Job Offer While Waiting To Hear Back from Another Company I REALLY Want

Job Offer While Waiting To Hear Back from Another Company I REALLY WantJob Offer While Waiting To Hear Back from Another Company I REALLY WantIve been getting some questions lately from job seekers waiting to find out of they have a job offer from a company they would prefer to work for, and yet they are sitting with at least one job offer already in hand. What to do?Understandably, this is a tough choice to make. Do I wait for the one I really want and risk losing the job offer I have? Is there anything I can do now to push the company I want along?Should you tell the preferred company whats going on? First its important to take a deep breath and know that you will find an answer, one way of another. Hiring decisions can take far longer than you or they ever imagine even with all the best intentions on their part. The company that you really want has its own schedule. And while there are actions you can take to help you get to the job you have your heart set on, it helps to not ge t so caught up in the understandable tension and the feeling that I must get them to decide that you lose sight of the reality of the situation including what you can and cant control. And you also dont want to lose sight of the positive side of it you have an actual offer What should you tell the preferred employer? I would start with a call to the person you connected with most. If they dont respond to your call that day, send an email. Remember that your goal is to convey the situation clearly and quickly, without looking like you are trying to push them to meet ONLY your needs even though you of course are. But some employers respond badly if they feel pressured. So tread gently. Tell them as concisely as possible that you understand that they have a lot going on (shows you are aware of their process needs), but that you have another offer and would really prefer to work for them. Ask if there is any way that they can help. Thats probably the best you can do at this point. Ag ain, be very polite and respectful and as natural as possible. Dont try to play them. They can sense that. If they cant give you an answer within a few days and the other place is pushing for an answer, then youll have to decide whether to say yes or let the for-sure offer go. Trust your gut.= How Do I Decide Which Job Is REALLY Right for Me?= 10 Things To Consider Before You Accept a Job Offer A few more thoughts In the meantime, use the waiting time to make sure which job you really would prefer. Sometimes long delays or non-responsiveness are just normal (even the best companies can take longer than wed wish), but sometimes they are indications of how a company might be to work for.So do some online research and see if you find any reviews or stories that might help you be sure. If you know people who work there, even better. But again dont push too hard, especially if you dont already know the person. Ive been in companies where last minute super-aggressive flurries to get s trangers to push for them lost the candidate the job.One more thought you never know what a job is really like until you work there. I once took a job I didnt want as much because the second offer got delayed. But I wound up meeting people who became dear friends and found my next job through someone in the less-preferred company. So even the wrong job can turn out right.Some more posts to help you while waiting? Choosing a Career You Love Doesnt Always Pay the Rent? 12 Secrets of Non-Linear Career Growth Success? How Soon After a Job Interview Should You Follow Up?? Waiting Game How to Deal with the Silence After a Job Interview ? How Soon Should I Send a SECOND Follow-up musiknote?? When Will I Finally Hear Back from a Job Interview?? How To Stay Sane (and Employable) While Looking for a Job? How Do You Measure Your Own Career Success?

A Helping Robotic Hand

A Helping Robotic Hand A Helping Robotic Hand A Helping Robotic HandIt can be easy to take things for granted. You go to the library, you grab a book, and start reading, never appreciating the action. Not the reading of the book itselfbut the fact that you just grabbed something.Even just gripping an object, something most of us do every day without thinking about it, can be a monumental struggle for others. Surabhi Mundada, a high school student, took on the challenge of trying to make a difference in those peoples lives.Interest into ActionIve been part of numerous science projects. I never delved into programming and robotics, but I welches interested in bioengineering, she says. I saw gripping welches an area that was a big problem for many. I wanted to make something to wear that could help with issues like tremors.Starting work on MyGlove in November 2014 while still a sophomore at Olympia High School in Olympia, WA, she had high hopes, but just as importantly, patience. And th is past fall, she became a Google Science Fair finalist.Surabhi Mundada demonstrating her project. Image Surabhi MundadaFor initial research, she delved into issues such as what kind of hand impairments existed and how they affected those who were suffering. I also researched what kind of sensors could be used for impaired movements and other areas, she says. I also made multiple test plans and diagrams. Many things got my creativity going.She quickly saw creating the glove meant dealing with a learning curve. I didnt have expertise but found guidance on it through the internet and open source. Arduino can help your learning, she says. I also didnt know a lot about robotics so it was hard to figure out which parts were causing issues. I overcame it partly with systematic debugging and taking it one step at a time.MyGlove uses sensors and servos based on sensor data. It moves and improves hand movement and reduces time to close the hand for a variety of objects. It can hold something as delicate as a Styrofoam cup, she says. MyGlove can detect tremors through sensors and then indicate whether the tremor is happening by LEDs. And MyGlove can control tremors with actuators that affect the amplitude.The MyGlove holding a styrofoam cup. Image Surabhi MundadaHer invention also placed high at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the robotics and intelligent machines category, and it may just be that the skys the limit. I would like to see MyGlove be connected to an app for patients and doctors to monitor and for self diagnosis, she says. I can see the technology being applied for other medical usages because there are multiple applications in the way it uses soft robotics. Since it has tremor control in mind, it could probably help for other symptom control and possibly for other medical conditions to assist with different impairments. I would love to see just how many people this could help.Growing with the ExperienceBut beyond the possibilities o f her invention are the experiences she takes with her.I learned so much about the mechanical aspects and, since this was an engineering project, how to systematically approach problems, she says. This is engineering and any obstacle can pop up and you have to take it on. I learned to plan ahead, be prepared and have perseverance. Its fun to create something and see how you can improve it.Eric Butterman is an independent writer.Learn about the latest trends in biomedical devices at ASMEsNEMBConference.I would love to see just how many people this could help.Surabhi Mundada, high school student

5 Tips for a Memorable LinkedIn Profile

5 Tips for a Memorable LinkedIn Profile5 Tips for a Memorable LinkedIn ProfileLinkedIn operates the worlds largest professional network on the Internet with more than 400 million members in over 200 countries and territories. But simply signing up isnt going to land you a job. Your profile needs to stand out to entice recruiters and hiring managers. Make yours a memorable LinkedIn profile with the tips belowHere are five informative and appealing strategies to create a memorable LinkedIn profile 1. Include a photo.Eyes naturally gravitate toward a picture. Providing one gives viewers a visual to attach to the information they read, which makes you more memorable. Choose a good quality head shot in which you convey professionalism and friendliness- qualities that welcome profil employers to pursue further action. 2. Craft a powerful headline.Dont waste prime real estate with the default Job Title at Company X. Use the space after your name to tell the LinkedIn world what you do, what your impact will be, or what you are passionate about, says business and life strategist Erica McCurdy. Leave the employment section to tell the story of your work history. You have one opportunity to make an impression on your potential employer- give them a reason to look further.3. Add some pizzazz.While a profile should include your educational and professional qualifications, dont simply treat it as a carbon copy of your resume. Instead, use the space to paint a vivid picture of who you are and what you bring to the table. Career coach Cheryl E. Palmer, owner of Call to Career, suggests these attention-grabbersIncorporate multimedia. You can upload audio files, as well as video and PowerPoint presentations, that illustrate your expertise. For example, you can show growth in sales by including a chart that shows a spike in sales over time. Including multimedia on your profile will add more life to it and give potential employers a more comprehensive view of you as a candidate.Ad d examples of your work. Providing great blog posts can be an excellent way of demonstrating your expertise.You can upload posts along with pictures that illustrate the theme of your posts. Then you can add keywords so that your posts can be found.Include links to outside profiles or portfolios. LinkedIn allows you to not only list your published works, but also to link to them on the web. Showing that you have been published gives your profile greater credibility.4. Include testimonials.Just as you might read customer reviews before making a purchase, potential employers turn to input from others before investing in a candidate. Put the information at their fingertips by including recommendations from previous supervisors, colleagues, and clients attesting to your abilities.5. Complete the entire profile.Finally, take heed of this advice from Karen Taylor Roane, founder of New Destiny Marketing, in buchung to be a stand out both literally and figuratively. Work on your profile unti l you reach LinkedIn all-star status by filling everything that LinkedIn suggests you fill out (see this rating on the right-hand side of your profile page). This is another way to help you come up higher in the search ranking.And including that extra bit of information- whether talking about your volunteer work or listing membership in a college sorority- may be just the edge that keeps a viewer around a little longer and lands you an interview.Readers, what have you done to create a memorable LinkedIn profile? Share your tips with us below

Conquer your Hiring Challenges with a Talent Pipeline

Conquer your Hiring Challenges with a Talent PipelineConquer your Hiring Challenges with a Talent PipelineConquer your Hiring Challenges with a Talent Pipeline ConlanDo you struggle to stay ahead of hiring demands? If so, a talent pipeline provides a proactive approach to manage current and future staffing needs.A well-stocked talent pipeline can generate multiple benefits- Identify the talent youll need in advance Insure your new hires are a better fit Improve your employee retention ratesWhile it requires a bit of front-end work, a well-planned talent pipeline is likely to pay off in the long run.It doesnt take a million dollars, but it does take investments in time and conversations, says Natasha Stough, Americas director of campus recruiting at EY, a professional services firm headquartered in London.Heres how to get it right.Set your Hiring StrategyThe first step in the process align your talent-pipeline strategy with your overall business strategy. This will identify your rea l hiring needs.For example, does your company expect an increased hiring demand and theability to respond quickly? Does it plan to acquire other companies? What roles will be key in those scenarios?Stough works with EYs leaders to better understand the external marketplace and internal challenges. Business needs are changing, and its critical that we are aligned with the business to anticipate those changes, she says.So much of recruiting, particularly entry-level hiring, is done one to two years in advance, so its important to understand the direction the business is moving in.Assess Hiring NeedsOnce youve identified your companys direction and how your talent pipeline will support it, its time to determine where your talent pool is now and where it needs to be.Start by identifying key talent in the organization who can take on a larger role. Thenactively develop them for the future, says Melanie Lundberg, assistant vice president of talent management and corporate communications a t Combined Insurance, a Chubb company, based in Glenview, Illinois.Assess these high-qualifikation candidates carefully, experts say. Its a determination of all capabilities, says Brannigan Thompson, senior vice president for talent, organization and leadership development at Voya Financial, based in New York City. Its not just the skills but also the behavioral component as well. Its both what theyll do and how theyll do it.High-quality tech-based assessment tools can provide objective, data-driven reports of employees current competencies and potential for growth, she says.Develop your Workforce Your strongest asset when developing a talent pipeline is your current employees. After all, they are a proven fit and understand your business. You also know the skills they need to take on new responsibilities. Now is the time to coach them through some growth.Companies with a strong company culture that promotes feedback will find this easier to do, experts say.People tend to be afraid of hearing about themselves, especially about their shortcomings, Thompson says. To address this challenge, Voya relies on objective assessment data to help employees understand where their development points are, and fosters a culture of feedback. It also allows employees to learn from failure.We make it clear that its OK to make mistakes as long as youre learning from them, correcting them and then forgetting them, he says. While Looking Externally to Fill GapsThere will be roles that your internal employees arent ready to take on or that they may not be interested in. In those cases youll need to hire from outside. Its important to find both the skills and cultural fit so your new hires can hit the ground running, Thompson says.The best way to attract qualified talent is to create a compelling, authentic and distinctive employer brand, says Kevin Keohane, director of brand and talent strategy at PartnersCreative, an advertising agency in Missoula, Montana.Keohane suggests using s ocial media recruiting to establish a presence in specialized interest spaces (such as online tech discussion boards.) Another option is to develop a recruiting relationship with academic institutions.When youre getting it right, you are attracting smaller numbers of perfectly qualified candidates and developing your own people so they are growing with the business, Keohane says.Leverage Current EmployeesA brandful workforce is essential to build up your talent pipeline, Stough says. Employees can provide real-life information about what its like to work at your company their friends and former colleagues are also likely to be a good fit. Make it clear to employees that you welcome their efforts to be brand ambassadors.Encourage them to share behind-the-scenes social media posts about what its like to work at your company. In addition, referral programs that reward employees for tapping their networks for potential hires can spark interest.Keep an Eye on the FutureRemind hiring mana gers and department leaders about the importance of taking the long view when assessing talent. Encourage them to think months and years in advance when hiring and developing employees. And be sure to keep them up to date on how your business strategy may impact hiring.At Voya, managers are accountable for talent pipelines Thompson says. Theyre required to have a succession plan in place to continually identify who will fill key roles and what they need to get there.We spend a tremendous amount of time internally developing leadership and criteria, as well as the courses and paths that employees can take to learn more, he says.A talent pipeline can help your company prepare for talent needs, including those you plan for as well as unexpected hires. Its one of the most effective ways to conquer your staffing challenges.

Kids, Work and Federal Resume Builder

Kids, Work and Federal Resume Builder ur resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that will allow you to get your fantasy job. Tailoring your resume for each particular federal job announcement may be the key to your success. There are lots of things you ought to take into consideration if you wish to compose work application. In seriousness, its dependent on what type of job that youre applying for. In a bid to compose a job resume, you have to bear in mind the work that you mean to enter in. Which format you select will depend, in part, on the kind of work youve performed and whether you are likely to continue in the exact field. It is possible to show that the supervisor might be contacted after a work offer on your uploaded resume. You may also cause a searchable, master resume that enables HR specialists to get in touch with you about an opportunity which may be a wonderful fit for your abilities and experience. Each component of the resume is necessary to your resume meeting the minimal qualifications. Your experience should address every necessary qualification in the job announcement. Well, it needs to address every required qualification. All work experience does not need to be listed if it doesnt deal with the skills required for the career change. The Ultimate Federal Resume Builder Trick The free resume machine can be a great application if you want to create a professional CV. So, your resume must be somewhat much perfect. There are various ways to organize your resume. There are a few of the various ways to frame a resume. What You Should Do to Find Out About Federal Resume Builder Before Youre Left Behind A number of them are Veterans themselves. Federal jobs often need you to have experience in a particular kind of work for some period of time. A Federal Worker resume should clearly demonstrate a candidates capacity to work in a particular field of government. An outstanding Federal Worker resume, includin g this example, will incorporate a range of impressive skills your employer or client is searching for in a candidate. Federal hiring managers wish to know you can follow instructions until they consider your actual qualifications. Our customers say that hiring CareerProPlus is among the best decisions they ever made Hiring agencies will try to find particular terms in your resume to make sure to have the experience theyre seeking. Knowledgeable workers may decide to only list jobs held in the past ten years. Whispered Federal Resume Builder Secrets Get in touch with us for a completely free consultation if you would like to know more or if you truly feel prepared to start on your high-quality federal job resume. Stephanie donaldson has been writing resumes for the past twenty decades. Which is extremely important part of your professional Resume. Resumes are written dependent on the exercise evaluations. Picking the most appropriate job application structure is vital to must appropriate process to write application effectively. There are a number of basic sorts of resumes used to fill out an application for job openings. The USAJOBS application procedure is intended to weed out candidates who cant follow precise instructions. The procedure for building your resume and applying online might take several hours. Because every work announcement will require a tailored resume, theres no federal resume writing guide that will supply you with surefire outcomes. Click the next link for more info about what to put in your federal resume. Writing a federal resume means following federal resume guidelines to ensure hiring managers are in a location to come across the precise details they want to get with only a quick glance. Furthermore, federal presentation resume format depends on specific job announcements.

Adopt a School Program

Adopt a School Program Adopt a School ProgramPosted October 13, 2011, by Helen Isbister Australian schools are being adopted by an unlikely parent. Not by Madonna or Brangelina, but by the Transport and Logistics industry. It might sound like an unusual arrangement, but its definitely proving to be a beneficial one. The Adopt a School Program gives employers (in a skills-short industry) access to an energetic group of talent while also giving the next generation of workers a practical opportunity to learn more about the sector. Local businesses join forces with schools, so students can obtain real experience, learn about career opportunities, find out about the types of skills employees are looking for and build networks to ease the transition between school and the big wide world of work. Lessons for life The program works in two ways. One sees a student spending one day a week onsite with an industry employer while obtaining a TL qualification. The other stream involves students doing an apprentice by spending two days a week as an employee of a company while completing Year 12. Students can work across warehousing, waste management, marine, freight forwarding, aviation, road transport and furniture removals. Adopt a School provides the industry with a strategy to meet future skill needs, gives employers access to a diverse talent pool and allows young people to gain hands-on experience, Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said at the launch of the program this week. It also showcases how effective partnerships between government, industry and the education sector can produce skilled young workers and trainees. Great results It seems schools and businesses alike are jumping on board, with the number of schools with Transport and Logistics trainees growing from just two in 2006 to 200 today. When we first started this program, we would present to schools and students, and they would have little understanding of the industry and what it has to offer , says Sky Collings, the Acting Director of Industry Capability, Department of Transport and Main Roads. Now, schools are knocking ur doors down to be involved. They have seen the success of the program and what dynamic career opportunities are available. Get moving with transport and logistics careers The $63 billion transport and logistics industry employs five per cent of Australias workforce and with that number set to double by 2020 there are plenty of job opportunities on offer. We still have the retirement of the baby boomers and the economic recovery ahead of us, says Collings. This is not the time to wind up, it is the time to ramp up. We need to increase the profile and professionalism of our industry. A career in transport and logistics can rival the traditional professions. With the help of the government, the Adopt a School Program has also been adopted by the agricultural, food and broadcast industries.Logistics ResourcesWarehouse manager resumeWarehouse manager co ver letterCareer Insider StoriesBashir Mourad - Supply Chain Manager at Johnson & JohnsonInterested in becoming a?Supply Chain ManagerLogistics ManagerContract AdministratorProcurement OfficerSupply Chain Customer Service ManagerPopular Career Searcheshow to become a procurement officer in australiagovernment funded logistics courses onlinewhere to study logistics in australiaprocurement and contract management online coursesgovernment funded logistics courses qldLogistics CoursesDiploma of LogisticsEnquire Online Enquire OnlineGraduate Certificate of Supply Chain and Logistics Managemen...Enquire Online Enquire OnlineDiploma of LogisticsEnquire Online Enquire OnlineDiploma of Facilities ManagementEnquire Online Enquire OnlineHelen IsbisterRelated ArticlesBrowse moreWORKFORCE TRENDSSkilling Solutions for Queensland T&L workersA new program has been launched to help transport and logistics workers in Queensland gain vocational advice and recognition of their skills and experience to boost their careers.LogisticsTradesTransport and logistics careers on the moveTransport and logistics may not have a reputation as a glamorous industry, but dont be fooled. The sector has plenty to offer when it comes to job prospects and wages.CAREER ADVICEMaternity leaveParents returning to workIf your life for the past months or years has been nothing but changing nappies, feeding hungry mouths or ferrying the kids to school, then the thought of getting into a suit and hitting the job trail may seem hugely daunting.

What Not To Do on Twitter if You Want to Stay Employed

What Not To Do on Twitter if You Want to Stay EmployedWhat Not To Do on Twitter if You Want to Stay EmployedAh, technology. Whether its staying in touch with family and friends, checking out the latest trending news story or just catching up on ridiculously cute cat memes, social media sites have certainly had a big impact on the way that we communicate as a society. In many ways, the ability to stay instantaneously informed can be beneficial on both a social and professional level. But with great power comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to the world of Twitter and your job stability.Well admit that when it comes to role models for what you should and should not say via Twitter, you may not have the best modern examples. From political leaders and knee-jerk reactions to celebs making cringe-worthy social faux pas, its hard to know just where to draw the line with your personal tweet-storms. If this sounds familiar, youre in luck. Weve compiled some common sense advi ce for what elend to do on twitter if you like your job and want to stay employedTalking Politics (or anything controversial for that matter)We all remember the sage wisdom regarding politics and religion. In short, you just dont talk about these kinds of hot-button topics if you want to keep conversations congenial. When it comes to the Twitter-sphere, much the same can be said, or not said. If youre employed with a large company, are in a high-level position or would have concerns about your employer learning your political views its best to keep political leanings to less public, in person surrounds.Posting to the Wrong AccountThis one goes out to the social media managers out there. If you are in charge of posting to your employers Twitter profile, pay special attention to enkoranvers which voice youre using before hitting the tweet button. Posting a personal message, especially if its off-color, to your companys profile, can cause brand and client confusion, looks unprofessiona l and can ultimately cost you your job. Keep personal tweets to personal time and be sure to practice good login and logout hygiene to keep things copasetic. Complaining About Your Job/Boss/ClientWeve all had those tough days at the office. Maybe you were called into your boss office for a formal dressing down or had to deal with a less-than-amazing client call. While venting to a trusted friend or family member over a glass of wine is one way to release some stress, tweeting about the experience probably isnt going to get you high marks with your employer. To avoid word getting back to your company that youre a negative nancy, or less than a team player, keep your opinions on work to verbal communications only. Dont take the risk that an equally frustrated co-worker, HR rep or direct report can see and use your tweets against you. The Mom RuleWere all guilty from time to time of saying something we later regret. When it comes to Twitter, however, these mistaken postings can haunt y our virtual reputation for years to come. When in doubt, before posting insightful, rude or otherwise less than politically correct, ask yourself one simple question what would mom do?The mom test is a great pre-screening tool for just about anything youd say in public but is especially helpful for protecting your job from the prying eyes of your employer. If you wouldnt make a gutachten or claim in front of your mother, chances are your employer wont appreciate it either. Avoid saying anything distasteful or cringe-worthy in general, even if you think your account security is on lockdown. Remember mother knows best and youll never end up on the wrong side of a PC tweetstorm.

The Pros and Cons of Being a Stock Photography Model

The zu nutz und frommens and Cons of Being a Stock Photography ModelThe Pros and Cons of Being a Stock Photography ModelAt first thought, becoming a stock photography model seems like a terrific idea. After one little photo session, your image could appear in magazine ads, in digital ads, on billboards, on posters, and even on book covers- basically any type of marketing that requires a person with your specific look. It all seems so easy. But is stock photography modeling as great as it seems? Pro No Experience Required The stock photography industry is relatively easy to break into. You dont need years of experience or a stellar portfolio to land a job. If you have a look that appeals to the masses and can fit a general physical description, you can probably get yourself on a stock photography website. It helps, too, that stock photos are in high demand and always will be. That means that stock photo agencies are always searching for models- and plenty of them. Pro the Pay Is Pretty Good Stock photography wont make you rich, but its an easy way to make a few bucks. Generally speaking, you can expect to earn anywhere from $75 to $200 for a couple hours work. Not bad, considering its not too challenging and can be loads of fun. Just dont forget that even though stock photography modeling isnt one of the more commonly recognized types of modeling (like commercial, plus size, fashion, etc.), its leise modeling To ensure your safety, you must be sure youre only working with legitimate modeling agencies and photographers. Con the Photos Are Generic If youre looking to bulk up your portfolio with unique photos that show off your versatility and personality, then stock photography is not for you. Stock photos are always generic photos of people, places, and things. No exceptions. And theres a reason for this In order for a stock photographer and a stock photo website to license the photo as many times as possible (in other words make as much money as pos sible), the photos need to work with all types of content and all types of needs. Hence the not-so-interesting nature of stock photography. Having said that, you may still be able to get a few shots for your book to impress future agents and clients. Con Flat Fees Stock photography models are paid a one-time flat fee. You show up for the shoot, you get paid, you get sent on your way. Thats the last youll hear of it. So even though whoever buys the photo has to pay more for certain usage rights, sizes, distributions, duration, etc., the model wont get any extra money for it. This is especially painful when your photo appears on the cover of a magazine or pops up as a brand-name ad on a popular website. Con You Never Know Whos Using Your Photos Even though you can see your photos sell, you have no idea who bought them or where theyll appear. Sometimes the element of surprise is fun, as in, Hey, so-and-so just said they saw me in an ad for cheese But its not always this amusin g. When you sign a stock photo release form, chances are your photo can be used for any purpose, in any form, to sell any product, with any modification, in perpetuity. That means you might not always like where your photo ends up, especially if the ad is for something that conflicts with a higher paying jobs you book later or violates your ethical or seelenlage beliefs. Con It Can Interfere With Future Bookings If you go on to pursue other types of modeling (commercial modeling, for example), potential clients may ask you if youve ever done an ad for a competing company or product. The problem is, if youve done stock photography, you wont have a clue and you wont have any way of finding out. So you either have to turn down the job (the smart decision) or accept it and be prepared to face some nasty legal ramifications down the road (never a good idea). At the end of the day, its important to weigh all the pros and cons to determine if doing stock photography modeling will be o f benefit to you. For some, generally those in smaller markets, it can be a fantastic way to earn extra income for others in larger markets who are already signed to a major agency, it may not be.

4 Reasons You Deserve to Take a Personal Day - The Muse

4 Reasons You Deserve to Take a Personal Day - The Muse4 Reasons You Deserve to Take a Personal DayRemember when you were a kid and youd pretend to be sick because you didnt want to go to school that day?Well, when youre an adult, you technically dont have to pretend anymore. You can just take a personal day when you need a break. But thats always easier said than done, right? Its hard to look your boss (and your co-workers) in the eye and say that youre taking a day off for personal reasons. But if you have personal days worked into your benefits, you 100% should be taking themSo, when can you let yourself off the guilt hook and take advantage of those personal day youve earned?Here are four times you deserve to stay at home, unplug, and relax- completely guilt-free.1. You Could Really Use the Day Off for a Doctors Appointment/Family Matter/MovingWe all know how hard it can be to lock down that dentist appointment when your dentists been booked up for months. Or, how challenging it is to pack up your entire apartment to move when your only free time is after work, when youre exhausted.You shouldnt feel guilty for using one of your PTO days to take care of a personal matter (theyre called personal days after all). Especially if the situation feels nothing like something youd categorize under a vacation day or sick day. As Muse editor, Stacey Lastoe, perfectly puts it, a personal day can be just that, something more personal that youre less likely to be pressed about, even casually.2. You Havent Taken a Break in a Really Long TimeMaybe its been many months since your last vacation, or you havent missed a single day of work in the past year (not even when everyone else was out sick with the flu).Sure, maybe youre not burned out, but youve also been working hard, and a day off sounds really good right about now. Youve earned yourself a break- and youd be surprised how much more refreshed youll feel after even a day away from your computer.3. Youre Burning Out (and People Are Starting to Notice)Of course, if you havent taken many days off and you find yourself losing steam, patience, and quite possibly your head, I not only recommend but insist you take a day for yourself.And chances are Im not the only one who thinks so. If you can feel yourself burning out- and fast- your team can probably sense it, too. Maybe youre turning in sub-par work, or constantly missing deadlines, or quiet in brainstorming sessions. Regardless, youre not contributing a whole lot, and might benefit from some time off.4. You Dont Have Any Plans to Use Up Your PTO DaysLets say your company gives you 15 total PTO days. You use a couple when youre deathly ill, maybe one for a long weekend, but besides that youre just not the vacation type. For you, using up a weeks worth of days doesnt seem necessary, and yet youre getting paid for them, so you cant not use them.This could be a great opportunity to take time here or there when you find yourself tired, overwhelmed, or ju st in need of a lazy day. Skipping out on work when you dont have a legitimate (in professional terms) reason can feel sleazy, but in reality youre probably a lot more blameless than youd think. Personal days are meant for helping you be your best work self- just like vacation and sick days- which can mean anything from recovering from mental and emotional exhaustion (read burnout) to getting your life under control so you can come back to work ready to be productive.So really, using them is one of the smartest things you can do in your career.Ready to take the leap? Heres how to ask your boss for time off the right way.