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Here’s What to Do When Your Boss Doesn’t Care About You

By U.S. News & World Report

If you think your boss couldn’t care less about your career growth, unfortunately, you’re not alone. In fact, according to a new Monster poll, 72 percent of respondents said they do not feel like their manager or supervisor is interested in their job growth.

Now, what are you going to do about it? The key to success involves being proactive, not reactive. With that in mind, here are some ways to continue your career growth when your boss isn’t helping pave the way.

[See: 7 Excellent Sales and Marketing Jobs for 2017.]

Find another boss who does care. When it’s apparent your boss just isn’t that into you, it’s time to look for one that is (yes, they do exist). If they don’t care about your growth, they don’t have your back and this trickles into other areas of office culture as well. If they don’t support you, it’s hard to expect them to go to bat for you when it’s salary review time, promotion time or time to look at expanding your role to delegating to others.

Everyone deserves a boss who cares about their accomplishments as well as their goals. The effort and focus devoted to looking for a new job is certainly much better than putting up with a boss who doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Plus, as frustrated as you may feel with this supervisor, the mere act of starting today to look for a new job will hopefully lessen the energy exerted on this frustrating situation. After all, it’s temporary and will hopefully be in your rearview mirror.

Accept the realities. A common issue with a boss who doesn’t care about his or her reports is about equal pay. What can you do when you discover you earn less than your colleague doing the same work? Do your due diligence and conduct research to find out how much you should be paid (it may even be more than what that colleague is making). Schedule time on your boss’s calendar to address it conversationally (not confrontationally even though that’s probably your gut instinct) and follow through.

When they say they can’t do anything or they tried and the inequity is due to reason X, the point of the matter is this: The writing’s on the wall. Yes, it’s disheartening, but at least now you know your options: Stay where you are and continue to get underpaid or look for a better job where you’re paid what you’re worth and recognized for the work you do.

[See: 10 Reasons to Quit Your Job Already.]

When you work incredibly hard and want recognition and your boss just says, “So?” or you’re seeking to attend a training class or you want a promotion with increased responsibilities (and a nice title to go along with it) and the answer is a blank stare, it can be incredibly frustrating.

Don’t fight it. Accept it and be grateful you at least now know what you need to do. Instead of dwelling on the point that your boss simply doesn’t care, make this a productive use of your time and energy instead. Look for a new job.

Seek support elsewhere. If you don’t have a mentor yet, now’s the time to find one. And if you do have one, now’s the time to reach out to them. Meet with them to discuss your goals and brainstorm potential new goals you may not have even thought about. Not only does it help to have a road map to help you get to your next step, it’s reassuring to know you have people to look up to who are on your side.

Instead of constantly having to prove yourself to a boss who just won’t get it anyway, seek guidance and support elsewhere. Plus, this person can also serve as a sounding board and source of insight when you ask what you’re worth with your new salary once you start interviewing.

[See: 14 Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance.]

Be the change you want to see. If you are a supervisor, take a moment to ask yourself, “Do my direct reports realize I care about their growth?” Show, don’t tell.

The next time you meet with them, indicate you want to talk about where they see their career going and most importantly, how you can help get them there. Do they need to hone a particular skill or gain experience on a specific project? Create opportunities for them while realizing your actions will likely demonstrate you truly do care about their growth. Be vocal, be proactive and recognize their hard work and teamwork when you witness it.

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Here’s What to Do When Your Boss Doesn’t Care About You originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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