Articles
The word "networking" has been corrupted. Let’s stop thinking about volume and immediate results in networking, and start considering how we can build genuine relationships that are beneficial for everyone involved. Person-to-person connection.
Job hunting is hard, especially if you haven't done it in years. In fact, in most of us, it inspires an impending sense of dread and doom.
Too often we receive emails that leave us scratching our heads, wondering what the writer was thinking when they hit "Send."
Yeah, we know the feeling. You’re ready to update your resume and start job hunting, but when you finally sit down, you find yourself staring at the flashing cursor on the screen, overwhelmed by how much you need to do.
I regularly talk with established professional women who tell me that they are starting their first job search. They share that they’ve never looked before because jobs have come to them via a friend or former colleague. “I’ve been really lucky and have never had to look for a job,” they say. I disagree wholeheartedly with that statement.
You’re a rock star. You get things done. You are always there to help a friend or colleague. Drive is your middle name. No one would ever dare to call you unmotivated! Now you’re motivated to change jobs. Let’s do this, sister.
Are you as discerning in your job search as you are in your dating life? When job hunting, many of us commit quickly, brush aside bad behavior and avoid warning signs in ways we’d never do when dating.
If you’re on the hunt for a new role, chances are you’re having lots of meetings to spread the word. While you’re meeting a variety of people, it’s important to consider your messaging and how to get the most out of each conversation. It starts with considering each person’s motivations and how to progress your search effectively through your connections.
My perspective on planning for an international move and settling in to a new country. I share the lessons learned both personally and professionally over 6 months.
It's time! You're going to make a career change. You know the job you want. Now what? There are many paths to finding the right job, and these four actions will help ensure you position yourself to get noticed in your new industry.
It’s time for a new job and you’re on the hunt. There are a million reasons for people to search and we all know that it is a huge no-no to say negative things about your current boss or company. So how do you share why you’re looking for your next gig (aka running screaming) without letting your negative feelings show and damaging your chances of landing your next gig?
It's time! You're going to make a career change. You know the job you want. Now what? There are many paths to finding the right job, and these four actions will help ensure you position yourself to get noticed in your new industry.
Your middle name is Reliable. You come in early, stay late and never stop until the job is done—and done well. Unfortunately, these things won’t help you progress in your career one bit if no one notices. So how do you get people to notice the work you’re doing? If the idea of self-promotion gives you the heebie jeebies, consider these ways to make it easier and let your light shine bright!
Providing feedback gets easier with time and practice. The anticipation and lead up to the conversation is typically worse than the actual meeting, so don’t be afraid to jump in and share feedback that will help your friend or colleague improve. Effective feedback is detailed, timely and intended to help the recipient perform in the best way possible.
If you have your eye on a promotion, chances are you’re thinking about the big moves that can get you there. You’re planning how you can save your company money, showcase your big wins and impress the right people. The big things are important, and so are the day-to-day habits that get you noticed in the right way. Consider moves you can make on a regular basis to set yourself up for the next step in your career.
How do you get a hiring manager’s attention when some job postings receive hundreds of applications? It can feel like an impossible task. Remember, cover letters and resumes are not the only way to put yourself in front of someone who could be your next employer. But for the purpose of this article, let’s say you are following the traditional path that many candidates take in their job search — seeing a job listing online and deciding to apply. What next?
Many people are confused about what informational interviews are and how they can be helpful in their job search and beyond. An informational interview is when you interview a potential peer or hiring manager to discuss their current role or industry. Your job as the interviewer is to ask the right questions to learn from the interviewee’s experience.
Did you know that you are able to negotiate your severance agreement and possibly get yourself a higher severance package? When a layoff or termination happens many people sign the agreement in front of them because they want to get out of the conversation as soon as possible. As with any agreement, it’s in your best interest to take some time to consider your options before signing a severance document and to push back to see if you can get more.
I’ve been in the working world for 20 years now and have experience in a number of industries. Still, I see the lessons I learned in my first seven years in customer service as guiding lights in how I have navigated my career and now, how I run my business. The customer service skills I honed focus on the easy things you can do to make all the difference, no matter your industry or who your client is.
Do you ever feel like things aren’t quite right with your co-workers? Perhaps recent interactions feel a touch off to you and you’re not being included as much as you used to be. Situations like this can be extra tricky because there may not be a specific incident or behavior that you can call out to address, but you know something is wrong. Start by reflecting on past behavior to see why you may have been left off of the invite list for lunch or Friday Happy Hour.
It's true. Hiring tends to slow down at this time of year. Hiring managers and recruiters might be out of the office 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 until next year.
Have you set your 2019 career goals yet? The New Year is a common time to assess where you’d like your career to take you, and creating meaningful goals is probably easier than you think. There are three categories to consider when shaping your goals – identifying your strengths, prioritizing your brand and seeking support. Answer questions in each of these categories to help yourself create tangible and immediate goals (that don’t feel overwhelming).
It’s that time of year again, and another performance review has come and gone without that promotion. You’ve worked hard, you’ve sacrificed, and dammit, you deserve it. So why can’t your boss (or your boss’ boss) see that you are manager material? Check to be sure one of these habits isn’t getting between you and the next rung on the ladder.
You did it! You’ve worked hard, made it through interviews and salary negotiations, now you’re ready for your first day at work. Keep your solid reputation in tact by avoiding these 6 common newbie blunders.
Don’t coworking spaces seem cool? It’s a life of beer on tap, collaboration, and millennials solving the world’s problems and making their dreams come true all while listening to music, playing ping pong and enjoying an industrial-chic space.
Whoa! That was unexpected. You just had a fight with your coworker or realized that you’ve made her very unhappy. Your mind races with how to bounce back. Should you have handled it differently? She was definitely the one in the wrong, right? Did anyone see it? If I ignore the problem, will it go away?
While everyone needs to vent every once in a while, constantly complaining about the same topics can damage your professional reputation. No one appreciates constant grumbling, and no one wants to be seen as a chronic complainer.
Venting to one or two trusted colleagues is okay, but you need to create an action plan to move forward. Below are the five most common office complaints. The odds are that these thoughts have crossed your brain at some point, but instead of allowing the negativity to take over the situation — get ready to take massive action to find a real solution.
If an interviewer wants to learn about a candidate’s emotional intelligence, she could ask you a series of questions about past behavior, or she could spend a significant portion of the interview acting like a total jerk and let your actions speak for themselves. The latter is becoming more and more common.
To many people, a dream job remains just that — a dream. They are scared to pursue their ideal opportunity due to family obligations, money, imposter syndrome... the list goes on and on. Sometimes things aren’t ‘bad’ enough to make a change. You like your job, but still see another occupation sparkling in the distance. Is that occupation really out of reach? Why not go for it while keeping your current job? Could you have more than one dream job at the same time?
If you’re considering a portfolio career, it can be very easy to be overwhelmed by options. It may seem hard to know which opportunities will fit best and how to make the leap from your full-time gig. This is especially true in the beginning. But don't panic! This six step plan will help get you started on your new path.
A layoff can be a shock. It’s normal to have a range of emotions including anger, sadness and even relief. An abrupt change might make you wonder how to proceed and remain productive without the routine of work. Here are four things you can do right away to assess your situation and determine your next steps.
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. Let’s shift our internal dialogue from problem solving to identifying strengths. Knowing your strengths can help you create an action plan to reach the next step in your career. Use these 5 tools to determine what your strengths are and how you can use them at work and beyond.
It is very common to assume that your network is too small or cannot help with your job search needs. Trust me, your network is bigger than you think! Rather than allowing your mind to race with contacts and resources, take some time to write down your networking contacts so you don’t forget anyone during your search. Create a list with not only your contacts’ names, but also his or her occupation and your relationship. To start your list, consider people in the following categories:
Networking can be fun, I promise. It’s about finding your tribe and helping one another advance in your careers. In fact, let’s start a movement where we eliminate the word “networking” and replace it with “tribe cultivation.” I’ll bet people won’t cringe when we suggest a tribe cultivation event.
We have so much to juggle – family, friends, work, self-care – it can be hard to fit everything in. In order to make the best use of your precious time in job search, consider these seven questions to target your networking efforts and submissions to get results faster.
A Fairygodboss member recently shared that she had a bad performance review and was wondering how to proceed. "I just had a terrible annual review that I thought was very unfair," she said. "I was really surprised but it was so bad that I think I'm living in an alternative universe to my manager. Should I just start looking for another job? The feedback was really different than what I think I deserve so I normally would just try to improve but it feels kinda hopeless."
If you’re preparing for a job change, or better yet, an interview at your dream company, chances are there are a few questions that you’re worried about answering. As a career coach, I work with many clients who are preparing for their interviews and these are the questions that cause the most concern. Authenticity is key, so use these guidelines to prepare your perfect answers to common - but tricky - interview questions.
A first impression is undoubtedly important, but so is the last. End your interview on the right foot by asking thoughtful questions that show your interest in the position and help you decide if the role is right for you.
Congratulations! You landed the job interview. You have, no doubt, been preparing your heart out. You have researched the company, prepared answers to common interview questions, talked to people at the company and written out thoughtful questions to ask. You’re good to go, right? Not so fast! With all of the activities tied up in interview prep, it’s easy to throw on your suit and run out the door without packing the right items.
Do cover letters matter? Does anyone read them? Are they really necessary? I hear these questions all the time. The truth is, you never know whether your cover letter will be read, but if someone does decide to read it, it better be good!
LinkedIn is often the first place where a potential employer or networking contact will learn about who you are and what value you can provide. Some argue that your LinkedIn profile is now more important than your resume.
Endorsements, recommendations, groups, articles, videos, oh my! How do you decide where to hone your focus across the many features of LinkedIn?
As a career coach, I hear the same limiting beliefs from all of my clients. The self-doubting talk has to stop! This article outlines five job search myths that we must stop believing. I recommend that you say the sentences in bold print out loud as you read each paragraph, then vow to never say them again. I've shared some replacement phrases that you can use instead.
You’ve heard lots of tips for tackling difficult interview questions and advice on how to make a strong final impression with great questions, but what should you do before that important meeting? It can be tricky to figure out how to prepare for an interview, but it's worth your while spend some time on preparation so you'll wow the employer and feel confident once the conversation is over. After all, a first impression is made long before you walk into a meeting, so take some time to consider these steps before you even make it to the face-to-face interview.
The lead-up to performance review meetings can create a great deal of anxiety for both the person receiving the review and the one giving it. While there is so much focus on written feedback and rating systems, there tends to be very little focus on the meeting itself. As you and your teams prepare for this important discussion, here are some guide- lines that can help ensure that the meeting is a success and both of you leave feeling satisfied and prepared to move forward.
Every professional has a brand even if you’re not so sure what it is. People are talking about you, so it is essential to know what they are saying, and shape your persona to the best of your ability.
Miscommunications, conflicts and difficult conversations are an inevitable part of professional life. These conversations, however, do not need to be a subject of fear or procrastination. While everyone has a different communication preferences and styles, there are best practices that can apply to the conversations you have been putting off or dreading.
Do you use the terms manager and leader interchangeably? How can the differences have an impact on your team or organisation? What effect do these titles have on your career choices? Does it matter?
Self-awareness is a popular topic of conversation of late. It is typically very easy to spot someone who is not self-aware, but can you as easily recognize someone who does not possess this quality?
News of an impending organisational change or redundancies brings a heightened need for self-care and a focus on wellness. Nerves may be frayed and tensions high during times of uncertainty and there are ways to ensure that you and your team continue to function and even thrive during a transition. In all cases, planning to the best of your ability will set you up for success.
There is a multitude of coaches that can help with one’s personal and professional performance. How do you choose the best person to support you? Would you know where to begin this search?
