Whether you are leaving the organization voluntarily or have been asked to do so, you need to serve your notice period, which is a policy that every company follows. It begins with your resignation and these last few days in the job reveal your true self to your bosses and other employees as you are no longer trying to please them. Don't consider it as a relaxing time in the organization, because it actually is a period where you can wrap up all of your pending responsibilities, and try to maintain good relations with your colleagues since you are only going to leave the organization, not the industry. Instead of holding any grudges against your colleagues, try to avoid burning the bridge, since you never know who you will meet again. Therefore, you should always end it on a very professional note because your notice period is only the last impression your employer will hold.

After I Quit !

Here is a ' List of Things ' to do while serving the " Notice Period " :-

First things first

1. First things first :

Your boss should be the first person to know before others, even if you had a hard time coping with him. This gives him the time to make necessary decisions and make arrangements to fill your position. Also, one thing that is important for you to remember is that you will need his recommendation letter at the end. So, showing your anger or frustration at this time is not a good idea. Hence, it is always a good thing to talk to your boss in a positive way.

Rapport With Colleagues

2. Continue being professional and work like you used to:

You should instead build rapport with other colleagues too. Preserve a good relationship to obtain references instead of engaging  in conflicts. Don't screw up by doing stupid things and damage your reputation. Get connected with the colleagues on the social platform like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc to be in touch later.

Collection of Documents

 3. Start preparing documentation if you have less time left:

Make sure you collect all documents like clearance, and no dues certificate from the concerned departments for future use. Let the HR and payroll head know about your notice period so that they get enough time to work on your full and final settlement. Make sure you collect records of documents like payslips, certificates of appreciation (if any), etc.

Handover the Things

4. Completing pending work and handover of things :

Handover company equipment, and pass on critical information that might be needed by the organization for use in the future. For Example : important passwords and username, company data, contact numbers, stamps, identity card etc. Complete all the pending work allotted to you before leaving. If done properly, you will be viewed as a responsible person.

Effective utilization of time

5. Effective utilization of time : 

You might have a job offer in your hand or are leaving your current employment  for further studies but  you really need to use your spare time to try and get something better at what you are lacking for a particular profession. If you don't have an offer for a job and need one, you should use most of your free time for job search. Also, if your interview time clashes with your working hours, you can request your boss to give you few hours off from work. Try to take references from colleagues, HR, friends, or relatives to appear for interviews. Use this time to enhance or upgrade your skills.

Loosing focus, being unpunctual, holding grudges, ignoring your colleagues or bosses, leaving incomplete work, etc. are the things that you should never do while you are on a notice period because  these things affect your professionalism at work. Take a moment to thank personally and say goodbye to all. This will help in maintaining your professional network for a long time. Try to practice the above guidelines during your notice period and leave a positive mark.

As the year is coming to an end, many corporate companies are buzzing with the word 'appraisal'. With major organizations and e-commerce firms reshuffling their employee structure to raise competency or opting for cost-cutting amidst a bleak job scenario, the much-awaited hike is looming in the dark. Although every company has its own criteria to evaluate employee performance and prepare an appraisal list, the basic fundamentals to determine this remain almost the same. Also, it is the time of the year when your colleagues or peers are considering changing jobs to try their luck for a bigger package. With so many things happening around, the mind is bound to go fuzzy with questions like 'What is the current industry value for my position?,' 'What are my future goals?' or 'Do I need to stick to current workplace or make a switch?.' Decluttering all these thoughts and seeking chance to prove your worth with an open mind can assist in securing a fair hike without job hopping this year. Here are ways in which you can become a prolific and important employee as well as get a raise in the current organization.

Steps That Could Secure a Good Salary Hike

5 Steps for a "Good Salary" hike are :

1. File your achievements :

Before you fix that appointment to discuss your impending hike with the boss, gather facts and figures. In this way, you will have strong reasons to prove that why you are worth of a hike in salary, and it also reflects your enthusiasm for the company's future. Maintaining a record of significant accomplishments avoids recency bias and the boss cannot refute hardwork you have put in to get those impressive results. You are trying to make an impact with the whole entity, so do your homework well.

2. Go beyond the KRAs :

Sticking to work ethics and concentrating only on tasks assigned to you could be a major reason for your pending pay hike. If you are a team player and the 'go-to' person amongst colleagues from different departments for the most trivial problems, it could be the deciding trait between a good and an average increment. Having attributes like flexibility, multi-tasking attitude and ability to become the right hand of your boss, he or she would definitely become dependable on such a trusted employee and would not want the person to leave the organization at any cost. If you are a reliable and trustworthy person, rests assured you will get your worth.

3. Become a solution finder :

While workplace challenges are normal and the client demands can be absurd, no boss would appreciate an employee who only talks about problems and impossibilities. If an employee is constantly making mistakes or demotivating others to find a solution, the boss wouldn't hesitate to show him/her the door. Imagining out of the box and thinking new solutions will make you a commendable employee and get you in the forefront for a salary hike. Employees with problem solving skills always have a favorable position in boss's mind.

4. Be in good books of the boss :

Staying committed to work and being punctual are small things but are definitely noticed. If you have been a consistent and an exceptional performer, but receive no particular comment from boss, chances are you are lacking in efforts. Determine where you are lagging and what is being expected. Understand your bonding with the boss and try to build a good rapport. You need not become a complete flatterer just to impress, but being on good terms with boss can go a long way in getting a promotion.

5. Assess and reinvent your skills :

Taking efforts to track your productivity levels not only helps the boss to understand the quality of efforts you are putting in but also assists to grow professionally. Constantly upgrading your skills and keeping abreast of the latest developments in your field will give you an upper hand over others and the company will take the right steps to retain you.

Employers keep an eye on employees who are investing time in their career by doing professional certifications without organizational support. Give hints to boss that you are ready to take new challenges. Know the rationale process and the percentage salary hike given in your office before setting up an appointment with the boss.

Interview preparation often involves building a strong resume, preparing for common interview questions, a thorough study of the company and its policies, etc. While all of these parameters play a critical role, there are some other factors such as  'positive body language' that has got a significant role to play since the things that you say in an interview only partially elicit your thoughts. How you carried yourself out during the interview will also have a say in your selection. So it is important that candidates discern its importance and develop it into a habit.

Body Language Disasters Job Seekers Make During an Interview

5 Body Language Disasters Job Seekers Make During an Interview are :

1. No eye contact: 

Maintaining eye contact with the interviewers is critical. Most of the candidates don't take it seriously and make the mistake of not maintaining the eye contact. The reason why it is important is that maintaining eye contact is an effective way of showing interest to what the person in front of you is saying, and is certainly a good way of addressing what you say to the concerned person. So not following the protocol might give the person an intuitive feeling that either you are disinterested in having the conversation, or you lack the right etiquette. Therefore, in an interview, it can be disastrous for a candidate, and hence, they must acknowledge its importance and develop the habit of maintaining eye contact even while having causal conversations with friends or family members.

2. Appearing fidgety: 

Being nervous before or during the interview is natural but make sure that you don't succumb to the nervousness because you won't be able to perform well. Appearing anxious can trigger actions such as fiddling with fingers, biting nails, slouching in the chair, etc. fiddling with the fingers is an indication that you are bored by the conversation, biting nails imply that you are extremely nervous and not having a proper posture while sitting in front of the recruiters fails to create a positive impression. All these actions can put you in jeopardy as it implies that you need self-soothing and do not have control over your actions, thus sending a negative message to the recruiters.

3. Excessive gestures: 

Most of the time we tend to use hand gestures while talking, or in some cases, we observe people performing moves during the conversation. While it can be helpful in certain situation but excessive use of those gestures can be detrimental as it indicates that you don't have proper control over your thoughts as well as actions. So it is important that you avoid doing them by starting to observe great speakers and their body language when they meet other people.

4. Not smiling: 

A smile brings warmth and fills the entire environment with positive energy. It puts the job seeker and the interviewer at ease in a tensed atmosphere. It is also observed that when the interviewers are met with a smile, it makes them feel happier and encourages them to reciprocate the smile and is viewed as a sign of confidence. Smiling also encourages the recruiters to know you better and failing to keep a smile on your face might  portray you as a grim and distant personality, and they will be less inclined to know you or the candidate in front of them. However, a smile must be natural, timely and appropriate. So it is important that you greet the recruiters with a smile as soon as you enter the room.

5. Sounding weird:

Now this might not classify as a body language but still most of the candidates appearing in front of the interview panel often have the habit of stammering or making a 'thinking sound' , something like ' ummm..' every time they find themselves in a state of confusion. It is important that candidates must understand the recruiters don't appreciate this at all and in fact, is something very annoying to hear. It also indicates your lack of confidence and inability to think vividly. So it is advisable to accept your lack of knowledge or understanding if you are not able to answer instead of making that poker face or a bizarre sound.

Succeeding in an interview requires a candidate to walk the extra mile while preparing for it. Nowadays, the abundance in the number of applicants has made the recruiters finicky while choosing the right one. Therefore, recruiters keenly observe the candidates based on hard as well as the soft skills. Hence, in order to pass the litmus test of the recruiters it is necessary that job applicants equip themselves with the right tools and adopt a progressive attitude.

Job-seekers may have a hard time searching jobs given the paucity of it and increasing competition. Recruiters these days usually look for candidates who have a good profile. But it is not the only criteria of selection, and a lot of other factors do play a part in the given process. Job-seekers have to be proactive in searching the right job and must adhere to a proper approach, with well drafted resumes, and having contacts with the right people has become equally important as it can garner you necessary information about the organization and help you in landing a job. But in doing so, it is necessary that you develop and maintain good contacts by tapping into all the mediums online as well as offline.

Social Media Can Increase Your Chances To Get Hired

1. Staying connected :

One of the most significant benefits that social media offers is 'connectivity'. It can help us to stay connected with people right from the school, high school, and college. Initially, these mediums were limited and hence maintaining contacts with everyone was not possible back then. So, being able to connect with your friends and alumni group is always a boon as it enables you to seek assistance in landing a job. And in case of a huge network of friends, it also provides options to create groups.

2. Developing professional connections :

Finding the right jobs is much easier with the help of social media. Reports by few of the leading media agencies suggest that traditional methods for searching jobs do not yield good results and the most efficient way of doing it is by developing and maintaining good contacts as it increases your chance of getting hired. As social media is an effective tool in doing so, you won't be going through the drudgery of searching a job as all the essential information can be availed by tapping your professional  network. In addition to that, there are platforms that can give you direct access to people belonging to different fraternities. So developing contacts with people you are unfamiliar with is simple, all you need is to register on any of the professional networks and get going. One of the most widely used networks is 'LinkedIn' which has millions of registered professionals and job-seekers. With LinkedIn, it is possible to connect and collaborate with people from professions across various corners of the world. Such platforms give them free access to many professionals who offer services on selecting career, career development and job search. So  these professional networks have opened new avenues for job-seekers and for people looking to catapult their career. So developing and maintaining new contacts can be beneficial as they can introduce you to people who work at companies you are interested in.

3. Personal branding :

We live in a world today where every thing that is sold in the market is advertised. So given the scale at which things are branded and marketed, marketing has developed into a full-fledged industry. Even people in the entertainment industry hire agencies that help them in building their own brand and assist them crafting their image. So given the importance of branding and its success, job-seekers must not take a backseat when it comes to personal branding and exploring ways in which they can market themselves and build their own brand. To start with, you can create your own website where the recruiters can have direct access to your profile and previous works. Having a website appears to be professional and building one doesn't take a huge effort. Other than that you can create a professional page on different platforms or maintain a blog.

4. Creating awareness :

Social media can be a good source of information, provided you use the right platform. Information on the recent developments in your industry and information on job openings can be easily obtained via social media. As there are millions of users worldwide, access to information across the globe is just a click away.

5. Seeking help :

Social media can be a good tool to seek help from individuals or your counterparts. There are Q&A platforms of professionals where queries regarding jobs and careers are answered by the people. It also provides you the avenue to seek professional advice from the experts who offer their services across such networks.

Social media is an effective tool that can be used by job-seekers. There are various networks where they can register and explore opportunities. Most studies as well as anecdotal evidence points out that being socially active and maintaining good contacts is beneficial for job-hunters and provides them an edge over individuals who do not follow that approach.

Career and career development are the most widely discussed and debated topics. People in the middle of their careers experience a blip as they find themselves in a maze where they are unaware of the direction in which their careers are heading. But every individual aspires his/her career to be progressive and certainly desires to achieve new heights. But due to lack of proper plan and management, most of them fail to achieve the said goals and all their plans remain fantasies instead of transpiring into realty. Therefore, it is critical to take necessary steps that can boost your career and help in the long-run.

Expand Your Network and Create Opportunities

1. Read: Reading is to the mind what food is to the body. When it comes to boosting career, reading can be an effective tool. It can help you in learning about the recent developments in your profession. Apart from that, reading articles on career development can get you good insights about the profession and various ways in which you can successfully evolve in your career. Besides, reading also helps in developing writing skills. It increases your exposure to words, and with that it can help you write exquisitely. In addition to that, it helps in enhancing your analytical skills as reading involves noting all the details in the given context and can certainly moot your response or point of view to the various nuances that you come across. Most of the individuals do not realize its potential, or have the habit of reading thereby suffering the consequences in their careers. So it is important to read different stuff that can help in enhancing knowledge related to your profession.

2. Invest in right relationships: Nurture the relationships that matter the most and give them proper time and always be available for them. Investing time in maintaining such relationships must not be viewed as a liability because the same people can turn out to be assets for you and your development. So identify your circle, places where they operate and figure out how they can provide you assistance in achieving the goals. Also invest in how to develop right networking methods.

3. Be socially active: Socializing is important in the professional sphere. In order to grow in a career, it is important to learn for which it is essential to give up “I- know-it- all” attitude, and start developing good relations with your colleagues. Developing connections with people can help you in unimaginable ways. They cannot only provide information, but also assist you in overcoming obstacles in your professional life. People can also be a good source of learning, So being around them and having extracurricular activities enables you to learn new things. Also attend social gatherings, seminars, and conferences where you get to know new people, their point of views, and a plethora of information that can be vital.

4. Actively participate on the social media: Using social media can be a boon as it enables you to be virtually connected with people across the world. It not only help you to be in touch with your friends and colleagues, but also to develop new contacts. Not only that, it can be a great learning and sharing experience as information can be exchanged at an enormous pace. With the development of professional networks such as LinkedIn, it is possible for people to connect and collaborate with people from their fraternity across various corners of the world. Such platforms give them free access to many professionals who offer services on selecting career and development. So  these professional networks have opened new avenues for job seekers looking to catapult their career.

5. Invest in a career coach: Staying focused and managing your time while working can be difficult. You might lose focus and momentum in achieving your career goals. So a mismanaged career can be detrimental in your quest for achieving success in your career. Hence, investing in a career coach can be a good option to boost your career as you will have a personal assistance who can provide you with tools and opportunities to stay focused in achieving your goals. The coach will also guide on drafting effective resume to get an interview call.

Developing your career is not an easy task and is time-consuming. You can't expect a turnaround with a wave of a magic wand. It requires the right plan and a pro-active approach along with a high level of dedication and discipline. Furthermore, it needs developing and maintaining strong networks, investing in improving yourself and capitalizing on opportunities. Professionals usually fail to achieve that feat in their careers as they lack in implementing requisite steps during the tenure of their work. So by adhering to the tips mentioned above you can successfully develop and expand your network in order to achieve the goal of career growth.