How to Ask Your Employer About Working from Home

Do you love your job, but just not the people in which you work with or the workplace setting in general?  If your answer is yes, you may want to think about asking your employer if you can work from home.  Even if working from home is an idea that you do not feel your employer will support, you may still want to give it a try.  After all, inquiring shouldn’t cause any harm

Before outlining how you can go about asking your supervisor if you can work from home, it is important to make sure that it would even be possible for you to do so.  This requires examining a number of different points. First, you will want to examine if it is even possible for you to work from home.  Can you complete all of your tasks and duties from home?  You will want to make sure that your job is something that you can even do from home. For instance, if you are a company greeter and your job involves greeting and directing all clients to the right department, you will likely be unable to perform your required tasks at home.

Secondly, you will want to examine if you have the equipment needed to work from home.  The equipment that you will need to work from home will all depend on your company, as well as your job tasks.  Although there will be some variances, you will likely need to have a business phone, business phone service, a copy machine, fax machine, a computer, and possibly even high speed internet.  If you do not already have these items in your possession, you will need to examine the cost of purchasing them.

Thirdly, you will want to examine your ability to work from home. As nice as it is to be able to work from home, you should know that working from home isn’t right for everyone.  You will want to make sure that you are able to stay focused and stay on task without supervision from your boss.  If you cannot do so or if you are unsure if you will have a problem, you may want to reconsider working from home.  Saying that you are more than capable of working from home, when you are actually not, can have dire consequences.  You may end up putting your job, as well as your good name in jeopardy.

If, after considering the above mentioned points, you think that you would be a good work at home candidate, you will want to work on your approach.  You will not want to ask your supervisor about working from home on an impulse.  You will want to carefully plan out your approach.  You want to so in a professional matter.  You should ask about working from home in a formal meeting that you have set up. Try and avoid asking your supervisor over the phone or in an email.

Before your scheduled meeting is to take place, you will want to make sure that you have “all of your bases covered.”  You will want to create a pros and cons list that you can use to outline both the advantages and disadvantages of working from home.  You should also have a good reason as to why you, in particular, want to work from home, as your employer will likely ask.  

When asking your supervisor about the possibility of working from home, you will want and need to sell yourself.  That is why it is advised that you create a pros and cons list.  You will also want to prepare for this meeting with practice.  See if any of your friends or family members would like to play the role of your boss in mock meeting.  Practicing your approach may help to ease any nervousness that you may have.

Ron Kish

Finding a New Job: How to Use Career Training to Your Advantage

Are you interested in changing careers or changing jobs?  If you are, your first impulse may involve automatically quitting your current job and going right out and applying for new jobs.  Of course, the decision is yours to make, but you may want to refrain from taking this approach, as there are no guarantees. Instead, you may want to take the time to find the perfect jobs to apply to, as well as use career training to your advantage.

As you likely already know, career training comes in a number of different formats.  In all honesty, career training typically caters to different careers.  For instance, if you are looking for a career in healthcare, you may be required to attend medical school, even just to receive certification for nursing. On the other hand, if you are interested in working as a secretary, your career training may involve courses that teach typing or office management skills. Although career training comes in a number of different formats, it can dramatically improve your chances of successfully changing careers or jobs. 

As previously stated, career training courses come in a number of different formats. With that in mind, career training, no matter what classes or courses you take, is designed to help educate you on one particular career field, such as nursing, accounting, or office management.  Although career training courses can vary greatly, you often walk away with a large amount of skill and knowledge. In fact, depending on the career courses or classes that you take, you may be able to walk away with a degree or a certificate of completion. These are documents that you can give all prospective employers access to for verification of your training, knowledge, and skills.

One of the many reasons why career training can assist you when you are looking to change careers or even just jobs is because it can help you stand apart from your competition. Although career training is still popular today, not as many job seekers take advantage of it. This means that you can really use career training to your advantage. For instance, if you are interested in applying for a job as a secretary, you can take a few office management classes, typing classes, or computer software classes before you start applying for new jobs. By taking this approach, your job training is new and fresh. This not only gives you an advantage over those who do not have career training behind them, but it also gives you an advantage over those who received training a year or more ago.

As ideal as it is to hear that career training can offer you assistance, when looking to change jobs or careers, you may be curious as to how you go about getting that training, especially if you are still currently employed.  Career training is offered through a number of different centers, which are commonly referred to as career centers or vocational training centers. You may also be able to receive career training at your local community college.  What is nice about many of these establishments is that they offer affordable and flexible training classes and courses.  In fact, you will likely find that a good percentage of career training classes are taught at night or on the weekend. This is what essentially enables to you receive career training while still holding down your current job.

As outlined above, it is relatively easy for you to go about enrolling yourself in career training courses, for a wide variety of different career fields.  There are also a number of benefits to doing so. Of course, the decision as to whether or not you want to use career training to your advantage is your decision to make, but if you are serious about changing jobs or changing careers, it is something that you should seriously consider.  In all honesty, what do you have to lose by at least examining all of your options first?

Ron Kish

Do You Need a New Job? Signs That You May

Would you like to change jobs or change the path of your career?  If you would, you are definitely not alone.  In the United States, millions of Americans wish that they could be working for another company or even working for themselves. Although many Americans wish that they could switch jobs, not everyone actually needs to. That is why you may be wondering if it is really in your best interest to find a new job.  To get your answer, you will want to continue reading on.

One of the many signs that you may want to consider looking for a new job is if you if regularly find yourself working overtime.  Although a little bit of overtime here and there is okay, as it can be considered a part of the job, you should nott have to work overtime each and every single week or even everyday.  It is also important to mention overtime pay.  Do you receive time and a half or other compensation for your overtime hours?  If you are in a salary position, you may be being taken advantage of.  If you are putting in a ton of hours, but not receiving compensation for those hours, a new job may be in your best interest.

Another one of the many signs that you may want to consider searching for a new job is if you find it difficult to get time off from work.  Of course, when examining time off, it is important that you do not take advantage of the situation.  Regularly requesting time off from work because you “just don’t feel like working,” is not acceptable. With that in mind, if you need to take time off for medical illnesses or a family emergency, you should be granted that time off. Work is important, but you shouldn’t be asked to compromise the health of you or your family for it.  If you are being asked to do so, you may want to consider finding a new job.

The inability to move up the company ladder is another sign that you may want to think about finding a new job.  If you are interested in advancing in your company or have been trying to do so for some time now, but unsuccessfully, you may want to consider seeking employment elsewhere.  In today’s society, there are some situations where you can work as hard as possible and never receive a praise for your hard work, see a pay raise, or see a promotion.  You will want to try and avoid or get out of these types of situations at all costs.

Speaking of money, if you aren’t making enough money to support yourself or your family, you may want to consider searching for a new job. With that in mind, if your only choice is to make more money, you may want to first consider speaking with your supervisors.  It would no’t do any harm, especially if you are already interested in leaving the company, to ask for a pay raise. If you are able to see an increase in pay, you may want to consider staying at your current job.

In keeping with money, you will also want to examine the commute that you must make to and from your current job.  If you have a long expensive commute, it may be within your best interest to at least search for a new job.  Unfortunately, when accepting a new job, many individuals do not consider the commute to and from work.  If you are not careful, you may find yourself spending a large percentage of your time on the road or a large percentage of your income on gas.  If you are currently doing so, you may want to seek employment closer to home.

The above mentioned signs are just a few of the many signs that you may want to consider seeking employment elsewhere. To be honest, you really do not need a reason to quit your job.  With that in mind, should you wish to do so, it is advised that you use your best judgement.  This involves not quitting on impulse or without a solid plan in place.

Ron Kish

Asked to Relocate? Questions You Should Ask Your Employer

Have you recently been asked by your employer to relocate?  If you have, you are facing a decision that more individuals are finding themselves faced with each year.  With many companies finding it difficult to financially survive in high cost living areas, many are choosing to relocate to areas where it is cheaper to operate a business.  If you find yourself being asked to relocate, there are a number of important questions that you should ask your employer before officially making your decision.

One of the many questions that you will want to ask your employer, if you have been asked to relocate, concerns the pay.  As previously stated, many companies are choosing to relocate to areas where it is cheaper to operate a business.  This often involves lower pay for employees.  That is why it is important that you determine what your pay will be. As a current employee, you should not be asked to take a reduction in pay, but there are no guarantees.  

Another question that you will want to ask your current employer, if you are asked to relocate, involves your current position.  Are you working in management or do you hold another high position?  If you do, it is important that you determine if your position will stay the same or increase.  Relocating at the urging of your employer should not mean that you receive a reduction in status or a reduction in salary, but, as previously stated, there are no guarantees.  That is why it is important that you make sure you find out as much as you can about your new position before you officially decide to uproot your life or the life of your family.

In addition to asking about keeping your current position, should you decide to relocate for your job, you will also want to inquire about your expected duties. As previously stated, many companies use relocation as a way to save money.  This may also involve eliminating positions and having the remaining employees carry a larger workload.  If you would be expected to perform more duties, you may want to negotiate yourself a higher salary, but the decision is yours to make.  As a reminder, these are all questions that you should ask before you make the decision to relocate for your job or not.

Another one of the many questions that you will want to ask your employer, should you be asked to relocate for your job, concerns relocation expenses.  If you are not given a relocation option, you may want to find out if your employer will cover the cost of relocating for you or your family.  This financial assistance may not be great, but it may be enough to help cover your travel expenses or the costs of hiring a moving company.  Most employers will notify you upfront if they plan on assisting you with the cost of relocating, but, if not, it would not hurt to ask.

In addition to asking your employer the above mentioned questions, you may also want to take the time to learn as much about your relocation destination as possible.  You will want to focus on points such as the current real estate market and crime.  If you have children, you will want to examine the local school districts.  If you have a spouse, you may want to examine the current job outlook, to see if they would be able to find employment in the area, and so forth.

Ron Kish

Are You Working a Dead-End Job? Signs That You May Be

Have you ever felt like you are working at a dead-end job?  If you think that you are, you are definitely not alone.  With that in mind, just because you think that you may be working a dead-end job, it does no’t necessarily mean that you are.  However, if you would like a little bit of proof or verification, you may want to continue reading on.

One of the many signs that you may be working a dead-end job is if you find yourself in the same position, for years and years.  If you were hired with the intention of no advancement, your current position may be fine for you. With that in mind, if you have goals and have yet to see those goals accomplished, it may be a sign of a dead-end job.  You should never have your work go unrewarded, especially if you were employed by the same company for years.

Another sign that you may be working a dead-end job is if you have been working at the same pay level, also for a number of years.  In fact, many employers automatically give their employees pay raises yearly or even quarterly.  If you have been employed by the same company and for an extended period of time, you may be working a dead-end job.  There is good news though, if your only issue is pay, you may be able to turn your dead-end job into a great job.  You can do this by inquiring about a pay raise.  Many employers expect this, especially after an extended period of time without a raise; therefore, you may have nothing to lose by at least asking.

The above mentioned signs are just a few of the signs that you may be working a dead-end job.  As previously stated, however, it is important to remember that you don’t have to keep on working in what may be deemed as a dead-end job forever. There are a number of different steps that you can take to see success.  One of those steps involves speaking to your supervisor or supervisors.  This may involve asking for an increase in pay or asking for a promotion, should any positions be available.  In today’s society, you will find that not all individuals want the responsibility of a promotion; therefore, you will want to let your supervisors know that you are not one of those individuals.

Another one of the many ways that you go about getting out of what you may refer to as a dead-end job is by creating a stir, but in a good way.  Despite your possible frustration, you may want to consider giving your job, dead-end or not, a second chance. With that second chance though, you are urged to take action.  Be sure to do good deeds in front of your supervisors, volunteer to work late or cover someone else’s shift in an emergency and so forth. As previously stated, your supervisors may mistakenly believe that you are currently satisfied with your job.  You will want to show them that you want more and that you are capable of handling more.

Another option that you have, when looking to rid yourself of a dead-end job, is seeking employment elsewhere.  If you have a family to support or bills that must be paid, you may only want to use seeking employment elsewhere as a last resort, but it is still a resort that you may want to examine.
Ron Kish