
Leaving Friends Behind: What To Consider When You Leave Your Job

A few times in my career, I have made the conscious choice to leave a position, and once that decision was made for me. As I read about layoffs, recession, and turmoil in the workplace, I think about these moments.
The Buddhists have a tenant about “impermanence.” Nothing is permanent or forever. Everything changes moment by moment each day. Working for a company is the same… it will not be forever regardless of your choice or someone else's decision. At some point, you will move on.
Meeting People During Your Career Bigstock
When you spend one-third or more each year at work, you will meet many people. Acquaintances, colleagues, and friends will pass through your life. The friends make it difficult when you leave.
I have a few friends who I have known throughout my career. People I talk to regularly throughout my life, and some I have not seen in years. However, I can call or email these people at any moment, and I know they are there for me. Despite leaving them behind when I moved jobs, I am still grateful these people are in my life.
Colleagues who I have not seen in many years are pleasant surprises. Hearing from them at random times, I enjoy the memories brought back with each encounter. I am also grateful when someone thinks fondly of our time together in the past. I take a lot of meaning from these brief encounters.
Thousands of acquaintances have also passed through my life. The world is a smaller place every day, and occasionally I cross paths with one of these people. I enjoy reconnecting with these brief encounters and reliving a part of my past.
Leaving Is The Hardest Part…I confess, when the decision comes to move on, I find it very difficult to leave the people. These friends made my time with the company enjoyable. We accomplished some great things! We worked through difficult times and still achieved great results. Even in the darkest of hours, we found ways to have fun and persevere. These connections are the most difficult.
Although I want to believe I will always be in contact with these special people, life creates challenges. I do not see these people often enough, and I do not connect as often as I like. I even feel guilty at times about growing apart. However, the true friends will always be there, and we can drop back into our connection very easily.
Difficult ChoicesIf you are left with the difficult choice to move on and do something different, know two things. First, those who really care and respect you will remember your time. They will appreciate the work you accomplished. They will remain connected. They will be your friends for a long time. Second, true friends will be happy and supportive of your decision to make a change. They will congratulate you and support your choice. They may not like it or feel left behind; however, they will understand.
Although you feel guilty for leaving, remember those who mean something to you will remain in your life. When you make a connection, it will not break because you are leaving a situation. The friendship will persevere.
Leaving your friends will weigh upon you in making your decision to leave. This feeling is normal. Embrace it because these people made a difference in your life. Know that true friends will always be there no matter how far apart you grow.
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The average amount of time a recruiter or hiring manager will spend scanning your resume is seven seconds. That's why it's important to have just the right kind (and amount) of information on your resume.
The phrase “less is more" has often been used for design purposes, but it can apply just as well to your resume. The point is to only keep information on your resume that is clear, simple, and that supports your personal brand. It is a balance of having just enough information to draw the interest of an employer while leaving room for you to further explain during an interview.
The more irrelevant information you add to your resume, the more it dilutes your key message. Employers today also look right through fluff words and are rather annoyed by them.
So, how can you optimize your resume and make sure it contains the precise balance of information?
Try removing these 10 things from your resume today:
1. Replace The Objective Statement On Your Resume With An Experience SummaryEmployers today are not that interested in what you want. You need to tell them what you can do for them. The most effective way to achieve this is by replacing your objective statement with an experience summary.
An experience summary is a list of skills you have that are needed for the job you're applying for. They're hard skills and transferable skills, not soft skills. By removing that objective statement, you're able to clearly start proving your value to the employer within the first few seconds they glance at your resume.
2. Eliminate Superfluous Or “Fluff" WordsBigstock
We can't tell you how many resumes start with "Dynamic visionary…" We call these "fluff" statements because anyone can make them and they add no real value to your resume.
Keep your message on point and stick to the facts. If you want to express certain traits, demonstrate them with what you have achieved or accomplished. Quantify your work experience. Whatever you do, just avoid meaningless, baseless statements.
3. Edit Out Bad Grammar & Spelling ErrorsBigstock
Spelling and grammar mistakes are a big turnoff for hiring managers. Triple check every headline and bullet point. Remove or reword any sentence that doesn't flow. Don't mix up tenses or third and first-person perspectives.
When in doubt, have a trusted friend or colleague review your resume. That way, you can be sure every spelling or grammar mistake is caught before you apply for a job.
4. List Your Primary Phone Number And Toss The OthersBigstock
You want every section and piece of your resume to be simplified. Having multiple phone numbers right at the top of your resume makes it feel cluttered and disorganized even before you get to the experience section.
If you must list more than one number, make sure to specify under what conditions the other numbers should be used.
5. Remove Discriminating InformationBigstock
Avoid information that can lead one to discriminate against you, including age, sex, religion, marital status, and ethnicity. This includes the use of photos that should never be on a resume unless your face is an important part of your job (e.g., modeling, TV, etc.). In fact, some employers are forced to ignore your resume if it contains such information because of the chance that they may be accused of discrimination later in the process.
For seasoned professionals, age discrimination can be a very real thing. That's why you should follow these tips on what to remove from your resume. You want to optimize your resume, not submit an outdated one.
6. Throw Out Your GPABigstock
You do not need to reveal your graduating year, the institution(s) you transferred out of, or the high school you attended. You should also remove your GPA if you've been out of school for a while or if the number just isn't impressive.
Keep information on your education specific to the degree received, the major completed, and the institution you attended.
7. Get Rid Of Any Irrelevant InformationEmployers are not interested in achievements or abilities that are not applicable to the job. If you are in sales and you helped develop an Access database to track supplies, that's nice but not relevant.
Also, be cautious about listing your associations or volunteer work that is irrelevant or may be in conflict with the potential employer. You can find this information while conducting research on the company.
8. Remove Technical Skills For Basic Software ProgramsBigstock
Most employers today expect you to be familiar with basic computer programs, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. So, don't waste valuable space on your resume listing them. It's more than okay to remove them from the document entirely.
When choosing which software programs and technologies to include on your resume, think about which ones will help you succeed in the job you're applying for. Which ones will make you stand out from the competition?
9. Do Not Include References Unless RequestedBigstock
Employers expect you to offer references when requested, which is typically during the latter part of the interview process.
A big pet peeve of recruiters is seeing "References available upon request" on the resume. Do you really know anyone who would refuse to give references?
10. Cut Back On Lengthy ContentBigstock
If you are a recent graduate, most employers do not expect your resume to be more than one page. However, if you have had considerable professional experience, your resume should be two to three pages long. The notion all resumes should be one page is not true, especially in this job market. Resumes need to have enough detail to support your positioning so a two- to three-page resume is acceptable. But, your resume shouldn't be so long that it works against you.
Your resume has to have a compelling message and be easy to read, so after you have tightened up your content, format it to have a decent amount of white space.
Finding the right balance of information for your resume can make it impactful. It's not about how long or short your resume is, or how many employers you've worked for, but finding the right information and words to present it in the best light to demonstrate that you have the specific experiences and skills the employer is seeking. So, keep in mind the phrase, "less is more" when writing or updating your resume.
Writing an optimized resume is no easy task. By removing these 10 things from your resume, you'll be that much closer to landing an interview and securing your next job.
Need more help optimizing your resume?
Sign up for our FREE Resume & LinkedIn Bootcamp today to learn how to update your resume and LinkedIn profile the way recruiters want!
Is the Great Resignation (and/or quiet quitting) still happening? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over four million workers have quit every month, creating an average employee turnover rate of ~47%, so the answer is yes. Some individuals are burnt out or looking for security or more money, but many just want to be valued and appreciated.
Have you heard the saying “people don’t leave jobs; they leave bad bosses”? You don’t want to be that “bad” boss taking your team for granted. Instead, be authentic and genuinely care about each of your team members.
Ways To Appreciate Your Team MembersGraphic by Debra Shannon
You’ve empowered the team to change the world, and now they are working together and meeting the company’s plans and goals. Alfred North Whitehead said, “No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledges this help with gratitude.”
There are many ways to show your gratitude and appreciation and to make the team feel valued and special. Note: It’s important to remember that everyone is different so tailor and customize to the individual’s preferences. For example, some won’t like public recognition so do something more private.
Below are some scenarios to consider:
- When a new employee starts, do you provide a “welcome box,” branded gear, branded backpack, and/or other swag on their first day? Scheduled lunch with the team?
- Make new hire announcements on social media (such as LinkedIn) or newspaper.
- Do you routinely walk around and greet each team member and see how they’re doing and feeling? See if they need anything.
- Does the company announce major milestones such as promotions, work anniversaries, monthly birthdays, etc. on the intranet or company newsletter?
- Work anniversary letter signed by the CEO/President.
- Employee Appreciation Day is observed on the first Friday in March.
- Do you provide positive feedback or other verbal recognition (often)?
- When you’re wrong, do you apologize?
- Can any employee submit a “shout-out” for another employee on the intranet?
- What do you typically do when the team successfully implements/completes a project or meets a major sales goal? Reward with a bonus or additional paid time off?
- Do you celebrate personal development goal achievements? Holidays? TGIF? Or for no special reason?
- If so, with food, certificates, cards, balloons, flowers, swag, or other items?
- Off-site events (e.g., escape room, Topgolf, karaoke, volunteering).
- Gift exchanges like a white elephant or secret santa.
- If you’re not sure, ask the team.
- I love to bake cookies and other treats. For me, homemade = heartfelt.
Bigstock
The key is to be genuinely sincere. One of the easiest forms of appreciation is to simply say thank you. How often do you say thank you to each team member? Daily? Or when is the last time you handwrote a thank-you note? Yes, handwritten because for me handwritten = personal.
Remember how special you felt when your boss gave you a handwritten thank-you note—like a true Hallmark moment? These types of simple yet sincere gestures can go a very long way.
For more information about appreciating your team, follow me on LinkedIn!
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Originally posted on: https://www.workitdaily.com/leaving-friends-behind-at-work