Archive for 'career success'

3 Reasons Why You Are Not Defined By Your Job

Thursday, July 26th, 2012 at 12:21 PM  
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You are at a dinner party working the room, mingling with familiar faces and meeting new ones.  Dressed to impress, you introduce yourself with an inviting smile and a firm handshake. Your new acquaintance expresses what a pleasure it is to meet you, and then uses the all too familiar fallback conversation starter:

“So, John…what do you do?” 

How many times have you had to answer that question? Probably more than you care to answer. This age old form of small talk illustrates how identity is often tied to profession by an awkward blurry line that merges who we are with what we do for a living. As if in our minds we believe that in order to understand someone else, we must first know what work they do.

This is not a new phenomenon. In years past, people were often known by their job titles. In South Africa, for instance, many family names stemmed from the husband’s occupation. The now common first and last name “Piet Poliesman”  literally translates to, “Peter the Police Officer.” Talk about personal branding!

Sure, the activities that we are involved in (including work) take up a large portion of our time, energy, and attention and therefore does determine the focus of much of our lives. But does work define our lives and our existence? I think not.

The world of work is different today than it was for our friend Peter. Those living in the 20th century learned that if they were loyal to an organization they would be rewarded with stable employment and likely also financial security – the ingredients that offered them a firm foundation for a life and future. Unfortunately, in today’s world of work, this is no longer the case, so it is foolish to try to define ourselves in the same way. Today:

Organizations are fluid

The 21st century has brought with it rapid advances in information technology which vastly expanded world markets. Globalization has necessitated that organizations operate and make decisions not only quicker, but also smarter. Consequently, barriers between functional units are often removed, thereby essentially flattening hierarchical structures of the 20th century to create organizations that are in essence boundaryless. Read the rest of this entry

10 Tips for Following Up with Networking Contacts Effectively

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 6:44 AM  
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If active networking is not part of your current job search strategy, it really, really, should be. Today’s economy has left countless job seekers eager for employment opportunities, and employers often experience an overwhelming response to position postings. With so many strong candidates waiting in line, many employers find it easier to fill job openings directly instead of advertising on job boards or with placement agencies. The result? CNN has estimated that 80% of jobs are never advertised and instead filled through networking and employee referrals!

I hope that statistic made you wonder how many job opportunities you’ve inadvertently missed out on. Never ever underestimate the power of your connections during your job search. Networking opportunities exist all around you – not just at professional conferences or business meetings. You never know who might be sitting next to you on the train, or who might share an elevator with you during your lunch break. Show a sincere interest in those around you, as that might just be the seed needed to start growing a mutually beneficial networking relationship.

It might not come naturally to everyone to strike up conversations with near strangers. Just like riding a bike, practice will make perfect. You might choose to start building your networking skills with everyday people who are not intimidating, and then work your way up to professional networking events with higher level executives. You might find this recent Forbes article helpful for finding non-awkward ways to network with others in everyday situations. Read the rest of this entry

6 Ways to Stay Invigorated While Adjusting to Your New Job

Friday, April 27th, 2012 at 1:28 AM  
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As a new hire, your days may feel like you’re putting out one fire after another, barely making it through the day without third degree burns. Not only are you learning about your new role, your colleagues, your company, and office politics, you are also trying very hard to seem like you know what you’re doing – at least most of the time. Despite the biggest and most sincere can-do attitude, there may be days that just zap your energy, leaving you feeling low, grouchy, exhausted, or even physically ill.

Off days are just a part of being human, so refrain from punishing yourself for not being able to always bring your A game in the way that you’d hoped.  I heard this analogy recently that seemed very appropriate. Imagine you’re carrying bags of groceries from your vehicle into your house, not realizing that the bags have holes in them. As you’re walking along, you’re merrily leaving a trail of items behind unknowingly. When you reach your pantry, ready to unpack your bags, you can’t help but wonder, “Didn’t I have more than this?”

Both at work and at home, you’re constantly giving parts of yourself away. You share your energy, drive, excitement, emotions, stamina, and even your patience. I don’t need to tell you that you can’t keep giving away what you don’t have, and can’t spend energy that you’ve already spent. You owe it to yourself (and arguably also those around you, including your boss) to reinvigorate yourself so that you can be your best self. Read the rest of this entry

5 Tips for Adapting to Company Culture as a New Hire

Sunday, April 15th, 2012 at 7:18 AM  
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Chameleons are under appreciated. Just imagine the constant challenge of changing your colors to blend in with the environment around you. On a leaf, you’d have to turn green. On a twig, you’d have to turn brown. No matter the place, you’d have to camouflage your true self to ensure your survival. You see, all good chameleons know: Conformity = safety;  being different = danger. New hires would be well served following a similar philosophy, as the “safety in conformity” rule is not only relevant to our colorful friends.

As you might have learned the hard way, we share the chameleon’s burden at various life stages. Our society tends to celebrate conformity while (sadly) often squashing anything that seems outside of the ordinary.You might have experienced this reality in high school when you learned that popularity is directly correlated with your wardrobe as well as your ability to not mess up the bell curve. There is safety in being just like everybody else, or at least acting like you are just like everybody else.

Your liberation from high school and college did not release you from this reality. As a new hire in a company, the “safety in conformity” rule is especially relevant – with much higher stakes. Here, if you fail to fit in with your new team’s culture, you might not only become the black sheep of the office. Much worse, you might get fired! A recent Forbes article indicated that nearly half of new hires fail within the first 18 months, most due to “attitudinal reasons,” including (from the employer’s perspective): temperament (yes, personality!), low levels of emotional intelligence and motivation, and lack of coachability (i.e., inflexibility). Read the rest of this entry

5 Transferable Skill Sets to Mention in Your Job Application

Monday, April 9th, 2012 at 10:27 PM  
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Today’s competitive market forces many job seekers to pursue positions outside of the field that they are most qualified for. If you find yourself in this situation, the good news is that you likely possess transferable skills that are marketable across industries. For instance, Research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recently revealed that above all else, “employers are looking for team players and candidates who have strong verbal communication skills.” Other transferable skills and characteristics most sought after by employers include:

  1. Team focus
  2. Strong verbal communication
  3. Decision-making and problem solving
  4. Obtaining and processing information
  5. Planning, organizing, and prioritizing work
  6. Analyze quantitative data
  7. Possessing technical knowledge
  8. Being computer proficient
  9. Creating and/or editing written reports
  10. Selling or influencing others

If you are hoping to break into a new industry, or even just want your application to stand out from the crowd, it is therefore essential that you carefully incorporate these and other transferable skills into your resume and cover letter. Transferable skills can be categorized into five broad areas: 1) Communication skills, 2) Research and Planning, 3) Interpersonal skills, 4) Organization, Management and Leadership, and 5) Work Survival Skills. Read the rest of this entry

Focus Your Online Job Search By Using Niche Websites.

Saturday, March 10th, 2012 at 10:48 PM  
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As a Career Counselor, I often have clients who are discouraged and exhausted by the job search process. They complain about the countless hours spent scouring the thousands of jobs listed on general job search websites, while typically finding few postings that are relevant to their specific career goals. With so many hours of job searching and such sincere effort, how is it possible to not have such few viable job leads? It is rather simple, actually: Quantity does not equal quality.  Casting a wide net might actually be counterproductive because you are opening yourself up to thousands of irrelevant and untrustworthy job postings.

If you are experiencing similar frustrations, it might be fruitful for you to redirect your time and attention to industry specific job boards and association websites. These sites will help you to maximize your time and use your online resources more efficiently during the job search process. First, niche job boards are especially helpful because they help to narrowly focus your job search efforts to positions related to your field of study, saving you time and energy. Below are a few websites that offer lists of job search websites by major / industry. As vast as the internet is, I cannot claim that these lists are exhaustive, but I do hope that you find them useful as you move forward in your job search.

Job search websites by field of study:

Additional sources offering extensive lists of job search websites by major: Read the rest of this entry

Career v. Life

Thursday, March 8th, 2012 at 9:27 PM  
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Work is part of life; it is healthy and constructive. It pays the bills. It gives the reward of real accomplishment and useful participation in community and society. It doesn’t matter if you are a Career Counselor like I am, a pizza delivery girl, a corporate executive, or an aspiring rocket scientist. Work can be wonderful and fulfilling if the fit is just right. However, as you might have learned, if not managed correctly, a job can also take a toll on your relationships, health, and overall sense of well-being.

The harsh reality of the current economic climate is that most of us are forced to do more with much, much less – both at work and at home. In today’s chaotic world, it is a safe bet that there just isn’t enough time in the average day to meet the responsibilities of work, family and friends. And, since our bosses hold a tight rein on our paychecks, it is likely that our family and friends are the ones who suffer. If you’re anything like me, you probably can’t find the time to return phone calls or remember to send a birthday card to your Aunt Betty. Thank goodness for Facebook! That’s all I’ve got to say about that.
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About

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 at 8:51 PM  
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“Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something… Find it             And keep it lit!” – Mary Lou Retton

My friend, there is a fire inside of you.  You might not know it or pay attention to it, but it is there.  Maybe you’ve buried it in a distant corner of your heart out of fear that you will not be able to follow its calling. Maybe you’ve not yet discovered its true potential.  No matter how hard you try to ignore it, deep inside you lies a PASSION- a relentless cheerleader pushing you to be the most extraordinary version of yourself.

What do you want to be remembered for? What is your deepest desire for your life? If money, prestige, power, and personal circumstances were of no concern to you, what would you want to be doing right now?  Chasing Your Fire is about knowing that you were destined for more than an average life and doing something about it. It is about  pursuing the things that you LOVE and feel compelled to do.  It’s about celebrating the activities, people, and dreams that make your soul come alive.

In each of us lies a desire to matter, a desire to be known, a desire to be remembered. Don’t let fear, money, prestige, or personal circumstances hinder you from pursuing the things that provide you with purpose in life and work. Just like a candle is much less useful without a flame, you will not be living to your fullest potential if you are not actively chasing your fire. As Nelson Mandela so wisely said, “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” So, my friends…

Don’t just settle for an average life. Liberate your best self. Be extraordinary!