When looking for a job you may see that many organisations or newspapers, even internet providers compile various lists detailing the best companies to work for, where graduates can get the best deals and so on. Yet how can graduates really know which is a good company to work for and which is a bad company?

Well the first thing to bear in mind is that some of the ‘lists’ that you see may be compiled by bodies that have a vested interest in promoting a particular company. So they may not be unbiased! Also, many of the companies that appeared in various ‘Good Company Guides’ were associated with the financial sector and as a result of the recession, many have simply disappeared. So they may have appeared in 2008 guides, but have not changed into bad employers: they have simply ceased trading!

Even those such as KPMG (although an international firm, it was listed in the UK Sunday Times’ famous list of ‘Best Companies to Work for 2008’) may have been a model company in 2008 but after the financial crises that followed some employees found that the work environment changed. Firms that had been able to offer graduates really secure employment now find that they are simply unable to do this, because they simply do not know what the future will bring. So whenever you come across a new survey/report or list purporting to tell graduates which are the best company to work for, treat it with caution: what was true today may not be true tomorrow!

Graduates also need to be aware that all this uncertainty has made competition in the employment field very fierce and they may find that every position attracts a whole host of candidates. It may be worth racking up some experience before approaching companies that you perceive as being good. Or you may even want to think about whether or not the company is financially secure and can offer security.

One of the traditionally renowned ‘best’ companies for graduates to work for was the Britannia Building Society based in England. The Britannia was a Building Society and looked financially well placed to withstand the financial crises of late 2008 and early 2009. It was ranked as one of the top 5 UK companies to work for in 2008, according to the Sunday Times newspaper: but early in 2009 it announced that it was to merge with another financial institution and rumours are now rife about job cuts and redundancy.

The moral of the tale is never to assume that because a company is desirable one year that this will still be the case next year. Times move on, personnel change and cultures/environments change. So there are no hard and fast ‘good’ companies.

However, according to the not for profit organisation, the ‘Great Place to Work Institute UK’ the most desirable company to work for in the UK in the year 2008 was…. Google! UK based, but not UK owned, nor it would seem, with a UK approach to work.

Less corporate or globalised companies making it onto the same Institute’s list include Asthma UK, proving that UK companies can be a desirable place to work. But the first two on the list are both international companies, not UK based, or UK owned companies.

So what makes a good company to work for? Well there are no hard and fast rules. If you are a person who thrives in a large, corporate environment then you are going to feel pretty unfulfilled working in a small office where all power rests in the hands of the Managing Director. But others may relish the opportunity to work in a small and almost intimate work setting.

There are, however, some general rules that companies apply in order to set them apart from the rest. Companies like the Britannia or the Co-Operative ‘Group’ etc have long since adopted ethical stances on issues such as treating workers fairly, ensuring they adopt positive community profiles etc. They view workers as valuable assets. The happier workers are the more likely they are to stay and they will play fair when it comes to time off sick or medical appointments etc. Graduates generally find that an environment where their input is valued and appreciated and they are given the opportunity to positively influence things can make a huge difference to work.

Studies into what constitutes a good company to work for in the UK also state that if employees (graduates particularly) have small freedoms then a company be seen as good, so if employees can move their desks, adjust lighting, influence decision making etc, then they will say they work for a good company.

Many companies, particularly the larger, international companies are keen to ensure that they are perceived as a good company and have made significant steps towards achieving a good balance between financial survival and ensuring employees are kept happy. This mainly relies on working practices that are based on people not necessarily working harder, but certainly working smarter and perhaps having greater freedom to work from home, or come into the office when they feel like working etc. However, some UK firms have still to adopt this approach, but hopefully the benefits will be seen and this kind of philosophy will start to permeate throughout the workplace as a whole, dependent on the economy picking up again.

So the whole picture is not as it was even 6 months ago, but there are good companies out there and you can find them if you research companies prior to interview and ensure that you ask relevant and appropriate questions at interview: but remember these are difficult times and competition will be fierce!

Part-time Work

As part-time work does not involve putting in the same number of hours as a full-time position, it is an obvious option for anyone wanting to alter their work-life balance. The downside of this is the reduced pay in relation to full-time work. If you can afford to become a part-time employee and still be able to pay for all of your outgoings, it may be worth considering this option.

Freelancing

To many people, freelancing seems like the perfect career for striking a healthy work-life balance. This can be misleading though. In theory, being able to work from home should give you the freedom to work as and when you please, but this is often not the case for the majority of freelance workers. For many freelancers, being able to work from home simply means that work has even more of an opportunity to take over your free time, especially as it can be difficult to “switch off” from work fully when you are not physically leaving work behind in an office (or any other physical place of employment) at the end of a working day. Because of this, freelancing is not a career option that automatically results in a better work-life balance. It depends heavily on how easily you can separate your work life from your work.

While there is probably no set career that will definitely improve your work-life balance, there are working patterns (such as freelancing and part-time employment) that can be flexible enough to help you take steps in the right direction. If your current work-life balance is making you unhappy, changing your working patterns may be a good option, although there is no guarantee that this will have a positive impact on your work-life balance either.

But what is the reality in the UK in 2009? First of all, one of the major disadvantages of freelancing is the perennial problem of clients refusing to pay for services rendered, or just taking their time in paying. But no business is unaffected by this. All over the country there are businesses folding, simply because they were unable to get money owed to them. So instead of freelancers feeling like it was ‘just them’, now everyone is experiencing the same kinds of problems. Things may be difficult for freelancers, but on the other hand, things are pretty bad all round, so they are not alone.

Banks and other lenders may be more circumspect about lending to freelancers, but if you have 3 years of accounts to demonstrate that you can make your way and pay your bills, then you will not experience significantly more problems than anyone else. Again, there is much more of a level playing field now. Prior to the banking collapse, freelancers were seen as risky, those in paid employment a safe bet: now no one has a job for life, so why not take a punt on a freelancer?

Another major disadvantage to being a freelancer is being isolated. Often people complain that they don’t have colleagues to bounce things off and feel they don’t want to talk to others in the field because they are worried about competitors trying to poach clients etc. But there is an easy way round that, which is simply to have a pool of friends/former colleagues, even family members, whose opinion you trust. Then if you feel isolated or have a work problem that you cannot solve on your own, either email them or better still, pick up the phone and have a chat! Often just talking through the problem will help!

Now the final major disadvantage of being a freelancer has to be being self disciplined. That can often be a big problem: when the weather is hot and sunny and you just want to laze around in the sun, can you really be bothered to chase new work coming in? Conversely, some freelancers may find that they take on too much work and end up exhausted and unable to maintain the relentless pace of work, resenting what they first saw as their dream coming true.

So that’s the bad. What about the good?

Well, there is too much good to write about in one article. But if you have determination, passion and love what you do, then freelancing is for you. You can be master of your own destiny (so long as clients pay) you can choose when you work, when you don’t want to work. If you work at home you can work in your pyjamas and then get dressed when you feel like it. If you are not a morning person, then you can simply arrange for all your meetings or commissions to start at a time to suit you (within reason). You can even turn down commissions/work if you don’t like the client or have a feeling that you will not get on (or they won’t pay). OK this is really bad business sense, but it really does give you a feeling of self worth and control over your own destiny.

One thing that all freelancers should try to do is to get some money behind them before embarking on freelance work. This can help to tide you over when times are tough or the Inland Revenue are demanding more money than you thought they would ask for (this happens). You may also have to accept that no matter how qualified and skilled you are, there are times when you may have to accept low paying jobs/commissions, simply to keep things ticking over. So be proud, but not too proud that you suffer financially if things are tight. You should also remember that it is a case of being known and recommended, so doing a good job on a low paying job, may catch you some better paid work in the future.

Freelancers should also remember that what they are doing is fulfilling a dream, taking control over their work life and believing in themselves enough to make that dream come true. That is priceless, beyond measure and cannot be over emphasised as the major advantage to freelance work. Or you can simply remain a wage slave…..

• Look for jobs: This is, of course, the most obvious thing you need to do when you lose your job. Your job search will probably occupy at least a few hours a day, and depending on the job you are looking for this can mean working on your CV and cover letter, or it can mean filling out applications. It can mean searching for jobs online at sites, looking in local classified ads, or driving around looking for “Help Wanted” signs.
• Network: “Network” is just fancy way to say meet people. Regardless of the type of job you are looking for, the more people you get to know, the more likely you are to meet someone who knows about a job opportunity that may be right for you. For you, networking may mean going to business conferences, making new contacts on social networking sites, or just attending social functions such as parties or church gatherings.
• Pick up new skills: The types of skills that will improve your chances of getting a job will vary depending on what kind of work you’re looking for. Maybe you could work on your typing skills or learn to use a new computer program such as Microsoft Excel or QuickBooks. Public libraries and community colleges often offer free or low cost classes in computer skills, and libraries usually have books detailing how to use different computer programs. Working on your Spanish or another language could also help you land your next job, especially if you are looking for a job in customer service or human resources. Consider using online tutorials or books and educational DVDs from your local library or bookstore to improve.
• Keep a regular schedule: If you got up at 6:30 every morning when you were working, keep getting up at 6:30. It may be hard to get out of bed when you have nowhere to go, but you’ll be more likely to be productive if you maintain your normal sleep patterns and schedule. After all, looking for a job is your new job, even if your new office is your kitchen table.
• Get out of the house: Let’s face it - losing your job can be terrifying, stressful, and depressing. Sitting around the house all day, even if you are searching for jobs while you do it, is bound to add to your feelings of anxiety and depression. Make sure you get out of the house for a while every day, even if it’s just to head down to the local Starbucks or library to cruise the net for jobs.
• Keep moving: Arguably the best natural way to improve your mood and keep your spirits high is to exercise. Whether it means going down to the gym, doing a workout video, or just taking your dog on a long walk, make sure to get some exercise everyday to boost your energy and keep you feeling good during your job search.

Feeling discouraged is natural for anyone who has lost a job; the important thing is to not let depression get in your way and keep you finding a new job. With these tips, along with patience, perseverance, and support from those you love, you are bound to get through this.

Your best strategy is to focus on exploiting your volunteer experience and creating a polished cover letter. Fist let’s consider your volunteer experience. Have you worked with the Parent Teacher Organisation? Did you coach Sarah’s netball team? Were you on the planning committee for a humane society fundraiser?

Organise your CV so that instead of focusing on work history, which will bring the gap in your history to the fore, put “recent experience” first and include your volunteer work. You needn’t include every single activity you’ve done. Select the ones that involved the largest number of hours and have the skills that will translate into good workplace experience.

The netball team coach learned about communication, for instance, which will help if you’re looking to move back into work as an administrative assistant. You will find that as the committee head for the sponsorships committee for that humane society fundraiser, you learned about soliciting for donations and networking. These skills are great for a number of professions.

The cover letter is more important for you, however. The traditional purpose for a cover letter is to allow your employer to see what you have that relates specifically to the position they have open and to see whether you have taken the time to do any research about their company.

For the stay at home mum, though, the cover letter is the place to show how the skills you learned as a full-time administrator of your household will translate into viable work skills. Those euphemisms for stay at home mums may come in handy here. Try to keep in mind that you may be facing people who resent or dislike women who stay at home with their children. Do not be noble. Do not talk about the sacrifices you have made. Women who work full-time and then cook largely convenience meals for their families often believe they “do it all,” never considering that you cook from scratch and organise all of those classroom parties to which they send a bag of chips.

To combat this misunderstanding, you need to focus on skills. You can mention your children but only in regards to the ways in which working with them will help you. If you are trying to get a computer-based job, for example, you can explain how you have honed your research skills using various library databases in assisting your children or how you have gained a clear understanding of “nanny” programs used to filter Internet sites.

The skills you have learned as a stay at home mum are varied, but be creative in defining them. Instead of saying that you’re in charge of the family finances, focus on the skills transfer – the budgeting and entry-level bookkeeping skills you’ve learned. Show potential employers that you made the most of your time at home and that you’re ready to use your talents to help their company.

Most likely if you heard about the gossip it came from someone who doesn’t really care for this person either. Determine how significant this gossip is to your reputation by observing how other people have handled the gossip in the past. Some people may have ignored him or her, stop inviting them to events, decided to leave them out of gift exchanges, didn’t bother to acknowledge them during holidays, and conveniently left them out of news about family and friends. You have a choice of how you will handle this negative person in the future.

Some gossip may be big enough to start a firestorm of other gossip and eventually get someone fired. If you are experiencing this, here is what you need to do. Go to your boss and tell them what you have heard them say about you. Share your truth with your boss so that he or she will not assume anything about you. Remind your boss of past issues you have had with this person. If you have a Human Resources office at your workplace, write up a report and have them stick it in your file. You may want to get a mediator involved if the gossip has worsened and confront he or she spreading it.

Once you have discussed the matter with the boss, notified Human Resources, and possibly shared your truth with others, if you haven’t already, journal what has happened on which days and include a time if you can. Later, if anything else should come up about the gossip, you will appear to know what you are doing and have a solid case to stand on in front of a board. If you can get others to talk to you about their experiences with this negative person, then note what they have told you as well. They may or may not deny ever having a conversation with you later, but it will be hard for them to argue against a specific time, date and location when you both talked.

When it comes to addressing matters of gossip with family members it is better to discuss it when no one but the offender is present. You want to be respectful but firm. Always opening your discussion with a statement then followed with a question. “I am aware that you have been making XYZ statement about me and would like to know why?” He or she will most likely deny ever saying anything. Allow them to speak, and then tell them, “I would appreciate it if you and anyone else in the family would come to me with a problem and not go around talking about me behind my back. If you or anyone else can’t do that, then it’s best we don’t associate with one another.” He or she may not want you to become distant, because they may be relying on you or they may not want to be the one talked about later for driving you away. When you approach the offender, you always have the upper hand to make things work in your favor. You may have an even better approach, but remember your goal is to come away with the bigger person.

Leaving a position, even one you love, is a difficult and sometimes emotional event. As with most complicated social situations, this means you should err on the side of communicating more often and more formally than you might in a casual situation. Most companies agree that a minimum of two weeks’ notice is required when you resign from a position. If you are a valued knowledge worker, manage people, or have been with the company more than five years, you should consider giving more notice – even as much as a month, if possible and if you’re on good terms with the company.

Generally, managers appreciate a face-to-face meeting when you are telling them you’re leaving. Quitting by email or voicemail is the equivalent of breaking off a romance by leaving a post-it on the windshield. For this reason, you should work hard to avoid timing a resignation when your supervisor is out of town. Most companies require a formal letter that states your departure date as part of the resignation process. HR offices keep the letter on file to document that yours was a voluntary resignation. It’s a good idea, though not required, to add a line or two to the letter saying that you have enjoyed your time with the company and thanking your manager for his or her support during your employment. If it happens to be true, it’s a nice thing to say, and if it’s not true, you leave a gracious last impression.

One of the best things you can do in your last days on the job is to create a plan for turning over your responsibilities. Spend some time organising your desk and your files. Make a list of pending projects and deadlines, along with key contacts. These resources will be invaluable to your supervisor and your replacement. Offer to train the interim worker of your supervisor’s choice, and to show him or her how you have organised your work. You can also offer to draft a plan for notifying customers of your departure, although your company may want to manage the process on its own.

As you’re departing, resist the temptation to give anyone a piece of your mind. You can never go wrong by taking the high road and being cordial to everyone. In fact, this is a great time to mend bridges – to tell people what you admire or value about their work. You don’t have to gush; a simple “Jean, I know we haven’t always agreed on the issues, but I have always admired how dedicated you are to your work, and wanted to tell you before I leave” will go a very long way to rewriting what may have been a difficult history.

One very good reason to leave on good terms with your coworkers is that you never know when you’ll meet them again. Your supervisor or coworker could change companies and be in a position to make hiring decisions about you in the future – or become your new boss. If you walk away from your current job in good standing, your coworkers will remember you as a class act. Last impressions can be as critical as first impressions on the job.

When it becomes clear that ‘one of those days’ is fast turning into ‘one of those weeks/ months/ years/ lives’ (delete where applicable), you realise it’s time to make a clean break. It’s time to start looking for a new job.

Job hunting can be arduous at the best of times – tracking down vacancies, perhaps registering with a recruitment agency, creating a CV, attending interviews – and it can be even harder when you’re already employed.

Allow me to explain the perils of this situation. A close friend of mine (who shall remain nameless, as she is currently doing exactly what this article is all about) had become rather stagnant in her present job, and before long it became clear that in order to advance her career, she would be well advised to take up a similar position with another company. This course of action was the only way she would be able to progress further up the career ladder.

Although there was little possibility of a promotion in her current job, her bosses were eager for her to stay. Thus, the news that she was looking for another job would not have been well received on the company grapevine.

And so there was the awkward situation of job hunting, without anyone in her workplace finding out. Discretion is vital if you are to avoid any animosity in your present job. In my friend’s case, she went to a recruitment agency, who asked for her work phone number in case any vacancies arose which she would be interested in.

This particular recruitment agency was local, and quite a few employees at my friend’s company were on their books – so they were often ringing up with job offers of all kinds! Every time a jolly voiced recruitment officer rang up asking to speak to someone, the telephonist knew exactly who it was and why they were calling. The news got out in no time.

Not good. So my friend did some quick thinking and asked the recruitment officer to sound miserable and call herself Melanie instead of her real name, which it seemed everyone knew.

And so ‘Miserable Melanie’ was born – ringing up and sounding bored to tears every time there was a suitable vacancy to fill. Strange how my friend had a day ‘off sick’ shortly after each call…

An amusing little tale perhaps, but there’s a moral in there somewhere. However fed up you are with the job you’re dying to get away from, you should take care to ensure your working life stays as normal as possible while you are job hunting.

Remember – the first thing your boss should know about you finding alternative employment should come in the form of a resignation letter. Making the cut as clean as possible makes for less stress in the workplace before you quit – and a better frame of mind to enjoy your new vocation afterwards.

Here are five questions to consider before accepting or rejecting your boss’ offer of a promotion:

1. Is this the type of position that will challenge me and contribute to my personal growth? Your answer depends on your present needs for professional development. Is this the job that will stimulate you or is it a job that will stress you out?

2. How will this promotion help me achieve my career objectives? People experience different phases in their career. If you are looking for a low-stress job or flexibility, the pressure of a promotion may not be right. If you want to get ahead in your career, remember that any promotion is not the solution. Don’t just accept a job for more money or a better title.

3. What type of salary and benefits should I negotiate before I accept this position? Accepting more responsibility may place you in a position to request more vacation and other perks. If benefits are not a factor, focus on salary negotiation. Choose a middle ground between what you want to make and what you can reasonably expect your employer to pay for that type of position.

4. Does my current position better fit my career objectives and my needs? One way of looking at this is to play the what-if game. What will make you happier? Another way to look at this issue is to decide if what you give up is not worth losing.

5. Am I ready? There may be other factors not outlined above that signify you are not ready for this promotion. If you place yourself in the position of accepting a promotion when you know it is the wrong time, you increase your chance of failure. You can’t see the future, but you can trust your instincts.

A promotion offers a great opportunity to advance your career. Make sure you are ready and you’ve weighed all of the factors before accepting your promotion.

1. Music. If you can find some music that will allow you to block out the more random noise in the background, use it. Music that you have to concentrate on or feel you have to sing along to will not cut it. You need to find something that will be soothing enough to allow concentration, while not being interesting enough to actually listen to.

2. Activities. Give the people in your house something to do. A spouse can be mopping the floor to keep quiet for awhile. Kids can colour or take pictures of things around the house with your digital camera. Whatever the age, even for adults, there are sure to be activities that will keep them quiet. The key is not to let on about what your end result is. Instead of, “Why don’t you rake leaves and be quiet?,” try, “You know what we really need done? The leaves need to be raked. You are so good at it and it, I’ll bet you could do the whole garden in less than an hour.” Of course, use whatever flattery will work for your particular noise maker.

3. Alone time. If you ever find yourself alone in the house, immediately use that time to get some work done. That is not laundry time or window cleaning time - those things can be done while there is noise in the house. Alone time is the best time of all to get work done, so utilise every second.

4. Earplugs. Earplugs are actually very effective at blocking out sound that is distracting you from working at home. This is a good idea only if you aren’t alone with young kids in the house that might need help. But, if the kids are older and know better, or if your spouse is there to help with younger ones, there‘s no shame in using earplugs to block out that unholy racket.

At some point, you will likely have to work while there is a lot of noise and you either can’t use ear plugs or they’ve gotten lost. Those are times to take deep breaths, remembering that you are actually working to help the ones making the noise and that the work is really just a distraction from them. Keep that in mind and the noise won’t seem quite as trying.