Re-Focusing on Your Career During the Summer

Now that the Fourth of July is upon us, it signals the unofficial midpoint of summer. As you’re sitting at your desk staring longingly at the summer weather, it may become easy to lose focus at your job. Although you may want to be anywhere but work, it is important to stay focused and maintain productivity through the second half of the year.

If you’ve found yourself in this position, there are some things you can to focus on during the summer.

Passion

If you are not passionate about your work, it will become even more difficult to find the motivation during the summer months. Even if you aren’t in your dream job, finding something you are passionate about will help you get through the lull that can be the summer. Depending on the industry you’re in, work flow may vary during the summer months. Without passion, these lulls may drive you crazy.

Unplug

When you’re constantly connected to people in your network and see what they’re doing during the summer, you may become envious about their current situation. If they’re posting about being on the beach and soaking up the sun, it will be hard for you to find the motivation when you’re sitting at your cubicle. Spend some time unplugging from the world to regain focus and clarity. Sometimes, the best ideas and motivation can come from alone time.

Be Proactive

Although it may be a slow period, it is important to be proactive to stay competitive. Depending on your industry, being proactive instead of reactive can set you apart from your competitors. Finding focus is easier when you don’t have to put fires out. Set yourself up for success before you need to.

Wrap Up

Depending on where you live and work, the summer months may be the only time of the year where the weather is consistently nice enough to enjoy being outdoors. Many companies take advantage of this by utilizing summer flex hours or deviated schedules. However, if you don’t work at a company offering this perk, it may become difficult to maintain focus when you want to be literally anywhere other than work. If you’ve found your focus waning, try and focus on these three things to regain it this summer.

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How to Set Yourself Up for Success in a New Role

Have you ever been faced with a new opportunity, but felt like you weren’t quite qualified for it? You’re not alone. Believe it or not the person in charge of one of, if not the most, recognizable brands in the world once felt the same. In his commencement address to Stanford University’s class of 2019, Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that when he first took on his role, he felt this exact same way. For those just entering the workforce or in the early stages of your career, this may be an all-too-common feeling.

After all, it is hard to truly feel prepared when you read various entry level job descriptions that require experience beyond your years. Even after landing an opportunity, there may be a learning curve and it may seem like you will never truly understand all that the role entails. I’m here to tell you that these feelings of constantly being overwhelmed will indeed dissipate.

When you’re starting a new role, you want to prove that the company made the right decision in hiring you so you will do all you can to be successful. Although you may feel like you’re drinking through a fire hose with all the information, there are certainly some things you can do to ensure your success.

In an article for Forbes, Caroline Ceniza-Levine provides some tips that will help set a solid foundation for future career success. You can read the full article here and check out a few highlights below:

Start before you start

Often times when you get an offer letter for your new job, you will also get some new-hire paperwork to fill out. This can usually be done prior to your first day in order to save some time on your first day. In addition to getting a head start on your paperwork, you can do some research beyond your interview prep on the company so you can know what to expect. You will likely have an idea of what the company culture is already, but for your first day, it is usually better to be over dressed than underdressed. Make sure you have an understanding of what time you are expected to be there and what is expected of you day one.

Confirm how your manager would like to communicate

Depending on your office size, there are likely various methods of communication within it; IM, phone, face-to-face, etc. To truly understand how to communicate with your boss, ask him or her what their preferred method is. If you report to multiple people, they might all have different preferred methods. Figuring this out day one will set the standard for the rest of your time with the company and you won’t have to worry about how to reach a manager.

Take five with your group

It is no secret that we spend more time at work than almost anywhere else. Since we spend so much time in the office, you might as well get to know your colleagues and those who you work with. In your first week, while you are getting used to the job and new environment, try to have lunch or interact with those around you. Your peers or coworkers can help get you up to speed on what is going on in the office and can be a valuable resource going forward.

Wrap Up

Luckily, this feeling isn’t reserved for first and early career professionals. Take it from Cook, who was nearly a decade into his tenure with Apple before taking over. He said, “Graduates, the fact is that when your time comes – and it will – you’ll never be ready. But you’re not supposed to be. Find the hope in the unexpected. Find the courage in the challenge. Find your vision on the solitary road.” If you go into these new experiences with an open mind and follow these tips, you will ensure your success now and in the future.

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Career Advice You Might Not Hear, But Should

Career advice can be found at all corners of the Internet. Within a few clicks of a mouse you may stumble upon someone in a similar situation as you, an article about resigning from your job, or even land an informational interview with someone in your dream role. If you’re looking for advice as it relates to your career, you’re not alone. The advice you seek, however, can vary greatly.

When it comes to your career, the advice you seek can vary depending on what stage you are in. Most of the advice we seek centers around achieving success, whatever that may mean to you. If you are constantly chasing success, your definition of it likely keeps changing. In turn, so should the advice you seek.

While it is true that career advice is not “one size fits all,” some career advice can be pretty similar. Sometimes looking at things from a different perspective may actually be the most beneficial. Instead of trying to figure out what to do in a situation, try looking at it from the perspective of what not to do. You might be surprised with you come up with.

In an article for SmartBrief, LaRae Quy provides three great career tips that you will likely never hear, but definitely need to. They are as follows:

Sit Down With a Friend

Sometimes when you are so focused on achieving a goal, you may become lost in the chase. Having an outsider’s perspective on your journey can be greatly beneficial and give you a fresh take on your approach. By talking through your goal(s) with a friend, you can clarify what it exactly is that you want. You may even think of a new approach.

Quy recommends asking yourself the same question, such as “what do I want?” 15 times. In doing so, you can figure out what truly matters to you. If you ask a friend, their answer will most likely be different than yours.

Remember the Crossroads

No two career trajectories are the same. Even if you and your colleague have the same title, chances are the paths you each took to your current role greatly differ. The common thread is that your journey has shaped who you have become and how you got to where you are.

If you look back at your career, no matter how far into it you are, you have likely been faced with making some difficult decisions. Going to one college over another, majoring in this subject instead of that other one, moving to a new city or staying where you are comfortable, so on and so forth. These decisions helped get you to where you are today and propelled you in a new direction.

Embrace Your History

Hindsight is always 20/20 but remember that your journey has shaped who you are today. It is easy to look back and think “had I known then what I know now,” and wonder how things would be different, but you can’t change the past so you might as well reflect on it and take control of your future. Plus, once you realize this, you will be a lot happier.

Wrap Up

The definition of success varies from person to person. The common thread is that we all chase this feeling. As we continue to grow and learn throughout our careers, our definition of success follows suit. Once we think we achieve success, our goals change and we continue churning along towards our new definition. On this path to success it is common to seek advice. While most of this advice is the same and may focus on goal setting, these three tips are not as common, but need to be heard.

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Interviewing for an Internship

If you’re a recent graduate struggling to find your first full-time job, you’re not alone. The job search is competitive regardless of what stage you’re at in your career, even on the internship circuit. Many times, recent grads may opt for a post-grad internship to gain more experience before officially entering their desired industry.

Internships are a good way to see if you like a company or industry, but also can be seen as an extended “trial period” or interview for a potential opening down the road. Securing an internship is still a process; from applying to interviewing, the journey may mimic that of a full-time position. Even if there is not an opportunity to join the company full-time at the end of the internship, you’re still expected to act as a contributing member of the team.

Before you can even consider being brought aboard full-time, you must pass the interview stage. The questions in an internship interview may vary from full-time position interviews. In an article for The Muse, Dana Hundley provides a few common questions you can expect during your internship interview. For the full article, click here.

Why are you interested in this internship/company/industry, and what skills or experiences do you hope to gain?

Internships are a great way to learn about a specific company/industry, and see if you can picture yourself working there. Sometimes your career goals may not align with the internship opportunity, but luckily this experience is only temporary so you can audible and figure out proper steps. If you’re asked this question during the interview, it is the employer’s way of gauging if this opportunity aligns with your goals.

Like most interview questions, there is often a right and wrong way you should answer them. According to Hundley, when answering this question, you want to show your enthusiasm for the position and that you have done your research on the company. Additionally, tell them what you want to gain from the experience. After all, an internship should be approached as a learning experience.

Tell us about a situation where you took initiative or took on a leadership role.

This question usually helps the interview gauge whether or not you are a motivated and driven individual. If you’re a student, chances are most of your leadership experience has come from playing sports or group projects. Both are viable options when it comes to answering this question.

Another way to answer it is with an example of a time when you noticed something that needed to change or could be done better, and you took the initiative to take action on it, mentions Hundley. This is a great way to show, not just tell the interviewer that you’re a go-getter.

Tell us about a time you had to learn something completely new.

In any opportunity, you likely won’t know everything that is thrown your way. How you approach the unknown can tell a lot about your willingness and openness to learn new skills. Hiring managers do not want to hire anyone, for a full-time position or an internship, who is not willing to learn. As mentioned before, internships are an opportunity to be a sponge and learn as much as you can during that time.

To answer this, it is perfectly acceptable to mention a class experience. Most classes you take during your college career must be taken because they’re required, not because you’re interested in the subject. Focus on a time where you were open minded when it came to a new class and what you learned from the experience.

Wrap Up

Summer is a popular time for college students and post-grads alike to pursue internship opportunities. While these experiences are not limited to the just the summer, finding and securing an internship that fits your career goals is a competitive process. The interview phase may differ slightly from that of a full-time position, but it is still a time to showcase your experience and interests to a potential employer. To do so, there are some questions you can expect to be asked during the interview phase.

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Ensuring Future Career Success

As we approach the mid-point of 2019, it is a popular time for people to reflect on their lives, both personal and professional. In terms of your professional life, many people tend to assess their current work situation and how it is preparing them for the next step in their career. If you want to best prepare yourself for the future and remain a valuable asset to any organization, there are some things you can do to “future-proof” your career.

In an article for TechRepublic, SAP Vice President of Workforce Adoption says there are five ways employees can future-proof your career and be ready for the ever-changing work environment.

Learn On the Fly

When you go through the motions every day at work, it becomes easy to do the minimum required and not go beyond the call to action. If you find yourself in this situation, you need to break out as soon as you can! According to Brown, “learning on the fly is what keeps you agile.” Regardless of your career level, being adaptable is a key skill to develop. You can never learn “too much” information or key skills throughout your career. The more you learn, the more you can contribute to your organization. Author Ken Blanchard put it best, “When you stop learning, you stop growing.”

Be Open

Many people, including myself, are averse to change. Once we find that comfort zone, we do all that we can to stay in it. However, as the saying goes, “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” To fully grow, we must embrace change and be open to it. “Successful people are open to change, opportunities, ideas and understanding,” said Brown.

What does this mean? Take on a new role either inside or outside the organization. Take a class on a new subject. Learn a new skill. Find what makes you uncomfortable and face it head on. Who knows what you might experience.

Build a Diverse Network

In case you’re new here, networking does not stop once you get a job. In fact, it is quite the opposite. You should be constantly networking throughout the course of your career. This doesn’t mean just with people within your industry. Instead, you should build a diverse network spanning multiple industries. In doing so, you can make connections that open the door to new opportunities you previously did not consider.

Be Greedy About Experiences

It is easy to get caught up in your own thoughts when assigned a task you deem menial, but you must change this mindset. Rather, take every assignment and project as a learning experience and one to better yourself. Each opportunity is one that can teach you lessons to apply to other aspects of work and your life.

Bounce Forward

Being afraid of failure will get you nowhere fast. Instead of seeing failure as a detriment, learn to use it as a learning experience. When you’re constantly worrying about making a mistake, chances are you will end up making it. Once you recognize that failure happens to everyone, you will be able to “bounce forward” and learn from the adversity. Just as a .300 hitter in baseball can make the Hall of Fame, you too can reach the pinnacle of your career by learning from failure.

Wrap Up

Regardless of whether you’re a senior level executive or an entry level career professional, you are likely planning for the future. In order to ensure your future success and prove your worth to your company, there are some things that you should incorporate into your life to “future-proof” yourself for whatever lies ahead in your career journey.

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