Candidates

Do you feel like you’re working more and harder than ever? It’s not just you; it’s everybody else too. 

A new Harvard Business Review study analyzed the emails and meetings of 3.1 million people in 16 global cities, and here’s what they found, we’re swamped:

• The average workday increased by 8.2 percent (or 48.5 minutes) during the pandemic.
• Employees sent 5.2 percent more emails a day.
• Emails had 2.9 more recipients.
• About 8.3 percent more emails were sent after business hours.
• People attended 13 percent more meetings. 
• The number of people invited to each meeting rose by 14 percent.
• Each meeting was 12 minutes (or 20 percent shorter) than average. 

A likely factor in the shrinking meeting time, video conferencing fatigue has long set in for many employees. Meeting in-person doesn’t seem as draining as staring at a screen of yourself. 

“There is a general sense that we never stop being in front of Zoom or interacting,” says Raffaella Sadun, a business administration professor in the HBS Strategy Unit. “It’s very taxing, to be honest.”

Sudan offers three pieces of advice to leaders of remote workspaces:

• Empathize with workers’ unique circumstances. Managers need to know what their employees are juggling to provide the right professional support.
• Focus on output, not hours. It’s virtually impossible to track how employees are using their time. Instead, managers should focus on the quality of their work.
• Expect vast differences in productivity across employees, for now. While some people find working from home energizing, many employees probably won’t be as effective as they would be under normal conditions.

You can find some helpful tips on how you can start your day on the right track and some signs if you are starting to feel work from home burnout.

It’s no secret the tech industry is booming. IT professionals with the right skill set are in high demand and will have plenty of opportunities in the current job market.

Here are some of the top-paying tech jobs for 2021 according to a recent salary report.

1. Big Data Engineer – Individuals who can transform large amounts of raw data into actionable information. Salary $166,500.
2. DevOps Engineer – DevOps engineer acts as a liaison between the various departments that contribute to software maintenance and creation with the purpose of making faster updates and writing code that is easy to update and access. Salary $120,000.
3. Information Systems Security Manager – Now more than ever, employers need skilled IT security professionals to help keep sensitive data and systems safe. Salary $149,000.
4. Mobile Applications Developer – IT pros who develop applications for popular platforms. Salary $135, 750.
5. Applications Architect – Responsible for creating blueprints to map out how all the applications used by a business will work together. Salary $144,500.
6. Data Architect – Data architects are senior visionaries who translate business requirements into technical requirements and define data standards and principles. Salary $145,500.
7. Database Manager – Database managers maintain and support a firm’s database environment, helping companies use data more strategically to meet their business goals. Salary $137,500.
8. Data Security Analyst – Data security analysts work to protect a business’s computer systems and networks. They are often the only individuals standing between hackers and a company’s networks, and their talents are in great demand at this moment. Salary $134,000.
9. Data Scientist – IT professionals who use their knowledge of statistics and modeling to make sense of complex data from various sources. Salary $129,000.
10. Network/Cloud Architect – Experts in networking and cloud hardware, and software, as they are responsible for the execution, design, upkeep, and day-to-day support of network and cloud services. Salary $146,000.

*salaries listed are the median national salary.

As the new year rolls in it’s a great time to give your career some consideration to make sure you are future-proofing your skillset. Talk to one of our tenured recruiters to find out what opportunities are available to you in the new year.

 

Entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga once said, “Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.”

A productive day begins with a purposeful morning. There’s a lot of science to back your morning routine and the power to set your day on a positive, productive course. 

In a commencement address Steve Jobs gave at Stanford back in 2005, he shared the motivational tactic he used to start every day.

For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Admittedly, everyone’s situation is different, and each day is unique, so the goal isn’t to develop a script that’s confining or overly rigid. Instead, step back and ask yourself if your mornings are working for you and if not, consider adopting some of these healthy morning habits.

Habit #1 – Wake up Early

While most of us are reaching for the snooze button, top achievers are getting a head start on the day. Start your morning with purpose. To begin, try waking up 15 minutes earlier and spend that time reflecting. For some, that means meditation or journaling. Give yourself that extra time to avoid starting your day rushed and under stress. 

Habit #2 – Practice Gratitude

Since you’ve got that journal out, jot down a few things you are grateful for. If journaling isn’t your thing, there are many ways to practice gratitude. Send a thank-you email, repeat an inspirational message, or count three good things each day. 

Science has shown that practicing this habit promotes positive emotions, well-being, and health. 

Habit #3 – Exercise

There’s a long list of benefits to exercise that improve not only your health but also your work performance; improved concentration, a sharper memory, prolonged mental stamina, enhanced creativity, and lowered stress. 

Make time for exercise. Your energy level is the foundation that determines how much you can get done in the day, so get moving in the morning. If an hour-long routine seems too intimidating, try running, dancing in your living room, or even walking around the neighborhood for at least ten minutes.

Habit #4 – Tough Tasks First

It is a concept suggested by Brian Tracy, author of the book Eat That Frog.

In the morning, our motivation and focus are at the highest point. So, this is the best time to take advantage of it – do your most challenging task, your “frog,” first. This way, you’re more likely to complete it, and it sets the tone for the rest of the day. 

Instead of opening your laptop while still in your pajamas, try out some of these routines first. They may just become part of your morning routine.  

A tenured recruiter can give you sound career advice and use their network for job leads for openings that may not even be on public job boards. To get the most out of working with a recruiter, you also need to play an active role.

Here’s some advice that we’ve learned in the more than two decades of experience working with candidates on how to make that relationship reach its full potential:

Be Transparent 

The more transparent you are at the start, the higher the potential to build trust, and it sets the tone for the relationship.

Are you seeking temporary assignments or a full-time role? Being clear about your career goals is the only way a staffing professional can do the best possible job for you.

Be open about your skillset, your salary history and expectations, and why you left past roles.

Be Specific

“I’ll move anywhere for a job!” Do you mean that? Be specific with your recruiter; let them know if you’ll only work in a particular area, geographically or industry-wise.

Utilizing our AI tool, we can tell you how many jobs are available in the area of expertise you have as well as the location you desire to live.

If you want to dive deeper, we can let you know who’s hiring and how your skills and experience compare to other candidates in the area.

Speaking of Money 

Please don’t be shy about it. A recruiter can fully help you reach your career goals if they understand your salary expectations and history.

Perhaps you’re entering a new field or are unsure about your salary expectations, let us be a resource for you. Applying our AI tool, we can help benchmark your compensation.

Play Your Part

A recruiter can help streamline your job search, but you’ll also need to play your part. We’ll happily go over your resume with you, help you prepare for the interviews, and be there through the entire process.

It would be best to stay open to objective feedback about your chances of landing the position, whether or not you have the right skills, or make a good culture fit.

Stay in Touch

If you’ve built a strong relationship, the guidance doesn’t stop once you’ve landed the assignment especially during the transition period of getting to know your new role. Let your recruiter know how you are doing and what’s working and what’s not.

We are data-driven and technology-focused but never lose sight of the fact that it’s people who make us all a success.

Ready to take the step? Speak with an INNOVA Recruiter today! 

 

 

 

You get to be in comfy clothes all day. Your commute is now down to the time it takes to walk to your home office. You are saving money on all those lunches made at home instead of eating out. Not to mention the flexibility of being able to sneak in a few house chores while on a conference call.

Working from home can have tremendous benefits. But this short-term solution is turning into a long-term reality for many. Sixty-two percent of the employed US adults are working part or full time from home. At the same time, three in five workers who have been working from home during the pandemic would prefer to continue to work remotely as much as possible as officials lift public health restrictions.

At the same time, work from home burnout is also rising; more than two-thirds of employees experience burnout symptoms. While we’ve discussed how it’s pretty normal to feel stressed right now, burnout can lead to a lack of productivity and affects your health.

Work from home stress happens when you can’t separate home life and work life. When you face elevated stress levels over a long period, it can affect both your mental and physical health.

Some burnout signs:

• Inability to focus
• Missing deadlines
• Mood changes like irritability, sadness, or anger
• Experiencing symptoms of depression, like hopelessness, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, or fatigue
• Feeling discouraged or apathetic about work
• Getting poor sleep, experiencing insomnia, or having trouble falling asleep.

Here are some work from home burnout contributors:

• Missing co-workers
• Feel the need to always be on
• Have back to back meetings
• ‘Zoom’ fatigue

Ways to avoid burnout:

• Pay attention to how your body feels
• Change your working conditions – take scheduled breaks
• Focus on what you can control – what you eat, how much you exercise, and getting enough sleep
• Check-in with your boss and co-workers.

Overcoming burnout may require more than a long weekend, but be kind to yourself and talk about what you are going through with friends and co-workers; chances are you’ll find that you’re not alone.

High-five, the salary negotiations are over, and you’ve formally accepted a new job offer. Now there’s only one thing standing in the way of your new gig: your old one.

Here’s how to exit your IT job on a positive and professional note.

Give Adequate Notice

Once the ink has dried on your new contract, set a meeting with your boss to give your official notice. Two weeks’ notice is standard, but it’s a considerate gesture to provide more time, depending on your contract.

If the company is known to show employees the exit once they give their resignation, don’t give more notice than two weeks. In this case, it’s best to prepare yourself well in advance by tying up loose ends, downloading the files you need before making your formal announcement.

Conduct Exit Interviews

One of the techniques we recommend clients do is conduct a series of informal exit interviews with peers, supervisors, and people you’ve supported in your IT role.

Ask for actionable feedback, positive or negative. Remember to keep your cool if you receive negative feedback, don’t argue, offer explanations, or get defensive.

Tie Up Loose Ends 

Try to complete the projects that you’re currently working on. Even if finishing requires more hours than you would like to spend on your current job, it’s your responsibility not to leave any loose ends (or, if it really can’t be wrapped up in two weeks, leave detailed instructions). It’s not only for the sake of the person who will be replacing you, but it’s essential to your professional reputation to leave a job on a high and positive note. Nothing shows gratitude and accountability like a job done well—and finished.

Offer to Train your Replacement

IT is such a rapidly advancing career field; there’s a good chance your paths will cross again with your coworkers. By offering to train your full stack developer replacement, for example, then you’re earning gold stars all around. Offer to help screen resumes, sit in on interviews, work with the new hire, or create a manual for your position. It will go a long way to leaving him or her with a lasting impression.

The overall goal is to exit your IT job gracefully and under the best possible conditions. Think about how you can leave your team and supervisor in an excellent place to continue the work without facing significant challenges you could have prevented. Reestablish good working relationships with your peers and supervisors to foster the most positive career conditions you can.

It may sound simple, but it is: default to doing the right thing in any particular situation. By doing so, you’ll reap the long-term benefits that can follow you for decades in your IT career beyond your current position. Showing gratitude and professionalism will make sure they’ll remember you fondly (whether or not you can say the same for them).

If you are looking to make a move from your current IT role, contact INNOVA people today.