Employee Benefits When Leaving Your Job

Employee Benefits When Leaving Your JobEmployee Benefits When Leaving Your JobEmployment-related benefits that you may be eligible for when you resign, get fired or get laid-off from your job. Heres information on unemployment, ?severance packages, giving notice, writing a resignation letter, health insurance, retirement plans, workers compensation, disability, references and mora resources for people who are changing jobs. Quitting Your Job Providing two weeks notice is customary. Even if your employer doesnt ask for notice, it is a good idea to offer it. Even though its not easy, it is best to tell your boss in person. Try to remain positive since you may need a reference in the future. In some cases, you will need to resign in writing. A well-written resignation letter can help you maintain a positive relationship with your old employer while paving the way for you to move on. Getting Fired Getting firedcan happen to the best of us. Sometimes theres a personality conflict. In other cases, the job can be difficult or there simply may not be a good match between you, the job and/or the company. Try not to take it personally. It doesnt mean that you are a failure. Rather, it means that you werent meant to be doing this job. Managing a Lay-Off Getting laid-offcan happen to the best of us also. As soon as you receive a pink slip, or if you know its coming, ask what benefits terminated employees are eligible for. Find out about unemployment insurance, health insurance, pension benefits and severance pay. In most cases, the company has no obligation to offer a severance package, however, depending on circumstances, a package may be offered. Employment Related Benefits Before you leave your job, you will need to know what benefits you are eligible for. You are entitled to receive some benefits by law. Your employer may opt to provide additional benefits other than those mandated by state or federal law. Ask about severance pay, accrued vacation, over time and sick pay, pension benefits, and eligibility for unemployment insurance. Request information on the continuance of health and life insurance benefits. If you have any questions on what is offered, check with your State Department of Labor for clarification. Unemployment Benefits Dont wait to file for unemployment. The sooner you file, the sooner you will start receiving checks. Look up the details on where to file for unemployment, how to file, what you need, eligibility requirements, disqualifications, extended benefits and more unemployment insurance information.Health Insurance (COBRA) Your employer, if the firm has over 20 employees, is mandated by law to offer health insurance coverage through Cobra to terminated employees for 18 months. You will need to pay for this coverage. In some cases, employers will pay for coverage for a limited time as part of a severance package. Health Insurance (Obamacare)The governments Health Insurance Marketplace provides individuals a wa y to shop for coverage on their own, to see how individual and family plan prices compare to COBRA and decide which option is the best for you.Pension Plans If you are enrolled in a 401(k), profit sharing or another type of defined contribution plan, your plan may provide for a lump sum distribution of your retirement money when you leave the company. If you are a participant in a defined benefit plan, your benefits will begin at retirement age. References Having good references can be the clincher that gets you that new job. Heres how to request references and how to write them. Dont wait to ask for a reference. Whether you have been laid-off or resign, ask while your employer still knows who you are. If you have been fired, you may be able to ask a colleague for a reference.Workers Compensation and Disability Insurance Are you unable to work because of an injury or illness? If so, you may be eligible to receive workers compensation or disability benefits.

Youve been thinking about awkwardness in the workplace all wrong

Youve been thinking about awkwardness in the workplace all wrongYouve been thinking about awkwardness in the workplace all wrongMelissa Dahl looks at the world through cringe colored glasses, but maybe that isnt such a bad thing. In her new bookCringeworthy A Theory of Awkwardness,The Science of Us editor explores the thing we all hate to think about. And being awkward in the workplace is just a part of life.Heck one of the most popular television series of all timesThe Office(lets count both the British version and the American one), focused mainly on those unavoidable, daily excruciating occurrences that you face when you are a working person in an office.Awkwardness feels pervasive. It is a feeling that comes up often, Dahl told The Ladders. Its something everybody feels at least once in a while or for me its like once an hour so that welches why I was drawn to write the book. Its also not very understood in scientific literature.Though she delves deep with experts into the painfu lness of weird workplace interactions, making presentations, and those dreaded silences, the point that seemed to keep being emphasized was that being awkward and uncomfortable doesnt necessarily have to be a negative thing. In some instances, it can actually be used to your advantage.The power of the awkward silenceWhen there is a lull in the conversation during an interview, or when your boss asks for feedback and the full room of people is absolutely silent many of us go into full panic mode. The awkward silence is one of the most dreaded moments for some. But you may just feel this way because you are simply approaching it wrong, according to Dahl.In a salary negotiation, you can actually use silence as a power play as she explains in the bookPerhaps we fill the uncertainty of an awkward silence with our own imaginations, guessing what the stopp might be causing the other person to think, and especially what they might be thinking about us A negotiation will automatically throw you into this mode of thinking, because its one of the few scenarios in life in which you have to explicitly say, This is what I think Im worth. Do you agree?But if you go into a negotiation prepared and with a number in mind and then use the awkward silence technique, you are playing ball. Dahl interviewed Katie Donovan, founder of the consultancy firm Equal Pay Negotiation, who said after they give you a number say, Thank you for the offer. Im a little surprised about the salary though, followed by SILENCE. The Im surprised by that pause is a lethal combination. During this pause, Donovan explains, the hiring manager is likely trying to work out serious you are and how much more to offer. You want to make them squirm. If youve done the work and you know what you are talking about it is worth taking on the risk, Dahl told The Ladders.One of the other ways to use the awkward silence is to give yourself time to think. Why do we always rush to say everything? Embrace your inner sloth and let yourself compose what you want to say. Dahl recalls interviewing author Bren Brown and how for each question she would take several seconds before answering. Silence doesnt have to feel confrontational to be effective, writes Dahl.Get out of the awkward vortexEven the most confident of people have experienced that moment where you hone in on something you think you are doing with your mannerisms, the way you talk or even the way you walk.And if you are giving a presentation of some sort or having an important work conversation, she writes that the chance of this increasesI would sometimes get so self-conscious when presenting that it was like part of me had split off from my physical body and was seated with the rest of the editors, most of whom were at least two decades older than me.She describes how the phantom version of herself was watching her actual self give the presentation now because she was so self-conscious. On any given day there are probably at least three ph antom people floating around your office staring at their bodies talk. Dahl says try to make it a goal to think beforehand about what you want to get across in this conversation or take away from it.When you are spiraling into the awkwardness vortex try to think about the bigger picture. Dont think about how you are holding your hands or if you sat down weirdly, she told Ladders.The work friendship paradigmThough many studies show that having friends at work can help you be a better employee overall, they are still different and more complex than a purely personal relationship. People sometimes feel obligated to be social even when they may not actually care to be friends with this person. Dahl cites a 2015 paper that identifies multiplex relationships which analyzes the ambivalence of workplace friendships. When you have to play multiple roles it can get really hard, Dahl told Ladders.She writes inCringeworthy A Theory of Awkwardnessthat being as straightforward as possible in thes e situations is also important and that doesnt have to mean being cruelYou can blame work, saying that youre too busy to listen to them complain or to do their work or to meet up for drinks after work. fruchtwein people will get the hint after you do this for a few times.We spend much of our time at work which means inevitably just like in life, its gonna get awkward. As Dahl says, being human is exhausting and embarrassing. There will be some cringeworthy moments that will haunt you but try to think of the bigger picture.Try to put yourself in a wider context. This is not the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to someone. Dont just tell yourself its not that bad, but rather think about how youre not special. Everyone has these moments, Dahl said.Its the opposite of the advice we learned on Sesame Street but when it comes to cringeworthy moments, it is most comforting.

What Is Your Resume Missing You.

What Is Your Resume Missing You.What Is Your Resume Missing You.Early in my career as a magazine journalist, I wanted to land a position as an editor at a local magazine. So instead of rattling off my skills and past work experience (which, to be honest, were slim to none at that point), I wrote a story. I didnt even bother sending a resume. I figured my application would be either tossed in the trash or filed away.I got a call two days later from the magazines editor to come in for an interview. I was hired on the spot.In an effort to appear as qualified as possible, job seekers are loading their resumes with skill sets and work accolades. They are cramming that 8 x 11 inch paper with everything but the kitchen sink- and an accurate representation of themselves. But with overburdened hiring managers scanning hundreds of resumes on a weekly basis, you need something to help you stand out from the other possible candidates.That something is you.Think of your resume as the professiona l story of your life. So dont make it sound mechanical as so many resumes do. Instead, speak about yourself in the first person dont be afraid to use the word I. Include parts of your personality in the resume, like the fact that youve taken pottery classes if youre applying to work in a design firm. You should also write in full sentences, not fragments. And skip overly used adjectives, like results-oriented and multi-tasker. On a resume, everyone is a results-oriented multi-tasker.After you revamp your resume, read it over. Imagine youre a potential boss reading your resume for the first time. If after reading your resume you would want to call the candidate in for an interview, then youve done a good jobPersonalizing your resume doesnt mean that you have to forgo the traditional resume style. By accenting parts of your resume with your personality, youre sure to shine a light on your skills, and make yourself a candidate that hiring managers will want to meet.Readers, what does y our resume look like? Is it a traditional one, or have you added personality to it? How so? Let us know in the comments section below

A peek inside Googles new Tel Aviv offices

A peek inside Googles new Tel Aviv officesA peek inside Googles new Tel Aviv officesGoogle is famous for its beautiful offices designed for maximum comfort for its employees. Their new Tel Aviv offices are not an exception.In early 2013 Google opened its new office in Tel Aviv, Israel. They rent seven floors of a luxury Electra Tower in the center of a city. It is about 86,000 square feet (8,000 square meters). The office is used for sales, marketing, and engineering with overall 250 employees.These beautiful offices were designed by swiss design studio Camenzind Evolution in cooperation with Setter Architects and Studio Yaron Tal. Google has worked with Camenzind Evolution in the past, so they were most likely satisfied with their outputs.Camenzind Evolution idea was to define every single floor with a different theme. They came up with Culture Heritage, Friends Family, Joy Optimism, Energy Vitality, Innovation Hospitality, Dream Delight and Humor Fun.You can find here trees , picnic tables, surfboards and all kinds of other crazy, but beautiful design. You can see a clear separation between desk-based zones and creative zones. Desk-based zones are here for employees to get the work done. Creative zones are used for brainstorming and other creative tasks.The Google Tel Aviv offices have also received LEED Gold certification, which means that its scored the highest score for its environmentally friendly construction. These offices are made with highly renewable materials, certified wood and efficient energy performance.source officesnapshots, businessinsider and gizmag.comDo you like this story? Share it with your friends.Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments

The Advantages of How to Make a Line in Word for Resume

The Advantages of How to Make a Line in Word for Resume The ideal thing is that you will be in a fleck to compose all of your content in the resume, without cramping it Any resume template word you pick is a sensible distribution of your professional and individual experiences created to maximize the impacts of the page to highlight your finest traits. If it is time to put everything together, you will be in a position to swiftly highlight your strengths here. Many times theres a unique format which is required and if you dont refer to resume examples then you may bedrngnislage know that requirement in any respect. The Fundamentals of How to Make a Line in Word for Resume That You Can Learn From Starting Today If you wish to delete a rest, youll first need to reveal the breaks in your document. And overall, it simply makes the entire document less overwhelming. Just be sure you open up your saved PDF and do a fast check to be certain it looks the way that you want it to befor e you send. These options could possibly be useful once you will need to initiate a new section on an even or odd page (for instance, a new chapter of a book). Also, without a message connected to the email, the employer isnt going to understand why youre sending the resume to her or him. Because so much of the work search procedure is online, you will need to be ready to design a resume which works for the internet, how to send resumes as emails and email attachments, and the way to upload your resume to different job search websites and company websites. There was a time every time a proper Resume meant a review of the academic achievements. If thats the case, dont be concerned about what it appears like, because it is going to be consistent with the other resumes in the database. A strong cover letter is able to make your application stick out from the crowd. In that circumstance, its more important to adhere to the instructions on the work listing. In this way, youll hav e a version on your computer its possible to use and edit even if youre not online. The sound system was a good deal better than the venue from the former night, in addition to the lighting. If you neglect to set a subject line, youre giving the recipient an opportunity to assume your letter. Taking a few hours to genuinely clean up your resume is well worth doing before you begin a work search, or even just once a year for a tune-up. There is definitely a time and a location for a resume overhaul. From time to time, you merely have a couple of minutes, and you would like to spend them giving your resume a fast polishing-up. While it may look tedious, you always need to customize each letter to fit the particular job for which youre applying. Thus it is simply natural that the applicant should also have the capacity to send the ideal signals during the interview itself. Its clear from the work description which you wish to employ a versatile candidate who can manage the many f acets of the position. The work description for any specific position gives you a clue as to whats important to the employer. Just concentrate on the experience gained at the occupations youve had. Inside this document, you will write down your abilities and experiences which are linked to the targeted job that could lead the enterprise to call you for an interview. Thus it is crucial for any candidate gearing up for his dream job to experience a couple of content that are already offered. An interview to additional review your wants and my skills would be mutually beneficial. The Death of How to Make a Line in Word for Resume Keep practicing, youll receive there. Work on developing a digital portfolio today and stick to the steps within this guide every time you stumble across a new remote position that you want to apply for. If you wish to easily add and manage lines and borders, below are some steps you may take. And well discuss three means of doing that. The Foolproof How to Make a Line in Word for Resume Strategy Moreover, theres difference in the formatting options which come along. At times, you select a color palette since you require it to work with colorblind folks. Scroll through all available alternatives to choose the line design that you wish to incorporate in your word file. Its possible to pick one of these alternatives and change the styling of the line. Its well worth mentioning here that manual line breaks are merely formatting marks, and theyre not visible in the document. The line is going to be inserted in the term file in the area you had the cursor. Scroll through the options and pick out the desired line. Click OK to bring the line to the present document.

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Resume Writing Specialist Memphis Tn and What You Should Do Different

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Resume Writing Specialist Memphis Tn and What You Should Do Different Writing in complete sentences will make you be descriptive. Below you will discover a couple of lists on all the very best rated resume writing services we could find. You will also find info about when to use distinctive letters. It will steer you through each step of the resume writing processing. The Debate Over Resume Writing Specialist Memphis Tn Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that will allow you to get your fantasy job. One of the most difficult parts of hunting for employment isnt the looking part. Find out which tennessee tech has to provide you. Getting the Best Resume Writing Specialist Memphis Tn Vanderbilt Resumes might be based a bit away, but it doesnt signify theyre not prepared to work with you thanks to the magic of this thing known as the Internet. Be aya the most crucial things are listed first. To begin with, d ont forget that theres nobody approach to compose a resume. This can set your project into the manufacturing queue In just a couple hours, the organization contacted me, and asked just a couple more details. Rush orders are readily available. Your Job Search Goals We will understand your work search goals ahead of the building of your resume. Webtech provides the MOST AFFORDABLE Resume Writing Service thats GUARANTEED to satisfy every customer, get the job which you desire and boost your salary Remember that the more specifically it is possible to tailor your resume and cover letter to deal with the needs of the position, the better your odds of earning an interview. We understand how to target and structure a resume for certain jobs or numerous varieties of positions. You have to tailor each resume for every single position which you are applying for. Every one of these positions will require a different resume since they require different skill sets.

The Nuiances of Healthcare Resume Examples

The Nuiances of Healthcare Resume Examples Simply take a look at these CNS resume summary statements in order to acquire a clearer idea of the way to write one. No matter the case, the last outcome of yur resume ought to be professional, useful and productive. Show hiring managers how great youre by utilizing action words that cause you to appear to be a superhero. There are lots of factors to the work search. Vital Pieces of Healthcare Resume Examples The employer knows the value of such understanding, so before going to yur interview, be sure that you supply yourself with the very important information regarding client care. You are going to want to have a mixture of healthcare and nursing certain skills together with some general skills to prove that youre a well-rounded employee. Your resume should discuss the way the practical wisdom and hands-on training you received allow you to present excellent patient care. The One Thing to Do for Healthcare Resume Examples Shou ld you need some suggestions on how to craft the ideal healthcare resume for your specific field, have a look at our samples and the accompanying writing guides. If youre not certain how to phrase your skills, or in case you desire examples of objective statements, check out some job websites for ideas. If youve got the history and expertise to back this up, the combination approach is a bright selection. No matter your degree of job practical experience, your resume format is crucial to making your program stick out. The Tried and True Method for Healthcare Resume Examples in Step by Step Detail Theres no question a career in healthcare can be an extremely rewarding one, but the practice of searching for new work isnt always so rewarding or enjoyable. Keep the work description in mind since you do so. The expert summary is a rather important portion of your resume. Bear in mind that your resume is the very first step to a possible job so its crucial in order for it to be pe rfect in every manner. Without a fantastic healthcare resume, it can be hugely hard to land the job that you desire. Medical facilities may get chaotic if staff arent careful. There are a lot of tried and true CNA job searching sites that are particular to CNAs which can help you find local opportunities. Your connections might help you with job leads or offer you insight into the local job marketplace. If you consider sample resumes online, you will observe dozens of distinct formats and resume templates. Just replace demo examples with your real info, and youre prepared to submit an application for a new job. If you submit your application online, its also advisable to have a chance to attach your resume. If youre searching to customize professional, pre-formatted resumes, take a look at our absolutely free downloadable templates. The Dos and Donts of Healthcare Resume Examples Your possible employer automatically knows that youll be kind and compassionate simply becaus e youre a nurse. On the flip side, if youre a therapist, the responsibilities are same. For instance, if you need your healthcare resume to secure you considered for a managerial position, then youll want the proper sort of training alongside experience for a shift coordinator. You will need to be somewhat proactive. Youre able to download and edit based on your experience and abilities. Listing the skills is likewise very important. Youre able to organize your abilities and experience chronologically, functionally or as a mixture of the two. Healthcare Resume Examples Features If you discover an open position that asks for you to complete an application, be certain to discover an email address to send along your resume also. Make certain that you have organized your information in the appropriate purchase. Again, although the info might seem repetitive, go right ahead and attach the resume. Failing to incorporate the appropriate information could lead to your applicat ion being rejected. If you would like to become a Certified Nursing Assistant, then youll need to complete a state-approved education program. Communication skills are very critical in your CNA resume. If youve just finished your CNA Program and are searching for a job to begin, here are a couple quick links that may assist you in writing a successful resume and writing your first resume as a CNA. Now you have read about the way to create a CNA Resume, take a look at a professionally made resume thats been tested in the specialty. Top Healthcare Resume Examples Choices Include hobbies associated with the job youre applying for. Resumes ought to be regularly improved, personalized and edited as a means to suit the needs of the work seeker. Read the work description again to be certain you use the employers key words. Be certain to include quantifiable information to actually drive home how valuable you can be to a prospective employer. Healthcare Resume Examples Can Be F un for Everyone Even though the demand for CNAs is growing, you need to get a competitive advantage, particularly for the best jobs. Lets break down the basic elements of the resume and the way you should approach them. One other great thing about the health care business is that youre always in demand for those who have an accomplished healthcare resume. Possessing an extremely clear and expert job application is important in the health medical care field.

5 Career Lessons from the Theatre

5 Career Lessons from the Theatre5 Career Lessons from the TheatreI recently attended a Bay Area Girl Geek Dinner, an event put on for the dual purposes of connecting female employees with San Francisco Bay Area companies and encouraging networking within the female tech community. One of the speakers, a vice president from a telecommunications company, began her speech describing the trajectory of her professional life. She started college as a musical theatre major before heading to law school and settling into a career in marketing. She highlighted the atypical start to her career by belting out the beginning lines to the musical Sweet Charity. (The minute you walked in the joint, I could see you were a man of distinction, a real big spender)Having myself performed in musical theatre while in high school and college (including a stint as a Sweet Charity dance hall hostess), I felt an instant kinship. I listened to her presentation, which was delivered with the unbridled exuberance of a true stage performance, and it made me reflect on the ways that participating in musical theatre is like professional life.1. The audition process, like a job vorstellungsgesprch, is your chance to shine. An audition is basically an interview an opportunity to demonstrate your skills for the purpose of being selected for a coveted role. Some aspects of the audition process require preparation. Other parts test your ability to think on your feet. Either way you must stay calm, persevere through the stress and do your best to impress those judging your talent.2. You have to gracefully accept rejection. Following auditions there is always this moment when you approach a posted cast list or receive a phone call from a member of the selection committee. With bated breath you await the results. Sometimes you get the role. Sometimes you dont. Through the disappointment you have to find a way to express your gratitude for the opportunity and communicate a continuing interest in workin g together in the future. Grace in the face of rejection is a lesson with many applications3. The theatre world reinforces the importance of working as a team. Any performance requires the full attention and hard work of multiple teams, including actors and dancers, stage crew, musicians, technicians and front-of-the-house workers. Failure to collaborate leads to a disjointed experience for the audience. Whether in theatre or in the context of a company, working together as a team is the key to flawless execution and customer satisfaction. Moreover, everyone should be respected as a vital contributor to the effort. Prima donnas are never fun to work with- be it in the theatre or the professional sector.4. Everything must be ready by opening night. There are always moments in the weeks leading up to opening night where everything seems to go wrong and you think, How is this possibly going to come together in time? And yet everything does somehow magically come together on opening nig ht. The magic, of course, comes from hard work and lots of practice. Opening night in theatre is the ultimate product launch date. Delaying the product launch is simply not an option. Its a deadline that everyone must respect.5. Never stop, even if you make a mistake. There is a famous show geschftlicher umgang saying The show must go on. Regardless of what may go wrong during a live performance, everyone must maintain their composure, ignore the disturbance and continue as rehearsed. If you blank out during a performance, you should improvise until you are able to pick back up. I remember a choreographer once telling my troupe, If you forget the steps, you should keep moving because most of the time nobody will notice. But the minute you stop, youll draw attention and thats when youll have a problem. If you stumble, whether its during an interview or presentation, keep your wits about you and maintain momentum (even if you have to fake it) until youre able to recover.Ive focused on the conceptual similarities between theatre and the working world, and I think Shakespeare was right All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players. However, even if you may not have sang, danced or acted on stage as a child, you can still benefit from elements of the performance arts in your career. You can learn to think on your feet, be a better public speaker, and become more aware of how you are communicating via facial expressions and body movements. Getting involved in the theatre world by taking classes or participating in live performance groups can have great impact on your professional skills. In fact, research shows that arts and music training can benefit ones career.

5 Ways to Come Out From Under the Cloud of Underemployment

5 Ways to Come Out From Under the Cloud of Underemployment 5 Ways to Come Out From Under the Cloud of Underemployment Underemployment is an epidemic in America. For many workers today, it feels like a punishment to receive such low pay after all the money and time poured into their educations. I dont even think underemployment welches a word in nineteen-eighty-whenever-that-was. Now, youre handed an umbrella too small to cover your arms from the storm.I had my own period of underemployment, and though it was partially my fault, no one told me how much damage it would do to my self-esteem. I used to tell my friends I wasnt working instead of telling the truth. It was easier.In a recent PayScale survey, 46 percent of respondents said they believed they were underemployed. Of those respondents, 76 percent said they felt underemployed because they were not using their education or training. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not measure underemployment because of the difficulty of developing an objective set of criteria, it is safe to say that underemployment is a serious social challenge doing harm to our economy.If you see the dark clouds of underemployment gathering around you, its time to find shelter. Underemployment doesnt have to last especially if youre open to change1. Come Out Fromthe Rain of ComplacencyWhen it rains, most of us think sleep, television, or Netflix and chill. When youre underemployed, its like rain on your career and under the covers you go. Going to work simply to exist without looking ahead toward thriving is a good way to become underemployed.So-called professional development is often too comfortable. People are happy with the training, but they never face the application afterward. People who thrive in their careers step outside their comfort zones to develop skills and find new jobs.2. Find Shelter From the Storms of Personal DifficultiesPersonal tragedies and difficulties can obscure your focus. The strongest among us can buckle under the pressure of work, depression, or the loss of a loved one. Even coping with people who get undeserved promotions ahead of us can be difficult.We can all be resilient even when faced with emotional challenges that seem larger than they are. Friends are there if you let them be. I chose to let them in, and it motivated me to reach higher. You may have to allow friends to help where they can.3. Install Snow Tires to Plow Through the Blizzards of RejectionThe sting of rejection is the start of healing and progress. Too many of usbuild narratives around our emotions instead of gaining perspective on what they mean. Rejection can cloud your vision, but youdont have to feel hopeless for long. Knowing why youre getting rejected is the beginning of a new career perspective.I felt a ersatzdarsteller whammy when I was underemployed because it happened the same summer my girl broke off our relationship. The rejection became my incentive, and the sting eventually subsided.It he lps to feel useful immediately after being rejected. If itsskills you lack, volunteer work can help you shore upthose skills. Five to ten hours a week of honing a skill can help you achieve great things. Joining volunteer boards is a major plus in terms of gaining expertise and adding credibility to your personal brand. Blogging is still a compelling and relevant way to add layers of credibility to your brand while finding the right opportunity.4.Career Development Can Ward Off Dark Clouds on the HorizonIf you wait too long, you will lose steam and find yourself behind on your journey. Training is kind of like dog years People who leverage new opportunities to learn can do in one year what takes seven years for those who ignore development.Part of thinking critically is anticipating what could go right or wrong. Its a learning process, but once you can see the storms coming, you can reconfigure your actions. You cant close your eyes andhope for the best. It takes a little more criti cal thinking in todays job market.5. Prepare for Cloudy DaysRelying solely on job boards can be discouraging and counterproductive. You can be proud of clicking the submit button many times, but the wait is terrible. Even job leads from your network arent always the most reliable. The uncertainty of trying to advance in your career can be unbearable.You dont need to only prepare professionally for the job search. You also need to prepare mentally for the periods when your career seems to be slumping.Sometimes, nothing will happen. It mayfeel like your actions are futile. There are little things you can do to make a difference. Can you add more career highlights to your LinkedIn profile? Are there career books you can read? Can you serve a family member or spouse? Is there someone you can help with a lead, referral, or recommendation?For some people, underemployment is something they do tothemselves. If theyre satisfied with that, its okay. Just as some people love walking in the rai n, others would prefer to accept positions that give them peace of mind, no work to take home, and, perhaps, the chance to do something they enjoy.But not everyone does. If youre one of those people, start taking these five steps today to get out from under the cloud of underemployment.Mark Anthony Dyson is a career consultant, the host and producer of The Voice of Job Seekers podcast, and the founder of the blog by the same name.