We live in a world where everyone is busy and a single job may receive hundreds of applications. This means that a successful job search must include a healthy dose of diligence and follow up. The importance of your last impression may be just as impactful as your first. I’m consistently asked about if, when and how to follow up effectively and there are some tried and tested methods of follow up at each phase of your job search.

After an Introduction

A quality introduction to a newcontact is worth its weight in gold. You want to be sure that those types of recommendations continue to come in. In order to do this, first acknowledge the introducer and remove them from the email chain. No one wants to be copied on 5 emails to plan a coffee date. Reply to the introducer directly thanking them for the introduction and informing them that you’ll reach out to the person directly. Then make a note in your calendar to circle back.

Those who make introductions once are highly likely to do it again, so after you’ve spoken with your new contact, let the introducer know how it went and how much you appreciate their time and effort. It will be another touch point where you remind the person about your search and increase the possibility of an additional introduction.

When you reach out to the person to whom you’ve been introduced, first, express your gratitude for the introduction and explain or reiterate the reason you’d like to connect. You can gauge their level of availability by offering either a short phone call, a coffee or lunch so they have options. If you receive no response, follow up one more time 7-10 days later.

After an Informational Interview

Informational interviews are incredibly effective in finding your next role. They are the first step in nurturing a relationship with someone that could be mutually beneficial. I am asked for, and give, informational interviews 1-2 times per month. During these informational interviews, I share a great deal of information and, more often than not, make an additional introduction. Almost every time, I am very impressed by the person I’ve spoken with as they are prepared, smart, dedicated professionals. Unfortunately, I almost never hear from them again. This is a missed opportunity. Someone who is willing to take time out of their schedule to chat on the phone or join you for coffee has identified themselves as someone who is willing to help. Lack of follow up may mean that you don’t receive any additional help.

The ideal follow up after an informational interview starts with a thank you note. In the thank you note acknowledge the time they’ve spent with you, highlight a particular component of the conversation that was useful and state your intent to keep in touch, with their permission. This is the absolute minimum necessary to continue the relationship.

As time progresses, consider following up in ways that do not create extra work, but provide value or increase connection. For example, if you’ve met with the person to whom your contact introduced you, follow up by sharing that you two have met and what the outcome was. If they haven’t made an introduction, you may follow up to let them know how your career or job search is progressing or share an article or story about a common interest. A quarterly email check in that does not create extra work for them will go a long way in staying top of mind so they will consider you when an opportunity arises. A typical, but less effective follow up plan is to continually ask if there is a job opening or to review your resume and determine where you’d be a good fit.

After a Job Application

A single job posting can receive hundreds of applicants and only a small portion follow up after they have applied. Once you’ve applied for a role, follow up with a kind and succinct email to the hiring manager or person who posted the job. In this case, you’ll want to send a simple email that is an abbreviated version of your cover letter. Mention that you’ve applied for the job, why you think you’d be a great fit and that you’re excited to chat soon. This will increase the chances that your resume will be viewed among the dozens of others that have been submitted.

After a Job Interview

After a job interview, a prompt and personalized approach is essential. Send a different thank you note to each person with whom you interviewed within 24 hours of your meeting. In the thank you note, you'll want to thank them for their time and acknowledge a particularly impactful piece of information they shared. This could be about a project they are working on, their perspective on your role, or their career paths, for example. Close by stating the attributes that you believe would be an asset to the team and, if you want the job, say it. You don’t want there to be any doubt that you want to bring your expertise to the team.

Prompt and appropriate follow up demonstrates gratitude and professionalism – and is quite easy to do. Consider using the tips in this article next time you are wondering how, or if, to follow up.

What does your perfect interview look like? That’s right YOUR perfect interview. All of us bring unique talents and perspectives to a company and a big part of acing your interview is showing your authentic self in the best possible light. Being someone else in an interview will not serve you or your future employer. If your alter ego gets the job, you will have to maintain that persona, or worse, if you don’t get the job, you’ll wonder if you should have been more genuine. Use theses six tactics to remain confident and true to yourself during the interview process.They are on your side! A job is open and you might be the one to fill it. If they weren’t interested, you wouldn’t have been invited to interview. The company has a problem to solve and you might be the one to do it. Assume those interviewing you are rooting for you. Everyone wins if you are the best fit for this role. Show up strong and confident that you’ve earned the interview.Remain present It’s okay to pause and gather your thoughts before answering a question. While three seconds may feel like an eternity during a job interview, it’s still only three seconds. Use that moment to take a breath and gather your thoughts. Were you too nervous to hear a question? It’s okay to ask the interviewer to repeat it. Leave your worries outside and be the best version of yourself. Own weaknesses Everyone dreads being asked about weaknesses or areas for improvement. When preparing for this question, instead of asking yourself what the interviewer may want to hear, think about a lesson you have learned in your career and how you’ve improved as a result. Your weakness should be something you are already actively working on and seeing results that show your progress. An authentic interview does not include saying you have no weaknesses or that your weakness is perfectionism.Take control Sure, we all have circumstances that brought us here. There might have been a move, divorce, layoff, or rotten boss, but there is no room for circumstance or negativity in your interview. Focus on what you did rather than what happened to you and be sure to remain positive.Observe the culture You’re the one being interviewed, but you should also be paying close attention to whether or not the company is the right fit for you. A job search can be tough, but if you’re not checking for the right fit, you may have to do it again sooner than later. Pay attention to the office environment as you walk to your meeting. Is the setting quiet, jovial, bustling? Could you see yourself working there? Ask questions Asking questions about your role and the company at the end of an interview shows the interviewer that you are making a thoughtful decision and you are actively engaged. It is also an opportunity to further gauge fit! Learn more about the company culture, team and your role beyond what can be found on the company website. This is not the moment to ask about benefits and salary. That comes during the offer stage, so ask questions to determine whether the job is right for you. A job interview is like the beginning of a new relationship. You want to show your best self and find out whether both of you want to invest more time and effort into fostering a long-term commitment. If you’re not the right fit, that’s okay. You’ll be glad you held out for ‘the one.’ The right job for you is out there and it’s much easier to find if you are yourself throughout the process. Use these tips to ensure you leave the interview knowing that you showed the best version of yourself to a potential employer.

You’re right. December is a month when hiring slows down. Hiring managers might be traveling for the holidays or waiting for next year’s budget to make hiring decisions. This does not mean, however, that there are no jobs out there or that you should forget about your job search all together this December. Successful job seekers aim to be the first person hiring managers think of when starting to recruit for a role. January typically means a hiring boom, so set the stage to be the one that hiring managers think of when a job pops up in the New Year. Here are some easy ways to make the best of your December search. Stay in touch and meet new people at the same time! Keep an eye out for industry holiday parties. These can be great opportunities to catch up with dozens of connections at once while also expanding your network. Meeting with friends and colleagues in person is far more memorable than a quick email to check in. A mixer atmosphere means that people are ready to chat and mingle, as opposed to more traditional meetings where it can be harder to break into a circle of people chatting or everyone is focused on a presenter. If you have a running list of people with whom you plan to connect this month, you might be able to check many of them off with one event. Share your search with those you don’t often see. The end of the year will bring opportunities to reconnect with those you don’t see often– your spouse’s colleague at an office party, or your third cousin in town for the holidays, for instance. Use these opportunities to let a new set of people know that you’re on the market and what you’re looking for. It will help spread the word about your search to a fresh group of people and expand to their networks, as well. A ‘reconnection’ might hold the keys to your next opportunity. You never know to whom people are connected, so don’t dismiss anyone as a person who can’t help. Spend time applying for jobs online. Networking lunches, meetings and interviews might slow down as everyone is rushing around for the holidays. Also, job seekers often take a break from their searches, convinced that there aren’t any jobs available. These factors make December a great time to check out job boards. You’ll be among a much smaller group of applicants and there is a higher chance that your follow up email will be read if inboxes are a little less full. Check out more tips in my article about Tackling Job Boards. Prepare for 2017 interviews. Why scramble when you schedule the interview? Start to get ready for your New Year interviews now. Make a list of stories that you’d want to share in an interview – a proud accomplishment, a team victory, a challenging customer or successful product launch. Put these stories in SOAR format – Situation, Obstacle, Action and Result. Not only will this exercise get you ready for interviews, it will also bolster your confidence as you reflect on your achievements. Enjoy the season! We can’t job search every minute. Be effective in the work you do and remember that the best you is well rested and not overwhelmed by your search. Treat yourself to a glass of eggnog or a holiday concert and trust that your efforts will surely pay off. Use these tips to stay consistent in your search efforts, even as things slow down. Although we might face a lull, it is not true that ‘no one is hiring this time of year’ or ‘nothing is open right now.’ This season brings many unique opportunities to explore and conquer.

You make an impression on a prospective employer well before you walk in to your interview. Use these six tips to set yourself up for success before you enter that important meeting.Phone Etiquette You never know who is on the other end of the phone – it could be a future boss or colleague. Answer phone calls with a kind word and your name. For example ‘Hello, this is Maria’ or ‘Good afternoon, Maria speaking.’ This will create ease with the caller right away. Do not answer the phone if you are unable to talk or access your calendar to schedule a meeting. You do not want to leave the impression of being harried or disorganized. If you are tied up when the call comes in, it is much better to have your voicemail receive the call. This way you can call back when you are in a position to talk and put your best foot forward. Ensure that you have a professional voicemail message and a mailbox that is not full.Research Take the time to research a company and those interviewing you. Learn as much as you can about the company’s culture, product and reputation. This means going beyond the company website to sites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed, as well as social media and news outlets. Don’t be caught off guard when someone asks you what you know about the company.Preparation Tell me about yourself. Why are you looking for a new job? What are your greatest strengths? What are you working to improve? These are just a few common interview questions. Take some time to prepare stories to answer these questions as well as other questions that might be applicable to your new role. It isn’t necessary to memorize your answers, but organize them into bullet points so that you can easily recall the information during the interview. Like your resume, your answers should include numbers, percentages and the results you achieved. Also, remember to prepare a list of questions to ask at the end of the interview.Organization On the day of your interview, be sure that you have all necessary items easily accessible to you. Pack at least four copies of your resume, a list of references, two pens and a notebook. Consider buying a portfolio to keep these items neat and organized. Having to look for a pen, or worse, not having one, can make you appear disorganized and cause you to feel rattled before the interview even begins. Arrival Time Plan to arrive at the location 30 minutes before your scheduled interview and enter the offices 10 to 15 minutes before your interview. Arriving more than 15 minutes before your interview can make your host feel pressure to start the meeting early, so have a cup of coffee or get a breath of fresh air while you wait. This ensures that even if traffic or other circumstances delay your arrival, you’ll still be on time for the meeting.Empowerment Exercise Since you’ve arrived with plenty of time to spare, take a moment to ensure that you are feeling your most confident. Use this time to write down your proudest accomplishments and biggest achievements. This will put you in a positive frame of mind when the interview starts. You could also take a cue from Amy Cuddy and strike a high-power pose to signal that you’re ready to take on anything! These tips will allow you to put your best foot forward from the first interaction you have with a prospective employer. Use these six tips to prepare for that important interview and keep an eye out for next month’s article - Your Perfect Interview.

Reactive (rē-ˈak-tiv) done in response to a situationProactive (prō-ˈak-tiv) controlling a situation by making things happen In the beginning stages of a job search, you make a choice. Will you run a proactive or a reactive search? A reactive search is just that – reacting. You respond to a stimulus, in this case a job description or a job post, and wait. In this situation, you are likely competing against hundreds of candidates and that’s if you get past the applicant tracking systems that are scanning your resume for key words. While reacting to job posts is a necessary part of the job search (see my article about Tackling Job Boards) it should take up only a small portion of your time and energy. Instead, let’s focus on proactive measures. The bulk of your efforts should be proactive. By proactive, I mean establishing yourself as an ideal candidate before the job posting is even listed. Put yourself in front of the right people and create a strategy that you control so you are not at the mercy of job boards. Being proactive can also help you achieve measurable results around the number of meetings you have or people you connect with rather than waiting for responses from online applications. A proactive job search can help you well beyond your current situation and the practices outlined below are worth keeping up even when you land your next role. Use these six strategies to take a proactive approach to your job search.

1. Target companies Create a list of companies for which you’d like to work. Start with a brainstorm of leaders in your industry and expand from there; remember to include companies that impact your personal life, if applicable. Many of us don’t think about the companies which make the products we use every day and brands we are loyal to as places where we could work,but they are companies, too, and might need your talents. Hey – you’re already familiar with the product. Another way to expand your search is through LinkedIn. On a company page, there is a section of companies that ‘people also viewed.’ Oftentimes these are competitors in the same industry and might be great additions to your list. Once you find these companies, determine if you have any contacts there or know someone who can make an introduction for you.

2. Spread the word One of my clients who was recently laid off told me that his new job was to have coffees and lunches. I couldn’t agree more. Make sure that people know that you’re looking and please start giving your network more credit! I consistently hear from my clients that they have a small or weak network that cannot help very much in a job search. Within minutes we are able to identify new ways that their network can help and more people who are in the network. Think beyond former colleagues to friends, family members, and acquaintances at places you frequent like the gym, clubs or school. Does your softball team know you’re looking for a new job? They should! People want to help, but we need them to know that you’re looking for something new. Share that you’re looking and what you’re looking for so your network can keep an eye out for you.

3. Expand your circle In spreading the word, of course you will ask contacts to let you know of opportunities. There is also tremendous value in asking for new contacts in your industry. This is an easy way to receive introductions and expand your circle. Networking can feel intimidating for many and the idea of reaching out to strangers even more so. An introduction from someone you know is an easy way to expand your circle. Once the introduction is made, request an informational interview to learn more about that person and their role. These meetings are great ways for you to establish yourself as an eager professional and to be the one who is top of mind when an opportunity arises.

4. Study up Are you worried about your skills staying up to date or being right for a new role? Get more information! There are wonderful online resources to enhance your skills. One of my favorites is Lynda.com, which is free to many public library patrons. Another fantastic source of information is professional organizations. Head to a meeting of your local chapter. A simple Google search should turn up results if you don’t know of any right away. At these events, you’ll hear from speakers providing information on a relevant topic and you’ll definitely meet new people in the field. Network and learn at the same time!

5. Share your knowledge Want to establish yourself as an expert? We have a fantastic platform in LinkedIn. Start now by publishing articles about the work you do and industry trends. If that feels too intimidating, you can share articles that you have found helpful, or comment on a connection’s update or post. This will ensure that your name is out there as an expert and active participant in industry news and events. You could also offer to give a talk at one of those professional organizations I just mentioned.

6. Be a resource If you have extra time, start using it to showcase the work you do. Are you a grant writer? Financial analyst? Teacher? Someone could use your help. Volunteer for an organization that needs your services. It’s a wonderful way to put yourself out there as an expert and build your network. Plus, it feels really good to help.

Use these tips to establish yourself as an ideal candidate before the job is even posted. These six proactive strategies will keep reactive efforts to a minimum and help you take control of your search.

When we realize that a job isn’t the right fit, or there is an unexpected job loss, it is vey common to charge forward without laying the right groundwork for a successful search. Most of us start running forward with nothing to tether us to what is important. Laying the groundwork for a successful search can help to ensure that we find the right job, not just any job. Ask yourself these four questions to help lay the groundwork for a successful search. 1. What are my strengths? You’ve heard me talk a lot about strengths. Knowing what you are good at is so important in your job search and beyond. Those who know their strengths can more easily identify opportunities that play to those strengths and talk about themselves confidently in interviews. I recommend taking a look at the two articles I have written on this topic as well as the book StrengthsFinder 2.0as resources to find your strengths.

2. What work environment best suits me? Open floor plans, catered meals, foosball tables – these office perks sure do sound great, but are they right for you? Will a mid-day video game competition rev you up for a productive afternoon or end up occupying the rest of your day? Does the hum of an active office invigorate or distract you? Catered lunches and stocked kitchens can sometimes be an indicator of long days (and nights) at the office. Consider what environment best suits you and your preferred work style before you go for your next role.

3. What companies should I target? Are there companies in your area with great reputations or products and services you’d be excited to stand behind? Create a list of companies for whom you’d like to work and set out to get noticed. This is part of a proactive job search. Instead of waiting for an opportunity, set up meetings with people at your target companies. That way, when a position does come up, you’re one of the first people they think of.

4. Who can help? Make a list of people who would happily help you with your job search. Start with those who you can easily reach and tell them what you’re looking for in your next role. You’ll want to ask, not only about job opportunities, but also for introductions to others in the industry or at your target companies. This is an easy first step in using and expanding your network.

No one wants an extra long job search and laying the groundwork before sending out your resume can help you ensure that you’re going after the right opportunities. Ask yourself these four questions before you embark on your search to ensure you won't be looking again sooner than later.

Job boards can be a valuable tool in your job search and knowing how to navigate them effectively can make them even more beneficial to you. I hear from many job seekers who spend most of their efforts applying to jobs listed online and are not receiving the responses they’d hoped for. Here are five tips on how to make the best use of your time on these sites.

Create email alerts Email alerts are an easy way to learn about new postings. Websites like LinkedIn and Indeed allow you to set up alerts and receive regular emails showing jobs that match your criteria. You can search by industry, job title or skill. Some sites also allow alerts to filter by salary. Setting up email alerts is particularly helpful for those who are considering changing industries and want to see what kinds of qualifications a job requires or what titles are standard in the new industry.

Review familiar postings Can you find a job posting from your current or one of your former employers? Now that you know what the job is really like, take the opportunity to read between the lines of the job posting. If a former job was a great culture fit, see what the posting says about the company’s values and culture and try to find these characteristics in jobs and companies you’re considering now. In hindsight, were there any red flags in a job posting? If so, look out for these as you review postings now. I recently spoke with a client who recognizes that she thrives in companies with a focus on fostering a family culture. She did this exercise and now looks for job descriptions that have a great deal of information about the company and team as well as the details of the open position.

Just apply If you see a posting and you think you would thrive in the job, but you don’t meet 100% of the criteria, don’t disqualify yourself. Oftentimes a job description is more of a wish list than a list of absolute requirements. Make your case with confidence. Putting yourself forward is the first step in getting the position you want.

Speak their language Carefully read job postings to ensure you speak the same language as hiring managers. Don’t make someone guess what you mean on your resume. Instead, use the terms that you see regularly in job postings that interest you. This will also help you get a leg up on Applicant Tracking Systems. We know they use key words to filter resumes and weed out those who are not qualified. Speaking the same language can get you past a computer and to an actual person. Once a person sees your resume, using their terms creates familiarity right away.

Spend your time wisely A maximum of 20% of your job search efforts should be focused on job boards. Set a timer so you don’t end up going down the rabbit hole of hundreds of postings and come up with little return on the precious time you invested.

Job boards are good for more than just submitting resumes. Job boards can be used to expand your search, identify interesting positions and focus your search efforts. Using the five tips outlined in this article will maximize the benefits you can receive from using job boards.

Wait! You’ve been reviewing and updating your resume feverishly since you embarked on your job search. After looking at it over and over, it can be hard for you to see the small mistakes that may remain. However, a tiny error may stick out like a sore thumb to someone who is scanning through dozens of resumes in one sitting. Before you send out your newly updated resume, use this checklist to ensure you didn’t miss something.

___ Actions, Results and Accomplishments Your resume is not a list of tasks, like a job description. Differentiate yourself by noting what you did and why it was important. Consider this enhancement:

Change: Marketed new products

To: Created marketing campaign that increased sales by 50%

___ Verbs Make sure all of your bullets start with a verb. ___ Tenses Your current position is written in present tense, all past jobs are in past tense. ___ Formatting Ensure you are consistent in your use of bold, underline, italics and alignment. ___ Punctuation Resume bullets are typically not full sentences. If there is not a full sentence, you should not include a period at the end. (This one tends to spark debate. A good rule is to never use periods or use them every time. Keep it consistent!) ___ Acronyms If you are using acronyms, ensure you are using periods consistently. For example, Human Resources should not be listed as HR in one section and H.R. in another. ___ References They don’t belong on your resume. It is not necessary to say they are available upon request. This line wastes valuable resume real estate. ___ PDF Send your resume out in PDF form. This will ensure that formatting isn’t compromised when different operating systems are used.

Many careers happen by accident. Life, financial and family circumstances lead us from one role to the next and one day we wake up with a jolt thinking ‘how did I get here?’ Many of my clients reach out to me because they are lost and together we create a strategy to find an enjoyable career, not just a job. Before you start to send out your resume or jump on a job board, take a moment to consider these ways to create a career strategy and find a role that will bring you lasting fulfillment.

Step back from your search. Instead of starting to send out your resume right away, take a moment to consider what you really want. You might be able to find a job quickly, but if you want to advance your career in a strategic way, or make a career change, it takes time and reflection. Use this time to create a list of companies, positions and industries that interest you most. Appreciate this opportunity to choose your next move, rather than letting it choose you.

Write your mission statement. It should answer the following questions: What do I do? Who do I do it for? How do I do it? Your career mission statement will act as an anchor in your decision-making process. Before accepting a job, check how it aligns with your mission.

Create a 5-year plan. Like your mission statement, your 5-year plan is there to create a foothold for your search. Return to the ideal plan you’ve created to gauge the suitability of your next position. Looking for your next move can be a frenzy of activity, opinions and advice. When opportunities arise, ask yourself, ‘will this job bring me closer to my ultimate goal?’

Find Your Strengths. People who use their strengths tend to be much happier in their jobs and in general. There are many ways to discover your strengths on your own. My recent articles, Tools to Identify Your Strengths, and Questions to Identify Your Strengths can provide you with valuable resources. I also recommend the book StrengthsFinder 2.0. Knowing your strengths can help you identify an opportunity that will be satisfying in the long run.

Before you start looking for your next role, use these steps to create a career strategy that will set you up to find the right opportunities, not just your next job.

We always hear that those who use their strengths, at home and at work, lead more productive and happier lives. We are inundated with messages about using our strengths and doing what we love, but how do we move forward if we don’t know what those strengths are? As a coach, I see my clients struggle to talk about what they are good at, or identify their strengths. This is because we are programmed to focus on what’s wrong and what we need to improve. When the time comes to determine our strengths, many people turn to a coach or take any number of assessments. These four tools will help you examine past and current experiences to find your strengths on your own.1. Examine your job description Remember that job description? You probably received one during your first week at work and lost it right away in a frenzy of trainings. Take a look at the tasks on that job description and highlight the responsibilities you really enjoy, have revamped or blown out of the water. If you don’t have access to a job description, keep a notepad with you for 3-5 days and start a job journal, jotting down the things you do during the day. This journal will help jog your memory of additional items for the list. You can use your journal in the same way as a job description to find themes in what you are good at.2. Revisit performance reviews It’s time to stop focusing on the ‘areas of improvement’ in your annual review. Your performance reviews are so much more! Use your reviews to gather information about your strengths from an outside perspective.3. Just ask Your boss isn’t the only one that gets to weigh in on what you’re good at. Ask colleagues, friends or family members where they think you shine. These people know you best and know when to call on you for help or advice. The things people depend on you for are your strengths.4. Create a skill-based resume Your resume is like your job description on steroids. The biggest accomplishments of your career are recounted in your voice. It’s time to turn your traditional resume on its ear. Take the bullets and bring your proudest accomplishments and the things you enjoyed doing the most right to the top. Before you know it, you’ll have a comprehensive list of your top skills. A client once told me the only thing he did at his job was look for another. It gave us a good laugh, but after taking some time to reflect on his experiences, and doing the 4 steps, he was able to create a clear picture of what he was good at and how to move forward to capitalize on his strengths. You, too, can use these steps to find your strengths and continue your job search on a positive note.

Most of us are great at finding problems to worry about. It is so easy to obsess about what is going wrong, especially when looking for the next career move. What problems do I need to solve? How do I make things better? Let’s shift our internal dialogue from problem solving to developing strengths. Knowing your strengths can help you create an action plan toward your next career move.

When you’re driving or daydreaming and doubt creeps in, focus on the questions below instead. You will notice your strengths emerge in the answers. Keep a notebook and pen on hand as you ponder these questions and compile a list of your strengths to share at your next job interview or performance review.

1. What comes naturally to me or is easy to learn?

Think back to when you started a new job. There was so much to learn. What did you pick up right away? Were there things you couldn’t wait to teach others? Your strengths come naturally.

2. What do I contribute to my team or organization?

On your team, are there things that are always your responsibility? No one could imagine someone else writing the company newsletter or arranging the holiday party. For one of my clients, it was responding to the most difficult customers. He relished this task that most people avoided like the plague. Clearly this was a great strength of his. In other words, if you left your team, what would be missing?

3. What makes me feel energized?

It may not seem like it now, but you liked something about your job at some point. Think back to a day when you were on your way to work and excited about a certain project, meeting or challenge. Reflect on that time and the components involved.

4. What would I gladly take off of someone’s plate?

When you have plenty to do, or are on your way out the door, what are you still willing to take on? What would you stay late to do? It could be anything from making someone feel supported to creating a marketing presentation. What is important enough to skip your spin class tonight?

5. What activities make me lose track of time?

Think back to the last time you sat down to work on a project mid-morning and all of the sudden you realized you had missed lunch. When are you in the zone like a musician jamming away on stage? Focusing on your strengths will keep those seeds of doubt from taking root. Use these questions to reframe a problem solving mindset to one of appreciating and growing your strengths. It will help you identify the right opportunities as you progress in your career or embark on a new one.