Category: General Career Advice

5 Symptoms of Burnout (and How to Combat Them)

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.

5 Signs Your Job Might Be A Bad Fit

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.

5 Tips on How to Deal with the October Slump

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!

How to Use a Starter Job to Your Advantage

There you are all bright and shiny and ready to make your mark on the working world! But then you land your first job and it’s nothing like you imagined. Or maybe you had to settle for the first opportunity that came you way (I’ve been there). No matter how awful your first job may seem to you. Here are a few tips on making the most of it:

1. Be Open to Learning Everything

You might not be interested in your first role but you’d be surprised by what you can learn from a starter job. I started off as a data capturer which helped me build speed on the PC for my first corporate role.

2. What are the Benefits?

Company culture? Office snacks? Learning opportunities? Figure out what the positives are and use them to your advantage. A starter job might not be what you want or in the field you want but this is a great opportunity to start to build your network.

3. Try Out a Side Project in Your Field

For me this was running a blog. Try to get experience in your field by either doing volunteer work (if and when you can) or ask if your job has something extra that you can assist with. My first steps into Marketing was assisting with Customer queries on Social Media. It was an interesting way to use my fast typing skills but it was such an advantage when I moved over to Marketing.

4. Take Advantage of any Training Opportunities

If there are any opportunities for further training, go for it! Developing your skills is a great way to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. In my starter job, Business Admin courses were offered to a few employees who later moved from Data Capturing to Client Services. If your company offers to pay for training- even if it’s a small portion- consider giving it a go.

5. Note what your transferrable skills are

Hard-worker. Fast learner. Able to work well under pressure. These are skills you pick up in almost any job. What specific skill in your starter job are you able to use in another role? Identity these and add them to your CV.

A starter job might not be the job you initially wanted but making the most of it will serve your career well in the long-run.

7 Red Flags to Watch For in a Manager

Just as there are many different types of managers and management styles, there are also so many different signs of a toxic manager. It can be tough because while micromanagement is talked about most often, bad management exists beyond that. Here are 7 red flags that might have you reconsidering your manager.

1. Talks about Others Behind Their Back:

No decent manager should be discussing their staff with other staff members. EVER! It’s unprofessional. Whenever a manager has an issue with an employee, it should be discussed with that specific employee only and not a third party.

2. Refuses to listen to feedback

Not matter how minor the feedback is, if your manager refuses to listen to anything besides their own opinion, that’s a sign to be cautious. I worked for someone who wanted to have a say in every little thing. I didn’t think of it as an issue until I reminded them once of something they said once and changed their mind on last-minute and they refused to accept responsibility for it.

3. Favouritism

If you notice that your manager is the type to play favourites, watch out. This can work out badly for employees whether or not they’re the favourite. The favourite is a difficult position to be in and so is the extreme opposite- the one who the manager absolutely cannot stand.

4. Poor Communication Skills

Does your manager speak exclusively in buzzwords? Is your manager able to explain things in a clear and concise manner? Smart people speak simply. Incompetent people tend to prefer to use buzzwords or big words to make themselves sound smarter than they really are.

5. Allergic to Growth of Any Kind

One of the ways I like to assess a manager is their reaction when I say that I am learning something new. Some managers are perplexed when I study something that isn’t related to my work. Some are excited and some are just against it (even if this studying doesn’t happen during working hours). It’s those who are against any kind of learning that worry me. (And so far this little test hasn’t steered me wrong).

6. Micromanagement

This is one that we all know about. If your manager has trouble giving up control and needs to know every little detail of every task you’re working on, this is a red flag. Some micromanagers can be managed by you keeping them in the loop and eventually earning their trust. Some micromanagers just get worse with time.

7. Not Managing at All

This is a type of red flag that I don’t see discussed often enough. While macromanagement (hands off management) is a management technique, when taken too far, this has negative consequences such as deadlines not being met, lack of clarity on goals and just general disorganisation and chaos.

What other red flags have you encountered? How do you track if a manager might be a problem? Let me know below.

Things to Know Before Making a Transition to Start-Up

So you got an amazing job offer. At a start-up. No biggie. After all, a start-up is just a company that is just beginning to grow, right? Here are a few things to consider before transitioning to that start-up.

Job Security

Firstly, what is the job security like? Start-ups are noted for randomly closing. However this isn’t always the case. Of course if you’re leaving a stable job or if you’re a new graduate you want that assurance that your job is safe. Do your research on the company and the industry beforehand to get an idea of how secure your job is.

Are Your Values Aligned?

As someone who had grown distant from my former company because of misaligned values, this one was a biggie for me. Start-ups are full of chaos. This is made up for when you and the company have the same or similiar values. This also helps get you through the 3AM work (see below).

Little to No Structure

Start-ups lack the formal processes that an established company has. You might hate or love this depending on the type of person you are. Of course you can be the person to bring in the structure and processes but that depends on how willing everyone else around you is to change.

Weird Work Hours

Start-ups can sometimes be go-go-go ALL THE TIME. This is my favourite part because I tend to be widely awake in the middle of the night so I’m fine to work then but this does take its toll on you if you have a family.

Anything Under the Sun is Possible

Whereas a corporate role would have red tape or you’re limited in your specific department, in a start-up you could do anything and most likely will be doing more than a few things. In my role as a Content Writer in a start-up, I wrote content, edited content, wrote copy and even weighed in on a few internal branding and Customer Care scenarios because of my corporate background.

Would you ever consider working for a start-up? Have you ever worked for a start-up? What are your thoughts? Let me know below.

Why I Love The Idea of Quiet Quitting

First of all to whoever gave it a title, you suck! We do not need toxic managers learning about this technique.

The term “Quiet quitting” grew in popularity as I was battling burnout and Covid. However for me, quiet quitting was something that I was familiar with. It was something I had done repeatedly but I called it “Escaping Bad Management”.

The first time I quiet quit was due to a toxic manager. She was difficult to work with and delighted in making staff cry. She was new to the role, new to being manager and had me do all of her work. This was something that I found out after a very public meltdown at work (she told me at 5PM that I couldn’t go home until I completed all of my work- work that I hadn’t done because I was busy doing reports for her). When I raised the issue with her manager, her manager asked that I either support the toxic manager or find another role. Instead of focusing on the horrible environment that I was in, I threw myself into finding a way out. That was when I started my first two Marketing courses. A job opened up in another department (Customer Care) and I eagerly took it.

The second time I quiet quit was after the pandemic. We had returned to work after lockdown with less staff but a bigger workload. I didn’t know it at the time but I was severely burned out. Desperate for a distraction, I focused on completing the remainder of my studies. I didn’t plan on looking for another job. I had no energy for that. I just wanted to finish my studies and have one less thing to worry about. In any case, while my manager at the time had picked staff to work from home, she didn’t pick me because I said I would prefer to work from home (the team did a really nice toxic thing where those who said that they were fine to work from the office were chosen to work from home while those who wanted to work from home weren’t given the option to work at all- and therefore these people didn’t get paid during lockdown).

I need to point out that in both these scenarios, these managers and that fun little toxic game were all picked by one person- the head of the department. This person almost seemed to delight in torturing staff. So while it was obvious to me that I needed to escape, I did not have the energy to do so.

But I didn’t have to. A mere two weeks after I completed my studies, an email went out to announce that the Marketing team needed an intern.

Naturally I applied and the rest is very toxic, very traumatic history.

I will always be for Quiet Quitting because that is usually something that bad management drives staff to. You get paid to work certain hours and do certain tasks. Quiet Quitting to me means not putting in anything extra because you know you aren’t getting a return.

6 Benefits Besides Salary to Look for in a New Job

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.

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

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 the 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.

6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Switching Career Fields

  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: