I want to talk to you today about your career satisfaction as we move toward the end of the first quarter of 2019. The weather is warming up here in Atlanta and that gets most of us to moving on with next steps in a lot of aspects of life that we have in mind.
So, how’s the job going? I hope the answer to that is “wonderful”, “just great”, “best gig I ever had” or something along those lines. In my minds eye, I see great benefits, a good work location, a kitchen stocked with Marshmallow Peeps for the advent of Spring and the best boss you’ve ever had. That’s what I want for you.
Regardless of the accuracy or complete lack thereof in my musings, I want to share some stats with you that are SO encouraging.
- The jobless rate in our country is at 3.8%. People, this is the lowest unemployment in five decades.
- Hiring was down in February after 311,000 jobs were added in January. That 300k+ number is the most jobs added in a month in a year. It’s thought that the February slowdown was due to the partial government shutdown and a very harsh winter in the northern part of our country.
- The second quarter is expected to show a rebound from April – June in hiring numbers. That’s very good news!
- Average hourly pay was up 3.4% from last year. That’s the biggest increase in a decade. We are in the longest bull stock market with ten years of growth, the longest run since World War II. We all know that hasn’t been smooth. It has held.
So, what’s this mean to you? Here are a few ideas.
- If your job is going great, you are probably very needed right there. The pool of applicants isn’t huge and our economy is predicted to continue growing. I want to encourage you to relish the stability of a good situation. People don’t always stop and do that.
- It’s a wonderful opportunity to negotiate a raise with a set of solid facts behind you pertaining to your performance, accomplishments, and skills. I know it can feel scary to have those conversations. I want to encourage you to not let your fear stop you. I can help with that.
- Schedule a vacation. What an excellent idea! A whopping 91% of managers want to approve your vacation time. Smart managers know that employees who travel more show greater success and career enjoyment. Those who travel with all or most of their time are 28% happier with their companies and 24% happier with their jobs than those that travel with little to none of their vacation days. Frequent travelers are also 18% more likely to report receiving a promotion in the last two years. It’s time to hit the road.
- Discuss work options of things that could be changed to make you more satisfied with your boss. Incorporation of some work from home options and flexible hours are becoming the norm with an increasing number of businesses. I get that everything can’t be made better and that some things can.
- If you don’t like your job, there is NO better time to look than right now. You may find your own version of nirvana in the job market. Be brave! There is no harm in checking out the options. Seriously. Contact a great Recruiter in your field. Peruse the career openings on the best job boards. Check with friends and look at jobs on LinkedIn.
Check out my website now at brendaholley.com for my Customized Career Search Program under the Life Design Coaching tab and contact me for assistance in finding your job or negotiating successfully for what you want to get in your current one. With over 30 years of staffing experience, I am uniquely qualified to help you.
While you are in there, you’ll notice my upcoming free webinar Transform Your Life With Massive Self-Confidence. Go ahead and sign up for that. Excellent self-confidence is a key component in maintaining and finding your ideal job.
