Skimm Money: Ace a Virtual Interview, Get a Raise, and Resign the Right Way

How the news affects your job prospects.

Level Up Your Career

Unemployment rates are at historically low levels. But the labor market is cooling off, with some industries (see: Big Tech) feeling the chill more than others. The labor market has also changed a lot post-COVID. And while hybrid and remote jobs are here to stay, they’re getting harder to land. Which is why it’s a good idea to adopt an ‘always looking’ mentality for your career, even if you’re happy in your current role. The good news: No matter how competitive your field is, there are plenty of ways you can level up your career.

Your moves:

• Subscribe to job alerts. Even if you’re not actively looking for a new role, you’ll get a sense of who’s hiring, industry trends, and in-demand skills and job titles. Pro tip: If you’re missing some sought-after skills on your resume, ask your boss to assign you projects that will help you acquire them.

• RSVP ‘yes’ to after-work drinks. A hybrid schedule can make it easier to set boundaries between your work life and personal life. Which is great. But sometimes, saying ‘yes’ to an event beyond your 9-to-5 can lead to informal communication that may help advance your career. 

• Redefine mentorship. A mentor doesn’t necessarily need to be in your field or have a more senior role than you. They can be someone who inspires you or challenges you to update your resume or apply for that job. Think of who could give you that career accountability, and set up a time to chat with them about your goals. 

Tips for how to get that raise, interview better, and more.

Looking for a new job opportunity? 

It might be time to reach out to your college roommate’s brother (or someone with a similar degree of separation).

Yes, groceries are expensive…

But that won’t convince your boss to give you a raise. Here’s what will.

Skip the green screen…

And more tips for acing a Zoom job interview. 

Save the “I quit” TikTok in your drafts…

Here’s the best way to resign on good terms.

The Wall Street trends to know this week.

On Friday, the S&P 500 hit an all-time high, beating its 2022 record. Also on the rise? The Dow and the Nasdaq. The moves are partially thanks to strong tech stocks and investor confidence (hint: investors hope the Fed will lower interest rates in March). But unlike blue-chip stocks, small-cap stocks — which are more burdened by high interest rates — are still in a bear market.

One act of self-care you can do at work in five minutes.

Start a daily work gratitude list.

As you’re wrapping up your day, write down one to three things you were grateful for during your 9-to-5. It’s not just for #gratitude. It’s a habit that could make you happier at work. Whether it was bouncing ideas off of a colleague or getting engrossed in a project, jot down what you were grateful for. Then look through your list every month or so for patterns — and clues — into the things that bring you joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment at work.

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