care much less, and focus only on what is ahead of you, or on the goal you want to achieve. Telling yourself these five things every morning will help you shut out distractions and just stick to your plan of action, or if you don’t have one, it will help you come up with one! Remember that it is all a part of the game, and in retrospect, you will understand and appreciate how much you have learnt and grown in the process.

Switching Careers Midway – How to Deal with the Dilemma

Switching Careers Midway – How to Deal with the Dilemma

by | Apr 25, 2016 | Career, Managing Yourself, World of Work

There are very few things which can be worse than being stuck in a unsatisfying career. Let’s check that. There is nothing worse than the feeling of being stuck doing something you absolutely don’t love. Unfortunately the social structure of our country is such that it is an exception for children to grow up to do what they truly want to. As a norm, their careers are imposed upon them – most popularly, medical or engineering. A lot of us spend a lifetime stuck in careers and jobs we detest or hardly relate to. However, many a times, even as individuals, one might end up choosing a career path only to realize later that (s)he is better off doing something else.

It takes a great deal of courage to acknowledge the fact that everything you have been working towards has been in vain because it hasn’t made you happy. The good news is, things get better once you have accepted it. The decision of switching careers midway is a bold move.  We have worked with several courageous professionals who decided to make the switch and understand how difficult and confusing this decision can be. Through this post, we have captured some insights to help you through the process of switching careers midway.

Validating the Need for Switching Careers Midway – 3 Signs you shouldn’t Miss

  1. You hate doing what you do

    This is the most obvious sign, which you will miss only if you are a master of self-deception. Take a hint if you wake up every morning absolutely dreading the idea of doing what you do. If you come back home miserable and weary. It is understandable why a shift would seem scary and overwhelming. It is not easy to give up a steady job for a completely new dimension without the security your present job offers. However, while this might sound like a struggle, at the very least you will be happier at the end of the day.

  2. There has always been something else you wanted to do 

    You secretly dream of becoming a photographer, or working in the area of child rights or of becoming a journalist. What scares you is the fact that you are an engineer or a doctor. The fact that you are miles away from being related to your dream profession in any way. The knowledge that the shift will be nothing less than a paradigm shift is scary for. But think about how it is going to make you feel when years from now. When you realize you always knew what you wanted to do, but never did have the courage to go ahead?

  3. Your current choice of career doesn’t make the most of your skills (or any of your skills!)

    We are all born with talents and a skill set that is unique to us and that we have so diligently honed and developed. Your career should make the most of that skill set and should engage you in a manner that encourages you to pursue their further development. If your job seems to be drawing the life out of you, without utilizing your skill set or in a manner that satisfies you, it should be indication enough for you to reconsider your job.

Before you take the plunge of Switching Careers Midway:

  1. Make sure you are financially sound

    A shift is bound to bring with it some financial struggle. You will be shifting from a secure salaried job into unchartered waters. Additionally, such a change may require you to pursue further education, requiring you to specialize in a particular field. It is always advisable to ensure that your finances are in order before you take the plunge. Education, especially the pursuit of specialized fields, is expensive but is worth it nonetheless. Remember that you will not only need to pay for that education but also sustain yourself during that period.

  2. Weigh the pros and cons

    Would making this change add substance to your life? Is it a step in the right direction or is it a step backwards? Are you willing to risk a considerable amount of time and energy into ensuring that what you do next will be successful without the surety that it will? What is the capital required to make the change? Will this investment eventually bear fruit? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself before you take the plunge. List out all the pros and cons and play the devil’s advocate. This will ensure that you take an educated decision.

  3. Talk about it to a career counsellor or someone you trust

    Once you have listed the pros and cons, talk about it with someone. Ideally, you should aim at talking with a career counsellor, since they are best suited to answer your questions. But don’t just stop there. Find a friend in the profession you wish to pursue, talk to them. If you don’t have a friend in that particular field, hit social media. There are various forums that discuss such matters and you are bound to find some answers there. Most importantly though, talk to your family about your decision. Understand, that career counsellors are commercially motivated and social media may not be able to connect with you emotionally, but your family is one set of people who always have your best interests in their hearts! And rest assured that in India, you will find enough devil’s advocates within your own family!

  4. Research thoroughly

    Finding out all you can about the profession you wish to pursue should form the backbone of this change. Your decision to transition – to follow your dream, should be firmly grounded in reality. Remember, once you have divorced yourself from your current profession or career, and taken the leap, it might be pretty hard for you to reverse the situation. So before you do take the leap, make sure you have a very good idea of what you are getting in to. The purpose is not to scare you or to intimidate you, but to ensure that you are aware of the finer prints of the struggle. Figure out entry barriers, as well the opportunities it possesses and the best way to make the most of the change.

  5. Have a back-up plan ready

    It is always advisable to have a back-up plan ready. Having a fall back option provides an emergency exit, a fire escape of sorts. Borrowing from “Valkyrie”, this change is “like war, and in war nothing goes according to plan!” You will have to improvise as you go along and be ready to drop the entire plan if it doesn’t work out in the manner it is supposed it. Remember that while it is great to be single-mindedly focused, it is also a good idea to allow yourself to be a little flexible, you never know how you may surprise yourself by going with the flow sometimes.

All in all it is never too late to make a change to our lives. One prime example is that of the Silver Surfers Club of Bangalore whose members, all above the age of 55, have found their true callings even at this age! It is all about taking charge of your life and deciding that it’s time for a change. Take the plunge, let life deal its cards, hold yours close to your heart and with a poker face on, beat stereotype at its own game!

Have a career question ? Reach out to us at contact@obolinx.com and we will help you with it.