Identifying Your Ideal Career Fit

According to a 2019 study by Toll-Free Forwarding, 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:

Understand Yourself

Talk It Out – If you need a helping hand identifying your greatest strengths and the job features you desire most in a new career, ask those closest to you (family, friends, mentors, etc.). Not only will this provide some clarity on your career path, but it will provide encouragement and confidence when you need it most. Some of the answers you receive may surprise you.

When employees find themselves dissatisfied in their current role, it is often because they did not take the time to align their strengths, interests, passions with their job search. Their objective was merely to find a new job, rather than solidifying a long-term career. If you aspire to get more out of your career and find natural motivation, take career assessments to identify your greatest strengths, weaknesses, and career preferences. What interests or personality traits tie into your career preferences? Your blueprint for success is likely varying from that of your role models, friends, or co-workers. 

60% of employed Millennials are open to exploring a different job opportunity [Gallup 2020]

Company Values/Environment

Write It Out – Base your LinkedIn profile and resume around your ideal job and ideal employer. Courtesy of The Balance Careers, here are four key questions they recommend you ask yourself when determining your work style and ideal ‘fit’:

  • Which activities are most satisfying about your current job?
  • What might you like to avoid in your next job?
  • What does work-life balance mean to you?
  • What is your ideal company culture?

The more information you can collect about what you want, the easier it will be to make a decision.

When interviewing for a new position, aim to get a feel for the company by doing your research, asking the right questions, and walking around the office before your interview. Is the atmosphere collaborative or competitive? Are employees being micromanaged? Is there an option to work remotely? Is their model of business more structured or flexible? It is paramount that you take note of these considerations, especially when you are getting pulled in different directions in your job hunt.

What Do You Hope To Get Out Of Your Job?

Think It Out – Now that you’ve identified your strengths, weaknesses, and passions, it’s time to pinpoint your job search and make the most of your opportunity:

What is most important to you in a new job? Are the company’s values a top priority for your workplace happiness? Other top examples of job priorities include work culture, skill development, room for growth, salary/bonus potential, healthy work-life balance, job security, location, and trust. Which features are your ‘non-negotiables’? Don’t settle when your happiness and mental state are at stake. Finding your new career should never compromise what you stand for or your most coveted features. 

Wrap Up

Once you have a firm understanding of your desired job title and industry, it is time to get connected. Networking is your greatest tool when it comes to landing your desired job, so it is best to get started before the connection is needed. Why? Your desired connection will know you are not seeking immediate benefits out of the relationship, but rather to learn more about their journey and potentially provide support, even if through a ‘liked’ post.

Sure, sending a hiring manager a LinkedIn invitation with a personalized message is unique and highly recommended in the job search, but imagine the difference if you already share a connection within the organization you are hoping to join. Effective networking does not involve asking your network to find you a job opening. It consists of building functional working relationships you can tap into when you discover a shared connection (and vice versa).

With some self-reflecting and dedication, you will begin to discover your dream job is closer than you first believed. 

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Becoming a Better Leader in the Workplace

Whether you are the CEO of your company or simply taking charge of one objective in a new business project, being a sound leader is critical. Leadership doesn’t come naturally for everyone, but thankfully, it doesn’t have to. One great example is in Author, Director, and Management Consultant, Peter Gasca. In a piece for The Entrepreneur, Peter admits his lack of natural leadership but credits his mentors and his ambition for new challenges as the root of his leadership growth. Being an introvert doesn’t make you a pushover or incapable of leadership. In fact, introverts are often better listeners than extroverts, which a key characteristic of leadership. Review the four simple priorities Peter recommends every aspiring leader set early in their career.

In this breakdown, we reveal three critical factors to becoming a better leader in the workplace: 

Communication

If you exhibit an uplifting, optimistic spirit, others will follow suit. If you appear discouraged or disinterested, your team will become concerned and uninspired. Being vulnerable to your team does not make you weak, but rather a leader that employees will want to follow. Admitting when you’re wrong will cultivate respect from your peers and your employees by elevating a sense of accountability.

The most renowned leaders are great listeners who show a genuine interest in workplace conversations. Get ‘in the trenches’ and be a part of the team. When discussing long-term goals and analyzing the bigger picture, allow your employees to feel they are a part of the team as well. Be intentional in constructing a bond with them and occasionally discussing matters outside of work. Consider stepping outside your office and walking amongst your team members or employees, but do not micromanage or talk down to others. Instead, take a mentoring approach and seek out what’s best for their career development. 

Trust Your Team

Have confidence in your subordinates, have faith in your peers, and encourage their involvement. As you begin to learn your employees’ skill-sets and strengths, you will know who to trust most in critical situations or with new projects. When you start trusting others, they will start trusting in you. Additionally, you will be offering them opportunities to grow and take on leadership responsibilities themselves. 

When you invest in your employees, you will see individuals grow into more productive, engaged, and happy employees. Seek out feedback for new ways to garner motivation, reward employees, and become a more effective leader. Foster creativity in your team by challenging them in areas you believe they will excel. When an issue does arise, or a mistake occurs, always give your team the benefit of the doubt. Get to the root of the problem and do your part in ensuring the problem does not happen again.

“Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished.” – Lisa Cash Hanson

Celebrate Others’ Wins

When you notice somebody is doing a good job, go beyond the ‘pat on the back.’ Acknowledge and honor them publicly. When they take a bold step in sharing a new idea or comment during a meeting, show your appreciation for their contributions. Hearing compliments of their work will not only provide a sense of accomplishment but will increase confidence, provide affirmation, and bring a sense of job security. The happier your employees are, the more productive and passionate they will become. Not much is better than happy and appreciative employees having your back.

Although it is important to celebrate others and have fun, you must also remember to stay assertive and hold your team accountable to gain respect. Don’t let your team get stationary. Your employees are relying on you to help keep their goals a priority. Lastly, when discussing an employee’s room for improvement or growth, do so privately to refrain from publicly embarrassing or belittling them. 

Wrap Up

What are your preconceived notions of quality leadership? Rid yourself of the ‘my way or the highway’ mentality. It is not about being the loudest in the room, the most-liked, or most recognized. Authentic leadership involves wanting the best out of your team and aspiring to see others grow. The best leaders aim to inspire, entrust, and keep morale high. It is not a quick and easy process, but you can lead your team to success through pure intentions and deliberate planning.

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Finish Strong in 2020 With These Top Tips

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 Covid-19 showing up and overtaking 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 2021 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 2020. 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 of 2020, take time to ensure orderliness for 2021. Preparing now will provide peace of mind and allow you to build momentum in the new quarter quickly. Set a brainstorming session and lay out a plan of action within your department.

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Facing Career Disappointment Head-On

Whether it is losing your job, failing to receive a job offer, or merely making a mistake on a new project, we all encounter disappointments in our careers. What is your experience in conquering yours? Are you aware of all the tools at your disposal? Don’t allow yourself to become a spectator of life because of one mistake. Take these three steps to renew your confidence and get back on track:

“Disappointment is the nurse of wisdom.” – Sir Boyle Roche

Accept Your Feelings & Move On

Encountering disappointment is inevitable, so we must practice accepting and choosing to view it as a form of growth.
What Not To Do:
-Do not guilt or shame yourself for feeling discouraged.
-Do not pass the blame onto someone else.
-Do not make a rash decision that you will come to regret.

The best way to cope with your feelings and get it out of your system quickly is to open up about what happened. Talk it out, write it down, and prepare to move on. Creativity expert Diana Raab, Ph.D., promotes the use of ‘free writing’ because “it can help you express concern and emotions in a non-threatening way. The journal is non-judgmental and will listen.”

If you are an active job seeker facing rejection from employers, find confidence in your resilience. The high bar you have likely set for yourself is admirable and will ultimately help you reach your full potential, but don’t stay out of the game for too long. Instead, choose to view your next opportunity as a stepping stone to something greater. If that means temporarily broadening the prerequisites of your ideal job, so be it.

Find new energy and motivation through co-workers and your friends and family. Surround yourself with those who will listen and allow you to vent or blow off a little steam. Your closest friends and family will often be there to provide the necessary encouragement and keep you from the self-criticism and negative thoughts built up in your head. However, it is important to be swift when cycling through your feelings. The longer you harp on your disappointments, the more discouraged you will feel.

Get Realistic

Our brains are naturally wired to pinpoint the negatives surrounding us, but there are still steps to overcome them. Do you have tendencies of a perfectionist, continually finding faults in your work? It’s great always to be striving to improve, but not when it comes at the cost of your happiness. Stop comparing your career ‘lows’ to other people’s career ‘highs.’ It’s not fair to others, and it’s not fair to yourself.

It is important to set lofty career goals, but it is equally important to keep your present expectations realistic. Take a step back and ask yourself if you are acting overdramatic. Ask yourself questions like, “Will this matter three years from now? Or even three weeks?” Quit perceiving disappointment as a sign of failure, but rather an opportunity to try something new. What did you learn? What steps can you take to ‘right the ship?’

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bounce Back with a Win

How we choose to handle our disappointments will determine our eventual success. When you learn the applicable lesson from your disappointment, it’s time to get back on the winning track. It does not need to be a ‘huge win’, but establishing a little momentum is vital for career growth. Do not attempt to overcompensate with a risky move that could end up proving costly. Take small steps to get back in the game and keep moving forward.

Support from your friends and family is great, but ultimately, hard work, dedication, and passion have to come from you. Can you think of something specific to you that provides extra motivation and self-encouragement? I urge you to meditate on that thought and find a notion that will ignite a flame in you no matter what current path of life may be. When you choose to persevere through strife, your efforts will soon be rewarded.

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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 at a high volume, and many organizations rely heavily on phone and on-screen meetings for their hiring efforts. If you are active in the job search, you can anticipate the use of Zoom, or another video conferencing platform, for the beginning stages of your interview process. 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. 

1. Fidgeting and glancing at your phone

Haynes advises: “With an in-person interview, you’d never sneak a look at your phone. It’s simply not a behavior you would exhibit in real life. So, we remind people: a video interview is still a face-to-face interview.” Don’t forget to smile – your face is still taking up most of your interviewer’s screen. 

If you know yourself to be easily distracted by technology and phone applications such as social media, sports updates, or a need to know who texted you, try muting your notifications. If you fear this won’t stop you, turn your device off or keep it in a different room. In the brief 15-45-minute conversation, there is unlikely to be an update worth more than your shot at a new job. 

2. Darting eyes across the screen

In a virtual interview, maintaining steady eye contact is even more critical than the typical in-person interview. Hiring managers often measure your level of eye contact to gauge your interest in joining their organization. Always looking around will make you appear disinterested or inattentive. One great tip you can quickly implement is to hide the ‘self-view’ feature during meetings. Removing the view will ensure you do not get caught staring at yourself and worrying about your appearance rather than actively listening. 

3. Visibly worried and distracted

Every job seeker fears the uncontrollable aspects of their interview, such as a child entering the room and screaming or a pet demanding attention. Since COVID-19 began shutting down offices, Haynes affirms, “the human element is just pouring through.” In many ways, the pandemic has defaulted a more real, human experience for both sides of the webcam.

What can you do to limit your home office-related distractions? Find a private space and request an hour of quiet from your family members or roommates. If this is not plausible for your current situation, consider completing your interview outside your home.

4. Boring, unenthusiastic answers

If you offer weak, lackluster answers, you will leave your interviewer with nothing of note. Be sure to have questions prepared for the end of your interview and answers for these commonly asked questions. What indicates a weak and ‘boring’ answer? You share too many details and focus on what you did in your previous role, rather than why you did it and the impact you had. However, you must not come off as too rehearsed or scripted in your replies. 

Comparable to how you must keep your body language engaged in conversation, your answers must keep your evaluator engaged. Think back to an obstacle you faced in your career and how you overcame it. Practice telling your story and speaking confidently about your qualifications. 

For more great insight and tips to review before your next interview, check out Bowe’s full article here. 

If you join the millions operating under the work-from-home order, check out these essential tips for Setting Up An Effective Workspace at Home.

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