Category: General Career Advice


Jul
2024

Remote Work Tips for Beginners

categories: Career, General Career Advice

So you’ve just gotten your first remote job! Congratulations! This is the start of a whole new style of working that you may or may not love. Many people love the idea of remote work but when it comes to the actual thing, it’s actually kinda tough. Here are my tips for acing your first remote role:

1. Do Come Up with a Routine

While it may seem easy to just roll out of bed and log on, creating a morning routine helps you to make the most of your remote work experience. This is also a nice way to ease into the day. Working remotely means no commute so I like to use my commute time to treat myself to something whether it’s a chapter of a book at the beginning of the day or an episode of a show at the end of the day.

2. Set Clear Boundaries

Create a dedicated workspace and regular working hours. Because you work from home it can get easy to give in and keep working or not working hard enough. Keep work and home separate in any which way that you can. This allows you to maximise your work time and home time without the two interlapping and leading you to burnout.

3. Exercise Regularly

One thing I was not prepared for as a WFH worker was the lack of movement. In fact, it got so bad that I had to go to the doctor for circulation issues. Set a timer and make sure that every so often you’re getting up and walking around. Incorporating regular exercise into your day helps prevent health issues and keeps your energy levels up.

4. Remember to Get Out Occasionally

It can be easy to let days go by and then you realise you haven’t left the house in a while. I once went a month without leaving the house. If your job allows, work from a coffee shop or a coworking spot every so often just so that you’re out in the world. Fresh air and a change of scenery can do wonders for your mental health.

5. Take Care of Your Mental Health

Working from home can be isolating. Make sure to check in with yourself regularly. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or lonely, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Prioritise self-care and do activities that help you relax and recharge.

6. Build a Community

Remote roles can get lonely at time but the good thing is YOU get to decide what your community looks like. Whether that’s joining virtual meetups, engaging in online forums, or connecting with colleagues via video calls, make an effort to build relationships and find your tribe. Having a support system is key to feeling connected and supported.

7. Consider Investing in Your Workspace

A comfortable and efficient workspace can make a big difference in your productivity and well-being. Consider investing in a good chair, a proper desk, and any other tools or equipment that can help you create an ergonomic and pleasant work environment.

8. Take Regular Breaks

Working at home means less time chatting with colleagues. But these tiny breaks in a day can add up and personally I tend to get cranky when I’ve spent more than 4 hours sitting at my desk (I’ve done this before and it is NOT pleasant). Schedule regular breaks to stretch, move around, and give your mind a rest. Short breaks can boost your productivity and keep you feeling fresh throughout the day.

With these tips you’ll be guaranteed to make the most of your remote work experience while avoiding the pitfalls. Are there any hacks that you use as a remote worker that I missed? Let me know below.


Apr
2024

What to Do When You Hate Your Job

categories: Career, General Career Advice

Hating your job is perfectly normal IMO. Maybe you’ve just worked there too long and the little things are now starting to get on your nerves. Maybe you’ve been there just for a while but you can’t take it anymore. Believe me, I’ve been there. But what do you do when you hate your job?

1. Admit Your Feelings

I’m the type of person who can very quickly move to hating a job simply because I’m bored (or haven’t had enough sleep for more than 3 days). If you’re starting to feel negatively towards your job, own it. Try and figure out what it is that’s making you so unhappy. Is it a project that is more difficult than anticipated? A toxic work environment? Micro-manager from hell? Name your issue or issues.

2. Can You Fix It?

Can the issue be resolved? If it’s just a matter of a stressful project, when will it end? If you’re having an issue with your work environment can you move to another team? If it’s something that CANNOT be fixed, are you willing to leave the company based on this or stay and accept the problem?

3. Develop Your Exit Strategy

Ah, exit strategies. My favourite. I’ve done alot of those throughout the years and while they’re alot of work the end result (a better job) has always made me really happy. Start off by listing your current skills as well as what roles you’d be interested in. This is also a great time to make a list of what your ideal job looks like. If you have any contacts in the industry, reach out to let them know what you’re going through. I had casually mentioned to a few people that I needed a new role and within a week, they had found me a new gig.

4. Start Networking (If You Haven’t Already)

Start networking with others in your field or in fields that you want to work in. LinkedIn is great for this. If you know an organisation that you’d like to work for, reach out to the people in the hiring team. This might sound intimidating (I know it felt super intimidating to me) but I did this once after a friend pushed me into it. I didn’t get the role but I also discovered that the organisation wasn’t a fit for me and my experience anyway.

5. DO Remember You Might Not Find a Job Immediately

This is very important. I had been job searching for 2 months straight and still didn’t find a role. It was really demotivating- and at the time, I still HAD a job. Make peace with the fact that it might take you a while to find a job. Because of this, it might make sense for you to check if you have enough funds before you try this next step.

6. Quit

Never have I ever quit from a job without something lined up. I mean I’d love to but as I get closer to 30 I can feel that window closing. If you’re really unhappy in your job and you have the means to, you might want to quit. Personally I feel like life is too short to be working in crappy jobs but also all those bills aren’t going to pay themselves.

Hating your job is tough but it doesn’t have to be something that defines you. You can decide at any moment to turn things around. Yes, society has conditioned us to believe that almost everyone hates their job but it’s possible to work a job that you love too.


Jan
2024

6 Job Interview Red Flags

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Job Hunting Tips

Once upon a time, applying for jobs was my part-time job.

Atleast that’s what it felt like. I would apply for anything and everything that came my way. I actually aimed to have atleast one interview a month.

Bizarre right? But I was young and desperate to escape the toxic environment I worked in.

What I didn’t realise at the time was that the jobs had major red flags seemed to hint that it was a toxic work environment. Now that I’m older and a more experienced job hunter, I know better. So if you’re in the process of interviewing for a new job, here are 6 red flags to keep an eye out for.

1. These Four Questions

These four questions absolutely should not be asked. If they are, you already have reason to be alert for more red flags. Sometimes people ask these in an attempt to get to know you but these questions more often than not lead to bias.

2. Vague or unclear job description

Marketing Gurus, Digital Ninjas and Unicorns unite. If the job description doesn’t clearly state what you would be doing, chances are great that this company is going to give you a medley of tasks that might not even fall under your responsibility.

3. The Interview Process Drags On

An unnecessarily long interview process- especially for a junior or middle position-is either a sign of dysfunctional HR/recruitment or a really picky company. In these cases you can check who held the position before you and for how long. It might be that the company has unrealistic standards.

4. The Interview is Too Short

A interview that is too short or even an interview process that is too short is a MAJOR red flag. This company might be desperate for a hire. Ask yourself why this is. This is something that I fell for only to later discover that the previous employee vanished (okay she didn’t vanish- she quit but no one talks about it and I find that super-suspicious. She was also referred to as “problematic” by the recruiter- which if you didn’t know is another red flag).

5. The Staff are All Relatively New

This is often disguised as “we’d had quick growth recently so we have hired many new people”. This could be true but it could always be number 6 down below.

6. The Company is Always Hiring

Another thing passed off as “we are growing so fast we just can’t keep up”. In cases like this you can locate previous employees via LinkedIn and question them about the company. They might not be able to come straight out and mention that the job is problematic but you will be able to gauge this from their tone and response.

Job hunting is tough especially if you’re stuck in a toxic role or unemployed. But moving from bad situation to another is not the solution. Use this list to evaluate your next interview to reduce the chances of you landing in a toxic work environment.


Jan
2024

5 Budget Friendly Ways to Upskill Yourself

categories: Career, General Career Advice

So you’ve decided on a career change or you want to learn something new? But the prices for formal education is a bit much for you. No problem. Here are 5 easy ways to upskill yourself without harming your wallet.

1. YouTube

Okay this may or may not be news to you but YouTube actually has pretty helpful tutorials. I dismissed YouTube as a learning source until I discovered that tons of Marketing organisations have YouTube channels with really helpful videos. Simply search the topic you’re looking to learn more about and let the social media algorithms do their magic.

2. Spotify

Spotify has a great array of podcasts on almost everything. If you’re a Spotify user, this is an easy way to upskill yourself while you’re commuting or running errands.

3. Udemy

Udemy has courses on everything and they are always having sales. Simply add courses to your wishlist and you can purchase them when the price drops.

4. Free Resources

Ah, the good old-fashioned way to learn- the library. Pop in to your library and see if they have a book on the topic you’re looking to learn more about. Be warned though, if your library is anything like mine (i.e outdated) you might not find exactly what you’re looking for. I went in for a Copywriting book and while they weren’t able to assist, I did come back with a book on writing Sales Letters (close enough).

5. Free Online Resources

Lots of websites or blogs have resources that can help you learn more. For example, Hubspot has great Marketing resources. Scour your social media network of choice (Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok) and connect with creators or brands who offer free online resources.

Are you going to look into upskilling this year? What is your favourite educational resource? Let me know below.


Nov
2023

5 Symptoms of Burnout (and How to Combat Them)

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Mental Health, Welcome to The Real World

Not every day at work is going to be perfect. Trust me- I love my job but there are days where I just wish I had stayed in bed. That being said, if you’re having more bad days than good, you might be suffering from burnout. Here are a few symptoms that I use personally to tell when I am burning out and tips on combating them. Note that this is to fix symptoms. Fixing burnout itself takes time and effort. This is basically my band-aid solution until you are able to take time off for yourself to heal.

1. You’re irritable or impatient.

You might be incredibly cynical or critical at work. This is one of my personal triggers and the second I start losing patience with colleagues, I start to question if it’s just a bad day or if I am on the way to burnout.

The Fix: Notice when you keep getting more annoyed than usual and track your triggers. I do this by keeping a journal. When I know it’s burnout season, I try to be kinder both to myself and others.

2.You lose interest in your job.

You feel like going to work is a huge effort and so is doing your job itself. Again, everyone has bad days but if this is happening more often than not, you might be experiencing burnout.

The Fix: Make a list of all the things you like about your job. You wouldn’t still be at your job if there wasn’t something positive about it. This is also a great time to start gratitude journaling. I remember one coworker who was having a tough time at work and her gratitude list started off with “Sushi”. (TBH the work environment was super-stressful but I loved that she could find a positive aspect).

3. You’re struggling to sleep

This one is probably the most tricky to fix. Maybe you’re having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Maybe you’ve been using your bedtime as a form of revenge procrastination, pushing it further and further until it’s 2AM and you realise you have work in a few hours. Whatever it is, sleep is vital for your performance as a functioning human.

The Fix: Try to keep similar sleeping and waking times. Keep your bedroom dark and cool. Come up with an unwinding routine that brings you joy. I absolutely love tea followed by 30 mins of reading.

4. You’ve developed unhealthy coping mechanisms like food, alcohol or shopping

This is another one of my trigger items and honestly all I can say is keep an eye for it. This is another tricky one but helps if you have a partner to hold you accountable.

The Fix: Try to get a buddy to monitor when these get out of control. I work virtually but my friends and I have the habit of checking on each other when it comes to lunch because we’re guilty of skipping meals when things get busy.

5. You have physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches or body pain

Physical symptoms can either result from you working too hard or in an uncomfortable position. Or it can be a result of the stress.

The Fix: Again, track what your triggers are. Are you taking regular breaks away from your desk? Are you sitting in one position for too long? Does your chair need an upgrade?

The best way to combat burnout is to analyse what is going on, what is causing your symptoms and fix the root of the issue. But if you can’t or you’re not willing to put in the time (talking to myself there but the year end is right around the corner), treating the symptoms will help…up to a point.

The faster you treat burnout, the faster you’re able to be you again.


Nov
2023

5 Signs Your Job Might Be A Bad Fit

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Welcome to The Real World

Not every job is for every person. And that’s okay. You’re going to spend a huge chunk of your life at your job so it’s important that your job fits you and vice versa. Here are a few signs that your job may not be a fit for you:

1. You Feel Disconnected From the Job

Early in my career I came across someone who “didn’t value their job” (I’m quoting management here). At the time I couldn’t explain what the issue was but basically they did the bare minimum. They didn’t even open their email. Since this was someone I knew for a few years, I asked her about it. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the job. She just didn’t feel like it was for her. This made perfect sense to me. I knew at the time that not every job was for every person (I had left one call center during the training stage just to go work for another call center based on “it just feels right”). I ran into this person a few years ago and she’s working in HR and loving it. Being disconnected from your job isn’t a bad thing. It just means there might be something else out there for you.

2. Everything Feels Overwhelming

When opening an email- or even just replying to a message- feels like too much, this might be a sign that your job is a bad fit for you. Back when I worked in Customer Care, there were so many emails that I eventually stopped opening them all. Only to then be faced with “I sent you an email. Did you get it?” (Yes but which one of the 100 is you?)

3. You Dread Waking Up and Going to Work

I used to wake up and my first feeling was dread. I used to actually think “Oh dear God, why me?” It’s okay to not look forward to a day at work or even a few days (long-term stressful projects do take their toll on you) but if this is your primary state, it might be worth looking for a new role.

4. You’re Living for the Weekend

If the only thing getting you through the week is the thought of the weekend then your job is definitely not the one for you. Yes, weekends are amazing but if that is the only thing pushing you through. this is a major red flag.

5. You Lack Passion for the Job Itself

It’s okay to not be passionate about your job. Lots of people are able to work jobs they’re not passionate about. But lots of people are also unable to work jobs they’re not passionate about. If you feel like you lack passion combined with the other signs listed above, it might be time to update your resume and start looking for a new job.


Oct
2023

5 Tips on How to Deal with the October Slump

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Reviews

October is crappy month. Most of us agree on this. But whenever I question the reasoning behind it, all I get is “it’s just that time of year”. So I consulted my trusty friend, Google who confirmed that there is something called “October Slump”. Google seems to associate this with teachers but I am stealing this term for this post. Here are 5 tips to help you deal if you’re suffering with the October Slump.

1. Be Gentle with Yourself and Others:

Remember that this time will pass. I know that every October I hate everyone and everything. And every year I have to remind myself to take it easy. Also, the one time I DIDN’T take it easy, I got severely burned out, severely ill and ended up leaving my job. It worked out in the end but what happens if that pattern repeats itself? That is why I am reminding myself this year to be gentle.

2. Make Time for the Things and People That Bring You Joy:

During the October slump I am careful to protect my energy and only share it with those who bring me joy. Whether it’s meeting a loved one for a meal or binge-watching an old show, these months are for me and me only. If someone drains you, this is the time to stay away from them for a bit. Trust me, you will feel so much better!

3. Be More Active:

Okay this is something that I absolutely detest but it’s necessary for my mental health. Make sure you’re finding time to exercise. Take up a new gym class or try a new workout routine. Your body will thank you for it.

4. Take Up a New Hobby:

As adults we can do whatever we want to. But we rarely do. Use this time to start a new hobby whether it’s painting or biking. Start something new and fun.

5. Plan for the New Year:

You’re in a slump because it’s been a long year. So why not look ahead to something exciting? Think about your future goals, plans and resolutions to help you get through this last stretch.

Do you have any tips for dealing with this icky part of the year? Let me know below!


May
2022

6 Benefits Besides Salary to Look for in a New Job

categories: Career, General Career Advice

Salary is great. You can buy pretty shoes. You can go to nice places. You can get through the month without dipping into your overdraft or swiping your credit card. But a decent salary isn’t the only thing that matters when you’re looking for a job. Here are 6 benefits besides salary to look for in a new job.

1. Medical Aid:

This is actually the first thing that I look for in a job and the reason for that is I am a person (in perfectly good health) who really uses her medical aid. I use it for blood tests, optometry, the dentist and visits to my GP where I explain to him that I have bad PMS and he just passes it off . Fun. Seriously though, medical aid is totally unnecessary until you actually need it. To me it’s just a really expensive way of ensuring that when I do get sick, I am able to get proper care.

2. Paid Time Off:

I didn’t think of this as a benefit until I joined my current job which offers 21 leave days. That is practically a whole month. Are there other companies doing this? I need to know. Paid time off is important to ensure that you take care of yourself and avoid burnout.

3. Work From Home:

Again, something that I didn’t think was a benefit until my current role. Work from home, especially if you are an introvert, means less commute time and more time to spend with your family. You might be willing to settle for a role with a lower salary if it is a WFH role (since you save costs on commuting, food and other in-office costs)

4. Training and Professional Development:

A business that believes in investing in their employees is definitely one you want to join. Training and professional development benefits both you and the business so if you come across a business that values this, it’s an automatic green flag.

5. Flexible Work Hours:

As an insomniac, flexible work hours are my favourite thing. You’re telling me when I can’t sleep at 3AM, I can work??? This might sound unhealthy to many but hear me out. If I am wide awake at 3AM and I know I can get work done, why shouldn’t I? It beats me sitting at my desk at 2PM, trying not to fall asleep because I have a deadline to hit.

6. Work Equipment:

Companies that provide their staff with work equipment bring me so much joy. This is another way of a company investing in you and showing that they want you to be able to do the best that you can do. Companies often provide computers or routers for their staff which helps ease costs. Bonus points if you throw in a back-up power supply. Eishkom for who?

What are some benefits that would make you consider a lower salary? I’d love to know below.


Apr
2022

5 Things I Wish I Knew About Working in Marketing Before Taking The Job

categories: General Career Advice

Go to Marketing they said. It would be fun, they said. But no one prepared me for how different the Marketing team would be from my old team or what a drastic culture change I would have to adjust to. Here are a few things I wish I knew about Marketing before signing up to be an intern.

1. People treat me differently now– This is something I cannot get over. There are some people who treat me the same and they are few and far between (they are also my favorite people). However there are two types of people who treat me differently- those who are nicer to me which automatically puts me on edge. I worked in the same department for three years. If the way you are approaching me has changed, I do not know how to respond to that. The other group of people are those who do not speak to me at all. It’s like I have personally offended them with my decision to pursue a Marketing career. Considering the fact that I worked and studied for three years, trying to get into Marketing, this behavior personally offends me. But speaking of studying…

2. The importance of always being open to learning– One of the things I was really excited to give up (along with working weekends) was studying. Or so I thought. Moving to Marketing was exciting but the Marketing industry is always changing. If you want to be great at your job, you need to keep an eye on changing consumer trends. You need to follow experts in your field no matter what type of marketing you fall into.

3. It’s tough. The work is difficult– Another thing that surprised me about working in Marketing was that at the beginning, there was ALOT of tough days. There were days that I would come home and cry because I had no idea what was going on. To be fair, alot of this stemmed from the fact that the person I was supposed to intern under had gotten another job and left the company but it was difficult to go from knowing so much in my previous job to knowing so little when I started my internship. We all have to start somewhere and honestly those tough days were what made me better at my job.

4. Sometimes people don’t want you to succeed. At all– In my first week as an intern, our department was invited to an office event. Only a few people from back office was invited and a few people from my previous job. The brand managers and head of department insisted me and the other intern join even though it was our first week and we were uncomfortable about attending (atleast I was but I decided to rip off the band-aid). It was awful. Naturally I gravitated towards my old team and that’s where the issue started. Apparently those who had been one of the chosen few from my old team from the event were not happy to see me. I kid you not. I heard my name, turned around and then the staff hurriedly walked away whispering about me being there. I left the event in tears. I refused to go back the next time until finally one of the Marketing managers pried the story out of me. She dragged me to the event the time after that (and the time after that) until I had finally gotten used to it. I never went back to my old team after that. It broke my heart but it was better for my sanity.

5. There’s after hours work– In Marketing your tasks are duties are in a specific sub-field. For example, mine was paid media. So if my work was not completed in time, it fell to me to ensure that I completed it even if it was after hours. This took alot of getting used to since in my last job we were paid overtime for working extra hours but eventually I got better at my job and the after-hour work stopped.

I definitely wish I had known these things before taking the job. It would not have changed anything since I have wanted to work in Marketing for so long however I would have liked to have been more prepared. Growth is painful but so worth it in the end


Jul
2021

6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Switching Career Fields

categories: Career, General Career Advice, Welcome to The Real World
  1. It’s a challenge: Considering the fact that I studied two Marketing modules in university and four different Marketing short courses, I was pretty confident that I would be able to grasp my new job easily. I was wrong. There were days- scratch that, there are still days when I struggle and wonder if switching career fields was worth it (I’m proud to say that recently though, whenever this thought pops in my mind, I answer “YES!!!” without having to think about it)
  2. The internet has resources for everything: As someone who lives on Google this was shocking to me. Yes, I knew that you can Google pretty much everything but I had no clue that the internet could EDUCATE YOU! My mind is blown away by the amount of resources I’ve found online. But also
  3. I will not know everything: This is hugely upsetting and something I struggled with in my first few months. Back in Customer Care, I knew ALOT! Of course I did. I spent three years there and besides some basic process changes, things remained mostly the same. In Marketing, not so much. There are always new Marketing trends, new data on consumers or spending habits. You have to keep reading and studying in order to keep yourself up to date. At first I found this disheartening. I wanted to know everything and I wanted to know it NOW! Over time however, I accepted that I will not know everything. But with a little hard work. I can learn a bit about most things.
  4. Speaking of trends, I wish I knew the importance of keeping up to date with important industry information: Previously, I did not pay attention to any additional information if it didn’t directly impact me or my life. Like when Huawei stopped making phones with Google. Which then led to countless customer queries about that. Now however, I read every email link, Hubspot report or social media survey that lands in my inbox.
  5. Failing is a thing…and that’s okay: Keeping in with my perfectionist tendencies, I did not expect to fail. I don’t like failing. I’ve mentioned before that failing is (was?) a foreign concept to me but when you’re in a new field, failing happens and honestly it’s just a part of life.
  6. Lastly and certainly not least, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable: Growth is uncomfortable. Change is uncomfortable. But when it’s the right field or the right job for you, you won’t even mind. There are certain days when my anxiety skyrockets and I get really uncomfortable with a task but honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Did you change careers or start a new job? What was something that you were not expecting?

Follow

Get the latest posts delivered to your mailbox: