Month: January 2022

People consider taking two jobs for several reasons. Whether to maximize their income to pay off debt or to build on a newly acquired skill. Having two jobs can be a daunting task, one has to strike a balance between having a healthy lifestyle, having time for family and friends while coping with the stress that comes along.

Part-time jobs can be a great idea, they provide many opportunities such as helping to build up your resume, improve the financial status, test newly acquired skills, and help enhance your social life. When people seek new jobs they are often oblivious of the dangers of not properly managing both jobs, most especially when they have pre-existing full-time jobs.

Without proper management and planning, what was thought originally to be a great idea, could turn out to be a nightmare. In a worst-case scenario, you could lose out on both sides.

Your employer may not be comfortable with the idea at all or may notice a lack of commitment towards your primary job. This could be potentially costly to you, as the aim of getting the job in the first place is defeated. Finding the right job for yourself is the most important step which means you should find a job that is well suited for you.

By weighing the pros and cons of your new job and making proper enquiries, you will be guided in making the right decision. If getting a second job is the right decision for you, here are some tips that will help you manage working two jobs at the same time without pushing yourself beyond your limits.

 

Job Selection

When choosing the right job, you must consider some important factors that will ensure you don’t face the challenges that come with handling working two jobs. By answering the following questions, you’ll be guided in your decision towards choosing the right job that suits you.

• Does my schedule permit have a second job? If your primary job offers decent free time then getting a second job would be just the best for you. In such cases, you should consider getting a higher paying full-time job. Most especially if the main reason you got the job was for making some extra money.
• Is it worth the extra effort? It is ok to work two jobs to make extra cash, but the question to ask yourself is, if the job is worth the extra time and effort. Handling two jobs can be difficult, for this reason, make sure the extra money earned is congruent with the extra effort spent.
• Will you enjoy the job? It’s not about working two jobs for the benefits. What determines the longevity and success of having a second job is your attitude towards work. This is largely dependent on how you feel about the job.
• Will the new job affect my primary job? Most times the primary job offers you a better paycheck at least when compared with the second job. While working two jobs it is important to keep at the back of your mind, what job helps pay the most of your bills?
• Do I have the required skills? A lot of people find themselves hopping from one job to the other because they lack the necessary skills. Their motivation for working several jobs is primarily for making more money “which is okay” when you have the required skills.

By spending time improving your skills you make personal investments, that would help you achieve your career goals and secure your dream job. The labor market is a competitive one, most companies prefer employing experts and experienced individuals.

By polishing your craft, you earn a trump card that will help you secure the position you want. In your working environment, you will be surrounded by professionals who are just as ambitious as you are, therefore, you need to have up-to-date skills that will give you the upper hand.

Do Your Research

One important phase when seeking a second job is the research phase, you will need to find an opportunity that fits your qualification, expertise and skills. Check out websites and look for firms whose vacancies are best suited for you.

If you find employers who require your services, look for details of past success stories from people who have worked there before. You could also check-up LinkedIn profiles of people who work the same job you are looking for. Join the relevant social media groups available, this will help you learn more about the firm.

Proximity

Now you have got the second job and—”the pay is great”. But you have to travel miles to get your second workplace. When finding a second job always put into consideration issues of transportation. You are advised to get a job close to your primary workplace, so you don’t have to go through the hassles of shuttling between workplaces. Depending on the job, proximity might not be a thing to worry about, many jobs require you to work on a computer, this can be done anywhere even in the comfort of your home.

Consider Legal Limitations

It all boils down to your employers contractual agreement conditions. They may be constraints as regards your contract with your employer. You may be required to agree to certain terms by your primary employer, some of which may form limitations much later when working two jobs.

Provided you manage working two jobs without conflict of interest or break in the terms of your primary job then you are all set. A lot of people work single full-time jobs with work hours equivalent to working two part-time jobs. The challenge, however, is maintaining a tight schedule that prevents conflict between both jobs.

Employers Flexibility

A flexible workflow system offers many opportunities, as well as provides you with many benefits. Your full-time job should be at the top of your priority list. You may need to ask your second employer for adaptable work arrangements.

Many large businesses offer flexible work arrangements since these large-scale businesses are often adequately staffed, hence they run multiple shifts for their staff. On the other hand small-scale businesses, sometimes are short-staffed and may be unable to accommodate your request. As a consequence, you’re required to find a job that fits the flexibility you need.

 

Time Management

Working two jobs requires hard work and discipline. Nonetheless, one of the most important skills you should have in life is proper time management. Without proper time management, it is almost impossible to reach your goals, be it your career goals or your life goals.

You will have some successes, but with poor time management, it is always going to be a struggle. So if you want to enjoy the benefits of having 2 jobs without stretching yourself beyond your limits, you will need to set goals and plan your time. The simple trick is finding a proper time management plan and working on it.

 

Planning Your Schedule

By creating a schedule, you plan your activities in such a way that you can achieve your priorities within your time limits. This helps you understand your daily activities and prevent you from taking more than you can handle. Establish when you want to do your scheduling, at the beginning of the month or beginning of the week, it all depends on what works best for you. One easy way is to get a pen and paper and draw out a weekly plan or download a weekly planner document from the internet.

Another option is to explore available applications that help you plan your week with inbuilt functions. To succeed in working two jobs identify your free time and establish how much time you intend to spend on each job. Prioritize your activities in your workplace, make a to-do list and start working on essential tasks first.

You should also arrange your tax in such a way that important tasks are done at the time of the day when you are most productive. Due to the nature of working two jobs, you should make time for contingencies. Sometimes things may come up at your primary workplace, by making time available in such a way that you will be able to make effective workarounds that will help you solve these issues. As you work your second job, frequent interruptions could take up so much valuable time.

Some of these interruptions can be difficult to predict. By making your schedule flexible and creating some available space in between, you should be able to circumvent these interruptions easily.

Set Your Goals

Setting goals at your workplace will help you in balancing working two jobs. Your personal goals should support that of your company’s. Some companies may tend to be better at helping employees achieve their work goals. Some employers may know the benefits of goal alignment and will help employees set their personal work goals.

This offers many opportunities and will also serve as a launch-pad for your career growth. By doing so you make clear to yourself what you want from your job, this will go a long way in guiding you towards getting the most of the benefits of having 2 jobs.

Plan for the Rest

We all are familiar with the phrase “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. Working long hours without rest can be harmful to one’s health and well-being. While planning your schedule, do not forget to make available rest periods in between shifts. Working two jobs comes with some degrees of stress. Keep track of your stress level so you don’t end up “popping” pain relievers anytime you feel stressed.

 

Managing Funds

Considering the extra hours and effort spent on making extra cash, should offer you enough motivation to work prudently. Being in debt, while working two jobs can be a terrible situation (the one you don’t want to find yourself in).

This is why you have to make a budget so you don’t end up spending more than you earn. Poor money management sounds terrible. But the truth is a good number of people are poor at managing their income.

If you find yourself among this group of people then you are in luck. There are many available strategies that will help you manage your funds properly. Proper management of money takes time to master, it requires discipline and some level of sacrifice.

To balance the financial aspects of working two jobs, you will need to understand your financial situation. Understanding your financial situation will go a long way in helping you create your budget.

Draw Your Budget

The number one question that comes to our minds when we try to create a budget is “do I need this?”. The answer to that question is a straightforward “Yes!”. It takes one thing to draw a budget but takes another to stick to it. It may be difficult at first but there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

By making a budget plan, you begin to see clearly your financial situation. Having a budget also helps in managing debts, savings and expenses to be incurred much later. This ultimately helps you have some sort of control over your financial life.

Plan for the Bills

Many people are unaware of their monthly expenses, some are unable to keep track of how much they spend in a week. By understanding your income and expenses you will be able to plan adequately enough, so you don’t end up incurring unnecessary debt.

Many people take up a second job, so they can make extra income to help them with their bills. Take note of your daily expenses including groceries, gas, electricity and water bills.

Write them down and calculate your monthly expenses. Doing this will help you have an insight as to how much you spend monthly. This will also serve as a reminder for your future expenses. Working two jobs can be much easier with good money management skills, your spending habit determines to a great extent your motivation to keep going in the job.

Save Money

Saving money each month from the extra income can help you build a good financial habit. These savings can be automated easily in such a way that money is transferred directly to your savings account and you do not need to manually transfer money.

Managing money can be quite difficult at the beginning, it takes a huge level of discipline to properly manage your income. However, the moment you inculcate these habits into your life, the easier it gets.

 

Keep Your Primary Job

Remember the reason you got the second job was to make extra money. Working a second job shouldn’t be at the expense of your primary job. Your full-time job should always take priority. A lot of people who work two jobs, tend to lose focus and take their full-time jobs for granted. You shouldn’t be among this category of people.

Do Your Job

When working two jobs, always try as much as possible to excel in your jobs. Remember there are equally skilled individuals, who are available to employers and will gladly swing into your position

Help Your Employer

Strive to maintain a good relationship with your boss. As far as job security is concerned, this is more or less the number one rule. Especially for someone who wants to balance working two jobs, your relationship with your employer will determine a lot. You should be seen trying to make work a lot easier for your team. Your boss may appreciate your effort and may reward you with some extra free time or even a promotion.

Beef-up Your Resume

It is always helpful to keep your resume current, by doing so you take another step towards maintaining your primary job. Try to have the upper hand by adding your recent career achievements to your resume.

Consider Informing Your Employer

Handling two jobs will be a lot easier if your boss is informed. However, the decision whether to inform your employer can be a tricky one—as you would have to put a lot into consideration. This may not be much of a problem when working part time jobs. Some companies do not permit employees working for competitors, this clause is always stated clearly in your contract with your primary employer.

In such instances, you are advised not to get a second job in a similar company or act in any way that violates your agreed work terms. However, in instances where the contract in your full time job does not take into account working for competitors, you shouldn’t bring it up if you don’t feel the need to.

 

Ask for Help from Family and Friends

Having two jobs can be a huge burden. Your family and friends are always there to help you, whether it’s searching for part time jobs or running errands. When asking family and friends for job opportunities, be more specific about the type of job you need. You should also inform them about your plans to work two jobs.

That way they can understand your situation and inform you about available jobs that meet your specification. Whether family or friend, remember that asking for help involves their time and effort. For this reason before making your request, understand that they also have things to do as well and they have to go out of their way to help you.

Your friends or family can also help you with errands. As you work two jobs some of your free times are no longer available to you due to your busy schedule. You may need help with things like buying your groceries, feeding your pets (if you have one) and other personal tasks. Do not hesitate to ask people close to you for help. Always make sure you appreciate those who help you out. Be nice and express your gratitude. Because you definitely will need their help again.

 

Do Not Overwhelm Yourself

If having one job is enough stress for you. Then working a second job can be nerve-racking. Know your limits and stay within them. Be careful not to take up more work that you can manage easily. It can be proved to be counterproductive when you make more money at the detriment of your health. A study on long work hours revealed that people who worked more than 11 hours per day are 2.5 times more likely to develop depression.

The more reason, you have to be careful when choosing your second job. You should try as much as possible to avoid having two physically demanding jobs at the same time. Your full-time job may have the better paycheck, but is twice the stress. Try to balance the stress with the income and see if it weighs out. If not, only go for a second job, when you are sure it will not be a multiplying factor to your stress level.

 

Know When to Take a Break

You should consider taking a break at your second job, if it begins to place a significant risk on your primary job, or when you begin to have trouble with coping with the stress. People with full-time jobs mostly work during the day, this provides them with plenty of rest-time. On the other hand, people who work night shifts or work in the evenings have little time to relax and rest for the day. This particularly places stress on them in the long run.

 

Maintain a Healthy and Social Life Style

As well as there are benefits to having two jobs, there are also downsides some of which affect your health directly. While planning your schedule remember to reserve some time for yourself. Make sure you eat healthily, always try to have breakfast before going about your day. Stay hydrated and plan for lunch, if you do not have time to eat at a restaurant close by, ensure you take some healthy snacks along with you.

Having a meal before heading out will help you stay focused and remain productive throughout the day. Working two jobs may mean you are busy all the time, but that doesn’t mean you should throw your social life into the garbage-can, make time for family and friends. Remember the key to having a balanced lifestyle is largely dependent on your state of mind and relationship with other people.

The most important marketing tool you have at your disposal when applying for a job is your resume, otherwise referred to as curriculum vitae (CV). A well-written professional resume helps demonstrate the personality of the prospective employee.

For many companies, resumes must first get past initial screening algorithms or applicant tracking systems (ATS) put in place to aid the employer in their selection process.

If your resume has properly utilized important keywords to pass the algorithm, it will make its way to the desk of an employee recruitment team member.

Now imagine being the hiring manager reading the resumes of dozens or perhaps hundreds of applicants to fill a single vacancy. It is a given that an applicant must have an effective resume that stands out amongst the crowd to catch their attention and land an interview session.

Resume writing can be daunting, but it is a skill that can be mastered. Before you write your resume, be clear about why you are writing it. What jobs are you interested in and do you meet the qualifications for them? Why do you want to work with a particular employer? Do your values align with those of the employer? Answering these questions is the first step to writing your resume.

 

Creating an Outstanding and Effective Resume 

A successful job application is led by a strong first impression. To tick the right boxes in the employer’s list, a resume must have the information the hiring team is looking for.

One important point is to have a neat and structured resume template, which will help pitch your suitability for the position—one of the best ways to do this is to use a resume builder instead of the basic text editor.

Another point to ensure the resume has all the essential components. Below is a step-by-step guide to follow when writing your resume, which sections you must include and others you can consider.

• Choose the Right Resume Format

There are four main resume formats: reverse-chronological, functional, combination, and targeted. The best format to use depends on the applicant’s professional experience and the job they are applying to.

As the name suggests, the reverse chronological resume format highlights the history of your professional experience from the most to less recent.

The format is preferred by recruiters and hiring managers and is often used by people who have plenty of relevant experience in the position they are applying for. Unlike the other two formats, applicant tracking systems can read this format without trouble, making it the most common and useful resume format for job applicants.

The functional resume format is also called a skills-based resume format as it emphasizes the skill summary or areas of strength of the applicant.

Functional resumes are particularly useful for fresh graduates who have not yet obtained relevant work experience. It can also be used in the events of a career switch by explaining how skills previously gained through time in one industry can be transferred to another.

A combination resume format is a mix of the two formats: reverse-chronological and functional. While it comes with an area of strength section, it brings attention to the applicant’s work experience.

The format allows demonstration of both skills and experience, which is beneficial for senior professionals who need to highlight more than just their job experience.

The fourth and final format is a targeted resume, which is customized to the specific position you are applying for. Your work history, skills, and education provide direct answers to the prospective employer’s questions.

When sending targeted resumes, the resume template will be edited and rewritten for each job which the candidate applies to.

• List Contact Information and Personal Details

It is important to know which information to provide in your resume. As the hiring managers need to contact you, should your application proceeds to the next stage, your resume should include:

• Your name – first and last, supplying your middle name is optional. 
• Personal email address – one with a professional username rather than one with an embarrassing childhood reference like sillygirl@aol.com  
• A phone number – make sure you have written all the right digits in the right order, otherwise you may not get that acceptance phone call you have been waiting for. 
• LinkedIn profile – to provide additional detail for the hiring managers. 

Unless the job listing requires it, there is no need to provide an address. Information such as date of birth, gender, health status, and links to personal websites or blogs should be kept off your resume.

There are exceptions to this rule, such as when the job description states that the employer is looking for someone within a specific age range or an applicant of a certain sex. Where it helps to strengthen your application, consider including some of these details.  

Your contact information should be put in the main body of the document as some applicant tracking systems may have difficulty reading information written in headers or footers. 

• Write a Professional Summary

Think of a professional summary as a condensed cover letter. By that definition, a professional summary or summary statement is a description comprising 50 to 150 words which helps the hiring manager to get an overview of your skills and experiences.

As it provides a summary of qualifications, it is most suitable to include in resumes of experienced job seekers with past achievements to highlight.

A strong professional summary placed at the top of your resume can increase your chances of being noticed, especially when it is used to address requirements written in the job listing. Always tailor your professional summary to a specific job by reading through the job description to find the qualifications that employers find important.

A general format that you can follow when writing a professional summary is:

[adjective(s) / strong character trait(s)] [your job title] [your professional experience] [company name] [what you want to help the employer achieve and how] [relevant key achievement(s)].

For example, a professional summary for a sales position may read:

“Motivated sales associate with a passion for high-quality customer service. Possess excellent time management, organizational, and interpersonal skills through over 5+ years of experience. Eager to assist the prospective employer in boosting company productivity and revenue through collaboration with team members. Exceeded quarterly sales target by 10% every quarter in the previous position.”

• List Relevant Work Experience and Achievements 

Work experience is gained by an employee by working in a particular field or position. In resume writing, the work experience and achievements section is the most detailed and holds the most important information in your resume.

The section should be placed below the professional summary for an experienced job-seeker, or under the education section for fresh graduates.

Following the reverse-chronological resume format, start with the most recent job experience and go backward from there. Otherwise, you can begin with the roles that are most relevant to the position you are applying for.

Whichever experience is placed at the top should be described in the most details. Here is a list of things to include in this section:

• Position title – internships, volunteer work, paid, and unpaid jobs count as long as they are relevant.
• Company name and location.
• Employment period – month and year in the standard MM/YYYY format is a sufficient description of the timeframe.
• Outline of your levels of responsibility and accomplishment – four of five bullet points to focus on relevant duties and awards or promotions received.

Employ action verbs and/or power words when describing your key responsibilities and use numbers, percentages, or statistics to bolster your achievements. One method to guarantee conciseness and effectiveness of the bullet points is to utilize the Problem-Action-Result method.

Take note that while the best resume template should sufficiently highlight your experience and eligibility, it should go back no more than 10-15 years.

• List Your Education History

The education section is an essential part of building an effective resume. Most of the time you only need to provide your highest level of education—a high school degree can be deemed irrelevant for an applicant who has completed university degrees and several other qualifications since. It adds no value to the resume and therefore can be left out. 

Any coursework relevant to the position or honors and awards received throughout the degree should be listed, along with extracurricular activities. Quantifying your results here is unnecessary, it might even work against you if another applicant comes in with a higher number. Below is a list of information to include in the education section in your resume:

• Name of the educational institution and its location.
• Name of the qualification i.e., your degree and course.
• Years of study – when the degree/diploma began and ended.

• Include Relevant Skills Matching the Job Listing

As the hiring process becomes more modernized, prospective employers use software that scans for important keywords and phrases in the application that are sent to them. The ones that do not use these keywords and phrases do not make it to the recruiting team.

This section should briefly list important skills you have to offer to prospective employers, whether it may be hard or soft skills, which are sometimes not immediately conveyed through the work experience section. If you have skills that are currently most in-demand, make sure to include them.

Hard Skills

Hard skills are quantifiable learned abilities obtained and strengthened through experience. They can be gained through formal education, training, or work experience. The hard skills presented in a resume should be relevant to the job—pointing out that you are adept in typography while applying for a position in the healthcare sector is unlikely to boost your candidacy. Some common hard skills included by job seekers are:

• Proficiency in foreign languages.
• Mastery in programming languages.
• Certifications and licenses.
• Technical skills such as typing speed.

Soft Skills

These are your interpersonal, individual and fundamental skills which are harder to measure or quantify. The term soft skills itself refers to the ability to communicate and interact with other people; research shows they are strongly desired by employers and becoming more important in the current job market. They are universal and transferable across professions or industries, not limited to a specific position. Some examples of soft skills are:

• Critical thinking – the ability to make decisions and take initiative.
• Leadership – the ability to be an excellent leader and supervisor, including conflict management and resolution.
• Persuasion.
• Teamwork.

Including a combination of both hard and soft skills in this section make up a skill set that helps the recruiting team to assess your eligibility for the position you are applying to.

Once again, it is worth revisiting the job listing and reading through the description given by the employer, as you can save time in resume writing by knowing which skills are relevant and which keywords will help set your application apart from others.

There are several ways to present your skills to prospective employers. There may be some skills for which you want to give more specific details regarding pertinent areas, but a simple bulleted list with key abilities and descriptions of proficiency level is the most common.

You can use graphics such as charts or boxes, or simply categorize your proficiency as “Professional,” “Advanced,” “Intermediate,” or “Beginner.” For foreign language skills, “Native,” and “Fluent,” are terms used to describe the level of mastery. 

Never lie about your skill levels. Imagine showing up to an interview having claimed you speak a language, only to have your interviewer be a native speaker of that same language—that is certainly a situation you want to avoid at all costs.

• Give Your Resume a Personality

The sections we have covered so far are crucial for any resume to have. That means every application that goes through the hiring managers will have the same components.

To create a unique resume that sets you apart from other applicants, provide additional information that shines a light upon your personal attributes. You can do this by building in one or more of the following resume sections into your resume.

Hobbies and Interests

Hobby and interest are two terms that are often used interchangeably, although there is a distinction between the two of them. A hobby is something one likes to do in their pastime, and there is a connotation that one dedicates a good amount of time to their hobby. On the other hand, interests are subjects that capture one’s attention, such as topic, event, or process.

Adding this section can be especially beneficial for fresh graduates with minimal work experience, as it helps to showcase hobbies and interests beyond your educational background.

Hiring managers may connect to you on a more personal level, gain an understanding of how you utilize your free time and what relevant skills you can bring to the organization through them. Hobbies and interests can show an employer that you are a well-rounded candidate, suitable for the position.

Be careful not to list any hobby or interest that may be dangerous or reveal personal information such as religion and political views.

Volunteering Experience

Volunteering is defined as an act of an individual or group willingly giving time and labor for community service, without receiving financial compensation in return. A volunteering experience is another section that can be included in the resume template by fresh graduates or individuals with significant employment gaps.

Relevant volunteer work should be written in the work experience section, while the ones that are unrelated to the job description can be listed here.

Just because they are unrelated to the position you are applying to does not mean they don’t show valuable qualities the hiring team is looking for! Companies favor applicants who have real-world experience and contributed positively to the community. 

You can format the volunteering experience section the same way you did the work experience section. The position title can simply be written as “Volunteer”.

Remember to include the organization name, the timeframe of your volunteering, and descriptions of your levels of responsibility written in bullet points.

Publications

The publications section usually follows education history. Publications can refer to academic journals or other works published through online platforms. Rather than listing all published works under your name, choose a select few that highlight your capabilities and expertise in particular subjects. This will enhance your profile and intrigue the hiring team—it might even give you talking points during the interview process. Aside from linking URLs to these publications where possible, note the following information:

• Title of publication.
• Year of publication.
• Name of magazine, website, or journal through which it was published.

You can provide information for each publication within one bullet point and hyperlink the URL to the title. 

Some other sections that you may want to include in your resumes are internship experience, certifications and awards, and projects. Make certain that the sections you choose to exhibit add value to your application and help the recruiting team to find what they are looking for in you.

 

Additional Tips

Be Concise

Some job seekers may feel pressured to sound eloquent by using flowery language and unnecessary jargons to decorate their resumes. This may have the opposite effect than intended and ultimately leads to redundancy and vagueness. In writing your resume, keep the content concise and to the point. Alternate the use of long paragraphs with bullet points, as the recruiter may miss key qualifications if your resume is too dense with text.

Lengthwise, a one-page resume is the most acceptable resume format. Only submit two pages if it is necessary and avoid sending in anything longer than two pages.

Write a Cover Letter

To support your resume, many employers will require you to write a cover letter. A cover letter serves as an introduction to your resume and is tailored to a specific job. Here you can expand on your work experience, skills, and qualifications in greater detail than in your resume. A well-written cover letter will show employers you possess strong written communication skills. Here are some tips when writing your cover letter:

• Remember to include your contact information.
• It should comprise 3-4 paragraphs including introduction, body, and closing.
• If a specific contact person is provided in the job listing, address your cover letter to them.

Visit this page for more information about writing and formatting a standout cover letter.

Formatting

Take measures to ensure your resume format is easy to read and review by both ATS and the hiring managers. Using a simple font helps to deliver the crucial information clearly.

Basic fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, Century Gothic, or Calibri are best for resume writing, and you should avoid using fonts in script or hand-writing style.

Depending on how much content you have, a 10- or 11-point font size is preferable for the body of the resume. Section headers can be 12- or 14-point. As consistency is important, use the same font in both your cover letter and resume.

Employers may request a specific type of document, usually to heed to the requirement of their ATS. Send in your resume in DOCX format when specified, as sending in a PDF file might mean your resume does not pass the ATS screening algorithm. Name your resume file accordingly.

If you are not sure that you have the appropriate format, using a resume builder can save you time and effort while simultaneously helping you present a professional front with your resume.

Do Not Include References

Unless requested, references are not to be put in your resume. Recruiters do not look for it early in the hiring process. Prospective employers may want to hear about your qualifications and work ethics from another person, but this is only a common practice after the interview stage.

However, it is always good to be prepared for the possibility from before your interview. Choose one or two people who can recommend you as an employee and highlight your skills and provide their name, position title, and contact information.

Ideally, you should forewarn them and obtain their agreement before putting their name down. This will avoid the recruiting team from contacting someone who claims not to know you.

Avoid Misspellings or Grammatical Errors

By making the effort to ensure that your resume is 100% error-free, you provide a positive signal that supports your candidacy in the eyes of the recruitment team. Checking your formatting, spelling, and grammar show that you are a meticulous person who holds yourself to a high standard—personal attributes that are valuable to have as a jobseeker.

On the other hand, making avoidable mistakes in the resume you send in will diminish your professionalism. Spell-checking before submitting is a must, you may even print a copy to make annotating errors easier. 

Finally, get someone to proofread the end product for you. Bring your resume to friends, family, a mentor, or a professional resume writer who can help you enhance the quality of your resume.

People leave their jobs for a whole host of reasons, from landing a higher-paid position, lack of job satisfaction, for better company benefits or just for a change of scenery. Others leave because they no longer believe in the company or they don’t get along with their team and decide that the position is no longer a good fit for them.

 

Handing In Your Two Weeks Notice

Handing in your resignation letter to your current employer after taking on a new role can present a variety of emotions for different individuals. Sometimes it is done with regret and other times with triumph, however it can also be an intimidating experience for some. What some people do not realize is that getting this process right can be essentially important!

Why Do We Have Notice Periods?

Often laid out in your initial contract, your notice period is an agreed amount of time between the employer and employee in which you must let the company know their intentions to resign. This agreed time is the same period when employers can inform staff that their employment relationship has been terminated.

In short, giving two weeks notice of impending resignation is generally good practice. It gives the employer time to hire someone new and begin their handover processes. Often human resources departments will require a formal resignation letter to begin offboarding processes and to retrieve financial backing to put out advertising materials and begin interviewing.

If you leave without giving notice, you could be leaving your company short-staffed at a difficult time or in the middle of on-going projects that have deadlines.

In the event that you leave your company without giving two weeks notice it can often turn the relationship sour, it also means the company could possibly sue you for breaching your contract. This is often unlikely due to the high legal costs not being worth it.

Remember that you will want to call on your previous employers for references and if they let the hiring manager for your new role know that you didn’t give notice it could tarnish your reputation or even endanger your job opportunity. Burning bridges with your current employer is risky, you may want to call on them as potential clients or even for career opportunities in the future.

How Long Should A Notice Period Be?

This time frame is often two weeks notice but can be more depending on your organization or your position within that company. Your notice period must be in writing in your employment contract or else in theory you do not need to give any notice. It may also differ depending on the contract you have.

Full-time, part-time and casual employment notice periods can differ, it might be best to consult your company’s staff handbook or online resources. If you leave without completing your notice period, employers do not have to give you your salary for any notice you have not worked.

When you hand in your notice you should also consider your commitments at the time of your resignation.

Will there be an extensive handover because of large projects currently underway? Will your timing conflict with the annual leave of your colleagues and leave your employer short-staffed at an inconvenient time?

In general, you should give as much notice as possible and consider the two-week notice period in your contract as a minimal amount of time. If you wish to extend your notice period as a good will gesture most employers will be open to it.

Notice periods differ from country to country as well as the company to company. For example, for some IT jobs in Asian countries, you may be expected to serve between 1-3 months’ notice.

 

Informal Resignation

You should give your manager a heads up that you are planning on resigning prior to handing in your formal notice. Namely, as a form of respect, you don’t want to blindside them by sampling handing in a letter.

This isn’t always the case if the relationship is a complex one or you are quitting the role due to tensions in the workplace but, it is best to mention to your manager that you are intending to leave. Some places may even respect you more if you let them know you are intending to apply for a role.

 

Drafting Your Letter

You should never send your resignation via text or via email, or worse, verbally. You should always hand in your formal resignation via a letter, often employers consider a signed letter addressed to them in an envelope as the most professional way to resign. Your letter should be brief, space out, with perfect grammar and spelling.

How to Begin

The letter doesn’t have to be over-elaborate and you don’t have to give any details or explanation as to why you have come to your decision. Date and address are important, even if you are handing it over to your employer you should date and address your resignation the same way you would send a letter in the post.

This is important for Human Resources staff to log your resignation in their system. Having the printed date of the day you handed the letter over is evidence that you gave notice of your resignation. Your letter should include the job title of the role you are vacating and the date with which you intend as your final day at the company. The beginning should read;

‘Dear (Employers name),

I am writing to inform you that I will be resigning from my current job as (Your current role) at (Company Name). As per my contracts’ notice period conditions, my last day of work will be (date of your last day).’

Say Thank You

Your letter can also be a way to express your thanks for everything you have experienced and learned while you have worked in your role. You could thank your boss for everything they have done for you and for giving you the opportunity in the first place.

For Example;

‘I would like to express my thanks for all of the support I have received from you and also from the entire team. I have learned so many new skills and have achieved so much alongside all of you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and I hope we can keep in touch. It has been my pleasure to have worked with you all.’

Granted, not everyone will be sad to leave their role and progress to new things, sometimes people need to leave the company for other reasons. Never hand in a negative letter with all the reasons why you wanted to leave. You can still be glad to go and be appreciative of having had the job. Allow the good times you had with the company to dictate the tone of your letter, you might need or want a reference from them for future employment opportunities.

Discuss Transition

If you are happy to discuss the transition period in your letter, you can do so. You can offer to help in the interim until they find someone new, obviously depending on when your new role needs you to start.

Extending an offer of support will be greatly appreciated and your manager will likely give you a glowing reference. If you are in the middle of a project you should endeavor to complete all of your current tasks and time your resignation well, so your departure doesn’t have a negative impact on the company’s project. You are unlikely to be looked on fondly if you significantly disrupted important projects because of your timing.

For instance;

‘I would like to offer my support should you need someone to help with training or handover in the interim. I endeavor to have completed all of my current tasks and projects before the end of my two weeks notice period.’

Sign Off

End with ‘Kind Regards,’ and sign your letter with your handwritten signature rather than an electronic signature. Then print your name below and your resignation letter is complete.

 

Two Weeks Notice Letter Template

Please see below for the perfect notice letter template.

(Today’s date)

Name of Manager

Name of Company

Company Address

To whom it may concern (manager)

I am writing to inform you that I am resigning from my current job as (Your current role) at (Company Name). As per my contracts’ notice period conditions, my last day of work will be (date of your last day).’

Upon my departure, all of my projects will be completed in full, and I am more than happy to help in terms of training or handovers when you hire my replacement. 

I would like to express my thanks for all of the support I have received from you and also from the entire team. I have learned so many new skills and have achieved so much alongside all of you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and I hope we can keep in touch. It has been my pleasure to have worked with you all.

I will fondly look back on my time here at (company name). I am so thankful that you gave me this opportunity and it has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside all of you.

Many Kind Regards,

(Sign Here)

(Print Name)

Make sure your resignation letter is formatted properly. Use Arial font or Times New Roman with eleven or twelve for text size and spaced paragraphs.

What Not To Include

Now that we know what to include lets discuss what you should never put in your resume. You do not need to give your employer a full job description of your new role and why it is much better or higher-paid than where you currently work.

Also do not express any pessimism that suggests your spell with the corporation was disappointing, even if it has been. Ensure you do not suggest your reason for leaving was because of your co-workers, even if it was. Rather you could say that you have simply decided to move in another direction.

Just because you didn’t fit in or get along with your colleagues, is not reason enough to slate them to your manager. Remember that people often move in the same occupational circles, you never know who your new manager could bump into from your old job. However, it is a delicate balance, by being overtly positive you could come across as disingenuous.

Ask someone you trust to proofread your resignation to check for mistakes and grammar, you don’t want to make any embarrassing mistakes with a letter that can remain on your employment record for life. Never ridicule or patronize the company or the services it provides. Suggesting you are moving on to bigger and better things won’t be taken well.

 

Be Prepared

You could also receive a counter offer in terms of your notice period. You should also be ready for what could be a negative response, having to hire for a position when you took the time to train a staff member can be stressful. That being said most companies will be supportive of your decision and wish you well.

The corporation could potentially come back to you with a range of options. Your manager might entreaty that you work a longer notice period, depending on your circumstances you may be open to this to help out so they can hire someone new.

They could also suggest that you take leave with immediate effect, if this happens you can ask for an explanation but be conscious that the organization must still reimburse you for your predetermined notice period.

Please Stay!

They may also offer you a new contract with a new position and a higher pay rate to stay. If you have made a significant impact at your company and your team doesn’t want to lose you, they will sometimes offer you a better deal. It will then be up to you to decide what the best for your career is.

Can I Have My Holiday Leave When I Am On My Notice Period?

Companies are within their rights to ask that you take your holiday leave for your notice period rather than them giving you it in the form of a pay-out. Most organizations will include a part like this in your contract.

Although, you can also suggest that you take a vacation instead of working your notice period but employers can refuse to grant you leave.

Garden Leave

Your employer could suggest you steer clear of the building during your notice period, either by working from home or not working at all and still receiving full pay. This could be because you may have a conflict of interest and you’ve been hired by the company’s competition or for security purposes.

Employees could be asked to take garden leave because they have been exposed to sensitive information, documentation or company secrets. Bankers and financial employees experience this situation more than most.

 

Other Things To Consider

Internal Resignation Letter

Your resignation letter will differ if your new role is an internal role. Even though you aren’t leaving your company, if you are transferring between teams and departments, you will still need to give a notice period for your current job.

You should check with your manager and ask if they need a formal resignation. Also, speak to HR to ensure that your company benefits will remain on-going and they don’t pay out your holidays to you.

You will still need to follow most of the steps of a standard resignation by including the job title and the date of your last day before your transfer. Once again, thank your manager and team members for the guidance, support and opportunities that have been afforded to you.

Even though you may be stepping up within the company you may still have to work with and see your soon-to-be ex-manager and coworkers. Therefore, if you are intending to leave you should probably discuss it with them first.

They may even offer to speak to the hiring manager on your behalf to explain why you would be such a great candidate for the role. Or they may look over your resume and cover letter for you and offer suggestions on how to improve it.

Transferring teams is always a little more awkward as you are definitely going to see and speak to these people again and in turn, they can easily contact your new manager consequently you should consider your move carefully.

Will I Still Get Sick Pay?

You will still be entitled to all the terms of your contract until the final day of your notice period. If sick pay and company insurance was a part of your employment conditions, it will remain so until you leave. Your holiday pay should also be paid out at the end of your contract.

Can I Still Be Dismissed If I Have Handed My Notice In?

As your contract conditions remain the same throughout your notice period you can still be dismissed and disciplined throughout your notice period. If you are causing disruption or your behavior warrants disciplinary action your employer can react in the same way they would if you weren’t leaving.

It is up to the employer as to whether or not dismissing you is worth it but remember that you will likely need them for a reference in the future, it is, therefore, best to resign gracefully.

Have You Signed A Contract?

You should also ensure that you have a formal job offer in writing from your new manager before handing in your notice in case your new employment falls through.

Don’t jump the gun and quit your stable working conditions for an ambiguous offer that is yet to make it to writing. Verbal offers aren’t binding, and you don’t want to place yourself in the embarrassing position where you resign and then have to ask for your job back.

When To Hand It Over?

You should ask to meet with your manager for a one on one to hand over your resignation letter, you can then email them a copy later if they need a digital version for HR.

If they haven’t been forewarned you want to make it as comfortable as possible when you do hand your notice in. Never hand your letter in when you are amongst a crowd or in a meeting with others, you can’t be sure of the reaction it may evoke.

Be Careful While Notifying Your Colleagues

Your manager might inform your coworkers in your next team meeting that you are leaving but consider sending them an email yourself.

You might want to send a goodbye message since your letter will only be seen by Human Resources and your manager. Making an effort with your colleagues before you leave will be respected and you will be signing off on a positive note.

I No Longer Want To Resign

It happens! If you have had a sudden change of heart or your new offer falls through you may wish to detract your resignation. It will be at your employer’s discretion if they choose to allow you to keep your job.

In reality, it depends on the situation of your departure and if they have begun the hiring process which comes with financial costs. Some companies prepare for this rare eventuality with a cooling-off period before they begin to look for someone new, this is usually the case if the resignation was sudden.

 

You Can Always Ask

You can always refer to the human resources team if you need to know the best course of action when it comes to your resignation.

If you feel uncomfortable taking advice from those loyal to the company you could also visit a recruitment consultant who will be able to offer you advice with regard to the length of your notice period and what you should say in your letter.

If your employer takes your two weeks notice badly and dismisses you on the spot without good reason you can take legal action.

Particularly if you are refused pay for your notice period but you should always look at your contract and company policy before you hand in your notice.