Increasing Your Visibility At Work

Hard work pays off, but if you’re looking to get far in your career, you need to make sure that work is getting the right attention. Learning how to increase your visibility at work will make sure your accomplishments get noticed by your bosses, helping you land promotions and leadership opportunities.

The rise of remote and hybrid work models may add additional challenges in getting noticed, but those obstacles can be overcome with a little effort. Join us as we uncover some of the best ways to increase your visibility in today’s work climate.

Be an active participant

The obvious first answer is that the more active and vocal you are during the work, the more visible you’ll be. By speaking up in meetings, volunteering, and even simply turning on your camera during Zoom meetings, you’ll be engaged and visible to your team.

“Use your company’s platform to share important updates in respective channels, discuss ideas and encourage others to brainstorm. Be the one to break the ice.” –Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms

Soulcast Media CEO Jessica Chen says it only takes little extra work to speak up effectively in meetings. Before a meeting, make sure you understand the objective and what you can add to the conversation, and chime in when the moment is right. Just adding a little extra value to the meeting, only if you speak once, is enough to be noticed.

Partake in events

If you really want to take the next step. Go above and beyond where you can to get your presence out to many more people.

If your organization offers to chance to be part of an interdepartmental team, join a cross-department meeting, or have any sort of leadership opportunity, be one of the first to volunteer. This shows initiative, leadership, and ambition. It may be a little extra work, but if you’re looking to move up, it’s a good way to get noticed.

“Demonstrating a willingness to learn is another way to show initiative and boost your visibility at work. Improving your skills and qualifications can also lead to raises, promotions and other advancement opportunities.” –Caroline Castrillon, Forbes

Of course, not all opportunities like this need to be extra work. TalentBridge suggests going to conferences, charity events, and company parties when the opportunity arises. Even if you work remotely, your organization may offer remote happy hours or social periods you can join. By being at these social events and having casual conversations, you’ll be remembered.

Embrace social technology

If you work remotely, you’ll have to work a little harder to get noticed. But even if you meet in person, it’s still a good idea to get familiar with all technological tools at your disposal to maximize your communication potential and to become an expert others can rely on.

Jonathan Prichard of MattressInsider.com says to take advantage of collaborative software. Using a chat tool like Slack can increase your visibility while increasing others to do the same. Meanwhile, embracing project management tools can ensure everyone is involved and on the same page, leading to increased teamwork and productivity.

Maddyness suggests that becoming an expert on something is a great way to increase visibility, and mastering the technology your department uses is a great way. You don’t need to be a tech expert, either. If you master the ins and outs of Zoom, for example, you’ll be the go-to person for those in your department, and you can help new hires as well. You’ll carve a niche and be noticed.

Elevate others

Perhaps the best way to be seen in the workplace is to elevate everyone else around you. It’s good to make your bosses aware of your accomplishments, but it’s even better to help elevate your team and highlight their accomplishments.

Forbes’ Caroline Castrillon suggests sharing the spotlight by sharing your team’s accomplishments on any social tools your company uses and directly thanking people. This can build morale, enhance company culture, and put everyone in the spotlight together.

“Of course, be selective in your praise, but do go out of your way to recognize when others are doing a good job and that will make its way back to your work and your value added to the business. “-Matthew Capala, Alphametic

Harvard Business Review found that 51% of Gen Z workers feel unprepared to enter the workforce, and the pandemic also made work-related social skill use take a hit. Doing your best to offer help to those who may be struggling, including working with them on projects, highlighting their accomplishments, or simply thanking and appreciating their work can elevate their self-esteem and teach them how to communicate better at work. In the long run, this will highlight your empathy and leadership skills, but more importantly, you’ll be helping someone.

Wrap up

Increasing your visibility at work doesn’t mean asking, “Look at me!” Being actively engaged and enthused, making the most of communication tools, and helping others communicate and highlighting the work they’ve done will show you’re an actively engaged, helpful team member. These behaviors will also show that you’re a good coworker and can help build confidence as well!

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Industries Still Hiring Remote Workers In 2023

Since the pandemic started in 2020, we’ve seen a rapid rise in the availability of remote jobs. But by early 2023, many companies would prefer to have their staff back in the office. Despite this, a FlexJobs survey found that 65% of respondents wish to remain full-time workers.

Remote work is still a priority for many job seekers thanks to the plethora of conveniences it can offer. The good news is that many thriving industries are still offering remote positions. In fact, CNBC’s Greg Iacurci believes that remote work can thrive even in a recession thanks to its ability to trim labor costs.

FlexJobs found seven industries still offering 100% remote positions. We review their findings and add some of our own insights to assist with your search.

Top industries to explore

  1. Nonprofit & Philanthropy
  2. Analyst
  3. Legal
  4. Medical & Health
  5. Communications
  6. Accounting & Finance
  7. Project Management

Some of the top remote job titles FlexJobs found include Accountant, Executive Assistant, Customer Service Representative, Senior Financial Analyst, Recruiter, Project Manager, Technical Writer, Product Marketing Manager, Customer Success Manager, and Graphic Designer.

Industry analysis

FlexJobs’ senior content manager Jessica Howington notes that many of these categories fall into the “knowledge economy” line, meaning they rely on information and ideas. Because of the ease of sharing information online, it makes sense that these types of industries would continue to do well remotely. Tools like Zoom make it easy to hold digital “face-to-face” meetings, and those in these types of roles can easily service a large area of clients remotely.

This means that tech-savvy industries will continue to excel in offering remote work.

“Many businesses have recognized the advantages of allowing their workers to work remotely, including greater productivity, cheaper overhead costs, and the potential to tap into a worldwide talent pool.” -Simera Talent

In addition to the above industries, Jessica also expects Computer &IT, Marketing, HR & Recruiting, and Customer service to do well for similar reasons.

Recession proofing

While these industries may offer the most remote options compared to their peers, how safe are these industries overall when it comes to the looming recession?

FlexJobs’ research found steady growth in many of these industries through 2022, and that should hold through 2023. Accounting & Finances saw a 31% growth, Nonprofit & Philanthropy 55%, Communications 39%, and Legal 33%, while Medical & Health also saw good growth. HR & Recruiting, Marketing, Computer & IT, and Product Management also saw steady growth.

This is consistent with what we’ve found in our previous look into the most recession-proof industries for 2023. While not all jobs on that list are totally remote, there is a massive overlap with Healthcare and Financial Services. Both industries see steady historical growth during recessions—healthcare is always a necessity, and uncertain financial times mean more people are seeking expert help and financial advice. These industries also heavily rely on quickly-advancing technology in order to thrive. This ultimately creates a nice overlap between being safe in a recession and being likely to be remote.

Career Sherpa’s Hannah Morgan made a special note regarding IT & Technology. Because technology is always moving forward, those jobs will remain in high demand for those with the right skills, and the nature of the work leads to many remote opportunities.

“IT experts have some of the best job security of any modern profession, especially with more and more of the world shifting to an online space. People had to rely on robust networks to communicate with family, shop for groceries, and work remote jobs.” -Hannah Morgan

Wrap up

While many organizations want to get workers back into the office, many recognize the benefits remote work can offer in the form of increased productivity, less wasted downtime, and a happier workforce. Hybrid systems are becoming the norm, blending the above benefits while still providing a physical space for collaboration, meetings, upskilling, and teamwork when needed. But fully remote jobs are still out there, especially if you’re willing to look into the aforementioned industries.

NexGoal works with many industry-leading clients in these sectors, who offer a host of available remote positions. Feel free to check out our job board or reach out to our team to see if there is something right for you!

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Captivate Your Audience With These Public Speaking Tips

Public speaking is a highly frightful concept for many adults, but it’s something most of us will have to do from time to time. Even in an increasingly digital world, knowing how to address a crowd is a valuable skill. Knowing how to captivate your audience will make your presentations, team meetings, and even performance reviews go much better.

You don’t need the charisma of a cult leader to be successful, but brushing up on your public speaking skills will lead to greater success in your career. Join us as we reveal insightful strategies to help improve your speaking skills!

Know the material

It’s always easiest to present when you know the topic well. Ideally, you’ll be giving a presentation about something you’re passionate or knowledgeable about, but this isn’t always the case. In those circumstances, you’ll need to take extra time to absorb the knowledge.

“Nothing leads to a nervous panic like not knowing your subject well. Confidence grows when you are sure what you’re saying is accurate and on topic.” –Mark Swartz, Monster

Take some extra time to fact-check and become very familiar with the content. You’ll feel more at ease in your delivery and better appear as an expert to your audience.

Know your audience

Knowing the material is one step to good preparation, but it’s equally important to know your audience. If you have a good understanding of your audience’s knowledge level, needs, and expectations, you’ll be better able to tailor your speech to them. A speech directed towards senior members will be much different than one with college students or members of your team you work with daily.

One of the common fears of public speaking is that the audience is judging you as an arbiter of fate, but this isn’t true. Nick Gold of Speakers Corner says to remember that your audience is on your side. Others in the room want you to do well so that they are entertained and can learn something from you.

Stay focused

Once you know what you’re writing about and who you’re speaking to, you’ll have a good idea of what information to include in your presentation.

Simplicity is key—don’t overwhelm your audience with too much information. Think about the main point you want your audience to embrace and include information that supports it. A good speech can be bogged down by too many details or poor structure.

TeamBuilding says that if you’re using presentation tools like PowerPoint, ensure you don’t overload your slides with text. These tools are meant to support, not to share every single note.

Practice

Even if you feel confident about your material, presenting that material is a different beast. That’s why you must practice with your material until it becomes second nature. This will also help you to further absorb the information to make you even more of an expert.

If you can, find someone to practice in front of, says Blake DeCola. This provides you with an outside source unfamiliar with the material so that you can make sure your points are hitting home, and they can provide valuable feedback. This is also a good chance to practice eye contact!

“There’s no better way than to watch recordings of yourself speaking, no matter how painful that might be! Then iterate, try new things, and watch the results.” –Andrew Chen

Be yourself

At the core of your speech, it’s important to remember to make it your own. Your audience will feel more connected to you if you invoke some passion, and your presentation will be more memorable. Having the facts is great, but the key to a memorable performance is that connection.

Use bullet points rather than full sentences on note cards to avoid sounding rehearsed, writes MasterClass. An extemporaneous style means more words from the heart and a more natural performance.

A conversational tone will feel like you’re talking to each audience member individually, even if there are 100 people in the room. Meanwhile, Coursera recommends adding humor and personal anecdotes to spice up the bulk of your speech. This will add to the authenticity and help form connections rather than detract from your message.

Invoke a call to action

In all of the excitement, make sure that the reason you gave the speech in the first place is clear. Your speech may knock it out of the park, but if your audience immediately forgets what the point was, it won’t be a good use of time.

Invoke a call to action at the end of your speech by reinforcing what you want from your audience. Whether you want them to consider the implications of your topic, purchase a product that will help their needs, give you a promotion, or join your organization, you need that final point to hit home. The beginning and end of a speech are the most memorable parts, so use them to drive your mission home.

Wrap up

If you approach your presentation with a plan, find a way to let your unique perspective through, and end with a call to action, you’ll dazzle with your speech and impress your audience. A little “make it til you make it” energy helps, but if you take the proper preparations and have a well-crafted plan, you’ll be able to tackle any speech.

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Self-Care Tips To Ease Your Job Search Blues

Let’s face it—searching for a new job is stressful at the best of times, and the longer your search goes on, the harder of a toll it can take on your mental health. To avoid the burnout associated with doing too much, it’s important to incorporate self-care strategies into your routine.

When things seem tough, it’s important to take a step back and prioritize your mental health. We’ve looked at what career experts believe to be some of the most efficient and reassuring self-care tips so that you can take care of yourself and come out on top in your career journey!

Pay attention to your needs

At its most basic level, all self-care needs to start with looking after your physical well-being. It’s hard to grow and succeed if you’re neglecting your needs in favor of accomplishing your job-seeking goals.

“There has been a lot of research proving that physical exercise provides countless mental health benefits, including alleviating anxiety, minimizing stress, and increasing brain function.” –Ashley Wilson

At the very least, you need to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating right, and getting in some exercise. It’s extremely easy to forget, or at least prioritize, your psychical well-being when you feel the pressure to find a job, especially when you really need the money. But eventually, you’ll begin to feel the neglect catch up with you.

Balance your time

When it comes to job search specific self-care, learning how to balance your time effectively is crucial. Finding a job is important, but you can’t let the search control your every waking minute.

The best way to start is to plan out your day and create a daily schedule, writes Lindsay E. Mack. Use a calendar scheduling app to plan out your day, making sure to include necessary breaks. Adding in time limits on certain tasks will keep you from becoming overwhelmed.

Not only with this help your mental health, but having a balanced approach will make sure you’re covering all of your job search bases and not leaving any avenues behind. Check out this example calendar from career coach Hannah Morgan as a place to get started.

Be social

When applying for jobs, don’t make the mistake of isolating yourself. Spending time with others in both a professional and friendly capacity can make the search easier to bare.

The Washington Post’s Danielle Paquette says that there are actual support groups for job seekers, providing a place for others going through the same things to connect. With the prevalence of LinkedIn and the availability of university alumni groups, these types of groups are even easier to find than ever.

“[M]eeting people has so many benefits to your mental health and to your job search! Engaging with others helps you keep a healthy balance during your job search, plus you never know who may have a hot job lead for you.” –Mac Prichard

Hannah Morgan writes that having an “accountability buddy” can help. Not only will this person make sure you’re working toward your milestones, but they can provide a fresh perspective to help you see things clearly.

Learn something new

If you want to take a break from what you’ve been doing but still want to focus on something career-related, there’s always the option of learning a new skill. We’ve evolved into a skills-based hiring cycle, and learning a new skill can be very rewarding.

Forbes’ Christine Y. Cruzvergara mentions the plethora of free or affordable online courses available for job seekers. Not only can you earn something that can go on a resume, but you might meet new friends or someone that can help your search!

Step away

Sometimes the most important thing you can do is take a step away from your search and do something fun. It may seem counter-intuitive, but having some fun is not only good for your mental well-being but a good way to reward yourself for your accomplishments.

Mac Prichard suggests getting out of the house and trying something new if possible. This can reinvigorate your life and help you keep things in perspective.

Career coach Emily Liou says that a sense of detachment in the job search is a good thing. Learning how to not take the search personally, handle the rejection well, and accept that something will come along is a healthy mindset. Knowing when to step back is part of embracing this mindset.

“As a jobseeker, the best state you can come from in your search is from a state of detachment: reminding yourself that a rejection isn’t personal, and you will find a great job or something even better down the line.” –Emily Liou

Wrap up

Some of the above tips may seem obvious, but knowing and doing aren’t the same. Are you making yourself a priority during your search? Sometimes the first step is simply recognizing you need a change or a break in routine so that you can get to where you need to be mentally. By embracing the above stratagems, you’ll be putting yourself in a good position to reduce burnout and find the career you deserve.

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Dispelling Modern Job Search Myths

Finding a new job can often feel like a Herculean endeavor thanks to the sheer amount of options and competition out there. The good news for job seekers is that it’s never been easier to find helpful advice to assist your search. The bad news is that some of that advice, while well-meaning, is inaccurate. There are a lot of job search myths out there, and it can be tough to find the right answers.

Thankfully, experts like Forbes’ Caroline Castrillon have done a little myth-busting to provide clarity. We take a deep look at Caroline’s five most common job search myths and add a few of our own insights.

Job searching is a numbers game

The “spray-and-pray” method of job seeking makes sense on paper (and online too!). If there are so many available openings and it’s so easy to apply for them, why shouldn’t you mass send out applications and hope for the best?

Caroline says that this approach will only lead to burnout, and rejection can take its toll. Instead, focus on quality over quantity. You’ll have a much better time if you look for jobs you actually want and put effort into your application.

You can go above and beyond by carefully using keywords in your application materials and utilizing your network. Standing out as a quality applicant is better than hoping to win the job lottery.

Cover letters are irrelevant

Let’s be honest—writing cover letters often feels like a chore, and many hiring managers and recruiters admit they don’t look at them. Knowing this, it can feel like writing one is a waste of time, but Caroline disagrees.

Your cover letter presents the unique opportunity to directly tell the employer why you’re the best fit and how you can fulfill their needs. You can also use the letter as an opportunity to explain any gaps in your resume and preemptively answer any questions about your qualifications.

“83% of recruiters agree that, although not strictly necessary, knowing how to write a cover letter and sending one gives you the opportunity to demonstrate that you are a great fit for the company you are applying for.” –ResumeLab

You must fulfill all job requirements

Job descriptions can be intimidating, especially if you feel like you don’t meet all the requirements. But don’t get discouraged!

Job descriptions are mostly wishlists. It’s rare that the final candidate is a 100% match for every item. Caroline says it’s especially common for women and new professionals to hesitate if they don’t meet all of the requirements. Bet on yourself and apply for the job anyway. This is a great time to use your cover letter to explain why you’re the best fit!

“Cover letters are also a great place to reemphasize your value. While your resume might show the hiring manager that you don’t have the years of experience they’re looking for, your cover letter can be used to fill the gaps and explain why you think you have the skills to do the job regardless of your time in the workforce.” –Janet T. Phan, Harcard Business Review

If you want to help shore the gap between your qualifications, take time to highlight how your transferable skills will help you excel at the role, writes Avery Blank. Soft skills are in high demand and could make a difference in your favor.

Be wary of companies on a hiring freeze

This one makes a lot of sense on paper. If a company announces a hiring freeze, the logic is that they aren’t hiring at all. But Caroline says there are more opportunities than you’d think.

If a role is important enough and an internal option isn’t the best fit, the company will need to look outside. In fact, you may have an advantage if you apply since others will believe there isn’t an opening.

It can be tricky to find some of these openings, but remember that not every job is openly posted. Learn how to utilize your network to access the hidden job market and find the roles other candidates are missing out on.

Don’t directly connect with the hiring manager

Many job seekers are reluctant to directly contact a hiring manager, assuming they’ll be annoying them or that their message will get lost in the void. But Caroline argues there is no reason not to reach out.

“In a competitive landscape, any opportunity to make yourself stand out as a candidate is a good thing. You might even learn valuable information that can help strengthen your cover letter and prepare you for a future interview.” -Caroline Castrillon

With the ease of technology, especially access to LinkedIn, it’s easy to find a way to connect. But consultant Samantha McKenna says to make sure you’re doing it the right way. Be polite and respectful of their time, don’t be pushy, and don’t ask for anything. Simply introduce yourself and briefly explain the value you’d offer. You’ll stand out—and in a good way!

Wrap up

There is some logic to some of the above myths, but we hope Caroline’s advice can clarify some of your job search questions. Having a clear view of how the modern job search works will give you a leg up on the competition and will better help you find the role you seek.

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