Escaping the Boss From Hell: Three Steps to a Better Career

Nearly everyone has suffered this at least once in his
career-the boss who makes each workday a living terror.
You can find the Boss from Hell in any industry or
occupation. Even the best companies slip up from time to
time, allowing bullies to rise through the employment food
chain to management.

If a national survey were taken to find out the reasons
people change jobs, by far the number one reason for job
dissatisfaction would be bad management. As a career
coach, surprisingly, I've found that increased earning
potential usually ranks far below the desire to leave a
mean, unreasonable boss. If you wake up each day dreading
the next eight to ten hours, your problem might be your
supervisor.

You're working for the Boss From Hell if:

* He (or she) bullies you and your coworkers with threats
and temper tantrums.

* His unpredictable moods keeps the office environment
constantly tense and second-guessing his next move.

* He sets unrealistic and unattainable goals.

* You live in constant fear of being fired.

Fear and intimidation never motivate employees to excel.
Tyrannical supervisors create an atmosphere of distrust and
isolation. If you work for someone like this, your
confidence is probably not what it used to be. In fact,
you are probably second-guessing your decisions on the job
constantly. As long as you work for management that rules
by fear, you'll never reach your career and earning
potential.

There are three steps to escape the Boss From Hell and move
on to a happier, healthier work place.

1. Gain perspective to think rationally about your career
options.

Fear in the workplace tends to leave people thinking they
have no better options than to stick it out. Such thinking
is a result of loss of confidence and the inability to see
beyond the present distress. One way to gain perspective
and see new options is to spend some time browsing job
postings. The right direction might be within another
department or division of your current employer, but away
from your current boss. Or it might be somewhere else
altogether. If you keep an open mind, you'll see that
there are many options for you outside of your current job.

One way to get the most out of this career reconnaissance
is to search for job postings based on skills rather than
job titles. Do a job-skills self-analysis to identify the
tasks and activities you enjoy performing on your job. Use
those skills as your search terms at online job boards.
You may be surprised to see that you qualify for positions
you had not thought of before.

2. Take inventory of your career accomplishments and
contributions.

In order to get moving toward a new position you'll need to
regain your confidence. Think about, and then write down,
situations of where you:

* Came up with an idea for saving time

* Helped your team reach a production goal

* Identified cost savings opportunities

* Solved a customer problem leading to increased customer
satisfaction

As you think back on your accomplishments, you'll begin to
realize the value you have added to your company.
Remember, other employers have similar problems to solve.
They are looking for candidates who have experience in
handling difficult situations. The more specific the
examples of your accomplishments are, the more marketable
you will be in the job market.

3. Update your resume.

Once you have your accomplishments listed, use them to
update your resume. Think of your resume as your initial
marketing tool; it should announce to potential employers
your ability to help them reach their bottom-line corporate
goals. For example, your resume should appeal to potential
employers' desire to increase efficiency, cut costs and
improve productivity. When employers see what you can do
for them, they're sure to be impressed.

Your resume should also have a clear career focus.
Updating your resume doesn't mean simply adding your
current work history to your old resume format. Without a
careful resume strategy, your resume will begin to resemble
an old house with too many tacked on additions. Make sure
your resume presents a cohesive, well-thought out,
professional front.

Additionally, if your career has taken several interesting
turns, you'll want to adjust your resume toward your
current focus. Take the time to refocus your resume on
your current job search. Highlight the items from your
career that are relevant, and minimize the things that are
no longer relevant.

Once you have invested the time to gain perspective on your
career options, take inventory of your accomplishments, and
update your resume, you'll be mentally and emotionally
ready to seek other employment opportunities, either within
or outside your current company. You don't have to remain
in an unhappy job. You do have choices. Take the steps to
help yourself-you'll be glad you did!

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Deborah Walker, Certified Career Management Coach is
uniquely qualified to help job seekers find better
employment. Her background as former executive recruiter
and veteran career coach provides an insider's perspective
on resume writing, job-search strategy and interview
coaching. Learn more resume and job-search tips available
at:
http://www.AlphaAdvantage.com