5 Ways Your Boss Could Respond to Your Two Weeks Notice - The Muse

5 Ways Your Boss Could Respond to Your Two Weeks Notice - The Muse5 Ways Your Boss Could Respond to Your Two Weeks NoticeTurning in your two weeks notice can be terrifying- because no matter how well you think you know your supervisor, you can never be 100% koranvers of his or her reaction. Will he be furious and insist on walking you out the door immediately? Will she beg you to stay, enticing you with an enormous raise? Or will he be completely civil and wish you the best of luck? However, if you know the right signs to look for, theres a good chance you can figure out what kind of reaction to expect- and that can make the conversation go much mora smoothly. Here are a few common reactions and how to anticipate which one youll receive. Reaction 1 Tempting You to StayIts a reaction thats both good and bad Your boss values you so much that he or she offers you a raise or promotion to stay. But it can leave you feeling conflicted You have another great job lined up- but now that there s more money on the table, do you really want to leave your current position?Spot the SignsYou may receive this reaction if youre a high-ranking executive or director. These positions can be difficult to replace quickly, so it may be worth it to your company to tempt you to stay rather than letting you go without a fight. It can also happen if you have extremely specialized knowledge that would make it challenging to replace you. On the other hand, if youre in an entry- or mid-level position, and someone could be hired into your position without much trouble, its less likely your boss will put up a fight- and a counteroffer. Prepare for ItThe best way to prepare for this reaction is to simply know your stance ahead of time by determining if you would even consider a counteroffer. Yes, it may be more money or a better title, but theres more to consider- including your career goals, level of job satisfaction in your current role, and the opportunities that your new role offers. Reacti on 2 Asking You to Stay Beyond Your NoticeIn this situation, you wont necessarily get the promise of more money or a better title- but your manager will ask you, perhaps as a personal favor, to stay a few additional weeks or months until the company is able to hire and train a replacement.Spot the SignsAgain, you may receive this response if you have specialized knowledge that would make it difficult or time-consuming to hire your replacement- or if it would be helpful for you to be actively involved in that search. However, it could also be the reaction if your company is approaching or is currently in a busy season and needs the additional staff, or its experiencing unusual circumstances, like a hiring freeze, which would prevent it from replacing you entirely.Prepare for ItLike the situation above, you should go into the conversation knowing how youll respond if your boss asks you to extend your notice. If youve landed another job offer and have already set a start date, this may not be possible- so practice sticking to your guns Because I have a new opportunity lined up, my last day here is firm. However, Im happy to help out however I can in the next two weeks.If you havent landed a new gig yet or your new start date is negotiable, know your limits. If youre willing to stay an additional three weeks, for example, dont let your manager talk you into staying three more months. Reaction 3 Refusing to Let You Work Out Your NoticeThis is perhaps the most dreaded reaction- that youll hand over your two weeks notice, and your manager will insist on walking you out the door immediately. Spot the SignsAccording to Alison Green, who writes the blog Ask a Manager, this is common practice for some industries, especially if youre leaving to work for a direct competitor. However, in those situations, youll likely know its coming and can prepare accordingly.Otherwise, look to the history of your company. How have your boss and other managers handled employees resignatio ns? If you see a pattern of upper management refusing to let the team members work out their notice, you can likely expect the same. Also think about your relationship with your manager. Would he or she have reason to think that youll waste your last two weeks or distract your co-workers instead of doing what you can to make the transition seamless? If so, you may be asked to cut your two weeks short. Prepare for ItYour best option in this scenario is to accept it with dignity and make sure youre ready to leave the office for good when you turn in your resignation letter, whether that means gathering up your personal items or making sure youve collected the names and contact information for the teammates and clients youd like to stay in touch with. Then, steel yourself for your managers reaction and react with grace.Reaction 4 Acceptance With DispleasureIts possible that your boss wont take immediate action like the reaction above- but will make it clear that he or she isnt exactly happy about your resignation.Maybe, for example, shell mutter a curt, Thank you for letting me know, followed by two weeks of obvious displeasure or denial that youre leaving- through gruff comments (You know, youre really leaving us in the lurch) or a refusal to interact with you more than absolutely necessary.Spot the SignsThe most obvious sign that youll receive this reaction is if you havent had a healthy relationship with your manager in the past. Maybe you continually challenged his ideas, and he took that as a sign of disrespect. Or, maybe she always made unreasonable demands, and you were never able to see eye-to-eye on your to-do list. Or perhaps his moods were completely unpredictable. In any case, if your relationship has been strained, you may receive a less-than-ideal response to your two weeks notice.Prepare for ItIn this case, all you can do is politely deliver your resignation, then strive to make the transition as easy as possible for your team. Your manager may not have the ideal reaction to your news- and your workplace may not be the most pleasant environment for the next two weeks- but to avoid burning bridges, its best to work through it with a positive attitude. Reaction 5 Acceptance With GraceThe best-case scenario- and honestly, the most common reaction- is that your boss will accept your resignation with understanding and sincere congratulations. Your manager will be happy to see that youre advancing your career and moving on to something bigger and better. Spot the SignsDo you have a good relationship with your manager? Is he or she relatively reasonable? Do you have regular one-on-ones where you talk about your career goals and growth? If so, its likely that your boss will accept your resignation with grace, help develop a plan of action for your last two weeks, and maybe even attend your farewell happy hour. Prepare for ItThis one is easy. All you have to do is smile and say Thank you so much for your support. Ive enjoyed my time h ere and Ive learned a lot from you. Let me know what I can do to make the transition easier. Are you always going to get reaction number five? Probably not. But if you look for the signs, you can likely anticipate your boss response, go into the conversation prepared, and come out stronger on the other side. Then, you can breathe a sign of relief and start looking forward to starting your new position.

Why #8216;Be Yourself#8217; Is Both the Best and Worst Advice You Can Get

Why 8216Be Yourself8217 Is Both the Best and Worst Advice You Can Get Why 8216Be Yourself8217 Is Both the Best and Worst Advice You Can Get Article by Isa AdneyA few years ago, I applied to Harvards doctoral program in education leadership (Ed.L.D.).I applied at the encouragement of a friend I figured I had notlagehing to lose.To start the process, I did what I usually do when Im doing something that terrifies me I reached out to people who were already doing the terrifying thing to ask for their advice.I welches amazed at how many current Harvard Ed.L.D. students were willing to help me. I usually just ask for a word of advice via email, but most of them talked to me on the phone and offered to read my essays and share feedback. It turns out they werent Elite-Snob-Way-Smarter-Than-Me-Robots, as I had perhaps subconsciously imagined.They were nice.In one of those preparation phone calls, one current student gave me this final bit of advice I know this may sound trite, but when it c omes to your application, really be yourself.Be yourself.Id heard it so many times. And honestly? I thought I knew what that meant. But this time, when he said it, something clicked. I knew exactly what he welches trying to say Dont be what you think Harvard wants you to be. Be you and see if Harvard wants that.Easier said than done.And especially hard to do for a straight-A student who is good at playing the game, learning the rules, and getting the A. Oh, you like flowery language? Done. You prefer essays that are more succinct? I can do that. Oh, you like when I show my work on the math test? Got it. You prefer I just write the answers? Done.In my first drafts of my application essays, I welches indeed trying to be what I thought a Harvard student was supposed to be. Not because I thought that would work (it usually doesnt), but because the real truth is that I didnt think I was good enough. I didnt think I was what a Harvard student should be.But since the guy giving me this adv ice was in the program, I took his advice and rewrote my essays to reflect who I really was. I sent in my Harvard application with the real me spilling out all over the pages.And then the strangest thing happened.I got an email from Harvard inviting me to the interview phase.My application had wasone of the top 50. Me and 49 other people would be flown out to Cambridge to interview in person, and then a month later, 25 of those people would be accepted.Being myself actually worked. I was going to Harvard for an interview.TheHarvardI decided to keep this whole being myselfexperiment going and take it a step further for the interview.I knew how interviews worked and how the game was played. Even when youre interviewing for a job and you simply need to pay your bills, you dont say Ill seriously do anything. I just need the money. Give me the job. Wheres the money?? Even if thats the truth.Instead, you say This company is the best company of all the companies, and Id practically do this job for free Hooray Yay you and your company And this is all Ive ever wanted to do with my liiiifffeeeeInterviewing for Harvard isnt quite like interviewing for a job, I had a gut sense of what I might need to do to get past this phase. I knew this program and its goals and what they were looking for backwards and forwards. I knew it was a program meant to train people who would transform K-12 education at a systemic level they were looking for people who would start innovative schools and become high-level administrators who could help make big, positive changes in the public school system.I didnt ever imagine getting asked to interview, because all my experience was in the community college world, not K-12. And also, I didnt have any career goals of being in administration. My heart was in writing, teaching, storytelling inspiring students on an individual level.But somehow, my passion for college access got me to an interview.I decided, though, not to pretend that I wanted the kinds of jobs I knew the program was preparing people for. I told the truth in the interview. I wasmyselfin a way I probably never have been before. And it felt great in the moment. I had a wonderful time. I made new friends. I felt like I had nailed it.A few weeks later, I got an email saying I did not get in.It was not a good time. The part no one tells you about being yourself is that, while eventually you can say,See, it wasnt the right program for me, initially all you feel isYep, I was right.I am an imposter,and Harvard saw me for who I really am and probably laughed their faces off. HA She thought she was Harvard material? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Now I know the truth Who I really am is not good enough.My heart was broken into sharp, little, Ivy League-crimson pieces. I wished Id never applied. I wished Id never been asked to interview. I wished Id never stepped on the campus or bought that stupid Harvard T-shirt or imagined myself studying in that library.I had many current H arvard students encourage me to apply again (one guy said he had a friend who applied three times before he got in). A few months later, I attended a Harvard Institute on the achievement gap and met the Ed.L.D. program director, who also encouraged me to apply again.Deep down though, I knew it wasnt right for me being a systems-level leader wasnt really my goal. Going to Harvard TheHarvard would have been so awesome for all the reasons youd expect. But the program itself? It was close, but not quite me.I decided not to apply again.But very recently, I did start applying to other graduate programs, and one alumnus from one of those programs an author and lecturer at Stanford University said this to me as parting application adviceIf youre a rhino, be a rhino. Even if you think theyre giraffes, dont be a giraffe, because then you might end up with a bunch of giraffes and youre a rhinoNow, dont get me wrong. The giraffes in the Ed.L.D. were awesome people. I am still Facebook frien ds with the current students who helped me and the amazing ones I met in the group interview. They rock and are doing amazing things to improve K-12 education at a systemic level.But if youre a rhino with rhino dreams, being in a graduate program structured to help giraffes reach their dreams might not help you all that much.Applying for graduate schools and jobs isbrutal. In applications, youre forced to put your worth to words, and, for me at least, it often makes me start to question how much worth I have at all.But somehow, I keep applying for things. I keep trying, charging my big stubborn rhino horn against all ansicht doors, hoping maybe one day Ill crash through.I still wear the Harvard T-shirt I bought the day before the interview. Oddly, I just realized Im wearing it right now. Ill admit, it still makes me sad. But it also reminds me that I tried. It reminds me that, sometimes, Im brave. And maybe thats good enough.A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.c om.Isa Adney is an author and T.V. host named by GOOD magazine as one of the Top 100 People Moving the World Forward. She is currently writing a book about dreams. Follow her on Twitter or learn more at IsaAdney.com.

10 things you should never do in an interview (and how to avoid it)

10 things you should never do in an bewerberinterview (and how to avoid it)10 things you should never do in an interview (and how to avoid it)Did you know that it takes the human brain less than one second to pass judgment on someones character? This means that within a tenth of a second of you walking into your interview, the hiring manager has already conducted an evaluation of your initial character based on your presence and appearance alone.Your interviewer has been trained to identify key signals to help them determine if you have the skill set and appropriate temperament to fit in with the organization and execute your job. The company will most likely have several other applicants interviewing for the role, and limited time to fill the position, so its essential for them to take all things into consideration during the interview process.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTh ats why, if it comes down to you and another candidate, one thing as minuscule as a buzzing phone can hurt your chances of securing the role. While you are prepping with mock interviews and researching the company, Career Group Companies president and founder, Susan Levine recommends these top 10 things you should avoid during the interview.1. Never Fail to PrepareReading the about me section on the company website while youre on the way to the interview will not give you the full scope of what the company does. Now, almost every company has multiple social media pages, an official website, and a LinkedIn profile. Check them out.How to avoid it Insta-stalking isnt just for snooping on exes. Do your research on the company, its founders, and your department.2. Never Be LateShowing up late to your interview sets a bad precedent before your potential new job even starts. If you cant make it on time to your first meeting with your prospective employer, how can they be confident that you ll show up on time once you get the job? More importantly, being late shows a lack of respect and consideration for others time regardless of the reason.How to avoid it Take a trip to the interview drehort if you can to calculate traffic and timing. If you cant make the trip, type the address into Waze or Google Maps at the approximate time youll be traveling over the course of a few days to get a sense of traffic and how long it will take you to arrive. Always give yourself a 15-minute cushion in case of any unusual traffic.3. Never Forget Your Resume (Bring Extra Copies)Your interviewer may already have a printed version of your resume on hand when you arrive, but you mucksmuschenstill need to be prepared in the event they ask you for a copy. Often, employers will ask you for a copy as a test.If they dont have a resume printed before your arrival, rather than have them comb through a sea of digital applications or stacks of resumes on their desk, you can easily hand over a copy to them. Youll also be prepared if you have to meet with any other department team members.How to avoid it Place your resumes neatly in a folder and pack it the night before your interview.4. Never Interrupt Your InterviewerInterviews can be nerve-wracking causing some people to appear and become overly enthusiastic. Regardless of how excited you are to list off your accomplishments and ideas for the company- which you should do at some point- its important to listen intently and pay close attention to what your interviewer is saying.How to avoid it The best kinds of interviews flow naturally. In order for this to occur, its critical for you to listen carefully. Take a moment to process his or her words before answering so you can craft a meaningful response. When its your turn, feel free to share any ideas, or revisit any of the points the interviewer brought up that will help position you as the perfect candidate.5. Never Dress CasuallyNever judge a book by its cover? Your book cove r is most likely always being judged as you walk into an interview. Thats why dressing professional no matter the organizations dress code ensures a better safe than sorry approach. Yes, even dressing casually for an interview at a company with an informal dress code can still be frowned upon. Your interviewer may be wearing sneakers and leggings, but he or she already has the job- you do notHow to avoid it For companies with a strict dress code, you cant go wrong with slacks/skirt, a button-down, and a blazer. If the companies a bit more on the casual side, opt for business casual. Utilize Who What Wear and Refinery29 for appropriate outfit ideas ahead of the big day.6. Never Wear Sunglasses on Top of Your HeadNow that summer is in full effect, you might be sporting shades every day. Out of natural habit, most people subconsciously push their glasses on top of their heads when they come out of the sun. Dont make this mistake. Similar to dressing casually it will give off the impres sion that youre not well-polished or taking this interview seriously.How to avoid it Keep your sunglasses at home or leave them in your car.7. Never Forget to Turn Off Your Phone and SmartWatch (Because its 2019)Putting your phone or smartwatch on vibrate will not suffice because a buzzing device can be distracting. Youll have to excuse yourself while you dig in your bag to silence your phone, or constantly look down at your watch as the notifications roll in. Any type of unnecessary interruption is distracting and can make you come across as unprofessional and unprepared. When choosing between two nearly perfect candidates, this type of incident could be the reason you dont make the cut.How to avoid Turn your phone or watch completely off before you enter the bro and leave it in your bag.8. Never Lose Eye ContactMaintaining consistent eye contact during an interview makes you appear confident, in-tuned and trustworthy. It is widely believed that avoiding eye contact during a conver sation can be an indication that you are disconnected or uninterested in the conversation, or could potentially be lying. You may have the usual interview jitters, but your actions could be perceived otherwise if youre staring up at the ceiling, out the window, or down at the floor.How to avoid it Practice mock interviews with friends or family members. Ask them to take notice of how often your eyes drift during the conversation. Record yourself with a camera so you can find and correct any bad interviewing habits.9. Never Walk in With a BeverageUnless your interview is in a coffee shop, dont walk into it with a beverage. It shows a lack of business etiquette, it can be a distraction, and it may give off the wrong impression.How to avoid it Hydrate beforehand.10. Never Project NegativityWhether youre having a bad day due to something out of your control or youre suffering from imposter syndrome, leave it at the door. Everyone has occasional bouts of negative self-talk but dont sabot age your own success. A negative attitude can be easily detected and everyone from the receptionist to the CEO will be evaluating your performance during the pre-hiring phase.How to avoid You landed the interview, right? So, youve clearly already impressed them. Use that confidence and take a few minutes to meditate and clear your head before you go in, if needed. Replace the negative thoughts with positive affirmations. You got this- be your true, confident self.Now that you are well-prepared on what to avoid, remember that you received an interview request for a reason. Your prospective employer is confident that youre just as impressive in person as you are on paper, but youll need to prove them right. Its easy for an eager candidate to overlook the aforementioned gaffes but no amount of experience or education can make up for these critical mistakes. Be sure to double-check our list before your interview and remain positive.Good luckThis article first appeared on Create and Cult ivate.