Finish The Year Strong With These Guiding Principles

Like many of the New Year’s resolutions set this past January, unforeseen circumstances likely made your goals much more difficult to achieve. For many, objectives were shifted around and some plans had to take a backseat. However, we do not have to allow one setback to control us. What adjustments have you made to find success in your new schedule?

Look Back on The Goals You Set in January

No one could predict the many twists and turns Covid-19 brought to workplaces across the country, but there are still measurable aspects to assess. Picture yourself at the finish line. Are you proud of the adaptability you’ve shown? Things won’t always go the way we plan, so we must be ready to adjust to maintain momentum.

When looking back, you can learn what worked best, what came short of expectations, and what adjustments can be had. If you had your goals and resolutions written down, take time to assess the significant challenges and key lessons you’ve learned. Were your goals realistic or improbable? Maybe you didn’t meet every expectation, but there are likely still reasons to celebrate.

“Every task, goal, race and year comes to an end…therefore, make it a habit to FINISH STRONG.” — Gary Ryan Blair

Don’t Delay the Future

Perseverance is one of the most common qualities exhibited by today’s top entrepreneurs. If you want to be one of the best, you must think and act like the best. Quit hitting snooze on your career objectives. There are some things you don’t have to wait until next year to get started on.

What are you putting off that you can be acting on now? Are there any tough conversations you need to have by the end of the year? Now is the time. Maybe you are running point on a new project that does not yet have a timeline. Getting started today can limit the stress ahead in the new year.

Gather Your Thoughts & Recommit

Whether the year led to you working from home or to a new job entirely, there are likely significant takeaways you can find from this past year. The massive work-from-order perhaps allowed us a ‘look’ into the future. How would you rate your productivity? No matter how your performance shakes out, you need to dedicate time to reset and recharge.

A critical first step to renewing your energy and clarity is clearing out the thoughts in the back of your mind, even if they are not career-related. Don’t allow your mind to get ‘bottled up’ with household chores, or trips to the grocery store/bank that you have to make. I have experienced this firsthand when I know there is a sink full of dishes or a hamper full of laundry. These are avoidable distractions. If you don’t check them off your list today, they will cross your mind and instill dread at the most inopportune times.

Do you have positive, uplifting individuals in your circle (people that will challenge you but also provide relevant advice)? Remove those around you that do not serve your goals. Shake off the negative thoughts and people, kick out the bad habits, and identify a clear vision.

“No matter who you are or what you do, embrace the challenge to first start with the goal to finish strong.” – Andy Andrews

Wrap Up

Prepare for the New Year, but allow your goals for this year and next year to coincide. While it’s key to focus on your tasks at hand and remain proactive in your goals, there are bound to be objectives you cannot tackle until the new year. Amidst the chaos, take time to ensure orderliness for the year ahead. Preparing now will provide peace of mind and allow you to build momentum in the new quarter quickly. Set a brainstorming session and layout a plan of action within your department.

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Five Keys to Starting Strong in Your New Career

From fear and anxiety to excitement, ending your job search is sure to bring a surge of emotions. Within the uneasiness and nerves, you must have the steps in place to get off on the right foot. There are new people to meet, a new environment to adjust to, and new accomplishments to be had. To set you up for success, we pieced together five pivotal steps to take within your first week and month, and how to establish an early model for repeated success:

Your First Week

Make an Enthusiastic Introduction 

While it is typical to not want a bunch of attention drawn to yourself when starting with a new company, failing to introduce yourself to everyone can cause you to blend into the background. If you are not comfortable interjecting yourself in conversations, request your manager to make your first introduction to your peers. From there, you must be prepared to know what you want to say to your new co-workers and how to say it.

If you notice your co-workers are in the middle of a conversation, don’t be the one to interrupt. Timing is critical when you are new to the scene. Direct your focus to the individuals who appear more receptive to what you have to say, and reciprocate that receptiveness in what they have to say. Don’t feel the need to prove yourself to your new team right away; taking on that added pressure places weight on your shoulders that is not yours to bear.

Make A Friend

When starting with a new company, the common temptation is to keep to yourself as not to disrupt the preestablished culture and bonds between employees. This is especially true for introverts who are accustomed to operating in solitude, even as well-tenured employees. However, operating in this mindset will often lay a path for career burnout, feelings of detachment and bring you back to the circumstances that left you unhappy in your previous career. Instead, be intentional in seeking out meaningful and productive conversations with your co-workers.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt.

Connecting with your peers early sets the foundation for your workplace relationships and gives them a chance to see who you really are. Make yourself approachable in the office through the efforts of a smile, a friendly ‘hello,’ and a comfortable handshake. Another strategy to building this comradery is by keeping yourself available for lunch or taking the bold step of inviting someone yourself.

Ask Plenty of Questions

Your first week will likely have you full of questions, but that’s to be expected. Gathering information from your peers and management is the best way to get you up to speed. What are the company’s policies on open communication with management? What does a typical itinerary look like for team meetings, and are you encouraged to speak up? What is your management’s preferred method of communication? You are not expected to know it all when you start a new role with a new company; ask the simple questions now before it’s too late.

Bring a pen and notebook with you throughout the week and take notes on everything. Not only will your thorough detail aid you in the future, but it quickly shows your team members you are a highly organized and motivated professional. If you have questions that you feel are not appropriate to ask in your first week, such as addressing your long-term goals or when you are up for a promotion, write them down and bookmark them for a later date.

Your First Month

Visualize Success with Your Manager

In your first month with a new company, it is critical you take the time to sit down with management and clarify your shared expectations. What will your functional relationship look like on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis? Whether it is on your calendar or not, you must always be prepared to discuss company-related topics and provide updates on a new project.

Think back to your interview. Was there a challenge you addressed or a specific need your employer revealed? Did your problem-solving capabilities lead you to stand out among other candidates? Follow up by following through. Seek out further details from your new manager and write up a potential solution. As you learn more about their business mentality and values, you can more effectively attend to the functions that support their objectives.

Develop Good Habits

Get your workspace organized and prepare for a fresh start. This new job is your chance to phase out old habits and regain control of your reputation. Stay diligent in your mindset and consider operating through daily, weekly, and monthly to-do lists. This will allow you to manage your time and finetune your skills effectively.

Are you unaware of the previous bad habits you may have had in your previous role? Now is the time to ask the difficult question to your old colleagues or your friends and family. Getting this answer now is your only chance to remove the potential of your company witnessing the same indiscretions. For example, if you had a reputation for not owning up to your mistakes, or worse, passing the blame, this will have severe consequences in your ability to gain trust and respect from your new colleagues. Practicing accountability takes clear focus, effort, and a commitment to change, but turning your previously negative habit into a strength will be instrumental for your career growth. Don’t overcompensate as to begin over-apologizing for your mistakes; own up to them, apologize, and show the intention to learn from them.

The Model For Repeated Success

  • Understand what led to your success and offer admiration for anyone who helped.
  • Provide positive affirmations to yourself through multiple outlets (voice, text, email, post-it notes).
  • Surround yourself with people who believe in you because they will lead you to believe in yourself.
  • Track your successes through analytics.
  • Understand the ‘why’ behind your’ what.’

Wrap Up

Adjusting to your new job is a gradual process, but taking heed of this model for success will certainly expedite the process. Stress and dysfunction are just around the corner, and they are always ready to consume your career if you let them. Reflect on all the hard work that led you to where you are today, and remember to take things one step at a time.

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Aligning Your Capabilities with Your Career Aspirations

Having a full understanding of your skills and behaviors is critical to reaching your dream job or dream industry. For a while, ambition can bring positive results and even a job promotion, but without introspection, your engaged, ‘self-starter’ approach will eventually fade. When you genuinely understand your capabilities and see them in action, confidence can take over when it comes to achieving your highest aspirations. Carrying out your career aspirations brings benefits of intense focus, passion, and clarity. If this is a step too soon for you and you require a little guidance for your career indecision, consider these thoughts.

“There is one quality that one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” – Napoleon Hill

A former Fortune 50 COO and leadership coach, India Gary-Martin, credits networking and leadership development courses for overcoming her lack of experience and producing her eventual success. Below, she reveals five crucial questions you must ask yourself in aligning yourself with your aspirations:

Do you have any existing relationships with the leaders who will become your peer group?

There is no substitute for experience. If you desire a leadership role, you can anticipate work experience to be your greatest bargaining chip. If you want to learn more about a specific company, industry, or position, reaching out for an informational interview is your window to a firsthand perspective. It is very likely that the career professional you admire received some help along the way, and they will feel inclined to ‘pay it forward.’ If you don’t ask, you don’t receive. 

What are the attributes of those who are currently or have previously been in the role?

Whether through an in-person meeting, a phone call, LinkedIn messaging, or thorough internet research, understanding the features that construct the position of power you covet will bring you one step closer. For example, if you desire a leadership position in business operations, you may come across crucial components such as organization, problem-solving, analytics, supervising, and decision-making. Is cost efficiency and budgeting in your nature? As you converse with seasoned professionals, note whether or not their journeys align with your background and capabilities. 

How do leaders and staff perceive you?

Are you aware of what your peers and superiors think about you? It may be time to ask the tough questions with your most trusted and authentic associates. Discover how they observe your greatest strengths and most notable weaknesses. What are your most impressionable ‘hard skills’ and ‘soft skills’? Do they believe you would thrive in a position of leadership? Saying you are ready and actually being ready are two different things. These perceptions about you matter because they will come to fruition in your next role, whether you believe it or not. 

Do you have a compelling story?

It’s unlikely that you will check every box for an employer, and that’s where your preparation and storytelling come into play. The difference between the candidate who gets hired versus one who is not is often their ability to tie their work experience and achievements into the job description at hand. Your ability to control the narrative in what makes you the most qualified and presentable candidate can put you a step above your peers. 

“Why you?”

After checking all the boxes and offering a compelling story, you still have to address this final question. What is it about you that will benefit the company specifically in a way no other candidate can? Is there a unique anecdote that goes beyond the alignment of your capabilities and the job you desire? If you don’t believe in yourself, you are only causing others to do the same. Confidence plays a significant role in achieving your big dreams, even if it is through small, practical steps. 

Whether companies are hiring or not, make an introduction and let your passion lead the way. Carry yourself with a mindset of endless opportunity and curiosity. You are likely more qualified than you believe.

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Recapping Our Top Five Articles From 2020

Despite the rollercoaster ride of 2020, we wanted to take the time and thank our readers, the candidates, and the clients we work with daily.

As we get ready to build new momentum in 2021, we reflect on this past year and the articles that resonated most with our readers. Join us as we review five of our most popular articles from 2020:

Six Resume Mistakes To Avoid in 2021


Whether you are looking to get started on your first job search out of college or looking to change careers, having an up-to-date resume is imperative. Recently, our friends at Nexxt revealed six of the most commonly overlooked mistakes made by job-seekers on their resumes. From overemphasizing soft skills to failing to provide clear timelines, falling victim to these mistakes will prove costly to your shot at the job.

Setting Up An Effective Remote Workspace


According to SHRM’s COVID-19 Business Index, 64% of U.S. employees are currently working remotely. With the massive shift to the virtual working world, it’s not easy to maintain productivity and passion for your work. Are you one of the many individuals drastically impacted by COVID-19 and all its complications?

Although being forced to work from home was beyond your control, there are still elements you CAN control for a productive workday. Take these FIVE steps today!

Mistakes to Avoid For A Strong First Impression

Getting judged based on your appearance, mannerisms, or body language occurs in a matter of seconds. Providing a strong first impression is critical in job interviews as it often sets the tone for the conversation and the direction it will take. With no ‘second chance,’ we want to look beyond the traditional tips of arriving on time and dressing appropriately. Read below as we review five of the most commonly made mistakes made in first impressions, as told by various millionaires across the country.
*Key examples and necessary adjustments included*

Identifying Your Ideal Career Fit


According to a recent Toll-Free Forwarding study, only 10% of Americans will land their conceived ‘dream job’ that they identified at a young age. Of that 10%, just 64% of those journeys play out to meeting their surmised expectations. Furthermore, 61% of those remaining do not regret the divergent direction their career path took. So, what conclusions can be made? Do not fear the ‘no’ or the prospect of change when it comes to finding your ideal career fit.

If you require a little guidance when it comes to your career indecision, here are three thoughts you must consider when pursuing a complementary role for your next career:

Avoid These Four Mistakes in Your Next Video Interview


Emanating from the onset of COVID-19, thousands of companies continue to operate under the work-from-home order. Unemployment remains high, and many organizations rely heavily on phone and on-screen meetings for their hiring efforts.

Are you missing the mark when it comes to effectively grabbing the hiring manager’s attention? While your content preparation remains unchanged in terms of having examples, answers, and questions readily available, your interview’s virtual aspect brings new challenges you may not expect.

Courtesy of CNBC Contributor John Bowe, we review four of the most annoying mistakes made in video interviews, as revealed by Zoom’s Head of Global Talent Acquisition, Phil Haynes.

Wrap Up

Thanks so much for sticking with us in 2020! If you’ve missed out on any of these career tips, we hope you take the time to review them today!

Let us know what kind of articles were your favorite and what you would like to see from our content team in the new year!

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Finding A Mentor & Making It Count

When you have strong intentions of growing your career, you must understand you cannot do it on your own. Developing mentoring relationships allows for increased confidence and offers the ability to “talk with people and ask for their feedback.” Regardless of where you are in your career, choosing to rely on a career mentor can aid your career transitions, increase your chance at a promotion, and improve your leadership skills and job satisfaction.

Our friends at The Muse recently revealed 10 essential tips to correctly identify your career mentor and how to construct a meaningful relationship. We break down four of our favorite tips below:

Discover What A Mentor Is & What It Isn’t

Your mentor is there to help you navigate challenges, answer questions, and provide encouragement, but remember the relationship is a two-way street. Your conversations should not become a therapeutic outlet for your struggles. Both the mentor and mentee have valuable information to share. 

There tends to be a belief that career mentors should be older than the mentee, but that is not always the case. Age does bring wisdom, but so do knowledge and experience. For example, if you graduate college and choose to venture into sales, but a classmate chooses the entrepreneurial route, you have both garnered expertise in your selected industries. After a 20-year sales career, you may find yourself wanting to experiment in entrepreneurship. There is sure to be an abundance of wisdom you can gather from tried-and-true entrepreneurs such as your classmate dating two decades back. Older mentors may be more likely to have experience surmounted your current obstacles, but the broader the age gap, the more trouble they will have relating.

Typically, your mentor will be someone in your current (or desired) industry or possessing your preferred role, but this does always have to be the case. Lisa Rabasca Roepe details the many different forms of mentoring, including peer mentoring (someone at the same level as you), group mentoring, and bite-sized mentoring. There is not a required schedule to have a mentor. It is whatever works for both parties and helps achieve what you’re working toward, even if that means meeting once a year. 

Seek Out Different Perspectives

You are well within your right to have multiple career mentors. In fact, it is recommended as it will allow you to tap into the expertise of more topics (and share your knowledge with more individuals as well). There are lessons to be learned from every industry. Seeking out mentors outside of your line of work allows you the chance to learn new skills and gain a new perspective. 

“If you are really going to push yourself and grow, you need a mentor who is different from you, who can give you a different point of view.” -Kathie Patterson, CHRO at Ally Financial.

It is important to remember that having reliable mentors is not an excuse to slow your efforts in other resources. While you are expected to rely on their wisdom, mentoring is not a cure-all for your career. 

Be Specific

Make it easy for your mentor to understand why you are turning to them before anyone else. Clearly define the problem you are facing and the immediate steps you are hoping to achieve. “Being clear with what you’re looking for and why you think this person is the right one will help them to say yes,” says Patterson. Additionally, it is your responsibility to organize the meeting, seeing that you are the one coveting their advice. Whether you both are comfortable with an in-person meeting or merely sending a link through Zoom, it’s best to take the initiative and arrive early. Nothing has to be formal, but being explicit shows that you know and value where their expertise lies and shows that you are mindful of their time.

Know That Mentors Will Likely Change With Your Career

Depending on where you are in your career path, your needs will adjust accordingly. As you progress in your career, the guidance you require will adapt as well. It is not uncommon to lose touch with a career mentor from your entry-level stage. Don’t be afraid of this change. When you step into a managerial role, you may seek advice is learning how to delegate responsibilities and how to stay involved in your team’s culture.

If you lost your job due to an unexpected change or sudden loss of business, you could find consultation from those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Finding a new mentor with experience relevant to your current situation is paramount. 

Wrap Up

No matter how great your mentors are, it still comes down to you to put in the work and see real progress. Take heed to their advice and quickly layout new goals and activities to achieve them. Beware of falling victim to these three major myths surrounding mentorship.

Show gratitude through a letter of appreciation, a simple text message, or interacting with their posts on LinkedIn. If you want to make the most of your mentoring relationship, show that you care as much as you expect them to care about you.

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