Do you understand your professional value?
When shopping, many people focus on finding the best value for their money; a fair price for a good or service that is purchased. Employers do the same thing when they hire new employees. An employer will consider what wage is fair for employees who will use their skills and knowledge to perform work on behalf of the organization. Potential employees should be very aware of this! It can put them in a position where they can understand and communicate their professional value. This can maximize earning potential and allow employees to find positions that will suit their skills, interests, experience, and career goals. How can you identify your professional value? Two ways are to identify your hard skills (also called technical skills) and soft skills (also called transferable skills).
read moreNew year, new job? Ask yourself these questions before you start that search!
Are you thinking…new year, new job? It’s natural to consider making a fresh start at the beginning of a new year. If your fresh start involves a new job, make sure you clarify what you are looking for from multiple perspectives. Asking yourself about these four key elements will allow you to define your goals and create a foundation for a successful search. Those elements are duties and responsibilities, interests and values, work culture, and availability and sustainability.
read moreThe job sounds great, but is the new workplace a fit for you?
A new job brings about a lot of changes, which can make you feel both excited and nervous. Most people do a lot of research throughout the job search process on the jobs themselves so they can best show how they are qualified based on their skills and experience. That is a must when applying for a job and completing the interview process. What many candidates don’t consider is that they are interviewing the company just as much as the company is interviewing them. Part of that consideration is the workplace itself, namely its culture. You can secure what you deem to be the perfect job in terms of duties and responsibilities, but if the workplace culture isn’t a match it significantly decreases your chances of success in the role. How can you find out if that workplace is a fit or you?
read moreGet out of your career rut!
Your work life will most likely feature both highs and lows. Sometimes when you are stuck in a rut you don’t know where to start in order to get out of it. You may feel overwhelmed, frustrated, lost, or even scared. The good news? There are many career opportunities out there that can provide fulfillment. The bad news? It can be hard to find the right opportunity for you given your experience, skills, and interests. The following are strategies to help you get moving forward again. The keys are to start small, educate yourself, and focus on the positive.
read moreSo many ways to learn and advance your career!
Investing in your career is a must in order to keep your professional life moving forward. One way to do that is to engage in educational and professional development opportunities. Advances in technology and the increasing role of analytics in determining how companies make decisions have reinforced the importance of an intelligent and capable workforce. How can you tap into educational and professional development opportunities? Consider participating in employer-sponsored programs, industry options, and online resources.
read moreTransform your internship into a job!
Participating in an internship is a great way to gain relevant experience in a job or field that interests you. It allows you to learn and apply important professional skills, adjust to a new work setting, and start building your network with colleagues. There is a steady stream of research that has shown that completing an internship increases your chances of getting a full-time job, which makes sense. Employers want to know if a potential employee can do the job (based on skills and experience) and will fit with company culture (based on attitude, motivation, and soft skills). Internships allow employers to evaluate potential employees prior to making a full-time offer based on that criteria. So, once you land an internship, what can do you to increase your chances of turning that opportunity into a full-time job? Consider the key elements of performance, networking, and unique value.
read moreDo you need noise canceling headphones for your career?
Many people, especially those who travel, use noise canceling headphones. Not only do noise canceling headphones block out exterior noise, they allow you to limit distractions and focus on what is important to you. Now, think about your career. It starts early. Young children are commonly asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” When the child answers, the response is met with some type of feedback and advice. Advice, which can be requested or unsolicited at times, continues throughout your life as you move through your career. It comes from family, friends, mentors, supervisors, colleagues, and sometimes total strangers. That advice, or noise, can become so loud it drowns out your own inner voice. When that happens, consider using your very own career-related noise canceling headphones.
read moreWhat are your career priorities?
Everyone has a set of priorities that is totally unique to that individual. Although you may share some priorities with other people, the exact combination and importance of each one is customized for you based on elements such as your values, interests, and goals. When it comes to your career, you will make decisions based on both personal and professional priorities since they affect each other.
read moreConsiderations before negotiating salary in a new city
Moving to a new city is exciting, especially if it involves a new job! Some of the changes that you will anticipate include a new community, position, company, and professional network of colleagues. What can surprise you are the financial implications of such a transition. Your compensation will be different, and most likely your cost of living will vary from your previous location as well. You can set yourself up for financial success by effectively negotiating the compensation you will receive in your new role as well as considering the financial implications of your new situation. Before you accept that offer and start packing, get your financial house in order. To do so, it’s essential to research the value of the new position (and your skills) in your new market and the cost of living in the anticipated location.
read moreBeware of these career watch-outs!
Your professional life is a journey. It will feature twists and turns, ups and downs. That said, each person’s journey will be different. I’ve worked with many people as they’ve developed career strategies and put them into action. I’ve witnessed great success, as well as many bumps in the road. Check out the following career strategy mistakes others have made. You can easily avoid them if you know what they are!
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