Candidate Testimony: New Placement in the Network Industry

At NexGoal, we take the placing of our active candidates in their new careers very seriously – which is why our Project Coordinators spend so much time working with each candidate to put them in the best position to succeed. Once our candidates are placed, we like to take the time to share that candidate’s experience with all of you.

Our client is a Gartner-recognized leader in Managed Mobility Services (MMS) providing world-class support and services to organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Last month, we connected with a tenured network industry professional, Michael Materna, in finding him a long-term home. After graduating from The University of Akron in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems: Networking, Michael had two separate stints as a Network Engineer and Network Security Engineer. With a total of seven years of industry experience, we were able to seamlessly match Michael with our highly reputable client in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He joins the growing list of highly qualified candidates we have helped place into a new career.

When asked about his experience working with our recruiter Emma Sullivan and the NexGoal team, Michael had this to say: “Emma did an outstanding job placing me with my current employer. She was very professional and helpful getting answers from the employer that I had.” He explains further, “She was able to match my skillset with a great company in the Cleveland area that was looking for my level of skill which is a very difficult task for any recruiter.”

At NexGoal, we specialize in placing candidates from all walks of life with our various corporate clients. Entering the specifics of working with Emma and how she helped set us apart from traditional recruiting firms, Michael had this to say: “I think I might be at my best job yet thanks to Emma helping me get this position. Emma worked hard to find a qualifying position for me and she made it look easy and painless.”

In revealing why current job-seekers should come to NexGoal when looking for their next career, he stated, “NexGoal found the perfect job for me. My [new] employer is happy with the talent she was able to find so it’s a win/win for everyone. I would highly recommend Emma for anyone looking for a career change!”

The NexGoal team would like to thank Michael for his thoughtful remarks, and we wish him continued success in his new role as Security Analyst!

If you’re looking to take the next step in your career and need some help or guidance along the way, start by filling checking out our Candidate Inquiry page! We look forward to placing you in your next career.

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Nine Types of People You Need in Your Inner Circle

Today’s aspiring career professionals, especially women, are continually being told to expand their network, grow their brand, and capitalize on every opportunity thrown their way. However, this career guidance can be quite intimidating, and with the shift of the ongoing pandemic, it is becoming increasingly difficult to execute these commands. So, in what ways can the workforce of today stay intentional in nurturing their professional and personal relationships while creating an avenue for future opportunities?

In a recent article for Forbes Women, Ellevate’s Natalie Eicher reveals her team’s research on who should be a part of your “Success Circle” and why. Join us as we uncover and support her findings with critical insights of our own:

1. The Co-Striver

“Someone who is working to achieve something similar to you.”

While everyone approaches life and business in their way, this person has a strong resemblance to the accolades you set out to achieve. There is mutual respect between you two because of your shared values. Going through similar experiences allows you to relate on a deeper level through the highs and lows of your shared industry or job title or through personal matters such as buying a home, planning a wedding, or having your first child. 

2. The Super Connector

“They know everyone and everyone knows them. They can introduce you to the right people.”

This individual knows several people or prominent groups that would tie into your career aspirations and make your network elite. They are likely someone you have a long-standing relationship with and who you know reciprocates a feeling of high regard. While you must be wary of overstepping your grounds, this person can be essential for making introductions and opening up future opportunities.

3. The Champion

“Your cheerleader and someone who believes in you.”

This person is your biggest supporter. Someone who has always believed in you and who you can rely on to give the extra motivation you need. You conjure energy from your conversations with them. They help you imagine beyond your own beliefs and bring new possibilities to what you see as achievable. 

4. The Re-Energizer

“A person you can call when you need a boost of energy and inspiration.”

This person is your number one motivator and voice of inspiration when you are feeling down. They are constantly pushing you to write out and meet new goals. They see a higher purpose within you and take an enthusiastic approach to fill you with energy. 

5. The Mentor

“A person more experienced with wisdom to share and desire to help you succeed.” 

In terms of where you hope to be or what you hope to achieve, this person has seen it all. From what to expect and what to avoid, they are willing to share it all with you. Whether through a phone call or face-to-face meeting, your mentor is there to offer constructive criticism, industry knowledge, words of encouragement, and a fresh perspective to help see you grow. 

Are you looking to nail down your career mentor and construct a meaningful relationship in the process? Check out these tips.

6. The Sponsor

“A leader who will take charge to advocate for you and your career advancement opportunities.”

Mentors are a great asset in problem-solving and garnering wisdom. Still, a sponsor can play a more immediate role in carrying out your success. The role of a sponsor is played by an influential leader with the capabilities of not only advocating for you but prying doors open in the process. Specifically, having the support of a proven leader can play a tremendous role in taking on more responsibility and advancing your career, especially for women in business. In many instances, they’ll have your back, even when you are not in the room.

7. The Community

“Anywhere you feel a sense of belonging and a safe space to be yourself.”

Your community serves as your comfort zone where you can let your guard down. Whether at home, the gym, or any location where you are with friends and family, there is little that beats the support of your community. Through any turmoil life throws at you, they are ready to support you in times of need and cheer you on when you succeed. 

8. The Accountability Partner

“The person holding you responsible; your tough love.”

Your accountability partner is a tactical method to see rapid growth and unaltering motivation. The relationship is a committed agreement between two people to help achieve your goals and meet regularly to check on the progress of said goals. Based on trust and shared ambition, it is a great tool to promote your development and establish a unique friendship. Consider these essential tips to choosing your accountability partner and optimizing the relationship.

9. The Diverse Perspective

“The person(s) who are really great at what they do, but they don’t look like you, share your background, education, or the same network.”

These people open your eyes to new lines of thinking, push back on your prejudices, and expand upon your network. You may not always like what you hear, but you will receive the honest (and sometimes blunt) answers you need to hear. 

Wrap Up

Once you have your circle defined, it’s time to get intentional in feeding off their support to accelerate your career. Think situationally as to who is the right person to call and when. Suppose you are having thoughts of pursuing a new position or industry. In that case, you may benefit from reaching out to your mentor for wisdom and discernment. If your opinions coincide, then it may be time to reach out to your Super Connector, Champion, and Sponsor. 

One individual CAN play multiple roles in your inner circle. Still, it is imperative to differentiate between the roles in conversation. No matter which of your nine ‘team members’ you are conversing with, make yourself aware of which of these nine roles you may be playing in their life as well. Relationships are a two-way street, so you must take the time to learn about their hopes and dreams and how you can best support them.

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Three Principles To Live By For Networking Success

Networking is a combination of meeting new people and developing mutually beneficial relationships inside and outside your industry. Within your network, you gain further references, resources, and marketing opportunities to accelerate your career. The effectiveness of your network will follow of “You get out what you put in” mantra. Many will shy away from persistent networking tactics in fear of being considered overly aggressive or annoying, but that’s not what effective networking is designed to be.

Networking is credited as one of the most popular tools for finding your next job opportuntity, but that should never be the intended purpose. If you are aspiring to create an avenue for success based on your network, here are three fundamental principles you must understand and incorporate into your career daily:

What Networking Is & Is Not

Effective networking is not a practice limited to those seeking assistance. It does not entail calling everyone you know and asking them for favors, nor is it a therapeutic outlet for your problems. It is centralized on the gathering or sharing of information that can be momentous in your job search or current position. When you establish rapport with other career professionals and remain patient, a level of trust ensues, leading to optimal career opportunities. Business cards are often exchanged, but only when there is a legitimate reason to keep in touch. When operating with the right intentions, networking is also a great way to step out of the comfort zones of your personality type, career path, and background.

Do Your Homework

Networking does not have to be time-consuming, but there is an expectation that you will research whom you are communicating with and your connection would be beneficial. If you are attending a networking event (virtual or in-person), you can request a list of guests and prepare specific questions for individuals you plan to introduce yourself to. Stay realistic in what you hope to accomplish, and remember not to expect immediate results. When you pinpoint your objectives, you are setting yourself up for a greater chance of success.

Identify the industries, interests, and position titles with which you hope to establish a connection. Be intentional in blending conversations of your industry or interests into their industry or interests, and vice versa. Find ways to reciprocate the knowledge and wisdom they’ve shared back to their interests and career path.

Networking is an Ongoing Process

Quit generating excuses as to why you don’t have time. If you are not actively maintaining contact with your network or looking to expand upon it, you are practically begging for a rut in your career. Utilize social platforms such as LinkedIn to converse with business professionals that share a job title or industry with you. Be strategic with your work schedule and create blocks of time for lunch, coffee, or a virtual meeting. Your competitors are likely making time for networking, so to reach your highest aspirations, the expectation is that you’ll do the same.

Wrap Up

Networking is not limited to the scheduled events you often see promoted. You can capitalize on your network through a consistent approach and committed effort. Your active involvement will plant seeds for future business and unleash the potential for career opportunities. Whether through a paid networking event, social gathering, doing someone a favor or fostering your relationships, you are completing a form of networking every day. Just remember, the primary goal is to garner knowledge and wisdom, not to strike gold on a new sale or job opportunity.

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Time for a Career Change? Take These 3 Steps to Success

Whether you were recently ‘let go’ or you are simply ready for a new challenge in your career, working towards a new career can be an exciting time. Maybe you’ve lost passion for your work, experienced a change in priorities, or your current job is negatively impacting your mental/physical health. Regardless of what it may be, your happiness is a large part of your success, and forging a new path is your opportunity to pursue new interests and revitalize your career. When the time comes to venture after new goals and job opportunities, you will find that passion and accrued momentum will carry you a long way. No matter where you are at in your career, following these three steps will make your career change a successful one:

“The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” -Steve Jobs.

Identify Your Transferrable Skills

Pinpoint your job search and map out your transferable skills on paper. Your transferable skills refer to your abilities and work experience applied in a new job or industry. Although they are refined throughout your career, these skills are independent of a specific function and firmly established in who you are as a professional. Some key examples you need to showcase to potential employers include Communication Skills, Analytical Skills, Project Management, Leadership Skills, Teamwork, Critical Thinking, and Adaptability. To demonstrate these abilities, the career experts at Northeastern University emphasize that your cover letter should not be a reiteration of your resume but rather a detailed synopsis. The thoughts and time you pour into your cover letter will play a significant role in presenting yourself as the best candidate.

Why is now the time for a new job? Why are you scared to begin a new career? The career experts at The Muse recommend writing out your responses to these two questions and placing them somewhere you will see them every day.

Capitalize on Your Network

Whether through kind words, career advice, or setting up new connections in your industry, you may never discover how close you are to your next career until you enlist in support of others. Through your friends, family, peers, and superiors, you will be surprised at how far they will go to see you succeed. After all, they likely expect the same of you or have experienced similar support in the past. 

“Fear can’t hit a moving target.” – Todd Herman.

Although the pandemic still has a firm grip on specific networking opportunities, there are ways you can meet with your connections or even create new ones. If there are no networking events near you, start searching for networking webinars or educational webinars in your preferred industry where you can make an introduction. Another alternative is to get in touch with your LinkedIn connections and request a phone call or informational interview conducted over Zoom/Skype. People often are willing to help when they are sought after, so take advantage of it. Even if the individual cannot help you directly, they may connect you with someone better suited for your aspirations and open the door to new opportunities.

Take the Bold Leap

Living in the constant fear of change is sabotaging your success by merely doing nothing. Choosing to begin a new career or job can be difficult, but you will have no need to panic if you follow these principles. Trust your gut instinct, and don’t fear making the small, often unavoidable mistakes along the way. Hesitation will derail the progress you’ve made and indicates that you are not holding tight to your vision. 

You may be just a few steps away from transforming your life and finding the success you long for. If you don’t try, you’ll never find out. If you fear the notion of stalling out and hitting a stand-still for your career, set a cap on the number of months you are willing to go or the amount you will spend before you look to change course again. At worst, you will still be rewarded with important life lessons you can hold onto forever. 

Wrap Up

Don’t let go of your inquisitive nature as you venture on this new path. Striving toward new interests and reinventing yourself can be a great feeling. Your appetite for learning and mastering new skills will carry you to success within any company, industry, or position. Don’t fear or hesitate; accompanying change is in your favor.

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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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